Jan 1, 2026; Pasadena, CA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer speaks in a press conference after the 2026 Rose Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at Rose Bowl Stadium. © Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesAlabama Football is almost here. After months of waiting, fans will finally be able to see what Kalen DeBoer was able to cook up after losing Ty Simpson to the Los Angeles Rams. Switching quarterbacks is never easy, but successful programs have proven to be able to switch and find success the following season.2026 will test DeBoer’s abilities. Here’s a look at the upcoming schedule, including a look at the most important games and where the coach’s unit may fall short.Top 3 Biggest Opponents On Alabama’s ScheduleOne of the biggest games of the season is often the first game. The East Carolina Pirates will visit the Crimson Tide on Sept. 5. The game will set the tone for the first half of the season. A loss to start the year could take a month to wash out.The Tennessee Volunteers have been a tough out in recent years, with 9+ wins in three of the last four years. As such, expect a high-profile tussle on Oct. 17.LSU hasn’t been at the peak of its powers in recent years, but the high-profile school will get national coverage when it takes on Alabama. Expect the national tone to shift depending on how the game goes.3 Games Where Kalen DeBoer’s Squad Will Fall ShortThree games will push Kalen DeBoer past his limit. The first will be the Georgia Bulldogs, a program that has been the definition of excellence in the regular season over the past five years. Expect DeBoer to come up short.Texas A&M won’t be an easy out, either. The school is on the uptick with a 19-7 record since Mike Elko took over, and a loss is likely.One sneaky game that could force the team to fall short in terms of winning by a hair instead of by a mile is the Vanderbilt Commodores. After running through the gauntlet of teams from Oct. 10 through Nov. 7, Alabama will either be exhausted or thrilled. Both feelings could trickle into the final game of the stretch against a program that finished 10-3 with a quarterback who went undrafted in the 2026 NFL draft.OverviewOverall, expect a fast start from Alabama, but the rubber will meet the road in October with perhaps one of the toughest stretches in college football. If Alabama doesn’t turn the page quickly away from Ty Simpson, it could be a long season. Here’s a look at the full schedule via ESPN.Read More News:“We Saw Him on Twitter”: Former Ole Miss HC Lane Kiffin Spills the Beans on Trinidad Chambliss’ Unique Recruiting Story“Money Is the Root of All Evil”: Fans React After Georgia HC Kirby Smart Flips 4-Star Florida Commit Kennedee JacksonCollege Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!

Harmeet K. Dhillon, the United States Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Justice, released a letter on Thursday that she wrote to MLB commissioner Rob Manfred. In the letter, Dhillon addressed the controversy over the San Francisco Giants “Pride Night” caps and cited Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.She’s referred the matter to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which she says will further investigate MLB for religious discrimination.In response to Giants pitchers inscribing Bible verses on their rainbow-themed caps for the team’s Pride Night game against the Chicago Cubs last Friday, MLB said doing so was a violation of the league's rules and issued a warning about future violations.On Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) issued a letter to Manfred, scrutinizing the major league’s public warning about the pitchers’ uniform adaptations.“You must answer for what appears to be a pattern of discrimination within MLB against baseball players who profess their Christian faith,” Hawley wrote in his letter, alluding to the Washington Nationals reportedly firing a community relations executive after he was covertly taped describing a social media ban on a Catholic pitcher.Two days after Hawley’s letter made the rounds, Dhillon’s circulated:“The Civil Rights Act prohibits MLB and its franchises from unreasonably burdening the rights of players with religious objections to serving as the League’s vehicle for pro-Pride messages,” Dhillon wrote. “Federal law is clear: employers must modify their uniform requirements to reasonably accommodate their employees’ exercise of religion.“… MLB has asserted that its warning to the Giants players ‘had absolutely nothing to do with the content of the message’ and that it merely is enforcing a policy that prohibits writing on uniforms. Yet, MLB has allowed players to wear uniform patches reading ‘Black Lives Matter.’ This double standard — under which players may not inscribe Bible verses on hats for one game only but may wear ‘Black Lives Matter’ patches for one game only — calls MLB’s true motives into question and raises serious concerns about MLB’s compliance with Title VII. Employers may not use facially neutral polices as ‘a pretext for discrimination.’”San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Landen Roupp went 4 2/3 innings into a 5-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs on June 12. He inscribed a Bible verse from the Book of Genesis on the Pride Night cap he wore during that outing. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)Thearon W. Henderson via Getty ImagesStarter Landen Roupp, plus relievers JT Brubaker and Ryan Walker, all took the field with Bible verses written on their caps on Pride Night last week. Another Giants reliever, Sam Hentges, didn’t even wear the Pride Night hat. He instead pitched while donning San Francisco’s customary cap, which features its traditional orange lettering.Roupp told media postgame that he had written a Bible verse from the Book of Genesis on his hat.“It's just about God's covenant and a promise that he makes to us — his faithfulness and his mercy,” the 27-year-old righty from Rocky Mount, North Carolina, said, via KNBR. “It's just something I believe in, and I stand firm in that. Thankfully we live in a country where we have the freedom to believe what we want."While it’s unclear if Hentges was warned like Roupp, Brubaker and Walker, it’s worth noting that MLB rules state that “no player whose uniform does not conform to that of his teammates shall be permitted to participate in a game.”"It's just something that I feel like I was forced to support when I don't morally support it,” Hentges, a 29-year-old lefty from Arden Hills, Minnesota, told reporters this past Saturday, per ESPN. “There wasn't hatred behind it. I think that's kind of something that's misinterpreted.”Hentges added: "I don't hate the LGBTQ community. It's just something I believed and talked with teammates and family, and they supported it."Also on Saturday, the day after the Giants’ Pride Night game — a 5-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs — the organization put out a statement addressing the "pain and anger" that was caused, as reported by ESPN."The San Francisco Giants are proud to support Pride Night and the LGBTQ+ community," that statement read, via ESPN. "Baseball should be a place where everyone feels welcome, respected, and valued. We also respect that individuals may make personal choices about participating in team activations."We understand that the choices by individual players have caused pain and anger to many in the LGBTQ+ community and we are sorry for that. Those choices do not change our organization's commitment to inclusion, belonging, and creating a welcoming environment for all. We remain grateful to our fans, partners, employees, players, and coaches who help make Pride Night a meaningful celebration."Notably, earlier this week, the York Revolution, a minor-league team playing independent baseball in Pennsylvania, announced Wednesday that it forfeited its Pride Night game set for Thursday because several of the club's players refused to wear the scheduled Pride Night jerseys.The “Revs” were poised to wear jerseys with rainbow-patterned sleeves."To be clear; this action by the players is completely inconsistent with our vision as the Most Welcoming Place in York,” the club noted in its statement.

Jun. 19—QUINCY — While local Basin student athletes may be out for the summer, their opportunities to remain in shape for their respective sports are not. Head Baseball Coach at Quincy High School and owner of Athletic Breakthrough Gym David Garza has made his business available to local Basin athletes to continue developing during the offseason."You're starting to see the kids who are trying to be more dedicated to their sport," Garza said. "One thing that contributes to a lot of that success is dedication in the offseason, their hard work in the weight room, the dedication that they're putting in, as well."Garza said he noticed more athletes expressing an interest in reaching higher levels of their sports, like college or the pros. However, he noticed a gap in athlete development, citing the summer as a key time period where athletes can separate themselves from the competition."I've told them, if you've ever had a chance in your life to ever talk to a professional athlete, a lot of the professional athletes will also say, 'I wish I would have done this earlier, I wish I would have started training earlier, I wish I would have had a trainer or a player specific skill set that would have made me better.' It's something that they have to do all year round," he said.In turn, Garza has offered programs to help student athletes at varying levels and sports across the Basin progress in the offseason. Whether it's college, high school, middle school or elementary, his gym offers the opportunity to them, he said."If someone really wants to progress, coaches are here for you; trainers are here for you to get to that next step in that next level," Garza said. "Like we talked about for baseball, it's who's going to put the work in. So come November open gym time and stuff, even in that period of time, we'll see who put the work in."Originally from Othello, he played baseball, basketball and football in the Huskies program. From there, he attended Eastern Washington University where a few bumps in the road put him on the path he's on now."I don't want it to ever be the story, but I did have a severe knee injury, and that kind of set me back a lot, but that's when I continued (club) baseball, because I felt like it was going to be able to work that way, and then football wasn't the dream anymore," he said.During his rehabilitation process, he learned more about physical therapy, training and coaching. In 2013, he graduated with a bachelor's degree in health and fitness and would later earn his masters in sports administration.Fast forward to 2024 when he opened ABT in Quincy. Being able to help local athletes in this way offers more fulfillment for Garza."In coaching you get your select group of kids, but that's it. Coming into Quincy, I was like, I want to see every athlete and every kid. I want to help every program grow. I don't want any program here to feel like they're not able to do something to help themselves out," Garza said.In addition to helping local athletes, ABT has programs for adults and is open for anyone in the Columbia Basin, too. For adults, ABT offers technical strength training, a high-intensity interval training (HIIT), one on one training, small and large group sessions and 24/7 access to the facility.Above all else, he wants anyone who comes into his gym to find it enjoyable."It's the full spectrum of what my strengths are," he said. "All these things are very gym oriented. Getting adults into shape, making them feel like they feel a part of a community, which is my biggest thing. I want you to have fun, and adults here should feel like they're finding a place where that's an enjoyable part of the day, even though they're getting their butts kicked."For anyone interested in signing themselves or their athletes up for training, sign up links can be found on www.athleticbreakthrough.com.

Barcelona agree deal for Josué CaicedoLa Liga giants Barcelona have late this week secured an agreement to bring in Josué Caicedo from LDU Quito.Caicedo, for those not familiar with his name, is an 18-year-old attacker who chiefly lines out on the left wing. The 18-year-old has long been considered one of the standout young talents in South America, tipped for a bright future at the top level of the game.This reputation has given rise to links with a whole host of European clubs, eager to snatch Caicedo up before he explodes onto the world stage.And as alluded to above, on Friday, one of the starlet’s leading suitors appear to have managed precisely that.As per a report from journalist Fabrizio Romano:‘Barcelona reach verbal agreement to sign 2007-born winger Josué Caicedo from LDU Quito, here we go! Deal in place for Barcelona B team, loan with option to buy that could turn into obligation — fee around €2.5m.’Caicedo will make his way to Catalunya’s capital over the weeks ahead, before linking up with his new teammates at Barca Atlètic.Conor Laird – GSFN

Frank Lampard has already managed in the Premier League with Everton and Chelsea [PA Media]Coventry City manager Frank Lampard has held positive talks over a new contract.The 47-year-old led the Sky Blues to Premier League promotion last season, winning the Championship title in the process.But his existing deal expires at the end of next season, and Lampard's success at Coventry has seen his stock rise considerably and attracted interest from other clubs, including Fulham.However, talks over a new deal at the Midlands club are under way and have been described as positive amid hope a final agreement can be reached before the start of the new campaign.Speaking following Coventry's promotion in April, Lampard said:."There's a lot of work to do because we know the step up it will be for the football club."That's something we have to work on quickly now because of where we're at. We have to be ambitious. I know what the Premier League is and it's going to be a challenge. We can enjoy the moment for the next two weeks but of course we have to work behind the scenes to ensure we go up in the right way."Lampard replaced Mark Robins as Sky Blues manager in November 2024 when the club were 17th in the Championship, just two points above the relegation zone.Coventry won 16 out of the remaining 29 matches in the Championship that season, finishing in fifth place and earning a place in the play-offs. They eventually lost 3-2 on aggregate to Sunderland in the play-off semi-finals.Lampard then led them to the Championship title, winning 28 matches - the most Coventry have ever managed in a league season - and ending a 25-year wait for top-flight football.The former England midfielder started his managerial career at Derby County, before spells at Chelsea (twice) and Everton.Latest Coventry City news, analysis and fan viewshttps://www.bbc.co.uk/send/u239873949

Morocco has been an ascending soccer power, particularly after a run to the semifinals in the 2022 World Cup. The team has improved so much that its 1-1 draw against powerhouse Brazil in its 2026 World Cup opener was a slight disappointment.What you need to know: Scotland and Morocco vie for control of Group C at Boston Stadium“We didn’t come to the U.S. to just play against Brazil,” Morocco midfielder Azzedine Ounahi said. “We came in to go even farther than we did in Qatar in 2022.”Scotland has put itself in a good position to advance to the knockout round for the first time after a 1-0 win over Haiti in its opener, but Morocco should be a considerably tougher opponent.“Against difficult opponents, we have to be very good,” Scotland coach Steve Clarke said. “We’re a little more comfortable as underdogs. ... Sometimes Scotland prefers it that way.”Scotland vs. Morocco marks the third game to be played at Boston Stadium in Foxborough since Saturday. The game airs on Boston 25 News/Fox at 6 p.m. Before that, fans can watch Team USA take on Australia at 3 p.m.View this post on InstagramFollow below for live updates leading up to, during, and after the match:4 p.m.Scotland and Morocco fans are bringing the heat.#Scotland and #Morocco fans are awesome @boston25pic.twitter.com/wwduCiPXgm— Michael Raimondi (@mraimonditv) June 19, 20263:45 p.m.FIFA Fan Festival at Boston City Hall Plaza opens to World Cup fans after a 45-minute delay due to high winds.3:30 p.m.Boston 25 Sports Director Butch Stearns welcomes our new sports reporter and Medford native, Lauren Walsh, to the World Cup coverage.How about a big Boston welcome to the newest member of our @boston25 sports team @lauwalsh10 Medford born & bred, Lauren coming back to Boston to make her mark. @KerryKavanaugh@JulianCardillo@bostonTVguy@Michael_Pitts25@ksullivannews@NicoleGabeTV@ScottIsaacs@VickiGrafWXpic.twitter.com/x9q0hKb42W— Butch Stearns (@ButchStearns) June 19, 20262:50 p.m.Team USA will be without star Christian Pulisic, as it battles Australia with a trip to the knockout round on the line. Watch the game live on Boston 25 at 3 p.m., followed by Scotland vs. Morocco at Boston Stadium at 6 p.m.2 p.m.Boston 25 Sports director Butch Stearns and Boston 25 Soccer Analyst Julian Cardillo react to Team USA’s Christian Pulisic news and look ahead to Scotland vs. Morocco at Boston Stadium tonight. 12:50 p.m.The first match-day Commuter Rail train carrying thousands of fans has arrived at Boston Stadium.First train arrived at Foxboro !!! pic.twitter.com/0qzIi5Rt9o— MBTA Transit Police (@MBTATransitPD) June 19, 202611:50 a.m.The Tartan Army has been unleashed and is heading to Foxborough.Scotland !!! pic.twitter.com/PAmqehWaGw— MBTA Transit Police (@MBTATransitPD) June 19, 202611:30 a.m.Massachusetts State Police share some match-day reminders for fans.⚽ Match Day reminder: Celebrate proudly, but leave fireworks, flares, smoke devices, and pyrotechnics at home.🚫 Fireworks are illegal in Massachusetts and are not allowed at World Cup matches, fan events, celebrations, transportation areas, or public spaces.#MatchReadyMApic.twitter.com/zVV3HFp0Hd— Massachusetts State Police (@MassStatePolice) June 19, 202611:15 a.m.Scotland and Morocco fans are lined up outside South Station, waiting for MBTA Commuter Rail trains to start rolling to Foxborough Station.Pre boarding South Station pic.twitter.com/UaATzPgquD— MBTA Transit Police (@MBTATransitPD) June 19, 202611 a.m.MassDOT announces that the HOV lane on the Southeast Expressway will open at 1 p.m. to accommodate World Cup traffic.Travel Advisory: Today, Friday, June 19, the I-93 southbound (Southeast Expressway) HOV lane will open early at 1:00 p.m., for #WorldCup2026 Travel. pic.twitter.com/30QkHkcvKq— Mass. Transportation (@MassDOT) June 19, 202610:45 a.m.Boston 25 Soccer Analyst Julian Cardillo shares his thoughts on the Scotland-Morocco match, including key players fans need to keep an eye on.View this post on Instagram10:30 a.m.Morocco is getting in some pre-match reps in Foxborough.Morocco getting reps in Foxborough 🇲🇦 pic.twitter.com/agW5qeoEyU— New England Revolution (@NERevolution) June 19, 202610 a.m.Lauren Walsh, the newest member of the Boston 25 News team, has World Cup fans covered from Boston Stadium.8:45 a.m.Harvard Men’s Soccer Coach Josh Shappiro shares his prediction for Scotland vs. Morocco.8:30 a.m.One Tartan Army fan is going viral during the World Cup, turning Dunkin runs and Walmart trips into must-see moments — and even drawing hundreds to Boston Common.7 a.m.Boston 25 Chief Meteorologist recaps yesterday’s stormy weather and shares her match-day forecast.View this post on Instagram6:30 a.m.Scotland’s Tartan Army visits the Bewitched statue in Salem.Scotland’s Tartan Army visited the Bewitched Statue in Salem. #boston@witchcitypic.twitter.com/6Y44D90eL2— Stanley Forman (@sjforman138) June 19, 20266 a.m.Team Scotland in Foxborough to “take care of business.”“We’re here to take care of business.”#SCOMAR | #FIFAWorldCuppic.twitter.com/5lSXikDC5l— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) June 19, 2026Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW

The Atlanta Braves are adding some catching depth days after activating Drake Baldwin from the injured list. Joey Bart was acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday in exchange for minor league reliever Hunter Stratton. Bart, 29, was activated by the Braves after the trade was official. He was on the IL with a left foot infection but began a minor-league rehab assignment on June 10. He was batting .259/.290/.379 with 2 home runs and 6 RBI in 62 plate appearances as the third-string catcher behind Endy Rodriguez and Henry Davis. Going to Atlanta is also a homecoming for Bart, who is a Buford, Ga. native and played college baseball at Georgia Tech before being drafted No. 2 overall by the San Francisco Giants in 2018.Atlanta was in need of a backup catcher and right-handed bench bat with Sean Murphy sidelined due to a fractured left middle finger and not expected back until after the MLB All-Star break. The Braves made Bart's role clear by optioning Jair Camargo to Triple-A Gwinnett and designating Sandy León for assignment.For the Pirates, trading Bart breaks up a roster squeeze behind the plate. Rodriguez has seized the starting job with a .267/.413/.467 slash average, 3 homers, 3 doubles and 8 RBI, while Davis is struggling significantly on offense. The former No. 1 overall pick in 2021 is batting .138/.242/.285 with 5 homers, 4 doubles and 17 RBI. Defensively, he has thrown out 11 of 20 basestealers, allowing 6 passed balls and 10 wild pitches. Davis is also the preferred catcher for ace pitcher Paul Skenes, who he trusts to call pitches. Stratton, 29, returns to the Pirates organization where he spent seven seasons before being traded to Atlanta in 2025. This season, he's compiled a 4.38 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 24 2/3 innings but has also allowed 16 walks and 24 hits. Before being activated from the IL this week, Baldwin had a triple-slash line of .303/.389/.543 with 13 homer and 38 RBI. In two games since his return, he's batted 2-for-10 with a home run.

Brighton improve bid for former HSV star Luka VuškovićAfter emerging as one of the Bundesliga's biggest revelations last season, former Hamburger SV loanee and current Tottenham player Luka Vušković is attracting serious interest from another Premier League club.Brighton & Hove Albion have reportedly upped their first bid worth around €35 million for the highly-rated Croatian defender, whose performances in Hamburg have turned him into one of Europe's most sought-after young centre-backs.The 19-year-old Croatian international is reportedly impressed by Brighton head coach Fabian Hürzeler and the club's track record of developing young talent. Reports in Germany and England suggest the player has already reached a verbal agreement with Brighton, but Tottenham remain reluctant to sanction a transfer.The negotiations between Brighton and Tottenham are ongoing - it remains to be seen if the improved offer will be enough to get Vušković in.

The Seattle Seahawks have the chance to keep star defensive tackle Leonard Williams in town for the long haul this offseason.Williams is coming off of a career year in 2025 where he was named a second-team All-Pro honoree and helped the Seahawks win the Super Bowl at the end of the season. His year of excellence calls for a lucrative extension this offseason, which Seattle has the option to give him prior to waging a Super Bowl run again in 2026.According to ESPN’s Aaron Schatz, the best final move for the Seahawks to make this offseason is extending Williams.“The Seahawks need to be careful here, because Williams will be 32 this season and there might be a decline coming soon,” Schatz said. “However, he's still playing at a high level, with seven sacks last season.”Age is certainly a reason for the Seahawks to exercise caution when it comes to Williams. Nevertheless, what he brings to Seattle defense in the interior is invaluable to the team, and with the speed and aggression that he still plays with, it’s reasonable to expect him to continue playing at a high level for more than just another season, which will give Seattle much out of a potential commitment to him.This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Seahawks free agency: Seattle should extend Leonard Williams

Hello and welcome to the 13th installment of our weekly two-start pitcher article for the 2026 MLB season.I will continue to be here every Friday to highlight some of the best two-start pitcher options in fantasy baseball leagues for the upcoming week providing my insights and recommendations on which options should be started or benched.The fantasy baseball season is a marathon, not a sprint. As we creep toward the All-Star break, it’s easy to fall into bad habits and not spend as much time on teams that have struggled out of the gate, but now is not the time to panic or give up. Keep putting in the work and plugging away, striving to improve each week, and you’ll reap rewards at the end of this season.This is a living document, so we'll update the options below as the weekend moves along.Before we get into it, we'll start with a couple of notes on situations that may be unresolved or teams that may not have a two-start pitcher lined up for the upcoming week:⚾️ Baseball is back! MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.As has been the case nearly every week this season, the Dodgers continue to roll with a six-man rotation and with only six games on tap, none of their hurlers are lined up to make two starts. Eric Lauer is taking the ball on Monday, so if anyone gets scratched, he would be the one to get the two-start week (at Twins, at Padres). Also, if things stay on track and they don’t add a spot starter the following week, Lauer would line up for two then (at Athletics, vs. Padres), though it wouldn’t be surprising at all to see the other six stay on turn and then have River Ryan make a start. Either way, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to stash Lauer in shallower leagues for that potential two-start week.No word yet from the Blue Jays on who will take the ball on Monday. If it’s a starter and not another bullpen game, that lucky arm will get a two-start week (vs. Astros, vs. Rangers). We’ll update here throughout the weekend when/if we get any additional information.Going Twice…Note: Probable pitchers as of June 19 and are subject to change.American League▶ Strong PlaysHunter Brown, Astros, RHP (at Blue Jays, at Tigers)We have only seen Hunter Brown make three starts this season, but he has been exceptional in all of them, posting a 1.10 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and a 24/9 K/BB ratio over 16 1/3 innings. Now he gets double the volume to finally start to give fantasy managers the production that they were hoping for when calling his name in the first few rounds of drafts back in March. There’s no decisions to be made here, he’s an automatic start in all leagues every week and is perhaps the top overall play in the league this week.Kyle Bradish, Orioles, RHP (at Angels, vs. Nationals)After a rough start to the season, Bradish has finally started to round into the form that fantasy managers anticipated, posting a 3.26 ERA and 50/20 K/BB ratio over 47 innings in his last eight starts. He’s coming off his finest outing of the year, a 12-strikeout gem in a victory over the Mariners and looks poised to deliver another strong week with a pair of solid matchups on tap. He represents one of the top overall options on the board for this week.Gavin Williams, Guardians, RHP (at White Sox, vs. Mariners)For the majority of the season, Gavin Williams has pitched like an ace for the Guardians, boasting a 3.83 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and a 103/30 K/BB ratio across his 91 2/3 innings of work. There have been struggles recently though, as he was blasted for seven runs against the Brewers his last time out after giving up three runs in each of his previous two outings against the Yankees. The track record is long enough and the matchups are weak enough that we should consider last week’s disaster nothing more than a blip on the radar. Williams should be locked into all lineups this week.Drew Rasmussen, Rays, RHP (vs. Royals, vs. Diamondbacks)Whenever Rasmussen takes the mound, he posts elite results. It’s as simple as that. He has been outstanding once again this season, posting a minuscule 2.59 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and an 84/13 K/BB ratio over 80 innings. Look for the good times to continue this week with a pair of home starts against the Royals and Diamondbacks. He’s an easy start in all leagues every week.Casey Mize, Tigers, RHP (vs. Yankees, vs. Astros)Whenever Mize has been healthy enough to take the mound this season, the results have been excellent. Through 10 starts scattered around two trips to the injured list, Mize has registered a 2.58 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and a 52/13 K/BB ratio over 52 1/3 innings. That’s excellent work. It’s a shame he only has two victories to show for it. The matchups are tough this week, but nothing that Mize can’t handle. As long as he’s healthy and taking the ball, he should be an every week starter in all leagues.Carlos Rodon, Yankees, LHP (at Tigers, at Red Sox)Rodon has looked very sharp since returning from the injured list, posting a 3.50 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and a 41/20 K/BB ratio over 36 innings through his first seven starts on the season. The Tigers have really struggled against southpaws this season, which gives the 33-year-old southpaw a terrific matchup at Comerica Park to open the week. Expect double digit strikeouts, solid ratios and a terrific shot at earning at least one victory – if not two. He’s an easy start in all leagues.George Kirby, Mariners, RHP (at Pirates, at Guardians)With the Mariners moving back to a piggyback six-man rotation, that means that even with only six games on tap, Kirby will toe the slab twice for the M’s. The right-hander has been solid this season, posting a 4.10 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and a 79/21 K/BB ratio across his 90 innings of work. He draws a terrific set of matchups this week, getting to battle the Pirates and Guardians, even if both games are on the road. He’s easily one of the top plays on the board for the week.Shane McClanahan, Rays, LHP (vs. Royals, vs. Diamondbacks)While some doubted that McClanahan would be able to hold up to the wear and tear of a grueling MLB season, so far, so good. He holds a strong 3.33 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and a 69/27 K/BB ratio across 67 2/3 innings through his first 14 starts. He has stumbled a bit recently – giving up 10 runs over 12 2/3 innings in his last three starts – but all of those starts were on the road including a tough spot against the Dodgers. He should return to elite ratios and quality strikeouts while back at home for two starts this week, making him a strong play in all formats.Michael Wacha, Royals, RHP (at Rays, at White Sox)Even with his recent struggles, Wacha has been a fantasy asset for most of the season, compiling a 3.64 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and a 72/28 K/BB ratio over 94 innings. His limited strikeout rate is offset by the added volume of an extra start this week and Wacha has surrendered four earned runs or fewer in all but two of his 15 starts on the season, making it very unlikely that he would sabotage your ratios. He’s an easy start in all league sizes.▶ Decent PlaysFramber Valdez, Tigers, LHP (vs. Yankees, vs. Astros)The move away from the Astros has been a struggle for Framber Valdez, who sits at just 3-5 with a disappointing 4.09 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and a 67/32 K/BB ratio over 83 2/3 innings in his first 15 starts with the Tigers. If they’re going to stage a massive comeback to make a playoff run, Valdez is going to have to pitch better. He was sharp his last time out against the Astros, allowing just one unearned run while striking out six over six innings. The matchups are tough this week, but I think you have to keep rolling Valdez out there in all leagues and hope that he can get his ratios back in line with expectations before the end of the season.Ryan Weathers, Yankees, LHP (at Tigers, at Red Sox)Weathers had a very rough three-start stretch from the end of May through the beginning of June where he surrendered 16 runs over 17 innings and watched his ERA climb from 3.14 to 4.36. He appears to have gotten back on track his last time out though, firing 6 1/3 innings of one-run baseball with eight strikeouts against the White Sox on Thursday. The Tigers can’t hit the broad side of a barn against southpaws and the Red Sox are struggling to beat anyone these days, making the matchups very favorable for Weathers. I’d be comfortable starting him in all league sizes.Aaron Civale, Athletics, RHP (at Giants, at Angels)Civale has posted pretty miserable numbers overall this season, but like most Athletics’ hurlers, he has been punished by pitching half of his games at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento. On the road, he boasts a downright impressive 3.19 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and a 25/11 K/BB ratio over 31 innings in his six starts. He gets to make both starts on the road this week and gets the added benefit of battling the Giants in his first one. Civale makes for a sneaky good option in all league sizes this week and can probably be picked up via FAAB or waivers for virtually no cost.Sonny Gray, Red Sox, RHP (at Rockies, vs. Yankees)You’d like to be able to trust Sonny Gray in a two-start week, but yeesh those matchups are brutal. Gray has been a shining light on an otherwise disappointing Red Sox’ squad, going 8-1 with a 3.03 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and a 51/16 K/BB ratio across his 62 1/3 frames through his first 12 starts. While there are ratio concerns with the matchups, I think you have to trust Gray given how good he has been this season. He’s an easy start in 15 teamers and I’d be confident using him in 12’s also.Anthony Kay, White Sox, LHP (vs. Guardians, vs. Royals)Kay has been very inconsistent through his first 15 outings (13 starts) on the season, leading to a middling 4.61 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and a 55/28 K/BB ratio over 70 1/3 innings including a league-leading 13 hit batsmen. What he does have working for him this week is that the Guardians and Royals are both in the bottom half of the league against left-handed pitching and the Guardians are without their superstar third baseman in Jose Ramirez. There’s enough meat on the bone here that I’d be fine using him as a streaming option in 15-teamers. In 12’s it would depend on my alternative options.Luinder Avila, Royals, RHP (at Rays, at White Sox)Aside from one complete disaster against the Astros where he didn’t make it out of the first inning, Avila has pitched well in his transition, going at least five frames and giving up just one run in each of his other three starts. The risk of a blowup is always present given his command issues, but Avila actually looks like a decent streaming option that’s probably available on most waiver wires. For sure I’d roll him out there in 15-teamers and I may even ride the wave in 12’s depending on what alternative options I had.Zebby Matthews, Twins, RHP (vs. Dodgers, vs. Rockies)It has been pretty much all or nothing for Matthews through his first seven starts with the Twins this season. He has posted five quality starts in those seven outings, while getting blasted for seven runs each in those other two. If anyone is going to knock him around the yard, the Dodgers have a good shot of doing so on Monday. If he can get through that though, he finishes the week with a home tilt against the Rockies. My gut says that as scary as the Dodgers are, Matthews finds a way to make it through and winds up delivering quality results this week.Jack Leiter, Rangers, RHP (at Marlins, at Blue Jays)Leiter started the season off strong, but has really fallen on hard times, giving up 15 runs over 13 2/3 innings in his last three starts, causing his ERA to swell from 4.34 to 5.29. The matchups this week indicate that this could be the time for him to get back on track, but I get that fantasy managers would be gunshy to throw him back to the wolves after the damage that he has caused the past three weeks. On the plus side, you know the strikeouts will be there.Kumar Rocker, Rangers, RHP (at Marlins, at Blue Jays)Rocker has actually done a decent job for the Rangers through his first 14 starts, though his 1.41 WHIP and just two victories leave a lot to be desired. If you’re looking to pile up strikeouts, he should be able to contribute there this week, though his WHIP is always going to be a major risk. He’s not the worst streaming option on the board this week, but he’s also far from the best.▶ At Your Own RiskJake Bennett, Red Sox, LHP (at Rockies, vs. Yankees)It has been a struggle for Bennett through his first four starts with the Red Sox, registering a 4.79 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and a 13/5 K/BB ratio over his 20 2/3 innings of work. It’s going to get much worse for him this week, having to battle the Rockies in Colorado and the Yankees at home. The Red Sox aren’t winning games right now, Bennett isn’t striking people out and he’s likely to do serious damage to your ratios. There’s really no good reason to go there this week.Sam Aldegheri, Angels, LHP (vs. Orioles, vs. Athletics)There’s nothing that we have seen from Aldegheri this season, or in his minor league history, that suggests he’s ready to have consistent success at the major league level. Throw in the fact that the Orioles and Athletics both hit well against left-handed pitching, and you have a recipe for disaster here. The strikeout rate isn’t even high enough to chase him as a volume play and the Angels are likely to be underdogs in both road starts so he’s unlikely to win either. It’s an awful lot of ratio risk for very low potential reward.National League▶ Strong PlaysNolan McLean, Mets, RHP (vs. Cubs, vs. Phillies)Aside from a disastrous two-start stretch in mid-May, McLean has been outstanding for the Mets this season. He has rebounded nicely since then, posting a 1.64 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and a 22/13 K/BB ratio over 22 innings across his last four starts. That includes seven innings with no earned runs and nine punchouts against the Reds in Cincinnati his last time out. There shouldn’t be any decision points here, as McLean is an easy every week start in all formats. Just sit back and enjoy double the production this time around.Eduardo Rodríguez, Diamondbacks, LHP (at Cardinals, at Rays)The 33-year-old southpaw continues his career renaissance in his age-33 season, posting a brilliant 2.45 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and a 65/35 K/BB ratio over 88 1/3 innings through his first 15 starts. He has allowed two earned runs or fewer in eight of his last 10 starts and hasn’t given up more than four runs in any start this season. That’s about as safe as you can get right now. The added volume from the two-start week makes up for his underwhelming strikeout rate and there’s a decent chance that he snags his seventh victory of the season this week. He’s an easy start in all formats.Jesús Luzardo, Phillies, LHP (at Nationals, at Mets)The 28-year-old southpaw has really turned things around after a rough start to the season, posting a 2.86 ERA and a 67/22 K/BB ratio over 63 innings over his last 11 starts dating back to April 21. Now he gets to battle a pair of familiar divisional foes on the road where he should be able to add to his win total while piling up strikeouts. He’s a slam dunk type of play this week and one that should be used across the board.Foster Griffin, Nationals, LHP (vs. Phillies, at Orioles)Griffin has been a bright spot in an otherwise abysmal Nationals’ rotation this season, going 7-2 with a 3.32 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and an 80/23 K/BB ratio across 84 innings of work. The Phillies are much better against right-handed pitching and they’re a familiar divisional foe and the Orioles aren’t anything to be afraid of at this point of the season. Look for the good times to continue for Griffin next week, making him an easy start in all leagues.Grant Holmes, Braves, RHP (at Padres, at Giants)In terms of matchups, it doesn’t get a whole lot better than pitching at the Padres and at the Giants. The worry here is that Holmes has really struggled his last two times out, giving up three runs over 3 2/3 innings against the White Sox before allowing three runs over two innings against the Giants before rain cut his last start short. I think you trust the track record and the matchups here, making Holmes a strong option in all league sizes.▶ Decent PlaysJavier Assad, Cubs, RHP (at Mets, at Brewers)Since rejoining the Cubs’ rotation on June 7, Assad is pitching like he doesn’t want to be relegated back to the bullpen. In three starts, he holds a scintillating 1.00 ERA, 0.61 WHIP and an 11/2 K/BB ratio over 18 innings of work. Could it be a flash in the pan? Sure, but we have seen Assad have mixed league relevance before so it’s not completely out of nowhere. The matchups are neutral this week, making Assad an attractive streaming option in all formats.Andre Pallante, Cardinals, RHP (vs. Diamondbacks, vs. Marlins)Pallante continues to post solid results overall this season, compiling a 3.76 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and a 62/25 K/BB ratio over 76 2/3 innings. While a correction may be coming at some point, there’s no reason to expect that it’s going to be this week and he has a pair of strong matchups on tap with both of them coming at home. I know he has burned a lot of fantasy managers trying to stream him in the past, but he really does make for a solid option for his two-start week. Dare I even say, start him with full confidence.Tyler Phillips, Marlins, RHP (vs. Rangers, at Cardinals)The transition of Tyler Phillips from the Marlins’ bullpen to the rotation had been going beautifully, until he was rocked for eight runs over four innings against the Phillies in Philadelphia his last time out. The Rangers and Cardinals both rank in the bottom half of the league against right-handed pitching, so it could be worth it to give him another shot. Even in the worst case scenario, he should approach double digit strikeouts on the week with a shot at earning a victory. That’s more than enough for me to take the plunge in 15-teamers.Adrian Houser, Giants, RHP (vs. Athletics, vs. Braves)Houser had been lined up to make two starts last week, but Thursday’s rain out threw a wrench into those plans. He is what he is at this stage of his career, a decent enough innings eater who has some mixed league viability when the matchups line up correctly. He gets to make both of these starts in the friendly confines in San Francisco and gets to battle the Athletics during the first matchup. That’s good enough for me to take the plunge in 15-teamers.Mitch Keller, Pirates, RHP (vs. Mariners, vs. Reds)Normally a reliable streaming option in two-start weeks, Keller has fallen on hard times over his last four starts, posting an 11.00 ERA and a 2.28 WHIP across 18 innings of work. During that stretch his ERA ballooned from 3.64 to 5.25. The matchups are decent this week, but it’s very hard to trust Keller right now in his current form. If you believe in the track record and think he can turn things back around, go ahead in deeper leagues. If you’re worried about your ratios though, you may want to sit this one out.Kyle Leahy, Cardinals, RHP (vs. Diamondbacks, vs. Marlins)While talented, Leahy continues to struggle to put everything together in his transition to the Cardinals’ rotation. He was good his last time out though, striking out seven batters over six innings of three-run baseball against the Padres and now gets a pair of home starts against mediocre offenses this week. There’s always the threat of him blowing up your ratios, but in 15-teamers you could do a lot worse than Leahy this week.▶ At Your Own RiskEdward Cabrera, Cubs, RHP (at Mets, at Brewers)Cabrera hasn’t quite been the impact addition to the Cubs’ rotation that they were hoping for this season, compiling a 5.21 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and a 61/25 K/BB ratio over 67 1/3 innings in his first 13 starts. It has been even worse for him recently, with an 8.31 ERA over 26 innings in his last six starts. Combine that with the uncertainty of exiting his last start with a hand injury, and there are very real reasons to keep the 28-year-old hurler on benches for fantasy purposes this week. If you want to roll the dice for the strikeout upside or hope that he’s going to turn things back around, be my guest. I’d look elsewhere if possible.Michael King, Padres, RHP (vs. Braves, vs. Dodgers)After a strong start to the season, King has been knocked around a bit recently, registering a 6.41 ERA and a 14/11 K/BB ratio over 26 2/3 innings in his last five starts. The lack of strikeouts is particularly worrisome. Now he has to tangle with perhaps the two most fearsome offenses in the National League. You’d like to be able to trust King for a two-start week given his track record, but this also has the potential to be very ugly and isn’t for the risk averse. I’d probably still go there in 15’s, just be prepared for the potential downside.Brandon Sproat, Brewers, RHP (at Reds, vs. Cubs)While we have seen flashes of brilliance from Sproat with the Brewers this season, they have been few and far between. Overall he sports a cringe-inducing 5.94 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and a 63/32 K/BB ratio across 63 2/3 innings over his first 14 appearances (12 starts). It’s not going to get any easier for him this week, having to battle the Reds in Cincinnati before taking on the Cubs at home. The upside is hidden in there and at any time he could deliver a strong start, but expecting him to string two together in the row right now seems like a bit of a stretch. I’d only consider in deeper leagues where you’re looking to gain ground in strikeouts.Kodai Senga, Mets, RHP (vs. Cubs, vs. Phillies)I was as high on Senga as anyone coming into the season, but until we see him show any signs of consistent success he should be relegated to benches in all mixed leagues. Between stints on the injured list, the right-hander sits at 0-5 with a horrifying 9.00 ERA, 1.88 WHIP and a 28/17 K/BB ratio across 24 innings. He didn’t look any better in his first start back off of the injured list and the matchups don’t do him any favors either. You’ve been warned.Brady Singer, Reds, RHP (vs. Brewers, at Pirates)In years past, without even looking at the matchups, I would have told you that Brady Singer is always a strong streaming option in two-start weeks. That couldn’t be farther from the truth this season though. Through his first 14 starts, he holds a miserable 5.32 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and a 52/23 K/BB ratio over 66 innings. If you’re into small samples, he has been a bit better of late, giving up just four earned runs over 15 innings in his last three starts. That’s not enough for me to latch onto though to trust him in a two-start week. He’s nothing more than a highly volatile volume play in deeper leagues.Merrill Kelly, Diamondbacks, RHP (at Cardinals, at Rays)Kelly has been a major disappointment for both the Diamondbacks and for fantasy managers this season, registering an uninspiring 5.81 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and a 42/28 K/BB ratio over 69 2/3 innings. That’s just not going to get it done. He has also been bombed for six or more runs twice in his last three starts. If he had a higher strikeout rate, maybe you could try him in deeper leagues as a value play. I just don’t see a whole lot of upside here and there’s plenty of ratio risk to go around.Ryan Feltner, Rockies, RHP (vs. Red Sox, at Twins)Once again, repeat after me, Never Rockies. Feltner has actually done a decent job overall this season, compiling a 5.05 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and a 33/16 K/BB ratio across 41 innings. Decent for the Rockies at least. It’s still not anything that you would want to go near for fantasy purposes. The Red Sox have struggled against right-handed pitching this season, but you don’t want to take them on at Coors Field. The Twins have clobbered right-handers this season. If your ratios are already too far gone and you only care about making up ground in wins and strikeouts, sure, go ahead. Otherwise, steer clear.

Beloved by actors, he helped create “Cheers” and directed more than 1,000 episodes of hit shows like “Taxi,” “Friends” and “The Big Bang Theory.”

Voters rejected more local taxes than usual in the June election, a sign that they are feeling the pinch from rising costs.

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Niemann's only top-10 finish at a major was in 2025 at the US PGA Championship [Getty Images]Joaquin Niemann says he is "not proud" of being the first golfer penalised for breaking the new code of conduct introduced for major championships in 2026. The Chilean was given a two-shot penalty by US Open officials on Friday, shortly after completing a fog-delayed first round. The 27-year-old was punished for "serious misconduct" under rule 1.2b after throwing his sand wedge in frustration on the sixth hole after he twice hit tee shots out of bounds and then had an awkward lie while playing his next shot. That meant Niemann's nine was upped to an 11 on the par-four hole and he eventually signed for an eight-over 78 before responding with a five-under 65 in the second round to sit just inside the projected cut line at three over par overall."I finished my round, signed my scorecard, and then a referee came up to me and said 'I need to talk to you'," Niemann said."I knew I had a misbehaviour but I feel like everybody had some and it's never going to be anything major like two-shot penalty, you know?"They considered with the whole committee that it was a right decision to give me a two-shot penalty. "I was trying to argue back but it's their decision and I feel like I wouldn't be happy seeing players throwing clubs and behaving that way so, yeah, I agree."Niemann had been at level par for his round before reaching the sixth hole and reportedly had to have his club delivered back to him by a police officer."I hit it two times out of bounds then got pretty frustrated," he added."I had a bad lie, I saw a lot of ants and I was just asking the referee if they were fire ants and he said 'no'."I wasn't angry asking him. I think they blew the horn (to suspend play for darkness) but after I hit that shot all the frustration came inside me and I had my club in my hand and I couldn't resist to throw it away. There was no-one there but I'm not proud of it."The code of conduct policy has been a major taking point this season with Scotland's Robert MacIntyre and Spain's Sergio Garcia both reprimanded for their behaviour at The Masters in April.US Open day two: McIlroy and Scheffler make solid starts in pursuit of pace-setter Clark

Sam Bell scored five Championship goals last season [Getty Images]Bristol City forward Sam Bell has signed a new three-year contract at the club.The 24-year-old made his debut for the Robins in December 2020 and has gone on to make 99 appearances in the Championship.After spending the first half of last season on loan at League One outfit Wycombe Wanderers, Bell returned to Ashton Gate on New Year's Day and was a success under interim head coach Roy Hodgson, scoring four goals in City's final four games of the campaign."I'm very happy to have got the deal done. I spoke to James [Ellis - Bristol City's new sporting director] first and he explained to me the desire to keep me at the club," Bell told the club website."I also had a good talk with the new manager [Michael Skubala] and he is a big part of the reason I wanted to stay here so much."Skubala added: "We're delighted to secure Sam's talents until 2029. We are excited to continue working with him and seeing him continue to grow in a City shirt."Latest Bristol City news, analysis and fan views

LAS VEGAS – Christian Rodriguez is feeling better than ever after making big changes ahead of UFC Fight Night 279.Six months ago, Rodriguez (12-4 MMA, 5-4 UFC) moved to Las Vegas along with making other lifestyle changes on the heels of a two-fight skid. At UFC Fight Night 279, he'll look to get back into the win column against Hyder Amil, who is in a similar position. Rodriguez knows Amil (11-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) is a dangerous fighter capable of thriving in tough fights, but he's confident in his abilities to be good anywhere the fight goes."I've seen Hyder fight a couple of times," Rodriguez told MMA Junkie and other reporters at media day. "I was a fan of his style. He's very dangerous, very aggressive. I think it's a fight that fans are going to want to tune in and watch. It's kind of cool they put us on the main card. We're both coming off two losses, so that's definitely more motivating for both of us because we both want to get back in the win column."Rodriguez started off his three-fight 2025 year with a win over Austin Bashi, but then dropped a pair of decisions to Melquizael Costa and Andre Fili. Amil had a similar 2025 campaign, winning his first fight of the year against William Gomis, but was then stopped by Jose Delgado and lost a decision to Jamaal Emmers, marking his first career losses. Rodriguez isn't any more worried about job security in the UFC, but he admits the skid did prompt him to make changes to better his career. "There's always pressure, because at the end of the day, this is an opportunity," Rodriguez said. "So, I feel like there's always pressure, but it definitely did make me change a lot about my life, about my training, the way I live life. So, it's definitely very motivating." This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC's Christian Rodriguez made major changes to stop recent skid

Tom Brady, Fernando Mendoza. © Imagn ImagesIt’s been nearly two months since Fernando Mendoza officially became a quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders. Tom Brady owns a 5% stake in the franchise and is the most popular name attached to the team’s ownership.Mendoza recently met with the Raiders for the first time at the combine. While he shook hands with everyone available, Brady was on FaceTime to welcome the 2026 No. 1 draft pick to his new home.The interaction between them went viral and didn’t sit well with some fans, as they labelled it “cringe.”“What’s up, Mr. Brady? How are you doing?” Mendoza said to Brady. The NFL legend asked the young quarterback to call him by his name, as “Mr. Brady” is usually associated with his father.It was a lighthearted conversation, but fans on the internet had mixed reactions to it.“Calling Tom Brady ‘Mr. Brady’ to his face? Mendoza is trying so hard to be the ‘respectful rookie’ it’s actually painful to watch. The cringe levels are off the charts,” a fan wrote.“Over/under on years until he meets him in person?” a fan wrote.“‘What’s up, Mr. Brady?’ is the perfect combine opener. Respectful, terrified, and one syllable away from asking him to sign a football,” a fan wrote.Some fans saw it as a rookie being respectful toward arguably the greatest quarterback of all time and a minority owner of the franchise.“He seems down to earth and grounded hope he stays strong . It’s refreshing to see,” a fan wrote.“future raiders qb meeting the legend. brady probably smiling ear to ear after that,” a fan wrote.Brady wished him luck and said that he should keep being himself because he has done great things so far in his career.Tom Brady is Guiding Fernando MendozaTom Brady is the most qualified person to guide and mentor a young quarterback who wants to be great in this sport. Being a part of the Raiders franchise, Mendoza is now able to build a relationship with the NFL legend.As per Front Office Sports, Mendoza recently talked about how his relationship with Brady is actively growing, and he is getting invaluable advice from him.“Our relationships growing, asking him more questions, and he’s been able to give firsthand a lot of advice that has happened in his career,” he said. “And also advice when he’s come out to OTAs, seeing the way I play, that firsthand advice as well.”Mendoza is coming off a great season with the Indiana Hoosiers, where he won the national title, the offensive MVP, and the Heisman Trophy. He might be what the Raiders needed to get back on track.Read More:LOOK: Travis Kelce Spotted On All-Guys Night Out As Wedding Inches Closer“She’s the Reason He Left Cleveland’: NFL Fans React As Myles Garrett and GF Chloe Kim Make Wholesome Dodgers Game AppearanceCollege Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in College Football, Men’s College Basketball, Women’s College Basketball, and College Baseball!

Mike Florio, Brendan Sorsby. © Imagn ImagesBrendan Sorsby’s lawsuit saga rattled college sports for over a month. The NCAA investigation into his alleged gambling violations led to him being deemed ineligible to play college football.Court documents alleged Sorsby placed thousands of bets totaling $90,000 across four years with Indiana, Cincinnati, and Texas Tech.Sorsby initially got an injunction against the ruling and became eligible for the 2026 season. However, after the Big 12’s intervention, which involved seeking permission from the courts to enforce its bylaws against Texas Tech, Sorsby officially declared for the Supplemental Draft.While the legal drama was unfolding, Texas Tech took a lot of heat because Brendan Sorsby was with the Red Raiders. The Indiana Hoosiers were also brought up in discussions because he placed at least 40 bets on their games while he was a member of the team.However, NBC reporter Mike Florio believes that amid all the drama, Cincinnati has stayed under the radar. Florio argued that the Bearcats’ handling of the situation warrants further scrutiny.“What did Cincinnati know, and when did Cincinnati know it?” he wrote for NBC Sports on Friday. “If Cincinnati truly knew nothing, and if it has nothing to hide, it should welcome the opportunity to show that it did not allow Sorsby to play at a time when (given that he had placed bets on Indiana while on the Indiana roster) he had permanently lost his NCAA eligibility.”Florio also noted that the depth to which the NCAA is willing to explore the “Bearcat rabbit hole” will determine whether all the uproar was truly about upholding the integrity of sports.Brendan Sorsby’s Agent Claims Cincinnati Knew About His Gambling HabitsBrendan Sorsby’s agent, Ron Slavin, made an appearance on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas on Thursday. Slavin claimed that the Cincinnati Bearcats were aware of Sorsby’s gambling habits. In his opinion, the Bearcats should be questioned on the subject.“If anybody should be questioned or to catch some heat, it should be Cincinnati because they knew for two years and never said anything and didn’t do anything about it. So that’s the part of the story that gets lost,” Slavin said.Cincinnati responded to Slavin’s claims with an official statement, denying any knowledge of Sorsby’s actions.“If we ever became aware of impermissible wagering, we would report to the NCAA and comply with sanctions,” Cincinnati said in the statement.The school also stated that all of its student-athletes “receive extensive gambling education” throughout the year and that they’d never knowingly play an athlete who violated the NCAA regulations.Read More:Did Dianna Russini Really Save an Elderly Man From a Car Crash? Eye Witness Spills the Beans on Viral Rumor Amid Mike Vrabel ScandalMatthew Stafford’s Wife Kelly Reveals Real Reason Behind Putting End To Podcast In Emotional MessageCollege Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in tennis, college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!

FIFA is set to receive an official complaint from the Football Federation of Iran -Credit:Eva Marie Uzcategui - FIFA, FIFA via Getty ImagesIran will submit a formal complaint to FIFA regarding the "inconsistent" treatment it claims to have endured in comparison with other nations at the World Cup, with the national squad receiving only restricted access in the United States.Multiple controversies have emerged in the buildup to the World Cup, but Iran's involvement and their treatment have been central to the turmoil. Several members of the Iranian staff were refused visas to enter the U.S., and the squad was compelled to move its base to Mexico from Arizona.A FIFA council member has already criticized the handling of Iran, intensifying pressure on President Gianni Infantino. Now, Iran has confirmed it will submit a formal complaint, as per The Mirror US.FIFA World Cup referee under investigation for alleged 'white supremacy' gestureEx-England star labels Ronaldinho's 2002 World Cup brilliance 'just beautiful football' -Credit:Shaun Clark/ISI Photos, ISI Photos via Getty ImagesThe complicated situation involving Iran originates from the continuing tensions with the U.S. and Israel, but it has resulted in warnings ahead of the World Cup. U.S. President Donald Trump even cautioned against the Iranian national squad from competing.Following visa difficulties and relocating their base camp south of the border, the Iranian national squad must now travel one day prior to World Cup fixtures in the U.S., and leave on the same day. Due to this, Iran has claimed unjust treatment.Head coach Amir Ghalenoei stated they are the "most oppressed" squad at the tournament following a 2-2 tie against New Zealand in the opening fixture. The Football Federation of Iran (FFIRI) has now opted to file a formal complaint.The FFIRI released a statement declaring that the restrictions they face are "inconsistent with the principle of providing equal conditions for all participating teams and may negatively affect teams' preparation processes."The statement continued, "Consequently, the federation will formally express its dissatisfaction and lodge an official complaint with FIFA through the appropriate channels."To listen to the latest episode of 'All Out Soccer' - CLICK HEREFollowing the opening 2-2 draw, Infantino paid a visit to the Iranian locker room in Los Angeles.The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, however, has stood behind the current restrictions, claiming that Iran had agreed to the conditions set out ahead of the World Cup. "The Iranian national football team agreed to these terms," a DHS spokesperson told the BBC."The team will be allowed to come in, match day minus one, so the day before the match. They'll be asked to leave the day that the match wraps up, so the evening of the match. And they'll be able to do that again in Los Angeles, and they'll be able to do it again in Seattle, and then if they qualify for the next round, for the Round of 32, they'll be able to do that again."Iran is scheduled to take on Belgium in Los Angeles on June 21 before rounding out the group stage against Egypt in Seattle on June 27. The Iranian federation is pushing for additional preparation time to give the squad a competitive edge, rather than contending with a grueling travel schedule.Iran stated that the team "needed to arrive in each host city two days before every match and return to its base camp the day after the game in order to achieve optimal technical and physical preparation." That request was rejected ahead of their game against New Zealand, and the situation remains unchanged. -Credit:Matt McNulty - FIFA, FIFA via Getty ImagesThe FFIRI stated: "The same situation has now been repeated ahead of Iran's second match against Belgium. Given that the game will be played at 12:00 p.m. local time in Los Angeles, the Football Federation of Iran requested that the team be allowed to travel to Los Angeles two days before the match."The aim was to provide sufficient time for players to adapt to the match conditions, complete their final training session, and finalize preparations. Despite the technical reasons presented by the federation, the request was once again denied."

Chile's Joaquín Niemann fired a five-under par 65 in the second round of the US Open after being told of a two-stroke penalty for tossing his club in round one (Warren Little)Joaquin Niemann scored better angry and unprepared than most players with perfect preparation in Friday's second round of the US Open after learning of a two-stroke penalty for throwing a club.Niemann, who hurled his sand wedge in frustration Thursday evening after hitting two balls out of bounds, was told of the penalty just before his second round on Friday, then went out and fired a five-under par 65 at windy Shinnecock."I knew I had a misbehavior, but I feel like everybody had some, and it's never going to anything major like two-shot penalty," Niemann said."But it's their decision, and I feel like, yeah, I wouldn't be happy seeing players throwing clubs and behaving that way so yeah, I agree."The 27-year-old Chilean had only 37 minutes to regroup after completing his first round on Friday before his second round began."It was hard," Niemann said. "Took me probably 30 minutes to get over it. I felt like a little bit extra penalized with two-shot penalty."It definitely helped me a little bit to have a better round today," he said.Niemann birdied five of the first six holes, including the sixth -- where he threw his wedge the night before -- and finished with seven birdies and two bogeys in round two."Everything was on. Hit great tee shots. I kind of went out with a pretty aggressive mindset, so yeah, it worked out," he said.With the two-stroke penalty for serious misconduct Niemann was scored a seven-over par 11 on the par-four sixth hole, the 15th of his first round. It left him with an eight-over 78."I hit it two times out of bounds on the right, two bad swings, then got pretty frustrated," Niemann said. "I felt like my body wasn't quite there."Niemann also asked for relief from ants around his ball but was not given any."After that shot, I lay up, and the whole frustration went inside me. All the frustration that came inside me and had my club in my hand, and I couldn't resist to throw it away."I was looking around. There was no people. No one there. I'm not proud of it, but sometimes, all the expectation of trying to play well and things don't go your way, you get frustrated, and that was me there."Niemann has won eight times in LIV Golf, most recently last month in South Korea.js/bb

Japan fans tidied up after themselves after their team's opening World Cup game against the Netherlands in Texas (Charlotte Wilson)Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu said Friday he was proud that the country's fans had forged a global reputation for tidying up after themselves at the World Cup -- as long as it does not put cleaners out of work.Footage went viral online after Japan supporters were seen putting their rubbish in blue plastic bags following Sunday's 2-2 draw with the Netherlands in Texas.Fans told AFP it was "Japanese culture" to leave any public place cleaner than when they arrived.Speaking on the eve of Japan's second group game, against Tunisia on Saturday in Mexico, Moriyasu said: "I think this is one part of the Japanese culture that we can be proud of in the world."It extends to his squad, who left the changing room at the Dallas Cowboys' stadium immaculate after the game.But Moriyasu said there was a possible downside."I have met Brazilian players, Brazilian coaches and people from different countries and then they would all point out something different," he said."They said, by picking up people's garbage it would be clean, but wouldn't you be taking away the work from the cleaners?"So I guess that is one way of looking at it."And while images of Japan fans cleaning up gained widespread praise abroad, back in Japan a social media post went viral complaining men rarely do the same at home."Japanese men spend among the least time on housework internationally," read the post."Please do it at home," it added.bur-pst/pi

Cincinnati Country Day School announces the hiring of Jim Collins as head football coach and Kiana Allen as head girls basketball coach.Jim Collins brings more than 35 years of collegiate coaching experience to CCDS. During his career, he has been named coach of the year five times and has led his teams to six NCAA playoff appearances, three conference championships, and five national rankings.Collins began his head coaching career at the University of Dubuque, where he increased the roster size by 50 percent. He then moved to Capital University, transforming a last-place program into a nationally ranked Top 15 team. Collins went on to coach at Saginaw Valley State University, where he led the program to three straight Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athlete Conference North Division championships and earned two national rankings.From 2019-2020, Collins served as the director of player personnel for the prestigious Army West Point football team. He then worked as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Dayton from 2020-2021 before returning to his alma mater, Wittenberg University, as head coach for five years.“For more than 30 years, Jim has been a strong program builder and an outstanding leader of young men,” Head of School Rob Zimmerman said. “Jim is the ideal coach to carry forward the proud tradition of Country Day football: success on the field and character off it.”Collins inherits a very successful CCDS program that is coming off its fifth straight Miami Valley Conference Gray Division Championship and fifth straight playoff appearance. Under the leadership of Dennis Coyle (2019-2025), the Nighthawks posted a 51-23 record, averaging 38 points per game over the last five seasons while recording just 10 losses.“I am incredibly excited and honored to be named the head football coach at Country Day. I understand the standard of excellence and great tradition the school is known for,” Collins said. “I have great respect for what Coach Dennis Coyle, his staff, and players have been able to accomplish, and I look forward to building on the strong foundation that is in place and relentlessly pursuing improvement in everything we do. I look forward to building strong relationships with our players, families, alumni, and community. Our mission will continue to be developing young men of character who will represent our school with pride and class on and off the field.”Kiana Allen will take over the girls basketball program as head coach effective immediately. Allen brings extensive knowledge to CCDS from both her playing and coaching career.As a Summit Country Day alum, Allen is extremely familiar with CCDS and the surrounding competitive landscape. During her tenure at Summit, she competed in soccer and basketball, earning two state championships in soccer and three Miami Valley Conference championships in basketball, where she also holds the school record for most three-pointers in a single game. Allen continued her playing career at Bethel College before transferring to Asbury University.From 2023 to 2026, Allen served as head coach for the sixth- and eighth-grade girls basketball teams at Summit while also working as an assistant coach for the varsity program. She has emphasized player development, guiding athletes from the middle school level through their transition to varsity competition. Most recently, she led her eighth-grade team to a Miami Valley Conference championship this past season.For the past six years, Allen has also been the head coach for the Cincy Swish eighth-grade girls basketball team, a highly competitive Amateur Athletic Union program.“Coach Allen has incredible basketball IQ and is a wonderful teacher of the game. She is a terrific skills development coach and connects well with her players,” said Greg Ross, associate athletic director for upper school and boys varsity basketball coach. “The girls in our program will not only become better players and teammates, but better people under her leadership. Coach Allen understands what it takes to build a program, and I am extremely excited for the future of Country Day girls basketball.”Allen’s emphasis on player development will be a valuable asset as she takes over a young program. The team was led by Josie Buckingham for the past two seasons, compiling a 9-36 record. Buckingham succeeded longtime head coach John Snell (2006-2024), who concluded his tenure with three straight district titles and a final four appearance in 2022. Allen aims to restore that level of sustained success to the program.“I’m incredibly excited to coach at a school that was a major rival during my high school years,” says Allen. “I’ve always respected CCDS, and I am incredibly excited for the opportunity to coach this group of girls. I’m looking forward to continuing to build the program to be competitive in the conference and the state.”This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Country Day hires new football, girls basketball coaches

Cincinnati Country Day School announces the hiring of Jim Collins as head football coach and Kiana Allen as head girls basketball coach.Jim Collins brings more than 35 years of collegiate coaching experience to CCDS. During his career, he has been named coach of the year five times and has led his teams to six NCAA playoff appearances, three conference championships, and five national rankings.Collins began his head coaching career at the University of Dubuque, where he increased the roster size by 50 percent. He then moved to Capital University, transforming a last-place program into a nationally ranked Top 15 team. Collins went on to coach at Saginaw Valley State University, where he led the program to three straight Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athlete Conference North Division championships and earned two national rankings.From 2019-2020, Collins served as the director of player personnel for the prestigious Army West Point football team. He then worked as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Dayton from 2020-2021 before returning to his alma mater, Wittenberg University, as head coach for five years.“For more than 30 years, Jim has been a strong program builder and an outstanding leader of young men,” Head of School Rob Zimmerman said. “Jim is the ideal coach to carry forward the proud tradition of Country Day football: success on the field and character off it.”Collins inherits a very successful CCDS program that is coming off its fifth straight Miami Valley Conference Gray Division Championship and fifth straight playoff appearance. Under the leadership of Dennis Coyle (2019-2025), the Nighthawks posted a 51-23 record, averaging 38 points per game over the last five seasons while recording just 10 losses.“I am incredibly excited and honored to be named the head football coach at Country Day. I understand the standard of excellence and great tradition the school is known for,” Collins said. “I have great respect for what Coach Dennis Coyle, his staff, and players have been able to accomplish, and I look forward to building on the strong foundation that is in place and relentlessly pursuing improvement in everything we do. I look forward to building strong relationships with our players, families, alumni, and community. Our mission will continue to be developing young men of character who will represent our school with pride and class on and off the field.”Kiana Allen will take over the girls basketball program as head coach effective immediately. Allen brings extensive knowledge to CCDS from both her playing and coaching career.As a Summit Country Day alum, Allen is extremely familiar with CCDS and the surrounding competitive landscape. During her tenure at Summit, she competed in soccer and basketball, earning two state championships in soccer and three Miami Valley Conference championships in basketball, where she also holds the school record for most three-pointers in a single game. Allen continued her playing career at Bethel College before transferring to Asbury University.From 2023 to 2026, Allen served as head coach for the sixth- and eighth-grade girls basketball teams at Summit while also working as an assistant coach for the varsity program. She has emphasized player development, guiding athletes from the middle school level through their transition to varsity competition. Most recently, she led her eighth-grade team to a Miami Valley Conference championship this past season.For the past six years, Allen has also been the head coach for the Cincy Swish eighth-grade girls basketball team, a highly competitive Amateur Athletic Union program.“Coach Allen has incredible basketball IQ and is a wonderful teacher of the game. She is a terrific skills development coach and connects well with her players,” said Greg Ross, associate athletic director for upper school and boys varsity basketball coach. “The girls in our program will not only become better players and teammates, but better people under her leadership. Coach Allen understands what it takes to build a program, and I am extremely excited for the future of Country Day girls basketball.”Allen’s emphasis on player development will be a valuable asset as she takes over a young program. The team was led by Josie Buckingham for the past two seasons, compiling a 9-36 record. Buckingham succeeded longtime head coach John Snell (2006-2024), who concluded his tenure with three straight district titles and a final four appearance in 2022. Allen aims to restore that level of sustained success to the program.“I’m incredibly excited to coach at a school that was a major rival during my high school years,” says Allen. “I’ve always respected CCDS, and I am incredibly excited for the opportunity to coach this group of girls. I’m looking forward to continuing to build the program to be competitive in the conference and the state.”This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Country Day hires new football, girls basketball coaches

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Jeff Weltman was asked by the Orlando Sentinel about the idea that the Magic are a “dark horse” team to land Giannis Antetokounmpo. “First of all, you know I’m not allowed to speak about that,” Weltman told the Sentinel on Thursday after Sweeney was formally introduced at the AdventHealth Training Center. “I’m not allowed to talk about another team’s player.” “I just think that, to me, “Weltman said, “I take it as a compliment that we have a lot of players that the league is interested in and that we could even be thrown into that conversation speaks to the talent on this roster. So, that’s my big takeaway from that.”Orlando SentinelThis article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Jeff Weltman on Giannis Antetokounmpo talk: To be thrown into that conversation speaks to the talent of the Magic roster

“Obviously I won’t comment on any discussions we’re having with teams or where our agendas are,” Weltman told the Sentinel. “I know a lot’s been written about that. But I think, like, you can’t get into that conversation without talent, you know? So, to me, I take that as a compliment and I know we have a lot of work to do, but we have a lot of belief in our team.”Orlando SentinelThis article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: “I know a lot’s been written about that. But I think, …

“We’re doing all the work that we need to (do) to try to puzzle the roster out,” Weltman said Thursday. “I do think there’s some kind of basic holes that we want to punch where we can improve the roster and augment the players that we have. “Obviously the most important part of this whole process has been bringing Sean in the right way,” he added. “… It’s been a busy time organizationally but we have been at work on the draft and free agency, so hopefully we’re putting ourselves in a position to have a good summer.”Orlando SentinelThis article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: “We’re doing all the work that we need to (do) to try …

San Antonio’s recent thrilling Spurs playoff run delivered an estimated $36.2 million in economic impact from game ticket sales and visitor spending on hotels, food and transportation, according to Visit San Antonio. The tourism agency said the estimate also includes a boost to San Antonio businesses and media exposure from national and international television outlets.KSAT.comThis article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: San Antonio’s recent thrilling Spurs playoff run …

Where to watch Brazil vs. Haiti live stream, TV channel, start time for World Cup Group C match originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.On Friday, Haiti and Brazil will share the pitch at 9 p.m. ET from Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia Stadium).Haiti will be playing in its second World Cup in the country's history, their first since the 1974 tournament in West Germany. On the other side of the midfield line stands football giant Brazil, who are making their 23rd appearance and are the only country to win five World Cup trophies.While Haiti has pulled the short end of the stick, being paired up in a group with Brazil, the country could make history with what would be their most significant football result, with a win or draw against A Seleção. Anything other than a blowout for Brazil would be a massive disappointment, regardless of the three points picked up with a win.The Sporting News takes you through all the information you need to follow the game.LIVE:Follow Brazil vs. Haiti updates from 2026 World Cup gameBrazil vs. Haiti live stream, TV channelTV channel: FoxLive stream: fubo,Fox One, Fox Sports app/websiteThis match will be broadcast nationally on Fox in the United States with streaming options available on its dedicated platforms.The best place to catch the match is on streaming service fubo, with new customers able to sign up a for a FREE trial.Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)What time does Brazil vs. Haiti start?This World Cup clash kicks off Friday, June 19, at 8:30 p.m. ET at Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia Stadium) in Philadelphia, Penn.Here's how that time translates across North America time zones:DateKickoff timeEastern TimeFri., June 198:30 p.m.Central TimeFri., June 197:30 p.m.Mountain TimeFri., June 196:30 p.m.Pacific TimeFri., June 195:30 p.m.World Cup schedule today and tomorrowAll times Eastern.Friday, June 19USA vs. Australia (3 p.m.)Scotland vs. Morocco (6 p.m.)Brazil vs. Haiti (8:30 p.m.)Saturday, June 20Turkey vs. Paraguay (12 a.m.)Netherlands vs. Sweden (1 p.m.)Germany vs. Ivory Coast (4 p.m.)Ecuador vs. Curacao (8 p.m.)MORE:Complete World Cup schedule and fixtures2026 FIFA World Cup FAQsWhen is the 2026 FIFA World Cup?The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to run from June 11 through July 19, 2026. It will be the first World Cup hosted across three countries: the United States, Canada and Mexico.Where is the 2026 FIFA World Cup being played?The 2026 World Cup will be played across 16 host cities in North America, with matches taking place in the United States, Canada and Mexico. It will be the first men’s World Cup hosted by three countries.The 16 host cities are Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle in the United States; Toronto and Vancouver in Canada; and Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey in Mexico.How many teams are in the 2026 World Cup?The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature 48 teams, expanding from the 32-team format used in previous tournaments. The larger field also means more matches, more knockout-round games and more countries involved than ever before.The 48 teams are Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Cape Verde, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, Curaçao, Czechia, DR Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, England, France, Germany, Ghana, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jordan, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Senegal, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Türkiye, United States, Uruguay and Uzbekistan.How many games are in the 2026 World Cup?There will be 104 matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. That includes the group stage, knockout rounds and the final.Can I stream the 2026 World Cup?Yes. Streaming options will depend on the match, language and broadcast partner. In the U.S., Fox Sports lists FOX and FS1, which are available on fubo for English-language coverage, while Telemundo will stream every match live on Peacock and the Telemundo App for Spanish-language coverage.What channel is the 2026 World Cup on?In the U.S., English-language matches are expected across FOX and FS1, which are available on fubo for those without cable, while Spanish-language coverage will air on Telemundo and Universo, which you can stream on DIRECTV and Peacock. Check the schedule for the specific match you want to watch.When is the 2026 World Cup final?The 2026 FIFA World Cup final is scheduled for Sunday, July 19, 2026. The match will be played at New York-New Jersey Stadium, FIFA’s tournament name for MetLife Stadium.What time do World Cup games start?Kickoff times vary by date, host city and round. Because the tournament is being played across multiple time zones in the United States, Canada and Mexico, fans should check the official match schedule for start times in their local time zone.Is the United States playing in the 2026 World Cup?Yes. The United States automatically qualified for the 2026 World Cup as one of the three host nations, along with Canada and Mexico.

June 12, 2026; Inglewood, California, U.S.; Christian Pulisic of the U.S. celebrates with teammates their first goal, an own goal scored by Paraguay's Damian Bobadilla. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images | Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images The United States Men’s National Team got off to a rousing start at the 2026 World Cup, with a 4-1 win over Paraguay. The USMNT was dynamic, creative, and showed to the entire soccer world that they could be a force to be reckoned with at this tournament.Now, on the verge of their second match of group play, they have a chance to accomplish another item on this year’s to-do list.Win the group.Here are the clinching scenarios for Group D ahead of the matches scheduled for Friday. Update (Friday afternoon): With the United States defeating Australia 2-0, the US has clinched a spot in the knockout round. Read on to see how the US can clinch Group D later Friday night.What are the Group D standings?Here are the current Group D standings, ahead of the two matches scheduled for Friday, June 19.TeamWDLGFGAGDPointsUnited States20061+56Australia1002023Türkiye00102-20Paraguay00114-30What are the next Group D matches?There are four matches left in Group D, starting with two on Friday, June 19.Friday, June 19United States 2, Australia 0Türkiye vs. ParaguayThursday, June 25Türkiye vs. United StatesParaguay vs. AustraliaWhat are the scenarios for Group D?Here are the clinching scenarios for the Group D entering play on June 19, starting with the United States.United StatesThe United States can clinch Group D, but they will need a win, and some help. First off, they need to defeat Australia on Friday. That match starts at 3:00 p.m. Eastern time. A draw, or a loss, and the USMNT cannot clinch the group.Then they would need Türkiye to lose or tie against Paraguay. More on that in a moment. That match happens later on Friday night.With a win against Australia, the United States will at least clinch a spot in the knockout round, but they can only win the group on Friday with a win and a Türkiye loss or tie. AustraliaJust like the United States, Australia enters Friday with a win, having beaten Türkiye. As such, they can clinch the group on Friday with a win over the United States, and a Paraguay loss or tie. And like the United States, an Australia win means the Socceroos are at least moving on to the knockout round as one of the top two teams in Group D. ParaguayParaguay faces elimination on Friday. With a loss, and an Australia win or tie, Paraguay is eliminated.TürkiyeSimilar to Paraguay, Türkiye will be eliminated if they lose to Paraguay, and the United States wins or ties against Australia. What about tiebreakers?As mentioned above, tiebreakers may come into play here. So is how tiebreakers work at the World Cup this year.If two or more teams in the same group are equal on points following the group stage, a three-step process will be followed to determine tiebreakers.In the first step, the greatest number of points in the group matches between the tied teams will be applied. Then, the superior goal difference from the group matches between the tied teams will be applied, and finally, the greatest number of goals scored in all group matches between the tied teams will be applied.If that cannot determine a tiebreaker, then the teams that are still equal will advance to step two. In this stage, the first step is the goal difference in all group matches, then the greatest number of goals in all group matches, and finally the highest team conduct score (relating to yellow and red cards) will be applied.If that does not break the tie, then the teams still equal on points will be ranked according to the most recent FIFA World Rankings.That first step, which reads “greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned” according to FIFA, effectively turns into a head-to-head tiebreaker in the case of ties between two teams. We now return to the match between the US and Australia. Both teams enter Friday with three points. Assuming, for the moment, the United States win, they would move to six points in the group. But if Türkiye defeats Paraguay, they would now have three points.And with those two teams playing next week, Türkiye could theoretically defeat the United States, improve to six points — and a tie with the United States — and win Group D thanks to that first tiebreaker. (And a similar scenario will play out if Australia wins on Friday, just that the Socceroos would need Paraguay to lose or tie). So if there is a winner between the United States and Australia, they will not be guaranteed a group win until the result between Paraguay and Türkiye is known.

Scotland face Morocco in their second World Cup match after a 1-0 victory over Haiti put them in an excellent position to secure progress to the knockout stage for the first time in their history.Despite a display that lacked beauty, Steve Clarke’s side edged past Haiti thanks to John McGinn’s scrappy effort. While Morocco held five-time champions Brazil in a 1-1 draw to begin their campaign, impressing in the first half and leading thanks to Ismael Saibari, with the PSV forward poised to join Bayern Munich this summer, before Vinicius Jr equalised for the Selecao.Clarke has hailed Mohamed Ouahbi’s side and believes they could be better than the side that reached the semi-finals four years ago in Qatar. So how will Scotland approach their second match and how will it leave their position in the tournament?Will a draw be enough for Scotland to qualify for the knockout stage? Not officially, but it will almost certainly be enough. The World Cup 2026 will see the top two teams in the 12 groups guaranteed qualification to the knockout stages, which starts with a last 32 round.But there are also eight spots for third-placed teams, with the highest points and then goal difference deciding which four teams in third will miss out, but that will only become clearer after two full rounds of fixtures in each group.While three points and a positive goal difference is likely to be enough, four points is extremely likely to be enough, but Scotland would need to wait until later in the tournament to be confirmed, instead of at full-time should they draw against Morocco to reach four points from two games. With several teams putting together a run of draws, there could be a number of teams in third with four points.The format of the Euros gives us a bit of a clue, though. Four points (so one win, a draw and a defeat) is almost guaranteed to be enough. One win on its own is sometimes not enough to go through, particularly with a negative goal difference.At Euro 2016, third-placed sides Turkey and Albania were eliminated on three points despite both winning one of their games and losing the other two. At Euro 2020, Finland and Slovakia both finished third in their group with one win and two defeats, but three points was not enough to qualify. And in Euro 2024, Hungary were eliminated on three points while Slovenia did ‘a Portugal’ and advanced despite three draws and zero wins. (PA)Will Scotland qualify if they defeat Morocco? Yes, this one is more simple, Scotland would remain top of Group C on six points with a win over Morocco, leaving the Africans five points behind with one game remaining. And no matter the result between Haiti and Brazil, one of those sides would be five points behind as well, before Scotland travel to Miami to face Brazil.The magic number for goal differenceBased on the examples of previous tournaments at the Euros, the ranking of third-place teams will be determined by goal difference. In 2016, Turkey and Albania were eliminated because they finished their group with a goal difference of -2. Meanwhile, Portugal and Northern Ireland advanced on three points and an even goal difference. At Euro 2020, Finland also went out with a goal difference of -2, with Ukraine progressing on three points and a goal difference of -1. And in 2024, Hungary’s goal difference of -3 was not good enough to advance, despite them beating Scotland in their final game. (Getty)The magic number for progress is therefore likely to be three points, plus a goal difference of at least -1 - the higher, the better, obviously. In theory, this would involve winning one match, and then limiting the margin of defeat in the other two matches to one goal. It would be an extremely risky strategy, however, and would leave a team right on the cusp of elimination, relying on other results. While finishing third in the group on four points - so a win, a draw and a loss - is highly unlikely to send a team out, the chances of a team advancing on two points - so a draw plus two defeats - are also extremely remote.

Justin Verlander’s return to the Detroit Tigers has hit another roadblock, and the future Hall of Famer isn’t hiding his frustration.After recently being scratched from his scheduled start due to a hamstring injury, Verlander spoke candidly about the challenges he has faced during a season that has been dominated by setbacks.For a pitcher who has built a legendary career on durability and perseverance, this stretch has been unlike anything he has experienced before.“This is kind of the first time anything like this has happened to me where it’s kind of like consecutive injuries,” Verlander told reporters Friday. “I think this whole process has been agonizingly long for me, especially considering where we were at early on and thinking it was going to be a really short-term injury to having to shift my mindset to more long term…just disappointing to say the least.”Verlander entered the 2026 season hoping to make a meaningful impact after returning to Detroit on a one-year deal. Instead, injuries have limited him to just one start, and what initially appeared to be a brief absence has turned into months of rehabilitation and uncertainty.The 43-year-old admitted that navigating multiple injuries in the same season has tested him both physically and mentally.“This is uncharted territory for me and it sucks,” Verlander said. “But I think first and foremost right now, it’s like, head down, work hard, get past this, try to get back out there for the Detroit Tigers and myself, see what I can do.”Despite the mounting frustrations, Verlander made it clear that retirement is not on his mind. He remains committed to helping the Tigers in any way he can before the season comes to an end.“There’s no giving up,” Verlander said. “This is halfway through a season that I committed to the Tigers for and nobody envisioned it going this way. But I also intend on trying to give it my everything until the season’s over.”Still, one comment is sure to grab the attention of Tigers fans.Verlander has long maintained that he would continue pitching until his body told him otherwise. On Friday, he acknowledged the possibility that age and injuries may finally be catching up to him.“I’ve always said that I want to play until the wheels fall off and, I don’t know, maybe they are falling off,” Verlander said. “I hope not.”Whether this season ultimately becomes Verlander’s final chapter remains to be seen. What is clear is that one of the greatest pitchers of his generation is facing a battle he has rarely encountered throughout his remarkable career. For now, his focus remains simple: recover, return, and try to help the Tigers before the 2026 season comes to a close.

Tim Ream and Folarin Balogun celebrate after Australia's Cameron Burgess scored an own goal and the first goal for U.S. REUTERS / REUTERSSEATTLE – In so many ways, this second U.S. World Cup adventure was much like the first.An early own goal.A killer goal just before halftime.An energetic, connected and confident performance before an appreciative audience that, like much of the soccer world, is beginning to believe Mauricio Pochettino’s crew is for real.Ultimately, it was another impressive victory, a 2-0 outcome against Australia that was accomplished without Pochettino’s best player, injured forward Christian Pulisic.The result secured passage to the knockout round with one Group D match remaining. Depending on the Turkey-Paraguay outcome later Friday in Santa Clara, California, the U.S. could also clinch first place before even playing the Turks on Thursday in greater Los Angeles.Not since 1930 had the U.S. won consecutive matches at a World Cup.Once again, an own goal at the end of a succulent U.S. sequence provided the lead. Later in the opening half, Alex Freeman extended the lead on a header that was initially nullified by the offside flag but confirmed via video replay.Aside from striker Ricardo Pepi replacing Pulisic, Pochettino stuck with the same lineup that dismantled Paraguay. The defensive scheme remained the same, with Tim Ream, Chris Richards and Freeman in front of goalkeeper Matt Freese, Antonee Robinson and Sergiño Dest on the flanks and Tyler Adams shielding the backline.The attacking arrangement of Malik Tillman, Weston McKennie, Folarin Balogun and Pepi sparked the most curiosity. When the match started, Pepi joined Balogun on the frontline – a fresh and threatening look from Pochettino.Pulisic, who is recovering from a calf injury, watched from the bench after being ruled out earlier. The U.S. staff is hopeful he’ll be available for the group finale, though, given the team’s standing, it could allow him additional time to prepare for the round of 32.Aussie Coach Tony Popovic decided to mix things up, relegating both opening-match scorers to the bench.Known for its cacophonous environment, Lumen Field did not disappoint. Neither did Seattle, an enchanting host city with a rich soccer history dating to the North American Soccer League last century and revived by Major League Soccer’s arrival in 2009.Because the playing surface is usually artificial turf, the U.S. hadn’t played here since 2016, when temporary grass was rolled out for Copa America.With a noon kickoff, fans packed light rail trains early in the morning before spilling out into a tapestry of sights and sounds in the stadium district near Pioneer Square and the waterfront. (In the adjacent ballpark, the Mariners will host the Red Sox on Friday night.)The match crackled to life – both in promising opportunities and heavy tackles.In the 11th minute, the U.S. unlocked the Aussies with a similar method and outcome as the opening goal against Paraguay. Robinson played the ball down the line to Balogun, who revved his engines, accelerated from Jaco Italiano before turning the corner to place Australia under severe duress. Crossing the ball with the outside of his right foot, Balogun sought Pepi and Dest crashing the six-yard box.In retreat, center back Cameron Burgess failed to get his feet right and touched the ball into the net – the second U.S. match starting with an early own goal.As they did against Paraguay, the Americans scored just before halftime, as well, on a goal by Freeman, who, just moments earlier, received treatment after a frightening head-to-head collision with Paul Okon-Engstler.Tillman made the set piece possible, battling at the side of the penalty area to draw a free kick. Instead of serving the ball into the crowd, Robinson sent it to Dest at the top of the box for a low shot. An Australian deflection sent the ball floating into the six-yard box.Scrambling back to his feet after committing to Dest’s shot, goalkeeper Patrick Beach was too late. Freeman rose for a header into the open net.The flag went up, however. Freeman was offside. Or was he? Balogun and McKennie were behind the defense but Freeman was level. After the video replay booth reviewed it, referee Felix Zwayer awarded the goal, restarting the celebration at the far end of the field.Desperate to change the conversation, Popovic made three changes to start the second half. Braced for an uptick in Australian pressure, the U.S. was smart and composed.With Australian committing players into the attack, space opened for U.S. counterattacks. Adams liberated Balogun for a partial breakaway out of midfield, but defender Alessandro Circati recovered in time to block the shot.Australia’s influx of speed caused trouble for the U.S. transitional defense, but wayward shooting and a lack of efficiency stunted its outlook.Pochettino made his first change in the 74th minute, bolstering the midfield by replacing Pepi with Berhalter. More substitutions followed, including Robinson, who had received a yellow card earlier.The U.S. turned ragged down the stretch, conceding a number of threats. The match turned physical and ugly, resulting in multiple incidents.The final whistle after eight minutes of stoppage time brought relief, celebration – and more evidence this U.S. team is onto something special this summer.

June 18, 2026; Guadalajara, Mexico; Mexico's Raul Rangel in action. Mandatory Credit: Paul Childs-Reuters via Imagn Images | Paul Childs-Reuters via Imagn Im The 2026 World Cup is now officially in its second week, and some teams are starting to play their second matches of group play.Which means some teams are already clinching spots in the knockout round.With the World Cup expanding to 48 teams for the 2026 edition, the knockout round begins with the Round of 32, instead of the familiar Round of 16. That means that, beyond the top two teams in each group advancing to the knockout portion of the tournament, the eight best third-place teams are also advancing. We are tracking the third-place standings here if you are looking to see what teams are still in the running despite sitting in third place.As far as teams that have clinched, read on.MexicoMexico became the first team to book a spot in the Round of 32, thanks to Thursday night’s 1-0 win over South Korea. Mexico opened the 2026 World Cup with a 2-0 win over South Africa, and when South Africa and Czechia played to a 1-1 draw earlier in the day, it opened the door for the winner of Thursday night’s match to win Group A.After a scoreless first half, Luis Romo took advantage of a miscue from South Korea keeper Kim Seung-gyu, who collided with a teammate in the box and lost the ball, giving Romo a chance to give Mexico the lead. Then the hero was Raúl Rangel, as Mexico’s keeper made a pair of brilliant saves in the closing stages to deny South Korea the equalizer:RAÚL RANGEL, YOU ARE UNREAL! 🇲🇽SUPERB WORK IN GOAL TO SAVE MEXICO LATE! pic.twitter.com/OrTJfvDnSB— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 19, 2026El Tri are not only the winners of Group A and set to play a third-place team from Group C/E/F/H/I, but they will also stay in Mexico for the Round of 32, as that match will be held in Mexico City.United StatesOne host team became the first nation to book a spot in the Round of 32 on Thursday night, when Mexico’s win over South Korea secured Group A.Friday, the United States joined them as the second team through to the Round of 32.The 2-0 win over Australia guarantees that the United States will finish as one of the top two teams in Group D. And by the end of the night, the United States may be the winners of Group D, depending on how the late match between Paraguay and Türkiye finishes. If Türkiye lose or draw against Paraguay, then the United States will win Group D, and be locked into a match against a third-place team in the Round of 32. The 2-0 win was also the USMNT’s first shutout since a 2-0 win in a friendly against Japan last September.

A digital rights advocacy group is reupping its call to ban biometric facial recognition technology in bars and other venues serving the LGBTQ+ community after new reporting revealed widespread use of the technology in San Francisco’s Castro District. This week, Gazetteer SF put a spotlight on the face-scanning technology that’s been hiding in plain sight in multiple Castro venues for over a year. Related LGBTQ+ groups warn Meta’s facial recognition smartglasses could harm queers & abuse victims Hart Owen, a guest at Mix bar on 18th Street in the iconic gayborhood, said she was taken aback when she saw the tech stationed at the bar’s front entrance. She’d just handed her ID to the bouncer when she was directed to turn and face a small camera before being allowed into the bar. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Owen described a device with a monitor and a forensic ID scanner, something like a high-security kiosk stationed at a TSA checkpoint. “Why is this at a gay bar, of all places?” she asked herself. The tech Owen was confronted with was Patronscan Guard+, a biometric and personal data collection device made by a Canadian surveillance company. At least three bars in the Castro employ the technology to collect the personal data of every customer that comes through the door, including names, addresses, genders, and even how they behave inside, Gazetteer reports. The surveillance is ostensibly used to flag “blacklisted” customers.A bouncer at Mix filled in some details. “I’ve been here for a year, and it’s been here longer than me,” they said of the kiosk. Personal and biometric data gathered from customers is stored on the Patronscan platform for 30 days, then deleted unless the patron is flagged for bad behavior, “like fighting or stealing,” they said. Mix bouncers aren’t required to tell patrons the tech is in use; a small plaque on the device advises customers that’s the case. “It’s posted signage,” says the bouncer. At least nine bars in the Castro are synced to the same flag network that Mix is a part of, according to Gazetteer’s reporting. Sarah Phillips, campaign director at digital rights organization Fight for the Future, calls use of the technology at LGBTQ+ venues “a complete betrayal”; the group has been warning against it for years. “As we speak, the federal government and anti-LGBTQ actors across the country are putting together databases of trans people and attacking our community in every way imaginable,” Phillips said in a statement shared with LGBTQ Nation. “Gay bars should be a space where we can gather without the fear of dangerous and invasive surveillance technology that has historically been weaponized against vulnerable communities.” The group has started a social media campaign to avoid exactly that kind of “dystopian” future. “Demand they trash their surveillance machines and stop endangering the community,” the group’s online petition reads. “One of the distinct ways that the venues, bars, and public spaces can actively combat the targeting of people in our community by law enforcement, bad actors, and anti-LGBTQ politicians is rejecting facial recognition, and we are calling on gay bars everywhere to read the room,” Phillips said. “We’ve seen this movie before and refuse to comply with this oppressive tech in our spaces during an enormous wave of political persecution against queer and trans people.” Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

The new cease-fire between the United States and Iran calls for an end to fighting in Lebanon, but U.S. intelligence officials do not expect Israel to halt its strikes on Hezbollah.

TimesofIndia.com in Chennai: India may have already sealed the ODI series against Afghanistan, but the final game in Chennai is far from a dead rubber. For the team management, it is another opportunity to tick boxes on the road to the 2027 ODI World Cup, test combinations and, most importantly, ensure that every player in the squad gets a meaningful opportunity.One of those players is opening batter Yashasvi Jaiswal.The left-hander endured a disappointing outing in the previous ODI, but India's assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate made it clear that one failure would not cost him his place. Jaiswal is set for another opportunity, a reflection of the management's commitment to giving fringe players a proper run rather than judging them on a single innings."We also want another look at Yashasvi Jaiswal. He didn't get runs in the last game, so he'll get another opportunity," ten Doeschate said on the eve of the third ODI.The message from the Indian camp has been consistent. Winning remains the first priority, but so does building depth. That balancing act is evident in the likely changes for Friday's game.Fast bowler Arshdeep Singh, who has impressed in the first two matches, is likely to be rested as part of workload management. The batting order, too, will undergo a reshuffle, with the top three set to remain the same. Between Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer one will miss out as both all-rounders Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy are set to feature in the playing XI. "We will be making a few changes from the first two games. Part of the brief coming into the series was that we wanted to try a few different combinations and give everyone a fair share of games. Someone like Arshdeep has bowled very well in the first two games; he can probably take a rest tomorrow, and the same goes for one of the batters. We'll swap them out and go back to playing a slightly different side," he added. That flexibility has become one of India's biggest strengths in white-ball cricket. Several batters are capable of occupying multiple positions, allowing the management to experiment without significantly weakening the side. The same philosophy extends to the all-rounders, where Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar and Shivam Dube are all being assessed for different roles.According to ten Doeschate, Nitish remains an important long-term investment."Nitish has shown over the last 18 months how important he can become for this team. His body is getting stronger, and we see him as the natural backup to Hardik."Yet the spotlight remains firmly on Jaiswal.Few players in Indian cricket have had to deal with such fierce competition for a place at the top of the order. With Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, opportunities have been limited for the southpaw. Ten Doeschate acknowledged the challenge of managing a squad overflowing with batting talent."In a series like this against Afghanistan, you might say we can take the foot off the pedal a little bit, but yes, we do want to look at guys like Jaiswal. "He is someone who is waiting in the wings because of the quality and depth we have in that position. But I certainly get the feeling that the first priority is always to win the series and put your best team out. "One of the briefs going into this series was to make sure the squad was rotated and everyone played. So Jaiswal does get a few chances, and it's incredibly tough because there is so much quality. But he's one of those guys who, when he does get the odd chance, has to score runs."That perhaps sums up India's selection philosophy better than anything else. There is patience, but there is also intense competition. Players will get opportunities, but they will also be expected to seize them quickly. For Jaiswal, Chennai presents another audition. For India, it is another step towards identifying the combinations that could shape their campaign over the next 18 months.

USMNT player ratings vs. Australia: Live grades for USA in 2026 World Cup Group D match originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.After trouncing Paraguay in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the United States now welcomes Australia to Seattle as both sides target a knockout stage place in the second round of Group D matches.Mauricio Pochettino's side romped to a 4-1 victory in a match they fully dominated from start to finish, from Folarin Balogun's brace to Gio Reyna's late cherry on top.They will do their best to follow up that performance with another strong showing against the Socceroos, who won their opener as well in an upset of Turkey.The Sporting News brings you a full list of player ratings for the match, analyzing the USMNT's individual performances from the opening kickoff to the final whistle.MORE:How three 1994 USMNT legends hope the USMNT gets its grit backUSA vs. Australia scoreLocation: Lumen Field (Seattle, WA)Referee: Felix Zwayer (GER)USMNT starting lineup:USA (4-4-2, right to left): 24. Freese (GK) — 16. Freeman, 3. Richards, 13. Ream, 5. A. Robinson (Trusty, 80') — 2. Dest (Scally, 80'), 8. McKennie, 4. Adams, 7. Tillman — 9. Pepi (Berhalter, 74'), 20. Balogun.USA substitutes: Turner (GK), Brady (GK), Arfsten, McKenzie, M. Robinson, Roldan, Reyna, Aaronson, Zendejas, Weah, Wright.MORE:Player ratings from the USMNT victory over ParaguayUSMNT player ratings vs. AustraliaThis starting lineup for the UMSNT against Australia was almost identical to the XI deployed against Paraguay in the opening game. The only difference was that Chris Richards, now recovered from his ankle injury, slotted in for Miles Robinson along the back.All ratings are on a 10-point scaleMORE:Why the best advice Clint Dempsey can give the USMNT World Cup team is no advice at allStartersGK — Matt Freese: 6Safe hands in the very first minute of the game, making a stop at his near post on a shot from a tight angle. That was all the work Freese had to do, as he only touched the ball 10 times in the first half and 31 times overall.His distribution was mediocre, hitting on only five of his 17 long balls, but that's not surprising given Australia possess significant height and aerial prowess.RB — Alex Freeman: 8After some loose possessional work in the opening five minutes, Alex Freeman locked down defensively and got forward in the attack as well. It was a sensational first half from the U.S. defender, who logged a whopping five defensive contributions, including two tackles, and completed 36 of his 39 first-half passes as well.Freeman got the second goal for the U.S. as he reacted quickest to the deflection of Sergino Dest's shot, heading the ball in before VAR showed he was onside. An excellent first half from Freeman, who has grown leaps and bounds under Mauricio Pochettino over the last 18 months.Alex Freeman with some great defense for the @USMNT 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/dZZc0C3QlS— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 19, 2026RCB — Chris Richards: 7A little loose with possession under pressure early on, but managed to prove a safe presence after. The few times he lost the ball, he worked exceptionally hard to win it back, and was often successful. Completed 53 of 54 passes in the first half, which was impressive considering he was occasionally under pressure, at least more than he was against Paraguay.Good tackling and challenging in the air as well. Handled the pacey Nestory Irankunda off the bench very well, as the Watford star was flopping all over the place trying to win fouls in the penalty area but could not con the experienced German referee.Richards excelled towards the end of the game when Australia was pressuring hard, barely putting a foot wrong to keep the Socceroos out of the goal. Finished with a 91/95 passing mark and 12 defensive contributions, the latter a game high.LCB — Tim Ream: 6A bit shaky whenever he was pressured on the ball, but as Australia sagged back throughout the first half, he was able to breathe a little more. After a strong passing performance against Paraguay, he struggled here, completing less than 90% of his passes in the first half, including just one of six long balls.Improved in the second half, as he finished with seven defensive contributions. For the most part he let Chris Richards put out the majority of the biggest fires, which is just fine.MORE:What does success look like for the USMNT at the 2026 World Cup?LB — Antonee Robinson: 6Safe passing and defensive contributions from Antonee Robinson through the first half, as he was very solid preventing Australia from getting out on the counter. Not good crossing the ball, however, a strategy that was always going to be unsuccessful against the exceptionally tall Australia defensive line.Was really good dribbling, completing all three of his take-ons which helped the U.S. relieve pressure. Picked up a bit of a silly yellow card as he left a trailing leg out on a late tackle, but thankfully the referee was not having Cristian Volpato's laughable dive later on as the Australia sub tried to get Jedi sent off.LM — Malik Tillman: 7Was a spark plug in the middle throughout the first half against Australia. He made the most of his 34 touches, creating two chances and winning three of his five ground duels, combining often with Folarin Balogun in the moments he got forward. A great first half performance, showing great physicality holding off multiple defenders to win the set piece that resulted in Freeman's late first-half goal.Put in a lot of good work after the halftime break, even if it wasn't pretty. Had a big opportunity to create a scoring chance in stoppage time, but got caught between a shot and a pass and sent the ball out of play.CM — Tyler Adams: 8Not only did Tyler Adams repeatedly blow up Australia's possession through the middle of the field, but he also did an exceptional job relieving pressure on the ball once he won it back, winning two hard fouls in the opening 45 minutes while recovering a loose ball four times and intercepting possession twice.On a yellow card suspension, Adams handled himself extremely well, not fouling once through the opening 70 minutes while collecting eight defensive contributions to that point. He hit on four of his five long balls, and won four of seven ground duels, an excellent overall performance.CM — Weston McKennie: 8The best player for the U.S. in the first half against Australia, Weston McKennie was absolutely cooking in midfield, getting forward often, usually down the right half of the field where he combined effectively with Sergino Dest over and over again.McKennie was a chaos merchant over and over, creating three first-half chances and getting two shots off of his own. He was good facing goal, facing the touchline, and facing his own net, causing all kinds of problems in various different situations. Also logged four defensive contributions in the opening 45 minutes, including one tackle and three interceptions and his marauding had Australia losing sight of him constantly.The Juventus midfielder faded a good bit in the second half, but still had massive influence on the game overall.MORE:A thin midfield leaves USMNT dangerously exposed in 2026 World Cup journeyRM — Sergino Dest: 7Absolutely smoked defenders down the right side, able to combine with Weston McKennie or make things happen on his own. Nutmegged a defender in the penalty area in a delicious play with Malik Tillman that nearly resulted in a goal and ended up in the set-piece that led to Freeman's header.His influence faded considerably in the second half. Had a very loose pass in the 73rd minute back to Tyler Adams that could have been really problematic had it not been safely dealt with by the back line."Dest has just been electric all tournament long." - @stuholden ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/u6Q6GaVdmJ— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 19, 2026FWD — Ricardo Pepi: 5Didn't have a huge impact on the match through the opening 45 minutes, but played his role as a foil to Folarin Balogun effectively. Finished the game without a shot, which is disappointing, but it's hard to be too harsh on Pepi as he wasn't asked to play a starring role.FWD — Folarin Balogun: 7Should have had more in front of goal through the opening 45 minutes, as a few promising moves forward failed to result in a shot, but overall caused good chaos up front as he tried to link up with Malik Tillman and Weston McKennie through the middle.While not traditionally known as a strong player out wide, it was his run forward on the ball down the left that resulted in the early own-goal by Australia's Cameron Burgess.FOLARIN BALOGUN MAKING THINGS HAPPEN ONCE AGAIN! 🦅pic.twitter.com/Xgvu7OW1QZ— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) June 19, 2026Did extremely poorly with a 52nd-minute counter-attack where he was clean through on goal but slowed considerably once he received the ball near midfield, allowing the defender to catch up. Picked up a stupid yellow card in the dying minutes of the game.USMNT substitutes vs. Paraguay74th min — Sebastian Berhalter: 5Came on for Ricardo Pepi with Australia building more and more pressure. He didn't really manage to help relieve that pressure, with 15 touches in 16+ minutes. Not a great performance off the bench in a tense situation.80th min — Auston Trusty: N/ACame on for Antonee Robinson with 10 minutes to go. Had two defensive contributions, which helped fend off a late push from Australia.80th min — Joe Scally: N/ACame on for Sergino Dest with Australia's pressure building late in the game. Contributed defensively and helped the U.S. relieve pressure by getting up the right touchline a few times.90th min — Haji Wright: N/ACame on late in stoppage time for Folarin Balogun to break up the game. Very nearly helped create a garbage-time chance but couldn't get on the ball.90th min — Gio Reyna: N/ACame on late in stoppage time for Weston McKennie. USMNT coach vs. ParaguayMauricio Pochettino: Grade pendingThis section will be updated with analysis and commentary on the performance of the USMNT head coach following the conclusion of the match.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - OCTOBER 10: Bia Mesquita of Brazil poses on the scale during the UFC Fight Night ceremonial weigh-in at Farmasi Arena on October 10, 2025 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa LLC) UFC Vegas 119 is less than 24 hours away …It all goes down this weekend (Sat., June 20, 2026) inside the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. In the main event, Manel Kape returns to action in a rematch nine years in the making against Japanese star Kyoji Horiguchi.We have a weekly series at MMAmania.com called “Weekend Lock,” where we share one bet that we predict will slap in “Sin City” when the chaotic dust settles. We also want to hear what our readers think (that’s you!), so please tell us your most confident UFC Vegas 119 betting lock in the comments section below (see full UFC Vegas 119 odds here).Last week’s recap: Well, Sean O’Malley got back to his finishing ways, and he knocked out Aiemann Zahabi, who had been finished since 2017 (watch it here) — I obviously didn’t see that coming. FML.Let’s keep rolling below:On the UFC Vegas 119 prelims, decorated jiu-jitsu ace Bia Mesquita takes on Melissa Mullins in what feels like a showcase opportunity for one of the most accomplished grapplers to ever step foot inside the Octagon.This week, I’m locking in Mesquita vs. Mullins to end via submission at -110.Here’s Why:Honestly, I’m shocked these odds aren’t significantly higher.Mesquita has looked exactly like what she is: one of the greatest pure Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitors ever to transition into MMA. Through six professional victories, she owns a 100 percent finish rate, and four of those have come by submission.That’s not a coincidence.It’s a skill set so overwhelming that opponents eventually find themselves trapped.What’s even more impressive is what she’s done to her recent competition. Mesquita’s last two opponents had never been submitted before stepping into the cage with her.Then they fought Mesquita (watch highlights).Now Mullins enters with a similar distinction. She’s never been submitted as a professional.If you’re sensing a pattern, so am I.Stylistically, this feels like a mismatch. Mesquita doesn’t just possess good grappling — she possesses all-time great grappling. Once she establishes position, she advances methodically and forces mistakes. Few fighters on the roster possess the technical ability to survive there.Frankly, the UFC should already be matching her against Top 10 competition. Mesquita is older than the typical prospect and doesn’t need developmental fights. The promotion should be fast-tracking her to determine exactly how high her ceiling is against elite opposition.Instead, she’s getting Mullins.And while Mullins deserves credit for reaching the UFC, she hasn’t been particularly impressive during her run. She’s also missed weight twice, raising additional questions about preparation and discipline at the highest level.What could go wrong?The biggest risk is that Mullins recognizes the danger and fights ultra-defensively, forcing Mesquita to win minutes rather than hunt submissions. There’s also the possibility that Mesquita just pounds her out for a knockout win.Still, given Mesquita’s submission record, her elite credentials, and her recent habit of submitting fighters who had never previously tapped, Mesquita vs. Mullins to end by submission (-110) feels like one of the best values on the UFC Vegas 119 card.Bia Mesquita To Win By KO/TKO/DQ: +450Bia Mesquita To Win By Submission: -110Bia Mesquita To Win By Decision: +275Melissa Mullins To Win By KO/TKO/DQ: +1100Melissa Mullins by Submission: +3500Melissa Mullins To Win By Decision: +750To checkout the latest UFC Vegas 119 fight card and rumors click here.

United States 2-0 Australia: USMNT become second team to reach World Cup knockoutsThe United States became the second nation to qualify for the World Cup round of 32 with a 2-0 victory over Australia at the Seattle Stadium.A Cameron Burgess own goal and Alex Freeman’s second international strike in the first half put the co-hosts in complete control, and walked their way to ending their 24-year wait to start the tournament with back-to-back victories.A draw between Türkiye and Paraguay later on Thursday would secure top spot in Group D for Mauricio Pochettino’s side and guarantee being drawn against a third-placed side in the round of 32, while Australia remain second in Group D on three points.As it happenedPochettino’s side were left without their talisman Christian Pulisic, who was ruled out with a calf injury earlier in the day, and it was Australia who started brighter, as Mohamed Touré fired into the hands of Matt Freeze from the right side of the box.The United States soon took control of possession, allowing Sergiño Dest to sneak into the box, but his left-footed strike was blocked by Burgess, who bravely threw his chest in front of the shot.But there was nothing the Socceroos defence could do in the 11th minute, as Burgess’s fortunes quickly took a turn for the worse.Hero of their 4-1 opening win against Paraguay, Florian Balogun drove down the left wing before drilling a dangerous ball across the six-yard box, where Burgess failed to sort out his feet and rattled the ball into his own net.At the other end, Mathew Leckie searched for the top corner with a clever outside-of-the-foot effort, but the ball sailed over the crossbar without troubling Freese.The game became a scrappy affair on either side of the hydration break, with Jordan Bos and Alessandro Circati going into the book for Australia; meanwhile, Pochettino’s men never felt like losing control of proceedings.And with two minutes remaining in the first half, the USA doubled their lead. Dest’s shot from the edge of the box took a wicked deflection and dropped invitingly for Freeman, who beat Patrick Beach to the ball and headed into an empty net.There was time for one more American chance before the break, as goalscorer Freeman set up Dest on the edge of the box, but the winger’s left-footed attempt was safely gathered by Beach.The USA were chasing an eighth consecutive win in Seattle, and they nearly put the result beyond doubt five minutes into the second half.Balogun burst through on goal, but a heavy touch allowed the recovering Circati to get back and deflect the shot for a corner.Nestory Irankunda, who scored the winner against Turkey, was introduced by Tony Popovic at half-time, while Cristian Volpato entered on the hour mark.The pair soon combined to create Australia’s best chance of the game, with Irankunda sprinting down the right wing and picking out Volpato, but the midfielder fired over the bar.The USA soon began to show signs of sloppiness as another Australian substitute, Connor Metcalfe, tried his luck from the edge of the box, but his effort was collected by Freese.The Socceroos really should have pulled one back five minutes from half-time when substitute Jason Geria pounced on a mix-up in the box, but Tyler Adams produced a crucial block to deny him and preserve the USA’s clean sheet.The closing stages featured more tussles and collisions than clear-cut chances, with the game repeatedly halted by yellow cards for both sides.In one of the more bizarre moments of the night, referee Felix Zwayer even appeared to suffer cramps, forcing a lengthy stoppage and extending play beyond the allotted six minutes of added time.In the end, the USA held on to join co-hosts Mexico in the Round of 16. Meanwhile, Australia remain second in Group D heading into Matchday three.Although Paraguay could leapfrog the Socceroos with a victory by three goals or more next Thursday.For more detailed reports, reaction, and analysis of the World Cup as it happens, head to our website and favourite our page on OneFootball.

Over 150 youth lacrosse teams from across Florida will gather in Palm Coast on June 20-21, 2026, for the 18th annual Father’s Day Lacrosse Tournament, Florida’s biggest Father’s Day lacrosse event.The long-standing tournament is expected to bring thousands of visitors to Palm Coast.“For 18 years, this tournament has brought athletes and families from across Florida to Palm Coast, and we’re proud to continue that tradition,” said James Hirst, Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Palm Coast. The Father’s Day Tournament is just one of three major annual events Palm Coast hosts in partnership with Florida United Lacrosse.Games will take place at Indian Trails Sports Complex and feature boys and girls divisions ranging from 8U through high school competition levels, with teams competing throughout the weekend.“For 18 years, this tournament has brought athletes and families from across Florida to Palm Coast, and we’re proud to continue that tradition,” said James Hirst, Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Palm Coast.The tournament is expected to generate $1.8 through hotel stays, dining, shopping, and more.“Events like this showcase our outstanding sports facilities, generate significant economic impact for local businesses, and create memorable experiences for players, parents, and visitors alike.”For more information about Parks & Recreation programs and facilities, visit the Palm Coast Parks website. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

Trinity Rodman had USMNT fans buzzing before World Cup win over Australia originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The United States men's national team took care of business Friday afternoon, defeating Australia 2-0 in Seattle to secure a spot in the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. But before the goals, before the celebrations and before Alex Freeman sent the crowd into a frenzy, one of the biggest stars in American soccer had already captured everyone's attention.USWNT standout Trinity Rodman made a surprise appearance before kickoff, carrying the official match ball onto the field at Lumen Field. The FOX Sports cameras immediately picked up the moment, and fans both inside the stadium and watching from home quickly took notice. For a few moments, the spotlight belonged entirely to Rodman.A star from one national team welcomes anotherThe atmosphere in Seattle was already building throughout the afternoon. The United States entered the match with confidence after its dominant 4-1 victory over Paraguay in the tournament opener. With a chance to clinch advancement to the knockout stage, anticipation was high long before kickoff.Then Rodman emerged with the match ball. The reaction from the crowd was immediate. As one of the faces of the USWNT and one of the most recognizable athletes in American soccer, Rodman's appearance felt bigger than a standard pregame ceremony. It felt like a passing of the torch moment between two national teams carrying growing expectations on the international stage.The USWNT helped build soccer's popularity in America over the last two decades. Now the USMNT is trying to create its own World Cup memories at home. Seeing Rodman involved in the moment connected those two stories.Seattle's energy only grew from thereIf Rodman helped ignite the crowd before kickoff, the USMNT took it from there. The Americans controlled much of the match despite being without Christian Pulisic, who missed the contest because of a calf injury.The breakthrough came when Australia conceded an own goal, giving the United States an early advantage and sending the Seattle crowd into celebration mode. Later, Alex Freeman delivered another signature World Cup moment.After a tense VAR review, Freeman's goal was confirmed, giving the United States a 2-0 lead and effectively putting the result out of reach. By the time the final whistle arrived, the Americans had secured all three points and officially punched their ticket to the knockout rounds.MORE: USA vs. Australia final score, result: USMNT beats Socceroos to secure 2026 World Cup knockout placeTrinity Rodman remains one of American soccer's biggest drawsWhat stood out about Rodman's appearance wasn't just that she was there. It was the reaction she received. Even at a men's World Cup match featuring tens of thousands of fans and global attention, Rodman generated one of the biggest pregame moments of the day.That speaks to her growing influence within the sport. The Washington Spirit star has become one of the faces of the USWNT, and her popularity continues to rise beyond the women's game. Whether she's starring for club or country, fans pay attention when Rodman shows up.Friday was another example.A memorable day for American soccerThe United States advanced to the knockout stage. Alex Freeman delivered another huge World Cup moment. The crowd in Seattle created an unforgettable atmosphere. And before any of it happened, Trinity Rodman gave fans something to cheer about.For one afternoon, both American national teams shared the spotlight. The USMNT got the result it wanted. Rodman got one of the loudest ovations of the day. And American soccer walked away with another feel-good moment during a World Cup that continues to build momentum.MORE USMNT NEWS:Christian Pulisic injury updatesUSMNT's Christian Pulisic replacement optionsMeet USA's 2026 World Cup soccer teamUSMNT World Cup legends beg 2026 team to hate defeatHow USA could play Iran in World Cup

Yankees lose ex-Brewers pitcher to MLB free agency originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The New York Yankees own the best record in the American League and have a strong starting rotation. Their bullpen could be an area of focus at the upcoming trade deadline. On Friday, the Yankees lost bullpen depth in the minors. Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports that right-hander Peter Strzelecki opted out of his minor league deal with the Yankees and is now a free agent. Strzelecki, 31, signed with the Yankees on May 23 and made six appearances with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, allowing four earned runs while striking out nine of the 22 batters he faced. From 2022-24, he threw 83.2 combined innings with the Milwaukee Brewers, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Cleveland Guardians, posting a respectable 3.44 ERA during that stretch. There was no clear path to the Majors for Strzelecki with the Yankees. Chances are, other potential bullpen arms like Carlos Lagrange and Yovanny Cruz are well ahead of him on the depth chart. MORE: 1 year later, new Rafael Devers trade rumors have arrivedHe secured a minor league pact with the Brewers ahead of the 2026 season and was added to the active roster in May. However, he did not make an appearance with Milwaukee and was DFA'd shortly thereafter. Strzelecki is free to negotiate with any club that shows interest. More MLB news:White Sox are on an astounding stretch at homeA 'gentlemanly' baserunning move confused the umpires, and everyone elsePirates' Paul Skenes is in a bizarre stretchOutfielder retires from baseball to go play college footballDodgers have a very simple reason to trade for Tarik Skubal

📸 Too many cards? Zwayer gets cramp in card-record matchIt was Felix Zwayer’s first World Cup match as the referee on the pitch. And the only German official at the World Cup had plenty to do in the clash between hosts USA and Australia. The physical approach of both teams and the many changes of pace demanded everything from the FIFA referee. Over the course of the match, Zwayer handed out a total of seven yellow cards — a record so far at this World Cup. Given how intensely the match was played, it was no coincidence that even the 45-year-old was struggling with cramps by the end. First, Australian player Alessandro Circati helped him stretch, then assistant referee Christian Dietz took over. To loud applause from the stands, even the fourth official, Katia Garcia, handed him some electrolytes. Then it was a matter of gritting his teeth for three more minutes, and his World Cup debut was a success. XXThis article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

As an update for Saturday night’s Golden Boy main event, Oscar Collazo will not be defending his 105 lb world titles, and in fact, won’t be fighting in that division at all.Taking on late replacement opponent Neider Valdez, who was drafted in on Wednesday to replace Joey Canoy, Collazo will be fighting two divisions up as a flyweight.This does add a little intrigue, perhaps, as obviously Collazo (14-0, 11 KO) hasn’t fought at this weight since his third pro fight in 2021, and that was at a much lower level, obviously, and 105 lb fighters don’t always move up in weight well, even the really good or great ones.Every fight since then that Collazo has had has been at the 105 lb limit, where he has established himself as the best in the sport and picked up the WBA and WBO world titles.Fear not, though, this doesn’t mean both sanctioning bodies will go without making money off these fighters, as the WBO has graciously put their “International” flyweight title on the line for the bout. The WBA apparently couldn’t come up with some type regional or make believe trinket in time, though that could still change by fight time, I guess.Valdez (15-3-2, 12 KO) should still be seen as a big underdog, but the 25-year-old Mexican is definitely more familiar with the weight.The actual good reason for this to go on as it is is so that the card didn’t get scrapped and everyone does get paid as scheduled; not just Collazo, but all the undercard fighters, too.Collazo weighed in at 110½ lbs, with Valdez at 111¼, both comfortably under the new 112 lb limit for the bout.Bad Left Hook will have live results for Collazo vs Valdez starting at 8 pm ET on Saturday night!

North Carolina will face Oklahoma in the best-of-three College World Series national championship series, with both teams entering the finals unbeaten in Omaha and chasing their first title in more than a decade.The Tar Heels (53-12-1) have advanced to the championship series for the first time since 2007. UNC has reached the finals twice in program history, losing to Oregon State in back-to-back seasons in 2006 and 2007.North Carolina has opened this year’s CWS 3-0, beating Ole Miss in its opener and then defeating West Virginia twice to move on. Starters Jason DeCaro and Ryan Lynch turned in long outings to protect the bullpen, allowing coach Scott Forbes to lean on relievers Caden Glauber, Walker McDuffie and Jackson Rose in shorter stints.At the plate, Gavin Gallaher and Owen Hull have powered the Tar Heels’ offense. Hull is batting .538 (7-for-13) in Omaha with two doubles, a triple, a home run and four RBIs. Gallaher is hitting .429 (6-for-14) with a triple and seven RBIs.Oklahoma has been just as dominant. The Sooners, making their 13th CWS appearance and first since 2022, surged through the postseason as road warriors. They won the Atlanta Regional by upsetting No. 2 seed and ACC champion Georgia Tech in the final, then swept Big 12 champion and No. 15 seed Kansas by a combined score of 21-3 in the Lawrence Regional.The Sooners, who are 3-0 in Omaha after beating No. 7 seed Alabama and knocking off No. 3 seed and SEC champion Georgia twice, are seeking their third national championship. Oklahoma won titles in 1951 and 1994 and finished as runner-up to Ole Miss in 2022.Oklahoma’s offense has been fueled by power throughout the postseason, slugging 26 home runs in 10 games, including eight in Omaha.The national championship series begins at 8 p.m. ET at Charles Schwab Field. The first team to win two games will finish the season as national champion in the final college baseball series — and the last major college sporting event — of the 2025-26 athletic year.Series ScheduleGame 1 - vs. Oklahoma, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN (UNC will be the home team)Game 2 - vs. Oklahoma, 1:30 p.m. ET, ABC (Oklahoma will be the away team)Game 3 - vs. Oklahoma, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN (UNC will be the home team)Key to VictoryPut pressure on Oklahoma’s pitching staff.All three pitchers in Oklahoma’s projected starting pitching rotation are freshmen. While they have pitched well in the postseason, this is the biggest stage of them all.If UNC gets players on base and gets timely hitting, as they have throughout the postseason, it may be the difference in the series.Projected Starters on the Mound (Based on last three games)Game 1 Oklahoma - Cord Rager, Fr. (6-3): 4.69 ERA, 71.1 IP, 89 KNorth Carolina - Jason DeCaro, Jr. (11-2): 2.31 ERA, 93.2 IP, 93 KGame 2Oklahoma - Xander Mercurious, Fr. (1-2): 5.51 ERA, 50.2 IP, 56 KNorth Carolina -Ryan Lynch, Jr. (5-4): 4.20 ERA, 94.1 IP, 84 KGame 3 Oklahoma - Nick Weslowski, Fr. (2-1): 4.69 ERA, 71.1 IP, 89 KNorth Carolina - Caden Glauber, Fr. (11-0): 2.17 ERA, 87.0 IP, 106 KPlayers to WatchNorth CarolinaOF Owen Hull: .398 BA, 99 hits, 26 doubles, two triples, eight home runs, 85 RBISS Jake Schaffner: .352, 90 hits, 19 doubles, seven triples, six home runs, 48 RBI2B Gavin Gallaher: .292 BA, 81 hits, 14 doubles, three triples, 12 home runs, 61 RBIOklahomaOF Dasan Harris: .359 BA, 51 hits, eight doubles, three triples, six home runs, 30 RBIC Dalton Lachance: .333 BA, 78 hits, 12 doubles, two triples, 16 home runs, 65 RBI Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: College World Series finals: UNC-OU preview, info, prediction, odds

On Friday the president made the unusual move of endorsing both candidates in the Republican runoff for South Carolina governor.

The court found that dozens of state laws undermined a state constitutional amendment that guaranteed reproductive rights. The state vowed to appeal the finding.

The Los Angeles Rams didn't sit on the sideline after watching opposing offenses torch their secondary game after game in 2025. Los Angeles spent the opening weeks of free agency rebuilding its defensive backfield from the ground up, trading for Trent McDuffie, signing him to a record-setting extension, then adding his former Kansas City running mate, Jaylen Watson, to play opposite him. FOX Sports' Ben Arthur sees that secondary overhaul as the key to the Rams' 2026 outlook, naming Watson the team's biggest X-factor.When opposing offenses look to pass against the Rams' Myles Garrett-led defense, they'll likely look to throw away from star cornerback Trent McDuffie, twice an All-Pro selection. So if Watson can be a big-time playmaker on the opposite side of the field, L.A. could have a truly dominant defense.Watson spent his first four NFL seasons in Kansas City after the Chiefs took him in the seventh round of the 2022 draft, developing from a depth piece into a starting corner who helped the franchise reach three Super Bowls and win two. He broke out in 2025, setting career highs across the board with 64 tackles, two interceptions, six pass breakups and two sacks while playing a career-high 96% of Kansas City's defensive snaps.Pairing Watson with McDuffie gives the Rams two former Chiefs starters who know what it takes to win in January, addressing a pass defense that ranked in the bottom half of the league last season. If Watson can hold up his end of the bargain across from McDuffie, Los Angeles' defense could finally match the firepower of its offense as the Rams look to close the gap on the Seattle Seahawks atop the NFC.This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams CB Jaylen Watson named team's X-factor for 2026