Latest News
Northern Illinois becomes football-only member of Mountain West
Northern Illinois confirmed Tuesday that it is joining the Mountain West in 2026 as a football-only member. The school hasn't made any decisions on where its other sports will play but remains in discussions with the Mid-American Conference. The football program is exiting the MAC after having played in it since 1997. It was its second stint in the MAC. "What a great opportunity for NIU Athletics as we expand our horizons, adapt to this new national model of college athletics and prepare to start a new chapter in the history of NIU Football," Northern Illinois athletic director Sean T. Frazier said in a news release. "We are grateful to Mountain West Commissioner Gloria Nevarez and the membership of the Mountain West Conference for this invitation and to NIU President Lisa Freeman for her support as we navigated this process. "The impact of this move to the Mountain West is going to be felt throughout our entire department and university. Our fans are going to enjoy the heightened competition, the media coverage and the additional opportunities the relationship with this conference and these great institutions provides." The Mountain West has been heavily involved in conference realignment with Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State leaving for the revamped Pac-12 in 2026. The addition of Northern Illinois gives the Mountain West nine football-playing members for 2026. The others are Air Force, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, San Jose State, UNLV, UTEP and Wyoming. "We are excited about adding the Northern Illinois University football program to the Mountain West," Mountain West commissioner Gloria Nevarez said in a news release. "In evaluating NIU, the MW Board of Directors and Directors of Athletics carefully considered and were impressed by its history of football success and its commitment to academic excellence." The MAC said it appreciated Northern Illinois' contributions to the conference. "While we would have preferred that NIU remain a member of the MAC, we understand that each institution must make an independent decision," MAC commissioner Jon Steinbrecher said in a statement. Northern Illinois went 8-5 overall and 4-4 in the MAC this season and posted a stunning upset of then-No.5 Notre Dame in September. That was the program's first-ever victory over a Top 10 program. The Huskies also enjoyed a stellar run from 2010-14 in which it compiled a 57-13 record. --Field Level Media
NCAA Football Breaking News
Thunder, Cavs carry long win streaks into marquee clash
The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Nos. 3 and 2 teams in the Eastern Conference en route to extending their overall winning streak to a franchise-best 15 games. Next up for the Thunder? Well, it's the team with the best record in the East -- and the NBA, for that matter -- as they visit the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night. Oklahoma City boasts an 11-0 record versus Eastern Conference foes while Cleveland sports a 10-0 mark against Western Conference representatives. The Cavaliers also are riding high on a 10-game winning streak -- all by double digits, mind you -- and are a scintillating 18-1 at home this season. "It's going to be hard on the road to get off to the slow starts that we've been getting off to lately. So we have to kind of fix that," Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said. "We got to throw the first punch, especially on the road against good teams with their environment, their crowd behind them." Oklahoma City head coach Mark Daigneault has faith in his team after ending the New York Knicks' nine-game winning streak on Friday and defeating the reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics two nights later. "More pressure, more grit, more intensity," Daigneault said. "We've got a level we can play at that can really be good (on defense)." Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 33 points in each of the last two games and has served as the team's leading scorer in each of the last eight. The two-time All-Star owns team-best averages in points (31.3), assists (6.1), steals (2.0) and blocks (1.1). Oklahoma City's current winning streak matches the longest of the season by an NBA team. Cleveland began the campaign with 15 straight victories. The Cavaliers made some noise after their last game, as Darius Garland expressed a bit of frustration as to why his team isn't getting the recognition he feels it deserves. "I wish I had an answer to that because I think that we deserve to have recognition for being the best team in the league," Garland said, per Cleveland.com. "Especially with the group that we have, the brand of basketball that we play. I think it's really exciting. I think it's fun. "I think it's actual great basketball, and it should be shown a lot more. It should be just really out there, in my opinion. But I guess (we're) a small market. That's the only thing I can really think of, to be honest with you." Garland made a statement on the court as well, scoring 25 points in the Cavaliers' 115-105 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday. He is averaging 20.5 points to trail only Donovan Mitchell (23.3) for the team lead. Garland also expressed his intentions for the immediate future. "I want to be an All-Star," said Garland, whose lone All-Star selection to date came in the 2021-22 season. "I want to get back to that level of play that I've been at and I'm healthy this season. I plan on being in San Francisco." --Field Level Media
NBA Breaking News
Eagles OC, QB on same page before wild-card game
Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore did not sound like a coach concerned he could be entering the playoffs without his starting quarterback. Jalen Hurts, in concussion protocol since suffering a head injury Dec. 22 against the Washington Commanders, might be ready to return to practice on Wednesday with a full week of preparation for the postseason rematch with the Green Bay Packers in Philadelphia on Sunday. Head coach Nick Sirianni was less forthcoming on Monday about the QB depth chart. But Moore said Tuesday that he's in close communication with Hurts and he has no concern about rust when he gets back on the field. Because the Eagles had no scheduled practice Monday or Tuesday, the next update on Hurts' status would come Wednesday with the first practice and injury report of the postseason. Moore also downplayed any distraction that might arise because of head-coaching interviews with the New Orleans Saints and Jacksonville Jaguars, who submitted formal requests to talk to the Eagles' first-year coordinator. "Really, the focus is on the week," Moore said. "Those things take care of themselves. Obviously, those things only come to teams that usually tend to have success and are doing things well on the field. That's where your focus is." Hurts was a nonparticipant on the injury and practice report last week, but likely would've been held out for the regular-season finale even if healthy. Running back Saquon Barkley, wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith and offensive linemen Landon Dickerson, Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata were all inactive last week. Hurts completed 20 of 34 passes for 278 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in the Eagles' Week 1 win over the Packers in Brazil. Sirianni would not confirm whether Hurts was at the team facility or able to participate in meetings or film study during the team media session on Monday. Tanner McKee started the Week 18 win over the New York Giants. Sirianni wouldn't declare his depth chart at the position or give into questions about whether McKee might've moved ahead of Kenny Pickett as the QB2 in Philadelphia. "We have a lot of confidence in both guys," he said. McKee completed 27 of 41 passes for 269 yards with two touchdowns and zero turnovers against the Giants. The Eagles waived quarterback Ian Book on Tuesday. He signed with the practice squad on Dec. 26 following the injuries to Hurts and Pickett (ribs) but did not appear in any games. --Field Level Media
NFL Breaking News
Graham Ike leads No. 18 Gonzaga into tilt vs. San Diego
Graham Ike is on the proverbial heater for No. 18 Gonzaga. His 27-point performance in Saturday's 96-68 West Coast Conference romp at Loyola Marymount marked the fourth time in six games that he's scored at least 20. It was his second-best output of the season. Ike and the Bulldogs (12-4, 3-0) will try to keep things going in a positive direction Wednesday night when they host WCC foe San Diego in Spokane, Wash. Ike's 16.4 points and 6.9 rebounds per game top Gonzaga in both categories. Coach Mark Few said the 6-foot-9, 250-pound senior not only delivered offense against Loyola Marymount but got the job done on defense, too. "He was forceful ... he was just being Graham," Few said. "He was just really solid. That's such an advantage for us to get that out of that 5-spot and defensively, he was terrific, too. He was active and rebounding and contesting shots. I was really happy for him." It was the third straight win for the Bulldogs, all in conference play. It was their most complete effort in WCC action, according to Few, who saw his team marry its usual efficient offense with a good defensive performance and earn a plus-7 advantage on the boards. Arkansas transfer Khalif Battle, who's averaging 13.2 points, pumped in a season-high 26 on just 12 shot attempts against the Lions. His explosiveness has helped Gonzaga construct another top-10 offense in scoring as it ranks eighth in the nation at 87.4 points per game. "I think he's in a good place," Few said of Battle. "We've got to keep him there." Point guard Ryan Nembhard has been a big part of Gonzaga's attack, scoring 11.6 points per game and leading Division I in assists with 9.6 per game. While Gonzaga has found traction in the WCC, San Diego (4-12, 1-2) continues its search for more offensive punch and overall consistency. Neither was evident in Saturday's 81-54 loss at Oregon State as the Toreros made only 29.3 percent of their shots and were outscored 48-26 in the second half. "It was a disappointing performance on both ends of the court," San Diego coach Steve Lavin said. "We didn't bring the necessary toughness or togetherness. We've had an encouraging stretch of games and practices with incremental improvements ... we played poorly." Kjay Bradley Jr. has been the Toreros' only consistent offensive threat this year at 15.4 points per game, but he was limited to nine points in 24 minutes off the bench Saturday. Freshman Tony Duckett led the team with 12 points against the Beavers. Lavin said his team must embrace the grind of preparing for a nationally ranked team. "We have to focus on getting better," he said. "We look at the data and analytics to evaluate what trends are going well and address the areas that are deficient. Change occurs in addressing the deficiencies and improving." The Bulldogs have won 18 straight meetings between the programs and own an 81-22 lead in the all-time series. --Field Level Media
NCAA Basketball Breaking News
Penn State looking to contain Tre White, No. 13 Illinois
As Illinois worked its offseason recruiting magic and brought in eight new players for the 2024-25 season, Louisville transfer Tre White was not one of the headline acquisitions. The 6-foot-7 junior wasn't a five-star freshman like Will Riley. He wasn't a much-coveted international standout like likely lottery pick Kasparas Jakucionis or Tomislav Ivisic. He wasn't the local hero returning home like Kylan Boswell. He wasn't even sure to be a starter. But as No. 13 Illinois (11-3, 3-1 Big Ten) enters Wednesday's Big Ten game against Penn State (12-3, 2-2) in Champaign, Ill., the 6-foot-7 White has been living up to his billing as a top-40 recruit in the Class of 2022. All of his metrics are up from his freshman year at Southern California and last year at Louisville. During Illinois' Pacific Northwest sweep last week at Oregon and Washington, White piled up a team-high 37 points and 18 rebounds. He also did the little things. With Illinois clinging to a two-point lead in the final 20 seconds Sunday at Washington, White swatted the ball out of DJ Davis' hands, then leaped to dive on the loose ball to force a jump that became Illinois' clinching possession. To put White's recent excellence into perspective, he averaged 7.1 points in 17.4 minutes per game while attempting 14 free throws in Illinois' first eight games. In the last six games, he has delivered 15.5 points in 27.5 minutes per game while getting to the line 32 times. "Tre's really good," said Illinois coach Brad Underwood. "We've got to make sure we understand that Tre's a really good player. He's doing it driving the basketball. Defensively, he's locked in. He's guarding really good players every single night. He's learning to compete to win. Not just play hard, but to compete. Those are different. And I'm really proud of him. He has been exceptional." Illinois needs White and the rest of its players to maintain that competitiveness level because that has been Penn State's calling card during the Nittany Lions' rise to the Top 40 of the KenPom rankings and Top 50 of the NET. That competitiveness is what coach Mike Rhoades felt was lacking for much of Sunday's 77-71 loss to Indiana. The Nittany Lions trailed by 16 with 10 minutes to play before getting within two with the ball. "When we trust what we do and we have this urgency, we're a downhill team," Rhoades said. "We have multiple guys that can get downhill and make plays for themselves and each other." Ace Baldwin Jr. continues to lead the way offensively and defensively -- he ranks fourth nationally in assists (8.4 per game) and fifth in free-throw shooting (94.5 percent) while adding 2.1 steals per game -- but Penn State also needs shooter Zach Hicks to be on target. Since drilling 6 of 10 3-pointers Dec. 10 against Rutgers, which propelled him to 50.8 percent on 3-pointers for the year, Hicks has canned just 7 of 27 attempts over the last five games. "He's got to continue to keep moving and hunting shots," Rhoades said. "We've got to find him more. We've got to find a way to loosen him up more." --Field Level Media
NCAA Basketball Breaking News
Lions expect RB David Montgomery back for playoff run
The Detroit Lions plan for running back David Montgomery to be back for their first playoff game in the NFC divisional round. Asked Tuesday whether he expected Montgomery (knee) to be ready to play next week, normally fiery head coach Dan Campbell kept it short and said, "I do." Montgomery injured the MCL in his left knee in Week 15 during the Lions' 48-42 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Originally thought to be a season-ending injury, Montgomery received other medical opinions and instead rehabbed his knee with an eye on a postseason return. Montgomery, 27, rushed for 775 yards and 12 touchdowns with a 4.2 yards per carry average in 14 games this season, complementing lead rusher Jahmyr Gibbs (1,412 yards, 5.6 average, 16 TDs). The Lions defeated the Minnesota Vikings 31-9 in Week 18 to clinch not only the NFC North title but also the top seed in the conference, the first time the franchise has accomplished that. That comes with a bye week that will give Montgomery even more time to recover. Detroit will host a game in the divisional round on Jan. 18 or 19. --Field Level Media
NFL Breaking News
Raiders fire head coach Antonio Pierce
The Las Vegas Raiders fired head coach Antonio Pierce on Tuesday, two days after concluding a 4-13 season. Pierce, 46, went 9-17 over 1 1/2 seasons as coach. He first became coach on an interim basis after the midseason firing of Josh McDaniels in 2023. "The Las Vegas Raiders have relieved Antonio Pierce of his duties as head coach," the team said in its announcement. "We appreciate Antonio's leadership, first as an interim head coach and this past season as the head coach. "Antonio grew up a Raiders fan and his Silver and Black roots run deep. We are grateful for his ability to reignite what it means to be a Raider throughout the entire organization. We wish nothing but the best for Antonio and his family in the future." The Raiders had a 10-game losing streak during the gloomy 2024 season. Las Vegas lost six games by double digits during the streak and nine overall. Gardner Minshew was the starting quarterback at the outset of the season and Aidan O'Connell was the other main quarterback used by the club. Tight end Brock Bowers was one of the bright spots with an NFL rookie-record 112 receptions. Speaking at a press conference Monday, Pierce felt confident he would remain as coach. But an organization that has missed the postseason in 20 of the past 22 seasons felt differently. Pierce spent nine seasons in the NFL as a linebacker with Washington (2001-04) and the New York Giants (2005-09). --Field Level Media
NFL Breaking News
Chargers sign RB Ezekiel Elliott to practice squad
Running back Ezekiel Elliott joined the practice squad of the Los Angeles Chargers after wide receiver Laviska Shenault was released on Tuesday. Elliott, 29, was released by the Dallas Cowboys on New Year's Eve, ending his second stint with the team. The Chargers are headed to the postseason, starting with a visit to Houston in the wild-card round on Saturday. "Competitors welcome at the Los Angeles Chargers," coach Jim Harbaugh said Tuesday. "Great to see him. He's here and he'll start having at it." Elliott and Chargers pass rusher Joey Bosa were teammates at Ohio State before they entered the NFL on back-to-back selections in the top five of the 2016 draft. Bosa went No. 3 before the Cowboys took Elliott fourth. Elliott has six career playoff appearances, all with Dallas from 2016-22, and 393 rushing yards with two TDs in his postseason career. The Chargers' depth chart at running back was a concern down the stretch. J.K. Dobbins missed four games with a knee sprain but returned while No. 2 back Gus Edwards is dealing with an ankle injury that has sidelined him for the past two games. Dobbins led the team with 905 rushing yards during the regular season, followed by Edwards with 365 and then quarterback Justin Herbert with 306. The next-leading running back was Kimani Vidal with just 155 yards. Dallas released Elliott with one game remaining in the regular season. He ranks third in Cowboys history with 8,488 career rushing yards, behind only Tony Dorsett (12,036) and the NFL rushing king Emmitt Smith, who had 17,162 of his record 18,355 yards in a Dallas uniform. Elliott rushed for just 226 yards and three touchdowns on 74 carries for Dallas this season while also catching 12 passes for 69 yards. The two-time NFL rushing leader gained at least 979 yards in each of his first six seasons before his yardage began to spiral downward. Elliott had 876 rushing yards in 2022 before the Cowboys released him following the season. He played for the New England Patriots in 2023 and rushed for 642 yards and three touchdowns. This season, Elliott returned to Dallas. He rushed for 40 yards in the season-opening victory against the Cleveland Browns but reached 30 just twice more before being released. --Field Level Media
NFL Breaking News
Dolphins GM says Tyreek Hill did not request trade
Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier said star wide receiver Tyreek Hill has not directly requested a trade. Both Grier and head coach Mike McDaniel met with Hill on Monday, one day after the wideout hinted that he was ready to leave Miami. "There's a lot of things that I need to reassess about my career," Hill told reporters Sunday. "I just gotta do what's best for me and my family, whether that's here or wherever the case may be. "... I'm out, bro. It was great playing here, but at the end of the day, I gotta do what's best for my career. I'm too much of a competitor to be just out there." Grier said Hill did not retract those comments. "But he never asked for a trade with me," Grier told reporters at Tuesday's end-of-season press conference. "They were (productive) conversations," Grier said. "I will keep those between us. The one thing I would say is, in a frustrating season, he was very emotional in a game where we had a chance, coming back from 2-6. All of that with him playing through his (wrist) injury just kind of bubbled to a point." Hill caught two passes for 20 yards in Sunday's season-ending loss to the New York Jets before taking himself out of the game in the fourth quarter. McDaniel said he met with Hill to "clear the air" and told him that kind of behavior was unacceptable. "I was very direct with him. He was very honest, and it was great terms that we were discussing," McDaniel said. "We discussed multiple things, including without wavering, that it's not acceptable to leave a game and won't be tolerated in the future, and he embraced accountability. I wouldn't say there's necessarily anything to fix, but we had to clear the air in a rough and tumultuous situation." Hill, who will turn 31 in March, caught 81 passes for 959 yards in 17 games this season -- marking his lowest production in a full season since his rookie year with Kansas City in 2016. The drop came following a pair of 1,700-yard seasons to begin his tenure in Miami and with Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa limited to 11 games due to concussion and hip injuries. Before the 2024 season, Hill signed a three-year, $90 million extension through the 2026 season that included a $7 million signing bonus and $59 million in guaranteed money. The eight-time Pro Bowl selection is due to count $28.7 million against the 2025 cap and $51.9 million in the final year of the deal in 2026. --Field Level Media
NFL Breaking News
Winter storm targets North Texas; Cotton Bowl officials on alert
A winter storm barreling down on North Texas could cause havoc days before the Cotton Bowl on Friday. The College Football Playoff semifinal game between Texas and Ohio State has officials in Arlington, Texas, concerned about traffic and safety because of the amount of snowfall -- between four and six inches -- projected to land in the area. Weather Channel said the annual average snowfall for Arlington, Texas, is just over 1.5 inches meaning about four times the annual amount could be on the ground to potentially clog roadways and challenge the energy grid. A similar timeline played out in 2011 when the Super Bowl was held at AT&T Stadium. This week, meteorologists are calling for up to six inches of total accumulation beginning Wednesday night in Dallas-Fort Worth and a winter storm watch has been issued starting Thursday at midnight Central through 6 p.m. Friday. The Cotton Bowl is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff local time. "We are routinely monitoring weather reports and we are in close contact with AT&T Stadium and local officials," a Cotton Bowl official said in a statement. "We always have plans for inclement weather. Should conditions warrant it, we will communicate to everyone attending and connected with this year's Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic." Areas from Little Rock, Ark., to Memphis, Tenn., and further south of Arlington all are on high alert with the impact of the storm shifting from possible freezing rain to snow. Once fans reach the stadium, the environment in the indoor venue offers temperature-controlled comfort for the playoff game. Friday's forecast calls for highs near 34 degrees near the stadium. Kevin Oden, the director of emergency management and crisis response in Dallas, said the "priority is ensuring safe travel for the teams and their fans visiting Dallas in the Metroplex." Parts of North Texas measured four inches of snowfall on game week during the Super Bowl in 2011. Since that event was held, the Dallas Cowboys installed ice guards designed to block melting snow and ice from falling on the walkways and parking areas below. The single-event record for snowfall in Dallas was 12.45 inches on Feb. 11-12, 2010. --Field Level Media
NCAA Football Breaking News
Tiger Woods' TGL debuts Tuesday: What to know, and how to watch
The Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy backed TGL makes its debut on Tuesday night following a year-long delay and amid a myriad of questions about the new virtual golf league. Here is what fans need to know about the league, and how to follow Tuesday's first match. WHAT IS THE TGL? Woods and McIlroy were joined by former NBC Sports executive Mike McCarley in co-founding the TGL, which falls under its parent company of TMRW Sports. The PGA Tour is also a partner in the new league. All matches will be broadcast on ESPN and ESPN+ on Monday or Tuesday nights, and take place at the 1,500-seat SoFi Center on the campus of Palm Beach State College in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. ESPN's Scott Van Pelt will lead the television coverage. Unofficially standing for "Tomorrow's Golf League," the TGL was first announced in 2022 and originally scheduled to launch in January of 2024. However, a storm in November of 2023 resulted in a power outage that caused extensive damage when roof of the former air-supported dome collapsed. Built specifically for the TGL, the facility was rebuilt as a steel structure capable of withstanding hurricane-strength winds. It now features 18 Full Swing radar detectors along with eight Top Tracer optical cameras. Players tee off grass into a 46-by-64 simulator screen. A synthetic green sits on a 41-yard turnable area that includes bunkers, and slopes that can be adjusted each hole. Each of the 15-holes on the par 60 layout is unique and were not designed to replicate any holes from real golf courses. MATCH FORMAT Matches will be played indoors on a simulator, with three players from each team competing in 15-hole matches. Each hole counts for one point. A player will have 40 seconds to hit a shot before incurring a one-stroke penalty. Each team is afforded four timeouts during a match. Another element is the "Hammer," which one team holds during a match and can toss onto the course to double the value of a given hole to two points. The team that is challenged can decline and concede the hole, while then taking control of the Hammer. It can be used multiple times on a hole. All matches will go the full 15 holes, even if one team has clinched a win earlier. If a match is tied following 15 holes, the match will be decided by a best two-out-of-three closest-to-the-pin competition from 25-50 yards. LEAGUE FORMAT Each team will compete in 15 regular season matches through March 4. Four teams will advance to a playoff that concludes March 25, with the winning team winning $9 million out of a total $21 million purse. "The first thing I'd like people to know is that it's golf re-imagined. Sort of trying to take golf into the 21st century," McIlroy told ESPN on Saturday. "We have teams. Obviously, we have a lot of technology involved, trying to bring (golf) into the digital era. A lot of things we've taken from other sports, like a shot clock, a timeout, which you don't see in regular golf. Trying to appeal to that bigger sports audience out there." TEAMS (6) The league includes 24 PGA Tour members. Jon Rahm withdrew after initially committing to the TGL, which does not allow LIV Golf players. Los Angeles Golf Club: Collin Morikawa, Sahith Theegala, Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood Atlanta Drive Golf Club: Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay, Billy Horschel, Lucas Glover Boston Common Golf: Rory McIlroy, Hideki Matsuyama, Keegan Bradley, Adam Scott Jupiter Links Golf Club: Tiger Woods, Max Homa, Tom Kim, Kevin Kisner New York Golf Club: Xander Schauffele, Rickie Fowler, Matt Fitzpatrick, Cameron Young The Bay Golf Club: Ludvig Aberg, Wyndham Clark, Min Woo Lee, Shane Lowry DEBUT TEAMS & TIME The Bay GC takes on the New York GC at 9 p.m. ET. Lowry will hit the first shot in TGL history when he tees off on the 380-yard par 4 called "The Plank." He will be joined on The Bay by Aberg and Clark, with Lee sitting out the first match. Fitzpatrick, Fowler and Schauffele are starting for New York, with Young sitting out. While Woods and McIlroy are not competing in the season-opening event, both of the local Florida residents and co-founders of the league are expected to be in attendance. LOOKING AHEAD Jupiter Links will make its debut Jan. 14 when it faces Los Angeles GC. Atlanta Drive GC will make its debut Jan. 21 against NYGC, while Boston Common will play its first match Jan. 27 against Jupiter Links. --Field Level Media
Golf Breaking News
Bears prez offers tepid support of lame-duck GM
Chicago Bears president Kevin Warren understands he walks a fine line retaining Ryan Poles as head of football operations to hire a second head coach. That's because Poles' current contract wouldn't align with the replacement selected for Matt Eberflus, potentially laying the groundwork for a power struggle. But Warren framed those hypotheticals as tomorrow's problems on Tuesday while noting Poles would be asked to collaborate during the hiring process. "I think we made it clear, I made it clear in early December and as Ryan talked about today, he is our point person on the search. He's our general manager. He's head of football operations," said Warren. "I am confident that if we do our job from a process standpoint, which we will, and sit down and be open and honest that people will look at this as a great opportunity and from a hypothetical standpoint, I am confident with the group that we have right now and Ryan leading our charge." Poles said he ultimately will make the decision and handle interviews of coaching candidates this month. He denied what he senses is a widely held opinion that he and Warren don't work well together, saying that "couldn't be further from the truth." And Warren insisted the Bears are committed to Poles, who was retained in November when Eberflus was fired and replaced by interim coach Thomas Brown. Poles is starting the final year on his current contract and his fingerprints are everywhere on the roster. "When we say long term, a year is a lifetime. I know that's important," Warren said of the time left on Poles' deal. "I know 2025 is important, not only from a football standpoint, from a stadium standpoint, from an operation standpoint. Again, I trust Ryan. I trust the process that he has put together. I'm confident it will yield positive results. "We will hire a world-class coach, whether it's Thomas Brown or someone who currently does not work in our organization. We will get this right, and I'm looking forward to it. I am so excited about being able to start these interviews, I haven't been able to sleep these last couple of nights." Chicago finished last in the NFC North, with three division rivals headed to the playoffs, and last won the division in 2018. The Bears are 15-36 since the start of the 2022 season and last appeared in the playoffs in 2020 with an 8-8 record under Matt Nagy. Nagy is the only Bears coach to win more than eight games in a season since Lovie Smith in 2012. --Field Level Media
NFL Breaking News
No. 11 Kansas ready to welcome Arizona State to Big 12
No. 11 Kansas and Arizona State will meet on the hardwood for the first time as Big 12 foes on Wednesday night in Lawrence, Kan. The Jayhawks (10-3, 1-1 Big 12) rebounded from last week's 62-61 home loss against West Virginia with a resounding 51-point win at UCF on Sunday. Hunter Dickinson led the way for the Jayhawks with 27 points on 12-of-17 shooting in the 99-48 win, while Flory Bidunga added 12 points and six blocks. Bidunga and Dickinson were a force in their minutes together, which could lead to more playing time for Bidunga in his sixth-man role. "We haven't had rim protection like that all year long," Kansas coach Bill Self said. "We made up for some bad defensive plays by guys contesting and blocking, so I'd say the biggest thing I like about them right now is that defensively they can play together. (Bidunga) is good enough and quick enough. He can play out on the perimeter some. "But the biggest thing, even with (Dickinson), we had rim protection." The Jayhawks finished with 12 blocked shots and outrebounded the Knights by a whopping 63-32 margin. UCF shot just 20.6 percent from the field (14 of 68). Dickinson leads Kansas in both scoring and rebounding this season, averaging 16.0 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. Kansas also receives significant contributions from guards Zeke Mayo and Dajuan Harris Jr. Mayo is averaging 14.0 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists and scored 25-plus points in three consecutive games to close out December before settling for six points in the win over UCF. Harris leads the Jayhawks with 5.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game in addition to averaging 10.4 points. Arizona State (10-3, 1-1) recovered from a 20-point loss at BYU in its inaugural Big 12 game last week with an 81-61 win over Colorado on Saturday, led by 19 points from BJ Freeman on 8-of-12 shooting. Basheer Jihad added 17 points in the win, making 4 of 6 attempts from long range and 6 of 9 overall. Jihad and Joson Sanon each average 13.5 points per game to pace the Sun Devils. Jayden Quaintance leads Arizona State with 8.2 rebounds per game and is second in the nation with 3.15 blocks per game while also chipping in an average of 9.2 points. Freeman averages 11.8 points per game, while Alston Mason averages 11.0 points and a team-high 3.5 assists. Heading to Lawrence for a date with the blueblood Jayhawks will be among the biggest tests on Arizona State's schedule in its first go-around in the Big 12. The Sun Devils believe that they are ready to prove their mettle. "We're very confident," Freeman said. "As long as we come in here and we play our basketball, I feel like we got a chance with anybody in the country. I feel like (with) how we play, how fast we play, and how physical we are on defense, we got a very great chance to win." --Field Level Media
NCAA Basketball Breaking News
No. 17 Oklahoma wants to attack glass vs. No. 10 Texas A&M
Porter Moser wants No. 17 Oklahoma to make a team effort to rebound better when it hosts No. 10 Texas A&M on Wednesday in Norman, Okla. In its SEC debut on Saturday, Oklahoma (13-1, 0-1 SEC) was routed by No. 5 Alabama 107-79 for its first defeat of the season. The Sooners were outrebounded 51-26 and Moser went back to lessons from his mentor, the late Rick Majerus, when asked what it would take to give his squad a rebounding edge. "I can see my first practice with Majerus and talking about getting into the legs on a block out," Moser recalled from his stint at Saint Louis. "You're not going to play jump ball in the paint. I can't sit there and beg for over-the-back calls. We have to physically check off and go get it. It has to be a group effort. We can't have guys play 18 minutes and get one rebound. The guards have to rebound down. It has to be collective. "We have Texas A&M next and they are an elite offensive rebounding team. We have to physically get into their legs and check off if we don't have a length and athleticism advantage." Texas A&M (12-2, 1-0) has won eight straight games and blew out rival Texas 80-60 on Saturday. The Aggies had an 11-5 edge in offensive rebounds. Fifth-year guard Hayden Hefner has started the last five games for the Aggies. He had nine points and four rebounds against the Longhorns, but his coach said his impact went far beyond the box score. "(Hefner) is probably the least talented player that played in the Lone Star Showdown," Aggies coach Buzz Williams said. "But it's hard to grade guts. He's got big guts. "I shook his hand before the jump ball and said, 'You see all the real dudes out there?' That's because you're a real dude, go get after it. Can he jump? No. Is he the strongest? No. Is he the best in any category? No. But, I like guys that try real hard when no one thinks they can do it." In addition to hitting the glass, Oklahoma will also need its co-leading scorer Jeremiah Fears (17.9 points per game) to get more involved early after contributing only one point in the first half against the Crimson Tide. "He's really good in so many ways and he has to play that way," Moser said of the freshman guard. "He can't wait for the first shot to fall to get up and play defense and get other guys involved. He will learn that. He's an unbelievable kid, trying to learn that. It's his first experience doing this." Jalon Moore also averages 17.9 points per game for the Sooners. Wade Taylor IV leads Texas A&M in scoring at 15.7 points per game and scored 13 points against Texas. Williams said it will take a team effort against Oklahoma. "I think the margins are razor thin," Williams said. "That's how elite this league is." --Field Level Media
NCAA Basketball Breaking News
Rays 'expect' Tropicana repairs to be made in time for '26 season
The Tampa Bay Rays are no longer interested in getting out of their lease to play in their hurricane-damaged ballpark, stating instead their clear preference is to start the 2026 season in a rebuilt Tropicana Field, according to an email from team president Matt Silverman to public officials. Tropicana Field's roof was torn apart when Hurricane Milton made landfall south of Tampa on Oct. 9. It has been estimated that the stadium, in St. Petersburg, will need about $56 million in renovations. In the ongoing discussions about how to accomplish such repairs, the Rays previously had considered an option where the city of St. Petersburg would buy out the team's contractual obligation to rebuild the damaged park. In a Dec. 30 email to St. Petersburg's city administrator, Rob Gerdes, Silverman indicated the team has reversed course, stating in part, "the Rays support and expect the city to rebuild Tropicana Field in accordance with the terms of the current use agreement." The Rays have made plans to play their home games next season at the New York Yankees' 11,000-seat spring training ballpark -- Steinbrenner Field -- in Tampa, and reiterated in the Dec. 30 email their strong desire to have repairs to the Trop made in time for the Rays to play there on Opening Day in 2026. "A partial 2026 season in Tropicana Field would present massive logistical and revenue challenges for the team," Silverman said. "It is therefore critical that the rebuild start in earnest as soon as possible, that a realistic completion schedule be developed quickly and that the city diligently pursue the reconstruction as required by the Use Agreement." The city of St. Petersburg, in a statement, said it intends for baseball to come back to Tropicana Field. "We look forward to continuing to work with the Rays -- through participation in a collaborative working group -- and with City Council to return Major League Baseball games to St. Petersburg. Following a recent meeting with Rays owner Stu Sternberg, Mayor (Ken) Welch -- as he has previously made clear -- intends to do all he can to fulfill the city's obligations in relation to Major League Baseball." City Council member Gina Driscoll weighed in on what has at times been a divisive effort to deal with the lasting effects of Hurricane Milton. "Hopefully this means the Rays are finished playing guessing games and we can get back to focusing on the game of baseball in St. Petersburg," said Driscoll, according to the Tampa Bay Times. The Rays, whose lease at Tropicana Field ends following the 2028 season, have played in Tampa Bay since their inaugural season in 1998. The email does not address the Rays' plans to build a planned $1.3 billion stadium, which originally was planned to be their home beginning in 2028. The Rays have until March 31 to complete a checklist of benchmark items. If they don't, the deal for the private-public partnership will expire. --Field Level Media
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