THE INDIANA SRN “SPORTSPAGE” THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

“THE SCOREBOARD”

INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL WEEK 6 SCHEDULE

ADAMS CENTRAL (4-1) AT SOUTH ADAMS (2-3)

ALEXANDRIA (3-2) AT OAK HILL (3-2)

ATTICA (0-5) AT NORTH VERMILLION (4-1)

BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE (0-5) AT JENNINGS COUNTY (0-5)

BENTON CENTRAL (0-5) AT TWIN LAKES (2-3)

BLACKFORD (2-3) AT MISSISSINEWA (5-0)

BLOOMINGTON SOUTH (3-2) AT SOUTHPORT (0-5)

BLUFFTON (5-0) AT SOUTHERN WELLS (0-5)

BOONE GROVE (2-3) AT RIVER FOREST (3-2)

BOONVILLE (2-3) AT MOUNT VERNON (POSEY) (3-2)

BOWMAN ACADEMY (0-5) AT NORTH WHITE (1-4)

BREMEN (2-3) AT JOHN GLENN (1-3)

CALUMET (3-2) AT WHITING (2-3)

CAMBRIDGE CITY LINCOLN (1-4) AT KNIGHTSTOWN (4-1)

CARMEL (2-3) AT NORTH CENTRAL (INDIANAPOLIS) (0-5)

CARROLL (FLORA) (5-0) AT TRI-CENTRAL (1-4)

CARROLL (FORT WAYNE) (3-2) AT FORT WAYNE WAYNE (2-2)

CASTLE (4-1) AT EVANSVILLE REITZ (5-0)

CASTON (1-4) AT CULVER (1-4)

CENTERVILLE (5-0) AT NORTHEASTERN (5-0)

CHARLESTOWN (1-4) AT SCOTTSBURG (3-2)

CHURUBUSCO (2-3) AT FREMONT (2-3)

CLINTON CENTRAL (3-2) AT EASTERN (GREENTOWN) (1-4)

CLINTON PRAIRIE (3-2) AT DELPHI (3-2)

COLUMBUS EAST (3-2) AT FLOYD CENTRAL (3-1)

CONCORD (5-0) AT NORTHWOOD (3-2)

CONNERSVILLE (2-3) AT NORTH DECATUR (4-1)

COVENANT CHRISTIAN (0-5) AT BEECH GROVE (2-3)

COVINGTON (2-3) AT PARKE HERITAGE (1-4)

CRAWFORDSVILLE (2-3) AT NORTH MONTGOMERY (1-4)

CROWN POINT (5-0) AT VALPARAISO (4-1)

DANVILLE (4-1) AT SOUTHMONT (3-2)

DECATUR CENTRAL (2-2) AT PLAINFIELD (5-0)

DELTA (3-2) AT NEW CASTLE (3-2)

EAST CENTRAL (3-2) AT SOUTH DEARBORN (4-1)

EASTERN (PEKIN) (1-4) AT NORTH HARRISON (3-2)

EDINBURGH (0-5) AT SWITZERLAND COUNTY (3-2)

ELKHART (4-1) AT SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH (3-2)

ELWOOD (1-4) AT EASTBROOK (3-2)

EVANSVILLE BOSSE (0-5) AT EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL (5-0)

EVANSVILLE HARRISON (0-5) AT VINCENNES LINCOLN (2-3)

EVANSVILLE MATER DEI (4-1) AT EVANSVILLE NORTH (2-3)

FAIRFIELD (2-3) AT ANGOLA (1-4)

FAITH CHRISTIAN (2-2) AT TRI-COUNTY (3-2)

FISHERS (3-2) AT AVON (1-4)

FOREST PARK (4-1) AT SOUTH SPENCER (2-3)

FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK (0-4) AT PARK TUDOR (3-2)

FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA (2-3) AT FORT WAYNE SOUTH (0-5)

FORT WAYNE NORTH (3-2) AT FORT WAYNE LUERS (4-1)

FORT WAYNE NORTHROP (1-4) AT FORT WAYNE DWENGER (1-4)

FOUNTAIN CENTRAL (2-3) AT SEEGER (3-2)

FRANKLIN (2-3) AT MOORESVILLE (1-4)

FRANKLIN CENTRAL (2-2) AT NOBLESVILLE (2-3)

FRANKLIN COUNTY (2-3) AT GREENSBURG (0-5)

FRONTIER (4-0) AT NORTH NEWTON (1-4)

GARRETT (5-0) AT WEST NOBLE (5-0)

GARY WEST (4-1) AT WHEELER (3-2)

GIBSON SOUTHERN (4-1) AT HERITAGE HILLS (4-1)

GOSHEN (0-5) AT WAWASEE (0-5)

GREENFIELD-CENTRAL (5-0) AT NEW PALESTINE (4-0)

GREENWOOD (2-3) AT PERRY MERIDIAN (2-3)

GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN (3-2) AT NORTH CENTRAL (FARMERSBURG) (1-4)

GRIFFITH (5-0) AT EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL (1-4)

GUERIN CATHOLIC (3-2) AT INDIANAPOLIS CHATARD (4-1)

HAMILTON HEIGHTS (1-4) AT LOGANSPORT (4-1)

HAMMOND CENTRAL (2-3) AT ANDREW (ILL.)

HARRISON (WEST LAFAYETTE) (3-2) AT MARION (3-2)

HERITAGE (4-1) AT TIPTON (4-1)

HERITAGE CHRISTIAN (4-1) AT MADISON (3-2)

HIGHLAND (1-4) AT ANDREAN (2-3)

HOBART (3-2) AT LOWELL (2-3)

HOMESTEAD (3-2) AT FORT WAYNE SNIDER (3-2)

HUNTINGTON NORTH (3-2) AT DEKALB (2-3)

INDIAN CREEK (1-4) AT EDGEWOOD (2-3)

INDIANAPOLIS ATTUCKS (2-1) AT PHALEN ACADEMY

INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN (4-1) AT INDIANAPOLIS SCECINA (2-3)

INDIANAPOLIS RONCALLI (2-2) AT BREBEUF JESUIT (4-1)

INDIANAPOLIS SHORTRIDGE (1-3) AT CHRISTEL HOUSE (0-3)

INDIANAPOLIS WASHINGTON (3-1) AT INDIANAPOLIS TECH (2-2)

JASPER (2-3) AT EVANSVILLE CENTRAL (1-4)

LAKE CENTRAL (3-2) AT MICHIGAN CITY (1-4)

LAKE STATION (1-4) AT HAMMOND NOLL (2-3)

LAKELAND (4-1) AT CENTRAL NOBLE (0-5)

LAVILLE (2-3) AT KNOX (3-2)

LAWRENCE CENTRAL (2-3) AT CENTER GROVE (4-1)

LAWRENCE NORTH (5-0) AT BEN DAVIS (1-4)

LAWRENCEBURG (4-1) AT BATESVILLE (4-1)

LEO (4-1) AT BELLMONT (0-5)

LEWIS CASS (2-3) AT WHITKO (0-5)

LINTON (3-2) AT GREENCASTLE (2-3)

MADISON-GRANT (5-0) AT FRANKTON (0-5)

MCCUTCHEON (2-3) AT ANDERSON (0-5)

MERRILLVILLE (4-1) AT LAPORTE (0-5)

MILAN (3-2) AT EASTERN HANCOCK (3-2)

MITCHELL (1-4) AT BROWN COUNTY (3-2)

MONROE CENTRAL (4-1) AT WES-DEL (2-3)

MONROVIA (4-1) AT SPEEDWAY (3-2)

MOUNT VERNON (FORTVILLE) (1-4) AT PENDLETON HEIGHTS (2-3)

MUNCIE CENTRAL (1-4) AT KOKOMO (1-3)

MUNSTER (1-4) AT HANOVER CENTRAL (4-1)

NEW ALBANY (3-2) AT BLOOMINGTON NORTH (4-1)

NEW HAVEN (0-5) AT COLUMBIA CITY (5-0)

NORTH JUDSON (5-0) AT TRITON (4-1)

NORTH KNOX (2-3) AT PRINCETON (0-5)

NORTH PUTNAM (5-0) AT CASCADE (5-0)

NORTHFIELD (1-4) AT WABASH (1-4)

NORTHRIDGE (1-4) AT MISHAWAKA (4-1)

NORTHWESTERN (5-0) AT MACONAQUAH (4-0)

NORWELL (2-3) AT EAST NOBLE (4-1)

OWEN VALLEY (0-5) AT SULLIVAN (1-4)

PAOLI (5-0) AT EASTERN GREENE (2-3)

PENN (4-1) AT SOUTH BEND ADAMS (0-5)

PERRY CENTRAL (2-3) AT CLARKSVILLE (0-5)

PERU (2-3) AT ROCHESTER (4-1)

PHALEN ACADEMY AT IRVINGTON PREP (0-3)

PIONEER (4-1) AT SOUTH CENTRAL (UNION MILLS) (1-4)

PLYMOUTH (3-2) AT WARSAW (3-2)

PORTAGE (2-3) AT CHESTERTON (3-2)

PRAIRIE HEIGHTS (3-2) AT EASTSIDE (1-4)

PURDUE POLY ENGLEWOOD (1-4) AT INDIANAPOLIS TINDLEY (1-4)

RENSSELAER CENTRAL (1-4) AT LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC (4-0)

RICHMOND (0-5) AT LAFAYETTE JEFF (5-0)

RIVERTON PARKE (3-2) AT SOUTH VERMILLION (5-0)

RUSHVILLE (3-2) AT LAPEL (4-1)

SALEM (1-4) AT CORYDON CENTRAL (1-4)

SEYMOUR (2-3) AT BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL (5-0)

SHELBYVILLE (1-4) AT YORKTOWN (3-2)

SHENANDOAH (3-2) AT HAGERSTOWN (3-2)

SILVER CREEK (3-2) AT JEFFERSONVILLE (3-2)

SOUTH BEND RILEY (2-2) AT NEW PRAIRIE (3-2)

SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON (0-5) AT MISHAWAKA MARIAN (2-3)

SOUTH DECATUR (3-2) AT CLOVERDALE (3-2)

SOUTH PUTNAM (3-2) AT WEST VIGO (2-3)

SOUTHRIDGE (3-2) AT TELL CITY (3-2)

SOUTHWOOD (0-5) AT MANCHESTER (2-3)

SPRINGS VALLEY (4-1) AT CRAWFORD COUNTY (0-5)

TAYLOR (2-3) AT SHERIDAN (3-2)

TECUMSEH (0-5) AT NORTH POSEY (4-1)

TERRE HAUTE NORTH (1-4) AT COLUMBUS NORTH (4-1)

TERRE HAUTE SOUTH (1-3) AT NORTHVIEW (5-0)

TIPPECANOE VALLEY (4-1) AT JIMTOWN (3-2)

TRI (2-3) AT WINCHESTER (1-4)

TRITON CENTRAL (3-2) AT INDIANAPOLIS RITTER (1-3)

TRI-WEST (2-3) AT LEBANON (3-2)

UNION CITY (0-5) AT UNION COUNTY (0-5)

WARREN CENTRAL (5-0) AT PIKE (3-2)

WASHINGTON (4-1) AT PIKE CENTRAL (2-3)

WEST CENTRAL (3-2) AT SOUTH NEWTON (3-2)

WEST LAFAYETTE (3-2) AT WESTERN (0-5)

WEST WASHINGTON (2-3) AT NORTH DAVIESS (4-1)

WESTERN BOONE (5-0) AT FRANKFORT (0-5)

WESTFIELD (5-0) AT BROWNSBURG (5-0)

WHITELAND (3-1) AT MARTINSVILLE (5-0)

WINAMAC (2-2) AT NORTH MIAMI (3-2)

WOODLAN (2-3) AT JAY COUNTY (2-3)

ZIONSVILLE (3-2) AT HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN (3-2)

HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL SCORES

https://www.maxpreps.com/in/volleyball/scores/?date=9/25/2024

HIGH SCHOOL BOYS SOCCER SCORES

https://www.maxpreps.com/in/soccer/scores/?date=9/25/2024

HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS SOCCER SCORES

https://www.maxpreps.com/in/soccer/girls/scores/?date=9/25/2024

COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 5 SCHEDULE

THURSDAY, SEPT. 26

ARMY AT TEMPLE | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN

FRIDAY, SEPT. 27

VIRGINIA TECH AT NO. 7 MIAMI (FLA.) | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN

WASHINGTON AT RUTGERS | 8 P.M. | FOX

SATURDAY, SEPT. 28

KENTUCKY AT NO. 6 OLE MISS | 12 P.M. | ABC OR ESPN

MINNESOTA AT NO. 12 MICHIGAN | 12 P.M. | FOX

NEBRASKA AT PURDUE | 12 P.M. | PEACOCK

NORTHERN ILLINOIS AT NC STATE | 12 P.M. | THE CW

MARYLAND AT INDIANA | 12 P.M. | BTN

BUFFALO AT UCONN | 12 P.M. | CBSSN

WESTERN KENTUCKY AT BOSTON COLLEGE | 12 P.M. | ACC NETWORK

HOLY CROSS AT SYRACUSE | 12 P.M. | ESPN+/ACC EXTRA

NAVY AT UAB | 12 P.M. | ESPN2

SOUTH FLORIDA AT TULANE | 12 P.M. | ESPNU

DAYTON AT MARIST | 12 P.M. | ESPN+

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

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

COLUMBIA AT GEORGETOWN | 12:30 P.M. | ESPN+

HOUSTON CHRISTIAN AT INDIANA STATE | 1 P.M. | ESPN+

VALPARAISO AT MOREHEAD STATE | 1 P.M. | ESPN+

SAN DIEGO AT DRAKE | 1 P.M. | ESPN+

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

FORDHAM AT MONMOUTH | 1 P.M. | FLOSPORTS

VIRGINIA LYNCHBURG AT BUTLER | 1 P.M. | FLOSPORTS

BALL STATE AT JAMES MADISON | 1:30 P.M. | ESPN+

MERCER AT WOFFORD | 1:30 P.M. | ESPN+

RICHMOND AT ELON | 2 P.M. | FLOSPORTS

DELAWARE STATE AT CAMPBELL | 2 P.M. | FLOSPORTS

NORTH ALABAMA AT WEST GEORGIA | 2 P.M. | ESPN+

SOUTHERN UTAH AT AUSTIN PEAY | 2 P.M. | ESPN+

ROBERT MORRIS AT EASTERN KENTUCKY | 2 P.M. | ESPN+

EAST TENNESSEE STATE AT THE CITADEL | 2 P.M. | ESPN+

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AT SOUTH DAKOTA | 2 P.M. | ESPN+

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

SAMFORD AT FURMAN | 2 P.M. | ESPN+

YALE AT CORNELL | 2 P.M. | ESPN+

TEXAS STATE AT SAM HOUSTON | 3 P.M. | ESPN+

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

NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL AT NORFOLK STATE | 3 P.M. | ESPN+

NORTH DAKOTA STATE AT ILLINOIS STATE | 3 P.M. | ESPN+

YOUNGSTOWN STATE AT MISSOURI STATE | 3 P.M. | ESPN+

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

CAL POLY AT NORTHERN COLORADO | 3 P.M. | ESPN+

WISCONSIN AT NO. 13 USC | 3:30 P.M. | CBS

NO. 15 LOUISVILLE AT NO. 16 NOTRE DAME | 3:30 P.M. | PEACOCK

NO. 21 OKLAHOMA AT AUBURN | 3:30 P.M. | ABC

ARKANSAS AT NO. 24 TEXAS A&M | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN

UMASS AT MIAMI (OH) | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+

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

LIBERTY AT APPALACHIAN STATE | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+

FRESNO STATE AT UNLV | 3:30 P.M. | FS1

SAN DIEGO STATE AT CENTRAL MICHIGAN | 3:30 P.M. | CBSSN

GEORGIA SOUTHERN AT GEORGIA STATE | 3:30 P.M. | ESPNU

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

AKRON AT OHIO | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+

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

MAINE AT UALBANY | 3:30 P.M. | FLOSPORTS

SACRED HEART AT DELAWARE | 3:30 P.M. | FLOSPORTS

MORGAN STATE AT STONY BROOK | 3:30 P.M. | FLOSPORTS

NORTH CAROLINA AT DUKE | 4 P.M. | ESPN2

UTSA AT EAST CAROLINA | 4 P.M. | ESPN+

TENNESSEE TECH AT GARDNER-WEBB | 4 P.M. | ESPN+

SACRAMENTO STATE AT NORTHERN ARIZONA | 4 P.M. | ESPN+

NORTHWESTERN STATE AT SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE | 4 P.M. | ESPN+

MISSISSIPPI STATE AT NO. 1 TEXAS | 4:15 P.M. | SEC NETWORK

OLD DOMINION AT BOWLING GREEN | 5 P.M. | ESPN+

LOUISIANA TECH AT FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL | 6 P.M. | ESPN+

UT MARTIN AT KENNESAW STATE | 6 P.M. | ESPN+

WAGNER AT FLORIDA ATLANTIC | 6 P.M. | ESPN+

HAMPTON AT WILLIAM & MARY | 6 P.M. | FLOSPORTS

NORTH CAROLINA A&T AT SOUTH CAROLINA STATE | 6 P.M. | ESPN+

LIU AT VILLANOVA | 6 P.M. | FLOSPORTS

PORTLAND STATE AT CHATTANOOGA | 6 P.M. | ESPN+

CHARLESTON SOUTHERN AT TENNESSEE STATE | 6 P.M. | ESPN+

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

ALABAMA A&M AT FLORIDA A&M | 6 P.M. | ESPN+

NO. 3 OHIO STATE AT MICHIGAN STATE | 7 P.M. | PEACOCK

STANFORD AT NO. 17 CLEMSON | 7 P.M. | ESPN

UL MONROE AT TROY | 7 P.M. | ESPN+

CHARLOTTE AT RICE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+

TULSA AT NORTH TEXAS | 7 P.M. | ESPN+

LAMAR AT CENTRAL ARKANSAS | 7 P.M. | ESPN+

PRAIRIE VIEW A&M AT GRAMBLING | 7 P.M. | ESPN+

MCKENDREE AT WESTERN ILLINOIS | 7 P.M. | ESPN+

JACKSON STATE AT TEXAS SOUTHERN | 7 P.M. | ESPN+

DAVIDSON AT PRESBYTERIAN | 7 P.M. | ESPN+

SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA AT TARLETON STATE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+

NO. 2 GEORGIA AT NO. 4 ALABAMA | 7:30 P.M. | ABC/ESPN+

NO. 19 ILLINOIS AT NO. 9 PENN STATE | 7:30 P.M. | NBC

MIDDLE TENNESSEE AT MEMPHIS | 7:30 P.M. | ESPNU

SOUTH ALABAMA AT NO. 14 LSU | 7:45 P.M. | SEC NETWORK

FLORIDA STATE AT SMU | 8 P.M. | ACC NETWORK

NEW MEXICO AT NEW MEXICO STATE | 8 P.M. | ESPN+

AIR FORCE AT WYOMING | 8 P.M. | CBSSN

MONTANA AT EASTERN WASHINGTON | 8 P.M. | ESPN+

MCNEESE AT WEBER STATE | 8 P.M. | ESPN+

ABILENE CHRISTIAN AT UTAH TECH | 9 P.M. | ESPN+

WASHINGTON STATE AT NO. 25 BOISE STATE | 10 P.M. | FS1

IDAHO AT UC DAVIS | 10 P.M. | ESPN+

ARIZONA AT NO. 10 UTAH | 10:15 P.M. | ESPN

NO. 8 OREGON AT UCLA | 11 P.M. | FOX

NO. 20 OKLAHOMA STATE AT NO. 23 KANSAS STATE | TBD

NO. 18 IOWA STATE AT HOUSTON | TBD

NO. 22 BYU AT BAYLOR | TBD

TCU AT KANSAS | TBD

CINCINNATI AT TEXAS TECH | TBD

COLORADO AT UCF | TBD

INDIANA HOOSIERS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

INDIANA 31 FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL 7

INDIANA 77 WESTERN ILLINOIS 3

INDIANA 42 UCLA 13

INDIANA 52 CHARLOTTE 14

SEPTEMBER 28 VS. MARYLAND TBA

OCTOBER 5 AT NORTHWESTERN TBA

OCTOBER 19 VS. NEBRASKA TBA

OCTOBER 26 VS. WASHINGTON TBA

NOVEMBER 2 AT MICHIGAN STATE TBA

NOVEMBER 9 VS. MICHIGAN TBA

NOVEMBER 23 AT OHIO STATE TBA

NOVEMBER 30 VS. PURDUE TBA

PURDUE BOILERMAKERS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

PURDUE 49 INDIANA STATE 0

NOTRE DAME 66 PURDUE 7

OREGON STATE 38 PURDUE 21

SEPTEMBER 28 VS. NEBRASKA 12:00

OCTOBER 5 AT WISCONSIN TBA

OCTOBER 12 AT ILLINOIS TBA

OCTOBER 18 VS. OREGON 8:00

NOVEMBER 2 VS. NORTHWESTERN TBA

NOVEMBER 9 AT OHIO STATE TBA

NOVEMBER 16 VS. PENN STATE TBA

NOVEMBER 22 AT MICHIGAN STATE 8:00

NOVEMBER 30 AT INDIANA TBA

NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

NOTRE DAME 23 TEXAS A&M 13

NORTHERN ILLINOIS 16 NOTRE DAME 14

NOTRE DAME 66 PURDUE 7

NOTRE DAME 28 MIAMI OH 3

SEPTEMBER 28 VS. LOUISVILLE 3:30

OCTOBER 12 VS. STANFORD 3:30

OCTOBER 19 AT GEORGIA TECH TBA

OCTOBER 26 AT NAVY 12:00

NOVEMBER 9 VS. FLORIDA STATE 7:30

NOVEMBER 16 VS. VIRGINIA 3:30

NOVEMBER 23 AT ARMY 7:00 (YANKEE STADIUM)

NOVEMBER 30 AT USC TBA

BUTLER BULLDOGS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

BUTLER 40 UPPER IOWA 7

BUTLER 19 MURRAY STATE 17

BUTLER 53 HANOVER 0

SEPTEMBER 28 VS. VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY-LYNCHBURG 1:00

OCTOBER 5 VS. MOREHEAD STATE 1:00

OCTOBER 12 AT DRAKE 1:00 CT

OCTOBER 19 VS. DAYTON 1:00

OCTOBER 26 AT DAVIDSON 1:00

NOVEMBER 2 VS. STETSON 1:00

NOVEMBER 9 AT VALPO 1:00 CT

NOVEMBER 16 VS. ST. THOMAS 1:00

NOVEMBER 23 AT PRESBYTERIAN 1:00

BALL STATE CARDINALS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

BALL STATE 42 MISSOURI STATE 34

MIAMI FL 62 BALL STATE 0

CENTRAL MICHIGAN 37 BALL STATE 34

SEPTEMBER 28 AT JAMES MADISON TBA

OCTOBER 5 VS. WESTERN MICHIGAN TBA

OCTOBER 12 AT KENT STATE TBA

OCTOBER 19 AT VANDERBILT TBA

OCTOBER 26 VS. NORTHERN ILLINOIS TBA

NOVEMBER 5 VS. MIAMI OH TBA

NOVEMBER 12 AT BUFFALO 7:00

NOVEMBER 23 VS. BOWLING GREEN TBA

NOVEMBER 29 AT OHIO TBA

INDIANA STATE SYCAMORES FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

PURDUE 49 INDIANA STATE 0

EASTERN ILLINOIS 27 INDIANA STATE 20

INDIANA STATE 24 DAYTON 13

SEPTEMBER 28 VS. HOUSTON CHRISTIAN 1:00

OCTOBER 5 AT YOUNGSTOWN STATE 2:00

OCTOBER 12 VS. MURRAY STATE 1:00

OCTOBER 19 AT MISSOURI STATE 3:00

OCTOBER 26 VS. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 1:00

NOVEMBER 2 VS. NORTH DAKOTA 1:00

NOVEMBER 9 AT SOUTH DAKOTA 2:00

COLTS SCHEDULE

HOUSTON 29 INDIANAPOLIS 27

GREEN BAY 16 INDIANAPOLIS 10

INDIANAPOLIS 21 CHICAGO 16

SEPT. 29: VS. PITTSBURGH, 1 P.M., CBS

OCT. 6: AT JACKSONVILLE, 1 P.M., CBS

OCT. 13: AT TENNESSEE, 1 P.M., CBS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

JAN. 5: VS. JACKSONVILLE, TBD

WEEK 4 SCHEDULE

THURSDAY, SEPT. 26

DALLAS COWBOYS AT NEW YORK GIANTS (8:15P PRIME VIDEO)

SUNDAY, SEPT. 29

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS AT ATLANTA FALCONS (1:00P FOX)

CINCINNATI BENGALS AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (1:00P FOX)

LOS ANGELES RAMS AT CHICAGO BEARS (1:00P FOX)

MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (1:00P CBS)

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT HOUSTON TEXANS (1:00P CBS)

PITTSBURGH STEELERS AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (1:00P CBS)

DENVER BRONCOS AT NEW YORK JETS (1:00P CBS)

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (1:00P FOX)

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (4:05P FOX)

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (4:05P FOX)

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AT LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (4:25P CBS)

CLEVELAND BROWNS AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (4:25P CBS)

BUFFALO BILLS AT BALTIMORE RAVENS (8:20P NBC)

MONDAY, SEPT. 30

TENNESSEE TITANS AT MIAMI DOLPHINS (7:30P ESPN)

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS AT DETROIT LIONS (8:15P ABC)

WEEK 5 SCHEDULE

THURSDAY, OCT. 3

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS AT ATLANTA FALCONS (8:15P PRIME VIDEO)

SUNDAY, OCT. 6

NEW YORK JETS VS MINNESOTA VIKINGS (9:30A NFL NETWORK, TOTTENHAM)

CAROLINA PANTHERS AT CHICAGO BEARS (1:00P FOX)

BALTIMORE RAVENS AT CINCINNATI BENGALS (1:00P CBS)

BUFFALO BILLS AT HOUSTON TEXANS (1:00P CBS)

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (1:00P CBS)

MIAMI DOLPHINS AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (1:00P FOX)

CLEVELAND BROWNS AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (1:00P FOX)

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS AT DENVER BRONCOS (4:05P FOX)

ARIZONA CARDINALS AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (4:05P FOX)

GREEN BAY PACKERS AT LOS ANGELES RAMS (4:25P CBS)

NEW YORK GIANTS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (4:25P CBS)

DALLAS COWBOYS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (8:20P NBC)

MONDAY, OCT. 7

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (8:15P ESPN)

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SCORES

SEATTLE 8 HOUSTON 1

PHILADELPHIA 9 CHICAGO CUBS 6

DETROIT 7 TAMPA BAY 1

PITTSBURGH 2 MILWAUKEE 1

CLEVELAND 5 CINCINNATI 2

KANSAS CITY 3 WASHINGTON 0

BALTIMORE 9 NY YANKEES 7

TORONTO 6 BOSTON 1

CHICAGO WHITE SOX 4 LA ANGELS 3

MINNESOTA 8 MIAMI 3

ST. LOUIS 5 COLORADO 2

ARIZONA 8 SAN FRANCISCO 2

TEXAS 5 OAKLAND 1

LA DODGERS 4 SAN DIEGO 3

NY METS AT ATLANTA POSTPONED

WNBA SCORES

CONNECTICUT 87 INDIANA 81

MINNESOTA 101 PHOENIX 88

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER SCORES

NO GAMES SCHEDULED

TOP NATIONAL SPORTS HEADLINES/NEWS RELEASES

COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS

COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAME OF THE WEEK: #2 GEORGIA AT #4 ALABAMA

GEORGIA NOTES:

#2/#1 Georgia (3-0, 1-0 SEC) vs. #4/4 Alabama (3-0, 0-0 SEC) Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium (101,821) Sept. 28, 2024, 7:30 PM ET – ABC (Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit & Holly Rowe) UGA Head Coach: Kirby Smart (97-16, 9th year); UA: Kalen DeBoer (107-12, 10th year) National Radio: Compass Media Network (Gregg Daniels, Dave Archer) Local Radio: Georgia Bulldog Sports Network (Learfield): Scott Howard (PxP), Eric Zeier (Analyst), D.J. Shockley (Sideline); Satellite Radio: SiriusXM (82) & on the SiriusXM App SEC Network Re-Air: TBA; Series History: UA leads 43-26-4 First Meeting: 1895 in Columbus, UGA won 30-6; Last: 2023 in Atlanta (SECCG), UA won 27-24 The Standard Is The Standard The more things change the more they stay the same. The Bulldogs are the only FBS team that has not allowed a TD this season. The opponents have six field goals on the year against the Bulldogs. In 2024, the Bulldogs limited 14th-ranked Clemson to three points, Tenn. Tech kicked a field goal on the final play of the game and UK made four field goals. Georgia’s leading tackler is sophomore LB CJ Allen with 15 while Smael Mondon Jr., Daylen Everette, and Raylen Wilson are next with 12 apiece. Georgia has eight sacks led by Wilson and Jalon Walker with 1.5 while junior Malaki Starks has an interception and senior Dan Jackson and sophomore Damon Wilson II have a fumble recovery. Seven of 11 starters return from the 2023 defense that ranked fifth nationally in Scoring Defense (15.6 ppg) and led the nation in 3rd Down Conversion (25.7%). Up next, second-ranked Georgia (3-0, 1-0 SEC) battles fourth-ranked Alabama (3-0, 0-0 SEC). The teams last met in the 2023 SEC Championship Game in Atlanta with UA posting a 27-24 decision. Georgia saw its 29-game winning streak end and a bid to win its third straight national championship. Alabama is sixth nationally in Scoring Offense (49.0 ppg) and sixth in Scoring Defense (8.67 ppg). Aiming To Be Elite On All Fronts Again The Bulldogs opened the 2024 season ranked No. 1 in the AP and US LBM Coaches poll for the third time in school history (2008, 2023). Georgia (3-0, 1-0 SEC) dropped to No. 2 in the AP poll after its 13-12 road win over Kentucky on Sept. 14 and remain at No. 2 this week. The Bulldogs have the longest active streak of being ranked in the AP top 10 (54 straight polls). The Bulldogs will face five teams that were preseason ranked in the top 15 including three of those on the road in Texas, Alabama and Ole Miss plus a fourth at a neutral site (Clemson in Atlanta) while Tennessee visits Athens too. Did You Know? Georgia is the only team to have finished in the top seven of the final AP poll in each of the past seven seasons. The last team to start and finish a season at No. 1 was Alabama in 2017. Did You Know, Part II? Head coach Kirby Smart is unbeaten against all active head coaches over the past five years. Georgia is 65-6 in that span. The coaches no longer active who have wins over Georgia during this stretch: Nick Saban (3) along with Will Muschamp, Ed Orgeron and Dan Mullen. Did You Know, Part III? The Bulldogs were the only FBS team to finish the 2023 season nationally ranked in the top five in both Scoring Offense (40.1 ppg/5th) and Scoring Defense (15.6 ppg/5th). Also, the Bulldogs were the first FBS team since 2020 to not allow a punt return all season. In the Smart era, the Georgia defense has ended the year ranked in the top five nationally in Scoring Defense five times including leading the nation twice (2019 at 12.6 ppg & 202Beck By Popular Demand Senior Carson Beck is 16-1 in his career as the starting quarterback (6-1 against top 20 teams), the loss coming to then No. 8 (CFP) Alabama 27-24 in the 2023 SEC Championship Game. Beck opened the 2024 season with a 34-3 win over No. 14 Clemson in Atlanta, going 23-for-33 for 278 yards and two TDs to earn SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors. He followed that with a school record-tying five TD passes in a 48-3 rout of Tennessee Tech and a 13-12 road win at UK. The Georgia offense is bolstered by four starting linemen returning in LT Earnest Greene III, LG Dylan Fairchild, RG Tate Ratledge, and RT Xavier Truss. However, Ratledge is sidelined after an ankle injury in the UK game. The skill players share the load as Beck utilizes multiple options in the backfield, at wideout and tight end. A Georgia single-game record-tying 15 Bulldogs caught a pass in the win over the Golden Eagles. SMART Football: The Streaks *Georgia is 49-2 in the last 51 games with a school record streak of 42 consecutive regular season victories. *Georgia has an SEC and school record streak of 28 consecutive SEC regular season wins. *Georgia has a 16-game winning streak in an opponent’s home stadium, which leads in FBS. The streak began in 2020 with a 14-3 win over Kentucky. Georgia last fell at No. 2 Alabama in 2020. *The 2024 Senior Class is 45-2 (39-0 in the regular season). The 2023 Senior Class has the school record at 50-4 with two national titles, an SEC crown plus  6-0 in bowl/CFP games. *Georgia is riding a school-record 26-game home winning streak, which leads in FBS. *Georgia owns the nation’s longest active bowl streak at 27 seasons and has won its last seven matchups.

The Elephant In The Room Alabama is the last team to beat Georgia (2023 SEC Championship Game), and the last team to register a regular season home win over the Bulldogs when they did it in Tuscaloosa on Oct. 17, 2020. Georgia’s last regular season loss came on Nov. 7, 2020, to Florida in Jacksonville. Since then, the Bulldogs have won 42 in a row during the regular season. UA leads the all-time series over Georgia 43-26-4. Georgia’s last win over the Crimson Tide came on Jan. 10, 2022, by a score of 33-18 and delivered the Bulldogs their first national championship since 1980. It capped a 14-1 season. Then, Georgia became the first team in the CFP era to repeat as champions, going 15-0 in 2022. The Bulldogs went 12-0 in 2023 before falling to the Tide. Georgia hasn’t played host to Alabama since 2015, and on Saturday, Sept. 28, the Bulldogs return to Tuscaloosa for the second time since 2020. The Crimson Tide will visit Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium in 2025. The last three meetings with the Crimson Tide came in the postseason, two in the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta and one in the CFP National Championship in Indianapolis. 2021 SEC CG: #4 UA def. #1 UGA 41-24 2022 CFP Title: #3 UGA def. #1 UA 33-18 2023 SEC CG: #8 UA def. #1 UGA 27-24.

ALABAMA NOTES:

INSIDE THE SERIES Overall: 74th Meeting (Alabama leads, 43-26-4) In Tuscaloosa: Alabama leads, 8-2 Current Streak: Alabama, Won 1 Last Meeting: Dec. 2, 2023 – Atlanta (W, 27-24) Series Notes: Alabama and Georgia will square off for the 74th time in history when the two teams meet on Saturday night at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama leads the all-time series, 43-26-4, with the last meeting taking place on Dec. 2, 2023, in Atlanta, Ga. The Tide clinched its 30th SEC Championship following its 27-24 win last season inside MercedesBenz Stadium. Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer has never faced the Bulldogs during his head coaching career. Georgia head coach Kirby Smart is 1-5 all-time against the Crimson Tide and is 0-1 in his only other appearance in Tuscaloosa.

ESPN COLLEGE GAMEDAY: The Crimson Tide will be making its 59th appearance overall (37-21, .638) on ESPN’s College GameDay when the popular pregame show airs live from Tuscaloosa this Saturday. Including Saturday’s appearance prior to the matchup with Georgia, Alabama is tied with Ohio State for the most appearances on GameDay by any one program in the show’s history. The Crimson Tide’s 37 wins entering Saturday stand as the second-most when appearing on the show, trailing only the 40 victories by the Buckeyes.

DEBOER AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS: In 14 previous matchups against ranked competition, Kalen DeBoer is 12-2. While at Fresno State, DeBoer’s Bulldogs were defeated at No. 11 Oregon on Sept. 4, 2021, marking his first game against a top-25 foe as an FBS head coach. Between stops at both Fresno State and Washington, DeBoer-led teams proceeded to win 12 straight contests against ranked opponents, including six ranked victories in 2023. DeBoer’s streak of 12 consecutive wins over ranked programs was snapped following Washington’s 34-13 loss to top-ranked Michigan in last season’s CFP National Championship. Of note, DeBoer is 4-1 when matched up against top-10 teams. THE FRIENDLY CONFINES OF SABAN FIELD AT BRYANT-DENNY STADIUM: Alabama boasts the best all-time home winning percentage in the FBS with an .841 (299-55-3) mark at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium since its opening in 1929. Boise State’s Albertsons Stadium (287-63), which opened in 1970, is the next closest in second at .820.

SEC HOME OPENERS: Since 2008, the Tide is 15-1 (.938) in SEC home openers. Alabama has outscored its league opponents 635-240 (39.7-15.0 ppg) in those games. The Tide’s lone loss in an SEC home opener since 2008 came against Ole Miss on Sept. 19, 2015, by a score of 43-37. AGAINST THE TOP 10: Alabama owns an 85-80-1 (.515) all-time record against teams ranked in the top-10 of the Associated Press Poll. Since the start of the 2008 season, the Crimson Tide has posted a 36-14 (.720) overall record against top-10 teams, including a 21-8 (.724) mark versus the top 10 since the inception of the College Football Playoff. BEATING THE BEST: The Crimson Tide is 80-22 (.784) against the Associated Press Top 25 since the start of 2008. That record includes a 4-2 mark in 2023 with wins against then-No. 15 Ole Miss on Sept. 23, thenNo. 17 Tennessee on Oct. 21, then-No. 13 LSU on Nov. 4 and finally against then-No. 1 Georgia in the SEC Championship Game on Dec. 2. ALABAMA IN THE AP POLL: Alabama’s No. 4 ranking in the Week 5 edition of the Associated Press Poll marked the 266th consecutive week that the Crimson Tide has appeared in the poll. That streak is the longest active streak in college football. The 266 weeks more than doubles second-place Georgia with the Bulldogs appearing in the poll for 119 consecutive weeks. Alabama’s 266 straight weeks tops the Crimson Tide’s previous program-long streak of 105 consecutive weeks under head coach Gene Stallings in the mid-1990s. ALABAMA IN THE AP SINCE 2008: Alabama began the 2008 season at No. 24 in the Associated Press Preseason Poll. The Crimson Tide opened the year with a dominant 34-10 win over then-No. 9 Clemson in Atlanta, and since that win over the Tigers, UA has not been ranked lower than No. 17 in 265 polls that have followed. According to the College Poll Archive, the Tide is the only team to be represented on all 266 editions of the poll from the start of the 2008 season to the current week. The next closest team is Ohio State with 251 appearances followed by Oklahoma at 242. Alabama has spent 95.0 percent of the 17-plus years ranked in the top 10. A whopping 82.1 percent of that time Alabama has been ranked in the top five. The Crimson Tide has also been ranked No. 1 a total of 109 times since 2008. Only 14 other teams have earned the No. 1 ranking over that time, with the second-most appearances coming from Georgia at 40 and Clemson in third at 23.

PILING UP THE POINTS: Jalen Milroe has accounted for 14 total touchdowns in only three games of action this season, including eight passing and six rushing. His 14 scores have led to 84 points, tied for the fifth-most in the nation. Milroe’s six rushing scores are tied for second-most by any quarterback in Division I while his eight passing touchdowns are tied for the seventh-most in the country. Milroe is the first SEC player since Johnny Manziel (Texas A&M) in 2012 to post 14 touchdowns through three games, and joins Manziel and Jordan Lynch (Northern Illinois) as the first FBS players since 2012 to contribute multiple passing and rushing touchdowns in three consecutive games.

DEFENSIVE NOTES KEENAN III NAMED SEC DL OF THE WEEK: Alabama’s Tim Keenan III was named SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week on Sept. 9 following his standout performance against USF. Keenan III managed personal bests in sacks (1.5), tackles for loss (2.5) and total tackles (9), while also contributing one quarterback hurry. KEON, KEEPING ON: Keon Sabb was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week and the Reese’s Senior Bowl Defensive Player of the Week following Alabama’s season opener against Western Kentucky on Aug. 31. Sabb earned the start at safety and played a key role in helping UA shut out the Hilltoppers, recording two tackles and a pair of interceptions with a combined 87 yards on his returns. ON QUE: Linebacker Que Robinson recorded his third sack of the season in Alabama’s 42-10 win over Wisconsin on Sept. 14. Robinson has recorded one sack in all three games this season. THE AIR IS RARE: Alabama’s defense has surrendered just 347 yards passing through its first three matchups. The Tide’s 115.7 yards per game allowed through the air is the the seventh-best figure in the country. Alabama is also surrendering just 6.2 yards per completion, the lowest mark in all of Division I. THE BUCK STOPS HERE: Through three games, the Crimson Tide defense has allowed just eight third-down conversions in 49 attempts (16.3 percent), the best mark in the FBS. NO CROSSING ZONE: The Alabama defense is currently surrendering just 8.7 points per game, the sixth-best mark in Division I. TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS: Alabama has forced at least one turnover in 115 of the last 130 contests (dating back to the start of the 2015 season). During the current run, Alabama has forced 199 turnovers (127 interceptions, 72 fumbles) and returned 42 of those miscues for touchdowns. SHUTOUTS SINCE 2007: Since 2007, Alabama has recorded 27 shutouts, including 12 in Southeastern Conference play. With its 63-0 win over Western Kentucky on Aug. 31, the Crimson Tide defense has 12 more shutouts than its nearest competitor over that span. Ranking second in shutouts during that time is Ohio State with 15.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAME OF THE WEEK: #19 ILLINOIS AT #9 PENN STATE

ILLINOIS NOTES:

Illinois Travels to Penn State with Two Top-25 Wins • The Illinois football program, #19 in the Week 5 AP Top 25, visits #9 Penn State on Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. CT on NBC. • Illinois and #5 Tennessee are the only teams in the nation with two AP Top 25 wins this season. • Illinois has two AP Top 25 wins during September for the first time in program history. • Illinois has two AP Top 25 wins in a single season for the first time since 2007, when the Illini beat three AP ranked teams. • At Nebraska, Illinois picked up its first ranked vs. ranked win since #12 Illinois defeated #25 Ohio State on Nov. 17, 2001. • Last week’s Sept. 15 AP Top 25 poll marked the earliest in the season that Illinois has been voted into the top 25 since 2008. • Illinois and Penn State will meet as ranked foes for the first time since 2008, when #21 Illinois fell 38-24 at #12 Penn State. • Since 1942, Illinois has compiled a record of 82-50-2 (.619) when ranked in the AP Top 25. • Before back-to-back AP Top 25 wins, Illinois was 2-32 in its previous 34 games against the AP Top 25. • Illinois is #21 in this week’s Coaches Poll, while Penn State comes in at #8. Illinois Off to Best Start of Bielema Era • The Fighting Illini have knocked off Eastern Illinois, #19 Kansas, Central Michigan, and #22 Nebraska to start the season 4-0 for the second time since 1951 and first time since 2011. • Illinois has four 4-0 starts in the AP poll era (since 1936): 1942, 1951, 2011, and 2024. • Illinois is 4-0 with two AP Top 25 wins for the first time in program history. • Bret Bielema improved to 22-19 in his Illinois career. He is the first head coach in program history to start .500 or better through their first 41 games since Lou Tepper started 21-19-1 from 1992-95. • Bielema is 8-6 in Big Ten road games as head coach at Illinois. His eight Big Ten road wins are the fourth-most ever by an Illinois head coach in his first four seasons, behind only Mike White (11, 1980-83), Lou Tepper (10, 1992-95), and John Mackovic (10, 1988-91). • Bielema is 4-5 (.444) against ranked teams (AP/Coaches/CFP) as Illinois’ head coach. His .444 winning percentage against ranked teams is the second-best in Illinois history, behind only John Mackovic (8-8, .500, 1988-91). • Bielema’s four ranked wins (AP/Coaches/CFP) during his first four seasons are tied for the third-most in program history, behind only John Mackovic (8, 1988-91) and Mike White (5, 1980-83). • Bielema tied the program record for road ranked wins (AP/Coaches/CFP) during his first four seasons. He is the second coach in Illinois history to win three ranked games on the road during his first three seasons, joining Lou Tepper (1992-96). • Bielema is the first Illini coach to earn Top 25 rankings in two of his first four seasons since Ron Zook led the Illini into the top-25 rankings in 2007 and 2008, his Years 3 and 4 in Champaign, respectively. Illinois reached as high as #14 and were ranked for four consecutive weeks in October and November 2022 under Bielema. • Following the team’s Week 3 Homecoming win vs. Central Michigan, Bielema improved to 9-4 through his first 13 nonconference games (including postseason) at Illinois. It is the best record through 13 nonconference games for an Illinois head coach since Robert Zuppke started 10-3 against non-Big Ten opponents from 1913-18. • Illinois’ 23-17 victory over #19 Kansas in Week 2 marked the program’s highest-ranked nonconference win since beating #17 Arizona, 9-7, on Sept. 16, 1995. • The Illini’s sellout crowd of 60,670 vs. KU was the program’s first capacity crowd since Week 2 of 2016 vs. North Carolina. • The Illini’s win over the Jayhawks was the first in front of a sellout crowd since the Orange and Blue defeated Iowa, 27-24, in front of a packed Memorial Stadium on Nov. 1, 2008. It also marked the Illini’s first win in front of a sellout home crowd vs. a nonconference opponent since Sept. 6, 1986, vs. Louisville (23-0). • Bielema joined George Huff (1895-98), John Mackovic (1988-91), and Lou Tepper (1992-95) as the only head coaches in Illinois history to win 4+ games in each of their first four seasons leading the Fighting Illini.

Illinois Facing Stretch of Ranked Opponents • Penn State will be Illinois’ third AP-ranked opponent in the last four games. Illinois is on track to play five ranked opponents over a seven-game stretch, which would tie the program record for the most ranked opponents played during a regular season. The last time Illinois played five ranked opponents during a regular season was 2005. • Illinois is facing three AP-ranked opponents over a four-game stretch for the first time since 2011, when the Illini fell to #21 Penn State, #22 Michigan, and #15 Wisconsin in three consecutive weeks. • This is the first time in program history Illinois will start its Big Ten schedule with two ranked opponents on the road. • Illinois is starting its Big Ten schedule with road games in back-to-back weeks for the first time since 2008. • Illinois is starting its Big Ten schedule with two ranked games for the first time since 2009. • Saturday will be Illinois’ first top-20 vs. top-20 Big Ten game since 2000 (#19 Illinois lost vs. #10 Michigan) and the Illini’s first top-20 vs. top-20 road game since 1991 (#13 Illinois lost at #15 Iowa with Bielema playing for Iowa).

Ball Control and Turnover Margin • Illinois is third in the nation and tied for first in the Big Ten in turnover margin (+1.75 per game). • Illinois’ +7 turnover margin on the season comes despite unlucky results on fumbles. Illinois has recovered four of 12 total fumbles during its games, including missing on all four fumbles at Nebraska (1 giveaway, 3 forced fumbles that Illinois did not recover). • Illinois is 33rd in the nation in time of possession (31:49). In four games this season, the Illini are averaging 9:52 time of possession during fourth quarters, including 12:04 in the win over #19 Kansas. The Illinois Offense • According to PFF, Illinois is graded No. 10 in overall offense (84.5), 39th in special teams (79.6), and 49th in overall defense (80.3). The Illini rank 10th in passing (89.0), 11th in run blocking (76.2), 19th in receiving (75.8), 28th in defensive coverage (87.5) • Illinois is tied for first in the nation in red zone offense (100%). The Illini have scored on 35 straight trips to the red zone dating back to Oct. 14, 2023, including 25 touchdowns. This season, Illinois is 16-for-16 in the red zone with 11 touchdowns and five field goals. • WR Pat Bryant ranks second in the nation in receiving touchdowns and first in Power 4. • QB Luke Altmyer is the only quarterback in the nation with 10+ touchdowns and 0 interceptions. • Altmyer is the third Big Ten QB with 10+ passing touchdowns and 0 interceptions through four games in the last 20 years, joining Justin Fields (Ohio State) and Kyle Orton (Purdue). • Altmyer is the No. 10 graded quarterback in the nation according to PFF (89.4, min. 100 dropbacks). • Offensive lineman Melvin Priestly is the No. 3 graded tackle in the Big Ten and No. 11 in the country with a PFF grade of 82.0 (minimum 150 offensive snaps). • In the kicking game, David Olano and Ethan Moczulski have made their mark among the nation’s best. Moczulski’s 59-yard field goal vs. Central Michigan, the first attempt of his career, set an Illinois program record and is tied for the second-longest field goal in the nation this season. Olano is 18th in the country at 1.75 field goals per game, including a career-long 50-yarder vs. Kansas. The Illinois Defense • In Aaron Henry’s second season as defensive coordinator, Illinois ranks 15th in the nation in scoring defense (12.5). The Illini defense ranks in the top 35 nationally in interceptions (4th, 7), fumbles recovered (20th, 3), passing efficiency defense (29th, 108.3), total defense (32nd, 292.3), rushing defense (35th, 104.3), and fourth down defense (10th, 20%). • The Illini defense has recorded an interception in all four games to open the 2024 season. Illinois has now picked off at least one pass in five consecutive games dating back to last season. • Illini DBs Xavier Scott (3 interceptions), Miles Scott (2), and Torrie Cox Jr. (2) rank second and eighth in the nation, respectively, in total interceptions. They are the No. 1-ranked trio in the nation with seven combined picks. • Three different Illini defenders have already recovered a fumble this season, tying OLBs Alec Bryant and Seth Coleman with DB Kaleb Patterson for sixth in the nation entering Week 5.

Illinois Excelling in Close Games • Illinois has a 7-3 record in one-score games over the last two seasons, including one-score wins over #19 Kansas and #22 Nebraska this season. The Illini have been underdogs in four of the seven one-score wins, including three as road dogs. • Illinois controlled the ball for 18:11 of the second half at #22 Nebraska, while outscoring the Huskers 21-7 in the second half and overtime to secure a 31-24 (OT) win. • Illinois shut down Nebraska’s running game in the second half, limiting the Huskers to 11 carries for seven yards between the third and fourth quarters, then sacked Nebraska three times in four overtime plays for -38 yards. Over the second half and overtime, Nebraska totaled 14 rushes for -27 yards. • Illinois won five one-score games in 2023 (5-3), tied for the most in program history with the 1934 team. The Illini’s eight one-score games in 2023 were the most in program history. • Illinois’ five one-score wins in 2023 tied for the third-most in the nation during the regular season, behind only Old Dominion and Washington, which each had six one-score wins. • Illinois is 3-0 in overtime games under Bret Bielema with wins against Penn State (9 OT, 2021), Indiana (1 OT, 2023), and Nebraska (1 OT, 2024). • Five of Illinois’ seven one-score wins over the last two seasons have come in the final minute or overtime. This season, Illinois topped Nebraska in overtime. Last season, K Caleb Griffin had game-winning field goals to beat Toledo (0:05) and Maryland (0:00), and WR Isaiah Williams had game-winning touchdown receptions from QB John Paddock at Minnesota (0:50) and against Indiana (OT) in back-to-back weeks in November. • QB Luke Altmyer has led three game-winning drives in the final minute or overtime. He led the Illini on last-second field goal drives against Toledo (0:05) and Maryland (0:00) in 2023, then threw the deciding touchdown to Pat Bryant in overtime at Nebraska this season.

PENN STATE NOTES:

OPENING KICK: No. 9/8 Penn State welcomes No. 19/21 Illinois for its Big Ten opener on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. on NBC. • NBC SATURDAY NIGHT: The Nittany Lions are set to make their first appearance on NBC this season after playing twice on the network in 2023. Penn State is 9-3 all-time in games broadcast on NBC. • SERIES HISTORY: Penn State meets Illinois for the 28th time in program history. Penn State holds a 21-6 advantage in the series and has won four of the last five matchups. In 2023, the Nittany Lions earned a 30-13 victory in Champaign. Penn State forced five takeaways, including four interceptions and a fumble. Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton each scored on rushing touchdowns, while Trey Potts threw an 11- yard touchdown pass to Tyler Warren. • BIG TEN OPENER: The Nittany Lions are 16-15 all-time in Big Ten openers. Penn State has won its last three Big Ten openers and six of the last seven. The Nittany Lions will start Big Ten play at home for the first time since 2015 and just the second time since 2010. Illinois is tied with Wisconsin as PSU’s most frequent Big Ten opener opponent with five matchups each. • EXPLOSIVE OFFENSE: Penn State (282.7 passing; 255.0 rushing) joins Tennessee (275.8 passing; 290.0 rushing) as the only FBS teams averaging 250+ passing yards and 250+ rushing yards this season. Penn State holds seventh in the nation averaging 537.7 total yards and ranks second in the nation in big play percentage (22.73) after posting 718 yards and 40 first downs, both school records, against Kent State. • SHUTOUT: Against Kent State, the Nittany Lions posted their 12th shutout since 2015, tied with Alabama for the most shutouts in the FBS. PSU also has the nation’s most shutouts against conference opponents (8) since 2015. The Nittany Lions have notched 20 games without allowing a touchdown since 2014. Penn State joins Tennessee and Fresno State as the only FBS teams with a shutout in each of the last four seasons. • THE OPPOSITION: No. 19/21 Illinois is 4-0 this season after earning a 31-24 win in overtime at No. 22/22 Nebraska last weekend. Luke Altmyer threw for 215 yards and four touchdowns, connecting with Pat Bryant on two scores. In overtime, Altmyer hit Bryant for a 4-yard touchdown in overtime.

HEAD COACH BRET BIELEMA • Bret Bielema was named Illinois’ head coach in December 2020. • As head coach of the Fighting Illini, Bielema has a 22-19 record and led Illinois to an appearance in the ReliaQuest Bowl in 2022. • Bielema has 15 years of collegiate head coaching experience. • He served as the head coach at Wisconsin from 2006-12, helping the Badgers to a 68-24 record. Wisconsin won Big Ten Championships in 2010, 2011 and 2012 and reached six consecutive bowl games. • Bielema was the head coach at Arkansas from 2013-17. The Razorbacks made three bowl appearances. • After his time at Arkansas, Bielema served two years on the New England Patriots staff, including Defensive Line coach in 2019, and one season with the New York Giants as Outside Linebackers/ Senior Assistant Coach in 2020. SCOUTING THE FIGHTING ILLINI • Illinois is 4-0 this season, including a 1-0 mark in Big Ten play. • The Fighting Illini own wins over Eastern Illinois (45-0), No. 19/20 Kansas (23-17), Central Michigan (30-9) and No. 22/22 Nebraska (31-24). • Last Friday, Illinois earned a 31-24 win over No. 22/22 Nebraska in overtime. • Luke Altmyer threw for 215 yards and four touchdowns. • Pat Bryant hauled in two touchdown receptions, including the game-winner in overtime. • Dylan Rosiek led the Illinois defense with nine tackles, including a sack, and a forced fumble. • Alec Bryant contributed two sacks, while Dennis Briggs Jr. and Gabe Jacas each had one. • Altmyer has completed 71 percent of his passes for 862 yards and 10 touchdowns, without throwing an interception. • RB Kaden Feagin leads the rushing attack with 242 yards and three touchdowns, while averaging 4.5 yards per carry. • WR Zakhari Franklin (21 rec, 243 yds) and WR Pat Bryant (20 rec, 309 yds, 6 TD) are Illinois’ leading receivers. • Rosiek and DB Matthew Bailey lead Illinois with 23 tackles. • Jacas owns four tackles for loss and two sacks. • DB Xavier Scott has a team-best three interceptions, while DB Miles Scott has two.

LAST MEETING

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – No. 7 Penn State took down Illinois, 30-13, at Memorial Stadium. The Nittany Lions played complimentary football on both sides of the ball, fueled by five defensive takeaways. The defense led the way for the Nittany Lions, recording its first five-takeaway game in seven years. Penn State racked up four interceptions, by four different players, and a fumble recovery. Offensively, the Nittany Lions scored 20 points off of the five turnovers. Stout defense held the Illini in check all day, allowing just 62 yards on the ground. Dominic DeLuca forced the first fumble of his career, the first of the Nittany Lions’ five takeaways. Linebacker Abdul Carter, and cornerbacks Johnny Dixon, Daequan Hardy, and Cam Miller each secured interceptions. Penn State’s running backs were involved in all three offensive touchdowns on the afternoon. Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton each recorded rushing scores, while Trey Potts tossed a touchdown pass to tight end Tyler Warren. The Nittany Lions made their first splash play of the day on their second defensive drive of the game as DeLuca forced a fumble that was picked up by Kobe King. The Nittany Lions capitalized with a 20-yard field goal. Penn State’s defense forced its second turnover in two possessions with an interception by Carter, the first of his career. Carter picked off Luke Altmyer at the Penn State 45 yard-line and returned the ball to the Illinois 37. Alex Felkins knocked through a 45-yard field goal to increase the Nittany Lion lead to 6-0. The Nittany Lion defense recorded its third turnover in the first quarter on the Illini’s next drive. Hardy picked off an Altmyer pass at the Penn State 43 yard-line and the offense proceeded to use 12 plays to march 57 yards for its first touchdown of the ballgame as Allen punched in the 4-yard score. Reggie Love III put the Illini on the board with a 5-yard touchdown run with 2:08 left to play in the half, but the Nittany Lions were able to tack on an additional field goal before halftime to go up 16-7 at the break. Both defenses stood tall through the first 10-plus minutes of the quarter before the Nittany Lions were able to break through for their second touchdown of the afternoon to go up 23-7. Potts caught a lateral from Allar and tossed an 11-yard touchdown pass to the tight end, Warren. On the ensuing Illinois possession, the Nittany Lions intercepted Altmyer for the fourth time, this time by Miller. Penn State wasted no time, scoring in just over a minute on a 16-yard rushing touchdown by Singleton. Illinois found the end zone one more time in the game, scoring on a 19-yard reception by Malik Elzy from quarterback John Paddock at the 4:21 mark of the fourth quarter. A failed two-point conversion left the score at 30-13.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAME OF THE WEEK: #20 OKLAHOMA STATE AT #23 KANSA STATE

OKLAHOMA STATE NOTES:

The Basics The Oklahoma State football team (3-1 overall; 0-1 Big 12) travels to Manhattan, Kansas, this week to face Kansas State (3-1 overall; 0-1 Big 12) in the Cowboys’ first conference road game of 2024. Kickoff at Bill Snyder Family Stadium is set for 11 a.m. CT on ESPN. On the Air The game will be televised on ESPN with Bob Wischusen, Louis Riddick and Kris Budden on the call. It will also be carried live on the Cowboy Radio Network, with Dave Hunziker handling play-by-play, John Holcomb providing analysis and Robert Allen reporting from the sideline. Fans outside of the Cowboy Radio Network can listen to the OSU broadcast for free through The Varsity Network app. The game will also be broadcast live on national radio via Westwood One, with Nate Gatter and Derek Rackley on the call. In the Rankings The Oklahoma State football team is ranked No. 20 in the Associated Press poll and No. 20 in the US LBM Coaches Poll. It continues a run of OSU being ranked in every season since 2008. Including the 2024 season, Oklahoma State has been ranked in the top 15 of the Associated Press poll in 15 of the past 17 seasons and has reached the top 10 in 11 of those 17 years. Although the first College Football Playoff rankings won’t be released until November 5, it’s worth noting that OSU has been part of the CFP rankings in eight of the past nine seasons entering 2024. The Cowboys have also been included in 43 of the 60 all-time CFP Rankings, which is tied for the eighthmost appearances in the country. Kansas State is ranked No. 23 in the AP poll and No. 25 in the coaches poll. The Series Saturday’s game marks the 71st overall meeting between Oklahoma State and Kansas State in a series that dates to 1908. The 2024 season also marks the 15th consecutive year the teams have played. OSU holds a 43-27 all-time advantage in the series, including a 19-18 edge in games played in Manhattan. The Cowboys have won 10 of the past 15 meetings in the series, as well as four of the past five. OSU has also won two of the past four games played in Manhattan. Coach Mike Gundy is 10-6 in his career against K-State, while KSU coach Chris Klieman is 1-4 against the Cowboys.

Oklahoma State from a Distance Oklahoma State is 3-1 after its first setback of the 2024 season, falling by three points in a top 15 matchup against Utah last week. Now the Cowboys look to bounce back while facing another AP Top 25 team in their first Big 12 road game of the 2024 season. It marks the first team OSU has faced backto-back ranked teams since the midway point of the 2022 season. The biggest standout of the season so far has been safety Trey Rucker, who leads all Power Conference players in both total tackles (53) and solo tackles (29) and is sixth in that group with two total interceptions. Preseason All-America linebacker Nick Martin ranks sixth among Power Conference players with 6.5 tackles for loss this season and his 39 total tackles are also sixth in that group. They lead an OSU defense that leads the Big 12 in red zone defense, tackles for loss, turnovers gained and interceptions. Nationally, the Cowboys rank 13th, 14th, 15th and 18th in those statistics, respectively. Oklahoma State is led offensively by wide receiver Brennan Presley, who has a receiving touchdown in every game this season; quarterback Alan Bowman, who ranks among the FBS top 15 in passing yards, passing touchdowns and points responsible for; and running back Ollie Gordon II, who won the 2023 Doak Walker Award and received more votes for the Heisman Trophy than any other back last season. As a team, OSU is No. 15 in the FBS in passing offense and No. 6 in sacks allowed with just one. On special teams, kicker Logan Ward is 8-for-10 on field goal attempts this season with a long of 52 yards and his 2.0 made field goals per game rank No. 9 in the nation. Punter Wes Pahl would also rank second in the nation in yards per punt if he had enough punts to qualify for the NCAA rankings. Continued Success • Entering 2024, Oklahoma State has made 18th consecutive bowl appearances and secured 18 consecutive winning seasons, both school-record streaks. OSU’s bowl streak is the sixth-longest active streak in the FBS, and the is longest active streak for any school with the same head coach. • Mike Gundy has coached the Cowboys to five New Year’s Six bowl games since the 2009 season. The Pokes appeared in the 2010 Cotton Bowl, the 2012 Fiesta Bowl, the 2014 Cotton Bowl, the 2016 Sugar Bowl and the 2022 Fiesta Bowl. • Since 2010, Oklahoma State has eight seasons with at least 10 wins, an outright Big 12 title (2011), a share of the Big 12 South title (2010) and two more appearances in the conference championship game. OSU reached the top 10 of the Associated Press poll in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2021 and 2022. • Oklahoma State is one of only four teams to post a winning season every year since 2010, joining Alabama, Boise State and Wisconsin. It is one of only two Power Five teams with winning seasons each of the past 18 years, joined by Wisconsin. • Including 2024, Oklahoma State has been ranked in the top 15 of the Associated Press poll in 15 of the past 17 seasons and reached the top 10 in 11 of those 17 years. • Entering 2024, OSU has finished in the top three of the Big 12 in four of the past five seasons and has finished in the top three 10 times in the 13 seasons since the conference moved away from divisions.

An Oklahoma State Win Would … • Give it wins in 13 of its past 17 and in 26 of its past 33 games following a loss. • Mark Mike Gundy’s 41st career win vs. an AP Top 25 opponent. No other active coach has more. • Make it 3-2 in its past five road games against AP-ranked teams. • Make it 11-7 in its past 18 road games. • Make it 4-1 or better for the seventh time in the past eight years and for the 14th time in the Mike Gundy era. • Give it wins in 12 of its past 15 games. • Make it 11-5 in its past 16 and 20-10 in its past 30 games vs. AP-ranked teams. • Make it 11-7 in its past 18 games when both teams are ranked in the AP Top 25. • Make it 161-75 in its history when playing as an AP-ranked team. • Improve Mike Gundy’s record in September games to 59-15. • Improve Mike Gundy’s record in Big 12 games to 103-64 and move him to one game away from tying Bill Snyder for the second-most Big 12 wins in conference history. • Improve its all-time record vs. Kansas State to 44-27 and its record vs. KSU in Manhattan to 20-18. • Give it wins five of the past six and 11 of its past 16 games against K-State. • Give it wins in three of its past five trips to Manhattan. • Improve Mike Gundy’s record against Kansas State to 11-6. • Make it 35-13 in its past 48 games overall, dating back to the 2020 season. Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the Game • Brennan Presley has one receiving touchdown in every game this season. • Brennan Presley has multiple catches in 34 straight games, the second longest active streak in the FBS. • Trey Rucker has recorded at least 14 tackles in three of four games this season. • Oklahoma State is 4-for-4 on two-point conversion attempts this season and the four successful twopoint conversions are more than any other team in the FBS. • Ollie Gordon II has rushed for more than 100 yards in 10 of the past 15 games. • OSU and Georgia Tech are the only Power Conference teams who have allowed fewer than two sacks in 2024. • OSU’s offensive line has not allowed a sack in nine of its past 14 games. • OSU is 13-1 in the past 14 games when winning or tying the turnover battle. • OSU has held 35 of its past 44 Big 12 opponents under their season scoring average entering the game. • OSU has won 86 consecutive games when holding its opponent to fewer than 20 points, dating back to Sept. 13, 2003 – the longest active period in the FBS, the longest since at least 1980, and likely the longest in college football history. Including games when opponents have scored 20 points or fewer, the streak begins on the same date and includes 94 games. • OSU has held its opponent scoreless on its game-opening drive in 44 of its past 62 games. • OSU has held its opponent to less than a 50% third down conversion rate in 50 of its past 56 games. • OSU is 40-17 in its past 57 games decided by fewer than 10 points. • OSU is 51-8 in its last 59 games when leading at halftime, dating back to Sept. 17, 2016. • Dating back to 2005, OSU is 49-4 when not committing a turnover. • Dating back to 2008, OSU is 82-9 when winning the turnover battle. • OSU has won five of its past seven overtime games. • Over the past 53 games, OSU has held opponents to 264-for-835 (31.6%) on third down.

KANSAS STATE NOTES:

THE TOP 5 K-State is looking to bounce back from a tough road defeat at BYU as the 23rd-ranked Wildcats return home to face No. 20 Oklahoma State on Saturday inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium. The Wildcats’ Big 12 home opener will kick at 11 a.m., and be broadcast on ESPN with Bob Wischusen (play-by-play), Louis Riddick (analyst), and Kris Budden (sideline) on the call. 1 During his first season as the starting quarterback, Avery Johnson has completed 61.1% of his passes (58-of-95) for 620 yards and six touchdowns. He has rushed for 261 yards on 39 carries, including a 110-yard effort against Arizona. He was the fifth sophomore signal caller – and just the second true sophomore – to start a season opener since 1990 when he did so against UT Martin. 2 Alongside Johnson in the backfield is running back DJ Giddens, who has rushed for 417 yards and a touchdown on 68 carries to go along with seven receptions for 69 yards and another score. Sophomore Dylan Edwards has also burst onto the scene, averaging 8.5 yards per carry on 21 attempts. Edwards has two rushing touchdowns, one receiving score, and a 71-yard punt return score in four games. 3 The experience of the Wildcats resides on defense as the unit brought back eight starters from last year, including five of its top six tacklers from a year ago. Ten Wildcats have recorded 10 or more total tackles through four games led by Austin Romaine’s 27. Brendan Mott has 4.0 sacks to tie for 12th nationally and second in the Big 12. As a unit, the Cats have 31 tackles for loss and 12 sacks on the year. 4 Kicker Chris Tennant is back for his senior campaign and enters this week’s contest in the top 10 in school history in six career categories. The Wildcats’ new punter, Simon McClannan, has averaged 43.4 yards per punt this season and landed three inside the 20-yard line. Additionally, a plethora of options are available at both kickoff and punt return, including Edwards.

BIG 12 HOME OPENERS • K-State holds a 17-11 record all-time in its initial Big 12 home game of the season. • Under head coach Chris Klieman, K-State is 3-2 in Big 12 home openers, including wins in each of the last two seasons. • Last year in its Big 12 opener, running back DJ Giddens ran for 207 yards and four touchdowns in addition to catching eight passes for 86 yards in K-State’s 44-31 victory over UCF. A WINNING TRADITION • Kansas State has totaled 139 Big 12 victories since the conference’s formation in 1996, which stands as the most among active Big 12 programs. • The Cats are also second among active Big 12 members in winning percentage since non-divisional play began in 2011. They sit at 59.3% (70-48), trailing only Oklahoma State (65.2%; 77-41). • During that stretch, the Wildcats are 39-20 (66.1%) at home in Big 12 play and 31-28 (52.5%) on the road.

TOTAL OFFENSE • K-State has totaled at least 375 yards of offense in 25 of the last 31 games dating back to the beginning of the 2022 season. During that stretch, the Cats held a 10-game streak against Big 12 foes with 375 or more yards, the longest in school history. TWENTY-EIGHT IS GREAT • K-State had scored 28 or more points in 11 straight games dating back to last season prior to last week’s loss at BYU. It was the longest streak of 28-point games since the 1998-99 seasons when the Cats did so in 16 consecutive games. RUSHING ATTACK • Kansas State is averaging 240.3 yards per game on the ground this season, a figure that ranks 15th nationally and second in the Big 12 Conference. • The Cats have rushed for 215 yards or more in each game this season, including 283 yards in the opener against UT Martin. • Four players have had at least 10 rushing attempts and each average at least 5.0 yards per carry.

LAST MEETING:

STILLWATER, Okla. – Kansas State knew it would be a tough challenge going into Boone Pickens Stadium. But the Wildcats didn’t know that Oklahoma State would save one of its best efforts this season for a Friday night game. Will Howard rushed for 104 yards and one touchdown, DJ Giddens added 65 rushing yards and Treshaun Ward had 59 on the ground, but K-State suffered a 29-21 loss at Oklahoma State in front of a sellout crowd of 53,855. The Wildcats, who sought their first win in Stillwater since 2017, kept things close for a majority of the first half and came back from a 26-7 deficit to make things interesting down the stretch. Howard, who passed for 152 yards, accounted for two scores, including a brilliant 70-yard rush to the 1-yard line to set up a touchdown pass to Ben Sinnott to make it 10-7 in the second quarter. Then he rushed for a six-yard score that pulled K-State to within 29-21 with 8 minutes, 56 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. But K-State struggled to extend drives. That became troubling down the stretch when the Wildcats had a chance. Oklahoma State got tricky as quarterback Alan Bowman appeared to speak with coaches on the sideline and tight end tight end Josiah Johnson took the snap on fourth-and-1, but the Wildcats stiffened and the offense regained possession at the K-State 40 with 5:17 left. However, the Wildcats, who went just 6-for-16 on third down and 1-for-4 on fourth down, were unable to turn another possession into any points. After the K-State defense forced a punt, the offense regained possession with 3 minutes to go and needed a touchdown and a 2-point conversion to tie the game. However, Oklahoma State linebacker Collin Oliver knocked down Howard’s final pass attempt on fourth down and the Cowboys drained the clock. Howard completed 15-of-34 passes for 152 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. Sinnott had four catches for 39 yards and one touchdown and Giddens had four catches for 28 yards. Although Oklahoma State outgained K-State 412-372, the Wildcats’ defense allowed just one rushing touchdown and forced Oklahoma State place-kicker Alex Hale to make field goals of 43, 34, 53, 31, and 25 yards. Although K-State thumped Oklahoma State 48-0 in Manhattan last season, the Wildcats had difficulties throughout the contest on Friday. Already playing without starting cornerback Jacob Parrish, the Wildcats suffered another key loss when Will Lee III, their other starting cornerback, went down while making a tackle in the second quarter. K-State faced a 20-7 halftime deficit, which only grew when Hale drilled a 53-yard field goal and a 31-yarder in the third quarter. But K-State didn’t quit. It scored its second touchdown of the game when Ward took the ball 11 yards. Howard ran in a 2-point conversion to make it 26-15 at the end of the third quarter. Hale’s 25-yard field goal gave the Cowboys a 29-15 advantage with 11:31 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter before the Wildcats mounted a comeback that fell just short.

NO. 1 TEXAS, NO. 5 TENNESSEE AND NO. 6 OLE MISS POISED TO CHALLENGE USUAL SEC POWERS

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Georgia, Alabama and LSU have combined to win every Southeastern Conference championship game for the past decade.

The trio’s reign of dominance is far from a sure thing this season.

With the SEC increasing to 16 teams after adding Texas and Oklahoma, even reaching the title game will be difficult. And though Georgia has won two of the past three national titles and played in six of the last seven conference championship games, the Bulldogs looked vulnerable when they barely escaped with a 13-12 win at Kentucky on Sept. 14. That close call that cost them the No. 1 ranking.

The usual conference favorites face off when No. 2 Georgia visits No. 4 Alabama on Saturday, but it may not be the championship preview it often is billed to be. Three SEC teams in particular — No. 1 Texas, No. 5 Tennessee and No. 6 Ole Miss — look poised to challenge for supremacy.

Texas is a heavy favorite against struggling Mississippi State in its first-ever SEC game Saturday, but Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian doesn’t care. He knows anything can happen. After all, then-No. 7 Missouri had to squeak out an overtime win agajnst Vanderbilt last Saturday.

“The way we look at it, this is an SEC championship game,” Sarkisian said. “Just like we used to (approach it) when we were in the Big 12. Every week in the conference, especially with the amount of teams and no divisions — you better finish up top if you want get into the SEC championship game.”

The league no longer will have two division winners play for the conference title; it will just take the top two teams in the standings. In Sarkisian’s eyes, that makes the margin of error razor thin in the race for a spot in the SEC championship game, where the winner could earn a bye in the College Football Playoff and have a chance of earning the No. 1 seed.

“Once you lose one, now you leave yourself susceptible to, ‘Well, what if there’s a four-team tie in second place?’” Sarkisian said. “I don’t know if you guys saw the tiebreaker rules for who gets in the championship game, but I did. I stopped reading after about two pages worth. I don’t really know how you get in if you’re tied. So let’s not try to get into a tie.”

Tennessee coach Josh Heupel, known for his high-scoring, up-tempo offenses, has a defense he can lean on. Tennessee leads the nation in total defense and the Vols have outscored opponents 216-28.

“At the end of the day, if you want to play really high-level football, you got to have a high level of defense,” Heupel said. “And our guys are playing really well. They’re excited about the way they’re playing, but they also know that there’s more out there. And it’s been fun seeing this group continue to grow from there.”

Ole Miss is on fire early as it seeks its first SEC title since 1963. The Rebels have beaten Furman, Middle Tennessee, Wake Forest and Georgia Southern by a combined 220-22, the largest margin by any SEC team through the first four games of a season. Ole Miss is tied with Texas for the national lead in points allowed, giving up just 5.5 per game.

Jaxson Dart leads the nation with 388.5 yards passing per game and Tre Harris is second nationally with 157 yards receiving per contest. The Rebels lead the nation in total offense and passing offense and have outgained opponents 2,683 yards to 956.

Receiver Juice Wells wore a hoodie featuring the words “humble over hype” to his interview session on Monday as a reminder to self and others. The Rebels’ stats look good, but they are untested entering the league opener against Kentucky.

“Statistically, the teams we’ve played and the defenses we’ve played have struggled this year,” Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin said. “So we’re going to find out a lot more about that. That’s why I’m not making big statements about where we’re ranked or where we are on offense or defense. I’ve said we’ve got a chance to be really elite and really good, but we’re going to have to prove that against bigger and better players.”

UNLV QB TO SIT OUT SEASON AFTER AGENT SAYS $100,000 PROMISED FOR TRANSFER HAS NOT BEEN PAID

UNLV quarterback Matthew Sluka has decided to sit out the rest of his undefeated team’s season over a $100,000 NIL payment that was promised but never paid after he agreed to transfer to the Rebels last winter, Sluka’s agent told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Sluka’s announcement late Tuesday sent shockwaves throughout major college football, where the old rules of amateurism have fallen but schools and the NCAA are still grappling with how to regulate the way players can be compensated for use of their name, image or likeness.

Sluka’s agent, Marcus Cromartie of Equity Sports, said Sluka was promised $100,000 by a UNLV assistant coach who recruited the quarterback last winter when he agreed to transfer from Holy Cross to the Rebels in January.

Equity Sports represents numerous NFL and college players, including Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes. Sluka’s father, Bob Sluka, told AP via text message that his son signed with Equity Sports when Matthew Sluka declared he intended to switch schools and entered the NCAA transfer portal in December.

Cromartie said that because Sluka was still completing his degree at Holy Cross, he could not sign a NIL contract, typically done with booster-backed third parties called collectives that serve a school’s athletes — until after he enrolled at UNLV later in the year.

Sluka did not join the team until preseason practice in August. No written contract was ever put in place, Cromartie said.

“In July, there was no NIL payments. There was no $100,000, I guess you could say zero dollars. He was given a $3,000 relocation fee and that was it,” said Cromartie, who declined to identify the assistant coach and said UNLV head coach Barry Odom was not involved in the initial discussions.

Cromartie said after several weeks went by he reached out to first representatives of UNLV’s collective and then Odom to discuss ways to pay Sluka the $100,000 he said the player was promised.

Cromartie said he suggested payments of $10,000 a month over the next five months and even $5,000 per month and was declined. Cromartie said Sluka was offered $3,000 per month by Odom.

“At that point I think Matt felt lied to. At that point he just wanted to stand up for himself,” Cromartie said.

UNLV issued a statement accusing Sluka’s representative of making “financial demands upon the university and its NIL collective in order to continue playing.”

“UNLV athletics interpreted these demands as a violation of the NCAA pay-for-play rules, as well as Nevada state law,” the school said. “UNLV does not engage in such activity, nor does it respond to implied threats. UNLV has honored all previously agreed-upon scholarships for Matthew Sluka.”

UNLV is scheduled to host Fresno State (3-1) in a big Mountain West game on Saturday, with both schools hoping a strong season could put them in consideration for a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff. The Rebels have already beaten two power conference schools.

NCAA redshirt rules allow players to retain a year of eligibility if they play four or fewer games in a season. Sluka, who played four seasons (2020-23) at Holy Cross, still has one more year of eligibility that he could use at another school next season. NCAA rules do not allow players to play for two schools within the same season.

Sluka did not detail the reasons behind his decision, but college athletes are now routinely being paid hundreds of thousands, even millions, of dollars by companies or booster-funded collectives.

“I committed to UNLV based on certain representations that were made to me, which were not upheld after I enrolled,” Sluka posted on X. “Despite discussions, it became clear that these commitments would not be fulfilled in the future. I wish my teammates the best of luck this season and hope for the continued success of the program.”

The NCAA lifted its ban on athletes being compensated for things like endorsement and sponsorship deals in 2021, but put in place few detailed rules to regulate how athletes are paid beyond saying the compensation cannot come directly from the school.

A patchwork of state laws have created different standards around the country, and college sports leaders, including NCAA President Charlie Baker, have been lobbying Congress for a federal law to help get a handle of an unruly system that lacks transparency.

Georgia quarterback Jaden Rashada, who committed to play for Florida out of high school, is suing Gators coach Billy Napier and one of the school’s top boosters after a $14 million NIL deal fell through. Rashad never played for Florida. He was released from his scholarship agreement in 2023, transferred to Arizona State where he played last year and then transferred to Georgia this offseason.

“They’re going to have to figure out a system, just like anything else — make sure contracts are signed, or the language is done the right way,” Mahomes, who has become involved in the NIL collective at Texas Tech, his alma mater, said Wednesday when asked about Sluka’s situation.

UNLV went 9-5 last season and played for the Mountain West conference championship, but the quarterback who led that team to the program’s best season in nearly 40 years, Jayden Maiava, transferred to Southern California of the Big Ten.

Sluka was one of the top quarterbacks playing in Division I’s second tier, known as the Football Championship Subdivision. Holy Cross reached the FCS playoffs in 2021 and ’22 with Sluka as the starter.

After a coaching change at Holy Cross — head coach Bob Chesney left to take over at James Madison — Sluka also moved on. after setting a host of school records and rushing for an NCAA Division I quarterback record 330 yards in a loss to Lafayette in 2023.

Sluka has completed 21 of 48 passes for 318 yards, six touchdowns and one interception for the Rebels this season. A shifty and elusive runner, he has also rushed 39 times for 286 yards and a touchdown. He had 113 yards rushing in a 23-20 win over Kansas on Sept. 13 that followed an earlier win against Houston, making the Rebels 2-0 against Big 12 teams.

“At the end of the day, $100,000 for a quarterback that’s in a Top 25 program is actually probably on the lower tier,” Cromartie said. “The fact that he hasn’t gotten that or anything in between just speaks to the point he’s getting done unjustly and unfairly.”

COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 5: GEORGIA-ALABAMA IS NATION’S HIGHEST-RANKED SEPTEMBER MATCHUP SINCE 2017

A high-stakes AP Top 25 game between heavyweights Georgia and Alabama has become an annual expectation for college football fans, but never this early.

The No. 2 Bulldogs visit the No. 4 Crimson Tide on Saturday night for a Southeastern Conference opener and only their third regular-season meeting since 2015.

Of the last eight matchups, four have come in SEC title games and two in College Football Playoff championship games.

This will be only the fifth time since 2000 — and first since No. 1 Alabama beat No. 3 Florida State 24-7 in 2017 — that two top-four teams have met before October.

There are three other Top 25 matchups on Saturday.

No. 19 Illinois, which is 4-0 for the first time since 2011, will try for its third win against a ranked opponent when it visits No. 9 Penn State. No. 15 Louisville goes to No. 16 Notre Dame, which has outscored Purdue and Miami (Ohio) 98-10 since its loss to Northern Illinois. No. 20 Oklahoma State visits No. 23 Kansas State for a meeting of Big 12 title hopefuls coming off losses in their league openers.

Best game

No. 2 Georgia (3-0) at No. 4 Alabama (3-0), Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (ABC)

About all that’s missing is Nick Saban, who was front and center as this rivalry built up steam over the past decade. The Crimson Tide haven’t missed a beat so far under Kalen DeBoer, who took over for the retired Saban after leading Washington to the national championship game.

Jalen Milroe has had a hand in 14 of Alabama’s 21 touchdowns, Jam Miller is averaging an SEC-best 9.14 yards per carry and the Tide are averaging 49 points per game.

The Carson Beck-led Georgia offense hasn’t found its rhythm. Defense remains the Bulldogs’ strength. They’re the only FBS team that hasn’t allowed a touchdown and they have surrendered just two plays of 20 yards or longer.

Still, Georgia has won 42 straight regular-season games and is favored by 1 1/2 points, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. If the Bulldogs are still favored at kickoff, it would end Alabama’s streak of 90 straight home games in which it has been the favorite, according to ESPN.

Heisman watch

Heisman Trophy buzz is ratcheting up around Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter. Never mind he opened the week with 25-1 odds on BetMGM, 11th in the online sportsbook’s pecking order.

Hunter has five straight games with over 100 yards receiving, including his seven-catch, 130-yard performance against Baylor. His biggest play against the Bears was the shoulder hit he put on Dominic Richardson near the goal line, causing the tailback to fumble out of the end zone and secure the Buffaloes’ 38-31 overtime win. The Buffs’ iron man played a season-high 145 snaps in the game, according to Pro Football Focus.

Numbers to know

4 — One-play touchdown drives by Utah, most among power-conference teams.

143 — Navy’s point total through three games, highest since the 1918 Midshipmen had 150.

172 — Dabo Swinney’s wins at Clemson, one behind Bobby Bowden’s record for wins by an ACC coach, set at Florida State.

202 — Indiana’s point total, the highest over any four-game stretch in program history.

2014 — Last time Appalachian State had back-to-back home losses. The Mountaineers, who lost to South Alabama last week, host Conference USA favorite Liberty.

Under the radar

Washington State (4-0) at No. 25 Boise State (2-1), Saturday, 10 p.m. ET (FS1)

Boise State entered the Top 25 for the first time since 2020 this week. Washington State is receiving the most votes among teams outside the rankings.

The Cougars replaced Cam Ward (now at Miami) with his 2023 backup, John Mateer, and have made it through the first month of the season unbeaten for a second straight year after a 54-52 win over San Jose State in two overtimes. This is where things fell apart last season. The Cougars reached No. 13 in the poll and then lost six games in a row, seven of their last eight and finished 5-7.

The Broncos, based on this week’s Top 25, have overtaken Northern Illinois as the front-runner for the Group of Five’s spot in the College Football Playoff. Their top player, national rushing leader Ashton Jeanty, got limited snaps but still ran for 127 yards against Portland State last week.

Hot seat

Louisiana Tech (1-2) isn’t making much progress in year three under Sonny Cumbie, who takes a 7-20 record into Saturday’s game at Florida International.

The Bulldogs have committed 54 turnovers since 2022, tied for sixth-most in the FBS, and they played three quarterbacks last week in a 23-20 overtime loss to Tulsa because of Jack Turner’s ineffectiveness and an injury to Blake Baker.

The offensive struggle overshadows the work of a defense that leads Conference USA in fewest yards allowed and has given up only seven touchdowns.

NFL NEWS

COWBOYS FACE GIANTS ON THURSDAY, LOOKING FOR THEIR 7TH STRAIGHT WIN AGAINST THEIR RIVAL

Dallas (1-2) at N.Y. Giants (1-2)

Thursday, 8:15 p.m. EDT, Amazon Prime Video.

BetMGM NFL Odds: Cowboys by 4 1/2.

Against the spread: Cowboys 1-2, Giants 1-2.

Series record: Cowboys lead 75-47-2.

Last meeting: Cowboys beat Giants 49-17 on Nov. 12, 2023, in Arlington, Texas.

Last week: Cowboys lost to the Ravens 28-25; Giants beat Browns 21-15.

Cowboys offense: overall (T9), rush (29), pass (1), scoring (5)

Cowboys defense: overall (29), rush (32), pass (14), scoring (30)

Giants offense: overall (22), rush (19), pass (19), scoring (T30)

Giants defense: overall (15), rush (23), pass (13), scoring (T20)

Turnover differential: Cowboys: even; Giants minus-1.

Cowboys player to watch

DE Micah Parsons is without a sack in consecutive games as the Dallas pass rush has disappeared since a disruptive opener. Parsons has had three games in a row without a sack just once in his career, early in his rookie season in 2021. After getting six sacks and 17 QB hits against Cleveland in a 33-17 victory, the Cowboys have had one sack and two QB hits in consecutive home losses.

Giants player to watch

Wide receiver Malik Nabers. The No. 6 overall draft pick has 23 receptions for 271 yards and three touchdowns, making him the first player in NFL history with 20-plus catches and three touchdowns in his first three career games. His catch total is tied with Anquan Boldin (2003) for the second-most receptions by a player in his first three games. The Rams’ Puka Nacua had 30 last year.

Key matchup

The Giants offensive line against the Cowboys front seven. One of the major reasons Dallas has lost two in a row is its run defense. The Cowboys are ranked last, giving up an average of 185.7 yards after New Orleans and Baltimore combined for 464 yards the past two weeks. It’s the reason they’re not getting any sacks. Why throw against Big D when they can’t stop the run (the combined 31 pass attempts by the Saints and Ravens are the fewest in a two-game stretch against Dallas since 1990). If the Giants’ O-line can continue the trend, Daniel Jones and Nabers are going to make plays.

Injuries

Cowboys S Markquese Bell (ankle) and rookie CB Caelen Carson (shoulder) are doubtful after being injured against the Ravens. Carson was forced into the starting lineup after DaRon Bland had surgery for a stress fracture in a foot late in the preseason. Bland is out at least one more game. … Giants CBs Dru Phillips and Adoree Jackson are out with calf injuries. CB Nick McCloud (knee) is just getting back after being hurt in the opener. WR Darius Slayton (thumb) is questionable. … ILB Micah McFadden (back) and DT Dexter Lawrence (foot) are on the injury report.

Series notes

The Cowboys have won six straight and 13 of 14, tied for their most in such a stretch against one opponent. It also happened with Washington from 1998-2004, Arizona from 1992-96 and the Giants from 1974-81. They won last year’s two games by a combined margin of 89-17.

Stats and stuff

The Cowboys are playing a road game on three days’ rest for the first time in franchise history, according to the team. They always play at home on Thanksgiving. … Dallas is 29th in the league at 3.56 yards rushing per game with a running back-by-committee approach that isn’t working. Ezekiel Elliott returned to the Cowboys after a season in New England that followed a seven-year run with two NFL rushing titles in Dallas. He had career lows of three carries for 6 yards against Baltimore. … The Cowboys allowed an average of 11.9 yards per play in the first half against the Saints, who led 35-16 at the break, and 8.8 yards per play in the first half against the Ravens, who led 21-6. … QB Dak Prescott is 32-8 against the NFC East. Those are the most wins for any current quarterback against a division opponent. … WR CeeDee Lamb is still looking for his first 100-yard game after finishing with eight in his first All-Pro season in 2023. He missed all of training camp in a contract holdout. He had a fumble against the Ravens. … Eight of DE DeMarcus Lawrence’s 60 1/2 sacks are against Jones, his most against an opposing quarterback in his 11 seasons. … K Brandon Aubrey had a 65-yard field goal against the Ravens, 1 yard shy of the record held by Baltimore’s Justin Tucker. Aubrey is 15 of 15 from at least 50 yards in his two seasons. That’s an NFL record for makes from at least 50 without a miss to start a career. … Giants: Jones has thrown two TDs and no interceptions in each of the past two games. … The O-Line has allowed eight sacks in three games. The team allowed 85 last season. … Rookie DT Elijah Chatman had his first sack and fumble recovery Sunday. … S Jason Pinnock has three sacks. He shares the team lead with DT Dexter Lawrence. … Nine players had at least a half a sack as the Giants had eight against Cleveland. They are the fourth NFL team since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic. Buffalo (2011), Dallas (1985), and Kansas City (1985) are the others. … New kicker Greg Joseph missed his only field-goal attempt against Cleveland.

Fantasy tip

Prescott has won his past 12 starts against the Giants. He threw for 404 yards and four touchdowns while running for another score in the 49-17 win in November. Prescott ranks fourth in wins (10) and fifth in both yards (4,031) and TD passes (27) in Thursday games.

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

JOSÉ RAMÍREZ HITS 3-RUN HOMER IN 8TH, PLAYOFF-BOUND GUARDIANS BEAT REDS 5-2

CLEVELAND (AP) — José Ramírez hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning after Cleveland pitchers retired the first 18 batters, lifting the AL Central champion Guardians to a 5-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday night.

Ramírez hit his 38th homer of the season, connecting against Emilio Pagán (4-5) with two outs to score Steven Kwan and Angel Martínez. The All-Star third baseman also doubled, tripled and scored twice. He has 115 RBIs.

Cleveland has wrapped up a first-round bye in the playoffs and remains in the hunt for the top seed in the AL, trailing the New York Yankees by a game with three remaining.

The Guardians used seven pitchers, with Hunter Gaddis (6-3) picking up the win and Emmanuel Clase loading the bases before getting his franchise-record 47th save. Clase tied St. Louis’ Ryan Helsley for the major league lead.

Cincinnati did not have a baserunner until TJ Friedl reached on a bunt single in the seventh that Tim Herrin could not field in time. Friedl came home on a throwing error by Andrés Giménez a batter later, pulling the Reds to 2-1.

Jake Fraley then scored on a mishandled single by center fielder Lane Thomas in the eighth — Cleveland’s third error in two innings — to even the score against Gaddis.

Andrew Walters pitched the first 1 2/3 innings for the Guardians, establishing a franchise mark with an eighth straight hitless appearance to begin his career. Erik Sabrowski, Cade Smith and Eli Morgan maintained the perfect game through the sixth.

Kwan led off the game with a home run after spending 11 days on the injured list because of mid-back inflammation. Josh Naylor added an RBI single in the fourth, also off Reds starter Jakob Junis, who went five innings.

Before the game, Guardians manager Stephen Vogt announced that right-hander Tanner Bibee and left-hander Matthew Boyd would make their next starts in the ALDS, bypassing their final regular-season outings.

Cleveland also will use multiple pitchers, rather than a traditional starter, Sunday against the Astros. Gavin Williams will be the bulk reliever in preparation for a possible move to the bullpen.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Reds: 2B Jonathan India (concussion protocol) was not in the lineup, one day after being struck on the helmet by Bibee’s pitch. India did pinch hit in the eighth and grounded into an inning-ending double play against Herrin.

Guardians: RHP Alex Cobb (right third finger blister) will throw several simulated games before the postseason, but remain on the IL until being moved onto the playoff roster. “Alex is healthy and getting built back up,” Vogt said.

UP NEXT

Reds: Cincinnati has not announced its starters for a three-game series against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Chicago RHP Jameson Taillon (11-8, 3.41 ERA) works the first game Friday.

Guardians: LHP Joey Cantillo (2-3, 4.63 ERA) was bumped back two days and will start Friday against Astros RHP Ronel Blanco (12-6, 2.88 ERA) in the opener of a three-game set.

ERICK FEDDE FANS 10 AS CARDINALS BEAT ROCKIES 5-2 FOR 4TH STRAIGHT WIN

DENVER (AP) — Iván Herrera had two hits and two runs scored, Masyn Winn tripled and doubled and Erick Fedde struck out 10 as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Colorado Rockies 5-2 on Wednesday night.

Pedro Pagés had two RBI singles and Thomas Saggese added a pair of hits for the Cardinals, who have won four straight and will try to complete a series sweep in Thursday’s finale.

Brenton Doyle homered leading off the bottom of the ninth against Matthew Liberatore, who was relieved by Ryan Helsley after issuing a one-out walk to Michael Toglia. Sam Hilliard then grounded into a game-ending double play for Helsley’s 48th save in 52 chances.

Aaron Schunk had an RBI single for the Rockies (60-98) who need to win three of their final four games to avoid their second straight 100-loss season. Colorado lost a franchise record 103 games last season. The Rockies close out the season with a weekend series against the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers.

Fedde (9-9) went seven innings and allowed one run on six hits, snapping a string of four consecutive losing decisions. His 10 strikeouts were one shy of the career high he set in a game against Minnesota on April 23 while with the Chicago White Sox. The Cardinals acquired him on July 29 as part of a three-team trade with the Dodgers and White Sox.

Austin Gomber, a former Cardinal, went five innings and allowed four runs on seven hits. Colorado acquired Gomber (5-12) along with four other players by sending Nolan Arenado to St. Louis in a February 2021 trade.

Saggese’s two-out double in the top of the second scored Herrera from second. In the third, Winn tripled and scored on Brendan Donovan’s sacrifice fly to put the Cardinals up 2-0.

The Rockies got on board with Schunk’s RBI single in the bottom of the third but the Cardinals answered with runs in the fourth and fifth on Pagés RBI single and Paul Goldschmidt’s sacrifice fly, which scored Winn after he doubled and moved to third on a groundout.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: LHP JoJo Romero, one of the team’s top pitchers in the bullpen, was placed on the 15-day injured list ahead of Wednesday’s game with left forearm inflammation. The move was retroactive to Sunday. RHP Chris Roycroft was recalled from Memphis (AAA) to fill Romero’s roster spot.

Rockies: RHP Ryan Feltner, who allowed two runs on six hits in six innings Tuesday night against St. Louis before being lifted due to forearm tightness, threw on the side Wednesday with no issues and is expected to start the Rockies’ final game of the season Sunday against the Dodgers. “He feels fine today,” manager Bud Black said. “In the daily pitchers’ throwing program, he felt fine. It was just one of those games last night, after the sixth, he felt a little bit of tightness in the forearm.”

UP NEXT

RHP Kyle Gibson (8-8, 4.13 ERA) is slated to start Thursday’s series finale for the Cardinals. He’ll be opposed by Colorado LHP Kyle Freeland (5-8, 4.95 ERA).

JUDGE HOMERS IN 4TH STRAIGHT BUT ORIOLES WIN 9-7 TO AGAIN PREVENT YANKEES FROM CLINCHING AL EAST

NEW YORK (AP) — Gunnar Henderson had three of Baltimore’s 12 hits in the first four innings, and the Orioles again prevented the New York Yankees from clinching the AL East title by holding on for a 9-7 victory Wednesday night despite another home run from Aaron Judge.

Colton Cowser drove in three runs for the playoff-bound Orioles, who tagged substitute starter Marcus Stroman (10-9) early and improved to 8-4 against New York with one matchup left in their season series.

Judge went deep for the fourth game in a row, connecting on his major league-leading 57th homer in a four-run ninth inning. The three-run shot off Matt Bowman upped Judge’s total to 142 RBIs, also most in the majors, and shaved New York’s deficit to 9-7.

Keegan Akin entered and retired the next two batters for his third career save and first this year.

Juan Soto also homered and knocked in three runs for New York, which could have wrapped up the AL East race with a victory over the Orioles either of the past two nights. Anthony Volpe had an RBI single.

Baltimore moved within four games of the Yankees in the division standings with four remaining. Cedric Mullins went 3 for 4 with a walk, three runs scored and two stolen bases.

Assured at least an American League wild card, the second-place Orioles secured their second consecutive trip to the postseason Tuesday night when their 5-3 win at Yankee Stadium was paired with Minnesota’s loss to Miami nine minutes later.

Baltimore enjoyed a booze-filled bash in the visitors’ clubhouse afterward, but it was the Yankees who appeared a little hungover Wednesday.

Stroman was a late replacement for injured left-hander Nestor Cortes and gave up six straight singles to begin the game — several of them not hit very hard — as the Orioles grabbed a 3-0 lead.

Rookie outfielder Jasson Domínguez overran Cowser’s two-run single, a flyball that fell in the left-field corner. Ryan Mountcastle followed with an RBI single.

Henderson’s two-run single with one out in the fourth chased Stroman from his first start since Sept. 10. He gave up 10 of Baltimore’s 17 hits and was charged with six runs.

Anthony Santander and Cowser added consecutive RBI doubles later in the inning.

Stroman had been moved to the bullpen for the final two weeks of the season because the Yankees had six healthy starters before Cortes went down. The veteran right-hander threw 64 pitches for a three-inning save Sept. 17 in Seattle.

Handed an 8-1 lead, Orioles starter Zach Eflin walked a career-high five and was pulled after 4 2/3 innings. Jacob Webb (2-5) retired Jazz Chisholm Jr. with the bases loaded to end the fifth and worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Orioles: RHP Grayson Rodriguez will miss the postseason because of right lat discomfort.

Yankees: Cortes had been scheduled to start, but he was scratched and placed on the 15-day injured list with a flexor strain in his pitching elbow. He and the Yankees are holding out hope he could return at some point in the postseason, but it didn’t sound likely.

UP NEXT

A matchup of Cy Young Award winners Thursday night, when Baltimore RHP Corbin Burnes (15-8, 2.95 ERA) faces Gerrit Cole (7-5, 3.67) to conclude the three-game series.

In his only previous start at Yankee Stadium, Burnes threw eight hitless innings for Milwaukee last September. The right-hander has a 1.08 ERA this month and will try to become the first Orioles pitcher to win 16 games in a season since Chris Tillman in 2016.

Cole went nine innings for the win last time out in Oakland, allowing one run and two hits with seven strikeouts.

CLASE HITS 1ST CAREER HR AS BLUE JAYS BEAT RED SOX 6-1, ELIMINATING BOSTON FROM WILD-CARD RACE

TORONTO (AP) — Jonatan Clase hit his first career home run, Kevin Gausman pitched six innings to win his final start of the season and the Toronto Blue Jays beat Boston 6-1 on Wednesday night, eliminating the Red Sox from postseason contention.

The Red Sox, who had won four in a row, needed to win their final four games and get help from opponents in the American League wild-card race.

Clase went 3 for 3 with a walk, scored twice and drove in two. He extended Toronto’s lead with a homer off Josh Winckowski in the seventh inning.

Alejandro Kirk, who extended his career-best hitting streak to 17 games, had three hits and three RBIs as the Blue Jays won for the first time in six games and avoided a three-game sweep. Boston had been 5-0 in Toronto this season.

The Blue Jays finished 21-31 against AL East opponents for the second straight year.

Gausman (14-11) allowed one run and four hits to win his second straight start. He walked three and struck out three. He ended his outing by retiring Nick Sogard on a fly ball with the bases loaded.

Red Sox right-hander Richard Fitts (0-1) came in having not allowed a run over 15 2/3 innings to start his big league career, and extended that streak to 18 2/3 before Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Kirk hit consecutive doubles to begin the fourth.

Guerrero finished 2 for 4 and has 197 hits this season.

Fitts was charged with four runs and six hits in five innings. He walked two and struck out two.

Kirk drove in two with a two-out single off the right field wall in the fifth, but Wilyer Abreu threw Kirk out trying to advance to second.

The Red Sox finished their road schedule at 43-38.

ROSTER MOVES

Blue Jays: Toronto recalled RHP Brett de Geus from Triple-A Buffalo and optioned RHP Tommy Nance to the spring training facility.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Blue Jays: SS Bo Bichette was scheduled to have surgery Wednesday on his fractured right middle finger.

UP NEXT

Red Sox: Boston returns home Friday to wrap up its season with a three-game series against Tampa Bay.

Blue Jays: Toronto closes out the season by hosting Miami in a three-game series starting Friday.

TORKELSON HELPS TIGERS MOVE CLOSER TO POSTSEASON WITH WIN OVER RAYS

DETROIT (AP) — Parker Meadows and Spencer Torkelson homered, and the Detroit Tigers strengthened their bid for an AL wild card with a 7-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night.

Detroit moved 10 games over .500 with its fourth consecutive victory. It is tied with Kansas City (84-74) for second in the wild-card standings behind Baltimore.

The Tigers play the Rays on Thursday before finishing the season with three home games against the lowly Chicago White Sox.

“It is hard to put this into words — it is awesome,” said Torkelson, who drove in three runs. “It has been an incredible couple of weeks.”

Detroit is 29-11 since Aug. 10, thanks to ace Tarik Skubal, one of the favorites for the AL Cy Young Award, and a cast of young pitchers.

After Skubal tossed seven scoreless innings in Tuesday’s 2-1 win, rookie Keider Montero pitched 2 2/3 innings of one-run ball before five relievers combined for 6 1/3 scoreless innings.

“You have to pick your poison against that team,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “You either have to face Tarik Skubal or go up against all the ways they can match up against you. That bullpen has been a huge part of what they’ve done.”

Jackson Jobe, Detroit’s best pitching prospect, worked the ninth in his major league debut. He retired Richie Palacios for the final out with the crowd of 32,000 chanting his name.

“I don’t know how many people get welcomed to a major league stadium quite like that,” Hinch said. “It was pretty incredible.”

Tampa Bay right-hander Zach Littell (8-10) came into the game with a 20-inning scoreless streak, but he allowed two runs in the first. He went 4 2/3 innings, giving up three runs and seven hits.

The Rays (78-80) were eliminated from postseason contention. They need to win their last four to finish with a winning record.

“This isn’t what we wanted from this year, but we are where we performed,” Cash said. “A winning season is the standard set by a lot of players in our clubhouse, and they want to finish strong.”

After Montero escaped a jam in the top of the first, Meadows hit Littell’s second pitch for his ninth home run. After two hard-hit outs, Riley Greene doubled and scored on Wenceel Perez’s base hit.

“We knew it is a nine-inning game, but there’s something different about having the early lead at this time of year,” Hinch said. “We escape the first inning, which was a lot of deal with, and then Parker hits the homer.”

The Rays left the bases loaded in the second, but Junior Caminero made it 2-1 with his fifth homer in the third.

Greene responded with an RBI single in the bottom of the inning.

The Rays put two runners on in the sixth, but Tyler Holton came out of the bullpen to strike out pinch-hitter Dylan Carson.

Torkleson connected for a two-run homer against Manuel Rodríguez in the sixth. He also hit an RBI double off Drew Rasmussen in a two-run eighth.

“This is a great time to be a Detroit Tiger,” Jobe said.

UP NEXT

The teams finish the three-game series on Thursday. Former Tigers RHP Tyler Alexander (6-5, 5.35 ERA) will face Detroit RHP Reese Olson (4-8, 3.49 ERA).

WNBA PLAYOFFS

ALYSSA THOMAS HELPS THE CONNECTICUT SUN ELIMINATE CAITLIN CLARK AND THE INDIANA FEVER FROM PLAYOFFS

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) Alyssa Thomas and the Connecticut Sun were happy to finally close out an opening round series at home in two games.

Thomas had 19 points and 13 assists to help the Sun sweep Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever out of the playoffs with an 87-81 win Wednesday night.

Since the league changed its playoff format in 2022 the Sun have needed to win a decisive third game on the road in the first round to advance, which they did both years. This time were able to do it at home.

“Finally locked in and took advantage of homecourt advantage,” said Thomas, who had a triple-double in the Game 1 win. “We’re ready. Tested tonight and it wasn’t pretty, but that’s the nature of playoffs. We pulled out a gutsy win. We’re hungry and ready. … We’re ready for what the playoff journey is going to unfold.”

The third-seeded Sun will now face Minnesota in the semifinals which begin Sunday.

Clark played much better in Game 2 than she did in her postseason debut Sunday. The AP Rookie of the Year finished with 25 points and nine assists, but it wasn’t enough.

“Obviously it’s a tough one, especially as we climbed all the way back in and just to have our opportunities late,” Clark said.

Aliyah Boston added 16 points and 19 rebounds. Her layup with 2:05 left gave Indiana a 77-75 advantage but DeWanna Bonner, who was playing in her WNBA record matching 82nd playoff game to match Lindsay Whalen, answered with a 3-pointer 14 seconds later.

Neither team scored on their next few possessions until Marina Mabrey hit a 3-pointer from the wing with 45.5 seconds left to give the Sun an 81-77 lead.

Kelsey Mitchell missed a 3 on the Fever’s next possession and the Sun sealed the game from the foul line.

Trailing by seven at the half, the Fever scored the first seven points of the third quarter to tie the game up. The teams traded baskets until Lexie Hull’s layup gave the Fever a 48-47 lead midway through the period.

It was short lived as Thomas took over, scoring 10 points during a 14-4 run to close the quarter.

Clark brought the Fever back with her 3-pointer giving the team a 71-70 lead with 3:59 left and the teams traded baskets until Bonner’s 3.

Indiana got off to a fast start and was up 14-6 before the Sun scored the final 11 points of the first quarter to go up by three. With 1:29 left in the quarter after a foul, Clark pointed out a fan sitting in the second row to an official, who called security over and had the individual escorted to the back. The fan returned later and there were no further incidents.

The run continued to start the second as Connecticut went up 26-16 on Carrington’s layup with 7:32 left in the half. The Sun led 41-34 at the half. Carrington was honored before the game as the league’s Most Improved Player.

On the last play of the half, Erica Wheeler went in for a layup trying to beat the buzzer and went flying into the courtside photographers. She was down for a few minutes before getting up and walking back to the locker room. She had her left thumb looked at and didn’t return in the second half.

Clark finished the half with 14 points, four rebounds and four assists.

The Sun were missing starting guard Tyasha Harris, who injured her ankle in Sunday’s win. Mabrey started in her place.

NAPHEESA COLLIER SCORES 42 TO TIE A WNBA PLAYOFF RECORD FOR POINTS, AND THE LYNX SWEPT THE MERCURY

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Napheesa Collier scored 42 to tie a WNBA playoff record for points in a game, and the Minnesota Lynx swept the Phoenix Mercury 101-88 on Wednesday night.

Collier tied Breanna Stewart and Angel McCoughtry for the 42-point record when she made 1 of 2 free throws with 3:18 left in the fourth quarter. It was one of just two misses from the free-throw line in 14 attempts for Collier, who was subbed out with 58.3 seconds left.

Collier, who scored a career-high 38 points in Game 1, became the first player in WNBA history with 38-plus points in back-to-back playoff games. She also set a WNBA record for the most points (80) over a two-game stretch in the playoffs. Collier reached 38 points in Game 2 with 5:55 left in the fourth.

Minnesota plays Sunday against Connecticut, which advanced to its sixth consecutive semifinals after an 87-81 victory over Indiana earlier Wednesday.

Kayla McBride added 15 points, and Bridget Carleton and Alanna Smith each scored 12 for Minnesota. Courtney Williams had 11 points.

Brittney Griner scored 24 points for Phoenix and Diana Taurasi finished with 10 before fouling out with 2:34 left. Taurasi left to a standing ovation from the Minnesota crowd before Collier came over to the Mercury bench for a brief handshake with her fellow UConn star.

Taurasi hasn’t announced whether this is her final year in the WNBA, but the Phoenix Mercury honored her at their final home regular-season game.

Collier scored 11 of Minnesota’s 21 first-quarter points after making 5 of 6 shots. Collier finished the half with 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting to help Minnesota take a 49-47 lead into the intermission. The rest of her teammates combined to make 10 of 26.

The officials reviewed a physical play in the third quarter involving Carleton and Phoenix guard Sophie Cunningham, who was assessed a Flagrant 1 foul after the review. Williams was also given a technical foul. After it was all settled, McBride sank a wide open 3-pointer to give Minnesota a 58-53 lead.

Williams gave Minnesota its first double-digit lead of the second half at 72-60 with 2:17 left in the third quarter. The Lynx led by double digits the entire fourth quarter.

Minnesota improved to 5-1 against the Mercury this season.

It was Collier’s third straight playoff game overall with 30 points, tying the A’ja Wilson for the longest streak in WNBA history, after scoring 31 points in a Game 3 loss to Connecticut last season.

TOP INDIANA SPORTS HEADLINES/NEWS RELEASES

INDIANA BOYS BASKETBALL

HARALSON CHOOSES NOTRE DAME

Notre Dame received good news again on Wednesday when former Hamilton Southeastern forward and five-star prospect Jalen Haralson choose the Fighting Irish over Indiana and Michigan State to play college basketball. Haralson transferred to La Lumiere before his senior season. Cathedral’s Brady Koehler committed to Notre Dame Monday. Haralson was part of the USA Basketball U17 National Team that took gold in July in Istanbul. Haralson averaged 11.1 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists for the USA team.

INDIANA FEVER

GAME RECAP: FEVER SEASON ENDS IN GAME 2 LOSS AT SUN

UNCASVILLE, CONN. – The 2024 season came to a close for the Indiana Fever on Wednesday night in Game 2 of its first round postseason series against the Connecticut Sun following a narrow, 87-81, loss at Mohegan Sun Arena. The Fever battled from an 11-point deficit to take the lead, 77-75, late in the fourth quarter, but Connecticut closed the door with a 12-4 run to decide the series.

Three Fever players scored in double figures in the loss, led by rookie guard Caitlin Clark tying the most points ever scored by a rookie in any Game 2 of a playoff series with a game-high 25 points, per Elias Sports Bureau. Clark also ended with nine assists, six rebounds, one block and one steal. Fever center Aliyah Boston tallied 16 points on 7-of-12 field goal shooting, a career-best 19 rebounds, 11 of which came from the first half, three assists, two blocks and one steal. Boston’s 11 rebounds in the first half tied the franchise record for the most rebounds in a half in a playoff game.

Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell followed with 17 points, three rebounds and three assists. Fever forward Temi Fagbenle earned her first career postseason start on Wednesday and nearly ended with a double-double, notching nine points, nine rebounds, three assists and one steal. In her second career postseason start, guard Lexie Hull finished with eight points, three rebounds, one assist and one steal.

Clark opened the night with a made 3-point field goal as Indiana went on a 14-6 run for more than six minutes in the first quarter and limited Connecticut to only 1-of-13 field goal shooting to begin the game. Indiana trailed by as much as 10 in the second quarter, but only trailed, 41-34, at halftime. Indiana went on a quick 7-0 run to open the second half and a made layup by Boston evened the score, 41-41. The Fever took a brief lead, 48-47, with five minutes left in the third quarter, but another Connecticut run to close the interval gave the Sun a 61-52 lead going into the last quarter. Indiana went on a 14-5 run and held a 77-75 lead with two minutes remaining in the game before Connecticut ultimately sealed the victory.

Indiana outscored Connecticut in paint points, 48-40, fast break points, 19-9, and outrebounded the Sun, 43-29.

Connecticut’s win on Wednesday advances the Sun to the semifinal round and awaits the winner of the first round series between the Minnesota Lynx and Phoenix Mercury. Five Sun players scored in double figures on Wednesday, led by forward Alyssa Thomas’s 19-point, 13-assist double-double. Thomas owns the record for the most point and assist double-doubles in WNBA playoff history. Sun guard Marina Mabrey got her first postseason start with Connecticut on Wednesday in place of Tyasha Harris, who suffered an ankle injury in Game 1. Mabrey finished with 17 points, six assists, four of which came from the third quarter, two rebounds and two blocks. Sun forward DeWanna Bonner played her 82nd playoff game on Wednesday, tying her with Lindsay Whalen for first place on the WNBA’s all-time postseason games played list. Bonner capped her night with 15 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals, to pass Teresa Weatherspoon for 11th on the WNBA all-time playoffs assists list with 187. The Sun outscored the Fever in bench points, 18-6, aided by guard Veronica Burton’s 10 points.

INDIANA VOLLEYBALL

VOLLEYBALL CENTRAL: WASHINGTON AND OREGON

BLOOMINGTON, Ind.  –  A 20-game, 10-week conference grind begins this week in the deepest and most talented volleyball league in the country. The Big Ten begins its conference slate on Wednesday evening with two national television contests. The remaining 14 teams will open play on Friday.

Four nationally relevant programs from the west coast highlight a new era of Big Ten volleyball. The Indiana Volleyball team (7-3, 0-0 B1G) will get an early welcome to two of those teams as it heads to the Pacific Northwest to play (RV) Washington on Friday (Sept. 27) and #11 Oregon on Saturday (Sept. 28).

IU finished the non-conference slate with a 7-3 record, capping off the opening four weeks with a 3-1 win over Notre Dame at Wilkinson Hall. The Hoosiers are unblemished at home this year (5-0) and have combined to go 17-6 in the non-conference over the past two seasons. Each of those seasons has featured a win over an ACC program.

Junior outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles had an outstanding weekend for IU against Notre Dame. She combined for 31 kills in two matches (4.43 per set) including a season best 17 kills on Friday in South Bend. The Spaniard was efficient in serve receive on Sunday. She was targeted 29 times and committed zero errors.

The Hoosiers have enjoyed a great run of form in conference play over the past two seasons. Their 20 combined wins in 2022 and 2023 are the most in consecutive seasons this century. Senior setter Camryn Haworth has started all 40 conference games the last two years, winning half of them.

IU played with as much intensity as it has all year in Sunday’s win against the Fighting Irish. The Hoosiers recorded 55 digs (second most this year) and matched a season best mark of 13 total team blocks. IU has blocked 10+ balls in three-consecutive games for the first time since 2021.

Friday night’s game in Seattle will be the first trip to the campus of Washington for IU. The two teams played for the first time ever last year in Long Beach, with the Huskies sweeping a tight early-season matchup. IU has never played Oregon in women’s volleyball.

Head coach Steve Aird has history in Seattle prior to his time with the Hoosiers. As a first-year head coach, he took his Maryland program to Seattle in 2014 to face No. 5 Washington. He also won a national title in Seattle with Penn State in 2013 against Wisconsin.

Gameday Info
at (RV) Washington (Friday, September 27th – 10:00 PM ET)
Live Video: t.ly/jHA9S
Live Stats: t.ly/DC3eJ

at #11 Oregon (Saturday, September 28th – 8:30 PM ET)
Live Video: t.ly/E_wtE
Live Stats: t.ly/2ASho

Stat Notes
• Of Big Ten players hitting above .350 this season, junior opposite hitter Avry Tatum is averaging the most kills (3.26 per set) in the conference. She is the only player with 100+ kills and a hitting percentage above .350 in the entire league.

• In the last two waves of Big Ten realignment, the Hoosiers have been the first home league game for two different schools. In 2014, Maryland, and then Terrapin head coach Steve Aird, hosted IU in its first ever Big Ten home game. In 2024, Washington will do the same.

Notable
Welcome to the West Coast
• In the era of conference realignment in college athletics, the Big Ten has gone through multiple waves of additions to the league. The latest features four west coast programs, all with great historical success in women’s volleyball.

• IU opens Big Ten play with conference newcomers Washington and Oregon on their home courts. Two teams that have both been in the Final Four in the last 15 years, the Huskies and Ducks have a combined 18-1 record. IU has never played Oregon in volleyball and will play Washington for just the second time ever (L, 0-3 in 2023).

Junior Heavy Hitters
• The Hoosiers expected to get breakout offensive seasons from juniors Candela Alonso-Corcelles and Avry Tatum and have been rewarded for their belief. The duo has combined for 247 kills, over half of IU’s offense this season.

• Tatum had the brightest moment of the year with a 25-kill effort in a win over Ball State. Alonso-Corcelles gets the heavy load, accounting for the most attempts (351) on the team while also playing the full six rotations. Among Big Ten players hitting above .350, Tatum has the most kills per set (3.26) in the conference.

Morris Returns
• IU associate head coach and recruiting coordinator Rachel Morris will make a return to Oregon on Saturday evening after graduating with a degree in sociology in 2010. She played volleyball for two seasons and remains connected with the alumni to this day.

Best Stretch of Big Ten Play
• The Hoosiers are enjoying their best run of success in Big Ten play since the turn of the century. Over the past two years, IU has won 20 conference games – the most in a two-year span since 1999-2000.

• IU hasn’t won nine-plus games in three-straight seasons since 1998-2000. In the 50 years of being a varsity sport, the Hoosiers have never won 10+ league games in consecutive seasons. Last year, the Hoosiers won 11 contests in Big Ten play.

Chasing Career Marks
• Senior setter Camryn Haworth passed the 3,000-assist threshold – the 8th in program history to do so – in the contest at No. 1 Texas this year. She is now chasing 4,000 assists and is closing to moving into the top five in IU’s history books.

• Along the way, Haworth is hoping to pass the all-time aces mark of 197. She’s got 183 for her career, needing just 15 in 20 remaining regular season matches. She sits fifth among all Big Ten players in aces since the beginning of the 25-point rally era (2008-Present).

• Fellow senior Mady Saris is looking to become the 20th member of the 1,000-kill club at Indiana. She has 957 for her career, just 43 away from reaching the threshold. Breana Edwards (2018-21) is the only other player under head coach Steve Aird to hit the mark.

Scouting the Opponent
Washington (10-0, 0-0 B1G)
• Big Ten newcomers Washington are the last undefeated program in the conference this season, taking an unblemished 10-0 record into Friday night. The Huskies will open their tenure in the league by hosting Indiana on Friday and Illinois on Saturday.

• Washington had made 21-straight NCAA Tournament appearances before last year. In her first season as head coach, Leslie Gabriel dealt with injuries and a depleted roster but finished the campaign above .500 (16-15). The Huskies haven’t had a losing season since 2001 and are well on their way to extending that streak.

• Maddi Endsley has been the de facto leader of the offense. She averages 2.62 kills per set and leads the program with 102 kills on the season. Kierstyn Barton has been phenomenal for the Huskies this year but sat out both games last weekend in California.

• Canadian opposite Emoni Bush made her return to the court this year after sitting out 2023 through injury. She’s a national team teammate of IU senior outside hitter Mady Saris. The two played together at the NORCECA Women’s Final Six Pan Am Cup this summer in the Dominican Republic.

• Washington runs a 6-2 system with Molly Wilson and Alexis Haury doing the setting. Freshman middle blocker Julia Hunt has been impressive, averaging 2.10 kills per set and 1.33 blocks per set in the early portion of the year. Lauren Bays is the libero in Seattle.

Oregon (8-1, 0-0 B1G)
• Like Washington, Oregon will play its debut weekend in the Big Ten with visits from Illinois and Indiana respectively. Head coach Matt Ulmer is in his eighth season and picked up his 150th career win on Sunday with the Ducks. He has led Oregon to back-to-back appearances in the regional finals.

• A completely rebuilt starting lineup is anchored by 2022 AVCA National Freshman of the Year, Mimi Colyer. The 6-3 outside hitter has over 1,100 kills in her career including 533 as a freshman two seasons ago. Opposite hitter Noemie Glover (2.34 kills per set) and middle blocker Onye Ofoegbu (2.59 kills per set) are additional options offensively.

• Cristin Cline is running her offense for the first time in her career. She’s third in the Big Ten with 10.76 assists per set. Daley McClellan leads the team with 3.22 digs per set. Kansas State transfer Mackenzie Morris averages 2.13 digs per set. The Ducks are top three in the Big Ten in blocks.

Inside the Series
Washington
• The two teams played for the first time last year when Washington was a member of the Pac-12. The Huskies swept a tight match in Long Beach, Calif., gaining the advantage with 13 blocks in just three sets. IU setter Camryn Haworth had 32 assists, 6 kills, 3 blocks, 5 digs and 3 aces.

INDIANA WOMEN’S SOCCER

MATCH CENTRAL: INDIANA VS OREGON, WASHINGTON

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Hoosiers (5-3-1, 0-3 B1G) are ready for a B1G west coast tour against the newly added Big Ten teams in Oregon and Washington.

Indiana will head to Eugene, Ore., on Thursday (9/26) at 10 p.m. ET.  Next, IU will travel to Washington on Sunday (9/29) to face the Huskies at 4 p.m. ET. Both matches will be streamed on B1G+.

ABOUT THE DUCKS

Oregon (5-5, 1-2 B1G) split two conference matches last week. The Ducks saw a 3-0 loss in their first match of the road trip before defeating Maryland 2-0 on Sunday. As a team, Oregon has scored 13 goals on 15 assists and averages 1.30 goals per game, 13.1 shots per game and holds a .435 shots on goal percentage. Oregon has saw seven goal scorers with senior midfielder Haley McWhirter, sophomore forward Cameron Bourne and redshirt-senior forward Taylor Bryan leading with three a piece. Between the pipes, redshirt junior goalkeeper Maddy Goldberg has started in all 10 matches and posts a 1.60 GAA with 43 saves and a .729 save percentage.

ABOUT THE HUSKIES

Washington (4-3-2, 1-2 B1G) is coming off a B1G east coast tour. The Huskies won their first match 3-0 behind a brace from sophomore forward Samiah Shell. UW dropped their second match on Sunday at Rutgers, 1-0, after the Scarlet Knights scored an early goal in the fourth minute. Shell leads the team with four goals on the season and holds a .615 shots on goal percentage. In goal, junior goalkeeper Mia Hamant holds a .55 goals against average with 23 saves and .885 save percentage.

LAST TIME OUT

Indiana suffered a 2-0 loss to No. 25 USC behind two second-half goals. Freshman forward Layla Sirdah led the team with four shots. After battling through the first 30 minutes of the match, Sirdah saw the first shot on goal for either team in the 37th minute but her try would be saved by the keeper. The Trojans had the upper hand for most of the second half, as they saw a couple of shots on frame before finding the net in the 63rd and 67th minutes. With a little over 20 minutes on the clock, Sirdah saw another shot in the 72nd minute before sophomore midfielder Kenendy Neighbors saw her first open look in the 88th minute.

ABOUT THE HOOSIERS

• IU has scored 24 goals on 22 assists this season, averaging 2.67 goals per game with 16.8 shots a game.

• 13 different Hoosiers have scored and/or recorded an assist this season.

• Senior goalkeeper Jamie Gerstenberg has five victories and four shutouts on the season. In her career, Gerstenberg has started in 59 matches, tallied 29 shutouts and made 167 saves.

B1G LEADERS

• IU ranks third in goals (24), tied third in assists (22) and holds the fifth highest shots on goal percentage (.477). • Sirdah is tied second in assists (5) and third in points (17) this season. 

PURDUE VOLLEYBALL

#10 PURDUE FALLS TO #4 PENN STATE IN BIG TEN OPENER

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – In the Big Ten season-opener, the No. 10 Purdue Boilermakers (9-3, 0-1 Big Ten) fell in straight sets to No. 4 Penn State (11-1, 1-0 Big Ten), 14-25, 21-25, 20-25.

A strong Penn State team hit .369% in the match while Purdue was held to .176 on the night, the lowest hitting % of the season for the Boilermakers while setting an opponent-high.

The Boilermakers were led by Chloe Chicoine’s double-double with 10 kills and 11 digs. Meanwhile, Eva Hudson produced just one attack error and a .375 hitting % on seven kills through the first two sets ended the night with 10 kills, five digs.

Middles Lourdes Myers and Raven Colvin led the team’s attack % with an errorless .429 (3-0-7) and .308% (6-2-13), respectively.

Setter Taylor Anderson notched 29 assists, two digs and a block assist in the match.

Purdue will return to action Saturday night at No. 16 Minnesota. The match will air live on Big Ten Network at 6:30 p.m. ET.

PURDUE WOMEN’S SOCCER

BOILERMAKERS FLY OUT FOR PACIFIC NORTHWEST TRIP

GAMEDAY INFORMATION

Purdue (5-4-1, 1-2-0 Big Ten) at Washington (4-3-2, 1-2 Big Ten)

Thursday, Sept. 26 at 10 p.m. ET / Stream B1G+

Husky Soccer Stadium / Seattle, Washington

Purdue at Oregon (5-5, 1-2 Big Ten)

Sunday, Sept. 29 at 4 p.m. ET / Stream B1G+

Papé Field / Eugene, Oregon

SERIES HISTORY

All-Time vs. Washington: Tied 1-1

All-Time in Seattle: Purdue Leads 1-0

Last Meeting: Washington 1, Purdue 0 (September 2008 in West Lafayette)

Previous Meeting in Seattle: #22 Purdue 3, Washington 1 (September 2007)

All-Time vs. Oregon: Purdue Leads 2-0

All-Time in Eugene: Purdue Leads 1-0

Last Meeting: #25 Purdue 3, Oregon 0 (August 2008 in Eugene)

First Meeting: #15 Purdue 3, Oregon 2 (September 2007 in West Lafayette)

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue Soccer’s stretch of four consecutive games vs. the Big Ten’s new West Coast contingent concludes with the Boilermakers’ first road trip to the Pacific Northwest since 2008, closing out the month of September with games at Washington and Oregon.

Thursday’s kickoff vs. the Huskies in Seattle is slated for 10 p.m. ET. Sunday’s kickoff vs. the Ducks in Eugene is set for 4 p.m. ET.

Purdue has not played consecutive games in the Pacific Time Zone since a 2010 trip to Southern California for Cal State Fullerton’s tournament. But West Coast road trips were a regular thing for the program from 2001 to 2010, with the Boilermakers playing 11 games out west during those years and visiting the Pacific Time Zone for four consecutive seasons from 2007 to 2010.

Purdue’s 2007 team set program records for victories (20), goals scored (65) and shutouts (14) on its way to hosting first and second round games in the NCAA Tournament. Victories against Washington and No. 1-ranked Portland at UW’s Husky/Nike Invitational early that season helped elevate the Boilermakers into the nation’s elite.

Seventeen years later, Purdue and Indiana become the Big Ten’s first Midwest-based teams to visit the Pacific Northwest for conference play. UCLA and USC also host Minnesota and Wisconsin this weekend after the four West Coast schools came east last weekend. In fact, Oregon and Washington went all the way to the East Coast and both split games at Maryland and Rutgers, each earning their first Big Ten wins in the process.

Purdue is 3-0 all-time in the state of Oregon thanks to a 2008 victory in Eugene and sweeping an Oregon State-Portland State road trip in the program’s fourth year of action back in 2001.

Goalkeeper Emily Edwards has accounted for 20 saves over the last four games. Her streak of conceding no more than one goal ended at six consecutive games Sunday when UCLA scored a pair of highlight-reel markers in a span of two minutes and 38 seconds. The second half vs. Butler marked the only other time this season the Boilermakers had surrendered multiple goals in a 45-minute stanza.

Washington is tied for fourth in the Big Ten with just five goals against (one in the second half) over nine games, conceding only two in September – both coming in 1-0 losses. The Huskies rotated two different goalkeepers early but Olivia Juarez was in net for both games of the East Coast road trip.

Oregon has posted four of its five wins at home, three coming in shutout fashion. The Ducks also kept UCLA off the scoreboard until the 80th minute in their Sept. 14 Big Ten opener in Eugene before the Bruins scored twice in just under four minutes to steal a 2-1 result.

PURDUE SOFTBALL

BIG TEN ANNOUNCES CONFERENCE SOFTBALL SLATE

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Big Ten released the 2025 conference softball schedule, which will feature three home weekends for Purdue, including the Big Ten home opener slated for Friday, April 4 vs. Minnesota.

With Oregon, UCLA and Washington’s softball programs joining the league, the schedule breakdown includes one bye week, three true away opponents (at UCLA, at Nebraska and at Ohio State), three true home opponents (Minnesota, Illinois and Indiana) and two neutral site opponents (Wisconsin and Maryland). For the neutral site games, the teams will compete in a two-game series as opposed to the standard three in back-to-back fashion.

The Big Ten season will begin for the Boilermakers out west at UCLA from March 13-16. From there, Purdue will travel to Oklahoma City to play just four days later at the home of USA Softball and the NCAA Women’s Softball World Series’ Devon Park. There, Purdue will take on Wisconsin (March 20-21) and Maryland (March 22-23).

Following the trip to Oklahoma City, Purdue will play at Nebraska from March 28-30. Then, The Boilermakers will return to Bittinger Stadium for a series vs. Minnesota (April 4-6). Following the home series, Purdue will have a bye week before continuing its homestand vs. Illinois (April 18-20). Then, Purdue will travel to Ohio State for the penultimate weekend of the regular season (April 25-27).

Purdue will close the regular season at home against Indiana (May 2-4), marking the first time since 2014 the rivals will meet in a weekend series (previously doubleheaders or single-game showdowns for the last ten years).

Purdue will host the Big Ten Softball Tournament at Bittinger Stadium next May. The tournament is scheduled to run Wednesday, May 7 through Saturday, May 10. More information regarding the tournament, along with Purdue’s non-conference schedule will be released at a later date.

The Purdue softball squad is coming off a record-setting season under first-year head coach Magali Frezzotti, setting the program record for longest Big Ten game winning streak (seven). Not only that, but their 18 triples led the Big Ten, ranked seventh in the nation and tied the Purdue record, all while being one of the fastest teams in recent history.

Coach Frezzotti returns nearly its entire roster, including Big Ten All-Defensive Team honoree and four Distinguished Scholars. The team has begun an eight-game Fall Ball slate at Bittinger Stadium over the next month, with a 10-innging game vs. Illinois State on the docket to start at 2 p.m. ET.

Admission is free for all Fall Ball, non-conference and Big Ten regular-season games at Bittinger Stadium.

NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL

NO. 16 NOTRE DAME WILL LEAN ON A STIFLING DEFENSE AGAINST HIGH-SCORING NO. 15 LOUISVILLE

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — On a sweltering, sun-drenched day last weekend, Miami (Ohio) turned up the heat on Notre Dame.

The home fans watched restlessly as the RedHawks threatened to score twice in the first half, rekindling memories from two weeks earlier when the Fighting Irish suffered an embarrassing 16-14 loss to another Mid-American Conference school, Northern Illinois.

Then Notre Dame’s stifling defense turned the game. Christian Gray broke up a pass that Junior Tuihalamaka intercepted at the Notre Dame 4, the Irish forced a turnover on downs on the next series and freshman Boubacar Traore closed out the first half with two sacks, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble.

That’s exactly what No. 16 Notre Dame needed last weekend, and it could serve as a blueprint for how the Irish get back into playoff contention.

“We had to make some schematic tweaks, but you have to be committed to the things you felt were sound,” coach Marcus Freeman said. “I think that’s what you’re seeing right now. In our red zone defense, there’s a belief, a mindset, ‘put the ball down, we’re right where we want to be.’ Coach (Al) Golden says all the time, ‘put the ball down, we’re exactly where we want to be.’ It’s a mentality our defense has and they showed it out there Saturday.”

It shouldn’t come as a surprise.

Freeman, like Golden, spent most of his coaching career working the defense before ascending to coordinator and eventually becoming a head coach.

And with three preseason All-Americans — defensive tackle Howard Cross II, safety Xavier Watts and cornerback Benjamin Morrison — the natural expectation was Notre Dame would be reliant on a unit capable of shutting down any opponent.

Golden hasn’t played it entirely by the book, but his modifications have worked.

Notre Dame’s defense enters Saturday’s contest against No. 15 Louisville ranked sixth in pass efficiency (79.13), eighth in interceptions (six), 10th in scoring (9.8 points) and 16th in total yards allowed (256.2) all while limiting Purdue and Miami to a combined 3 of 24 on third down.

The Irish have played so well, it’s gotten the attention of the creatively-minded Louisville coach, Jeff Brohm. His unbeaten team ranks 12th in the FBS in scoring (47.3 points per game) with wins over Austin Peay, Jacksonville State and Georgia Tech.

Saturday’s game at Notre Dame (3-1) poses a much bigger test.

“They get after the quarterback and hit him a lot,” said Brohm, whose team has no turnovers this season. “So, we’ll have to play well, and we’ll have to be sharp in all aspects.”

What else stands out? Notre Dame’s aggressiveness.

Watts led the nation last season with seven interceptions and was named the Bronko Nagurski Award winner as the FBS’ best defensive player. He’s a perfect fit in Golden’s system, recording 16 tackles, one forced fumble, one interception this year and he has a whole lot of faith this defense will work.

“We trust our coaches,” Watts said. “We trust what they are coaching us to do. We trust what they want us to do, and we’re just out there playing fast. That’s what it comes down to, having a mindset, that dog dominant mindset.”

It showed up last week when they held Miami to just a lone first-half field goal, long enough for Notre Dame’s wobbly offense to find its footing. Notre Dame scored two touchdowns in the final 3:33 of the first half and went on to win 28-3.

Freeman saw it as a prescient moment.

“I often say the delayed gratification is patience plus strategy, right?” he said. “It’s not just patience. We just can’t keep doing the same thing and expect it’s going to get better over time. That’s what I call waiting, you know?”

Golden, meanwhile, sees something else. He urges Notre Dame to relentlessly swarm the ball, putting opponents in tough spots while giving the Irish the fortitude to come up with big plays at key moments — as Miami found out the hard way.

“We always look at it like, doesn’t matter how it got there,” Golden said. “(The red zone is) a different area of the field, and you have to have urgency. You have to have a completely different mindset than every other spot on the field. So, for our guys, we just flip the switch and go to work down there.”

NOTRE DAME WOMEN’S SOCCER

IRISH WEAR GREEN GAME

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The No. 13 Notre Dame women’s soccer team returns home on Thursday, Sept. 26, for another ACC clash. The Fighting Irish (7-1-1, 1-0-1) will host the NC State Wolfpack (3-6-1, 0-2-0) inside Purcell Pavilion at 7 p.m. ET. The match will be streamed online on ACCNX.

Thursday night will be the program’s annual Irish Wear Green game, encouraging all ND fans to proudly don their best green gear and turn the Alumni Stadium bleachers green. Green pom poms will be given away while supplies last.

In addition, come celebrate Hispanic Heritage Night with us and enjoy a live Mariachi Band performance during halftime. The marketing department will also give students two free tacos, while supplies last.

PREVIOUSLY ON …

Notre Dame is coming off a momentous 1-0 victory over then ranked No. 14 Virginia. Road contests are never easy in the ACC, especially in Charlottesville. With this year’s win, the Irish have now knocked off the Cavaliers in back-to-back meetings for the first time in program history. It also marked their second-ever win in Charlottesville.

Notre Dame was boosted by the returns of its Canadian duo Clare Logan and Annabelle Chukwu, who were both difference-makers last Sunday. Chukwu netted the game-winner in the 47th minute, while Logan helped secure the team’s seventh shutout of the season.

NC STATE SERIES

The Irish look to keep the momentum rolling when they return home to Alumni Stadium for another one-match week. This time, it’ll be the Wolfpack of NC State, who enter with a 3-6-1 overall record. NC State is 0-2 in ACC play with losses to California and Stanford.

Knock on wood, but the  Irish have never lost at home to the Wolfpack, owning a 5-0 record. Overall, Notre Dame is 9-3 against NC State and has won five straight in the series.

The two sides met last season in Raleigh where the Irish earned a 1-0 victory. Leah Klenke netted the game-winner.

THE REINFORCEMENTS ARE HERE

Notre Dame lost three starters to the U20 World Cup and now all three are back in the fold for this week’s matchup.

The Canadian duo of Annabelle Chukwu and Clare Logan were back for the Virginia game, were immediately thrusted into the starting lineup. Leah Klenke returns to South Bend after earning a bronze medal with the U20 USA squad.

Klenke was named as one of the top returning players in the league and earned a 2024 Preseason All-ACC spot.  In 2023, she was a Second Team All-ACC selection. In Top Drawer Soccer’s Top 100 player list, Klenke checked in at No. 18 while Logan came in at No. 51.

ELLIE HODSDEN – THE COMEBACK STORY

Several freshmen have dominated the season storylines for the Irish thus far and yet another star has emerged in Ellie Hodsden. The Texas native missed the first several games due to working herself back into game shape, wrapping up a year-long return from an ACL injury.

It’s been a long road and certainly an emotional journey back for Hodsden. Within a couple of weeks of each other in 2023, Hodsden tore her ACL and then lost her sister in a vehicular accident while she was serving overseas. When she played in her first Notre Dame game and scored against Marquette, the emotions overcame her in the post-game locker room.

Hodsden played hero at Boston College, recording a brace to rally the Irish down 2-0 for the 2-2 tie. Her game-tying goal came via header in the 88th minute.

Hodsden has three goals in 64 minutes of action, which means she’s finding the back of the net every 21.3 minutes.

ELECTRIC ENGLE

Izzy Engle has nationally become a breakout star of 2024 and she’s just a freshman. Engle has 10 goals through nine games, with four multi-goal performances.

Her 10 goals are the third most in the country, behind only California’s Karlie Lema (13) and Minnesota’s Khyah Harper (12).

Engle ranks fifth in the country and second in the ACC in goals per game at 1.11.

Engle boasts three game-winners (Butler, TCU, Marquette), which ranks 11th nationally and second in the ACC.

Engle’s 21 points rank fifth in the nation and third in the league. Her 2.33 points per game ranks eighth nationally, third in ACC.

Engle recorded the first freshman hat trick in program history since 2008 in Notre Dame’s win at Samford. She was the third quickest in program history to record a hat trick, doing so in just her second game. Kerri Hanks (2005) and Rosella Guerrero (1992) achieved hat tricks in their freshman debuts.

PICK YOUR POISON

The Irish attack will be very fun to watch moving forward as Coach Norman figures out how to fit his young arsenal together. We’ve seen Izzy Engle, Lily Joseph, Annabelle Chukwu and Ellie Hodsden all be dynmaic up top, now it’s about fitting the pieces together.

At Virginia, Coach Norman started with Chukwu and Hodsden up top and Engle on the Wing. Eventually, Engle moved up top when Hodsden subbed out, while Joseph subbed in at the attacking center mid role.

Joseph has three goals on the year with two coming in the last four games. She also boasts three assists for a total of nine points, which ranks third on the team.

TRENDING

Notre Dame made a huge jump in the RPI after defeating No. 14 Virginia, climbing from No. 11 to the No. 3 spot.

Notre Dame’s +22 goal differential ranks sixth in the country and second in the ACC.

The Irish backline have posted seven shutouts over the last eight games. The defense is allowing 4.6 SOG/Game.

Notre Dame’s scoring offense (2.89) ranks 12th overall and fourth in the ACC.

Irish are 7-0 when scoring first and 7-0 when allowing just one goal or less. Notre Dame is 6-0 when leading at the half.

GK DUO

Coach Norman has a talented goalie group at his disposal and both Atlee Olofson and Sonoma Kasica have shown out.

Together the duo, along with the defensive unit, have posted a shutout percentage of 0.778 which ranks fourth in the nation and leads the ACC. Together — a save percentage of .902 which ranks seventh nationally (1st in ACC) and a 0.444 GAA which ranks 15th (4th in ACC).

First, let’s look at sophomore Atlee Olofson. The Austin native has not surrendered a goal this season and is 4-0. She has notched 13 total saves.

She has almost matched last year’s shutout total of five. In 2023, she went 7-3-2 in net with a .763 save percentage and a GAA of 1.17.

Then there’s 5-10 freshman Sonoma Kasica. The St. Petersburg, Florida, native has gotten five starts and has gone 3-1-1.

She is coming off a stellar four-save shutout performance in the 1-0 win at No. 14 Virginia. She has 23 total saves on the season with a GAA of 0.80.

YOUTH MOVEMENT

The freshman class at Notre Dame has been and will be a huge talking point. An infusion of 13 freshmen – the most in program history. Not only that, this freshman class boasted a top-4 national recruiting ranking by Top Drawer Soccer.

Right now five of the top-six point-getters on the team are freshmen: Izzy Engle (21 points), Grace Restovich (13 points) and Lily Joseph (9 points), Ellie Hodsden (6 points) and Annabelle Chukwu (5 points).

22 of the team’s 26 goals have been scored by freshmen.

BUTLER WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

BUTLER WOMEN’S BASKETBALL RELEASES BIG EAST SCHEDULE

The Butler women’s basketball team will play an 18-game conference schedule in 2024-25 beginning with a road trip to DePaul on Dec. 21. The BIG EAST home opener will follow on Dec. 29 with BU hosting Seton Hall.

The start of the New Year will send Butler to Omaha to play Creighton on Jan. 1. The ‘Dawgs will stay on the road that weekend with a Saturday tip at Marquette. Four of the next five games on the schedule will be played at home as BU hosts Providence (Jan. 8), Georgetown (Jan. 14), Creighton (Jan. 22) and DePaul (Jan. 26). The lone road game during that stretch is a short drive over to Xavier on Jan. 18. The final away game to land in the month of January will send the ‘Dawgs to Seton Hall on the 29th.

February is a straight split with four home games on the docket, mixed with four on the road. The Bulldogs travel to UConn on Feb. 2 and the Huskies will make a return trip to Hinkle Fieldhouse on Saturday, Feb. 22. Additional home games are lined up against Villanova (Feb. 5), Marquette (Feb. 9) and Xavier (Feb. 19). BU will travel to Washington D.C. for a game against Georgetown on Feb. 12 and head to New York days after to face the Red Storm on Feb. 16. The regular season finale will be played on Feb. 26 with Butler playing at Villanova.

The Bulldogs made the WNIT field last year and return Second Team All-BIG EAST selection Caroline Strande to the program. Strande was the first Bulldog to earn Second Team accolades since 2019. She was also the first player in program history to lead the team in points, rebounds and assists in the same season.

Ticket Information:

Season tickets are currently on sale and orders can be done online, in person at the Hinkle Fieldhouse ticket office, or over the phone. Our ticket staff is happy to work with you directly. Please contact tickets@butler.edu!

BIG EAST Information

– Game times and television information will be announced at a later date.

– Select BIG EAST games will continue to be televised by FOX Sports.

– CBS Sports Network and SNY will also televise select games.

– The BIG EAST Digital Network will stream every conference game not designated for television.

– An unbalanced schedule provides greater flexibility in scheduling non-conference opponents.

– The 2025 BIG EAST Women’s Basketball Tournament returns to Mohegan Sun Arena.

2024-25 BIG EAST Schedule

Dec. 21 – Butler at DePaul

Dec. 29 – Seton Hall at Butler

Jan. 1 – Butler at Creighton

Jan. 4 – Butler at Marquette

Jan. 8 – Providence at Butler

Jan. 14 – Georgetown at Butler

Jan. 18 – Butler at Xavier

Jan. 22 – Creighton at Butler

Jan. 26 – DePaul at Butler

Jan. 29 – Butler at Seton Hall

Feb. 2 – Butler at UConn

Feb. 5 – Villanova at Butler

Feb. 9 – Marquette at Butler

Feb. 12 – Butler at Georgetown

Feb. 16 – Butler at St. John’s

Feb. 19 – Xavier at Butler

Feb. 22 – UConn at Butler

Feb. 26 – Butler at Villanova

BUTLER WOMEN’S SOCCER

PREVIEW: BUTLER HITS ROAD FOR PAIR OF CONFERENCE MATCHES

The Butler women’s soccer team will be away this week, at DePaul for a Thursday match, and then remains on the road, traveling to Providence for a Sunday contest.
 
The Bulldogs (6-2-1, 1-0-0 BIG EAST) are coming off a 1-0 shutout of Marquette in their BIG EAST opener.
 
DePaul (2-5-2, 0-1-0 BIG EAST) lost its first conference match, falling to No. 23 Xavier, 3-0. The Blue Demons also have losses this season to Purdue and Illinois, but defeated UIC and Lindenwood. The side drew with Western Michigan and Northern Illinois.
 
Providence (3-4-1, 0-0-0 BIG EAST)* will play its first BIG EAST match on Thursday evening, hosting St. John’s. The Friars have defeated Rhode Island, Holy Cross, and Northeaster, but lost to Wisconsin, Army, Brown, and Columbia.
 
Butler at DePaul
DATE/TIME:    Thursday, September 26 // 5PM ET (4PM CT)
LOCATION:     Chicago, Ill. // Wish Field
LIVE VIDEO:    FloSports
LIVE STATS:   butlersports.com // StatBroadcast
 
Butler at Providence
DATE/TIME:    Sunday, September 29 // 1PM
LOCATION:     Providence, R.I. // Chapey Field at Anderson Stadium
LIVE VIDEO:    FloSports
LIVE STATS:   friars.com // Sidearm

Bulldog Bits

           (as of 9/23/24)

Talia Sommer is 2nd in the BIG EAST (80th nationally) with 5 goals and is 3rd (72nd) with 13 total points. She is 5th in the conference with 3 assists.

Anna Pierce is tied for the top spot in the BIG EAST (31st nationally) with 4 shutouts.

Amelie Darey was named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week after Butler conceded only five shots to Marquette, along with zero corner kicks, and Darey came from the defensive line to knock in the game-winning goal on a corner kick.

After securing her fourth shutout of the season vs Marquette, Anna Pierce was recognized on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll.

IU-INDY VOLLEYBALL

WOMEN’S SOCCER TO TRAVEL TO YSU, RMU IN HORIZON LEAGUE PLAY

at Youngstown State (Sept. 26 I 6:00 pm): ESPN+ I Live Stats
at Robert Morris (Sept. 29 I 1:00 pm): ESPN+ I Live Stats

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The IU Indianapolis women’s soccer team will hit the road for an important two-game trip as the Jaguars will face Youngstown State (Sept. 26) and Robert Morris (Sept. 29) this week. Both games will be broadcast on ESPN+. Head coach Chris Johnson’s squad opened Horizon League play with a 2-1 home win over Cleveland State, thanks to goals from Emma Frey and a late penalty kick from Caroline Kelley. Senior Ashton Kudlo collected six saves in goal in her second victory of the season.

With the goal, Kelley pushed her team-leading total to four on the season, including a pair of game-winners. Frey is second on the team with seven points (2 goals, 3 assists) and senior Cassie Rodriguez is tied for second on the team with two goals scored. Senior Maia Ransom is tied with Frey for the team-lead with three assists, having split time between forward and defender. Sophomore Katie Hoog has helped anchor a mixed bag of defenders from the center back position while junior Kailyn Smith has picked up steam since missing the start of the year due to injury.

In goal, Kudlo has a 2.00 GAA and 39 saves in her nine starts this season. Behind her, Charlotte-transfer Emily Keck has yielded four goals in her three appearances off the bench.

JAGS GIVING WEEK:

Jags Giving Week runs from Sept. 23-30 and fans can make their gift to the Women’s Soccer Program by clicking the link.

HORIZON LEAGUE STANDINGS:

School               CPTS    Conf     CPct.   Overall               Pct.       Streak

Detroit Mercy 6            2-0        1.000   4-6        .400     W2

Milwaukee       6            2-0        1.000   3-6-1    .350     W2

Robert Morris 3            1-1         .500     2-4-3   .389     L1

Purdue Fort Wayne    3            1-0        1.000   6-3-1    .650     W1

Oakland            3            1-1         .500     2-7-2    .273     W1

IU Indy 3            1-0        1.000   2-6-1    .278     W1

Northern Kentucky     3            1-1         .500     4-6        .400     W1

Green Bay        1            0-1-1     .250     2-4-3   .389     L1

Wright State    1            0-1-1     .250     2-6-1    .278     L1

Cleveland State           0            0-2        .000     0-8-1    .056     L4

Youngstown State       0            0-2        .000     2-6-2   .300     L5

QUOTABLE:

“I think (the win) was very important. It’s one of those moments that can change your season a little bit. The kids realize that they can come back from adversity and find the back of the net and make things happen for ourselves,” Johnson said. following the win over Cleveland State.

SCOUTING YOUNGSTOWN STATE:

YSU enters play at 2-6-2 overall and 0-2 in Horizon League play with 3-1 losses at Detroit Mercy and Oakland. The Penguins collected non-conference wins over Saint Francis and George Washington at home earlier this season. For the season, Taylor Berry leads YSU with eight points (2 goals, 4 assists) and Sara Felder and Lianna Van Sice also each have two scores. Maya Naimoli has played all 900 minutes in net this season, recording a 1.60 goals against average and .789 save percentage with two shutouts.

SCOUTING ROBERT MORRIS:

RMU enters this week at 2-4-3 overall and 1-1 in Horizon League play with a win at Oakland, followed by a 2-1 loss to Detroit Mercy. RMU is 1-1-2 at home this season with a home victory over Le Moyne to start the season. Haleigh Finale and Paloma Swankler lead RMU with seven points apiece. In goal, Brenna Murray has started all nine matches with a 1.47 goals against average and .772 save percentage.

SERIES RESULTS:

IU Indy is 11-1-1 all-time against YSU and 6-1-1 in the eight games in Youngstown. The Jaguars are 2-0-1 all-time against RMU and 1-0-1 in two meetings in Pennsylvania.

UP NEXT:

The Jaguars will return home to host Detroit Mercy at Carroll Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 1:00 p.m. on ESPN+. 

INDIANA STATE SWIMMING

SYCAMORES PICKED SECOND OVERALL IN MVC PRESEASON SWIMMING & DIVING POLL

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Indiana State women’s swimming and diving was selected second overall in the Missouri Valley Conference’s preseason poll as announced by the conference office on Wednesday afternoon.

The Sycamores received 74 total points and three first-place votes heading into the 2024-25 season as Indiana State looks to utilize its depth and experience this year to take the next step in program history.

Indiana State finished runner-up in both the 2023 and 2024 MVC Championships and was voted as the pre-championship favorite prior to the 2024 meet as the Sycamores have firmly established themselves as a team to watch in Valley competition.

Overall, Indiana State set 16 new school records over the course of the 2023-24 season and added multiple new Top 10 results on the all-time performance list. Kaleigh Kelley, Alexa Szadorski, Erin Cummins, Claire Parsons, Ali Pearson, and Alexandria Cotter all set new individual record-setting marks over the course of last season, and the Sycamores established four new relay records on the year.

The Sycamores return the majority of the roster from the 2023-24 season, including reigning Missouri Valley Freshman of the Year in Claire Parsons. She highlights 12 returning All-Conference performers in the pool and on the diving board including Cummins (500 Free), Parsons (500 Free & 1650 Free), Cotter (200 IM & 400 IM), and Kelley (100 Fly). Additional key returners to the squad include Dorotea Bukvic, Alexa Szadorski, Zoe Smith, Chloe Farro, Raz Harel, Ali Pearson, Haley Halsall, and Olivia DiRuzza.

Missouri State has been tabbed as the league favorite on the women’s side in the annual coaches’ preseason poll, receiving 78 points and six first-place votes. Indiana State follows closely behind with 74 points and three first-place votes. Southern Illinois (63 points), Illinois State (53 points) and Little Rock (40 points) join the Bears and the Sycamores in the top half of the poll. UNI (37 points), UIC (33 points), Evansville (17 points) and Valparaiso (10 points) round out the preseason poll results.

The Sycamores open the 2024-25 season this weekend with their annual Blue-Gray Meet set to be held inside the Vigo County Aquatic Center on Friday, September 27. The meet is set to start at 6 p.m. ET

INDIANA STATE WOMEN’S SOCCER

SYCAMORES WELCOME SOUTHERN ILLINOIS ON THURSDAY NIGHT

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. –  Indiana State women’s soccer continues MVC play this week as the Sycamores host Southern Illinois at Memorial Stadium on Thursday night with kickoff set for 5 p.m. ET. The match will be streamed on ESPN+.

Sycamore Standouts:

The Sycamores (6-2-2) had their most recent matchup against UIC on Sunday afternoon postponed due to weather. This MVC match is rescheduled to be played at Flames Field on Tuesday, October 8 at 8 p.m. ET.

Indiana State won their first Missouri Valley Conference matchup against Valparaiso last week 1-0 to pick up their sixth win and seventh clean sheet of the 2024 season.

Alex Lehnert was named the Missouri Valley Conference Women’s Soccer Freshman of the Week as announced by the conference office on Tuesday morning following her performance in the MVC opener against Valpo. Lehnert picked up her fourth collegiate goal in the 16th minute of the contest against the Beacons to lead the Sycamores to a 1-0 victory.

Lehnert’s weekly honor is the first of her career and the second MVC nomination for Indiana State women’s soccer in the 2024 season when Alexa Mackey earned the first Athlete of the Week honor following her performance in the home opener. 

Maddie Alexander earned her sixth shutout in the 1-0 victory against Valpo which marks the seventh clean sheet for Indiana State in the 2024 season. The Battle Creek, Mich. native leads the nation in save percentages (92.9%) and is ranked sixth in shutouts (6).

Lehnert and Kent continue to lead the Sycamores offensively, as they are tied for first in the MVC in goals scored (4), tied for third in points (9), while each recording 12 shots-on-goal this season.

Wimberley Wright stays on top of the leader board for the conference with five assists this season as she has started and played in all ten contests for the Sycamores. Wright has picked up 714 minutes in the Indiana State lineup where she records seven points.

Alexa Mackey set the tone for the Sycamores from week one, as she continues to threaten offensively. Mackey is ranked seventh in the Missouri Valley in shots-per-game (1.90) while she has 19 total shots on the season with 12 on target.

NCAA Team Rankings:

1st: Save percentage: .931

11th: Shutout percentage: .700

10th: Goals-average-against: .400

35th: Total goals: 23

38th: Total Points: 65

MVC Team Rankings:

1st: Points: 65

1st: Goals: 23

1st: Assists: 19

1st: Goals Allowed: 4

1st: Shutouts: 7

1st: Corners: 67

1st: Shutout percentage: .700

1st: Shots on goal per game: 8.80

1st: Save percentage: .931

1st: Points per game: 6.50

1st: Assists per game: 1.90

1st: Corner kicks per game: 6.70

Scouting Southern Illinois:

The Salukis enter Thursday evenings contest with an overall record of (4-2-3) as they are 0-0-1 in MVC play. Southern Illinois recorded a draw against Illinois State in the MVC opener last Thursday at Saluki Stadium.

Sophie Schlicklin leads the Salukis offensively, where she records four goals scored and nine points while being named MVC Freshman of the Week two times in the 2024 season.

Goalkeeper Fabiana Solano has started and played in all nine contests this season, allowing eight goals scored while picking up 25 saves and three shutouts for the Salukis this season.

Graeme Orr is entering his second season as the Southern Illinois University women’s soccer head coach in 2024. 

Game Day Promo:

Thursday’s contest against Southern Illinois will serve as ISU’s Mental Health Matters game to highlight the importance of mental health as the Sycamores encourage fans to wear green to show your support.

Up Next:

The Sycamores are back on the road this weekend as they travel to Springfield, Missouri for a matchup against Missouri State on Sunday, September 29 at 2 p.m ET.

EVANSVILLE WOMEN’S SOCCER

UE WOMEN’S SOCCER MAKES LAST MVC TRIP TO MISSOURI STATE

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The University of Evansville women’s soccer team will look to get its final win at Missouri State on Thursday night.

UE women’s soccer earned its first point of conference play over the weekend as they held the Murray State Racers to a 0-0 draw. It was also Evansville’s first home MVC match of the season. Tomorrow the Aces will play their final game in Springfield at Betty & Bobby Allison South Stadium as the Missouri State Bears head to Conference USA in 2025. Even with a loss on Thursday, UE will hold the all-time series with 15 wins over 36 matches dating back to 1996 when the Valley added women’s soccer to the conference.

Missouri State comes into Thursday night’s game near the top of the Valley standings with two straight wins in conference play over Drake and Northern Iowa. Overall the Bears have a 4-4-2 overall record with their non-conference wins coming over Tulsa and Central Arkasas. Missouri State has two players leading the offense with three goals and an assist each in sophomore forward Reilly Heman and senior forward Julia Kristensen. Overall five different Bears have scored a goal through 10 games.

Sophomore midfielder Ella Hamner (Evansville, Ind. / Memorial HS) has emerged as one of UE’s leading offensive players after in early MVC play. Hamner has led the Aces in shots over the past three games and has taken 11 on the season. Of Hamner’s 11 shots so far, seven have landed on goal for 63.6% shot accuracy to lead the team.

After Evansville’s draw over Murray State senior forward Hailey Autenrieb (Cincinatti / Seton HS) leads the team on offense. In her final season with UE, Autenrieb has four points with one goal and two assists and leads the Aces in shots with 12 attempts.

SOUTHERN INDIANA MEN’S SOCCER

USI GETS ON THE SCOREBOARD WITH 1-0 WIN

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Soccer got on the scoreboard for the first time in 2024 with a 1-0 win over Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Wednesday evening at Strassweg Field. The Screaming Eagles are 1-7-0, while the Fightin’ Engineers go to 1-4-2.

USI scored the game-winner in the first half at the 37:21 mark. Sophomore forward Jackson Mitchell snapped the Eagles’ 380-minute scoreless slump with a shot from just outside the box on a breakaway. Mitchell was assisted on his first goal of the season by freshman forward David Davila and senior defender/midfielder Garland Hall.

The Eagles took their 1-0 lead into the break, outshooting the Engineers, 10-4, and holding a 5-2 advantage in corner kicks.

In the second half, sophomore goalkeeper Andrew Klott made the first goal stand up as the Eagles closed out their first win of the season. Klott faced five shots and made three saves in recording the shutout.

Overall in the match, USI outshot Rose-Hulman in the second half, 12-1, and for the match, 22-5. The Eagles also held the advantage in corner kicks, 10-2.

NEXT UP FOR USI:

The Eagles continue the homestand Saturday at 12:30 p.m. when they open Ohio Valley Conference action by hosting Eastern Illinois University at Strassweg Field. USI also will be celebrating Hispanic Heritage Day at Strassweg Field.

The EIU Panthers are 1-4-1 for the season after losing to Bowling Green State University Tuesday evening. The Panthers are 0-4-1 in their last five matches.

EIU leads the all-time series with USI, 10-2-0, after winning a pair of regular season matches last year. The Panthers took the first game at Strassweg Field, 2-0, and completed the series sweep with a 1-0 victory at EIU.

SOUTHERN INDIANA WOMEN’S SOCCER

USI FACES UT MARTIN IN OVC HOME OPENER

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Soccer kicks off a brief two-match homestand in Ohio Valley Conference play Thursday when the Screaming Eagles host the University of Tennessee at Martin for a 7 p.m. contest at Strassweg Field. USI takes a three-match unbeaten streak into play Thursday.

Thursday is Student Appreciation Night at Strassweg Field. There will be free pizza for USI students while supplies last.

Southern Indiana (1-6-3, 0-0-1 OVC) earned a pair of ties with a victory sandwiched in between in its last three matches, bouncing back and rewarded with results after a losing skid during the non-conference season. During USI’s unbeaten streak, the Screaming Eagles have tied their opponents with 31 total shot attempts (16-8 in the first half and 15-23 in the second half). That is quite the turnaround compared to the two matches prior to the 0-0 draw at Austin Peay State University on September 12. In the two matches before the Austin Peay match, USI was outshot 38-16 overall and 16-2 in shots on goal. Plus, the Eagles scored in back-to-back outings after a lengthy scoreless drought before USI’s 2-1 win on September 15 against Bellarmine University.

The Screaming Eagles opened the OVC schedule on Sunday with a 1-1 draw against Southeast Missouri State University to pick up a point in the league standings. USI struck early with a fourth-minute goal by freshman midfielder Emma Schut, her first career goal. SEMO tied the match early in the second half. Both teams had potential game-winning chances in the last few minutes, but neither side could put the ball in the back of the net. USI goalkeeper Anna Markland returned to the lineup with five saves.

On the season, sophomore midfielder Greta Ohlwein and redshirt freshman Eva Boer pace USI with two goals scored. All four goals by the two attacking players have come at home. Junior forward Payton Seymour and sophomore midfielder Pilar Torres lead USI with 12 shots. Torres had a team-high three shots against Southeast Missouri. Between the posts, Markland has a 1.93 GAA and 34 saves.

As a team, Southern Indiana averages 10.1 shots per game and 4.2 shots on goal per outing. USI is top five in the OVC in overall shots and shots per game. USI has also found success earning set-piece opportunities, especially corner kicks. The Eagles pace the OVC with 52 corners.

UT Martin (2-4-3, 1-0-0 OVC) comes to USI with results in its last two matches, including a 2-1 victory in the OVC opener on Sunday against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. After a scoreless deadlock through the first 45 minutes against the Cougars, the first 10 minutes of the second half was a scoring frenzy. The Skyhawks scored consecutive goals before the Cougars answered seconds after UT Martin’s second goal. UT Martin shut out SIUE the rest of the way for the win despite SIUE outshooting the Skyhawks, 20-11 overall and 10-3 in shots on goal.

Senior forward Makayla Robinson tops UT Martin with three goals, including one last time out against SIUE. Robinson is tied for the team’s points lead alongside senior midfielder Izzy Patterson with seven points. Patterson has two goals, a team-best three assists, and a team-high 29 shot attempts. In goal, senior keeper Mac Titus has made all nine starts, posting a 1.65 GAA and an OVC second-best 58 saves.

As a team, UT Martin averages 13 shots per outing and 5.9 shots on goal per game. The Skyhawks have a shot-on-goal percentage of 45.3 percent. UT Martin ranks top three in the OVC in shots and shots on target.

Thursday’s match is the third all-time meeting between Southern Indiana and UT Martin. The Skyhawks won the first meeting in the last matchup at Strassweg Field in 2022, 1-0. Last season, the two sides battled in Martin, Tennessee to a 1-1 draw.

Thursday’s game can be seen with a subscription to ESPN+. Additional coverage links are available on the USI Women’s Soccer schedule page on usiscreamingeagles.com.

VALPO VOLLEYBALL

VOLLEYBALL TO OPEN MVC PLAY THIS WEEKEND

Valparaiso (8-4, 0-0 MVC)

Friday, Sept. 27 – at Evansville (1-11, 0-0 MVC) – 6 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 28 – at Indiana State (3-9, 0-0 MVC) – 5 p.m. CT

Next Up For Valpo Volleyball: Missouri Valley Conference play gets underway for the Valpo volleyball team this weekend, as the Beacons open conference action with the in-state road trip, heading to Evansville Friday night and Indiana State Saturday evening.

Previously: The Beacons wrapped up nonconference action with a 2-1 record last weekend at the Terrier Invite, sweeping Presbyterian and South Carolina State before falling to host Wofford in five sets. Elise Swistek and Emma Hickey represented Valpo on the All-Tournament Team.

Looking Ahead: Valpo returns to the ARC next weekend, hosting two of the top three teams in the MVC preseason poll in UNI and Drake.

Following the Beacons: Valpo’s match against Evansville will be broadcast live on ESPN+. Both matches will have live stats available, linked via ValpoAthletics.com.

Head Coach Carin Avery: In her 23rd season as head coach at Valparaiso, Carin Avery is the all-time winningest head coach across all sports in the history of Valpo Athletics. She has won 497 matches (497-247, .668) at the helm of the program and has led Valpo to three league regular season and tournament titles. The program has made seven postseason appearances under Avery, including three NCAA Tournament appearances, and advanced to the championship match of the 2021 NIVC. Avery has coached 62 All-League recipients over her tenure at Valpo, which has spanned three different conferences. She is Valpo’s all-time leader in both victories and winning percentage, and owns a 552-271 (.671) record overall as a head coach.

Series History: Evansville – Valpo holds a 16-13 advantage in the all-time series, including an 11-3 mark over the Purple Aces since joining the MVC. In the lone matchup last season between the two programs, the Beacons earned a four-set win in Evansville. Miranda Strongman hit .500 with 15 kills to lead the attack as Valpo hit .293 as a team, while Elise Swistek posted 14 kills and a team-best 16 digs.

Indiana State – Valpo owns the slight 18-16 edge in the all-time series with the Sycamores, an advantage which is extended to 8-4 since Valpo joined the Valley. The Beacons eased to a sweep in Terre Haute last season in the lone matchup behind a balanced team effort. Maddie Moan paced Valpo in the win with nine kills on .500 hitting, while Mallory Januski registered nine blocks.

Scouting the Opposition: Evansville – The Purple Aces come into Friday’s conference opener with a 1-11 record this year, with their lone victory coming over Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras. One of the nation’s most prolific attackers, Giulia Cardona is averaging 4.96 kills/set on the season.

Indiana State – The Sycamores enter MVC play with a 3-9 record this season and will take on UIC Friday night before Valpo arrives in Terre Haute. Emma Kaelin leads the ISU attack with 3.35 kills/set, while Ella Scott is averaging an even one block per set at the net.

Valpo Picked Sixth in Preseason Poll: Valpo was picked to finish in sixth place in the Missouri Valley Conference in 2024, according to preseason polling of the conference’s head coaches. The Beacons shared sixth position with Missouri State, while UNI topped the poll. In six of Valpo’s seven seasons in the Valley, the program has met or exceeded its preseason prognostication.

Looking Back at Last Season: Valpo is coming off a third consecutive postseason appearance in 2023, as the Beacons earned an at-large berth in the NIVC. The program posted an 18-15 overall record and went 10-8 in MVC play, finishing in a tie for fifth place in the Valley standings. Miranda Strongman earned First Team All-MVC honors, while Mallory Januski was a Second Team All-MVC honoree.

Who’s Back: This year’s squad returns nine letterwinners from the 2023 team, a group which includes the team’s leader in kills (Elise Swistek) and digs (Emma Hickey). The Beacons return a good bit of their back row defensive production, as 65.7% of the team’s digs from last year are back in 2024.

Who’s Gone: Valpo did graduate a talented class which accounted for a good portion of the team’s front row production last year, as the Beacons return just 37.9% of the kills and 25.3% of the blocks from 2023. Middles Mallory Januski and Miranda Strongman, both All-MVC selections last year, ended their Valpo careers 1-2 in program history in career hitting percentage, while the team also graduated players who ranked among the top-10 in program history in career digs (outside hitter Bella Ravotto) and assists (setter Victoria Bulmahn).

Who’s New: While there’s a lot of production from last year to replace in 2024, there’s also an exciting new class of rookies eager to take on the challenge of stepping up into contributing roles. This year’s squad has nine players with freshman eligibility – one redshirt (Jessica Pickett) and eight true freshmen. The incoming class includes two players who were AVCA High School All-Americans last year (Ava Helming, Second Team; Lilly Merk, Third Team) and three others who were First Team All-State honorees as high school seniors (Jordyn Gove, Drew Glaser, Kadence Brumitt).

Opening Valley Play: Valpo is looking to start Valley play with a winning weekend for the second straight season, as last year’s squad swept the opening weekend of MVC action at home over Missouri State and Southern Illinois. That was the second time since joining the Valley that Valpo had started at least 2-0, as the 2018 team opened conference play with four consecutive wins – notably, that year’s squad began the MVC slate by winning both ends of the Indiana State/Evansville road trip.

At or Near the Top: It’s become commonplace to see Valpo at or near the top of the Valley in digs/set, and this year has been no exception so far, as the Beacons enter MVC play ranked second in the conference and 13th nationally in digs/set. What’s perhaps more eye-popping, however, is how many other categories Valpo is ranked highly in. The Beacons currently lead the MVC in aces/set (33rd nationally) and kills/set (36th nationally), while also ranking second in blocks/set.

Three Times the Honors: Senior Elise Swistek became just the second Valpo player in the tenure of head coach Carin Avery to earn All-Tournament Team honors three times in a single season at early-season tournaments this season. Swistek received recognition at each of the final three tournaments of nonconference play, most recently last weekend at the Terrier Invite. Through the first month of the season, Swistek – who cracked the program’s top-20 in career digs earlier this month – leads the team with 3.18 kills/set and ranks second on the squad with 3.95 digs/set.

Leading the Way: Junior Emma Hickey enters MVC play tops in the nation in total digs, racking up 262 digs through the season’s first four weekends. Her average of 5.82 digs/set ranks third nationally as well. With 1,625 career digs, Hickey – who cracked the program’s career top-10 in digs earlier this season – has far and away the most digs of any D-I junior, as number two on that list – Montana State’s Lauren Lindseth – sits at 1,150 career digs. In fact, Hickey ranks 28th nationally overall among D-I players in career digs.

1,500 For Hickey: Emma Hickey reached yet another career milestone Sept. 7 with her final dig of the weekend at St. Thomas, as it was the 1,500th dig of her collegiate career. Hickey reached the mark in her 72nd career match, becoming the fastest player in both Valpo history and MVC history to hit 1,500. She surpassed Illinois State’s Courtney Pence, who reached the mark in 74 matches, as the fastest player in the MVC history to 1,500 career digs, and also bettered Rylee Cookerly and Taylor Root in Valpo’s record books, as both Cookerly and Root hit the mark in 76 matches.

The Rookies Produce: Valpo’s freshman class has stood out at the net through the season’s nonconference action. The Beacons’ rookies have accounted for 58.5% of the team’s kills and 75% of the team’s blocks over the first 12 matches. Freshmen have combined for 12 matches with double-figure kill totals and eight matches with five or more blocks.

I’m About to Play My Ace: Through the first month of competition, the service game has been much more of a weapon for this year’s squad than in the program’s recent history. The Beacons have 89 aces through the season’s first nine matches, averaging 1.93 aces/set. To put the average into context, Valpo has not averaged more than 1.20 aces/set since the 2017 season, while its high in the 25-point era is 1.46 aces/set. Individually, Mara Thomas (8, Cornell) and Lilly Merk (6, Northern Illinois) have posted the program’s two highest individual single-match ace totals of the 25-point era.

All-Tournament Honors: Five different combined for eight All-Tournament Team accolades at Valpo’s four early-season tournaments. Beyond Swistek’s three honors noted previously, Emma Hickey picked up a pair of accolades, representing the Beacons as an All-Tournament selection at the Terrier Invite and the IU Indy Hampton Inn Invitational. Freshman Jessica Pickett represented Valpo on the Popcorn Classic All-Tournament Team, junior Sam Warren earned All-Tournament accolades at the St. Thomas Invitational and freshman Ava Helming picked up an All-Tournament award at the IU Indy Hampton Inn Invitational.

Player of the Week: Junior Emma Hickey was tabbed the MVC Defensive Player of the Week for the fourth time in her career following opening weekend for her performance at the IU Indy tournament. She averaged 5.42 digs/set and 1.58 assists/set over the three matches, while also committing just one service reception error on 65 chances. Hickey posted 34 digs – her eighth career 30+ dig match – and 11 assists in the season-opening win over SIUE.

Big Debuts: Valpo’s season-opening win over SIUE featured a number of standout collegiate debuts from the Beacons’ freshmen. Leading the way was Ava Helming, who debuted with 20 kills on .282 hitting – the most kills by a Valpo player in a match since Nov. 11, 2022. The 20 kills set a program record for kills by a freshman in her debut, and also is the high-water mark for any Valpo player in a season opener. Defensively, Jessica Pickett posted nine blocks – also a program record for blocks by a freshman in her debut and the highest total for any Valpo player in a season opener. Lilly Merk tallied 11 kills and Kadence Brumitt added 10 kills as well, marking the first time in program history three Valpo players have posted double-figure kills in their respective collegiate debuts in the same match.

Winning Ways: The 2023 squad secured a winning season with an early-November win over Bradley, extending the tradition of the program’s excellence. In 22 seasons under head coach Carin Avery, Valpo has posted a winning record 20 times. 18 of those times, the program has won at least 20 matches, and the team has averaged 22.2 wins per season in Avery’s tenure.

Top Half Finishes: The Beacons ended the 2023 regular season in a tie for fifth-place finish in the final MVC regular season standings. Valpo has now finished in the top-half of the Valley standings in each of its seven years in the conference, the only MVC program to accomplish that feat. Going back further, Valpo has posted top-half conference finishes in 21 of Avery’s 22 seasons – as well as qualifying for the conference tournament in each of her 22 seasons – and 30 of the last 31 years overall.

Postseason History: Last year’s at-large bid to the NIVC extended the program’s run of postseason appearances to three consecutive years and four of the last six seasons. Valpo’s history with the NIVC is highlighted by the program’s run to the title match in 2021, while its first NIVC trip in 2018 featured a trip to the quarterfinals. Previously, Valpo made three straight NCAA Tournament appearances with Avery at the helm from 2003 through 2005, while the program also appeared in an NCAA Tournament play-in match three straight years 1994-1996.

Digging Deep: Valpo continued its long tradition of strong back row play last fall, finishing 12th nationally with 17.17 digs/set. The program has ranked among the top-30 nationally in digs/set in each of the last 15 seasons, including 13 seasons among the top-20 and four seasons among the top-10 – highlighted by the 2017 campaign in which Valpo led the nation with 20.03 digs/set. Other top finishes include fourth nationally in the spring 2021 season (20.37/set), a fourth-place rank in 2010 and a sixth-place finish in 2015. Since the move to 25-point scoring, only seven teams have averaged more than 20 digs/set over the course of a season, and Valpo is the only program to have done it twice. 2018 saw Valpo lead the nation with 2,613 total digs – a mark which set a program single-season record and a Division I record in the 25-point era. Valpo also boasts two of the top-10 athletes in D-I history in career digs – Rylee Cookerly (2nd; 3,175) and Taylor Root (9th; 2,752).

Hickey Racks Up the Digs: Joining the long line of standout liberos at Valpo, junior Emma Hickey aims for a third straight season as one of the nation’s prolific liberos. Hickey, who became the fastest player in Valpo and MVC history to surpass 1,000 career digs last season, finished the year 15th nationally in digs/set after ranking fourth in the same category as a freshman in 2022. Hickey already ranks ninth in program history with 1,625 digs – 28 away from seventh position – and has tallied 475 more digs than any other D-I junior. She also leads all active D-I players with 5.51 career digs/set.

Swistek as a Senior: Valpo reloads its attack this year, as the Beacons graduated three of their four most prolific attackers in terms of kills/set from last year’s squad. Last year’s leader in that category does return, however, as senior outside Elise Swistek registered 2.43 kills/set to pace the Beacons and also ranked second on the team with 3.39 digs/set. Swistek became the 26th player in program history to surpass 1,000 career digs late last season and currently ranks 20th in program history with 1,222 digs, while with 787 career kills, she has a shot at potentially reaching 1,000 career kills as well.

MARIAN WOMEN’S SOCCER

NO. 10 MARIAN PLAYS TO 1-1 DRAW AT NO. 17 INDIANA WESLEYAN

Marion, Ind. – The Marian women’s soccer team opened Crossroads League play on Wednesday night, playing to a 1-1 draw against the No. 17 Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats. Marian’s draw gives them one point in the CL table to open the year, as they move to 7-1-2 overall on the season.

The Knights set the pace of the match in the first half, ripping a pair of shot attempts in the opening four minutes of the evening as Layla Brown put two shots on goal that were both saved. The Wildcats would counter with a Mallory Krueger shot, but the attempt was denied by Mycheala Johnson, who returned to her starting role in goal. Marian would win back the shot battle as Brown, Katie Koger, and Lizzie Chlystun ripped shots on goal, but all were saved by Avery Sluss.

In the 29th minute, Marian was able to close the momentum that had been building with a goal, as Layla Brown collected a Sienna Mullen pass and buried her eighth score of the season to push Marian on top 1-0. The offense would subside after the goal, with just one shot coming over the final 16 minutes of the half, with the attempt from the Wildcats being denied by Johnson.

Marian held a 7-3 lead in shot attempts in the first half, as they held a 1-0 lead at the break.

The second half repeated a similar start to the first, with Marian taking the first two shot attempts of the period, coming off the feet of Brown and Koger. Indiana Wesleyan would counter with an offensive attack, showing an aggressive style that had them flagged twice for offside calls. The Knights broke the possession run with shot attempts from Layla Brown and Erin Kelly, but after the 71st and 73rd minute attempts failed, the Wildcats countered in the 80th minute. Alejandra Tavarez collected a Katelyn VanderArk pass and pushed a shot past Johnson, leveling the score 1-1.

The Knights switched gears in the final 10 minutes and managed a shot on goal from Marian Corro Celma, but the header was saved once more by Sluss. Marian would take a corner kick and free kick in the final five minutes of the match, but could not convert their set pieces into scores, ending the match in a 1-1 draw.

Johnson moved to 2-1-1 in goal following the draw, making two saves in 90 minutes. Brown took six of Marian’s 12 shot attempts, with five attempts going on goal. as she scored the team’s lone goal. Mullen recorded an assist in her 66 minutes of work, and Celma, Kelly, Chlystun, and Koger each took one shot on goal.

Marian will look to secure their first Crossroads League win of the season on Saturday when they host Goshen College for their senior day match. Senior day festivities will take place before the match, and kickoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.

MARIAN MEN’S SOCCER

KNIGHTS FALL TO NO. 5 INDIANA WESLEYAN IN CONFERENCE OPENER

INDIANAPOLIS, IND. – The Marian men’s soccer team falls in Crossroads League opener to #5 Indiana Wesleyan Wednesday evening. The Knights are now 7-2-1 overall on the season an 0-1 in the Crossroads League.

The Wildcats came out strong in the first few minutes of play clocking two shots one on goal before the five minute mark. The Knights unfortunately tallied alot of fouls in the early middle of the game tallying five in total before allowing Indiana Wesleyan to score off of a penalty kick to take the lead at the 18 minute mark. The Wildcats kept pushing scoring another goal within minutes to extend their lead 2-0. Sebastian Gonzalez was quick to fire back off of a penalty kick to decrease the lead down to one goal. The rest of the half was very back and fourth between fouls and shots taken by both teams with Indiana Wesleyan claiming the lead in shots at the halfway mark, 8-5.

Kyohei Kuroda opened up the second half with a shot on target but came up short due to Indiana Wesleyan’s goalie. The Knights kept the ball majority of the half tallying three more shots throughout the half by, Kuroda, Anton Bezborodov, and Evan Dawdy but came up short due to the Wildcats defense. The rest of the half saw a lot of action in the middle of the field with minimal shots taken. The Knights led the Wildcats in shots 4-2 to finish up the match with a final score of 1-2 claiming their first Crossroads League loss of the season.

Anton Bezborodov led the Knights in shots with three on the evening with Kyohei Kuroda close behind with two and one on target and Evan Dawdy claiming two as well. In goal Henry Yoder took his first loss of the season but tallied four saves on the evening.

Marian will be back in action on Saturday on the road against Goshen with kickoff set for 1:00 p.m.

MARIAN VOLLEYBALL

NO. 8 INDIANA WESLEYAN HANDS NO. 22 MARIAN FIRST HOME DEFEAT

INDIANAPOLIS – The Marian volleyball team suffered their first home loss of the 2024 season on Wednesday night, as No. 8 Indiana Wesleyan handed the Knights a four-set defeat. Marian’s loss drops them to 5-2 in the Crossroads League and 14-3 overall, ending the night in fourth place in the Crossroads League standings.

Indiana Wesleyan took the first set of the match 25-21, winning a back and forth battle between the Knights. Runs from both sides of the net gave both teams a respective three-point lead in the opening set, while Marian was able to force the first timeout of the evening as back-to-back Mikayla Christiansen kills gave the home team a 13-12 lead. Marian would score after the timeout, but yielded a 4-0 run to the Wildcats after a Sarah Bennett block. The Knights would respond with a 4-0 run of their own to take a two-point lead and force another timeout, but the home team was unable to finish their 18-16 lead, as Indiana Wesleyan out-scored Marian 9-3 to close the set.

Marian responded in the second set, winning another tight battle by a 25-23 score. Indiana Wesleyan led early in the game, but saw the tide shift to Marian as a 5-1 run fueled by Christiansen and Madison Brooks give the home team a 12-10 edge. The Knights held the lead in the set until the score showed 18-15, as a service error sparked a 5-0 run for the Wildcats. Marian used a timeout to get back in system, and after getting the benefit of a service error, Sami Luttel and Emma Hirchak sparked a 4-0 run to push their team back on top. The Wildcats would capture a brief 23-22 lead, but the Knights close strong, getting a sideout on a kill from Brooks before two Wildcat errors handed Marian the win.

With the match tied 1-1, Marian held momentum early in the third set as they scored the first four points of the game. The run would come to a screeching halt however, as Indiana Wesleyan got back in system and rattled off seven consecutive points to take the lead. Another run, this time of four points, gave Indiana Wesleyan an 11-5 lead and forced a stoppage from Marian as they attempted to tie off the bleeding. Evie Dart, Hirchak, and Gabby Fish helped Marian slowly recover, but the Wildcats remained on top, keeping a three-point distance from the Knights. Despite a late rally effort from Marian, the Wildcats would finish the third set on a 7-5 clip, winning 25-18.

The Knights would lead early in the fourth set of the match, but were unable to keep up with the Wildcats as fatigue set in after seeing a 7-7 draw on the scoreboard. Indiana Wesleyan scored five consecutive points and eight in nine rallies to take a commanding 15-8 lead. Marian was unable to slow down the Wildcat attack after falling behind by seven, getting out-scored 10-5 over the final 15 rallies of the night to end the match with a 25-13 defeat, ending the four-set contest.

Marian recorded a .150 hitting percentage in the loss on their 147 attacks. Christiansen led Marian with 15 kills and 15 digs, adding a pair of assists and four total blocks to her night. Fish recorded 11 kills, and Hirchak ahd eight kills with 15 digs. Sami Luttel led Marian in assists with 22 while Emerson Evans had 18, and Emma Lyons recorded 13 digs from her libero position.

Marian will aim to get back in the win column as they travel to Goshen College on Saturday for a 3:00 p.m. matchup with the Maple Leafs.

INDIANA SMALL COLLEGE WEBSITES

INDIANA WESLEYAN ATHLETICS: https://iwuwildcats.com/

EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/

WABASH ATHLETICS: https://sports.wabash.edu/

FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/

ROSE-HULMAN ATHLETICS: https://athletics.rose-hulman.edu/

ANDERSON ATHLETICS: https://athletics.anderson.edu/landing/index

TRINE ATHLETICS: https://trinethunder.com/landing/index

BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/

DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/

HANOVER ATHLETICS: https://athletics.hanover.edu/

MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/

HUNTINGTON ATHLETICS: https://www.huathletics.com/

OAKLAND CITY ATHLETICS: https://gomightyoaks.com/index.aspx

ST. FRANCIS ATHLETICS: https://www.saintfranciscougars.com/landing/index

IU KOKOMO ATHLETICS: https://iukcougars.com/

IU EAST ATHLETICS: https://www.iueredwolves.com/

IU SOUTH BEND ATHLETICS: https://iusbtitans.com/

PURDUE NORTHWEST ATHLETICS: https://pnwathletics.com/

INDIANA TECH ATHLETICS: https://indianatechwarriors.com/index.aspx

GRACE COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://gclancers.com/

ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ATHLETICS: https://smwcathletics.com/

GOSHEN COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://goleafs.net/

HOY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php

TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/

VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index

NUMBERS IN SPORTS

35 – 6 – 8 – 7 – 21 – 19 – 9 – 48 – 30 – 22 – 13 – 31 – 25 – 24

September 26, 1906 – Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Lefty Leifield threw a no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies, for an 8-0 victory in a 6 inning game

September 26, 1921 – New York Yankee legend Babe Ruth hits season home runs number 57 and 58 to help the Yanks defeat the Cleveland Indians by the score of 8-7

September 26, 1950 – This could be a tired arm! Phillies pitcher Jim Konstanty, Number 35 made a record 71st appearance of season.

September 26, 1953 –  An end of an era. Shortstop Number 6, Billy Hunter smashed the final home run in St Louis Browns history during a 6-3 loss to Chicago White Sox at Busch Stadium. The franchise moved to Baltimore to become the Orioles before the next season started.

September 26, 1954 – A switcharoo! Yogi Berra, Number 8 normally a catcher and occasional outfielder played his only MLB game at 3rd base as Number 7, Mickey Mantle played out of his normal field position to play shortstop in the contest.

September 26, 1959 – Milwaukee Braves Warren Spahn, Number 21 became the winningest NL left-handed pitcher

September 26, 1959 – San Francisco Giants pitcher Sam Jones, Number 19 tossed his 2nd career no-hitter, defeating the St Louis Cards, 4-0

September 26, 1961 – Yankees Number 9, Roger Maris hit his 58th homerun if the season off of pitcher Jack Fisher, Number 48 of the Baltimore Orioles tying Babe Ruth’s record

September 26, 1962 – LA Dodgers shortstop Number 30, Maury Wills becomes first player in MLB history to steal 100 bases. The speedster would eventually reach 104 on the year.

September 26, 1971 – Jim Palmer, Number 22 of Baltimore became the 4th Oriole to win at least 20 games this season

September 26, 1973 – Wilt Chamberlain, Number 13 signed a contract  with the American Basketball Association’s franchise the San Diego Conquistadors

September 26, 1983 – St Louis Cardinals’ hurler, Bob Forsch, Number 31 pitched his 2nd career no-hitter, beating Montreal Expos 3-0, in St. Louis

September 26, 1983 – Ali Haji-Sheikh, Number 6 kicked a New York Giants record 56 yard field goal.

September 26, 1996 – San Francisco Giants Number 25, Barry Bonds became the 2nd player to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases in a single season.

September 26, 1997 – Seattle Mariner Ken Griffey Jr., Number 24 hit his 56th HR of 1997

FOOTBALL HISTORY

September 26, 1920 – The first game featuring an American Professional Football Association team would be played on September 26, 1920 as the Rock Island Independents beat up on their non-league opponent the St. Paul Ideals 48-0. The APFA would change its name to the National Football League in 1922 so in essence this is the very first NFL game played involving at least one team that was in Ralph Hay’s organizational meeting on September 17, 1920.

September 26, 1977 – The first Overtime game is played by the Cleveland Browns franchise as they knock off the New England Patriots 30-27 in the extra period. The NFL adopted an overtime session in 1940 for divisional ties and in 1946 it opened this rule to championship games as well. It wasn’t until 1974 though when the League adopted the sudden death overtime for regular season games. So though it was the Browns first extra regular season session in history, keep in mind that the rule was only a little over 2 seasons old at that time.

Holy Field Goals

September 26, 1967 – St. Louis Cardinal’s kicker Jim Bakken is the first player to have ever kicks a record 7 field goals against the Pittsburgh Steelers. His longest that day was 33 yards and his shortest was 18 yards long. The Cardinals capitalized on their kicker’s success that game as they defeated the Steelers 28-14 in Pittsburgh.

Days events from NYC

September 26, 1978 – New York District Court Judge Constance Baker Motley rules that women journalists can not be barred from the locker rooms after a game when men reporters are allowed into them. The case was officially titled Ludke v. Kuhn, as in Bowie Kuhn the former Major League Baseball Commissioner. Journalist Melissa Ludtke was the plaintiff in the case as she sued the MLB, Kuhn and some New York City officials to try and have the right to enter into the NY Yankees locker room after a game just like her male counterparts. The breakthrough court decision paved the way for female reporters to be able to enter locker rooms in most American sports events when their male associates are permitted.

September 26, 1983 – The New York Giants kicker Ali-Haji Sheikh boots a franchise record field goal of 56 yards. The record kick was made in the prime time lights of Monday Night Football and helped the Giants defeat the Green Bay Packers 27-3 at Giants Stadium in the New Jersey Meadowlands. Sheikh’s Giants record was broken in week 13 of the 2018 season when Alldrick Rosas knocked down a 57 yard field goal to help the G-men get past the Chicago Bears.

An NFL Record is tied

September 26, 2021 – The longest play in NFL history was tied when the Jacksonville Jaguars, Jamal Agnew returned a missed field goal 109 yards to paydirt by the Arizona Cardinals kicker Matt Prater on a 68 yard attempt. Also Antonio Cromartie had interception return of 109 and Cordarrelle Patterson with his 109 kickoff return previously set the tied record for the league play length.

Hall of Fame Birthdays for September 26

September 26, 1871 – Joe Thompson was a former Geneva College and the University of Pittsburgh halfback that played in the early 20th century.  According to the National Football Foundation, Thompson was an Irish immigrant who brought a strong work ethic from across the pond to the American football field. He started his career at Geneva College and then did post-graduate studies at Pitt. In 1904 Thompson and the Panthers enjoyed an undefeated 10-0 season! The next season he was the captain of the Pitt squad and with that post earned the respect of the school which propelled him into becoming the school’s Head Coach from 1908 through the 1912 seasons. His Pitt Coaching record was an outstanding 30-14-2. The team in 1910 did not allow a touchdown as they won every game! After graduating from the Pittsburgh Law School, Joe went into U.S. Military service and was a decorated hero in World War I as well as saw action in Mexico. The National Football Foundation selected Joe Thompson into their College Football Hall of Fame 100 years after his birth in 1971.

September 26, 1922 – Creighton Miller was a former halfback from the University of Notre Dame that played in the 1941, 1942 and 1943 seasons. Footballfoundation.org tells us that Miller loved the game of golf. He enjoyed chasing the small white ball so much that he often skipped spring football practices, much to the chagrin of Irish Head Coach Frank Leahy.  At the time it irritated immensely but Leahy was quoted later to say that Creighton Miller was the best halfback that Leahy ever coached. There is a lot of evidence in support of this too. During the three seasons that Miller played, the Irish had a record of 24-3-3, the running back led the nation in rushing in 1943 and were the National Champions in 1943. After graduation Miller attended the Yale Law School and while there served as an assistant coach for the Bulldogs football program. He used his Law Degree for the NFLPA from 1956 through 1959 as he served and the Association’s legal counsel. The National Football Foundation selected Joe Thompson into their College Football Hall of Fame in 1976.

TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY

Sept. 26

1908 — Ed Reulbach of the Chicago Cubs became the only pitcher to throw two shutouts in a doubleheader, beating the Dodgers 5-0 and 3-0.

1926 — The St. Louis Browns beat the New York Yankees 6-1 and 6-2 in two hours and seven minutes. The first game took 55 minutes.

1952 — The New York Yankees clinched their fourth straight AL pennant with a 5-1, 11-inning win over the Philadelphia A’s.

1961 — Roger Maris tied Babe Ruth’s 34-year-old record with his 60th homer, off Baltimore’s Jack Fisher.

1981 — Nolan Ryan of the Houston Astros became the first player to pitch five no-hitters, hurling a 5-0 victory over Los Angeles at the Astrodome.

1983 — Bob Forsch of the St. Louis Cardinals pitched the second no-hitter of his career by defeating Montreal 3-0.

1993 — Randy Johnson of the Seattle Mariners became the eighth pitcher to strike out 300 batters in a season with 13 strikeouts in 10 innings of a 3-2, 12-inning loss to Oakland.

1998 — Curt Schilling became the fifth pitcher to strike out 300 batters in consecutive seasons when he fanned Kevin Orie in the seventh inning of Philadelphia’s 4-3 loss to Florida in the first game of a doubleheader.

2000 — The Atlanta Braves beat the New York Mets 7-1 to clinch the NL East and win their record ninth straight division title.

2007 — The New York Yankees clinched their 13th straight postseason appearance, beating Tampa Bay 12-4.

2007 — Michael Young reached 200 hits for the fifth consecutive season with a pair of RBI singles among his three hits and Texas pounded the Los Angeles Angels 16-2. Young joined Wade Boggs and Ichiro Suzuki as the only players since 1940 with five consecutive 200-hit seasons.

2008 — The Tampa Bay Rays won their first AL East championship when the Boston Red Sox lost to the New York Yankees. They became the first team other than Boston and New York to win the division since Baltimore did it in 1997.

2008 — Seattle outfielder Ichiro Suzuki matched Lou Gehrig’s record with his eighth season of at least 200 hits and 100 runs. Suzuki scored his 100th run of the season in the third inning against Oakland. Gehrig reached the marks in 1927-28, 1930-32, 1934 and 1936-37.

2018 — Jacob deGrom was dominant, throwing eight stellar innings and leaving with a major league-best 1.70 ERA as the New York Mets blanked the Atlanta Braves 3-0. DeGrom (10-9) made his final regular-season start, striking out 10 and allowing just two singles against the NL East champions.

2018 — Colorado Rockies right-hander German Marquez started with eight straight strikeouts to match a modern-era big league record, and the Colorado Rockies routed the Philadelphia Phillies 14-0. By striking out his first eight batters, he tied a post-1900 mark set by Houston’s Jim Deshaies on Sept. 23, 1986, and equaled by the New York Mets’ Jacob deGrom on Sept. 15, 2014.

2019 — The Minnesota Twins become the first team to hit 300 home runs in a season.

TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY

Sept. 26

1942 — Jockey Club stewards revoke Eddie Arcaro’s license for one year after his display of “rough riding” aboard odds-on favorite Occupation in the Cowdin Stakes on Sept. 19, in which he attempted to injure a fellow rider during the race.

1961 — New York Yankee Roger Maris ties Babe Ruth’s 34-year-old record with his 60th homer, off Jack Fisher of Baltimore.

1981 — Nolan Ryan of the Houston Astros becomes the first player to pitch five no-hit, no-run games. This one is a 5-0 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers at the Astrodome.

1981 — Kelvin Bryant of North Carolina rushes for 173 yards and scores four touchdowns in a 56-14 victory over Boston College, giving him 15 touchdowns over the last three games, an NCAA record.

1983 — Australia II wins America’s Cup yacht race to end the longest winning streak in sporting history. Australia II, skippered by John Bertrand, wins the title in the seventh and final race. Australia II crosses the finish line with a winning margin of 41 seconds over Liberty, which is skippered by Dennis Conner. The U.S. had successfully defended the cup over a period of 132 years, since the schooner America won it in a fleet race around England’s Isle of Wight in 1851.

1992 — Rocky Mountain’s Steve Thompson rushes for 405 yards and six touchdowns in a 42-36 overtime victory over Carroll College. The rushing total is the second highest in NAIA history.

1996 — SF Giant Barry Bonds is 2nd player to hit 40 HRs & steal 40 bases.

1998 — Prairie View A&M ends its NCAA-record 80-game losing streak by stopping a 2-point conversion in the final minute for a 14-12 victory over Langston. The victory is the Panthers’ first since Oct. 28, 1989, when they defeated Mississippi Valley 21-12.

2000 — At the Sydney Olympics, the U.S. softball team completes a stunning comeback by edging Japan 2-1 in extra innings to win its second straight gold medal.

2004 — Peyton Manning of Indianapolis passes for 393 yards and five first-half touchdowns in a 45-31 win over Green Bay. Manning has the most TD throws in one half since Tommy Kramer in 1986, and the most yards in a quarter, 247, since Boomer Esiason in 1996.

2004 — San Francisco’s 34-0 loss at Seattle ends a 420-game streak of not being blanked for the 49ers, an NFL record.

2010 — Christine Sinclair has two goals and Marta adds a goal and two assists as the FC Gold Pride beat the Philadelphia Independence 4-0 to win the Women’s Professional Soccer championship.

2010 — Seattle’s Leon Washington returns two kickoffs — 101 and 99 yards — for touchdowns in the Seahawks’ 27-20 win over San Diego.

2015 — Aaron Green catches a tipped pass in the back of the end zone with 23 seconds left and No. 3 TCU outlasts Texas Tech 55-52 in the Big 12 opener for both teams. On fourth-and-goal from the 4, Trevor Boykin throws four touchdown passes and finishes with a career-high 509 yards for TCU.

2015 — Sebastian Giovinco breaks the MLS single-season points record, assisting on two goals in Toronto FC’s 3-2 victory over the Chicago Fire to push his total to 35.

2017 — Sylvia Fowles grabs a WNBA Finals-record 17 rebounds and scores 13 points to lead the Minnesota Lynx to a 70-68 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks in Game 2, evening the series at one game apiece.

2021 — United States regains the Ryder Cup beating Team Europe 19-9 at Whistling Straits, Haven, Wisconsin.

TV SPORTS THURSDAY

NFL REGULAR SEASON	TIME ET	TV
Dallas at NY Giants	8:15pm	Prime
MLB REGULAR SEASON	TIME ET	TV
Milwaukee at Pittsburgh	12:35pm	Bally Sports Wisconsin ATTSN-PIT
Kansas City at Washington	1:05pm	MLBN Bally Sports Kansas City MASN2
Tampa Bay at Detroit	1:10pm	Bally Sports Sun Bally Sports Detroit
LA Angels at Chi. White Sox	2:10pm	NBCS-CHI Bally Sports West
St. Louis at Colorado	3:10pm	Bally Sports Midwest Rockies.TV
Texas at Oakland	3:37pm	NBCS-CA Bally Sports Southwest
Baltimore at NY Yankees	7:05pm	MLBN YES MASN
NY Mets at Atlanta	7:20pm	SNY Bally Sports South
Miami at Minnesota	7:40pm	Bally Sports Florida Bally Sports North
COLLEGE FOOTBALL	TIME ET	TV
Army at Temple	7:30pm	ESPN
WNBA PLAYOFFS	TIME ET	TV
First Round Game 3: New York at Atlanta	7:30pm	ESPN2
First Round Game 3: Las Vegas at Seattle	9:30pm	ESPN2
GOLF	TIME ET	TV
DP World: Open de España	8:00am	GOLF
Presidents Cup	11:30am	GOLF
SOCCER	TIME ET	TV
Coppa Italia: Monza vs Brescia	12:30pm	Paramount+
UEFA Europa League: Malmö FF vs Rangers	12:45pm	CBSSN Paramount+
UEFA Europa League: Fenerbahçe vs Union Saint-Gilloise	12:45pm	Paramount+
La Liga: Espanyol vs Villarreal	1:00pm	ESPN+
La Liga: Las Palmas vs Real Betis	1:00pm	ESPN+
La Liga: Celta de Vigo vs Atlético Madrid	3:00pm	ESPN+
UEFA Europa League: Roma vs Athletic Club	3:00pm	CBSSN Paramount+
UEFA Europa League: Ajax vs Beşiktaş	3:00pm	Paramount+
UEFA Europa League: Eintracht Frankfurt vs Viktoria Plzeň	3:00pm	Paramount+
UEFA Europa League: FCSB vs Rīgas FS	3:00pm	Paramount+
UEFA Europa League: Olympique Lyonnais vs Olympiakos Piraeus	3:00pm	Paramount+
UEFA Europa League: Roma vs Athletic Club	3:00pm	Paramount+
UEFA Europa League: Tottenham Hotspur vs Qarabağ	3:00pm	Paramount+
Coppa Italia: Napoli vs Palermo	3:00pm	Paramount+
TENNIS	TIME ET	TV
Tokyo: ATP & Beijing: ATP/WTA Early Rounds	6:00am	TENNIS