March has arrived, and with it, the greatest sporting event on the planet … but also the inevitable commotion that will come with the college basketball coaching carousel. A minimum of 40 coaches currently employed now will no longer be at their schools by the end of this month. That’s an unavoidable reality.
And with a sport of 365 schools, the number could easily hit 50. It’s soared past that number in recent years, as the chaos machine that is the transfer portal (combined with myriad factors that fluctuate NIL budgets across the country) has upped the pressure on coaches and players alike. It’s led to an industry that lacks patience but, come this time of year, rebirths optimism for what could be.
As long as you’ve got the millions to pay off the coach and start anew.
Last March/April we had 14 high-major coaching changes, the same number as in 2024, and then a 15th flipped in 2025 when Bruce Pearl handed the job to his son, Steven, last October. I don’t think we’re hitting 14 power-conference openings in 2026, but double-digit changeover at the Power Five level might be inescapable. To get a wide view of what’s vulnerable to change, I’ve built out a list of programs whose coaches are in the crosshairs at this point.
Advertisement
Some are much more likely to split than others, but all listed have at some point this season been the subject of significant speculation behind the scenes. Keep in mind, Kansas State is already open, therefore it’s not listed below.
Another plot point to acknowledge: At this stage, it sure doesn’t look like a top-20 job will come open in 2026. That’s a big change after the past five years worth of carousel cycles saw most of the big and/or blue blood programs undergo a switch.
There is no doubt here. Bobby Hurley is coaching out the string at Arizona State on the final year of his contract and will leave Tempe after 11 seasons. All told, Hurley is the second-best ASU coach in history both in terms of total wins and NCAA Tournament appearances (he made runs in 2018, 2019 and 2023). It’s time for a change, and agents in the industry have been bracing for the vacancy for essentially a year. The job might not be in the top half of power-conference programs, but even in spite of that, I get the sense this opening will attract some viable and interesting candidates due to having low-level expectations in a good location.
Earl Grant‘s time in Chestnut Hill is soon to be over after five seasons, four of them ending with a sub-.500 record. Boston College has been the black sheep of the ACC for 15-plus years; it’s in the wrong conference, and as a result, the program lost its juice long ago. It ranks among the five-or-so least desirable power-conference jobs out of the ~80 in the sport, but it can and will still draw someone on the upswing. Someone will believe they can be the hero and do something that hasn’t happened since 2009: coach the Eagles into the NCAA Tournament.
Thad Matta, a Butler alum, hasn’t been able to restore glory at Hinkle. BU has finished in the bottom third of the Big East ledger in all four of his seasons in Indianapolis. Matta just crossed the 500-win career mark a few games ago, a proper achievement for a coach whose best days will be linked to his time running Ohio State. Butler’s rapid 2010s ascent from Horizon League to Atlantic 10 to Big East was due to Brad Stevens running the program. News flash: He’s been gone 13 years, and Butler’s in need of some real juice just to be a factor in its own league, let alone being a national presence. I say it’s time to go find a fresh face and try and pounce while the Big East is down.
The Bearcats are still well outside the NCAA Tournament picture at this point under Wes Miller.
Tim Warner / Getty Images
There are some mixed signals at the moment over how firm the ground is under Wes Miller‘s feet in Cincinnati. The Bearcats haven’t been NCAA Tournament-good in any of Miller’s five seasons, a surprising development considering how robust and reliable Miller’s UNC Greensboro teams were in the final five seasons of his time there before getting the UC job in 2021. UC is 16-13 and still has a shot to make a run and win its way into the field, but it will take a home win over BYU on Tuesday for that to even become a possibility. It seems Miller’s chances at holding on seem a lot better now than they did a month ago, and the price (well north of $9 million if fired this month) might be a factor.
The noise surrounding this one has risen a lot in the past month, as the Yellow Jackets have dropped to the basement of the 18-team ACC. Damon Stoudamire is only in his third season, but the athletic director now (Ryan Alpert) is not the AD who hired Stoudamire in 2023. I think this one opens. GT has been outside of the KenPom top 100 in all three of Stoudamire’s seasons. It’s a lower-end ACC job in a really good location. How much can it compete in NIL in 2026? A resourceful hire is vital just to get Tech a shot at playing into the top half of the conference.
This one is all about the money. My sources indicate Matt McMahon is more likely than not to keep this job for one more season. And yet: at 15-14, if LSU were to lose its final two games of the regular season and be one-and-done in the SEC bracket, a change could be on the table. But it would be expensive. LSU just spent tens of millions to fire Brian Kelly and hire Lane Kiffin on the football side, in addition to the support given to Kim Mulkey in women’s hoops. Multiple sources said firing McMahon and hiring a new staff and bringing on NIL assurances would amount to at least $25 million more in resources for men’s basketball. That’s going to be tough to endure. If I’m McMahon, maybe I try and get ahead of it all and see if there’s a mid-major parachute to cling onto. Otherwise, he’ll be given minimal support if he’s back for a fifth season in Baton Rouge.
It’s gotten dire in Bluff City. The Memphis Tigers are 12-17 and enduring their worst season this century, worsened all the more by being a non-factor in the 10th-ranked league in college hoops. Penny Hardaway has lost a vast majority of the fan base in his eighth season — and yet we are just one year removed from Memphis earning a 5-seed and winning 29 games. Wild. Hardaway has taken his alma mater to the NCAAs three times but has just one Big Dance win. I won’t be surprised if he’s back, but there is a case to be made that, with two years left on Hardaway’s deal, the program needs a full-on reboot before lethargy seeps in any further.
Porter Moser‘s situation has been ripe for speculation for much of this season. It doesn’t sound like Oklahoma has quietly gone to the search-firm level behind the scenes just yet. The Sooners are 15-14 and set to miss the NCAAs for the fourth time in five seasons on Moser’s watch, but he’s also never been outright bad: OU’s worst KenPom finish is 54th, and the program has been among the worst in the SEC in NIL support in Moser’s time there. The school just hired a new AD after the legendary, decade-long tenure of Joe Castiglione. There’s minimal investment from fans at this point, and Moser probably will find footing this year or next at a solid mid-major job if he seeks an out. If he sticks on for one more season, it will be non-negotiable that OU needs to make the NCAAs in 2027.
Jeff Capel has had eight seasons to try and right the ship at Pitt, but it surely has to be time. New AD Alan Greene has already had soft contact with potential replacements, sources said, so I’m thinking a formal announcement should be coming in the not-too-distant future. Pitt is going to have to pay a steep price to force Capel off campus (more than $10 million), but at this point, the program is like a lot of ACC schools that need a rejuvenation to end the stagnation. The Panthers have one NCAA tourney appearance (as an 11-seed) in Capel’s time, and last made the second weekend of the Big Dance in 2009. The wheels are spinning in place.
Jeff Capel has had one NCAA Tournament-level team in his eight seasons with the Panters.
Frank Jansky / Getty Images
The industry has been expecting Providence to open for close to two months at this point. Now, Kim English has a team that has top-four talent (and is believed to have a top-four budget) in the Big East. Maybe everything coalesces in Manhattan next week at the Big East Tournament. The Friars (14-15) have won three in a row and need to rally, though. Shy of a huge run, the job is expected to come open after just three seasons for English. If that happens, he’s is going be paid handsomely in the years to come, as his buyout is humongous. The fan base is vocal and has not been shy about its feelings on the matter, which has led to heat on AD Steve Napolillo as well.
The Orange are in danger of falling entirely off the college basketball map after three unimportant seasons under Red Autry. Most everyone tasked with tracking the job market in college basketball expects this one to come open not just because SU again failed to meet program expectations, but a change in athletic director (with the hire to be determined before March 10, I’m told) sparking all more the reason to begin anew. Jim Boeheim’s name and legacy still loom large here, but it’s time to find a fresh face outside the Syracuse family in order to give the program a jolt, lest it risk becoming just another average power-conference team.
Bad this year, but unlikely to change
Tad Boyle is on the record: He’s not retiring. The Buffaloes are 16-13 and at least better than the 14-21 squad from a year ago. I’m not sure when his time will be up, but Boyle’s pretty determined to make sure his last season in Boulder isn’t a bad one. At least the Buffs to this point have avoided being in the bottom four in the 16-team Big 12.
Ed Cooley is not walking away, and Georgetown can’t afford to fire him this year. The Hoyas are going to finish under .500 for the fifth time in seven years, though, and the 2026-27 campaign will see Cooley as a top-five hot-seat candidate. This program cannot revive itself, and that’s a sad state of affairs.
Ducks coach Dana Altman told me over the weekend that he will not be retiring. Altman will turn 68 later this year. He’s overseeing a mess, as Oregon‘s 11-18 and headed toward its worst season since 2008-09 under Ernie Kent. Altman is also under no threat of being fired, so don’t expect Oregon to open, despite some curiosity on the agent side in recent weeks.
Steve Pikiell‘s agent negotiated one of the all-time one-sided contracts. Rutgers might dissolve as a university if it paid out the remainder of his contract: the school would be on the hook for more than $20 million. It doesn’t matter that 12-17 Rutgers has once again sunk into the dredges of high-major basketball; Pikiell will be back next season.
Lamont Paris has a significant buyout, and despite some behind-the-scenes snooping on potential candidates, I don’t think this one is coming open. The Gamecocks (12-17) will have back-to-back sub-.500 seasons, in addition to just 11 wins in Paris’ first year. Not unthinkable, but something drastic would need to force action here.
Steve Forbes might try looking for an escape route, but he doesn’t have to at Wake Forest. The school can’t afford his buyout, so unless someone else wants Forbes, he’ll pull off an uncommon achievement by making it to Year 7 at a high-major program without an NCAA Tournament appearance. Also, Forbes is trying to make chicken salad with one of the ACC’s lowest NIL budgets in men’s basketball.
As we brace for the postseason, keep in mind that there is almost always, every year, an unexpected job pop that tosses the cycle into different directions. In 2025, Kevin Willard leaving Maryland for Villanova was one such example — and Darian DeVries bailing on West Virginia after a single season for Indiana was another. In 2024, John Calipari’s stunning exit from Kentucky to Arkansas wound up creating a cascading domino effect. In 2023, Bob Huggins was fired after the season.
Advertisement
That in mind, know there’s a decent-or-better chance at least one school not listed above (and it could be due to a retirement or something else) winds up coming open and altering the dynamics of this year’s carousel cycle. Stay tuned, because it’s going to get noisy next week.
Bayern Munich secured yet another Bundesliga title after beating Stuttgart 4-2 at home on Sunday.
Top scorer Harry Kane scored his 32nd goal of the season after coming on as a second-half substitute as the Bavarians won their 35th German league trophy.
“To finish the league off in the way we have with the goals we scored… credit to the lads… we still have a lot to play for… but all the hard work, this makes it all worth it,” said Kane.
Bayern Munich cruise to title
The win moved the Bavarian giants an unassailable 15 points clear of second-placed Borussia Dortmund with four games to spare.
Advertisement
Germany captain Joshua Kimmich, who won his 10th league title with Bayern, called the victory “very special.”
“The way we did it, we were very consistent…and we haven’t achieved that form so often. I hope 10 more titles come on top of this,” he said.
The “Meisterschale” (“champions’ shield” in English) trophy is expected to be handed out after Bayern’s final game of the season at home to Cologne on May 16.
Vincent Kompany (center) became Bayern Munich head coach after Thomas Tuchel’s exit in 2024Image: Martin Agüera/kolbert-press/picture alliance
Another dominant campaign
Bayern have only suffered one defeat in the league this season, at home to fellow Bavarians Augsburg in January, and a league-low of four ties so far.
They have also scored 109 goals so far this season — another record.
Advertisement
Bayern already clinched the Super Cup in August, also against Stuttgart, and will take on Bayer Leverkusen in the German Cup semi-final on Wednesday.
In Europe, Vincent Kompany’s team has reached the Champions League semi-finals, where they meet holders Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg on April 28.
“It is April 19 and we are in every competition. We have had lots of success with every player in the squad. We go to Leverkusen knowing anything can happen, but with real belief,” Kompany told DAZN.
Kompany, whose only previous job as head coach was at Premier League side Burnley, took over in 2024.
The Jets defense recorded only 26 sacks (31st) last year. The best way to improve your entire defense is to add defenders who can pressure QBs. Bailey was one of the best rushers in college football, a tone-setter who fits Aaron Glenn’s archetype and gives this defense the juice it desperately needs.
The NFC West is a QB gauntlet, with two Super Bowl-winning signal-callers (one MVP) and a third (Brock Purdy) who has already made a Super Bowl with a 67.3% career winning percentage. Defense is a must, and Reese is a violent, rangy defender.
Arguably the best player in the draft, Love can have a three-down impact on every offensive possession. If Tennessee wants to see growth from second-year QB Cam Ward, adding the best offensive weapon in the draft will help his development and give this offense an identity piece.
A young QB’s best friend is good protection. The Giants brought back Jermaine Eluemunor to protect the right side, but Mauigoa is too good to pass up here. If needed, he can become an All-Pro guard and turn what was once a weakness into a strength for the G-Men.
One of the more versatile offensive linemen in the draft with hot tape. Injuries and depth were issues for Cleveland last year on the O-line, and adding Fano helps erase those concerns. His versatility is the selling point.
Washington needs a WR2 with real upside, and Tate gives them a long-term answer while helping stabilize the uncertainty at the position outside of Terry McLaurin.
Cornerback is a huge need after losing Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson. Delane is plug-and-play with inside-outside versatility and gives Kansas City immediate help.
When healthy, Jordyn Tyson could be considered the best WR in this draft, and it sounds like he’s healthy. Malik Nabers, Isaiah Likely and Tyson — good luck slowing that trio down.
New Orleans trades back and still gets its guy. Bain is a Saints-type DL — violent, heavy-handed and a disruptive presence. The Big Easy won’t be easy for visiting QBs this year with his addition.
Baltimore loves unicorns, and Sadiq is a matchup nightmare who gives Lamar Jackson a new dimension. We’ve all seen the magic Jackson and Mark Andrews create, but Sadiq is a different magician. His tricks happen fast — 4.3 fast — and it’s hard to pass that up.
Ioane is the safest interior offensive lineman available. Last year, Tampa Bay’s running game was inconsistent, and Baker Mayfield took a beating at times. Ioane instantly improves both areas and gives the Bucs the O-line stability they need.
Minnesota needs a pass rush in a division full of high-end QBs, and Mesidor fits Brian Flores’ style. When you’re facing Jordan Love, Jared Goff and Caleb Williams, defensive pressure is a must.
Cooper is a football player who happens to play WR, a perfect fit for Sean McVay. He loves smart, tough, versatile receivers, so this is very on-brand.
Protecting Patrick Mahomes is the only correct answer. In 14 games, he was sacked 34 times, the second-most in his career, so keeping him upright is a must. Proctor has All-Pro traits.
Pittsburgh’s passing game lacked juice a year ago, and Concepcion brings a cooler full of it. He’s instant electricity with a four-down impact and gives the Steelers the explosive playmaker they need.
Interior pressure is the Chargers’ biggest defensive hole, especially in the AFC West. Woods is a high-upside swing, and his potential makes this a slam-dunk selection for L.A.
We saw last year how important the O-line is in Philly. Injuries and lack of depth derailed the entire offense. With Lane Johnson’s future uncertain after the 2026 season, this gives them a clear succession plan moving forward. Smart, boring, correct.
You never question linebackers from Georgia — they’re pro ready — and Buffalo needs a defensive leader. CJ Allen is smart and violent, which fits what Jim Leonard wants.
Houston stacking defensive talent is terrifying, and Banks is a luxury pick with massive upside. The rich get richer, and his potential in this defense won’t be fair for the AFC South.
Hood is one of the more patient CBs in this draft at the line of scrimmage and is very comfortable in press, reminding me of Jaylon Johnson. He fits the Cowboys’ new defensive identity and could be a Day 1 starter.
Miami’s secondary overhaul continues, and this revamped group could use the versatility Thieneman brings. The 4.35-second 40-yard dash he ran in Indy matches the speed you see on film.
Quarterback is a major need, and Simpson is the consensus No. 2 QB in this draft, so Arizona couldn’t afford to wait and risk missing on him. Simpson at 31 feels like the most realistic outcome for the Cardinals.
This is a Seahawks defender through and through: bendy and violent with a non-stop motor. Thomas is relentless and physical, and it won’t take long for him to fit in.
Erling Haaland and Gabriel endured a war on Sunday as Manchester City beat Arsenal 2-1 to take control of the Premier League title race
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland said he would never feign injury to get another player sent off after a controversial incident involving Arsenal centre-back Gabriel. With the Blues leading 2-1 thanks to Haaland’s second half strike, tempers flared when Haaland pushed the defender after a free kick was awarded in his favour.
The two players then squared up to each other with Gabriel appearing to be the aggressor as he moved his head towards Haaland. Instead of going to ground, the City man continued to face off with the Arsenal defender before both sets of players piled in to separate them.
Advertisement
When asked about the incident at full time, Haaland told Sky Sports: “If I fell on the floor there, which I will not do unless someone really attacks me, then it would be red card. I’m not sure, I haven’t seen the situation. It is what it is, I will not fall on the floor. For me I don’t know why he comes up to my face.”
Click here to find out the latest Manchester City news in our daily newsletter
Once the incident had settled, both Haaland and Gabriel were booked. Former Premier League referee Mike Dean said on commentary the defender was ‘very, very lucky’ not to be sent off and former Manchester United captain Gary Neville was equally confused by the decision.
Post-match, he told Sky Sports: “If Gabriel had scored later on or had some impact on the game, Pep Guardiola would’ve been fuming. It’s accepted in football you can put your head against each other, but once you push it forward, it’s usually a red. I was happy he didn’t send him off. I got sent off for it against Steve McManaman, I leant my head forward.”
Advertisement
Former City and Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira added: “I really enjoyed that battle [between Haaland and Gabriel]. In the last couple of years those two players have been really hard for each other, but the referee managed it really well.
They were competitive, they were difficult, but these are the kind of games we want to see, that we enjoy watching. I don’t think Gabriel deserved a red card.”
On the game itself, Haaland concluded by paying tribute to Bernardo Silva who was awarded Man of the Match. “I told him, when he headed [a late cross beating Viktor Gyokeres to the ball] out: ‘You were like f****** [Fabio] Cannavaro today,” he said.
“Today, Bernie, I’m not going to make it emotional, you were amazing today as well. Every game is a final. On Wednesday we have a new final. When we have stopped speaking here, it’s about recovering for the Burnley game. Because the Burnley game just as important as this game. We need to stay focus, stay humble.”
BOSTON — Jayson Tatum had 25 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists in his first playoff game since rupturing his right Achilles tendon last season, and the Boston Celtics rolled past the Philadelphia 76ers 123-91 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round matchup on Sunday.
Jaylen Brown scored 26 points and Neemias Queta added 13 for the second-seeded Celtics.
Tatum scored 21 points in the first half, playing in just his 17th game this season following surgery last May to repair his Achilles tendon.
Boston never trailed, building a 35-point lead as coach Joe Mazzulla gave minutes to 12 players. The Celtics connected on 16 3-pointers.
Advertisement
Game 2 is Tuesday night in Boston.
Tyrese Maxey had 21 points and eight assists for the 76ers, who played without Joel Embiid. The 2023 MVP continues to recover following an appendectomy on April 9. It’s unclear when he will be able to return.
Paul George scored 17 points and V.J. Edgecombe added 13. Philadelphia was 4 of 23 from three-point range.
Minnesota Twins manager Derek Shelton was caught voicing his frustration in a hot mic moment before being ejected for arguing a check swing call during Saturday’s loss to the Cincinnati Reds.
The incident went down in the seventh inning after first base umpire Hunter Wendelstedt ruled that Reds star Elly De La Cruz didn’t swing, resulting in a ball on the pitch with the Twins leading, 4-2.
Minnesota Twins manager Derek Shelton walks to the dugout during the first inning of the Boston Red Sox game in Minneapolis on April 13, 2026.(Abbie Parr/AP)
“No swing?” could be heard shouted from the dugout, although it wasn’t immediately clear who shouted it. De La Cruz hit an RBI single on the next pitch, and Rece Hinds scored to narrow the Twins’ lead.
Shelton’s displeasure could be heard from the dugout, and just a few moments later, home plate umpire Nic Lentz ejected him.
The broadcast picked up Lentz telling Shelton, “I wasn’t going to hear it anymore.”
Shelton charged at him, denying the accusation and repeatedly shouting, “I’m not even f—ing talking to you,” and, “I didn’t say anything to you.”
Advertisement
Manager Derek Shelton of the Minnesota Twins argues with home plate umpire Nic Lentz at Target Field in Minneapolis on April 18, 2026.(David Berding/Getty Images)
After the game, Shelton said the comment that got him tossed was made when his head was down.
“I had my head down when I made the comment I made,” he said, via The Minnesota Star Tribune. “He evidently thought I was making the comment at him, but I had my head down and I was not looking at any umpire after I made it.
“You guys can make the determination on the check swing what you think, but when I made the comment I made, I had my head down. I’ve been ejected a lot of times. In that one, I was not directing anything at anything except frustration down at our bench.”
Advertisement
Minnesota Twins manager Derek Shelton argues with umpire Laz Diaz over a pitch challenge during the Orioles game, March 29, 2026, in Baltimore.(Gail Burton/AP)
This was the second time Shelton was ejected this season. Last month, he became the first manager to be ejected over the new Automated Balls and Strikes (ABS) system during a loss to Baltimore.
This latest win represents Maher’s second in the Mornington Cup, building on Right You Are’s 2023 success that led to a fifth placing in the Caulfield Cup some six months later.
Kings Valley ($6.50), guided by Lachlan Neindorf, edged out Pounding ($10) by a head, as Suntora ($10) ended up 1-¼ lengths further adrift in third.
Advertisement
According to Jack Turnbull, National Assistant Trainer for Maher’s team, the Saturday result could be pivotal in Kings Valley’s development.
“He didn’t go about it as you would like,” Turnbull said.
“He was on and off the bridle, but he had an economical run and got the right splits when he needed to.
“We’ve been trying to get to 2400 metres, but he’s been a fierce horse to train and race, so we worked the horse down into the race today and it’s worked out really well.
Advertisement
“Credit to the horse as I think he will go to the next level over this trip because he’s not slow with good change up speed.”
Securing the ‘Golden Ticket’ to the Caulfield Cup prompts the group to consider the most suitable strategy for advancing Kings Valley to the prestige event.
He indicated indecision between Maher potentially wrapping up the campaign or continuing to polish the stayer’s competitive demeanor.
“We always wanted to get to this stage before having to think about that,” Turnbull said.
Advertisement
“We are in a really good position now.”
Rising in his saddle after the winning line, Neindorf conveyed that this achievement outweighed his dual Group 1 successes in his native South Australia.
“This might sound outrageous, but it probably means more to me winning one of these than any of my Group 1’s,” Neindorf said.
“Just for the simple fact when I first came over as an apprentice, I lived in Mornington and then when I went back (to Adelaide) I had to build myself from the ground up and it felt like I was trying to build a skyscraper.
Advertisement
“I’ve come back a second time and based myself in Mornington again and this is now more so home than home in Adelaide.
“It means a lot to win this Cup today.”
For the best betting sites, punters should review options ahead of the 2026 Caulfield Cup where Kings Valley eyes glory.
Former Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch is facing two misdemeanor charges after he was arrested in Athens early Sunday. The arrest of the star receiver comes just days before he is projected to be a second-round pick in this week’s NFL Draft.
Branch, who turned 22 just last month, was arrested by the Athens-Clarke County Police Department and booked into the Athens-Clarke County Jail just before 1:30 a.m. on two charges.
Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch celebrates with wide receiver Colbie Young after scoring a touchdown during the Sugar Bowl and College Football Playoff quarterfinals at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, La., on Jan. 1, 2026. Ole Miss defeated Georgia 39-34.(IMAGN)
The former Bulldogs star was charged with obstructing public sidewalks/streets – prowling and obstruction of a law enforcement officer. He was released after more than two hours in jail after posting $39 in bonds.
ESPN reported that Branch attended Georgia’s spring game on Saturday. His brother, Zion Branch, is a safety for the team after both transferred there in 2025.
Branch transferred after two seasons at Southern California and immediately became quarterback Gunner Stockton’s favorite target. He finished the season with a team-high 811 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns.
Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch runs during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., on Feb. 28, 2026.(Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)
In January, he announced his plans to declare for the draft.
“DAWG NATION, thank you for your unwavering support. You welcomed me with open arms. Having the opportunity to play between the hedges and winning the SEC Championship is a story only God could’ve written, and for that, I am forever grateful,” he wrote in a statement shared on social media.
Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Zachariah Branch celebrates after a touchdown catch against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the second quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga., on Nov. 28, 2025.(Brett Davis/Imagn Images)
Manchester City swung the race for the championship in its favor by beating Arsenal 2-1 on Sunday thanks to a second-half winner by Erling Haaland.
Haaland’s league-leading 23rd goal of the campaign in the 65th minute allowed City to trim the gap to Arsenal, the long-time front-runner, to three points. City has a game in hand at relegation-threatened Burnley on Wednesday, after which Pep Guardiola’s team is likely to have overturned its goal-difference deficit to Arsenal and taken the lead with five rounds remaining.
“Panic on the streets of London” read a banner held aloft behind one of the goals after the final whistle – a reference to a 1980s song by The Smiths and a nod to Arsenal’s end-of-season implosion that has seen Mikel Arteta’s team lose four of its last six games in all competitions, including two straight in the league.
Advertisement
This might be a familiar sinking feeling for Arsenal fans, who have seen their team finish as runner-up for the past three Premier League seasons.
“Two weeks ago, this didn’t look very likely, this scenario,” City captain Bernardo Silva said.
An often-frenetic match exploded into life when Rayan Cherki gave City a 16th-minute lead with a weaving run and finish, only for Arsenal to draw level in bizarre circumstances two minutes later after Gianluigi Donnarumma’s clearance was charged down by Kai Havertz and rebounded into the net from close range.
Haaland and Arsenal pair Eberechi Eze and Gabriel Magalhaes struck the goal frame, before Haaland slotted home a low shot from Nico O’Reilly’s cross, dealing a huge blow to Arsenal’s hopes of a first league championship since 2004.
Advertisement
City is expected to beat next-to-last Burnley, but has a tougher run-in than Arsenal that includes trips to Everton and Bournemouth and a final-day meeting with Aston Villa.
“Every game is a final,” Haaland said.
Unlike City, which is unbeaten in 10 league games, Arsenal is struggling for form and also has to balance playing in the Champions League after reaching the semifinals.
“It’s a new league now – everything is still to play for,” Arteta said.
Advertisement
Liverpool and Aston Villa look to be headed for the Champions League after grabbing stoppage-time winners on Sunday.
Virgil van Dijk headed home in the 10th minute of added-on time to earn Liverpool a 2-1 victory at Everton in a Merseyside derby featuring a record-tying goal from Mohamed Salah.
Salah, who is leaving Liverpool at the end of the season after nine trophy-filled seasons, marked his final derby by slotting in a low finish in the 29th minute. His ninth Merseyside derby goal drew him even with Liverpool great Steven Gerrard for the most in the Premier League era (since 1992).
It was Liverpool’s other stalwart, Van Dijk, who sealed the win by turning in a corner by Dominik Szoboszlai.
Advertisement
There was so much stoppage time because Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili was forced off on a stretcher after sustaining an injury attempting in vain to save a 54th-minute shot by Beto that brought Everton level.
Villa, meanwhile, beat Sunderland 4-3 thanks to Tammy Abraham’s goal in the third minute of stoppage time.
Fourth-placed Villa moved 10 points ahead of sixth-placed Chelsea. Liverpool is in between them, but stretched its advantage over Chelsea to seven points.
The top five in the Premier League will qualify for the Champions League.
Advertisement
Morgan Gibbs-White scored a second-half hat trick as Nottingham Forest rallied to beat Burnley 4-1 and further boost its survival hopes.
Forest moved five points clear of third-to-last Tottenham in the relegation zone, while next-to-last Burnley slipped closer to the drop to the Championship.
INDIANAPOLIS — Caitlin Clark looked right at home inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday.
She wore her favourite Indiana Fever practice gear, stretched and ran with teammates and, of course, flashed her trademark smile. And while she didn’t line up any three-pointers during the open portion of the team’s first training camp practice, everyone knows those will be back — in time.
For now, just getting back to work in her adopted hometown served as a welcome respite after enduring so many frustrating twists during her injury-plagued 2025 season.
“It’s hard, it’s very isolating to come to practice every single day and spend two hours getting treatment and rehab and then you come out here and you have to show up and be the best teammate you can be,” she said. “I think that taught me a lot about what I can do if I’m not on the court, and I got to be their biggest fan. I think that was a great experience for me because through a lot of my career, everyone else was my biggest fan. That doesn’t mean I wasn’t cheering for my teammates. It was like I was playing the most minutes, I had the ball in my hands and when you’re not doing that you have to find another way to impact the team.
Advertisement
Clark did her part last year, serving essentially as the WNBA’s highest-profile coach on game days while working relentlessly behind the scenes to get back to full strength. But the NCAA Division I’s career scoring leader never fully recovered from what turned out to be a season-ending injured right groin just before the All-Star break.
The seemingly indestructible Clark appeared in just 13 games, missed the All-Star Game and the surrounding weekend’s festivities in Indianapolis, and embraced the Fever’s inspirational playoff run, which ended one win short of the WNBA Finals despite a rash of injuries.
So getting Clark back to practice Sunday was a victory for her and the Fever. Now comes the hard part — keeping her healthy.
“The biggest thing is just making sure we’re mindful it’s Day 1,” coach Stephanie White said. “It’s not like she has to go out there and go through everything. I think with her, Kelsey (Mitchell), with AB (Aliyah Boston), just being mindful of getting them in and out, and we need to get other people integrated anyway, so I think it will give us a good opportunity to do that.”
Advertisement
Clark didn’t just spend the offseason rehabbing. She worked as a television broadcaster and as a sports photographer during an NBA game before returning to action while representing the U.S. during the recent World Cup qualifier in Puerto Rico. That gave her a chance to knock off some rust and get back into playing shape.
But things have changed since Clark last appeared in a WNBA game.
There’s a new collective bargaining agreement in place, a deal that helped her All-Star teammates Boston and Mitchell recently sign million-dollar contracts. Longtime rival Angel Reese has been traded to Atlanta, and the league has added two expansion teams as it prepares for its second straight 44-game schedule.
It was about this time last year, Clark said Sunday, she sensed something was off. A few weeks later, she missed Indiana’s first pre-season game, her first absence in six years, with a left leg injury that marked the start of her injury-plagued season.
Advertisement
The good news for Clark fans: She declared herself 100 per cent and said she had no restrictions entering camp. That could set her up for a comeback year — presuming a slightly different approach helps her stay healthy in 2026.
“I’ve been playing pickup, playing live all the time. Eventually, skill workouts get a little boring, so you just want to play and play and play,” she said. “I’m the person that doesn’t want to miss a rep, I want to be out there every single time. Like I just love competing and none of that has changed. But I think just being a little smarter with my body and understanding what it takes — I think especially through camp days — taking care of my body is probably the most important thing.”
While the Major League Baseball season is only just underway, some clear storylines are forming for the year.
Advertisement
For the New York Yankees, the biggest storyline is the breakout of Ben Rice. He was already great last season, but he’s taking his play to a new level in 2026.
Advertisement
Amid such a breakout, MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch is calling for Yankees fans to believe this breakout is for real, and that Rice is a future All-Star, and a lefty-hitting counterpart to Aaron Judge on the right side of the plate.
Yankees fans should believe in Ben Rice’s breakout
“Yankees: Ben Rice is a future All-Star,” Hoch writes. “The next step in Rice’s development will come with increased opportunities against left-handed pitching.”
Advertisement
Rice had a .255 batting average and an .836 OPS across 138 games last season. It was a great year, but there was room for improvement.
Advertisement
And he’s shown exactly that so far in 2026. While it’s only been 20 games, with limited playing time against lefty pitching, Rice has dominated this season.
He is currently hitting .339 with a ridiculous 1.242 OPS to begin the season. While not a super-long sample-size, Rice’s production has been extensive enough to believe in.
He already has seven homers and 17 RBIs with six doubles this season, and could be headed towards an elite season for the Yankees.
Advertisement
Advertisement
But, there is one issue: his chances against left-handed pitching. Aaron Boone has held Rice back from getting reps against lefties, and while those chances are sure to come at some point, Yankees fans are running out of patience.
Rice, the 27-year-old slugger, looks to be a future All-Star even if he’s not playing every game as a starter. He’s one of the best hitters in baseball this season, and his breakout is one Yankees fans should believe in. Rice is actually this good.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login