THE INDIANA SRN “SPORTSPAGE” TUESDAY OCTOBER 15, 2024

“THE SCOREBOARD”

INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL WEEK 9 SCHEDULE

ADAMS CENTRAL (7-1) AT WOODLAN (5-3)

AVON (2-6) AT NOBLESVILLE (2-6)

BEN DAVIS (3-5) AT NORTH CENTRAL (INDIANAPOLIS) (0-8)

BENTON CENTRAL (0-8) AT TIPTON (4-4)

BLACKFORD (2-6) AT ALEXANDRIA (5-3)

BLOOMINGTON SOUTH (4-4) AT SEYMOUR (4-4)

BOONE GROVE (5-3) AT HAMMOND NOLL (3-5)

BOWMAN ACADEMY (0-8) AT KNOX (5-3)

BREBEUF JESUIT (6-2) AT TERRE HAUTE NORTH (2-6)

BROWNSBURG (8-0) AT HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN (5-3)

CAMBRIDGE CITY LINCOLN (1-7) AT WES-DEL (4-4)

CARROLL (FORT WAYNE) (6-2) AT FORT WAYNE NORTH (5-3)

CASTLE (7-1) AT EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL (8-0)

CENTERVILLE (7-1) AT KNIGHTSTOWN (5-3)

CENTRAL NOBLE (0-8) AT GARRETT (8-0)

CLARKSVILLE (0-8) AT CRAWFORD COUNTY (0-8)

CLINTON CENTRAL (3-5) AT TRI-CENTRAL (1-7)

CLINTON PRAIRIE (4-4) AT EASTERN (GREENTOWN) (4-4)

COLUMBIA CITY (7-1) AT NORWELL (2-6)

COLUMBUS EAST (5-3) AT BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE (1-7)

COLUMBUS NORTH (7-1) AT TERRE HAUTE SOUTH (2-5)

CONCORD (8-0) AT PLYMOUTH (5-3)

CONNERSVILLE (2-6) AT BATESVILLE (5-3)

CRAWFORDSVILLE (2-6) AT FRANKFORT (0-8)

CROWN POINT (8-0) AT MICHIGAN CITY (3-5)

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

CULVER ACADEMY (7-1) AT JOHN GLENN (1-6)

DECATUR CENTRAL (5-2) AT FRANKLIN (3-5)

DEKALB (4-4) AT LEO (6-2)

DELPHI (5-3) AT TAYLOR (4-4)

DELTA (4-4) AT NEW PALESTINE (7-0)

EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL (1-7) AT HAMMOND MORTON (3-4)

EAST NOBLE (7-1) AT BELLMONT (0-8)

EASTBROOK (4-4) AT OAK HILL (5-3)

EASTERN (PEKIN) (1-7) AT CHARLESTOWN (1-7)

EASTERN GREENE (3-5) AT NORTH CENTRAL (FARMERSBURG) (2-6)

EASTSIDE (4-4) AT ANGOLA (3-5)

EDGEWOOD (2-6) AT BROWN COUNTY (4-4)

EDINBURGH (0-8) AT PARK TUDOR (5-3)

ELWOOD (1-7) AT FRANKTON (1-7)

EVANSVILLE BOSSE (0-8) AT EVANSVILLE HARRISON (1-7)

EVANSVILLE NORTH (3-5) AT EVANSVILLE CENTRAL (1-7)

EVANSVILLE REITZ (6-2) AT EVANSVILLE MATER DEI (7-1)

FAIRFIELD (3-5) AT CHURUBUSCO (4-4)

FISHERS (4-4) AT ZIONSVILLE (3-5)

FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA (2-6) AT FORT WAYNE DWENGER (3-5)

FORT WAYNE SNIDER (6-2) AT FORT WAYNE WAYNE (3-4)

FORT WAYNE SOUTH (2-6) AT FORT WAYNE NORTHROP (1-7)

FRANKLIN CENTRAL (5-2) AT WESTFIELD (7-1)

FRANKLIN COUNTY (5-3) AT BLUFFTON (6-2)

FREMONT (2-6) AT FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK (1-6)

GARY WEST (5-3) AT CALUMET (4-4)

GIBSON SOUTHERN (6-2) AT BOONVILLE (4-4)

GOSHEN (0-8) AT NORTHWOOD (3-5)

GREENCASTLE (2-6) AT NORTH PUTNAM (7-1)

GREENSBURG (0-8) AT RUSHVILLE (5-3)

GREENWOOD (2-6) AT WHITELAND (3-4)

GUERIN CATHOLIC (4-4) AT LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC (7-0)

HANOVER CENTRAL (6-2) AT HAMMOND CENTRAL (3-5)

HERITAGE CHRISTIAN (6-2) AT PURDUE POLY ENGLEWOOD (2-5)

HERITAGE HILLS (7-1) AT WASHINGTON (5-3)

HOBART (4-4) AT HIGHLAND (1-7)

HOMESTEAD (4-4) AT FORT WAYNE LUERS (5-3)

INDIAN CREEK (4-4) AT NORTHVIEW (7-1)

INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL (5-2) AT WARREN CENTRAL (7-1)

INDIANAPOLIS CHATARD (6-1) AT CINCINNATI ELDER (OHIO)

INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN (7-1) AT BEECH GROVE (4-4)

INDIANAPOLIS RITTER (1-6) AT COVENANT CHRISTIAN (0-8)

INDIANAPOLIS RONCALLI (3-4) AT EAST CENTRAL (6-2)

INDIANAPOLIS SCECINA (3-5) AT MONROVIA (6-2)

INDIANAPOLIS SHORTRIDGE (2-5) AT GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN (6-2)

INDIANAPOLIS TINDLEY (3-4) AT INDIANAPOLIS WASHINGTON (3-4)

IRVINGTON PREP (0-5) AT SOUTH DECATUR (3-4)

JAY COUNTY (2-6) AT HERITAGE (7-1)

JEFFERSONVILLE (5-3) AT JENNINGS COUNTY (0-8)

JIMTOWN (5-3) AT LAKELAND (5-3)

KANKAKEE VALLEY (3-5) AT MUNSTER (2-6)

KOKOMO (4-3) AT HARRISON (WEST LAFAYETTE) (5-3)

LAFAYETTE JEFF (8-0) AT MCCUTCHEON (4-4)

LAPEL (5-3) AT EASTERN HANCOCK (5-3)

LAPORTE (0-8) AT PORTAGE (3-5)

LAVILLE (3-5) AT WHITING (2-6)

LAWRENCE CENTRAL (3-5) AT CARMEL (3-5)

LAWRENCE NORTH (8-0) AT PIKE (5-3)

LAWRENCEBURG (7-1) AT SOUTH DEARBORN (4-4)

LEWIS CASS (3-5) AT SOUTHWOOD (0-8)

LINTON (6-2) AT PHALEN ACADEMY

LOWELL (4-4) AT ANDREAN (4-4)

MADISON (4-4) AT MILAN (5-3)

MANCHESTER (5-3) AT PERU (3-5)

MARION (4-4) AT ANDERSON (0-8)

MERRILLVILLE (7-1) AT CHESTERTON (5-3)

MISHAWAKA (6-2) AT WAWASEE (1-7)

MISSISSINEWA (8-0) AT MADISON-GRANT (8-0)

MONROE CENTRAL (6-2) AT SHENANDOAH (4-4)

MOUNT VERNON (FORTVILLE) (4-4) AT YORKTOWN (5-3)

NEW ALBANY (3-5) AT FLOYD CENTRAL (5-2)

NEW CASTLE (4-4) AT GREENFIELD-CENTRAL (6-2)

NEW HAVEN (1-7) AT HUNTINGTON NORTH (5-3)

NEW PRAIRIE (5-3) AT SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON (0-8)

NORTH DAVIESS (6-2) AT SPRINGS VALLEY (7-1)

NORTH JUDSON (8-0) AT PIONEER (6-2)

NORTH MONTGOMERY (3-5) AT DANVILLE (7-1)

NORTH NEWTON (2-6) AT TRI-COUNTY (5-3)

NORTH VERMILLION (7-1) AT SEEGER (3-5)

NORTHEASTERN (8-0) AT HAGERSTOWN (3-5)

NORTHFIELD (3-5) AT NORTHWESTERN (7-1)

OWEN VALLEY (0-8) AT CASCADE (8-0)

PAOLI (8-0) AT NORTH KNOX (2-6)

PARKE HERITAGE (1-7) AT FOUNTAIN CENTRAL (3-5)

PENDLETON HEIGHTS (3-5) AT SHELBYVILLE (1-7)

PERRY CENTRAL (4-4) AT MITCHELL (1-7)

PERRY MERIDIAN (3-5) AT MOORESVILLE (3-5)

PIKE CENTRAL (3-5) AT NORTH POSEY (6-2)

PLAINFIELD (7-1) AT MARTINSVILLE (8-0)

PRINCETON (1-7) AT MOUNT VERNON (POSEY) (4-4)

PROVIDENCE (7-0) AT NORTH HARRISON (6-2)

RENSSELAER CENTRAL (3-5) AT LOGANSPORT (7-1)

RICHMOND (1-7) AT MUNCIE CENTRAL (1-7)

RIVER FOREST (4-4) AT LAKE STATION (2-6)

RIVERTON PARKE (5-3) AT COVINGTON (5-3)

ROCHESTER (7-1) AT MACONAQUAH (8-0)

SCOTTSBURG (6-2) AT BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL (8-0)

SHERIDAN (4-4) AT CARROLL (FLORA) (8-0)

SILVER CREEK (3-5) AT CORYDON CENTRAL (3-5)

SOUTH ADAMS (3-5) AT SOUTHERN WELLS (0-8)

SOUTH BEND ADAMS (2-6) AT ELKHART (7-1)

SOUTH BEND RILEY (2-5) AT MISHAWAKA MARIAN (3-5)

SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH (5-3) AT PENN (6-2)

SOUTH NEWTON (3-5) AT FRONTIER (7-0)

SOUTH PUTNAM (6-2) AT CLOVERDALE (4-3)

SOUTH VERMILLION (8-0) AT ATTICA (0-8)

SOUTHMONT (3-5) AT TRI-WEST (4-4)

SOUTHPORT (0-8) AT BLOOMINGTON NORTH (6-2)

SOUTHRIDGE (6-2) AT FOREST PARK (5-3)

SOUTHSIDE HOMESCHOOL AT INDIANAPOLIS ATTUCKS (5-1)

SPEEDWAY (4-4) AT TRITON CENTRAL (6-2)

ST. FRANCES (MD.) AT CENTER GROVE (5-3)

SWITZERLAND COUNTY (6-2) AT NORTH DECATUR (7-1)

TELL CITY (4-4) AT SOUTH SPENCER (4-4)

TIPPECANOE VALLEY (6-2) AT BREMEN (4-4)

TRI (5-3) AT UNION COUNTY (0-8)

TRITON (6-2) AT NORTH MIAMI (6-2)

UNION CITY (2-6) AT WINCHESTER (3-5)

VALPARAISO (5-3) AT LAKE CENTRAL (3-5)

VINCENNES LINCOLN (3-5) AT JASPER (4-4)

WARSAW (5-3) AT NORTHRIDGE (3-5)

WEST CENTRAL (5-3) AT NORTH WHITE (4-4)

WEST NOBLE (7-1) AT PRAIRIE HEIGHTS (4-4)

WEST VIGO (3-5) AT SULLIVAN (3-5)

WEST WASHINGTON (3-5) AT SALEM (3-5)

WESTERN BOONE (7-1) AT LEBANON (6-2)

WHEELER (6-2) AT GRIFFITH (8-0)

WHITKO (0-8) AT WABASH (1-7)

WINAMAC (3-4) AT CASTON (2-6)

TWIN LAKES (3-5) AT WESTERN (0-8)

WEST LAFAYETTE (5-3) AT HAMILTON HEIGHTS (3-5)

INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION POLLS

1 BROWNSBURG

2 LAWRENCE NORTH

3 WESTFIELD

4 CROWN POINT

5 WARREN CENTRAL

6 CATHEDRAL

7 ELKHART

8 CENTER GROVE

9 COLUMBUS NORTH

10 FRANKLIN CENTRAL

1 CONCORD

2 LAFAYETTE JEFF

3 MERRILLVILLE

4 CASTLE

5 DECATUR CENTRAL

6 EAST CENTRAL

7 PLAINFIELD

8 VALPARAISO

9 BLOOMINGTON NORTH

10 WARSAW

1 NEW PALESTINE

2 MARTINSVILLE

3 BISHOP CHATARD

4 EAST NOBLE

5 COLUMBIA CITY

6 MISHAWAKA

7 BREBEUF

8 GREENFIELD -CENTRAL

9 LOGANSPORT

10 DANVILLE

1 EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL

2 HERITAGE HILLS

3 EVANSVILLE MATER DEI

4 MISSISSINEWA

5 GIBSON SOUTHERN

6 LAWRENCEBURG

7 GARRETT

8 CASCADE/FW LUERS

10 SOUTHRIDGE

1 LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC

2 INDY LUTHERAN

3 BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL

4 ADAMS CENTRAL

5 SOUTH VERMILLION

6 PAOLI/WESTERN BOONE

8 LINTON/MONROVIA

10 NORTH POSEY

1 NORTH JUDSON

2 PROVIDENCE

3 CARROLL FLORA

4 MADISON GRANT

5 NORTH DECATUR

6 SOUTH PUTNAM

7 SPRINGS VALLEY

8 FRONTIER/TRITON

10 MILAN

USA TODAY/NETWORK INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL POLL

1 BROWNSBURG

2 CROWN POINT/LAWRENCE NORTH

4 WESTFIELD

5 CATHEDRAL

6 WARREN CENTRAL

7 CENTER GROVE

8 COLUMBUS NORTH

9 ELKHART

10 FORT WAYNE CARROLL

1 CONCORD

2 MERRILLVILLE

3 LAFAYETTE JEFF

4 DECATUR CENTRAL

5 PLAINFIELD

6 EAST CENTRAL

7 CASTLE

8 BLOOMINGTON NORTH

9 VALPARAISO

10 WARSAW

1 NEW PALESTINE

2 MARTINSVILLE

3 BISHOP CHATARD

4 EAST NOBLE

5 MISHAWAKA

6 COLUMBIA CITY

7 BREBEUF

8 EVANSVILLE REITZ/LEO

10 DANVILLE

1 EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL

2 HERITAGE HILLS

3 MISSISSINEWA

4 LAWRENCEBURG

5 GARRETT

6 GIBSON SOUTHERN

7 EVANSVILLE MATER DEI

8 MACONAQUAH

9 CASCADE

10 WEST NOBLE

1 LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC

2 BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL

3 INDY LUTHERAN

4 ADAMS CENTRAL

5 TRITON CENTRAL

6 WESTERN BOONE

7 PAOLI

8 LINTON

9 SOUTH VERMILLION

10 NORTH POSEY

1 NORTH JUDSON

2 PROVIDENCE

3 CARROLL FLORA

4 MADISON GRANT

5 NORTH DECATUR

6 SPRINGS VALLEY

7 SOUTH PUTNAM

8 TRITON

9 FRONTIER

10 NORTH VERMILLION

INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL SECTIONAL TOURNAMENT

CLASS 4A

1. HAMMOND CENTRAL (5) | BRACKET
CROWN POINT, HAMMOND CENTRAL, HAMMOND MORTON, LAKE CENTRAL, MUNSTER

2. HOBART (5) | BRACKET
CHESTERTON, HOBART, MERRILLVILLE, PORTAGE, VALPARAISO

3. PENN (6) | BRACKET
LAPORTE, MICHIGAN CITY, MISHAWAKA, PENN, SOUTH BEND ADAMS, SOUTH BEND RILEY

4. GOSHEN (5) | BRACKET
CONCORD, ELKHART, GOSHEN, NORTHRIDGE, WARSAW COMMUNITY

5. FORT WAYNE SNIDER (4) | BRACKET
CARROLL (FORT WAYNE), FORT WAYNE NORTH SIDE, FORT WAYNE NORTHROP, FORT WAYNE SNIDER

6. FORT WAYNE SOUTH SIDE (5) | BRACKET
BELLMONT, FORT WAYNE SOUTH SIDE, FORT WAYNE WAYNE, HOMESTEAD, HUNTINGTON NORTH

7. LAFAYETTE JEFFERSON (4) | BRACKET
HARRISON (WEST LAFAYETTE), KOKOMO, LAFAYETTE JEFFERSON, MCCUTCHEON

8. WESTFIELD (6) | BRACKET
CARMEL, FISHERS, HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN, NOBLESVILLE, WESTFIELD, ZIONSVILLE

9. PENDLETON HEIGHTS (7) | BRACKET
ANDERSON, GREENFIELD-CENTRAL, MT. VERNON (FORTVILLE), MUNCIE CENTRAL, PENDLETON HEIGHTS, RICHMOND, YORKTOWN

10. LAWRENCE CENTRAL (5) | BRACKET
INDIANAPOLIS ARSENAL TECHNICAL, LAWRENCE CENTRAL, LAWRENCE NORTH, NORTH CENTRAL (INDIANAPOLIS), WARREN CENTRAL

11. BROWNSBURG (5) | BRACKET
AVON, BEN DAVIS, BROWNSBURG, PIKE, PLAINFIELD

12. PERRY MERIDIAN (6) | BRACKET
CENTER GROVE, DECATUR CENTRAL, FRANKLIN CENTRAL, MOORESVILLE, PERRY MERIDIAN, SOUTHPORT

13. BLOOMINGTON NORTH (5) | BRACKET
BLOOMINGTON NORTH, BLOOMINGTON SOUTH, MARTINSVILLE, TERRE HAUTE NORTH VIGO, TERRE HAUTE SOUTH VIGO

14. EAST CENTRAL (5) | BRACKET
COLUMBUS EAST, COLUMBUS NORTH, EAST CENTRAL, FRANKLIN COMMUNITY, WHITELAND COMMUNITY

15. NEW ALBANY (6) | BRACKET
BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE, FLOYD CENTRAL, JEFFERSONVILLE, NEW ALBANY, PROVIDENCE, SEYMOUR

16. CASTLE (4) | BRACKET
CASTLE, EVANSVILLE F.J. REITZ, EVANSVILLE HARRISON, EVANSVILLE NORTH

CLASS 3A

17. HAMMOND BISHOP NOLL (6) | BRACKET
CALUMET, EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL, GARY WEST SIDE, GRIFFITH, HAMMOND BISHOP NOLL, HIGHLAND

18. HANOVER CENTRAL (5) | BRACKET
HANOVER CENTRAL, ILLIANA CHRISTIAN, KANKAKEE VALLEY, LOWELL, RIVER FOREST

19. PLYMOUTH (7) | BRACKET
CULVER ACADEMIES, GLENN, MISHAWAKA MARIAN, NEW PRAIRIE, PLYMOUTH, SOUTH BEND SAINT JOSEPH, SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON

20. WEST NOBLE (6) | BRACKET
COLUMBIA CITY, FAIRFIELD, NORTHWOOD, TIPPECANOE VALLEY, WAWASEE, WEST NOBLE

21. ANGOLA (7) | BRACKET
ANGOLA, DEKALB, EAST NOBLE, FORT WAYNE BISHOP DWENGER, FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA LUTHERAN, GARRETT, LEO

22. NORWELL (5) | BRACKET
HERITAGE, MARION, MISSISSINEWA, NEW HAVEN, NORWELL

23. PERU (7) | BRACKET
LOGANSPORT, MACONAQUAH, NORTHWESTERN, PERU, TWIN LAKES, WEST LAFAYETTE, WESTERN

24. NEW CASTLE (5) | BRACKET
CONNERSVILLE, DELTA, HAMILTON HEIGHTS, JAY COUNTY, NEW CASTLE

25. BREBEUF JESUIT PREPARATORY (7) | BRACKET
BREBEUF JESUIT PREPARATORY, CRAWFORDSVILLE, DANVILLE COMMUNITY, FRANKFORT, GUERIN CATHOLIC, LEBANON, TRI-WEST HENDRICKS

26. INDIANAPOLIS BISHOP CHATARD (6) | BRACKET
HERRON, INDIANAPOLIS BISHOP CHATARD, INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL, INDIANAPOLIS CRISPUS ATTUCKS, INDIANAPOLIS SHORTRIDGE, PURDUE POLYTECHNIC – DOWNTOWN

27. SPEEDWAY (6) | BRACKET
CASCADE, EDGEWOOD, INDIANAPOLIS GEORGE WASHINGTON COMMUNITY, NORTHVIEW, OWEN VALLEY, SPEEDWAY

28. RONCALLI (7) | BRACKET
BEECH GROVE, GREENWOOD COMMUNITY, INDIAN CREEK, NEW PALESTINE, RONCALLI, RUSHVILLE CONSOLIDATED, SHELBYVILLE

29. LAWRENCEBURG (6) | BRACKET
BATESVILLE, FRANKLIN COUNTY, GREENSBURG, JENNINGS COUNTY, LAWRENCEBURG, SOUTH DEARBORN

30. SILVER CREEK (6) | BRACKET
CHARLESTOWN, CORYDON CENTRAL, MADISON CONSOLIDATED, NORTH HARRISON, SCOTTSBURG, SILVER CREEK

31. JASPER (6) | BRACKET
GIBSON SOUTHERN, JASPER, PRINCETON COMMUNITY, SOUTHRIDGE, VINCENNES LINCOLN, WASHINGTON

32. MT. VERNON (6) | BRACKET
BOONVILLE, EVANSVILLE BOSSE, EVANSVILLE CENTRAL, EVANSVILLE REITZ MEMORIAL, HERITAGE HILLS, MT. VERNON

CLASS 2A

33. ANDREAN (8) | BRACKET
21ST CENTURY CHARTER SCHOOL – GARY, ANDREAN, BOONE GROVE, HEBRON, LAKE STATION EDISON, LIGHTHOUSE CPC, WHEELER, WHITING

34. KNOX (6) | BRACKET
BREMEN, CAREER ACADEMY, JIMTOWN, KNOX, LAVILLE, WINAMAC COMMUNITY

35. PRAIRIE HEIGHTS (6) | BRACKET
CENTRAL NOBLE, CHURUBUSCO, EASTSIDE, LAKELAND, PRAIRIE HEIGHTS, WESTVIEW

36. WOODLAN (7) | BRACKET
ADAMS CENTRAL, BLUFFTON, FORT WAYNE BISHOP LUERS, FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK CHRISTIAN, SOUTH ADAMS, WHITKO, WOODLAN

37. WESTERN BOONE (6) | BRACKET
BENTON CENTRAL, DELPHI COMMUNITY, NORTH MONTGOMERY, RENSSELAER CENTRAL, SEEGER, WESTERN BOONE

38. SOUTHWOOD (7) | BRACKET
EASTERN (GREENTOWN), LEWIS CASS, MANCHESTER, OAK HILL, ROCHESTER COMMUNITY, SOUTHWOOD, WABASH

39. TAYLOR (6) | BRACKET
ELWOOD COMMUNITY, FRANKTON, LAPEL, SHERIDAN, TAYLOR, TIPTON

40. WAPAHANI (6) | BRACKET
ALEXANDRIA MONROE, BLACKFORD, EASTBROOK, MADISON-GRANT, MUNCIE BURRIS, WAPAHANI

41. SOUTHMONT (6) | BRACKET
GREENCASTLE, NORTH PUTNAM, PARKE HERITAGE, SOUTH PUTNAM, SOUTH VERMILLION, SOUTHMONT

42. INDIANAPOLIS CARDINAL RITTER (6) | BRACKET
COVENANT CHRISTIAN, INDIANAPOLIS CARDINAL RITTER, MONROVIA, PARK TUDOR, RIVERSIDE, UNIVERSITY

43. INDIANAPOLIS SCECINA MEMORIAL (7) | BRACKET
CHRISTEL HOUSE, EASTERN HANCOCK, HERITAGE CHRISTIAN, INDIANAPOLIS SCECINA MEMORIAL, IRVINGTON PREPARATORY ACADEMY, KIPP INDY LEGACY, TRITON CENTRAL

44. HAGERSTOWN (6) | BRACKET
CENTERVILLE, HAGERSTOWN, NORTHEASTERN, SHENANDOAH, UNION COUNTY, WINCHESTER COMMUNITY

45. BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL (6) | BRACKET
AUSTIN, BROWN COUNTY, BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL, SOUTH RIPLEY, SOUTHWESTERN (HANOVER), SWITZERLAND COUNTY

46. EASTERN (PEKIN) (6) | BRACKET
CLARKSVILLE, CRAWFORD COUNTY, EASTERN (PEKIN), MITCHELL, PAOLI, SALEM

47. EASTERN GREENE (7) | BRACKET
BARR-REEVE, EASTERN GREENE, LINTON-STOCKTON, NORTH KNOX, SOUTH KNOX, SULLIVAN, WEST VIGO

48. SOUTH SPENCER (8) | BRACKET
EVANSVILLE MATER DEI, FOREST PARK, NORTH POSEY, PERRY CENTRAL, PIKE CENTRAL, SOUTH SPENCER, TECUMSEH, TELL CITY

CLASS 1A

49. MARQUETTE CATHOLIC (8) | BRACKET
BOWMAN LEADERSHIP ACADEMY, HAMMOND ACADEMY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, KOUTS, MARQUETTE CATHOLIC, MORGAN TOWNSHIP, TRI-TOWNSHIP, WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, WESTVILLE

50. SOUTH NEWTON (8) | BRACKET
CASTON, DEMOTTE CHRISTIAN, NORTH NEWTON, NORTH WHITE, PIONEER, SOUTH NEWTON, TRI-COUNTY, WEST CENTRAL

51. CULVER COMMUNITY (7) | BRACKET
ARGOS, CULVER COMMUNITY, ELKHART CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, NORTH JUDSON-SAN PIERRE, OREGON-DAVIS, SOUTH CENTRAL (UNION MILLS), TRITON

52. HAMILTON (6) | BRACKET
BETHANY CHRISTIAN, FORT WAYNE CANTERBURY, FREMONT, HAMILTON, LAKELAND CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, LAKEWOOD PARK CHRISTIAN

53. COVINGTON (7) | BRACKET
ATTICA, COVINGTON, FAITH CHRISTIAN, FOUNTAIN CENTRAL, LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC, NORTH VERMILLION, RIVERTON PARKE

54. ROSSVILLE (7) | BRACKET
BETHESDA CHRISTIAN, CARROLL (FLORA), CLINTON CENTRAL, CLINTON PRAIRIE, FRONTIER, ROSSVILLE, TRADERS POINT CHRISTIAN

55. DALEVILLE (7) | BRACKET
COWAN, DALEVILLE, NORTH MIAMI, NORTHFIELD, SOUTHERN WELLS, TRI-CENTRAL, WES-DEL

56. MONROE CENTRAL (7) | BRACKET
BLUE RIVER VALLEY, CAMBRIDGE CITY LINCOLN, MONROE CENTRAL, RANDOLPH SOUTHERN, SETON CATHOLIC, UNION (MODOC), UNION CITY

57. INDIANA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF (8) | BRACKET
ANDERSON PREPARATORY ACADEMY, INDIANA MATH & SCIENCE ACADEMY, INDIANA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF, INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF INDIANA, LIBERTY CHRISTIAN, MTI SCHOOL OF KNOWLEDGE, PURDUE POLYTECHNIC-BROAD RIPPLE, TINDLEY

58. INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN (7) | BRACKET
CENTRAL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, EMINENCE, GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN, INDIANAPOLIS METROPOLITAN, PROVIDENCE CRISTO REY, VICTORY COLLEGE PREP

59. NORTH DECATUR (8) | BRACKET
EDINBURGH, KNIGHTSTOWN, MORRISTOWN, NORTH DECATUR, SOUTH DECATUR, SOUTHWESTERN (SHELBYVILLE), TRI, WALDRON

60. TRINITY LUTHERAN (7) | BRACKET
CROTHERSVILLE, HAUSER, JAC-CEN-DEL, MILAN, OLDENBURG ACADEMY, RISING SUN, TRINITY LUTHERAN

61. WHITE RIVER VALLEY (8) | BRACKET
BLOOMFIELD, CLAY CITY, CLOVERDALE, DUGGER UNION, LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, NORTH CENTRAL (FARMERSBURG), SHAKAMAK, WHITE RIVER VALLEY

62. LOOGOOTEE (6) | BRACKET
LOOGOOTEE, MEDORA, NORTH DAVIESS, ORLEANS, SHOALS, VINCENNES RIVET

63. CHRISTIAN ACADEMY OF INDIANA (8) | BRACKET
BORDEN, CHRISTIAN ACADEMY OF INDIANA, HENRYVILLE, LANESVILLE, NEW WASHINGTON, ROCK CREEK ACADEMY, SOUTH CENTRAL (ELIZABETH), WEST WASHINGTON

64. WOOD MEMORIAL (5) | BRACKET
CANNELTON, EVANSVILLE CHRISTIAN, NORTHEAST DUBOIS, SPRINGS VALLEY, WOOD MEMORIAL

INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL BOYS SOCCER STATE TOURNAMENT

REGIONAL SEMI-FINALS

CARMEL VS. LAWRENCE NORTH (THURSDAY 6PM)

BEN DAVIS VS. SOUTHPORT (THURSDAY 6PM)

CENTER GROVE VS. BLOOMINGTON SOUTH (THURSDAY 6PM)

SEYMOUR VS. CASTLE (THURSDAY 6PM)

MUNSTER VS. VALPARAISO (THURSDAY 6PM)

SB ADAMS VS. CONCORD (THURSDAY 6PM)

WARSAW VS. FW CARROLL (THURSDAY 6PM)

HARRISON VS. HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN (THURSDAY 6PM)

BISHOP CHATARD VS. CONNERSVILLE (THURSDAY 6PM)

CASCADE VS. GREENCASTLE (THURSDAY 6PM)

LAWRENCEBURG VS. CHARLESTOWN (THURDSAY 6PM)

WASHINGTON VS. EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL (THURSDAY 6PM)

ILLIANA CHRISTIAN VS. CULVER ACADEMIES (THURSDAY 6PM)

ANGOLA VS. FW CONCORDIA (THURSDAY 6PM)

WEST LAFAYETTE VS. NORTHWESTERN (THURSDAY 6PM)

JAY COUNTY VS. PARK TUDOR (THURSDAY 6PM)

SCECINA VS. GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN (THURSDAY 6PM)

SHAWE MEMORIAL VS. OLDENBURG ACADEMY (THURSDAY 6PM)

WHITE RIVER VALLEY VS. NE DUBOIS (THURSDAY 6PM)

PROVIDENCE VS. TELL CITY (THURSDAY 6PM)

WHEELER VS. BETHANY CHRISTIAN (THURSDAY 6PM)

WESTVIEW VS. LAKELAND CHRISTIAN (THURSDAY 6PM)

FAITH CHRISTIAN VS. CARROLL (THURSDAY 6PM)

MUNCIE BURRIS VS. COVENANT CHRISTIAN (THURSDAY 6PM)

INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS SOCCER STATE TOURNAMENT

REGIONAL SEMI-FINALS

CARMEL VS. BROWNSBURG (WEDNESDAY 6PM)

FRANKLIN CENTRAL VS. EAST CENTRAL (WEDNESDAY 6PM)

CENTER GROVE VS. TH SOUTH (WEDNESDAY 6PM)

FLOYD CENTRAL VS. CASTLE (WEDNESDAY 6PM)

CROWN POINT VS. VALPARAISO WEDNESDAY 6PM)

PENN VS. WARSAW (WEDNESDAY 6PM)

FW CARROLL VS. HOMESTEAD (WEDNESDAY 6PM)

HARRISON VS. NOBLESVILLE (WEDNESDAY 6PM)

WEST LAFAYETTE VS. BREBEUF (WEDNESDAY 6PM)

DANVILLE VS. RONCALLI (WEDNESDAY 6PM)

LAWRENCEBURG VS. MADISON (WEDNESDAY 6PM)

GIBSON SOUTHERN VS. EVANSVILLE MATER DEI (WEDNESDAY 6PM)

HIGHLAND VS. MISHAWAKA MARIAN (WEDNESDAY 6PM)

FW CONCORDIA VS. BELLMONT (WEDNESDAY 6PM)

CULVER ACADEMIES VS. HANOVER CENTRAL (WEDNESDAY 6PM)

OAK HILL VS. YORKTOWN (WEDNESDAY 6PM)

HERITAGE CHRISTIAN VS. MUNCIE BURRIS (WEDNESDAY 6PM)

MONROVIA VS. OLDENBURG ACADEMY (WEDNESDAY 6PM)

PROVIDENCE VS. VINCENNES RIVET (WEDNESDAY 6PM)

FOREST PARK VS. PIKE CENTRAL (WEDNESDAY 6PM)

BOONE GROVE VS. WHEELER (WEDNESDAY 6PM)

WESTVIEW VS. LAVILLE (WEDNESDAY 6PM)

EASTBROOK VS. FAITH CHRISTIAN (WEDNESDAY 6PM)

LAPEL VS. GREENCASTLE (WEDNESDAY 6PM)

INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL BOYS TENNIS STATE TOURNAMENT

FRIDAY OCTOBER 18

COLUMBUS NORTH VS. SB ST. JOSEPH 10AM

BREBEUF VS. EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL 10AM

CENTER GROVE VS. PENN 10AM

NOBLESVILLE VS. JASPER 10AM

STATE SEMI-FINALS

SATURDAY OCTOBER 19 10AM

STATE FINALS

SATURDAY 2PM

INDIANA CROSS COUNTRY SECTIONALS-SATURDAY OCTOBER 19

1. HIGHLAND (16): GIRLS 9:30 AM CT; BOYS 10:30 AM CT | RESULTS
CALUMET, CROWN POINT, EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL, GARY WEST SIDE, GRIFFITH, HANOVER CENTRAL, HAMMOND BISHOP NOLL, HAMMOND CENTRAL, HAMMOND MORTON, HIGHLAND, ILLIANA CHRISTIAN, LAKE CENTRAL, LIGHTHOUSE CPC, LOWELL, MUNSTER, WHITING

2. CHESTERTON (13): GIRLS 10:30 AM CT; BOYS 11:15 AM CT | RESULTS
ANDREAN, BOONE GROVE, CHESTERTON, HEBRON, HOBART, KOUTS, MERRILLVILLE, MORGAN TOWNSHIP, PORTAGE, RIVER FOREST, VALPARAISO, WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, WHEELER

3. NEW PRAIRIE (16): GIRLS 10:00 AM CT; BOYS 10:45 AM CT | RESULTS
GLENN, LAPORTE, MARQUETTE CATHOLIC, MICHIGAN CITY, MISHAWAKA, MISHAWAKA MARIAN, NEW PRAIRIE, PENN, SOUTH BEND ADAMS, SOUTH BEND CAREER ACADEMY, SOUTH BEND RILEY, SOUTH BEND SAINT JOSEPH, SOUTH CENTRAL (UNION MILLS), TRINITY GREENLAWN, TRI-TOWNSHIP, WESTVILLE

4. ELKHART (13): GIRLS 10:00 AM ET; BOYS 10:45 AM ET | RESULTS
BETHANY CHRISTIAN, BREMEN, CONCORD, ELKHART CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, ELKHART, FAIRFIELD, GOSHEN, JIMTOWN, LAVILLE, NORTHRIDGE, NORTHWOOD, WAWASEE, WESTVIEW

5. RENSSELAER CENTRAL (14): GIRLS 10:30 AM CT; BOYS 11:15 AM CT | RESULTS
BENTON CENTRAL, DEMOTTE CHRISTIAN, FRONTIER, KANKAKEE VALLEY, KNOX, NORTH JUDSON-SAN PIERRE, NORTH NEWTON, NORTH WHITE, RENSSELAER CENTRAL, SOUTH NEWTON, TRI-COUNTY, TWIN LAKES, WEST CENTRAL, WINAMAC

6. MANCHESTER (15): GIRLS 10:30 AM ET; BOYS 11:15 AM ET | RESULTS
ARGOS, COLUMBIA CITY, CULVER ACADEMIES, HUNTINGTON NORTH, LAKELAND CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, MANCHESTER, NORTH MIAMI, NORTHFIELD, PLYMOUTH, ROCHESTER COMMUNITY, TIPPECANOE VALLEY, TRITON, WABASH, WARSAW, WHITKO

7. WEST NOBLE (15): GIRLS 9:30 AM ET; BOYS 10:15 AM ET | RESULTS
ANGOLA, CARROLL (FORT WAYNE), CENTRAL NOBLE, CHURUBUSCO, DEKALB, EAST NOBLE, EASTSIDE, FREMONT, GARRETT, HAMILTON, LAKELAND, LAKEWOOD PARK CHRISTIAN, LEO, PRAIRIE HEIGHTS, WEST NOBLE

8. NEW HAVEN (@ HUNTINGTON UNIVERSITY) (14): GIRLS 10:30 AM ET; BOYS 11:15 AM ET | RESULTS
FORT WAYNE BISHOP DWENGER, FORT WAYNE BISHOP LUERS, FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK CHRISTIAN, FORT WAYNE CANTERBURY, FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA LUTHERAN, FORT WAYNE NORTHROP, FORT WAYNE NORTHSIDE, FORT WAYNE SNIDER, FORT WAYNE SOUTH SIDE, FORT WAYNE WAYNE, HERITAGE, HOMESTEAD, NEW HAVEN, WOODLAN

9. DELTA (16): GIRLS 10:30 AM ET; BOYS 11:15 AM ET | RESULTS
ADAMS CENTRAL, BELLMONT, BLACKFORD, BLUFFTON, DELTA, EASTBROOK, JAY COUNTY, MONROE CENTRAL, NORWELL, RANDOLPH SOUTHERN, SOUTH ADAMS, SOUTHERN WELLS, UNION (MODOC), UNION CITY, WAPAHANI, WINCHESTER COMMUNITY

10. MARION (15): GIRLS 10:30 AM ET; BOYS 11:15 AM ET | RESULTS
ALEXANDRIA MONROE, BLUE RIVER VALLEY, COWAN, DALEVILLE, ELWOOD COMMUNITY, FRANKTON, MADISON-GRANT, MARION, MISSISSINEWA, MUNCIE BURRIS, MUNCIE CENTRAL, OAK HILL, SOUTHWOOD, WES-DEL, YORKTOWN

11. LOGANSPORT (16): GIRLS 10:30 AM ET; BOYS 11:15 AM ET | RESULTS
CARROLL (FLORA), CASTON, CLINTON CENTRAL, CLINTON PRAIRIE, EASTERN (GREENTOWN), FRANKFORT, KOKOMO, LEWIS CASS, LOGANSPORT, MACONAQUAH, NORTHWESTERN, PERU, PIONEER, ROSSVILLE, TAYLOR, WESTERN

12. HARRISON (WEST LAFAYETTE) (13): GIRLS 10:30 AM ET; BOYS 11:15 AM ET | RESULTS
COVINGTON, CRAWFORDSVILLE, DELPHI, FAITH CHRISTIAN, FOUNTAIN CENTRAL, HARRISON (WEST LAFAYETTE), LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC, LAFAYETTE JEFFERSON, MCCUTCHEON, NORTH MONTGOMERY, SEEGER, SOUTHMONT, WEST LAFAYETTE

13. NORTH CENTRAL (INDIANAPOLIS) (19): GIRLS 10:30 AM ET; BOYS 11:15 AM ET | RESULTS
CARMEL, HERITAGE CHRISTIAN, HERRON, INDIANA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF, INDIANAPOLIS BISHOP CHATARD, INDIANAPOLIS CRISPUS ATTUCKS, INDIANAPOLIS GEORGE WASHINGTON, INDIANAPOLIS METROPOLITAN, INDIANAPOLIS SHORTRIDGE, INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF INDIANA, NORTH CENTRAL (INDIANAPOLIS), PARK TUDOR, PURDUE POLYTECHNIC – BROAD RIPPLE, RIVERSIDE, TINDLEY, TRADERS POINT CHRISTIAN, UNIVERSITY, WESTERN BOONE, ZIONSVILLE

14. TERRE HAUTE NORTH VIGO (16): GIRLS 10:30 AM ET; BOYS 11:15 AM ET | RESULTS
CLAY CITY, CLOVERDALE, GREENCASTLE, NORTH CENTRAL (FARMERSBURG), NORTH VERMILLION, NORTHVIEW, OWEN VALLEY, PARKE HERITAGE, RIVERTON PARKE, SHAKAMAK, SOUTH PUTNAM, SOUTH VERMILLION, SULLIVAN, TERRE HAUTE NORTH VIGO, TERRE HAUTE SOUTH VIGO, WEST VIGO

15. BEN DAVIS (15): GIRLS 8:30 AM ET; BOYS 9:15 AM ET | RESULTS
AVON, BEN DAVIS, BETHESDA CHRISTIAN, BREBEUF JESUIT, BROWNSBURG, CASCADE, COVENANT CHRISTIAN, DANVILLE COMMUNITY, INDIANAPOLIS CARDINAL RITTER, NORTH PUTNAM, PIKE, PLAINFIELD, PROVIDENCE CRISTO REY, SPEEDWAY, TRI-WEST HENDRICKS

16. NOBLESVILLE (15): GIRLS 10:30 AM ET; BOYS 11:15 AM ET | RESULTS
ANDERSON, ANDERSON PREPARATORY ACADEMY, FISHERS, GUERIN CATHOLIC, HAMILTON HEIGHTS, HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN, LAPEL, LEBANON, LIBERTY CHRISTIAN, NOBLESVILLE, PENDLETON HEIGHTS, SHENANDOAH, TIPTON, TRI-CENTRAL, WESTFIELD

17. MT. VERNON (FORTVILLE) (17): GIRLS 9:45 AM ET; BOYS 10:30 AM ET | RESULTS
BEECH GROVE, EASTERN HANCOCK, FRANKLIN CENTRAL, GREENFIELD-CENTRAL, INDIANAPOLIS ARSENAL TECH, INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL, INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN, INDIANAPOLIS SCECINA MEMORIAL, IRVINGTON PREPARATORY ACADEMY, KIPP INDY LEGACY, LAWRENCE CENTRAL, LAWRENCE NORTH, MORRISTOWN, MT. VERNON (FORTVILLE), NEW PALESTINE, PURDUE POLYTECHNIC – DOWNTOWN, VICTORY COLLEGE PREP, WARREN CENTRAL

18. RUSHVILLE CONSOLIDATED (14): GIRLS 10:30 AM ET; BOYS 11:15 AM ET | RESULTS
BATESVILLE, CAMBRIDGE CITY LINCOLN, CENTERVILLE, CONNERSVILLE, EAST CENTRAL, HAGERSTOWN, NEW CASTLE, NORTHEASTERN, OLDENBURG ACADEMY, RICHMOND, RUSHVILLE CONSOLIDATED, SETON CATHOLIC, TRI, UNION COUNTY

19. SHELBYVILLE (16): GIRLS 10:30 AM ET; BOYS 11:15 AM ET | RESULTS
CENTER GROVE, DECATUR CENTRAL, EDINBURGH, FRANKLIN COMMUNITY, GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, GREENWOOD COMMUNITY, INDIAN CREEK, MOORESVILLE, PERRY MERIDIAN, RONCALLI, SHELBYVILLE, SOUTHPORT, SOUTHWESTERN (SHELBY), TRITON CENTRAL, WALDRON, WHITELAND COMMUNITY

20. SOUTHWESTERN (HANOVER) (16): GIRLS 9:30 AM ET; BOYS 10:15 AM ET | RESULTS
AUSTIN, CHARLESTOWN, CROTHERSVILLE, HENRYVILLE, JAC-CEN-DEL, LAWRENCEBURG, MADISON CONSOLIDATED, MILAN, NEW WASHINGTON, RISING SUN, SCOTTSBURG, SHAWE MEMORIAL, SOUTHWESTERN (HANOVER), SWITZERLAND COUNTY, SOUTH DEARBORN, SOUTH RIPLEY

21. BROWN COUNTY (14): GIRLS 10:30 AM ET; BOYS 11:15 AM ET | RESULTS
BROWN COUNTY, COLUMBUS EAST, COLUMBUS NORTH, EDGEWOOD, EMINENCE, GREENSBURG, HAUSER, JENNINGS COUNTY, MARTINSVILLE, MONROVIA, NORTH DECATUR, SEYMOUR, SOUTH DECATUR, TRINITY LUTHERAN

22. BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE (16): GIRLS 10:30 AM ET; BOYS 11:15 AM ET | RESULTS
BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE, BLOOMINGTON NORTH, BLOOMINGTON SOUTH, BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL, EASTERN (PEKIN), EASTERN GREENE, LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, LINTON-STOCKTON, LOOGOOTEE, MITCHELL, NORTH DAVIESS, ORLEANS, SALEM, SHOALS, WEST WASHINGTON, WHITE RIVER VALLEY

23. CRAWFORD COUNTY (15): GIRLS 10:30 AM ET; BOYS 11:15 AM ET | RESULTS
BORDEN, CHRISTIAN ACADEMY OF INDIANA, CLARKSVILLE, CORYDON CENTRAL, CRAWFORD COUNTY, FLOYD CENTRAL, JEFFERSONVILLE, LANESVILLE, NEW ALBANY, NORTH HARRISON, PAOLI, PROVIDENCE, SILVER CREEK, SOUTH CENTRAL (ELIZABETH), SPRINGS VALLEY

24. JASPER (14): GIRLS 10:30 AM ET; BOYS 11:15 AM ET | RESULTS
BARR-REEVE, CANNELTON, FOREST PARK, JASPER, NORTH KNOX, NORTHEAST DUBOIS, PERRY CENTRAL, PIKE CENTRAL, SOUTH KNOX, SOUTHRIDGE, TELL CITY, VINCENNES LINCOLN, WASHINGTON, WASHINGTON CATHOLIC

25. EVANSVILLE MATER DEI (19): GIRLS 9:30 AM CT; BOYS 10:15 AM CT | RESULTS
BOONVILLE, CASTLE, EVANSVILLE BOSSE, EVANSVILLE CENTRAL, EVANSVILLE CHRISTIAN, EVANSVILLE DAY, EVANSVILLE F.J. REITZ, EVANSVILLE HARRISON, EVANSVILLE MATER DEI, EVANSVILLE NORTH, EVANSVILLE REITZ MEMORIAL, GIBSON SOUTHERN, HERITAGE HILLS, MT. VERNON, NORTH POSEY, PRINCETON COMMUNITY, SIGNATURE, SOUTH SPENCER, TECUMSEH

COLLEGE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

WEEK 8

TUESDAY, OCT. 15

TROY AT SOUTH ALABAMA, 7:30 P.M. | ESPN2

KENNESAW STATE AT MIDDLE TENNESSEE, 8 P.M. | CBSSN

LOUISIANA TECH AT NEW MEXICO STATE, 9 P.M. | ESPNU

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 16

WESTERN KENTUCKY AT SAM HOUSTON, 7 P.M. | ESPN2

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL AT UTEP, 9 P.M. | CBSSN

THURSDAY, OCT. 17

BOSTON COLLEGE AT VIRGINIA TECH, 7:30 P.M. | ESPN

GEORGIA STATE AT MARSHALL, 7 P.M. | ESPN2

FRIDAY, OCT. 18

FLORIDA STATE AT DUKE, 7 P.M. | ESPN2

BROWN AT PRINCETON, 7 P.M. ESPNU

NO. 2 OREGON AT PURDUE, 8 P.M. | FOX

OKLAHOMA STATE AT NO. 13 BYU, 10:15 P.M. | ESPN

FRESNO STATE AT NEVADA, 10:30 P.M. | CBSSN

SATURDAY, OCT. 19

CATHOLIC AT LYCOMING, 12 P.M. | FLOSPORTS

NORTHWESTERN STATE AT NICHOLLS, 12 P.M. | ESPN+

HOLY CROSS AT HARVARD, 12 P.M. | ESPN+

LEHIGH AT YALE, 12 P.M. | ESPN+

WILKES UNIVERSITY AT KEYSTON, 12 P.M. | FLOSPORTS

NORWICH AT MERCHANT MARINE, 12 P.M. | FLOSPORTS

MIT AT SPRINGFIELD, 12 P.M. | FLOSPORTS

NO. 6 MIAMI (FLA.) AT LOUISVILLE, 12 P.M. | ABC/ESPN+

VIRGINIA AT NO. 10 CLEMSON, 12 P.M. | ACCN

NEBRASKA AT NO. 16 INDIANA, 12 P.M. | FOX

AUBURN AT NO. 19 MISSOURI, 12 P.M. | ESPN

WISCONSIN AT NORTHWESTERN, 12 P.M. | BTN

UCLA AT RUTGERS, 12 P.M. | FS1

WAKE FOREST AT UCONN, 12 P.M. | CBSSN

ARIZONA STATE AT CINCINNATI, 12 P.M. | ESPN+

LOUISIANA AT COASTAL CAROLINA, 12 P.M. | ESPNU

EAST CAROLINA AT NO. 23 ARMY, 12 P.M. | ESPN2

SACRED HEART AT LAFAYETTE, 12:30 P.M. | ESPN+

SOUTH CAROLINA AT OKLAHOMA, 12:45 | SECN

VILLANOVA AT MAINE, 1 P.M. | FLOSPORTS

HAMPTON AT NORTH CAROLINA A&T, 1 P.M. | FLOSPORTS

STONY BROOK AT TOWSON, 1 P.M. | FLOSPORTS

RHODE ISLAND AT NEW HAMPSHIRE, 1 P.M. | FLOSPORTS

BRYANT AT MONMOUTH, 1 P.M. | FLOSPORTS

DRAKE AT PRESBYTERIAN, 1 P.M. | ESPN+

STETSON AT DAVIDSON, 1 P.M. | ESPN+

CENTRAL CONNECTICUT AT DARTMOUTH, 1 P.M. | ESPN+

COLUMBIA AT PENN, 1 P.M. | ESPN+

CORNELL AT BUCKNELL, 1 P.M. | ESPN+

STONEHILL AT MERRIMACK, 1 P.M. | ESPN+

GEORGETOWN AT COLGATE, 1 P.M. | ESPN+

WOFFORD AT CHATTANOOGA, 1:30 P.M. | ESPN+

UVA WISE AT CARSON-NEWMAN, 1 P.M. | FLOSPORTS

EMORY & HENRY COLLEGE AT ANDERSON (SC), 1 P.M. | FLOSPORTS

MICHIGAN TECH AT FERRIS STATE, 1 P.M. | FLOSPORTS

ROOSEVELT AT NORTH MICHIGAN, 1 P.M. | FLOSPORTS

JUNIATA AT SUSQUEHANNA, 1 P.M. | FLOSPORTS

WEST FLORIDA AT CHOWAN, 1 P.M. | FLOSPORTS

MILES AT CLARK ATLANTA, 1 P.M. | ESPN+

ASSUMPTION AT ST. ANSELM, 1 P.M. | FLOSPORTS

NEW HAVEN AT SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT STATE, 1 P.M. | FLOSPORTS

AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AT BENTLEY, 1 P.M. | FLOSPORTS

SALVE REGINA AT COAST GUARD, 1:30 P.M. | FLOSPORTS

LINDENWOOD AT GARDNER-WEBB, 1:30 P.M. | ESPN+

THE CITADEL AT VMI, 1:30 P.M. | ESPN+

SHORTER AT WEST GEORGIA, 2 P.M. | ESPN+

FORT VALLEY STATE AT SOUTH CAROLINA STATE, ESPN+

ERSKINE AT NORTH GREENVILLE, 2 P.M. | FLOSPORTS

WAYNE STATE (MI) AT DAVENPORT, 2 P.M. | FLOSPORTS

WEST TEXAS A&M AT EASTERN NEW MEXICO, 2 P.M. | FLOSPORTS

LENOIR-RHYNE AT BARTON COLLEGE, 2 P.M. | FLOSPORTS

WPI AT SUNY MARITIME, 2 P.M. | FLOSPORTS

CENTRAL MICHIGAN AT EASTERN MICHIGAN, 2 P.M. | ESPN+

TULSA AT TEMPLE, 2 P.M. | ESPN+

GRAND VALLEY STATE AT SAGINAW VALLEY STATE, 3 P.M. | FLOSPORTS

MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE AT VALDOSTA STATE, 3 P.M. | FLOSPORTS

MERCER AT SAMFORD, 3 P.M. | ESPN+

ILLINOIS STATE AT MURRAY STATE, 3 P.M. | ESPN+

INDIANA STATE AT MISSOURI STATE, 3 P.M. | ESPN+

CAMPBELL AT WILLIAM & MARY, 3:30 P.M. | FLOSPORTS

DELAWARE AT RICHMOND, 3:30 P.M. | FLOSPORTS

ELON AT UALBANY, 3:30 P.M. | FLOSPORTS

FLORIDA A&M AT JACKSON STATE, 3:30 P.M. | ESPNU

TENNESSEE STATE AT HOWARD, 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+

NO. 7 ALABAMA AT NO. 11 TENNESSEE, 3:30 P.M. | ABC/ESPN+

NO. 12 NOTRE DAME AT GEORGIA TECH, 3:30 P.M. | ESPN

NO. 24 MICHIGAN AT NO. 22 ILLINOIS, 3:30 P.M. | CBS/PARAMOUNT+

NC STATE AT CALIFORNIA, 3:30 P.M. | ACCN

HOUSTON AT KANSAS, 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+

HAWAII AT WASHINGTON STATE, 3:30 P.M. | THE CW NETWORK

TEXAS STATE AT OLD DOMINION, 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+

OHIO AT MIAMI (OHIO), 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+

KENT STATE AT BOWLING GREEN, 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+

WESTERN MICHIGAN AT BUFFALO, 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+

TOLEDO AT NORTHERN ILLINOIS, 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+

UAB AT SOUTH FLORIDA, 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+

CHARLOTTE AT NO. 25 NAVY, 3:30 P.M. | CBSSN

FLORIDA ATLANTIC AT UTSA, 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+

RICE AT TULANE, 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+

AUSTIN PEAY AT UTAH TECH, 4 P.M. | ESPN+

EASTERN KENTUCKY AT ABILENE CHRISTIAN, 4 P.M. | ESPN+

SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE AT CHARLESTON SOUTHERN, 4 P.M. | ESPN+

TENNESSEE TECH AT WESTERN ILLINOIS, 4 P.M. | ESPN+

CAL POLY AT IDAHO, 4 P.M. | ESPN+

IDAHO STATE AT NORTHERN ARIZONA, 4 P.M. | ESPN+

MONTANA STATE AT PORTLAND STATE, 4 P.M. | ESPN+

LA VERNE AT CLAREMONT MUDD SCRIPPS, 4 P.M. | FLOSPORTS

SOUTHERN CAL AT MARYLAND, 4 P.M. | FS1

BAYLOR AT TEXAS TECH, 4 P.M. | ESPN2

WYOMING AT SAN JOSE STATE, 4 P.M. | TBD

JAMES MADISON AT GEORGIA SOUTHERN, 4 P.M. | ESPN+

NO. 14 TEXAS A&M AT MISSISSIPPI STATE, 4:15 P.M. | SECN

LAMAR AT TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE, 4:30 P.M. | ESPN+

MCNEESE AT INCARNATE WORD, 5 P.M. | ESPN+

MARIST AT SAN DIEGO, 5 P.M. | ESPN+

STEPHEN F. AUSTIN AT SE LOUISIANA, 5 P.M. | ESPN+

NEW MEXICO AT UTAH STATE, 5 P.M. | TRUTV/MAX

WEST ALABAMA AT DELTA STATE, 5 P.M. | FLOSPORTS

SOUTH DAKOTA AT YOUNGSTOWN STATE, 6 P.M. | ESPN+

UC DAVIS AT EASTERN WASHINGTON, 7 P.M. | ESPN+

ALCORN STATE AT SOUTHERN, 7 P.M. | ESPN+

NO. 8 LSU AT ARKANSAS, 7 P.M. | ESPN

WESTERN OREGON AT UT PERMIAN BASIN, 7 P.M. | FLOSPORTS

BENEDICT COLLEGE AT ALLEN, 7 P.M. | ESPN+

COLORADO AT ARIZONA, 7 P.M. | FOX

BALL STATE AT VANDERBILT, 7 P.M. | ESPN+/SECN+

ARKANSAS STATE AT SOUTHERN MISS, 7 P.M. | ESPN+

NO. 5 GEORGIA AT NO. 1 TEXAS, 7:30 P.M. | ABC/ESPN+

UCF AT NO. 9 IOWA STATE, 7:30 P.M. | TBD

NO. 17 KANSAS STATE AT WEST VIRGINIA, 7:30 P.M. | TBD

IOWA AT MICHIGAN STATE, 7:30 P.M. | NBC/PEACOCK

NORTH TEXAS AT MEMPHIS, 7:30 P.M. | ESPNU

KENTUCKY AT FLORIDA, 7:45 P.M. | SECN

NO. 21 SMU AT STANFORD, 8 P.M. | ACCN

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE AT NORTH DAKOTA STATE, 8 P.M. | ESPN2

ANGELO STATE AT MIDWESTERN STATE, 8 P.M. | FLOSPORTS

CENTRAL WASHINGTON AT TEXAS A&M-KINGSVILLE, 8 P.M. | FLOSPORTS

COLORADO STATE AT AIR FORCE, 8 P.M. | CBSSN

WEBER STATE AT SACRAMENTO STATE, 9 P.M. | ESPN+

UNLV AT OREGON STATE, 10 P.M. | THE CW NETWORK

TCU AT UTAH, 10:30 P.M. | ESPN

INDIANA HOOSIERS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

INDIANA 31 FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL 7

INDIANA 77 WESTERN ILLINOIS 3

INDIANA 42 UCLA 13

INDIANA 52 CHARLOTTE 14

INDIANA 42 MARYLAND 28

INDIANA 41 NORTHWESTERN 24

OCTOBER 19 VS. NEBRASKA NOON

OCTOBER 26 VS. WASHINGTON TBA

NOVEMBER 2 AT MICHIGAN STATE TBA

NOVEMBER 9 VS. MICHIGAN TBA

NOVEMBER 23 AT OHIO STATE TBA

NOVEMBER 30 VS. PURDUE TBA

PURDUE BOILERMAKERS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

PURDUE 49 INDIANA STATE 0

NOTRE DAME 66 PURDUE 7

OREGON STATE 38 PURDUE 21

NEBRASKA 28 PURDUE 10

WISCONSIN 52 PURDUE 6

ILLINOIS 50 PURDUE 49 OT

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

NOTRE DAME 23 TEXAS A&M 13

NORTHERN ILLINOIS 16 NOTRE DAME 14

NOTRE DAME 66 PURDUE 7

NOTRE DAME 28 MIAMI OH 3

NOTRE DAME 31 LOUISVILLE 24

NOTRE DAME 49 STANFORD 7

OCTOBER 19 AT GEORGIA TECH 3:30

OCTOBER 26 AT NAVY 12:00

NOVEMBER 9 VS. FLORIDA STATE 7:30

NOVEMBER 16 VS. VIRGINIA 3:30

NOVEMBER 23 AT ARMY 7:00 (YANKEE STADIUM)

NOVEMBER 30 AT USC TBA

BUTLER BULLDOGS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

BUTLER 40 UPPER IOWA 7

BUTLER 19 MURRAY STATE 17

BUTLER 53 HANOVER 0

BUTLER 63 VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY-LYNCHBURG 0

BUTLER 40 MOREHEAD STATE 6

DRAKE 27 BUTLER 17

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

BALL STATE 42 MISSOURI STATE 34

MIAMI FL 62 BALL STATE 0

CENTRAL MICHIGAN 37 BALL STATE 34

JAMES MADISON 63 BALL STATE 7

WESTERN MICHIGAN 45 BALL STATE 42

BALL STATE 37 KENT STATE 35

OCTOBER 19 AT VANDERBILT 7:30

OCTOBER 26 VS. NORTHERN ILLINOIS TBA

NOVEMBER 5 VS. MIAMI OH TBA

NOVEMBER 12 AT BUFFALO 7:00

NOVEMBER 23 VS. BOWLING GREEN TBA

NOVEMBER 29 AT OHIO TBA

INDIANA STATE SYCAMORES FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

PURDUE 49 INDIANA STATE 0

EASTERN ILLINOIS 27 INDIANA STATE 20

INDIANA STATE 24 DAYTON 13

HOUSTON CHRISTIAN 27 INDIANA STATE 24

YOUNGSTOWN STATE 21 INDIANA STATE 14

INDIANA STATE 31 MURRAY STATE 27

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

COLTS SCHEDULE

HOUSTON 29 INDIANAPOLIS 27

GREEN BAY 16 INDIANAPOLIS 10

INDIANAPOLIS 21 CHICAGO 16

INDIANAPOLIS 27 PITTSBURGH 24

JACKSONVILLE 37 INDIANAPOLIS 34

INDIANAPOLIS 20 TENNESSEE 17

OCT. 20: VS. MIAMI, 1 P.M., FOX

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

JAN. 5: VS. JACKSONVILLE, TBD

WEEK 6 SCORES

MONDAY, OCT. 14

BUFFALO BILLS 23 NY JETS 20

WEEK 7 SCHEDULE

THURSDAY, OCT. 17

DENVER BRONCOS AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (8:15P PRIME VIDEO)

SUNDAY, OCT. 20

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (9:30A NFLN, WEMBLEY)

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS AT ATLANTA FALCONS (1:00P FOX)

TENNESSEE TITANS AT BUFFALO BILLS (1:00P CBS)

CINCINNATI BENGALS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (1:00P CBS)

HOUSTON TEXANS AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (1:00P CBS)

MIAMI DOLPHINS AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (1:00P FOX)

DETROIT LIONS AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS (1:00P FOX)

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT NEW YORK GIANTS (1:00P FOX)

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS AT LOS ANGELES RAMS (4:05P CBS)

CAROLINA PANTHERS AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (4:05P CBS)

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (4:25P FOX)

NEW YORK JETS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (8:20P NBC)

MONDAY, OCT. 21

BALTIMORE RAVENS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (8:15P ESPN)

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (9:00P ESPN+)

WEEK 8 SCHEDULE

THURSDAY, OCT. 24

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

SUNDAY, OCT. 27

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MONDAY, OCT. 28

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

WEEK 9 SCHEDULE

THURSDAY, OCT. 31

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

SUNDAY, NOV. 3

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MONDAY, NOV. 4

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

MLB PLAYOFF SCHEDULE

CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES SCHEDULE

MONDAY, OCT. 14

NY METS 7 LOS ANGELES 3

NY YANKEES 5 CLEVELAND 2

TUESDAY, OCT. 15

CLE @ NYY, ALCS GAME 2, 7:38 P.M. (TBS, TRUTV, MAX)

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 16

LAD @ NYM, NLCS GAME 3, 8:08 P.M. (FS1)

THURSDAY, OCT. 17

NYY @ CLE, ALCS GAME 3 (TBS, TRUTV, MAX)

LAD @ NYM, NLCS GAME 4 (FOX/FS1)

FRIDAY, OCT. 18

NYY @ CLE, ALCS GAME 4 (TBS, TRUTV, MAX)

LAD @ NYM, NLCS GAME 5^ (FOX/FS1)

SATURDAY, OCT. 19

NYY @ CLE, ALCS GAME 5^ (TBS, TRUTV, MAX)

SUNDAY, OCT. 20

NYM @ LAD, NLCS GAME 6^ (FOX/FS1)

MONDAY, OCT. 21

CLE @ NYY, ALCS GAME 6^ (TBS, TRUTV, MAX)

NYM @ LAD, NLCS GAME 7^ (FOX/FS1)

TUESDAY, OCT. 22

CLE @ NYY, ALCS GAME 7^ (TBS, TRUTV, MAX)

(^IF NECESSARY)

WORLD SERIES

PRESENTED BY CAPITAL ONE

IF BOTH LCS CONCLUDE NO LATER THAN SATURDAY, OCT. 19, THE WORLD SERIES WILL MOVE UP TO START ON TUESDAY, OCT. 22, WITH A POTENTIAL GAME 7 ON WEDNESDAY, OCT. 30.

FRIDAY, OCT. 25

GAME 1, AT BETTER 2024 RECORD (FOX)

SATURDAY, OCT. 26

GAME 2, AT BETTER 2024 RECORD (FOX)

MONDAY, OCT. 28

GAME 3 (FOX)

TUESDAY, OCT. 29

GAME 4 (FOX)

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 30

GAME 5^ (FOX)

FRIDAY, NOV. 1

GAME 6^, AT BETTER 2024 RECORD (FOX)

SATURDAY, NOV. 2

GAME 7^, AT BETTER 2024 RECORD (FOX)

(^IF NECESSARY)

AP MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL PRE-SEASON POLL

1 KANSAS

2 ALABAMA

3 UCONN

4 HOUSTON

5 IOWA STATE

6 GONZAGA

7 DUKE

8 BAYLOR

9 NORTH CAROLINA

10 ARIZONA

11 AUBURN

12 TENNESSEE

13 TEXAS A&M

14 PURDUE

15 CREIGHTON

16 ARKANSAS

17 INDIANA

18 MARQUETTE

19 TEXAS

20 CINCINNATI

21 FLORIDA

22 UCLA

23 KENTUCKY

24 OLE MISS

25 RUTGERS

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES:

ILLINOIS 92, ST. JOHN’S 91, XAVIER 73, TEXAS TECH 58, WAKE FOREST 37, KANSAS ST 30, MICHIGAN ST. 29, OHIO ST. 29, MICHIGAN 19, BYU 14, OREGON 12, MCNEESE ST. 11, MIAMI 11, BOISE ST. 9, SAINT LOUIS 9, CLEMSON 9, PROVIDENCE 9, MISSISSIPPI ST. 6, VCU 6, WISCONSIN 5, SAINT MARY’S 5, LOUISVILLE 4, UAB 4, ARK LITTLE ROCK 3, GRAND CANYON 3, ARIZONA ST 2, SAN DIEGO ST. 2, PRINCETON 2, HIGH POINT 1, MARYLAND 1.

WNBA SCORES

NO GAMES SCHEDULED

NBA PRE-SEASON

Memphis 120 Indiana 116

Brooklyn 131 Washington 92

Philadelphia 104 Atlanta 89

Milwaukee 111 Chicago 107

LA Clippers 110 Dallas 96

NHL SCORES

FLORIDA 4 BOSTON 3

OTTAWA 8 LA KINGS 7 OT

NEW JERSEY 3 UTAH 0

NY RANGERS 4 DETROIT 1

PITTSBURGH 6 MONTRÉAL 3

NY ISLANDERS 6 COLORADO 2

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER SCORES

NO GAMES SCHEDULED

TOP NATIONAL SPORTS HEADLINES/NEWS RELEASES

BASEBALL PLAYOFFS

CARLOS RODON, YANKEES ROLL OVER WILD GUARDIANS IN GAME 1

NEW YORK — Carlos Rodon pitched six solid innings for his first career postseason win as the New York Yankees opened the American League Championship Series with a 5-2 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Monday night.

Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton homered for the New York Yankees, who capitalized on four wild pitches by Guardians rookie Joey Cantillo, two of them scoring runs.

Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is set for Tuesday at Yankee Stadium.

A week after being unable to get through the fourth inning and absorbing the loss in Game 2 of the AL Division Series against Kansas City, Rodon took a shutout into the sixth and allowed one run on three hits on Monday.

The left-hander struck out nine, walked none and threw 63 of 93 pitches for strikes while constantly getting ahead of hitters.

Soto reached base three times and opened the scoring by driving a 2-1 sinker from Cleveland starter Alex Cobb (0-1) into the New York bullpen beyond the center field fence to start a three-run third. It was Soto’s eighth career postseason homer and third in LCS play.

After Soto’s blast, the Yankees loaded the bases with two outs before Cantillo replaced Cobb.

On the third pitch to Anthony Rizzo, Cantillo threw a wild pitch that bounced in the air and Judge scored New York’s second run when the left-hander was slow to cover the plate. After Rizzo walked, Giancarlo Stanton scored standing up to give the Yankees a 3-0 lead when Cantillo threw a wild pitch that bounced to the backstop during Alex Verdugo’s at-bat.

The Yankees made it 4-0 in the fourth when Gleyber Torres scored on a sacrifice fly by Judge after drawing a walk and advancing to second and third on wild pitches by Cantillo.

Cleveland’s Brayan Rocchio opened the sixth by homering into the left field seats off a 2-2 Rodon fastball.

Stanton increased New York’s lead to 5-1 with a homer off Erik Sabrowski that bounced off an advertisement in the Cleveland bullpen beyond the left field fence in the seventh. It was Stanton’s 13th career postseason homer.

Cobb was charged with three runs on five hits in 2 2/3 innings. He struck out three, walked three and exited after issuing a free pass to Anthony Volpe to load the bases.

Cantillo joined Rick Ankiel as the second pitcher with at least four wild pitches in a postseason game. Ankiel had five for the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 1 of the 2000 NLDS against the Atlanta Braves.

New York’s Clay Holmes pitched a 1-2-3 seventh but Tim Hill allowed an RBI single to Steven Kwan in the eighth after Hill was charged with interference on Rocchio’s base hit.

Luke Weaver got the final five outs — striking out four — for his fourth save of the postseason.

METS POWER PAST DODGERS TO EVEN NLCS

LOS ANGELES — Francisco Lindor hit a leadoff home run and Mark Vientos added a second-inning grand slam as the New York Mets evened the National League Championship Series at a game each with a 7-3 victory over the host Dodgers on Monday afternoon.

Sean Manaea (2-0) gave up three runs (two earned) on two hits over five-plus innings for the Mets, who will play host to the next three games of the series starting with Game 3 on Wednesday night.

Going with a bullpen game for the second time in their last four contests, Los Angeles right-hander Ryan Brasier (1-1) gave up Lindor’s home run in the first inning to end the Dodgers’ 33-inning postseason scoreless streak that tied a major league record.

Max Muncy hit a home run and Tommy Edman had a two-run single for Los Angeles, which saw its three-game winning streak come to an end.

On the eighth pitch of the game, Lindor hit a home run deep into the visitors’ bullpen beyond right field. It was his second home run of the postseason.

The Dodgers turned to right-hander Landon Knack in the second inning, with New York taking a 2-0 lead on an RBI double from Tyrone Taylor. Lindor was intentionally walked with two outs to load the bases for Vientos, who hit his grand slam to center.

Vientos now has 11 RBIs in nine games this postseason, one off the club record held by John Olerud (1999) and Curtis Granderson (2015).

Manaea, who has been resurgent this season following a tweak in his delivery, allowed one hit over the first four innings before Muncy homered leading off the fifth. It was Muncy’s 12th career postseason home run, one off the Los Angeles record.

The Dodgers loaded the bases with nobody out in the sixth inning to chase Manaea. Edman delivered his two-run single with one out against Phil Maton, and Muncy walked to load the bases again before Enrique Hernandez grounded into a double play.

Starling Marte padded the Mets’ lead with an RBI single in the ninth inning.

Edwin Diaz gave up a single to Andy Pages and walked Shohei Ohtani to start the bottom of the ninth. The right-hander recovered with three consecutive strikeouts against Mookie Betts, Teoscar Hernandez and Freddie Freeman to secure his second save of the postseason.

MLB PLAYOFFS AVERAGING 3.33 MILLION VIEWERS THROUGH DIVISION SERIES, AN 18% INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball’s postseason is averaging 3.33 million viewers going into the league championship series, an 18% increase over last year’s average of 2.82 million.

The division series averaged 3.56 million viewers for 18 games, a 14% increase from last year.

The increases in the division round ratings can be attributed to two series going the distance along with both New York teams, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies being involved.

Friday’s night NLDS Game 5 between the Dodgers and San Diego Padres averaged 7.5 million on Fox, Fox Deportes and streaming, the most-watched division series game since 2017.

Saturday afternoon’s deciding game between the Cleveland Guardians and Detroit Tigers averaged 3.42 million on TBS, the most-watched division series matchup in a day game window (pre-4 p.m. start) in 17 years.

The game was originally slated to be played at night, but was moved up to the afternoon due to the threat of inclement weather.

Fox and FS1 averaged 4.09 million for the National League games, their highest numbers since postseason baseball began airing on FS1 in 2014. Fox also benefitted from the Phillies-Mets being the other series. The Mets advanced in four games.

TNT Sports averaged 3 million for the ALDS series games on TBS and TNT. The Yankees beat Kansas City in four games in the other series.

NFL NEWS

BILLS SPOIL ULBRICH’S DEBUT, CONQUER JETS IN PENALTY-FILLED MNF

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills overcame a Hail Mary touchdown throw by Aaron Rodgers as the first half ended to outlast the New York Jets 23-20 on Monday night and take control of the AFC East.

Allen threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score and Tyler Bass made up for an earlier miss by kicking a go-ahead 22-yard field goal with 3:43 left to help the Bills (4-2) snap a two-game skid. They have never lost three straight with Allen starting at quarterback.

The loss was the third in a row for the Jets (2-4), who capped a tumultuous week during which coach Robert Saleh was fired, defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich replaced him as the interim coach and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett was demoted from play-calling duties in favor of Todd Downing.

Normally reliable kicker Greg Zuerlein missed two potential go-ahead field goals for the Jets, hitting the left upright on both.

The game was filled with yellow penalty flags all night — both teams had 11 penalties.

Allen finished 19 of 25 for 215 yards. Rookie Ray Davis, filling in for the injured James Cook, ran for 97 yards on 20 carries and caught three passes for 55 yards.

With the Jets trailing 23-20, Rodgers threw deep for Mike Williams but the pass was short and Taron Johnson — back after breaking his right forearm in the season opener — came up with the interception.

Allen and the Bills were able to then run out the clock and seal the win. They are the only team in the division with a winning record.

Rodgers was 23 of 35 for 294 yards with two touchdowns and the INT, and Breece Hall had 113 yards rushing and 56 receiving.

Rodgers’ deep throw on the final play of the opening half had the Jets, their fans — and social media — buzzing.

With the Jets at their own 48 and perhaps hoping to get into field goal range before halftime, Rodgers took a few steps back and danced around a bit before launching the ball toward the end zone. Allen Lazard reached up in front of two Bills defenders and fell on his back.

After a quick huddle, officials ruled it a touchdown.

The Jets got in an early rhythm on offense with Downing calling the plays as Rodgers got New York into the red zone. A drop by Hall on third down made the Jets settle for a 34-yard field goal by Zuerlein — New York’s first points on an opening drive this season.

Buffalo bounced back by running all over New York’s defense, gashing Ulbrich’s unit for 61 yards rushing — including 48 on six carries by Davis — and capping the Bills’ opening drive with a 1-yard keeper by Allen to make it 7-3.

Allen’s 56th career TD run put him one behind O.J. Simpson for second in franchise history.

Garrett Wilson gave the Jets back the lead on their next drive, capping things by catching a 5-yard pass from Rodgers in the back of the end zone and getting both feet down on a play that was initially ruled incomplete but reversed on video replay before Ulbrich needed to challenge.

Allen led the Bills on a 90-yard drive to give Buffalo back the lead, capped by an 8-yard TD pass to Mack Hollins. Quinnen Williams got his hand on Bass’ extra point try that sailed wide left.

Allen sparked the drive when he danced out of the end zone, scrambled to his right and threw across his body down the middle of the field where Davis got his hands on the ball, bobbled it and came down with it for a 42-yard catch.

Allen’s second touchdown pass was a 12-yard throw to Dawson Knox with 21 seconds remaining before halftime to put Buffalo up 20-10.

Bass missed another kick on Buffalo’s opening drive of the second half, pushing a 47-yarder wide right.

Zuerlein tied it at 20 with a 22-yarder midway through the third quarter.

The Jets appeared to take the lead late on their next possession when Braelon Allen ran up the middle from 4 yards out, but left tackle Tyron Smith was called for holding. Rodgers connected with Wilson in the back of the end zone on the next play, but the wide receiver couldn’t hold onto the ball after being walloped by Damar Hamlin and Taylor Rapp.

Zuerlein then hit the left upright on a 32-yard attempt to keep the game tied. He also missed a potential go-ahead 43-yarder with 9:44 left in the fourth quarter, hitting the upright again.

Injuries

Jets S Chuck Clark was ruled out in the second quarter with an ankle injury. … CB D.J. Reed left in the third quarter with an injured groin.

Up next

Bills: Host Tennessee on Sunday.

Jets: Play at Pittsburgh on Sunday night.

LIONS’ AIDAN HUTCHINSON HAS SURGERY ON FRACTURED TIBIA, FIBULA WITH NO TIMELINE FOR RETURN

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson had successful surgery to repair a fractured tibia and fibula that he sustained against the Dallas Cowboys, the team announced Monday while saying there’s no timeline for his return to play.

The Lions’ star pass rusher was carted off the field Sunday in the third quarter of Detroit’s 47-9 win over Dallas.

Hutchinson had the surgery at Baylor White Medical Center in the Dallas area. He was set to return to Detroit this week and expected to make a full recovery.

“It’s really tough and he’s a guy who’s part of the heartbeat of this team,” Lions quarterback Jared Goff said after the game. “He will be fine, you know, he’s going to come back eventually whenever that may be but knowing him he will be fine and he will bounce back.”

Hutchinson’s leg appeared to snap above the ankle when it collided with the left leg of teammate Alim McNeill as Hutchinson was pulling Dallas QB Dak Prescott down for a sack.

“I haven’t seen it myself so I couldn’t really tell,” McNeill said. “I didn’t know if it was him or not, but I did feel somebody like leg-whip me, and then I see Hutch down. That’s wild to see. I hate that for him.”

The Lions were leading 34-6 at the time of the injury to Hutchinson, who entered the game as the NFL leader in sacks with 6 1/2.

There was a delay of about 10 minutes as medical personnel tended to Hutchinson while players from both teams made a large circle around the second overall pick in the 2022 draft.

After Hutchinson was loaded onto a cart with a cast on his leg, teammates and Dallas players reached over to pat the 24-year-old. Hutchinson had the third Detroit sack of the game. McNeill had the first two.

“That’s hard for everybody when you’re standing there and that’s one of yours and something like that happens,” coach Dan Campbell said. “If you dwell on that too much and you start playing a little timid, that’s when you get hurt. So guys snapped right back in and they lived in the moment where we’re on.”

Prescott, who landed on top of Hutchinson’s left leg after the injury occurred, sustained a similar injury to his right leg on the same field in Week 5 in 2020, ending his season.

Dallas’ star quarterback was among the players who tried to offer Hutchinson words of encouragement as he was taken off the field.

“It’s just something that I felt in the moment,” Prescott said. “I’ll probably get his number from one of the Michigan guys in the locker room and reach out again. … When you’re in that, it’s blurry. So I don’t even know if he heard them. Don’t care if he heard them. I understand where he was.”

KEVIN STEFANSKI DENIES OWNER OVERRIDE AS BROWNS STICK WITH DESHAUN WATSON

No quarterback controversy exists in Cleveland, according to head coach Kevin Stefanski. He’s sticking with Deshaun Watson as QB1 of the Browns.

Cleveland is 1-5 after a 20-16 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, and Watson insisted postgame the Browns “have to do something” after he was sacked five times and held below 200 passing yards for the sixth consecutive game.

“I think Deshaun gives us the best chance to win, continues to give us the best chance to win,” Stefanski said Monday as calls for Watson to be benched for backup Jameis Winston grew louder.

Stefanski said Browns owner Jimmy Haslam remains supportive and didn’t meddle in any football decisions, including the call to keep Watson atop the quarterback depth chart to face the Cincinnati Bengals (2-4) this week.

Watson was 16 of 29 for 154 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the 2023 opener against the Bengals, won by Cleveland 24-3.

“We have a good dialogue with myself, (general manager) Andrew (Berry), ownership. Any decision when it comes to football is my decision,” Stefanski said.

Between injuries on the offensive line and lagging production, Watson isn’t solely to blame for the Browns’ poor start.

The Browns are 30th in scoring (15.8 points per game), 32nd in sacks allowed (31) and tied for a league-low two rushing touchdowns.

Watson is 28th in the NFL in completion percentage (61.3) and tied for 25th with five touchdown passes.

PANTHERS RB JONATHON BROOKS NEARING RETURN TO PRACTICE

The Carolina Panthers are opening the 21-day practice window for rookie running back Jonathon Brooks, head coach Dave Canales said Monday.

Brooks, 21, was the first running back selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, going to the Panthers in the second round with the 46th overall pick out of Texas.

He opened the season on the non-football injury list while still recovering from a torn ACL sustained last November.

“He’s checked all the boxes in terms of his getting back to being able to practice,” Canales said. “So, we’re hoping to open up that window (Monday).”

Brooks rushed for 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns in 11 games for the Longhorns last season before getting hurt in a Nov. 11 win at TCU.

The Panthers (1-5) have a three-game losing streak heading into their Week 7 game at Washington (4-2).

REPORT: COMMANDERS FEAR SEASON-ENDING INJURY FOR DT JONATHAN ALLEN

The Washington Commanders are awaiting additional news about the condition of defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, fearing he may require season-ending surgery for a pectoral injury, NFL Network reported Monday.

Allen sustained the injury in the Commanders’ 30-23 loss Sunday to the Baltimore Ravens and was ruled out of the game in the fourth quarter.

Per the report, he will get a second opinion before any decisions are made.

Allen, 29, would represent a significant loss for the surprising Commanders (4-2), who lead the NFC East.

A two-time Pro Bowl selection, the 6-foot-3, 300-pound Allen has manned the defensive line since Washington selected him in the first round (17th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft.

He has avoided a major injury until now, starting at least 15 games in each season since 2018.

In 107 career games (all starts), he has 41 sacks to go with 397 tackles (59 for loss) and 117 quarterback hits. In six games this season, he has 15 tackles and two sacks while playing 62 percent of the snaps on defense.

The Commanders host the Carolina Panthers (1-5) in Week 7.

ANALYSIS: OFFENSES HAVE THEIR WAY IN WEEK 6 WITH HIGHEST SCORING OUTPUT OF THE SEASON

Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers moved the ball at will against the Saints. Jared Goff and the Lions were unstoppable in Dallas. The Texans, Falcons, Packers and Ravens also put up big numbers.

Offenses dominated in Week 6.

Nine teams scored at least 30 points, including Detroit’s 47 against the undermanned Cowboys and Tampa Bay’s 51-point outburst in New Orleans that could’ve reached the 60s if Mayfield hadn’t thrown three interceptions. It was the second-most points the Buccaneers have ever scored.

“That was a full group effort on offense,” Mayfield said.

With the Bills-Jets matchup remaining on Monday night, the combined average of 49.7 points per game this week is the most this season. Six teams had 400 total yards of offense and five more had 350.

Tampa Bay (4-2) led the way with a franchise-record 594 total yards, the second-most the Saints have ever allowed. Mayfield had 325 yards passing and four touchdowns and Sean Tucker ran for 136. The Buccaneers became just the fifth team in NFL history to have at least 300 yards passing and 275 yards rushing in a game.

“Put up 51 points and we had three turnovers,” wide receiver Chris Godwin said. “We can run the ball, we can throw the ball – obviously we are at our best when we can do both in the same game. Just having that ability to play in multiple ways and win in multiple ways is going to be big for us as we go down the season, because we’ve got a tough schedule.”

Detroit had such an easy time facing a defense missing Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence that offensive coordinator Ben Johnson tried a few times to get an offensive lineman to score a touchdown.

Tackle-eligible Taylor Decker couldn’t grab Goff’s 2-yard toss in the end zone. All-Pro right tackle Penei Sewell got a lateral off a hook-and-ladder play and ran to the Cowboys 3 only to have it negated by penalty.

Goff threw for 315 yards and three scores and the Lions (4-1) racked up 492 yards, handing Dallas (3-3) its third straight home loss.

“Things are starting to come together a little bit,” Goff said. “First two weeks trying to find our rhythm and we’ve found it.”

With many teams resting starters or barely playing them in the preseason, it took a few weeks for offenses to start clicking. After teams averaged 45.8 points per game in Week 1, that number dipped to 39.6 and 41.6 the next two weeks before beginning to rise steadily.

Passing numbers were down early in the season. Not anymore.

Eight quarterbacks have thrown for 250 yards this week, including four 300-yard games. Three QBs had four TD passes and four had three.

“There’s always room for improvement,” Ravens two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson said after Baltimore’s 30-23 win over Washington. “It’s only the sixth game. We still had drives that we should’ve put points on the board.”

Jackson threw for 323 yards, Derrick Henry ran for 132 and the Ravens (4-2) had 484 total yards.

C.J. Stroud tossed three TD passes in Houston’s 41-21 win at New England as the Texans (5-1) spoiled Drake Maye’s first start. Kirk Cousins followed up a 509-yard effort with only 225 yards passing in Atlanta’s 38-20 victory at Carolina. But the Falcons (4-2) ran for 198 yards behind Tyler Allgeier (105) and Bijan Robinson (95).

The Bears finished on a roll, scoring four straight TDs before missing a field goal in a 35-16 win over the Jaguars in London. Caleb Williams has his third straight game with a 100-plus passer rating. He completed 79.3% of his passes for 226 yards and four TDs for Chicago (4-2).

Jordan Love tied a career-best with four TD passes in Green Bay’s 34-13 rout over Arizona. The Packers (4-2) had 437 yards and led 24-0 while the Cardinals managed just one first down through four possessions.

“That was the goal for us coming into this game, to be able to start fast and get in that rhythm,” Love said.

It worked for the Packers and several teams on Sunday.

DOLPHINS QUARTERBACK TUA TAGOVAILOA EXPECTED TO PLAY AGAIN THIS SEASON

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is expected to play football again in 2024 after being diagnosed with his third concussion in two years earlier this season.

Coach Mike McDaniel said Monday that Tagovailoa had “positive” meetings with neurologists during the Dolphins bye week, though he remains in concussion protocol and on injured reserve.

“I do expect him to see him playing football in 2024,” McDaniel said for the first time since Tagovailoa’s injury, “but where that is exactly, we’ll let the process continue.”

Tagovailoa isn’t eligible to return until Miami’s game against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 8, and McDaniel said the quarterback will continue consulting experts to determine when it will be safe for him to play.

Tagovailoa got hurt in a Week 2 game against Buffalo when he collided with Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin. Tagovailoa ran for a first down and then initiated the contact by lowering his shoulder into Hamlin instead of sliding.

He has a history of head injuries since entering the NFL, having been diagnosed with two in 2022 and suffering another scary hit to the head that season, which led to changes in the NFL’s concussion rules.

McDaniel has cautioned against speculating on Tagovailoa’s future since his latest injury.

“I never went down that rabbit hole of if he would or wouldn’t (continue playing football),” McDaniel said, “just because I’ve learned through circumstance that that’s the wrong question to be asking. The right questions are completely, 100% toward the human being.”

The Dolphins have struggled on offense as three different quarterbacks have taken snaps in Tagovailoa’s place. Entering this week’s matchup at Indianapolis, the Dolphins have one of the NFL’s worst scoring offenses with 12 points per game.

Miami will stick with Tyler “Snoop” Huntley until Tagovailoa returns. Huntley is 1-1 in two starts for Miami this season. McDaniel said the former Ravens quarterback is growing in his understanding of the offense.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

TEXAS S DEREK WILLIAMS TO HAVE SEASON-ENDING SURGERY

No. 1 Texas lost safety Derek Williams for the rest of the season, coach Steve Sarkisian said Monday.

The sophomore will undergo surgery for a lower-body injury sustained in Saturday’s win against Oklahoma.

Williams was injured while covering a kickoff to start the second half of the 34-3 victory in Dallas. He forced and recovered a fumble by Sooners running back Taylor Tatum in the second quarter.

Williams, who missed the previous two games with a hamstring injury, finishes 2024 with 11 tackles and one interception in four games.

He recorded 42 tackles and two passes defensed in 13 games in 2023.

It’s tough timing for Texas (6-0, 2-0 SEC) with No. 5 Georgia (5-1, 3-1) visiting Austin on Saturday.

UTAH QB CAMERON RISING (LEG) SIDELINED INDEFINITELY

Utah quarterback Cameron Rising is out indefinitely with a right leg injury, head coach Kyle Whittingham confirmed Monday.

The seventh-year senior sustained his latest injury when he was tackled awkwardly in the first quarter of Friday’s 27-19 loss at Arizona State. He remained in the game but appeared to have trouble planting his right leg.

Rising, 25, had just returned after missing three games with a hand injury suffered in a Sept. 7 win against Baylor.

Rising completed just 16 of 37 passes for 209 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions against the Sun Devils. For the season, he has completed 51.5 percent of his passes for 555 yards with seven TDs and three picks in three games.

Rising was on the roster at Texas in 2018 before transferring to Utah in 2019. He missed all of 2023 with a knee injury.

Freshman signal-caller Isaac Wilson will make his fourth start of the season when Utah (4-2, 1-2 Big 12) hosts TCU (3-3, 1-2) on Saturday night.

Wilson has appeared in five games, completing 55.7 percent of his passes for 830 yards with six TDs and seven interceptions.

TENNESSEE LB KEENAN PILI (ACL) DONE FOR SEASON

Linebacker and team-leading tackler Keenan Pili will miss the rest of the season for No. 11 Tennessee with a torn ACL, coach Josh Heupel announced Monday.

Pili, a team captain, sustained the injury on the first defensive series in the Volunteers’ 23-17 overtime victory over Florida on Saturday. The seventh-year senior walked off under his own power but was ruled out for the rest of the game.

“I’m not sure there’s a better representative of what a Volunteer is than Keenan Pili,” Heupel said after Saturday’s win. “You talk about a selfless guy that cares about the people around him way more than he cares about himself, that’s an elite competitor, great leader, tough as nails, athletic, explosive — everything that you want. Just … he’s a dude, man. Special dude.”

Pili recorded 29 tackles in six games to lead the Volunteers (5-1, 2-1 SEC).

Pili, 26, in his second season at Tennessee after five seasons at BYU, was injured in the team’s 2023 season opener and missed the rest of the season.

Pili has 223 tackles, 15 for loss, 3.5 sacks, four deflections and two fumble recoveries with one forced fumble in 43 career games.

KIRBY SMART PREPARES NO. 5 GEORGIA FOR ‘COMPLETE PACKAGE’ IN NO. 1 TEXAS

Kirby Smart typically attempts to conceal the anticipation and anxiousness being felt before 5th-ranked Georgia dives into a big game. There’s no hiding from the trip to Austin, Texas, on Saturday and a meeting with No. 1 Texas.

“Obviously a huge matchup,” Smart said. “Two top-10 teams.”

Smart and Texas coach Steve Sarkisian are closely connected and have been on the road together. Smart said in July that when he found out Sarkisian would be in the SEC, that everyone’s schedule became more difficult because Texas is built like an SEC team.

“We take a trip every year together. I have a lot of respect for the job he does. The most complete team we’ve seen or faced this year and probably in a couple of years. They are clearly one of the best teams in the country.”

Georgia (5-1) has consecutive double-digit wins after a loss at Alabama last month. But the Bulldogs are one of six SEC teams in the top 14 of the latest Top 25 poll and November brings a trip to face No. 18 Ole Miss before No. 11 Tennessee comes to Athens.

Smart said he told his players this week’s game is the exact opportunity they came to Georgia for — on the road against the top-ranked team in the nation.

“A place I’ve never been and assume our players haven’t been there either,” Smart said of playing at Texas.

While Georgia tries to push its way back to the top of the SEC, Smart addressed shoving Mississippi State quarterback Michael Van Buren in Saturday’s game. Smart said he didn’t realize he “ran into” Van Buren on the Bulldogs’ sideline.

“I went back and watched it. I didn’t realize that I ran into him,” he said. “But I reached out to [Mississippi State head coach Jeff] Lebby that night and said the kid was great. Yesterday, I talked to Mike and told him there were no intentions or ill-will toward him at all. If you’ve ever been on the sidelines during a game, it’s pandemonium. … I reached out to the kid. He was great. He’s going to be a good player in this league.”

Running back Branson Robinson is unavailable for the Bulldogs and is dealing with an MCL injury, Smart said.

After praising quarterbacks Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning, Smart said he’s in awe of the Longhorns’ defense. In a word: elite.

“Size. Speed. Two best front guys,” Smart said. “Every defense starts with train-wreckers, big guys, physical guys at the point of attack that are hard to move. They got ’em. … They patched up some holes they had. They are the complete package on defense.”

Former Georgia coach Mark Richt attended Smart’s press conference Monday to discuss current player involvement in the Second Annual Dawg Bowl, a fundraiser to raise money for awareness of Parkinson’s Disease and Crohn’s. The event Oct. 23 at Showtime Bowling Alley raised more than $750,000 at the inaugural outing last year. Richt, who said several of his former Georgia players vowed to attend, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2021. His granddaughter, Jadyn, was diagnosed with Crohn’s in 2015.

“Our players love to bowl more than anything. We have several guys that bowl weekly. I know these guys will eclipse $1 million dollars this year with the two years together. We have several guys on our team with Crohn’s,” Smart said.

Funds raised during the event benefit University of Georgia’s Isakson Center for Neurological Disease Research which specializes in Parkinson’s research and the connection to gut inflammation diseases like Crohn’s Disease.

IOWA, MINNESOTA, NORTHWESTERN, OREGON AND PENN STATE EARN WEEKLY FOOTBALL HONORS

ROSEMONT, Ill. – Following Week 7 contests, the Big Ten Conference Football Players of the Week Presented by IFS.ai were announced Monday. Below are this week’s honorees:

Co-Offensive Player of the Week

Dillon Gabriel, Oregon

QB – Sr. – Mililani, Hawaii – Mililani

Led Oregon to a historic win over No. 2 Ohio State, completing 23-of-34 passes for 341 yards and two touchdowns while adding 32 rushing yards and a touchdown
Marked his second 300-yard passing game this season (25th career) and has multiple touchdown passes in all six games as a Duck
Ran for a 27-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to give the Ducks a 29-28 lead, his fourth game this season with both a rushing and a passing touchdown
Last Oregon Offensive Player of the Week: Tez Johnson (Sept. 30, 2024)

Tyler Warren, Penn State

TE – Sr. – Mechanicsville, Va. – Atlee

Set a Penn State and Big Ten tight end record with 224 receiving yards on 17 catches in the Nittany Lions’ 33-30 overtime victory against USC
Joins Northwestern’s Jon Harvey (208 yards vs. Michigan, 1982) as the only Big Ten tight ends to ever go over 200 receiving yards in a game and his 17 receptions are tied with Harvey for fourth-most in a game by a Big Ten player
Becomes the first FBS tight end to go over 200 receiving yards in a game since Utah’s Dalton Kincaid had 234 receiving yards against USC on Oct. 15, 2022
Hauled in a 32-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter, his 15th career receiving touchdown
Last Penn State Offensive Player of the Week: Drew Allar (Sept. 5, 2023)

Co-Defensive Players of the Week

Aaron Graves, Iowa

DL – Jr. – Dayton, Iowa – Southeast Valley

Had two sacks and forced two fumbles in Iowa’s 40-16 victory over Washington, giving head coach Kirk Ferentz his 200th career victory
Finished with five tackles (two solo, three assists) and had a pass breakup in the win
Marked his second game this season with two or more sacks
Last Iowa Defensive Player of the Week: Nick Jackson (Oct. 2, 2023)

Koi Perich, Minnesota

DB – Fr. – Esko, Minn. – Esko

Recorded a pair of tackles and his team-leading third and fourth interceptions of the season in Minnesota’s 21-17 win at UCLA
His first interception led directly to a Minnesota touchdown, which gave the Gophers a 14-10 lead in the third quarter, while his second interception came on the final play of the game – a UCLA Hail Mary attempt – and preserved the win for Minnesota
His four picks are the most ever by a Gopher freshman, topping the three by Kyle Theret in 2007 and by Crawford Jordan in 1994
Last Minnesota Defensive Player of the Week: Tyler Nubin (Oct. 23, 2023)

Special Teams Player of the Week

Luke Akers, Northwestern

K/P – Jr. – Nashville, Tenn. – Ravenwood

Served as the placekicker, punter and kickoff specialist for the first time in his career in Northwestern’s 37-10 win at Maryland, going 3-for-3 on FGs and 4-for-4 on PATs, while also punting five times for an average of 49.2 yards per punt
Converted his first career field goal attempt in the second quarter on a 43-yarder and punted five times for a total of 246 yards (with a long of 58 yards, while placing two inside the 20
Pinned the Terrapins to the one-yard line on a 56-yard punt in the third quarter before recording a 58-yard punt downed at the Maryland 15-yard line in the fourth
Last Northwestern Special Teams Players of the Week: Luke Akers (Aug. 29, 2022)

MAC ANNOUNCES WEEK 7 FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

MAC Football Offensive Player of the Week
Chrishon McCray, Kent State, Wide Receiver
R-Sophomore, Avon, Ind. (Avon)
Chrishon McCray set career-highs with 213 receiving yards and three touchdowns during Saturday’s game against Ball State. McCray, whose scores came from 24, 63, and 57 yards out, totaled 90 yards after the catch on the day. His career performance puts him seventh on Kent State’s all-time single game receiving list and is the best by a MAC player this season. Dating back to last season, McCray has racked up at least 161 yards in three straight games against conference opponents.

MAC Football Co-Defensive Players of the Week
Shaun Dolac, Buffalo, Linebacker
Graduate, West Seneca, NY (West Seneca East)
Shaun Dolac had 15 tackles, including a tackle for loss to lead Buffalo’s defense in a 30-15 victory over Toledo. He had 10 solo tackles in the game. He helped smother the Rockets’ rushing attack as Toledo was held to a season-low 46 yards on 25 carries. Dolac continues to lead the nation in tackles with 87.

Skyler Gill-Howard, NIU, Defensive Tackle
Junior, Milwaukee, Wisc. (Greenfield)
Skyler Gill-Howard led another stellar defensive performance for the NIU Huskies versus Bowling Green with two quarterback sacks and three tackles for loss in a 17-7 Huskie win. Gill-Howard totaled six tackles, five solo. His sack on third and goal from the NIU 2 in the third quarter forced BG to try a field goal that was missed. His TFL came on third down with BG at its own 11, forcing the Falcons to punt from its end zone, giving NIU field position inside Bowling Green territory.

MAC Football Special Teams Player of the Week
Ethan Duane, Buffalo, Punter
Junior, Melbourne, Australia
Ethan Duane averaged 43.7 yards per punt in Buffalo’s 30-15 win over Toledo. He was consistently pinning the Rockets deep in their own territory as six of his seven punts were downed inside the 20-yard-line. Only one of his seven punts was returned. He had a long punt of 59 yards in the game.

HCAC 2024 FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK, WEEK 6

Athletes of the Week:
Offensive Player of the Week:
Niegel Payne (Detroit, Mich.) Bluffton University | Wide Receiver | Junior – Niegel Payne caught 4 passes for 102 yards with 3 touchdowns in Bluffton’s 42-10 win at Manchester on Saturday.

Defensive Player of the Week:
Nolan Whobrey (Louisville, Ky.) Bluffton University | Cornerback | Junior – Nolan Whobrey picked off 2 passes and had a scoop and score in Bluffton’s 42-10 win at Manchester on Saturday. It helped the Beavers to a perfect 2-0 start in Heartland Conference play. He also broke up a pass and had a tackle.

Special Teams Player of the Week:
Ari Turner (Cincinnati, Ohio) Mount St. Joseph University | Wide Receiver | Senior – Ari Turner returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown to help the Lions cruise to a 49-0 victory on the road at Anderson.

Notable Performances:

Connor Huffman (Pendleton, Ind.) Anderson University | Defensive Lineman | Senior – Connor Huffman filled the stat sheet with 9 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack and 2 quarterback hurries, leading the Ravens in all four categories.
Brian Wall (Sellersburg, Ind.) Hanover College | Linebacker | First Year – Wall led Hanover past Rose-Hulman this past weekend as the freshman picked up eight stops, six solo stops. He also added an interception for 35 yards.
Eian Roudebush (New Palestine, Ind.) Hanover College | Quarteback | Sophomore – Roudebush led Hanover past Rose-Hulman on Saturday throwing for 223 yards and two touchdowns. The Panthers combined for 443 total yards of offense.
Clint Hearne (Madison, Ind.) Hanover College | Sophomore | Kicker – Hearne helped lead the Panthers past Rose-Hulman as the sophomore went 4-for-5 on PAT tries. He also charted a 27 yard field goal.
Brady Pierce (Thompson Station, Tenn.) Mount St. Joseph University | Safety | Junior – Brady was making plays all over the field for MSJ over the weekend. He recorded two total tackles and one TFL, and he was also able to come down with an interception.
Eli Aston (Cincinnati, Ohio) Mount St. Joseph University | Wide Receiver | Sophomore – Eli hauled in four catches for 111 yards and a score with a long catch of the day of 39 yards. He was the Lions top receiving option in their commanding 49-0 road victory.
Kyle Rehberg (Brunswick, Ga.) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Kicker | Senior – Rehberg was a perfect 4-4 on kicks on Saturday in the 37-16 loss to Hanover. He drilled all three field goals from 27 yards, 33 yards, and 33 yards as well as making the lone extra point of the contest.

MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL NEWS

Kansas was picked first in the AP Top 25 preseason men’s basketball poll Monday, getting the No. 1 nod on half of the 60 ballots from a national media panel to start the season ahead of Alabama and two-time defending national champion UConn.

Kansas scooped up 30 first-place votes from the AP panel. The Crimson Tide, led by All-American guard Mark Sears and Jarin Stevenson, earned 14 first-place votes and UConn, which is trying to become the first school since John Wooden’s teams at UCLA to win three straight titles, received 11 first-place votes and is third.

Houston earned four first-place votes and is fourth ahead of Iowa State, which returns its top four scorers from a team that was a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Gonzaga received one first-place vote and is the sixth.

Duke, led by consensus No. 1 recruit Cooper Flagg, is seventh ahead of Baylor, North Carolina and Arizona in the top 10.

The Jayhawks were preseason No. 1 a year ago, too, but the season hardly went as planned. They were dragged down by injuries and struggled in Big 12 play, and a team led by All-American center Hunter Dickinson ultimately was routed by Cincinnati in the conference tournament and Gonzaga in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Kansas coach Bill Self retooled in the offseason, landing one of the nation’s top transfer classes. A.J. Storr of Wisconsin, South Dakota State guard Zeke Mayo and Rylan Griffen from Alabama are part of a versatile bunch joining Dickinson and fellow seniors Dajuan Harris Jr. and KJ Adams Jr. — both part of their 2022 national title squad — to form a deeper and more talented team.

“We welcome being No. 1, especially with our returning players like Hunter, Dajuan and KJ, and then you add the players we brought in,” Self said. “The goal is to be No. 1 at the end of the season, and though we welcome this, it is not the end goal.”

The new-look Big 12, which lost Oklahoma and Texas but welcomed Arizona, Arizona State, Utah and Colorado, has three of the top five and five of the top 10 in the preseason AP poll. The SEC leads the way with nine in the Top 25.

“To have three Big 12 teams in the top five and five in the top 10 just shows how competitive this league will be,” Self said. “Every year we talk about the Big 12 being the toughest conference in the nation and with the four additions it became even stronger.”

No. 11 Auburn, Tennessee and Texas A&M start off the second 10, followed by Purdue and Creighton. John Calipari has Arkansas at No. 16 with Indiana, Marquette, Texas and Cincinnati — making its first poll appearance since 2019 — in the top 20.

The Boilermakers are trying to win a third straight Big Ten title after the departure of AP player of the year Zach Edey.

“We have three starters back from a Final Four team. We have five freshmen. We have a lot of guys with experience outside of those three starters,” Purdue coach Matt Painter said. “We’re excited about it. We’re excited about this group.”

Florida, UCLA, Kentucky, Ole Miss and Rutgers round out the preseason Top 25.

“I’m excited about the expectations,” said Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell, whose team is ranked in the preseason poll for the first time since 1978. “We always had high expectations, and now in a league with 18 teams, you know, people are saying, ‘How good are you? There’s 18 teams. They’re great coaches.’ I don’t know where we sit. If you came to our practice yesterday, you would say, ‘Oh, boy.’ And if you came a couple of days earlier, you might think, ‘Hey, they’re going to be pretty good.’”

Outside looking in

Illinois is tops among others receiving votes after reaching the Elite Eight. Rick Pitino has St. John’s on the doorstep along with Xavier, Texas Tech and Wake Forest. The first regular-season poll is due out Nov. 11.

Trying to make history

Four schools that have never appeared in the Top 25 received preseason votes, led by McNeese State, which went back to the NCAA Tournament last season. Little Rock, Grand Canyon and High Point also received votes.

Stats and streaks

Kansas is ranked No. 1 in the preseason poll for the fifth time, trailing only North Carolina (10), Duke (9) and UCLA (8) for the most since the preseason rankings debuted in 1962. … Houston has the longest active Top 25 streak at 86 weeks. The Jayhawks are second at 65. … Iowa State has its best preseason ranking in school history. Texas A&M matched its best. … Kentucky is in the preseason poll for a record 57th time. The Tar Heels appear for the 55th time.

NBA NEWS

76ERS STAR PAUL GEORGE HYPEREXTENDS KNEE IN PRESEASON GAME

Philadelphia star forward Paul George hyperextended his left knee during the second quarter of the 76ers’ 104-89 preseason victory over the host Atlanta Hawks on Monday night.

George was on defense, matching up with Atlanta forward Jalen Johnson, when his left leg bent. He subbed out with 8:09 remaining in the first half and never returned to the game, finishing with eight points on 3-of-5 shooting in 12 minutes of action.

“Hopefully it’ll be OK so he’s back with us right away,” Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse said after the game.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that George had a sleeve on his left knee in the locker room, was walking around and was “not too concerned” about the injury. He was set to get treatment later Monday night.

George, 34, made one of the biggest splashes in free agency this summer when he signed a four-year, $212 million contract with the Sixers after spending the past five seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers.

In 74 games (all starts) last season, George averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals. He was also named an All-Star for the ninth time in his career.

George sports career averages of 20.8 points, 6.3 boards, 3.7 assists and 1.7 steals, appearing in 867 games (819 starts) for the Indiana Pacers (2010-11 to 2016-17), Oklahoma City Thunder (2017-18 to 2018-19) and the Clippers (2019-20 to 2023-24).

Philadelphia has two more preseason games before opening the regular season against the visiting Milwaukee Bucks on Oct. 23.

THE NBA’S PARITY ERA IS HERE, WITH 6 CHAMPIONS IN 6 YEARS. NOW BOSTON WILL TRY TO BUCK THAT TREND

It was a few minutes after Denver’s reign as NBA champion had come to an end last spring. The Minnesota Timberwolves were celebrating, their music and screams loud enough to be heard inside the room where Nuggets coach Michael Malone was somberly going through his final postgame news conference of the season.

In that moment, it was official: Another season was going by without the NBA having a back-to-back champion, and Malone was left to state what has become obvious.

“It is hard. It is hard. It is hard to repeat,” Malone said. “It’s hard to win.”

He’s right. And there’s never been an era in NBA history where it’s been harder.

Here are the last six NBA champions, in order: Toronto, the Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee, Golden State, Denver and now Boston. That’s six different title-winning franchises in six seasons, a run of parity that the league has seen only once before — nearly a half-century ago.

The days of dynasties may be on hold for now, replaced by a time when, for a variety of reasons, it’s more difficult than usual to get to the NBA mountaintop and stay there. It’s the Celtics’ turn to try to buck that trend.

“It’s always hard to win one,” said Boston guard Jrue Holiday, who won a title with Milwaukee in 2021 and was part of the Bucks team that was ousted in Round 2 a year later. “But then to win back-to-back is even harder.”

The NBA doesn’t seem to mind. This is the Parity Era and the current collective bargaining agreement figures to make it even tougher for teams to be dynastic — a swift change from the four-year run spanning 2015 through 2018 when Cleveland and Golden State got to the finals annually.

In simple terms, the more that teams spend, the harder it is now to make moves, especially moves involving big-contract players. The latest CBA, which went into effect last year, includes two aprons over the luxury tax figure. Go over the first apron, your roster flexibility is hampered. Go over the second one, and it’s severely hampered. It could be argued there haven’t been rule changes this significant since the league changed the lottery odds and added a play-in tournament to discourage tanking.

An example: it recently took Minnesota and New York several days to complete a deal a couple weeks ago after agreeing on the parameters — Karl-Anthony Towns going to the Knicks, Julius Randle and Donte DiVencenzo going to the Wolves — because the financial particulars needed to be very precise.

“The new rules … some of the consequences are unintended, quite frankly,” Wolves President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly was quoted by ESPN saying. “I don’t know if anyone intended to make it this challenging to make moves, to make trades when you’re above certain aprons.”

No, that’s exactly what the NBA wanted.

“I don’t want to say nothing is lost, but to me, I don’t think our system, by definition, will prevent repeat championships,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. “I think that, yes, it makes it less likely, but we didn’t set out to say, ‘Let’s make sure there’s a different champion every year.’ I think, again, it goes more to equality of opportunity. But I think in the same vein, I think there’s real incentive for players to stay in markets.”

Nobody would say all 30 teams enter this season with a realistic title chance. But there are more true hopefuls than there were just a few seasons ago. Last year, 12 teams entered the year with title odds of 25-1 or shorter. Six years earlier, at the peak of the Warriors-Cavs run, there were only three such teams.

“The league’s looking for parity,” Washington general manager Will Dawkins said. “And flattening the lottery odds, adding in the second apron, all of those things are things that are supposed to contribute to that.”

None of the previous five champions, not including the reigning Celtics (the overwhelming favorite to win this season’s title, according to BetMGM Sportsbook), even made it back to the finals the following season. That matches the longest such drought in NBA history, last done when the champions from 1973 through 1977 — in order, New York, Boston, Golden State, Boston again and then Portland — were all ousted in the conference finals or earlier.

A few years ago, most teams probably didn’t think they had a realistic chance. That’s different row.

“I just think all of it is setting up to be more competitive, more teams going for it. And that’s when it gets fun, when there’s not much difference between teams,” Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said. “It’ll be how teams can manage all those different emotions and the competitive spirit throughout the course of a season. It gets uncomfortable at times. I love it. It’s awesome for the league, it’s great for viewership, it’s great for the fans. It’s ultimately what you want.”

STEPHEN CURRY READY TO LEAD WARRIORS BACK TO THE NBA PLAYOFFS WITH FOCUS ON ANOTHER TITLE RUN

Golden State Warriors

Last season: Missed the playoffs as the 10th seed with a 46-36 record.

COACH: Steve Kerr (11th season, 519-274).

SEASON OPENER: Oct. 23 at Portland.

DEPARTURES: Klay Thompson is the biggest void Golden State will feel after Stephen Curry’s Splash Brother departed for the Dallas Mavericks following 11 seasons and four championships with the Warriors.

ADDITIONS: G Buddy Hield, F Kyle Anderson, F Lamar Stevens, F Lindy Waters III, G De’Anthony Melton, two-way PG Reece Beekman, F Jackson Rowe.

BetMGM championship odds: 40-1

What to expect

Curry is coming off a spectacular finish to his first Olympics capturing gold with Kerr as his coach, and both are determined to return this team to championship form even with the void left by Thompson’s departure. Yes, the Warriors will miss Thompson but they are trying to focus on regrouping from last season’s disappointment with a determined young roster.

Golden State captured an NBA title in 2022 and certainly would like to make another championship run while several of its core players are still together — Curry, Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins, who is determined for a bounce-back performance.

The Warriors made a strong push down the stretch last season but it was too late after some earlier struggles to protect home court.

“Every day does matter for us to be able to figure this thing out,” Curry said.

Strengths and weaknesses

The good: Curry. Even at 36, he is as dominant as ever and ignites crowds with his dazzling drives and 3-pointers from way, way back.

The not-so-good: A focus will be on playing better transition defense, so having Green and Gary Payton II healthy and getting more output on both ends from Wiggins will be a key to improving in that area as Kerr has emphasized.

Players to watch

The 31-year-old Hield joins his fourth team in as many years and will be called upon to take on a significant scoring load with Thompson now gone. Hield averaged 12.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists last season between Indiana and Philadelphia.

Both Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis were significant contributors as rookies so their development in Year 2 will go a long way in the Warriors’ success, along with how much high-flying Jonathan Kuminga continues to grow.

LEBRON JAMES RETURNS FOR 22ND NBA SEASON WITH ANTHONY DAVIS, NEW LAKERS COACH JJ REDICK

Last season: 47-35, lost to Denver in first round.

COACH: JJ Redick (first season, hired June 20)

SEASON OPENER: Oct. 22 vs. Minnesota

DEPARTURES: F Taurean Prince, G Spencer Dinwiddie.

ADDITIONS: F Dalton Knecht, C Christian Koloko, G Bronny James.

BetMGM championship odds: +4000

What to expect

The Lakers are counting on a new coaching staff to transform essentially the same roster that won last year’s In-Season Tournament, but couldn’t contend for an NBA title despite the greatness of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Redick has never coached at any level of his sport, but James’ former podcast co-host wowed the Lakers’ top brass with his ideas to get more out of James, Davis and this supporting cast. Early in the regular season, James and 20-year-old Bronny James will become the first father-and-son duo to play together. Later in the season, the health of James and Davis will determine whether Redick even has a chance to work wonders.

Strengths and weaknesses

The good: James does not appear to be slowing down at all in his record-tying 22nd NBA season, and Davis is coming off an outstanding season in which the oft-injured big man played in a career-high 76 games. The Lakers are betting their roster continuity will help, and Redick is even keeping the same starters — D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura — alongside his dynamic duo. The bench looks decent, particularly if Jarred Vanderbilt finally returns from his extensive injuries to provide defensive toughness.

The not-so-good: The Lakers once again failed to land a third superstar to play alongside James and Davis, with GM Rob Pelinka in part blaming the league’s new roster rules. Even with James and Davis almost fully healthy last season, this roster wasn’t a Western Conference contender, and it’s tough to imagine the Lakers getting that lucky with injuries again. Los Angeles is pinning its hopes on Redick being exceptional and on James and Davis staying healthy.

Players to watch

The only roster addition who might contribute immediately is rookie Dalton Knecht, a standout scorer at Tennessee. Russell has been Redick’s top project, with the rookie coach vowing to get more consistency and leadership from the prolific guard who goes missing too frequently on offense and doesn’t maximize his limited defensive skills. LA is also betting heavily on former second-round pick Max Christie finally stepping up as a three-and-D wing in his third NBA season after getting a four-year, $32 million contract.

RAPTORS LEANING HEAVILY ON FORMER TOP ROOKIE SCOTTIE BARNES AS THEY BEGIN REBUILDING THE ROSTER

Last season: 25-57, missed playoffs.

COACH: Darko Rajakovic (2nd season, 25-57).

SEASON OPENER: Oct. 23 vs. Cleveland.

DEPARTURES: G Gary Trent Jr., F Jalen McDaniels.

ADDITIONS: F Bruno Fernando, G Davion Mitchell, F Jonathan Mogbo, G Jamal Shead, G Ja’Kobe Walter.

BetMGM championship odds: 1,000-1.

What to expect

Five years after bringing an NBA Championship north of the border, the Raptors have shed every key contributor from their title team and entered a rebuilding phase. When asked whether his current squad might benefit from prioritizing 2025 draft positioning over on-court success this season, team president Masai Ujiri said: “We all know what reality is in this league,” Ujiri said. “The draft is a way for us to build teams and to acquire players, especially in a market like our market.”

Strengths and weaknesses

The good: Versatile forward Scottie Barnes improved his averages in scoring, 3-point shooting, rebounding, assists and blocked shots last season, earned his first All-Star nod, and likely still has room to develop into an even better player. As the Raptors begin building their way back to contention, Barnes is the clear cornerstone of their efforts. The 2022 NBA rookie of the year, Barnes signed a contract extension this summer that could reach around $270 million if he meets supermax criteria. Backing Barnes are two players acquired from the Knicks last year, newly-signed guard Immanuel Quickley and Canadian star RJ Barrett.

The not-so-good: The Raptors aren’t blessed with an abundance of depth, size, or reliable 3-point shooting, although sophomore guard Gradey Dick might be able to help with the latter category. While there are some other promising pieces on the bench, including rookie guard Ja’Kobe Walter, Toronto doesn’t have much dependable talent on its second unit and could be in trouble if injuries strike the starting five. The Raptors should be good enough to compete on a nightly basis, but expect closing out wins against the league’s better teams to be a challenge.

Players to watch

When the Raptors selected forward Jonathan Mogbo with their second round pick last June, one attendee at Mogbo’s draft party was moved to tears: longtime friend Scottie Barnes. After starting out as grade school pals in West Palm Beach, Florida, Barnes and Mogbo will live out a childhood dream as NBA teammates in Toronto’s frontcourt.

JAYSON TATUM, JAYLEN BROWN AND THE CELTICS HEAD INTO NBA TITLE DEFENSE WITH SOMETHING TO PROVE

Last season: 64-18, won NBA championship.

COACH: Joe Mazzulla (third season, 121-43)

SEASON OPENER: Oct. 22 vs. New York Knicks.

DEPARTURES: G Svi Mykhailiuk, F Oshae Brissett

ADDITIONS: G Baylor Scheierman, F Anton Watson

BetMGM championship odds: +325.

What to expect

The Celtics are gearing up for another run at the title, which would be an NBA record 19th for the franchise. They are bringing back essentially the same team — not just their starters, but their top 11 scorers from last season. With summer snubs to Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the team can expect to still be motivated. The last team to repeat was the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and ’18. The Celtics haven’t repeated since Bill Russell won 11 in 13 years from 1957-69.

Strengths and weaknesses

The good: Three and D. The Celtics led the NBA with 1,351 made 3-pointers last year — 140 more more than the next-most chucking team — and they also had the most steals and defensive rebounds. Tatum and Brown are All-NBA playmakers, and Jrue Holiday and Derrick White are two of the best perimeter defenders in the league.

The not-so-good: The Celtics could be vulnerable down low if 37-year-old Al Horford and oft-injured Kristaps Porzingis can’t hold up physically. If so, Luke Kornet and Neemias Queta their best options at center.

Players to watch

Despite making All-NBA first team, winning his first championship, signing the richest contract in NBA history and following it up with an Olympic gold medal, Tatum was irked after being benched during the Paris Games. Brown, who was the NBA Finals MVP instead of his teammate, wasn’t picked for the U.S. Olympic team at all, and that didn’t sit well with him either. Both are coming off of an All-Star season in which their individual numbers went down for the good of the team, with a championship as the result.

THE SUNS HOPE FOR MORE SUCCESS IN YEAR 2 OF BIG 3 WITH A NEW COACH, REVAMPED SUPPORTING CAST

Last season: 49-33, lost to Minnesota in first round of playoffs.

COACH: Mike Budenholzer (1st season with Suns, 10th overall 484-317).

SEASON OPENER: Oct. 23 at L.A. Clippers.

DEPARTURES: G Eric Gordon, F Drew Eubanks

ADDITIONS: G Tyus Jones, G Monte Morris, C Mason Plumlee, F Ryan Dunn

BetMGM championship odds: +1500.

What to expect

The Suns are back for Year 2 of the Big 3 after the first season was a undeniable disappointment. The All-Star trio of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal will once again be the focal point of the team while they’ll be helped by a supporting cast of Tyus Jones, Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale and Jusuf Nurkic. Phoenix also added new coach Mike Budenholzer, who led the Bucks to a 2021 championship after beating the Suns in six games. Budenholzer is an Arizona native and seems refreshed by the opportunity to lead a top-heavy, but talented roster.

Strengths and weaknesses

The good: Pretty much any team wouldn’t mind having Booker, Durant and Beal as three major building blocks. Booker is in his 10th NBA season and in his prime and the four-time All-Star has developed into one of the league’s most consistent scoring guards, equally adept at driving to the hoop, pulling up from mid-range and hitting 3-pointers. Durant — even at 36 years old — is still one of the game’s most feared scorers. When Beal is healthy, he’s a versatile guard who also knows how to get the ball in the basket. Unlike last year, the team also has a true point guard in Tyus Jones, which allows the Big 3 to focus on scoring instead of ballhandling.

The not-so-good: The roster is still relatively top-heavy, even though its construction appears much better than 2023. It’s fair to wonder if Durant can handle another season with a heavy workload. He played in 75 games last season and didn’t get much rest this summer after helping the U.S. team to Olympic gold in Paris. The team has a handful of solid defensive players like Josh Okogie, but this version of the Suns probably won’t be one of the league’s best teams on that end of the court.

Players to watch

The Suns were able to get Jones for the bargain basement price of $3 million for one season, giving the team a true point guard that it lacked last season. It’s a big opportunity for Jones, who gets to play with his most talented team. He averaged 12 points per game for the Wizards last season but more importantly contribued 7.3 assists and just 1.0 turnovers per game. Nurkic slimmed down over the offseason and could be more an option from 3-point range this season. Dunn, a rookie who was the 28th overall pick out of Virginia, is considered an elite defensive prospect. If he can develop on the offensive end, he could be a great addition to the playing rotation.

PISTONS AIM FOR RESPECT AFTER RECORD-BREAKING SEASON LED TO NBA’S WORST RECORD FOR 2ND STRAIGHT YEAR

Last season: NBA-worst 14-68, including single-season record 28-game losing streak.

COACH: J.B. Bickerstaff (first season with team; eighth overall 255-290)

SEASON OPENER: Oct. 23 vs. Indiana at home.

DEPARTURES: GM Troy Weaver, coach Monty Williams, C Marvin Bagley III, C James Wiseman, G Evan Fournier.

ADDITIONS: President of basketball operations Trajan Langdon, Bickerstaff, F Tobias Harris, G Malik Beasley, G Tim Hardaway Jr. and rookie G Ron Holland, the No. 5 pick overall.

BetMGM championship odds: +100,000

What to expect

A lot of losing. It’s difficult to see how the team is much better than the last two seasons when it combined to win just 31 games. Cade Cunningham, the No. 1 pick overall in 2021, signed a $224 million, five-year contract extension to stay and will likely put up good numbers. The Pistons will probably stick with Bickerstaff no matter how the season shakes out after having two coaches — Williams and Dwane Casey — the previous two years.

Strengths and weaknesses

The good: Youth is on the team’s side with the 23-year-old Cunningham, 22-year-old Jaden Ivey and 20-year-old Jalen Duren. The Pistons can potentially play fast, taking advantage of having a young and athletic team.

The not-so-good: Detroit struggled to shoot from the outside, play defense and take care of the basketball and those may be problems again this season.

Players to watch

Malik Beasley, a 27-year-old shooting guard, will have a chance to put up a lot of shots and the team desperately hopes he can make some from the outside after signing a $6 million, one-year contract. Ivey’s outside shooting is a key because if the third-year pro can’t make teams respect him on the perimeter, they will continue to dare him to shoot.

BUCKS BELIEVE THEY’RE READY TO BOUNCE BACK AFTER TWO STRAIGHT FIRST-ROUND NBA PLAYOFF EXITS

Last season: 49-33, lost to Indiana in first round of playoffs.

COACH: Doc Rivers (2nd season with Bucks, 26th season overall, 1,896-1,114)

SEASON OPENER: Oct. 23 at Philadelphia

DEPARTURES: F Thanasis Antetokounmpo, G Malik Beasley, G Patrick Beverley, F Jae Crowder, F Danilo Gallinari

ADDITIONS: G AJ Johnson, F Taurean Prince, F Tyler Smith, G Gary Trent Jr., G Delon Wright

BetMGM championship odds: 14-1

What to expect

The Bucks once again have one of the league’s top trios in two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, seven-time all-NBA guard Damian Lillard and three-time All-Star Khris Middleton. The trick is keeping all of them healthy. Antetokounmpo didn’t play at all in Milwaukee’s first-round playoff loss to Indiana last season and missed multiple games in Milwaukee’s 2023 first-round playoff exit. Middleton has played a combined 74 games over the last two regular seasons.

Milwaukee is hopeful that it will fare better this year now that it’s had more time to adapt to Lillard and Rivers. The Bucks acquired Lillard shortly before training camp last year. Rivers was working as an ABC broadcaster until he got hired in late January after the Bucks fired Adrian Griffin. The Bucks often lacked cohesiveness as they adjusted to so much change. That shouldn’t bea problem this season.

Strengths and weaknesses

The good: Antetokounmpo remains one of the league’s top two or three players. Lillard didn’t work out much while awaiting a trade in the summer of 2023 because he didn’t want to risk getting hurt. He will open this season in much better shape. Middleton says he’s feeling fine after undergoing offseason surgery on each of his ankles. Even as they struggled last season, the Bucks were dominant whenever Antetokounmpo, Lillard, Middleton and 7-footer Brook Lopez were on the floor together. They should have that combination on the floor more often this season.

The not-so-good: Depth remains a major issue. Given their salary-cap constraints, the Bucks did well in adding Prince, Trent and Wright as veteran free agents. But this remains a very top-heavy roster, so the Bucks can’t afford to have Antetokounmpo, Lillard, Middleton or Lopez miss significant time. The Bucks must replace Beasley, who made 77 starts with Milwaukee last season before signing with the Detroit Pistons. Age also is a major concern. Middleton is 33, Lillard 34 and Lopez 36.

Players to watch

Lillard was a seven-time all-NBA guard in 11 seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, but he didn’t get a single all-NBA vote his first year in Milwaukee. The Bucks need him to regain that all-NBA form. Middleton has to stay healthy. The Bucks also must have Antetokounmpo continue playing like one of the best players on the planet. Off the bench, the Bucks would love to see Bobby Portis pick up where he left off last year, and they’d also benefit from a bounce-back season by Pat Connaughton.

THE MAGIC KEEP GETTING BETTER AND HAVE NO PLANS FOR THAT TREND TO CEASE

Last season: 47-35, lost to Cleveland in first round of playoffs.

COACH: Jamahl Mosley (4th season, 103-143).

SEASON OPENER: Oct. 23 at Miami.

DEPARTURES: G Markelle Fultz, F Joe Ingles, F Chuma Okeke.

ADDITIONS: G Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, G Cory Joseph, F Tristan Da Silva, G Ethan Thompson.

BetMGM championship odds: 40-1.

What to expect

Paolo Banchero is an All-Star, Franz Wagner is probably on his way to becoming one and the Magic kept most of its young and promising core intact while adding two key vets — Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Cory Joseph, both of whom have NBA championship rings. The Magic won 22 games in 2021-22, then increased that total by 12 in 2022-23, then increased that total by 13 more last season. And it’s not outside the realm of realistic possibility for the Magic to win even more this season. Defense was last season’s calling card and if the Magic figure out a way to score a little bit more, look out.

Strengths and weaknesses

The good: Banchero is complete, one of only six players to average at least 22.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists last season. (The others: Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid.) The Wagner brothers, Franz and Moritz, just keep getting better and Jalen Suggs and Jonathan Isaac are two of the better defenders in the league. The Magic were an NBA-best 40-1 last season when leading after three quarters, pulled off seven fourth-quarter comebacks (tied for ninth-most in the league) and were 38-10 when holding teams to 110 points or less (compared with 9-26 when giving up 111 points or more).

The not-so-good: There were just some nights where the Magic couldn’t score (8-24 when scoring 107 points or less) and in today’s NBA, that’s not going to cut it. And the second night of back-to-backs hurt Orlando, which lost 10 of 15 such games last season. Orlando also made an NBA-low 903 3-pointers last season, though with the addition of Caldwell-Pope expect that number to rise considerably.

Players to watch

The Wagner brothers are high-energy and are coming off back-to-back summers of playing with the German national team, helping them win the World Cup in 2023 and get to the medal round of this summer’s Paris Olympics. Caldwell-Pope and Joseph bring the veteran guidance the team needs, Banchero is a bonafide star, but the most underrated part of the Magic might be what Isaac and Suggs bring to the defensive end. This is a playoff team with room to grow.

TRAIL BLAZERS IN THE SECOND YEAR OF THEIR REBUILDING PROJECT AMID A 3-YEAR NBA PLAYOFF DROUGHT

Last season: 21-61, missed the playoffs for the third straight year.

COACH: Chauncey Billups (Fourth season with Portland, 81-165).

SEASON OPENER: Oct. 23 at home against the Golden State Warriors.

DEPARTURES: G Malcolm Brogdan.

ADDITIONS: C Donovan Clingan, F Deni Avdija.

BetMGM championship odds: +10,000.

What to Expect

The Trail Blazers made few offseason changes and Portland remains in rebuilding mode after a season without All-Star Damian Lillard. The perennial All-Star bolted for the Milwaukee Bucks and Portland has committed to a young core which may not get the team to the postseason after a three-year drought. The youthful roster could set the Blazers up for a bright future. Forward Jerami Grant, 30, is the oldest player on the roster. He led the team with an average of 21 points per game last season. Guard Anfernee Simons is just 25 but already has six years of experience.

Coach Chauncey Billups, recently inducted into the basketball Hall of Fame, is realistic that this season may still be a struggle. His plan? “We’ve got to play fast. We’ve got to move the basketball,” Billups said. “We’ve got to help each other on defense. We’ve got to do all the small things to even be competitive.”

Strengths and Weaknesses

The good: Portland’s strength is its youth. And it’s weakness is also its youth. The young players have the athleticism and energy to fit into Billups’ plan to play fast — and that could be entertaining for fans. But the roster’s inexperience could be a hurdle.

The not-so-good: Three of Portland’s projected starters — Grant, Simons and Deandre Ayton — will be leaned on as locker room leaders to keep the youngsters in check. “We want to win as soon as possible,” Simons said. “As competitors, as players, we all want to win. So for me, it’s still the same thing: What can I do to get better for us to win?”

Players to Watch

Shaedon Sharpe, 21, is a dynamic playmaker but he’s been hampered by injuries. In January he had core surgery and missed the rest of the season. He won’t play at the start of this season because of a small labral tear in his left shoulder. Scoot Henderson, 20, was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 draft out of the G League’s Ignite had some growing pains in his rookie season, but showed improvement over his final dozen games, when he averaged more than 19 points a game.

OKC THUNDER AMONG THE NBA TITLE FAVORITES AFTER BREAKOUT SEASON NETTED THEM THE TOP SEED IN THE WEST

Last season: 57-25, lost to Dallas in second round of playoffs.

COACH: Mark Daigneault (5th season, 143-175).

SEASON OPENER: Oct. 24 at Denver.

DEPARTURES: G Josh Giddey, G Lindy Waters III.

ADDITIONS: G Alex Caruso, C Isaiah Hartenstein.

BetMGM championship odds: +650.

What to expect

Oklahoma City returns nearly the entire core of a team that earned the top seed in the Western Conference playoffs last season. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was runner-up for the league MVP award after averaging 30.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 6.2 assists. At age 26, he’s just hitting his prime. His confidence is at an all-time high after dominating at the Olympics for Canada. Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams are potential All-Stars. The Thunder addressed their rebounding issue by adding Isaiah Hartenstein from the New York Knicks. Add the reigning NBA Coach of the Year in Mark Daigneault, and it appears the Thunder’s quick rise from lottery team two years ago could continue. A trip to the NBA Finals and a championship are legitimate possibilities.

Strengths and weaknesses

The good: Oklahoma City is equally tough on offense and defense. The Thunder feature the versatile, high-scoring Gilgeous-Alexander on offense, with Williams and Holmgren as capable secondary ballhandlers and floor spacers. On defense, Oklahoma City has added Alex Caruso, a veteran who can share the defensive stopper role with Lu Dort, and Hartenstein, a rebounder and rim protector with some bulk. Oklahoma City’s depth was exceptional last season, and most of the top reserves are back.

The not-so-good: The Thunder had great chemistry last season, but now they will have to work in two significant pieces in Caruso and Hartenstein. That could take some time and might cost them some games early if the blending process isn’t smooth. The Thunder also lost their best passer in Giddey — a maestro who took pressure off Gilgeous-Alexander — in the trade with Chicago that brought Caruso. And Oklahoma City will not sneak up on anyone. This is the first time in years that the Thunder open the season as a target. It’s unclear how the team will handle its new position in the league.

Players to watch

Holmgren is perhaps the closest thing to San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama that anyone else has in the league, and he’s surrounded by talent. He’s the ideal new-age player – on offense, a 7-foot-1 big man who is a skilled passer, shooter and ballhandler and on defense, a rim protector who can guard all positions. G Cason Wallace also could see more minutes with Giddey gone. He made the All-Rookie second team last season, despite playing limited minutes because of Oklahoma City’s depth.

LAMELO BALL AND THE HORNETS LOOK TO SNAP 8-YEAR NBA PLAYOFF DROUGHT UNDER NEW COACH CHARLES LEE

Last season: 21-61, missed playoff for eight straight season

COACH: Charles Lee (first-time NBA head coach, hired May 9).

SEASON OPENER: Oct. 23 at Houston.

DEPARTURES: F Davis Bertans, F Aleksej Pokusevski, G Bryce McGowens.

ADDITIONS: G Josh Green, F Taj Gibson, F Tidjane Salaun, G K.J. Simpson.

BetMGM championship odds: 1000-1.

What to expect

It’s the start of a new era in Charlotte with Charles Lee taking over as head coach. Lee won NBA titles as an assistant coach in Milwaukee and Boston, so he has a winning pedigree that has resonated with players. He has been stressing the importance of defense since his arrival — and that goes for everyone, including point guard LaMelo Ball. The Hornets ranked near the bottom of the league in most defensive categories a season ago, including rebounding and 3-point defense. This is a team that has some firepower on offense with Ball, Brandon Miller and Miles Bridges, but will need to stay healthy if it hopes to snap a league-long eight-year playoff drought.

Strengths and weaknesses

The good: Charlotte has a quality young core in Ball, Miller, Bridges and center Mark Williams and Josh Green as its starting five, so there is reason to be optimistic about the future. Depth has been an issue, but the Hornets are getting better with Vasi Micic, Grant Williams, Tre Mann, Cody Martin and Seth Curry coming off the bench. The problem over the last two seasons has been keeping guys on the floor. If the Hornets buy into Lee’s defense-first approach and can stay healthy then the playoffs are not out of question.

The not-so-good: The Hornets lack a quality center who can get them a big basket inside when they need it. The 7-foot Williams is long and plays good defense, but neither he nor backup Nick Richards is particularly known for their scoring. That means Charlotte’s offense mainly comes from outside of the paint and from a lot 3-pointers. Ball and Miller both can fill it up. On-ball defense has been issue for this team, but the addition of Green and the return of Martin from an injury should help.

Players to watch

All eyes will be on Ball this year to see if he can stay on the court and return to an All-Star level. Ball has managed to play in just 58 of 164 games over the past two seasons due to ankle injuries. He plans to wear braces to begin the season. When he’s played, Ball has been really good. He averaged 23.9 points and 8 assists per game in 2023-24 and is a 37.4% career shooter from 3-point range. Without a healthy Ball, it’s hard to imagine the Hornets going far.

ROCKETS LOOK TO RETURN TO PLAYOFFS IN SECOND SEASON UNDER IME UDOKA AFTER 19-GAME JUMP IN YEAR 1

Last season: 41-41.

COACH: Ime Udoka (Second season with Rockets, third season overall, 92-72).

SEASON OPENER: Oct. 25 vs. Charlotte.

DEPARTURES: C Boban Marjanovic, SF Reggie Bullock.

ADDITIONS: G Reed Sheppard, F Thon Maker.

BetMGM championship odds: 80-1.

What to expect

After making a 19-game improvement in the first season under Udoka, the Rockets have adopted a playoffs-or-bust mantra this season. They have reason to believe that could happen with a team that is virtually unchanged from last season. The additions of Dillon Brooks and Fred Van Vleet before last season added much-needed veteran experience and leadership to help Houston’s young players develop. Now recent high draft picks Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson must all take a step forward for the Rockets to reach the postseason for the first time since James Harden led the team in 2020.

Strengths and weaknesses

The good: The Rockets return their entire starting lineup from last season and should be improved in the second year together. Van Vleet and Brooks meshed immediately with their new teammates last season to help the Rockets get out the NBA’s basement and inch closer to a return to the postseason. Defense should again be a strength of the team after the Rockets ranked ninth on defense in their first season under Udoka. Center Alperen Sengun returns after making a big jump last season in his third year in the league. He led the team with career highs in both points (21.1) and rebounds (9.3) before an ankle injury cost him the last 19 games of the season.

The not-so-good: Green, the second overall pick in 2021, has shown flashes of greatness in his first three seasons but has mostly been known for his inconsistency. Entering the last year of his rookie deal, the 22-year-old must improve and become more of a leader on this team, or it could be his last year with the Rockets. Amen Thompson, taken fourth in the 2023 draft, had a lackluster rookie season where he missed 20 games with injuries to put him behind Houston’s other young stars. He’ll have to play catch up this year if he hopes to get significant playing time after the Rockets added Sheppard in this draft.

Players to watch

Many around the league are eager to see how Sheppard’s elite shooting in his one season at Kentucky will translate to the NBA. Though undersized, the Rockets believe that his 3-point shooting will be a major asset to this team as it tries to make another jump this season. Sheppard, selected third in the draft, shot 52.1% from 3-point range and made 83.1% of his free throws last season. The addition of his shooting and more consistent play from Green could be the recipe the Rockets need to make a playoff push.

ROOKIE ZACCHARIE RISACHER IS KEY TO HAWKS’ HOPES FOR A PLAYOFF RETURN WITH TRAE YOUNG STILL THE STAR

Last season: 36-46, 10th in Eastern Conference.

COACH: Quin Snyder (3rd season with Hawks, 11th overall, 418-321).

SEASON OPENER: Oct. 23 vs. Brooklyn.

DEPARTURES: G Dejounte Murray, G AJ Griffin, F Saddiq Bey, F Fernando Bruno, G Wesley Matthews

ADDITIONS: G-F Zaccharie Risacher, G Dyson Daniels, PF-C Larry Nance Jr., F David Roddy, C Cody Zeller, G-F Nikola Djurisic, F Dominick Barlow

BetMGM championship odds: 500-1

What to expect

Landing Risacher with the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft after having Jalen Johnson emerge in his third season gives the Hawks reason for hope. That may not be enough to rescue a roster that could be facing more turnover following the decision to trade Trae Young’s backcourt partner Dejounte Murray to New Orleans for four veterans and two future first-round draft picks. Young remains the figurehead of the franchise as he enters his seventh season, but the 6-foot-9 Risacher already has demonstrated in the preseason he can add flash and excitement to the team. Risacher made a bounce pass between his legs to the trailing Clint Capela for a fast-break layup while scoring 18 points in the preseason opening win over Indiana. Risacher will play an immediate prominent role on the wing.

Strengths and weaknesses

The good: Even after trading Murray, the Hawks have options with Bogdan Bogdanovic, De’Andre Hunter, Daniels and Risacher on the wing. Daniels also should boost the defense, while Nance adds needed size inside. Jalen Johnson’s role as an emerging go-to scoring complement to Young should only be solidified following the trade of Murray.

The not-so-good: Decisions must be made about Capela, who can be a free agent next season, and Hunter, whose struggles with injuries have prevented him from sharing the scoring lead with Young. A slow start by the team could lead to more moves which could make the trade of Murray look like only the start of a roster overhaul.

Players to watch

Snyder says he has been impressed by Risacher’s work ethic and feel for the game, and a big rookie season by the 19-year-old French star could accelerate the team’s path for a return to the playoffs. Johnson played like a rising All-Star by averaging 16 points and 8.7 rebounds last season. With Murray gone, Kobe Bufkin should play behind Young. Onyeka Okongwu already has earned an even share of playing time with Capela and could be ready to take over the starting job at center.

REBUILDING NETS FACE MANY CHALLENGES WITH ROOKIE NBA COACH, YOUNG ROSTER AND OFT-INJURED BEN SIMMONS

Last season: 32-50, missed playoffs.

COACH: Jordi Fernandez (1st season).

SEASON OPENER: Oct. 23 at Atlanta.

DEPARTURES: G Mikal Bridges, G Lonnie Walker IV, G Dennis Smith Jr.

ADDITIONS: F Bojan Bogdanovic, F Ziaire Williams, G Killian Hayes

BetMGM championship odds: +100000.

What to expect

The Nets are entering into a rebuilding situation, having traded Mikal Bridges to New York on the eve of the NBA draft after already dealing away most of their top players in the last few seasons. General manager Sean Marks has said it doesn’t necessarily have to be a long rebuild, but with a rookie coach and little high-end talent, it would be a surprise if they aren’t one of the worst teams in the NBA this season.

Strengths and weaknesses

The good: Nic Claxton shows signs of expanding his offensive game to match the strong interior defense he has been providing. Dennis Schroder gives them a veteran point guard who can either start or come off the bench and had a terrific summer playing in for Germany in the Olympics, where he was their flag bearer. Should get some high-scoring nights from Cam Thomas, who averaged 22.5 points last season and scored 40 or more four times.

The not-so-good: There isn’t much reason to go deep into specifics. The whole roster is not-so-good. It’s also young, with the Nets having 11 players 24 or younger, Thomas is prone to bad shots and bad decisions, sometimes offsetting the points he can quickly pile up. And there’s no guaranteeing a top pick even if they have one of the worst records, since at that point the Nets would then still have to hope for lottery luck.

Players to watch

Ben Simmons remains the most intriguing player on the roster. The No. 1 pick in the 2016 draft is in the final season of his contract and has so much to prove, from a willingness to shoot to an ability to stay healthy. If he can return to the level he played at in Philadelphia, he could get the Nets up and down the floor quickly for some easy baskets, which they will desperately need. Cam Johnson’s average of 13.4 points last season was a three-point drop from 2022-23, and with his name frequently attached to trade rumors after his former Phoenix teammate Bridges was traded, it will be interesting to see how he bounces back — and where he does it.

EXPECTATIONS SOAR FOR MAVS WITH ADDITION OF KLAY THOMPSON AFTER RUN TO NBA FINALS

Last season: 50-32, lost to Boston in NBA Finals.

COACH: Jason Kidd (fifth season with Mavericks, 10th season overall, 323-296).

SEASON OPENER: Oct. 23 vs. San Antonio.

DEPARTURES: F Derrick Jones Jr., G Josh Green, G Tim Hardaway Jr.

ADDITIONS: G Klay Thompson, F Naji Marshall, G Spencer Dinwiddie, G Quentin Grimes.

BetMGM championship odds: 12-1.

What to expect

The Mavericks addressed their biggest scoring need by adding Thompson in a sign-and-trade after their first trip to the NBA Finals since winning their only title in 2011. Dallas will expect nothing less than another deep playoff run with Thompson playing alongside fellow stars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. It will be an adjustment for Thompson, though. He spent his first 13 seasons with the Golden State Warriors and helped them win four championships. Thompson is coming off his lowest scoring average since his second season, and the five-time All-Star shot less than 40% from 3-point range for just the second time in his career.

Strengths and weaknesses

The good: Playing with Doncic and Irving should mean a lot of great looks for Thompson, and the pick-and-roll could be dangerous if Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford stay healthy. Lively and Gafford showed in the playoffs they can be a potent tandem in the middle. Lively is among the most promising big men in the league after debuting as a 19-year-old and having a strong rookie year coming out of Duke. He did miss time with injuries, though.

The not-so-good: Dallas’ most important defensive player last season was Jones, and the club hoped to bring him back. Instead, Jones signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Clippers, who lost to the Mavs in the first round of the playoffs. That will leave plenty to prove on defense for a team with the offensive star power of Doncic, Irving and Thompson. Grimes, acquired from Detroit for Hardaway, could play a role along with Marshall, a free agent pickup.

Players to watch

Plenty of eyes will be on Thompson in his first season without Splash Brother Stephen Curry, not to mention star forward Draymond Green. How Thompson, Doncic and Irving complement each other will be one of the bigger storylines in the NBA. The return Dinwiddie is intriguing. He played a big role in the Mavs’ run to the 2022 Western Conference finals as an addition at the trade deadline. Now he’s back after a season-plus away when Dinwiddie was shipped to Brooklyn in the blockbuster deal for Irving.

HEAT HOPES FOR THE SEASON WILL HINGE ON ADEBAYO AND BUTLER ONCE AGAIN

MIAMI (AP) — Last season: 46-36, lost to Boston in first round of playoffs.

COACH: Erik Spoelstra (17th season, 750-527).

SEASON OPENER: Oct. 23 vs. Orlando.

DEPARTURES: F Caleb Martin, G Patty Mills, G Delon Wright, F Orlando Robinson.

ADDITIONS: G Alec Burks, C Kel’El Ware, G Josh Christopher, F Nassir Little.

BetMGM championship odds: 50-1.

What to expect

The Heat bring back essentially the same team from last year, when they once again needed the play-in tournament just to make the playoffs and then were overmatched by Boston — with Jimmy Butler unable to play because of injury — on the Celtics’ way to the NBA title. Bam Adebayo was part of the roster that won Olympic gold in Paris and he’s the captain, but the hopes of how far the Heat go still hinge on health and largely Butler. If he’s motivated in what could be the final year of his contract, this could be good for both sides. Otherwise, it could be a long season.

Strengths and weaknesses

The good: Adebayo is one of the best defensive players in the game — the Heat rightly tout him as a defensive player of the year candidate — and only saw his stock rise at the Paris Games, plus has added the 3-pointer to his arsenal. Spoelstra is generally regarded as the best coach in the game and Butler has stockpiled tons of moments where he has simply taken games over in his Miami tenure. If healthy, Duncan Robinson and Tyler Herro should be able to provide much of the needed shooting. And second-year forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. is poised for a bigger role.

The not-so-good: Nobody knows what the Heat will really look like, not even the Heat. They made a trade for Terry Rozier last season but lost him before the stretch run to a neck injury that had him sidelined for the playoffs and unable to play 5-on-5 for months. Injuries always seem to be an issue for Miami and if people miss extended time, the waters will get choppy quickly for the Heat. And the questions about Butler’s future — is he staying or going? — hang over the team all season.

Players to watch

The additions of Burks and Little figure to give depth. Herro says he’s all about business this season, and Miami desperately needs his scoring punch. Kevin Love still is valued by the Heat because of what he does in stints on the court and his leadership off the court. Scouts at summer league raved about draft pick Kel’El Ware and his upside, but this season is really all about Butler and Adebayo. They have to be great for Miami to have a chance at being great again.

76ERS EXPECT PAUL GEORGE TO FIT AS MISSING CHAMPIONSHIP PIECE NEXT TO JOEL EMBIID AND TYRESE MAXEY

Last season: 47-35, lost to New York in first round

COACH: Nick Nurse (2nd season with 76ers; 7th overall, 274-198)

SEASON OPENER: Oct. 23 vs. Milwaukee

DEPARTURES: F Nicolas Batum, C Mo Bamba, G Buddy Hield, G De’Anthony Melton, F Cameron Payne, C Paul Reed

ADDITIONS: G Paul George, C Andre Drummond, G Eric Gordon, G Reggie Jackson, PF Caleb Martin, PF Guerschon Yabusele

BetMGM championship odds: 10-1

What to expect

The 76ers committed more than $400 million in salary to Tyrese Maxey and Paul George in free agency and then signed Joel Embiid to a $193 million extension shortly before training camp. Embiid will be an old 30 this season and expecting the All-Star center to miss a significant chunk of playing time because of injuries is an unfortunate rite of the season for the Sixers. Embiid, who won Olympic gold with Team USA, has never played more than 68 games in a season and was limited to only 39 last season in large part because of knee surgery. The 76ers finished 31-8 in the regular season with Embiid and a woeful 16-27 without him. The 76ers needed another star to keep the franchise steady should Embiid go down again so they signed George. If the trio of George, Embiid and Maxey can stay the Sixers expect to advance out of the second round for the first time since 2001.

Strengths and weaknesses

The good: George was a stellar offseason acquisition, and should form an ideal pairing with Embiid. The 76ers have been down this high-priced, high-expectations road before without a championship to show for their efforts. They have failed to find the right pieces to field a winner around their franchise player Embiid, falling short with Ben Simmons, Jimmy Butler, James Harden, Al Horford, among others. George is a six-time member of the All-NBA Team. He’s a four-time member of the NBA All-Defensive Team and was the league’s most improved player in 2013.

The not-so-good: Much like Embiid, George’s injury history should give the 76ers reason for some concern. George played 76 games last season, the first time he played more than 56 since 2018-19. The Sixers aren’t expecting George and Embiid to serve as Iron Men during the regular season and push 75 games. Embiid has never been healthy for an entire postseason run, one reason the Sixers have stumbled in the postseason on his watch and a pretty big blight — fair or not — on his legacy. If the Sixers can’t keep George and Embiid in one piece come April, another empty season awaits.

Players to watch

George and Embiid are no-brainers. But the one player to watch this season is Maxey. Last season he made his first All-Star team and was named NBA most improved player. The question looms, will he get lost in the shuffle with George aboard or will Maxey make more strides into true stardom. His scoring rose for the third consecutive year, and he finished the regular season averaging 25.9 points, 6.2 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game — all career bests.

THE KINGS LOOK TO GET BACK TO THE PLAYOFFS AFTER FALLING SHORT IN PLAY-IN LAST SEASON

Last season: 46-36, lost to New Orleans in play-in tournament.

COACH: Mike Brown (3rd season with Kings, 11th season overall, 441-286-527).

SEASON OPENER: Oct. 24 vs. Minnesota.

DEPARTURES: F Harrison Barnes, G Chris Duarte, G Davion Mitchell, F Kessler Edwards, F Sasha Vezenkov.

ADDITIONS: G DeMar DeRozan (trade), F Jalen McDaniels, G Jordan McLaughlin, G Devin Carter.

BetMGM championship odds: 66-1.

What to expect

The Kings should once again be in the mix in the deep Western Conference after falling just short of a return trip to the playoffs last year with a loss to New Orleans in the play-in tournament. The bulk of the core that ended Sacramento’s playoff drought in 2023 with the biggest change being the addition of a proven late-game performer in DeRozan and the departure of the inconsistent Barnes. Whether that’s enough to get out of the play-in teams and into the top six remains an open question.

Strengths and weaknesses

The good: The offense took a step back on offense last season, falling from first in offensive rating in 2023 to 13th. But the pieces are there to get back near the top thanks in part to the addition of DeRozan, who has a strong mid-range game and was second in the league in clutch points last season. De’Aaron Fox is coming off a career-best 26.6 ppg last season, and Domantas Sabonis and Keegan Murray are good secondary options on offense.

The not-so-good: Sacramento finished in the bottom half of the league in defensive rating last season and the big move of adding DeRozan shouldn’t help much in that aspect. While Fox and Keon Ellis do a good job creating turnovers on the perimeter the lack of a rim protector remains an issue after the Kings ranked 28th in the league in blocked shots last season.

Players to watch

Kevin Huerter missed the end of last season with a shoulder injury that could sideline him for the start of the season. But his outside shooting was missed when he was out and will be key this season. Sacramento’s season got derailed late last season when sixth-man Malik Monk hurt his knee. Having a healthy Monk and the addition of DeRozan should make the Kings a better late-game team as defenses will have a harder time focusing on Fox. Sabonis had 77 double-doubles last season as a durable force inside and is looking to add a bit of 3-point shooting this season to broaden his game.

WIZARDS LOOK TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE WITH KYLE KUZMA, JORDAN POOLE AND ADDITION OF JONAS VALANCIUNAS

Last season: 15-67, 14th in the Eastern Conference.

COACH: Brian Keefe (2nd season, 8-31).

SEASON OPENER: Oct. 24 vs. Boston.

DEPARTURES: F Deni Avdija, G Landry Shamet, F Eugene Omoruyi

ADDITIONS: C Jonas Valanciunas, G Malcolm Brogdon, C Alexandre Sarr, F KyShawn Shaw, G Carlton Carrington

BetMGM championship odds: 500-1.

What to expect

Coming off the worst season in franchise history, any discernible improvement would be welcome for a team still in the early stages of a rebuild. And as bad as it was most of last season, the Wizards were more competitive following the appointment of Brian Keefe as interim head coach in January — so much that they removed Keefe’s interim tag in May. The chemistry between leading scorers Kyle Kuzma and Jordan Poole also appeared to improve down the stretch. The Wizards took expect to improve their rebounding and defense after acquiring veteran center Jonas Valanciunas from New Orleans for draft considerations during the offseason.

Strengths and weaknesses

The good: After finishing last season as the NBA’s second-worst rebounding team, the Wizards took a major step toward improving on the glass by acquiring veteran center Jonas Valanciunas from New Orleans for draft considerations in July. Also, the final weeks of last season provided hope that Poole can return to or even surpass his career-best level of production in 2022-2023 with Golden State. Rookie Bilal Coulibaly and third-year player Corey Kispert evolved positively as last season wore on and they became more regular starters under Keefe.

The not-so-good: Alexandre Sarr, the second overall selection in the NBA draft, is a high-ceiling but low-floor prospect whose position at the NBA level isn’t entirely clear. And it will take more than Valanciunas’ presence to significantly improve what was the league’s third-worst rated defense. Additionally, Kuzma or Poole could still be traded to a contender at some point if the package is right. Kuzma already turned down a potential trade to Dallas last February to remain in Washington.

Players to watch

Keefe has committed to using Poole as his primary ball-handler this season, a role the fifth-year pro said he prefers but was not given under previous Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr. But by design, Washington will have several ball-handlers, including veteran point guard Malcolm Brogdon, who was acquired from Portland in a trade that sent Deni Avdija to the Trail Blazers. Coulibaly will likely see an expanded role in his second season after he was leaned upon primarily for his defensive ability in Year 1. Kispert is in the final year of his rookie deal after averaging a career-best 13.4 points per game last season.

TYRONN LUE AND THE CLIPPERS WILL ONCE AGAIN TRY TO KEEP KAWHI LEONARD HEALTHY FOR A NBA PLAYOFF RUN

Last season: 51-31, lost to Dallas in the first round of the playoffs.

COACH: Tyronn Lue (5th season with Clippers, 9th season overall, 312-217).

SEASON OPENER: Oct. 23 vs. Phoenix.

DEPARTURES: G/F Paul George, G Russell Westbrook, C Mason Plumlee, G Brandon Boston Jr., C/F Daniel Theis, F Moussa Diabate, G Xavier Moon.

ADDITIONS: F Derrick Jones Jr., G Kris Dunn, F Nicolas Batum, G Kevin Porter Jr., C Mo Bamba.

BetMGM championship odds: 125-1.

What to expect

The Clippers decided not to keep All-Star Paul George, who left for the Philadelphia 76ers. The team never got as far as it had hoped with George and Kawhi Leonard, who struggled to be healthy at the same time during the playoffs. The Clippers brought in several players with lower salaries and the added depth could help them in the postseason.

Strengths and weaknesses

The good: George wasn’t the same high-level defender as he got older. The duo of newcomer Derrick Jones Jr. and Terance Mann (who just signed an extension) should be an improvement. Amir Coffey and Nicolas Batum, who returns for a second stint with the team, also will help improve a defense that was merely average last season. The Clippers will open the season in their new arena, the Intuit Dome, in Inglewood. There are no day games on their home schedule, which always seemed to be a stumbling block when they shared Crypto.com Arena with the Lakers and NHL’s Kings.

The not-so-good: Coach Tyronn Lue (who signed an extension in May) remains one of the best tacticians in the league. Once again, his biggest challenge will be to manage Kawhi Leonard’s minutes and possibly those of 35-year-old James Harden so they remain healthy and fresh for the playoffs. Leonard hasn’t been able to play consistently in the playoffs since he arrived in 2019. Concerns about his surgically repaired right knee kept him out of the Paris Olympics and he continues to deal with ongoing inflammation in the knee.

Players to watch

Harden willingly gave up the ball to Leonard and George last season, when his scoring average dipped to 16.6 points. The question is whether he reverts to his old high-scoring ways. He’ll be backed up by Kris Dunn, who can start when needed. Jones Jr. was a starter for the Dallas Mavericks, who lost to Boston in the NBA Finals. His defense plus outside shooting will be helpful. Kevin Porter Jr. is getting a second chance with the Clippers after not being in the NBA last season because of a domestic incident that led to charges. The guard averaged 19.2 points and 5.7 assists for Houston in 2022-23.

NUGGETS ADD RUSSELL WESTBROOK AT NIKOLA JOKIC’S URGING AS THEY CHASE THEIR SECOND NBA TITLE

Last season: 57-25, lost to Minnesota in second round of playoffs.

COACH: Michael Malone (10th season with Nuggets, 12th overall, 507–398).

SEASON OPENER: Oct. 24 vs. Oklahoma City.

DEPARTURES: G Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, G Justin Holliday, G Reggie Jackson.

ADDITIONS: PG Russell Westbrook, PF-C Dario Saric.

BetMGM championship odds: 10-1.

What to expect

Nuggets head coach Michael Malone believes their championship window remains wide open despite their historic Game 7 collapse against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of last year’s playoffs, which assured the NBA of having a new champion for a sixth straight season. The Nuggets lost starter Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in free agency and, at superstar Nikola Jokic’s urging, signed veteran PG Russell Westbrook, who figures to add some spice to the Nuggets even in a backup role.

Strengths and weaknesses

The good: The Nuggets have the best big man in the game in three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, and they have the premier two-man game in the league when Jamal Murray is rolling. They may have lost KCP but their four returning starters, including Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr., are an eviable foursome. Christian Braun will get first crack at replacing Caldwell-Pope in the starting lineup.

The not-so-good: The Nuggets don’t exactly light it up from 3-point range and in Westbrook they have added a player who isn’t afraid to let it go from long range but can have stretches of misfires. The Nuggets were thrilled to draft Daron Holmes II out of Dayton as a power forward/center who could take some minutes from Jokic and Gordon to keep them fresh. He hit his first three 3-pointers and was having a spectacular Summer League debut until limping off the court in the fourth quarter with a torn right ACL that required surgery and forces him to miss the 2024-25 season.

Players to watch

While veterans Westbrook and Saric start to fit in, young players hoping to carve out bigger roles this year include Gs Julian Strawther, Peyton Watson and Jalen Picett along with rookie F Spencer Jones. All eyes will also be on Murray, who had another injury-plagued season in 2023-24 and hit two buzzer-beaters against Los Angeles in the first round of the playoffs before falling apart against the Wolves in a series that featured him throwing a heat pack and a towel at an official. He was a non-factor in Paris for the Canadian Olympic team, this summer but returned to Denver and signed a four-year, $208 million extension in September.

THE GRIZZLIES BANK THEIR NBA FUTURE ON JA MORANT, JAREN JACKSON JR. AND DESMOND BANE

Last season: 27-55,

COACH: Taylor Jenkins (sixth season, 206-185).

SEASON OPENER: Oct. 26 vs. Orlando.

DEPARTURES: G Derrick Rose retired, F Ziaire Williams traded to Nets, F Yuta Watanabe back to Japan.

ADDITIONS: C Zach Edey, G Cam Spencer, F Jaylen Wells.

BetMGM championship odds: 35-1.

What to expect

The Grizzlies go as Ja Morant goes, and he played only nine games last season starting with a 25-game suspension followed by a season-ending shoulder injury. He was only one of the many Grizzlies who wound up injured including Marcus Smart and Desmond Bane. Morant helped lead Memphis to the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference playoffs two straight years before last season’s painful slog.

Strengths and weaknesses

The good: Morant was cleared to start working after surgery in mid-July, and he has shown the explosiveness that made him NBA Rookie of the Year and a two-time All-Star. Bane also is back healthy along with Smart. The Grizzlies brought back Luke Kennard, giving them yet another deep shooting threat. Edey gives them the rebounder missed last season with Steven Adams out injured.

The not-so-good: The Grizzlies are at their best flying up and down the court. Where they get into trouble is when teams slow them down and force the Grizzlies to play a half-court offense. The 7-foot-4 Edey could give a much-needed boost to the pick-and-roll game, freeing up Jaren Jackson Jr. to roam the baseline out to the 3-point line. But nobody knows how athletic the two-time AP men’s college basketball player of the year really can be in the NBA.

Players to watch

Morant, Jackson and Bane. Jackson was drafted fourth overall in 2018 followed by Morant at No. 2 in 2019. Both have been given big contracts along with Bane making up the core the Memphis front office has tried to build around. Jackson developed his offensive skills with so many teammates out last season. Staying healthy and on the court together will determine how much Memphis wins and if the Grizzlies truly become a threat to win the franchise’s first Western title, let alone reach the NBA Finals.

UTAH JAZZ FOCUSING ON DEVELOPING ROOKIES, SECOND-YEAR PLAYERS HEADING INTO NBA SEASON

Last season: 31-51, missed playoffs.

COACH: Will Hardy (3rd season, 68-96).

SEASON OPENER: Oct. 23 vs. Memphis.

DEPARTURES: G Talen Horton-Tucker, G Kris Dunn, C Omer Yurtseven, F Luka Samanic.

ADDITIONS: F Cody Williams, G Isaiah Collier, F Kyle Filipowski, F Drew Eubanks, F/G Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, G Patty Mills.

BetMGM championship odds: 50000-1.

What to expect

After striking out at drawing big-name free agents to Salt Lake City during the offseason, the Jazz have pivoted to developing rookies and second-year players already on the roster. Lauri Markkanen cemented himself as the newest franchise cornerstone after signing a contract extension in August. Still, there’s little change in his supporting cast that struggled to pass 30 wins last season. If Utah’s on-ball and perimeter defense can become less of a liability in Will Hardy’s third season at the helm, the Jazz may exceed limited expectations and find a way to not become buried near the bottom of the Western Conference.

Strengths and weaknesses

The good: Markkanen is the right player for the Jazz to build around. He can shoot from anywhere on the court – a rare thing for a 7-footer – and gives Utah a reliable source of offense from game to game. Keyonte George showed good passing and court vision at times during his rookie season and promises to be even better now that he’s settled in as a point guard. When shots are falling for Jordan Clarkson and Collin Sexton, they draw a ton of defensive pressure away from Markkanen.

The not-so-good: Six players under 20 years old are on the Jazz roster. Tons of youth means tons of mistakes and could lead to a flurry of early losses. Clarkson and Sexton were wildly inconsistent last season. Sexton often drives into traffic without looking for open shooters. Clarkson defaults to iso ball at the wrong times and can shoot his team out of a close game. Defensively, Utah was atrocious a year ago. Walker Kessler took a step back from his rookie campaign and the team’s best perimeter defender, Kris Dunn, left in a sign-and-trade to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Players to watch

Veteran point guard Patty Mills was signed to give the Jazz a leader in the locker room. Mills will factor in helping George progress as a floor general and turning rookie Isaiah Collier into a capable backup. Rookie forward Cody Williams has the talent to be an impact player defensively as long as he can stay healthy. Taylor Hendricks and Brice Sensabaugh are expected to take on expanded roles in their second seasons. Markkanen will be Utah’s go-to scorer once again this season, but the Jazz need consistent second and third options to emerge alongside their all-star forward.

COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL

OREGON, MINNESOTA, NEBRASKA AND PENN STATE CLAIM BIG TEN WEEKLY VOLLEYBALL AWARDS

Player of the Week
Mimi Colyer, Oregon
Jr. – OH– Lincoln, Calif. – Major: Business Administration

Accounted for 6.00 points per set and hit .354 to lead Oregon to a pair of top 25 wins last week over No. 24 Washington and No. 16 USC
Against USC, Colyer had 17 kills, nine digs and two blocks in the sweep. Commited just one attack error in 37 swings against the Women of Troy, good for a .432 hitting percentage
Closed out the 2-0 weekend with a season-high 25 kills in a come-from-behind, five set victory over Washington. It was the sixth 25-kill outing of her career and first since 2022
In a must-win fourth set against the Huskies, Colyer had nine kills and a solo block to help force the decisive fifth frame
Also tied a season-high with 13 digs to go along with six blocks and an ace in Sunday’s win. It was the 30^th double-double of her career and fifth of the season
Colyer is the first Oregon player to be named Big Ten Player of the Week

Defensive Player of the Week
Phoebe Awoleye, Minnesota
RS-Sr. – MB – Marietta, Ga. – Major: Business Management Information Systems

Posted 24 blocks (4.0 blocks/set) in two sweeps this past weekend over Indiana and Maryland
Had 10 blocks, her first 10+ block match of the season, to go along with six kills on Friday vs. the Hoosiers
Tallied a career-best 14 blocks in a sweep over Maryland on Saturday. Awoleye had one solo block and 13 block assists. The 14 blocks tied the program record for the most in a single match
Led the Gophers to a season-best 19 team blocks in three sets against Maryland
Last Minnesota Defensive Player of the Week: Kylie Murr (Aug. 28, 2023)

Setter of the Week
Bergen Reilly, Nebraska
So. – Sioux Falls, S.D. – Major: Business and Law

Led the Huskers to a 3-2 win over No. 10 Purdue and a 3-0 win against Rutgers with 11.88 assists/set, 3.75 digs/set, two blocks and an ace
Posted career-highs of 60 assists and 17 digs with an ace, a kill and a block in the five-set win over the Boilermakers
Followed that up with 35 assists and 13 digs in a sweep of Rutgers in which the Huskers hit .314
Tallied her 10^th double-double of the season in the win over the Scarlet Knights
Last Nebraska Setter of the Week: Bergen Reilly (Sept. 16, 2024)

Freshman of the Week
Izzy Starck, Penn State
S – Viera, Fla. – Major: Undeclared

Averaged 12.13 assists, 2.71 digs, 0.57 kills and 0.57 blocks per set in road wins over Michigan State and Indiana
Opened the weekend with 32 assists and seven digs in a sweep over the Spartans
Against Indiana, Starck finished with 53 assists, 12 digs, three blocks and two kills, helping hand the Hoosiers their first home loss of the 2024 campaign
Last Penn State Freshman of the Week: Izzy Starck (Sept. 23, 2024)

TOLEDO SWEEPS MAC VOLLEYBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS

Athletes of the Week:
Offensive Player of the Week:
Emma Sicking (Fairfield, Ohio) Mount St. Joseph University | Outside Hitter | Sophomore – Emma Sicking led the Lions to a 3-1 week, including a 2-1 weekend at Calvin. For the week she had 67 kills (4.19 per set) and a .188 hitting percentage. She had a season-high 22-kills in the Lions five set win over Carroll on Friday.

Defensive Player of the Week:
Grace Wilking (Cincinnati, Ohio) Mount St. Joseph University | Libero | Senior – Lions libero Grace Wilking was outstanding this week, helping lead the team to a 3-1 record. For the week she had a team-high 88 digs (5.5 per set) and was 51-for-53 in serve receive chances.

Notable Performances:
Offensive

Jayda Lanham (Venice, Fla.) Anderson University | Outsiode Hitter | First Year – In a five-set thriller with Mount St. Joseph, Lanham racked up 21 kills, 5 service aces and a .333 hitting percentage. Lanham’s 4.2 kills per set led the conference for the week. She also finished T-3 in service aces (1.00 aces per set) and T-9 in hitting percentage (.333) in hitting percentage for last week’s weekly conference leaders.
Chloei Barnett (Wapakoneta, Ohio) Bluffton University | Outside Hitter | Senior – Barnett helped the Beavers to a 2-1 week with Saturday victories over Franklin and Alma. She pounded 34 kills, hitting .279 across 10 sets.
Elliott Mays (Jeffersonville, Ind.) Hanover College | Junior – Mays led Hanover as they defeated Berea in HCAC action. The junior had a team-high 16 kills for .429 hitting percentage. She also tallied nine digs.
Jessica Tarr (Fort Wayne, Ind.) Manchester University | Outside Hitter | Senior – Tarr finished the day with 16 kills on a .394 attack percentage while also coming up big in the fifth set where the Spartans trailed by four or more points multiple times, Tarr finished the fifth set with five kills and being a spark Manchester needed to come back and win to remain undefeated in HCAC play.
Cate Scheper (Crestview Hills, Ky.) Transylvania University | Outside Hitter | Senior – Against Rose-Hulman on Saturday, Cate Scheper tallied 16 kills, on two errors for an average of .389. Her performance was a key to the Pioneers victory against a fellow HCAC opponent. Scheper’s performance was very impressive against a stout Rose-Hulman defense. Scheper also played well in limited opportunities in the midweek game against Spalding. The Pioneers picked up two 3-0 wins this week.

Defensive

Lauren Dungan (Alexandria, Ind.) Anderson University | Defensive Specialist | Senior – Lauren Dungan scattered 21 digs in a five-set thriller with Mount St. Joseph.
Amelia Cora (Rio Grande, Puerto Rico) Berea College | Defensive Specialist | Junior – Amelia Cora, the junior libero from Rio Grande, PR helped the Moutaineers defense this week with 59 digs, averaging 5.4 digs per set.
Madison Bizjak (San Diego, Calif.) Earlham College | Libero | Sophomore – Madison Bizjak led the Quaker back line this week with 54 digs (6 Digs/set) in two matches this week. Bizjak also added 16 assists, and four aces on the week.
Abbey McCoy (Indianapolis, Ind.) Hanover College | Outside Hitter | Sophomore – McCoy led Hanover past Berea in HCAC action this past weekend. The outside hitter had 16 digs with two service aces.
Avery Ball (Decatur, Ind.) Manchester University | Outside Hitter | Junior – Ball set a new season/career high in digs at 25 in a five set thriller against Earlham College this past weekend. Ball added on a solo block to accompany her 25 digs and 17.0 points in the match.
Ava Beltsos (Cincinnati, Ohio) Transylvania Univeristy | Defensive Specialist | Fifth Year – In the midweek game against a non-conference matchup, Beltsos tallied a total of 22 digs. Her defensive presence played a huge role in the 3-0 win. In Saturday’s 3-0 win against HCAC opponent, Rose-Hulman, Beltsos had 13 digs. Ava’s performance was a key factor in the conference win.

WOMEN’S COLLEGE SOCCER NEWS

HCAC 2024 WOMEN’S SOCCER NOTEBOOK, WEEK 7

Offensive Player of the Week:

Maddi Benjamin (Hamersville, Ohio) Transylvania University | Forward | Senior – In two HCAC victories, Benjamin scored two goals and landed an assist. In a 3-1 victory over Franklin, Benjamin scored in the final minutes of the first half to tie the game. In a road victory over Anderson, Benjamin scored the final of three first half goals for the Pioneers.

Defensive Player of the Week:

Makayla Hurey (Sydney, Ohio) Earlham College | Goalkeeper | Senior – Makayla Hurey collected 18 saves in a shutout of conference-leading Mount St. Joseph on Saturday for a 0-0 draw with the Lions. In the three conference games prior, the Lions were 3-0, and averaged five goals per game. Hurey also had double-digit saves on Wednesday, pulling in 10 saves in a loss to Anderson. On the week, Hurey faced 65 shots with a .875 save percentage.

Notable Performances:

Offensive

Jaiden Baker (Saint Joe, Ind.) Franklin College | Midfielder | Senior – Baker netted a goal and handed out two assists for Franklin across two games last week…scored on a free kick in the first minute on Wednesday night against Transylvania…assisted on both goals for Franklin in their 2-1 win over Bluffton on Saturday.

Beth Cook (Goshen, Ohio) Hanover College | Forward | Senior – Cook led Hanover to a 1-1 week as the senior recorded a goal on 11 shots, six of which landed on frame. She also dished out an assist.

Mary Anhofer (West Chester, Ohio) Mount St. Joseph University | Forward | Sophomore – Mary Anhofer helped the Lions to a 1-0-1 record this week, including a 7-0 win over Berea. In that game against Berea she scored a pair including the game-winner. For the week she had 9 total shots with 4 on frame.

Riley Heasley (Kexington, Ky.) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Midfielder | Sophomore – Heasley scored her second career goal on Saturday with a right-footed strike from the top of the 18 for the first goal of the game in the win over Berea.

Defensive

Jessica Merritt (Greenfield, Ind.) Hanover College | Goalkeeper | First Year – Merritt led Hanover in frame as the freshman claimed the Panther victory over Manchester with a clean sheet.

Alondra Sotelo (Cincinnati, Ohio) Mount St. Joseph University | Defender | Senior – Alondra Sotelo played in defense for a Lions team that did not allow a single goal through 180 minutes this week. She played 135 minutes, scored a goal and helped lead a defense that did not allow Earlham to register a single shot on goal on Saturday.

Camille Clark (Plainfield, Ind.) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Defender | Junior – Clark was the hero in the 1-0 win over Hanover as her 40-yard free kick found the back of the net in the 22nd minute to help put the Fightin’ Engineers on top for good. Clark also played all 180 minutes this week with just one goal allowed in a 2-0 week.

Lilia Steen (Paris, Ky.) Transylvania University | Defender | Sophomore – Steen had an assist in each of the two Pioneer victories this week, two HCAC victories, and a clean sheet.

MEN’S COLLEGE SOCCER NEWS

HCAC 2024 MEN’S SOCCER NOTEBOOK, WEEK 7

Athletes of the Week:
Offensive Player of the Week:
Leonardo Campos (Santiago, Chile) Bluffton University | Midfielder | Junior – Campos led the Beavers to a pair of conference wins this week. He scored 3 of Bluffton’s 4 goals, including both in Wednesday’s 2-1 victory over Manchester.

Defensive Player of the Week:
John Biederstedt (Indianapolis, Ind.) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Goalkeeper | Senior – Biederstedt recorded a pair of clean sheets on the week in a 0-0 draw with Hanover and a 3-0 win over Berea. He made eight saves on the week, including seven in the scoreless draw with Hanover.

Notable Performances:
Offensive Players:

Devin Fitzgibbon (Cincinnati, Ohio) Earlham College | Defender | Senior – Devin Fitzgibbon was involved in both goals for the Quakers in a 2-1 win over MSJ on Saturday. The senior defender notched an assist on the opening goal of the game in the 59th minute of play. After the Lions tied the game, Fitzgibbon scored the game-winner in the 75th minute on an upper-90 shot to the near post.
Patricio Campos (Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico) Hanover College | Defender | Junior – Campos helped lead Hanover to a 1-0-1 week defeating Manchester and tying Rose-Hulman. The junior had one goal on five shots. He also added one game winner.
Luis Martinez Velez (San Juan, Puerto Rico) Mount St. Joseph University | Forward | Graduate – Luis notched two goals and an assist on five total shots against Berea, and he played 81 of the 90 minutes in MSJ’s 5-1 victory. He recorded another three shots on Saturday against Earlham.
Ryan Shapiro (Broomfield, Colo.) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Defender | First Year – Shapiro scored a goal and added an assist in the 3-0 win over Berea on Saturday afternoon. He slotted home the second goal on a header, and he hit a teammate in the six-yard box for the third and final goal of the win.
Dylan Barnes (Elizabethtown, Ky.) Transylvania University | Forward | Junior – In an HCAC road matchup at Anderson, Barnes scored two goals, one in the final two minutes of competition, to seal a 3-2 victory. He attempted seven shots in the match and played 78 minutes.

Defensive Players:

Zach Johnson (Middletown, Ohio) Bluffton University | Goal Keeper | Sophomore – Johnson allowed just one goal in a pair of Bluffton victories for a 0.50 GAA average this past week. He picked up six saves and notched a shutout at Franklin on Saturday.
Ryland Wamsley (Beavercreek, Ohio) Earlham College | Goalkeeper | First Year – Ryland Wamsley allowed just one goal on a penalty kick this week with a 2-0 record and 10 saves. The freshman made six saves in a shutout of Anderson on Wednesday, and followed it up with four saves in a win over MSJ with his only goal being conceded on a PK.
Ian Rowe (Greenwood, Ind.) Franklin College | Goalkeeper | Fifth Year – Rowe stopped 15 shots across two matches, finishing with a GAA of 1.00 for the week…set a career high with 13 saves on Wednesday night, backstopping Franklin to a 0-0 draw with Transylvania.
Ben Howard (Louisville, Ky.) Hanover College | Goalkeeper | First Year – Howard got the call in frame for the Blue and Red charting four saves through 180 minutes of work. He added one shutout in the tie with Rose-Hulman.
Michael Smith (Hamilton, Ohio) Mount St. Joseph University | Defender | Junior – Michael Smith was the foundation of the Mount’s defense and played 81 and 90 minutes respectively in MSJ’s two games this week. In those contests the Lions allowed a total of only eight shots on goal. Michael also was able to record a shot on goal in the game against Earlham.

NHL NEWS

PANTHERS SAY MATTHEW TKACHUK WILL BE SIDELINED ABOUT A WEEK WITH AN ILLNESS

BOSTON (AP) — The Florida Panthers will be without forward Matthew Tkachuk for about another week because of an illness, a timetable that suggests he’ll miss a total of six games for the reigning Stanley Cup champions.

Tkachuk didn’t play in Saturday’s loss at Buffalo and the Panthers don’t expect him back until a home game against Minnesota on Oct. 22.

Tkachuk wasn’t in the lineup for Monday’s matchup at Boston and the Panthers expect him to remain out for games Tuesday at Columbus, Thursday at home against Vancouver and Saturday at home against Vegas.

Tkachuk’s illness comes with the Panthers already without one of their other star forwards. Captain Aleksander Barkov was hurt last week in a game against Ottawa and is week to week with a lower-body injury. The Panthers are hopeful Barkov will be back in time for games in his native Finland against Dallas on Nov. 1 and 2.

Tkachuk had two assists through two games this season before getting sick.

NHL ROUNDUP: SENATORS OUTLAST KINGS IN OT GOAL-FEST

Josh Norris’ second goal of the game propelled the host Ottawa Senators to an 8-7 overtime victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Monday.

The center’s goal just 56 seconds into the extra session capped a wild affair in the Canadian capital. Both teams rallied to tie the game in the third period, and they combined for seven power-play goals, with Ottawa getting four.

In all, 11 players found the back of the net. Like Norris, Zack MacEwen scored twice for Ottawa. Alex Laferriere and Kevin Fiala each posted two goals for Los Angeles, which lost in overtime for the second consecutive game.

Norris took a back-hand feed from Drake Batherson between the faceoff circles and then beat Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper on the short side for the game-winner. His first goal came with 10:42 left in regulation to give Ottawa a 7-6 lead, its first advantage of the game.

Devils 3, Utah Hockey Club 0

Jake Allen stopped all 20 shots he faced for New Jersey, which became the first NHL team to reach four wins this season by blanking Utah in Newark, N.J.

Seamus Casey and Stefan Noesen scored in the second period and Nico Hischier scored in the third for the Devils, whose 4-1-0 start is their best through five games since the 2018-19 team also opened 4-1-0.

Goalie Karel Vejmelka recorded 30 saves for Utah, which was trying to become the first first-year franchise to open 4-0-0. The club matched the Vegas Golden Knights’ 3-0-0 start in 2017-18 after relocating from Arizona following last season.

Panthers 4, Bruins 3

Anton Lundell and Sam Reinhart each scored two goals as visiting Florida beat Atlantic Division-rival Boston.

The linemates each scored once during a 3:20 span in the second period to break a 2-2 tie and boost the Panthers, who had been on a two-game skid since handing the Bruins a season-opening loss last Tuesday in Sunrise, Fla.

John Beecher and Mason Lohrei each had a goal and an assist, and Brandon Carlo also scored for the Bruins. Mark Kastelic assisted on all three Boston goals en route to the first three-point game of his NHL career.

Rangers 4, Red Wings 1

Igor Shesterkin made 31 saves, Mika Zibanejad had a goal and two assists and New York defeated visiting Detroit.

Alexis Lafreniere, Chris Kreider and Reilly Smith also scored for the Rangers, who have scored 16 goals while going 2-0-1 to start the season. Artemi Panarin had three assists. Smith, obtained by New York in a July trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins, logged his first goal as a Ranger.

Dylan Larkin scored for the Red Wings, who fell to 1-2-0. Alex Lyon made 24 saves in his first appearance of the season.

Penguins 6, Canadiens 3

Evgeni Malkin had a goal and two assists for Pittsburgh, which scored three unanswered goals in the third period to win against host Montreal.

Kevin Hayes cleaned up a rebound in front to put Pittsburgh up 4-3 at 7:47 of the third period. Kris Letang jumped up in the play and finished with a shot from the slot off a feed from Malkin to make it 5-3 at 11:32. Malkin added an empty-net goal at 18:50 for the final score. Lars Eller scored twice, Rickard Rakell added a goal and Tristan Jarry made 24 saves for the Penguins.

Juraj Slafkovsky, Kaiden Guhle and Emil Heineman scored for Montreal, which slipped to 2-2-0. Sam Montembeault made 25 saves.

TOP INDIANA SPORTS HEADLINES/NEWS RELEASES

COLTS NEWS

COLTS’ RICHARDSON TO PLAY WEEK 7 BARRING SETBACK

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson is expected to start the team’s Week 7 matchup against the Miami Dolphins barring any setbacks while rehabbing an oblique injury, head coach Shane Steichen said Monday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Richardson hasn’t played since being hurt in the Colts’ Week 4 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 22-year-old was trending toward starting against the Tennessee Titans in Week 6 but was ultimately held out to give him an extra week of healing.

Richardson’s provided explosive plays when on the field, averaging 8.5 yards per attempt, the fourth-highest mark among eligible passers. However, the Florida product has also thrown six interceptions and fumbled three times.

Veteran Joe Flacco has tallied 716 passing yards, seven touchdowns, and one interception in relief of Richardson. The 39-year-old is 1-1 in his two starts this season.

The Dolphins’ defense has been one of the NFL’s stingiest pass-coverage units, allowing the third-fewest passing yards per game (159.6). Miami has also surrendered 22.6 points per contest.

INDIANA PACERS

PACERS COUNTING ON CONTINUITY AND MOTIVATION TO MAKE A DEEPER NBA PLAYOFF RUN THIS SEASON

Last season: 47-35, lost to Boston in Eastern Conference finals.

COACH: Rick Carlisle (Ninth season with Pacers, 24th overall, 943-828)

SEASON OPENER: Oct. 23 at Detroit.

DEPARTURES: F Jalen Smith, G Doug McDermott.

ADDITIONS: C James Wiseman, F Johnny Furphy.

BetMGM championship odds: 66-1.

What to expect

After making a surprise run to the Eastern Conference finals, the Pacers opted to bring back all but two players. They gave All-NBA forward Pascal Siakam a max contract, re-signed forward Obi Toppin and signed guards Andrew Nembhard and T.J. McConnell to contract extensions. Now they believe they can make an even deeper run in 2024-25. But, the Pacers will have to show they won’t be overwhelmed in the increasingly competitive East that now includes Karl-Anthony Towns and Paul George in addition to all the perennial MVP candidates in hte conference. All-NBA guard Tyrese Haliburton says Indiana will use those comments as motivation to prove last season was no fluke and that these Pacers should be considered a title contender.

Strengths and weaknesses

The good: Indiana certainly lived up to its nickname last season, playing at an IndyCar-like tempo and challenging the league’s single-season scoring record. They could be even better with another year in Carlisle’s system. Haliburton, last season’s NBA assists champ, comes back this year with an Olympic gold medal and an inside look into what a championship attitude looks like, knowledge he’ll now share with his teammates. The return of high-scoring guard Bennedict Mathurin, following season-ending shoulder last March, will only make this already good offense even better.

The not-so-good: The downside of their offensive style shows up, naturally, in two primary areas — scoring defense and rebounding. The emergence of forward Aaron Nesmith as a defensive stopper certainly helped the Pacers improve last season and they that progression to continue. They’re also banking on Nesmith’s teammates following his lead. Center Myles Turner has added weight in hopes of becoming a more dominant rebounder in his potential walk season, and the Pacers signed Wiseman because they believe he can be the rebounder he was in 2022-23 instead of last season’s version with Detroit.

Players to watch

Haliburton is one of the league’s brightest young stars and if he stays healthy, his ceiling is unlimited. All-NBA forward Pascal Siakam should thrive in this system after arriving in a January trade and having a full offseason with this team. And Nembhard looks like a perfect fit in the backcourt with Haliburton. Turner has been one of the league’s best shot-blockers for years but could hear trade rumors again — if the Pacers struggle or it appears Indiana would be unable to re-sign him.

GAME REWIND: PACERS 116, GRIZZLIES 120 (PRESEASON)

The Indiana Pacers played hosts to the Memphis Grizzlies as they competed in their first home preseason contest. Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam, and T.J. McConnell were sidelined for resting purposes, affording starting opportunities for Jarace Walker, Obi Toppin, and Benn Mathurin alongside Andrew Nembhard and Myles Turner. Aaron Nesmith was out due to ankle soreness.

Thirteen of Indiana’s 14 available players logged minutes in Monday’s game, and all 13 of those players contributed at least one basket to the Pacers’ 116 point scoring total.

Walker led the Pacers with 15 points, six rebounds, and four assists. Indiana native Desmond Bane and former Purdue centerZach Edey led the Grizzlies with 23 points each. Indiana ultimately fell to Memphis, 120-116.

Memphis forced an Indiana timeout just 1:30 into the game after forcing the Pacers into two turnovers and jumping out to a 5-point lead. The Grizzlies would extend their lead to an 11-0 advantage before Nembhard’s 3-point shot found the bottom of the net nearly four minutes into the first frame.

Edey returned to an Indiana basketball court as he entered the game midway through the first quarter. Turner welcomed Edey to the NBA as he shot a stepback 3-pointer over the 7-foot rookie’s outstretched arms – the Pacers’ second 3-point make of the game.

Turner led Indiana with 12 points and seven rebounds as the Pacers won the second quarter, 32-29. Bane led Memphis with 18 points, followed closely by Edey with 13. Indiana entered the locker room down 49-60.

“It was pretty clear in timeouts, the things we needed to do,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “We needed to move the ball, we needed to get some stops. And we were fortunate, you know, our zone was very effective in this game, but our man to man was was not. And so we have a lot of work to do.”

The Pacers cut the Grizzlies’ lead to 10 as Nembhard found Mathurin diving down the middle of the lane for a fastbreak dunk early in the third quarter, then repeated the same play with James Wiseman slamming it home just a couple minutes later. Indiana would trail Memphis for the rest of the third, and closed the quarter down 78-91.

The fourth quarter would be valuable developmental minutes for the Pacers’ array of new talent, specifically rookies Enrique Freeman and Tristen Newton. Indiana’s 35th overall pick in June’s NBA Draft, Johnny Furphy, remains sidelined with an ankle injury. Freeman tallied six points, seven rebounds, and two assists before fouling out with just under four minutes to play. Newton contributed five points and five assists in his 18 minutes.

Inside the Numbers

Indiana had eight players reach double-figure scoring totals. Memphis had four.

The Grizzlies out-rebounded the Pacers, 47-40, and had 17 offensive rebounds to the Pacers’ seven.

Both teams made 43 field goals, but the Pacers took 79 shots and the Grizzlies took 92.

Memphis shot 64.3 percent from the free throw line, but Indiana shot 58.6 percent from the stripe.

You Can Quote Me on That

“Their motors, and it’s how quick they learn. When I’m out there with those type of units, I feel like I have a little bit more experience than them, and I’m just overly sharing my knowledge. And they’re quick learners, and are able to implement that into the games very quickly. So I think that’s impressive.” –Sheppard on Pacers’ rookies

“I feel like when we do our job to stop the ball on that end of the floor, and it just leads into our offense, that’s the first part to stop the ball in transition, and obviously it’s important for us to lock in on that side of the ball.” — Sheppard on how Pacers’ defense can improve

“You could tell once we got our fight, once we got our legs into it, and just kind of switched our mindset into a more dominant, more aggressive, more hard-playing mindset, we started playing more like the Pacers.” — Walker

Stat of the Night

Ben Sheppard recorded 12 points and five assists on 50 percent shooting (4-8), and was a game-high +13.

Noteworthy

Rookie Johnny Furphy missed a third straight game with an ankle injury.

Five Memphis Grizzlies players have Indiana ties. Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson, and Jake Laravia played high school basketball in Indiana. John Konchar and Zach Edey played their college basketball in Indiana.

Indiana Fever guards Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell were in attendance tonight, as well as Purdue basketball coach Matt Painter.

Up Next

The Pacers close out the preseason by hosting the Charlotte Hornets at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Thursday, Oct. 17 at 7:00 PM ET.

INDIANA FOOTBALL

MONDAY CURT CIGNETTI PRESSER

Opening Statement
CC: Looking forward to getting back on the field, the practice field tonight. Obviously, had the week off, got recharged, and looking forward to playing on Saturday against a tough opponent. Coach (Matt) Rhule has done a great job with the football team there, 5-1, impressive team on tape. Giving up 11 points a game on defense, a veteran outfit, and offensively big offensive line, big tight ends, play a lot of guys, really skilled receivers, a lot of good running backs and a mega talented young quarterback.

As always, it’s more about us and what we do, controlling what we can control. Having a great day today of preparation and stacking good days.

It’s an important game because it’s the next game. That’s why it’s an important game. It’s this game. We’re looking forward to it.

Questions?

On Nebraska’s disruptive defense…
CC: Well, they’ve got good players. They’re very well-coached. They play really hard. They’re very multiple in their scheme. They’ve got guys that can affect the passer, a couple big guys inside, 315-plus type guys. They play a lot of people. They do everything they can to keep you off balance.

They also deflect a lot of passes. They’ve had seven interceptions, giving up about 85 yards rushing a game, I think.

On how the James Madison transfers experiencing success before has helped navigate this year…
CC: Well, those guys and a lot of the other new guys we brought in and the guys that decided to remain, the right kind of guys, kind of the mindset and culture that we’ve been able to create here, those guys certainly have facilitated the change early on. Dealing with success is a lot better than dealing with failure. But you’ve got to stay humble and hungry and maintain your edge.

Yeah, I think you’re always learning. Did I learn? Yeah. And it’s like Mike Krzyzewski said when he retired; his toughest opponent was human nature. Human nature, because it’s natural to feel good, this and that, things are great. But that’s not what this game is all about when it comes to preparation and stepping between the white lines.

You’ve got to have some special characteristics to be able to deal with success and not be affected by it in a negative manner.

On the importance of yards after catch in the team’s passing attack…
CC: Yeah, well, that whole crew — and we spread the ball around. I think we had over 10 guys touch the ball last week or in the last game. They have great ball skills, and they’re strong guys, too, which leads to broken tackles.
That’s something that you’re just trying to design plays that have answers and can free guys up versus all the different coverages you’re going to see potentially, and then it comes down to execution. It’s protection, separation, putting the ball where it’s got to be, throwing it where it needs to be thrown and letting the athletic ability and the desire — sometimes there’s a little want-to factor there, too, involved in that, take over from there.

On what he has seen from Dylan Raiola thus far…
CC: Yeah, he’s a really talented guy who’s got great arm talent. He plays with a lot of confidence. He’s got a really nice supporting cast. They protect him well up front. They’ve got one receiver who’s 6’4″, 225 and can really go, deep-ball type guy, and schematically the staff does a really nice job of — they don’t put too much pressure on him.

They’re balanced. They want to run the football, good play action pass, get him out of pocket, change the launch point.

I think they’ve done a tremendous job with him.

On Jailin Walker’s status and the depth of the linebackers…
CC: Yeah, J-Walk is a guy you never count out, and I expect him to be full speed on Saturday. We’re developing some depth there with Isaiah Jones and the freshman, (Rolijah) Hardy.

But there are positions we don’t have a lot of depth. But feel good about that group.

On what his bye week looked like…
CC: It’s balls to the wall all the time because you’re getting better or getting worse, never staying the same. We practiced three times, and we did some prep on this upcoming opponent.

Then you’re looking at other people across the country seeing who’s doing what well and trying maybe to get a few ideas that may help you down the road. Using that time wisely.

On what the non-negotiables are in a rebuild like this…
CC: Well, the first thing you’ve got to do as a leader, you’ve got to change the way people think inside and outside the program, and then you’ve got to have a blueprint and a plan. You’ve got to have high standards for everything you do, high standards, expectations, and accountability and consistency, day in, day out. How you do something is how you do everything. You have to be fully committed to being the best you can be. Be a great team guy. Those are non-negotiable. Be early, do your best, improve as much as you can every single day.

On what the team needs from the crowd this week…
CC: I think it’s more about us performing as well as we’re capable of performing and give the crowd a reason to really get into the game, which I’m highly confident we will. We have up to this point every time we’ve gone out, and a lot of confidence in this group. It’s an experienced group, high-character guys. We feed off each other.

On the edge that high quality special teams give…
CC: Well, your special teams is a third of the game, coaches like to say. But it’s roughly 20 percent of the plays in any football game. But huge momentum swings when you make something really good happen or if something bad happens in a game. It’s highly critical. Grant Cain does a tremendous job with our teams. Our entire staff is involved with special teams. We watch special teams together as a full staff. We make a big emphasis on it.

On having guys stay level-headed with the attention on the program…
CC: Well, you’ve got to eliminate the noise and clutter and focus in on what’s going to help you prepare so you can be your best on Saturday. We have enough maturity and leadership and experience on this football team, I’m confident that we can handle that. But that’s my job, too, to make sure if I see an area that’s maybe not quite where it needs to be, to push the right buttons and get it where it needs to be.

On if that (the level-headed messaging) is something that he sends to the team daily…
CC: Yeah, I send a message to the assistant coaches, they send to the players, I’ll send it to the team. But we also don’t want to create a self-fulfilling prophecy, either. I’m highly confident our team will prepare the way it needs to prepare for this upcoming game.

On having success after the bye week…
CC: Yeah, I just think we have a way we do things, and we have a way we do things during bye weeks, and then we have a way that we do things the week after a bye week. It really doesn’t change very much. It’s not quite as intense during the bye week, but we still have a structured routine.

When you’ve got good players, you have a better chance of being successful.

On what the most valuable piece of information he has learned to this point in the season is…
CC: I think what I’ve learned up to this point is that we have unlimited potential as an institution and football program, that if you commit daily and do the things you need to do to be successful, there’s no imposed limitations on what you can achieve.

On his popularity around Bloomington, especially with the student body…
CC: You know, I made a couple comments when I first got hired, I was out there on a limb a little bit, felt like that’s what I needed to do. I think it’s more of a reflection on how the team has played and the success that they’ve had on the field that’s gotten people excited, and this is just a byproduct of that.

GAME NOTES: HOST NEBRASKA

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Fresh off an idle week, the Indiana football team returns home for a top-25 tilt with Nebraska inside a sold-out Memorial Stadium on Saturday (Oct. 19). The Hoosiers (6-0, 3-0 B1G) and Huskers (5-1, 2-1 B1G) kick off at Noon ET on FOX, with the flagship pregame show, Big Noon Kickoff, originating from the South End Zone Plaza from 10 a.m.-noon.

No. 16/18 INDIANA (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten) hosts No. RV/25 NEBRASKA (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten)

Memorial Stadium (Bloomington, Ind.)

Saturday, Oct. 19 | noon ET

TV: FOX| RADIO: Indiana Hoosiers Sports Network

Setting the Scene

• Indiana is set to host Nebraska for its homecoming game on Saturday afternoon at noon ET at Memorial Stadium (52,626) on FOX and will host the network’s Big Noon Kickoff show.

• The matchup will mark the first time the two teams have played in Bloomington since the 2016 season and only the second time since Nebraska joined the Big Ten in 2011.

• Indiana leads the all-time series 10-9-3, but Nebraska leads in games played in Bloomington, 3-2-1. The Cornhuskers won the last matchup, defeating the Hoosiers, 35-21, in Lincoln in 2022.

By The Numbers

1 -Curt Cignetti is the only Indiana head coach to begin his head coaching tenure with a 6-0 record. MORE ON PAGE 4

6 – Indiana’s six-game winning streak is the longest since an eight-game stretch during the 1967 season (Week 1-8).

2 – Indiana is one of two teams to have not trailed in a game so far in 2024.

40 – With its 41-point effort at Northwestern (10/5), Indiana has scored 40-plus points in five-straight games for the first time in program history.

News & Notes

• Indiana enters the game with a 6-0 record after defeating Northwestern (10/5), 41-24, in Week 6. This is Indiana’s second time in program history starting a season 6-0 (2024, 1967).

• Curt Cignetti is the only Indiana head coach to start his head coaching tenure with a 6-0 record. MORE ON PAGE 4

• Redshirt senior quarterback Kurtis Rourke earned Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week from a 25-of-33 passing day with 380 yards and three touchdowns. Rourke is the first Hoosier with 3-plus touchdown passes in three Big Ten games since 1967. MORE ON PAGE 7

• Senior running back Justice Ellison scored on a 5-yard run in the third quarter in Week 6 at Northwestern (10/5). Ellison has notched a rushing touchdown in five consecutive games dating back to Week 2 versus Western Ilinois (9/6). MORE ON PAGE 8

• Junior wide receiver Elijah Sarratt moved his consecutive games with a catch streak to 31-straight games with his 29-yard reception in the first quarter at Northwestern. He recorded seven catches for a 135-yard day for his 10th career 100-yard game. MORE ON PAGE 9

• Redshirt junior defensive lineman Mikail Kamara owns at least one tackle in all 29 career appearances and 2.0 tackles for loss in Week 6 at Northwestern (10/5) he has at least a half tackle for loss in 26 of 29 career games. MORE ON PAGE 12

• Indiana has allowed fewer than 100 yards rushing on four occasions in 2024, its most since it held five opponents to under 100 yards rushing in 2019. MORE ON PAGE 5

• With less than 300 yards of total offense allowed in four games this season, Indiana is tied for the most such games since 1996. The 2017 and 2019 editions also allowed less than 300 yards of total offense in four contests.

• With six double-digit victories to start the season, Indiana is tied for the third-most double-digit wins in a single season in program history behind only the 1905 (7) and 1988 (8) teams. The six-straight wins by 10-or-more points marks the longest consecutive streak in program history, passing the previous mark of five-straight spanning the 1905-06 seasons. MORE ON PAGE 5

• IU is one of eight teams nationally to have scored first in each of its games played. (Indiana, Army, Ole Miss, Toledo, Boise State, Memphis, Illinois, Texas). And is one of two teams to not trail in a game this season.

• Indiana’s six-game winning streak is tied for the second-longest active streak nationally.

• With five games of 40-plus points in 2024, Indiana sits tied for the third-most in program history. Only the 2013 and 2015 teams reached the 40-point mark more, each with six such games.

• IU posted its fourth game of 500-plus yards of total offense in Week 6 at Northwestern (529 yards), its most since the 2015 team posted seven games with 500 yards of total offense. MORE ON PAGE 5

GAME NOTES IN FULL: https://static.iuhoosiers.com/custompages/pdf/fb/2024/24-10-19-Notes_Nebraska.pdf

INDIANA MEN’S SOCCER

HOOSIERS HEAD TO MICHIGAN FOR BIG TEN BATTLE

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana (5-3-5, 3-1-2 B1G) is unbeaten in five games (3-0-2) as it travels to face Michigan (6-1-4, 1-1-3 B1G) in Big Ten Conference play Tuesday night at U-M Soccer Stadium.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET. Fans unable to attend the match can watch on Big Ten Network.

KICKING OFF

• The Hoosiers finished a successful three-game homestand in which it drew with Washington (2-2), pulled off a comeback versus Kentucky (3-2) and shut out Penn State (2-0).

• Freshman midfielder Charlie Heuer scored twice in IU’s win over Penn State, becoming the fourth Hoosier in four games to bag a brace.

• Points are crucial now that the schedule has reached the final half of conference play. On 11 points through six games played, Indiana looks to catch Maryland (16), Ohio State (13) and Michigan State (12) in the coming weeks.

ABOUT THE WOLVERINES

• Michigan will be a week removed from a 1-0 win over No. 17 Notre Dame. The Wolverines have six points in the conference standings on five games played.

• The Wolverines are led by 13th-year head coach Chaka Daley, who has compiled a 101-87-45 record during his time in Ann Arbor.

• Michigan graduate forward Beto Soto leads the Big Ten in assists (9) and ranks No. 4 in points (15).

SERIES HISTORY

• Indiana has dominated the all-time series with Michigan, owning a 24-4-5 record against the Wolverines. IU is undefeated in the last three meetings (1-0-2). The Hoosiers won the first nine meetings.

• The teams last met in the 2023 Big Ten Tournament Semifinal, a thrilling seven-goal shootout that sent IU to its seventh-straight conference final. Maouloune Goumballe’s 87th-minute goal had the final say in Indiana’s 4-3 victory.

PURDUE MEN’S BASKETBALL
PURDUE BASKETBALL STARTS YEAR RANKED NO. 14 IN AP PRESEASON POLL

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue men’s basketball team will start the season ranked No. 14 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, the organization released today.

It marks the second straight season and 11th time in Matt Painter’s 20 seasons that the Boilermakers have been ranked in the AP preseason poll. By contrast, Purdue has been ranked in the final AP poll in 12 of the previous 19 seasons under Painter.

Purdue is the highest-ranked Big Ten team in the preseason poll, followed by No. 17 Indiana, No. 22 UCLA and No. 25 Rutgers. Seven other teams received votes (Illinois, Michigan State, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, Wisconsin, Maryland).

Among non-conference opponents, Alabama is ranked No. 2 and will visit Mackey Arena on Nov. 15. No. 18 Marquette (Nov. 19), No. 13 Texas A&M (Dec. 14) and No. 11 Auburn (Dec. 21) are also ranked in the top 25, while the Boilermakers could face No. 24 Ole Miss in San Diego.

The No. 14 ranking marks the 39th straight week that Purdue has been ranked in the top 25, and the first week since Nov. 20, 2022, that Purdue has been ranked outside the Top 5. The 39 straight weeks being ranked is the sixth-longest active streak in America. The Boilermakers have been ranked in the top 15 in 59 of the last 62 AP Top 25 polls.

Purdue’s No. 14 ranking is the fourth-highest preseason ranking of the Painter era (No. 3 in 2023-24; No. 7 in 2021-22; No. 7 in 2009-10; No. 11 in 2008-09).

The Boilermakers will open the regular season on Nov. 4, when it hosts Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at 6 p.m. ET in Mackey Arena. Tickets for the season are sold out.

PURDUE FOOTBALL

MONDAY PRESSER: RYAN WALTERS

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue Football head coach Ryan Walters address the media Monday afternoon at the start of a short week before the Boilermakers’ Friday night game against No. 2 Oregon. Kickoff from Ross-Ade Stadium is set for 8 p.m. ET live on Fox.

Q.If Hudson Card is healthy and able to play, and so how are you going to handle the quarterback situation this week? Going to use both? Do you know who’s going to start? Can you give us a heads up of what to expect there?
RYAN WALTERS: The answer to the first question, I’m not sure if Hudson will be available or not. Ryan Browne will start the game on Friday. I think just the way he played, it would be unfair not to.

We’ll see about Hudson’s availability moving forward.

Q.At what point last week did you decide you were going to call the offensive plays? Why did you ultimately make that decision?
RYAN WALTERS: I think it was like Thursday morning, at 2:30 in the morning. The week of the Wisconsin game I spent learning the vocab, learning the rules within the offense. I didn’t feel comfortable calling it that game because I wouldn’t be able to spit out plays fast enough.

I got to mid-week last week and felt like I had the vocab down enough to know what plays I want to get to. I just felt like me calling the game was going to give us the best opportunity to put points on the board. So, that’s why I made the decision that I made.

Q.Are you going to continue to call the offense?
RYAN WALTERS: Yes.

Q.Can you talk about Jason Simmons’ role now?
RYAN WALTERS: He’s organizing and he’s been awesome for me. The whole offensive staff has done a great job of being creative and bouncing ideas off each other. He’ll put the script together for practice. Upstairs he gave me a lot of good insight on game day. That’s kind of how we’re operating right now.

Q.Could you have envisioned Ryan Browne playing like he did, especially in the second half?
RYAN WALTERS: He had a great week of practice. Really, the last two weeks he’s practiced well. You always appreciate his energy and enthusiasm as a competitor.

He spent a lot of time in preparation this past week. So, the things we saw during the game is what we were seeing during practice. Obviously, you don’t know what it’s going to look like until you get in live situations.

Really, the first half I thought he played well as well. We just weren’t making plays or our drives weren’t getting extended. We had a holding call on an explosive run that would’ve got us in the red area. We had a dropped ball on a fade that I thought was thrown beautifully.

So, you take those two plays and maybe you get points on those two drives, and now you look at his game and he had a fantastic game.

I’m proud of the way he played, and it’s because of the way he prepared. I’m looking forward to watching his growth and maturation this week.

Q.How would you compare calling offense to defense? Is it a different rhythm?
RYAN WALTERS: It’s way different. Way, way different. It was fun. I enjoy feeling like you have an impact on the game. It was good to see the guys have fun with some of the new wrinkles that we threw in. Obviously, they’re in the thick of it right, down to the wire to have the ball in your hands. That’s what you want in a tight ballgame against a good opponent.

Obviously, disappointed that we lost. We would’ve loved to win that game for our guys. But, yeah, it was definitely a different experience.

Q.Regarding calling the offense compared to defense, are you saying intellectually it’s different from a football standpoint?
RYAN WALTERS: Well, yeah. On defense you’re sort of reacting and anticipating. On offense you know what the play is before the defense does. There is sort of a chess game. You try to present pictures and run plays that set up other plays. So, it is a different chess match there.

Q.When Jason Simmons was in here, he said there are plans for maybe playing Hudson Card and Ryan Browne together at some point. How distinct is a plan for each of them right now? Can they execute one game plan? Do you have to have different wrinkles for them?
RYAN WALTERS: I told both of them that this is the way we’re going to play moving forward. So, they’ve both got to be able to execute that style of play. I think they both can and are athletic enough to do so. So, yeah, I’m excited about what that will look like.

Q.What would it mean for this defense to play with a lead, especially early in a game right now?
RYAN WALTERS: What would it mean, I don’t know. We try to preach not looking at the scoreboard, not letting momentum swings sort of affect the way you play.

So, I would hope it wouldn’t mean anything, right? If we can only play with a lead, that would not be good, so, we’ve just got to try to hold people to as less points as possible and try to score more than our opponent on offense.

Q. How badly does this team need to see some success in the first half so it can play with a lead?
RYAN WALTERS: Collectively as a team, it would do well just in terms of our morale if we were leading in the game. I would say that.

Q.Did you have any communication with the Big Ten about the fumble that Luke Altmyer did or didn’t have in the last drive for them?
RYAN WALTERS: No, I’m still waiting on some feedback.

Q.Did you get a sense of the guys rallying around Ryan Browne leading up to Saturday?
RYAN WALTERS: Obviously, (if) your quarterback gets hurt and your backup is thrust into the starting role, the team is going to get behind whoever that individual is.

I do think Ryan exudes confidence and is vocal and a tough kid. He likes to go play. I do think that guys fed off of that energy a little bit, especially there in that mid-to-late third quarter, fourth quarter. It was fun to watch.

I think they were excited about the way he played, and ultimately if he played well, that means guys around him played well as well. Offensively they did a good job, especially in the second half.

Q.How much has Ryan Browne grown in terms of understanding the position from last year when he played against Northwestern to Saturday?
RYAN WALTERS: Well, Saturday he didn’t make some of the boneheaded mistakes he made in the Northwestern game.

But I also wasn’t his position coach a year ago and I didn’t sit in the QB room and go through meetings. So, this is my first glimpse of what he is as a quarterback in terms of studying and preparing. Like I said, the last two weeks I’ve been impressed with both he and Hudson (Card) in the amount of time, detail that they spend in meetings and translating that to practice.

Q.What did you learn in terms of your team’s ability and willingness to fight on Saturday?
RYAN WALTERS: We had talked all week about no matter what happens, you’ve got to go out there and fight for four quarters.

I’m watching ESPN on Friday before we played at dinner, and the commentator was going through the games of the week and he got to our game and said, you know, this will be an easy win for Illinois because Purdue has quit on the season.

So, that bothered me real bad. Not that we got picked to lose the game, but just that the perception out there is we’ve quit on the season.
I had a discussion with our team in our team meeting room that night. I had a different sort of speech/meeting prepared. I just talked to them about, I don’t care what you’re doing in life, where you’re at, what your occupation is. As a man, don’t ever let the perception be that you quit when things got tough or that you quit when adversity hits.

In life, as in football, adversity is guaranteed. At the bare minimum it should be that you fight. That was also the message at halftime because here in recent history, when we’ve been down like that at the half, it has snowballed. So, at halftime I’m like

“Hey, we talked about this last night. At the bare minimum, you need to go out there and fight.”

They did, and my belief is that the team’s willingness or ability to fight when things aren’t going their way won’t be in question. If it is, then I’m going to have a real problem.

Q.How does a short week work now, especially coming off a pretty emotional game and preparing for a formidable opponent in Oregon?
RYAN WALTERS: It means a lot of time not spent in the bedroom. You’ve just got to prepare a little bit faster. We’ll practice tonight, Tuesday night, Wednesday night and Thursday night, which is actually a good thing because we play Friday night. We haven’t been under the lights yet.

It just speeds up your process, and a little bit more hours on the front end of the week studying and game planning.

Q.What jumps off tape at you about Oregon?
RYAN WALTERS: Man, they are talented. Very, very talented. Big, physical, fast. At every position, they’ve got playmakers. Shoot, they’re the No. 2 team in the country right now for a reason, right?

They just beat Ohio State at home in a close, competitive ballgame. I know Dan Lanning, he is a great coach and does things the right way. His guys are always competitive and tough and physical. It’ll be a great match.

Q.What qualities do Ryan Browne and Hudson Card possess that make them essential leaders?
RYAN WALTERS: First and foremost they have belief in themselves. I think as a leader, if you don’t believe in yourself it’s hard to get people to follow.

They’re also very intelligent individuals and have a plan and know how to get guys to execute that plan. They’re also easy to talk to and just by their nature, people gravitate to them.

I think that’s some of the main things that they have in common that make them good leaders.

Q.Are you having fun right now getting the chance to call the offense? When was the last time you really got to assert your own voice into an offense?
RYAN WALTERS: Obviously, that was my first time. I’ve never coached an offensive position, never spent any time on that side of the ball as a coach. So, definitely a different experience.

It was fun because the kids made it fun. Obviously, when they are having success and you sort of see some of the things that you thought would work, it’s enjoyable because the guys are having fun.

Q.Oregon plays about as fast as you can play on both sides of the ball. What do you do to try to slow them down? Is it trying to control the clock as much as possible, in a perfect world?
RYAN WALTERS: There hasn’t been anybody yet to figure that out, right? Obviously, the more possessions they have, the more opportunities they have to put points on the board. We’ll have to be strategic offensively about wanting to play with pace, but also understanding that possessing the football is at a premium.

Then on defense, we’ve got to be able to get off the field and take advantage of opportunities on third down to do so.

NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL

NOTRE DAME CB BENJAMIN MORRISON (HIP) OUT FOR SEASON

Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison will miss the rest of the season with a hip injury that requires surgery.

Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman confirmed the prognosis for the standout junior on Monday.

Morrison sustained the injury during Notre Dame’s 49-17 victory against Stanford on Saturday.

Through six games this season, he had 20 tackles and four passes defensed.

Morrison intercepted nine passes in his first two seasons in South Bend and had been projected as a potential first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

The 12th-ranked Fighting Irish (5-1) return to action against Georgia Tech (5-2) on Saturday in Atlanta.

INDIANA STATE FOOTBALL

OWENS NAMED MVFC NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK

VALLEY-FOOTBALL.org – Indiana State quarterback Elijah Owens was named the Missouri Valley Football Conference’s Newcomer of the Week as announced by the conference office following the Sycamores’ 31-27 win over Murray State.

Owens accounted for 264 yards of total offense and two touchdowns in the Sycamores’ win over the Racers as Indiana State picked up its first MVFC win of the 2024 season.

Owens completed 25 of 34 passes for 218 yards and a touchdown, adding 46 yards and a TD on the ground. The Sycamores scored the game-winning touchdown with 11 seconds left, and Owens directed the drive with passes or runs on seven of the nine plays.

The Jacksonville, Ill. native opened the day connecting with Kai Rios on an 18-yard touchdown pass on Indiana State’s opening drive of the game, the first opening drive score for the Sycamores this season. Two drives later, Owens found the end zone with a two-yard touchdown carry giving Indiana State the 21-7 first-half lead.

After Murray State rallied back to take a 27-24 lead with 1:57 remaining, Owens helmed the nine-play, 75-yard game-winning drive. Owens native completed a pair of short passes to Rashad Rochelle, before moving the chains himself with 22 rushing yards on the drive to set up Rocco Ciocca’s game-winning touchdown plunge. Owens targeted and completed passes to nine different receivers in the win.

Owens picks up his second Newcomer of the Week nod this season after previously earning the award on September 9 following his performance at Eastern Illinois. Garret Ollendieck has added a Defensive Player of the Week nod this year on September 16 following his performance against Dayton.

Indiana State Football MVFC Players of the Week – 2024 Recognition

September 9 – Elijah Owens (Newcomer)

September 16 – Garret Ollendieck (Defensive)

October 14 – Elijah Owens (Newcomer)

OWENS NAMED STATS PERFORM FCS NATIONAL FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK

STATS PERFORM FCS – Indiana State quarterback Elijah Owens was named the Stats Perform FCS National Freshman of the Week following his performance in the Sycamores’ 31-27 win over Murray State this past weekend.

Owens accounted for 264 yards of total offense and two touchdowns in the Sycamores’ win over the Racers as Indiana State picked up its first Missouri Valley Football win of the 2024 season.

The Stats Perform FCS Player of the Week nod marked Indiana State’s first recognition by the organization since Ryan Boyle was named the STATS FCS National Offensive Player of the Week back on November 5, 2018, in the Sycamores’ 51-48 triple-overtime win against South Dakota.

Up Next

Indiana State continues Missouri Valley Football play next weekend on the road as the Sycamores travel to Robert W. Plaster Stadium in Springfield, Mo. to take on Missouri State. Kickoff between the Sycamores and the Bears is set for 3 p.m. ET with the game set to be carried live on ESPN+ and 105.5 The Legend.

PURDUE FT. WAYNE VOLLEYBALL

PANNA RATKAI SELECTED AS HORIZON LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

INDIANAPOLIS – The Horizon League announced on Monday (Oct. 14) that Purdue Fort Wayne’s Panna Ratkai was named the #HLVB Player of the Week after leading the Mastodons to a 2-0 week in league play.

The redshirt-sophomore averaged a league-best 4.90 kills per set while adding 2.60 digs, 0.60 blocks and 0.40 aces per set. She led the Mastodons to a pair of five-set victories over Oakland, the first of which saw her explode for 30 kills. The reigning Horizon League Offensive Player of the Year’s 30 kills is the most by any league player this season and is the 11th-most by any player in the NCAA this year. She added 16 digs for a double-double.

Ratkai followed up her third 30-kill effort of her career with a double-double of 19 kills and 10 digs against the Golden Grizzlies in the rematch.

This is Ratkai’s sixth weekly award of her career, which puts her sixth on the Horizon League’s career list.

Ratkai and the third-place Mastodons are back in action this weekend at Cleveland State for two league matches on Friday and Saturday (Oct. 18-19).

UINDY FOOTBALL

HOUSTON, BURR TAKE HOME GLVC FOOTBALL WEEKLY HONORS

INDIANAPOLIS – University of Indianapolis senior defensive back Kivonte Houston and graduate student kicker/punter Ian Burr were named the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Players of the Week in football, it was announced by the league office Monday.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Kivonte Houston, #21 Indianapolis

Sr. | DB | Chicago, Ill.

Major: Graphic Design

Team Result: 47-10 W vs. Quincy (10/12)

Recorded 30-yard interception return for a touchdown in first quarter

Notched five tackles (four solo), including one solo tackle for loss

Added two pass breakups

Helped UIndy defense hold the Hawks to just three points for the final 50 minutes of the game

Earns third career Defensive Player of the Week Award (10/14/24, 11/14/22, 10/31/22)

Last Greyhounds’ Defensive Player of the Week: Clay Schulte (10/7/24)

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Ian Burr, #21 Indianapolis

Gr. | K/P | Franklin, Tenn.

Major: Public Relations

Team Result: 47-10 W vs. Quincy (10/12)

Nailed both field-goal attempts and all five extra-point tries

Made field goals from 34 and 21 yards

Boomed five punts for 221 yards (44.2 yards/punt), including a 55-yard boot and three that ended inside the 20-yard line

Earns first career Special Teams Player of the Week Award

Last Greyhounds’ Special Teams Player of the Week: Markez Gillam (9/16/24)

GREYHOUNDS RETURN TO TOP 20 IN COACHES POLL

WACO, Texas – The UIndy football team continued to climb the AFCA DII Coaches Poll, moving up two spots to No. 19 this week. The Greyhounds are fresh off an impressive 47-10 home victory against Quincy University.

The Hounds have appeared in the top 25 for 32 consecutive weeks dating back to week 1 of the 2022 season. UIndy is the lone GLVC school in the poll this week but is one of nine Super Region 3 teams in the top 25 and one of 12 receiving votes.

AFCA DIVISION II COACHES POLL

RK	SCHOOL (1st-place votes)	REC	PTS	PREV
1.	Harding (Ark.) (30)	6-0	750	1
2.	Grand Valley St. (Mich.)	6-0	718	2
3.	Valdosta St. (Ga.)	6-0	666	3
4.	Ferris St. (Mich.)	5-1	625	4
5.	Kutztown (Pa.)	6-0	613	5
6.	Slippery Rock (Pa.)	6-0	590	6
7.	Pittsburg St. (Kan.)	5-1	583	7
8.	Western Colorado	6-0	537	8
9.	Ouachita Baptist (Ark.)	6-0	508	10
10.	West Alabama	5-0	467	11
11.	Central Oklahoma	6-0	448	13
12.	Colorado School of Mines	5-1	419	12
13.	Charleston (W.Va.)	6-0	364	14
14.	Colorado St.-Pueblo	6-1	352	16
15.	Minnesota St.	6-1	347	15
16.	Emporia St. (Kan.)	6-1	277	18
17.	Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.)	5-1	275	17
18.	Carson-Newman (Tenn.)	6-0	203	23
19.	Indianapolis (Ind.)	5-1	200	21
20.	Johnson C. Smith (N.C.)	6-0	185	22
21.	Central Washington	4-2	147	9
22.	Frostburg St. (Md.)	6-0	143	24
23.	West Florida	3-2	59	NR
24.	Southern Arkansas	5-1	48	NR
25.	Henderson St. (Ark.)	5-1	44	NR

Others Receiving Votes: Augustana (S.D.), 34; Delta St. (Miss.), 19; Virginia Union, 19; Findlay (Ohio), 17; New Haven (Conn.), 12; Wayne St. (Neb.), 12; Angelo St. (Tex.), 11; Colorado Mesa, 8; Emory & Henry (Va.), 8; Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.), 8; Assumption (Mass.), 7; Limestone (S.C.), 7; Sioux Falls (S.D.), 7; Fort Hays St. (Kan.), 6; Ashland (Ohio), 2; Davenport (Mich.), 2; Wingate (N.C.), 2; West Virginia St., 1.

UINDY MEN’S SOCCER

DAVID NAMED GLVC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

INDIANAPOLIS – University of Indianapolis senior midfielder Jakob David has been selected as the Great Lakes Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Week in men’s soccer, it was announced by the league office Monday.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Jakob David, Indianapolis

Sr. | MF | Bad Gottleuba-Bergiesshuebel, Germany.

Major: Sport Management

Team Results: 2-1 W vs. Lincoln (10/11) | 3-0 W vs. Missouri S&T (10/13)

Tallied six points on three goals in two conference victories

Scored both goals in the Greyhounds 2-1 win over Lincoln

Tallied a goal in a 3-0 victory against Missouri S&T

Took four shots with three on goal in 164 minutes

Earns first career Offensive Player of the Week Award

Last Greyhounds’ Offensive Player of the Week: August Abrahamsen (9/30/24)

MARIAN FOOTBALL

MARIAN FOOTBALL DROPS TO NO. 17 IN LATEST NAIA FOOTBALL GOROUT TOP-25 RATINGS

Kansas City, Mo. – Following their home 77-21 loss against No. 3 Indiana Wesleyan, the Marian football team slid seven spots in the latest NAIA Ratings, dropping to No. 17 in Monday’s NAIA Football GoRout Top-25 Ratings.

Keiser (Fla.) maintains its grasp as the top team in the NAIA Football GoRout Top 25 Ratings, being awarded 16 of the 17 first-place votes. Grand View (Iowa) remains second and receives the final top vote and Indiana Wesleyan stays third. Another shake up moves Dordt (Iowa) to fourth and St. Thomas (Fla.) to fifth place, following now No. 11 Bethel (TN) suffering a loss against un-ranked Cumberland.

Marian was one of six teams to drop in the poll, seeing the largest drop of the week following their loss against Indiana Wesleyan. The No. 17 rating in the NAIA is Marian’s lowest rating since October 23, 2017, when Marian fell to No. 21 after losing at Concordia University 39-36.

The Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats remained No. 3 in the NAIA after their win over Marian, while St. Xavier climbed two spots from 20 to 18 after their win over Defiance College.

The Knights kickoff their homecoming game on Saturday at 1:05 p.m. against Olivet Nazarene University. This Saturday’s game is Marian’s first game as an MSFA Midwest member, as conference season gets underway.

MARIAN WOMEN’S SOCCER

WOMEN’S SOCCER SWEEPS CL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

JACKSON, Mich. – After earning a rain-soaked victory over Spring Arbor on Saturday night, the Marian women’s soccer team claimed both the Offensive and Defensive Crossroads League Player of the Week honors. Layla Brown was named the Offensive Player of the Week for a third time this season, while Marian Corro Celma earned her second Defensive Player of the Week honor.

Brown scored once in No. 13 Marian’s, 3-1, win at No. 8 Spring Arbor. The insurance tally helped secure the victory in the critical Top-25 showdown.

Celma scored the eventual game-winner in No. 13 Marian’s, 3-1, upset win over No. 8 Spring Arbor. The holding midfielder found the net in her lone shot of the match and helped the Knights preserve the lead throughout, shutting out the eighth-ranked Cougars in the first half.

Marian starts a three-game home stand on Wednesday night, hosting Bethel University at 7:00 p.m. at Ascension St. Vincent Field.

MARIAN MEN’S TENNIS

JAMES ASHWORTH AND TJARK KUNKEL EARN MEN’S TENNIS ALL-CROSSROADS HONORS

JACKSON, Mich. – The Crossroads League announced its 2024 Men’s Tennis All-League Team and Coach-of-the-Year honors on Monday, following Grace’s third-straight sweep of the league’s regular season and tournament championships.

The Lancers were well represented on the All-Crossroads League Team, claiming five of the 15 spots, with Grace’s Andy Lewis being named the CL Coach of the Year. The Knights garnered two All-Crossroads League honors for the 2024 fall season with, James Ashworth and Tjark Kunkel each claiming the honor.

James Ashworth claimed the honor for the second time in his career. Ashworth carried a 3-3 singles record and 1-1 record in tournament play. Him and his partner Kunkel carried a 5-2 doubles record in the regular season and a 1-1 record in the Crossroad League Tournament.

Tjark Kunkel claimed the honor for the first time in his career as a Freshman. Kunkel carried a 5-1 singles record and a 0-2 record in tournament play for singles his first year as a Knight. Him and his partner Ashworth carried a 5-2 doubles record in the regular season and a 1-1 record in the Crossroad League Tournament.

Marian will look to build off of the foundation laid in the fall when they resume action in the spring of 2025.

INDIANA SMALL COLLEGE WEBSITES

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

EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/

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

FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/

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

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

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

BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/

DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/

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

MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NUMBERS IN SPORTS

22 – 45 – 5 – 10 – 99 – 9

October 15, 1912 – Boston Red Sox legend Tris Speaker completed the only world series unassisted double play, from the outfield

October 15, 1964 – American sprinter Bob Hayes tied a world record 10.0s to beat Cuba’s Enrique Figuerola by 0.2s and win the men’s 100m gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Hayes would use that speed in the NFL as a member of the Dallas Cowboys for two seasons and the San Francisco 49ers for 1 season wearing Number 22 for his entire career.

October 15, 1964 – World Series Game 7 had the St Louis Cardinals win their MLB 7th title as they knocked off the New York Yankees, 7-5 at Busch Stadium to clinch the series, 4-3. The MVP was St Louis pitcher Bob Gibson, Number 45. The Cards retired that number in 1975 in honor of their former pitcher

October 15, 1970 – World Series Game 5 saw the Baltimore Orioles beat Cincinnati Reds, 9-3 at Memorial Stadium to claim series, 4-1. The MVP of this Championship was Orioles 3rd baseman Brooks Robinson, Number 5. Robinson earned the nickname of “Hoover” for the fact of so many that he seemed to attract, like dirt to a vacuum cleaner.

October 15, 1979 – New York Knicks retired the franchise’s second jersey, It was of Number 10, Walt Frazier

October 15, 1989 – Number 99, Wayne Gretzky passed hockey legend Number 9, Gordie Howe as NHL’s all-time top scorer

FOOTBALL HISTORY

1884 Fair Catch Rule Revised

October 15, 1884 – New York City – Another football rules convention was held and one focus was to mold the fair catch rules and the meeting defined fair catch as “a catch made direct from a kick or a throw forward, or a knock on by one of the opposing sides, or from a punt.” Of course in our era of football we are only familiar with a fair catch being used on a kick or a punt.

1933 Eagles Take Flight

October 15, 1933 – Polo Grounds, New York, New York – The Philadelphia Eagles played in their very 1st NFL regular season game as they faced the New York Football Giants. The Eagles were formed from the remains of the defunct Frankford Yellow Jackets franchise that was sold to a group of Philadelphia-based businessmen. The profootballhof.com documentation of the game says that when the Eagles took the field for the first time ever they were overwhelmed by an overpowering Giants team led by rookie quarterback Harry Newman. The Giants jumped out to an early 21-0 first quarter lead before the starters gave way to replacements. The game didn’t get any brighter with the reserves in as New York shutout Philly 56-0. The Eagles struggle to get in the win column would be for another two games played against tough opponents in the Green Bay Packers and the Portsmouth Spartans. Finally, in week four of that first season, Philadelphia would play on the opposite end of a shutout as they would earn the franchise’s first victory on Sunday November 5, 1933 as they won 6-0 over the Cincinnati Reds. In their next game they tied a tough Chicago Bears squad then rattled off two more victories over the Pittsburgh Pirates and again over the Reds before dropping their final two games to the Packers and Giants once again. Pro-Football-Reference indicates that the inaugural season of the Eagles was a 3rd place finish in the NFL East with a 3-5-1 mark. The 1933 season was won by the Chicago Bears, the team that the Eagles had tied 3-3 earlier in the year, as the Bears knocked off the Giants 23-21 in the NFL Championship Game played December 7, 1933. The Eagles would go on to win 3 NFL Championships prior to the Super Bowl era in 1948, 1949 and again in 1960. They of course won Super Bowl LII in 2018 in the modern era of the NFL, by defeating the New England Patriots 41-33.

1987 Players Strike Ends

October 15, 1987 – NFL Players Association orders an end to a 24 day strike. The union failed to achieve demands in the short-term as there was no collective bargaining agreement in place. The owners had used replacement players for a couple of the weeks to meet television contract commitments. It didn’t help the NFLPA cause though when star players such as Joe Montana, Mark Gastineau and Steve Largent started breaking ranks and crossed the picket line. This eventually led to all of the players returning back to work in week 7. See more on the strike in our September 22 post.

1988 Miami at Notre Dame

October 15, 1988 – South Bend, Indiana – The reigning champion Miami Hurricanes entered Notre Dame Stadium to face an undefeated Fighting Irish squad. It was a big game with much on the line. Miami came into the contest with a 36 game unbeaten streak and were ranked number one in the nation for good reason while Notre Dame was ranked 4th in the polls. Tensions were high and this became extremely evident when there was a pre-game fight in front of the entrance tunnels. The game was a tight one most of the day, much to the delight of everyone watching. The hype of this game, deemed colloquially as Catholics vs. Convicts, was living up to every ounce of the buildup. With 45 seconds left to play the Hurricanes scored a touchdown to make the score 30-31 in favor of the Irish. Hurricane Head Coach Jimmy Johnson had a decision to make, kick the extra point and hopefully go into overtime or go for two and go for the jugular in regulation. Johnson elected to go for the win in regulation and the Irish defender Pat Terrel batted down the Hurricane pass from QB Steve Walsh to preserve the Notre Dame one point lead and the Irish victory!

1988 Oklahoma State versus Nebraska

October 15, 1988 – Memorial Stadium Lincoln, Nebraska – A second pretty awesome matchup in college football on the same day! Number 7 Nebraska would entertain number 10 Oklahoma State in a Big 8 Conference showdown. The Huskers came out putting on the heat as they grabbed every opportunity they had to jump out to a 42-0 lead early in the second quarter over their rivals! The Cowboys suddenly awoke from the nightmare they were in and they rattled off 21 points in the second quarter of their own but found themselves down 49-21 at the half. The most amazing part of this contest was that the yardage was not all through the air as one might expect in such a high scoring game according to a huskermax.com story. There was a grand total of only 349 total passing yards in the game for the two teams combined. The combined rushing yards was an NCAA record at 778 for the game. Nebraska running back Ken Clark ran for 256 yards on 27 attempts to lead the Huskers while OSU Cowboys Star Barry Sanders paced his team with 35 rushes for 189 yards in the Nebraska 63 to Oklahoma State 42 final score.

1995 The Panthers First Roar

October 15, 1995 – Clemson’s Memorial Stadium Clemson, South Carolina – The Carolina Panthers win their 1st game ever beating NY Jets 26-15. According to panthers.com the Jets were up 12-6 with 22 seconds to go before halftime. The New York Quarterback, Bubby Brister, dropped back to pass and threw a shovel pass forward to where he thought his awaiting running back would be. Instead Panthers linebacker Sam Mills stood in the was to accept the gift and weaved, rumbled and tumbled 36 yards for an unexpected Panther TD before the half ended putting the Carolina team in their inaugural season up 13-12 at the half. It was a turning point in the game and the season for the young team as they not only won that game but they won their next three games as well and seven of their last 11 to finish the season with a record of 7-9 – the best for any expansion team in NFL history. Dom Capers was the head coach of this new expansion franchise in Carolina. Less than a decade later he would become the only person to have ever led two different NFL expansion teams in their inaugural season when he took the 2002 Houston Texans out on to the field for the first time.

1886 Jonas Ingram

October 15, 1886 – Was when the birth of Jonas Ingram occurred. Jonas Ingram won the Medal of Honor in 1914 in the Mexican Revolution battle, fought in World War I with the US Navy, and during World War II he not only fought in the Navy but he was an Admiral that commanded the entire US Atlantic Fleet! Before the Wars though Jonas Ingram was a football player, and a good one at that as he was a fullback and a linebacker that played for the U.S Naval Academy. He was often called the “One Armed Admiral” as he often said ,”I’d give my right arm to win this ball game!” to his teammates. He was a fierce competitor and according to his bio on footballfoundation.org, his efforts in the Army game in 1906 led to a Navy win. After his playing days he returned to the Academy to coach the Midshipmen for three seasons. The National Football Foundation selected Jonas Ingram to enter into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1968.

1892 Tack Hardwick

October 15, 1892 – Quincy, Massachusetts – Huntington “Tack” Hardwick was born. Huntington was a halfback and defensive end for Harvard University during a span where the team reeled off 33 straight victories between 191 and 1915 according to the National Football Foundation’s website. Tack entered the Harvard fray in 1912 and had an instant impact as he ran for a 60 yard touchdown to defeat Princeton for the first time in 25 seasons. He later in the Yale game tackled a runner with such a powerful hit that it jarred the ball loose and led to a Harvard score, sealing their undefeated season. As a matter of fact, Tack Hardwick never played on a college team that lost as the Harvard Crimson football team was 25-0-2 with Tack in the lineup. Tack Hardwick was ushered into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1954.

1917 Bob MacLeod

October 15, 1917 Glen Ellyn, Illinois – Bob MacLeod was born. Bob was a former halfback from Dartmouth University that played from 1936 through the 1938 season. He was the main offensive weapon of Dartmouth as they won 21 of 27 games that he played in. Most opposing teams came into the games against Dartmouth with the objective to stop MacLeod but they still had trouble doing it as he averaged 6 yards per carry in his 3 year college career. The National Football Foundation selected Bob MacLeod to enter into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1977. Bob played with the Chicago Bears for a couple of seasons before joining the U.S. Marines to fight in World War II. After the war he was a business leader in the magazine industry.

TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY

1892 On the last day of the season, Charles Bumpus Jones goes the distance in his first major league start, allowing no hits in the Reds’ 7-1 victory over the Pirates at Cincinnati’s League Park. The 22-year-old right-hander becomes the first major league rookie to throw a no-hitter.

1917 The White Sox win the World Series in six games when they beat the Giants at the Polo Grounds, 4-2. When the New York infielders leave home plate uncovered in the fourth inning, Eddie Collins scurries home, scoring the eventual winning run with Giants’ third baseman Heinie Zimmerman chasing him with the ball toward the plate.

1917 A letter signed by 24 World Series Champion Chicago White Sox members and manager Pants Rowland contains complaints about not receiving their full share after beating the New York Giants. The written request, discovered as a tattered document more than 40 years later among boxes stored at the Hall of Fame library, may explain the ‘Black Sox’ motivation for fixing the Fall Classic two years later.

1923 At the Polo Grounds, the visiting Yankees score five runs in the eighth inning, beating the Giants in Game 6 of the Fall Classic, 6-4. The victory over their crosstown rivals gives the franchise its first World Championship.

1925 The Pirates become the first team to win a World Series after being down three games to one when the Bucs beat Washington and Walter Johnson in Game 7, 9-7. Kiki Cuyler’s bases-loaded double in the eighth inning proves to be the difference.

1946 In Game 7 of the World Series, the Cardinals beat the Red Sox, 4-3, when Enos Slaughter streaked home from first on a long single into the left-center gap by Harry Walker, who stayed a first to avoid making the last out before the run score. The play surprises everyone, including cut-off man shortstop Johnny Pesky who hesitates, as legend has it, throwing the ball home.

1964 Bobby Richardson establishes a World Series record in the Game 7 loss to the Cardinals, playing in thirty consecutive Fall Classic games. The Yankee second baseman shares the record for the most hits (13), RBIs (12), and runs scored (8) in a seven-game series (1960).

1964 In his final postseason game, Mickey Mantle hits a three-run homer to the opposite field off right-hander Bob Gibson, his third dinger of the series. In the 7-5 loss to the Redbirds in the Fall Classic finale, the Sportsman’s Park round-tripper extends the Mick’s World Series record to 18.

1964 The Cardinals defeat the Yankees in Game 7 at Sportsman’s Park, 7-5, to capture their seventh Fall Classic, becoming the first team with a losing record (39-40) at the All-Star break to be World Champs. Bob Gibson, who struck out a record 31 batters in 27 innings during his three starts, is selected as the World Series Most Valuable Player.

1964 The Boyer brothers hit home runs in Game 7 of the World Series, Ken for the Cardinals and Clete for the Yankees. Both siblings accomplish the feat in their last at-bat of the Fall Classic.

1968 Orioles right-hander Roger Nelson is selected first by the Royals in the American League expansion draft. The Pilots then choose Don Mincher, a first baseman from the Angels, as the franchise’s first choice.

1969 In Game 4 of the Fall Classic at Shea Stadium, Tom Seaver and the Mets beat the Orioles in ten innings, 2-1. The game features a run-saving ninth-inning diving grab of Brooks Robinson’s line drive with two on by Ron Swoboda and a controversial play in the tenth when J.C. Martin unquestionably gets in the way of Pete Richert’s throw without the umpire calling interference on the baserunner.

1969 During the third inning of Game 4 of the Fall Classic, Earl Weaver becomes the first manager thrown out of a World Series game in 34 years. The ‘Earl of Baltimore,’ who umpire Shag Crawford had previously warned, is quickly ejected after protesting a strike call from the bench.

1970 Brooks Robinson captures the World Series Most Valuable Player Award after batting .429 (9/21) and driving in six runs during the five-game set against Cincinnati. The Orioles third baseman becomes the first player to be named the MVP in the Fall Classic, an All-Star game (1966), and his league (AL-1964).

1972 “I must admit, I am going to be tremendously more pleased and more proud when I look at the third-base coaching line one day and see a Black face managing in baseball.” – JACKIE ROBINSON, Hall of Famer, baseball pioneer, and civil rights activist, remarks after receiving an award commemorating his breaking of the color line 25 years ago. In his last appearance at a major league ballpark, Jackie Robinson, speaking before Game 2 of the World Series nine days before his death, urges baseball to hire a black manager. The owners do not hire an African-American skipper until 1975, when the Indians employ Frank Robinson to run the team.

1981 With Dave Righetti, Ron Davis, and Goose Gossage combining to shut out Oakland, 4-0, the Yankees sweep the A’s to capture their thirty-third American League pennant. The Bronx Bombers will face the Dodgers in the World Series for the third time in the last five Fall Classics.

1982 Willie McGee becomes the third rookie to hit two home runs in the same World Series game. Going deep off Brewers starter Pete Vuckovich in the fifth and seventh innings in Game 3 of the Fall Classic, the Cardinals’ center fielder joins Charlie Keller (1939) and Tony Kubek (1957), each accomplishing the feat in the third game of their respective Fall Classics.

1986 In the longest postseason game ever played (4 hours and 42 minutes), the Mets clinch their third National League crown, beating Houston in sixteen innings at the Astrodome, 7-6. Trailing 3-0, Lenny Dykstra and Ray Knight spark a ninth-inning rally, which sends the game into extra innings.

1986 After being down three games to one in the ALCS, the Red Sox pull off one of the greatest comebacks in playoff history by defeating the California Angels 8-1 to win the American League pennant. In Game 5, Boston was one strike away from elimination before rallying with four runs in the ninth inning en route to an extra-inning victory at Anaheim Stadium, bringing the series back to Fenway Park.

1988 “In the year that has been so improbable, the impossible has happened.” – VINCE SCULLY, commenting on Kirk Gibson’s dramatic World Series walk-off home run. In his only plate appearance in the Fall Classic, a limping Kirk Gibson, appearing as a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning of Game 1, sends a two-out, 3-2 pitch from relief ace Dennis Eckersley over the right-field fence, giving the Dodgers a 5-4 victory over the A’s. The round-tripper marks the first time a World Series game ends on a come-from-behind home run in the final inning.

1996 The Devil Rays name Jamie Reed as the club’s head trainer. The 37-year-old Annapolis (MD) native, formerly the Orioles assistant trainer, is the first on-field major league hire for the new expansion team.

1997 After a vote during an afternoon conference call, the owners place the Devil Rays in the American League East Division, moving the Tigers to the AL Central to make room for the expansion team. The decision follows nine months of futile realignment efforts after the expansion Diamondbacks became a National League franchise in January.

1997 Major League Baseball approves a resolution creating a 16-team National League and a 14-team American League for the upcoming season. The plan puts the expansion Devil Ray in the AL Eastern Division, and the NL’s newest team, the Rockies, will play in the circuit’s Western Division.

1997 Thanks to an 11th-inning homer by Tony Fernandez, the Indians defeat the Orioles, 1-0, to win the American League Championship Series in six games. It is the Tribe’s second pennant in three years.

2001 The Yankees beat the A’s 5-3 to win the ALDS. The Bronx Bombers become the first team to win a best-of-five series after losing the first two games at home.

2001 After losing their first playoff appearance to the Mets in 1999, the Diamondbacks win their first postseason series, beating the Cardinals in only their fourth year of existence. Tony Womack’s two-out game-winning hit in the NLDS’s deciding fifth game gives Arizona the 2-1 victory.

2002 Kirk Gibson signs a three-year deal to become Detroit’s new bench coach. The aggressive former outfielder joins the staff of the newly hired skipper, Alan Trammell, a former 1984 World Champion Tiger teammate.

2003 Steve Bartman, the Cubs fan who deflected a foul ball in Game 6 of the NLCS, releases a statement explaining his actions. During a tearful apology, the 26-year-old human resources company worker asks Chicago fans to redirect their negative energy into positive support for the team during Game 7 of the championship series.

2007 The Rockies record their 21st victory in 22 games, beating the Diamondbacks 6-4 to complete a four-game sweep of the NLCS. The Coors Field’s triumph over the number one seed in the National League playoffs advances Colorado to the World Series for the first time in franchise history.

2008 In Game 5 of the NLCS, the visiting Phillies beat the Dodgers, 5-1, to win their first pennant since 1993. Southpaw Cole Hamels, the series MVP, hurls his third postseason gem, and Jimmy Rollins starts the Philadelphia attack with a leadoff home run to start the game.

2011 With another home run in the Game 6 clincher, a 15-5 Ranger rout of Detroit, Nelson Cruz sets a new record for the most round-trippers in a postseason series with six. The Texas right-fielder, who ended the regular season in a slump, is named the ALCS Most Valuable Player for his outstanding contribution to his team’s success in the championship series.

2012 The Reds sign Dusty Baker to a two-year contract extension, giving their 63-year-old manager another chance to take the team beyond the first round of the playoffs. In two of the last three years, Cincinnati has participated in the postseason, including this season’s heartbreaking loss in the NLDS, dropping the previous three decisions at home in a five-game series to San Francisco.

2014 After winning the wild-card game over the A’s, beating the Angels in the first three games of the best-of-five ALDS series, the Royals improved their playoff record this season to 8-0 when they swept the Orioles in the ALCS with a 2-1 victory at Kauffman Stadium. Kansas City has won 11 straight postseason games, counting the final three games of the 1985 World Series, second-best only to the 1927-1932 and 1998-1999 Yankees, who both won a dozen straight.

2017 Twenty-nine years later, Justin Turner follows Kirk Gibson into franchise folklore when he hits a postseason walk-off three-run home run in the 12th inning of LA’s 4-1 victory over the Cubs in Game 2 of the NLCS. In his only Fall Classic appearance, a hobbled Kirk Gibson came off the bench in 1998 to hit one of the most memorable round-trippers in World Series history, giving the Dodgers a come-from-behind victory against the A’s in Game 1.

2020 In Game 5 of the ALDS, the Astros become the first team in postseason history to hit a leadoff and walk-off home run in the same game. George Springer led off the Petco Park contest with a homer in the bottom of the first, and Carlos Correa’s ninth-inning game-ending round-tripper gave Houston a 4-3 victory over the Rays.

TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY

Oct. 15

1933 — The Philadelphia Eagles play their first NFL game and suffers a 56-0 loss to the New York Giants.

1961 — Mickey Wright wins her third LPGA Championship with a rout, nine strokes ahead of Louise Suggs. Wright shoots a 3-over, 287 at the Stardust Country Club in Las Vegas for her third major title of the year and her tenth tour victory of the season.

1972 — Stan Mikita of the Chicago Blackhawks becomes the sixth NHL player with 1,000 career points. Mikita assists on Cliff Koroll’s goal in a 3-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues at Chicago Stadium.

1983 — The Chicago Black Hawks and the Toronto Maple Leafs score five goals in 1 minute, 24 seconds to set an NHL record for the fastest five goals by two teams. The Maple Leafs beat the Black Hawks 10-8.

1988 — Oklahoma rushes for an NCAA-record 768 yards, including 123 by quarterback Charles Thompson. Thompson scores three touchdowns and passes for one in the first period of a 70-24 rout of Kansas State.

1988 — Mario Lemieux of the Pittsburgh Penguins scores eight points — two goals and six assists — in a 9-2 win over the St. Louis Blues at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh.

1989 — Wayne Gretzky of the Los Angeles Kings passes Gordie Howe as the NHL’s all-time leading scorer in a during a 5-4 overtime win over the Edmonton Oilers. Gretzky flips a backhand shot past Oilers goaltender Bill Ranford with 53 seconds remaining to tie the game and pass Howe with 1,851st point. Gretzky wins the game in overtime.

1995 — The Carolina Panthers beat the New York Jets 26-15 for their first NFL victory.

2005 — Michigan gives up a touchdown to Penn State with 53 seconds left, then marches down the field to score on a TD pass from Chad Henne to Mario Manningham with no time remaining for a 27-25 win over the eighth-ranked Nittany Lions.

2005 — Southern California’s Matt Leinart pushes and spins his way into the end zone with 3 seconds left to cap a chaotic finish to the top-ranked Trojans’ 28th straight victory, a back-and-forth 34-31 win over No. 9 Notre Dame.

2008 — Fabian Brunnstrom scores three goals in his NHL debut to match the league record in Dallas’ 6-4 victory over Nashville.

2009 — Detroit’s Nicklas Lidstrom becomes the first European defenseman and eighth overall to reach 1,000 points, assisting on two goals in the Red Wings 5-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings.

2012 — The Nets bring professional sports back to Brooklyn with a preseason victory, beating the Washington Wizards 98-88 in the first basketball game at the Barclays Center.

2015 — Carey Price makes 25 saves and the Montreal Canadiens make team history by starting a season with a five straight wins, the latest a 3-0 victory over the New York Rangers.

2017 — New England quarterback Tom Brady passes for 257 yards with two touchdowns in the Patriots’ 24-17 win at the New York Jets. Brady, who has 187 regular-season victories, surpasses Hall of Famer Brett Favre (186) and Peyton Manning (186) for the most regular-season victories by a starting quarterback in NFL history.

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Oct. 16

1897 — Michigan beats Ohio State 34-0 at Ann Arbor, the first meeting between theses storied rivals.

1909 — In his 4th title defense Jack Johnson KOs Stanley Ketchel in the 12th round at Mission St Arena, Colma, California to retain his heavyweight boxing crown.

1932 — After a 0-0 tie earlier in the season, the Green Bay Packers beat the Chicago Bears 2-0.

1946 — Detroit’s Gordie Howe scores a goal and gets into two fights in his first NHL game. The Red Wings tie the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-3.

1964 — Babe Parilli of the Boston Patriots passes for 422 yards and four touchdowns in a 43-43 tie with the Oakland Raiders.

1968 — Americans Tommie Smith and John Carlos give black power salutes during the medal ceremonies of the 200-meter race and are later banned for life from all Olympic competition by the IOC.

1971 — Norm Ullman of the Toronto Maple Leafs records his 1,000th point in a 5-3 loss to the New York Rangers. Ullman gets two assists to become the fourth NHL player to reach the milestone.

1976 — Tony Franklin of Texas A&M kicks two field goals over 60 yards for an NCAA record. The distances are 65 and 64 yards as the Aggies beat Baylor 24-0.

1977 — The Denver Broncos intercept seven passes off Ken Stabler of the Oakland Raiders in a 30-7 victory.

1977 — The Minnesota Vikings beat the Chicago Bears 16-10 in overtime with the only successful fake field goal in NFL overtime.

1987 — Mike Tyson retains his undisputed heavyweight title with a seven-round knockout of Tyrell Biggs in Atlantic City, N.J.

1999 — Fourth-ranked Virginia Tech hangs a record-setting 62-0 loss on No. 16 Syracuse. It’s the worst shutout loss by a ranked team in the history of The Associated Press poll.

1999 — Mount Union beats Otterbein 44-20 for its 48th consecutive victory, surpassing Oklahoma’s 42-year-old all-division mark of 47 in a row.

2004 — 17-year old Lionel Messi makes his league debut for FC Barcelona in a 1-0 win against cross-town rivals Espanyol.

2004 — Mount Union beats Marietta 57-0 for its 100th consecutive regular-season victory. The Purple Raiders’ last regular-season loss was on Oct. 15, 1994, at home against Baldwin-Wallace.

2011 — Danell Leyva becomes the first American man gymnast to win a gold medal at the World Championships since 2003. Leyva wins the parallel bars title to become the first gold medalist for the U.S. since Paul Hamm claimed the floor exercise and all-around titles in 2003.

2011 — Dan Wheldon, 33, dies in a fiery 15-car wreck at Las Vegas Motor Speedway when his car flew over another on Lap 13 and smashes into the wall just outside turn 2.

2017 — Louisville’s Athletic Association officially fires coach Rick Pitino nearly three weeks after the school acknowledged that its men’s basketball program is being investigated as part of a federal corruption probe. The association, which oversees Louisville’s sports programs and is composed of trustees, faculty, students and administrators, vote unanimously to oust the longtime Cardinals coach following a board meeting.

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Oct. 17

1948 — The Green Bay Packers intercept seven passes off Bob Waterfield in a 16-0 victory over the Los Angeles Rams.

1954 — Adrian Burk of the Philadelphia Eagles passes for seven touchdowns in a 49-21 victory over the Washington Redskins. Burk completes 19 of 27 passes for 232 yards and his longest touchdown pass is 26 yards.

1960 — The National League formally awards franchises to the New York Metropolitan Baseball Club Inc. headed by Joan Payson and a Houston, Texas, group headed by Judge Roy Hofheinz, Craig Cullinan and R.E. Smith.

1964 — Quarterback Jerry Rhome is responsible for 56 of Tulsa’s 58 points with seven touchdown passes, two rushing touchdowns and a 2-point conversion in a 58-0 shutout of Louisville.

1974 — The Washington Capitals beat the Chicago Black Hawks 4-3 at the Capital Centre to earn the first victory in franchise history.

1989 — The Calgary Flames tie an NHL record by scoring two goals, both short-handed, in 4 seconds and also three goals in a 27-second span during the third period to pull into an 8-8 tie with the Quebec Nordiques.

1991 — Paul Coffey of the Pittsburgh Penguins becomes the highest-scoring defenseman in NHL history. Coffey gets two assists in an 8-5 victory against the New York Islanders at the Civic Arena, giving him 1,053 career points (309 goals and 744 assists). Coffey passes longtime Islanders star Denis Potvin.

1991 — Angel Cordero Jr. becomes the 3rd jockey to win 7,000 races.

1992 — Jari Kurri of the Los Angeles Kings scores his 500th goal in an 8-6 win over the Boston Bruins. Kurri becomes the first European-trained player and 18th player overall to reach the mark.

2000 — Patrick Roy sets an NHL record with his 448th career victory as Colorado beats Washington 4-3 in overtime. Roy snaps a tie with Terry Sawchuk, who held the mark since 1970. Sawchuk earned his 447th victory in his 968th game, while Roy wins No. 448 in his 847th game.

2015 — Star forward Cristiano Ronaldo becomes Real Madrid’s all-time leading scorer across all competitions, overtaking club legend Raul with his 324th goal in a 3-0 win over Levante.

2015 — Jalen Watts-Jackson scoops up a flubbed punt attempt and lumbers 38 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the game, giving No. 7 Michigan State a shocking 27-23 win over No. 12 Michigan at the Big House.

2017 — Boston’s Gordon Hayward breaks his left ankle just five minutes into the season, a grisly injury that overshadows Kyrie Irving’s return to Cleveland and the Cavaliers’ 102-99 win over the shocked Celtics.

2021 — The Chicago Sky defeat the Phoenix Mercury 81-74 to win their first WNBA Championship three games to one. The Sky’s Kahleah Copper is named Finals MVP.

TV SPORTS TUESDAY

MLB PLAYOFFS	TIME ET	TV
ALCS Game 2: Cleveland at NY Yankees	7:38pm	TBS truTV MAX
NHL REGULAR SEASON	TIME ET	TV
Vancouver at Tampa Bay	7:00pm	Sportsnet Bally Sports Sun
Vegas at Washington	7:00pm	Scripps MNMT
New Jersey at Carolina	7:00pm	MSGSN Bally Sports South
Florida at Columbus	7:00pm	Scripps Bally Sports Ohio
Minnesota at St. Louis	7:30pm	ESPN Bally Sports North Bally Sports Midwest
Seattle at Nashville	8:00pm	Prime Seattle Bally Sports South
San Jose at Dallas	8:00pm	NBC Sports California Prime Seattle
Chicago at Calgary	9:00pm	NBC Sports Chicago Sportsnet
Philadelphia at Edmonton	10:00pm	ESPN NBC Sports Philadelphia Sportsnet
COLLEGE FOOTBALL	TIME ET	TV
Troy at South Alabama	7:00pm	ESPN2
Kennesaw State at Middle Tennessee	8:00pm	CBSSN
Louisiana Tech at New Mexico State	9:00pm	ESPNU
NBA PRESEASON	TIME ET	TV
San Antonio vs Miami	7:30pm	NBATV
Golden State vs LA Lakers	10:00pm	NBATV
SOCCER	TIME ET	TV
CONCACAF Nations League: Dominican Republic vs Antigua and Barbuda	1:30pm	Paramount+
UEFA Nations League: Spain vs Serbia	2:45pm	FS2 Fubo VIX
UEFA Nations League: Poland vs Croatia	2:45pm	FOX Soccer Plus Fubo VIX
UEFA Nations League: Scotland vs Portugal	2:45pm	Fubo VIX
UEFA Nations League: Kosovo vs Cyprus	2:45pm	Fubo VIX
UEFA Nations League: Switzerland vs Denmark	2:45pm	Fubo VIX
UEFA Nations League: Belarus vs Luxembourg	2:45pm	Fubo VIX
UEFA Nations League: Lithuania vs Romania	2:45pm	Fubo VIX
UEFA Nations League: Northern Ireland vs Bulgaria	2:45pm	Fubo VIX
CONCACAF Nations League: St. Kitts and Nevis vs Cayman Islands	3:30pm	Paramount+
CONCACAF Nations League: Bermuda vs Dominica	6:30pm	Paramount+
CONCACAF Nations League: Barbados vs Bahamas	8:00pm	Paramount+
CONCACAF Nations League: Costa Rica vs Guatemala	8:00pm	Paramount+
CONCACAF Nations League: Martinique vs Guadeloupe	8:00pm	Paramount+
CONCACAF Nations League: Suriname vs Guyana	8:00pm	Paramount+
Friendly: Canada vs Panama	7:30pm	FS1 Fubo
World Cup Qualifying: Argentina vs Bolivia	8:00pm	VIX
World Cup Qualifying: Brazil vs Peru	8:45pm	VIX
CONCACAF Nations League: Belize vs Turks and Caicos Islands	10:00pm	Paramount+
CONCACAF W Champions Cup: Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs Portland Thorns	10:00pm	ESPN+
TENNIS	TIME ET	TV
Stockholm-ATP, Antwerp-ATP, Almaty-ATP, Osaka-WTA & Ningbo-WTA Early Rounds	5:30am	TENNIS
Stockholm-ATP, Antwerp-ATP, Almaty-ATP, Osaka-WTA & Ningbo-WTA Early Rounds	1:30pm	TENNIS

THE INDIANA SRN “SPORTSPAGE” TUESDAY OCTOBER 15, 2024

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