Sports
No. 10 Penn State to work on 'focus' vs. Kent State
Aug 31, 2024; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Nicholas Singleton (10) runs the ball for a touchdown during the third quarter against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images No. 10 Penn State returns to play Saturday, when it welcomes Kent State to State College, Pa., after each side faced their fair share of struggles the last time they stepped onto the field.
Penn State (2-0) earned a victory on Sept. 7, but one that felt far too close from a top-10 Big Ten side against unranked Bowling Green out of the Mid-American Conference. In the first two quarters, Bowling Green had 286 yards of total offense to 236 for Penn State as the Nittany Lions trailed 24-20 at the half.
Penn State scored the first 14 points of the second half to earn a 34-27 victory as Nicholas Singleton (119) and Kaytron Allen (101) each rushed for 100 yards. But future opponents were exposed to a path forward against the Nittany Lions.
Missed tackles and the wide-open style of play in the first half raised concerns for Penn State head coach James Franklin with how his defense was able to communicate throughout the opening two quarters.
“We were trying to rely specifically on the headset communication and at home that can be a little bit more challenging with the linebacker trying to verbally communicate to all 11 guys on the field,” Franklin said.
Kent State (0-3) was walloped Saturday at Tennessee, falling behind 65-0 at halftime before losing 71-0.
Playing against an opponent that is clearly overmatched this weekend, Penn State will get a chance to work on the shortcomings it showed in the first half against Bowling Green.
“The challenge is ultimately about us and our focus on Penn State and us getting better and developing and playing up to our standard week in and week out,” Franklin said. “(It) is easier said than done.”
It will be far easier than the situation Kent State is up against.
The Golden Flashes’ injury issues at running back increased Saturday, only adding to the woe felt after the humiliating defeat.
Starter Gavin Garcia already was lost for the season before the schedule even began with a knee injury. Against then-No. 7 Tennessee, running backs Curtis Douglas and Ky Thomas also sustained knee injuries after they combined to gain 25 yards on 11 carries.
“The way it’s going, you’re going to have to utilize that whole room and even maybe bring a guy into that room from another position,” Kent State head coach Kenni Burns said.
Even when taking into account what Bowling Green was able to expose with Penn State, Burns knows his team has a tall task ahead against a team that is likely to run the ball at his team all day.
On defense Saturday, the Golden Flashes were helpless as the Volunteers scored points on each of their first 11 drives. Tennessee delivered a program-record 37 points in the first quarter and piled up 740 yards of total offense against an overwhelmed Kent State defense.
“Like Tennessee, you’re not going to find very many weaknesses anywhere,” Burns said about Penn State. “I thought (Bowling Green) did a good job with some of the formational stuff to create confusion. But I think, like any good coaching staff, (Penn State is) going to make adjustments. They’re coming off the bye week. They’re going to know how to fix these things and grow. But they’re exceptional.”
Penn State is 31-3 all-time against MAC programs and earned a 63-10 victory over Kent State the last time the programs met in 2018.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Brewers acquire C Bo Naylor, RHP Codi Heuer from Guardians
Apr 28, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Tampa Bay Rays left fielder Chandler Simpson (14) is tagged out by Cleveland Guardians catcher Bo Naylor (23) while attempting to score from third base on a ground ball in the first inning at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images The Milwaukee Brewers acquired catcher Bo Naylor and right-hander Codi Heuer from the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday in exchange for outfielder Blake Perkins and right-hander Craig Yoho.
The move comes two days before the major-league trade deadline on Monday (6 p.m. ET).
Naylor, 26, is batting just .143 with two homers and seven RBIs in 28 games this season for the Guardians.
He is a career .199 hitter with 40 homers and 125 RBIs in 346 games since being selected by Cleveland with the 29th overall pick of the 2018 MLB Draft.
Heuer, 30, is 0-1 with a 4.66 ERA in eight relief appearances this season.
He is 10-5 with three saves and a 3.76 ERA in 97 career appearances with five different teams.
Perkins, 29, is batting .157 with one homer and 11 RBIs in 55 games this season.
He is a career .223 hitter with 14 homers and 93 RBIs in 297 games with the Brewers
Yoho, 26, is 2-0 with a 3.15 ERA in 15 appearances this season.
He has the same record with a 4.40 ERA since being selected by Milwaukee in the eighth round of the 2023 MLB Draft.
–Field Level Media
Sports
DeAndre Hopkins joins Georgia Tech as assistant WRs coach
Nov 27, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) reacts after making a catch against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second half at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images Three-time All-Pro DeAndre Hopkins has been hired as an assistant wide receivers coach at Georgia Tech.
Yellow Jackets head coach Brent Key made the announcement on Friday for Hopkins, who auditioned for a coaching role last week with the New England Patriots.
“DeAndre is one of the greatest receivers of all-time, but his value to our program goes far beyond that,” Key said in a statement. “He has an exceptional knowledge of what we’re doing on offense due to his long relationship with (offensive coordinator) George Godsey and strong familiarity with the ACC, but most importantly, he’s a leader of men that I’m very excited for our players to be around, on and off the field.”
Despite his foray into coaching, Hopkins took to social media to note that his playing career isn’t done.
“I Haven’t retired from the @NFL … But if you’re a WR and you want to be great, come to @GeorgiaTechFB,” Hopkins wrote on X on Saturday morning.
Hopkins, 34, recorded just 22 catches for 330 yards in 17 games (three starts) last season with the Baltimore Ravens.
He has totaled 1,006 receptions for 13,295 yards and 85 touchdown catches in 195 NFL games (172 starts).
Hopkins has seven career 1,000-yard receiving seasons and has caught over 100 passes four times. He earned first-team All-Pro honors three straight years (2017-19).
Hopkins spent his first seven seasons with the Houston Texans before being traded to the Arizona Cardinals. He spent three seasons with Arizona before being released, and he also played with the Tennessee Titans and Kansas City Chiefs.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Bills S C.J. Gardner-Johnson carted off practice field
Dec 20, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson (35) reacts against the Green Bay Packers during the first quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images Buffalo Bills veteran safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson sustained an injury to his lower right leg on Saturday and was carted off the practice field.
The severity of the injury was not immediately known for Gardner-Johnson.
Gardner-Johnson, 28, won a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2024 season before he was traded to the Houston Texans on March 11, 2025.
He played just three games with the Texans before catching on with Chicago and playing seven more contests with the Bears. He totaled 66 tackles and three sacks and two interceptions in 2025.
Gardner-Johnson has 20 interceptions, 370 tackles and seven sacks in 87 career games (71 starts) with the New Orleans Saints (2019-21), Eagles (2022, 2024), Detroit Lions (2023), Texans and Bears.
–Field Level Media
Brewers acquire C Bo Naylor, RHP Codi Heuer from Guardians
DeAndre Hopkins joins Georgia Tech as assistant WRs coach
