MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
MIAMI 6 DETROIT 5
OAKLAND 8 COLORADO 5
SAN DIEGO 7 TEXAS 1
SEATTLE 5 ARIZONA 2
BOSTON 3 SAN FRANCISCO 2
BALTIMORE 1 NY YANKEES 0
TORONTO 4 LA ANGELS 1
CHICAGO WHITE SOX 3 CLEVELAND 0
KANSAS CITY 8 MINNESOTA 5 (10)
TAMPA BAY 4 HOUSTON 3
PHILADELPHIA 2 PITTSBURGH 1
NY METS 5 WASHINGTON 1
ATLANTA 10 MILWAUKEE 7
CHICAGO CUBS 3 ST. LOUIS 2
CINCINNATI 6 LA DODGERS 5
BOX SCORES: http://hosted.stats.com/mlb/scoreboard.asp
STATS: http://hosted.stats.com/mlb/index.asp
PLAYER NEWS: http://hosted.stats.com/mlb/news.asp
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
LOUISVILLE 5 INDIANAPOLIS 3
FORT WAYNE 8 WEST MICHIGAN 0
SOUTH BEND 5 PEORIA 1
WNBA
MINNESOTA 88 NEW YORK 83
SEATTLE 83 CHICAGO 74
DALLAS 90 WASHINGTON 62
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
BIG 10 PRE-SEASON FOOTBALL TEAMS
FIRST TEAM
QB J.J. MCCARTHY, MICHIGAN
RB BRAELON ALLEN, WISCONSIN
RB BLAKE CORUM, MICHIGAN
WR MARVIN HARRISON JR., OHIO STATE
WR EMEKA EGBUKA, OHIO STATE
WR ISAIAH WILLIAMS, ILLINOIS
TE BREVYN SPANN-FORD, MINNESOTA
T OLUMUYIWA FASHANU, PENN STATE
T JACK NELSON, WISCONSIN
G CONNOR COLBY, IOWA
G ZAK ZINTER, MICHIGAN
C DRAKE NUGENT, MICHIGAN
DI JER’ZHAN NEWTON, ILLINOIS
DI KRIS JENKINS, MICHIGAN
EDGE CHOP ROBINSON, PENN STATE
EDGE AARON LEWIS, RUTGERS
LB TOMMY EICHENBERG, OHIO STATE
LB MAEMA NJONGMETA, WISCONSIN
CB KALEN KING, PENN STATE
CB WILL JOHNSON, MICHIGAN
S ROD MOORE, MICHIGAN
S QUINN SCHULTE, IOWA
FLEX COOPER DEJEAN, IOWA
K DREW STEVENS, IOWA
P TORY TAYLOR, IOWA
RS JAYLIN LUCAS, INDIANA
SECOND TEAM
QB TAULIA TAGOVAILOA, MARYLAND
RB NICHOLAS SINGLETON, PENN STATE
RB DONOVAN EDWARDS, MICHIGAN
WR CHIMERE DIKE, WISCONSIN
WR CAM CAMPER, INDIANA
WR CHRIS AUTMAN-BELL, MINNESOTA
TE ERICK ALL, IOWA
T DELMAR GLAZE, MARYLAND
T MASON RICHMAN, IOWA
G J.D. DUPLAIN, MICHIGAN STATE
G MATTHEW JONES, OHIO STATE
C GUS HARTWIG, PURDUE
DI MASON GRAHAM, MICHIGAN
DI TYLEIK WILLIAMS, OHIO STATE
EDGE J.T. TUIMOLOAU, OHIO STATE
EDGE JOSAIAH STEWART, MICHIGAN
LB ABDUL CARTER, PENN STATE
LB JUNIOR COLSON, MICHIGAN
CB DENZEL BURKE, OHIO STATE
CB JUSTIN WALLEY, MINNESOTA
S TYLER NUBIN, MINNESOTA
S LATHAN RANSOM, OHIO STATE
FLEX MIKE SAINRISTIL, MICHIGAN
K CALEB GRIFFIN, ILLINOIS
P JESSE MIRCO, OHIO STATE
RS A.J. HENNING, NORTHWESTERN
THIRD TEAM
QB DREW ALLAR, PENN STATE
RB TREVEYON HENDERSON, OHIO STATE
RB MIYAN WILLIAMS, OHIO STATE
WR JULIAN FLEMING, OHIO STATE
WR ROMAN WILSON, MICHIGAN
WR DANTE CEPHAS, PENN STATE
TE THEO JOHNSON, PENN STATE
T LADARIUS HENDERSON, MICHIGAN
T CAEDAN WALLACE, PENN STATE
G QUINN CARROLL, MINNESOTA
G DONOVAN JACKSON, OHIO STATE
C NICK SAMAC, MICHIGAN STATE
DI MICHAEL HALL JR., OHIO STATE
DI KEITH RANDOLPH JR., ILLINOIS
EDGE SETH COLEMAN, ILLINOIS
EDGE JACK SAWYER, OHIO STATE
LB CURTIS JACOBS, PENN STATE
LB NICK JACKSON, IOWA
CB JOHNNY DIXON, PENN STATE
CB TAHVEON NICHOLSON, ILLINOIS
S COCO AZEMA, NORTHWESTERN
S BEAU BRADE, MARYLAND
FLEX SEBASTIAN CASTRO, IOWA
K NATHANIEL VAKOS, WISCONSIN
P JAMES EVANS, INDIANA
RS NICHOLAS SINGLETON, PENN STATE
PRE-SEASON ALL MAC TEAMS
FIRST TEAM
QB KURTIS ROURKE, OHIO
RB MARQUEZ COOPER, BALL STATE
RB SAMSON EVANS, EASTERN MICHIGAN
WR JACOBY JONES, OHIO
WR SAM WIGLUSZ, OHIO
WR TRAYVON RUDOLPH, NIU
TE BRADY HUNT, BALL STATE
T NICK ROSI, TOLEDO
T NATE WILLIAMS, AKRON
G DEIYANTEI POWELL-WOODS, CENTRAL MICHIGAN
G JOHN CHAMPE, NIU
C JACOB GIDEON, WESTERN MICHIGAN
DI DAYMOND WILLIAMS, BUFFALO
DI JAMES ESTER, NIU
EDGE VONNIE WATKINS, OHIO
EDGE SIDNEY HOUSTON JR., BALL STATE
LB CLAYTON COLL, BALL STATE
LB SHAUN DOLAC, BUFFALO
CB QUINYON MITCHELL, TOLEDO
CB TORRIE COX JR., OHIO
S NATE BAUER, TOLEDO
S MAXEN HOOK, TOLEDO
FLEX ZACHARY FORD, TOLEDO
K ALEX MCNULTY, BUFFALO
P LUCAS BORROW, BALL STATE
RS TA’RON KEITH, BOWLING GREEN
SECOND TEAM
QB BRETT GABBERT, MIAMI (OH.)
RB SIEH BANGURA, OHIO
RB XAVIER WILLIAMS, KENT STATE
WR DEVIN MADDOX, TOLEDO
WR JERJUAN NEWTON, TOLEDO
WR TANNER KNUE, EASTERN MICHIGAN
TE TANNER KOZIOL, BALL STATE
T BRIAN DOOLEY, EASTERN MICHIGAN
T NOLAN POTTER, NIU
G TYLER LONG, TOLEDO
G VINNY SCIURY, TOLEDO
C ETHAN CROWE, BALL STATE
DI C.J. WEST, KENT STATE
DI DEVONTE O’MALLEY, NIU
EDGE MARSHAWN KNEELAND, WESTERN MICHIGAN
EDGE DEMETRIUS HARDAMON, BOWLING GREEN
LB COLE PEARCE, BALL STATE
LB DALLAS GANT, TOLEDO
CB KENI-H LOVELY, WESTERN MICHIGAN
CB KEMPTON SHINE, EASTERN MICHIGAN
S MARCUS FUQUA, BUFFALO
S TREY JONES, CENTRAL MICHIGAN
FLEX JOSHUA SCOTT, EASTERN MICHIGAN
K JESUS GOMEZ, EASTERN MICHIGAN
P SAMI SIR, BOWLING GREEN
RS JAYLON JACKSON, EASTERN MICHIGAN
THIRD TEAM
QB DEQUAN FINN, TOLEDO
RB JACQUEZ STUART, TOLEDO
RB ANTARIO BROWN, NIU
WR ODIEU HILIARE, BOWLING GREEN
WR ALEX ADAMS, AKRON
WR MILES CROSS, OHIO
TE JACK COLDIRON, MIAMI (OH.)
T COREY STEWART, BALL STATE
T JAY AMBURGEY, OHIO
G LOGAN ZSCHERNITZ, NIU
G ADDISON WEST, WESTERN MICHIGAN
C PARKER TITSWORTH, OHIO
DI JACQUES BRISTOL, CENTRAL MICHIGAN
DI JUDGE CULPEPPER, TOLEDO
EDGE RAISHEIN THOMAS, NIU
EDGE COREY SUTTLE, MIAMI (OH.)
LB KYLE MORETTI, CENTRAL MICHIGAN
LB BUBBA ARSLANIAN, AKRON
CB JORDAN OLADOKUN, BOWLING GREEN
CB DONTE KENT, CENTRAL MICHIGAN
S JORDAN RILEY, BALL STATE
S JACQUEZ WARREN, BALL STATE
FLEX MICHAEL DOWELL, MIAMI (OH.)
K GRAHAM NICHOLSON, MIAMI (OH.)
P MITCHELL TOMASEK, EASTERN MICHIGAN
RS KEEGAN WILBURN, OHIO
TRANSACTIONS
BASEBALL
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
AMERICAN LEAGUE
DETROIT TIGERS — OPTIONED LHP ZACH LOGUE TO TOLEDO (IL).
LOS ANGELES ANGELS — OPTIONED RHP ZACK WEISS TO SALT LAKE (PCL).
NEW YORK YANKEES — REINSTATED OF WILLIE CALHOUN FROM THE 10-DAY IL AND DESIGNATED HIM FOR ASSIGNMENT.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
CINCINNATI REDS — SENT RHP CASEY LEGUMINA AND RHP VLADIMIR GUTIERREZ TO THE ARIZONA COMPLEX LEAGUE (ACL) FOR REHAB.
MIAMI MARLINS — PLACED RHP MATT BARNES ON THE 60-DAY IL. ACTIVATED RHP JORGE LOPEZ.
MILWAUKEE BREWERS — REINSTATED LHP JUSTIN WILSON FROM THE 60-DAY IL. TRANSFERRED LHP BENNETT SOUSA FROM THE 15-DAY IL TO THE 60-DAY IL AND SENT HIM TO THE ARIZONA COMPLEX LEAGUE (ACL) FOR REHAB.
NEW YORK METS — TRADED RHP DAVID ROBERTSON TO MIAMI IN EXCHANGE FOR 2B MARCO VARGAS AND C RONALD HERNANDEZ.
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
ATLANTIC LEAGUE
LONG ISLAND DUCKS — TRADED LHP STEPHEN TARPLEY TO LEXINGTON IN EXCHANGE FOR RHP MERANDY GONZALEZ.
BASKETBALL
WOMEN’S NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
MINNESOTA LYNX — SIGNED F EMILY ENGSTLER TO A SEVEN-DAY CONTRACT.
FOOTBALL
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
BUFFALO BILLS — SIGNED CB KYRON BROWN. WAIVED CB CAM DANTZLER WITH AN INJURY DESIGNATION.
CAROLINA PANTHERS — WAIVED RB TIYON EVANS.
DENVER BRONCOS — SIGNED WR MICHAEL BANDY. ACTIVATED WR KENDALL HINTON FROM THE ACTIVE/PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO PERFORM (PUP) LIST. WAIVED WR NICK WILLIAMS.
DETROIT LIONS — WAIVED WR TOM KENNEDY WITH AN INJURY DESIGNATION. SIGNED WR TREY QUINN.
GREEN BAY PACKERS — PLACED DL JONATHAN GARVIN ON WAIVERS.
HOUSTON TEXANS — SIGNED OT GEORGE FANT TO A ONE-YEAR CONTRACT.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS — SIGNED CB DEVON WITHERSPOON AND RB WAYNE TAULAPAPA. WAIVED CB MONTRAE BRASWELL.
TENNESSEE TITANS — SIGNED OL CHRIS HUBBARD. WAIVED OL JAMES EMPEY.
HOCKEY
MINOR LEAGUE HOCKEY
ECHL
WORCESTER RAILERS — SIGNED F NICK FEA.
SOCCER
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
D.C. UNITED — AGREED TO TERMS WITH M VICTOR PALSSON ON A PERMANENT TRANSFER FROM FC SCHALKE (BELGIAN PRO LEAGUE SIDED K.A.S. EUPEN).
LOS ANGELES FC — ACQUIRED A 2023 INTERNATIONAL ROSTER SLOT FROM AUSTIN FC IN EXCHANGE FOR $175,000 IN 2024 GENERAL ALLOCATION MONEY (GAM).
NEW YORK CITY FC — ACQUIRED M ANDREAS PEREA ON LOAN FROM PHILADELPHIA UNION THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE SEASON IN EXCHANGE FOR $300,000 IN GENERAL ALLOCATION MONEY (GAM).
NATIONAL WOMEN’S SOCCER LEAGUE
CHICAGO RED STARS — SIGNED G KELSEY DOSSEY TO A REPLACEMENT PLAYER CONTRACT.
COLLEGE
RICE — NAMED GENESSEE PUNTIGAM ASSISTANT SOCCER COACH.
INDIANA BOYS HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER WATCH LIST
(STATS FROM LAST SEASON)
TOP SCORERS
TEAGUE MISNER, WESTVIEW 96 PTS, 40G, 16ASST
MAURICE REIMER, WEST LAFAYETTE 92PTS, 35G, 22ASST
MICAH FOSS, GREENCASTLE 91PTS, 33G, 25ASST
PATRICK CORADO, CRAWFORDSVILLE 87PTS, 39G, 9ASST
COOPER TODD, SWITZERLAND COUNTY 82PTS, 34G, 14ASST
MATT POLK, NORTHWESTERN 76PTS, 30G, 16 ASST
DALTON FULFORD, WHITE RIVER VALLEY 75PTS, 30G, 15ASST
ELI FALKENBERG, CARROLL FLORA, 74PTS, 26G, 22ASST
HUDSON FOX, BREMEN 72PTS, 27G, 18ASST
GIO ARRIAGA, TIPPECANOE VALLEY 64PTS, 26G, 12ASST
KERVENS SAINT PAUL, SPEEDWAY 61PTS, 27G, 7ASST
JASPER MARTIN, CONNERSVILLE 59PTS, 25G, 9ASST
GRANT DOHERTY, MT. VERNON 57PTS, 25G, 7ASST
ELIJAH BRACE, CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 55PTS, 19G, 17ASST
KYLE CLAYTON, FISHERS 54PTS, 22G, 10ASST
JACOB HERTZ, SHAWE MEMORIAL 53PTS, 22G, 9ASST
OSCAR CANO, CULVER ACADEMIES 53PTS, 23G, 7ASST
ASHER DONAHUE, MUNCIE BURRIS 53PTS, 20G, 13ASST
FINN GRUVER, MUNCIE CENTRAL 52PTS, 19G, 14ASST
GRANT PORATH, BROWNSBURG 52PTS, 20G, 12ASST
RYOTARO NISHINA, CRAWFORDSVILLE 51PTS, 19G, 13ASST
PORTER PLEW, INDIANA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 51PTS, 24G, 3ASST
BRAYDEN STANLEY, DELTA 51PTS, 23G, 5ASST
NOAH WIKE, FWBC 51PTS, 24G, 3ASST
TYLER MCLAIN, MANCHESTER 50PTS, 22G, 6 ASST
ELLIOTT ZIMMERMAN, FWBC 48PTS, 18G, 12ASST
LUKE TERPSTRA, DEMOTTE CHRISTIAN 47PTS, 19G, 9ASST
MASON REEL, MISSISSINEWA 47PTS, 14G, 19ASST
NAMIK MEHIC, FORT WAYNE NORTHROP 47PTS, 20G, 7ASST
MAURO CASANOVA, BOONVILLE 47PTS, 23G, 1ASST
BRIAR ENGLISH,WHITE RIVER VALLEY 46PTS, 17G, 12ASST
IMANOL HERNANDEZ, DEKALB 46PTS, 18G, 10ASST
CALVIN KURZAWA, CATHEDRAL 45PTS, 17G, 11ASST
QUENTIN HESSE, PROVIDENCE 44PTS,18G, 8ASST
JOSH SEXTON, MUNCIE CENTRAL 42PTS, 18G, 6ASST
GIOVANNI GRANDA, HAMMOND NOLL 42PTS, 16G, 10ASST
RIJKARD UPCHRUCH, ROCK CREEK ACADEMY 41PTS, 17G, 7ASST
OWEN GILBERT, WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP 41PTS, 17G, 7ASST
DOLAN BLAKELY, NORTH MIAMI 41PTS, 15G, 11ASST
CALEB WHITE, JAC-CEN-DEL 41PTS, 18G, 5ASST
CAM MARX, EVANSVILLE MATER DEI 41PTS, 20G, 1ASST
LIAM HANNON, MUNCIE BURRIS 41PTS, 14G , 13ASST
BRAYDON LOUDERMILK, SOUTH KNOX 41PTS, 17G, 7ASST
BRODIE TEKE, SOUTH DEARBORN 41PTS, 16G, 9ASST
NICO COCHS, WESTVIEW 40PTS, 13G, 14ASST
ANES DERVISEVIC, FORT WAYNE NORTHROP 40PTS, 16G, 8ASST
TANNER BEST, SCOTTSBURG 40PTS, 19G, 2ASST
KYLE OTWOROWSKI, HANOVER CENTRAL 40PTS, 18G, 4 ASST
ALEX JENNINGS, PORTAGE 39PTS, 14G, 11ASST
CAYDEN HARDEBECK, BENTON CENTRAL 39PTS, 17G, 5ASST
ELLIOT SCOTTEN, PARK TUDOR 39PTS, 13G, 13ASST
TOP GOALKEEPERS
(MIN. 15 GAMES PLAYED)
GAA
GENE KLUSMEIER, LANESVILLE 0.000
WESTON MCCLINTIN, WAWASEE 0.000
BLAKE FRALEY, CHARLESTOWN 0.000
BROCK HOOK, CASTON 0.000
TIMOTHY RODDY, OWEN VALLEY 0.000
PARKER MALLOW, NORTH MIAMI 0.155
JORDIN JONES, GREENFIELD-CENTRAL 0.412
ZEKIEL ZUKLEY, HAMMOND NOLL 0.412
EVAN MEYER, VICTORY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 0.448
VALENTINO CEVESE WESTVIEW 0.487
AIDEN FURNISH, SWITZERLAND COUNTY 0.517
BOBBY STYCK, NORTHVIEW 0.522
ADAM KELEHER, CARMEL 0.530
ZACH FLEMING, NEW ALBANY 0.693
ANGELO BADALOW, ZIONSVILLE 0.727
ADRIAN CAMARENA, FORT WAYNE LUERS 0.714
ALEXIS GARCIA ALVAREZ, BEN DAVIS 0.772
CAM JONIEC, HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN 0.742
MICAH SYLTE, MISSISSINEWA 0.795
COLE THOMPSON, NOBLESVILLE 0.821
NOAH BALYEAT, MISHAWAKA MARIAN 0.850
TOMAS HERNANDEZ, GOSHEN 0.869
CHASE SPEARS, JASPER 0.879
BRANDON LOZA, CASTLE 0.879
BRADY SEATON, EVANSVILLE NORTH 0.886
NICK BOES, EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL 0.966
ISAIAH WAGGONER, OLDENBURG ACADEMY 0.981
SAVES
NATE ROBERTSON, MITCHELL 300
LUCAS TOPPE, SCOTTSBURG 273
SCOTTY ERIKS, HEBRON 261
BRYLAN HEDDEN, BENTON CENTRAL 255
DYLAN ALTIC, WAPAHANI 204
GENE KLUSMEIER, LANESVILLE 202
ANGELO ANDERS, TAYLOR 195
BRAYLON HAHN, GREENSBURG 187
BRAYDON KENNEDY, GARRETT 186
LAYTON DOLVIN, COLONIAL CHRISTIAN 182
BRAYDEN BORDERS, WHITE RIVER VALLEY 177
CARTER WICKER, LIBERTY CHRISTIAN 177
LUKE CANNON, LA PORTE 175
MATTHEW CARTER, CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 174
JORDIN JONES, GREENFIELD-CENTRAL 169
PORTER MISKE, INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN 162
GAGE GILBERT, SHOALS 160
ANDREW CHRISTMAN, NEW CASTLE 158
AIDEN WHITE, RISING SUN 152
EVAN MEYER, VICTORY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 150
DAKOTA C, BEECH GROVE 146
BRYCE GERLACH, CORYDON CENTRAL 145
TUCKER LOWE, MUNCIE CENTRAL 142
ALEC HUMMEL, MARION 142
SAM ZOLMAN, PRAIRIE HEIGHTS 140
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL WEEK 1
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
| BOYLE COUNTY (KY.) | AT | GIBSON SOUTHERN | 6:00 PM | ||
| CENTER GROVE | VS. | ST. EDWARD (OHIO) | 12:05 AM | ||
| SOUTHSIDE HOMESCHOOL | AT | PHALEN ACADEMY | 5:00 PM |
BIG 10 WEEKLY FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
WEEK 1
MINNESOTA VS. NEBRASKA
THURSDAY, AUG. 31
WISCONSIN VS. BUFFALO
MICHIGAN STATE VS. CENTRAL MICHIGAN
MICHIGAN VS. EAST CAROLINA
PURDUE VS. FRESNO STATE
RUTGERS VS. NORTHWESTERN
INDIANA VS. OHIO STATE
ILLINOIS VS. TOLEDO
MARYLAND VS. TOWSON
IOWA VS. UTAH STATE
PENN STATE VS. WEST VIRGINIA
WEEK 2
MARYLAND VS. CHARLOTTE
PENN STATE VS. DELAWARE
MINNESOTA VS. EASTERN MICHIGAN
ILLINOIS AT KANSAS
INDIANA VS. INDIANA STATE
IOWA AT IOWA STATE
NEBRASKA AT COLORADO
PURDUE AT VIRGINIA TECH
MICHIGAN STATE VS. RICHMOND
RUTGERS VS. TEMPLE
MICHIGAN VS. UNLV
NORTHWESTERN VS. UTEP
WISCONSIN AT WASHINGTON STATE
OHIO STATE VS. YOUNGSTOWN STATE
WEEK 3
MICHIGAN VS. BOWLING GREEN
WISCONSIN VS. GEORGIA SOUTHERN
INDIANA VS. LOUISVILLE (IN INDIANAPOLIS, IN)
MINNESOTA AT NORTH CAROLINA
NEBRASKA VS. NORTHERN ILLINOIS
NORTHWESTERN AT DUKE
ILLINOIS VS. PENN STATE
PURDUE VS. SYRACUSE
MARYLAND VS. VIRGINIA
RUTGERS VS. VIRGINIA TECH
MICHIGAN STATE VS. WASHINGTON
IOWA VS. WESTERN MICHIGAN
OHIO STATE VS. WESTERN KENTUCKY
WEEK 4
INDIANA VS. AKRON
ILLINOIS VS. FLORIDA ATLANTIC
PENN STATE VS. IOWA
NEBRASKA VS. LOUISIANA TECH
MICHIGAN STATE VS. MARYLAND
NORTHWESTERN VS. MINNESOTA
OHIO STATE AT NOTRE DAME
MICHIGAN VS. RUTGERS
PURDUE VS. WISCONSIN
WEEK 5
PURDUE VS. ILLINOIS
MARYLAND VS. INDIANA
MINNESOTA VS. LOUISIANA
NEBRASKA VS. MICHIGAN
IOWA VS. MICHIGAN STATE
NORTHWESTERN VS. PENN STATE
RUTGERS VS. WAGNER
WEEK 6
NORTHWESTERN VS. HOWARD
OHIO STATE VS. MARYLAND
MINNESOTA VS. MICHIGAN
ILLINOIS VS. NEBRASKA
IOWA VS. PURDUE
WISCONSIN VS. RUTGERS
WEEK 7
MARYLAND VS. ILLINOIS
MICHIGAN VS. INDIANA
WISCONSIN VS. IOWA
RUTGERS VS. MICHIGAN STATE
PURDUE VS. OHIO STATE
PENN STATE VS. UMASS
WEEK 8
MICHIGAN STATE VS. MICHIGAN
IOWA VS. MINNESOTA
NEBRASKA VS. NORTHWESTERN
OHIO STATE VS. PENN STATE
INDIANA VS. RUTGERS
ILLINOIS VS. WISCONSIN
WEEK 9
PENN STATE VS. INDIANA
NORTHWESTERN VS. MARYLAND
MINNESOTA VS. MICHIGAN STATE
WISCONSIN VS. OHIO STATE
NEBRASKA VS. PURDUE
WEEK 10
MINNESOTA VS. ILLINOIS
NORTHWESTERN VS. IOWA (IN CHICAGO, IL)
MICHIGAN STATE VS. NEBRASKA
RUTGERS VS. OHIO STATE
MARYLAND VS. PENN STATE
MICHIGAN VS. PURDUE
INDIANA VS. WISCONSIN
WEEK 11
ILLINOIS VS. INDIANA
NEBRASKA VS. MARYLAND
PENN STATE VS. MICHIGAN
OHIO STATE VS. MICHIGAN STATE
PURDUE VS. MINNESOTA
WISCONSIN VS. NORTHWESTERN
IOWA VS. RUTGERS
WEEK 12
IOWA VS. ILLINOIS
MARYLAND VS. MICHIGAN
INDIANA VS. MICHIGAN STATE
OHIO STATE VS. MINNESOTA
WISCONSIN VS. NEBRASKA
NORTHWESTERN VS. PURDUE
PENN STATE VS. RUTGERS
WEEK 13
NEBRASKA VS. IOWA
FRIDAY, NOV. 24
PURDUE VS. INDIANA
RUTGERS VS. MARYLAND
ILLINOIS VS. NORTHWESTERN
MICHIGAN VS. OHIO STATE
MICHIGAN STATE VS. PENN STATE
MINNESOTA VS. WISCONSIN
COLLEGE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
WEEK 0
SATURDAY, AUG. 26
NOTRE DAME VS. NAVY (DUBLIN, IRELAND) | 2:30 P.M. | NBC
MERCER VS. NORTH ALABAMA (MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA) | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN
JACKSONVILLE STATE VS. UTEP | 5:30 P.M. | CBSSN
NEW MEXICO STATE VS. UMASS | 7 P.M. | ESPN
SAN DIEGO STATE VS. OHIO | 7 P.M. | FS1
VANDERBILT VS. HAWAI’I | 7:30 P.M. | SEC NETWORK
JACKSON STATE VS. SOUTH CAROLINA STATE (ATLANTA, GEORGIA) | 7:30 P.M. | ABC
USC VS. SAN JOSE STATE | 8 P.M. | PAC-12 NETWORK
LOUISIANA TECH VS. FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL | 9 P.M. | CBSSN
WEEK 1
THURSDAY, AUG. 31
WAKE FOREST VS. ELON | 7 P.M. | ACC NETWORK
UCF VS. KENT STATE | 7 P.M. | FS1
GEORGIA STATE VS. RHODE ISLAND | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
WESTERN MICHIGAN VS. ST. FRANCIS (PA) | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
UCONN VS. NC STATE | 7:30 P.M. | CBSSN
MINNESOTA VS. NEBRASKA | 8 P.M. | FOX
MISSOURI VS. SOUTH DAKOTA | 8 P.M. | SEC NETWORK
UTAH VS. FLORIDA | 8 P.M. | ESPN
TULSA VS. ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF | 8 P.M. | ESPN+
UAB VS. NORTH CAROLINA A&T | 8 P.M. | ESPN+
ARIZONA STATE VS. SOUTHERN UTAH | 10 P.M. | PAC-12 NETWORK
FRIDAY, SEPT. 1
EASTERN MICHIGAN VS. HOWARD | 6:30 P.M. | ESPN+
MICHIGAN STATE VS. CENTRAL MICHIGAN | 7 P.M. | FS1
MIAMI (FLA.) VS. MIAMI (OHIO) | 7 P.M. | ACC NETWORK
GEORGIA TECH VS. LOUISVILLE (MERCEDES-BENZ STADIUM IN ATLANTA) | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN
KANSAS VS. MISSOURI STATE | 8 P.M. | ESPN+
HAWAI’I VS. STANFORD | 11 P.M. | CBSSN
SATURDAY, SEPT. 2
IOWA VS. UTAH STATE | 12 P.M. | FS1
KENTUCKY VS. BALL STATE | 12 P.M. | SEC NETWORK
LIBERTY VS. BOWLING GREEN | 12 P.M. | CBSSN
MICHIGAN VS. EAST CAROLINA | 12 P.M. | PEACOCK
PURDUE VS. FRESNO STATE | 12 P.M. | BIG TEN NETWORK
SMU VS. LOUISIANA TECH | 12 P.M. | ESPNU
TENNESSEE VS. VIRGINIA (NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE) | 12 P.M. | ABC
TCU VS. COLORADO | 12 P.M. | FOX
BOSTON COLLEGE VS. NORTHERN ILLINOIS | 12 P.M. | ACC NETWORK
OKLAHOMA VS. ARKANSAS STATE | 12 P.M. | ESPN
OLE MISS VS. MERCER | 2 P.M. | ESPN+/SECN+
IOWA STATE VS. UNI | 2 P.M. | ESPN+
TEMPLE VS. AKRON | 2 P.M. | ESPN+
OHIO VS. LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY | 2 P.M. | ESPN+
AIR FORCE VS. ROBERT MORRIS | 2 P.M. | ALTITUDE SPORTS
OREGON VS. PORTLAND STATE | 3 P.M. | PAC-12 NETWORK
INDIANA VS. OHIO STATE | 3:30 P.M. | CBS
AUBURN VS. UMASS | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN
MARYLAND VS. TOWSON | 3:30 P.M. | BIG TEN NETWORK
WISCONSIN VS. BUFFALO | 3:30 P.M. | FS1
WESTERN KENTUCKY VS. SOUTH FLORIDA | 3:30 P.M. | CBSSN
WASHINGTON VS. BOISE STATE | 3:30 P.M. | ABC
NOTRE DAME VS. TENNESSEE STATE | 3:30 P.M. | NBC
PITT VS. WOFFORD | 3:30 P.M. | ACC NETWORK
CINCINNATI VS. EASTERN KENTUCKY | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+
TEXAS VS. RICE | 3:30 P.M. | FOX
APPALACHIAN STATE VS. GARDNER-WEBB | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+
ARKANSAS VS. WESTERN CAROLINA | 4 P.M. | ESPN+/SECN+
MISSISSIPPI STATE VS. SE LOUISIANA | 4 P.M. | SEC NETWORK
NORTH TEXAS VS. CAL | 4 P.M. | ESPNU
SYRACUSE VS. COLGATE | 4 P.M. | ESPN+/ACCNX
GEORGIA VS. UT MARTIN | 6 P.M. | ESPN+/SECN+
CHARLOTTE VS. SOUTH CAROLINA STATE | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
FLORIDA ATLANTIC VS. MONMOUTH | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
GEORGIA SOUTHERN VS. THE CITADEL | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
JAMES MADISON VS. BUCKNELL | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
MARSHALL VS. ALBANY | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL VS. MAINE | 6:30 P.M. | ESPN+
USC VS. NEVADA | 6:30 P.M. | PAC-12 NETWORK
TEXAS A&M VS. NEW MEXICO | 7 P.M. | ESPN
UL MONROE VS. ARMY | 7 P.M. | NFL NETWORK
VANDERBILT VS. ALABAMA A&M | 7 P.M. | ESPN+/SECN+
COLORADO STATE VS. WASHINGTON STATE | 7 P.M. | CBSSN
BAYLOR VS. TEXAS STATE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
HOUSTON VS. UTSA | 7 P.M. | FS1
KANSAS STATE VS. SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
OKLAHOMA STATE VS. CENTRAL ARKANSAS | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
MEMPHIS VS. BETHUNE-COOKMAN | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
SOUTHERN MISS VS. ALCORN STATE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
TROY VS. STEPHEN F. AUSTIN | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
ALABAMA VS. MIDDLE TENNESSEE | 7:30 P.M. | SEC NETWORK
ILLINOIS VS. TOLEDO | 7:30 P.M. | BIG TEN NETWORK
SOUTH CAROLINA VS. NORTH CAROLINA (CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA) | 7:30 P.M. | ABC
PENN STATE VS. WEST VIRGINIA | 7:30 P.M. | NBC
WYOMING VS. TEXAS TECH | 7:30 P.M. | CBS
LOUISIANA VS. NORTHWESTERN STATE | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN+
VIRGINIA TECH VS. OLD DOMINION | 8 P.M. | ACC NETWORK
TULANE VS. SOUTH ALABAMA | 8 P.M. | ESPNU
NEW MEXICO STATE VS. WESTERN ILLINOIS | 9 P.M. | ESPN+
UTEP VS. UIW | 9 P.M. | ESPN+
ARIZONA VS. NORTHERN ARIZONA | 10 P.M. | PAC-12 NETWORK
BYU VS. SAM HOUSTON | 10:15 P.M. | FS1
UCLA VS. COASTAL CAROLINA | 10:30 P.M. | ESPN
SAN DIEGO STATE VS. IDAHO STATE | 10:30 P.M. | CBSSN
SUNDAY, SEPT. 3
RUTGERS VS. NORTHWESTERN | 12 P.M. | CBS
SAN JOSE STATE VS. OREGON STATE | 3:30 P.M. | CBS
FLORIDA STATE VS. LSU (ORLANDO, FLORIDA) | 7:30 P.M. | ABC
MONDAY, SEPT. 4
DUKE VS. CLEMSON | 8 P.M. | ESPN
NFL PRE-SEASON SCHEDULE
NFL/HALL OF FAME GAME – AUGUST 3
N.Y. JETS VS. CLEVELAND (NBC), 8:00
WEEK 1
THURSDAY, AUGUST 10
HOUSTON AT NEW ENGLAND, 7:00
MINNESOTA AT SEATTLE, 10:00
FRIDAY, AUGUST 11
N.Y. GIANTS AT DETROIT, 7:00
GREEN BAY AT CINCINNATI, 7:00
ATLANTA AT MIAMI, 7:00
PITTSBURGH AT TAMPA BAY, 7:00
WASHINGTON AT CLEVELAND, 7:30
DENVER AT ARIZONA, 10:00
SATURDAY, AUGUST 12
INDIANAPOLIS AT BUFFALO, 1:00
TENNESSEE AT CHICAGO, 1:00
N.Y. JETS AT CAROLINA, 4:00
JACKSONVILLE AT DALLAS, 5:00
PHILADELPHIA AT BALTIMORE, 7:00
L.A. CHARGERS AT L.A. RAMS, 9:00
SUNDAY, AUGUST 13
KANSAS CITY AT NEW ORLEANS, 1:00
SAN FRANCISCO AT LAS VEGAS, 4:00
WEEK 2
THURSDAY, AUGUST 17
CLEVELAND AT PHILADELPHIA, 7:30
FRIDAY, AUGUST 18
CAROLINA AT N.Y. GIANTS, 7:00
CINCINNATI AT ATLANTA, 7:30
SATURDAY, AUGUST 19
JACKSONVILLE AT DETROIT, 1:00
MIAMI AT HOUSTON, 4:00
BUFFALO AT PITTSBURGH, 6:30
CHICAGO AT INDIANAPOLIS, 7:00
TAMPA BAY AT N.Y. JETS, 7:30
KANSAS CITY AT ARIZONA, 8:00
NEW ENGLAND AT GREEN BAY, 8:00
TENNESSEE AT MINNESOTA, 8:00
DENVER AT SAN FRANCISCO, 8:30
LAS VEGAS AT L.A. RAMS, 9:00
DALLAS AT SEATTLE, 10:00
SUNDAY, AUGUST 20
NEW ORLEANS AT L.A. CHARGERS, 7:05
MONDAY, AUGUST 21
BALTIMORE AT WASHINGTON (ESPN), 8:00
WEEK 3
THURSDAY, AUGUST 24
PITTSBURGH AT ATLANTA, 7:30
INDIANAPOLIS AT PHILADELPHIA (PRIME VIDEO), 8:00
FRIDAY, AUGUST 25
DETROIT AT CAROLINA (CBS), 8:00
NEW ENGLAND AT TENNESSEE, 8:15
L.A. CHARGERS AT SAN FRANCISCO, 10:00
SATURDAY, AUGUST 26
BUFFALO AT CHICAGO, 1:00
SEATTLE AT GREEN BAY, 1:00
CLEVELAND AT KANSAS CITY, 1:00
ARIZONA AT MINNESOTA, 1:00
N.Y. JETS AT N.Y. GIANTS, 6:00
CINCINNATI AT WASHINGTON, 6:05
MIAMI AT JACKSONVILLE, 7:00
BALTIMORE AT TAMPA BAY, 7:00
LAS VEGAS AT DALLAS, 8:00
L.A. RAMS AT DENVER, 9:00
SUNDAY, AUGUST 27
HOUSTON AT NEW ORLEANS (FOX), 8:00
WEEK 1 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE
DETROIT LIONS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (THU) 7:20P (CT) 8:20P NBC
CAROLINA PANTHERS AT ATLANTA FALCONS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P FOX
HOUSTON TEXANS AT BALTIMORE RAVENS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P CBS
CINCINNATI BENGALS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P CBS
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P FOX
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS 12:00P (CT) 1:00P CBS
TENNESSEE TITANS AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 12:00P (CT) 1:00P CBS
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P FOX
ARIZONA CARDINALS AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P FOX
GREEN BAY PACKERS AT CHICAGO BEARS 3:25P (CT) 4:25P FOX
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS AT DENVER BRONCOS 2:25P (MT) 4:25P CBS
MIAMI DOLPHINS AT LOS ANGELES CHARGERS 1:25P (PT) 4:25P CBS
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 4:25P (ET) 4:25P CBS
LOS ANGELES RAMS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 1:25P (PT) 4:25P FOX
DALLAS COWBOYS AT NEW YORK GIANTS 8:20P (ET) 8:20P NBC
BUFFALO BILLS AT NEW YORK JETS (MON) 8:15P (ET) 8:15P ESPN/ABC
TOP NATIONAL RELEASES/HEADLINES
NFL NEWS
BENGALS QB JOE BURROW COULD MISS ‘SEVERAL WEEKS’ WITH CALF STRAIN, COACH TAYLOR SAYS
CINCINNATI (AP) Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow could miss “several weeks” with a right calf strain, coach Zac Taylor said Friday.
The 26-year-old franchise quarterback hobbled on one leg and then went to the ground after a scramble play near the end of Thursday’s practice. He rode off the field in a medical cart.
“It will take several weeks, and that’s all the information we have,” Taylor said.
Burrow did not practice Friday, with backup QBs Jake Browning and Trevor Siemian taking the snaps. The Bengals play their first preseason game on Aug. 11 and open the regular season Sept. 10.
Taylor said Burrow “has seen the doctors” and was present for meetings at the team’s training facility Friday. The quarterback was wearing a compression sleeve on his right calf when he pulled up with the injury, but Taylor said Friday he was unaware there was anything wrong before that play.
Burrow is still negotiating with the Bengals on a long-term contract that could make him one of the NFL’s highest-paid players.
The team’s top draft pick in 2020 had talked Wednesday about how good he felt at the opening of camp after his first three NFL training camps were disrupted and how he hoped to play in some preseason games.
Preseason practice was truncated in Burrow’s rookie year in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic. In 2001, he was still rehabbing after knee surgery the previous December. On the first day of camp last year, he was stricken with appendicitis.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR BENGALS AFTER JOE BURROW CALF INJURY
On the first day of Cincinnati Bengals’ training camp, star quarterback Joe Burrow took a snap, pump faked and rolled out to his right before pulling up with a non-contact injury that forced him to limp off the field.
While non-contact injuries are often serious, Bengals coach Zac Taylor told members of the media on Friday Burrow is dealing with a calf strain that will require him to miss “several weeks” of practice time, which is good news given the potential outcome.
With Burrow in the midst of contract extension negotiations, and the regular season just more than a month away, there is a possibility the former first-overall pick will miss the beginning of the season.
Considering Cincinnati’s sky high aspirations this season, missing their Pro Bowl quarterback for any amount of time in the regular season would have a significant negative impact.
The 33rd Team contributor Mike Tannenbaum believes the Bengals should begin looking into improving their backup quarterback situation.
“You want to have as strong a backup as possible,” Tannenbaum said. “The Bengals are a legitimate Super Bowl contender, so even though it appears that Cincinnati got good news in the last 24 hours, I’d still look to upgrade the QB2 position.”
The Bengals have two other quarterbacks on their roster in Trevor Siemian and Jake Browning. Siemian has a 15-20 record as a starter across eight seasons, and Browning has never thrown a pass in an NFL game.
While Cincinnati’s staff looks heavily into its backup quarterback situation, it’ll also likely continue contract extension talks with Burrow. In The 33rd Team contributor Joe Banner’s opinion, Burrow’s injury shouldn’t have any impact on him and the Bengals agreeing to a new deal.
“The calf injury shouldn’t change anything with Burrow’s future contract extension, and it won’t,” Banner said.
“If I were running the organization, I’d actually run out to get the deal done as soon as possible as a sign of good faith. And I’d expect Joe, who is from Ohio and loyal to the organization, to quickly come to an agreement with the club.
“Yes, the deal is close to done — and they are going to eventually do it anyway. But doing it now makes a great statement to your team leader for the next decade.”
With young quarterbacks Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts and Justin Herbert all inking big-money extensions this offseason that will pay them $51 million or more annually, do not expect Burrow to command anything less, even if his calf injury persists through the beginning of the regular season.
ANALYSIS: RUNNING BACKS CONTRACT SQUABBLES COULD LEAD TO LOCKER ROOM DISSENSION
Saquon Barkley worked out his contract squabble with the New York Giants and showed up for training camp. Josh Jacobs is holding out with the Las Vegas Raiders. Le’Veon Bell once sat out the entire season after getting the franchise tag.
Different running backs. Same problem. No solution on the horizon.
NFL teams have devalued running backs to the point where Bell’s franchise total just five years ago was significantly higher at $14.5 million. The tag for Barkley, Jacobs and Dallas’ Tony Pollard was $10.1 million this season.
Bell played on the franchise tag in 2017 but sat out the following year in Pittsburgh and ended up going to the New York Jets. The two-time All-Pro wasn’t the same player he was with the Steelers and ended up bouncing around from Kansas City to Baltimore to Tampa Bay.
“My franchise tag was 14.5 and I walked away from it,” Bell said on the AP Pro Football Podcast. “It’s a respect thing. You told me you were going to do this for me but you didn’t. … I could’ve just ignored it, went inside the locker room and had been playing. But that wouldn’t have made me happy and I’m sure inside the locker room, everybody would’ve felt it and, as a team, we wouldn’t have been good. I feel that’s the same with Saquon. He’s trying to be the best he can, but obviously deep down, he’s not happy because he wanted to be compensated. He still wants his teammates to be good so he showed up.”
Barkley and the Giants agreed on a one-year deal that raised his contract value to $11 million with incentives. He had threatened to skip the season because the Giants didn’t give him a long-term deal but he had a change of heart.
“I could sit here and lie to you and be like, ‘I wasn’t disappointed, I wasn’t this and that and the third,’” Barkley said. “That would just be a flat-out lie. But I am mature enough to understand that it’s a business and understand that deals don’t get done every year.”
Barkley accounted for 29.1% of New York’s offense last year but he watched the Giants give quarterback Daniel Jones ($160 million) and left tackle Andrew Thomas ($117.5 million) big money while he had no leverage.
Barkley said all the right things Thursday and isn’t holding any grudges.
“I’m all about my teammates and my brothers getting paid,” he said. “I’m all about success coming to them. … Those guys deserve it. I’m so happy for them. You see all throughout the league, there are people that get paid every single year, and I’m happy for those guys, too. But what I will say, for the running back position, not speaking necessarily on my teammates that got signed, there are a lot of running backs out here that are pivotal, key points to teams having success in this league, and helping teams have success in this league. The way that we are getting devalued, it’s not fair at all. But life’s not fair.”
There was no anger or bitterness in Barkley’s voice when he spoke to reporters. It speaks to his strong character. But it’s natural for members of the position group to express frustration and disappointment. Austin Ekeler, Nick Chubb, Christian McCaffrey, Najee Harris and others have spoken out. They met virtually last week to discuss ways to remedy the situation.
Some guys have quietly pointed out to The Associated Press and questioned why some injury-prone players at other positions got lucrative contracts. That’s a departure from the old code players have among themselves. Don’t begrudge someone else getting paid.
“I thought it was an unwritten rule,” said Bell, who recently partnered with OnlyFans to promote his new career in music and boxing. “I thought you weren’t supposed to count other people’s money but when it was my turn, everybody was in my pocket worried about what I was making.”
On some teams, that could lead to dissension in the locker room.
“It subconsciously affects it,” Bell said.
It’s not a concern in New York because Barkley has handled his business professionally. Time will tell how it plays out in other cities.
MIKE MCDANIEL CONFIDENT IN DOLPHINS’ CB DEPTH AMID JALEN RAMSEY INJURY
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Jalen Ramsey, set for surgery on Friday, addressed his Miami Dolphins teammates a day earlier about the injury and told them not to worry or feel sorry for him.
The six-time Pro Bowl cornerback suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee at the end of Thursday’s practice and is expected to miss the start of the regular season. But he vowed — bragged a little — that he could beat whatever timeline for return doctors give him.
“It really moved a lot of people,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Friday. “He first let everybody know how much he appreciated this team, how this team has accepted him, how he has been in the league a little bit and how he knows what we’re doing here, in his opinion, is special, for his position group not to waiver, and exuded all the confidence that he had in that position group.”
McDaniel said Ramsey will have surgery Friday afternoon to repair the tear and his timeline for return won’t be known until the procedure is complete.
The injury happened during an 11-on-11 drill during Miami’s second practice of training camp. McDaniel said it was a non-contact injury that happened while he was matched up against receiver Tyreek Hill. Ramsey and Hill collided on the play, but the injury, McDaniel clarified, happened before the contact.
“That end of the season push (will) be legendary!” Ramsey tweeted Thursday night.
Miami acquired the All-Pro cornerback Ramsey in a trade with the Los Angeles Rams in March.
When veteran players reported to training camp on Monday, Ramsey spoke of the potential of the Dolphins defense, which is adjusting to a new scheme under defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
“I’ve been a part of his defense for the past three years so I kind of know how to play it,” Ramsey said. “I know what’s needed to play this defense and be one of the best defenses in the league and be elite. And we got all the pieces — edge rushers to the secondary. We even got the linebackers and all that. Like I said, I don’t compare, but I look at other teams I’ve been a part of and I feel like we, on paper, we stack up well. But the work comes first.”
The Dolphins dealt with several injuries at the cornerback position last season. Veteran cornerback Xavien Howard played through groin injuries all year.
Byron Jones missed the entire season after having surgery on his Achilles tendon. The Dolphins cut him earlier this year in a cost-cutting move.
Trill Williams tore the ACL in his left knee during the preseason. Nik Needham tore his Achilles last October.
Williams and safety Brandon Jones are still working their way back from their respective season-ending injuries.
McDaniel said he’s confident in the team’s cornerback room, which also includes Kader Kohou, who had a breakout 2022 season as an undrafted rookie free agent, Keion Crossen and 2020 first-round pick Noah Igbinoghene.
Earlier this week, Howard pointed to Kohou as a player to watch as camp opened.
“My boy, Kader. Dude is a straight dawg,” Howard said. “His mentality he has, just being an undrafted guy, I continue to see him grow and get better on the field.”
Miami also drafted cornerback Cam Smith in the second round in April to add more depth. Smith’s role will likely increase in Ramsey’s absence.
“I feel good about the entire crew,” McDaniel said. “We are dealing with some injuries now in that group, but I feel very, very, very good about the competition there and the guys that are ready to go see some more opportunities.”
With the cornerback room not at full strength, McDaniel said the team will work out a cornerback soon for “depth purposes.”
Notes: McDaniel said linebacker Jaelan Phillips was “stepped on” during the first practice of training camp. McDaniel said the team is not worried about the injury, but it would “not be healed” if he continues practicing with it. Phillips did not practice Thursday. … Crossen has an undisclosed injury and will not practice Friday. … McDaniel said he’s happy with Miami’s running back group as the Dolphins continue to be linked to Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook.
FREE AGENT RB DALVIN COOK STILL HAS MIAMI ON HIS MIND
The compass for free agent running back Dalvin Cook is pointing toward the AFC East.
Cook will visit the New York Jets this weekend. And he also has his eye on Miami as a potential landing spot with the Dolphins, he told NFL Network on Friday.
Cook, who turns 28 next month, was born in Miami and played his high school ball in the city before moving on to Florida State. He was linked with the Dolphins following his release from the Minnesota Vikings on June 9 but a deal hasn’t materialized.
“Playing in my hometown would mean so much for me, for my community, for my family, for just everything around,” Cook told NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” Friday morning. “It’s a Cinderella story. It’s just something that’ll bring so much joy to the city, and I know what I can bring to the city. So it’ll be big for the city and myself.”
For now, the focus is on his trip to Jets headquarters in Florham Park, N.J. Cook potentially could pair with his former NFC North rival, quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and the idea intrigues him.
“It’s a unique situation because I feel like they’re building something special over there,” Cook said. “You always want to be around a great QB. You always want to be around somebody that you can pick his brain and learn from. A-Rod’s a four-time MVP. Being around a guy like that, you can learn a lot more and develop as a player.”
Even though Miami remains a dream, the reality is that Cook could sign with the Jets soon.
“I want to be part of something special as a player,” he told NFL Network. “And I want to add to whatever they got going on. I think the possibility is high, right now, of getting things done,” he said on the odds he winds up in New York.
Cook is a four-time Pro Bowl selection. He had shoulder surgery on Feb. 14, the latest in a series of major shoulder issues that include a dislocation and a torn labrum.
He was set to earn $11 million in 2023 with the Vikings. Cook rushed for 5,024 yards and scored 43 touchdowns the past four seasons.
5 PLAYERS WHO NEED TO DOMINATE NFL TRAINING CAMPS THIS YEAR
Preseason games are pointless. Training camp is pretty much a waste of time.
I’ve heard fans, and even the media, utter some form of these sentiments many times through the years. Heck, I’ve even listened to some established players say it in private.
As a former journeyman offensive lineman who played for five teams in seven NFL seasons, I can tell you nothing can be further from the truth, at least for guys like me who were competing for a starting job or a roster spot every year.
In my world, training camp and the preseason were even more important than the regular season because there was no regular season for me if I didn’t perform in the six weeks leading up to it.
That said, there are plenty of bigger names who need to have a good training camp and preseason. Here are a few guys who jump out to me as needing to play their best football this August.
Players in Need of Strong Camp
Mac Jones, QB, New England Patriots
Is it time for the “Return of the Mac” in New England?
With a stellar camp, fans and media alike will be more than happy to blame last year’s offensive coordinator — Matt Patricia — for the debacle that was Mac Jones and the passing game in 2022.
With a lousy camp, those same folks might call for Bailey Zappe to replace the former first-round pick whose performance dropped off in Year 2 after an excellent rookie campaign in 2021.
Either way, the pressure is on for Jones this August.
Chase Claypool, WR, Chicago Bears
Perhaps nobody needs Chase Claypool to have a better camp and preseason leading into the regular season than Chicago Bears second-year general manager Ryan Poles.
Poles traded what ended up being the top pick in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for Claypool, knowing he only had 1.5 years left on his rookie contract.
Claypool proceeded to catch 14 passes in seven games the remainder of the season, as the Bears lost game after game on their way to securing the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft and the No. 32 pick, which was the equivalent of a first-round pick. However, that pick went to Pittsburgh due to the Claypool trade.
Poles is desperately hoping Claypool can prove he is worthy of a new contract so that it doesn’t go down as one of the worst trades in NFL history. That starts with Claypool staying healthy and establishing a much better rapport with Bears quarterback Justin Fields during camp.
Rashaad Penny, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
Rashaad Penny falls into the Trey Lance category of having both a high ceiling and low floor for his career based on how this season, starting with training camp and the preseason, goes.
Penny has been outstanding the past couple of years when healthy. He’s establishing himself as one of the best running backs in the NFL for brief stretches, ranking No. 1 among eligible ball carriers in yards after contact.
Unfortunately, he just hasn’t stayed healthy, getting injured every season of his first five.
If Penny shows he is healthy and still has his explosiveness, he could have a massive season behind arguably the best offensive line in the NFL. Given his injury history, the Philadelphia Eagles probably won’t give him bell-cow-type touches, but the possibility still exists for an All-Pro campaign.
Conversely, if Penny gets dinged during camp and doesn’t appear to have fully regained his burst after last year’s tibia fracture, he could get cut.
Michael Thomas, WR, New Orleans Saints
Remember this guy? He’s actually still in the NFL and still on the New Orleans Saints. According to coach Dennis Allen, Michael Thomas is 100 percent for training camp, even though it feels like he retired a couple of years ago.
Since leading the NFL with 149 receptions and 1725 yards in 2019, Thomas has played in a grand total of 10 football games in the last three years — 10.
He is only 30 and was known more for his body control, hands and route running than his speed when he was at the top of his game. A good camp could allow the Saints to feel like they are all set with Thomas and fellow former Ohio State Buckeye Chris Olave at wide receiver.
That should remove question marks about whether or not New Orleans should add another pass catcher outside.
Trey Lance, QB, San Francisco 49ers
The myriad of possibilities for the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft seem endless at this point. It wouldn’t be shocking that with a great camp and preseason, Trey Lance could be the starting quarterback for one of the NFC favorites.
However, that seems unlikely, with the San Francisco 49ers announcing that Brock Purdy is 100 percent good to go to start training camp after elbow surgery.
Conversely, if Lance struggles, one realistic option for the 49ers would be to trade him for pennies on the dollar. Still, with the new rule allowing three quarterbacks to dress on game day combined with the NFC Championship Game fiasco in Philadelphia last season, that seems unlikely.
I’m most interested in the scenario in which Lance performs well but still doesn’t beat out Purdy for the starting job. Are there teams that would trade something of value to bring Lance in to compete for their starting job, or at least give the team another viable option should their incumbent falter?
Either way, Lance needs to show he still has the ability the 49ers saw when they drafted him so high and put himself in a position to get playing time somewhere.
NFL PREVIEW: NFC NORTH
The Lions face expectations, the Vikings are the defending champs, the Packers are rebuilding and the Bears look to take a step up. Here are nine summer thoughts on the NFC North.
DETROIT
*The Lions not only finished last year strong, but they had what looks like a good offseason. Detroit drafted Sam LaPorta, the best tight end in college football. They added Jahmyr Gibbs, a speedy running back from Alabama. And for more running game help, they raided Chicago to get David Montgomery. The quarterback, Jared Goff, has had an interesting career. He’s been a #1 overall pick with the Rams, gotten his team to a Super Bowl and then been cut loose. Goff, in a way, is a perfect microcosm of his team—he’s got all the pieces in place, there’s reason for optimism, but it’s hard to know what to make of him.
*There’s plenty to love about the pass-rushing combo at defensive end, with Aidan Hutchinson and James Houston. The duo, both coming off strong rookie campaigns, key up what promises to be a strong pass rush. I like the draft move to add linebacker Jack Campbell, the Butkus Award winner, who can stabilize the middle. The defense as a whole ranked 28th in the league in points allowed last year and they still nearly made the playoffs. It won’t take much improvement to make a difference in the W-L column.
MINNESOTA
*I generally don’t get too excited about wide receivers, seeing most of them as a product of the quarterback they play with. But there are exceptions and Justin Jefferson is clearly one of them. This is an offense that didn’t run the ball well last year. And while Kirk Cousins is good enough at quarterback, the reason the Vikings ended up 8th in the league in points scored is Jefferson. When you consider that Minnesota didn’t run the ball, didn’t play defense, won a lot of close games through their passing game, and ran away with the division title, it’s fair to ask why Jefferson didn’t get at least some consideration in the MVP voting.
*Head coach Kevin O’Connell was all too aware of the defensive shortcomings, ones that led to Minnesota’s now-predictable first-round playoff flameout. O’Connell hired Brian Flores to run the defense and the expectation is that the Vikings will bring more pressure. That should be music to the ears of Danielle Hunter on the edge. And Flores will need Harrison Smith, one of the league’s great strong safeties, but now 33-years-old, to keep producing.
GREEN BAY
*The Jordan Love era begins in Green Bay. The Packers are counting on quantity to produce quality at the receiver spots—they’ve picked seven wide receivers in the last three drafts, four of them in the fourth round or higher. Green Bay has also attempted to be more physical in the running game since the arrival of head coach Matt LaFleur in 2019. They have a tough duo in A.J. Dillon and Aaron Jones, and a healthy David Bakhtiari will be good for the offensive line. What no one knows is how much the running game of recent years was facilitated by the presence of Rodgers. If LaFleur wants to keep the pressure off of Love, he’ll have to find some way of preventing opposing defenses from stacking the box and going one-on-one with the young receivers.
*While the Packers have invested Draft Day quantity on receivers lately, they’ve used their money picks on defense. In 2022, it was Quay Walker and Devonte Wyatt from Georgia, a program known to play a little defense of late. This past spring it was Lukas Van Ness out of Iowa, another historically good defensive school. But Van Ness will have to go through something of a conversion, from defensive end to outside linebacker. It’s hardly an unprecedented move, but it should temper expectations in this first year. Which means coordinator Joe Barry, on a hot seat after producing the 17th-ranked unit last year, should keep that resume updated.
CHICAGO
*It’s a big year for Justin Fields. With the #1 pick in the draft and the chance to get Bryce Young from Alabama, the Bears instead stayed with Fields and dealt the pick to get more help elsewhere. I think it was the right move. But, with all candor, my record judging quarterbacks is about as good as that of Chicago’s front office. The draft-day trade gave Fields a true #1 receiver in D.J. Moore. But free agency also cost them Montgomery, as noted above. This is Fields’ third year and improvement has to start by cutting down on the mistakes. His 3.5% interception rate needs to be cut in half.
*The Bears made some good moves on the defensive side of the ball. They hit the free agent market and added Tremaine Edmund and T.J. Edwards. Coming from Buffalo and Philadelphia respectively, the new additions not only provide a significant talent upgrade, but they come from winning cultures, often the hardest thing for a long-suffering franchise like Chicago’s to shed.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS
BELEAGUERED PAC-12 SAYS IT WILL PURSUE EXPANSION WITH COLORADO, USC AND UCLA ALL LEAVING NEXT YEAR
The Pac-12 Conference issued a statement aimed at stability after Colorado became the third school in a year to announce plans to leave. The nine schools remaining for the 2024-25 season were largely silent Friday.
Colorado on Thursday announced it would join the Big 12 beginning in 2024, joining Big Ten-bound Southern California and UCLA in an exodus that could continue in coming weeks and months. Their departures coincide with the expiration of the league’s current media rights deals and the Pac-12 has not yet announced a lucrative deal going forward.
Shortly after CU’s regents approved the move to the Big 12, the Pac-12 issued a statement pledging to soldier on. Possible Pac-12 expansion targets could include San Diego State and SMU.
“We are focused on concluding our media rights deal and securing our continued success and growth,” the Pac-12 said. “Immediately following the conclusion of our media rights deal, we will embrace expansion opportunities and bring new fans, markets, excitement and value to the Pac-12.”
The Pac-12’s media rights contract expires at the end of the 2023-24 academic year, and Commissioner George Kliavkoff has not noted any progress in landing a new deal.
Oregon State was the only Pac-12 school to comment following the Colorado announcement. A founding member of the league in 1915, Oregon State is considered one of the least likely schools to be poached by another conference.
“Oregon State Athletics trusts that the Pac-12 will secure a media rights deal that will strongly benefit the institutions that are remaining loyal to this conference,” Oregon State athletic director Scott Barnes said. “All of us at Oregon State will continue to work hard and diligently to continue the long-term membership and success of our athletic department at a national level.”
Oregon State President Jayathi Murthy said his school joins other members in reaffirming its commitment to the Pac-12.
“We are united by our shared values, our passion for the highest level of intercollegiate athletic competition, our leadership roles as Tier 1 research universities and our support for student-athletes’ academic and athletic excellence,” Murthy said.
The administrations and athletic departments at Utah and Washington declined comment. Arizona State, California and Washington State athletic departments also declined comment, as did the Arizona president’s office.
Oregon and Stanford did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Arizona, Arizona State and Utah are believed to be potential targets for further Big 12 expansion, though those schools publicly committed to the Pac-12 prior to Colorado’s announced departure. The Big 12 has a six-year, $2 billion contract that is projected to net annual revenue of $31 million for each school.
Under then-Commissioner Kevin Warren, the Big Ten still had eyes out west even after landing USC and UCLA, with Oregon and Washington having the most appeal of the remaining Pac-12 schools. But Warren is gone now and his replacement, Tony Pettit, said earlier this week that the Big Ten isn’t eager to expand more.
COLUMN: A BOLD PROGNOSTICATION OF WHAT COLLEGE FOOTBALL WILL LOOK LIKE A DECADE FROM NOW
As that sage philosopher Yogi Berra supposedly opined, “It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future.”
Not to worry.
We’re diving right in with a bold forecast of where college football is headed over the next decade, with the caveat that we’ve got about as much chance of getting this right as landing a ticket to a Taylor Swift concert. Here goes:
2023 — After breaking all box office records, “Barbie” gets invitations from both the Southeastern Conference and Big Ten. She politely declines, deciding it’s more profitable for now to remain on a twin bill with “Oppenheimer.” Nevertheless, Mattel begins exploring whether to add a pink stadium to its line of Barbie products.
2024 — In previously announced moves, Texas and Oklahoma move to the SEC, Southern Cal and UCLA join the Big Ten, and Colorado returns to the Big 12. The Big Ten also adds Washington and Oregon, the Big 12 picks off Arizona, Arizona State and Utah, and the Pac-12 changes its name to the Pac-4. The “Conference of Champions” finally lands a TV deal, agreeing to a 12-year, $17.50 package with ESPN8, The Ocho.
2025 — In a stunning move, Elon Musk pays $44 billion for the Pac-4, rebrands it Conference X, shoos away its last four members and hires Joe Rogan as commissioner. With membership down to zero, the league insists that it remains a viable entity but still gets dropped from the College Football Playoff (which no one realized it was eligible for, anyway).
2026 — The World Cup comes to the United States, so naturally the SEC seizes the moment by grabbing France, Germany and Italy for its new European Division before their squads can return home. Not to be outdone, the Big Ten expands further westward with clubs from Japan, South Korea and Australia.
2027 — After realizing that France, Germany, Italy play a different kind of football, an embarrassed SEC disbands its European Division. But the Big Ten doubles down, growing to 106 teams playing several variations of football on every continent, including the newly founded University of Antarctica (which, with rapidly warming temperatures, has become a trendy destination for high school grads). The league announces a new $1.7 quadrillion television package that will allow it to show a weekly block of games from 6 a.m. Saturday until midnight Friday.
2028 — Perturbed at the Big Ten for expanding into its South Pole footprint, the SEC swipes Clemson, Florida State, Miami from the Atlantic Coast Conference. The remaining ACC members drop their football programs, finally acknowledging they really are a basketball league.
2029 — Notre Dame ends its decades-long tease by deciding to join a football conference. Still mad at being blackballed from the Big Ten by former Michigan coach Fielding Yost (who died in 1946) and realistic that they have no chance of beating anyone in the SEC beyond Vanderbilt, the Fighting Irish announce they are headed to the Big 12.
2030 — Suddenly realizing that the Big 12 still exists, and had actually grown to 32 members with the addition of Notre Dame, the Big Ten and SEC swoop in to divvy up a bunch of schools that neither conference really wants. Asked why they executed this disgraceful power play against a league with more survival skills than Bear Grylls (who, coincidentally, had been named head of the Big 12 a few years earlier), commissioners Greg Sankey and Tony Petitti issue a simple joint statement: “Spite.”
2031 — Angry at the demise of the Big 12, not to mention its 70-7 loss to Baylor in the conference’s final championship game, Notre Dame returns to being an independent. But the Fighting Irish promise to explore the possibility of joining either the Big Ten or SEC in the near future. We’ll check back around 2050.
2032 — The major college landscape now consists of only two super, duper conferences. The College Football Playoff expands to 48 teams, split evenly between the SEC and Big Ten. Even with all those schools, the title game is all too familiar: Georgia vs. Alabama. The Crimson Tide wins its fifth in the last decade (the Bulldogs had claimed the other five) and rewards 81-year-old Nick Saban with a 25-year, $500 million contract extension. Saban, who has purchased most of neighboring north Georgia to build second, third and fourth vacation homes, grumbles about the ruinous effects of NIL on the college game.
2033 — With fan interest waning and griping that a 24-game conference schedule is too taxing on the players — remember, it’s all about the student-athletes — the Big Ten and SEC decide to split their memberships along regional lines. The Big Ten spins off its western schools into a new entity known as the Pac-10. The SEC assigns its members along the Atlantic seaboard to an upstart league known as the ACC. A joint venture takes a dozen schools in the middle of the country; the Big 12 is deemed an appropriate moniker.
Suddenly, everyone realizes it is 1996 all over again.
PRIME REAL ESTATE: COLORADO’S RETURN TO BIG 12 FITS DEION SANDERS’ FOOTBALL RECRUITING BLUEPRINT
BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Colorado’s return to the Big 12 in 2024 fits right into Deion Sanders’ recruiting blueprint, allowing him to get an even better foothold in the teeming Texas and Florida markets.
“I think Colorado is already an exciting team on the recruiting trail with Coach Prime and his experienced staff full of college coaches who have been around for a while and a lot of guys with NFL pedigree,” said Steve Wiltfong, national recruiting director for 247Sports. “So I think more than anything it adds to the excitement because it’s moving to what is certainly a more stable conference and one that just had a football team (TCU) in the playoff.”
Athletic director Rick George said he kept basketball coaches Tad Boyle and JR Payne in the loop along with Sanders, who’s entering his first season in Boulder, before the CU board of regents rubber-stamped Colorado’s return to the Big 12 on Thursday.
“I think all of them felt like: Whatever you think’s best for us, we’re going to play whomever you ask us to play,” George said. “I will tell you, there are tremendous benefits for being in the Big 12 for the direction that Coach Prime’s going as it relates to recruiting, being able to play in Orlando against UCF, where he’s recruiting very heavily (and) the state of Texas has always been a priority for us.”
The newfangled Big 12 isn’t the same league the Buffs left in 2011 during the initial rounds of conference realigment when Texas A&M, Missouri and Nebraska also left. Texas and Oklahoma are leaving next year for the Big Ten. TCU and West Virginia came on board a decade ago and Cincinnati, Houston, BYU and Central Florida were added this year.
Sanders, who’s overseen the biggest roster overhaul in the nation since his hiring this spring, already has strong roots in Florida and Texas.
He was born in Fort Myers and starred at Florida State before embarking on a dual sports career as an NFL defensive back and a Major League outfielder. Some of his best years came during his half decade with the Cowboys from 1995-99 and he still has a home in the Dallas area.
When the Buffaloes return to the Big 12 next year, they will have four conference opponents in the Lone Star State in TCU, Texas Tech, Baylor and Houston, which features one of the nation’s largest television markets.
“Houston has always been a favorable market for us in recruiting,” said George, who then mentioned a few players from CU’s heyday in the late 1980s and early ‘90s. “You think back to Alfred Williams, Kanavis McGhee and Chris Hudson. That area — the fifth-largest market in the country — also was a factor” in Colorado’s decision to return to the Big 12.
“Colorado recruits Texas hard because it’s an obvious state to go recruit,” Wiltfong said, “and now being in the Big 12, with all those Texas teams, it gives them one more inch to say, ’Hey, we’re going to be coming to the Lone Star State a lot throughout your career to play some big games.’”
Wiltfong expects Sanders to compete with the big boys when it comes to the recruiting trails of Texas.
“Deion’s lived in Texas, right? Deion is going to go where the players are. He’s going to recruit nationally because his name is electric,” Wiltfong said.
Colorado is the third school to leave the Pac-12 in the last year, joining UCLA and USC, which are going to the Big Ten next year. The moves coincide with the expiration of current media rights deals with ESPN and Fox.
Colorado is expected to get $31.7 million in annual TV revenue in the Big 12, which last year came to an agreement with ESPN and Fox on a six-year extension worth more than $2 billion that runs through 2030-31.
After Colorado’s vote to leave, the Pac-12 issued a statement that read, “We are focused on concluding our media rights deal and securing our continued success and growth. Immediately following the conclusion of our media rights deal, we will embrace expansion opportunities and bring new fans, markets, excitement and value to the Pac-12.”
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW: OKLAHOMA
2022 Record: 6-7 overall, 3-6 in Big 12
Head Coach: Brent Venables, 2nd year: 6-7
Maybe, for just that penultimate year in the Big 12, the rest of the conference caught up to Oklahoma.
On the way to the College Football Playoff, the 2017 Sooners were able to work their way through the conference that had two other very good teams, a bunch of okay ones, and two in Baylor and Kansas that did absolutely nothing.
The 2018 Big 12 was okay, but other than a solid Texas squad there weren’t many threats to OU’s conference title hopes. The 2019 Big 12 was also decent – Baylor was great – but it wasn’t exactly a gauntlet of a conference run to get another title and a CFP appearance.
2020 was 2020 – everything was a weird – and 40% of the league finished with losing records partly because there weren’t a ton of fluffy non-conference games – Oklahoma still managed to win the Big 12 title. Half of the league finished with losing records with a full slate in 2021.
The 2022 Big 12? TCU put together a historic run, Kansas State was fantastic, and Texas Tech, Kansas, and Texas were all dangerous. Eight teams ended up going bowling, and the two that didn’t – West Virginia and Iowa State – were hardly the free space games of previous Big 12 bottom-dwellers. The conference was really good from top to bottom.
And yes, Oklahoma was off.
That started to happen at the end of 2021, and the coaching change to Brent Venables in 2022 was a major pivot, but to look at the 6-7 season – OU’s first losing campaign since 1998 – and call it almost half full, maybe it was a trial run for what’s coming.
It’s Oklahoma. It’s supposed to be playing for the Big 12 Championship, no matter what. That had better happen this year, because …
Fast-forward to 2024, and the Oklahoma football schedule gets Alabama, LSU, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Auburn, Missouri, South Carolina, and Texas in conference play. The 2023 Big 12 conference slate is a soft kiss on the forehead compared to the SEC schedule, and under Venables the program has to show it’s got the parts, systems, and momentum in place to handle life in the big city.
Again, to look on the bright side of 2022, losing to Kansas State and TCU – as it turned out – was forgivable, injuries were part of the problem in the debacle against Texas, and the road losses to West Virginia and Texas Tech were each by three points and could’ve gone the other way.
And then there was the Cheez-It Bowl loss to a red-hot Florida State team. That was a fight of a 35-32 Sooner loss that came down to a last minute field goal – the team showed up.
There’s a ton of work that still needs to be done, but the 2023 Sooners will be a whole lot better, the schedule is a lot more manageable, and they should get a huge season from the …
For all of the narratives about how things were different without Lincoln Riley around, and without a Heisman-caliber quarterback running the attack, the offense wasn’t all that bad.
It led the Big 12 in total offense, was balanced, great on the ground, and it didn’t have a problem with turnovers. There was an issue putting the biscuit in the basket at a consistent level, but overall the O came up with more yards – 6,162 to 5,851 – than the 2021 version.
Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, Jalen Hurts, Spencer Rattler, Caleb Williams. Since 2015 those were the top Oklahoma quarterbacks. Two Heisman winners, two No. 1 picks in the draft, an NFL MVP-caliber superstar, and a guy with the best arm out of all of them.
All things considered, former UCF transfer Dillon Gabriel did just fine, throwing for 3,168 yards and 25 touchdowns with just six picks. He’s a solid starting quarterback, but the future is coming with the new guy – 6-1, 206-pound Jackson Arnold – one of the nation’s top dual-threat quarterback recruits and the possible starter when SEC life begins next year.
There’s no Marvin Mims to throw to, but No. 2 WR Jalil Farooq is back along with Drake Stoops as a go-to inside guy. On the way is Andel Anthony, a big-time recruit for Michigan who should be a bigger factor at OU. Former Sooner-turned-South Carolina Gamecock-turned-Sooner Austin Stogner is back at tight end – he’ll catch at least 25 passes.
Eric Gray is gone after leading the way with 1,366 yards and 11 scores, but the ground game should still be explosive with Jovantae Barnes good enough to take on a bigger role, There are a few nice backs behind him, and Gabriel is likely to account for at least 300 yards.
They’re all working behind an improved line that was good for the ground game but struggled in pass protection. Transfers OT Walter Rouse (Stanford) and OG Caleb Shaffer (Miami University) are two instant fill-ins around all-star C Andrew Raym and a decent group returning.
The O has to keep pumping out the production, or the Sooners need a much better year from the …
Oklahoma Sooners Preview: Defense
You don’t have a head coach with the defensive mind of Brent Venables and have the second-worst defense in the Big 12. There wasn’t anything happening consistently against the run, the pass D was dead last in the conference, and no team in America allowed more first downs per game. However, the parts are there to do a whole lot more, and …
The Sooners lived in opposing backfields. There weren’t enough sacks, but the D cranked up a whopping 104 tackles for loss with the plays coming from everywhere.
The line is set at tackle with veterans Jordan Kelley and Isaiah Coe in place, but transfers Jacob Lacey (Notre Dame) and Davon Sears (Texas State) will get plenty of time. The combination of Ethan Downs, Reggie Grimes, and Wake Forest transfer Rondell Bothroyd will keep the heat coming, but …
The stars this year should be in the linebacking corps. Danny Stutsman is a future NFL outside linebacker who did it all, leading the team with 124 stops with three sacks, 10.5 tackles for loss, and two picks. He’s outside, so is Indiana transfer Dasan McCullough around Jaren Kanak, who’ll likely take over on the inside with second-leading tackler David Ugwoegbu leaving for Houston.
If the pass rush can be a wee bit stronger, the defensive backs should be far more of a factor this season. Top corner Jaden Davis left for Miami, but Woodi Washington is a good all-around veteran corner. The safety situation is better with Reggie Pearson (Houston) coming in and with Billy Bowman – one of the quicker strong safeties in the country – returning.
Oklahoma Sooners Preview 2023: Keys To The Season, Top Players, What Will Happen
Stop the run already. There’s a recent history of Oklahoma defenses struggling, but the offense managed to make up for it. The 2018 team was good enough to win the Big 12 and go to the College Football Playoff, but two of its four worst days of the year against the run came in the losses to Texas and Alabama – the pass D was the bigger issue.
The glitch was fixed in 2019, but the team went 3-2 when allowing 160 rushing yards or more and 9-0 when giving up fewer. Fast forward to last year – Oklahoma was 6-1 when allowing fewer than 200 yards rushing yards and 0-6 when giving up more, and that’s the problem. No one does well when giving up 200 rushing yards, much less five times.
Oklahoma Sooners Top Transfer, Biggest Loss
DE Rondell Bothroyd in from Wake Forest, LB David Ugwoegbu gone to Houston. The Sooners won’t have any problems getting into the backfield again, but they need a star pass rusher to make offenses worry. That might just be the 6-3, 275-pound sixth-year senior from Wake Forest, who came up with 13 sacks and 24.5 tackles for loss over the last two seasons.
Oklahoma should be solid and set at linebacker, but it’s still not a plus to lose a veteran as good as David Ugwoegbu. The four-year part of the defensive puzzle left with 208 tackles, four sacks, and 16 tackles for loss coming off a big 2022.
Oklahoma Sooners Key Player
Walter Rouse, OT, Sr. There are plenty of good transfers coming in – S Reggie Pearson from Texas Tech and Bothroyd from Wake Forest might make the biggest splash – but Oklahoma needs the Stanford guy to be the best of the bunch.
Rouse was a massive recruit for the Cardinal. He has the 6-6, 315-pound size and NFL starting upside, and he was good. Not amazing, but good enough with the talent to come to Norman as a starting left tackle.
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL NEWS
MLB ROUNDUP: ROYALS’ BOBBY WITT JR. HITS WALK-OFF SLAM IN 10TH
Bobby Witt Jr.’s walk-off grand slam lifted the Kansas City Royals to an 8-5, 10-inning win over the visiting Minnesota Twins on Friday.
Witt finished 4-for-5 with a career-high six RBIs.
After Jhoan Duran (2-5) walked the bases full with one out, Witt hit his first career grand slam 414 feet to left. He connected on a 101.8 mph fastball on a 3-2 count. It was the first walk-off grand slam this year by a player whose team was trailing at the time.
Kyle Farmer’s two-out RBI single off Taylor Clarke (2-4) in the top of the 10th gave Minnesota a 5-4 advantage. The Twins had rallied to tie the game 4-4 in the ninth on Jorge Polanco’s two-out, two-run double off Scott Barlow.
It was the 15th consecutive start without a victory for Gray, dating to an April 30 win against Kansas City. He allowed three runs on five hits while striking out five and walking none in six innings. Royals starter Brady Singer allowed two runs on four hits and two walks in five innings, fanning 10.
Mets 5, Nationals 1
Pete Alonso accounted for all five runs with two home runs and Max Scherzer surrendered one run over seven innings as host New York beat Washington.
Alonso hit a three-run homer in the fifth against MacKenzie Gore and a two-run shot against Rico Garcia in the seventh. The multi-homer game was the second of the week for Alonso. Scherzer (9-4) gave up six hits, walked two and struck out seven.
Luis Garcia homered in the seventh for the Nationals, who fell to 7-7 since the All-Star break. Gore (6-8) allowed three runs on five hits and four walks while striking out two over five innings.
Orioles 1, Yankees 0
Anthony Santander hit a one-out home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Baltimore a victory over visiting New York. Santander’s 18th long ball of the season came off Tommy Kahnle (1-1).
Orioles starter Grayson Rodriguez threw 6 1/3 scoreless innings, and Yankees starter Gerrit Cole tossed seven shutout frames. Felix Bautista (6-1), the fifth Baltimore pitcher, struck out two batters in a perfect ninth for the victory.
Aaron Judge was in the Yankees’ lineup as the designated hitter and batted in the No. 2 spot after sitting out since June 3 because of a torn toe ligament. He went 0-for-1 with three walks.
Reds 6, Dodgers 5
Jake Fraley and Spencer Steer homered and visiting Cincinnati held on to beat Los Angeles in the opener of a three-game series.
Elly De La Cruz tripled to open the game and scored on a TJ Friedl groundout as the Reds improved to 3-1 this season against the Dodgers. Brandon Williamson (3-2) gave up two runs on eight hits over 5 2/3 innings, and Alexis Diaz recorded the final four outs for his 31st save.
Freddie Freeman drove in two runs and Amed Rosario had an RBI and two hits in his Dodgers debut, but Los Angeles fell to 1-3 to start its first homestand of the second half.
Marlins 6, Tigers 5
Bryan De La Cruz homered and drove in three runs, leading host Miami to a win over Detroit.
Marlins second baseman Luis Arraez, who leads the majors with a .380 batting average, went 3-for-4. He also tops the majors with 15 three-hit games. Miami starter Braxton Garrett was left with a tough-luck no-decision after allowing five hits, one walk and one run, none earned, in six innings.
The Tigers took their fourth loss in a row, with reliever Jason Foley (2-3) yielding both runs in the eighth.
Blue Jays 4, Angels 1
Matt Chapman, Danny Jansen and Whit Merrifield hit home runs and Toronto defeated visiting Los Angeles.
Merrifield had three hits and two runs in the opener of a three-game series. The Angels had a four-game winning streak end. Toronto right-hander Kevin Gausman (8-5) allowed one run, five hits and three walks with nine strikeouts in six-plus innings.
Shohei Ohtani hit his major-league-leading 39th home run of the season for the Angels. Ohtani did not bat when his turn came up with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, leaving due to cramps in both calves. Mickey Moniak singled for Los Angeles to extend his hitting streak to 18 games.
Phillies 2, Pirates 1
Kyle Schwarber hit a two-run homer in the third as visiting Philadelphia won their third straight contest, a close victory over Pittsburgh.
Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler (8-5) gave up one run and three hits in 6 2/3 innings, with 11 strikeouts and one walk. Craig Kimbrel pitched the ninth for his 17th save.
Ji Man Choi hit an RBI double for the Pirates, who were coming off a 3-3 West Coast trip. Pittsburgh starter Mitch Keller (9-7), who had lost two starts in a row coming off his first All-Star Game appearance, was more proficient this time. In 5 2/3 innings, he gave up two runs and six hits, with eight strikeouts and three walks.
Braves 10, Brewers 7
Marcell Ozuna homered to lead off the fourth inning and Austin Riley and Matt Olson belted solo shots in the seventh to lift host Atlanta to victory over Milwaukee.
Atlanta’s Orlando Arcia ripped a two-run single in the second inning and Eddie Rosario did the same as part of a four-run seventh. Olson drove in two runs and Ozuna scored three times as the Braves banged out 15 hits to snap a two-game skid.
Milwaukee’s Abraham Toro highlighted a three-hit, four-RBI performance with a three-run homer in the eighth inning. Joey Wiemer had a two-run double, Tyrone Taylor added an RBI single and Andruw Monasterio joined Sal Frelick in scoring three runs for the Brewers.
White Sox 3, Guardians 0
Luis Robert and Jake Burger homered to support five strong innings from Touki Toussaint as host Chicago stopped a six-game skid by blanking Cleveland.
The White Sox earned their first victory since July 20. Robert launched his team-leading 29th home run to open the scoring in the first inning, connecting against Guardians starter Xzavion Curry (3-1) after Tim Anderson grounded into a double play.
Burger went deep with one out in the sixth to continue his homer binge. He has homered in three consecutive games and has six homers in his past 12 games overall. He has 25 this season. Toussaint (1-3) pitched five shutout innings, his first win with Chicago since the club claimed him off waivers from Cleveland in June.
Red Sox 3, Giants 2
Triston Casas doubled, homered and drove in two runs as Boston won at San Francisco. Red Sox reliever Josh Winckowski pitched out of a seventh-inning jam to protect a one-run lead.
Rob Refsnyder drove in a key run with a pinch-hit single and Kutter Crawford (5-5) gave up one run in 5 2/3 innings for the Red Sox, who earned their fifth win in a row.
Joc Pederson homered for the Giants. Logan Webb (8-9) yielded three runs in 7 1/3 innings.
Padres 7, Rangers 1
Joe Musgrove worked six scoreless innings and Manny Machado drove in three runs as San Diego defeated visiting Texas to open a three-game interleague series.
Musgrove (10-3) gave up four hits and two walks while striking out five in his ninth straight quality start. Fernando Tatis Jr. homered for the Padres.
Rangers starter Dane Dunning (8-4) gave up three runs in five innings. Marcus Semien drew a bases-loaded walk in the ninth to break up the Padres’ shutout bid.
Rays 4, Astros 3
Jose Siri utilized his exceptional speed to manufacture the decisive run in the ninth inning as Tampa Bay defeated host Houston.
Siri opened the ninth with a hustle double to left field off Astros closer Ryan Pressly (3-3) before advancing to third on a flyout to right. He later scored when Yandy Diaz added a sacrifice fly.
Four Rays relievers combined to hold Houston hitless over the final four innings. Colin Poche (8-3) pitched a perfect eighth to get the win, and Pete Fairbanks notched his 13th save by working around a one-out walk in the ninth.
Cubs 3, Cardinals 2
Mike Tauchman made the game-saving catch at the center field wall with two outs in the ninth inning as visiting Chicago edged St. Louis for its seventh straight victory.
Cardinals pinch-hitter Alec Burleson lifted the potential two-run homer against Adbert Alzolay, but the leaping Tauchman reached over the wall to catch the ball and end the game. Lars Nootbaar hit two homers for the Cardinals, who lost for the sixth time in their last eight games.
Patrick Wisdom hit a homer for the Cubs and Dansby Swanson and Trey Mancini also drove in runs. Drew Smyly (8-7) came on in the third inning and allowed one run on two hits and a walk in 4 1/3 innings.
Mariners 5, Diamondbacks 2
Cal Raleigh and Tom Murphy stroked consecutive two-run doubles in a four-run first inning to jump-start Seattle to a victory over Arizona in Phoenix.
Eugenio Suarez added an RBI single, and Ty France, Julio Rodriguez, Murphy and Raleigh had two hits apiece as Seattle won for the sixth time in eight games. Logan Gilbert (9-5) was charged with two runs on nine hits over 6 1/3 innings. He struck out five and didn’t walk anyone while winning his fourth straight decision.
Ketel Marte had three singles and a walk for Arizona, which is 3-10 since the All-Star break and has lost 15 of its past 20 contests. Dominic Canzone had two hits for the Diamondbacks.
Athletics 8, Rockies 5
Zack Gelof and Ramon Laureano homered, Tony Kemp had two doubles, and Oakland beat Colorado in Denver to end a three-game skid.
A’s starter JP Sears (2-7) threw five innings of one-run ball. He allowed four hits and a walk and struck out five. Trevor May got the final three outs for his 10th save.
Randal Grichuk homered for Colorado, which lost its third straight. Starter Kyle Freeland (4-11) allowed five runs, three earned, on nine hits and no walks while striking out three in four innings.
REDS MANAGER DAVID BELL GETS 3-YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION
LOS ANGELES (AP) Manager David Bell, who has presided over a successful turnaround in Cincinnati, received a three-year contract extension from the Reds.
The deal that runs through the 2026 season was announced Friday night before the team faced the Dodgers in Los Angeles.
The Reds are currently 56-48 and 1 1/2 games behind first-place Milwaukee in the NL Central. They’re trying to become the first team in major league history to win a division title after losing at least 100 games the previous season. They were 62-100 last year, tying Pittsburgh for last in the division.
“We’re in a really strong place right now,” Bell said. “I absolutely love our players, love our team, love the direction we’re headed. I’m truly, truly honored to be able to do this, a job that I love in the city of Cincinnati, and for our fans.”
Bell is on track to become the longest-tenured Reds manager since Hall of Famer Sparky Anderson, who was at the helm from 1970-78 and won two World Series titles.
“David has done a great job. His coaching staff has done a great job this year,” general manager Nick Kroll said. “We came in and it was about growing, and we’ve done that. We’ve created a good culture around our major-league clubhouse, we’ve integrated a lot of young players into our major-league team and continued to grow.”
In 2021, the Reds had a record of 83-79. In 2020, they were 31-29 during the pandemic-delayed season and earned their first postseason berth since 2013. The club had winning records in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2012-13.
“I’m excited about where we are, I’m excited about where we’re going. Are we there yet? No. Do we still have work to do? Yeah, we do,” Kroll said. “But at the same time, it’s been a lot of fun to watch these players grow, these coaches grow, and our team and our organization get better.”
Kroll said the coaching staff’s contracts have not yet been extended.
Bell, a 50-year-old native of Cincinnati, was hired in 2018 on a three-year deal with a club option for 2022. In 2021, the team gave him a two-year extension through this season.
“I figured it would work out the way it was supposed to,” he said.
Bell is the son of former major leaguer and front office executive Buddy Bell.
ASTROS ACQUIRE RELIEVER GRAVEMAN FROM WHITE SOX FOR MINOR LEAGUE CATCHER LEE
HOUSTON (AP) The Houston Astros acquired reliever Kendall Graveman from the Chicago White Sox on Friday in exchange for minor league catcher Korey Lee.
General manager Dana Brown announced the trade that brought the right-handed Graveman back to Houston after he spent the last two months of the 2021 season with the Astros.
“We feel like he’s going to come in here and make an impact,” Brown said. “He could pitch some high pressure innings for us and his stuff is really good, very competitive, the ball moves all over the place. So we felt like he was a fit both for the team and his ability and to gel with our clubhouse makeup.”
Graveman was 3-4 with eight saves and a 3.48 ERA in 45 appearances for the White Sox this season. In his first stint with the Astros after a trade from Seattle, he had a 3.13 ERA in 23 appearances.
In the 2021 postseason, he had a 1.64 ERA in nine appearances, including three in the World Series.
The 32-year-old Graveman has a career 4.00 ERA and 24 saves in nine major league seasons.
Lee was a first-round pick by the Astros in the 2019 draft from California-Berkeley. He made his major league debut last year and hit .160 with two doubles and four RBIs in 12 appearances.
He spent all this season with Triple-A Sugar Land, where he is hitting .283 with five homers and 32 RBIs.
“You hate to lose some of your prospects,” Brown said. “But at the end of the day, we thought we had a chance to really bridge the gap to the end of our bullpen and win more games.”
METS TRADE CLOSER DAVID ROBERTSON TO MARLINS FOR TWO MINOR LEAGUERS
NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets began the process of dismantling the team with the largest payroll of all-time late Thursday night, trading closer David Robertson to the Miami Marlins for two teenage minor leaguers.
The Mets, who began the season with a $353 million payroll, beat the Washington Nationals 2-1 to improve to 48-54. They are seven games behind the Philadelphia Phillies and Cincinnati Reds, who are in a virtual tie for the last two NL wild-card spots.
The trade results in a savings of nearly $6.75 million for the Mets. The Marlins pay the $3,548,387 remaining of Robertson’s $10 million salary. New York’s luxury tax bill is reduced by $3.19 million.
“We didn’t have visions of this at the start of the season,” Mets general manager Billy Eppler said.
The Marlins, with the seventh-lowest payroll in the majors at a little more than $91 million, are a half-game behind the Phillies and Reds after going 7-13 this month.
Robertson warmed up in the eighth inning of a tie game before a 97-minute rain delay gave Eppler and Marlins general manager Kim Ng time to complete the trade. Brooks Raley pitched the ninth and earned his second save.
“That was unique,” Eppler said. “But the rain delay provided an opportunity for us to kind of get a final offer from Miami.”
Miami sent a pair of players from its rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate, Marco Vargas and catcher Ronald Hernandez, to the Mets in exchange for Robertson, who signed a one-year deal in December with the expectations he’d help serve as a late-inning bridge to closer Edwin Diaz.
But Diaz suffered a torn patella tendon during the World Baseball Classic, vaulting the 38-year-old Robertson into the ninth-inning role. Robertson has been the Mets’ most reliable reliever, getting 14 saves and posting a 2.05 ERA for a team that entered Thursday with a 4.22 bullpen ERA — the 10th-worst in the majors.
“I’ve said (it) I don’t know how many times — there’s a ton of talent in this clubhouse, we just weren’t able to put it together,” Robertson said. “When you can’t put it together in time, GMs and owners have to make decisions. And I was one of those decisions and I got moved.”
Eppler said the Mets remain in listening mode. Mark Canha, Tommy Pham and Carlos Carrasco are all due to hit free agency after the season while Omar Narváez, in the first year of a two-year deal, lost the everyday starting catching job to rookie Francisco Álvarez.
Max Scherzer has a $43.3 million player option for next season while fellow former Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander is guaranteed $43.3 million in 2024, the final season of his two-year deal.
“It’s a little different than just declaring it and calling everybody and saying we’re sellers,” Eppler said. “It’s more just looking at it on a case-by-case basis, hearing who clubs kind of covet and hearing what their kind of price point is on players.”
RANGERS PLACE ALL-STAR CATCHER JONAH HEIM ON 10-DAY IL WITH A LEFT WRIST INJURY
SAN DIEGO (AP) The AL West-leading Texas Rangers placed All-Star catcher Jonah Heim on the 10-day injured list Friday with a strained tendon in his left wrist.
Heim came out of a game at Houston on Wednesday after hurting his wrist on an awkward swing in the fourth inning. Heim is batting .280 with an .816 OPS, and has 14 home runs and a career-high 70 RBIs in 90 games.
Heim has started 80 of 103 games this season. The switch-hitter leads big league catchers in RBIs (66), hits (89), doubles (23), and runs (tied, 47). His .413 average with runners in scoring position is third-highest among qualifiers.
Mitch Garver started at catcher in the opener of a three-game series against the San Diego Padres.
The Rangers also recalled outfielder Bubba Thompson from Triple-A Round Rock, optioned right-hander Owen White to Round Rock and activated right-hander Josh Sborz from the 15-day injured list.
Sborz went 4-4 with a 4.54 ERA in 29 relief appearances before being placed on the 15-day IL on July 15 with right biceps tendinitis.
TAKE 5: BEST PLAYERS AVAILABLE AT THE DEADLINE
Scratch Shohei Ohtani from the list of players available at the 2023 MLB trade deadline. His complete game shutout of the Detroit Tigers on Thursday sealed his fate for the rest of this season in Anaheim as the Angels make moves to push for a postseason berth.
While the MVP-caliber talent won’t be on the block, there are plenty of All-Stars in play.
Recent history indicates at least a few of these marquee names are soon to be found at new addresses.
Field Level Media identifies the five best players available ahead of the Tuesday trade deadline:
–Juan Soto, OF, Padres
Available is relative, we get it.
But “willing to trade” and “listening” are being used to describe San Diego’s position on Soto deals. Considering the haul the Padres parted with to acquire Soto from the Washington Nationals and the state of the NL West standings, this isn’t a major surprise.
Soto won’t hit free agency until 2025, but the Padres are saddled with massive salary commitments to Yu Darvish, Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts, Blake Snell, Joe Musgrove and Josh Hader — all over $14 million for 2023. San Diego is third in total payroll at more than $231 million, and the 2023 numbers don’t take into complete account the $340 million commitment to Fernando Tatis Jr., whose base salary is $7 million.
Would the deep-pocket New York Yankees or prospect-rich Seattle Mariners take a swing at Soto?
Soto, 24, is batting .262 with 20 home runs, yet projections for a long-term contract float him into newly established territory pioneered in the past year by Aaron Judge (nine years, $360 million) or Machado (11 years, $350 million).
–Blake Snell, SP, Padres
In the final year of his contract on a team with noted perspiration about payroll relative to results, there’s a case for Snell being the top player available at the deadline.
With 147 strikeouts in 114 innings pitched and proven postseason credentials, Snell would be a significant add at the front of any rotation.
In his past five starts, Snell has allowed just two earned runs with 33 strikeouts. He has a 0.78 ERA in his past 12 starts.
Should the Padres opt to move Snell, he would be a big draw in the AL East either returning to the Tampa Bay Rays or perhaps tempting the Baltimore Orioles to dangle one of their top prospects.
–Nolan Arenado, 3B, Cardinals
No-trade clauses can be sticky. St. Louis isn’t likely sweating Arenado’s veto power with the Los Angeles Dodgers emerging as a favorite for the Southern California native.
Arenado is owed $109 million on a deal that expires after the 2027 season, which is palatable for Los Angeles despite his age (32). His career wins-above-replacement of 54.0 and steady production on the other side of 30 are encouraging for a win-now buyer.
Whether the Dodgers are willing to meet the asking price of the Cardinals with a top-tier prospect haul might be the only roadblock.
–Justin Verlander, SP, Mets
Most of the American League West wants to place a bid on Verlander, hoping to get the vintage version and not the creaky 40-year-old edition starting to appear in spots this season with New York.
Verlander (5-5, 3.24 ERA) has 15 starts this season and was back to being a front-end workhorse in July. In five starts he has allowed six earned runs with 27 strikeouts in 32 innings.
He signed a two-year, $86.7 million contract with the Mets that includes a team option for $35 million in 2025.
This is where the no-trade clause comes into play.
Seattle and Houston are threats, but multiple reports put the Texas Rangers at the front of the line for Verlander with Jacob deGrom done for the season and Jon Gray showing signs of a slowdown.
White Sox right-hander Lance Lynn could be the consolation prize.
–Tim Anderson, SS, White Sox
At 63 losses and counting entering Friday, Chicago has already moved starting pitchers Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez to the Angels. They are verified sellers.
A former AL batting champion, Anderson’s contract includes a team option for 2024 at $14 million and he’s just 30 years old with the type of energizing personality that implies he’d have major value to a contender down the stretch.
CARDINALS’ MILES MIKOLAS BANNED 5 GAMES FOR THROWING AT IAN HAPP
Major League Baseball suspended St. Louis Cardinals right-handed pitcher Miles Mikolas five games Friday for intentionally throwing at the Chicago Cubs’ Ian Happ.
Mikolas, who was also fined an undisclosed amount, is appealing the discipline. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol was also suspended for one game and will serve it Friday night’s game against the Cubs.
In the top of the first inning of Thursday night’s game between the Cardinals and Cubs, Happ hit Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras in the head with his bat on an uncontrolled backswing on a swinging strike. Contreras had to leave the game and the Cardinals ruled him day-to-day with a scalp laceration.
Contreras and Happ, who are former teammates with the Cubs, hugged before the catcher left the game, and Happ would later say it was an accident, but Mikolas was unconvinced. He threw his next pitch to Happ up and in, then plunked him on the hip with a fastball.
The umpires gathered, and crew chief Lance Barksdale ejected Mikolas. Marmol subsequently was tossed after continuing his protest over Mikolas’ ejection.
“In any circumstance, I’ve got Willson’s back,” Mikolas said after the game. “He’s my catcher. I consider him a really good friend now. Any single one of these guys in this locker room I go to bat for 100 percent. So that’s something I think we as a team believe in is just always having each other’s backs and I guess that’s what the umpires thought I was doing, and it’s unfortunate that there was no warning or anything like that.”
Marmol also said his pitcher should have received a warning if the umpires had an issue with the first pitch.
“Yeah, if the explanation was that there was intent behind the first pitch, then I feel like there should have been a warning after the first pitch,” Marmol said. “That could’ve saved everybody a lot of trouble.”
NASCAR NEWS
NASCAR PLANS TO MAKE THE CW THE EXCLUSIVE HOME FOR XFINITY SERIES STARTING IN 2025
The NASCAR Xfinity Series plans to make The CW its exclusive home.
NASCAR announced Friday a deal that will have The CW airing 33 live Xfinity Series races each year starting in 2025 and running through 2031. The CW also will televise practice and qualifying events each weekend.
That 2025 season will mark the first time that every Xfinity Series race will be available on free, over-the-air broadcast television. Additional contact will be available through The CW’s digital platforms.
The Xfinity Series features drivers trying to work their way up to the Cup Series.
Six of the last 11 Cup Series champions have been won by former Xfinity Series champions, a list that includes Chase Elliott, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Kevin Harvick and Brad Keselowski. There are 13 former Xfinity Series champions currently active in the Cup Series.
NASCAR says Xfinity Series races draw an average of about 1 million viewers per race each season, typically on a combination of cable and broadcast television.
2023 COOK OUT 400: PREVIEW, 5 BEST BETS, LONGSHOT PICK
With only five races remaining before the start of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, there are only a few spots left up for grabs.
That ratchets up Sunday’s Cook Out 400 at Richmond (Va.) Raceway, where Kevin Harvick is the defending champion. Kyle Larson won the spring race at Richmond and has been strong on short tracks all year.
Bubba Wallace is 15th in the points standings, 27 above postseason cutoff, and Michael McDowell is in 16th — just 17 points up on the cutoff.
Meanwhile, A.J. Allmendinger has moved into that 17th-place slot, just below the cutoff — only 17 points behind McDowell, who is also just 23 points ahead of Daniel Suarez. Ty Gibbs is now 28 points out of earning a playoff spot in his first full NASCAR Cup Series season.
Among these five drivers, Suarez (16.1) has the best average finish at Richmond, followed by Allmendinger (22.1), Gibbs (22.5), Wallace (23.6) and McDowell (30.4).
The biggest name currently outside of the playoff picture is 2020 series champion Chase Elliott, who sits in 21st place and 56 points behind McDowell. Elliott doesn’t have a win yet in 2023 and missed six races due to injury and penalty. He has made the playoffs in each of his seven previous years in the Cup Series.
COOK OUT 400
The Place: Richmond (Va.) Raceway
The Date: July 30, 3 p.m. ET
The Distance: 400 miles on .75-mile track
Defending Champion: Kevin Harvick
Cup Series Leader: Martin Truex Jr.
TV: USA Network
Radio: SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Martin Truex Jr. (+400 at BetMGM)
The Cup Series points leader has multiple short-track wins this year (Dover, Del. and New Hampshire). Truex, who leads the championship by 30 points over William Byron, boasts the best average short-track finishing position (6.6) this season and Byron holds the best average start (6.5) at the previous short-track stops. Truex opened at +500, but his odds have shortened while being backed by 7.0 percent of the total bets.
Denny Hamlin (+500)
Hamlin shot up to third in the standings with last week’s dramatic victory at Pocono – his fourth top-10s in his past seven races. Hamlin, who finished 20th after starting 11th at Richmond in the spring, has drawn 4.5 percent of both the total bets and money wagered at the book since opening at +700.
Kyle Larson (+600)
Larson was frustrated with his 21st-place finish last week after a door-to-door battle with Hamlin for the checkered flag. Larson has been strong on short tracks this year, winning at Richmond, Martinsville and the All-Star Race at North Wilksboro. “Honestly, we have been pretty good everywhere this year,” he said. “As the season progresses, setups change, and the weather is going to be different than it was earlier in the year. It’s not going to be the same, but I’m confident because we have been good at all the short tracks.” Larson is the book’s biggest liability this week, having been backed by the most total bets (11.1 percent) and money (21.1 percent).
Kevin Harvick (+900)
The defending winner of the race is still seeking his first win of 2023 before retirement. However, Harvick does have the most points among drivers without a victory this year, and his 18 top-five and 30 top-10 finishes are best among active drivers.
Kyle Busch (+1100)
The two-time Cup Series champion has dropped to sixth in the standings with consecutive poor races – a 36th at New Hampshire and 21st at Pocono. He is the active leader six career wins at Richmond, where he has completed all but one of 14,209 laps run in 35 previous starts.
LONGSHOT PICK
Alex Bowman (+3000)
Among drivers who still need a win to secure a playoff spot, Bowman is the only one to have previously visited Victory Lane at Richmond (2021). Bowman, who missed three races earlier this season due to a concussion, is currently 20th in the standings and 46 points out of a playoff spot. He’s the book’s third biggest liability this week, having drawn 4.5 percent of the bets and 6.2 percent of the money since opening at +5000.
GOLF NEWS
LEE HODGES LEADS THE 3M OPEN, WHILE JUSTIN THOMAS MISSES THE CUT TO HURT HIS PLAYOFF HOPES
BLAINE, Minn. (AP) With the FedEx Cup two weeks away, Lee Hodges can breathe easier. Justin Thomas can’t.
Hodges birdied four of his last six holes for a 7-under 64 and a four-stroke lead over Tyler Duncan on Friday after almost two rounds of the 3M Open.
A nearly two-hour afternoon weather delay led to play being suspended due to darkness with six players yet to finish – none within 10 shots of the lead.
Hodges, 74th in the FedEx Cup points race, opened with a 63 for the first-round lead and had a 15-under 127 total to break the tournament 36-hole record of 128 set by Bryson DeChambeau in 2019.
Hodges was 3 under on the front nine and added a 33-foot birdie putt on No. 13, followed by birdies from 14 feet on No. 14 and 11 feet on No. 17.
“I’ve got a great attitude out there. Me and my caddie (Andrew Medley), we’re 70-something on the points list, like what do we have to lose, you know?” Hodges said. “We’ve committed to every shot we’ve hit so far, which has been great. We’ll continue to do it, because what do we have to lose.”
A lengthy last-hole putt was not enough to overcome a couple bad holes as Thomas aims to make the FedEx Cup playoffs for the eighth straight season. He birdied four of his last five holes to shoot a shot an even-par 71, leaving him 2 under for the tournament and two strokes short.
Thomas, at No. 75 in the FedEx Cup standings, has missed five cuts in his last seven starts. The top 70 next week after the Wyndham Championship will advance to the playoffs. Looking to stay in strong consideration for the U.S. Ryder Cup team, Thomas has just two top-10 finishes in 14 tournaments since mid-February.
Starting on the back nine, Thomas put two balls in the water on the par-5 18th, falling to 1 under. An errant tee shot and poor chip led to another double bogey on the par-3 fourth, before a strong finishing stretch was punctuated by a 30-foot putt on No. 9.
“This is a good chance for me to learn a little bit about myself and push myself and become better,” Thomas said before the tournament. “I mean, this game, nothing’s given to you. I’ve had great chances to win the FedEx Cup the last five or six years and now I’m trying to make the playoffs. That’s just the way that this sport is. And it can happen to anybody, so you’ve just got to go out and get it.”
He wasn’t the only player to put untimely dents in possible playoff plans by missing the cut. No. 70 K.H. Lee (1 under), No. 72 Davis Thompson (2 under) and No. 90 Gary Woodland (3 over) also get the weekend off.
Duncan, who has missed six cuts in his past eight events and 17 of 27 this season, shot a 67. He has back-to-back bogey-free rounds.
“You never know when it’s coming, but I’ve been putting in the work and you always hope it shows up,” Duncan said. “But it doesn’t always show up when you want it to.”
Defending champion Tony Finau (66), J.T. Poston (66), Brandt Snedeker (68) and Kevin Streelman (68) were 10 under.
With one top-10 in 25 starts this season, Streelman is in a rare position.
“I haven’t been in the final groups in a while on a Saturday, so looking forward to that. At my age I don’t have much to lose, so go out and have some fun this weekend,” the 44-year-old Streelman said.
BOUTIER HOLDS A 1-SHOT LEAD AFTER 2ND ROUND OF EVIAN CHAMPIONSHIP
EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France (AP) Celine Boutier posted a 2-under 69 in the second round of the Evian Championship to move to 7 under overall, giving her a one-shot lead on Friday.
But surprise overnight leader Paula Reto dropped down the leaderboard after a 4-over 75.
The 29-year-old Boutier, who was two shots back from Reto overnight, is looking to become the first Frenchwoman to win the tournament, which became a major in 2013.
“It’s really great to feel the support from the fans when you play some good shots and some good putts go in,” Boutier said. “This kind of support used to put me under pressure in the past, and I didn’t cope well with it, but this year I’m trying to stay very relaxed.”
Her solid round kept her narrowly ahead of Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit, who carded 67, and Japan’s Yuka Saso (69), in a tie for second.
They are one shot ahead of Nasa Hataoka of Japan (67), Mexico’s Gaby Lopez (68) and American Alison Lee (71).
Reto struggled badly on the back nine, with a double bogey on the 12th hole followed by three bogeys over the next four holes.
The 33-year-old South African ended the day in a tie for eighth at 3 under overall along with defending champion Brooke Henderson of Canada, who finished on 70.
Boutier was level with 2015 champion Lydia Ko of New Zealand overnight, but Ko drifted way back into a tie for 22nd after a dismal round of 76 at the Evian Resort Golf Club.
WNBA NEWS
KAYLA MCBRIDE, LYNX END LIBERTY’S WINNING STREAK
Kayla McBride scored a season-high 26 points and the visiting Minnesota Lynx took control in the second quarter and held on for an 88-83 victory over the New York Liberty on Friday night.
The Lynx (12-13) nearly blew a 15-point lead in the final seven-plus minutes by going 0-for-7 with four turnovers after McBride’s 3-pointer gave them a 77-62 advantage.
New York began using zone defense and was within 77-76 after two free throws by Breanna Stewart with 2:57 remaining. Rookie Diamond Miller ended New York’s 14-0 run by hitting a 3-pointer, and McBride added a layup for an 82-76 lead with 2:06 remaining.
After three-point play by Kayla Thornton moved New York within 86-83 with 4.7 seconds left, Miller sank two free throws on the next possession to ice it.
Miller added 22 points as the Lynx shot 46.5 percent and survived New York’s comeback try. Dorka Juhasz added 13 for the Lynx, who played without leading scorer Napheesa Collier (ankle) and lost Emily Engstler to a shoulder injury.
Minnesota won for the third time in four games.
New York’s Sabrina Ionescu led all scorers with 31 points to go along with seven assists and seven rebounds, but the guard also committed six of the Liberty’s 11 turnovers. Stewart added 23 points but shot 5-for-19 as the Liberty (18-6) hit 36.1 percent and had their four-game winning streak stopped.
New York sped out to a 15-5 lead on a basket by Betnijah Laney, but Minnesota outscored the hosts 17-2 over the rest of the quarter.
McBride’s hoop opened a 26-19 lead with 8:25 remaining in the half. Minnesota took a 48-39 lead into halftime after Tiffany Mitchell sank a 33-foot desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Stewart’s 3-pointer cut the gap to 54-46 with 8:27 remaining in the third quarter, but Minnesota ripped off a 12-3 run for a 66-49 lead nearly four minutes later on a jumper by Nikolina Millic. The Lynx held a 70-58 edge going into the fourth.
SATOU SABALLY RECORDS TRIPLE DOUBLE AS WINGS ROUT MYSTICS
Satou Sabally racked up 14 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists to record her first career triple double and lead the surging Dallas Wings to an easy 92-60 win over the short-handed Washington Mystics on Friday in Arlington, Texas.
The Wings never trailed in the game, led by 14 points at halftime and by 20 late in the third quarter before waltzing to the finish line. Dallas (14-10) has won six of its past seven games.
Teaira McCowan and Arike Ogunbowale scored 18 points each to pace the Wings’ scoring while Natasha Howard added 14 points, Awak Kuier had 12 and Maddy Siegrist contributed 10 in the victory. Dallas dominated the Mystics on the boards, 48-21, and won going away despite committing 20 turnovers.
Shatori Walker-Kimbrough led the Mystics (12-12) with 14 points, with Brittney Sykes scoring 12 and Natasha Cloud hitting for 11 points. Washington played without injured starters Elena Delle Donne (ankle), Ariel Atkins (ankle) and Shakira Austin (hip) and key reserve along Kristi Toliver (plantar fasciitis).
The Mystics have dropped four of their past five contests and six straight road games.
The Wings used a 10-0 run late in the first quarter capped by a bucket by McCowan and a free throw by Sabally to turn a 14-9 lead into a 15-point advantage. McCowan racked up 14 points in the period as Dallas led 24-12 after 10 minutes of play.
Sabally’s short jumper pushed the Wings’ lead to 37-17 with 4:33 to play in the second quarter. Washington fought back to within 43-29 after Sykes’ free throw with 45 seconds left in the half, which ended with Dallas up by 14 points.
McCowan led all scorers with 16 points before halftime, with Ogunbowale adding 12 as the Wings outshot Washington 57.6 percent to 30.6 percent over the first 20 minutes. Walker-Kimbrough led the Mystics with seven points in the half.
The Mystics cut their deficit to as few as seven points on two occasions in the third quarter, the latest when Cyesha canned a jumper with 3:25 to play in the period to pull within 54-47. But Dallas responded with a 12-0 run that ended with Ogunbowale’s 3-pointer at the 1:28 mark and the Wings carried a 68-51 edge into the final quarter.
STORM BEAT SKY TO PUT AN END TO 10-GAME SLIDE
Ezi Magbegor and Gabby Williams scored 17 points apiece and the visiting Seattle Storm snapped a franchise-worst 10-game losing streak by defeating the Chicago Sky 83-74 on Friday night.
That duo also combined for 15 rebounds, nine assists, three steals and three blocks. Jewell Loyd had 15 points, six rebounds and six assists for the Storm (5-19) and Sami Whitcomb added 12 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
Kahleah Copper led the Sky (9-15) with 17 points, eight rebounds and four steals. Dana Evans had 12 points, while Alanna Smith and Courtney Williams tossed in 10 points apiece.
The Sky have dropped six of their last seven contests, with the lone victory coming at the Storm’s expense. They won in Seattle on Saturday 90-75 behind Copper’s 29 points.
Magbegor and Whitcomb had nine first-half points apiece on Friday as the Storm held a 42-40 halftime lead. Gabby Williams scored on a putback with three seconds left to give Seattle the edge.
Copper topped Chicago before the break with nine points.
Neither side had a double-digit lead in the first half. Seattle’s biggest advantage was nine points; the Sky’s largest advantage was five points.
Seattle opened the second half with an 8-2 run. Loyd hit a 3-pointer and Gabby Williams scored the last five points of the spurt.
An Elizabeth Williams basket midway through the quarter pulled Chicago within six points at 52-46. The Storm responded with an 11-4 run. Loyd scored six of those points and Magbegor contributed a 3-pointer.
Jordan Horston’s layup off a feed from Gabby Williams in the final second of the quarter made it 67-53.
Chicago scored the first basket of the final quarter, but the Storm then went on a 6-0 run on baskets by Williams, Horston and Kia Nurse.
The Sky closed the gap with a 15-4 outburst, pulling within seven at 77-70. Evans capped it off with a 3-pointer with 3:05 remaining, but Chicago’s comeback stalled from that point.
NBA NEWS
HEAT VETERAN UDONIS HASLEM ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT
Udonis Haslem, who won three titles with the Miami Heat, announced his retirement from the NBA on Friday afternoon.
The 43-year-old forward announced his decision in an Instagram post.
Haslem, who was undrafted out of the University of Florida, owns the Heat record for rebounds. This season he became the oldest player to play in the NBA Finals, appearing in Game 3 last month against the Denver Nuggets.
“I consider myself extremely blessed to say I can leave this game with no regrets,” Haslem wrote on Instagram. “The championships, the accolades, the brotherhood, man it’s hard not to be at peace.
“Shout out to my real OGs, the teammates that let me be their OG, and to my family for staying ten toes down through it all. Although this journey has had its ups and downs, I am truly thankful and have no complaints at all. All the way down to leaving money on the table to stay in my city. You, Miami, made it all worth it!
“I will always be the OG but now it’s time for the family man and the business man to get to work. #40 see you in the rafters soon. Until then, OG out.”
Haslem was limited to just seven regular season games with the Heat in 2022-23. He also appeared in two payoff contests.
The 20-year-veteran played his entire NBA career with Miami, participating in a total of 879 games (501 starts).
He was part of back-to-back championship teams in 2012 and 2013 alongside LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. He also won a title in 2006 alongside Wade and Shaquille O’Neal.
Over his career, Haslem averaged 7.5 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.
TENNIS NEWS
RUSSIAN AND BELARUSIAN PLAYERS BANNED FROM A WOMEN’S TENNIS TOURNAMENT IN PRAGUE
PRAGUE (AP) Russian and Belarusian players will not be allowed to participate in next week’s Prague Open, the organizers of the women’s tennis event said Friday.
The announcement came a day after police prevented a Russian player from entering the country, organizers said.
Miroslav Malý, the director of the hard-court tournament, didn’t identify the player. Malý said she was the first participant with a Russian passport to arrive in the country.
He said organizers approached other Russian and Belarusian players through the Women’s Tennis Association to tell them not to travel to Prague.
Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus was to play singles in Prague while three Russians, Diana Shnaider, Polina Kudermetova and Erika Andreeva, were to play in qualifying.
The WTA Tour allows Russians and Belarusians to play tournaments as neutral athletes.
The Czech government has banned athletes from Russia and Belarus from sports competitions on Czech territory because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Last week, Russian tennis player Vera Zvonareva was banned from entering Poland for a WTA tournament in Warsaw.
TOP INDIANA NEWS/RELEASES FROM ORGANIZATIONS
COLTS NEWS
COLTS’ JIM IRSAY CLAIMS RB TAKE NOT ‘DIRECTED AT’ JONATHAN TAYLOR
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay claimed social media comments he made regarding the diminished market for NFL running backs were not directed at his team’s All-Pro back, Jonathan Taylor.
Irsay’s most recent comments on Thursday came one day after he took aim at Najee Harris following the Pittsburgh Steelers star saying the league’s top running backs were discussing the idea of altering the way salaries of franchise-tagged players are determined in a bid to make top-tier money. Irsay dismissed the notion, saying “some (a)gents are selling ‘bad faith.’”
Irsay’s comment drew the ire of Taylor’s agent Malki Kawa, who tweeted: “Bad faith is not paying your top offensive player.”
“The comment wasn’t really directed at Jonathan,” Irsay told ESPN. “We haven’t exchanged any contract numbers with each other or anything like that. So, it’s not like we’re in the midst of that. I think we had a tough season last year. Didn’t win a lot of games. This is a year about coming back together and having a great year and we’re really depending on Jonathan to team up with (quarterback) Anthony Richardson to try and pull together to have a great year.”
Taylor, 24. is entering the final season of his four-year rookie contract.
He has rushed for 3,841 yards in his career — including a league-leading 1,811 in 2021, when he was selected to the All-Pro team.
Taylor has a career 4,643 yards from scrimmage to go with 36 touchdowns since being selected by the Colts in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
COLTS SIGN CB ISAAC TAYLOR-STUART, WAIVE CB COLE COLEMAN
Westfield, Ind. – The Indianapolis Colts today signed free agent cornerback Isaac Taylor-Stuart and waived cornerback Cole Coleman.
Taylor-Stuart, 6-2, 200 pounds, spent the entire 2022 season on the Dallas Cowboys’ Injured Reserve list. He signed with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent on May 13, 2022. Collegiately, Taylor-Stuart played in 32 games (19 starts) at USC (2018-21) and compiled 80 tackles (54 solo), 1.0 tackle for loss, nine passes defensed and two interceptions.
Coleman, 5-9, 188 pounds, was signed by the Colts as an undrafted free agent on May 5, 2023. Collegiately, he appeared in 42 games (37 starts) at Elon (2018-22) and totaled 281 tackles (156 solo), 9.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, nine passes defensed, three interceptions, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one blocked kick. Coleman also registered three kickoff returns for 23 yards.
INDIANS BASEBALL
INDIANS SQUANDER LEAD LATE IN 5-3 LOSS TO BATS
INDIANAPOLIS – Aaron Shackelford hit a two-run home run and Jared Jones struck out seven in a quality start, but the Louisville Bats prevailed with a 5-3 win in 10 innings against the Indianapolis Indians on Friday night at Victory Field.
After tying the game at three in the eighth inning on a two-out RBI single by Nick Martini, the Bats (53-45, 13-12) plated two runs in the top of the 10th to even the series. Jhonny Pereda singled to start the frame and following a groundout, Stuart Fairchild put the visitors in front with a sacrifice fly. Martini then hit a line drive off the base of the right-field wall and was thrown out by Miguel Andújar at second base, but the single scored pinch runner Michael Siani to make it 5-3.
The Indians (46-53, 13-12) threatened against Tony Santillan (SV, 1) in the bottom half when Rodolfo Castro was beaned on a 1-2 pitch to bring the potential winning run to the plate, but Chris Owings went down swinging and Andújar was robbed of a game-tying hit on a sliding catch by Fairchild down the right-field line.
Jones and Lyon Richardson – making his Triple-A debut – dueled with scoreless innings until the Bats broke through with two outs in the fourth on a two-run homer by Reds’ top prospect Noelvi Marte. Richardson was removed after 3.0 shutout frames, and Shackelford answered Marte’s shot with a game-tying blast in the fifth off Christian Roa. In Indy’s next half inning, Ryan Vilade plated Andújar with a triple off the wall in left-center to put the Indians in front, 3-2.
Kevin Herget (W, 2-3) pitched a perfect ninth to send the game to extras. Duane Underwood Jr. (L, 0-4) pitched a scoreless ninth inning but gave up two runs (one earned) in the deciding frame.
Jones limited the Bats to two earned runs on four hits and no walks over 6.0 innings in his first Triple-A quality start.
The Indians fell to 1-2 in extra-inning affairs while the Bats improved to 6-3.
The Indians and Bats meet again on Saturday at 7:05 PM ET at Victory Field. RHP Luis Ortiz (2-4, 4.71) will toe the rubber for Indy against RHP Levi Stoudt (2-3, 5.56).
INDY ELEVEN
MATCH PREVIEW
The Boys in Blue head south to face rival Louisville City FC Saturday at 8 p.m. ET!
#LOUvIND Preview
Indy Eleven vs Louisville City FC
Saturday, July 29, 2023 – 8:00 p.m. ET
Lynn Family Stadium – Louisville, Kentucky
Follow Live
MYINDY-TV
Streaming Video: ESPN+ (click to subscribe)
In-game updates: @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed
Stats: #LOUvIND MatchCenter at USLChampionship.com
2023 USL Championship Records
Louisville City FC: 8W-7L-5D (-5), 29 pts; 6th in Eastern Conference
Indy Eleven: 6W-7L-7D (1), 25 pts; 8th in Eastern Conference
Community Health Network Sports Medicine Indy Eleven Injury Report
OUT: DF B. Rebellon (L adductor), DF J. Vazquez (leg)
QUESTIONABLE: None
SETTING THE SCENE
The Boys in Blue return to action Saturday at rival Louisville City FC. This is the second of two matches between the clubs this season, with Louisville earning the 1-0 victory in Indianapolis on May 27.
The Eleven are coming off a 3-1 win over USL Eastern Conference leader Pittsburgh and are 1-1-3 in their last five games. With a 6-7-7 record, Indy is eighth in the USLC Eastern Conference.
Louisville is 1-3-1 in its last five matches and is coming off a 2-1 loss to Birmingham Legion FC. Louisville is sixth in the Eastern Conference at 8-7-5.
SERIES VS. LOUISVILLE
Saturday marks the 19th meeting between the two teams, with Louisville holding the 8-4-6 all-time advantage in USL Championship action. The is the second meeting of two this season.
LOU leads: 8-4-6
GF 19, GA 28
Recent Meetings
5.27.23 | home | L, 1-0
8.31.22 | home | W, 2-1
3.26.22 | at LOU | D, 1-1
10.12.21 | home | W, 1-0
9.18.21 | home | L, 2-0
USL Championship Regular Season
Indy Eleven 0:1 Louisville City FC
Saturday, May 27, 2023
Michael A. Carroll Stadium – Indianapolis, Ind.
Scoring Summary
LOU – Wilson Harris (Serrano) 20’
PARTY CRASHERS
Indy is unbeaten in its last three matches, playing the top three teams in the USLC Eastern Conference. The Eleven’s 3-1 win over Pittsburgh put the first blemish on the home team’s record after coming into the match 7-0-3.
20,000 AND COUNTING…
Aodhan Quinn became the USL Championship’s leader in regular-season minutes played at 20,096 after 90 against Tampa Bay on July 22.
20,000+ minutes | 20,186 | 1st
Appearances | 243 | 7th
Approaching… 50 assists | 49 | 3rd
Quinn has 52 goals after a SportsCenter-worthy strike against Pittsburgh (7.26). He is the 24th player in USL Championship history to hit 50 goals. He is one of only seven players to have a combined 100 career goals and assists with 52 goals and 49 assists.
Quinn has recorded 24 penalty kick goals in 27 attempts in his career in the league, the most of any individual player on record in league history.
SPORTSCENTER TOP 10 FOR THE 11
Indy Eleven midfielders Cam Lindley and Aodhan Quinn have been featured on SportCenter’s Top 10 for goals in 2023. Lindley’s match-winner at Hartford landed at No. 10, while Quinn’s opening strike against Pittsburgh took the No. 4 spot. The club saw a third selection, this time from the women’s side, as Sam Dewey came in at No. 4 for her goal in the USL W League Conference Semifinal.
LAST TIME OUT
PIT 1:3 IND
JULY 26, 2023
Indy Eleven earned a solid three points on the road, taking down USL Championship Eastern Conference leader Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, 3-1. The loss was the first at home for the Riverhounds in 2023 (7-1-3).
In a first half that was largely dominated by the Eleven in the possession column at 62%-38%, the Boys in Blue’s leading goal scorer Aodhan Quinn scored his first from beyond the spot in 2023 to give him seven this season. The midfielder collected a clearance by the Pittsburgh keeper nearly at half, played it down with his chest, and converted a volley from just past the center circle.
Indy doubled its lead in the 35th minute with a tally that goal scorer Sebastian Guenzatti started himself from half. By way of passes from Younes Boudadi and Solomon Asante, Cam Lindley found himself with the ball on the right flank and played it into Pittsburgh’s 18 to Guenzatti for the score.
The Eleven tacked on a second insurance goal compliments of Harrison Robledo’s first of the season off an assist from Indy assist leader Douglas Martinez.
USL Championship Regular Season
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 1:3 Indy Eleven
Wednesday, July 26, 2023
Highmark Stadium – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Scoring Summary
IND – Aodhan Quinn 13’
IND – Sebastian Guenzatti (Cam Lindley) 35’
IND – Harrison Robledo (Douglas Martinez) 73’
PIT – Tola Showunmi (Marc Ybarra) 89’
Discipline Summary
IND – Cam Lindley (caution) 34’
PIT – Arturo Osuna (caution) 43’
PIT – Tola Showunmi (caution) 90+3’
INDIANA VOLLEYBALL
BIG TEN VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON CENTRAL
ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten conference released its’ preseason All-Conference Team and Team Poll, as selected by the coaches, ahead of the second annual Big Ten Media Days next Tuesday (August 1) and Wednesday (August 2).
Four-time defending Big Ten champions Wisconsin were selected as the preseason favorite followed by Nebraska, Minnesota, Penn State and Purdue.
Indiana was picked eighth by the conference’s coaches, its highest-ever selection in a preseason poll since the Big Ten began ranking all 14 programs ahead of the season.
The Hoosiers will speak on Tuesday (August 1st) at Big Ten Media Days, represented by head coach Steve Aird, senior outside hitter/defensive specialist Grae Gosnell and junior setter and preseason All-Big Ten selection Camryn Haworth.
2023 Big Ten Volleyball Preseason All-Conference Team
Haworth is IU’s first preseason selection since 2010.
| Name | School | Year | Position | Hometown |
| Raina Terry | Illinois | Sr. | Outside Hitter | Marengo, Ohio |
| Camryn Haworth | Indiana | Jr. | Setter | Fishers, Ind. |
| Taylor Landfair | Minnesota | Jr. | Outside Hitter | Plainfield, Ill. |
| Kylie Murr | Minnesota | Sr. | Libero | Yorktown, Ind. |
| Melani Shaffmaster | Minnesota | Sr. | Setter | New Castle, Ind. |
| Lexi Rodriguez * | Nebraska | Jr. | Libero/Defensive Specialist | Sterling, Ill. |
| Emily Londot | Ohio State | Sr. | Opposite | Utica, Ohio |
| Rylee Rader | Ohio State | Sr. | Middle Blocker | Louisville, Ky. |
| Jess Mruzik | Penn State | Sr. | Outside Hitter | Livonia, Mich. |
| Mac Podraza * | Penn State | Gr. | Setter | Sunbury, Ohio |
| Eva Hudson * | Purdue | So. | Outside Hitter | Fort Wayne, Ind. |
| Carter Booth | Wisconsin | So. | Middle Blocker | Denver, Colo. |
| Sarah Franklin | Wisconsin | Jr. | Outside Hitter | Lake Worth, Fla. |
| Devyn Robinson | Wisconsin | Sr. | Opposite | Ankeny, Iowa |
| Temi Thomas-Ailara | Wisconsin | Gr. | Outside Hitter | Glennwood, Ill. |
* unanimous selections
2023 Big Ten Preseason Poll
IU’s eighth-place selection is the highest in a conference preseason poll since the Big Ten began ranking all 14 programs.
1. Wisconsin
2. Nebraska
3. Minnesota
4. Penn State
5. Purdue
6. Ohio State
7. Illinois
8. Indiana
9. Maryland
T10. Michigan
T10. Northwestern
12. Michigan State
13. Iowa
14. Rutgers
PURDUE VOLLEYBALL
HUDSON NAMED UNANIMOUS PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN
By: Rachel Coe
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Big Ten Conference announced its 2023 Preseason All-Big Ten honorees, highlighted by Purdue volleyball’s Eva Hudson, who was a unanimous All-Big Ten selection.
The award, voted on by the league’s head coaches, consisted of 15 players. Hudson was one of only three student-athletes to receive unanimous honors and the only underclassman.
Alongside the awards, the Boilermakers were picked to finish fifth in the Big Ten standings.
Recently, Hudson was also named Purdue’s Female Athlete of the Year alongside men’s basketball’s Zach Edey after coming off a freshman campaign in which she led the Big Ten in points (570.5) and kills (503). Not only is she the first freshman in program history to receive an All-America Honorable Mention nod.
The most decorated freshman in Purdue volleyball history was also named Midwest Region Freshman of the Year, All-Big Ten First Team, Big Ten Freshman of the Year and unanimous Big Ten All-Freshman Team.
Hudson’s status as the most accomplished freshman Purdue has ever seen is not confined West Lafayette – in fact, she is one of the most accomplished freshmen the Big Ten has produced, having earned more Big Ten Player of the Week awards than any newcomer before her, all in addition to her six Freshman of the Week accolades.
She is Purdue volleyball’s first newcomer to make an All-Big Ten or honorable mention list since 2005.
Hudson is one of four Boilermakers to post at least 1,420 attacks in a single season and one of five Boilermakers to register 515 kills this century. Meanwhile, she is the only one to accomplish the feats during her first year.
The Fort Wayne, Indiana native produced at least 15 kills in 21 matches this season and recorded a hitting % of .300 or better 11 times, including six at a hitting clip of .400% and above. She averaged 4.78 points per set, 4.22 kills per set and 2.04 digs per set while tallying seven double-doubles over the campaign. Nationally, Hudson ranked eighth in total attacks (1,420), 14th in total points (583) and 16th in total kills (515).
Purdue’s season is set to begin Friday, August 25 at home vs. Duke at 7 p.m. ET. Single game tickets will go on sale to the public on Wednesday, August 2.
PURDUE MEN’S BASKETBALL
PURDUE FACES ARKANSAS IN CHARITY EXHIBITION GAME
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue men’s basketball team will face Arkansas in a charity exhibition game on Oct. 28, at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
The two teams are expected to both be ranked in the top 20 when the polls come out in October. Arkansas is coming off a season that it went 22-14 overall with an appearance in the Sweet 16. Purdue went 29-6 a year ago and won the Big Ten regular-season and tournament championships.
The game will not be part of Arkansas’ season-ticket package and proceeds from the game will go to the United Way to assist with relief efforts from tornadoes that ripped through Arkansas last spring. Reserved seats in the lower bowl will be $20 and reserved upper-bowl seats are $15.
Tip time, broadcast information and complete ticket information, including dates when tickets will go on sale, will be announced at a later time.
Purdue hasn’t faced Arkansas since the 1983 NCAA Tournament – a 78-68 Razorbacks victory.
With this exhibition game announced, Purdue will now face #8 Gonzaga, #11 Arizona, #14 Arkansas, #22 Alabama and Xavier, with the possibility of facing #1 Kansas, #6 Tennessee and #10 Marquette, in the non-conference portion of the schedule. The rankings are via ESPN’s Way-Too-Early top-25 rankings.
PURDUE MEN’S GOLF
SEKNE RANKED NO. 17 IN INITIAL PGA TOUR U. RANKINGS
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue senior Herman Sekne is ranked No. 17 in the initial 2023-24 PGA Tour U. rankings, the PGA Tour announced Wednesday afternoon.
PGA Tour U. (all players are eligible) players earn points based on college, amateur and professional golf and will earn PGA Tour membership if they amass at least 20 “accelerated points”. Accelerated points are given for winning season-ending awards (Haskins Award, Hogan Award, etc.), ranking in the top 5 of the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR), tournament wins (NCAA Championship, U.S. Amateur, etc.) or participating in one of the following national team competitions (Walker Cup, Palmer Cup, World Amateur Team Championship).
To be elevated, eligible players must exhaust four years of collegiate eligibility or complete four years of college academics, with a minimum of two years of collegiate athletics.
The No. 1 ranked player next June in PGA Tour U. rankings earns PGA Tour membership for the remainder of the current season and benefits range all the way down to players ranking 11th through 20th earning full membership on the PGA Tour Americas tour.
Sekne is currently ranked No. 28 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) and already has international match-play experience under his belt this summer, competing for the European squad in the prestigious Arnold Palmer Cup in June. He will play in the prestigious Bollanack Trophy on Aug. 3-5 – a Ryder Cup-style competition between the best players in Europe and Asia-Pacific.
He finished fourth this summer at the elite Sunnehanna Amateur and with his WAGR ranking, will qualify for the U.S. Amateur in August in Colorado.
Last June, Sekne became Purdue’s first All-American since 2002 (Lee Williamson) and was named first-team All-Big Ten for the second straight season in May. He was selected as the Big Ten Golfer of the Week three times while owning seven top-10 finishes in 10 events. His seven career Big Ten Golfer of the Week honors are the fourth most in Big Ten history.
He finished tied for ninth at the Big Ten Championships, but set the tournament record, a school record and a Galloway National course record with a 9-under par 62 in the second round.
The Oslo, Norway, native became just the fifth player in school history with at least three victories when he earned co-medalist honors three weeks ago at the Boilermaker Invitational, leading the Boilermakers to a stunning, come-from-behind victory over No. 11-ranked Oklahoma by one shot.
Sekne totaled a 54-hole tally of 11-under par 202 (69-69-64) to earn the victory. He birdied his final two holes to rally for the medalist share and his 202 score is the fourth-best tournament score in school history, while his 64 in the final tied for the third-lowest round in Purdue history.
He posted a school-record 14 rounds in the 60s, while his seven top-10 finishes are second in school history, coming in just 10 events played. He owned a 70.41 stroke average, ranking first in school history – almost a half-stroke better than Williamson in second place (70.78).
Sekne’s career stroke average of 71.66 is tops in school history, more than a stroke better than second place (Austin Eoff – 72.82). He has set the career record for most rounds in the 60s (25) and ranks tied for seventh in career top-10 finishes with 13, coming in just 27 events played.
BUTLER FOOTBALL
10 BULLDOGS NAMED TO PHIL STEELE’S PRESEASON ALL-PFL TEAMS
CLEVELAND — 10 members of the Butler football program were placed on Phil Steele’s Preseason All-PFL Teams. Bret Bushka, Cameron Heald, Luke Wooten, Adam Dolan and Joey Suchy represent the Bulldog offense while Will Mason, Jack Belskis, and Austin Korba were selected as defensive players. Rounding out the group was kicker/punter Luka Zurak and kick returner Joey Audia. These teams were brought to you by Phil Steele, Josh Buchanan and the draftscout.com staff.
Bushka and Zurak were each first team selections for Butler at their respective positions. Bushka also took one of the top two honors as the preseason pick for the 2023 PFL Offensive Player of the Year. Zurak was the top selection in the PFL at both the kicker and punter position. Bushka took first team honors over fellow PFL quarterbacks Brady Meitz (Stetson) and Brock Bagozzi (Marist).
Second Team selections for Butler included FB Cameron Heald, WR Luke Wooten, OL Adam Dolan, and DB Will Mason. The members of the third team were RB Joey Suchy, DL Jack Belskis, DL Austin Korba and KR Joey Audia.
Bushka, Zurak, Wooten, Heald, Dolan, Belskis, Mason and Audia all earned spots on Phil Steele’s 2022 FCS All-PFL Teams after the completion of the season. Bushka and Zurak were on the first team, Wooten was a second teamer, Heald was on the third team and Dolan, Belskis, Mason and Audia were on the fourth team.
The Bulldogs will open training camp next week in prep for the start of the 2023 season. Six home games highlight the schedule this season with the home opener set for Sept. 9. The Bulldogs will host a night game against Wabash the following weekend and Presbyterian will be in town for Family Weekend on Sept. 30.
BUTLER FOOTBALL ANNOUNCES NEW ROLES FOR COACHING STAFF
INDIANAPOLIS – The start of the 2023 college football season is just around the corner and with training camp just days away for the Bulldogs, head coach Mike Uremovich announced some title changes to the current coaching staff.
Alex Barr will work as the offensive coordinator in 2023 after being the run game coordinator in 2022. Coach Barr will still oversee the offensive line position group. Butler’s new run game coordinator will be newcomer Sean Chase. Coach Chase will work with the team’s fullbacks, running backs and tight ends this season.
Butler’s pass game coordinator for the upcoming season will be Ray Holmes. He will continue to work with the program’s wide receivers in 2023 on a day-to-day basis. Yet another change to the offensive side of the ball will be with Clint Hostler working with the running backs. Coach Hostler served as an offensive analyst in his first year with the team.
Defensively, Butler will stick to their 2022 script in many ways. Jeff Knowles will once again work as the defensive coordinator and oversee the linebackers for the Bulldogs. Knowles has added responsibility moving forward as the assistant head coach.
Adam Siwicki will be the teams recruiting coordinator going forward. Coach Siwicki will continue to work as the defensive line coach in 2023.
The Bulldogs are the same on the back end with Jalen Moss coaching cornerbacks and Joe Cheshire coaching the safeties. Coach Cheshire is once again responsible for managing special teams for Butler as the Special Teams Coordinator.
The 2023 season kicks off on Sept. 2 this year with Butler traveling to Montana. The home opener will fall on the following weekend with the Bulldogs hosting the Taylor Trojans on Sept. 9. Opening kick is set for 1 PM.
BUTLER MEN’S SOCCER
TEN ADDITIONS TO BUTLER MEN’S SOCCER 2023 ROSTER
Head Coach Paul Snape and his staff have announced the anticipated arrival of ten newcomers who will join the men’s soccer program for the upcoming fall season. Seven of the talented additions are high school graduates or transfers from the United States, while the other three are products of football clubs in Europe.
Incoming Bulldogs
Brooks Boersma, Haslett, Michigan
Caleb Frakes, Fort Thomas, Kentucky
Ryan Hannosh, Farmington Hills, Michigan
Nikolas Juarez, Aurora, Illinois
Jameson Metz, Derwood, Maryland
Alejandro Moroso-Maza, Santander, Cantabria, Spain
Ernesto Osornio, Phoenix, Arizona (Pima Community College)
Jan Qusipel, Emmen, Netherlands
Luca Raso, West Dundee, Illinois
Josh Stewart, Wallsend, North Tyneside, England
The newcomers join a Butler side that posted a 10-6-3 overall record in 2022, finishing in a tie for third in the BIG EAST with a 4-3-3 conference record. The Bulldogs advanced to the semifinal round of the postseason BIG EAST Championship Tournament.
IUPUI MEN’S BASKETBALL
CARRASCO SIGNS PROFESSIONAL CONTRACT IN FRANCE
INDIANAPOLIS – Former IUPUI big man Jonah Carrasco recently signed his first professional contract to play overseas for Brest-Metropole Basket in France’s second division. Carrasco, a 6-foot-9 forward, arrived in France earlier this week to begin training for the upcoming season.
“Jonah did everything asked of him and we’re excited for him to have the opportunity to play professionally,” head coach Matt Crenshaw said. “He’s a great teammate and has continued to work hard to improve his game. I think his biggest impact will come at the defensive end and his ability to rebound and change ends of the floor quickly. He’s been working to expand his game and he’s excited to get to work.
“Our staff is thrilled that he has the opportunity and know that he’ll take full advantage of it.”
Carrasco played 64 games over three seasons with the Jaguars, making 18 starts. He averaged 2.9 points and 3.1 rebounds for his IUPUI career and blocked 47 total shots. This past season was his most efficient offensive season as he shot 54.3 percent from the field while scoring 3.1 points per game. The year prior, he averaged a career-high 4.4 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, but missed the end of the season due to injury. He entered the transfer portal following that season, but ultimately returned to Indianapolis for his final season of eligibility while pursuing his Master’s degree.
He tied IUPUI’s single-game record with seven blocked shots against East-West on Jan. 31, 2022 while also finishing with 15 points and 10 rebounds in that contest. This past year, he had a season-high nine points and five assists in his home finale against Youngstown State on Feb. 25, 2023.
Academically, he was named to the NABC Honors Court each of the past two years and and CSC Academic All-District Team in 2023.
INDIANA STATE BASEBALL
SYCAMORES IN THE PROS – SUMMER UPDATE
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State baseball continues to feature talent across the MLB and MiLB ranks heading into the final weekend in July.
The Sycamores feature two former pitchers in the majors including Milwaukee Brewers starter Collin Rea and San Francisco Giants reliever Sean Manaea, while Clay Dungan sits among the top prospects in the Kansas City Royals organization while playing with the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers.
Collin Rea, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers
Collin Rea sits with a 5-4 overall record in the 2023 season while making 18 appearances with 17 starts for the Brewers. The former Sycamore right-hander is a key part of the NL Central leaders with a 4.53 ERA over 91.1 innings on the mound. He’s posted a 75:27 strikeout-to-walk ratio on the year while allowing opponents to hit just .237 from the plate. Rea’s gone at least 5.0-innings in 15 starts on the year while posting at least five strikeouts in seven contests.
Sean Manaea, LHP, San Francisco Giants
Sean Manaea sits with a 3-3 overall record in the 2023 season while appearing 23 times with six starts on the year. The left-hander has posted a 5.86 ERA on the season with an 80:27 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He’s posted at least five strikeouts in seven different games and has gone at least 3.0-innings in 11 games on the year.
Clay Dungan, 2B, Omaha Storm Chasers (Kansas City Royals, Triple-A)
Clay Dungan bounced back from a Spring Training injury to continue to sit as one of the top prospects in the Kansas City Royals organization. The former Sycamore has posted a .302 batting average over 48 games with six doubles, a triple, and a home run. He’s added 26 runs and 20 RBI while posting an .815 OPS line. He’s hit .357 so far in July with a pair of three hit contests.
Jake Means, 3B, Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Kansas City Royals, Double-A)
Jake Means is hitting .165 over the 2023 season while lining up for the Kansas City Royals Double-A organization. The former Sycamore infielder has posted 36 hits over 65 games including four doubles and seven home runs. He’s driven in 28 RBIs and scored 21 runs on the year.
Triston Polley, LHP, Frisco RoughRigers (Texas Rangers, Double-A)
Triston Polley has lined up for both the Texas Rangers’ Double-A and Triple-A teams in the 2023 and is currently with the Frisco RoughRiders. The former Sycamore left-hander has posted a combined 3-0 record with a 5.36 ERA over 26 appearances this year. He’s recorded a 38:17 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 45.1 innings on the mound.
Max Wright, C, Eugene Emeralds (San Francisco Giants, High-A)
Max Wright has spent the 2023 season to date with the San Francisco Giants’ High-A team based out of Eugene, Ore. The catcher has posted a.208 batting average with 22 hits including four doubles and a trio of home runs. The left-handed hitter has driven in 14 RBIs and scored 10 runs. He’s found his stride in July hitting .273 from the plate over 22 at-bats including driving in five RBIs.
Jack Parisi, RHP, Modesto Nuts (Seattle Mariners, Single-A)
Jack Parisi is in the midst of his first professional season in the Seattle Mariners organization and has bounced around the organization’s Rookie-Ball, Single-A, and Double-A teams on the year. Parisi has made four relief appearances with Modesto and has posted a career 13:10 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a 5.17 ERA over 15.2 innings.
Connor Fenlong, RHP (Kansas City Royals – Free Agent Signee – Not Assigned)
At the time of this posting, Connor Fenlong has not been assigned to a team within the Royals organization.
Matt Jachec, RHP (Cleveland Guardians – MLB Draft Selection – Not Assigned)
At the time of this posting, Matt Jachec has not been assigned to a team within the Guardians organization.
INDIANA STATE FOOTBALL
ELEVEN INDIANA STATE PLAYERS HONORED ON THE PHIL STEELE PRESEASON ALL-MVFC TEAM
PHILSTEELE.com – Eleven Indiana State players were honored on the Phil Steele Preseason All-Missouri Valley Football Conference Team as announced by the organization on Friday afternoon.
Justin Dinka (RB), Jose Vazquez IV (OL), Gianini Belizaire (DL), Geoffrey Brown (LB), and Rylan Cole (DB) all represent the Sycamores on the Second Team, while Lucas Hunter (DL), Garret Ollendieck (LB), Johnathan Edwards (DB), and Dakota Caton (KR) all earned spots on the Third Team. Caton earned his second preseason nod as the Fourth Team punt returner, while Keagen Trost (OL) joined his teammate on the squad.
Dinka was a 2022 MVFC Second Team All-Conference selection after finishing fourth in the MVFC in total rushing yards (895), while adding a 5.77 yards per carry average. The redshirt junior posted a career-high 177 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns against Youngstown State and finished the season with nine games with at least 50 rushing yards.
Vazquez IV lined up as Indiana State’s primary right guard in the 2022 season starting 10 games on the year. The redshirt junior is a three-year starter on the ISU offensive line and posted an average grade of 88.7% throughout the year. This average bumped up to an 89.5% mark in conference play. The Carol Stream, Ill. native allowed just 1.5 sacks in the 2022 season and just three quarterback hurries.
Belizaire led Indiana State with 8.5 tackles-for-loss and 5.0 sacks in his first season with the Sycamores. The junior defensive lineman made his ISU debut with a season-high six tackles, 1.5 TFLs, and 1.5 sacks against North Alabama, while adding a 2.5 TFL and 1.5 sack game against Western Illinois.
Brown tied for the ISU lead with 84 total tackles, while adding 7.0 TFL and 3.5 sacks. The rising junior opened the season with a career-high 15-tackle game against North Alabama, while adding 10 tackles, 2.0 TFL, and 2.0 sacks at Northern Iowa. He finished the year with five double-digit tackling efforts on the season.
Cole returns as one of the more heralded players in the MVFC after earning 2022 HERO Sports Sophomore All-American honors. The junior safety finished among the conference leaders in solo tackles per game (5.2) and passes defended per game (1.1), while tying for the team lead with 84 tackles on the year. He posted a season-high 18 tackles against North Dakota State, while adding a two-interception game against North Alabama.
Hunter finished the 2022 season with 35 total tackles, including 4.5 tackles-for-loss and one sack as an interior defensive lineman. The Indianapolis, Ind. native highlighted his season with a career-high 11 tackles, a TFL and 0.5 sacks against North Dakota State. The junior defensive lineman also recorded a scoop-and-score fumble recovery for a touchdown early in the season against Montana for his first collegiate touchdown.
Ollendieck took on a starting linebacker role midway through the 2022 season. The sophomore broke onto the scene at Youngstown State with a nine-tackle game that included 2.5 tackles-for-loss. He closed out the 2022 season with a career-high 14 tackles and added a sack and his first interception in the finale against Missouri State.
Edwards is scheduled to get back on the field this season after suffering an injury in 2023. The St. Louis, Mo. native finished second in the MVFC in passes defended (9) and led the conference in pass breakups (9) in the 2022 season while serving as a starting cornerback. He posted multiple tackles in eight different games.
Caton is back as one of the top returners in the MVFC this season after playing the entire 2022 season. The Sullivan, Ind. native was the team leader in kickoff return average (21.1) and punt returns (7.7) and is two seasons removed from a First Team MVFC return nod in 2019.
Trost started at right tackle in 10 games, right guard in one contest in 2022. He posted an average grade on the season was 86.5 with an 88.6 mark in conference play. Trost allowed just one sack and two quarterback hurries on the season.
2023 Indiana State Football Season Tickets on Sale
The Sycamores will host five games at Memorial Stadium this season starting on Thursday night on August 31 against Eastern Illinois. Additional home games include Saturday games against Northern Iowa (Oct. 7), South Dakota (Oct. 21), Youngstown State (Nov. 4), and Western Illinois (Nov. 11).
SOUTHERN INDIANA MEN’S BASKETBALL
THREE EAGLES TAKE FLIGHT PROFESSIONALLY
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Three University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball Screaming Eagles have taken flight into professional basketball since the end of the 2022-23 season. Forward Trevor Lakes is playing for Brisbane Capitals of the Australian NBL One (second division), while forward Jacob Polakovich and guard Jelani Simmons have signed with Fortitudo Agrigento in Italy’s Serie A2 (second division) and TFT in North Macedonian Prva Liga, respectively.
Lakes, who is posting 12 points and four rebounds per game for Brisbane, finished his only season with USI by posting 12.7 points and 5.4 rebounds per game for the Eagles. He also was named Ohio Valley Conference Player and Newcomer of the Week a total of three times combined.
Polakovich joins Fortitudo Argigento after a spectacular senior season with the Eagles. The two-year USI starter was a force on the basketball court for the Eagles. The first-team All-OVC honoree averaged a double-double for the second-straight season with 12.2 points and 12.8 rebounds per game.
The 2022-23 three-time OVC Player of the Week also was among the nation’s leaders in rebounding during a season that saw him post six games of 20-or-more rebounds.
Simmons signs with TFT after completing his USI career with 1,026 points, ranking 21st on the all-time USI scorers, and his collegiate career with 1,456 collegiate career points (1026 at USI; 430 at Youngstown State). The preseason All-OVC selection and OVC Player of the Week honoree ranked second on USI in 2022-23 with 13.4 points per game, while grabbing 3.6 rebounds per contest.
Lakes, Polakovich, and Simmons join eight additional former Eagles playing abroad. They join Jamar Smith (Reggio Emilia in Italian Serie A); Nick Evans (Cimarrones del Choco in Colombian Liga WPlay); Alex Stein (Hubo Limburg United in Belgian Pro Basketball League); Emmanuel Little (Dziki Warszawa in Polish EBL); Josh Price (Tauron GTK Gliwice in Polish EBL); Aaron Nelson (Marineros in Dominican Republic LNB); George Edwards (Starlites in Maltese BOV League D1); and Danny Gibson (Medora Timberjacks in the TBL).
VALPO FOOTBALL
HALF DOZEN VALPO PLAYERS RECOGNIZED AS PHIL STEELE ANNOUNCES PRESEASON ALL-PFL PICKS
Six members of the Valparaiso University football program were recognized on Friday as Phil Steele announced its 2023 Preseason All-Pioneer Football League teams.
Redshirt senior wide receiver Solomon Davis (Brighton, Tenn. / Brighton) was named to the First Team, while redshirt sophomore tight end Evan Jernegan (Altadena, Calif. / St. Francis), redshirt junior defensive lineman Sam Hafner (Green Bay, Wis. / De Pere), redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Kevin Spelman (New Lenox, Ill. / Providence Catholic) and sixth-year senior punter Evan Matthes (Reston, Va. / South Lakes [West Virginia]) were named to the Second Team. Spelman was also tabbed to the Third Team as a long snapper, while redshirt senior linebacker Evan Annis (Hilliard, Ohio / Hilliard Davidson) rounded out the collection of Valpo honorees as a member of the Third Team.
Davis was named to the All-PFL First Team last season after hauling in 43 receptions for 748 yards and four touchdowns. He ranked ninth in the PFL with 3.58 receptions per game, fifth at 62.33 receiving yards per game, fifth in yards per catch at 17.4 and fifth in total receptions with 43. He finished second in the league in total receiving yards as part of a breakout season.
Jernegan burst onto the scene as a redshirt freshman last season, earning All-PFL Honorable Mention status. He had 15 catches for 241 yards and two touchdowns.
Hafner was a member of the All-PFL Second Team and the Academic All-PFL First Team a year ago. He had 65 tackles, nine tackles for loss, five sacks, three forced fumbles and three QB hurries. He tied for the PFL lead in forced fumbles and ranked ninth in the PFL in sacks per game at 0.42.
Spelman earned a spot on the 2022 Jerry Rice Award Watch List (FCS National Freshman of the Year Award) and was named All-PFL Honorable Mention at both long snapper and defensive line. He had 52 tackles, 11 TFL, 6.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. He ranked fourth in the nation in sacks by a freshman and was fifth in the PFL in sacks while becoming one of nine players in the league with multiple forced fumbles.
Matthes was named to the All-PFL Second Team last year after ranking second in the league in punting average at 41.38 yards per punt. He drilled a 67-yard punt on Sept. 24 vs. San Diego, tied for the longest in the PFL all season.
Annis returns to the fold after missing last season due to a knee injury. He was an All-PFL Honorable Mention performer in Fall 2021 and earned a spot on the All-PFL Second Team in Spring 2021. He is also a standout in the classroom and has twice earned Academic All-PFL First Team status.
Fall training camp begins on Tuesday as the Beacons prepare for the Aug. 31 season opener at Youngstown State.
SMALL COLLEGE ATHLETIC SITES:
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/
HOLY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php
TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/
VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index
“SPORTS EXTRA”
MLB STANDINGS
| American League | |||||||||||
| East | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Baltimore | 63 | 40 | .612 | – | 31 – 20 | 32 – 20 | 20 – 12 | 18 – 7 | 10 – 7 | 6 – 4 | W 1 |
| Tampa Bay | 63 | 43 | .594 | 1.5 | 37 – 19 | 26 – 24 | 18 – 13 | 16 – 4 | 10 – 10 | 3 – 7 | W 1 |
| Toronto | 58 | 46 | .558 | 5.5 | 28 – 20 | 30 – 26 | 7 – 20 | 16 – 6 | 13 – 10 | 5 – 5 | W 2 |
| Boston | 56 | 47 | .544 | 7 | 30 – 23 | 26 – 24 | 16 – 11 | 11 – 8 | 11 – 8 | 7 – 3 | W 5 |
| NY Yankees | 54 | 49 | .524 | 9 | 32 – 24 | 22 – 25 | 13 – 18 | 11 – 8 | 14 – 11 | 4 – 6 | L 1 |
| Central | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Minnesota | 54 | 51 | .514 | – | 30 – 24 | 24 – 27 | 12 – 17 | 21 – 13 | 11 – 8 | 6 – 4 | L 3 |
| Cleveland | 52 | 52 | .500 | 1.5 | 28 – 24 | 24 – 28 | 7 – 8 | 16 – 15 | 13 – 9 | 6 – 4 | L 1 |
| Detroit | 46 | 58 | .442 | 7.5 | 22 – 30 | 24 – 28 | 3 – 16 | 18 – 12 | 9 – 13 | 4 – 6 | L 4 |
| Chi White Sox | 42 | 63 | .400 | 12 | 22 – 28 | 20 – 35 | 6 – 16 | 16 – 15 | 9 – 14 | 2 – 8 | W 1 |
| Kansas City | 30 | 75 | .286 | 24 | 16 – 36 | 14 – 39 | 5 – 15 | 11 – 27 | 4 – 11 | 3 – 7 | W 1 |
| West | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Texas | 60 | 44 | .577 | – | 34 – 20 | 26 – 24 | 14 – 11 | 14 – 5 | 17 – 13 | 5 – 5 | L 1 |
| Houston | 58 | 46 | .558 | 2 | 27 – 24 | 31 – 22 | 5 – 6 | 8 – 11 | 24 – 13 | 6 – 4 | L 2 |
| LA Angels | 54 | 50 | .519 | 6 | 29 – 23 | 25 – 27 | 11 – 10 | 14 – 8 | 16 – 14 | 8 – 2 | L 1 |
| Seattle | 53 | 50 | .515 | 6.5 | 29 – 25 | 24 – 25 | 9 – 12 | 12 – 11 | 15 – 11 | 6 – 4 | W 3 |
| Oakland | 29 | 76 | .276 | 31.5 | 15 – 39 | 14 – 37 | 7 – 19 | 7 – 11 | 5 – 26 | 4 – 6 | W 1 |
| National League | |||||||||||
| East | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Atlanta | 65 | 36 | .644 | – | 33 – 19 | 32 – 17 | 22 – 6 | 11 – 2 | 11 – 9 | 4 – 6 | W 1 |
| Philadelphia | 56 | 47 | .544 | 10 | 28 – 20 | 28 – 27 | 9 – 15 | 11 – 6 | 14 – 13 | 5 – 5 | W 3 |
| Miami | 56 | 48 | .538 | 10.5 | 32 – 20 | 24 – 28 | 13 – 16 | 11 – 9 | 10 – 12 | 3 – 7 | W 2 |
| NY Mets | 49 | 54 | .476 | 17 | 25 – 22 | 24 – 32 | 15 – 13 | 5 – 14 | 15 – 13 | 6 – 4 | W 2 |
| Washington | 43 | 61 | .413 | 23.5 | 20 – 33 | 23 – 28 | 9 – 18 | 7 – 13 | 14 – 14 | 5 – 5 | L 2 |
| Central | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Milwaukee | 57 | 47 | .548 | – | 29 – 24 | 28 – 23 | 9 – 5 | 22 – 10 | 8 – 15 | 5 – 5 | L 1 |
| Cincinnati | 57 | 48 | .543 | 0.5 | 28 – 26 | 29 – 22 | 12 – 11 | 13 – 19 | 15 – 8 | 7 – 3 | W 1 |
| Chi Cubs | 52 | 51 | .505 | 4.5 | 27 – 26 | 25 – 25 | 8 – 14 | 17 – 12 | 9 – 8 | 9 – 1 | W 7 |
| St. Louis | 46 | 59 | .438 | 11.5 | 22 – 28 | 24 – 31 | 10 – 9 | 12 – 19 | 9 – 14 | 4 – 6 | L 2 |
| Pittsburgh | 45 | 58 | .437 | 11.5 | 23 – 27 | 22 – 31 | 5 – 6 | 11 – 15 | 16 – 15 | 4 – 6 | L 1 |
| West | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| LA Dodgers | 58 | 44 | .569 | – | 30 – 19 | 28 – 25 | 11 – 7 | 15 – 13 | 14 – 11 | 5 – 5 | L 2 |
| San Francisco | 56 | 48 | .538 | 3 | 28 – 23 | 28 – 25 | 10 – 12 | 18 – 9 | 15 – 10 | 3 – 7 | L 1 |
| Arizona | 55 | 49 | .529 | 4 | 27 – 27 | 28 – 22 | 13 – 15 | 11 – 10 | 17 – 11 | 3 – 7 | L 2 |
| San Diego | 50 | 54 | .481 | 9 | 27 – 25 | 23 – 29 | 13 – 13 | 8 – 15 | 12 – 13 | 6 – 4 | W 1 |
| Colorado | 40 | 63 | .388 | 18.5 | 23 – 27 | 17 – 36 | 14 – 17 | 8 – 10 | 6 – 19 | 5 – 5 | L 3 |
TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
1908 Rube Waddell fans sixteen of his former teammates when the Browns defeat the A’s at Sportsman’s Park, 5-4. During the off-season, a frustrated Connie Mack, Philadelphia’s owner/ manager, traded his talented but free-spirit hurler to St. Louis.
1911 In the first game of a twin bill at Huntington Avenue Baseball Grounds, Red Sox right-hander Joe Wood whiffs twelve Browns en route to a 5-0 no-hitter. ‘Smokey,’ a nickname coined due to his blazing fastball, throws the fifth hitless game in franchise history and the last accomplished in the Boston ballpark.
1911 The Giants establish a franchise mark with nine stolen bases in the team’s 8-0 rout of the Redbirds at Robison Field in St. Louis. Eight different New York players contribute to the record, with seven of the nine bags pilfered off Cardinals backstop Jack Bliss.
1915 Pirates’ third baseman Honus Wagner reaches Robins hurler Jeff Pfeffer for a grand slam in the eighth inning, helping Pittsburgh beat Brooklyn at Forbes Field, 8-2. The inside-the-park round-tripper makes the 41-year-old infielder the oldest player to hit a home run with the bases full, a record that will last until 1985.
1919 At Navin Field, Dutch Leonard decides to pitch around Bob Roth with two outs in the ninth inning to face Babe Ruth. Although the Boston slugger, who has already reached the Detroit southpaw with two doubles, responds by tying an American League record with his ninth homer of the month and sixteenth of the season, the Tigers prevail, 10-8.
1928 The Indians follow up their eight-run first inning with nine more tallies in the next frame of their 24-6 rout of the Yankees at Dunn Field. The Tribe’s third baseman Johnny Hodapp collects two singles in both the second and sixth frames.
1938 On the WGN’s White Sox pregame radio show, Yankee outfielder Jake Powel responds to a Bob Elson question concerning his offseason employment as a Dayton, Ohio policeman, quips, “I crack n*****s on the head.” Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis downplays the incident, describing the ballplayer’s comments as acting not “intentionally, but carelessly,” and will suspend the reserve flychaser for ten days.
1944 Annabelle Lee, the aunt of future major leaguer Bill Lee, pitches the first of five perfect games in the 12-year history of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. The Minneapolis Millerettes southpaw knuckleballer, who will toss a no-hitter for the Fort Wayne Daisies precisely one year from this date, doesn’t allow any batters to reach first base in the 18-0 rout of the Kenosha (WI) Comets.
1955 Smoky Burgess hits three home runs and drives in nine runs in the Reds’ 16-5 rout of Pittsburgh at Crosley Field. In addition to his grand slam and pair of two-run round-trippers, the Cincinnati catcher also collects a run-scoring single.
1968 At Connie Mack Stadium, Reds’ right-hander George Culver faces 34 batters, throws a no-hitter, and beats the Phillies, 6-1. Philadelphia tallies an unearned run in the second inning when Dick Allen reaches base on a throwing error by the third baseman, goes to second on another miscue on the same play, and gets to third base on a groundout before scoring on a sacrifice fly.
1969 Major League Baseball proclaims Joe DiMaggio as its greatest living player, a title the Yankee Clipper would proudly embrace until he died in 1999. Sportswriters determined in a poll to coincide with professional baseball’s centennial.
1978 The Yankee Stadium crowd is pleasantly surprised as recently resigned manager Billy Martin returns to join in on the Old Timers’ Day festivities. Much to their delight, the fans respond with a seven-minute standing ovation when informed ‘Billy the Kid’ will return as the team’s skipper in 1980.
1983 Due to a dislocated thumb suffered in a collision at home plate in an attempt to score in the first game of the Padres’ doubleheader against Atlanta, first baseman Steve Garvey’s consecutive game streak ends in the nightcap at 1,207. At the time, the span is the third-longest in major league history without missing a game.
1986 Sparky Anderson, the first manager to win the World Series in each league, also becomes the first to win 600 games in both the National and American Leagues when Detroit beats the Brewers, 9-5. The future Hall of Fame skipper finishes with a 2194-1834 (.545) record during his 26 years with Reds and Tigers, capturing five Pennants and three World Series.
1988 The Orioles deal pitcher Mike Boddicker to the Red Sox for Brady Anderson and Curt Schilling. Boddicker will have two successful years with Boston, and Anderson will become a productive leadoff hitter for Baltimore, with Schilling becoming one of baseball’s most dominant pitchers of his era.
1988 After home plate umpire Mike Reilly doesn’t grant his request for a time-out, Bo Jackson recovers in time to hit a home run despite not being set in the batter’s box when the pitch is delivered. The Royals left fielder’s fourth-inning three-run poke off Jeff Ballard contributes to Kansas City’s 6-3 victory over Baltimore at Memorial Stadium.
1989 The White Sox trade left fielder Fred Manrique and franchise home run leader Harold Baines to the Rangers for outfielders Scott Fletcher, Sammy Sosa, and southpaw Wilson Alvarez. Three seasons later, the Pale Hose will send Slammin’ Sammy to the Cubs, where the Dominican slugger will hit 545 home runs during his 13-year stay with their crosstown rivals.
1989 Rickey Henderson steals five bases and scores four runs without getting an official time at-bat. The improbable offensive output occurs when the A’s leadoff hitter is issued four bases-on-balls by Randy Johnson, the winner in the M’s 14-6 victory at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.
1996 After a mild heart attack last month, Tommy Lasorda, 68-year-old Dodger manager of twenty years, announces his retirement due to his health. The future Hall of Fame skipper was named the National League Manager of the Year in 1983 and 1988, leading Los Angeles to four pennants and two World Series championships during his 21 seasons at the helm.
1996 Chris Sabo will be suspended for seven games, losing approximately $70,000 in salary, and the Reds will be fined $25,000 due to his use of a doctored bat in today’s 2-1 loss to Houston at Cinergy Field. The Cincinnati third baseman will claim the bat, which was hollowed out and filled with pieces of rubber balls, wasn’t his but one of three offered to him by the batboy after he had broken his bat during a plate appearance in the second inning.
1996 The Mets deal Jeff Kent and Jose Vizcaino to the Indians for Carlos Baerga and Alvaro Espinoza. The trade, one of the worst in franchise history, will be a bust when Baerga hits only .267 in three non-productive seasons in the Big Apple, and Kent goes on to win an MVP award and posts Hall of Fame numbers for a second baseman during his 17-year tenure in the major leagues.
1998 Jon Garland, the Cubs’ first-round draft pick last season, is traded in a deadline deal for White Sox reliever Matt Karchner, who will struggle with a 5.14 ERA in 29 appearances for the crosstown rivals. The Pale Hose’s rookie right-hander will spend the first eight seasons of his career with the South Siders, compiling a 92-81 (.532) record and an ERA of 4.41 for his new team.
2000 The Brewers hold Bob Wickman All-Star Poster Night a day after the team trades him along with Jason Bere and Steve Woodard to the Indians for a player to be named later (Marco Scutaro), Kane Davis, Paul Rigdon, and Richie Sexson. The Brew Crew distributes 30,000 pictures of their former closer, a member of the team for the past five seasons, on a night they are routed by the Rockies, 10-2, with Rigdon, one of the players in the trade, allowing four runs on seven hits over five innings in his Milwaukee debut.
2000 Recently acquired from Baltimore, the new Mets make a good first impression. Mike Bordick goes 2-for-3, including a home run on the first pitch he sees with the team, Rick White pitches a scoreless inning to get the win, and the other newcomer, Bubba Trammell, will homer in his first at-bat in his Met debut tomorrow.
2000 The White Sox trade catcher Brook Fordyce and three minor league pitchers to the Orioles for backstop Charles Johnson and designated hitter Harold Baines. The deal brings Baines, who will retire after playing a part-time role with the team for two seasons, back to Chicago, where he played a dozen of the most productive years of his 22-year tenure in the major leagues.
2000 With two outs in the ninth inning at Olympic Stadium, Eddie Taubensee knots the score at 3-3 with his game-tying home run off Expos starting pitcher Javier Vazquez. The Reds catcher then homers again in the 11th off Julio Santana for the game-winner in Cincinnati’s 4-3 win over Montreal.
2001 Texas rookie Craig Monroe homers in his first major league game, going deep in his second at-bat off Joe Kennedy. The 24-year-old right fielder’s fifth-inning blast contributes to the Rangers’ 2-0 victory over the Devil Rays at The Ballpark in Arlington.
2002 “To protect the game we all love and have given so much to, we suggest you agree to a qualified mediator that will allow you to find the common ground necessary to avoid a work stoppage.” – TEXT FROM 40 HALL OF FAMERS, sent to Bud Selig and Donald Fehr. A letter signed by 40 Hall of Famers and sent to baseball commissioner Bud Selig and union head Donald Fehr urges all sides ‘to protect the game we all love and have given so much to, we suggest you agree to a qualified mediator that will allow you to find the common ground necessary to avoid a work stoppage” is released. The former outstanding players, including Reggie Jackson, Willie Mays, and Warren Spahn, believe another work stoppage in baseball would be a terrible mistake.
2002 After playing the annual Hall of Fame exhibition game in Cooperstown, the White Sox and Rockies announce a trade that sends veteran catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. to Colorado, with class A minor-league right-hander Enemencio Pacheco going to Chicago.
2002 The Phillies trade 27-year-old third baseman Scott Rolen, along with minor league reliever Doug Nickle, to the Cardinals in exchange for infielder Placido Polanco, southpaw Bud Smith, and reliever Mike Timlin. The former Philadelphia third sacker reportedly rejected a ten-year pact estimated to be worth $140 million due to his feud with manager Larry Bowa.
2003 Bill Mueller becomes the first switch-hitter to blast two grand slams in the same game, batting both left and right-handed. Not known for his power, the Red Sox third baseman, batting eighth in the Boston lineup, also goes deep in the third inning, collecting 9 RBIs in the team’s 14-7 victory over the Rangers at The Ballpark in Arlington.
2004 In a 10-1 victory over the Expos, Eric Valent becomes the eighth player in franchise history to complete the cycle. After singling in the second, doubling in the third, and homering in the fifth, the Mets’ utility player triples in the seventh to join Phillies David Bell, Pirates Daryle Ward, and Chad Moeller of the Brewers to accomplish the feat this season.
2006 With a 19-6 rout of the Yankees at the Stadium, the Devil Rays tie a franchise record for runs. Batting last, Tampa Bay third baseman Tomas Perez adds to the barrage with four doubles, equaling the major league mark for two-baggers hit in one game.
2006 Julio Franco becomes the oldest player to pinch run when he takes Carlos Delgado’s place on the basepaths after a pitch hits the Mets’ infielder in the fourth inning. The 47-year-old pinch-runner, who will stay in the game to play first, steals second base and will advance to third on the catcher’s error in the Mets’ 11-4 win over Atlanta at Turner Field.
2008 With a tip of his helmet, Ichiro Suzuki acknowledges the Rangers fans’ ovation for his achievement of reaching 3,000 hits in professional baseball. The 34-year-old Mariners outfielder had collected 1,278 hits with the Orix Blue Wave in Japan’s Pacific League, and his first-inning single off Texas right-hander Luis Mendoza was his 1,722nd hit with Seattle during eight seasons with the team.
2008 In a 4-1 win over the Marlins at Dolphin Stadium, Mets’ third baseman David Wright scores in his 13th consecutive game, establishing a new franchise record. Teammate Carlos Beltran had set the previous team mark in 2006.
2008 In a surprising pre-deadline trade, the banged-up Braves and the first-place Angels exchange first basemen. Atlanta sends switch-hitting slugger Mark Teixeira, acquired from Texas last July in a seven-player deal that included backstop Jarrod Saltalamacchia, to Los Angeles for Casey Kotchman and minor league pitching prospect Steve Marek.
2009 In an attempt to upgrade their starting rotation, the first-place Phillies obtain Cliff Lee from the Indians. The defending World champs also get outfielder Ben Francisco in the deal, trade pitching prospects Carlos Carrasco and Jason Knapp, infielder Jason Donald, and catcher Lou Marson to get last season’s AL Cy Young Award Winner.
2009 The Pirates spend a busy day on the trading block, sending 2006 batting champ Freddy Sanchez to the Giants for 20-year-old former first-round draft pick Tim Alderson, a right-hander with excellent control. The Bucs also deal shortstop Jack Wilson and pitcher Ian Snell to the Mariners for shortstop Ronny Cedeno and four minor leaguers, including triple-A catcher-first baseman Jeff Clement.
2009 The Royals play an entire game without registering a single defensive assist for the first time in franchise history in their 7-3 loss to Baltimore at Camden Yards. During Kansas City’s eight innings in the field, the team records 24 outs via nine strikeouts, 13 fly outs, and two unassisted groundouts handled by first baseman Billy Butler.
2010 After Roy Oswalt approves a trade from the Astros to the Phillies, Philadelphia sends J.A. Happ, outfielder Anthony Gose, and shortstop Jonathan Villar to Houston for the three-time All-Star hurler and a considerable amount of cash. The 32-year-old right-hander compiled a respectable 3.24 ERA but posted only a 6-12 record due to a severe lack of run support.
2010 The front-running Padres trade Double-A right-hander Wynn Pelzer to the Orioles to obtain veteran infielder Miguel Tejada. San Diego hopes the 36-year-old former American League Most Valuable Player can help the potential playoff team, both on the field and at the plate, with his 14 years of experience in the major leagues.
2010 The Orioles hire 54-year-old Buck Showalter to become the club’s 19th skipper. The two-time American League Manager of the Year (1994 Yankees and 2004 Rangers) takes over a team with the worst record in the major leagues at 31-70 but guides Baltimore to play 11 games over .500 in the remaining 57 games of the season, after taking the reins on August 2nd.
2010 The Twins acquire Matt Capps (3-3, 2.74 ERA, 26/30 saves) and $500,000 from the Nationals for highly touted catching prospect Wilson Ramos and southpaw minor leaguer Joe Testa. Minnesota will use Washington’s only All-Star as its closer, filling a void created during spring training when Joe Nathan underwent Tommy John surgery.
2011 The Phillies acquire Hunter Pence from the last-place Astros for a trio of highly-touted minor leaguers, Jarred Cosart, Jon Singleton, and Josh Zeid. The 28-year-old right-fielder joins Philadelphia with a .309 average, 11 homers, and 62 RBIs.
2013 Jason Giambi (42 years, six months, 22 days) becomes the oldest major leaguer to stroke a walk-off homer, pinch-hitting a two-run blast off Ramon Troncoso in the Indians’ 3-2 come-from-behind victory over the White Sox at Progressive Field. Hank Aaron (42 years, five months, seven days) previously held the distinction with his game-winning round-tripper against Texas on July 11th, 1976.
2014 In the longest game (by time) in Cubs’ history, John Baker becomes the first position player to earn a victory since Orioles’ first baseman Chris Davis accomplished the feat in 2012. In the six-hour and 27-minute marathon played at Wrigley Field, the backup catcher tosses a scoreless 16th inning and then scores the winning run in the bottom of the frame, giving Chicago a 4-3 victory over Colorado.
2016 The Nationals accomplish the first 3-3-5 triple play in major league history when, with the bases loaded, Brandon Crawford lines out to first baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who steps on the bag for the second out before throwing to third baseman Anthony Rendon to catch Denard Span for the third out. Washington’s eighth-inning triple killing, the team’s first since moving from Montreal twelve years ago, contributes to the first-place club’s 4-2 victory over the Giants at AT&T Park.
BASEBALL HALL OF FAME
JIM THOME
1st Baseman
The numbers jump off the page when it comes to Jim Thome, even in an era where power reigned supreme.
His 612 home runs rank eighth on Major League Baseball’s all-time list, and his 1,747 walks rank seventh.
Only six players have totaled at least 1,700 walks and 1,699 RBI: Babe Ruth, Mel Ott, Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski, Barry Bonds and Thome.
And yet Thome, the blue-collar boy from Peoria, Ill., always seemed to work hardest at something that could never be quantified: His character.
“It’s awesome and humbling to be mentioned with some of the biggest names who ever played,” Thome said. “When I got to the big leagues, all I wanted to do was survive.”
Born Aug. 27, 1970, Thome came from a family steeped in softball tradition and excelled as a high school athlete in basketball and baseball. Undrafted out of high school, Thome enrolled at Illinois Central College in Peoria and was taken by the Cleveland Indians in the 13th round of the 1989 MLB Draft.
After struggling in his pro debut in 1989, Thome worked with former Indians hitting coach – and future Indians manager – Charlie Manuel in extended Spring Training in 1990. Quickly, Thome established himself as a legitimate hitting prospect with a smooth left-handed swing that produced both power and average.
By 1992, Thome had made it to the big leagues. Two years later, he was Cleveland’s every day third baseman.
Thome was part of a loaded Indians lineup that featured young stars like Kenny Lofton, Carlos Baerga, Albert Belle and Manny Ramirez. He hit .314 in 1995 with 25 homers and 73 RBI, helping the Indians reach their first World Series in 41 years. Over the next four seasons, the World Series title remained elusive for Cleveland, but Thome blossomed into one of the game’s best power/on-base threats.
In both the 1998 ALCS vs. New York and the 1999 ALDS vs. Boston, Thome crushed four home runs.
Moving to first base following the 1996 season after the Indians traded for Matt Williams, Thome continues his assault on American League pitching. From 1996 through 2002, Thome drove in at least 100 runs in six of seven seasons and led the league in walks three times.
And in 2002, Thome’s work on and off the field was recognized when he was named the winner of the Roberto Clemente Award, reflecting his community involvement, sportsmanship and play between the lines.
“He’s the nicest, gentlest, kindest guy you will ever meet,” said former teammate Michael Cuddyer, “to everything except the baseball.”
Following a 52-home run campaign in 2002 that saw him lead the AL in slugging percentage with a mark of .677, Thome signed a six-year free agent contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. He hit 47 home runs in 2003 and 42 more in 2004, but missed most of the 2005 season with an elbow injury.
With Ryan Howard primed to take over first base, the Phillies traded Thome to the White Sox following the 2005 season. In Chicago, Thome hit 134 home runs over four seasons, then became a “hired bat” during his final years – playing for the Dodgers, Twins and Orioles as well as second stints with the Indians and Phillies.
And as he moved up the all-time lists, Thome savored the journey. He visited the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown with his father, Chuck, in August of 2008 to donate the ball he hit for his 500th career home run on Sept. 16, 2007.
When he retired, Thome had totaled 1,583 runs scored, 612 home runs and 1,699 RBI. Only seven other players in big league history – Bonds, Ruth, Williams, Manny Ramirez, Mickey Mantle, Frank Thomas and Jimmie Foxx – have at least 500 home runs, a .400 on-base percentage and a .550 slugging average. He was named to five All-Star Games and finished in the Top 10 of his league’s Most Valuable Player balloting four times.
His 13 walk-off home runs are the most in history.
Thome was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2018.
FOOTBALL HISTORY
July 28, 1923 – Duluth Kelleys/Eskimos franchise forms and plays in the League from 1923 through 1927 .
July 28, 1923 – St. Louis All-Stars franchise is recognized by the NFL and plays just in the 1923 season in the League.
July 28, 1929 – According to author Scott Adamson the Chicago Cardinals became the first NFL team to train out of state, holding camp in Michigan.
July 28, 1929 – According to the Pro Football Hall of Fame the NFL announced that they would be adding a fourth official to the field during scheduled regular season games.
July 28, 1933 – The NFL divided into two divisions for the first time per Yahoo.com. Prior to that the team with the best overall record would be declared the League Champions. This caused issues that got sticky on more than one occasion. The year prior though in 1932 the Chicago Bears and the Portsmouth Spartans were neck and neck in the standings each finished the regular season with identical .857 winning percentages. George Halas wanted no part of a shared title so he challenged the Spartans to a final game in Chicago that would settle the score. The winner would be champs and the loser would fall to third place behind Green Bay. The game was moved in doors to a modified field size and the Bears won of course in controversial fashion over Portsmouth who was missing their star player and quarterback Dutch Clark. The Bears won 9-0. The new Eastern Division consisted of the Boston Redskins, Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, and Pittsburgh Pirates. The Western Division consisted of the Chicago Bears, Chicago Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, Green Bay Packers, and Portsmouth Spartans.
July 28, 1972 – At the Chicago College All-Star game played at Soldier Field, the Dallas Cowboys, the defending Super Bowl Champs, knocked down the college upstarts 20-7 before a crowd of 54,162. The MVP award, always given to the college player team, happened to be Pat Sullivan the quarterback from Auburn University.
July 28, 1995 – Art Modell sends representatives to secretly talk with those in Baltimore about moving his then Cleveland Browns franchise to the Maryland city.
HALL OF FAME BIRTHDAYS FOR JULY 28
July 28, 1893 – John O’Hearn was an end from Cornell University and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. He went on to play in the NFL in 1920 with the Cleveland Tigers and he spent the 1921 season with the Buffalo All-Americans. John’s brother Ed played for Buffalo that season of 1921 as well.
July 28, 1943 – Larry Elkins was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1994 as a WR out of Baylor University. Larry held many of the top receiving records at Baylor. In 1963 he had 70 receptions and in 1962 he returned a punt 92 yards for a score. In 1965 Mr. Elkins was the first round draft pick of the Green Bay Packers as well as the 2nd overall draft pick of the AFL’s Houston Oilers, just after the Jets picked Joe Namath. He ended up accepting the offer from the Oilers and spent four seasons there. Injuries plagued his pro career as he joined the NFL’s Steelers in 1969, earned the starting job and then broke his collar bone in a pre-season game.
July 28, 1957 – Charles Alexander was a halfback out of LSU. In 2012 the College Football Hall of Fame inducted him into their ranks.
NOT YET IN THE HALL OF FAME
July 28, 1978 – Hillcrest Heights, Maryland – Linebacker Julian Peterson from Michigan State form 1998 through 1999 was born. Julian was selected as the 16th overall player taken by San Francisco 49ers in 2000 NFL Draft. He also played for the Seahawks and Lions during his NFL career per Yahoo.com. Julian played in 5 Pro Bowls and earned All-Pro honors three times in this tenure in the League. For his career Peterson had 802 combined tackles with 595 of them being of the solo variety, 51.5 sacks, 8 interceptions, 53 passes defended and 1 defensive touchdown.
July 28, 1988 – Millington, Tennessee – Defensive end Greg Hardy who played at Mississippi from 2006 through the 2009season was born. According to an article on Yahoo.com Hardy was selected as the 175th overall pick by the Carolina Panthers in the 2010 NFL Draft. He also played for the Dallas Cowboys. Greg’s career stats include 241 total tackles with 165 of them being solo, 40 sacks, one pick and eight forced fumbles. Hardy was a Pro Bowl selection and a Second-team All-Pro in 2013. He set a Panthers franchise record for most sacks in a season in 2013 with 15.
FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME
JOHNNY BAILEY
Position: Running Back
Years: 1986-1989
Place of Birth: Houston, TX
Date of Birth: Mar 17, 1967
Place of Death: Houston, TX
Date of Death: Aug 20, 2010
Jersey Number: 20
Height: 5-8
Weight: 190
High School: Houston, TX (Jack Yates HS)
One of the greatest running backs in Division II history, Johnny Bailey earned first team All-America honors a remarkable four times. He was named the Harlon Hill Trophy recipient three times as the NCAA Division II Player of the Year, and as a freshman was runner-up for the coveted award. Bailey opened his collegiate career with four 200-yard games, and rushed for 100 yards or more in his first 11 games. He went on to break the 200-yard plateau 13 times and captured the Division II national rushing title in 1986, 1987, and 1988. Bailey earned more than 45 major honors and awards, including being named conference Back of the year four times and Division II Offensive Player of the Decade. At the end of his career, Bailey was college football’s all-purpose yardage leader with 7,803 yards and number three all-time leading intercollegiate scorer with 428 points. He was chosen to play in several all-star games including the Blue-Gray Classic, Hula Bowl, and the East-West Shrine Game. Inducted into the Javelina Hall of Fame, Bailey was also a member of the first class of inductees into the NCAA Division II Hall of Fame. Bailey went on to play six years in the NFL for the Chicago Bears, Arizona Cardinals, and the St. Louis Rams. He twice led the NFL in punt returns.
TV SPORTS SATURDAY
| GOLF | TIME ET | TV |
| LPGA Tour: Amundi Evian Championship | 5:30am | GOLF |
| Senior British Open | 7:00am | GOLF |
| PGA Tour: 3M Open | 1:00pm | GOLF |
| PGA Tour: 3M Open | 3:00pm | CBS |
| MLB REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| LA Angels at Toronto | 3:07pm | MLBN Bally Sports Sportsnet |
| Detroit at Miami | 4:10pm | FS1 Bally Sports |
| NY Yankees at Baltimore | 7:05pm | MASN/2 YES |
| Philadelphia at Pittsburgh | 7:05pm | NBCS-PHI ATTSN-PIT |
| Cleveland at Chi. White Sox | 7:10pm | Bally Sports NBCS-CHI |
| Washington at NY Mets | 7:10pm | MASN/2 SNY |
| Minnesota at Kansas City | 7:10pm | Bally Sports |
| Tampa Bay at Houston | 7:15pm | FOX Bally Sports ATTSN-SW |
| Boston at San Francisco | 7:15pm | FOX NESN NBCS-BAY |
| Chi. Cubs at St. Louis | 7:15pm | Bally Sports MARQ |
| Milwaukee at Atlanta | 7:20pm | Bally Sports |
| Oakland at Colorado | 8:10pm | NBCS-CA ATTSN-RM |
| Seattle at Arizona | 8:10pm | Bally Sports Root Sports |
| Texas at San Diego | 8:40pm | MLBN Bally Sports |
| Cincinnati at LA Dodgers | 9:10pm | MLBN Bally Sports Spectrum |
| MOTORSPORTS | TIME ET | TV |
| Xfinity: Road America 180 | 3:00pm | NBC |
| NASCAR Truck: Worldwide Express 250 | 7:30pm | FS1 |
| SOCCER MATCHES | TIME ET | TV |
| FIFA Women’s World Cup: Sweden vs Italy | 3:30am | FS1 |
| FIFA Women’s World Cup: France vs Brazil | 6:00am | FOX |
| FIFA Women’s World Cup: Panama vs Jamaica | 8:30am | FOX |
| NWSL Challenge Cup: North Carolina Courage vs Orlando Pride | 7:00pm | Paramount+ |
| Leagues Cup: Cruz Azul vs Atlanta United | 7:00pm | Apple TV |
| Leagues Cup: Santos Laguna vs Orlando City SC | 7:30pm | Apple TV |
| Leagues Cup: Necaxa vs Charlotte | 7:30pm | Apple TV |
| NWSL Challenge Cup: Chicago Red Stars vs Kansas City Current | 8:00pm | Paramount+ |
| NWSL Challenge Cup: Houston Dash vs Racing Louisville FC | 8:30pm | Paramount+ |
| Leagues Cup: Austin vs Juárez | 8:30pm | Apple TV |
| NWSL Challenge Cup: Angel City vs Portland Thorns | 10:00pm | Paramount+ |
| Leagues Cup: LA Galaxy vs Vancouver Whitecaps | 10:30pm | Apple TV |
TV SPORTS SUNDAY
| GOLF | TIME ET | TV |
| LPGA Tour: Amundi Evian Championship | 5:30am | GOLF |
| Senior British Open | 7:00am | GOLF |
| PGA Tour: 3M Open | 1:00pm | GOLF |
| PGA Tour: 3M Open | 3:00pm | CBS |
| MLB REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| LA Angels at Toronto | 12:05pm | Peacock Bally Sports Sportsnet |
| Milwaukee at Atlanta | 1:30pm | MLBN Bally Sports |
| NY Yankees at Baltimore | 1:35pm | MASN/2 YES |
| Philadelphia at Pittsburgh | 1:35pm | MLBN NBCS-PHI ATTSN-PIT |
| Detroit at Miami | 1:40pm | Bally Sports |
| Washington at NY Mets | 1:40pm | MASN/2 SNY |
| Cleveland at Chi. White Sox | 2:10pm | Bally Sports NBCS-CHI |
| Minnesota at Kansas City | 2:10pm | Bally Sports |
| Tampa Bay at Houston | 2:10pm | Bally Sports ATTSN-SW |
| Chi. Cubs at St. Louis | 2:15pm | Bally Sports MARQ |
| Oakland at Colorado | 3:10pm | NBCS-CA ATTSN-RM |
| Boston at San Francisco | 4:05pm | NESN NBCS-BAY |
| Seattle at Arizona | 4:10pm | Bally Sports Root Sports |
| Texas at San Diego | 4:10pm | MLBN Bally Sports |
| Cincinnati at LA Dodgers | 4:10pm | MLBN Bally Sports Spectrum |
| MOTORSPORTS | TIME ET | TV |
| Formula One: Belgian Grand Prix | 9:00am | ESPN |
| NASCAR Cup: Cook Out 400 | 3:00pm | USA |
| NHRA: Sonoma Nationals | 4:00pm | FS1 |
| SOCCER | TIME ET | TV |
| FIFA Women’s World Cup: Korea Republic vs Morocco | 12:30am | FOX |
| FIFA Women’s World Cup: Switzerland vs New Zealand | 3:00am | FOX |
| FIFA Women’s World Cup: Norway vs Philippines | 3:00am | FS1 |
| Club Friendly: Liverpool vs Leicester City | 5:00am | Paramount+ |
| FIFA Women’s World Cup: Germany vs Colombia | 5:30am | FS1 |
| Club Friendly: Atlético Madrid vs Manchester City | 7:00am | CBSSN |
| Brasileirão: São Paulo vs Bahia | 10:00am | Paramount+ |
| Club Friendly: Chelsea vs Fulham | 2:45pm | NBC |
| Brasileirão: Botafogo vs Coritiba | 3:00pm | Paramount+ |
| Brasileirão: América Mineiro vs Palmeiras | 3:00pm | Paramount+ |
| Leagues Cup: DC United vs Pumas UNAM | 7:00pm | FS1 |
| Leagues Cup: Tijuana vs Querétaro | 7:30pm | Apple TV |
| Leagues Cup: Atlas vs Toronto FC | 7:30pm | Apple TV |
| Leagues Cup: New York RB vs Atlético San Luis | 7:30pm | Apple TV |
| Leagues Cup: Seattle Sounders FC vs Monterrey | 9:00pm | FS1 |
| Leagues Cup: Tigres UANL vs SJ Earthquakes | 11:00pm | Apple TV |
| WNBA | TIME ET | TV |
| Minnesota vs Connecticut | 1:00pm | CBSSN |
| Washington vs Atlanta | 3:00pm | ESPN3 |
| New York vs Los Angeles | 4:00pm | ESPN |
| Phoenix vs Chicago | 4:00pm | ESPN3 |
| Seattle vs Indiana | 4:00pm | ESPN3 |
| Dallas vs Las Vegas | 6:00pm | CBSSN |