The Dayton Flyers will play Utah at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 20, in their first game at the Charleston Classic and then Northwestern at 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22.
The game times and the order of the opponents were announced on Thursday, Sept. 10, as tickets went on sale. The six-team field was announced in August.
There will be three games each day at TD Arena in Charleston, S.C.
Oklahoma State will play Minnesota at 12:30 p.m. Nov. 20 in the first game of the event. Northwestern will play Virginia Tech in the second game at 3 p.m. Dayton and Utah will play the final game of the first day.
All the teams will have Nov. 21 off.

#flyers

Sept. 8 (UPI) -- The Philadelphia 76ers and Philadelphia Flyers released initial renderings of their new arena, which is to open in 2030 in South Philadelphia.
The arena also will host the inaugural season that year of the city's WNBA team. Its construction marks the largest fully privately funded project in Philadelphia history. An early estimate put the cost at $1.3 billion.
Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, which owns the 76ers, and Comcast Spectacor, which owns the Flyers and Xfinity Mobile Arena, are 50-50 partners in the new arena. Comcast will own the naming rights.
"This privately funded arena will be the home to moments and memories that define this city for generations," 76ers co-owner Josh Harris said.
"We ... look forward to partnering with Mayor Cherelle Parker and council President Kenyatta Johnson to transform a site rich with history, while creating thousands of jobs, driving lasting economic impact and delivering an arena that honors the deep sports and entertainment culture of the city.

#comcast #entertainment

The Philadelphia 76ers and Flyers are giving fans a look into the future.
The teams unveiled the first exterior images of the proposed new arena being built on the old Spectrum site on Sept. 8.
The proposed arena is targeted to open ahead of the inaugural 2030 season of Philadelphia's WNBA expansion team. Comcast will own the naming rights to the new arena, which will be formally named at a later date.
The arena will host sporting events, concerts, live entertainment and community programming.
"Philly fans deserve the best arena in the world, and we are excited to partner with Comcast to deliver just that. This privately funded arena will be the home to moments and memories that define this city for generations," Josh Harris, co-founder of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment and managing partner of the Philadelphia 76ers, said in a release.

#arena

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Alongside the familiar sounds of roosters crowing and thrill seekers screaming on rides at the Iowa State Fair, there was a chorus of boos from Turning Point Action activists who were heckling Democratic politicians making their way through the crowds.
Videos of the confrontations got hundreds of thousands of views on social media, a burst of attention for a conservative youth organization that is charting its next chapter after last year's **** assination of its leader Charlie Kirk. But the true test of Turning Point Action's clout was unfolding inside the exhibition center, where staff members were registering voters, handing out **** ons and signing people up for social events.
"Building the foundation for 2028," said one of the flyers.
While Democrats have punted Iowa from the top of its presidential primary calendar, the state's caucuses will still kick off Republicans' next nominating process. Turning Point Action is positioning itself to shape that contest, a reminder that preparations for the next White House campaign are already in motion even though no candidates have announced and the midterm elections aren't over yet.
Turning Point Action wants at least one staffer in each of Iowa's 99 counties to mobilize the conservative grassroots.

#point #next #conservative

Where to watch East St. Louis vs. Gainesville football: Channel, live stream, kickoff time for high school game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
East St. Louis always casts a wide net when it comes to football scheduling, and the latest top matchup is a showdown with Georgia power Gainesville on Friday.
The Flyers, ranked No. 37 nationally by MaxPreps, already have faced a pair of nationally ranked opponents this season, taking down Chicago Mt. Carmel 42-23 in the opener, then falling 35-28 in overtime at Florida's American Heritage last weekend.
The players to watch for the home team in this one are Flyers running back Myson Johnson-Cook, an Auburn commit, and Florida-bound corner Raheem Floyd.
Gainesville has an elite DB of its own in junior four-star Jai'lil Goley, who anchors the defense alongside senior linebacker and Pitt commit Jeremiah Proctor.

#gainesville #flyers #Football #nationally

As Americans prepare for the last long weekend of summer, those planning on driving can expect heavy traffic and the highest Labor Day gas prices ever, while at the nation's airports, a big influx of flyers are expected on Thursday and Friday. Meanwhile, inclement weather is threatening to snarl travel across the country. NBC's Tom Costello reports and TODAY's Dylan Dreyer tracks the latest forecast.

#labor #prepare

With the NHL season quickly approaching, the league has revealed its national TV schedule across TNT Sports and ESPN networks.
TNT Sports will air 72 regular-season games this season, including the Heritage Classic, Winter Classic, and "Thanksgiving Showdown" doubleheader on Black Friday. TNT will also air the 2027 Stanley Cup Final.
On ESPN, there will be 100 games across ABC, ESPN and ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu. Featured games include the NHL Frozen Frenzy and NHL Stadium Series. ABC and ESPN will also air the NHL All-Star Weekend, which is returning after a two-year hiatus.
Opening night on Tuesday, Sept. 29, as previously announced, will feature an opening tripleheader. Florida Panthers-Carolina Hurricanes will be at 5 p.m., New York Rangers-Boston Bruins at 8 p.m., and Chicago Blackhawks-Vegas Golden Knights at 10:30 p.m., all on ESPN.
TNT will begin its coverage the next night with a doubleheader featuring Pittsburgh Penguins-Philadelphia Flyers at 7:30 p.m. and Los Angeles Kings-Colorado Avalanche at 10 p.m.

#games #across

Mac McClung may have conquered NBA All-Star Weekend, but he just met his match in an accounting intern who threw down a viral dunk to pull off a $500,000 shocker.
Dunkman is a professional league dedicated entirely to competitive dunking, bringing together high-flyers from across the globe. The league's premier event, the Dunkman World Championship, pits top-tier athletes against each other in a multi-stage tournament boasting a massive $500,000 top prize.
Headline star Mac McClung entered the showcase as the headline heavy favorite. A household name among hoop fans after cementing his legacy by becoming the first player in history to win three consecutive NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contests.
Shaquille O'Neal is the founder and commissioner of the Dunkman league, while Draymond Green serves as part of the primary broadcast and commentary crew alongside dunk legend Vince Carter, popular hoops creator CashNasty, and host Adam Lefkoe.
Cam Hazzard pulled off the ultimate shocker to walk away with the inaugural Dunkman World Championship and a life-changing $500,000.

#championship

The LIV Golf season (and league as we know it) is over.
A handful of golfers were relegated from the league following the conclusion of LIV Golf Indianapolis on Sunday at The Club at Chatham Hills. Michael La Sasso became the league's youngest winner, but him winning knocked one of his HyFlyers teammates below the relegation line.
LIV Golf insists the league's next iteration will continue in 2027, but some tumultuous weeks are likely to follow and will determine whether LIV does exist into the future. If it does, however, it will look nothing like it did in 2026.
If LIV 2.0 does happen, these players are going to have to find new pathways back onto the league after being relegated.
These are the 12 LIV golfers who are being relegated from the league after 2026 LIV Golf Indianapolis:

#relegated #sunday

Celebrities are often frequent travelers, and some stars have shared their wild habits when heading to a new destination.
From minimalist packers to superstitious flyers, many celebrities have been open about developing travel rituals that are uniquely their own.
In an August 2025 interview with Crocs, Millie Bobby Brown shared her travel necessities, which include her humidifier and fluffy socks. When asked about her biggest "travel pet peeve," the Stranger Things star shared one of her husband Jake Bongiovi's vacation habits: not packing clothes.
"We'll leave and I'll have a big suitcase and he has nothing with him, just his phone. Never really a charger, just steals mine, and then takes his computer and goes, 'Mill, I don't have any clothes,' " she said.
Below, here are seven wild celebrity vacation habits.

#shared #travel #celebrities #clothes

The Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball team has released its full non-conference schedule for the remainder of 2026, with Big 12 games taking over in 2027.
The slate is highlighted by the unique opener vs. Ohio State at the Lindner Tennis Center in Mason Oct. 7 which will be part of doubleheader with Xavier and Dayton. That will be an exhibition and the Bearcats will also face national semifinalist Illinois Oct. 17 at Fifth Third Arena in another exhibition.
The Illini are No. 5 on the early 2026 KenPom rankings and finished No. 5 in last year's AP poll. Like UC's Jarred Calhoun, Illinois coach Brad Underwood was a former Bob Huggins ******* istant (at Kansas State).
The season opener is Nov. 2 against American University at Fifth Third Arena and a week later on Nov. 9, UC will host Minnesota of the Big Ten, the team that christened the arena in 1989 when UC won on a last-second 3-pointer from Steve Sanders.
On Nov. 14, UC travels to UD Arena for the Dayton Flyers, the same date the football Bearcats are at Iowa State.

#state #illinois

Aug. 20—FREEMAN, S.D. — As the 2026 season kicks off for the Freeman football program, there are plenty of new elements at play.
A new classification and slate of opponents. A host of new players stepping forward into prominent roles. Even a new (or perhaps old) nickname, as Freeman is a standalone program once again after a decade of co-ops and will compete under the Flyers banner for the first time since 2014.
One thing that hasn't changed, however, is the program's championship ambitions.
Coming off a Class 9AA state championship and 12-0 season as the Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy Phoenix a year ago, the Flyers hope to pick up right where they closed the book on 2025.
"I honestly think this team has a chance to be better than last year's team. We have that kind of talent coming back," said head coach Dustin Tschetter. "There are a lot of things to like about this team. Hopefully, we keep improving each and every day, and we'll see what happens."

#flyers #championship #class #marion

The complete non-conference schedule for the Dayton Flyers includes an exhibition game against Morehead State, plus regular-season home games against Siena and Southeastern Louisiana.
Those were the last matchups that hadn't been previously reported. UD released the full 2026-27 non-conference schedule on Monday, Aug. 10. Game times will be announced at a later date.
After playing 13 regular-season non-conference games for years, Dayton will play 14 this season. The NCAA is allowing teams to play as many as 32 games in the regular season for the first time instead of 31.
Dayton will play 18 Atlantic 10 Conference games. That schedule will be announced at a later date.
Dayton will play three exhibition games against Division I opponents for the first time after another NCAA rule change. The Flyers will open the season with five straight home games before playing in the Charleston Classic on Nov. 20 and 22.

#conference

The Dayton Flyers will play Memphis on Sunday, Nov. 29, at Nationwide Arena in Columbus.
The site of the game was announced on Thursday, Aug. 6, while news of the matchup broke in March. The time of the game and ticket information will be announced at a later date.
The game is part of the inaugural Atlantic 10/American Showcase on ESPN. Saint Louis, the defending A-10 regular-season champion, will play South Florida, the defending American Conference regular-season and tournament champion, in the first game. The Dayton-Memphis matchup will follow.
This collaboration presents a tremendous opportunity for Atlantic 10 teams to compete against quality opponents on a neutral floor before a national audience," A10 Commissioner Dan Leibovitz said in a press release. "We appreciate our media partner, ESPN, and the American Conference for coming together to create a unique event with meaningful scheduling value. This collaboration will strengthen our league's non-conference profile and improve our NCAA Tournament positioning.
According to the A-10, "Future editions of the event will rotate participating schools and host locations within the Atlantic 10 and American Conference footprints. As part of the multi-year agreement, additional participating schools and host sites will be announced later."

#announced #dayton #tournament

Aug. 3—Dayton Flyers fans mostly know Jaron McKie from seeing him on the bench or standing at center court during his first season while the rest of the team warmed up before games.
Not every freshman contributes right away. Jaiun Simon, for example, sat out his freshman season because there wasn't room for him in the rotation. Now he's expected to play a significant role for the second straight season. Obi Toppin missed his freshman season because of academic reasons and won all the national player of the year awards in his third season at Dayton.
The list of players who missed their entire freshman season because of an injury without even appearing in an exhibition game is much shorter.
McKie, a 6-foot-3 guard from St. Joseph's Prep in Philadelphia, is the only one on that list in the last 13 years. Marvel Allen played in two exhibition games before the 2023-24 season and then suffered an injury that would lead to the decision to redshirt him.
McKie underwent left shoulder surgery in October and didn't practice or play in the 2025-26 season.

#freshman #injury

PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 27: Tommy Novak #18 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates against the Philadelphia Flyers in Game Five of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG PAINTS Arena on April 27, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Penguins signed dependable forward Tommy Novak to a three-year contract extension on Friday. The deal, which begins during the 2027-28 season, carries an average annual value of $4.65 million.
The 29-year-old Novak collected 16 goals and 26 points in 82 games last season while helping the Penguins return to the playoffs following a three-year absence.
Novak, who bounced between the second and third line during his first full season in Pittsburgh, had been scheduled to become a free agent next summer. The extension instead keeps him in the fold for the rest of the decade and positions him to be part of the club's nucleus as it transitions out of the twilight of the Sidney Crosby/Evgeni Malkin/Kris Letang era.

#tommy

On August 13th at 10 a.m and 11 a.m. at Hillside Elementary, Flyers alumni accompanied by their beloved mascot will visit to celebrate the Flyers Hooked on Hockey program. The alumni will lead free ball hockey clinics for the elementary campus, as well as equipment, drills, and games.
Each participating camp will receive a full set of ball hockey equipment to keep games going season-long. Campers will also receive information on how to register for the Flyers Rookie Kids Club and Flyers Learn to Play program, plus a special ticket offer for a Flyers home game during the 2026–2027 season.
Gritty — a beloved figure across the Delaware Valley since his 2018 debut — will appear at each location, greeting campers between clinic sessions. The Flyers will also bring inflatables, including a "shoot on goal" challenge.
"Getting kids into sports early is about so much more than the game itself," said Bryan Ford, ******* ociation Sports Director at the Greater Philadelphia YMCA. "When a child picks up a stick, they're building confidence, teamwork, and healthy habits that last a lifetime. We're incredibly grateful to the Philadelphia Flyers for sharing their time, their alumni, and yes, even Gritty, to give our campers a first taste of a sport they might fall in love with," Ford said in a press release.
The clinics are open to campers at four Greater Philadelphia YMCA camp sites on the following dates. Gritty is expected to come at the end of the first clinic and stay into the start of the second:

#flyers

At 11:30 a.m. July 24, LeBron James sent shock waves through Philadelphia sports.
The NBA superstar announced he was signing with the Sixers on a two-year, $8 million deal that includes a player option. He chose the team over reported competitors Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers.
James' arrival would make him one of the biggest stars ever to play for a Philadelphia team. But he's far from the only sports icon tied to the city.
Over the years, the Sixers, Phillies, Eagles and Flyers have signed many stars, leading their teams to success.
Where does James sit amongst those acquisitions? Is he the biggest signing in Philadelphia history? Here's a list of the best players Philadelphia's teams have ever brought in.

#biggest

It's been a good while since we've done an edition of the PhHN Daily, so I figured we'd give one a go!
Last week, the Philadelphia Flyers and Anaheim Ducks kept us waiting in anticipation as the Leo Carlsson Saga came to an end. Unfortunately for Philadelphia, it did not result in them landing their 1C. But there is still plenty of aftermath to look at!
Around the league, one superstar goalie could be as good as gone. Two defensemen are set to reset the market for defensemen in the NHL. There are still lingering questions for all 32 NHL teams. One NHL Insider takes a look at those questions.
In the National Hockey Now network, we look at one of the biggest "What Ifs" from last season, and how a different result could have changed the offseason. We also look at one team that most definitely got better this offseason, but will still miss their departing players.
Get it all on the 7/12 PhHN Daily.

JOHANNESBURG, July 9 (Reuters) - Groups of anti-immigration South Africans seized foreigners from their homes in Johannesburg on Thursday and handed them to police in a hardening of protests that have ‌sown fear in communities and strained ties with some countries.
In Johannesburg's Alexandra township, a Reuters ‌reporter saw protesters breaking down doors and entering houses where they believed undocumented immigrants were hiding.
They escorted the people to police vans where they were taken away, including a woman and a small child from Malawi. Another man who was apprehended by the marchers told Reuters he was in the country legally.
"I am a ZEP holder," said the Zimbabwean national, Total Mhlanga, referring to the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit which allows tens of thousands of nationals to live ‌and work in South Africa.
In Soweto, ⁠anti-immigrant protesters marched through town wielding sticks and flags, with plans to go search for undocumented immigrants. Several of the flyers for Thursday's protests advertised a "peaceful march" followed ⁠by "door to door". Another march took place in Durban on the east coast.

We already knew Leo Carlsson was going to become the highest-paid player in NHL history. On Thursday, the Anaheim Ducks confirmed they would be footing the bill.
The team announced it has matched the five-year, $90 million offer sheet the Philadelphia Flyers offered to their star center in restricted free agency last week. Had the Ducks not match the offer, they would have received four first-round picks from Philadelphia.
Anaheim ultimately chose to keep a burgeoning star at a record price rather than hope the picks and cap ******* e deliver similar value.
The Ducks’ thoughts, via their announcement:
“Matching the offer sheet was an easy decision, as Pat has intelligently left enough cap ******* e to give us the ability to retain Leo,” said Ducks owners Henry and Susan Samueli. “We have extremely high expectations for Leo. We firmly believe he will continue his strong growth trajectory and become one of the truly elite centers in the league, while continuing to make a strong impact in our community.”

The Anaheim Ducks have matched the Philadelphia Flyers' five-year, $90 million offer sheet to Leo Carlsson, keeping the rising star and creating a little bit of a cap squeeze for the team.
The $18 million average annual value on the offer sheet makes Carlsson, 21, the highest-paid player in the NHL, passing the $17 million for Minnesota Wild star Kirill Kaprizov. The Flyers would have owed the Ducks four first-round picks if they had not matched.
With the match and the recent re-signing of defensemen Pavel Mintyukov and Tyson Hinds, the Ducks have about $9 million in remaining cap ***** e according to puckpedia.com
Cutter Gauthier, the team's leading scorer, still has to sign and that cap ***** e might not be enough after a 41-goal season. The Ducks' defense also could use an upgrade. That means general manager Pat Verbeek might have to trade a veteran or two to be cap-compliant.
Here's what to know about the Ducks matching the Flyers' offer sheet:

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Anaheim Ducks have matched the Philadelphia Flyers' offer sheet for center Leo Carlsson, keeping their rising young star at an extraordinary cost.
The Ducks announced their decision Thursday on the 21-year-old Carlsson, who is now the NHL's highest-paid player under the five-year, $90 million deal extended by the Flyers one week ago.
Carlsson signed the Flyers' offer sheet as a restricted free agent after a year of fruitless negotiations with Anaheim general manager Pat Verbeek, whose typical hardline approach in contract talks with his restricted free agents backfired tremendously this time.
Carlsson's new contract is worth much more than the league expected he would get as a restricted free agent, and the $18 million average annual value is significantly more than he had already indicated he would accept. The deal surpasses the salary of Minnesota's Kirill Kaprizov, who would have been the NHL's highest-paid player at $17 million.
___

Leo Carlsson offer sheet, explained: What Ducks matching $90 million contract means for Flyers originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The NHL offseason hit overdrive when the Philadelphia Flyers signed Anaheim Ducks forward Leo Carlsson to a massive offer sheet.
The Flyers were relatively quiet in free agency, seemingly because they were preparing to make Carlsson the highest-paid player in the NHL. While the Ducks were given the right to match the contract, this deal was far more than Anaheim was expecting Carlsson to make on his next deal.
After thinking it over, the Ducks decided to match the offer sheet and bring Carlsson back to the team for the next five years. However, by doing so, Anaheim's future plans are changed for good and have to take into account Carlsson's heavy salary with their cap decisions.
Here's what this news means for both teams moving forward.

Big drama and unprecedented money have hit the NHL offseason player market.
A fairly conventional beginning to the league’s free-agent window, marked in part by Alex Ovechkin’s return to Washington, took a significant turn with the Flyers’ offer sheet for Ducks center Leo Carlsson.
The Flyers have tendered an offer sheet for Carlsson—a 21-year-old restricted free agent thought to be entering his professional prime—worth $90 million over five years. The average annual value of $18 million sets a new league record, surpassing the $17 million AAV for Wild star Kirill Kaprizov that goes into effect beginning with the 2026–27 season.
The Ducks now have a pivotal choice to make by 3 p.m. ET Friday. Their two options include:
Match the Flyers’ offer and retain Carlsson at the unprecedented figure. Thanks to a league record $104 million salary cap for the forthcoming season, keeping Carlsson would still leave the Ducks with nearly $10 million in cap ***** e. Anaheim, however, would see Carlsson soak up more than 17% of their total cap. The Ducks are also obligated to match the specific terms of the Flyers’ offer, which is significantly front-loaded and based heavily on signing bonuses, including one for the upcoming season of nearly $20 million.

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Defenseman Pavel Mintyukov has agreed to five-year contract extension worth $36 million with the Anaheim Ducks, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The ****** ociated Press.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity Sunday because the Ducks didn’t announce the financial terms of their deal through the 2030-31 season with the 22-year-old Mintyukov. The promising Russian blueliner was a restricted free agent this summer after recording 17 goals and 52 ****** ists over 204 games in his first three NHL seasons.
The Ducks belatedly got this pricier-than-expected deal done with one of their most important young players only two days after they blundered into a precarious situation with their cornerstone center.
Leo Carlsson signed a five-year, $90 million offer sheet with Philadelphia last Friday, which means the 21-year-old Swede is likely to be the NHL’s highest-paid player next season for the Flyers or for the Ducks, who can match the offer or receive four first-round draft picks as compensation. Anaheim must decide by Friday.
Either way, the development is a public embarrassment for Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek, whose antagonistic, foot-dragging attitude in negotiations with his young core finally cost him dearly.

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Defenseman Pavel Mintyukov has agreed to five-year contract extension worth $36 million with the Anaheim Ducks, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The ***** ociated Press.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity Sunday because the Ducks didn't announce the financial terms of their deal through the 2030-31 season with the 22-year-old Mintyukov. The promising Russian blueliner was a restricted free agent this summer after recording 17 goals and 52 ***** ists over 204 games in his first three NHL seasons.
The Ducks belatedly got this pricier-than-expected deal done with one of their most important young players only two days after they blundered into a precarious situation with their cornerstone center.
Leo Carlsson signed a five-year, $90 million offer sheet with Philadelphia last Friday, which means the 21-year-old Swede is likely to be the NHL's highest-paid player next season for the Flyers or for the Ducks, who can match the offer or receive four first-round draft picks as compensation. Anaheim must decide by Friday.
Either way, the development is a public embarrassment for Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek, whose antagonistic, foot-dragging attitude in negotiations with his young core finally cost him dearly.

The Philadelphia Flyers tendering a five-year, $90 million offer sheet to the Anaheim Ducks‘ Leo Carlsson was expected to have a massive ripple effect on the future contracts for some of the NHL’s top stars. With Chicago Blackhawks‘ center Connor Bedard eligible for an extension, it appears we know what the price tag might be to sign him.
According to TheFourthPeriod‘s Irfaan Gaffar, Bedard is seeking an extension worth around $17 million per season, in the range of what Kirill Kaprizov signed with the Minnesota Wild.
Connor Bedard stats (2025-26): 75 points (45 ****** ists, 30 goals), 5 game-winning goals, 20:52 TOI/G, 315 faceoffs won, 47.1% face-off percentage, 27 blocks, 31 hits
“Connor Bedard is in for a payday. He saw Bowen Byram get a payday. I think that Connor Bedard is looking at Kirill Kaprizov money. I think that is a situation and that is a number that he’s looking at, and I do strongly believe that he thinks he deserves it. I’m not entirely sure the Chicago Blackhawks as an organization are close to that number when discussing Connor Bedard right now.”
Irfaan Gaffar on the potential cost of a Connor Bedard contract extension

Jul. 2—The arrival of July means a new athletic year has begun for high school sports, and the march to a new football season in South Dakota is well underway.
Thursday, July 2, signified the 50-day countdown to the 2026 high school football season in South Dakota, which will kick off on Friday, Aug. 21.
Here are 50 storylines, facts and questions to consider ahead of the new high school football campaign around the state.
1. After an undefeated season and a state championship for Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy in 2025, the Freeman football team is on its own for 2026. Marion formed a co-op with Parker, and the Freeman Academy school has closed, meaning the Flyers will have their own team for the first time in more than a decade. They are playing in Class 9A in 2026.
2. Two of the most storied football programs in the state are joining forces, as Colome co-ops with Gregory for football this season. They have nine state championships between them, including six since 2014. The Gorillas will play in Class 9AA and open the season on Aug. 21 at Kimball/White Lake.

Jordan Talley hasn’t been on the University of Dayton campus long, but he has been around long enough to provide one of the first impressions of the 2026-27 Dayton Flyers roster.
Talley, one of two new ******* istant coaches on head coach Anthony Grant’s staff, talked to the Dayton Daily News on Tuesday, June 30, about what stands out about this team in summer workouts.
“The talent level,” he said, “the willingness to do everything that is asked and then the character.”
Talley worked last season as an ******* istant coach on Dru Joyce III’s staff at Duquesne. That one-year stint followed a three-year run as a player development ******* istant on Todd Golden’s staff with the Florida Gators. Prior to that, Talley worked as a graduate ******* istant at James Madison for Mark Byington, who’s now at Vanderbilt.
Talley won an NCAA championship with Florida in 2025 and knows talent when he sees it, but he also knows teams need more than that.