Sports
Seven Players Who Will Decide the College Football Playoff Quarterfinals
Nov 1, 2024; Boise, Idaho, USA; Boise State Broncos quarterback Maddux Madsen (4) throws a pass during the first quarter against the San Diego State Aztecs at Albertsons Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Losness-Imagn Images As the College Football Playoff whittles down to eight teams, the level of competition should intensify after four lackluster first-round contests. The quarterfinals feature intriguing matchups and an opportunity for various players to factor into pivotal roles.
Some of the playmakers poised to be the difference in their quarterfinals are obvious; others, less so. All figure into a central subplot of their respective matchups.
Fiesta Bowl: Boise State vs. Penn State
QB Maddux Madsen, Boise State
While running back Ashton Jeanty’s historic rushing production is the obvious cornerstone of Boise State’s push to the Playoff, the steadiness Maddux Madsen has provided at quarterback played a crucial role in the Broncos’ 11-game winning streak.
Defenses focusing more on slowing Jeanty each week forced Madsen to keep the opposition honest. He responded with 22 touchdown passes against only three interceptions and five rushing scores.
Penn State’s defense is the deepest and most talented Boise State will see since visiting No. 1 overall seed Oregon back in Week 2. The Nittany Lions’ stifling run defense, which has held opponents to just 3.1 yards per carry, figures to focus heavily on Jeanty.
Madsen’s response early on, perhaps forcing Penn State defenders out of the box, will determine Boise State’s fortunes in the quarterfinals.
DT Zane Durant, Penn State
Penn State’s defensive line causes opposing offenses headaches on all sides, most notably with Abdul Carter’s uncanny ability to get into the backfield. A vital part of freeing up the rush comes on the interior, where Zane Durant causes plenty of problems for blockers.
The tackle’s combination of size, speed off the line, and strength produces mismatches that contribute to the Nittany Lions’ stingy rushing yields. Durant’s contributions are hardly limited to commanding blocking attention, though, as he has added a healthy 10 tackles for loss to Penn State’s whopping 102 total as a team.
With Durant in the middle, Boise State could find it tough to establish Jeanty on the ground, forcing the Broncos’ offense to work outside of the hashes.
Peach Bowl: Arizona State vs. Texas
RB Cam Skattebo, Arizona State
Dec 7, 2024; Arlington, TX, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils running back Cam Skattebo (4) holds up the WWE Big 12 championship belt after the Sun Devils defeat the Iowa State Cyclones and win the 2024 Big 12 Championship at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images At just 75 yards from surpassing Eno Benjamin as Arizona State’s single-season rushing record-holder, Sun Devils running back Cam Skattebo has history ahead of him in the Peach Bowl. More importantly for the team’s goals, Skattebo carries the weight of an offense chasing an improbable national championship, bolstered by its other star offensive player.
The loss of wide receiver Jordan Tyson in the regular-season finale dealt the Sun Devils a significant blow, with Tyson’s 1,101 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns accounting for a significant bulk of Arizona State’s aerial offense.
Not having Tyson in the lineup didn’t slow the Sun Devils in the Big 12 Championship Game romp against Iowa State, thanks in no small part to Skattebo’s 170 rushing yards on just 16 carries and two receptions for 38 yards. Skattebo is Arizona State’s leading receiver in yardage for the season with Tyson sidelined, so his dual role in the run and pass game only magnifies his importance to the offense.
LB Colin Simmons, Texas
Freshman Colin Simmons has been impressive since his Longhorns debut and has only gotten better as the 2024 campaign has gone along. The lightning-quick, hard-hitting linebacker heads into the Playoff with four sacks in three of Texas’ final four games, including one in the SEC Championship matchup with Georgia.
Simmons also forced his third fumble of the season against the Bulldogs.
Having played some of his best games in the Longhorns’ biggest spots, stepping up in key, late-season wins over Arkansas and Texas A&M, expect Simmons to again step up in the team’s biggest spot yet.
The Longhorns defense must set the tone early against a prolific Arizona State offense and stamp out any hope for the Sun Devils to turn the Peach Bowl into a track meet.
Rose Bowl Game: Ohio State vs. Oregon
LB Cody Simon, Ohio State
Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard (18) and linebacker Cody Simon (0) walk off the field during the second half of the NCAA football game against the Michigan Wolverines at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. Michigan won 13-10. PHOTO USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES. In a meeting of two of college football’s highest-scoring teams, with Ohio State offensive coordinator Chip Kelly’s role being front and center, the Granddaddy of ‘Em All promises to come down to defensive playmakers.
The engine driving the nation’s best scoring defense, Cody Simon leads Ohio State into what could be the best of the four quarterfinals. Labeling the Rose Bowl Game with such a designation isn’t conjecture, either, given these same two teams played to a one-score difference when they met in October.
In that game, which Oregon won at home 32-31, Ducks running back Jordan James’ performance was critical.
Simon, key to the Buckeyes’ rush defense, should prove instrumental to Ohio State’s containment of James, and the linebacker also sets the tone for putting pressure on Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel.
EDGE Matayo Uiagalelei, Oregon
With a team-high 10.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss, it’s hardly a stretch to suggest Oregon would not be in the position it is without Matayo Uiagalelei’s presence on the Ducks defense.
One play in particular, however, looms large with Oregon heading into the Rose Bowl Game as the Playoff’s No. 1 overall seed: His heads-up interception of a pass deflected at the line sealed the Ducks’ gritty 16-13 win at Wisconsin on Nov. 16.
That game was part of an outstanding seven-game stretch for Uiagalelei in which he recorded seven of his sacks, one of which came in the win over Ohio State. That his quietest individual effort coincided with Oregon allowing a season-high 37 points in its eight-point win over Penn State in the Big Ten Championship Game is probably no coincidence.
Sugar Bowl: Georgia vs. Notre Dame
QB Gunner Stockton, Georgia
Dec 7, 2024; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck (15) is injured on a play against the Texas Longhorns during the first half in the 2024 SEC Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images The elbow injury Carson Beck sustained in the SEC Championship Game shrouded Georgia’s quarterback situation in uncertainty ahead of the Playoff. As of this week, it’s uncertain no more: Beck underwent surgery that will prevent him from playing the rest of the season.
Whether that remainder of the campaign is three games or fewer depends on how reserve quarterback Gunner Stockton performs in the start against an outstanding Notre Dame defense.
Stockton went 12-of-16 passing against Texas but managed just 71 yards and was intercepted.
The turnover is significant against a Fighting Irish secondary that has been especially adept all season at generating takeaways.
Stockton does not need to be spectacular for Georgia to advance beyond the Sugar Bowl, but the Bulldogs will need him to be better than he was in the SEC Championship Game.
DL Howard Cross III, Notre Dame
With a multitude of injuries plaguing Notre Dame’s defensive line, the return of Howard Cross III ahead of the Fighting Irish’s first-round win over Indiana could not have come at a more opportune time. Notre Dame heads to New Orleans with Rylie Mills, Jason Onye, and Boubacar Traore all sidelined due to injury, leaving Cross to anchor a youthful front against a physical Georgia line.
Cross made 5.5 tackles for loss with four sacks before missing the final three games of the regular season.
Cross eased back in against Indiana, but the Irish will need the veteran to pick up the pressure in the Sugar Bowl to rattle a largely untested Bulldogs quarterback.
Sports
A'ja Wilson has no shortage of motivation after Aces' early exit in '24
Oct 1, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) and New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (30) during game two of the 2024 WNBA Semi-finals at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images LAS VEGAS — Entering her eighth season in the WNBA, Las Vegas Aces superstar A’ja Wilson is poised to build on what was arguably the most dominant individual campaign in league history.
Wilson joined Cynthia Cooper (1997) as the second player in league history to win a unanimous MVP award and joined an exclusive club as the fourth player to win the award three times. She averaged 26.9 points and 11.9 rebounds per game last season and set the all-time single-season mark for points (1,021) and rebounds (451).
Unfortunately for Las Vegas, injuries and fatigue from their two previous championship runs mounted and resulted in the team’s worst regular-season record (27-13) since 2019. The Aces’ three-peat hopes ended with a 76-62 home loss to the New York Liberty to drop their semifinal series 3-1.
It’s that loss on her home floor that served as Wilson’s motivation this offseason.
“Losing sucks, especially on your home court,” Wilson said “It still kind of burns a little bit, but I’ve used that as fuel to help my teammates understand how hard it is to win in this league. Yes, we can celebrate the two championships. They were great. But for us to move forward, we have to understand how hard this league is and value the basketball and the little things. I think that’s what we lacked last season, so we’re going to make sure that we can show up better than we did.”
While the Aces appeared to be on top of the world heading into their potential three-peat campaign in 2024, the reality inside the locker room was that both the internal and external pressure to win another championship had become suffocating. A common theme across media day was the fact that the team feels less pressure entering the 2025 season, a sentiment Wilson shared as the unquestioned leader of the team.
“(Three-peat talks) obviously impacted us, because it’s like, y’all think we don’t want to win? We’re trying as well,” Wilson said.
“I would definitely say it’s refreshing this year. I feel like this is one of my only years where it feels like there’s no weight. There’s a lot of weight to be defending champs. It’s a lot of weight to be trying to win one. We don’t have that. We actually have a clean slate to really dial into getting back to who we are culturally, like, in our system and everything.”
Leading the Aces back to the top of the mountain for a third time in four years is one of a few historically significant achievements Wilson can collect this upcoming season. Wilson could also become the first four-time MVP in league history, though the meaning of that is something she hasn’t quite allowed herself to ponder yet.
“I haven’t given it much thought, but it would be a blessing to have my name in that conversation,” Wilson said. “Every year, I try to be better than I was the year before just to give myself a chance in this league. Because the league is getting better. We’re growing. At this point, you just want to maintain your stamina. You want to maintain your mental, all of that, because the season gets hard. I can’t think too much about that just yet, but I’m definitely going to try to be better than I was last year.”
As Aces coach Becky Hammon put it, fans can expect to see an even better version of Wilson this season.
“What I see is, she went and got better,” Hammon said. “Which is hard to do when you’re already the best, but it speaks to her work ethic, her desire and her mindset this whole offseason. We talked a lot this offseason. She’s a busy lady, but I can tell you what she always does is her workouts. She’s always getting her workouts in. That comes first and foremost, she never gets her priorities jumbled up.”
When Hammon was asked what a player like Wilson would possibly need to improve after last season’s campaign, the coach did not feel like revealing too much.
“There was (something for Wilson to improve), and she did,” Hammon said. “I’m not going to tell you what it was. Actually, there were two things.”
–Will Despart, Field Level Media
Sports
Jacob Wilson joins Aaron Judge in spotlight for Yankees-A's series
May 5, 2025; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson (5) throws to first for an out against the Seattle Mariners during the seventh inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images The top two hitters in the majors square off Friday night when the New York Yankees face the Athletics in the opener of a three-game series in Sacramento, Calif.
It’s no surprise to see Yankees star Aaron Judge off to a superb start after winning American League MVP honors last season. He has a major league-best .400 batting average and entered Thursday’s play tied for the big-league lead with 12 homers and 34 RBIs.
But who had Athletics rookie Jacob Wilson ranking second in the majors at .357 as the season nears the quarter pole? Wilson has played in just 64 career games and quickly has solidified himself as a future All-Star, perhaps even this season.
Sharing the marquee board with Judge seems quite surreal for the 23-year-old shortstop who was the No. 6 overall pick of the 2023 draft.
“It’s a great feeling, for sure,” Wilson said of his name being mentioned with Judge. “Obviously, everybody has seen what he is doing. It’s pretty incredible watching him do his thing on a daily basis. To be up there with him is pretty cool for me.
“I’m excited to play against him this week and see what it looks like in person.”
Wilson had his first career four-hit game during Wednesday’s 6-5 home loss against the Seattle Mariners and has six multi-hit outings in the past eight games. He went 8-for-14 with one game-winning hit in the three-game series against the Mariners and is 16-for-34 (.471) with four walks during the eight-game stretch.
The hot hitting led to Athletics manager Mark Kotsay moving Wilson to the leadoff spot on Wednesday. Kotsay indicated Wilson may be sticking at the top of the lineup.
“I think you’ll see Jacob up there now,” Kotsay said. “Jacob’s earned it. … Jacob has shown enough over the last week. He’s walking and taking pitches, and, obviously, swinging the bat really well.”
Judge arrives in Sacramento in the midst of a four-game funk in which he is 2-for-15.
The two-time MVP just went 1-for-10 in a three-game home series against the San Diego Padres, but the one hit was a homer.
Judge grew up 50 miles south of Sacramento in Linden and starred for Linden High but wasn’t highly sought by major league teams. The then-Oakland Athletics selected him in the 31st round in 2010.
Judge instead went the college route and starred for Fresno State. He was chosen in the first round (32nd overall) by the Yankees in the 2013 draft.
Trent Grisham was one of the heroes of Wednesday’s 4-3, 10-inning win over the Padres. He hit a tying two-run pinch-hit homer in the eighth inning.
Grisham had two homers and five RBIs in the series against the Padres — one of his former teams — and already has 10 long balls in just 89 at-bats. He hit just nine last season in 179 at-bats.
“I’m having fun with the guys, I would say that more than anything,” Grisham said. “The clubhouse is really good in here, led by Cap (Judge). So, I would say the guys have been the most enjoyable part.”
New York is starting right-hander Will Warren (1-2, 5.65 ERA) in Friday’s series opener. Right-hander Osvaldo Bido (2-2, 4.71) will be on the mound for the Athletics.
Warren, 25, struck out a career-high eight in 4 2/3 innings while losing to the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday. He gave up five runs (three earned) and seven hits. Warren hasn’t previously faced the Athletics.
Bido, 29, received a no-decision against the Miami Marlins last Saturday when he gave up four runs on three hits over five innings. He is winless (0-1) over his last three starts. Bido hasn’t faced the Yankees.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao coming out of retirement
Aug 21, 2021; Las Vegas, Nevada; Manny Pacquiao (right) fights Yordenis Ugas in a world welterweight championship bout at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao plans to end his retirement and return to the ring on July 19 against Mario Barrios in Las Vegas, ESPN reported Thursday.
Pacquiao, 46, will be fighting for the first time since losing a unanimous decision to Yordenis Ugas in 2021.
The fight will be for Barrios’ WBC welterweight championship belt. Barrios turns 30 on May 18.
Pacquiao is an eight-division champion who is slated to be inducted into the boxing Hall of Fame in June. He reportedly will formally announce his return to boxing next week. The report stated that Pacquiao has been cleared to compete by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
In recent years, Pacquiao has been focusing on his political career in the Philippines.
The boxer nicknamed “PacMan” has a 62-8-2 record with 39 knockouts during his career. He won his first major title — the WBC flyweight crown — at age 19 in 1998.
Pacquiao was 54-3-2 prior to turning 33 and 8-5 afterward. One of those losses was to Floyd Mayweather Jr. via unanimous decision in 2015, a bout that reportedly drew nearly $400 million in pay-per-view sales.
Barrios (29-2-1, 18 knockouts) fought to a 12-round, split-decision draw against Abel Ramos last November. This will be his third defense since winning the title by beating Ugas in 2023.
–Field Level Media
A'ja Wilson has no shortage of motivation after Aces' early exit in '24
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
