TheTyran Stokessweepstakes have come to an end. On Tuesday, Stokes, the clear No. 1 prospect in the 2026 class according to 247Sports, committed to Kansas over Kentucky and Oregon, ending the most high-profile high school recruitment for this recruiting cycle.
Stokes waited until late April to officially make his college commitment, which was unusually late for such a top-ranked player. In the end, Stokes’ long and winding recruitment landed at Kansas and provides coach Bill Self with another blue-chip talent heading into the 2026-27 season.
With next year’s NBA draft being wide open at the top, Stokes could play himself into the conversation to be the No. 1 overall pick in 2027. His physical gifts and sheer talent make him far and away the player with the most pro potential ending the 2026-27 season.
With Stokes officially off the board, here are the biggest takeaways from his commitment to Kansas.
The long and winding recruiting timeline that resulted in Stokes’ commitment to Kansas
It’s uncommon for a player of Stokes caliber to commit so late in the cycle, especially if there wasn’t a de-commitment involved. Coaching changes happen in the early spring, which sometimes causes players to back out of their respective pledges. It’s also common for a school to take a different direction once a new coach is hired.
Case in point? North Carolina decided to part ways with five-star guard Dylan Mingo earlier this month. Mingo was the No. 8-ranked player in the 2026 recruiting cycle by 247Sports and has since committed to Baylor, meaning that Stokes was the last major domino to fall. Kansas was the expected frontrunner for several weeks.
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Here is a quick timeline on how Stokes ended up at Kansas.
October 2024: Stokes took his first official visit to Louisville. Louisville is where Stokes grew up.
April 2025: Stokes took an official visit to Kansas.
June 2025: Stokes took an official visit to Kentucky.
September 2025: Stokes took an official visit to USC.
September 2025: Stokes took an official visit to Oregon (his final one).
October 2025: Stokes set a top five of Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, USC and Oregon.
November 2025: Stokes withdrew from Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, Calif. He ends up transferring to Rainier Beach High School in Seattle.
Early April 2026: Self announced he’s returning to Kansas for at least one more season amid retirement rumors.
April 2026: Stokes took an unofficial visit to Kentucky. It’s at this time that Kentucky is also hosting BYU transfer Robert Wright III. Wright elects to withdraw from the transfer portal and return to BYU.
April 28, 2026: Stokes commits to Kansas over Kentucky and Oregon.
One Interesting note on Stokes’ recruitment is that he is a signed Nike athlete and Kansas is an adidas school.
Landing Stokes is a big deal for Kansas because it raises its ceiling after an offseason full of change. Peterson is off to the NBA, star guard Melvin Council Jr. is out of eligibility and bigs Bryson Tiller (Missouri) and Flory Bidunga (Louisville) both hit the transfer portal.
So, what is Kansas getting with the top-ranked player from the 2026 recruiting class? CBS Sports Director of Basketball Scouting Adam Finkelstein believes that Stokes’ power and ability to get downhill and to the rim differentiate him as an offensive player.
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“Stokes is the most talented prospect in the national class and a unique match-up for opposing defenders. At 6-foot-7 and 230 pounds with a 7-foot wingspan, he’s powerful, long, and explosively athletic. But while he’s built like a forward, he can make plays like a guard with an ability to create off the dribble and an innate understanding of how to instinctively find a path to the rim, even when one doesn’t seem to initially present itself. He’s especially lethal getting downhill in the open floor and loves to take the ball off the defensive glass (10 rebounds per game in EYBL) and start the break himself.”
After an offseason full of change and some roster unknowns, landing a talent like Stokes certainly raises the floor for what the Jayhawks can do next season. Kansas now has the best and most talented incoming freshman in its starting lineup and someone who can provide instant offense heading into the 2026-27 campaign.
What’s next for Kentucky after missing on Stokes?
To be blunt, this offseason has been a disappointment for Mark Pope and company at Kentucky. After being one of the highest spenders in the sport, Kentucky didn’t exactly get great ROI after an early exit in the 2026 NCAA Tournament. This was a crucial offseason for Pope heading into Year 3.
The offseason started with missing out on landing Wright in the portal. It happens. Wright returned to BYU instead of committing to Kentucky after taking a visit. The Wildcats were also in the mix for Syracuse big man Donnie Freeman, who ended up committing to St. John’s.
The good news is Kentucky did leave with something. The Wildcats landed Zoom Diallo from Washington and Alex Wilkins from Furman. However, Kentucky is still missing blue-chip talent on its roster for next season
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After former coach John Calipari primarily rebuilt his roster year over year by landing elite high school talent, Pope has taken a different approach by working to build UK’s roster via the transfer portal. Kentucky and Pope aren’t alone, but it’s still a massive shift.
The Wildcats went all-in on Stokes as far as high school prospects go. It didn’t pay off. The Wildcats have just one commit in their 2026 recruiting class: four-star guard Mason William. Williams is the son of former NBA star Mo Williams, who joined Kentucky’s staff days after his son committed.
Kentucky is essentially retooling its roster from the ground up. Several players from last year’s team, including Collin Chandler, Andrija Jelavic, Denzel Aberdeen, Mouhamed Dioubate, Brandon Garrison, Jasper Johnson, and Jaland Lowe, have already entered the transfer portal. Kentucky’s leading scorer from last season (Otega Oweh) is out of eligibility. Jayden Quaintance, the most high-profile player from last season’s roster, is entering the NBA Draft after appearing in just four games total for the Wildcats this season.
For those counting at home, nine of Kentucky’s 12 leading scorers won’t be on the roster next season. There’s still time for Kentucky to add players from the transfer portal. All eyes will also turn to the pending decision of big man Malachi Moreno, who is currently going through the draft process. If he returns, it would give Kentucky a key building block.
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And if Moreno doesn’t come back? It will be just another player to replace on a roster that lacked consistency and continuity. Maybe a complete overhaul of the roster will be a good thing after Kentucky went 22-13 overall, 10-8 in the SEC, and exited the NCAA Tournament in the second round. Above all else, missing out on Stokes is another loss Pope has endured since he took over his alma mater two years ago.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi did a “Vaibhav Sooryavanshi” yet again. The 15-year-old Rajasthan Royals prodigy has made it a habit to give his team a fiery start. It happened again in RR’s match against Punjab Kings on Tuesday. Chasing a 223-run target, Sooryavanshi blasted his way to a 16-ball 43. His innings included five sixes and three fours. With those five sixes, Sooryavanshi now has 99 sixes in T20s in 511 balls (27 innings). The record for the fastest to 100 T20 sixes is held by Kieron Pollard (843 balls). Sooryavanshi will surely break that record – but when, that is the question.
Earlier, Marcus Stoinis muscled his way to a 20-ball half-century, completely nullifying a gallant effort from young leg-spinner Yash Raj Punja, as Punjab Kings posted a competitive 222 for 4 against Rajasthan Royals in an IPL match here on Tuesday. While Punjab’s top three-Prabhsimran Singh (59 off 44 balls), Priyansh Arya (29 off 11 balls) and Cooper Connolly (30 off 14 balls)-all looked dangerous, none of them went on to play a big knock on a track that was hard and offered appreciable bounce.
It was Stoinis who bludgeoned his way to an unbeaten 22-ball 62, with half a dozen sixes and four boundaries, as the Royals gave away as many as 55 runs in the last three overs. Inexperienced Brijesh Sharma‘s (0/42 in 4 overs) pace-off ploy backfired, with 24 coming off the final over of the innings.
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Stoinis, who hasn’t really been summoned this season, was all about brute power, and the Royals’ bowlers, including the dependable Jofra Archer (1/40), were guilty of bowling length balls inside his hitting arc.
However, credit should go to the unheralded Yash Raj (2 for 41 in 4 overs), a 6-feet-4-inches-tall leg-spinner, for varying his pace, not being afraid to flight the ball, altering his length as and when required, and keeping things tight until the 16th over.
Just when Connolly was cutting loose with some delectable strokeplay, Yash Raj got the Australian against the run of play by flighting one outside the off stump, asking the batter to fetch it. The result was an easy catch for Donovan Ferreira at long-off.
Prabhsimran, despite scoring a half-century and hitting six boundaries and a six, wasn’t very smooth with his timing. Yash Raj, whose average speed was in the early 90s (kmph), slowed it down and enticed Prabhsimran to throw the kitchen sink without being anywhere close to the pitch of the delivery. The catch was cleanly collected by Riyan Parag.
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With PTI inputs
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Delhi vs Mumbai IPL 2026: Fans Flood Arun Jaitley Stadium for High-Voltage Clash
The tone was set for a dazzling European encounter when both sets of fans unfurled giant tifos before kick-off – PSG’s was emblazoned with the words ‘the conquest of Europe’, while the visitors’ banner urged their side to ‘give everything’.
In a chaotic opening 45 minutes at the Parc des Princes, both sides did just that.
It was fitting the two top-scoring sides in the Champions League this season put five goals on the scoreboard in a mesmerising, end-to-end opening period.
Harry Kane’s penalty was cancelled out by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s clinical finish, before Joao Neves’ glancing header and Michael Olise’s moment of individual brilliance left the sides level.
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Many will suggest the PSG penalty, awarded after Bayern defender Alphonso Davies was deemed to have handled an Ousmane Dembele cross in the box, was harsh. Dembele calmly converted to give PSG a 3-2 lead at the break.
But the controversial incident was ultimately overshadowed by what pundits called one of the greatest halves of football they had ever witnessed.
Former England captain Alan Shearer said on Amazon Prime: “I can’t stop smiling at how open and bonkers this game is.
“It’s one of the greatest games I’ve ever been to. Two teams that believe in their own ability to outscore their opponent.”
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The chaos continued after the break with PSG building a three-goal cushion, again through Kvaratskhelia and Dembele, leaving some to wonder if the outcome had been settled.
But Bayern were unwilling to let the chance of a first Champions League title since 2020 get away from them as they fought back in fearsome fashion.
Goals from Dayot Upamecano and Diaz were met with stunned silence from the home fans and no further response from the PSG players as the hosts finished with a slim advantage.
“I have been managing for more than 15 years, and I have to say it was the most exciting [match],” added Luis Enrique.
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“It is important to show that that is the way to try to play football. OK, we are not happy as a coach when you concede four goals, but I’m happy because we won.”
It was the first time in any major European semi-final that both sides had scored at least four goals, and just the second time in a Champions League knockout match after Chelsea and Liverpool drew 4-4 in the 2008-09 quarter-final.
With PSG netting 43 goals and Bayern 42, it was also the first time two teams have each scored more than 40 times in a Champions League campaign.
Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique insisted Monday that no team in Europe could claim to be better than his right now as the French giants prepare for their Champions League semi-final showdown against Bayern Munich.
“These are the two best teams in Europe, even if Arsenal have also had a great season,” the Spanish coach told reporters on the eve of the semi-final first leg at the Parc des Princes.
“In terms of consistency, maybe Bayern are a little bit above us. But we have shown that no team is better than us.”
PSG are in the semi-finals for a third straight season since Luis Enrique became coach in 2023 and are hoping to claim back-to-back Champions League titles after winning the trophy for the first time last season.
They have reached this stage by defeating Chelsea and Liverpool in the last two rounds.
“It is a real pleasure and it is deserved. You need to be ambitious to get to this stage and I think we are. We still want to go that bit further,” Luis Enrique said.
PSG and Bayern have already met three times since the start of last season: the Germans won 1-0 at home in the league phase in November 2024 and the Parisians triumphed 2-0 in a Club World Cup quarter-final last July in the United States, but Bayern won 2-1 in Paris in the league phase in November.
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There have been concerns in the PSG camp about the fitness of Vitinha after the Portuguese playmaker sat out his team’s last two games due to injury.
However, he was back in training on Monday in a big boost to the defending champions.
“Everyone is ready,” said the coach, who also saw Spanish midfielder Fabian Ruiz make his first start in three months after injury last weekend as PSG beat Angers 3-0 in Ligue 1.
World Cup players who cover their mouths during confrontations with opponents will face a red card as part of a new initiative aimed at combating racism, world governing body FIFA said on Tuesday.
In a statement following a meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) in Vancouver, FIFA confirmed that the rule was one of two law changes that would be introduced at this year’s World Cup.
“At the discretion of the competition organiser, any player covering their mouth in a confrontational situation with an opponent may be sanctioned with a red card,” FIFA said in a statement.
The new rule follows controversy earlier this year when Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni was accused of racially abusing Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior during a Champions League game in February.
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Prestianni was accused of calling Vinicius a “monkey” repeatedly while covering his mouth. Prestianni denied racially abusing Vinicius but was later banned for six matches – with three of those suspended – for “homophobic conduct”.
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino had voiced support for the law change in an interview with British broadcaster Sky News last month.
“If a player covers his mouth and says something, and this has a racist consequence, then he has to be sent off, obviously,” Infantino said.
“There must be a presumption that he has said something he shouldn’t have said, otherwise he wouldn’t have had to cover his mouth.
“If you do not have something to hide, you don’t hide your mouth when you say something. That’s it, as simple as that.”
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In a separate law change announced on Tuesday to be enforced at the World Cup, FIFA said that red cards would also be introduced for players leaving the field of play in protest at a referee’s decision.
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“At the discretion of the competition organiser, the referee may sanction with a red card any player who leaves the field of play in protest at a referee’s decision,” FIFA said.
“This new rule will also apply to any team official who incites players to leave the field of play.”
FIFA said a team causing a game to be abandoned will forfeit the match.
The move follows the uproar at this year’s final of the Africa Cup of Nations, when Senegal’s players, head coach Pape Thiaw and his staff walked off the pitch in Rabat after Morocco were awarded a penalty in added time, which forward Brahim Diaz ultimately missed.
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Senegal went on to win the final 1-0 in extra time, but were sensationally stripped of the title by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in a bombshell decision issued last month.
The law changes came as FIFA delegates gathered in Vancouver ahead of Thursday’s FIFA Congress, the final gathering of football‘s global governing body before the World Cup gets underway in Canada, Mexico and the United States in June.
Both the men’s and women’s NCAA basketball tournaments are expected to expand to 76 teams, effective next year, a source confirmed to CBS Sports on Tuesday.
A formal announcement by the NCAA is expected in May.
Expansion of the NCAA Tournament has been discussed and debated for years. Proponents celebrated the idea of more access while adversaries insisted it would lessen the regular season and be a net-negative for the sport. In the end, the argument for a bigger tournament that will generate additional revenue won out.
How a 76-team bracket would work
This will be the first expansion of the NCAA Tournament since it went from 64 to 68 teams in 2011. The move will create eight additional at-large bids. What’s been known as the First Four — eight teams playing four games in Dayton, Ohio, on Tuesday and Wednesday of the first week of the NCAA Tournament — will now include 12 games played by 24 teams at two different locations, one of which will remain Dayton. The second opening round site is not known but will be in the Pacific, Mountain or Central time zones.
The move to 76 would mean 52 teams would auto-slot into the main bracket and 12 games for 24 teams Tuesday and Wednesday for a rebuilt opening round.
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Farewell to First Four
The 12 games for the 24 teams in the expanded NCAA Tournament will be labeled “the opening round” when the tournament expands in 2027. The “First Four” is dead, a source told CBS Sports.
The expanded opening round will be split between at-large teams and teams who have won automatic bids by winning their conference tournaments. All No. 16 seeds and half the No. 15 seeds will play games Tuesday and Wednesday of the opening round. The other half of the games will be a mix depending on team quality comprised of No. 11, No. 12 and maybe a No. 13 seed.
Any similar incident at the upcoming tournament will now result in a red card, following a unanimous agreement by football’s lawmakers, the International Football Association Board (IFAB), in Vancouver on Tuesday.
An IFAB statement outlining the law change read: “At the discretion of the competition organiser, any player covering their mouth in a confrontational situation with an opponent may be sanctioned with a red card.”
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UEFA announced last Friday that Prestianni had been given a six-match ban in relation to the incident for discriminatory conduct that was homophobic in nature, with three of the games suspended for two years and one already served on a provisional basis.
UEFA announced last Friday that Prestianni had been given a six-match ban in relation to the incident for discriminatory conduct that was homophobic in nature (AFP/Getty)
It is understood Vinicius’ allegation of racism was found not proven by UEFA’s control, ethics and disciplinary body (CEDB) and that Prestianni admitted using a homophobic slur towards the Brazilian. The sanction imposed is still subject to appeal.
FIFA brought the idea of bringing in sanctions for players covering their mouths to the IFAB’s annual general meeting in Wales in February, shortly after the incident occurred.
The day after the meeting, FIFA president Gianni Infantino told Sky News he thought red cards should be issued when a player confronts an opponent and covers their mouth.
Players who walk off the pitch in protest at refereeing decisions – and officials who incite players to do so – will also face instant dismissal at this summer’s finals, again following a recommendation from FIFA to the IFAB.
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A team that causes a match to be abandoned will, in principle, forfeit the match.
The change follows the chaotic scenes witnessed during the Africa Cup of Nations final in January, when Senegal’s players left the field after the award of a penalty to hosts Morocco deep into injury time.
Their actions delayed the match by 17 minutes, and Senegal went on to win after Brahim Diaz missed the spot-kick and the game went to extra time.
Senegal were stripped of the title by an appeal board of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which last month overturned the result and awarded the trophy to Morocco.
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Senegal is appealing against that decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
There has been an unfortunate update about WWE RAW star Stephanie Vaquer. La Primera competed in a title match at WrestleMania 42 last weekend but came up short.
The Judgment Day’s Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, and Roxanne Perez jumped Vaquer backstage during last night’s edition of the red brand and unleashed a brutal attack as a way to write the former champion off WWE TV. Michael Cole later announced that Vaquer suffered a second-degree AC joint sprain and would be out of action for a while.
Thanks for the submission!
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According to Bryan Alvarez of The Wrestling Observer, Vaquer’s injury is legitimate. However, it remains unknown when the popular star’s injury took place.
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Stephanie Vaquer captured the Women’s World Championship at Wrestlepalooza 2025 and held the title until WrestleMania 42. Liv Morgan defeated Vaquer at The Show of Shows to become the new Women’s World Champion. The match only lasted seven minutes at the biggest show of the year earlier this month in Las Vegas.
Stephanie Vaquer calls out WWE fan who made her uncomfortable
Stephanie Vaquer recently called out a wrestling fan who made her feel uncomfortable.
A wrestling fan suggested that Vaquer was rude, and the former champion responded on social media. The WWE RAW star stated that she politely asked the fan for space, but the fan continued to follow and harass her. She added that it made her sad to see people like that refer to themselves as fans.
“I always stop and I’m very kind to my fans. Yesterday was my birthday and I was honestly having a really bad day. Even so, I politely asked for understanding, and many people respected that. But you followed me for a long time, saying hurtful things and making me feel uncomfortable. I told you no multiple times, and you kept following me and recording. And now you’re posting this on social media. It’s sad to see people like you call themselves fans….,” she wrote.
I always stop and I’m very kind to my fans. Yesterday was my birthday and I was honestly having a really bad day. Even so, I politely asked for understanding, and many people respected that. But you followed me for a long time, saying hurtful things and making me feel
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Stephanie Vaquer spent years on the independent wrestling scene before signing with WWE in 2024. Only time will tell when the 33-year-old will be cleared to return to the ring.
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Manchester City are locked in a Premier League title race with Arsenal heading into the final month of the season, and the congested fixture schedule late on is set to make things very interesting
Manchester City know there’s a 15-day period that is set to define their Premier League title credentials in the final month of the season. Arsenal’s win over Newcastle United at the weekend saw the Gunners reclaim top spot.
A goal from Eberechi Eze saw Arsenal pick up an important three points, but City now have a game in hand due to their FA Cup endeavours at the weekend. Pep Guardiola’s men defeated Championship side Southampton under the Wembley Arch to set up an FA Cup final clash with Chelsea.
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The two top-flight teams will meet at Wembley on May 16, in what could be a crucial run of games for City. Arsenal are still in the Champions League, which could be a welcome distraction for a City perspective.
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Guardiola’s side have just six games left to play, while Arteta’s team could have seven games. The Gunners are back in Premier League action at the weekend when they take on Fulham, but City will have a few more days rest before they take on Everton.
Things really start to ramp up after the first weekend in May. Guardiola’s team host Brentford on May 9th, and will have to play five games in the space of 15 days if you include that clash against the Bees.
For Arsenal, they’ll have just three top-flight games to play in the same timeframe, but could also have a Champions League Final on the horizon if they come through a two-legged affair with Atletico Madrid in the next fortnight.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) looks on during pregame moments before facing the Los Angeles Rams at State Farm Stadium, with Sep. 15, 2024 capturing the scene in Glendale. Murray scans the field and prepares for kickoff as the Cardinals get set for a divisional matchup at home. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images.
The 2026 NFL Draft is complete, and the Minnesota Vikings walked away from the event with nine new players, in addition to 19 undrafted free agents signed over the weekend. Now, NFL.com has turned its attention to the rest of the spring and summer, identifying three main questions for Kevin O’Connell’s team.
Minnesota has most of its roster set, but a few decisions matter before training camp in July.
Oddsmakers expect Minnesota to finish 8-9 or 9-8 in 2026; here’s what it may need to answer to bump that forecast to 10-7 or so.
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The Vikings Still Have Three Loose Ends to Solve
It’s a “Big Three” from NFL.com.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray speaks with reporters after signing during 2026 NFL free agency, with March 12, 2026 capturing his introduction in Eagan. Murray addresses expectations, roster fit, and the transition to Minnesota as the franchise presents its new starting quarterback to the media. Mandatory Credit: YouTube
1. Is Kyler Murray the Obvious QB1?
The Arizona Cardinals severed ties with Murray in March after months of onlookers expecting the outcome. Then, the Vikings pounced, striking a one-year deal with Murray worth just $1.3 million, as he was already paid for 2026 by Arizona.
Now, NFL.com’s Kevin Patra wonders if Murray is the for-sure QB1. He wrote, “Now that we’re past the draft, the quarterback battle royale in Minnesota can commence. The assumption is that Murray signed to be the starter, and little we’ve heard suggests otherwise. But we need to see the QBs on the field to cement that belief. The future of J.J. McCarthy is the big question.”
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“Will he push Murray? Will he wash out and even be leapfrogged by Carson Wentz? Kevin O’Connell has always spoken positively about McCarthy, but the Vikings’ offseason actions in the QB room tell a different story. Would the Vikings keep the first-round pick around if he’s QB3?”
There’s a somewhat common misnomer that Murray needs some kind of career reclamation with the Vikings — akin to Sam Darnold in 2024. But in reality, this isn’t like that at all. Not one bit. Murray is, at worst, a Top 15 quarterback when healthy, producing efficiency numbers similar to those of Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers. Murray doesn’t need to rekindle anything in the Twin Cities; he just needs to be himself and use the tools his maker gave him.
McCarthy, on the other hand, will likely need serendipity to get a shot at his QB1 job. Yes, you can call that a Murray injury. Wentz is in the house for QB3 insurance because two Vikings seasons in the last three years have been ruined by injuries to Kirk Cousins, Nick Mullens, McCarthy, and even Wentz personally.
Our Answer: Murray will win the QB1 job handily; a “competition” is just window dressing.
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2. Will Harrison Smith Return?
In early January, Minnesota defeated the Green Bay Packers in the final game of the 2026 campaign, and, based on the fan and team festivities, it felt like Smith’s final game. Soon after, the offseason arrived — and nothing happened with Smith. He didn’t retire; he hasn’t signed a contract extension.
Patra noted, “As we get to May, Smith still hasn’t announced his intentions for 2026. If he decides to play, the Vikings have said they’d love to have him back. Minnesota selected Jakobe Thomas in the third round, but didn’t add a veteran to the safety crew. There is no question that the secondary would be better if Smith returned.”
This one is 50-50. Smith has joked in the past that when his time in the NFL was over, nobody would know it, and he’d just fade away. That appears to be happening now.
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Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) scores a touchdown in front of Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith (22) during first-half action at Ford Field, with Jan. 5, 2025 marking the divisional matchup. Gibbs crosses the goal line as Smith trails the play in a key scoring moment for Detroit. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images.
Without Smith, Minnesota would roll with Josh Metellus, Jay Ward, Theo Jackson, and the aforementioned rookie, Thomas, at safety. That might just be enough.
It’s also strange that Smith wouldn’t say one single peep of goodbye to the fan base that has unconditionally loved him since 2012.
Our Answer: Smith returns for one more year because he can’t stand to think of Murray and the Vikings winning a Super Bowl without him.
3. Who’s the WR3?
This one may already be on a path to clarity. ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted Tuesday afternoon. “49ers free-agent wide receiver Jauan Jennings is visiting tonight and Wednesday with the Minnesota Vikings, per source.”
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Jennings is a dream WR3 for O’Connell — he’s a “culture guy,” and he blocks downfield for running backs. There’s also ample overlap between O’Connell’s system and Kyle Shanahan’s in San Francisco.
Unrelated to Jennings, Patra opined on WR3: “The loss of Jalen Nailor has mostly flown under the radar. The Vikes didn’t draft any WR depth, pushing 2025 third-rounder Tai Felton up the depth chart. Can the player with three catches as a rookie take on a bigger role?”
“No receiver behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison on the roster gained more than 25 receiving yards in 2025.”
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (15) takes the field before kickoff at Levi’s Stadium, with Jan. 3, 2026 capturing the pregame moment in Santa Clara. Jennings walks onto the field as the 49ers prepare for action, offering a glimpse of the wideout ahead of another contest. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images.
If the Jennings visit doesn’t produce a contract, the Vikings have Felton as a WR3 possibility, assuming he shows significant strides at training camp in July and August.
Otherwise, this list of free agents is pretty spiffy:
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Brandon Aiyuk (if traded)
Curtis Samuel
DeAndre Hopkins
Jauan Jennings
Keenan Allen
Noah Brown
Stefon Diggs
Tyreek Hill
After the Schefter tweet, this one probably isn’t complicated.
Our Answer: It’s Jennings as the Vikings’ WR3 after a fruitful Tuesday meeting.
Rajasthan Royals players celebrate after the match. (Pic credit: IPL)
NEW DELHI: Rajasthan Royals on Tuesday did what no other team had managed in IPL 2026, defeating league leaders Punjab Kings by six wickets at Mullanpur in New Chandigarh. The win lifted RR one place up in the standings to third, with 12 points from nine games, marking their sixth victory of the season.Meanwhile, PBKS suffered their first defeat of the campaign after eight matches, but they continue to sit atop the points table with 13 points. Despite the loss in a high-scoring encounter, Punjab retain a strong net run rate (NRR) of +1.043, which keeps them comfortably ahead.
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RR not only leapfrogged Sunrisers Hyderabad in the standings but also improved their NRR to +0.617, strengthening their position in the top four.SRH, as a result, slipped to fourth place. They have 10 points from eight matches and still boast a healthy NRR of +0.815, keeping them firmly in contention.Royal Challengers Bengaluru continue to hold second place with 12 points — level with RR — but remain ahead due to a superior NRR of +1.919, the best in the competition so far. Their dominant win over Delhi Capitals on Monday significantly boosted their standing.Beyond the top four, the rest of the table remains unchanged following Tuesday’s match. Gujarat Titans occupy fifth place with eight points, followed by Chennai Super Kings with six.Further down, Delhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders (five points), Mumbai Indians (four points), and Lucknow Super Giants (four points) round out the standings.
Latest IPL 2026 Points Table after PBKS vs RR match:
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