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Utah State is expected to hire New Mexico's Bronco Mendenhall as its next football coach, sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel on Thursday. Mendenhall just finished his first season with the Lobos, guiding them to a 5-7 overall record and a 3-4 mark in the Mountain West -- the same conference record as Utah State. He has deep ties to Utah, having served as the coach at BYU from 2005 to '15. He led the Cougars to 11 consecutive bowl games and five seasons of 10 or more wins. He left BYU in late 2015 to take over at Virginia, which he built into a contender in the ACC, including a 9-5 Orange Bowl season in 2019, before he stepped down after the 2021 season. After two years off, he was named New Mexico's coach, taking over a program that hadn't won more than four games since 2016. But that changed this year, the highlight being a 38-35 win over then-No. 18 Washington State that kept the Lobos' bowl hopes alive entering their final regular-season game. But those hopes ended with...

DETROIT -- Already down two members of the secondary to start the game, the Green Bay Packers lost safety Evan Williams in the first half of Thursday night's 34-31 loss to the Detroit Lions because of a concussion. The rookie walked to the locker room under his own power to be evaluated and did not return. Zayne Anderson, who had played only eight snaps on defense all season entering Thursday, replaced Williams. The Packers became even thinner in the secondary as the game progressed. They lost nickel defensive back Javon Bullard in the second half to a right ankle injury that required him to use crutches on his way out of the locker room after the game. The Packers were without cornerbacks Jaire Alexander (knee) and Corey Ballentine (knee) to start the game. They also were without linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (hamstring).

DETROIT -- Already down two members of the secondary to start the game, the Green Bay Packers lost safety Evan Williams in the first half Thursday against the Detroit Lions because of a concussion. The rookie walked to the locker room under his own power to be evaluated and did not return. Zayne Anderson, who had played just eight snaps on defense all season entering Thursday, replaced Williams. The Packers were without cornerbacks Jaire Alexander (knee) and Corey Ballentine (knee) to start the game. They also were without linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (hamstring).

The NBA will return to China for the first time since 2019 with two preseason games in Macao between the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns in October, sources told ESPN on Thursday. The return is the culmination of a yearslong process to repair the relationship between the NBA and China following commissioner Adam Silver and the league's support for freedom of expression after then- Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey tweeted an image that supported protests in Hong Kong in October 2019. The divide led to the loss of lucrative sponsorships and the temporary removal of NBA games from Chinese broadcast television in 2019, which cost the league hundreds of millions in the ensuing seasons. Sources said the relationship has improved over the past several years with the assistance of NBA China CEO Michael Ma, who was hired in 2020. Silver and Nets owner Joe Tsai, who is also the billionaire co-founder of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, have expressed...

Bill Belichick, who won six Super Bowl championships with the New England Patriots, has had discussions with North Carolina about the Tar Heels' head-coaching job, sources told ESPN on Thursday. Belichick, 72, has been out of football this year after leaving the Patriots following the 2023 season. Sources told ESPN that Belichick, who has spent his career in the NFL, wants to coach again and is open to listening to people at the college and NFL level.  UNC fired Mack Brown on Nov. 26 after six seasons with the Tar Heels. The 73-year-old Brown, a College Football Hall of Famer, was in his second stint at the school. Belichick is only a year younger than Brown, who was the oldest coach in the FBS this season. The Tar Heels went 44-33 under Brown from 2019 to 2024 and finished 6-6 this season. Brown will not coach in UNC's bowl game, and Freddie Kitchens, a former Cleveland Browns coach who has served as UNC's run game coordinator and tight ends coach the...

LAS VEGAS -- The Las Vegas Stadium Authority approved lease, non-relocation and development documents Thursday to clear the last major hurdles for the Athletics to construct a $1.75 billion stadium on the Strip and bring Major League Baseball to the expanding sports market. The lease and non-relocation agreements each cover 30 years. "It's a really significant day in Las Vegas," Steve Hill, CEO and president of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, said in his closing remarks. "Today's a real milestone. I think we should recognize that and celebrate that." That drew applause from most of those in attendance. "It's really an exciting day for the A's," team board member Sandy Dean said. "We're grateful to everybody that helped us be here today." Other details remain to be worked out, such as a development agreement with Clark County, but groundbreaking probably will take place in the spring to allow a scheduled opening for the 2028 season. Dean said talks with...

Bill Belichick, who won six Super Bowl championships with the New England Patriots, has had discussions with North Carolina about the Tar Heels' head-coaching job, sources told ESPN on Thursday. Belichick, 72, has been out of football this year after leaving the Patriots following the 2023 season. Sources told ESPN that Belichick, who has spent his entire career in the NFL, wants to coach and is open to listening to people at the college and NFL level.  UNC fired Mack Brown on Nov. 26 after six seasons with the Tar Heels. The 73-year-old Brown, a College Football Hall of Famer, was in his second stint at the school. Belichick is only a year younger than Brown, who was the oldest coach in the FBS this season. The Tar Heels went 44-33 under Brown from 2019 to '24 and finished 6-6 this season. Brown will not coach in UNC's bowl game, and Freddie Kitchens, the former Cleveland Browns coach who has served as UNC's run game coordinator and tight ends coach the...

While No. 2 Texas and No. 5 Georgia are preparing for a rematch in Saturday's SEC championship game, there's no such luck for another meeting between mascots Uga and Bevo. Bevo, who famously made news in 2019 in the mascots' pregame photo op at the Sugar Bowl when he came charging out of his pen and knocked over a police barricade, was not permitted to travel to Atlanta for this weekend's game. The size required for an enclosure large enough to house Bevo XV, who is more than 1,700 pounds with a horn span of 58 inches, was the issue for Saturday, according to an SEC spokesman. Bevo traveled to last year's College Football Playoff semifinal at the Sugar Bowl, but the conference felt the space in Atlanta wasn't suitable. "When we received the request for Bevo to be on the sideline in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, our staff looked at several alternatives including the sideline location," the SEC said in a statement. "The reality is there is limited sideline space at the...

LeBron James is listed as questionable for the Los Angeles Lakers' game Friday against the Atlanta Hawks because of soreness in his left foot, and Austin Reaves will miss a fourth straight game because of a left pelvic contusion, the team announced Thursday. James has played in all 22 games for L.A. so far in his 22nd season, averaging 22.3 points, 9.0 assists, 7.9 rebounds and 4.1 turnovers. He broke out of a shooting slump Wednesday against the Miami Heat by going 12-for-18 from the field, but the Lakers were still dominated 134-93. L.A. has gone 1-2 on its current four-game road trip that concludes in Atlanta, getting outscored in those two losses to Miami and the Minnesota Timberwolves by 70 points -- the worst point differential over any two-game stretch in franchise history. James said it was his goal to play in all 82 games this season, something Lakers coach JJ Redick said the team could revisit following the loss to the...

UCLA has fired offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy after one season, a source confirmed to ESPN on Thursday. Indiana quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri has agreed to replace Bieniemy after the College Football Playoff and is finalizing details of his deal with the Bruins, sources told ESPN. The Bruins ranked 126th nationally among FBS teams in scoring (18.4 points per game) this past season and failed to put up more than 20 points over their final four games. They also ranked 117th in total offense (328.8 yards per game) and had the nation's fifh-worst rushing attack (86.6 yards per game). UCLA finished 5-7 this season, failing to reach bowl eligibility. Offensive line coach Juan Castillo also is not expected to return at UCLA, sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel. Bieniemy joined coach DeShaun Foster's staff after calling plays for the NFL's Washington Commanders last season. Before that, he was the offensive coordinator for the Kansas City...

The league-worst Chicago Blackhawks fired coach Luke Richardson on Thursday after three seasons. Anders Sorensen, coach of the AHL Rockford IceHogs, was named interim head coach and will assume duties immediately. The Blackhawks have also made Mark Eaton, their assistant general manager overseeing player development, the interim coach in Rockford. Sources told ESPN's Emily Kaplan that Sorensen will coach the rest of the season and will be given an opportunity to get the full-time job, as the Blackhawks think very highly of him. The Blackhawks plan on conducting a full coaching search after the season. Players in Rockford have praised Sorensen as a coach, with one player telling ESPN that he's a "great communicator and teacher." Richardson, 55, had a 57-118-15 record after being hired to coach Chicago in 2022, while the Blackhawks were in a prolonged rebuild. He was in the last year of a three-year contract, with Chicago holding an option for a fourth season. After 26...

The Chicago Blackhawks fired coach Luke Richardson on Thursday after just eight wins in their first 26 games left them with the worst record in the league.  The team announced the move in a release, noting that Anders Sorensen, the coach of its AHL affiliate in Rockford, will take over on an interim basis. "We have begun to take steps forward in our rebuilding process, we felt that the results did not match our expectations for a higher level of execution this season and ultimately came to the decision that a change was necessary," Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson said. "We wish Luke and his family all the best moving forward."

Premier League champions Manchester City were drawn with Juventus, Wydad Casablanca and Al Ain on Thursday in Group G for next year's FIFA Club World Cup in the United States. Lionel Messi and MLS side Inter Miami are in Group A and will face Al Ahly in the opening match of the expanded 32-team tournament before games against Porto and Palmeiras. The tournament, featuring top teams from around the world, will be held in 12 stadiums around the country from June 15-July 13 and serve as a dress rehearsal for the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico and Canada. Among the powerhouse clubs in the field are Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan. There's also the four highest-ranked teams from South America: Flamengo, Palmeiras, River Plate and Fluminense. And Messi's...

Houston Rockets coach Ime Udoka was fined $50,000 by the NBA for his actions during Tuesday's loss to the Sacramento Kings in an NBA Cup game. Udoka was docked for confronting and directing profane language toward a game official, failing to leave the court in a timely manner after being ejected, and public criticism of the officiating. Udoka wasn't alone, as Rockets forward Tari Eason was fined $35,000 by the NBA for tossing a towel and using inappropriate language in the direction of a fan after the game. Also, Alperen Sengun was fined $15,000 by the league after directing inappropriate language toward a game official. Udoka and Sengun were both assessed technical fouls and ejected with 1:52 remaining in Tuesday's game. "Missed calls, blatant missed calls right in front of you," Udoka said of referee John Goble after the game. "You're calling ticky-tack moving screens, little s--- like that, but you don't want to call the obvious ones right in...

Manny Pacquiao, one of the greatest and most popular fighters ever, was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame's Class of 2025, it was announced Thursday. Pacquiao, the only eight-division champion in boxing history, enters the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. The former Filipino senator, who ran for President of the Philippines in 2022, is joined by Michael Nunn and Vinny Paz in the men's modern boxers category. "I am so happy that I have been selected to enter the International Boxing Hall of Fame; this certainly is a wonderful Christmas gift," Pacquiao, 45, said in a statement provided by the IBHOF. "Throughout my career, as a professional fighter and a public servant, it has been my goal to bring honor to my country, The Philippines, and my fellow Filipinos around the world. "Today, I am humbled knowing that in June, I will receive boxing's highest honor, joining our national hero, Flash Elorde, as well as my trainer and friend Freddie Roach. I am very...

Georgia coach Kirby Smart said Thursday that he's hopeful running back Trevor Etienne, who missed the No. 5 Bulldogs' past three games with a rib injury, will be able to play against No. 2 Texas in the SEC championship game. Etienne was listed as questionable on the SEC's availability report released Wednesday night. There will be daily availability reports until Saturday, when the final version is released 90 minutes before kickoff of the SEC championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta (4 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN+). Bulldogs defensive tackle Christen Miller, who didn't play in last week's 44-42, eight-overtime victory over Georgia Tech because of a shoulder injury, also is listed as questionable. "They've been taking part in some parts of practice and taking reps, and [we're] hopeful that those guys are able to do something," Smart said. "They're listed as questionable right now." Etienne played a big role in Georgia's 30-15 victory at...

Team Canada general manager Don Sweeney indicated that Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard is still in consideration for the 2026 Winter Olympics despite being snubbed from Canada's NHL 4 Nations Face-Off roster this week. Bedard, 19, was the NHL rookie of the year last season. He had dominating performances for Canada at the 2023 world juniors (23 points in seven games) and the 2024 IIHF world championships (5 goals in 10 games). That sparked speculation that Bedard would make the roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off, a four-team exhibition tournament that's replacing the NHL All-Star Game this season, to better prepare him for the 2026 Olympic tournament in Italy. But Bedard has struggled in his second NHL season, with five goals in 26 games after scoring 22 goals in 68 games as a rookie. He has 19 points for the Blackhawks. Sweeney, who is the general manager of the Boston Bruins, said that Bedard is part of "the next wave of great players" for Canada...

UCLA is firing offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy after one season, a source confirmed to ESPN on Thursday. The Bruins ranked 126th nationally in scoring (18.4 points per game) and failed to put up more than 20 points over their final four games. The Bruins finished 5-7 this season, failing to reach bowl eligibility. Offensive line coach Juan Castillo also is not expected to return at UCLA, sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel. Bieniemy joined coach DeShaun Foster's staff after calling plays for the NFL's Washington Commanders last season. Before that, he was the offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs and two Super Bowl teams. Bieniemy's buyout is worth more than $1.2 million, a source told Thamel. His agent, Jason Fletcher, told ESPN in a statement that Bieniemy's exit was "previously planned" and that "the plan was always to return to the NFL in 2025." Uncertainty with the Bruins' offensive coordinator position was a factor in four-star quarterback...

Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel is set to receive a five-year contract extension, sources confirmed to ESPN on Thursday. Manuel, who also chairs the College Football Playoff selection committee, has led Michigan's athletic department since 2016, after previous AD stints at UConn and Buffalo. The 56-year-old former Michigan defensive lineman had his contract extended in early 2021 through June 2026 and will now be signed through June 2030. A source told ESPN's Pete Thamel that the average annual compensation on Manuel's new contract will be nearly $2.4 million, which includes deferred compensation. That puts him near the top of the Big Ten for athletic director salaries. Yahoo Sports first reported on Manuel's expected new deal. Manuel did not hire football coach Jim Harbaugh but oversaw the program for most of Harbaugh's tenure, which culminated in a national title last season. The athletic director received criticism for not retaining Harbaugh, who returned to...

FRISCO, Texas -- The season is over for Dallas Cowboys All-Pro guard Zack Martin. Coach Mike McCarthy said Martin will undergo surgery on a right ankle issue that has been troubling the player for some time. Martin has missed the past two games with ankle and shoulder injuries. And now comes a question as to whether he will be back in 2025. "I think you just have to take a step back and deal with one thing at a time and that's frankly the conversation that Zack and I had," McCarthy said. "The focus is really about the surgery, what's next. And I think those are all questions that I'm sure that will be asked or will be thought about. But he really, in my conversations with him, his focus is on getting the surgery and trying to do the best he can with this ankle because obviously this is I think the third surgery that he'll have on that ankle." Martin, who turned 34 last month, is under contract through 2025, however, when the deal was restructured last offseason it...

Right-hander Luis Severino and the Athletics are in agreement on a three-year, $67 million free agent contract that is the largest guarantee in the franchise's history, sources told ESPN on Thursday. Coming off a bounce-back year in which he threw 182 innings with a 3.91 ERA for the New York Mets, Severino landed a deal that exceeded industry expectations -- particularly considering he was saddled with a qualifying offer, which often dampens a player's market. Free agents have been loath to sign with the A's, who will play in a minor league stadium in Sacramento for the next three seasons before a planned move to Las Vegas. By stretching themselves financially -- their previous high deal was a six-year, $66 million extension for Eric Chavez in 2004, and their biggest free agent outlay was three years and $30 million for Billy Butler -- the A's convinced Severino to anchor their rotation. He can opt out after the second year of the contract, sources told...

The NFL on Thursday introduced the 32 nominees for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, which celebrates players who both excel on the field and provide a "positive impact beyond the game." "The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award celebrates Walter's enduring legacy of excellence on the field and compassion off it," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a news release. "This award is the league's most prestigious honor, and we are proud to recognize these 32 outstanding men for the positive impact they make in their communities every day." The award will be presented Feb. 6 during the NFL Honors ceremony. The winner will receive a donation of up to $265,000 to a charity of his choice. The others will receive up to $55,000 for their causes. Cameron Heyward of the Pittsburgh Steelers won the 2023 award. The nominees, by team, are: Arizona Cardinals, Trey McBride Atlanta Falcons, Grady Jarrett Baltimore Ravens, Roquan Smith ...

Khris Middleton will make his season debut Friday against the Boston Celtics as the Milwaukee Bucks forward returns from offseason surgery on his ankles, sources told ESPN's Bobby Marks on Thursday. Middleton took part in a 5-on-5 practice session Wednesday before the Bucks' 119-104 loss to the Atlanta Hawks snapped a seven-game winning streak. Bucks coach Doc Rivers had said Wednesday that Middleton was close to playing and that he could understand Middleton feeling frustrated as he missed the first 21 games of the season. "Anybody who wants to play, and Khris is one of those [guys], they're frustrated," Rivers said. "That's mentally challenging. You see your team playing, and although we're playing well right now, I imagine when we were really struggling and he wasn't playing, that had to be really hard for him. You want to help your team, and he knows he can." Sources had told ESPN's Shams Charania last month that Middleton was medically...

Khris Middleton will make his season debut Friday against the Boston Celtics as the Milwaukee Bucks forward returns from offseason surgery on his ankles, his agent, Mike Lindeman, told ESPN's Bobby Marks on Thursday. Middleton took part in a 5-on-5 practice session Wednesday before the Bucks' 119-104 loss to the Atlanta Hawks snapped a seven-game winning streak. Bucks coach Doc Rivers had said Wednesday that Middleton was close to playing and that he could understand Middleton feeling frustrated as he missed the first 21 games of the season. "Anybody who wants to play, and Khris is one of those [guys], they're frustrated," Rivers said. "That's mentally challenging. You see your team playing, and although we're playing well right now, I imagine when we were really struggling and he wasn't playing, that had to be really hard for him. You want to help your team, and he knows he can." Sources had told ESPN's Shams Charania last month that Middleton...

Welcome to the WNBA, Toronto Tempo. The league's newest team, to begin play in 2026, revealed its name and logo Thursday, with the franchise pointing to the city of Toronto for providing the inspiration. "Tempo is pace. It's speed. It's a heartbeat. And it's what you feel when you step into the streets of this city, and in the energy of the people who call Canada home," team president Teresa Resch said in a news release. "As Canada's WNBA team, I know the Tempo will set our own pace, move at a championship cadence, and inspire people across this country." More than 10,000 people participated in the public outreach to name the team. The logo is an italicized "T" in a circle, with six lines coming from the left side of the letter, which the team said represents the five players on the court and the fans. "Tempo reflects what fans can expect from this team -- including, of course, the in-game experience at the arena," Resch said. "The sounds of the court. The beat of the music....

SEATTLE -- All-Star guard Jewell Loyd has requested a trade from the Seattle Storm, a source confirmed to ESPN on Wednesday. The news, first reported by the Chicago Sun-Times, comes hours after the Storm announced that an external investigation into reported accusations of harassment and bullying by the team's coaching staff had concluded without finding any violations. The source confirmed to ESPN that it was Loyd who filed the complaint detailing the allegations against the Seattle staff.  "The Storm recently received internal allegations of potential workplace policy violations," the team said in a statement provided to ESPN. "The organization retained an outside investigator to conduct an impartial investigation into the allegations. The investigation has been completed and there were no findings of policy violations or any discrimination, harassment, or bullying. "To protect the integrity of the process, and to preserve...

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates -- George Russell has escalated his war of words with Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen, claiming the Dutchman said "he was going to purposefully go out of his way to crash into me and 'put me on my f---ing head in the wall.'" Verstappen lost pole position in Qatar a week ago when he went to the stewards for blocking Russell during qualifying, with both drivers going to the stewards room to discuss the incident. A one-place grid penalty dropped him behind Russell, but Verstappen still won the race. After doing so, he called out Russell in TV interviews, saying he "lost all respect" for the Mercedes driver and accused him of acting friendly in public and then lobbying for his penalty in the stewards room. In an interview to Dutch TV, Verstappen accused Russell of being two-faced, adding: "You know what it is? He acts decent in front of the camera here, but when you talk to him personally, he is a different person ... I can't stand that. In...

MIAMI -- As Heat guard Tyler Herro went nuclear, hitting seven straight 3-pointers in the third quarter of a 134-93 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday, it dawned on L.A. coach JJ Redick just how lost his team has become. "We're having trouble right now on both ends with, like, base-level game-plan stuff," Redick said after the Lakers lost for the sixth time in the past eight games. "It's odd. It's very odd." Odder still is how a team that was 10-4 just two weeks ago, with a chance to make it 11-4 if it only hit some late free throws against the Orlando Magic, is suddenly in free fall, losing those six games by an average of 21.8 points. "Has to be some ownership," Redick said. "You can splinter, and it's easy to not want the ownership, particularly when it's embarrassing. I'm embarrassed. We're all embarrassed. It's not a game that I thought we had the right fight, the right professionalism." Redick added: "There has to be some ownership...

SEATTLE -- All-Star guard Jewell Loyd has requested a trade from the Seattle Storm, a source confirmed to ESPN on Wednesday. The news, first reported by the Chicago Sun-Times, comes hours after the Storm announced that an external investigation into reported accusations of harassment and bullying by the team's coaching staff had concluded without finding any violations. The source confirmed to ESPN that it was Loyd who filed the complaint detailing the allegations against the Seattle staff.  "The Storm recently received internal allegations of potential workplace policy violations," the team said in a statement provided to ESPN. "The organization retained an outside investigator to conduct an impartial investigation into the allegations. The investigation has been completed and there were no findings of policy violations or any discrimination, harassment, or bullying. "To protect the integrity of the process, and to preserve...

Creighton has played eight No. 1 teams in its basketball history, and the first six of those games weren't close. All were losses. The last two? Bluejays blowouts at the CHI Health Center. Creighton took down top-ranked Kansas  76-63 on Wednesday night in a game the unranked Bluejays never trailed and led by as many as 17 points. Ten months ago, they knocked off No. 1 UConn 85-66. That was the Huskies' last loss before winning 13 in a row on the way to their second straight national championship. Five Creighton players on the court against the Jayhawks also played against the Huskies, including 7-foot-1 center Ryan Kalkbrenner. The Big East preseason player of the year came back from injury to score 17 points and outperform Kansas big man Hunter Dickinson. Kalkbrenner had 15 points against UConn in February. "Both feel great, obviously," Kalkbrenner said. "Both those teams, UConn and Kansas, are elite, high-level programs. We were able to...

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers sent a strong message Wednesday to team ownership -- and perhaps potential future employers. Despite his struggles, Rodgers said he has nothing to prove over the final five games, inferring that his career accomplishments should supersede his performance down the stretch. The four-time MVP said it would be "ridiculous" to make a player with his résumé audition for next season. "If they want me to stay, fantastic," the four-time MVP said. "If it takes these five games, maybe they don't know what I bring to the table. But that being said, I'd love to play really frigging well the last five games." One source said recently that he'd he "shocked" if owner Woody Johnson signs off on another season of Rodgers, who is having one of the worst statistical seasons of his career. NFL Network reported that Rodgers will need a strong finish to have a chance at returning next season. The Rodgers-Johnson relationship...

The NFL upheld the three-game suspension of Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair. Ramon Foster, one of the hearing officers jointly appointed by the NFL and NFLPA, announced the decision Wednesday, one day after the punishment was handed down for repeated violations of player safety rules following Al-Shaair's hit to the head of Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence on Sunday. Al-Shaair's hit was made while Lawrence was sliding to the ground, causing the Jaguars star to sustain a concussion. Lawrence was put on injured reserve Wednesday, probably ending his season. When the suspension was announced Tuesday, Jon Runyan, the NFL's vice president of policy and rules administration, wrote in his letter to Al-Shaair that the league deemed the hit "unacceptable" and that his "continued disregard" for rules governing player safety "will not be tolerated." Runyan added in his letter that Al-Shaair "proceeded to engage in a brawl,...

The 4 Nations Face-Off rosters will be packed with NHL star power and a few surprises. Full rosters for the league's upcoming event were revealed Wednesday for Team USA, Canada, Sweden and Finland. Auston Matthews, Charlie McAvoy and last season's Norris Trophy recipient,  Quinn Hughes, were among the names previously announced for Team USA. They'll be joined now by a top-tier goaltending trio headed by reigning Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck, defensemen Zach Werenski (currently third in points among NHL blueliners) and Brock Faber (a 2024 Calder Trophy finalist) as well as forwards Jake Guentzel, Kyle Connor and Matt Boldy. The U.S. team prioritized veteran presence with the addition of Chris Kreider and Brock Nelson up front. And there will be a pair of brothers suiting up for their country in  Brady and Matthew Tkachuk, and Quinn and Jack Hughes. One name left off...

SEATTLE -- The  Seattle Storm announced Wednesday that an external investigation into reported accusations of harassment and bullying by the team's coaching staff had concluded without finding any violations. "The Storm recently received internal allegations of potential workplace policy violations," read a statement provided to ESPN. "The organization retained an outside investigator to conduct an impartial investigation into the allegations. The investigation has been completed and there were no findings of policy violations or any discrimination, harassment, or bullying. "To protect the integrity of the process, and to preserve confidentiality, we chose not to comment while the investigation was ongoing. The Storm will continue to provide a work environment in which all individuals are treated with respect." The Chicago Sun-Times first reported on the investigation, which was subsequently confirmed by ESPN, on Nov. 15. The Sun-Times reported the...

The officiating crew was correct in not ruling that Denver's Christian Braun had signaled for a timeout when the  Nuggets had none remaining at the end of their 119-115 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday, the NBA's Last Two Minute Report said. Golden State coach Steve Kerr was furious at the end of the game when it appeared to him that Braun had signaled for a timeout after securing a loose ball with 1.9 seconds left while on the floor. If Braun had called a timeout with none left, it would have resulted in a technical foul, giving the Warriors a free throw and a possession. Instead, officials called a jump ball. According to Wednesday's Last Two Minute Report, Braun "never fully or clearly signals for a timeout and therefore a timeout is not recognized." Braun said after the win that he knew the Nuggets had no timeouts remaining because coach Michael Malone and his staff talked about it. "No," Braun said when asked whether he called...

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Speaking for the first time since the Chicago Bears fired Matt Eberflus amid a six-game losing streak, quarterback Caleb Williams portrayed a positive outlook on the effect that the changes he has experienced as a rookie will have on his career. Eberflus was fired after a disastrous fourth-quarter sequence that saw the play clock run out on the Bears' attempt at a comeback in a 23-20 loss to the Lions on Thanksgiving. It was the Bears' fourth one-score loss since Week 8, which magnified coaching and game-management decisions. Eberflus became the first coach fired by the Bears during the season in the franchise's 105-year history. Thomas Brown was promoted to interim head coach for the final five games just three weeks after he took over offensive coordinator duties upon Shane Waldron's firing. "It's interesting," Williams said of Eberflus' firing after 12 games. "I don't get any say or choice over that. I have to roll with the punches. Like I...

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Throughout the 2024 season,  Micah Hyde's locker with the Buffalo Bills has remained unused and his number unassigned. On Wednesday -- 13 weeks into the season -- the veteran safety made his return to the team as coach Sean McDermott said Hyde was re-signing to the practice squad. McDermott made it clear Wednesday that Hyde will not initially be starting and that they will evaluate his role one day at a time. "Just to set expectations, Micah is in a practice squad role," McDermott said. "We are fully confident in Taylor Rapp, Damar Hamlin, Cole Bishop, Kareem Jackson. They've all been doing a real good job for us in the roles that they are currently in. They're going to stay in those roles and Micah is in a practice squad role, so good to have him back and his family as well." He became a free agent after his contract with the Bills ended after the 2023 season. Hyde, now in his 13th season, openly contemplated...

USC football coach Lincoln Riley brushed off the possibility of him taking a head-coaching position elsewhere during his signing day news conference Wednesday. "I tell them I'm a USC Trojan," Riley said when asked about the potential of other schools being interested in him. "I'm at the place I want to be." UCF, which has a vacancy after  Gus Malzahn left to become  Florida State's offensive coordinator this past week, did reach out to Riley, sources told ESPN, confirming a report by The Athletic.  Riley called the potential of him coaching elsewhere "a nonstarter, a nonissue." "I'm home," Riley said. Riley is 25-14 in three seasons as the Trojans' coach after a disappointing 6-6 2024. Despite an 11-3 debut season that culminated in USC nearly making the College Football Playoff, the Trojans are 14-11 over the past two years. After firing defensive coordinator Alex Grinch last season and hiring D'Anton Lynn to replace him, USC improved defensively in 2024, but...

Oklahoma starting quarterback Jackson Arnold is entering the NCAA transfer portal, sources told ESPN on Wednesday. Arnold will have two seasons of eligibility remaining at his next school. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound sophomore from Denton, Texas, was the No. 3 recruit in the ESPN 300 for 2023 and started 10 games over his two seasons with the Sooners. Arnold threw for 1,421 yards on 63% passing with 12 touchdowns and three interceptions in his first season as Oklahoma's starter and also rushed for 444 yards and three more scores. The preseason No. 16 Sooners went 6-6 in their first year in the SEC while struggling with injuries and inconsistency on offense. Oklahoma coach Brent Venables fired first-year offensive coordinator Seth Littrell after a 4-3 start. There's expected to be significant Power 4 interest in Arnold when he officially enters the portal Monday, the first day underclassmen can transfer during the winter portal window. Arnold, a former Gatorade...

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jaguars placed quarterback Trevor Lawrence on injured reserve Wednesday, likely ending his season. Lawrence, who was already dealing with a sprained AC joint in his left (non-throwing) shoulder, suffered a concussion late in the first half of the team's 23-20 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday. Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair was suspended three games for hitting Lawrence in the head as he was sliding at the end of a 6-yard scramble. The concussion is the sixth injury Lawrence has suffered since Week 6 of the 2023 season: He also dealt with another concussion, two shoulder injuries, a knee injury and an ankle injury. He missed only one game last season but missed two this season before being placed on IR Wednesday. Lawrence must miss at least four games and the Jaguars (2-10) have five remaining so this likely means Lawrence's fourth season is over. It also means Lawrence could potentially have corrective surgery on...

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The Baltimore Ravens suspended wide receiver Diontae Johnson for one game for conduct detrimental to the team, the team announced Wednesday. "Diontae's suspension stems from refusing to enter our game against the Philadelphia Eagles," Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said in a statement. DeCosta called the disciplinary action a "difficult decision." Johnson will miss the Ravens' Dec. 15 game at the New York Giants. Baltimore is currently on a bye. The Ravens had been vague about Johnson's standing with the team after he suited up but did not play a snap in Sunday's 24-19 loss to the Eagles. It was even more curious that Johnson never entered the game because starting wide receiver Rashod Bateman was sidelined in the second half with a knee injury. Johnson could be seen standing by a heater on the sideline for most of the game. Johnson, 28, has played only 39 snaps for Baltimore since being acquired from the ...

Five-star defensive end Jahkeem Stewart, the No. 11 prospect in the 2025 ESPN 300, committed to USC on Wednesday afternoon, announcing his decision live on "College Football Live" from a ceremony at New Orleans' Edna Karr High School. Once the No. 1 prospect in the 2026 class, Stewart reclassified into the 2025 cycle in October and visited Oregon, Ohio State, LSU and USC in the final weeks before the early-signing period before handing his commitment to the Trojans on Wednesday, landing as the top-ranked member of Lincoln Riley's 2025 class. A 6-foot-6, 290-pound pass rusher capable of playing across the defensive line, Stewart entered Wednesday as the nation's second-ranked uncommitted prospect. Originally from Reserve, Louisiana, Stewart emerged among the nation's top prospects as a middle schooler and spent the first two years of his high school career at New Orleans' St. Augustine High School, where he logged 85 total tackles (33 for loss) and 20 sacks in his...

Phoenix Suns All-NBA forward Kevin Durant will be reevaluated in one week after suffering a left ankle sprain, sources told ESPN. Durant suffered the injury while landing on a San Antonio Spurs player's foot in the Suns' victory Tuesday night. The Suns will now play at least one week without Durant, who led Phoenix to an 8-1 start before suffering a calf strain on Nov. 8. Durant returned on Nov. 26, and the Suns have gone 3-1 with him back in the lineup. Durant is averaging 25.8 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists while shooting 53.6% from the field and 44.9% from 3-point range this season. Phoenix is 11-2 this season with Durant -- and 1-6 without him. Suns star guard Bradley Beal missed five of the seven games Durant did last month, but he is now healthy and will team with Devin Booker for these next stretch of games. Sprinting downcourt in transition with 4:30 left in the second quarter Tuesday, Durant drove to the basket and attempted to cut...

Rachid Meziane, who has long coached professionally in France and leads the Belgian women's national team, is the new coach of the WNBA's Connecticut Sun. The announcement came Wednesday, the day after the Sun named former WNBA and UConn player Morgan Tuck as their new general manager. Tuck took over for Darius Taylor, who is now the team's chief basketball strategist and director of scouting. Meziane replaces Stephanie White, who left the Sun to become coach of the Indiana Fever. A native of Clermont-Ferrand, France, Meziane had led the French women's basketball club, Villeneuve d'Ascq, since 2019. That team won the Ligue Féminine de Basketball (LFB) championship and was EuroLeague runner-up for the 2023-24 season. "He brings a wealth of experience, passion, and a proven track record of success that will help elevate our players and team as a whole," Tuck said in a statement released by the Sun. "Rachid's dedication and commitment to growing women's basketball,...

Rachid Meziane, who has long coached professionally in France and leads the Belgian women's national team, is the new coach of the WNBA's Connecticut Sun. The announcement came Wednesday, the day after the Sun named former WNBA and UConn player Morgan Tuck as its new general manager. Tuck took over for Darius Taylor, who is now the team's chief basketball strategist and director of scouting. Meziane replaces Stephanie White, who left the Sun to become coach of the Indiana Fever. A native of Clermont-Ferrand, France, Meziane had led the French women's basketball club, Villeneuve d'Ascq, since 2019. That team won the Ligue Feminine de Basketball (LFB) championship and was EuroLeague runner-up for the 2023-24 season. "He brings a wealth of experience, passion, and a proven track record of success that will help elevate our players and team as a whole," Tuck said in a statement released by the Sun. "Rachid's dedication and commitment to growing women's basketball, internationally and...

Oregon completed the flip of five-star Ohio State cornerback pledge Na'eem Offord Wednesday afternoon, gaining a stunning commitment from the nation's top-ranked defender hours into the early signing period. Offord, No. 4 in the ESPN 300, had been the highest-rated prospect in the Buckeyes' 2025 class since Feb. 4. But the defensive back from Birmingham, Alabama, spent the fall flirting with potential moves to Oregon and Auburn all the way into the early signing period before flipping his pledge to the Ducks on Wednesday in a ceremony at Alabama's A.H. Parker High School. Offord is now the second-ranked member of Oregon's 2025 class, trailing only five-star wide receiver Darkorien Moore (No. 3 in the ESPN 300), who signed with the Ducks Wednesday morning, and follows Cal quarterback flip Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele (No. 18 pocket passer) as the program's second signing day addition. Offord visited Oregon early in the regular season and returned to Ohio State...

Rachid Meziane, who has long coached professionally in France and leads the Belgian women's national team, is the new coach of the WNBA's Connecticut Sun. The announcement came Wednesday, the day after the Sun named former WNBA and UConn player Morgan Tuck as its new general manager. Tuck took over for Darius Taylor, who is now the team's chief basketball strategist and director of scouting. Meziane replaces Stephanie White, who left the Sun to become coach of the Indiana Fever. A native of Clermont-Ferrand, France, Meziane had led the French women's basketball club, Villeneuve d'Ascq, since 2019. That team won the Ligue Feminine de Basketball (LFB) championship and was EuroLeague runner-up for the 2023-24 season. "He brings a wealth of experience, passion, and a proven track record of success that will help elevate our players and team as a whole," Tuck said in a statement released by the Sun. "Rachid's dedication and commitment to growing women's basketball, internationally and...

A professional poker player pleaded guilty Wednesday to defrauding bettors in New York and Florida by falsely claiming to have inside information on sporting events. Cory Zeidman of Boca Raton, Florida, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud in connection with a sports betting scheme that lasted for years, according to a news release from United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York. Federal authorities alleged that Zeidman and his partners misled customers to pay the organization for betting advice by claiming to have knowledge of nonpublic injury information, "dirty" referees and fixed games, according to court documents. The scheme lasted from 2006 to 2020. "Sports bettors sought Cory Zeidman's advice before gambling their money -- but it was Zeidman himself who was scoring big through his deceptive practices, outright lies, and high-pressure tactics that exploited unsuspecting clients," special agent Charles Walker of Homeland...

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Throughout the 2024 season,  Micah Hyde's locker with the Buffalo Bills has remained unused and his number unassigned. On Wednesday -- 13 weeks into the season -- the veteran safety made his return to the team as coach Sean McDermott said he was re-signing to the practice squad. Coach Sean McDermott made it clear Wednesday that Hyde will not initially be starting and that they will take his role one day at a time. "Just to set expectations, Micah is in a practice squad role," McDermott said. "We are fully confident in Taylor Rapp, Damar Hamlin, Cole Bishop, Kareem Jackson. They've all been doing a real good job for us in the roles that they are currently in. They're going to stay in those roles and Micah is in a practice squad role, so good to have him back and his family as well." He became a free agent after his contract with the Bills came to an end after the 2023 season. Hyde, who is now in his 13th season,...

The Philadelphia 76ers will be without both Paul George and Joel Embiid for Wednesday night's game against the Orlando Magic, the team announced. George had his best game in a Philadelphia uniform Tuesday night in Charlotte, tying his season high with 29 points on 10-for-16 shooting to go along with eight assists in a season-high 37 minutes in 110-104 76ers victory, the team's second win in a row after starting the season 3-14. George, 34, returned to the court Saturday in Detroit after his second stint on the sideline since the start of the preseason with a hyperextended left knee. After George did it in a preseason game against Atlanta on Oct. 14, causing him to miss the first two weeks of the regular season, he then suffered the same injury in Memphis on Nov. 20, which saw him miss another three games. In 10 games this season, George is averaging 15.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2.1 steals. Embiid, meanwhile, hasn't played since that...