By Nick Bartlett, SuperWest Sports
Sports
Cal Hoops on Verge of Breakthrough, Stanford Trending up
Neither California nor Stanford has made the tournament in a decade, but that could change for at least one, if not both teams, this season.
The squads are trending in opposite directions, but there’s still enough time for both teams to make a run.
According to Joe Lunardi, the Golden Bears are listed in his last “four out” as of Saturday night, but they’re scooting upwards.
Even though the Cardinal are on a four-game slide, they could still sneak into the Tourney this year, but they’re running out of time.
California Golden Bears on a Late-Season Roll
The Bears have won three of their last four matchups and missed a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer, nearly toppling Florida State.
If they can continue at this pace for their final nine games, they should move into the tournament field.
It’s also important to note they’re winning matchups they were projected to lose. They were underdogs in all four of their previous contests against North Carolina, Stanford, Florida State, and Miami.
If the Bears could sweep Georgia Tech and Clemson this week, it might prove enough to tilt them into the “first four” column, but they gotta defeat the Yellow Jackets.
Cal has a NET ranking of 51 and a weak strength of schedule. Their most notable victories have come against UCLA, North Carolina, and Miami. A loss against G-Tech would be a stain on their resume.
The combination of Justin Pippen, Dai Dai Ames, John Camden, and Chris Bell has led the Golden Bears, each averaging at least 12 points. Ames leads the way with 16.6.
Pippen, the son of NBA Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen, is probably their best all-around player, averaging 15.2 points, 4.3 assists, and 3.7 rebounds.
California began this season 11-1, its best start in 66 years. But few will remember the start without a finish
The Bears were supposed to be outmatched when they moved to the ACC, but they crawled out of hibernation early instead.
Stanford Coach Kyle Smith Turning Around the Cardinal
As a Washington State alum, it felt like we lost a good one when Kyle Smith departed for Stanford. Smith led the Cougars to their first NCAA Tournament in over 15 years.
He also finished every season with at least a .500 record during his time at WSU, and this was when the Cougs were playing in the old Pac-12.
For reference, Ernie Kent did not have a winning season during his five-year tenure as Head Coach of the Cougars.
The NCAA Tournament may be out of reach for the Cardinal this year, but if they’re going to give themselves any chance, it starts with a victory over the Tigers tomorrow.
The rest of their schedule is favorable, which could set up as an end-of-season sprint.
Regardless, Smith, now in his second year with the Cardinal, has turned around the program just like he did in Pullman. The Tree hadn’t had a winning campaign in the three seasons before he arrived.
Even in the midst of the recent skid, they’re still 14-8. Last year, they finished their campaign with a 21-14 record. It was their first 20-win season since 2019-20.
Stanford is led by guard Ebuka Okorie, one of the best players in the West. He’s averaging 21.8 points, 3.3 assists, and 1.8 steals per game.
The freshman is currently ranked 10th nationally in points scored per contest. He was overlooked coming out of high school, so Smith and his staff found some gold in the sand.
Complementing him in the backcourt is Benny Gealer, who averages 10.2 points per contest.
The Tree lost Chisom Okpara at the beginning of January with a lower extremity injury. He’ll be out for the remainder of the year.
Whether the Cardinal makes the tournament this year doesn’t determine Smith’s standing. One of the primary reasons he chose Stanford is that the university provided “Superior Resources” for his autistic son, Bo.
As someone who has coached youth basketball and worked with autistic kids for six years, I know how difficult it can be—it’s a lot harder than any basketball game I’ve coached.
Smith’s a champion not because he wins on the court, but because of the Father he is off it. Hopefully, Stanford can reward his exceptional character.
Writes about football and basketball as a Senior Writer and hosts “The Nick Bartlett Show” for SuperWest Sports.
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Invincible season 4 is the next part of the amazing animated superhero series on Prime Video. It will show what has happened to Mark Grayson as he deals with the results of his previous choices. Season 4 comes at a time when season 3 ended with its hero having gotten darker, and so the story will be more intense and emotionally complicated.
The show has a loyal fan base since it first aired in 2021 because of its mixture of superhero elements and focus on the characters. In season 4, the series will most likely unfold more aspects of the universe, bringing in new enemies as well as making the existing disputes more complex.
The new season is still based on the comic book series by Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker, and Ryan Ottley, and the show hasn’t lost its interest in major fights as well as in individual problems.
Invincible season 4 premieres on March 18, 2026, on Amazon Prime Video, continuing Mark Grayson’s story with returning voices like Steven Yeun, Sandra Oh, and J.K. Simmons alongside new cast additions.
When and where is Invincible season 4 releasing?
Invincible season 4 is coming to Amazon Prime Video on March 18, 2026. It can be streamed in over 240 countries and territories as it rolls out globally via the platform. Like all the previous seasons, season 4 will be included in the Prime Video library and accessible only to Prime subscribers.
The release keeps the show on track since the first two seasons were released on Prime Video as well. Even though the time when each episode will be made public has not been disclosed yet in the draft, the series has used both weekly and split-release formats before.
So, fans might see season 4 mainly as one of the platform’s top animated titles. Subscribers can also watch all the previous seasons, so it is possible to catch up on the earlier stories before season 4 is out. The series is still one of the most popular animated shows on Prime Video, with a great audience and critical response.
Read More: Will there be a Virgin River season 8? Renewal status explained/explored
More details on Invincible season 4
Invincible season 4 will begin right after the events of the last season, when Mark Grayson’s story came to a rather bleak point. Naturally, the new season dives deep into the repercussions of his actions, especially as he fiercely resolves to shield those dearest to him.
Prime Video says,
“As the world slowly recovers from its recent ordeal, a changed Mark is battling to safeguard his home and his loved ones, a path that leads him to a confrontation with a threat that might change the destiny of humanity forever”.
New villains like Thragg, Dinosaurus, and Universa are among the introduced characters in Invincible season 4. They are likely to be instrumental in widening the conflict as Mark and his team confront more and more perilous situations. The story still revolves around Mark’s difficulties in juggling his superhero obligations and his personal life, which is, in fact, the show’s main focus so far.
The voice cast of season 4 reunites some of the familiar faces, with Steven Yeun reprising his role as Mark Grayson, Sandra Oh coming back as Debbie Grayson, and J.K. Simmons returning as Nolan Grayson. The show carries on with a huge ensemble cast that features famous actors like Gillian Jacobs, Seth Rogen, Walton Goggins, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Jason Mantzoukas, Zazie Beetz, and Mark Hamill.
Besides the familiar voices, Invincible season 4 unveils a brand new set of actors to the cast, such as Lee Pace, Matthew Rhys, and Danai Gurira. These new faces are likely to stir up the series’ dynamics, especially as they unfold their roles as the main villains of the story.
Characters like Atom Eve and the Guardians of the Globe who are an integral part of the show’s main storyline will also continue to be a part of the season. As the storyline goes on, Invincible season 4 will be the characters developing their already intertwined relationships and, at the same time, widening the scope of their conflicts.
Read More: Shrinking season 3 episode 7 ending explained: What happened to Maya?
The show will premiere exclusively on March 18, 2026, on Prime Video.
Edited by Sakshi Singh
Sports
Stefon Diggs drops 1-word message as Jets QB Tyrod Taylor gets engaged to GF Dr. Bianka Charity-Parker
The wedding bells have started to ring for Tyrod Taylor and his fiancée, Bianka Charity-Parker. The couple announced their engagement via a joint Instagram post on Tuesday during their trip to Italy.
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The former Jets quarterback proposed to Charity-Parker with a beautiful diamond ring.
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“You are my everything,” Charity-Parker wrote.
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The couple received well wishes from fans and friends, including Stefon Diggs. The former Patriots wide receiver dropped a one-word reaction in the comments section.
“Congrats!!!!!” Diggs wrote.
Jameis Winston and Torrey Smith joined in and dropped three-word comments.
“Yessuh! Blessings, brother!” Winston wrote.
“There she is,” Smith commented.
Charity-Parker holds a Ph.D in School and Clinical Psychology, according to the New York Post.
The couple’s relationship milestone came amid the quarterback’s free agency. Taylor has been linked with multiple teams, including the Jets, which is speculated to sign him for another season.
Tyrod Taylor came out as a cheap QB option for NY Jets
Tyrod Taylor is projected to sign a one-year deal with the New York Jets worth $5 million, according to The Athletic’s Daniel Popper. The analyst added that the quarterback is an ideal backup option for the franchise.
“Taylor started four games for the Jets last season before he was knocked out of a Week 14 game against the Dolphins with a groin injury,” Popper wrote on Feb. 18.
“He can give an offense a chance in a backup role because of his athleticism and scrambling ability. Taylor still has some zip on his passes to the outside. He has 62 career starts.”
Another advantage for Taylor is he fits the team’s cap space situation, increasing his chances of returning for another campaign.
Edited by Victor Ramon Galvez
Sports
North Queensland Cowboys vs Gold Coast Titans Tips, Odds, Teams & Predictions – NRL Round 3 2026
Queensland Country Bank Stadium will play host to Sunday’s
Round 3 NRL game between North Queensland Cowboys and
Gold Coast Titans. The game kicks off at 6:15 pm with North Queensland Cowboys heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the North Queensland Cowboys vs.
Gold Coast Titans
game and give you our free tips and bets.
When: Sunday March 22, 2026 at 6:15 pm
Where: Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE
North Queensland Cowboys vs Gold Coast Titans Odds
North Queensland Cowboys vs Gold Coast Titans Preview
The Cowboys return home after a mixed start to the season and will be eager to use the Townsville conditions to their advantage. North Queensland have shown attacking spark but defensive lapses have hurt them across the opening rounds. The Titans have again displayed attacking flair but remain inconsistent, particularly when defending repeat sets. If the Cowboys can control possession and dominate field position they should be able to put sustained pressure on the Titans’ defence. Gold Coast’s speed out wide still makes them dangerous if the game opens up. From a betting perspective Cowboys home games often produce points, making attacking markets and totals worth consideration.
North Queensland Cowboys vs Gold Coast Titans Tip
The players emerged to packed stands on every side of Stamford Bridge. The Champions League music tingled. Flamethrowers lit up the sky. The night bristled with possibility for approximately five minutes.
Then PSG started playing and Chelsea crumbled. Mamadou Sarr blinked at a high ball like the dying sun before miscontrolling into the path of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who whipped a first-time finish beyond Robert Sanchez. The energy drained out of the stadium. There would be groans, ironic cheers, boos and expletives hurled into the night sky before the end of this damning 3-0 defeat.
It is not about mistakes but how you respond to them, Liam Rosenior had written in his pre-match programme notes. Chelsea responded by making another one. Moises Caicedo dithered in midfield before turning over possession and PSG broke menacingly. A few seconds later Bradley Barcola was trapping Achraf Hakimi’s pass on the edge of the box before driving the ball into the top corner in one beautifully succinct motion.
PSG had two and the night was over quicker than the time it takes to walk from Fulham Broadway station.
PSG were too quick, too sharp, their default setting too intense for Chelsea to cope with. At one point during the first half, Kvaratskhelia dribbled across the pitch evading five Chelsea defenders like the most talented kid in the playground, going nowhere but antagonising players and fans in equal measure. Moments later, he scored a clever goal which was deemed offside. It was minute 31, Chelsea were 7-2 down on aggregate, and their fans had begun olé-ing their own passes.
On the touchline, Liam Rosenior barked instructions that his players couldn’t really hear. He clutched a largely blank notepad. He pinched the bridge of his nose and rubbed his forehead. He wore an entire Zara. Occasionally he burst into little bouts of fury before sitting back down in a huff, tugging at the zip on his short-cut jacket (navy, M).
“Six minutes in and another mistake that we make, it takes the wind out of our sails, and then I think the second goal is hit from 25 yards in the top corner,” Rosenior said. “When you go two goals down so early – already five goals down on aggregate – it makes it a really, really difficult evening. We wanted to obviously have more of a fight than what we did. Credit to PSG, their possession play was really top in the game, and over the two legs they deserved to go through.”
Chelsea fans will ask the question: is Rosenior the right man for the job? Not all of this debacle was necessarily his fault. How could he account for PSG’s first goal, when Sarr’s eyes flitted to Kvaratskhelia and back to the ball in panic? How could he plan for Caicedo handing over possession with his team prone? What could he do as his players missed the final pass or finishing touch at the end of each promising move?
But this was a humiliating hiding by a far superior team and Rosenior’s methods will come under scrutiny now. After winning five of his first seven games in charge, Chelsea have won only two of their past seven. They’ve lost three matches in seven days. Their only notable win since early February was the 4-1 victory over Aston Villa earlier this month.
It is not just the downturn in results that is cause for alarm. The manner of the weekend defeat at Newcastle, who sliced breezily through the soft centre of Rosenior’s team, was striking and provoked a damning segment of analysis by Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football. Thierry Henry criticised Rosenior for turning his back on the play.
The selection of Filip Jorgensen in the first leg of this tie was a gamble that failed spectacularly. PSG may still have won the contest but Chelsea should have been taking a competitive scoreline back home, and Jorgensen’s second-half mistake cost them dearly. And although injuries to Reece James and Malo Gusto forced the issue, perhaps this wasn’t the night to hand the 20-year-old Sarr his Champions League debut.
Then there have been the off-field distractions: line-up leaks, the comical pre-match huddle around referee Paul Tierney, some odd press conference answers. Rosenior’s giggling post-match interviews beside his players struck an odd note in the early weeks. No one element is damning, but they blend together to paint a picture of an inexperienced manager still trying to assert his authority.
“I’m learning all the time,” Rosenior said. “What I’m learning is that you have to have players that in every moment you can rely on to make correct decisions defensively. But it’s also to be clinical. They [PSG] were clinical in both games … That’s the level.”
Taking over a side in the middle of a season – a team who weren’t exactly floundering under Enzo Maresca – was never going to be entirely smooth. Rosenior will argue he deserves time. He has been handed a young squad lacking leaders, lacking trophy-winning experience. But there is no escaping the pressure at a job like Chelsea, even at this early stage, two months into the job.
There is still the possibility of an FA Cup triumph, with a quarter-final against Port Vale to come next month. Finishing in the top five of the Premier League remains the priority, although on this evidence that may require Liverpool or Aston Villa collapsing in the final weeks to make it happen.
Because this was undoubtedly the nadir of Rosenior’s short reign. The second half was no better than the first. Rosenior took off Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernandez and Joao Pedro, waving the white flag as Chelsea fans jeered. A minute later, PSG substitute Senny Mayulu added a precise third.
The match finished with Trevor Chalobah, Chelsea’s best defender, leaving the pitch on a stretcher looking distraught. Rosenior patted him on the chest as he was carried past the dugout. Then the manager puffed out his cheeks and walked back to his seat. Somehow, a disastrous night had found a way to get a little worse.
Teams trending in the wrong direction meet when the Texas Longhorns face the North Carolina State Wolfpack on Tuesday night in a 2026 First Four matchup. The winner moves on as a No. 11 seed to face sixth-seeded BYU on Thursday. Ole Miss defeated Texas 76-66 in the first round of the SEC Tournament last Wednesday, while NC State was beaten by Virginia 81-74 in Thursday’s quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament. The Longhorns (18-14), who have lost five of six, placed sixth in the SEC regular-season standings at 9-9. The Wolfpack (20-13), who have also dropped five of six, finished in a tie for seventh in the ACC with Florida State at 10-8.
The game from UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio, tips off at 9:15 p.m. ET. The Wolfpack are 1.5-point favorites in the latest Texas vs. NC State odds, while the over/under for total points scored is 158.5. Before making any Texas vs. N.C. State picks, check out what SportsLine college basketball expert Bob Konarski has to say.
Konarski specializes in college basketball, displaying in-depth knowledge of hundreds of Division I teams. He is a regular presence in the SportsLine Discord, co-hosts a weekly X Spaces with fellow CBB expert Tom Casale and can be seen on the “Early Edge” breaking down his college hoops plays. He enters the tournament on a 65-44 run on college basketball picks, returning $1,615 for $100 players. Anyone following could have seen huge returns.
Now, Konarski has his sights set on Texas vs. NC State, and just revealed his First Four picks and betting predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see Konarski’s picks. Here are several men’s college basketball odds and men’s college basketball betting lines for NC State vs. Texas:
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Texas vs. NC State spread: |
NC State -1.5 |
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Texas vs. NC State over/under: |
158.5 points |
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Texas vs. NC State money line: |
NC State -121, Texas +101 |
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Texas vs. NC State picks: |
See picks at SportsLine |
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Texas vs. NC State TV: |
truTV |
Top Texas vs. NC State predictions
Konarski is going Over on the point total (157.5). Both teams rank in the top 30 nationally in scoring and have a similar offensive profile with Texas averaging 83.8 points per game, while NC State averages 83.7. Four players average at least 13 points for Texas, with Dailyn Swain leading the way with 17.8. The same can be said of NC State, though its top-four scorers all have either 13.8 or 13.9 points per game, so there’s a lot of offensive balance for the Wolfpack.
Konarski advises looking for value in early live over/under lines, but ultimately expects this game to clear the total. “There may be nerves to start out this game, so there could be a good live opportunity on the Over since neither teams play much defense,” he told SportsLine. “The pace will be there since both teams can score in bunches quickly.”
How to make NC State vs. Texas picks
Konarski has also found a critical X-factor that has him jumping all over one side of the spread. You can only see that pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Texas vs. NC State in the 2026 First Four, and what critical X-factor makes one side of the spread a must back? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to jump on, all from the expert on a 65-44 roll on his college basketball best bets, and find out.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola spoke about what he thinks will happen next season after another Champions League defeat
Pep Guardiola is certain that Manchester City will be better next season after they failed to make the Champions League quarter-finals for a second straight year. But the manager can still not confirm if he will be in charge to oversee the improvement with claims in the game that he will not see out the final year of his contract.
City qualified directly for the last-16 this season as a result of a top-eight finish in the first phase of the Champions League, a significant improvement on last term when they scraped into the play-off and were well beaten by Real Madrid. However, they were left ruing missed opportunities in both legs of this year’s tie with their Spanish nemesis as they crashed out with a 5-1 aggregate defeat.
Already 3-0 down from the first leg, the Blues took the game to Real early at the Etihad but effectively conceded the tie after 20 minutes when Bernardo Silva was sent off for handling Vinicius Jr’s shot in the box and the Brazilian converted the penalty that was awarded for it. Erling Haaland got City level on the night but they could not score more and Vinicius netted again in injury time to make it defeats home and away for Guardiola’s side.
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City’s manager was still proud of his side in their defeat, feeling that they were a lot closer to Real than the scoreline suggested. And while he knows that they are not as complete a team as some of the previous City sides that he has led, Guardiola reckons that they will be better next year.
“Last season I felt next season would be better and it has been, I have the feeling will be better (again),” he said. “The fact I’m saying it today after being beaten 5-1 on aggregate it doesn’t mean it’s going to happen (but) it’s my feeling because I know them, I know the quality they have but the seasons are so long and the balance of the team, of course there are many things to improve but in the end they have pride.
“Of course it’s not easy, 70, 75 minutes 10 against 11 against Real Madrid. In the end how many shots, we tried with Rayan and Jeremy and Erling, everybody made their contribution, Khusanov, everybody was absolutely there. Listen, when we are out (of the Champions League) and our position in the Premier League, still we are not a complete team, that is the reality, I’m not going to (deny it).
“I’ve been at Manchester City when we were a team in all the different aspects that define a team, and still we are not, but in terms of that we have a final on Sunday, we have the FA Cup against Liverpool here, the Premier League still to fight (for) and finish well the Premier League. Prepare good decisions for next season and next season and next season we will be back in the Champions League. That is what we have to do.”
However, when asked if he is intending to remain at City next season given he spoke of collective improvement, Guardiola rowed back and said that he will always speak of the team in the plural whether he is in charge or not because of the affinity that he has with the club.
“When I am retired in 10 years, and City are in the Champions League, I will say I will be back, because I am part of that,” he said. “Like at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, when I have been there I am part of it. I am incredibly attached to that club, that organisation because it has been one decade, and when I say we it’s because I’m part of that. I’m part of that.”
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The Carabao Cup Final will see Arsenal v Manchester City at London’s Wembley Stadium this March.
Neymar was left out of Brazil’s friendlies in the United States this month. The 34-year-old former captain has struggled to be fit since he tore his ACL in October 2023.
Brazil will play France in Boston on March 26 and Croatia in Orlando four days later.
“This is a squad that takes into account players who are 100% fit,” Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Monday. “We had important injuries to players like Eder Militao, Bruno Guimaraes, Estevao, Rodrygo.”
Neymar didn’t play well on Sunday in Santos’ 1-1 draw with Corinthians in the Brazilian league.
Hours later, Neymar told media at an event in Sao Paulo he was “upset and sad” for not being in Brazil’s squad for the two friendlies.
“But my focus remains, day after day, training after training, match after match. We will reach our goal, there’s still the final squad,” Neymar said.
The World Cup squad will be announced on May 18. The team’s last warmup will be on May 31 against Panama in Rio de Janeiro.
Brazil:
Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Bento (Al-Nassr), Ederson (Fenerbahce)
Defenders: Alex Sandro (Flamengo), Danilo (Flamengo), Leo Pereira (Flamengo), Bremer (Juventus), Douglas Santos (Zenit St. Petersburg), Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal), Ibanez (Al-Ahli), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Wesley (Roma)
Midfielders: Andrey Santos (Chelsea), Casemiro (Manchester United), Danilo (Botafogo), Fabinho (Al-Ittihad), Gabriel Sara (Galatasaray)
Forwards: Endrick (Lyon), Joao Pedro (Chelsea), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Igor Thiago (Brentford), Luiz Henrique (Zenit St. Petersburg), Matheus Cunha (Manchester United), Raphinha (Barcelona), Rayan (Bournemouth), Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid).
Paris Saint-Germain ended any hope of a Chelsea comeback with a strong 3–0 win at Stamford Bridge, sealing an 8–2 aggregate victory to reach the Champions League quarter-finals.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia gave PSG an early lead, before Bradley Barcola added a fine second goal to quickly kill off Chelsea’s hopes of recovering from their first-leg loss.
Substitute Senny Mayulu then scored the third goal in the second half, as Luis Enrique’s side comfortably moved into the last eight. They will now face either Liverpool or Galatasaray in the next round.
PSG are still on course to defend their Champions League title, one year after winning it for the first time. The big win also serves as revenge for their defeat to Chelsea in last year’s Club World Cup final and shows they are hitting top form at the right time.
“It is amazing. To score three goals away against Chelsea is good and the important thing is that we continue to play very well, so we have to keep going like this,” Kvaratskhelia said.
Chelsea, however, struggled throughout the match and never looked capable of turning things around after their heavy first-leg defeat in Paris.
“It was a tough night. We knew it would be difficult, and the way we started did not help us,” said manager Liam Rosenior.
PSG took control early when Kvaratskhelia scored in the sixth minute after taking advantage of a defensive mistake.
Barcola made it 2–0 shortly after with a brilliant strike, leaving the tie almost decided before half-time.
The third goal came just after the hour mark when Mayulu finished calmly after good work from Kvaratskhelia.
Chelsea’s poor night got worse late on when Trevoh Chalobah went off injured, forcing the team to finish the game with 10 men.
The defeat adds to a difficult period for Chelsea, who must now focus on improving their form and fighting for a place in next season’s Champions League.
OTHER RESULTS
Sporting Lisbon 5-0 Bodo Glimit (AET)
Arsenal 2-0 Bayer Leverkusen
Manchester City 1-2 Real Madrid
The Ty Chandler era has ended for the Minnesota Vikings, as the speedy tailback has opted to join the New Orleans Saints during the second wave of free agency. The longtime RB3-RB4 will embark on his career’s second chapter with Kellen Moore’s team.
Minnesota’s 2022 draft class just lost another name.
Chandler stood off the page for a couple of games in Minnesota during the 2023 campaign, but otherwise failed to make a serious thumbprint on the franchise.
New Orleans Adds Speed while the Vikings Close the Book
The Saints’ RB room gets even more crowded.
Saints Sign Chandler
It’s almost a done deal for Chandler’s next move. NBC Sports‘ Myles Simmons wrote Tuesday, “The Saints are adding a running back. According to Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.football, the team has signed Ty Chandler.”
“Chandler, 27, just completed his rookie contract with the Vikings. A fifth-round pick in the 2022 draft, Chandler missed most of the 2025 season due to a knee injury. He appeared in just three games, taking 17 carries for 4 yards and catching three passes for 11 yards.”
So far in free agency, the Vikings have also lost Jalen Nailor (WR, Raiders), Ben Sims (TE, Dolphins), and Ryan Wright (P, Saints) to new destinations.
The Updated NO Running Back Group
The Saints made a significant free-agent splash week when they signed Travis Etienne from the Jacksonville Jaguars. Beyond the shadow of a doubt, Etienne will take over bellcow RB1 duties in New Orleans.
But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Have a look at this ginormous list of running backs on the Saints’ roster:
- Travis Etienne
- Alvin Kamara
- Kendre Miller
- Devin Neal
- Audric Estimé
- Ty Chandler
- Evan Hull
Many expect Kamara to leave sometime this offseason or in the summer. Either way, Chandler will battle at training camp and in the preseason for a September roster spot. He may not make the cut.
SI.com‘s Patrick McAvoy mentioned Kamara’s future after the Chandler signing: “Let’s get out in front of this, Chandler is not a better player than Kamara. Arguably, the signing has more of an impact for New Orleans’ depth than the top of the room.”
“But with Kamara only under contract for one more season and his future already up in the air, you have to at least think about him. This arguably isn’t a sign that New Orleans is about to move on. But what if Kamara is going to hang up his cleats? Again, this is speculation based on the noise out there. At least worth watching.”
Chandler’s Career to Date
Minnesota scooped Chandler from Round 5 of the 2022 NFL Draft, a North Carolina product who was a 24-year-old rookie. He wound up playing 40 games in Minnesota, starting 4, and tallying 710 rushing yards on 181 attempts for a mediocre 3.9 yards per carry. He also caught 3 passes for 11 yards and banked 3 total touchdowns.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell auditioned Chandler for the RB1 job late in the 2023 season when Alexander Mattison got hurt, and Chandler popped off in a game at the Cincinnati Bengals. He produced 132 rushing yards that day on 23 attempts. For a single day, he looked like a prospective RB1 for the future.
But that was about it.
Chandler didn’t do much thereafter, and in fact, whenever he approached an RB2 job in Minnesota, the Vikings seemed to find a way to acquire Cam Akers.
The 27-year-old is most known for his 4.38 speed, though Vikings fans never really saw that in a breakaway setting. Chandler has also missed 41% of all career games due to injury.
The Death of the Vikings’ 2022 Draft Class Is Official
The Vikings drafted these 10 men in April 2022:
- Lewis Cine (S)
- Andrew Booth (CB)
- Ed Ingram (OG)
- Brian Asamoah (LB)
- Akayleb Evans (CB)
- Esezi Otomewo (DT)
- Ty Chandler (RB)
- Jalen Nailor (WR)
- Vederian Lowe (OT)
- Nick Muse (TE)
For the first time in four years, none are employed by the Vikings, marking the official end of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s first draft class, a man who was fired about six weeks ago for poor draft performance.
Nailor signed a fat contract in Las Vegas last week, making Chandler the last man standing. Now, that is no more.
In addition to Nailor, Ingram, Evans, Otomewo, and Lowe signed second contracts this week. Adofo-Mensah’s draft class was undoubtedly awful for the Vikings, but it didn’t totally flame out of the NFL.
Without Chandler on the depth chart as an RB3 or RB4, the Vikings are tentatively expected to draft a rookie halfback and have already met with men like Emmett Johnson from Nebraska and Demond Claiborne of Wake Forest.
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