Sports
No. 23 Indiana, 'on a mission,' seeks to stay unbeaten at Northwestern
Indiana’s Kurtis Rourke (9) passes during the Indiana versus Maryland football game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. Indiana stands 5-0 in football for the first time since 1967, the most recent time the program shared a Big Ten title, and a No. 23 ranking now flanks the Hoosiers’ name.
“This is a team that’s a little bit on a mission,” first-year Indiana coach Curt Cignetti said, “and Northwestern’s the next one up.”
Indeed, the Hoosiers (2-0 Big Ten) will be eager to stay on a roll when they visit the Wildcats (2-2, 0-1) in Evanston, Ill., on Saturday afternoon. Indiana also hopes to avoid the struggles with ball control that slowed the team early in last week’s 42-28 home win against Maryland.
Turnovers ended three of the first five Indiana drives before the Hoosiers found their stride. The team then scored touchdowns on four successive possessions bridging the first and second halves.
Kurtis Rourke, who has steered the offense to 244 points through five games, averaged 16.3 yards on 22 completions against Maryland, throwing for 359 yards. He had three touchdown passes and two interceptions.
“Nobody had any kind of doubt he would bounce back,” Cignetti said.
Speaking of certainties, Cignetti affirmed his confidence in the team’s ability to race to a fast start — and sustain it.
“I’m not surprised,” he said. “I pretty much told everybody when I was hired this is what was possible.”
Idle last week, Northwestern is aiming to regroup from a 24-5 loss at Washington on Sept. 21 in the Huskies’ Big Ten debut.
The Wildcats sputtered offensively, gaining just 112 yards, while quarterback Jack Lausch threw two interceptions and was sacked twice.
Playing without injured leading rusher Cam Porter (lower body), Northwestern collected just 59 yards on the ground. The team had a turnover on downs after four attempts from the Washington 1-yard line early in the fourth quarter.
Wildcats coach David Braun said Porter is “trending in the right direction” for a return against Indiana.
“If there’s anyone that’s going to work their tails off to make sure they’re back, it’s Cam Porter,” the coach said.
A healthy Porter would help, to be sure, but the Wildcats realize they’ll need to be sharp on the ground and across the board to keep pace with the Hoosiers.
“It’s a hot football team right now,” Braun said. “They’re playing really confident, playing really well, off to a 5-0 start. No weaknesses on this team. Played really well in all three phases. … (There’s) an incredible opportunity, incredible challenge in front of us.”
Northwestern will look to contain the Indiana wide receiver duo of Elijah Sarratt and Omar Cooper Jr., both of whom caught a TD pass against Maryland. Sarratt led the team with seven receptions for 128 yards.
“He’s just consistent. He’s just always gonna be reliable,” Rourke said. “It’s why I like throwing to him so much. He’s reliable. He’s always gonna be there, and he’s someone that I can trust and that’s gonna make a play.”
Northwestern leads the all-time series with Indiana 47-35-1, including victories in five of the past six meetings.
–Field Level Media
Sports
ATP roundup: Quentin Halys blasts 17 aces, wins Generali Open for first crown
Mar 24, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Quentin Halys (FRA) hits a forehand against Alexander Zverev (GER) (not pictured) on day eight of the 2026 Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images Frenchman Quentin Halys delivered 17 aces and earned his first career title with a solid 6-4, 7-6 (6) victory over defending champion Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan in the Generali Open final at Kitzbuhel, Austria on Saturday.
Halys, 29, turned pro in 2012 and had played in just other ATP final — losing to Italy’s Matteo Berrettini in the 2024 Swiss Open. Halys won 86.8% of his first-serve points (33 of 38) and didn’t face a single break point.
Top-seeded Bublik led 6-5 in the second-set tiebreaker but couldn’t convert a set point. Halys then scored two more points to finish the match.
Bublik had six aces and saved 5 of 6 break points. He hadn’t lost a set this week prior to the title match and was looking for his 10th career ATP crown.
Estoril Open
Fourth-seeded Alexander Blockx of Belgium rallied for a 5-7, 7-6 (1), 7-6 (5) victory over second-seeded Luciano Darderi of Italy in the semifinals at Portugal to reach the first ATP final of his career.
Blockx, 21, recorded eight aces and saved 8 of 14 break points while sliding past Darderi. In the third-set tiebreaker, Darderi scored the first four points before Blockx turned things around and won seven of eight to close the match.
Blockx will face Luca Van Assche, who posted a 6-4, 7-5 victory over fellow Frenchman Hugo Gaston. Van Assche won the final two games to close out the match in straight sets.
The final will also be the first for the 22-year-old Van Assche. The win over Gaston came in his first ATP semifinal.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Sean McVay says Aaron Donald still weighing Rams comeback
Former Pittsburgh Panther and retired NFL defensive tackle Aaron Donald waves to the crowd while walking out onto the field during his jersey number retirement ceremony during halftime of the Pittsburgh Panthers vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish game at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA on November 15, 2025. Aaron Donald is undergoing an NFL-level training program as he considers ending his retirement, but Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay said no decision has been made.
McVay provided an update Saturday as Rams players reported for training camp, explaining that Donald is following a demanding and carefully structured routine similar to the one he used during his playing career.
The process is intended to show the 35-year-old whether his body can withstand the physical demands of another season after two years away from the game.
McVay said he genuinely does not know which direction Donald will choose. The Rams, however, are prepared to explore a reunion if the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year decides he is ready.
“If he feels good, then you guys know he’s going to be ready to rock,” McVay said.
Donald retired in March 2024 after spending all 10 of his NFL seasons with the Rams. He recorded 111 sacks, earned eight first-team All-Pro selections and was named to the Pro Bowl in every season of his career.
The possibility of a comeback emerged after Los Angeles began considering a trade for star pass rusher Myles Garrett. McVay contacted Donald for his opinion of Garrett, and the conversation eventually shifted toward whether Donald might be interested in playing alongside him.
The Rams acquired Garrett in June, adding the reigning Defensive Player of the Year to a defense that now could become even more imposing if Donald returns.
“But this is his decision,” McVay said. “He’s earned the right to be able to do it on his terms. And that’s why I think you guys are seeing us take this approach. But I did not ever really think this would be something, but I’m not going to sit here and act like I’m not excited about the possibility of it.”
Donald last played during the 2023 season, finishing with eight sacks and 53 tackles while earning another first-team All-Pro selection.
McVay initially thought Donald was done for good, as the defensive tackle said he felt fulfilled after retirement. However, his stance has shifted enough for Donald to consider testing himself physically again, though McVay made clear that walking away once more would be fully respected.
“He doesn’t owe us anything,” McVay said.
–Field Level Media
Sports
CJ Abrams, Foster Griffin spark Nationals over D-backs
Jul 25, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams (5) hits a two RBI double against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the third inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images CJ Abrams had three hits including a home run, Foster Griffin pitched into the seventh inning and the Nationals beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-3 on Saturday in Washington.
Abrams tied the game with a two-run double in the third and hit his 25th home run in the fifth, giving him a major-league-leading 79 RBIs. He also singled and stole his 17th base.
Griffin (12-2), a free agent at the end of the season, may have been making his final start for Washington with the trade deadline approaching. Griffin, who struck out two and walked one, allowed three runs on six hits after giving up one or zero earned runs in eight straight starts.
Clayton Beeter pitched 1-2-3 ninth for his ninth save.
Gabriel Moreno had a two-run single for Arizona, which had won four straight, and Tim Tawa had two hits and a run.
Rookie Mitch Bratt (0-1) gave up five runs on seven hits over five innings in his fourth start. He struck out three and walked five.
An error by second baseman Ketel Marte gave the Nationals runners on first and second with one out in the second, but Bratt retired Nasim Nunez and Keibert Ruiz.
The D-backs struck for two runs in the third. Ryan Waldschmidt led off with a single and Corbin Carroll was hit by a pitch. Geraldo Perdomo bunted the runners over and Moreno followed with a two-run single.
Washington answered with a four-run rally in the bottom half. Curtis Mead walked with one out and Andres Chaparro doubled him to third. Abrams lined a double to center and the game was tied. After Abrams was out trying to steal third, Dylan Crews walked. Jacob Young singled and Daylen Lile tripled into the right field corner and the Nationals led 4-2.
Abrams made it 5-2 when he homered to right-center leading off the fifth.
In the seventh, Tawa doubled with two outs and scored on a single by James McCann. Eddy Yean came on and retired pinch hitter Max Kepler to end the inning.
–Field Level Media
ATP roundup: Quentin Halys blasts 17 aces, wins Generali Open for first crown
Sean McVay says Aaron Donald still weighing Rams comeback
