Sports
Fresh off rout, No. 10 Illinois keeping guard up vs. UCLA
Feb 18, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Keaton Wagler (23) shoots the ball against Southern California Trojans guard Jordan Marsh (7) and guard Cam Woods (13) in the first half at Galen Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Illinois began a two-game road trip to Los Angeles with its biggest margin of victory in a Big Ten road game in 80 years.
But that triumph is now in the rear-view mirror for the No. 10 Fighting Illini, who will look to take down UCLA on Saturday.
Illinois (22-5, 13-3 Big Ten) routed Southern California 101-65 on Wednesday for its largest Big Ten win on enemy ground since hammering the University of Chicago 70-28 on Jan. 19, 1946.
The Illini recently stumbled with consecutive losses — their only defeats in a 16-game span — but coach Brad Underwood said he thinks his club is hitting its stride.
“It’s when you want to be playing your best,” Underwood said of late February. “It’s when you want to be mentally fresh. You’ve been through a grind, but you want to be whole, you want to be fresh. To be that is significant for us because goodness knows we’ve had a lot of turmoil with sicknesses and injuries.
“We can’t get complacent. That’s what I challenged the team within the locker room. It’s about preparation. We’ll have a very hungry UCLA team, and we have to match that intensity Saturday night.”
The Bruins (17-9, 9-6) were drubbed by an average of 26.5 points while being swept in a two-game trip to then-No. 2 Michigan last Saturday and to No. 15 Michigan State on Tuesday.
But the Bruins are a stellar 14-1 at home, with their loss coming in double overtime (98-97) against Indiana on Jan. 31.
That leaves Illinois wanting to match the effort it put up against USC when it made 13 of 29 3-point attempts and knocked down 24 of 26 free-throw tries to improve to 7-1 on the road.
Illinois’ Andrej Stojakovic returned from a two-game absence due to an ankle injury to score 22 points against the Trojans. He made 6 of 7 shots from the field while notching his sixth 20-point effort of the season.
“I was just glad to be out there,” Stojakovic said afterward. “I think when you don’t put pressure on yourself and you miss some time, your mindset kind of changes.”
Stojakovic stands second on the Illini with a 14.0 scoring average. Star freshman Keaton Wagler averages a team-best 18.1 points, while Kylan Boswell (13.9) and David Mirkovic (13.1) also are averaging over 13 per game.
UCLA coach Mick Cronin was not happy while his squad was being routed 86-56 by Michigan and 82-59 by Michigan State recently.
Cronin scorched his players for poor second-half defense against Michigan — the Wolverines were 18 of 23 (78.3%) from the field in the final 20 minutes — and was critical of his team’s preparation and effort against the Spartans.
“I didn’t like it. We don’t play hard enough,” Cronin said. “I’ve been telling you that for a long time, buddy. To be in the upper echelon of this league … we have some guys who aren’t playing to their capabilities.”
Tyler Bilodeau isn’t one of those players, as he leads UCLA in scoring (18.1) and rebounding (5.6). He scored 22 points against Michigan State for his eighth 20-point outing of the campaign.
But Bilodeau could use some consistent help, as the Bruins are struggling to find balance on offense.
“I think we just got to play smarter,” Bilodeau said. “Got to execute better. We just got to have guys making plays.”
The Bruins had won seven of nine games prior to the two dismal outings.
Illinois posted an 83-78 home win over UCLA last season. The Bruins hold a 6-5 edge in the all-time series. The first meeting was in 1949.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Falcons add RB Brian Robinson Jr. on 1-year deal
Nov 9, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Brian Robinson Jr. (3) warms up prior to the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images The Atlanta Falcons are signing running back Brian Robinson Jr. to a one-year, $2.5 million contract, NFL Network reported on Tuesday.
Robinson, who turned 27 on Sunday, rushed for 400 yards and two touchdowns on 92 carries in 17 regular-season games as a reserve in his lone season with the San Francisco 49ers in 2025. He also caught eight passes for 25 yards and returned 13 kickoffs for a 29.1-yard average with a long of 46.
He joins two-time Pro Bowl honoree and 2025 first-team All-Pro Bijan Robinson (no relation) and second-year running back Nathan Carter in Atlanta. Former Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier signed earlier this month with the Arizona Cardinals.
The 49ers had acquired Robinson from the Washington Commanders in August 2025 for a sixth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Washington selected Robinson in the third round of the 2022 draft out of Alabama. He has rushed for 2,729 yards and 17 TDs and caught 73 passes for 612 yards and five TDs in 58 regular-season games (37 starts) for Washington (2022-24) and San Francisco.
–Field Level Media
Sports
European fans file complaint over World Cup ticket prices
Dec 5, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; FIFA President Gianni Infantino and United States of America President Donald Trump speak to media as they arrive on the red carpet ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Draw at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Mandatory Credit: Brian Snyder-Reuters via Imagn Images European soccer fans have lodged a formal complaint over the high cost of tickets for this summer’s FIFA World Cup in North America.
Football Supporters Europe (FSE) and the consumer rights organization Euroconsumers filed an 18-page complaint on Tuesday with the European Commission in Brussels.
“FIFA holds a monopoly over ticket sales for the 2026 World Cup and has used that power to impose conditions on fans that would never be acceptable in a competitive market,” FSE and Euroconsumers said in a joint statement.
They argue that ticket prices are significantly higher than at any previous World Cup. Tickets for the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19 start at $4,185 — seven times the cost of the cheapest ticket at the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar.
The complaint accuses FIFA of engaging in “bait advertising,” “uncontrolled” dynamic pricing, “pressure-selling tactics” and a lack of transparency about seat locations and refund policies.
“Dynamic pricing turns fans’ loyalty into a bidding war, inflates costs without added value and locks out many supporters,” said Els Bruggeman, head of policy and enforcement at Euroconsumers, per ESPN.
The allegation of bait advertising, which is illegal under European Union consumer laws, is a reference to FIFA’s claim in October that group-stage ticket prices started at $60. However, after fans’ groups across Europe complained about the lack of availability at that price, FIFA had to release more tickets at that price in December.
“Football is a universal passion but FIFA is treating it like a private luxury by exploiting its absolute monopoly over World Cup ticketing,” said Marco Scialdone, head of litigation at Euroconsumers, per The Athletic.
“We are calling on the European Commission to intervene immediately with interim measures to halt these exploitative practices before the 2026 tournament begins.”
The World Cup opens on June 11, with matches taking place in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Golf Glance: Masters spot on line in Houston; LPGA hits Arizona
Mar 8, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Min Woo Lee plays his shot from the ninth tee during the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images One of the final Masters spots is on the line at this week’s PGA Tour stop in Houston, while the LPGA Tour hits Arizona, the DP World Tour continues its Asia Swing and the Champions visit southern California.
PGA TOUR
THIS WEEK: Texas Children’s Houston Open, March 26-29
Course: Memorial Park Golf Course (Par 70, 7,475 Yards)
Purse: $9.9M (Winner: $1.782M)
Defending Champion: Min Woo Lee
FedEx Cup Leader: Jacob Bridgeman
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: Thursday-Friday: 3-7 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday: 1-3 p.m. (GC), 3-6 p.m. (NBC/Peacock)
Streaming (ESPN+): Thursday-Sunday: 8:15 a.m.-7 p.m.
X: @TCHouOpen
NOTES: The field includes 18 of the top 50 players in the Official World Golf Ranking. … The winner will earn a spot in the Masters next month if not already exempt. Thirty players in the field have already qualified to play at Augusta National. … World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler withdrew Tuesday due to the impending birth of his second child with his wife, Meredith. He was replaced in the field by Matt Kuchar. … Woo set the tournament scoring record at Memorial Park of 260 with his one-shot victory over Scheffler and Gary Woodland last year. … Brooks Koepka, who will be making his sixth start in his return to the PGA Tour, assisted in the 2019 renovation of Memorial Park along with Tom Doak and Houston Astros owner Jim Crane. … Sponsor exemptions include Texas A&M alum Bronson Burgoon, Texas alum Cole Hammer and Mason Howell, an 18-year-old who has committed to the University of Georgia.
BEST BETS: Lee (+1500 at DraftKings) is seeking to become the first player to successfully defend his title at Memorial Park. … Chris Gotterup (+2050) is a four-time PGA Tour winner and the only two-time winner on tour this year. … Sam Burns (+2350) bookended a pair of missed cuts with a T6 at Pebble Beach and a T13 at The Players. … Jake Knapp (+2400) is the highest-ranked player in the field at No. 42 who has yet to qualify for the Masters. … Michael Thorbjornsen (+3200) is still seeking his first win on tour, but played in the final group at The Players, carding a 77 to finish T22. … Marco Penge (+3200) is coming off a T4 last week, his best result so far in 2026 after winning the Open de Espana in October. … Sungjae Im (+6100) held the lead after each of the first three rounds last week before being undone by a 74 on Sunday that dropped him to T4.
Last Tournament: Valspar Championship (Matt Fitzpatrick)
Next Tournament: Valero Texas Open, San Antonio, April 2-5
LPGA TOUR
THIS WEEK: Ford Championship, Chandler, Ariz., March 26-29
Course: Whirlwind Golf Club, Cattail Course (Par 72, 6,675 Yards)
Purse: $2.25M
Defending Champion: Hyo Joo Kim
Race to CME Globe Leader: Nelly Korda
HOW TO FOLLOW:
TV: Thursday-Sunday: 6-7 p.m. ET (GolfChannel.com), 7-9 p.m. (Golf Channel)
X: @LPGA
NOTES: World No. 2 Nelly Korda, who won the inaugural Ford Championship in 2024, finished one shot off the lead last week to follow up her win in the weather-shortened Tournament of Champions. She is joined in this week’s field by World No. 1 Jenno Thitikul and No. 3 Charley Hull as well as her sister, Jessica, a six-time winner who will tee it up on the LPGA Tour for the first time since 2023. Jessica Korda, 33, has taken time off for maternity leave after recovering from a back injury. … Lizette Salas, who has been sidelined since 2024 due to her own back injury, is also in the field along with Lexi Thompson. … Kim overcame a four-shot deficit to win last year, beating Lilia Vu with a birdie on the first playoff hole.
Last Tournament: Fortinet Founders Cup (Kim)
Next Tournament: Aramco Championship, Las Vegas, April 2-5
DP WORLD TOUR
THIS WEEK: Hero Indian Open, New Delhi, March 26-29
Course: DLF G&CC (Par 72, 7,416 Yards)
Purse: $2.25M
Defending Champion: Eugenio Chacarra
Race to Dubai Leader: Patrick Reed
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: Thursday-Friday: 3:30-8:30 a.m.; Saturday, 4-8:30 a.m.; Sunday: 2:30-7:30 a.m. (Golf Channel)
X: @DPWorldTour
NOTES: Chacarra won by two shots last year for his maiden DP World Tour title, and was one of only three players to finish under par. … Akshay Bhatia, who won the Arnold Palmer Invitational earlier this month, is in the field. … The is the second of the four-event Asia Swing, with DP World Tour members competing for a total prize fund of $10.6 million. … The player who finishes first in the Asia Swing will earn a place in all events in Phase Two of the DP World Tour season, the Back 9 and a $200,000 bonus. Japan’s Keita Nakajima won last year’s Asia Swing. … The three leading DP World Tour members will qualify for the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club from May 14-17.
Last Tournament: Hainan Classic (Jordan Gumberg)
Next Tournament: China Open, Shanghai, April 23-26
PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS
THIS WEEK: Hoag Classic, Newport Beach, Calif., March 27-29
Course: Newport Beach Country Club (Par 71, 6,725 Yards)
Purse: $2.2M (Winner: $330,000)
Defending Champion: Miguel Angel Jimenez
Charles Schwab Cup leader: Stewart Cink
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: Friday: 3-6 p.m. ET (GolfChannel.com); 10 p.m.-Midnight (Golf Channel — Tape Delay); Saturday-Sunday: 4-5 p.m. (GolfChannel.com), 5-7 p.m. (Golf Channel)
X: @ChampionsTour
NOTES: This is the fifth of 28 events on the 2026 schedule. … Two-time event winner Ernie Els (2020, 2023) is in the field.
Last Tournament: Cologuard Classic (Steven Alker)
Next Tournament: Senior PGA Championship, Bradenton, Fla., April 16-19
LIV GOLF LEAGUE
THIS WEEK: OFF.
2026 Season Leaders: Individual: Jon Rahm; Team: Ripper GC
X: @livgolf_league
Last Event: LIV Golf South Africa (Individual: Bryson DeChambeau; Team: Crushers GC)
Next Event: LIV Golf Mexico City, April 16-19
–Field Level Media
Report: Falcons add RB Brian Robinson Jr. on 1-year deal
European fans file complaint over World Cup ticket prices
