Sep. 14—Gonzaga released its women's basketball nonconference schedule Monday for the 2026-27 season, and it shapes up as possibly the most challenging out-of-conference slate the Zags have had under coach Lisa Fortier.
Fortier begins her 13th season with a nonconference schedule that features six teams that finished in the top 100 of the NET last season with four teams earning NCAA Tournament berths.
Gonzaga's three most attractive nonconference dates are road games — at Stanford (Nov. 15), at Arizona State (Dec. 6) and a men's/women's multi-event doubleheader vs. Michigan State (Dec. 19), the Acrisure Challenge, in Palm Desert, California.
Eight of 15 nonconference games are at McCarthey Athletic Center. Gonzaga was going to have a 16th nonconference game — the maximum allowed with 16 conference games — but a third opponent in the North Shore Classic in Hawaii — Gonzaga's holiday tournament this year — pulled out last minute.
Whether Gonzaga lands a one-off additional nonconference game remains to be seen.

#state #schedule

The Pittsburgh Steelers are 1-0 after a 20-13 victory against the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 13 at Acrisure Stadium.
The stars played a big part in getting them there. T.J. Watt returned a fourth-quarter interception for a touchdown to provide the game-winning points. Veteran receiver Michael Pittman Jr. – the headliner of the team's 2026 free agent class – caught three passes for 58 yards. And Alex Highsmith knifed through Atlanta blockers to record two sacks of his own.
Add it all up, and the positives were plentiful for first-year coach Mike McCarthy in his debut.
Here's a look at some of the highlights and lowlights through the eyes of Pro Football Focus evaluators, who study every play on film to grade each player individually. For context, players are graded on a 0-100 scale.

#atlanta #stadium #veteran

UCF starting quarterback Alonza Barnett III will miss multiple weeks with a hamstring injury suffered late in the fourth quarter of the team's Sept. 12 loss at Pittsburgh, according to a report from ESPN's Pete Thamel.
Barnett sustained the injury scrambling away from pressure on the Knights' final offensive possession.
Keyone Jenkins entered for the final play and took a sack, sealing the Panthers' 12-7 win at Acrisure Stadium. Jenkins is in line to start against Georgia State at 7 p.m. Sept. 19.
Barnett completed 63.3% of his passes the first two weeks, throwing for 344 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
This is a developing story. Check back for more updates.

#final

When it rains, it pours.
In the literal sense, UCF waited more than an hour before taking the field as thunderstorms hovered over and rolled through Pittsburgh's Acrisure Stadium. In a figurative one, just about everything went wrong for the Knights' offense on a dreary day in Western Pennsylvania, resulting in a 10th consecutive road defeat.
The Knights mustered less than one yard per carry and went scoreless for nearly 58 minutes in a 12-7 loss to Pitt. Alonza Barnett III busted up the Panthers' shutout bid with a 19-yard pass to Waden Charles, the first touchdown of the sophomore receiver's college career.
UCF (1-1) was limited to 206 yards of offense, going 4 of 13 on third down and 0 for 3 on fourth down — including a final sack of backup quarterback Keyone Jenkins with 1:22 left in regulation. Barnett limped off the field with an apparent right leg injury following the previous play.
"I think that there's a lot we have to look at and reconsider," Knights coach Scott Frost said. "We've got to play better on offense. That starts with me and the offensive staff. I just didn't think we clicked.

#knights #acrisure

The Ohio Bobcats play their 2026 home opener Saturday when they welcome the Jacksonville State Gamecocks to Frank Solich Field at Peden Stadium for a rematch of the 2024 Cure Bowl.
Aug 28, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; Jacksonville State Gamecocks player takes a personal moment before the game against the UCF Knights during the first quarter at Acrisure Bounce House. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images
Date: Saturday, September 12, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM ET
Channel: ESPN+

#state #bobcats #peden

Stanford men's basketball will be tipping off its exhibition schedule on Saturday, October 17 at Santa Clara, followed by another away matchup against Oregon on Sunday, October 25. From then on, the Cardinal will begin the regular season on Monday, November 2 at home against Eastern Washington.
Ten of Stanford's 14 non-conference games will be played at home this season, with another two of those being at a neutral site for the Acrisure Series. These non-conference matchups will loom large as Stanford looks to make the NCAA tournament in 2026-27 with a roster that has the pieces to make that dream a reality.
The Cardinal's ACC schedule will begin with one last game before the end of 2026, on the road against Notre Dame on Wednesday, December 30. Stanford will remain on the road to begin 2027 as well, facing off against Louisville.
Here is Stanford's full schedule for the 2026–27 season:
Monday, November 2 — Eastern Washington (H)

#october

How to Watch Pitt vs. UCF: Channel, Live Stream & Start Time for College Football Game originally appeared on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Add SportsNet Pittsburgh as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Pitt will look to build off its explosive season-opening performance when the Panthers return to Acrisure Stadium on Saturday to take on UCF.
The Panthers opened the 2026 campaign in dominant fashion, cruising past Miami (Ohio), 59-14. Quarterback Mason Heintschel tied a Pitt single-game record with seven touchdown passes, while the Panthers' 59 points marked their highest-scoring season opener since 1992.
UCF launched the new campaign with a 73-6 win over Bethune-Cookman. Running back Duke Watson led the Knights with 110 rushing yards on just seven carries.
Here is everything you need to know about Pitt vs. UCF, including TV and streaming options for the game.

#sportsnet #season

The Pittsburgh Steelers announced plans Thursday for a weeklong celebration across Pittsburgh leading up to their regular season opener against the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 13 at Acrisure Stadium.
The Steelers Kickoff Week activities will feature community events and interactive displays across six local neighborhoods.
At the center of the celebration is a traveling display featuring giant Super Bowl rings originally created for the 2026 NFL Draft Steelers Country activation.
From Monday through Saturday of game week, the giant Super Bowl rings will visit six different locations across Pittsburgh. At each stop, fans will be invited to participate in a paint-by-numbers project by painting a segment of a larger canvas representing that location.
Once completed, the six individual pieces will be ******* embled into a single 24-foot mural. The completed artwork will be unveiled to fans at Acrisure Stadium during the team's home opener.

#week

Micah Parsons had the perfect reaction to the Los Angeles Rams bringing Aaron Donald back, responding to one of the most stunning moves of the 2026 NFL season with a comparison that captured how intimidating the team's defense could become. The star pass rusher saw the addition as the latest sign that the Rams are **** embling a roster built to overwhelm opponents.
Donald's return immediately changed the conversation surrounding Los Angeles and its championship ambitions. Already equipped with an imposing collection of defensive talent, the Rams added back one of the most dominant interior defenders in NFL history and gave opposing offenses another major problem to solve.
Former Pittsburgh Panther and retired NFL defensive tackle Aaron Donald waves to the crowd while walking out onto the field during his jersey number retirement ceremony during halftime of the Pittsburgh Panthers vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish game at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA on November 15, 2025.
Parsons reacted to the news by comparing the Rams to an Avengers villain, a reference that reflected the seemingly unstoppable collection of talent now gathered in Los Angeles. His response quickly resonated because it mirrored the reaction of many around the league, where the move has been viewed as a dramatic boost to an already dangerous roster.
The admiration also carries added weight coming from Parsons, one of the NFL's premier defensive players. He understands better than most how difficult it is for offensive lines to prepare for an elite pass rusher, and Donald's ability to disrupt plays from the interior has historically created opportunities for teammates throughout a defense.

#already

College football season may have just begun. But college basketball season is only two months away! On Monday, USC men's basketball announced its nonconference schedule for the 2026-2027 season.
Following three exhibition games, the Trojans will open up the season on November 2 at Galen Center against Milwaukee. They will then travel up to Northern California to face Wichita State in Lake Tahoe, before visiting Cal in an old Pac-12 showdown.
After that, USC will return home for matchups with Arkansas Pine Bluff, Tarleton State, and Louisiana. Eric Musselman's team will then spend Thanksgiving in Palm Springs, California at the Acrisure Series, where they will take on South Carolina and Utah State.
USC's final road games of nonconference play will be at San Diego on December 8 and against Texas Tech in Fort Worth, Texas on December 13. The Trojans will wrap up their nonconference slate with home matchups against Jacksonville and Western Michigan on December 19 and 22, respectively.
After that, USC will get into the heart of Big Ten play. The Trojans' conference schedule will be announced at a later date.

#college #Basketball #announced

The Green Bay Packers will have one of the most exciting offenses in the NFL this season. Despite Pro Bowl running back Josh Jacobs being on the commissioner's exempt list following criminal charges being filed against him, the Packers have some of the best young offensive stars in the league.
Wide receivers Christian Watson and Jayden Reed barely got to play together last year due to injuries. Now, they are entering 2026 healthy and fresh off of significant multi-year contract extensions. Additionally, Jordan Love continues to trend in the right direction as he enters his fourth year as Green Bay's starting quarterback.
Oh, and tight end Tucker Kraft is healthy.
Oct 26, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft (85) celebrates his touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images
Kraft missed the second half of the season last year due to a torn ACL. Fortunately, he has progressed on schedule in his recovery and will be ready for Week One. Just how much the Packers will limit his snap count to start the year remains to be seen, but the fact that he will be playing at all gives the offense a major boost.

#season

Pittsburgh's preseason ended in heartbreak Thursday night, as the Buffalo Bills scored late to beat the Steelers 28-27 at Highmark Stadium. Head coach Mike McCarthy watched his roster compete one final time before decision day arrived.
By Friday afternoon, the mood inside the building turned serious, and the first wave of cuts landed hard. What happens next will shape how Pittsburgh's sideline looks in Week 1.
The Pittsburgh Steelers released 11 players Friday, their first move in what will be a busy weekend of roster decisions. The team must reach the 53-man limit, and multiple reports indicate the front office has until Sunday at 8 p.m. ET to finish the job.
The August 28 list included tight end Jaheim Bell, offensive linemen Greg Crippen and Jaylon Guilbeau, and defensive backs Jack Henderson, Brandon Hill and Daryl Porter. Wide receivers Jakobie Keeney-James, Tamon Lynum, Cornell Powell and Isaiah Winstead were also let go, along with running back Alex Tecza.
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy greets Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur following their game at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images

#roster

Kaden Wetjen finally gave Mike McCarthy exactly what he had been asking for. After spending much of the preseason hearing criticism about his decision-making as a returner, the Pittsburgh Steelers rookie broke loose for a huge punt-return touchdown against the Buffalo Bills, and even during the play, McCarthy was still barking the same message he had been drilling into Wetjen all summer.
And the funny part? Wetjen didn't exactly follow the instructions. McCarthy was yelling for him to get north and attack vertically. Instead, the rookie bounced toward the sideline. However, this time, that decision worked perfectly.
Aug 13, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy watches the action against the Green Bay Packers during the first half at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images
McCarthy explained what happened on August 28, after the Steelers' 28-27 preseason loss to the Bills. Wetjen broke a 45-yard punt return for a touchdown in the third quarter, giving them the explosive special-teams play the Steelers had been waiting to see from their fourth-round rookie.
"Sometimes coaches say things on a headset they probably shouldn't say, like 'get north, get north' or 'get vertical,' which I was screaming at him at that time. And then he obviously bounced it to the sideline. I saw it on the Jumbotron. I saw why he bounced it, because he didn't have anywhere to go in front of him. He's been under some criticism just for being a young guy on a veteran team, so some tough love. I'm proud of him. I was really happy to see the return unit get that. Obviously, that was just a heck of a return by him, because if you're grading the tape, the coverage unit was in excellent position right there. And he gets around a corner and, obviously, finishes it off. That was a big-time return."

#pittsburgh #north #time

The Pittsburgh Steelers finally have some financial breathing room, and they got it without touching DK Metcalf's paycheck. With the 2026 regular season approaching, the Steelers have reworked its biggest wide receiver contract to open nearly $18 million in salary-cap ******* e. It is a significant change for a team that entered Thursday with almost no room to maneuver.
The timing makes the move even more intriguing. The Steelers have been dealing with a contract standoff involving Joey Porter Jr., and suddenly, the front office has a much bigger financial cushion to work with before Week 1.
Dec 15, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf (4) scores a touchdown in the third quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
The Steelers restructured Metcalf's contract on August 27, 2026, according to ESPN's Field Yates, converting a large portion of his 2026 base salary into a signing bonus. The adjustment creates nearly $18 million in additional cap ******* e while leaving Metcalf's actual earnings unchanged for the season.
That is a big shift for the Steelers. Prior to the restructuring, the Steelers were carrying around about $3.78 million in Top-51 cap ******* e and were last in the NFL, according to Spotrac. The extra cap room will put the Steelers at about $21 million in room, giving general manager Omar Khan much more flexibility.

#pittsburgh #space

The Pittsburgh Steelers face a difficult decision with Will Howard as they prepare to finalize their quarterback room for the 2026 season.
The sixth-round pick has shown flashes during the preseason, but his inconsistent performances have complicated his chances of becoming Aaron Rodgers' backup. Former Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch believes Pittsburgh could lose Howard if it tries to place him on the practice squad.
Oct 26, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Will Howard warms up for a game against the Green Bay Packers at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images
Howard entered training camp competing with Mason Rudolph and Drew Allar for a place behind Rodgers. Rudolph brings valuable NFL experience, while Allar has also impressed enough to strengthen his roster.
Howard, meanwhile, struggled against the New York Jets. He threw two interceptions during Pittsburgh's 17-0 preseason loss, failing to create the separation he needed in the backup competition. That performance did not help his immediate case. However, Batch believes the Steelers must consider more than Howard's latest outing when deciding his future. NFL news platform Steelers Depot reports Charlie Batch's comments on the situation.

#steelers #pittsburgh #charlie #allar

This article originally appeared on SteelersNOW.com.
The 2026 NFL season is right around the corner, and in an effort to stay competitive with their peers and opponents, teams are constantly looking to renovate or make improvements to their stadiums.
In a recent study based on Google and TripAdvisor fan reviews of NFL stadiums, Acrisure Stadium, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, came in ranked at No. 6.
The Baltimore Ravens' M&T Bank Stadium was ranked right behind Acrisure Stadium at No. 7, while the two Ohio teams did not fare well. Huntington Bank Field, home of the Cleveland Browns, was ranked 28th, and Cincinnati's Paycor Stadium came in at No. 31, ahead of only Washington's Northwest Stadium.
Click here to read more from SteelersNOW.com.

#steelersnow #came

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers dropped a 17-0 decision to the New York Jets in their second NFL preseason game on Friday, Aug. 21 at Acrisure Stadium.
It was a bad night for starting quarterback Will Howard, who threw a pair of interceptions in Jets territory to end promising drives.
The offense as a whole wasn't much better. The running game averaged just 3.8 yards per carry and no wide receiver totaled more than 32 yards. The defense had its moments, but gave up an opening-drive touchdown to Jets starter Geno Smith.
Required reading: Steelers' Will Howard struggles in NFL preseason loss to Jets: Highlights
Here's a look at individual winners and losers from the evening.

#preseason #york #Friday #acrisure

What channel is Steelers vs. Jets on today? Time, TV schedule, live stream to watch NFL Week 2 preseason game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
After an impressive performance against the Packers in Week 1 of the preseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers look to continue their momentum when they face the New York Jets on Friday night at Acrisure Stadium.
The Steelers beat Green Bay 28-9 last week as Drew Allar, Will Howard, and Mason Rudolph each made a case to be Aaron Rodgers' backup. The 42-year-old Rodgers has made it clear that he doesn't believe he would gain any sort of advantage by playing in preseason games.
Pittsburgh takes on another of Rodgers' former teams in the Jets. New York lost to the Buccaneers in Week 1, 24-16. Braelon Allen had a standout performance for the Jets, scoring a touchdown and rushing for 44 yards.
Here is everything you need to know about Steelers vs. Jets, including TV and streaming options for Friday's preseason game.

#Jets #steelers #york

The New York Jets are getting ready to play their second preseason game on Friday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium. The Jets' first-team offense and defense played well last week in their 24-16 loss to the Buccaneers, but it was the backups who struggled, especially at quarterback.
This will be a bigger test as the Steelers are expected to play their starters for at least the first quarter, aside from quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
As for the Jets, the starters will play except for running back Breece Hall, who suffered a groin strain in and will miss 2-3 weeks. The good news is that Hall should be ready for the season opener against the Tennessee ****** ans. The Jets got even more good news when defensive tackle T'vondre Sweat and OLB/DE Joseph Ossai were activated from the Non-Football injury list and have begun practicing with the team.
Considering the preseason cirumstances, here are Jets Wire's three players to watch in the second week of the preseason:
Klubnik performed better than expected in his debut last week against the Buccaneers. He led the Jets offense on two scoring drives in the first quarter. He played with plenty of confidence, looked very comfortable running the offense with the starters and had a nice rapport with Garrett Wilson. It's unknown if Geno Smith will play on Friday as he's still dealing with foot soreness that kept him out of last week's game. If Geno doesn't play, Klubnik should receive plenty of work once again with the first team offense.

#offense

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Packers fans and fans across the country.
It was a tumultuous spring for Trey Smack, and the Green Bay Packers' rookie kicker had his share of issues early in training camp as well. The 6th-round pick out of Florida was inconsistent in practice for some time this year, and he has had to deal with adjusting to a new long snapper over the past few weeks with Cal Adomitis filling in for the injured Matt Orzech.
Last Thursday, however, Smack showed why the Packers traded up for him in April. In his preseason debut, he hit all four of his field goal attempts at Pittsburgh's Acrisure Stadium, including a pair from 58 yards out, one each in opposite directions. It was just the performance the Packers' front office and coaching staff hoped to see from him, and it eased the minds of many Packers fans alike.
However, the Packers have been searching for a long-term answer at kicker ever since Mason Crosby left the team after the 2022 season. Anders Carlson, Brayden Narveson, Brandon McManus, and Lucas Havrisik have all attempted kicks for the team over the past three years, with varying levels of inconsistency. By drafting Smack cutting McManus shortly thereafter, and releasing Havrisik early in training camp, the team has pushed all of its chips into the table for the youngster.
So how confident are you that Smack will make the gamble pay off? Let us know in the poll below and discuss in the comments.

#packers #smack #across #year

Pitt football is back on the field getting ready for the upcoming season.
Friday was only the team's second day in pads. Coach Pat Narduzzi says he's pleased with the work they're getting in.
He says he's looking for some players to step up and say "I'm the guy; I deserve to start."
"I think there's competition all over the place," Narduzzi said. "I mean, I think corner, I think linebacker, I think safety. I think running back for sure. There's a lot of guys there. And then that receiver spot, there's still competition."
The Panthers open up the season on Sept. 5, hosting Miami of Ohio at Acrisure Stadium.

#Competition

This article originally appeared on SteelersNOW.com.
Pittsburgh Steelers rookie quarterback Drew Allar was nearly flawless in his NFL debut, completing 10 of 13 passes for 154 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 154.8 in Thursday night's 28-9 win over the Green Bay Packers at Acrisure Stadium. Allar also had a rushing touchdown to go along with his two touchdown passes.
Allar replaced Will Howard on the second possession in the third quarter, and it didn't take long for the Penn State product to turn heads. On his first pass attempt, Allar connected with fellow rookie Kaden Wetjen for a 74-yard gain.
Allar would have had his first career touchdown pass on the following play, but a wide-open Riley Nowakowski failed to haul in the catch.
Click here to read more on SteelersNOW.com.

#touchdown #steelersnow #first #pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The vibes for Mike McCarthy and Eli Heidenreich over the last few months have been immaculate. How could they not be?
The chance for McCarthy to lead his hometown team brought the first-year Pittsburgh Steelers coach to tears when he was hired in January. The image last April of Heidenreich walking onto the draft stage in full Naval dress uniform outside Acrisure Stadium — just a few miles from the Mount Lebanon neighborhood where he grew up — felt like something out of a movie.
Their respective homecomings have provided plenty of "fairy tale" narratives during an eventful offseason for the typically low-key Steelers. And while there will be a little bit of "hey, is this really happening?" on Thursday night when they walk onto the field for the first time as the Steelers host Green Bay in the preseason opener, they're both aware of the reality check that awaits under the lights.
"Naturally, there's some people that might ******* ume that it was like you said, like a hometown pick or whatever, whatever someone wants to say," Heidenreich said. "But I'm here to play football, and that's it."
Good thing, because evolving from a seventh-round flyer following a record-setting career at Navy — where he set program marks for career receiving yards and receiving touchdowns — into an NFL roster spot will take some doing. ******* ody knows that more than the 6-foot, 206-pound Heidenreich, who politely dismissed comparisons between himself and San Francisco 49ers running back and 2023 NFL Offense Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey.

#pittsburgh #year #hometown #first

ORLANDO — UCF football is less than a month away from opening its season at Acrisure Bounce House against Bethune-Cookman.
Certain positions on the Knights' depth chart already seem to be filled in, while others are still up for grabs during the dog days of summer.
Depth charts usually remain fluid throughout the season, but the team UCF rolls out against the Wildcats on Week 1 will be telling. Practice makes perfect for the Knights in that regard.
UCF held its latest practice on Aug. 8 at the outdoor fields adjacent to the Bounce House. The entire 2½-hour session was held in front of media members and others listed as "shareholders."
Here are three takeaways from the Knights' open practice.

#practice #House #acrisure

ORLANDO — There is no easy road through a Power Four schedule, but perhaps UCF will experience fewer ****** ps this fall.
In a story that published Aug. 5, USA TODAY's Jordan Mendoza believes the Knights have the seventh-easiest schedule in major college football for the 2026 campaign. UCF faces two teams ranked in the Preseason Coaches Poll.
"The Knights will travel to play No. 24 Houston on Oct. 3 and then host No. 15 BYU on Oct. 24, but after that, there's no ranked opponent left," Mendoza wrote. "The road game at Pittsburgh won't be easy, but Scott Frost has a chance to recapture some magic in Orlando."
UCF went 5-7 last year, including an 0-5 mark away from the Acrisure Bounce House. The Knights have won just seven conference games since joining the Big 12 in 2023.
Texas Tech, Kansas State and Utah are ahead of the Knights on the list, which does not feature a single team in the SEC or Big Ten. Those two leagues account for 17 of the 25 ranked teams to begin the year.

#ranked #road #year

The NFL cannot resist quarterback drama. Aaron Rodgers. Dak Prescott. Deshaun Watson. Jay Cutler. The list is endless. Which is why Baker Mayfield's contract dispute has swallowed almost every conversation surrounding Tampa Bay in recent days.
That is understandable. It is also hiding the best development at Buccaneers training camp.
Mayfield entered the final year of his three-year, $100 million contract without an extension, then publicly said he felt "disrespected" and "undervalued" after negotiations failed. His $33.3 million annual salary ranks 16th among NFL quarterbacks, and talks are now expected to wait until after the season.
MORE: Jon Gruden gives roster advice, high praise for Dallas Cowboys' dynamic WR duo
Apr 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Miami Hurricanes defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. is selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the number 15 pick during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

#year #prescott

ORLANDO — Few expected much from Scott Frost's second UCF season last time around. Then, the Knights caught lightning in a bottle, beat every team in their path and claimed a national ***** le when the NCAA's Colley Matrix rating system crowned them as champions.
As it opens training camp Aug. 3, UCF faces incredibly long odds to repeat that feat in 2026, projected to finish in the bottom half of the Big 12 for a fourth consecutive year. The Knights are 7-20 against league opponents, including a 2-12 mark away from the Acrisure Bounce House.
Frost and four players addressed local and national reporters July 7 at the Big 12's media days in Frisco, Texas. However, many of the questions asked then will not have an answer until the Knights take the field — for practice and beyond.
Here are three important queries that could define whether UCF can push toward the conference's upper echelon, or whether it will be another battle to scrape a bowl game come November.
On paper, the Knights should have gotten significantly better behind center with the addition of Alonza Barnett III from James Madison. He earned Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year honors with 2,806 passing yards, 589 rushing yards and 38 touchdowns, leading the Dukes to an unlikely appearance in the College Football Playoff.

#scott

The Arizona State men's basketball team will play Oklahoma in Tulsa at the BOK Center on Dec. 5, highlighting its nonconference schedule.
It will be the second straight year the Sun Devils have faced the Sooners in nonconference play. The teams squared off last season at the Mortgage Matchup Center as part of the Jerry Colangelo Classic in Phoenix, with the Sun Devils prevailing 86-70 in what was one of their best games of the season.
ASU is coming off a 17-16 season. Oklahoma is fresh off a 21-16 showing. The Sooners did not make the NCAA field but did play in the College Basketball Crown, losing the championship game to West Virginia, 89-82.
ASU will also play in the Acrisure Series Nov. 21-26 in Palm Springs, although its opponents have not yet been announced.
ASU is 9-2 in neutral-site regular-season games the past two seasons.

#play #center

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker TJ Watt was penalized for roughing the passer for tackling Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco during the second quarter of their NFL Week 11 game last November at Acrisure Stadium.
The home crowd was not happy about the flag, and CBS rules **** yst Gene Steratore said he thought it was a bad call.
"That's football," Flacco told reporters after the game. "He did a good job. He buried me in the turf."
Flacco had more to say about it during the third season of Netflix's "Quarterback."
"Man, he f---ed me up," Flacco said of Watt's hit. "He knew what he was doing, too. He was like, 'I've got a chance to hit him here. I'm gonna take full advantage. … But that's football. That's the Steelers defense."

The sponsor of Michigan State basketball's latest holiday tournament should be quite familiar to Spartan fans.
Michigan State and Gonzaga are playing a doubleheader in men's and women's basketball Dec. 19 in the 2026 Acrisure Series at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, Calif. Tip-off times and broadcast details are to be determined.
Acrisure, the sponsor, is a Grand Rapids-based fintech company led by CEO Greg Williams, who in December alongside his wife pledged $401 million to Michigan State athletics including a $100 million stake in new revenue arm Spartan Ventures. That financial commitment is the largest in school history, though it is not structured as a lump sum.
More: Who are Michigan State's mega donors? Get to know Greg and Dawn Williams
"Our good friend Greg Williams and his wife, Dawn, are part of the leadership group at the arena," Tom Izzo said in a statement announcing the series. "They care a great deal about Michigan State, and they have embraced the Palm Springs area and the community there.