A wrestling match on the court during Wednesday night’s game between the Houston Rockets and Phoenix Suns resulted in two ejections and one bloodied player.
Houston’s Steven Adams and Phoenix’s Mason Plumlee were both given double technicals and ejected late in the second quarter after physical play under the net resulted in the players wrestling each other to the ground.
"We just got tied up," Plumlee said of the incident after the game. "He had been going to the boards and doing what he does, so just met him with physicality and, yeah, you all saw it."
With around three minutes remaining in the half, both NBA players were jostling for a rebound when Adams and Plumlee locked arms. The jostling continued and Adams appeared to lift Plumlee up off the court and to the ground.
The scuffle continued on the ground with both players being separated by a mix of coaches, teammates and officials.
"Look, everybody will see the clip that happened, but like he goes for every rebound and he does it whether it’s dirty or not," Plumlee added. "I just felt like they were being more physical than us, so I just made a point to hit him on the glass."
Plumlee left the court with a bleeding cut above his eyebrow, but he said it was "nothing major."
Houston coach Ime Udoka said he was surprised by the decision to eject both players.
"It looked like they threw each other down," he said. "They both fell down and whatever, got in a little wrestling match. I didn’t think they would get ejected for that."
Suns coach Mike Budenholzer seemingly agreed.
"It’s just two guys getting tangled up," he said. "Both physical. Both contenders."
Houston’s Jalen Green had 29 points to lead the Rockets to a 111-104 victory over Phoenix, extending the team’s winning streak to four.
The New York Jets officially made four-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers a free agent when the new league year began on Wednesday at 4 p.m.
However, Rodgers has had the ability to talk to different teams to find his new home in the NFL for the 2025 season, which has led to reports and speculation from multiple fan bases about where he will end up.
While the free agency whirlwind has been going on, it appears Rodgers is at peace, enjoying time by himself soaking in the sun.
The Daily Mail posted a picture of Rodgers strolling on a beach somewhere, and he is looking off into the distance while seemingly listening to something in his earbuds.
Rodgers, wearing a backwards hat with a blanket wrapped around him, could be thinking about his next career step, which also includes a potential retirement.
That was the case two seasons ago when it was clear the Green Bay Packers were not going with him as their starting quarterback after 18 seasons with the franchise. Rodgers went on his infamous "darkness retreat," and emerged believing he still had something left to give and wanted a trade to the Jets.
The Packers obliged, trading Rodgers before the start of the 2023 season, but he only got to play four snaps with the franchise before tearing his Achilles in the Jets’ home opener. After recovery, the 2024 campaign did not go the way Rodgers would have like, finishing 5-12 over his 17 games.
Rodgers threw for 3,897 yards with 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions with a 63.0% completion rate. Because of that production, while looking particularly more spry in the second half of the season, Rodgers is one of the most intriguing free agents on the market this offseason.
In turn, the New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers, two quarterback-needy teams, are reportedly the two teams Rodgers is considering. The Minnesota Vikings, which saw 2024 starter Sam Darnold leave in free agency for the Seattle Seahawks, are reportedly not a "primary option" for Rodgers.
Russell Wilson is the other quarterback on the market with Super Bowl pedigree, and reports indicate he is expected to visit with the Cleveland Browns on Thursday, followed by the Giants on Friday.
It is unknown if Rodgers will be visiting with any teams, but he appears content with where he is at right now. The NFL will continue to wait to see what he decides to do.
A video went viral back in December that featured Mark Gastineau confronting Brett Favre in 2023 over Michael Strahan sacking the Green Bay Packers legend to break Gastineau's single-season sack record.
Well, the New York Sack Exchange member is now reportedly suing ESPN because of the video.
In the final game of the 2001 season, Favre appeared to fall onto the field before being tackled by Strahan, giving the New York Giants legend the record. (It has since been tied by T.J. Watt.) Gastineau accused Favre of taking a "dive," and the play remains controversial.
Gastineau met Favre at a memorabilia event last year, saying that Favre had "hurt" him and that he was going to "take my sack back" in a heated exchange.
However, according to TMZ, Gastineau is claiming he has "been attacked on social media with ridicule, scorn and contempt" since the video aired. He also says that ESPN "intentionally and maliciously did not publish" the two shaking hands.
The report also says Gastineau never gave ESPN permission to record the moment - which contradicts Favre's claim from earlier this year that it was a "setup."
Gastineau is reportedly seeking $25 million in damages.
Favre took to X shortly after the confrontation went viral in an attempt to "clear the air," admitting that it "maybe" had "crossed my mind to help Strahan," but he was not trying to "hurt" Gastineau.
"I booted out of a run thinking it would be wide open, saw Strahan standing there and ducked down. The game was over. There was no need for me to do anything spectacular. It probably wasn’t Michael’s best sack or tackle for loss. In a different game or situation, I would have made a bigger effort to avoid the sack or TFL. But at no point was I thinking about hurting Gastineau," Favre pleaded.
Favre added that the incident was "not the kind of moment that should be filmed and released."
One of the most intriguing free agents still on the NFL market is quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who is expected to be officially released by the New York Jets when the new league year begins at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
Rodgers has been able to speak with other teams about finding a new home after a failed two-year tenure in New York, and two teams that have come out as supposed frontrunners are the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants.
The Steelers are more win-now than the Giants. Pittsburgh was a playoff team last season, while New York was 3-14. Pittsburgh also made a huge move, bringing in wide receiver D.K. Metcalf in a blockbuster trade with the Seattle Seahawks.
The Steelers would provide Rodgers with a good roster to get the job done each week. However, one team legend does not believe it would be a match made in football heaven.
ESPN analyst Ryan Clark, who played eight of his 13 NFL seasons with the Steelers while winning a Super Bowl with the franchise, used the famous Disney film "The Lion King" to explain why he feels Rodgers and the Steelers could lead to a "garbage season."
"Let’s say you put Scar on the team – you know, Scar from the ‘Mufasa’ movie and ‘The Lion King’ right?" Clark told his colleagues on ‘Get Up.’ "Here it is: Mufasa is trying to be Scar’s brother. Do you know what Scar’s name was before Scar? It was Taka. Do you know what Taka meant? Garbage, wasted. That’s exactly what can happen if you bring Aaron Rodgers in there. You could have a wasted season, you could have a garbage season."
Clark backed up his opinion on Rodgers joining his former team by saying it had nothing to do with the four-time MVP quarterback gelling with head coach Mike Tomlin. Instead, he believes working alongside offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who joined Pittsburgh in that role last season, could be a challenge.
"You could have a locker room that has to adjust to not only Aaron Rodgers, but Arthur Smith and Aaron Rodgers trying to figure out who’s going to win the battle of what they want the offense to be," Clark explained. "They know what Arthur Smith wants: He wants to run the football, he wants to get some play-action pass. That’s not the way Aaron Rodgers likes to play football.
"So, it isn’t about the personality of Mike Tomlin mixing with anybody, because he can coach anybody, relate to anybody, he can motivate anyone. But does it work with the X’s and O’s, and when the X’s and O’s don’t work, and Omar Khan, the general manager of the Pittsburgh Steelers, says, ‘OK, this piece isn’t working. Do we have to start it all over again in Pittsburgh and find a new quarterback?’"
Clark then got more animated when discussing the personalities of Rodgers, as well as his top receivers if he were to go to Pittsburgh, calling them all "crash outs."
"Yes, it looks great. It looks great that you got D.K. Metcalf and George Pickens out there, but you got two crash outs," Clark said. "You’re going to have two crash outs at wide receiver, and then add the quiet crash out at quarterback? Hell no. This is not something that I feel in my soul as someone that loves the black and gold, I don’t get all warm and tingly thinking about this."
If Rodgers does not head to the Steelers, Russell Wilson, who was the team's starter last season, is also a free agent and could head back to Pittsburgh.
Rodgers' 20th NFL season wasn't what he planned, going 5-12 as the Jets' starter with 3,897 passing yards with 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
Miller, who stood at 6 feet, 9 inches and weighed nearly 300 pounds, was a standout at Arkansas from 1988-92. He averaged 12.2 points and 6.5 rebounds in four seasons, helping Naismith Hall of Fame coach Nolan Richardson's 1989-90 team reach the Final Four before losing to Duke and earning Southwest Conference Player of the Year honors in 1991.
"We are deeply saddened by the passing of Arkansas legend Oliver Miller," Arkansas said in a social media post. "A key member of the 1990 Final Four team, an SWC Hall of Famer, a first-round NBA draft pick and a true embodiment of the Razorback spirit. We love you Big O. Our thoughts are with his family."
The Raptors, which he was on the very first roster in Toronto, said, "He holds a special place in our history as a member of our inaugural team in 1995, and we are so grateful for all his contributions. We send our deepest condolences to the Miller family."
Miller was drafted by Phoenix in 1992 with the No. 22 overall pick. He went on to average 7.4 points and 5.9 rebounds for the Suns, Detroit Pistons, Raptors, Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento Kings and Minnesota Timberwolves.
He also played in Europe, the Continental Basketball Association, the United States Basketball League and with the Harlem Globetrotters.
Jonathan "JJ" Jakovac's visit to TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra, Florida, Wednesday proved to be memorable. Jakovac is the caddie for Collin Morikawa, the No. 4-ranked golfer in the world.
Jakovac typically watches as Morikawa aces shots in front of fans.
But this time, the caddie had a chance to shine when he arrived at the tee box at the par-3 "Island Green."
Jakovac hit a ball and watched it briefly settle on the green's downslope before rolling back to complete the ace.
Jakovac recalled his thought process in the moments after he hit the ball.
"It had to ride the wind to get there," he told Golfweek. "Right as it came off, I was like, 'That's a perfect line if it lands the right distance.' It started spinning, and I was like, 'This has a heckuva chance.'"
Jakovac was participating in the annual Caddie Contest. For the last quarter century, the event has been held on the Wednesday before The Players Championship, giving caddies an opportunity to take a shot at the famed hole.
The Florida-Times Union reported Jakovac became the first caddie in the contest's history to make a hole-in-one.
Min Woo Lee, Isaiah Salinda and Jason Day and their caddies celebrated after Jakovac's ace. Jakovac earned national player of the year honors twice when he golfed at Chico State.
Morikawa also talked about the unique moment.
"Any hole-in-one is special," he said. "A hole-in-one on 17 against every other caddie ..."
With his hole-in-one, Jakovac took home an undisclosed pot of money and a $10,000 sponsor award and was granted acces to VIP parking for the rest of the tournament.
Russell Wilson will be back on the prowl for his next NFL team like he was in 2024, as he’s reportedly set to meet with two quarterback-needy franchises.
The Cleveland Browns and New York Giants, owners of the No. 2 and 3 overall picks in the 2025 NFL Draft respectively, will bring in the 36-year-old veteran signal caller for a meeting to see if he may be the right fit next season.
According to multiple reports, the Browns will have the first meeting on Thursday, followed by the Giants on Friday.
Wilson is coming off a one-year, veteran-minimum deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who also need a quarterback this offseason. With the new league year officially starting on Wednesday at 4 p.m., Wilson is officially a free agent, though he’s been allowed to speak to teams during the legal free agent tampering period that began Monday.
Some free agent quarterbacks signed already, as Sam Darnold joined the Seattle Seahawks and Wilson’s teammate with Pittsburgh last season, Justin Fields, is now the expected starter with the New York Jets.
Wilson and Aaron Rodgers are the two most intriguing free agent quarterbacks still on the market, and they both carry Super Bowl-winning pedigree overall their respective careers.
Last year, Wilson had a late start to the season due to an injury, which led Fields to start the first six games of the season. Once Wilson’s calf was 100% healthy, he came in and ultimately did his job to help the Steelers reach the playoffs as a wild card team.
He threw for 2,482 yards with 16 touchdowns in 11 games, going 6-5 over those contests.
With Cleveland, Wilson will be visiting a franchise that didn’t want to be in this situation, searching for a quarterback, as the Deshaun Watson trade-and-extension has not worked out.
Watson struggled mightily before suffering an Achilles injury last season, and the Browns ultimately finished 3-14. Watson re-injured his Achilles during the rehab process, so his availability in 2025 is in limbo.
Meanwhile, the Giants owned the same record after their own quarterback extension didn’t work out. Daniel Jones was released midway through the second season of his four-year, $160 million extension, and the combo of Tommy DeVito and Drew Lock did all they could to finish out the year.
Unlike Cleveland, though, New York has been linked to Rodgers, and a signing of Wilson could depend on what the four-time MVP quarterback decides. The Steelers are also expected to be in Rodgers’ market.
Wilson will be entering his 14th season in the NFL, and while he’s over the hill in terms playing years remaining, he is a reliable veteran option for any team looking to upgrade at the position.
West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey hosted Riley Gaines Wednesday as he signed Riley Gaines Act into law, codifying definitions of "man" and "woman" into state law.
According to text of the measure, it "reaffirms longstanding meaning[s]" of sex, male and female in state law, preserves women’s restrooms, sleeping quarters, locker rooms and other private facilities for the sole use of women — to prevent "abuse, harassment, sexual assault and violence committed by men."
A law of a similar name has already been signed into law in Georgia focused specifically on sports, as Gaines has rapidly ascended as a conservative political icon in the three years since her infamous tie with transgender swimmer Lia Thomas in the 2022 NCAA women's swimming championships.
For Gaines, seeing state legislation, to help prevent similar incidents happening to other female athletes, named after her is "an honor."
"There's no bigger honor than having your name attached to something as foundational and significant as the defense of women's rights and biological reality," Gaines said in a statement. "The Riley Gaines Act merely defines sex-based terms like man and woman in state statute to prevent unelected bureaucrats from reinterpreting these words to mean what they want them to mean.The majority of American people know what a woman is and it's time our laws do too."
Gaines' movement of protecting women from trans athletes has grown into a nationwide movement with an entire merchandising industry and even became one of the biggest political wildcards in 2024. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to prevent trans athletes from competing in women's and girls sports on Feb. 5, at a White House ceremony Gaines attended.
But even with the executive order and a total of 27 states having their own laws to combat trans athlete inclusion, Gaines believes there is more work to do to combat the issue.
"Contrary to what some may think given President Trump is back in the White House, the war on woke has not been won yet. "There's more work to be done, but leaders like President Trump and Governor Morrisey have paved the way," Gaines said.
Several states, including California, Maine, Minnesota and Massachusetts, have continued to let trans athletes compete with females. The U.S. Senate recently failed to pass the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act after the Democratic minority blocked the bill via the filibuster.
Gaines has vowed to help unseat all 45 Democrat senators who voted against the bill, and has not ruled out a potential run for political office herself in the future.
"It's never what I saw myself doing," Gaines previously told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview.
"But now, of course, with this issue and more, I would say the whole America-first agenda. I am just so passionate, I care so deeply, and I love it, so we'll see. It's definitely not something I would rule out. I don't think I'm that crazy yet, because I do think you have to be a bit clinically insane to voluntarily do that. But I do believe that maybe eventually influencing policy in that way is something I see myself doing."
Tiger Woods remains one of the most recognizable athletes in sports. And the 15-time major championship winner's life could soon be chronicled on film.
Amazon MGM Studios has secured the rights to Kevin Cook's "The Tiger Slam: The Inside Story of the Greatest Golf Ever Played," a studio spokesperson confirmed to People.
The movie from Amazon will be based on the book that hit shelves in December. Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama are "in talks" to join the project through their company, Higher Ground Productions, according to Deadline.
Reinaldo Marcus Green, whose film credits include "King Richard," is also drawing interest in the project about Woods. Green is being considered to direct the film, according to the report.
Actor Will Smith won an Academy Award for his portrayal of Richard Williams, the father and former coach of tennis greats Serena and Venus Williams in "King Richard." The Williams sisters were listed as the film's executive producers.
Cook's book features stories from "many of golf’s biggest names — Tiger’s caddie, his coach, his opponents, his idols and others, all offering fresh insight into the electrifying highs of his victories and the obstacles on and off the course that threatened his relentless pursuit of perfection"
A timetable for the documentary's release was not made available.
Woods had been preparing for next month's Masters tournament. But it's unlikely he'll compete at Augusta National after Woods announced Tuesday he had surgery to address a ruptured Achilles tendon.
"I am back home now and plan to focus on my recovery and rehab, thank you for all the support," the five-time Masters winner wrote on X.
In February, Woods announced that his mother, Kutilda Woods, had died at the age of 81.
"It is with heartfelt sadness that I want to share that my dear mother, Kultida Woods, passed away early this morning," Woods wrote. "My Mom was a force of nature all her own, her spirit was simply undeniable. She was quick with the needle and a laugh. She was my biggest fan, greatest supporter, without her none of my personal achievements would have been possible. She was loved by so many, but especially by her two grandchildren, Sam and Charlie."
Obama and Tiger Woods have a history. Obama once traveled to Florida to play a round of golf with Woods during his presidency. Woods visited the White House during a celebration of the Presidents Cup American and International golf teams in June 2014.
The former president and former first lady's production company has brought numerous projects to the screen since its 2018 launch, including the docuseries "Our Oceans and Court of Gold" and "Rustin."
The Obamas' company also teamed up with LeBron James' Uninterrupted and Peyton Manning's Omaha Productions to produce "Starting 5." The docuseries was released on Netflix last year and followed James, Anthony Edwards and other NBA stars on and off the court.
The Virginia high school track and field athlete who was seen bashing an opponent's head with a baton during a race has been charged with assault and battery, Lynchburg Commonwealth’s Attorney Office confirmed to Fox News Digital.
I.C. Norcom High School student athlete Alaila Everett was seen smashing her baton on the head of Brookville High School junior Kaelen Tucker during a championship meet last week. Footage of the incident went viral in the following days, prompting national controversy and backlash against Everett.
Tucker was later diagnosed with a concussion and possible skull fracture.
Tucker and her family members did not definitively say whether they would press charges against Everett after the incident in an interview with WSET ABC 13. However, charges have now officially been pressed, as Everett faces one misdemeanor count assault and battery.
Everett has since said the hits were accidental, in interviews with WAVY and "Good Morning America."
Prior to the charges being announced on Everett, the Portsmouth NAACP released a statement defending the embattled teen on Wednesday.
"Alaila is NOT AN ATTACKER and media headlines that allude towards that in any way is shameful. We understand the sensitivity of the circumstances for both athletes and their families involved but this narrative must not go unaddressed," the statement read.
"Alaila is an honor student and a star athlete at the historic I.C. Norcom High School. From all accounts, she is an exceptional young leader and scholar whose athletic talent has been well documented and recognized across our state. She has carried herself with integrity both on and off the field and any narrative that adjudicates her guilty of any criminal activity is a violation of her due process rights."
Fox News Digital has reached out to Everett's family via the Portsmouth Public School District for comment.
Tucker recounted the incident in an interview with WSET ABC 13 last Friday, and said the entire section gasped when they saw the repeated baton bashing.
"The whole section just gasped," Tucker told the station about those around her in the bleachers. "We had family come from out of town. Her godparents were here from Myrtle Beach. Everybody just gasped. When I saw her go down, all I could do is run out of the bleachers. I just knew I had to get to her.
"She was kind of hysterical because she just couldn’t believe that’s what had happened."
Everett claims the hits occurred because she lost her balance and her baton got "stuck" behind her opponent's back.
"After a couple times of hitting her, my baton got stuck behind her back like this, and it rolled up her back. I lost my balance when I pumped my arms again. She got hit," Everett said in an interview with WAVY. "I know my intentions and I would never hit someone on purpose."
Everett also said that while she caused physical pain for Tucker, there is not enough empathy for Everett's own "mental" impact.
"Everybody has feelings, so you’re physically hurt, but you’re not thinking of my mental," Everett said. "They are assuming my character, calling me ghetto and racial slurs, death threats… all of this off of a nine-second video."
During an interview with Good Morning America on Wednesday, Everett and her family showed a different angle of the footage, and re-enacted the incident to try and prove it was an accident.
"Her arm was literally hitting the baton like this until she got a little ahead and my arm got stuck like this," Everett said while using a family member to represent Tucker during the incident in the clip.
The Virginia High School League (VHSL) previously issued a statement to Fox News Digital on the matter.
"The VHSL does not comment on individuals or disciplinary actions due to FERPA," the league's statement read. "The actions taken by the meet director to disqualify the runner were appropriate and correct. We thoroughly review every instance like this that involves player safety with the participating schools. The VHSL membership has always made it a priority to provide student-athletes with a safe environment for competition."
Fox News Digital's Scott Thompson contributed to this report.
Olivia "Livvy" Dunne roasted a troll in her TikTok comments who called her out for returning for a fifth year at LSU.
Dunne had an extra year of eligibility with LSU’s gymnastics team after entering college in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last week, the Tigers had their senior night celebration, but one commentor tried to make a joke about Dunne, saying she would be a senior "for the next 10 years."
Dunne posted a one-minute video showing the comment and ripping it to shreds.
"I really don’t understand what’s so hard to get," she said. "I came to college in 2020, got granted a fifth year because of COVID and I came back for the fifth year. I only ever see this comment on female athletes’ posts. Why do you care if I come back for a fifth year and have another year of eligibility?"
Dunne could’ve finished after that, but she provided proof of how normal it is for athletes compete a fifth year in college.
Dunne used LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier as an example. He’s entering his fifth year with the Tigers after redshirting his freshman year.
"Football and basketball players redshirt and take fifth years all the time," Dunne added. "The starting quarterback of LSU football is coming back for a fifth year. This comment is nowhere to be found on his account.
"People commenting stuff like this obviously were never a college athlete or never loved a sport. So, you’re not funny. Why do you care what I’m doing with my life? Please stop."
Dunne also made sure to add that she gave up her athletic scholarship to allow another gymnast to have it as she competes in her final year.
Dunne is the top women’s NIL earner in the country and fourth overall earner at an estimated valuation of $4.1 million with her partnerships, according to On3.
She also launched "The Livvy Fund" in partnership with LSU’s official NIL collective to help more female athletes "create more opportunities" for NIL deals themselves "while emphasizing the importance of bringing NIL funds to women in college sports."
Dunne was a 2024 WCGA All-American, appearing in nine meets for the Tigers while competing in the bars and floor events. She recorded a career-high 9.900 in the floor event in the Podium Challenge last year and in the NCAA Fayetteville regional second round. Dunne also posted a season-best 9.875 on the bars in a meet at the Podium Challenge.
LSU is ranked No. 2 in the country this season, but, during senior night, Dunne revealed she was unable to compete due to a knee injury.
"Hi friends! Unfortunately, I’ve been dealing with an avulsion fracture of my patella and will not be able to compete on senior night," Dunne posted in an Instagram story. "It absolutely breaks my heart to not get the opportunity to compete in the PMAC one last time. Tiger fans, you’ve been so good to me! Thank you for the endless support and as always Geaux Tigers! – Liv."
Don't taunt Juan Soto because he'll make you look silly.
Soto signed the richest deal in the history of North American sports in December, when he agreed to a 15-year, $765 million deal with the New York Mets.
In the early going, Soto seems to be worth every penny, hitting nearly .400 in his first Mets spring training.
Soto, a four-time All-Star, had the best season of his career with the Yankees last season, hitting .288 with a career-best 41 home runs and 109 RBIs.
In the Yankees’ run to the World Series, Soto elevated his game, hitting .327 with four home runs in 14 postseason games, including the ALCS-winning home run.
In addition to his four All-Star game appearances, Soto, just 26 years old, is a five-time Silver Slugger and won the batting title in the shortened 2020 season.
Now, he'll be at the top of a lineup that made it to the NLCS in a surprising late-season run last year.
Fox News' Ryan Canfield contributed to this report.
College football saw its first expanded playoff system in 2024, with the Ohio State Buckeyes winning it all over Notre Dame in the end.
However, the system was criticized by many, leading to discussion about how to fix it. At the same time, expanding the playoffs even more was always a card on the table as well.
Speaking of Buckeyes, Urban Meyer, the ex-college and NFL head coach, made an appearance on Fox Sports’ "The Herd with Colin Cowherd," where he said he would be a fan of the 14-team College Football Playoff format.
"I’ve actually done a little research on this," Meyer said, via Awful Announcing. "It’s a 4-4-2-2-1-1 format. I know it’s out there a little bit, but I did a little diving into it, and of all the ones I’ve heard, it makes the most sense. It’s a 14-team playoff. Now, there’s going to be a big caveat in that, the Big 12 and ACC are going to be pissed."
Why does Meyer believe two of the Power Five conferences will not be happy with this format? Well, this proposal for a 14-team playoff would have the SEC and Big Ten each getting four automatic bids. An at-large team and the highest rate Group of Five team would get in as well.
"Here’s the best thing — it takes it out of selection and more into access," Meyer explained. "So, the selection committee’s going to be wrong. It’s an imperfect system. It’s been that way since the BCS. I like the idea you play into it. …It does not penalize you. If I’m a coach in the current model, I am not playing a tough team in the early part of the season. That’s going to hurt my team."
One of the main qualms about the current CFP system was teams in conferences like the SEC and Big Ten having tougher opponents than others, especially at the start of the season.
With automatic bids, there’s less risk in losing early in the season when thinking about playoff chances.
"If you go on the conferences handle the access, the Big Ten gets four (teams). You’re darn right I’m going to play Texas because I want to challenge my team. It’s great for recruiting. It’s great for our fans. It’s great for the game of football, and it will not penalize me. If I still win the Big Ten, I’m the No. 1 seed."
Meyer is only one of many inserting their opinion about this matter, with others like SEC Network top analyst Paul Finebaum believing auto bids would be "completely wrong" for the game.
"Doing our show yesterday, even SEC fans were calling in… saying they don’t like it," Finebaum said. "There’s something inherently wrong about stacking the deck before the season."
The Vancouver Island University women's basketball team lost in the first round of the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association national tournament Wednesday to Mohawk College.
The loss marked the end of a controversial championship run for the program after a season-long feud with rival Columbia Bible College over VIU's transgender player, Harriette Mackenzie. VIU will continue playing in the tournament despite the loss, competing in a loser's bracket.
Mackenzie played a prominent role in attempting to keep VIU's championship hopes alive Wednesday, leading the team with 20 points and 17 rebounds. No other player on VIU's roster registered more than eight points or five rebounds.
Mackenzie's Instagram account also appeared to be deactivated after the loss. It had been active as recently as Wednesday morning.
Mackenzie and VIU declined to comment in response to a request from Fox News Digital.
Mackenzie was recently named an All-Canadian for the second time and led VIU to a PACWEST Tournament victory over CBC, winning tournament MVP honors. Mackenzie was the conference's player of the year in 2023.
Mackenzie can return for another college season because the CCAA provides athletes five years of eligibility.
VIU's feud with CBC started during an Oct. 25 game between the two teams, which VIU won 69-56 after Mackenzie scored a game-high 19 points. Five days after that game, the athlete posted an Instagram video alleging that CBC head coach Taylor Claggett "cornered one of our athletic staff and went on a tirade about how I shouldn’t be allowed to play."
It was also alleged Mackenzie was deliberately fouled to the ground by a CBC player. In response, Claggett posted her own statement on Instagram, claiming Mackenzie's statements were inaccurate.
"My intention has nothing to do with a specific athlete, but instead, the safety of female athletes in their sport," Claggett wrote.
VIU then submitted a formal complaint to the PACWEST, prompting an investigation against VIU. When the two teams were scheduled to play each other again in two games Jan. 10-11, VIU refused to play due to the alleged incident from their first meetings.
"Intimidation, harassment and discrimination have no place in athletics," VIU said in a statement to Fox News Digital in January regarding the decision not to play. "VIU stands in full support of our student-athletes and affirms the right of all athletes to compete in an environment that prioritizes their safety and well-being."
VIU requested that the two forfeits not count as losses on the team's record, which was granted by the PACWEST.
CBC provided a statement to Fox News Digital that weekend stating "accusations that CBC, its coaches, players and fans are a safety threat are simply untrue and misinformed."
CBC players then condemned Mackenzie in a letter sent to Fox News Digital.
CBC players blamed Mackenzie 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 stated.
"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 PACWEST suspended Claggett in early February, and CBC lost its right to host the PACWEST championships after an investigation by the conference.
Beginning in June 2017, all places within Canada were ordered to comply with the Canadian Human Rights Act, equal opportunity and/or anti-discrimination legislation prohibiting discrimination against gender identity or gender identity expression. This law protects the inclusion of all trans athletes in women's and girls sports.
MONEY FREEZE – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is placing a temporary pause on funding to the University of Maine System. The decision comes after a dispute between President Donald Trump and Gov. Janet Mills over policies concerning transgender athletes' participation in women's sports. Continue reading …
'SPEECHLESS' – Former NFL quarterback Brett Favre recently appeared on Fox News Channel and shared his take on biological males competing against biological females in sports. Continue reading …
ROADBLOCK – Rep. Laurel Libby was censured in the Maine House of Representatives over a social media post that pointed out a transgender athlete that had won a girls' competition. She filed a lawsuit. Multiple judges then filed a recusal.Continue reading …
CHOICE WORDS – Some conservative critics took aim at California Gov. Gavin Newsom over his recent comments about transgender athletes competing in women's sports.Continue reading …
TEARFUL EXPLANATION – Virginia high school track athlete Alaila Everett offered a tearful explanation of the video which appeared to show her striking another runner with a baton during a race. Everett said the contact was accidental and that she attempted to apologize to Kaelen Tucker via social media.Continue reading …
'IT WAS WEAK' – The debate over Stephen A. Smith's viral courtside interaction with LeBron James was reignited after another video surfaced showing the Lakers' superstar discussing the confrontation. Continue reading …
'FOOL'S GOLD' – Where Shedeur Sanders will land in the NFL Draft continues to be a topic of conversation. But, the former Colorado quarterback said claims about his perceived draft stock are merely "fool's gold." Continue reading …
ANOTHER SETBACK – Tiger Woods said he underwent a procedure to address a ruptured Achilles tendon. The injury will likely prevent him from competing at next month's Masters Tournament and possibly the year's other remaining championships. Continue reading …
FROM FOX SPORTS – Take a look at which NFL players have signed new deals, and the best remaining players in the free agency market. Continue reading …
FROM OUTKICK – The reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles have accepted an invitation to the White House, press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced. The team is set to visit Washington on April 28. Continue reading …
WATCH NOW – Multiple NFL teams reportedly have interest in Aaron Rodgers. FOX Sports' Nick Wright, Chris Broussard, and Kevin Wildes discuss the best place for the veteran quarterback to land. Watch here …
Aaron Rodgers has just one more stop to complete the entire Brett Favre trifecta.
Like Favre, Rodgers spent roughly two decades with the Green Bay Packers before heading over to the New York Jets.
Favre spent one season with Gang Green before moving to the Minnesota Vikings for two seasons, and ironically enough, with Rodgers a free agent, that's exactly where Favre wants his successor to go.
"By all means, sign with them," Favre said on "The Will Cain Show" Tuesday. "They got a really good football team. They're loaded at pretty much every position. They made it to the playoffs last year. They got a tremendous fan base, much like the Packers. If you get the opportunity, that's a good place to win.
"Of course, you gotta play the Packers then."
Minnesota moved on from Sam Darnold, who reportedly agreed to a three-year deal worth $100 million with the Seattle Seahawks earlier this week. Perhaps Darnold's performances in the Vikings' two most important games of the season cost him a lot of money.
The Vikings selected J.J. McCarthy with the 10th selection in last year's draft, but after he injured his knee, Darnold was automatically tabbed as the starter and revitalized his career.
However, reports are circulating that Rodgers and the Vikings have some mutual interests, even though McCarthy is slated to be ready for Week 1.
Rodgers' tenure with the Jets was an overall disappointment. The 2023 campaign was a zero after he ruptured his Achilles on just the fourth play of the season, and last season, despite Rodgers showing signs of his vintage self, the team went 5-12.
The new regime announced that they would be moving in a different direction earlier this offseason, and they recently agreed to bring in Justin Fields as their presumed starter.
Rodgers could join the likes of Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, and his former teammate Aaron Jones after the Vikings went 14-3 last season, narrowly missing out on the NFC North title.
The Los Angeles Rams are moving on from one of the franchise staples.
The organization announced Wednesday that they have released Cooper Kupp, once considered perhaps the best wide receiver in the game.
Kupp revealed in a social media post last month that the team was "seeking a trade immediately and will be working with me and my family to find the right place to continue competing for championships."
Kupp admitted he did not "agree with the decision and always believed it was going to begin and end in L.A."
The soon-to-be 32-year-old has been mired with injuries ever since taking home the receiving Triple Crown in 2022 and winning the Super Bowl MVP. He's played in just 33 of a possible 51 games over the last three seasons, and while he's been productive, he's taken a back seat to Puka Nacua even while on the field.
Kupp was a third-round pick of the Rams in 2017 out of Eastern Washington and will now hit free agency for the first time.
In that 2022 season, he put up 145 receptions for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns; since then, he's had 201 catches for 2,259 yards and 17 scores.
His 710 receiving yards last year were his lowest since putting up 566 in 2018, a season in which he missed half the games. He has not played in over 12 games since that 2022 campaign, and hasn't eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark since then, either.
"I have taken so much pride in playing alongside my teammates for the LA community, so thank you for embracing my family and making this such a special place for us," Kupp said in his aforementioned social media post last month. "2024 began with one of the best training camps of my career. Preparations start now for 2025. Highly motivated, as healthy as ever, and looking forward to playing elite football for years to come. Love you guys… But coming for it all."
The Rams extended Matthew Stafford earlier this offseason and also agreed to bring in Davante Adams on a two-year deal after he looked like his All-Pro self with Aaron Rodgers during his brief New York Jets stint.
Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Michael Pierce announced his retirement from the NFL on Wednesday after nearly a decade in the league.
Pierce, 32, spent nine years in the NFL, seven seasons with the Ravens and one with the Minnesota Vikings. He opted out in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I've decided to call it a career," Pierce shared the news on the "Sports Spectrum" podcast. "It's been a beautiful, beautiful, beautiful nine years. I've had so many people help me along the way."
"I’d like to thank a few people personally, obviously my lord and savior, Jesus Christ, first and foremost."
One of the people he thanked was former Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome, who signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2016.
Pierce spent the first four seasons of his career with the Ravens, then signed a three-year, $27 million contract with the Vikings prior to the 2020 season.
The nose tackle opted out of the COVID season and played one season with the Vikings before getting released. Pierce then went back to where it all started, returning to the Ravens on a three-year, $16.5 million contract.
West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez said this week that he’s issued somewhat of a ban on social media, but the new policy won’t prevent players from using it – just dancing.
Speaking to reporters during the team’s spring training program on Monday, Rodriguez was asked about his stance on social media and if he’s implemented a ban for his players.
Rodriguez said there’s not a social media policy the football team has to follow, but there is one thing he is banning his players from taking part in.
"They're going to be on it, so I'm not banning them from it. I'm just banning them from dancing on it," he said. "It's like, look, we try to have a hard edge or whatever, and you're in there in your tights dancing on TikTok.
"Ain't quite the image of our program that I want," he continued.
Rodriguez said when he spoke to the team he expressed the importance of a group mindset – something he believes social media doesn't prioritize.
"Everything today is about trying to make everybody individual – it’s all about the individual… football is one of the last things that’s gotta be more about the team than the individual. So I banned dancing on TikTok, I guess I did that."
Rodriguez seemed indifferent about his players wanting to "watch their TikTok" long after their football careers are over.
"I hope our focus can be on winning football games. How about let's win the football game and not worry about winning the TikTok?"
The social media platform has grown in popularity with college athletes over the years, many of whom have posted dance videos.
But the trend will stop with Rodriguez, 61, who returns for his second stint as the Mountaineers head coach nearly two decades after he first left the program.
Rumors have constantly circulated that Brooks Koepka has had buyer's remorse ever since joining LIV Golf on a deal he admitted was nine figures.
Koepka was one of the first big names to join the Saudi-funded tour in 2022 – he admitted at the 2023 Masters that his injuries played a major role in the move, which guaranteed a huge paycheck.
But earlier this month, golf legend Fred Couples revealed in a radio appearance that five-time major winner Koepka "wants" to return to the PGA Tour.
"I talk to Brooks Koepka all the time," Couples said. "I love Brooks Koepka, and I'm not going to say anything extra except I talk to him all the time.... He wants to come back, I will say that. I believe he really wants to come back and play the Tour."
Koepka said ahead of LIV's latest event in Singapore that he spoke with Couples "quite a bit" after the appearance. The comments resulted in Phil Mickelson saying Couples pulled a "low class jerk move."
However, Koepka didn't exactly sound committed to LIV in the future.
"I've got a contract obligation out here to fulfill, and then we'll see what happens. I don't know where I'm going, so I don't know how everybody else does," Koepka said. "Right now I'm just focused on how do I play better, how do I play better in the majors, how does this team win, and then we'll figure out next year and how to play better again. It's the same thing. It's just a revolving cycle. I've got nothing. Everybody else seems to know more than I do."
It's unknown when Koepka's deal ends, but lots of contracts have been reported to be rather short-term – somewhere in the three- to five-year range.
The PGA Tour and LIV continue to have discussions, which PGA commissioner Jay Monahan has credited President Donald Trump for advancing. Monahan recently called Trump "the facilitator" in the discussions.
Koepka took the golf world by storm several years ago, winning four majors in a two-year span. However, injuries derailed him for a long while after. Following a torn patella tendon, he lost his dominant form, winning just one event in a three-year span ahead of his move to LIV, often finding himself outside the cutline.
He joined LIV after a missed cut at the 2022 Masters and finishes of T55 and 55th at the PGA Championship and U.S. Open that year. Koepka revitalized himself in 2023, winning the PGA Championship just a month after finishing T2 at The Masters, which earned him a spot on that year's Ryder Cup team. However, his best finish in a major last year was T26.
