By Stephen Vilardo, SuperWest Sports
Sports
MW Tournament Likely Boise State’s Best Path to Big Dance
The Broncos sent their senior class out in style in their final regular-season game at ExtraMile Arena.
Fueled by a career-high 33 points from Drew Fielder, the nine-point win kept Boise State’s slim at-large hopes alive.
It also dealt a severe blow to San Diego State’s Tournament resume, in an inconsistent stretch for them, but that’s a column for another day.
What does the current winning streak mean for Boise State’s NCAA Tournament chances? Here are my thoughts on the path ahead.
The good news is that the final regular-season home win marks the Broncos’ fourth consecutive victory, their 10th in the last 13 games.
Since struggling to a 1-5 start to conference play in January, Leon Rice has his squad playing at a high level.
Will it be enough?
At 19-11, Boise State is putting together a strong campaign once again, but it may be too little too late for their at-large NCAA hopes.
Simply put, the Broncos still have more work to do, but not enough time in which to do it.
The regular-season finale takes them to Colorado State, obviously not a game the Broncos can afford to drop, and then a run in Vegas would be needed.
And if they are to make that run, they’d probably have to cross the finish line first to punch their ticket.
That stretch of five losses in six games to ring in the New Year put BSU in too deep a hole.
The selection committee is supposed to (and claims to) look at the totality of a season. If they do, the Broncos might just have a case.
The non-conference slate offered up a neutral site win over St. Mary’s, a victory that keeps looking better and better by the day as the Gaels are stacking the wins.
Two of the three non-conference losses came at the hands of Power Conference programs at the Maui Invitational, against USC and NC State.
The latter was a Quad 1 contest, and the Wolfpack are finishing strong.
The glaring problem with the non-conference slate is the opening loss to Hawai’i Pacific, which is difficult to overlook.
In Mountain West play, as bad as the opening stretch was, two of the three losses since then may be the most damaging.
During that 10-3 two-month period, the Broncos dropped a pair of games—to UNLV at home and Grand Canyon on the road—securing season sweeps for those opponents.
Boise State could not afford the home losses in particular, and, in any case, the Broncos should not have gone 0-4 against those two teams.
The Broncos have been playing much better over the last couple of months, a testament to Leon Rice’s ability to keep his players pushing throughout the season.
The current hot streak gives Boise State hope of making a deep run in Vegas next week. But that prospect raises another pesky issue for the Broncos this season—Utah State.
The road to the conference tournament crown would likely go through the Aggies at some point, and the later, the better.
If the MW Tournament started today, Boise would be the 6-seed, meaning a meeting with USU would only come in the title game. But that could change.
Boise State has not been competitive in its two games against the Aggies, losing by an average of 22 points per contest.
Their nine other defeats came by an average of 8.2.
While the Broncos hope to be playing well into March on neutral courts, that senior night win may not be the final game at ExtraMile for this group.
writes about various topics for SuperWest sports, including stats and records, college sports, and motorsports. He also founded and runs the Sports and Entertainment Research Center (SERC).
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From the start of the offseason in early January, the Minnesota Vikings’ decision to retain defensive tackle Jalen Redmond for 2026 felt like the team’s most obvious no-brainer. That came to fruition on Wednesday, as the club tendered the breakout defender.
Minnesota secured Redmond with a tender, preserving iDL continuity while leaving room for a longer deal.
The Vikings cleared the path for Redmond to be back for a third season while it negotiates a long-term deal.
Redmond’s Return Stabilizes Minnesota’s Interior DL
Redmond fans, you are in luck.
Vikings Tender Redmond
Find your Wolf of Wall Street gifs because Redmond ain’t leavin’.
NBC Sports‘ Charean Williams wrote Wednesday, “The Vikings are placing a restricted free agent tender on defensive lineman Jalen Redmond, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports. Redmond, 26, appeared in all 17 games for the Vikings last season, starting 15 games. He totaled 62 tackles, six sacks, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and five pass breakups.”
“He entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent, signing with the Panthers out of Oklahoma in 2023. Redmond went on the physically unable to perform list during his first training camp, and the Panthers cut him. Redmond played with the Arlington Renegades in the XFL in 2024, and then caught on with the Vikings that summer.”
Pound for pound, Redmond might’ve been the Vikings’ second-best player overall in 2025; now he’s back. The maneuver ensures Redmond cannot talk to other teams in free agency, and the working theory suggests he’ll work with the Vikings’ front office on a long-term extension.
“Other” Two DTs Jettisoned
While it’s encouraging that Redmond will stick around for another season and probably multiple, the Vikings have cleaned house at defensive tackle in the last week.
In 2025 free agency, former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah spent big on Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. One year later, both are out, on tap as cap casualties when the new league year opens on Wednesday. Neither man played poorly last season; the duo just didn’t quite live up to their contract prices.
Redmond didn’t see reduced playing time because of Allen or Hargrave — he was too good to sit — but now Redmond is close to being known as “the guy” for Minnesota at DT if he isn’t already.
In short, Redmond’s stock is climbing, while his teammates will be looking for work.
Redmond’s Last Two Seasons
Redmond earned a 72.7 PFF grade and recorded six sacks from the interior, ranking 11th among NFL defensive tackles. He also led the league in batted passes among DTs, demonstrating consistent pressure on quarterbacks. The film confirms the statistics: Redmond was a disruptive force from the interior.
His performance provided Adofo-Mensah with a crucial success in player evaluation. After a disappointing 2022 draft class and a 2023 class largely dependent on Jordan Addison’s performance, Redmond made an immediate impact. His emergence provided the front office’s scouting department with a clear success story that mattered at the time.
Heading into 2024, Redmond needed to prove his previous season wasn’t an anomaly, a challenge he quickly met. Vikings fans recognize the type: the under-the-radar defender who transforms games while the rest of the league was just starting to notice.
Our Janik Eckardt on Redmond: “It was not the first time his football career was delayed. In college at Oklahoma, blood clots cost him some time and later, he opted out during COVID for the same reason. Despite excellent play in the preseason in 2024, he was initially stashed on the practice squad.”
“A few weeks into the season, the Vikings promoted him to the 53-man roster and he slowly carved out a role on the defensive line. Last training camp, Redmond showed enough promise that the Vikings felt comfortable moving on from Harrison Phillips. The veteran was traded to the Jets, opening the door for Redmond to play a massive role.”
To this day, casual NFL fans don’t really know anything about Redmond.
The Pleasantest of Surprises
When Minnesota signed Redmond in the summer of 2024, he truly felt like a footnote, a guy who’d battle for a roster spot at training camp, and in his best-case scenario, get an invitation to the practice squad.
He quickly proved that he was too good to cut. Within a couple of months, Redmond had clawed his way up the depth chart, leaving Vikings fans to wonder if “every dog has his day.” UFL success stories aren’t plentiful, but Redmond is emphatically one of them.
It’s why fans took notice in January when Minnesota signed another UFL defensive tackle named Jaylon Hutchings. There’s now precedent for hope — thanks to Redmond.
It’s unclear when Redmond will land an extension, but that deal could register $15 million annually, and no one would be too shocked.
Redmond will turn 27 in one week.
Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson is looking to channel both the club’s storied FA Cup history and his own remarkable past triumphs as the Red Dragons prepare to face Chelsea in the fifth round this Saturday.
The mention of the FA Cup in North Wales inevitably conjures memories of Wrexham’s stunning 2-1 comeback victory over Arsenal in 1992, when the then-Fourth Division side famously toppled the Gunners with late goals from Mickey Thomas and Steve Watkin.
This season, they have already demonstrated their giant-killing credentials, eliminating Premier League Nottingham Forest 4-3 on penalties in the third round following a thrilling 3-3 draw at home.
Parkinson himself holds a special place in his heart for encounters with Chelsea, having masterminded Bradford’s incredible 4-2 win at Stamford Bridge in a fourth-round tie back in 2015, a match where his side recovered from a two-goal deficit.
“I was thinking about it this week leading into the game,” Parkinson reflected on that memorable day.
“The build-up to that, the preparations and the principles we took into the game. We were two down but playing well in the game. We didn’t let it knock us, we kept believing and stuck to the game plan and got the goal back before half-time. Obviously it was a memorable second half!”
He intends to instil that same belief in his current squad.
“We mentioned that to the players, on Saturday everything is possible. I think you’ve got to go into every game believing and if not you may as well not turn up.
“We’ve got to go in with belief but also an understanding of the underdog mentality and what boxes we’ve got to tick to make this evening as difficult as possible for Chelsea.”
That famous victory over Chelsea came two years after Parkinson guided League Two Bradford to the League Cup final, underscoring his impressive record in cup competitions.
At Wrexham, he oversaw a 4-3 win against Championship side Coventry during their National League days in 2022-23, subsequently pushing Premier League-bound Sheffield United to a replay in the next round before their exit.
With three consecutive promotions now under their belt, Wrexham are currently a formidable force in the Championship, occupying a play-off spot and enjoying a run of three straight wins, suggesting their cup exploits are anything but a distraction.
“When we beat Ipswich (in the fourth round) we spoke to the lads about putting the Chelsea game on the backburner, concentrate on the league form,” he explained. “We go into this weekend with an ‘everything to gain, nothing to lose’ mindset, but also in a strong position in the league.”
Wrexham’s impressive trajectory has fans dreaming of a fourth promotion and eventual Premier League football, making Saturday’s tie a crucial barometer of their readiness for the next level.
“All through the divisions we’ve had cup ties, like when we played Coventry and Sheffield United, and we’ve spoken to the players about having that test against better quality players, tactically and their physical power, of the next level,” Parkinson added.
“This is the next stage for us against a team of Chelsea’s quality. The main thing on the night is to bring our best performance, but also for ourselves, to see where we are individually and collectively against a team of this standing.”
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The University of Michigan has not renewed the contract of the female football staffer who was suspected to have been in a relationship with fired coach Sherrone Moore.
A university spokesperson confirmed the departure to Fox News Digital on Wednesday.
“Her contract expired and was not renewed,” the spokesperson said.
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Former Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore, second from right, walks with his wife, Kelli Moore, left, and his attorney, Ellen K. Michaels, right, towards the courtroom, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Moore allegedly maintained an inappropriate, yearslong relationship with the staffer, despite him being married with multiple children.
Court documents obtained by Fox News Digital revealed allegations made by the staffer’s attorney, Heidi Sharp, on the day that Moore allegedly entered her home without permission, which later resulted in his arrest.
Det. Jessica Welker of the Pittsfield Township Police Department testified in court that the staffer called Sharp after Moore entered the residence and refused to leave. Sharp then told emergency dispatch that Moore was inside of her client’s home “attacking her.”
The woman accused Moore of continuing to approach her until she was able to get her attorney on the phone, at which point he “immediately backed up and turned the knives on himself, pointing them at his neck, saying that he was going to kill himself and that she was going to watch.”
Then-Michigan Wolverines head coach Sherrone Moore looks on during the college football game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Illinois Fighting Illini on Oct. 19, 2024, at Memorial Stadium, in Champaign, Illinois. (Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Moore then left the staffer’s residence and was later taken into custody by law enforcement, where he denied physically attacking the staffer.
The staffer, whose LinkedIn profile listed her as an executive assistant to the head football coach at the University of Michigan, earned just over $58,000 in 2023 and 2024, according to public payroll information. In the 2025 fiscal year, though, her salary jumped to $99,000, according to a salary disclosure report from the University of Michigan.
That’s a 70.62% increase year-over-year — even higher than the figure circulating social media right now, via UMSalary.info.
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Former Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore, center, appears in the courtroom, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Moore, who faces felony home invasion, stalking and illegal entry charges, scored a legal victory last month when a judge granted a request for a hearing to learn more about the investigation that led to criminal charges against him.
Judge J. Cedric Simpson, who is presiding, expressed concern that a police detective didn’t disclose Moore’s employer-employee relationship with the woman when a magistrate authorized a warrant for his arrest. Simpson described it as a “glaring omission.”
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Former AEW star Danhausen had a somewhat underwhelming debut at WWE Elimination Chamber 2026. An All Elite Wrestling veteran has addressed the incident, seemingly explaining why.
For weeks before Elimination Chamber, WWE teased a potential new arrival to the promotion through a mystery crate bearing the message ‘open on Feb 28, 2026’ (the date of the Chamber). When the crate was finally opened at the pay-per-view, outcame ex-AEW star Danhausen to a relatively mild reception. The Very Nice, Very Evil star’s arrival then became a topic of discussion, with many giving their two cents on why it was underwhelming. The latest to join that discussion is AEW commentator and wrestling legend Jim Ross.
Talking on the latest episode of his Grillin’ JR podcast, the veteran noted that Danhausen was placed in a tough position, especially since it was WrestleMania season, and believed that the 35-year-old was not ready for the moment.
“It’s like WrestleMania, for God’s sake. You just don’t… I don’t know, it put Danhausen in a tough spot. Was he ready for that moment? I don’t think he was. I think there are a lot of people who didn’t even know who the hell he was,” said JR [H/T: Ringside]
Check out his comments in the video below:
Ex-AEW star Danhausen will reportedly appear at this week’s WWE SmackDown
Despite his Elimination Chamber reveal receiving mixed reviews, PWInsider reported that WWE officials were pleasantly surprised by Danhausen’s pull, as his merchandise sales brought in strong numbers. The report also noted that the Very Nice, Very Evil star will appear this Friday night on Smackdown.
“Per PWInsider, WWE officials are said to be “pleasantly surprised” with the merchandise numbers Danhausen has generated since debuting with the company. Danhausen is also expected to appear on this Friday’s episode of SmackDown.”
It will be interesting to see what WWE has planned for Danhausen on SmackDown this Friday.
Read all the hottest WWE news from Sportskeeda by choosing us as your preferred source. Click HERE.
Edited by Karan Raj
Fan-favourite light-heavyweight ruler David Benavidez is set for a tough challenge against Gilberto Ramirez in two months’ time. Ahead of that bout, ‘The Mexican Monster’ has named the opponent who has given him his hardest fight to date.
Benavidez was crowned as the youngest super-middleweight world champion in history when he defeated Ronald Gavril by split-decision back in 2017, before a more dominant win in their rematch.
The Phoenix-born powerhouse then became a two-time champion at 168lbs, but lost the belt for a second time after missing weight and then continuously campaigned for a showdown with new champion Canelo Alvarez, but to no avail.
Benavidez overcame David Lemieux, Caleb Plant and Demetrius Andrade whilst in hot pursuit of Canelo, eventually moving up to light-heavyweight when he realised that the fight was not happening.
There, the now 29-year-old has trumped Oleksandr Gvozdyk, David Morrell and Anthony Yarde in impressive displays, during which time he has got his hands on the WBC light-heavyweight world title.
When speaking to streamer Neon on Kick, Benavidez picked out Plant as the man who gave him his toughest fight, despite his unanimous-decision victory.
“Who was the toughest fight? Everybody kind of has a lot of different stuff that they do, I would say that probably the hardest fight that I have had was with Caleb Plant.
“It was such a big moment, there was a lot of animosity towards each other and he is a great fighter. He fought a good fight, we had a great performance, both of us.”
The two-division conqueror takes on Ramirez on Saturday, May 2, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, where the unified cruiserweight world champion will presumably overtake Plant as Benavidez’s most difficult dance partner yet.
Fernando Mendoza has been the consensus number one pick for the last few months.
It makes sense. He’s a safe option for a Raiders team that is in desperate need of a quarterback. Mendoza, coming off his Heisman victory this past season, checks a lot of boxes. Most scouts agree that he’s a very intelligent prospect. He’s very large at 6’5”, 235 pounds, solid arm talent, can move outside of pressure and extend plays with his legs, and has a generally high floor as a prospect.
I’m just not sure he’s a slam dunk first overall pick. Mendoza is good at most things, but I’m not sure he’s very elite at any one thing. I’m not saying that he isn’t good, but it feels crazy that the Las Vegas pick has been locked in since they found out they were picking first.
Scouts do not seem sold on Mendoza’s ability to process at an NFL level. Luckily, Vegas probably made the best hire of the coaching cycle in former Seahawks offensive coordinator Klin Kubiak. He runs a very high-level offense and can get the most out of a quarterback, but I could see Mendoza struggling within this offense, at least in his rookie year.
Mendoza will also be entering what could be the league’s worst situation. Ashton Jeanty was the Raider’s first round pick last year, but he struggled to develop behind one of the worst offensive lines in the league. Then you go over to receiver, and there’s not much talent there outside of Brock Bowers at tight end. Bowers is one of the best offensive tight ends in football, but I don’t love my rookie’s top target being a tight end by a massive margin.
The Raiders were mostly dysfunctional last season, and I’m not sure this is the best year for them to go all in on a QB in the first round. They need so much more help, and will also have to replace Maxx Crosby once he’s traded. Would it be absolutely insane to draft one of the elite edge players with that first pick?
Arvell Reese looked like he was made in a lab when testing at the combine, and David Bailey and Reuben Bain Jr. feel like future All-Pro guys as well. I know a team would never reach on Sonny Styles or Caleb Downs because of positional value, but I feel way better about those two players’ ability to be NFL-ready over Mendoza’s.
The NFL is a quarterback league, but our last two Super Bowl winners are the Eagles and Seahawks. Jalen Hurts and Sam Darnold certainly aren’t bad, but it was the elite teams around them that took them to the top.
It’s a lot easier to win in the NFL when a quarterback isn’t taking up a team’s entire cap space, and by the time the Raiders have a roster around Mendoza good enough to compete, I think they will be overpaying for what will be their former number one overall pick. Drafting an edge rusher won’t sell as many jerseys, but it could be a move that gets you closer to creating a playoff-contending roster.
Dec 29, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney (1) runs after a catch against the Los Angeles Rams in the third quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The Atlanta Falcons are set to release wide receiver Darnell Mooney, NFL Network reported Thursday morning.
Signed to a three-year, $39 million contract in March 2024, Mooney was set to count $18.4 million against the salary cap. The Falcons would save $7.42 million on the cap with the reported move.
Mooney, 28, recorded 64 catches for 992 yards and a career-high five touchdowns in his first season with the Falcons in 2024. He had just 32 receptions for 443 yards and one score in 15 games in 2025.
He has 309 catches for 4,028 yards with 17 touchdowns in 91 career games (80 starts) with the Chicago Bears (2020-23) and Falcons. –Field Level Media
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah did not leave the Minnesota Vikings in late January with a stellar track record, and his reputation took yet another hit on Wednesday night, as the team will reportedly release defensive tackle Jonathan Allen. And that’s in addition to Allen’s DT counterpart, Javon Hargrave, on his way out as well.
Minnesota may lose both DT signings, forcing a quick pivot to the draft and the next wave of veterans.
The Vikings will hand the bulk of DT snaps to different players in 2026. Adofo-Mensah’s 2026 free-agent class is going up in flames.
The Allen Decision Signals Vikings’ Plan to Redo Everything at DT
The hits just keep on comin’.
Vikings to Cut Allen
Allen, as a cap casualty, is basically a done deal.
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert wrote, “The Minnesota Vikings are expected to release defensive tackle Jonathan Allen in the coming days as they continue to whittle down their salary cap deficit and reduce their cash commitments, sources told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Wednesday.”
“Allen was an expensive one-year investment for the Vikings, who signed him as a free agent in March 2025. Allen earned $16.2 million last season, during which he played in all 17 games and finished with 68 tackles and 3.5 sacks. He also has $8 million in full guarantees for 2026, which would be partially offset if he signs with another team. The move will save the Vikings $6.5 million against their 2026 cap.”
Once upon a time, about a year ago, Allen was theorized as Minnesota’s fancy solution at defensive tackle. While Allen didn’t play terribly, the experiment largely flopped.
Hargrave before That
Before Allen, the who’s who of NFL reporting said last week that Hargrave will leave the organization if it cannot finagle a trade.
In 2025, Hargrave played in 16 games, participating in 537 defensive snaps (53%). He recorded 52 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 6 quarterback hits, 4 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, and 31 pressures. Although his 31 pressures ranked 34th among defensive tackles, the statistic indicates consistent involvement despite not being a truly dominant interior force.
His performance grades reflect this assessment. Pro Football Focus gave Hargrave a 70.0 pass-rushing grade and a 57.3 run-defense grade, ranking him 35th among interior defenders for the season. While his pass-rushing ability flashed at times, his run defense lacked consistency.
Like Allen, he’s on his way out, and the Vikings’ stop lasted a single season.
The Immediate Future at DT
After Jalen Redmond, one of Minnesota’s top defensive players last season, finalizes a new deal with the Vikings this offseason and secures an expected starting role, several players will compete for increased playing time behind him. Levi Drake Rodriguez has shown noticeable improvement as a run defender and could compete for a starting position next season.
Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins gained valuable experience as a rookie. Undrafted free agent Elijah Williams impressed the coaching staff during training camp and the preseason. The team also signed UFLer Jaylon Hutchings in January.
Our Kyle Joudry noted Wednesday, “The Vikings appear ready to lean into a youth movement. Most prominently, there’s the status of Jalen Redmond. He’s a fantastic player, proving to be difficult to corral when rushing the passer and when shutting down the run.”
“Most notable and obvious is his athleticism, but consider that he must have a work ethic, compete, and resilience. Going the way of undrafted free agency, the UFL, and then to the Vikings’ roster (where he was cut before breaking out) is impressive.”
The draft could also provide additional talent; Minnesota is well-positioned to select an interior lineman early if it chooses to bolster the position. Prospects like Peter Woods (Clemson), Caleb Banks (Florida), Kayden McDonald (Ohio State), Lee Hunter (Texas Tech), and Christen Miller (Georgia) are among the defensive tackles expected to draw attention in the first couple of rounds.
Free agency presents another avenue. Veteran interior defenders such as John Franklin-Myers, Levi Onwuzurike, and D.J. Reader are expected to be available when the market opens next week, offering Minnesota multiple options to strengthen the DT spot.
Money Saved vs. Money in Dead Cap
If the Vikings date the releases of Allen and Hargrave with a post-June 1st designation, they’ll save about $22 million in salary cap while eating a $23 million dead cap hit. Financially, in the long-term scheme of things, it’s a wash. Pragmatically, the $22 million would allow the club to sign a few new players.
Minnesota clearly endorses a path without the two DTs because keeping them aboard, not being socked with the $23 million dead cap hit, would make more sense.
The Vikings either love their existing, somewhat under-the-radar DT depth — or a fancy new DT, probably from the draft, is on the way.
Allen and Hargrave should have no problem finding new employers for 2026; they’re decent defenders.
Sports
Lakshya Sen fights back to beat Ng Ka Long Angus, reaches All England badminton quarterfinals | Badminton News
India’s Lakshya Sen celebrates (Bradley Collyer/PA via AP)
NEW DELHI: Lakshya Sen delivered a determined performance to defeat Ng Ka Long Angus and advance to the quarterfinals of the All England Open Badminton Championships on Thursday.The world No. 12 Indian shuttler won a tough round-of-16 clash 21-19, 21-23, 21-10 after an intense three-game battle filled with long rallies and physical exchanges. Lakshya, who finished runner-up at the 2022 edition of the tournament, showed strong mental resilience to overcome his opponent, against whom he had previously lost all three matches.
“It was a very solid game, I think both the sets and also credit to him, he made a solid comeback in the second. I think I just didn’t play freely towards the end of the second set and gave too many easy shots for him to kill,” Lakshya said.The match started with Lakshya trailing early in the opening game, but he gradually found his rhythm. Using sharp smashes and precise placement, he recovered from a 4-6 deficit and built a solid lead before sealing the first game after a tense finish.Lakshya looked in control in the second game and even built a comfortable lead midway through. However, Ng Ka Long mounted a late comeback and saved multiple match points to force the contest into a deciding third game.“But yeah I think I was prepared again in the third set to just go all out and happy with the way I played in the third,” he added.“Tactically I was playing the right game both the sets and yeah it’s just the last few points I didn’t stick to the plan, just gave too many easy errors. But again, it was important to just switch off, forget the second set, forget the first set and just play the third set with the same game plan which was working.”In the decider, Lakshya quickly regained control, taking an early lead and dominating with strong defence and fast attacking shots. His opponent struggled to keep up as Lakshya pulled far ahead and comfortably closed out the match.“I’m feeling pretty good on court especially, the last two matches and yeah now it’s time to again recover, another tough match tomorrow so just have 24 hours and then just go all out,” he added.
“Underrated”, “overlooked”, “sleeper”, “ready for the primetime”…
Those are all terms you may have heard when it relates to Tour Edge Golf. However, for those who follow gear actively it’s no surprise that Tour Edge consistently tops the charts when it comes to bang for your buck performance and value.
If you follow PGA Tour Champions golf at all you would know that Tour Edge is extremely active in terms of clubs in play week in and week out. Players like Bernhard Langer, Scott McCarron, Duffy Waldorf, Tim Petrovic and Tom Lehman have all been Tour Edge users fairly consistently over the past decade.
In this new installment of Tour Validated, Rocco and I had a chance to test the Tour Edge Exotics Max and LS drivers and it goes without saying that we were both surprised (not shocked) and just how quality and efficient this new lineup really is.
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Launched last October, the Exotics drivers have been quietly inching their way into any serious driver conversation based on overall performance and value vs. their much larger competitors. What Rocco and I learned more than anything during the video is that both the Max and LS not only perfectly live up to their marketing, but the user experience is a 10/10 in terms of consistency, look, feel and dispersion down range.
Here are the three biggest takeaways from our Tour Validation test:
3 biggest takeaways from Tour Edge Exotics driver testing
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Fully Equipped
1. Consistent launch and spin windows
Rocco hits one shot and one shot only, a draw. While that shot is optimal for extra distance, it’s also a shot that can lead players down a tricky path in terms of spin retention. If a draw isn’t spinning in a consistent window (2300-2700 RPMs) it makes reliability a fleeting endeavor.
In this particular session Rocco saw a 1 to 1 relationship with launch and spin from model to model. The Max model launched at 14-15 degrees at 2400-2800 RPMs while the LS launched at 14-15 degrees with 2100-2400 RPMs of spin and wouldn’t curve as much. That’s exactly the feedback you would expect from a Max to an LS model.
2. It’s sneaky fast
Compared to his Ping gamer, both Exotics models were 1-2 MPH faster. The question most would ask is “why isn’t it in the bag then?” To put it simply, it’s not that simple at a Tour level. Especially with someone like Rocco who judges a driver on the way it draws vs. what the math/data tells him.
What we discovered in our test was that although the Tour Edge outperformed his gamer in a bunch of categories, it came down to Rocco’s non-negotiable “window” that it must fly out of which is about a degree and half lower than the Exotics. That was it. Keep in mind that this test isn’t a fitting, it’s a test, so we no doubt knew there was still value to be found.
3. This thing is just really fun to hit
That’s been the overarching feedback I’ve seen and heard on the Exotics lineup, the user experience via sound, feel and flight is just a bunch of fun.
“That thing sounds incredible” is something I heard a few times after the fact from Rocco. Sound has always been a mark of a great driver in his eyes, and it’s always the first acid test he will put any club through. He’s not your normal Tour player in terms of fitting which makes him quite a challenge when it comes time to getting him into a new club. His swing speed and ball speed have stayed within 2-3 MPH of each other for the past 30+ years. I would estimate at his fastest Rocco probably lived in the 155-160MPH neighborhood at the peak of his powers, and now in his 60s he lives in the low 150s.
The point is, because of his tight parameters for shape and the fact that there isn’t a world where a driver affords him 5-6MPH more ball speed (without sacrificing shape and spin), the Tour Edge Exotics Max was the first driver I have seen that was faster and on the razor’s edge of giving him all the other “have tos” he requires. Quite impressive actually. The other drivers we have tested with him may be faster, launch higher, etc., but the tradeoffs to give him those better numbers cost him too much in terms of what he needs to see on the course and under the gun.
There is lot to learn from how Rocco evaluates equipment. He’s not a data guy, he doesn’t really care about hitting it farther, and hitting it high has never been an issue. His priorities are simple, any club he considers has to fly out of a window that is just right of the center line and slowly drift back to the left. That’s it. Consistency and reliability are demanded in every possible situation. “If I do this, the ball has to do that” is something I’ve heard him say countless times.
What’s even cooler is he doesn’t look back at the numbers to confirm this either, he looks down range the whole time. “The ball in the air will tell me if a club is good for me”.
Let’s make Tour Edge great again | New Tour Edge Exotics for 2026
;)
That’s how we should all be looking at our sticks at the end of the day, building a bag of trust vs. a bag of really fun launch numbers will always lead to better play. It seems counterintuitive these days based on fitting content, how we review equipment, etc., but Rocco is over 60 years old, not long by any metric and still competes week in and week out on the Champions Tour… eyeballing everything.
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