Sports
No. 7 Missouri hosts improved Vanderbilt in SEC opener for both teams
Sep 14, 2024; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers quarterback Brady Cook (12) throws a pass against the Boston College Eagles during the second half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images The No. 7 Missouri Tigers turned their Week 3 struggle against Boston College into a bonding experience for the many newcomers on their roster.
“For us to have to face some adversity and then figure out who we are, who we can count on, what are you going to do when your back’s against the wall and you’re tired,” Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz said. “I think that was really important.”
Missouri (3-0, 0-0 Southeastern Conference) rallied from an 11-point second-quarter deficit to win 27-21. The Tigers will try to build on that experience when they host the Vanderbilt Commodores (2-1, 0-0 SEC) on Saturday on Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Mo.
The Tigers weren’t tested in their first two games, a 51-0 victory over Murray State and a 38-0 win over Buffalo.
Tigers quarterback Brady Cook has completed 69-of-97 passes for 720 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He has also rushed for 90 yards and four touchdowns.
But Missouri still hasn’t gotten in high gear with its passing game because Cook has been under duress.
“Got to firm up the middle of the pocket,” Drinkwitz said. “When we have confusion about what we’re doing in protection, we’ve got to still be solid.”
Missouri has alternated Nate Noel (242 yards, two touchdowns) and Marcus Carroll (151 yards, one touchdown) at running back. Its deep receiving corps is led by Theo Wease Jr. (21 catches, 232 yards) and preseason all-America Luther Burden III (13 catches, 181 yards, two touchdowns).
“What makes them unique is, they formation motion and design you to find spaces,” Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea said. “It’s built around their stretch running scheme.”
Defensively, the Tigers have held opponents to 73.7 yards per game on the ground, which ranks 19th in the nation.
Vanderbilt will look to rebound from its 36-32 loss at Georgia State. The Commodores rallied from a 29-17 fourth-quarter deficit only to allow a last-minute touchdown drive.
Lea blamed the loss on poor preparation.
“It wasn’t the physical work that bothered me last week,” he said. “It was more along the lines of focus and approach. Guys being on time, being disciplined, being consistent.”
Dual-threat Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia has completed 40-of-62 passes for 543 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 195 yards and two TDs.
Sedrick Alexander (165 yards, three TDs) is the lead running back and tight end Eli Stowers (12 catches, 163 yards, one TD) and Quincy Skinner Jr. (eight catches, 123 yards, one TD) have been the primary passing targets.
The Commodores upset Virginia Tech 34-27 in overtime and routed Alcorn State 55-0 in their first two games.
“Vandy, I think, has always been a very difficult out for us,” Drinkwitz said. “This is Clark’s best team since he’s been there.”
Vanderbilt was missing edge defenders Khordae Sydnor and Boubacar Diakite against Georgia State. Defensive lineman Zaylin Wood and safety De’Rickey Wright were injured during the game.
Lea said Sydnor was questionable for this game and Wood is likely out. Safety CJ Taylor could sit out the first half due to a targeting penalty last week.
Both teams will be looking to eliminate their penalties. The Commodores were penalized nine times for 85 yards against Georgia State and the Tigers were flagged eight times for 91 yards against Boston College.
“The lack of discipline is the result of lack of accountability,” Drinkwitz said. “And there’s going to be accountability … selfish penalties cannot happen. The team’s mission is way more important than any individual’s hurt feelings.”
–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
Sports
Yankees LHP Ryan Yarbrough joins U.S. roster for WBC
Jun 18, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Ryan Yarbrough (33) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images New York Yankees left-hander Ryan Yarbrough was added to the Team USA roster for the upcoming World Baseball Classic on Sunday.
The 34-year-old reliever replaces Minnesota Twins right-hander Joe Ryan, who is dealing with low back tightness. Ryan moves into the designated pitcher pool, meaning he is eligible for a call-up after each round of the WBC.
Yarbrough went 3-1 with a 4.36 ERA and one save in 19 games (eight starts) during his first season with the Yankees in 2025, striking out 55 batters and walking 19 in 64 innings.
Ryan Yarbrough has been added to our roster for the World Baseball Classic!#ForGlory???? pic.twitter.com/RrtKJQ20gz
— USA Baseball (@USABaseball) March 1, 2026
Team USA will play its first game of the 2026 WBC on Friday night, meeting Brazil in a Pool B contest in Houston.
Yarbrough has a career record of 56-41 with a 4.22 ERA and four saves in 215 games (76 starts) with the Tampa Bay Rays (2018-22), Kansas City Royals (2023), Los Angeles Dodgers (2023-24), Toronto Blue Jays (2024) and Yankees. The side-arming southpaw signed a one-year, $2.5 million deal in November to return to New York in 2026.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Ex-pitcher Dan Serafini gets life sentence for '21 murder
Dan Serafini (file photo) pitched in MLB with seven teams. He was convited of first-degree murder. Former major league pitcher Dan Serafini was sentenced to life in prison without parole on Friday for the 2021 shootings of his in-laws in North Lake Tahoe, Calif.
Serafini, 52, was convicted in July of the first-degree murder of father-in-law Gary Spohr and the attempted first-degree murder of mother-in-law Wendy Wood during a burglary. Spohr, 70, died from a single gunshot and Wood, then 68, survived but died by suicide the following year.
In the courtroom on Friday in Auburn, Calif., Placer County prosecutor Morgan Gire described Spohr and Wood as loving grandparents.
“The impact of this attack has extended far beyond the immediate victims, deeply affecting family members and the broader community, and highlighting the lasting harm caused by deliberate violence,” Gire said.
Serafini, who pitched for six MLB teams from 1996 to 2007, addressed the court and maintained his innocence. He said he was out partying with his wife, Erin Spohr, at the time of the shooting and referred to himself as a “broken, imperfect man that makes mistakes,” according to MyNews4.
The Minnesota Twins selected Serafini, a native of the San Francisco area, with the No. 26 overall pick in the 1992 MLB Draft. He made his debut in 1996 and went on to appear in 104 games (33 starts) with the Twins, Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds and Colorado Rockies before his retirement in 2007.
He had a 15-16 record with a 6.04 ERA and one save. He threw 263 2/3 innings and struck out 127 batters.
–Field Level Media
Report: RB David Montgomery 'wants out' of Detroit
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