Ohio State quarterback Will Howard says his non-throwing hand is "fine" after fans on social media couldn’t help but notice a rather unusual-looking lump on his hand during the Buckeyes' win over Texas in the Cotton Bowl on Friday night.
Howard, 23, appeared to sustain an injury to his left hand during the first half of the game.
CBS Sports reported that the knot on his hand formed after he appeared to hit his hand on the helmet of a Longhorns player.
Social media erupted over the bizarre-looking injury as the lump seemed to grow larger.
ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe said during the broadcast that Howard did not receive any treatment for the lump during that game. After Ohio State’s victory, ESPN’s Jake Trotter reported that Howard told him his hand is "just fine."
Howard was 24-of-33 passing for 289 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
Now in his first season with the Buckeyes after entering the transfer portal last season, Howard has given Ohio State a chance to win its first national title in over a decade.
The Buckeyes will take on Notre Dame in the national championship game on Jan. 20 in Atlanta.
Vice President-elect JD Vance, a proud Ohio State alumnus, said back in August that this Buckeyes team might be "the best" he’s seen in some time. That will easily be settled when Ohio State takes on Notre Dame in the national championship game later this month, and Vance wants to be there to see it.
The former Ohio senator then posted a meme in response to his own post on X with his two options: "Attend your own inauguration" or "Go watch the Buckeyes win a national title."
The Buckeyes will have the chance to battle for the program’s first national title since 2014 after they defeated Texas in the Cotton Bowl on Thursday night. Meanwhile, Notre Dame, who defeated Penn State in the Orange Bowl on Wednesday, is on the hunt for its 12th overall title and its first since 1988.
Vance will be rooting for his Buckeyes in Washington as Trump is sworn in to a second term in the White House.
Women's basketball players at Columbia Bible College (CBC) in British Columbia, in Canada, have signed a letter responding to an opposing team that is refusing to play games against CBC over alleged abuse against a transgender player.
Vancouver Island University (VIU) announced on Thursday it will not play its two games against CBC this weekend after an incident in the last meeting between the two teams in October, alleging that a CBC coach treated the trans athlete in a way that violated the Coach's Code of Ethics. VIU has asked its conference, the Pacific Western Athletic Association (PACWEST), not to penalize its team for not playing the games due to the nature of the situation.
VIU's transgender player, Harriette Mackenzie, has made public statements alleging that CBC coaches and players behaved in an abusive manner.
The letter by the CBC players, obtained by Fox News Digital, condemns VIU's team for "personal attacks," "defamatory comments" and even "comments that incite violence," against their coach.
"Videos and letters posted by members of the VIU women’s basketball team over the past three months have directly violated multiple rules stated in Article 17.2 of the manual. Various posts have included 'personal attacks,' 'defamatory comments,' 'lack of respect towards the PACWEST,' and led to 'comments that incite to violence and/or hatred' directed at our coach," the letter read.
"Any and all allegations made by VIU players regarding our team and coach should have been directly communicated to PACWEST officials alone, they should not have been uploaded publicly to social media."
The letter even called the VIU players' statements "misinformation."
"The attack on Coach Claggett’s character, and the character of our team, over the past three months has been based on misinformation and one side of a complicated scenario," it read.
Mackenzie posted a video to the athlete's Instagram page on Oct. 30, alleging that Columbia Bible head coach Taylor Clagett "cornered one of our athletic staff and went on a tirade about how I shouldn’t be allowed to play."
Mackenzie said she was also deliberately fouled to the ground by a Columbia Bible player.
"I got two-hand chucked to the ground by No. 13 without a play on the ball in sight, then head coach Clagett can be seen applauding in support," the trans athlete said.
Mackenzie helped lead the Mariners to the 2022-23 Canadian Colleges Athletic Association national championship. This season, the athlete is second in the PACWEST in scoring with 16.1 points per game and third in rebounds with 9.4 per game, as VIU is 11-1 in the conference. Mackenzie is also second in conference in shooting percentage at 49.7%.
"I believe all trans people should be included in sport. But it's especially infuriating to me, because I'm playing — and being forced to play — at a major biological disadvantage," Mackenzie said in the video. "I never went through a male puberty. I only went through a female puberty. And I don't have ovaries, I don't have testicles, so I have zero way of making any testosterone."
The CBC players' letters also claims that the VIU team has violated standard procedure for canceling games, and the PACWEST has not held VIU to the proper standards.
"In the past when a team has refused to participate and travel to a scheduled game they have received 0 points in the classification. By postponing the games this weekend PACWEST has contradicted the standard operating procedure. There has been no clear rationale provided to our team to justify this departure from normal procedures," the letter read.
"Additionally, Article 13 section 9.1.1 states that if a team cannot make a scheduled game the coach or athletic director is to contact the opposing director of athletics to ‘indicate the reason for their inability to meet their scheduled commitment.' To our knowledge, this requirement was not met."
The CBC players, who have stayed silent to this point, believe they no longer can.
"Up until this point we have stayed silent. We have shown respect to the PacWest and VIU over the past few months by staying off social media and voicing our concerns through official channels. The VIU women’s basketball team has not shared this same respect towards PacWest or CBC and has communicated primarily on social media," the letter read.
"Their behaviour has been rewarded in how their refusal to play this weekend has been handled. We are writing this letter to ensure that our voices are heard in this conversation, and that the respect we have shown throughout this process is not mistaken for passivity."
Since June 2017, all places within Canada explicitly within the Canadian Human Rights Act, equal opportunity and/or anti-discrimination legislation prohibit discrimination against gender identity or gender identity expression. This law protects the inclusion of all trans athletes in women's and girls' sports.
In the U.S., President-elect Trump has vowed to ban trans athletes from competing in girls' and women's sports. Trump has also repeatedly suggested that Canada join the U.S., potentially as the 51st state.
ESPN's coverage of the Cotton Bowl between Ohio State and Texas on Friday night included the airing of a prayer on the field before the game.
The prayer was read by former chair of the Cotton Bowl Athletic Association, Fred McClure, immediately after a moment of silence to recognize those who have been killed by the ongoing California wildfires and the deadly terrorist attack in New Orleans on Jan. 1 that killed 14 innocent people.
"Loving father, we seek your blessings today for all those gathered here and especially for those on the field as we come together to celebrate the 89th Cotton Bowl Classic, we lift up the young men representing the Ohio State Buckeyes and the the Texas Longhorns. Keep them safe from injury and harm. Instill within them a deep respect for one another, and reward them or their perseverance," McClure said.
"We are grateful for the freedom and the privilege that we have in this nation to compete and connect through sports. Yet we are mindful of those who are unable to participate due to violence, poverty or discrimination. Lord, stir our hearts to tear down these barriers by striving to give our best, treating others with dignity and respect, and reflecting your grace and kindness in all that we do. Now receive all your glory, your power and your honor forever, amen!"
Ohio State went on to beat Texas 28-14 to advance to the national championship game against Notre Dame.
ESPN's airing of the pre-game prayer comes after a week of immense backlash for the network's decision not to air the national anthem ahead of the Sugar Bowl game in New Orleans, which was postponed from Jan. 1 to Jan. 2 after the New Orleans attack.
The backlash prompted the network to air the Sugar Bowl's national anthem later in the week during a Thursday edition of "SportsCenter." Still, many fans considered the network's gesture too late at that point. The network also made sure to air the national anthem ahead of Thursday's Orange Bowl between Penn State and Notre Dame.
ESPN wasn't the only company to prompt fierce backlash for the presentation of the Sugar Bowl, either.
Allstate CEO Tom Wilson ignited a firestorm of criticism on social media with a video statement addressing the terror attack in New Orleans just ahead of the Sugar Bowl, of which Allstate is the official corporate sponsor. In the video, Wilson suggested Americans have an "addiction to divisiveness" and must "accept people's imperfections and differences."
"Our prayers went to victims and their families. We also need to be stronger together by overcoming an addiction to divisiveness and negativity. Join Allstate working in local communities all across America to amplify the positive, increase trust and accept people's imperfections and differences. Together we win," Wilson says in the video.
Many fans insisted they would be canceling their Allstate insurance plans after the video aired.
Allstate later deleted the video from its social media accounts.
Less than three weeks ago, the New York Giants had control of the NFL Draft board and tentatively held onto the No. 1 pick. Then, they scored 45 points, their most in over 10 years, and won.
The Giants are now in line to pick third in the draft, and many experts say two quarterbacks, at most, are worthy of being selected early on.
The two teams ahead of the Giants — the Titans and Browns — are likely in the quarterback market.
It was the worst Giants season in a generation. Their .176 winning percentage with their 3-14 record was the fourth-lowest in franchise history. And, yet, owner John Mara made the unpopular decision to keep both head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen.
Firing Daboll, however, would have meant the Giants would have had, not including interims, their fifth head coach in 10 seasons. That's not an ideal process, especially considering Tom Coughlin manned the station for 12.
And while Giants fans may not like the decision, Victor Cruz understands it.
"I think, at some point, you gotta provide some continuity, right? You can't just keep firing every coach. You gotta give some guys a little bit of a runway to figure out if they're the guys," Cruz told Fox News Digital in a recent interview.
Cruz said players, especially the veterans, "love" Daboll, which led to Mara's decision. But they need to contend next year if Daboll and Schoen want to survive.
"I'm not saying we got to go win 13 games, 12 games, but we have to at least be in a competitive state next year so that the fans can have a better taste in their mouths," Cruz said. He even admitted the tandem could survive if the Giants "suck" again.
"I think it depends on what level of suck are we, right? How much do we suck? Are we 3-14 again, or are we 9-8? 8-9? Are we in that middle tier to maybe we’re a couple pieces away?" he said.
"Now, if we’re a three-win team next year, you gotta blow it up, because clearly it's not working. But if we're that middle tier — 9-8, 8-9, in contention — maybe a wild-card spot and we’re right there in it, then I have a different taste. Then I'm like, 'OK, I commit to them. Let's figure out what we need to get over that last hump.'"
The G-Men aren't likely to sniff a Super Bowl for a while, so perhaps the players will be throwing some parties for the big game this year. Cruz is, and he's partnered with Finish Ultimate dishwasher detergent ahead of traveling to New Orleans next month. The brand is giving away a $10,000 prize so fans can host the Super Bowl party of their dreams.
"As I’ve transitioned into my retirement and chilling and posting things at the crib, it just helps getting the tough stains out. It helps when I'm making food, different food is here, and we got those tough stains on those dishes," said Cruz.
"Finish Ultimate is just the way to go to get the tough stains out, and I wouldn't use any other brand than Finish Ultimate."
The Giants' focus is on the draft, and even if the Titans and Browns do let Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders fall to the Giants, Cruz would say thanks, but no thanks and aim for a familiar name.
"I think we should get one of those veteran guys in free agency, build our roster for another year, be competitive the next year and then go all in on Arch Manning the next year after that," Cruz said. "Now, we accrued a team through the draft and free agency. We have a year of a draft to put the guys in contention, to build our roster to the right way, build depth in all these positions. … Then, we go get a quarterback in free agency and see what happens."
So, who does Cruz want at No. 3?
"I like Travis Hunter. You put him with Malik Nabers and give him some plays on defense? Come on. It’s hard to pass that up. That’s that game changer I'm talking about. That's that guy that you can't game plan for. Imagine a team having to game plan for a guy on defense, and then be like, ‘Oh, by the way, he’s gonna play 30 snaps on offense.’ He’s a guy that can really do some good things for us.
"He’s a great personality. He’s a great kid. Gonna have a ton of fun out there, And he and Malik Nabers together, seeing their energies and picturing that together not only on the field, but marketing galore off the field, those guys are going to be crushing it in New York City.
"And I just think that them two together could also help each other, feed off of each other, and help each other grow simultaneously so that they can be together and face all the ups and downs that are going to come. And they could be the glue that keeps that team together and keeps everybody positive."
The NBA announced that Saturday's home games for both the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers have been postponed amid the wildfires sweeping through Southern California.
The Lakers were scheduled to host the San Antonio Spurs while the Clippers were set to host the Charlotte Hornets.
The league has not yet announced makeup dates for the two games, and the league did not disclose if more games will be affected by the fires, as both teams have home games scheduled for Monday and Wednesday and the Lakers have another home game on Friday. The two teams are also supposed to play each other in Inglewood, California, on Jan. 19, when the Clippers will host.
"The NBA and the Clippers and Lakers organizations have been in communication with local officials in Los Angeles and Inglewood about the ongoing situation in the Los Angeles area and the game postponements ensure no resources will be diverted from the wildfire response efforts," the league said in a statement.
Some members of both teams are directly dealing with the impacts of the wildfires, including Lakers coach JJ Redick, whose family's rental home in Pacific Palisades burned on Tuesday night, destroying many of their belongings.
"I was not prepared for what I saw," Redick told reporters. "It’s complete devastation and destruction. I had to go a different way to the house, but I went through most of the village, and it’s all gone. I don’t think you can ever prepare yourself for something like that. Our home is gone."
The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association, which is the players' union, announced on Friday a $1 million donation for immediate relief to the American Red Cross, World Central Kitchen and other organizations working to provide assistance to the victims and recovery efforts.
The donation was meant "to support those affected by this disaster," the league said, adding that it is "working with the Lakers and Clippers on ways to support longer term assistance and rebuilding efforts."
The Lakers also had a game previously scheduled for Thursday against the Hornets postponed as well, but it has not yet been rescheduled.
The Lakers are scheduled to host the Spurs again on Monday, when the Clippers are set to host the Miami Heat. On Wednesday, the Lakers are scheduled to host the Heat and the Clippers are scheduled to host the Brooklyn Nets. The Lakers are also slated to host the Nets on Friday.
The Clippers said they anticipate that the games starting Monday will be played as scheduled.
"The health and safety of our community and our fans remains our highest priority," the team said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Yesterday — 10 January 2025Latest Sports News Today on Fox News
Whatever Ryan Day said to his team after losing to Michigan obviously worked.
After calls to fire their head coach after Thanksgiving because of their fourth straight loss to the Wolverines – and this one easily the worst – the Buckeyes are off to the national championship after Friday night's 28-14 Cotton Bowl Classic win over Texas.
After Ohio State took a 21-14 lead with 7:02 to go (on a drive that included a huge 4th down conversion), Texas got down the field quickly in response, largely in part to a 34-yard catch by Gunnar Helm. After back-to-back defensive pass interferences in the end zone, the Longhorns had a fresh set of downs at the goal line. It was a matter of time before the game was tied, but then, a nightmare occurred for Texas.
After getting stuffed on first down, Quintrevion Wisner lost seven yards on a second-down toss, putting Texas in trouble. The third down pass fell incomplete, and on fourth down, Ewers lost a fumble that was forced, and picked up, by Jack Sawyer, who took it 82 yards the other way for a touchdown.
In what seemed to be like another overtime game for the Longhorns, their season flashed before their eyes with the snap of a finger. In hopes of a miracle, Ewers threw a pick on their next drive, and just like that, it was all over.
The Buckeyes got on the board first, scoring a touchdown right after stopping Texas on 4th down. The Longhorns offense was stalled throughout the first half, but they tied the game with 29 seconds left in the half, and were ready to go into the locker room with the game knotted at seven.
Ohio State, though, was not. Right after a touchback, Will Howard dumped a pass off to TreVeyon Henderson, who got some blocks up front and scampered 75 yards to the house, giving the Buckeyes a 14-7 lead into the locker room. It's rather easy to point at the two plays that cost Texas their season, with hindsight being 20/20.
Both teams exchanged punts for most of the third quarter, but with just over three minutes to go, Ewers found Jaydon Blue for their second touchdown connection of the night, tying the game. But then came the Buckeyes score to make it 21-14.
Prior to the game, it was revealed the Ewers said he expected to be playing in the NFL next season, so it will be interesting to see if his plans change.
Now, it'll be the eighth-seeded Buckeyes against No. 7 Notre Dame on Jan. 20 – score one for the expanded playoff.
Just like Ohio State, the Fighting Irish suffered an embarrassing loss of their own this season, dropping a contest at home to Northern Illinois back in September. But, it's been 13 straight wins since then.
The Rose Bowl half-marathon and 5K scheduled for Jan. 19 has been postponed due to the wildfires in Southern California.
It is the fourth sporting event in the area to be rescheduled because of the fires. Kings and Lakers games were postponed, and Monday night's Vikings-Rams playoff game was moved to Arizona.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone impacted by the ongoing fires in and around the city of Pasadena and the greater Los Angeles area. … The well-being of our participants, volunteers and community is at the heart of every decision we make," the McCourt Foundation, which sponsors the race, said in a statement.
"We also hold deep respect for the emergency personnel and first responders who are working tirelessly to protect our community. We recognize that the postponement may come as a disappointment to some, and we truly appreciate your patience and understanding as we navigate these unforeseen and difficult circumstances.
"At this time, we are actively working with our partners at the Rose Bowl on rescheduling the Rose Bowl Half Marathon & 5K, and while we do not yet have a new date, we will share updates with participants and the community via email, our website and social media as soon as they become available."
The race has been run since 2019. Runners race the Pasadena area near the legendary stadium before finishing the run on the field.
The fires have burned roughly 30,000 acres, destroyed over 10,000 buildings and claimed at least 10 lives.
Several celebrities, including Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick, have lost their homes.
The 2025 NFL Draft quarterback class may include one more big name.
Quinn Ewers considered leaving Texas after the 2023 season but said he wanted to gain more experience.
When ESPN's Pete Thamel asked Ewers in an interview broadcast before the Cotton Bowl whether he expected to "play college football next year," Ewers replied, "No, I don't."
That's not to say Ewers has officially declared for the draft. In fact, a recent report said Ewers has a $6 million NIL offer from another school to play there in 2025.
Ewers and his Texas Longhorns face the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl Classic, whose winner will face Notre Dame in the national championship Jan. 20.
It's safe to say Ewers hasn't had the season he expected. Despite playing in one more game this season, he's thrown for nearly 300 fewer passing yards and has thrown five more interceptions. He's thrown 29 touchdowns compared to 22 last season.
Ewers missed some time due to injury, and Arch Manning slid in quite nicely. Manning has seen some more action even with Ewers active, but mostly as a runner.
The Cotton Bowl Classic marks Ewers' 37th collegiate game. But with Manning's commitment to Texas and emergence this year, some believe head coach Steve Sarkisian has left a long leash on his junior quarterback.
Nonetheless, Ewers is the player leading the way for what could be the school's first title since 2006.
Ewers and the Longhorns lost last year in a College Football Playoff semifinal to Washington, which lost to Michigan in the national championship.
Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora recently opened up about why he skipped a trip to the Trump White House after leading his team to the 2018 World Series title.
During an interview on "The Mayor's Office" podcast on Wednesday, Cora admitted that he skipped out on meeting President Trump because he wanted to prioritize his home country of Puerto Rico. When the Red Sox visited the White House in May 2019, Puerto Rico was still recovering from the destruction of Hurricane Maria in 2017, and Cora wasn't satisfied with the federal government's response.
"One of the things that — it's not that I regret, but I think I should've been more clear — it was a visit to the White House," Cora said. "I have nothing against the President at that moment. It was Donald Trump at that moment, President Trump, but I felt me celebrating something at that stage, while [Puerto Ricans] were still suffering, it was bad. I didn't feel comfortable doing it."
Cora says he would have felt "awkward" celebrating at the White House, given the state of his country at the time.
"We are part of the United States," he continued. "What they do for us is amazing — the funding, all of that — but there was still work to do. And I felt very awkward, like, 'let's celebrate this at the White House' right while a lot of people suffered here. People took it like politics. No. My thing is sports and my family, right? I regret because I wasn't clear about it."
In May 2019, Cora told reporters the U.S. government has done "some things back home that are great," but added that "we still have a long ways to go."
"I'd rather not go. And, you know, just be consistent with everything," Cora said then of skipping the White House visit.
Trump himself said his response to the hurricane was an "incredible success" in September 2018 while giving remarks at the Oval Office.
"I think Puerto Rico was incredibly successful," Trump said. "The job that FEMA and law enforcement and everybody did, working along with the governor in Puerto Rico, I think was tremendous. I think that Puerto Rico was an incredible, unsung success."
Hurricanes Irma and Maria struck the island in September 2017, the latter of which had its official death toll increased in August 2018 from initially 64 people dead to 2,975.
The updated number came via an independent investigation ordered by the local government, prompting Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello to raise the official figure.
The Trump administration's efforts in Puerto Rico received widespread criticism. But after visiting the island in September 2017, the president said that Puerto Ricans were fortunate that the storm did not yield a catastrophe akin to the havoc wreaked by Hurricane Katrina along the Gulf Coast in 2005.
Vince McMahon, who co-founded and previously served as the CEO of WWE, and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have reached a settlement following a yearslong probe over undisclosed settlements.
The federal investigation was launched to determine whether McMahon disclosed to the company's board and others that he signed two settlement agreements worth more than $10 million with two women in order for them not to reveal potential claims against himself and WWE.
The SEC said McMahon, without admitting or denying its findings, agreed to cease and desist from violating certain provisions, pay a $400,000 civil penalty and reimburse WWE approximately $1.3 million.
McMahon released a statement on Friday, arguing the situation was the result of "minor accounting errors."
"The case is closed. Today ends nearly three years of investigation by different governmental agencies. There has been a great deal of speculation about what exactly the government was investigating and what the outcome would be. As today's resolution shows, much of that speculation was misguided and misleading," the statement read. "In the end, there was never anything more to this than minor accounting errors with regard to some personal payments that I made several years ago while I was CEO of WWE. I'm thrilled that I can now put all this behind me."
SEC officials on Friday said one agreement was signed in 2019 and the other in 2022. One agreement required McMahon to pay a former employee $3 million in exchange for the former worker's agreement to not disclose her relationship with McMahon and her release of potential claims against WWE and McMahon.
The other agreement obligated McMahon to pay a former WWE independent contractor $7.5 million in exchange for the independent contractor's agreement to not disclose her allegations against McMahon and her release of potential claims against WWE and McMahon, per the SEC.
McMahon stepped down from his role as chairman and CEO of the popular professional wrestling promotion in 2022, pending the results of an internal investigation which stemmed from allegations of hush-money agreements. His daughter Stephanie McMahon assumed her father's leadership duties.
A few weeks after stepping down, McMahon announced his intentions to retire from WWE. He returned as executive chairman in 2023, but resigned from TKO — a company that was the result of a merger between the WWE and Zuffa, UFC's parent company — in 2024. McMahon's resignation came after a former employee filed a federal lawsuit accusing him and another former executive of serious sexual misconduct.
McMahon maintained he committed no wrongdoing following the filing of the lawsuit.
By McMahon not disclosing the agreements to WWE's board, legal department, accountants, financial reporting personnel or auditors, it circumvented the company's system of internal accounting controls and caused material misstatements in its 2018 and 2021 financial statements, the commission said.
The SEC's order found that, because the payments required by the 2019 and 2022 agreements were not recorded, WWE overstated its 2018 net income by approximately 8% and its 2021 net income by about 1.7%.
Once WWE learned of the settlement agreements, it issued a restatement of its financial statements in August 2022.
"Company executives cannot enter into material agreements on behalf of the company they serve and withhold that information from the company's control functions and auditor," Thomas P. Smith Jr., associate regional director in the New York Regional Office, said in a statement.
Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick is one of the thousands in Los Angeles whose home did not survive the wildfires that have ravaged the area this week.
Redick was in Dallas for a game when he learned of the fires and that his family had evacuated.
Speaking with the media Friday, a day after a Lakers game at Crypto.com Arena was postponed, he opened up about his experience returning to Palisades and what he saw.
"I'm good. My wife got out really early. She was actually on the other side and came outside, saw the fire, was with some people, and were headed to the airport. … Got the kids from school. They're safe. All that mattered," he said.
"Went to the hotel, woke up at 7, headed up to Palisades. I had to see it for myself. I was not prepared for what I saw. It's complete devastation and destruction. I had to go a different way to the house but went through most of the village, and it's all gone. I don't think you can ever prepare yourself for something like that."
"We were renting for the year to try to figure out where to be long-term, and everything we own that was of importance to us — almost 20 years of being together and 10 years of parenting — was in that house," an emotional Redick said. "There's certain things you can't replace. They'll never be replaced.
"The material stuff is whatever. My family and I, we're processing the self side, the individual side of losing your home. You don't ever want to wish that on anybody. It's an awful feeling to lose your home. … Not sure I've wept or wailed like that in several years.
Monday night's Vikings-Rams NFL playoff game was moved from Inglewood to Arizona because of the fires that have claimed at least 10 lives, destroyed over 10,000 buildings and burned roughly 30,000 acres.
The Arizona Cardinals are reportedly embarking on a mission to rescue their division rivals from the California wildfires.
The franchise is sending two of its team planes to Los Angeles to evacuate LA Rams players, their families, team staffers and pets and fly them to Arizona, according to ESPN.
Six dogs and two cats will join the human passengers.
The Cardinals are also offering their home field, State Farm Stadium, to the Rams for their playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings as fires continue to ravage Southern California. The Rams will also be using the Cardinals’ training complex in Tempe.
The Rams considered staying another night, but Tony Pastoors, the Rams' VP of football & business administration, said "hope is not a strategy," according to the team.
The NFL announced Thursday that the game will be moved to Arizona.
Several wildfires, including the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire, have devastated communities in the Los Angeles area, including Pacific Palisades and Altadena. The fires have burned nearly 30,000 acres during a Santa Ana wind event, with at least 130,000 people in the area under evacuation orders.
At least five people have been killed in the fires, and more than 1,000 buildings have been destroyed.
The Rams-Vikings game was moved "in the interest of public safety," the NFL said in a statement. "The decision was made in consultation with public officials, the participating clubs and the NFLPA."
The game kicks off at 8 p.m. ET Monday.
The Rams had a scheduled day off Wednesday. The Los Angeles Chargers, who share SoFi Stadium and head to Houston for a wild-card game Saturday, limited players’ time outside during practice due to poor air quality.
State Farm Stadium has played a similar role in the past. During the COVID season in 2020, the 49ers played three "home" games there. Prior to that, the Miami Dolphins and San Diego Chargers played in Tempe, Arizona, at Sun Devil Stadium Oct. 27, 2003, due to wildfires in San Diego.
Iowa University's women's basketball team and head coach Jan Jensen are going through their first season without star Caitlin Clark since 2019.
The Hawkeyes are off to a 12-4 start and are ranked 23rd in the nation, but they've struggled with conference play in the first year of the newly-expanded Big 10, going just 2-3.
Jensen addressed the team's "lack of senior leadership" to reporters after a loss to Illinois on Thursday — with the Hawkeyes having lost back-to-back conference games for the first time since Clark's freshman season — citing the youth of the current roster.
"I can't afford to compare what has happened in the past, because these guys are giving me a lot and they're still young, and I have to develop a little bit of senior leadership or upperclassman leadership, because that is what we're missing," Jensen said.
In four seasons at Iowa, Clark broke the NCAA's all-time scoring record among both men's and women's players, leading the team to the NCAA championship game twice. She was also a consensus National Player of the Year as a junior and senior.
Clark was selected with the No. 1 pick in last year's WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever after her Iowa career.
As a WNBA rookie in 2024, Clark set records for the most points and 3-pointers by a rookie in league history, while also becoming the first rookie to record a triple-double, a feat she accomplished twice. Her 337 assists not only were the most by a rookie, they were the most by any player ever in a single season.
The Iowa women's basketball team announced it will have a ceremony to retire Clark's jersey on Feb. 2.
Clark's No. 22, which she wears for the Fever, will hang from the rafters at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City after a ceremony honoring the program's most accomplished player.
Clark is expected to be in attendance, and the event will be broadcast on FOX.
Clark's jersey retirement will come just two months after Time magazine named her the publication's Athlete of the Year. The choice prompted praise, but also criticism from some, including Washington Mystics owner Sheila Johnson, who recently wondered in a CNN interview why Clark was tapped for the honor and not the entire WNBA. Johnson suggested it had to do with Clark's race.
The NFL announced it will donate $5 million for wildfire relief efforts as Southern California continues to battle raging wildfires.
"Led by individual contributions from clubs and ownership groups from the Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota Vikings, Houston Texans and NFL Foundation, these funds will deliver vital resources to local organizations supporting those affected by the wildfires," the NFL said in a statement Friday.
"We are heartbroken over the devastating losses experienced by so many in the Los Angeles area and inspired by the heroism of first reponders and residents who have supported their neighbors," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said.
More than 10,000 buildings have been destroyed by fire as of Friday morning, officials confirmed. Authorities also confirmed that the Palisades Fire, Eaton Fire, Kenneth Fire, Hurst Fire and Lidia Fire torched more than 27,000 acres across the Los Angeles area.
The Vikings and the Wilf Family Foundation announced a $1 million donation for relief efforts. Brothers Zygi and Mark Wilf and cousin Leonard Wilf own the Vikings.
"The Vikings and the Wilf Family Foundations are providing a $1 million contribution to support on-the-ground relief efforts in communities affected by the California wildfires," the Vikings' statement said.
Also Friday, the Houston Texans confirmed a $1 million contribution to "provide support and resources to those who have been impacted by the wildfires."
SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, was originally scheduled to host Monday's NFC wild-card round game between the Rams and Vikings. But the NFL moved the game to State Farm Stadium, the home of the Arizona Cardinals, as wildfires continue to sweep through the region.
On Thursday, a fire broke out just miles from the Rams' training complex in Woodland Hills, California, and smoke was visible from the team's practice field, ESPN reported. The Rams and Chargers are scheduled to play playoff games this weekend, and both teams practiced outdoors Thursday. Some Chargers players elected to wear masks during the practice.
On Friday afternoon, ESPN reported the Cardinals sent one of their Boeing 777 planes to Los Angeles to transport Rams players, staff, their families and some pets to Arizona. The Cardinals are also making their practice complex available to the Rams, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
On Wednesday, the Los Angeles Chargers said the franchise will provide $200,000 in targeted funding to the American Red Cross, LA Fire Department Foundation, Team Rubicon and pet rescue organizations sheltering animals displaced due to the wildfires.
FOX Corporation has donated $1 million to the American Red Cross' California Wildfire relief efforts. The donation will help the agencyprovide safe shelter, hot meals, emotional support and resources to aid in recovery in the region.
FOX Corporation, which continues to be an annual Disaster Giving Program partner, is encouraging viewers to contribute to help families affected by the devastating wildfires. To donate, visit GO.FOX/REDCROSS
A list of available shelters compiled by the American Red Cross in Los Angeles can be found here.
Police in Louisiana have issued an arrest warrant for LSU receiver and NFL Draft prospect Kyren Lacy for negligent homicide after police allege he fled a deadly car crash last month.
Louisiana State Police said in a press release issued Friday that Lacy, 24, was driving "recklessly" and speeding past other cars while driving on the highway Dec. 17.
According to police, Lacy was "crossing the centerline and entering the northbound lane while in a designated No-Passing Zone" when a driver of a pickup truck in the northbound lane swerved to avoid a head-on collision with Lacy.
The actions of the pickup truck caused the driver of the vehicle immediately behind it, a Kia Cadenza, to swerve to avoid colliding with Lacy’s car, but the driver instead collided head-on with another vehicle in the southbound lane.
A passenger in the Kia Cadenza identified as 78-year-old Herman Hall was transported to a hospital before eventually dying, police said.
In addition to being wanted for negligent homicide, Lacy is facing a felony hit-and-run charge after police say he "drove around the crash scene and fled" without stopping to render aid or call 911. He also allegedly failed to notify law enforcement about his involvement.
Lacy’s warrant also includes a charge of reckless operation of a vehicle. According to Louisiana State Police, the former LSU star has since been in contact with law enforcement.
Lacy transferred to LSU in 2022. This season, he caught 58 passes for 866 yards and nine touchdowns. He did not play in LSU's win over Baylor in the Texas Bowl Dec. 31.
Lacy declared for the 2025 NFL Draft just two days after the crash.
"LSU has truly made a big impact on my life on and off the field, these past 3 years. Playing in Death Valley, for the best fans in the country, was an experience I will never forget. Not too many people get to fulfill a dream like this. I am forever grateful for it," Lacy wrote in his announcement.
"I want to express my appreciation to all my coaches, support staff, and trainers for helping develop me as a football player, but most importantly as a person. Although, we didn't accomplish our goal of winning a national championship, I promise to take all of those life lessons with me in the next chapter of my life."
LSU did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers star wide receiver Mike Evans can add one more honor to his already illustrious resume — his own holiday.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Friday that Jan. 10, 2025, is Mike Evans Day.
"Florida celebrates Mike Evans for his profound dedication to the sport of football, making countless memories for fans across the Sunshine State and across the country," DeSantis said in a statement.
"Mike Evans was named the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee for the fourth time in his career due to his unyielding commitment to giving back to the Tampa Bay community and improving the lives of countless others through his Mike Evans Family Foundation."
DeSantis also listed the many accomplishments Evans has achieved on the field.
"Evans’ career includes 168 games played, over 830 receptions for a total of over 12,684 yards and 105 career receiving touchdowns," a statement said.
"Evans’ record of accomplishment has included selection to the Pro Bowl five times and inclusion as a second-team All-Pro in 2016 and 2023."
The Florida governor also noted how Evans accomplished his eleventh consecutive 1,000 yard season, which he achieved in the waning moments of the Bucs' win Sunday.
With Evans’ eleventh consecutive 1,000-yard season, he tied the legendary Jerry Rice’s all-time record. Evans has never finished a season with fewer than 1,000 yards.
Evans was selected with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft by the Buccaneers and became an immediate star.
While Evans may be happy about getting his own day, he has a playoff matchup to think about.
Evans’ Bucs are playing the Washington Commanders at home at 8 p.m. ET Sunday in the wild-card round.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts has cleared concussion protocol.
His first game back from concussion, ever, will be a Wild Card playoff game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.
Hurts told reporters on Friday that he doesn't remember what happened in a moment after he suffered the concussion.
"It's so far long ago, I don't really remember," Hurts said, when asked "What happened in the moment?" when he tried to get back on the field after suffering the concussion. The incident came in the first half against the Washington Commanders in Week 16.
Hurts says he has never come back from a concussion before, and opened up on how the experience has disrupted his regular routine.
"Been out of routine, you go through a routine everyday, and being out of that is challenging, I'm obviously dealing with different symptoms, ain't fun either," Hurts said.
Hurts credited his faith for making it through the experience.
"I have faith, everything's fine," Hurts said.
Hurts is the latest quarterback to suffer a brain injury in a scary football season for the issue.
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered a concussion – the third of his NFL career – in an early-season tilt with the Buffalo Bills, on a nationally televised game. Tagovailoa had previously suffered multiple concussions within the span of just weeks in the 2022 season. The third of his career sparked national controversy, as some former players and media pundits called on him to retire.
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence suffered a concussion when he was the victim of an illegal hit by Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair during a game in early December. The hit ended Lawrence's season, as Al-Shaair was suspended for three games and heavily criticized by the public and even an NFL executive.
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave suffered a concussion after being hit by Panthers safety Xavier Woods in Week 9 and had to be carted off the field. A week later, Falcons linebacker JD Bertrandsuffered one in Week 10.
Alabama A&M University football player Medrick Burnett Jr. died after sustaining a serious head injury in a game in late November.
At the high school and youth levels, multiple teenage players died in 2024 from brain injuries.
In Alabama, Morgan Academy junior quarterback Caden Tellier received an injury to the head during the third quarter of his team's 30-22 win against Southern Academy in Selma, Alabama, in late August.
Just days after that, a 13-year-old in West Virginia died after suffering a head injury at a middle school football practice. Eighth-grader Cohen Craddock, who played defensive line for Madison Middle School in Madison, suffered severe brain bleeding and swelling after making a tackle.
Los Angeles Rams receiver Demarcus Robinson has been charged with drunken driving since a November arrest. The news comes just days ahead of the team’s playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings Monday night.
The Office of the Los Angeles City Attorney confirmed to TMZ Sports that Robinson was recently charged with one misdemeanor count of driving under the influence of alcohol since his arrest Nov. 25.
Officers with the California Highway Patrol saw Robinson, 30, driving a white Dodge sedan that was "traveling in excess of 100 miles per hour" just a few miles from the Rams’ training complex in Woodland Hills at around 5:10 a.m., according to a news release.
During the traffic stop, law enforcement officials "observed objective signs and symptoms of alcohol impairment." The veteran wideout was then arrested on suspicion of DUI, and he was "cited and released to a responsible party."
The arrest came just hours after the Rams' 37-20 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles at home.
Robinson apologized after the news broke back in November.
"I don’t want to bring that type of light, or any type of negative energy, toward the team," he said. "Things like that are not natural for me, in my nature, stuff I usually do."
Rams coach Sean McVay said at the time Robinson made a "bad decision," but added, "I don’t think that makes him a bad person."
He was not suspended by the team after his arrest.
According to TMZ Sports, Robinson is due back in court in February.
The Rams are scheduled to travel to Arizona Friday ahead of Monday’s game, which was relocated to State Farm Stadium due to multiple wildfires in Southern California.
After briefly being hailed as heroes, the New York Yankees fans who pried a ball out of Mookie Betts' glove after grabbing his wrists won't see their team, or any other, for a long time.
Austin Capobianco and John P. Hansen were reportedly banned from all MLB stadiums indefinitely because of the incident.
During the bottom of the first inning in Game 4 of the World Series, with the Yanks trailing three games to none, Gleyber Torres hit a pop fly down the right field line that headed toward the stands. Betts leaped for the ball and made the catch, but he was apparently in a danger zone.
A Yankee fan in the front row tried to rip Betts' glove off of his hand and take the ball out, and another fan held Betts' wrists as the ball eventually came out.
Fans were escorted out of the stadium but were initially allowed to return the following night before the team reversed course and donated the tickets to a child with cancer and his family.
The Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder didn't speak much about the ordeal after Game 4, but after Game 5, he let it all out.
"That was wild, man. That was really wild. I’ve never experienced anything like that. I was telling my wife that was like the second time in my life I’ve ever wanted to fight someone," Betts told FOX after he won his third World Series title. "I get it, man. I get it. I don’t know if he was trying to get the ball, don’t know what he was really trying to do. But he had to do what he had to do, and it is what it is."
Capobianco defended his actions, saying it was to help the Yankees.
"We always joke about the ball in our area," Capobianco told ESPN. "We’re not going to go out of our way to attack. If it’s in our area, we’re going to D up."
The fans were in the seats of a friend who has been a season ticket holder since 1990. That fan is permitted to keep the season tickets.
