Sports
Newly ranked, No. 24 Vanderbilt takes aim at Oklahoma
Vanderbilt Commodores guard Jason Edwards (1) is led off the court after beating the Kentucky Wildcats at Memorial Gym in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. Two teams looking to add to their NCAA Tournament resumes meet when No. 24 Vanderbilt visits Oklahoma for a Saturday afternoon Southeastern Conference clash in Norman, Okla.
Both squads play exciting brands of basketball and can get points from all over the floor.
The Commodores (16-4, 4-3 SEC) have four players averaging double-digit scoring: Jason Edwards (17.3), Devin McGlockton (10.9), AJ Hoggard (10.8) and Tyler Nickel (10.6).
The Sooners (15-5, 2-5) have three in Jalon Moore (18.2), Jeremiah Fears (15.9) and Duke Miles (10.6).
Edwards, Vanderbilt’s most dangerous player to defend, has hit double figures in all but one game, coming when he clearly wasn’t healthy in a Jan. 7 loss to Mississippi State. The cat-quick junior guard is equally adept at driving the lane for points or hitting 3-pointers (39.2 percent).
The Sooners have an alpha dog of their own in Fears, an NBA prospect who was held scoreless in 19 foul-plagued minutes in Tuesday’s 75-68 loss at No. 13 Texas A&M. Fears had scored 16, 16 and 20 points in his previous three games following a two-point effort on Jan. 11 at Georgia, which marked the first time he hadn’t scored in double figures.
Oklahoma coach Porter Moser spoke to the need for more scoring consistency after the loss to the Aggies, when Brycen Goodine scored 24 points and Moore added 22. No one else had more than five.
“Jalon and Brycen obviously (played well), but we needed some more scoring contributions from some guys,” Moser said.
As for Vanderbilt, Hoggard and McGlockton have been more steady than spectacular. Nickel, on the other hand, has recently flashed signs of being a go-to scorer, averaging 14.7 points over the last three games while hitting 12 of 22 shots from 3-point range.
The Commodores will play their first game as a ranked team since 2015. Vanderbilt should be fresh and healthy for this one after last playing a week ago in a 74-69 upset of then-No. 9 Kentucky, its second victory in eight days over a top-10 team (then-No. 6 Tennessee on Jan. 18).
Vanderbilt, which counts seven juniors or seniors in its nine-man rotation, showed its maturity in that game. The Commodores survived blowing a 13-point halftime lead to make multiple winning plays in the final minutes.
“Momentum was huge,” coach Mark Byington said. “Their fans are going crazy. Their guys were playing good basketball. And to be able to stop that, and to be able to figure out a way, it’s a lot of character. It really is.”
When Vanderbilt wins, it often relies on defense to create easy buckets in transition. It ranks 14th in the country at forcing turnovers on 22.4 percent of possessions, according to Ken Pomeroy. The Sooners cough it up 17.4 percent of the time (177th).
Oklahoma wins when it shoots well. The Sooners rank 40th in 3-point percentage (37.2) and 30th in 2-point percentage (56.6).
This marks the first time the teams have met with Oklahoma as part of the SEC.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Cards extend manager Oliver Marmol through '28 season
Feb 22, 2026; West Palm Beach, Florida, USA; St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol (37) looks on from inside the dugout against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol received a two-year contract extension through the 2028 season, the team announced Sunday.
Financial terms were not disclosed by the team, which holds an option for the 2029 season.
“As I’ve gotten to know Oli, I’ve seen someone who cares about this organization and knows what has made the Cardinals special over time — and who understands that for us to get where we need to go, we must compete relentlessly to set new standards in everything that we do,” president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said.
“He is invested in the progress of our young core and is unafraid to challenge himself and to help those around him grow. I am energized to continue working with him towards the on-field success that we expect and that our fans deserve.”
Marmol, 39, has guided the Cardinals to a 325-323 record during his four seasons as the skipper. He led St. Louis to the National League Central title in 2022 before the team fell in the wild-card series to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Last season, the Cardinals posted a 78-84 record to finish in fourth place in the NL Central.
Marmol was a coach with St. Louis from 2017-21 under previous managers Mike Shildt and Mike Matheny.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Tyler Reif treated for heat exhaustion after Trucks race
Oct 31, 2025; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR Truck Series driver Tyler Reif (41) during the NASCAR Truck Series Championship race at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series rookie Tyler Reif was treated for heat exhaustion after Saturday night’s street race in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Reif, 18, was transported to an area medical facility after finishing 16th in the race in the No. 42 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet. He was later released.
“Tyler and his family would like to express their gratitude to the NASCAR officials, track medical workers and the local medical facility staff for their care,” Niece Motorsports said in a release.
Reif made his debut in the NASCAR Craftsman Trucks Series in 2025. Saturday’s race was just his third on the circuit, including a 17th-place finish at Atlanta on Feb. 21.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: RB David Montgomery 'wants out' of Detroit
Dec 25, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) looks on before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images Lions running back David Montgomery “wants out” of Detroit after three seasons, ESPN reported on Sunday.
Montgomery, however, immediately appeared to refute the report on X, posting: “Damn, Dmo told you that?”
The ESPN report claims the Lions would want “a decent Day 3 pick (possibly a fifth-rounder)” in the 2026 NFL Draft in return for Montgomery, who turns 29 in June and is owed $6 million next season.
The report follows general manager Brad Holmes’ remarks after the season about Montgomery being unhappy with his playing time in 2025. Sharing a backfield with Jahmyr Gibbs, Montgomery rushed for a career-low 716 yards and eight touchdowns in 17 games (no starts).
“Those are conversations that we’re going to have to have because I’ve got a lot of respect for that player,” Holmes said of Montgomery in January. “He deserves to be in a situation where his skillset can be utilized, and so yeah would love for it to be here, but if it can’t be here then you’d just love to see where could work out best for him.”
At the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Tuesday, Holmes said the situation with Montgomery is “fluid.” He signed a two-year extension during the 2024 season that runs through the end of the 2027 campaign.
“Yeah, I have been in touch with David’s agent, and his representation,” Holmes revealed. “Obviously, we love David, he’s a great player, we love to have him, you know, kind of want to put last year in the rear view, and just move forward. But, obviously, a player has to want to be at a certain place as well. The conversations are still fluid, but we’ll see how it goes.”
Montgomery has rushed for 2,506 yards and 33 touchdowns in 45 games (28 starts) in three seasons with Detroit (2023-25). He has 76 catches for 650 yards in that span.
He began his career with the NFC North rival Chicago Bears, who drafted him in the third round in 2019. Montgomery rushed for 3,609 yards and 26 scores in 60 games (51 starts) with the Bears (2019-22).
–Field Level Media
Cards extend manager Oliver Marmol through '28 season
Tyler Reif treated for heat exhaustion after Trucks race
