“THE SCOREBOARD”
INDIANA SRN WEEK ONE FOOTBALL BROADCAST SCHEDULE
EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL AT JASPER
HERITAGE CHRISTIAN AT COVENANT CHRISTIAN
GREENFIELD-CENTRAL AT BEECH GROVE
BATESVILLE AT TRITON CENTRAL
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL WEEK ONE
ADAMS CENTRAL (0-0) AT GARRETT (0-0)
ALEXANDRIA (0-0) AT WES-DEL (0-0)
ANDREAN (0-0) AT MERRILLVILLE (0-0)
ATTICA (0-0) AT CULVER (0-0)
AVON (0-0) AT LAFAYETTE JEFF (0-0)
BATESVILLE (0-0) AT TRITON CENTRAL (0-0)
BELLMONT (0-0) AT HERITAGE (0-0)
BLOOMINGTON NORTH (0-0) AT MOORESVILLE (0-0)
BLOOMINGTON SOUTH (0-0) AT COLUMBUS EAST (0-0)
BOONVILLE (0-0) AT PAOLI (0-0)
BOWMAN ACADEMY (0-0) AT SOUTH CENTRAL (UNION MILLS) (0-0)
BREMEN (0-0) AT EAST NOBLE (0-0)
BROWN COUNTY (0-0) AT OWEN VALLEY (0-0)
BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL (0-0) AT CORYDON CENTRAL (0-0)
CAMBRIDGE CITY LINCOLN (0-0) AT CENTERVILLE (0-0)
CASCADE (0-0) AT INDIAN CREEK (0-0)
CASTLE (0-0) AT EVANSVILLE NORTH (0-0)
CASTON (0-0) AT CARROLL (FLORA) (0-0)
CENTRAL NOBLE (0-0) AT WEST NOBLE (0-0)
CHRISTEL HOUSE (0-0) AT INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN (0-0)
CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (TENN.) AT PROVIDENCE (0-0)
CHURUBUSCO (0-0) AT COLUMBIA CITY (0-0)
CLARKSVILLE (0-0) AT PIKE CENTRAL (0-0)
CLINTON CENTRAL (0-0) AT FRANKFORT (0-0)
CLINTON PRAIRIE (0-0) AT FRONTIER (0-0)
COLUMBUS NORTH (0-0) AT DECATUR CENTRAL (0-0)
COVINGTON (0-0) AT TRI-COUNTY (0-0)
CRAWFORDSVILLE (0-0) AT PARKE HERITAGE (0-0)
DEKALB (0-0) AT ANGOLA (0-0)
DELPHI (0-0) AT BENTON CENTRAL (0-0)
DELTA (0-0) AT MUNCIE CENTRAL (0-0)
EASTERN (GREENTOWN) (0-0) AT OAK HILL (0-0)
EASTERN (PEKIN) (0-0) AT WEST WASHINGTON (0-0)
EDGEWOOD (0-0) AT MITCHELL (0-0)
ELKHART (0-0) AT CONCORD (0-0)
ELWOOD (0-0) AT SOUTHERN WELLS (0-0)
EVANSVILLE HARRISON (0-0) AT EVANSVILLE REITZ (0-0)
EVANSVILLE MATER DEI (0-0) AT EVANSVILLE CENTRAL (0-0)
**EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL (0-0) AT JASPER (0-0)
FAIRFIELD (0-0) AT GOSHEN (0-0)
FISHERS (0-0) AT NORTH CENTRAL (INDIANAPOLIS) (0-0)
FOREST PARK (0-0) AT PRINCETON (0-0)
FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK (0-0) AT BLUFFTON (0-0)
FORT WAYNE DWENGER (0-0) AT BROWNSBURG (0-0)
FORT WAYNE NORTH (0-0) AT NORTHRIDGE (0-0)
FORT WAYNE WAYNE (0-0) AT INDIANAPOLIS ATTUCKS (0-0)
FRANKLIN (0-0) AT NEW ALBANY (0-0)
FRANKTON (0-0) AT EASTERN HANCOCK (0-0)
GARY WEST (0-0) AT INDIANAPOLIS WASHINGTON (0-0)
GIBSON SOUTHERN (0-0) AT DANVILLE (0-0)
GREENCASTLE (0-0) AT MONROVIA (0-0)
GREENFIELD-CENTRAL (0-0) AT BEECH GROVE (0-0)
GREENSBURG (0-0) AT SHELBYVILLE (0-0)
HAGERSTOWN (0-0) AT KNIGHTSTOWN (0-0)
HAMILTON HEIGHTS (0-0) AT LAPEL (0-0)
**HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN (0-0) AT CARROLL (FORT WAYNE) (0-0)
HAMMOND CENTRAL (0-0) AT SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON (0-0)
HAMMOND MORTON (0-0) AT PORTAGE (0-0)
HAMMOND NOLL (0-0) AT SOUTH BEND RILEY (0-0)
HARRISON (WEST LAFAYETTE) (0-0) AT WEST LAFAYETTE (0-0)
HERITAGE CHRISTIAN (0-0) AT COVENANT CHRISTIAN (0-0)
HERITAGE HILLS (0-0) AT SOUTHRIDGE (0-0)
HIGHLAND (0-0) AT GRIFFITH (0-0)
HOBART (0-0) AT CHESTERTON (0-0)
HOMESTEAD (0-0) AT CARMEL (0-0)
HUNTINGTON NORTH (0-0) AT EASTBROOK (0-0)
**INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL (0-0) AT BEN DAVIS (0-0)
**INDIANAPOLIS CHATARD (0-0) AT BREBEUF JESUIT (0-0)
INDIANAPOLIS RONCALLI (0-0) AT SOUTHPORT (0-0)
INDIANAPOLIS SCECINA (0-0) AT FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA (0-0)
INDIANAPOLIS TECH (0-0) AT INDIANAPOLIS RITTER (0-0)
INDIANAPOLIS TINDLEY (0-0) AT EDINBURGH (0-0)
IRVINGTON PREP (0-0) AT FAITH CHRISTIAN (0-0)
JAY COUNTY (0-0) AT BLACKFORD (0-0)
JEFFERSONVILLE (0-0) AT WHITELAND (0-0)
JENNINGS COUNTY (0-0) AT SOUTH DEARBORN (0-0)
JOHN GLENN (0-0) AT BOONE GROVE (0-0)
KNOX (0-0) AT NORTH JUDSON (0-0)
**KOKOMO (0-0) AT NEW PALESTINE (0-0)
LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC (0-0) AT SEEGER (0-0)
LAPORTE (0-0) AT NEW PRAIRIE (0-0)
LAVILLE (0-0) AT TRITON (0-0)
LAWRENCE NORTH (0-0) AT LAWRENCE CENTRAL (0-0)
**LAWRENCEBURG (0-0) AT EAST CENTRAL (0-0)
LEO (0-0) AT FORT WAYNE LUERS (0-0)
LOGANSPORT (0-0) AT PERU (0-0)
LOUISVILLE ST. XAVIER (KY.) AT FLOYD CENTRAL (0-0)
LOWELL (0-0) AT CROWN POINT (0-0)
MARION (0-0) AT FORT WAYNE SOUTH (0-0)
MARION LOCAL (OHIO) AT LINTON (0-0)
MARTINSVILLE (0-0) AT BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE (0-0)
MCCUTCHEON (0-0) AT GUERIN CATHOLIC (0-0)
MICHIGAN CITY (0-0) AT WARSAW (0-0)
MILAN (0-0) AT RUSHVILLE (0-0)
MISHAWAKA (0-0) AT MISHAWAKA MARIAN (0-0)
MOUNT VERNON (FORTVILLE) (0-0) AT NOBLESVILLE (0-0)
MOUNT VERNON (POSEY) (0-0) AT NORTH POSEY (0-0)
MUNSTER (0-0) AT LAKE CENTRAL (0-0)
NEW CASTLE (0-0) AT FRANKLIN COUNTY (0-0)
NEW HAVEN (0-0) AT FORT WAYNE NORTHROP (0-0)
NORTH CENTRAL (FARMERSBURG) (0-0) AT NORTH VERMILLION (0-0)
NORTH DAVIESS (0-0) AT WASHINGTON (0-0)
NORTH DECATUR (0-0) AT SOUTH DECATUR (0-0)
NORTH HARRISON (0-0) AT SALEM (0-0)
NORTH MONTGOMERY (0-0) AT NORTH PUTNAM (0-0)
NORTH NEWTON (0-0) AT WHITING (0-0)
NORTH WHITE (0-0) AT TAYLOR (0-0)
NORTHFIELD (0-0) AT NORTH MIAMI (0-0)
NORTHWESTERN (0-0) AT MANCHESTER (0-0)
NORTHWOOD (0-0) AT JIMTOWN (0-0)
NORWELL (0-0) AT MISSISSINEWA (0-0)
OSCEOLA GRACE AT CALUMET (0-0)
PARK TUDOR (0-0) AT GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN (0-0)
PENDLETON HEIGHTS (0-0) AT LEBANON (0-0)
PERRY MERIDIAN (0-0) AT FRANKLIN CENTRAL (0-0)
PIONEER (0-0) AT LEWIS CASS (0-0)
PRAIRIE HEIGHTS (0-0) AT WHITKO (0-0)
PURDUE POLY ENGLEWOOD (0-0) AT INDIANAPOLIS SHORTRIDGE (0-0)
RENSSELAER CENTRAL (0-0) AT KANKAKEE VALLEY (0-0)
RICHMOND (0-0) AT CONNERSVILLE (0-0)
RIVER FOREST (0-0) AT EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL (0-0)
RIVERTON PARKE (0-0) AT CLOVERDALE (0-0)
SCOTTSBURG (0-0) AT MADISON (0-0)
SEYMOUR (0-0) AT GREENWOOD (0-0)
SHENANDOAH (0-0) AT FREMONT (0-0)
SILVER CREEK (0-0) AT CHARLESTOWN (0-0)
SOUTH BEND ADAMS (0-0) AT CULVER ACADEMY (0-0)
SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH (0-0) AT LAKELAND (0-0)
SOUTH NEWTON (0-0) AT LAKE STATION (0-0)
SOUTH SPENCER (0-0) AT TECUMSEH (0-0)
SOUTHMONT (0-0) AT FOUNTAIN CENTRAL (0-0)
SOUTHWOOD (0-0) AT MACONAQUAH (0-0)
SPEEDWAY (0-0) AT SOUTH PUTNAM (0-0)
SPRINGS VALLEY (0-0) AT EASTERN GREENE (0-0)
SULLIVAN (0-0) AT NORTH KNOX (0-0)
SWITZERLAND COUNTY (0-0) AT CRAWFORD COUNTY (0-0)
TELL CITY (0-0) AT PERRY CENTRAL (0-0)
TERRE HAUTE NORTH (0-0) AT NORTHVIEW (0-0)
TERRE HAUTE SOUTH (0-0) AT PLAINFIELD (0-0)
TIPTON (0-0) VS. SOUTH ADAMS (0-0)
TRI-CENTRAL (0-0) AT MADISON-GRANT (0-0)
TRI-WEST (0-0) AT WESTERN (0-0)
TWIN LAKES (0-0) AT PLYMOUTH (0-0)
UNION CITY (0-0) AT TRI (0-0)
UNION COUNTY (0-0) AT NORTHEASTERN (0-0)
**VALPARAISO (0-0) AT PENN (0-0)
VINCENNES LINCOLN (0-0) AT EVANSVILLE BOSSE (0-0)
WABASH (0-0) AT ROCHESTER (0-0)
**WARREN CENTRAL (0-0) AT FORT WAYNE SNIDER (0-0)
WAWASEE (0-0) AT TIPPECANOE VALLEY (0-0)
WEST CENTRAL (0-0) AT WINAMAC (0-0)
WEST VIGO (0-0) AT SOUTH VERMILLION (0-0)
WESTERN BOONE (0-0) AT SHERIDAN (0-0)
**WESTFIELD (0-0) AT CENTER GROVE (0-0)
WHEELER (0-0) AT HANOVER CENTRAL (0-0)
WINCHESTER (0-0) AT MONROE CENTRAL (0-0)
WOODLAN (0-0) AT EASTSIDE (0-0)
YORKTOWN (0-0) AT ANDERSON (0-0)
ZIONSVILLE (0-0) AT PIKE (0-0)
**GAMES OF THE WEEK
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COACHES PRE-SEASON POLLS
6A
1 BEN DAVIS
2 CENTER GROVE
3 BROWNSBURG
4 WARREN CENTRAL
5 CROWN POINT
6 WESTFIELD
7 CATHEDRAL
8 CARMEL
9 HAMILTON SE
10 FW SNIDER
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: LAWRENCE NORTH, NOBLESVILLE, LAWRENCE CENTRAL, FW CARROLL
5A
1 DECATUR CENTRAL
2 MERRILLVILLE
3 VALPARAISO
4 WHITELAND
5 EAST CENTRAL/WARSAW
7 CASTLE
8 BLOOMINGTON SOUTH
9 CONCORD
10 BLOOMINGTON NORTH
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: LAFAYETTE JEFF, KOKOMO, HAMMOND MORTON, PLAINFIELD, MICHIGAN CITY
4A
1 NEW PALESTINE
2 BISHOP CHATARD
3 EVANSVILLE REITZ
4 NORTHWOOD
5 GREENFIELD-CENTRAL
6 BREBEUF/LEO
8 NEW PRAIRIE
9 MISHAWAKA
10 RONCALLI
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: EAST NOBLE, MT. VERNON, MARTINSVILLE, NEW HAVEN, HANOVER CENTRAL, MOORESVILLE, FW DWENGER, CRISPUS ATTUCKS, NORTHRIDGE, PENDLETON HEIGHTS, SB RILEY
3A
1 HERITAGE HILLS
2 GIBSON SOUTHERN
3 EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL/GUERIN CATHOLIC
5 KNOX
6 FW LUERS
7 LAWRENCEBURG
8 WEST LAFAYETTE
9 TRI-WEST
10 HAMILTON HEIGHTS
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: BATESVILLE, EVANSVILLE MATER DEI, DELTA, FW CONCORDIA, MISHAWAKA MARIAN, SOUTHRIDGE, TIPPECANOE VALLEY, HAMMON NOLL, VINCENNES LINCOLN, GARRETT
2A
1 LUTHERAN
2 LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC
3 NORTH POSEY
4 LINTON-STOCKTON
5 ADAMS CENTRAL
6 EASTERN HANCOCK/BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL
8 ANDREAN
9 EASTBROOK/SOUTHMONT
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: HERITAGE CHRISTIAN, PAOLI, TRITON-CENTRAL, BLUFFTON, WESTERN BOONE, SCECINA, ALEXANDRIA-MONROE, MONROVIA, CENTERVILLE, GREENCASTLE, EASTSIDE, ROCHESTER, SOUTH VERMILLION, PARK TUDOR
1A
1 NORTH JUDSON
2 SOUTH PUTNAM
3 PROVIDENCE
4 SHERIDAN
5 CARROLL-FLORA
6 NORTH DECATUR
7 LAVILLE
8 MONROE CENTRAL
9 MILAN/SPRINGS VALLEY
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: SOUTH ADAMS, MADISON-GRANT, TRI, NORTH WHITE, HAGERSTOWN, PIONEER, WEST CENTRAL, PERRY CENTRAL
ORDER THE 2024 INDIANA FOOTBALL DIGEST: https://indianafootballdigest.com/
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL
HORIZON CHRISTIAN 3 COLUMBUS CHRISTIAN 0
NEW PALESTINE 3 CONNERSVILLE 0
EASTERN HANCOCK 3 NORTH DECATUR 1
HARRISON 3 FRONTIER 0
ZIONSVILLE 3 MCCUTCHEON 0
PENDLETON HEIGHTS 3 RICHMOND 0
CRAWFORDSVILLE 3 SHERIDAN 2
WINCHESTER 3 COWAN 0
ALEXANDRIA MONROE 3 LIBERTY CHRISTIAN 0
PARK TUDOR 3 INTERNATIONAL 0
SOUTHPORT 3 DECATUR CENTRAL 0
YORKTOWN 3 WESTFIELD 0
MOUNT VERNON 3 CATHEDRAL 2
RIVERTON PARKE 3 N. PUTNAM 0
DANVILLE 3 GREENCASTLE 0
WEST LAFAYETTE 3 ROSSVILLE 0
TRINITY LUTHERAN 3 CENTER GROVE 1
GREENSBURG 3 E. CENTRAL 0
LINTON STOCKTON 3 VINCENNES LINCOLN 2
SULLIVAN 3 S. KNOX 2
HAMILTON SE 3 CARMEL 0
INDIANA BOYS SOCCER SCORES
HARRISON 2 CROWN POINT 1
NEW PRAIRIE 2 TRINITY 0
COVINGTON 5 N. MONTGOMERY 1
MARQUETTE CATHOLIC 2 WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP 1
KANKAKEE VALLEY 7 RENSSELAER CENTRAL 2
EVANSVILLE CENTRAL 3 SOUTHRIDGE 2
NORWELL 2 FORT WAYNE WAYNE 1
BREMEN 3 PLYMOUTH 2
BETHESDA CHRISTIAN 6 PURDUE BROAD RIPPLE 0
TAYLOR 3 ROSSVILLE 0
ELKHART 8 ELKHART CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 0
PROVIDENCE 3 CHARLESTOWN 0
GOSHEN 3 SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH 2
FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA 4 FORT WAYNE CANTERBURY 1
PERRY MERIDIAN 1 GREENWOOD 0
HANOVER CENTRAL 2 LOWELL 1
SALEM 5 CLARKSVILLE 0
SWITZERLAND COUNTY 7 MILAN 0
NORTH PUTNAM 6 OWEN VALLEY 0
HARRISON 8 S. DEARBORN 0
WARSAW 4 FORT WAYNE SOUTH 0
INDIANA GIRLS SOCCER SCORES
CULVER 9 TIPPECANOE VALLEY 0
BOONE GROVE 9 HAMMOND MORTON 0
SWITZERLAND COUNTY 10 MILAN 0
TRITON CENTRAL 5 KNIGHTSTOWN 0
COLUMBIA CITY 3 MANCHESTER 2
FAITH CHRISTIAN 7 SOUTHMONT 0
ANGOLA 3 FORT WAYNE WAYNE 2
MARTINSVILLE 8 SHELBYVILLE 2
WESTERN 4 LAFAYETTE JEFF 4
NORTH PUTNAM 5 OWEN VALLEY 2
VINCENNESN RIVET 10 NORTH KNOX 1
DANVILLE 8 DECATUR CENTRAL 2
FRANKLIN 3 COLUMBUS EAST 1
GREENWOOD 1 PERRY MERIDIAN 0
WEST LAFAYETTE 4 NORTHWESTERN 0
LAKEWOOD PARK CHRISTIAN 8 NEW HAVEN 0
LAPEL 8 TIPTON 2
BLOOMINGTON NORTH 9 BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE 0
SHERIDAN 4 LEBANON 0
BROWNSBURG 2 LAWRENCE NORTH 1
HANOVER CENTRAL 5 LOWELL 1
HOMESTEAD 6 LEO 1
MOUNT VERNON 2 BISHOP CHATARD 0
CENTER GROVE 3 COLUMBUS NORTH 1
AVON 3 TRI-WEST 0
EAST CENTRAL 2 BADIN OH 1
JASPER 4 EVANSVILLE CENTRAL 2
NEW PALESTINE 6 MOORESVILLE 3
FISHERS 4 PARK TUDOR 1
WHITE RIVER VALLEY 1 W. VIGO 0
FRANKLIN CENTRAL 4 GREENFIELD-CENTRAL 3
HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 3 RONCALLI 2
INDIANA GIRLS GOLF
HERITAGE 199 BISHOP CHATARD 236
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SCORES
ARIZONA 9 MIAMI 6
CINCINNATI 6 TORONTO 3
NY METS 4 BALTIMORE 3
TEXAS 4 PITTSBURGH 3
HOUSTON 5 BOSTON 4
KANSAS CITY 5 LA ANGELS 3
OAKLAND 3 TAMPA BAY 0
SAN DIEGO 5 MINNESOTA 3
SAN FRANCISCO 5 CHICAGO WHITE SOX 3
LA DODGERS 3 SEATTLE 0
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SCORES
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
WNBA SCORES
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
EARLY COLLEGE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
SATURDAY, AUG. 24 IN WEEK ZERO:
AER LINGUS COLLEGE FOOTBALL CLASSIC: FLORIDA STATE VS. GEORGIA TECH (IN DUBLIN, IRELAND) | 12 P.M. ET | ESPN
MCNEESE AT TARLETON STATE | 2:30 P.M. ET| ESPN2
MONTANA STATE AT NEW MEXICO | 4 P.M. ET | FS1
FCS KICKOFF: NORTH ALABAMA VS. SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE (CRAMTON BOWL IN MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA) | 7 P.M. ET | ESPN
MEAC/SWAC CHALLENGE: NORFOLK STATE VS. FLORIDA A&M (CENTER PARC STADIUM IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA) | 7:30 P.M. | ABC
SMU AT NEVADA | 8 P.M. ET |CBS SPORTS NETWORK
DELAWARE STATE AT HAWAII
THURSDAY, AUG. 29
NORTH CAROLINA AT MINNESOTA | 8 P.M. ET | FOX
NORTH DAKOTA STATE AT COLORADO | 8 P.M. ET | ESPN
SACRAMENTO STATE AT SAN JOSE STATE | 10 P.M. ET | TRUTV AND MAX
FRIDAY, AUG. 30
TCU AT STANFORD | 10:30 P.M. ET | ESPN
SATURDAY, AUG. 31
AFLAC KICKOFF GAME: CLEMSON VS. GEORGIA (MERCEDES-BENZ STADIUM IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA) | 12 P.M. ET | ABC
PENN STATE AT WEST VIRGINIA | 12 P.M. | FOX
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE AT OKLAHOMA STATE | 2 P.M. ET | ESPN+
MIAMI (FL) AT FLORIDA | 3:30 P.M. ET | ABC
NOTRE DAME AT TEXAS A&M | 7:30 P.M. ET | ABC
GEORGIA STATE AT GEORGIA TECH | 8 P.M. ET | ACC NETWORK
TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE AT SAN DIEGO STATE | 8 P.M. ET | TRUTV AND MAX
SUNDAY, SEPT. 1
ORANGE BLOSSOM CLASSIC: NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL VS. ALABAMA STATE (HARD ROCK STADIUM IN MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA) | 3 P.M. ET | ESPN
VEGAS KICKOFF CLASSIC: LSU VS. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (ALLEGIANT STADIUM IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA) | 7:30 P.M. ON ABC
MONDAY, SEPT. 2
BOSTON COLLEGE AT FLORIDA STATE | 7:30 P.M. ET | ESPN
INDIANA HOOSIERS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
AUGUST 31 VS. FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL 3:30
SEPTEMBER 6 VS. WESTERN ILLINOIS 7:00
SEPTEMBER 14 AT UCLA 7:30
SEPTEMBER 21 VS. CHARLOTTE TBA
SEPTEMBER 28 VS. MARYLAND TBA
OCTOBER 5 AT NORTHWESTERN TBA
OCTOBER 19 VS. NEBRASKA TBA
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
AUGUST 31 VS. INDIANA STATE 12:00
SEPTEMBER 14 VS. NOTRE DAME 3:30
SEPTEMBER 21 AT OREGON STATE 8:30
SEPTEMBER 28 VS. NEBRASKA 12:00
OCTOBER 5 AT WISCONSIN TBA
OCTOBER 12 AT ILLINOIS TBA
OCTOBER 18 VS. OREGON 8:00
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
AUGUST 21 AT TEXAS A&M 7:30
SEPTEMBER 7 VS. NORTHERN ILLINOIS 3:30
SEPTEMBER 14 AT PURDUE 3:30
SEPTEMBER 21 VS. MIAMI (OH) 3:30
SEPTEMBER 28 VS. LOUISVILLE 3:30
OCTOBER 12 VS. STANFORD 3:30
OCTOBER 19 AT GEORGIA TECH TBA
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
AUGUST 31 VS. UPPER IOWA 1:00
SEPTEMBER 7 AT MURRAY STATE 6:00 CT
SEPTEMBER 14 VS. HANOVER 6:00
SEPTEMBER 28 VS. VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY-LYNCHBURG 1:00
OCTOBER 5 VS. MOREHEAD STATE 1:00
OCTOBER 12 AT DRAKE 1:00 CT
OCTOBER 19 VS. DAYTON 1:00
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
SEPTEMBER 7 VS. MISSOURI STATE 2:00
SEPTEMBER 14 AT MIAMI FL 3:30
SEPTEMBER 21 AT CENTRAL MICHIGAN TBA
SEPTEMBER 28 AT JAMES MADISON TBA
OCTOBER 5 VS. WESTERN MICHIGAN TBA
OCTOBER 12 AT KENT STATE TBA
OCTOBER 19 AT VANDERBILT TBA
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
AUGUST 31 AT PURDUE 12:00
SEPTEMBER 7 AT EASTERN ILLINOIS 7:00
SEPTEMBER 14 VS. DAYTON 6:00
SEPTEMBER 28 VS. HOUSTON CHRISTIAN 1:00
OCTOBER 5 AT YOUNGSTOWN STATE 2:00
OCTOBER 12 VS. MURRAY STATE 1:00
OCTOBER 19 AT MISSOURI STATE 3:00
OCTOBER 26 VS. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 1:00
NOVEMBER 2 VS. NORTH DAKOTA 1:00
NOVEMBER 9 AT SOUTH DAKOTA 2:00
NFL PRE-SEASON
WEEK THREE:
THURSDAY, AUGUST 22:
INDIANAPOLIS AT CINCINNATI, 8:00 PM
CHICAGO AT KANSAS CITY, 8:20 PM
FRIDAY, AUGUST 23:
JACKSONVILLE AT ATLANTA, 7:00 PM
MIAMI AT TAMPA BAY, 7:30 PM
SAN FRANCISCO AT LAS VEGAS, 10:00 PM
SATURDAY, AUGUST 24:
CAROLINA AT BUFFALO, 1:00 PM
PITTSBURGH AT DETROIT, 1:00 PM
BALTIMORE AT GREEN BAY, 1:00 PM
L.A. RAMS AT HOUSTON, 1:00 PM
MINNESOTA AT PHILADELPHIA, 1:00 PM
L.A. CHARGERS AT DALLAS, 4:00 PM
N.Y. GIANTS AT N.Y. JETS, 7:30 PM
CLEVELAND AT SEATTLE, 10:00 PM
SUNDAY, AUGUST 25:
TENNESSEE AT NEW ORLEANS, 2:00 PM
ARIZONA AT DENVER, 4:30 PM
NEW ENGLAND AT WASHINGTON (NBC), 8:00 PM
NFL WEEK ONE SCHEDULE
THURSDAY, SEPT. 5
- BALTIMORE RAVENS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS, 8:20 P.M. ET (NBC)
FRIDAY, SEPT. 6
- GREEN BAY PACKERS VS. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (IN SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL), 8:15 P.M. ET (PEACOCK)
SUNDAY, SEPT. 8
- PITTSBURGH STEELERS AT ATLANTA FALCONS, 1 P.M. ET (FOX)
- ARIZONA CARDINALS AT BUFFALO BILLS, 1 P.M. ET (CBS)
- TENNESSEE TITANS AT CHICAGO BEARS, 1 P.M. ET (FOX)
- NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS AT CINCINNATI BENGALS, 1 P.M. ET (CBS)
- HOUSTON TEXANS AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS, 1 P.M. ET (CBS)
- JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT MIAMI DOLPHINS, 1 P.M. ET (CBS)
- CAROLINA PANTHERS AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS, 1 P.M. ET (FOX)
- MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT NEW YORK GIANTS, 1 P.M. ET (FOX)
- LAS VEGAS RAIDERS AT LOS ANGELES CHARGERS, 4:05 P.M. ET (CBS)
- DENVER BRONCOS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS, 4:05 P.M. ET (CBS)
- DALLAS COWBOYS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS, 4:25 P.M. ET (CBS)
- WASHINGTON COMMANDERS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS, 4:25 P.M. ET (FOX)
- LOS ANGELES RAMS AT DETROIT LIONS, 8:20 P.M. ET (NBC)
MONDAY, SEPT. 9
- NEW YORK JETS AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS, 8:15 P.M. ET (ESPN/ABC)
TOP NATIONAL HEADLINES/NEWS RELEASES
NFL NEWS
TUA COMPARES FLORES TO MCDANIEL: IMAGINE BEING TOLD YOU SUCK EVERY MORNING
Tua Tagovailoa gave a scathing review of former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores when asked to compare him to current sideline boss Mike McDaniel.
“To put it in simplest terms, if you woke up every morning and I told you that you suck at what you did, that you don’t belong doing what you do, that you shouldn’t be here, that this guy should be here, that you haven’t earned this right,” Tagovailoa said on the “Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz.” “And then you have somebody come in and tell you, ‘Dude, you are the best fit for this, you are accurate, you are the best whatever, you are this, you are that.”
Tagovailoa went into further detail to explain how both communication styles have affected his own mindset.
“How would it make you feel listening to one or the other? … And then you hear it, regardless of what it is, the good or the bad, and you hear it more and more, you start to actually believe that,” Tagovailoa said.
He added: “You could be the president of the United States. You have a terrible person that’s telling you things you don’t want to hear or that you probably shouldn’t be hearing, you’re going to start to believe that about yourself. That’s sorta what ended up happening.”
Tagovailoa spent the first two seasons of his career under Flores. Although he put up a 13-8 record, he struggled to play up to the expectation of a top-five draft pick. He tossed 27 touchdowns to 15 interceptions but averaged only 6.6 yards per pass attempt and 194.2 passing yards per game.
The 26-year-old has looked like a totally different quarterback under McDaniel’s guidance, recording 54 touchdowns, 22 interceptions, 8.5 yards per attempt, and 272.4 yards per game over two seasons.
“It’s basically been two years of training that out of not just me, but a couple of the guys as well that have been here since my rookie year,” Tagovailoa said.
Flores was fired after producing a 24-25 record across three seasons as the Dolphins’ head coach (2019-2021). It was reported at the time of his dismissal that he was relieved due to strained relationships with Tagovailoa and general manager Chris Grier. Flores is currently the Minnesota Vikings’ defensive coordinator.
COMMANDERS ROOKIE DANIELS CONFIRMED AS WEEK 1 STARTER
Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels will start the team’s season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, head coach Dan Quinn announced Monday.
“He’s ready, and he’s earned the right. … He’s really put in the work,” Quinn said.
The Commanders selected Daniels with the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft. He played in both of the team’s preseason games so far, completing 12 of 15 passes for 123 yards while adding 16 rushing yards and a score on the ground.
Marcus Mariota, who Washington signed to a one-year deal worth up to $10 million this offseason, was unavailable for the team’s second preseason contest due to a hamstring ailment.
Daniels has been working exclusively with the first team at practice over the last three weeks after splitting time with Mariota, per John Keim of ESPN.
The 23-year-old was lights out for LSU in his final year in college, totaling 4,946 yards with 50 touchdowns en route to securing the Heisman Trophy.
The Commanders have not ranked inside the top 20 in points per game since 2017.
LIONS DRAWING HEAVY SUPPORT TO TOPPLE 49ERS IN NFC
The public is leaning heavily toward the hangover of letting a Super Bowl appearance slip away being less severe than the headache of actually losing the Super Bowl.
The Detroit Lions led 24-10 at halftime in San Francisco in last year’s NFC Championship Game, only to see the 49ers storm back for a 34-31 victory. However, San Francisco went on to lose its third consecutive trip to the Super Bowl — and second in the past five years — to Kansas City. The Chiefs also beat the 49ers in the 2020 Super Bowl.
The 49ers are the +225 favorites at DraftKings to return to the title game, but they are only third among NFC teams with 12 percent of the money backing them to make it to New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX in February.
It’s the Lions who have garnered by far the most money, with 28 percent at +550 odds to claim the NFC title. That’s well ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles, with 17 percent of the money backing them at +600.
However, San Francisco does remain in the lead in terms of total bets to win the conference. The 49ers have drawn 26 percent, ahead of the Lions at 24 percent and the Eagles at 17 percent.
The third-shortest odds to win the NFC belong to Dallas at +700. But the Cowboys have drawn very modest support at the book, with 4 percent of the total bets and 5 percent of the money.
The fourth most popular pick has been the Green Bay Packers, who have been backed by 11 percent of both markets at +800. The Chicago Bears have also been popular with 9 percent of the money backing their longshot odds of +1500 under the direction of rookie quarterback Caleb Williams.
–Field Level Media
REPORT: CHARGERS RELEASING QB MAX DUGGAN
The Los Angeles Chargers are releasing quarterback Max Duggan, NFL Network reported Monday.
Duggan, 23, was their seventh-round draft pick in 2023 but did not see any NFL action as a rookie.
With incumbent starter Justin Herbert dealing with a foot injury, the Chargers now have two healthy signal-callers on the roster: Easton Stick and Luis Perez.
Duggan completed 4 of 7 passes for 41 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions in the Aug. 10 preseason opener against the Seattle Seahawks. He did not play in Saturday’s 13-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
–Field Level Media
QB COLT MCCOY RETIRES, JOINS NBC’S BIG TEN COVERAGE
Journeyman quarterback Colt McCoy is retiring and moving into the broadcast booth, joining NBC Sports for Big Ten coverage this season.
McCoy will make his debut as an analyst when Colorado plays at Nebraska on Sept. 7.
“College Football has always held a special place in my heart. With the expansion of the Big Ten and new era of College Football, it is the perfect time to join NBC Sports,” he said in a news release Monday. “I can’t wait to share in the passion, excitement, and competitive spirit every week!”
McCoy, 37, appeared in 56 NFL games (36 starts) over parts of 12 seasons with five franchises. He passed for 7,975 yards with 34 touchdowns and 32 interceptions while compiling an 11-25 record with the Cleveland Browns (2010-12), San Francisco 49ers (2013), Washington (2014-15, 2017-19), the New York Giants (2020) and Arizona Cardinals (2021-22).
McCoy was released by the Cardinals during the 2023 preseason.
“Thank you football,” McCoy posted Monday on X. “Excited for the next chapter.”
He was a third-round selection by Cleveland in the 2010 NFL Draft out of Texas, where he was a two-time Heisman Trophy finalist. He left the Longhorns as the winningest quarterback in NCAA Division I history with 45 victories from 2006-09.
“In a standout career at Texas, Colt McCoy starred in many of college football’s biggest games and fiercest rivalries,” NBC Sports executive producer and president Sam Flood said. “What a way to kick it off with Colorado-Nebraska!”
McCoy, who will also appear on the “Big Ten College Countdown” studio show, will be working with play-by-play announcer Paul Burmeister and sideline reporter Kathryn Tappen.
–Field Level Media
STEELERS AWAIT WORD ON INJURED C NATE HERBIG, RB JAYLEN WARREN
Pittsburgh Steelers center Nate Herbig could miss the season with a torn rotator cuff, multiple outlets reported, and running back Jaylen Warren is likely out “multiple weeks” with a hamstring injury.
Rookie Zach Frazier, a second-round pick from West Virginia, could be thrust into an immediate starting role in Herbig’s spot.
The Steelers are reportedly awaiting a second opinion on the extent of the injury to Herbig.
He was hurt last week in practice, coach Mike Tomlin confirmed after Saturday’s preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills.
“Nate’s got an injury that’s being continually evaluated,” Tomlin said. “I think he’s getting a second opinion. I want to wait to that. I’ll give you guys some information probably the next time we come together, but I was largely satisfied with the work that I saw from Zach.”
Warren was pegged to be the RB1 for Pittsburgh after he rushed for 784 yards and four touchdowns last season, averaging 5.3 yards per carry. He also hauled in 61 receptions for 370 yards. Tomlin said the Steelers would wait for an evaluation before any consideration is given to resetting the depth chart at the position, with Najee Harris in line to return to the starting role if Warren can’t play Sept. 8 at Atlanta in the regular-season opener, as ESPN reported Monday.
Herbig mostly played guard during his first five seasons in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles (2019-21), New York Jets (2022) and Steelers but had worked in camp as the first-team center.
He played in all 17 games (two starts) in his first season with Pittsburgh in 2023 and has played in 61 games (30 starts) since signing with Philadelphia as an undrafted free agent in 2019.
Frazier, 22, was a first-team All-Big 12 selection with the Mountaineers in 2023. He started 37 consecutive games at West Virginia.
–Field Level Media
COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS
GEORGIA’S BECK, COLORADO’S HUNTER HIGHLIGHT PRESEASON ALL-AMERICANS
Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, one of the second-ranked Buckeyes’ high-profile transfers, and three of his new teammates were selected for the preseason Associated Press All-America team announced Monday.
Downs, who was a second-team All-American as a freshman for Alabama last season, was joined by guard Donovan Jackson, receiver Emeka Egbuka and cornerback Denzel Burke to give Ohio State the most first-team selections. Running back TreVeyon Henderson and defensive lineman Tyleik Williams made the second team to give the Buckeyes six total selections, also the most of any team.
No. 1 Georgia and No. 9 Michigan each had three players picked for the first team. Quarterback Carson Beck was joined by fellow Bulldogs guard Tate Ratledge and defensive back Malaki Starks, a first-team All-American last year.
The defending national champion Wolverines are represented by tight end Colston Loveland, defensive tackle Mason Graham and cornerback Will Johnson.
No. 5 Alabama put two transfers on the first team in center Parker Brailsford (Washington) and kicker Graham Nicholson (Miami, Ohio).
No. 7 Notre Dame and No. 13 LSU also had two first-team selections.
The Fighting Irish had defensive tackle Howard Cross III and safety Xavier Watts selected. Watts was an All-American last season and Cross made the second team. The Tigers were represented by tackle Will Campbell and linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. on the first team.
No. 3 Oregon placed three players on the second team, including quarterback Dillon Gabriel, a sixth-year player who transferred from Oklahoma after starting his career at UCF.
First-team by conference
SEC – 10.
Big Ten – 8.
ACC – 4
Big 12 – 3
Independent – 2.
First-team offense
Quarterback — Carson Beck, fifth year, Georgia.
Running backs — Ollie Gordon II, third year, Oklahoma State; Omarion Hampton, third year, North Carolina.
Tackles — Will Campbell, third year, LSU; Kelvin Banks Jr., third year, Texas.
Guards — Donovan Jackson, fourth year, Ohio State; Tate Ratledge, fifth year, Georgia.
Center — Parker Brailsford, third year, Alabama.
Tight end — Colston Loveland, third year, Michigan.
Wide receivers — Luther Burden III, third year, Missouri; Tetairoa McMillan, third year, Arizona; Emeka Egbuka, fourth year, Ohio State.
All-purpose player — Travis Hunter, third year, Colorado.
Kicker — Graham Nicholson, fourth year, Alabama.
First-team defense
Edge — James Pearce Jr., third year, Tennessee; Ashton Gillotte, fourth year, Louisville.
Tackles — Mason Graham, third year, Michigan; Howard Cross III, sixth year, Notre Dame.
Linebackers — Harold Perkins Jr., third year, LSU; Jay Higgins, fifth year, Iowa; Barrett Carter, fourth year, Clemson.
Cornerbacks — Will Johnson, third year, Michigan; Denzel Burke, fourth year, Ohio State.
Safeties — Malaki Starks, third year, Georgia; Caleb Downs, second year, Ohio State.
Defensive back — Xavier Watts, fifth year, Notre Dame.
Punter — Alex Mastromanno, fifth year, Florida State.
Second-team offense
Quarterback — Dillon Gabriel, sixth year, Oregon.
Running backs — TreVeyon Henderson, fourth year, Ohio State; Ashton Jeanty, third year, Boise State
Tackles — Ajani Cornelius, fifth year, Oregon; Aireontae Ersery, fifth year, Minnesota.
Guards — Tyler Booker, third year, Alabama; Dylan Fairchild, fourth year, Georgia.
Center — Cooper Mays, fifth year, Tennessee.
Tight end — Mitchell Evans, fourth year, Notre Dame.
Wide receivers — Tez Johnson, fifth year, Oregon; Tre Harris, fifth year, Mississippi; Ricky White III, fifth year, UNLV.
All-purpose player — Zachariah Branch, second year, Southern California.
Kicker — Andres Borregales, fourth year, Miami.
Second-team defense
Edge — Nic Scourton, third year, Texas A&M; Abdul Carter, third year, Penn State.
Tackles — Tyleik Williams, fourth year, Ohio State; Deone Walker, third year, Kentucky.
Linebackers — Danny Stutsman, fourth year, Oklahoma; Jason Henderson, fourth year, Old Dominion; Nick Martin, fourth year, Oklahoma State.
Cornerbacks — Benjamin Morrison, third year, Notre Dame; Sebastian Castro, sixth year, Iowa.
Safeties — Dillon Thieneman, second year, Purdue; Billy Bowman, fourth year, Oklahoma.
Defensive back — Ricardo Hallman, fourth year, Wisconsin.
Punter — James Ferguson-Reynolds, third year, Boise State.
ARIZONA STATE NAMES SAM LEAVITT STARTING QB
Sam Leavitt was named the starting quarterback at Arizona State, where he beat out fellow transfer Jeff Sims, ESPN reported Monday.
Leavitt transferred from Michigan State after two seasons. Arizona State opens its first season in the Big 12 at home against Wyoming on Aug. 31.
Both players have been informed of the decision, per ESPN. Sims transferred to Tempe from Nebraska.
Leavitt appeared in four games (no starts) for Michigan State in 2023, completing 15 of 23 passes for 139 yards, with two touchdowns against two interceptions.
Leavitt replaces Jaden Rashada as the Sun Devils’ starting QB. Rashada transferred to Georgia.
Leavitt was a four-star QB in the Class of 2023 out of West Linn, Ore.
According to the preseason media poll, Arizona State was predicted to finish last among the 16 teams in the newly configured Big 12.
–Field Level Media
USC PICKS MILLER MOSS AS NEXT QB1
Southern California will enter the 2024 season with Miller Moss as its starting quarterback, coach Lincoln Riley announced Monday.
Moss steps into the Los Angeles limelight after spending three years as a backup quarterback for the Trojans.
In five games of limited action last year, Moss completed 46 of 65 pass attempts for 681 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception. His breakout performance came in the Holiday Bowl, which No. 1 quarterback Caleb Williams skipped to prepare for the NFL draft. Moss went 23-for-33 for 372 yards, six touchdowns and a pick in a 42-28 win over Louisville.
Moss’ primary competition for the starting job was transfer Jayden Maiava. At UNLV last year, Maiava played in all 14 games and completed 63.5 percent of his throws for 3,085 yards, 17 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
The Big Ten preseason media poll pegged USC sixth of 18 teams in its first year in the conference. The Trojans open their season on Sept. 1 with a nonconference game against LSU in Las Vegas.
–Field Level Media
RECKLESS DRIVING CHARGES DROPPED AGAINST GEORGIA LB
Charges of reckless driving and racing were dismissed against Georgia linebacker Smael Mondon on Monday.
Attorney Billy Healan confirmed to ESPN that his client pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of driving too fast for conditions at a hearing Monday at Athens-Clarke County Municipal Court.
Mondon, who was arrested on July 10, attended defensive driving and victim impact classes and paid a $500 fine, Healan confirmed.
“We feel like this was the appropriate resolution,” Healen told ESPN. “Smael accelerated too fast, but he was not racing and wasn’t reckless. He has paid his fine, and he is ready to move on from here. Smael is scheduled to graduate in December and had no prior traffic incidents.”
Mondon, from Dallas, Ga., is a senior projected to start for the third consecutive season. He made the coaches’ 2023 All-SEC second team after ranking second on the roster with 68 tackles in 13 games. He led the Bulldogs in tackles with 76 in 2022.
Georgia, ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press preseason poll, opens the season Aug. 31 against No. 14 Clemson in Atlanta.
–Field Level Media
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW-BIG 12: UTAH
PICK SIX
Kyle Whittingham’s Utah program successfully completed its rise from non-AQ to the Power 5 level in 2021. They won their first Pac-12 title in 2021, destroyed USC for the repeat title in 2022, and returned the whole cast of characters for 2023. Their quest for a three-peat in the Pac-12’s final season was derailed by an unprecedented run of injuries – none more damaging than quarterback Cam Rising’s lingering ACL tear from the prior season’s Rose Bowl. Without their leader, the quarterback room’s ineffectiveness caused an offensive collapse. Rising’s injury was just the tip of the iceberg though, as position group by position group the starting lineup and roster were decimated with injuries. 247Sports Utah analyst Steve Bartle kept a detailed log of the injury run and noted 157 games were missed by starters and backups on the two deep. In the 12 seasons of Pick Six Previews it’s the most injury-impacted full season that I can recall. Whittingham has been in the game much longer, and he agrees: “I have been coaching for 40 years and I’ve never, never, seen anything like this.” While they fell short of the three-peat, their eight wins are a feat itself given the hand they were dealt. Their fourth-string quarterback led a 14-point comeback in the final two minutes to beat Baylor, and their third-string quarterback – who is famously a pig farmer in Southern Utah – outdueled USC and their Heisman winner Caleb Williams. The staff got creative with their resources by inserting star safety Sione Vaki into the offensive backfield. In an Eric Weddle role, he provided a spark and was a key in the USC win. With no help from the offense, the always-tough defense rose to elite levels. In the revenge-win opener they held Florida to just 13 rushing yards. They nearly shutout UCLA and held their Pac-12 best rushing attack to just nine yards. They held Arizona State to just 83 total yards in one of the most statistically-dominant Pac-12 games ever. Utah opens a new chapter by joining the expanded Big 12 but they will do so with a veteran roster packed with familiar faces and long-time Utes. Rising and his favorite target Brant Kuithe both enter their seventh seasons, and that severe injury run of 2023 now pays dividends thanks to ahead-of schedule game reps. 96
OFFENSE Rising’s return to Salt Lake City cannot be overstated. The two-time Pac-12 champion solidifies the position, and the overall offense, and played every snap of the spring season and 22 Forever Game in April. Rising led three drives and all three ended in touchdowns, and he seemed to look 100% even with full mobility per Utah media availability windows. Last season it was a weekly distraction about whether Rising would play. He shared practice reps, went through some pre-game warm-ups but was continually sidelined by the medical team. Now 20 months removed from the ACL tear, it seems the saga is finally over. Cue the music in Rice-Eccles – there’s a Bad Moon Rising. Last year’s reserves Bryson Barnes and Nate Johnson each had impact games and moments, but ultimately the position group struggled before collapsing in November. The offense stumbled all the way to 65th of 70 Power 5 teams in my opponent-adjusted metric – 63rd in the “throw game.” Both guys are gone, but original back-up Brandon Rose is back healthy and the staff signed four-star Isaac Wilson (Corner Canyon) – a commitment that will bother BYU fans. Running backs Micah Bernard and Chris Curry were both injured but converted quarterback Ja’Quinden Jackson shined in the workhorse role. Bernard is the only one back for 2024 and he is joined by Jaylon Glover who played well late in 2023. They added FCS All-American Anthony Woods (Idaho) to the room. For most of their Pac-12 decade, the receiver room had been a limiting factor for the offense. They appear to finally have a proven, sure-fire #1 target to build around after signing Dorian Singer from USC. Singer really starred at Arizona the season prior when he led the entire Pac-12 with 1,105 yards. Money Parks scored in the 2022 league title game, and again on the first play of the 2023 season, but faded from there. Look for a boost here as he’ll be the beneficiary when Singer draws double coverage. Utah loses big-frame Devaughn Vele but 6’4 Munir McClain is the next man up. Mycah Pittman was the 2023 transfer headliner and was the starting slot receiver in the opener before a season-ending injury. Daidren Zipperer was the spring hero and David Washington is a four-star signee. This is Utah’s best receiver room in quite some time. Their other seventh-year star is back at tight end. The do-it-all Kuithe is a strong in-line blocker, a dynamic matchup problem over the middle, and even gets involved with carries in the run game. His return is an instant boost to the offense. Thomas Yassmin is gone but co-starter Landen King returns. Then the staff added UCLA’s Carsen Ryan who was rated the #9 transfer tight end this cycle. The offensive line returns three-year starting guard Michael Mokofisi and starting tackle Spencer Fano but they lose two to the pros: Keaton Bills and second-team All-Pac 12 Sataoa Laumea. Projected starting center Kolinu’u Faaiu shocking transferred out after spring ball but Utah does get back original starter Johnny Maea who missed 11 games with an injury last year. Offensive line coach Jim Harding has a proven track record building his O-Block – 2024 should be no different.
DEFENSE With their offense bruised and battered, and one-dimensional, the defense stepped up even more. Morgan Scalley’s RSNB’s placed 8th nationally in my opponent-adjusted rushing defense metric and they actually held the #1 spot for several weeks. The only positive to an injury run like 2023 is the boomerang effect – the ahead-of-schedule game reps by the young guys accelerates development and then they are rejoined by the original injured starters. Utah returns 70% of production on defense. Some star power at the top is gone – All-American Jonah Elliss and safeties Cole Bishop and Sione Vaki – but two All-Pac 12 defenders return along with eight starters in total. Defensive tackle Junior Tafuna and Karene Reid got the accolades last year but their position groups are overflowing with firepower. The linebacker quartet is both veteran and talented. Reid returns but Lander Barton may just be the best defender on the roster. Barton only played half the season before his injury but he did extend Utah’s nation-best 20-year streak of seasons with a Pick Six. Starter Levani Damuni was injured in spring and it may cost most of 2024, but Sione Fotu is ready to step up. Tafuna is back as the anchor inside and 340-pounder Simote Pepa and Keanu Tanuvasa will share the other tackle spot. Even despite losing sack-machine Elliss, the end rotation is fully loaded. Original starter Logan Fano is back from his injury and Connor O’Toole and Van Fillinger combined for 7.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss in their shortened seasons. Four departures from the two-deep leave some questions in the secondary, but this is Scalley’s area of expertise. Along with Bishop and Vaki, Miles Battle and JaTravis Broughton are gone. Starting nickel Tao Johnson is moving to safety to compete with Nate Ritchie and Stanford starter Alaka’i Gilman. Zemaiah Vaughn is a returning starter at corner and two Top200 signees – Smith Snowden and CJ Blocker — enter their second seasons here. The staff added Georgia Tech starter Kenan Johnson to boost the reload.
OUTLOOK With the worst injury run I’ve ever seen in college football, Utah still managed another Top 10 defense and mustered up eight wins. This time around, all of those ahead-of-schedule reps pay dividends and they get their original starters back. Most importantly, Rising is back under center to stabilize the offense and flip a weakness into a strength. Utah continues to prove me right over the years, and they are finally ready to break into the College Football Playoff. Had the 12-team bracket existed, their undefeated runs in 2004 and 2008 would have been Playoff teams. The 2019 team would have been an at-large selection and the 2021 & 2022 conference champions would have gotten auto-bids. Whittingham has worked towards this moment and has the team to finally break through.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW-BIG 12: KANSAS STATE
PICK SIX
The Chris Klieman Experiment is officially a success. Many questioned how his championships at the FCS level, at an already-proven dynasty, would translate to the Power 5 level. Klieman proved himself in 2022 by leading Kansas State to a 10-win season, a pair of Top 10 victories, and a Big 12 Championship win over eventual national runner-up TCU. 2022 was already enough of a resume, but to follow it up with another strong season in 2023 shows this program has staying power. Heading into the new-look Big 12, Kansas State has the best two-year record (19-8) among all 16 programs and is the only one to post consecutive Top 15 ranks in my opponent-adjusted Game Grader. Not only Top 15, but they are the only ones with Top 25 ranks in both 2022 and 2023. The new hyper-recruiting era, driven by mega-boosters and auction-style NIL, was supposed to work against developmental programs like Kansas State. Instead, by packing the roster and filling their buildings with like minded players and coaches, their long-term style has actually swung back into a positive. The 9-4 record last year is misleading – they were much stronger. Kansas State had five one-score games and lost four of them. The Missouri game ended with a record-breaking 61-yard field goal, the Texas overtime loss had three plays inside the five yard-line, and another was a once-in-a generation snow globe. In their nine wins, they won by an average of 22.5 points per game, and their dominance placed them 13th nationally in my opponent-adjusted Game Grader. Even though they came up short of a Big 12 title repeat, they did enough to keep the positive momentum rolling into the new league, and join the crowd of teams that feel confident about earning the Playoff auto-bid in 2024.
OFFENSE They also found a generational quarterback. True freshman Avery Johnson burst onto the college scene with a five-touchdown explosion – all rushing scores – in their win over Texas Tech. Johnson was unstoppable running Kansas State’s patented delayed quarterback draw play and eventually threatened defending Big 12 champion Will Howard’s starting job. Howard fell from 3rd to 7th in the Big 12’s QB Rating ranking year-over-year, and tossed three picks in the Oklahoma State loss midseason. This opened up the door for Johnson’s run packages the following game and those five touchdowns left a lasting impact. Howard did break Josh Freeman’s career record for passing touchdowns, but ultimately left Manhattan after the regular season and landed at Ohio State. Johnson displayed touch on his passes and elusiveness in the pocket throughout his spots in the regular season. He continued that in his first full start in the bowl game, with endzone touch and dynamic scrambling. Look for a second-year bonus, especially with the guidance of new co-coordinator Matt Wells who helped develop Jordan Love at Utah State. 98 He has two fellow Kansans in the backfield with him to form an elite trio. DJ Giddens (Junction City, KS) emerged as the feature back and surpassed highly-touted Florida State transfer Treshaun Ward. Giddens exploded in the UCF win with 207 yards and four touchdowns and would eventually post six 100-yard games and 1,226 yards on the season. Ward transferred out, but Kansas State landed one of the best freshmen running backs in America with the electric Dylan Edwards (Derby, KS) coming back to his home state after getting national attention at Colorado. Edwards only got 76 carries, but added 36 catches and four receiving touchdowns. They lose both of their top pass-catchers – Phillip Brooks and tight end Ben Sinnott – but appear to have stocked the receiving room with enough top-line talent. The pair combined for 1,200+ yards, and first team All-Big 12 Sinnott led all league tight ends in receptions. Slot receiver Jayce Brown was yet another emerging freshman star last season, and he will get the most targets in 2024. The staff hopes former four star Keagan Johnson can return to 100% health on the outside, and they added Dante Cephas from the transfer portal. Cephas played for wide receiver coach Matthew Middleton while they were both at Kent State and he earned All-MAC honors as one of the best non-AQ receivers. He went to Penn State last year but failed to earn a permanent starting role. Sixth-year Jadon Jackson, Tre Spivey and tight end Garrett Oakley add to the room. The biggest question mark comes at a spot where Kansas State has successfully reloaded for the past decade: the offensive line. Cooper Beebe was named a first-team All-American and was named the Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year. He is gone, along with their next best lineman KT Leveston. The 2023 line was in elite company by posting Top 25 rankings in both my OL Run Push and Pass Protection stats. There will be a statistical slide given the loss of a legend, and three starters, but offensive line coach Conor Riley and this program have built a track record in the trenches. Right tackle Carver Willis earned All-Big 12 honorable mention, Easton Kilty (North Dakota) was the #5 ranked tackle transfer, Hadley Panzer emerged at guard, but the other two interior spots will be battles in fall camp.
DEFENSE Kansas State and Iowa State’s rivalry is known as Farmageddon, but as a foot of snow quickly accumulated on Bill Snyder Field, it quickly became “Snowmageddon.” Snowmageddon broke my Game Grader. The quirkiness of an extreme weather game saw Iowa State score five touchdowns of 60+ yards, which wrecked my per-play metrics for Kansas State’s defense. It was a bad performance, but the one game’s score impacted my season grades too much. Take out Snowmageddon, and Kansas State finished 25th of 70 Power 5 teams in my overall opponent adjusted defense metric (up from 54th) and 8th in pass defense (up from 28th). This was another solid defense by coordinator Joe Klanderman but the Game Grader stat graphic won’t show it. The 2024 defense has to replace two All-Big 12 stars – end Khalid Duke and safety Kobe Savage – but luckily those losses come at their deepest position units. Klanderman has also proven his defense is officially in the “reload” phase after he successfully reloaded eight starters off of the 2022 title team. Program leader Daniel Green was lost to injury in September and the defense had to rally without him. Austin Moore stepped up into the lead linebacker role and earned second-team All-Big 12 honors. Desmond Purnell is another returning starter next to him. They flashed more four-man fronts than usual and appear to be keeping the package as a complement to their base 3 3-5. Defensive tackle Uso Seumalo returns and is flanked by a deep defensive end room, even despite losing Duke and Nate Matlack. Brendan Mott, Cody Stufflebean, and Chiddi Obiazor keep the end spot as a strength. Tobi Osunsanmi shifted from linebacker to edge for another rotational piece. Pass defense was the strength last year as they posted Top 20 marks in QB Rating in the non-snow version of Game Grader. Three of five defensive backs return; Savage and corner Will Lee are gone, but Marques Sigle and VJ Payne are a top safety pair, and Jacob Parrish locks down one corner. Colby McCalister started the bowl game at the other safety spot, and the staff added a former All-MAC nickel Jordan Riley (Ball State). While the 2024 starting lineup may lack star power (at least, preseason star power), their two-deep talent is notable. Historically, Kansas State has been able to field a strong starting lineup but had a major drop-off once any injuries occurred. Speed and depth abound here in 2024.
OUTLOOK In a year of change for the Big 12, Kansas State is a proven commodity and is my pick to earn a spot in the conference title game. The defense is officially in “reload” phase and the offense found a special dual-threat quarterback. The schedule helps as they get one of the more favorable draws: just one of the top five, and five of the bottom six.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW-BIG 12: OKLAHOMA STATE
PICK SIX
The 2023 Oklahoma State season is one of the hardest to explain across the whole Power 5 landscape. Over the course of a 14-game season, they managed to hit the widest range of game outcomes possible. In September, they were blown out by non-AQ South Alabama and booed off of their home field. Six weeks later, their fans stormed that same field to tear down the goalposts in celebration of a win over SEC-bound Oklahoma in the last version of Bedlam. They lost to conference newcomer UCF 42-3, yet also earned a spot in the Big 12 title game. Even the final two regular season games were roller coasters themselves. Oklahoma State needed to win both to keep league title hopes alive and were heavy favorites over the Big 12 newcomers, fell behind by several scores, but rallied both times. For the first time in school history, they overcame 14-point deficits in consecutive games. At the end of September, they were 2-2 with a three-man quarterback rotation and a broken offense. They found their starter – and an All American running back – and churned out another 10-win season for Mike Gundy who was awarded the Big 12 Coach of the Year honor. Unfortunately they met a Playoff-bound Texas in the title game, but the ensuing Alamo Bowl win over former Big 12 South Division rival Texas A&M gave the program a wave of positive momentum to carry into the offseason. There was no transfer exodus like after the 2022 season. Instead, Gundy and his staff convinced the bulk of the two-deep to return to Stillwater, and Oklahoma State joins the deep crowd of programs with title aspirations in the new-look Big 12.
OFFENSE Oklahoma State spent most of September trying to settle a quarterback battle and find a workhorse running back to build around. That is what spring ball and fall camp are for. Instead, Gundy rotated his three quarterbacks – Alan Bowman, Garret Rangel, and Gunnar Gundy — for the entire non-conference portion. In those three games, eventual All-American running back Ollie Gordon only got six touches per game. Finally once conference play started, they settled on Bowman as the full-time starter, and realized they had a juggernaut sitting in their running back stable. Better late than never. Per my opponent-adjusted offensive metric, their September offense was operating at a bottom five mark, but the Bowman/Gordon offense over the final ten games ranked in the Top 25 of Power 5. Ten starters are back, and this time Bowman gets all the first-team reps. Such a high amount of returning production is a strong indicator towards year-over-year improvement, and I expect gains here. Bowman was granted a rare seventh season of eligibility after posting 3,460 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2023. His yards/game ranked second in the Big 12, but a more telling stat is the all-encompassing QB Rating: 12th in the league. It was mostly quantity, not quality, and the interceptions (14) need to be improved on. While Bowman may lack the highlight reel runs of his predecessor Spencer Sanders, Bowman also avoids those drive-killing sacks 10+ yards behind the line of scrimmage. He kept them on pace with the chains. Rangel returns, Gundy transferred out, and they were able to retain their blue chip recruit Zane Flores. Once Big 12 play started, Gordon was promoted to the lead role and rattled off 100+ yard games in nine of the final 11 games. His 282-yard (West Virginia) and 271-yard (Cincinnati) performances put him alone with Barry Sanders as the only consecutive 250+ yard games in program history. Gordon surged to a nation-best 1,732 yards, 21 touchdowns, unanimous All-America status, and the school’s first Doak Walker Award. Gordon’s announcement to return was a season-changer for 2024. He enters as the top back in the nation and on the Heisman radar, and Gundy also added two experienced Power 5 backs in AJ Green (Arkansas) and Trent Howland (Indiana). Oklahoma State’s stat profile is the perfect representation of my two rushing metrics: OL Run Push and Explosive Rushing. OL Run Push focuses more on the line’s impact at generating space in the first two layers of the defense, while the explosiveness looks 10+ yards downfield and puts the spotlight on the back’s ability. It was all Gordon. Oklahoma State ranked just 103rd in the OL Run Push, yet 20th in explosiveness. The line did excel in pass protection, allowing sacks on just 2% of pass attempts — #3 nationally. The entire two-deep returns intact, including seven linemen that started multiple games in 2023. It’s likely the most experienced offensive line in the nation with 215 career starts. Three guys earned honorable mention: left tackle Dalton Cooper, center Joe Michalski, and right tackle Jake Springfield. The staff even added another two-year starter from Arizona State in tackle Isaia Glass. Brennan Presley and Rashod Owens are both back after combining for 1,886 yards as the top two receivers last year. Both placed in the national top ten in receiving yards and they also get De’Zhaun Stribling back from injury. Stribling transferred in from Washington State and looked like a top outside threat before getting sidelined. That is a proven, productive, dynamic starting trio. The next wave of receivers transferred and graduated, but they signed four-star Tre Griffiths. The only starter lost was tight end Josiah Johnson. After a decade without a true tight end position, they retired the hybrid “Cowboy Back” and now hope they hit again in the portal with Tyler Foster who had two game-winning scores for Ohio.
DEFENSE Statistically, this team did not look like a Power 5 finalist. At least the Big Ten West champion Iowa was elite in certain areas, but if you covered up the name, you’d never guess that this stat profile won 10 games and played for the Big 12 title. The defensive struggles were expected, as 2023 was lining up to be a textbook rebuilding year. A second straight offseason of roster attrition paired up with a coordinator change and a scheme change to a 3-3-5 base. Two years removed from a #2 national defense, Oklahoma State fell all the way to the bottom ten of Power 5. The pendulum swings back in their favor for 2024, as they get a second-year coach bonus from Bryan Nardo coupled with nine returning starters and three All-Big 12 stars. Nick Martin’s 140 tackles were the most by an Oklahoma State defender since 1984 and the first-team All-Big 12 backer leads the defense into 2024. Their other two national stars – Collin Oliver and Kendal Daniels – also return but are working on position changes. The entire starting secondary returns with corners Korie Black and Cam Smith and the safety pair of Daniels and Trey Rucker. They became the first safety duo in school history to both post 100+ tackles in the same season. They are hard hitters and have a nose for the ball, but when your safeties are collecting 200+ tackles at the third level that is usually a bad sign. They finished with some of the worst pass defense numbers in America, especially failing to limit long yardage explosive pass plays. The high experience level needs to pay dividends here. Six safeties have starting experience and they brought in another veteran in two-time C-USA honorable mention Kobe Hylton (UTEP). Better pass rush will also help. Nardo is designing more four-man fronts and pressures, which is why Oliver is playing more defensive end. Anthony Goodlow departs from one end spot, but Kody Walterscheid returns with 17 career starts. Both nose tackles Collin Clay and Justin Kirkland return. Obi Ezeigbo is an intriguing transfer addition from Nardo’s old DII program Gannon.
OUTLOOK With almost the entire starting lineup back, I expect a significant boost in my stat categories, my opponent-adjusted metrics, and the overall Game Grader. This time they enter the season with a settled quarterback spot and a proven All-American running back – it took until late September last season to figure that out. Their return path to Dallas for the Big 12 title game hinges on whether Nardo can benefit from a veteran starting lineup and get the defense out of the bottom ten.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW-BIG 12: CENTRAL FLORIDA
PICK SIX
Climbing up the college football ladder is nothing new to UCF, perhaps the fastest climber in the modern era. They were in Division III 45 years ago, Division 1-AA 30 years ago, and tore through the MAC, Conference-USA, and the AAC since then. The step up to the Power 5 level was their biggest yet, and while a 6-7 record looks like a failed transition season, I’d argue the opposite. Their three transition peers BYU, Cincinnati, and Houston combined to go 12 24 and UCF was the only one to earn a bowl bid. The most recent examples of a non-AQ to Power 5 step up were 2011 Utah and 2012 TCU – both had losing conference records. Unlike their previous non-AQ conference changes, this step was never expected to be an immediate breakthrough or conference title. But again, compared to those other transition examples, 2023 UCF had the highest finish in my opponent-adjusted Game Grader. UCF finished 31st of 70 Power 5 teams – far ahead of BYU (63rd), Cincinnati (58th), and Houston (62nd) – as well as last decade’s examples ’11 Utah (42nd) and ’12 TCU (33rd). The 6-7 record is somewhat misleading when you dig into UCF’s performance. They demonstrated that their top-line of starters was Big 12 caliber, but as the games wore on, their depth and stamina were still building up to the Power 5 level. In all five of their league losses, UCF jumped out to a lead and eventually blew it in the fourth quarter. Four times the lead was double-digits, and four times they were blown after halftime. A failed two-point trick play cost them the Oklahoma game (31-29), a blocked extra point was the difference against Texas Tech (24-23), and the worst of them all was a 28-point collapsed lead over Baylor (36-35). Their November rally set them up for an eighth straight bowl bid and helped the positive momentum surge into recruiting season. Head coach Gus Malzahn signed eight four-star prospects, landed the #35 national class (#3 in Big 12), and the #22 transfer haul. These are all school records. So for a “losing season” on paper, this was far from it. UCF showed they can compete, their offense remained elite, and they are now unlocking a potential recruiting machine in the Speed State.
OFFENSE Malzahn’s biggest addition of all was at quarterback. UCF signed Arkansas four-year starting quarterback KJ Jefferson, the 6’3 250 All-SEC dual-threat. Of course, when you see Malzahn’s name and a quarterback with those specs – and I know this comparison will be made a hundred times – your mind immediately thinks of Cam Newton’s Heisman and National Title year in his offensive scheme. Jefferson can certainly run, and has amassed 2,100 rushing yards with no hesitation to lower the shoulder on defenders. But don’t overlook his sharp passing. In 2021 and 2022, Jefferson placed #2 and #4 in the SEC in QB Rating with a touchdown/pick ratio of 45-9. His final season at Arkansas was wrecked by a weak offensive line but he has shown more than enough over the years to know this was one of the biggest transfer wins of the entire cycle. He takes over for another dual-threat in John Rhys Plumlee, the two-year, two-sport star. Plumlee missed three games early in the season, Timmy McClain led the offense in his absence, and both guys are now gone. UCF also added Miami sophomore backup Jacurri Brown. Malzahn got great news from the skill positions as two of the top three weapons decided to return for a final year at UCF. Leading receiver Javon Baker left for the pros, but 900-yard Kobe Hudson and leading rusher RJ Harvey are back. Harvey was a Doak Walker semifinalist after becoming the school’s first 1,000 rusher in five years. His 1,416 yards were the third-most in UCF history – plus he cashed in for 16 touchdowns and should be atop the all-conference teams this year. The staff added another 1,400+ yarder in Peny Boone (Toledo) who earned MAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2023, plus Cincinnati starter Myles Montgomery. Hudson and starting slot receiver Xavier Townsend are a proven one-two punch, but from there the receiver room looks for two more to emerge. Trent Whittemore was the top rotational receiver, and Malzahn added a pair of blue-chip Power 5 receivers in Ja’Varrius Johnson (Auburn) and Agiye Hall (Texas via Alabama). Johnson was Auburn’s top receiver the past two seasons, while Hall is a comeback story after taking a year off of football and walking-on. Tight end Randy Pittman could be poised for a breakout season after a big true freshman season. Three offensive line starters are gone including two Big 12 honorable mentions: Tylan Grabel and Lokahi Pauole. Three spots are settled for 2024 with Amari Kight, Marcellus Marshall, and Adrian Medley who all started games last year. The line placed fifth nationally in OL Run Push but could improve on their pass protection (71st). Malzahn took back the play calling duties halfway through the season and will keep the role in 2024. The UCF offense continued its fast pace and quick strikes. They were one of just four Power 5 offenses to place in the Top 10 of both explosive passing and explosive rushing, joining offensive juggernauts LSU, USC, and Kansas.
DEFENSE The rush defense was the biggest liability of the transition season and they were consistently gashed on the ground. UCF allowed 194 rush yards per game, a bottom ten mark nationally, and placed 56th of 70 Power 5 in my opponent-adjusted rushing number. Malzahn addressed that problem head on with a coordinator change. Ted Roof has over three decades of Power 5 coaching experience, won a national championship with Malzahn at Auburn, and most recently helped Oklahoma’s defensive rebuild. Rush defense? Roof has led the nation’s #1 rushing defense at three different schools. The linebackers were the weakness, three guys are gone, and Roof packed the room with proven productive players. Ethan Barr (Vanderbilt) was a captain and two-time SEC starter, Jesiah Pierre (Texas Tech) and Deshawn Pace (Cincinnati) both earned Big 12 honorable mention, and Xe’Ree Alexander (Idaho) was named an FCS All-American. From the high school level UCF signed Under-Armour All American four-star Qua Birdsong. All four defensive tackles from the two-deep return, headlined by starters Ricky Barber and Lee Hunter but they lose both starting ends Josh Celiscar (Texas A&M) and first-team All-Big 12 Tre’Mon Morris-Brash. Malachi Lawrence has experience and the staff landed a game-changer after spring ball in Nyjalik Kelly (Miami), the #13 rated edge this transfer cycle. Like the linebacker room, the secondary was pumped with Power 5 transfers. Bryon Threats (Cincinnati) and Ladarius Tennison (Ole Miss) were both starters at their former schools and bolster the safety position here. Two more former four-stars were added but they lack game experience: Tre’Quon Fegans (USC) and Cedrick Hawkins (Ohio State). Big 12 honorable mention Demari Henderson returns with three-year starting corner Brandon Adams. The spring star was true freshman Chasen Johnson – who UCF flipped from Pittsburgh – and he is pushing for a starting role. UCF was strong against the pass with a Top 20 rank in my opponent-adjusted number.
OUTLOOK UCF took some growing pains in their transition year losing three games by four combined points. Statistically, they were better than their win-loss record shows, Malzahn landed a school-record recruiting class, and a Top 25 transfer haul. They reloaded at quarterback, retained top offensive skill talent, and packed the defense with seven Power 5 transfers. Look for UCF to surprise and surge into the Big 12’s top five.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW-BIG 12: ARIZONA
PICK SIX
It’s rare for a deep program rebuild to progress at such a steady, incremental pace. That’s always the goal, but it’s rarely achieved. Jedd Fisch inherited a winless program that was fresh off a 70-7 rivalry game loss and amid a 20-game losing streak, flipped the roster, landed a Top 25 recruiting class, built a dynamic offense, and improved them to a five-win season. Then in the third year, with another round of transfers, they rebuilt the defense to pair with the explosive offense and the final product was an absolute breakthrough. After a few one-score losses against the Pac-12 heavyweights, Arizona rattled off seven straight wins – five of them over ranked teams. That school-record ranked-win streak surged them up to their highest AP Poll ranking since the historic 1998 team, their first 10-win season in a decade, and led to several fan field-stormings. Arizona destroyed Utah 42-18 in the stadium’s final Pac-12 game, got some Territorial Cup revenge over Arizona State 58-12, and then finished off Oklahoma 31-17 in the Alamo Bowl. It was a season for the ages in Tucson. A quick look at the roster projected that 18 starters would return for their transition season to the new Big 12 conference, with an automatic Playoff bid awarded to the league champion. While 2023 felt like the completion of an all-time program rebuild, there was a sense that 2024 had the potential of an even higher peak. Then in the blink of an eye, the “college football food chain” reset the script. Nick Saban retired, dynasty-tier Alabama poached Washington’s head coach, and then Big Ten-bound Washington poached Fisch from Arizona. The current rules allow for a 30-day free transfer window after a coaching change, and while Fisch did convince eight players to follow him, only three were starters, and it wasn’t the nightmare exodus scenario. Arizona hired San Jose State head coach Brent Brennan, and his offensive expertise, scheme, and vision were able to retain the two prized jewels of the offense: quarterback Noah Fifita and wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan. Don’t just take his San Jose State record at face-value. While 34-48 over seven seasons doesn’t pop off the page, consider the program context as one of the hardest places in the FBS to win. Brennan became the first coach in school history to lead the Spartans to three bowl games, and his best season was an undefeated regular season (7-0) that happened to fall on the short 2020 season. Brennan was originally a graduate assistant here, is a disciple of Arizona legend Dick Tomey, and was a final candidate for the opening here three years back.
OFFENSE Arizona found lightning in a bottle when starting quarterback Jayden de Laura was injured in the fourth game. The multi-year starter was extremely elusive in the pocket but was erratic and turnover-prone at times. When he was knocked out, Fifita came off the bench and led a game-winning drive to beat Stanford. He played with poise beyond his years, was mistake-free, and rekindled his high school connection with McMillan. By the time de Laura was back healthy in the lineup, Fifita had already led multiple ranked wins and did enough to solidify the starting spot. In a quarterback-heavy Pac-12, Fifita placed third in the league in the all-encompassing QB Rating. That mark was good for ninth among Power 5 quarterbacks and he was the only freshman to place in the national Top 25. His 72% completion rate was even better – fourth nationally – and he helped the offense to a second straight Top 15 finish in my opponent-adjusted offensive ranks. They were already set to lose two record-setters in the pass game, but successfully fended off the portal market from stealing future NFL first-rounder McMillan. Jacob Cowing broke the school-record with 13 receiving touchdowns in 2023, Tanner McLachlan broke the school’s tight end receiving records, but McMillan’s return is a season-changer. McMillan does it all: jump balls, contested catches, one-handed grabs, and can score from anywhere on the field. He finished fifth in the nation with 1,402 yards last year, and earned a spot on my 2024 preseason All-America team. Montana Lemonious-Craig steps up into the #2 role, but the rising sophomores AJ Jones and Malachi Riley need to emerge into the rotation. Keyan Burnett is a former four-star and the 6’6 junior is ready to start at tight end with two-year starter McLachlan off to the pros. Top running back Jonah Coleman was the only offensive starter that Fisch took to Seattle. Veteran Michael Wiley was injured in September and Coleman moved into the top spot with a high 6.8 per carry average. This room is starting over with a battle between incumbent Rayshon “Speedy” Luke, former Top200 and #13 rated running back transfer Kedrick Reescano (Ole Miss), and a pair of 1,000-yard Mountain West transfers in Quali Conley (San Jose State) and Jacory Croskey-Merritt (New Mexico). Not to be fully overshadowed by the star power at the skill positions, the offensive line was strong in both run push (35th nationally) and pass protection (46th). While they return four starters, the one loss was their best in first-team All-Pac 12 Jordan Morgan. He was drafted in the first round after starting four years at left tackle. Jonah Savaiinaea should push for similar credentials in 2024 at the other tackle spot, Josh Baker is a three-year starter at center, and Raymond Pulido broke into the starting lineup as a true freshman last year. This will be a team strength again despite Morgan’s NFL departure.
DEFENSE In 2022 it was the offense, but in 2023 it was the defensive boom that rounded Arizona into a complete team. They rose from bottom five to above average, and this was the fifth-largest year-over-year improvement from 2022 to 2023. In Fisch’s first year the defense generated a nation-low six takeaways the entire season, but they grabbed six in just the Alamo Bowl alone – they even ran out of room on their “Turnover Sword” that stabs the turnover footballs. Brennan went back to his Tomey “Desert Swarm” roots by hiring longtime Arizona coach Duane Akina as the defensive coordinator. Akina was a coordinator on Tomey’s staffs in the 1990s, then coached nation best secondaries on Mack Brown’s Texas run in the 2000s, then coached on David Shaw’s golden-age Stanford teams. Last season, Fisch brought him back to Tucson as an analyst but he rose to an on-field role when a coach spot opened up. Brennan calls him the “best defensive backs coach in college football history” and his chops will be tested right away as the transfer portal damaged what was originally projected as a veteran starting lineup with 10 returning starters. They rotated the defensive line a ton last year, but nine linemen departed. Taylor Upshaw and Tyler Manoa exhausted eligibility and five more transferred out to other Power 5 programs. Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei moves into the top spot, first-team All-Mountain West Tre Smith followed Brennan from San Jose State. The interior spots will also feature transfers in Kevon Darton (Syracuse) and 350-pounder Chubba Ma’ae (UC Davis). Jacob Manu is the star to build around as the linebacker led the entire Pac-12 with 116 tackles last year. Former five star Justin Flowe returns at the other spot but they lost their other prized blue-chipper Daniel Heimuli to the portal. Arizona lost an elite corner as Ephesians Prysock was poached by Washington, but they return another in Tacario Davis who led the Pac-12 in pass deflections. The safety pair returns and is a strength with the hard-hitting Dalton Johnson (4 forced fumbles) and Alamo Bowl MVP Gunner Maldonado. Treydan Stukes is the do-it-all backer/safety hybrid and earned all-league honors in 2023.
OUTLOOK Fisch’s rebuild was a total success and was setting up for an all-time season in 2024. The coaching change and some unexpected roster turnover have scaled back expectations, but Arizona still earned their first preseason ranking in a decade and enter the expanded Big 12 as one of the title contenders.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW-BIG 12: IOWA STATE
PICK SIX
Matt Campbell’s steady rebuild in Ames took a losing program eventually all the way to the Big 12 title game and the Fiesta Bowl. Year after year, his name surfaced as a desired candidate in the coaching carousel, but he remained committed to a long-term, developmental program here at Iowa State. It had been consistent improvement for his first six years until finally a setback occurred in 2022. The 4-8 record was the program’s worst since his transition year in 2016. Coming off of a losing season, the roster was looking thin heading into 2023 and the preseason expectations were below the usual Campbell standard. Then to make matters worse, Iowa State was engulfed in a state gambling investigation with five starters facing criminal charges. The starting quarterback, running back, tight end, and a lineman on both sides of the ball were lost for the season. They sputtered out of the gates with another rivalry loss to Iowa, and a no excuses loss to the MAC’s Ohio. But rather than collapse and extend the negative momentum from the 2022 season, Iowa State neutralized the downturn and even swung the tide back into a positive. Campbell played the most freshmen of any Power 5 program, his offensive staff changes led to the #1 most improved offense in the nation, and their seven-win season clinched his sixth bowl in the past seven seasons. They finished 6-3 in a competitive Big 12, and even found themselves in a five way tie for the lead into November. An instant classic capped off the regular season. The “Farmageddon” game against Kansas State quickly became “Snowmageddon” as feet of snow poured onto the field. Indicative of the youth movement, Iowa State’s Big 12 Freshman of the Year quarterback and freshman running back exploded to post 42 points and five touchdowns of 60+ yards. Campbell drew parallels to another one of his teams that helped accelerate the program build: “in a lot of ways, this year reminded me of 2017 – adversity, a lot of young guys standing up, and also a special senior class drawing a line in the sand.” That departing senior class is small and Iowa State is set to return 20 starters in 2024. If they can emulate that 2017 to 2018 jump, they are poised to be a serious player in the new wide-open 16-team Big 12 right away.
OFFENSE Campbell’s decision to promote Nathan Scheelhaase to offensive coordinator was a home run and they fixed a broken offense. Not only were they the #1 most improved offense per my opponent-adjusted, per-play metrics by jumping from 61st (of 70 Power 5) to 16th, Iowa State was also the #2 most-improved pass offense (52nd to 12th). With original starter Hunter Dekkers out of the picture due to the gambling scandal, redshirt freshman Rocco Becht earned the starting quarterback job. After a few tune-up games, Becht unlocked the vertical passing game, earned Big 12 Freshman of the Year, and quickly climbed the all-time charts. His 446 passing yards against Memphis set an Iowa State single-game record, his 3,120 passing yards was the third-most in a freshman season in Big 12 history, and he came close to breaking Brock Purdy’s school records for yards and touchdowns. Becht was #2 nationally among all freshman quarterbacks in the all-encompassing QB Rating (Arizona’s Noah Fifita) and is due for a second-year bonus in 2024. Even better, almost the entire offense around him returns. With Jiriehl Brock also gone from the scandal, the running back room took a committee-approach between Cartevious Norton, Eli Sanders, and Abu Sama. The first two have transferred out, likely after seeing the late-season surge of freshman Sama whose 276-yard explosion in the snow game was an all time performance. Sama is the top back for 2024 and freshman Carson Hansen will be the change-of pace, bringing a pass-game skillset in blocking and receiving. The receiver room surprised with a pair of stars, Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins, who combined for 119 catches, 1,803 yards, and 13 touchdowns. They are responsible for Iowa State making the largest year over-year jump in long-yardage explosive passing – 88 spots up from 123rd to 35th. Daniel Jackson added 16 catches and a lot of physical down-field blocking, and true freshman Ben Brahmer established himself as the next great Cyclone tight end. All four return for 2024. New offensive line coach Ryan Clanton took on a big rebuild and got halfway there in 2023. The pass protection was elite (14th nationally) but the OL Run Push was among the nation’s worst (130th). There is expected growth here as they return five guys with starting experience, headlined by right tackle Tyler Miller. Brendan Black became the first true freshman lineman starter of the Campbell era, and on the left side James Neal and Jarrod Hufford are both back. The only wildcard on this offense is the coordinator change. Scheelhaase did so well in his first year, the NFL came knocking. Campbell promoted tight ends coach Taylor Mouser to coordinator with continuity as the main goal.
DEFENSE There is no coordinator question on this side of the ball, as Jon Heacock has proven to be one of the best in the game. Iowa State has now posted four straight Top 25 defenses per my opponent-adjusted metric – the only Big 12 defense to do so. Even better news, that 2023 unit only started one senior, meaning almost the entire two-deep got game reps and experience ahead of schedule. Now it’s time to reap the dividends in 2024 as they lose just two starters – veteran linebacker Gerry Vaughn and NFL-bound corner TJ Tampa. Heacock’s unique 3-3-3 so-called Dime Stack has puzzled Big 12 opponents for years. The entire defensive line returns intact and should get efficiency gains as newcomers become veterans. Ends Joey Petersen and Tyler Onyedim combined for 81 tackles, and the nose tackle rotation of JR Singleton and Domonique Orange stuffs the point of attack in the run game. Vaughn is a major loss. He led the team in tackles in 2022 but the production was more spread out in 2023 among new starters Caleb Bacon and Will McLaughlin. Jack Sadowsky was a freshman starter last year and moves back to middle backer. Tampa earned first-team All-Big 12 after allowing just one touchdown off of 414 coverage snaps. While Tampa will be missed, Iowa State gets back other starting corner Myles Purchase as well as the entire safety room which could be the strength of the entire team. Jeremiah Cooper also earned first-team All-Big 12, Beau Freyler led the team in tackles, and third safety Malik Verdon also returns. The safeties have plenty of responsibilities in the Heacock defense, but when they are strong and veteran, the defense reaches elite status.
OUTLOOK If you value the returning starters number, Iowa State is your team. An amazing 20 starters return to a bowl team that notched wins over two top contenders last year. Even without comparable rankings in Talent Acquisition, Iowa State’s staff has always been elite at player development and their coaching schemes work well in the Big 12. Iowa State checks in just outside the league’s top five, in a dead heat with TCU for the #6 spot. If Campbell gets a similar 2017-to-2018 boost, this team could end up in Dallas.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW-BIG 12: TCU
PICK SIX
Following a dream season is a near-impossible task, and there was an expected step back in TCU’s rebuilding year. In 2022 they surprised the nation with a 12-0 regular season, Playoff win and national title appearance, led by a gutsy do-it-all quarterback and their resilience in close finishes. It’s as if they used up all of their football luck in 2022, as the one-score games flipped from 6-1 to 0-4 in 2023. “Luck” may not be the perfect term to use – though that would cover the West Virginia loss with two blocked field goals in a three-point decision. Instead of luck, this was more a symptom of undergoing their biggest roster reload of all-time. After the magical 2022 run, TCU sent a school-record eight players to the NFL Draft. That includes their Heisman finalist quarterback, the Biletnikoff-winning receiver, 1,000-yard rusher, their best offensive linemen, best defensive lineman, best linebacker, and best defensive back. Oh, and their ace offensive coordinator was poached by Clemson. TCU finished 5-7 to become the first national championship participant to post a losing record the following year since 2010 Texas. After his defense allowed 69 points – a school-worst since 2004 – in the season finale, head coach Sonny Dykes stated he’ll “evaluate everything we’re doing … from what we’re eating in the pregame meal to who is calling plays.” No word yet on the menu alterations, but Dykes moved quickly to fix the defense. He fired defensive coordinator Joe Gillespie whose bend-don’t-break 3-3-5 scheme posted consecutive below-average seasons. The 2022 defense was just as bad statistically, but masked the issue with timely turnovers in key moments. That dried up in 2023. TCU never lost the turnover battle the entire 2022 regular season, but only won the turnover margin twice in 2023. Improving on the margins, a second-year coordinator bonus on offense, a new defensive system, and top roster talent have TCU well-positioned for the new Big 12. Removing super-recruiters Texas and Oklahoma from the equation, TCU now stands atop the talent rankings as Dykes has posted the #1 and #2 high school recruiting classes (2023 & 2024) and the #1, #3, #3 transfer classes (2022-24).
OFFENSE As expected, the offense fell in every stat category as they replaced all their star players and coordinator from the 2022 title run. The growing pains set in at every position except running back, where Emani Bailey was the consistent engine of the offense, churning out 100-yard games and finishing with the fourth-most yards in the Big 12 (1,209). He carried the torch from NFL-bound Kendre Miller, but otherwise it was an absolute rebuild. Starting quarterback Chandler Morris was injured halfway through the season and redshirt freshman Josh Hoover started the final six games. Together they accumulated 3,738 passing yards and 27 scores, but interceptions plagued the offense all year. Morris threw two costly picks in the end zone in an eventual three-point loss to Colorado. Hoover threw two red zone picks late in a seven-point loss to Texas Tech. At quick glance, their stat outputs look about equal, but my opponent-adjusted stats paint a different picture. Hoover had to face the harder part of the schedule – and did so without an entire offseason of QB1 reps – and there was a noticeable up-tick in the numbers. As an offense, they improved from 32nd of 70 Power 5 teams to 25th with Hoover at the helm. Passing-wise, TCU was 45th with Morris and 30th with Hoover. Morris transferred out to North Texas so Hoover now gets a full second-year bonus with offensive coordinator Kendal Briles. Behind him is two-time UIL 5A state champion Hauss Hejny (Aledo) who got accelerated reps this spring with Hoover banged up. Former Alabama back Trey Sanders is now in the lead role after being used primarily in short-yardage and redzone spots as Bailey’s backup. Sanders cashed in six touchdowns last year and will be joined by four-star Cam Cook. Replacing Quentin Johnston was never going to be easy, but Dykes has assembled a packed receiver stable for 2024. Savion Williams was starting to emerge as their #1 target, JP Richardson finished second with 536 yards and six scores, and the 2023 transfer pair of four-stars JoJo Earle (Alabama) and Jack Bech (LSU) both have breakout potential. Dykes layered in another pair this cycle with Boise State’s leading receiver Eric McAlister and Top100 Braylon James (Notre Dame). First-team All-Big 12 tight end Jared Wiley will be missed, but the big receiver stable should cover for his loss of production. Last year the offensive line had to replace three starters including second-round pick Steve Avila, and it showed in key spots like short-yardage and the red zone. They fell from the Top 25 to 60th in FBS in my OL Run Push metric and now have to again replace their two best with Andrew Coker and Brandon Coleman heading pro. As a whole, the offensive line room seems more veteran this time around. Marcus Williams returns at left tackle and Dykes added four experienced FBS linemen: Bless Harris (Florida State), Remington Strickland (Texas A&M), Carson Bruno (Louisiana Tech), and Cade Bennett (San Diego State). While not a perfect science, it’s worth noting that none of these transfers earned four-star acclaim per 247Sports.
DEFENSE Gillespie’s 3-3-5 scheme had the defenders sitting too far off the line-of-scrimmage and were more reactionary. They ceded short completions – Colorado crushed them with screen passes – but teams had no issue consistently scaling the field, even if it was a bunch of small chunks. The positive of such a scheme was supposed to be protection against long-yard explosive touchdowns, yet TCU placed #111 nationally there. Dykes is flipping the script, both in base formation and overall scheme. Andy Avalos brings a four-man front, and an aggressive, attacking mindset. The former Broyles Award finalist’s defense helped Oregon win consecutive Pac-12 titles in 2019 and 2020, and then he earned Mountain West Coach of the Year after leading Boise State to a 10-win year as head coach in 2022. Avalos will bring more consistent pressure up front and will certainly improve on TCU’s 99th ranking in Negative Play rate. Their most consistent tackle Damonic Williams transferred out to Oklahoma, but they did bring in two impact transfers to the line. Devean Deal led Tulane with 12.5 tackles for loss and earned All-AAC honorable mention, while Fort Worth native and former four-star NaNa Osafo-Mensah (Nolan Catholic) comes home after being stuck on a crowded Notre Dame defensive line. Avalos brought his linebackers coach Ken Wilson and he gets two returning starters in Johnny Hodges and Namdi Obiazor. Jamoi Hodge departs but they added the #12 transfer linebacker Kaleb Elarms-Orr (California). The new scheme should help Hodges return to his 2022 all-league form. TCU was supposed to have a top secondary, or at least one of the top safety rooms, last year but they fell way short of expectations. It’s a roster change here as corner Josh Newton and safeties Mark Perry and Millard Bradford all head pro. Bud Clark is a veteran returner at safety, and then the staff raided the portal with eight transfer defensive backs – though all were labeled as three-stars. The headliner is JaTravis Broughton, a four-year player and two-year starter off of Utah’s elite defense who will be an instant starter at corner.
OUTLOOK TCU is due for a bounce-back season. They went through their biggest roster overhaul after the national title appearance, went 0-4 in one-score games, and had awful turnover luck. With a more veteran roster, and league-best recruiting, TCU will be much improved in 2024. The schedule draw throws a wrench into the equation, as they draw five of the top six, but still I expect them to climb up the conference ladder this fall and return to bowl season.
BASEBALL NEWS
MLB ROUNDUP: ADRIAN DEL CASTILLO (6 RBIS), D-BACKS TOP MARLINS
Rookie catcher Adrian Del Castillo, a Miami native playing his first pro game in his hometown, slugged a grand slam and drove in six runs, leading the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 9-6 win over the host Marlins on Monday night.
Del Castillo went 2-for-4 with a walk and his first career stolen base. He also threw a runner out attempting to steal second.
Brandon Pfaadt (8-6) earned the win despite allowing nine hits, two walks and four runs in 5 1/3 innings. The Diamondbacks have won five straight games in which Pfaadt has pitched.
Nick Fortes had a solo home run and a sacrifice fly as Miami lost for the fourth time in five games.
Mets 4, Orioles 3
Francisco Alvarez hit a walk-off homer — the first of his career — in the ninth inning for host New York, which took the opener of a three-game series against Baltimore.
Edwin Diaz (4-1) logged a perfect ninth inning for the Mets, who won for the fourth time in 10 games to move within 1 1/2 games of the idle Atlanta Braves in the race for the final National League wild-card spot.
Ramon Urias and Ryan Mountcastle had two hits apiece while combining to score all three runs for the Orioles, who fell a half-game behind the idle New York Yankees in the race for first place in the American League East and the top overall seed in the AL.
Rangers 4, Pirates 3
Corey Seager slammed two home runs to account for all of Texas’ offense as the Rangers earned a win against Pittsburgh in the opener of a three-game series at Arlington, Texas.
Marcus Semien had two hits and scored a run for the Rangers, who have won two in a row for the first time since a five-game winning streak from July 21-25. Jose Urena (4-8) pitched four innings of shutout relief for the win.
Jared Triolo hit a three-run homer as the Pirates fell for the 12th time in 14 games. Pittsburgh starter Luis L. Ortiz (5-4) gave up four runs and five hits in six innings.
Reds 6, Blue Jays 3
TJ Friedl had a solo homer among his three hits as visiting Cincinnati defeated Toronto.
Ty France added two hits and two RBIs for the Reds, who ended a three-game losing streak. Cincinnati right-hander Julian Aguiar made his major league debut and allowed two runs and four hits in four innings. Tony Santillan (1-1) earned the win.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Ernie Clement hit solo home runs for the Blue Jays in the opener of a three-game series that begins a seven-game homestand.
Astros 5, Red Sox 4
Yainer Diaz belted his first career walk-off home run with one out in the ninth inning as Houston overcame an error-prone performance and claimed a win over visiting Boston.
Diaz drilled a first-pitch cutter from Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen (3-2) 401 feet to left-center field. It marked the 14th home run of the season for Diaz and made a winner of Astros closer Josh Hader (6-6), who worked a perfect top of the ninth.
Boston’s Masataka Yoshida snapped a 2-2 deadlock with a two-run pinch-hit homer in the top of the sixth. Houston committed a season-high four errors.
Royals 5, Angels 3
Salvador Perez drove in three runs and Paul DeJong homered to lead Kansas City past visiting Los Angeles, the Royals’ fifth consecutive win.
In the opener of a three-game series, Perez began the scoring in the third inning with a two-out RBI single, and he added a two-run double in the seventh.
The Angels put two runners on base in the first inning against Seth Lugo, who then retired 10 consecutive batters. Lugo (14-7) registered his 18th quality start of the year, tied for fourth most in the major leagues, and leads the majors with 166 2/3 innings pitched.
–Field Level Media
REPORT: PIRATES NOT PLANNING TO SHUT DOWN SKENES
The Pittsburgh Pirates aren’t planning to shut down Paul Skenes and have no set innings limit for the right-hander, sources told Ken Rosenthal, Stephen J. Nesbitt, and Zack Meisel of The Athletic.
Skenes has pitched 125 1/3 innings between the major and minor leagues this season, which are the most he’s thrown in his career.
However, the Pirates are considering shorter outings for the 22-year-old, according to The Athletic. It’s a similar approach to what the Chicago White Sox are doing with their ace left-hander Garrett Crochet.
Sticking on the big-league roster heightens Skenes’ chances of winning National League Rookie of the Year. That could impact the Pirates, who are 7 1/2 games back of the final NL wild-card spot.
Skenes, a front-runner for the honor, could earn an additional year of service time if he finishes first or second for the award, regardless of how many days he spends in the majors.
Additionally, the Pirates won’t be eligible to receive a Prospect Promotion Incentive draft pick if Skenes wins Rookie of the Year because he didn’t begin the season on the Opening Day roster, nor was he promoted to the big leagues within the first two weeks of the campaign. Skenes debuted May 11.
“I’m supportive of the rules changes that came about in the last CBA that were intended to get the best players to the major leagues,” Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said.
“And of course I’m confident the league and players association will continue to review those going forward and work to do what is in the best interests of the game.”
Skenes has been one of the biggest storylines of the 2024 campaign. He owns a 7-2 record with a 2.30 ERA and 11.1 K/9 in 16 starts. Skenes has also been removed from two no-hitters and was named the NL’s starter in the All-Star Game.
BRAVES 3B AUSTIN RILEY OUT 6-8 WEEKS WITH HAND FRACTURE
Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley was diagnosed Monday with a fractured right hand and will miss the next 6-8 weeks, potentially ending his season.
Riley left Sunday’s road game against the Los Angeles Angels when he was hit in the hand by a pitch from right-hander Jack Kochanowicz.
After initial medical examinations were inconclusive, Riley underwent an MRI on Monday after the team returned to Atlanta.
The Braves are set to open a key three-game series against the first-place Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday. Right-hander Reynaldo Lopez will start for Atlanta in the series opener after he was reinstated from the injured list Monday following a bout with forearm inflammation. Right-hander Jimmy Herget was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett.
The Braves are seven games behind the Phillies in the National League East and in possession of the final wild-card spot in the NL, two games up on the New York Mets.
Riley, 27, is batting .256 with 19 home runs and 56 RBIs in 110 games this season as he has rebounded from a slow start when he had three home runs and 20 RBIs in his first 53 games.
In six seasons with the Braves, Riley has batted .272 with 153 home runs and 429 RBIs in 719 games. He is a two-time All-Star (2022, 2023) and finished in the top seven of National League MVP voting in each of the previous three seasons.
Atlanta has struggled with injuries all season. Outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee) and right-hander Spencer Strider (elbow) are out for the year. The Braves are without second baseman Ozzie Albies (wrist) until September and are also missing setup man A.J. Minter (hip).
Lopez, 30, is 7-4 with a 2.06 ERA in 19 starts this season. Herget, 30, was 0-1 with a 4.38 ERA in eight relief appearances.
–Field Level Media
NHL NEWS
BLUE JACKETS TRADE F PATRIK LAINE TO CANADIENS
The Montreal Canadiens acquired forward Patrik Laine and a 2026 second-round draft pick from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday in exchange for defenseman Jordan Harris.
The trade moves Laine, 26, to a Montreal team positioning itself for a playoff push after their loss in the 2021 Stanley Cup Final was followed by three straight last-place finishes in the Atlantic Division.
Laine, a native of Finland, played in just 18 games in the 2023-24 season due to a clavicle fracture and a stint in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. He had six goals and three assists in his final season with Columbus.
The Blue Jackets acquired him from the Winnipeg Jets early in the 2020-21 season. Laine was a rising star in his tenure in Winnipeg, his best season coming in 2017-18, when he played in all 82 games and put up a career-best 44 goals and 26 assists for a career-high 70 points.
Laine has recorded 388 points (204 goals, 184 assists) in 480 games between Winnipeg and Columbus.
Harris, 24, has played parts of three seasons with the Canadiens and put up 32 points (eight goals, 24 assists) in 131 appearances.
–Field Level Media
NASCAR NEWS
TYLER REDDICK STORMS TO OT VICTORY AT MICHIGAN
Tyler Reddick roared away from William Byron in the second overtime and broke Ford’s stranglehold on Michigan International Raceway, winning the NASCAR Cup Series’ postponed FireKeepers Casino 400 on Monday in Brooklyn, Mich.
After Martin Truex Jr. brought out the sixth caution with six laps left, leader Reddick and the rest of the top 10 stayed out for the first of the two-lap dashes.
Restarting on the top lane, Reddick and Byron were side-by-side when Ross Chastain, running 11th, spun on the backstretch to set up a second shootout. However, Byron led Reddick in the final scoring loop.
That made Reddick start the second OT below Byron. Reddick’s No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota got a great launch, pulled away from Byron and held off the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet by 0.168 seconds for his seventh career win.
The victory, Reddick’s second this season, broke Ford’s nine-race MIS winning streak, which dated to Kyle Larson’s victory in a Chevrolet in 2017.
It was Toyota’s first win since Matt Kenseth was victorious in 2015.
Ty Gibbs, Kyle Busch and Michigan native Brad Keselowski completed the top five.
Ryan Blaney won Stage 1 at Lap 45 on a drizzling Sunday afternoon. After a second rain delay, NASCAR could not get the 200-lap race restarted in the state’s scenic Irish Hills and postponed the 24th event on the Cup schedule until Monday morning. The start of Sunday’s race was delayed by more than two hours.
With 12 laps to go in Stage 2 following a round of pit stops on Monday, caution flew for three separate incidents on the track involving Joey Logano, AJ Allmendinger and Todd Gilliland.
Bigger trouble struck with four laps to go on the restart as a wreck ensued when Larson got loose by himself off Turn 4 and started an eight-car melee that involved playoff pursuers Bubba Wallace and Chris Buescher. Larson’s No. 5 Chevrolet came to rest with a buckled hood on the frontstretch infield.
Under caution, Busch claimed Stage 2 for his first segment win and first for Richard Childress Racing so far.
On the race’s fifth caution, Corey LaJoie tapped Noah Gragson’s No. 10 Ford, resulting in a spectacular crash down the backstretch for LaJoie. His No. 7 Chevrolet slid sideways, became airborne, skidded on its roof for a good distance and violently tumbled on the grass below Turn 3.
–Field Level Media
TOP INDIANA SPORTS/NEWS RELEASES
INDIANA WOMEN’S SOCCER
MATCH CENTRAL: INDIANA AT BALL STATE
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Indiana women’s soccer heads north for an in-state match up in Muncie against the Ball State Cardinals. Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m. ET and will air live on ESPN+.
ABOUT THE CARDINALS
Ball State won its season opener 4-0 against Purdue Fort Wayne in Muncie on Thursday, Aug. 15th. Junior forward Delaney Caldwell scored two goals for the Cards with the gamewinner coming from freshman midfielder LG Moncrief in the 89th minute on a penalty kick. The Cardinals finished the 2023 season with an 8-8-3 record and went 6-2-3 in Mid-American Conference play.
LAST TIME OUT
The Hoosiers opened the season with a win against the Tennessee Volunteers. Sophomore midfielder Kennedy Neighbors scored the game-winner in the 50th minute with a strike in the 18-yard box. Indiana held the advantage in shots (10) and corner kicks (8) along with four saves from keeper Jamie Gerstenberg. IUWS is now 19-9-4 on opening day.
GERSTENBERG IN GOAL
Senior goalkeeper Jamie Gerstenberg is on pace to break the Indiana women’s soccer career victories. She is currently tied fourth with 23 career victories in goal. Shannon Flower is third (24), Bethany Kopel second (30) and Merit Elzey with the record at 35 victories.
RETURNERS:
Of IU’s 25 players that saw minutes in 2023, 21 will return for the 2023 season.
IUWS is returning eight of its 12 goal scorers last year. Coffield and Costello scored at least two goals with an additional six scorers returning this season.
Indiana’s backline returns veteran defender Camille Hamm, rookie standout Piper Coffield and Lauren Costello. This trio aided in the single-season shutout record and combined for five goals and 18 points.
Veteran Sydney Masur and counterparts Natasha Kim and Hope Paredes return for the Hoosiers in the midfield. The trio combined for 39 shots, 14 shots on goal and five points last season.
Elle Britt led the team in shots last season with 42 and 13 on target. Marisa Grzesiak trailed Britt with 27 shots and 11 shots on goal.
NEW ADDITIONS:
The Hoosiers added six new additions to the team including graduate transfer Avery Snead and five true freshmen in Layla Sirdah, Bella Haggerty, Josie Pratl, Maggie Ledwith and Haden Vlcek.
Snead was named to the Big Ten Player to Watch List as she looks to bring her veteran experience and make immediate impact on the pitch.
Haggerty, Vlcek and Pratl will add depth to the IU’s backline while Maggie and Layla look to create more scoring chances for the Hoosiers.
B1G PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Jamie Gerstenberg, Jr., GK
Gerstenberg earns a spot on the watch list for the third straight year. The reigning Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year who started between the pipes in all 20 of the Hoosiers’ matches. She totaled 52 saves (.765 save percentage) with a .82 goals against average. She set the single-season shutout record with 10 and went 12-4-4 as the primary keeper. The Birkenwerder, Germany native holds Indiana’s career shutout record with 25 clean sheets and tied the single-season Big Ten record. Gerstenberg was also an All-Big Ten First Team selection and will continue to make big strides for the Hoosiers.
Piper Coffield, So., D
Coffield was named to the Big Ten All-Tournament Team and picked up three Big Ten Freshman of the Week awards and one Defensive Player of the Week in her rookie season. She played a total of XX minutes, holding Indiana’s backline strong. She scored three goals with two assists and combined for eight points. The Mars, Penn. native scored two game winners on penalty kicks to put the Hoosiers on top last season. Coffield ended last season with a .429 shots on goal percentage and aided in the cream and crimson’s single-season shutout record.
Avery Snead, Gr., D
Snead, a graduate transfer from Providence College, earns a spot on the Player to Watch List after looking to make a big impact for the Hoosiers. She joins the Indiana women’s soccer team after spending four-years with the Friars. As a midfielder, she started in all 69 matches and totaled 13 points in her career with six goals and one assist. Snead held a .525 shots on goal percentage with four game-winning goals to finish her career. A native of Wrentham, Mass., she was named to the All-BIG East Second Team in 2023, earned All-BIG East All-Freshman Team honors in 2020 and Second Team Honors in 2022. Snead was also named to the United Soccer Coaches All-East Region Third Team. Snead is a two-time NEWISA All-New England Second Team honoree.
PURDUE FOOTBALL
THIENEMAN EARNS ANOTHER PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA HONOR, NAMED TO AP SECOND TEAM
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue safety Dillon Thieneman collected yet another preseason All-America recognition on Monday (August 19), this time being recognized by the Associated Press (AP) as a member of the second team defense in anticipation of what many expect to be a big year for the sophomore.
Thieneman dazzled in the Boilermaker defense as a freshman, setting multiple Purdue freshman records including interceptions (6) and solo tackles (74) and earning recognition as one of the best players in the country regardless of class. Following his breakout campaign, it was the AP that gave him third team All-America accolades to make him the program’s 50th All-American.
His performance wasn’t just good by Purdue’s standards; Thieneman’s numbers made waves on a national scale. His INT and solo tackle totals both ranked third nationally, while his 74 solo tackles finished first amongst all Big Ten defenders. The 2023 Thompson-Randle El Big Ten Freshman of the Year was one of just two freshmen since 2005 to record at least 100 tackles and five interceptions.
Now with the nod from the AP, Thieneman has been named to the preseason lists for three of the five organizations that the NCAA recognizes to form consensus and unanimous All-American honors at the end of each season (Associated Press, Sporting News, Walter Camp Football Foundation).
He has also been named a Preseason All-American by Athlon Sports, Phil Steele and Pick Six Previews. Additionally, the Boilermaker is on watch lists for the Chuck Bednarik Award, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, the Jim Thorpe Award and the Lott IMPACT Trophy.
Thieneman and the Boilermakers kick off the 2024 season at home in Ross-Ade Stadium against Indiana State on August 31. Tickets are still on sale.
Thieneman Preseason Honors
Second Team Preseason All-America (Associated Press, Walter Camp, Sporting News, Phil Steele, Athlon Sports, Pick Six Previews)
First Team Preseason All-Big Ten (Phil Steele, Athlon Sports)
Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List
Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List
Jim Thorpe Award Watch List
Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List
BUTLER MEN’S SOCCER
AULT SELECTED BIG EAST PRESEASON OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR; BULLDOGS PICKED FOURTH IN MIDWEST DIVISION
NEW YORK – The Butler men’s soccer team was tabbed to finish fourth in the Midwest Division in the 2024 BIG EAST Preseason Coaches’ Poll, as announced by the conference office on Monday, August 19. Junior Palmer Ault was selected as the 2024 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and also represents the Bulldogs on the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team. This is the second-straight season Ault has received this recognition.
A member of the 2023 All-BIG EAST Second Team and the unanimous BIG EAST Freshman of the Year in 2022, Ault will once again look to lead the Bulldogs offensive attack in 2024. Entering his junior campaign, Ault has started all 34 games in his first two collegiate seasons and has tallied 38 points with 16 goals and six assists. The native of Noblesville, Ind., has elapsed 2,829 minutes on the pitch and has tallied six game-winning goals.
In addition to Ault’s honor, Georgetown’s Maximus Jennings garnered the preseason Defensive Player of the Year award and Providence’s Lukas Burns earned the preseason accolade of Goalkeeper of the Year. A total of 11 student-athletes were named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team, including Ault, Jennings and Burns. Georgetown leads the way with three individuals on the list, followed by Akron and Providence with two each.
This will be the second season that the league’s 12 teams have been divided into two divisions. The top team in each division will receive the top-two seeds in the conference tournament. The remaining six teams, regardless of division, will qualify based on points.
In the Midwest Division, after joining the BIG EAST as an expansion team in 2023, Akron leads the way with 62 points and seven first-place votes. Receiving four-first place votes, the defending BIG EAST Tournament Champion and 2023 Midwest Division champion Xavier ranked second with 56 points, while Creighton received 50 points and the final first-place vote. Butler checks in at fourth, with 35 points. Rounding out the rankings, Marquette has been picked fifth with 25 points, while DePaul ranks sixth with 18 points. On the other side, No. 16 Georgetown was unanimously selected to win the East Division.
All-BIG EAST honors and preseason polls were decided by a vote of the league’s head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own team or players. The 2024 season gets underway on Thursday, Aug. 22. Conference action begins Friday, Sept. 20.
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BIG EAST Preseason Men’s Soccer Coaches’ Poll
East Division
(first-place votes)
1. Georgetown (11) 66
2. Providence (1) 55
3. St. John’s 42
4. Connecticut 38
5. Seton Hall 28
6. Villanova 17
Midwest Division
(first-place votes)
1. Akron (7) 62
2. Xavier (4) 56
3. Creighton (1) 50
4. Butler 35
5. Marquette 25
6. DePaul 18
Preseason BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year
Palmer Ault, Jr., F, Butler
Preseason BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
Maximus Jennings, Sr., D, Georgetown
Preseason BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year
Lukas Burns, Gr., GK, Providence
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
Jonas Buechte, Sr., D, Akron
Malik Henry, Sr., D, Akron
Palmer Ault, Jr., F, Butler
Scott Testori, Sr., F, UConn
Jackson Castro, Sr., M, Creighton
Maximus Jennings, Sr., D, Georgetown
Marlon Tabora, Gr., F, Georgetown *
Zach Zengue, Jr., M, Georgetown
Diego Batista, Jr., M, Providence
Lukas Burns, Gr., GK, Providence
Macoumba Ba, Sr., M, St. John’s
Dylan Kropp, Jr., D, Xavier
*unanimous selection
BUTLER WOMEN’S TENNIS
CASSIE SHULTZ SELECTED TO LEAD BUTLER WOMEN’S TENNIS PROGRAM
Cassie Shultz will lead the Butler women’s tennis program as head coach.
“Cassie’s enthusiasm for our program has been on display the last few years as she has worked with our team,” said Butler Vice President/Director of Athletics Grant Leiendecker. “Her coaching acumen coupled with her experience as a high-level collegiate player will be extremely beneficial to our student-athletes. She is committed to developing young women on and off the court, and we are very excited for the future of our program under Cassie’s leadership.”
At various times since 2018, Shultz has served as an assistant coach at Butler. That stretch of time spans the program’s three most recent head coaches. Shultz was working with Butler student-athletes while balancing a nursing career and her family which includes four children.
“The opportunity to fully pursue my passion for tennis and coaching alongside these amazing young women at Butler is something that really excites me and my family,” said Shultz. “I’m confident that the program will continue to be a source of pride for this great university.”
Shultz’s husband, Jim, is a Butler graduate. Her father-in-law, Jerry Shultz, is a football letterwinner who is also a member of the Butler Athletics Hall of Fame after leading the Bulldogs to three consecutive conference championships during the early 1960s.
Before joining with the Butler program, Shultz served as the assistant tennis coach for Heritage Christian High School under head coach Jaclyn Baldwin. Shultz was also a tennis professional at the Indianapolis Racquet Club. Working as the tournament coordinator and women’s team coach, Shultz coached and educated players on stroke development while also directing and developing the Cardio Tennis program.
In her collegiate years, Shultz started as a member of the Texas A&M University World Team Tennis championship team, finishing in the top 16 at the ITA regional tournament in both singles and doubles. She earned the Aggie Heart Award as a freshman for showing heart and unrelenting effort for her team. After transferring to the University of Iowa, Shultz was a quarterfinalist at the ITA regional tournament, and achieved an NCAA national ranking as high as 70 in singles and 48 in doubles.
Prior to college, Shultz held a national title as Copper Bowl Champion, was an Iowa state singles and mixed doubles champion, and was the Missouri Valley sectional champion (comprised of five states). As a junior, she finished in the top 16 at the National Clay Court Championship held in Florida. Internationally, Shultz made it to the quarterfinals of the ITF International Grass Court Championships held in Philadelphia in 1998, where she solidified a top 500 world ranking.
Cassie and Jim are the proud parents of four children: Isaiah, Eliana, Mady, and Jett.
BALL STATE MEN’S BASKETBALL
MEN’S BASKETBALL FINALIZES 2024-25 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE
The Ball State men’s basketball team and head coach Michael Lewis have revealed the 2024-25 regular season schedule.
As was previously announced, the Cardinals will play Georgia State in Atlanta to begin the season on Monday, Nov. 4 for the MAC-SBC Challenge. Ball State’s other true road game in the first month of the season is scheduled for Nov. 13 at Dayton.
The Cardinals welcome Franklin College on Nov. 8 for the home opener and will host Indiana State (Nov. 16) and Detroit Mercy (Nov. 20) in Worthen Arena. Last year’s schedule featured a neutral site game against the Sycamores and a road contest with the Titans.
Ball State wraps up the month with three games at the Gulf Coast Showcase near Fort Myers, Fla., the Monday-Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Opponents for the multi-team event are to-be-announced.
The Cardinals play at SIUE (Dec. 8) and Bellarmine (Dec. 14) after the Cougars and Knights played in Muncie during the 2023-24 season. Evansville (Dec. 21) and Anderson (Dec. 31) face Ball State at Worthen to wrap up the 2024 calendar year.
Ball State’s final nonconference game of the regular season will be at home against a yet-to-be-determined Sun Belt Conference team on Feb. 8 for the second half of the MAC-SBC Challenge.
The Mid-American Conference portion of the Cardinals’ calendar includes single plays at home with Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan and on the road at Kent State and Ohio along with home and away games against the remaining seven MAC schools.
Game times and television assignments will be announced at a later date. Group tickets are on sale now. Call (765) 285-1474 or (888) BSU-TICKET or visit https://bsu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3DXqkPrp7erCQIt for more information.
Games Breakdown
Home – 15
Road – 13
Neutral – 3
Day of the Week
Saturday – 12
Tuesday – 11
Wednesday – 3
Friday – 2
Monday – 2
Sunday – 1
Location of Game
Indiana – 15
Ohio – 7
Florida – 3
Illinois – 2
Georgia – 1
Kentucky – 1
Michigan – 1
New York – 1
BALL STATE WOMEN’S SOCCER
SOCCER HOSTING IU TUESDAY AFTERNOON FOR RED OUT MATCH
The Ball State soccer team looks to ride the momentum from its season-opening win into a 5:30 p.m. home contest with Indiana on Tuesday at the Briner Sports Complex.
The match will be the first of three home matches streamed on ESPN+ for the 2024 season. Fans are encouraged to wear red for the Red Out match.
The Cardinals (1-0) took down Purdue Fort Wayne 4-0 in last Thursday’s season opener in Muncie, with Delaney Caldwell scoring consecutive goals early in the second half to increase the Ball State advantage to 3-0. Kaelyn Valleau lifted the lid with a score in the 27th minute for the only scoring of the first half, while LG Moncrief converted a penalty kick late to put a cap on the day’s offense.
Indiana (1-0) opened its schedule with a 1-0 winning decision over Tennessee last Thursday night in Bloomington, as sophomore midfielder Kennedy Neighbors scored in the 50th minute. The Hoosiers went 12-4-4 (6-2-2 Big Ten) in 2023 to finish fifth in the league regular season standings and receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Junior goalkeeper Jamie Gerstenberg, sophomore defender Piper Coffield and graduate defender Avery Snead were IU’s three on the Big Ten Players to Watch list. Gerstenberg is the reigning Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year who started 2024 with the shutout against the Lady Volunteers.
The head-to-head series is tied 1-1-2 with the most recent two battles ending in a draw (2022 and 2015). Ball State won the inaugural meeting 1-0 on Sept. 5, 2004.
Up Next
The Cardinals play at Butler on Thursday, Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. to continue their stretch of matches against in-state foes. Ball State’s next home game is set for Sunday, Sept. 8 against Queens (Charlotte).
INDIANA STATE MEN’S BASKETBALL
MEN’S BASKETBALL RELEASES ITS 2024-25 NONCONFERENCE SCHEDULE
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State Head Men’s Basketball Coach Matthew Graves announced the Sycamores’ 2024-25 nonconference on Monday.
The schedule features eight games plus a multiple-team event (MTE), to be officially announced at a later date. The Sycamores have four home games and four away games and will play the rest at a neutral site.
About the Opponents
Indiana State opens the season on a neutral floor against Florida Atlantic in Xenia, Ohio on Monday, November 4, just to the southeast of Dayton. FAU finished last season 25-9 overall and began last season preseason ranked No. 10/9. By week 10, FAU had fallen to the bottom of the rankings, and despite finishing 6-2 in the last eight games, were struggling to receive votes. The Owls will look a bit different from last year, losing its top eight scorers from the 2023-24 season but brought in first-team all-league players and some that played in the NBA Academy in their respective home countries. FAU also signed a new head coach who spent time in assistant roles at Baylor and Gonzaga.
The home opener for Indiana State will take place on Thursday, November 7 against NCAA Division III’s Eureka College. Eureka finished 7-18 in the SLIAC in 2023-24.
The Sycamores stay home to host SIU Edwardsville on Tuesday, November 12, a 17-16 team a season ago. The Cougars return their third-leading scorer in Ray’Sean Taylor (13.6 PPG), who also finished second on the team in assists (92). At the time of writing, SIUE has added seven new members to its squad.
Indiana State pays a return trip to Muncie, Ind. to battle Ball State on Saturday, November 16. The Cardinals finished 15-16 last season, where many Indiana State fans remember the Sycamores’ 83-72 victory over BSU inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse for the Indy Classic. Ball State has added seven new players to the team, including transfers from the University of Kentucky (Wabash Valley native 6-5 Joey Hart) and Indiana University, while retaining its fourth-leading scorer in Mickey Pearson Jr.
Chicago State enters Hulman Center on Friday, November 22. CSU capped its season 13-19 and will return its fourth- and fifth-leading scorers. Chicago State will look different than the previous season – at the time of writing, CSU has seven members rostered and features a new head coach.
The following Monday on November 25, the Sycamores will travel to take on another in-state foe in Southern Indiana. USI finished 8-24 last year, including a 98-54 loss at Indiana State. Southern Indiana lost its top three scorers but brings in nine new names.
The Sycamores play two games over the winter break, with the first being at home against the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy on Saturday, December 21.
Following that game, Indiana State heads back to Ohio to face the Buckeyes of Ohio State in Columbus on Sunday, December 29. Ohio State finished 22-14 last season but now has a new leader at the helm. OSU returns its second-leading scorer in Bruce Thornton (15.7 PPG) who also racked up a team-high 169 assists. Notable addition to the Buckeyes’ roster include Croatian center Ivan Njegovan (7-1 and recently played in the U20 European Championships), Aaron Bradshaw (7-1, Kentucky), Meechie Johnson Jr (6-2, South Carolina), Micah Parrish (6-6, San Diego State), and Sean Stewart (6-9, Duke)
The New Sycamores
Head Coach Matthew Graves’ team will look much different with only four returnees on the roster. Indiana State returns only 92 points from the 2023-24 season but has brought in a wide variety of talent. The 2024-25 Sycamores will be relatively young, featuring only five players that are of junior status or higher.
EVANSVILLE MEN’S SOCCER
PHILLIP NAMED PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE, ACES PICKED TO FINISH SEVENTH
ST. LOUIS — Fifth-year forward Kai Phillip is earning preseason honors heading into the University of Evansville men’s soccer team’s 2024 season.
After a breakout season in 2023 leading the Purple Aces on offense, Kai Phillip (Diego Martin, Trinidad & Tobago) has been named to the Missouri Valley Conference Preseason All-Conference Team as voted on by league head coaches. Phillip is one of 11 Valley players named preseason All-MVC and is UE’s only representative. In 2023 Phillip led Evansville in goals (10) and points (21) which was also good for third across the MVC.
The Aces were picked to finish seventh in the preseason poll with a total of 30 points. Missouri State waspicked as the league’s top men’s soccer team with a trio of first-place votes and 74 points, edging Western Michigan’s 72 points and four first-place votes. UIC garnered a pair of first-place votes, finishing with 69 points for third. Bowling Green (51 points), Belmont (41 points), Northern Illinois (31 points), Drake (19 points) and Bradley (18 points) round out the rest of the poll.
UE return all but a fifth of their roster for the 2024 season after coming a point shy of the MVC Tournament in 2023. With a team of 26 returners, Evansville looks to return to the postseason led by its top three goal scorers from 2023. Along with over 20 returners, the Aces add 14 newcomers with 10 freshmen; Marlon Amaya, Håkon Edstrøm, Dean Harper, Sean Hendrie, Conner Johnson, Michal Mroz, Brady Seaton, Austin Walter, Peyton Williams, Martin Wurschmidt and four transfers; Hugo Amo, Nacho Garcia, Sami Owusu, and Rylan Ross.
The 2024 season will be head coach Robbe Tarver’s first full season as Evansville’s head coach after removing the interim tag midway through 2023. In his first year at the helm, Tarver guided the Aces to four wins against a highly competitive schedule. Along with four wins, Tarver’s squad in 2023 had four draws, including handing MVC regular-season and tournament champions Western Michigan their only non-winning result in conference play.
Phillip returns for his final campaign with the Aces after leading UE offensively with 10 goals, 21 points, 36 shots, and 17 shots on goal. Along with Phillip, UE returns 2022 MVC Freshman of the Year Nacho Diaz Barragan after he was sidelined for the majority of last year with an injury, and its other two top goal scorers, sophomore winger Auden Engen Vik and senior midfielder Jose Vivas.
SOUTHERN INDIANA MEN’S SOCCER
USI KICKS OFF 2024 REGULAR SEASON ON THE ROAD
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Soccer kicks off the 2024 season with a five-match road swing, beginning Thursday with a visit to Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana. Match time is slated for 6 p.m. (CDT).
Following the stop at Butler, USI finishes the first week of action with a stopover at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, Sunday at 6 p.m. The remainder of the five-game road swing has the Screaming Eagles visiting the University of Wisconsin Green Bay August 29; the University of Evansville September 1; and Mercer University September 8.
Game coverage for 2024, including links to live stats and/or video streams, can be found on USIScreamingEagles.com.
The Eagles open the 2024 home slate September 14 when they host Bellarmine University at Strassweg Field for a 7 p.m. USI fans are able to attend Men’s Soccer 2024 home matches for free courtesy of a sponsorship from ProRehab.
USI Men’s Soccer Week 1 Notes:
USI goes 0-1-1 in preseason: The Screaming Eagles were 0-1-1 in the preseason, tying Campbellsville University in a scrimmage, 1-1, and falling to Bradley University in an exhibition match, 4-1. Junior forward Jaron Frye posted USI’s lone goal versus Campbellsville, while junior forward Jackson Mitchell broke up the shutout with a second half goal versus Bradley.
Eagles in 2024: USI was 2-12-3 overall in 2023, going 1-6-3 in the Ohio Valley Conference. In five total years of Division I action (1992-94, 2022-Present), the Eagles are 33-51-10.
Frye listed as OVC Player to Watch: USI senior forward Jaron Frye is listed as an OVC Player to Watch. Frye missed last season with an injury.
OVC Preseason Poll: USI was picked last in the OVC Preseason poll after going 1-6-3 in the league’s inaugural season.
Juan, Garcia, Hall top scoring returners: Senior midfielder Elmer Garcia is USI’s top returning scorer from 2024. Garcia had five points on two goals and one assist. Sophomore midfielder Pablo Juanand senior midfielder Garland Hall followed Garcia in the scoring column last year, tying for fourth with four points. Juan had four points on two goals, while Hall had a goal and two assists.
Butler in 2023: Butler University was 2-7-6 overall in 2023, going 1-3-4 in the Big East Conference. The 1-3-4 conference record placed the Bulldogs in fourth of the Big East’s Midwest Division.
USI vs. Butler: USI is playing Butler for the first time in the history of both men’s soccer programs.
Belmont in 2023: Belmont University was 8-7-3 overall last season, including a victory over USI, 4-0, at Strassweg Field. The Bruins also were 3-4-1 in the Missouri Valley Conference, tying for fifth.
USI vs. Belmont: USI trails the all-time series with Belmont, 0-2-0. The Bruins prevailed at home in 2022, 2-0, and at Strassweg Field in 2023, 4-0.
Belmont’s start to 2024: Before hosting USI on August 25, Belmont opens the 2024 campaign August 22, visiting Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia.
MARIAN FOOTBALL
MARIAN FOOTBALL RANKED NO. 7 IN 2024 NAIA GOROUT PRESEASON POLL
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The NAIA released the Football GoRout Top-25 Ratings on Monday afternoon, with Marian University once again cracking the top-10 in the preseason rankings. Keiser (Fla.) starts off the year at the top of the poll, gathering 14 of the 16 first place votes.
The reigning champions are followed by Northwestern (Iowa) with two first place votes and in second place. Georgetown (Ky.) is third, trailed by College of Idaho and Grand View (Iowa.)
Marian is the top-rated team in the MSFA Midwest League as they open the year rated No. 7, with Saint Xavier slotted two spots behind the Knights at No. 9. The only other member from the Mid-States Football Association in the preseason top-25 is Indiana Wesleyan, who begin the year at No. 6, earning 21 more points than the Knights in the preseason poll. Concordia begins the season receiving votes, three spots out of the No. 25 position.
Marian will open their season on September 7, taking a trip to Adrian, Michigan, with an MSFA-Crossover battle against Siena Heights on the calendar.
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
4 – 5 – 15 – 41 – 44 – 3 – 20 – 28 – 18 – 37 – 9 – 16 – 24 – 21 – 13 – 16
August 20, 1912 – Washington Senators future Baseball HOF pitcher Walter Johnson wins AL-record 15th straight, beating Cleveland Naps, 4-2; in nightcap Carl Cushion no-hits Naps, 2-0 in 6 innings
August 20, 1915 – Chicago White Sox obtain Shoeless Joe Jackson from Cleveland for Robert Roth, Larry Chappell, Ed Klepfer & $31,500; Jackson involved in ‘Black Sox Scandal’ 1919
August 20, 1919 – Wichita outfielder Joe Wilhoit (Western League) fails to get a hit, ending a 69-game streak (155 hits in 299 at-bats for .505 average)
August 20, 1920 – The American Professional Football Association forms; Jim Thorpe was installed as president; later became the National Football League (NFL)
August 20, 1938 – New York Yankees future Baseball Hall of Fame first baseman Lou Gehrig (Number 4) smashed a record 23rd & final grand slam in an 11-3 win over the Philadelphia A’s at Shibe Park
August 20, 1945 – 17-year-old Dodgers utility Tommy Brown, Number 5 became the youngest player to hit an MLB home run in Brooklyn’s 11-1 rout of Pittsburgh Pirates at Ebbets Field
August 20, 1957 – Chicago White Sox hurler Bob Keegan, Number 15 no-hit the Washington Senators, 6-0
August 20, 1958 – Chicago Cubs used their first baseman Dale Long, Number 8 as their 1st major league lefty catcher since 1906
August 20, 1965 – Eddie Mathews (Number 41) and Hank Aaron, Number 44 (1954-65) as teammates crushing balls over the wall surpassed the total number of home runs that Babe Ruth (Number 3) and Lou Gehrig (Number 4) tag-teamed. The Braves pair walloped 772 HRs while playing together on the same team.
August 20, 1974 – A Nolan Ryan pitch was clocked at a record 161.6 kph (100.4 mph). The legendary pitcher wore Number 30 for the California Angels that season.
August 20, 1980 – New York Yankee Bob Watson, Number 28 nailed the Seattle Kingdome speaker with a ball hit from his bat for the second time in consecutive days
August 20, 1980 – Pittsburgh Pirates centerfield speedster, Omar Moreno, Number 18 robbed a record 70 bases for 3rd consecutive season
August 20, 1980 – Cleveland Indians pitcher Number 37, Dan Spillner, 5.45 ERA, is 2 outs from a no-hitter when Chicago White Sox rookie Leo Sutherland singles
August 20, 1982 – Don Lever becomes the first captain of the NHL New Jersey Devils. He would wear the Number 9 on his Devi’s sweater that year.
August 20, 1985 – Dwight Gooden, Number 16 of the New York Mets struck out 16 on their way to his 13th consecutive win. With that Gooden became the first NL pitcher to strike out 200+ in 1st 2 seasons.
August 20, 1989 – New York Met, Howard Johnson, Number 44 joined Barry Bonds, Number 25 as well as Number 24, Willie Mays hitting 30 HRs and stealing 30 bases in a season
August 20, 1990 – New York Yankee Kevin Maas, Number 21 became the quickest MLB batter to reach 15 home runs in about 132 at-bats.
August 20, 1991 – Miami Dolphin quarterback, Dan Marino, Number 13 passed Joe Montana, Number 16 as the highest-paid NFL player with a 5-year extension for $25 million
FOOTBALL HISTORY
On this football day
August 20, 1920 – The American Professional Football Conference is formed at Canton Bulldogs’ owner Ralph Hay’s Hupmobile Showroom in Canton. This organization would later, in 1922, change its name to the National Football League. For more on Ralph Hay please check out this podcast from our friend Arnie Chapman, the Football History Dude, Ralph Hay Episode. Though more teams would sign on September 17, 1920 the following franchises started business operations within the APFC on this day. The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s website credits the following teams with launching their APFA/NFL franchises on August 20, 1920:
Buffalo All-Americans/Bisons/Rangers/Bisons franchise forms (1920-1929), but had no documented representation at the organizational meeting. A friend of the site, Bill Schaefer from Gridiron Uniforms, graciously shared his research and talents to let us see what the Buffalo players wore back then.
Rochester Jeffersons franchise forms (1920-1925), but had no documented representation at the organizational meeting. See more on this team here: Rochester Jeffs
Hammond Pros ( 1920 – 1926)
Akron Pros (1920-26)
Cleveland Tigers/Indians franchise forms (1920-21). Please read about them below.
Canton Bulldogs franchise forms (1920-1926). Please read about them below.
Carl Storck, manager of the Dayton Triangles was also in attendance at this famous meeting.
Author Chris Willis in his great book The Man Who Built the National Football League: Joe F. Carr , says that only four of these franchises met in Hay’s offices at the Hupmobile Showroom on August 20, 1920. Besides Hay and his Bulldogs players Jim Thorpe, Frank Neid, and partner Art Ranney of the Akron Pros, Cleveland Indians manager Jimmy O’Donnell with PR director Stanley Cofall and Carl Storck manager of the Triangles
The scoop on Canton and Cleveland’s early teams
The Canton Bulldogs and early Cleveland teams have an extremely interesting history. Our good friend of the site and expert football historian, Larry Schmitt of the Gridiron Uniform Database has shared some great information on the early Canton and Cleveland teams, and since he explained it so eloquently I will let his words tell the story to all of you as well:
The Canton & Cleveland teams are among those whose history gets confused, and it has to do with name changes and taking a year off.
The Canton Bulldogs are one of the legendary teams that predate the NFL. They were a powerhouse of the 1910s with Jim Thorpe as the first pro football star. They were charter members of the APFA in 1920 and Thorpe was the league’s first Commissioner (in reality, it was in title only just to get his name out to the public for credibility), as were the Cleveland Tigers. In 1922 the Tigers were renamed the Indians and disbanded after the season. Meanwhile, the Canton Bulldogs led, by the great player-coach Guy Chamberlin were, the first back-to-back champions in NFL history, dominating the competition with an aggregate 18-1-1 record spanning 1922-1923.
Here’s where things can get confusing. Despite their on-field success, Canton was struggling financially and had trouble meeting payroll so they suspended operations for the 1924 season. In 1923 a new Cleveland Indians team was started – this was not the same franchise from 1920-1921. Seeing an opportunity to cash in on some notoriety, the Cleveland team signed several of the Canton players and renamed their team the Bulldogs. (Some people confuse this as the Canton team relocating, but that was not the case). The Cleveland Bulldogs, with their bolstered roster, won the NFL title in 1924, but this should not be thought of as a three-peat, although for some of the players who were in Canton, this was their third title in a row. Cleveland was a unique franchise from Canton.
Furthering this point, as well as adding to the confusion, the Canton Bulldogs rejoined the NFL in 1925 but the Cleveland team refused to change their name back to Indians (even though many of the players they had signed in 1924 went back to Canton) so there were two Bulldog teams in the league in 1925 and both finished in the middle of the pack in the standings. Cleveland suspended operations for 1926 while Canton played out the season and then folded for good. The Cleveland Bulldogs came back for one more try in 1927 before folding as well.
August 20, 1922 – Toledo Maroons franchise forms (1922-23)
August 20, 1991 – Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino becomes the highest-paid NFL player when he signed a 5-year extension worth a whopping $25 million. He surpassed Joe Montana who had the NFL record salary before that. Now almost 30 years later quarterbacks are making more than that in one season!
Hall of Fame Birthdays
August 20, 1909 – Beattie Feathers was a halfback from the University of Tennessee who entered the confines of the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955. In an interesting article in the December 2008 edition Sports Illustrated went through and named who they think would have won the Heisman is seasons prior to the award’s inception in 1935. Beattie “Big Chief” Feathers is who SI feels would have been the 1933 winner had the award existed then.
August 20, 1917 – Ed Molinski was a guard from the University of Tennessee who entered the confines of the College Football Hall of Fame in the 1990’s induction ceremony. Big Ed helped the Vols win the 1938 National Championship and then the next season was part of the Tennessee squad that went unscored upon in the regular season.
August 20, 1927 – Former University of Georgia quarterback John Rauch is celebrated in the College Football Hall of Fame since his 2003 induction. He went on to play in the NFL for the Detroit Lions and then was traded to the New York Bulldogs in his first season. Rauch also spent time with the Eagles as a player. After his playing days, he got into coaching and eventually was the head coach of the AFL representative in Super Bowl II, the Oakland Raiders who fell to the Vince Lombardi led Green Bay Packers in that big game.
TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
Aug. 20
1912 — Walter Johnson won his American League-record 15th straight game, downing Cleveland 4-2 in the opener of a doubleheader. Washington’s Carl Cashion pitched a six-inning no-hitter to give the Senators a 2-0 victory over the Cleveland Indians in the second game, which was called to allow Cleveland to catch a train to Boston.
1938 — New York’s Lou Gehrig hit his 23rd and the final grand slam of his career and drove in six runs to lead the Yankees to an 11-3 win over the Philadelphia Athletics.
1945 — Tommy Brown, 17 years, 8 months, 14 days, of the Brooklyn Dodgers became the youngest major league player to hit a home run when he connected in Ebbets Field against Preacher Roe of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
1957 — Bob Keegan of the Chicago White Sox pitched a 6-0 no-hit victory over the Washington Senators in the second game of a doubleheader.
1958 — Detroit’s Jim Bunning pitched a no-hitter to lead the Tigers to a 3-0 win over the Boston Red Sox in the opening game of a doubleheader at Fenway Park.
1961 — The Philadelphia Phillies beat the Milwaukee Braves 7-4 in the second game of a doubleheader to snap a 23-game losing streak, a modern record.
1965 — Milwaukee’s Eddie Mathews hit his 28th home run, and the Braves beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3. With the homer, the duo of Mathews and Hank Aaron passed the Babe Ruth-Lou Gehrig total of 772 home runs to become the top home-run tandem in major league history.
1974 — Nolan Ryan of the California Angels struck out 19 Tigers in a 1-0, 11-inning loss to Detroit. It was the third time this season that Ryan struck out 19 batters in a game.
1980 — Pittsburgh’s Omar Moreno stole his 70th base of the season in a 5-1 loss to Houston, to become the first player this century with three consecutive 70-steal seasons. The fleet outfielder swiped 71 in 1978, 77 in 1979.
1989 — New York’s Howard Johnson hit his 30th home run of the season in the Mets’ 5-4 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers and joined Bobby Bonds and Willie Mays as the only players to achieve 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in two different seasons.
1995 — Jose Mesa of the Cleveland Indians picked up his 37th save in 37 opportunities to set a major league record, and the Indians beat the Milwaukee Brewers 8-5.
2005 — The Kansas City Royals ended baseball’s longest losing streak in 17 years, defeating the Oakland Athletics 2-1 to end a club-record 19-game skid.
2014 — The San Francisco Giants became the first team since 1986 to win a protest. Rain caused a delay during an Aug. 19 game after the grounds crew couldn’t put the tarp down quickly, and the umpires deemed the field unplayable. The Cubs were declared the winners by a 2-0 score after 4 1/2 innings. MLB ruled to resume the rain-shortened game with the Cubs batting in the bottom of the fifth.
2019 — By defeating the Blue Jays, 16 – 3, Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers notches win #166 to pass Sandy Koufax for most by a lefthander in franchise history.
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Aug. 21
1926 — Ted Lyons of the Chicago White Sox pitched a no-hitter over the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. The 6-0 victory was achieved in 1 hour, 7 minutes.
1930 — Chick Hafey of the St. Louis Cardinals hit for the cycle and drove in five runs in a 16-6 rout of the Philadelphia Phillies.
1931 — Babe Ruth hit his 600th home run as the Yankees beat the St. Louis Browns 11-7.
1947 — The first Little League World Series was at Williamsport, Pa. The Maynard Midgets of Williamsport won the series.
1972 — Steve Carlton of Philadelphia had his 15-game winning streak snapped when Phil Niekro and the Atlanta Braves beat the Phillies 2-1 in 11 innings.
1975 — Pitching brothers Rick and Paul Reuschel of the Chicago Cubs combined to throw a 7-0 shutout against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Rick went 6 1-3 innings and Paul finished the shutout for the first ever by two brothers.
1982 — Milwaukee pitcher Rollie Fingers became the first player to achieve 300 career saves as the Brewers beat the Seattle Mariners 3-2.
1986 — Spike Owens had four hits and became the first major league player in 40 years to score six runs in a game as the Boston Red Sox routed the Cleveland Indians 24-5 with a 24-hit attack.
2007 — Garret Anderson of the Los Angeles Angels drove in a team-record 10 runs in an 18-9 rout of the New York Yankees. Anderson hit a grand slam, a three-run homer, a two-run double and an RBI double to become the 12th player in major league history to have 10 RBIs in a game.
2007 — Arizona’s Mark Reynolds tied the major league record for consecutive strikeouts by a non-pitcher when he fanned in his ninth straight plate appearance in a 7-4 loss to Milwaukee. Reynolds struck out in his first two at-bats against Dave Bush to match the record. Bush hit Reynolds with a pitch in the sixth, ending the streak.
2011 — Johnny Damon lost a grand slam to a video review in the seventh inning, then hit a game-ending home run in the ninth that lifted the Tampa Bay Rays over the Seattle Mariners 8-7. Damon connected for a leadoff shot in the ninth on the first pitch from Dan Cortes. The Rays trailed 5-4 in the seventh when Damon launched a drive to right-center field. First ruled a home run, the umpires changed the call to a three-run double after a video review.
2015 — Mike Fiers pitched the second no-hitter in the major leagues in nine days, leading the Houston Astros to a 3-0 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Having never thrown a complete game in his five-year career, Fiers was dominant. He struck out 10 and walked three, retiring the final 21 batters. Fiers struck out Justin Turner on his 134th pitch to end it.
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Aug. 22
1917 — Pittsburgh’s Carson Bigbee set a major league record — since tied — with 11 at-bats in a 22-inning game against Brooklyn. Pirate Elmer Jacobs pitched 16 2-3 innings in relief. The game was also the fourth consecutive extra-inning game by the Pirates for a total of 59 innings, a National League record.
1934 — Pitcher Wes Ferrell hit two home runs to give the Boston Red Sox a 3-2 triumph over the Chicago White Sox in 12 innings. Trailing 2-1, Ferrell hit a home run in the eighth inning to tie the score and with two out in the 12th, Ferrell connected again for the game-winner.
1961 — Roger Maris, en route to his 61-home run season, became the first player to hit his 50th homer in August. He connected off California pitcher Ken McBride in a 4-3 loss to the Angels.
1965 — In the third inning of a game against Los Angeles, pitcher Juan Marichal of the San Francisco Giants hit catcher John Roseboro of the Dodgers in the head with his bat. A 14-minute brawl ensued and Roseboro suffered cuts on the head. Marichal thought Roseboro threw too close to his head when returning the ball to Sandy Koufax.
1971 — The Oakland Athletics opened and closed the game with solo homers to beat the Boston Red Sox 2-1. Boston pitcher Sonny Siebert gave up both, Bert Campaneris lead off the game and Reggie Jackson ended it with two out in the ninth inning.
1984 — New York Mets right-hander Dwight Gooden, at 19, fanned nine San Diego Padres to become the 11th rookie to strike out 200 batters in one season.
1989 — Nolan Ryan of the Texas Rangers became the first pitcher to strike out 5,000 batters. Ryan struck out 13, walked two and allowed only five hits in a 2-0 loss to Oakland. Ryan began the night needing six strikeouts and fanned Rickey Henderson swinging, leading off the fifth inning, for the record.
1999 — Mark McGwire became the first player to hit 50 homers in each of four consecutive seasons, hitting Nos. 49 and 50 in the first game of a doubleheader against the New York Mets.
2007 — The Texas Rangers became the first team in 110 years to score 30 runs in a game, setting an American League record in a 30-3 rout of the Baltimore Orioles in the first game of a doubleheader. It was the ninth time a major league team scored 30 runs, the first since the Chicago Colts set the major league mark in a 36-7 rout of Louisville in a National League game on June 28, 1897.
2012 — Oakland A’s P Bartolo Colon is suspended for 50 games for testing positive for testosterone, eight days after Giants OF Melky Cabrera was also suspended for using the same performance-enhancing substance.
2016 — Adrian Gonzalez hit three of the Dodgers’ seven homers — driving in a career-high eight runs — to lead Los Angeles to an 18-9 win over the Cincinnati Reds.
2021 — Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers becomes the 28th player to hit 500 home runs with a solo home run off of Steven Matz of the Blue Jays.
TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY
Aug. 20
1921 — Molla Bjurstedt Mallory beats Mary Browne, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 to win the U.S. women’s national tennis title at the Germantown Cricket Club in Philadelphia.
1931 — Helen Wills Moody beats Eileen Bennett Whitingstall 6-4, 6-1 to capture the women’s title in the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association championship.
1944 — Robert Hamilton upsets Byron Nelson in the final round 1 up to win the PGA Championship.
1960 — Holland’s Hairos II, driven by Willem Geersen, wins the second International Trot at Roosevelt Raceway before a record crowd of 54,861.
1990 — George Steinbrenner steps down as NY Yankee owner.
1995 — Monica Seles completes a remarkable first week back in tournament tennis, routing Amanda Coetzer 6-0, 6-1 to capture the Canadian Open. Her 74 games sets a tournament record for the fewest played by a champion.
1999 — 7th Athletics World Championships open at Seville, Spain.
2000 — Tiger Woods wins the PGA Championship in a playoff over Bob May, becoming the first player since Ben Hogan in 1953 to win three majors in one year. He’s the first player to repeat as PGA champion since Denny Shute in 1937.
2003 — The U.S. wins the women’s overall team gold medal at the gymnastics world championships. It is the first gold for the Americans — men or women — at the biggest international event outside the Olympics.
2004 — Michael Phelps matches Mark Spitz’s record of four individual gold medals in Olympic swimming by winning the 100-meter butterfly. He edges teammate Ian Crocker to win his fifth gold medal. Shortly after winning his seventh medal of these Olympics, Phelps gives up his spot in the medley relay to Crocker.
2006 — Tiger Woods wins the PGA Championship for a five-shot victory over Shaun Micheel and his 12th career major. He becomes the first player to win the PGA twice on the same course, having done so at Medinah in 1999.
2008 — Usain Bolt of Jamaica breaks the 200-meter world record, winning in 19.30 seconds at the Beijing Games. He is the first man since Carl Lewis in 1984 to sweep the 100 and 200 at an Olympics.
2012 — Augusta National invites former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and South Carolina financier Darla Moore to become the first female members since the club was founded in 1932.
2016 — Allyson Felix and LaShawn Merritt anchor the 4×400 relay teams, and the U.S. exits the final night of action at Olympic Stadium with 31 medals — its most in a non-boycotted Olympics since 1956. The U.S. women’s basketball team beats Spain 101-72 for a sixth straight title.
2018 — Alabama becomes the second team to be ranked No. 1 in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 poll for three straight seasons. The preseason AP poll started in 1950 and since then only Oklahoma from 1985-87 had started No. 1 in three straight years.
2023 — FIFA Women’s World Cup Final, Stadium Australia, Sydney: Spanish captain Olga Carmona scores the only goal of the game as La Furia Roja score a 1-0 win over England.
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Aug. 21
1901 — William Larned wins the first of seven men’s singles titles in the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association championship.
1914 — Walter Hagen captures the U.S. Open golf title by edging Chick Evans.
1920 — Jock Hutchinson wins the PGA golf tournament with a 1-up victory over J. Douglass Edgar.
1931 — Babe Ruth of New York hits his 600th home run as the Yankees beat the St. Louis Browns 11-7.
1932 — Helen Hull Jacobs beats Carolyn Babcock to win the women’s singles title in the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association.
1982 — Mystic Park becomes the first 3-year-old trotter to win the American Trotting Championship.
1985 — Mary Decker sets the world record in the mile run with a time of 4:16.71 in Zurich.
1990 — Kelly Craig becomes the first female starting pitcher in Little League World Series history, opening for Trail, British Columbia. She fails to retire any of the three batters she faces but the Canadian champions rally for an 8-3 victory over Matamoros, Mexico.
2003 — Paul Hamm puts together a near-perfect routine on the high bar to become the first American man to win the all-around gold medal at World Gymnastics Championships. Needing a 9.712 or better to beat China’s Yang Wei, Hamm strings together four straight release moves during his 60-second routine — one of the toughest feats in gymnastics — for a 9.975 and the gold.
2004 — American super-swimmer Michael Phelps wins his 6th gold medal of the Athens Olympics even though he doesn’t swim the final of men’s 4 x 100m medley relay; US wins in world record 3:30.68.
2008 — At the Summer Olympics in Beijing, Yukiko Ueno pitches 28 innings in two days, including seven to shut down the U.S. softball team, 3-1, and give Japan the gold medal. It was the first loss for the Americans since Sept. 21, 2000 — 22 straight games. LaShawn Merritt upsets defending champion Jeremy Wariner to lead a U.S. sweep of the 400 meters track event. David Neville gets the bronze. The U.S. men and women both drop the baton in the Olympic 400-meter relays and fail to advance out of the first round. Jamaica’s Veronica Campbell-Brown easily wins the 200 meters to cap the first sweep of all four men’s and women’s Olympic sprints in 20 years.
2010 — Kyle Busch makes NASCAR history with an unprecedented sweep of three national races in one week, completing the trifecta with a victory in the Sprint Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Busch, winner of the Nationwide race a day earlier and the Trucks race on Aug. 18, becomes the first driver to complete the sweep since NASCAR expanded to three national series in 1995.
2011 — The Los Angeles Sparks run off 16 straight points to overcome a 15-point, second-half deficit and hand the Tulsa Shock their WNBA-record 18th consecutive loss with a 73-67 victory. The Atlanta Dream lost 17 in a row in their inaugural season of 2008.
2016 — Kevin Durant scores 30 points and helps the Americans rout Serbia 96-66 for their third straight gold medal. That caps an Olympics in which the U.S. dominated the medal tables, both the gold (46) and overall totals (121). The 51-total-medal margin over second-place China the largest in a non-boycotted Olympics in nearly a century.
2018 — Liu Xiang of China sets a world record time of 26.98 seconds to win the women’s 50-meter backstroke gold medal at the Asian Games. Liu becomes the first woman to swim under 27 seconds in the event, breaking the mark of 27.06 set by fellow Chinese swimmer Zhao Jing at the 2009 world championships in Rome.
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Aug. 22
1851 — The United States wins the first international yacht race. The schooner named “America” beats 14 British yachts.
1885 — Richard Sears beats Godfrey M. Brinley, 6-3, 4-6, 6-0, 6-3 to win the U.S. men’s national tennis championship held at the Newport (R.I.) Casino.
1898 — Malcolm Whitman beats Dwight F. Davis, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 to win the U.S. men’s national tennis championship held at the Newport (R.I.) Casino.
1948 — The Chicago Cardinals beat the College All-Stars 28-0 in front 101,220 fans at Chicago’s Soldier Field.
1949 — The Philadelphia Eagles beat the College All-Stars 38-0 at Chicago’s Soldier Field. It’s the largest shutout in the series, later matched by Green Bay in 1966.
1950 — Althea Gibson becomes the first black tennis player to be accepted in competition for the national championship.
1957 — Floyd Patterson knocks out Pete Rademacher in the sixth round to retain his world heavyweight title at Sicks Stadium in Seattle.
1965 — In the third inning of a game against Los Angeles, pitcher Juan Marichal of the San Francisco Giants hits catcher John Roseboro of the Dodgers in the head with his bat. A 14-minute brawl ensues and Roseboro suffers cuts on the head. Marichal thought Roseboro threw too close to his head when returning the ball to Sandy Koufax.
1984 — Evelyn Ashford sets the world record in the 100-meter dash with a clocking of 10.76 seconds in a meet at Zurich, Switzerland.
1987 — Brazil snaps the 34-game winning streak of the U.S. men’s basketball team with a 120-115 victory in the Pan Am Games. Oscar Schmidt scores 46 points to lead Brazil. Cuba wins a record 10 of 12 gold medals in boxing and beats the U.S. 13-9 in the baseball final.
1989 — Nolan Ryan of the Texas Rangers becomes the first pitcher to strike out 5,000 batters in a 2-0 loss to the Oakland Athletics. Ryan fans Rickey Henderson swinging on a 3-2, 96 mph fastball for No. 5,000.
1994 — DNA testing links O.J. Simpson to murder of Nicole Simpson & Ron Goldman.
1999 — Jenny Thompson breaks Mary T. Meagher’s 18-year-old 100-meter butterfly record at the Pan Pacific swim championships. Thompson with a time of 57.88 seconds lowers the mark of 57.93 set by Meagher.
2004 — American sprinter Justin Gatlin wins the coveted Olympic 100m gold medal in Athens in 9.85 ahead of Francis Obikwelu of Portugal & American Maurice Greene.
2007 — The Texas Rangers becomes the first team in 110 years to score 30 runs in a game, setting an American League record in a 30-3 rout of the Baltimore Orioles in the first game of a doubleheader.
2008 — Usain Bolt helps Jamaica win the 400-meter relay final in 37.10 seconds for his third gold medal and third world record of the Beijing Games. Bolt becomes only the fourth man, and the first since Carl Lewis in 1984, to win all three Olympic sprint events. Bryan Clay wins the decathlon, the first American to win the 10-discipline event at the Olympics since Dan O’Brien at Atlanta in 1996.
2018 — Ohio State suspends football coach Urban Meyer three games for mishandling repeated professional and behavioral problems of an assistant coach, with investigators finding Meyer protected his protege for years through domestic violence allegations, a drug problem and poor job performance.
2018 — The NCAA ditches the RPI for its own evaluation tool to select teams for the NCAA Tournament. The NCAA Evaluation Tool will rely on game results, strength of schedule, game location, scoring margin, net offensive and defensive efficiency and quality of wins and losses. NET will be used for the 2018-19 season by the committee that selects schools and seeds the tournament.
TV SPORTS TUESDAY
| MLB REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| Arizona at Miami | 6:40pm | YurView Bally Sports Florida |
| Colorado at Washington | 6:45pm | Rockies.TV MASN |
| Cleveland at NY Yankees | 7:05pm | Bally Sports Great Lakes YES |
| Cincinnati at Toronto | 7:07pm | Bally Sports Ohio Sportsnet |
| Baltimore at NY Mets | 7:10pm | MASN SNY |
| Philadelphia at Atlanta | 7:20pm | TBS NBC Sports Philadelphia Bally Sports South |
| Milwaukee at St. Louis | 7:45pm | Bally Sports Wisconsin Bally Sports Midwest |
| Detroit at Chi. Cubs | 8:05pm | MARQ Bally Sports Detroit |
| Pittsburgh at Texas | 8:05pm | ATTSN-PIT Bally Sports Southwest |
| LA Angels at Kansas City | 8:10pm | Bally Sports West Bally SPorts Kansas City |
| Boston at Houston | 8:10pm | NESN SCHN |
| Minnesota at San Diego | 9:40pm | Bally Sports North Padres.TV |
| Tampa Bay at Oakland | 9:40pm | Bally Sports Sun NBC Sports California |
| Chi. White Sox at San Francisco | 9:45pm | NBC Sports Chicago NBC Sports bay |
| Seattle at LA Dodgers | 10:10pm | ROOT SNLA |
| WNBA | TIME ET | TV |
| Los Angeles vs Connecticut | 7:00pm | NBC Sports Boston Spectrum |
| Dallas vs New York | 7:00pm | FOX 5 New York Bally Sports Southwest Extra |
| Seattle vs Washington | 7:00pm | MNMT Prime-Seattle |
| SOCCER | TIME ET | TV |
| UEFA Champions League: Bodø / Glimt vs Crvena Zvezda | 3:00pm | VIX |
| UEFA Champions League: Dinamo Zagreb vs Qarabağ | 3:00pm | VIX |
| Copa Libertadores: Fluminense vs Grêmio | 6:00pm | Fanatiz USA beIN Sports |
| Copa Libertadores: Atlético Mineiro vs San Lorenzo | 8:30pm | Fanatiz USA beIN Sports |
| Copa Libertadores: Junior vs Colo-Colo | 8:30pm | Fanatiz USA beIN Sports |
| TENNIS | TIME ET | TV |
| US Open Qualifying | 11:00am | ESPN2 |