Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) evades pressure from Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jonathan Allen (93) during second-half action at U.S. Bank Stadium on Dec. 7, 2025, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Daniels escaped the collapsing pocket as Washington’s offense tried to extend the play against Minnesota’s defensive front. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.
The Minnesota Vikings officially cut ties with Jonathan Allen on Wednesday, and about 24 hours later, the Cincinnati Bengals swooped, signing the veteran defensive tackle to a two-year deal.
Cincinnati moved quickly after Allen hit the market.
Allen did not work out in Minnesota, but he’ll hope to get back on track with Zac Taylor’s team.
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The Bengals Scooped Up Allen — Fast
Perhaps Minnesota will find a rookie DT in the draft.
A row of Cincinnati Bengals helmets sits along the sideline before kickoff against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on Nov. 7, 2024, in Baltimore, Maryland. The equipment view captured the calm moments before the AFC North matchup as players prepared to take the field. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images.
Allen to CIN
Allen is a Bengal, as ESPN’s Ben Baby wrote Thursday, “Defensive tackle Jonathan Allen and the Cincinnati Bengals have agreed to a two-year, $26 million contract, sources told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Thursday. Allen’s deal can be worth up to $28 million through incentives, the sources told Fowler. Allen, 31, was another cap casualty of the Minnesota Vikings and was officially released Wednesday after the start of the 2026 league year.”
“Allen is the second major acquisition the Bengals have made to improve their defensive line. Cincinnati also signed former Seattle Seahawks edge rusher Boye Mafe to a three-year deal worth $60 million. At $13 million annually excluding incentives, Allen slots in as one of the most expensive players on Cincinnati’s defense.”
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He banked $23 million guaranteed last offseason with Minnesota, so Allen is quietly stacking successive contracts on the back nine of his career. There’s also a chance that his new deal in Cincinnati offsets some of the money the Vikings owe him. Stay tuned for clarity.
The New DT Group for Bengals
With Allen in the house, Cincinnati’s DT corps now looks like this after 3.5 days of free agency:
B.J. Hill
Jonathan Allen
Kris Jenkins Jr.
T.J. Slaton Jr.
McKinnely Jackson
Jordan Jefferson
Howard Cross III
That feels like a group that may use a pick early in April’s draft on a defensive tackle, as plenty will be on the board.
Cincy Jungle‘s Jason Marcum noted Thursday, “This will also hopefully keep the Bengals from drafting a defensive tackle at pick No. 10 because of need. Maybe the best player available will be at that position, but it’s no longer an immediate need that the team could have felt forced into addressing with that draft capital.”
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BengalsWire‘s Chris Roling assigned the move a ‘B’ grade and explained, “The Bengals are quite a bit more dynamic up front and have dramatically improved the secondary so far in free agency. Allen’s arrival doesn’t rule out another front-seven addition in the top 10 of the draft, either.”
“There’s risk with Allen. But the aggressive move at a serious need for the third time so far is really good to see and adding all three up makes for an impressive few days of free agency.”
Allen’s 2025 Campaign
Allen did not live up to his three-year, $50 million contract in Minnesota last offseason, prompting some purple fans to declare that the veteran is washed and incapable of regaining the top-tier form he had a few years ago. He put together a terrible Pro Football Grade of 53.2, struggling mightily in stopping the run (45.4), while recording a 64.9 mark in rushing quarterbacks.
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Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) escapes pressure from Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jonathan Allen (93) during second-half action at U.S. Bank Stadium on Dec. 7, 2025, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Daniels avoided the collapsing pocket as Washington attempted to extend the play against Minnesota’s defensive front. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.
All told, Allen ranked 6th in tackles among all DTs, 10th in stops, 11th in quarterback hits, 25th in sacks, and 27th in quarterback pressures.
It’s worth noting that some pundits claim that Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores’s scheme is not an ideal setup for defensive tackles, though men like Jalen Redmond or Christian Wilkins over the years might disagree.
Vikings’ Future at DT and Money Saved
To bolster their defensive tackle depth, Minnesota still has several options to explore.
Free agency still offers experienced possibilities. Veterans like Dalvin Tomlinson, Calais Campbell, David Onyemata, D.J. Reader, and Larry Ogunjobi remain available, potentially providing the Vikings with proven depth.
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The draft presents another viable strategy, and Minnesota is well-positioned to select an interior lineman early if the front office chooses. Prospects such as Peter Woods (Clemson), Caleb Banks (Florida), Kayden McDonald (Ohio State), Lee Hunter (Texas Tech), and Christen Miller (Georgia) are among the defensive tackles expected to draw attention near the top of the draft.
Washington defensive end Jonathan Allen (93) celebrates after recovering a fumble against the Philadelphia Eagles during fourth-quarter action at FedExField on Dec. 15, 2019, in Landover, Maryland. Allen reacted with teammates following the turnover as Washington’s defense delivered a key late-game play. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images.
Beyond the projected starters, the depth chart is open for competition. Levi Drake Rodriguez has shown improvement as a run defender and could be in line for an expanded role. Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins received a bit of playing time as a rookie, and undrafted defensive tackle Elijah Williams impressed during training camp and the preseason. Additionally, Minnesota acquired UFL defender Jaylon Hutchings in January.
The aforementioned Redmond, returning on a tendered deal, is a lock to start once again in 2026.
Allen turned 31 in January. Cincinnati is expected to win nine or ten games in 2026, according to oddsmakers.
North Carolina football is less than two weeks from opening summer camp ahead of its second season under seven-time Super Bowl-winning coach Bill Belichick.
Belichick led the Tar Heels to a 4-8 record in his first season in Chapel Hill, but a string of off-field headlines largely overshadowed the team.
The controversy has carried into the offseason, apparently prompting at least one prominent UNC football alumnus to forgo attending games in person when the 2026 season begins this fall.
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Marquise Williams, who earned All-ACC honors during his four-year run with UNC, announced his plan to skip games this year.
Marquise Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels warms up before a game against the Clemson Tigers at Bank of America Stadium Dec. 5, 2015, in Charlotte, N.C.(Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
“I will not be attending any UNC football games this year!” Williams wrote Thursday on X. “The things I’m hearing man I would have never thought.” He added a broken heart emoji but did not elaborate on exactly what put him off.
Williams still lives in North Carolina and serves as quarterbacks coach at Louisburg College. He ranks sixth on UNC’s all-time passing yards list.
While Williams’ exact reasoning remains unclear, much of the chatter surrounding the program has centered on Belichick, 73, and his 24-year-old girlfriend, Jordon Hudson.
Marquise Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels looks to pass against the North Carolina State Wolfpack during a game at Carter-Finley Stadium Nov. 28, 2015, in Raleigh, N.C.(Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
During last year’s widely discussed “CBS News Sunday Morning” interview, Hudson faced accusations that she attempted to exert control during the former NFL coach’s sit-down. The interview was part of a promotional tour for Belichick’s new book, “The Art of Winning — Lessons from My Life in Football.”
The viral moment sparked questions about Hudson’s involvement in both his personal and professional life and whether it could affect football operations.
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Head coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels and Jordon Hudson before a game against the Richmond Spiders at Kenan Memorial Stadium Sept. 13, 2025, in Chapel Hill, N.C.(Lance King/Getty Images)
North Carolina football general manager Michael Lombardi recently addressed the scrutiny and outside criticism that surrounded the program last season, defending the team’s response amid what he characterized as inaccurate accounts.
“All during those stormy times, all during when the boat was getting capsized, when people were attacking us with fake rumors and fake stories all over — nobody’s corrected them yet, but that’s OK, we understand — our players hung together,” Lombardi told the “Pat McAfee Show” last week.
Chelsea’s Pedro Neto apologized for shoving a ball boy late in his team’s 5-2 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 match.
The ball had just gone out of play down the right in stoppage time when the Portugal winger tried to get it quickly and shoved the ball boy in the chest as he appeared to be trying to hold onto the ball.
The ball boy tumbled backward into an advertising board.
“I want to come out and apologize for what happened on the pitch,” Neto told TNT Sports after the game. “I’ve spoken with the ball boy. With the emotions of the game, we were losing, I wanted to pick up the ball. I gave him a little push. I saw that I hurt him and I am sorry, as I’m not like this.”
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The boy got back up and appeared unharmed. He was comforted by some PSG players as others indulged in some pushing and shoving, while other PSG players scolded Neto.
Neto said he gave the boy his No. 7 jersey.
“I gave him my shirt as well,” Neto said. “He was happy that I gave him the shirt and said sorry like, 35 times.”
Neto was not punished by the referee over the incident.
“I saw there was an altercation,” Chelsea coach Liam Rosenior said. “I haven’t seen (the incident). If there is wrongdoing on our part, I apologize on behalf of the club (and) Pedro has done so in interviews.”
Rosenior said he should have helped his players focus better after the incident, which was followed moments later by PSG’s fifth goal.
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“It’s on me,” he said. “We have to manage the moments better.
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — The science confirms it: We are more distracted today than at any point in our history.
According to studies from the renowned researcher Gloria Mark of the University of California-Irvine, the average attention span on a digital device has dropped more than 60 percent in just two decades — from 120 seconds in 2004 to less than 45 seconds in 2024. It’s a phenomenon called “popcorn brain,” and it is shared in separate studies by researchers from across the world of academia.
But the latest challenge of digital decline arrived on television screens on Thursday at the Players Championship in a far different way: through Justin Thomas’s return to the lead after a six-month absence from tournament golf.
“I felt like it really was just all mental,” Thomas said Thursday after an opening-round 68 at the Players Championship. “I had a little bit of fatigue out there. I had a hard time keeping my focus the whole — just like I did going back out after the rain delay. I said to [caddie Matt “Rev” Minister], I was like, I’m very spacey.”
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Thomas’ “mental” remark was in reference to his return last week at Bay Hill — more on that in a moment — but his attentional struggles continued on Thursday, and understandably so: The two-time major champ returned to the Players for just his second event since spinal surgery in the offseason that robbed him of the early portion of his season. It’s not hard to imagine how, after spending at least some of his time away from golf enjoying the fruits of the endless scroll, Thomas’ return to the relentless focus of a five-plus-hour tournament round would be a challenge.
At last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, Thomas showed signs of that struggle, struggling just to break 80 in both rounds of a missed cut en route to last place at the limited field event.
“Look, I wasn’t expecting to go be in contention and have a chance to win the golf tournament. I fully believed that I could. Like, I was hitting all these shots and doing things well enough to, but I knew it was going to be tough mentally being out there and playing,” he said Thurday. “But when you kind of post two pretty humiliating scores, it’s hard to give yourself too much grace.”
It’s not often a round of golf qualifies as a sigh of relief, but considering the state of affairs at Bay Hill, Thomas left TPC Sawgrass on Thursday just one shot off the lead set by Maverick McNealy … and feeling decidedly relieved.
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“My main goal is getting through these weeks,” he admitted. “Really feeling like I’m not having to try so hard to be in a good place at Augusta.”
“A lot of confidence comes from doing it in competition,” Thomas said. “It helps when you’re able to do things a lot in practice. But at the same time, all the clutch putters feel as good as they do because they made that many when it matters. A basketball player like MJ made so many of those shots, and he was comfortable because he made so many of those shots in games.”
As Thomas explained, returning to tournament golf is a strange emotional experience. Technically, your golf swing can be in great shape, and mentally, you can feel ready to go — but until you’ve been through the heat of battle, you just don’t know how you’re going to perform.
On Thursday at the Players, Thomas felt what it was like to be back in the driver’s seat again. Keeping focus may have required some extra effort, but he held strong, getting in the house with three birdies on his last five holes.
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And as he walked off the course after the round, not even he could deny the joy he felt at just staying in the fight. The score was nice, but the feeling? That had his attention.
“I kind of had a deep breath to myself walking off 9 and even said internally, I needed that,” Thomas said. “I feel confident with things. But again, until it happens in competition, it’s kind of hard to fully buy into you’re ready.”
Emma Raducanu reacts during the Transylvania Open 2026 Singles Final at BT Arena in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, on February 7, 2026. (Photo by Flaviu Buboi/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Emma Raducanu will not feature for the Great Britain Billie Jean King Cup team in their upcoming qualifier against the Australia Billie Jean King Cup team next month.
The tie is scheduled to take place at Melbourne Park on April 10–11, but Raducanu has opted out of the fixture as the European clay-court season approaches.
This will be the third consecutive time the 2021 US Open champion has not played for Britain in the Billie Jean King Cup.
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Great Britain will instead be led by Sonay Kartal, while Harriet Dart, Jodie Burrage, and 17-year-old debutant Mika Stojsavljevic have been named in the squad.
Several other key British players will also be absent. Katie Boulter and Fran Jones are both unavailable for the trip to Australia.
Team captain Anne Keothavong said the team still has strong experience despite the changes.
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“We’ve got players with great experience in this competition in our team and it’s an exciting opportunity for Mika to join the senior team for the first time,” she said.
Great Britain have reached the semi-finals of the competition in the last two editions, and Keothavong could still add another player to the squad before the tie in Melbourne.
Sanju Samson‘s three consecutive half-centuries at the T20 World Cup 2026 was the most inspirational story to emerge from the tournament. For long, Samson has been considered as having the talent to make it big on the biggest stage. Somehow, the consistency never arrived, and ahead of the T20 World Cup, he suffered a torrid run. He did not play in all matches in the tournament either. But once he started to fire, beginning with the Super 8 match against West Indies, there was no stopping him.
India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak revealed the quiet confidence that preceded Samson’s resurgent run to becoming the Player of the Tournament in India’s triumphant 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup campaign, recalling how the wicketkeeper-batter promised that he would contribute whenever the team needed him.
“I always used to tell Sanju, ‘Sanju, you don’t know – sometimes in two or three days, an injury or form issue could come up, or even a combination issue may appear. So you have to be ready.’ He has so much experience, but he would laugh and say, ‘Arey Kotsi bhai, don’t worry. Whenever the team needs me, I will contribute,’” Kotak told IANS.
The India batting coach even asked him for a hundred, and Samson gave an interesting reply.
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“I told Sanju, ‘Ek toh hundred karna hai’ (you have to score one hundred). He replied with a smile: ‘On one hand you say it’s not about personal milestones, and on the other you say I should score a hundred. How are both things possible?’” Kotak said in an interview to Sportstar.
After being an unused member in India’s 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup win, Samson ended up amassing 321 runs across just five innings in 2026 to finish as India’s leading scorer, surpassing Virat Kohli‘s 319-run mark from 2014 – making him the most prolific Indian batter in a single edition of the tournament.
Indiana Pacers face Phoenix Suns in NBA game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) gets past Indiana Pacers forward Jalen Slawson (18) and guard Ethan Thompson (55) during a game Thursday, March 12, 2026, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
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Indiana Pacers face Phoenix Suns in NBA game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) gets past Indiana Pacers forward Jalen Slawson (18) and guard Ethan Thompson (55) during a game Thursday, March 12, 2026, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
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Indiana Pacers face Phoenix Suns in NBA game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Indiana Pacers center Ivica Zubac (40) shoots the ball over Phoenix Suns forward Oso Ighodaro (11) during a game Thursday, March 12, 2026, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
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Indiana Pacers face Phoenix Suns in NBA game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Indiana Pacers center Ivica Zubac (40) tips the ball during a game against the Phoenix Suns on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
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Indiana Pacers face Phoenix Suns in NBA game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Indiana Pacers center Ivica Zubac (40) pushes past Phoenix Suns forward Oso Ighodaro (11) during a game Thursday, March 12, 2026, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
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Indiana Pacers face Phoenix Suns in NBA game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Indiana Pacers center Ivica Zubac (40) and guard Ethan Thompson (55) defend Phoenix Suns forward Oso Ighodaro (11) as he shoots the ball during a game Thursday, March 12, 2026, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
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Indiana Pacers face Phoenix Suns in NBA game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Indiana Pacers forward Jalen Slawson (18) defends Phoenix Suns forward Ryan Dunn (0) as he shoots the ball during a game Thursday, March 12, 2026, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
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INDIANAPOLIS — Devin Booker scored 43 points and Jalen Green scored 36 points to lead the Suns to a 123-108 win over the Pacers in Ivica Zubac‘s first game in the Indiana lineup on Thursday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The Pacers lost their 11th straight game and fell to 15-51 and are in last place in the NBA. The Suns have won four straight and improved to 39-27.
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Forward Royce O’Neale added 15 points with five 3-pointers for the Suns. Guard Andrew Nembhard led the Pacers with 23 points. Forward Jarace Walker had 12 points and Ethan Thompson had 11. Zubac had eight points, six rebounds and two assists in 16 minutes, playing only in the first half on a minutes restriction.
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Here are three observations.
Ivica Zubac strong in Pacers debut
More than a month after he was acquired in a trade for the Clippers with Kobe Brown for Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson and three draft picks, Zubac finally donned a Pacers jersey and played in a game after spending the last month healing a sprained left ankle. He was on a minutes restriction and didn’t appear in the second half, but his limited time on the floor provided a summary the reasons the Pacers were so devoted to getting him at the trade deadline and why they believe in him as their long-term answer at center.
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Zubac scored eight points on 4 of 6 shooting, grabbed six rebounds and dished out two assists in 16 minutes, and almost everything he did was highlight worthy. His first assist was a slick bounce pass out of a double team to guard Thompson for a pull-up jumper. His second came when he grabbed an offensive rebound over two Suns defenders, pivoted through them and hit forward Jarace Walker diving to the rim for a dunk. His first field goal was a dunk on an alley-oop from Thompson. His other field goals were all hooks and floaters but showed good touch out to 10 feet.
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Beyond that, his effect on the game as a screener was immense. Andrew Nembhard’s 23-point effort had a lot to do with the space and gravity the 7-foot, 240-pound Zubac created every time he set a ball screen. He brings more physical force to the game than any center the Pacers have had in years but he also has exceptional vision and feel for the game. There won’t be too much payoff for that this season, but his potential value to a fully healthy Pacers squad was clear.
Andrew Nembhard goes off in first half, doesn’t return in second
Zubac’s gravity helped Nembhard more than anybody as the fourth-year guard used the space to have one of his best and most efficient scoring nights of the season. And he only played the first half.
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Nembhard scored 23 points on 6 of 7 shooting, hit both of his 3-point attempts and sunk 9 of 10 free throws in 17 first-half minutes. He also dished out two assists and recorded a steal. He had a ton of space to shoot on the 3s, he fought his way to two mid-range shots and also got all the way to the rim for two more including one a steal for a fast-break layup.
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Neither Nembhard nor Zubac played any second-half minutes. There was no injury designation for Nembhard’s removal but he was listed as questionable with low back and neck soreness coming into the game and has been dealing with that issue for some time. (And also the Pacers are in last place in the East and contending for draft lottery position.)
Devin Booker, Jalen Green too much for remaining Pacers
The Pacers were already playing without All-Star forward Pascal Siakam, forward Aaron Nesmith and guards T.J. McConnell and Quenton Jackson due to injuries on Thursday night — and are of course still missing Tyrese Haliburton and Johnny Furphy due to their season-ending injuries. So when Nembhard and Zubac didn’t return for the second half, the Pacers had very much a skeleton crew remaining. Rookie guard Kam Jones, two-way contract guard Thompson, Walker, Brown and Jay Huff took the floor as the starting five for the second half. The remaining bench included guard Ben Sheppard, two-way contract guard Taelon Peter, two-way forward Jalen Slawson and center Micah Potter. For most of the second half, the Pacers effectively played a G League caliber lineup.
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That group actually did better than expected, especially in the third quarter when they were only outscored 29-27 and at one point were within two points of the lead. Even in the fourth quarter it never got totally out of hand. In just his second game with the Pacers since his Exhibit 10 contract with the Boom was upgraded to a two-way deal, Slawson scored 10 points, grabbed eight rebounds, dished out five assists and grabbed two steals. Thompson scored 11 points. Walker had 12 points. Jay Huff had 10 and Ben Sheppard had 10.
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The Suns, however did not pull any of their stars and they performed like superstars. Five-time All-Star Devin Booker went off for 43 points on 14 of 31 shooting including 4 of 7 from 3-point range and 11 of 11 free throws. Jalen Green, the No. 2 pick in the 2021 draft, scored 36 points on 14 of 23 shooting. Those two combined for 43 in the second half with Green scoring 22 and Booker 21 and that was enough to put the game away.
The Pac-12 will have eight football members going into 2026 when the schools formally join the conference on July 1st.
Are they ahead of the American Conference in the G6 rankings?
On today’s episode of Locked On College Football, I discuss the Big Ten asking for tampering investigations to be paused while they try to set uniform rules.
Is the reality as bad as the optics?
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Cal enters Year 1 under Tosh Lupoi with a strong transfer portal class and one of the best QBs in the ACC in Jaron Keawe-Sagapolutele.
Can they be a dark-horse title contender?
00:00 ACC, G6, and Playoff Talk 04:50 Pac-12 Contenders and Turnover 07:09 College Football Playoff Contenders 13:15 NCAA Transfer Tampering Concerns 15:56 NCAA Antitrust and Enforcement Challenges 18:15 College Sports: Fairness & Leadership 22:14 Miami’s ACC Hopes & Cal’s Opener 27:41 Cal’s Upcoming ACC Road Games
The Professional Basketball Writers Association (PBWA) announced Thursday that Paige Bueckers won the 2025 PBWA Tamika Catchings Award.
The award, which is named after the Indiana Fever legend, honors the best player who “combines excellence on the court with cooperation and dignity in dealing with the media and public.”
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Several fans on social media reacted to Bueckers’ latest accolade, with many saying that the 6-foot star deserved the award.
“Media darling,” a fan tweeted.
@DallasWings Media Darling
“This really is the GOAT,” a fan commented on Instagram.
Fan comments on the Dallas Wings’ Instagram post (Credits: IG/@dallaswings)
Here are other fan reactions:
Ngl I never noticed this award before but she deserved it imo she’s very outspoken about the right things
According to the PBWA, other nominees for this year’s award were Washington Mystics’ Alysha Clark, Phoenix Mercury’s Satou Sabally, Atlanta Dream’s Shatori Walker-Kimbrough and New York Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu.
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Paige Bueckers averaged 19.2 points and 5.4 assists on 47.7% shooting in her rookie campaign. She was named an All-Star and won the Rookie of the Year award. She was also selected to the All-WNBA Second Team and the All-Rookie Team.
Paige Bueckers comments on latest accolade
The PBWA lauded Paige Bueckers’ consistent cooperation with the media throughout the 2025 WNBA season. In a recorded statement published by PBWA on Thursday, the Dallas Wings star acknowledged the role that the media plays in the sport.
“First of all, very grateful,” Bueckers said, per PBWA. “I know how much the media does for the game of basketball and how much it pushes the narratives and gets us out there, nationally and globally, and so I really appreciate it.
“As much as us players sometimes don’t want to do it after, win or loss, we’ve got to take it on the chin. It’s a part of basketball and it’s part of growing the game. So I’m very grateful for everybody in the media and everybody who helps push this game.”
Bueckers is currently participating in the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament with Team USA. She made her debut for the senior national team on Wednesday, contributing nine points and four rebounds off the bench in a 110-46 win over Senegal.
Team USA will next face the tournament hosts, Puerto Rico, on Thursday. After that, they will battle Italy on Saturday, New Zealand on Sunday and Spain on Tuesday.
Nov 12, 2023; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) throws a pass against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
The Minnesota Vikings have checked the biggest offseason box. Longtime Arizona Cardinals starting quarterback Kyler Murray joined the club for the 2026 campaign, signing a one-year contract with the organization.
That deal is cheap, as expected, but it comes with one asterisk that could come into play next offseason.
According to various reports, Murray’s contract includes a no-tag clause.
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Jordan Schultz reported on social media, “BREAKING: 2x Pro Bowl QB Kyler Murray is signing with the #Vikings, per sources. One big detail: I’m told Murray’s agent, Erik Burkhardt of RocNationSport, negotiated a no-tag clause in the deal — which will allow Murray to become a free agent again next year no matter what.”
Murray will cost the Vikings the veteran minimum, $1.3 million to be exact. They benefit from Arizona paying about $35 million in 2026. In today’s NFL, where starting quarterbacks get north of $40 million, that’s one of the best bargain deals in all of football.
Dec 31, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) in a game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
The no-tag clause is smart business from Murray’s agent. If he’s balling out in the upcoming season, he wants to secure a long-term deal, not a franchise tag with just one year of security. The Indianapolis Colts just used the transition tag on Daniel Jones. Perhaps even a better comparison would be Sam Darnold.
If Murray scores 35 touchdowns en route to a Pro Bowl season, a player with his track record and talent would undeniably cash in next offseason. The Vikings could use the franchise tag to prevent him from ever reaching free agency. Well, that idea is kaput.
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No-tag clauses are rare but not unheard of in short-term quarterback deals. They provide leverage for players who view a contract as a bridge opportunity rather than a long-term commitment. In Murray’s case, the clause effectively guarantees he will control his next move in 2027 if his season in Minnesota goes well. For the Vikings, it represents a calculated risk — but one that becomes easier to accept given the extremely low financial commitment. They can still give him a contract extension.
Nov 26, 2023; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Detailed view of the jersey of Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) against the Los Angeles Rams at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The very minimal baseline for “good results” should be improved quarterback play compared to the 2025 season. J.J. McCarthy struggled all year with injuries and inconsistent play, and neither Carson Wentz nor Max Brosmer delivered inspiring play when given the chances.
Murray represents an immediate upgrade with two Pro Bowls on his résumé. Injuries have slowed him down in recent years, but the level of play is undoubtedly there.
Our own Dustin Baker commented on Murray’s track record:
“The Vikings are not onboarding an honest-to-goodness reclamation story in Murray; he’s different than the aforementioned Darnold, who had accomplished virtually nothing until he arrived in Minnesota for the 2024 season.”
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Indeed, Murray has already been viewed as a franchise quarterback, which is why the Cardinals handed him a sweet contract in 2022. Darnold’s Minnesota chapter was the fourth stop in his career.
“Murray,” Baker continued, “has started 74% of all eligible games in his career, a percentage that would be closer to 80% had the Cardinals not “softly benched” him in 2025. He has the above-listed two Pro Bowls to his name, 4.38 speed coming out of the draft in 2019, can throw the football 65-70 yards, and is the fifth-most accurate quarterback in NFL history.”
“The 28-year-old also has a 0.090 career EPA+CPOE, ranking better than Baker Mayfield, Trevor Lawrence, Daniel Jones, and C.J. Stroud, to name a few. His career EPA+CPOE closely mirrors Justin Herbert’s from the 2025 campaign.”
Nov 17, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) celebrates with wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) after his touchdown against the Tennessee Titans during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images.
Murray enters a wonderful situation from a quarterback’s perspective, with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison running routes for him and a head coach, Kevin O’Connell, who has been touted as a QB whisperer for a while.
The Vikings also have a strong foundation in front of him with two excellent offensive tackles, a promising first-round guard entering his second season and an expensive guard with more familiarity this time. Only the center position is a mystery.
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Murray has the talent to thrive in the Twin Cities and he might be in a position to cash in next year. The Vikings won’t have the franchise tag bullet in the chamber, but if that’s even in play, the franchise is likely coming off a good season.
Rory McIlroy recovered sufficiently from a back injury to begin his defence of the Players Championship but he ended round one seven shots off the pace.
The world number two only arrived at TPC Sawgrass on the eve of the PGA Tour’s flagship tournament, having opted to stay at home for treatment on the injury that forced him to pull out of last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill.
He showed no obvious signs of discomfort in crushing his opening drive 329 yards down the middle of the fairway, but he took 73 more shots for a two-over par total, with birdie putts on the 16th and 17th holes grazing the edge of the cup.
“It was fine,” he said when asked how his back felt during the round.
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“The most discomfort was when the ball was below my feet or with chipping.
“But it’s weird. I played on Friday; it’s not as if I’ve taken a ton of time off, I just felt unbelievably rusty out there.”
McIlroy’s Ryder Cup team-mate Sepp Straka is alongside three Americans setting the clubhouse pace on five under.
Austrian Straka chipped in for an eagle three on the par-five 16th in his bogey-free 67 to join Maverick McNealy, Lee Hodges and Sahith Theegala atop the leaderboard.
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“We were fortunate to play in the afternoon with hardly any wind and the greens a lot softer,” said Straka, referring to the heavy rain that doused the course earlier in the day.
England’s Tommy Fleetwood was among those playing in the worst of the weather. He briefly reached five under, after a run of eagle-birdie-birdie on Sawgrass’ notoriously difficult 16th, 17th and 18th holes. He called it a “complete bonus of a stretch” of holes.
Having started on the 10th, the world number three then birdied the second but a torrential downpour that halted play for around 25 minutes checked his momentum, and successive bogeys on the fourth and fifth holes dropped him back into the pack.
He is in good company on three under, with Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg, Norwegian Viktor Hovland and American Xander Schauffele also enjoying solid starts.
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The rain delay meant four players were unable to finish their opening rounds as the sun set and darkness fell. Among them is unheralded American Austin Smotherman, who will return on Friday morning to face a 15-foot birdie putt on the ninth hole – his 18th – to take the first-round lead.
In rapidly fading light, Smotherman hit his third shot on the par-five hole into the heart of the green, but while his playing partners opted to finish the hole, he decided to mark his ball and wait for the morning light.
Cal enters Year 1 under Tosh Lupoi with a strong transfer portal class and one of the best QBs in the ACC in Jaron Keawe-Sagapolutele. 
