Sports
Vanderbilt jumps ahead early, never trails in stunning upset of No. 1 Alabama
Vanderbilt Commodores running back Sedrick Alexander (28) and quarterback Diego Pavia (2)celebrate a touchdown in the end zone against the Alabama Crimson Tide during their game at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia threw for 252 yards and two touchdowns as the Commodores shocked top-ranked Alabama, 40-35, at First Bank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., on Saturday.
Pavia connected on 19 of 25 throws, with six going to tight end Eli Stowers for 113 yards.
Vanderbilt, a 23 1/2-point underdog in its own building — one populated mostly by Alabama fans — jumped out to a 13-0 lead in the game’s first 7:57 and never trailed.
Pavia’s fourth-quarter touchdown throw to Kam Johnson provided what proved to be the winning points.
Alabama’s Jalen Milroe started the second-half scoring with a 14-yard touchdown scamper over left tackle, cutting Vanderbilt’s lead to 23-21.
But with the Commodores facing fourth and a half-yard on the Alabama 35, Pavia hit a wide-open Junior Sherrill for a touchdown to answer.
On third-and-7 from the Alabama 42, Milroe hit a closely contested Ryan Williams along the left sideline at the Vanderbilt 18 and coasted into the end zone for a score, cutting the lead to 30-28.
Vanderbilt’s Brock Taylor answered with a 33-yard field goal with 10:35 left.
Alabama passed midfield quickly on its next trip, but Miles Capers blasted Milroe in the backfield and Yilanan Ouattara fell on the subsequent fumble at the Vanderbilt 47.
With a little more than 5 minutes left, Pavia faked a handoff, rolled out and hit an open Kam Johnson in the flat for a 6-yard touchdown for a 40-28 advantage.
Alabama answered on Williams’ 2-yard end-around score on a fourth-and-1 with 2:46 to play to pull within five. The Tide had all three timeouts, leaving Vanderbilt with the challenge of moving the chains.
But Pavia hit Sedrick Alexander with a 19-yard dump-off just before the two-minute warning, then Alexander scooted left for another first down on the next snap. A Pavia keeper for another first down sealed the upset.
Vanderbilt held the ball for 21:28 and outgained Alabama, 186-157, in building a 23-14 halftime lead.
The Commodores scored on their first drive on Sedrick Alexander’s 7-yard run.
Three plays later, Vanderbilt’s De’Rickey Wright tipped Milroe’s pass, Randon Fontenette grabbed it and won a race to the left pylon for a 24-yard interception return touchdown.
After Vanderbilt’s Brock Taylor missed the point-after, Alabama countered with Jam Miller’s 8-yard scoring run.
The Crimson Tide then forced a punt, but that got nullified with a duplicate number penalty that awarded Vanderbilt a first down at the ‘Tide 47.
On the drive’s 17th play — one aided by a pair of Alabama personal fouls — Alexander added a 1-yard scoring run to take a 20-7 lead midway through the second quarter.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Cameron Young holds six-shot lead after three rounds in Miami
May 2, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Cameron Young makes his par putt on the 18th hole during the third round of the Cadillac Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Romance-Imagn Images Cameron Young shot 2-under-par 70 on Saturday to remain in control through three rounds of Cadillac Championship at Miami.
Young is up six strokes on a group of three golfers, including world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, at windy Trump National Doral’s Blue Monster Course.
Young, who’s at 15-under 201, will be looking for his second victory of the season and the third of his career on the PGA Tour during Sunday’s final round.
Scheffler shot 69 to move to second place by the time he finished the round. He’s joined in that position by South Korea’s Si Woo Kim (69) and Norway’s Kristoffer Reitan (69).
Young began the round with a bogey on the par-5 first hole but played the next 11 in 3 under.
Scheffler’s round was defined by birdies on three of the four par-5 layouts.
Matt McCarty (69), Ben Griffin (68) and Canada’s Nick Taylor (72) are at 8 under and tied for fifth place. Taylor bogeyed the final hole.
Jordan Spieth took a significant dive, shooting 75 and falling to a tie for 12th at 5 under. He was hurt by two double-bogeys — first on the par-3 fourth hole when he didn’t get into putting position until his fourth stroke and then on the 18th when his approach shot went into the water and he was forced to take a penalty.
Australia’s Adam Scott had the day’s best score with a bogey-free 6-under 66, leaving him at 3 under.
–Field Level Media
Sports
RJ Barrett, Raptors clash with Cavaliers in unexpected Game 7
May 1, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward RJ Barrett (9) reacts after scoring the winning basket against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the overtime period in game six of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images RJ Barrett kept the Toronto Raptors’ season alive with one of the most clutch shots in franchise history, but he isn’t ready to reminisce about the moment yet.
Not with a win-or-go-home Game 7 of their Eastern Conference first round series taking place Sunday night at the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“Forget everything that’s happened,” said Barrett, who is averaging a series-high 24.3 points per game. “Now, it’s one game to win it all.”
The fifth-seeded Raptors earned that opportunity when Barrett’s 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds left in overtime bounced off the heel of the rim, high in the air and through the hoop to give them a 112-110 victory Friday.
As a result, upstart Toronto has pushed the team with the highest payroll in the NBA to the brink of a devastating end to a season that began with championship dreams.
“Glory to God, that was a fun one, right?” Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic said. “It was a heck of a fight. We just talked about how much fun this is and how much we loved the challenge.”
Fourth-seeded Cleveland got a clean look at the buzzer, but Evan Mobley’s 29-footer was off the mark, keeping both teams unbeaten at home in the series.
“If I continue to sulk about that (Barrett) shot, it’s over,” Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell said. “Unfortunately, but fortunately, half of the locker room has been through this before. It’s going to test us.
“Protect home court, that’s all you can do. We’ve got to protect home court.”
History is on Cleveland’s side as it has never lost a Game 7 at home, beating the Washington Bullets in 1976, Boston Celtics in 1992, Indiana Pacers in 2018 and Orlando Magic in 2024.
Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, Max Strus, Dean Wade and Sam Merrill remain on the roster from the latter, which featured the Cavaliers and Magic winning every game in their respective arenas.
“We’re at home and the ball is in our court,” said Mobley, who is averaging 19.0 points and 8.8 rebounds while shooting 56.8 percent from the field. “We’ve just got to come together and get a win.
“Don’t get too involved in the magnitude of everything, just protect home court.”
Toronto has only played one Game 7 on the road, losing to the Philadelphia 76ers in 2001. Barrett was about to celebrate his first birthday at the time, while Scottie Barnes and breakout performer Ja’Kobe Walter hadn’t been born yet.
Barrett, Barnes and Walter combined to score 73 of the Raptors’ 112 points in Game 6.
“I’ve watched so many Game 7s, you see the intensity on the court,” said Walter, who averaged 22.0 points and made 10 3-pointers in the last two contests. “I’m so excited to be in this moment.”
Barnes has been the most consistent performer in the series, averaging 24.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 9.0 assists. In a surprising development, he and Barrett have outplayed Cleveland’s star backcourt of James Harden and Mitchell.
Mitchell is shooting just 43.7% on field goal attempts, including 35.3% on 3-point tries; he has only attempted 14 total free throws. He has only taken over in brief stretches of two games, marking a complete turnaround from his brilliant 2025 postseason.
Trade-deadline acquisition Harden has been plagued by careless passes and poor decision-making, averaging 21.0 points, 6.7 assists and 5.7 turnovers.
“I’m a little frustrated, but there’s nothing you can do about it,” Harden said. “We can’t dwell on it too long. Just go back home, play one game and win.”
Both squads took Saturday off but will hold shootarounds on Sunday morning.
Raptors small forward Brandon Ingram (right heel) missed Game 6 and will be evaluated after working out with the team. Point guard Immanuel Quickley (right hamstring) continues to undergo treatment but will sit out the entire series.
The Cavaliers have no injuries and, should they lose, no legitimate excuses.
“This is typical NBA basketball with a four and a five seed going at it,” Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson said. “Now, we’ve got to go out and get Game 7.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Max Meyer, two relievers hold Phillies to one hit
May 2, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Max Meyer (23) throws against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images Max Meyer only allowed a hit in seven shutout innings and Xavier Edwards homered in the host Miami Marlins’ 4-0 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday
Meyer (2-0) faced one over the minimum amount of batters with a walk and seven strikeouts in the longest start of his career. He threw 55 strikes in 83 pitches.
Anthony Bender and Andrew Nardi each retired the side in order in the combined one-hitter.
Otto Lopez and Edwards were had two hits with a run and an RBI and Connor Norby was 2-for-3 with a run batted in for the Marlins, who evened the four-game series at one game each.
Garrett Stubbs got the lone hit for the Phillies, who had their four-game winning streak under interim manager Don Mattingly snapped. Kyle Schwarber was 0-for-3 with three strikeouts and has struck out in all eight at bats over his last two games, tying a career high for consecutive strikeouts.
Philadelphia starter Andrew Painter (1-3) gave up three runs on seven hits in five innings with three walks and seven strikeouts.
The Marlins took a 2-0 lead in the third on consecutive bases-loaded, two-out walks to Agustin Ramirez and Norby.
It was the second straight inning Miami loaded the bases with one out with three consecutive singles. In the second Painter got Graham Pauley on a foul out and struck out Esteury Ruiz swinging to end the inning.
Edwards one-out solo homer in the fifth made it 3-0. He drove Painter’s 1-1 four-seam fastball into the right-field stands for Edwards’ second home run.
Lopez’s infield RBI single with two out in the sixth increased the Marlins’ advantage to 4-0.
Stubbs singled in the third with one out and was erased on an inning-ending double play.
Justin Crawford was scratched from the Phillies’ lineup because of a migraine.
Philadelphia also activated catcher J.T, Realmuto from the 10-day injured list (back spasms) earlier Saturday and designated Dylan Moore for assignment. Realmuto was hitless in three at-bats.
–Field Level Media
Cameron Young holds six-shot lead after three rounds in Miami
RJ Barrett, Raptors clash with Cavaliers in unexpected Game 7
