The final day of February saw multiple Power Five teams clinch at least a share of their league’s conference title. On Friday night, Michigan defeated Illinois to clinch its first Big Ten title since 2021 in Year 2 of Dusty May’s tenure.

Less than 24 hours later, Duke, Arizona and Florida joined the party. The No. 1-ranked Blue Devils defeated No. 11 Virginia 77-51 at home to lock up the No. 1 seed in the ACC Tournament. Duke can clinch the outright ACC crown next week with a win over NC State or North Carolina.

For the third consecutive season, someone other than Kansas – the team that’s dominated the Big 12 for the better part of 20 years — will win the conference. With No. 2 Arizona’s dominant 84-61 win at home over Kansas, the Wildcats clinched at least a share of the Big 12 title for the first time. Houston won the Big 12 regular-season title in each of its first two seasons as a member of the conference.

Duke dominates Virginia with stifling defense as No. 1 Blue Devils clinch share of ACC title in easy victory

Kyle Boone

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Florida clinched its first regular season title since 2014 with a blowout win over Arkansas on Saturday night. The reigning national champions have now won nine consecutive games since losing to Auburn, which created separation at the top of the SEC standings.

The Big East title will likely be decided next week, with UConn and St. John’s still in contention to win at least a share of the regular season title. Now let’s get to the biggest winners and losers of the Saturday college basketball slate.

Winner: Isaiah Evans shines, Duke clinches ACC title

No. 1 Duke stayed hot with a 77-51 win over No. 11 Virginia behind a standout performance from Evans. The star guard scored 14 of Duke’s first 19 points and finished the day with a team-high 19 points. Evans knocked down 5 of his 9 attempts from the 3-point line and also dished out three assists in 29 minutes. Entering March, Duke has the best player in the sport (Cameron Boozer) on its roster, but this game was a reminder that the top-ranked team in the country isn’t just a one-trick-pony. — Cameron Salerno

Loser: Seton Hall’s misses its best remaining opportunity

Seton Hall entered the day among the “First Four Out” in CBS Sports Bracketology and with a golden opportunity on the road against No. 6 UConn. The Pirates looked poised to capitalize in the second half until UConn came to life for a 71-67 victory. Seton Hall (19-11, 9-9 Big East) might look back on the last eight minutes with some regret come Selection Sunday as UConn used a 23-11 closing run to pull away. It’s getting harder to envision a realistic path to an at-large bid for Seton Hall, which closes the regular season at Xavier and against St. John’s next week. 
—  David Cobb

Loser: Gonzaga gets shoved out of the WCC

Saint Mary’s gave No. 9 Gonzaga a firm shove out the WCC door, beating the Bulldogs 70-59 as the longtime league rivals played their final regular season conference game. With Gonzaga headed to the Pac-12 next season, one of college basketball’s great rivalries will never be the same. 

Gaels guard Mikey Lewis led the way with a career-high 31 point as Saint Mary’s turned a 36-29 halftime deficit into a convincing victory. The win also secured the Gaels a share of the league title with Gonzaga, marking a fourth straight season Saint Mary’s has claimed a conference title. The teams could still play in the WCC Tournament title game, but their final on-campus meeting as WCC foes will be remembered as a decisive Saint Mary’s win. — Cobb  

Loser: Arkansas no-shows in SEC showdown

Two games back in the SEC standings and chasing conference-leading Florida, No. 20 Arkansas had a prime opportunity to gain ground in the league with a road tilt in the swamp.

And summarily blew it.

The Razorbacks trailed by 19 at halftime and eventually fell 111-77 to Florida, effectively handing the Gators – who will likely be favorites in their two remaining regular-season games – the SEC crown.

Arkansas has largely strayed away from stinkers of late, but two in particular – a road blowout at Georgia in January and a home loss to Kentucky two weeks later – loom particularly large now. With those losses and the Saturday loss to Florida, John Calipari and Co. can kiss a shot at conference hardware goodbye. — Kyle Boone

Winner: Wounded Texas Tech won’t go down quietly

Texas Tech clearly did not hear any bell after JT Toppin‘s season-ending knee injury. The Red Raiders walked into Hilton Coliseum and emerged with an eyebrow-raising 82-73 victory over No. 4 Iowa State. It’s the Cyclones’ first home loss of the season, and reiterates just how tough of an out these short-handed Red Raiders will be in March. Texas Tech splashed 14 treys. Donovan Atwell continued his magnificent season with six triples and 18 points. Tyeree Bryan, who was buried on the bench for long stretches of Big 12 play, revitalized his season with 10 enormous points and a couple massive treys. Jaylen Petty, Josiah Moseley and Luke Bamgboye were also outstanding in expanded roles. Texas Tech has now bulldozed Kansas State, Cincinnati and Iowa State in three games without Toppin.

The Red Raiders likely do not have the firepower to win six in a row in March Madness without its All-American big fella, but this outfit is tougher than a two-dollar steak. — Isaac Trotter

Winner: UConn’s Karaban gets a fitting sendoff

Consecutive Alex Karaban 3-pointers helped spark UConn as it rallied late for a 71-67 win over Seton Hall. That was fitting considering it was Karaban’s Senior Day and since he has made so many clutch shots over the course of his Huskies career. Senior Day doesn’t always mean what it used to in the era of mass transferring and one-year rentals. But Karaban is UConn’s all-time winningest player, and he played a pivotal role on the program’s 2023 and 2024 title teams. 

The deep connection between Karaban, coach Dan Hurley and the UConn program were evident in an emotional pregame scene. But Karaban locked in and led UConn with 23 points on 8 of 11 shooting as the Huskies retained their grasp on the fourth No. 1 seed in CBS Sports Bracketology. — Cobb

Loser: Iowa suffers ugly loss vs. Penn State

On paper, Iowa‘s 71-69 loss to Penn State will go down as just a Quad 2 setback. However, losing to 12-17 Penn State isn’t great for the resume. Iowa entered the weekend as a No. 7 seed in CBS Sports’ latest Bracketology projections. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Hawkeyes take a hit because of the loss. Iowa was previously 7-0 in Quad 2 games, with the closest margin of victory coming against USC (73-72). — Salerno

Winner: New Mexico picks up key bubble win

Entering the weekend, New Mexico was among the “Last Four Out” in CBS Sports’ latest Bracketology projections. The importance of this win over San Diego State — a team that entered as a No. 11 seed in the latest Bracketology projections — is significant. New Mexico is now 10-6 against Quad 1 and Quad 2 opponents this season. There is still work to do, but picking up an 81-76 win over SDSU after trailing by as many as 11 in the first half is a solid start heading into the home stretch. — Salerno

Loser: NC State’s slide continues 

Year 1 of the Will Wade era at NC State has been a mixed bag. Sure, the Wolfpack are on track to return to the NCAA Tournament, but their recent stretch is cause for concern heading into March. NC State has now lost four of its last five games after a 96-90 loss in overtime against Notre Dame. During that stretch, NC State suffered losses to Louisville, Miami, Virginia, and Notre Dame, as well as a blowout win over in-state foe North Carolina. After getting off to a 9-2 start in ACC play, it looked like a double-bye in the ACC Tournament would be a lock. That’s no longer the case, especially with a matchup against No. 1 Duke looming next week. — Salerno

Winner: Clemson stops the tailspin

Clemson got a desperately needed 80-75 win over Louisville to stop a four-game losing streak that had dropped it from ACC title contention to the NCAA Tournament bubble. The Tigers (21-7, 11-5 ACC) led by as much as 15 late in the second half following an offensive explosion from Justin Porter. Louisville star Mikel Brown Jr. was less than 100% healthy and mostly ineffective in just 21 minutes, which certainly aided Clemson’s cause. The Tigers needed a victory in whatever form they could find one after falling to a No. 10 seed in CBS Sports Bracketology. Next up is a Tuesday night road game at North Carolina that will give this club a chance to prove that its 20-4 start was no fluke. 
— Cobb

Loser: UCLA cools off in loss at Minnesota

Just when it seemed like UCLA had steadied the ship and might even be finding its stride, the Bruins took another hit. Minnesota absolutely shredded the Bruins in a 78-73 home win, shooting 58% from the floor, which included a 12 of 23 mark from deep. It was the Gophers’ second-best shooting performance of the season. The only team which has shot it better against the Bruins this season is Michigan. UCLA entered the day as a No. 9 seed in CBS Sports Bracketology and still has a little wiggle room, but this was a reality check after momentum-building wins against Illinois and USC. — Cobb

Winner: Arizona makes a statement in win over Kansas

Less than three weeks ago, Arizona walked away from Allen Fieldhouse with its first loss of the season despite star freshman Darryn Peterson being out of the lineup. On Saturday, Arizona avenged that loss with a statement victory over No. 14 Kansas behind the stellar play of Koa Peat and Brayden Burries. With the win, the Wildcats clinched at least a share of the Big 12 title and are in line to earn the No. 1 seed in the Big 12 Tournament. — Salerno

Arizona gets revenge with win vs. Kansas, clinches at least share of the Big 12 title

Cameron Salerno

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Loser: Cal takes brutal home loss

Cal entered the day as one of the “Last Four In: according to CBS Sports Bracketology and with a simple assignment: don’t lose at home to a bad Pitt team. The Bears failed the assignment, falling 72-56 in a game they never led. Cal hit just five 3-pointers, turned it over 16 teams and only attempted seven free throws. This was a horrendous showing from a bubble team that couldn’t afford a bad loss. The Bears entered at No. 43 in Wins Above Bubble (WAB), which is a vital resume metric. They will wake up on Sunday around 50th. — Cobb

Winner: A bobblehead-night game-winner

Northwestern‘s Nick Martinelli drained one of his patented ‘flippers’ in the final seconds to knock off Oregon, 63-62. The Wildcats star senior delivered the game-winner on his bobblehead night.

Yeah, that’ll play. — Trotter

Loser: Tennessee collapses at end in loss to Alabama

No. 22 Tennessee led for almost the entire 40 minutes of action against No. 17 Alabama … until the final minute. With the game tied at 69, Alabama star guard Labaron Philon got the switch he wanted at the top of the key, got to the paint and hit a jumper with 24 seconds left to give his team its first lead of the night. On the other end, Tennessee didn’t get a quality look on its final possession. After leading by as many as 13 in the second half, Alabama came away with a stunning 71-69 win. — Salerno

Loser: Louisville creeps into dangerous territory

A season filled with promise crept further into the danger zone at Louisville, which on Saturday dropped its second consecutive game – and fell for a third time in its last four outings – with an 80-75 defeat at Clemson. The Cardinals and their high-octane offense made ten 3-pointers – their fourth consecutive game to hit at least ten in a game – but their defense again failed them in yet another close loss. 

Clemson got 27 points from its bench unit, finished with a 17-point winning margin at the free-throw line and shot 50% from the field in the final 20 minutes of play. There’s plenty of time for this talented Louisville team to right the ship, but it appears to be trending the wrong direction as March Madness approaches. — Boone

Loser: BYU stumbles again down the stretch

On Jan. 14, BYU was ranked No. 11 in the AP Top 25 and 16-1 on the season.

On Feb. 28, as the calendar flips to March, the Cougars – 4-8 in their last 12 games – are 20-9 and falling apart at the seams after a 79-71 road loss at West Virginia. 

The Cougars haven’t been the same team we saw earlier in the season – and they’ve been a shell even of the team we saw in the heart of the season after losing Richie Saunders to an ACL injury earlier this month. In his absence, they are now 1-3 – and 8-8 in Big 12 play with two conference games remaining.

Freshman star AJ Dybantsa and sophomore guard Rob Wright were productive as ever on Saturday, finishing with 20 and 23 points, respectively. But this team’s depth has been laid bare on the back-end of Big 12 play. What once was one of the most fun offensive teams in the country is now a shorthanded team spiraling downward with no reprieve in sight. — Boone

When they were most recently in League B, en route to Euro 2025, Wales went unbeaten in a group which also included Croatia, Ukraine and Kosovo.

The target will be to do something similar this time around, though the Czechs are one place above Wales – in 31st compared to 32nd – in the current Fifa rankings.

On paper, Tuesday’s game in Uherske Hradiste is the toughest in the group for Wales, given that Albania are ranked 71st in the world and Montenegro 84th.

When asked whether there may be some opportunities during this campaign to experiment a little, Wilkinson was quick to highlight the Czech Republic’s ranking.

“I think that there’s a job to be done. Experimentation is one thing and getting the job done is another,” she added.

“There’s got to be opportunities for the players. So we’ve got to make sure that I’m seeing everyone, that they’re showing what they can deliver, while at the same time making sure we’re taking care of the work on the pitch first.”

Conor Benn made headlines after his switch from Matchroom Boxing to Zuffa Boxing, leaving long-term promoter Eddie Hearn in favour of Dana White – at least for one fight. Now, pound-for-pound star Terence Crawford has weighed in.

Hearn promoted Benn from his professional debut, sticking by the side of ‘The Destroyer’ despite heaps of backlash due to a failed drugs test in 2022.

Two fights with Chris Eubank Jr last year turned Benn into both a global superstar and one of the faces of Matchroom Boxing, but last Friday it was revealed that the Briton had signed with Dana White’s new promotional outfit, Zuffa Boxing.

Speaking on The Joe Rogan Experience, Crawford – who went through a public split with Top Rank during his career – sided with Benn and explained why he believes loyalty is more-or-less non-existent in the relationship between a promoter and a fighter.

“A lot of people are saying that he [Benn] is disloyal and that Eddie Hearn has been loyal to him and this and that. I’m like ‘man, what is people taking about?’. It’s just business, it ain’t personal with them, I bet.

“Conor Benn did what is best for him and his family, just like the promotional companies are going to do what is best for them and their business.

“If a fighter that say sign loses probably two straight [matches], they get to cut him. No questions asked. Why? Because now they are wasting money, they feel.

“They don’t care about that person’s family, they don’t care about that person’s relationship with them. They are not going in there with their heart like ‘oh, man, you are a good buddy’, they are like ‘ah, sorry, it is just business’, and they cut you.”

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Benn is set to debut under the Zuffa Boxing banner when he takes on Regis Prograis in a 150lb catchweight contest as the co-main event of the Fury-Makhmudov bill on Saturday, April 11.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Conor McGregor, who have each previously hinted about buying into Manchester United, are both immensely wealthy

Manchester United legend Cristiano Ronaldo and former UFC champion Conor McGregor have both suggested they would be interested in buying the club. Ronaldo has recently ventured into club ownership, securing a 25 per cent stake in Spanish second-tier side Almeria.

Ronaldo has publicly stated that United would be in safe hands under his ownership. The Portuguese legend’s net worth is currently estimated at an impressive £900million.

Celtic fan McGregor, who has also discussed buying into United, possesses a somewhat smaller fortune of approximately £150m. United are believed to be valued at an eye-watering £4billion.

That means that if either sportsman were genuinely considering purchasing United, they would almost certainly require wealthy investors to support any potential deal. That hasn’t prevented the pair from discussing their prospects of owning the 20-time English champions.

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Speaking at the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards in 2024, Ronaldo, now 41, indicated that he could resolve the club’s issues should he take control. He said: “The problem of Manchester United is the same. The problem is not always the coach.

“It’s much more than that. If I will be the owner of the club, I will make things clear and adjust things that are bad there.” Meanwhile, the former UFC champion revealed his aspirations back in 2021, though his proposal was partly light-hearted.

McGregor sparked conversation on X before Sir Jim Ratcliffe acquired a minority shareholding in United from Old Trafford owners, the Glazer family. McGregor posted: “Hey guys. I’m thinking about buying Manchester United! What do you think?”

He added: “I am certainly interested in acquiring a sports team at some stage! Both Celtic and Man United are teams I like for sure. But I am open. I feel I could do big things for a club.”

Ronaldo invested in Almeria via his CR7 Sports company, joining the club’s ownership group headed by SMC Group. While purchasing United on his own is beyond the reach of the Al-Nassr star, it shows where he sees his career going once he finally hangs up his boots.

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Ronaldo, who collects £178m per year from his current employers Al Nassr, said via Almeria’s social media accounts: “It has been a long-held ambition of mine to contribute to football, beyond just on the pitch.

“UD Almeria is a Spanish club with strong foundations and clear potential for growth. I look forward to working alongside the leadership team to support the next phase of the club’s growth.”

While matters on the pitch appear to be improving under interim boss Michael Carrick, the Glazers, who hold majority ownership, continue to face criticism from supporters.

Ratcliffe, whose INEOS team oversees the club’s football operations, has also faced backlash over several decisions, including significant cost-cutting measures.

In 2025, Ratcliffe outlined his long-term vision for United, saying: “Manchester United will become the most profitable football club in the world, in my view, and from that will stem, I hope, a long-term, sustainable, high-level of football.”

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No. 7 Florida clinched a share of the SEC title with an authoritative 111-77 win over No. 20 Arkansas on Saturday night, marking an accomplishment that even last year’s national title team never claimed. The Gators can clinch the outright league crown on Tuesday with a victory over Mississippi State or an Alabama loss to Georgia.

It is Florida’s first regular season SEC title since 2014, when the program was coached by Billy Donovan. The outcome marked Florida’s biggest win ever against a ranked opponent.

The Razorbacks (21-8, 11-5 SEC) entered with the nation’s No. 4 scoring offense led by star freshman Darius Acuff. But the Gators (23-6, 14-2) made everything hard on the visitors, who never found a shooting rhythm inside a rocking Exactech Arena. 

Arkansas did not hit its second 3-pointer until the 10:12 mark of the second half. It took Acuff 19 shots to reach 17 points as his streak of nine straight 20+ point performances came to an end. Florida has made a habit of eviscerating the competition during its run through the SEC, and its dominance of the Razorbacks was especially impressive in a chippy game.

Both coaches received technical fouls at the 17:27 mark of the second half as the officials adjudicated a call at the review monitor. Florida big Rueben Chinyelu earned a flagrant foul coming out of the review, and Arkansas’ Meleek Thomas picked up a flagrant of his own less than a minute later.

It wasn’t the game’s last review, as the lopsided SEC showdown devolved into a stop-and-go affair. But the outcome was never in doubt. Florida led 53-34 at halftime, scored first in the second half and then never led by less than 20 the rest of the way. 

Seven players reached double figures for Florida, led by Thomas Haugh with 22. In his only scheduled meeting this season against his former team, Florida guard Boogie Fland finished with 14 points.

Florida’s dominant gear on display

Of Florida’s 14 SEC victories, 12 have come by double digits. The Gators have now scored 90-plus points in six straight games against ranked opponents, which is the third-longest streak in a single season in AP poll history and the longest of anyone since the 1989-90 season.

The Gators have found a dominant gear as their guards have started to find a rhythm. Florida hit 42.1% of its 3-point attempts (8 of 19) against Arkansas as its outside shooting continued to improve. UF has hit eight or more 3-pointers in five of its last six games. 

Urban Klavzar continues to be the team’s top perimeter marksman. The Slovenian junior hit 4 of 7 from beyond the arc against Arkansas, marking the third time in the past five games that he’s hit four or more 3-pointers.

Chasing a No. 1 seed

Florida only recently busted through to the No. 2 seed line in CBS Sports Bracketology. Now, the Gators are already knocking on the door of the No. 1 seed line.

What makes the race for the final No. 1 seed particularly interesting is the improvement of Florida’s resume. The Gators are already ahead of the current fourth No. 1 seed, UConn, in predictive metrics and have been for a while. Resume metrics are going to carry more weight in the race for a No. 1 seed, though, and that’s where the Huskies still have the edge for now. 

But Florida is gaining ground. If the Gators win their final two regular season games and then sweep through the SEC Tournament, their case for a No. 1 seed will be strong. An early-season head-to-head loss against UConn could be the most significant hurdle come Selection Sunday if both teams win out.

MS Dhoni arrived in Chennai to a rousing reception from fans on Saturday, February 28. The veteran wicketkeeper landed in the city ahead of the upcoming 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL).

The 44-year-old is all set to play yet another season for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). A big crowd gathered at the Chennai airport to catch a glimpse of the star cricketer.

The Chennai-based franchise posted a video on Instagram, announcing Dhoni’s arrival. The former CSK skipper signed an autograph for a fan before stepping into a car amid heavy security.

CSK captioned the post:

“The helicopter has landed in Chennai!”

It is worth mentioning that MS Dhoni’s association with CSK started in the inaugural IPL edition in 2008. The forthcoming edition will be his 17th season with the team. The new retention rules allowed the five-time champions to retain him as an uncapped player for ₹4 crore prior to the mega auction in 2025.

Dhoni recently visited the Deori Maa Temple near Ranchi to seek blessings. He continued his tradition of praying at the ancient temple before major tournaments.

MS Dhoni will be part of CSK’s pre-season camp for IPL 2026

CSK will kickstart their preparation for IPL 2026 with a pre-season camp in Chennai from Sunday, March 1. According to Cricbuzz, a total of 15 Indian players, including MS Dhoni, will take part in the camp at the team’s high-performance centre.

The team’s T20 World Cup 2026-bound Team India stars Shivam Dube and Sanju Samson will join the squad following the ICC event. Ruturaj Gaikwad will continue leading the side, while Stephen Fleming will remain their head coach.

Meanwhile, Chennai roped in nine players at the IPL 2026 mini-auction. They invested heavily in uncapped Indian players, signing Kartik Sharma and Prashant Veer at ₹14.20 crore each. Some of their other notable buys included West Indies spinner Akeal Hosein (₹2 crore), New Zealand pacer Matt Henry (₹2 crore), and Indian batter Sarfaraz Khan (₹75 lakh).