Boston Bruins (7-2, in the Atlantic Division) vs. Dallas Stars (4-3-1, in the Central Division)
Dallas; Tuesday, 8 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: The Dallas Stars host the Boston Bruins after Arttu Hyry's two-goal game against the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stars' 4-0 win.
Dallas has a 4-3-1 record overall and a 1-2-0 record on its home ice. The Stars have a 2-1-0 record when scoring a power-play goal.
Boston has a 7-2 record overall and a 4-1-0 record on the road. The Bruins rank third in the league with 43 total penalties (averaging 4.8 per game).

#dallas #boston

Cherry Creek and Valor Christian continue to roll but Mountain Vista looks like a legit contender as well and their early-season loss to Seminole (Fla.), a top-25 team in the state, is their only blemish.
Another jam-packed slate is on deck as teams continue their quests for a state ******* le. Below are the top 25 Colorado high school football teams, according to the Massey Ratings, as of October 18.
The Bruins pulled away in the second half and knocked off Eaglecrest 31-17 in a top-10 matchup. Cherry Creek will host Mullen on Friday
The Eagles shut out Pine Creek 42-0 and look primed for a deep playoff run. They will host Fountain-fort Carson on Friday.
The Golden Eagles won their 7th straight game after beating Arvada West 44-6 in impressive fashion. Mountain Vista will play at Columbine on Thursday.

#teams

Marco Sturm is giving the Boston Bruins' younger players a chance to prove themselves, and Matt Poitras is taking full advantage of it.
Poitras signed a one-year, two-way deal on the day training camp opened, and one day later told reporters that he needs to "prove to everybody that I can be in the lineup every night." It was not all smooth sailing, though. He suffered a lower-body injury during training camp and missed the first three regular-season games before playing in the last six.
Ahead of his first game, Sturm said he was looking to "see [Poitras'] strengths, and I think just being smart, and skate." Six games later, Sturm is happy with what he's seen out of the 22-year-old center.
"Yeah, he's been solid, and that's all I'm asking for," Sturm said of Poitras after Saturday's game in Los Angeles. "I'm not asking for big points and goals, whatever. No, I want him to just do [his] job, and the rest will come automatically."
In his first five games of the season, Poitras centered the fourth line. He skated alongside Tanner Jeannot and Mark Kastelic, but with Pavel Zacha sidelined by an upper-body injury, Poitras moved into a top-six role.

#later

Nov. 1
Today in sports history
Today is Nov. 1. On this date in:
1913: Notre Dame defeated Army 35-13 in the first meeting between the schools, with quarterback Gus Dorais and end Knute Rockne showcasing the forward pass in a landmark game that helped change college football strategy.
1924: The NHL awarded a franchise to Boston, creating the Bruins as the league's first United States-based team.

#notre #knute

PASADENA, Calif. - For three quarters and seven minutes, Bob Chesney's Rose Bowl debut was a dull affair, then just as quickly, the Bruins gave their faithful fans and historic stadium plenty to cheer about.
The SDSU Aztecs came to town looking to present a challenge and they certainly didn't make things easy on the Bruins, nor did the Bruins make things easy back. Both siders traded drives where they accomplished relatively nothing. So much nothing in fact the first play to go past the 50-yard line and into opposing territory didn't happen until Brian Rowe Jr. caught a pass with 11:47 left in the second quarter and both sides went into halftime tied 0-0.
Neither side particularly excelled with their passing, even if UCLA had the slight edge through the first half and finished with a much larger edge with 151 net passing yards to just 45 by SDSU and both sides were equally unsuccessful in their rushing attempts early on, but things started to change for UCLA in the second half.
"That is not the way we want to play football, obviously in the first half," Chesney said. "But at the same point in time, that's where we found ourselves. And I think every once in a while, it wasn't pretty, but it was gritty, and you need one of those."
UCLA struck first with a rushing touchdown courtesy of fifth-year running back Wayne Knight early in the third quarter, but UCLA could have scored far earlier than that if senior quarterback Nico Iamaleava made a different decision in a critical moment.

#first #things

PASADENA -- San Diego State's defense did practically everything they could to keep the Aztecs in the game against UCLA. They just needed the offense to come along for the ride.
Despite the defense largely holding UCLA's offense in check, SDSU's offense managed just 189 yards and one touchdown — coming effectively in garbage time — in a 28-10 loss to the Bruins at the Rose Bowl on Saturday.
"Inefficiency on offense led to a bunch of snaps for the defense," head coach Sean Lewis said. "Starting three and out there constantly, we were behind in the field position game. So I think just the culmination of snaps, the inefficiency on offense. It starts with the play calling, with myself, the leadership throughout the course of the week, so that we can have more success and flip the field."
Nowhere was SDSU's offensive struggle more apparent than in the passing game. The Aztecs completed just six passes for 45 yards, and several deep shots by quarterback Jayden Denegal were wildly off-target.
"[We] felt like we had good matchups on the edge," Lewis said. "There was a lot of single-high coverage. Again, those are good, calculated shots downrange. We got ***** on hands that we didn't catch. We had other guys wide open that we missed."

#yards #shots

The UCLA Bruins defeated the San Diego State Aztecs 28-10 in their home opener at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif. on Sept. 12.
The Bruins were held scoreless for the first half of the game, but took the lead in the third and blew up in the fourth to steamroll the Aztecs. UCLA head coach Bob Chesney was able to keep his team together yet again as he leaves his first home opener in the Rose Bowl triumphant. Here were five takeaways from the Week 2 performance.
The Bruins defense defended their den viciously for the season opener as they held the Aztecs scoreless for the first three quarters of play. San Diego State's lone touchdown came on the defense's worse drive of the game that was filled with penalties that led the Aztecs down the field and into the endzone.
Nonetheless, the defense was the strongest side of the ball for the majority of the game as they held the Aztecs to just 45-passing yards, had two sacks, six tackles-for-loss and an interception that was snagged by senior linebacker Jalen Woods.
FIRST CAREER INT FOR J-9! 💪

📺: BigTenNetwork
📲: https://t.co/rVIspx5dud pic.twitter.com/4ODHkrh5SV

#aztecs #opener #ucla #bowl

UCLA football looks to build on a strong showing from their Week 1 rout of Cal in their home opener when they host San Diego State at the Rose Bowl on Saturday, Sept. 12.
The Bob Chesney era in Westwood couldn't have started on a better note as the Bruins rode dominant performances from their run game and defense -- their two biggest weaknesses last season -- to pull away late from what had been a shootout with the Golden Bears through the first three quarters.
Senior running back Anthony Woods led the way on the ground with 118 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while JMU transfer Wayne Knight added three more scores on 71 yards. That opened up some opportunities for Nico Iamaleava to take shots downfield, which the quarterback converted for some big plays late in the first half.
The Aztecs -- now a member of the new-look Pac-12 -- are coming off a strong season debut of their own, a 53-20 blowout over Portland State.
Follow along for live coverage from USA TODAY Sports on UCLA vs. San Diego State:

#state #diego

California football is on display in their ACC-opener, as the Golden Bears travel across the country, nearly 2,500 miles, entering a Week 2 matchup with Syracuse at the JMA Wireless Dome.
Cal is still in search of getting its first tally in the win column for first-year head coach Tosh Lupoi following their Week 1 loss against UCLA, 45-24.
There were many things to look back on for Cal between what went wrong, what went right and what they could've done better to give themselves a fighter's chance at taking down UCLA.
As a collective, the Golden Bears were in lockstep with the Bruins through three quarters where the game was tied at 24. However, a fourth-quarter collapse allowed UCLA to runoff three unanswered scores which ultimately sealed the fate for Cal.
As you tune into the matchup between Cal and 'Cuse, be on the lookout for the performance indicators from the Golden Bears.

#golden #went

It's not just game day, it's the first home game for Bob Chesney as head coach of the UCLA Bruins. UCLA will be taking on San Diego State at the Rose Bowl, with both teams eyeing a 2-0 start to the 2026 season.
We'll get our first look at how Chesney has his team looking in Pasadena, with the program looking to keep the ball rolling after an offseason filled with positive momentum. UCLA passed their first test, knocking off Cal on the road in Week 1.
Here are five questions for the Bruins entering Week 2 versus the Aztecs.
The UCLA offensive line dominated up front, allowing for major games from running backs Anthony Woods and Wayne Knight. While it'll be tough for UCLA to match their 277 yards they got in Week 1, a successful rushing offense will make everything else much easier for the Bruins.
There were many highlights from UCLA's Week 1 victory. One thing that wasn't great from the Bruins was their penalties. UCLA committed 12 penalties, giving away 110 yards. That isn't sustainable and will be something to improve upon in Week 2.

#first #penalties #diego

Oct. 31
Today in sports history
Today is Oct. 31. On this date in:
1900: American League president Ban Johnson wrote National League president Nicholas Young seeking major league parity and peace between the circuits, a pivotal step in the formation of the modern American League.
1942: Maurice "Rocket" Richard made his NHL debut for the Montreal Canadiens, recording an **** ist 36 seconds into a 3-2 victory over the Boston Bruins.

#national

It was a welcome sight for the Sutter Union High girls volleyball team when it came into the gym following the long Labor Day weekend.
The Huskies had flip-flopped with Bear River for the top-spot in Sac-Joaquin Section Division V and lead the Bruins by .13 one-hundredths of a ratings point entering Thursday's MaxPreps rankings drop. Computerized rankings help fill out at-large berths and final playoff positioning for all 16-team brackets in October, according to SJS playoff criteria.
No. 1 Sutter entered the week with the first of its two home Golden Empire League matches Tuesday night against El Camino, a rather routine straight-set (25-14, 25-9, 25-14) sweep for Sutter to move to 1-0 in league and 18-5 overall.
Kenzy Shannon led with 10 kills while middle blocker Taylor Palmer produced nine off the hands of senior setter Kalena DeLaCerna, who collected a team-high 17 **** ists.
Sutter ended the week late Wednesday with a home match against league foe Natomas. Results will be published on Friday.

#sutter #team #labor

It was a game of firsts for Caleb Bacon. Not only was it the first game of 2026, but also Bacon's first game as a Nittany Lion after transferring from Iowa State, as well as his first game as a full time defensive end since switching from linebacker.
It's safe to say all the changes worked out for Bacon, as he was named the Big Ten's Co-Defensive Player of the Week for week one. Bacon made an immediate impact in his Nittany Lions debut, collecting three TFLs, a sack, and six tackles in the first half alone against Marshall. The Thundering Herd had difficulty handling Bacon, as he constantly provided pressure and wreaked havoc in the backfield whenever he was on the field. Bacon even had a sequence with consecutive TFLs as he helped to shut down an early drive by Marshall as the Nittany Lions defense held them scoreless throughout the game. It was Penn State's first shutout in a season opener since blanking Akron in 2017.
Bacon shares the honor with UCLA's Ta'Shawn James, who had two interceptions to help lead the Bruins to a victory over Cal on Saturday.

#first #tfls #marshall #week

Following the UCLA Bruins' Week 1 victory over the Cal Bears, quarterback Nico Iamaleava awarded the new UCLA head coach the game ball for his efforts.
Despite the lopsided final score of 45-21, it was easily a game that the Bruins could have lost. The game was tied 21-21 entering the fourth quarter but it was UCLA who had more in the tank for the game's final 15 minutes.
In the locker room, Iamaleava addressed the team following the win, with UCLA football sharing the footage on the team's Twitter account.
"The man came in here and s**t shake, made us believe in something that we ain't believe in before. First ball goes to Coach Ches." Iamaleava, the team captain said.
Soon after the locker room broke out in song, with the team singing "It's a great day to be alive and be a Bruin" in unison to keep the celebration going.

#ucla

BERKELEY, Calif. — Wayne Knight ran for two touchdowns in the fourth quarter following interceptions by Ta'Shawn James and UCLA opened the Bob Chesney era with a 45-24 victory over California on Saturday night.
Both teams entered the season with new coaches and high hopes but Chesney's team got the best against Tosh Lupoi's Golden Bears by capitalizing on the late miscues by quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele.
"It was a lot of fun," Chesney said. "That was a battle."
Knight, who came from James Madison along with Chesney, scored on a 31-yard run midway through the fourth one play after James' first interception on a pass that went off Ian Strong's hands. Knight then made it 38-24 when he scored on a 4-yard run with 2:58 to play following the second takeaway by James.
Anthony Woods sealed it with a 53-yard touchdown run as the Bruins used 37 new players in the win.

#knight #chesney #scored

Saturday evening brought big news: Vikings legend Harrison Smith, who never officially announced his retirement, is coming back for a 15th season with the franchise that drafted him in the first round back in 2012.
The fan reaction to that news has been almost entirely positive. Smith is an all-time great who has played at a high level across several different eras of Vikings football. About a month into this season, he'll pass Carl Eller and Fred ****** to move into third on the franchise's games played leaderboard, trailing only Jim Marshall and Mick Tingelhoff. He's an obvious Ring of Honor lock with a real chance to end up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
And Smith's return isn't just about legacy. With his experience and instincts and communication abilities in Brian Flores' check-heavy defense, Smith is a big addition to the Vikings' roster right now, even at 37 years old. He can clearly still play, as we saw in his dominant performance against the Lions last Christmas Day.
Amidst the excitement, there have been a few Vikings fans who have pushed back. Their specific complaints have to do with the contract the team gave Smith for his 15th season. It's a one-year, $12.25 million deal that has incentives up to $16.25 million if Minnesota wins the Super Bowl. For some, that price tag is too steep for a 37-year-old safety.
There were enough of those tweets that a former longtime teammate of Smith's took notice. Anthony Barr, a first-round pick two years after Smith who played alongside him for nine seasons, took to X/Twitter to put those fans on blast late on Saturday night after a couple posts about his UCLA Bruins' Week 1 win over Cal.

#smith #season #first #years

The Tosh Lupoi Era for the Cal football team began in Berkeley on Saturday night with a full house at Memorial Stadium and plenty of thrills. What it ultimately lacked, however, was a victory for the Bears, who saw UCLA score three fourth-quarter touchdowns to claim a 45-24 victory with a majority of Cal fans clearing out of their seats before the final whistle.
It seemed nothing could stop Cal after sophomore Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele delivered three consecutive completions to take the Bears 87 yards into the end zone in just 38 seconds to cut the Bears' deficit to 21-17 toward the end of the first half.
With the Memorial Stadium home crowd roaring and the powers of their star quarterback on full display in the moon-balls he summoned, it felt like nothing could stop the Bears from satisfying the hype that the team spent the last eight months cultivating. A start to what the program hoped could be a Cinderella season.
And then the clock struck midnight.
The UCLA offensive line began to mash Cal in the trenches. Bruins running backs Wayne Knight and Jaivian Thomas started to steamroll through tackles and break containment. And the Sagapolutele magic turned into dust as a mishandled snap on a fourth-down and two fourth-quarter interceptions - one off the hands of his receiver and the other right to defense (both to the Bruins' Ta'Shawn James) - gave UCLA the momentum to take the game and run.

#team

Social media shared their excitement for UCLA football's exhilarating 45-24 win over the California Golden Bears in their season debut at the California Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
The hiring of Bob Chesney to coach the Bruins brought a new level of energy into Westwood and as the game progressed that energy made it way over to social media. Here is some of what was said throughout the Bruins late blowout win to open their season.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Social media excited for Bob Chesney's Bruins first win

#bruins #ucla #golden

James Madison transfer running back Wayne Knight ran for three touchdowns and the UCLA defense found its footing in the fourth quarter, overpowering former conference rival California and kicking off the Bob Chesney era with a 45-24 win.
There was a brief injury scare to quarterback Nico Iamaleava, but by then, the Bruins had effectively won the game with two things they did poorly a season ago: rushing and defense.
UCLA outscored Cal 21-0 in the fourth quarter off two interceptions from transfer safety Ta'Shawn James, who picked off Cal's Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele on a deep third-down attempt. Knight ran for a 31-yard touchdown on the next play to help give UCLA a 31-24 lead with 8:46 left to go.
James' next interception with 7:31 left led to Knight's third touchdown on a four-yard run.
Anthony Woods broke free for a 53-yard touchdown run on the Bruins' final possession for his second touchdown of the game and UCLA's sixth — all on the ground. Last season, the Bruins ran for eight total.

#knight

The Bob Chesney Era is off and running for the UCLA Bruins. The Bruins outlasted the Cal Bears Saturday night, picking up a 45-24 victory to move to 1-0 on the 2026 season.
It was a hard-fought win to begin Chesney's tenure, as Cal and quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele battled late into Saturday night but UCLA's defense got three turnovers and three sacks in the win.
The UCLA offense shined too. Aside from a red zone interception by Nico Iamaleava, Dean Kennedy's offense shined. UCLA rushed for 279 yards with James Madison transfer Wayne Knight looking like a star, and finding the end zone three times in his UCLA debut.
It was a balanced rushing attack, with the Bruins' offensive line winning up front, creating holes on the ground for Knight, Anthony Woods, Jaivian Thomas and Iamaleava on the ground. While Knight found the end zone three times, Woods scored twice and totaled 118 yards on only eight carries. As a team, UCLA averaged 9.0 yards per carry.
UCLA left meat on the bone late in the first half, as an Iamaleava interception led to a Cal touchdown but that didn't instill fear in the offense, as Iamaleava found Matthews for a deep pass to set up a last-second field goal to give the Bruins a 24-17 halftime lead.

#ucla #three #zone #woods

The UCLA Bruins will take on the Cal Golden Bears on Saturday at California Memorial Stadium in a Week 1 college football matchup.
Nov 29, 2025; Berkeley, California, USA; California Golden Bears wide receiver Cole Boscia (82) gestures after catching a pass for a first down against the Southern Methodist Mustangs during the fourth quarter at California Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Date: Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026
Time: 10:30 PM ET
Channel: ESPN

#california #saturday #ucla

The UCLA Bruins first football game of the 2026 season comes against the California Golden Bears at the California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, Calif. on Sept. 4.
Head coach Bob Chesney will reveal the new-look Bruins to the world as they battle against head coach Tosh Lupoi's Golden Bears. The Bruins still have some core pieces from last season like star quarterback Nico Iamalaeava, but Chesney brought plenty of star power with him from James Madison, which should be on full display.
UCLA vs California
TV Channel: ESPN
Livestream: Fubo (free trial)

#head

It had to be Ayden Gaines.
With Claremore trailing by four and facing third down from the Bartlesville 11-yard line with 48 seconds remaining, the circumstances almost seemed predetermined for the senior receiver, whose jersey number matched the exact yardage the Zebras needed to retake the lead.
Gaines had already spent most of the night proving nearly impossible to stop, and all that remained was for Kellen Gaede to make the game-winning pass.
The senior quarterback took the snap and fired toward Gaines, who leaped high above the defenders and pulled down the pass for their second touchdown connection of the night. The score pushed Claremore back in front and ultimately delivered a dramatic 35-32 victory Friday night over the Bruins at Lantow Field.
It was the program's fourth-straight victory over the Bruins.

#gaines #down #senior #victory

Everyone is excited for the start of the 2026 college football season until their team loses. While the UCLA Bruins are hoping to avoid that fate this weekend versus Cal. UCLA saw a conference rival begin the season in humiliating fashion.
Rutgers kicked off on Thursday versus UMass and the Minutemen pulled off a 37-21 road win at SHI Stadium. Rutgers came into the season looking like a Big Ten Conference bottom-dweller and that was all but confirmed with a blowout loss to UMass.
The loss to UMass is different from your run-of-the-mill upset. The Minutemen went winless in 2025 and were four touchdown underdogs against Rutgers.
Last season Rutgers went 5-7, winning two more games than UCLA, but things are looking worse to begin 2026 for the Scarlet Knights. USA TODAY writer Matthew Glenesk discussed buyout options for Rutgers' head coach Greg Schiano after the humiliating start to the season.
"Greg Schiano is the winningest coach in Rutgers football history. But that distinction can't sugarcoat the disaster Thursday night was as the Scarlet Knights — a 29.5-point favorite — lost at home to UMass," Glenesk said. "If the school was to make a change, Schiano is owed 76.875% of his remaining base salary when he is fired. If he is let go at the end of November, that number would be approximately $18.5 million, per documents obtained by USA TODAY Sports."

#season

If you're excited for Nico Iamaleava's 2026 season, you're not alone. Ahead of Iamaleava and the UCLA Bruins season debut on Saturday, college football ****** yst Todd McShay appeared on the Bill Simmons Podcast and gushed about UCLA's signal caller.
The former five-star recruit is flying a bit under the radar after a 2025 season where the Bruins offense struggled and the team finished 3-9 as a whole. Even amidst the struggles for the team, Iamaleava flashed moments of brilliance.
"I don't think people nationally have a clue how good Nico is," McShay said. "He's got a toughness about him that I didn't expect. He's got an ability to bounce-back from mistakes. This guy loves ball, you can't hide that on tape."
Even with those intangibles, it's the combination of Iamaleava's size and speed for the quarterback position. That skillset not only makes him an exciting college quarterback, it makes him a potential option at the NFL level.
"A 6'5" gazelle when he takes off to run. Then you watch the ability to, at 6'5", make guys miss in small ****** es," McShay said of the UCLA quarterback. "There's nothing he can't do. Now his deep ball accuracy was atrocious at Tennessee. I'm interested to see this year if he can improve that area."

#mcshay #bruins #you 're #college

Skip Bayless took issue with one of the most notable omissions from ESPN's Top 100 player rankings ahead of the 2026 NFL season. The longtime sports commentator made his feelings clear after Baker Mayfield was left outside the list despite another productive season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Mayfield's absence stood out because he has continued to rebuild his reputation since arriving in Tampa Bay. After reviving his career with the Buccaneers, the veteran quarterback has established himself as one of the league's more reliable offensive leaders and has helped keep the franchise competitive.
Feb 1, 2026; Tampa Bay, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield walks on the field prior to the 2026 Stadium Series ice hockey game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Boston Bruins at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
The Top 100 rankings are shaped by evaluations from league executives, coaches and scouts, making every major omission a subject of debate. Bayless viewed Mayfield's exclusion as particularly difficult to justify given the quarterback's recent production and his ability to succeed in an increasingly competitive NFC.
Mayfield has spent much of his career responding to skepticism, beginning with questions about his size and continuing through his departure from the Cleveland Browns. His path eventually included stops with the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams before he found stability and a long-term opportunity in Tampa Bay.

#buccaneers

Can first-year head coach Bob Chesney really replicate the magic that he created at James Madison University with the UCLA Bruins? That's become the expectation as Chesney has yet to scuffle so far in his NCAA coaching career.
To accomplish the feat, Chesney brought over many of his James Madison players through the transfer portal to UCLA. One of those players is tight end Josh Phifer, who spoke to California Post writer Ben Bolch about the similarities between JMU and UCLA.
"I was getting goosebumps," Phifer said to Bolch. "Because I was like, holy s–t, it's happening, I can feel it. … This almost feels like JMUCLA – it feels like the same thing except it's beautiful every day, it's 75 degrees and all that."
Bruin fans would love for their football program to turn into JMUCLA, with Chesney leading the Dukes to a conference championship and a College Football Playoff appearance in 2025. Chesney has been laying the groundwork for a smooth transition, bringing over much of the roster, coaching staff and values to the Bruins' program.
Kicker Mateen Bhaghani spoke on the difference between last year's UCLA program and what he has experienced so far this season, which has been a much more lively experience.

#james #madison #bruins #bolch

With all the anticipation, excitement and expectations for the season converging at Memorial Stadium on Saturday as Cal football kicks off against UCLA to usher in its new era, first-year head coach Tosh Lupoi and the Bears are focused on keeping the main thing as the main thing. And that main thing is themselves.
"I think that just depends on personal expectations," Lupoi said Tuesday morning when asked how he balances the anticipation of this moment for Cal with the actual football played between the white lines.
"This is a great challenge, a great Big Ten opponent coming in … and then you dial into what matters, right? Of us, how we're playing, our opportunity to display our culture, to kick off the new era of Cal football, and don't really put a lot into what anybody else's expectations are. Just really declaring what we want to go accomplish and how we want to get there, and keep the main thing, the main thing, every day."
The Bears' dedication to being internally focused has gone so far as to extend their training camp all the way into Monday, which Lupoi conceded leaves them a little behind on their game preparation for the Bruins. But while Lupoi and the Bears remain fixated on the happenings inside the locker room, the buzz outside those walls is loud.
With Cal Athletics raking in a record $88.5 million in donations from July 2025 through June 2026, its transfer class ranking 14th in the nation per 247Sports, and team general manager Ron Rivera touting his belief in the program, a lot of optimistic eyes are watching to see if the Bears can flip the script on what's been a long run of low-level bowl games and tepid mediocrity.

#thing #anticipation

A Georgia Bulldogs long snapper survived the grind of final cuts and has made an NFL roster. Former Georgia long snapper Beau Gardner has made the Chicago Bears' active roster, according to a team announcement. He won the competition against Luke Elkin.
Gardner will be an integral part of the special teams unit alongside kicker Cairo Santos and punter Tory Taylor. Santos has been the Bears kicker since 2020, while Taylor has been one of the best punters in the league.
Gardner was also a part of a great special teams unit in Georgia, where he transferred in 2024 after three seasons with the UCLA Bruins. Kicker Peyton Woodring, still on the team, made the All-SEC second team in 2024 and 2025, while Brett Thorson, the punter for the Minnesota Vikings, was a first-team All-American and winner of the Ray Guy Award in 2025, along with being All-ACC second team in 2024 and 2025.
Gardner himself was a great special teamer in Georgia. He was first-team All-SEC in 2024 and 2025, first-team All-American in 2025, and even won the Patrick Mannelly Award in 2025 for being the best long snapper in the nation. He consistently delivered great snaps. The Bears signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2026 as a reward, and he has made the team.
The Bears have very little former Georgia Bulldogs on their team, with just running back D'Andre Swift joining Gardner. They used to have linebacker Roquan Smith on their team before he was traded to the Baltimore Ravens in 2022. Gardner is not the only undrafted Georgia specialist to make an NFL team. Brett Thorson made the Vikings as well.

#team #made #kicker #snapper

The UCLA Bruins made a serious shakeup to start off Week 1 of their college season by announcing the dismissal of Athletic Director Martin Jarmond, after Jamond served as UCLA's AD since 2020.
Not only did UCLA can Jarmond, they burned $6.5 million to move on. Jarmond will receive a slightly lesser buyout than former football head coach DeShaun Foster received after being fired last year. The Bruins have now dedicated over $12 million to buyouts over the past year between Foster and Jarmond.
For a university that's seeking profitability in every avenue, spending $12 million on two employees to leave your program doesn't make perfect sense, but with the moves, it's become clear that UCLA believed that keeping Jarmond and Foster would have cost the athletic programs even more.
ESPN's Paolo Uggetti reported on Jarmond's firing Monday afternoon.
"Jarmond is set to be owed the $6.5 million remaining on his contract. He has been there since 2020 when he arrived from Boston College," Uggetti wrote. "During his time at UCLA, Jarmond oversaw the departure of Chip Kelly in 2024 and replaced him with former player DeShaun Foster, who went 5-10 in a short stint as the football program's head coach. Foster was fired last year after an 0-3 start to the season.

#jarmond #foster #million #uggetti