2 hours ago
Where to watch The Basketball Tournament Alumni Bracket final: Time, TV schedule, channel, live stream for TBT originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Just four teams remain in the quest for the $2 million winner-take-all prize. The Basketball Tournament's new format split action between an eight-team Alumni Bracket and a six-team Las Vegas Non-Alumni Bracket, setting up intense matchups across the country.
In the Alumni Bracket, La Familia secured their spot in the Alumni Championship after a thrilling 70-66 win over Boeheim's Army. They will host JHX Hoops.
La Familia is the official Kentucky alumni TBT team, anchored by former Wildcats Willie Cauley-Stein, Archie Goodwin, Andrew Harrison, and DeAndre Liggins. The roster pairs these core Big Blue Nation fan favorites with select college standouts from other programs to build a versatile, deep squad for tournament play.
JHX Hoops represents the Kansas alumni team, anchored by Jayhawk legends like Frank Mason III, Mario Chalmers, Marcus Garrett, and Tyshawn Taylor.
#bracket #sporting
Just four teams remain in the quest for the $2 million winner-take-all prize. The Basketball Tournament's new format split action between an eight-team Alumni Bracket and a six-team Las Vegas Non-Alumni Bracket, setting up intense matchups across the country.
In the Alumni Bracket, La Familia secured their spot in the Alumni Championship after a thrilling 70-66 win over Boeheim's Army. They will host JHX Hoops.
La Familia is the official Kentucky alumni TBT team, anchored by former Wildcats Willie Cauley-Stein, Archie Goodwin, Andrew Harrison, and DeAndre Liggins. The roster pairs these core Big Blue Nation fan favorites with select college standouts from other programs to build a versatile, deep squad for tournament play.
JHX Hoops represents the Kansas alumni team, anchored by Jayhawk legends like Frank Mason III, Mario Chalmers, Marcus Garrett, and Tyshawn Taylor.
#bracket #sporting
4 hours ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is preparing to ramp up funding by hundreds of millions of dollars for programs designed to counter China's growing influence around the world, after it had put a halt to many of those initiatives last year during a flurry of budget and personnel cuts.
The administration notified Congress late last week that it intends to spend $175.8 million to replace outdated and aging undersea telecommunications cables in the Caribbean and Central America to prevent China from moving in. The ******* ociated Press obtained a copy of the notification on Monday.
The administration has expressed deep concern about China's activities in the Americas, pushing back on Chinese ownership of ports at either end of the Panama Canal, infrastructure projects funded by China's Belt and Road initiative in the region, and Chinese investment in the telecommunications sector.
A State Department official said China's economic activities in the Western Hemisphere pose risks to U.S. national security and prosperity. The official, who was not authorized to speak publicly to the subject and spoke on condition of anonymity, said China's offerings may seem cheaper but in the end wind up being more expensive due to cost overruns, hidden maintenance fees and poor performance.
The underseas cable funding appears to be part of a broader push to restore support for initiatives aimed at blunting Chinese influence globally that would cost many hundreds of millions of dollars more. That is even as President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping put on a show of cooperation and Xi prepares to visit the U.S. this fall.
#administration #millions
The administration notified Congress late last week that it intends to spend $175.8 million to replace outdated and aging undersea telecommunications cables in the Caribbean and Central America to prevent China from moving in. The ******* ociated Press obtained a copy of the notification on Monday.
The administration has expressed deep concern about China's activities in the Americas, pushing back on Chinese ownership of ports at either end of the Panama Canal, infrastructure projects funded by China's Belt and Road initiative in the region, and Chinese investment in the telecommunications sector.
A State Department official said China's economic activities in the Western Hemisphere pose risks to U.S. national security and prosperity. The official, who was not authorized to speak publicly to the subject and spoke on condition of anonymity, said China's offerings may seem cheaper but in the end wind up being more expensive due to cost overruns, hidden maintenance fees and poor performance.
The underseas cable funding appears to be part of a broader push to restore support for initiatives aimed at blunting Chinese influence globally that would cost many hundreds of millions of dollars more. That is even as President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping put on a show of cooperation and Xi prepares to visit the U.S. this fall.
#administration #millions
5 hours ago
CHICAGO – It's no secret college football doesn't look the same as it did five years ago; however, for Illinois' Bret Bielema and Josh Whitman, it's a whole new ball game.
Bielema and Whitman spoke Tuesday at Big Ten Media Days about the ever-changing landscape of college football.
"NIL and revenue share," Bielema said. "When those two things came into college football, everything changed."
As programs across the country keep changing to respond to compensation, transfer portal movement, and revenue sharing, Illinois is entering the 2026 season embracing the new landscape.
"The rosters have changed because of those two components, the transfer rule and revenue share," Bielema said. "It's a different world."
#bielema #illinois #Share #changed
Bielema and Whitman spoke Tuesday at Big Ten Media Days about the ever-changing landscape of college football.
"NIL and revenue share," Bielema said. "When those two things came into college football, everything changed."
As programs across the country keep changing to respond to compensation, transfer portal movement, and revenue sharing, Illinois is entering the 2026 season embracing the new landscape.
"The rosters have changed because of those two components, the transfer rule and revenue share," Bielema said. "It's a different world."
#bielema #illinois #Share #changed
5 hours ago
Circle—the company behind USDC (the digital dollar used by millions worldwide for payments, savings, and international transfers)—just bought the blockchain patent library IBM spent more than a decade building. The deal, announced July 27, hands Circle over 1,000 blockchain patents issued by IBM worldwide.
Patents are legal rights that give the holder exclusive control over a specific invention. If you hold a patent on a method for processing transactions on a blockchain—the shared digital ledger where crypto activity is permanently recorded and can't be altered—you get to decide who else uses it and on what terms. IBM had been building that kind of leverage since its mid-2010s enterprise blockchain push.
By December 2025, patent ******* ytics firm PatSnap credited IBM with 790 U.S. blockchain patents—more than any other American company, with Bank of America a distant second at roughly 200. Circle, which received its first-ever patent in December 2023 (covering parallel blockchain data processing—a technique for verifying multiple groups of transactions simultaneously), went from essentially zero to the top of the U.S. rankings overnight.
"The portfolio comprises over 680 patent families and nearly 1,000 issued patents worldwide, spanning foundational blockchain technology, banking, financial services, insurance, enterprise infrastructure, supply chain verification, and secure cloud operations," Circle said in its official announcement.
Circle plans to put them to work across its entire stack. "The expanded IP position directly supports Circle's foundation for building the internet financial system, including USDC, Circle Payments Network, Arc, and a growing suite of onchain products and agentic financial tools," the company added. Arc is Circle's own payment-focused blockchain built for institutional finance. The agentic tools are AI-powered software programs that can execute financial transactions autonomously—no human required for each step.
#building
Patents are legal rights that give the holder exclusive control over a specific invention. If you hold a patent on a method for processing transactions on a blockchain—the shared digital ledger where crypto activity is permanently recorded and can't be altered—you get to decide who else uses it and on what terms. IBM had been building that kind of leverage since its mid-2010s enterprise blockchain push.
By December 2025, patent ******* ytics firm PatSnap credited IBM with 790 U.S. blockchain patents—more than any other American company, with Bank of America a distant second at roughly 200. Circle, which received its first-ever patent in December 2023 (covering parallel blockchain data processing—a technique for verifying multiple groups of transactions simultaneously), went from essentially zero to the top of the U.S. rankings overnight.
"The portfolio comprises over 680 patent families and nearly 1,000 issued patents worldwide, spanning foundational blockchain technology, banking, financial services, insurance, enterprise infrastructure, supply chain verification, and secure cloud operations," Circle said in its official announcement.
Circle plans to put them to work across its entire stack. "The expanded IP position directly supports Circle's foundation for building the internet financial system, including USDC, Circle Payments Network, Arc, and a growing suite of onchain products and agentic financial tools," the company added. Arc is Circle's own payment-focused blockchain built for institutional finance. The agentic tools are AI-powered software programs that can execute financial transactions autonomously—no human required for each step.
#building
6 hours ago
There is a particular kind of business decision that only looks brilliant in hindsight, and only after everyone who made the opposite call has finished writing off the difference. It rarely feels brave at the time. It usually feels like being the last person in the room who did not get the memo.
The American electric vehicle market spent most of the past decade running on a subsidy. That credit, worth $7,500 per car, expired on Sept. 30, 2025, and the correction arrived exactly on schedule. Automakers sold 462,892 all-electric vehicles in the first half of 2026, down 23.8% from the same period a year earlier, according to ****** Automotive.
The industry response was a stampede for the exits. Carmakers have booked nearly $70 billion in write-downs as they scrap and postpone electric programs, reported Automotive News. Honda alone canceled three North American electric projects and now expects its first annual net loss since 1957.
One automaker did not flinch. Toyota (TM) confirmed this month that it will keep rolling out new battery-electric models through the rest of the year, even as it trims spending elsewhere in the lineup.
The company will "slow its product interventions in some model lines to save money," reported Automotive News, while continuing its EV rollout and leaning harder into hybrids.
#american #only #sept
The American electric vehicle market spent most of the past decade running on a subsidy. That credit, worth $7,500 per car, expired on Sept. 30, 2025, and the correction arrived exactly on schedule. Automakers sold 462,892 all-electric vehicles in the first half of 2026, down 23.8% from the same period a year earlier, according to ****** Automotive.
The industry response was a stampede for the exits. Carmakers have booked nearly $70 billion in write-downs as they scrap and postpone electric programs, reported Automotive News. Honda alone canceled three North American electric projects and now expects its first annual net loss since 1957.
One automaker did not flinch. Toyota (TM) confirmed this month that it will keep rolling out new battery-electric models through the rest of the year, even as it trims spending elsewhere in the lineup.
The company will "slow its product interventions in some model lines to save money," reported Automotive News, while continuing its EV rollout and leaning harder into hybrids.
#american #only #sept
8 hours ago
CHICAGO — USC will be put through the wringer this season. The Trojans will play Oregon, Ohio State and Indiana. They also have to hit the road to take on Penn State and Wisconsin back-to-back games.
As much of a gauntlet as USC's schedule is, it possesses a glaring omission: Notre Dame.
The news broke last winter that USC and Notre Dame had failed to reach an agreement to play what would be the 97th game in the historic series between the rival programs during the 2026 season. They have faced off in 78 consecutive seasons, excluding the COVID-19-affected campaign.
That streak is coming to an end this year. Previously, the series had only been paused for a three-year period that coincided with World War II and, as mentioned above, briefly for the pandemic.
When word got out about the newest hiatus in December, USC head coach Lincoln Riley blamed Notre Dame. He's not backing away from the sentiment he expressed back then.
#notre #back #season #Chicago
As much of a gauntlet as USC's schedule is, it possesses a glaring omission: Notre Dame.
The news broke last winter that USC and Notre Dame had failed to reach an agreement to play what would be the 97th game in the historic series between the rival programs during the 2026 season. They have faced off in 78 consecutive seasons, excluding the COVID-19-affected campaign.
That streak is coming to an end this year. Previously, the series had only been paused for a three-year period that coincided with World War II and, as mentioned above, briefly for the pandemic.
When word got out about the newest hiatus in December, USC head coach Lincoln Riley blamed Notre Dame. He's not backing away from the sentiment he expressed back then.
#notre #back #season #Chicago
11 hours ago
As the 2026 college football season swiftly approaches, USA TODAY Sports revealed their full Big Ten stadium rankings for the 18-member conference.
While there is no true way to compose a ranking outside of a subjective nature, the Big Ten's expansive list of historic venues certainly makes its difficult to appease all fan bases.
One could lean into the capacity, historic significance, or even the overall fit on campus. That being said, Kinnick Stadium earns its proper due as one of the league's top venues.
Iowa's Kinnick Stadium ranks as the No. 5 Big Ten stadium, per USA TODAY Sports:
Iowa's 27-8 mark at home since 2021 has help the Hawkeyes maintain their place among the top programs in the Big Ten. Debuting in 2017, "The Hawkeye Wave" will have players and fans turn at the end of the opening quarter and wave to the patients at Stead Family Children's Hospital.
#debuting
While there is no true way to compose a ranking outside of a subjective nature, the Big Ten's expansive list of historic venues certainly makes its difficult to appease all fan bases.
One could lean into the capacity, historic significance, or even the overall fit on campus. That being said, Kinnick Stadium earns its proper due as one of the league's top venues.
Iowa's Kinnick Stadium ranks as the No. 5 Big Ten stadium, per USA TODAY Sports:
Iowa's 27-8 mark at home since 2021 has help the Hawkeyes maintain their place among the top programs in the Big Ten. Debuting in 2017, "The Hawkeye Wave" will have players and fans turn at the end of the opening quarter and wave to the patients at Stead Family Children's Hospital.
#debuting
12 hours ago
OXFORD — Ole Miss basketball coach Chris Beard has hired an ******* istant with a wealth of European basketball experience to his staff.
Petar Aleksić was named an ******* istant coach for the Rebels on July 28.
"Petar has built a reputation as a winner everywhere he's coached," Beard said in a school release. "His experience developing players, leading championship programs and competing at the highest levels of European basketball brings tremendous value to our staff. He's a teacher, a proven leader and someone who shares our commitment to building a championship culture at Ole Miss."
Beard was an ******* istant coach under Aleksić for the 2015 Swiss National Team in EuroBasket. That team upset Russia in the second qualifying round of the tournament. Aleksić also spent time with the Rebels in 2024-25 when Ole Miss reached the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament.
Aleksić spent 10 seasons (2013-23) as the coach of Fribourg Olympic, a professional team, and has also served as coach of the Swiss men's national team from 2013-17. Aleksić had a 17-year professional playing career competing in the Yugoslav First and Second divisions, as well as in Hungary and Switzerland.
#rebels
Petar Aleksić was named an ******* istant coach for the Rebels on July 28.
"Petar has built a reputation as a winner everywhere he's coached," Beard said in a school release. "His experience developing players, leading championship programs and competing at the highest levels of European basketball brings tremendous value to our staff. He's a teacher, a proven leader and someone who shares our commitment to building a championship culture at Ole Miss."
Beard was an ******* istant coach under Aleksić for the 2015 Swiss National Team in EuroBasket. That team upset Russia in the second qualifying round of the tournament. Aleksić also spent time with the Rebels in 2024-25 when Ole Miss reached the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament.
Aleksić spent 10 seasons (2013-23) as the coach of Fribourg Olympic, a professional team, and has also served as coach of the Swiss men's national team from 2013-17. Aleksić had a 17-year professional playing career competing in the Yugoslav First and Second divisions, as well as in Hungary and Switzerland.
#rebels
12 hours ago
Chicago — Conference realignment has thrown a wrench in many of college football's traditional rivalries. At least one Big Ten coach says he feels a new one brewing with Michigan.
Tuesday at Big Ten Media Days, USC head coach Lincoln Riley said that the past two season's games against Michigan have taken on the air of a rivalry. And though the Wolverines aren't on the schedule this season, he's looking forward to building more history with the Big Ten's traditional teams.
"This has got a little bit of juice behind it," Riley said. "Whether it's at the Big House or at the Coliseum, those two programs walk on the field, those two helmets walk on the field, it's like, ***** , you know. This is real. It's pretty cool, and I think everybody kind of feels that."
Michigan's Kalel Mullings ran in a 1-yard, fourth down touchdown with 37 seconds left to beat USC, 27-24, in a ranked clash at Michigan Stadium in 2024. The next year, USC pounded Michigan 31-13 in Los Angeles.
No, this quote-unquote rivalry isn't replacing the Battle for the Jeweled Shillelagh for Southern Cal, or surpassing The Game in importance for Michigan. The Trojans will always have beef with Notre Dame and UCLA — no matter what scheduling drama there may be with the Irish. And the Wolverines' rivals of Ohio State and Michigan State carry a certain regional animosity that is as hot as ever these days.
#michigan
Tuesday at Big Ten Media Days, USC head coach Lincoln Riley said that the past two season's games against Michigan have taken on the air of a rivalry. And though the Wolverines aren't on the schedule this season, he's looking forward to building more history with the Big Ten's traditional teams.
"This has got a little bit of juice behind it," Riley said. "Whether it's at the Big House or at the Coliseum, those two programs walk on the field, those two helmets walk on the field, it's like, ***** , you know. This is real. It's pretty cool, and I think everybody kind of feels that."
Michigan's Kalel Mullings ran in a 1-yard, fourth down touchdown with 37 seconds left to beat USC, 27-24, in a ranked clash at Michigan Stadium in 2024. The next year, USC pounded Michigan 31-13 in Los Angeles.
No, this quote-unquote rivalry isn't replacing the Battle for the Jeweled Shillelagh for Southern Cal, or surpassing The Game in importance for Michigan. The Trojans will always have beef with Notre Dame and UCLA — no matter what scheduling drama there may be with the Irish. And the Wolverines' rivals of Ohio State and Michigan State carry a certain regional animosity that is as hot as ever these days.
#michigan
13 hours ago
Microstrategy has gone four consecutive weeks without buying a single satoshi of Bitcoin, its longest buying freeze in two years, while Michael Saylor keeps posting accumulation charts to X with the caption "We're gonna need another color."
The company sits on $3.225 billion in cash, MSTR is down roughly 33% year-to-date, and Q2 earnings land Thursday after the US market close. The central question for retail investors is blunt: is the BTC dip buy coming today, or is the math still broken?
EXPLORE: Best Crypto Presales With Asymmetric Upside in the Current Market
The mechanics of the freeze are straightforward. SEC filings on Jun. 29, Jul. 6, Jul. 13 and Jul. 20 each recorded no Bitcoin buys made under its standing acquisition programs. The filings covering June 29, July 6, July 13, and July 20 contained the same answer: nothing.
What makes the silence louder is the contrast with Saylor's behavior on X. He posted Strategy's color-coded Bitcoin accumulation chart on Sunday, July 27, under the caption "We're gonna need another color", a reference to how new purchase tranches get ******* igned a distinct color bubble on the chart.
#buying #accumulation
The company sits on $3.225 billion in cash, MSTR is down roughly 33% year-to-date, and Q2 earnings land Thursday after the US market close. The central question for retail investors is blunt: is the BTC dip buy coming today, or is the math still broken?
EXPLORE: Best Crypto Presales With Asymmetric Upside in the Current Market
The mechanics of the freeze are straightforward. SEC filings on Jun. 29, Jul. 6, Jul. 13 and Jul. 20 each recorded no Bitcoin buys made under its standing acquisition programs. The filings covering June 29, July 6, July 13, and July 20 contained the same answer: nothing.
What makes the silence louder is the contrast with Saylor's behavior on X. He posted Strategy's color-coded Bitcoin accumulation chart on Sunday, July 27, under the caption "We're gonna need another color", a reference to how new purchase tranches get ******* igned a distinct color bubble on the chart.
#buying #accumulation
14 hours ago
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) beat quarterly expectations, secured $20 billion in net awards, reported record backlog, and raised its 2026 sales and MTM-adjusted earnings forecasts. Yet the shares closed 2.23% lower at $512.29 on July 21.
The contradiction becomes clearer when the quality of the earnings beat is separated from the size of the order book. ***** ysts said a substantially lower tax rate drove much of the upside, while operating income declined in two of Northrop's four segments. The company also left its segment operating-income and adjusted free-cash-flow forecasts unchanged.
JPMorgan ***** yst Seth Seifman pointed to the market's "tendency to punish execution challenges." That appears to capture the reaction. Investors did not question whether Northrop can win more work. They questioned how much profit it can retain while delivering that work and expanding production.
Are the latest program charges temporary costs of meeting surging defense demand, or evidence that Northrop's backlog is growing faster than its ability to execute profitably?
The bull case is that Northrop's execution problems remain concentrated in a few programs, while the broader demand environment is becoming stronger.
#adjusted #forecasts #much
The contradiction becomes clearer when the quality of the earnings beat is separated from the size of the order book. ***** ysts said a substantially lower tax rate drove much of the upside, while operating income declined in two of Northrop's four segments. The company also left its segment operating-income and adjusted free-cash-flow forecasts unchanged.
JPMorgan ***** yst Seth Seifman pointed to the market's "tendency to punish execution challenges." That appears to capture the reaction. Investors did not question whether Northrop can win more work. They questioned how much profit it can retain while delivering that work and expanding production.
Are the latest program charges temporary costs of meeting surging defense demand, or evidence that Northrop's backlog is growing faster than its ability to execute profitably?
The bull case is that Northrop's execution problems remain concentrated in a few programs, while the broader demand environment is becoming stronger.
#adjusted #forecasts #much
16 hours ago
Florida State basketball's preseason slate is beginning to take shape, with head coach Luke Loucks heading into his second season. The Seminoles will host the LSU Tigers in an exhibition game on Oct. 24 at the Donald L. Tucker Center, adding another high-profile tune-up before the start of the 2026-27 regular season.
The matchup became public as LSU released its complete schedule on Tuesday, which includes an exhibition trip to Tallahassee under the NCAA's expanded preseason format.
The exhibition gives Florida State another opportunity to face high-level competition before the games begin to count. The Seminoles are already scheduled to meet the Auburn Tigers in the Ballin in Boutwell preseason showcase on Oct. 14 in Birmingham, Alabama, making LSU the second SEC opponent on Luke Loucks' preseason slate.
The addition of LSU is particularly notable as programs continue taking advantage of the NCAA rule allowing Division I schools to play up to three preseason exhibitions against fellow Division I opponents. Rather than facing lower-division competition, teams are increasingly scheduling power-conference opponents to better prepare for the regular season.
Florida State is scheduled to begin the regular season on Nov. 2 against Florida A&M in the Orion180 Tip-Off Classic in Tampa. By then, the Seminoles will have already faced Auburn and LSU in what projects to be one of the more challenging preseason schedules in the country.
#seminoles
The matchup became public as LSU released its complete schedule on Tuesday, which includes an exhibition trip to Tallahassee under the NCAA's expanded preseason format.
The exhibition gives Florida State another opportunity to face high-level competition before the games begin to count. The Seminoles are already scheduled to meet the Auburn Tigers in the Ballin in Boutwell preseason showcase on Oct. 14 in Birmingham, Alabama, making LSU the second SEC opponent on Luke Loucks' preseason slate.
The addition of LSU is particularly notable as programs continue taking advantage of the NCAA rule allowing Division I schools to play up to three preseason exhibitions against fellow Division I opponents. Rather than facing lower-division competition, teams are increasingly scheduling power-conference opponents to better prepare for the regular season.
Florida State is scheduled to begin the regular season on Nov. 2 against Florida A&M in the Orion180 Tip-Off Classic in Tampa. By then, the Seminoles will have already faced Auburn and LSU in what projects to be one of the more challenging preseason schedules in the country.
#seminoles
17 hours ago
Training camp has arrived for the Indianapolis Colts, and Anthony Richardson is still a member of the team.
His trade request, however, is still on the table, according to GM Chris Ballard, who met with local media members on Tuesday.
Ballard's intention at this time is to keep Richardson. The Colts aren't going to "give him away," Ballard said, via Mike Chappell.
That said, time will tell if that remains true. According to Joel Erickson, Ballard says the team understands that trading Richardson is still a possibility.
Richardson requested the trade back in late February, but a market never developed. He was with the team for the majority of offseason programs and took part in the on-field work during OTAs and minicamp. Richardson is currently competing with Riley Leonard for the backup role.
#Ballard #time
His trade request, however, is still on the table, according to GM Chris Ballard, who met with local media members on Tuesday.
Ballard's intention at this time is to keep Richardson. The Colts aren't going to "give him away," Ballard said, via Mike Chappell.
That said, time will tell if that remains true. According to Joel Erickson, Ballard says the team understands that trading Richardson is still a possibility.
Richardson requested the trade back in late February, but a market never developed. He was with the team for the majority of offseason programs and took part in the on-field work during OTAs and minicamp. Richardson is currently competing with Riley Leonard for the backup role.
#Ballard #time
19 hours ago
The expanded 12-team College Football Playoff has created more opportunities for teams to compete for a national championship.
Programs that previously had almost no chance of making the playoffs now have a realistic path. That became clear over the past two seasons, as Indiana, SMU, Boise State, Tulane and James Madison all reached the CFP for the first time. Their success showed that winning games, capturing a conference ***** le and building a strong resume can now be enough to earn a playoff spot.
Even with those first-time teams making the field, several well-known programs are still waiting for their CFP debut. Few came very close in 2025, while others have built talented rosters that could help them break through in 2026. Strong recruiting, experienced coaching staffs and favorable conference situations have put these teams in a good position.
MORE: 9 best transfers in college football for 2026
A few of these programs finished just outside the playoffs last season and may only need one or two more wins to qualify. Others play in conferences that are expected to receive multiple CFP bids, giving them another path into the field. With the 2026 season around the corner, these six teams have the best chance to make their first-ever CFP appearance.
#programs #college #strong #making
Programs that previously had almost no chance of making the playoffs now have a realistic path. That became clear over the past two seasons, as Indiana, SMU, Boise State, Tulane and James Madison all reached the CFP for the first time. Their success showed that winning games, capturing a conference ***** le and building a strong resume can now be enough to earn a playoff spot.
Even with those first-time teams making the field, several well-known programs are still waiting for their CFP debut. Few came very close in 2025, while others have built talented rosters that could help them break through in 2026. Strong recruiting, experienced coaching staffs and favorable conference situations have put these teams in a good position.
MORE: 9 best transfers in college football for 2026
A few of these programs finished just outside the playoffs last season and may only need one or two more wins to qualify. Others play in conferences that are expected to receive multiple CFP bids, giving them another path into the field. With the 2026 season around the corner, these six teams have the best chance to make their first-ever CFP appearance.
#programs #college #strong #making
20 hours ago
Ohio State has inked a jersey patch sponsorship deal with JPMorgan Chase, sources tell On3. The Buckeyes become the latest college football brand to add a jersey patch ahead of the 2026 season.
The deal spans the full athletic department and all 36 varsity sports. The investment also provides new resources to support Ohio State athletes through NIL opportunities, enhances the Buckeyes' overall competitive success and facilitates academic partnerships across the university.
Ohio State becomes one of the biggest college football brands to date to add a jersey patch to its uniform. The JPMorgan Chase logo will sit above the Big Ten patch on the front of Ohio State's jerseys.
JPMorgan Chase has a longstanding relationship with central Ohio, as one of Columbus' largest private employers. The firm has brought on more than 1,700 Ohio State alumni in the past five years, too. The deal was brokered by Learfield.
"JPMorganChase is a global brand with deep roots in Ohio, making them a natural partner that
shares our commitment to innovation, excellence and long-term community impact," Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork said in a statement. "Together, we have built a comprehensive and historic partnership that reflects the strong commercial strength of the Ohio State Athletics identity and the broader college athletics landscape. This relationship creates meaningful opportunities for our student-athletes that support the sustained excellence and competitiveness of our athletic programs, while honoring the tradition and values of Ohio State."
#patch #Athletic
The deal spans the full athletic department and all 36 varsity sports. The investment also provides new resources to support Ohio State athletes through NIL opportunities, enhances the Buckeyes' overall competitive success and facilitates academic partnerships across the university.
Ohio State becomes one of the biggest college football brands to date to add a jersey patch to its uniform. The JPMorgan Chase logo will sit above the Big Ten patch on the front of Ohio State's jerseys.
JPMorgan Chase has a longstanding relationship with central Ohio, as one of Columbus' largest private employers. The firm has brought on more than 1,700 Ohio State alumni in the past five years, too. The deal was brokered by Learfield.
"JPMorganChase is a global brand with deep roots in Ohio, making them a natural partner that
shares our commitment to innovation, excellence and long-term community impact," Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork said in a statement. "Together, we have built a comprehensive and historic partnership that reflects the strong commercial strength of the Ohio State Athletics identity and the broader college athletics landscape. This relationship creates meaningful opportunities for our student-athletes that support the sustained excellence and competitiveness of our athletic programs, while honoring the tradition and values of Ohio State."
#patch #Athletic
21 hours ago
Nebraska men's basketball will take on the Kansas State Wildcats in an exhibition game in Grand Island, Nebraska. The game will take place on October 26 and will be hosted at Elhusen Arena.
The Huskers and Wildcats have met fairly recently. They played back in November, and the Huskers won a thrilling 86-85 game. Kansas State leads the all-time regular-season series by a 129-95 margin. That being said, the Huskers currently have a two-game winning streak.
The Cornhuskers are coming off a magical 2025-26 season. They went 28-7, including 15-5 in the Big Ten. The Wildcats went 12-20 and 3-15 in the Big 12. It was a tale of two seasons for both programs, as Nebraska had one of the best seasons in program history.
The Huskers have a talented roster, led by the return of Pryce Sandfort. It will be exciting to see what they can do against the Wildcats, with the regular season looming.
Contact/Follow us CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes and opinions.
#Nebraska #season #state
The Huskers and Wildcats have met fairly recently. They played back in November, and the Huskers won a thrilling 86-85 game. Kansas State leads the all-time regular-season series by a 129-95 margin. That being said, the Huskers currently have a two-game winning streak.
The Cornhuskers are coming off a magical 2025-26 season. They went 28-7, including 15-5 in the Big Ten. The Wildcats went 12-20 and 3-15 in the Big 12. It was a tale of two seasons for both programs, as Nebraska had one of the best seasons in program history.
The Huskers have a talented roster, led by the return of Pryce Sandfort. It will be exciting to see what they can do against the Wildcats, with the regular season looming.
Contact/Follow us CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes and opinions.
#Nebraska #season #state
21 hours ago
Training camp for the Jacksonville Jaguars begins on July 29 and, of course, there will be plenty to keep our eyes on over the next month of practices and preseason games.
We recently highlighted 14 things to watch on offense and another seven to watch on defense.
But what are the big storylines? The things that will grab our attention from the start of training camp to the end?
We detailed what those topics are and why they matter.
Lawrence and Thomas building their chemistry has been a focal point all offseason, and that emphasis appears to be working. Thomas had a very good showing during offseason programs, while Lawrence continued to push the ball downfield -- another offseason priority.
#offseason #jacksonville #july
We recently highlighted 14 things to watch on offense and another seven to watch on defense.
But what are the big storylines? The things that will grab our attention from the start of training camp to the end?
We detailed what those topics are and why they matter.
Lawrence and Thomas building their chemistry has been a focal point all offseason, and that emphasis appears to be working. Thomas had a very good showing during offseason programs, while Lawrence continued to push the ball downfield -- another offseason priority.
#offseason #jacksonville #july
21 hours ago
Unlike other blue bloods, Michigan doesn't often reel in high five-star prospects. For every Rashan Gary and Bryce Underwood, there are classes without a single five-star in it that are developed into powerhouse football teams. The class of 2026 is the former, as Michigan brought in two five-stars this offseason in Savion Hiter and Carter Meadows. Meadows has the makings of a star, but will need some time to get ready for Big Ten action.
Meadows hails from Gonzaga High School in Washington D.C., one of the more well-known powerhouse high school programs. In fact, he was high school teammates with fellow Wolverine Kainoa Winston, and Evan Link also attended Gonzaga. In high school, Meadows was 6-foot-6 and 225 pounds. He possesses a frame that NFL scouts tend to drool over out of an edge rusher.
Naturally, a high schooler with elite athleticism and an NFL frame coming from a national powerhouse of a school was bound to get attention nationally. Meadows received offers from just about every major program, with 247Sports listing 29 offers. Carter made four official visits — South Carolina, Penn State, Ohio State and Michigan, in that order.
In typical fashion, Carter's recruitment came down to Michigan and Ohio State. While certain sites may try to convince you the Buckeyes weren't going all in on Meadows, that would be incorrect. Meadows committed to Michigan, as Lou Esposito and company were able to close on Meadows, and Kyle Whittingham and the new staff were able to retain him.
As for his on the field skills, Meadows is about as good as they come for his age. He is an explosive edge with incredible bend and football IQ. He plays smart and is an avid run-defender. Meadows is also advanced for his age when it comes to pass-rushing moves.
#michigan #high #school #powerhouse
Meadows hails from Gonzaga High School in Washington D.C., one of the more well-known powerhouse high school programs. In fact, he was high school teammates with fellow Wolverine Kainoa Winston, and Evan Link also attended Gonzaga. In high school, Meadows was 6-foot-6 and 225 pounds. He possesses a frame that NFL scouts tend to drool over out of an edge rusher.
Naturally, a high schooler with elite athleticism and an NFL frame coming from a national powerhouse of a school was bound to get attention nationally. Meadows received offers from just about every major program, with 247Sports listing 29 offers. Carter made four official visits — South Carolina, Penn State, Ohio State and Michigan, in that order.
In typical fashion, Carter's recruitment came down to Michigan and Ohio State. While certain sites may try to convince you the Buckeyes weren't going all in on Meadows, that would be incorrect. Meadows committed to Michigan, as Lou Esposito and company were able to close on Meadows, and Kyle Whittingham and the new staff were able to retain him.
As for his on the field skills, Meadows is about as good as they come for his age. He is an explosive edge with incredible bend and football IQ. He plays smart and is an avid run-defender. Meadows is also advanced for his age when it comes to pass-rushing moves.
#michigan #high #school #powerhouse
22 hours ago
When it comes to measuring a college football fan's dedication, ranging from attending every home and most away games, spending substantial amounts of money on merchandise, or, in today's NIL-driven landscape, donating money to a program's collective to help fund recruiting efforts and land top transfer portal additions, has become the effective form of support.
On Monday, Message Board Geniuses released its top-10 "Most loyal college football fanbases" with Nebraska coming in at No. 1, followed by Texas A&M at No. 2, which makes perfect sense given both programs' struggle to match their success in the 1990's, especially the Cornhuskers, who dominated with three national championships in 1994, 1995, and 1997 under legendary head coach Tom Osborne.
Texas A&M came close to competing for a national **** le multiple times under former coach R. C. Slocum, who finished his A&M coaching career 123-47-2, including three Southwest Conference **** les and one Big 12 Championship during the 1998 season. Since then, Texas A&M has undergone five coaching changes, and Mike Elko will enter his third season at the helm after leading the Aggies to the College Football Playoff last season.
Texas A&M alums gleefully greet one another with "Gig 'em" or "Howdy!" and will stand throughout every home game in Kyle Field, no matter the team's record. The best example of steadfast support for the Maroon & White came during the 2022 season, when the Aggies finished 5-7 and, despite home losses to Ole Miss and Florida, wins against UMass and LSU, at least 90,000 fans made their way to Kyle Field.
Last season, over 100,000-plus Aggies attended every home game, including 108,582 during Texas A&M's epic comeback win vs. South Carolina.
#college #Football #every #field
On Monday, Message Board Geniuses released its top-10 "Most loyal college football fanbases" with Nebraska coming in at No. 1, followed by Texas A&M at No. 2, which makes perfect sense given both programs' struggle to match their success in the 1990's, especially the Cornhuskers, who dominated with three national championships in 1994, 1995, and 1997 under legendary head coach Tom Osborne.
Texas A&M came close to competing for a national **** le multiple times under former coach R. C. Slocum, who finished his A&M coaching career 123-47-2, including three Southwest Conference **** les and one Big 12 Championship during the 1998 season. Since then, Texas A&M has undergone five coaching changes, and Mike Elko will enter his third season at the helm after leading the Aggies to the College Football Playoff last season.
Texas A&M alums gleefully greet one another with "Gig 'em" or "Howdy!" and will stand throughout every home game in Kyle Field, no matter the team's record. The best example of steadfast support for the Maroon & White came during the 2022 season, when the Aggies finished 5-7 and, despite home losses to Ole Miss and Florida, wins against UMass and LSU, at least 90,000 fans made their way to Kyle Field.
Last season, over 100,000-plus Aggies attended every home game, including 108,582 during Texas A&M's epic comeback win vs. South Carolina.
#college #Football #every #field
1 day ago
exas Tech and Colorado may be headed for another Big 12 fight, but the softest moment this week came off the field. Deion Sanders Jr. publicly thanked Joey McGuire for a gesture that stretched back years, long before the Texas Tech coach signed his $51.9 million extension.
"From Cedar Hill to Texas Tech – it's a beautiful thing!" Deion Sanders Jr. posted on X, tagging Joey McGuire. "I asked Coach for help expanding; he told me I could come record at Texas Tech during spring workouts and etc… I never got around to it, but thank you for always looking out for me since I was 14."
Joey McGuire wasn't simply another coach offering a favor to Deion Sanders' oldest son. He has known the Sanders family for well over a decade. Before he arrived in Lubbock, the 54-year-old coach built Cedar Hill High School into one of Texas's powerhouse football programs during a remarkable 14-year run that produced three state championships.
During that stretch, Joey McGuire coached Deion Sanders Jr. as a freshman in 2009 before he transferred schools. The football partnership lasted only one season, but the relationship never disappeared. Today, Bucky is best known as the driving force behind Well Off Media, the behind-the-scenes platform that has become almost inseparable from the Sanders family brand.
It started as a YouTube channel where Deion Sanders Jr. filmed everyday life around his family. Now it's much bigger than that. Well Off Media has grown into a major name in college football content. It's no longer just practice clips and locker-room videos. The company has brought in more editors and videographers, landed a partnership with Nike, and is steadily pushing into bigger projects across the sports world.
#sanders #joey #mcguire
"From Cedar Hill to Texas Tech – it's a beautiful thing!" Deion Sanders Jr. posted on X, tagging Joey McGuire. "I asked Coach for help expanding; he told me I could come record at Texas Tech during spring workouts and etc… I never got around to it, but thank you for always looking out for me since I was 14."
Joey McGuire wasn't simply another coach offering a favor to Deion Sanders' oldest son. He has known the Sanders family for well over a decade. Before he arrived in Lubbock, the 54-year-old coach built Cedar Hill High School into one of Texas's powerhouse football programs during a remarkable 14-year run that produced three state championships.
During that stretch, Joey McGuire coached Deion Sanders Jr. as a freshman in 2009 before he transferred schools. The football partnership lasted only one season, but the relationship never disappeared. Today, Bucky is best known as the driving force behind Well Off Media, the behind-the-scenes platform that has become almost inseparable from the Sanders family brand.
It started as a YouTube channel where Deion Sanders Jr. filmed everyday life around his family. Now it's much bigger than that. Well Off Media has grown into a major name in college football content. It's no longer just practice clips and locker-room videos. The company has brought in more editors and videographers, landed a partnership with Nike, and is steadily pushing into bigger projects across the sports world.
#sanders #joey #mcguire
4 days ago
With training camp for the Jacksonville Jaguars getting closer, which players should be on our radars as these practices and preseason games unfold?
As part of our training camp preview, we'll be highlighting one player from each position group to keep your eyes on. In some instances, it may be one of the Jaguars' top players that we'll be watching closely, or it could be a player fighting for playing time or a roster spot.
Up next are the linebackers.
The ******* umption all offseason has been that Ventrell Miller would step into the starting role alongside of Foye Oluokun -- and he very well still could. However, Combs very much seems to be in the mix for that playing time as well.
Following offseason programs, John Shipley of Jaguars on SI wrote that Combs was a "true riser" and that the "expectation" for him should be that he will be competing for the starting job.
#jaguars #combs #camp #time
As part of our training camp preview, we'll be highlighting one player from each position group to keep your eyes on. In some instances, it may be one of the Jaguars' top players that we'll be watching closely, or it could be a player fighting for playing time or a roster spot.
Up next are the linebackers.
The ******* umption all offseason has been that Ventrell Miller would step into the starting role alongside of Foye Oluokun -- and he very well still could. However, Combs very much seems to be in the mix for that playing time as well.
Following offseason programs, John Shipley of Jaguars on SI wrote that Combs was a "true riser" and that the "expectation" for him should be that he will be competing for the starting job.
#jaguars #combs #camp #time
4 days ago
We can separate high-yield dividend stocks into two broad categories. The first group consists of companies with stable businesses that generate consistent cash flow and are very likely to continue paying -- and perhaps raising -- their dividends for the foreseeable future. The second are distressed corporations. They boast high yields because their share prices have fallen substantially, reflecting weak business fundamentals.
Many investors would put Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) in the second group. The drugmaker's shares have lost significant value over the past five years, as the company has failed to sustain the amazing success it achieved in the coronavirus market. However, there is much more to the story. Let's discuss why Pfizer's 7% forward yield is more sustainable than it appears at first glance.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
Pfizer's revenue and earnings have declined over the past five years, while it has maintained and even increased its dividend. The company's payout ratio has soared as a result -- it is currently about 127%. That looks unsustainable. But Pfizer's cash payout ratio, a much better measure of whether the company can maintain its dividend program intact, looks less scary at 107.7%. Management is confident of the company's ability to sustain, and even increase, the payout moving forward. That isn't just wishful thinking: Pfizer could improve its business in the coming years and eventually post much stronger financial results.
Consider that Pfizer boasts highly promising programs in the pipeline that will yield brand-new approvals and label expansions. For instance, the company's Padcev is a cancer medicine that is currently one of its better-performing products. On July 10, Padcev earned approval for the treatment of muscle-invasive bladder cancer in combination with Merck's (NYSE: MRK) Keytruda. Padcev was granted the green light regardless of whether patients are eligible for Cisplatin, a chemotherapy drug for bladder cancer that is effective but comes with significant side effects. That's a big deal since many drugs for bladder cancer (including Padcev, initially) aren't approved regardless of Cisplatin eligibility.
#NVIDIA #yield #first
Many investors would put Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) in the second group. The drugmaker's shares have lost significant value over the past five years, as the company has failed to sustain the amazing success it achieved in the coronavirus market. However, there is much more to the story. Let's discuss why Pfizer's 7% forward yield is more sustainable than it appears at first glance.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
Pfizer's revenue and earnings have declined over the past five years, while it has maintained and even increased its dividend. The company's payout ratio has soared as a result -- it is currently about 127%. That looks unsustainable. But Pfizer's cash payout ratio, a much better measure of whether the company can maintain its dividend program intact, looks less scary at 107.7%. Management is confident of the company's ability to sustain, and even increase, the payout moving forward. That isn't just wishful thinking: Pfizer could improve its business in the coming years and eventually post much stronger financial results.
Consider that Pfizer boasts highly promising programs in the pipeline that will yield brand-new approvals and label expansions. For instance, the company's Padcev is a cancer medicine that is currently one of its better-performing products. On July 10, Padcev earned approval for the treatment of muscle-invasive bladder cancer in combination with Merck's (NYSE: MRK) Keytruda. Padcev was granted the green light regardless of whether patients are eligible for Cisplatin, a chemotherapy drug for bladder cancer that is effective but comes with significant side effects. That's a big deal since many drugs for bladder cancer (including Padcev, initially) aren't approved regardless of Cisplatin eligibility.
#NVIDIA #yield #first
4 days ago
Our ***** ysts just identified a stock with the potential to be the next Nvidia. Tell us how you invest and we'll show you why it's our #1 pick. Tap here.
Achieved record $230 billion backlog driven by a $35 billion multiyear THAAD contract and significant radar and ***** e awards.
Performance attribution stems from strategic decisions to increase munitions capacity and establish international co-production footprints ahead of contracted demand.
Management is pivoting to a 'Defense Technology' leader mindset, prioritizing target-weapons matching to provide lower-cost, high-volume solutions for modern threats like drones.
Operational execution hit a stride with resumed F-16 deliveries and increased C-130 output, alongside successful technical milestones in hypersonic and laser weapon programs.
#tell
Achieved record $230 billion backlog driven by a $35 billion multiyear THAAD contract and significant radar and ***** e awards.
Performance attribution stems from strategic decisions to increase munitions capacity and establish international co-production footprints ahead of contracted demand.
Management is pivoting to a 'Defense Technology' leader mindset, prioritizing target-weapons matching to provide lower-cost, high-volume solutions for modern threats like drones.
Operational execution hit a stride with resumed F-16 deliveries and increased C-130 output, alongside successful technical milestones in hypersonic and laser weapon programs.
#tell
4 days ago
Fraternal twins Iman and Jihan Qamhiyeh have their sights set on playing basketball at the highest level, and their talent is already attracting attention from college programs before they begin high school.
The twins, who recently graduated from eighth grade, have received six Division I offers, according to Buchanan High School head coach Adam Wall.
"Yeah, the word's getting out about their game and how they play," Wall said.
Iman and Jihan, both 6-foot-1, have spent years competing in travel basketball, participating in twice-daily workouts and training in high-level practices. Their dedication has translated into success on the court against top competition.
"One time we were shopping and someone was like: 'Oh are you shopping for college?' I was like, 'I'm in eighth grade,' and they were like, ' What the heck," the twins said.
#level
The twins, who recently graduated from eighth grade, have received six Division I offers, according to Buchanan High School head coach Adam Wall.
"Yeah, the word's getting out about their game and how they play," Wall said.
Iman and Jihan, both 6-foot-1, have spent years competing in travel basketball, participating in twice-daily workouts and training in high-level practices. Their dedication has translated into success on the court against top competition.
"One time we were shopping and someone was like: 'Oh are you shopping for college?' I was like, 'I'm in eighth grade,' and they were like, ' What the heck," the twins said.
#level
4 days ago
HIGH POINT – High Point University has announced changes in its track and field and cross country programs following the retirement of longtime coach Mike Esposito.
Remy Tamer has been named the Director of Track & Field/Cross Country. He has been the women's cross country coach since 2016, winning nine straight conference ******* les and earning seven straight Big South Coach of the Year honors.
Dr. Scott Hall becomes the program's first-ever general manager. He will oversee the administrative duties for the programs.
Shamoya Pruitt has been promoted to ******* ociate head coach, focusing on sprints hurdles and horizontal jumps, while Collin Post has been promoted to ******* ociate head coach, focusing on throws.
Anne Akagi-Koons and Zach Ferrara have been hired as ******* istant coaches.
#high
Remy Tamer has been named the Director of Track & Field/Cross Country. He has been the women's cross country coach since 2016, winning nine straight conference ******* les and earning seven straight Big South Coach of the Year honors.
Dr. Scott Hall becomes the program's first-ever general manager. He will oversee the administrative duties for the programs.
Shamoya Pruitt has been promoted to ******* ociate head coach, focusing on sprints hurdles and horizontal jumps, while Collin Post has been promoted to ******* ociate head coach, focusing on throws.
Anne Akagi-Koons and Zach Ferrara have been hired as ******* istant coaches.
#high
4 days ago
On Friday, July 24, 2026, New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan hosted his 8th annual C3 Youth Football Camp at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center in Metairie.
Jordan's teammate Saints wide receiver Barion Brown was also in attendance.
The annual event was held for over 200 local area children from ages 5 to 12. As a part his foundation, Jordan's 3C Football Camp helps to promote "character, confidence and courage" by challenging every kid, at every level, every day with football, and life skills.
The Cam Jordan Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit with a mission to positively impact children's lives and improve the community through resources, youth development initiatives, and innovative experiences.
To learn more about Jordan's foundation and the various programs, including the Legacy Scholarship Program and "Thank You NOLA campaign" which will feature 16 weeks (in honor of his 16 years with the Saints) of community engagement, surprise activations, and opportunities for fans to connect with Cam Jordan throughout his final season, please visit: Cam Jordan Foundation | Creating Positive Change
#annual
Jordan's teammate Saints wide receiver Barion Brown was also in attendance.
The annual event was held for over 200 local area children from ages 5 to 12. As a part his foundation, Jordan's 3C Football Camp helps to promote "character, confidence and courage" by challenging every kid, at every level, every day with football, and life skills.
The Cam Jordan Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit with a mission to positively impact children's lives and improve the community through resources, youth development initiatives, and innovative experiences.
To learn more about Jordan's foundation and the various programs, including the Legacy Scholarship Program and "Thank You NOLA campaign" which will feature 16 weeks (in honor of his 16 years with the Saints) of community engagement, surprise activations, and opportunities for fans to connect with Cam Jordan throughout his final season, please visit: Cam Jordan Foundation | Creating Positive Change
#annual
4 days ago
On July 21, during CNBC's Mad Money program, host Jim Cramer used the daily chart **** ysis by options trader Bob Lang, founder of Explosive Options, to examine American Express Company (NYSE:AXP). Cramer pointed to the company's distinct cardholder demographic and high-margin annual fee structure, as he highlighted why the premium card issuer remains a long-time favorite for core portfolio allocations:
Now finally, there's one that I have been near and dear for as long as I can remember, and that's American Express. Now, this only has 10% of purchase volume with fewer cards in circulation, but their cardholders tend to spend a lot more money. Plus, they charge fees for their best cards, basically making you pay for access to their generous rewards programs. It's a fantastic business model. But remember, they do have credit risk.
Under Cramer's framework, American Express occupies a specialized niche compared to rival payment networks Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) and Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA). While Visa controls 60% of cardholders and Mastercard holds 25% to 30%, American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) commands roughly 10% of purchase volume. However, unlike Visa and Mastercard, which operate strictly as neutral tollbooths with zero balance-sheet risk, American Express operates as a direct card issuer. That closed-loop structure allows the company to capture premium annual membership fees and higher per-cardholder spending, though it requires absorbing credit default risk when consumers fall behind on payments.
On the technical side, Cramer highlighted that Lang noted that American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) has shown exceptional relative strength during recent broader market chop. After breaking out above its 200-day moving average in early June, the stock successfully retested that key support level on multiple occasions before surging higher on heavy volume. With the MACD indicator continuing to flash a buy signal, Lang sees a clear path toward $350, with a secondary upside target at its February peak of $370. It is the exact price level where sellers previously emerged. Furthermore, heading into Friday's quarterly report, Cramer shared Lang's bullish fundamental outlook on travel demand while offering his own tactical trading playbook for retail investors:
Now, I've gotta tell you, in his view, American Express is the best in class. Given that we've seen big numbers in travel here, Lang expects that Amex will shoot the lights out when it reports on Friday… I agree with him that this company's best of breed, but I also want to point out that American Express' stock, no matter what they seem to report, tends to sell off in response to earnings on that Friday even when the numbers are terrific. Then it gradually finds its footing afterwards and mounts strong rallies in between quarters, which is why I always say, you know, around like 10:30, 11, you might want to buy this one. I'm not kidding. It's been a good prediction so far.
#volume
Now finally, there's one that I have been near and dear for as long as I can remember, and that's American Express. Now, this only has 10% of purchase volume with fewer cards in circulation, but their cardholders tend to spend a lot more money. Plus, they charge fees for their best cards, basically making you pay for access to their generous rewards programs. It's a fantastic business model. But remember, they do have credit risk.
Under Cramer's framework, American Express occupies a specialized niche compared to rival payment networks Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) and Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA). While Visa controls 60% of cardholders and Mastercard holds 25% to 30%, American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) commands roughly 10% of purchase volume. However, unlike Visa and Mastercard, which operate strictly as neutral tollbooths with zero balance-sheet risk, American Express operates as a direct card issuer. That closed-loop structure allows the company to capture premium annual membership fees and higher per-cardholder spending, though it requires absorbing credit default risk when consumers fall behind on payments.
On the technical side, Cramer highlighted that Lang noted that American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) has shown exceptional relative strength during recent broader market chop. After breaking out above its 200-day moving average in early June, the stock successfully retested that key support level on multiple occasions before surging higher on heavy volume. With the MACD indicator continuing to flash a buy signal, Lang sees a clear path toward $350, with a secondary upside target at its February peak of $370. It is the exact price level where sellers previously emerged. Furthermore, heading into Friday's quarterly report, Cramer shared Lang's bullish fundamental outlook on travel demand while offering his own tactical trading playbook for retail investors:
Now, I've gotta tell you, in his view, American Express is the best in class. Given that we've seen big numbers in travel here, Lang expects that Amex will shoot the lights out when it reports on Friday… I agree with him that this company's best of breed, but I also want to point out that American Express' stock, no matter what they seem to report, tends to sell off in response to earnings on that Friday even when the numbers are terrific. Then it gradually finds its footing afterwards and mounts strong rallies in between quarters, which is why I always say, you know, around like 10:30, 11, you might want to buy this one. I'm not kidding. It's been a good prediction so far.
#volume
4 days ago
IBM (IBM) is pinning its hopes for a 2026 rebound in mainframe computing demand after a shock warning on the second quarter sent the stock reeling. But there's a lot left to be determined.
Quick insight: When IBM reported second quarter earnings Tuesday evening, one thing stood out more than most. Fresh off a major sales warning a week ago, the company didn't provide a complete reset of full-year sales guidance — instead, it gave a modest markdown.
The outlook appears to hinge on improved demand for mainframe computing after IBM's business was dented by business leaders allocating more capital to AI-centric infrastructure, such as servers and chips.
It's a bold **** umption by IBM, based on the strong demand for all things AI, which is likely to persist well into 2027.
"We do not see any evidence of clients getting off of mainframe," IBM CFO Jim Kavanaugh told Yahoo Finance. "So the key indicators for us that give us confidence in mainframe is that we expect a record year compared to prior programs in the high 120s. It's all driven off of what we're seeing capacity growth happening, the value proposition of AI inferencing that's happening, and the economic equation that will flip to us moving forward. So that's what gives us confidence."
#computing #year #business
Quick insight: When IBM reported second quarter earnings Tuesday evening, one thing stood out more than most. Fresh off a major sales warning a week ago, the company didn't provide a complete reset of full-year sales guidance — instead, it gave a modest markdown.
The outlook appears to hinge on improved demand for mainframe computing after IBM's business was dented by business leaders allocating more capital to AI-centric infrastructure, such as servers and chips.
It's a bold **** umption by IBM, based on the strong demand for all things AI, which is likely to persist well into 2027.
"We do not see any evidence of clients getting off of mainframe," IBM CFO Jim Kavanaugh told Yahoo Finance. "So the key indicators for us that give us confidence in mainframe is that we expect a record year compared to prior programs in the high 120s. It's all driven off of what we're seeing capacity growth happening, the value proposition of AI inferencing that's happening, and the economic equation that will flip to us moving forward. So that's what gives us confidence."
#computing #year #business
4 days ago
Deep Sail Capital Partners, an investment management company, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. In the second quarter, the fund significantly outperformed both of its benchmarks, the Russell 2000 Mid Cap Growth Index and the Russell 2000 Index, returning 41.6% net of fees while averaging 88% net long exposure. YTD, the fund returned 16.5% net of fees. long portfolio significantly outperformed both benchmarks, while the short portfolio was mixed in the quarter. The letter states that there was a notable performance push in Q1, which was reflected in Q2, driven by both the Iran War and idiosyncratic impacts on positions in the fund. In addition, please check the Fund's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Deep Sail Capital Partners highlighted Celestica Inc. (NYSE:CLS). Celestica Inc. (NYSE:CLS) is a leading technology and electronic manufacturing services company that offers supply chain solutions across multiple countries. On July 22, 2026, Celestica Inc. (NYSE:CLS) closed at $335.50 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $38.57 billion. Celestica Inc. (NYSE:CLS) posted a one-month return of -7.17%, while its shares gained 104.60% over the past 52 weeks.
Deep Sail Capital Partners stated the following regarding Celestica Inc. (NYSE:CLS) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"Celestica Inc. (NYSE:CLS) has transitioned from its legacy roots as an IBM captive manufacturer to become a design and technology integration leader within the AI and cloud infrastructure ***** e. Celestica was founded in 1994 as a subsidiary of IBM Canada. It was subsequently acquired by PE, and then IPOed in the late 1990s. The company's strategy from there was an acquisition model for the next two decades, acquiring various electronics and computer peripherals manufacturing and supply companies, highly tied to major OEMs like IBM, Avaya, and Lucent. At the beginning of the AI boom, the company found itself incredibly well positioned to provide specialized design, operational, and engineering services to large technology companies looking to build data centers or ***** ociated integrated rack systems.
The business segments of Celestica are split into two highly specialized operational segments: Advanced Technology Solutions (ATS) and Connectivity & Cloud Solutions (CCS). Within the CCS segment, the company serves enterprise AI companies and the hyperscalers, including Google, Meta, Dell, HPE, IBM, Juniper Networks, and Oracle Corporation, among others. Within the ATS segment, Celestica supports highly complex capital equipment, aerospace, and defense programs for Tier-1 customers such as Applied Materials, Honeywell, Lam Research, and Raytheon..." (Click here to read the full text)
#deep #solutions
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Deep Sail Capital Partners highlighted Celestica Inc. (NYSE:CLS). Celestica Inc. (NYSE:CLS) is a leading technology and electronic manufacturing services company that offers supply chain solutions across multiple countries. On July 22, 2026, Celestica Inc. (NYSE:CLS) closed at $335.50 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $38.57 billion. Celestica Inc. (NYSE:CLS) posted a one-month return of -7.17%, while its shares gained 104.60% over the past 52 weeks.
Deep Sail Capital Partners stated the following regarding Celestica Inc. (NYSE:CLS) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"Celestica Inc. (NYSE:CLS) has transitioned from its legacy roots as an IBM captive manufacturer to become a design and technology integration leader within the AI and cloud infrastructure ***** e. Celestica was founded in 1994 as a subsidiary of IBM Canada. It was subsequently acquired by PE, and then IPOed in the late 1990s. The company's strategy from there was an acquisition model for the next two decades, acquiring various electronics and computer peripherals manufacturing and supply companies, highly tied to major OEMs like IBM, Avaya, and Lucent. At the beginning of the AI boom, the company found itself incredibly well positioned to provide specialized design, operational, and engineering services to large technology companies looking to build data centers or ***** ociated integrated rack systems.
The business segments of Celestica are split into two highly specialized operational segments: Advanced Technology Solutions (ATS) and Connectivity & Cloud Solutions (CCS). Within the CCS segment, the company serves enterprise AI companies and the hyperscalers, including Google, Meta, Dell, HPE, IBM, Juniper Networks, and Oracle Corporation, among others. Within the ATS segment, Celestica supports highly complex capital equipment, aerospace, and defense programs for Tier-1 customers such as Applied Materials, Honeywell, Lam Research, and Raytheon..." (Click here to read the full text)
#deep #solutions
5 days ago
The 2026 season is shaping up to be a very exciting year of college football in Southern California. The USC Trojans have added to their roster and have expectations of making the College Football Playoffs for the first time in program history and the UCLA Bruins are beginning a new chapter with new head coach Bob Chesney.
Things aren't all rosy for the Trojans though, USC booster Brian Kennedy is suing USC after the school, according to Kennedy, breached their agreement. USC's former practice field was named Brian Kennedy Field, after Kennedy donated several million dollars to the university's athletic programs, but over the past two years, the Trojans demolished Brian Kennedy Field along with signage that highlighted Kennedy's contributions.
California Post writer Edward Lewis broke the story on Wednesday, which states that Kennedy paid $400,000 back in the 1990s. Kennedy has since had a falling out with the university, which culminated in 2020 when he used an expletive to describe USC's current football program.
Those hard feelings still persist, with the California Post obtaining Kennedy's lawsuit.
"Plaintiff suffered harm as a result of Defendant's actions," Kennedy's lawsuit stated, "Including reputational harm, embarrassment, humiliation and the loss of the benefit of the deal made with Defendant and the condition upon which Plaintiff paid $400,000."
#california #field #plaintiff
Things aren't all rosy for the Trojans though, USC booster Brian Kennedy is suing USC after the school, according to Kennedy, breached their agreement. USC's former practice field was named Brian Kennedy Field, after Kennedy donated several million dollars to the university's athletic programs, but over the past two years, the Trojans demolished Brian Kennedy Field along with signage that highlighted Kennedy's contributions.
California Post writer Edward Lewis broke the story on Wednesday, which states that Kennedy paid $400,000 back in the 1990s. Kennedy has since had a falling out with the university, which culminated in 2020 when he used an expletive to describe USC's current football program.
Those hard feelings still persist, with the California Post obtaining Kennedy's lawsuit.
"Plaintiff suffered harm as a result of Defendant's actions," Kennedy's lawsuit stated, "Including reputational harm, embarrassment, humiliation and the loss of the benefit of the deal made with Defendant and the condition upon which Plaintiff paid $400,000."
#california #field #plaintiff
