Sports
Future Pac-12 foes Washington State, No. 25 Boise State face off
Sep 7, 2024; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty (2) rushes for a first down during the first half against Oregon Ducks defensive back Nikko Reed (9) at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images The latest realignment juggling calls for Washington State and Boise State to become conference foes in the Pac-12, beginning in 2026.
The teams get a head start on their budding rivalry on Saturday night when the Cougars visit the No. 25 Broncos at Boise, Idaho.
Washington State and Oregon State are attempting to rebuild the Pac-12 and Boise State was one of four teams from the Mountain West that recently announced they had accepted an invitation.
The two schools are located roughly 300 miles apart via mountain roadways and have played just six times. The Cougars have won five of the meetings, including a 47-44 triple-overtime win at Pullman in 2017.
Though the Cougars (4-0) are unbeaten, the Broncos (2-1) are the team that is ranked. Boise State also will have the best player on the blue turf in star running back Ashton Jeanty.
The All-American and rising Heisman Trophy candidate is averaging a sparkling 10.5 yards per carry. Jeanty ranks second nationally with 586 rushing yards and is tied for second with nine rushing touchdowns in just 2 1/2 games — he sat out the second half of last week’s 56-14 victory over Portland State after gaining 127 yards on 11 carries in the first half.
“Ashton’s a pretty special guy,” said Boise State offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter, a former NFL and college head coach. “I think he’s a special character. We’re calling downhill runs and we’re not expecting 75-yard runs.”
The 5-foot-9 Jeanty has scoring runs of 77, 75 and 70 and a non-scoring run of 68 yards. He set school single-game records for rushing yards (267) and rushing touchdowns (six) when the Broncos beat Georgia Southern 56-45 on Aug. 31.
Washington State coach Jake Dickert is impressed with Jeanty’s running style and skill-set.
“He’s strong. He’s got one of the best stiff arms I’ve seen in a long time,” Dickert said. “So if you think you’re going to tackle him above the waist, it’s not happening. You gotta get through his legs. You gotta kill his motors. You gotta gang tackle with this guy. It’s not gonna be one person.”
The Broncos are averaging 48.7 points per game while the Cougars are averaging 46.3, so the scoreboard figures to be busy.
Washington State is coming off last Friday’s 54-52 double-overtime home win over San Jose State. The Cougars trailed by 14 points entering the fourth quarter before rallying for the victory.
Quarterback John Mateer passed for a career-best 390 yards and added 111 on the ground to become the first Washington State quarterback to pass for 300 and rush for 100 in the same game.
Overall, Mateer has passed for 1,102 yards and 11 touchdowns while rushing for 425 yards and five scores.
Dickert indicated the Cougars have plenty of room for improvement after the close call against the Spartans.
“I just think there’s so many things to clean up,” Dickert said. “We haven’t played our best football. We were on the short week. We got the win, and we’re moving on to Boise State.”
Broncos quarterback Maddux Madsen has passed for 616 yards, five touchdowns and one interception.
“I’m proud of how he’s efficient with our offense,” Boise State coach Spencer Danielson said. “He knows the offense, he knows how to move the offense, he makes the right throws and he’s very efficient with it. It’s a testament to how he preps and he’s a competitor.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Caitlin Clark-led Fever aim to stymie Storm
Jul 25, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Team Spoon guard Caitlin Clark (22) reacts in the second half against Team Coop during the 2026 WNBA All Star Game at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images Caitlin Clark had quite the weekend at the WNBA All-Star Game.
She met former President Barack Obama, unveiled her new line of basketballs and scored 17 points to help Team Spoon defeat Team Coop 129-122 Saturday in Chicago.
Clark and the Eastern Conference-leading Indiana Fever (17-10), who are riding a three-game winning streak, return from the All-Star break with a game Tuesday in Seattle (6-23), which has lost six in a row and is in last place.
“I’m excited this weekend is packed with a lot of stuff. I never want to take (All-Star weekend) for granted,” said Clark, who missed the All-Star Game as a rookie last season because of an injury.
“Any time you get to put on a uniform and play an All-Star Game is really special. It’s really a unique experience for myself as I never really got to play in a true All-Star Game (before).”
Clark was joined at the All-Star Game by teammates Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell, the latter who scored a game-high 28 points for Team Coop.
The Storm were represented in Chicago by 20-year-old center Dominique Malonga, who threw down a dunk off a pass from Angel Reese. Malonga is averaging a team-high 16.3 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks.
“I wanted to have an All-Star season but not necessarily be an All-Star,” said Malonga, who missed eight games earlier this season with a concussion. “I don’t know if it makes sense. I knew we were rebuilding and I just wanted to step up for this team and just have the season of me being a starter and just bringing all the work that I put in the offseason.”
This will be the third and final meeting between the Fever and Storm in the regular season, the first in Seattle. Indiana prevailed 89-78 on May 17 and 110-107 on July 17, with Clark scoring a career-high 45 points and adding 10 assists in the latter.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Vita Vea requests trade from Buccaneers amid contract dispute
Jan 3, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Vita Vea (50) warms up before the game against the Carolina Panthers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Vita Vea has requested a trade from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after negotiations over a new contract failed to produce an agreement.
The two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle’s agent, Collin Roberts, confirmed the request to multiple reporters Monday, one day before Tampa Bay’s veteran players were scheduled to report for training camp.
Vea is entering the final season of the four-year, $71 million extension he signed in 2022. The 31-year-old is due a $17 million base salary in 2026, but none of that money is guaranteed. He can also earn up to $1 million through per-game roster bonuses.
The contract dispute had already carried into the Buccaneers’ offseason program. Vea attended mandatory minicamp in June but did not participate in practices, allowing him to avoid fines while continuing to push for an extension.
Coach Todd Bowles said at the time that Vea was healthy and described the hold-in as “part of the business” side of the league.
It is unclear whether Vea will take part in training camp while Tampa Bay weighs its response to the request.
Vea remained one of the most important pieces of the Buccaneers’ defense last season, starting all 17 games and recording 34 tackles, 4.5 sacks, seven tackles for loss and 13 quarterback hits. His presence in the middle has helped Tampa Bay consistently rank among the NFL’s stronger teams against the run.
The Buccaneers selected the 6-foot-4, 347-pound lineman with the 12th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. He has totaled 256 tackles, 35 sacks and 79 QB hits in 112 games (107 starts) over eight seasons.
Vea also helped Tampa Bay win Super Bowl LV and earned Pro Bowl selections following the 2021 and 2024 seasons.
His request creates another major contract issue for the Buccaneers as camp begins. Quarterback Baker Mayfield is also entering the final year of his deal and has been seeking an extension, though he participated fully during minicamp.
Tampa Bay can reject Vea’s request and require him to play out the season, continue trying to reach an extension or explore a trade for one of the league’s most established interior defenders.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Guardians-Reds postponed, set for doubleheader Tuesday
Jul 27, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Rain pelts the stadium before the game between Cleveland Guardians and the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. The game was postponed due to inclement weather. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images The Cleveland Guardians and Cincinnati Reds will have to wait another day to begin the latest installment of the Ohio Cup.
Monday night’s series opener in Cincinnati was postponed because of rain and rescheduled as part of a split doubleheader on Tuesday.
The makeup game will begin at 1:40 p.m. local time, with the second game remaining at its originally scheduled time of 7:10 p.m.
Cleveland had planned to start right-hander Slade Cecconi (4-7, 4.60 ERA) against Cincinnati right-hander Chase Burns (12-1, 2.42) in the opener, and they are listed as the probable pitchers for Tuesday’s first game.
The scheduled pitching matchup for Tuesday night features Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams (10-5, 3.78) against Reds right-hander Brady Singer (5-9, 4.53).
The teams will conclude the three-game series Wednesday night in Cincinnati.
–Field Level Media
Caitlin Clark-led Fever aim to stymie Storm
Vita Vea requests trade from Buccaneers amid contract dispute
