Minnesota Vikings quarterback Max Brosmer jogs onto the field during pregame warmups on Sep 14, 2025, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as the team prepares for a home matchup against the Atlanta Falcons with anticipation building around the young passer’s role ahead of kickoff. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.
If you had big plans for 2025 undrafted free-agent quarterback Max Brosmer, it’s officially time to rethink them. In the last week, the Minnesota Vikings have onboarded Kyler Murray and re-signed last year’s QB2, Carson Wentz, spelling a mini-doomsday scenario for Brosmer.
The young quarterback’s roster standing took a serious hit over the course of a few days.
Brosmer may not have possessed the upside of a QB1 in the pros in the first place, but the Vikings’ decision-making proved recently that he’s closer to a practice-squad commodity than anything else.
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Minnesota’s QB Shuffle Leaves Brosmer in a Tough Spot
Back to the drawing board for Brosmer.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Max Brosmer (12) lines up under center during second-half action against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sep. 21, 2025, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The young signal-caller directed the offense late, working through reads and adjustments as Minnesota pushed to sustain drives in front of the home crowd. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.
Wentz Returns
Wentz has returned to Minnesota after flirting with the New York Jets last week.
NFL.com’s Kevin Patra wrote Thursday, “The Minnesota Vikings have added another veteran to their quarterback room. Carson Wentz is re-signing with the Vikings on a one-year deal, NFL Network Insiders Tom Pelissero, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported Thursday, per sources informed of the move. The team later announced the news.”
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“The move comes after the Vikings inked Kyler Murray to a one-year deal last week to battle J.J. McCarthy for the starting gig. Retaining Wentz aims at safeguarding against the quarterback issues that sank their 2025 campaign, in which undrafted free agent Max Brosmer was forced to start two games.”
Wentz’s torn labrum should be in tip-top shape before too long, and he’s officially back in the mix for Minnesota.
Murray Added as Probable QB1
And, of course, Minnesota signed Murray on March 12th, following weeks of speculation that the former Arizona Cardinals starter would join the team he rooted for as a child and teenager. The speculation was correct.
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Murray immediately tracks as the QB1 in 2026 — how could a team not start a man who averages about 4,000 passing yards, 30 total touchdowns, and 600 rushing yards every 17 starts? Mind-bogglingly, because the Cardinals are the hook for Murray’s 2026 salary, the Vikings scored Murray for 1.3 million bucks.
He’d probably have to get hurt this summer to lose the starter’s job.
Zone Coverage‘sNelson Thielen wrote about Murray last week, “Murray represents Kevin O’Connell’s desperate attempt to maximize his upside and save his job — even if it means completely reorienting his offensive principles. Because what Murray does well is not what this offense ran so successfully in 2024.”
“Murray plays his best ball as a point guard at the line of scrimmage with quick, rhythmic passing. He’s a good distributor close to the line of scrimmage and saves most of his intermediate passing to concepts outside the numbers in the form of deep outs, corner routes, and comebacks. Essentially, the only time you see him throw in structure over the middle of the field is up the seam. Otherwise, it simply isn’t an element of his game.”
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O’Connell has five months to figure out his playbook to accommodate Murray. It shouldn’t be difficult.
“There is a world in which Kevin O’Connell rehabilitates Kyler’s career, and the Kyler Murray era in Minnesota extends far beyond 2026. I just hope this coaching staff is willing to go all in on that possibility, because a half measure likely leads to the same type of disjointed mess Murray was hoping to leave behind in Arizona,” Thielen added.
Brosmer Out in the Cold
Therefore, with the quarterback additions and re-signings, the Vikings’ QB depth chart now looks like this:
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Kyler Murray
J.J. McCarthy
Carson Wentz
Max Brosmer
Minnesota never keeps four quarterbacks on a regular season roster — sometimes it’s only two — and Brosmer is either on the practice squad in 2026 or outright released. Until this week, no one was too sure if Wentz would re-up with the Vikings, keeping hope alive for Brosmer’s inside path to the QB3 post.
Minnesota Golden Gophers quarterback Max Brosmer (16) warms up prior to kickoff against the Rhode Island Rams, Sep. 7, 2024, at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The transfer quarterback went through pregame routines, loosening his arm and preparing to lead Minnesota’s offense in an early-season nonconference matchup. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.
Brosmer as the QB3 — or on the roster at all when the regular season rolls around — now feels like a long shot. He went from unknown, undrafted free agent to possible Brock Purdy-like breakout to a probable roster cut or practice squad candidate.
It was not a good week for Brosmer.
“Hope” for a McCarthy Trade?
Brosmer would actually benefit from a McCarthy trade, as the rumor mill has subtly suggested since the club re-signed Wentz on Thursday. Sending McCarthy to Arizona or Pittsburgh, for example, would keep Brosmer in the Vikings’ roster orbit as their single young quarterback in the pipeline.
Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks J.J. McCarthy (9), Sam Howell (8), Brett Rypien (11), and Max Brosmer (12) participate in drills during minicamp, Jun. 10, 2025, at the Vikings Training Facility in Minneapolis. The group rotated through reps, sharpening timing and mechanics as coaches evaluated depth chart options ahead of training camp. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.
Of course, a McCarthy trade is unlikely, all things considered, and it doesn’t feel like Kevin O’Connell is ready to throw in the towel. During the upcoming buildup to the 2026 season, remember that Murray usually misses about four or five games per season; that would be the perfect opportunity for McCarthy to reclaim his throne — if he’s matured and developed in the background.
Otherwise, if McCarthy is out of the way, Brosmer won’t trend so irreleveantly.
Despite Ciaron Maher’s vast achievements throughout racing, a Golden Slipper still stands as an unchecked goal.
Darby Racing director Scott Darby is optimistic that Sweet Embrace Stakes conqueror Spicy Miss will rectify that during Saturday’s action at Rosehill.
“We did tell him after the Sweet Embrace we could fix that for him,” Darby quipped.
“I’m really happy for Ciaron to have a runner in it as well, and I think we’re a really good show from that barrier (five).”
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Acquired for $150,000 at Magic Millions as a yearling, Spicy Miss hails from accomplished sire Trapeze Artist and has been consistently strong, recording a win alongside two seconds in three races.
Approaching the $5 million Golden Slipper (1200m) on a three-week break, she has gate five, a draw successful twice in 18 years with Lady Of Camelot (2023) and Sebring (2008).
Darby knows Slipper victory from syndicating 2017 champ She Will Reign, following Yankee Rose’s runner-up finish to Capitalist the prior year.
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Lead-ups varied for those fillies—She Will Reign through the Silver Slipper (1100m), Yankee Rose fresh—and Spicy Miss mirrors the latter more closely, per Darby.
“Not She Will Reign vibes, more Yankee Rose vibes,” he said.
“She’s got a similar barrier and similar to Yankee Rose, she is very tough.”
Golden Slipper exploits by She Will Reign and Yankee Rose elevated Darby Racing to elite status among Australian syndicators, now in year 18.
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Later successes encompass Ozzmosis in the 2023 Coolmore Stud Stakes, Overpass with two The Quokka wins, and Caballus in the recent Newmarket Handicap.
At Rosehill, alongside Spicy Miss, they run Sydney Cup joint favourite Campaldino in the N E Manion Cup (2400m) and Within The Law in the Birthday Card Stakes (1200m), evolving greatly from Darby’s early days peddling shares to pals.
“I was introduced to racing at sixteen and fell into syndication a little bit later by syndicating a few on the side to friends. I didn’t know you needed a licence at that point,” Darby said.
“Darby Racing really took off in 2016, the year Yankee Rose ran second in the Slipper, and then we won it the year later with She Will Reign.
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“After that, it was just a huge, upward curve.”
Find competitive online bookmakers offering markets for the Golden Slipper.
The 2026 Valspar Championship concludes on Sunday March 22, with the final round at Innisbrook’s Copperhead Course in Palm Harbor, Fla. You can find full Valspar Championship tee times for Sunday’s final round at the bottom of this post.
Final-round featured tee time
Sungjae Im has not hoisted a trophy on the PGA Tour since 2021. But on Sunday at the Valspar, he has a chance to end that drought.
Im, a 27-year-old from South Korea, enters the final round at Innisbrook alone atop the leaderboard at 11 under. After a third-round 69 — his second consecutive two-under round — the two-time Tour winner will sleep on a two-stroke lead.
His playing partner for the final round will also be seeking to end a winless drought.
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Brandt Snedeker, the 45-year-old and upcoming U.S. Presidents Cup captain, will tee it up in the final pairing alongside Im as he seeks his 10th Tour victory. Playing in the 1:50 p.m. tee time, Snedeker will start the day two shots back as he tries to get in the winner’s circle for the first time since 2018.
Tied with Snedeker in second place is David Lipsky, while Marco Penge and Matt Fitzpatrick sit another shot back.
You can watch Sunday’s final round of the 2026 Valspar Championship from 1-3 p.m. ET on Golf Channel, then from 3-6 p.m. ET on NBC. PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ will provide exclusive early streaming coverage starting at 7:30 a.m. ET Sunday, in addition to featured group and featured hole coverage.
Check out the complete final-round tee times and groupings for the Valspar Championship below.
The momentum Iowa State gained from a dominant 108–74 victory over Tennessee State in the First Round, is tempered by the uncertain status of Second-Team All-American Joshua Jefferson as the Cyclones prepare for a Second Round game against the Kentucky Wildcats. Jefferson suffered an ankle injury in the opening minutes of the game against the Tigers and did not return. He is listed on the injury report as doubtful. Without Jefferson, who leads the team averaging nearly 17 points per game, the Cyclones will be forced to lean more on their top-tier defense and the outside shooting of Milan Momcilovic, who is currently hitting nearly 50% from three-point range and point guard Tamin Lipsey.
Kentucky takes the court Sunday at the Enterprise Center following a dramatic 89–84 overtime escape against Santa Clara. Otega Oweh forced overtime with a game-tying buzzer-beater a few dribbles across midcourt. Under Head Coach Mark Pope, the Wildcats run a high-octane offense and with Jefferson possibly sidelined for Iowa State, the pedal will be put to the floor for 40 minutes.
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To pull off the upset and reach back-to-back Sweet 16s, Kentucky must leverage their rebounding advantage against an Iowa State team that has struggled at times on the glass even with a healthy Jefferson. It would not hurt Pope’s crew to shoot the ball as they did against Santa Clara when they knocked down 51% of the shots they took.
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This is the second meeting between these schools. Kentucky took out ISU in that meeting, 87-71. The winner advances to the Sweet 16 and a date against the winner of Tennessee and Virginia.
Lets take a closer look at this Round 2 matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Game Details and How to Watch Live: Iowa State vs. Kentucky
Date: Sunday, March 22, 2026
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Game Odds: Iowa State vs. Kentucky
The latest odds as of Saturday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Iowa State Cyclones (-218), Kentucky Wildcats (+180)
This game opened Iowa State -5.5 with the Total set at 145.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NCAA Basketball schedule!
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Expected Starting Lineups: Iowa State vs. Kentucky
Iowa State Cyclones
Kentucky Wildcats
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Important stats, trends and insights: Iowa State vs. Kentucky
Iowa State is 22-13 ATS overall this season
Kentucky is 18-17 ATS overall this season
The OVER has cashed in 18 of Kentucky’s 35 games this season (18-17)
The OVER has cashed in only 16 of Iowa State’s 35 games this season (16-19)
Otega Oweh scored 35 points, pulled down 8 boards, and dished out 7 assists in 43 minutes Friday
Nate Heise came off the bench Friday to score 22 points for the Cyclones including 4-5 from deep
Rotoworld Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NCAA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
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Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Sunday’s game between Iowa State and Kentucky:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on Kentucky +4.5
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total OVER 145.5
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Tom Brady arrived at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles with a look that only meant one thing: business. The seven-time Super Bowl champion worked hard to hype up the Fanatics Flag Football Classic, even engaging in a tense back-and-forth with WWE superstar Logan Paul in the lead-up to the event.
After several months of waiting and a change of venue due to the ongoing war in the Middle East, the event became a reality. The NFL’s X account shared a video of Brady entering the stadium while wearing a white Fanatics hat with a white T-shirt and black pants. He had a serious look, which drew plenty of attention from fans.
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Plenty of people made the same comment about Brady taking things too seriously.
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“The way he’s dressed tells me he’s taking this way too seriously. Flag football is about to get its first ever 7-time Super Bowl winning ‘amateur’ lol,” one fan said.
The way he’s dressed tells me he’s taking this way too seriously. Flag football is about to get its first ever 7-time Super Bowl winning ‘amateur’ lol
“Yeah… if you know, you know 👀 this one about to be lowkey elite. I’m tuning in just to see who shows out fr,” another fan said.
Yeah… if you know, you know 👀 this one about to be lowkey elite. I’m tuning in just to see who shows out fr
“Tom Brady is definitely going to treat a friendly flag football game like it’s the Super Bowl. Someone’s catching a stray today,” another fan predicted.
Tom Brady is definitely going to treat a friendly flag football game like it’s the Super Bowl. Someone’s catching a stray today.
Tom Brady’s vibe caught a lot of attention, and people continued to say the same about his approach.
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“Yeah this one feels different already 👀 You can tell it’s not just a casual run-out, there’s real competition and pride in it. Events like this always surprise you with moments you didn’t expect. Definitely tuning in to see who actually shows up and takes over,” one fan said.
Tom Brady called out opposing QBs Jayden Daniels and Joe Burrow before FFFC
Tom Brady didn’t hesitate to hype up the Fanatics Flag Football Classic. His old trash-talking version returned during Wednesday’s draft. The New England Patriots legend called out Washington Commanders legend Jayden Daniels, mocking him by saying his mother/agent let him play.
Additionally, he threw shade at Cincinnati Bengals star Joe Burrow after he was seen leaving the Oscars with Brady’s rumored girlfriend, Alix Earle.
It seems that Brady took it a little personally, and he won’t back down against the new generation.
LUCKNOW: The Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA) 2025 brought together the biggest names and defining performances under one roof, honouring a year of achievement while offering a glimpse of what lies ahead. It was an evening that moved quickly, honoured widely, and showcased where Indian sport stands today.Smriti Mandhana led the Sportsperson of the Year honours in the female category, her season marked by authority and consistency. Alongside her, shooter Samrat Rana was recognised in the male category after creating history last year by becoming the first Indian world champion in the 10m air pistol – a defining breakthrough in his career.India’s sporting excellence in 2025 panned across disciplines. Nowhere was that more evident than in the Para Sportspersons of the Year: Sheetal Devi and Sumit Antil.Sheetal Devi’s rise has been defined by historic breakthroughs and medal-winning consistency. A world champion and Paralympic medallist, she has dominated compound archery while also breaking barriers, even earning selection in an able-bodied international squad, a first for an Indian para archer.
Sheetal Devi and Sumit Antil crowned ‘Para Sportspersons of the Year’
Sumit Antil, meanwhile, continues to set the benchmark in para athletics. A multiple-time Paralympic champion and world record holder, he added to his dominance with gold at the World Para Athletics Championships, consistently staying ahead of the field.From there, the ceremony gathered pace with a glittering roll call of the creme de la creme of Indian sports. The Indian women’s cricket team swept team honours, underlining a phase of dominance, while the Board of Control for Cricket in India was named Federation of the Year.“Once again, I would like to thank The Times of India for organising these awards. It is wonderful to see so many talented individuals here. Their achievements are truly extraordinary, and it is important that they are recognised,” said Rajiv Shukla, the BCCI vice-president while receiving the award on behalf of the board.Divya Deshmukh, named Emerging Sportsperson of the Year, signalled a new generation ready for the global stage, while Leander Paes was honoured as Mentor of the Year.
Yogi Adityanath at TOISA 2025
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath bestowed the top honours at the glittering ceremony held at The Centrum in Lucknow.Yet, TOISA 2025 was as much about messaging as it was about recognition. As chief guest, Adityanath laid out a clear policy direction, emphasising the need to build sport from the grassroots up.“We are working to ensure that every district becomes a centre of sporting activity, where facilities, coaching and opportunities are accessible to all. From village-level competitions to international platforms, our aim is to create a seamless pathway for athletes,” he said.He also highlighted the state’s progress in developing sports infrastructure. “Over the past 11–12 years, a sports culture has developed in the country. Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we have taken this forward in Uttar Pradesh since 2017,” he added.“On behalf of the Uttar Pradesh government, I once again welcome all of you. I thank The Times of India Group… for organising this wonderful platform that recognises excellence and inspires the next generation,” he concluded.Among other major winners, Amol Muzumdar was named Coach of the Year for guiding the women’s team to a historic ICC ODI World Cup title, while Subhash Rana won Para Coach of the Year.Shubman Gill and Deepti Sharma were named Cricketers of the Year, while Neeraj Chopra and Rupal Chaudhary took Track & Field honours.
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Superstars at TOISA 2025
The evening also reflected on the legacy. Mithali Raj and PR Sreejesh were honoured with Lifetime Achievement awards, celebrating careers that shaped Indian sport’s global identity. The forward gaze came from Devendra Jhajharia, who spoke of a 50-medal target at the LA 2028 Paralympics; not as ambition, but as expectation.The tone, however, had been set at the very start. In his keynote, Prasad Sanyal, Group Business Head of TOI, Indiatimes, and WhatsHot, captured the essence of the evening: “More sweat, more glory – that is the journey Indian sport continues to embrace.”This was the eighth edition of TOISA, celebrating the journeys and achievements of India’s finest athletes across more than 45 sporting categories, covering performances from January 1 to December 31, 2025, a year that once again showcased Indian sport’s growing depth, consistency, and ambition.TOISA 2025 Winners List: Samrat Rana, Smriti Mandhana bag top honours; Sheetal Devi wins female Para Sportsperson of the Year
Matheus Cunha won a penalty for Manchester United at AFC Bournemouth but Michael Carrick’s men were not awarded another after a foul on Amad
Matheus Cunha has become the latest Manchester United player to criticise the decisions in Friday night’s 2-2 draw against AFC Bournemouth.
United were pegged back twice at the Vitality Stadium after Bruno Fernandes and an own goal from James Hill put them ahead. Cunha won a penalty for Michael Carrick’s men when he was pulled by Alex Jimenez, but a second spot-kick was not given with the score at 1-0.
The defender was sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity and El Kroupi Junior converted from 12 yards out. Less than 24 hours after the game, it emerged that United are to make a formal complaint to PGMOL after the decision not to award a penalty.
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Since then, Cunha has taken to Instagram to send a message to supporters after the draw. “An important point according to the decisions of the game,” he wrote. “We remain strong,” he posted alongside an image of him.
Carrick was left incensed when discussing the controversial decisions. “My first [thought] is he definitely got one of them wrong, because he’s given one penalty for the same thing that he’s not given one as a two-armed grab,” he said.
“So the Matheus one, he gives, the second one on Amad he doesn’t, which is, I think, almost identical, really, two hands on someone in the box, and they go over and they’re in control of the ball.
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“For me, it’s two penalties, but it’d be interesting to see which one he acknowledges is wrong, whether the one we got or the one that we didn’t get. And it’s a huge moment.
“You don’t give it, they go down to the other end and score and then it needs to be a bigger penalty to overturn just because they scored when actually it’s a penalty and it should be a penalty if you’ve already given one.
“So a bit baffling, really, to make sense of that. And because they score, then the game flips a little bit and changes and then we defended with the 10 men after all that very well and the boys coming off the bench and finishing the game really strong.
“So that was a big positive for us to take the point in the end because we’ve seen them win late here so we take that, but the penalty one’s just astonishing, I have to say, one of them must be wrong.”
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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 £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
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Sky shows at least 215 live Premier League games each season, an increase of up to 100, plus Formula 1, darts, golf and more.
The Valspar Championship was temporarily halted during Saturday’s third round when a young spectator was struck by a golf cart.
Brooks Koepka was among the first to offer comfort to the girl; he was playing the par-3 15th, ducked under the ropes and went to check on her.
On the NBC broadcast, Dan Hicks said the girl had ended up underneath the cart, which had been transporting spectators. But walking reporter Smylie Kaufman explained that she had escaped serious injury.
“She’s going to be OK after medical evaluation,” Kaufman reported when Hicks checked back in on the scene. “Very scary moment.”
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After his round, Koepka offered his perspective on the incident.
“Not golf-wise, no,” he said, asked if the incident had affected his play. “I just felt terrible for, I believe her name is Shay, so from all the reports you’ve got she’s okay, thankfully. So that’s all that matters, as long as she’s okay.
“I know she’s probably a little scared and I just felt for her at the time. So it’s unfortunate, it shouldn’t have happened, but as long as she’s okay, no, nothing crazy happened to her, then it will be okay.”
Koepka made double bogey at the par-4 16th; he sits T11 at four under par through three rounds, seven shots off Sungjae Im’s lead.
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“I’m a long ways away. I felt like I needed to get to at least, it would have been nice to stay at 6,” he said. “I need a real low one tomorrow.”
Manchester United received a surprise Champions League boost following their draw with Bournemouth after defeats for Chelsea and Liverpool in the Premier League
There remains a strong chance that the Premier League will receive five places in the competition, but finishing fourth is a guarantee. Michael Carrick’s side will be in third place heading into the international break, regardless of how Aston Villa fare against West Ham.
The Midlands club are four points behind United, with Liverpool two further back and Liam Rosenior’s Chelsea another point behind them. As a result, United are seven points ahead of sixth place, and have opened a gap with just seven matches remaining of the season.
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Crucially, following a 3-0 defeat against Everton, Chelsea have won just one of their previous six matches in the division. While Carrick has injected vigour into United’s push, Liam Rosenior is now slightly scrambling to stop a freefall.
Carrick has played it coy over his expectations, but United took another step forward this weekend, albeit a small one. We take a look at how confident the club should feel, looking at their remaining fixtures.
Man United fixtures
Leeds (h)
Chelsea (a)
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Brentford (h)
Liverpool (h)
Sunderland (a)
Nottingham Forest (h)
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Brighton (a)
Chelsea fixtures
Manchester City (h)
Manchester United (h)
Brighton (a)
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Nottingham Forest (h)
Liverpool (a)
Tottenham (h)
Sunderland (a)
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Verdict
The two teams share four fixtures and also play each other within their final seven matches. Given that Chelsea face a title-chasing Manchester City and a Tottenham side who may be fighting for their lives in a derby fixture, it’s difficult not to see the Blues as having the more difficult run-in.
Certainly, without beating United, seven points looks a significant gap to bridge or to even strike fear into Carrick’s side. Greater threats lie in wait from teams in better form, such as Everton, or from resurgent sides with a stereotypically easier run-in, such as Newcastle.
United are looking on course, given the advantage they already hold, and those sides will pose a greater threat to the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool. The ability to play Champions League football next term is firmly in United’s hands.
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Bjorn Baker might operate without the extensive stable sizes or financial muscle of Australia’s premier outfits, yet he’s poised to compete fiercely on Golden Slipper day at Rosehill.
Baker boasts five entrants across four Group 1 fixtures, highlighted by colts Warwoven and Paradoxium in the $5 million centrepiece, alongside Pericles for the George Ryder Stakes (1500m), Stefi Magnetica in the Ranvet Stakes (2000m), and Green Spaces contesting the Rosehill Guineas (2000m).
Third on the metropolitan trainers’ premiership, Baker trails exclusively Chris Waller and Tulloch Lodge, sustaining his remarkable form from the prior season when Waller alone produced more Sydney winners.
“Compared to the big stables and big bloodstock agents, we’re at a much lower level in terms of numbers and quality, so to get two runners in the Golden Slipper is really a dream,” Baker said this week.
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“It’s very much about small steps to get into these races. Even when I came here (from his native New Zealand), you’ve got to start winning races and slowly building quality up.
“Two runners in the race suggests we’re going in the right direction.”
Pericles squares off against the hot property Autumn Glow in the George Ryder Stakes, with the mare favoured at $1.30 in Winx territory, and Pericles listed at $16 in the next betting group.
Baker’s Godolphin gelding boasts consistency, never worse than fourth in five starts, bolstered by a strong return win in the Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield recently.
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Baker remains confident and unwilling to concede despite the favourite’s dominance in Pericles’s path.
“You’ve got to back yourself. You’re in the wrong game if you want to put the white flag up every time there is a superstar,” Baker said.
“If there is ever a horse that is capable of knocking off a superstar, it’s Pericles. He’s got an exceptional record.”
The Doncaster Mile titleholder Stefi Magnetica attempts a new voyage at middle distances in the Ranvet, a formidable proposition.
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Baker concedes luck is essential to beat Aeliana and Sir Delius, but insists her preparation exceeds her prior seventh in the All-Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington.
“It was hard to get a line in Melbourne. It didn’t work out, it was a very firm track, and second-up she can be a little bit vulnerable as well,” Baker said.
“It’s going to be a tough race with Sir Delius and Aeliana and co, so she is going to need to get a good run in transit and have everything go her way, but she’s in good order.”
Complementing the Group 1 efforts, Baker has four fillies and mares lined up in the Group 3 Birthday Card Stakes (1200m), with Monte Supreme his best shot at $9.50.
The pressure of the Big Dance wasn’t the only thing making players from Georgia, Virginia, Iowa and Fairleigh Dickinson sweat on Saturday afternoon.
Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City does not have air conditioning, and an unseasonably warm day meant the temperature inside the 43-year-old building soared to over 80 degrees with a 26% humidity rate during the first-round games of the 2026 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament.
Virginia won a thriller in the first game of the day, defeating Georgia 82-73 in overtime to become just the second team to advance to the second round out of the First Four.
Per U.S. Climate Data, the average temperature in Iowa City in March is 48 degrees, but it got up to 84 degrees on Saturday, which broke the city’s previous record high for March 21 of 78 degrees. The sell-out crowd of over 15,000 only added to the heat inside the arena.
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“That was really cool,” Virginia guard Kymora Johnson said of the Iowa fans cheering for Virginia. “Obviously Iowa gets a lot of fans, and it was really cool to see the stadium fill up, although it was very hot.”
The temperature and humidity inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena during Virginia’s win over Georgia
ESPN
“What I try to focus on, sometimes to a fault, you just control the controllables,” Iowa coach Jan Jensen said earlier this week when asked about the weather.
“I’m glad you brought it up because maybe I better try to talk about it. I’m older, I’m in my fifties right, so I can be like we can’t control that, suck it up. But when you’re younger and it is really hot and it’s been cold in Carver most of the year because it’s winter in the Midwest, might need to chat about it. But I do think the focus will be great. Hydrate up. Both sides will have to have a lot of water if the crowd does heat it up in there. But I think that we’ll be pretty smart about we gotta do what we gotta do whether it’s 80 or 20,” she added.
This is not the first time that Carver-Hawkeye’s lack of air conditioning has been an issue. Last spring, when the Indiana Fever played the Brazilian national team in a WNBA preseason game in the building, former Hawkeyes star Caitlin Clark warned her Fever teammates about the heat.
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“I warned everybody, like, there’s no air conditioning in Carver-Hawkeye, and usually they don’t play basketball games there in May,” Clark said. “So hopefully, hopefully it stays a little cool in there. I don’t know what the humidity is looking like, but we’ll see how it goes. Might be a little toasty.”
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