ew Page 263 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights
Hornets chase consecutive wins as reeling Wizards visit
The Washington Wizards and Charlotte Hornets are going into Saturday afternoon's meeting in North Carolina on different levels of momentum.,Now it's just a matter of whether the Hornets can sustain the good times, as they haven't won back-to-back games since Jan. 3 and 5.,"Our guys respond," Charlot...
College Football Playoff finale brings in 30.1M viewers
Indiana's 27-21 victory over Miami on Monday averaged 30.1 million viewers, making it the second-most watched College Football Playoff national championship game on record.,The game, which peaked at 33.2 million viewers in the first half, fell just short of the inaugural CFP title game on Jan. 12, 2...
Report: Playoff field to remain at 12 teams in 2026
The College Football Playoff will remain a 12-team field for a third straight season in 2026, ESPN reported Friday.,Efforts to expand the field stalled due to an ongoing stalemate between the Southeastern Conference and Big Ten, according to the report.,SEC commissioner Greg Sankey wants a 16-team f...
Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza declares for 2026 NFL Draft
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza announced Friday morning that he is bypassing his senior season and entering the 2026 NFL Draft.,The university's first Heisman Trophy winner effectively put himself in position to be selected with the top overall pick of the draft after announcing his decision i...
Justin Thomas (back) eyes potential return on Florida swing
World No. 9 Justin Thomas said he's progressing well in his recovery from back surgery and is eyeing a return during the PGA Tour's Florida swing.,Thomas has been sidelined since undergoing a microdiscectomy in mid-November. The procedure alleviated a disc problem that had been causing hip pain.,"10...
No. 15 Vanderbilt vies to halt 3-game slide in visit to Mississippi State
The season has taken a turn for the worse for Vanderbilt.,The No. 15 Commodores (16-3, 3-3 Southeastern Conference) won their first 16 games before losing their last three, including a season-worst 93-68 setback at No. 20 Arkansas on Tuesday night. Vanderbilt coach Mark Byington called that loss "em...
No. 10 Michigan State strives to get in sync vs. Maryland
No. 10 Michigan State is carrying a five-game winning streak into Saturday afternoon's Big Ten game against Maryland in East Lansing, Mich.,But that doesn't mean Spartans coach Tom Izzo is totally pleased with his team. Not after watching his charges struggle to gain control against shorthanded Oreg...
No. 23 Louisville prepping for Virginia Tech, injuries, weather
Louisville prepares for a significant Atlantic Coast Conference matchup with Virginia Tech on Saturday while acknowledging two uncontrollable elements: injuries and weather.,As the state of Kentucky prepares for Winter Storm Fern and Louisville faces an uncertain situation with injured point guard M...
No. 21 Georgia hosts foul-troubled Texas for first of two matchups
Texas will get another chance to take down another ranked team when it hosts No. 21 Georgia on Saturday in a Southeastern Conference game in Austin, Texas., ,The Bulldogs (16-3, 4-2 SEC) travel to the capital of Texas with a two-game winning streak, most recently a 74-72 triumph on the road over Mis...
No. 4 Purdue looks to rebound against fiery No. 11 Illinois
If you want to witness the most efficient offenses in college basketball, then West Lafayette, Ind., is the only place to be Saturday., ,No. 11 Illinois (16-3, 7-1 Big Ten), which per KenPom.com boasts the nation's most efficient tempo-free offense at 129.5 points per 100 possessions, puts its eight...
No. 7 Nebraska eyes 20-0 start; Minnesota out to end slide
No. 7 Nebraska is off to a perfect start this season.,But perfection does not come without pain. The Cornhuskers learned that lesson as guard Braden Frager left the team's most recent game with an ankle injury, leaving his status in doubt as Nebraska prepares for two games in four days.,Looking to e...
No. 1 Arizona looks to continue dominance against scrappy West Virginia
Top-ranked Arizona will put one of the nation's three undefeated records on the line Saturday afternoon when it hosts West Virginia in Tucson, Ariz.,The Wildcats (19-0, 6-0 Big 12) have proven to be the conference's best squad through 12 contests, taking the opposition's best shot with all the zeroe...
Surging Blazers likely to have Deni Avdija active vs. Raptors
The Portland Trail Blazers expect their star attraction to suit up and play when they host the Toronto Raptors on Friday night.,All-Star candidate Deni Avdija left with back soreness during the third quarter of Thursday's 127-110 home win over the Miami Heat. However, interim coach Tiago Splitter ex...
Frustrated Giannis Antetokounmpo calls for Bucks to step up vs. Nuggets
The Bucks will go from hosting the top team in the West to playing another juggernaut as they welcome the Denver Nuggets to Milwaukee on Friday night., ,The reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder handled the Bucks on Wednesday night 122-102. The Thunder held a double-digit advantage from the middle...
Villanova ams to gain on No. 2 UConn in key clash
While Villanova's improvement from recent seasons is putting them within striking distance of the Big East lead, while surviving a few close calls allowed No. 2 UConn to maintain its lead and 14-game winning streak.,The Wildcats hope to draw even more notice about its strong season Saturday afternoo...
Blues desperate to put goals on scoreboard against the Stars
The St. Louis Blues are searching for more offense. So are the Dallas Stars.,They will carry the same goal -- more goals, simply -- into their matchup Friday night in Dallas.,The Blues suffered losses at Edmonton and Winnipeg by the combined score of 8-1 before heading to Texas. They are averaging j...
Big East giants Villanova and No. 2 UConn clash
While Villanova's improvement from recent seasons is putting them within striking distance of the Big East lead, while surviving a few close calls allowed No. 2 UConn to maintain its lead and 14-game winning streak.,The Wildcats hope to draw even more notice about its strong season Saturday afternoo...
Vegas' Mitch Marner prepares for 'emotional night' in Toronto
Longtime Toronto Maple Leafs stalwart Mitch Marner is bracing for an emotional Friday night when he visits his former team for the first time as a member of the Vegas Golden Knights.,Marner got an indication of how things could go for him on Jan. 15 when the Golden Knights came back to earn a 6-5 ho...
Stingy Lightning intent on limiting scoring chances for Blackhawks
Stinginess has been the key for the Tampa Bay Lightning during much of their 14-game point streak.,Tampa Bay has yielded two goals or fewer through regulation and overtime in seven straight games entering their visit to the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday.,Now, the Lightning tote fresh legs, to boot, a...
Pistons could be without All-Star Cade Cunningham against Rockets
The Detroit Pistons won a road matchup without their best player on Wednesday. Now, they return home to face a much tougher opponent on Friday, the Houston Rockets.,All-Star starter Cade Cunningham sat out against New Orleans due to an illness and a left hip contusion, but the Eastern Conference lea...