Sports
Hot of late, Cincinnati out to extend Utah's road woes
Feb 8, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats guard Jizzle James (2) shoots against UCF Knights guard Riley Kugel (2) in the first half at Fifth Third Arena. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images Cincinnati looks to continue its offensive outburst and its winning ways when it hosts struggling Utah on Sunday afternoon in Big 12 play.
The Bearcats (13-12, 5-7 Big 12) have found their stride offensively in winning their last two games, reaching the 90-point plateau for the first two times in Big 12 action. Utah (9-15, 1-10) comes in on a six-game losing streak and has dropped 11 of 12.
After falling below .500 for the first time in the Wes Miller era and for the first time since the 2020-21 season, Cincinnati has responded with two resounding conference wins, 92-72 over visiting UCF last Sunday and a 91-62 victory at Kansas State on Wednesday. The point totals are the third and fourth-most on the season behind 94-point outputs against Western Carolina and NJIT.
Over the past two games, Jizzle James is averaging 19.5 points on 58.3% shooting (14 of 24) from the field and 69.2% (9 of 13) from 3-point range, while big man Baba Miller has averaged 16.5 points and 11 rebounds, shooting 52.9% (9 of 17) from the field.
“I got in a rhythm (against Kansas State) and I kept trusting my work,” James said. “I’m glad they were able to go down. That’s something I’ve been working on consistently. We’ll just build on (the win), and now we’re just looking forward to our next game.”
Cincinnati shot a season-high 58.9% (33 of 56) from the field against UCF and connected on a season-high 16 threes against Kansas State. The games marked the two best 3-point shooting nights of the season (61.1% on 11 of 18 against UCF and 57.1% on 16 of 28 at Kansas State).
Utah, on the other hand, is looking for a win of any kind. The Utes are 0-8 on the road this season and have dropped all five road games in conference play.
The Utes are led by Terrence Brown, who is averaging 20.8 points, ranked fourth in the Big 12 as of Saturday, and shooting 44.9% from the field. Brown also averages 3.9 assists, 2.2 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game.
“Terrence needs to have more of a well-rounded, complete game, not just scoring,” Utah coach Alex Jensen said. “He’s got to do it with his defense and passing and he’s gotten better at that.”
Keanu Dawes has also been a bright spot for the Utes in their six-game skid. In the last five games since being held scoreless against Kansas State, the 6-foot-9 forward has averaged 15.8 points and 9.4 rebounds while shooting 62.5% from the field. Dawes has pulled down double-digit rebounds in three of the last four games, including two resulting in double-doubles.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Twisted Minds move to semis at OWCS Pre-Season Bootcamp
A backlit keyboard is part of the gear online video game streamer Jordan Woodruff uses in his Gilbert home.
Jordan Woodruff
Twisted Minds recorded a 3-0 sweep of T1 on Saturday to advance to the semifinals of the Overwatch Champions Series Pre-Season Bootcamp in Seoul.
Twisted Minds posted a 2-0 win on Busan, 1-0 victory on Blizzard World and 3-2 triumph on New Junk City.
They advanced to set up a semifinal encounter on Sunday versus Team Liquid, who posted a 3-1 win over Virtus.pro.
Team Liquid got the early jump on Virtus.pro by securing a 2-0 victory on Lijiang Tower and 1-0 triumph on Eichenwalde. Virtus.pro responded with a 3-0 win on New Junk City before Team Liquid ended the match with a 5-4 victory on Havana.
Sunday’s other semifinal will pit Crazy Racoon versus Team Falcons.
Crazy Raccoon seized a 3-1 win over Team Peps on Saturday. The teams split the first two maps before Crazy Raccoon notched a 3-0 win on Shambali Monastery and a 3-2 victory on Blizzard World.
Team Falcons alternated wins and losses before posting a 3-2 win over Weibo Gaming. Team Falcons recorded a 2-1 victory on Ilios, an 83.98m-53.02m win on Esperanca and 1-0 triumph on Shambali Monastery to offset 2-1 setbacks on Midtown and Havana.
Twelve teams are participating in the $25,000 event that kicks off the 2026 Overwatch Champions Series (OWCS). Teams from North America, the EMEA region, China, Japan and elsewhere in Asia were invited.
The single-elimination bracket saw teams seeded by regional and 2025 World Finals performance. All matches are first-to-three until Sunday’s grand finals, which are first-to-four.
Overwatch Champions Series 2026 Pre-Season Bootcamp prize pool
1. $15,000
2. $5,000
3-4. $2,500
5-8. No money — Team Peps, Weibo Gaming, T1, Virtus.pro
9-12. No money — Disguised, VARREL, Dallas Fuel, All Gamers
–Field Level Media
Sports
Daytona 500 start time moved up due to weather concerns
Feb 13, 2026; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Busch (8) during practice for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images NASCAR moved up the start time for Sunday’s Daytona 500 by one hour due to the threat of inclement weather.
The National Weather Service forecast calls for a 50% chance of rain Sunday afternoon, with the chances rising as the day goes on. Officials hope the time change will allow drivers to finish all 500 miles on Sunday.
Rain is nothing new for “The Great American Race.” The Daytona 500 was postponed to a Monday finish in 2024 and featured a 3 1/2-hour delay last year.
Pole winner Kyle Busch and Chase Briscoe will share the front row when the green flag waves to start the race at 2:13 p.m. ET.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Northern Iowa tight end Parker Sutherland dies at 18
Northern Iowa Panthers tight end Parker Sutherland (89) goes for the catch during a game against South Dakota State Jackrabbits on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings, South Dakota. Northern Iowa football player Parker Sutherland died Saturday morning at age 18, the university announced.
The school’s statement did not reveal a cause of death. However, on Thursday afternoon, Cedar Falls Fire and Rescue responded to a call from the university’s football complex, with the call log recording the reason as “unconscious/fainting (non trauma).”
“I’m heartbroken,” head coach Todd Stepsis said in a school news release.
“Parker embodied everything we look for in a UNI Football Panther. His talent and potential excited us on a daily basis, but it failed to compare to the type of person and teammate he was. His character, humility, toughness and genuine love of others are what champions are made of.”
A 6-foot-6 tight end, Sutherland played in four games as a freshman for the Panthers in 2025. He played three sports at Iowa City High School and was a second-team All-State football selection in 2024.
“We are devastated — just devastated,” Northern Iowa athletic director Megan Franklin said. “The blessing is that we have a Panther family who will hold the Sutherland family, our football team, and our athletics staff close as we grieve.”
Sutherland is survived by his parents, Adam and Jill Sutherland, and his sister, Georgia.
–Field Level Media
Twisted Minds move to semis at OWCS Pre-Season Bootcamp
Daytona 500 start time moved up due to weather concerns
