THE INDIANA SRN “SPORTSPAGE” WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 23, 2024

“THE SCOREBOARD”

INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL WEEK 10 (SECTIONAL FIRST ROUND)

SECTIONAL 17

HANOVER CENTRAL (7-2) AT EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL (1-8)

HIGHLAND (1-8) AT KANKAKEE VALLEY (4-5)

GARY WEST (5-4) AT NEW PRAIRIE (6-3)

HOBART (5-4) AT LOWELL (4-5)

SECTIONAL 18

WAWASEE (1-8) AT PLYMOUTH (5-4)

MISHAWAKA (7-2) AT NORTHRIDGE (3-6)

SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH (5-4) AT SOUTH BEND RILEY (2-6)

SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON (0-9) AT NORTHWOOD (4-5)

SECTIONAL 19

FORT WAYNE SOUTH (2-7) AT EAST NOBLE (8-1)

LEO (7-2) AT DEKALB (4-5)

COLUMBIA CITY (8-1) AT FORT WAYNE DWENGER (4-5)

NEW HAVEN (1-8) AT FORT WAYNE WAYNE (3-5)

SECTIONAL 20

FRANKFORT (0-9) AT HUNTINGTON NORTH (6-3)

MUNCIE CENTRAL (2-7) AT LOGANSPORT (8-1)

CULVER ACADEMY (8-1) AT LEBANON (7-2)

SECTIONAL 21

BEECH GROVE (4-5) AT GREENFIELD-CENTRAL (7-2)

NEW CASTLE (4-5) AT PENDLETON HEIGHTS (4-5)

YORKTOWN (6-3) AT RICHMOND (1-8)

MOUNT VERNON (FORTVILLE) (4-5) AT NEW PALESTINE (8-0)

SECTIONAL 22

INDIANAPOLIS SHORTRIDGE (2-6) AT MOORESVILLE (3-6)

INDIANAPOLIS CHATARD (6-2) AT INDIANAPOLIS ATTUCKS (6-1)

NORTHVIEW (8-1) AT INDIANAPOLIS RONCALLI (4-4)

DANVILLE (8-1) AT BREBEUF JESUIT (7-2)

SECTIONAL 23

SILVER CREEK (4-5) AT CONNERSVILLE (2-7)

CHARLESTOWN (2-7) AT MARTINSVILLE (8-1)

JENNINGS COUNTY (0-9) AT BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE (1-8)

SHELBYVILLE (1-8) AT GREENWOOD (2-7)

SECTIONAL 24

WASHINGTON (5-4) AT BOONVILLE (4-5)

JASPER (5-4) AT EVANSVILLE HARRISON (2-7)

EVANSVILLE CENTRAL (1-8) AT EVANSVILLE REITZ (7-2)

SECTIONAL 25

JOHN GLENN (1-7) AT JIMTOWN (6-3)

CALUMET (5-4) AT MISHAWAKA MARIAN (4-5)

KNOX (6-3) AT RIVER FOREST (5-4)

HAMMOND NOLL (3-6) AT GRIFFITH (8-1)

SECTIONAL 26

LAKELAND (5-4) AT GARRETT (9-0)

WOODLAN (5-4) AT TIPPECANOE VALLEY (6-3)

WEST NOBLE (8-1) AT ANGOLA (4-5)

FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA (2-7) AT FAIRFIELD (4-5)

SECTIONAL 27

FRANKTON (2-7) AT WEST LAFAYETTE (6-3)

BENTON CENTRAL (0-9) AT NORTHWESTERN (8-1)

WESTERN (0-9) AT TWIN LAKES (4-5)

PERU (4-5) AT MACONAQUAH (9-0)

SECTIONAL 28

NORWELL (2-7) AT FORT WAYNE LUERS (5-4)

JAY COUNTY (2-7) AT BELLMONT (0-9)

HERITAGE (8-1) AT DELTA (4-5)

OAK HILL (6-3) AT MISSISSINEWA (9-0)

SECTIONAL 29

HAMILTON HEIGHTS (3-6) AT SPEEDWAY (4-5)

WEST VIGO (4-5) AT GUERIN CATHOLIC (4-5)

CASCADE (9-0) AT CRAWFORDSVILLE (3-6)

TRI-WEST (5-4) AT INDIANAPOLIS WASHINGTON (3-5)

SECTIONAL 30

RUSHVILLE (6-3) AT FRANKLIN COUNTY (6-3)

PURDUE POLY ENGLEWOOD (2-6) AT GREENSBURG (0-9)

SOUTH DEARBORN (4-5) AT LAWRENCEBURG (8-1)

SECTIONAL 31

SCOTTSBURG (6-3) AT OWEN VALLEY (0-9)

NORTH HARRISON (6-3) AT CORYDON CENTRAL (3-6)

EDGEWOOD (2-7) AT INDIAN CREEK (4-5)

SECTIONAL 32

EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL (9-0) AT EVANSVILLE MATER DEI (7-2)

MOUNT VERNON (POSEY) (5-4) AT SOUTHRIDGE (7-2)

VINCENNES LINCOLN (3-6) AT PRINCETON (1-8)

HERITAGE HILLS (8-1) AT GIBSON SOUTHERN (7-2)

SECTIONAL 33

BREMEN (5-4) AT LAKE STATION (2-7)

WHITING (2-7) AT ANDREAN (5-4)

WHEELER (7-2) AT BOONE GROVE (6-3)

SECTIONAL 34

WESTERN BOONE (7-2) AT NORTH PUTNAM (7-2)

LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC (8-0) AT DELPHI (6-3)

NORTH MONTGOMERY (3-6) AT SOUTHMONT (3-6)

SEEGER (3-6) AT LEWIS CASS (4-5)

SECTIONAL 35

CHURUBUSCO (4-5) AT MANCHESTER (5-4)

ADAMS CENTRAL (8-1) AT BLUFFTON (6-3)

EASTSIDE (4-5) AT WHITKO (0-9)

PRAIRIE HEIGHTS (4-5) AT CENTRAL NOBLE (0-9)

SECTIONAL 36

ALEXANDRIA (6-3) AT WABASH (2-7)

EASTBROOK (4-5) AT TIPTON (5-4)

ELWOOD (1-8) AT ROCHESTER (7-2)

BLACKFORD (2-7) AT EASTERN (GREENTOWN) (5-4)

SECTIONAL 37

INDIANAPOLIS SCECINA (3-6) AT MONROVIA (7-2)

INDIANAPOLIS RITTER (2-6) AT PARK TUDOR (6-3)

HERITAGE CHRISTIAN (7-2) AT INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN (8-1)

SECTIONAL 38

LAPEL (6-3) AT NORTHEASTERN (9-0)

EASTERN HANCOCK (5-4) AT CENTERVILLE (8-1)

TRITON CENTRAL (7-2) AT UNION COUNTY (0-9)

SHENANDOAH (5-4) AT WINCHESTER (4-5)

SECTIONAL 39

GREENCASTLE (3-6) AT PIKE CENTRAL (3-6)

MITCHELL (1-8) AT BROWN COUNTY (5-4)

NORTH POSEY (7-2) AT SOUTH VERMILLION (9-0)

SULLIVAN (3-6) AT LINTON (7-2)

SECTIONAL 40

BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL (9-0) AT SWITZERLAND COUNTY (6-3)

EASTERN (PEKIN) (1-8) AT PAOLI (9-0)

TELL CITY (4-5) AT CRAWFORD COUNTY (1-8)

CLARKSVILLE (0-9) AT SALEM (4-5)

SECTIONAL 41

SOUTH NEWTON (3-6) AT NORTH JUDSON (9-0)

SOUTH CENTRAL (UNION MILLS) (2-7) AT CULVER (1-8)

BOWMAN ACADEMY (0-9) AT NORTH NEWTON (2-7)

WEST CENTRAL (6-3) AT LAVILLE (4-5)

SECTIONAL 42

PIONEER (6-3) AT CASTON (2-7)

CARROLL (FLORA) (9-0) AT FRONTIER (8-0)

NORTH WHITE (4-5) AT TRI-COUNTY (6-3)

TAYLOR (4-5) AT WINAMAC (4-4)

SECTIONAL 43

SOUTHWOOD (0-9) AT TRITON (6-3)

FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK (1-7) AT NORTH MIAMI (7-2)

FREMONT (3-6) AT NORTHFIELD (3-6)

SECTIONAL 44

TRI (6-3) AT WES-DEL (5-4)

UNION CITY (2-7) AT SOUTH ADAMS (4-5)

MONROE CENTRAL (6-3) AT MADISON-GRANT (8-1)

CAMBRIDGE CITY LINCOLN (1-8) AT HAGERSTOWN (3-6)

SECTIONAL 45

COVINGTON (5-4) AT ATTICA (0-9)

FOUNTAIN CENTRAL (4-5) AT SOUTH PUTNAM (7-2)

PARKE HERITAGE (1-8) AT RIVERTON PARKE (6-3)

NORTH VERMILLION (8-1) AT NORTH CENTRAL (FARMERSBURG) (3-6)

SECTIONAL 46

TRI-CENTRAL (2-7) AT INDIANAPOLIS TINDLEY (4-4)

SHERIDAN (4-5) AT CLINTON CENTRAL (3-6)

CLINTON PRAIRIE (4-5) AT IRVINGTON PREP (0-6)

SECTIONAL 47

MILAN (5-4) AT KNIGHTSTOWN (5-4)

WEST WASHINGTON (3-6) AT SOUTH DECATUR (4-4)

EASTERN GREENE (3-6) AT GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN (7-2)

NORTH DECATUR (8-1) AT EDINBURGH (0-9)

SECTIONAL 48

NORTH KNOX (2-7) AT NORTH DAVIESS (6-3)

PERRY CENTRAL (5-4) AT TECUMSEH (0-8)

PROVIDENCE (8-0) AT SPRINGS VALLEY (8-1)

SOUTH SPENCER (5-4) AT FOREST PARK (5-4)

INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL BOYS SOCCER

SEMI-STATE

SATURDAY OCTOBER 26

NORTH

1. KOKOMO

1:00 PM ET | CLASS 1A BOYS | BETHANY CHRISTIAN V COVENANT CHRISTIAN

3:30 PM ET | CLASS 2A BOYS | FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA LUTHERAN V PARK TUDOR

6:00 PM ET | CLASS 3A GIRLS | PENN V NOBLESVILLE

2. SOUTH BEND SAINT JOSEPH

1:00 PM ET | CLASS 1A GIRLS | WESTVIEW V FAITH CHRISTIAN

3:30 PM ET | CLASS 2A GIRLS | MISHAWAKA MARIAN V HANOVER CENTRAL

6:00 PM ET | CLASS 3A BOYS | CONCORD V HARRISON (WL)

SOUTH

3. EVANSVILLE NORTH

12:00 PM CT | CLASS 1A GIRLS | HERITAGE CHRISTIAN V PROVIDENCE

2:30 PM CT | CLASS 1A BOYS | GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN V NORTHEAST DUBOIS

5:00 PM CT | CLASS 2A BOYS | INDIANAPOLIS BISHOP CHATARD V EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL

4. MARTINSVILLE

1:00 PM ET | CLASS 3A GIRLS | EAST CENTRAL V CENTER GROVE

3:30 PM ET | CLASS 2A GIRLS | BREBEUF JESUIT PREPARATORY V LAWRENCEBURG

6:00 PM ET | CLASS 3A BOYS | SOUTHPORT V BLOOMINGTON SOUTH

INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS SOCCER SEMI-STATE

SATURDAY OCTOBER 26

NORTH

1. KOKOMO

1:00 PM ET | CLASS 1A BOYS | BETHANY CHRISTIAN V COVENANT CHRISTIAN

3:30 PM ET | CLASS 2A BOYS | FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA LUTHERAN V PARK TUDOR

6:00 PM ET | CLASS 3A GIRLS | PENN V NOBLESVILLE

2. SOUTH BEND SAINT JOSEPH

1:00 PM ET | CLASS 1A GIRLS | WESTVIEW V FAITH CHRISTIAN

3:30 PM ET | CLASS 2A GIRLS | MISHAWAKA MARIAN V HANOVER CENTRAL

6:00 PM ET | CLASS 3A BOYS | CONCORD V HARRISON (WL)

SOUTH

3. EVANSVILLE NORTH

12:00 PM CT | CLASS 1A GIRLS | HERITAGE CHRISTIAN V PROVIDENCE

2:30 PM CT | CLASS 1A BOYS | GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN V NORTHEAST DUBOIS

5:00 PM CT | CLASS 2A BOYS | INDIANAPOLIS BISHOP CHATARD V EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL

4. MARTINSVILLE

1:00 PM ET | CLASS 3A GIRLS | EAST CENTRAL V CENTER GROVE

3:30 PM ET | CLASS 2A GIRLS | BREBEUF JESUIT PREPARATORY V LAWRENCEBURG

6:00 PM ET | CLASS 3A BOYS | SOUTHPORT V BLOOMINGTON SOUTH

INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL REGIONALS

SATURDAY OCTOBER 26

NORTH

LAPORTE

4 PM CT | CLASS 1A | SOUTH NEWTON VS FREMONT

7 PM CT | CLASS 4A | CHESTERTON VS PENN

CULVER COMMUNITY

1 PM ET | CLASS 1A | CULVER COMMUNITY VS MARQUETTE CATHOLIC  

4 PM ET | CLASS 2A | JIMTOWN VS BOONE GROVE

NORTHWOOD

4 PM ET | CLASS 2A | WOODLAN VS LAKELAND

7 PM ET | CLASS 3A | NEW PRAIRIE VS NORTHWOOD

HOMESTEAD

1 PM ET | CLASS 4A | HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN VS HARRISON (WEST LAFAYETTE)

4 PM ET | CLASS 4A | HOMESTEAD VS CARROLL (FORT WAYNE)

SOUTHWOOD

4 PM ET | CLASS 2A | LAPEL VS SOUTHWOOD   

7 PM ET | CLASS 3A | ANGOLA VS WEST LAFAYETTE

NORWELL

1 PM ET | CLASS 1A | DALEVILLE VS FAITH CHRISTIAN

4 PM ET | CLASS 3A | HERITAGE VS NEW CASTLE

TWIN LAKES

4 PM ET | CLASS 3A | HAMMOND BISHOP NOLL VS ILLIANA CHRISTIAN

7 PM ET | CLASS 4A | CROWN POINT VS WARSAW

ELWOOD

1 PM ET | CLASS 1A | SETON CATHOLIC VS ROSSVILLE

4 PM ET | CLASS 2A | WESTERN BOONE VS MUNCIE BURRIS

SOUTH

GREENFIELD-CENTRAL

4 PM ET | CLASS 4A | CENTER GROVE VS BROWNSBURG

7 PM ET | CLASS 4A | YORKTOWN VS LAWRENCE NORTH

CASCADE

1 PM ET | CLASS 3A | NORTHVIEW VS RONCALLI

4 PM ET | CLASS 3A | INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL VS TRI-WEST HENDRICKS

MONROVIA

4 PM ET | CLASS 2A | WINCHESTER VS PARKE HERITAGE

7 PM ET | CLASS 2A | COVENANT CHRISTIAN (INDPLS.) VS INDIANAPOLIS SCECINA MEMORIAL

BLOOMINGTON NORTH

1 PM ET | CLASS 4A | FLOYD CENTRAL VS BLOOMINGTON NORTH

4 PM ET | CLASS 4A | FRANKLIN COMMUNITY VS CASTLE

LOOGOOTEE

4 PM ET | CLASS 1A | CHRISTIAN ACADEMY OF INDIANA VS LOOGOOTEE

7 PM ET | CLASS 1A | SHAKAMAK VS SPRINGS VALLEY

MITCHELL

1 PM ET | CLASS 2A | BARR-REEVE VS EASTERN (PEKIN)

4 PM ET | CLASS 3A | EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL VS SILVER CREEK

EDINBURGH

4 PM ET | CLASS 1A | INDIANAPOLIS DEAF VS INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN

7 PM ET | CLASS 1A | SOUTH DECATUR VS TRINITY LUTHERAN

JENNINGS COUNTY

1 PM ET | CLASS 2A | BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL VS TECUMSEH

4 PM ET | CLASS 3A | JASPER VS JENNINGS COUNTY

INDIANA CROSS COUNTRY REGIONALS

SATURDAY OCTOBER 26

1. NEW PRAIRIE: GIRLS 10:30 AM CT; BOYS 11:15 AM CT
FEEDER SECTIONALS: HIGHLAND, CHESTERTON, NEW PRAIRIE, ELKHART, RENSSELAER CENTRAL

2. NEW HAVEN (@ HUNTINGTON UNIVERSITY): 10:30 AM ET; BOYS 11:15 AM ET
FEEDER SECTIONALS: MANCHESTER, WEST NOBLE, NEW HAVEN, DELTA, MARION

3. BROWNSBURG: GIRLS 10:30 AM ET; BOYS 11:15 AM ET
FEEDER SECTIONALS: LOGANSPORT, HARRISON (WEST LAFAYETTE), NORTH CENTRAL (INDIANAPOLIS), TERRE HAUTE NORTH VIGO, BEN DAVIS

4. SHELBYVILLE: GIRLS 10:30 AM ET; BOYS 11:15 AM ET
FEEDER SECTIONALS: NOBLESVILLE, MT. VERNON (FORTVILLE), RUSHVILLE CONSOLIDATED, SHELBYVILLE, SOUTHWESTERN (HANOVER)

5. EVANSVILLE MATER DEI (ANGEL MOUNDS): 10:30 AM CT; BOYS 11:15 AM CT
FEEDER SECTIONALS: BROWN COUNTY, BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE, CRAWFORD COUNTY, JASPER, EVANSVILLE MATER DEI

COLLEGE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE WEEK 9

THURSDAY, OCT. 22

7:30 P.M. | SAM HOUSTON AT FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL | ESPNU

8 P.M. | UTEP AT LOUISIANA TECH | CBSSN

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 23

7 P.M. | LIBERTY AT KENNESAW STATE | CBSSN

7:30 P.M. | MIDDLE TENNESSEE AT JACKSONVILLE STATE | ESPN2

THURSDAY, OCT. 24

7 P.M. | GEORGIA SOUTHERN AT OLD DOMINION | ESPN2

7:30 P.M. | SYRACUSE AT NO. 19 PITT | ESPN

FRIDAY, OCT. 25

7 P.M. | YALE AT PENN | ESPNU

7:30 P.M. | LOUISVILLE AT BOSTON COLLEGE | ESPN2

10:30 P.M. | NO. 17 BOISE STATE AT UNLV | CBSSN

11 P.M. | RUTGERS AT USC | FOX

SATURDAY, OCT. 26

12 P.M. | NEBRASKA AT NO. 4 OHIO STATE | FOX

12 P.M. | NO. 12 NOTRE DAME VS. NO. 24 NAVY (IN EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY) | ABC

12 P.M. | WASHINGTON AT NO. 13 INDIANA | BIG TEN NETWORK

12 P.M. | OKLAHOMA AT NO. 18 OLE MISS | ESPN

12 P.M. | GEORGIA TECH AT VIRGINIA TECH | ACC NETWORK

12 P.M. | NORTH CAROLINA AT VIRGINIA | CW NETWORK

12 P.M. | CHARLOTTE AT MEMPHIS | ESPNU

12 P.M. | TULANE AT NORTH TEXAS | ESPN2

12 P.M. | BUFFALO AT OHIO | CBSSN

12 P.M. | RICHMOND AT BRYANT | FLOSPORTS

12 P.M. | VALPARAISO AT MARIST | FLOSPORTS

12 P.M. | CORNELL AT BROWN | ESPN+

12 P.M. | CENTRAL CONNECTICUT AT LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY | ESPN+

12 P.M. | FORDHAM AT LEHIGH | ESPN+

12 P.M. | MERCYHURST AT SACRED HEART | ESPN+

12:45 P.M. | ARKANSAS AT MISSISSIPPI STATE | SEC NETWORK

1 P.M. | GEORGIA STATE AT APPALACHIAN STATE | ESPN+

1 P.M. | MAINE AT RHODE ISLAND | FLOSPORTS

1 P.M. | TOWSON AT MONMOUTH | FLOSPORTS

1 P.M. | SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AT INDIANA STATE | ESPN+

1 P.M. | BUTLER AT DAVIDSON | ESPN+

1 P.M. | PRESBYTERIAN AT STETSON | ESPN+

1 P.M. | COLGATE AT MERRIMACK | ESPN+

1:30 P.M. | DARTMOUTH AT COLUMBIA | ESPN+

1:30 P.M. | HOLY CROSS AT LAFAYETTE | ESPN+

2 P.M. | CENTRAL MICHIGAN AT MIAMI (OHIO) | ESPN+

2 P.M. | TEMPLE AT EAST CAROLINA | ESPN+

2 P.M. | ELON AT HAMPTON | FLOSPORTS

2 P.M. | SOUTHERN UTAH AT WEST GEORGIA | ESPN+

2 P.M. | EAST TENNESSEE STATE AT WOFFORD | ESPN+

2 P.M. | NORTH DAKOTA STATE AT MURRAY STATE | ESPN+

2 P.M. | SAMFORD AT THE CITADEL | ESPN+

2 P.M. | HOWARD AT NORFOLK STATE | ESPN+

2 P.M. | BUCKNELL AT GEORGETOWN | ESPN+

2:30 P.M. | CHARLESTON SOUTHERN AT TENNESSEE TECH | ESPN+

3 P.M. | UALBANY AT DELAWARE | FLOSPORTS

3 P.M. | UTAH TECH AT EASTERN KENTUCKY | ESPN+

3 P.M. | EASTERN ILLINOIS AT UT MARTIN | ESPN+

3 P.M. | GARDNER-WEBB AT SE MISSOURI STATE | ESPN+

3 P.M. | WESTERN ILLINOIS AT LINDENWOOD | ESPN+

3 P.M. | LAMAR AT NORTHWESTERN STATE | ESPN+

3 P.M. | MONTANA AT NORTHERN COLORADO | ESPN+

3 P.M. | PRINCETON AT HARVARD | ESPN+

3 P.M. | TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE AT PRAIRIE VIEW A&M | ESPN+

3:30 P.M. | NO. 21 MISSOURI AT NO. 15 ALABAMA | ABC

3:30 P.M. | NO. 11 BYU AT UCF | ESPN

3:30 P.M. | NO. 20 ILLINOIS AT NO. 1 OREGON | CBS/PARAMOUNT+

3:30 P.M. | NORTHWESTERN AT IOWA | BIG TEN NETWORK

3:30 P.M. | MARYLAND AT MINNESOTA | FS1

3:30 P.M. | RICE AT UCONN | CBSSN

3:30 P.M. | WAKE FOREST AT STANFORD | ACC NETWORK

3:30 P.M. | OKLAHOMA STATE AT BAYLOR | ESPN+

3:30 P.M. | SOUTHERN MISS AT JAMES MADISON | ESPN+

3:30 P.M. | EASTERN MICHIGAN AT AKRON | ESPN+

3:30 P.M. | NORTHERN ILLINOIS AT BALL STATE | ESPN+

3:30 P.M. | BOWLING GREEN AT TOLEDO | ESPN+

3:30 P.M. | KENT STATE AT WESTERN MICHIGAN | ESPN+

3:30 P.M. | WAGNER AT UMASS | ESPN+

3:30 P.M. | UTSA AT TULSA | ESPN+

3:30 P.M. | NEW HAMPSHIRE AT VILLANOVA | FLOSPORTS

3:30 P.M. | WILLIAM & MARY AT STONY BROOK | FLOSPORTS

3:30 P.M. | WESTERN CAROLINA AT MERCER | ESPN+

3:30 P.M. | ALABAMA STATE VS. ALABAMA A&M (IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA) | ESPNU

3:30 P.M. | DELAWARE STATE AT SOUTH CAROLINA STATE | ESPN+

3:30 P.M. | MORGAN STATE AT NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL | ESPN+

4 P.M. | OREGON STATE AT CAL | ESPN2

4 P.M. | NORTH CAROLINA A&T AT CAMPBELL | FLOSPORTS

4 P.M. | TARLETON STATE AT AUSTIN PEAY | ESPN+

4 P.M. | VMI AT CHATTANOOGA | ESPN+

4 P.M. | MCNEESE AT NICHOLLS | ESPN+

4:15 P.M. | NO. 5 TEXAS AT NO. 25 VANDERBILT | SEC NETWORK

5 P.M. | NEW MEXICO AT COLORADO STATE | ALTITUDE SPORTS/MW NETWORK

5 P.M. | UL MONROE AT SOUTH ALABAMA | ESPN+

5 P.M. | NORTH ALABAMA AT CENTRAL ARKANSAS | ESPN+

5 P.M. | MISSOURI STATE AT UNI | ESPN+

6 P.M. | SACRAMENTO STATE AT IDAHO STATE | ESPN+

6 P.M. | NORTH DAKOTA AT YOUNGSTOWN STATE | ESPN+

7 P.M. | FLORIDA STATE AT NO. 6 MIAMI (FLA.) | ESPN

7 P.M. | UTAH STATE AT WYOMING | CBSSN

7 P.M. | TROY AT ARKANSAS STATE | ESPN+

7 P.M. | UIW AT SE LOUISIANA | ESPN+

7 P.M. | SOUTHERN AT FLORIDA A&M | ESPN+

7 P.M. | HOUSTON CHRISTIAN AT STEPHEN F. AUSTIN | ESPN+

7:30 P.M. | NO. 8 LSU AT NO. 14 TEXAS A&M | ABC

7:30 P.M. | NO. 3 PENN STATE AT WISCONSIN | NBC/PEACOCK

7:30 P.M. | MICHIGAN STATE AT MICHIGAN | BIG TEN NETWORK

7:30 P.M. | SOUTH DAKOTA AT SOUTH DAKOTA STATE | ESPNU

7:45 P.M. | AUBURN AT KENTUCKY | SEC NETWORK

8 P.M. | KANSAS AT NO. 16 KANSAS STATE | ESPN2

8 P.M. | NO. 22 SMU AT DUKE | ACC NETWORK

8 P.M. | SAN JOSE STATE AT FRESNO STATE | TRUTV/MAX

9 P.M. | EASTERN WASHINGTON AT IDAHO | ESPN+

10:15 P.M. | CINCINNATI AT COLORADO | ESPN

10:30 P.M. | WASHINGTON STATE AT SAN DIEGO STATE | CBSSN

MIDNIGHT | NEVADA AT HAWAI’I | SPECTRUM SPORTS PPV

WEST VIRGINIA AT ARIZONA

UTAH AT HOUSTON

TEXAS TECH AT TCU

INDIANA HOOSIERS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

INDIANA 31 FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL 7

INDIANA 77 WESTERN ILLINOIS 3

INDIANA 42 UCLA 13

INDIANA 52 CHARLOTTE 14

INDIANA 42 MARYLAND 28

INDIANA 41 NORTHWESTERN 24

INDIANA 56 NEBRASKA 7

OCTOBER 26 VS. WASHINGTON TBA

NOVEMBER 2 AT MICHIGAN STATE TBA

NOVEMBER 9 VS. MICHIGAN TBA

NOVEMBER 23 AT OHIO STATE TBA

NOVEMBER 30 VS. PURDUE TBA

PURDUE BOILERMAKERS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

PURDUE 49 INDIANA STATE 0

NOTRE DAME 66 PURDUE 7

OREGON STATE 38 PURDUE 21

NEBRASKA 28 PURDUE 10

WISCONSIN 52 PURDUE 6

ILLINOIS 50 PURDUE 49 OT

OREGON 35 PURDUE 0

NOVEMBER 2 VS. NORTHWESTERN TBA

NOVEMBER 9 AT OHIO STATE TBA

NOVEMBER 16 VS. PENN STATE TBA

NOVEMBER 22 AT MICHIGAN STATE 8:00

NOVEMBER 30 AT INDIANA TBA

NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

NOTRE DAME 23 TEXAS A&M 13

NORTHERN ILLINOIS 16 NOTRE DAME 14

NOTRE DAME 66 PURDUE 7

NOTRE DAME 28 MIAMI OH 3

NOTRE DAME 31 LOUISVILLE 24

NOTRE DAME 49 STANFORD 7

NOTRE DAME 31 GEORGIA TECH 14

OCTOBER 26 AT NAVY 12:00

NOVEMBER 9 VS. FLORIDA STATE 7:30

NOVEMBER 16 VS. VIRGINIA 3:30

NOVEMBER 23 AT ARMY 7:00 (YANKEE STADIUM)

NOVEMBER 30 AT USC TBA

BUTLER BULLDOGS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

BUTLER 40 UPPER IOWA 7

BUTLER 19 MURRAY STATE 17

BUTLER 53 HANOVER 0

BUTLER 63 VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY-LYNCHBURG 0

BUTLER 40 MOREHEAD STATE 6

DRAKE 27 BUTLER 17

DAYTON 21 BUTLER 14

OCTOBER 26 AT DAVIDSON 1:00

NOVEMBER 2 VS. STETSON 1:00

NOVEMBER 9 AT VALPO 1:00 CT

NOVEMBER 16 VS. ST. THOMAS 1:00

NOVEMBER 23 AT PRESBYTERIAN 1:00

BALL STATE CARDINALS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

BALL STATE 42 MISSOURI STATE 34

MIAMI FL 62 BALL STATE 0

CENTRAL MICHIGAN 37 BALL STATE 34

JAMES MADISON 63 BALL STATE 7

WESTERN MICHIGAN 45 BALL STATE 42

BALL STATE 37 KENT STATE 35

VANDERBILT 24 BALL STATE 14

OCTOBER 26 VS. NORTHERN ILLINOIS TBA

NOVEMBER 5 VS. MIAMI OH TBA

NOVEMBER 12 AT BUFFALO 7:00

NOVEMBER 23 VS. BOWLING GREEN TBA

NOVEMBER 29 AT OHIO TBA

INDIANA STATE SYCAMORES FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

PURDUE 49 INDIANA STATE 0

EASTERN ILLINOIS 27 INDIANA STATE 20

INDIANA STATE 24 DAYTON 13

HOUSTON CHRISTIAN 27 INDIANA STATE 24

YOUNGSTOWN STATE 21 INDIANA STATE 14

INDIANA STATE 31 MURRAY STATE 27

MISSOURI STATE 46 INDIANA STATE 21

OCTOBER 26 VS. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 1:00

NOVEMBER 2 VS. NORTH DAKOTA 1:00

NOVEMBER 9 AT SOUTH DAKOTA 2:00

COLTS SCHEDULE

HOUSTON 29 INDIANAPOLIS 27

GREEN BAY 16 INDIANAPOLIS 10

INDIANAPOLIS 21 CHICAGO 16

INDIANAPOLIS 27 PITTSBURGH 24

JACKSONVILLE 37 INDIANAPOLIS 34

INDIANAPOLIS 20 TENNESSEE 17

INDIANAPOLIS 16 MIAMI 10

OCT. 27: AT HOUSTON, 1 P.M., CBS

NOV. 3: AT MINNESOTA, 1 P.M., CBS

NOV. 10: VS. BUFFALO, 1 P.M., CBS

NOV. 17: AT N.Y. JETS, 8:20 P.M., NBC PEACOCK

NOV. 24: VS. DETROIT, 1 P.M., FOX

DEC. 1: AT NEW ENGLAND, 1 P.M., CBS

DEC. 15: AT DENVER, 4:25 P.M., CBS

DEC. 22: VS. TENNESSEE, 1 P.M., CBS

DEC. 29: AT N.Y. GIANTS, TBD

JAN. 5: VS. JACKSONVILLE, TBD

WEEK 8 SCHEDULE

THURSDAY, OCT. 24

MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT LOS ANGELES RAMS (8:15P PRIME VIDEO)

SUNDAY, OCT. 27

BALTIMORE RAVENS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (1:00P CBS)

TENNESSEE TITANS AT DETROIT LIONS (1:00P FOX)

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS AT HOUSTON TEXANS (1:00P CBS)

GREEN BAY PACKERS AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (1:00P FOX)

ARIZONA CARDINALS AT MIAMI DOLPHINS (1:00P FOX)

NEW YORK JETS AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (1:00P CBS)

ATLANTA FALCONS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (1:00P FOX)

CHICAGO BEARS AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (1:00P CBS)

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS AT LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (4:05P FOX)

BUFFALO BILLS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (4:05P FOX)

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT CINCINNATI BENGALS (4:25P CBS)

CAROLINA PANTHERS AT DENVER BRONCOS (4:25P CBS)

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (4:25P CBS)

DALLAS COWBOYS AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (8:20P NBC)

MONDAY, OCT. 28

NEW YORK GIANTS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (8:15P ESPN/ABC)

WEEK 9 SCHEDULE

THURSDAY, OCT. 31

HOUSTON TEXANS AT NEW YORK JETS (8:15P PRIME VIDEO)

SUNDAY, NOV. 3

DALLAS COWBOYS AT ATLANTA FALCONS (1:00P FOX)

DENVER BRONCOS AT BALTIMORE RAVENS (1:00P CBS)

MIAMI DOLPHINS AT BUFFALO BILLS (1:00P CBS)

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (1:00P CBS)

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS AT CINCINNATI BENGALS (1:00P FOX)

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (1:00P CBS)

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS (1:00P CBS)

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS AT NEW YORK GIANTS (1:00P FOX)

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS AT TENNESSEE TITANS (1:00P FOX)

CHICAGO BEARS AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (4:05P CBS)

DETROIT LIONS AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (4:25P FOX)

LOS ANGELES RAMS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (4:25P FOX)

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (8:20P NBC)

MONDAY, NOV. 4

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (8:15P ESPN)

MLB PLAYOFF SCHEDULE

WORLD SERIES

FRIDAY, OCT. 25

GAME 1: NYY @ LAD (FOX)

SATURDAY, OCT. 26

GAME 2: NYY @ LAD (FOX)

MONDAY, OCT. 28

GAME 3: LAD @ NYY (FOX)

TUESDAY, OCT. 29

GAME 4: LAD @ NYY (FOX)

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 30

GAME 5^: LAD @ NYY (FOX)

FRIDAY, NOV. 1

GAME 6^: NYY @ LAD (FOX)

SATURDAY, NOV. 2

GAME 7^: NYY @ LAD (FOX)

(^IF NECESSARY)

NBA SCORES

BOSTON 132 NEW YORK 109

LA LAKERS 110 MINNESOTA 103

NHL SCORES

WASHINGTON 4 PHILADELPHIA 1

MINNESOTA 5 FLORIDA 1

TAMPA BAY 8 NEW JERSEY 5

BUFFALO 4 DALLAS 2

NY RANGERS 7 MONTRÉAL 2

COLUMBUS 6 TORONTO 2

DETROIT 1 NY ISLANDERS 0

WINNIPEG 3 ST. LOUIS 2

VANCOUVER 6 CHICAGO 3

COLORADO 3 SEATTLE 2

NASHVILLE 4 BOSTON 0

CAROLINA 3 EDMONTON 2 OT

OTTAWA 4 UTAH 0

CALGARY 4 PITTSBURGH 3 SO

ANAHEIM 3 SAN JOSE 1

VEGAS 6 LA KINGS 1

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER PLAYOFF SCHEDULE

ALL TIMES EDT

WILD CARD

EASTERN CONFERENCE

TUESDAY, OCT. 22:

ATLANTA 2 MONTREAL 2 (ATLANTA WINS ON PK’S)

WESTERN CONFERENCE

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 23: VANCOUVER VS. PORTLAND, 10:30 P.M.

FIRST ROUND

BEST OF 3

X-IF NECESSARY

EASTERN CONFERENCE

CINCINNATI VS. NEW YORK CITY

MONDAY, OCT. 28: NEW YORK CITY AT CINCINNATI, 6:45 P.M.

SATURDAY, NOV. 2: CINCINNATI AT NEW YORK CITY, TBD

X-SUNDAY, NOV. 9: NEW YORK CITY AT CINCINNATI, 4 P.M.

ORLANDO VS. CHARLOTTE FC

FRIDAY, OCT. 25: CHARLOTTE FC AT ORLANDO, 7:40 P.M.

FRIDAY, NOV. 1: ORLANDO AT CHARLOTTE FC, 7:40 P.M.

X-SATURDAY, NOV. 9: CHARLOTTE FC AT ORLANDO, 6:10 P.M.

COLUMBUS VS. NEW YORK

TUESDAY, OCT. 29: NEW YORK AT COLUMBUS, 6:45 P.M.

SUNDAY, NOV. 3: COLUMBUS AT NEW YORK, 4:40 P.M.

X-SUNDAY, NOV. 10: NEW YORK AT COLUMBUS, 5:10 P.M.

MIAMI VS. MONTREAL/ATLANTA WINNER

FRIDAY, OCT. 25: MONTREAL/ATLANTA WINNER AT MIAMI, 8:45 P.M.

SATURDAY, NOV. 2: MIAMI AT MONTREAL/ATLANTA WINNER, 7:10 P.M.

X-SATURDAY, NOV. 9: MONTREAL/ATLANTA WINNER AT MIAMI, 8:10 P.M.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

SEATTLE VS. HOUSTON

MONDAY, OCT. 28: HOUSTON AT SEATTLE, 9 P.M.

SUNDAY, NOV. 3: SEATTLE AT HOUSTON, 6:30 P.M.

X-SUNDAY, NOV. 10: HOUSTON AT SEATTLE, 7 P.M.

LOS ANGELES FC VS. VANCOUVER/PORTLAND WINNER

FRIDAY, OCT. 25: VANCOUVER/PORTLAND WINNER AT LOS ANGELES FC, 9:55 P.M.

SUNDAY, NOV. 3: LOS ANGELES FC AT VANCOUVER/PORTLAND WINNER, 8:55 P.M.

X-FRIDAY, NOV. 8: VANCOUVER/PORTLAND WINNER AT LOS ANGELES FC, 11:10 P.M.

REAL SALT LAKE VS. MINNESOTA

TUESDAY, OCT. 29: MINNESOTA AT REAL SALT LAKE, 9 P.M.

SATURDAY, NOV. 2: REAL SALT LAKE AT MINNESOTA, 9:10 P.M.

X-FRIDAY, NOV. 8: MINNESOTA AT REAL SALT LAKE, 9:10 P.M.

LA GALAXY VS. COLORADO

FRIDAY, OCT. 25: COLORADO AT LA GALAXY, 11:10 P.M.

FRIDAY, NOV. 1: LA GALAXY AT COLORADO, 9:40 P.M.

X-SATURDAY, NOV. 9: COLORADO AT LA GALAXY, 10:10 P.M.

SEMIFINALS

NOV. 23 – NOV. 24

EASTERN CONFERENCE

LOS ANGELES FC/VANCOUVER_PORTLAND WINNER VS. SEATTLE/HOUSTON WINNER, TBD

REAL SALT LAKE/MINNESOTA WINNER VS. LA GALAXY/COLORADO WINNER, TBD

WESTERN CONFERENCE

MIAMI/MONTREAL_ATLANTA WINNER VS. ORLANDO/CHARLOTTE FC WINNER, TBD

CINCINNATI/NEW YORK CITY WINNER VS. COLUMBUS/NEW YORK WINNER, TBD

CONFERENCE FINAL

NOV. 30 – DEC. 1

SEMIFINALS WINNERS, TBD

CHAMPIONSHIP

SATURDAY, DEC. 7

CONFERENCE FINAL WINNERS, 4 P.M.

TOP NATIONAL SPORTS HEADLINES/NEWS RELEASES

BASEBALL NEWS

LEGENDARY DODGERS PITCHER FERNANDO VALENZUELA DIES AT 63

Fernando Valenzuela, who sparked a fan phenomenon known as Fernandomania as a rookie and evolved into a legendary Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher, died Tuesday evening at age 63.

The Dodgers announced Valenzuela died in a Los Angeles hospital but gave no details. Valenzuela, who won one Cy Young Award and finished in the top five in voting three other times, had been a Spanish-language announcer on Dodgers games for more than two decades before leaving the booth earlier this month “to focus on his health.”

Valenzuela pitched for the Dodgers from 1980-90, then had stints with the then-California Angels (1991), Baltimore Orioles (1993), Philadelphia Phillies (1994), San Diego Padres (1995-97) and St. Louis Cardinals (1997). He finished with a 173-153 record, a 3.54 ERA and 2,074 strikeouts in 2,930 innings over 453 games (424 starts).

“On behalf of the Dodger organization, we profoundly mourn the passing of Fernando,” Dodgers president Stan Kasten said in a statement. “He is one of the most influential Dodgers ever and belongs on the Mount Rushmore of franchise heroes. He galvanized the fan base with the Fernandomania season of 1981 and has remained close to our hearts ever since, not only as a player but also as a broadcaster. He has left us all too soon. Our deepest condolences go out to his wife Linda and his family.”

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement, “Fernando Valenzuela was one of the most impactful players of his generation. … Following his memorable career, Fernando was an outstanding ambassador for baseball. He consistently supported the growth of the game through the World Baseball Classic and at MLB events across his home country. …

“Fernando will always remain a beloved figure in Dodger history and a special source of pride for the millions of Latino fans he inspired.”

A portly Mexican-born left-hander with a funky pitching delivery, Valenzuela became a celebrity on both sides of the United States-Mexico border in 1981. He drew the Opening Day start and fired a shutout against the Houston Astros.

By mid-May, Valenzuela was 8-0 with a 0.50 ERA, five shutouts and eight complete games through eight starts. He ended the year 13-7 with a 2.48 ERA and eight shutouts in 25 starts, and he became the first — and still only — pitcher ever to win the Rookie of Year and Cy Young awards in the same season.

Valenzuela’s appearances drew huge crowds around the majors as fans flocked to see him.

Capping off a magical season, Valenzuela went 3-1 with a 2.21 ERA in five postseason starts, leading the Dodgers to a World Series championship.

He was an All-Star in each of his first six full major league seasons, and he threw a no-hitter against the St. Louis Cardinals on June 29, 1990.

Manfred announced that MLB would honor Valenzuela’s memory during the World Series, which starts Friday when the Dodgers host the New York Yankees — a rematch of the 1981 Series in which Valenzuela starred.

NBA NEWS

NBA THINGS TO KNOW: AS SEASON BEGINS, CELTICS CHASING SPURS FOR ALL-TIME BEST RECORD

The Boston Celtics begin this season as the NBA champions. And sometime this season, the Celtics might take over the top spot on another league list.

In the NBA’s all-time won-lost standings, among active franchises, the San Antonio Spurs enter this season with the best record. But the Celtics have a path to passing the Spurs for the top spot in the coming months.

San Antonio’s winning percentage is .596. Boston’s winning percentage is .594.

Let’s assume San Antonio goes 41-41 this season. If that happens, Boston would need to go only 47-35 to jump the Spurs in the all-time standings.

The Los Angeles Lakers enter the season third among all-time teams, with a .591 winning percentage, meaning they also have a mathematical chance of getting to the No. 1 or No. 2 spot this season.

In some order, the Spurs, Celtics and Lakers probably will be the top three teams for a while. Utah enters this season fourth on the all-time list, with a .540 winning percentage.

The Spurs have ended each of the last 10 seasons — 2014-15 through 2023-24 — as the leader in winning percentage among active NBA teams.

Boston hasn’t ended a season atop the all-time standings since 1996-97. The Lakers took over the following year and held that spot for 17 seasons, before San Antonio climbed to No. 1.

Team milestones looming

Among the team regular-season milestones that are within reach this season:

—New York (26 wins shy) and Golden State (31 wins shy) are both closing in on 3,000 all-time victories. Only Boston, the Lakers and Philadelphia have gotten to that mark.

—Indiana needs 45 or more wins this season to get back to the .500 mark all-time. The Pacers enter this year 1,930-1,938 (so, if they ever get eight over .500 this season, they’d be at .500 all-time).

—Denver is 46 wins from 2,000.

—Memphis is two wins from 1,000.

—Detroit will play its 6,000th game on Friday in Cleveland, its second game of this season.

Jordan, Wilt within Luka’s reach

Dallas’ Luka Doncic averaged 33.9 points in 70 games last season. That pushed his career average up to 28.7 per game, the third best in NBA history.

He might move closer to the top spots this season.

If Doncic duplicates his numbers from last season again in 2024-25, he’ll inch closer to No. 1 Michael Jordan (30.12 per game) and No. 2 Wilt Chamberlain (30.07 per game).

And if he stays at last season’s pace, he’ll pass Jordan and Chamberlain for the best scoring average sometime in the 2026-27 season.

KD, 30K

Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns is closing in on 30,000 points in his career, needing 1,076 points to reach the milestone. He would be the eighth player in NBA history to get there.

And he would be the most efficient 30,000-point scorer ever.

Durant enters this season averaging 1.46 points per shot attempt, which is better than each of the seven players ahead of him on the all-time scoring list — LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Jordan, Dirk Nowitzki and Chamberlain.

His true shooting percentage (the advanced stat that measures shooting efficiency) of 61.9% is well ahead of the seven players ahead of him as well.

Happy 20th, CP3

Chris Paul is entering his first season with the San Antonio Spurs and 20th season overall. James will tie Vince Carter for the most-seasons-played mark with 22, and Paul will become the 11th player in NBA history with at least 20 seasons.

“It’s surreal, actually,” Paul said. “It’s an unbelievable blessing. … I mean, a lot of my teammates are head coaches now. So, I’m grateful to not only still be playing, but playing at a high level. It’s fun.”

Paul is No. 3 on the all-time assists and steals list. He’s within reach of Jason Kidd, No. 2 on both those lists. Kidd retired with 12,091 assists and 2,684 steals; Paul enters this season with 11,894 assists and 2,614 steals.

Coaching milestones

Miami’s Erik Spoelstra is entering his 17th season as coach of the Heat, the third-longest consecutive tenure with one team in NBA history behind San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich (entering his 29th year) and Jerry Sloan (who spent 23 seasons with Utah).

Spoelstra is passing Red Auerbach, who coached Boston for 16 seasons.

Among other milestones in play this year:

—Milwaukee’s Doc Rivers is 41 wins away from tying Phil Jackson (1,155) for No. 7 on the all-time list.

—Indiana’s Rick Carlisle’s first win this season will be his 944th, tying Bill Fitch for 11th all-time.

—Carlisle and Rivers are scheduled to have four matchups this season, which would push their total to 92 head-to-head games, including playoffs. That would be the seventh most by coaches in NBA history. Gene Shue and Red Holzman faced off 109 times, Rick Adelman and Sloan 104, Auerbach and Alex Hannum 100, Don Nelson and Sloan 98, Shue and Jack Ramsay 97, and Auerbach and Al Cervi 95.

—Spoelstra is 10 wins behind No. 18 Nate McMillan (760) and 34 wins behind No. 17 Shue (784).

—Phoenix’s Mike Budenholzer is 16 wins from 500.

—Popovich, the all-time wins leader, is 12 away from 1,400.

Speaking of Pop …

There have been 350 head coaches all-time entering this season, according to Sportradar. Popovich has coached against 170 of them — nearly half the list — and is set to add at least three more to his all-time coaching opponent matchup club this season.

He’ll face the Lakers’ JJ Redick for the first time (as a coach, anyway; Redick played 29 regular-season games and seven playoff games against Popovich’s Spurs) on Nov. 15. Popovich’s first game against new Brooklyn coach Jordi Fernandez is a road contest on Dec. 27, and he’ll go up against new Charlotte coach Charles Lee for the first time on Feb. 7.

Moving on up

A look at some players who could move up the all-time lists this season:

—James Harden, Los Angeles Clippers: He starts 20th at 25,885 points and he’s probably going to climb quickly toward the top 10. With just 826 points this season, he would pass No. 19 Kevin Garnett, No. 18 John Havlicek, No. 17 Paul Pierce, No. 16 Tim Duncan, No. 14 Dominique Wilkins and No. 13 Oscar Robertson. Harden is also 33 3-pointers away from No. 2 Ray Allen (2,973) on the all-time list.

—Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors: The all-time 3-point king is 1,332 points from 25,000 for his career. He would be the 10th player to score that many points with just one franchise.

— DeMar DeRozan, Sacramento Kings: He’s 1,418 points away from 25,000.

—Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks: The perennial MVP candidate needs 1,498 points to hit the 20,000 mark.

—Klay Thompson, Dallas Mavericks: He needs 19 3-pointers for 2,500 in his career.

Who’s No. 1? It always changes

In the Western Conference, good luck guessing which team will end up as the No. 1 seed in the playoffs.

This is unprecedented in the current playoff format: There have been seven different No. 1 seeds in the last seven seasons. Houston had that spot in 2018, Golden State in 2019, the Lakers in 2020, Utah in 2021, Phoenix in 2022, Denver in 2023 and Oklahoma City this past season.

Westbrook 1 away from 200

Denver’s Russell Westbrook is one triple-double away from 200 in his regular-season career. But to stress how unusual his triple-double record is — he has 69 more than new Nuggets teammate Nikola Jokic, the MVP in three of the last four seasons — consider these, well, nuggets:

—He has more than every other NBA team does except the Lakers (211). The Nuggets have 198 for No. 2 on the list.

—Westbrook has more triple-doubles than players with Charlotte, Orlando, Atlanta, New York, Memphis and Utah have posted combined (190).

CELTICS POUR IN RECORD-TYING 29 TREYS, ROUT KNICKS IN OPENER

The Boston Celtics lifted their championship banner pregame, then tied an NBA record by making 29 3-pointers Tuesday night en route to a 132-109 victory over the visiting New York Knicks in the opening game of the NBA season.

Boston’s Jayson Tatum connected on 8 of 11 shots from behind the 3-point arc and scored a game-high 37 points. He also had 10 assists. Seven Celtics made at least one 3-pointer in the victory.

The Celtics tied the trey record set by the Milwaukee Bucks, who made 29 3-pointers against the Miami Heat Dec. 29, 2020.

Boston’s 29th 3-point came from Al Horford and gave the hosts a 126-93 lead with 8:54 to play. The Celtics missed their last 13 3-point attempts.

The Celtics’ previous franchise record for made 3-pointers in a game was 27, which came against the Knicks on Nov. 5, 2022. Boston shot 50.5 percent from the floor on Tuesday and 47.5 percent from 3-point territory (29 of 61).

Five other Celtics joined Tatum in double figures. Derrick White tossed in 24, Jaylen Brown had 23, Jrue Holiday scored 18, Horford finished with 11 and Sam Hauser added 10. White made six 3-pointers, and Brown had five. Brown and Xavier Tillman led Boston with seven rebounds apiece.

Jalen Brunson and Miles McBride each scored 22 points for New York. Karl-Anthony Towns had 22 points and seven rebounds in his debut for the Knicks, and Mikal Bridges added 16 points. Josh Hart put up 12 points, and Cameron Payne had 11.

The Knicks shot 55.1 percent from the field in the loss, 36.7 percent from long range (11 of 30).

The Celtics led 43-24 after one quarter, 74-55 at halftime and 113-87 entering the fourth.

Boston made 10 of its 17 3-point attempts in the opening quarter and tied a franchise record for made 3-pointers in a half by connecting on 17 shots (on 32 attempts) from behind the arc in the first two quarters. The Knicks trailed by 19 at halftime despite shooting 57.9 percent from the field.

The Celtics’ largest lead in the game was 35 points. The Knicks’ lone lead came at 6-5 in the opening minutes.

LEBRON, BRONNY JAMES TAKE FLOOR AS LAKERS TOP WOLVES

LeBron James scored 16 points in 35 minutes while also making NBA history family style as the Los Angeles Lakers earned a 110-103 victory over the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday in the season opener for both teams.

James took the floor with his son Bronny with four minutes remaining in the first half, and by sharing the court for the next 2 minutes, 41 seconds, they became the first father-son duo to play in a game in league history.

Anthony Davis dominated with 36 points and 16 rebounds while Rui Hachimura added 18 points for the Lakers, who earned a victory in the debut of coach JJ Redick. Austin Reaves had 12 points and Jaxson Hayes added 10.

Anthony Edwards scored 27 points and Rudy Gobert added 13 points and 14 rebounds for the new-look Timberwolves, who saw both Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo make their debuts with the team. Both were acquired from the New York Knicks in an offseason trade for Karl-Anthony Towns.

Randle scored 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds and DiVincenzo added 10 points for Minnesota, which finished third in the Western Conference last season and made it to the Western Conference finals.

The Timberwolves held a 23-22 lead after the first quarter, when the teams combined to attempt 20 shots from 3-point range. The Lakers went 2-for-11, while the Wolves were 4-for-9.

Los Angeles began to take control in the second quarter, going on a 17-2 run for a 45-29 lead with 6:14 remaining before halftime. The James duo soon checked into the game, and LeBron James missed a 3-point attempt four seconds later.

Bronny James was credited with a rebound while missing a controlled tip with 3:24 remaining, and he missed a 3-point try with 1:38 left after a pass from his father.

Down by as many as 17 points in the third quarter, Minnesota pulled within 85-81 with 10:38 remaining in the fourth. However, the Lakers fashioned a 99-88 lead with 5:02 left on a jumper from Hachimura near the free-throw line.

Los Angeles sealed the victory when Davis blocked DiVincenzo’s dunk attempt with 2:43 left and Reaves converted a layup on the other end for a 105-95 lead with 2:37 remaining.

The Lakers finished just 5-for-30 (16.7 percent) from 3-point range, while the Wolves were 13-for-41 (31.7 percent). Los Angeles scored 72 points in the paint.

REPORT: WOLVES GIVE RUDY GOBERT 3-YEAR, $110M EXTENSION

Rudy Gobert, who tied an NBA record last season with his fourth Defensive Player of the Year award, is staying in Minnesota long term.

The Timberwolves and the 32-year-old center reportedly agreed to a three-year, $110 million extension on Tuesday ahead of the team’s opening game against the host Los Angeles Lakers.

Per the report by ESPN, Gobert gave up a $46.6 million player option he held for the 2025-26 season.

The extension reportedly features another player option year, for 2027-28, as well as a trade kicker (a bonus paid to the player in the event he is traded).

When Gobert was chosen the NBA’s top defender last year, he matched the two other four-time winners of the honor, Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace.

Gobert averaged 14.0 points, 12.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocked shots per game last season. His career averages are 12.7 points, 11.8 boards and 2.1 blocks in 757 games (665 starts).

He spent his first nine NBA seasons (2013-14 to 2021-22) with the Utah Jazz before he was dealt to Minnesota in July 2022.

Gobert has led the NBA in field-goal percentage three times. He also topped the league with a career-best average of 14.7 rebounds in 2021-22 after leading the NBA in blocks shots at 2.6 per game in 2016-17.

He might be asked to take on a bigger inside role this season after the Timberwolves dealt forward Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks in the offseason, a trade that sent Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and a first-round draft pick to Minnesota.

76ERS RULE EMBIID AND GEORGE OUT FOR OPENER WITH INJURIES. BUCKS’ MIDDLETON ALSO EXPECTED TO BE OUT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Paul George’s debut with the Philadelphia 76ers is on hold and Joel Embiid is again set to miss time with an injury.

Embiid and George will miss Wednesday’s season opener against Milwaukee and could miss more games as the All-Stars expected to try to lead Philadelphia to its first championship since 1983 return from injuries.

George was scheduled to make his Sixers debut after he left the Los Angeles Clippers and signed a four-year, $212 million contract as a free agent this summer. The 34-year-old George got a bone bruise when he hyperextended his left knee during a preseason game.

The Sixers did not say Tuesday how many more games George could miss; his return to play will be assessed later in the week.

Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers said Tuesday that Bucks forward Khris Middleton also isn’t expected to play Wednesday. The three-time All-Star hasn’t had any 5-on-5 work in the preseason as he recovers from offseason surgeries to each of his ankles.

“It’s pretty 100% to 99,” Rivers said of the likelihood that Middleton won’t play.

A nine-time All-Star, George was injured when his knee buckled on a defensive play in the second quarter of a game last week against Atlanta.

George has dealt with injuries for much of his career before he played 76 games last season, the first time he played more than 56 since 2018-19.

He discussed the bone bruise this week on his “Podcast P with Paul George.” A six-time All-NBA selection, George said his knee was stable with no major damage, nor did it cause any long-term concern over his health.

“My leg literally just got stuck. I don’t even know what else to call it. Just my knee locked up, my leg locked up,” George said on his podcast. “When I went to go push off, all my momentum is going forward and my leg, it just caused it to go inwards. I know I’m thinking of when I seen it immediately I was like, ah, this don’t feel right, this don’t feel right.”

The Sixers’ schedule also includes games Sunday at Indiana and home games Wednesday and Saturday.

“I’m going to be good. I’m going to be good,” George said. “I should be back hopefully sooner than later, but it won’t be a long timetable I would imagine.”

The Sixers are down a familiar road with Embiid.

He did not play in the preseason because of a sore left knee.

The Sixers said Embiid was “responding well” to his individualized rehab plan and was scheduled to scrimmage this week. Embiid also will miss Friday’s game against Toronto and will be reevaluated this weekend.

The 30-year-old, who won an Olympic gold medal in Paris with Team USA, signed a $193 million contract ahead of training camp. The 76ers have failed to advance out of the second round of the playoffs since 2001, in large part because Embiid has failed to stay healthy for an entire postseason.

Embiid has never played more than 68 games in a season and was limited to 39 last season in large part because of knee surgery. He tore the meniscus in his left knee on Jan. 30 and had surgery on Feb. 6.

“We’ve got to do whatever it takes to make sure that in the postseason I’m healthy,” Embiid said in September. “It’s whatever it takes to make sure I get to that point and I’m ready to go. Basically, every single year of my career I’ve been hurt in the playoffs. That’s the goal, doing whatever it takes to get there.”

The 76ers finished 31-8 last season season with Embiid — about a 65-win pace — and a woeful 16-27 without him.

Embiid revealed ahead of training camp that he dropped about 25 to 30 pounds over the summer to stay in better condition for the long grind of the season. That includes not rushing back from any further issues with the knee.

“Until I’m at that point where they feel like I’m ready to go, I’m sure they’re going to hold me back,” Embiid said at the team’s media day. “I believe with the guys that we have, and what I can bring to the table, we have a pretty good chance (at a title).”

He has five All-NBA Team honors, seven consecutive All-Star selections from 2017-24, three All-Defensive Team nods and twice has been the NBA scoring champion.

With George joining the 2023 NBA MVP in Embiid and All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey, the 76ers were expected to boast one of the most formidable trios in the league as they try to put together a nucleus that can compete with NBA champion Boston.

Maxey is expected to play after the guard suffered a bruised right thumb in the preseason.

As for the Bucks, Rivers said Middleton’s injury is more of a day-to-day issue and shouldn’t keep him out long. A variety of injuries limited Middleton to 55 regular-season games last year and 33 in 2022-23.

“I’d say if this was a playoff game, he’d probably be playing, or close to it,” Rivers said.

Taurean Prince has been starting in Middleton’s place during the preseason.

NFL NEWS

REPORT: RAMS CONTACTED TEAMS ABOUT TRADING KUPP

The Los Angeles Rams have contacted multiple teams about trading wide receiver Cooper Kupp, sources told Dianna Russini, Mike Silver, and Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic.

Los Angeles reportedly wants a second-round pick in return and is willing to take on some of Kupp’s 2024 salary, Russini adds.

Kupp has $9.1 million remaining of guaranteed salary in 2024, according to Spotrac. He signed a three-year, $80.1-million extension with the Rams in 2022 and has $27-million-plus cap hits for the 2025 and 2026 seasons before his contract expires, according to Over The Cap.

The 31-year-old has missed the Rams’ last four games due to an ankle injury he suffered in Week 2. Head coach Sean McVay said Sunday that the 2021 Offensive Player of the Year is expected to return on Thursday Night Football against the Minnesota Vikings. He racked up 14 receptions on 21 targets for 110 yards and one touchdown in Los Angeles’ season opener.

Kupp has struggled to stay healthy over the last three years, missing 16 games due to injury since the start of the 2022 campaign.

Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua has also missed most of the season after suffering a knee injury in Week 1. He is currently on injured reserve and has no timetable for a return. Nacua excelled in his rookie campaign last year, hauling in 105 receptions on 160 targets for 1,486 yards and six touchdowns.

The 2-4 Rams rank 20th in yards per contest and 23rd in points per game this season.

REPORT: BUCS’ GODWIN TO UNDERGO SEASON-ENDING ANKLE SURGERY

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin will undergo season-ending surgery on his dislocated ankle this week, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Godwin is expected to make a full recovery and return for the 2025 season, Rapoport adds. He’s set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2024 campaign.

The Penn State product left Monday night’s game on a cart with 0:43 left in the fourth quarter of a 41-31 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

Godwin had an air cast on his leg as he exited the field. The ESPN broadcast didn’t show a replay of the incident. Buccaneers players were visibly emotional and showed their support for the veteran wideout.

BROWNS ZAP QB BAILEY ZAPPE FROM KC PRACTICE SQUAD

Bailey Zappe was added to a convoluted quarterback picture in Cleveland on Tuesday as the Browns chart a course on offense without Deshaun Watson.

The Browns signed Zappe off of the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad and he’s the only quarterback in the rearranged quarterback room in Cleveland who is thought to be fully healthy.

Zappe made eight career starts with the New England Patriots, including a win over the Browns in Cleveland in 2022 when he passed for a career-high 309 yards and had two TD passes. He was a fourth-round pick in 2022 and has 11 touchdowns, 12 interceptions in 14 appearances.

Watson is out for the season due to a season-ending Achilles injury suffered last week against Cincinnati. Dorian Thompson-Robinson replaced Watson last week but exited with a finger injury. Jameis Winston would become the starter if Thompson-Robinson is unavailable with Zappe as the backup. Thompson-Robinson was 11 of 24 with two interceptions before leaving the game.

Winston entered the game on the final drive of the Week 7 loss to the Bengals with just under four minutes remaining. He threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to tight end David Njoku with 1:27 remaining, then connected with Cedric Tillman for the two-point conversion.

Winston was the No. 3 quarterback last week for the first time after serving as Watson’s backup for the first six weeks of the regular season.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS

NO. 9 CLEMSON IS ROLLING AS IT CONTENDS FOR ACC TITLE AND A RETURN TO THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — A year ago, Dabo Swinney was sparring with a radio caller asking why he’s paid so much at Clemson for mid-level results.

Hardly anyone’s questioning Swinney this season with the ninth-ranked Tigers surging back into contention for an Atlantic Coast Conference championship and a return to the College Football Playoffs. The Tigers (6-1, 5-0) have this week off before starting the final stretch at home against Louisville.

“We’ve got a long ways to go, but we do have an opportunity to earn it,” Swinney said Monday. “And it is exciting.”

Tyler from Spartanburg

The defending ACC champs had expectations in 2023, but were out of the race by late October. The Tigers lost their opener at unranked Duke, were beaten at home by eventual league-winner Florida State and lost consecutive games to Miami and N.C. State to fall to 4-4.

Then came the infamous, at least to Clemson backers, words on Swinney’s radio call-in show from “Tyler from Spartanburg,” who pointedly challenged Swinney: “Why are we paying you $11.5 million to go 4-4?”

Swinney got fiery, telling Tyler he’d never let outside narratives about his program change his approach.

“You ain’t going to talk to me like I’m 12 years old,” Swinney answered back.

Clemson is 11-1 since Tyler’s angry call

The radio exchange lit a fire under Swinney — and his team.

The Tigers finished with five straight victories last season including wins over ranked opponents in Notre Dame and North Carolina. The good feelings fueled Clemson throughout the offseason and, even after a disappointing 34-3 loss to No. 2 Georgia in the opener, have continued this season.

The Tigers have gone 11-1 since Tyler’s angry call, showing the brand of dominating offense and suffocating defense they displayed during Clemson’s run of success from 2015-2020 when it won six ACC titles and national championship after the 2016 and 2018 seasons.

Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik has made significant forward strides in his second season as a starter. Too frequently in the first eight games of 2023, Klubnik struggled with accuracy and decision making at critical times.

That’s changed dramatically this season. Klubnik has thrown 20 touchdowns, more than the 19 he had all last year. He’s had just three interceptions in seven games this season, down from the nine he threw last year.

Klubnik has benefitted from a deep group of receivers. Wide out Antonio Williams, slowed by injuries last year, has come back in a big way with 28 catches and a team-leading five touchdowns.

Freshmen receivers Bryant Wesco Jr. and T.J. Moore helped stretch the field like the Tigers had not done since the CFP run ended four years ago. Westco leads the team with 23.8 yards per catch with Moore in second (16.8).

“Of course, we still have a long way to go,” linebacker Barrett Carter said. “It’s super exciting knowing we have all our goals in front of us and we still have a chance to fight for a spot to win this league. Whatever comes after that we’ll see. But it’s certainly exciting.”

Swinney is not satisfied with recent success

Swinney’s not ready for a victory lap, not this soon anyway. He didn’t enter coaching to be proven right, he said, but to lead players into success both on and off the field.

Swinney recalled the mistakes of early last season and never waivered about how close he felt the team was to a break through while losing more games in a season than they had since 2010.

“I could see our quarterback getting better, I could see a lot of good things and a lot of areas that not everybody else sees,” Swinney said. “I just really feel like we had a chance to be a really good team.”

And maybe one that once more plays for a championship.

In order for that to happen, the Tigers must pay attention to the little things, Swinney said. In the joyful aftermath of Clemson’s 31-23 win over Notre Dame, a smiling Swinney shouted it was time to buy stock in the rising Tigers.

His opinion hasn’t changed in the year since. “Hey, I need to buy some more,” he said.

THE DUCKS ARE FLYING HIGH, BUT THE OTHER FORMER PAC-12 TEAMS ARE OFF TO A ROCKY BIG TEN START

Oregon has made a splash in its first Big Ten season but the other former Pac-12 teams are finding the transition far more difficult.

UCLA, USC and Washington are all sitting in the bottom half of their new conference’s standings midway through the season and are collectively 4-10 in Big Ten play.

The Trojans and the Bruins, who were the first Pac-12 teams to announce they were leaving the conference before it fell apart in realignment in the summer of 2023, have just one Big Ten win apiece this season.

USC (3-4, 1-4) has dropped three straight, including last Saturday’s 29-28 loss at Maryland. The Trojans have led in the fourth quarter of all seven of their games this season.

“We’ve had a myriad of different issues,” coach Lincoln Riley said this week. “I think the reality is we’ve been in a lot of really close games, we’ve had some opportunities to separate in several of these games and we haven’t. We’ve had some opportunities to close them. We’ve had some unfortunate breaks, we’ll call them, in several of these games, but we haven’t been good enough to overcome those.”

The Trojans, who opened the season with a win against LSU in Las Vegas and were ranked as high as No. 11 earlier in the season, have a chance to get back on track at home against Rutgers on Friday night.

Overall, the Big Ten’s teams are 5-11 when traveling over multiple time zones. Collectively, USC, UCLA and Washington have just one conference win on the road.

The Huskies (4-3, 2-2) will play at No. 13 Indiana on Saturday in their second road game played at 9 a.m. back home.

Washington won the Pac-12 championship and went on to play in the national championship game last season but subsequent turnover meant this was essentially a rebuilding year for the Huskies. Coach Jedd Fisch, in his first year with the Huskies, knew there would be highs and lows.

“There are so many new faces, new bodies, new people playing positions they’ve never played before, in atmospheres they’ve never played, in a conference we’ve never played in. There was going to be so much new that it was going to be impossible to suggest that it was going to look too different than it is right now,” Fisch said.

UCLA (2-5, 1-4) snapped a five-game losing streak with a 35-32 victory at Rutgers last weekend, for the Bruins’ first win in the new conference.

“I’m excited to get a Big Ten win but we have a few more games and I would like to become bowl eligible,” Bruins coach DeShaun Foster said. “So we’re just going to continue to play and hopefully we get there.”

Interestingly, Oregon State and Washington State, the lone two remaining teams in the Pac-12 after realignment, have both defeated Big Ten opponents this season. The Beavers beat Purdue and the Cougars beat Washington.

The outlier for the Pac-12-to-Big Ten teams is the Ducks, ranked No. 1 in the nation for the first time since 2012, and boosted by a victory two weeks ago at home over then-No. 2 Ohio State.

“Entering this conference, there’s some new challenges that are presented. Going through the summer scouting reports, you realize that some of these teams that we are going to get to play, and it’s really exciting. But I’ll tell you here at Oregon, we chase and attack those challenges,” Dan Lanning predicted before the season kicked off.

Oregon (7-0, 4-0) got off to a shaky start in lackluster nonconference wins against Idaho and Boise State that now seem like anomalies. Last weekend on the road the Ducks shutout the Boilermakers 35-0. This week they host No. 20 Illinois.

It’s likely Oregon will figure into the expanded College Football Playoffs field barring disaster.

“You don’t sit halfway through a meal and say you’re done eating when there’s still a lot of food left on the plate. That’s where we’re at; we’re at the midpoint of the season. We’re not done yet,” Lanning said on Monday. “There’s a lot of things that we still want to accomplish. So (the ranking) doesn’t really matter for us.”

NO. 14 TEXAS A&M GETS SHOT TO RAISE PROFILE VS. NO. 8 LSU

If it’s possible for a team to lead the Southeastern Conference and fly under the radar, No. 14 Texas A&M might just qualify for that distinction.

Since losing the season opener at home against Notre Dame, the Aggies (6-1, 4-0) have quietly won six straight games and are one of just two unbeaten teams in SEC play.

That status will get a big test Saturday night when the other undefeated team in SEC games, No. 8 LSU, invades College Station, Texas, for a prime-time matchup with potential College Football Playoff ramifications.

“I don’t listen to the outside noise,” Texas A&M linebacker Scooby Williams said. “The only noise that matters is the noise between us. It’s about listening to (coach Mike) Elko, our coaches and my teammates.”

Texas A&M has been listening and playing well since the calendar flipped to September. The Aggies came off their first bye last week and topped Mississippi State 34-24 in Starkville, Miss., getting two touchdowns from Le’Veon Moss and converting 9 of 14 third downs.

While the Aggies have been productive on offense during their winning streak, the real key has been a defense that ranks in the top 20 in points allowed per game (17.7). They have also been able to get off the field, limiting opponents to a 30.9 percent conversion rate on third downs, tied for 17th in the nation.

Even so, Elko is wary of the Tigers’ offense, and for good reason. With quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, four capable receivers and an emerging running back, Caden Durham, they have the balance required to keep any defense off-balance.

LSU (6-1, 3-0) also has an offensive line that hasn’t allowed a sack in four games, including its 34-10 victory last week at Arkansas.

“They have a clearly established No. 1 (receiver), but they also have three other people, including a tight end, that can flat-out beat you if you don’t pay attention to them,” Elko said. “The challenge is week in, week out in this league. That’s just SEC football.”

The Tigers made that challenge look fairly easy last week against the Razorbacks, who were coming off a huge win over then-No. 4 Tennessee. LSU never trailed and saddled up Durham, a freshman who rushed for 101 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries.

What’s more, Durham did it despite a foot injury that coach Brian Kelly said reduced him to about 80 to 85 percent capacity. On the season, Durham has 382 yards and six touchdowns on the ground, and he is averaging 6.2 yards per carry.

“A lot of guys would not be in the game,” Kelly said of Durham’s injury. “He’s got great vision, he’s got toughness (and he) keeps his legs moving. I’m really impressed with a freshman running back that is not playing at 100 percent but (is) in there playing with grit and toughness.”

It helps that Nussmeier is such a potent force under center. He has thrown for 2,222 yards and 18 touchdowns with six interceptions this year. Three Tigers have at least 30 catches, led by wide receiver Kyren Lacy and tight end Mason Taylor with 36 apiece.

LSU topped Texas A&M 42-30 in Baton Rouge, La., last year, the seventh season in a row that the host team won the matchup.

CFP 12-TEAM PLAYOFF PROJECTIONS: TEXAS WINS NOT ADDING UP

Texas lost a lot more than the top spot in the polls last week.

Georgia delivered a resounding statement in Austin, taking down the Longhorns 30-15. The rabid tenor in Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart’s voice after the game affirmed that they came to Texas hungry to hush doubters.

In the process, Georgia reclaimed top billing in the SEC and College Football Playoff pecking order.

The Bulldogs also delivered a devastating shot to Texas’ bid to enter the first ever 12-team playoff with a bye that would currently belong to Georgia.

At 6-1, there’s still time for the Longhorns to make good on that plan. But there are more steps — and variables beyond their control — because of a resume currently lacking a victory over a Top 25 team. Texas beat Michigan in Ann Arbor and roughed up rival Oklahoma. But neither team is currently ranked and the Wolverines are dropping in the Big Ten standings with all the weight of a deep-fried championship trophy.

The resume is incomplete, but weak stacked against the rest of the top six in our projections. How the committee filets the overall product when the first rankings are revealed Nov. 5 will be fascinating largely because the Longhorns won’t have many profile-building opportunities the rest of October and November.

Even so, a potential rematch with the Bulldogs in the SEC Championship remains on the table as the possible ticket back to one of the four opening-round byes in the playoffs. A loss in that game, especially another two-score defeat, could be devastating to Texas’ at-large hopes when Selection Sunday arrives Dec. 8.

Here’s a look at the projected 12-team playoff two months before the four campus site matchups are scheduled to be played:

FIRST FOUR (campus site first-round games)
Dec. 20, 21

5 Ohio State
12 Boise State
–Winner vs. 4 Kansas State, Fiesta Bowl, Dec. 31
—-Winner to Orange Bowl, Jan. 10

8 LSU
9 Penn State
–Winner vs. 1 Georgia, Sugar Bowl, Jan. 1
—-Winner to Orange Bowl, Jan. 10

10 Notre Dame
7 Texas
–Winner vs. 2 Oregon, Rose Bowl, Jan. 1
—-Winner to Cotton Bowl, Jan. 10

11 BYU
6 Clemson
–Winner vs. 3 Miami, Peach Bowl, Jan. 1
—-Winner to Cotton Bowl, Jan. 10

TEAMS IN THE WAY
Alabama: We’ll soon know whether reputation matters with the committee, but the Crimson Tide get at least one more chance to claw back into the at-large conversation with a Nov. 9 trip to LSU.

Illinois: Anyone see the Fighting Illini coming as a 6-1 contender at the halfway mark? The season hits a dramatic T in Eugene this weekend. A win over the Ducks puts Bret Bielema’s team in the at-large field.

Indiana: Hoosier Hysteria is hanging around into November based on a dominant defense that undressed Nebraska in a 56-7 whitewash. Hurdles to the playoffs are significant, but will you believe if Indiana takes down Ohio State in Columbus?

Iowa State: With each passing Saturday, the Big 12 looks more and more like a conference deserving of only one bid in this playoff. Can the Cyclones separate from the crowd? Yes, but perhaps only by edging Kansas State next month.

Pittsburgh: Quite the revival is taking place at Pitt, the No. 19 team in the country and seemingly in the 100s on the national radar. The Panthers add a dash of legitimacy to their contender status if they can win the next two weeks: Thursday vs. Syracuse and the following week at SMU.

SMU: Some aren’t yet aware the Mustangs are a) in the ACC and undefeated in conference play and b) three measly points from being perfect this season.

Tennessee: The number of one-loss SEC teams soon dwindles based on head-to-head matchups. The Vols jumped Alabama by beating the Crimson Tide last week and the schedule has a few Sharpie-circled dates left, none bigger than Nov. 16 at Georgia.

Texas A&M: The opening loss to Notre Dame doesn’t look as troubling these days and getting LSU in College Station this weekend would really rev up the Aggies’ playoff chatter.

MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

THE ACC RACE STARTS WITH NO. 7 DUKE AND NO. 9 UNC. THE LEAGUE NEEDS MORE TEAMS TO JOIN THE CHASE

Jon Scheyer’s third season at No. 7 Duke begins as the Atlantic Coast Conference favorite, even while adding 10 newcomers and preparing to lean on a freshman earning All-America recognition before ever playing a college game.

Ninth-ranked North Carolina has its typically lofty status and the nation’s only returning first-team Associated Press All-American in RJ Davis.

Beyond that, the ACC needs someone — multiple someones, actually — to step up.

The ACC has spent months working to counter questions about its top-to-bottom quality amid lower-than-expected returns with bids to the NCAA Tournament and examining how to change that trajectory. Yet even as the league continues to outperform peers in March, it’s the November-to-February part that needs bolstering as the ACC opens with only the Blue Devils and Tar Heels in the preseason AP Top 25.

“There is some pointing, about, ‘Hey, take a look, our teams not only get into the tournament but more importantly they perform at the highest level that you can imagine,” ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips told The Associated Press.

Yet the work to change that narrative starts in November as league teams take on nonconference matchups that will be the building blocks to Selection Sunday resumes.

That puts the burden on teams like Wake Forest, Clemson — which reached its first Elite Eight last year since the tournament’s expansion to 64 teams in 1985 — Virginia, Miami or a Pittsburgh team that fell on the wrong side of last year’s bubble. Or N.C. State, which last year made an improbable run to its first ACC Tournament title since 1987 and first Final Four since 1983.

And there are plenty of opportunities in the first six weeks for the league to help itself, starting at the top with Duke (No. 1 Kansas, No. 10 Arizona and No. 11 Auburn) and UNC (Kansas and No. 2 Alabama).

The list goes on for teams picked in the top half of the league like Wake Forest (No. 13 Texas A&M), Clemson (Kentucky), Virginia (No. 12 Tennessee), Miami (No. 16 Arkansas) and N.C. State (Kansas, No. 14 Purdue and No. 19 Texas).

“Now it’s just about playing the games and taking advantage of our opportunities, right?” second-year Notre Dame coach Micah Shrewsberry said. “Especially early in the year. You know, change the narrative of everybody by playing really well in November and December so people are talking about our league in a positive light before we get to conference play.”

Building cohesion

Attention at Duke will focus on star freshman Cooper Flagg, named to the preseason AP All-America team and was being discussed as a potential No. 1 overall NBA draft pick before ever getting to campus.

For Scheyer, it’s about more than Flagg’s potential.

“The most talented teams haven’t necessarily won the biggest. The most together teams have,” Scheyer said. “That’s why for us, this spring and summer, you need to have enough talent, no question. But the connectivity, the embracing of different roles and the blending of different talents is the most important thing.”

Scoring chase?

Davis, last year’s ACC player of the year, led the conference in scoring (21.2 points) and posted the program’s fourth-highest points output (784). If he matched that in his fifth year of eligibility, he would tie program great Tyler Hansbrough for the ACC’s career scoring record (2,872).

“That’s not my main focus,” Davis told the AP. “I feel like if I pride myself on trying to make the scoring record, things are not going to go as planned and may not go as well.”

All eyes on Charlottesville

Virginia faces a major shakeup on the eve of the season with the sudden retirement of coach Tony Bennett, who was the ACC’s only active coach with a national championship after recent retirements of Hall of Famers like North Carolina’s Roy Williams (2021), Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski (2022) and Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim (2023).

Assistant Ron Sanchez, who resigned as Charlotte’s coach in June 2023 and returned to Bennett’s staff, is the interim coach as the program tries to move forward.

Travel watch

Stanford, Cal and SMU are the new additions to the league in its expansion to a coast-to-coast footprint, which required changes to manage travel demands.

The league has set up a 2-for-1 scheduling approach: play two games for every one cross-country trip and essentially alternate weekends playing at home versus on the road, typically on Wednesdays and Saturdays before following with a home game.

New coaches

There are three new coaches on the men’s side beyond Sanchez’s interim status.

Pat Kelsey left College of Charleston to try to end years of struggle at tradition-rich Louisville. Andy Enfield left USC to take over at SMU in time for its exit from the American Athletic Conference, and he’ll see a familiar opponent with former Pac-12 peer Stanford under former Washington State coach Kyle Smith.

“It is ironic to go to SMU and then have (Cal and Stanford) come and be the three new teams here in the ACC,” Enfield said.

NO. 22 UCLA HOPING EXPERIENCE, DEPTH LEADS THE BRUINS BACK TO THE NCAA TOURNAMENT

UCLA (16-17, 10-10 Pac-12)

The Bruins ended last season with the school’s first sub-.500 record since 2015-16 and missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time in coach Mick Cronin’s tenure. The program made three straight Sweet 16 appearances and the Final Four in 2021 during his first five years. He’s gone from having his youngest team in Westwood to a more experienced and deeper group this season as No. 22 UCLA makes its Big Ten debut.

Players to watch

Dylan Andrews (junior, G, 6-2, 12.9 ppg, 3.7 apg). Andrews emerged late last season as a breakout star, averaging 21.2 points over the final six games. He leads a veteran backcourt that includes Southern California transfer Kobe Johnson, whose playmaking could help Andrews’ scoring soar.

Tyler Bilodeau (junior, F, 6-9, 14.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg). Transfer Bilodeau was a solid scorer and All-Pac-12 selection at Oregon State who plays an all-around game.

Sebastian Mack (sophomore, G, 6-3, 12.1 ppg, 3.6 rpg). Mack was the Bruins’ top offensive player early last season and showed potential on defense as well. He was a starter and appears eager to retain that role.

Departures and arrivals

Cronin was aggressive in working the transfer portal. Johnson should make an immediate impact with his scoring and tough defense. Guard/forward Eric Dailey Jr. started 16 games last season at Oklahoma State. Guard Skyy Clark joins his third school in as many years after stints at Illinois and Louisville. Guard Dominick Harris is also on his third program, after Gonzaga and nearby Loyola Marymount, where he averaged 45% from 3-point range last season. Six players left the program and the biggest was Adem Bona, who declared early for the NBA draft.

Top games

The Bruins host Rider on Nov. 4 in their season opener. It’ll be a Pac-12 reunion of sorts during a three-game stretch against Washington and Oregon (now Big Ten rivals with UCLA) and Arizona (now in the Big 12) in late November and early December. The Bruins have major neutral court contests against No. 9 North Carolina at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 21 and No. 6 Gonzaga at the Los Angeles Clippers’ new arena on Dec. 28. The Big Ten Tournament begins March 12.

Facts and figures

Five of the six transfers were starters at their previous schools. … Center Aday Mara added bulk to his 7-foot-3 frame while rehabbing from a foot injury.

MUSSELMAN TAKES OVER AT USC AND REVAMPS ROSTER FOR THE TROJANS’ DEBUT SEASON IN THE BIG TEN

Southern California (15-18, 8-12 Pac-12)

Eric Musselman left Arkansas for USC after coach Andy Enfield took the SMU job. Known as a top recruiter in the transfer portal and prep ranks, Musselman engineered a massive roster overhaul. He will rely on a quick and athletic bunch of veterans to help USC make its mark in the school’s Big Ten debut.

Players to watch

Saint Thomas (senior, F, 6-7, 19.7 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 4.2 apg). Thomas started all 32 games at Northern Colorado last season while averaging just shy of a double-double in points and rebounds. He shot 87% from the free throw line. He started his career at Loyola Chicago.

Desmond Claude (junior, G, 6-6, 16.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.2 apg). Claude was last season’s Big East most improved player at Xavier, where he started all 32 games and went from averaging 4.7 points as a freshman to double-digit scoring. He had surgeries on both elbows during the offseason.

Josh Cohen (senior, F, 6-10, 15.9 ppg, 6.8 rpg). Cohen started all 31 games in one season at UMass, where he earned All-Atlantic 10 honors. He previously spent three seasons at Saint Francis (Pennsylvania), where he was NEC player of the year. The big man is a strong presence in the paint and is tied for tallest player on the roster.

Departures and arrivals

Last season’s roster is all but gone. Isaiah Collier and Bronny James left for the NBA draft. Boogie Ellis, DJ Rodman and Joshua Morgan graduated. Kobe Johnson transferred to crosstown rival UCLA. Vincent Iwuchukwu, Oziyah Sellers, Kijani Wright and Arrinten Page also transferred. Fans will need a cheat sheet to ID all the new faces. The backcourt includes Bryce Pope from UC San Diego, Chibuzo Agbo of Boise State and All-Ivy League player Clark Slajchert of Penn.

Top games

The Trojans host Chattanooga in their season opener on Nov. 4 and play seven of their first nine games at Galen Center. They host fellow Big Ten newcomer and rival UCLA on Jan. 27 and visit the Bruins to close out the regular season on March 8. The Big Ten Tournament begins March 12.

Facts and figures

Senior F Harrison Hornery is the lone returner. He was a regular off the bench last season. … The roster features 16 new players, including eight senior transfers who combined to score over 3,700 points last year. … The Trojans last appeared in the NCAA Tournament in 2023 and lost in the first round.

ILLINOIS HAS ROSTER OVERHAUL, LOOKS TO TRANSFORM TALENTED NEWCOMERS INTO ANOTHER WINNING TEAM

Illinois (29-9, 14-6 Big Ten)

The Illini won the Big Ten tournament, made it to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2005 and were ranked No. 6 in the final AP Top 25 poll last season.

However, four of their five starters are gone, including first-round NBA draft pick Terrance Shannon Jr. and Coleman Hawkins, who transferred to Kansas State after averaging 12.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. Most of their bench depth is gone, too.

Illinois has restocked its roster with talented transfers and freshmen for Coach Brad Underwood’s eighth season at the helm. The Illini have had five straight 20-victory seasons but how quickly the newcomers can mesh as a team will be key this year.

Players to watch

Ty Rodgers (junior, G/F, 6-6, 6.2 ppg, 5.3 rebounds). The Illini’s lone returning starter led the team with 87 offensive rebounds last season. He didn’t shoot a 3-pointer last year, but worked on his shot during the summer so he can add an outside game to his arsenal. With all the departures, he is expected to be team leader on and off the court.

Will Riley (freshman, F, 6-8). The highest-ranked Illini recruit since Dee Brown in 2002 has attracted the attention of NBA scouts and is projected as a possible first-round pick in the NBA draft.

Morez Johnson Jr. (freshman, F, 6-9). The 2024 Illinois Mr. Basketball is being counted on to control the paint for the Illini, much needed on a team filled with outside shooters.

Departures and arrivals

Gone are fifth-year college players and starters Marcus Domask, Quincy Guerrier and Shannon, and Hawkins, a fourth-year player.

Five players are in from the transfer portal: Champaign native Kylan Boswell (Arizona), Ben Humrichous (Evansville), Tre White (Louisville), Carey Booth (Notre Dame) and Jake Davis (Mercer). The freshman class includes international players Kasparas Jakucionis and Tomislav Ivisic, in addition to Johnson and Riley.

Top games

The Illini open at home Nov. 4 against Eastern Illinois. They have games vs. Top 25 opponents sprinkled throughout their schedule: No. 2 Alabama (Nov. 20), No. 7 Duke (Feb. 22), No. 12 Tennessee (Dec. 14), No. 14 Purdue (March 7), No. 16 Arkansas (Nov. 28), No. 17 Indiana (Jan. 14), No. 22 UCLA (Jan. 11) and No. 25 Rutgers (Feb. 5).

Facts and figures

This is the first time since the 2018-19 season that Illinois isn’t ranked in the AP preseason poll, but the team is just outside at No. 26 … Illinois’ 29 victories last year were the third-most in program history. … The Illini have an international flavor on their roster with players from Canada, Croatia and Lithuania.

FRESHMEN NBA PROSPECTS DYLAN HARPER AND ACE BAILEY LEAD NEW-LOOK NO. 25 RUTGERS

Rutgers (15-17, 7-13 Big Ten)

In less than a year, Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell has transformed a squad that finished with a losing record, lost four starters in the transfer portal and has three players returning into a preseason AP Top 25 team ranked No. 25.

That’s what the greatest recruiting class in Rutgers history can do. Guard Dylan Harper and guard/forward Ace Bailey were among the top high school prospects and not only did they both choose Rutgers, they are considered potential NBA lottery picks.

The Scarlet Knights also return big man Emmanuel Ogbole and guards Jeremiah Williams and Jamichael Davis.

Players to watch

Harper is the son of NBA star Ron Harper and the brother of former Scarlet Knight Ron Harper Jr. He averaged 23 points as a senior at Don Bosco Prep in New Jersey.

The 6-foot-10 Bailey averaged 33.4 points, 15.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 2.9 blocks at McEachern High School in Georgia.

Williams (redshirt senior, G, 6-4, 12.2 ppg) started 11 of the final 12 games and had 34 assists and 14 steals last season.

Departures and arrivals

Five players, including C Cliff Omoruyi (Alabama), G Derek Simpson (St. Joseph’s) and G Gavin Griffins (Nebraska), transferred while G Noah Fernandes and F Aundre Hyatt used up their eligibility. Pikiell used the portal to bring in guards Tyson Acuff (Eastern Michigan), P.J. Hayes IV (San Diego), Jordan Derkack (Merrimack) and forward Zach Martini (Princeton). The coach also recruited freshmen forwards Lathan Sommerville, Bryce Dortch and Dylan Grant.

Top games

The season begins at home against Wagner on Nov. 6. For the first time in the Pikiell era, the Scarlet Knights will play in a Thanksgiving tournament with games against Notre Dame and No. 2 Alabama (Nov. 27). The Big Ten schedule includes two games against No. 14 Purdue, a home game against No. 22 UCLA (Jan. 13) and a road game against No. 17 Indiana (Jan. 2).

Facts and figures

Only two of the 11 players who averaged double-digits in playing time last season are back (Williams and Davis). … In losing Omoruyi, the Scarlet Knights lost 93 of their 167 blocked shots. … Rutgers struggled shooting from the field, averaging roughly 39% from the field and 28.7% from 3-point range.

PENN STATE LOOKING TO KEEP BUILDING IN 2ND SEASON UNDER MIKE RHOADES

Penn State (16-17, 9-11 Big Ten)

Coach Mike Rhoades enters his second season in Happy Valley on more even footing. He spent his initial weeks with the team last year rebuilding a depleted roster in the wake of former coach Micah Shrewsberry’s departure. Rhoades excelled with the quick turnaround. The gritty Nittany Lions tested opponents and won four of their last seven Big Ten games. Although a second-round loss in the conference tournament ended their season, the Nittany Lions believe they have the pieces to make it farther in the expanded Big Ten.

Players to watch

Ace Baldwin Jr., the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, is the team’s leading returning scorer (14.2 PPG) and the Nittany Lions’ most well-rounded talent. The fifth-year senior has 1,000-plus points, 600-plus assists and 250-plus steals in his career.

Fellow guards Nick Kern Jr. and Puff Johnson return after averaging 8.7 and 7.3 points per game respectively. Rangy forward Zach Hicks played big minutes last year and is the team’s leading returning rebounder (3.9).

Hicks will get help down low, presumably from vaunted recruit Miles Goodman. The 6-foot-11 freshman averaged 12 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, three blocks and two steals per game through his final three high school seasons.

Departures and arrivals

Qudus Wahab ended his last season as the Nittany Lions’ leading rebounder (7.8). Rhoades will need to find someone to bolster the team’s forward depth in addition to Hicks and Goodman.

Rhoades added Freddie Dilione V, Eli Rice, Yanic Niederhauser and Kachi Nzeh from the transfer portal while freshmen guards Jahvin Carter and Dominick Stewart are looking to make an impact in their first collegiate seasons.

Top games

Penn Sate opens at home against Binghamton on Nov. 4 before playing Virginia Tech in the Hall of Fame Classic in Baltimore on Nov. 15. The Nittany Lions open Big Ten play against Purdue on Dec. 5 at home before visiting Rutgers on Dec. 10 for their first conference road trip.

A trip to Philadelphia’s Palestra to play Indiana looms on Jan. 5. On Jan. 30, Penn State will return to its old arena when it hosts Ohio State at Rec Hall.

Facts and figures

Rhoades is 192-130 over 10 seasons at Rice, Virginia Commonwealth and Penn State. … Penn State was 2-2 against AP Top 25 teams last season. … Penn State’s 75.2 points per game in Big Ten play was its second-highest output in the program’s 32 years in the conference after the 2000-01 team (75.4 PPG). … The Nittany Lions led the Big Ten in steals per game (8.3), turnover margin (plus-3.6) and 3-point percentage defense (30.3%).

WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

WOMEN’S PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA TEAM

The Associated Press’ 2024-25 preseason All-America women’s basketball team, with school, height, year and votes from a 30-member national media panel (key 2023-24 statistics in parentheses):

Paige Bueckers, UConn, 6-0, senior, 30 out of 30 votes (21.9 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 3.8 apg, 53 fg pct)

Juju Watkins, USC 6-2, sophomore, 30 (27.1 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 3.3 apg, 40.1 fg pct)

Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame, 5-6, sophomore, 29 (22.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 5.5 apg, 44.6 fg pct)

Madison Booker, Texas, 6-1, sophomore, 20 (16.5 ppg, 5 rpg, 5 apg, 45.7 fg pct)

Kiki Iriafen, USC, 6-3, senior, 8, (19.4 ppg, 11 rpg, 2.3 apg, 54.6 fg pct)

Others receiving votes: Lauren Betts, UCLA (7 votes); Georgia Amoore, Kentucky (6); Raegan Beers, Oklahoma (4); Ayoka Lee, Kansas State (4); Aneesah Morrow, LSU (4); Rori Harmon, Texas (2); Flau’jae Johnson, LSU (2); Audi Crooks, Iowa State; MiLaysia Fulwiley, South Carolina; Raven Johnson, South Carolina; Te-Hina Paopao, South Carolina.

NHL NEWS

NHL ROUNDUP: JETS NIP BLUES, REMAIN PERFECT

Cole Perfetti earned three assists as the visiting Winnipeg Jets defeated the St. Louis Blues 3-2 on Tuesday to remain undefeated.

Nino Niederreiter, Colin Miller and Kyle Connor scored in the second period for the Jets, who extended the best start in franchise history by improving to 6-0-0. Connor Hellebuyck made 27 saves to earn his fifth victory of the season.

Brandon Saad scored twice for the Blues, earning his 500th and 501st career points. Robert Thomas had two assists before exiting the game in the third period after blocking a shot with his skate.

Jordan Binnington made 21 saves as St. Louis had its two-game winning streak end.

Predators 4, Bruins 0

Juuse Saros pitched a 33-save shutout as host Nashville ended a season-opening, five-game losing streak by beating Boston.

The Predators entered the game as the lone NHL team without a single point in the standings and had not held a lead at either intermission in each of their first five contests.

Ryan O’Reilly and Luke Evangelista each recorded a goal and an assist for Nashville, while Roman Josi notched a pair of assists. Tommy Novak and Gustav Nyquist rounded out the Predators’ offense with a goal apiece. Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman stopped 38 shots.

Lightning 8, Devils 5

Brandon Hagel had a natural hat trick in a 6:28 span of the second period and later contributed an assist as visiting Tampa Bay won Newark, N.J.

Victor Hedman scored two goals, Janis Moser had a goal and two assists, Anthony Cirelli had four assists and Jake Guentzel added a goal and an assist for the Lightning. Jonas Johansson made 30 saves in his first start of the season.

Timo Meier scored two goals, Jack Hughes had a goal and two assists and Jake Allen made 29 saves for the Devils, who have lost two in a row.

Knights 6, Kings 1

Tomas Hertl produced two goals and two assists and Mark Stone added a goal and two assists as Vegas snapped a three-game losing streak by cruising past Los Angeles in Las Vegas.

Pavel Dorofeyev had a goal and an assist, Alex Pietrangelo dished off three assists and Alexander Holtz and Ivan Barbashev added a goal apiece as coach Bruce Cassidy picked up his 100th career win with the Golden Knights. Ilya Samsonov made 31 saves for the victory.

Warren Foegele scored a goal and David Rittich finished with 24 saves for the Kings, who were playing the finale of a season-opening seven-game road trip necessitated by arena renovations.

Flames 4, Penguins 3 (SO)

Justin Kirkland scored the winning goal in the sixth round of a shootout to give host Calgary a comeback victory over Pittsburgh.

Rasmus Andersson collected one goal and one assist while MacKenzie Weegar and Nazem Kadri also scored for the Flames, who have yet to lose in regulation time this season (5-0-1). Dustin Wolf made 35 saves and finished with a win in his first NHL shootout.

Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell and Noel Acciari scored for the Penguins, who are 0-2-1 in their past three games. Alex Nedeljkovic made 22 saves.

Senators 4, Utah 0

Ottawa scored all of its goals in the first period and Anton Forsberg posted his sixth career shutout as the Senators earned their first road victory of the season, beating the Utah Hockey Club in Salt Lake City.

Forsberg entered the night with a 4.16 goals-against average and a .863 save percentage over his past three games, but he turned away 31 shots as Ottawa won its second straight.

Drake Batherson, Claude Giroux, Ridly Greig and Brady Tkachuk scored for Ottawa. Defenseman Nick Jensen assisted on the first two goals.

Avalanche 3, Kraken 2

Joel Kiviranta scored twice and Cale Makar had two assists as Colorado defeated host Seattle.

Nathan MacKinnon also scored for the Avalanche, who won their third consecutive game following an 0-4-0 start to the season. Justus Annunen made 25 saves.

Jordan McCann and Ryker Evans tallied for the Kraken, who had a three-game winning streak snapped. Philipp Grubauer stopped 25 of the 28 shots he faced.

Red Wings 1, Islanders 0

Alex Lyon made 29 saves and Patrick Kane scored in the first period as Detroit prevailed in Elmont, N.Y.

After being outscored 9-3 in a home-and-home with the New York Rangers last week, the Red Wings earned their second straight win thanks to Lyon, who began this season third on the depth chart.

Lyon earned his fourth career shutout and third for the Red Wings. He made eight saves in the first and 14 in the second before stopping seven more in the third.

Hurricanes 3, Oilers 2 (OT)

Sebastian Aho scored with seven seconds left in overtime as visiting Carolina rallied to beat Edmonton.

Martin Necas had a goal and two assists for the Hurricanes, and Shayne Gostisbehere scored in his fourth consecutive game. Aho and Gostisbehere each had a goal and an assist, and Frederik Andersen made 33 saves for the win.

Edmonton’s Connor McDavid, who went the first four games of the season without a goal, scored twice and has three goals in his past three games. Stuart Skinner stopped 30 shots.

Rangers 7, Canadiens 2

Filip Chytil had two goals and an assist while Kaapo Kakko recorded one goal and two helpers for visiting New York, which scored four times in the first period and hammered Montreal.

Mika Zibanejad opened the scoring less than a minute into the contest while Jonny Brodzinski, Reilly Smith and Chytil also scored in the first for the Rangers, who are 4-0-0 on the road. Braden Schneider also had a goal and an assist and Igor Shesterkin made 21 saves for New York.

Nick Suzuki scored his first two goals of the season for Montreal, which has yielded 21 goals during an 0-3-1 rut. The Canadiens’ Sam Montembeault was pulled after allowing four goals on 10 shots, and then teammate Cayden Primeau stopped 32 of 35 shots.

Blue Jackets 6, Maple Leafs 2

Mathieu Olivier scored two goals as Columbus defeated visiting Toronto to cap a 2-2-0 homestand.

Justin Danforth had a goal and two assists for the Blue Jackets. Sean Monahan and Kirill Marchenko each added a goal and an assist, James van Riemsdyk also scored and Zach Werenski contributed two assists. Columbus’ Daniil Tarasov stopped 26 shots.

Matthew Knies and Nicholas Robertson scored for the Maple Leafs, who took their second loss in three games. Toronto goaltender Dennis Hildeby finished with 32 saves.

Wild 5, Panthers 1

Goalie Filip Gustavsson made 24 saves as visiting Minnesota — which has yet to trail in regulation this season — defeated reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida.

The Wild are 3-0-1 on their seven-game road trip, and they have earned at least one point in all six of their games. Gustavsson got goal-scoring support from Marco Rossi, Marcus Johansson, Matt Boldy, Mats Zuccarello and Joel Eriksson Ek. Jake Middleton had three assists, and Kirill Kaprizov added two assists.

Sam Bennett scored Florida’s goal. Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, who made 11 saves on 16 shots before getting pulled in favor of backup Spencer Knight, failed to get career win No. 400.

Capitals 4, Flyers 1

Nic Dowd and Andrew Mangiapane each scored a short-handed goal in the first period to propel Washington to a road win over Philadelphia on the front end of a home-and-home series.

Connor McMichael contributed two assists and Charlie Lindgren made 17 saves for the Capitals, who won their fourth straight game.

Travis Sanheim scored the lone goal for the Flyers, who have dropped five games in a row since winning their season opener. Samuel Ersson made 25 saves in a losing effort.

Sabres 4, Stars 2

Ryan McLeod extended his goal-scoring streak to a career-best four games and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 28 saves, lifting host Buffalo over Dallas.

Alex Tuch had a goal and an assist, Peyton Krebs and Tage Thompson also scored and defenseman Owen Power matched a career high with three assists to send the Sabres to their second win in a row.

Thomas Harley and Tyler Seguin scored for the Stars, and Evgenii Dadonov had two assists. Jake Oettinger finished with 21 saves.

Canucks 6, Blackhawks 3

Danton Heinen scored twice in the first period and Kevin Lankinen made 31 saves to lift visiting Vancouver past Chicago for the Canucks’ third consecutive win.

J.T. Miller and Conor Garland also scored for the Canucks during a back-and-forth opening period that featured six of the nine goals in the game. Pius Suter and Brock Boeser added goals for Vancouver.

Tyler Bertuzzi, Ryan Donato and Taylor Hall were the Blackhawks’ goal-scorers. Petr Mrazek stopped 24 shots.

Ducks 3, Sharks 1

Leo Carlsson scored the go-ahead goal and Cutter Gauthier added two assists as Anaheim edged visiting San Jose to snap a two-game losing streak.

Troy Terry and Alex Killorn had the Ducks’ other goals. Lukas Dostal made 27 saves for his third win of the season — his second against the Sharks.

Mikael Granlund scored for San Jose, and Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 37 shots. The Sharks (0-5-2) became the lone winless team in the NHL after the Predators won on Tuesday.

GOLF NEWS

GOLF GLANCE: PGA, LPGA IN ASIA; CHAMPIONS VIE FOR SPOTS IN FINALE

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

PGA TOUR
LAST TOURNAMENT: Shriners Children’s Open (J.T. Poston)
THIS WEEK: Zozo Championship, Chiba, Japan, Oct. 24-27
Course: Accordia Golf Narashino CC (Par 70, 7,079 Yards)
Purse: $8.5M (Winner: $1.53M)
Defending Champion: Collin Morikawa
FedEx Cup Champion: Scottie Scheffler
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: Wednesday-Saturday, 11 p.m.-3 a.m. ET (All times Golf Channel)
X: @ZozoChamp
NOTES: The no-cut event is the fifth of eight tournaments on the FedEx Cup Fall schedule, which finalizes the top 125 players who will retain exempt status for 2025. Nos. 126-150 after the fall will retain conditional status. Players who finished Nos. 51-70 in the FedEx Cup have secured their tour cards, but are competing for spots in the first two signature events after the season-opening The Sentry on Jan. 2-5. … The tournament scoring record of 261 was set by Tiger Woods in the inaugural event in 2019, and represents Woods’ most recent title. … The 72-player field includes 48 who competed in Las Vegas last week, 30 of whom made the cut at the Shriners. Joel Dahmen, who withdrew after suffering a four-stroke penalty for too many clubs in his back, also is playing this week. He is currently 129th in the standings … Chiba native Kaito Onishi will make his sixth career PGA Tour start after becoming the fourth Japanese player to earn his membership via the Korn Ferry Tour. Onishi moved to Los Angeles with his mother at age 9 and went on to play for Southern Cal from 2017-21. … The event, which was first played in 2019, is co-sanctioned with the Japan Golf Tour Organization and the field includes 14 JGTO members.
BEST BETS: Xander Schauffele (+400 at DraftKings) has posted a career-high 15 top-10 finishes this season, including his first two major titles. Schauffele, who won the 2021 gold medal in Tokyo, where his maternal grandparents live, makes his sixth consecutive start at the Zozo. … Morikawa (+700) has not won a stroke-play event since the Zozo last year as he attempts to become the first player to successfully defend at the Zozo. This is his first start since the Tour Championship, where he did post the lowest 72-hole score. … Hideki Matsuyama (+800), who is from Ehime, Japan, won the event in 2021 and was the runner-up in 2019. He also has two wins this year … Justin Thomas (+1800) finished T2 at the 2020 Zozo, which was played at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, Calif. This is his first start at Accordia.
NEXT TOURNAMENT: World Wide Technology Championship, Los Cabos, Mexico, Nov. 7-10

LPGA TOUR
LAST TOURNAMENT: BMW Ladies Championship (Hannah Green)
THIS WEEK: Maybank Championship, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Oct. 24-27
Course: Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (Par 72, 6,536 Yards)
Purse: $3M (Winner: $450,000)
Defending Champion: Celine Boutier
Race to the CME Globe leader: Nelly Korda
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: Wednesday-Saturday: 9:30 p.m.-2:30 a.m. ET (Golf Channel)
X: @MaybankChampion
NOTES: This is the third of the Tour’s four-event fall Asia swing. It is a no-cut event featuring a 78-player field. Boutier defeated Jeeno Thitijul on the ninth playoff hole last year after both set the tournament scoring record of 21-under 267. … World No. 1 Nelly Korda will not play due to a neck injury she suffered during practice that also kept her out of the BMW Ladies Championship. Ayaka Furue and Haeran Ryu, who are in this week’s field, are the only players who can mathematically catch Korda in the Player of the Year race. Furue would need to win four events to have a chance to surpass Korda, while Ryu would need to win five.
NEXT TOURNAMENT: Toto Japan Classic, Otsu-shi, Shiga, Japan, Oct. 31-Nov. 3

PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS
LAST TOURNAMENT: Dominion Energy Charity Classic (Tim O’Neal)
THIS WEEK: Simmons Bank Championship, Little Rock, Ark., Oct. 25-27
Course: Pleasant Valley CC (Par 72, 7,101 Yards)
Purse: $2.3M (Winner: $365,000)
Defending Champion: Inaugural Event
Charles Schwab Cup leader: Ernie Els
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: Friday-Sunday, 3-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel)
X: @SBGolfChamp
NOTES: This is the second event of the three-tournament playoffs and features a 51-player field competing over 54 holes. The top 36 players after this week advancing to the Charles Schwab Cup Championship. … Els holds a $132,031 lead over Steven Alker for the top spot in the Charles Schwab Cup standings. Stephen Ames is another 88,488 behind Alker. … O’Neal moved from 55th to 13th in the standings with his first Champions victory last week. … This is the first Champions event to be held in Arkansas, and the first PGA Tour-sanctioned event in the state since the Korn Ferry Tour’s Fort Smith Classic in 2010.
NEXT TOURNAMENT: Charles Schwab Cup Championship, Phoenix, Nov. 7-10

LIV GOLF LEAGUE
THIS WEEK: Season Complete
2024 Champions: Individual: Jon Rahm; Team: Ripper GC
NEXT TOURNAMENT: LIV Golf Promotions, Abu Dhabi, Dec. 8-10

TOP INDIANA SPORTS HEADLINES/NEWS RELEASES

COLTS FOOTBALL

COLTS RELEASE UNOFFICIAL DEPTH CHART FOR WEEK 8 GAME VS. HOUSTON TEXANS

OFFENSE

• WR: Michael Pittman Jr., Ashton Dulin
• LT: Bernhard Raimann, Blake Freeland
• LG: Quenton Nelson, Danny Pinter OR Tanor Bortolini
• C: Ryan Kelly, Danny Pinter OR Tanor Bortolini
• RG: Dalton Tucker
• RT: Braden Smith, Matt Goncalves
• TE: Mo Alie-Cox, Drew Ogletree
• TE: Kylen Granson, Will Mallory
• WR: Josh Downs, Anthony Gould
• WR: Alec Pierce OR Adonai Mitchell
• QB: Anthony Richardson, Joe Flacco, Sam Ehlinger
• RB: Jonathan Taylor, Trey Sermon, Tyler Goodson, Evan Hull
• Tyler Goodson had a career-high 14 carries for 51 yards and scored his first career touchdown in the Colts’ win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.
• Michael Pittman Jr. led the receivers with three receptions for 63 yards against the Dolphins.
• Anthony Richardson, playing in his first game since Week 4, completed 10-of-24 passes for 129 yards. Richardson also led the team with 56 rushing yards on 14 carries, tying a career-high in rushing yards.

DEFENSE

• DE: Kwity Paye, Laiatu Latu, Genard Avery
• DT: Taven Bryan, Adetomiwa Adebawore
• NT: Grover Stewart, Raekwon Davis
• DE: Dayo Odeyingbo, Isaiah Land, Adam Gotsis
• WLB: E.J. Speed
• MLB: Zaire Franklin, Segun Olubi
• SAM: Jaylon Carlies, Grant Stuard
• CB: Samuel Womack III, David Long Jr.
• FS: Julian Blackmon, Rodney Thomas II
• SS: Nick Cross, Trevor Denbow
• N: Kenny Moore II, Chris Lammons
• CB: Jaylon Jones
• Grant Stuard tallied a career-high 18 tackles (11 solo) against the Dolphins. His previous career high was two.
• Laiatu Latu recorded his second career sack on Sunday.
• Segun Olubi had a crucial forced fumble and fumble recovery in the third quarter against the Dolphins that set in motion the Colts’ only touchdown drive of the game.

SPECIALISTS

• P: Rigoberto Sanchez
• PK: Matt Gay
• H: Rigoberto Sanchez
• LS: Luke Rhodes
• KR: Tyler Goodson, Anthony Gould, Ashton Dulin
• PR: Josh Downs, Anthony Gould
• Matt Gay kicked a season-high 52-yard field goal on Sunday against the Dolphins.

INDIANA PACERS

GAME PREVIEW: PACERS AT PISTONS

The Indiana Pacers will open the 2024-25 NBA season in Detroit as they travel north to take on the Pistons on Wednesday. The matchup is the season opener for both clubs.

Detroit made two notable free agent signings this offseason, including former Philadelphia wing Tobias Harris and NBA veteran Malik Beasley. The Pistons also roster former Purdue All-American guard, Jaden Ivey, and 2021 first overall pick Cade Cunningham.

J.B. Bickerstaff now fills the head coaching role in Detroit after the Pistons dismissed Monty Williams after just one season with the franchise. Bickerstaff led the Cleveland Cavaliers for four years prior to taking the reins in Detroit.

The Pacers look to pick up their first win of the year against a Central Division foe that won just 14 games last season – the lowest win total in the league. Indiana defeated Detroit in all four of the teams’ matchups last season.

The Pacers’ high octane offense was on full display in all four of those meetings as they averaged 129.5 points in each of those games. They’ll focus on defensive improvement as they begin the 2024-25 season series with Detroit after Indiana allowed them an average of 113.5 points over the season series last year. Cunningham was Detroit’s leading scorer in all of those matchups, eclipsing 30 points twice and scoring 23 in each of the other two contests.

Haliburton led Indiana in scoring in two of those games, and Bennedict Mathurin and Pascal Siakam each led in the remaining two.

Following their matchup with the Pistons, the Pacers will travel to New York on Friday to take on the Knicks, and then return to Indianapolis as they host the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday at 3:30 PM ET in the season’s home opener.

Projected Starters

Pacers: G – Tyrese Haliburton, G – Andrew Nembhard, F – Aaron Nesmith, F – Pascal Siakam, C – Myles Turner

Pistons: G – Cade Cunningham, G – Jaden Ivey, F – Tim Hardaway Jr., F – Tobias Harris, C – Jalen Duren

Injury Report

Pacers: Isaiah Jackson – questionable (right groin strain)

Pistons: Bobi Klintman – out (right calf contusion), Ausar Thompson – out (return to play conditioning)

Last Meeting

Mar. 20, 2024: Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam combined to score 45 points en route to a 122-103 win against the Pistons at Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena. Cade Cunningham tallied 23 points, 10 assists, and six rebounds for the Pistons.

Detroit led by seven points midway through the first quarter, but the Pacers surged back to lead by two points with 1:27 to play in the second quarter. Indiana would then go on a 33-9 run, ballooning the lead to 26 points before the end of the third frame.

The matchup was the Pacers’ best defensive showing in the four game series with the Pistons as they held Detroit to just 41 percent shooting from the field and 22 percent from beyond the arc. Indiana shot 57 percent from the field as well as 38 percent from long range, but sank just 11 of its 18 free throws.

Noteworthy

The Pacers waived guard Cole Swider on Friday, confirming that they’ll start the season with one open roster spot. Swider subsequently signed a two-way contract with Detroit after clearing waivers.

Pacers newcomer James Wiseman spent the 2023-24 NBA season with the Pistons after being traded to Detroit from Golden State in February of 2023. This is his first game against his former team.

Isaiah Jackson is a Michigan native and will play just 25 miles south of his hometown of Pontiac on Wednesday.

Pistons guard Jaden Ivey played his high school basketball in Indiana, first at Marian High school for three years, and then at La Lumiere School for his senior season. He attended Purdue University for two years before being drafted fifth overall in 2022 by the Pistons.

Broadcast Information (TV and Radio Listings >>)

TV: Bally Sports Indiana – Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)

Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan – Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)

Tickets

The Pacers host the Philadelphia 76ers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for Opening Night presented by Kroger on Sunday, Oct. 27 at 3:30 PM ET.

INDY ELEVEN

BLAKE EARNS 8TH USLC “TEAM OF THE WEEK” HONOR

TAMPA, Fla. – For the eighth time this season, Indy Eleven midfielder Jack Blake been named to the USL Championship “Team of the Week”. The 30-year-old Blake was voted to the USL Championship “Team of the Week” on March 12, March 19, April 9, May 7, May 28, August 27, and September 17. Blake’s honor marks the fourth consecutive week that a Boys in Blue player has been on the “Team of the Week” during the team’s current five-match unbeaten streak (3-0-2).

Blake led the Boys in Blue to a playoffs-clinching victory against Birmingham Legion FC on Saturday with a goal and three chances created while completing 29 of 41 passes and recording seven recoveries and two clearances. Just more than 90 seconds after the Eleven had taken a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute, forward Douglas Martinez passed it back to Blake who took one touch to control at the top of the penalty area and unleashed a brilliant strike across his body into the top-left corner of the net. That score is a nominee for the USL Championship Fans’ Choice “Goal of the Week” presented by Select.

It was Blake’s 10th goal of the season, and it came in his 50th start in two years for the Boys in Blue.  His 10 goals in 2024 equals his best professional regular-season total for the Jacksonville Armada in the NASL in 2017. The Nottingham, England, native is one shy of the 11 total goals that he scored for the Real Monarchs SLC in 2019 when he helped them win the USLC Championship. He is now tied for fourth in Indy Eleven franchise USLC history with 13 goals.

The Boys in Blue (14-10-9, 51 points) need a win or tie at the Tampa Bay Rowdies in Saturday’s 7:30 pm regular-season finale to clinch hosting an Eastern Conference quarterfinal in the 2024 USL Championship Playoffs presented by Terminix the first weekend in November. The match will be televised on WNDY 23 and streamed on ESPN+.

INDIANA FOOTBALL

REPORT: INDIANA QB KURTIS ROURKE HAS THUMB SURGERY

Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke underwent surgery on his right thumb Monday and could return sooner than previously expected, ESPN reported Tuesday.

The 13th-ranked and unbeaten Hoosiers (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten) announced that Rourke was out “indefinitely” after he sustained the injury in Saturday’s 56-7 rout of Nebraska.

Backup Tayven Jackson is expected to start Saturday’s home game against Washington (4-3, 2-2) but “there’s now optimism” that Rourke could be back for the Nov. 2 game at Michigan State, per ESPN.

Rourke suffered the injury to his thumb in the second quarter when his throwing hand struck the helmet of a Cornhuskers player. He did not return to the game, with Jackson taking over and finishing the blowout victory.

Rourke, 23, is in his first season at Indiana after starting the previous three years at Ohio. He has completed 74.6 percent of his passes for 1,941 yards with 15 touchdowns and three interceptions in seven starts for the Hoosiers, who lead the nation with 48.7 points per game.

INDIANA MEN’S BASKETBALL

SEVEN HOOSIERS OPEN NBA SEASON ON ACTIVE ROSTERS

OG Anunoby, New York Knicks

NBA Draft: Selected 23rd overall by the Toronto Raptors in the 2017 NBA Draft

NBA Teams: Eighth season (Toronto: 2017-24; New York: 2024-pres.)

Career Averages: 12.0ppg, 4.3rpg, 1.6apg, 1.3spg, 0.5bpg on .474/.376/.745 shooting splits

2023-24 Averages: 14.7ppg, 4.2rpg, 2.1apg, 1.4spg, 0.7bpg on .489/.382/.753 shooting splits

Accolades and accomplishments: 2022-23 NBA All-Defensive Second Team, 2022-23 NBA steals leader, 2019 NBA Champion

Thomas Bryant, Miami Heat

NBA Draft: Selected 42nd overall by the Utah Jazz in the 2017 NBA Draft – rights traded to the Lakers

NBA Teams: Eighth season (Los Angeles (L): 2017-18, ’22-23; Washington: 2018-22; Denver: 2022-23; Miami: 2023-pres.)

Career Averages: 10.1ppg, 5.7rpg, 1.1apg, 0.3spg, 0.8bpg on .598/.366/.757 shooting splits

2022-23 Averages: 9.8ppg, 5.7rpg, 0.5apg, 0.3spg, 0.5bpg on .623/.441/.738 shooting splits

Accolades and accomplishments: 2023 NBA Champion, All-Big Ten Third Team, Big Ten All-Freshman Team

Eric Gordon, Philadelphia 76ers

NBA Draft: Selected 7th overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2008 NBA Draft

NBA Teams: 17th season (Los Angeles (C): 2008-11, ’22-23; New Orleans: 2011-16; Houston: 2016-23; Phoenix: 2023-24; Philadelphia: 2024-pres.)

Career Averages: 15.7ppg, 2.3rpg, 2.8apg, 0.8spg, 0.4bpg on .430/.371/.811 shooting splits

2023-24 Averages: 11.0ppg, 1.8rpg, 2.0apg, 1.0spg, 0.4bpg on .443/.378/.797 shooting splits

Accolades and accomplishments: 2008-09 NBA All-Rookie Second Team, 2016-17 NBA Sixth Man of the Year, 13,868 career NBA points ranks fourth all time by an IU alum (Walt Bellamy – 20,941; Isiah Thomas – 18,822; Tom Van Arsdale – 14,232), Freshman All-American, Big Ten Freshman of the Year, All-Big Ten First Team, Big Ten All-Freshman Team

Jalen Hood-Schifino, Los Angeles Lakers

NBA Draft: Selected 17th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2023 NBA Draft

NBA Teams: Second season (Los Angeles (L): 2023-pres.)

Career Averages: 1.6ppg, 0.6rpg, 0.4apg, 0.1spg, 0.1bpg on .222/.133/.600 shooting splits

2023-24 Averages: 1.6ppg, 0.6rpg, 0.4apg, 0.1spg, 0.1bpg on .222/.133/.600 shooting splits

Accolades and accomplishments: Big Ten Freshman of the Year, All-Big Ten Second Team, Big Ten All-Freshman Team

Trayce Jackson-Davis, Golden State Warriors

NBA Draft: Selected 57th overall by the Washington Wizards in the 2023 NBA Draft – rights traded to the Warriors

NBA Teams: Second season (Golden State: 2023-pres.)

Career Averages: 7.9ppg, 5.0rpg, 1.2apg, 0.4spg, 1.1bpg on .702/—/.561 shooting splits

2023-24 Averages: 7.9ppg, 5.0rpg, 1.2apg, 0.4spg, 1.1bpg on .702/—/.561 shooting splits

Accolades and accomplishments: Consensus All-American, Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year, All-Big Ten First Team, Big Ten All-Freshman Team, two-time All-Big Ten Defensive Team

Kel’el Ware, Miami Heat

NBA Draft: Selected 15th overall by the Miami Heat in the 2024 NBA Draft

NBA Teams: First season (Miami: 2024-pres.)

Career Averages: n/a

2023-24 Averages: n/a

Accolades and accomplishments: All-Big Ten Second Team, All-Big Ten Defensive Team

Cody Zeller, Atlanta Hawks

NBA Draft: Selected 4th overall by the Charlotte Bobcats in the 2013 NBA Draft

NBA Teams: 12th season (Charlotte: 2013-21; Portland: 2021-22; Miami: 2022-23; New Orleans: 2023-24; Atlanta: 2024-pres.)

Career Averages: 7.9ppg, 5.7rpg, 1.3apg, 0.6spg, 0.6bpg on .520/.220/.727 shooting splits

2023-24 Averages: 1.8ppg, 1.5rpg, 0.9apg, 0.2spg, 0.1bpg on .419/.333/.605 shooting splits

Accolades and accomplishments: 2013-14 NBA All-Rookie Second Team, 2023 NBA runner-up, All-America Second Team, Co-Big Ten Freshman of the Year, All-Big Ten First Team, Big Ten All-Freshman Team

PURDUE/BIG 10 MEN’S BASKETBALL

PURDUE SHOOTING FOR 3RD STRAIGHT BIG TEN TITLE. PAINTER SAYS CONFERENCE EXPANSION MAKES TASK TOUGHER

Purdue has won 63 of its last 74 games and two straight Big Ten championships, played in the national title game in April and has the conference’s preseason player of the year among its three returning starters.

All that makes the 14th-ranked Boilermakers the favorite to win the league again.

Coach Matt Painter said whichever team finishes on top in the first season of an 18-team Big Ten will be the one that stays healthy, makes its own breaks and maybe gets a little lucky.

“It’s just a crap shoot,” he said. “It’s good that people pick you to win your league, but it really means nothing. If you are there in the first week of March, then it does mean something.”

Braden Smith is the preseason player of the year and joined by returning starters Fletcher Loyer and Trey Kaufman-Renn from the team that won a school-record 34 games. Four other players in the rotation also are back.

Seven of the 18 teams were in the NCAA Tournament last season — Purdue, Illinois, Nebraska, Northwestern, Wisconsin and Michigan State and conference newcomer Oregon.

How Oregon and the other West Coast teams fit in and how all 18 handle greater travel demands are unknowns that make it hard to predict a pecking order. Painter said navigating the season will be difficult. For his team, the first month includes games against No. 2 Alabama, No. 18 Marquette and possibly No. 24 Mississippi at a Thanksgiving event.

“And that’s the one thing when you play a challenging schedule like we have in nonconference, that you have to get yourself prepared because it is such a bear when you get to Big Ten play,” Painter said.

Besides Purdue, Big Ten teams in the preseason AP Top 25 are No. 17 Indiana, No. 22 UCLA and No. 25 Rutgers.

Who’s back

G Braden Smith, Purdue, 6-0, 170, Jr: Big Ten preseason player of the year averaged 12 points, 7.5 assists and 5.8 rebounds per game. He was the only player in NCAA history to have at least 450 points, 290 assists and 250 rebounds in a season.

F Payton Sandford, Iowa, 6-8, 215, Sr.: Averaged 16.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists. His 94 3-pointers led the Big Ten, and he was second in free-throw shooting (91.1%).

G Ace Baldwin Jr., Penn State, 6-1, 190, Gr.: He was conference defensive player of the year with 2.67 steals per game, most by a Big Ten player since 1992-93. He averaged 14.2 points and 6 assists.

F Dawson Garcia, Minnesota, 6-11, 234, Sr.: Averaged a team-best 17.6 points and 6.7 rebounds. He had 20-plus points 12 times, including three 30-point games.

G Bruce Thornton, Ohio State, 6-2, 215, Jr.: Led Buckeyes with 15.7 points, 4.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game. His 4-to-1 assist-turnover ratio was second-best in the country.

Top transfers

C Oumar Ballo, Indiana, 7-0, 265, Sr.: The two-time All-Pac-12 first-team pick had 1,273 points, 867 rebounds, 109 assists, 76 steals, and 140 blocks in 132 career games with Arizona and Gonzaga. His teams were 112-20 in games in which he played.

C Vladislav Goldin, Michigan, 7-1, 250, Gr.: He was on the 2023 Florida Atlantic team that reached the Final Four. Last season he averaged 15.7 points and 6.9 rebounds. He pulled his name out of the NBA draft to follow his coach, Dusty May, to Michigan.

F Great Osobor, Washington, 6-8, 250, Sr.: He was Mountain West player and newcomer of the year for Utah State. He averaged 17.7 points and 9 rebounds, shot 57.7% from the field and blocked 50 shots.

G Myles Rice, Indiana, 6-3, 185, So.: He was Pac-12 freshman of the year and an all-conference first-team pick for Washington State, averaging 14.8 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists.

G Kylan Boswell, Illinois, 6-2, 205, Jr.: He averaged 9.6 points and scored in double figures 20 times for Arizona. His 50 steals were most by an Arizona player since 2016-17.

Top freshmen

G/F Ace Bailey, Rutgers, 6-10, 200: Consensus five-star prospect and top-five national recruit by Rivals, ESPN and 247Sports. He averaged 33.4 points, 15.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.9 blocks at McEachern High in Powder Springs, Georgia.

G Dylan Harper, Rutgers, 6-6, 215: Top-five national recruit who averaged 23 points for Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, New Jersey. Son of retired 15-year NBA player Ron Harper and brother of ex-Rutgers player Ron Jr.

F Bryson Tucker, Indiana, 6-7, 207: Five-star prospect out of Bishop O’Connell in Arlington, Virginia, is a consensus top-30 recruit who excels in the mid-range.

F Will Riley, Illinois, 6-8, 195: National top-10 recruit for the 2025 class who reclassified to the Class of 2024. Averaged 26.5 points, 6 rebounds and 4.1 assists for The Phelps School in Pennsylvania.

F Derik Queen, Maryland, 6-10, 246: Consensus five-star and top-15 prospect played three seasons at Montverde Academy in Florida. He led Montverde to a 33-0 record with 16.4 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.

On the coaching front

Eric Musselman was hired at Southern California after Andy Enfield left for SMU. Musselman has extensive experience at the pro and college levels. He had five NCAA Tournament appearances and 20 or more wins in eight of his nine seasons at Nevada and Arkansas.

Dusty May, who led Florida Atlantic to the 2023 Final Four, was hired at Michigan following six winning seasons with the Owls. The Wolverines have missed two straight NCAAs and plummeted to 8-24 in Juwan Howard’s final season.

Jake Diebler takes over for Chris Holtmann at Ohio State. Diebler, who had been associate head coach since 2021, was named interim coach following Holtmann’s firing in February and went 6-2 with wins over Purdue and Nebraska.

Danny Sprinkle replaces Mike Hopkins at Washington after turning around Utah State in his only season with the Aggies. Utah State won 28 games and the Mountain West regular-season title and won a game in the NCAA Tournament. Washington hasn’t gone to the tournament since 2019.

PURDUE VOLLEYBALL

#10 PURDUE SET TO HOST OHIO STATE, #8 WISCONSIN

Wednesday, October 23

7 p.m. ET | Ohio State at #10 Purdue  | BTN | WSHY 104.3 FM

National Croc Day – Gibit Giveaway

Saturday, October 26

3:30 p.m. ET | #8 Wisconsin at #10 Purdue  | NBC | WSHY 104.3 FM

Goldout Match | Mackey Match

West Lafayette, Ind. – Entering the week with six wins in the last seven matches, the No. 10 Purdue Boilermakers (15-4, 6-2 Big Ten) are set to host the Ohio State Buckeyes (8-10, 1-7 Big Ten) in a midweek matchup before taking on the No. 8 Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday in Mackey Arena.

Purdue and Ohio State will clash Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network. Meanwhile, Purdue’s sixth top-10 battle will air on NBC on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET inside a sold-out Mackey Arena. It will be the second collegiate volleyball match in history to be nationally televised on NBC and will tie the record Purdue set last weekend with the largest attendance at a Big Ten regular-season match.

PURDUE VS. OHIO STATE: HISTORY AT A GLANCE

Purdue is 3-2 over the last five meetings vs. Ohio State.

The Boilermakers and Buckeyes are nearly even in home/away series, with Purdue owning the 24-17 record in West Lafayette and Ohio State holding the 17-26 edge in Columbus.

Neither team has swept the other since 2018, seeing eight consecutive four or five setters.

PURDUE VS. WISCONSIN: HISTORY AT A GLANCE

Purdue is 21-20 all-time in home matches vs. Wisconsin.

Over the last five matches, Purdue holds the winning record with three wins, two of which have come in West Lafayette.

The Boilermakers are coming off a thrilling five-set win vs. Wisconsin in Holloway Gymnasium last season, which was also a Gold Out match.

PURDUE: QUICK HITS

The team is #12 in the nation in blocks per set (2.80), #14 in kills per set (13.86) and #16 in hitting % (.281).

Eva Hudson and Chloe Chicoine were named to the AVCA Player of the Year Watch List in September.

Three Boilers are averaging 2.5 kills per set or higher: Hudson (4.31), Chicoine (3.29) and Colvin (2.61).

Purdue is 49-21 in sets won this season.

The Boilers are averaging .281 hitting %. To put in perspective, it would rank as #3 in Purdue single-season history if things were to end today. It would be just the second time this century the Boilers have hit so efficiently.

Raven Colvin is #4 in the nation in blocks per set (including #1 in the Big Ten) with 1.63 per set, which would tie the program record if the season were to end today, while her .404 hitting % would rank #2 in Purdue single-season history. To put in perspective, the current season-record is .409% (First Team All-American Stephanie Lynch in 2008) and 1.63 blocks per set (Taylor Trammell, 2020).

Freshman DS Ryan McAleer has recorded a perfect reception % in 12 matches. Moreover, she recorded six aces at then-#16 Minnesota, tying as the most-ever by a Purdue freshman. She set a new career-high 15 digs vs. Indiana (10/19).

Eva Hudson has stepped up in the biggest matches of the season. She set a season-high 26 kills on a .349% at #2 Nebraska and nearly had an errorless match at now-#9 Kansas, committing just one attack error in the final points of the match. This season, she is averaging 4.31 kills per set and 4.72 points per set this season.

HUDSON: STRONG STARTS IN SET 1

Eva Hudson has opened the last two matches with an errorless attack in Set 1.

She’s gone errorless in the opening game in nine of 19 matches, including four of five top-25 matchups.

PURDUE IN 5-SET MATCHES

Purdue is 11-6 in five-set matches over the last three seasons, including 2-1 in 2024.

The Boilermakers have gone errorless in the last two fifth sets: 13-0-27 at #2 Nebraska and 9-0-20 vs. #RV UCLA).

The Boilers have hit over .400 in every 5th set this season (.429 at #16 Minnesota, .481% at #2 Nebraska, .450 vs. #RV UCLA).

14,870 STRONG: SETTING A BIG TEN-MATCH ATTENDANCE RECORD

Purdue set the Big Ten regular-season match attendance record, the state of Indiana attendance record for volleyball, and the Purdue volleyball home attendance record last Saturday. Saturday’s match vs. Wisconsin will tied the record, as it is already sold out.

Purdue eclipsed the old attendance record for a regular-season match between two Big Ten opponents, which stood at 10,927 (#23 Illinois at #2 Minnesota, 10/16/04). It will also set a Purdue volleyball home attendance record.

The matches have been sold out for nearly a month. (Sold out on Friday, September 20).

The last time Purdue volleyball played in Mackey Arena was in 2016 vs. Indiana, which also happened to be the Monon Spike match in front of a crowd of 8,240 fans.

Last week’s match was the second-largest crowd in women’s volleyball this year.

The last and only time Purdue and Wisconsin met in Mackey Arena was in 2008, which the attendance of 10,570 fans was second-largest crowd to witness a Big Ten regular-season match in conference history.

PURDUE IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS: 118 CONSECUTIVE WEEKS

The program has been ranked for 118 consecutive weeks (since preseason 2017), the longest active streak in Purdue Athletics. 

Since the 2021 spring season, Purdue has been ranked among the top-10 for 35 weeks.

The Boilermakers’ history of excellence includes 53 of the last 69 weeks ranked among the top-15 (75%).

Purdue has spent the entirety of the 2024 season in the top-10 (includes preseason poll).

RECAP: #10 PURDUE VS. UCLA (23-25, 27-25, 25-20, 19-25, 15-11)

Purdue ground out a 3-2 win vs. UCLA in the first-ever regular season meeting

The Boilermakers posted a Big Ten match season-high .325 hitting %, which included an errorless Set 5’s .450%.

Six individual season and/or career-highs were set along the way.

Taylor Anderson led with 51 assists, 12 digs, five blocks and a career-high seven kills. She was responsible for three kills and a block assist in Set 5, including a block and kill on back-to-back points for the 12-8 advantage. It was the fourth match this season she’s reached 50 assists and the seventh match with a double-double.

Eva Hudson led the attack with 24 kills on 56 attacks with two errors (.393%). The outside hitter tied a career-high 17 digs in the outing, the most since her freshman season (17 vs. Illinois, 9/30/22), and went errorless in three of the five sets.

The Boilermakers came back to steal Set 2 in its largest set comeback of the season to win it 27-25. The 10-2 run to end the set included five UCLA set points, marking the second time this season that the Boilermakers have erased multiple set points during its comeback.

Raven Colvin finished with a team-leading hitting % (.556) while registering 17 kills and 2 errors on 27 attacks and six total blocks (1-5). She came just two kills shy of tying her career-high and moved into #2 all-time in Purdue career blocks.

Chicoine was errorless in four of the team’s five sets as she finished the night with 15 kills and three attack errors on 52 swings (.231%). 

EVA HUDSON: A FORCE

Hudson is averaging 4.31 kills per set, 2.44 digs per set and 4.72 points per set as a junior.

Has set a Big Ten season-high hitting % in three of the last four matches, beginning with a .349 clip at #2 Nebraska (26-4-63), and most recently a .417 clip, the second-highest overall this season, vs. Indiana (17-2-36).

She has posted a double-double in each week of Big Ten play, all of which have come on the road (at #2 Nebraska, at #16 Minnesota and Northwestern).

At #2 Nebraska, went errorless and hit .500 (5-0-10) in Set 2, hit .500% in Set 3 (7-1-12) and errorless in Set 5 (7-0-18).

Hudson went errorless in Set 2 vs. #10 Kentucky to help turn the tides, posting an 8-0-11 (.727) performance on the way to Purdue’s 3-1 victory.

Has posted at least one errorless set in every match this season.

Went errorless for nearly the entire match at #10 Kansas until the very end, forfeiting one attack error with the score 20-20 in Set 4. She finished the match 17-1-53.

Posted 15 kills over just two sets of action vs. #10 Kentucky and seven of Purdue’s 15 points in Set 5 at #2 Nebraska.

She is averaging a .268 clip, but hit over .400 in back-to-back matches over opening weekend.

She’s hit over .300 in 3 of 5 matches vs. top-10 foes, including just one error at Kansas.

Hudson is on track to become Purdue’s all-time leader in career kills/set (4.32 currently; record is 3.96).

Last year, the 2023 AVCA Second Team All-America honoree ranked #1 in the Big Ten and #5 in the nation in kills (560) and #2 in the Big Ten, #12 in the nation in total points (605.5).

She is the fastest Boilermaker to reach 1,000 career kills in the rally-scoring era and recorded more kills over her first two years than any Boilermaker to come through the program (1,075).

Number of season / career double-doubles: 6 / 23

Number of matches in season / career with 15+ kills: 13 / 59

Number of matches in season / career with 20+ kills: 2 / 15

Number of matches in season / career hitting .300% or above: 9 / 31

Number of matches in season / career hitting .350% or above: 5 / 18

Number of matches in season / career hitting .400% or above: 3 / 11

Number of errorless sets in season: 26

SMOOTH & STEADY: SETTER TAYLOR ANDERSON

She leads not only all Big Ten setters with 67 blocks this season (second-most is 48 by USC’s Mia Tuaniga), but all setters at Power 4 programs. In perspective, Anderson also owns more blocks than Big Ten middles Andi Jackson (Nebraska), Taylor Trammell (Penn State), and Devyn Robinson, Carter Booth and Anna Smrek (Wisconsin).

Anderson has set Purdue to seven matches over .300%, including  .311% at #2 Nebraska, .310 vs. #10 Kentucky and .450 vs. UC Davis.

Anderson has gotten more aggressive on the attack compared to her freshman season, averaging .60 kills per set compared to .31 from last season (35 kills in 2023 vs. 34 in 2024). In fact, her numbers are up in virtually every category including digs per set (1.97 vs.  2.27), assists per set (9.88 vs. 10.80) and blocks (.85 vs. .96).

She set a season-high 13 digs alongside 47 assists in the four-set victory at Northwestern (10/4).

Has posted 7 or more blocks four times this season (last: 7 at #2 Nebraska)

40 or more assist in a match this season: 10

45 or more assists in a match this season: 7

50 or more assists in a match this season: 4

Double-doubles this season: 8 (including five of the last seven matches)

NOTRE DAME WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

HIDALGO NAMED PRESEASON AP ALL-AMERICAN

Hannah Hidalgo’s ever-growing list of accolades just added another line, as the sophomore was named a Preseason AP All-American on Tuesday.

A now-sophomore from Southern New Jersey, Hidalgo averaged 22.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 4.6 steals per contest last year. Her 22.6 points per contest was a Notre Dame record, and she broke both the steals/game and total steals Irish records while leading the country in swipes.

Hidalgo and fellow rookie JuJu Watkins earned First Team AP All-America honors last year, becoming the fourth and fifth freshmen in history to earn the honor.

Hidalgo has already been named the Preseason ACC Player of the Year ahead of this season.

NOTRE DAME SWIMMING

IRISH FACE NO. 6 INDIANA IN FALL BREAK SHOWDOWN

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Notre Dame women’s swimming and diving will be back on the road during fall break this week, as the Irish head to Bloomington to face No. 6 Indiana.

Notre Dame is coming off of a pair of losses to No. 14 Michigan and No. 15 Wisconsin last weekend. The highlight of the meet was Carli Cronk’s 400 IM, as the freshman won the event and earned an NCAA B cut with a time of 4:15.53. That mark ranks eighth in school history and is the sixth-fastest time in the NCAA this season.

Through just two collegiate meets, Cronk has finished first or second in four of six individual events.

On the other side of the deck, Indiana has a loaded squad that returns the majority of its stars from last season’s team that went 8-0 in dual meets and won the Big Ten. The group finished seventh at NCAA Championships, tying a program record for highest finish.

The Hoosiers are led by senior Anna Peplowski, who earned a gold medal in the 4×200 free relay at the Paris Olympics this summer, and Mariah Denigan, a member of this year’s U.S. National Team as an open water swimmer.

Wednesday’s meet at the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center begins at 3 p.m. Notre Dame last faced Indiana in 2019 and last traveled to Bloomington in 2018.

NOTRE DAME MEN’S SOCCER

HUGE SECOND HALF POWERS IRISH TO WIN OVER UIC, 5-0

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The Notre Dame men’s soccer team turned in an attacking masterclass in the second half of Tuesday’s matchup against UIC, scoring five goals, including four in six minutes, to come away with the 5-0 victory over the Flames.

The win improves Notre Dame’s season record to 6-3-5.

Sebastian Green and Wyatt Lewis each recorded the first brace of their careers, finishing with two goals apiece on the evening. Jack Flanagan found the back of the net for the fourth time this season while Matthew Roou picked up two assists.

On the defensive end, Collin Travasos recorded his first clean sheet in an Irish uniform, making two saves in a winning effort.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Irish controlled the majority of the first half but were unable to find the breakthrough goal, as the match was a scoreless deadlock after the first 45 minutes of action.

Notre Dame’s best chance came in the 20th minute. A Matthew Roou shot was spilled by the UIC keeper into the path of KK Baffour but his follow up shot was saved, keeping the match scoreless.

The Irish created another look in the 41st minute, as Baffour centered a pass to Nolan Spicer but the Flames’ goalie made a kick save, sending the match to the half with a 0-0 score.

The second half began with Notre Dame continuing to apply pressure to the Flames’ backline and it paid off in the 53rd minute, on Flanagan’s goal to put the Irish up 1-0. Ian Shaul was key in the buildup, making a driving run from midfield to the edge of the area. He then played a pass to Stevie Dunphy, who was taken down in the area but the ball fell to Flanagan, who poked it over the UIC keeper to break the deadlock.

Fourteen minutes later UIC earned a free kick on the edge of the area and fired a shot that appeared to be heading just inside the far post but Travasos made a diving save to keep the Irish in front and the lead intact.

After the save the floodgates broke open for the Notre Dame attack. Lewis scored in the 70th minute off a feed from Roou to double the lead by making the score 2-0.

Then Green scored two goals in the span of less than two minutes to break the match wide open at 4-0.

The first came off a great pass from Roou, which played Green in on goal. The junior took a deft touch to round the UIC keeper and somehow kept his balance before sliding the ball into the empty net. Then in the 73rd minute a shot from Lewis was saved and Green slotted the rebound in for his second of the evening.

Less than three minutes after the fourth goal the Irish struck for a fifth and final time, Lewis secured his brace. A beautiful passage of passing between Bryce Boneau and Nolan Spicer ended with a final ball to Lewis, who made no mistake with the finish, putting an exclamation mark on a dominant performance.

McFARLAND FAMILY MEN’S HEAD SOCCER COACH CHAD RILEY’S TAKE

On the match…

“I’m proud of the group tonight. We were decent in the first half but weren’t able to put one in. We lost a lot of the second ball battles and balls in general that UIC were winning. Then in the second half we came out really strong and started winning those second balls and started playing forward a little bit quicker. The goal came off a moment of magic from Ian Shaul to start the play and then a great finish from Jack Flanagan to get us going.”

On scoring four goals in six minutes…

“It was amazing. Once we started connecting in the final third and in transition we had unbelievable composure in the box to play another pass and finish the plays off really well.”

On the clean sheet…

“For the most part we did well. It took us a little while to get used to their direct play in the first half but then in the second half we handled it much better. I thought Collin [Travasos] was excellent in goal tonight.”

UP NEXT

Notre Dame will end the regular season on the road, as it has two ACC tests remaining on the schedule. The Irish travel out west for their first ever conference clash with Cal at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, Oct. 27. The match will be streamed on ACCNX.

BUTLER MEN’S SOCCER

PREVIEW: BUTLER HOSTS XAVIER BEFORE TRAVELING TO CREIGHTON

The Butler men’s soccer team hosts Xavier for a Tuesday match in the Sellick Bowl and then hits the road for its final BIG EAST away match, at Creighton.
 
Butler (3-8-3, 0-5-0 BIG EAST) is coming off a loss to UConn in its only match last week.
 
Xavier (4-5-5, 1-2-2 BIG EAST) sits fourth in the Midwest Division standings with a win over St. John’s and ties with Marquette and DePaul. The Musketeers defeated No. 2 Marshall earlier in the season.
 
Creighton (7-4-3, 2-2-1 BIG EAST)* is second in the Midwest Division with wins over Xavier and Villanova and a tie with Providence. The Bluejays defeated (rv) Grand Canyon earlier this season. Creighton will play Akron on Wednesday, prior to Saturday’s match with Butler.
 
Butler vs UConn
DATE/TIME:    Wednesday, October 23 / 7PM
LOCATION:      Indianapolis // Sellick Bowl
LIVE VIDEO:     FloSports
LIVE STATS:     butlersports.com/StatBroadcast
TICKETS:           butlersports.com

Butler at Creighton
DATE/TIME:    Saturday, October 26 / 4PM ET (3PM CT)
LOCATION:      Omaha, Neb. // Morrison Stadium
LIVE VIDEO:     FloSports
LIVE STATS:     butlersports.com/StatBroadcast

Bulldog Bits

           (as of 10/21/24)

Josemir Gomez ranks 2nd in the BIG EAST with 7 goals (37th nationally) and ranks 3rd with 16 total points (48th).

Ryan Hannosh ranks 4th in the BIG EAST (91st nationally) with 5 goals, 5th (78th) with 14 total points, and 10th (99th) with 4 assists.

Palmer Ault ranks 10th in the BIG EAST (99th nationally) with 4 assists.

Caleb Norris is second in the BIG EAST (37th nationally) with 50 total saves.

In the 10 most recent contests with Xavier, since 2016, Butler holds a 5-1-4 advantage.

The teams have tied in the previous two matches.

Butler’s most recent win (2-1) was in 2021 in Cincinnati, while Xavier’s most recent win (5-3) was in 2018, also in Cincinnati.

In Butler’s 10 most recent matches with Creighton, since 2016, the Bluejays hold a 5-4-1 advantage.

The teams tied, 2-2, last season in Indianapolis, and Creighton won in 2022.

Butler’s most recent win (3-2) in the series was in April 2021 in Indianapolis.

BUTLER WOMEN’S GOLF

BUTLER WOMEN CLAIM DAYTON FLYER INVITATIONAL TEAM TITLE

The Butler women entered and closed the final day of the Dayton Flyer Invitational at the top of the leaderboard, claiming the team title in their final event of the fall.

The Bulldog women finished the event with five players among the Top 15, led by freshman Treva Dodd. She tied for fourth at 15-over 225.

As a team, the Bulldogs entered with a four-shot advantage and held on to take the team victory. Scores for all teams were significantly higher with Tuesday’s final round as Butler shot 310 (+30) after opening the event with rounds of 302 and 295 Monday. The Bulldogs (907, +67) ended up two shots better than Akron, which leapfrogged Ohio on Tuesday after the Bobcats were the team that was just off Butler’s pace Monday night.

Katie Steinman and Kelli Scheck tied for ninth at 227 (+17). Ashley Freitas, competing as an individual, and Cybil Stillson tied for 11th at 228 (+18).

Toledo’s Yadam Lee took individual medalist honors at 10-over 220, carding two-over 72s in both the second and third rounds to secure the victory. Akron’s Sohniya Chandra Mohan was two shots back.

THE BUTLER WOMEN:

T4) Treva Dodd, 76-74-75—225 (+15)

T9) Katie Steinman, 78-68-81—227 (+17)

T9) Kelli Scheck, 77-76-74—227 (+17)

T11) Cybil Stillson, 71-77-80—228 (+18)

T11) Ashley Freitas (playing as an individual), 76-75-77—228 (+18)

T48) Yaya Sadamoto, 86-85-82—253 (+43)

THE MEN’S EVENT:

The Butler men were also in Kettering, Ohio over the last two days, competing on the NCR Country Club south course while the women took over the north course. Freshman Logan Sutto captured a Top 10 finish, laying claim to seventh place. Sutto opened the event Monday with a one-under round of 70, following that with a 73 and 72 to give him a 54-hole total of two-over 215.

Kent State’s Jordan Gilkison took medalist honors at three-under 210. He led Kent State to the team title at 867 (+15), which was two shots clear of Marquette. Butler finished seventh in the 12-team field at 889 (+37).

THE BUTLER MEN:

7) Logan Sutto, 70-73-72—215 (+2)

T24) Derek Tabor, 76-75-71—222 (+9)

T28) Will Horne, 70-77-76—223 (+10)

T46) Johnny Creamean (playing as an individual), 73-80-74—227 (+14)

56) Leo Zurovac, 74-76-80—230 (+17)

71) Luke Kruger, 81-78-79—238 (+25)

UP NEXT: The 54 holes in Dayton served as the final event of the fall for the Butler women. The Bulldog men will close out the fall portion of their schedule next week in Hawaii with the Kapolei Invitational (Oct. 29-31).

IU INDY WOMEN’S GOLF

JAGUARS CLOSE OUT FALL SLATE AT TERRIER INTERCOLLEGIATE

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The IU Indianapolis women’s golf team closed with a final round 323 at the Terrier Intercollegiate at Carolina Country Club on Tuesday (Oct. 22), drawing a close to the Jaguars’ fall slate. The final round 323 was the team’s best round of the event as the Jaguars closed at 982 (333-326-323) for the event.

Juniors Reagan Sohn and Yanah Rolston paced the Jaguars on Tuesday with final rounds, of 7-over 79. Sohn made birdie on her opening hole of the day and fired a second one near the end of the round. Rolston added a birdie late in the round on the par-4, No. 7 as part of her 79.

Sydni Zebrauskas shot 10-over 82 and freshman Cassidy Ayres capped the scoring group at 12-over 84.

Rolston concluded the event as the team’s low scorer at 234 (78-77-79), tying for eighth among the field with seven birdies for the week. She ultimately finished tied for 19th among the 70-player field. Zebrauskas tied for 47th overall at 246 (81-83-82).

Rolston finished the fall as the team’s low scorer with a 76.7 stroke average in five events. Sophomore Nina Wojtczak, who missed the event due to injury, is second overall at 79.0.

Samford’s Gabi Nicastro cruised to medalist honors, finishing the event at 7-under 209 with back-to-back rounds of 68 to close. Samford also collected the team title by eight shots over second place Queens-Charlotte.

IU INDY MEN’S GOLF

JAGUARS FINISH FIFTH AT XAVIER INVITATIONAL; GIRGIS CLAIMS ANOTHER TOP-10

CINCINNATI, Ohio – The IU Indianapolis men’s golf team earned a fifth-place finish at this week’s Xavier Invitational at Maketewah Country Club, closing the 54-hole event at 863 (282-292-289). The Jaguars seemingly led the event through 36 holes, but a late disqualification added 10 shots to the team’s second round score, moving IU Indy out of the top spot. However, another balanced final round 289 helped the Jaguars seize a fifth-place finish. Host Xavier won the tournament at 855 and Austin Peay and UConn were next in line at 861 each. 

Senior Colten Girgis collected his fourth top-10 finish of the fall slate at 216 (70-73-73) with a final round, 3-over 73.

“This week I was able to get the ball in good position off the tee and took the big numbers out of play,” Girgis said. “I also felt like my chipping was in good form this week.

“Having played well this fall, going into this offseason I’m looking forward to dial in some numbers and work on my putting to push for a win in the spring.”

On Tuesday, freshman Daymian Rij continued his torrid play with an even par, 70 to top the lineup and Sam McWilliams shot 2-over 72. Girgis was countable at 73, as was sophomore Titus Boswell at 74. Fellow sophomore Brady Schier finished at 6-over 76. The Jaguars countable four played the back nine to even par, including Boswell who shot 1-under 34 on the back nine and both McWilliams and Rij shot even par 35.

Boswell and McWilliams both finished the event at 218, tied for 17th overall and Schier closed tied for 29th at 221.

Girgis led the field with 38 pars while McWilliams also ranked among the event leaders with 34. Schier and Rij had a team-high 10 birdies apiece and Boswell had nine for the tournament.

Girgis closed the fall season with the team’s best scoring average at 72.8 and Boswell is next in line at 73.5. McWilliams closed the fall slate at 73.7.

APSU’s Seth Smith earned medalist honors at 3-under 207 and Xavier’s Kyle Smith was runner-up at 1-under 209.

BALL STATE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

WBB SELECTED AS FAVORITE IN MAC PRESEASON POLL; BECKI AND BISCHOFF TABBED TO THE ALL-MAC TEAMS

CLEVELAND, Ohio – – As the Ball State women’s basketball team awaits the opportunity to write its story for the 2024-25 season, the Mid-American Conference’s 12 head coaches provided a nice prologue by naming the Cardinals the preseason favorite to win both the league’s regular season and tournament titles.

Ball State earned 120 votes and 10 of 12 first-place votes to stand atop the 2024-25 MAC Preseason Poll, with Kent State in second with 104 points and two first-place votes. The Cardinals also garnered eight votes to win the conference tournament, with Bowling Green, Buffalo, Kent State and Toledo each picking up one of the other four.

The Cardinals also placed seniors Ally Becki and Madelyn Bischoff on the Preseason All-MAC Team, with Becki earning a spot on the first team and Bischoff tabbed on the second team.

Becki earned MAC postseason accolades for the third straight year last season after leading the team in scoring average at 13.0 points per game. She became the 17th member of the program to reach 1,000+ career points and 500+ career rebounds last season. A three-time MAC Player of the Week in 2023-24, Becki scored her 1,000th career point in the nationally televised win over Toledo (Jan. 21). The star-studded junior tallied a career-best 36-points at Central Michigan (Jan. 17), with the total tying as the fifth-most points scored in a game in program history.

Bischoff was one of the nation’s best shooters behind the arc last season, leading the Cardinals with 77 3-pointers made. After her highest point, she ranked 25th among all NCAA Division I players in 3-pointers per game, 30th in total 3-pointers, and 34th in 3-point percentage. Bischoff chipped in a season-best 22 points last year at Troy (Nov. 11) and hasreached double-digit scoring 20 times over her career. She was also selected to the 2023-24 All-MAC Third Team.

Ball State had a highly successful 2023-24 season under the direction of head coach Brady Sallee who is entering his 13th season. The Cardinals tallied 28 overall wins and 16 MAC victories, with both being program records. Ball State earned the No. 2 seed in the MAC Tournament, reaching the semifinals for the third-straight season, and received votes in the USA Today Top 25 Coaches Poll for nine straight weeks during the year. Ball State ended the season by hosting the first round of the inaugural NCAA Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament.

The Ball State women’s basketball team will open its 2024-25 season with an exhibition contest against IU Kokomo on Oct. 30 at 6:30 pm ET in Worthen Arena.

2024-25 MAC Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll

(First Place Votes)

1. Ball State (10) – 120 points

2. Kent State (2) – 104 points

3. Buffalo – 98 points

4. Bowling Green – 96 points

5. Toledo – 82 points

T-6. Northern Illinois – 64 points

T-6. Ohio – 64 points

8. Miami – 44 points

9. Akron – 43 points

10. Western Michigan – 34 points

11. Eastern Michigan – 23 points

12. Central Michigan – 20 points

Tournament Champion: Ball State- 8, Bowling Green- 1, Buffalo- 1, Kent State- 1, Toledo- 1

2024-25 MAC Women’s Basketball Preseason All-MAC Teams

First Team

Ally Becki, Ball State, Senior

Amy Velasco, Bowling Green, Senior

Chellia Watson, Buffalo, Fifth Year

Jenna Batsch, Kent State, Senior

Kirsten Lewis-Williams, Buffalo, Sophomore

Second Team

Brooke Stonebraker, Northern Illinois, Graduate Student

Erika Porter, Bowling Green, Fifth Year

Jaya McClure, Ohio, Junior

Madelyn Bischoff, Ball State, Senior

Sammi Mikonowicz, Toledo, Graduate Student

WBB TO HOST NATIONALLY TELEVISED GAME ON CBS SPORTS NETWORK AGAINST MAC RIVAL TOLEDO ON JAN. 20

MUNCIE, Ind. — For the second consecutive season, the Ball State women’s basketball team will host a nationally televised regular season contest when Mid-American Conference rival Toledo visits Worthen Arena on Monday, Jan. 20 at 11 a.m. ET.

This will also be the third season in a row the Cardinals will play on a national stage. Ball State has been chosen to display its past success on ESPN2, ESPNU and CBS Sports Network. Last year, Ball State won both of its nationally televised contests beating Toledo, 65-61, in Muncie on CBSN and Kent State on the road on ESPNU by a score of 75-71.

MAC women’s basketball has consistently been on the rise, and so have the Cardinals. Ball State head coach Brady Sallee and his staff have put together an array of challenging non-conference opponents this year.

Ball State had a highly successful 2023-24 season, with its 28 overall wins and 16 MAC victories both being program records. The Cardinals earned the No. 2 seed in the MAC Tournament, reaching the semifinals for the third-straight season, and received votes in the USA Today Top 25 Coaches Poll for nine straight weeks during the year. Ball State ended the season by hosting the first round of the inaugural NCAA Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament.

The Ball State women’s basketball team opens play at home against IU Kokomo in an exhibition contest on Oct. 30 at 6:30 p.m. ET before officially kicking off the 2024-25 season at home Nov. 4 versus Old Dominion for the first of two MAC/SBC Challenge contests. That game will also tipoff at 6:30 p.m. ET in Worthen Arena.

BALL STATE WOMEN’S GOLF

GALLAGHER LEADS WOMEN’S GOLF ON FINAL DAY OF DIAMANTE INTERCOLLEGIATE

HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE, Arkansas – – Junior Sarah Gallagher closed play in the Diamante Intercollegiate with Ball State’s best round of the tournament Tuesday, shooting -1 (71) to finish tied for 23rd overall at +2 (218).

Her effort helped the Cardinals hold steady in ninth place on a challengingly windy day at the Diamante Country Club. Overall, Ball State finished the 18-team tournament at +19 (884), which is the fifth-lowest 54-hole team stroke total in program history.

“Today was a different challenge compared to what Diamante presented the first two days due some swirling winds,” head coach Cameron Andry said. “But we battled and played some solid golf.”

Gallagher pared her first 11 holes before knocking in a birdie on the 125-yard, par-3 12th hole. She also birdied the 385-yard, par-4 15th to finish the three-day, 54-hole event at the Diamante Country Club with seven total birdies. She was also one of the biggest movers on the final day of the competition, climbing 14 spots up the leaderboard.

“Sarah played a super steady round of golf again today,” Andry said. “She is such a mature competitor with a great mentality and that shined through today in the tough conditions.”

Ball State’s second-best round Tuesday came from sophomore Madelyn Young who, playing as an individual, carded a E (72). After shooting +6 (76) on Monday with a birdie and the Cardinals’ lone eagle of the tournament, she added four birdies over her final eight holes Tuesday.

“Madelyn played a great round today as well,” Andry said. “She’s learning every day and improving with every opportunity she gets, which is what we need her to do.”

Sophomore Madelin Boyd also finished with her best round of the tournament, tallying four birdies Tuesday, including each of the final three holes, to finish with a round of +1 (73). After a rough start Sunday, Boyd played her final two rounds at +5 (149) and climbed a total of 15 spots up the leaderboard.

“It was great to see Madelin finish her round with three consecutive birdies,” Andry said. “She really had a rough start to the week, but just hung in there and battled through it.”

Tuesday’s results also counted a +4 (76) from junior Jasmine Driscoll and a +6 (78) from sophomore JJ Gregston. Both registered two birdies in their respective rounds, with Gregston finishing the tournament with a team-high nine.

“Jasmine and JJ had some frustrating rounds today with putts just not falling,” Andry added. “However, there was also a lot of good in their rounds as well.”

Today’s effort brings a close to the 2024 fall season for the Ball State women’s golf program. Next up will be the start of the 2025 spring campaign Feb. 10-11 at the Rust Buster Match Play event hosted by Murray State at the King’s Ridge Golf Club in Clermont, Florida.

Ball State Results – Team

T23rd – Sarah Gallagher: +2 (218): 74-73-71

T41st – Jasmine Driscoll: +6 (222): 74-72-76

T41st – JJ Gregston: +6 (222): 72-72-78

T73rd – Sophie Korthuijs: +13 (229): 75-74-80

T82nd – Madelin Boyd: +17 (233): 84-76-73

Ball State Results – Individual

T76th – Madelyn Young: +15 (231): 81-78-72

Team Standings

1st – Florida Golf Coast: -16 (848): 287-279-282

2nd – Boston College: -13 (851): 284-285-282

3rd – Oral Roberts: -7 (857): 289-282-286

           Little Rock: -7 (857): 283-290-284

5th – California Baptist: -2 (862): 301-281-280

6th – Missouri State: +4 (868): 299-282-287

7th – Arkansas State: +7 (871): 297-288-286

8th – Central Arkansas: +10 (874): 289-288-297

9th – Ball State: +20 (884): 295-291-298

10th – Houston Christian: +22 (886): 297-292-297

11th – UT Arlington: +23 (887): 300-291-296

12th – Tennessee Tech: +25 (889): 299-298-292

13th – Texas A&M-Commerce: +29 (893): 303-287-303

             Wichita State: +29 (893): 302-295-296

15th – Bradley: +30 (894): 296-290-308

16th – Southern Illinois: +49 (913): 316-294-303

17th – Texas A&M-Corpus Christi: +51 (915): 318-299-298

17th – Stephen F. Austin: +55 (919): 307-307-305

INDIANA STATE FOOTBALL

SYCAMORES WELCOME SOUTHERN ILLINOIS FOR 2024 HOMECOMING GAME

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State is back at home for the Sycamores’ 2024 Homecoming Game as Southern Illinois comes into town on Saturday afternoon. Kickoff between the Sycamores and the Salukis is set for 1 p.m. ET and will carried live on ESPN+ and 105.5 The Legend.
 

Football vs. Southern Illinois
Date	Saturday, October 26 | 1:02 p.m. ET
Location | Venue | Weather	Terre Haute, Ind. | Memorial Stadium (Capacity 12,764) | Weather | Radar
Preview Information	Indiana State Notes
Live Stats	Live Stat Feed
Watch | Listen	ESPN+ | WVIG 105.5
Gates	Gates Open at 11 a.m. (Two Hours prior to Kickoff)
Series History	60th Meeting All-Time (SIU leads series 31-28)
Social Media	@IndStFB | @IndStAthletics

Game Day Activities and Promotions

Sycamore Athletics Alumni March in Homecoming Parade

The Indiana State Athletic Department would like to invite all Sycamore athletics alumni to walk with the current athletes in the 100th Indiana State Homecoming Parade scheduled for Saturday, October 26. Alumni are invited to dress in gear representing their former teams, ISU gear, or homecoming apparel and meet at the top of the Hulman Center (200 N. 8th St.) ramp located on Eagle Street. The staging area for all alumni and athletes is set for 8:30-8:45 a.m. to prepare for the parade. Please use the form to sign up today! (Click Here)

Homecoming Activities

Indiana State Homecoming events are in full swing throughout the week. Click the link here: https://indianastate.edu/homecoming for more information.

T-Shirt Giveaway

The first 50 students attending Saturday’s game will receive a free t-shirt courtesy of Straight Shooter Archery.

Sycamore Bags Set Raffle

Students can sign up at the Forest table outside the main entrance to be entered for a chance to win a custom-built Sycamores set of cornhole boards, bags, and carrying case, courtesy of Sycamore Athletics. The winner will be announced in the third quarter of the game.

Game Day Sponsor

Ford Central Indiana Dealers is Saturday’s Game Day Sponsor and will bring back out the Ford Superscreen to Memorial Stadium in the tailgate area. The massive screen will be parked outside the stadium showing College Gameday and other videos throughout the action with a vehicle display parked out front.

Quick Notes

Southern Illinois at a Glance

Southern Illinois was selected fourth overall in the MVFC Preseason Poll receiving 293 total points as voted on by the league’s head coaches, SIDs, and media members.

The Salukis started the 2024 season in both major FCS polls after finishing No. 9 overall and advancing to the quarterfinal round in the 2023 FCS Playoffs. SIU put six players on the preseason All-Conference team including Vinson Davis III (WR/RS), Chase Evans (OL), Colin Bohanek (LB), Ubayd Steed (DB), Aidan Quinn (TE), and Jake Green (OL).

The Salukis fell in their season-opener at BYU, 41-13, before picking up non-conference wins against Austin Peay (31-17) and Incarnate Word (35-28). Injuries have plagued the SIU season to date with the Salukis falling in their last four games coming to SEMO, South Dakota, Illinois State, and North Dakota State.

The Salukis boast one of the nation’s best passing attacks posting 244.0 per game (22nd in FCS). Southern Illinois does not harm itself as the Salukis sit among the nation’s leaders in not turning the ball over at 7 (27th in FCS). Ben Bogle is second in the nation in TFL (1.9).

On This Date

Indiana State has posted a 3-8 overall record on October 26 according to current records on hand.

The Sycamores have hosted Homecoming Games on the date back in 1974, 1975, and 1989. Indiana State has topped both Butler (1974) and Illinois State (1975) on Homecoming on the date.

Currently, the Sycamores have lost their last five games on the date.

1951 – at Heidelberg – L, 40-0

1957 – at Anderson College – L, 23-7

1963 – vs. Butler – L, 7-6

1968 – vs. Evansville – W, 40-14

1974 – vs. Butler – W, 56-27

1975 – vs. Illinois State – W, 42-13

1989 – vs. Ball State – L, 34-27

1996 – at Western Kentucky – L, 27-20

2002 – at Western Kentucky – L, 24-7

2013 – vs. North Dakota State – L, 56-10

2019 – at Illinois State – L, 24-7

Sycamores Last Win Against Southern Illinois

Indiana State’s last win against Southern Illinois came back on October 20, 2018, as the Sycamores took down the Salukis, 24-21, in Carbondale, Ill. The win over SIU sparked a season-ending five-game winning streak for Indiana State that included victories over Youngstown State, South Dakota, Illinois State, and Western Illinois on their way to posting a 7-4 record, 5-3 in MVFC play.

Redshirt junior Ryan Boyle and senior Ja’Quan Keys each put together terrific performances on the ground as the Sycamores racked up 293 yards rushing in the win. Boyle ran for a career high 104 yards, including a 52-yard rush in the third quarter. Keys put up 156 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the win.

The Sycamores were led defensively by redshirt senior linebacker Katrell Moss who finished with a game high 16 tackles — 13 solo stops — and one tackle-for-loss. Jonas Griffith added 11 solo tackles in the game for his fifth-straight double-digit tackle game. Tyreeon Hambright snagged his first career interception in a Sycamore uniform in the second quarter as the Salukis drove all the way into the red zone. Hambright returned the pick 39 yards.

NCAA FCS Top 20

Indiana State enters the weekend boasting several players sitting among the national leaders in multiple statistical categories. Rashad Rochelle, Elijah Owens, Garret Ollendieck, Jorge Valdes, and Tony Roberts are all among the national top-20 among the individiual categories on the season heading into Saturday’s game.

National Top 20 Individual Ranks

Total Tackles – Garret Ollendieck – 11.5 (2nd)

Fumbles Recovered – Garret Ollendieck – 2 (3rd)

Completion Percentage – Elijah Owens – 70.3%

Combined Kick Returns – Rashad Rochelle – 479 (10th)

Solo Tackles – Garret Ollendieck – 5.2 (14th)

Passes Defended – Jorge Valdes – 1.3 (14th)

Punt Returns – Rashad Rochelle – 10.7 (20th)

Passes Defended – Tony Roberts – 1.2 (20th)

Sycamores Host Valley Football Game of the Week

Indiana State Football will host the MVFC Game of the Week for back-to-back weeks as the Sycamores host both Southern Illinois and North Dakota at Memorial Stadium.

Indiana State will host both the Salukis and the Fighting Hawks with kickoff times both set for 1 p.m. ET. The contest will be shown courtesy of Gray Media and will also be streamed live on ESPN+.

Sycamores on MVFC Game of the Week

Oct. 26 vs. Southern Illinois 1 p.m.

Nov. 2 vs. North Dakota 1 p.m.

Double-Digit Tacklers Continue

Dallas Westhoff became the seventh Indiana State defensive player to record a double-digit tackling effort in the 2024 season as the redshirt sophomore linebacker posted a game-high 12 stops in his first start of the 2024 season. Taking the field in place of injured linebacker Garret Ollendieck, Westhoff was active throughout the contest posting 12 tackles, including his second sack of the 2024 season, while adding key stops throughout the game. Westhoff became the fourth Indiana State player in 2024 to record their first collegiate double-digit tackling game including Kaleal Davis, Lucas McAllister, and Micah Hauser, while his 12 tackles marked the 11th time a Sycamore has had at least 10 tackles in a game this season.

Quarterback Goes Down

Indiana State continued to showcase its dominance along the defensive line this past weekend against Missouri State as the Sycamores recorded 5.0 sacks in the loss to the Bears. The 5.0 sacks in the contest gives Indiana State 18.0 overall in the 2024 season sitting second overall in the Missouri Valley Football Conference through seven games. Kendrick Milford (4.5) and Geoffrey Brown (3.0) both sit among the Valley’s top-10 in overall sacks in the 2024 season, while six different players have recorded multiple sacks overall on the year. This includes Joey Shew joining the number after two sacks this past weekend, including a second-quarter strip-sack that led to Indiana State’s second touchdown in the game against the Bears.

INDIANA STATE WOMEN’S GOLF

SYCAMORE GOLF BRINGS HOME THE VICTORY IN THE FALL FINALE AT EVANSVILLE

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Indiana State women’s golf ended the fall season with a victory at the Braun Intercollegiate in Evansville at the Oak Meadow Country Club, played on October 21-22.

The Sycamores earned back-to-back victories in this tournament after winning last season’s Braun Invitational, defeating the 13 teams that finished the event. Yang Tai was the top individual in this season’s tournament with a two-round score of 147 (+3, 74-73). This was Yang’s first career first-place finish.

The victory for Indiana State was only the team’s fourth tournament win since the beginning of the 2016 fall season. The Sycamores won two tournaments in the 2016-17 season and went winless until last season’s and this season’s Braun Intercollegiate tournaments.

Briana LeMaire and Alana Gilbert tied in fifth place each finishing nine-over. Sophia Florek placed tied for 14th at 14-over, and Rosalie DiNunzio rounded out the five starters tied for 53rd place at 24-over.

The individual players consisted of Gabby Cone (+16), Eliza Baker (+17), and Nicole Feistl (+25). Cone tied for 26th, Baker tied for 34th, and Feistl tied for 56th.

Tai finished the two rounds with a 74 and 73. She used back-to-back birdies on holes 10 and 11 in the second round to conclude the back nine shooting even, and she paired that with an eagle on hole two in the first round to continue her persistent fall golf to bring home the individual first-place finish. She birdied six holes in the tournament, the best on the team.

LeMaire showed a tremendous second-half effort in the second round to help power the Sycamores to the victory. Despite shooting +8 through the front nine, she battled back to finish under par (-1) through the back nine to maintain Indiana State’s lead. She birdied five holes in the tournament.

Gilbert broke out and set a new career low with a 75 in the opening round. She birdied only twice in the tournament but shot par on 24-of-36 holes, which included sinking a bunker shot on hole 14 in the second round to save par on the hole. This was Gilbert’s first finish better than 37th place.

Florek also displayed her steady fall golf for the Sycamores. The sophomore entered the tournament with a season stroke average of 77.9 and shot a 78 and 80 in the two rounds, respectively.

DiNunzio wrapped up the tournament with two rounds of 84. She closed out the second round shooting par on three-of-four holes.

Baker shot her first sub-80 round of the fall on the second day of the tournament, knocking off five strokes from the first round. She started the day with six-straight pars and closed the tournament with four in a row.

Cone shaved off two strokes between the two rounds while Feistl also knocked off five. Feistl closed the day with three-straight pars.

As a team, the Sycamores shot a 301 and 310 in the two rounds for a two-round score of 611. This beat last season’s score of 619. Indiana State (+35) defeated Belmont (second place, +45), Evansville (+50), UIC (+59), Valparaiso (+82), and Evansville B Team (+104).

Up Next

This victory concluded Indiana State’s fall slate. The Sycamores played five tournaments in the fall, and the spring schedule will be released when available.

PURDUE FT. WAYNE WOMEN’S GOLF

TRIO OF ‘DONS TIE FOR 14TH TO END WOMEN’S GOLF FALL SEASON

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Hunar Mittal, Olivia Jang and Lillian Gottman all tied for 14th at the Braun Intercollegiate on Tuesday (Oct.), finishing with two-round totals of 158.

Mittal had the best second round of the three, turning in an 81. She had three birdies in round two. She got them to fall on two, 11 and 15, all par-5s. Mittal added six pars to wrap up the fall season.

Jang shot 75-83-158 and saw her second round highlighted by back-to-back birdies on one and two. Later on, she had a stretch of three pars in a row and another stretch of four in a row from 15-18.

Gottman turned in a scorecard with 74-84-158, getting a birdie on the 464-yard second, a par-5. She also had seven pars in round two.

Natalie Papa tied for 40th with a two-round total of 81-82-163. In round two, she also had a birdie on hole two, but added two more on the back nine on holes 13 and 17. 13 and 17 were both par 3s. She had five pars to go with her three birdies.

Lara Dommach rounded out those competing for the team score, turning in an 85-84-169. The freshman had birdies on holes six and 17 with pars on six more holes. She tied for 56th.

Louise Ekesall played as an individual, turning in 84-83-167. She had birdies on holes three, 10 and 13 and added five pars for her 50th-place finish.

As a team, Purdue Fort Wayne finished sixth in the 14-team field with a score of 307-330-637. Indiana State won the event with a 611.

The Mastodons are off until February, when they will visit Corpus Christi, Texas to play in the Islander Classic.

PURDUE FT. WAYNE MEN’S GOLF

MEN’S GOLF FALL SEASON COMES TO A CLOSE

CINCINNATI – The Purdue Fort Wayne men’s golf team wrapped up its fall season with a seventh-place finish at the Xavier Invitational on Tuesday (Oct. 22).

The Mastodons turned in a three-round score of 306-286-294-886, putting them in the middle of the pack of five Horizon League schools at the event. IU Indy (863), Northern Kentucky (876), Oakland (890) and Detroit Mercy (894) surrounded the Mastodons’ 886.

Justin Hicks finished as the Mastodons’ best at Xavier’s event, turning in a scorecard with a 76-70-73-219 to tie for 21st place. On Tuesday, the freshman started with a birdie on hole 10 then went to 2-under with a birdie on 14. He finished the back nine even. On the front, he had a birdie on hole five, a 394-yard par-4.

Nick Holder and AJ Agnew tied for 32nd with a pair of 222s. Holder’s day was highlighted by an eagle on his second hole, the par-4 11th. He drove the green to about 12 feet and drained the putt. Later on, he had a stretch of seven holes of par or better, including a birdie on hole three, a 489-yard par-4. He finished with a 76-73-73-222 week. Angew shot 78-72-72-222. In round three, Agnew had seven pars and a birdie on the front nine for a 1-over side. He birdied the 415-yard 16th. He was 1-over on the front nine as well, getting a birdie on seven to mitigate the damage from bogeys on four and eight. He parred the rest of the side for 13 total in his round.

Brock Reschly finished one shot behind Holder and Agnew with a 76-71-76-223. On Tuesday, the sophomore had 12 pars and six bogeys, with seven of the pars coming on the back nine. He tied for 37th.

Jarred Bowser also played for the team score, finishing with a three-round total of 80-84-80-244. On Tuesday, he had a birdie on hole 12, helping him stay even through five holes. On the back nine, Bowser had five pars in a row on holes 2-6.

Xavier’s two teams tied for the team title. Seth Smith of Austin Peay won the individual medalist honor.

The Mastodons are off until February when they play in the World Golf Village Collegiate.

EVANSVILLE WOMEN’S GOLF

STANDTKE RALLIES TO EARN TOP FINISH FOR WOMEN’S GOLF

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Freshman Louise Standtke was the low scorer for the University of Evansville women’s golf team in Tuesday’s final round of the Braun Intercollegiate.

Standtke finished the second 18 holes at Oak Meadow Country Club with a 4-over 76 to finish the tournament in a tie for second place with a 151.  Indiana State’s Yang Tai was the tournament medalist with a 2-round score of 147.  Standtke wrapped up Monday’s opening round with a 75.

Coming home in a tie for 9th place was Kate Petrova and Mallory Russell.  Both completed the weekend with scores of 154.  Russell carded an 80 on Tuesday while Petrova finished with an 82.  Trinity Dubbs and Izzy Steele completed the Purple Aces’ “A” team.  Dubbs’ 83 in the second round tied her for 56th with a 169 while Steele checked in with a final score of 177.

Pacing the UE “B” team was Elizabeth Mercer.  Following an 80 to open the event, she recorded an 82 in the final round to tie for 36th with a 162.  Jane Grankina was one behind Mercer with a 163.  She tied for 40th.  Adeline Wittmer and Mia Cruz rounded out the second squad with final totals of 185 and 189.

UE took 4th place in the final team standings with a 626.  Indiana State pulled away from the field to win with a score of 611, defeating runner-up Belmont by ten strokes.

EVANSVILLE BASEBALL

WES CARROLL INKS CONTRACT EXTENSION WITH EVANSVILLE

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Following a historic postseason run in 2024 University of Evansville Director of Athletics Ziggy Siegfried has announced a five-year extension for baseball head coach Wes Carroll.

“Coach Carroll has brought unprecedented national exposure and acclaim to our University, Community, and all Purple Aces,” says Siegfried. “He is an outstanding leader, an individual who can recruit at the highest level, and he understands how to create the best possible environment for our student-athletes to thrive. He is and will always be a Purple Ace, and I am so proud to have him as the leader of our baseball program for years to come.”

Under the direction of Coach Carroll, the Purple Aces made their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 18 years and won the program’s first-ever NCAA Regional in the 2024 season. In 2024 Carroll guided UE to a 39-26 overall record.  The Purple Aces swept all four games in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament to claim the MVC’s automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.  UE then won the program’s first-ever NCAA Regional Tournament title by winning the Greenville (N.C.) Regional to advance to the program’s first-ever NCAA Super Regional.

In the Knoxville Super Regional, Evansville pushed the No. 1 national seed, Tennessee, to the brink of elimination, as the Purple Aces forced the ‘if necessary’ game three with a 10-8 victory over the Volunteers.  It was one of only two losses that Tennessee suffered in the NCAA Tournament on its way to the 2024 national championship.

Over the course of 16 seasons with Evansville, Carroll has a 428-434 record, was named the 2024 ABCA/ATEC Midwest Regional Coach of the Year, a two-time MVC Dan Callahan Coach of the Year, coached two All-Americans, one MVC Player of the Year, two MVC Pitchers of the Year, two MVC Freshman of the Year, and one MVC Defensive Player of the Year, six All-Region players, two CSC All-District players, and 19 All-MVC First Team selections.

Carroll coached the Aces for 16 years and was a standout shortstop for UE from 1998 to 2001. Carroll grew up minutes from the UE campus in nearby Newburgh, Indiana. He watched his older brother and Major League alum, Jamey Carroll, excel at shortstop for UE. He later got to experience the success the program is capable of first-hand as a four-year starter for the Purple Aces and a member of UE’s 2000 NCAA Tournament team.

Wes Carroll became UE’s first Freshman All-America selection in 1998, thanks to a rookie campaign in which he hit .355 with 18 doubles, two home runs, and 39 runs batted in. Carroll went on to hit .299 or better in each of his four years at UE, and finished his career by setting the school’s all-time career record for doubles (74), while also ranking in the school’s career top 10 in six different categories. He still holds the record for career doubles, has the second-most base hits in school history with 308, and ranks 10th all-time in UE history with a .339 career batting average. Carroll earned all-conference and all-region honors on the UE infield during his four-year career, before being named to the Missouri Valley Conference’s All-Centennial Team in 2007 as one of the top players in league history.

Carroll graduated from UE in 2001 with a degree in Human Kinetics and Sport Studies. Wes and his wife, Ashley, a former soccer standout at the University of Evansville, reside in Evansville with their two children.

SOUTHERN INDIANA MEN’S SOCCER

EAGLES FINISH ROAD SWING AT EIU

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Soccer concludes a three-match road swing Saturday when it visits Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.

The Screaming Eagles (2-12-1, 1-5-1 OVC), currently, are seventh in the Ohio Valley Conference, two points out of the league’s playoff picture with three matches to play. USI is two points behind sixth-place Western Illinois University (2-5-0 OVC; six points) and within striking distance of fifth-place University of the Incarnate Word (2-2-3 OVC; nine points).

The top six teams advance to the OVC Championship at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville November 10-16.

Following this week’s road match, the Eagles finish the regular season with a split home and away week. USI’s final home match of 2024 is October 31 versus Southern Illinois University Edwardsville at 6 p.m. and November 3 at 1 p.m. The USI-SIUE match on Halloween will feature a pre-game Trunk or Treat for children and a halftime costume contest for USI students.

USI fans can attend all Men’s Soccer 2024 home matches for free, courtesy of a sponsorship from ProRehab. Game coverage for 2024, including links to live stats and video streams, can be found on USIScreamingEagles.com.

USI Men’s Soccer Week 9 Notes:

USI 0-for-2 to start road swing: The USI Screaming Eagles lost its second-straight on the road, falling to Liberty University, 5-0. USI was outgunned in shots, 20-10.

Eagles falter late to start road trip. The Eagles started the road trip with a 2-0 loss to Western Illinois, allowing two goals in the final 10 minutes of the match in Macomb, Illinois.

USI looking for offense: USI is in a scoring drought and searching for offense. The Eagles have not scored in the last 550 minutes of action, since posting a 2-1 win over Eastern Illinois University on September 29.

Leading the offense: The Eagles are led offensively by freshman midfielder Ahiro Nakamae, who has seven points on three goals and one assist. Sophomore forward Jackson Mitchell follows with six points on two goals and two assists.

In the OVC: Freshman midfielder Ahiro Nakamae is tied for eighth in the OVC overall with three goals scored. Sophomore goalkeeper Andrew Klott is tied for sixth in the OVC with one shutout and leads the OVC with 85 saves (5.67 per match).

EIU in 2024: The Panthers of EIU are 2-10-1 overall and 1-6-0 in the OVC during 2024. EIU defeated Western Illinois University, 2-1, last weekend for its first win over the season in the OVC.

USI vs. EIU: USI won the first meeting of the season with EIU, 2-1, at Strassweg Field, but trails in the all-time series,10-3-0. USI sophomore forward Jackson Mitchell put USI on the scoreboard in the first half, while senior defender Brock Martindale scored the game-winner in the second half.

SIUE in 2024: The SIUE Cougars are nearly perfect in the OVC this year, going 5-1-1, and have a 7-4-3 overall record. SIUE won its first five conference matches before tying Incarnate Word Thursday and losing to Houston Christian University Sunday.  

USI vs. SIUE: SIUE has dominated the all-time series with USI, 16-3-1, since the 1970s. The Cougars took the first meeting this fall, 2-0, scoring a goal in each half.

SOUTHERN INDIANA WOMEN’S GOLF

USI FRESHMEN SHINE IN SEVENTH PLACE FINISH AT BRAUN INTERCOLLEGIATE

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Golf finished in seventh place in the highly competitive 13-team Braun Intercollegiate, hosted by University of Evansville at Oak Meadow Country Club.

All 13 teams competed in a two-day, 36-hole event with five golfers completing 18 holes both days and taking the four best scores. The order of finish included: Indiana State University, Belmont University, Oakland University, Evansville, University of Illinois-Chicago, University of Purdue-Fort Wayne, USI, Lindenwood University, Bellarmine University, Valparaiso University, Indiana Hills Community College, Eastern Illinois University, and Evansville B squad.

The Screaming Eagles concluded their fall season making a pivotal step forward in the program, improving from last season’s 11th-place finish at the Braun Intercollegiate.

Round 1

After day one, USI sat in sixth place after shooting a 322 (+34). The freshmen trio of Zhana Navato, Fernanda Vera, and Jade Blakeley displayed consistent performances with all shooting a 79 (+7). Freshman Brianna Kirsch rounded out the scoring with an 85 (+13).

Round 2

As a team, USI improved by three strokes on Tuesday, finishing with a 319 (+31). The Eagles finished above fellow Ohio Valley Conference opponents Lindenwood and Eastern Illinois.

Navato delivered once again with another strong round of 79 (+7), finishing the week tied for 14th overall at 158 (+14). The freshman finished her fall averaging 79 in eight total rounds. Vera ranked second among USI competitors and tied for 22nd in the field with a 159 (+15). Vera’s first round marked the seventh time in 16 rounds she broke 80. The freshman also concludes the fall averaging 79 through 14 rounds.

Blakeley totaled ten pars in Tuesday’s round, finishing with an 81 (+9) on the day. She closed out the fall season tied in 26th with a 160 (+16). Blakeley averaged a score of 82 in 14 rounds. Kirsch made a six-stroke improvement by shooting a 79 (+7), finishing tied for 44th with a respectable 164 (+20). The freshman joins Vera and Navato by also averaging a 79 on the fall schedule in 14 rounds.

What’s Next

USI looks forward to the spring season which features five tournaments, culminating with the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament.

SOUTHERN INDIANA MEN’S GOLF

BANNISTER AND GOEBEL FINISH TOP 25, AS USI COMPLETES THE XAVIER INVITATIONAL

CINCINNATI – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Golf finished the Xavier Invitational in 12th place Tuesday afternoon at Maketewah Country Club in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The Screaming Eagles shot 904 (307-297-300) over the 54-hole tournament. USI finished five strokes behind Ohio Valley Conference rival Tennessee Tech University for 11th place.

USI had two golfers finish in the top 25. Senior Jason Bannister was once again impressive, earning a 10th-place finish following a 216-stroke (71-76-69) performance. Junior Carter Goebel shot 219 (74-68-77) over the two-day event, earning him 21st place on the leaderboard.

Round 1

The Eagles struggled early in the tournament, shooting their highest round total as a team with 307 (+27). Bannister topped the scorecard with a 71 (+1) in round one.

Round 2

As a team, USI saw its best round by shooting 297 (+17) in round two. Goebel achieved the team’s best 18 holes of the tournament with his 68 (-2) in the second round.

This round saw multiple Eagles improve from their initial scores. Senior Sam Vertanen’s 73 (+3) improved his score by four strokes, while freshman Jairen Stroud’s 80 (+10) improved by five.

Round 3

Bannister cemented his 10th-place finish in the final round, shooting a 69 (-1) in the third round. USI shot 300 (+20) as a team in the final round.

What’s next for the Eagles:

USI concludes its fall schedule in Owensboro, Kentucky at the Bill Crabtree Invitational hosted by Kentucky Wesleyan on October 28-29.

SOUTHERN INDIANA VOLLEYBALL

EAGLES STRUGGLE CLOSING SETS FALLING IN THREE FRAMES TO SKYHAWKS

MARTIN, Tenn.- University of Southern Indiana Volleyball (8-14, OVC 3-7) struggled to to finish sets on Tuesday night against University of Tennessee at Martin (4-13, OVC 2-6) falling in straight sets (21-25, 21-25, 23-25). The Screaming Eagles drop their fifth straight match heading into the bye weekend.

Set 1: USI 21, UTM 25

The Eagles came out the gate strong as sophomore Leah Coleman, junior Bianca Anderson, senior Paris Downing, and senior Jasmine Green were involved with early kills leading 8-4. USI struggled with limiting runs as the Skyhawks surged with seven straight points taking a 14-10 lead. Anderson helped the Eagles regain a one-point lead with a textbook block. However, UTM finished the set on an 8-3 run earning the early advantage. Senior Carly Sobieralski tallied 11 assists on 7 digs.

Set 2: USI 21, UTM 25

Downing and Green combined at the net for a block giving the Eagles a 9-8 advantage. The Skyhawks bounced back with three straight points, but sophomore Ashby Willis smashed back-to-back kills tying the set at 13-13. Nevertheless, UTM used a four-point run to separate themselves with strong defensive play, frustrating the USI offense. The Skyhawks put the Eagles in a two-set deficit finishing on a 4-1 run.

Set 3: USI 25, UTM 23

Coleman finished her team leading eighth kill to help the Eagles gain an early 7-4 lead. The Sobieralski to Willis connection extended the Eagle led to 9-5. The Skyhawks erased their large deficit mounting an eight-point run snatching a 15-14 lead. Green showed her senior leadership keeping the Eagles under control vocally along with smashing a kill earning a 19-17 lead. However, USI continued to struggle finishing sets as the Skyhawks finished the match with a 6-2 run.

Coleman led offensively with nine kills. Sobieralski racked up 29 assists on 13 digs, while Moore led defensively with 15 digs. Moore has snatched 15+ digs in her past nine matches. Anderson swatted a career high and Eagles season high eight blocks.

As a team, USI finished with 34 kills, 33 assists, 58 digs, one aces, ten blocks, and a .170 attacking percentage. The Skyhawks earned 51 kills, 46 assists, 55 digs, six aces, eight blocks, and a .216 hitting percentage.

Next up for the Eagles

USI moves into a bye weekend as they return on November 1 at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville

VALPO WOMEN’S SOCCER

SOCCER HOSTS UIC, GOES TO MISSOURI STATE TO CLOSE SEASON

Valparaiso (4-11-1, 0-7-1 MVC)

Thursday, Oct. 24 – UIC (6-9-2, 5-2-2 MVC) – 7 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 27 – at Missouri State (9-4-3, 7-0-1 MVC) – noon

Next Up in Valpo Soccer: The Valpo soccer team closes out the 2024 season this week with its last two matches of the campaign. The Beacons appear for the final time at Brown Field Thursday night against UIC before traveling to take on MVC regular season champion Missouri State Sunday afternoon.

Previously: Valpo dropped both matches on its road trip last weekend, falling 4-0 at Belmont and 2-1 at Murray State.

Following the Beacons: Both matches will be aired live on ESPN+ and will have live stats via ValpoAthletics.com. All home matches will be broadcast live on ESPN+ as part of The Valley on ESPN, while most road fixtures will also have live video available.

Head Coach John Marovich: In his 17th season at the helm of the Valpo program, John Marovich holds a 136-129-49 (.511) record both overall and at Valpo as a head coach. The 2014 Horizon League Coach of the Year and the head of the 2022 MVC Coaching Staff of the Year, Marovich holds Valpo’s all-time records for both victories and winning percentage.

Series Notes: UIC – Valpo holds a 4-2-1 advantage in the all-time series with the Flames. Last season, UIC earned a 1-0 win in Chicago, while two years ago in the last meeting on Brown Field, it was the Beacons with a 4-0 victory.

Missouri State – The Bears own a slim 5-4-2 edge in the all-time series, but Valpo is 3-1-1 in the last five matchups. That includes a 0-0 draw in regular season play last year at Brown Field, followed by a 1-0 win in extra time by the Beacons in the semifinals of the MVC Tournament.

Scouting the Opposition: UIC – The Flames come into Thursday night’s match in second place in the MVC standings, sitting at 5-2-2 in conference play. A balanced attack has seen 12 different players score the side’s 16 goals this year. Lauren Keiser and Francesca Faraci have split most of the time in goal this season, with the latter owning a 0.91 GAA and an .822 save percentage.

Missouri State – The Bears secured the MVC regular season championship two match days ago and come into the week at 9-4-3 overall, including a 7-0-1 mark in conference action. Julia Kristensen has been involved in 14 of MSU’s 22 goals this year, posting five goals and nine assists. In goal, Camielle Day has seen the vast majority of time, owning a 1.24 GAA and a .753 save percentage.

Valpo Picked Fifth in Preseason Poll: The Beacons were chosen to finish in fifth place in preseason polling of the MVC head coaches. Valpo tallied 83 points in the poll, coming in just behind UIC (87) and UNI (85). Missouri State was picked to win the conference and garnered seven first-place votes, while Drake was chosen second and picked up three first-place nods.

Preseason Honoree: Senior forward Addy Joiner was recognized by the Valley as a preseason First Team All-MVC honoree when the preseason poll was released. Joiner has twice earned postseason recognition, as she was a First Team All-MVC selection in 2022 and picked up Third Team All-MVC accolades in 2023. Joiner netted eight goals last season, tying her for third in the MVC and moving into a tie for ninth on the program’s single-season goals chart. She enters her final campaign tied for sixth in program history with 18 career goals, tied for seventh with 40 points and tied for eighth with six match-winning goals.

Looking Back at Last Season: Valpo claimed its first MVC Tournament championship since joining the Valley in dramatic fashion in 2023, winning four consecutive tournament matches  by 1-0 finals to earn the crown and return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014, where it battled #9 Notre Dame to a scoreless first half before eventually falling 2-0. The Beacons finished the season 11-6-6 overall and went 3-3-4 in MVC regular season play, finishing sixth in the regular season standings. Nicole Norfolk was a First Team All-MVC selection, highlighting six Beacons who earned postseason recognition from the Valley, and also picked up Second Team All-Region honors.

Who’s Back: In a rarity in the transfer portal era we live in, all 20 players from the 2023 team who did not graduate are back and on the 2024 roster. That includes five regular starters and 13 of the team’s 27 goals from last season.

Who’s Gone: But the Beacons did graduate a decorated class of nine players who closed their time at Valpo with championships in back-to-back seasons, a group which accounted for 54.2% of the team minutes played in 2023. The four-year seniors who graduated put together maybe the best four-year stretch in program history, posting a 19-7-10 record in MVC play and advancing to four consecutive MVC Tournament semifinals. That group of seniors combined for nine All-MVC selections, 12 MVC weekly awards, 28 goals, 27 assists and 28 shutouts over their four years.

Who’s New: Chomping at the bit to be the next group of Beacons to help keep Valpo among the MVC’s best are 10 newcomers to the roster in 2024. That group includes nine true freshmen and grad transfer Ella Schad, who is utilizing her COVID year of eligibility after playing four seasons at Coastal Carolina.

Bidding Farewell: This week’s matches will mark the final appearances in the Valpo uniform for the program’s senior class. Ella Schad joined the program this year as a grad transfer, while Lauren Cook, Cara Crompton, Peyton Evans, Dana Fish, Sam Gountounas, Addy Joiner, Emma Morrison and Abby White have all spent the last four seasons at Valpo. Over that time, they have been part of 33 victories, an MVC regular season championship side in 2022 and an MVC tournament championship squad in 2023.

Youth in the Side: Valpo’s group of freshmen has been called upon to do some heavy lifting this season for the Beacons’ side. Entering this week, Valpo’s freshmen have accounted for 41.6% of the team’s minutes played by field players. That figure is the highest among all MVC schools, while Illinois State is the only other team which comes in above 25%.

Going at It Shorthanded: The Beacons were down a number of regulars on Sunday at Murray State due to injury, leading to Valpo’s starting XI having to carry a heavy load. Valpo utilized just four substitutes on Sunday for a combined total of 68 minutes of aciton.

Joiner Just Keeps Going: Senior Addy Joiner enters the week tied for second on the MVC scoring chart, as she scored her sixth goal of the season against Murray State. With a pair of assists to her credit, Joiner also is tied for fifth in the MVC with 14 points.

Joiner’s goal against Murray State was the 24th of her career, fourth-most in program history and one shy of April Cronin in third place. With 54 career points, she sits alone in fourth place in program history, while she also ranks fifth all-time at Valpo with eight match-winning goals.

Shooting With Accuracy: Joiner’s six goals this year have come on 23 shot attempts, a ratio a bit better than her career line of 24 goals on 107 shots. The 107 shots is easily the fewest in the career of any of Valpo’s top-10 career goal scorers, as the next fewest shot attempts was Rachel Hoaglin’s 117. In addition, Joiner’s shooting percentage of 22.4% is easily the best of any of Valpo’s most prolific goal scorers – second-best is Cory Griffith’s 16.6% clip.

Confidence, Cohen: A natural defender, freshman Ashlyn Cohen has been deployed up front for the Beacons since mid-September. The move has paid off recently, with Cohen finding the back of the net twice this month – she scored her first collegiate goal on Oct. 3 at Illinois State to open the scoring, and she struck for Valpo’s second goal of the game versus Evansville.

Seniors Scoring: While Valpo’s second goal of the Evansville contest came from a freshman, it was bookended by a pair of seniors. Abby White opened the scoring with her first goal of the season and the fourth of her career, while Sam Gountounas struck for the Beacons’ third goal, her third tally of the year and sixth of her career.

Freshman Finds the Touch: Freshman Kaleigh Shafer delivered the pair of strikes for goals which lifted Valpo to a 2-1 victory at Wright State, the first two goals of her collegiate career. Shafer is the first Valpo freshman with a multi-goal game since Maria Broecker tallied two goals in Horizon League Tournament action at Oakland Oct. 31, 2016.

88th Minute Magic: The second of Shafer’s goals came with just 2:04 to play, remarkably the second time this year Valpo has found the match-winner in the 88th minute of play, as Addy Joiner scored with 2:36 remaining in the win over Milwaukee. They are Valpo’s two latest match-winning goals in regulation since Kelsey Jahn struck with 27 seconds remaining in the 90 minutes in the 2017 MVC opener at Missouri State.

Making Stops: Freshman Hailey Wade played just 45 minutes in goal over the first four matches, but stood out over the next two fixtures. She came on at halftime against #15 Xavier and acquitted herself well, making six saves while surrendering just two goals. Wade then earned her first career start at Wright State and made 11 saves in the Beacons’ 2-1 victory – the most saves by a Valpo player since Kezia Gesell stopped 12 shots in a win at Illinois State Oct. 8, 2018. For her efforts in those two matches, Wade was named the MVC Goalkeeper of the Week. Then, in her next outing, Wade recorded the first shutout of her collegiate career, blanking Eastern Michigan.

Player of the Week: For her multiple goal involvements in the Milwaukee win, Joiner was named the MVC Player of the Week. It was the fifth weekly honor of her career – she earned Freshman of the Week once as a rookie, was Player of the Week twice as a sophomore and then once as a junior. Joiner joins Lori Moore as the only players in program history to earn weekly recognition from the conference office at least once in each of their four seasons.

Nonconference Complete: The Beacons finished the nonconference slate with a 4-4-0 record. It is the fourth time in the last five seasons that Valpo has finished at or above .500 in nonconference action.

That Tourney Run: It was a magical 11 days in late October and early November last fall, as Valpo embarked on its dramatic run to claiming the MVC Tournament championship. The Beacons won all four of their tournament fixtures by 1-0 finals – the first time in program history Valpo has won four matches in a single postseason, and the first time in program history the team has strung together 1-0 wins in four straight matches. The final three of those four victories came over the top three teams in the regular season standings, including the title match win over host and regular season champion Drake. In three of those four matches, it took the Beacons until after halftime to find their lone goal, including one match that went to extra time scoreless. As the sixth seed in the MVC Tournament, Valpo became the lowest seed ever to win the Valley title and was the first team outside the top-two to claim the championship since 2007.

VALPO FOOTBALL

BEACONS SET FOR FLIGHT TO EMPIRE STATE TO FACE MARIST

Valparaiso (2-5, 0-3 PFL)

at Marist (0-7, 0-4 PFL)

Game #8 Saturday, Oct. 26, 11 a.m. CT

Tenney Stadium (5,000) – Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

This Week in Valpo Football: The Valparaiso University football team will look to enter the Pioneer Football League win column this week as the Beacons make their way to upstate New York for a showdown with Marist. Valpo will have to reacquaint itself with hitting the road as the team will have gone nearly a full month between road games with this representing the squad’s first away contest since Sept. 28 at Morehead State due to the postponement of the Oct. 12 game at Stetson caused by Hurricane Milton. Valpo, which will board a plane for the first time this season, will take the field this week before a scheduled bye week on Nov. 2.  

Previously: St. Thomas improved to 20-1 in its last 21 Pioneer Football League games by beating the Beacons 42-14 on Saturday, Oct. 19 at Brown Field. Valpo found the end zone for the first time in league play thanks to a four-yard run by Ryan Mann in the first quarter that tied the game at seven. Jack Coulson had a spectacular 30-yard catch from Caron Tyler for Valpo’s other score. Three turnovers plagued the Beacons, who lost two fumbles and tossed an interception, setting up several short fields for the Tommies. 

Series Notes: Valpo is 2-10 in a dozen all-time matchups with the Red Foxes. The road team has prevailed in the last three showdowns between these two foes, with Valpo winning 45-24 in 2022 in New York and Marist prevailing 27-24 in overtime in 2021 and 36-30 in overtime in 2023 in the team’s last two trips to the Hoosier State. Valpo is 1-3 against the Foxes under Fox but the one win was the first at Marist in program history. In addition, this game brings Valpo back to the site of its most recent road win, as the Beacons will look to snap a 10-game skid away from Brown Field on Saturday.

Following the Beacons: Saturday’s game will air on ESPN+ with Geoff Brault (play-by-play) and Steve Eggink (analyst) on the call. In addition, the hometown radio call featuring Todd Ickow (play-by-play) and Brandon Vickrey (analyst) will be available on 95.1 FM Valparaiso, ValpoAthletics.com and the TuneIn Radio app. Links to live video, audio and stats can be found on ValpoAthletics.com.

Head Coach Landon Fox: Landon Fox (19-40) is in his sixth season as the head coach of the Valparaiso University football program in 2024. Over the last four seasons, Fox has led Valpo to 14 Pioneer Football League victories, the most in a four-year period in program history. This stretch marks Valpo’s most league wins in a four-year period in any conference since 1961-1964. Fox finished the 2023 season with 17 victories as Valpo head coach, tied for the seventh most in program history. He coached his 2023 team to a 3-2 record at Brown Field, the group’s highest home win total since 2017. Fox’s teams continued to thrive academically in 2023 as well, led by PFL Scholar-Athlete of the Year Evan Annis, who became the first Beacon to earn that honor. He was part of a group of five Academic All-PFL selections, tied for the most in the league and the program’s most since 1998. During the 2022 campaign, Valpo had 64 PFL Honor Roll members, the most in program history. After spending the previous 11 seasons as the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at the University of Dayton, Fox was named the head football coach at Valpo prior to the 2019 season. He helped the Flyers finish with 10 winning seasons in his 11 years on staff and guided a defensive backfield that produced one All-American, four Academic All-Americans, two PFL Special Teams Players of the Year and three corners who were invited to NFL Rookie Minicamp. Prior to joining Dayton’s staff, Fox served as the linebackers coach and special teams coordinator at Wayne State University in Detroit from 2005-2007. He also spent time as a defensive graduate assistant at Ball State University (2004), Dayton (2002-2003) and Lakeland College (2001). Fox began his coaching career as an assistant varsity coach at Preble Shawnee High School in Camden, Ohio during the 2000 season. During his playing days, Fox was a team captain and all-conference performer at Defiance College in Defiance, Ohio from 1995-1999 and graduated with a degree in physical education and health in May 2000 before earning his master’s degree in education from Lakeland in May 2002.

Fourth-Down Stops

Valpo is the only team in FCS that has not allowed a fourth-down conversion on defense this season.

Opponents are 0-for-4 on fourth down against the Beacons in 2024. 

The Beacons join Louisiana Tech as the only two teams nationally in Division-I (FBS or FCS) that have not allowed a fourth-down conversion this year. Opponents are also 0-for-4 against La Tech.

Record Watch

Punter Sam Johnson had another big performance in Week 8, averaging 50.5 yards per attempt on eight punts while totaling 404 punting yards. Five of his eight boots went for upward of 50 yards with a long of 57.

Johnson ranks seventh nationally in FCS with a season punting average of 47.0 yards per attempt. His 44 punts have covered 2,068 yards this season.

Despite Valpo’s strong history of punters, Johnson is currently positioned to break the program record for single-season punting average. Greg Wood and Ben Niesner share the current mark at 43.6.

Johnson also leads the league in punting by a fairly wide margin, over four yards per attempt ahead of Drake’s Shane Dunning.

Johnson has 17 punts for 50+ yards this season and has a long of at least 55 in five of his seven games.

Another Honor

For the aforementioned performance against St. Thomas, punter Sam Johnson shared the PFL Special Teams Player of the Week Award when the league announced its weekly honors on Oct. 20.

Johnson was previously named the PFL Special Teams Player of the Week on Sept. 15 for his performance against Indiana Wesleyan.

In total, Valpo has four PFL weekly awards this season including three honors provided by the special teams unit. Michael Mansaray (offense) and Ryan Hawk (special teams) were both recognized on Sept. 22 for their roles in Valpo’s 31-23 double overtime victory over Roosevelt.

The Hawk’s Nest

Johnson isn’t the only Valpo specialist finding success, as Ryan Hawk is 8-for-11 this season and 12-for-18 in his career on field-goal tries.

The Valpo kicker is only three makes away from cracking the program’s all-time top 10.

Hawk could potentially break Valpo’s record for made field goals in a single-season of 13, which has stood since it was established by Kevin Mackey in 1984.

Hawk is a perfect 6-for-6 on field-goal attempts that are less than 40 yards.

In addition, 15 of his 24 kickoffs this season have gone for touchbacks and he’s a perfect 9-for-9 on PATs.

Hawk ranks tied for 29th nationally and third in the PFL with 1.14 made field goals per game.

Facing Fierce Foes

Valpo’s last two games have not had favorable results, but a big part of the story is the quality of the competition, as the Beacons have faced the teams picked to finish first and second in the Pioneer Football League preseason poll.

Valpo’s 27-3 loss on Oct. 5 vs. Drake came against the defending PFL champion and a squad that picked up its 13th straight Pioneer Football League victory, the third longest conference-only winning streak nationally in FCS. This was a Drake team that also has a win against a scholarship FCS opponent on its resume, a 35-32 victory at Eastern Washington on Sept. 7.

Valpo’s 42-14 loss to St. Thomas on Oct. 19 came against a team picked to finish second in the PFL preseason poll. The Tommies are 20-1 in their last 21 PFL contests.

Valpo’s four home PFL games this season are against the teams picked one through four in the league’s preseason poll.

Birm’s Back

After missing the previous game with an injury, Jake Birmingham returned to the field for Week 8 vs. St. Thomas and registered a season-high 11 tackles including five solos.

He tied a career high for tackles set way back on Nov. 5, 2022, also against St. Thomas.

The Valpo linebacker also tied for the most tackles by a Beacon in a single game this season, joining Nic Lendino’s 11 from Sept. 28 at Morehead State.

Despite missing two games with an injury, Birmingham still leads the team with 37 tackles.

Birmingham is approaching a career milestone as he enters Oct. 26 at Marist needing six tackles to get to 100 for his career. He is also three tackles from tying his single-season career high of 40 that was set in 2022.

Notes Wrapping Up Week 8: St. Thomas 42, Valpo 14

Jack Coulson made an impressive catch for his first score in a Valpo uniform. After entering the day with two receptions for 12 yards, Coulson produced four grabs for a team-high 54 yards against the Tommies.

Ryan Mann had a season-high 69 rushing yards on 17 carries. His touchdown was his first of the season and the fourth of his career.

Redshirt freshman Camari Harris collected eight tackles, representing a season high. He entered the game with 10 total tackles for the season.

Junior Jeffery Vercher had six kickoff returns for 146 yards with a long of 44, which was Valpo’s longest of the season.

Valpo produced 244 yards of total offense, more than its previous two PFL games combined, but was hurt by three turnovers, losing the turnover battle 3-0.

The Tommies racked up 424 yards of total offense, split almost exactly down the middle between rushing (213) and passing (211).

Empire State Homecomings

Two players on Valpo’s roster hail from the great state of New York – senior wide receiver Brandon Jimenez and redshirt freshman offensive lineman Ethan Stierheim.

This will be a homecoming for Jimenez, whose hometown of Suffern, N.Y. is only about 50 miles south of Poughkeepsie.

Stierheim is Valpo’s only other New York native, but his hometown of Buffalo is over 350 miles from Poughkeepsie.

Valpo also features a trio of New Jersey natives – redshirt senior defensive back Shaikyi Hannah (Woodbury), senior tight end Jalen Jones (North Brunswick) and redshirt freshman offensive lineman Jake Russell (Glen Ridge).

Scouting Marist

Marist is coming off a 34-6 loss at San Diego.

The Red Foxes are seeking their first PFL victory, but did have a one-score game vs. St. Thomas in the team’s most recent home game, a 39-32 setback on Oct. 12. Marist’s other three PFL losses were all decided by 23 points or more.

The Red Foxes faced off with former Valpo head coach Dave Cecchini on Sept. 21 at Bucknell. The Bison prevailed 34-18.

The team was picked eighth of 11 in the PFL preseason poll, two spots ahead of the Beacons.

Jim Parady retired at the end of the 2023 season after 32 years as Marist head coach, ending his run as the longest-tenured head coach in Division-I. The Red Foxes are now led by first-year head coach Mike Willis, who previously served as the assistant head coach/offensive coordinator at Princeton.

VALPO WOMEN’S GOLF

VALPO CLOSES FALL SLATE WITH FINAL DAY OF BRAUN INTERCOLLEGIATE

Senior Katie Schreiner (Fenton, Mo. / Summit) paced the Valparaiso University women’s golf team for the second straight day as the Beacons closed out the 36-hole, two-day Braun Intercollegiate, hosted by Evansville at the par-72, 6195-yard Oak Meadow Country Club in Evansville, Ind. on Tuesday. This marked the final round of the fall campaign for the Beacons.

How It Happened

Schreiner led Valpo in both rounds of the tournament, carding an 80 (+8) on Tuesday to finish the tournament with a 36-hole score of 159. She tied for 22nd in an 85-player field. On Tuesday, Schreiner birdied the par-5 second hole and the par-3 17th hole.

Senior Anna Fay (Ada, Mich. / Forest Hills) posted an 84 (+12) on Tuesday to round out the week at 164 (+20), tied for 44th overall. Fay had a birdie on Hole 15 in Round 2.

Sophomore Bella Campos (Honolulu, Hawaii / IMG Academy) was third on the team with an 85 on Tuesday, finishing the event in 49th place at 166.

Valpo finished the 36-hole event with a team score of 658 after an 18-hole round of 335 on Tuesday. The Beacons placed 11th as a team, finishing ahead of Eastern Illinois and Evansville-B. Chicago State withdrew during the tournament.

Indiana State took the top spot at 611, while Yang Tai of the Sycamores was the individual medalist at 147.

Up Next

Valpo will start the spring season on Monday, Feb. 17 at the Islander Classic in Corpus Christi, Texas. A link to live scoring will be available on ValpoAthletics.com.

UINDY MEN’S BASKETBALL

HOUNDS TABBED SIXTH BY GLVC COACHES

INDIANAPOLIS – Fresh off back-to-back No. 1 seeds in the NCAA DII Midwest Regional, the UIndy men’s basketball team was chosen to finish sixth in the 2024-25 preseason poll, as voted by the league coaches.

Veteran head coach Scott Heady is in his first season at the helm his alma mater, welcoming back four returners and 10 newcomers.

The Greyhounds garnered 140 points and one first-place vote, just ahead of Missouri-St. Louis and Drury in the top eight. Truman topped the poll with 172 points and six first-place votes, while Illinois Springfield (162, 2), and William Jewell (161, 4) battled it out. Upper Iowa received the remaining two first-place votes.

Dylan Ingram and Zac Szul return for the Hounds, playing key roles on last season’s second straight GLVC regular season title team.

The complete poll can be found below.

2024-25 GLVC MEN’S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL

RK	SCHOOL	PTS (1st-place votes)
1.	Truman State	172 (6)
2.	Illinois Springfield	162 (2)
3.	William Jewell	161 (4)
4.	Lewis	153
5.	Upper Iowa	152 (2)
6.	UIndy	140 (1)
7.	Missouri-St. Louis	132
8.	Drury	107
9.	McKendree	91
10.	Missouri S&T	88
11. 12.	Lincoln Maryville	58 49
13.	Rockhurst	45
14.	Quincy	44
15.	Southwest Baptist	21

UINDY WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

GREYHOUNDS SELECTED NINTH IN GLVC PRESEASON POLL

INDIANAPOLIS – The UIndy women’s basketball team was picked to finish ninth in the annual league preseason poll released Tuesday morning.

Under new leadership for the 2024-25 campaign, first-year head coach Jama Sharp returns five players from a year ago, along with 10 newcomers. Key returners include two-time All-GLVC selection Elana Wells, as well as leading rebounder Patricia Chikamba.

UIndy earned 105 points, four shy of tying for seventh place with Missouri-St. Louis and Quincy. Defending league champion Lewis topped the poll with 190 points and nine first-place votes, while Drury (5) and McKendree (1) garnered the remaining top picks.

GLVC newcomer Lincoln was chosen 14th with 26 points, just ahead of William Jewell.

The complete poll can be found below.

2024-25 GLVC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL

RK	SCHOOL	PTS (1st-place votes)
1.	Lewis	190 (9)
2.	Drury	183 (5)
3.	McKendree	158 (1)
4.	Maryville	140
5.	Upper Iowa	130
6.	Rockhurst	128
t7.	Missouri-St. Louis	109
t7.	Quincy	109
9.	UIndy	105
10.	Illinois Springfield	80
11. 12.	Truman State Missouri S&T	75 70
13.	Southwest Baptist	47
14.	Lincoln	26
15.	William Jewell	25

GREYHOUNDS FINISH FOURTH TO END FALL PLAY

FARMINGTON, Penn. – The UIndy women’s golf team wrapped their 2024 fall slate at the Intercollegiate at Nemacolin. The University of Findlay hosted the event at the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in southeast Pennsylvania, with the teams playing the Mystic Rock course.

INS & OUTS

Nine teams competed in the event with host Findlay winning the tournament. The Greyhounds shot +52 (306-299-309) and placed fourth.

Junior Ava Ray finished inside the top ten for the Greyhounds. Ray grabbed a share of sixth place after finishing +6 (71-75-76). The Franklin, Ind. native had an impressive first-round shooting -1 with three birdies.

Fellow junior, Macey Brown completed the tournament at +13 (77-75-77), placing 13th. Brown had six birdies and 32 pars in 36 holes.

Freshman Abby Stone (81-76-77) and sophomore Caroline Whallon (82-73-79) tied for 18th after hitting +19. Senior Ellen Caton (+52, 79-90-99) was the last Greyhound to compete in the event, placing 46th.

UP NEXT

The Greyhounds return to the course next semester. The spring schedule on UIndyAthletics.com will be updated when available.

MEN’S GOLF COMPLETES FALL SLATE AT THE INTERCOLLEGIATE AT NEMACOLIN

FARMINGTON, Penn – The UIndy men’s golf team completed their 2024 fall schedule at the Intercollegiate at Nemacolin. The University of Findlay hosted the event at the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in southeast Pennsylvania, with the teams playing the Mystic Rock course.

INS & OUTS

Nine teams competed in the tournament with Grand Valley State coming out on top. The Greyhounds placed seventh in the event finishing 42 over par (306-297-303).

Sophomore Cameron Young was the top finisher for the Greyhound with a share of 10th at +3 (74-71-74). Young finished one under during the second round after grabbing five birdies.

Junior Drew Rowen finished 25th overall, shooting +11 (82-73-72). Rowen hit a combined one over par during the final two rounds, with six birdies in 36 holes.

Sophomore Alexander Nestun was not far behind his teammate in 32nd. The Swedish transplant hit +15 (74-76-81). Rounding out the Hounds lineup was sophomores Caleb Michaels (+18, 79-77-78) and Joseph Armfield (+20, 79-78-79), who placed 38th and 40th, respectively.

UP NEXT

The Greyhounds return to the course next semester. The spring schedule on UIndyAthletics.com will be updated when available.

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

42 – 9 – 26 – 8 – 40 – 19 – 11

October 23, 1923 – Legendary Yankees slugger Babe Ruth made a postseason exhibition appearance in a rival New York Giants uniform as the Big Apple squad dropped the Baltimore Orioles, 9-0 in a benefit game for former Giants owner John Day

October 23, 1945 – Trailblazing baseball player Jackie Robinson signs contract with Montreal Royals, minor league farm team of Brooklyn Dodgers. We know Mr. Robinson wore Number 42 as a Dodger in the Majors but did you know that he wore Number 9 as a Montral Royal player? In fact the future Hall of Fame player would play 124 games for Montreal before the famous ground breaking signing with Brooklyn.

October 23, 1974 – Chicago Cubs trade 6-time MLB All Star outfielder Billy Williams, Number 26 to Oakland A’s for second baseman Number 8, Manny Trillo and 2 pitchers

October 23, 1984 – Chicago Cubs Number 40, Rick Sutcliffe, selected as a unanimous choice as NL Cy Young

October 23, 1993 – World Series: Defending champion Toronto Blue Jays beat Philadelphia Phillies, 8-6 at the SkyDome, Toronto to clinch series, 4-2; The Most Valuable Player for the Series was Blue Jays infielder Paul Molitor, Number 19

October 23, 2008 – Joe Sakic, Number 19 scored his final career goal (#625) against the Edmonton Oilers

October 23, 2019 – All Star point guard Number 11, Kyrie Irving lit up the scoreboard with 50 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves, setting a new NBA record for points on a debut with a new team the Brooklyn Nets. Irving and the Nets fell by the score 127-126 at home to the Minnesota.

FOOTBALL HISTORY

Iron Bowl VIII

October 23, 1903 – Montgomery, Alabama – The 8th installment of the famed Iron Bowl took place as the Alabama Crimson Tide knocked off the Auburn Tigers 18-6. The victory helped head Coach W.B. Blount’s Alabama team reach a 3-4 record for the season, while Auburn coached by Billy Bates on the other hand ended up 4-3 on the season according to sports-reference.com’s records.

Drama of Packers first NFL game

October 23, 1921 – Hagemeister Park, Green Bay, Wisconsin – Green Bay Packers played in their very first NFL game against the Minneapolis Marines. The website Packershistory.net enlightens us with just how dramatic of an ending that first Green Bay NFL game had. With time running out in the fourth quarter the Marines had the ball and a 6-0 lead over the Packers. Then in one of the moments that teams on the bottom side of the score dream of, defensive end Dave Hayes of the Pack recovered a fumble at the Minneapolis 35 yard-line! Halfback Buff Wagner made a spectacular catch of a Curly Lambeau pass to advance the ball to the 14 to keep the comeback alive.  Then with little time remaining in the contest, running back Art Schmaehl eventually plunged over from the 1 and Lambeau’s extra point proved to be the game winner in the 7-6 come from behind victory. The story gets more interesting as years later historian Jack Rudolph, a colleague of Packers co-founder George Whitney Calhoun, wrote that it was rumored and some believed the Packers were admitted to the loosely-organized league, formed in a Canton automobile showroom, on a conditional basis and if they hadn’t beaten the Minneapolis Marines they would have been dropped from what was then the American Professional Football Association. Remember that most teams in that era, including the Packers essentially scheduled their league games from week to week. Talk about your must win games! Of course Green Bay went on to win the most NFL titles including Championships and Super Bowls than any other team, earning them the right to be called “Title Town.”

Monday Night Miracle

October 23, 2000 – Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey – The “Monday Night Miracle” took place on ABC’s Monday Night Football! The Miami Dolphins were not the most polite of  guests of the New York Jets as they had outscored their hosts 30-7 at the end of the third quarter. The New York Jets would not lie down quietly in their house though as they pulled together an improbable comeback with 4 touchdowns and a field goal in the fourth quarter, and tied the game twice in the final stanza. The Green and White kept on scrapping and eventually defeated the Miami Dolphins 40-37 in overtime on a John Hall 40 yard field goal.

Holy War XVI

October 23, 2004 – South Bend, Indiana – 16th College Football Holy War between the only two Roman Catholic Universities in the U.S. playing Division 1 football,  Boston College and Notre Dame. The Eagles and the Irish battled all game long in this one as the game came down to a play in the final minute. According to an ESPN.com account of the game With 54 ticks of the clock remaining, BC quarterback Paul Peterson dropped back and then fired a 30-yard touchdown strike to Tony Gonzalez to give Boston College a 24-23 come-from-behind victory over the Irish. Notre Dame had been undefeated and ranked in the top 25 teams in the nation prior to the loss to their unranked opponent. It was not the first time Boston College had the better of the Golden Domers, as a matter of fact it was the Eagle’s fourth consecutive victory over the Fighting Irish!

9 OTs!

October 23, 2021 – The University of Illinois and the Penn State University teams gave football fans watching the Big Ten matchup more for their money as the game went to a record 9 overtime sessions. Sloppy play filled with dropped passes filled the session for both teams as the unranked Illini escaped with a 20-18 victory over the number 7 Nittany Lions.

Hall of Fame Birthdays for October 23

Heisman

October 23, 1869 – Cleveland, Ohio – John Heisman, American football coach who was one of the top innovators for the game of football in history. Heisman along with Walter Camp, Alonzo Stagg and Pop Warner took football in their era and made it a much better and safer sport with innovations, rules revisions and great procedural items that evolved and translated to our modern game of American football at all levels. Heisman is credited per the NFF’s website with helping to  legalize the forward pass, originated the center snap, innovated the “hike” cadence to initiate a snap and for which the Heisman Trophy is named. John coached at various schools including Oberlin, Akron, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Penn, Washington and Jefferson, Auburn and RIce. He played every line position while he was a student athlete at Brown University. The National Football Foundation selected John Heisman to enter into their College Football Hall of Fame in 1954. Heisman passed suddenly at the age of 66 just as he was preparing to write a book on the history of football. It’s too bad we never got to see that masterpiece as I am sure it would have been.

Executive – Joe Carr

October 23, 1879 – Columbus, Ohio  – Joseph Francis Carr was born. Who was Joe Carr you may ask? Joe was the NFL’s President from 1921 through 1939, taking the League from its infancy in an era before games were televised and transformed it from a small town localized event into the major cities across the country. Before the NFL had formed Joe helped revive the Columbus Panhandles in 1907 with Railroad workers and helped the team become one of the initial teams to join the AFPA, two seasons before it became known as the NFL. He was also one of the founders and president of the American Basketball League (ABL) from 1925 to 1927 and had some dealings in making minor league baseball stronger. Joe Carr was one of the 17 inaugural inductees into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963.

Bruiser Kinard

October 23,  1914  – Pelahatchie, Mississippi – Frank “Bruiser” Kinard a tackle from the University of Mississippi was born. Bruiser was voted in as an All-American in both 1936 & 1937, the first player from the state of Mississippi to be selected to the honor. The National Football Foundation’s bio tell how Frank seldom would leave a game, even when injured, proven by his 1936 season when he played 708 minutes of the total 720 his team was on the field. After college Kinard went into the professional ranks of football and was an All-Pro as he played 9 seasons for the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Yankees football franchises. The National Football Foundation selected Bruiser Kinard to enter into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951.

Tom Brahaney

October 23, 1951  – Midland, Texas – Tom Brahaney from Oklahoma University arrived into the world. Tom played the position of center.  During the 1971 season, the Sooners led the nation in rushing, total offense and scoring due in part to the great blocking by Brahaney.  Footballfoundation.org tells us that as a senior, Tom was a finalist for the Lombardi Award, and repeated as a consensus All-America choice. The National Football Foundation selected Tom Brahaney to enter into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2007. After graduation Tom entered the NFL playing nine seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Doug Flutie

October 23 , 1962 – Manchester, Maryland  – Doug Flutie a quarterback from Boston College had his father handing out cigars upon his arrival. After high school, Doug stood 5-foot-9-inches tall and was considered by some to be too short to play quarterback in the major division of college football. What he lacked in size, he had in heart, smarts and natural ability on the gridiron. Boston College gave Doug a scholarship late, coercing the youth to choose BC over the University of New Hampshire. According to the NFF Flutie would not give up on his dream of being the Eagle’s quarterback, even though he was fifth on the depth chart as a freshman. Through hard work and determination by week 6 of the season Doug Flutie was the starting QB of Boston College and ended up number 9 in the nation in passing. By the time he was a senior he had won the Heisman trophy and took Boston College to multiple Bowl games, when they had been absent from them for over four decades. Doug Flutie entered the College Football Hall of Fame in 2007. After college Flutie embarked on a long and hard fought road in a 21 year professional football career as he played in the USFL, NFL and CFL, he was a six-time CFL player of the Year. before returning to the NFL.

TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY

1910    Jack Coombs wins his third game of the World Series when he goes the distance to beat the Cubs at Chicago’s West Side Grounds, 7-2. In addition to winning Game 5 to give Philadelphia the world championship, the A’s right-hander also had complete-game victories in Games 2 and 3 of the Fall Classic.

1945    Dodger President Branch Rickey announces that the team has signed two black players, shortstop Jackie Robinson and pitcher Johnny Wright, to play with Brooklyn’s Triple-A team in Montreal. The 26-year-old Negro League infielder will be the first black player in organized baseball since 1884.

1951    The Associated Press selects Giants skipper Leo Durocher as the Manager of the Year. Under his leadership, the Giants rallied from a 13½ game deficit in mid-August to win the pennant, beating the Dodgers in a three-game playoff series best remembered for Bobby Thomson’s fabled home run in the bottom of the ninth inning of the deciding game at the Polo Grounds.

1952    The Pacific Coast League announces its teams will play a reduced 176-game schedule next season. However, the PCL clubs will continue to play 180 contests next season, similar to the past two years.

1958    The Associated Press names Danny Murtaugh as its major league Manager of the Year. In his first full year in the Pirates’ dugout, the team improved by 22 games, 14 games over .500, finishing in second place, eight games behind Milwaukee.

1973    Boston trades first baseman Ben Ogilvie to the Tigers in exchange for Dick McAuliffe. The former Detroit shortstop will hit only .210 in 100 games for his new team next season, but in 1975, the Hartford native will become the manager of the club’s Double-A farm team, the Bristol Red Sox, located in his home state of Connecticut.

1985    After months of debate, King County Executive Randy Revelle and team owner George Argyros sign a new lease calling for the Mariners to play in the Kingdome through the 1996 season. The deal contains a provision that allows the M’s to leave Seattle after the 1987 season if attendance stays below 1.4 million and season ticket sales fall under the 10,000 mark.

1986    In Game 5 of the World Series at Fenway Park, Bruce Hurst throws a complete game to beat the Mets, 4-2, earning his second victory of the Fall Classic and bringing the team within one win of ending their 68-year World Championship drought. New York will dash the Red Sox Nation’s hopes with two come-from-behind wins at Shea Stadium.

1993    “Touch ’em all Joe, you’ll never hit a bigger home run in your life” – Tom Cheek, radio voice of the Blue Jays. Thanks to Joe Carter’s dramatic ninth-inning three-run homer over the left-field wall, the Blue Jays beat the Phillies 8-6 to win their second consecutive World Championship. The Toronto outfielder becomes the second player to end the World Series with a home run, joining Bill Mazeroski, whose Forbes Field’s round-tripper beat the Yankees in 1960.

1993    Mike Piazza, the sixty-second round pick of the 1988 draft, is the BBWAA’s unanimous choice for the Rookie of the Year award in the National League. The Dodger catcher is the first player to hit over .300 (.318), connect for more than 30 homers (35), and drive in at least 100 runs (112) in the Senior Circuit as a freshman since Wally Berger accomplished the feat in his initial major league season with the Braves in 1930.

1995    Former Astros GM Bob Watson is named the Yankees’ new general manager, replacing Gene Michael. Watson will stay in the position for just two seasons, but during his tenure, the team will win its first World Series since 1978, establishing the groundwork for the very successful Bronx Bomber clubs of the late 1990s.

1996    After the Yankees lose the first two games of the Fall Classic at the Stadium, David Cone limits the Braves to four hits and one run in six innings en route to New York’s 5-2 win. The contest marks the first of 14 consecutive World Series victories en route to the Bronx Bombers’ four titles in five years.

1998    The Dodgers hire Davey Johnson to manage the second-place club, taking over the reins from Bill Russell. The former Mets, Reds, and Orioles skipper, who has finished first with every team he has ever led, will see his streak end in LA when he compiles a 163- 161 (.503) record.

2000    Although lacking big league managerial experience, Pirates hitting coach Lloyd McClendon is named the team’s skipper, replacing the recently-fired Gene Lamont. During the new manager’s five-year tenure in the Pittsburgh dugout, the struggling Bucs will compile a 336-446 (.430) record.

2002    The fans participating in the Major League Baseball and MasterCard promotion select Cal Ripken Jr. breaking Lou Gehrig’s consecutive games streak in 1995 as baseball’s most memorable moment. Hank Aaron’s 715th homer to pass Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier, Mark McGwire breaking Roger Maris’ single-season home run record, and Lou Gehrig’s farewell speech round out the top five events selected by the fans.

2002    Joining Roberto Clemente and Thurman Munson, Darryl Kile will become the third player to appear on the 2003 Hall of Fame ballot before the mandatory five-year waiting period. The 33-year-old Cardinal pitcher, a victim of heart disease, was found dead in his Chicago hotel room in June.

2002    In Game 4 of the World Series, the Angels intentionally walk Barry Bonds three times, setting a new record for a Fall Classic game. Halos’ starting pitcher John Lackey, who issues all the free passes to the Giants’ left fielder, does not factor in the decision in San Francisco’s 4-3 victory at Pac Bell, which deadlocks the series at two.

2005    For the 14th time in World Series history, a walk-off home run ends the contest when Scott Podsednik’s ninth-inning blast in Game 2 at Chicago’s U.S. Cellular Field beats the Astros, 7-6. Bill Mazeroski remains the only player to accomplish the feat in the seventh game of the Fall Classic.

2005    On the verge of the first World Series game in Texas, much to the Astros’ chagrin, MLB rules Houston must play Game 3 of the Fall Classic with its Minute Maid Park roof open. The team had a much better record (38-17) in the enclosed ballpark during the regular season than in games started in the open air (15-11).

2006    Extending his scoreless streak to 24.1 postseason innings, dating back to 2003 with the Twins, Kenny Rogers blanks the Cardinals for eight innings when the Tigers beat the Cardinals 3-1 to even the World Series at a game apiece. The “Gambler’s” recent playoff success comes under suspicion as TV cameras spot a dark substance on the right-hander’s pitching hand in the first frame, which he claims to be only mud.

2010    The Giants capture their twenty-first National League flag when they defeat the Phillies, 3-2, in Game 6 of the NLCS at Citizens Bank Park. The decisive blow is Juan Uribe’s two-out tie-breaking home run off Ryan Madson in the eighth inning.

2012    “I love Fidel Castro, I respect Fidel Castro. You know why? A lot of people have wanted to kill Fidel Castro for the last 60 years, but that m**r is still here.” – OZZIE GUILLEN, praising the Cuban dictator during an interview with Time magazine. With three seasons and $7.5 million remaining on their skipper’s four-year contract, the Marlins dismiss their controversial manager, Ozzie Guillen, who had verbal feuds with Nationals’ rookie Bryce Harper and his players, including closer Heath Bell during a disappointing last-place finish. The 48-year-old Venezuelan-born skipper did not endear himself to the Miami fan base after praising Fidel Castro in an early-season interview, which led to a five-game suspension by MLB for his comments about the Cuban dictator.

2014    After aggressively trying to sign their manager to a third contract extension, the Rays announce Joe Maddon has exercised his contract’s opt-out clause. During his nine-year tenure with Tampa Bay, a franchise perceived as perennial losers before his arrival, the popular skipper compiled a 754-705 record, leading the team to the playoffs four times, including winning two AL East titles and one appearance in the World Series.

2015    The Royals win their second straight American League flag when they eliminate the Blue Jays in Game 6 of the ALCS played at Kauffman Stadium. Kansas City scores the go-ahead run in their 4-3 victory in the bottom of the eighth inning when Lorenzo Cain races home from first base on Eric Hosmer’s RBI single.

2018    The Dodgers become the first team to use an all-right-handed lineup in a World Series game due to the dominance of Red Sox southpaw starter Chris Sale facing left-handed swingers, who batted a paltry .170 against him during the regular season. The strategy proves effective when Los Angeles pounds out five hits and scores three runs during the left-hander’s four innings of work, but the team still loses Game 1 of the Fall Classic at Fenway Park, 8-4.

TV SPORTS WEDNESDAY

NBA REGULAR SEASON	TIME ET	TV
Indiana Pacers at Detroit Pistons	7:00pm	Bally Sports Indiana Bally Sports Detroit
Brooklyn Nets at Atlanta Hawks	7:30pm	YES Bally Sports Southeast
Cleveland Cavaliers at Toronto Raptors	7:30pm	Bally Sports Ohio TSN
Milwaukee Bucks at Philadelphia 76ers	7:30pm	ESPN
Orlando Magic at Miami Heat	7:30pm	Bally Sports Sun Bally Sports Florida
Charlotte Hornets at Houston Rockets	8:00pm	Bally Sports South SCHN
Chicago Bulls at New Orleans Pelicans	8:00pm	CHSN GCSN
Memphis Grizzlies at Utah Jazz	9:00pm	Bally Sports Southeast KJZZ
Golden State Warriors at Portland Trail Blazers	10:00pm	NBCS-BAY KPTV
Phoenix Suns at LA Clippers	10:00pm	ESPN
NHL REGULAR SEASON	TIME ET	TV
Philadelphia at Washington	7:30pm	TNT truTV MAX
COLLEGE FOOTBALL	TIME ET	TV
Liberty at Kennesaw State	7:00pm	CBSSN
Middle Tennessee at Jacksonville State	7:30pm	ESPN2
SOCCER	TIME ET	TV
UEFA Champions League: Atalanta vs Celtic	12:45pm	Paramount+ VIX
UEFA Champions League: Brest vs Bayer Leverkusen	12:45pm	Paramount+ VIX
UEFA Champions League: Atlético Madrid vs Lille	3:00pm	Paramount+ VIX
UEFA Champions League: Barcelona vs Bayern München	3:00pm	Paramount+ VIX
UEFA Champions League: Benfica vs Feyenoord	3:00pm	Paramount+ VIX
UEFA Champions League: Manchester City vs Sparta Praha	3:00pm	Paramount+ VIX
UEFA Champions League: RB Leipzig vs Liverpool	3:00pm	Paramount+ VIX
UEFA Champions League: Salzburg vs Dinamo Zagreb	3:00pm	Paramount+ VIX
UEFA Champions League: Young Boys vs Internazionale	3:00pm	Paramount+ VIX
Liga MX: Atlético San Luis vs Querétaro	9:00pm	VIX
Liga MX: Cruz Azul vs Juárez	9:00pm	VIX
Liga MX: Monterrey vs Pumas UNAM	9:00pm	VIX
Liga MX: León vs Atlas	11:00pm	VIX
Liga MX: Tijuana vs América	11:05pm	VIX