Sports
Top 25 roundup: No. 18 Michigan edges No. 11 USC on late TD
Sep 21, 2024; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines running back Kalel Mullings (20) celebrates after he rushes for a touchdown in the second half against the USC Trojans at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images Kalel Mullings rushed for 159 yards and two touchdowns, including a go-ahead score on fourth down with 37 seconds remaining, and No. 18 Michigan held off No. 11 Southern California, 27-24, on Saturday in Ann Arbor, Mich., in the Big Ten Conference opener for both teams.
Trailing for the first time all game after USC quarterback Miller Moss found Ja’Kobi Lane for a 24-touchdown strike that put the Trojans ahead 24-20, Michigan (3-1, 1-0) leaned on Mullings to jumpstart its sputtering offense.
The Wolverines had not scored on offense in the second half; five of their six drives ended in punts, and in the other drive, they lost a fumble that set up the Trojans’ go-ahead touchdown. But Mullings delivered when Michigan needed it most, breaking tackles to go 63 yards and set up the Wolverines in the red zone.
Moss went 28-of-51 passing for 283 yards and three touchdowns. The run game for USC (2-1, 0-1) was held by Michigan to 96 yards. Marks finished with 100 yards on just 13 rushes, but 65 came on a single rush.
No. 1 Texas 51, Louisiana-Monroe 3
Arch Manning passed for 258 yards and two touchdowns in his first collegiate start and Jaydon Blue scored four times as the Longhorns rolled over the Warhawks in Austin, Texas.
With star quarterback Quinn Ewers on the shelf with a strained oblique, Manning was workmanlike as he played into the fourth quarter, completing 15 of his 29 passes while uncorking two interceptions — both on tipped balls. Blue ran for 124 yards and three scores on 25 carries and caught a pass for a score for Texas (4-0).
General Booty threw for 42 yards to pace Louisiana-Monroe (2-1), which had no play longer than 23 yards.
No. 3 Ohio State 49, Marshall 14
Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson combined for 249 rushing yards and four touchdowns to lead the Buckeyes over the visiting Thundering Herd.
Henderson had 76 yards on six carries, scoring from 14 and 40 yards out. Judkins’s 86-yard TD was part of his 173 yards on 14 attempts. He made it 49-14 early in the fourth quarter with a 6-yard run.
The Buckeyes (3-0) had four scoring plays of 40-plus yards, including a 53-yard catch by Jeremiah Smith to make it 42-14 in the third quarter. Marshall (1-2) opened and closed the first half with touchdowns.
No. 5 Ole Miss 52, Georgia Southern 13
Jaxson Dart continued to build his Heisman Trophy resume as he threw for 382 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Rebels to a victory over the Eagles in Oxford, Miss.
In their final nonconference game before entering SEC play, the Rebels (4-0) gave up a touchdown for the first time this year but still were dominant as they outgained the Eagles 607-194. Dart, who entered with an FBS-high average of 390.7 passing yards per game, finished with 22 completions in 31 attempts with one interception.
Tre Harris had 11 receptions for a career-high 225 yards and two touchdowns. Antwane Wells Jr. and Jordan Watkins also had touchdown catches for Ole Miss. Georgia Southern (2-2) of the Sun Belt Conference was paced by JC French, who completed 20 of 28 passes for 109 yards with one interception.
No. 6 Tennessee 25, No. 15 Oklahoma 15
Nico Iamaleava threw for 194 yards and a touchdown, overcoming a pair of lost fumbles, as the Volunteers held on for a win over the Sooners in Norman, Okla.
Volunteers coach Josh Heupel, who quarterbacked the Sooners to the 2000 national title as the Heisman Trophy runner-up, was honored before the game. Then Heupel’s defense dominated the Sooners as Iamaleava did enough to keep Tennessee (4-0, 1-0 SEC) undefeated.
The Volunteers held Oklahoma to minus-4 yards combined in the second and third quarters as they steadily stretched their lead. The Sooners (3-1, 0-1) came alive in the fourth quarter, scoring a pair of touchdowns, but couldn’t cut their deficit below 10 points.
No. 7 Missouri 30, Vanderbilt 27 (OT)
Blake Craig kicked the decisive 37-yard field goal as the Tigers outlasted the Commodores in overtime in Columbia, Mo.
Brady Cook completed 23 of 37 passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns to Luther Burden II for the Tigers (4-0, 1-0 SEC), who overcame 7-0, 10-7, 13-10 and 27-20 deficits to dodge an upset. Nate Noel rushed for 199 yards and Craig also kicked field goals of 54 and 23 yards — but he also missed from 24, 40 and 46 yards.
Diego Pavia completed 14 of 23 passes for 178 yards and two touchdowns for the Commodores (2-2, 0-1). He rushed for 84 yards on 17 carries. Brock Taylor kicked field goals of 57 and 27 yards, but he missed from 50 yards with 3:06 to play and from 31 yards in overtime.
No. 8 Miami 50, South Florida 15
Cam Ward passed for 404 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Hurricanes to a win over host South Florida in Tampa, Fla.
Miami (4-0) also got three short touchdown runs and a two-point-conversion reception from Damien Martinez. Hurricanes wide receiver Isaiah Horton (eight catches, 108 yards) caught one TD pass. Miami also got a 91-yard touchdown run from freshman Jordan Lyle. Xavier Restrepo had six catches for 99 yards and one touchdown.
USF (2-2) led twice in the first half before wearing down. Quarterback Byrum Brown completed 19 of 30 passes for 254 yards for the Bulls. He also caught a 12-yard TD pass. However, he limped off the field in the second half and didn’t return.
No. 10 Penn State 56, Kent State 0
Drew Allar threw for 309 yards with three touchdown passes to lead the Nittany Lions past the Golden Flashes at University Park, Pa.
Allar completed 17 of 21 passes and helped Penn State (3-0) break open a close game with 21 points in the final 5:49 of the first half. Tight end Tyler Warren, who caught five passes for 50 yards and a touchdown, lined up at quarterback and found Nicholas Singleton open for a 17-yard touchdown to spark the quick barrage.
The Golden Flashes (0-4) lost their starting quarterback on the second play of the game when Devin Kargman was hit hard on a pass rush by Penn State’s Dani Dennis-Sutton. Kargman was taken off the field on a stretcher.
No. 12 Utah 22, No. 14 Oklahoma State 19
Brant Kuithe scored two touchdowns and Micah Bernard rushed for 182 yards as the Utes opened Big 12 Conference play with an impressive win over the Cowboys in Stillwater, Okla.
Utah 4-0, 1-0) won without starting quarterback Cam Rising, who missed his second straight game with a finger injury. Backup Isaac Wilson completed 17 of 29 passes for 207 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions.
Wilson and Kuithe hooked up for a 45-yard scoring strike at the 6:21 mark of the fourth quarter to give Utah a 22-3 lead that looked insurmountable. But the Cowboys (3-1, 0-1) made a game of it as Alan Bowman connected on a 28-yard TD pass to Brennan Presley, then a 9-yarder to Rashod Owens with 1:47 left to cut the deficit to three.
BYU 38, No. 13 Kansas State 9
The Cougars scored three touchdowns off Wildcats turnovers in a three-minute span to pull off the upset in Provo, Utah.
Jake Retzlaff was 15-of-21 passing for 149 yards and two touchdowns for BYU (4-0, 1-0 Big 12), which had just 241 yards of total offense but scored 31 unanswered points over 6:25.
Kansas State (3-1, 0-1) was hurt by six pre-snap offensive penalties. The Wildcats’ offense was limited to three field goals by Chris Tennant.
No. 16 LSU 34, UCLA 17
Garrett Nussmeier passed for 352 yards and three touchdowns as the Tigers pulled away from the Bruins in Baton Rouge, La.
Nussmeier completed 32 of 44 passes and LSU (3-1) shut out the Bruins (1-2) in the second half. UCLA scored more points before the break than it had totaled in its highest-scoring game of the season entering Saturday (16).
Ethan Garbers completed 22 of 36 passes for 281 yards with two touchdowns and one interception to lead the Bruins.
No. 17 Notre Dame 28, Miami (Ohio) 3
Quarterback Riley Leonard accounted for 297 yards of offense and three touchdowns as the host Fighting Irish pulled away from the Redhawks in South Bend, Ind.
Leonard completed 16 of 25 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown for Notre Dame (3-1), which won its second game in a row since a stunning loss to Northern Illinois. Leonard also carried the ball 12 times for 143 yards and two touchdowns.
Brett Gabbert completed 14 of 35 passes for 119 yards and two interceptions for the RedHawks, who remained winless on the season at 0-3. Cade McDonald caught four passes for 52 yards to lead the team.
No. 19 Louisville 31, Georgia Tech 19
Tyler Shough threw for 269 yards and two touchdowns and the Cardinals repeatedly came up with big plays to overcome the visiting Yellow Jackets in an Atlantic Coast Conference thriller.
Louisville (3-0, 1-0) also got a touchdown apiece on defense and special teams and stuffed a would-be tying score at the 1-yard line in winning its conference opener, while the Yellow Jackets (3-2) fell to 1-2 in the ACC.
Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King piled up 312 yards passing and 58 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Malik Rutherford made seven catches for 113 yards.
No. 20 Iowa State 52, Arkansas State 7
Rocco Becht threw for two touchdowns and ran for a third in the first half as the Cyclones remained unbeaten with a blowout of the Red Wolves in Ames, Iowa.
Becht completed 11 of 18 passes for 204 yards with an interception as the Cyclones improved to 3-0. Carson Hansen added two short scoring runs as Iowa State finished with 490 yards in total offense.
Red Wolves quarterback Jaylen Raynor was pulled to start the second half after hitting only 5 of 16 passes for 68 yards with two interceptions. Backup Timmy McClain went 4 of 7 for 50 yards and a touchdown as Arkansas State fell to 2-2 with its second straight loss.
No. 21 Clemson 59, North Carolina State 35
Cade Klubnik threw for three touchdowns and had a long scoring run as the Tigers clobbered the visiting Wolfpack in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams in Clemson, S.C.
Clemson (2-1), which blew out Appalachian State two weeks earlier before an off week, racked up 523 yards of offense. The Tigers held a 408-164 advantage in total yards through the first half, which ended with a 45-7 score.
It wasn’t much of the first collegiate start for NC State quarterback CJ Bailey, who orchestrated a second-half comeback last Saturday against Louisiana Tech after starter Grayson McCall departed with an injury. But with the Wolfpack (2-2) in a huge early hole, Bailey was in tough spots throughout this ACC game.
Buffalo 23, No. 23 Northern Illinois 20 (OT)
Upton Bellenfant drilled a 37-yard field goal in overtime as the visiting Bulls pulled off the upset in Mid-American Conference play in DeKalb, Ill.
Buffalo (3-1, 1-0 MAC) improved to 2-16 all-time against ranked opponents. It is the Bulls’ first win over a ranked foe since beating No. 12 Ball State in 2008. Buffalo cornerback Marquis Cooper blocked a 42-yard Kanon Woodill field-goal attempt on the Huskies’ overtime possession.
Linebacker Shaun Dolac had a career-high 19 tackles, 4.5 tackles for a loss and an interception to lead Buffalo’s defense. Northern Illinois fell to 2-1 and 0-1.
No. 25 Texas A&M 26, Bowling Green 20
Marcel Reed threw two touchdown passes and Randy Bond kicked four field goals as the Aggies held on to beat the Green Falcons in College Station, Texas.
Making his second straight start in place of Conner Weigman, who is dealing with a right AC sprain, Reed was even more effective than he was in last week’s win at Florida. Reed completed 16 of 29 passes for 173 yards and effectively moved the offense as Texas A&M (3-1) converted 21 first downs and never trailed.
Connor Bazelak completed 20 of 36 passes for 250 yards with one touchdown and one interception for Bowling Green (1-2). Harold Fannin Jr. finished with eight receptions for 145 yards and a touchdown for the Falcons, who gave Penn State trouble two weeks ago.
–Field Level Media
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
