THE INDIANA SRN “SPORTSPAGE” TUESDAY OCTOBER 22, 2024

“THE SCOREBOARD”

INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL WEEK 10 (SECTIONAL FIRST ROUND)

SECTIONAL 17

HANOVER CENTRAL (7-2) AT EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL (1-8)

HIGHLAND (1-8) AT KANKAKEE VALLEY (4-5)

GARY WEST (5-4) AT NEW PRAIRIE (6-3)

HOBART (5-4) AT LOWELL (4-5)

SECTIONAL 18

WAWASEE (1-8) AT PLYMOUTH (5-4)

MISHAWAKA (7-2) AT NORTHRIDGE (3-6)

SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH (5-4) AT SOUTH BEND RILEY (2-6)

SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON (0-9) AT NORTHWOOD (4-5)

SECTIONAL 19

FORT WAYNE SOUTH (2-7) AT EAST NOBLE (8-1)

LEO (7-2) AT DEKALB (4-5)

COLUMBIA CITY (8-1) AT FORT WAYNE DWENGER (4-5)

NEW HAVEN (1-8) AT FORT WAYNE WAYNE (3-5)

SECTIONAL 20

FRANKFORT (0-9) AT HUNTINGTON NORTH (6-3)

MUNCIE CENTRAL (2-7) AT LOGANSPORT (8-1)

CULVER ACADEMY (8-1) AT LEBANON (7-2)

SECTIONAL 21

BEECH GROVE (4-5) AT GREENFIELD-CENTRAL (7-2)

NEW CASTLE (4-5) AT PENDLETON HEIGHTS (4-5)

YORKTOWN (6-3) AT RICHMOND (1-8)

MOUNT VERNON (FORTVILLE) (4-5) AT NEW PALESTINE (8-0)

SECTIONAL 22

INDIANAPOLIS SHORTRIDGE (2-6) AT MOORESVILLE (3-6)

INDIANAPOLIS CHATARD (6-2) AT INDIANAPOLIS ATTUCKS (6-1)

NORTHVIEW (8-1) AT INDIANAPOLIS RONCALLI (4-4)

DANVILLE (8-1) AT BREBEUF JESUIT (7-2)

SECTIONAL 23

SILVER CREEK (4-5) AT CONNERSVILLE (2-7)

CHARLESTOWN (2-7) AT MARTINSVILLE (8-1)

JENNINGS COUNTY (0-9) AT BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE (1-8)

SHELBYVILLE (1-8) AT GREENWOOD (2-7)

SECTIONAL 24

WASHINGTON (5-4) AT BOONVILLE (4-5)

JASPER (5-4) AT EVANSVILLE HARRISON (2-7)

EVANSVILLE CENTRAL (1-8) AT EVANSVILLE REITZ (7-2)

SECTIONAL 25

JOHN GLENN (1-7) AT JIMTOWN (6-3)

CALUMET (5-4) AT MISHAWAKA MARIAN (4-5)

KNOX (6-3) AT RIVER FOREST (5-4)

HAMMOND NOLL (3-6) AT GRIFFITH (8-1)

SECTIONAL 26

LAKELAND (5-4) AT GARRETT (9-0)

WOODLAN (5-4) AT TIPPECANOE VALLEY (6-3)

WEST NOBLE (8-1) AT ANGOLA (4-5)

FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA (2-7) AT FAIRFIELD (4-5)

SECTIONAL 27

FRANKTON (2-7) AT WEST LAFAYETTE (6-3)

BENTON CENTRAL (0-9) AT NORTHWESTERN (8-1)

WESTERN (0-9) AT TWIN LAKES (4-5)

PERU (4-5) AT MACONAQUAH (9-0)

SECTIONAL 28

NORWELL (2-7) AT FORT WAYNE LUERS (5-4)

JAY COUNTY (2-7) AT BELLMONT (0-9)

HERITAGE (8-1) AT DELTA (4-5)

OAK HILL (6-3) AT MISSISSINEWA (9-0)

SECTIONAL 29

HAMILTON HEIGHTS (3-6) AT SPEEDWAY (4-5)

WEST VIGO (4-5) AT GUERIN CATHOLIC (4-5)

CASCADE (9-0) AT CRAWFORDSVILLE (3-6)

TRI-WEST (5-4) AT INDIANAPOLIS WASHINGTON (3-5)

SECTIONAL 30

RUSHVILLE (6-3) AT FRANKLIN COUNTY (6-3)

PURDUE POLY ENGLEWOOD (2-6) AT GREENSBURG (0-9)

SOUTH DEARBORN (4-5) AT LAWRENCEBURG (8-1)

SECTIONAL 31

SCOTTSBURG (6-3) AT OWEN VALLEY (0-9)

NORTH HARRISON (6-3) AT CORYDON CENTRAL (3-6)

EDGEWOOD (2-7) AT INDIAN CREEK (4-5)

SECTIONAL 32

EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL (9-0) AT EVANSVILLE MATER DEI (7-2)

MOUNT VERNON (POSEY) (5-4) AT SOUTHRIDGE (7-2)

VINCENNES LINCOLN (3-6) AT PRINCETON (1-8)

HERITAGE HILLS (8-1) AT GIBSON SOUTHERN (7-2)

SECTIONAL 33

BREMEN (5-4) AT LAKE STATION (2-7)

WHITING (2-7) AT ANDREAN (5-4)

WHEELER (7-2) AT BOONE GROVE (6-3)

SECTIONAL 34

WESTERN BOONE (7-2) AT NORTH PUTNAM (7-2)

LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC (8-0) AT DELPHI (6-3)

NORTH MONTGOMERY (3-6) AT SOUTHMONT (3-6)

SEEGER (3-6) AT LEWIS CASS (4-5)

SECTIONAL 35

CHURUBUSCO (4-5) AT MANCHESTER (5-4)

ADAMS CENTRAL (8-1) AT BLUFFTON (6-3)

EASTSIDE (4-5) AT WHITKO (0-9)

PRAIRIE HEIGHTS (4-5) AT CENTRAL NOBLE (0-9)

SECTIONAL 36

ALEXANDRIA (6-3) AT WABASH (2-7)

EASTBROOK (4-5) AT TIPTON (5-4)

ELWOOD (1-8) AT ROCHESTER (7-2)

BLACKFORD (2-7) AT EASTERN (GREENTOWN) (5-4)

SECTIONAL 37

INDIANAPOLIS SCECINA (3-6) AT MONROVIA (7-2)

INDIANAPOLIS RITTER (2-6) AT PARK TUDOR (6-3)

HERITAGE CHRISTIAN (7-2) AT INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN (8-1)

SECTIONAL 38

LAPEL (6-3) AT NORTHEASTERN (9-0)

EASTERN HANCOCK (5-4) AT CENTERVILLE (8-1)

TRITON CENTRAL (7-2) AT UNION COUNTY (0-9)

SHENANDOAH (5-4) AT WINCHESTER (4-5)

SECTIONAL 39

GREENCASTLE (3-6) AT PIKE CENTRAL (3-6)

MITCHELL (1-8) AT BROWN COUNTY (5-4)

NORTH POSEY (7-2) AT SOUTH VERMILLION (9-0)

SULLIVAN (3-6) AT LINTON (7-2)

SECTIONAL 40

BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL (9-0) AT SWITZERLAND COUNTY (6-3)

EASTERN (PEKIN) (1-8) AT PAOLI (9-0)

TELL CITY (4-5) AT CRAWFORD COUNTY (1-8)

CLARKSVILLE (0-9) AT SALEM (4-5)

SECTIONAL 41

SOUTH NEWTON (3-6) AT NORTH JUDSON (9-0)

SOUTH CENTRAL (UNION MILLS) (2-7) AT CULVER (1-8)

BOWMAN ACADEMY (0-9) AT NORTH NEWTON (2-7)

WEST CENTRAL (6-3) AT LAVILLE (4-5)

SECTIONAL 42

PIONEER (6-3) AT CASTON (2-7)

CARROLL (FLORA) (9-0) AT FRONTIER (8-0)

NORTH WHITE (4-5) AT TRI-COUNTY (6-3)

TAYLOR (4-5) AT WINAMAC (4-4)

SECTIONAL 43

SOUTHWOOD (0-9) AT TRITON (6-3)

FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK (1-7) AT NORTH MIAMI (7-2)

FREMONT (3-6) AT NORTHFIELD (3-6)

SECTIONAL 44

TRI (6-3) AT WES-DEL (5-4)

UNION CITY (2-7) AT SOUTH ADAMS (4-5)

MONROE CENTRAL (6-3) AT MADISON-GRANT (8-1)

CAMBRIDGE CITY LINCOLN (1-8) AT HAGERSTOWN (3-6)

SECTIONAL 45

COVINGTON (5-4) AT ATTICA (0-9)

FOUNTAIN CENTRAL (4-5) AT SOUTH PUTNAM (7-2)

PARKE HERITAGE (1-8) AT RIVERTON PARKE (6-3)

NORTH VERMILLION (8-1) AT NORTH CENTRAL (FARMERSBURG) (3-6)

SECTIONAL 46

TRI-CENTRAL (2-7) AT INDIANAPOLIS TINDLEY (4-4)

SHERIDAN (4-5) AT CLINTON CENTRAL (3-6)

CLINTON PRAIRIE (4-5) AT IRVINGTON PREP (0-6)

SECTIONAL 47

MILAN (5-4) AT KNIGHTSTOWN (5-4)

WEST WASHINGTON (3-6) AT SOUTH DECATUR (4-4)

EASTERN GREENE (3-6) AT GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN (7-2)

NORTH DECATUR (8-1) AT EDINBURGH (0-9)

SECTIONAL 48

NORTH KNOX (2-7) AT NORTH DAVIESS (6-3)

PERRY CENTRAL (5-4) AT TECUMSEH (0-8)

PROVIDENCE (8-0) AT SPRINGS VALLEY (8-1)

SOUTH SPENCER (5-4) AT FOREST PARK (5-4)

FINAL INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COACHES POLLS

6A

1 LAWRENCE NORTH 9-0

2 WESTFIELD 8-1

3 CROWN POINT 9-0

4 BROWNSBURG 9-0

5 WARREN CENTRAL 8-1

6 CATHEDRAL 5-3

7 CENTER GROVE 5-4

7 ELKHART 8-1

9 COLUMBUS NORTH 8-1

10 HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN

5A

1 CONCORD 9-0

2 LAFAYETTE JEFF 9-0

3 MERRILLVILLE 8-1

4 DECATUR CENTRAL 6-2

5 PLAINFIELD 8-1

6 CASTLE 7-2

7 EAST CENTRAL 6-3

8 VALPARAISO 6-3

9 BLOOMINGTON NORTH 7-2

10 WARSAW 6-3

4A

1 NEW PALESTINE 8-0

2 EAST NOBLE 8-1

3 BISHOP CHATARD 6-2

4 MARTINSVILLE 8-1

5 COLUMBIA CITY 8-1

6 MISHAWAKA 7-2

7 BREBEUF 7-2

8 GREENFIELD-CENTRAL 7-2

9 DANVILLE

10 LOGANSPORT 8-1

3A

1 EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL 9-0

2 HERITAGE HILLS 8-1

3 GIBSON SOUTHERN 7-2

4 MISSISSINEWA 9-0

5 LAWRENCEBURG 8-1

6 EVANSVILLE MATER DEI 7-2

7 GARRETT 9-0

8 CASCADE 9-0

9 SOUTHRIDGE 7-2

10 MACAONQUAH 9-0

2A

1 LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC 8-0

2 INDY LUTHERAN 8-1

3 BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL 9-0

4 ADAMS CENTRAL 8-1

5 SOUTH VERMILLION 9-0

6 LINTON 7-2

6 PAOLI 9-0

8 WESTERN BOONE 7-2

9 MONROVIA 7-2

10 HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 7-2

10 NORTH POSEY 7-2

1A

1 NORTH JUDSON 9-0

2 PROVIDENCE 8-0

3 CARROLL FLORA 9-0

4 MADISON GRANT 8-1

4 NORTH DECATUR 8-1

6 SOUTH PUTNAM 7-2

8 FRONTIER 8-0

9 NORTH VERMILLION 8-1

10 TRITON 6-3

FINAL USA TODAY NETWORK INDIANA FOOTBALL POLLS

CLASS 6A

                                                          W-L       PTS.        PREV.

1. LAWRENCE NORTH (8)        9-0         151        2 (TIE)
2. CROWN POINT (7)               9-0         147        2 (TIE)
3. WESTFIELD (1)                    8-1         123        4
4. BROWNSBURG                     8-1         117        1
5. WARREN CENTRAL               8-1         101        6
6. COLUMBUS NORTH              8-1         55          8
7. CATHEDRAL                         5-3         54          5
8. ELKHART                              8-1         48          9
9. HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN 6-3         38          NR
10. CARROLL (FORT WAYNE)       7-2         28          10

CLASS 5A

                                                          W-L       PTS.       PREV.

1. CONCORD (13)                    9-0         156        1
2. MERRILLVILLE (3)                  8-1         142        2
3. LAFAYETTE JEFF                   9-0         133        3
4. DECATUR CENTRAL               6-2         108        4
5. PLAINFIELD                          8-1         99          5
6. BLOOMINGTON NORTH        7-2         77          8
7. VALPARAISO                        6-3         53          9
8. CASTLE                                7-2         35          7
9. EAST CENTRAL                      6-3         30          6
10. WARSAW                             6-3         28          10

CLASS 4A

                                                          W-L       PTS.       PREV.

1. NEW PALESTINE (16)         8-0         160        1
2. EAST NOBLE                        8-1         121        4
3. MARTINSVILLE                      8-1         109        2
4. BISHOP CHATARD                6-2         106        3
5. MISHAWAKA                      7-2         94          5
6. COLUMBIA CITY                  8-1         78          6
7. BREBEUF JESUIT                  7-2         59          7
8. EVANSVILLE REITZ                7-2         44          8 (TIE)
9. DANVILLE                             8-1         39          10
10. LEO                                    7-2         33          8 (TIE)

CLASS 3A

                                                          W-L       PTS.        PREV.

1. EV. MEMORIAL (15)           9-0         159        1
2. HERITAGE HILLS (1)             8-1         136        2
3. MISSISSINEWA                   9-0         129        3
4. (TIE) GARRETT                     9-0         95          5
5. (TIE) LAWRENCEBURG         8-1         95          4
6. GIBSON SOUTHERN             7-2         76          6
7. MACONAQUAH                   9-0         55          8
8. CASCADE                            9-0         51          9
9. EVANSVILLE MATER DEI       7-2         32          7
10. WEST NOBLE                      8-1         26          10

CLASS 2A

                                                          W-L       PTS.       PREV.

1. LAF. CENTRAL CATH. (11)    8-0         153        1
2. BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL (5) 9-0         146        2
3. LUTHERAN                           8-1         132        3
4. ADAMS CENTRAL                 8-1         97          4
5. PAOLI                                  9-0         74          7
6. TRITON CENTRAL                  7-2         67          5
7. LINTON-STOCKTON               7-2         54          8
8. SOUTH VERMILLION             9-0         49          9
9. NORTHEASTERN                   9-0         28          NR
10. NORTH POSEY                     7-2         25          10

CLASS A

                                                          W-L       PTS.       PREV.

1. NORTH JUDSON (16)           9-0         160        1
2. PROVIDENCE                       8-0         140        2
3. CARROLL (FLORA)                  9-0         130        3
4. NORTH DECATUR                 8-1         107        5
5. MADISON-GRANT                8-1         90          4
6. SPRINGS VALLEY                  8-1         75          6
7. SOUTH PUTNAM                  7-2         67          7
8. FRONTIER                             8-0         51          9
9. NORTH VERMILLION             8-1         29          10 (TIE)
10. NORTH MIAMI                    7-2         20          NR

INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL BOYS SOCCER

SEMI-STATE

SATURDAY OCTOBER 26

NORTH

1. KOKOMO

1:00 PM ET | CLASS 1A BOYS | BETHANY CHRISTIAN V COVENANT CHRISTIAN

3:30 PM ET | CLASS 2A BOYS | FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA LUTHERAN V PARK TUDOR

6:00 PM ET | CLASS 3A GIRLS | PENN V NOBLESVILLE

2. SOUTH BEND SAINT JOSEPH

1:00 PM ET | CLASS 1A GIRLS | WESTVIEW V FAITH CHRISTIAN

3:30 PM ET | CLASS 2A GIRLS | MISHAWAKA MARIAN V HANOVER CENTRAL

6:00 PM ET | CLASS 3A BOYS | CONCORD V HARRISON (WL)

SOUTH

3. EVANSVILLE NORTH

12:00 PM CT | CLASS 1A GIRLS | HERITAGE CHRISTIAN V PROVIDENCE

2:30 PM CT | CLASS 1A BOYS | GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN V NORTHEAST DUBOIS

5:00 PM CT | CLASS 2A BOYS | INDIANAPOLIS BISHOP CHATARD V EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL

4. MARTINSVILLE

1:00 PM ET | CLASS 3A GIRLS | EAST CENTRAL V CENTER GROVE

3:30 PM ET | CLASS 2A GIRLS | BREBEUF JESUIT PREPARATORY V LAWRENCEBURG

6:00 PM ET | CLASS 3A BOYS | SOUTHPORT V BLOOMINGTON SOUTH

INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS SOCCER SEMI-STATE

SATURDAY OCTOBER 26

NORTH

1. KOKOMO

1:00 PM ET | CLASS 1A BOYS | BETHANY CHRISTIAN V COVENANT CHRISTIAN

3:30 PM ET | CLASS 2A BOYS | FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA LUTHERAN V PARK TUDOR

6:00 PM ET | CLASS 3A GIRLS | PENN V NOBLESVILLE

2. SOUTH BEND SAINT JOSEPH

1:00 PM ET | CLASS 1A GIRLS | WESTVIEW V FAITH CHRISTIAN

3:30 PM ET | CLASS 2A GIRLS | MISHAWAKA MARIAN V HANOVER CENTRAL

6:00 PM ET | CLASS 3A BOYS | CONCORD V HARRISON (WL)

SOUTH

3. EVANSVILLE NORTH

12:00 PM CT | CLASS 1A GIRLS | HERITAGE CHRISTIAN V PROVIDENCE

2:30 PM CT | CLASS 1A BOYS | GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN V NORTHEAST DUBOIS

5:00 PM CT | CLASS 2A BOYS | INDIANAPOLIS BISHOP CHATARD V EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL

4. MARTINSVILLE

1:00 PM ET | CLASS 3A GIRLS | EAST CENTRAL V CENTER GROVE

3:30 PM ET | CLASS 2A GIRLS | BREBEUF JESUIT PREPARATORY V LAWRENCEBURG

6:00 PM ET | CLASS 3A BOYS | SOUTHPORT V BLOOMINGTON SOUTH

INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL REGIONALS

SATURDAY OCTOBER 26

NORTH

LAPORTE

4 PM CT | CLASS 1A | SOUTH NEWTON VS FREMONT

7 PM CT | CLASS 4A | CHESTERTON VS PENN

CULVER COMMUNITY

1 PM ET | CLASS 1A | CULVER COMMUNITY VS MARQUETTE CATHOLIC  

4 PM ET | CLASS 2A | JIMTOWN VS BOONE GROVE

NORTHWOOD

4 PM ET | CLASS 2A | WOODLAN VS LAKELAND

7 PM ET | CLASS 3A | NEW PRAIRIE VS NORTHWOOD

HOMESTEAD

1 PM ET | CLASS 4A | HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN VS HARRISON (WEST LAFAYETTE)

4 PM ET | CLASS 4A | HOMESTEAD VS CARROLL (FORT WAYNE)

SOUTHWOOD

4 PM ET | CLASS 2A | LAPEL VS SOUTHWOOD   

7 PM ET | CLASS 3A | ANGOLA VS WEST LAFAYETTE

NORWELL

1 PM ET | CLASS 1A | DALEVILLE VS FAITH CHRISTIAN

4 PM ET | CLASS 3A | HERITAGE VS NEW CASTLE

TWIN LAKES

4 PM ET | CLASS 3A | HAMMOND BISHOP NOLL VS ILLIANA CHRISTIAN

7 PM ET | CLASS 4A | CROWN POINT VS WARSAW

ELWOOD

1 PM ET | CLASS 1A | SETON CATHOLIC VS ROSSVILLE

4 PM ET | CLASS 2A | WESTERN BOONE VS MUNCIE BURRIS

SOUTH

GREENFIELD-CENTRAL

4 PM ET | CLASS 4A | CENTER GROVE VS BROWNSBURG

7 PM ET | CLASS 4A | YORKTOWN VS LAWRENCE NORTH

CASCADE

1 PM ET | CLASS 3A | NORTHVIEW VS RONCALLI

4 PM ET | CLASS 3A | INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL VS TRI-WEST HENDRICKS

MONROVIA

4 PM ET | CLASS 2A | WINCHESTER VS PARKE HERITAGE

7 PM ET | CLASS 2A | COVENANT CHRISTIAN (INDPLS.) VS INDIANAPOLIS SCECINA MEMORIAL

BLOOMINGTON NORTH

1 PM ET | CLASS 4A | FLOYD CENTRAL VS BLOOMINGTON NORTH

4 PM ET | CLASS 4A | FRANKLIN COMMUNITY VS CASTLE

LOOGOOTEE

4 PM ET | CLASS 1A | CHRISTIAN ACADEMY OF INDIANA VS LOOGOOTEE

7 PM ET | CLASS 1A | SHAKAMAK VS SPRINGS VALLEY

MITCHELL

1 PM ET | CLASS 2A | BARR-REEVE VS EASTERN (PEKIN)

4 PM ET | CLASS 3A | EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL VS SILVER CREEK

EDINBURGH

4 PM ET | CLASS 1A | INDIANAPOLIS DEAF VS INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN

7 PM ET | CLASS 1A | SOUTH DECATUR VS TRINITY LUTHERAN

JENNINGS COUNTY

1 PM ET | CLASS 2A | BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL VS TECUMSEH

4 PM ET | CLASS 3A | JASPER VS JENNINGS COUNTY

INDIANA CROSS COUNTRY REGIONALS

SATURDAY OCTOBER 26

1. NEW PRAIRIE: GIRLS 10:30 AM CT; BOYS 11:15 AM CT
FEEDER SECTIONALS: HIGHLAND, CHESTERTON, NEW PRAIRIE, ELKHART, RENSSELAER CENTRAL

2. NEW HAVEN (@ HUNTINGTON UNIVERSITY): 10:30 AM ET; BOYS 11:15 AM ET
FEEDER SECTIONALS: MANCHESTER, WEST NOBLE, NEW HAVEN, DELTA, MARION

3. BROWNSBURG: GIRLS 10:30 AM ET; BOYS 11:15 AM ET
FEEDER SECTIONALS: LOGANSPORT, HARRISON (WEST LAFAYETTE), NORTH CENTRAL (INDIANAPOLIS), TERRE HAUTE NORTH VIGO, BEN DAVIS

4. SHELBYVILLE: GIRLS 10:30 AM ET; BOYS 11:15 AM ET
FEEDER SECTIONALS: NOBLESVILLE, MT. VERNON (FORTVILLE), RUSHVILLE CONSOLIDATED, SHELBYVILLE, SOUTHWESTERN (HANOVER)

5. EVANSVILLE MATER DEI (ANGEL MOUNDS): 10:30 AM CT; BOYS 11:15 AM CT
FEEDER SECTIONALS: BROWN COUNTY, BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE, CRAWFORD COUNTY, JASPER, EVANSVILLE MATER DEI

COLLEGE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE WEEK 9

THURSDAY, OCT. 22

7:30 P.M. | SAM HOUSTON AT FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL | ESPNU

8 P.M. | UTEP AT LOUISIANA TECH | CBSSN

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 23

7 P.M. | LIBERTY AT KENNESAW STATE | CBSSN

7:30 P.M. | MIDDLE TENNESSEE AT JACKSONVILLE STATE | ESPN2

THURSDAY, OCT. 24

7 P.M. | GEORGIA SOUTHERN AT OLD DOMINION | ESPN2

7:30 P.M. | SYRACUSE AT NO. 19 PITT | ESPN

FRIDAY, OCT. 25

7 P.M. | YALE AT PENN | ESPNU

7:30 P.M. | LOUISVILLE AT BOSTON COLLEGE | ESPN2

10:30 P.M. | NO. 17 BOISE STATE AT UNLV | CBSSN

11 P.M. | RUTGERS AT USC | FOX

SATURDAY, OCT. 26

12 P.M. | NEBRASKA AT NO. 4 OHIO STATE | FOX

12 P.M. | NO. 12 NOTRE DAME VS. NO. 24 NAVY (IN EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY) | ABC

12 P.M. | WASHINGTON AT NO. 13 INDIANA | BIG TEN NETWORK

12 P.M. | OKLAHOMA AT NO. 18 OLE MISS | ESPN

12 P.M. | GEORGIA TECH AT VIRGINIA TECH | ACC NETWORK

12 P.M. | NORTH CAROLINA AT VIRGINIA | CW NETWORK

12 P.M. | CHARLOTTE AT MEMPHIS | ESPNU

12 P.M. | TULANE AT NORTH TEXAS | ESPN2

12 P.M. | BUFFALO AT OHIO | CBSSN

12 P.M. | RICHMOND AT BRYANT | FLOSPORTS

12 P.M. | VALPARAISO AT MARIST | FLOSPORTS

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

12 P.M. | CENTRAL CONNECTICUT AT LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY | ESPN+

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

12 P.M. | MERCYHURST AT SACRED HEART | ESPN+

12:45 P.M. | ARKANSAS AT MISSISSIPPI STATE | SEC NETWORK

1 P.M. | GEORGIA STATE AT APPALACHIAN STATE | ESPN+

1 P.M. | MAINE AT RHODE ISLAND | FLOSPORTS

1 P.M. | TOWSON AT MONMOUTH | FLOSPORTS

1 P.M. | SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AT INDIANA STATE | ESPN+

1 P.M. | BUTLER AT DAVIDSON | ESPN+

1 P.M. | PRESBYTERIAN AT STETSON | ESPN+

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

1:30 P.M. | DARTMOUTH AT COLUMBIA | ESPN+

1:30 P.M. | HOLY CROSS AT LAFAYETTE | ESPN+

2 P.M. | CENTRAL MICHIGAN AT MIAMI (OHIO) | ESPN+

2 P.M. | TEMPLE AT EAST CAROLINA | ESPN+

2 P.M. | ELON AT HAMPTON | FLOSPORTS

2 P.M. | SOUTHERN UTAH AT WEST GEORGIA | ESPN+

2 P.M. | EAST TENNESSEE STATE AT WOFFORD | ESPN+

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

2 P.M. | SAMFORD AT THE CITADEL | ESPN+

2 P.M. | HOWARD AT NORFOLK STATE | ESPN+

2 P.M. | BUCKNELL AT GEORGETOWN | ESPN+

2:30 P.M. | CHARLESTON SOUTHERN AT TENNESSEE TECH | ESPN+

3 P.M. | UALBANY AT DELAWARE | FLOSPORTS

3 P.M. | UTAH TECH AT EASTERN KENTUCKY | ESPN+

3 P.M. | EASTERN ILLINOIS AT UT MARTIN | ESPN+

3 P.M. | GARDNER-WEBB AT SE MISSOURI STATE | ESPN+

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

3 P.M. | LAMAR AT NORTHWESTERN STATE | ESPN+

3 P.M. | MONTANA AT NORTHERN COLORADO | ESPN+

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

3 P.M. | TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE AT PRAIRIE VIEW A&M | ESPN+

3:30 P.M. | NO. 21 MISSOURI AT NO. 15 ALABAMA | ABC

3:30 P.M. | NO. 11 BYU AT UCF | ESPN

3:30 P.M. | NO. 20 ILLINOIS AT NO. 1 OREGON | CBS/PARAMOUNT+

3:30 P.M. | NORTHWESTERN AT IOWA | BIG TEN NETWORK

3:30 P.M. | MARYLAND AT MINNESOTA | FS1

3:30 P.M. | RICE AT UCONN | CBSSN

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

3:30 P.M. | OKLAHOMA STATE AT BAYLOR | ESPN+

3:30 P.M. | SOUTHERN MISS AT JAMES MADISON | ESPN+

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

3:30 P.M. | NORTHERN ILLINOIS AT BALL STATE | ESPN+

3:30 P.M. | BOWLING GREEN AT TOLEDO | ESPN+

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

3:30 P.M. | WAGNER AT UMASS | ESPN+

3:30 P.M. | UTSA AT TULSA | ESPN+

3:30 P.M. | NEW HAMPSHIRE AT VILLANOVA | FLOSPORTS

3:30 P.M. | WILLIAM & MARY AT STONY BROOK | FLOSPORTS

3:30 P.M. | WESTERN CAROLINA AT MERCER | ESPN+

3:30 P.M. | ALABAMA STATE VS. ALABAMA A&M (IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA) | ESPNU

3:30 P.M. | DELAWARE STATE AT SOUTH CAROLINA STATE | ESPN+

3:30 P.M. | MORGAN STATE AT NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL | ESPN+

4 P.M. | OREGON STATE AT CAL | ESPN2

4 P.M. | NORTH CAROLINA A&T AT CAMPBELL | FLOSPORTS

4 P.M. | TARLETON STATE AT AUSTIN PEAY | ESPN+

4 P.M. | VMI AT CHATTANOOGA | ESPN+

4 P.M. | MCNEESE AT NICHOLLS | ESPN+

4:15 P.M. | NO. 5 TEXAS AT NO. 25 VANDERBILT | SEC NETWORK

5 P.M. | NEW MEXICO AT COLORADO STATE | ALTITUDE SPORTS/MW NETWORK

5 P.M. | UL MONROE AT SOUTH ALABAMA | ESPN+

5 P.M. | NORTH ALABAMA AT CENTRAL ARKANSAS | ESPN+

5 P.M. | MISSOURI STATE AT UNI | ESPN+

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

6 P.M. | NORTH DAKOTA AT YOUNGSTOWN STATE | ESPN+

7 P.M. | FLORIDA STATE AT NO. 6 MIAMI (FLA.) | ESPN

7 P.M. | UTAH STATE AT WYOMING | CBSSN

7 P.M. | TROY AT ARKANSAS STATE | ESPN+

7 P.M. | UIW AT SE LOUISIANA | ESPN+

7 P.M. | SOUTHERN AT FLORIDA A&M | ESPN+

7 P.M. | HOUSTON CHRISTIAN AT STEPHEN F. AUSTIN | ESPN+

7:30 P.M. | NO. 8 LSU AT NO. 14 TEXAS A&M | ABC

7:30 P.M. | NO. 3 PENN STATE AT WISCONSIN | NBC/PEACOCK

7:30 P.M. | MICHIGAN STATE AT MICHIGAN | BIG TEN NETWORK

7:30 P.M. | SOUTH DAKOTA AT SOUTH DAKOTA STATE | ESPNU

7:45 P.M. | AUBURN AT KENTUCKY | SEC NETWORK

8 P.M. | KANSAS AT NO. 16 KANSAS STATE | ESPN2

8 P.M. | NO. 22 SMU AT DUKE | ACC NETWORK

8 P.M. | SAN JOSE STATE AT FRESNO STATE | TRUTV/MAX

9 P.M. | EASTERN WASHINGTON AT IDAHO | ESPN+

10:15 P.M. | CINCINNATI AT COLORADO | ESPN

10:30 P.M. | WASHINGTON STATE AT SAN DIEGO STATE | CBSSN

MIDNIGHT | NEVADA AT HAWAI’I | SPECTRUM SPORTS PPV

WEST VIRGINIA AT ARIZONA

UTAH AT HOUSTON

TEXAS TECH AT TCU

INDIANA HOOSIERS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

INDIANA 31 FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL 7

INDIANA 77 WESTERN ILLINOIS 3

INDIANA 42 UCLA 13

INDIANA 52 CHARLOTTE 14

INDIANA 42 MARYLAND 28

INDIANA 41 NORTHWESTERN 24

INDIANA 56 NEBRASKA 7

OCTOBER 26 VS. WASHINGTON TBA

NOVEMBER 2 AT MICHIGAN STATE TBA

NOVEMBER 9 VS. MICHIGAN TBA

NOVEMBER 23 AT OHIO STATE TBA

NOVEMBER 30 VS. PURDUE TBA

PURDUE BOILERMAKERS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

PURDUE 49 INDIANA STATE 0

NOTRE DAME 66 PURDUE 7

OREGON STATE 38 PURDUE 21

NEBRASKA 28 PURDUE 10

WISCONSIN 52 PURDUE 6

ILLINOIS 50 PURDUE 49 OT

OREGON 35 PURDUE 0

NOVEMBER 2 VS. NORTHWESTERN TBA

NOVEMBER 9 AT OHIO STATE TBA

NOVEMBER 16 VS. PENN STATE TBA

NOVEMBER 22 AT MICHIGAN STATE 8:00

NOVEMBER 30 AT INDIANA TBA

NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

NOTRE DAME 23 TEXAS A&M 13

NORTHERN ILLINOIS 16 NOTRE DAME 14

NOTRE DAME 66 PURDUE 7

NOTRE DAME 28 MIAMI OH 3

NOTRE DAME 31 LOUISVILLE 24

NOTRE DAME 49 STANFORD 7

NOTRE DAME 31 GEORGIA TECH 14

OCTOBER 26 AT NAVY 12:00

NOVEMBER 9 VS. FLORIDA STATE 7:30

NOVEMBER 16 VS. VIRGINIA 3:30

NOVEMBER 23 AT ARMY 7:00 (YANKEE STADIUM)

NOVEMBER 30 AT USC TBA

BUTLER BULLDOGS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

BUTLER 40 UPPER IOWA 7

BUTLER 19 MURRAY STATE 17

BUTLER 53 HANOVER 0

BUTLER 63 VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY-LYNCHBURG 0

BUTLER 40 MOREHEAD STATE 6

DRAKE 27 BUTLER 17

DAYTON 21 BUTLER 14

OCTOBER 26 AT DAVIDSON 1:00

NOVEMBER 2 VS. STETSON 1:00

NOVEMBER 9 AT VALPO 1:00 CT

NOVEMBER 16 VS. ST. THOMAS 1:00

NOVEMBER 23 AT PRESBYTERIAN 1:00

BALL STATE CARDINALS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

BALL STATE 42 MISSOURI STATE 34

MIAMI FL 62 BALL STATE 0

CENTRAL MICHIGAN 37 BALL STATE 34

JAMES MADISON 63 BALL STATE 7

WESTERN MICHIGAN 45 BALL STATE 42

BALL STATE 37 KENT STATE 35

VANDERBILT 24 BALL STATE 14

OCTOBER 26 VS. NORTHERN ILLINOIS TBA

NOVEMBER 5 VS. MIAMI OH TBA

NOVEMBER 12 AT BUFFALO 7:00

NOVEMBER 23 VS. BOWLING GREEN TBA

NOVEMBER 29 AT OHIO TBA

INDIANA STATE SYCAMORES FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

PURDUE 49 INDIANA STATE 0

EASTERN ILLINOIS 27 INDIANA STATE 20

INDIANA STATE 24 DAYTON 13

HOUSTON CHRISTIAN 27 INDIANA STATE 24

YOUNGSTOWN STATE 21 INDIANA STATE 14

INDIANA STATE 31 MURRAY STATE 27

MISSOURI STATE 46 INDIANA STATE 21

OCTOBER 26 VS. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 1:00

NOVEMBER 2 VS. NORTH DAKOTA 1:00

NOVEMBER 9 AT SOUTH DAKOTA 2:00

COLTS SCHEDULE

HOUSTON 29 INDIANAPOLIS 27

GREEN BAY 16 INDIANAPOLIS 10

INDIANAPOLIS 21 CHICAGO 16

INDIANAPOLIS 27 PITTSBURGH 24

JACKSONVILLE 37 INDIANAPOLIS 34

INDIANAPOLIS 20 TENNESSEE 17

INDIANAPOLIS 16 MIAMI 10

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 7 SCHEDULE

MONDAY, OCT. 21

BALTIMORE 41 TAMPA BAY 31

ARIZONA 17 LA CHARGERS 15

WEEK 8 SCHEDULE

THURSDAY, OCT. 24

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

SUNDAY, OCT. 27

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MONDAY, OCT. 28

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

WEEK 9 SCHEDULE

THURSDAY, OCT. 31

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

SUNDAY, NOV. 3

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MONDAY, NOV. 4

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

MLB PLAYOFF SCHEDULE

WORLD SERIES

FRIDAY, OCT. 25

GAME 1: NYY @ LAD (FOX)

SATURDAY, OCT. 26

GAME 2: NYY @ LAD (FOX)

MONDAY, OCT. 28

GAME 3: LAD @ NYY (FOX)

TUESDAY, OCT. 29

GAME 4: LAD @ NYY (FOX)

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 30

GAME 5^: LAD @ NYY (FOX)

FRIDAY, NOV. 1

GAME 6^: NYY @ LAD (FOX)

SATURDAY, NOV. 2

GAME 7^: NYY @ LAD (FOX)

(^IF NECESSARY)

NBA SCORES

NO GAMES SCHEDULED

NHL SCORES

TORONTO 5 TAMPA BAY 2

MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL PRE-SEASON ALL-AMERICAN TEAM

MARK SEARS, ALABAMA, 6-1, 190 POUNDS, SENIOR, 54 OF 55 VOTES (17.3 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 3.3 APG, 50.8 FG PCT, 85.7 FT PCT)

RJ DAVIS, NORTH CAROLINA, 6-0, 180, SENIOR, 51 (21.1 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 3.5 APG, 47 STEALS, 86.7 FT PCT)

HUNTER DICKINSON, KANSAS, 7-2, 265, SENIOR, 42 (17.9 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 2.3 APG, 54.8 FG PCT, 47 BLOCKS)

JOHNI BROOME, AUBURN, 6-10, 240, JUNIOR, 34 (16.5 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 54.8 FG PCT, 78 BLOCKS)

CALEB LOVE, ARIZONA, 6-4, 205, SENIOR, 24 (18 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 3.5 APG, 93 3-POINTERS, 44 STEALS)

COOPER FLAGG, DUKE, 6-9, 205, FRESHMAN, 24 (16.5 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 3.8 SPG, 2.7 BPG AT MONTEVERDE ACADEMY IN FLORIDA)

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: RYAN KALKBRENNER, CREIGHTON (15 VOTES); ALEX KARABAN, UCONN (10); LJ CRYER, HOUSTON (5); BRADEN SMITH, PURDUE (5); KAM JONES, MARQUETTE (2); TAMIN LIPSEY, IOWA STATE (2); WADE TAYLOR IV, TEXAS A&M; JOHNELL DAVIS, ARKANSAS; NORCHARD OMIER, BAYLOR; ACE BAILEY, RUTGERS; ROBBIE AVILA, SAINT LOUIS; TUCKER DEVRIES, WEST VIRGINIA; TRE JOHNSON, TEXAS

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER PLAYOFF SCHEDULE

ALL TIMES EDT

WILD CARD

EASTERN CONFERENCE

TUESDAY, OCT. 22: MONTREAL VS. ATLANTA, 7:30 P.M.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 23: VANCOUVER VS. PORTLAND, 10:30 P.M.

FIRST ROUND

BEST OF 3

X-IF NECESSARY

EASTERN CONFERENCE

CINCINNATI VS. NEW YORK CITY

MONDAY, OCT. 28: NEW YORK CITY AT CINCINNATI, 6:45 P.M.

SATURDAY, NOV. 2: CINCINNATI AT NEW YORK CITY, TBD

X-SUNDAY, NOV. 9: NEW YORK CITY AT CINCINNATI, 4 P.M.

ORLANDO VS. CHARLOTTE FC

FRIDAY, OCT. 25: CHARLOTTE FC AT ORLANDO, 7:40 P.M.

FRIDAY, NOV. 1: ORLANDO AT CHARLOTTE FC, 7:40 P.M.

X-SATURDAY, NOV. 9: CHARLOTTE FC AT ORLANDO, 6:10 P.M.

COLUMBUS VS. NEW YORK

TUESDAY, OCT. 29: NEW YORK AT COLUMBUS, 6:45 P.M.

SUNDAY, NOV. 3: COLUMBUS AT NEW YORK, 4:40 P.M.

X-SUNDAY, NOV. 10: NEW YORK AT COLUMBUS, 5:10 P.M.

MIAMI VS. MONTREAL/ATLANTA WINNER

FRIDAY, OCT. 25: MONTREAL/ATLANTA WINNER AT MIAMI, 8:45 P.M.

SATURDAY, NOV. 2: MIAMI AT MONTREAL/ATLANTA WINNER, 7:10 P.M.

X-SATURDAY, NOV. 9: MONTREAL/ATLANTA WINNER AT MIAMI, 8:10 P.M.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

SEATTLE VS. HOUSTON

MONDAY, OCT. 28: HOUSTON AT SEATTLE, 9 P.M.

SUNDAY, NOV. 3: SEATTLE AT HOUSTON, 6:30 P.M.

X-SUNDAY, NOV. 10: HOUSTON AT SEATTLE, 7 P.M.

LOS ANGELES FC VS. VANCOUVER/PORTLAND WINNER

FRIDAY, OCT. 25: VANCOUVER/PORTLAND WINNER AT LOS ANGELES FC, 9:55 P.M.

SUNDAY, NOV. 3: LOS ANGELES FC AT VANCOUVER/PORTLAND WINNER, 8:55 P.M.

X-FRIDAY, NOV. 8: VANCOUVER/PORTLAND WINNER AT LOS ANGELES FC, 11:10 P.M.

REAL SALT LAKE VS. MINNESOTA

TUESDAY, OCT. 29: MINNESOTA AT REAL SALT LAKE, 9 P.M.

SATURDAY, NOV. 2: REAL SALT LAKE AT MINNESOTA, 9:10 P.M.

X-FRIDAY, NOV. 8: MINNESOTA AT REAL SALT LAKE, 9:10 P.M.

LA GALAXY VS. COLORADO

FRIDAY, OCT. 25: COLORADO AT LA GALAXY, 11:10 P.M.

FRIDAY, NOV. 1: LA GALAXY AT COLORADO, 9:40 P.M.

X-SATURDAY, NOV. 9: COLORADO AT LA GALAXY, 10:10 P.M.

SEMIFINALS

NOV. 23 – NOV. 24

EASTERN CONFERENCE

LOS ANGELES FC/VANCOUVER_PORTLAND WINNER VS. SEATTLE/HOUSTON WINNER, TBD

REAL SALT LAKE/MINNESOTA WINNER VS. LA GALAXY/COLORADO WINNER, TBD

WESTERN CONFERENCE

MIAMI/MONTREAL_ATLANTA WINNER VS. ORLANDO/CHARLOTTE FC WINNER, TBD

CINCINNATI/NEW YORK CITY WINNER VS. COLUMBUS/NEW YORK WINNER, TBD

CONFERENCE FINAL

NOV. 30 – DEC. 1

SEMIFINALS WINNERS, TBD

CHAMPIONSHIP

SATURDAY, DEC. 7

CONFERENCE FINAL WINNERS, 4 P.M.

TOP NATIONAL SPORTS HEADLINES/NEWS RELEASES

WORLD SERIES NEWS

YANKEES AND DODGERS MEET IN WORLD SERIES FOR 12TH TIME IN MATCHUP OF BROADWAY AND HOLLYWOOD

NEW YORK (AP) — Broadway vs. Hollywood. Subway vs. Freeway. Judge vs. Ohtani.

New York neighbors who became cross-country rivals, the Yankees and Dodgers renew their starry struggle in the World Series for the first time in 43 years.

“I’ve always had that sense being here that there’s that underlying, craving for that,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Monday. “The stars will be out. The eyeballs will be watching and, hopefully, we can deliver on a great Series.”

Two of baseball’s most successful teams face each other starting Friday at Dodger Stadium, the Yankees coming off their 41st American League pennant and the Dodgers their 25th National League championship. New York is seeking its 28th World Series title but first since 2009, the Dodgers their eighth and second in a five-year span.

“When you’re playing for the Dodgers and playing for the Yankees, it better feel different,” LA manager Dave Roberts said at Yankee Stadium last June. “If not, you better do something different for a profession.”

Yankees pinstripes vs. Dodgers Pantone 294. The Bronx Bombers vs. the Dem Bums’ descendants. The granite-and-limestone of new Yankee Stadium on chilly autumn nights vs. Dodger Stadium in sunny Chavez Ravine, with the San Gabriel Mountains beyond the pavilions.

“It’s kind of what the people wanted, what we all wanted,” Dodgers star Mookie Betts said. “It’s going to be a battle of two good teams, a lot of long flights across the country.”

New York is 8-3 against the Dodgers in the most frequent World Series matchup, including 6-1 against Brooklyn and 2-2 since the rivalry became Big Apple against Tinseltown.

Mickey Owen, Al Gionfriddo, Cookie Lavagetto, Sandy Amoros, Johnny Podres, Don Larsen, Sandy Koufax and Reggie Jackson created indelible images in the matchup, which started in 1941 with one of the wackiest World Series turns.

Trailing 2-1 in the Series, Brooklyn led 4-3 with two outs in the ninth inning at Ebbets Field when Tommy Henrich swung and missed at strike three from Hugh Casey. The ball bounced away from Owen and rolled toward the Dodgers dugout as Henrich reached on the dropped third strike. Joe DiMaggio singled, Charlie Keller hit a two-run double and Joe Gordon added another two-run double later in the inning as the Yankees won 7-4 and went on to win the title in five games.

Lavagetto’s two-out, pinch walk-off double in the ninth ended Bill Bevens’ no-hit bid in 1947’s Game 4 and two games later Gionfriddo robbed DiMaggio of a tying three-run homer.

New York beat the Dodgers again in 1949, 1952 and 1953, frustrating the fans in Flatbush, but Brooklyn finally won the title in 1955 when Podres pitched a Game 7 shutout at Yankee Stadium and Gil Hodges drove in both runs. Amoros preserved the lead when he made a running catch of Yogi Berra’s sixth-inning drive in the left-field corner with two on and relayed to shortstop Pee Wee Reese, who threw to Hodges at first and doubled up Gil McDougald. Those players were celebrated in Roger Kahn’s 1972 book “The Boys of Summer.”

Larsen pitched the World Series’ only perfect game in 1956’s fifth game in the Bronx, Berra jumping into his arms after the final out, and the Yankees won Game 7 behind Johnny Kucks’ three-hit shutout in what turned out to be the last World Series game at Ebbets Field.

Walter O’Malley moved the Dodgers to California after the 1957 season, and Koufax had an interlocking “LA” on his cap instead of a “B” when he struck out a then-Series record 15 in the 1963 opener at Yankee Stadium. The rivalry didn’t resume until 1977 with the first of three matchups in a five-year span.

Jackson’s three home runs led the Yankees to a clinching win in 1977’s Game 6. The Yankees won another six-game Series the following year, highlighted by third baseman Graig Nettles’ diving stops on Reggie Smith, Steve Garvey and Davey Lopes.

Los Angeles lost the first two games in the Bronx in 1981, and then won four in a row — capped by a 9-2 victory that had Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda dancing. The defeat prompted Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, his hand bandaged after an alleged fight with Dodgers fans in a hotel elevator, to issue a written apology “to the people of New York and to the fans of the New York Yankees everywhere.”

Both teams feel the history created by their predecessors.

“You put that jersey on and those pinstripes, it just feels different,” Yankees slugger Juan Soto said.

Shohei Ohtani and Los Angeles took two of three when they met Aaron Judge and New York in a much-hyped series in June.

Roberts is reminded of the history when he approaches Dodger Stadium.

“I can’t believe I’m driving up Vin Scully Way, when I go to work,” he said. “It’s overwhelming, but I try not to let my head go there too often; I just try to do my job.”

NFL NEWS

CARDINALS TOP CHARGERS ON CHAD RYLAND’S WALK-OFF FG

Chad Ryland kicked a 32-yard field goal with no time remaining to give the Arizona Cardinals a 17-15 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday night at Glendale, Ariz.

James Conner broke a tackle attempt by Daiyan Henley near the line of scrimmage during a 33-yard reception on the decisive drive to move the ball to the Chargers’ 22-yard line and set up the winning kick.

Conner totaled 152 yards (101 rushing, 51 receiving) to help the Cardinals (3-4) win for the second time in the past three games. Kyler Murray completed 14 of 26 passes for 145 yards, one touchdown and one interception, and also rushed for 64 yards and one touchdown for Arizona.

Cameron Dicker matched his career high of five field goals to account for all the points by the Chargers (3-3), who lost for the third time in four games. Dicker kicked a 40-yarder with 1:54 remaining to give Los Angeles the lead before the Cardinals’ winning dash.

Justin Herbert completed 27 of 39 passes for a season-high 349 yards for the Chargers. Will Dissly had 81 yards on a career-best eight catches for Los Angeles.

Chargers pass rusher Joey Bosa (hip) missed his third straight game.

Greg Dortch caught a touchdown pass for Arizona, which held a 181-59 edge in rushing yards.

Los Angeles trailed by two and was pinned back at its own 1-yard line with 10:06 remaining before going on a long drive. The 15-play, 77-yard drive lasted 8:12 before stalling with Dicker’s 40-yarder.

The Cardinals answered by driving 56 yards on seven plays to win it.

Earlier, Arizona took the lead with 14:14 left in the game when Murray scrambled to his left. He easily beat the pursuing Junior Colson to the sideline and raced 44 yards for a touchdown to give the Cardinals a 14-9 lead.

Dicker drilled a 47-yard field goal just over two minutes later to bring the Chargers within two.

Dicker opened the scoring with a career-long 59-yard field goal with 11:59 left in the first half. The boot tied the franchise record set by Michael Badgley in 2018.

The Cardinals moved ahead when Murray hit Dortch on a 5-yard scoring pass with 5:40 left in the half. Dicker nailed a 50-yarder on the final play of the half to pull the Chargers within 7-6.

Dicker connected from 28 yards out with 40 seconds left in the third quarter to give Los Angeles a 9-7 lead.

LAMAR JACKSON’S 5-TD EFFORT PROPELS RAVENS PAST BUCS

Lamar Jackson threw for 281 yards with five touchdowns and the Baltimore Ravens extended their winning streak to five games with a 41-31 victory over the host Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night.

Baltimore wide receiver Rashod Bateman made four catches for a career-high 121 yards and a score. Jackson connected on 17 of 22 passes.

After a slow start, Ravens running back Derrick Henry had an 81-yard run late in the third quarter to set up the Ravens’ fourth touchdown. Henry finished with 169 yards on 15 carries, and he made his second touchdown reception of the season.

After trailing 10-0, Baltimore (5-2) scored 34 consecutive points. Jackson improved to 23-1 against the NFC — the best mark by a quarterback against an opposing conference in NFL history.

Ravens tight end Mark Andrews made two touchdown receptions and now has 43 in his career, surpassing Todd Heap’s previous franchise record of 41.
Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans caught a 25-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter but aggravated a hamstring injury in the second quarter and was ruled out for the remainder of the game. Fellow wide receiver Chris Godwin was carted off the field with less than a minute left in the game.

Baker Mayfield was 31 of 45 for 370 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions for Tampa Bay (4-3). He was sacked three times.

Tampa Bay tight end Cade Otton caught eight passes for 100 yards, and Rachaad White caught two TD passes.

Baltimore opened a 27-10 lead on a 49-yard touchdown pass from Jackson to Bateman with 7:25 left in the third quarter. On the Ravens’ next possession, the 81-yard run by Henry set up a 4-yard scoring pass from Jackson to Andrews.

Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers couldn’t handle a backward pass from Jackson that was ruled a fumble and the Buccaneers recovered. Tampa Bay took advantage and pulled to within 34-18 on Mayfield’s 11-yard touchdown pass to White and a two-point conversion pass to Sterling Shepard with 11:24 left in the game.

However, Henry had a 33-yard run to sway the momentum. Henry then caught a 13-yard touchdown pass to boost the lead to 41-18.

Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey had a career-high two interceptions but had to leave the game in the second quarter with a knee injury and was ruled out.

Tampa Bay running back Bucky Irving had a 1-yard score and White caught a 23-yard TD reception to make it a 10-point game with just under two minutes left.

The Ravens finished with 508 yards on offense, while the Buccaneers amassed 481 yards.

REPORT: LIONS WR JAMESON WILLIAMS GETTING 2-GAME SUSPENSION

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams will receive a two-game suspension stemming from a violation of the NFL’s performance-enhancing substances policy, ESPN reported Monday night.

It’s not the first time that Williams has faced disciplinary action from the league, as the 23-year-old, now in his third season, was on the receiving end of a four-game suspension last year using a mobile device to bet on non-NFL games while at a team facility.

Williams was originally suspended six games for gambling, but he ended up having two games shaved off the punishment due to a rule change by the league.

When speaking about the latest suspension on Monday, Williams told ESPN that he has “no choice but to take it on the chin.”

“I’m in good spirits just ready to get back with (my) brothers ASAP,” Williams said in a text message to ESPN.

Williams has 17 receptions for 361 yards and three touchdowns through six games (four starts) this season.

Detroit is 5-1 to start the campaign, tied for the second-best record in the NFL.

BROWNS QB DESHAUN WATSON’S SEASON ENDED BY RUPTURED ACHILLES TENDON, TEAM SAID HE’LL HAVE SURGERY

CLEVELAND (AP) — Deshaun Watson won’t finish the season as Cleveland’s starting quarterback for the second straight year.

He’s injured again, and the Browns have new problems.

Watson ruptured his right Achilles tendon in the first half of Sunday’s loss to Cincinnati, collapsing as he began to run and leading some Browns fans to cheer while the divisive QB laid on the ground writhing in pain.

The team feared Watson’s year was over and tests done Monday confirmed the rupture. The Browns said Watson will have surgery and miss the rest of the season but “a full recovery is expected.”

Watson was injured on a noncontact play in the second quarter of Cleveland’s 21-14 loss to the Bengals and carted off the field in tears.

It’s the second significant injury in two seasons for Watson, who broke the glenoid (socket) bone in his throwing shoulder last year after just six starts.

The 29-year-old went down Sunday without being touched on a draw play late in the first half. His right leg buckled and Watson crumpled to the turf. TV replays showed his calf rippling, consistent with an Achilles injury.

He immediately put his hands on his helmet, clearly aware of the severity of an injury similar to the one Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers sustained last year.

As he was being assisted by the team’s medical staff and backup Dorian Thompson-Robinson grabbed a ball to begin warming up, there was some derisive cheers and boos from the stands in Huntington Bank Field.

Cleveland fans have been split over Watson, who has been accused of being sexually inappropriate with women.

The reaction didn’t sit well with several Watson’s teammates, including star end Myles Garrett, the NFL’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year, who was appalled by the fans’ behavior.

“We should be ashamed of ourselves as Browns and as fans to boo anyone and their downfall. To be season-altering, career-altering injury,” Garrett said. “Man’s not perfect. He doesn’t need to be. None of us are expected to be perfect. Can’t judge him for what he does off the field or on the field because I can’t throw stones for my glass house.

“Ultimately everyone’s human and they’re disappointed just like we are, but we have to be better than that as people. There’s levels to this. At the end of the day, it’s just a game and you don’t boo anybody being injured and you don’t celebrate anyone’s downfall.”

Backup quarterback Jameis Winston also admonished the uncomfortable celebration.

“I am very upset with the reaction to a man that has had the world against him for the past four years, and he put his body and life on the line for this city every single day,” he said. “The way I was raised, I will never pull on a man when he’s down, but I will be the person to lift him up.

“I know you love this game. When I first got here, I knew these were some amazing fans, but Deshaun was treated badly and now he has to overcome another obstacle. So I’m going to support him, I’m going to lift him up and I’m going to be there for him.”

The injury is yet another twist in Watson’s tumultuous time with the Browns.

Cleveland traded three first-round draft picks and five overall to Houston in 2022 to get him, with owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam approving the team giving Watson a fully guaranteed, five-year $230 million contract.

With a solid roster, the Browns were desperate to find a QB who could help them compete against the top AFC teams.

The Browns had moved on from Baker Mayfield despite drafting him No. 1 overall in 2018 and making the playoffs two seasons later.

But Watson has not played up to expectations — fans have been pushing for him to be benched this season — and Cleveland’s move to get him has been labeled an abject failure with the team still on the hook to pay him $46 million in each of the next two seasons.

Watson’s arrival in Cleveland also came amid accusations by more than two dozen women of sexual assault and harassment during massage therapy sessions while he played for the Texans. Two grand juries declined to indict him and he has settled civil lawsuits in all but one of the cases.

Watson was suspended by the NFL for his first 11 games and fined $5 million for violating the league’s personal conduct policy before he took his first snap with the Browns. The long layoff — he sat out the 2021 season in a contract dispute — led to struggles once he got on the field, and Watson made just six starts last season before hurting his shoulder.

Cleveland signed veteran Joe Flacco, who went 4-1 as a starter and led the Browns to the playoffs.

Before Watson got hurt this year, he didn’t play much better. He was one of the league’s lowest-rated passers for a Cleveland team that hasn’t scored 20 points in a game and is back in search of a franchise QB.

GIANTS COACH: DANIEL JONES REMAINS QB1

New York Giants coach Brian Daboll confirmed Monday that Daniel Jones will remain the starting quarterback in Week 8 despite benching him in Sunday’s loss.

Daboll said after Sunday’s 28-3 setback against the NFC East rival Philadelphia Eagles that he removed Jones in the fourth quarter to “create a spark,” but added Jones would be the starter moving forward.

Daboll reiterated Monday that Jones will be under center when the Giants (2-5) visit the Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2) next Monday night.

“He’s the starter,” Daboll said. “He gives us the best chance.”

Daboll yanked Jones and inserted Drew Lock on Sunday, a move Jones admitted he “didn’t like.” Jones finished 14-of-21 passing for 99 yards and was sacked seven times. Lock didn’t fare much better, going 3 for 8 for 6 yards.

Jones, 27, has completed 62.5 percent of his passes for 1,442 yards with six touchdowns and four interceptions in seven starts this season, his sixth with the Giants.

COWBOYS COACH MIKE MCCARTHY SHAKES OFF AIKMAN CRITIQUE

Troy Aikman’s comments “don’t carry weight” with Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy.

Last week Aikman, a Super Bowl-winning quarterback in Dallas who calls “Monday Night Football” games for ESPN, told regional radio station 96.7 FM The Ticket that wide receivers running lazy or inconsistent routes are hurting the offense and quarterback Dak Prescott.

“I think the routes are terrible. I think they run terrible routes,” Aikman said. “And I’ve thought that beyond this year. I think CeeDee (Lamb) has got to improve in his route running. As a quarterback, if you’re not certain where guys are going to be consistently, it’s hard to play the position. That’s what I see. I see guys lazy coming off the line of scrimmage. Sometimes they run, usually if they do, it’s because they’re anticipating they’re going to get the football on that play, but if they’re not, they don’t. And it all ties together. I’m not impressed with that part of it. ”

McCarthy said Monday morning as the Cowboys (3-3) return from their bye week that Aikman is wrong.

“They don’t carry any weight with me, because I watch all the tape, I get to go to the meetings, I’m at practice, I’m part of the games,” McCarthy said. “So I have a clear understanding of what and where. Troy’s statement in particular — I don’t agree with the word selection. There is definitely need for improvement in every position, not just one position that he commented on.”

The Cowboys went into the open week on the schedule licking their wounds due to injuries and a blowout loss at home to the Detroit Lions in Week 6.

Questions and criticism about work ethic are off-base, according to McCarthy.

“(The team’s) work ethic is high,” McCarthy said, noting GPS readings used to measure effort and intensity are higher this season than the past two seasons.

“The effort and energy is there. But the details and attention needs to go up. That’s going to be a big part of the message (to players at practice on Monday).”

McCarthy said pass rusher Micah Parsons is improving but his status for practice and Week 8 are not yet clear. Parsons is dealing with a high ankle sprain and missed the past two games.

Winless at home this season, the Cowboys are headed to San Francisco (3-4) this week for a Sunday night game with the 49ers. The Kansas City Chiefs provided a blueprint for beating the 49ers on Sunday, coming out of their Week 6 bye to take down San Francisco 28-18. The Chiefs intercepted Brock Purdy three times.

The 49ers have won three consecutive games against the Cowboys, most recently a 42-10 decision last October when Purdy threw four TD passes (three to tight end George Kittle).

REPORTS: RAIDERS QB AIDAN O’CONNELL (THUMB) HEADED FOR IR

Las Vegas Raiders Aidan O’Connell, who had only recently ascended to starting quarterback, is headed to injured reserve with a fractured right thumb, ESPN and NFL Network reported Monday.

He’s expected to miss 4 to 6 weeks with a chance to return this season. ESPN reported O’Connell will get a second opinion on Monday. He was injured in Sunday’s 20-15 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

O’Connell was named QB1 on Oct. 9, supplanting Gardner Minshew II, who won the job in the preseason.

O’Connell’s throwing hand was hit by Rams safety Kamren Curl, who was blitzing on a pass attempt in the first quarter. O’Connell was replaced by Minshew to begin a Raiders drive with 2:33 remaining in the period.

O’Connell was 6-of-10 passing for 52 yards in the early going against the Rams. He took over the starting spot from Minshew in Week 6 and entered after completing 63.9 percent of his passes for 403 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in three games (one start).

Minshew, 28, started the first five games, completing 70.7 percent of his passes for 1,014 yards, four TDs and five interceptions.

The Raiders (2-5) host the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs in Week 8.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS

ILLINOIS, MICHIGAN STATE AND UCLA EARN WEEKLY FOOTBALL HONORS

Offensive Player of the Week

Ethan Garbers, UCLA

QB – Sr. – Newport Beach, Calif. – Corona del Mar

• Led UCLA to its first-ever Big Ten win on Saturday at Rutgers with his best statistical performance as a Bruin, posting career-highs in passing yards (383) and touchdowns (4) while recording the fifth-highest completion percentage by a Bruin QB since 1980 (32-38, 84%)
• Added a 49-yard rushing touchdown, giving him five total touchdowns on the day
• Recorded the longest pass of his career with a 67-yard touchdown pass to Keegan Jones
• Earns UCLA’s first Offensive Player of the Week honor

Defensive Player of the Week

Gabe Jacas, Illinois

OLB – Jr. – Port St. Lucie, Fla. – Fort Pierce Central

• Recorded a career-high 13 tackles including six solo, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble in Illinois’ 21-7 win over No. 24 Michigan
• Helped the Illini hold Michigan to its fewest points since 2014
• His 2.5 sacks marked a new career high and the most sacks by a Big Ten Conference game by any player this season
• Last Illinois Defensive Player of the Week: Xavier Scott (Sept. 9, 2024)

Special Teams Player of the Week

Jonathan Kim, Michigan State

K/P – Gr. – Fredericksburg, Va. – Massaponax

• Split the uprights on a school-record 6-of-7 on field goals, including making four of 40+ yards in Michigan State’s 32-20 victory against Iowa
• His six field goals tie Big Ten record, matching Jake Moody of Michigan with six field goals vs. Indiana (11/17/18)
• With 20 points Saturday, Kim also set a top mark in modern-day Big Ten history by a kicker, bettering 19 (Moody) in the 2018 win over Indiana
• Last Michigan State Special Teams Players of the Week: Matt Coghlin (Oct. 18, 2021)

Freshman of the Week

Nick Marsh, Michigan State

WR – Detroit, Mich. – River Rouge

• Had 113 receiving yards and tied a season-high with eight catches to help Michigan State past Iowa, 32-20, Saturday night in Spartan Stadium
• Marsh’s last catch went for 11 yards to the 1-yard line to set up MSU’s final touchdown of the game with 2:03 remaining to seal the victory
• Marked the newcomer’s second game this year with at least 100 yards
• Last Michigan State Freshman of the Week: Nick Marsh (Sept. 9, 2024)

MAC ANNOUNCES WEEK 8 FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

MAC Football Co-Offensive Players of the Week
Cole Snyder, Eastern Michigan, QB              
Senior, Lakewood, N.Y. (Southwestern)   
Cole Snyder guided the Eagles back from an 18-point deficit with 13:26 remaining in the fourth quarter as he accumulated 110 yards and two touchdowns through the air in the quarter while adding 12 yards and the game-winning rushing touchdown to see Eastern to a 38-34 win over rival Central Michigan. Snyder threw scoring passes of 49 and 30 yards to Terry Lockett Jr. before pushing the ball over the pile from one yard out for the winning score as Eastern came back from its biggest deficit since 2000.
 
Snyder finished the game with 300 yards passing to mark his first 300-yard game with the Eagles and his first since Sept. 9, 2022, when he accumulated 300 yards for Buffalo against Holy Cross. It also was the first 300+ yard game for an Eastern quarterback since Nov. 16, 2022, when Taylor Powell went for 315 at Kent State. All told, Snyder hit five different receivers for the seventh time this season with two players having career days, including Markus Allen and Lockett Jr., who posted their first career 100-yard receiving games with 140 and 100 yards, respectively. The duo accounted for all three touchdown receptions in the game.
 
Blake Bosma, Western Michigan, TE           
R-Junior, Holland, Mich. (West Ottawa)   
Bosma was instrumental in Western Michigan’s road win at Buffalo, helping WMU move into first place in the MAC. Bosma caught six passes for 85 yards and became the first tight end in WMU history to catch three touchdown passes in a single game. His first touchdown tied the game up at 7-7 in the first quarter. His second gave WMU a 21-10 lead and his third pushed the Broncos ahead 28-10. He also caught a key pass on third down deep in WMU’s own end of the field that extended the drive that led to the game-winning touchdown.
 
MAC Football Defensive Player of the Week
Matt Salopek, Miami, LB      
6th-Senior, Kent, Ohio (Archbishop Hoban)          
Matt Salopek had 10 tackles and an interception in Miami’s 30-20 win over Ohio in the annual Battle of the Bricks. Salopek and the Miami defense began the game with four-straight three-and-outs and held the Bobcats to 110 yards rushing (came into the game averaging 206.0).
 
Maxen Hook, Toledo, S              
Senior, New Palestine, Ind. (New Palestine)         
Maxen Hook led Toledo’s defense with 13 tackles and added one pass breakup in Toledo’s 13-6 win at NIU. He came up with a big stop on fourth-and-one late in the game to stop a Huskie drive.  It was his third game of the season with double-digit stops.
 
MAC Football Co-Special Teams Players of the Week
Tristan Mattson, Central Michigan, K
Senior, Clarkston, Mich. (Clarkston)
Placekicker Tristan Mattson scored a team-high 10 points and converted two 50-yard field goals in the game. He converted a season-long 56-yard field goal and a 51-yarder both in the third quarter. He has now converted 10 consecutive field goals and he improved to 11-12 on the year. In addition, his 56-yard field goal is the longest by an opponent at Rynearson Stadium. The previous record was 54 yards by Ohio’s Mike Fultz on Oct. 31, 1987.
 
Jesus Gomez, Eastern Michigan, K               
Senior, Puebla, Mexico (Prepa Tec Puebla)            
Gomez had another perfect day kicking as the lefty went 3-for-3 in field goal attempts and 3-for-3 in PATs against Central Michigan to collect 12 points. The MAC leader with 66 points and 15 made field goals, Gómez is averaging 9.4 points per game and 2.14 made field goals per game. On a national level, he ranks second in the FBS in field goals made per game and total field goals made while sitting 17th in total points and 21st in points per game. For the season, Gomez’ 15 field goals in 2024 are a career best, surpassing the 13 he kicked in 2022, while his three makes against the Chippewas marked the fourth time this year and fifth time in his career he made three field goals in the same game. He is now nine field goals and 11 PATs from 50 and 100 makes in a career, respectively.

HCAC 2024 FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK, WEEK 7

Athletes of the Week: 
Offensive Player of the Week:
Tyler Prather (Cincinnati, Ohio) Mount St. Joseph University | Quarterback | Senior – Lions senior quarterback Tyler Prather led the team to a 63-27 win over Bluffton on Saturday, with one of his best performances of the season. Going 20-for-27 passing for 315 yards and 5 touchdowns without a turnover.

Defensive Player of the Week:
Marshall Koch (Omro, Wis.) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Linebacker | Junior – Koch tallied 3.5 sacks including 2.5 in the fourth quarter to help lead Rose-Hulman to a 29-25 win over Defiance. The sacks are the most for a Fightin’ Engineer since Mike Riley recorded 5 in a win over Defiance in 2017. He also added 9 tackles and forced a fumble late in the game on a sack on Defiance’s final drive.

Special Teams Player of the Week:
Michael Hunkus (Hilliard, Ohio) Mount St. Joseph University | Wide Receiver | Sophomore – Lions wideout Michael Hunkus made his biggest mark on the Lions win over Bluffton on special teams. Early in the fourth quarter he raced in and blocked a Blufton punt, after the ball bounced around Hunkus would eventually fall on it for a touchdown.
 
Notable Performances:

• Garrett Cora (Lizton, Ind.) Franklin College | Running Back | Senior – Cora carried the ball 12 times for 124 yards and caught one pass for nine yards with four total touchdowns as Franklin rolled to a win over Manchester on Saturday afternoon.
• Dakota Foerg (Tipton, Ind.) Franklin College | Kicker | First Year – Foerg connected on all seven of his extra point attempts in Saturday’s win over Manchester.
• Noah Caswell (Madison, Ind.) Hanover College | Linebacker | Senior – Caswell helped lead the Panthers to a shutout win at Anderson, 35-0. The senior was a key part of a defense that held the Ravens to just 166 yards of total offense and just 2.8 yards per play. He finished with five total tackles including 1.5 tackles for loss.
• Eian Roudebush (New Palestine, Ind.) Hanover College | Quarterback | Sophomore – Eian Roudebush recorded his fourth straight 200-plus-yard passing game in the team’s shutout win over Anderson, 35-0. The sophomore passed for 216 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed for 29 yards, including a 19-yard pick-up. He finished the contest 21-of-26 and ranks first in the HCAC in completion percentage.
• Johnathan Tally (Salem, Ind.) Hanover College | Kicker | First Year – Tally helped Hanover secure a 35-0 win over Anderson on Saturday. The freshman kicker tallied six kickoffs for 312-yards including one touchback. He averaged 52-yards per kickoff.
• Javion Davis (Marion, Ind.) Manchester University | Defensive Back | Senior – Davis led the Manchester lineup with 13 total tackles in their contest against Franklin College. Davis finished the day with three TFLs for a loss of four yards.
• Luke Paff (Cincinnati, Ohio) Mount St. Joseph University | Linebacker | Sophomore – Lions sophomore linebacker was outstanding  in the teams win over Bluffton on Saturday. He finished the game with 9 tackles and 2 Interceptions.
• Jay Smith (Evansville, Ind.) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Running Back | Junior – Smith ran the ball 32 times for 143 yards and 2 touchdowns including the game-winning 11-yard touchdown with just 22 seconds remaining in the 29-25 win over Defiance. The final-minute touchdown was the latest game-winning touchdown by the Fightin’ Engineers since their 2016 win over #14 Franklin with 21 seconds to go.
• Kyle Rehberg (Brunswick, Ga.) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Kicker | Senior – Rehberg remained perfect on field goals this season with a perfect 3-3 as he drilled kicks from 33, 36, and 36 yards in the 29-25 win over Defiance. Rehberg also made both extra point kicks as every point was important in a back-and-forth thriller.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL NEWS

DUKE’S COOPER FLAGG MAKES PRESEASON AP ALL-AMERICA TEAM AS ACC, BIG 12, SEC EACH PLACE 2 PLAYERS

Alabama’s Mark Sears and North Carolina’s RJ Davis looked into the possibility of leaving for the NBA before deciding to return for another college season.

Their decisions helped their teams earn top-10 rankings in the AP Top 25 and earned both players some preseason honors, too.

Sears was a near-unanimous selection for The Associated Press preseason All-America men’s basketball team released Monday, earning all but one vote from a 55-person national media panel. Davis was right behind him, nabbing 51 votes.

They were joined by Kansas big man Hunter Dickinson, Auburn forward Johni Broome, Arizona guard Caleb Love and Duke freshman Cooper Flagg. Love and Flagg tied for the final spot, creating a six-man team that includes only the ACC, Big 12 and SEC.

Alabama twin bill

Sears was a key cog in the Crimson Tide’s first trip to the Final Four a year ago, orchestrating one of college basketball’s highest-scoring teams.

The 6-foot-1 guard was named a second-team AP All-America after averaging 21.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists. He was the first Division I player in 31 years to have 795 points, 150 rebounds, 145 assists and 95 three-pointers in a single season while breaking the Alabama single-season record with 26 games with at least 20 points.

Sears worked out for NBA scouts during the offseason before deciding to return to Alabama, earning the Crimson Tide a No. 2 ranking in the preseason AP Top 25.

“I saw the team that we had and I wanted to be a part of it, and bring home Alabama’s first national championship in basketball,” Sears said.

Across the state at rival Auburn, Broome made a quick decision about his future, announcing in April that he would be back for a fifth season.

The 6-10 forward was a third-team AP All-American last season after averaging 16.5 points and 8.5 rebounds while shooting nearly 55% from the floor. With an eye on an NBA future, Broome worked hard on his perimeter shooting during the offseason and his return earned Auburn a No. 11 preseason ranking.

“My main goal is a team goal, which is to win the national championship, to make it as far as I can in March Madness,” Broome said. “When a team shines, everyone shines individually.”

Along Tobacco Road

Like Sears, Davis has similar aspirations after opting to return for his fifth season at North Carolina.

The 6-foot guard was an AP All-American last season and the ACC player of the year after averaging 21.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists on a team that reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Davis enters this year within reach of former North Carolina big man Tyler Hansbrough’s all-time ACC scoring record.

“I know there’s more work to be done,” Davis said. “I know my jersey’s not going up until I leave. So there’s some more records to break and some more work to be done. I’m satisfied but I’m not satisfied, if that makes sense.”

Up the road at Duke, Flagg was the only underclassman on the preseason All-America team after arriving with tons of hype. The 6-9 swingman was the No. 1-rated high school recruit out of Newport, Maine and has been projected as the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft.

Flagg has the skills of a guard, but can also play inside and has worked hard on his perimeter shooting, giving him the potential to be one of college basketball’s most versatile players. He’s part of a stellar recruiting class that has No. 7 Duke eyeing a deep March run.

Big 12 duo

Dickinson was the biggest move in the transfer portal last spring after leaving Michigan for Kansas. The 7-2 center lived up to the billing, averaging 17.9 points and 10.9 rebounds while leading the Jayhawks back to the NCAA Tournament.

With Dickinson’s return and an influx of talented transfers, Kansas is ranked No. 1 going into the season that begins Nov. 4.

Love’s decision to return for a second season at No. 10 Arizona has ratcheted up expectations in the desert for the Big 12 rival of Kansas.

The athletic 6-4 guard had a high-scoring career at North Carolina and continued it after transferring to Arizona last season. He was the Pac-12 player of the year and a third-team All-American after averaging 18 points per game and making 92 3-pointers.

Love tested the NBA waters this summer before deciding to return.

“He’s had a very successful college career thus far,” Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said. “He’s kind of this last generation of player that’s going to get better with this extra year, and so I just encourage him to take advantage of it.”

NBA NEWS

THE NBA SEASON SET TO BEGIN WITH THE CELTICS SEEKING A 19TH TITLE AND SEVERAL CHALLENGERS LOOMING

Jayson Tatum was already a proven winner before last season.

In Tatum’s first six seasons, no NBA player won more games with one team than he did. Tatum played in 334 wins with the Boston Celtics over that span, including playoffs. He was a perennial All-Star, a legitimate MVP candidate, a multi-time All-NBA pick, even an Olympic gold medalist.

He just wasn’t a champion.

“I had to listen to all the (stuff) that people said about me,” Tatum said.

That’s all in the past now. The Celtics are champions, coach Joe Mazzulla leading them to that crown, and when the season starts on Tuesday night in Boston — where last season ended — Tatum doesn’t seem to be considering it the start of a title defense. He’s looking at it as the start of a chase for a 19th title, and according to BetMGM Sportsbook the Celtics are the favorite to claim the 2025 championship.

“It was never just about trying to just win one,” said Tatum, who added a second Olympic gold to his collection this summer. “Now you get to be mentioned with — at least be in the same room with — the other Celtics great teams, great players. All the guys that I looked up to growing up at least won one championship. Now it’s just a conversation of, ‘How great are you trying to be? What room or what tier are you trying to be mentioned in when it’s all said and done?’”

That journey starts with ring night in Boston, when the Celtics take on New York in the first game of a doubleheader to formally open the league’s 79th season. The nightcap is Minnesota at the Los Angeles Lakers, a game that will see LeBron James tie Vince Carter by playing in a 22nd NBA season — and potentially the first official game where a father and son are teammates, with Bronny James entering his rookie season.

There will be challengers to a Boston repeat, and a lot of them. New York (adding Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns) and Philadelphia (adding Paul George) loaded up to try and supplant Boston atop the Eastern Conference. And there are rising teams in the East as well, like the Paolo Banchero-led Orlando Magic and Donovan Mitchell-led Cleveland Cavaliers — who made Round 2 last season.

“We’ve just got to keep our foot on the gas,” Mitchell said. “We’ve got to keep going.”

And the Western Conference also has several contenders.

BetMGM has Oklahoma City — the No. 1 seed in the West last season, led by MVP hopeful Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — as the narrow favorite to win that side of the league, with 2023 NBA champion Denver, reigning West champion Dallas and a Minnesota team that went to the West finals a season ago all in the mix.

“You have to be careful with expectations put on outcomes,” Thunder forward Chet Holmgren said. “Around here we really emphasize putting expectations on processes, how we show up every day, how we go about our work, what we do, and the attention of detail that we do it to. That’s what we’re really focused on.”

Golden State’s Stephen Curry helped the U.S. win Olympic gold this summer; the Warriors can never be counted out. And with James, neither can the Lakers.

“We’re the hunters, amongst many other teams,” Curry said. “What can this team do to maximize every skill set that we have in that locker room? That’s the challenge for us.”

The West is just loaded. But these Celtics — who return virtually intact from a year ago — know what it takes to be the last team standing.

“Boston can say whatever they want to say. They’ve earned it. They beat all of us and they were crowned,” Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said. “So, they can feel however they want to feel going into this season. With that said, (they) still have to earn it. But it’s a new season, new year. There’ll be a bunch of teams that are gunning for that title.”

Coaches on the move

JJ Redick was coaching the fourth-grade team at Brooklyn Basketball Academy earlier this year. He’s now coaching the Los Angeles Lakers.

Redick is one of three coaches who are about to make their NBA debuts, joining Charlotte’s Charles Lee and Brooklyn’s Jordi Fernandez.

Other coaches who have new jobs entering this season are Mike Budenholzer in Phoenix (a franchise he led Milwaukee past for the 2021 NBA title), along with Kenny Atkinson in Cleveland and JB Bickerstaff in Detroit. Bickerstaff coached Cleveland last season and the schedule-makers just happened to have the Pistons as the opponent for Cleveland’s home opener on Friday.

Half of the league’s coaches — 15 of the 30 — enter this season having completed two years or less with their current clubs.

Key dates to know

Some notable events this season:

— Nov. 2: Miami plays Washington in Mexico City.

— Nov. 4: All 30 teams will be in action, with all start times staggered 15 minutes apart.

— Nov. 5: For the third straight year, no games will be played on Election Day.

— Nov. 12-Dec. 17: The NBA Cup is back for a second season, with the semifinals on Dec. 14 in Las Vegas and the title game there three days later. The Lakers are the defending champions.

— Dec. 25: The Christmas games this season are San Antonio at New York, Minnesota at Dallas, Philadelphia at Boston, Lakers at Golden State and Denver at Phoenix.

— Jan. 20: The league once again celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Among the highlight games are Minnesota at Memphis and Boston at Golden State.

— Jan. 23 and 25: Reigning rookie of the year Victor Wembanyama returns to Paris with San Antonio taking on Indiana in two games there.

— Feb. 6: The trade deadline.

— Feb. 16: The NBA All-Star Game takes place in San Francisco.

— April 11 and 13: The last two game days of the regular season, with all 30 teams in action both days.

— April 15-18: Play-in tournament, followed by the playoff openers on April 19.

— June 5: The 2025 NBA Finals begin.

REPORT: NUGGETS GIVE AARON GORDON 4-YEAR, $133M EXTENSION

Locking up a frontcourt starter for the long term, the Denver Nuggets agreed to a four-year, $133 million extension with Aaron Gordon on Monday, the forward’s agents told ESPN.

Per the report, Gordon, 29, accepted his $23 million option for the 2025-26 season, with the new pact linking him to the Nuggets through 2028-29. A trade kicker (a bonus paid to the player in the event he is traded) reportedly is included in the extension.

Last season, Gordon averaged 13.9 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 73 games, all starts. The Nuggets lost in the Western Conference semifinals to the Minnesota Timberwolves after Gordon put up 14.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 12 postseason starts.

The prior campaign, he helped the Nuggets capture their first NBA championship by contributing 16.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 68 regular-season starts, then 13.3 points, 6.0 boards and 2.6 assists in 20 postseason starts.

The Magic selected Gordon fourth overall in the 2014 draft out of Arizona, and he spent 6 1/2 seasons in Orlando. The Nuggets acquired him in a March 2021 trade.

His best statistical season was 2017-18, when he averaged 17.6 points and 7.9 rebounds, both career highs.

The Nuggets open the season on Thursday against the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder in a matchup of two of the Western Conference favorites.

TREY MURPHY III AND PELICANS AGREE TO A 4-YEAR, $112M DEAL, AP SOURCE SAYS

New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III has agreed to a four-year, $112 million contract extension, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Monday.

Murphy is entering the final season of his rookie contract. Without the extension, he’d have been slated to become a restricted free agent next offseason. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the Pelicans did not announce the extension.

The 24-year-old Murphy, a 2021 first-round draft choice out of Virginia, averaged a career-high 14.8 points last season, when he played in 57 games with 23 starts.

He has shot 39.2% from 3-point range during his three seasons and has shown a knack for slashing to the hoop for the kind of soaring, authoritative dunks that have gotten him a past invitation to the NBA All-Star weekend dunk contest.

Murphy strained his right hamstring during the second practice of Pelicans training camp in Nashville earlier this month.

He is not expected to be ready to play when New Orleans opens the regular season against Chicago on Wednesday.

NBA SEASON-PREVIEW CAPSULES: SOUTHWEST DIVISION

San Antonio Spurs
Predicted 2024-25 record: 38-44
Last season: 22-60, 14th in NBA Western Conference.

Last time …
The Spurs had a head coach not named Gregg Popovich it was Bob Hill, who held the job from 1994-96. Popovich’s 29-year run on the bench currently stands at 2,209 games.

FanDuel championship odds: +15000

Roster roll call
Draft Picks:
No. 4, PG Stephon Castle, UConn
No. 36, PG Juan Nunez, Spain (acquired from Pacers)
No. 48, F Harrison Ingram, North Carolina

DEPARTURES: F Dominick Barlow, G Devonte’ Graham, F Cedi Osman
VETERAN ADDITIONS: F Harrison Barnes, PG Chris Paul

Big picture
Victor Wembanyama elevated the outlook in San Antonio for the first time in several seasons with a Rookie of the Year showing as the teen anchor of a young roster in the center of a top-down rebuild. The French star became a feisty centerpiece of the Spurs’ defense to the delight of his throwback coach and nobody doubts where the ball will go with the game on the line. Castle is a playmaker with versatility who should benefit from Paul’s arrival, and Barnes brings championship pedigree with flexibility of his own. The playoffs aren’t exactly a pipedream this season, but another piece would help the Spurs win more fights in the loaded Western Conference.

Get to know …
F Jeremy Sochan
A surprisingly complete stat line last season put Sochan on the radar of fantasy basketball players. He averaged 11.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists with a willingness to play any role Popovich could dream up. Yes, that included a stint as point forward and most of the second half of the season at power forward before a left ankle injury shelved him down the stretch. Teammates said the 21-year-old Sochan picked up his perimeter shooting and could be even more well-rounded next to Wembanyama this season.

–Dallas Mavericks
Predicted 2024-25 record: 50-32
Last season: 50-32, 5th in NBA Western Conference.

Last time …
The Mavericks won 50-plus games in consecutive seasons in 2009-10 and 2010-11, when Dallas finished 57-25 and defeated the Miami Heat in six games to win their lone NBA championship. The Mavericks went 55-27 in 2009-10 and lost in the first round of the playoffs.

FanDuel championship odds: +1100

Roster roll call
Draft Picks:
No. 51, F Melvin Ajinca, France (acquired from Knicks)
No. 58, C Ariel Hukporti, Germany (traded to Knicks)

DEPARTURES: F Derrick Jones Jr., G Tim Hardaway Jr., G Josh Green
VETERAN ADDITIONS: G Klay Thompson, G Spencer Dinwiddie, F Naji Marshall, G Quentin Grimes

Big picture
The Mavericks’ surprising run to the NBA Finals materialized from the individual brilliance of Luka Doncic, who earned his fifth consecutive first-team All-NBA nod, the complementary scoring punch provided by Kyrie Irving, and the trade deadline acquisitions of P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford, who combined to supply the scoring, rebounding and defense Dallas sorely needed in the margins. Thompson is tasked with rounding out the offense with his exceptional perimeter shooting while Dinwiddie offers a dependable, tertiary ball handler off the bench. The Mavericks not only have the experience needed to fashion another deep playoff push, but their depth should alleviate the pressure on Doncic to do everything when the moments are crucial.

Get to know
G Jaden Hardy
While Hardy experienced a slight downtick in productivity relative to average points, minutes and rebounds with declining shooting efficiency, his increase in games played — 73 to 48 — from his rookie campaign to his second season portends greater opportunity as a third-year player. Hardy has commented on a greater commitment to defensive reliability, but his scoring off the bench could be as valuable for the Mavericks, who remain in search of offensive cogs capable of playing alongside Doncic or Irving when that gifted tandem has their playing time staggered.

–Houston Rockets
Predicted 2024-25 record: 44-38
Last season: 41-41, 11th in NBA Western Conference.

Last time …
The Rockets went five consecutive seasons without qualifying for the playoffs was from 1969-70 through 1973-74, bridging their final two seasons in San Diego and their first three in Houston. The Rockets last participated in the playoffs in 2019-20, when they were eliminated in the conference semifinals.

FanDuel championship odds: +8000

Roster roll call
Draft Picks:
No. 3, G Reed Sheppard, Kentucky
No. 44, G Pelle Larsson, Arizona (traded to Heat)

DEPARTURES: F Reggie Bullock, C Boban Marjanovic
VETERAN ADDITIONS: C Steven Adams

Big picture
The Rockets have drafted and developed a promising core of six players all 23 years old or younger, with the 20-year-old Sheppard joining that mix this season. Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun, both entering their fourth seasons without an extension beyond their rookie contracts, are integral to the Rockets moving beyond their protracted rebuild and ending their four-year playoff drought. And while the additions of Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks last offseason helped yield a spirited, unsuccessful late-season playoff charge, Houston would be better positioned in the future if Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore enjoy larger roles in their second seasons at the expense of the veterans – VanVleet and Brooks – blocking their future as starters.

Get to know …
F Cam Whitmore
Although he earned a reputation as a black hole offensively, Whitmore showcased an all-around skillset as a 19-year-old rookie that justified his aggression. Whitmore averaged 23.7 points per 36 minutes (on 19.1 field goal attempts) and flashed talent at all three levels on offense. His rim attacks resulted in numerous thunderous dunks and his perimeter touch – Whitmore shot 35.9% on nearly five 3-point attempts per game – was a pleasant surprise. Whitmore seems poised to explode as a plus scorer, with the lone restriction being the minutes total he records.

–Memphis Grizzlies
Predicted 2024-25 record: 50-32
Last season: 27-55, 13th in NBA Western Conference.

Last time …
A pair of teammates were named to the All-Defensive first team was 2020-21, when Jrue Holiday and Giannis Antetokounmpo accomplished the feat while with the Bucks. Jaren Jackson Jr. earned first-team accolades in 2021-22 and 2022-23 while Marcus Smart was named to the All-Defensive first time three times over the last six seasons.

FanDuel championship odds: +3400

Roster roll call
Draft Picks:
No. 9, C Zach Edey, Purdue
No. 39, F Jaylen Wells, Washington State
No. 53, G Cam Spencer, UConn (acquired from Pistons)

DEPARTURES: G Jordan Goodwin, G Derrick Rose, F Lamar Stevens, F Yuta Watanabe, F Ziaire Williams
VETERAN ADDITIONS: None

Big picture
Everything starts and ends for the Grizzlies with point guard Ja Morant, who lost 73 games to suspension and injury last season. Morant is a two-time All-Star, the 2019-20 Rookie of the Year, and a second-team All-NBA selection in 2021-22. While his off-court issues have been well-documented, Morant remains Memphis’ driving force, and his extended absence last season scuttled the Grizzlies’ playoff hopes. Memphis fielded an ascendant roster before Morant was lost, and with Desmond Bane, Jackson and Smart back in the fold, the Grizzlies certainly have the firepower to reclaim their position near the top of the Western Conference standings. If Morant is locked in mentally and healthy, the sky is the limit for these Grizzlies.

Get to know …
F GG Jackson II
When it became clear that all was lost for the Grizzlies last season, Jackson earned his chance to shine. He didn’t squander the opportunity, averaging 19.9 points and 5.1 rebounds while starting the final 16 games. That stretch culminated with the 19-year-old Jackson taking 20-plus shots in his final three starts while posting 32.3 points, five rebounds and 2.3 steals in those games. Memphis finished last in the NBA in offensive efficiency according to basketball reference. Jackson has shown the scoring prowess to undergird a better offense this season.

–New Orleans Pelicans
Predicted 2024-25 record: 42-40
Last season: 49-33, 7th in NBA Western Conference

Last time …
The Pelicans won 50-plus games in a season was their first in New Orleans, when they were still the Hornets and finished 56-26 en route to a conference semifinals berth. Last season marked the third time the Pelicans won at least 49 games since their relocation from Charlotte.

FanDuel championship odds: +5000

Roster roll call
Draft Picks:
No. 21, C Yves Missi, Baylor
No. 47, G Antonio Reeves, Kentucky (acquired from Magic)

DEPARTURES: C Jonas Valanciunas, F Naji Marshall, F Larry Nance Jr., G Dyson Daniels
VETERAN ADDITIONS: G Dejounte Murray, G Javonte Green, C Daniel Theis

Big picture
Swapping out Valanciunas (6-11, 265) for Theis (6-8, 245) could potentially weaken the Pelicans on the glass. New Orleans finished 10th last season with a 50.5% rebound rate with Valanciunas, who averaged 10.1 rebounds over three seasons in New Orleans, leading the way. Theis has averaged only 4.8 rebounds during his 373-game career, and with starting forwards Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram combining to snag 10.9 rebounds per game in 2023-24, the Pelicans might be susceptible on the boards with Theis inside. Of course, Williamson can mitigate many concerns should he enjoy another healthy campaign with peak production. He averaged 22.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and five assists while playing a career-best 70 games.

Get to know …
F Trey Murphy III
Murphy finished second in Most Improved Player voting in 2022-23, his second season in the NBA. Injuries undermined his counting stats last season, but Murphy displayed additional improvement while averaging career highs in scoring (14.8 points), rebounding (4.9) and assists (2.2). His efficiency took a step back, with Murphy – who played a career-low 57 games last season – posting a 57.9 effective field goal percentage compared to 61% in 2022-23. But with Murray arriving as a true point guard running the offense, Murphy could enjoy superior perimeter looks this season.

NBA SEASON-PREVIEW CAPSULES: CENTRAL DIVISION

1. MILWAUKEE BUCKS

Predicted 2024-25 record: 57-25

Last season: 49-33, 3rd in Eastern Conference

Last time …
The Bucks reached the second round of the playoffs was 2022, settling for a pair of disappointing first-round exits since then. Milwaukee is also just four seasons removed from a championship.

FanDuel championship odds: +1400

Roster roll call
Draft Picks:
No. 23, SG AJ Johnson, Australia
No. 33, PF Tyler Smith, G League Ignite

DEPARTURES: G Malik Beasley, G Patrick Beverley
VETERAN ADDITIONS: G Gary Trent Jr., G Delon Wright, F Taurean Prince

Big picture
Pairing Damian Lillard with Giannis Antetokounmpo seemingly promised big dividends for Milwaukee last season, but the Bucks went home early after falling to the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the playoffs. A calf strain held Antetokounmpo out for the entirety of that series, while Lillard missed two games due to an Achilles issue. Injuries aside, it never really felt like the Bucks fully clicked last season, probably due in part to a coaching change in January. Adrian Griffin was fired, Joe Prunty took over on an interim basis and Doc Rivers was hired soon after. Now Milwaukee is just hoping for stability in 2024-25.

Get to know: G AJ Green
The Bucks are at their best when they surround Antetokounmpo with high-percentage shooters, and Green fits the bill. He has knocked down 41.2 percent of his 274 3-point tries in two seasons (91 games) with Milwaukee, giving the Bucks instant offense off the bench. It won’t happen overnight, but this could be the season that Green passes Pat Connaughton on the depth chart. Poor perimeter shooting has often killed Milwaukee in the playoffs, and perhaps Green is the long-awaited solution.

2. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

Predicted 2024-25 record: 49-33

Last season: 48-34, 4th in Eastern Conference

Last time …
Kenny Atkinson coached a team it was the Brooklyn Nets, and he resigned amid a 28-34 season in 2019-20. He then spent time as an assistant for the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors before the Cavaliers hired him as head coach back in June.

FanDuel championship odds: +4000

Roster roll call
Draft Picks:
No. 20, SG Jaylon Tyson, Cal

DEPARTURES: None
VETERAN ADDITIONS: F JT Thor

Big picture
Even though Cleveland hasn’t made it past the second round of the playoffs in each of the past two seasons, the Cavaliers showed that they are planning on sticking with their core by signing Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen to extensions this offseason. Seeding for the postseason could end up coming down to how healthy Mitchell is. The 28-year-old missed 27 games last season, leaving many wondering what Cleveland’s actual ceiling was. At full strength, the Cavaliers could end up in the mix for a top-three seed in the East, even with a tougher conference here in 2024-25.

Get to know: G/F Caris LeVert
LeVert doesn’t crack the starting lineup because of Cleveland’s top-tier backcourt (Darius Garland and Mitchell), yet he still finished with stellar averages (14.0 points, 5.1 assists, 4.1 rebounds) a season ago. Don’t be surprised if there’s a Sixth Man of the Year award in LeVert’s future. If the unfortunate situation in which Mitchell gets injured does arise, LeVert is a perfect plug-and-play option that should prevent the Cavaliers from missing a beat.

3. INDIANA PACERS

Predicted 2024-25 record: 45-37

Last season: 47-35, 6th in Eastern Conference

Last time …
A team averaged as many points per game as the Pacers did last season (123.3) was in 1983-84, when the Denver Nuggets put up 123.7 points per contest. That run-and-gun offense took Indiana all the way to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2014.

FanDuel championship odds: +5000

Roster roll call
Draft Picks:
No. 35, SG Johnny Furphy, Kansas (acquired from Spurs)
No. 49, SG Tristen Newton, UConn
No. 50, PF Enrique Freeman, Akron

DEPARTURES: F Jalen Smith
VETERAN ADDITIONS: C James Wiseman

Big picture
Indiana managed to blow its expectations for last season out of the water, but does it have what it takes to stay relevant in a conference that now has Paul George and Karl-Anthony Towns? Pascal Siakam is back with the Pacers on a four-year deal after joining them in January via trade. He and Tyrese Haliburton provide the star power for Indiana, which doesn’t quite match up with that of teams like the Celtics, Knicks, 76ers and Bucks. Big leaps last season from Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith give the Pacers reason to be optimistic, though.

Get to know: C James Wiseman
The No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 draft, Wiseman has yet to truly find his footing in the NBA. He put together a promising rookie season with Golden State but never made the jump you’d like to see from a lottery pick, with the Warriors and Detroit Pistons both somewhat let down by the big man. Maybe a fresh start with a team that should be playoff-bound once again is exactly what Wiseman needs. The 7-footer is still just 23.

4. CHICAGO BULLS

Predicted 2024-25 record: 37-45

Last season: 39-43, 9th in Eastern Conference

Last time …
The Bulls had a top-15 pick in the draft, they went out and took Patrick Williams at No. 4 back in 2020. This time around, Chicago selected Matas Buzelis at No. 11.

FanDuel championship odds: +100000

Roster roll call
Draft Picks:
No. 11, SF Matas Buzelis, G League Ignite

DEPARTURES: G/F DeMar DeRozan, G Alex Caruso, C Andre Drummond, F Javonte Green
VETERAN ADDITIONS: G Josh Giddey, F Jalen Smith, G/F Chris Duarte

Big picture
It isn’t quite a rebuild, but it certainly isn’t a push for a title, either, for the Bulls, who dealt star DeRozan to the Sacramento Kings back in July. Chicago still has far more talent than a team that’s truly rebuilding, putting it in a state of purgatory — should it start stockpiling picks or work toward something special as the season progresses? Perhaps that decision becomes a bit easier based on how guard Lonzo Ball plays. Ball has not taken the floor since Jan. 14, 2022. The Bulls once looked like a powerhouse with him directing the offense, and maybe it’s not too late for them to rediscover that form.

Get to know: G Josh Giddey
Giddey was the return in a deal that sent Caruso to the Thunder, and he should help get things moving for a Chicago offense that sometimes gets iso-happy when the ball finds Zach LaVine’s hands. Giddey averaged 5.7 assists per game during his three seasons in Oklahoma City. He also established himself as a triple-double threat. With Giddey, Ball and Coby White, the Bulls are going to give teams fits in the backcourt.

5. DETROIT PISTONS

Predicted 2024-25 record: 28-54

Last season: 14-68, 15th in Eastern Conference

Last time …
The Pistons finished anywhere but last in the Central Division was 2019-20. Their downward spiral has gotten worse and worse, with the team failing to win over 20 games in four of the past five seasons.

FanDuel championship odds: +100000

Roster roll call
Draft Picks:
No. 5, SF Ron Holland II, G League Ignite
No. 37, SF Bobi Klintman, Australia (acquired from Timberwolves)

DEPARTURES: C James Wiseman, F/C Taj Gibson, G Quentin Grimes
VETERAN ADDITIONS: F Tobias Harris, G Malik Beasley, G/F Tim Hardaway Jr., SG Wendell Moore Jr., C Paul Reed

Big picture
For a team that drafts near the top of the board as often as Detroit does, the Pistons have been awful. They finished with the worst record in the entire NBA last season, and one has to wonder when — or if — Detroit will finally start clicking with all its young talent. J.B. Bickerstaff is entering his first season as coach of the Pistons after guiding Cleveland to the postseason two years in a row. Having that type of playoff experience in the building is nice and all, but Detroit needs to focus on hitting the 30-win plateau before even thinking about playing basketball in May.

Get to know: F Ausar Thompson
Thompson, the fifth overall pick in the 2023 draft, saw his rookie season end prematurely because of a blood clot. Still, he managed to show that he has the makings of an integral piece of the Pistons’ future through his 63 games (38 starts) in 2023-24, averaging 8.8 points and 6.4 boards. Bickerstaff should be eager to coach the 21-year-old in his sophomore season.

NBA SEASON-PREVIEW CAPSULES: PACIFIC DIVISION

1. SACRAMENTO KINGS

Predicted 2024-25 record: 53-29

Last season: 46-36, T-9th in Western Conference

Last time…
The Kings won a playoff series, it was in the 2004 first round against the Mavericks, the same team that had ended Arvydas Sabonis’ career in the postseason a year earlier. Arvydas had 23 career NBA playoff wins; his son, Domantas, has just seven — three for the Kings.

FanDuel championship odds: +5500

Roster roll call
Draft Pick:
No. 13, G Devin Carter, Providence

DEPARTURES: F Harrison Barnes, G Chris Duarte, G Davion Mitchell, F Sasha Vezenkov
VETERAN ADDITIONS: G DeMar DeRozan, F Jalen McDaniels, G Jordan McLaughlin, F Doug McDermott

Big picture
The Kings were able to do something no other Pacific Division team could in the offseason: make a big splash. Importing DeMar DeRozan was a heist; all it cost them was Harrison Barnes, Chris Duarte and two second-round picks. For that bargain price, they got one of the league’s best closers in DeRozan, a player who finished second to Stephen Curry in the 2024 balloting for the NBA Clutch Player of the Year Award. DeRozan will be paired with De’Aaron Fox, a near-unanimous choice as the 2023 Clutch Award winner, on a team that won just six games by three or fewer points last season. The Kings now have the inside, midrange and perimeter covered with Fox, DeRozan and dominant big man Domantas Sabonis.

Get to know: F Keegan Murray
Few players are better situated to be a difference-maker this season than Murray, who should draw less defensive attention even though his scoring average jumped from 12.2 points as a rookie to 15.2 last year. With defenses struggling to prevent Fox’s drives to the hoop while also dealing with the one-on-one dangers of DeRozan and Sabonis, Murray can expect the quality of looks at 3-pointers that he had as a rookie. He buried 41.1 percent of his long-range shots that year and was a big reason the Kings raised a surprising division banner. It won’t be a surprise if it were to happen again this year.

2. LOS ANGELES LAKERS

Predicted 2024-25 record: 45-37

Last season: 47-35, 8th in Western Conference

Last time…
The Lakers made a coaching change — from Frank Vogel to Darvin Ham after the 2021-22 season — they improved 10 games yet went backward (from fourth place to fifth) in the Pacific Division.

FanDuel championship odds: +4000

Roster roll call
Draft Picks:
No. 17, F Dalton Knecht, Tennessee
No. 55, G Bronny James, Southern California

DEPARTURES: G Spencer Dinwiddie, F Taurean Prince
VETERAN ADDITION: C Christian Koloko

Big picture
LeBron James had options in the offseason, yet elected to stick with a team that no longer appears to have the energy to go a full 15 rounds with the heavyweights. The Lakers had choices, too, and decided to make the entire summer about Bronny James rather than begin a reshaping process like they did the last time they imported a member of the James family in 2018. Watching father and son take the court together in the regular season will be historic, but will anyone really care to see it again if it’s coming with a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter? Bronny should be able to trump dad in one area: The Lakers won just 37 games in LeBron’s first season in L.A.

Get to know: F Dalton Knecht
When Knecht debuted for Tennessee last November, he joined a team that had bowed out of its last two postseason tournaments at the hands of Michigan and Florida Atlantic. Despite basically appearing out of nowhere — he transferred in from Northern Colorado — the new guy immediately put the Volunteers on the map, pacing them in scoring in each of his first five games and nearly leading them to an upset of national finalist Purdue. Could he do it again with the Lakers? He did lead the team in total points in the preseason, bombing 50 3-point attempts that no doubt had LeBron and Anthony Davis cringing at times. But if he can — pardon the pun — connect on 39.1 percent of them as he did in summer league, or, even better, roughly 40 percent like he did at Tennessee, he could be new coach JJ Redick’s first five-star recruit.

3. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

Predicted 2024-25 record: 44-38

Last season: 46-36, T-9th in Western Conference

Last time…
Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson were both healthy and didn’t start side-by-side on Opening Night, the Curry-Monta Ellis tandem was outplayed by the Clippers’ Chauncey Billups and Chris Paul in a 19-point home loss in 2011.

FanDuel championship odds: +4500

Roster roll call
Draft Pick:
No. 52, C Quinten Post (acquired from Trail Blazers for cash)

DEPARTURES: G Klay Thompson, G Chris Paul, F Dario Saric
VETERAN ADDITIONS: F Kyle Anderson, G Buddy Hield, G De’Anthony Melton, G Lindy Waters III

Big picture
Expectations haven’t been this low for the Warriors in more than a decade, yet they’ve decided to play out Stephen Curry’s career with old pal Draymond Green and a bunch of not-ready-for-prime-time players alongside. Coach Steve Kerr is hoping that by surrounding Curry with a more energetic cast that will do more ballhandling and take tougher defensive assignments, the Olympic star’s season can be remembered more for his 4,000th career 3-pointer than his 3,000th career turnover. Nobody is yet saying that Brandin Podziemski, Jonathan Kuminga and Trayce Jackson-Davis are the next Curry-Thompson-Green, but the Warriors are hoping that’ll change by April.

Get to know: F Jonathan Kuminga
Kerr wants the Warriors to play at a faster pace this season, and few play faster than Kuminga, far and away Golden State’s most entertaining player last year even while his older teammates preferred that he wait for them. The leash is off now, which could give the 22-year-old an opportunity to battle Curry for team scoring honors and earn the big contract extension he was angling for during the preseason. It could also lead to a bunch of ill-advised 3-pointers that will shoot the Warriors out of games. How much did he fall in love with standing outside the arc last season? He chucked up 19 more 3-ponters than the year before despite a 49-point plummet in percentage.

4. PHOENIX SUNS

Predicted 2024-25 record: 43-39

Last season: 49-33, T-6th in Western Conference

Last time…
Kevin Durant won a gold medal, he played just 55 games the following regular season (2021-22). That was even fewer than the season after he spent the summer chasing his previous gold, when he suited up just 62 times in 2016-17.

FanDuel championship odds: +2000

Roster roll call
Draft Picks:
No. 28, SF Ryan Dunn, Virginia (acquired from Nuggets)
No. 40, C Oso Ighodaro, Marquette (acquired from Knicks)

DEPARTURES: C Drew Eubanks, G Eric Gordon, F David Roddy
VETERAN ADDITIONS: G Tyus Jones, G Monte Morris, C Mason Plumlee

Big picture
Like every other team in the West, the Suns sure look good in the team photo. They’ve got one of the best players of the modern era, a key glue piece on the most recent Olympic champ, a guy who has challenged for the league scoring title multiple times, even a decent big man and a sprinkling of former college stars. So where are the trophies? The problem is: The team photo is taken in October; the trophy is handed out in June… and Kevin Durant doesn’t burn both ends of that candle anymore. The Suns were hoping the addition of Bradley Beal would allow Durant to coast more during the regular season, but instead it just added to the opponents’ scoring total last year. And in the playoffs, a gimpy Durant and benched Beal aren’t beating anybody.

Get to know: G Collin Gillespie
The Suns took a step in the right direction with the addition of Grayson Allen last year, allowing their depth to rate at a “D” level after flunking out the previous season. Now they’ve followed a similar script with Gillespie, another proven winner who like Allen must figure out if he’s capable of leading a second unit or is better suited to provide a supporting role among much more talented starters. Allen effectively became the latter last season, making it more likely Gillespie will be stuck with the backups whether he likes it or not. He certainly offered little or nothing to an equally needy Nuggets bench last season, but if new coach Mike Budenholzer is looking for guys who know how to win, he’d be wise to utilize Gillespie in a similar way to how former Phoenix coach Frank Vogel did with Allen last year.

5. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS

Predicted 2024-25 record: 36-46

Last season: 51-31, 4th in Western Conference

Last time…
The Clippers were the defending Pacific Division champs, 2014-15, they waived current Pelicans coach Willie Green in the offseason, retained current Lakers coach JJ Redick and finished the season in second.

FanDuel championship odds: +10000

Roster roll call
Draft Pick:
No. 46, G Cam Christie, Minnesota

DEPARTURES: F Paul George, G Russell Westbrook, C Mason Plumlee, C Daniel Theis
VETERAN ADDITIONS: C Mo Bamba, F Nicolas Batum, G Kris Dunn, G Derrick Jones Jr., G Kevin Porter Jr.

Big picture
How many of the Thunder’s seemingly dozens of draft picks do you think the Clippers could pry for Kawhi Leonard? Doesn’t that sound like the perfect match? You put the ultimate winner on a ready-to-take-the-next-step team and even the Celtics would start sweating. Meanwhile, when four of the five teams in your division are in desperate need of rebuilding, why not be the first to start the process? The Kings did that two years ago and look where they are today. Maybe that’s what the Clippers tried to do by getting rid of Paul George and Russell Westbrook. But all that’s done, for now, is convince Leonard how sore his knee is. That leaves the defending Pacific champs with an outdated James Harden and… uh, some guy named Jordan Miller led them in scoring in the preseason. Look out below.

Get to know: G Kevin Porter Jr.
When last seen in Los Angeles, Porter was so good, he thought he was a member of the James family — needing just one season at USC to vault him into NBA stardom. It hasn’t gone as planned, but there have been some bright moments. Like when he scored 30 or more points four times in an eight-week stretch late in the 2021-22 season, then three more times over 36 days early in the 2022-23 campaign. He didn’t last in Houston due to a domestic assault case, but he resurfaced in Greece this spring and averaged 22.0 points in limited action. As temperamental as they come, Porter now returns to his second home (he was born in Seattle) with a serious chip on his shoulder, like the one he had against the first NBA team to give up on him — the Bucks — before burning them for 50 points in an April 2021 showdown. He’s been on bad teams before, and he knows the recipe for happiness: Keep shooting.

NBA SEASON-PREVIEW CAPSULES: ATLANTIC DIVISION

1. BOSTON CELTICS

Predicted 2024-25 record: 60-22

Last season: 64-18, 1st in Eastern Conference

Last time…
The Celtics came off a title run was the 2008-09 campaign. They went 62-20 but got bounced in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

FanDuel championship odds: +310

Roster roll call
Draft Picks:
No. 30, SG Baylor Scheierman, Creighton
No. 54, SF Anton Watson, Gonzaga

DEPARTURES: F Svi Mykhailiuk, F Oshae Brissett
VETERAN ADDITIONS: N/A

Big picture
Last season resulted in the 18th title in franchise history for Boston, which will be trying to run things back with a nearly identical group. Even though big man Kristaps Porzingis is expected to be in street clothes until December because of offseason ankle surgery, the Celtics are still loaded, with star wings Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown set to lead the way. Basking in the glory of a championship is the last thing on Boston coach Joe Mazzulla’s mind, though, and the 36-year-old has frequently compared life on the court to the animal kingdom to make sure his team stays on the prowl.

Get to know: C Neemias Queta
A 38-year-old Al Horford is in line to take over down low while Porzingis recovers, meaning that Queta, Luke Kornet and Xavier Tillman likely will be taking on expanded roles. It’ll probably be Kornet who serves as Horford’s primary backup, but Queta was a beacon of efficiency whenever he checked into a game last season. He was on a two-way contract for most of the campaign, and clearly the Celtics liked what they saw from him, evident by the full NBA deal that they gave him in early April.

2. NEW YORK KNICKS

Predicted 2024-25 record: 58-24

Last season: 50-32, 2nd in Eastern Conference

Last time…
The Knicks reached the Eastern Conference finals was the year 2000, and they got there with a team that featured Rick Brunson. He’s now an assistant coach for New York, and his son, Jalen, is running the point.

FanDuel championship odds: +750

Roster roll call
Draft Picks:
No. 25, SF/SG Pacome Dadiet, Germany
No. 34, PG Tyler Kolek, Marquette (acquired from Trail Blazers)
No. 56, SF Kevin McCullar Jr., Kansas (acquired from Suns)
No. 58, C Ariel Hukporti, Germany (acquired from Mavericks)

DEPARTURES: F Julius Randle, G Donte DiVincenzo, F Bojan Bogdanovic, G Shake Milton, G Alec Burks, C/F Isaiah Hartenstein
VETERAN ADDITIONS: C/F Karl-Anthony Towns, G/F Mikal Bridges, G Cameron Payne

Big picture
Considering how much run he likes to give his starters, New York coach Tom Thibodeau is going to be living in paradise this season. He’ll have Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, Bridges and Towns at his disposal on a nightly basis, and the challenge will be keeping that group fresh for a playoff run. The Knicks needed to send Randle and DiVincenzo to the Minnesota Timberwolves in order to get Towns, and it wasn’t long before a rivalry developed between the two teams, with DiVincenzo jawing at New York’s bench during a preseason game last Sunday.

Get to know: G Miles McBride
If anything is going to hamper the Knicks, it’ll be their bench. Someone is going to need to step up outside of New York’s starting five, and the 24-year-old McBride could be up to the task. He shouldered a massive load at the end of 2023-24, logging 36.7 minutes per game over his final 14 contests of the regular season. During that span, McBride averaged 15.2 points, 3.0 assists and 2.8 rebounds.

3. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

Predicted 2024-25 record: 53-29

Last season: 47-35, 7th in Eastern Conference

Last time…
The 76ers got at least 65 games out of Joel Embiid, the star center was named NBA MVP at the end of 2022-23. Embiid was held to 39 games (all starts) last season because of a knee injury.

FanDuel championship odds: +1000

Roster roll call
Draft Picks:
No. 16, SG Jared McCain, Duke
No. 41, PF Adem Bona, UCLA

DEPARTURES: F Tobias Harris, F Nicolas Batum, C Mo Bamba, G Buddy Hield, G De’Anthony Melton, G Cameron Payne, C Paul Reed
VETERAN ADDITIONS: F Paul George, C Andre Drummond, G Eric Gordon, G Reggie Jackson, F Caleb Martin, F Guerschon Yabusele

Big picture
Philadelphia has more than enough talent to make a deep playoff run, but it will only be able to do so if Embiid and George are healthy. The Sixers are putting a lot of faith in the latter, signing George to a four-year, $212 million deal even though he’s played more than 60 games just once in the past five seasons. Then there’s Embiid, who told ESPN that his days of playing back-to-backs are likely over. Should Embiid or George miss significant time due to injury, Philadelphia could go from title contender to play-in team overnight.

Get to know: F Guerschon Yabusele
Yabusele broke into the league with one of the 76ers’ fiercest rivals, the Celtics, back in 2017, but he only lasted two seasons in Boston before taking his talents overseas. He caught everyone’s eye in the Paris Olympics, though, dropping 20 points on 6-of-14 shooting as France fell 98-87 to the United States in the men’s basketball gold medal game. Having frontcourt depth behind Embiid can never hurt, and perhaps Philadelphia found a diamond in the rough.

4. TORONTO RAPTORS

Predicted 2024-25 record: 35-47

Last season: 25-57, 12th in Eastern Conference

Last time…
The Raptors had back-to-back losing seasons was 2011-12 and 2012-13. However, Toronto finished above .500 in each of the next seven seasons, reaching the postseason each time, highlighted by a title in 2019.

FanDuel championship odds: +100000

Roster roll call
Draft Picks:
No. 19, SG Ja’Kobe Walter, Baylor
No. 31, PF Jonathan Mogbo, San Francisco
No. 45, PG Jamal Shead, Houston (acquired from Kings)
No. 57, PF Ulrich Chomche, NBA Academy Africa (acquired from Timberwolves)

DEPARTURES: G Gary Trent Jr., F Jalen McDaniels, F Mouhamadou Gueye
VETERAN ADDITIONS: G Davion Mitchell, C Bruno Fernando

Big picture
Although it boasts some promising young talent, Toronto finds itself in an Atlantic Division loaded with heavyweights in the Celtics, Knicks and 76ers. RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley came over from New York last season and flanked main attraction Scottie Barnes, and they should have even more defined roles in Year 2 across the border. Newcomer Mitchell could also provide a boost after tapering off over his final two seasons with the Sacramento Kings following a productive rookie campaign (11.5 points, 4.2 assists per game).

Get to know: G Gradey Dick
Dick is slated to be a full-time starter after coming off the bench in 43 of his 60 games last season, his rookie year. He was getting big-time minutes once the spring hit, and the 20-year-old carried himself well, averaging 12.6 points over his final 22 games of the season. If Dick can keep making strides in the right direction, the Raptors’ starting lineup won’t be one to just gloss over, and Toronto could end up securing a play-in berth.

5. BROOKLYN NETS

Predicted 2024-25 record: 21-61

Last season: 32-50, 11th in Eastern Conference

Last time…
The Nets made the playoffs was 2023, but that feels like decades ago considering they’ve entered a complete rebuild. A franchise that once had Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden playing together will now be trying to ward off a last-place finish in the East.

FanDuel championship odds: +100000

Roster roll call
Draft Picks:
None

DEPARTURES: G/F Mikal Bridges, G Lonnie Walker IV, F Keita Bates-Diop
VETERAN ADDITIONS: G Shake Milton, F Bojan Bogdanovic, F Ziaire Williams

Big picture
Out with the old and in with the new didn’t fully apply to Brooklyn this summer, as the Nets didn’t have a single pick in the 2024 draft. Sure, a new coach might help liven things up, but Brooklyn’s front office certainly didn’t do Jordi Fernandez any favors when it came to crafting a roster for his first season at the helm. With the spotlight shining far, far away from the Nets, maybe Ben Simmons thrives due to minimal pressure and starts playing at an All-Star level again. The 2018 Rookie of the Year appeared in just 15 games (12 starts) a season ago and averaged 6.1 points, 7.9 boards and 5.7 assists.

Get to know: G Cam Thomas
Thomas will be one of the few reasons to watch Brooklyn basketball over the next five-plus months. An explosive scorer who finished seventh in voting for Most Improved Player last season, Thomas, 23, dropped at least 40 points on four occasions in 2023-24. With Bridges now across town with the Knicks, the Nets’ offense is going to be running through Thomas, who should end up on All-Star watch.

–Field Level Media

NBA SEASON-OPENING POWER RANKINGS: CELTICS STILL NO. 1

Given the disparity in the number of teams seriously vying for this season’s two most important crowns, it would be fitting if the 2024-25 season-opening NBA Power Rankings were listed in inverse order.

Clearly, becoming married to Cooper Flagg is considered far more important — and attainable — than being awarded some silly, overly ornamented ring.

While the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers in the East and Oklahoma City Thunder in the West would like to believe they have taken the necessary steps to unseat the two returning powers — the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets — atop the standings, the backstroke competition at the bottom of the heap figures to be something of which only Natalie Coughlin could be proud.

I start this year’s Power Rankings with the defending champ at one extreme and a newcomer at the other:

1. Boston Celtics. The last team standing deserves the respect of starting out on top, but really they should be considered co-favorites with the Nuggets.

2. Denver Nuggets. They match up well with the Celtics, but getting through the Western Conference gauntlet with all body parts functioning could be a tougher challenge.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder. The additions of Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein (when healthy) should help, but what’s the hesitation going all-in on a big-time sidekick for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren?

4. New York Knicks. Mikal Bridges, Karl-Anthony Towns … wow. No doubt they have closed the gap on the Celtics. But that gap was a lot bigger than most people realized last season.

5. Philadelphia 76ers. Paul George is already injured and Joel Embiid wants to pace himself. And just like that, they’re off the Celtics’ radar.

6. Milwaukee Bucks. Giannis Antetokounmpo is the most unstoppable force in the game today. But until both he and the Bucks realize that, they’ll never duplicate Nikola Jokic’s success in Denver.

7. Minnesota Timberwolves. They proved everyone wrong with the success of their two-headed monster last season. Now it appears they’re trying to prove everyone wrong who reluctantly had to admit they had it right.

8. Cleveland Cavaliers. When push comes to shove with an Eastern Final Four berth on the line, give me Jaylen Brown, Jalen Brunson, Embiid or Antetokounmpo over Donovan Mitchell.

9. Sacramento Kings. Why are they a lock to win the Pacific Division? Because the Clippers took advantage of the current sad state of the Lakers, Warriors and Suns last year, and now they’ve fallen harder than the rest. That leaves just one team with a pulse.

10. Dallas Mavericks. This is right about where the Mavericks would have been slotted at the end of last year’s regular season. What’s changed? Klay Thompson? Yeah, he’s gotten older.

11. New Orleans Pelicans. The addition of Dejounte Murray helps put the pressure on Brandon Ingram: Either shape up and accept a complementary role on a very good team, or pack your winter best when Cleveland gets desperate in February.

12. Orlando Magic. If the Celtics had Paolo Banchero instead of Jayson Tatum, that Dynasty II dream could become a reality.

13. Indiana Pacers. They’re to the East what the Pelicans are to the West — a fun team that can beat you on its best night. Unfortunately, they won’t have enough of those nights this season.

14. Miami Heat. No team is rooting harder for the Heat than the Celtics, who seem to draw the underseeded playoff pest every year. But with the Pacers and Magic improving, Miami seems destined for a play-in game or two just for a chance to see Boston again in April.

15. Memphis Grizzlies. The competition begins to dethrone Stephen Curry as the NBA’s top true point guard. If he can keep his head on straight, Ja Morant starts as the favorite.

16. Los Angeles Lakers. The Hollywood script-writers have already carved out space in the season highlight reel for all LeBron-to-Bronny assists. The Academy calls them short films.

17. Atlanta Hawks. They’d be a tank possibility … if only they had their first-round pick. Plan B would be to take a tank and blow this thing up … if only someone would be interested in Trae Young.

18. Golden State Warriors. Before they won titles, the Warriors made their mark as an entertaining team. They’d like to get back to that, but what’s entertaining about Buddy Hield and Kyle “Slo-Mo” Anderson?

19. Phoenix Suns. Kevin Durant sure looked good in short spurts in Paris. And then there were times he resembled the setting-Sun version.

20. Houston Rockets. They’re primed to move up, but if nothing else, the prideful Lakers, Warriors and Suns likely would be energized enough to avoid that embarrassment. Maybe next year.

21. Charlotte Hornets. It’s here that the Capture The Flagg game begins, with the Hornets the least likely to land the nearby Duke star because wins will come by accident in a division even weaker than the Pacific.

22. Detroit Pistons. With a healthy Cade Cunningham and only Tobias Harris’ pride hurting, it would be no surprise if the Pistons are the East’s most improved team. But improving from 14 wins only gets you so far.

23. Chicago Bulls. Congratulations to Lonzo Ball, who has taken early strides toward a miraculous recovery. If you enjoy watching Globetrotters basketball, tune in when Ball and newcomer Josh Giddey sync up their passing acts.

24. Los Angeles Clippers. In a balloting even closer than the presidential thriller, Kawhi Leonard’s season-opening injury has won a narrow decision over Paul George’s season-opening injury as the most predictable NBA occurrence in October.

25. Toronto Raptors. It’s only 600 miles from Flagg’s hometown of Newport, Maine, to Toronto in case you’re counting. Or as they say north of the border: less than 1,000 kilometers as the malamute mushes.

26. San Antonio Spurs. Gregg Popovich surely remembers how much David Robinson needed Tim Duncan. If the wily Chris Paul has to clank a few last-second jumpers to help the Flagg cause, he could always blame it on old age.

27. Brooklyn Nets. Count me among the few who still believe Ben Simmons could be a very acquirable asset for a good team. Also count me among the many who believe the Nets are not one of those teams.

28. Utah Jazz. Danny Ainge has done a good job stockpiling first-round picks. Soon, odds are he’s likely to turn a few into actual first-round players.

29. Portland Trail Blazers. No losses will come easily among the worst in the West. But if necessary, the Trail Blazers could deal Jerami Grant and “help” their chances.

30. Washington Wizards. The NBA really should consider a lightweight best-of-seven — a loser-take-all Cooper Cup, if you will. Given his scorer’s singlemindedness, Jordan Poole probably would dominate the series … and get Flagg planted in Portland.

NHL NEWS

WILLIAM NYLANDER’S 3-POINT NIGHT POWERS LEAFS PAST LIGHTNING

William Nylander scored two goals and added an assist and the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning 5-2 on Monday night.

Auston Matthews, Max Pacioretty and Matthew Knies also scored for the Maple Leafs, who completed a 3-1-0 homestand. Mitch Marner added two assists.

Toronto goaltender Anthony Stolarz made 32 saves.

Nicholas Paul and Brayden Point scored for the Lightning, who have lost the first two games of a three-game road trip. Victor Hedman added two assists.

Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy allowed four goals on 14 shots before being replaced during the second period by Jonas Johansson, who stopped 14 of the 15 shots he faced.

Toronto forced the issue from the start of a fast-paced first period and took a 1-0 lead at 3:57 when Nylander scored from the slot on a pass from Max Domi.

Paul tied the game 12 minutes later after breaking in alone to get credit for his second goal of the season. Stolarz stopped his shot, but a sliding Toronto defenseman Simon Benoit knocked the rebound into his own goal.

Toronto scored four unanswered goals in the second period.

Matthews scored his third of the season at 1:56 on a power play, jamming in the rebound from Marner’s shot. Nylander also got an assist on the play that was started by a quick, long pass by Stolarz.

Nylander scored his fifth of the season on a two-on-one break with Domi at 7:33 with a shot from the right circle that deflected off Vasilevskiy’s pad. Bobby McMann made the pass to Nylander.

The lead reached 4-1 at 9:31 when Pacioretty scored his second of the season with a high 58-foot shot.

Johansson then took over in the Lightning goal.

Tampa Bay had a five-on-three power play for two minutes starting at 10:02 of the middle period but could not score.

Knies scored his second of the season on a breakaway at 14:02 after two Lightning players collided in the neutral zone.

Point netted his third goal of the season on a power play at 14:53 of the third period.

TOP INDIANA SPORTS HEADLINES/NEWS RELEASES

INDIANA FOOTBALL

MONDAY PRESSER: CURT CIGNETTI

Opening Statement

CC: Right off the bat, Kurtis Rourke will not play this week. We do expect him to return during regular season with a thumb injury. That’s all I’ll say about the injury.

We have 100% confidence, and the team has 100% confidence, I have confidence, the staff has confidence in Tayven Jackson. I thought he played really well in the second half.

We got a tough challenge this week against a good football team, Washington. A lot of playmakers on offense, good defense. Like to pressure. Not giving up a lot of points. A lot of respect for Coach Fisch. A very well-coached team.

Really was very impressed with his team last season, Arizona, where he turned that program around, the way they finished. I think they won their last eight games, maybe nine. Playing about as well as anybody in the country last season. They’re a good football team. Got to have a great week.

Questions.

On if he had a message for Kurtis Rourke after he got hurt…

CC: No, he’s a veteran guy, married guy. He’s older, smart. Got a great attitude about it.

On how Tayven Jackson gets a whole week to prep for his start…

CC: Yeah, exactly. I thought he came in, did a nice job in the second half. Now he’ll get more repetitions, which will help him prepare for the game on Saturday.

He’s a guy that’s extremely capable, extremely capable. I’m sure he’ll rise to the occasion.

On how his experience at Elon compares to when he took over at Indiana…

CC: I drew parallels to that early on when I was hired, having gone through that one time before.

One of the differences is we won a lot of close games there. We had eight wins in a row. They almost all went down to the last play of the game. Whereas here, we’ve been pretty dominant in our performances. Haven’t trailed.

But they were similar situations, yes.

On the recruiting impact of being on FOX Big Noon Kickoff and ESPN’s College GameDay…

CC: Well, I think it’s great exposure for the football program and the university. Now we got to do our part on Saturday. You guys all know the best way to do that is to have a great day today, great meeting, great walk-through, stack good days, which is what we have to do.

On what he likes from Terry Jones Jr.’s recent play…

CC: Yeah, he’s done a nice job on special teams. Got an opportunity on Saturday. An aggressive player. Played a lot of football. Had over a hundred tackles at ODU (Old Dominion) last season.

Put Ferrell at strong safety. We like the way that played out on Saturday. I thought we played really well on defense. Created five turnovers. Had 28 points off of turnovers Saturday, which you don’t see that very often.

The offense I thought did a great job, red area, seven for seven touchdowns. We out-rushed them pretty significantly.

But Terry, I thought he did a nice job.

On the benefit of Tavyen Jackson getting to play an entire half against Nebraska…

CC: Well, and played well, right? He’s played this year, so…

We always talk about the next man up. Everybody’s here for a reason, right? In this sport, you’re going to have injuries at every single position. It’s a lot different when you’re the starter, right?

I’m sure he was excited about it. The team rallied around him at halftime. We outscored them 28-0 in the second half.

On how College GameDay coming to town validates the work of the team…

CC: Yeah, they’re here for a reason: we’re winning games, creating a lot of excitement. That adds to the excitement. Once again, we got to do our part.

On his expectations for the Indiana secondary handling Washington’s receivers on the outside…

CC: They got a really big offensive line, big tight ends, big running back, experienced quarterback. Another quarterback that’s got really good athleticism, can throw the ball also. I like their wideouts a lot.

They’re going to be a big challenge. They got a really good scheme. We’re going to have to fly around, swarm the ball, win up front, put pressure on the quarterback, stop the run, cover, create some turnovers, offensively win the line of scrimmage, be balanced. Lot of man-to-man coverage from Washington. Handle the blitzes, be good in critical situations.

The keys of the game really never change.

On the mentorship that Kurtis Rourke can provide Tavyen Jackson…

CC: Yeah, I think it’s good. I saw them supporting one another during the game. The way Kurtis prepares and practices, he’s a good role model for the younger quarterbacks.

Everybody needs a role model, right? So, he’ll be on the sideline Saturday. He’ll be a plus.

On where he has seen Jackson improve the most…

CC: Well, I think you see it during the games when he gets his opportunity, how he’s responded, how he responded on Saturday. He’s a year older. It’s a different offense. It’s a different system. Tino does a great job of developing the quarterbacks.

He’s got excellent potential. He’s gotten better. Now he’s got an opportunity. He’s got to take it and run with it.

On how Tino Sunseri develops his quarterbacks for success…

CC: He’s a really good quarterback coach. Has great relationships with those guys. Student of the game. Communicates really well.

I think offensively we do a nice job in terms of our system, giving the quarterback answers. Every play’s got an answer. We build the offense around the quarterback.

I mean, the last four have been Player of the Year in the league, the previous two were one-year transfers that only had moderate success at the places they’d been in the past. One was a dual, one was a pocket guy, two were in between.

I just think we do a nice job developing quarterbacks. It’s a group effort, team effort. Since Tino has been here, I think he’s taken those guys to another level. This will be his fourth year with me, yeah.

On how Indiana’s offense found success on the ground against Nebraska…

CC: One, you’re balanced. We throw RPOs, too. We’re not running in stacked boxes. We throw the ball efficiently, too, so you can’t load up against us. But we blocked them up front really well. Our backs made people miss. Downfield blocking was good.

It was an explosive day, no doubt about it. We capitalized on our opportunities, many of which were created by our defense.

On the key to the offensive line’s success on Saturday…

CC: I really haven’t measured it against another performance. Those five guys have been in there almost every single play all season long. They’re tough, hard-nosed, blue-collar type guys. Coach (Bob) Bostad has done a great job of developing them. They’re on the same page. They function really well together. They’re a tough, physical group.

I’m not surprised by what they did on Saturday. Not at all.

On if he and Lee Corso ever have crossed paths…

CC: Well, (College) Gameday came to JMU (James Madison) last season. My wife and I made sure we spent about 10 minutes with Coach Corso beforehand. I called him on his birthday a month or two ago. He called back. We had a nice conversation.

Been aware of him obviously for a long time. I can think all the way back to when we were at West Virginia. There were only nine bowls back then, right? Final bowl spot, the Peach Bowl, I think it was ’72, came down to West Virginia and a 9-1 Louisville team coached by Lee Corso. West Virginia waxed Syracuse pretty good and got the bid. That was probably the first time I was aware of who he was, yeah.

GAME NOTES: HOST WASHINGTON

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – A visit from ESPN’s College GameDay will lead into a noon kickoff on Big Ten Network for the No. 13/13 Indiana football program against Washington. A sold-out Memorial Stadium will host the first meeting as conference opponents and fourth all-time tilt between the Hoosiers and Huskies.

No. 13/13 INDIANA (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten) hosts WASHINGTON (4-3, 2-2 Big Ten)

Memorial Stadium (Bloomington, Ind.)

Saturday, Oct. 26 | noon ET

TV: Big Ten Network | RADIO: Indiana Hoosiers Sports Network

Setting the Scene

• Indiana will host Washington on Saturday afternoon at noon ET at Memorial Stadium (52,626) on BTN and will host ESPN’s College GameDay pregame show. It will be the first time that Indiana has had the show for its full Saturday treatment.

• Indiana leads the all-time series 2-1, winning one game in Bloomington and one in Seattle. Washington won the last matchup, defeating the Hoosiers, 38-13, in Seattle.

• The matchup with Washington will be the first since 2003 and the first time in Bloomington since 1978. It will also be the first time that the two programs will play each other as conference foes.

By The Numbers

1 -Curt Cignetti is the only Indiana head coach to begin his head coaching tenure with a 6-0 record or better. MORE ON PAGE 4

4 – The 4-0 start in Big Ten play marked the fourth time in program history IU started with an unblemished mark through four conference games (4-0, 2020; 4-0, 1987; 5-0, 1967).

47 – Indiana’s 47 offensive touchdowns are the most among FBS teams through Week 8.

7 – Indiana’s seven-game winning streak is the longest since an eight-game stretch during the 1967 season (Week 1-8).

News & Notes

• Indiana enters the game with a 7-0 record after defeating Nebraska (10/19), 56-7, in Week 8. This is Indiana’s second time in program history starting a season 7-0 (2024, 1967).

• Curt Cignetti is the only Indiana head coach to start his head coaching tenure with a 7-0 record.

MORE ON PAGE 4

• Indiana’s crowd of 53,082 for the Nebraska win marks the fourth-largest crowd in program history and the largest since Nov. 17, 1979 (53,202).

• The Indiana defense forced five turnovers, three interceptions and two fumbles and turned those into 28 points.

• Senior running back Justice Ellison went for 105 rushing yards on nine carries with two touchdowns. His two rushing scores marked six consecutive weeks with a touchdown. The last Hoosier with six-straight weeks is Tevin Coleman in 2014 (Week 1, 3-7), which was part of a 15-game streak that spanned the 2013-14 seasons.

MORE ON PAGE 8

• Junior wide receiver Elijah Sarratt moved his consecutive games with a catch streak to 32-straight games with his 28-yard reception in the second quarter against Nebraska. He recorded three catches for 65 yards and one touchdown. MORE ON PAGE 9

• Junior Aiden Fisher led the Hoosiers with 11 tackles, marking the seventh time in his career logging double-digit tackles and the third time as a Hoosier. Fisher is tied for third in the Big Ten with 66 total tackles in 2024.

MORE ON PAGE 11

• Redshirt junior defensive lineman Mikail Kamara owns at least one tackle in all 30 career appearances and at least a half tackle for loss in 27 of 30 career games. MORE ON PAGE 12

• Indiana’s rushing touchdown in the first quarter was the first rushing score allowed by Nebraska’s defense all season. IU finished with five rushing scores in the game and have 28 rushing touchdowns, the most in a season since 2014 (29; 12 games).

• With 215 yards rushing, Indiana snapped a streak of 13-straight games in which Nebraska didn’t allow a 200-yard rushing game (249; Michigan, 2023). The 215 yards were more than double what the Huskers had allowed on average entering the game (84.2 ypg).

• IU is one of six teams nationally to have scored first in each of its games played (Indiana, Army, Ole Miss, Boise State, Memphis, Illinois) and is one of two teams to not trail in a game this season (Army).

• Indiana’s 56 points extended its own program record of six consecutive games of scoring 40-plus points, and with its double-digit win extended its longest streak of double-digit wins in program history at seven-straight games.

• Through Week 8, Indiana is the only FBS program to not allow a first quarter point in 2024.

COMPLETE GAME NOTES: https://static.iuhoosiers.com/custompages/pdf/fb/2024/24-10-26-Notes_Washington.pdf

PURDUE MEN’S GOLF

SURTANI, EASTERBROOK RECORD TOP-20 SHOWINGS AT FALLEN OAK

SAUCIER, Miss. – The Purdue men’s golf team wrapped up the fall season with an eighth-place showing at the Fallen Oak Invitational, held at Fallen Oak Golf Club in Saucier, Mississippi.

The Boilermakers finished the 54-hole event with a score of 17-over par 881 (295-291-295) to finish just one shot behind UTSA in seventh place.

Ole Miss won the event at 20-under par and was followed by Illinois and LSU in second place at 11-under par. Georgia, South Carolina and Mississippi State rounded out the top six.

Nels Surtani and Sam Easterbrook recorded top-20 finishes for the Boilermakers with Surtani shooting an even-par 216 (74-71-71) for a 13th-place showing. Easterbrook shot 1-over par 217 (72-71-74), good for T-17th.

Jenson Forrester finished tied for 45th at 8-over par 224 (76-73-75), while Supapon Amornchaichan was tied for 54th at 9-over par 225 (76-73-75). Kent Hsiao was tied for 57th at 10-over par 226 (75-76-75).

The event was the final competition of the fall season.

PURDUE MEN’S BASKETBALL

PAIR OF BOILERMAKERS READY FOR NBA TIPOFF

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Two players from Purdue’s 2020 recruiting class are set to begin their 2024-25 NBA seasons this week.

Third-year pro Jaden Ivey and rookie Zach Edey will begin play this week for the Detroit Pistons and Memphis Grizzlies, respectively. The Pistons will open play Wednesday night when it hosts the Indiana Pacers in Detroit. The Grizzlies will start their season a day later, traveling to the Utah Jazz on Thursday night.

Ivey, who was a 2022 All-American and the No. 5 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, is averaging 15.8 points, 4.5 assists and 3.8 rebounds in 151 NBA games. He was a second-team All-Rookie Team selection during the 2022-23 season and has been a part of the NBA’s Rising Stars Game in each of the first two seasons in Detroit. Ivey has surpassed 30 points seven times during his career, including a career-high 37 points on Feb. 7, 2024, vs. Sacramento.

Ivey averaged 15.0 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 2.8 APG and 0.8 SPG in just 21.2 minutes per game in the preseason, helping the Pistons to a 3-2 preseason record. He shot 27-of-44 (.614) from the field and 9-of-17 (.529) from 3-point range in the five games.

During Ivey’s All-America season, he averaged 17.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game, helping Purdue to the Sweet 16 and a 29-8 overall record.

Edey, meanwhile, was the two-time National Player of the Year in 2023 and 2024 after leading Purdue to back-to-back Big Ten regular-season championships and an appearance in the 2024 National Championship game. Edey ended his Purdue career as the school’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder.

Selected No. 9 by the Grizzlies, Edey averaged 12.2 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 1.0 BPG and 1.0 APG while shooting 22-of-44 (.500) from the field in just 19.6 minutes per game during the Grizzlies’ five-game preseason.

NOTRE DAME MEN’S SOCCER

MATCH 14 PREVIEW: UIC

SOUTH BEND, Ind. –The Notre Dame men’s soccer team wraps up the home portion of the regular season schedule with a non-conference matchup against UIC at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Oct. 22 at Alumni Stadium. Admission to the match is free and the game will air on ACCNX.

NOTRE DAME vs. UIC
Location: South Bend, Ind. | Alumni Stadium
Watch: ACCNX
Live Stats: Click Here
Twitter Updates: @NDMenSoccer
Game Notes: vs. UIC

THE UIC SERIES

• The Irish and Flames will meet on the pitch for the sixth time on Tuesday.

• Notre Dame is unbeaten in the all-time series against UIC, going 5-0-0.

• The Irish have outscored UIC by a combined score of 18-2 in the series, recording four clean sheets in the process.

• The Irish defeated the Flames in the most recent matchup, winning by a score of 4-2 in Chicago during the 2022 campaign on Oct. 18.

• All four goals were scored by players on the current Notre Dame roster, as Matthew Roou registered a brace and Kyle Genenbacher and Mitch Ferguson each found the back of the net in the win.

MATTHEW ROOU: THE GOAL SCORING MACHINE

• Senior forward Matthew Roou enters Friday’s match tied for third in the country in goals with 12 on the season.

• Roou is in the best form of his career, scoring 11 goals over his last eight outings,  including back-to-back hat tricks during the stretch.

• The forward became the first Notre Dame men’s soccer player since Kevin Lovejoy in 1979 to record multiple hat tricks in a season.

• Roou came through in the clutch in Notre Dame’s 2-1 win over Clemson, scoring the winner in the 86th minute to give the Irish the win.

• The senior is one of two players at the men’s DI level to register two hat tricks during the 2024 season, joining Massachusetts’ Alec Hughes.

• Roou scored a goal from the spot in the season opener against Akron.

• The talisman now has 74 career points off 32 goals and 10 assists.

• Roou is currently  12th on the ND all-time goal scoring list and is one goal away from tying Pat Szanto for 11th (34).

BRYCE BONEAU: 2024 CAPTAIN

• Bryce Boneau is the captain for this year’s Fighting Irish team.

• Boneau is a senior midfielder from Texas and was selected to the 2024 ACC Preseason Watch List.

• The skipper leads the Irish in assists with seven on the season.

• Boneau’s average of .54 assists per match ranks second in the ACC.

• The midfielder has already equalled his assist total from last season with seven, which was his career high.

• Boneau scored four goals and added seven assists last season as a center midfielder and has four goals and 14 assists in his Notre Dame career.

• Boneau was selected by Nashville SC in the third round of the 2024 MLS SuperDraft with the 75th overall pick.

BALANCED ATTACK

• Ten different players have found the back of the net for the Irish this season (Roou, Flanagan, Genenbacher, Boneau, J. Bartlett, Spicer, Dunphy, Baffour, Shaul, N. Bartlett).

• Fourteen returning Irish players registered at least one point in their Notre Dame career, as the team returned 85 points from last year.

• Ten players that scored a goal during the 2023 campaign are back on this year’s team.

• Senior Matthew Roou is the top returning goal scorer on the 2024 squad after firing in a career-high 10 goals during his junior campaign.

HERE TO ASSIST

• Notre Dame ranks fifth in the ACC in assists per game, averaging 1.85 on the year.

• Bryce Boneau paces the Irish with seven assists while KK Baffour has dished out four and Sebastian Green has added three.

• All three of Green’s assists came in the win over Chicago State, tying the junior for the national lead for most assists in a game at the men’s DI level.

•  The Irish dished out 48 assists last season, ranking sixth in the country for total assists.

STRONG STARTS

• Notre Dame has made a habit of jumping out to an early lead this season, as the Irish have scored the opening goal in nine of 13 matches in 2024.

• Four of the nine opening goals came within the first 20 minutes of play.

•The quickest goal to start a match came from Bryce Boneau in the seventh minute in the win over Louisville.

BK THE GK

• Blake Kelly has already made an impact in his freshman season as the goalkeeper of the Fighting Irish.

• Kelly made a career-high eight saves in the draw at Indiana.

• The freshman followed it up with his first career win in the ACC opener against Louisville, making four saves while allowing just one goal.

• The goalie started the season opener, marking the first time a true freshman goalie has started an opener for the Irish in over 30 seasons.

2023 SEASON REWIND

• Notre Dame had one of its most successful seasons in program history last year, finishing with an appearance in the College Cup Final.

• The Irish were dominant in the ACC, claiming the Coastal Division crown and earning the No. 1 seed for the conference tournament after going undefeated in regular season conference play with a record of 6-0-2.

• Notre Dame finished the season with a record of 13-3-6 but two of the draws resulted in the Irish advancing in the NCAA Tournament in shootouts.

• The Fighting Irish defeated Kentucky (2-0) in the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament before moving past Western Michigan (0-0) and Indiana (1-1) to make the College Cup.

• Notre Dame then defeated Oregon State (1-0) in the semifinal before falling to Clemson (1-2) in the final.

BUTLER WOMEN’S GOLF

STEINMAN AND STILLSON GIVE BULLDOGS DAY 1 LEAD AT DAYTON FLYER INVITATIONAL

The Butler women hold the 36-hole lead at the Dayton Flyer Invitational; Katie Steinman and Cybil Stillson are among the Top 5 individually, leading the Butler charge.

Butler holds a four-shot lead over Ohio after rounds of 302 and 295 have the Bulldogs at 597 (+37).

The final 18 holes are scheduled for Tuesday with a 10 a.m. shotgun start. The Butler men are also competing in the event in the Dayton area, but the men’s tournament was suspended due to darkness before the teams could complete the second round.

Steinman’s second round Monday afternoon on the NCR Country Club north course in Kettering, Ohio featured a fast start. Steinman birdied four straight holes among the first six of her round, ending the 18 holes with six birdies and a two-under round of 68. Paired with her opening-round 78, Steinman is tied for second at 146 (+6), just two shots off the lead of Ohio’s Mackenzie McRee.

Stillson’s rounds of 71 and 77 have her at eight-over 148 and in a tie for fourth. A total of five Bulldogs are among the Top 20 entering the final round.

THE BUTLER WOMEN:

T2) Katie Steinman, 78-68—146 (+6)

T4) Cybil Stillson, 71-77—148 (+8)

T11) Treva Dodd, 76-74—150 (+10)

14) Ashley Freitas (playing as an individual), 76-75—151 (+11)

T18) Kelli Scheck, 77-76—153 (+13)

T51) Yaya Sadamoto, 86-85—171 (+31)

THE MEN’S EVENT:

The men will finish up the second round to start Tuesday’s play before teeing off for the third and final round of the 54-hole event.

Will Horne and Logan Sutto each registered one-under 71s in the first round on the NCR Country Club south course. The highlight of Butler’s Monday came from Derek Tabor, who carded an eagle 2 on the par-4, 422-yard seventh hole in the first round.

Shotgun starts for both events are slated for 10 a.m. Tuesday. Live scoring will be available via the Clippd Scoreboard for both events; links can be found on the schedule page of ButlerSports.com.

BUTLER VOLLEYBALL

CORA TAYLOR AND ALALEH TOLLIVER RECEIVE BIG EAST WEEKLY HONORS

Cora Taylor and Alaleh Tolliver were named to the BIG EAST Weekly Awards. Taylor earned Setter of the Week honors while Tolliver received the Freshman of the Week. The conference office made the announcement on Monday afternoon.

Taylor led the BIG EAST with 11.57 assists per frame this week, setting Butler to a two-win weekend.

In Friday’s 3-1 victory over Seton Hall, the junior dished out a match-best 48 assists with three service aces and three blocks. During Saturday’s sweep of Georgetown, Taylor once again led the match with 33 assists while contributing five digs and a pair of service aces.

This was Taylor’s fourth time being recognized by the conference, but the first time earning the setter of the week award. She previously made the BIG EAST honor roll twice last season (9/11/23, 10/23/23) and the Freshman of the Week honors on Oct. 10, 2022.

Tolliver joined Taylor on the honors list for the first time in her career after having a breakout weekend with 26 digs, 25 kills, and seven service aces as the Bulldogs enjoyed an undefeated weekend.

The freshman’s 1.00 aces per set led the league while her 3.57 kills per set were good for eighth in the BIG EAST this week. Against Seton Hall (W, 3-1), Tolliver registered a team-best 18 digs alongside 12 kills for her third career double-double. She then recorded a match-best 13 kills in Saturday’s sweep of Georgetown.

Destiny Cherry was the last Bulldog to be recognized by the conference after making the BIG EAST weekly honor roll on Sep. 9

The Bulldogs will return to action this weekend as they head east to take on St. John’s on Oct. 25 and Villanova on Oct. 26.

BUTLER WOMEN’S SOCCER

PIERCE REPRESENTS BUTLER WOMEN’S SOCCER AS BIG EAST GOALKEEPER OF THE WEEK

Butler goalkeeper Anna Pierce has been selected BIG EAST Women’s Soccer Goalkeeper of the Week following her performances at UConn and at Seton Hall. In addition, Amelie Darey and Talia Sommer were recognized on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll.

Pierce made nine saves in a 2-1 win at UConn and then made eight saves in 1-0 shutout at Seton Hall. She now has six shutouts this season and is tied for the tenth position on Butler’s All-Time List for single-season shutouts. This is her second time receiving this honor this season.

Sommer scored both goals in Butler’s 2-1 win over UConn.

Darey headed in the game-winning goal at Seton Hall in the 84th minute off a corner kick from Abigail Isger.

The Bulldogs will play twice this week, hosting St. John’s on Thursday, Oct. 24, and then traveling to Creighton on Sunday, Oct. 27.

IU INDY WOMEN’S GOLF

WOMEN’S GOLF TO FINISH FALL SLATE AT TERRIER INTERCOLLEGIATE

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The IU Indianapolis women’s golf team will cap the fall schedule this week as the Jaguars participate in the two-day, 54-hole Terrier Intercollegiate at Carolina Country Club. Teams will play 36 holes on Monday (Oct. 20), followed by a final round on Tuesday (Oct. 21).

Head coach Jamie Broce’s team is keyed by junior Yanah Rolston and true freshman Cassidy Ayres at the top of the lineup. Rolston has a pair of top-10 finishes and team-best 76.42 stroke average while Ayres has impressed from the outset with a 77.83 scoring average through four events.

Both Reagan Sohn and Sydni Zebrauskas check in with scoring averages just under 80 for the year at 79.33 and 79.42, respectively. This week, they’ll be joined in the lineup by senior Nerea Lancho. 

THE FIELD

The Jaguars will compete against Elon, Gardner-Webb, Lamar, Presbyterian, Queens, Samford, South Dakota, UNC Asheville, USC Upstate, Western Michigan and Wofford at this week’s event.

THE COURSE

Carolina Country Club is set to play par 72 and 6,056 yards this week. The Club was established in 1910 and remains one of the nation’s best private clubs, having been recognized as a five-star Platinum Club by a respected industry survey of peer club managers and presidents.

LINEUP

1. Yanah Rolston (12 rounds / 76.42 average / 2 top-10 finishes)

2. Cassidy Ayres (12 rounds / 77.83 average / 1 top-10 finish)

3. Reagan Sohn (12 rounds / 79.33 average)

4. Sydni Zebrauskas (12 rounds / 79.42 average)

5. Nerea Lancho (9 rounds / 81.33 average)

LAST TIME OUT

The Jaguars finished fifth of nine teams at 960 (319-316-325) at the WMU Bronco Fall Classic. Rolston finished third overall at 12-over 228 (79-74-75) and Ayres tied for 17th at 236 (79-76-81).

UP NEXT

The Jaguars will open the spring slate at the BGSU Women’s Intercollegiate in Litchfield, Ariz., on Feb. 11-12.

IU INDY MEN’S GOLF

BALANCED JAGUARS ATOP THE LEADERBOARD AT XAVIER INVITATIONAL

CINCINNATI, Ohio – The IU Indianapolis men’s golf team put up back-to-back impressive rounds at the Xavier Invitational on Monday (Oct. 21) and leads the 12-team field at 564 (282-282) heading into Tuesday’s finale. The Jaguars lead Austin Peay by two shots and host Xavier by six shots going into the final 18 holes on Tuesday.

More impressive was that the entire lineup contributed to the effort as no Jaguar sits among the top five through 36 holes.

“Everyone had a solid day today. I think we all did a good job of keeping our head down and grinding all day,” sophomore Brady Schier said. “I started off with a rough 18 and battled well on the second 18 to help the team. Everyone did their part and all we can do is give it our best effort tomorrow and see what happens.”

In round one, Sam McWilliams led the way at 2-under 68, making a pair of birdies late in the round to ultimately get to 2-under. Both Colten Girgis and Titus Boswell shot even par 70 and freshman Daymian Rij was countable at 4-over 74. Boswell also closed strong with a pair of late birdies to get back to par while Girgis was at 1-under for much of his round before finishing with a bogey.

Schier rounded out the group at 8-over 78.

However, Schier turned the tables in the afternoon with a team-best, 3-under 67 with six birdies and Rij shot 2-under 68. During one stretch, Rij made birdie on five out of eight holes, going from 1-under to 5-under with five holes to play.

Girgis shot 3-over 73 and Boswell shot 4-over 74 while McWilliams closed at 6-over 76.

For the tournament, Rij is tied for eighth at 2-over 142 (74-68) and Girgis is tied for 11th at 143 (70-73). Boswell and McWilliams are tied for 13th at 144 and Schier is tied for 20th at 5-over 145 (78-67).

As a team, IU Indy leads the field with 29 birdies and is tied for fourth overall in pars. Girgis ranked among the tournament leaders in pars for day one.

UConn’s Connor Goode and APSU’s Seth Smith are tied atop the leaderboard at 2-under 138.

BALL STATE FIELD HOCKEY

FIELD HOCKEY HOSTS UC DAVIS FOR TUESDAY MATINEE AT BRINER SPORTS COMPLEX

MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State field hockey team welcomes UC Davis to the Briner Sports Complex Tuesday at noon. The Cardinals will be giving away slices of pizza to students from Papa Johns while supplies last.

Ball State enters the contest with an overall record of 3-10 while UC Davis comes to Muncie with a 2-10 ledger. Both programs are looking for a victory after the Cardinals recently lost in overtime to Queens Sunday by a score of 3-2 and the Aggies fell 11-1 to No. 2 Northwestern Sunday in Evanston, Ill.

The last time these two teams met was on Sept. 5, 2019, in East Lansing, Mich., resulting in a 2-1 loss for the Cardinals. The Aggies hold a 3-1 record all-time against BSU. Ball State last defeated UC Davis on Sept. 25, 2013, by a score of 3-2 in Muncie.

After Tuesday, the Ball State field hockey team returns to Mid-American Conference action when it hosts Ohio University Friday at 3 pm ET. The Cardinals will close out their home portion of their schedule on Sunday versus James Madison for senior day at 1 pm ET.

Just a reminder fans are encouraged to bring canned food for the Mid-American Conference rivalry week as we celebrate Ball State football’s 97th homecoming Saturday against Northern Illinois.

BALL STATE WOMEN’S GOLF

STRONG PAR 5 PLAY HIGHLIGHTS DAY 2 AT DIAMANTE INTERCOLLEGIATE FOR WOMEN’S GOLF

HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE, Arkansas – – The Ball State women’s golf team received even-par rounds of 72 from both sophomore JJ Gregston and junior Jasmine Driscoll on its way to a team score of +3 (291) Monday afternoon on the second day of the Diamante Intercollegiate.

The team effort, which included a +1 (73) from junior Sarah Gallagher and a career-low +2 (74) from freshman Sophie Korthuijs, tied as the 10th-best round by stroke count in program history.

The Cardinals gained a lot of the ground on the Diamante Country Club’s four par-5 holes Monday, playing them at a combined -8 (4.50) among the team’s four countable scores. In fact, all four countable players birdied the 490-yard, par-5 third hole.

In addition, sophomore Madelin Boyd collected her first birdie of the tournament on the 531-yard, par-5 11th hole, while sophomore Madelyn Young eagled the same hole. It was Ball State’s second eagle of the season and went along with a Young birdie on the 500-yard, par-5 eighth hole.

Overall, the Cardinals six competitors combined for 15 birdies and one eagle Monday.

With back-to-back even-par rounds, Gregston is currently tied for 15th among the 98-golfer field at E (144). She is three strokes out of the top five, and nine strokes behind tournament leader Cynthia Zhang of Boston College who sits at -9 (135).

In addition, with four birdies Sunday and three more Monday, Gregston is tied for 16th among the field with seven total birdies.

As a team, the Cardinals are currently tied for ninth among the 18-team field at +10 (586). Ball State is nine strokes out of the top five, but 20 back of tournament leader Florida Gulf Coast which has a 36-hole score of -10 (566).

The final round of the Diamante Invitational is set to begin at 9:30 a.m. ET / 8:30 p.m. CT Tuesday, with tee times announced later this evening.

Ball State Results – Team

T15th – JJ Gregston: E (144): 72-72

T30th – Jasmine Driscoll: +2 (146): 74-72

T37th – Sarah Gallagher: +3 (147): 74-73

T54th – Sophie Korthuijs: +5 (149): 75-74

94th – Madelin Boyd: +16 (160): 84-76

Ball State Results – Individual

T90th – Madelyn Young: +15 (159): 81-78

Team Standings

1st – Florida Golf Coast: -10 (566): 287-279

2nd – Boston College: -7 (569): 284-285

3rd – Oral Roberts: -5 (571): 289-282

4th – Little Rock: -3 (573): 283-290

5th – Central Arkansas: +1 (577): 289-288

6th – Missouri State: +5 (581): 299-282

7th – California Baptist: +6 (582): 301-281

8th – Arkansas State: +9 (585): 297-288

9th – Ball State: +10 (586): 295-291

          Bradley: +10 (586): 296-290

11th – Houston Christian: +13 (589): 297-292

12th – Texas A&M-Commerce: +14 (590): 303-287

13th – UT Arlington: +15 (591): 300-291

14th – Tennessee Tech: +21 (597): 299-298

             Wichita State: +21 (597): 302-295

16th – Southern Illinois: +34 (610): 316-294

17th – Stephen F. Austin: +38 (614): 307-307

18th – Texas A&M-Corpus Christi: +41 (617): 318-299

INDIANA STATE VOLLEYBALL

SYCAMORES SWEEP EVANSVILLE BEHIND KENDALL’S BIG NIGHT

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Curry Kendall matched her career high of 19 kills and added a team-leading 14 digs Monday night, propelling Indiana State to a three-set win over Evansville (25-23, 25-23, 25-21) inside ISU Arena.

Emily Weber nearly registered a triple-double with seven kills, 39 assists and 14 digs, while Emma Kaelin added 10 kills and eight digs. Macy Lengacher also recorded 14 digs, while Kira Holland tallied seven kills to go along with 10 digs. Lily Mueller led all players with four blocks, including a pair of block solos.

Kills from Kendall, Holland and Mueller got things started for the Sycamores in the opening set, with Kaelin adding a kill of her own to put the Trees in front 9-8 in the early stages. Indiana State extended its lead to 15-11 at the media timeout following kills from Holland and Mueller, along with a block assist from Mueller and Kendall. Evansville rallied back to tie the set at 19-all, but kills from Kendall, Kaelin and Ella Scott restored the Sycamores’ lead. Kendall finished things off with a pair of kills, recording seven in the set, as the Trees took the opening frame 25-23.

Kendall and Scott opened the second set with kills, with Kaelin adding an ace to give the Sycamores a strong start. Mueller put down a kill, with Kendall adding two more as the Trees and Purple Aces were neck-and-neck through the early stages of the set. Scott and Weber gave Indiana State the lead with kills, with Mueller and Holland sending the Sycamores to the media timeout up 15-12 with a block assist. Indiana State added to its lead with kills from Kendall, Weber, Kaelin and Holland, but Evansville countered with a run of its own. The visitors rattled off six straight points to pull within one at 22-21 before Kaelin ended the run with a kill. Evansville managed to tie the set at 23-23, but Kaelin and Scott put down kills to give Indiana State a 25-23 second set win and a 2-0 lead in the match.

Evansville started set three strong, winning six of the first seven points, but Indiana State slowly worked its way back. The Sycamores took advantage of multiple attack errors by the Purple Aces, with Kendall adding back-to-back kills to pull the Blue and White within a point at 8-7. Indiana State tied the set at 10 following a pair of UE errors, but the visitors came back with a run of their own to take a three-point lead midway through. Kills from Holland and Kendall, along with a service ace from Weber, tied the score at 16-all, and Kendall later put down back-to-back kills to give the Sycamores a 20-17 lead. Evansville pulled within a point late, but kills from Kaelin, Holland and Weber closed out a 25-21 third set win to clinch the match for the Sycamores.

News and Notes

Curry Kendall has recorded 14 or more kills in each of the last three matches, including a career-high 19 in two of the last three. Kendall hit a career-best .529 Monday night, with 19 kills and just one error on 34 swings. Kendall’s 6.33 kills per set in Monday’s match is the best per-set average for a Sycamore this season.

Curry Kendall has five matches with double-digit kills this season, four of which have come against conference foes. Both of Kendall’s matches with double-digit digs have come against MVC opponents.

Emma Kaelin tallied her team-leading 14th match with double-digit kills this season. All of Kaelin’s matches with double-digit kills in her career have come during the 2024 season.

Emily Weber’s seven kills and 14 digs both represented season-best marks. Weber also surpassed 2,000 assists for her collegiate career during Indiana State’s three-match homestand.

Indiana State’s 17.0 kills per set represented the Sycamores’ best per-set average this season, with the Sycamores recording more than 50 kills for the third straight match.

Four of Indiana State’s six best matches in terms of hitting percentage have come at ISU Arena. The Sycamores’ .290 hitting percentage represented a season-best output.

Monday’s win snapped a 13-match losing streak for Indiana State and a nine-match conference losing streak for the Sycamores. It also snapped a five-match losing streak against Evansville and was Indiana State’s 30th home win over the Purple Aces.

Up Next

Indiana State hits the road to face Drake Friday night, with first serve set for 7 p.m.

PURDUE FT. WAYNE WOMEN’S GOLF

‘DONS NEAR THE TOP AT BRAUN INTERCOLLEGIATE

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Behind the lead of second-place Lillian Gottman, the Purdue Fort Wayne women’s golf team is six shots back of the lead at Evansville’s Braun Intercollegiate after the opening round on Monday (Oct. 21).

The Mastodons’ opening round of 307 was six shots better than last season’s first round at the Braun Intercollegiate. Indiana State (301) and Evansville (305) were the two teams better than the ‘Dons on Monday. Purdue Fort Wayne is five shots ahead of reigning Horizon League champion Oakland with 18 to play.

Gottman’s round featured four birdies, including three in a five-hole stretch on the front nine. She birdied holes two, five and six for a 1-under front, and got another on 11. The Illinois-Springfield transfer was bogey-free on holes 5-14. She finished the day with a 1-over 74, tying the best of her Division I career, which put her in a tie for second.

Olivia Jang shot 75 in round one to tie for seventh after 18 holes. She had a birdie on 16 to highlight her round, while also parring eight of the nine holes on the front. She finished with 14 pars and a birdie.

Another two shots back of Jang, Hunar Mittal shot 77 in the opening round of the event. She made up for early bogeys on the front with three birdies before making the turn. She got birdies to fall on five, seven and nine. She had six pars on the back nine after her 1-over front. The sophomore from India is in 11th place.

Natalie Papa was four back of Mittal with an 81. She had a relatively clean front nine with just one bogey on hole six. She parred the rest. Her 81 put her in 31st.

Lara Dommach shot 85 in round one with a birdie on hole two. She added six pars to finish day one in 60th place.

Louise Ekesall played as an individual, shooting 84. She had nine pars and is in 49th place.

The second and final round of the Braun Intercollegiate will take place on Tuesday (Oct. 22).

PURDUE FT. WAYNE MEN’S GOLF

MEN’S GOLF MOVES UP AFTER STRONGER SECOND ROUND

CINCINNATI – After an opening round of 306, the Purdue Fort Wayne men’s golf team shot 287 in round two of the Xavier Invitational on Monday (Oct. 21).

Justin Hicks led Purdue Fort Wayne with a two-round total of 76-70-146. In the morning round, Hicks had nothing worse than a bogey with a birdie on hole 16. He finished his round with four pars in a row. The freshman was even in round two, starting with five pars in a row. He birdied holes 14 and 18 in his second time through the back nine. Later on, he birdied four and five back-to-back and wrapped up the day with a par. Hicks’ 146 was good for 22nd place.

Brock Reschly was one shot behind Hicks after two rounds. Reschly started the day with five pars in a row. He was 1-over on the front nine later on, getting six pars and a birdie on hole seven. In the afternoon, Reschly started with a par and birdie on hole 11. In his final nine, he had three birdies and two bogeys for a 1-under side. He birdied one, seven and eight. The sophomore is tied for 27th after his 76-71-147.

Two shots behind Reschly, Nick Holder shot 76-73-149 and is tied for 38th. The Fort Wayne native had birdies on holes 11 and 14 in the middle of a seven-hole bogey-free stretch. In the afternoon round, he had four birdies, including back-to-back on 10 and 11. To finish the day, Holder was 1-under in his final three holes with birdies on five and seven.

AJ Agnew was within one of Holder after his 78-73-151. In the morning, Agnew had a birdie on 10 to set up an even back nine. Later on, he finished 2-over in round two thanks to a 1-under front nine. He bogeyed hole two, but then rattled off four pars in a row before finishing with birdies on seven and eight. Agnew is in 45th place.

In the fourth event of his career and first of the season, Jarred Bowser shot 80-84-164. He got birdies to fall on holes one and nine in round one. He is tied for 61st.

As a team, the Mastodons are in ninth place after two rounds. They are eight shots ahead of Oakland and within five of Detroit Mercy and Northern Kentucky.

The last round of Xavier’s event will fire off on Tuesday morning (Oct. 22).

EVANSVILLE WOMEN’S GOLF

KATE PETROVA HOLDS THE LEAD AT BRAUN INTERCOLLEGIATE

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – With an even score of 72, University of Evansville’s Kate Petrova holds the individual lead at the Braun Intercollegiate.

Petrova completed Monday’s opening 18 holes with an even mark at 72 at Oak Meadow Country Club.  She is two strokes ahead of four players who are tied for second place.

Finishing the day at 2-over was Mallory Russell.  Her score of 74 has the redshirt senior in a tie for third place, just two off the pace of Petrova.  She is tied with three others for the runner-up position.  One behind her was Louise Standtke.  The freshman carded a 3-over 75 and is tied for 7th.

Izzy Steele and Trinity Dubbs completed Evansville’s “A” team.  Steele posted an 84 while Dubbs checked in with an 86.

Evansville’s “B” team was led by the duo of Elizabeth Mercer and Jane Grankina.  Mercer finished the round with an 80 while Grankina was one behind with an 81.  Destynie Sheridan completed the day with an 85 Adeline Wittmer and Mia Cruz posted rounds of 95 and 97, respectively.

Indiana State holds the lead in the team standings with a 301.  They are four strokes ahead of the Purple Aces entering Tuesday’s final round.  Purdue Fort Wayne is in third, two shots behind UE.

EVANSVILLE VOLLEYBALL

CARDONA NAMED MVC PLAYER OF THE WEEK

ST. LOUIS – On the heels of one of the most impressive weekends you will ever see, University of Evansville senior Giulia Cardona earned Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week honors on Monday.

In a weekend that will go down in the record books, Cardona recorded an average of 7.44 kills per set while hitting an equally impressive .321 to lead the University of Evansville to wins over Southern Illinois and Missouri State. 

Cardona finished Friday’s match against the Salukis with 37 kills.  It was the third-highest total in an NCAA match this season and second-highest in a 5-set contest.  Her effort was just three off the Missouri Valley Conference single-match record of 40.  She hit .330 and finished with 11 digs and two block assists. 

The native of Argentina followed that up with a 30-kill performance in a 4-set win over Missouri State.  She hit .310 while adding 11 digs, 3 service aces and a pair of block assists as she recorded a double-double in each match.

With her recent efforts, Cardona has assumed the NCAA lead in kills per set with 5.43 per game over the course of the 2024 season.

SOUTHERN INDIANA VOLLEYBALL

USI VB TRAVELS TO UT MARTIN ON TUESDAY NIGHT

MARTIN, Tenn.- University of Southern Indiana Volleyball travels to University of Tennessee at Martin for the second leg of the Ohio Valley Conference series between the squads on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. The Screaming Eagles look to avenge their five-set loss to the Skyhawks at home on October 1.

Coverage

Tuesday’s volleyball match on ESPN+ can be found at the link above or on the USI Volleyball schedule where you can also find the live stats. In game updates will be provided on Twitter, while pregame and post game updates will be on all three platforms @USIAthletics.

USI HEADLINES

Struggles against WIU at Home. The Eagles were swept twice this past weekend at home against a surging Leathernecks squad dropping to 3-6 in OVC play. The Eagles had an ample amount of opportunities to swing the match in their favor on Friday with two set point opportunities, before falling 30-32. In set two, USI led 17-11 but failed to finish the Leathernecks allowing them to make a 14-5 run. In set three, WIU broke it open with a 25-14 match clinching set. Saturday’s match was similar as the Eagles fell in three sets (23-25, 21-25, 18-25).

Moore Holding it Down. While the Eagles have been struggling, junior Keira Moore has seen an ample amount of attacks from the back row lately as USI’s libero. The junior has tallied 15+ dig matches in eight straight, averaging 20.63 digs per match. She has also distributed 36 assists in OVC play, along with 11 service aces.

Feeding Willis. Sophomore Ashby Willis has become the target hitter who brings consistency into every match along with the ability to take over in clutch scenarios racking up double-digit kills in eight-straight matches. Willis tied her career high of 19 kills at Eastern Illinois University dating back to her days at Purdue University Fort Wayne. This past weekend, she totaled 14 kills in both matches on a .314 hitting percentage, along with eclipsing a new career high in digs at 24 in only three sets. The outside hitter has delivered eight double-digit dig matches in nine OVC opportunities.

Set Trends. The Eagles are now 5-16 in first sets, 11-10 in second sets, 8-13 in third sets, 7-5 in fourth sets, and 2-2 in fifth sets. USI’s struggle this season has been getting ahead, losing 16 of 21 first sets. Opponents have outscored the Eagles by 73 (519-446) in first sets and by 39 in third sets (433-472), but the Eagles are positive in the second (482-475), fourth (277-261), and fifth sets (53-21).

Scouting UT Martin. The Skyhawks come into the match on a similar path as the Eagles losing four straight. However, UTM has faced a tough opening OVC schedule getting swept against Lindenwood University (1st in OVC), University of Arkansas at Little Rock (3rd in OVC), and Morehead State University (6th in OVC). When both teams met on October 1, UTM frustrated the Eagles defensively with a monstrous 92 digs. OVC preseason player to watch Dylan Mott snatched 32 digs on the night. The Skyhawks also out blocked the Eagles 15-7, holding USI to .134 hitting percentage. Four different Skyhawks earned double digit kills in the match. However, UTM is led by freshman sensation Kylie Surratt with 170 kills.

USI Strengths and Weaknesses Statistically. Senior setter Carly Sobieralski continues to shine with a league leading 792 assists, helping the Eagles rank third in the conference in total assists. The Eagles also excel on the back line in digs ranking third. USI also ranks fourth in the OVC in kills at 12.77. The Eagles have struggled with hitting percentage, opponent percentage, and blocks, ranking ninth in all three categories.

UTM Strengths and Weaknesses Statistically. The Skyhawks have struggled with limiting attacking errors, committing 343 errors compared to their opponents at 264. These errors contribute to a league worst .157 hitting percentage. UTM ranks in the bottom two in hitting percentage, opponent hitting percentage, assists, kills, and blocks. The Skyhawks strength is their back line ranking fifth in the league in digs with consistency from Katie Cruise, Kayla Bryant, Mott, and Surratt as the team averages 16.20 digs per set.

Movement Around the League.  Lindenwood University continued to dominate with their fifth straight win at 8-1 beating UTM twice. After the split at Screaming Eagles Arena, the Redhawks have gone 5-0 against Tennessee State University, Morehead State University, and Little Rock. The Trojans stay at third, while WI

U jumps into fourth place after sweeping the Eagles. USI stays at seventh, while the Skyhawks fall to tenth. Eastern Illinois University jumped out of last into ninth as they’ve shown improvements.

VALPO WOMEN’S GOLF

WOMEN’S GOLF IN MIDDLE OF PACK AFTER FIRST ROUND OF BRAUN INTERCOLLEGIATE

Senior Katie Schreiner (Fenton, Mo. / Summit) led the way for the Valparaiso University women’s golf team as the Beacons played the first round of the 36-hole, two-day Braun Intercollegiate, hosted by Evansville at the par-72, 6195-yard Oak Meadow Country Club in Evansville, Ind. The Beacons finished the day ahead of six teams in the 13-team field.

How It Happened

Schreiner stroked a 79 (+7) to lead the Beacons, finishing the first day of competition in the top 20 at t-19 in the 85-player field. She birdied the par-5 11th hole and played at even par on holes 11-18 to finish the back nine at +1.

Senior Anna Fay (Ada, Mich. / Forest Hills) was one stroke behind her teammate, carding an 80 (+8) to finish the day at t-29. She birdied a pair of Par 5s on the back nine, Holes 11 and 15.

Sophomore Bella Campos (Honolulu, Hawaii, IMG Academy) turned in an 81 (+9) to finish the day tied for 31st. She birdied the par-4 18th hole.

As a team, Valpo finished Round 1 at 323 (+35), seventh of 13 on the team leaderboard. The Beacons finished a stroke ahead of Missouri Valley Conference foe UIC. Fellow Valley members Indiana State and host Evansville own the top two spots on the team leaderboard through 18 holes at 301 and 305, respectively.

Ekaterina Petrova of the Purple Aces shot an even par round of 72 to lead all participants.

Thoughts from Head Coach Jill McCoy

“We were consistent as a team today. Hopefully everyone can shave a couple off tomorrow and make a move up the leaderboard!”

Up Next

Valpo will play its final round of the fall on Tuesday in Evansville. A link to live scoring via Leaderboard King is available on ValpoAthletics.com.

VALPO VOLLEYBALL

HELMING NAMED MVC FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK

Valpo volleyball freshman right side Ava Helming (Johnston, Iowa/Johnston) has been named MVC Freshman of the Week following a pair of big offensive performances in the Beacons’ road wins last weekend.

Helming stepped up on the attack with the Beacons missing a pair of regular hitters on the road trip. She opened the weekend by posting 14 kills on .379 hitting in the win at Murray State, also adding three blocks against the Racers. The next night, Helming helped Valpo to its come-from-behind win at Belmont with 16 kills on .452 hitting — her best hitting percentage of the season in a match she has reached double digits in kills.

For the weekend, Helming averaged 3.33 kills/set on .417 hitting and totaled five blocks as well. She is the second Valpo player this season to earn a weekly award from the conference office, as Emma Hickey was tabbed Defensive Player of the Week after the opening weekend of play. Helming is also the program’s first MVC Freshman of the Week since Hickey picked up that award on Oct. 3, 2022.

UINDY FOOTBALL

FOOTBALL SLIPS TO #21 IN NATIONAL POLL

WACO, Texas – Despite earning a 42-34 road win at McKendree last Saturday, the UIndy football team dipped two spots to No. 21 in this week’s  AFCA Division II Coaches Poll. The Greyhounds have appeared in the top 25 for 33 consecutive weeks dating back to week 1 of the 2022 season.

For the first time this season, the nation has a new No. 1. Reigning-national-champion Harding University saw its 25-game win streak snapped versus conference-rival Ouachita Baptist, 17-13. Unbeaten Grand Valley State assumed the top spot, the first of five Super Region 3 teams in the top seven.

AFCA DIVISION II COACHES POLL

RK	SCHOOL (1st-place votes)	REC	PTS	PREV
1.	Grand Valley St. (Mich.) (27)	7-0	747	2
2.	Valdosta St. (Ga.) (3)	7-0	720	3
3.	Ferris St. (Mich.)	6-1	657	4
4.	Kutztown (Pa.)	7-0	634	5
5.	Ouachita Baptist (Ark.)	7-0	627	9
6.	Pittsburg St. (Kan.)	6-1	590	7
7.	Harding (Ark.)	6-1	579	1
8.	Western Colorado	7-0	554	8
9.	Central Oklahoma	7-0	513	11
10.	Colorado School of Mines	6-1	460	12
11.	Charleston (W.Va.)	7-0	439	13
12.	Colorado St.-Pueblo	7-1	419	14
13.	Minnesota St.	6-1	341	15
14.	Emporia St. (Kan.)	6-1	333	16
15.	Slippery Rock (Pa.)	6-1	300	6
16.	Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.)	6-1	290	17
17.	Carson-Newman (Tenn.)	7-0	287	18
18.	West Alabama	5-1	220	10
19.	Johnson C. Smith (N.C.)	7-0	200	20
20.	Central Washington	5-2	181	21
21.	Indianapolis (Ind.)	6-1	177	19
22.	Southern Arkansas	6-1	117	24
23.	West Florida	4-2	115	23
24.	Delta St. (Miss.)	5-2	58	NR
25.	Augustana (S.D.)	5-2	29	NR

Others Receiving Votes:  Angelo St. (Tex.), 22; Findlay (Ohio), 22; California (Pa.), 21; Virginia Union, 20; Wayne St. (Neb.), 16; Wingate (N.C.), 10; Sioux Falls (S.D.), 8; Colorado Mesa, 7; Indiana (Pa.), 7; New Haven (Conn.), 7; Davenport (Mich.), 6; Frostburg St. (Md.), 6; Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.), 4; Fort Hays St. (Kan.), 3; Ashland (Ohio), 2; Emory & Henry (Va.), 1; Western Oregon, 1.

CROWELL NABS GLVC FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK ACCOLADES

INDIANAPOLIS – University of Indianapolis freshman defensive back Key Crowell was named the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Special Teams Player of the Week in football, it was announced by the league office Monday.

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Key Crowell, #19 Indianapolis

Fr. | DB | Lebanon, Tenn.

Major: Sport Management

Team Result: 42-34 W at McKendree (10/19)

Broke off 77-yard touchdown return on a blocked field goal for his first career touchdown

Added career-high 10 tackles (all solo) and one pass breakup

Earns first career Special Teams Player of the Week Award

Last Greyhounds’ Special Teams Player of the Week: Ian Burr (10/14/24)

MARIAN FOOTBALL

MARIAN DROPS ONE TO #18 IN LATEST NAIA GOROUT TOP-25 RATINGS

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – After defeating Olivet Nazarene 45-40 on their homecoming game Saturday afternoon, the Marian football team moved back one spot in the latest NAIA Football GoRout Top-25 ratings, sliding back from 17 to 18.

Keiser (Fla.) is once again named the top team in the NAIA Football GoRout Top 25 Ratings, receiving 16 of the 17 first-place votes. Grand View (Iowa) stays second and receives the final top vote while rest of the top five remains with Indiana Wesleyan in third, Dordt (Iowa) in fourth, and St. Thomas (Fla.) in fifth.

Marian is coming off of a 45-40 win over Olivet Nazarene, and remain the highest-rated team in the MSFA Midwest League. St. Xavier dropped out of the top-25 for the first time in nearly a year after losing to St. Francis (Ill.) 36-29 in overtime this past weekend. The Saints vaulted into No. 23 with their win over the Cougars, and Indiana Wesleyan remains the highest rated team in the MSFA Mideast League after a run-away 56-7 win against Taylor.

Marian will take on Saint Francis (Ind.) this Saturday at 1:05 p.m. in the annual Franciscan Bowl.

CARRINGTON, CURRY EARN FIRST CAREER MSFA PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS

INDIANAPOLIS – Coming off their 45-40 win on Saturday, the Marian football team earned a pair of MSFA Midwest League Player of the Week honors, as Logan Carrington and Kenny Curry were recognized by the league. Carrington was the Defensive Player of the Week after making his first collegiate start on Saturday, while Curry was the Special Teams Player of the Week. Both Knights earned the honor for the first time in their respective careers.

Carrington made his first career start against Olivet Nazarene on Saturday, playing in style as he led the team with 12 total tackles and one interception, his third of the season. The redshirt-junior recorded seven solo stops in his 12 tackles, and made one tackle for loss.

Curry converted each of his six point after tries on Saturday afternoon, and made one field goal in the win over Olivet Nazarene. Curry’s field goal was his fifth of the season, as the redshirt-freshman scored nine points in the 45-40 victory.

Marian takes on their Franciscan rival on Saturday afternoon, ending the month of October at home against the University of Saint Francis at 1:05 p.m.

MARION MEN’S SOCCER

CAMERON O’BRIEN TABBED AS CROSSROADS LEAGUE OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

JACKSON, Mich. – Following the Knights pair of wins that vaulted them to second in the Crossroads League standings, the league announced on Monday afternoon that Marian’s Cameron O’Brien has been named the Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week. The honor is the first of the season for O’Brien.

O’Brien led RV Marian’s, 3-2, upset of No. 9 Bethel by scoring twice for the Knights in the contest. O’Brien scored on both of his shots in the match and netted the game-winner.

Marian will be back in action on Saturday afternoon, as they play their final road matchup of the regular season at Mount Vernon Nazarene.

MARIAN WOMEN’S SOCCER

LAYLA BROWN CLAIMS FOURTH CROSSROADS LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONOR

JACKSON, Mich. – For the fourth time this season and the second week in a row, Marian women’s soccer senior striker Layla Brown has been named the Crossroads League Offensive Player of the Week.

Brown continued her torrid stretch for No. 13 Marian, leading the Knights to shutout wins over Bethel and USF. The senior forward scored three times and had an assist in a 5-0 win over BU and added another helper in MU’s 3-0 victory against Saint Francis. Brown leads the Crossroads League with 13 goals this season, while ranking tied for first in assists with eight.

The Knights will play their final home match of the regular season this Saturday, taking on Mount Vernon Nazarene at 7:00 p.m.

INDIANA SMALL COLLEGE WEBSITES

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

EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/

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

FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/

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

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

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

BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/

DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/

HANOVER ATHLETICS: https://athletics.hanover.edu/

MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/

HUNTINGTON ATHLETICS: https://www.huathletics.com/

OAKLAND CITY ATHLETICS: https://gomightyoaks.com/index.aspx

ST. FRANCIS ATHLETICS: https://www.saintfranciscougars.com/landing/index

IU KOKOMO ATHLETICS: https://iukcougars.com/

IU EAST ATHLETICS: https://www.iueredwolves.com/

IU SOUTH BEND ATHLETICS: https://iusbtitans.com/

PURDUE NORTHWEST ATHLETICS: https://pnwathletics.com/

INDIANA TECH ATHLETICS: https://indianatechwarriors.com/index.aspx

GRACE COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://gclancers.com/

ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ATHLETICS: https://smwcathletics.com/

GOSHEN COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://goleafs.net/

HOY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php

TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/

VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index

NUMBERS IN SPORTS

4 – 38 – 1 – 25 – 14 – 24 – 12 – 51 – 31

October 22, 1885 – John Ward & several teammates secretly form Brotherhood of Professional Base Ball Players, which in essence was the first baseball players union

October 22, 1966 – Ice hockey legend, Number 4 for the Boston Bruins, Bobby Orr scored his first career goal (vs Montreal Canadiens)

October 22, 1972 – World Series: Oakland A’s beat Reds, 3-2 in Cincinnati for a 4-3 series win; A’s first C’ship since 1930, first in Oakland: MVP: A’s catcher Number 38, Gene Tenace

October 22, 1974 – The New York Yankees traded outfielder Bobby Murcer, Number 1 to the San Francisco Giants for outfielder Bobby Bonds, Number 25

October 22, 1975 –  World Series: Cincinnati Reds beat Boston Red Sox, 4-3 at Fenway Park for 4 games to 3 series win; MVP: Reds switch hitter Number 14, Pete Rose

October 22, 1976 – Rick Barry, Number 24 of the San Francisco Warriors franchise, began the then longest NBA free throw streak of 60 made shots from the charity stripe

October 22, 1984 – Future Pro Football HOF quarterback Ken Stabler, Number 12 retires after 17 seasons in the NFL with Oakland Raiders, Houston Oilers and New Orleans Saints

October 22, 1996 – New York Yankee Bernie Williams, Number 51 hit a record tying 7th post season HR, as Yanks tie record of 6th straight post season road win (en route to 8)

October 22, 1999 – NHL goaltender Number 31, Grant Fuhr wins his 400th career game (vs Florida Panthers)

FOOTBALL HISTORY

The First NFL game on TV

October 22, 1939 – NBC became the first network to televise a pro football game as it broadcast the Brooklyn Dodgers defeating the Philadelphia Eagles, 23-14 at Brooklyn’s Ebbets Field. 

Niners strike Gold in the NFL

October 22, 1950 – Kezar Field,  San Francisco,  California – The San Francisco 49ers earned their very first  win in the NFL in their 6th game in the League when they defeated the Detroit Lions 28-27 at Kezar Field. The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and joined the NFL in 1949 when the leagues merged. The 49ers were the first major league professional sports franchise based in San Francisco.

LA scores a Point per Minute

October 22, 1950 – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum – The Los Angeles Rams soundly defeated the Baltimore Colts 70-27. The Rams were being called a “Point per Minute” team and they definitely made their case for that title in this game. Dual quarterbacks Norm Van Brocklin and Bob Waterfield each had multiple TD tosses in the game as Vitamin Smith scored twice, once on a 95 yard kick return to run the Rams point machine.

Air Tight Safety Innovation

October 22, 1971 – Air valve is placed in a helmet for the first time by an executive at Riddell. The Insertion of air added an aspect of better custom fit and protection for players to suit all sizes and shapes of heads.

The WFL’s Demise

October 22, 1975 – A few days before the start of week 13, the WFL went out of business.

The Snake takes a Bow

October 22, 1984 – NFL quarterback Ken Stabler retires after 15 brilliant seasons in the NFL. He played with the Oakland Raiders for ten seasons before being traded to the Houston Oilers where he played for 3 years. His bio on the Pro Football Hall of Fame;s website indicates that Stabler retired after the third game of the 1984 season after struggling through two injury-plagued seasons with the New Orleans Saints.

Dillon sets record

October 22, 2000 – The Bengal’s Corey Dillon rushes for 278 yards on 22 carries to set the single game rushing yards record in one game versus the Denver Broncos. The previous record was Walter Payton’s 275 yard game during the 1977 season. Dillon’s yardage did not go to waste either as he led the Bengals to a 31-21 victory over Denver that day.

Anderson overtakes Blanda

October 22, 2000 – Vikings kicker Gary Anderson boots a 21 yard field goal against the Buffalo Bills to go past George Blanda as the NFL’s all time scoring leader with 2004 career points.

Hall of Fame Birthday for October 22

The Versatile Star  -Pete Pihos

October 22, 1923 – Orlando, Florida  – Pete Pihos the fantastic end and later fullback from Indiana University was born.  The NFF’s website states that Pete was noted by multiple experts in 1943, including noted sports writer Grantland Rice, to be one of the top receivers in college football that season. He was an All-American in multiple polls in 1943 but then served his country in the war efforts the following season. After serving in the U.S. Army Pihos returned to Indiana to become the Hoosiers fullback in 1945 and 1946 and assisted the team go 9-0-1 and win the Big 10 championship, the first in Indiana history. Pete had the most team receptions in 1942-43, in led Indiana in rushing yards in 1946, and topped all Hoosiers in scoring in 1945-46. And in his senior season was the team’s Most Valuable player. The National Football Foundation selected Pete Pihos to enter into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1966.  After graduation Pete was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1945, but again he served in the US military for two additional seasons before reporting to the Eagles. At first he was a two -way end in Philly but after a season  of that the coaching staff asked him to concentrate on his offensive skill set. According to his bio on the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s website,  the Eagles, in 1952 found themselves in need of a defensive end. Knowing the skill set of Pihos they called on his versatility, and he not only took the field with the “D” but he earned All-NFL honors in doing so! Then for the remaining three years of his career, he switched back to offense and led the league in receiving all three seasons. Pete Pihos entered into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1970.

TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY

1845    The first known box score appears in the New York Morning News. Alexander Cartwright’s notation detailing the game comes a month after some of his fellow Knickerbockers wrote the first set of rules.

1910    After three straight defeats and trailing Philadelphia by a run in the ninth, the Cubs tie the score, winning 4-3 in ten innings for their only World Series victory. The A’s will easily take the Fall Classic in five games.

1927    Future Hall of Famer Ross Youngs dies of Bright’s disease, a historical classification of kidney diseases. ‘Pep’ was a .322 hitter during his ten-year Giant career and was one of John McGraw’s favorite players.

1929    In Baltimore, Phillies’ starting catcher Walt Lerian dies from injuries sustained when a runaway truck pins him against a brick wall for hours before his extraction. Minutes before the collision, the 24-year-old backstop, known as Peck to his teammates, had attended mass at St. Martin’s Catholic church.

1933    Phil Ball, the millionaire Browns owner, dies of septicemia. Manager Rogers Hornsby will take over the franchise’s reins, staying on as skipper until he is fired in 1937 by Donald Barnes, who purchased the team from the Ball estate last year.

1960    “But immortality is nontransferable. The papers said that the other players, and even the umpires on the field, begged him to come out and acknowledge us in some way, but he never had and did not now. Gods do not answer letters.” – JOHN UPDIKE, author of Hub Fans Bid Kid Adieu, published in the New Yorker magazine. The New Yorker magazine publishes Hub Fans Bid Kid Adieu, an article by 28-year-old John Updike chronicling Ted Williams’ last game in the major leagues. The future Pulitzer Prize-winning author, among the 10,000 fans at the fabled game, ends the much-celebrated baseball essay with, “Gods do not answer letters,” as an explanation of the superstar not acknowledging the Fenway faithful after homering in his final major league at-bat.

1967    The A’s name Bay Area native Joe DiMaggio to be their executive vice president and consultant. Oakland owner Charlie Finley uses the ‘Yankee Clipper’ as a part-time hitting coach and public relations advocate for the club, a job the former superstar will quickly become unhappy with, leaving the organization after just two years in the position.

1972    The transplanted A’s, capturing their first championship in 42 years, become the first Bay Area team to win a world title when they defeat the Reds, 3-2, in the seventh game. World Series MVP Gene Tenace, who hit only five home runs in the regular season, connects for four round-trippers during the Fall Classic, including an unprecedented two homers in his first two at-bats in Game 1.

1974    Two well-known outfielders change teams when the Giants send Bobby Bonds to the Yankees for Bobby Murcer. The swap, considered among the biggest one-for-one trades in baseball history, of the next ‘Willie Mays’ (Bonds) for the next ‘Mickey Mantle’ (Murcer) marks the first time two $600,000 players have traded for one another.

1975    In a fitting finish to one of the most classic World Series ever played, the Reds beat the Red Sox in a thrilling Game 7 victory, 4-3. Future Hall of Fame infielder Joe Morgan’s ninth-inning bloop single into center field, scoring Ken Griffey, proves to be the decisive hit in the Fenway Park contest.

1979    Ed Kranepool declares his free agency, ending his 18-year major league career, played entirely with the Mets. The first baseman and pinch-hitter, who signed with the expansion team in 1962 at the age of 17 as an amateur free agent, set franchise records in eight categories, including the most hits (1,418), most games played (1,853), at-bats (5,436), and pinch-hits (90).

1985    At Busch Stadium, Frank White becomes the first American League second baseman to bat cleanup in a World Series contest. Royals manager Dick Howser’s hunch pays off when the 35-year-old infielder slugs a home run and a double to drive in three runs in Kansas City’s 6-3 victory in Game 3 of the Fall Classic.

1986    After dropping the first two games to the Red Sox at Shea Stadium, the Mets even with World Series at Fenway Park. Gary Carter hits two home runs, a two-run homer in the fourth, and a solo shot in the eighth, contributing to New York’s 6-2 victory in Game 4 of the Fall Classic.

1997    With the temperature hovering at 35 degrees, the coldest start of any postseason game on record, the Indians’ bats come out smoking in Game 4 of the World Series, scoring three runs in the first and another trio of tallies in the third inning in their 10-3 rout of the Marlins at Jacobs Field. The two rookie starters, Cleveland’s 21-year-old right-hander Jaret Wright and Florida’s 23-year-old southpaw Tony Saunders mark the sixth time two freshman hurlers have opposed one another in the Fall Classic.

2000    The Yankees extend their World Series winning streak to 14 consecutive games, defeating the Mets, 6-5, in a Game 2 contest overshadowed by Roger Clemens throwing the barrel of a shattered bat at Mike Piazza as the Met catcher runs to first. Due to the Rocket’s beaning of the Mets’ superstar in July, the eagerly awaited at-bat results in the confrontation of the two players and the emptying of both benches.

2002    In Game 3 of the World Series, Giants’ P.A. announcer Renel Brooks-Moon becomes the first woman to announce a championship game in any professional sport. The Bay Area native sends the scorecard from the Fall Classic contest to the Hall of Fame.

2003    In Game 4 of the Fall Classic, Alex Gonzalez’s solo home run off Jeff Weaver in the bottom of the 12th gives the Marlins a 4-3 victory over New York and ties the series at two games apiece. The loss ends the Yankees’ extra-inning World Series game-winning streak at seven.

2006    The Spiezios become the first father-and-son combination in baseball history to have appeared in a World Series game as a player for the same franchise. Scott, the Cardinals’ current second baseman, and his father, Ed, a third baseman for the 1967 club, played in the Fall Classic for winning Redbird teams.

2007    Tony La Russa agrees to a two-year contract to continue as the Cardinals manager. During his 12-year tenure in St. Louis, the 63-year-old skipper has compiled a 1,055-887 (.543) record, including six Central Division championships, two NL pennants, and one World Series Championship.

2007    Washington State native Mel Stottlemyre returns to the big leagues as the pitching coach of the Seattle Mariners, accepting a one-year contract to join skipper John McLaren’s staff. The former pitching coach for the Yankees and Mets, who is receiving treatment for multiple myeloma, left the Bronx after the 2005 season, tiring of the criticism from owner George Steinbrenner.

2007    Orioles’ interim manager Dave Trembley has his contract extended through the 2008 season, with a club option for 2009. Since his horrific first game as skipper in June, losing to the Rangers 30-3, the team has a winning record and has not lost more than three in a row.

2008    Jack Zduriencik, the first non-GM selected as Baseball America Executive of the Year, is named the Mariners general manager, the eighth in franchise history. Due to his scouting savvy, the former Brewers vice president and special assistant for player personnel receives credit for Milwaukee’s marked improvement.

2008    For only the third time in World Series history, and the first since 1997, when Jim Palmer faced Gary Nolan, both starting pitchers in Game 1 are under the age of 25. Cole Hamels, the 24-year-old left-hander, gets the victory when the Phillies beat the Rays and Scott Kazmir, their 24-year-old southpaw, at Tropicana Field, 3-2.

2010    The Rangers, the Washington Senators club that shifted to Texas in 1972, clinches its first pennant in the 49-year history of the franchise. The team punches their ticket to play the Giants in the Fall Classic with their 6-1 victory in Game 6 of the ALCS over the defending World Series champion Yankees at Ballpark in Arlington.

2011    In the Cardinals’ 16-7 rout of the Rangers in Game 3 of the Fall Classic, Albert Pujols hits three homers, drives in six runs, and collects five hits, equaling three World Series records. ‘Prince Albert’, who also set a Series mark with 14 total bases, connects on fastballs from three different Texas pitchers, joining Babe Ruth and Reggie Jackson for the most round-trippers in a World Series game.

2013    Tim Lincecum agrees to a two-year $35 million deal to stay with the Giants. The 29-year-old fan favorite, a two-time Cy Young winner who pitched a no-hitter this year, has a 4.76 ERA over his last two seasons with San Francisco.

2016    The Cubs win their first pennant since 1945, blanking the Dodgers 5-0 at Wrigley Field in Game 6 of the NLCS. Kyle Hendrick, who goes 7⅓ innings, and Aroldis Chapman combine to face the minimum 27 batters, allowing only two hits and one walk, making it the first time this has occurred in the postseason play since Don Larsen threw a perfect game in the 1956 World Series.

TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY

Oct. 22

1933 — Primo Carnera retains the world heavyweight title with a 15-round decision over Paolino Uzcudun in Rome.

1950 — The Los Angeles Rams beat the Baltimore Colts 70-27.

1961 — Erich Barnes of the New York Giants ties an NFL record by returning an interception 102 yards for a touchdown in a 17-16 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

1966 — Bobby Orr of the Boston Bruins scores his first goal.

1975 — The 10-team World Football League, citing lack of television and season ticket support, disbands before the 12th week of a 20-week season.

1975 — The Cincinnati Reds beat the Boston Red Sox, 4-3 at Fenway Park Four games to three to win the World Series.

1976 — Twin brothers Tom and Dick Van Arsdale play together in a game for the Phoenix Suns, becoming the first and only pair of brothers to play for the same NBA club.

1984 — Future Pro Football HOF quarterback Ken Stabler retires after 17 seasons in the NFL with Oakland Raiders, Houston Oilers and New Orleans Saints.

1994 — Alcorn State’s Steve McNair becomes the NCAA’s career yardage leader with 15,049, surpassing the old mark set by Brigham Young’s Ty Detmer, who had 14,665. McNair’s 649 yards also breaks his own Division I-AA single-game record as he leads the Braves to a 41-37 win over Southern.

2000 — Bengals running back Corey Dillon rushes for an NFL single-game record 278 yards in a 31-21 victory over the Denver Broncos. Dillon betters Walter Payton’s 27-year-old mark by three yards.

2001 — New York routs Seattle 12-3 in Game 5 to win the AL pennant for the 38th time. The Yankees become the first team since their predecessors in 1960-64 to win four straight pennants.

2005 — Mount Union drops a regular-season game for the first time since 1994, losing 21-14 to Ohio Northern in a Division III matchup. The Purple Raiders, winners of 110 straight regular-season games, had not lost a regular-season game since they were beaten 23-10 by Baldwin-Wallace on Oct. 15, 1994.

2012 — Lance Armstrong is stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and banned for life by cycling’s governing body following a report from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency that accuses him of leading a massive doping program on his teams.

2014 — Serena Williams is routed 6-0, 6-2 by Simona Halep in the WTA Finals round-robin, one of the most one-sided losses in the 18-time Grand Slam champion’s career. The last time Williams managed to win just two games in a WTA Tour or Grand Slam match was in 1998 when she was 16.

2016 — Kyle Hendricks outpitches Clayton Kershaw, Anthony Rizzo and Willson Contreras homers early and the Chicago Cubs won their first pennant since 1945, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-0 in Game 6 of the NL Championship Series.

2016 — Baker Mayfield has seven touchdown passes and 545 yards to help No. 16 Oklahoma beat Texas Tech 66-59 in the game that breaks the NCAA record for combined offensive yards with 1,708 yards.

2016 — Leonard Fournette breaks LSU’s single-game rushing record on just his first eight carries as the No. 25 Tigers beat No. 23 Mississippi 38-21. Fournette finishes with 284 yards rushing in his first action since aggravating a left ankle injury on Sept. 24. He averages 17.8 yards on 16 carries and his touchdowns go for 78, 76 and 59 yards.

2017 — The Phoenix Suns fire coach Earl Watson just three games in to the NBA season.

2020 — The National Hockey League announced the annual NHL All Star Game and Skills Competition would be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

TV SPORTS TUESDAY

NBA REGULAR SEASON	TIME ET	TV
New York Knicks at Boston Celtics	7:30pm	TNT
Minnesota Timberwolves at LA Lakers	10:00pm	TNT
NHL REGULAR SEASON	TIME ET	TV
Washington at Philadelphia	6:00pm	ESPN ESPN+ MNMT NBC Sports Philadelphia
Minnesota at Florida	6:30pm	Bally Sports North Scripps
Tampa Bay at New Jersey	6:45pm	Bally Sports Sun MSGSN
Dallas at Buffalo	7:00pm	Vicotry+ MSG-BUF
NY Rangers at Montreal	7:15pm	MSG Sportsnet
Toronto at Columbus	7:30pm	Sportsnet Bally Sports Ohio
Detroit at NY Islanders	7:45pm	Bally Sportts Detroit MSGSN
Winnipeg at St. Louis	8:00pm	Sportsnet Bally Sports Midwest
Vancouver at Chicago	8:15pm	Sportsnet NBC Sports Chicago
Colorado at Seattle	8:30pm	ESPN ESPN+ ALT Prime Seattle
Boston at Nashville	8:45pm	ESPN ESPN+ NESN Bally Sports South
Pittsburgh at Calgary	8:45pm	ATTSN-PIT Sportsnet
Carolina at Edmonton	9:00pm	Bally Sports Sportsnet
Ottawa at Utah	9:15pm	Sportsnet Utah 16
San Jose at Anaheim	9:45pm	NBC Sports California Victory+
Los Angeles at Vegas	11:00pm	ESPN ESPN+ Bally Sports West Scripps
COLLEGE FOOTBALL	TIME ET	TV
Sam Houston at FIU	7:30pm	ESPNU
Kennesaw State at Middle Tennessee	8:00pm	CBSSN
UTEP at Louisiana Tech	9:00pm	ESPNU
SOCCER	TIME ET	TV
UEFA Champions League: Milan vs Club Brugge	12:45pm	Paramount+ VIX
UEFA Champions League: Monaco vs Crvena Zvezda	12:45pm	Paramount+ VIX
UEFA Champions League: Arsenal vs Shakhtar Donetsk	3:00pm	Paramount+ VIX
UEFA Champions League: Aston Villa vs Bologna	3:00pm	Paramount+ VIX
UEFA Champions League: Girona vs Slovan Bratislava	3:00pm	Paramount+ VIX
UEFA Champions League: Juventus vs Stuttgart	3:00pm	Paramount+ VIX
UEFA Champions League: PSG vs PSV	3:00pm	Paramount+ VIX
UEFA Champions League: Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund	3:00pm	Paramount+ VIX
UEFA Champions League: Sturm Graz vs Sporting CP	3:00pm	Paramount+ VIX
Liga MX: Mazatlán vs Tigres UANL	11:00pm	VIX
Liga MX: Toluca vs Puebla	11:05pm	VIX