Sports
No. 14 Ole Miss has something to prove in Gator Bowl vs. Duke
Nov 2, 2024; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Ole Miss Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin in the fourth quarter against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mississippi won 63-31. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images There’s no shortage of motivation for No. 14 Ole Miss in the Gator Bowl.
The incentive for Duke might be a bit different, but the Blue Devils will be out to prove something as well Thursday night in Jacksonville, Fla.
Both teams hold 9-3 records but arrived at this point in different ways.
Ole Miss was a contender for a spot in the College Football Playoff, while Duke was under the radar for most of the season. It will be the first meeting between the teams.
“We have a chance to get 10 wins,” Ole Miss tight end Caden Prieskorn said. “… A lot of us know this is our last time really getting to throw an Ole Miss jersey on.”
Ole Miss appears to be fired up for this matchup. Quarterback Jaxson Dart, considered an NFL prospect, has thrown for 3,875 yards and 25 touchdowns. He will play in the game before focusing on draft preparation. Tre Harris had a team-high 1,030 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, though he could be limited by injuries.
Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin has made comments disparaging other conferences in connection to the CFP committee’s selections for the 12-team tournament. So he’s bound to be determined to make a point on behalf of the Southeastern Conference against an Atlantic Coast Conference team.
The Rebels are on board.
“Everybody on this team is just so bought-in on what the coaches and Kiffin has been able to do these last couple years,” receiver Jordan Watkins said.
Duke is looking to cap another strong season with one more statement result despite some potential roster holes.
“You play to win the game and play to try to maximize all your players’ strengths,” first-year Blue Devils coach Manny Diaz said. “You have to do what is necessary to try to move the ball against a highly, highly disruptive defense.”
Duke has been decimated by defections, particularly on offense. Quarterback Maalik Murphy entered the transfer portal early in the process, while running back Star Thomas, who compiled a team-high 871 rushing yards, announced following Christmas that he was leaving. Murphy set the school’s single-season record with 26 touchdown passes.
The QB position for the bowl was further dinged because Grayson Loftis, who started several games late in the 2023 season, entered the portal as well. That leaves starting quarterback duties in the hands of Henry Belin IV.
“Henry is a guy who has won a game as a starter here a year ago,” Diaz said. “It’s a great lesson for everybody in the program that perseverance pays off, and he has a chance now to perform on an outstanding stage against a terrific opponent.”
Diaz said it will be important “to get our timing down for the passing offense.”
Belin will have receiver Eli Pancol, who is wrapping up his college career. Pancol has a team-high nine touchdown receptions.
Duke’s defense will have to rely on cornerback Chandler Rivers, who has been tabbed for several postseason honors. He had three interceptions and caused two fumbles during the regular season. He also notched 7 1/2 tackles for loss.
Duke, which will make its first appearance in the Gator Bowl, ranks second in the country with 14 fumble recoveries and 9.2 tackles for loss per game.
Ole Miss’ opt-out list includes linebacker Chris Paul and safety Jadon Canady.
The Rebels defeated five bowl-eligible teams this year, while Duke topped four.
Duke and Ole Miss have a common opponent in Wake Forest, which was drubbed by Ole Miss in September. It was later revealed the Demon Deacons had pulled out of next season’s game at Ole Miss. That rankled Kiffin and might further fuel his motivation against an ACC foe. Duke rallied to win at Wake Forest in the regular-season finale on a TD pass as time expired.
Duke is 8-8 all-time in bowls, though the Blue Devils have a five-game bowl winning streak. The last four of those victories have come against opponents outside of power conferences.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Thunder set to take on injury-depleted Mavericks
Feb 25, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jared McCain (3) dribbles in the second half against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has only played one game with Jared McCain but the recently acquired guard has made a big impression for the Oklahoma City Thunder, both during Gilgeous-Alexander’s absence with an abdominal strain and during Friday’s overtime win over Denver.
Gilgeous-Alexander, McCain, and the Thunder take on the Dallas Mavericks on the road Sunday.
“He has great shooting touch, as we all see,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “He’s going to continue to get better as he plays in our system and learns our system more. Yeah, kid’s good. Really talented at basketball. He can grow as much as he wants to. Sky’s the limit.”
McCain was acquired in a Feb. 4 trade with Philadelphia, the day after Gilgeous-Alexander suffered the injury that kept him out nine games before his return Friday.
The sample size remains relatively small, but McCain’s production has turned upward significantly during his nine games with Oklahoma City.
After averaging 6.6 points and shooting 38.5% overall and 37.8% on 3-pointers in 37 games with the 76ers, McCain is averaging 11.9 points while shooting 48.1% from the field and 45.9% from deep since the trade.
Where McCain said he’s experienced the most growth, though, is on the defensive end as he acclimates to the Thunder’s system.
“Being able to have such elite defenders and just watch it every day, it helps me,” McCain said. “… I think when you focus on the defensive side, offense comes.”
McCain hit some big shots, including a fourth-quarter 3-pointer, in Friday’s come-from-behind win that gave Oklahoma City its sixth win in eight games.
McCain figures to continue to have a significant role, especially with Jalen Williams remaining out with a hamstring strain and Ajay Mitchell out with an abdominal strain.
Dallas comes into Sunday’s game having dropped back-to-back games and 12 of its last 14.
Sunday’s matchup is the last of three between the teams this season.
Oklahoma City has won the previous two, including 21-point win over the Mavericks on Dec. 5 in their most recent meeting.
While the Thunder got a big boost Friday with the return of Gilgeous-Alexander, Dallas is still without Cooper Flagg.
Flagg hasn’t played since Feb. 10 with a left foot sprain and figures to miss at least two more games.
The Mavericks were more short-handed than just missing Flagg in Friday’s 19-point home loss to Memphis, playing without Marvin Bagley III, Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington and Caleb Martin among others.
“The continuity is definitely not there right now with the injuries,” Dallas coach Jason Kidd said. “I think as we go forward, hopefully we’ll get some bodies back.”
While Oklahoma City has integrated McCain in quickly, the Mavericks are still working through things with their new-look lineup after the deadline deal that was centered around trading Anthony Davis to Washington.
“We’re learning on the fly,” Brandon Williams said. “… It’s pretty tough just trying to gel with each other in a short amount of time, and it’s on us point guards to try to take on that responsibility.”
Dallas made a roster move Saturday, waiving Tyus Jones. The Mavericks will sign Ryan Nembhard, who had been on a two-way contract, to a two-year deal, according to reports.
For the Mavericks, Sunday’s game is the last at home before a six-game road trip.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Benny Gealer shoots lights out in Stanford's runaway win over SMU
Feb 28, 2026; Stanford, California, USA; Stanford Cardinal head coach Kyle Smith gestures during the first half against the Southern Methodist University Mustangs at Maples Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images Benny Gealer posted a career-high 30 points and went 7-for-11 from beyond the arc as Stanford dominated visiting SMU 95-75 on Saturday.
Gealer added four rebounds and a career-high six steals for the Cardinal (18-11, 7-9 Atlantic Coast Conference), who finish their regular season next week on the road and went 12-6 at home.
Ebuka Okorie added 22 points and six assists, and Aidan Cammann contributed 15 points, six rebounds, and four assists. Stanford went 14-for-27 from outside the arc and made 90.6% of its free throws.
Boopie Miller posted 26 points and five assists for the Mustangs (19-10, 8-8), who finished their California road trip with an 0-2 record after a 73-69 loss to Cal on Wednesday.
Jaron Pierre Jr. added 21 points and six rebounds. SMU shot 47.4% from the field and 38.9% from beyond the arc, while allowing 17 points off of the team’s nine turnovers.
Okorie posted seven points, including a shot from beyond the arc, to give Stanford an early 12-7 lead with 16:03 remaining in the first half.
Gealer made his first three perimeter shots to increase Stanford’s lead to 20-12 with 12:55 remaining. Miller’s layup ended an SMU scoring drought to make it 20-18 with 8:04 left in the half.
The Cardinal failed to tally any points for over five minutes, but then went on a 12-2 run to go up 32-20 on a Ryan Agarwal three-pointer with 2:55 left in the half. The Cardinal held off a push by the Mustangs to take a 34-27 lead into halftime.
Stanford opened the second half on an 11-4 run to take a 45-31 lead with 17:34 remaining on another three from Agarwal.
SMU went on a 12-4 run to cut into the deficit and make it 53-47 at the 11:24 mark, but Stanford responded to increase the lead to 60-47 with 10 minutes to play.
That started a 19-4 surge for the Cardinal which effectively put the game away. They took their largest lead of the day, 72-51, with 7:50 left.
SMU attempted to climb back into things but failed to cut the deficit to less than 15 points. Stanford led by as many as 23 points in the final minute.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Women's Top 25 roundup: No. 8 Michigan rolls past No. 14 Maryland
Michigan’s head coach Kim Barnes Arico calls out to the team during the first quarter in the game against Michigan State on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. Olivia Olson scored 28 points with eight rebounds and Syla Swords added 17 points as No. 8 Michigan closed out its regular-season schedule with an 87-69 victory over No. 14 Maryland at Ann Arbor, Mich.
The Wolverines (24-5, 15-3 Big Ten) moved into sole possession of second place in the Big Ten Conference standings, a half of a game ahead of No. 9 Iowa, which concludes its season on Sunday at Wisconsin. The Hawkeyes beat Michigan in the lone regular-season meeting.
Mila Holloway had 12 points and six assists for Michigan, which won its second consecutive game after losing to Iowa last Sunday. The Wolverines went 3-1 to close out the regular season, all in games against ranked teams.
Oluchi Okananwa scored 19 points and Yarden Garzon added 14 for the Terrapins (23-7, 11-7), who allowed Michigan to score at least 20 points in every quarter and never recovered from a 46-31 deficit at halftime.
No. 25 Princeton 62, Harvard 49
The visiting Tigers didn’t let an early deficit prevent them from surging past the Crimson in Cambridge, Mass., for their fourth consecutive victory and sixth in their last seven games.
Fadima Tall scored a game-high of 18 points with nine rebounds for Princeton (23-3, 11-2 Ivy League). Skye Belker added 13 points, Ashley Chea had 12 and Olivia Hutcherson blocked three shots. The Tigers shot 24 of 51 (47%) from the field and scored 18 points off their opponent’s 15 turnovers.
Harvard, which led 13-11 after the opening quarter, lost for just the second time in its last nine games. The Crimson, which made just 17 of 57 field-goal attempts (29.8%), including 7 of 27 from long range, was led by Karlee White with 10 points and Olivia Jones with nine boards.
–Field Level Media
Thunder set to take on injury-depleted Mavericks
Benny Gealer shoots lights out in Stanford's runaway win over SMU
