Bjorn Baker has the durable sprinter Overpass, unlikely to chase a third Quokka success out West, meticulously readied for his seasonal bow as a seven-year-old gelding.
Overpass instead lines up for a third bid in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) come Saturday at Randwick, after fifth to Nature Strip in 2022 and second to Briasa in the previous edition.
His first-up ledger stands impressively at 4 wins with 4 further placings across 10 goes, prompting Baker to apply rigorous measures for the seasoned Vancouver gelding whose prizemoney exceeds $12 million.
Two powerful trials have been administered to Overpass, culminating in a 1050m hit-out on March 27th ridden hands and heels, aimed at peaking him for the $3 million spectacle.
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“He’s in really good order. As we know, he’s great first-up,” Baker said.
“The track definitely didn’t suit him in that trial, but Josh says he’s going as well as ever.
“We’re just mindful as he gets older, a bit stronger and bigger every preparation, we’ve got to make sure he’s that little bit fitter and we do that touch more.
“He’s had a couple of good trials, a gallop away from home. We’ll give him an easy gallop on Tuesday and into the T J.”
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This season’s Australian sprint division lacks a standout star, leaving Baker optimistic of claiming the TJ Smith should Randwick firm for Day 1 of ‘The Championships’ under expected warm spells.
“The firmer the track, probably the better, but he can get through a softish track as well,” Baker said.
“If you look at his first-up runs in recent campaigns, he was a very good fourth in the Everest. In the T J Smith last year he was second first-up as well.”
The stable of Bjorn Baker extends to the card’s other trio of Group 1s, with Green Spaces eyeing the Australian Derby, Pericles the Futurity Stakes winner in the Doncaster Mile, plus Paradoxium tackling the Inglis Sires.
Coventry City have clinched the Sky Bet Championship title with a resounding 5-1 victory over Portsmouth, featuring a brace from Ephron Mason-Clark.
Haji Wright opened the scoring before Mason-Clark capitalised on a Nicolas Schmid error just 90 seconds after the break. Regan Poole’s own goal compounded Portsmouth’s woes three minutes later.
Adrian Segecic pulled one back for the visitors, but Mason-Clark swiftly added his second, with Kaine Kesler-Hayden completing the rout in added time.
Frank Lampard’s side had already secured promotion following their 1-1 draw at Blackburn on Friday night, but went a step further to claim the title four days later.
This triumph marks the Sky Blues’ return to the Premier League for the first time in 25 years, following their relegation at the end of the 2000-01 season.
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The defeat ended Portsmouth’s run of three straight victories without conceding, including over promotion-chasing Ipswich and Middlesbrough, but Oxford’s loss to Wrexham means John Mousinho’s side have secured their place in the Championship for next season.
The newly-crowned champions were up and running inside 11 minutes when Jack Rudoni’s corner was nodded in by top scorer Wright.
The Coventry players celebrate after securing the title (Mike Egerton/PA)
Pompey goalkeeper Schmid should have done better as he flapped at the corner and allowed Wright to notch his 17th of the season.
It was the 27th goal the Sky Blues had scored from a set-piece this season, and they almost added another before half-time.
Bobby Thomas’ late goal at Ewood Park on Friday had secured Coventry’s promotion, and the defender headed another Rudoni corner onto the top of the crossbar.
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Portsmouth had registered just one shot in the opening 45 minutes and found themselves two goals behind almost immediately after the break.
It was another moment to forget for Schmid, whose heavy touch from Poole’s backpass allowed Mason-Clark to steal in and tap into an empty net.
Things were starting to unravel for Portsmouth as Poole then diverted Milan van Ewijk’s cross into his own net just five minutes into the second half.
Wright should have made it four when he missed a glorious chance on the hour mark.
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Rudoni took aim from distance and rifled his low effort off the post before American Wright lifted the follow-up over the bar with the goal gaping.
Pompey were next to take advantage of a lack of concentration as Segecic latched onto Rudoni’s loose pass and lashed beyond Carl Rushworth from the edge of the box.
But any hopes of an unlikely comeback were dashed almost immediately as Victor Torp’s defence-splitting pass played in Mason-Clark, who made space to fire in his second.
Substitute Kesler-Hayden put the icing on the cake when he slotted in Rudoni’s cross at the back post to notch Coventry’s 90th league goal of the season.
Liverpool could move for Randal Kolo Muani, Kobbie Mainoo verbally agrees to new Manchester United deal and Bernardo Silva is on Arsenal and Barcelona’s radar.
Liverpool have identified France international Randal Kolo Muani, 27, as a potential replacement for Mohamed Salah but face competition from Juventus for the Paris St-Germain forward. (Gazzetta dello Sport – in Italian), external
Barcelona are leading the race for Eduardo Conceicao, with Manchester City, Manchester United and Newcastlealso interested in the 16-year-old Palmeiras forward. Any move to Europe could not happen until he turns 18 next year. (TeamTalk), external
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West Ham are willing to let Greece defender Konstantinos Mavropanos, 28, leave this summer amid interest from the Bundesliga, but will demand a big fee. (Football Insider), external
Caitlin Clark showed off her sharp shooting skills in front of the Indiana Fever advisor and former coach Lin Dunn. On Tuesday, the Fever’s Instagram account shared a video of their star guard sinking a 3-point shot from the corner during practice in Dunn’s presence.
Clark turned around and looked at Dunn after making the shot. She put out her tongue and raised her right hand with her index and middle fingers pointing at the former Fever coach. She placed her left hand on the inside of her elbow to complete the celebration before running in the other direction.
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The celebration reminded a fan of Grizzlies star Ja Morant‘s celebration.
“Why CC is doing a lot of Ja Morant gestures lately? Idk or maybe I’m trippin’,” the fan commented.
“Talk yo s**t CC. I wanna see Iowa CC again,” another fan commented.
“She turned around before that ball even hit. Oh, she’s back. She’s back better than ever👏😍😍😍” another fan said.
Here are more reactions:
“Lin and Caitlin are both amazing people! Love them both!” one fan said.
“I think she’s gonna hit a game-winner this season,” another fan commented.
“😂😂 She’s such a goof,” another fan said.
Fans comment on Caitlin Clark’s 3-point shot in Linn Dunn’s presence.
Clark and the Fever begin the season on May 8 in a game against the Dallas Wings.
Caitlin Clark makes her thoughts on Lin Dunn clear
Lin Dunn has always showered praise on Indiana’s superstar guard. In return, Clark has honored the Fever legend on occasions. On Tuesday, Clark dropped in the comments section of the post featuring a video of her sinking a 3-pointer in front of Dunn to make her thoughts clear on the former Fever coach.
“Lin is my everything,” she wrote.
Caitlin Clark shares her thoughts on Linn Dunn.
Caitlin Clark had a great rookie season. She averaged 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 8.4 assists per game to win the Rookie of the Year award. The Fever superstar won the award by 66 of 67 votes, one vote short of being a unanimous win. However, for Dunn it was an unanimous win.
“As far as I’m concerned, she’s the unanimous Rookie of the Year,” Dunn told IndyStar in October 2024. “It’s not even close with the accomplishments that she made, how she affected our team, you know, she just had a phenomenal season. And so kudos to her, flowers to her. She deserved this recognition because she absolutely earned it on the court.”
Lin Dunn and Caitlin Clark share a good relationship, which is a positive sign for the Fever fans and the franchise’s growth.
The final component needed has been secured by Getta Good Feeling on her quest for an inaugural Group 1 triumph.
Barrier five is the draw for the Danny O’Brien-trained filly in Saturday’s Australasian Oaks (2000m) conducted at Morphettville.
The card features a maximum of 16 acceptors and four emergencies for this key Group 1 race among Adelaide’s Saturday features.
In the event emergencies don’t start, Getta Good Feeling takes barrier three with Billy Egan aboard again, the rider who guided her to wins at Flemington and Caulfield this time in.
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O’Brien passed on the Anniversary Vase (1600m) at Caulfield April 11, going with a Geelong jump-out last week.
“She trialled really well,” O’Brien said.
“She has come back very well this prep. Both starts she has won, and this was always her target for the autumn.
“We specifically didn’t get ready for Sydney because we wanted to have a crack at this, at 2000 metres, and everything’s gone to plan.”
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While O’Brien contemplated the Caulfield race for Getta Good Feeling, he decided against it to possibly fit in another outing toward the end of the campaign.
“She’s fit and well, and I’m sort of half minded that if she won the Oaks, in Adelaide, that we’d take her up to Brisbane, for the Oaks up there,” O’Brien said.
“I thought I’d rather have another run up my sleeve for later, rather than get another one into her now.
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“She won the Wakeful (Stakes 2000m) and run third in the 1000 Guineas (in the spring), so four of our last five have been very, very good runs, and she’s a very classy filly.
“She got 2200 (metres) in the VRC Oaks (over 2500m) and the Queensland Oaks is 2200 and that is why we thought this as well.
“Plus, it gave us a bit more time to give her a proper break after the spring when we decided that we wouldn’t try and get to Sydney.”
A furious Liam Rosenior accused his Chelsea players of lacking “desire, spirit and courage” and said they put in an “unacceptable and indefensible” performance as defeat to Brighton marked the club’s worst run of form in 114 years.
Rosenior said he felt “numb” and “angry” after Chelsea suffered a fifth defeat in a row in the Premier League without scoring a goal and brilliant Brighton went above them into sixth in the table with a fully deserved 3-0 win on the south coast.
The nature of Rosenior’s post-match comments were a departure from his support of a young, expensively assembled Chelsea squad, while his own future is now also in the spotlight ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against Leeds at Wembley.
Rosenior was the subject of X-rated chants from the Chelsea fans at Brighton and he said the defeat, where his side failed to land a shot on target in a toothless performance, was “by far” the worst night of his three-month reign in charge.
“It as unacceptable, in every aspect of the game,” he told Sky Sports. “I keep coming out and defending the players, that was indefensible, that performance tonight. The manner of the goals we conceded, the duels that we lost. Something has to change drastically right here, right now.
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“We need to look in the mirror. I need to look in the mirror. But I can’t keep coming out here and defending some of the things that we’re seeing. Manchester United [on Saturday], genuinely the result wasn’t there but I felt we turned a corner.
“But the general attitude, the spirit was lacking – determination wasn’t there apart from three or four of the starting eleven. That’s nowhere near enough for this club. I can’t come out and lie. I tell the truth. That was an unacceptable performance at every level.
“The performance in terms of professionalism wasn’t there. It was a really, really difficult night, the most difficult night – not even here at this magnificent football club – but in my career. Some of the things I witnessed today, I don’t want to ever see again.
“If you’re playing at this elite football club, or any football club, to be even accused of throwing the towel in is unacceptable. That’s all I’m going to say. I’m hurting, I’m feeling numb. That doesn’t represent me. That doesn’t represent the football club in any way. That has to change.”
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Chelsea could find themselves in the bottom half of the Premier League by the time they play their next league fixture, with hopes of a top-five finish and Champions League football all but over. Blues co-owner Behdad Eghbali was also watching on at the Amex Stadium.
The Chelsea players appeared shell-shocked as they went to the away supporters at full-time. Enzo Fernandez, who captained the Blues despite being dropped by Rosenior just two weeks ago, appeared to shrug towards the angry away fans.
(Reuters)
Rosenior, who was without the injured Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro and club captain Reece James, hinted at personnel changes for the FA Cup semi-final. Rosenior said before the Brighton game that Palmer and Pedro could be available this weekend.
“I will look at the team, will look at individuals and I will look at a team I can trust to do the basics of football and we should not be talking about the basics of football at this level. It is something we have to adjust very quickly,” Palmer said.
“Tonight was not [about] tactical. This was about desire, spirit, courage and I did not see enough of that tonight. Nowhere near good enough and we have to improve that.”
An advantageous barrier is a prized asset, most notably on venues with compact turns.
Hence, Lindsay Park swiftly decided to eliminate Plymouth from the Listed Mornington Cup (2400m) held last Saturday, even with the prize including a ballot exemption for the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) this October.
Plymouth, prepared by Ben, Will and J D Hayes, was allocated barrier 17 in that Mornington Cup, while Kings Valley from gate 6 triumphed and gained the Caulfield Cup qualification.
Following the scratch at Mornington, Plymouth pivots to the 2000m Benchmark 100 at Flemington on Saturday.
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Ben Hayes expressed disappointment over the Mornington no-go but stressed the barrier’s difficulty for the gelding.
“Unfortunately, 17 over 2400 metres at Mornington, we didn’t feel it was right,” he said.
“He needed a nice barrier. Last start he drew well and we ended up too far back, so we decided to scratch from Mornington, and we will head towards the 2000-metre race at Flemington on Saturday.
“After that, and depending on his performance, he could then head towards the Warrnambool Cup.”
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Listed Warrnambool Cup (2350m) on May 7 represents a target, one Lindsay Park took out in 2019 via Furrion with David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig training.
Plymouth entered his last run with creditable results.
Second in March 20’s Albury Cup, he was then 12th of 14 in April 3’s Group 3 Easter Cup (2000m) at Caulfield won by Ambassadorial.
“He’s fine and it was just the barrier why we didn’t run,” Hayes said.
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“It’s very hard from out there, especially at Mornington.”
Visit premier betting sites to find the best racing odds for the Flemington Benchmark 100 featuring Plymouth.
Fabian Hurzeler and Brighton pushing for Europe: ‘It’s about staying humble’
Brighton were 13 points behind Chelsea just a few weeks ago. Now, Fabian Hurzeler’s side have gone above them into sixth. They’ve picked up 13 points from their last 15 available since a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal at the start of March.
“We played a good game, we defended well, we had a good structure in possession and created a lot of chances. All in all a good performance and now we have to keep going.
“Another great night and another great connection with the fans. Overall a positive night and now it is about staying humble,” Hurzeler told Sky Sports.
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Jamie Braidwood22 April 2026 02:30
‘We didn’t let Chelsea breathe’
Brighton’s Ferdi Kadioglu, outstanding tonight and a goalscorer in the 3-0 win over Chelsea, sums up how the Seagulls dominated their opponents.
“Today we didn’t let them breathe. Amazing game from every player. We have to continue like this as we have some goals this season.”
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They’re pushing for Europe!
(Reuters)
Jamie Braidwood22 April 2026 01:30
Trevoh Chalobah claims Chelsea players ‘gave it our all’
Speaking to Sky Sports, defender Trevoh Chalobah claimed Chelsea put in their full effort against Brighton.
He said: “We can be accountable. As players, we have to be accountable for the performance. We know how much the fans are behind us, we know they’re disappointed with the results. We’re not winning games. We have to stick together and pulled through.
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“I think the boys were running their socks off. If you look in the dressing room, everyone is tired. It’s nothing to do with effort. We gave it our all. We got beat today.”
The stats would disagree. Chelsea were outran for the 34th time in 34 league games this season.
Jamie Braidwood22 April 2026 00:45
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Liam Rosenior turns on Chelsea players and warns ‘something has to change’
“The performance in terms of professionalism wasn’t there. It was a really, really difficult night, the most difficult night – not even here at this magnificent football club – but in my career. Some of the things I witnessed today, I don’t want to ever see again.
“If you’re playing at this elite football club, or any football club, to be even accused of throwing the towel in is unacceptable. That’s all I’m going to say. I’m hurting, I’m feeling numb. That doesn’t represent me. That doesn’t represent the football club in any way. That has to change.”
Jamie Braidwood21 April 2026 23:59
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The night Chelsea’s failed experiment sunk to breaking point
It was one of those games where you’d love to focus on Brighton’s performance but, at the end of yet another chastening evening it was hard to take the eyes off the Chelsea captain. There was Enzo Fernandez, standing there mostly motionless in front of the away crowd, other than shrugging his shoulders. That he was wearing the armband only two weeks after being dropped from the first team added to the sense of farce, of a club shredded by so many bad decisions.
What was Fernandez actually doing here? What was he thinking? Maybe it was an apt image in its own bizarre way, because you can say this of the entire club right now. “A sad night for the club”, as one Chelsea insider said. Most visibly, there’s just the way they’re playing. What is Liam Rosenior trying to do?
Miguel Delaney21 April 2026 23:30
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Has Liam Rosenior turned on his players?
In his interview with Match of the Day Sports, Liam Rosenior also accused his Chelsea players of lacking “desire, spirit and courage”.
“It is accountability. I have defended the players at times when it was the correct thing but I can’t defend that performance. It doesn’t represent this football club, it doesn’t represent anything I ask from the group and that has to change.
“I feel numb I’m so angry. I always speak on what I see and that was unacceptable. The goals we conceded were unacceptable and that is something I have to hold my hands up to.
“I will look at the team, will look at individuals and I will look at a team I can trust to do the basics of football and we should not be talking about the basics of football at this level. It is something we have to adjust very quickly.
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“Tonight was not [about] tactical. This was about desire, spirit, courage and I did not see enough of that tonight. Nowhere near good enough and we have to improve that.”
(Getty)
Jamie Braidwood21 April 2026 23:00
Liam Rosenior comes out strong after ‘unacceptable, indefensible’ Chelsea defeat
Liam Rosenior said he is “numb” after the manner of Chelsea’s defeat. He called it “unacceptable”, “indefensible”, and said “something has to change”.
He told Sky Sports: “It was unacceptable in every aspect of the game. I keep coming out and defending the players, that was indefensible, that performance tonight. The manner of the goals we conceded, the duels that we lost. Something has to change drastically right here, right now.
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“We need to look in the mirror. I need to look in the mirror. But I can’t keep coming out here and defending some of the things that we’re seeing. Manchester United, genuinely result wasn’t there but I felt we turned a corner.
“But the general attitude, spirit was lacking – determination from three or four of the starting eleven. That’s nowhere near enough for this club. I can’t come out and lie. I tell the truth. That was an unacceptable performance at every level.”
Jamie Braidwood21 April 2026 22:32
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Chelsea fail to land a punch
Chelsea have failed to score a Premier League goal in almost eight hours.
They didn’t even manage to have a shot on target tonight.
Brighton had nine. They dominated every department.
Jamie Braidwood21 April 2026 22:30
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Where do Chelsea go next?
It’s a FA Cup semi-final against Leeds United on Sunday at Wembley. Leeds have won back-to-back games and will be full of confidence. Chelsea had no fight, no spirit, no ideas tonight. Leeds will be up for it, that’s for sure.
Does Rosenior even get to Sunday?
(Reuters)
Jamie Braidwood21 April 2026 22:11
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Chelsea’s 114-year low: Five defeats in a row without scoring
Nearly 80 of the top-100 players in the 2026 transfer portal have flown off the board, but there are still numerous teams with massive holes on the depth chart. That’s a scary proposition at this point in the cycle, especially with the transfer portal closing at 11:59 p.m. ET Tuesday.
The phones are buzzing and every rock is being turned over in college basketball’s version of free agency.
Kansas: A high-level center, in addition to winning the sweepstakes for No. 1 recruit Tyran Stokes.
Texas Tech: Multiple max-contract guys — one in the frontcourt and one in the backcourt — to round out a roster that has numerous questions beyond coveted Hofstra transfer point guard Cruz Davis and prized freshman guard DaKari Spear.
Duke: A go-to guard who can be a bucket-getter and provide 3-point volume complement Cayden Boozer, Patrick Ngongba and Drew Scharnowski.
So, who are the top names on the board? Let’s dive into the top available free agents at each position.
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Initiator point guards
1. Tylen Riley, Tulsa: Riley engineered Tulsa to a NIT Championship game appearance and is one of the most coveted mid-major stars in the portal. Riley uses shake, a tight handle and terrific footwork to generate a ton of paint touches. Oklahoma and Cincinnati are in the thick of it here.
2. Pop Isaacs, Texas A&M: Isaacs shot 40% from downtown on 154 attempts last year. The well-traveled veteran has never been able to shake the turnover bug, but he’s got a strap.
3. Malik Mack, Georgetown: Mack is clearly a high-major point guard option, but nothing comes super easy in his game yet. The hope is that another situation with more shooting could unlock new levers of Mack’s game after two so-so seasons at Georgetown.
Editor’s note: Mack committed to Providence on Tuesday.
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Two-guards
1. John Blackwell, Wisconsin: Blackwell is one of the best free agents on the board. Blackwell is a net-shredder (39% on 247 attempts), who can put it on the deck for get-off-me drives. He’s a plug-and-play 15 points per game scorer, who can do all the dirty work, too. Duke is in the driver’s seat.
2. Matt Able, NC State: Able is going to be a really, really good player very soon. The former top-30 recruit has terrific positional size (6-foot-6 and 205 pounds) and a polished offensive game. A full offseason in the weight room could do wonders. With the right situation, Able has breakout written all over him in 2026-27. UNC is firmly involved with both Brown and Able as Michael Malone looks to build out his backcourt.
3. Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, UNLV: Gibbs-Lawhorn is a little undersized, but that didn’t matter at all last year. He led the Mountain West in scoring and was efficient doing so (41% on 3-pointers, 57% on 2-pointers). He’s a pure bucket who showed answers to the test at every single level of the floor.
Iowa State’s Milan Momcilovic is focused on the draft, but he’d command multi-million-dollar deals if he returned to college for his senior season.
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Shooters
1. Milan Momcilovic, Iowa State: Momcilovic is all-in on the NBA Draft right now, but if he returns to college, the best shooter in the sport will have a host of suitors. Unloading the clip for Momcilovic would make a ton of sense for Mark Pope and Kentucky after numerous high-profile swings and misses.
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2. Paul McNeil, NC State: McNeil made 105 treys at a 43% clip last season. He is an exceptional movement shooter, who can sneakily get to the foul line at a high rate to diversify his profile. The 6-5, 190-pound guard has two years of eligibility and will be a threat to lead any high-major league in treys next year. New NC State coach Justin Gainey is trying hard to keep him in Raleigh. McNeil could have three different coaches in three years at NC State (Kevin Keatts, Will Wade and Gainey) if he chose to stay.
3. Joson Sanon, St. John’s: The 6-5 guard is on the move again, looking for his third school in three years. The jumper is the sell. He’s a career 35% 3-point sniper who can get it going in the midrange, too. But shot selection and Sanon’s impact on winning are questions at this point.
Wings
1. Juke Harris, Wake Forest: Harris is a dangerous movement sniper who showed his feel for the game as a cutter, slasher, rebounder and secondary creator. Harris can play in pick-and-rolls, but he’s most dangerous off the ball. Michigan and Tennessee are certainly in the mix here, but the NBA beckons.
2. Dwayne Aristode, Arizona: Aristode is so toolsy. The 6-8, 215-pound freshman was a top-30 recruit in the 2025 class for good reason. He commands a sky-high price tag, but the combination of size, shooting and defensive versatility is tantalizing.
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3. LeJuan Watts, Texas Tech: Watts’ bootyball game didn’t translate as well as hoped at Texas Tech, but Watts will still have a real market as a bounce-back candidate. He’s an unselfish playmaker who needs to make more 3-pointers and play with more force to hit his ceiling.
Santa Clara transfer Allen Graves is an analytical darling.
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Forwards
1. Allen Graves, Santa Clara: Graves is a five-tool player who broke out in a huge way to help Santa Clara earn an at-large bid. The 6-9, 225-pound forward creates havoc on defense (4.8% block rate and 4.8% steal rate). He can be a jumbo playmaker (2.5-to-1, assist-to-turnover ratio). He’s a dangerous pick-and-pop threat from downtown. He can put it on the deck and drive it. He can play in post-ups and has proved to be a high-feel cutter. Graves’ first focus is the NBA Draft, but if he returns to school, teams like hometown LSU and Duke are primed to have a check with his name on it.
2. Paulius Murauskas, St. Mary’s: Murauskas is a yoked forward who combines outstanding positional size with an inside-out game. The 6-8, 235-pound forward uses backdowns to obliterate smaller defenders, and he can do a little bit of everything as a passer, handler and spot-up shooter. Murauskas is more of a 4-man who can play on the wing than vice versa, but he defends multiple positions and impacts the game positively in an abundance of ways.
Despite interest from everywhere, Murauskas is currently expected to follow his long-time coach, Randy Bennett, to Arizona State.
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3. Sebastian Williams-Adams, Auburn: Williams-Adams is a splashy late entry to the portal. The 6-foot-8, 230-pound forward can guard all five positions and plays with a ton of force and fire. He’s still a bit of a bull in a china shop, but if he refines his game, Williams-Adams can be a load. He played for JL3 Elite in AAU, so Miami coach Jai Lucas has a ton of ties to this one, but Vanderbilt has surged as a major player.
Big men
1. Massamba Diop, Arizona State: No big man runs the floor as smoothly as Diop, and he can put it on the deck unlike any other center in this class. Diop also has a huge catch radius in the pick-and-roll game, with burgeoning touch out to the 3-point stripe. The 7-1 soon-to-be sophomore has no idea how good he can be. St. John’s and Gonzaga are the top ones in the thick of it, but it’s hard to imagine Arkansas and Kansas not trying to get involved here with their current depth chart situations.
2. Moustapha Thiam, Cincinnati: Thiam is a few tweaks away from being a menace. The 7-footer can be a fearsome rim protector and true defensive anchor, but offensively, there’s so much meat on the bone. If he refines his shot selection and plays with more force, Thiam can play in the NBA. Michigan, to no surprise, is sniffing around this one, but Thiam has a bunch of suitors.
3. Franck Kepnang, Washington: Kepnang has been around forever, but injuries have opened the door for the 6-foot-11 big man to get another year. He cleans the glass, protects the rim and plays with real energy. He’s just limited offensively, but at this point in the portal, some of these teams just need high-major size. Kepnang certainly has that, but don’t expect much more than a play-finisher offensively.
Feb 5, 2026; San Francisco, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey (right) and wife Jenn Aubrey pose on the NFL Honors Red Carpet before Super Bowl LX at Palace of Fine Arts. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Not now, but perhaps a year from now, the Dallas Cowboys laid the framework Monday for Minnesota Vikings kicker Will Reichard to become a very rich man. Dallas paid its premier kicker, handing Brandon Aubrey a mega extension just three days before the NFL draft.
Dallas reset the kicker market, and that only strengthened Will Reichard’s long-term outlook in Minnesota.
Aubrey is the gold standard among NFL kickers, and Reichard is gunning for the title.
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Aubrey’s New Deal Clarifies the Vikings’ Kicker Future
Dude got paid; so will Reichard in 2027.
Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey (17) watches warmups from the field at AT&T Stadium, on Nov 23, 2025 in Arlington, Texas, observing pregame routines ahead of a matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles as he prepared for another outing during a strong season as one of the league’s most reliable kickers. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
DAL Locks Aubrey In for the Long Haul
There’s no mystery about Aubrey’s long-term status. ESPN’s Todd Archer wrote Monday, “The Dallas Cowboys have made Brandon Aubrey the highest-paid kicker in NFL history. Aubrey agreed to a four-year extension that makes him the first kicker to earn $7 million per year and includes $20 million guaranteed, agents Todd France and A.J. Stevens of Athletes First told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.”
“A source said Aubrey’s signing bonus is $8.25 million. Earlier this offseason, the Houston Texans made Ka’imi Fairbairn the highest-paid kicker on average annual salary at $6.5 million. Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker had the largest guarantee at $17.75 million.”
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Every offseason brings a new version of “x player is the highest-paid player at x position in NFL history.” Aubrey is merely the latest.
Reichard in 2027
Reichard’s 2025 season was phenomenal, converting 33 of 35 field goal attempts. This consistency sharply contrasted with years of kicking instability the Vikings had experienced, a trend Reichard completely reversed in a single season.
He has also been automatic on extra points, an aspect of the game that previously caused the team considerable trouble but is now completely secure. As a result, the Vikings have not missed a single extra point and rank among the league leaders in field goal percentage.
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Equally impressive is his range. Reichard has successfully converted 11 kicks from 50 yards or more, placing him among the league’s elite long-distance kickers. This impressive range is a game-changer for Minnesota’s offense, needing only to get to the 42-yard line to have a chance.
In sum, Reichard has provided the Vikings with a truly exceptional kicker. He delivers reliability, impressive range, and consistent, drama-free performance — all achieved in two seasons.
Comparing the Two
Aubrey actually missed some kicks in 2025, believe it or not. He connected on 36 of 42 last season, which is actually mediocre by his standards. From 50 and beyond, Aubrey missed 6 times on 17 tries, another head-scratching development for the best in the business.
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Minnesota Vikings place kicker Will Reichard (16) lines up a field goal attempt during the third quarter against the New England Patriots at U.S. Bank Stadium, on Aug 16, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, focusing on his approach as he continued to build consistency during preseason action. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
Conveniently, no Cowboys-themed analysts mentioned the 2025 stat line when he reached his monster contract this week. It was all sunshine and rainbows.
But in the backdrop, Reichard earned All-Pro recognition in 2025. Aubrey did not. By the numbers, Reichard took the mantle as the NFL’s best kicker, if only for a year. It’s a long way of saying that Aubrey and Reichard will have quite the battle in 2026, albeit from afar.
CBS Sports‘ Zachary Pereles on Aubrey’s new deal: “What truly sets him apart, though, is his distance. His six career field goals from 60+ yards are most in NFL history. In 2025 alone he made three such kicks, most in a single season in league history. In February, reports emerged that Aubrey sought nearly $10 million per season.”
“Instead, the Cowboys placed a second-round tender on Aubrey, which would have paid him roughly $5.8 million in 2026. Though his new deal doesn’t come close to the $10 million figure annually, Aubrey does become the game’s richest at the position and get major guarantees; Dallas, meanwhile, retains one of the league’s very best and a true offensive weapon.”
Vikings Fans’ Prayers Answered
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Have you ever seen the Meek Mill meme, featuring Michael Jordan holding the NBA Championship trophy? The caption says, “I used to pray for times like this.” That’s Vikings fans‘ relationship with Reichard.
Dating back 28 years, purple fans have been ruined by various kickers, basically relentlessly, with the exception of Ryan Longwell from 2006 to 2011. In these three decades, there’s always something wrong with the kicker, whether he blows it in a game’s most crucial spot, can’t make extra points, or generally stinks.
Minnesota Vikings kicker Will Reichard (16) takes the field during an NFC wild card game against the Los Angeles Rams at State Farm Stadium, on Jan 13, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona, appearing in postseason action as Minnesota relied on his leg in a high-stakes playoff environment. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Reichard, through two seasons, has changed that. He’s steady as hell and has given Vikings fans no reason to panic. Not yet, anyway.
So when extension talks emerge next offseason, the same crowd will have no problem handing Reichard $9 million per year or whatever the number may be.
And he’s young. Reichard turned 25 in January. He could conceivably kick for the Vikings until 2040.
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