THE INDIANA SRN “SPORTSPAGE” WEDNESDAY AUGUST 14, 2024

“THE SCOREBOARD”

INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCRIMMAGES

BISHOP CHATARD AT HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN, 7 P.M.

FISHERS AT LAWRENCE NORTH, 7 P.M.

WESTFIELD AT BEN DAVIS, 7 P.M.

CARMEL AT MCCUTCHEON, 7 P.M.

ZIONSVILLE AT KOKOMO, 7 P.M.

CENTER GROVE AT BROWNSBURG, 6 P.M.

NORTH CENTRAL AT NOBLESVILLE, 7 P.M.

WARREN CENTRAL AT AVON, 7 P.M.

PIKE AT LAFAYETTE JEFF, 7 P.M.

CATHEDRAL AT FRANKLIN CENTRAL, 7 P.M.

BLOOMINGTON SOUTH AT LAWRENCE CENTRAL, 7 P.M.

MT. VERNON AT PERRY MERIDIAN, 7 P.M.

SOUTHPORT AND TECH AT DECATUR CENTRAL, 7 P.M.

TRI-WEST AT PLAINFIELD, 7 P.M.

COLUMBUS EAST AT WHITELAND, 7 P.M.

FRANKLIN AT RONCALLI, 7 P.M.

BREBEUF JESUIT AT LEBANON, 7 P.M.

INDIAN CREEK AT BEECH GROVE, 7 P.M.

MUNCIE CENTRAL AT GREENFIELD-CENTRAL, 7 P.M.

SCECINA AT NEW PALESTINE, 7 P.M.

MOORESVILLE AT PENDLETON HEIGHTS, 7:30 P.M.

DANVILLE AT WEST LAFAYETTE, 7 P.M.

SHORTRIDGE AT COVINGTON, 7 P.M.

JENNINGS COUNTY AT SHELBYVILLE, 7 P.M.

MARTINSVILLE AT BLOOMINGTON NORTH, 7 P.M.

CASCADE AT NORTH CENTRAL (FARMERSBURG), 7 P.M.

GREENWOOD AT COLUMBUS NORTH, 7 P.M.

GUERIN CATHOLIC AT LUTHERAN, 7 P.M.

SPEEDWAY AT WESTERN BOONE, 7 P.M.

ALEXANDRIA AT HAMILTON HEIGHTS, 7 P.M.

PURDUE POLY AT KNIGHTSTOWN, 7 P.M.

CHRISTEL HOUSE AT COVENANT CHRISTIAN, 7 P.M.

HERITAGE CHRISTIAN AT PARK TUDOR, 7 P.M.

EASTERN HANCOCK AT CARDINAL RITTER, 7 P.M.

MONROVIA AT NORTH MONTGOMERY, 7 P.M.

HAGERSTOWN AT LAPEL, 7 P.M.

TRITON CENTRAL AT MILAN, 6 P.M.

TINDLEY VS. IRVINGTON PREP, AT CHRISTEL HOUSE, 7 P.M.

BROWN COUNTY AT EDINBURGH, 7 P.M.

SHERIDAN AT CRAWFORDSVILLE, 7 P.M.

INDIANA SRN WEEK ONE BROADCAST SCHEDULE

EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL AT JASPER

HERITAGE CHRISTIAN AT COVENANT CHRISTIAN

GREENFIELD-CENTRAL AT BEECH GROVE

BATESVILLE AT TRITON CENTRAL

INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL WEEK 1 (ALL TIMES EASTERN)

Adams Central           at           Garrett                            7:00 pm           

Alexandria                     at           Wes-Del                         7:00 pm           

Andrean                          at           Merrillville                    8:00 pm           

Attica                                at           Culver                              7:30 pm           

Avon                                  at           Lafayette Jeff               7:00 pm          

Batesville                       at           Triton Central              7:00 pm          

Bellmont                        at           Heritage                         7:00 pm           

Bloomington North  at           Mooresville                  7:00 pm           

Bloomington South  at           Columbus East          7:00 pm           

Boonville                        at           Paoli                                 7:30 pm           

Bowman Academy   at           South Central (Union Mills) 8:00 pm         

Bremen                           at           East Noble                    7:30 pm           

Brown County             at           Owen Valley                7:00 pm           

Brownstown Central at        Corydon Central        7:00 pm           

Cambridge City Lincoln at  Centerville                    7:00 pm           

Cascade                         at           Indian Creek               7:00 pm           

Castle                              at           Evansville North        7:30 pm           

Caston                             at           Carroll (Flora)              7:00 pm           

Central Noble              at           West Noble                  7:00 pm           

Christel House           at           Indianapolis Lutheran 7:00 pm      

Christian Academy (Tenn.) at Providence              7:00 pm           

Churubusco                 at           Columbia City             7:00 pm          

Clarksville                     at           Pike Central                7:30 pm           

Clinton Central          at           Frankfort                       7:00 pm           

Clinton Prairie             at           Frontier                          7:00 pm           

Columbus North        at           Decatur Central         7:00 pm           

Covington                      at           Tri-County                     7:00 pm           

Crawfordsville            at           Parke Heritage            7:00 pm           

DeKalb                             at           Angola                            7:00 pm           

Delphi                              at           Benton Central           7:00 pm          

Delta                                 at           Muncie Central          7:00 pm           

Eastern (Greentown)at         Oak Hill                           7:00 pm           

Eastern (Pekin)           at           West Washington      7:00 pm           

Edgewood                      at           Mitchell                          7:00 pm           

Elkhart                             at           Concord                         7:00 pm           

Elwood                            at           Southern Wells          7:00 pm           

Evansville Harrison  at           Evansville Reitz          7:30 pm           

Evansville Mater Dei at         Evansville Central    7:30 pm           

Evansville Memorial at         Jasper                              7:30 pm           

Fairfield                           at           Goshen                           7:00 pm           

Fishers                             at           North Central (Indianapolis) 7:00 pm       

Forest Park                    at           Princeton                      7:30 pm           

Fort Wayne Blackhawk at   Bluffton                          7:00 pm           

Fort Wayne Dwenger at        Brownsburg                 7:30 pm           

Fort Wayne North      at           Northridge                    7:00 pm           

Fort Wayne Wayne   at           Indianapolis Attucks  7:00 pm       

Franklin                           at           New Albany                 7:00 pm           

Frankton                         at           Eastern Hancock      7:00 pm           

Gary West                      at           Indianapolis Washington 8:00 pm              

Gibson Southern       at           Danville                          8:00 pm           

Greencastle                 at           Monrovia                       7:00 pm           

Greenfield-Central  at           Beech Grove                7:00 pm           

Greensburg                   at           Shelbyville                   7:00 pm           

Hagerstown                  at           Knightstown                7:00 pm           

Hamilton Heights     at           Lapel                               7:00 pm           

Hamilton Southeastern at  Carroll (Fort Wayne)  7:00 pm         

Hammond Central   at           South Bend Washington 8:00 pm 

Hammond Morton    at           Portage                           8:00 pm           

Hammond Noll           at           South Bend Riley       7:30 pm          

Harrison (West Lafayette) at  West Lafayette      7:30 pm           

Heritage Christian    at           Covenant Christian 7:00 pm           

Heritage Hills              at           Southridge                    7:30 pm          

Highland                        at           Griffith                             8:00 pm           

Hobart                             at           Chesterton                   8:00 pm           

Homestead                   at           Carmel                           7:00 pm           

Huntington North      at           Eastbrook                     7:00 pm           

Indianapolis Cathedral at   Ben Davis                      7:00 pm           

Indianapolis Chatard at       Brebeuf Jesuit             7:00 pm           

Indianapolis Roncalli at       Southport                     7:00 pm           

Indianapolis Scecina at       Fort Wayne Concordia 7:00 pm     

Indianapolis Tech     at           Indianapolis Ritter   7:00 pm          

Indianapolis Tindley at         Edinburgh                      7:00 pm           

Irvington Prep             at           Faith Christian            7:00 pm           

Jay County                     at           Blackford                      7:00 pm           

Jeffersonville               at           Whiteland                     7:00 pm           

Jennings County        at           South Dearborn         7:00 pm           

John Glenn                    at           Boone Grove               7:30 pm           

Knox                                  at           North Judson                             8:00 pm           

Kokomo                           at           New Palestine             7:00 pm           

Lafayette Central Catholic at Seeger                       7:00 pm           

LaPorte                            at           New Prairie                  8:00 pm           

LaVille                              at           Triton                               7:00 pm           

Lawrence North         at           Lawrence Central     7:00 pm          

Lawrenceburg             at           East Central                7:30 pm           

Leo                                     at           Fort Wayne Luers      7:00 pm          

Logansport                    at           Peru                                  7:00 pm           

Louisville St. Xavier (Ky.) at Floyd Central              7:30 pm           

Lowell                              at           Crown Point                 8:00 pm           

Marion                              at           Fort Wayne South 7:00 pm

Marion Local (Ohio) at           Linton                              TBA      

Martinsville                   at           Bedford North Lawrence 7:00 pm

McCutcheon                at           Guerin Catholic         7:00 pm          

Michigan City               at           Warsaw                           7:30 pm           

Milan                                 at           Rushville                       7:00 pm           

Mishawaka                    at           Mishawaka Marian   7:00 pm          

Mount Vernon (Fortville) at Noblesville                    7:00 pm          

Mount Vernon (Posey) at      North Posey                 8:00 pm           

Munster                          at           Lake Central               8:00 pm           

New Castle                   at           Franklin County         7:00 pm          

New Haven                   at           Fort Wayne Northrop 7:00 pm        

North Central (Farmersburg) at North Vermillion 7:00 pm       

North Daviess             at           Washington                 7:00 pm           

North Decatur             at           South Decatur            7:00 pm          

North Harrison            at           Salem                              7:00 pm           

North Montgomery   at           North Putnam             7:00 pm           

North Newton             at           Whiting                           8:00 pm           

North White                  at           Taylor                               7:00 pm           

Northfield                      at           North Miami                7:00 pm           

Northwestern              at           Manchester                 7:00 pm          

NorthWood                   at           Jimtown                         7:00 pm           

Norwell                           at           Mississinewa               7:00 pm          

Osceola Grace            at           Calumet                        8:00 pm           

Park Tudor                     at           Greenwood Christian 7:00 pm       

Pendleton Heights   at           Lebanon                        7:00 pm           

Perry Meridian            at           Franklin Central         7:00 pm           

Pioneer                            at           Lewis Cass                   7:00 pm           

Prairie Heights            at           Whitko                            7:00 pm           

Purdue Poly Englewood at  Indianapolis Shortridge 7:00 pm  

Rensselaer Central  at           Kankakee Valley        8:00 pm          

Richmond                      at           Connersville               7:00 pm           

River Forest                  at           East Chicago Central 8:00 pm        

Riverton Parke             at           Cloverdale                   7:00 pm           

Scottsburg                    at           Madison                         7:00 pm           

Seymour                         at           Greenwood                  7:00 pm           

Shenandoah                at           Fremont                         7:30 pm           

Silver Creek                  at           Charlestown               7:00 pm           

South Bend Adams  at           Culver Academy        7:00 pm           

South Bend St. Joseph at    Lakeland                       7:00 pm           

South Newton             at           Lake Station                8:00 pm           

South Spencer            at           Tecumseh                     8:00 pm           

Southmont                    at           Fountain Central       7:00 pm          

Southwood                    at           Maconaquah               7:00 pm           

Speedway                      at           South Putnam             7:00 pm          

Springs Valley             at           Eastern Greene            7:00 pm         

Sullivan                           at           North Knox                   7:00 pm           

Switzerland County at           Crawford County       7:00 pm          

Tell City                           at           Perry Central               8:00 pm           

Terre Haute North     at           Northview                     7:00 pm           

Terre Haute South    at           Plainfield                      7:00 pm           

Tipton                               vs.         South Adams               7:00 pm          

Tri-Central                     at           Madison-Grant           7:00 pm          

Tri-West                           at           Western                         7:00 pm           

Twin Lakes                    at           Plymouth                      7:30 pm           

Union City                      at           Tri                                       7:00 pm           

Union County              at           Northeastern               7:00 pm          

Valparaiso                     at           Penn                                 7:30 pm           

Vincennes Lincoln   at           Evansville Bosse        7:30 pm          

Wabash                           at           Rochester                     7:00 pm           

Warren Central           at           Fort Wayne Snider    7:30 pm          

Wawasee                       at           Tippecanoe Valley    7:00 pm          

West Central                at           Winamac                      7:00 pm           

West Vigo                       at           South Vermillion        7:00 pm           

Western Boone           at           Sheridan                        7:00 pm           

Westfield                       at           Center Grove               7:00 pm           

Wheeler                          at           Hanover Central        8:00 pm           

Winchester                   at           Monroe Central          7:30 pm          

Woodlan                         at           Eastside                         7:00 pm           

Yorktown                        at           Anderson                      7:00 pm           

Zionsville                       at           Pike                                   7:00 pm   

        

ORDER THE 2024 INDIANA FOOTBALL DIGEST: https://indianafootballdigest.com/

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SCORES

WASHINGTON 9 BALTIMORE 3

CLEVELAND 2 CHICAGO CUBS 1

MIAMI 5 PHILADELPHIA 0

CINCINNATI 4 ST. LOUIS 1

DETROIT 15 SEATTLE 1

HOUSTON 3 TAMPA BAY 2

BOSTON 9 TEXAS 4

OAKLAND 9 NY METS 4

MINNESOTA 13 KANSAS CITY 3

NY YANKEES 4 CHICAGO WHITE SOX 1

LA DODGERS 7 MILWAUKEE 2

TORONTO 6 LA ANGELS 1

ARIZONA 4 COLORADO 3

SAN DIEGO 3 PITTSBURGH 0

ATLANTA 4 SAN FRANCISCO 3 (10)

STANDINGS: HTTPS://WWW.MLB.COM/STANDINGS/

MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SCORES

INDIANAPOLIS 5 ST. PAUL 4

FT. WAYNE 4 DAYTON 1

SOUTH BEND 4 CEDAR RAPIDS 1

EARLY COLLEGE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

SATURDAY, AUG. 24 IN WEEK ZERO:

AER LINGUS COLLEGE FOOTBALL CLASSIC: FLORIDA STATE VS. GEORGIA TECH (IN DUBLIN, IRELAND) | 12 P.M. ET | ESPN

MCNEESE AT TARLETON STATE | 2:30 P.M. ET| ESPN2

MONTANA STATE AT NEW MEXICO | 4 P.M. ET | FS1

FCS KICKOFF: NORTH ALABAMA VS. SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE (CRAMTON BOWL IN MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA) | 7 P.M. ET | ESPN

MEAC/SWAC CHALLENGE: NORFOLK STATE VS. FLORIDA A&M (CENTER PARC STADIUM IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA) | 7:30 P.M. | ABC

SMU AT NEVADA | 8 P.M. ET |CBS SPORTS NETWORK

DELAWARE STATE AT HAWAII

THURSDAY, AUG. 29

NORTH CAROLINA AT MINNESOTA | 8 P.M. ET | FOX

NORTH DAKOTA STATE AT COLORADO | 8 P.M. ET | ESPN

SACRAMENTO STATE AT SAN JOSE STATE | 10 P.M. ET | TRUTV AND MAX

FRIDAY, AUG. 30

TCU AT STANFORD | 10:30 P.M. ET | ESPN

SATURDAY, AUG. 31

AFLAC KICKOFF GAME: CLEMSON VS. GEORGIA (MERCEDES-BENZ STADIUM IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA) | 12 P.M. ET | ABC

PENN STATE AT WEST VIRGINIA | 12 P.M. | FOX

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE AT OKLAHOMA STATE | 2 P.M. ET | ESPN+

MIAMI (FL) AT FLORIDA | 3:30 P.M. ET | ABC

NOTRE DAME AT TEXAS A&M | 7:30 P.M. ET | ABC

GEORGIA STATE AT GEORGIA TECH | 8 P.M. ET | ACC NETWORK

TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE AT SAN DIEGO STATE | 8 P.M. ET | TRUTV AND MAX

SUNDAY, SEPT. 1

ORANGE BLOSSOM CLASSIC: NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL VS. ALABAMA STATE (HARD ROCK STADIUM IN MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA) | 3 P.M. ET | ESPN

VEGAS KICKOFF CLASSIC: LSU VS. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (ALLEGIANT STADIUM IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA) | 7:30 P.M. ON ABC

MONDAY, SEPT. 2

BOSTON COLLEGE AT FLORIDA STATE | 7:30 P.M. ET | ESPN

NFL PRE-SEASON

WEEK TWO:

THURSDAY, AUGUST 15:

PHILADELPHIA AT NEW ENGLAND, 7:00 PM

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17:

ATLANTA AT BALTIMORE, 12:00 PM

CINCINNATI AT CHICAGO, 1:00 PM

N.Y. GIANTS AT HOUSTON, 1:00 PM

DETROIT AT KANSAS CITY 4:00 PM

MINNESOTA AT CLEVELAND, 4:25 PM

N.Y. JETS AT CAROLINA, 7:00 PM

ARIZONA AT INDIANAPOLIS, 7:00 PM

WASHINGTON AT MIAMI, 7:00 PM

BUFFALO AT PITTSBURGH, 7:00 PM

SEATTLE AT TENNESSEE, 7:00 PM

L.A. RAMS AT L.A. CHARGERS, 7:05 PM

TAMPA BAY AT JACKSONVILLE, 7:30 PM

DALLAS AT LAS VEGAS, 10:00 PM

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18:

GREEN BAY AT DENVER, 8:00 PM

NEW ORLEANS AT SAN FRANCISCO, 8:00 PM

WEEK THREE:

THURSDAY, AUGUST 22:

INDIANAPOLIS AT CINCINNATI, 8:00 PM

CHICAGO AT KANSAS CITY, 8:20 PM

FRIDAY, AUGUST 23:

JACKSONVILLE AT ATLANTA, 7:00 PM

MIAMI AT TAMPA BAY, 7:30 PM

SAN FRANCISCO AT LAS VEGAS, 10:00 PM

SATURDAY, AUGUST 24:

CAROLINA AT BUFFALO, 1:00 PM

PITTSBURGH AT DETROIT, 1:00 PM

BALTIMORE AT GREEN BAY, 1:00 PM

L.A. RAMS AT HOUSTON, 1:00 PM

MINNESOTA AT PHILADELPHIA, 1:00 PM

L.A. CHARGERS AT DALLAS, 4:00 PM

N.Y. GIANTS AT N.Y. JETS, 7:30 PM

CLEVELAND AT SEATTLE, 10:00 PM

SUNDAY, AUGUST 25:

TENNESSEE AT NEW ORLEANS, 2:00 PM

ARIZONA AT DENVER, 4:30 PM

NEW ENGLAND AT WASHINGTON (NBC), 8:00 PM

NFL WEEK ONE SCHEDULE

THURSDAY, SEPT. 5

• BALTIMORE RAVENS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS, 8:20 P.M. ET (NBC)

FRIDAY, SEPT. 6

• GREEN BAY PACKERS VS. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (IN SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL), 8:15 P.M. ET (PEACOCK)

SUNDAY, SEPT. 8

• PITTSBURGH STEELERS AT ATLANTA FALCONS, 1 P.M. ET (FOX)
• ARIZONA CARDINALS AT BUFFALO BILLS, 1 P.M. ET (CBS)
• TENNESSEE TITANS AT CHICAGO BEARS, 1 P.M. ET (FOX)
• NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS AT CINCINNATI BENGALS, 1 P.M. ET (CBS)
• HOUSTON TEXANS AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS, 1 P.M. ET (CBS)
• JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT MIAMI DOLPHINS, 1 P.M. ET (CBS)
• CAROLINA PANTHERS AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS, 1 P.M. ET (FOX)
• MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT NEW YORK GIANTS, 1 P.M. ET (FOX)
• LAS VEGAS RAIDERS AT LOS ANGELES CHARGERS, 4:05 P.M. ET (CBS)
• DENVER BRONCOS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS, 4:05 P.M. ET (CBS)
• DALLAS COWBOYS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS, 4:25 P.M. ET (CBS)
• WASHINGTON COMMANDERS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS, 4:25 P.M. ET (FOX)
• LOS ANGELES RAMS AT DETROIT LIONS, 8:20 P.M. ET (NBC)

MONDAY, SEPT. 9

• NEW YORK JETS AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS, 8:15 P.M. ET (ESPN/ABC)

TOP NATIONAL HEADLINES/NEWS RELEASES

COLLEGE FOOTBALL BIG 10 PREVIEW: PENN STATE

(PICK SIX)

James Franklin has built a consistent winner at Penn State but as a program, they have not been able to climb the final steps separating great from elite: Top 10 opponents and the Big Ten powerhouses Ohio State and Michigan. Since the 2011 sanctions, the offensive line has been a liability, and since the Trace McSorley era, they have lacked a game-breaking quarterback able to bring them to the peak. Finally, the 2023 team appeared to simultaneously solve both those offensive problems and pair up with one of the best defenses in America. They were fresh off of an 11-win 2022 season and a Rose Bowl win, a dominant team that finished #6 in my Game Grader. 2023 appeared to be their best candidate for a breakthrough, and the 6-0 start raised the hype to a fever pitch. They had scored 30+ points in 13 straight games – the nation’s longest streak. But then, they ran into their usual midseason brick wall: Ohio State. Penn State’s five-star quarterback, pair of five-star running backs, and strong offensive line were fully neutralized for the first 58 minutes. They went 0-15 on third/fourth downs and didn’t score a touchdown until the final minute in the 20-12 final. Again, their great-but-not-elite held them back against eventual national champion Michigan, who ran the ball 30 straight times to close out the 24-15 slugfest. Franklin’s Penn State fell to 1-14 against Ohio State and Michigan teams ranked in the Top 10. That window of opportunity extends into 2024 given three more reasons for optimism. First, the heralded 2022 signing class now enters its third season in State College, packing the two-deep with blue-chippers despite the loss of eight NFL draft picks. Second, Franklin addressed the offensive limitations head-on by firing coordinator Mike Yurcich after the Michigan loss and replaced him with offensive genius Andy Kotelnicki who helped lead an all-time rebuild at Kansas. Third, the Playoff bracket has tripled from four to twelve spots, and the Big Ten is division-less, which may not directly solve their Ohio State and Michigan problems, but does provide a different path to the postseason.

OFFENSE: Drew Allar was given almost unreachable expectations and for the first half of the season, he lived up to them. In Penn State’s 10 wins, Allar completed 64% of his passes, threw 20 touchdowns, and just one pick. But in the three big games – Ohio State, Michigan, and Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl – that dropped to 51%, five touchdowns (three with the game out of reach), one pick, and seven sacks. As usual with the quarterback, they receive too much of the credit for wins and too much blame for the losses. While the offensive line finally rounded into a strong unit, the receiver room fell off and failed to create separation or any game-changing impact plays. With no vertical threat, Allar’s job became more difficult, and top defenses were able to crowd the box and contain their run game. Penn State landed arguably the coordinator hire of the whole cycle, signing Kotelnicki away from Kansas. After Kansas’ decade of nation-worst offenses, Kotelnicki led an unbelievable resurgence there and posted consecutive Top 10 offenses per my opponent-adjusted metric. His creative scheme, quarterback option, pre-snap motion, distortion, and RPO’s confused defenses and helped them reach bowls in both seasons. His rebuild here is underway with a roster packed with blue-chippers. Allar and his two backs Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton are all former five-stars, and the running back duo represents the clear-cut strength of the offense. Franklin calls them “two starting running backs” and they have shared carries with similar success: 1,600 yards and 14 touchdowns combined last year. Both earned All-Big Ten honors and it will be interesting to see how Kotelnicki integrates them into his outside zone run scheme and if they’ll see an uptick in pass receptions. Offensive line coach Phil Trautwein completed his turnaround from a poor unit to a strong one, and Penn State was one of just ten Power 5 lines to place in the Top 40 in both my OL Run Push and Pass Protection stats. Now the job shifts from “fix” to “reload” as three starters head pro including center Hunter Nourzad, Caeden Wallace, and NFL first-rounder and Big Ten Lineman of the Year Olu Fashanu. Sal Wormley is the leader with 26 straight starts at right guard, but from there, it’s a room packed with highly-touted prospects lacking game experience. Development and scheme will be the deciding factors here – they certainly have the raw talent on paper. Left tackle Drew Shelton (Top150), JB Nelson (#1JUCO lineman), and Anthony Donkoh are all four-stars and projected starters. Near-five-star Cooper Cousins (Erie McDowell) is already competing at center and former five-star Nolan Rucci (Warwick) transferred back home from Wisconsin. The receiver room struggled in 2023 but rather than showing signs of improvement in the past few months, they were decimated by the transfer portal. Five receivers transferred out, with four landing at Power 5 programs, headlined by last year’s leader KeAndre Lambert-Smith (Auburn). Penn State did land one impact starter of their own, in Ohio State’s Julian Fleming who earned a five-star billing after dominating at Pennsylvania 2A powerhouse Southern Columbia. Harrison Wallace is another known starter but was lost to injury most of last year. From there, the room is completely wide-open and unproven to the point where Kotelnicki may get creative with two-backs or multiple tight-end packages. Franklin has always said “The second tight end battles the third receiver” for a spot on the field, and as of the start of fall camp the tight ends are the stronger unit. Theo Johnson and Tyler Warren were a super productive duo with Warren placing second on the team in receptions. Johnson was drafted in the fourth round, but Top200 redshirt freshman Andrew Rappleyea is surging up the depth chart and could form this year’s duo with Warren.

DEFENSE:  This was the best defense in America last year. Penn State ranked #1 in my opponent-adjusted metric, and #1 in the rushing number, and it was the best version yet of Manny Diaz’s aggressive/attacking scheme with a #1 finish in my Negative Play rate – a crazy 14% of plays made behind the line of scrimmage. They held Iowa to just four first-downs the entire game and then held Maryland to -49 rushing yards. Yes, negative 49 – half of a football field in reverse. 11 Nittany Lions received All-Big Ten honors with seven placing on the first, second, or third teams. Six of those 11 left for the pros, and Diaz left to take the Duke head coaching job. Franklin said he wanted to hire a “head coach of the offense and a head coach of the defense” and his pick on this side of the ball certainly has that background. Tom Allen led Indiana to a magical 2020 season, doing more with less, and his defense was the key reason. Schematically, Allen will shift out a third linebacker for an every-down, do-it-all hybrid called the Lion. They will operate out of a 4-2-5 most of the time, and that Lion is more a third safety than a third corner. That corner trio from last year was elite and all three are heading pro: Kalen King, Johnny Dixon, and slot corner Daequan Hardy. Cam Miller moves into the top corner role, and a pair of top-rated SEC transfers will battle for the other spot. Jalen Kimber transferred in from Florida, but Georgia’s AJ Harris drew big spring praise after being rated the #2 transfer corner. The safeties return intact with Jaylen Reed repping at the new Lion position, Kevin Winston as an all-league talent, and Zakee Wheatley surging up the depth chart. Starting backer Curtis Jacobs went pro, and two-time All-Big Ten Abdul Carter shifted down to defensive end. But as the scheme shifts from three to two backers, just one vacancy is open. Kobe King led the room with 59 tackles last year, and former Top100 Tony Rojas is projected as the new starter. Chop Robinson was a first-rounder, and Adisa Isaac went in the third, but even with the loss of two elite stars, the defensive end room remains a strength. Carter fills one spot with the position change, and five-star Dani Dennis-Sutton placed on the All-Big Ten third team last year. Their top four defensive tackles return, headlined by Dvon Ellies, meaning the point of attack remains stout.

OUTLOOK:  Franklin hired two excellent coordinators, their five-star quarterback gets a second-year bonus, and that elite 2022 recruiting class is rounding into form. Penn State benefits from the division-less format as they face just two of the top seven Big Ten teams. They also benefit from the Playoff bracket tripling in size — as the #3 Big Ten team they are an at-large Playoff selection.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL BIG 10 PREVIEW: MICHIGAN

(PICK SIX)

“Hail to the Victors” The winningest program in college football history not only became the first to 1,000 wins in 2023 but also returned to the pinnacle of the sport with a national championship. Nine years in the making, former quarterback and lifelong Michigan Man Jim Harbaugh built his alma mater back into a national champion for the first time since 1997. He took over in 2015 at a moment that coincided with both rivals in peak form – Urban Meyer had just won a national title at Ohio State, and Mark Dantonio had Michigan State in the Playoff and reaching 50-year heights. After a losing season in the short 2020 year – and between several NFL interviews including one with the Vikings on National Signing Day – Harbaugh redefined his program philosophy and went back to his Stanford roots: physicality and a style of play that ran counter to Ohio State’s speed/spread modern approach. He built the best offensive line in America, excelled at player development and retention, and hired defensive coordinators to install proven NFL systems. Credit the Michigan administration for showing patience in 2020, because from that point it was an absolute explosion: —- 40-3 overall record, 29-1 vs. Big Ten 3-0 vs. Ohio State, 3 Big Ten titles 3 straight Top 5 finishes, Michigan’s first in AP Poll history 1st 15-0 season in Big Ten history, Michigan’s first outright national title since 1948 His 2023 team went out in style, becoming the first national champion to beat five ranked teams over the final six games. And within the title game itself, Michigan played as the perfect reflection of their head coach’s vision. Their 330 rushing yards against Washington were the most in national title game history (BCS & CFP era). There was no lack of drama. Allegations of an advanced sign-stealing system caused Harbaugh to be suspended for half of the season. That topic has been covered at length elsewhere, so I’ll leave it at that. On the field though, Michigan left no doubt. After the title, Harbaugh finally made the move back to the pros: “I can’t win the NFL’s Lombardi Trophy while at Michigan.” His offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore was promoted after building two consecutive Joe Moore Award-winning offensive lines and successfully leading Michigan through Harbaugh’s suspension as the November interim. While the hire-from-within signals the desire for continuity, there is not much of that on the starting lineup as Michigan set an NFL Combine record with 18 invitees, and then led the nation with 13 selections in the draft.

OFFENSE:  After his promotion, Moore was promoted from within. Kirk Campbell takes over the offense with the tall task of replacing 10 starters – everyone except the tight end. With all of that change, Moore and Campbell are keeping the scheme similar, and they have been as physical as ever in spring ball. In addition to their Beat Ohio drill, they added the “Quest for Atlanta” which is 11 on 11, four downs, starting offense vs. defense, with Atlanta being the site of the 2024 national title game. Michigan became the first back-to-back winner of the Joe Moore Award, and that talented group sent six offensive linemen to the pros: Zak Zinter, Trevor Keegan, LaDarius Henderson, Drake Nugent, Trente Jones, and Karsen Barnhart. That’s 4,200 snaps and five All-Big Ten honorees gone. The most experienced returner is Myles Hinton who started four games last year, started at Stanford, and was used as the sixth lineman in jumbo packages. Northwestern starter and captain Josh Priebe transferred in after an All-Big Ten honorable mention year, while Greg Crippen is ready after being stuck at a crowded center spot. An even more wide-open position battle is ongoing at quarterback as multi-year starter JJ McCarthy was selected 10th overall and leaves behind a five-way competition. Jack Tuttle was the backup last year, started games at Indiana in the past, and was granted a rare seventh season. Alex Orji was used as a run-first option and brings the most mobility but needs improvement in passing accuracy. Jayden Denegal brings the sharp passing, Jadyn Davis was a near-five-star and won North Carolina Player of the Year twice, and Davis Warren is a former walk-on and scout teamer. This one has been tightly-sealed so we’ll need to wait for fall camp, or even the first possession of the opener. Expect a step-back from McCarthy who was extremely efficient placing in the national top ten in both QB Rating and TD/INT ratio. The top two receivers depart and Roman Wilson and Cornelius Johnson accounted for the vast majority of the production from the room. They had 74% of the receiving yards, and Wilson’s 12 touchdowns placed second in the league. Semaj Morgan and Tyler Morris are the projected duo for 2024 after combining for under 500 yards last year in backup roles, but both flashed potential. After all that roster turnover, there are two surefire returning stars and likely All-America candidates in tight end Colston Lovelace and running back Donovan Edwards. Lovelace placed fifth nationally among tight ends with 649 receiving yards and caught a ball in all 15 games. Edwards has accumulated 2,500 scrimmage yards and 19 touchdowns – including two in the national title – and will shine as the feature back with workhorse Blake Corum now in the pros.

DEFENSE:  They called themselves the “No Name Defense” a few years back but it couldn’t be farther from the truth. This defense was packed with elite talent with five starters drafted in April, and several more are earning preseason All-America hype for 2024. As a unit, they meshed together perfectly and placed in the national Top 10 in almost all of my stat categories. Most importantly, their 10.4 points/game allowed led the nation and was the 2nd best of the entire Playoff era (2021 Georgia). To fill the defensive coordinator opening, Moore went back to a trusted source. The 2020 Baltimore Ravens led the NFL in scoring defense, and after Mike Macdonald and Jesse Minter, Wink Martindale makes it three straight Michigan coordinators off of that staff. Martindale will bring even more pressure and blitz packages: “Our personality as a defense is to attack.” You’ll also see players moved around to various hybrid roles in what he calls “position-less” football. While the offense goes through a full-scale overhaul, plenty of starters and proven stars return. Even with the loss of two draft picks, the defensive line is arguably the nation’s best heading into 2024. Mason Graham is All-America caliber and Kenneth Grant is not far behind. Two of their four-man end rotation returns with Derrick Moore and Josaiah Stewart, a duo that combined for 72 tackles (14.5 for loss) and 10.5 sacks. Two legends depart from the linebacker room – Junior Colson and Michael Barrett – but the staff stocked the room with two blue-chippers from other Big Ten programs. Ernest Hausmann (Nebraska) was the #1 rated transfer linebacker in the 2023 portal, and Jaishawn Barham (Maryland) was #8 in 2024 after earning Freshman All-America honors in 2022. Longtime Wolverine Mike Sainristil went pro, and his projected replacement Keon Sabb transferred out to Alabama. The position battles at nickel and second cornerback will go into fall camp, but they are proven at the other spots. Will Johnson is a surefire All-American at the corner, and their safety pair Rod Moore and Makari Paige both decided to return. After spring ball the staff added two former Power 5 starting safeties Jaden Mangham (Michigan State) and Wesley Walker (Tennessee). DJ Waller was a candidate for that second corner spot but transferred to Kentucky the following spring. OUTLOOK The 2023 undefeated title team was special and will be remembered as one of the most dominant Michigan teams – and Big Ten teams – of all time. Unfortunately, a title repeat appears unlikely with Harbaugh and 17 starters gone. The defense remains stout, but there is just too much of a roster and coaching overhaul to forecast a fourth straight Big Ten title.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL BIG 10 PREVIEW: IOWA

(PICK SIX)

In the era of constant change, Iowa has defied the times and has remained a steady, consistent winner through player development, roster stability, and complementary football. Some may find their style boring, and most national writers recycle the same lazy jokes, but it is hard to argue with the results. Kirk Ferentz is the longest-tenured head coach in FBS, has the third-most wins in Big Ten history, and has led Iowa to winning seasons in each of the past 11 seasons –one of the longest streaks in Power 5. To do so at Iowa, where geography and proximity to blue-chip recruits provide a long-term program hurdle, has been nothing short of incredible. Iowa won two of the final three Big Ten West crowns with an elite defense, an All-American punter, turnover margin, field position – and almost zero help from the offense. Each of the past three years, Iowa has polarized even more each time. The defense got stronger and the offense got weaker. My opponent-adjusted metrics help paint the picture. The defense was 8th in Power 5 in 2021, then rose to 2nd and 3rd the past two seasons. The offense was 63rd of 70 in 2021, then fell to 65th and all the way to dead last 70th last year. Defensive coordinator Phil Parker earned the Broyles Award and they were widely recognized as the best defense in the nation. His offensive counterpart Brian Ferentz failed to meet the athletic director’s minimum per-game stats and he was forced out. I said it in last year’s preview too, but 2023 outdid the 2022 team, as the most polarized team I’ve covered in terms of offensive and defensive performance. It’s like the inverse of the 2010s Texas Tech teams with Kliff Kingsbury and Patrick Mahomes scoring 50 points per game and still losing. Iowa won 8 of their 10 games while gaining less than 300 yards (a low bar, which would only rank 128th in America). They won four games while scoring 15 or fewer points – the most of any team since 1991. Ferentz doesn’t care how it gets done, and he mocks the questions about offensive stats like points/game and yards/game. He states that the only stat that matters is “wins per game.” And again, that is hard to argue. He mastered the formula for winning games at Iowa and specifically within the Big Ten West Division. With that West Division era ending, and a change at offensive coordinator, we’ll see in 2024 what tweaks he’ll make to the formula.

OFFENSE: 25 points per game was the explicitly stated criteria that Brian’s offense needed to hit in 2023 to retain his job. For context, 25 per game would have placed 80th of 133 teams in FBS – below the national average. Iowa barely got to half of that target. Their 15 points per game placed them 132nd in America and dead last among Power 5 teams, and Kirk’s son was forced out. Heading into the season, the offense already had its limitations, but injuries made a bad situation even worse. Starting tight end and top passing target Luke Lachey was knocked out in the second game, two running backs missed time in September, starting quarterback Cade McNamara was injured in the fifth game, and second tight end Erick All was knocked out in the seventh game. An already one-dimensional offense was handcuffed further with backup quarterback Deacon Hill completing less than 50% of passes, and posting the worst yards/attempt and QB Rating in Power 5. A three-month coordinator search had rumored candidates like former Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst and Duke’s Kevin Johns, but ultimately Iowa landed on Tim Lester. As the head coach of Western Michigan, his offense placed in the national Top 25 three times and was one of the top MAC offenses for most of his tenure. This won’t be some major style overhaul, and Ferentz confirmed “We aren’t going to run the run-and-shoot… just check the wins-per-game column.” With that said, expect more of a run/pass balance, more two-back sets, continued tight-end usage, and more effective pass concepts. McNamara is back for 2024 but will be rehabbing the ACL injury up until fall camp. The former Michigan starter has the potential to finally unlock a consistent pass game. Hill transferred out after his five-touchdown, 18-turnover season. Marco Lainez added mobility and got some game action in the Citrus Bowl, plus the staff added four-star James Resar. Then, after spring ball they poached Northwestern’s starter Brendan Sullivan, a move that at the very least hedges against a delayed McNamara injury recovery. All three running backs return with 2023 starter Kaleb Johnson returning from an injury. In his absence, Leshon Williams led the ground game with 821 yards and earned Iowa’s Offensive MVP honors. Jaziun Patterson also flashed at times and was the star in the Cy-Hawk win. Four of five offensive linemen return, with Rusty Feth as the lone departure. Nick DeJong has started at four different positions and returns for a sixth season. Mason Richman (left tackle), Connor Colby (guard), Logan Jones (center), and Gennings Dunker (tackle) round out a veteran line. They need to improve on their nation-worst OL Run Push and bottom 25 pass protection as they allowed a sack on 9% of attempts. The most turnover, and biggest questions, are on the outsides as two of their top four receivers depart and the unit has been lacking explosiveness for several years. The reliable Nico Ragaini is gone, Diante Vines transferred out, but former Ohio State transfer Kaleb Brown looks poised for the #1 role with Seth Anderson as the #2. Lachey announced his return, and Tight End U looks strong again for 2024 despite Erick All departing early for the pros.

DEFENSE:  Parker swept the coordinator award circuit – Broyles, 247Sports, AFCA – and it was well deserved. His 2023 unit may have been his best yet, especially given the lack of help from the offense, but Iowa’s defense has been consistently elite. In his 12 years as coordinator, Iowa has placed in the Top 20 of scoring defenses 10 times, and in the Top 10 five times. Four of those Top 10 finishes came in the past five years. And in terms of yardage, they have allowed 400 yards or less in 28 straight games – the longest streak in FBS. Ferentz and Parker stress player retention, and thanks to their strong culture and the Swarm Collective, one by one their top defenders all decided to return for 2024. The lone exception was unanimous All-America corner Cooper DeJean who was selected 40th overall in April’s Draft. Everyone else is back in Iowa City. Jay Higgins earned second-team All-America honors after placing third nationally with 155 tackles. Next to him is Nick Jackson who was granted a sixth season and is chasing the NCAA career record for tackles. Jackson has posted four straight 100+ tackle seasons and is 115 away from the all-time mark. This is the best linebacker duo in America. Iowa went with a 4-2-5 base formation for most of the year, with that fifth defensive back being a hybrid linebacker/safety role called the “Cash.” Sebastian Castro runs that position to perfection and returns with 3rd team All-America honors. DeJean is gone, but safety Quinn Schulte and corner Jermari Harris both turned down the pros. Schulte and Xavier Nwankpa form one of the best safety pairs, and this pass defense will remain elite. The only question comes in the trenches with the graduations of tackle Logan Lee and end Joe Evans. The rest of their two-deep returns, headlined by Deontae Craig and Ethan Hurkett on the edge and Yahya Black in the middle.  

OUTLOOK:  Iowa will again feature a top-five national defense, and will again play complementary football to grind out wins. Any offensive improvement at all – and it can’t get any worse – will be enough to guide Iowa back to their nine-win range. They got a favorable Big Ten schedule draw, facing just one of the top six. They are my pick for fifth place, atop several above-average teams but behind the Playoff-caliber giants at the top.

MICHIGAN’S SHERRONE MOORE LOOKS FORWARD TO RELEASE OF TEXT MESSAGES IN SIGN-STEALING INVESTIGATION

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Michigan coach Sherrone Moore is taking over college football’s winningest program and all the scrutiny that comes with it.

Moore spoke with reporters on Tuesday for the first time since the NCAA alleged in a notice relating to its sign-stealing investigation that he violated rules as an assistant under Jim Harbaugh, according to three people briefed on the correspondence between the governing body and the school.

Two people told The Associated Press that Moore has been accused of deleting text messages with Conor Stalions, the low-level recruiting staffer who coordinated an off-campus, advance-scouting operation. One of the people said the NCAA has recommended a less serious Level 2 violation for Moore, adding that the texts between Moore and Stalions were recovered and that the coach provided them to the NCAA.

All three people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the notice was confidential.

“I’ll just say this: I look forward to them being released,” Moore said, facing more than 30 journalists and more than 10 cameras, when asked about the text messages.

Stalions resigned last year during the Wolverines’ national-championship winning season.

Moore said he has and will continue to cooperate with the NCAA’s investigation, declining further comment when asked for more details.

The NCAA had already put Michigan on three years of probation along with a fine and recruiting limits after reaching a negotiated resolution in a recruiting case and banned Harbaugh from coaching college football for four years.

The Wolverines are ranked No. 9 in the preseason AP poll and start the season Aug. 31 at home against Fresno State.

Harbaugh, now the coach of the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers, was invited to be an honorary captain for season-opening game many months ago, Moore said, but declined the offer on Monday to help the Chargers prepare for the season.

“It was really to honor him for what he’s done for Michigan,” Moore said. “He came back for nine years and took us to where we are right now.”

Michigan is defending a national championship for the first time since 1997 with a new coach, quarterback, offensive line and defensive coaching staff — and a challenging schedule.

The Wolverines will host No. 4 Texas and No. 23 Southern California in September and No. 3 Oregon in November before closing the season on the road against rival and second-ranked Ohio State.

“They still got to play us,” Moore said. “Our guys are excited about the schedule.”

Players also seem fired up to play for Moore, whom they describe as funny and approachable with an open-door policy that they take advantage of to snag some candy from a jar in his office while talking about life on and off the field.

“He’s like my best friend,” defensive tackle Kenneth Grant said. “He’s so easy to talk to.”

Even though Moore is the head coach following a six-year run as an assistant, the 38-year-old former Oklahoma offensive lineman plans to be just as approachable and affable as he has always been at Michigan.

“That’s never going to change,” he said. “I want them to feel very welcome and be able to understand and know that I’m always there for them.”

Moore served a one-game suspension during the 2023 season related to recruiting infractions and filled in as head coach for four games last year when Harbaugh was punished by the school and the Big Ten.

“When you’re at the bottom, they don’t respect ya,” Moore said when asked about the culture of the program. “When you’re in the middle, they ignore ya. And when you’re at the top, they hate ya. So for us, we’re just going to keep rolling.”

OKLAHOMA WR JAYDEN GIBSON (KNEE) OUT FOR SEASON

Oklahoma wide receiver Jayden Gibson will miss the season due to a knee injury, coach Brent Venables told reporters Tuesday.

Gibson went down during a practice last Tuesday and underwent an MRI that showed the extent of the injury.

“You hate that for anybody whose season comes to an end prematurely,” Venables said. “But that’s a group that we’ve felt really good about who’s still in that group.”

Gibson, a junior, had 14 receptions for 375 yards (26.8 yards per catch) and five touchdowns last season. A 6-foot-5 former four-star prospect, Gibson was expected to factor significantly into the Sooners’ offense in 2024.

Oklahoma’s season begins Aug. 30 with a nonconference game against visiting Temple. The Sooners begin their inaugural Southeastern Conference campaign Sept. 21 by hosting Tennessee.

–Field Level Media

CHRISTIAN CLARK SECOND TEXAS RB TO SUFFER SEASON-ENDING INJURY

Less than a week after running back CJ Baxter suffered a season-ending right knee injury, Texas lost another key member of its backfield as Christian Clark sustained a torn Achilles tendon on Monday and will miss the season.

Clark, a freshman, suffered the injury at practice and will undergo surgery, the team confirmed in a statement on Tuesday.

With Clark and Baxter done for the season, the trio of Tre Wisner, Jerrick Gibson and Jaydon Blue will be relied on to handle running back duties for the Longhorns.

“We’re looking at some different options, and I think we’re looking at it creatively, whether it’s a couple of guys on the offensive side of the ball, a potential player on the defensive side of the ball, or two, for that matter,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said Monday. ” … So we’re kind of taking it day by day again. We’ve got plenty of time. We’re just trying to get a sense and a feel of how, not only will they play on offense at runner, but how does that impact us at other positions if we take a player.”

Clark, a three-star recruit in the Class of 2024 out of Mountain Pointe High School in Phoenix, chose Texas over Georgia, Oregon, Alabama and Florida State. From 2021-23, he totaled 1,890 rushing yards on 318 carries and scored 24 touchdowns. He also had 54 catches for 553 yards and five TDs.

Texas kicks off its first season in the SEC on Aug. 31 at home against Colorado State.

–Field Level Media

LIBERTY AIMS TO DEFEND C-USA TITLE AS FAVORITE IN YEAR 2, THOUGH CHALLENGES LOOM FROM SEVERAL TEAMS

Liberty not only proved with coach Jamey Chadwell that it could win as a new arrival to Conference USA last season, but take that success to another level.

An unprecedented 13-0 regular season that included the league championship, its first in FBS. A high-profile New Year’s Six appearance in the Fiesta Bowl, along with numerous accolades for Chadwell and players.

The Flames are overwhelming favorites to repeat this fall, a tall order for potential challengers intent on slowing their roll. At the same time, Chadwell is reminding his team of the daunting tasks they face as the reigning champs with a target on their backs.

“We’ve got a great nucleus returning that has been a part of some big games and won a lot of games,” Chadwell said. “We’re obviously thankful for the season we had, (but) that was last year’s team. Everything we’re getting right now is based off of what happened last year and if we have that mindset, then we’ll get beat in this league really quick because there’s a lot of good teams.”

Liberty welcomes 40 newcomers but returns junior dual threat quarterback Kaidon Salter, who passed for 2,876 of his 3,965 yards from scrimmage and 32 of 44 touchdowns, and several key skill players from a high-powered offense. The Flames led the Bowl Subdivision with 292.3 yards rushing per game and ranked fourth in total offense (499.1), gaudy numbers that didn’t matter in a 45-6 shellacking by Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl.

Liberty’s defense is determined to atone for the humbling outing that unmasked weaknesses and overshadowed its nation’s-best 21 interceptions. The Flames return CJ Bazile Jr., whose 49 tackles included a team-high 10.5 for loss and three sacks. He was named C-USA preseason defensive player of the year by league coaches.

With Western Kentucky, New Mexico State and Jacksonville State poised to pounce after also reaching bowls last year, the Flames will need everything to avoid a sophomore slump.

Standout quarterbacks

Salter, selected as C-USA preseason offensive player of the year, is on several award watch lists and leads three returning league QBs who ranked top-35 nationally last season.

Salter ranked 22nd, eight spots below Middle Tennessee junior Nicholas Vattiato, who threw for 3,489 yards last fall. WKU features junior TJ Finley, a Texas State transfer who ranked 31st after passing for 3,508 yards last season.

Passing the torch

New Mexico State promoted Tony Sanchez from receivers coach to succeed Jerry Kill, who left to become a consultant to Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea. Sanchez inherits a 10-5 bowl squad that stunned Auburn 31-10 on the road and was 35-all against Liberty through three quarters in the conference championship before falling 49-35.

“We know we’ve got to have a chip on our shoulders,” said Sanchez, a former Aggie receiver. “Our ship has not arrived. We are in rough waters, and we love the hell out of it.”

Tennessee return

Derek Mason is back in the Volunteer State as head coach at Middle Tennessee, located less than an hour east from Nashville and a previous gig as Vanderbilt coach. He spent last season as a broadcast analyst following a year each as defensive coordinator at Auburn and Oklahoma State. Mason replaces Rick Stockstill, who was fired after going 4-8 in his 18th season with the Blue Raiders.

The new MTSU coach praised his predecessor’s offensive prowess and hints at tweaking things for his signal caller rather than changing them.

“We’re taking pieces of that DNA, but we infused some West Coast (offense) principles, multiple use of personnel,” Mason said. “We’re still going to have some tempo to what we do. It’s multiple. It’s fast. It allows our quarterback to be efficient.”

Ascending Owls

Kennesaw State becomes C-USA’s 10th member this season after nine years at the Football Championship Subdivision level with three Big South Conference championships and four playoff appearances.

The Owls were 3-6 last season as an independent, the Georgia school’s only losing campaigns since starting football in 2015. Brian Bohannon, Kennesaw’s only head coach, redshirted nearly three-quarters of his roster to prepare for the move to FBS and is eager to see if it makes them immediately competitive.

“A lot of guys will be excited about the opportunity they have for an extra year that they wouldn’t have had if they played the full year last year,” Bohannon said.

Missouri State and Delaware will join C-USA next year.

Notable matchups

Liberty and New Mexico State will open league play with a title-game rematch on Sept. 7 in Las Cruces. The Aggies will also travel for another SEC matchup against Texas A&M on Nov. 16. Western Kentucky opens at No. 5 Alabama on Aug. 31 and visits ACC member Boston College on Sept. 28. WKU will also host Liberty in a key late-season showdown on Nov. 23.

NFL NEWS

REPORT: 49ERS, STEELERS HAVE DEAL ON POTENTIAL AIYUK TRADE

The San Francisco 49ers have a deal in place with the Pittsburgh Steelers on a potential trade involving disgruntled receiver Brandon Aiyuk, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

If San Francisco signs off, the agreement is reportedly done and Aiyuk will join the Steelers. The 49ers also offered the 26-year-old a long-term contract, but Rapoport notes that the All-Pro pass-catcher hasn’t accepted it.

Aiyuk highlighted Pittsburgh as a potential trade destination in June, but the Steelers were seemingly out of the mix earlier this month after reportedly declining to meet the 49ers’ trade terms. Pittsburgh re-engaged in conversations with San Francisco last week.

The Niners weren’t satisfied with the Steelers’ offers for Aiyuk last week, as San Francisco would like Pittsburgh to include a wide receiver in the deal.

With the Steelers lacking depth at WR, a three-team trade that would send Aiyuk to Pittsburgh and return a receiver to San Francisco has been speculated, according to Grant Cohn of 49ers On SI.

The Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots reportedly also negotiated trade frameworks to land Aiyuk. However, the two-time 1,000-yard receiver doesn’t want to play in New England because of the team’s quarterback situation, nor is Cleveland among the veteran receiver’s preferred destinations.

A first-round pick in 2020, Aiyuk is entering the last year of his rookie deal and looking for a contract extension that will make him one of the NFL’s highest-paid wide receivers. He set a career-high with 1,342 yards in 2023 while also catching 75 passes and eight touchdowns.

COUNT ON CEEDEE LAMB FOR COWBOYS’ OPENER, TEAMMATE SAYS

Dallas Cowboys star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb will be in the lineup for the season opener next month, teammate Micah Parsons said Tuesday, saying there is “no doubt about it.”

Lamb, a three-time Pro Bowl selection and a first-team All-Pro last season, has been a no-show at Cowboys training camp while lobbying for a new contract. Under his current pact, the 25-year-old would be playing under a $17.99 million fifth-year option this season.

Star pass rusher Parsons, quarterback Dak Prescott and Lamb all are looking to get restructured contracts, and the team has said it intends to get those deals done.

The fines for Lamb’s absence from a mandatory minicamp in June and training camp have exceeded $1 million, but Parsons doesn’t see the holdout spilling over into the regular season, which opens for the Cowboys in Cleveland on Sept. 8.

“Obviously we miss him. He’s one of the best people you can have in a locker room,” Parsons said. “I’m pretty sure he’ll be here soon. … CeeDee is a part of this brotherhood whether he likes it or not. He knows he’s not going anywhere. The business side, they’re gonna take care of it, no doubt about it. On Week 1, he will be suiting up for the Dallas Cowboys.”

Because Lamb is still playing under his rookie contract, any fines can be rescinded, according to ESPN.com.

Parsons said Lamb, who was removed from the team’s active roster last week and put on the reserved/did not report list, would need just a few practices if/when he reports.

Brian Schottenheimer, who will be starting his first season as the team’s offensive coordinator, said, “CeeDee’s going to be ready. Again, if the system was different, that always adds different challenges. He knows what we do. He and Dak have what I would say are 1,000 or 10,000 banked reps together. And one thing I know about him is he’s staying ready.

“A younger player, (there would be worry) because the system is new or different. … There’s wrinkles that he’ll have to pick up on, but his (football intelligence) is unbelievable.”

Lamb is coming off the best season of his four-year career, when he made 135 receptions for 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns — all career bests. He led the NFL in catches in 2023.

In his four seasons with Dallas, Lamb has amassed 395 catches for 5,145 yards and 32 touchdowns.

–Field Level Media

COWBOYS OL CHUMA EDOGA (TOE) OUT AT LEAST A MONTH

Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Chuma Edoga has a toe injury that will keep him sidelined for at least a month, the team announced Tuesday.

Edoga, currently the starting left tackle on the Cowboys’ depth chart, was injured in the first quarter of the preseason opener on Sunday, a 13-12 loss to the host Los Angeles Rams. He wore a walking boot afterward and had an MRI on Monday with no determination on surgery, ESPN reported.

Edoga started six of the 17 games he played at guard in 2023 for Dallas, his first with the Cowboys. He re-signed with the team in April on a one-year contract.

The New York Jets selected him in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Southern California. He played tackle for the Jets from 2019-21, appearing in 24 games and starting 12. Edoga played two games (one start) for the Atlanta Falcons in 2022 before going on injured reserve.

The Cowboys selected offensive tackle Tyler Guyton out of Oklahoma in the first round (29th overall) of the 2024 draft after losing eight-time Pro Bowl tackle Tyron Smith in free agency to the New York Jets in March.

Dallas opens the regular season on Sept. 8 at the Cleveland Browns.

–Field Level Media

VIKINGS ROOKIE MCCARTHY OUT INDEFINITELY WITH TORN MENISCUS

Minnesota Vikings rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy will undergo surgery after tearing his right meniscus, the team announced Tuesday.

The No. 10 pick is sidelined indefinitely. How extensive his surgery is will determine how long he’ll be sidelined, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. A recovery period for a meniscus trim is usually four-to-six weeks, notes NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.

McCarthy – who played in Saturday’s preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders – didn’t practice Monday due to knee soreness and reportedly underwent an MRI on Monday night. He reacted to his injury on social media.

McCarthy threw an interception on his first drive in his preseason debut but bounced back later with a pair of touchdowns. The 21-year-old, who helped Michigan win the national title last season, was the fifth quarterback selected in April as part of a draft class that featured a record six QBs going in the first round.

In addition to McCarthy, the Vikings added Sam Darnold in the offseason after losing Kirk Cousins in free agency. Darnold started training camp ahead of McCarthy on the depth chart, but Minnesota head coach Kevin O’Connell left the door open for the first-year passer.

With McCarthy sidelined, Darnold is projected to be under center for the Vikings in Week 1 against the New York Giants on Sept. 8.

The third overall pick in 2018, Darnold has failed to meet expectations since entering the NFL. The 27-year-old began his career with the New York Jets (2018-2020) before spending time with the Carolina Panthers (2021-22) and San Francisco 49ers (2023).

Darnold owns a 21-35 record as a starter, having passed for 63 touchdowns against 56 interceptions throughout his career.

Injuries at quarterback were a big issue for the Vikings in 2023. The team started four different signal-callers en route to finishing last season with the 22nd-ranked offense in total points.

LAFLEUR: PACKERS WR1 DEBATES MAKE ME ‘WANT TO VOMIT’

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur is tired of being asked about who will be his team’s top wide receiver this season.

“I want to vomit every time I hear ‘No. 1 receiver,’ to be honest with you,” LaFleur said, according to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky. “It drives me crazy. That’s something that you guys talk about. I feel like we’ve got a bunch of ’em.”

Since trading All-Pro wideout Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022, the Packers haven’t had a true No. 1 wideout. Instead, Green Bay had one of the NFL’s youngest group of receivers last year, which flashed a lot of potential.

Jayden Reed – a second-round rookie in 2023 – led the Packers with 64 catches for 793 yards and eight touchdowns. Romeo Doubs, who also recorded eight TDs, finished the season with 674 yards on 59 receptions. Dontayvion Wicks topped 500 yards last year as well, and Christian Watson – the Packers’ TD leader in 2022 – found the end zone five times in 2023 but was limited to only nine games due to injury.

“They’re all capable of being a ‘No. 1’ in some capacity, and it’s just how do we want to attack somebody and where do we want to put those guys,” LaFleur added.

“It allows us, I mean, who’s going to get the ball? I don’t know. It could change on a week-to-week basis. We saw it last year, and then we have Bo Melton come in and be our first 100-yard receiver versus Minnesota. So, I think it just – again, it frees us up in terms of just, from an offensive standpoint and how we attack people.”

With quarterback Jordan Love surrounded by promising wide receivers, the Packers enter the 2024 season with one of the league’s most dangerous offenses. They proved it early in Green Bay’s preseason opener last week when Love found Wicks for a 65-yard touchdown.

RAIDERS SIGN FREE AGENT QB NATHAN PETERMAN

The Las Vegas Raiders signed free agent quarterback Nathan Peterman on Tuesday.

Peterman, 30, previously served as a backup to then-Raiders quarterback Derek Carr in 2020 and 2021.

He should be familiar with the Raiders’ playbook under offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, who was his offensive coordinator the past two seasons with the Chicago Bears.

Peterman is 1-4 as an NFL starter, completing 53.1 percent of his passes for 712 yards, four touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 15 games with the Buffalo Bills (2017-18), Raiders (2020-21) and Bears (2022-23).

Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell currently are competing for the QB1 job in Las Vegas.

Coach Antonio Pierce said he hopes to decide on a starter following Saturday’s preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys.

The Raiders placed wide receiver Keelan Doss on the waived/injured list to make room for Peterman.

BROWNS ROOKIE MIKE HALL JR. ARRESTED ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CHARGE

Cleveland Browns rookie defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. was arrested Tuesday morning following a domestic altercation in Avon, Ohio.

Police told NFL.com that was Hall, 21, was booked on a first-degree misdemeanor domestic violence charge.

“We are aware of the incident involving Mike Hall Jr. last night,” the Browns said in a statement. “Mike and his representatives have been in touch with the appropriate authorities. We are in the process of gathering more information and will have no further comment at the time.”

According to NFL.com, a woman alleged Hall pushed her daughter and hit her with a baby bottle during a dispute at a home in Avon. The woman did not require medical treatment, and Hall left the home.

Hall, an Ohio native who played three seasons at Ohio State, was selected by the Browns in the second round (No. 54 overall) of April’s draft.

In the Browns’ preseason opener on Saturday, a 23-10 loss to the Green Bay Packers, Hall had one tackle on 29 defensive snaps and three special teams plays.

–Field Level Media

DOLPHINS RELEASE FORMER TITANS DT TEAIR TART

The Miami Dolphins released veteran defensive tackle Teair Tart on Tuesday.

He signed a one-year, $1.3 million deal with $567,500 fully guaranteed on April 8.

Tart, 27, has recorded 2.5 sacks, 14 quarterback hits, 79 tackles and one interception in 47 games (36 starts) with the Tennessee Titans (2020-23) and Houston Texans (2023).

He played in two games for Houston last season after being claimed off waivers from Tennessee.

–Field Level Media

GIANTS RB TYRONE TRACY JR. (LEG) CARTED OFF FIELD

New York Giants rookie running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. was carted off the field Tuesday after suffering a potentially serious non-contact injury to his right leg, multiple outlets reported.

The injury reportedly occurred during a special teams drill. Trainers put an air cast on his leg before he headed to the locker room.

Tracy, 24, carried the ball five times for 26 yards in the Giants’ preseason opener, a 14-3 win against the Detroit Lions on Thursday.

The Giants selected Tracy in the fifth round of April’s draft. The 5-foot-10, 210-pound back is listed third on the team’s depth chart at running back.

He started his college career at Iowa and finished it at Purdue. In 2023, he had 716 rushing yards, including three 100-yard games. He had 1,270 all-purpose yards, including 408 on kick returns.

–Field Level Media

COMMANDERS SIGN WR MARTAVIS BRYANT AFTER LONG ABSENCE

Veteran wide receiver Martavis Bryant moved a step closer to his first NFL action in six years, signing Tuesday with the Washington Commanders.

The NFL indefinitely suspended Bryant, now 32, in 2018 following multiple drug violations. The league did not reinstate him until last November.

He spent time late last season on the practice squad of the Dallas Cowboys, who released him on Jan. 4. He caught on with the Commanders after a workout at training camp.

“He’s in really good shape and he’s really hungry to prove it,” Washington coach Dan Quinn said, per ESPN. “He’s been ready for a while, so it’s good to have him here.”

Hoping for an NFL comeback, Bryant played for the XFL’s Vegas Vipers in 2023 and caught 14 passes for 154 yards and no touchdowns in eight games.

Bryant caught 145 passes for 2,183 yards and 17 touchdowns in 44 games (18 starts) with the Pittsburgh Steelers (2014-15, 2017) and then-Oakland Raiders (2018). He was a fourth-round pick by Pittsburgh in 2014.

Bryant was suspended four games in 2015 for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. He was suspended for the entire 2016 campaign after reportedly missing multiple drug tests, then suspended indefinitely two years later for violating the terms of his conditional reinstatement.

The 6-foot-4 Bryant adds much-needed size to the Commanders’ receiving corps.

“Martavis has a really cool skill set. He’s got size and length and the ability to use him in the red zone,” said Quinn, who was the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator last year when they signed Bryant to the practice squad. “He looks like a linebacker playing wideout from a size standpoint.”

–Field Level Media

BILLS WR CHASE CLAYPOOL (TOE) PLACED ON IR

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Chase Claypool landed on injured reserve Tuesday due to a lingering toe injury.

Claypool last practiced on July 28.

The 26-year-old Claypool was looking for a fresh start in Buffalo after spending his first four NFL seasons in three different cities. He signed a one-year, $1.1 million deal with the Bills in May.

The Steelers selected the Canadian in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He spent two seasons with Pittsburgh and tallied 11 touchdowns and 889 yards from scrimmage in his first season in 16 games (six starts).

In 2021, he started 13 of his 15 games played and gained 956 yards from scrimmage with two touchdowns. He was traded to the Chicago Bears in November 2022 for a 2023 second-round pick that the Steelers used on Joey Porter Jr.

Unhappy in Chicago, Claypool was traded to the Miami Dolphins last October with a 2025 seventh-round pick for a 2025 sixth-round pick. He totaled eight receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown last season.

Speaking of the rash of injuries training-camp injuries to hit the Bills, head coach Sean McDermott said recently it was unfortunate the coaching staff wasn’t getting a good look at the players.

“It’s just hard to evaluate when the players aren’t out there, whether it’s Chase or anybody,” he said. “And I know he’s fighting like crazy to get back, and we’re anxious to have him back.”

Claypool has caught 175 passes for 2,261 yards and 13 touchdowns in 58 games (32 starts).

–Field Level Media

BASKETBALL NEWS

FRANK SELVY, 100-POINT SCORER IN COLLEGE, DIES AT 91

Frank Selvy, who set an NCAA Division I record with a 100-point game in 1954, died Tuesday at 91.

His alma mater, South Carolina’s Furman University, confirmed the passing of the All-America guard.

“It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Frank Selvy, Furman’s all-time greatest athlete, a consensus All-American, NBA all-star, distinguished member of the College Basketball Hall of Fame, and one of the greatest scorers in the history of college basketball,” said Jason Donnelly, Furman’s vice president of intercollegiate athletics.

A two-time Southern Conference Player of the Year, Selvy led the NCAA with 41.7 points per game in 1953-54.

Selvy’s milestone moment happened Feb. 13 that season in Greenville, S.C. He reached the century mark with 41 field goals and 18 free throws in the Paladins’ 145-95 victory against visiting Newberry.

Dubbed “The Corbin Comet” after his hometown of Corbin, Ky., Selvy averaged 32.5 points over three seasons at Furman and scored 40 or more points 22 times.

Selvy was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1954 NBA Draft by the Baltimore Bullets. The two-time All-Star played nine seasons with the Bullets, Milwaukee/St. Louis Hawks, New York Knicks, Syracuse Nationals and Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers.

He averaged 10.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 565 NBA games. His Lakers lost twice in the NBA Finals to the Boston Celtics, falling in seven games in 1962 and six games in 1963.

Selvy coached at Furman for four seasons, compiling a 44-59 record from 1966-70. He was inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Barbara, along with two children, 11 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.”

LAKERS OPEN CUP TITLE DEFENSE NOV. 15 AGAINST SPURS. THOMPSON RETURNS TO GOLDEN STATE ON NOV. 12

NEW YORK (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers’ defense of the NBA Cup title will begin on Nov. 15 in San Antonio against Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs, and Klay Thompson will be back at Golden State — as a visitor with Dallas — on Nov. 12.

The NBA released the schedule of the group play games on Tuesday, with those contests getting played on a series of Tuesdays and Fridays starting Nov. 12 and ending Dec. 3. Each team was assigned to a five-team group and plays the other four clubs in that group once.

LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the Lakers went 7-0 in the tournament last season — when it was simply called the In-Season Tournament — and beat the Indiana Pacers in the final in Las Vegas. The semifinals and finals return to Las Vegas this year, with the semis on Dec. 14 and the title game on Dec. 17.

The NBA Cup will provide some obvious storylines. Among them: Thompson going back to Golden State, where he helped the Warriors win four titles, after joining the Mavericks this summer. And then the Lakers open defense of the Cup title, it’ll be a game where James and Davis face Wembanyama again after helping the U.S. beat France in the gold-medal game at the Paris Olympics.

Almost all of the games for the 2024-25 NBA season will be released Thursday. All games in the NBA Cup will count in the regular-season standings except for the title game in Las Vegas; that would be an 83rd game for both of those teams, which doesn’t fit into an 82-game season.

Teams will get schedules Thursday with 80 games on them. Every team will play two more, either in the playoffs of the NBA Cup or in games scheduled between teams that did not make the tournament quarterfinals. And those teams that lose in the quarterfinals will meet for what essentially becomes the 82nd game on their schedule for the coming season.

NBA Cup format

There will be 60 group-stage games in all — eight games on Nov. 12, then 12 on Nov. 15, six on Nov. 19, eight on Nov. 22, five on Nov. 26, 10 on Nov. 29 and the final 11 on Dec. 3.

Each NBA team will play four designated group play games — one game against each opponent in its group, with two games at home and two games on the road. The four group winners will make the quarterfinals, along with one wild-card team from each conference. That wild-card club will be the best second-place team from each conference.

East Group A

Nov. 12: New York at Philadelphia; Charlotte at Orlando.

Nov. 15: Brooklyn at New York; Philadelphia at Orlando.

Nov. 19: Charlotte at Brooklyn.

Nov. 22: Brooklyn at Philadelphia.

Nov. 29: New York at Charlotte; Orlando at Brooklyn.

Dec. 3: Philadelphia at Charlotte; Orlando at New York.

East Group B

Nov. 12: Miami at Detroit; Toronto at Milwaukee.

Nov. 15: Miami at Indiana; Detroit at Toronto.

Nov. 22: Indiana at Milwaukee.

Nov. 26: Milwaukee at Miami.

Nov. 29: Toronto at Miami; Detroit at Indiana.

Dec. 3: Milwaukee at Detroit; Indiana at Toronto.

East Group C

Nov. 12: Atlanta at Boston.

Nov. 15: Chicago at Cleveland; Washington at Atlanta.

Nov. 19: Cleveland at Boston.

Nov. 22: Atlanta at Chicago; Boston at Washington.

Nov. 26: Chicago at Washington.

Nov. 29: Boston at Chicago; Cleveland at Atlanta.

Dec. 3: Washington at Cleveland.

West Group A

Nov. 12: Minnesota at Portland.

Nov. 15: Minnesota at Sacramento; L.A. Clippers at Houston.

Nov. 22: Sacramento at L.A. Clippers; Portland at Houston.

Nov. 26: Houston at Minnesota.

Nov. 29: L.A. Clippers at Minnesota; Sacramento at Portland.

Dec. 3: Houston at Sacramento; Portland at L.A. Clippers.

West Group B

Nov. 12: Phoenix at Utah.

Nov. 15: L.A. Lakers at San Antonio; Phoenix at Oklahoma City.

Nov. 19: Oklahoma City at San Antonio; Utah at L.A. Lakers.

Nov. 26: L.A. Lakers at Phoenix; San Antonio at Utah.

Nov. 29: Oklahoma City at L.A. Lakers.

Dec. 3: Utah at Oklahoma City; San Antonio at Phoenix.

West Group C

Nov. 12: Dallas at Golden State.

Nov. 15: Denver at New Orleans; Memphis at Golden State.

Nov. 19: Denver at Memphis; New Orleans at Dallas.

Nov. 22: Dallas at Denver; Golden State at New Orleans.

Nov. 29: New Orleans at Memphis.

Dec. 3: Memphis at Dallas; Golden State at Denver.

ARIZONA, UCLA AGREE TO CONTINUE BASKETBALL RIVALRY WITH 3 GAMES OVER NEXT 4 YEARS

PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona and UCLA will continue their basketball rivalry with three games over the next four years, starting with a Dec. 14 matchup in downtown Phoenix.

The teams also agreed to meet in 2025 at the Hall of Fame Series Las Vegas and in 2027 in Los Angeles.

Arizona and UCLA were conference rivals for years in the Pac-12, but the recent exodus from the conference has split them apart. Arizona is now in the Big 12 and UCLA is a part of the Big Ten.

The teams have played 113 times, with the Bruins holding a 63-50 advantage.

“For decades, Arizona-UCLA games have meant so much to our players, coaches, and fans across the country,” Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said in a statement. “Icons in the game of basketball have made this rivalry into one of the best in college basketball, and we look forward to adding the next chapters in the years to come.”

Said UCLA coach Mick Cronin: “It’s a win-win situation for both UCLA and Arizona, as we want to preserve what has turned into a fantastic basketball rivalry out West. These are two schools with strong basketball traditions and passionate fan bases, and it’s important for us to find ways to continue playing each other.”

BASEBALL NEWS

MLB ROUNDUP: YANKEES’ JUAN SOTO BELTS THREE HOMERS

Juan Soto launched three home runs and drove in four runs and Nestor Cortes pitched seven shutout innings to lift the visiting New York Yankees past the Chicago White Sox 4-1 on Tuesday.

Soto delivered his sixth multi-home run game of the season and first three-homer game of his career. He smacked a two-run blast in the third inning and solo shots in the fifth and seventh as New York took a half-game lead over the Baltimore Orioles atop the American League East.

Chicago rookie right-hander Jonathan Cannon (2-6) surrendered Soto’s first two long balls, and he permitted three runs and five hits in 4 2/3 innings. Fraser Ellard yielded the third homer.

Cortes (6-10) limited the White Sox to three hits and no walks while striking out nine. Chicago fell to 2-21 since the All-Star break.

Twins 13, Royals 3

Zebby Matthews pitched five strong innings to win his big-league debut as Minnesota pulled away for an easy win against Kansas City in Minneapolis.

Matthews (1-0), who has shot from Class-A to the majors this season, limited the Royals to two runs on five hits. Max Kepler went 2-for-4 with a homer and four RBIs to lead the Twins, who will go for a three-game sweep on Wednesday.

MJ Melendez and Salvador Perez each hit a solo home run for Kansas City. Michael Massey went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Seth Lugo (13-7) surrendered eight runs (seven earned) on nine hits in four-plus innings.

Guardians 2, Cubs 1

Veteran Matthew Boyd allowed one run while pitching into the sixth inning of his season debut and rookie Jhonkensy Noel hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the bottom of the sixth as host Cleveland beat Chicago.

Boyd made his first major league start since June 2023 after recovering from Tommy John surgery. He allowed three hits, struck out six and did not walk a batter over 5 1/3 strong innings. Pedro Avila (4-1) got the win and Emmanuel Clase earned his 37th save.

Nico Hoerner had two hits for the Cubs but made the final out of the game in a rundown between second and third. Chicago starter Javier Assad yielded one run and five hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Tigers 15, Mariners 1

Jake Rogers hit a grand slam and drove in seven runs, Kerry Carpenter homered twice in his return from the injured list and Detroit clobbered visiting Seattle.

Rogers’ seven RBIs were the most by a Tiger since Ryan Raburn drove in seven against the Chicago White Sox in 2007. Rogers had two doubles in addition to his homer.

The Mariners’ George Kirby (8-9) was charged with 11 runs on 13 hits in 3 2/3 innings. He became the first major league pitcher to yield 11 earned runs in a game this year.

Nationals 9, Orioles 3

James Wood had four hits, Andres Chaparro supplied three doubles in his major league debut and Washington, which often has offensive woes, scored in five different innings to defeat host Baltimore.

Ildemaro Vargas drove in three runs, Wood went 4-for-5 with three runs and Chaparro scored twice as the Nationals opened the two-game set by winning for the third time in a four-game stretch.

Anthony Santander homered, while Ryan O’Hearn, Ryan Mountcastle and Adley Rutschman all had two hits for the Orioles, who came off a 10-game road trip and lost their second game in a row.

Reds 4, Cardinals 1

Hunter Greene allowed one run and four hits over seven innings to help Cincinnati beat visiting St. Louis in the middle game of a three-game series.

Greene (9-4) struck out eight and walked one in his seventh consecutive quality start. Tony Santillan pitched a perfect eighth and Alexis Diaz handled the ninth to log his 24th save as the Reds won their third straight game.

Nolan Arenado homered for the Cardinals, who have dropped three in a row.

Marlins 5, Phillies 0

Jake Burger homered in his fourth straight game and Valente Bellozo tossed seven scoreless innings, fueling visiting Miami over Philadelphia.

Jesus Sanchez homered in his second consecutive contest, and Jonah Bride and Otto Lopez each had an RBI single. Xavier Edwards had two hits and scored a run for the cellar-dwelling Marlins, who won their second straight game.

Phillies starter Taijuan Walker (3-4) took the loss in his return from the 15-day injured list. Walker permitted three runs on four hits in four innings. Philadelphia mustered just four hits and committed two errors while losing for the 11th time in 15 games.

Astros 3, Rays 2

Alex Bregman drilled a go-ahead homer in St. Petersburg, Fla., Yusei Kikuchi stifled Tampa Bay for the second time in two weeks and Houston ran its win streak to seven.

Bregman homered for the fourth game in a row and added a double and two runs. Kikuchi (6-9), who struck out 11 Rays on Aug. 2 in his Astros debut, allowed just one run on three hits in 5 2/3 innings on Tuesday. Jeremy Pena (solo homer) and Yainer Diaz each had two hits and an RBI for the Astros.

Rays starter Shane Baz (0-2) threw a career-high seven innings, giving up three runs on seven hits.

Red Sox 9, Rangers 4

Connor Wong hit a three-run homer to punctuate a five-run fifth inning for Boston, which beat visiting Texas.

Wong went 2-for-4 while adding a double and two runs. Ceddanne Rafaela and Rafael Devers each had two hits for the Red Sox, who totaled 12 en route to their second consecutive win.

Leody Taveras went 2-for-4 with a double and a run for the Rangers, who have lost the first two games of the three-game series and fell to 1-6 in their past seven contests.

A’s 9, Mets 4

Shea Langeliers had four hits and four RBIs as visiting Oakland beat New York and former teammate Paul Blackburn.

The A’s improved to 15-9 since July 12 — the best record in the American League in that span. The Mets have dropped four in a row. Reliever Austin Adams (1-2) got the win as the Oakland bullpen tossed five scoreless innings.

Seth Brown laced a three-run double in the first inning against Blackburn (5-3), who was dealt by the A’s to the Mets last month. Blackburn gave up seven runs (six earned) in four innings.

Dodgers 7, Brewers 2

Gavin Lux and Andy Pages each hit two-run homers during a five-run fourth inning and Gavin Stone tossed five solid innings as visiting Los Angeles beat Milwaukee for its fifth straight victory.

Will Smith and Shohei Ohtani also homered for the Dodgers, who improved to 15-8 since the All-Star break. Smith had three hits after entering the game mired in a 5-for-53 slump.

William Contreras homered for the Brewers, who lost their third straight. Milwaukee has lost nine of its past 10 meetings with the Dodgers, including four of five this season.

–Field Level Media

METS’ P SCOTT STARTS THROWING PROGRAM, HOPES TO RETURN THIS SEASON FROM SPRAINED ELBOW LIGAMENT

NEW YORK (AP) — Mets rookie Christian Scott has started a throwing program with the hope of rejoining the New York lineup this season after being sidelined due to a sprained ligament in his pitching elbow.

The Mets’ top pitching prospect threw 35 times at a distance of 75 feet on Tuesday, after throwing approximately 25 times from 60 feet on Sunday.

Scott, who is 0-3 with a 4.56 ERA in nine major league starts since making his debut May 4 with an impressive performance at Tampa Bay, was put on the injured list on July 22 with a sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. The 25-year-old is hoping to get back in action this season.

“It’s really exciting how this team’s making a push to the playoffs,” Scott said Tuesday. “Hopefully I can be a part of that.”

New York manager Carlos Mendoza said Scott still has several steps to go, but was hopeful he could return later in the season.

“It’s good that he’s throwing the baseball,” Mendoza said. “We’ve just got to wait and see how he continues to progress. Hopefully he’s part of the team towards the end.”

New York entered Tuesday’s series opener against Oakland at 61-57, one game behind Atlanta in the race for the National League’s final wild-card spot.

The injuries to Scott and Kodai Senga, who strained his left calf strain in his season debut July 26 and was placed on the 60-day injured list, and the emergence of swingman José Buttó as a valuable late-inning reliever have depleted the Mets’ rotation depth. New York’s most experienced starters at Triple-A Syracuse are Joey Lucchesi and Tylor Megill, who have gone a combined 2-6 with a 5.61 ERA in the majors this season.

RACING NEWS

INDYCAR’S DAVID MALUKAS SIGNS WITH A.J. FOYT RACING

HOUSTON (AP) — IndyCar driver David Malukas, who was fired for missing races due to injuries after crashing a mountain bike, has signed a multiyear deal with A.J. Foyt Racing.

The deal was announced on Tuesday, three-plus months after the 22-year-old Malukas was released by Arrow McLaren without running an IndyCar race for the team due to a wrist injury from his accident.

“The history and success of both A.J. Foyt Racing and A.J. Foyt himself were key factors in my decision to join the team,” Malukas said. “Everyone knows that A.J. is a legend and he was someone whose name I always heard growing up.

“To have the opportunity to work alongside him and drive for his team is very special. I am starting a new chapter in my IndyCar career, and I am eager to achieve strong results with A.J. Foyt Racing.”

Malukas was signed in September to McLaren’s three-car IndyCar team after two-time series champion Alex Palou breached his contract and declined to join the team as planned for this season.

Malukas dislocated his wrist and tore tendons when he crashed on his mountain bike one month before the season-opening race.

The team expected the Feb. 11 accident to keep Malukas out of two races, but he missed four in a row. His absence triggered a contract clause that allowed McLaren to terminate the deal. He returned to racing in June for Meyer Shank Racing.

“David will be a great addition to A.J. Foyt Racing,” team president Larry Foyt said. “He is a fierce competitor who possesses a great deal of natural talent. I think David will be a super fit with our engineers and mechanics, and he will be an important factor as we continue to ascend the IndyCar rankings.”

IndyCar’s next race is Saturday at the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 in Madison, Illinois.

3 FOR 3: BIG NAMES CLINGING TO NASCAR’S PLAYOFF BUBBLE

Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin may have lost the Cook Out 400 at Richmond in heartbreaking fashion, but they’re not the only drivers who have a bone to pick with Austin Dillon after Sunday’s chaotic final lap.

Dillon’s victory not only vaulted him from 32nd to 26th in the points standings, but it also clinched the sixth playoff appearance of Dillon’s 11-year Cup Series career.

Lost in the smoke and sparks of Sunday’s finish was the battle for the final few spots in the 2024 NASCAR playoffs, as the tension around the playoff bubble only rose after Dillon’s unlikely triumph made him the 13th different winner so far in the 2024 season.

Only three playoff spots are available with three races remaining in the regular-season. If pressure wasn’t already on the drivers hovering around the bubble, it certainly is now.

Ty Gibbs may be the biggest “loser” out of any bubble driver after Richmond. While Gibbs’ uninspiring 22nd-place effort isn’t a playoff-caliber run, Dillon’s win only moved the points battle that much closer to the 21-year-old. Gibbs now sits just 18 points above the cut line, a staggering shift considering he was 70 points above the cut line after Nashville on June 30.

Despite Dillon’s 11th-hour win, Bubba Wallace came out of Richmond smelling like a rose compared to his fellow bubble drivers. The Mobile, Ala., native gained 10 points on the cut line with a fourth-place finish on Sunday — the fourth top-10 finish in the past five races for the surging No. 23 team.

“We knew we had to work coming in here, obviously being below (the cut-off line), and our team did just that,” Wallace said. “We fought hard. We did not have the best day on pit road, not from a lack of effort. I appreciate them getting better all night. They showed up when it mattered on the last stop — kept us in it. Just execution.”

Ross Chastain wasn’t so lucky, however. Like Wallace, Chastain brought home a top-five finish at Richmond — his best finish since Sonoma on June 9 — only to find himself three points below the playoff cut line afterward. It’s the type of tough luck that has befallen the struggling No. 1 team of late, as Chastain had one of his best cars of the season only to have Dillon potentially snatch a playoff berth from right under his nose.

Chris Buescher fall below the cut line by three points was more thanks to a pit-road mistake that led to an 18th-place finish, but it’s fair to say the 20 points that Buescher lost to the cut line on Sunday can’t be placed solely on his shoulders. Dillon’s victory now has Chastain and Buescher tied for 17th in the standings as the series heads to Michigan on Sunday.

In a year that has now seen two drivers from below the top-16, Dillon and Austin Cindric, win their way into a playoff berth, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see another underdog snag a playoff spot over the next three races. That could very well happen on Aug. 24 at the Daytona International Speedway, which has long been a breeding ground for upset victories.

But first up is this Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway, where Buescher is the defending champion.

“I’m excited to go back and try to defend that one,” Buescher said. “We’ve made some big gains in the Ford camp in the last several months, and I’m excited to see how that can play out at another big racetrack where we know we were able to do well last year.”

–Samuel Stubbs, Field Level Media

GOLF NEWS

GOLF GLANCE: FEDEX CUP PLAYOFFS TEE OFF IN MEMPHIS

Field Level Media’s Golf Glance provides weekly news and storylines from each of the major North American golf tours.

PGA TOUR
LAST TOURNAMENT: Wyndham Championship (Aaron Rai)
THIS WEEK: FedEx St. Jude Championship, Memphis, Tenn., Aug. 15-18
Course: TPC Southwind (Par 70, 7,243 Yards)
Purse: $20M (Winner: $3.6M)
Defending Champion: Lucas Glover
FedEx Cup Leader: Scottie Scheffler
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: Thursday-Friday: 2-6 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday: 1-3 p.m. ET (Golf Channel), 3-6 p.m. (NBC); Sunday: 12-2 p.m. (Golf Channel), 2-6 p.m. (NBC)
Streaming (ESPN+): Thursday-Sunday: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. ET
X: @FedExChamp
NOTES: The top 70 players in the FedEx Cup standings qualified for the first leg of the playoffs. The top 50 following this event will qualify for next week’s BMW Championship and all eight signature events in 2025. The top 30 players will qualify for the season-ending Tour Championship. … Rai is one of nine first-time winners on tour this season to qualify for the playoffs. Meanwhile, four rookies qualified for the first leg: No. 16 Matthieu Pavon, No. 47 Max Greyserman, No. 47 Jake Knapp and No. 67 Nick Dunlap. … This is the third time TPC Southwind has played host to the FedEx St. Jude Championship. … Victor Perez shot four rounds in the 60s at the Wyndham Championship to hold onto No. 70 in the standings and qualify for this week’s field.
BEST BETS: Scheffler (+330 at DraftKings) is coming off winning the gold medal at the Olympics. His six regular-season victories this year include the Masters, the Players and four signature events. … Xander Schauffele (+700) already has claimed the first two major titles of his career this year and is making his eighth consecutive appearance in the playoffs. … Rory McIlroy (+900) is a two-time winner this year and a three-time FedEx Cup champion (2016, ’19, ’22). … Viktor Hovland (+3000) has struggled to find consistency amid swing changes in 2024 and the reigning FedEx Cup champion enters at No. 57 in the standings.
NEXT TOURNAMENT: BMW Championship, Castle Rock, Colo., Aug. 22-25

LPGA Tour
LAST TOURNAMENT: Portland Classic (Moriya Jutanugarn)
THIS WEEK: Women’s Scottish Open, Ayrshire, Scotland, Aug. 15-18
Course: Dundonald Links (Par 72, 6,563 Yards)
Purse: $2M (Winner: $300,000)
Defending Champion: Celine Boutier
Race to the CME Globe leader: Nelly Korda
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: Thursday-Friday: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. ET (Peacock), 10 a.m.-1 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday: 8 a.m.-12 p.m. (GC/Peacock); Sunday: 7-11 a.m. (GC/Peacock)
X: @Womens_Scottish
NOTES: 36 players in the field competed in last week’s Olympic competition, including gold medal winner Lydia Ko. … This is the eighth playing of the event since it became co-sanctioned with the Ladies European Tour in 2017. … Originally opened in 1911, Dundonald Links was purchased by Loch Lomond Golf Club in 2003 and then by Darwin Escapes in 2019, with architect Kyle Phillips overseeing a pair of major renovations. This is the third consecutive year it has played host to the event. … The field includes 10 of 16 winners on the LPGA Tour this season. … Boutier won by two shots over Hyo Joo Kim last year.
NEXT TOURNAMENT: AIG Women’s Open, Fife, Scotland, Aug. 22-25

PGA Tour Champions
LAST TOURNAMENT: Boeing Classic (Stephen Ames)
THIS WEEK: Rogers Charity Classic, Calgary, Aug. 16-18
Course: Canyon Meadows G&CC (Par 70, 7,086 Yards)
Purse: $2.4M (Winner: $360,000)
Defending Champion: Ken Duke
Charles Schwab Cup leader: Ernie Els
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: TBA
X: @ChampionsTour
NOTES: This is the 19th of 28 events on the 2024 schedule. … Ames has closed the gap to $35,495 atop the Charles Schwab Cup standings.
NEXT TOURNAMENT: The Ally Challenge, Grand Blanc, Mich., Aug. 23-25

LIV Golf League
LAST TOURNAMENT: LIV Golf UK (Individual: Jon Rahm; Team: Legion XIII)
THIS WEEK: Greenbrier, WV, Aug. 16-18
Course: The Old White at Greenbrier (Par 70, 7,299 Yards)
Purse: $20M (Individual), $5M (Team); Winners: $4M (Individual), $3M (Team)
Defending Champion: Individual, Bryson DeChambeau; Team, Torque GC
2024 Leaders: Players, Joaquin Niemann; Team, Crushers GC
HOT TO FOLLOW
TV: Friday: 1:15 p.m. ET (CW App, LIV Golf Plus); Saturday: 1:15 p.m. (CW Network, CW App, LIV Golf Plus): Sunday, 1:05 p.m. (CW Network, CW App, LIV Golf Plus)
X: @livgolf_league
NOTES: This is the 12th of 13 regular-season events, which will be followed by the Team Championship in Dallas from Sept. 20-22. … The 54-player field will compete in a three-day event with shotgun starts. There are 13 four-player teams and two independent wild card players. … Friday’s opening round will mark the 100th competition day in LIV Golf history.
NEXT TOURNAMENT: Chicago, Bolingbrook, Ill., Sept. 13-15

–Field Level Media

HOCKEY NEWS

BLUES ISSUE OFFER SHEETS TO OILERS’ BROBERG AND HOLLOWAY, LEAVING EDMONTON 7 DAYS TO MATCH

The St. Louis Blues looked to salary cap-strapped Edmonton to upgrade their roster, issuing offer sheets to Oilers defenseman Philip Broberg and forward Dylan Holloway, the team announced Tuesday.

The rarely used move leaves the Oilers seven days to match the Blues’ contract offers to the restricted free agents or opt to receive draft picks from St. Louis as compensation.

The Blues’ offer to Broberg was two years and $9.16 million, which would amount to a second-round pick as compensation if the Oilers decline to match. Holloway received a two-year, $4.58 million offer, which amounts to a third-round draft pick as compensation.

To satisfy NHL requirements in issuing the offer sheet to Broberg, the Blues also announced a trade with Pittsburgh to reacquire their second-round pick in next year’s draft. St. Louis also added a 2026 fifth-round draft pick while sending the Penguins a 2026 second-round selection and a 2025 third-round pick.

The Oilers had no immediate comment on the Blues’ move.

The last team to issue an offer sheet was Carolina in 2021, when the Hurricanes landed center Jesperi Kotkaniemi from Montreal after the Canadiens failed to match the offer.

Blues general manager Doug Armstrong is seeking to fast-forward his rebuilding plan for a team that has missed the playoffs in each of the past two seasons. Meanwhile, the Oilers are currently projected to be more than $354,000 over the cap after they lost the Stanley Cup Final in seven games to Florida.

Matching the offers would add close to $6.88 million to the Oilers’ total. Teams have until the start of the season to be under the cap.

Stan Bowman was hired in July as the Oilers’ general manager to replace Ken Holland, whose contract was not renewed.

The 23-year-old Broberg, selected eighth overall in the 2019 draft, had two assists in 12 regular-season games last year, and added two goals and an assist in a career-high 10 playoff games. He has two goals and 11 assists in 81 career regular-season games.

The 22-year-old Holloway, selected 14th overall in the 2020 draft, had six goals and three assists in 38 games last season, and added five goals and two assists in 25 playoff games. Overall, he has nine goals and nine assists in 89 regular-season games.

PENGUINS ACQUIRE F CODY GLASS, DEAL F JORDAN FRASCA TO PREDATORS

The Pittsburgh Penguins traded forward Jordan Frasca to the Nashville Predators on Tuesday, acquiring forward Cody Glass, a 2025 third-round draft pick and a 2026 sixth-round draft pick.

Glass, 25, posted 13 points (six goals, seven assists) in 41 games with the Predators last season. The No. 6 overall pick in the 2017 draft by the Vegas Golden Knights has 71 points (29 goals, 42 assists) in 187 games with the Golden Knights (2019-21) and Predators (2021-24).

Frasca, 23, signed with the Penguins in 2022 as an undrafted free agent and played a combined 44 games with the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers and AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 2022-23, finishing with 12 points (seven goals, five assists).

He spent most of the 2023-24 season with Wheeling and set career highs in goals (11), assists (22) and points (33).

–Field Level Media

TOP INDIANA SPORTS/NEWS RELEASES

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

COLTS RELEASE UNOFFICIAL DEPTH CHART FOR PRESEASON WEEK 2 GAME VS. ARIZONA CARDINALS

OFFENSE

• WR: Michael Pittman Jr., Ashton Dulin, D.J. Montgomery, Laquon Treadwell
• LT: Bernhard Raimann, Blake Freeland, Jake Witt
• LG: Quenton Nelson, Danny Pinter OR Tanor Bortolini
• C: Ryan Kelly, Danny Pinter OR Tanor Bortolini, Ryan Coll
• RG: Will Fries, Josh Sills OR Dalton Tucker
• RT: Braden Smith, Matt Goncalves, Arlington Hambright
• TE: Mo Alie-Cox, Drew Ogletree, Eric Tomlinson
• TE: Kylen Granson, Jelani Woods, Will Mallory, Jordan Murray
• WR: Josh Downs, Anthony Gould, Ethan Fernea
• WR: Alec Pierce OR Adonai Mitchell, Juwann Winfree, Tyrie Cleveland, Derek Slywka
• QB: Anthony Richardson, Joe Flacco, Sam Ehlinger, Kedon Slovis, Jason Bean
• RB: Jonathan Taylor, Trey Sermon, Tyler Goodson, Evan Hull, Zavier Scott, Demetric Felton
• Adonai Mitchell played eight snaps in the Colts’ first preseason game against the Denver Broncos, playing four snaps in the slot and four snaps out wide.
• Anthony Richardson played a total of seven snaps over two series against the Broncos, completing two of four passes for 25 yards. Richardson connected with Mo Alie-Cox for a 19-yard catch-and-run play in the second series.
• Hull recorded the Colts’ first touchdown of the 2024 preseason against the Broncos, and finished with 16 yards on eight carries and a 15-yard reception in his first game since Week 1 of the 2023 season.

DEFENSE

• DE: Kwity Paye, Laiatu Latu, Genard Avery, Titus Leo
• DT: DeForest Buckner, Adetomiwa Adebawore, Jonah Laulu
• NT: Grover Stewart, Taven Bryan, Eric Johnson II, Raekwon Davis
• DE: Tyquan Lewis, Dayo Odeyingbo, Isaiah Land, Levi Bell, Samson Ebukam
• WLB: E.J. Speed, Jaylon Carlies, Craig Young
• MLB: Zaire Franklin, Cameron McGrone, Liam Anderson
• SAM: Segun Olubi, Grant Stuard, Austin Ajiake
• CB: JuJu Brents, Dallis Flowers, Ameer Speed, Clay Fields III
• FS: Nick Cross, Rodney Thomas II, Trevor Denbow, Marcel Dabo
• SS: Julian Blackmon, Ronnie Harrison Jr., Kendell Brooks
• N: Kenny Moore II, Chris Lammons, Micah Abraham, Michael Tutsie
• CB: Jaylon Jones, Darrell Baker Jr., Jaylin Simpson
• Kenny Moore II had an interception and a tackle in the Colts’ preseason game against the Broncos.
• Micah Abraham, in his first NFL preseason game, forced a fumble-turned-touchdown against the Broncos, taking the ball 45 yards to the endzone.
• Raekwon Davis is on the active/non-football illness list.

SPECIALISTS

• P: Rigoberto Sanchez
• PK: Matt Gay, Spencer Shrader
• H: Rigoberto Sanchez
• LS: Luke Rhodes
• KR: Dallis Flowers, Anthony Gould, Josh Downs
• PR: Josh Downs, Anthony Gould, Dallis Flowers

INDIANA PACERS

PACERS’ SCHEDULE UNVEILED FOR 2024 NBA CUP GROUP GAMES

The Pacers’ road to Vegas begins at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday, Nov. 15.

The NBA officially unveiled dates for the Group Play games in the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup on Tuesday. The Pacers are in East Group B along with Milwaukee, Miami, Toronto, and Detroit for this year’s NBA Cup (formerly known as the In-Season Tournament).

The Pacers put the league on notice a year ago in the first edition of the event, sweeping through Group Play then winning two Knockout Round games to advance all the way the Championship game in Las Vegas. They’re looking to take it one step further this year and bring a trophy home.

Indiana opens Group Play on Friday, Nov. 15 by hosting Jimmy Butler and the Heat at Gainbridge Fieldhouse at 7:00 PM ET.

A week later, the Pacers will travel to Milwaukee for a marquee matchup with Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks on Friday, Nov. 22 at 7:30 PM ET in a game that will be nationally televised by ESPN. The Blue & Gold got the best of their Central Division rivals on multiple fronts last season, defeating the Milwaukee in the In-Season Tournament Semifinals in Las Vegas in December and then besting the Bucks in a first-round playoff series in May.

Indiana’s next Group Play game will be on Friday, Nov. 29, when the Blue & Gold welcome Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons to Gainbridge Fieldhouse. This continues the Pacers’ tradition of hosting a home game on “Gold Friday,” the Friday after Thanksgiving. The Pacers and Pistons will tip off at 8:00 PM ET to accommodate the annual Circle of Lights tree lighting ceremony earlier that evening on Monument Circle.

The Pacers will head north of the border to wrap up Group Play on Tuesday, Dec. 3 against Scottie Barnes and the Toronto Raptors at 7:30 PM ET.

New name aside, the NBA Cup’s format remains largely unchanged from last season. Each team will play a total of four Group Play games — two home and two road — against the other teams in its group. The three group winners and one “wild card” (the top second-place team from Group Play) in each conference will advance to the Knockout Rounds.

The Quarterfinals will be played at NBA arenas on Dec. 10 and 11, with the top two group winners in each conference hosting those games. The Quarterfinal winners will then advance to Las Vegas for the Semifinals on Dec. 14 and Championship on Dec. 17.

All games in the NBA Cup aside from the Championship game count towards the regular season standings. To ensure that all teams play 82 regular season games, the 22 teams that do not qualify for the Knockout Rounds will play two regular season games on Dec. 12 or 13 and Dec. 15 or 16, while the four teams that lose in the Quarterfinals will play one regular season game on Dec. 12, 13, 15, or 16.

The Pacers’ run to the Championship game last year was a precursor for Indiana’s later postseason success, as the Blue & Gold won two playoff series to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. Indiana made one significant move in between those two events — acquiring two-time All-Star Pascal Siakam from Toronto in a blockbuster trade.

After helping lead the Pacers’ playoff run, Siakam inked a long-term deal this summer to stay in Indiana. Fellow forward Obi Toppin also re-signed with the Pacers and the team returns virtually its entire roster from last year, including All-NBA guard Tyrese Haliburton (who just won a gold medal with USA Basketball at the 2024 Olympics in Paris), veteran center Myles Turner, and valuable young contributors Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, and Bennedict Mathurin.

The NBA is expected to announce the full 2024-25 regular season schedule later this week. In addition to their Group Play games, the Pacers already know two additional dates they will be playing, as they are taking part in the NBA Paris Games 2025 along with the San Antonio Spurs. The Pacers and Spurs will play two games in the French capital on Thursday, Jan. 23 and Saturday, Jan. 25.

INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS

COOK’S SEVENTH-INNING GRAND SLAM LIFTS INDIANS OVER SAINTS, 5-4

INDIANAPOLIS – Trailing 4-1 in the seventh inning, Billy Cook launched his second grand slam of the season to give the Indianapolis Indians a 5-4 come-from-behind victory over the St. Paul Saints on Tuesday night at Victory Field.

The grand slam was the seventh of Cook’s career and first since launching his first at the Triple-A level with Norfolk vs. Lehigh Valley on June 23. It was also the fifth grand slam by an Indians batter this season, the first since Liover Peguero and Matt Fraizer each launched grand slams on July 24 at Iowa.

Three consecutive walks to begin the seventh inning sparked a rally for Indianapolis (19-19, 52-59) before Cook stepped to the plate and hammered his first pitch to straightaway center against Jeff Brigham (L, 0-1). All five Indians runs came via the long ball, with Billy McKinney homering in the second to begin the scoring. It was the first time that two Indians batters with the same first name homered in the same game since Erich Weiss and Eric Wood on June 28, 2017, vs. Durham.

The Saints (18-23, 56-58) put up four runs between Indy’s pair of homers. Their three-run fourth inning came courtesy of a Jair Camargo double, Diego A. Castillo sacrifice fly and Patrick Winkel run-scoring double play. DaShawn Keirsey Jr. then singled in the fifth to take the 4-1 lead.

Fineas Del Bonta Smith (W, 2-1) tossed 2.0 hitless innings in relief of starter Luis Cessa. Connor Sadzeck (S, 3) then entered and worked around a two-out walk in the ninth.

The Indians were outhit 5-3 in the contest, with all three hits coming for extra bases. Nick Yorke went 0-for-4 to snap his 15-game hitting streak and 19-game on-base streak.

Indianapolis and St. Paul continue their six-game series on Wednesday at 1:35 PM at Victory Field. Taking the mound for Indianapolis is RHP Jared Jones (0-1, 6.75) in the second start of his rehab assignment. The Saints have yet to name a starter.

INDIANA WOMEN’S GOLF

REIGNING BIG TEN CHAMPS TO PLAY TEN TOURNAMENTS IN 2024-25 SEASON

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana women’s golf coach Brian May announced the 2024-25 schedule on Thursday. The slate includes 10 regular season tournaments, with four coming in the fall and six in the spring.

“We are eager to get this year going,” said May. “Our 2024 Big Ten Championship validated the direction our program is headed, and we will hit this season full steam ahead.

“We have some familiar sites and a few new locations, all designed to test our games throughout the year. As always, we will work to have the girls peaking in April and May for a Big Ten title defense, and a post season run to California. We hope to see Hoosier Nation out along the way supporting our young women!”

The Hoosiers will hit the ground running with the Purdue Boilermaker Classic from Sept. 2-3 at the Kampen-Cosler Golf Course immediately followed by the Bettie Lou Evans Invitational from Sept. 8-10 at the Champions Trace Golf Club. After a short break, Indiana will return to competition at the Illinois Women’s Invitational from Oct. 7-8 at Medinah Country Club. The fall slate will conclude with The Ally Invitational from Oct. 21-23 at Old Wavery Golf Club.

Spring play will begin with a trip to Naples, Fla. to compete in a tri-match with border rivals Louisville and Kentucky on Jan. 21 at the Shadow Wood Country Club. The Hoosiers will remain in the Sunshine State for the UCF Challenge from Feb. 2-4 at Eagle Creek Golf Club. IU will then take on the field at the Chevron Collegiate from Feb. 24-25 at the Golf Club of Houston.

The month of March will consist of two events starting with the Clover Cup from March 10-12 at the Wigwam Golf Club. Indiana will return to the Florida State Match Up for the second-straight year from March 21-23 at the Seminole Legacy Club. The regular season will end at the Therese Hession Buckeye Invitational from April 12-13 at the OSU Scarlet Course.

The reigning Big Ten Champions will begin postseason play at the 2025 Big Ten Championships at the Bulle Rock Golf Course in Havre De Grace, Md. from April 18-20. NCAA Regionals will be held from May 5-7 before the NCAA Finals from May 16-21 at La Costa Resort in Carlsbad, Calif.

INDIANA MEN’S GOLF

MEN’S GOLF ADDS ASSISTANT COACH CD HOCKERSMITH

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana men’s golf head coach Mike Mayer has hired assistant coach CD Hockersmith, the program announced on Tuesday.

“We are thrilled that Coach Hockersmith has accepted our invitation to join our Hoosier family,” Mayer said. “He brings a tremendous amount of playing and coaching experience with him.

“He is well known among junior golfers in Indiana and the Midwest, and he will be a formative recruiter for us. Coach Hockersmith was an outstanding collegiate golfer at Ball State, an outstanding golfer at all levels, and he is most importantly an outstanding person. He will be a great addition to our men’s golf program.”

Hockersmith joins the Indiana program after spending the last three seasons as the head coach at Earlham College. He led the Quakers to three-straight top-5 finishes in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship, including a school-record performance in a fourth-place result in 2024.

“I am thrilled to join the men’s golf program at Indiana,” Hockersmith said. “I have so much respect for Coach Mayer and what he has built here in Bloomington. The facilities are some of the best in all of college golf and I cannot wait to get my Hoosier career started.”

He mentored two members of the Quaker golf program to All-America Scholar honors, had one player named All-HCAC, and coached the HCAC Player of the Week on seven occasions. Earlham set three program records in his final season with the program.

Prior to his time at Earlham, Hockersmith played professionally for 12 seasons. The Richmond, Ind., native earned Golf Coaches Association All-American Scholar honors, All-MAC Second Team accolades, a spot on the MAC All-Tournament Team, and was credited as the Most Valuable Player for the Cardinals. He also served as the team captain for head coach Mike Fleck during his senior season.

INDIANA VOLLEYBALL

HOOSIERS NAME THREE VOLLEYBALL CAPTAINS

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Ahead of the 2024 volleyball season, head coach Steve Aird and the Hoosiers named three captains to represent the team on and off the court. The three players were selected based on sustained commitment to the program, leadership skills and on-court production.

Senior setter Camryn Haworth, senior outside hitter Kenzie Daffinee and graduate student defensive specialist Delaynie Maple will be the three captains for the Hoosiers this season. Both Haworth and Daffinee have played in the program for four years while Maple brings multiple years of captain experience to Bloomington from her time in the USC Beach Program.

The floor captain for the Hoosiers in past seasons, Haworth has turned herself into one of the best players in the Big Ten and across the country. She has played in 96 of 97 matches in her time in Bloomington including starts in each of the 65 games in the past two seasons.

Last season, Haworth was a unanimous All-Big Ten selection and earned All-American honors from both the AVCA (Honorable Mention) and Volleyball Magazine (Fourth Team). She produced 1,247 assists (10.22 p/s) and led the NCAA with 73 service aces. She had a pair of triple-doubles and helped IU to an effective offensive season (five players with 200+ kills).

Maple, a transfer into the team this year, was part of an incredible four year run for the Women of Troy in the USC Beach Volleyball program. She led the Trojans to four-straight NCAA Championships including a phenomenal stretch at the No. 1 pair with Megan Kraft the last two seasons.

Well regarded for her leadership, Maple played indoor high school volleyball with former IU setter Emily Fitzner (2019-22). She has a long-standing relationship with associate head coach Rachel Morris and assistant coach Kevin Hodge from her club days at WAVE. Her role in 2024 could see her be a back row specialist or hit on one of the pins.

The final captain, Daffinee, has embraced her role as a serving specialist for the Hoosiers. Armed with a lethal top-spin jump serve, she has totaled 31 service aces over the last two years and has put pressure on opposing teams from the end line. She has transitioned to working with back row passers and will continue to provide an array of experience for IU’s newcomers.

The Hoosiers will begin the 2024 season with a trip to Georgia to play at Kennesaw State (Aug. 30) and against Wichita State (Aug. 31). The home opener will be on Sept. 2 against UC-Davis at Wilkinson Hall.

TRIO OF HOOSIERS SELECTED TO BIG TEN PLAYER TO WATCH LIST

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – A trio of Hoosiers including senior goalkeeper Jamie Gerstenberg, sophomore defender Piper Coffield and graduate defender Avery Snead were selected to the Big Ten Players to Watch List, the conference announced on Tuesday afternoon.

Jamie Gerstenberg, Jr., GK

Gerstenberg earns a spot on the watch list for the third straight year. The reigning Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year who started between the pipes in all 20 of the Hoosiers’ matches. She totaled 52 saves (.765 save percentage) with a .82 goals against average. She set the single-season shutout record with 10 and went 12-4-4 as the primary keeper. The Birkenwerder, Germany native holds Indiana’s career shutout record with 25 clean sheets and tied the single-season Big Ten record. Gerstenberg was also an All-Big Ten First Team selection and will continue to make big strides for the Hoosiers.

Piper Coffield, So., D

Coffield was named to the Big Ten All-Tournament Team and picked up three Big Ten Freshman of the Week awards and one Defensive Player of the Week in her rookie season. She played a total of 1710 minutes, holding Indiana’s back line strong. She scored three goals with two assists and combined for eight points. The Mars, Penn. native scored two gamewinners on penalty kicks to put the Hoosiers on top last season. Coffield ended last season with a .429 shots on goal percentage and aided in the cream and crimson’s single-season shutout record.

Avery Snead, Gr., D

Snead, a graduate transfer from Providence College, earns a spot on the Player to Watch List after looking to make a big impact for the Hoosiers. She joins the Indiana women’s soccer team after spending four-years with the Friars. As a midfielder, she started in all 69 matches and totaled 13 points in her career with six goals and one assist. Snead held a .525 shots on goal percentage with four game-winning goals to finish her career. A native of Wrentham, Mass., she was named to the All-BIG East Second Team in 2023, earned All-BIG East All-Freshman Team honors in 2020 and Second Team Honors in 2022. Snead was also named to the United Soccer Coaches All-East Region Third Team. Snead is a two-time NEWISA All-New England Second Team honoree.

Up next, Indiana women’s soccer will begin the season hosting the Tennessee Volunteers on Thursday, Aug. 15 at Bill Armstrong Stadium.

INDIANA FOOTBALL

FISHER SELECTED TO BUTKUS AWARD WATCH LIST

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – With just 18 days until the 2024 season officially opens for the Indiana football program, junior linebacker Aiden Fisher was tabbed to the preseason watch list for the Butkus Award.

The 40th annual collegiate Butkus Award® Preseason Watch List features 51 linebackers as a nod to the storied “51” pro jersey worn by the award’s namesake, the late Dick Butkus. His tenacious leadership from the middle linebacker position earned him acclaim by NFL Films as the greatest defensive player in football history. Candidates for the collegiate Butkus Award represent 44 colleges and universities from across the country.

Founded in 1985, the Butkus Award honors linebackers at three levels while supporting causes important to the Butkus family. Causes include Butkus Takes Heart™ initiative encouraging early cardiovascular screening among adults, and the I Play Clean® initiative encouraging athletes to train naturally without performance-enhancing drugs. A 51-member expert panel of coaches, scouts and journalists guides the selection process.

Fisher has appeared in 23 career games with 11 starts over two collegiate seasons, both at James Madison (2022-23) for now IU head coach Curt Cignetti and defensive coordinator Bryant Haines. He garnered third-team All-Sun Belt as a sophomore after a 108-tackle season with 6.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.

He started 11 of 13 games in 2023 and was named Sun Belt Conference Special Teams Player of the Week in Week 2 after a blocked punt at Virginia (9/9). Fisher made his first career start in Week 3 at Troy (9/16) and started the final 11 contests, capped by a season-high 17 tackles – 12 solo – in the Armed Forces Bowl versus Air Force (12/23). He posted four double-digit tackle games and three others with nine stops, had one interception, and broke up eight passes. His blocked punt at Virginia also led to a JMU touchdown.

2024 Indiana Football Preseason Accolades

James Bomba – AFCA Good Works Team Nominee, Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List

James Evans – Ray Guy Award Preseason Watch List

Aiden Fisher – Butkus Award Preseason Watch List

Zach Horton – John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List

Cooper Jones – William V. Campbell Trophy Nominee

D’Angelo Ponds – Lott Trophy Preseason Watch List

Elijah Sarratt – Bilitikoff Award Preseason Watch List

Solomon Vanhorse – College Football Comeback Player of the Year Preseason Watch List

PURDUE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

BOILERMAKERS FINISH PERFECT IN PORTUGAL

LIBSON, Portugal – The Purdue women’s basketball team wrapped up its 2024 European Tour with a 94-75 win over Portuguese Premier Division side Lombos on Tuesday night in the nation’s capital. Purdue finished 3-0 on its overseas adventure. 

The Boilermakers finished with five players in double figures on the night, paced by transfer Ella Collier, who nailed a quartet of 3-pointers to go with four rebounds and a pair of assists. Fellow transfer Mahri Petree gave a 12-point spark off the bench.

Alaina Harper finished in double figures again for the second time this trip with a 13-point, four-rebound outing. Freshman Lana McCarthy tallied 12 points and six boards, while Rashunda Jones chipped in 10 points.

Squaring off against its toughest opponent of the tour, the Boilermakers jumped out to a 27-18 lead after the first quarter. Purdue got hot early from behind the arc with four triples in the first quarter, leading to 11 on the night.

Purdue posted a 46.8% shooting clip and tallied 19 assists on 37 made field goals.

The Boilermakers tallied 42 points and 25 rebounds from the posts, as the visitors claimed a 55-23 rebound advantage and a 46-28 mark on points in the paint, as well as 24 points on 24 offensive boards.

Purdue will now prepare for the 2024-25 campaign, featuring previously announced games against Notre Dame, Kentucky and South Carolina, plus new Big Ten Conference additions of Oregon, Washington, USC and UCLA.

A full non-conference slate will be announced in the coming weeks.

The 2024-25 Purdue women’s basketball season is presented by Purdue Global, Purdue University’s online educational solution for working adults.

NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL

KISER EARNS SELECTION TO 2024 BUTKUS AWARD WATCH LIST

Graduate linebacker Jack Kiser has been selected for the Butkus Award Preseason Watch List. The award honors the top linebacker in college football, and is named for the late Dick Butkus. Fifty-one players are selected to the watch list in honor of Butkus’ number, 51.

Three Notre Dame players have won the Butkus Award: linebackers Manti Te’o (2012), Jaylon Smith (2015) and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (2020).

Returning for his final season, Kiser owns 185 career tackles and will assume a key leadership role on the Irish defense heading into 2024 as one of the most tenured players in the program.

Kiser was Notre Dame’s 2023 Special Teams Player of the Year. Last season, he played in all 13 games, making three starts as a consistent contributor on special teams as well as consistent playing time at linebacker. Kiser finished third on the team with 62 tackles, and tied for the team-lead with 41 solo tackles. He added 1.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and an interception, also recording a pass breakup and three quarterback hurries, and forced a fumble. He has also been nominated to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Watch List and Wuerffel Trophy Watch List. 

Butkus’ tenacious leadership from the middle linebacker position earned him acclaim by NFL Films as the greatest defensive player in football history. The 51-person Butkus Award selection committee comprised of coaches, scouts and journalists guides the selection process emphasizing qualities that defined Dick Butkus’ career: toughness, on-field leadership, competitiveness, football character and linebacking skills. The Award is increasingly focused on recognizing linebackers who consistently play off the ball on their feet in a two-point stance in traditional form.

Award semi-finalists are expected to be named on November 4, with finalists named on November 25 and the winner named by December 10. Appearing on the watch list is not a requirement to win the award. The 2024 Butkus Award winners at the high school, college and pro level will be honored at an event planned for early 2025 at Memorial Stadium at the University of Illinois.

BUTLER SOCCER

WOMEN’S SOCCER TEAM PICKED FOURTH IN CONFERENCE POLL; ISGER, SOMMER, AND O’MALLEY ON ALL-BIG EAST PRESEASON TEAM

NEW YORK – The Butler women’s soccer team was tabbed to finish fourth in the 2024 BIG EAST Preseason Coaches’ Poll, as announced by the conference office on Tuesday, August 13. In addition, graduate students Abigail Isger and Caitlin O’Malley, along with junior Talia Sommer, are representing the Bulldogs on the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team.

The major awards and Preseason All-BIG EAST Team were voted on by the conference head coaches who could not cast ballots for their own team or their own student-athletes.

Georgetown garnered 10 of 11 first-place votes, finishing with 100 points. UConn came in second, with 91 points, and collected the remaining first-place nod. Xavier landed in the third spot with 72 points, just ahead of Butler with 70. Providence rounded out the top five with 66 votes.

Isger, a forward from Indianapolis, has received All-BIG EAST postseason recognition the past two seasons, including BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2022. She has 21 career goals and 18 career assists over four seasons.

Sommer, a junior from Israel, was named All-BIG EAST First Team in 2023 after being named the BIG EAST Freshman of the Year the previous season. In two campaigns for Butler, she has tallied 11 goals and 10 assists.

O’Malley, a defender from Michigan, has accumulated 70 starts over four seasons for the Bulldogs, anchoring the center of the back line. She also has two goals and an assist to her credit.

In addition to Butler’s trio of representatives on the preseason team, Georgetown, UConn, and Xavier also had multiple selections. UConn joined Butler with three on the list, while the conference-favorite Hoyas and the Musketeers each had a pair. Creighton, Providence, and Seton Hall, with one each, provided the final three selections.

_____

BIG EAST Preseason Women’s Soccer Coaches’ Poll

(first-place votes)

1. Georgetown – 100 (10)

2. UConn – 91 (1)

3. Xavier – 72

4. Butler – 70

5. Providence – 66

6. St. John’s – 57

7. Creighton – 44

8. Seton Hall – 43

T9. Marquette – 22

T9. Villanova – 22

11. DePaul – 19

Preseason BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year

Natalie Tavana, Seton Hall, Sr., F

Preseason BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year

Natalie Bain, Xavier, Jr., D

Preseason BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year

Kaitlyn Mahoney, UConn, Gr., GK

Preseason All-BIG EAST Team

Abigail Isger, Butler, Gr., F

Caitlin O’Malley, Butler, Gr., D

Talia Sommer, Butler, Jr., M/F

Azumi Manriki, Creighton, Sr., M

Natalie Means, Georgetown, Jr., F

Eliza Turner, Georgetown, Sr., MF

Kayla Briggs, Providence, So., F

Natalie Tavana, Seton Hall, Sr., F

Lucy Cappadona, UConn, Gr., D

Kaitlyn Mahoney, UConn, Gr., GK

Chioma Okafor, UConn, Jr., F

Natalie Bain, Xavier, Jr., D

Maria Galley, Xavier, Jr., GK

BUTLER WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

PARKINSON ADDS MARKOVIC TO BULLDOG COACHING STAFF

INDIANAPOLIS – Butler women’s basketball head coach Austin Parkinson announced the hire of Nevena Markovic this week, adding another assistant coach to the Bulldog program. Markovic spent the previous two seasons at Vermont as a Catamount assistant coach and international recruiting coordinator.

“We are thrilled to have Nev joining our coaching staff and program,” Parkinson explained. “It feels like a bringing a family member home, seeing as Nev was my first-ever signee as a head coach years ago. She brings so much to the table from her professional career overseas to the past several years being part of Vermont’s success in a coaching role. I’ve always admired her passion for the game, work ethic, and basketball IQ.  She will be an asset working with our post and enhancing our international recruiting.”

Markovic was the first recruit Parkinson signed when he took over the IU Indy (IUPUI) program. She was tabbed Summit League Freshman of the Year in 2012 and would also earn Second Team All-Conference honors during her career as a Jaguar. Markovic played as a team captain at IUPUI and would play professionally for seven years before becoming a coach.

“I am very grateful to Coach P for giving me the opportunity to be part of the Butler family and I look forward to helping the program in any way I can,” Markovic stated. “It is a pretty cool, full-circle, moment for me playing for him and now getting the chance to work alongside him. It is an exciting time to be at Butler because this is definitely a program with big things ahead.”

While coaching at Vermont, Markovic played a fundamental role in helping the Catamounts win their first America East Regular Season Championship since 2001-02 and their first America East Tournament Championship since the 2009-10 season. The 2022-23 America East Tournament Championship win led to the Catamounts to their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2009-10!

In 2022-23, the Catamounts went on a 17-game winning streak from Jan. 4 to March 10, which was their longest since 2001-02, and at one point, was the third-longest in the country. Vermont notched 25 victories each year with Markovic on staff and advanced to the WNIT Fab 4 in 2023-24.

Prior to her time at Vermont, Markovic served as an assistant coach at St. Francis (2017-2018), a skills coach for youth in Plainfield, Illinois (2018 and 2019) and a program coordinator and assistant coach with the Illinois Rockets U17 and U14 teams (2015-2018).

During her international career she was a part of the Serbian U20 team and was named Co-MVP of the Spanish League in the first round of play. She played in several world-renowned leagues during her seven seasons including Spain, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic and France.

Markovic also earned the Slovakian Cup and the Slovakian League Championship in 2018-19. She participated in the EuroCup on four separate occasions and is a member of the Serbian Senior National Team Training Camp.

Markovic was a four-year student-athlete at IUPUI, where she graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sports Management and a minor in Business.

BALL STATE WOMEN’S GOLF

WOMEN’S GOLF ANNOUNCES 2024-25 SCHEDULE

MUNCIE, Ind. – – The 2025 Mid-American Conference Women’s Golf Championships is coming to the Delaware Country Club April 20-22 according to the schedule released Tuesday (Aug. 13) by Ball State head coach Cameron Andry.

The league’s premier event, which will be making its first appearance in Muncie since its inception in 1999, is one of three tournaments the Cardinals will host over the course of its 2024-25 slate.

Ball State’s first hosting opportunity will be Sept. 16-17 when it returns to The Players Club at Woodland Trails for the third annual Brittany Kelly Classic. It is an event the Cardinals won last season, and which sparked the first of several program records during the year.

BSU’s second hosting opportunity will be a little further away, but also at a familiar location, when it returns to the Flamboyan Course at the Wyndham Palmas Golf & Beach Resort for the Puerto Rico Shootout. The three-day tournament will run March 4-6 during the program’s spring break.

Overall, the Cardinals’ 2024-25 slate features 10 tournaments running up to the 2025 MAC Women’s Golf Championships. Each will give BSU’s student-athletes an opportunity to build on last season’s record-setting campaign.

In fact, the Cardinals return eight of its nine golfers which helped establish a new program standard for scoring average at 303.61 strokes, nearly three strokes better than the previous mark of 306.59 set in 2020-21. Last season also saw the team establish program records for lowest team round (285 / -3), lowest 36-hole total (584 / +8) and lowest 54-hole total (865 / +1).

In fact, the Cardinals broke the 54-hole scoring record twice on the year, starting with an 875 (+11) on its way to capturing the Brittany Kelly Classic (Sept. 4-5, 2024) title. The record would last for a little over a month, as Ball State closed the fall with an 865 (+1) effort at the Diamante Intercollegiate (Oct. 22-24, 2024).

Ball State will look to build on last season’s momentum starting Sept. 2-3 when it travels to the Boilermaker Fall Classic (Sept. 2-3) hosted by Purdue. The team’s fall slate will also feature the Lady Paladin Invitational (Sept. 20-22) hosted by Furman and the Loyola Parkinson Invitational (Oct. 7-8) hosted by Loyola, before culminating at the same Diamante Intercollegiate (Oct. 20-22) course in Hot Springs, Arkansas, where the program shattered several program records in an event hosted by Little Rock.

The Cardinals return to action after winter break at the Rust Buster Invitational (Feb. 10-11) in Clermont, Florida. Following the Rio Verde Invitational (Feb. 21-23) hosted by Western Michigan at the Rio Verde Country Club in Arizona, Ball State will host its event in Puerto Rico.

The stretch run to the MAC Championships will see the Cardinals close the regular season at the Georgia State Invitational (March 24-25) and at the Therese Hession Buckeye Invitational (April 12-13) hosted by Ohio State.

BALL STATE WOMEN’S SOCCER

SOCCER SECOND IN MAC PRESEASON COACHES POLL

The Ball State soccer team was picked to finish second in the Mid-American Conference Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll, the conference office announced Tuesday.

In a vote of the league’s head coaches, the Cardinals got one first place vote and 101 points total to finish behind only Western Michigan, who received eight first place votes and 116 points.

Ohio (90 points), Kent State (88) and Buffalo (86) rounded out the Top 5 in the regular season conference champion tally. In a poll for which team would win the MAC Tournament, Western Michigan got six votes while Ball State took two. The complete poll can be found below.

“I’m excited for another great season,” Ball State head coach Josh Rife said. “It’s always flattering to see our team be recognized for their efforts and past achievements, but everyone knows that the MAC is one of the toughest conferences year in and year out. No matter where you are ranked, every game is going to be a battle and will test you to your limits.”

Rife led the 2023 Cardinals to an 8-8-3 record (6-2-3 MAC) to finish third in the final regular season standings. Key returners include two-time First Team All-MAC forward Avery Fenchel and two-time Second Team All-MAC forward Delaney Caldwell.

1. Western Michigan (8) – 116 points

2. Ball State (1) – 101 points

3. Ohio (1) – 90 points

4. Kent State (1) – 88 points

5. Buffalo – 86 points

6. Bowling Green (1) – 84 points

7. Northern Illinois – 60 points

8. Toledo – 50 points

9. Miami – 47 points

10. Eastern Michigan – 29 points

11. Akron – 23 points

12. Central Michigan – 18 points

Conference Champion: Western Michigan (6), Ball State (2), Buffalo (2), Kent State (1), Bowling Green (1)

INDIANA STATE BASEBALL

URDANETA SIGNS FREE AGENT DEAL WITH FRONTIER BASEBALL LEAGUE’S TRI-CITY VALLEYCATS

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State infielder Josue Urdaneta has signed a free agent deal with the Frontier Baseball League’s Tri-City ValleyCats as the Maracaibo, Venezuela native becomes the seventh Sycamore baseball player from the 2024 roster to sign a professional contract.

Urdaneta becomes the second Sycamore to sign a contract in the Frontier League joining Adam Pottinger (Joliet Slammers). He joins Randal Diaz (Washington Nationals), Luke Hayden (Cincinnati Reds), Grant Magill (Chicago White Sox), Pottinger, Zach Davidson (Chicago Dogs – American Association of Professional Baseball), and Cam Edmonson (Ogden Raptors – Pioneer League) who have all signed professional contracts over the summer.

Urdaneta was a two-time MVC Baseball All-Defensive selection and a 2023 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division I Gold Glove finalist over his final two seasons with the Sycamores as the middle infielder consistently flashed his glove while playing primarily at second base. He finished the 2024 season sitting eighth in the Missouri Valley in triples (2) and eighth overall in assists (142) over his senior year.

Urdaneta posted a .250 batting average and came on strong over the final two months of the season reaching base in 42 consecutive games spanning March 3 – May 25 and setting a new Indiana State baseball record in the process. He added a pair of home runs in the regular season series finale weekend sweep at Valparaiso that clinched Indiana State’s second consecutive regular season title.

Urdaneta was a mainstay in the Indiana State lineup since his debut in 2021 finishing his Sycamore career with 217 starts in 219 games played. He finished with a .277 career batting average including 240 hits, while posting a .359 on-base percentage. He added 29 stolen bases and a career .976 fielding percentage.

INDIANA STATE SOFTBALL

WINDY THEES NAMED NINTH INDIANA STATE HEAD SOFTBALL COACH

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State University and Director of Athletics Nathan Christensen announced the hiring of Windy Thees as the Sycamores’ ninth head softball coach in program history on Tuesday afternoon.

Thees joins the Sycamores with over 25 years of collegiate coaching experience including head coaching stints at Winthrop, Ole Miss, Memphis, and Georgia College & State University.

“I’m excited to welcome Windy to the Indiana State family,” Christensen said. “Her successful record on the field and in the classroom along with her reputation for building topnotch championship student-athletes made her stand out throughout our process. We feel she can continue to build our softball program and position the Sycamores to be a power in the Missouri Valley Conference.”

Thees comes to Indiana State following a recent stretch as an assistant coach at George Mason where she worked with the Patriots’ pitchers and catchers since August 2023. During her lone season at GMU, she led the development of three new pitchers on the staff while guiding the Patriots to a 3.83 team ERA over 345.1 innings pitched.

“I’m honored and excited to lead the Sycamore Softball program,” Thees said. “The sport of softball has blessed me throughout my life as a player and then as a coach. I look forward to developing a culture that displays competitiveness, academic excellence, hard work, and a joyful nature. I’m grateful to Dr. Godard, Nathan Christensen, and Angie Lansing for this opportunity. Let’s get to work!”

Thees spent five seasons as the head softball coach at Winthrop in Rock Hill, S.C. from 2018-23. In her first season with the Eagles, Winthrop was the Big South Conference tournament runner-up and posted the school’s first 30-win season in over a decade. The 30-win season sparked a stretch where Thees guided Winthrop to winning seasons in four of her five years at the helm, a stretch that had not been accomplished in the 2000s. She also coached Winthrop pitcher Reese Basinger, who posted a 2.01 ERA and pitched a 13-strikeout perfect game. Bassinger was later named as a member of the 2023 All-Big South Conference First Team.

During her time at Utah State, Thees specialized in working with pitchers & catchers and served as an assistant coach with the Aggies. After her first year in Logan, Utah, she would be promoted to associate head coach prior to the start of the 2016 season. In her first year as associate head coach, Utah State posted a 26-25 overall record, their best record since 1996.

Thees and her Aggie squad would build on their success the following season, putting up a program-best 33-18 overall record and a 14-9 Mountain West league record in 2017. In the same season, Thees produced a pitching staff that posted a 3.09 ERA, which was the lowest by Utah State pitchers since 1998. She also produced an All-Mountain West First Team pitcher in Kellie White, who led the position with a 2.51 ERA in 2017. In 2018, senior catcher Brina Buttracavoli was named to the All-Mountain West Second Team.

At Ole Miss, Thees was the head coach for the Rebels for three seasons. In each of those three seasons in Oxford, Miss., her squad won at least 22 games and garnered multiple all-conference awards. Under her leadership, the Rebels increased their hits total every year, including a then-program record of 396 hits in 2014. She also set program records in 2014 in other statistical categories, such as runs batted in, walks and single-season saves. Her 2012 record of runners picked off (19) still stands today.

Thees was the first coach in University of Memphis Softball history after being named the program’s first head softball coach in 2005. Her best season at Memphis was in 2011, when the Tigers earned their first NCAA Tournament berth and went 36-14 with a .720 winning percentage, which is still the best winning percentage in its program’s history. The 2011 season also saw them beat softball powerhouses Kentucky and Stanford in the regular season, post a 15-7 winning record in Conference USA play, receive national poll votes for the first time in program history and recorded a school-record 10-game winning streak. In her six years as head coach, Thees produced nine all-conference awards, eight all-conference freshman team awards and three NFCA All-South Region selections.

Thees’ first coaching opportunity was at Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville, Ga., where she was named head coach at the age of 24. In 2003, Thees led the Bobcats to the Division II National Championship, where they would eventually finish as the national runner up. In her five seasons as head coach, Thees set numerous statistical records and helped her players garner all-conference, all-regional, weekly, and all-American awards. Her .639 winning percentage (163-92) is still the best head coach winning percentage in its program’s history.

She is currently the battery coach for Great Britain’s U22 softball team. She has been with the Great Britain coaching staff since 2018 and has been helping to develop softball players to compete in numerous tournaments such as the European Championships and World Championship Softball events.

A native of Mesa, Ariz., Thees was a four-year starter at both catcher and second base at Florida State from 1993-97, leading the Seminoles to three ACC Championships. She earned her bachelor’s degree in marketing and multinational business from Florida State in 1997 and a master’s degree in business administration from Georgia College & State University in 2002.

VALPO WOMEN’S GOLF

WOMEN’S GOLF REVEALS 2024-25 SCHEDULE

The Valparaiso University women’s golf team has announced its 2024-25 schedule, which features 10 total tournaments, five in the fall and five in the spring culminating with the Missouri Valley Conference Championship, which will be hosted at Annbriar Golf Club in Waterloo, Ill. again this season.

The docket tees off with the Redbird Fall Invitational hosted by Illinois State at Weibring Golf Club in Normal, Ill. on Sept. 8-9. This will mark the fourth straight year that Valpo’s season begins with a trip to Bloomington-Normal. That will be followed by another familiar tournament as the Beacons once again take part in the Brittany Kelly Classic, hosted by Ball State, on Sept. 16-17 at The Players Club in Muncie, Ind. This will mark the fourth straight year Valpo has participated in that tournament as well.

The fall docket continues with the program’s ninth appearance at the Butler Fall Classic including the fourth straight year that the squad has competed in that event, which will take place on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 at Highland Golf Club in Indianapolis. The Beacons will make their first appearance at the Western Michigan Invite on Oct. 7-8 at Moors Golf Club in Portage, Mich. before rounding out the fall at the Braun Intercollegiate, which will be hosted by Evansville at Oak Meadow Country Club on Oct. 21-22. Valpo will participate in the Braun Intercollegiate for the ninth time and first since 2019-20.

The program will chase warm weather to start the spring season with the Islander Classic, which will be hosted by Texas A&M Corpus Christi at Corpus Christi Country Club in the Lone Star State on Feb. 17-18. This will represent Valpo’s third straight year in that event. The spring continues with Butler’s Don Benbow Spring Invitational on March 10-11 at Ardea Country Club in Oldsmar, Fla. – another familiar destination as the Beacons will participate in the event for the eighth time ever and the second straight season.

The team will return to the Midwest for Northern Kentucky’s The Julie on March 24-25 at Elks Run Golf Course in Batavia, Ohio, Valpo’s second straight year golfing in that tournament. The final tune-up for the MVC Championship will occur on March 30-31 at the Indiana State Spring Invitational, held at the Country Club of Terre Haute. That event is on the slate for the fifth time in the last six years.

The aforementioned MVC Championship is set for April 13-15. Valpo will look to continue to make positive strides after the team scoring average improved by four strokes from the previous season in 2023-2024.

INDIANA SMALL COLLEGE WEBSITES

INDIANA WESLEYAN ATHLETICS: https://iwuwildcats.com/

EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/

WABASH ATHLETICS: https://sports.wabash.edu/

FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/

ROSE-HULMAN ATHLETICS: https://athletics.rose-hulman.edu/

ANDERSON ATHLETICS: https://athletics.anderson.edu/landing/index

TRINE ATHLETICS: https://trinethunder.com/landing/index

BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/

DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/

HANOVER ATHLETICS: https://athletics.hanover.edu/

MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/

HUNTINGTON ATHLETICS: https://www.huathletics.com/

OAKLAND CITY ATHLETICS: https://gomightyoaks.com/index.aspx

ST. FRANCIS ATHLETICS: https://www.saintfranciscougars.com/landing/index

IU KOKOMO ATHLETICS: https://iukcougars.com/

IU EAST ATHLETICS: https://www.iueredwolves.com/

IU SOUTH BEND ATHLETICS: https://iusbtitans.com/

PURDUE NORTHWEST ATHLETICS: https://pnwathletics.com/

INDIANA TECH ATHLETICS: https://indianatechwarriors.com/index.aspx

GRACE COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://gclancers.com/

ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ATHLETICS: https://smwcathletics.com/

GOSHEN COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://goleafs.net/

HOY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php

TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/

VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index

NUMBERS IN SPORTS

22 – 3 – 20 – 14 – 25 – 49 – 44 -32

August 14, 1919 – Chicago White Sox outfielder Happy Felsch ties MLB record of 4 outfield assists in a game in a 15-6 loss to Boston Red Sox

August 14, 1932 – Brooklyn Dodgers reliever John Quinn Number 22, at age 49, became the oldest pitcher to win an MLB game in a 2-1, 10th inning victory over New York Giants at the Polo Grounds

August 14, 1933 – Number 3, of the Philadelphia Athletics, Jimmie Foxx hit for the cycle and set a new American League record with 9 RBIs in a game

August 14, 1939 – The very first night MLB game in the City of Chicago is played at Comiskey Park; the White Sox beat the St. Louis Browns, 5-2

August 14, 1981 – Philadelphia Phillies Mike Schmidt, Number 20 hit his 300th career HR off NY Met Mike Scott

August 14, 1982 – Pete Rose, Number 14 then of the Philadelphia Phillies, reaches a milestone of 12,365 at bat sets record (passes Aaron)

August 14, 1987 – The Oakland A’s new player, Mark McGwire, Number 25 set a rookie home run record with 39 blasts, en route to a total of 49 by the season’s end

August 14, 1991 – MLB California Angels outfielder Dave Winfield, Number 32 became the 23rd player in history to reach the 400 HR mark

August 14, 1993 – Reggie Jackson Day – NY Yanks retire 13th uniform number with Jackson’s Number 44

August 14, 2021 – Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Tyler Gilbert, Number 49 threw a no-hitter in his MLB debut, defeating San Diego Padres, 7-0 in Phoenix; record-equaling 8th no-hitter of the season.

FOOTBALL HISTORY

Football History for August 14

August 14, 1919 – During the second of two meetings in the editorial rooms of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, the Green Bay Packers franchise is officially organized and founded by George Calhoun and Curly Lambeau.  The first meeting took place on August 11, 1919. The nickname of Packers was derived from that of their sponsor for the first two seasons, the Indian Packing Company.

August 14, 1953 – The 23rd Chicago Charities College All-Star Game is played as 93,818 spectators look on to see the NFL Champion Detroit Lions defeat the College team 24-10. The game’s MVP, always the top College All-Star performing player was Gib Dawson from Texas.

August 14, 1958 – The first ever Canadian Football League (CFL) game is played as Winnipeg defeats Edmonton 29-21.

August 14, 1959 – The 29th Chicago Charities College All-Star Game is played as 70,000 spectators look on to see the Baltimore Colts defeat the College team 29-0. The game’s MVP, always the top College All-Star performing player was Bob Ptacek the fine Michigan running back.

August 14, 1959 – The AFL forms and their original teams organize which include:

           Denver Broncos franchise forms AFL

           Houston/Tennessee Oilers/Tennessee Titans franchise forms AFL

           Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs franchise forms AFL

           Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers franchise AFL

           The New York Titans/Jets franchise forms the AFL

August 14, 1965 – The Continental Football League, or COFL plays its first games. The league played from this inaugural season until 1969. The group of teams was mostly minor league teams assembled from a few smaller leagues.

August 14, 1973 – Legendary NFL quarterback Johnny Unitas sues the franchise he formerly played 17 seasons for, the Baltimore Colts for $725,000! The lawsuit had a claim that the Baltimore Colts were in breach of contract with Unitas that was made in 1970. The contract said Johhny U. would be with the team in some capacity either playing or on staff for 10 years but the team benched him and traded him to San Diego after only a couple of years. Reports say that the Colts organization did pay their former signal caller the $30,000 per year for 10 years after he retired as agreed to.

Hall of Fame Birthday for August 14

August 14, 1907 – Johnny Baker was a guard from the University of Southern California and was a two-time All-American at the position. In 1983 Mr. Baker was delivered the honor of entering the College Football Hall of Fame. After his playing days Baker became the head coach of football at the Iowa State Teachers College (now Northern Iowa), the University of Denver and Sacramento State College (now California State University, Sacramento).

August 14, 1916 – Wellington Mara Pro Football Hall of Fame was the famed owner of the New York Giants.

August 14, 1935 – John Brodie was a quarterback that played for Stanford University. The passer’s great play there earned him a place in the College Football Hall of Fame. Brodie went on to play professionally for 17 seasons at the helm of the San Francisco 49ers. There were multiple years where he led the NFL in both passing and touchdown throws and he played in two Pro Bowls and was the 1970 NFL MVP.

TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY

Aug. 14

1919 — Chicago’s Happy Felsch tied the major league record with four outfield assists in a game. The White Sox still lost to the Boston Red Sox 15-6.

1932 — Brooklyn’s John Quinn, 49, became the oldest pitcher to win a major league game. Quinn pitched the last two innings of a 2-1, 10-inning win over the New York Giants.

1933 — Jimmie Foxx of the Philadelphia Athletics hit for the cycle and drove in nine runs in an 11-5 win over the Cleveland Indians. The nine RBIs set an American League record for one game, breaking the 22-year-old mark set by Topsy Hartzell of the New York Highlanders.

1958 — Vic Power of the Cleveland Indians stole home twice, in the eighth and 10th innings, in a 10-9 win over Detroit. He had only three steals all year.

1960 — Bill White of the St. Louis Cardinals hit for the cycle in a 9-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the opening game of a doubleheader.

1971 — Bob Gibson of St. Louis pitched a no-hitter, blanking the Pittsburgh Pirates 11-0.

1987 — Oakland’s Mark McGwire set a major league rookie record with his 39th homer of the season to help the A’s to a 7-6, 12-inning victory over the California Angels.

1998 — Baltimore’s Chris Hoiles became the ninth major leaguer and first catcher to hit two grand slams in one game.

2002 — Trevor Hoffman became the first reliever in major league history to have 30 or more saves in eight straight seasons in San Diego’s 6-2 win over the New York Mets.

2007 — Atlanta manager Bobby Cox was ejected after the fifth inning for arguing a called third strike in the Braves’ 5-4 victory over San Francisco. It was his 132nd ejection, breaking the mark set by Hall of Famer John McGraw.

2009 — Felix Pie became the fourth player in Orioles history to hit for the cycle, and Baltimore tied club records for extra-base hits and doubles in a 16-6 rout of the Los Angeles Angels.

2011 — Albert Pujols hit the longest home run at 6-year-old Busch Stadium in the St. Louis Cardinals’ 6-2 win over Colorado. Pujols’ two-run drive in the first inning was estimated at 465 feet.

2013 — Alfonso Soriano homered twice for the second straight night and drove in a career-high seven runs, giving him 13 RBIs in two games while powering the New York Yankees to an 11-3 victory over the Los Angeles Angels.

2015 — Matt Kemp hit a triple in the ninth for the first cycle in the history of the San Diego Padres, who beat the Colorado Rockies 9-5.

2018 — Atlanta’s Ronald Acuna Jr., 20, became the youngest major leaguer to homer in five straight games.

2021 — Arizona Diamondbacks Tyler Gilbert became the fourth pitcher and first in 68 years to throw a no-hitter in his initial big league start, leading Arizona over the San Diego Padres 7-0 with the record-tying eighth no-hitter of the season.

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Aug. 15

1905 — Rube Waddell of the Philadelphia Athletics pitched a five-inning no-hit game to beat the St. Louis Browns 2-0.

1916 — In a classic pitching duel, Babe Ruth of the Boston Red Sox beat Walter Johnson of the Washington Senators, 1-0, in 13 innings at Fenway Park.

1945 — The Chicago Cubs routed the Brooklyn Dodgers 20-6, at Ebbets Field. Paul Gillespie knocked in six runs with two home runs and a single to lead the attack.

1955 — Warren Spahn of the Milwaukee Braves hit a home run off Mel Wright of the St. Louis Cardinals to give Spahn a homer in every NL park.

1975 — Baltimore manager Earl Weaver was ejected twice by umpire Ron Luciano. Weaver was thrown out in the first game and was ejected before the second game.

1989 — Dave Dravecky of the San Francisco Giants, in his second start after coming back from cancer surgery on his pitching arm, broke his arm but earned the win in a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Expos. In the sixth inning, after throwing a wild pitch to Tim Raines, he collapsed and clutched his left arm in agony.

1990 — Philadelphia’s Terry Mulholland pitched the record eighth no-hitter of the season as the Phillies beat the San Francisco Giants 6-0. The season’s eighth no-hitter surpassed the modern record of seven set in 1908 and 1917.

1990 — Mark McGwire hit a grand slam in the 10th inning to become the first major leaguer to hit 30 or more homers in his first four seasons and lifted the Oakland Athletics to a 6-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox.

2001 — Trevor Hoffman pitched a perfect ninth inning for his 300th career save, completing a two-hitter that lifted the San Diego Padres over the New York Mets 2-1.

2005 — Randy Winn hit for the cycle in his first four at-bats in San Francisco’s 7-3 win over Cincinnati.

2011 — Jim Thome belted his 600th home run an inning after he hit No. 599 to help the Minnesota Twins beat the Detroit Tigers 9-6. Thome became the eighth player to reach 600.

2012 — Felix Hernandez pitched the Seattle Mariners’ first perfect game and the 23rd in baseball history, overpowering the Tampa Bay Rays in a 1-0 victory. It was the third perfect game in baseball of the season — a first — joining gems by Chicago’s Philip Humber against the Mariners in April and San Francisco’s Matt Cain against Houston in June.

2014 — Mo’Ne Davis, one of two girls at the Little League World Series, threw a two-hitter to help Philadelphia beat Nashville 4-0. Davis, the first girl to appear for a U.S. team in South Williamsport since 2004, had eight strikeouts and no walks.

2015 — Jackie Bradley Jr. had two homers, three doubles, and seven RBIs, powering Boston past Seattle 22-10.

2022 — The Rangers fire manager Chris Woodward. While the club is in third place in the AL West after two consecutive last-place finishes, it is still 12 games below .500 and 23 games out of first after having spent some $500 million on free agents in the off-season. He is replaced on an interim basis by coach Tony Beasley.

TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY

Aug. 14

1903 — Jim Jeffries knocks out Jim Corbett in the 10th round to retain his world heavyweight title in San Francisco.

1936 — In Berlin, the U.S. wins the first Olympic basketball gold medal with a 19-8 win over Canada. The game is played outdoors on a dirt court in a driving rain. Joe Fortenberry leads the U.S. with seven points. James Naismith, the inventor of the game, presents the medals.

1959 — The formation of the American Football League is announced in Chicago. Play will begin in 1960 with franchises in six cities with the probability of adding two more teams.

1977 — Lanny Wadkins beats Gene Littler on the third hole of sudden death to take the PGA Championship.

1977 — The Cosmos, led by Pele, play before a Meadowlands crowd of 77,961 in East Rutherford, N.J., the most to see a soccer game in the U.S. The Cosmos beat the Fort Lauderdale Strikers 8-3 in an NASL quarterfinal playoff game.

1994 — Nick Price wins the PGA Championship, finishing at 11-under 269 for 72 holes, six strokes ahead of Corey Pavin. It is the lowest stroke total in an American major championship.

2003 — The New York blackout forces the evacuation of workers and players from Shea Stadium hours before the Mets-Giants game. It’s the only major league baseball game affected by the blackout that stretches from the Northeast to Ohio and Michigan. Elsewhere, two WNBA games are postponed, and Yonkers (N.Y.) Raceway cancels its card.

2005 — The U.S. 4×400 relay team, anchored by Jeremy Wariner, races to a record 14th gold medal for the United States at the field world championships.

2011 — Keegan Bradley wins the PGA Championship after trailing by five shots with three holes and then defeating Jason Dufner in a three-hole playoff. Bradley becomes the third player in at least 100 years to win a major championship in his first try.

2014 — Rob Manfred is elected baseball’s 10th commissioner, winning a three-man race to succeed Bud Selig.

2016 — South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk breaks Michael Johnson’s 17-year-old world record in the 400-meter final in Rio de Janeiro. Usain Bolt becomes the first to capture three straight 100-meter titles at the Olympics. He finishes in 9.81 — 0.08 seconds ahead of Justin Gatlin.

2019 — French woman Stephanie Frappart is the first woman to referee a major match in a European men’s tournament. UEFA Super Cup, Chelsea vs. Liverpool in Istanbul.

2021 — Arizona Diamondbacks Tyler Gilbert became the fourth pitcher and first in 68 years to throw a no-hitter in his initial big league start, leading Arizona over the San Diego Padres 7-0 with the record-tying eighth no-hitter of the season.

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Aug. 15

1948 — Babe Didrikson Zaharias wins the U.S. Women’s Open golf title over Betty Hicks.

1950 — Ezzard Charles knocks out Freddie Beshore in the 14th round to retain his world heavyweight title.

1965 — Dave Marr edges Jack Nicklaus and Billy Casper to take the PGA Championship.

1966 — Jose Torres retains his world light-heavyweight title with a unanimous decision over Eddie Cotton in Las Vegas.

1993 — Greg Norman lips his putt on the PGA Championship’s second playoff hole, giving Paul Azinger the title and leaving Norman with an unprecedented career of Grand Slam playoff losses. Norman, despite winning his second British Open title a month earlier, has lost playoffs in three other majors — 1984 U.S. Open, 1987 Masters, 1989 British Open.

1993 — Damon Hill, son of the late Graham Hill, becomes the first father-son Formula One winners when he takes the Hungarian Grand Prix.

1995 — Monica Seles returns to the WTA Tour after a 28-month absence following her 1993 stabbing with a 6-0, 6-3 win over Kimberly Po at the Canadian Open.

1999 — Tiger Woods makes a par save on the 17th hole and holds on to win the PGA Championship by one stroke over 19-year-old Sergio Garcia. Woods, 23, becomes the youngest player to win two majors since Seve Ballesteros in 1980.

2004 — In Athens, Greece, the U.S. men’s basketball team loses 92-73 to Puerto Rico, the third Olympic defeat for the Americans and first since adding pros. American teams had been 24-0 since the professional Olympic era began with the 1992 Dream Team. The U.S Olympic team’s record was 109-2, entering the game.

2005 — Phil Mickelson delivers another dramatic finish in a major, flopping a chip out of deep rough to 2 feet for a birdie on the final hole and a one-shot victory in the PGA Championship.

2007 — Former NBA referee Tim Donaghy pleads guilty to felony charges for taking cash payoffs from gamblers and betting on games he officiated in a scandal that rocked the league and raised questions about the integrity of the sport.

2010 — Martin Kaymer wins the PGA Championship in a three-hole playoff against Bubba Watson. Dustin Johnson, with a one-shot lead playing the final hole at Whistling Straits, is penalized two strokes for grounding his club in a bunker on the last hole. The two-shot penalty sends him into a tie for fifth.

2012 — Felix Hernandez pitches the Seattle Mariners’ first perfect game and the 23rd in baseball history, overpowering the Tampa Bay Rays in a brilliant 1-0 victory. It’s the third perfect game in baseball this season.

2012 — The U.S. breaks a 75-year winless streak at Azteca Stadium with an 80th-minute goal by Michael Orozco Fiscal and Tim Howard’s late sprawling saves in a 1-0 victory over Mexico.2014 — Mo’Ne Davis, one of two girls at the Little League World Series, throws a two-hitter to help Philadelphia beat Nashville 4-0 in the opener for both teams. Davis, the first girl to appear for a U.S. team in South Williamsport since 2004, has eight strikeouts and no walks.