ew Page 1362 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Dept. of Education says NIL pay must be Title IX compliant
The Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued its first formal guidance toward name, image and likeness rights in college athletics on Thursday, requiring schools to distribute NIL opportunities and resources proportionally to male and female athletes.,A Sportico report said the...

Bucks, Raptors clash following lopsided wins
Two teams coming in off big wins match up on Friday night as the Milwaukee Bucks welcome the visiting Toronto Raptors.,This is Game 3 of a four-game homestand for the Bucks. They took down the Orlando Magic 122-93 in dominating fashion Wednesday night. It was their fifth win in their last six games....

Nuggets, Heat await word on stars' status ahead of matchup
Denver Nuggets superstar center Nikola Jokic entered Thursday second in the NBA in assists (9.9 per game), third in scoring (30.6) and third in rebounds (13.2), but he may sit out Friday night's game at the Miami Heat.,Jokic, a three-time NBA MVP, missed Denver's 128-108 home loss to the Houston Roc...

Rory McIlroy calls LIV’s CEO swap ‘probably a good move’
The war of words between Greg Norman and Rory McIlroy is as good as done.,Although the ongoing negotiations between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf on their "framework agreement" have made little apparent progress, there is less animosity between the sides in 2025 than there was when LIV first entered the...

Report: Cubs, new OF Kyle Tucker avoid arbitration w/ $16.5M deal
The Chicago Cubs and their newly acquired outfielder Kyle Tucker agreed on a $16.5 million contract for 2025 to avoid arbitration, ESPN and several other outlets reported Thursday.,The Cubs acquired Tucker from the Astros in a trade last month that sent infielder Isaac Paredes, right-hander Hayden W...

Top defenses collide as Ohio State, Notre Dame battle for CFP title
ATLANTA -- It's nearly impossible to predict what will decide Monday night's College Football Playoff Championship between Notre Dame and Ohio State, but one individual matchup could carry plenty of weight.,That involves the No. 7 seed Fighting Irish (14-1) trying to shut down Ohio State star freshm...

Villanova out to regain form vs. Providence
Less than two weeks ago, Villanova defeated No. 9 UConn to improve to 8-1 in its last nine games. Everything was looking bright for the Wildcats.,However, the momentum has not carried over for Villanova, which is hoping to avoid a third straight loss Friday when it hosts Providence in Big East actio...

Struggling Bulls aim to 'take a stand' vs. Hornets
A five-game homestand that started with promise has sputtered for the Chicago Bulls.,Aiming to salvage Friday's finale against the Charlotte Hornets and snap a three-game losing streak, the Bulls will start by looking inward.,"It's right here to define the season. It's going to define the true chara...

Genesis Invitational to be relocated for 2025 due to wildfires
In the wake of the ongoing wildfires in the Los Angeles area, the PGA Tour announced Thursday that the Genesis Invitational will be relocated from Riviera Country Club.,A new venue was not yet named, but the tour said additional information would be provided in the coming days.,One of the tour's sig...

Knicks C Karl-Anthony Towns' status in question vs. Timberwolves
Karl-Anthony Towns' first game in Minnesota as an opposing player reminded the Timberwolves how valuable he was during his nine seasons there.,On Friday night, the New York Knicks might join the Timberwolves in realizing just how tough it can be to win without the four-time All-Star.,New York hopes ...

Playing well of late, Sabres try to extend Penguins' skid
A post-Christmas rut has added to the overall frustration of the Pittsburgh Penguins.,However, they still find themselves in better shape than the Buffalo Sabres.,The Penguins begin a season-high seven-game road stretch looking to avoid a fourth straight defeat Friday night against the Eastern Confe...

Golden Knights aim to regain form in encounter vs. Hurricanes
The Vegas Golden Knights haven't been in full bounce-back mode often this season.,But that might be the case for their game against the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday night at Raleigh, N.C.,Some of the shine has come off Vegas with losses in three of its last four games.,"Maybe there's a bit of compl...

Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth commit to Phoenix Open
The 2025 WM Phoenix Open is shaping up to feature one of the tournament's strongest fields in years with Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth committing to the event this week.,They join the likes of Hideki Matsuyama, who won the season-opening The Sentry, world No. 7 Wyndham Clark and Billy Horschel. La...

Only 55 underclassmen enter 2025 NFL Draft
Only 55 underclassmen are in the 2025 NFL Draft prospect pool, but that number could grow next week. ,Pro prospects for Notre Dame and Ohio State are allowed to declare for the draft following the College Football Playoff national championship game on Monday. ,The total of 55 does not include player...

Celtics hunting consistency as Magic search for 3-point touch
The Boston Celtics haven't looked like a contender for the NBA championship lately, and they'll try to regain their early-season form when they face the visiting Orlando Magic on Friday night.,Boston is coming off a 110-97 loss at Toronto on Wednesday, which dropped the Celtics' record to 7-7 in the...

Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo stay atop All-Star voting
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, who have accounted for five of the past six NBA Most Valuable Player awards, continue to lead the 2025 All-Star fan balloting.,The third set of fan results, released Thursday, showed Antetokounmpo leading all playe...

Revolution Sign F Maximiliano Urruti
The New England Revolution signed forward Maximiliano Urruti to a one-year contract on Thursday with a club option for 2026.,Urruti, 33, joins the Revolution after spending the 2022 and 2023 seasons with Austin FC, posting 10 goals and two assists in 57 games (38 starts) in that span. In 11 MLS seas...

Wrexham FC's Ryan Reynolds, star investors buy new project: Colombian side La Equidad
Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney and Eva Longoria are the lead investors in a star-studded group buying Colombian side La Equidad in a purchase the mimics some elements of the celebrity ownership success story with English football club Wrexham. ,The Hollywood power figures are joined in the purchase a...

Reports: Mets to re-sign OF/DH Jesse Winker
The New York Mets are re-signing free-agent outfielder/designated hitter Jesse Winker to a one-year contract, per multiple reports Thursday.,The New York Post reported the contract is worth $7.5 million guaranteed, with an additional $1.5 million possible in incentives.,The deal is pending a physica...

Inter Miami sign D Gonzalo Lujan
Inter Miami signed defender Gonzalo Lujan to a contract on Thursday that spans through the 2027 season with an option for 2028.,Financial terms were not disclosed by the Herons for Lujan, who previously played for Argentine top-flight side San Lorenzo.,Lujan, 23, made 97 career appearances for San L...