Sports
Alabama tackles rival Auburn with Charles Bediako case pending
Feb 1, 2026; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide center Charles Bediako (14) reacts after a foul call by the referee against the Florida Gators during the second half at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images Alabama split back-to-back games against Southeastern Conference co-leaders Florida and Texas A&M.
The Crimson Tide (15-7, 5-4 SEC) bounced back from a 100-77 thrashing at the hands of the host Gators to defeat the visiting Aggies 100-97 on Wednesday. That left them just two games behind the conference leaders as they visit Auburn on Saturday.
Head coach Nate Oats gave the players the credit for their response after their most lopsided loss of the season.
“I think some guys admitted their effort wasn’t where it needed to be (against Florida),” Oats said. “Their mind wasn’t where it needed to be, and we’ve got to turn this thing around. So I think it was more of an internal thing. We’ve got to get internal leadership from players.”
The Crimson Tide had six double-figure scorers and turned the ball over just six times after giving it away 18 times against Florida. They had 19 assists on 31 field goals and made 16 3-pointers in their third straight game with at least 14.
Oats said he wasn’t emphasizing scoring even though Alabama finished with its highest point total against an SEC opponent this season, reaching triple figures for the sixth time overall.
“We weren’t going to talk about scoring this game,” Oats said. “We were going to talk about our effort, our toughness and our playing for each other.”
As of Friday night, Charles Bediako remains eligible. On Friday, the NCAA requested that a court overturn Bediako’s temporary injunction that’s allowed him to return from professional to college basketball. The judge said he anticipates making a ruling “soon.”
Auburn (14-8, 5-4) has had a full week of preparation since a 77-69 loss at Tennessee on Jan. 31. Head coach Steven Pearl said the absence of a mid-week game came “at a great time” for a couple of “banged-up” Tigers.
Leading scorer Keyshawn Hall (20.9 points per game) played against Tennessee with three stitches in a finger on his shooting hand and scored 21.
“He’s one who is never going to complain about a little injury,” forward Sebastian Williams-Adams said of Hall. “Getting stitches is no joke, but he treated it like it was like a paper cut. He’s a warrior. We aren’t obviously in that game without Key.”
Auburn looks to get back on track after the loss to the Volunteers ended a four-game winning streak.
–Field Level Media
Sports
SMU tries to avoid slip-up against cellar-dwelling Pitt
Jan 17, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; SMU Mustangs guard Boopie Miller (2) reacts to being knocked to the floor during the second half against the Virginia Cavaliers at Moody Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images SMU needs to avoid jeopardizing its NCAA Tournament hopes as it visits Pitt for an Atlantic Coast Conference clash on Saturday afternoon.
The Mustangs (15-7, 4-5 ACC) have dropped two in a row with a loss at Louisville and a tough 84-83 setback at home to North Carolina State on Tuesday night.
The Mustangs sit 34th in the NCAA’s NET rankings, but know they need to get back on track and avoid what could be a damaging loss to Pitt (9-14, 2-8 ACC), which has also lost two in a row and has a NET ranking of 114.
Boopie Miller, SMU’s leading scorer at 19.1 points per game, scored 14 points against the Wolfpack, but his game-winning attempt in the closing seconds was blocked, sealing the Mustangs’ defeat.
“The league is certainly better this year,” SMU coach Andy Enfield said of the depth of the ACC. “More quality teams from top to bottom, meaning on a national scale, some of these teams, including SMU, won big out-of-conference games in November and early December… So every game we play now is a pretty important game for us on the regional and league scale, but also nationally.”
The Panthers, who are led by Brandin Cummings (12.5 points per game) and Cameron Corhen (12.1), find themselves in the conference’s cellar, tied with Notre Dame and Georgia Tech heading into the weekend. Pitt is looking for more consistent play that can lead to wins instead of just valiant efforts.
Lack of depth and size have hurt Pitt as well as other factors, such as poor free-throw shooting (66.1%) and turnovers. The Panthers committed 17 turnovers in their most recent loss, 67-47 at Virginia, and surrendered 13 offensive rebounds.
Pitt athletic director Allen Greene recently spoke to the media about Pitt’s disappointing season, which could foreshadow changes ahead if there’s no noticeable improvement.
“We have high expectations for our men’s basketball program, and we haven’t lived up to those expectations this year,” Greene said. “Obviously, Coach (Capel) knows that, the staff is aware of that, the players are aware of that. They want more out of what we got going on, and I know they’re working their tails off to try to fix it.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Final Super Bowl injury report: Seahawks S Nick Emmanwori good to go
Jan 17, 2026; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori (3) warms up prior to a game against the San Francisco 49ers in an NFC Divisional Round game at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images Seattle Seahawks standout rookie safety Nick Emmanwori returned to full practice participation and is expected to play in Super Bowl LX against the New England Patriots on Sunday in Santa Clara, Calif.
Emmanwori suffered a low ankle sprain at practice Wednesday and was held out Thursday. Seattle head coach Mike Macdonald told reporters he “fully expects” Emmanwori to play, and that was backed up by Friday’s injury report listing with Emmanwori without a game status.
Only one Seahawk is questionable, fullback Robbie Ouzts (neck).
Quarterback Sam Darnold (oblique) and left tackle Charles Cross (foot) were among the other key Seahawks who had been dealing with injuries late in the season. Both Darnold and Cross were limited on Wednesday but increased to full participants by Friday, with neither warranting a game designation.
The Patriots deemed three players questionable: defensive lineman Joshua Farmer (hamstring) and linebackers Harold Landry (knee) and Robert Spillane (ankle).
Farmer, a rookie, practiced in full all week but has been on injured reserve since the Dec. 21 game at Baltimore. Landry (8.5 sacks in regular season) missed the AFC Championship Game win over Denver but could return.
Like his Seattle counterpart, New England quarterback Drake Maye has also been practicing through a minor injury to his right (throwing) shoulder but was a full participant every day.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Kansas State staying positive amid rut with TCU next up
Feb 1, 2026; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Kansas State Wildcats head coach Jerome Tang looks on during the second half against the Iowa State Cyclones at Bramlage Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-Imagn Images Kansas State coach Jerome Tang may not be happy about the way his team is playing, but he could not be more pleased with his team in general.
The Wildcats (10-12, 1-8 Big 12) are on a three-game losing streak after a 95-61 shellacking at the hands of then-No. 8 Iowa State on Sunday.
They will try to get back on track Saturday when they travel to Fort Worth, Texas to take on TCU (13-9, 3-6) in a Big 12 matchup.
Tang is under pressure as the Wildcats face a third straight season of not making the NCAA Tournament.
Kansas State won 26 games and reached the Elite Eight in Tang’s first season four years ago, but have only won 45 games since.
Sunday was the latest painful game for Wildcats fans as the Cyclones went on runs of 22-4 and 13-0 in the first half to build a 29-point halftime lead.
The Wildcats, who played a fourth straight game with three starters out because of injury, cut the lead to 54-31 with 16:30 left, but Iowa State kicked the door open again with an 11-2 spurt.
Still, Tang could do nothing but praise his team.
“I’m not disappointed at all,” he said. “I’m with these dudes every single day and I know everything they are going through and y’all don’t. So I was proud of our guys, especially in the second half.”
P.J. Haggerty continues to lead the Wildcats with 23 points per game, and Abdi Bashir Jr. has 13.2.
The Horned Frogs are struggling as well, having lost two straight after an 87-61 defeat to Colorado on Sunday.
TCU failed to score for 7:23 in the first half and the Buffaloes went on a 12-0 run to lead 34-21. The Horned Frogs were behind by double digits the rest of the way.
“I have to look at myself and figure out how I can bring us out more early,” coach Jamie Dixon said. “There is not a lot positive we can take out of this game. We were a step slow on everything we did.”
David Punch leads the Horned Frogs with 14.3 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. Xavier Edmonds is scoring 12 points a game and pulling down 5.6 rebounds.
–Field Level Media
SMU tries to avoid slip-up against cellar-dwelling Pitt
Final Super Bowl injury report: Seahawks S Nick Emmanwori good to go
