Oba Femi made his official main roster debut in the Men’s Royal Rumble Match and put on an impressive performance. One of the major highlights of Femi’s outing and the bout was his interaction with Brock Lesnar.
If their interaction in Saudi Arabia was any indication, fans will lose their minds if the two behemoths collide again. A match of this caliber deserves a stage like WrestleMania.
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In this listicle, we will look at three reasons why Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar must be booked for The Show of Shows this year.
#3. Unfinished business from the Royal Rumble
During the Men’s Royal Rumble Match, Femi and Lesnar came face-to-face for the first time, as the crowd in Riyadh erupted. The powerhouses traded blows, but in the end, The Beast Incarnate took advantage of The Ruler’s distraction and tossed him over the top rope.
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The former NXT Champion has a clear motive to go after the man who took away his opportunity to main event WrestleMania 42. The Ruler could challenge Lesnar in a traditional one-on-one match to determine who is the better competitor.
#2. Oba Femi needs a major opponent for his first WrestleMania
Oba Femi is clearly looked at as a top star, and his presentation shows that well. The Ruler could be a major player in the company for years to come. The powerhouse will make his first WrestleMania appearance, and he needs to be booked in a high-profile match.
A showdown against Brock Lesnar on The Grandest Stage of Them All would be a fitting program for the former NXT Champion’s first ‘Mania.
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#1. It could lead to a massive passing of the torch moment
Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi would be a collision of two different eras. Lesnar is a seasoned veteran, while Femi is rising through the ranks. It would be the ultimate clash of past vs. present.
The Ruler is presented as a ruthless monster, and there could be no bigger test for him than The Beast Incarnate, the dominant force that has wreaked havoc in WWE for years.
If Femi is able to defeat Lesnar at The Show of Shows, it would be the ultimate passing of the torch. After conquering The Conqueror, The Ruler would cement himself as one of the biggest threats in the promotion.
Newly minted FBS school North Dakota State found itself in a position similar to Alabama fans during the heyday of Nick Saban’s dynasty: It simply won too much. The school has captured 10 national championships in 15 years. Within the fan base, the expectation is not just success, but success at the highest level.
Attendance for early-round home playoff games that NDSU is expected to win handily has suffered. This year’s loss to Illinois State drew an official attendance of 10,464 to the 19,000-seat Fargodome, roughly half full. Despite five interceptions from Redbirds quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse, the No. 1 Bison lost. It marked the first time NDSU had fallen before the quarterfinal round since 2009 and the first time a No. 1 seed lost its playoff opener since 2004.
Few knew it at the time, but it was NDSU’s final game at the FCS level. A process that began ramping up in late fall accelerated in January, when athletic director Matt Larsen began to believe the program was moving up from the division it had dominated since 2004. For a segment of the Bison fan base, the move to FBS will provide a new challenge.
“I do think there’s an element of our fan base of what’s next we’ve had great success, is there a next iteration at a higher level for Bison football?” NDSU AD Matt Larsen told CBS Sports. “And so I think that’s where, if you would ask me, six or seven years ago, where the fan base was, they probably weren’t there yet, right? But four national championships later, and I think the majority of Bison nation would tell you that this is the right next step, and it’s the right time to do it.”
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To compete in the FBS, North Dakota State has to be up to par not only on the field, but also financially. NDSU will pay $5 million to the NCAA to transition and a $12.5 million entry fee to the Mountain West over six years.
Consider the Fargodome. the longtime home to the Bison is owned by the city of Fargo and requires voter approval for renovations. A referendum has failed twice in recent years. Larsen said the Fargodome has a reserve fund earmarked for renovations, but the 32-year-old building needs updates, particularly for more premium seating. A pending convention center project — which may or may not be located at the Fargodome site — also factors into the decision-making.
North Dakota State opened a 117,000-square-foot, $54 million football facility in 2022. Its total athletic department budget is about $30 million annually, and Sportico reported the school spent $8.4 million on football in the last fiscal year. Larsen expects that figure to double within two years, accounting for staffing, scholarships, revenue sharing and coaching compensation.
The school’s primary athletics fundraising arm said it has “tentatively raised” $25 million for the move. NDSU does not expect to add sports to offset the increase in football scholarships from 65 to 85 upon moving to FBS.
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The school will receive a full share of Mountain West television revenue by 2032, but as CBS Sports previously reported, it will collect 50% of College Football Playoff and bowl revenue distributed to full members this year and 100% after its second postseason appearance. The school plans to challenge the NCAA’s two-year probationary period that bars it from postseason play.
As with many realignment cases, the loss of tradition is part of the cost. South Dakota State and North Dakota State have met 118 times and have played for the Dakota Marker trophy since 2004. The rivalry has often determined FCS supremacy, with one or both teams ranked in the top five when they meet. After the 2022 season, they faced each other in the national championship game.
“I would say for the foreseeable future, it’s probably on hold,” Larsen said. “I think our rivalry was one out of really great respect between programs that did it the right way. And so I think there’s so many positives to this move, I think the one thing you could say that our fans are going to miss it’s playing for the Dakota Marker, because there were some epic games over the course of the last 10-15, years that have created great memories and great opportunities for our fans.”
As one FCS administrator cautioned to CBS Sports, there is a “careful what you wish for” element to moving up — trading double-digit win seasons and championship runs for years that could end in a lower-tier bowl game in a far-flung locale that is difficult to reach. The novelty can be appealing at first, but it fades without winning.
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Still, there is reason for optimism about the Bison’s ability to compete quickly. Programs with less FCS pedigree have made successful transitions in recent years.
The newest FCS-to-FBS members, Delaware and Missouri State, both finished 7-5 and reached bowl games in their debut seasons. After struggling in its 2024 debut, Kennesaw State went 10-2 under new coach Jerry Mack and won a conference championship over Jacksonville State, which moved up in 2023 and has won at least eight games in each of its first three FBS seasons under two different coaches. Sam Houston also moved up in 2023 and, in its second year, narrowly missed a Conference USA title while winning 10 games. James Madison transitioned in 2022 under Curt Cignetti and has won at least eight games every year since. The 2025 season under Bob Chesney culminated in a College Football Playoff berth.
The relative ease of those transitions raises questions about the gap between the top half of the FCS and the Group of Five conferences.
In many respects, North Dakota State accomplished all it could at the FCS level. Now, the FBS journey begins.
After Dplus’ recent victory over DRX, Gen.G has chosen the former as its next opponent for the League of Legends LCK Cup 2026 Playoffs. Since this best-of-five series is not an elimination match, the loser will fall to the lower bracket. On the other hand, the winning team will proceed to the next stage and face the victor of the T1-FEARX series.
Here are the details about the Gen.G vs Dplus clash in the League of Legends LCK Cup 2026 Playoffs taking place on February 14, 2026.
Gen.G vs Dplus in League of Legends LCK Cup 2026 Playoffs: Can Dplus stop Gen.G’s impeccable winning streak?
Prediction
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With the same roster as last year, Gen.G is yet to lose a game and has shown exceptional dominance in the LCK Cup 2026 so far. Furthermore, it already defeated Dplus 2-0 earlier in the tournament, with top laner Kiinoutclassing the opponent with the Gwen and Rumble picks.
That said, all five of Gen.G’s players are performing admirably and have a vast champion pool. Ryu, the team’s head coach, is also doing an excellent job during the draft phase. Overall, the team excels at capitalizing on opponents’ mistakes while making few early-game misplays themselves.
Dplus, on the other hand, finished second in the group and then beat DRX twice to reach this stage. Despite the team being a force to be reckoned with, there’s a major problem regarding its consistency.
Dplus usually dominates the early game and secures a gold lead, but fails to snowball in the later stages and occasionally makes schoolboy errors. So, if the team’s laning phases go well and the players mitigate the mistakes, the series against Gen.G can certainly be competitive.
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But the probability of that is too low, as Gen.G is clinical at securing neutral objectives and winning crucial team fights. On paper, the series should be a quick 3-0 for Chovy and co.
Prediction: Gen.G 3 – 0 Dplus
Head-to-head record
Gen.G has won 15 of the 16 games between these two teams, while Dplus has only won once.
Previous results
Gen.G won its earlier series 3-0 against Hanwha Life. On the other hand, Dplus won 3-2 against DRX.
United States’ Nosthush Kenjige celebrates the wicket of Netherlands’ Michael Levitt during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Netherlands and United States in Chennai, India, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP)
The United States secured a 93-run win over the Netherlands in a group-stage match of the T20 World Cup on Friday, riding on Saiteja Mukkamalla’s 79 and a four-wicket spell from former India U-19 cricketer Harmeet Singh. It was USA’s first T20I victory against the Netherlands.Mukkamalla’s 51-ball 79 anchored the innings as USA posted 196 for 6 in 20 overs. Shubham Ranjane contributed 48 not out from 24 balls to push the total close to 200.
‘We weren’t good enough,’ says Australia’s Matt Renshaw after 23-run defeat to Zimbabwe in T20 World Cup
In reply, the Netherlands were bowled out for 103 in 15.5 overs. Left-arm spinner Harmeet Singh returned figures of 4 for 21, the best by a USA bowler in a T20 World Cup match.Harmeet did not extract sharp turn but benefited from errors by the batters. Opener Max O’Dowd (13) and all-rounder Bas de Leede (23) were dismissed off short deliveries that were hit to fielders. He also bowled a flat delivery that beat captain Scott Edwards and another straight ball that trapped Roelof de Merwe lbw.Left-arm spinner Nosthush Kenjige accounted for Michael Levitt with a ball that stayed low.Chasing on a surface that slowed as the match progressed, the Netherlands did not build partnerships and fell well short of the target.Earlier, Mukkamalla set the platform with his 79. He shared a 55-run stand for the second wicket with captain Monank Patel (36) and added 54 for the fourth wicket with Ranjane.Mukkamalla, who trained at the academy run by VVS Laxman in Hyderabad, struck five fours and four sixes. He scored freely through the off side, including shots over cover.Ranjane attacked in the closing overs and handled the short-ball approach used by the Netherlands bowlers. He hit Roelof van der Merwe for a straight six and pulled both Bas de Leede and Logan van Beek.At one stage, with Mukkamalla and Ranjane at the crease, USA were positioned for a total beyond 200. However, van Beek and de Leede varied their pace on the Chepauk surface to restrict further damage.Bas de Leede, son of former Netherlands seamer Tim de Leede, finished with figures of 3 for 37.
Serena Williams back in training after Super Bowl Ad
Serena Williams has responded to criticism surrounding her Super Bowl commercial by sharing a training clip on social media, showing her practising pole fitness.
The 44 years old appeared in an advert aired during Super Bowl LX, promoting a weight management service from telehealth company Ro. The commercial drew mixed reactions online, with some fans criticising the former tennis champion for endorsing weight loss medication.
Days later, Williams posted a short video on Instagram Stories, captioning it, “I’m back to training on my two favourite devices.”
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Williams has previously spoken about changes to her body following childbirth and life after professional tennis. She retired from the sport in 2022 as a 23 time Grand Slam singles champion and remains one of the most influential figures in women’s sport.
While the advert sparked discussion across social media, Williams has not directly addressed the criticism beyond continuing to share aspects of her training and lifestyle.
Jan 25, 2026; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) looks on before the 2026 NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images
Sam Darnold just completed the ultimate reclamation this past weekend, winning the Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks.
It’s a far cry from where his career stood just a couple years ago when he was mostly known for “seeing ghosts” with the New York Jets before becoming a primary backup QB for both the Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers.
Now, after starting his comeback with the Minnesota Vikings last season with a 14-3 record and a playoff berth, Darnold is now standing on the football mountaintop. But could there be other QBs set to follow a similar trajectory in the next few years?
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Mac Jones
Dec 22, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones (10) warms up before the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Mac Jones feels like the most obvious choice of this bunch right now. He is heading into free agency this offseason after spending a season with the San Francisco 49ers; the exact position Darnold was in before he headed to Minnesota.
After being selected with the 15th overall pick in 2021, Jones had one solid season with the New England Patriots, which just so happened to be his rookie year. Since then, Jones has not surpassed thresholds of 3000 yards or 20 touchdowns in a season.
However, we may have seen a bit of a turning point with Jones with the 49ers this year. In eight starts, San Francisco went 5-3, and he completed a career high 69.6% of his passes while averaging nearly 269 passing yards per game in those starts. Stretched to 17 games, that pace would have given him about 4571 yards, which would have ranked second in the NFL behind only MVP Matthew Stafford.
Now Jones is set to hit free agency to try and get a full-time starting job somewhere. If he lands in a competent organization with a solid structure in place, he could easily be the next QB to follow the Darnold path.
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Tua Tagovailoa
Dec 15, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) takes the field against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
The Miami Dolphins seem to be on the verge of giving up on Tua Tagovailoa after another losing season in which the offense scuffled mightily. Or, maybe new faces on the coaching staff could be what Tua needs to revive his career with the Dolphins.
There certainly is talent within Tua, especially when we think back to that 2023 campaign in which he led then NFL with 4624 passing yards, threw 29 touchdowns, and completed 69.3% of his passes while leading Miami to a playoff berth.
It’s been a long fall since that point, and in 2025, he was benched for Quinn Ewers.
The problem with projecting a ton of success with Tua moving forward is his concussion history. The QB managed to stay clean in 2025, but he has suffered at least four documented concussions to this point in his career. If he is able to stay injury free moving forward, there is a decent chance that he can put together strong football seasons either in Miami or elsewhere, but that is no guarantee at this point.
Zach Wilson
Jul 29, 2025; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Zach Wilson (0) throws the football during training camp at Baptist Health Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
The ties between Darnold and Zach Wilson are undeniable. Both were top five picks by the New York Jets, and both were stuck with a franchise that offered little to no support. Furthermore, Wilson was brought in immediately after the Jets decided they were done with Darnold.
After three failed seasons with the Jets, Wilson was traded to the Denver Broncos in the spring of 2024 where he spent the season as a backup in Sean Payton’s offense behind Bo Nix. He was then released last spring and signed by the Miami Dolphins.
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Now, Wilson is hitting free agency for the second straight year looking to find his chance to get real reps at the NFL level again. Perhaps two years of being able to sit back and learn have him in a better head space than he was in while with the Jets.
Malik Willis
Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis (2) on the sideline following an injury against the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday, December 27, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The Ravens defeated the Packers 41-24. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin.
There’s been some growing hype around Malik Willis’ future in 2026 after filling in for a game against the Chicago Bears and starting against the Baltimore Ravens.
It was for good reason as the former 2022 third-round pick put together some very strong games in those two weeks, completing a ridiculous 27-of-32 passes while throwing for 409 yards and a pair of touchdowns with no interceptions. He also added 19 carries for 104 additional yards and two rushing touchdowns.
That came after a 2024 campaign in which he started two games and played a chunk of the Week 18 game against the Chicago Bears. He was equally sniper-esque with his passing, completing 74.1% of his passes during the year for 550 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. He also added 20 carries for 138 yards and a touchdown.
Willis comes from a 2022 QB class that is remembered as being one of the worst over the past decade, but maybe he can glimmer of hope that someone from that year’s draft can remain a solid starter after a failed stint with the Tennessee Titans.
Elite rider James McDonald succeeded in reducing his whip breach penalty through an appeal process, making him available for the Silver Slipper program at Rosehill.
Racing NSW authorities imposed a 10-day suspension and $20,000 fine on McDonald due to whip overuse riding the Chris Waller runner Fireball in the $2 million Inglis Millennium (1100m) from Randwick on Saturday.
Rulings showed nine whip uses prior to the 100m, four over the Australian Rules of Racing cap, amounting to 20 in all.
The jockey conveyed his dismay at the sanction during the stewards’ hearing that day, deeming it “harsh”, and then pursued an appeal before the Racing NSW Appeals Panel on Wednesday.
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The proceeding took under two hours, as stewards highlighted the fault with an unseasoned, young horse.
Upon weighing the evidence, the Panel lowered the ban from 10 to six days while doubling the fine to $40,000.
The season’s premier Sydney jockey gets to ride in the vital Silver Slipper and Hobartville Stakes at Rosehill on February 21, with no Saturday metropolitan meetings lost.
Michael Carrick has thrived with Manchester United since stepping up as head coach on an interim basis in January, but the Reds could find it tricky to land him permanently come the end of the season
To date, Carrick is unbeaten at the helm of the United first-team, thanks to convincing wins over Manchester City, Arsenal, Fulham and Spurs, as well as a 1-1 draw with West Ham on Tuesday evening. As a result of his flying form, there is speculation that United could opt to offer the head coach a permanent role this summer.
However, they could face competition from Spurs for Carrick’s signature, if recent reports are anything to go by. Thomas Frank was handed his walking papers from the club on Wednesday morning after a disastrous eight-month stint in north London.
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After going eight Premier League matches without a win, leaving Tottenham languishing in 16th in the standings and facing a growing chance of relegation, the Spurs board decided on a change of direction.
While there was speculation that the club would appoint a permanent manager to take up tenure ahead of next weekend’s North London Derby, it now appears that the once dominant force are following in the footsteps of United.
Reports suggest that former Juventus boss, Igor Tudor, will arrive in the capital to steer the ship until season’s end on an interim basis, when Spurs will also consider their options going forward.
The Athletic also claim that the 47-year-old may not have the option to take up a permanent role this summer.
Instead, TEAMtalk report that Spurs could eye up the prospect of securing Carrick’s services this summer, with further suggestions that the club considered taking a gamble with the former Middlesbrough manager ahead of their appointment of Frank.
It comes as a number of experienced names have been linked with taking up a role at United this summer, from Oliver Glasner and Gareth Southgate to the likes of Luis Enrique and Andoni Iraola.
Carrick, meanwhile, has also emerged as a candidate to extend his own stay at Old Trafford, dependent on how he fares over the next 12 matches. However, the Reds have been dealt a couple of hammer blows in terms of managers ruling themselves out of the running as of late.
Roberto De Zerbi has also found himself linked with Spurs after leaving his post with Marseille the same day Frank was sacked. There’s no doubt that Carrick will not be focused on the outside noise, however, instead dedicating his full attention to securing the best-possible finish for United.
Up next for United is a trip to Hill Dickinson Stadium to take on Everton come Monday, February 23. Currently fourth in the Premier League standings and looking at a real possibility of securing Champions League football for 2026/27, Manchester United will look to hold their position while amping up the pressure on a top three of Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa.
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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
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Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games this season, an increase of up to 100 more.
Lazio manager Maurizio Sarri has criticised the referee after his side beat Bologna on penalties in the Coppa Italia quarter-final.
Sarri said Bologna midfielder Lewis Ferguson should have been sent off for a foul on Nigeria’s Fisayo Dele-Bashiru in the first half.
Dele-Bashiru, who started the match and played the full game, was pulled back as he ran towards goal, but no red card was given.
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“Much worse has happened to us,” Sarri said.
“This guy is at fault and he blows his whistle in other areas of the pitch, but not there. Because if he blows his whistle there, he should give a red card. But the foul is there.”
Bologna scored first through Santiago Castro, but Lazio equalised in the second half when Tijjani Noslin finished a cross from Dele-Bashiru.
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The match ended 1-1 and went to penalties, where Lazio won the shootout to reach the semi-finals.
The victory also extended Lazio’s unbeaten run away from home to six matches.
