Sports
Ole Miss could sue 2 players who followed Lane Kiffin to LSU
Jan 8, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; Mississippi Rebels linebacker Princewill Umanmielen (1) against the Miami Hurricanes during the 2026 Fiesta Bowl and semifinal game of the College Football Playoff at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Ole Miss could sue two players who followed former Rebels coach Lane Kiffin to LSU and haven’t yet paid their contract buyouts, athletic director Keith Carter told the Clarion Ledger in an interview last week.
Defensive lineman Princewill Umanmielen and offensive tackle Devin Harper both signed revenue-sharing deals after initially deciding to stay at Ole Miss and now join their former coach in Baton Rouge, La. However, both changed their minds and ended up transferring after spending one season each with the Rebels.
To get the money owed to the university for breaching those agreements, Carter said the school may need to take the players to court.
“That would be an option, going and asking a court to get that money for you,” Carter told the Clarion Ledger. “Contracts are with the players. LSU could pay that on behalf of the players. So we’re kind of exploring all of that right now.”
Umanmielen transferred from Nebraska to Ole Miss ahead of the 2025 season, leading the Rebels in sacks (nine) and tackles for loss (13) along with 44 tackles, 13 quarterback hurries and one interception.
Harper was a four-star recruit in the 2025 class, appearing in six games as a true freshman for Ole Miss.
Carter declined to disclose how much money Ole Miss is owed, but On3 Sports reported that it’s just under $1 million combined. Carter said it’s traditional for the players’ new schools to handle those buyouts, with Ole Miss covering a few for transfers it has added in the transfer portal era.
“Having signed a brand-new rev share contract basically a week or two before wanting to leave, those are the kind (of situations) that put you in a bind, especially there in the portal cycle,” Carter said. “Those two we’re going to continue to figure out how to collect. We feel like based on the contract we deserve to collect.”
There’s been no love lost this offseason between Kiffin and Ole Miss after he left for LSU a week before the Rebels made the College Football Playoff.
Defensive coordinator Pete Golding was promoted to interim coach and then full-time coach, leading Ole Miss to the CFP semifinals with wins over Tulane and Georgia before falling to Miami.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Spain blank favored France to advance to World Cup final
July 14, 2026; Arlington, Texas, U.S.; Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal and Unai Simon in action. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images Spain are headed back to the World Cup final for the second time after denying France a third straight appearance with a 2-0 victory in a semifinal on Tuesday in Arlington, Texas.
Pedro Porro followed Mikel Oyarzabal’s penalty in the 22nd minute by doubling the count in the 58th.
Spain, the 2010 champion, will play in East Rutherford, N.J., on Sunday against the winner of the reigning champion Argentina-England match in Atlanta on Wednesday.
France will play in the third-place match in Miami on Saturday.
Spain have a 37-match unbeaten streak (30 wins, seven draws), tying Italy’s European record.
The best chance for France came in the 82nd minute when Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simon raced midway between the penalty area and the center circle to challenge Desire Doue for the ball.
Doue got to it but Simon ran back and cut the angle to make a save inside the box as two Spain defenders guarded the goal line. Simon (three saves) is the first men’s keeper to have six shutouts in a single World Cup.
Oyarzabal’s penalty in the 22nd minute put Spain ahead.
France trailed for the first time in the tournament when Oyarzabal scored his fifth goal of the World Cup with a shot to the upper right corner.
Lamine Yamal, a day after his 19th birthday, drew a foul by Lucas Digne on the right side of the box.
A long cross by Marc Cucurella was popped in the air by Digne. As he attempted a volley, Yamal snuck in behind him and as the ball hit his left shoulder, Digne kicked him in the left thigh, prompting Yamal to fall.
More misfortune befell France at the half-hour mark when veteran defender William Saliba left with an injury and was replaced by Max Lacroix, whose only action in the tournament was 90 minutes in the group finale vs. Norway.
Nearing 40 minutes in, Yamal set up an onrushing Fabian Ruiz but defender Dayot Upamecano was able to get a foot on the attempt to deflect the ball for a corner kick.
France were seeking to become the third nation to qualify for three straight finals, joining West Germany (1982, 1986 and 1990) and Brazil (1994, 1998 and 2002).
The French won the World Cup in 2018 and were runners-up to Argentina in 2022.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Brian Kelly open to coaching return: 'Lot more to give'
Oct 11, 2025; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Brian Kelly looks on against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the first half at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images Brian Kelly is not ready to declare his coaching career finished.
The former Notre Dame and LSU head coach said he remains open to several possibilities, including taking an assistant or coordinator position after more than three decades leading his own programs.
“I don’t think I’ve closed any doors in my own mind,” Kelly said during an appearance on The Independent: A Notre Dame Football Podcast. “And I think that’s the most important thing. I’m very open-minded about what the opportunities might be for me. I have a lot more to give.”
Kelly, 64, was fired by LSU midway through his fourth season in Baton Rouge last October. He has spent the months since focusing on his health and reconnecting with former players and coaches, something the pace of running a major college program rarely allowed him to do.
His offseason stops have included a visit with Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur, who previously worked for Kelly at Notre Dame. Kelly also plans to return to Grand Valley State, where he began his head coaching career and won two Division II national championships.
A visit to Notre Dame is also expected. Kelly coached the Fighting Irish from 2010-21 before leaving for LSU while Notre Dame was still in contention for the College Football Playoff.
Kelly said he wants his return to South Bend to demonstrate support for current coach Marcus Freeman and the direction of the program.
“I just want to show that I have 100% faith and confidence in what they’re doing and how they’re doing it,” Kelly said. “Not that they need me to validate in any way.”
Kelly praised Freeman for succeeding in one of college football’s most demanding jobs despite having no previous head-coaching experience. He identified Freeman’s willingness to listen and adjust as one of his greatest strengths.
Kelly, who owns a 200-76 career Division I record with stops at Central Michigan, Cincinnati, Notre Dame and LSU, is expected to remain connected to the sport through broadcasting during the 2026 season, calling Mountain West games for CBS. It gives him an opportunity to study how college football continues to change before deciding whether to return to the sideline.
He said a future job would not necessarily have to come as the head coach of a national championship contender. After 35 seasons running programs, Kelly appears willing to consider a different role if the right opportunity emerges.
–Field Level Media
Sports
WTA roundup: Paula Badosa earns upset win in Romania
Jun 30, 2026; London, United Kingdom; Paula Badosa (ESP) hits a backhand against Emma Navarro (USA) (not pictured) on day two of The Championships Wimbledon 2026 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images Paula Badosa of Spain knocked out fourth-seeded Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinina 6-3, 6-1 on Tuesday to reach the second round of the UniCredit Iasi Open in Romania.
Kalinina committed eight double faults and held serve just twice across the two sets. Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse also made an early exit, with Spain’s Kaitlin Quevedo eliminating the sixth seed 6-3, 6-1. Quevedo saved 12 of the 14 break points she faced and broke Ruse six times.
Third-seeded Oleksandra Oliynykova of Ukraine survived two tiebreakers to beat Turkish lucky loser Ipek Oz 7-6 (1), 7-6 (5), while No. 5 seed Panna Udvardy of Hungary outlasted Spain’s Leyre Romero Gormaz 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. French No. 8 seed Elsa Jacquemot and No. 9 seed Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan also advanced in straight sets.
Other winners included Slovenia’s Tamara Zidansek, Armenia’s Elina Avanesyan, Mayar Sherif of Egypt, Alevtina Ibragimova and Elena Pridankina of Russia and Poland’s Katarzyna Kawa.
Athens Open
Top-seeded Clara Tauson of Denmark recovered from a slow start to defeat Japanese qualifier Nao Hibino 7-5, 6-4 in the opening round in Greece.
Tauson fell behind by a break in the first set but worked her way back, eventually converting four break points for the match while limiting Hibino to two. No. 2 seed Ann Li had a more comfortable afternoon, sweeping Maria Timofeeva of Uzbekistan 6-2, 6-1 in 79 minutes.
Third-seeded Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic also advanced in 79 minutes, beating Bulgaria’s Viktoriya Tomova 6-3, 6-3. Seventh-seeded Czech Tereza Valentova cruised past Belgium’s Sofia Costoulas 6-1, 6-2. Italian lucky loser Miriana Tona earned her first WTA main-draw victory by beating Greek wild card Sapfo Sakellaridi 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-2 in a match lasting three hours, eight minutes. France’s Carole Monnet, Russia’s Alina Korneeva and Belarus’ Aliaksandra Sasnovich also won their matches.
–Field Level Media
Spain blank favored France to advance to World Cup final
Brian Kelly open to coaching return: 'Lot more to give'
