THE INDIANA SRN “SPORTSPAGE” FRIDAY AUGUST 23, 2024

“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 ASSOCIATION POLLS

1 BEN DAVIS (10) 100

2 CENTER GROVE 80

3 BROWNSBURG 69

4 WARREN CENTRAL 52

5 CROWN POINT 48

6 WESTFIELD 46

7 INDPLS CATHEDRAL 45

8 CARMEL 32

9 HAMILTON SE 31

10 FW SNIDER 15

FISHERS 15

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES:

LAWRENCE NORTH (7), NOBLESVILLE (6), LAWRENCE CENTRAL (5), CARROLL (FW) (3)

1 DECATUR CENTRAL (7) 95

2 MERRILLVILLE (2) 87

3 VALPARISO 66

4 WHITELAND 63

5 EAST CENTRAL (1) 47

WARSAW 47

7 CASTLE 34

8 BLOOMINGTON SOUTH 31

9 CONCORD 28

10 BLOOMINGTON NORTH 24

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES:

LAFAYETTE JEFF (13), KOKOMO (7), HAMMOND MORTON (4), PLAINFIELD (4),

MICHIGAN CITY (1)

1 NEW PALESTINE (3) 84

2 INDPLS CHATARD (6) 76

3 EVANSVILLE REITZ 70

4 NORTHWOOD (1) 47

5 GREENFIELD CENTRAL 42

6 BREBEUF JESUIT 30

LEO 30

8 NEW PRAIRIE 26

9 MISHAWAKA 23

10 INDPLS RONCALLI 18

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES:

EAST NOBLE (17), MT. VERNON (FORTVILLE) (16), MARTINSVILLE (12), NEW HAVEN (11),

HANOVER CENTRAL (10), MOORESVILLE (7), FW DWENGER (6)

INDPLS ATTUCKS (6), NORTHRIDGE (3), PENDLETON HEIGHTS (3), SB RILEY (2),

COLUMBIA CITY (1), FW WAYNE (1), HOBART (1), JASPER (1)

2024 INDIANA FOOTBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION COACHES POLL (WEEK 1)

1 HERITAGE HILLS (6) 87

2 GIBSON SOUTHERN (3) 78

3 EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL 53

GUERIN CATHOLIC 53

5 KNOX 48

6 FW LUERS (1) 41

7 LAWRENCEBURG 32

8 WEST LAFAYETTE 29

9 TRI WEST 27

10 HAMILTON HEIGHTS 19

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES:

BATESVILLE (16), EVANSVILLE MATER DEI (16), DELTA (9), FW CONCORDIA (7),

MISHAWAKA MARIAN (6), MISSISSIEWA (6), SOUTHRIDGE (6), TIPPICANOE VALLEY (6),

HAMMOND NOLL (4), VINCENNES LINCOLN (4), GARRETT (1)

1 INDPLS LUTHERAN (9) 90

2 LAFAYETTE CC 72

3 NORTH POSEY (1) 59

4 LINTON-STOCKTON 47

5 ADAMS CENTRAL 45

6 EASTERN HANCOCK 24

BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL 24

8 ANDREAN 23

9 EASTBROOK 22

SOUTHMONT 22

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES:

HERITAGE CHRISTIAN (20), PAOLI (19), TRITON CENTRAL (18), BLUFFTON (13), WESTERN BOONE (13),

INDPLS SCECINA (12), ALEXANDRIA (9), MONROVIA, CENTERVILLE (6), GREENCASTLE (5),

EASTSIDE (3), ROCHESTER (3), SOUTH VERMILLION (3), PARK TUDOR (1)

1 NORTH JUDSON (4) 81

2 SOUTH PUTNAM (4) 72

3 PROVIDENCE 65

4 SHERIDAN 61

5 CARROLL (FLORA) (2) 58

6 NORTH DECATUR 47

7 LAVILLE 35

8 MONROE CENTRAL 24

9 MILAN 23

SPRINGS VALLEY 23

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES:

SOUTH ADAMS (21), MADISON-GRANT (13), TRI (12), NORTH WHITE (11), HAGERSTOWN (3),

PIONEER (2), WEST CENTRAL (2), PERRY CENTRAL (1)

USA TODAY INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL PRE-SEASON FOOTBALL POLLS

1. BEN DAVIS (12) 129

2. CROWN POINT (1) 104

3. CENTER GROVE 97

4. (TIE) WESTFIELD 76

4. (TIE) WARREN CENTRAL 76

6. HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN 58

7. BROWNSBURG 51

8. CARMEL 35

9. CARROLL (FORT WAYNE) 33

10. CATHEDRAL 16

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: PENN 14. FORT WAYNE SNIDER 11. LAWRENCE NORTH 8. ELKHART 4. FISHERS 3.

1. DECATUR CENTRAL (11) 126

2. MERRILLVILLE (1) 105

3. VALPARAISO 87

4. WHITELAND 75

5. BLOOMINGTON NORTH 74

6. WARSAW 57

7. EAST CENTRAL 55

8. MICHIGAN CITY 38

9. PLAINFIELD 23

10. CASTLE 18

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: BLOOMINGTON SOUTH 16. CONCORD 11. COLUMBUS EAST (1) 10. EVANSVILLE NORTH 9. FLOYD CENTRAL 2. LAFAYETTE JEFF 2. KOKOMO 1

1. NEW PALESTINE (10) 125

2. BISHOP CHATARD (1) 110

3. NEW PRAIRIE 84

4. BREBEUF JESUIT 79

5. MISHAWAKA (1) 66

6. GREENFIELD-CENTRAL 61

7. EVANSVILLE REITZ (1) 46

8. NORTHWOOD 30

9. MARTINSVILLE 25

10. LEO 20

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: HANOVER CENTRAL 13. MT. VERNON 12. EAST NOBLE 9. FORT WAYNE DWENGER 9. KANKAKEE VALLEY 8. NORTHRIDGE 7. MOORESVILLE 4. NEW HAVEN 4. MISSISSINEWA 2. JASPER 2. PENDLETON HEIGHTS 1.

1. HERITAGE HILLS (10) 123

2. KNOX (1) 95

3. EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL 77

4. GIBSON SOUTHERN 68

5. BATESVILLE 65

6. GUERIN CATHOLIC (1) 57

7. WEST LAFAYETTE 50

8. TRI-WEST 42 (1)

9. LAWRENCEBURG 39

10. MISHAWAKA MARIAN 29

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: HAMILTON HEIGHTS 19. FORT WAYNE BISHOP LUERS 18. TIPPECANOE VALLEY 12. SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH 5. SOUTHRIDGE 5. PERU 4. FAIRFIELD 3. MACONAQUAH 1.

1. LUTHERAN (11) 127

2. LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC (1) 88

3. NORTH POSEY (1) 81

4. EASTERN HANCOCK 76

5. LINTON-STOCKTON 63

6. TRITON CENTRAL 53

7. BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL 51

8. SOUTHMONT 38

9. ADAMS CENTRAL 36

10. ANDREAN 33

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: LAPEL 14. BLUFFTON 11. HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 5. PAOLI 4. CENTERVILLE 3. ROCHESTER 3. BREMEN 3. TELL CITY 2. ALEXANDRIA 2. GREENCASTLE 1. SCECINA 1.

1. SOUTH PUTNAM (8) 105

2. NORTH JUDSON (1) 88

3. SHERIDAN 83

4. NORTH DECATUR (1) 82

5. PROVIDENCE (3) 81

6. CARROLL (FLORA) 57

7. TRITON 46

8. LAVILLE 44

9. SPRINGS VALLEY 28

10. MADISON-GRANT 17

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: PIONEER 10. FOREST PARK 10. SOUTH DECATUR 7. MONROE CENTRAL 5. SOUTH ADAMS 4. MILAN 2. NORTH WHITE 1

INDIANA FOOTBALL DIGEST PRE-SEASON TOP 12

BEN DAVIS
CROWN POINT
WESTFIELD
WARREN CENTRAL
CENTER GROVE
HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN
CATHEDRAL
FORT WAYNE CAROL
CARMEL
BROWNSBURG
FORT WAYNE SNIDER
FISHERS

DECATUR CENTRAL
MERRILLVILLE
WHITELAND
VALPARAISO
CASTLE
CONCORD
BLOOMINGTON NORTH
EAST CENTRAL
WARSAW
BLOOMINGTON SOUTH
KOKOMO
LAFAYETTE JEFF

NEW PALESTINE
BISHOP CHATARD
BREBEUF
GREENFIELD CENTRAL
MOUNT VERNON
EVANSVILLE REITZ
HANOVER CENTRAL
NEW PRAIRIE
COLUMBIA CITY
KANKAKEE VALLEY
NORTHWOOD
LEO

HERITAGE HILLS
KNOX
LAWRENCEBURG
EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL
GUERIN CATHOLIC
WEST LAFAYETTE
GIBSON SOUTHERN
BATESVILLE
FORT WAYNE LUERS
DELTA
MISSISSINEWA
TRI-WEST

INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN
LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC
NORTH POSEY
LINTON STOCKTON
EASTERN HANCOCK
PAOLI
BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL
CENTERVILLE
ANDREAN
SOUTHMONT
TRITON CENTRAL
EASTERN GREENTOWN

SOUTH PUTNAM
NORTH DECATUR
NORTH JUDSON
SHERIDAN
MONROE CENTRAL
TRITON
SPRINGS VALLEY
PROVIDENCE
LAVILLE
SOUTH ADAMS
CARROLL FLORA
PIONEER

INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL-CLASS OF 2025 COMMITMENTS

DAMIEN SHANKLIN, DE, WARREN CENTRAL: OHIO STATE, LSU OR ALABAMA

MARK ZACKERY, CB, BEN DAVIS: NOTRE DAME

MARIYON DYE, DE, ELKHART CENTRAL: TENNESSEE

BROCK SCHOTT, TE, LEO: MIAMI (FLA.)

JONANTHONY HALL, WR, FISHERS: STANFORD

MASON ALEXANDER, CB, HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN: PITT

TYRONE BURRUS, DE, WARREN CENTRAL: LOUISVILLE

EUGENE HILTON JR., WR, ZIONSVILLE: WISCONSIN

NIZYI DAVIS, TE, LAWRENCE CENTRAL: WISCONSIN

CAMERON GORIN, OL, HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN: PURDUE

CAMERON HERRON, OL, WARREN CENTRAL: IOWA

LEBRON HILL, WR, HAMMOND MORTON: PURDUE

DAVION CHANDLER, WR, LAWRENCE NORTH: INDIANA

ISAIAH WHITE, DL, BEN DAVIS: ILLINOIS

ISRAEL OLADIPUPO, DE, NOBLESVILLE: BOSTON COLLEGE

BENNY PATTERSON, DL, CASTLE: CINCINNATI

JIMMY SULLIVAN, QB, CARROLL (FORT WAYNE): IOWA

LANDON BROOKS, DE, DELTA: PURDUE

JARON THOMAS, RB, CONCORD: PURDUE

ENOCH ATEWOGBOLA, DE, AVON: MINNESOTA

EVAN PARKER, OL, CARMEL: INDIANA

ADRIAN HOLLEY, DE, MICHIGAN CITY: KANSAS

NOAH EHRLICH, QB, HOBART: MIAMI OH

UCHENYO OJATA, DE, CARMEL: TROY

NOAH KNIGGA, LB, LAWRENCEBURG: EASTERN MICHIGAN

ANDREW BARKER, TE, KOKOMO: INDIANA

GAVIN LEACH, LB, CASTLE: TOLEDO

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

INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL REPORTED SCORES

TRITON 3 OREGON DAVIS 0

PORTAGE 3 HAMMOND MORTON 0

LAKE CENTRAL 3 ANDREAN 0

LAWRENCEBURG 3 N. DECATUR 2

SCOTTSBURG 3 HENRYVILLE 0

MADISON 3 SALEM 0

CLINTON PRAIRIE 3 N. MONTGOMERY 2

TRI 3 COWAN 1

HAGERSTOWN 3 MORRISTOWN 1

CRAWFORDSVILLE 3 GREENCASTLE 2

NORTH MIAMI 3 KOKOMO 1

FREMONT 3 FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK 0

COVINGTON 3 SEEGER 0

NORTHEASTERN 3 UNION CITY 0

WHEELER 3 HANOVER CENTRAL 2

BARR REEVE 3 SHOALS 1

SOUTH ADAMS 3 WINCHESTER 0

BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE 3 BORDEN 2

LOOGOOTEE 3 NE DUBOIS 0

SOUTH-CENTRAL 3 WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP 1

FRANKTON 3 BLACKFORD 0

EVANSVILLE CHRISTIAN 3 S. SPENCER 0

NEW PRAIRIE 3 MICHIGAN CITY 0

WESTERN BOONE 3 N. PUTNAM 0

BEN DAVIS 3 RITTER 2

EASTERN 3 TIPTON 0

COLUMBUS NORTH 3 SHELBYVILLE 0

HARRISON 3 LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC 1

NORTHRIDGE 3 JIMTOWN 0

TRINITY LUTHERAN 3 CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 0

BELLMONT 3 FORT WAYNE LUERS 0

MOUNT VERNON 3 HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 0

NORTHWOOD 3 MISHAWAKA MARIAN 0

NORTH DAVIESS 3 BLOOMFIELD 0

WEST NOBLE 3 ELKHART CHRISTIAN 0

LAPORTE 3 MUNSTER 0

NORTHVIEW 3 TERRE HAUTE NORTH 0

GOSHEN HOMESCHOOL 3 FORT WAYNE CANTERBURY 1

ADAMS CENTRAL 3 EASTBROOK 0

FRANKFORT 3 SOUTHMONT 0

EDGEWOOD 3 BROWN COUNTY 0

MUNCIE BURRIS 3 MONROE CENTRAL 0

WAPAHANI 3 LAPEL 0

OAK HILL 3 MANCHESTER 1

SHERIDAN 3 PARK TUDOR 0

CASTLE 3 EVANSVILLE HARRISON 0

WHITING 3 RIVER FOREST 0

GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN 3 WHITELAND 0

CHRUBUSCO 3 GARRETT 0

YORKTOWN 3 BREBEUF 0

GREENSBURG 3 TRITON CENTRAL 1

SOUTH NEWTON 3 KOUTS 1

WESTFIELD 3 PENDLETON HEIGHTS 0

UNION COUNTY 3 KNIGHTSTOWN 0

FORT WAYNE CARROLL 3 DEKALB 0

INDIANA BOYS SOCCER REPORTED SCORES

HAMMOND BAPTIST 3 HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 0

MORGAN TWP. 3 WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP 0

COVENANT CHRISTIAN 3 UNIVERSITY 0

HERITAGE HILLS 1 SOUTHRIDGE 0

DELTA 10 BLACKFORD 0

KOUTS 5 DEMOTTE CHRISTIAN 0

HAUSER 9 BROWN COUNTY 0

MILAN 1 S. RIPLEY 0

ROCHESTER 5 CASTON 2

FAITH CHRISTIAN 7 COVINGTON 0

HERITAGE 3 NEW HAVEN 2

WINAMAC 8 OREGON DAVIS 0

TIPTON 3 CARROLL 1

LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC 9 N. MONTGOMERY 0

FORT WAYNE LUERS 3 FORT WAYNE CANTERBURY 0

ELKHART CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 9 PRAIRIE HEIGHTS 1

FORT WAYNE WAYNE 3 FORT WAYNE SNIDER 1

PURDUE POLY 7 IMSAN 3

BATESVILLE 7 RUSHVILLE 0

LAFAYETTE JEFF 2 BENTON CENTRAL 0

PARK TUDOR 3 INTERNATIONAL 0

MANCHESTER 2 PERU 1

WEST LAFAYETTE 2 SPEEDWAY 1

WHITE RIVER VALLEY 3 WASHINGTON CATHOLIC 0

EASTERN 5 DALEVILLE 0

INDIAN CREEK 3 EDGEWOOD 0

BLOOMFIELD 5 LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 1

SCECINA 11 BEECH GROVE 0

MOUNT VERNON 2 S. SPENCER 1

BETHANY CHRISTIAN 2 NORTHWOOD 1

SOUTHWESTERN 10 ANDERSON PREP 1

FORT WAYNE CARROLL 1 NORTHRIDGE 0

HENRYVILLE 10 CLARKSVILLE 1

MISSISSINEWA 5 WABASH 0

CASCADE 2 CRAWFORDSVILLE 0

MADISON 2 SOUTHWESTERN 0

BISHOP CHATARD 4 PROVIDENCE CRISTO REY 1

TRINITY 8 MISHAWAKA 0

ANDERSON 11 LAPEL 0

TERRE HAUTE NORTH 2 NORTHVIEW 0

MACONAQUAH 2 TAYLOR 0

SHAWE MEMORIAL 3 ASSUMPTION ACADEMY 2

NORWELL 3 FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK 1

FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA 1 FORT WAYNE NORTH 0

BROWNSBURG 1 N. CENTRAL 1

WARREN CENTRAL 1 MOUNT VERNON 0

EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL 4 JASPER 0

HANOVER CENTRAL 7 GRIFFITH 0

ZIONSVILLE 4 MCCUTCHEON 2

GREENWOOD 3 FRANKLIN 2

OAK HILL 1 HUNTINGTON NORTH 1

PERRY MERIDIAN 2 DECATUR CENTRAL 1

KOKOMO 5 NORTHWESTERN 2

CHESTERTON 5 ILLIANA CHRISTIAN 0

PENDLETON HEIGHTS 9 HAMILTON HEIGHTS 1

RITTER 1 BREBEUF 0

CENTER GROVE 3 BLOOMINGTON SOUTH 0

MARTINSVILLE 4 MOORESVILLE 1

HOMESTEAD 0 FORT WAYNE NORTHRUP 0

WARSAW 3 SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH 0

SOUTHPORT 7 RONCALLI 2

DEKALB 2 LAKEWOOD PARK CHRISTIAN 1

ANGOLA 1 WESTVIEW 0

GUERIN CATHOLIC 3 HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 2

SHORTRIDGE 5 CHRISTEL HOUSE 2

EASTBROOK 3 COLUMBIA CITY 1

AVON 3 HERRON 0

FRANKLIN COUNTY 5 RISING SUN 4

COLUMBUS NORTH 2 BLOOMINGTON NORTH 1

PLAINFIELD 4 WHITELAND 0

BUTLER 3 FLOYD CENTRAL 1

FORT WAYNE DWENGER 1 LEO 1

SOUTH KNOX 1 PRINCETON 0

INDIANA GIRLS SOCCER REPORTED SCORES

PORTAGE 1 ANDREAN 1

GIBSON SOUTHERN 11 BOONVILLE 1

COVENANT CHRISTIAN 2 TRITON CENTRAL 1

FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK 2 S. ADAMS 1

WEST VIGO 3 SULLIVAN 0

MERRILLVILLE 9 RIVER FOREST 0

EVANSVILLE MATER DEI 3 HENDERSON COUNTY 2

CHRISTEL HOUSE 1 CRISPUS ATTUCKS 0

BATESVILLE 9 RUSHVILLE 0

FORT WAYNE SNIDER 4 FORT WAYNE WAYNE 1

MOUNT VERNON 3 EVANSVILLE HARRISON 2

SPEEDWAY 8 SCECINA 0

SOUTHMONT 3 WESTERN BOONE 0

NORTH MIAMI 1 EASTERN 0

SHORTRIDGE 3 BEECH GROVE 1

EAST NOBLE 5 LAKELAND 0

FORT WAYNE SOUTH 6 NEW HAVEN 0

WABASH 4 TIPPECANOE VALLEY 0

SHERIDAN 10 FRANKFORT 0

FLOYD CENTRAL 2 HERITAGE HILLS 1

SOUTH KNOX 5 PRINCETON 2

BENTON CENTRAL 3 CRAWFORDSVILLE 2

MARION 9 ELWOOD 0

TRINITY 2 NEW PRAIRIE 0

BREMEN 2 ELKHART 1

EASTBROOK 2 DELTA 1

CHARLESTOWN 3 JENNINGS COUNTY 2

WESTVIEW 1 JIMTOWN 1

ARGOS 2 PLYMOUTH 2

COLUMBUS NORTH 8 SEYMOUR 0

CONCORD 5 MISHAWAKA 3

FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA 9 FORT WAYNE NORTH 0

HAMILTON HEIGHTS 0 PIKE 0

TRI-COUNTY NORTH 8 UNION COUNTY 0

KANKAKEE VALLEY 2 LAPORTE 0

LAWRENCEBURG 1 E. CENTRAL 0

NORTHWOOD 4 COLUMBIA CITY 0

FORT WAYNE NORTHRUP 10 NORWELL 2

PROVIDENCE 3 SILVER CREEK 0

INDIANA GIRLS GOLF REPORTED SCORES

BISHOP CHATARD 198 COVENANT CHRISTIAN 207

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SCORES

NY YANKEES 6 CLEVELAND 0

WASHINGTON 8 COLORADO 3

ST. LOUIS 3 MILWAUKEE 0

CHICAGO CUBS 10 DETROIT 2

OAKLAND 3 TAMPA BAY 1

PITTSBURGH 7 CINCINNATI 0

TORONTO 5 LA ANGELS 3

HOUSTON 6 BALTIMORE 0

ATLANTA 3 PHILADELPHIA 2

NY METS 8 SAN DIEGO 3

MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SCORES

INDIANAPOLIS 9 COLUMBUS 8

BELOIT 3 SOUTH BEND 1

PEORIA 6 FORT WAYNE 4 (10)

WNBA SCORES

NEW YORK 79 DALLAS 71

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

INDIANAPOLIS 27 CINCINNATI 14

CHICAGO 34 KANSAS CITY 21

FRIDAY, AUGUST 23:

JACKSONVILLE AT ATLANTA, 7:00 PM

MIAMI AT TAMPA BAY, 7:30 PM

SAN FRANCISCO AT LAS VEGAS, 10:00 PM

SATURDAY, AUGUST 24:

CAROLINA AT BUFFALO, 1:00 PM

PITTSBURGH AT DETROIT, 1:00 PM

BALTIMORE AT GREEN BAY, 1:00 PM

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

MINNESOTA AT PHILADELPHIA, 1:00 PM

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

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

CLEVELAND AT SEATTLE, 10:00 PM

SUNDAY, AUGUST 25:

TENNESSEE AT NEW ORLEANS, 2:00 PM

ARIZONA AT DENVER, 4:30 PM

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

NFL WEEK ONE SCHEDULE

THURSDAY, SEPT. 5

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

FRIDAY, SEPT. 6

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

SUNDAY, SEPT. 8

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

MONDAY, SEPT. 9

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

TOP NATIONAL HEADLINES/NEWS RELEASES

COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW-SEC: GEORGIA

PICK SIX

Riding the momentum of two consecutive national titles, Georgia’s “Go For 3 in ‘23” campaign fell short thanks to a 27-24 decision to Alabama in the SEC title game. In most years, a 12-1 SEC runner-up (by a field goal) would be a Playoff selection, but the Committee was dealt an impossible puzzle this time. Give credit to Alabama and legendary Nick Saban for going out a winner – even head coach Kirby Smart admitted in the postgame: “they whipped us up front.” Also credit Michigan for its perfect 15-0 season. But I am still not convinced that this wasn’t the best team in America, again. My Game Grader formula agrees, ranking Georgia #1 for the third straight season. My opponent-adjusted metrics agree, as Georgia is the only program in the Top 5 of both offense and defense. They beat ranked teams by 38, 35, 28, 9, and 60 in the bowl. While they didn’t make AP Poll history as the first three-peat national champion, they did notch some historic achievements and kept the dynasty rolling. Smart completed the best 100-game start in SEC history (85-15), and as a team Georgia snapped SEC records for longest win streak (29) and consecutive weeks ranked #1 in the AP Poll (20). The NFL’s 33rd Team isn’t going anywhere. Georgia again signed the nation’s #1 rated recruiting class and brought in six more four-star transfers from the transfer portal. Their biggest challenger and dynasty-tier peer Alabama lost its icon head coach. And now the playoff bracket tripled in size, meaning more mulligans and a wider margin for error.

OFFENSE There were concerns that ace coordinator Todd Monken’s departure would sink the Georgia offense. Mike Bobo and his blue-chip roster proved otherwise, as they again finished in the Top 5 of my opponent-adjusted offensive metric. When broken out by pass and rush, Georgia joined LSU and Oregon as the only offenses to place in the top six of both categories. They were again led by an all-time Georgia legend, and arguably the greatest tight end in college football history: Brock Bowers. He led the team in receiving for three straight years, earned All-SEC and All-America honors in all three, and became the first-ever two-time Mackey Award winner. Bowers was drafted #13 overall – exceptionally high for a tight end – and while he will not be “replaced” Georgia has stocked the roster well. Oscar Delp was ranked the #1 tight end prospect of the 2022 class and filled in well during Bowers’ injury absence. Three additional guys were rated as Top 10 tight end prospects, plus the staff added three-year starter Benjamin Yurosek (Stanford) who was one of the Pac-12’s best. It remains to be seen how often Georgia goes with two-tight end personnel. In 2022 it was 59% 12 personnel, but that went down to 27% last year with Bobo in charge and with Bowers out several games. With 3,941 passing yards last year, Carson Beck is the nation’s leading returner and set a school record by completing 72% of his passes. It was worth the wait, as he remained patient behind the likes of JT Daniels, D’Wan Mathis, and Stetson Bennett, and then had to beat out another five-star arm in Brock Vandagriff. Beck was excellent in 2023 and now is due for a second-year starter bonus and enters 2024 as a top Heisman contender. Their one-two punch in the backfield is gone with long-time Dawgs Daijun Edwards and Kendall Milton both departing. The pair combined for 48 touchdowns and nearly 4,000 rushing yards in their career and opens up the room for a fresh rotation in 2024. The staff signed the #3 transfer running back Trevor Etienne (Florida) who was a co-starter there and finished in the SEC’s Top 10 in yards/carry both years. Branson Robinson was expected in the 2023 rotation but suffered a torn patella tendon. Nate Frazier was the #1 running back in the entire 2024 recruiting class and Roderick Robinson earned a Top200 billing in 2023. Two of the top four receivers depart: Ladd McConkey and Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint. Unfortunately Georgia already went through a post-McConkey offense as the star was sidelined most of 2023 with nagging injuries. The next power duo features two former SEC transfers Dominic Lovett – who actually led the receivers in all categories in 2023 — and Rara Thomas. This is a position that Smart and his staff value the transfer portal as much as the high school ranks and three more Power 5 transfers are inbound this cycle. Colbie Young (Miami) posted two productive seasons at Miami and London Humphreys (Vanderbilt) earned SEC All-Freshman honors. Don’t forget the versatile Dillon Bell, who got involved in the run game and even threw a touchdown pass in the Tennessee win. There’s more firepower on the way with another Top100 signee NiTareon Tuggle. Georgia has built three straight Joe Moore Award finalist offensive lines and looks poised to make it four straight this fall. They do lose two stalwarts in first-rounder Amarius Mims and Dawg Ironman Sedrick Van Pran who started 44 straight games. But otherwise three starters and four backups make it seven back from the 2023 two-deep. Former five-star Earnest Greene won the left tackle job as a redshirt freshman and this time he should contend for all-league honors. All-American Tate Ratledge and tackle Xavier Truss both declined the early NFL bid and returned for a bonus year. Jared Wilson has emerged as the top center while Dylan Fairchild and Micah Morris battle for the guard opening.

DEFENSE Even after another round of departing NFL draft picks, Smart’s defensive machine rolled on with another Top 5 defense in 2023. For 2024, they “only” lose four defenders to the NFL Draft, down from their six and eight in 2023 and 2022. This cycle the secondary was hit hardest by departures, losing three defensive backs selected in the first 90 picks: Kamari Lassiter, Javon Bullard, and Tykee Smith. And right on cue, they signed the nation’s #1 cornerback and #1 safety prospects in the 2024 high school class. Lassiter was a lockdown corner last year, allowing zero touchdowns and just a 38% completion rate. Daylen Everette returns to one starting corner spot, while Lassiter’s vacancy is a battle between G-Day starter Julian Humphrey and incoming five-star Ellis Robinson (IMG Academy). Bullard and do-it-all Tykee Smith are gone from the safety/STAR room, but Georgia returns the nation’s best safety in All American Malaki Starks. They signed top safety five-star KJ Bolden (Buford, GA) in a National Signing Day flip from Florida State, and former Top100 Joenel Aguero is projected at Smith’s STAR role. Linebacker Smael Mondon returns for a third year as the starter in the middle. The other two-year starter Jamon Dumas-Johnson transferred out to Kentucky, but a pair of former five-stars are ready. CJ Allen already earned starting playing time as a freshman while Raylen Wilson earned SEC All-Freshman honors. Defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann is having unprecedented success recruiting this position group and added two more five-stars Justin Williams and Chris Cole – that’s four five-stars in two years. Starting edge / outside backer Chaz Chambliss returns along with two veteran interior linemen Nazir Stackhouse and Warren Brinson. Stackhouse had Georgia’s play of the season with his late interception against Missouri, in a one score game, and he got to rumble down the sideline as a bonus. They do lose starter Zion Logue, but Smart rotates his linemen well, and two more five-stars are stocked in the room: Mykel Williams and Jordan Hall. Williams is a sure-fire All-American and is a popular prediction for #1 overall in the 2025 mock NFL drafts. Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins will also contend for starting time but missed spring ball.

OUTLOOK In addition to nation-best recruiting and an elite staff, Georgia returns more starters and production than usual for the Dynasty-Tier programs. Beck is a Heisman front-runner, the two-deep is packed with All-Americans, All-SEC contenders, and future pros. Georgia is rated #1 in six of the seven SEC unit rankings and is my pick to win the SEC. Smart’s dynasty has finished #1 in my Game Grader formula for three straight years and I am projecting another one in 2024.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW-SEC: TEXAS

PICK SIX

Texas is officially back. The annual question was finally answered as third year head coach Steve Sarkisian led Texas all the way to the Playoff and within a few yards of a national title appearance. In last year’s preview I mentioned how historically the third year is the decisive, make-or-break season for Texas head coaches. Sarkisian left no doubt, and the program is ascending to the upper-tier where it was in the 2000s. 14 years after their 2009 undefeated regular season, Texas finally won the Big 12. It was good timing too, as 2023 marked their final year in the Big 12 before heading to the SEC super-conference. They defeated Alabama in Tuscaloosa to skyrocket to #3 in the polls and the Big 12 farewell tour featured close, one-score victories over Houston, TCU, and Kansas State thanks to an overtime goal-line stand. They steamrolled Oklahoma State in the title game 49-21 with a +400 yardage margin. Quarterback Quinn Ewers threw for 450 yards and four scores including one to their All-American defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat who flashed the Heisman pose. Another rewarding moment awaited them at the championship podium, as Texas fans serenaded the Big 12 commissioner with boos and “SEC” chants. After the Big Eight & Southwest Conference merger, Texas won the first title game in 1996, now won their final one, with the national title runs of 2005 and 2009 in the middle. Unlike that 2005 team, there were two blemishes on the record. Texas was stopped twice at the goal line – once on defense and once on offense – in an otherwise perfect season. Their defense allowed a last-second drive and touchdown in the Red River Shootout, and then in the Playoff their offense led a furious one-minute drill but was shut out of the winning score on four failed throws to the endzone. Far from a one year-wonder, Texas seems well positioned to stay in title contention, even with the SEC move. Sarkisian has stuffed the roster with five-star talent from the high school ranks – 5th, 3rd, and 8th the past three cycles – and added additional firepower from the portal with two Top 5 transfer hauls.

OFFENSE In the modern recruiting era, only three quarterback prospects were rated a perfect 100. Two of them are currently at Texas. Quinn Ewers benefitted from a major second-year bonus, improving from 58% to 69% completion, from 7.4 to 8.8 per attempt, and from 73rd to 17th in QB Rating. With his quick release, and field-stretching long ball, he will enter 2024 with serious Heisman consideration. Backup Maalik Murphy started a few games when Ewers was injured, transferred out to Duke, and 2023 super-recruit Arch Manning is back. Sarkisian said his opening play-script is forty plays, which is more than double the common practice and consists of over half of the game’s expected snaps. Texas ranked 50th in QB Rating in the 1st half of games, but rose to 10th after halftime – maybe he’ll be quicker to adjust in 2024. One thing that won’t change is his ability to churn out a 1,000-yard back, something he’s done every year as a playcaller since 2009. Even with the loss of Bijan Robinson, Jonathon Brooks went for 1,139 and 10 touchdowns. With Brooks gone, a pair has emerged atop one of the nation’s best running back stables: CJ Baxter and Jaydon Blue. Baxter scored in the Big 12 title and the Sugar Bowl and the five-star was rated the nation’s #1 back in 2023. The two-back “Pony” formation was successful last year and this duo makes the package look appealing again in 2024. The receiver room is even more crowded and is another national top unit. And that’s after the departures of three NFL Draft picks Jordan Whittington, Adonai Mitchell, and Xavier Worthy – the fastest 40-yard dasher in combine history. That’s some serious firepower gone, but Sarkisian hit home runs from the transfer portal. Texas signed the #1 receivers off of three different Power 5 teams: Isaiah Bond (Alabama), Matthew Golden (Houston), and Silas Bolden (Oregon State). Bond was the #1 rated receiver transfer and caught the epic 4th & 31 touchdown in the Iron Bowl. Golden was ranked #9 and Bolden is a 5’8 speedster that can be used all over the field including the return game. Sarkisian tends to find a starting trio and avoid much rotation. He may want to think otherwise this time around given the sheer firepower. In addition to those three, two more five-stars Johntay Cook and Ryan Wingo are climbing the depth chart – Cook is a projected starter after spring ball. Ja’Tavion Sanders was a fourth pass-catcher selected in the draft and Texas will miss his unique blend of athleticism and physicality. He was a matchup nightmare for defenses. Gunnar Helm was the next man up until the staff signed Alabama co-starter Amari Niblack who was a former Top100 recruit and rated the #1 tight end transfer this cycle. The offensive line returns four starters off of an already stout unit. Kelvin Banks is the headliner and should draw All-America consideration, and he is rejoined by starters guard Hayden Conner, center Jake Majors, and guard DJ Campbell. This position group had been a liability for years, but Sarkisian’s recruiting combined with Kyle Flood’s player development have turned this into a serious strength.

DEFENSE Defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski followed up an elite 2022 defense with another Top 15 unit in 2023. This edition struggled at times defending the pass, but absolutely smothered opponents in the trenches and finished #3 of 70 Power 5 teams in my opponent-adjusted rushing metric. Seven starters return from the Playoff starting lineup with all-SEC candidates at each level of the defense. But they lose two massive ones in the middle. Sweat and Byron Murphy formed a pair of All-Americans at defensive tackle and stuffed the point of attack as the key reason for Texas holding opponents to just 2.9 yards/carry. Sweat won the Outland Trophy as the nation’s best lineman, and Murphy one-upped him on draft night with a first-round selection. Alfred Collins and Vernon Broughton are the next men up at defensive tackle, and new co-coordinator Johnny Nansen brought two potential starters with him from Arizona in Tiaoalii Savea and Bill Norton. Edge starters Barryn Sorrell and Ethan Burke both return, the staff landed #3 edge transfer Trey Moore (UTSA) over Alabama and Ohio State, and Colin Simmons (Duncanville) was a five-star addition in 2024. The five-star from 2023 was Anthony Hill (Denton Ryan) and he surged to Freshman All-America honors by finishing second on the team with 67 tackles and five sacks. Hill is the star of the defense and shifts more to middle backer with Jaylan Ford going pro. Starter David Gbenda is back along with yet another Alabama transfer Kendrick Blackshire. At quick glance, the pass defense stats look awful. Some of it was quantity – opposing offenses knew they couldn’t break through that brick wall at nose tackle, so they opted to throw more. And when you adjust for opponent, the pass defense did fine: 16th of 70 Power 5 teams. There is still room for growth, especially against the elites, and this room is due for an experience boost. Both starting safeties return but Derek Williams and Michael Taaffe will be pushed by incoming four-star Xavier Filsaime and three-year Clemson starter Andrew Mukuba. The secondary got a huge boost from the return of Jahdae Barron, back for a fifth year at the do-it-all STAR position. Malik Muhammad and Gavin Holmes man the corner spots after surprising transfers from Terrance Brooks and Ryan Watts. 2024 additions Wardell Mack and near-five-star Kobe Black join the two-deep.

OUTLOOK The power balance shifted when Nick Saban retired and it opened up space in the Dynasty Tier. Texas is positioned as well as any to fill that spot. With annual Top 5 recruiting, wins in the portal, and a Texas-sized big brand, Texas seems poised to stay in Playoff contention – even through the conference upgrade. Texas is back … in the Playoff for a second straight season.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW-SEC: OLE MISS

PICK SIX

In 2022 Ole Miss started 8-1 but collapsed down the stretch and fell out of the Top 25 at 8-5. With the same 8-1 start again in 2023, it was a completely different result and they now carry arguably the nation’s most positive momentum into 2024. Lane Kiffin notched the school’s first-ever 11-win season and capped it off with an Egg Bowl win and a Peach Bowl victory over #10 Penn State. Against the nation’s #1 defense, they dropped 38 points and 540 yards – nearly triple Penn State’s averages. Along with their usual fast-paced, explosive passing offense, Kiffin’s fourth team found an extra dose of late-game resiliency. Five times they overcame second-half deficits for comeback wins. They trailed LSU and the eventual Heisman winner by nine in the fourth quarter but the offense rallied and outpaced them with a 700+ yard game. A late touchdown shifted the Arkansas game, and a blocked field goal sealed the Texas A&M win. Even with the 11 wins, the two losses stood out as reminders that there is still another level up the ladder to unlock: the Dynasty Tier. Alabama beat them by 14, Georgia beat them by 35, and it sent Kiffin back to the transfer portal again this offseason. He has certainly earned his nickname of The Portal King. Kiffin signed the nation’s #1 transfer class and became the only program to post three straight Top 10 classes. In fact they never even left the Top 2, let alone Top 10: #2 in 2022, #2 in 2023, and now the #1 spot. In the past three transfer cycles, Ole Miss has signed a nation-best 26 four-star and five-star transfers. These are not young, unproven prospects either. They are continually packing their roster with All-America and all-conference prospects. As many as 11 starters from other Power 5 programs were added just this cycle alone. From his outlier offensive scheme, his spring game quirkiness, and his transfer portal strategy/success, The Portal King is certainly unconventional. But unconventional is working in this new, unchartered era of NIL, conference realignment, and Playoff expansion. Ole Miss already would have been a legit SEC contender with its high level of returning starters for 2024. Kiffin poured on an extra layer of All-SEC talent and the expectations are hitting a 60-year high in Oxford.

OFFENSE 14 starters return to a Top 15 offense and Top 10 passing offense. Of course “14” is a technicality, as they lost three starters but then added six starters off of other Power 5 offenses including an All-SEC receiver and two linemen off Washington’s Joe Moore Award front. The one shocking transfer in the other direction was star running back Quinshon Judkins who led the SEC in rushing as a freshman in 2022 and made it consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in 2023. Kiffin bolstered the position room with a pair of experienced transfers in Logan Diggs (LSU) and Henry Parrish (Miami). Diggs emerged as the lead back in a crowded five-man committee at LSU but is still rehabbing from an ACL tear that could lead to some missed games this fall. Parrish has four years of college experience under his belt and actually started his career here in Oxford so he has an added layer of familiarity. Until Diggs is back at 100%, look for the speedy Ulysses Bentley to get starter reps after averaging 5.7 per carry, 540 yards total, and the game-winner against Arkansas. The other two departures at offensive line were quickly backfilled with starters off of the national runner up line. Guard Nate Kalepo and tackle Julius Buelow were full-time starters for Washington, a line that led the nation in pass protection, and both factor into the starting lineup here for 2024. They join guard Jeremy James who has started 49 consecutive games for the Rebels, center Caleb Warren, and tackle Micah Pettus who is recovering from injury. Kiffin also added UNC starting tackle Diego Pounds. That’s more than enough added strength to improve on middling marks in my OL Run Push (#52) and Pass Protection (#72). Ole Miss placed in the Top 20 of all key passing metrics including yards/attempt, QB Rating, and my opponent-adjusted passing. Their best stat was a #5 finish in long-yardage, explosive passing which shouldn’t be a surprise when you watch Kiffin’s offense consistently hit on his “shot” plays downfield. Jaxson Dart emerged from a three-way quarterback battle last August and was officially named the starter after the opener. He went on to throw for 3,364 yards, 23 touchdowns (just five picks) and had the sixth best QB Rating among returning Power 5 quarterbacks. Dart joined Matt Corral as the only Ole Miss quarterbacks to throw for 6,000 yards and run for 1,000 in a career, and he is on pace to place second on the career passing leaderboards behind only Eli Manning. Three receivers went over 700 yards last year – Tre Harris, Jordan Watkins, and Dayton Wade – and only Wade departs. Kiffin signed Antwane “Juice” Wells who was an All-SEC receiver for South Carolina in 2022 before an early-season injury cost him the 2023 season. This looks like the best trio in the SEC and one of the nation’s best. As a bonus wildcard, Ole Miss signed the #1 overall JUCO prospect in Deion Smith. In the Peach Bowl, Kiffin schemed up a role for tight end Caden Prieskorn reminiscent of the way he got OJ Howard the ball in Alabama’s title over Clemson. Prieskorn earned MVP honors with 10 catches for 136 yards and two scores, a one-game glimpse of a potential 2024 breakout season. Dae’Quan Wright started for Virginia Tech and caught 44 balls for 510 yards over the past two years.

DEFENSE Ole Miss is due for a second-year coordinator bonus with former Alabama coordinator Pete Golding back. Five of their own starters return, and the staff added another five starters off of other Power 5 lineups. The headliner is Walter Nolen (Texas A&M) who was ranked as the nation’s #2 recruit in the entire 2022 recruiting class, and then ranked as the #1 overall transfer this cycle. The five-star is an instant impact to the defensive line, and is joined by another All-SEC lineman in Princely Umanmielen who led Florida in tackles-for-loss, sacks, and quarterback hurries. Nolen and Umanmielen join an already stout duo of tackle JJ Pegues and end Jared Ivey. Golding likes to rotate in the trenches, and they also return Akelo Stone and field goal block machine Zxavian Harris who stuffed three field goals last year including the winner against Texas A&M. The top recruit of their 2024 high school haul is defensive end Kam Franklin (Lake Cormorant). Ole Miss lost some veteran backers but landed the #3 rated transfer linebacker in Chris “Pooh” Paul (Arkansas), a tackle-machine and Freshman All-American. Starter Khari Coleman returns and Golding is still finalizing the positional role for five-star Suntarine Perkins, who already flashed as a disruptive rush end and outside backer as a true freshman last year. Safety Trey Washington and slot corner John Saunders return, and Power 5 starters Key Lawrence (Oklahoma) and Isaiah Hamilton (Houston) bolster the secondary. #8 rated transfer corner Trey Amos was in the rotation at Alabama and is projected as a starter at corner. OUTLOOK The Portal King has stacked three straight Top 2 transfer classes and has loaded this Ole Miss roster with All-America and All-SEC candidates. The SEC is a conference packed with super-recruiters but Kiffin has closed the gap with the portal – and his hyper-tempo, explosive offense. Now it is time for Ole Miss to cash in. Ole Miss is my pick for third place in the SEC which will earn them an at-large spot in the new 12-team Playoff.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW-SEC: ALABAMA

PICK SIX

Some legendary coaches had decades of longevity (Bobby Bowden and Joe Paterno) while others had shorter runs but cashed in with 3+ national titles (Urban Meyer, Knute Rockne, Frank Leahy). Nick Saban did both – winning 297 games over 30 seasons with seven national titles. At Alabama he built one of the most dominant dynasties college football has ever seen. After the 2007 transition year, Alabama went 199-23 (.896) overall, won nine SEC titles, six national titles, and won all four of the school’s Heisman Trophies. They never lost consecutive regular season games and remained the gold standard in college football for an entire generation. Saban was the greatest recruiter of the modern era, notching #1 overall signing classes virtually every year since 2008. He and his never-ending cycle of successful coordinators were excellent player developers as well – during the Saban era, Alabama had more NFL first-round draft picks (47) than losses (29). The Saban coaching tree saw a total of 33 former assistants become head coaches in Division 1 or the NFL. Currently nine are Power 5 head coaches. The football dynasty’s impact on the University is a case study itself. Since 2008, Alabama has boosted its student enrollment by 50%, doubled its campus size, and tripled its endowment. As former chancellor Robert Witt said, “Saban was the best financial investment the University has ever made.” Although the 2023 season didn’t end with another national title, Saban may have saved his best coaching job for his finale. Back in September, Alabama had an unsettled quarterback battle, a nation-worst offensive line in pass protection stats, lost to former assistant Steve Sarkisian’s Texas team, and was on the ropes against non-AQ South Florida. Alabama rallied to avoid the upset, solidified the quarterback spot by naming Jalen Milroe the full time starter, and they found ways to win close games all season. The most dramatic was a walk-off 4th & 31 conversion – Milroe hitting Isaiah Bond in the back corner of the endzone – to win the Iron Bowl and keep Alabama’s Playoff hopes alive. Seven days later, they snapped Georgia’s 29-game winning streak, but in the Playoffs Milroe was stuffed at the goal-line in overtime against eventual national champion Michigan. Saban announced his retirement and just two days later Alabama announced his successor would be Kalen DeBoer, fresh off of leading Washington to a national championship appearance and a 25-3 record the past two years. DeBoer has had success everywhere he’s been – 67-3 in NAIA, 37-9 in Division 1 – and immediately built the nation’s most prolific passing offense at Washington. Does he have experience recruiting in the South, or leading an SEC program? No, but neither did Fairmont, West Virginia’s Saban prior to leading LSU and Alabama to seven national titles.

OFFENSE Part of the allure of the hire was the package deal of DeBoer and his ace offensive coordinator and playcaller Ryan Grubb. A month in, Grubb left Tuscaloosa to take an NFL coordinator job, and DeBoer hired another guy he’s worked with in the past at Indiana in Nick Sheridan. Milroe returns under center, but it will be an entire new cast of skill players around him. He’s a strength to build the foundation around though, after overcoming a September benching to place sixth in Heisman voting. The dual-threat threw for 2,384 yards and ran for 531 more while accumulating 35 total touchdowns. Among returning Power 5 quarterbacks, Milroe had the highest QB Rating last season and he did so in spite of some of the worst pass blocking in America. The depth chart behind him was shaken up when five-star super-recruit Julian Sayin transferred to Ohio State, but DeBoer brought his handpicked Washington recruit Austin Mack with him. Ty Simpson returns to the backup role. Alabama loses its top two running backs, top three receivers, and top tight end. Proven production and stats are gone, but this program remains packed with recruiting firepower – it’s just a matter of who steps up into the spotlight. Jase McClellan declared for the NFL while #2 back Roydell Williams transferred to Florida State. Even with that talent drain, Alabama’s running back stable remains one of the nation’s best. Five former Top100 recruits will battle for carries but the two most experienced and projected starters are Justice Haynes and Jam Miller. Richard Young emerged as the third back after a big A-Day performance. It’s the same deal with the receiver room as the top trio all departs but they are overflowing with potential firepower. Jermaine Burton went pro, and Isaiah Bond (Texas), Malik Benson (Florida State), and Ja’Corey Brooks (Louisville) all transferred out. Still, Kobe Prentice, Kendrick Law, and Jalen Hale were in the six-man rotation last year and return for 2024. In total, Alabama has five former Top100 recruits at receiver, and added two instant impact players in five-star Ryan Williams (Saraland, AL) and transfer Germie Bernard. Stuck behind three NFL receivers, Bernard was Washington’s fourth option but is likely an immediate starter here. Tight end Amari Niblack followed Bond to Texas after placing third on the team with 20 catches and second with four touchdowns. He shared starter-level reps with CJ Dippre who returns to the top spot in 2024. All-American JC Latham and starting center Seth McLaughlin (Ohio State) are both gone, but they did manage to re-sign starting tackle Kadyn Proctor who briefly left for Iowa. Another All-America candidate Tyler Booker returns along with starting guard Jaeden Roberts. Parker Brailsford (Washington) is an instant starter and was rated the #2 interior lineman this cycle. This group ranked #24 in my OL Run Push metric but were dead last in pass protection allowing a sack on 15% of pass attempts.

DEFENSE DeBoer hired his former Indiana colleague Kane Wommack who was fresh off building a Top 5 non-AQ defense at South Alabama. The hire also signals a shift in Alabama’s base scheme from a 3-4 to a 4-2-5 and the addition of the so-called Bandit (heavier defensive end) and Wolf (hybrid edge/backer) positions. Alabama had a Top 5 defense themselves last year per my opponent-adjusted number, but it’s an absolute reload of the starting lineup for 2024. Five defenders earned All-SEC honors and three were named All Americans – they are all gone. Both starting safeties are gone with Jaylen Key (NFL) and Caleb Downs surprisingly transferring to Ohio State after arguably the nation’s best freshman season. They were even thinner at corner in January where only one scholarship player remained and the other six left for the pros or other Power 5 rosters. Two All-Americans Kool-Aid McKinstry and Terrion Arnold must be replaced, but in the 2023 class alone they signed a trio of five-star corners: Zabien Brown, Jaylen Mbakwe, and Zay Mincey. USC transfer Domani Jackson looks like an opening game starter given his experience advantage. Michigan safety/nickel Keon Sabb joins veteran Malachi Moore. Three more superstars depart from the front seven: Chris Braswell, Dallas Turner, and Justin Eboigbe combined for 36.5 tackles for loss and 25 sacks. Again, it’s an army of young five-stars backfilling at outside backer “Wolf”: Keon Keeley, Yhonzae Pierre, and Qua Russaw. Deontae Lawson is an All-American candidate and takes on a leadership role at inside backer. Alabama gets their defensive tackle pair of Tim Smith and Tim Keenan back for 2024, and behind them are eight four stars plus former five-star LT Overton (Texas A&M). Jaheim Oatis is an experienced tackle, Jah-Marien Latham was used as the third edge in their “cheetah” rush packages, and another pair of near-five-stars Damon Payne and James Smith join the rotation.

OUTLOOK Saban’s retirement sent shockwaves across the SEC and throughout the entire college football landscape. It is the end of a legendary run, but this roster is still well-stocked with five-stars and future pros. DeBoer is a proven winner, and it would not be wise to write off Alabama just yet. Alabama draws five ranked SEC opponents – Texas and Ole Miss each only face three – but even through a transition season this program is strong enough to finish fourth in the SEC and earn an at-large bid to the 12-team Playoff.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW-SEC: TENNESSEE

PICK SIX

2022 was a revival season for the ages. Tennessee finally knocked off Alabama after a 15-year drought, and did so in all-time dramatic fashion, and fans tore down the goal posts and threw them into the lake. They raced to a #1 ranking – it felt like 1998. It’s hard to follow a revival season. And for a program that had been inconsistent, and below its standards for decades, avoiding a collapse was an important goal itself. Their 9-4 final record – with convincing losses to the top two SEC East teams Georgia & Missouri, a blown 20-7 halftime lead over Alabama, and a 10th straight loss in The Swamp – may not catch national attention or go down in Tennessee lore. But it wasn’t a collapse. It was an expected rebuilding year, at least offensively, as they replaced the key components of the nation’s best offense. It represented a bridge year from their 2022 Heisman-caliber quarterback to their super-recruit five star in 2024. The nine-win season, added to the 11-2 campaign the year prior, marks Tennessee’s best two-year run (20-6) since 2003-2004. They exacted revenge on South Carolina with a 41-20 rout, they won with defense and special teams against Texas A&M, and grinded out a physical win over Kentucky.

OFFENSE Replacing Hendon Hooker and Biletnikoff Winner Jalin Hyatt would be enough to sink most offenses, but Josh Heupel kept his hyper-tempo machine rolling. No, they didn’t rank as the #1 offense in the nation like their 2022 unit, but like the overall season, it wasn’t a collapse either. Far from it actually. The run game got more emphasis this year and they surged to the Top 10 of all key rushing stats including a #2 finish in my opponent-adjusted, per-carry number. Quarterback Joe Milton may not have matched the gaudy numbers and explosives of Hooker, but he did take care of the ball with a 20-5 touchdown to pick ratio – 12th best in America. Milton also tacked on seven rushing touchdowns which is the most by a quarterback here since Joshua Dobbs in 2016. The 35-0 Citrus Bowl win over Iowa provided momentum into 2024 as their quarterback of the future Nico Iamaleava got all bowl practice reps and then scored four touchdowns against a top national defense. He was the super-recruit that Tennessee and their NIL collective pulled off in late 2022 right as the recruiting game entered this new NIL phase. The #1 rated quarterback of 2023 heads into the season as the established starter and the hope is that a five-star arm will unlock Heupel’s proven system again. Pass protection (52nd nationally) and receiver consistency were both issues in 2023 – injuries also damaged both groups – but there is reason for optimism in 2024. Top receiver Bru McCoy was injured for most of the season, and senior Ramel Keyton suffered plenty of dropped passes. Heupel likes to focus on three receivers who get the vast majority of reps, targets, and receptions since there’s no time for substitutions with their no-huddle, sprint-to-the-line offense. For 2024, there is more than a trio to work with, as McCoy is back healthy, team reception-leader Squirrel White is back in the slot, speedy Dont’e Thornton returns for his second season here, and the staff added a pair of potential difference-makers. Chris Brazzell (Tulane) earned Freshman All-America honors after posting 711 yards and five touchdowns, while five-star Mike Matthews (Parkview, GA) picked Tennessee over dynasty-tier Georgia and Ohio State. As for the offensive line, three starters return which includes All-SEC center Cooper Mays who missed half the season with injury. Tackle John Campbell was awarded a rare seventh year, Javontez Spraggins returns at guard, and former Texas transfer Andrej Karic also missed half the season. While they did lose Gerald Mincey to Kentucky, they upgraded by landing starting LSU tackle Lance Heard. As a true freshman, he was an instant starter, and the five-star received some of the highest acclaim from the recruiting community. This unit graded #6 nationally in OL Run Push and is expected to be a strength yet again. Four familiar faces are gone with both the multi-year running back and tight end duos leaving. Jaylen Wright and Jabari Small end their Tennessee careers with 2,000+ yards each, with Wright’s 7.4 yards/carry average leading all FBS backs (min. 100 carries). Dylan Sampson was originally the third back, but in the opener against Virginia he exploded for four touchdowns, helped seal off the Kentucky win in clutch time, and then posted 133 yards on Iowa – the most by any back on their top-rated defense. Both sixth-year senior tight ends depart and the reliable pair of Jacob Warren and McCallan Castles must be replaced. They caught seven touchdowns which were the most by Tennessee tight ends since 2007. This position is crucial to the Heupel offense because the fast-tempo keeps them on the field, forcing them to be dynamic in both pass protection, run blocking, and receiving, from multiple alignments. The staff landed Holden Staes (Notre Dame) who was rated the #2 tight end in the entire transfer class, plus Top100 prospect Ethan Davis.

DEFENSE Heupel’s offense steals the spotlight, but don’t overlook Tim Banks’ defense. Tennessee has posted consecutive Top 25 finishes in my opponent-adjusted defensive metric, and last season they made big gains in pass defense. For 2024 there is a complete roster rebuild in the secondary, but a talented and deep front seven aims to carry them in the meantime. Banks isn’t shy about his confidence in the trenches: “I think we really have the best defensive line in the country.” All-SEC edge James Pearce is a good place to start. He tore up offensive lines last year to tie the SEC lead with 10 sacks and 14.5 tackles-for-loss, and his impact in the bowl win only added fuel to the hype. He forced a strip sack and had a Pick Six in the shutout, and has since been included on 2025 NFL Draft mocks in the first round, even as high as #1 overall. Tennessee had a school-record 36 sacks and posted 100+ tackles-for-loss for the second time in three seasons. Banks had a 10-12 man rotation here and almost the entire group is back. One shocker was defensive end Tyler Baron leaving for the portal, but the top five defensive tackles are back: 29-game starter Omari Thomas, Bryson Eason, Omarr Norman-Lott, Elijah Simmons, and five-star Daevin Hobbs (Concord, NC). Replacing Baron will be a mix of Joshua Josephs (3 sacks, 4.5 TFL), a healthy Tyree Weathersby, and incoming five-star Jordan Ross (Vestavia Hills, AL). There was more rotation at the linebacker level after starter Keenan Pili was injured in the opener, and all of those ahead-of-schedule reps should pay dividends in 2024. Pili is back, and so are his replacements Arion Carter and Jeremiah Telander. The graduation of Aaron Beasley hurts both in production and leadership, but this group should remain a strength. And then, the great rebuild in the back. All five starters are gone, including safety Jaylen McCollough who started a school-record 51 games, corner Gabe Jeudy-Lally, and corner Kamal Hadden whose midseason injury left a noticeable stat impact. Seven guys transferred out, but just one Power 5 player transferred in with corner Jermod McCoy who started 12 games as a true freshman on a strong Oregon State defense. Two more experienced starters are in from the non-AQ level in Jakobe Thomas (Middle Tennessee) and Jalen McMurray (Temple). Incoming Top150 Boo Carter will be moved into action right away.

OUTLOOK Heupel now has a five-star arm leading his hyper-tempo offense, and last year the defense made major strides. With one of the nation’s best defensive lines, Tennessee is a well-balanced team and will demonstrate staying power after their 2022 revival season. It is a five-way race for fifth place in the SEC – Tennessee is my pick.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW-SEC: LSU

PICK SIX

At most programs, offenses like the 2019 Joe Burrow LSU unit are once in a lifetime. Here at LSU, it took just four years to unlock another all-time offensive explosion. Exactly like 2019, the 2023 offense led the nation in scoring, featured a Heisman winner, the nation-leading receiver, two 1,000-yard receivers, and eventually three first-round picks in the following draft. This edition added a 1,000-yard rushing quarterback, placed #1 in 11 of my 15 stat metrics — #3 in two more – and actually rated as the #1 offense in the history of my opponent-adjusted Game Grader edging out the Mayfield/Murray Oklahoma offenses, and yes, even the 2019 LSU one. Jayden Daniels won the Heisman after piecing together one of the best statistical seasons the sport has ever seen. And like Burrow, his name was called in the first few minutes on Draft night. But there are two sides of the ball, and unlike the 2019 15-0 National Champions, this elite offense didn’t have any help from their defense. LSU lost a game in which they scored 49 points, gained 600+ yards, and led by nine in the final minutes. Daniels was able to pace them to shootout wins over Top 10 Missouri – and losing-record Arkansas and Florida – while the defense rated in the bottom ten. Given where LSU was at two short years ago, Brian Kelly has more than stabilized one of the sport’s most powerful brands. In his debut season LSU defeated Alabama, won the SEC West, and notched 10 wins. His second team got back to 10 wins – went 1-3 against Top 10 opponents – but did feature an all-time offense and Heisman winner. A consistent theme at all of Kelly’s FBS stops has been the breakthrough season in the third year. His first two Central Michigan teams were 10-12 before a 9-4 MAC title run. His third year at Cincinnati was a perfect 12-0 and BCS bowl appearance. Same deal at Notre Dame, where his third team went 12-0 in dramatic fashion and earned a BCS national title invitation. It’s year three in Baton Rouge. Kelly rebuilt the entire defensive staff with record-high contracts, and has stockpiled enough raw talent to position LSU well for the division-less, post-Saban SEC.

OFFENSE Pick a stat – LSU’s offense led the nation. #1 in the per/game categories, #1 per/play, #1 in both explosive categories, and #1 in all three of my opponent-adjusted metrics. I’ve never seen anything like it on paper. They were even more fun to watch. Daniels shattered a wide range of NCAA records as a super-productive dual-threat quarterback. Passing-wise he broke Burrow’s NCAA record for the highest QB Rating, and broke Tua Tagovailoa’s NCAA record with a touchdown on 12.2% of pass attempts (40 of 327). On the ground, he was the only 1,000-yard rushing quarterback of 2023, and his 8.4 yards/carry led all rushers with 100+ categories. The perfect showcase game was the Florida shootout, in which Daniels became the first quarterback in college football history to post 350+ passing yards and 250+ rushing yards in the same game. His two receiver weapons, Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas, combined for 157 receptions, 2,746 yards, and 31 touchdowns. Nabers led the nation in yards/game, Thomas led the nation with 17 receiving touchdowns, and both earned All-America honors before becoming first-rounders. It’s an impossible act to follow. Still, one unit enters 2024 as a known championship-caliber position room: the offensive line. Four starters return from the nation’s #1 run-push offensive line. It was a young group in 2022, but the five-stars grew into all-conference talents in 2023, and are now poised for multiple All-America runs. Will Campbell, Garrett Dellinger, Miles Frazier, and Emery Jones return for a third year together, and they welcome DJ Chester as the new center. Another year of continuity and development will boost the pass protection number (#41) and this should be a top national offensive line. Garrett Nussmeier patiently waited his time behind Daniels, and took control of the position in the bowl game with a 395-yard performance featuring the 98-yard winning touchdown drive in the final minutes. In the spring game he connected on deep shots of 50+ yards and left no doubt about his starter spot, and his potential push into the upper-tier of SEC quarterbacks in 2024. They call themselves Wide Receiver U for a reason. Even after sending two guys to the 1st round, the stable is well-stocked with blue-chippers and breakout candidates. Kyren Lacy was the third receiver last year and moves into the top role. Former Top50 speedster Chris Hilton is getting challenged by incoming CJ Daniels who is fresh off a 1,000-yard season on Liberty’s undefeated team. Zavion Thomas (Mississippi State) could start in the slot after playing in Mike Leach’s Air Raid. From there, Kelly has stockpiled seven more four-star receivers. It was projected as “running back by committee” for 2023 but Logan Diggs emerged as the full-time workhorse and got more carries than the other three combined. In a surprise twist, Diggs transferred out to Ole Miss, leaving a once-packed room of veterans to a promising freshman Kaleb Jackson. From local Liberty Magnet in Baton Rouge, the former four-star Jackson earned first-team reps this spring. Another explosive freshman Caden Durham will challenge for carries, and in June longtime veteran John Emery returned from the portal for a sixth year here. Another surprise move came at the top as coordinator Mike Denbrock, longtime Brian Kelly assistant, left for Notre Dame. To keep the same offensive machine rolling, Kelly hired co-coordinators from within: quarterbacks coach Joe Sloan and wide receivers coach Cortez Hankton.

DEFENSE This coordinator change was intentional. Kelly fired Matt House – and the entire defensive staff – after their collapse from a Top 10 national unit in 2022 down to the bottom of the SEC in 2023. This was the largest decline in my opponent-adjusted defense metric, a 49-spot fall from #9 to #58 of 70 Power 5 teams. Their 2023 transfer round did not live up to expectations, especially in a thin secondary worsened by injuries and then opt-outs. Tackling, coverage busts, lack of pass rush … the problems were constant. Kelly hired Blake Baker from Missouri where he just turned a bottom unit into a Top 15 defense and was a key reason for their surprise 11-win season. Baker’s aggressive, attacking 4-2-5 scheme always places atop my Negative Play Rate tracking disruption in the backfield which is something LSU lacked in House’s read-and-react style. Baker has had success at Miami and Missouri and now gets a roster packed with raw potential and blue-chip prospects. He also gets a former All-American at linebacker in Harold Perkins, the 2022 freshman phenom, who is now moving full-time to middle backer. Greg Penn and the Weeks brothers Whit and West make this group the clear strength of the defense. There are major questions in the front and the back. While I can see edge guys like Sai’vion Jones and Paris Shand thriving in the blitz-heavy scheme, the interior spots are wide open and drawing spring criticism after the departures of their top three tackles Jordan Jefferson, Maason Smith, and Mekhi Wingo. Kelly hired ace defensive line coach Bo Davis (Texas & Alabama) but there is work to be done here. Same in the secondary. This unit collapsed after whiffing on highly-touted transfers last cycle like Denver Harris and Duce Chestnut, and forced young guys into action early. The hope is that it pays dividends in 2024, along with another great position coach hire in Corey Raymond. Corners Zy Alexander and JK Johnson are recovering from 2023 injuries, Javien Toviano has a Top100 pedigree, and they landed another Ohio State corner in Jyaire Brown. The starting safety spots appear more predictable – Sage Ryan and Major Burns – and they added Jardin Gilbert (Texas A&M) who was rated the #2 safety this transfer cycle.

OUTLOOK LSU was extremely one-sided last year with an all-time offense paired with a weak defense. They lose their do-it-all Heisman winner, a pair of first-round receivers, and their offensive coordinator. Kelly ensured defensive improvement by paying out the largest coordinator contract in college football history for Baker. LSU continues to stack top-rated recruiting classes and remains in the SEC race despite all the change.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW-SEC: TEXAS A&M

PICK SIX

They say “Everything’s Bigger in Texas” and that has certainly been the case with the A&M football program. When they hired Florida State’s national champion head coach Jimbo Fisher, the contract was a then record $75 million deal. Then, six seasons later when they fired him A&M set another record: the largest buyout in college football history. A day after beating Mississippi State 51-10, Fisher was fired and guaranteed $77 million – nearly four times the second-largest buyout ever. The dollar amounts weren’t the only extremes. At the opening press conference in 2017 A&M had a plaque that read “Jimbo Fisher – 20XX National Champion” setting the tone and immediately setting the expectation as high as possible. Fisher’s 2020 team went 9-1 in the short season, placed #4 in the final AP Poll for the program’s highest finish since 1939. The 2021 team beat #1 Alabama to mark Nick Saban’s first-ever loss to a former assistant after 24 tries. The on-field momentum set up a historic recruiting class which not only finished #1 in the 2022 rankings, but also graded as the highest of all time. Some extremes in the other direction followed in 2022 as they lost to the Sun Belt’s Appalachian State, eventually lost six straight games, and became the first program ever to follow a #1 signing class with a losing record. One final cherry on top was the distinction as the highest preseason ranked team to finish with a losing record since 2010 Texas. Fisher would have needed some real hardware in 2023 to continue, but instead the losses piled up and for the sixth and final time they failed to win the SEC West, much less the conference. In a rare mid-November coach search, A&M was reportedly close to signing Kentucky’s longtime head coach Mark Stoops, but instead brought back a familiar face: Mike Elko. The ace coordinator led four successful defenses here from 2018-2021, before leaving to prove himself as a head coach at the Power 5 level at Duke. While at A&M, the program was 34-14 but has been 12-13 since. Duke was just 10-25 in the three years before he took over – Elko went 16-9 with a rare nine-win season and a blowout win over ACC dynasty Clemson. Elko becomes the school’s first defensive head coach since Big 12 champion R.C. Slocum – the four offensive hires Dennis Franchione, Mike Sherman, Kevin Sumlin, and Fisher all failed to deliver a league title.

OFFENSE With the temperature rising, Fisher finally delegated the play-calling role and hired longtime offensive guru Bobby Petrino. They actually improved by 12 spots in my opponent-adjusted number, and that was in spite of a run of quarterback injuries that left them on QB4 in the bowl game. The passing numbers improved from 2022, but there was a steep decline in efficiency once starter Conner Weigman was knocked out. Per my opponent-adjusted passing metric A&M was 15th with Weigman (three full games), 40th with Max Johnson (next six games), and 50th with Jaylen Henderson and Marcel Reed. Johnson transferred to UNC, but former five-star Weigman seems to be on schedule with his broken foot rehab and is expected back for the opener. He was throwing balls in the spring game, but his elite elusiveness was on hold. Elko hired Kansas State coordinator Collin Klein to run the offense. Klein was a former Kansas State quarterback and Heisman finalist, and his offenses are best with a mobile quarterback. He emphasizes physicality, a power run game, and has excelled in the keys to the game: #1 nationally in red zone touchdown percentage and #11 in third-down conversions. A&M went with a committee approach at running back last year and all three guys return after combining for 1,401 rushing yards. Amari Daniels led in yards but Le’Veon Moss and Rueben Owens are the thunder & lightning duo. They also added EJ Smith, Emmitt’s son, from Stanford. It’s a complete roster transfusion at receiver and tight end, and they were extremely thin after a transfer exodus. Two of the top three are gone – Ainias Smith and Evan Stewart – and most of the roster depth left. Their top line of Jahdae Walker, Noah Thomas, and Moose Muhammad is solid, however there is nothing proven behind them. The staff added Cyrus Allen (Louisiana Tech) who was graded the #19 transfer receiver this cycle, plus two four-stars Izaiah Williams and Ernest Campbell. Both starting tight ends are gone with Max Wright graduating and Jake Johnson following his brother to UNC. They do get back Top100 Donovan Green who was a projected starter but was injured last preseason. Tre Watson (Fresno State) transferred in after earning All-Mountain West honorable mention. The offensive line was a liability last season in both facets of the game. Their OL Run Push was below average at 84th nationally and the pass protection Sack Rate wasn’t much better at 76th. Starting center Bryce Foster and his backup both transferred out, leaving the interior of the line as an unknown aside from former Top100 Chase Bisontis. The tackle duo is strong with Reuben Fatheree and one of the SEC’s top linemen Trey Zuhn. Two Power 5 transfers may be the answers in the middle: Ar’maj Reed-Adams (Kansas) and Kolinu’u Faaiu (Utah).

DEFENSE Elko’s 4-2-5 scheme has produced results everywhere he’s been. His success at Notre Dame got him the A&M job back in 2018, and over his four-year span as the coordinator here the defense was rated #11 in Power 5 – third in the SEC behind dynasty-tier Alabama and Georgia. The Duke defense was rated 67th of 70 Power 5 teams in the two seasons before he arrived as head coach, and then after a prompt rebuild, they were rated just outside the Top 25 at 27th in 2023. The difference here is that he inherits an already-stout defense fresh off consecutive Top 20 finishes, and a #2 rank in my opponent-adjusted rushing defense. Usually losing a five-star from a position group leaves a dent. Losing three five-stars is supposed to leave a canyon. But here, as a result of the 2022 super-class, they still have three more five-stars in the trenches. DJ Hicks, Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy, and Shemar Turner remain in College Station, and keep the defensive line as a strength despite losing a blue-chip haul: McKinnley Jackson (NFL), Walter Nolen (Ole Miss), LT Overton (Alabama), Isaiah Raikes (USC), Fadil Diggs (Syracuse). Elko did land an ace of his own, as A&M signed the #1 rated edge Nic Scourton (Purdue) who led the entire Big Ten in sacks. Consensus All-American Edgerrin Cooper was selected in the second round of the NFL Draft, leaving behind an opening and position battle between two experienced Power 5 transfers in Scooby Williams (Florida) and Solomon DeShields (Pitt). The middle backer spot features Taurean York who excelled as a freshman in 2023 and has already been named team captain. Like the receiver room, the secondary is one big transfer frenzy. Three guys departed including original projected starter Jacoby Mathews, but seven arrive to College Station. Kansas State starting corner Will Lee and former five-star Dezz Ricks (Alabama) join returning starter Tyreek Chappell on the outsides. Florida starting safety Jaydon Hill slots into Mathews’ old spot, Dalton Brooks is back at nickel, and strong safety Bryce Anderson was a near-five-star in the 2022 class. They need to fix their big-play problem after falling from 5th to 105th against explosive passing, and the personnel carousel leaves uncertainties, but Elko remains confident: “that group will be noticeably improved this fall.” Given his track record, we’ll take his word.

OUTLOOK Texas A&M was statistically stronger than their record showed, finishing #24 in 2023 Game Grader. The Elko hire should stabilize the program and continue their strong defensive play. Quarterback health will go a long way, and if former five-star Weigman can finally stay in the lineup A&M will stack another Top 25 caliber season. The SEC schedule draw is favorable as they only face one of the four Playoff-tier teams and just three of the league’s top eight. For reference, peer contenders LSU and Oklahoma draw four and six of the top eight.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW-SEC: MISSOURI

PICK SIX

1960, 1969, 2007, 2013, 2014 … and now, 2023. Missouri’s 11-win breakthrough season surprised the SEC, and the national landscape, and the 2023 team cemented its legacy among the school’s best teams. It started with a walk-off 61-yard field goal against old Big Eight rival Kansas State, continued with blowouts of several SEC East foes, and survived with a late 4th & 17 conversion against Florida. The Cotton Bowl win over blueblood Ohio State was the cherry on top. After three losing seasons, it all clicked for Eli Drinkwitz’s program. With his New-Zou branding, he continued to stack school-record recruiting classes, brought Show Me State talent back home, and added key players through the transfer portal. His coordinator hires were both home runs. 11 wins later, he was named the SEC Coach of the Year, Missouri finished with its third Top 10 AP Poll ranking in 50 years, and his star players scattered across All-America and All-SEC teams. Far from the conveyor belt of five-star recruits found at other SEC powerhouses, Missouri took on an underdog mentality, as Drinkwitz exclaimed after the regular season: “we’re America’s team. We’re a team built on underdogs. We’re a team built on young men with something to prove.” Missouri actually backed it up. Their All-American running back was a Division II star who walked on and then rushed for a nation-best 125 yards/game. Their starting quarterback was originally a two-star recruit, and was even booed off the field in September but persevered to throw 21 touchdowns, and more importantly, led 11 wins. A program with the second-lowest five-year recruiting rank in the SEC was one of only three to place in the Top 20 of both my opponent-adjusted offense and defense metrics. Their only blemishes were a nine-point loss to two-time defending champions and NFL-factory Georgia, and a shootout loss to LSU and their eventual Heisman winner.

OFFENSE Cody Schrader leaves Columbia as a program legend. He was a star at Division II Truman State, gambled on himself by walking-on at the SEC level, and quickly rose to the top of the depth chart. Schrader led the entire SEC in rushing yards with 1,627 – 500 more than the second-place rusher – and was named the 2023 Burlsworth Trophy winner which goes to the best former walk-on in FBS. Schrader became Missouri’s 15th consensus All-American and its first running back to do so. A pair of Sun Belt transfers will compete for carries in his absence. Marcus Carroll (Georgia State) and Nate Noel (App State) combined for 2,200 yards and 18 touchdowns last year, with Noel already drawing Tyler Badie comparisons in spring. Two four-stars, junior Tavorus Jones and incoming freshman Kewan Lacy, will also work into the rotation. There are only two other offensive starters gone, and the staff already filled one with a top national transfer. Longtime starters Xavier Delgado and All-SEC Javon Foster both graduated, but Missouri signed five-star left tackle Cayden Green away from Oklahoma where he started seven games as a true freshman last year. Green was the #1 rated transfer lineman this cycle and should help keep the offensive line as a top unit. Another potential starter Marcus Bryant (SMU) was added after spring ball. Right guard Cam’Ron Johnson was an All-AAC guard for Houston in 2022 and then earned All-SEC here last year. Center Connor Tollison and right tackle Armand Membou are also back. Brady Cook returns for a third season as the starting signal-caller. It turns out his 2022 campaign was marred by a torn labrum, and with full health in 2023 he shined. Cook helped Missouri improve in all 14 of my offensive stat categories, most notably the 60-spot boost in long-yardage explosive passing. Backup Sam Horn’s injury knocked him out for 2024, so the staff added veteran Drew Pyne who started for Notre Dame and backed up at Arizona State. The loaded receiver room forced safeties out of the box and allowed offensive coordinator Kirby Moore to open the playbook. Five-star Luther Burden lived up to his billing, especially at the start of the season as he led the entire nation with 644 yards through five games. Burden is a total game-changer and should get All-American attention in 2024. Theo Wease and Mookie Cooper were also former five-star receivers, but they started out at other Power 5 programs before Missouri. Wease placed second on the team with 682 yards and six touchdowns – none bigger than his break-away speed burst touchdown against Florida. All three starters return, in fact, every receiver that caught a pass in 2023 is back for 2024.

DEFENSE Blake Baker was excellent here, turning a bottom ten defense into a top ten defense in just his transition year. In 2023 he followed that up by stacking another top 15 defense per my opponent-adjusted metrics. His blitz-heavy, attacking scheme clicked immediately and their unit took on the nickname “Death Row Defense.” The dream season was topped off with a 14-3 win over Ohio State with Missouri’s defense being the first opponent in their past 80 games to keep Ohio State out of the endzone. The downside of making A+ coordinator hires, is that their success makes them more desirable to be poached by other programs. Baker was hired away by LSU — with the highest assistant contract in college football history — and Missouri also loses its three best defensive backs, its best linebacker, its best edge rusher, and three of four interior linemen. Most starters are gone, including All-SEC headliners Darius Robinson and Kris Abrams-Draine, and multi-year starters Ty’Ron Hopper, Ennis Rakestraw, and Jaylon Carlies. The tough reloading job goes to Corey Batoon, who was South Alabama’s defensive coordinator. He and head coach Kane Wommack built an impressive unit there, and Wommack was hired to be the coordinator on the new Alabama staff. Batoon is a 3-3-5 guy but Drinkwitz said they will keep the 4-2-5 base that has worked here the past two seasons and fits with their current personnel. Johnny Walker is the new star of the defensive line after posting 9.5 tackles for loss and five sacks last year. Joe Moore was Robinson’s backup on the other edge spot, but will be pushed by incoming five-star Williams Nwaneri (Lee’s Summit North) and a pair of Power 5 transfers Darris Smith (Georgia) and Zion Young (Michigan State). Another transfer Chris McClellan (Florida) anchors the interior next to returning starter Kristian Williams. The next wave of starting backers – Chuck Hicks and Triston Newson — already got some experience filling in for the injured Hopper and Chad Bailey last fall. Two more Power 5 transfers Corey Flagg (Miami) and #14 rated transfer backer Jeremiah Beasley (Michigan) bolster the room. Smith could also compete here as a hybrid with his Top100 billing out of high school Star power is gone from the secondary as Rakestraw, Carlies, and Abrams-Draine were all drafted in April. The safety room has experience with sixth-year Joseph Charleston and Daylan Carnell both placing in the top six in tackles. Toriano Pride (Clemson) was the #9 rated transfer corner while Marcus Clarke and Tre’Vez Johnson will battle for the other one.

OUTLOOK 2023 was a banner season here and was the proof-of-concept for Drinkwitz’s New-Zou campaign. Look for another explosive offense with eight starters back led by Brady Cook and a nationally-rated receiver room. The defense was just as important to their 11-win year, and that side of the ball was decimated this offseason. Eight key defenders are gone along with the brains of the operation in coordinator Blake Baker. Missouri got the easiest SEC schedule as the only team to draw the league’s bottom four teams. They only face one of the top six but their losses on defense keep them out of the title race.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW-SEC: OKLAHOMA

PICK SIX

It is hard to believe, but Oklahoma’s Big 12 era is over. One of the undisputed Blue Bloods of college football leaves its historic Midwest footprint – with arch-rival Texas – to the more competitive, and much more lucrative SEC. Their run of dominance in the Big 12 was unprecedented in the history of the sport. Oklahoma won 13 Big 12 titles in 20 years from 2001-2020 which is the most by any program in a two-decade span in a single conference. Within a conference/region perspective, they were more dominant over their peers than even Nick Saban’s Alabama dynasty, Bobby Bowden’s Florida State, and Bear Bryant’s Alabama run. In fact you’d have to go back to the post-war Oklahoma program to find such a run – although it was broken up by league changes from the Big Six to Big Seven to Big Eight. It will be odd seeing the Crimson & Cream elsewhere. Their Big 12 farewell tour was off to a perfect start, a last-second touchdown defeated Texas in the Red River Shootout, and at 7-0 they had the easiest remaining schedule among Playoff contenders. But games aren’t decided by the computer – old Big Eight rival Kansas and bitter Bedlam rival Oklahoma State got their parting shots in and derailed the Playoff run by a combined eight points. There would be no final conference crown, but the 10-win regular season was still a positive step. Fresh off of their first losing season since 1998, Oklahoma bounced back to the national stage behind a resurgent defense and an explosive top offense. Defensive genius Brent Venables was hired to fix the defense and in his second season he led the #1 largest defensive turnaround in the Big 12, as they jumped from below-average to #13 nationally per my opponent-adjusted metrics. Are they SEC-ready? Venables has stacked three straight Top 10 recruiting classes to keep pace with their new super-recruiter peers. He has led a full-scale rebuild of the defense, and they have increased both their speed and physicality. The fans seem SEC-ready – they chanted the classic “S-E-C” chorus as their final Big 12 regular season game at Owen Field came to a close.

OFFENSE Oklahoma’s offense returned to its familiar place atop the national leaderboards behind a productive dual-threat season from quarterback Dillon Gabriel, a stable of game-changing receivers, and another stout offensive line. They averaged 42 points/game (4th nationally), 507 yards/game (3rd) and placed in the Top 10 in most passing categories. Seven starters are gone. That includes the entire starting offensive line, All-Big 12 slot receiver Drake Stoops, and in a surprise transfer twist, Gabriel himself. Offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby left too, taking a promotion to head coach at Mississippi State. Venables wanted to limit the disruption, and filled the coordinator spot from within by promoting Seth Littrell. The former Sooner fullback has coached alongside some top offensive minds like Mike Leach, Mark Mangino, and Kevin Wilson and even held the North Texas head coaching spot for seven years. While the scheme will be similar to what worked in 2023, his own past and personality will shine through: physicality, toughness, a power run game, and more tight end usage. The biggest question for the offense, and overall team, in 2024 is the complete rebuild of the offensive line. McKade Mettauer and Walter Rouse graduated, Tyler Guyton and Andrew Raym left early for the pros, and five-star freshman Cayden Green transferred to Missouri after earning a starting spot. Jacob Sexton got some experienced last fall and is projected at left tackle, while returning linemen Jake Taylor, Joshua Bates, and Eugene Brooks are former blue-chip recruits. They attacked the portal and brought two-year starter Spencer Brown (Michigan State), ace center Branson Hickman (SMU), and Febechi Nwaiwu (North Texas) who is familiar with Littrell’s scheme. If there is one coach I trust to build an offensive line in college football, it is Bill Bedenbaugh. The other question is under center as Gabriel departed for Big Ten-bound Oregon. Jackson Arnold was rated the #1 quarterback in the entire 2023 signing class, and got some valuable live game experience as a true freshman. In the opener, he completed all eleven of his passes. When Gabriel was knocked out, Arnold stabilized the offense and they held onto the win against BYU. Then after the transfer departure, Arnold got all the bowl practice reps and threw for 361 yards and two scores. Oklahoma is well-stocked at the skill positions and the receiver room is overflowing with star power. The reliable Stoops departs but the rest of the receiver stable returns, including Andrel Anthony who was looking like the #1 target before a midseason injury. Jalil Farooq still has all-league potential and Nic Anderson emerged as a touchdown machine last year. Anderson scored on 6 of his first 11 receptions, eventually finishing with ten touchdowns and a 21 yards/carry mark – the fifth-most explosive in FBS. The staff added the #2 rated transfer receiver in Purdue’s Deion Burks and he shined in the spring game from the slot position. From there, Oklahoma has four more four-stars waiting in the wings. The tight end room disappointed in 2023 but two incoming transfers Bauer Sharp (SE Louisiana) and Jake Roberts (Baylor) flip the room. From a “committee” one running back emerged late in the season, as Gavin Sawchuk reeled off five straight 100+ yard games to solidify the lead role for 2024. Jovantae Barnes returns as the backup.

DEFENSE Venables restored the order to the Oklahoma defense. The Big 12’s most improved unit surged all the way to #13 in my opponent-adjusted number — #9 against the pass – and even through a coordinator change that upward trajectory will continue. Nine starters return and Oklahoma is set up well for a legitimate Top 10 defense in America. Venables’ main area of expertise is the linebacker level, and Oklahoma brings back its All-American tackle-machine Danny Stutsman. He collected 104 total tackles – 16 for loss – and even added a Pick Six. Kip Lewis returns alongside him, and former #1 linebacker transfer Dasan McCullough returns to the so called Cheetah position. The entire secondary returns after Oklahoma got two NFL decisions in their favor. Cornerback Woodi Washington and All-Big 12 safety Billy Bowman both opted to stay in Norman for a final season. Washington secured the top corner spot all year while Bowman grabbed six interceptions and earned Mr. Pick Six honors taking three of them back to the house. Corners Gentry Williams and Kani Walker both return, and so does 2023 five-star Peyton Bowen who is back in the safety room. They added three more four-stars in the 2024 class for another layer of blue chip insurance. The only departing starters are in the trenches, but the staff has done an excellent job backfilling their production. Isaiah Coe earned All-Big 12 honorable mention as the top defensive tackle while Wake Forest transfer Rondell Bothroyd maximized his one year here at end. Aside from those departing starters most of the line rotation is back intact, with Da’Jon Terry leading the tackles and Ethan Downs as the sack-leader on the edge. Ends Trace Ford and five-star Adepoju Adebawore both return, and the staff added Caiden Woullard (Miami, OH) who led the MAC with 9.5 sacks. The interior was bolstered by the additions of Freshman All-American Damonic Williams (TCU) and 6’3 290 five-star David Stone (IMG Academy).

OUTLOOK After decades atop the Big 12, it feels strange to place Oklahoma in the middle-tier of a conference race. The low prediction actually isn’t a knock on their roster or program strength – I think this will be a nationally-strong defense and they would contend for a league title in the other conferences. Rather, it is all about the league transition and the brutal schedule draw here. Oklahoma’s welcome gift is the hardest draw in the SEC: six of the top eight, including three Playoff-tier opponents.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW-SEC: KENTUCKY

PICK SIX

On the other side of the Governor’s Cup, rival Louisville’s “Bring Brohm Home” movement brought their native son and star quarterback home as the head coach, and they raced to a 10-1 start. Even one of Louisville’s best seasons couldn’t shake Kentucky’s in-state dominance, as the Wildcats pulled off their first AP Top 10 ranked win since 1977 – and shattered any last chance of a Louisville Playoff run. The problem with playing the “spoiler” role is that your own season was already spoiled weeks ago. Kentucky opened up with a 5-0 record, routed Vanderbilt and a ranked Florida team. Then they ran into the NFL’s 33rd Team and left with a 51 13 humbling in Athens, GA. A fake punt turned blowout loss to Missouri, close losses to Tennessee and South Carolina, and then another blowout from Alabama – the undefeated September quickly fell apart. Last offseason, Kentucky added a new starting quarterback and running back from the transfer portal and got back their prized offensive coordinator Liam Coen, but despite the offensive improvements their overall Game Grader ranking stayed exactly the same. In 2022 they ranked 40th of 70 Power 5 programs, wedged right in the middle of the SEC East logjam. Then in 2023 Kentucky again finished 40th. This time though, the division around them improved and Kentucky was only able to notch conference wins against three teams that finished with losing records. The three wins (Vanderbilt, Florida, and Mississippi State) combined to go 12-24 in the SEC, while their losses were to teams that went 29-11. In the Talent Acquisition department, Kentucky is hitting all-time program highs. This cycle they signed a Top 25 high school recruiting class AND a Top 15 transfer class. Given their historic recruiting trend, this is massive feat for Mark Stoops and his staff. But within the talent-rich SEC, they are barely treading water. Eight other SEC programs – half of the conference – achieved that same feat.

OFFENSE Coen’s return helped fix some of the problems from Rich Scangarello’s 2022 season. After finishing that season as one of the worst offenses in America, Kentucky added nine points per game, and were the 3rd third-most improved rushing offense in Power 5 – from bottom 20 to Top 10. Major improvements in the trenches helped return their offensive line into “Big Blue Wall” form. Behind an improved OL Run Push (+45 spots) they improved on both efficiency and explosiveness. Kentucky’s rushing yards/carry jumped from 123rd to 25th and their long-yardage explosive rushing went up from 110th to 6th in the nation. Along with the line, transfer running back Ray Davis deserves credit for that quick turnaround. He exploded with 280 yards and four touchdowns in the Florida win, broke Benny Snell’s season touchdown record (21) and ended as the 11th Wildcat to rush for 1,000+ yards in a season. Davis also became the first player in college football history to post 1,000+ yard seasons at three different schools. Kentucky hopes to hit the jackpot in consecutive years with another transfer running back at his third school in Chip Trayanum. He first was a feature back at Arizona State, then played linebacker at Ohio State before being moved back to the running back room due to injuries. Trayanum had the dramatic walk-off touchdown at the goal-line to beat Notre Dame and extend Ohio State’s 11-0 start. He also earned a spot on Bruce Feldman’s “Freak List” due to his pairing of weightlifting records with top-end footspeed. Last cycle they signed NC State’s Devin Leary who was rated as one of the top transfer prospects but struggled to unlock the Kentucky passing game. Leary finished with the worst completion percentage in the SEC (59%) and was 10th in the all-encompassing QB Rating. For all of the gains made in the run game, the passing attack remained a weakness. Yet again, the staff went to the portal to reload at quarterback. This time, they signed former five-star Brock Vandagriff from Georgia. He was on the roster for both national title runs, lost a close position battle to Carson Beck last summer, but still has a high enough ceiling to earn a #5 ranking of all quarterbacks this cycle. He put up video game numbers in high school – 9,600 passing yards, 1,800 rushing yards, and 151 total touchdowns – and his dual-threat ability should add a dynamic to the offense that was missing in 2023. Coen’s return to Lexington only lasted a year, as he shocked the program and returned to the pros. New coordinator Bush Hamdan laid out two areas of emphasis for his offense that he’d like installed in his transition season: quarterback mobility and variable tempo. He mentioned that his quarterback should be able to grab “two first downs a game with his legs.” Tempo-wise, don’t expect to see an Ole Miss or Tennessee lightning pace, but they will certainly be moving quicker than their 2023 pace as one of the slowest in the country. Hamdan’s Boise State offense was run heavy, with run plays on 72% of snaps. An extremely veteran line will aid in that, as the projected starting five has over 8,000 combined snaps of experience. Two-year captain Kenneth Horsey left for the pros, but they got back two other pro decisions – center Eli Cox and left tackle Marques Cox – along with starting guards Jager Burton and Dylan Ray. Three receivers shared the bulk of targets last year and two return. Tavvion Robinson exhausted eligibility but receptions leader Dane Key and speedster Barion Brown return. Brown earned All-America honors as a return specialist after returning three kicks for touchdowns and is considered one of the fastest in the nation. The staff signed Ja’Mori Maclin who had a 1,000-yard, 11-touchdown season at North Texas. Hamdan’s offense will be tight end heavy and they return leaders Jordan Dingle and Josh Kattus as well as four of the top five.

DEFENSE The strengths may have flipped from 2022 to 2023, but overall it netted out to an identical ranking in my opponent-adjusted defensive metric: 22nd of 70 Power 5 defenses in both seasons. In 2022 the pass defense was elite, but that flipped to a stronger front seven in 2023. The entire defensive line two-deep returns intact and this group will continue to be a team strength. Brad White’s 3-4 has the three down linemen, and a fourth edge/backer JJ Weaver bringing run support and pass rush. Defensive end Deone Walker is the headliner after earning first-team All-SEC honors last year with a team high 5.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss. Nose tackle Josaih Hayes and end Tre’Vonn Rybka are both back. Weaver and D’Eryk Jackson are both back but star Trevin Wallace went pro. The staff filled that spot with the #1 rated transfer linebacker, Georgia’s Jamon Dumas-Johnson who started all 15 games on their undefeated national title run of 2022 and was a Butkus Award finalist. For the second straight year, a corner has left early for the pros. Maxwell Hairston could very well be the third in a row this time next year. Hairston had two Pick Sixes in the Vanderbilt game and earned All-SEC honors after finishing with five picks on the year. The other cornerback spot will be a fall camp battle between JQ Hardaway and Jantzen Dunn. Kentucky is more settled at safety where their top trio returns – Jordan Lovett, Ty Bryant, and nickel Zion Childress – and Alabama’s Kristian Story transferred in as well. They will need the veteran experience to translate to stat gains, as this unit fell from Top 20 to bottom 20 in my opponent-adjusted pass defense.

OUTLOOK Mark Stoops has unlocked a new tier of high school recruiting here and has continued that success into the transfer game. On the field, his best teams are the ones with veteran offensive lines and tough front sevens. That has been Kentucky’s formula and the 2024 team looks the part. In the race for 10th place, Kentucky gets a favorable schedule draw. They face four of the SEC’s top eight, while Auburn plays five and Florida draws six.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW-SEC: AUBURN

PICK SIX

Hugh Freeze’s transition year was inconsistent. The word may be overused but how else do you describe a team that within a seven-day span, lost by 21 to New Mexico State, but also could have (should have) beaten Playoff bound Alabama if not for a miracle 4th & 31 touchdown? While it ended as the third straight losing season – first time at Auburn since 1975-77 – they also hit plenty of high points and made notable progress. They fought tough against the SEC’s best three teams, playing Georgia and Ole Miss to one-score games while letting Alabama escape the Iron Bowl. Freeze relinquished the play-calling duties but learned he’ll never do that again. And he already made a double coordinator switch, which is something most head coaches wait to do until their seat gets warm. By the opening kickoff, more than half of Auburn’s scholarship roster was new from 2022 to 2023. That talent acquisition took the next step this cycle as Freeze unlocked the Auburn recruiting machine. His 2024 high school class returned Auburn to the national Top 10, which was a range they had been around for most of the modern recruiting era until Bryan Harsin’s staff fell out of the Top 20. Freeze was aggressive at the positions where they needed the most help. His receiver signing class was likely the best unit in America by signing two five-stars and two more Top150 four-stars – this is an instant impact group to the offense, and Freeze compared it to the moment he signed Laquon Treadwell in his first Ole Miss signing class. He doubled down on the recruiting strategy by hiring two defensive co-coordinators who have excellent track records on the trail. Charles Kelly, formerly of Florida State, Alabama, and Colorado, was named the National Recruiter of the Year in 2023. DJ Durkin has led the charge in five Top 10 recruiting classes. Freeze understands the talent acquisition game in the SEC, and wants to super-charge the roster with blue-chippers, and attempt to pounce on the Iron Bowl void left behind by the retirement of legendary Nick Saban. They were already a 4th & 31 away from beating Alabama, but now the playing field seems to be tilting even more. OFFENSE Philip Montgomery’s offense was broken over the first half of the season, but Freeze eventually took back control, simplified the playbook, and made some tweaks to the RPO game. Per my opponent adjusted offense metric, the before and after comparison is striking: – – First seven games: 66th of 70 Power 5 Final six games: 35th of 70 Power 5 It was nowhere near the final product, but in November they finally unlocked some explosive pass plays and churned out some dominant rushing performances: 354 rushing yards against Arkansas and 243 against Alabama. Freeze fired Montgomery and hired a former assistant Derrick Nix. This hire signals that Freeze wants to take back full control and play-calling of the offense, and brought on a coordinator that is familiar with his system. Nix coached running backs on all five of Freeze’s Ole Miss staffs. Auburn made national waves with their recruiting haul at the wide receiver position, and it was much needed after the transition group was plagued by drops and poor play. From the high school ranks they signed two five-stars – Cam Coleman (Phenix City, AL) and Perry Thompson (Foley, AL) – and two additional Top150 four-stars Bryce Cain and Malcolm Simmons. Then Freeze landed a polished slot receiver Robert Lewis (Georgia State) who nearly posted 1,000 yards last year. Auburn signed Penn State’s leading receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith who was rated the #4 wide receiver this transfer cycle. They also brought in Cal quarterback Sam Jackson, who is switching back to receiver and actually caught balls from Auburn starting quarterback Payton Thorne back in high school. By all accounts, he made a seamless transition and is in the rotation. Coleman dazzled at the A-Day game and is a program-changer. He’ll be the #1 target from game one, Lewis and Lambert-Smith are proven college starters, and Thompson joins in fall camp. Tight end Rivaldo Fairweather returns after leading the team in receiving and earning second-team All-SEC. This room flipped from an offense-crippling weakness to a strength. Thorne returns after a rocky 2023 season, but he followed a similar progression to the overall offense and continues to improve. Over the first seven games, he was rotating possessions with backup Robby Ashford, and threw five touchdowns and five picks. That ratio improved over the final six games to 11-5. Freeze claimed it was a “wide-open” competition heading into 2024 but a mid-spring tweak to the RPO system apparently clicked for Thorne and he is now projected to hold his starting spot. Holden Geriner returns and they added near five-star Walker White. It was the same story for Jarquez Hunter. He rushed for just 200 yards over the first five games, but then averaged 100+ per game after that. Hunter returns along with Damari Alston and return ace Brian Battie. The offensive line put up similar numbers in 2022 and 2023: strong in the run game, weak in pass protection. Last year they ranked #33 nationally in my OL Run Push metric but bottom ten in Sack Rate. Conner Lew earned Freshman All-America honors at center and two more starters return with Izavion Miller at right tackle and Dillon Wade shifting inside to guard. The staff landed giant 6’8 350-pound Percy Lewis who started seven games at left tackle for Mississippi State last year.

DEFENSE Freeze hired a familiar SEC name in DJ Durkin who has coordinated consecutive Top 25 defenses at Texas A&M the past two seasons, and led the Ole Miss defense for two years before that. He features an aggressive scheme, heavy blitzes and pressures, and the results have followed. In 2022, his A&M pass defense finished #1 nationally. Auburn made some modest gains on this side of the ball in the transition season, but there is more roster turnover again in 2024. Five defenders were selected in April’s NFL Draft including both defensive tackles, both corners, and a safety. Durkin says the strength heading into fall camp is in the linebacker tier. Eugene Asante led the team in tackles, by far, and added five sacks and 8.5 tackles-for-loss. He and Austin Keys are both returning veterans, and they added a two-year starter Dorian Mausi (Duke) who flies sideline to sideline. Building elite depth and future stars, they signed two Top100 backers in Demarcus Riddick and Joseph Phillips. Four starters depart from the secondary – Nehemiah Pritchett, DJ James, and Jaylin Simpson were all drafted — but it’s not quite as bad as it sounds. Keionte Scott is a two-year starter at nickel who is now transitioning to corner, and Kayin Lee flashed elite potential as a true freshman stepping up for an injured Pritchett. Then the staff added a three year starter off of a Playoff defense with Jerrin Thompson (Texas). There is still uncertainty, and their weakness against long-yardage pass plays (100th nationally) hasn’t been solved, but the secondary is far from a nightmare-scenario you’d expect when four starters leave. Marcus Harris and Justin Rogers were drafted and the staff backfilled with two experienced Power 5 defensive tackles. Gage Keys (Kansas) was a projected starter for 2024 and Trill Carter (Texas) is starter quality but found himself stuck behind All-American T’Vondre Sweat and first-rounder Byron Murphy. Ends Keldric Faulk and Jalen McLeod both return and they are joined by incoming five-star Amaris Williams (Clinton, NC).

OUTLOOK There was a noticeable shift when Freeze took back control of the offense midseason. Look for that momentum to continue into the second year, especially with the added five-star firepower at wide receiver. The defensive transition keeps them out of the upper-half of the league but they will return to bowl season and compete with Kentucky for 10th in the SEC.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW-SEC: FLORIDA

PICK SIX

Billy Napier was hired two years ago with the promise of an “Army of Staffers” to super-charge the recruiting results and get Florida back to competing for SEC titles. Two years in, and neither has happened. He is 11-14 overall after the 2023 team went 5-7 and missed a bowl for the first time since 2017. While responsible for just two of them, Florida’s three straight losing seasons are their first since post-war 1945-47. Since the “Shoe-Gate” in 2020, the program is just 10-24 against Power 5 opponents and is riding a 3-18 run in games played outside The Swamp. Far from the usual “second-year coach bonus” Florida stayed put in my overall Game Grader – 44th of 70 Power 5 teams in both 2022 and 2023 – but fell in the offense and defense grades. The offense fell five spots, but gained a lot of ground in the pass game. The defense was an absolute collapse, all the way down to the bottom five of Power 5, and second-worst in the SEC only in front of Vanderbilt. Napier has said his preferred team profile is one that is dominant in the trenches and establishes a strong run game. Instead, they were physically overpowered by Utah, Kentucky, and Georgia. It’s even worse against their rivals. In 2022, Napier became the first head coach to lose to all four rivals – Florida State, Tennessee, Georgia, LSU – in the same season. While he did notch a signature victory over #11 Tennessee in 2023, he now sits at 1-7 against the rivals. With Florida, I focus a bit more on the recruiting game, because in order to contend for national titles a program must maximize its best features. Given its location, championship history, conference affiliation, and alumni network, Florida needs to be a Top 5 recruiter. The returns are in, and Napier’s first two full recruiting cycles are off the mark: 13th and 13th. Both are good for just 7th in the SEC. One positive angle here is that you could consider 2023 as a significant youth movement for the program. Freshmen scored 14 touchdowns (#6 highest nationally), nine combined for 37 starts, and seven true freshmen played in every game (#1 nationally). The hope is that those 2023 ahead-of schedule reps pay dividends in 2024. In the impatient SEC, that hope is more like a necessity for Napier’s survival.

OFFENSE One of the biggest surprises in the SEC last year was the breakthrough season for quarterback Graham Mertz. A multi-year starter at Wisconsin, Mertz had not lived up to his five-star billing and placed below-average on the Big Ten leaderboards. But last year he won the starting job here, and instantly improved the passing attack even as Florida sent Anthony Richardson to the 1st round of the NFL draft. Mertz threw for nearly 3,000 yards, 20 touchdowns (just three picks), a 73% completion rate and placed fifth in the SEC in the all-encompassing QB Rating. It was the best passing season here since Heisman finalist Kyle Trask, and he actually broke Tim Tebow’s school record for consecutive passes without an interception. From an unknown, to a proven program leader, Mertz has stabilized the quarterback room. His final year will be a bridge season before handing the offense over to super-recruit DJ Lagway who was rated the #1 quarterback in the entire 2024 class and earned Gatorade Player of the Year. At 6’3 240-pounds he has a big frame paired with elusiveness and breakaway speed. How’s this for a senior season? 4,600 passing yards, 58 passing touchdowns, 957 rushing yards (10+ per carry), and 16 rushing touchdowns. It was co-running backs again in 2023 with Montrell Johnson and Trevor Etienne sharing the carries. Etienne transferred to Georgia, but Johnson started 11 games and led with 817 rushing yards, and now gets the full workload in 2024. Two blue-chippers battle for backup carries in Top100 KD Daniels and four-star Treyaun Webb. The wide receiver room may just be the strength of the entire team – and that’s with the loss of a first round draft pick Ricky Pearsall. Caleb Douglas was injured halfway through the season which gave freshman Eugene Wilson a bigger opportunity. Wilson was electric with the ball in his hands and posted 538 yards and six touchdowns to earn Freshman All-America honors. Chimere Dike transferred in from Wisconsin where he and Mertz had a great connection in 2022 as Dike led the team in receiving. Wilson and slot receiver Dike are projected starters, but the room got a massive boost after spring ball with the addition of Arizona State’s playmaker Elijhah Badger. He amassed 1,500+ receiving yards and ten scores while leading the team in both 2022 and 2023. The next wave of receivers here includes five former four-star recruits – it’s only a matter of time until a few more emerge. 2022 starting tight end Keon Zipperer missed 2023 with an injury but is back healthy. He joins Arlis Boardingham who also earned Freshman All-America honors last year. The biggest liability and unknown for the offense is in the trenches. They allowed a sack on 10% of pass attempts – 115th nationally – and lost both starting guards to the transfer portal with Richie Leonard (Florida State) and Micah Mazzccua (Nebraska) departing. They added two FBS starting tackles in Devon Manuel (Arkansas) and Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson (San Diego State), and Jake Slaughter emerged as a reliable center. Post-spring ball, the staff landed the #1 transfer lineman in the entire 2024 cycle with five-star true freshman Jason Zandamela (USC).

DEFENSE Everyone had success against this defense in 2023: backup quarterbacks, third-stringers, and yes even the Heisman winner. Jayden Daniels may have sealed his Heisman win in the Florida game as LSU reeled off 700+ yards, and Daniels became the first quarterback ever to post 350+ passing yards and 250+ rushing yards in the same game. Florida was one of just two defenses in America to place in the bottom 10 defending against long-yardage explosive runs and passes. They ranked 111th nationally in yards/carry and QB Rating. Most of the defensive staff was let go. But interestingly, Napier kept 30-year-old coordinator Austin Armstrong and hired his former mentor Ron Roberts. The scheme will be the same, since he learned it from Roberts, who coordinated Auburn in 2023 and Baylor before that. The secondary struggled with missed tackles and blown coverages last season, but it appears to be a full upgrade for 2024. Two starters depart in corner Jalen Kimber and safety Jaydon Hill but they more than replaced them. They landed super-recruit five-star Cormani McClain (Colorado), get a second-year bonus from 2023 five-star Ja’Keem Jackson, and return multi-year vet Jason Marshall. Devin Moore has high potential if he can finally stay healthy. At safety Florida landed a starter from national runner-up Washington in tackle-machine Asa Turner. Another second year bonus is expected from Jordan Castell who led the entire defense in tackles as a true freshman last year. At the hybrid “Star” position Trikweze Bridges joins from Oregon. Shemar James is back at linebacker, and they completed an SEC portal swap: Scooby Williams out to Texas A&M but Grayson Howard in from South Carolina. The staff signed two Top100 linebackers in Myles Graham and Aaron Chiles. The defensive line took a surprise hit with All-SEC end Princely Umanmielen leaving for Ole Miss. Otherwise most of the rotation returns. Cam Jackson is back in the middle, Justus Boone returns after missing 2023 with an injury, and TJ Searcy had a productive freshman season. They added a four-star tackle transfer Joey Slackman (Penn) and another super-recruit, the #1 rated DL in the 2024 class LJ McCray (Mainland).

OUTLOOK There was no “second-year coach bonus” and Florida took a step back in 2023. Part of that was an investment in younger players, but those expected dividends in 2024 will be neutralized by the hardest schedule in college football. It’s very possible that Florida improves on both sides of the ball but does not have the win/loss record boost to show for it. They are the only team to draw six of the top seven SEC teams – plus they stacked three non-conference ranked in-state rivals Florida State, Miami, and UCF. Napier’s seat will get as hot as a September Swamp game.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW-SEC: SOUTH CAROLINA

PICK SIX

Off of back-to-back bowl seasons, South Carolina entered 2023 with raised expectations. Most magazines had them 3rd or 4th in the SEC East Division as a fringe Top 25 team. I didn’t buy it, and instead placed them 6th in the East. On my annual preview spot on Chris Phillips’ Spurs Up Show, he asked me the biggest concern or area that needs improvement. Repetition makes for bad radio, but for the third straight season I noted the offensive line. If there was one unit that could improve and boost the program, it was in the trenches. Instead, that one unit hit its worst injury run in decades, and it produced nation-worst rushing outputs and poor pass protection. The problem was apparent right away, as they allowed nine sacks in the opening loss to North Carolina, while being held to negative rushing yards. They were kept under 60 rushing yards five times, only eclipsed the 150 yard mark (the national per-game average) once, and finished dead last in yards/carry. There were bright spots – Spencer Rattler dazzled in the pass game, Xavier Legette became the fifth Gamecock to post a 1,000-yard season, and they notched league wins over Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, and Kentucky. But they blew a 14-3 halftime lead on dynasty-tier Georgia, got overpowered in the trenches by Tennessee, Missouri, Texas A&M, and Clemson, with that last one costing them a third-straight bowl trip. Head coach Shane Beamer noted how important those bowl practices could have been for player development, but it was a missed opportunity. Three straight Top 25 recruiting classes is an achievement, but is barely treading water in the talent-rich SEC. Each of those last three classes are rated below the league-average, with this 2024 group ranked 12th in the SEC.

OFFENSE Shawn Elliott is back in Columbia. The tight ends coach and run game coordinator was here in the same roles during the peak years 2010-13. While it’s not an offensive coordinator shift, there are significant scheme shifts to mesh with their personnel. He is changing the run scheme to include more zone read, which fits the athletic skillset of both quarterbacks LaNorris Sellers and Robby Ashford. 2024 will mark the first time South Carolina features a true dual-threat quarterback since Connor Shaw in 2013. Rattler was certainly quick and elusive, but given the lack of depth behind him, the staff had him on a “pitch count” to limit his hits and injury exposure running the ball. Sellers is the leader heading into fall camp after serving as the backup last year, but Ashford transferred over from Auburn where he was their full-time starter in 2022 before getting limited action in 2023. Over his 22 games, he threw for 1,759 yards, nine touchdowns (nine picks) but excelled on the ground for nearly 1,000 yards and 12 scores. Due to an injured and young offensive line, most of the offensive production had to come through the air. 2022 All-SEC receiver Juice Wells was injured in September which shifted more targets over to Legette. He capitalized on the opportunity and posted the school’s fifth 1,000 yard season (1,255) and joined Wells with first-team All-SEC honors. Both are gone. Legette was drafted in the first round, Wells transferred to Ole Miss, and it’s a complete rebuild at receiver. Former five-star super-recruit Nyck Harbor got into the rotation a bit as a true freshman and is expected to take the lead role, but was limited in spring due to splitting time running track. The staff hit the portal hard with four FBS receivers and a tight end. Jared Brown (Coastal Carolina) earned Sun Belt Freshman of the Year in 2021 and had 740 yards in 2023. Ahmari Huggins-Bruce has been in the rotation at Louisville for the past few years and adds Power 5 experience. At tight end, Trey Knox departs but co-starter Joshua Simon returns after finishing third on the team with 28 receptions. He is joined by All-MAC Brady Hunt (Ball State) and incoming Top100 four-star Michael Smith. The staff pulled off a serious upgrade at running back. Former D3 Mario Anderson departs, and this time from the transfer market they pulled in two proven FBS starting backs. Rocket Sanders (Arkansas) was first-team All-SEC in the preseason after his 1,443-yard 2022 season, but was injured in the second game of 2023 and missed almost the entire season. Oscar Adaway (North Texas) rushed for 738 yards and joins Juju McDowell as solid #2 options. Along with Rattler’s replacement, the offensive line remains the biggest question for the offense. They placed dead last in my OL Run Push metric, and weren’t much better in pass protection (114th nationally). The injury run did allow younger players to get ahead-of-schedule reps, and the hope is that it pays dividends in 2024. Four guys return after starting 8+ games in 2023: Tree Babalade, Jakai Moore, Trovon Baugh, and the headliner Vershon Lee. The open spot is projected to be incoming FCS transfer Torricelli Simpkins (North Carolina Central), but keep an eye on near-five-star Josiah Thompson.

DEFENSE In the defensive stat box, you’ll see a lot of yellow denoting a middle-of-the-pack FBS ranking between #41 and #85 of 133 teams. South Carolina made gains against the run, gave up a bit more against the pass, but there are three reasons for real optimism looking ahead to 2024. could be his best unit yet. When you account for opponent strength and pace of play, those “yellows” shift to green. In my opponent adjusted defensive metric South Carolina placed 29th of 70 Power 5 teams – 22nd against the run and 23rd against the pass. Second, there was clear momentum building as the season progressed, and the defense rounded into form in November. Per the same metric: – First 7 games: 50th of 70 Power 5 – Final 5 games: 10th of 70 Power 5 Lastly, all of that late season momentum carries into 2024 with a high amount of returning production. Eight starters are back, and the front seven added several proven FBS starters and blue-chip recruits. Defensive coordinator Clayton White has a strong track record here and this End Jordan Strachan is gone, but the staff added multi-year starter Kyle Kennard (Georgia Tech), five-star Dylan Stewart (Washington DC), and their former starter from 2022 Gilber Edmond (back from Florida State). That trio joins three returning starters in end Bryan Thomas, and the tackle rotation of TJ Sanders, Alex Huntley and Tonka Hemingway. Debo Williams earned All-SEC at weakside backer, Bam Martin-Scott was quickly becoming a top defender, and they added All-AAC Demetrius Knight (Charlotte) to fill in for departing starter Stone Blanton. Fred Johnson is an incoming Top100 blue-chipper and Bangally Kamara (Pittsburgh) is another experienced Power 5 backer. Four starting defensive backs return and the lone departure is corner Marcellas Dial who was drafted in the sixth round. DQ Smith and Nick Emmanwori are back at safety, Jalon Kilgore had a strong freshman season at nickel, but the corner room lacks depth and experience. O’Donnell Fortune is the only returner with starting experience there.

OUTLOOK They landed the top transfer running back but the rest of the offense enters 2024 as an uncertainty. South Carolina will be able to notch a few league wins on the strength of their veteran defense, bowl season is a possibility, but the upper-tier of the new SEC is currently out of reach.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW-SEC: ARKANSAS

PICK SIX

Riding the momentum of a 16-win two-year span – the program’s best since 2010-11 – and with the preseason All-SEC quarterback and running back, expectations were high for Sam Pittman’s fourth Arkansas team. An injury to running back Rocket Sanders was the first issue, then Arkansas continued to blow late leads and lose one-score games: BYU by 7, LSU by 3, Ole Miss by 7, Alabama by 3, and Mississippi State by 4. Their offensive failures came from the position they least expected it. Pittman is respected as one of the top offensive line gurus in the country, but by November his line was completely broken down. A frustrating season of close losses turned into a full meltdown over the final two league games. 48-10 to Auburn, 48-14 to Missouri, and the hometown Hog fans booed their team off the field. Pittman did receive the vote of confidence from athletic director Hunter Yurachek but with the December transfer circus speeding up, he needed a spark, and a big move to rally around to start the 2024 rebuild. It’s not a shock that he found an offensive mastermind. It’s a shock it was that offensive mastermind. Bobby Petrino is back in Arkansas – 10.5 years after he led back-to-back 10+ win seasons, and 11 years after getting fired with cause for an off-field drama.

OFFENSE Four years ago, Petrino finally returned to the state and at the Little Rock Touchdown Club he apologized for his actions. The off-field storylines are in the past. On the field, there is no denying he is one of the sharpest offensive minds in football. He had success at Western Kentucky, then led Lamar Jackson to the Heisman Trophy at Louisville, then turned around Missouri State and actually almost beat Arkansas in Fayetteville with his FCS team. On his offensive scheme, Petrino believes that “offense is about utilizing personnel and your players … we call it FTS, Feed The Studs.” On his surprising hire, Pittman reiterated “I was just trying to find the best man for the job.” Petrino steps in for Dan Enos who was fired after just eight games. His offense fell in every stat category from 2022 to 2023 including a 90-spot drop in yards/game, 80-spot drop in yards/carry, and the offensive line plummeted to nation-lows. In my opponent-adjusted metric, Arkansas placed all the way in the bottom five – 67th of 70 Power 5 teams – and fell from Top 20 to bottom 10 in rushing. This was the worst rushing decline in Power 5, despite returning an All-SEC running back. Sanders was injured in the second game and really only had one full game the rest of the way. His backups AJ Green and Rashod Dubinion had trouble producing but part or most of the blame comes from an inconsistent offensive line. The Petrino hire could allow for Pittman to return more of his attention onto his area of expertise in the trenches. He also hired Eric Mateos to help with the rebuild. Mateos was a GA under Pittman here 2013-2015 before eventually leading a strong line at BYU and a Joe Moore Award finalist line at Baylor in 2021. This position group has the biggest impact on their 2024 result. Last year they allowed 47 sacks, and rated 130th of 133 FBS teams in my Sack Rate by allowing a sack on 15% of pass attempts. Three starters are gone with center Beaux Limmer in the pros and tackle Andrew Chamblee out to SMU. But the staff hit the portal hard and brought in three potential starters in Keyshawn Blackstock (Michigan State), Addison Nichols (Tennessee) and Fernando Carmona (San Jose State). Their transfer win last cycle was a home run as Joshua Braun earned second-team All-SEC and returns again at right guard. The Jefferson era is done. An Arkansas legend departs after breaking the school records for passing touchdowns (Brandon Allen) and passing yards (Tyler Wilson). 2023 was his worst statistical season, but he’ll be remembered more as the figurehead of the 2021 and 2022 revival seasons. The spring battle to be his replacement was between Boise State transfer Taylen Green and 2023 backup Jacolby Criswell. If the post-spring portal is any indication, Green won, because Criswell is going back to UNC. Petrino handpicked Green from the portal, after earning Mountain West title MVP honors. Green had the third-best QB Rating among all freshmen quarterbacks in 2022, but hit a sophomore slump in 2023 throwing 11 touchdowns and 9 picks with a 57% completion and was benched at points in the season. Sanders transferred to South Carolina and his backups followed with Green to Oklahoma State and Isaiah Augustave to Colorado. The staff landed the #5 rated running back transfer this cycle with Utah’s Ja’Quinden Jackson. The 6’2 220-pound former quarterback runs downhill with power, and posted 1,250 yards and 12 touchdowns over the past two years. With the rest of the roster in a transfer frenzy, the wide receiver room is the stable one. Every guy that caught a ball in 2023 is back for 2024, headlined by Andrew Armstrong, Isaac TeSlaa, and Isaiah Sategna. They did add one extra piece in Texas A&M speedster Jordan Anthony who runs a 10.2 100-meter dash. Luke Hasz is back healthy after a season-ending injury stunted a breakout freshman season. It was still enough to win Freshman Tight End of the Year honors and he will be a reliable star for the offense.

DEFENSE Lost in the shuffle, behind the offensive struggles and losing record, the defense actually made significant gains from 2022 to 2023. They were dead last in pass defense in 2022 but allowed 100 fewer pass yards/game last fall. In addition to an improved secondary, the pass rush was strong and they placed 23rd nationally in my Negative Play rate that tracks disruptive plays made behind the line of scrimmage. Three defensive line starters return, headlined by first-team All-SEC end Landon Jackson who posted 13.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks and has earned a high projection for the 2025 NFL Draft. Trajan Jeffcoat is gone, but both starting tackles – Cameron Ball and Eric Gregory – return along with the #1 rated AR high school prospect of both the 2023 class Quincy Rhodes and 2024 class Charleston Collins. Both were Top150 national recruits and add firepower to the pass rush. From the college ranks, they added Anton Juncaj (Albany) who earned FCS All-America honors after a monster 15-sack season, and 6’3 355 Danny Saili who was a space-eating nose tackle for BYU. Both starting linebackers Chris “Pooh” Paul (Ole Miss) and Jaheim Thomas (Wisconsin) transferred out, but the addition of former five-star Xavian Sorey (Georgia) softens the blow. A trio of former three-stars battle for the other starting spot. Arkansas used a mix of three safeties last year and there was major improvement here year-over-year. For 2024, Hudson Clark and Jayden Johnson return while Al Walcott graduated. To fill that spot, the staff added Doneiko Slaughter who started 15 games at Tennessee. The corners are wide-open as Dwight McGlothern went pro and nickel Lorando Johnson transferred back to Baylor. Former Top50 recruit Jaheim Singletary started four games as a freshman last year and South Alabama transfer Marquise Robinson can compete right away.

OUTLOOK During the Pittman era, the quarterback, running back, and offensive line were proven commodities to build around. That has now shifted with the departures of Jefferson and Sanders and the line saw major statistical declines in 2023. The defensive line is a strength, Petrino should spark some offensive improvements, but otherwise there are too many questions here for 2024.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW-SEC: MISSISSIPPI STATE

PICK SIX

After the tragic passing of Mike Leach, defensive coordinator Zach Arnett led the team to a bowl win and was promoted to head coach. It was a difficult situation for Arnett to navigate, it was a moment bigger than football, but by all accounts he should be applauded for his guidance. On the field, the results simply weren’t up to standard. Arnett was fired after a 51-10 blowout loss to Texas A&M brought their mid-November record to 4-6 overall and 1-6 in SEC play. When an ace coordinator is promoted to a head coach role, you expect two things: elite play from his side of expertise, and the ability to hire a successful coordinator to lead the other side of the ball. Arnett whiffed on both. His defense fell in every statistical category from 2022 to 2023 and ended up middle-of-the-pack nationally. His offensive coordinator hire, and their transition away from the Leach Air Raid scheme produced just 12.6 points/game in league action – the worst in America. A two-week coaching search concluded with Oklahoma’s offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby, who checked off some key boxes on the wish list: a dynamic offense, MS familiarity, and an embrace of the modern NIL/transfer landscape. He even walked off the plane wearing a Bulldog Initiative shirt representing their NIL collective. Lebby was greeted on the tarmac by hundreds of cowbell-clanging fans, the marching band, and a smoke machine before he gave his intro remarks. It had the feel of a clean, fresh start for the program as it heads into a new-look, division-less SEC. He left the crowd with a promise about his offense and the overall program: “we’re going to be a football team that scores a bunch of points … you are going to be incredibly proud of what’s happening here on Saturday afternoons at Davis Wade – that’s a promise.”

OFFENSE Lebby wasn’t exaggerating about his offense. He has certainly earned his reputation as a premier offensive mind and his teams have lit up scoreboards at UCF, Ole Miss, and Oklahoma. Four of his last five offenses have finished in the national Top 25 in scoring, with 2019 UCF (43.4 points/game) and 2023 Oklahoma (41.7) placing in the top five. Before his offensive coordinator roles, Lebby coached at Baylor for nine seasons from 2008-2016 which featured a Heisman winner and the nation’s top-scoring offense for three straight years. His offensive scheme has roots in Art Briles’ “veer-and-shoot” that took the state of Texas – and eventually the Big 12 – by storm. This program needed a jolt to the offense after an unsuccessful transition season out of the Leach Air Raid. Mississippi ranked 63rd of 70 Power 5 teams in my opponent-adjusted offensive metrics, and just 65th in passing. Quarterback Will Rogers was injured in the sixth game and the offense completely stalled out with backup Mike Wright and true freshman Chris Parson at the helm. It’s a fresh start both schematically and personnel-wise. All 11 offensive starters are gone. SEC record-holder Rogers transferred out to Washington, Wright went to Northwestern, and Lebby landed an experienced Power 5 starter in Baylor’s Blake Shapen. While his experience there was in a pro-style offense different than Lebby’s scheme, his production speaks volumes. He threw 36 touchdowns (13 picks), led their Big 12 championship game win in 2021, and placed third in the Big 12 in QB Rating during his only full healthy season. His quick release and pocket elusiveness fit with Lebby’s scheme. Lebby signed his future quarterback in four-star Michael Van Buren who he was originally recruiting while at Oklahoma, but flipped him from his late Oregon commitment. Woody Marks transferred to USC, #2 back Seth Davis tore his ACL in the Egg Bowl and will miss most of 2024, and for the first time in a while there is uncertainty in the running back room. Jeffery Pittman returns after rushing for 268 yards and catching the game-winner against Arizona. From there Lebby added three transfers: Utah State’s leading rusher Davon Booth, top JUCO back Johnnie Daniels, and Penn State’s Keyvone Lee who posted 500-yard seasons in 2020 and 2021 before falling behind their five star duo. The offensive line will have five new starters, and as many as four spots may be incoming transfers. Albert Reese is the fourth-year veteran and looks poised for a starting spot. Ethan Miner (North Texas) was a top-rated transfer center, Makylan Pounders was a former State target who played well for Memphis, and Marlon Martinez started four games for LSU. Lebby’s offensive slogan is “Score From Far” in reference to their vertical passing, and how he strategically lines up downfield “shot” plays. Fittingly, the clear strength of the offense is at wide receiver and the room is overflowing with potential. Tulu Griffin and Zavion Thomas are both gone, but the staff added proven transfers, blue-chip recruits, and still have plenty of in-house options. Kelly Akharaiyi posted a 1,000-yard season at UTEP and his 21.5 yards/catch placed fourth nationally. Kevin Coleman was a national recruit who chose to play for Deion Sanders at Jackson State, won SWAC Freshman of the Year, and then played in the slot for Louisville last year. Don’t forget former Georgia transfer Justin Robinson, and Jaden Walley who was the lead receiver in 2020. On top of that they stacked three more blue-chip recruits in four-stars Braylon Burnside, JJ Harrell, and Mario Craver.

DEFENSE Lebby hired Coleman Hutzler as his defensive coordinator. It will be the first time Hutzler actually leads a defense, after 14 Power 5 seasons as a position coach and special teams coordinator at SEC spots like Alabama, Ole Miss, South Carolina, and Texas. He is changing the base scheme from Arnett’s 3-3-5 to the traditional 3-4 that he ran at Alabama. He’ll do so without eight starters from the 2023 defense, three of whom were drafted: corner Decamerion Richardson, tackle Jaden Crumedy, and linebacker Nathaniel Watson. Crumedy and Nathan Pickering were the top two linemen and both are gone without an heir apparent to State’s defensive tackle lineage. Ends Deonte Anderson and De’Monte Russell both return, and Donterry Russell posted four tackles-for-loss as a freshman last year. In Hutzler’s defense, the “Jack” position is a stand-up defensive end and Ty Cooper fits in here after a strong close to 2023. State will miss the productive duo of Watson and Jett Johnson who finished #1 and #2 in the SEC in tackles in both 2022 and 2023. A knock on Arnett’s style was their lack of rotation, meaning their newer starters are less experienced than usual. Stone Blanton transferred in after starting for South Carolina’s defense last year, and John Lewis is shifting to middle backer. Corey Ellington is back at safety and he is the lone returning starter in the entire secondary. The other two safeties graduated, Richardson went pro, and DeCarlos Nicholson transferred to USC. Top200 Isaac Smith has potential at safety but the corner spots are completely wide-open. Brice Pollock got some starts in November, and former Miami transfer Khamauri Rogers hasn’t broken through yet.

OUTLOOK The Lebby hire is exciting as it brings a fresh start and an explosive offense that will pack the stands at Davis Wade Stadium, but the transition year looks like a complete rebuild with just three starters returning from a below-average 2023 team. When a team loses so many starters – and especially through a coaching transition season – the talent acquisition rankings hold more weight. Unlike their SEC peers, Mississippi State did not bring in a haul of blue-chip transfers and place 15th of 16 in the two-year transfer rankings. That matches their SEC forecast for 2024: 15th of 16.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW-SEC: VANDERBILT

PICK SIX

The Vanderbilt football program made generational moves off the field after alum Clark Lea took over as the head coach. They finally secured their first round of funding to help modernize the facilities, renovate the stadium, and activate the fundraising machine for NIL and roster building. In Power 5 football, and especially in the SEC, these moves were roughly three decades too late. Better late than never. The off-field trends are in the right direction, but on the field the product has been more of the same. Vanderbilt finished 2-10 in 2023, closing out Lea’s third season with a nation-worst 10-game losing streak. Lea is now 2-22 in SEC play, 9-27 overall, and has continued Vanderbilt’s five-year streak of placing last in the SEC per my opponent-adjusted Game Grader formula. Even worse, Vanderbilt has finished dead last in all of Power 5, 70th of 70 teams, in two of the past three seasons. Lance Leipold worked miracles in Kansas, Greg Schiano returned to New Jersey and got Rutgers bowling, and it appears now that no other Power 5 program is as troubled as Vanderbilt. The 2023 season wasn’t even competitive. All nine Power 5 games ended in double-digit losses, by an average of 22 points/game, and they were outgained by 150+ yards in all but one SEC game. My opponent-adjusted, per-play metrics are broken down by offense and defense, as well as rushing and passing on both sides of the ball. Vanderbilt was the only Power 5 team to place in the bottom ten of all six key metrics: offense (overall, run, pass) and defense (overall, run, pass). Nothing worked. An outsider would expect the third-year head coach to be fired, or at least for the proverbial Hot Seat to be turned up to sauna levels. That isn’t accurate here, given the off-field progress, Lea’s long-term program vision, and his implied alma mater loyalty. The expected double coordinator switch did occur though. Joey Lynch is out, Nick Howell was demoted, Tim Beck is in, and Lea himself will take on the defensive coordinator role as a rare head coach/coordinator combo.

OFFENSE Tim Beck – not to be confused with longtime Power 5 coordinator and current Coastal Carolina head coach – comes from New Mexico State where he helped turn around one of the worst offenses in America. Before that, Beck led a decade of dominance at the Division II level at Pittsburg State (KS), earned DII Coach of the Year honors, and landed a Power 5 analyst job at TCU in 2021. Not only is Beck bringing both of his quarterbacks, two additional positional coaches are coming to Nashville. Then in February Lea hired New Mexico State head coach Jerry Kill for an analyst role. Kill led the Aggies to their first consecutive bowl seasons since 1959-60 and has coached all across the Power 5 landscape. The quarterback position is the perfect representation of our current Transfer Portal era in college football. Three quarterbacks took snaps for Vanderbilt last year – all three transferred away. Blue chipper AJ Swann was viewed as their “Quarterback of the Future” but was injured and he threw more picks than touchdowns against Power 5 competition. Longtime veteran Ken Seals took over but went winless, and both of them tied for the worst QB Rating in the SEC. The two New Mexico State quarterbacks – Diego Pavia and Blaze Berlowitz — will compete with yet another transfer, Utah’s Nate Johnson. Pavia earned C-USA Player of the Year honors after throwing for 3,000 yards and 26 touchdowns while leading the Aggies to a 10-5 breakthrough season. Johnson was thrown into action ahead of schedule as a freshman for Utah, given their injury situation, and while he dazzled with his speed and elusiveness he went through growing pains as a passer. With more experience and knowledge of Beck’s offense, Pavia has the head start, but Johnson may have closed the gap since he got all the spring reps with Pavia arriving over the summer. The unquestioned strength of the offense was the receiver room, but the transfer exodus hit this room too. Their star-packed starting trio vanished and all three are heading to Power 5 programs: London Humphreys (Georgia), Will Sheppard (Colorado), and Jayden McGowan (Boston College). Starting tight end Justin Ball followed suit and heads to Mississippi State. The staff did sign big-frame Loic Fouonji (Texas Tech) and Jeremiah Dillon (Ole Miss), but the new pair only caught six balls combined last year. Eli Stowers (New Mexico State) decided to follow his quarterbacks here after spring ball. Ray Davis was certainly missed, but Sedrick Alexander broke into the starting lineup as a true freshman and finished as the leading rusher with 371 yards and four touchdowns. Backup Patrick Smith is gone, but another freshman AJ Newberry flashed enough upside for this young duo to be a relative strength. That is, if the offensive line can improve off of another poor ranking in my OL Run Push metric. They placed 115th of 133 FBS – bottom 10 in Power 5 – and lose two starters in center Julian Hernandez and tackle Bradley Ashmore who declared early for the NFL. Through the spring window the staff only brought in one transfer Steven Losoya (Mississippi State) which could signal confidence in the development of younger guys.

DEFENSE Lea had great success as a coordinator at Notre Dame before returning to his alma mater. He now gets back to his coordinator roots, along with the infinite responsibilities of a head coach. Vanderbilt had the worst defense in Power 5 in 2022 and it stayed that way in 2023. Per my opponent-adjusted defense metric Vanderbilt has been the SEC’s worst defense in all three of Lea’s seasons. That bottom ten trend continued across almost all 14 of my defensive stat categories. There’s almost a full line of “deep red” on their defensive stat box at the upper left of the page. Both linebackers, two safeties, and the most disruptive defensive lineman must all be replaced for 2024. Nate Clifton led the team with 5.5 sacks but heads to USC, safeties Jaylen Mahoney and Savion Riley (Miami) are gone. Backers Ethan Barr (UCF) and Kane Patterson combined for 98 tackles and a ton of experience in the middle, but team tackle leader Langston Patterson returns as the focal point of the 2024 defense. The cornerback room returns almost intact and was boosted by the additions of two-time All-Big Sky starter Marlon Jones (Eastern Washington), Kolbey Taylor (Wyoming) and former four-star Micah Bell (Notre Dame). Safety Randon Fontenette is another blue-chipper in from TCU. CJ Taylor announced his return for 2024 after being a key piece to the defense the past two seasons. As a linebacker/safety hybrid – officially known as the Anchor position here – he placed third on the team in tackles in 2023 despite missing three games. Aeneas DiCosmo returns as the leader on the edge. OUTLOOK This is one of the toughest rebuilds in America, and the league just got even stronger with the addition of two bluebloods and super-recruiters. Vanderbilt is a distant 16th in SEC high school recruiting and the on-field performance reflects that talent gap. Competing for an SEC title in 2024 is out of the question, but for this season to be labeled a success Vanderbilt can take some steps forward. Lea is a defensive guru and his side of the ball needs to show some progress. The New Mexico State boost on offense is intriguing. Lastly, they need to break the trend of having their top stars and playmakers poached by other Power 4 programs. Player development, scheme, and retention.

KIRK FERENTZ, ASSISTANT SUSPENDED FOR NO. 25 IOWA’S OPENER OVER RECRUITING VIOLATION, REPORTS SAY

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz and an assistant coach will be suspended for the No. 25 Hawkeyes’ opener against Illinois State on Aug. 31 over a violation while recruiting quarterback Cade McNamara, according to multiple media outlets.

The Athletic, citing an unidentified source, first reported the suspension of Ferentz and wide receivers coach Jon Budmayr. Iowa football spokesman Matt Weitzel told The Associated Press he could not confirm or deny the report.

It was unclear whether the NCAA or Iowa imposed the suspensions.

Ferentz is beginning his 26th season at Iowa, where his 196 wins rank third all-time among Big Ten coaches. The Hawkeyes have won 10 games three of the past five seasons and reached the Big Ten championship game last year.

McNamara started 16 of 21 games for Michigan before he transferred to Iowa before the 2023 season. He started the first five games before a knee injury ended his season. McNamara is battling Northwestern transfer Brendan Sullivan for the starting job this year.

Ferentz is scheduled to meet with reporters Thursday afternoon.

The suspensions follow a series of events that cast an unwanted spotlight on the Hawkeyes the past two years.

Iowa in early 2023 agreed to pay $4.2 million to settle a 2020 racial discrimination lawsuit brought by a dozen former players who alleged Ferentz and his staff created an unwelcoming environment for Black players.

Last summer, the Hawkeyes had several players caught in a state law enforcement sting targeting college athletes illegally wagering on sports. Athletic director Beth Goetz announced at midseason Brian Ferentz, Kirk’s son, would be fired as offensive coordinator effective at the end of the season.

In February, Iowa announced it would self-report an NCAA Level 3 (minor) violation for tampering after a football staff member texted a message of encouragement to Alabama offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor after he struggled in a game. Proctor is from Des Moines and was a five-star prospect coming out of high school. He transferred to Iowa in January and transferred back to Alabama two months later.

MAC ADOPTS PLAYER AVAILABILITY REPORT FOR FOOTBALL GAMES, JOINING BIG TEN

The Mid-American Conference will require teams to provide player availability reports to the league at least three hours before football games this season, following a similar policy implemented last year by the Big Ten.

The league announced the new policy Thursday, saying the Council of Directors of Athletics approved it in July. Availability reports are part of efforts in college athletics to safeguard the integrity of games amid the growth of legalized gambling.

The availability reports from all 12 teams will be made available on the MAC website and posted on the X social media platform. Teams that don’t comply could face disciplinary action. The league said the process and accuracy of the information will be evaluated throughout the season.

The Big Ten started requiring its teams to provide availability reports to the league office no more than two hours before kickoff last season.

The Big Ten is the only power conference with a league-wide availability report, though the Atlantic Coast Conference tried a loosely run midweek injury report several years ago and the Southeastern Conference is considering mandating it.

“We continue to advance the student-athlete availability reporting policy, but it has not been finalized,” SEC spokesman Herb Vincent told The Associated Press. “The policy has been updated and is subject to further review. We will announce a final decision when it is complete.”

Vincent said the pre-game availability reports would only apply to SEC games.

The NCAA prohibits athletes from gambling, even legally, on any sports the association sponsors. College sports was hit with multiple gambling-related scandals in 2023, including in the Big Ten.

In 2022, the MAC signed a deal with sports data and technology company Genius Sports for an array of services, including an integrity program that among other things monitors betting for problems.

NO. 10 FLORIDA STATE AND GEORGIA TECH KICK OFF THE 2024 SEASON WITH A ‘WEEK ZERO’ MATCHUP IN IRELAND

DUBLIN (AP) — No. 10 Florida State vs Georgia Tech in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, noon ET (ESPN)

BetMGM College Football Odds: Florida State by 10 ½.

Series record: Florida State leads 15-11-1.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

Eight months after getting left out of the College Football Playoff, Florida State begins its quest to repeat as Atlantic Coast Conference champion and land a guaranteed spot in the expanded, 12-team playoff. The Seminoles have won 12 consecutive league games since losing to Clemson on Oct. 15, 2022.

KEY MATCHUP

Florida State will try to establish the run with senior Lawrance Toafili, Alabama transfer Roydell Williams and an offensive line that boasts 345 collegiate starts. It should be a huge test for the Yellow Jackets and their overhauled defensive staff. Coach Brent Key made several changes on that side of the ball after Tech ranked 131st in the country (out of 133 teams) in run defense last season.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Florida State: Former Clemson and Oregon State QB DJ Uiagalelei makes his debut for the Seminoles and tries to fill the cleats of four-year starter and 2023 ACC Player of the Year Jordan Travis. Uiagalelei brings plenty of experience to his new gig, including 8,319 yards passing and 57 TDs to go along with 1,132 yards on the ground and 21 scores.

Georgia Tech: Dual-threat QB Haynes King led the ACC with 27 passing TDs in 2023, but he also had a league-leading 16 interceptions. If King can limit the mistakes, Georgia Tech could be the best offense in the league.

FACTS & FIGURES

FSU and Georgia Tech will travel roughly 4,000 miles for this “Week Zero” matchup that kicks off the college football season. … This will be the ninth collegiate game played in Ireland and the fifth at Aviva Stadium. There are two more already scheduled: Iowa State versus Kansas State in 2025; and Pitt versus Wisconsin in 2027. … Georgia Tech previously traveled to Dublin in 2016 and beat Boston College 17-14 at Aviva. … FSU is playing its first international game. … The Seminoles will be without offensive coordinator/O-line coach Alex Atkins for the game. Atkins was suspended three games by the NCAA for his role in 2022 recruiting violations. Senior offensive analyst Gabe Fertitta will handle Atkins’ game-day duties.

NFL NEWS

2024 NFL PRESEASON, WEEK 3: WHAT WE LEARNED FROM THURSDAY’S DOUBLEHEADER

Indianapolis Colts 27, Cincinnati Bengals 14

Two rookies show potential to be key contributors. The first defender selected in the 2024 NFL Draft flashed in the Colts’ preseason finale. On Cincinnati’s first offensive series, Laiatu Latu displayed his quickness off the edge to sack Logan Woodside. Second-round pick Adonai Mitchell had some up-and-down moments on Thursday in Cincy. With Anthony Richardson starting under center, Mitchell showcased his ability to weave through defenders and find open space. On the opening drive, Mitchell appeared to be a veteran wideout with two catches for 18 yards and a touchdown to cap off Indy’s first series. It was just a glimpse, but Latu and Mitchell offered reason for optimism prior to their rookie seasons kicking off.

Bengals’ second-string defense hangs tough against Colts starters. After allowing an opening-drive touchdown to Richardson and Co., Cincinnati’s defense held its own the next four series versus Indianapolis’ starters. On the Colts’ second drive, safety Jordan Battle cut off Richardson’s pass to tight end Kylen Granson for a pick-six. In the second quarter, it was Justin Blazek’s turn to disrupt Richardson as he forced a strip-sack, but the Colts recovered the ball. It led to the Colts punting, which they did on three consecutive series after Battle’s INT score. Speaking at halftime, head coach Zac Taylor lauded his defense’s showing against the Colts first-teamers. It was a half of football that could bode well for the Bengals’ defensive depth this season.

Chicago Bears 34, Kansas City Chiefs 21

Bagent puts exclamation point on impressive preseason. Bears second-string quarterback Tyson Bagent has had an eventful summer, whether it be in preseason play or as a Hard Knocks favorite. Bagent put his stamp on an excellent preseason run Thursday with a two-series cameo in which he led Chicago down the field for an opening-drive score that he fittingly took in himself. However, the highlight was Bagent hooking up with Nsimba Webster for a 44-yard gain. Four plays later, Bagent ran it in for a 5-yard touchdown. Finishing his preseason having completed 17 of 25 passes for 207 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions and adding the rushing score, Bagent has solidified his QB2 status behind No. 1 pick Caleb Williams. With the help of his time on Hard Knocks, his personality has shined through, as well. He filled in admirably as a rookie when Justin Fields was injured and has now provided ample reason to believe he can deliver in the case of a Bears emergency, and all along will be a personality who’s easy for Bears fans to root on.

Steele makes highlight-filled case for roster spot. The alligator-having, long-locks-flowing, hard-charging Carson Steele could be more than a preseason darling. Steele made a resounding argument for a spot on the 53-man roster Thursday, doing everything he could to show his worth. Steele rumbled and stiff-armed his way to an almost-touchdown from 32 yards out that was reversed via replay into a 31-yard gain. A play later, he ran it in from a yard out. With a lack of running back depth, the Chiefs have a versatile option with Steele who has some burst, some goal-line power and versatility to line up at fullback or potentially elsewhere. He finished with 50 yards on four carries, but also had three tackles. Two were on special teams and one was on offense after an interception. There’s plenty of personality on the back-to-back Super Bowl champs’ roster, why not add another? Steele’s more than just a quirky summer story, he should be a 2024 Chief.

CHIEFS, CREED HUMPHREY AGREE TO FOUR-YEAR, $72M DEAL THAT MAKES HIM HIGHEST-PAID CENTER IN NFL

After a pair of Pro Bowl selections and two Super Bowl victories, Creed Humphrey has another accolade to add to his resume.

Humphrey and the Kansas City Chiefs have agreed to terms on a four-year, $72 million deal that will make him the highest-paid center in the league, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Thursday night, per sources.

Over the course of the new deal, Humphrey will average $18 million per season, making him the highest-paid center in history based on annual average, surpassing the previous mark of Jason Kelce at $14.25 million in a massive way.

Humphrey, who was set to play in the final year of his rookie contract, has started every game possible since he was taken in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Chiefs.

He’s been the starting center for Kansas City in 51 consecutive games to begin his career and all 10 playoffs games during his tenure.

Humphrey has been a crucial part in shoring up the Chiefs’ line in front of Patrick Mahomes and has been a Pro Bowl pick in each of the last two seasons, though he’s never taken part in the Pro Bowl Games because he’s been busy helping the squad to back-to-back Super Bowl wins.

A stout run blocker and pass protector, the 25-year-old’s importance for the Chiefs can’t be overstated, and he’s now got the contract to prove that.

BEARS DB COLEMAN IMMOBILIZED ON STRETCHER, TAKEN TO HOSPITAL

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Bears cornerback Douglas Coleman III was immobilized on a stretcher and taken from Arrowhead Stadium in an ambulance on Thursday night after tackling the Chiefs’ Cornell Powell on the first play of the second half of their preseason game.

The 26-year-old Coleman had his head up as he came darting in to make the tackle near the Chiefs sideline, but his neck bent awkwardly to the side and the former CFL standout went down on impact. Coleman lay motionless as trainers from both teams rushed onto the field to check on him, and they were soon joined by doctors as a medical cart also drove onto the field.

Bears coach Matt Eberflus came over and saw Coleman moving his extremities as the medical staff removed his facemask and strapped him to a backboard. He was then loaded onto the cart and driven up the tunnel in the corner of the stadium.

“When I was on the field, over there on the Chiefs sideline, he was moving his limbs and gave us a thumbs-up,” Eberflus said, “so that was good to see. I don’t have anything more. He’s at the hospital right now being evaluated.”

The Bears went on to win their preseason finale, 34-21.

Coleman played college football at Texas Tech, where in 2016 he was a freshman and Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was a junior poised to become a first-round NFL draft pick. Coleman moved to safety as a senior and was an All-Big 12 selection.

Coleman went undrafted in 2020 but signed with the Broncos as a free agent, spending time on their practice squad. He spent the past three years with the Ottawa Redblacks, switching between safety and linebacker, and appeared in 17 games last season with 60 tackles, four sacks, three interceptions and both interception and fumble returns for touchdowns.

SEAHAWKS TRADE FORMER STARTING CB MICHAEL JACKSON TO PANTHERS FOR ROOKIE LB MICHAEL BARRETT

RENTON, Wash. (AP) — The Seattle Seahawks traded one-time starting cornerback Michael Jackson to the Carolina Panthers on Thursday in exchange for rookie linebacker Michael Barrett.

Jackson, 27, was a key contributor for Seattle for the past two seasons. He started all 17 games at cornerback during the 2022 season and last season started four games and played in all 17. He had 17 passes defensed and one interception over the past two seasons combined.

But Jackson had fallen down the depth chart behind Tre Brown, Riq Woolen and Devon Witherspoon as the starters in Seattle’s defense. The Seahawks also selected rookies Nehemiah Pritchett and D.J. James in this year’s draft.

The Panthers were lacking depth at cornerback after recent injuries to starter Dane Jackson and Lamar Jackson. Dane Jackson is expected to miss the start of the regular season, while Lamar Jackson was released.

Barrett was a seventh-round pick by the Panthers this year and the trade also highlights some of Seattle’s concerns about depth at linebacker. Barrett played one season at Michigan under current Seattle coach Mike Macdonald when he was the defensive coordinator for the Wolverines. Barrett was a captain and third-team all-Big Ten selection last season for Michigan on its way to the national title.

COMMANDERS TRADE DOTSON TO EAGLES

The Washington Commanders traded wide receiver Jahan Dotson and a 2025 fifth-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a 2025 third-rounder and a pair of seventh-round selections, the teams announced Thursday.

The Commanders part ways with Dotson only two seasons after they spent a first-round selection on the receiver in 2022. He appeared in 29 games for the franchise, including 26 starts, and reeled in 84 catches for 1,041 yards and 11 touchdowns.

However, his role as Washington’s second starting receiver behind Terry McLaurin became more uncertain in new coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s offense. Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said earlier this month that there were a lot of receivers battling for the second wideout role on the depth chart.

Washington were receiving trade calls for Dotson in recent days, a source told Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post.

Dotson’s injection into the Eagles’ offense gives them an additional weapon in the receiving corps alongside A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. He’s also the second major skill-position player added to the unit following the free-agent signing of running back Saquon Barkley earlier this offseason.

Dotson can play both out wide and in the slot, with 42.1% of his passing snaps coming in the slot last season, per PFF.

Other receivers on the Commanders’ roster include Olamide Zaccheaus, Dyami Brown, and Luke McCaffrey, among others.

COMMANDERS ACQUIRE PK CADE YORK, PUNT RILEY PATTERSON

Washington’s kicker carousel spun again on Thursday, when the Commanders traded a conditional seventh-round pick to the Cleveland Browns for Cade York and released Riley Patterson.

York is the third kicker to get a shot at the primary place-kicking job with the Commanders since Brandon McManus was released in May. McManus was signed to replace Joey Slye, who left in free agency. But McManus was waived two months before training camp when a lawsuit alleging sexual assault on a team plane while he was a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars came to light.

Patterson was 2-for-4 on field-goal tries in the preseason and had similar accuracy issues in practices. The Memphis product was competing with Ramiz Ahmed in camp. Washington let Ahmed go earlier in this month.

The Browns are set at the position with Dustin Hopkins, the primary kicker for Washington from 2015-21, and were likely to let York go or sign him to the practice squad.

A Browns’ fourth-round pick out LSU in 2022, York spent his rookie season in Cleveland and made 24 of 32 attempts highlighted by a 58-yard game-winner in his debut.

York, 23, did not kick in a regular-season game last year. He spent most of the 2023 season on the practice squads of the New York Giants and Tennessee Titans after the Browns acquired Hopkins from the Los Angeles Chargers.

–Field Level Media

FALCONS SIGN TERRELL TO 4-YEAR EXTENSION WORTH REPORTED $81M

The Atlanta Falcons signed cornerback A.J. Terrell to a four-year extension, the club announced Thursday.

The deal is worth $81 million, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. It includes $65.8 million guaranteed, which represents the most guaranteed money a corner has received on a four-year deal.

The contract’s $20.25-million average annual value ranks second among all corners, according to Over The Cap.

“A homegrown player, he embodies the characteristics and traits we want as a Falcon,” general manager Terry Fontenot said in a statement. “He leads by example with his work ethic, and as a great teammate, he does anything he can to help this team win on a continuous basis.”

Terrell, a second-team All-Pro in 2021, has 43 pass deflections and four interceptions in 61 career games. He’s also tallied four forced fumbles and 11 tackles for loss.

The 25-year-old is joined by safeties Jessie Bates and recent signee Justin Simmons in the Falcons’ secondary.

BASEBALL NEWS

MLB ROUNDUP: AARON JUDGE HITS 48TH HR AS YANKEES BLANK GUARDIANS

Aaron Judge hit his major league-best 48th homer as the host New York Yankees recorded a 6-0 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday afternoon.

Judge homered for the third straight game when he lifted a 2-1 changeup into the right field seats off Guardians starter Gavin Williams (2-6) to give the Yankees a 1-0 lead in the fourth. It was Judge’s sixth homer in his past seven games along with his 13th in his past 24 contests.

The Yankees’ Gerrit Cole (5-2) allowed one hit in six innings and survived tying a career-worst five walks to become the fourth active pitcher to reach 150 career wins. Cole, who allowed a single to Steven Kwan on the game’s second pitch, joined Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer and Clayton Kershaw on the active pitcher list.

Williams allowed three runs on four hits in 4 1/3 innings. Williams struck out five, walked four and was lifted after Juan Soto hit into a forceout ahead of Giancarlo Stanton’s 21st homer of the season.

Nationals 8, Rockies 3

Patrick Corbin recorded a season-high eight strikeouts across six strong innings as host Washington topped Colorado in the rubber match of a three-game series.

Corbin (3-12) allowed just one run on four hits while walking one to earn his 100th career win and first since July 19. He had gone 0-3 with an 8.51 ERA over his previous five starts.

Brenton Doyle spoiled Corbin’s shutout bid with a two-out solo shot in the top of the sixth to pull the Rockies within 2-1.

Cardinals 3, Brewers 0

Miles Mikolas and three relievers combined on a three-hitter as St. Louis blanked visiting Milwaukee.

Mikolas allowed two hits in six innings. He struck out three and walked one. Andrew Kittredge (2-4), JoJo Romero and Ryan Helsley pitched an inning each to complete the shutout. Helsley earned his 39th save.

Nolan Arenado hit an RBI single and extended his on-base streak to 21 games as the Cardinals won two of three in the series. Brewers starting pitcher Freddy Peralta held the Cards scoreless for five innings on three hits and two walks.

Pirates 7, Reds 0

Paul Skenes threw six shutout innings to help Pittsburgh to a shutout win against visiting Cincinnati in the opener of their four-game series.

Skenes (8-2) limited the Reds to two hits in the 17th start of his rookie season. The right-hander struck out nine and walked one on 87 pitches. Bryan De La Cruz had three hits and three RBIs, Bryan Reynolds had two hits, an RBI and a run scored and Yasmani Grandal homered for the Pirates, who had lost three of four.

Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo (9-6) breezed through the first four innings before running into trouble in the six-run fifth. He allowed five runs on just two hits, struck out nine and walked three in 4 2/3 innings.

Blue Jays 5, Angels 3

Ernie Clement keyed a five-run second inning with a two-run home run and Toronto defeated visiting Los Angeles.

Clement homered in his third consecutive game and the Blue Jays homered in their 11th straight game. Niko Kavadas hit a three-run homer for his first major league hit in the ninth and Jo Adell added three hits for the Angels.

Both teams used an opener. Angels left-hander Brock Burke (1-1) allowed three runs and three hits in one-plus inning. Toronto right-hander Ryan Burr allowed two hits and a walk in one-plus inning. Toronto left-hander Ryan Yarbrough (5-2) tossed five scoreless innings, allowing three hits and striking out four to earn the win.

Cubs 10, Tigers 2

Miguel Amaya went 3-for-4 with a grand slam and five RBIs to lead host Chicago over Detroit in the rubber game of their three-game series.

It was the first grand slam of Amaya’s two-year career and his sixth home run of the season. Dansby Swanson went 2-for-4 with two stolen bases. two runs scored and an RBI. Nico Hoerner also went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored for the Cubs, who won for the fourth time in their past six games.

Spencer Torkelson homered and Colt Keith had two hits and a run scored for the Tigers. Kenta Maeda (2-6), taking over the bulk role after Tyler Holton pitched a 1-2-3 first as the opener, took the loss, yielding six runs on nine hits over five innings.

Athletics 3, Rays 1

Osvaldo Bido allowed just two hits in five-plus innings, Darell Hernaiz contributed to a two-run second with the first of his two doubles and Oakland split its four-game home series against Tampa Bay.

Lawrence Butler collected two hits, a run and an RBI for the A’s. Bido (5-3) won his third straight start despite allowing his first run in that stretch. That came in the fourth when Jose Caballero’s two-out double scored Christopher Morel, who had singled.

The second-year right-hander then retired the next four batters he faced before walking Brandon Lowe to lead off the sixth, prompting Bido’s removal with a 3-1 lead. Four Oakland relievers shut down Tampa Bay the rest of the way.

Braves 3, Phillies 2

Rookie Spencer Schwellenbach continued his mastery of visiting Philadelphia, pitching Atlanta to a win in the rubber game of their three-game series.

The victory allowed the Braves to cut Philadelphia’s lead in the National League East to six games. Schwellenbach (5-6) pitched 6 2/3 innings and allowed two runs on three hits — retiring 18 straight batters at one point — with one walk and nine strikeouts.

In two starts against Philadelphia, Schwellenbach has pitched 12 2/3 innings and allowed three runs with 15 strikeouts. Phillies starter Cristopher Sanchez (9-9) threw six innings and allowed three runs on nine hits, one walk and eight strikeouts.

Astros 6, Orioles 0

Rookie Spencer Arrighetti threw six shutout innings and Houston newcomer Ben Gamel had a pair of run-scoring hits in a victory against host Baltimore.

Arrighetti (6-11) held the Orioles to three hits and one walk with six strikeouts. Shawn Dubin worked two innings and Caleb Ferguson threw in the ninth to complete the combined three-hitter in the opener of a four-game series between American League playoff contenders.

Shay Whitcomb provided a two-run single while Gamel came through at the plate in his Astros debut. Before Thursday, Gamel — a veteran of more than 700 games — had played in only 24 games across a two-season span.

–Field Level Media

REPORT: MARINERS SET TO FIRE SERVAIS, NAME DAN WILSON AS REPLACEMENT

The Seattle Mariners are expected to fire longtime manager Scott Servais and name former player Dan Wilson as the replacement skipper, sources told Ken Rosenthal and Marc Carig of The Athletic.

Servais, who has held the position since 2016, will reportedly be let go after the Mariners were swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Seattle has gone 20-33 to drop back to .500 following a 44-31 start to the year.

The Mariners are a season-high five games behind the Houston Astros for the AL West lead and 7.5 games out of the final wild-card spot.

Servais, 57, went 680-642 with Seattle, which included snapping a 21-year playoff drought en route to an appearance in the 2022 ALDS.

However, team president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto recently acknowledged that clubhouse changes needed to be taken into consideration amid an underwhelming 2024 season.

Wilson, who’s never managed professionally or been on a major-league coaching staff, played for the Mariners for 12 years between 1994 and 2005.

The 55-year-old will attempt to right a Mariners club that’s scored the fourth-fewest runs and has the worst team batting average in the majors. Seattle’s offensive struggles have overshadowed a starting rotation that owns an MLB-best 3.32 ERA.

REPORT: REDS SIGNING VETERAN 1B DOMINIC SMITH

The Cincinnati Reds are signing first baseman Dominic Smith to a major league contract, ESPN reported Thursday.

Smith was released by the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday, four days after he was designated for assignment. The former first-round draft pick became expendable when Boston reinstated first baseman Triston Casas from the 60-day injured list last week.

The reported addition of Smith will help the Reds address the loss of versatile infielder Jeimer Candelario, who was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a fractured left big toe.

Candelario, 30, has made 53 starts at third base, 32 at designated hitter and 26 at first base this season.

Smith, 29, batted .237 with six home runs, 34 RBIs and a .706 OPS in 83 games for the Red Sox.

Boston signed Smith on May 1 after he opted out of a minor league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays, who had released him one day earlier.

The New York Mets selected Smith with the 11th overall pick of the 2013 MLB Draft. Smith played for New York from 2017-22, finishing 13th in the National League MVP voting in 2020 when he posted career bests by slashing .316/.377/.616.

In 683 career games for the Mets, Washington Nationals (2023) and Red Sox, Smith batted .247 with 64 homers and 259 RBIs.

–Field Level Media

GOLF NEWS

KEEGAN BRADLEY LEADS BMW CHAMPIONSHIP AT WEATHER DELAY

Keegan Bradley, the last man into the BMW Championship field, shot a 6-under-par 66 to take the first-round lead before a dangerous weather delay interrupted the end of the action Thursday in Castle Rock, Colo.

The weather delay kicked in at 3:33 p.m. local time with just eight players left on the course at Castle Pines Golf Club, including Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, alone in second at 5 under par with one hole to finish. Matsuyama won last week’s playoff opener, the FedEx St. Jude Championship.

Bradley didn’t fare as well at the St. Jude but squeaked into this week’s field at No. 50 on the points list. The upcoming U.S. Ryder Cup captain posted a bogey-free round with six birdies, including a 10-footer to finish up at No. 18. Because playoff events are worth four times the points of a regular-season tournament, Bradley would rocket into the top five in points with a win in the thin air of Colorado.

Tied for third at 4-under 68 were Sungjae Im of South Korea, Alex Noren of Sweden, Adam Scott of Australia and Corey Conners of Canada.

Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy made a 21-foot eagle from off the green at the par-5 14th to get to 3 under. He was facing a 20-foot birdie putt at the 18th when the weather delay began. The three-time FedEx Cup champion was tied at 3 under with Xander Schauffele, South Korea’s Si Woo Kim and Nick Dunlap, the latter of whom had three holes left.

World No. 1 and FedEx Cup leader Scottie Scheffler turned in a 1-under 71 and was seen grabbing at his lower back during his penultimate hole. Scheffler later said he woke up sore on Thursday morning and was “laboring” but is not injured.

Reigning BMW Championship and FedEx Cup winner Viktor Hovland of Norway also opened with a 71.

–Field Level Media

HOME ALONE: ENGLAND’S CHARLEY HULL BIRDIES 18 FOR SOLO OPEN LEAD

Local fan favorite Charley Hull tapped in a birdie on the 18th hole and jumped to the top of the leaderboard at the Women’s Open in challenging conditions on Thursday at the St. Andrews Old Course in Scotland.

Bitter cold and blustery winds knocked scoring down at St. Andrews but China’s Ruoning Yin stood strong with seven birdies for a first-round 68 to claim the short-lived lead before Hull’s final putt shifted her to second place.

Seeking her first win in a major, Hull’s approach on the final hole skipped just past the pin and she tapped in for an opening-round 67 moments after World No. 1 Nelly Korda made her third birdie in five holes for a 68.

Hull, 28, finished second in the 2023 Women’s British Open and tied for second at the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open.

Yin, who finished tied for 61st in her debut Open last year, played in the most difficult conditions among the leaders.

“I just tried to play with the wind. I know it’s tough conditions, you just have to have a better attitude,” said Yin, the 2023 Women’s PGA Championship winner. “I was talking to my coach, we both think if we can just go 1-under every day, that will leave me a good position. I was 6-under at some point today.”

Only 16 players were under par when the first round was postponed due to darkness. The average round completed Thursday lasted just under six hours. Yin completed her first ever competitive round at St. Andrews Old Course and said the memories will be special regardless how the next three days go.

Defending champion Lilia Vu’s 15-foot birdie putt curled short of the hole, leaving her a tap-in short of the lowest opening-round by a defending champion at the Open since 2004.

She sits in a group two shots off the lead along with Jenny Shinn, Andrea Lee, Mi Hyang Lee and Patty Tavatanakit.

“Today was all about staying super-patient. I knew the winds were up. I was just trying to play really smart. Par was a really good score,” Andrea Lee said.

Course-side wind readings topped 40 mph and reached a nearly unplayable 50 mph on Thursday morning. Wind gusts quieted late Thursday but not all golfers completed the first round and rain is in the forecast Friday.

“I think the most difficult part was trying to maintain my balance over the ball. Just trying to stabilize. The wind was just going to move you in all directions.”

Korda, wearing a scarf and stocking cap most of the round, left short a birdie try on the 15th but reached the green in two at the last to finish her round birdie-birdie.

Olympic gold medalist Lydia Ko finished 1 under, four off the lead, and said walking off the course “all you can do is really laugh, it’s so windy” even good shots can be wrecked.

“It’s even hard to putt. It was difficult. I knew it was going to be a challenge,” Ko said.

–Field Level Media

NASCAR NEWS

DANGEROUS DAYTONA LURKS AS THRILLING CUP SERIES CONTINUES

A few races get circled on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule when it comes out.

The season-opening Daytona 500, Charlotte’s 600-miler, Indianapolis’ Brickyard 400 and Darlington’s Southern 500 make the list because of their history. Throw in the championship race at Phoenix for obvious reasons, too.

While we are at it, add another — a dangerous, high-stakes race where one little slip could cause a standings-altering melee and ruin everything a team has built over 24 races across six months of racing.

That’s the Coke Zero 400 on Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway.

The previous two winners this season at what were once considered restrictor-plate tracks, Daytona and its sister-in-high-speed Talladega, were William Byron and Tyler Reddick — and both know the perils of racing in rocketing, tight packs.

Six months back in wintry Florida, Byron scored a four-lap shootout victory under caution after Ross Chastain and Austin Cindric wrecked at the end, handing the Hendrick Motorsports driver his first Daytona 500 victory.

Reddick’s Talladega triumph in April was one of 2024’s most harrowing finishes and typical of the type of breakneck speed and close racing that manifest at the two tracks.

Last week’s winner at Michigan, Reddick ran fifth off Talladega’s final turn, then stormed past Brad Keselowski after the No. 6 Ford and leader Michael McDowell created frontstretch chaos and piled up cars.

Something seriously significant is going to happen on the 2.5-mile, high-banked track in Florida’s summer heat Saturday night.

It’s just a matter of when.

Right away, like in the 1990 race on Lap 2 when Derrick Cope, Greg Sacks and Richard Petty triggered a 23-car pileup?

Or maybe the massive mayhem nine years ago when Austin Dillon’s airborne No. 3 violently shredded the catchfence in front of the grandstands as Dale Earnhardt Jr. took the checkers?

“It is pretty tough. That race is probably more challenging than any of them,” said No. 43 driver Erik Jones, who won the 2018 version of the 160-lap white-knuckler.

Dillon likely arrived in Daytona a little edgy.

His team’s Wednesday appeal was denied to overturn NASCAR’s decision to deny him a title berth after his rowdy Richmond run wiped out leaders Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin.

The Richard Childress Racing driver will have to win Saturday or on Labor Day weekend in the Southern 500 to be in the 16-car championship field.

Like Dale Earnhardt who made the No. 3 famous — “The Intimidator” was the winningest driver in Daytona history with 34 overall victories — Dillon knows a bit about winning on those steep banks.

Two of Dillon’s five career victories are the 2018 Daytona 500 and his championship-berth-earning win in the 2022 summer event when he was the only car on the lead lap and avoided a spectacular crash during rainfall.

He has done it before, though in the two triumphs, he led only 11 laps, including just the final one in 2018.

After a pair of entertaining races following the Olympic break, Daytona turns it up a notch in intensity with so much at stake and with danger lurking everywhere on the 31-degree-banked asphalt monster.

–Field Level Media

TOP INDIANA SPORTS/NEWS RELEASES

INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL WATCH LIST

The Indiana High School football season kicks-off tonight. Here is our final player watch list:

LAST SEASON’S STATS

QB Tanner Aspeslet, Lawrence North: 831 yards, 8 TD’S

QB Diego Arroyo Kankakee Valley: 1,407 yards, 17TD, 4 rushing TD (National Honors Society 4.32 GPA, 3-year starter, drawing interest from MAC, IVY League and DII and DIII schools)

QB Noah Ehrlich Crown Point: 2,452 yards, 27TD @ Hobart…(Committed to Miami, OH)

QB Anthony Coellner, Carmel: 56.1%, 937 yards and eight TD’S

QB Devin Craig, Lapel: 66.4%, 2,777 yards and 31TD’S

QB Dallas Freeman, Greenfield-Central: 62.1%, 1,444 yards and 19 TD’S

QB Maverick Geske, Brebeuf Jesuit: 62.2%, 3,084 yards and 40 TD’S

QB Carsen Melvin, Westfield: (Freshman stats at Plainfield) 61.3%, 1,638 yards and 16 TDs

QB Connor Moreland, Speedway: 60.4%, 1,884 yards and 15 TD’S

QB Isaiah Rogers Ben Davis 6’3” 200: 514 yards, 4TD (back-up to Thomas Gotkowski)

QB Bo Polston, Decatur Central: 1,614 yards and 19 TDs, 460 rushing yards (Committed to Toledo)

QB A.J. Reynolds, Martinsville: 63.3%, 1,736 yards and 14 TDs

QB Christian Kramer North Putnam 1,878 yards passing, 1,018 yards rushing, 15TD passes, 18 rushing touchdowns, 142 points

QB Jaydin Rivers, Warren Central: (stats from Hammond Noll)-53.6%, 1,015 yards and 7 TD’S

QB Nevan Tutterow, Franklin Central: 55.3%, 1,949 yards and 15 TDs and 14 interceptions

QB Malachi Walden, Tri-West: 1,640 passing yards for 17 TDs, 1,796 rushing yards, 20TD’s

QB Terry Walker III, Lawrence Central: 52.9%, 749 yards, 5TD

QB Chandler Weston, Hamilton Southeastern: 58.6% of his passes for 1,415 yards and 18 TDs

QB Jackson Willis, Lutheran: 66.3%, 2,555 yards and 31 touchdowns

QB Santana Allen, Cardinal Ritter: 1,851 yards and 13 TDs

QB Connor Cruz, Covenant Christian: 2,631 yards and 33 touchdowns (Transferred to Mooresville)

QB Elijah Edon, Eastern Hancock: 2,077 yards and 17 touchdowns, 687 rushing yards and 11 TDs.

QB Jackson Folden, Lebanon: 62.3%, 1,692 yards and 17 TDs

QB Gavin Neal, New Palestine: 55.2%, 1,469 yards and 14 touchdowns

QB Eli Showalter, Zionsville: 960 yards and 10 TDs

QB Conner Soper, Danville: 1,931 yards and 19 TDs in 14 games

QB Jimmy Sullivan FW Carroll 6’3 180….Committed to Iowa)

QB Dash King Bloomington North 6’2 198: 2,239 yards, 22TD

QB Maverick Geske Brebeuf Jesuit 6’0 190: 3,084 yards, 40TD, 62% completions

QB Jett Goldsberry Heritage Hills 5’11 185: 1,206 yards, 16TD

QB Bobby Metzger Lafayette Central Catholic 6’0 160: 2,943 yards, 34TD, 62% completions

QB Brady Wilson Terre Haute South 5’10 180: 2,630 passing yards, 22TD, 60% completions

QB Mark Rowland Boone Grove 6’1 170: 2,732 yards, 34TD, 65% completions, 389 rushing yards, 8TD

QB Wyatt Mullin South Putnam 5’10 195: 2,247 yards, 27TD, 61% completions

QB Brock Shank Northwestern 6’2” 165: 2,450 yards, 19TD

QB Silas Laidig Bremen 6’1” 215: 2,378 yards, 18TD

QB Dominic Garzolini South Vermillion 6’1” 185: 2,144 yards, 29TD

QB Kolton Foutz Calumet Christian 6’1” 155: 2,133 yards, 27TD

QB Will Jaisle Batesville 6’0” 180: 1,840 yards, 29TD, 60% completions

QB Santana Allen Ritter 6’0” 155: 1,851 yards, 13TD

QB Nathan Byrd Scottsburg 6’0” 167: 1,814yards, 23TD

QB Corshawn Sartin Crispus Attucks 5’10” 168: 1,761 yards, 20TD, 63% completions

QB Brayden Holbrook Lakeland 6’3” 190: 1,710 yards, 14TD

QB Brady Gast Alexandria 5’10” 168: 1,677 yards, 18TD, 68% completions

QB Ethan Need Twin Lakes 6’2” 160: 1,666 yards, 10TD

QB Blake Fraker Sullivan 5’8” 165: 1,621 yards, 16TD

QB Eli Nix Heritage Christian 6’3” 180: 1,578 yards, 17TD, 61% completions

QB Asher Ratliff Columbus North 5’9” 160: 1,368 yards 18TD

QB Cole Stephens Greencastle 6’2” 175: 2,675 yards 34TD, 67% completions (Offer from Miami,OH)

QB Eli Foxworthy Fountain Central 6’0” 170: 1,744 yards, 23TD

QB Trysten Barrett Lafayette Jeff 5’9” 165: 979 yards, 12TD, 64% completions

RB Alijah Price Ben Davis 5’6 165: 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns

RB Jalen Bonds Cathedral 6’0 205: 1,194 yards and eight TDs (6.3 yards per carry) and caught six passes for 65 yards.

RB Cody Allen Laville 5’10” 165: 1,515 yards, 21 TD, 6.4 YPC

RB Joliba Brogan II Mt. Vernon 5’8” 185: 1,733 rushing yards and 21 rushing TDs

RB Jazz Coleman Speedway 5’11” 200: 888 yards and eight TDs and catching 29 passes for 253 yards and two TDs.

RB N’po DoDo Decatur Central 6’0” 180: 1,194 yards and eight touchdowns and caught 15 passes for 315 yards and five TDs

RB CJ Harris Brebeuf 5’7” 170: 1,285 yards and 11 touchdowns and caught 27 passes for 164 yards and two TDs

RB Austin Hennessy Center Grove 6’2” 195

RB Mark Kube Eastern Hancock 6’0” 185: 1,746 yards and 28 TD

RB Jeremiah Lee Beech Grove 6’0” 185: 1,648 yards and 20 TD, 6.8ypc

RB Alex Leugers Franklin 6’0” 200: 1,389 rushing yards and 14 rushing TDs

RB Jaylan McMoore Warren Central 5’9” 200: 926 yards and 8TD

RB Kendall Garnett Warren Central: 1,119 yards and 12 TDs (at Westfield)

RB Izayveon Moore Lawrence North 5’8” 175: 1,127 yards and 9TD

RB Caron Parks Lawrence Central 5’7” 170: 577 yards and 3 TD

RB Elijah Pimental, Heritage Christian 5’9” 160: 1,382 yards and 12 TD

RB Toby Savini Cascade 5’10” 170: 1,055 yards and 12 TD

RB Brendan Shockley Lebanon 5’10” 185: 1,105 yards and 12 TD

RB Luke Starnes, Plainfield 5’8” 185: 952 yards and 12 TDs

RB Darrell Taylor, Crispus Attucks 5’8” 200: 2,111 yards and 23 TD

RB Azariah Wallace, Hamilton Southeastern 5’11” 195: 595 yards and 9TD

RB Slate Valentine, Whiteland 5’9” 170: 587 yards and eight TDs

RB Novell Miller Mishawaka 5’10 195: 551 yards, 9TD

RB Brian Osman, Mishawaka Marian 5’4” 150: 919 yards, 9TD

RB Slate Valentine Whiteland 5’10 156: 1,940 yards, 20TD, 6.8ypc

RB Ryan Mingus East Central 5’11” 210: 411 yards, 4TD (as a freshman)

RB Matthew McKitrick Western 5’11 190: 1,645 yards, 13TD, 7.6ypc

RB Seth Pruitt West Noble 5’9 185: 1,454 yards, 25TD, 6.7ypc

RB Caiden Verrett Hanover Central 6’0 190: 1,743 yards, 15TD, 8.7ypc

RB Jed Galvin North Posey 5’11 180: 1,323 yards, 26TD, 7.8ypc

RB Landon Terry Tell City 5’11 205: 606 yards, 8TD, 11.4ypc

RB Jerimiah Ullom Monroe Central 5’9 210: 821 yards, 15TD, 11.2ypc

RB Brock Benson North Judson 6’0 225: 1,469 yards, 19TD

RB Christen Ferguson Harrison 6’1 185: 659 yards, 10TD

RB Jaron Thomas Concord 6’1 195: 1,207 rushing yards, 14TD, 8.7ypc…(Committed to Purdue)

RB Mark Kube Eastern Hancock 6’0 180: 1,746 yads, 28TD, 7.0 ypc

RB Brant Beck Rochester 5’7 170: 1,082 yards, 13TD, 11.4ypc

RB Corbin Johnson South Decatur 5’7 175: 1,277 yards, 19TD, 11.2ypc

RB Coltyn McNabb North Daviess 6’1 195: 1,426 yards, 16TD, 10.1ypc

RB Marco Castro Kankakee Valley 6’2” 205: 1,718 yards, 19TD

RB Diego Hernandez-Reyes Rensselaer Central 5’9” 165: 1,688 yards, 24TD

RB Gage Pohlman Batesville 6’2” 195: 1,583 yards, 16TD

RB Brock Benson North Judson 5’11” 220: 1,469 yards, 19TD

RB Estil Pruitt West Noble 5’10” 190: 1,454 yards, 25TD

RB Jake Conroy Knox 5’11” 165: 1,434 yards, 20TD

RB Brayden Jones Eastern 6’1” 225: 1,336 yards, 15TD

RB Cian Moore Covington 5”8” 170: 1,332 yards, 13TD

RB Jonathan Pearson Tri-County: 1,327 yards, 21TD

RB Zyeiar White Terre Haute South 5’7” 165: 1,287 yards, 12TD

RB Caiden Hinkle DeKalb 6’3” 225: 1,270 yards, 14TD

ATH Noah Ehrlich Crown Point 6’2 190

ATH Larry Ellison Crown Point 5’10 170

RB Myles McLaughlin Knox 5’10” 180: 2,584 yards, 35TD

RB Darrell Taylor Crispus Attucks 5’8” 200: 2,111 yards, 23TD

RB Frank Luzadder Frankton 5’6” 175: 1,458 yards, 13TD

RB Linkin Carter Eastside: 1,439 yards 19TD

RB Aiden Weathehead Winchester: 1,392 yards, 21TD

RB Elijah Pimental Heritage Christian 5’9” 160: 1,382 yards, 12TD

RB Jett Goldsberry Heritage Hills 6’0” 190: 1,351 yards, 20TD

RB Landon Shuck Scottsburg 5’9” 172: 1,209 yards, 8TD

WR Eugene Hilton Zionsville 6’1 190: 46 rec, 836 yards, 10TD…(Committed to Wisconsin)

WR Gabe Aramboles Westfield 6’0” 195: 41rec, 583 yards, 6TD (missed 3 games-injury)

WR Tristan Baxter Center Grove 6’0” 165: 22rec, 338 yards 2TD

WR Jorian Brooks Bloomington North 31 rec, 724 yards, 6TD

WR Avery Mitchell Ben Davis 5’7” 155: 468 all-purpose yards…(Transfer from Speedway)

WR Brevin Holubar Center Grove 6’2” 180: 39 rec, 744 yards, 6TD

WR Byron Hon Perry Meridian 5’9” 150: 40 rec, 691 yards, 6TD

WR JonAnthony Hall Fishers 6’2 180: 69 rec, 1,055 yards, 6TD….(committed to Stanford)

WR Isaac Kaiser Floyd Central 6’4 190: 41 rec, 912 yards, 13TD

WR Ja’Mir Bouie Avon 6’2” 170: 40rec, 415 yards, 5TD (Plainfield)

WR Brody Isza Washington 6’1″ 185: 34rec, 502 yards, 7TD, 10 overall TD’s

WR Shawn Curry Avon 5’11” 150: 26 rec, 477 yards, 5TD

WR TJ Stewart Avon: 25 rec, 357 yards

WR Chazz Corley Warren Central 6’2” 175: 23rec, 405 yards, TD

WR AJ Johnson Cathedral 6’5” 185: 20 rec, 372 yards, 7TD

WR Devaughn Slaughter Cathedral 6’0” 175: 53 rec, 373 yards, 7TD

WR Damir Swanigan Franklin Central 6’3” 180: 19 rec, 211 yards, 2TD

WR Jaylan Johnson Seymour 6’4 185: 58 rec, 1,003 yards, 9TD

WR Tyler Champion Hamilton Heights 5’10” 165: 41rec, 645 yards, 7TD

WR Benny Speaker West Lafayette 5’9 147: 88 rec, 968 yards, 10TD

WR Kaden Bruhn Mooresville 5’11” 160: 41rec, 548 yards, 3TD

WR Beau Braun Westfield 6’2” 190: 26 rec, 387 yards, TD

WR Parker Knott Westfield 6’2” 187: 27 rec, 324 yards, TD

WR Tyler Ruxer Heritage Hills 6’4 175: 27 rec, 545 yards, 9TD

WR Nilyn Compton Southport 6’4” 160: 16 rec, 221 yards, 2TD (played only 7 games-injury)

WR Davion Chandler Lawrence North 6’0” 170: 40 rec, 779 yards, 13TD….(Committed to Indiana)

WR Damario Moore Lawrence North 5’8” 162: 18 rec, 312 yards, TD

WR Tyrus Graverson Bremen 5’9 185: 71 rec, 1,323 yards, 10TD

WR Jaylen White Bishop Luers 6’2 170: 40 rec, 586 yards, 8TD

WR DeVuan Jones Indianapolis Lutheran 5’9 165: 28 rec, 611 yards, 9TD

WR LJ Ward Indianapolis Lutheran 5’10” 150: 17 rec, 311 yards, 6TD (injured, played just 5 games)

WR/DB Mark Zachery Ben Davis 6’0” 160: 53 rec, 823 yds, 8TD….(Committed to Notre Dame)

WR Justus Ullom Monroe Central 5’11 175: 18 rec, 236 yards, 4TD

WR Gabe Aramboles Westfield 6’0 200: 41rec, 583yds, 6TD

WR Aiden Brewer Noblesville 6’4 215: 22rec, 399yds, 2TD

WR LeBron Hill Hammond Morton 6’5″ 180: 34rec, 564 yards, 8TD….(Committed to Purdue)

WR Hunter Stroud Martinsville 5’11 170: 66rec, 950 yds, 6TD

WR Stratton Fuller Columbia City 5’11 175: 45 rec, 707 yds, 9TD…(Committed to Army)

WR Fuddy Kile Maconaquah 6’2 165: 74 rec, 1,291 yds, 15TD

WR EJ Miller Eastside 5’11 170: 14 rec, 195 yds

WR Rylie Hudson Lapel 5’10” 190: 55 rec, 666 yards, 10TD

WR Jackson Cain Lafayette Central Catholic 5’9 193: 48 rec, 470 yds, 6 TD, 274 rushing yards, 4TD

ATH Luke Ellspermann Evansville Memorial 5’11 165: 52rec, 670 yds, 7TD, 367 rushing yards, 4TD, 388 passing yards, 8TD

WR Braylen Word Eastern 6’0” 175: 57rec, 1,131 yds, 13TD

WR Isaiah Kish Calumet Christian 5’10” 155: 63rec, 1,069 yds, 16TD

WR Ray Clayton Lafayette Central Catholic 6’5” 180: 80rec, 1,024 yds, 7TD

WR Taylor Clark Brebeuf 6’1” 157: 55rec, 996 yards, 17TD

WR Tizhaun Tomlinson Evansville Bosse: 66rec, 928 yards, 7TD

WR Avery Cook Ft. Wayne Concordia 6’2” 183: 70rec, 871 yards, 8TD

WR Bransyn Ensor South Putnam 5’9” 150: 26 rec, 788 yards, 30.3ypc

TE Andrew Barker Kokomo 6’4” 230: 23rec, 324 yards, 4TD….(Committed to Indiana)

TE Dominick Barry Center Grove 6’4” 225: 8 rec, 120 yards, TD (played only 5 games-injured)

TE Chris Herrin Terre Haute South 6’5 220: 61 rec, 839 yards, 8TD

TE Zach Litchfield Heritage 6’6” 200: 23rec, 405 yards, 8TD, 17.6ypc

TE Nizyi Davis Lawrence Central 6’5 215: 29 rec, 410 yards, TD…Committed to Wisconsin)

TE Brock Schott Leo 6’3 220: 35 rec, 743 yards, 6TD….(Committed to Miami, FL)

TE Andrew Monday Mississinawa 6’1 190: 33 rec, 635 yards, 9TD, 886 rushing yards, 6TD

TE Jace Scrafton Danville 6’6 210: 31 rec, 385 yards, 6TD

TE Kayden Ruble Eastern Hancock 6’4 230: 37 rec, 444 yards, 4TD

TE Xander Jones North Decatur 6’2 200: 13 rec, 114 yards, 2TD

TE Jaylan Johnson Seymour 6’2” 190: 58rec, 1,003 yards, 9TD

TE/LB Trevor Gibbs Crown Point 6’3” 230…(Offers from Ball State, Miami, OH, Western Michigan, Indiana and Purdue)

OL Hunter Buza Chesterton 6’3” 275 (Two way starter on State title team, back squats 500, front squats 420)

OL Cam Herron Warren Central 6’4 265 (All-State in 2023)….(Committed to Iowa)

OL Evan Parker Carmel 6’4 300 (All-State in 2023)….(Committed to Indiana)

OL Avery Huggins Westfield 6’4 275 (All-State in 2023)

OL Carson Powell Norwell 6’3” 290 (Bench 275, Squat 385, Deadlift 405, Power clean 215, 5.75-40, 4.78 shuttle)

OL Cameron Gorin HSE 6’6 275 (All-State in 2023)….(Committed to Purdue)

OL Caiden Abbs Carroll 6’5 275 (All-State in 2023)

OL Coleton Adamson Castle 6’0 215 (All-State in 2023)

OL Logan Efantis Munster 5’10 215 (All-State in 2023)

OL Tommy Spilker Plainfield 6’2 296 (All-State in 2023)

OL Cayleb Sharp Valparaiso 6’3 265 (All-State in 2023)

OL Blake Smythe Franklin 6’2 262 (All-State in 2023)

OL Luke Juris Hobart 6’1 250 (All-State in 2023)

OL Job Mavrick Culver Academies 6’2 240 (All-State in 2023)

OL Alex Kramer Greenwood 6’5 278 (All-State in 2023)

OL Parker Mattingly Memorial 6’5 245 (All-State in 2023)

OL Max Parciak Northwood 11 6’3 299 (All-State in 2023)

OL Giovanni Garcia-De La Torre Mishawaka Marian 6’3 265 (All-State in 2023)

OL Parker Hart Heritage Hills 6’4 230 (All-State in 2023)

OL Hunter Kauffman Fairfield 5’11 195 (All-State in 2023)

OL Charlie Riddle Heritage 6’4 245 (All-State in 2023)

OL R.J. Trevino Oak Hill 5’11 195

OL Ben Novak Andrean 6’6 305 (All-State in 2023)

OL Colton Crawford Triton Central 6’2 220 (All-State in 2023)

OL Xavier Vance Rochester 6’5 310 (All-State in 2023)

OL Noah Stuczynski Scecina Memorial 6’1 250 (All-State in 2023)

OL Nate McDurmon Mater Dei 6’3 240 (All-State in 2023)

OL Levi Watkins Carroll (Flora) 6’0 250 (All-State in 2023)

OL Landon Stanley Milan 5’11 250 (All-State in 2023)

OL Cole Kozecar North Judson 6’3 265 (All-State in 2023)

OL Griffin Tucker Providence 6’2 240 (All-State in 2023)

OL Parker Harris South Putnam 6’3 255 (All-State in 2023)

OL Luke Graham Pendleton Heights 6’4” 300

OL Owen Trietsch Sheridan 6’5” 270

OL Drew Scheifer Columbus North 6’4” 275

OL Ben Novak Andrean 6’6” 300

OL Bode Thompson Concordia 6’6” 275

OL Brock Brownfield New Palestine 6’3” 250

OL Braxton Tanner Edgewood 6’4” 250 (Getting interest from D2 and D3 schools in state and out of state)

DL Damien Shanklin, Warren Central 6’4” 230 (Committed to LSU)

DL Tyrone Burris Warren Central 6’4” 210 (Committed to Louisville)

DL Mariyon Dye Elkhart Central 6’5” 268 (Committed to Tennessee)

DL Isaiah White, Ben Davis 6’3” 270 (Committed to Illinois)

DL/TE Tommy Poiry Bishop Dwenger 6’2” 195: 36.9 vertical, 365 squat, 345 deadlift, 4.88-40, 3.7GPA

DL Azaeis Miner Ben Davis 6’1” 255

DL Jev Hutton Fishers 6’2” 225 34 solo tackles, 21 assisted, 8TFL, 2Sacks (Offers: Air Force, Army, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Grand Valley State, Harvard, Kent State, Navy, Penn, Princeton, Southern Illinois, Yale).

DL Jrue Kante Noblesville 6’1” 315 41 tackles (Offers: Cornell, Eastern Kentucky and Dartmouth)

DL Landon Brooks Delta 6’6” 200 (Committed to Purdue)

DL Fawzy Omotoso Avon 6’4” 245 27 tackles, 5 sacks (Committed to Northern Illinois)

DL Enoch Atewogbola Avon 6’4” 215 (Committed to Minnesota)

DL Uchenyo Ojata Carmel 6’5” 210 (Committed to Troy)

DL Michael Thacker New Palestine 6’1 270 (All-State in 2023)

DL Frank Bertram Ben Davis 6’2” 225 39 tackles, 6.5 sacks

DL Gian Carter Lawrence Central 6”3” 212 29 tackles, 6.5TFL, 3.5 sacks (Offered by Western Michigan)

DL Anthony Ludington Lawrence North 6’5 240 (All-State in 2023), 56 tackles, 14TFL (Committed to Miami, OH)

DL/LB Jerimy Finch Warren Central 6’3 240 (All-State in 2023)

DL Mason Keifer Brownsburg 6’2 270 (All-State in 2023)

DL Ife Adeoba Pike 6’0 220 (All-State in 2023)…14 sacks, 60 tackles, 19TFL

DL Carmine Orozco Mishawaka 6’3 290 (All-State in 2023)

DL Benny Patterson Castle 6’3 228 (All-State in 2023)…(committed to Cincinnati)

DL Adam Camphor Merrillville 6’1 300 (All-State in 2023)

DL Adrian Holley Michigan City 6’4 237 (All-State in 2023)….(Committed to Kansas)

DL Travis Henke Northridge 6’2 225 (All-State in 2023)

DL Donald Lee South Bend Washington 6’2 215 (All-State in 2023)

DL Justin Buckhalter Crispus Attucks 6’0 180 (All-State in 2023)

DL Kimar Nelson Wayne 6’2 210 (All-State in 2023)

DL Al’Trevion Hillman-Conley Peru 5’9 280 (All-State in 2023)

DL Brody Klem Gibson Southern 6’0 215 (All-State in 2023)

DL Julian McMahan John Glenn 6’4 220 (All-State in 2023)

DL Brady Schickel Mount Vernon (Posey) 6’1 175 (All-State in 2023)

DL Gavin Myers North Posey 6’0 235 (All-State in 2023)

DL Paul Oliver Linton-Stockton 6’3 210 (All-State in 2023)

DL Hank Gennicks Linton-Stockton 6’1 255 (All-State in 2023)

DL Clayton Holder Winchester 6’4 190 (All-State in 2023)

DL Cam Fravel Adams Central 6’2 195 (All-State in 2023)

DL Cameron McHaney Indianapolis Lutheran 6’3 290 (Transferred to IMG Academy)

DL CJ Sanchez North Judson 6’5 246 (All-State in 2023)

DL Kayce Jones Springs Valley 6’1 230 (All-State in 2023)

DL Diamond Curry SB St. Joseph (All-State in 2023)

LB Mikeah Webster Westfield 6’1 225 (All-State in 2023)

LB Jordyn Barlow Warren Central 6’1” 215 39 tackles, 6TFL

LB Lennox “Cruz” Williams Westfield 5’11” 190

LB Sam Steward Homestead 6’1 200 (All-State in 2023)

LB/RB Andy Warren Perry Meridian 5’11 200 (All-State in 2023)…118 tackles, 507 rushing yards, 10TD

LB Lennox Williams Westfield 5’11” 200 90 tackles, 7.5TFL, 4.5 sacks (Injured knee limited his play)…Offers: Eastern Michigan and Western Illinois

LB Fredrick Brown Hammond Morton 6’0 210 (All-State in 2023)

LB Jackson Snyder Mishawaka 5’10 175 (All-State in 2023)

LB Jordan Palmer Whiteland 6’0 211 (All-State in 2023)…106 tackles, 11TFL, 3INT

LB Alexander Broshears Reitz Memorial 5’11 190 (All-State in 2023)

LB Parker Maiers Brebeuf 6’1” 215 152 tackles, 7.5TFL 2.5 Sacks

LB Dylan Krehl East Noble 5’9 190 (All-State in 2023)

LB Garrett Ranes New Palestine 6’2” 220 (All-State in 2023)…113 tackles, 4sacks, 16.5TFL

LB Levi Poland Lebanon 5’10” 205 149 tackles, 10TFL, 7sacks

LB/DB Jack Lockhart Cathedral 6’0” 210 53 tackles (Offers: Army, Charlotte, Cornell, Eastern Kentucky, Georgia State, Lindenwood and Michigan State).

LB Brady Ballart South Dearborn 6’2 208 (All-State in 2023)

LB David Curl III West Lafayette 6’2 199 (All-State in 2023)

LB Noah Knigga Lawrenceburg 6’2 213 (All-State in 2023)….(Committed to Eastern Michigan)

LB Owen Wischmeier Brownstown Central 5’11 180 (All-State in 2023)

LB Alex Shryock South Vermillion 5’10 175 (All-State in 2023)

LB Corey Andrews Linton-Stockton 6’2 225 (All-State in 2023)

LB Max Kaehr Adams Central 6’0 180 (All-State in 2023)

LB Eli Guffey Pioneer 5’8 170 (All-State in 2023)

LB Jonathan Pearson Tri-County 5’11 205 (All-State in 2023)

LB Jackson Mills Harrison 6’2 215

LB Elijah Goodspeed Monroe Central 6’2 210

LB Parker Murphy, Washington 5’10”175

LB Mason Tedder, Western

LB Gavin Leach, Castle 6’2” 205….(Committed to Toledo)

LB Dylan Howell, Southmont 5’10” 170

LB Deonte Eskridge Bluffton 6’1” 240

DB Brandon Logan Fort Wayne Snider 6’1 185 (All-State in 2023)

DB Daione Lunsford Lawrence North 6’0” 175 123 tackles, 13TFL, 3INT

DB Mark Zackery Ben Davis 6’0 160 (All-State in 2023)…(Committed to Notre Dame)

DB Max Phenicie Zionsville 6’2 185 (All-State in 2023)

DB Mason Alexander HSE 6’0 175 (All-State in 2023)….(Committed to Pittsburgh)

DB Jimmie Winbush Jr Carmel 5’11 185 (All-State in 2023)

DB Vinny Freeman Penn 5’11 195

DB Gunner Ruppert Greenwood 6’2” 180 106 tackles

DB Miles McKay Bloomington South 6’2 180 (All-State in 2023)

DB Jamarion Kolagbodi Snider 6’0 160 (All-State in 2023)

DB Broderick Arnold McCutcheon 6’1 180 (All-State in 2023)

DB John Peters Merrillville 6’1 150 (All-State in 2023)

DB Kaden Lark Lebanon 5’10 175 (All-State in 2023)

DB Darrel Taylor Crispus Attucks 6’0 180 (All-State in 2023)

DB Landin Hoeppner Leo 6’0 180 (All-State in 2023)

DB Adrian Wooten Wayne 6’0 160 (All-State in 2023)

DB Calder Hefty Garrett 5’10 165 (All-State in 2023)

DB/WR Malcolm Houze Guerin Catholic 6’1 170 (All-State in 2023), 31 tackles, 3INT, 27REC, 349YDS, 4TD

DB Myles Mclaughlin Knox High 5’9 175 (All-State in 2023)

DB Noah Wright Southridge 5’10 164 (All-State in 2023)

DB Jimmy Finley Andrean 6’1 175 (All-State in 2023)

DB Noah Terry Tell City 5’11 205 (All-State in 2023)

DB Fletcher Cole Paoli 6’0 183 (All-State in 2023)

DB Bodie Howell Eastbrook 6’0 165 (All-State in 2023)

DB Coy Lytle Carroll (Flora) 6’1 195 (All-State in 2023)

DB Dylan Offill Milan 5’10 155 (All-State in 2023)

DB Jesiah McDaniel North Judson 6’0 185 (All-State in 2023)

DB Ty Brown South Spencer 6’0 180 (All-State in 2023)

DB Zachary Christopherson Hamilton Southeastern

DB Luke Barrett Center Grove 6 INT

DB Daijon Willis Ritter 127 tackles, 8sacks

COLTS FOOTBALL

RICHARDSON STRUGGLES WITH ACCURACY, CONSISTENCY IN COLTS’ 27-14 PRESEASON WIN OVER BENGALS

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Anthony Richardson led a touchdown drive on his first series against Bengals backups Thursday night, but the rest of his night was a struggle.

The Colts quarterback got his first significant chunk of playing time with the rest of the offensive starters in the final preseason game. He showed he still has work to do on his accuracy and consistency.

The fourth overall pick in the 2023 draft played the first five offensive series, finishing 8 for 14 for 86 yards in Indianapolis’ 27-14 victory over Cincinnati.

Most of it came on the first drive after a Cincinnati punt when Richardson directed an 80-yard drive, completing 7 of 8 passes for 65 yards and finishing it with a 9-yard scoring toss to Adonai Mitchell.

His one incompletion was a throw that sailed through the hands of tight end Drew Ogletree in the end zone.

It got worse from there.

Bengals safety Jordan Battle picked off Richardson’s pass and went in 9 yards for a TD. The third drive stalled when Richardson missed Mitchell on third-and-6 from the Colts 35.

Then he missed Mitchell again deep on third down to force another punt. On his last drive before giving way to Sam Ehlinger, he put the Colts in the hole with a sack and fumble. On third-and-15, picked up just 3 yards on a scramble.

Richardson is trying to get right after an injury-filled rookie season limited him to just four starts. He finished only one game. Now the 22-year-old must prove he can remain healthy enough to make an impact as the franchise quarterback the Colts expect him to be.

Colts quarterback Jason Bean capped a drive of nearly eight minutes with a 1-yard TD run in the fourth quarter. Spencer Schrader kicked field goals of 56 and 41 yards.

Jonathan Taylor, the Colts’ feature running back, rushed four times for 15 yards before he departed. Demetric Felton broke away for a 40-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter.

Bengals coach Zac Taylor held out all of his starters and the backups couldn’t do much. They finished without a win in the preseason.

UP NEXT

Colts: Open the regular season at home Sept. 8 against Houston.

Bengals: Host New England in the season opener Sept. 8.

INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS

INDIANS TEE OFF EARLY, RALLY LATE IN 9-8, 10-INNING WIN OVER CLIPPERS

COLUMBUS, Ohio – In a game featuring four lead changes, Jake Lamb roped a two-out, go-ahead double – the Indians’ seventh extra-base hit of the contest – to lift Indianapolis to a thrilling 9-8 win in 10 innings against the Columbus Clippers on Thursday night at Huntington Park. Nick Gonzales, Liover Peguero and Nick Yorke also combined for six run-scoring hits, including five for extra bases, to drive the offense.

In the 10th inning, after the Indians (25-21, 58-61) forced extras on a double steal by Edward Olivares and Peguero that resulted in a run and clutch two-out, two-strike RBI single off the bat of Yorke in the previous frame, two strikeouts sandwiched a swipe of third base by Henry Davis. Lamb then ripped the first pitch he saw against Erik Sabrowski (L, 8-2) into the left-center alley for two bases, with the sinking liner barely evading the glove of center fielder Myles Straw on his diving attempt.

Brady Feigl (S, 2) retired the side in the bottom of the 10th, striking out Angel Martinez on seven pitches to start before freezing Kyle Manzardo on a 3-2 curveball that sealed Indy’s first win of the set.

Indianapolis led three pitches into the game thanks to the rehabbing Gonzales, who parked a leadoff home run 431 feet away to the left of straightaway center field. The lead was short-lived, however, with Columbus (31-16, 63-58) plating three in the bottom half of the first on a single and walk that preceded Gabriel Arias’ fourth home run of the season.

Peguero took over in his first two at-bats in the second and fifth inning, drilling a pair of hanging curveballs by Will Dion over the wall in left for his 10th and 11th home runs, the latter bringing Lamb along for the ride to move Indy back in front, 4-3. Yorke extended Indy’s advantage to 5-3 and 6-4 with a two-out double off the center field wall in the fifth and two-bagger into the right field corner in the seventh.

George Valera clubbed solo home runs – his 13th and 14th blasts with Columbus this season – in the sixth and eighth, the second coming off Carmen Mlodzinski to tie the game at 6-6 following Manzardo’s two-out RBI knock off Colin Holderman in the seventh that brought the Clippers within one. Mlodzinski was replaced after facing four more batters, and Connor Sadzeck (W, 4-2) was summoned with runners at the corners and two outs. After beaning Martinez with his first offering to load the bases, Juan Brito rolled a 1-2 pitch through the left side of the infield to score two and give Columbus an 8-6 lead.

Peguero doubled to open the ninth and took third on a single by Olivares. Their double steal and a throwing error by catcher and former Indian Dom Nuñez on the play inched the Indians to within a run and put the tying run at third base with no outs. After Jack Suwinski went down swinging and Billy Cook was caught looking on three pitches, Yorke scorched the game-tying hit 103.2 mph off the bat.

Sadzeck toed the line in the ninth, pitching out of a bases-loaded jam with Yorke at the center of it following a defensive switch from left field to second base. With one on and one away, Yorke committed fielding and throwing errors on the same play to move two runners into scoring position. Sadzeck then intentionally walked Straw before inducing a force play at home and lineout, both fielded by Yorke.

Peguero’s two-homer game was the sixth of his career and first since doing so with Indianapolis at Omaha on July 14, 2023. It was also his fourth career game with three extra-base hits, the last with Double-A Altoona on June 28, 2023, at Harrisburg.

Overshadowed by the scoring onslaught, Pirates top prospect Bubba Chandler settled in to his third Triple-A start after a testy first inning with 5.0 innings of three-run ball and six strikeouts. He retired his final 10 batters faced and 13 of the last 14 before departing.

The Indians and Clippers continue the six-game series on Friday at 7:05 PM at Huntington Park. RHP Thomas Harrington (1-1, 3.63), the reigning International League Pitcher of the Week, gets the nod for the Indians against RHP Triston McKenzie (2-2, 5.68).

INDIANA MEN’S SOCCER

NO. 5 INDIANA OPENS SEASON AT SAINT LOUIS

ST. LOUIS — The NCAA’s greatest champions will meet in their 2024 men’s soccer season opener Friday (Aug. 23) at Hermann Stadium, as eight-time NCAA Champion and No. 5-ranked Indiana visits 10-time national title winner Saint Louis.

Fans can watch Friday’s match on the ESPN+ digital platform. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET.

KICKING OFF

• Reigning Big Ten Champion Indiana begins its 52nd season on Friday.

• SLU and IU have combined for 18 national titles, though IU has had the better run in modern

college soccer, as SLU last wore the crown in 1973 — the year the IU program was established.

• Big Ten men’s soccer coaches unanimously selected Indiana to repeat as conference champion in the Big Ten’s 2024 season preview.

• Three members of the IU men’s soccer roster call St. Louis home: freshman Josh Maher, senior Jansen Miller and junior Jack Wagoner. Associate head coach Kevin Robson is also a native of St. Louis.

ABOUT THE BILLIKENS

• Saint Louis finished the 2023 season with an 8-4-5 record and sported a 4-1-3 mark in Atlantic 10 Conference play.

• The Billikens are led by seventh-year head coach Kevin Kalish, who has compiled a 61-26-19 record at Saint Louis and a 110-72-33 career record in 13 years as a Division-I head coach.

• Saint Louis’ 2024 roster includes three former Hoosiers. Defender Joey Maher and forward Nate Ward graduated from IU after last season and are utilizing fifth years of eligibility at Saint Louis. Defender Lawson Redmon spent three seasons in Bloomington.

SERIES HISTORY

• Indiana has had the significant better of the matchup, winning 24 of the 37 meetings all-time including each of the last seven going back to 2008.

• The two teams last met in the second round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament on IU’s road to its 22nd NCAA College Cup. The teams were separated only by Ryan Wittenbrink’s 75th-minute goal in the 1-0 Hoosier home win.

• The last regular season meeting in 2016 was a rout, as IU recorded a 5-0 win over the Billikens. IU’s current coaching staff all made an impact on the match, as Tanner Thompson scored a hat trick, Christian Lomeli earned the clean sheet and Todd Yeagley and Kevin Robson served their current positions.

INDIANA CROSS COUNTRY

STIDAM, WEHRLE SELECTED TO B1G PRESEASON PLAYERS TO WATCH LIST

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. –Skylar Stidam and Mariah Wehrle were selected to the first Big Ten Preseason Watch List, the league announced on Thursday. The watchlists were determined by the head coaches across the conference.

Stidam returns to course with his final year of eligibility. Last season, he finished 39th with a personal best time in the 10k race at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional meet and 68th at the Big Ten Championships in Madison, Wis. His career bests are 23:52.7 (8k) and 30:30.2 (10k).

Wehrle is one of the top-runners on the women’s side as she looks to make big strides in her final season on the course. Her career bests are 20:14.4 (6k) and 17:11.1 (5k). Wehrle’s highest finishes at the postseason meets include a 19th place finish at the Big Ten Championships and 16th at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional meet.

2024 Cross Country B1G Preseason Player Watch Lists

Men’s

Alex Partlow, Jr. Illinois

Skylar Stidam, Sr. Indiana

Will Ryan, Jr. Iowa

Luke Venhuizen, Jr. Michigan

Andrew Nolan, Gr. Michigan State

Emmett Anderson, Jr. Minnesota

Liem Chot, Sr. Nebraska

Zubin Jha, Sr.+ Ohio State

Elliott Cook, Sr. Oregon

Brian DiCola, So. Penn State

Nathan Walker, Sr. Purdue

Liam Tilton, Jr. Rutgers

Michael Mireles, Gr. UCLA

Nathan Green, Jr. Washington

Bob Liking, Sr. Wisconsin

Women’s

Halle Hill, Sr. Illinois

Mariah Wehrle, Sr. Indiana

Miriam Sandeen, Jr. Iowa

Katie Altieri, Sr. Maryland

Kayla Windemuller, Gr. Michigan

Makenna Veen, Gr. Michgian State

Erin Reidy, Sr. Minnesota

Berlyn Schutz, So. Nebraska

Ava Earl, R-Jr. Northwestern

Daniella Santos, Gr. Ohio State

Maddy Elmore, Sr. Oregon

Florence Caron, Sr. Penn State

Payne Turnery, Sr. Purdue

Sofia Condron, Sr. Rutgers

Mia Kane, Sr. UCLA

Gigi Maccagnini, Sr. USC

Chloe Foerster, Jr. Washington

Leané Willemse, Jr. Wisconsin

UP NEXT

The Hoosiers will begin the season on Aug. 30th as they host the Sam Bell Invitational at the Sam Bell Cross Country Course.

INDIANA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

VALENTYNA KADLECOVA ADDED TO INDIANA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ROSTER

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana women’s basketball head coach Teri Moren has announced the addition of freshman forward Valentyna Kadlecova to the 2024-25 roster.

Kadlecova (pronounced Cad-lets-so-vah), who hails from Czech Republic, most recently averaged 12.1 points, 3.0 assists and shot 42.9 percent from the floor at the U20 European Championships. The 6-foot guard has also appeared with the Czech Republic at the FIBA U19 World Cup, FIBA U18 Championships and FIBA U16 European Championships.

She played club basketball with DSK Levhartice Chomutov in 2023-24 where she averaged 11.6 points 2.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists and shot 43.9 percent from the floor and 74.7 percent at the free throw line in the regular season. In EuroCup action, she averaged 11.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.3 steals in six games.

PURDUE WOMEN’S SOCCER

BOILERS AND RAMBLERS DRAW AT FOLK

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue soccer team began the second week of the regular season with a 1-1 draw to Loyola Chicago on Thursday night at Folk Field.

Junior forward Kayla Budish scored her first goal of the campaign in the 17th minute to give the Boilermakers (1-1-1) an early 1-0 lead, but the Ramblers (1-0-1) found the equalizer in the 74th minute.

On a pleasant and cloudless evening, Purdue had six shots, five on goal, while Loyola registered eight shots, four on frame. The home side earned eight corner kicks to the visitors’ one.

Budish had a game-high three shots and two shots on goal. Three other Boilermakers registered a shot on target, including senior forward Gracie Dunaway, who assisted on Budish’s goal. Fifth-year goalkeeper Claire Wyville made her Purdue debut and had three saves. That’s one shy of tying her career high, which she achieved three times in 2022. The Loyola keeper stopped four shots.

The Boilermakers took a 1-0 lead at 16:22, as Budish scored her eighth career goal and first of 2024. Dunaway picked up her 10th career assist and first since 2022, and she has registered a point in two of the team’s first three games this year.

Wyville made her first save in the third minute and another in the eighth. Budish then had her first opportunity in the 13th minute, which was saved. However, the senior forward would not be denied less than four minutes later.

It was a one-on-one opportunity that Budish converted through the Loyola keeper’s legs to put Purdue ahead 1-0. On the near side at midfield, Dunaway passed up to Budish, who had an open field in front of her. Budish dribbled into the top of the penalty box on the right side and, from 12 yards out, used a right-footed shot to score into the far corner. She nutmegged the keeper who was just outside of the six-yard box.

Dunaway tried to make it 2-0 in the 22nd minute, but her shot was saved, and two more Loyola stops followed in the 28th minute, as senior midfielder Lexi Fraley and sophomore forward Lauren Omholt had chances corralled by the Rambler keeper.

A Wyville save in the 41st minute closed out the half.

Purdue out-shot Loyola 5-4 in the opening 45 minutes, with all five of its shots going on target. The visitors saw three shots on frame in the half. The home side earned three corner kicks to the Ramblers’ one.

The first shot of the second half didn’t come until the 63rd minute, and it was a chance sent high by a Rambler. That was after two Purdue corners in the 56th minute.

Budish sent a shot wide in the 68th minute after another corner kick, and Purdue earned another two corners in the next two minutes, but they did not result in a shot.

Loyola evened the score at 1-1 at 73:51. Jocelyn Leigh scored a one-on-one opportunity, with assists to Julia Liguore and Jaimee Cibulka.

The Boilermakers fought for a go-ahead goal in the final 15-plus minutes, and had chances in the final third, but they could not register a shot.

The Ramblers held a 4-1 edge in shots in the second half, though the goal was the lone shot on frame for either side. Purdue earned five corners and held Loyola without one in the final 45 minutes.

Purdue concludes a two-game homestand against UIC on Sunday, August 25. Kickoff at Folk Field is at 1 p.m. ET, and admission is free.

PURDUE SWIMMING

BOUDIA BRINGS ABOARD BRADSHAW AS DIVING’S ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Another Olympian is joining the coaching staff at the Morgan J. Burke Aquatic Center as Mark Bradshaw brings collegiate and international coaching experience with him while becoming Purdue Swimming & Diving’s associate head coach for diving.

Bradshaw most recently served as the head diving coach at Notre Dame for the last three seasons. He also spent 23 seasons as the diving coach at Arizona State (1998-2020), winning the CSCAA’s national Diving Coach of the Year award twice (2003 and 2005) and nine Pac-10/12 Diving Coach of the Year honors.

An NCAA champion on 3-meter for Ohio State, Bradshaw represented Team USA on 3-meter at the 1988 Olympic Games.

Diving head coach David Boudia announced the hiring, bringing aboard Bradshaw to fill Boudia’s previous position. Boudia succeeded Adam Soldati as head coach of the Purdue Divers in June when Soldati transitioned to a director of diving role after being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Bradshaw served as the coach for Finland’s divers at the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games. He has also served as the diving coach at the United State Military Academy (1988-89) and Ohio University (1996-97). As an athlete, Bradshaw won medals internationally for USA Diving at the 1991 and 1995 Pan American Games, 1990 Goodwill Games and 1985 World University Games.

“I’m excited to join the staff at Purdue and work alongside David as we continue building an environment where student-athletes can become champions,” Bradshaw said. “I’ve long admired what Adam Soldati was able to achieve at Purdue and the opportunity to team up with David to maintain that tradition of excellence is invigorating at this point in my career. I’ll enjoy being back in the Big Ten while remaining here in the state of Indiana, USA Diving’s home base.”

At Arizona State, Bradshaw coached three-time Olympian Joona Puhakka to four NCAA titles from 2003 to 2005. Puhakka won national titles twice on both 1-meter and 3-meter, highlighted by a sweep of the springboard events in 2004. The Finnish standout also won bronze on 1-meter at the 2003 World Championships.

Bradshaw’s ASU divers won 28 Pac-10/12 titles, with the nine different conference champions claiming 10 titles on platform, 11 on 3-meter and seven on 1-meter. Mickey Benedetti and Trisha Tumlinson were both six-time All-Americans and multi-year Pac-10 champions. Benedetti went on to compete for Italy at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics.

“We are thrilled to welcome Mark to the Purdue Diving family,” Boudia said. “He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, and we are confident that he will be an invaluable asset to our program. We are fortunate to have Mark as he helps our student-athletes reach their greatest potential.”

“We’re elated to have someone with Mark’s credentials join us and equally pleased with the excitement he’s demonstrated about the opportunity to aid our program,” Soldati said. “He’ll help elevate everything we do with his experience and expertise. His international experience as an athlete and coach is such a crucial element in building our divers towards achieving their most substantial goals. Most importantly, Mark is a man that fits the values of integrity and honesty that we stand on here at Purdue.”

Notre Dame had multiple NCAA Championships qualifiers in all three of Bradshaw’s seasons as head coach. That included a men’s NCAAs qualifier on platform in 2024 despite ND’s Rolfs Aquatic Center only featuring springboards in the facility. Calie Brady, Kelly Straub and Daniel Knapp all earned All-America accolades via a scoring finish at NCAAs under Bradshaw’s tutelage. Straub also won bronze on the platform at the 2022 ACC Championships.

At Ohio State, Bradshaw competed for longtime coach Vince Panzano, a 10-time Big Ten Diving Coach of the Year and an Olympic coach for Team USA at four Olympics. After retiring from Ohio State in 2013, Panzano was a regular at the Burke Aquatic Center for a few seasons while serving as an assistant and consultant to Soldati.

Constantin Blaha (Austria), Elina Eggers (Sweden), Riley McCormick (Canada) and Youssef Selim (Egypt) joined Puhakka and Benedetti as Arizona State divers to be Olympians and Pac-10/12 champions while Bradshaw was the head coach. Benedetti, Eggers, McCormick, Selim and Tumlinson all won Pac-10/12 titles on platform, which has traditionally been Purdue’s most successful event. Mara Aiacoboae also won back-to-back Pac-12 titles on the tower in 2017 and 2018.

Bradshaw was the Pac-10/12 Men’s Diving Coach of the Year for six consecutive seasons from 2003 to 2008. He also won the honor in 2010 and 2011. In 2004, he claimed the Women’s Coach of the Year award as well.

Bradshaw is the father of a son, Cameron, and a grandfather. Cameron was an All-American diver for Arizona State from 2008-12, winning bronze on 1-meter at the 2012 NCAA Championships.

NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL PREVIEW

PICK SIX

At tradition-rich Notre Dame, they may not hang banners for Sun Bowl victories, but don’t let that overshadow a team that was much stronger than their final record would indicate. Head coach Marcus Freeman’s first season was remembered for its 0-2 start and losses to non-AQ Marshall and 3-9 Stanford. His second team should be remembered for taking the next step, not just from nine to ten wins, but improving in virtually every stat category in all phases of the game. Notre Dame was one of the “stat giants” of 2023 along with national champion Michigan, two-time defending champion Georgia, Oregon and an Ohio State team that was only one final second and one inch better than the Irish. They finished as one of just three in the Top 10 in both scoring offense and defense, and one of just four in the Top 10 of both my opponent-adjusted numbers, offense and defense. They improved in all 31 of my stat categories from 2022 to 2023 and in Game Grader, my overall measure of dominance, Notre Dame finished 6th for their highest mark since the undefeated 2012 team. Their goal-line fiasco with just ten players on the field may have cost them in the one-inch loss to Ohio State, and the passing offense went cold against Louisville and Clemson. But at the same time the season offered high points from both sides of the ball like dealing Heisman winner Caleb Williams his worst performance, a 4th & 16 survival scramble to beat Duke, and fully dominating everyone else on the schedule – the other wins were by an average margin of victory of 36 points/game. Freeman has elevated their recruiting ceiling and they bring back plenty of difference-makers from the 2023 team. The Playoff bracket has tripled, meaning their margin of error has also increased. It’s a whole new era for Notre Dame, and Freeman has them well positioned to excel. OFFENSE After the season offensive coordinator Gerad Parker took the head coaching job at Troy, and Freeman hired the coordinator off of the #1 offense in America. They had to pay #1 top dollar too. Notre Dame hired Mike Denbrock as the highest paid offensive coordinator in the country, and since his last stint in South Bend, he helped Cincinnati become the only non-AQ to breakthrough into the Playoff and coached LSU to the top off the offensive stat charts. The offense will look a bit different than last year’s TE-heavy, bunch formations, and crammed box. Denbrock’s LSU offense stretched the field out vertically and horizontally, operated out of shotgun, and primarily lined up in 11 personnel (one back, one tight end). Look for more Run Pass Option, more inside zone, and less play-action. Notre Dame hopes to make it two-in-a-row with successful ACC transfer quarterbacks. Sam Hartman graduates and ends his career ranked third on the NCAA all-time passing touchdowns leaderboard. His one-year stint was mostly successful aside from a few clunkers against Clemson and Louisville. The staff signed Duke’s Riley Leonard who was rated the #8 transfer quarterback this cycle. Leonard almost upset Notre Dame in October and then was knocked out for the season with an ankle injury. His best year was the 2022 campaign: 64% completion, 2,967 yards, 20 touchdowns, six picks, with 699 yards and 13 scores on the ground. Leonard missed most of spring ball with the ankle rehab, but assuming he is back at full speed for the fall he will be a dynamic dual-threat in Denbrock’s offense. Steve Angeli got all the first-team reps in spring and flashed in the Sun Bowl win with 232 passing yards and three scores. CJ Carr – legendary Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr’s grandson – is a former five-star and makes this the deepest Notre Dame quarterback room in quite some time. 1,300-yarder Audric Estime is gone after breaking the school’s rushing touchdown record (18) and instead of a feature back it looks like a duo for 2024. Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price are the projected starters. They signed one of the best running back pairs in the 2024 class with four-stars Aneyas Williams and Kedren Young. Four receivers transferred out to other Power 5 programs and they were all rated four-star transfers. That includes their top two from last year, converted back Chris Tyree (Virginia) and Rico Flores (UCLA). Jaden Greathouse and Jayden Thomas move up the depth chart and they get back Deion Colzie who started in the opener but was knocked out for the season. Jordan Faison impressed as a freshman and earned Sun Bowl MVP honors. The staff added an instant starter in transfer Kris Mitchell who was the star of the spring game after posting 1,118 yards at Florida International last year. Beaux Collins (Clemson) also transferred in and the former five-star still has room to improve. “Tight End U” has another great one in Mitchell Evans who is projected as one of the top tight ends nationally this year. If not for an injury, he was trending toward a top statistical finish last year. Eli Raridon was a Top50 prospect in the 2022 class and is yet another game-changer in the room. Notre Dame had two linemen selected early in the 2024 NFL Draft – Joe Alt (#5 overall) and Blake Fisher (#59) – making their usual strength more of a question mark this preseason. The only two returning starters are right guard Billy Schrauth and center Ashton Craig, but guards Pat Coogan and Rocco Spindler are both experienced. Charles Jagusah has emerged at left tackle but the other spot is open for fall camp. Line coach Joe Rudolph has a long track record as an excellent line developer – Notre Dame should be fine here, even without a known All-American like Alt.

DEFENSE Notre Dame placed 6th in my opponent-adjusted defensive metrics – 4th in pass defense – and while they lose half of their starters, the staff did an excellent job in retaining the others. Six veterans are back including two All-Americans: defensive tackle Howard Cross and safety Xavier Watts. The defensive line is elite with Cross re-joined by tackle Rylie Mills and end Jordan Botelho. Javontae Jean-Baptiste is gone but his spot was filled by RJ Oben (Duke) who was ranked the #6 edge transfer this cycle. This will be one of the most dominant fronts in college football. Two linebackers left early for the pros and they lose productivity and leadership from JD Bertrand and Marist Liufau. Bertrand has averaged nearly 100 tackles per season the past three years. Jack Kiser returns at one linebacker spot, and the two openings will be fought for by a pair of four-stars Drayk Bowen and Jaiden Ausberry, and a pair of five-stars Jaylen Sneed (Hilton Head, SC) and Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa (St. John Bosco, CA). Watts led the nation with seven interceptions, and his returns put his offense in scoring position every time. The unanimous All-American also took home the Bronko Nagurski Award and had one of the best individual performances all season with two picks off of Caleb Williams and a fumble touchdown in the USC win. The staff added Northwestern starter Rod Heard to slot in next to Watts at safety. Starting corner Cam Hart and nickel Thomas Harper both depart and were key reasons for Notre Dame’s surge to the national top five in all pass defense stat categories. Corner Benjamin Morrison returns and earned preseason All American hype before 2023, and they added Jordan Clark (Arizona State) who has a similar resume to the departing Harper.

OUTLOOK Freeman’s program is ready for the national stage. His staff has elevated their recruiting and talent profile and last fall they made tremendous stat gains in every facet of the game. This year they face just one Top 15 team (Florida State) and three other fringe Top 25 teams in Texas A&M, Louisville, and USC. The Playoff bracket tripled in size, and they do not have the burden of a conference title game. The big question is how many mulligans do they get as an independent playing a Power 4 caliber schedule? 12-0 and 11-1 are locks for a Playoff bid — 10-2 is where it gets interesting. Notre Dame is a 2024 Playoff selection as an at-large team.

NOTRE DAME MEN’S SOCCER

#2 IRISH PLAY AKRON TO 1-1 STANDSTILL IN OPENER

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The No. 2 Notre Dame men’s soccer team opened up the 2024 campaign with a 1-1 draw against Akron on Thursday evening at Alumni Stadium.

The Fighting Irish goal came from Matthew Roou, who buried his penalty, which was set up by Bryce Boneau in the 51st minute.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Both teams used the opening 20 minutes to settle into the new season, with each side tidy at the back. The Irish earned their first corner of the evening in the 29th minute and then started to create chances in the final third.

Mitch Ferguson flicked an effort on frame off a long throw from Kyle Genenbacher and then Boneau curled an effort towards the far post but both attempts were saved by the Zips goalkeeper.

The best scoring chance in the opening 45 minutes of play came off the boot of Nolan Spicer. The sophomore broke into the box and cut onto his left foot, firing a shot off the far post in the 41st minute, but the game went to the half scoreless.

The Irish came out of the half on the front foot and found the opener in the 51st minute of play. Boneau was brought down in the box by an Akron defender, setting up a penalty for the hosts. Roou stepped up to the spot and rifled his effort past the diving keeper and into the left side of the goal to give Notre Dame the 1-0 advantage.

Unfortunately for the Irish, the lead was short lived. The Zips managed to level the score at 1-1 in the 61st minute off a goal from Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal.

Notre Dame created a few half chances in the final 30 minutes of play but couldn’t find the final ball to retake the lead, as the match ended in a 1-1 draw.

McFARLAND FAMILY MEN’S HEAD SOCCER COACH CHAD RILEY’S TAKE

On the match…

“Looking at it I think we will see a lot more positives than negatives but we have a little bit of a bad taste in our mouth after going up a goal and putting in a pretty good performance to not get three points.”

On Roou getting on the score sheet…

“It’s great. Strikers need to get goals and get that taste in their mouth and Roou has scored a lot in the preseason and now transitioning that into the regular season is huge and it will only make him hungrier.”

On the debut of the four freshmen…

“Overall I thought it was really good. It’s one of those things that good players are good players but every once in a while you have to remember it’s their first night out there at this level. It’s such a special night and it’s nice to share that with them.”

ND STAT OF THE MATCH

Notre Dame outshot Akron by a margin of 11-5 on the evening.

ND NOTES

With the goal, Roou now has 22 in his Notre Dame career and 54 points.

Blake Kelly and Jacob Bartlett both started in their collegiate debuts as freshmen on Thursday evening.

Kelly is the first true freshman goalie to start the season opener in his debut season in the last 30 years for the Notre Dame men’s soccer program.

Freshmen Stevie Dunphy and Will Schroeder also both made their Fighting Irish debuts on Thursday in substitute appearances.

BUTLER SOFTBALL

BUTLER SOFTBALL ANNOUNCES FOUR DATES FOR FALL CONTESTS

Butler Softball is scheduled to play a fall campaign of eight games on four dates in preparation for the 2025 season. Six of the eight games will be in the Indianapolis area, with two taking place on Butler’s campus.

Coach Scott Hall enters his 15th season as Butler head coach. Hall’s 2025 team will look to build on a 2024 season in which the Bulldogs qualified for the BIG EAST Tournament for the fourth consecutive season. The team’s top-four hitters, and eight of its top ten, will return to the batter’s box this season.

2024 Fall Schedule:

Sunday, Sept. 15 (at UIndy)

vs. UIndy – 12PM

vs. UIndy – 2PM

Saturday, Sept. 21 (at IU-Indy)

vs. Marian – 11AM

at IU Indy – 1PM

Sunday, Sept. 29 (at Notre Dame)

at Notre Dame – 1:30PM

vs. Bryant and Stratton – 4PM

Saturday, Oct. 12 (Butler Softball Field)

vs. Taylor – 11AM

vs. Danville Area – 3PM

Butler’s spring schedule will be released at a later date.

BUTLER MEN’S SOCCER

GOMEZ NETS GAME-WINNER TO OPEN SEASON

INDIANAPOLIS – The Butler men’s soccer team opened the season with a 2-1 win over Southern Indiana in the Sellick Bowl. The Bulldogs took and early, 1-0, lead on a Ryan Hannosh goal in the eighth minute. The Screaming Eagles, out of the Ohio Valley Conference, answered four minutes later, leveling the match at one apiece. After the break, Josemir Gomez put in the game-winning goal, in the 52nd minute, and the Dawgs defense held through full time.

Key Moments

8′ | Joost de Schutter sends a free kick into a mass of players in front of the USI goal. The keeper punches the ball high into the air. Ryan Hannosh positions himself under the ball and heads it directly into the back of the net for the early lead.

12′ | USI presses forward and connects on several passes. Ahiro Nakamae one-touches a cross at the six and ties the match, 1-1.

HALFTIME

52′ | Hannosh sends the ball from the middle of the field to an open Josemir Gomez on the right side. Gomez touches to avoid a USI defender and sends a shot across the goal, just inside the far post. Butler retakes the lead, 2-1.

Butler Points Summary

GOALS: Ryan Hannosh, Josemir Gomez

ASSISTS: Ryan Hannosh

Bulldog Bits

· Ryan Hannosh’s goal was his first of the season and the third of his career. His assist was the fourth of his career.

· Josemir Gomez’s goal was his first in a Butler uniform. He has 17 in his collegiate career.

· The Bulldogs held the Screaming Eagles to only four shots with no corner kicks.

Up Next

Butler hosts Western Illinois in the Sellick Bowl on Sunday, August 25. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.

IU-INDY MEN’S SOCCER

HERRERA TALLIES TWICE IN JAGUARS’ SEASON OPENING ROAD WIN

SAN ANTONIO – Sophomore Jose Antonio Herrera registered his first two career goals and graduate transfer Mason Taylor authored a clean sheet in net as the men’s soccer team opened the 2024 campaign with a 2-0 road win at Incarnate Word on Thursday night (Aug. 22). Herrera accounted for the game’s only offense with a pair of strikes late in the first half to fuel the win.

“It’s very important to have a great start for the beginning of the season,” Herrera said. “It’s up from here and it’s game by game.”

After an unsteady exhibition slate left head coach Sid van Druenen with more questions than answers, the Jaguars’ third-year head coach got some clarification in the opener. Herrera looked the part of a dependable striker and the Jaguars’ defense kept UIW largely at bay in front of Taylor. After using four different netminders in the preseason, Taylor put up a poised effort, making five saves in the victory.

Herrera initiated the scoring in the 36th minute, getting on the business end of Christian Nielsen’s delivery from deep in the corner. Nielsen hustled to the endline to keep the ball in play and centered a pass to Herrera, who deposited the first goal of the campaign.

Just before the end of the half, Nielsen sprung Herrera free with a through ball into the teeth of the UIW defense. His initial shot was stopped by UIW goalkeeper Alejandro DeLaTorre, but the rebound attempt nestled into the lower-right corner of the net for a brace.

Playing with a two goal lead, the Jaguars were able to play possession for much of the second half, relying on center backs Brady Horn and Giovanni Leon to help predicate pace and space. The attack was more selective in its opportunities as the best chances came from Cameron Radeke and a Justin Figaroa restart after Quentin Flowers drew a foul at the top of the box in the 77th minute.

Herrera and Radeke finished with a team-high three shots each and Noah Kummrow had two attempts from his defensive post. With temperatures exceeding 100 degrees in Texas earlier in the day, van Druenen shuffled bodies as best as possible in the second half as players began cramping up.

The Jaguars will continue the two-game Texas trip on Sunday (Aug. 25) when they face Houston Christian at 8:00 p.m. Eastern.

IU-INDY WOMEN’S SOCCER

JAGUARS BLANKED ON THE ROAD AT LINDENWOOD, 2-0

ST. CHARLES, Mo. – The IU Indy women’s soccer team yielded a pair of goals in a less than five-minute span late in the first half as the Jaguars were tripped up on the road at Lindenwood, 2-0. The Jaguars finished with an 11-8 shot advantage, but were unable to get anything past LU goalkeeper Caroline Ritter, making her first collegiate start.

LU’s Eyglo Thorsteindottir tallied the winner in the 29th minute and Anna Johnson added insurance with a penalty kick in the 33rd minute. Junior Emma Frey paced the Jaguar attack with three shot attempts, putting two on target.

The Lions (2-1) took the lead in the 29th minute when Thorsteindottir redirected a Tasneem Dizdarevic corner kick past Ashton Kudlo for her first tally of the year. Less than five minutes later, an errant pass led to a Lindenwood breakaway and Kudlo pulled down the attacker just inside the penalty area for an easy PK call. On the ensuing try, Kudlo guessed correctly, but had the shot slip just underneath her for the day’s second score.

The Jaguars were forced to chase the game in the second half and repeatedly built attacks, rarely resulting in clean attempts. Sophomore Caroline Kelley forced Ritter into a save in the 69th minute, just moments after Hannah Roberson had tested the LU keeper as well.

Emily Keck, who came on relief of Kudlo after halftime, had a pair of stellar saves, stopping a breakaway in the 72nd minute and tipping a long attempt over the bar in the 89th minute.

“I think there were lots of takeaways from this tough road loss. We had the most success when we kept the game simple and we need to stick to our plan for the full 90 minutes,” Kelley said. “We need to be putting away our chances in front of goal and be more aggressive when defending set pieces.

“On the positive side, I saw a lot of potential for our team tonight and I know there’s better things ahead for us.”

Frey and senior Makenna Collins played all 90 minutes and Kelley, who split time at forward and defender, played 81 minutes. Three others – Mia Bilinski, Ella Green and Ella McDonnell – made their collegiate debuts on Thursday, combining to play 28 minutes total.

The Jags were without a pair of all-league peformers from a season ago as both Emma Antoine and Kailyn Smith were unable to dress.

The Jaguars will conclude the season’s second week with a road match at Southern Illinois on Sunday (Aug. 25).

INDIANA STATE WOMEN’S SOCCER

WOODS, LEHNERT SCORE AS SYCAMORES TOP MIAMI (OHIO) 2-0

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State Women’s Soccer hosted Miami (Ohio) on Thursday night for the second game of the 2024 season at Memorial Stadium, where they picked up their second shutout win with a score of 2-0, while handing the RedHawks their first loss of the season.

How it happened:

The Sycamores struck first in the ninth minute when Brooklyn Woods connected on a go ahead corner kick goal to give ISU the early 1-0 lead. Woods has now recorded back-to-back goal games for the Sycamores in the 2024 season.

Freshman Alex Lehnert kept the momentum going for Indiana State when she came into the game in the 32nd minute and broke loose with the ball to give ISU their second goal of the game with a shot placed in the bottom corner of the net. Lehnert scored her goal in less than a minute of being put into the game as she totaled 41 minutes of play in the victory over the RedHawks and has now scored in each debut of her collegiate career.

Maddie Alexander finished the match with five saves in 90 minutes of play as the Sycamores defense stood strong and kept the RedHawks from finding the back of the net. The Sycamores and RedHawks each shot nine times with five shots on goal in the contest on Thursday evening. Indiana State had six corner shots to Miami’s seven.

News & Notes:

Woods and Lehnert connected on back-to-back goal games, each with two shots on goal in the win over Miami (Ohio).

Sycamores pick up back-to-back shutout victories at Memorial Stadium.

Indiana State handed the RedHawks their first loss of the 2024 season.

First time the Sycamores have won against Miami (Ohio) where the record now stands at 1-2-1.

First time the Sycamores have started out 2-0 since the 2004 season.

Up Next: The Sycamores close out their home stand Sunday, August 25 at 1 p.m. ET against Robert Morris. This game will serve as ISU’s “Kids Club” game for the 2024 season.

PURDUE FT. WAYNE VOLLEYBALL

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL SEASON OPENS WITH EXHIBITION AT XAVIER

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Purdue Fort Wayne women’s volleyball team is in action this weekend for the first time in 2024, visiting Xavier on Saturday (Aug. 24) at 2 p.m. for an exhibition contest.

Game Day Information
Who: Xavier Musketeers
When: Saturday, August 24 | 2 PM
Where: Cincinnati, Ohio | Cintas Center
Live Stats: None
Watch: None
Tickets:Link

Know Your Foe

Xavier was 18-12 a year ago and benefited from a well-balanced offensive attack. Four players averaged between 2.0 and 3.0 kills per set. Two of those, Emma Grace and Anna Taylor, are back this season to lead from the left side. The Musketeers’ primary setter from last season graduated, so setters Jamison Gordon and Logan Flaugh will pace the offense. Last year, Xavier’s season was highlighted by a five-set victory over No. 11 Creighton, its first over a ranked team since 2007 and highest ranked win ever.

Series History

The Mastodons and Musketeers have played eight regular season contests dating back to 1982. The two teams played three times when the Mastodons were members of Division II, and six times since the move to DI in 2001. Xavier won the last two regular season meetings, including the most recent in 2022. The two squads played an exhibition contest last season.

What Happened Last Year?

Purdue Fort Wayne went 10-20 and 5-13 last season, but had several noteworthy individual performances throughout the year. Panna Ratkai was consistently one of the biggest threats in the Horizon League, earning the Offensive Player of the Year award. LonDynn Betts had a 31-dig effort against Oakland, which stood atop the 3-set digs section of the Mastodon record book. As a team, the Mastodons hit .202, which was a top-10 mark in program history. The ‘Dons also return both setters from last year’s squad: Taya Haffner and Nicole Jones.

Panna-tastic

Panna Ratkai is one of five players from the 12-player All-Horizon League First Team back for 2024. Cleveland State’s Liberty Torres, Milwaukee’s Madi Malone, Northern Kentucky’s Joy Banks and Oakland’s Emily Wichmann are the other four. She and Wichmann (Defensive Player of the Year) are the only returning major award winners.

Fresh Faces

The Mastodons have five freshmen on the roster for 2024: Meg Berkland, Mya Plemons, Riley Rosneck, Jaelyn Hall and Miona Dimitric.

Next Time Up

Purdue Fort Wayne will open the 2024 regular season at the Skyhawk Invitational in North Easton, Massachusetts to play Stonehill, Siena and Holy Cross.

PURDUE FT. WAYNE WOMEN’S SOCCER

MASTODONS SECURE FIRST VICTORY OF THE SEASON

FORT WAYNE, IND. – Purdue Fort Wayne women’s soccer notched their first win of the season with a 3-1 victory over Tiffin on Thursday (Aug. 22) at the Hefner Soccer Complex.

It only took the ‘Dons 15 minutes to fnd the back of the net, as Gigi Ricciardi fought her way around the keeper to score on a pass from Chloe Mariotti in the 15th minute. Shortly after, Scarlett Webster added to the lead after a well-placed cross from Morgan Gallagher.

The Mastodons controlled most of the first half, as they tallied 11 shots, compared to the Dragons two.

Tia Nagle scored Tiffin’s only goal of the evening off of a corner kick entry from Suzy Hayes. Gallagher added her name in the scoring column in response, as she finished off the lead pass from Kyra Posey in the 77th minute.

The Mastodon bench ended the game with a total of seven shots, two assists and a goal.

Purdue Fort Wayne advances to 1-1-1. Tiffin stays 0-0 as the Dragons played the contest as an exhibition. The Mastodons will travel to Eastern Illinois on Sunday (Aug. 25) to play at 5 p.m.

PURDUE FT. WAYNE MEN’S SOCCER

NO. 3 WEST VIRGINIA TOPS MEN’S SOCCER 4-2

MORGANTOWN, W.V. – Purdue Fort Wayne scored a pair of second half goals on Thursday (Aug. 22) evening at No. 3 West Virginia in a 4-2 setback to the Mountaineers. It was the 2024 season opener for the Mastodon men’s soccer team.

West Virginia led 3-0 at the break after three goals in the first 45 minutes. Sergio Ors Navarro scored all three goals.

Marco Valencia put the ‘Dons on the board in the 74th minute to make it a 3-1 score. West Virginia came back with another goal a few minutes later, this one by Felix Ewald, to make it 4-1.

A pair of Mastodon newcomers teamed up for a goal a few minutes later. Marcos Soria scored on a nifty pass from Felipe Medina at 79:01 to make it a 4-2 game.

The ‘Dons out-scored West Virginia in the second half 2-1 with the Mountaineers holding a 7-5 edge in shots in the final 45 minutes.

The Mountaineers improve to 1-0 while the Mastodons fall to 0-1. The ‘Dons are at Eastern Illinois on Aug. 29.

EVANSVILLE MEN’S SOCCER

EXPLOSIVE SECOND HALF POWERS ACES TO WIN OVER BELLARMINE

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Two second-half goals powered the University of Evansville men’s soccer team to a season-opening 2-1 win over the Bellarmine Knights.

Despite a quiet first half, the Purple Aces tenacity in the final 45 minutes gave them their first season-opening win since 2019. Sophomore midfielder Baraka Tarleton (Andover, Minn. / Andover HS) broke open the scoring on Thursday with a goal in the 58th minute. While the Knights equalized the game in the 69th minute, senior forward Nacho Diaz Barragan (Almeria, Spain) put the game-winning goal in the back of the net only two minutes later in the 71st minute.

UE got off to a quick start as Diaz Barragan had a chance right in front of the net in the first minute of action on Thursday night. But things quickly slowed down as Evansville’s next shot didn’t come until the 28th minute. Fifth-year forward Kai Phillip (Diego Martin, Trinidad and Tobago) had a chance from the right side of the net that was quickly swallowed up. The Aces had the last shot of the first half in the final seconds as sophomore midfielder Will Bencic (Cincinnati / Lakota East HS) took an on-goal chance from outside the box.

The game’s pace picked up in the second half with shots and fouls aplenty from the Bellarmine. But it was UE who struck first as Tarleton followed up on a shot that hit the post from senior forward Edward Mendy (Overland Park, Kan. / Blue Valley West HS) in the 58th minute. Evansville held onto the lead for over 10 minutes, but the Knights got the equalizer on the rebound from a saved penalty kick in the 69th minute.

The game was tied for only a brief moment as a minute and a half later the Aces found the back of the net. Graduate forward Sami Owusu (Denver / Dayton) dropped off the ball to junior defender Nacho Diaz-Caneja (Coruna Spain / Oregon State) near the left sideline, and his cross found the head of Diaz Barragan near the back post for the go-ahead goal. UE’s defense was able to hold off Bellarmine’s attack for the next 19 minutes by blocking three shots and directing another off-target.

Evansville edged the Knights in shots on goal five to four while the teams were even in fouls with 15 each. Freshman goalkeeper Michal Mroz (Elk Grove, Ill. / Elk Grove HS) made three saves in his collegiate debut for the Aces while allowing a goal. Diaz Barragan and Phillip led the team on offense with two shots each while Diaz Barragan’s shots both landed on goal. Three other Purple Aces recorded a shot through 90 minutes.

UE continues the 2024 season on the road with a match on Sunday, August 26th. Evansville will visit Memphis for the first time since 2007 for their first matchup with the Tigers since 2011. Sunday’s game is set for a 6 p.m. kick-off and will be broadcast on ESPN.

SOUTHERN INDIANA VOLLEYBALL

USI VOLLEYBALL PROJECTED TO FINISH 6TH IN OVC

EVANSVILLE, Ind.- University of Southern Indiana Volleyball is projected to finish sixth in the Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Poll voted by the conference’s head coaches’ and sport communicators.

The conference returns all 11 OVC schools from the 2023 season. The schedule features an 18-game conference slate nine home, nine away playing nine OVC squads twice. The regular season champion hosts the OVC tournament to culminate the seasons efforts in an eight-team single elimination tournament.

Following a second-place finish in 2023, Southeast Missouri State University was picked to finish first in the preseason poll. The Redhawks received 167 total votes and six first-place votes. The 2023 regular season and tournament champions, Eastern Illinois University were selected right behind SEMO with 166 total votes and five first-place votes. Morehead State University also received five first-place votes coming in at third with 163 total votes. Morehead State was eliminated by the Eagles last year in the OVC tournament quarterfinals.

Tennessee Tech University returns multiple key returners including two on the All-OVC Preseason team. The Golden Eagles earned 153 total votes along with four first-place votes to place fourth. Lindenwood University also earned two All-OVC Preseason team members. The Lions are projected just above USI at fifth with 145 total votes and one first-place vote.

After a vastly improved 2023 conference season making it to the conference semifinals, the Screaming Eagles earned 97 total votes at sixth-place. USI returns four of the six starters from 2023, looking to rely on key returners to step up, along with the addition of two freshman and two key transfers. Rounding out the final five is University of Tennessee at Martin (84), Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (83, one first-place vote), Western Illinois University (74), University of Arkansas at Little Rock (51), and Tennessee State University (29).

As part of the OVC’s preseason announcement, junior middle hitter Bianca Anderson (Chicago Heights, Illinois) represented USI on the 2024 OVC Volleyball Preseason Players to Watch List. Anderson looks to continue to improve, stepping into a bigger role in 2024. The middle hitter nearly doubled her production in 2023 collecting 244 kills, 63 blocks, along with leading the team in hitting percentage at .259.

USI kicks off the season with three straight road invitationals, matching up with three different schools at each invite. The Eagles open the season traveling to Bradley University (Aug. 30-31), University of Florida (Sep. 6-8), and Indiana University (Sep. 13-14). The squad returns to town to play at University of Evansville (Sep. 17), before their home opening weekend in a re-match with UE (Sep. 20), along with a battle against Indiana University Indianapolis (Sep. 21). USI starts conference play hosting SEMO on back-to-back days (Sep. 27-28).

2024 OVC Soccer Predicted Order of Finish
(as voted on by the league’s head coaches and communication directors)
1. Southeast Missouri (6) – 167
2. Eastern Illinois (5) – 164
3. Morehead State (5) – 163
4. Tennessee Tech (4) – 153
5. Lindenwood (1) – 145
6. Southern Indiana – 97
7. UT Martin – 84
8. SIUE – (1) 83
9. Western Illinois – 74
10. Little Rock – 51
11. Tennessee State – 27

2024 OVC Players to Watch
Kaitlyn Flynn, Eastern Illinois
Allie Otten, Lindenwood
Bella Cherry, Little Rock
Peighton Isley, Morehead State
Sydney Hummert, SIUE
Abby Johnson, Southeast Missouri
Bianca Anderson, Southern Indiana
Sagaia Reilly, Tennessee State
Mallory Jenkins, Tennessee Tech
Dylan Mott, UT Martin
Maggie Craker, Western Illinois

SOUTHERN INDIANA WOMEN’S SOCCER

EAGLES KICK OFF HOME SLATE WITH DRAW AGAINST ROBERT MORRIS

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Soccer recorded a 2-2 draw against Robert Morris University Thursday night to open the Screaming Eagles’ 2024 home slate at Strassweg Field.

Southern Indiana (0-1-1) started the match with an energetic burst, getting on the scoreboard in the seventh minute of the match. USI’s first goal of the 2024 regular season was scored off a header by redshirt freshman Eva Boer (St. Charles, Illinois) on a pair of connections from midfielder Pilar Torres (Chula Vista, California) and sophomore midfielder Kerigan Kivisto (Collierville, Tennessee) to give USI an early 1-0 advantage.

USI’s defense played a strong first half against an impressive offensive attack from Robert Morris (2-0-0). Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Anna Markland (Hoover, Alabama) made a spectacular save on a one-on-one attempt against Robert Morris’ front line.

Southern Indiana continued to develop opportunities deep into Robert Morris’ defensive third. Junior defender Brynn Quick (Cottage Grove, Minnesota) had a scoring opportunity off a corner kick that was saved, but in the last 90 seconds of the first half, junior forward Payton Seymour (Louisville, Kentucky) doubled USI’s opening-half lead to 2-0 by finding the back of the net off an assist from junior midfielder Emerson Grafton (Camas, Washington) and freshman midfielder Josie Pochocki (LaGrange Park, Illinois). The Eagles’ 2-0 lead carried into halftime.

Out of the break, USI’s defense continued to withhold the pressure from the Colonials, including a quick save by Markland. On the flip side of the field, the Screaming Eagles’ continued their offensive pressure with three shots in the first 10 minutes of the second half, including a shot at the top of the box from Torres that flew slightly above the crossbar.

However, Robert Morris ramped up its attack and pushed numbers forward. The Colonials pulled within a goal, 2-1, in the 65th minute on a header by junior forward Paloma Swankler that bounced high and into the goal.

The Screaming Eagles created multiple attempts toward an insurance goal, featuring three shots in a two-minute span. Seymour nearly had her second goal of the evening with a header that grazed the outside part of the post and out.

The relentlessness of Robert Morris eventually led to the game-tying goal in the 84th minute on a lofted breakaway shot attempt by graduate senior forward Haleigh Finale. The 2-2 score held firm in the final minutes.

For the contest, Southern Indiana outshot Robert Morris, 19-15. The Screaming Eagles placed 10 chances on goal. Not only scoring a goal in the game, Seymour tallied a team-high four shots with two on frame. Kivisto had three shots to go along with an assist. Boer finished with two shots, including the game’s first goal. Between the posts, Markland totaled three saves.

Next up, the Screaming Eagles embark on a two-game road trip that begins Sunday at Noon (CT) against Eastern Kentucky University. Coverage links of the match can be found at usiscreamingeagles.com.

SOUTHERN INDIANA MEN’S SOCCER

USI FIGHTS HARD, FALLS TO BUTLER IN OPENER

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Soccer lost a tough season opener at Butler University, 2-1, Thursday evening in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Screaming Eagles, who are on the road for the first five matches of 2024, start the year 0-1-0, while Butler begins 2024 1-0-0.

Following a Butler tally at 7:33 of the opening half, USI evened the score at 11:11 when freshman midfielder Ahiro Nakamae (Fishers, Indiana) recorded his first collegiate goal and the Eagles’ first official tally of the season. Nakamae was assisted on the play by senior midfielder Garland Hall (Evansville, Indiana) and sophomore midfielder Pablo Juan (St. Louis, Missouri).

The score would remain a 1-1 draw through the remainder of the first half. Butler had the advantage through much of the first 45 minutes with a 12-2 lead in shots.

In the second half, Butler regained the lead, 2-1, with a goal 6:29 into the final 45 minutes. The Bulldogs would control the second half, outshooting USI, 8-2, and posting a 3-0 advantage in corner kicks.

The Eagles’ chances came at 70:48 off the foot of Nakame, a shot on-goal, and at 83:57 when freshman forward David Davila (Elkhart, Indiana), blast that was blocked by the defense.

Between the posts, sophomore goalkeeper Andrew Klott (St. Charles, Missouri) allowed the two goals after facing 20 shots, seven on-goal. He also made five saves in the opener.

NEXT UP FOR USI:

The Eagles continue their season-opening road swing Sunday when they travel to Belmont University for a 6 p.m. contest. The Bruins opened their season with a 0-0 tie at Georgia State University this evening in Atlanta, Georgia.

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.

VALPO TENNIS

BEACONS FINALIZE FALL TENNIS SCHEDULE

The Valparaiso University tennis program has announced its schedule for the 2024 fall season, featuring a trio of home dual matches at the Valpo Tennis Complex.

The Beacons begin the campaign on Saturday, Aug. 31 by hosting DePauw at noon. The Brown & Gold will host IU Kokomo on Friday, Sept. 13 at 9 a.m. before another instate showdown with Holy Cross (Ind.) on Thursday, Sept. 19 at 4 p.m. The first tournament action of the fall is set for Sept. 27-29 as Valpo competes in Illinois State’s Redbird Invitational in Normal, Ill. for the fourth straight year.

UIC will host this year’s Missouri Valley Conference Individual Championships, which take place from Oct. 4-6 in Chicago. Fall competition concludes with the annual ITA Midwest Regional, which will be hosted by Michigan State beginning on Oct. 10 in East Lansing, Mich.

The spring slate will be announced at a later date.

Head coach Bob Modesto’s team has posted double-figure win totals in three straight seasons after previously having not enjoyed a double-figure win total since 2007. Tennis won Valpo’s Team Academic Award for the third straight year by once again posting the top cumulative grade point average of any Valpo team. The 2023-24 campaign featured no shortage of dramatic matches, as the team played 10 matches decided by the slimmest of margins at 4-3.

VALPO WOMEN’S SOCCER

BEACONS DROP ONE-GOAL DECISION AT EASTERN ILLINOIS

A strike from outside the penalty box in the 67th minute proved to be the decisive tally Thursday afternoon in Charleston, Ill., as host Eastern Illinois defeated the Valpo soccer team, 1-0.

How It Happened

EIU had an early flurry of efforts in the fourth minute following a corner kick, but goalkeeper Kate Sheridan (Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids) made a pair of close-range saves to keep the Panthers off the board.

Valpo outshot EIU 7-4 over the opening 45 minutes. Neither side broke through before intermission, however, as the first half ended 0-0.

Less than six minutes into the second half, the Panthers had a golden chance to take the lead as they were awarded a penalty kick on a Valpo foul in the box. Facing the first PK of her career, Sheridan was more than up to the task, diving to her right to deny the penalty and then recovering the other direction to snuff out a rebound attempt before EIU was adjuged offside on a third effort.

EIU found the breakthrough in the 67th minute, as Kya Trejo struck from 25 yards out on the right flank to the far upper corner to give the Panthers the 1-0 lead.

The Beacons had six shot attempts after falling behind in an attempt to equalize and had a couple of good tries among chaos in the box with around two minutes to play, but were unable to find the back of the net.

Inside the Match

Thursday’s match was the 300th as head coach for Valpo gaffer John Marovich.

Freshman Kaleigh Shafer (Shelby Township, Mich./Eisenhower) made the first start of her collegiate career.

Valpo held a 15-9 edge in shot attempts, but put just three of its shots on goal. Meanwhile, EIU had seven shots on goal, with Sheridan making six stops in her second career match.

After only one field player went the full 90 minutes in the season opener, Valpo’s entire back line — Abby White (Commerce Township, Mich./Walled Lake Central), Anna Cup (Bartlett, Ill./South Elgin), Maya Tyburowski (Palatine, Ill./Fremd) and Ashley Trippeer (Mokena, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central) — went the distance on Thursday. For the freshman Tyburowski, it was the first 90-minute effort of her collegiate career.

Next Up

Valpo (1-1-0) debuts at home on Sunday afternoon, as the Beacons take to Brown Field to face off with Milwaukee. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m., with the match streamed live on ESPN+.

UINDY MEN’S SOCCER

UINDY PICKED TO FINISH SECOND IN 2024 GLVC MEN’S SOCCER TITLE RACE

INDIANAPOLIS – The reigning 2023 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) men’s soccer champion, UIndy Greyhounds, were voted to finish second in the 2024 GLVC men’s soccer preseason coaches’ poll, the league office announced on Thursday.

The preseason poll is selected by the league’s head coaches, who, per GLVC Bylaws, are not permitted to vote for their own team.

No. 2 Indianapolis

Received six first-place votes and 181 total points.
Ranked 15th in the United Soccer Coaches preseason poll.
The reigning conference tournament champions posted a 12-2-7 overall mark while going 8-1-4 in GLVC action, qualifying for their fourth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance.
Gabe Hall heads into his third year with the Greyhounds, helping two players to GLVC major honors in both of his first two seasons.
Indianapolis returns a pair of All-GLVC selections – Second Team selection, junior midfielder Kabiru Gafar, and Third Team selection, senior defenseman Bobby Turner.
- Gafar scored three goals and tallied two assists in 16 games last season.
- Turner not only helped lead the Greyhound backline to the third-lowest goals allowed (12) but also chipped in offensively with five goals and two assists.

2024 GLVC MEN’S SOCCER PRESEASON POLL

Place	School	Points (1st-Place Votes)
1	Lewis	185 (5)
2	Indianapolis	181 (6)
3	Maryville	165 (2)
4	McKendree	163
5	Illinois Springfield	137 (2)
6	Rockhurst	125
7	Drury	115
8	Truman State	107
9	Upper Iowa	99
10 11	Missouri-St. Louis Missouri S&T	72 70
12	Quincy	61
13	Lincoln	36
14	William Jewell	34
15	Southwest Baptist	25

UINDY WOMEN’S SOCCER

WOMEN’S SOCCER PICKED 8TH IN GLVC PRESEASON POLL

INDIANAPOLIS – The UIndy women’s soccer team was picked eighth in the annual GLVC preseason coaches poll, the conference office announced Wednesday afternoon.

The Greyhounds collected 92 points, edging out ninth-ranked Truman by one point. Leading the poll with 195 points and 13 first-place votes was Maryville, the reigning GLVC regular season champions.

The 2023 team MVP and leader in points, Sarah Wegener, returns to the midfield for UIndy. The Greyhounds also return many key pieces on the defensive end, including Rochelle Maxson, who led all returners in total minutes in 2023. The team also welcomes nine newcomers for the upcoming 2024 season.

Head coach Kelli Beheler enters her second year at the helm of the UIndy women’s soccer program, looking to build on last year’s record of 4-8-5. The Greyhounds open up the 2024 campaign on Thursday, Sept. 5, at home against Ohio Dominican at 7 p.m. ET.

2024 GLVC WOMEN’S SOCCER PRESEASON POLL

Place	School	Points (1st-Place Votes)
1	Maryville	195 (13)
2	McKendree	178 (1)
3	Drury	166
4	Lewis	152 (1)
5	Rockhurst	139
6	Missouri-St. Louis	135
7	Illinois Springfield	123
8	Indianapolis	92
9	Truman	91
10 11	Missouri S&T Quincy	84 79
12	Southwest Baptist	45
13	Upper Iowa	42
14	William Jewell	30
15	Lincoln	24

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

9 – 3 – 21 – 15 – 43 –

August 23, 1907 – Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Howie Camnitz no-hit the New York Giants roster, in a 1-0 in 5 inning game at the Polo Grounds in New York City

August 23, 1936 – A 17 year old Cleveland Indians future Baseball HOF pitcher Bob Feller’s debut in a MLB game resulted in him striking out 15 St Louis Browns in 4-1 win at League Park, Cleveland. Feller wore the Number 9 on his uniform that day.

August 23, 1942 – In the spirit of charity, Walter Johnson pitched to Number 3, Babe Ruth in pregame attraction that drew 69,000 for New York Yankee versus Washington MLB doubleheader at Yankee Stadium. The exhibition of the legends helped to raise a cool $80,000 for Army-Navy relief

August 23, 1953 – A man named Phil Grate allegedly set a record for throwing a baseball with a toss of 443’3″.

August 23, 1970 – Roberto Clemente, Number 21 of the Pittsburgh Pirates produced his record second straight 5-hit game

August 23, 1972 – Chicago’s Dick Allen, Number 15 is 4th (Jimmie Foxx, Hank Greenberg, and Alex Johnson) to homer into Comiskey Park’s center field bleachers

August 23, 1992 – Dennis Eckersley, Number 43 of the Oakland A’s had another big year. Eck previously set record for most consecutive saves (40), on this day became the first pitcher to record 40 saves in 4 different seasons

August 23, 1993 – Atlanta Braves teammates Fred McGriff (Number 27) and David Justice (Number 23) became just the sixth duo to hit back-to-back home runs twice in same game

FOOTBALL HISTORY

This day in football history

August 23, 1946 – The Chicago College All-Star game took place on this date at Soldier Field as the All-Stars shocked the NFL champion LA Rams 16-0 in front of a crowd of 97,380 fans. The game’s MVP was college player Elroy “Crazy Legs” Hirsch, a running back from Wisconsin University.

August 23, 1985 – A court in Louisville, KY awarded football legend Paul Hornung $1,160,000 paid by the NCAA in a suit that Hornung sued the Association when they disallowed him to be a broadcast analyst on collegiate football games due to allegedly betting on games in his past.

August 23, 2003 – The renovated Lambeau Field re-opens, in Green Bay, Wisconsin as the Packers hosted the Panthers in a preseason contest. The Green Bay fans were treated to the opening of the Atrium and also received an additional 10,000 seats for patrons to watch the game. The improvements also gave the opportunity for the legendary venue to host not just the 10 home Packers games every year, but almost 700 other events during the year as well!

August 23, 2020 – The NFL learns that 77 out of 77 positive COVID-19 tests recorded over the past few days were all in fact FALSE Positives and none of the players had contracted the disease.

August 23, 2020 – The Baltimore Ravens released 7 time Pro Bowl Safety Earl Thomas for conduct detrimental to the team, after he got into a fight with a teammate and had caused a rift in the locker room.

Hall of Fame Birthdays for August 23

August 23, 1874 – Harrisburg, PA – Yale guard Bill Hickock is born on this day. “Wild Bill” was twice selected to the All-American Team in 1893 & 1894. The legendary player was enshrined into the College Football Hall of Fame in the induction class of 1971.

August 23, 1934 – Wilmington, North Carolina -Sonny Jurgensen was a former quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins. Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined the fantastic quarterback in the class of 1983.

August 23, 1945 – Griffin, Georgia – Rayfield Wright was a offensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys for 13 seasons. The blocker from Fort Valley State known as “Big Cat” was drafted in the 7th round of the 1967 NFL Draft. He was enshrined with a bronze bust in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006.

August 23, 1968 – Oceola, Arkansas – Cortez Kennedy was a 1989 All-American defensive tackle from the University of Miami. He went on after college to have a great 11 year career with the Seatle Seahawks, who selected him as the 3rd pick in the 1990 NFL Draft and was named as an All-Pro five times. Kennedy was the 1992 NFL Defensive Player of the Year after recording 14 sacks. Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined this great player in 2012.

TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY

Aug. 23

1906 — On their way to the American League pennant, the Chicago White Sox beat the Washington Senators 4-1 for their 19th straight victory.

1931 — Lefty Grove of the Philadelphia Athletics was beaten 1-0 by Dick Coffman of the St. Louis Browns, snapping a personal 16-game winning streak. A misjudged fly ball by outfielder Jim Moore led to the winning run.

1936 — In his first major-league start, 17-year-old Bob Feller struck out 15 Browns as the Cleveland Indians beat St. Louis 4-1. Feller gave up six hits and allowed four walks.

1952 — During a game against the Cardinals at the Polo Grounds, the Giants’ Bob Elliott complained and kicked dirt arguing over a called strike. Umpire Augie Donatelli ejected him from the game. Bobby Hoffman finished the at-bat by being called out on strikes and was also ejected by Donatelli for arguing the call.

1982 — Seattle pitcher Gaylord Perry was ejected in the seventh inning for allegedly throwing a spitball against the Red Sox. It was the first ejection for Perry, who was subsequently suspended for 10 days.

1989 — Rick Dempsey’s leadoff homer in the 22nd inning gave the Los Angeles Dodgers a 1-0 victory against the Montreal Expos in the second-longest shutout in major league history.

1992 — There were no hits in Clearwater’s 1-0 victory over Winter Haven in the Class A Florida State League. In what appeared to be the first professional game in 40 years without a hit, Andy Carter and the Clearwater Phillies beat Scott Bakkum and the Winter Haven Red Sox. The only run scored in the seventh inning on a pair of walks and a pair of sacrifice bunts.

1998 — Barry Bonds became the first player in major league history to hit 400 home runs and steal 400 bases when he homered off Florida’s Kirt Ojala in the second inning of San Francisco’s game at Florida. Bonds, who hit his 26th homer of the season, had 438 steals.

2001 — Randy Johnson struck out 16 in seven innings to become the first pitcher to strike out 300 in four straight seasons, only to see his eight-game winning streak end as Kevin Young’s two-run homer led the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 5-1 victory over Arizona.

2006 — The Kansas City Royals became the second team in major league history to have a 10-run first inning and not win the game. At Kauffman Stadium, the home team took a 10-1 lead, but were defeated by the Indians in 10 innings, 15-13.

2009 — Eric Bruntlett turned an unassisted triple play to finish Philadelphia’s wild 9-7 victory over the New York Mets.

2017 — Dodgers lefty Rich Hill lost his perfect game on an error in the ninth inning, then lost his no-hitter on a leadoff home run in the 10th by Josh Harrison that sent the Pittsburgh Pirates over Los Angeles 1-0. Jordy Mercer led off the ninth with a sharp grounder that smacked off third baseman Logan Forsythe’s glove for an error. Hill retired the next three batters. Hill returned for the 10th and Harrison sent his 99th pitch into the first row of seats in left field, just out of the reach of left fielder Curtis Granderson. Hill struck out 10 without a walk.

2017 — Zach Britton’s AL-record run of converting 60 straight save attempts ended, when the Baltimore closer blew a two-run lead and failed to get out of the ninth inning in a game the Orioles ultimately won 8-7 over Oakland in the 12th.

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Aug. 24

1905 — The Chicago Cubs beat the Phillies at Philadelphia 2-1 in 20 innings behind the complete game pitching of Ed Reulbach.

1940 — Outfielder Ted Williams pitched the last two innings for the Boston Red Sox against Detroit at Fenway Park. He allowed one run on three hits, but struck out Rudy York on three pitches. The Tigers, behind Tommy Bridges, won 12-1.

1951 — St. Louis Browns owner Bill Veeck gave over 1,000 fans behind his dugout YES and NO placards, allowing them to have a part in the strategy of the game. The fans flashed the cards when asked by the coaches what the Browns should do and it worked as St. Louis beat the Philadelphia Athletics 5-3.

1971 — Ernie Banks hit the 512th and final home run of his career as the Chicago Cubs beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-4. Banks’ shot came off Jim McGlothin in the first inning.

1975 — Ed Halicki of San Francisco pitched a 6-0 no-hitter against the New York Mets to lead the Giants to a sweep of a doubleheader.

1989 — After six months of denial, defense and delay, Cincinnati manager Pete Rose was banned for life from baseball by Commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti for gambling. Rose, baseball’s all-time hit leader and holder of 19 major-league records, signed a five-page agreement with Giamatti in which he agreed to a lifetime penalty but did not admit to gambling on baseball.

2001 — Colorado starting pitcher Jason Jennings went 3-for-5 in his major league debut, including a homer and an RBI single, while giving up five hits and striking out eight in a complete game shut out over the Mets, 10-0. The right-hander became the first pitcher in modern history to throw a shutout and hit a homer in his first game.

2003 — Ramon Hernandez and Miguel Tejada hit grand slams as Oakland routed Toronto 17-2.

2008 — Francisco Rodriguez earned his 50th save, striking out two in a scoreless ninth inning to secure the Los Angeles Angels’ 5-3 victory over Minnesota.

2012 — Adrian Beltre of Texas hit for the cycle in an 8-0 win over Minnesota.

2013 — Adam Eaton hit a go-ahead double in the 18th inning and the Arizona Diamondbacks outlasted the Philadelphia Phillies 12-7 in a record-setting, marathon game for both clubs. The teams combined to use 20 pitchers in a contest that ended at 2:12 a.m. and took 7 hours, 6 minutes — setting a mark for length of game for both teams.

2013 — Detroit’s Max Scherzer outpitched Matt Harvey, striking out 11 and hitting a stunning RBI double that sent the Tigers to a 3-0 victory over the New York Mets. Scherzer (19-1) joined Rube Marquard in 1912 and Roger Clemens in 2001 as the only major league pitchers to win 19 of their first 20 decisions in a season.

2016 — David Ortiz became the oldest player ever to hit 30 homers in a season, but the Tampa Bay Rays came back from a three-run deficit to beat Boston 4-3 in 11 innings. The 40-year-old designated hitter connected for a two-run home run off starting pitcher Matt Andriese during the first inning.

2022 — George Kirby of the Mariners starts today’s game against the Nationals by throwing 24 consecutive strikes – a record since 1988, when all pitches were tracked for the first time. In the 8th inning. Seattle’s Julio Rodriguez hits his 20th homer to become only the fourth rookie to have a season of 20 homers and 20 steals. But while Mariners players grab the headlines, Washington scores twice in the top of the 9th to win the game, 3-1.

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Aug. 25

1922 — In one of the wildest games ever played, the Cubs beat the Phillies 26-23. The Cubs led 25-6 in the fourth inning, but held on as the game ended with the Phillies leaving the bases loaded.

1934 — Detroit’s Schoolboy Rowe won his 16th consecutive game with a 4-2 triumph over the Washington Senators. Rowe singled in the winning run in the ninth inning.

1952 — Detroit’s Virgil Trucks pitched his second no-hitter of the season, a 1-0 gem over New York at Yankee Stadium. The Tigers committed two errors and Trucks walked one batter and struck out eight. It was the last victory of the season for Trucks, who finished with a 5-19 record.

1967 — Dean Chance of Minnesota pitched his second no-hitter of the month, defeating the Indians 2-1. Chance pitched an abbreviated five perfect innings against Boston on Aug. 6 for a 2-0 victory.

1972 — Philadelphia Ken Reynolds tied a National League record with his 12th consecutive loss, 6-1 to Cincinnati, from the beginning of the season.

1979 — California’s Don Baylor tied a club record by driving in eight runs during a 24-2 rout of the Toronto Blue Jays. The 24 runs and 26 hits set Angel records.

1985 — New York’s Dwight Gooden became the youngest pitcher ever to win 20 games with a 9-3 triumph over the San Diego Padres. Gooden at age 20 years, nine months, and nine days was one month younger that Bob Feller who won 20 games in 1939.

1998 — Toronto’s Roger Clemens struck out 18 and won his 11th straight decision as he pitched a 3-0 three-hit victory over the Kansas City Royals.

2004 — Jeff DaVanon became the first Angels player in 13 years to hit for the cycle in Anaheim’s 21-6 rout of Kansas City.

2008 — Brett Myers, J.C. Romero and Clay Condrey combined on a 13-hit shutout in Philadelphia’s 5-0 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

2010 — The Colorado Rockies overcame a nine-run deficit, matching the biggest rally in team history and stunning the Atlanta Braves 12-10 on Troy Tulowitzki’s go-ahead single in the eighth inning. Down 10-1 in the third inning, the Rockies chipped away against the NL East leader before taking the lead with four runs in the eighth.

2010 — The Reds blew a nine-run lead, then regrouped and rallied past the Giants, 12-11, on Joey Votto’s tiebreaking single in the 12th inning. The NL Central-leading Reds took a 10-1 lead into the bottom of the fifth before San Francisco came back with a six-run burst in the eighth to take an 11-10 lead.

2011 — The New York Yankees became the first team in major league history to hit three grand slams in a game, with Robinson Cano, Russell Martin and Curtis Granderson connecting in a 22-9 romp over the Oakland Athletics.

2017 — Rhys Hoskins hit another homer and Cesar Hernandez ripped a three-run triple to help Philadelphia to a 7-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs. Hoskins has put on a tremendous power display. He has nine homers and 21 RBIs in 16 games. No player in major league history had reached nine homers that quickly.

2020 Chicago White Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito no-hits the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0.

2021 — In the longest major league game since the introduction of the tiebreaker rule before the 2020 season, the Dodgers need 16 innings to defeat the Padres, 5 – 3, after almost six hours of playing time. After five scoreless extra frames in spite of the presence of a designated runner on second base every time, the Dodgers finally take a 3 – 1 lead in the top of the 15th, only to see Fernando Tatis Jr. tie it with his 35th homer of the year off Corey Knebel in the bottom of the inning, necessitating yet another inning. A.J. Pollock finally provides the margin of victory with a two-run homer off Daniel Camarena and the Padres fail to score against Shane Greene.

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Aug. 26

1916 — Philadelphia’s Joe Bush pitched a no-hitter, to beat Cleveland 5-0.

1939 — The first major league baseball game was televised as WXBS brought their cameras to Brooklyn’s Ebbets Field for a doubleheader between the Cincinnati Reds and the Dodgers.

1947 — Brooklyn’s Dan Bankhead became the first black pitcher in the majors. He homered in his first major-league plate appearance, but didn’t fare well on the mound. In 3 1-3 innings of relief, he gave up 10 hits and six earned runs to the Pirates. Pittsburgh won 16-3.

1962 — Minnesota’s Jack Kralick pitched a 1-0 no-hitter against the Kansas City Athletics at Metropolitan Stadium. Lenny Green drove in the Twins’ run with a sacrifice fly off Bill Fischer in the seventh inning.

1987 — Milwaukee’s Paul Molitor went 0-for-4, ending his 39-game hitting streak, and the Brewers beat the Cleveland Indians 1-0 in 10 innings on pinch-hitter Rick Manning’s RBI single. With Molitor waiting in the on-deck circle for a possible fifth at-bat, Manning singled in the game-winner.

1991 — Kansas City’s Brett Saberhagen pitched a no-hitter to lead the Royals to a 7-0 win over the Chicago White Sox. Saberhagen, who struck out five and walked two.

1999 — Randy Johnson reached 300 strikeouts in record time, notching nine in seven innings to help the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Florida Marlins 12-2. Johnson achieved the milestone in his 29th start.

2004 — Ichiro Suzuki homered in the ninth inning for his 200th hit of the season, but Seattle fell to Kansas City 7-3. Suzuki became the first player to reach 200 hits in each of his first four major league seasons.

2007 — Dalton Carriker’s home run in the bottom of the eighth gave Warner Robins, Georgia, a thrilling 3-2 victory over Tokyo to win the Little League World Series title.

2007 — Boston defeated the Chicago White Sox 11-1 to complete a four-game sweep. For the series, the Red Sox outscored Chicago 46-7. Boston scored at least 10 runs in every game of the series, which is only the fourth time that has happened in a four-game series since 1900 and the first time in the American League in 85 years.

2008 — Major League Baseball announced umpires will be allowed to check video on home run calls starting Aug. 27. Video will be used only on so-called “boundary calls,” such as determining whether fly balls went over the fence, whether potential home runs were fair or foul and whether there was fan interference on potential home runs.

2010 — Albert Pujols of St. Louis hits the 400th homer of his career, off Jordan Zimmermann of the Nationals in the 4th inning. Pujols becomes the 47th major leaguer to hit that many and is the third-youngest to do so after Alex Rodriguez and Ken Griffey Jr.

2018 — Mana Lau Kong homered to center field on the first pitch his team saw and Ka’olu Holt pitched a complete game to lead Hawaii to a 3-0 victory over South Korea in the Little League World Series championship.

2018 — Toronto’s Kendrys Morales became the seventh player in major league history to homer in at least seven consecutive games, going deep in the third inning of the Blue Jays’ 8-3 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.

2018 — Matt Carpenter tied a St. Louis record with four doubles, pitcher Austin Gomber had a two-run infield single in a six-run first inning, and the Cardinals routed Colorado 12-3.

Aug. 27

1897 — Roger Bresnahan, later a Hall of Fame catcher, made his major-league debut as a pitcher for the Washington Senators by shutting out the St. Louis Browns 3-0.

1911 — Ed Walsh of the Chicago White Sox pitched a 5-0 no-hitter against the Boston Red Sox. Walsh struck out eight and walked one.

1937 — Brooklyn’s Fred Frankhouse pitched a rain-shortened no-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds. The game was stopped with two out in the eighth inning with the Dodgers leading 5-0.

1977 — Toby Harrah and Bump Wills of the Texas Rangers hit back-to-back inside-the-park home runs on consecutive pitches in the seventh inning in an 8-2 victory over New York at Yankee Stadium.

1978 — Joe Morgan of the Cincinnati Reds hit his 200th career home run to become the first player in major league history to have 200 homers and 500 stolen bases.

1982 — Rickey Henderson of Oakland broke Lou Brock’s 1974 record of 118 stolen bases in a season and stole three more bases in the Athletics’ 5-4 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. It gave Henderson 122 thefts in 127 games.

1999 — Vladimir Guerrero’s hitting streak was halted at 31 games by Cincinnati’s Ron Villone in the Reds’ 4-1 win over Montreal. Guerrero went 0-for-2 with an intentional walk against Villone, ending the majors’ longest hitting streak since 1987.

2005 — Jeff Kent became the first player to hit 300 home runs as a second baseman in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 8-3 win over Houston. The homer was the 325th of his career.

2010 — Florida led off a game with back-to-back homers for the first time in franchise history in a 7-1 victory over Atlanta. Cameron Maybin hit the first pitch of the game into the left-field seats. Logan Morrison then connected off Tommy Hanson for his first major league home run.

2011 — Justin Verlander became the majors’ first 20-game winner, grinding through six innings in the Detroit Tigers’ 6-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins. Verlander (20-5) became the first pitcher to win 20 games before the end of August since Arizona’s Curt Schilling in 2002.

2017 — Giancarlo Stanton hit his 50th home run to break an eighth-inning tie, helping the Miami Marlins sweep the San Diego Padres with a 6-2 victory. Stanton became the first NL player to reach 50 homers since Prince Fielder hit 50 for Milwaukee in 2007.

2017 — Rookie Rhys Hoskins homered for the fifth straight game and made a diving catch to start a game-changing triple play in the fifth inning, leading Philadelphia to a 6-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs. Hoskins led off the eighth with a drive to left-center to give him 11 home runs in his first 18 games, becoming the fastest in major league history to reach 11 homers. Hoskins was called up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Aug. 10.

2018 — Kendrys Morales’ home run streak was ended at seven games by the Baltimore Orioles, who halted an eight-game skid by defeating the Toronto Blue Jays 7-0. Morales went 0 for 3 with a walk and did not hit the ball out of the infield.

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Aug. 28

1918 – Tris Speaker was suspended for the rest of the season because of his assault on umpire Tom Connolly following a dispute at home plate in Philadelphia.

1926 — Emil Levsen of the Cleveland Indians pitched two complete-game victories over the Boston Red Sox, 6-1 and 5-1. He did not strike out a batter in either game. The Indians used the identical lineup in both games.

1951 — The Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the New York Giants 2-0, snapping the Giants’ 16-game winning streak. The streak enabled the Giants to cut the Dodgers 13½-game lead to six.

1971 — In the nightcap of a doubleheader, Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Rick Wise hit two home runs to help himself to a 7-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants.

1977 — Steve Garvey of Los Angeles hit three doubles and two home runs in five at-bats, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to an 11-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. One of Garvey’s homers was a grand slam.

1977 — In a 6-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles, Nolan Ryan of the California Angles struck out 11 batters to pass the 300-strikeout plateau for the fifth time in his career.

1987 — Mike Schmidt passes Ted Williams and Willie McCovey with 522 home runs

1990 — Ryne Sandberg became the first second baseman in history to have consecutive 30-homer seasons, leading the Cubs to a 5-2 victory over the Houston Astros.

1992 — The Milwaukee Brewers set an American League record with 31 hits and 26 singles in a 22-2 rout of the Toronto Blue Jays.

2003 — Eric Gagne set a major league record with his 44th straight save this season as Los Angeles beat Houston 6-3. Gagne eclipsed Tom Gordon’s 1998 record of 43 in a row to begin a season.

2008 — Cristian Guzman of the Nationals became the second player to hit for the cycle since the franchise moved to Washington, driving in three in an 11-2 rout of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

2014 — San Francisco’s Yusmeiro Petit set a major league record when he retired his 46th batter in a row, and the Giants beat Colorado 3-1. Petit got the first eight Colorado hitters, establishing the mark by striking out Charlie Culberson. That broke Mark Buehrle’s record of 45 straight with the Chicago White Sox in 2009. Petit’s streak covered eight games, six of them in relief.

2016 — Ryan Harlost led Endwell, N.Y., to the Little League World Series title, striking out eight and limiting South Korea to five hits in six innings in a 2-1 victory. Endwell gave New York its first championship since 1964.

2021 — Los Angeles Angels pitcher Shohei Otani becomes the first player in team history to reach 20 stolen bases and hit 40 home runs in a season.

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Aug. 29

1918 — The Chicago Cubs, behind the pitching of Lefty Tyler, clinched the National League pennant with a 1-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

1934 — The Philadelphia A’s ended Schoolboy Rowe’s 16-game winning streak with a 13-5 victory over the Detroit Tigers.

1948 — Jackie Robinson of the Brooklyn Dodgers hit for the cycle in a 12-7 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. Robinson drove in two runs, scored three runs and stole a base.

1965 — San Francisco’s Willie Mays broke Ralph Kiner’s National League record with his 17th home run of the month in an 8-3 triumph over the New York Mets. Kiner had 16 homers in September of 1949. Mays hit a tape measure shot off Jack Fisher.

1967 — Bert Campaneris of the Kansas City A’s hit three triples in a 9-8, 10-inning loss to the Cleveland Indians. Campaneris was the first to have three triples in a game since Ben Chapman in 1939.

1971 — Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves knocked in his 100th run of the season, giving him the National League record of 11 seasons with 100 or more RBIs.

1977 — Lou Brock of St. Louis stole base No. 893, breaking Ty Cobb’s modern record for career stolen bases. The Cardinals lost to the San Diego Padres 4-3.

1977— Cleveland’s Duane Kuiper hit a one-out solo home run in the first inning off Chicago’s Steve Stone at Municipal Stadium. It was Kuiper’s only homer in 3,379 career at-bats — the fewest homers in most at-bats for any player in MLB history.

1985 — Don Baylor of the New York Yankees set an American League record when he was hit by a pitch for the 190th time in his career. Baylor was struck by California Angels pitcher Kirk McCaskill in the first inning, breaking the old mark of 189 set by Minnie Minoso.

1991 — Carlton Fisk of the Chicago White Sox hit two homers to become the oldest player in the 20th century to accomplish the mark. He’ll top this by hitting two homers on October 3. Jack McDowell went the distance to beat Cleveland 7-2.

1993 — George Brett recorded his 200th stolen base in Kansas City’s 5-4, 12-inning victory over Boston to join Willie Mays and Hank Aaron as the only players with 3,000 hits, 300 homers and 200 steals.

2000 — Anaheim’s Darin Erstad went 3-for-5 to reach 200 hits faster than any player in 65 years as the Angels defeated Toronto 9-4. Ducky Medwick of the St. Louis Cardinals did it in 131 games in 1935.

2002 — Mark Bellhorn became the first player in NL history to hit a home run in the same inning from both sides of the plate, in the fourth of the Chicago Cubs’ 13-10 win over Milwaukee.

2004 — Albert Pujols hit his 40th home run and reached 100 RBIs for the fourth straight season to help St. Louis beat Pittsburgh 4-0. He’s the fourth player to start his major league career with four straight seasons with at least 100 RBIs, joining Hall of Famers Al Simmons, Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams.

2010 — Brian McCann hit a game-winning homer with help from video replay, giving the Atlanta Braves a stunning 7-6 victory over the Florida Marlins. It was the first time a game ended using a video review.

2018 — Milwaukee’s Christian Yelich went 6 for 6 and hit for the cycle and Jesus Aguilar homered in the 10th inning, powering the Brewers to a 13-12 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. The Brewers had a season-high 22 hits and rallied to take the lead four different times, and Jesus Aguilar hit the go-ahead homer in the 10th inning.

2021 — Taylor, Michigan wins the Little League World Series with a win over Hamilton, Ohio.

2022 — Aaron Judge of the Yankees hit home run #50 of the season, to stay just ahead of the pace set by Roger Maris when he hit 61 homers to set the team and American League record in 1961.

TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY

Aug. 23

1898 — Malcolm Whitman wins the men’s singles title in the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association championship.

1926 — Molla Bjurstedt Mallory beats Elizabeth Ryan to capture her seventh singles title in the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association championships.

1933 — The first televised boxing match is an exhibition fight between Archie Sexton and Laurie Raiteri, staged at the Broadcasting House in London.

1946 — The College All-Stars beat the Los Angeles Rams 16-0 at Chicago’s Soldier Field.

1947 — The College All-Stars beat the Chicago Bears 16-0, before a record crowd of 105,840 at Chicago’s Soldier Field. It’s the second and last time that the college team won in consecutive years.

1969 — Audrey McElmory becomes the first American to win the world road cycling championship which is held in Brno, Czechoslovakia. McElmury overcomes rain and a fall during the fourth lap of the 62-kilometer race to beat Britain’s Bernadette Swinnerton by one minute and 10 seconds.

1975 — Classical Way completes the trotting sweep by winning the Challenge Cup in 3:07.1 at Roosevelt Raceway.

1987 — Callit wins the International Trot in 2:33.4 at Roosevelt Raceway.

1995 — Denis Pankratov of Russia breaks a 9-year-old world record in the men’s 100-meter butterfly at the European swimming championships in Vienna, Austria with a time of 52.32 seconds.

2004 — The U.S. softball team wins its third straight gold medal with a nearly unblemished romp through the Olympics, capped by a 5-1 victory over Australia. Lisa Fernandez pitches a four-hitter and Crystl Bustos homers twice in the Americans’ best all-around game of the tournament.

2008 — The star-studded American women’s basketball team led by the likes of Lisa Leslie, Sue Bird & Diana Taurasi win the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics with a convincing 92-65 win over Australia.

2008 — At the Beijing Games, Angel Matos of Cuba and his coach are banned for life after the taekwondo athlete kicks the referee in the face following his bronze-medal match disqualification against Kazakhstan’s Arman Chilmanov. Matos is declared the loser for taking too much injury time after hurting his leg. Matos angrily questions the call, pushes a judge, then pushes and kicks referee Chakir Chelbat of Sweden.

2012 — Lance Armstrong chooses not to pursue arbitration in the drug case brought against him by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. That’s his last option in his bitter fight with USADA and his decision sets the stage for the titles to be stripped and his name to be all but wiped from the record books of the sport he once ruled.

2014 — Nick Davila passes for 237 yards and eight touchdowns and the Arizona Rattlers win their third consecutive ArenaBowl title with a 72-32 victory over the Cleveland Gladiators.

2015 — Ohio State becomes the first unanimous preseason No. 1 in The Associated Press college football poll. The defending national champion Buckeyes, receive all 61 first-place votes from the media panel in the rankings.

2015 — Usain Bolt wins the 100-meter race at the World Championships in Beijing, edging Justin Gaitlin by 0.01 seconds.

2020 — UEFA Champions League Final, Lisbon: Kingsley Coman heads German giants Bayern Munich to the club’s 6th crown in a 1-0 win over Paris St-Germain.

2020 — Takuma Sato of Japan wins his second Indianapolis 500 under yellow caution flag after a crash with three laps remaining.

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Aug. 24

1904 — Holcombe Ward wins the men’s singles title in the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association singles title.

1908 — Tommy Burns knocks out Bill Squires in the 13th round at Sydney, Australia to retain the world heavyweight title.

1925 — Helen Wills, 19, wins her third straight U.S. Lawn Tennis Association singles title with a 3-6, 6-0, 6-2 victory over Kathleen McKane. An hour later, Wills teams up with Mary K. Browne to win the doubles title.

1929 — Helen Wills wins her sixth U.S. Lawn Tennis Association singles title by defeating Phoebe Holcroft Watson, 6-4, 6-2.

1963 — The Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa. is covered by ABC’s Wide World of Sports for the first time.

1963 — Don Schollander becomes the first swimmer to break the two-minute barrier in the 200-meter freestyle with a 1:58.4 time in a meet at Osaka, Japan.

1963 — John Pennel breaks the 17-foot barrier in the pole vault with a 17-0¾ vault in a meet at Miami.

1988 — Minnesota North Stars forward Dino Ciccarelli is sentenced to one day in jail and fined $1,000 for hitting another player with his stick. Ciccarelli, who was given a match penalty and 10-game suspension by the league for the Jan. 6, 1988 attack on Toronto’s Luke Richardson, is believed to be the first NHL player to receive a jail term for an on-ice attack of another player.

1989 — Pete Rose is suspended from baseball for life for gambling.

1996 — Hsieh Chin-hsiung sets a Little League World Series record with his seventh home run as Taiwan wins the title for the 17th time with a 13-3 victory over Cranston, R.I.

2003 — Jockey Julie Krone becomes the first female rider to win a million-dollar race taking the Pacific Classic at Del Mar aboard Candy Ride.

2004 — Four-time world 1,500 champion Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco, a heartbreak loser at the last two Olympics, holds off Bernard Lagat down the stretch to win in 3 minutes, 34.18 seconds. El Guerrouj edges Lagat by .12 seconds for the gold medal. El Guerrouj had lost four races in the last eight years, but two of those defeats came at the 1996 and 2000 Olympics.

2006 — After signing a one-day contract with the San Francisco 49ers, Jerry Rice officially retires from the NFL.

2007 — The NFL indefinitely suspends Michael Vick without pay just hours after he acknowledged in court papers that he did, indeed, bankroll gambling on dogfighting and helped kill some dogs not worthy of the pit.

2008 — On the final day of the Beijing Games, the United States beats Spain 118-107 and win the gold medal in men’s basketball for the first time since 2000. China has one of the most dominating and diverse performances at an Olympics ever, winning a games-leading 51 golds and an even 100 overall. The United States finishes with 110 medals and trails well behind the Chinese in golds with 36, the first time since 1992 it doesn’t lead the category.

2008 — Hawaii’s mini-mashers get a little help from Mexico’s miscues to win a fourth straight Little League World Series title for the United States. Tanner Tokunaga smacks two homers and Iolana Akau adds a solo blast as the boys from Waipahu, Hawaii, defeat Matamoros, Mexico, 12-3.

2008 — Danny Lee becomes the U.S. Amateur’s youngest champion, supplanting Tiger Woods by holding off Drew Kittleson 5 and 4. The 18-year, 1-month-old Lee is six months and 29 days younger than Woods when he won the first of his three Amateurs in 1994.

2018 — French Open Tennis bans Serena Williams′ black Nike catsuit from future tournaments citing ‘respect for the game and the place’.

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Aug. 25

1804 — Alice Meynell becomes the first woman jockey as she rides in a four-mile race in York, England.

1888 — Henry Slocum becomes the first man to win the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association singles title besides Richard Sears.

1904 — Jim Jeffries knocks out Jack Munroe in the second round in San Francisco to retain the world heavyweight title.

1908 — The first $50,000 trotting race in the United States, the American Trotting Derby, is won by Allen Winter with Lon McDonald driving.

1946 — Ben Hogan wins the PGA championship with a 6 and 4 win over Ed Oliver.

1950 — Sugar Ray Robinson knocks out Jose Basora at 52 seconds of the first round to retain world middleweight boxing title.

1968 — Arthur Ashe becomes 1st African American to win the US singles championship.

1973 — The NASL championship is won by the Philadelphia Atoms with a 2-0 victory over the Dallas Tornadoes.

1974 — The Los Angeles Aztecs edge the Miami Toros 4-3 to win the NASL Championship.

1984 — France’s Lutin D’Isigny wins the $250,000 International Trot by seven lengths, the largest margin of victory in this race. Jean-Paul Andre drives Lutin D’Isigny to a world record trot for the 1¼-mile in 2:30, smashing the record of 2:31.2 shared by Speedy Scot and Noble Victory.

1991 — Carl Lewis reclaims his title of world’s fastest human by setting a world record of 9.86 seconds in the 100-meter final in the world championships in Tokyo. Lewis clips four-hundredths of a second off the previous mark of 9.90 set by Leroy Burrell in the U.S. Championships two months earlier.

1996 — Tiger Woods wins an unprecedented third U.S. Amateur Championship, beating Steve Scott on the 38th hole after coming back from 5-down with 16 to play and 2-down with three to go.

2006 — Japan’s Yusaku Miyazato becomes the first golfer to make two holes-in-one in the same round of a PGA Tour tournament when he aces a pair of par 3s at the Reno-Tahoe Open.

2011 — The New York Yankees become the first team in major league history to hit three grand slams in a game, with Robinson Cano, Russell Martin and Curtis Granderson connecting in a 22-9 romp over the Oakland Athletics.

2012 — Alpha and longshot Golden Ticket finish in a historic dead heat in the $1 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. Golden Ticket leads the field of 11 3-year-olds in the stretch, but 2-1 favorite Alpha closes strongly and the two hit the finish line in tandem. It’s the first dead heat in the 143 runnings of the Travers, and a rare finish for any Grade 1 race. Alpha pays $4.10 and 33-1 shot Golden Ticket returns $26.80 to win.

2013 — Teen star Lydia Ko runs away with the Canadian Women’s Open with a five-stroke victory over Karine Icher. The 16-year-old New Zealand amateur successfully defends her title, closing with a 6-under 64 for her fourth win in 14 professional events.

2020 — Chicago White Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito throws a no-hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-0 at Guaranteed Rate Field, Chicago.

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Aug. 26

1933 — Helen Hull Jacobs captures the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association singles title when Helen Wills Moody defaults in the third set because of back and hip pain.

1939 — The first major league baseball game is televised. NBC broadcasts a doubleheader at Brooklyn’s Ebbets Field between the Cincinnati Reds and the Dodgers.

1950 — Australia wins its third straight Davis Cup by beating the U.S. 4-1.

1961 — The International Hockey Hall of Fame opens in Toronto.

1972 — The New York Cosmos win the NASL championship by defeating the St. Louis Stars 2-1.

1989 — Chris Drury pitches a five-hitter and Trumbull, Conn., becomes the first American team since 1983 to capture the Little League World Series, defeating Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 5-2.

1993 — Sean Burroughs, the son of former major leaguer Jeff Burroughs, pitches his second no-hitter of the Little League World Series and hits two home runs, sending defending champion Long Beach, Calif., past Bedford, N.H., 11-0 in the final of the U.S. bracket.

1995 — Greg Norman sinks a 66-foot chip on the first playoff hole, to capture the World Series of Golf and become the leading money winner in PGA Tour history. Norman wins $360,000 in his third tour victory this year to raise lifetime earnings to $9.49 million and overtake Tom Kite.

1997 — Carl Lewis finishes his track-and-field career anchoring star-studded team to victory in the 400-meter relay to cap the ISTAF Grand Prix meet in Berlin. The team of Olympic 100-meter champion Donovan Bailey, former world record-holder Leroy Burrell and Namibian sprint champion Frankie Fredericks, win in 38.24 seconds.

1999 — Michael Johnson shatters another world record at the world championships — this time, breaking the 400-meter mark with a time of 43.18. He cuts 0.11 seconds off the record of 43.29 set by Butch Reynolds in 1988 and ties Carl Lewis for the most gold medals at the championships with eight.

2004 — Lindsay Tarpley and Abby Wambach score as the U.S. beats Brazil 2-1, maintaining an undefeated record to win the women’s football gold medal at the Athens Olympics.

2011 — The Tulsa Shock snap the longest losing streak in WNBA history with a 77-75 win over the Los Angeles Sparks. The Shock (2-25) had 20 straight losses before Sheryl Swoopes hit a jumper with 2.9 seconds left.

2011 — Kyle Busch records his record-breaking 50th NASCAR Busch Series victory, edging teammate Joey Logano in the Food City 250 at the Bristol Motor Speedway. Busch breaks a tie with Mark Martin for the record in NASCAR’s second-tier series.

2012 — Lydia Ko wins the Canadian Women’s Open to become the youngest winner in LPGA Tour history and only the fifth amateur champion. The 15-year-old South Korean-born New Zealander closes with a 5-under 67 for a three-stroke victory over Inbee Park.

2016 — San Francisco 49ers Colin Kaepernick kneels in protest during the U.S. national anthem at San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium while playing against the San Diego Chargers, objecting to racial injustice and police brutality in the U.S.

2016 — Dan Raudabaugh throws six touchdown passes and the Philadelphia Soul win their second ArenaBowl title, beating the Arizona Rattlers 56-42.

2017 — Kyle Snyder scores a late takedown of Olympic gold medalist Abdusalim Sadulaev in the deciding match, and the U.S. wins the world freestyle wrestling title for the first time in 22 years.

2017 — Floyd Mayweather Jr. stops UFC champion Conor McGregor on his feet in the 10th round in Las Vegas. The much-hyped 154-pound fight is more competitive than many expected when an unbeaten, five-division world champion boxer takes on a mixed martial artist making his pro boxing debut.

2020 — Milwaukee Bucks forfeit their NBA playoff game after the shooting of Jacob Blake, leading to the NBA postponing more games.

Aug. 27

1884 — Richard Sears beats Howard Taylor 6-0, 1-6, 6-0, 6-2 to win his fourth straight U.S. national tennis championship.

1903 — Britain’s Hugh Doherty is the first non-American to win the men’s singles title in the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association championships with a 6-0, 6-3, 10-8 victory over the William Larned.

1909 — William Larned wins his fifth U.S. singles tennis title with a five-set victory over William Clothier in Newport, R.I.

1928 — Helen Wills beats Helen Hull Jacobs to take the fifth women’s singles title in the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association championships. Wills needs only 33 minutes, defeating Jacobs 6-2, 6-1.

1957 — Hickory Smoke, driven by John Simpson, Jr., wins the Hambletonian Stakes after capturing the fifth and deciding heat.

1969 — Lindy’s Pride, driven by Howard Beissinger, wins the Hambletonian Stakes in straight heats.

1975 — Onny Parun of New Zealand defeats Stan Smith 6-4, 6-2 in the first night match at the U.S. Open before a crowd of 4,949 at the West Side Tennis Club.

1976 — Transsexual Renee Richards, formerly Richard Raskind, is barred from competing at the U.S. Open tennis championships after refusing to submit to a chromosome qualification test.

1978 — Reds Joe Morgan is 1st to hit 200 HRs & have 500 stolen bases.

1978 — The Cosmos defeat the Tampa Bay Rowdies 3-1 to win the NASL Championship.

1982 — Rickey Henderson steals 119th base of season, breaks Lou Brock’s mark.

1985 — Mary Joe Fernandez, 14, becomes the youngest player to win a match at the U.S. Open. Fernandez beats Sara Gomer 6-1, 6-4.

1996 — Stefan Edberg stuns Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek at the U.S. Open, winning 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 in his record 54th straight and final Grand Slam event.

1999 — Maurice Greene and Inger Miller win at 200 meters at the world championships, giving the U.S. a sprint sweep. Greene is the first to win the 100 and 200 at a major global meet since Carl Lewis at the 1984 Olympics.

2006 — Marco Andretti, 19, becomes the youngest winner of a major open-wheel event, beating Dario Franchitti by 0.66 seconds to take the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma.

2015 — Usain Bolt wins his fourth straight 200-meter title at the world championships, finishing in 19.55 seconds in Beijing.

2018 — Simona Halep becomes the first No. 1-seeded woman to lose her opening match at the U.S. Open in the half-century of the professional era. Halep is overwhelmed by 44th-ranked Kaia Kanepi of Estonia 6-2, 6-4.

2023 — Gymnast Simone Biles (26) wins her record 8th U.S. Championship in San Jose, California.

_____

Aug. 28

1886 — Richard Sears beats R. Livingston Beeckman 4-6, 6-1, 6-3, 6-4 to win his sixth straight U.S. national tennis championship.

1888 — Henry Slocum defeats Howard Taylor 6-4, 6-1, 6-0 to win the eighth U.S. men’s national tennis championship. Slocum, last year’s runner-up, is the first men’s champion other than Richard Sears. Sears, the U.S. champion from 1881-1887, retired last year.

1908 — Fred McLeod wins the U.S. Open golf title with a one-stroke victory over Willie Smith in a playoff.

1922 — The oldest American international team golf match, the Walker Cup, is established with the U.S. beating Britain 8-4.

1949 — The U.S. takes the Davis Cup, topping Australia 4-1.

1950 — Althea Gibson becomes the first black player to compete in the U.S. Open. Gibson wins her first round match, defeating Barbara Knapp of Britain 6-2, 6-2 at Forest Hills in New York.

1977 — The Cosmos beat the Seattle Sounders 2-1 at Portland, Ore., to win their second NASL title. Giorgio Chinaglia’s header in the 77th minute is the winning goal.

1977 — Nolan Ryan strikes out 300 batters for 5th straight year.

1989 — Pete Sampras, 18, wins his first U.S. Open singles match in four sets over Agustin Moreno of Mexico.

1990 — Stefan Edberg becomes the first top-seeded player since John Newcombe in 1971 to lose in the first round of the U.S. Open. Edberg loses to Alexander Volkov of the Soviet Union, 6-3, 7-6, 6-2.

1993 — Pinch-hitter Jeremy Hess’ bases-loaded single with two outs in the sixth inning gives Long Beach, Calif. a 3-2 victory over Panama in the championship game of the Little League World Series.

1994 — Tiger Woods, 18, becomes the youngest winner in the history of the U.S. Amateur Golf Championship, capturing the last three holes of his 36-hole title match against Trip Kuehne.

1995 — Monica Seles, plays in her first Grand Slam tournament in more than 2 1-2 years and beats Ruxandra Dragomir 6-3, 6-1 in first round of the U.S. Open.

2004 — The U.S. women’s basketball team goes through the Athens Olympics undefeated to win its 5th Olympic gold medal, beating Australia 74-63 in the final.

2004 — Led by San Antonio Spurs shooting guard Manu Ginóbili Argentina beats Italy 84-69 for the Olympic basketball gold medal in Athens; star-studded U.S. team takes bronze.

2005 — Michael Memea’s home run in the bottom of the seventh gives West Oahu of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, the Little League World Series title.

2008 — Top-seeded Ana Ivanovic is ousted from the U.S. Open, beaten by 188th-ranked Julie Coin 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 in the second round. Never before in the Open era that began in 1968 had the No. 1 woman lost this early in the tournament.

2011 — California returns the Little League World Series title to the U.S. with a 2-1 victory over Hamamatsu City, Japan.

2014 — Acknowledging he “didn’t get it right” with a two-game suspension for Ravens running back Ray Rice, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announces tougher penalties for players accused of domestic violence, including six weeks for a first offense and at least a year for a second.

2016 — Ryan Harlost leads Endwell, New York, to the Little League World Series title, striking out eight and limiting South Korea to five hits in six innings in a 2-1 victory.

2021 — Los Angeles Angels pitcher/DH Shohei Otani becomes the first player in team history to have 20 stolen bases and 40 home runs.

2022 — Tour Championship, Men’s Golf, East Lake GC: Irishman Rory McIlroy wins $18m with 1 stroke win over Scottie Scheffler & Im Sung-jae; becomes first 3-time winner of the FedEx Cup.

_____

Aug. 29

1885 — John L. Sullivan wins the first world heavyweight title under the Marquess of Queensbury rules when he beats Dominic McCaffrey in six rounds. The fight features 3-ounce gloves and 3-minute rounds.

1952 — Dr. Reginald Weir becomes the first black man to compete in the U.S. Tennis Championships, Weir appears two years after Althea Gibson breaks the color barrier in the tournament and loses in four sets to William Stucki.

1962 — A.C.’s Viking, driven by Sanders Russell, wins the Hambletonian Stakes in straight heats.

1968 — Open tennis begins at the U.S. Tennis Championships. Billie Jean King wins the first stadium match at the U.S. Open and amateurs Ray Moore and Jim Osborne have upset wins over professionals. Moore beats No. 10 Andres Gimeno and Osborne defeats Barry MacKay, each in four sets.

1974 — Nineteen-year-old high school basketball star Moses Malone, signs a contract with the Utah Stars of the ABA to become the first player to go directly from high school into major professional basketball.

1978 — The USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y. opens. Bjorn Borg beats Bob Hewitt in the first match 6-0, 6-2 in the best-of-three sets.

1987 — Nolan Ryan passes the 200-strikeout barrier for record 11th time.

1987 — Charlie Whittingham becomes the first trainer to surpass 500 stakes wins when he sent Ferdinand to victory in the Cabrillo Handicap at Del Mar Racetrack.

1993 — Laffit Pincay Jr. wins the 8,000th race of his career aboard El Toreo in the seventh race at Del Mar racetrack to become the second thoroughbred jockey to ride 8,000 winners.

1993 — Brandie Burton’s 20-foot birdie putt on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff edges Betsy King for the du Maurier Classic title, the LPGA tour’s final major of the season.

1998 — Toms River, N.J., wins its first Little League World Series with a 12-9 victory over Kashima, Japan. Chris Cardone hits home runs in consecutive at-bats — including the game-deciding two-run shot.

2005 — Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova becomes the first U.S. Open defending women’s champion to fall in the first round, losing 6-3, 6-2 to fellow Russian Ekaterina Bychkova on the first day of the U.S. Open.

2011 — Petra Kvitova becomes the first defending Wimbledon champion to lose in the first round at the U.S. Open, 7-6, 6-3 to Alexandra Dulgheru.

2012 — The USADA claims to have stripped Lance Armstrong of his seven Tour de France titles.

2013 — The NFL agrees to pay $765 million to settle lawsuits from thousands of former players who developed dementia or other concussion-related health problems they say were caused by the on-field violence. The settlement, unprecedented in sports, applies to all past NFL players and spouses of those who are deceased.

2015 — Usain Bolt anchors Jamaica to a fourth successive men’s 4×100-meter title and adds to his record-breaking personal haul of IAAF World Championships gold medals to 11.

2018 — Star quarterback Aaron Rodgers signs NFL record contract extension with the Green Bay Packers; 4 years worth $134m rising to a possible $180m with a record $103m in guarantees.

2018 — Wanheng Menayothin surpasses Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s 50-0 record, beating Pedro Taduran in a unanimous decision to improve to 51-0. The 32-year-old Menayothin (51-0, 18 KOs) won his 10th successful title defense of his WBC minimumweight belt that he won in November 2014.

2022 — St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols hits career home run 694 off of major league record 450th different pitcher in 13-4 win over Reds in Cincinnati.

TV SPORTS FRIDAY

NFL PRESEASON	TIME ET	TV
Jacksonville at Atlanta	7:00pm	NFLN
San Francisco at Las Vegas	10:00pm	NFLN
MLB REGULAR SEASON	TIME ET	TV
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh	6:40pm	Bally Sports Ohio ATTSN-PIT
Houston at Baltimore	7:05pm	MLBN MASN2 SCHN
LA Angels at Toronto	7:05pm	Bally Sports West Sportsnet
Arizona at Boston	7:10pm	MLBN YurView NESN
Chi. Cubs at Miami	7:10pm	MARQ Bally Sports Florida
Texas at Cleveland	7:10pm	Bally Sports Southwest Bally Sports Great Lakes
Washington at Atlanta	7:20pm	MASN Bally Sports Southeast
Detroit at Chi. White Sox	8:10pm	Bally Sports Detroit NBC Sports Chicago
Philadelphia at Kansas City	8:10pm	NBC Sports Philadelphia Bally Sports Kansas City
St. Louis at Minnesota	8:10pm	Bally Sports Midwest Bally Sports North
Milwaukee at Oakland	9:40pm	Bally Sports Wisconsin NBC Sports California
NY Mets at San Diego	9:40pm	SNY Padres.TV
San Francisco at Seattle	10:10pm	MLBN NBC Sports Bay ROOT
Tampa Bay at LA Dodgers	10:10pm	MLBN Bally Sports Sun SNLA
MOTORSPORTS	TIME ET	TV
Xfinity: Wawa 250 Powered by Coca-Cola	7:30pm	USA
GOLF	TIME ET	TV
LPGA: Women’s British Open	7:00am	USA
DP World: Danish Championship	7:00am	GOLF
PGA: BMW Championship	3:00pm	GOLF
WNBA	TIME ET	TV
Los Angeles at Washington	7:30pm	ION
Phoenix at Atlanta	7:30pm	ION
Chicago at Connecticut	7:30pm	ION
Las Vegas at Minnesota	9:30pm	ION
SOCCER	TIME ET	TV
La Liga: Celta de Vigo vs Valencia	1:00pm	ESPN+
Bundesliga: Borussia M’gladbach vs Bayer Leverkusen	2:30pm	ESPN2 ESPN+
Ligue 1: PSG vs Montpellier	2:45pm	Fanatiz USA beIN Sports
Primeira Liga: Farense vs Sporting CP	3:15pm	Fanatiz USA GOLTV
La Liga: Sevilla vs Villarreal	3:30pm	ESPN+
Argentina Primera División: Independiente Rivadavia vs Platense	5:00pm	Fanatiz USA
NWSL: Houston Dash vs Orlando Pride	8:00pm	Prime
Liga MX: Querétaro vs Cruz Azul	9:00pm	VIX
Liga MX: Querétaro vs Cruz Azul	10:00pm	VIX
Liga MX: Tijuana vs Monterrey	11:05pm	VIX

TV SPORTS SATURDAY

NFL	TIME ET	TV
Pittsburgh at Detroit	1:00pm	NFLN
LA Chargers at Dallas	4:00pm	NFLN
NY Giants at NY Jets	7:30pm	NFLN
Cleveland at Seattle	10:00pm	NFLN
MLB REGULAR SEASON	TIME ET	TV
Colorado at NY Yankees	2:05pm	MLBN Rockies.TV YES
LA Angels at Toronto	3:07pm	MLBN Bally Sports West Sportsnet
Houston at Baltimore	4:05pm	MASN2 SCHN
Milwaukee at Oakland	4:07pm	Bally Sports Wisconsin NBC Sports California
Arizona at Boston	4:10pm	YurView NESN
Chi. Cubs at Miami	4:10pm	MARQ Bally Sports Florida
San Francisco at Seattle	4:10pm	NBC Sports Bay ROOT
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh	6:40pm	Bally Sports Ohio ATTSN-PIT
Texas at Cleveland	7:10pm	Bally Sports Southwest Bally Sports Great Lakes
Detroit at Chi. White Sox	8:10pm	Bally Sports Detroit NBC Sports Chicago
Philadelphia at Kansas City	7:10pm	MLBN NBC Sports Philadelphia Bally Sports Kansas City
St. Louis at Minnesota	7:10pm	MLBN Bally Sports Midwest Bally Sports North
Washington at Atlanta	7:20pm	MASN Bally Sports Southeast
NY Mets at San Diego	8:40pm	SNY Padres.TV
Tampa Bay at LA Dodgers	9:10pm	Bally Sports Sun SNLA
COLLEGE FOOTBALL	TIME ET	TV
Florida State vs Georgia Tech	12:00pm	ESPN
Montana State at New Mexico	4:00pm	FS1
SMU at Nevada	8:00pm	CBSSN
Delaware State at Hawaii	11:59	Spectrum
WNBA	TIME ET	TV
Connecticut at New York	7:00pm	NBC Sports Boston My9
Indiana at Minnesota	8:00pm	Bally Sports North Extra Bally Sports Indiana
MOTORSPORTS	TIME ET	TV
NASCAR Cup: Coke Zero Sugar 400	7:30pm	NBC
MMA	TIME ET	TV
Middleweights: Jared Cannonier vs. Caio Borralho	10:00pm	ESPN
GOLF	TIME ET	TV
LPGA: Women’s British Open	7:00am	USA
LPGA: Women’s British Open	12:00pm	NBC
PGA: BMW Championship	1:00pm	GOLF
PGA: BMW Championship	3:00pm	NBC
DP World: Danish Championship	6:30pm	GOLF
SOCCER	TIME ET	TV
EPL: Brighton & Hove Albion vs Manchester United	7:30am	Peacock
Bundesliga: Augsburg vs Werder Bremen	9:30am	ESPN+
Bundesliga: RB Leipzig vs Bochum	9:30am	ESPN+
Bundesliga: Hoffenheim vs Holstein Kiel	9:30am	ESPN+
Bundesliga: Augsburg vs Werder Bremen	9:30am	ESPN+
EPL: Tottenham Hotspur vs Everton	10:00am	Peacock
EPL: Manchester City vs Ipswich Town	10:00am	Peacock
EPL: Southampton vs Nottingham Forest	10:00am	Peacock
EPL: Crystal Palace vs West Ham United	10:00am	Peacock
EPL: Fulham vs Leicester City	10:00am	Peacock
Ligue 1: Olympique Lyonnais vs Monaco	11:00am	Fanatiz USA beIN Sports
La Liga: Osasuna vs Mallorca	11:00am	ESPN+
EPL: Aston Villa vs Arsenal	12:30pm	USA Peacock
Serie A: Parma vs Milan	12:30pm	CBS Paramount+
Serie A: Udinese vs Lazio	12:30pm	Paramount+
Bundesliga: Borussia Dortmund vs Eintracht Frankfurt	12:30pm	ESPN+
La Liga: Barcelona vs Athletic Club	1:00pm	ESPN+
Ligue 1: Lille vs Angers SCO	1:00pm	Fanatiz USA beIN Sports
Argentina Primera División: Deportivo Riestra vs Sarmiento	1:30pm	Fanatiz USA
Argentina Primera División: Argentinos Juniors vs Huracán	2:00pm	Fanatiz USA
Canadian Premier League: HFX Wanderers vs Atlético Ottawa	2:00pm	FOX Soccer Plus Fubo
NWSL: NJ/NY Gotham FC vs Portland Thorns	2:30pm	CBS Paramount+
Serie A: Internazionale vs Lecce	2:45pm	Paramount+
Serie A: Monza vs Genoa	2:45pm	Paramount+
Ligue 1: Saint-Étienne vs Le Havre	3:00pm	Fanatiz USA beIN Sports
La Liga: Getafe vs Rayo Vallecano	3:30pm	ESPN+
La Liga: Espanyol vs Real Sociedad	3:30pm	ESPN+
Portugal Primeira Liga: Benfica vs Estrela	3:30pm	Fubo
Argentina Primera División: Instituto vs Defensa y Justicia	4:00pm	Fanatiz USA
NWSL: San Diego Wave vs Angel City	4:30pm	CBS Paramount+
Canadian Premier League: Cavalry vs Pacific	5:00pm	FS2 Fubo
Argentina Primera División: Tigre vs Unión Santa Fe	6:30pm	Fanatiz USA
MLS: Minnesota United vs Seattle Sounders FC	6:30pm	FOX MLS Season Pass
Liga MX: Necaxa vs Juárez	7:00pm	VIX TUDN
MLS: CF Montréal vs New England	7:30pm	MLS Season Pass
MLS: Charlotte vs New York RB	7:30pm	MLS Season Pass
MLS: DC United vs Dallas	7:30pm	MLS Season Pass
MLS: Vancouver Whitecaps vs Los Angeles FC	7:30pm	MLS Season Pass
MLS: Inter Miami vs Cincinnati	7:30pm	MLS Season Pass
MLS: New York City vs Chicago Fire	7:30pm	MLS Season Pass
MLS: Philadelphia Union vs Columbus Crew	7:30pm	MLS Season Pass
NWSL: Racing Louisville FC vs Chicago Red Stars	7:30pm	Tubi ION
MLS: Sporting KC vs Orlando City SC	8:30pm	MLS Season Pass
MLS: Houston Dynamo vs Toronto FC	8:30pm	MLS Season Pass
MLS: Nashville SC vs Austin	8:30pm	MLS Season Pass
Liga MX: León vs Santos Laguna	9:00pm	VIX
Liga MX: Atlas vs Pumas UNAM	9:00pm	VIX TUDN
MLS: Real Salt Lake vs SJ Earthquakes	9:30pm	MLS Season Pass
MLS: LA Galaxy vs Atlanta United	10:30pm	MLS Season Pass
MLS: Portland Timbers vs St. Louis City	10:30pm	MLS Season Pass
Liga MX: Tigres UANL vs Guadalajara	11:00pm	Fubo
Liga MX: América vs Puebla	11:05pm	VIX TUDN
LACROSSE	TIME ET	TV
PLL: Denver at Utah	9:00pm	ESPN2