Sports
Ohio State eyes role as disrupter vs. No. 20 Michigan
Michigan guard Roddy Gayle Jr. makes a layup against Washington center KC Ibekwe during the second half at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. Even casual fans know that records don’t matter when Ohio State and Michigan play, in any sport.
Mere months ago, the unranked Michigan football team, a three-touchdown underdog, stunned the Buckeyes in Columbus, Ohio. The Buckeyes then ran off four straight victories, all by double-digit margins, to clinch the College Football Playoff title.
It will be a role reversal on the basketball court Sunday in Columbus when unranked Ohio State (15-10, 7-7 Big Ten) tries to derail the surprising conference title hopes of No. 20 Michigan (19-5, 11-2).
“I don’t believe in minimizing that game and this rivalry,” Ohio State coach Jake Diebler said. “We’ll certainly talk, and there’s even an educational component to this game to make sure our guys understand the history of this game.
“There’s no minimizing it. There’s more to it, certainly in this time of the year and all of that, but make no mistake. This is a rivalry game, and we’ll embrace everything that comes with that.”
The Wolverines moved atop the conference standings on Tuesday with their fifth straight win, a 75-73 conquest of No. 7 Purdue as first-year coach Dusty May tries to accomplish a worst-to-first scenario. Michigan was last in the conference last season (8-24, 3-17 Big Ten) under Juwan Howard.
“We’ve got some tough games in front of us,” May said. “But this is exciting to be in mid-February playing extremely meaningful games, competing for a championship with programs, coaches, and players that are at the top of college basketball.”
He and Michigan junior guard Roddy Gayle Jr. are subplots to make the rivalry even spicier. May was rumored to be a top candidate for the Ohio State job after Chris Holtmann was fired in February 2024 and Diebler took over as the interim coach.
When Diebler led the Buckeyes to a 6-2 record, including the Big Ten tournament, he was named permanent coach on March 17. About a week later, May left Florida Atlantic for Michigan.
One of May’s first transfers was Gayle, who played two seasons for the Buckeyes and likely will not receive a friendly homecoming from the fans.
Gayle started Michigan’s first 21 games but was relegated to a reserve role two games ago. He responded with 14 points against Purdue, his highest output since getting 15 against Washington on Jan. 12. He is averaging 10.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists.
“Obviously everyone has seen that Roddy hasn’t been as good as we know he is,” Michigan center Danny Wolf said. “I don’t want to say slump, but everyone goes through it throughout the season. The way that guy’s bounced back, it makes me so happy, and we know that Roddy is someone you want to have in your locker room.”
The Buckeyes are relying on a transfer, as well. Former San Diego State guard Micah Parrish followed a career-high 30 points at Nebraska on Sunday with 21 points in a 93-69 win over visiting Washington on Thursday, marking the first time in his 159-game collegiate career he posted consecutive 20-plus point games.
“When we recruited Micah, we really wanted him to have a good opportunity (offensively),” Diebler said. “I think that is what made Ohio State special for him. Sometimes when you transfer to a new program, it takes some time to settle in. We’re starting to see that now. He’s playing confident, and we have great confidence in him.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Packers place All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons on PUP list
Dec 14, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Green Bay Packers defensive end Micah Parsons (1) walks off the field with help from medical personnel following an injury during the third quarter against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images The Green Bay Packers placed All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons on the physically unable to perform list on Tuesday as he recovers from a season-ending ACL injury in 2025.
Parsons, 27, said in early June that he is four months away from being cleared to practice. If he opens the season on the PUP list, he automatically has to miss at least the first four games.
The Packers also placed offensive tackle Brant Banks, defensive tackle Nazir Stackhouse, defensive end Jordon Riley and long snapper Matthew Orzech on the PUP list.
Players can be placed on the active/PUP list only before the start of training camp, which for Green Bay is Wednesday.
They count against the 90-man roster limit and can attend team meetings and use team facilities in the preseason. They can come off the list at any time in camp and practice immediately. Otherwise, they cannot participate in any portion of practice while on the list.
If Parsons does start the season on the PUP list, he would be eligible to practice ahead of the Packers’ Week 5 home matchup against the rival Chicago Bears on Oct. 11. The following Sunday, Green Bay hosts Parsons’ former team, the Dallas Cowboys.
Parsons underwent ACL surgery Dec. 29 after a Dec. 14 injury against the Denver Broncos. He revealed on June 3 that the surgery included a procedure on his meniscus.
A five-time Pro Bowl selection, Parsons finished his first season with the Packers with 12.5 sacks, 41 tackles, 27 quarterback hits and two forced fumbles, making the All-Pro first team for the third time in five seasons.
Green Bay acquired Parsons from the Dallas Cowboys in a stunning trade on Aug. 28, 2025, then signed him to a four-year, $186 million contract extension through 2029. The Packers sent Kenny Clark and a pair of first-round picks to Dallas in the deal.
Parsons has recorded 65 sacks in 77 games (76 starts) since the Cowboys drafted him with the No. 12 overall pick in 2021. He was the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2021.
In other moves on Tuesday, the Packers signed kicker Lenny Kreig and tight end Thomas Yassmin and released edge Dante Barnett and kicker Lucas Havrisik.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Dash acquire F Khyah Harper from Gotham FC
Oct 1, 2025; Chester, Pennsylvania, USA; Gotham FC forward Khyah Harper (34) controls the ball against the Washington Spirit in the first half at Subaru Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images Forward Khyah Harper will join the Houston Dash for the remainder of the 2026 season on a free transfer from Gotham FC.
The 23-year-old has appeared in 17 regular-season matches since making her NWSL debut with Gotham FC in March 2025. She scored her first NWSL goal in her first start on Aug. 2, 2025.
With Gotham FC, Harper was part of the squad that won the 2024/25 CONCACAF W Champions Cup. She also helped Gotham win the 2025 NWSL championship as well as the 2026 NWSL Challenge Cup.
A native of Lino Lakes, Minn., Harper made 68 appearances for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers.
She could make her debut with the Dash as early as Saturday when the club hosts Gotham for Pride Night.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Browns making Denzel Ward highest-paid DB in NFL history
Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward (21) watches practice from the sideline during NFL training camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus, Wednesday, July 30, 2025, in Berea, Ohio. Five-time Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward and the Cleveland Browns have agreed on a two-year, $62.2 million contract extension that includes $52.3 million guaranteed, ESPN and NFL Network reported on Tuesday.
Ward, 29, had two years left on a five-year, $100.5 million contract extension signed in 2022, though it includes no further guaranteed money.
The Browns’ longest-tenured player, Ward will earn $31.1 million annually, making him the highest-paid defensive back in league history for the second time in his career.
His annual average salary, per ESPN, edges Ward ahead of Los Angeles Rams cornerback Trent McDuffie, ($31 million), who was acquired in March from the Kansas City Chiefs and signed a four-year, $124 million extension. They are followed by the Indianapolis Colts’ Sauce Gardner ($30.1 million), the Houston Texans’ Derek Stingley Jr. ($30 million) and the Carolina Panthers’ Jaycee Horn ($25 million), per ESPN.
A native of Macedonia, Ohio, Ward was the fourth overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft. The Ohio State product has 361 career tackles, 18 interceptions — including two returned for touchdowns — 104 passes defended, four forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries in 110 regular-season games (107 starts) for the Browns. Two of those recovered fumbles turned into touchdowns.
He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2018, 2021, 2023, 2024 and 2025.
–Field Level Media
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