Sports News

After sitting out a week with a knee injury, running back Breece Hall is expected to be back in the New York Jets' lineup when they face the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday at EverBank Stadium. "He looks good right now, so it's promising," interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said Friday after practice. It didn't appear that way at midweek, when the Jets' leading rusher was "struggling a bit," according to Ulbrich. But Hall was a full participant as he returned to practice Friday and is listed as questionable for the struggling Jets (3-10), who have dropped four in a row. Chances are, Hall will have a reduced role against the Jaguars, especially with the emergence of rookies Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis, who combined for 148 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown in last week's 32-26 overtime loss to the Miami Dolphins. Hall injured his surgically repaired left knee Nov. 17 against the Indianapolis Colts -- a hyperextension...

The New York Yankees acquired closer Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for left-hander Nestor Cortes, prospect Caleb Durbin and cash considerations, the teams announced on Friday. A two-time All-Star, Williams has established himself as one of the premier relievers in baseball over the past five seasons behind an elite changeup known as "The Airbender," posting a 1.83 ERA in 97 career relief appearances. He will slide into the back end of a Yankees bullpen that lost Clay Holmes to free agency, could also lose free agent Tommy Kahnle and will feature Luke Weaver, a revelation in 2024. It could, however, be for just one season because Williams is slated to become a free agent next winter. Money motivated Milwaukee to move Williams. The cost-conscious Brewers avoided arbitration with Williams a year ago by signing him to a one-year, $7.5 million contract with a club option to potentially avoid...

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- While no move has been made official yet, San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan made it clear Friday that linebacker De'Vondre Campbell has played his last snap for the team. Campbell's decision to not play in Thursday night's loss to the Los Angeles Rams angered Shanahan and many of his teammates. After the game, Shanahan and multiple players made it clear that Campbell's actions were unacceptable, with cornerback Charvarius Ward going so far as to say Campbell is "probably going to get cut soon." As of Friday morning, the Niners have not yet determined exactly how they will part ways with Campbell, but Shanahan said he did not expect Campbell to be on the team in Week 16 and beyond. "We're working through the semantics of exactly how to deal with it," Shanahan said. "But I mean you guys heard from me last night, you guys heard from our players, his actions from the game, it's not something you can do to your team or your...

The Chicago Cubs are acquiring Houston Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker in exchange for third baseman Isaac Paredes, pitcher Hayden Wesneski and prospect Cam Smith, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan. Tucker, 27, has a career .870 OPS over seven seasons with the Astros. He's entering his final year of team control -- which means he'll be a free agent after next season -- and is likely to make around $18 million through the arbitration process. He'll become the Cubs starting right fielder with Seiya Suzuki relegated to designated hitter duty -- at least for now. The team still employs INF/OF Cody Bellinger, but he's likely to be moved in a separate trade, sources told ESPN. Tucker played in only 78 games last season due to a shin injury -- but will still be the Cubs' best player. The team has been searching for star-quality production on offense, and they might have found it in the three-time All-Star, who finished fifth in AL MVP...

Virginia Tech has fortified its quarterback room for the 2025 season as starter Kyron Drones will be back alongside reserve William "Pop" Watson III, the team announced Friday. Drones, who started all nine games he played but missed three with a foot injury, led Virginia Tech with 1,562 passing yards and 10 touchdowns, to go along with six interceptions. The redshirt junior from Houston finished second on the team in rushing yards (336), rushing touchdowns (6) and carries (98). He would have been among the most coveted quarterbacks had he entered the transfer portal. Watson, a redshirt freshman from Massachusetts, made his only start against Virginia and helped Virginia Tech become bowl-eligible and extend its win streak in the Commonwealth Cup rivalry with 254 passing yards and a touchdown. He appeared in four games this fall for the Hokies, finishing with 400 passing yards, a touchdown and an interception. Watson played behind both Drones and Collin Schlee, who...

ASHBURN, Va. - The Washington Commanders will finally get to see how corner Marshon Lattimore impacts their defense. Lattimore will make his debut with the Commanders -- against the team that traded him more than a month ago. Washington coach Dan Quinn said Friday that Lattimore would play when the Commanders (8-5) visit the New Orleans Saints (5-8) Sunday. Lattimore has missed his last five games -- four since he joined the Commanders in the Nov. 5 trade -- with a hamstring injury. But Lattimore was a full participant in practice all week, strengthening Washington's confidence that he was ready to resume playing. "I'm feeling good, ready to play," Lattimore said. "I've been gone for a long time so I'm ready to get back out there and play." And, he said, he's looking forward to doing it vs. his former team. "I'd be lying if I said it didn't [mean more]," he said. "They traded me away; going back to show them why they shouldn't have. I'm happy where I'm at...

The New York Yankees are acquiring closer Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for left-hander Nestor Cortes, prospect Caleb Durbin and cash considerations, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan. A two-time All-Star, Williams has established himself as one of the premier relievers in baseball over the past five seasons behind an elite changeup known as "The Airbender," posting a 1.83 ERA in 97 career relief appearances. He will slide into the back end of a Yankees bullpen that lost Clay Holmes to free agency, could also lose free agent Tommy Kahnle and will feature Luke Weaver, a revelation in 2024. It could, however, be for just one season because Williams is slated to become a free agent next winter. Money motivated Milwaukee to move Williams. The cost-conscious Brewers avoided arbitration with Williams a year ago by signing him to a one-year, $7.5 million contract with a club option to potentially avoid...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Wide receiver Hollywood Brown will practice Friday for the first time with the Kansas City Chiefs since an August injury knocked him out of their lineup, a source said. Brown suffered a sternoclavicular injury after being tackled on the Chiefs' first play of the preseason in a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Brown had surgery and was placed on the injured reserve list, but the Chiefs held out hope he would return at some point this season. Kansas City has a three-week window in which to activate Brown from injured reserve. While he won't play in Sunday's game against the Browns in Cleveland, he reasonably could return as soon as a Week 16 game against the Houston Texans at Arrowhead Stadium. "He won't play this week," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Friday. "But it's nice to have him back out there and going. He got a lot of good work in today. You can tell he's been working. The conditioning part wasn't a problem. He...

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram will undergo surgery for a torn labrum in his left shoulder and will miss the rest of the season, head coach Doug Pederson said Friday morning. Engram, who also missed four games earlier in the season with a hamstring injury, hurt his shoulder during the first half of last Sunday's 10-6 victory over Tennessee in Nashville. Pederson said earlier in the week that he anticipated Engram would be able to play in Sunday's game against the New York Jets, but he said Friday an additional MRI revealed the full extent of the injury. Engram finishes his third season with the Jaguars with 47 catches for 365 yards and one touchdown, a significant dropoff from his 114 catches in 2023. That was a franchise record for a tight end and two shy of tying the overall franchise record for single-season receptions, set by Jimmy Smith in 1999. Second-year tight end Brenton Strange will now feature more...

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- The Miami Dolphins released wide receiver  Odell Beckham Jr. on Friday, ending the veteran's tenure with the team four weeks before the end of the regular season. The release was mutual, a source confirmed. Beckham missed both practices this week for what was described as "personal reasons." Beckham signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Dolphins in May that was worth up to $8.25 million with incentives. However, he had knee surgery earlier in the offseason and started the season on the physically unable to perform list. The Dolphins were aware Beckham would likely not be ready for the start of the season when they agreed to the deal. He made his practice debut in the first week of October and played his first game against the New England Patriots in Week 5. In nine games this season, Beckham finished with nine catches for 55 yards. After signing with Miami to presumably be the third receiving option behind Tyreek Hill...

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- The Miami Dolphins released wide receiver  Odell Beckham Jr. on Friday, a source confirmed to ESPN, ending the veteran's tenure with the team four weeks before the end of the regular season. The release was mutual, the source confirmed. Beckham missed both practices this week for what was described as "personal reasons." Beckham signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Dolphins in May that was worth up to $8.25 million with incentives. However, he had knee surgery earlier in the offseason and started the season on the physically unable to perform list. The Dolphins were aware Beckham would likely not be ready for the start of the season when they agreed to the deal. He made his practice debut in the first week of October and played his first game against the New England Patriots in Week 5. In nine games this season, Beckham finished with nine catches for 55 yards. After signing with Miami to presumably be the third receiving...

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Heading into Thursday's top-10 matchup, UConn coach Geno Auriemma said he didn't think there was a better backcourt in the country than the one his team would face in Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo and Olivia Miles. Auriemma's assessment proved correct, with the Hidalgo-and-Miles-led Irish handing the No. 2 Huskies their first loss of the season 79-68 in South Bend, where No. 8 Notre Dame led nearly wire to wire. "This is a major win for us," Irish coach Niele Ivey said. "Obviously, it's just one win, but I'm really grateful for this group and really proud of our effort and the way that we showed up today with such toughness and discipline." Hidalgo flirted with a triple-double (29 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists) and was the best player on the court as she continues to make a compelling case as the best player in the country. The sophomore scored or assisted on 48 of Notre Dame's 79 points and became the first player over...

BOULDER, Colo. --  Travis Hunter is a throwback-type player -- an elite receiver one moment, a lockdown cornerback the next -- who rarely leaves the field and has a knack for making big plays all over it. The Colorado Buffaloes' two-way standout even celebrates at an elite level, unveiling imaginative dance moves following touchdowns and interceptions, some of which include the Heisman Trophy pose. It's one of the many awards he's in line to win. Hunter is the the Associated Press college football Player of the Year, receiving 26 of 43 votes Thursday from a panel of AP Top 25 voters. Boise State tailback Ashton Jeanty finished second with 16 votes, and Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo received one vote. Hunter kept piling up the hardware later Thursday night. He won the Walter Camp Award as player of the year along with the Chuck Bednarik Award as the top defensive player and the Biletnikoff Award for the best wide...

Bronny James' first road game in the G League resulted in the highest-scoring output of his young career Thursday night. The Los Angeles Lakers rookie scored a game-high 30 points on 13-of-23 shooting as his South Bay Lakers fell to the Valley Suns 106-100 in Tempe, Arizona. The No. 55 pick in this year's draft added three rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block. He's now averaging 14.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists across four G League games overall. James, 20, was recently sidelined for several weeks while dealing with a bone bruise in his left heel. The Lakers were cautious in his recovery, sources told ESPN on Wednesday, because the heel injury was affecting the same leg that required left knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus when he was in high school. James has played seven games in the NBA this season, most recently Sunday against the Portland Trail Blazers, but is averaging less than 3 minutes per contest. James' father, LeBron James,...

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- With injuries to their linebackers accumulating in the middle of the third quarter Thursday night against the Los Angeles Rams, the San Francisco 49ers turned to veteran De'Vondre Campbell to enter the game. Campbell declined the invitation. Then, in the fourth quarter, Campbell walked to the locker room with a towel over his head without playing a snap. After the Niners' 12-6 defeat at Levi's Stadium, head coach Kyle Shanahan explained that Campbell elected not to enter the game even though linebackers Dre Greenlaw (knee) and Dee Winters (neck) were dealing with injuries. "He said he didn't want to play today," Shanahan said. Campbell's decision and subsequent stroll to the locker room left Shanahan, teammates and coaches fuming after the loss. Shanahan said the plan was for Campbell to enter the game after Greenlaw had departed because he was dealing with some knee soreness. It was also Greenlaw's first game back...

NEW YORK -- Juan Soto's decision to sign with the New York Mets not only bolstered the organization's chances to win World Series titles for years to come. It also doubled as a blow to their crosstown rivals after Soto thrived in his only season with the New York Yankees. On Thursday, after his introductory news conference at Citi Field, Soto said the Yankees "did everything in their power" to sign him, but he ultimately thought the Mets were a better fit. "I don't think it was the Mets over the Yankees," Soto said. "I think it was five teams that [were] right there on the table. I don't think it had anything to do with the Mets over the Yankees. I think we had all five teams pushing until the last moment, until the last time of making the decision. And we went over to the Mets." Soto shined in the Bronx, clubbing a career-high 41 home runs, finishing third in American League MVP voting and helping the Yankees reach their first World Series since 2009 in...

NEW ORLEANS -- The Saints plan to start Jake Haener against the Washington Commanders if quarterback Derek Carr is ruled out, sources confirmed to ESPN on Thursday. It would be Haener's first career NFL start. Carr is in the concussion protocol and fractured his non-throwing hand while attempting to leap for a first down in a win against the New York Giants on Sunday. If Carr does not play, it would be the fourth game he has missed this season. He missed three games because of an oblique injury, and rookie Spencer Rattler started in his place. Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi said Wednesday that he wanted to see both backups compete before he made a decision on a starter. Rizzi has not ruled out Carr but said the quarterback needs to participate in a walkthrough at minimum to have a chance to play this weekend. Carr is also dealing with swelling in his hand and has not practiced all week. NewOrleans.Football was first to report...

ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale said Thursday that his most recent scan showed he is cancer-free. Vitale, 85, had surgery this summer after a biopsy of a lymph node in his neck showed cancer. "SANTA CLAUS came early as Dr Rick Brown called & said that my PET SCAN at 7 AM came back CLEAN OF CANCER !" Vitale posted on X. "OMG thanks so much to ALL of YOU for your [prayers.] Yes I'm cutting the nets down baby it's my National Championship!" This was the latest cancer diagnosis for Vitale. In 2021, Vitale was diagnosed with lymphoma, months after he had multiple surgeries to remove melanoma. He chronicled his treatments and recovery on social media, posting photos of doctor visits and hospital stays while issuing motivational tips recorded before he was put on voice rest. In 2022, he announced that he was cancer-free. He then was diagnosed with vocal cord cancer in the summer of 2023 and underwent radiation treatment. He announced he was cancer-free that...

NEW ORLEANS -- The Saints plan to start Jake Haener against the Washington Commanders if starting quarterback Derek Carr is ruled out, sources confirmed to ESPN on Thursday. Haener would be making his first career start. Carr is in the concussion protocol and fractured his non-throwing hand while attempting to leap for a first down in a win against the New York Giants on Sunday. If Carr does not play, it would be the fourth game he has missed this season. He missed three games with an oblique injury, and rookie Spencer Rattler started in his place. Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi said on Wednesday that he wanted to see both backups compete before he made a decision on a starter. Rizzi has not ruled Carr out but said he needs to participate in a walkthrough at minimum if he is going to have a chance to play this week. Carr is also dealing with swelling in his hand and has not practiced all week. NewOrleans.Football was first to...

NEW YORK -- Juan Soto's decision to sign with the New York Mets not only bolstered the organization's chances to win World Series titles for years to come. It also doubled as a blow to their crosstown rivals after Soto thrived in his only season with the New York Yankees. On Thursday, after his introductory news conference at Citi Field, Soto said the Yankees "did everything in their power" to sign him, but he ultimately thought the Mets were a better fit. "I don't think it was the Mets over the Yankees," Soto said. "I think it was five teams that [were] right there on the table. I don't think it had anything to do with the Mets over the Yankees. I think we had all five teams pushing until the last moment, until the last time of making the decision. And we went over to the Mets." Soto shined in the Bronx, clubbing a career-high 41 home runs, finishing third in American League MVP voting and helping the Yankees reach their first World Series since 2009 in...

NEW YORK -- Juan Soto's decision to sign with the New York Mets not only bolstered the organization's chances to win World Series titles for years to come. It also doubled as a blow to their crosstown rivals after Soto thrived in his only season with the New York Yankees. On Thursday, after his introductory news conference at Citi Field, Soto said the Yankees "did everything in their power" to sign him, but he ultimately thought the Mets were a better fit. "I don't think it was the Mets over the Yankees," Soto said. "I think it was five teams that [were] right there on the table. I don't think it had anything to do with the Mets over the Yankees. I think we had all five teams pushing until the last moment, until the last time of making the decision. And we went over to the Mets." Soto shined in the Bronx, clubbing a career-high 41 home runs, finishing third in American League MVP voting and helping the Yankees reach their first World Series since 2009 in...

NEW YORK -- Juan Soto's decision to sign with the New York Mets not only bolstered the organization's chances to win World Series titles for years to come. It also doubled as a blow to their crosstown rivals after Soto thrived in his only season with the New York Yankees. On Thursday, after his introductory news conference at Citi Field, Soto said the Yankees "did everything in their power" to sign him, but he ultimately thought the Mets were a better fit. "I don't think it was the Mets over the Yankees," Soto said. "I think it was five teams that [were] right there on the table. I don't think it had anything to do with the Mets over the Yankees. I think we had all five teams pushing until the last moment, until the last time of making the decision. And we went over to the Mets." Soto shined in the Bronx, clubbing a career-high 41 home runs, finishing third in American League MVP voting, and helping the Yankees reach their first World Series since 2009 in...

NEW YORK -- Juan Soto's decision to sign with the New York Mets not only bolstered the organization's chances to win World Series titles for years to come. It also doubled as a blow to their crosstown rivals after Soto thrived in his only season with the New York Yankees. On Thursday, after his introductory press conference at Citi Field, Soto said the Yankees "did everything in their power" to sign him, but he ultimately thought the Mets were the better fit. "I don't think it was the Mets over the Yankees," Soto said. "I think it was five teams that [were] right there on the table. I don't think it had anything to do with the Mets over the Yankees. I think we had all five teams pushing until the last moment, until the last time of making the decision. And we went over to the Mets." Soto shined in the Bronx, clubbing a career-high 41 home runs, finishing third in American League MVP voting, and helping the Yankees reach its first World Series since 2009 in...

ESPN college football analyst Dan Mullen, the former head coach at Florida and Mississippi State, has been hired as  UNLV's next head coach, the school announced Thursday. Terms of the deal were not revealed, but a source told ESPN's Pete Thamel that it is for five years. Mullen will be introduced at a news conference Friday. Mullen, 52, last coached with the Gators in 2021, when he was fired after four seasons with a 34-15 record, an appearance in the SEC championship game and three New Year's Six bowl games. Before that, he had a 69-46 mark over nine seasons at Mississippi State. "Dan Mullen is an experienced and proven winner as a head coach at the highest levels of college football," UNLV president Keith E. Whitfield said. "I'm confident that he'll build on the strong momentum that Rebel football experienced the past two years and lead our program to even greater heights in the years to come." Mullen, who has a career record of 103-61 over 13 seasons,...

The NBA's Last Two Minute Report confirmed that officials made the correct call when Jonathan Kuminga was assessed a personal foul on Jalen Green on a loose ball scramble, resulting in Green hitting the winning free throws during the Houston Rockets' 91-90 win over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night. A livid Steve Kerr said after the game that the officiating crew, led by crew chief Bill Kennedy, had made an "unconscionable" call that the Warriors head coach had never seen in his NBA career. Kerr argued that the officials had allowed physical play up until that foul call with 3.5 seconds left. Green's free throws sent the Rockets to Las Vegas to play in the NBA Cup semifinals against Oklahoma City on Saturday. "I'm pissed off," Kerr said, echoing how his team also felt on late Wednesday night. "I wanted to go to Las Vegas. We wanted to win this Cup and we aren't going because of a loose ball foul, 80 feet from the basket with the...

DETROIT -- The Lions confirmed to ESPN that the team has revoked the season tickets of a fan who had a pregame verbal altercation with Packers coach Matt LaFleur at Ford Field last week. A TV camera caught the end of a heated exchange between LaFleur and Fahad Yousif, a Lions fan from Farmington Hills, Michigan, who was part of the group holding a giant flag for the national anthem last Thursday night. LaFleur could be seen yelling at the fan but said his actions were provoked. "I've never been a part of something like that," LaFleur said after Sunday's 34-31 loss to the Lions. "He was talking junk to our players, giving them the throat-slash sign. You're trying to de-escalate it, and then he gets in my face. I thought it was pretty unsportsmanlike. "I've never seen that. I've been on many fields, and usually they police that much better. I thought it was an arrogant fan that wanted to get in a part of the action. I would like to see security, or something step in...

The Virginia women's basketball team is getting what the school calls a "multi-year transformational gift" from entrepreneur and philanthropist Alexis Ohanian. Ohanian, who is married to tennis legend Serena Williams and is one of the founding control owners in the Angel City FC team in the NWSL, has a history of support for and investment in women's athletics. He is also an alumnus of the University of Virginia, graduating in 2005. The specific dollar amount of the gift was not released, but it is the largest in the history of the Virginia women's basketball program. It will allow the program to be "a premier destination for female student-athletes while addressing the financial and competitive demands of this new era of college athletics," the school said. "Starting Angel City and seeing the wave of investment in women's sports really has been inspiring," Ohanian told ESPN. "Women's basketball has popped up constantly on my radar, and lots of folks have been asking me...

The Virginia women's basketball team is getting what the school calls a "multi-year transformational gift" from entrepreneur and philanthropist Alex Ohanian. Ohanian, who is married to tennis legend Serena Williams and is one of the founding investors in the Angel City FC team in the NWSL, has a history of support for and investment in women's athletics. He is also an alumnus of the University of Virginia, graduating in 2005. The specific dollar amount of the gift was not released, but it is the largest in the history of the Virginia women's basketball program. It will allow the program to be "a premier destination for female student-athletes while addressing the financial and competitive demands of this new era of college athletics," the school said. "Starting Angel City and seeing the wave of investment in women's sports really has been inspiring," Ohanian told ESPN. "Women's basketball has popped up constantly on my radar, and lots of folks have been asking me about...

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Bill Belichick cracked a few jokes, held up an old UNC sweatshirt that belonged to his dad and vowed to bring a professional model to North Carolina in his introductory news conference Thursday as the Tar Heels' new head coach. Belichick was greeted with a standing ovation when he entered the room to speak to an overflow crowd of media and UNC supporters, including newly inducted College Football Hall of Famer Julius Peppers. In many ways, it felt surreal -- a six-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots, a giant among coaches, sitting at a dais inside Kenan Memorial Stadium with Carolina blue seats just outside the suite doors. Belichick, who spent his entire career in the NFL and is second only to Don Shula (328) with 302 regular-season wins, said he had always wanted to coach in college. "It just never really worked out," Belichick said. "Had some good years in the NFL, so that was OK, but this is a dream come true. I...

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The Denver Broncos have given their longest-tenured player what he had hoped to receive -- the opportunity to stay with the team that drafted him. Left tackle Garett Bolles, the Broncos' first-round pick in the 2017 draft, has signed a four-year extension to remain in Denver, the team announced Thursday.  Complete terms of the extension were not announced, but sources told ESPN that Bolles' deal was worth as much as $82 million overall with just over $40 million in guarantees. In a post on X, Bolles offered: "It's been a great 8 years! Thanks for everything! And ... I'm not leaving. The show goes on! GB.'' Bolles also added a short video that included game highlights and workout video. Bolles, who was the No. 20 pick in the 2017 draft, was the first tackle the Broncos had selected in the first round since Ryan Clady in 2008. The team has also not used any draft pick to select a tackle since Bolles was picked. Bolles had signed a...

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The Denver Broncos have given their longest-tenured player what he had hoped to receive -- the opportunity to stay with the team that drafted him. Left tackle Garett Bolles, the Broncos' first-round pick in the 2017 draft, has agreed to a four-year extension to remain in Denver, multiple sources said Thursday morning. Bolles himself then confirmed a deal has been finished in a social media post Thursday morning. Complete terms of the extension were not yet available, but sources told ESPN that Bolles' deal was worth as much as $82 million overall with just over $40 million in guarantees. In a post on X, Bolles offered: "It's been a great 8 years! Thanks for everything! And ... I'm not leaving. The show goes on! GB.'' Bolles also added a short video that included game highlights and workout video. Bolles, who was the No. 20 pick in the 2017 draft, was the first tackle the Broncos had selected in the first round since Ryan Clady in 2008....

ESPN college football analyst Dan Mullen, the former head coach at Florida and Mississippi State, has agreed in principle to a five-year deal to be  UNLV's next head coach, a source told ESPN's Pete Thamel on Thursday. The deal isn't signed, but it is expected to be finalized in the near future, a source told ESPN. Mullen, 52, last coached with the Gators in 2021, when he was fired after four seasons with a 34-15 record, an appearance in the SEC championship game and three New Year's Six bowl games. Prior to that, he had a 69-46 mark over nine seasons at Mississippi State. Mullen, who has a career record of 103-61 over 13 seasons, joined ESPN as a college football analyst in 2022. He replaces Barry Odom, who left UNLV to take the head coaching job at Purdue on Dec. 8. Odom went 19-8 in two seasons and led the Rebels to back-to-back Mountain West championship game appearances. The Rebels will be losing some key players, including...

Boise State quarterback Malachi Nelson, the No. 1 overall prospect in the Class of 2023, intends to enter the transfer portal, his manager, Justin Giangrande, told ESPN's Pete Thamel on Thursday. Nelson began his college career at USC in 2023 and appeared in three games with the Broncos this fall after transferring to Boise State earlier this year. The former five-star passer will enter the transfer portal with three years of eligibility remaining. A once-coveted prospect in the quarterback pipeline of coach Lincoln Riley, Nelson's career has yet to take off in two seasons at the college level. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound passer was one of two five-star recruits in USC's 2023 class, but Nelson took just four snaps during his debut campaign before entering the transfer portal last December after his freshman season. Nelson attracted interest from a long list of high-profile programs upon entering the transfer portal. He committed to Boise State in January, arriving...

San Francisco 49ers running back Isaac Guerendo plans to play Thursday night against the Los Angeles Rams despite his sprained foot, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Guerendo, who is listed as questionable, insists he "feels good," sources said. The 49ers (6-7) also have defensive end Nick Bosa (left hip, oblique) and linebacker Dre Greenlaw (Achilles) listed as questionable for an NFC West matchup they likely need to win to get back in the playoff hunt. The Niners ruled out left tackle Trent Williams (left ankle), safety Malik Mustapha (chest, shoulder) and guard Ben Bartch (high ankle sprain) on Wednesday. Guerendo assumed the starting running back job following injuries to Christian McCaffrey, Elijah Mitchell and Jordan Mason. He rushed for 78 yards and two touchdowns and chipped in two receptions for 50 yards Sunday against the Chicago Bears before exiting with his foot injury. The...

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is unlikely to play Friday against the Minnesota Timberwolves, sources told ESPN. It would give James, who missed Sunday's game with foot soreness, eight days in between games if he returns Sunday against Memphis. Because of the NBA Cup, the Lakers are able to take a prudent approach with the schedule to allow James to recalibrate and recharge his body. L.A. plays just two games in a 10-day stretch Dec. 9-18 -- coach JJ Redick gave the entire team Monday off and designated Tuesday as an optional "get what you need" day. Redick met with many of the Lakers' players individually Tuesday, but James was not present, the coach said Wednesday. On the season, James is averaging 23 points on 49.5% shooting (35.9% from 3), 9.1 assists and 8.0 rebounds. Redick said he is in constant communication with the player and Mike Mancias, James' longtime athletic trainer, about managing the four-time MVP's workload as he...

The trial of  Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, who is due to  stand trial on charges of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation against a minor and human trafficking that could result in a sentence of up to 20 years, was postponed on Thursday until June 2, 2025 after a judge in the Dominican Republic ruled that key witnesses were not located in time to meet the originally scheduled Dec. 12 date.  Of the 36 witnesses scheduled to testify, only three were present in the courtroom in Puerto Plata on Thursday. Dominican judge Yacaira Veras postponed the hearing at the request of prosecutors. Franco's lawyers asked the court to reconsider the postponement, arguing Franco must report to spring training in mid-February. "There is no case against Wander, for as many witnesses as they present, there is no case now," Franco's lead lawyer Teodosio Jáquez told The Associated Press after the hearing. The judge replied that Franco is obligated to continue with the...

Former West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez is returning to the country roads where he experienced his greatest success as a head coach, with the school announcing he was rejoining the program Thursday.  Rodriguez, the current head coach at Jacksonville State, spent seven seasons at West Virginia (2001-07), which included three straight 10-win campaigns and a Sugar Bowl win over  Georgia in 2006. He had West Virginia on the cusp of the Bowl Championship Series title game in his final year before an upset loss to  Pittsburgh. After that loss, Rodriguez left for  Michigan in a tense split, including a legal battle over his buyout. Rodriguez, 61, is a West Virginia native, which made the bitterness of his departure sting even worse but makes his return home powerful. "I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be the head football coach at West Virginia University," Rodriguez said in a statement. "My family and I are filled with gratitude to lead...

NEW YORK -- As the final seconds melted away, Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young kneeled down on the New York Knicks' midcourt logo at Madison Square Garden -- where he has inflicted so much pain and received so much scorn -- and pretended to roll dice as he and his team punched their ticket to Las Vegas for the NBA Cup semifinals this weekend. Buoyed by a furious second-half run, Young and the Hawks pushed past the Knicks 108-100 on Wednesday night, the latest example of the three-time All-Star having a bit of fun in New York. Young and his club eliminated the Knicks from the playoffs on the Garden floor in 2021, with Young punctuating the victory by taking a bow at center court and waving goodbye to the crowd. He came up with a different celebration ahead of Wednesday night's victory. "We're going to Vegas, so that's what I had to," he said of rolling the dice. Young added: "I planned that one with my little brother a few days ago. We had talked...

HOUSTON -- A livid Steve Kerr said the officiating crew made a call he has never seen in his NBA career, and it cost the Golden State Warriors a 91-90 loss to the Houston Rockets and a chance to go to the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas. "I'm pissed off," Kerr said, echoing the Warriors locker room late Wednesday night. "I wanted to go to Las Vegas. We wanted to win this Cup, and we aren't going because of a loose ball foul, 80 feet from the basket with the game on the line. I've never seen anything like it in my life, and that was ridiculous." With the Warriors up by one in the final seconds, Stephen Curry missed a 3-point attempt and a scramble for the loose ball ensued as bodies from both teams hit the floor. Gary Payton II got possession of a rebound on the floor, but Houston guard  Fred VanVleet slid on top of him and Payton tried to pass the ball to Jonathan Kuminga. Kuminga and the Rockets'  Jalen Green hit the floor...

CINCINNATI -- Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, in his first public comments since his home was broken into during Monday night's game, spoke Wednesday about the degree to which he felt his privacy was violated. Before answering questions during his usual midweek news conference, Burrow issued an opening statement addressing the burglary that occurred at his Cincinnati-area home while the Bengals were on the road to face the Dallas Cowboys. "I feel like my privacy has been violated in more ways than one, and way more is already out there than I would want out there and that I care to share," said Burrow, who implied that he was not going to answer any specific questions about the incident. But in his limited comments on the situation, Burrow agreed that one of the more frustrating parts was the amount of information that is now part of the public discourse.  According to an incident report obtained by ABC News, the break-in was initially...

In one of the most stunning and compelling moves in college football history, six-time Super Bowl-winning coach Bill Belichick was named the new head coach at North Carolina on Wednesday night. North Carolina officials said the sides agreed to a five-year deal, which was approved by the board of trustees during an emergency meeting Thursday. A news conference to introduce Belichick is set for Thursday, 2 p.m. ET. Belichick, 72, worked in the NFL in some capacity from 1975 until his divorce from the New England Patriots after the 2023 season. This will be his first college coaching job.  Belichick's father, Steve, served as an assistant coach for the Tar Heels from 1953 to 1955. "I grew up around college football with my dad and treasured those times," Belichick said as part of a release announcing the move. "I have always wanted to coach in college and now I look forward to building the football program in Chapel Hill." Belichick's hiring at North Carolina,...

Former West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez is finalizing a deal to return to the country roads where he experienced his greatest success as a head coach, sources told ESPN on Wednesday.  Rodriguez, the current head coach at Jacksonville State, has emerged as the target to be the Mountaineers' new coach, per sources, and a deal was expected to come together in the near future. Rodriguez, 61, spent seven seasons at the school (2001 to 2007), which included three straight 10-win campaigns and a Sugar Bowl win over  Georgia in 2006. He had West Virginia on the cusp of the Bowl Championship Series title game in his final year before an upset loss to  Pittsburgh. After that loss, Rodriguez left for  Michigan in a tense split, including a legal battle over his buyout. Rodriguez is a West Virginia native, which made the bitterness of his departure sting even worse but makes his return home powerful. As West Virginia's search for a replacement for...

In one of the most stunning and compelling moves in college football history, six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach Bill Belichick was named the new head coach at North Carolina on Wednesday night.  UNC officials said the sides agreed to a five-year deal pending approval by the board of trustees, which is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting Thursday.  Belichick, 72, worked in the NFL in some capacity from 1975 until his divorce from the New England Patriots after the 2023 season. This will be his first college coaching job.  Belichick's father, Steve, served as an assistant coach for the Tar Heels from 1953 to '55. "I grew up around college football with my dad and treasured those times," Belichick said as part of a release announcing the move. "I have always wanted to coach in college and now I look forward to building the football program in Chapel Hill." Belichick's hiring at North Carolina, which hasn't won an ACC football title since 1980, was...

LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier announced Wednesday that he would return to the Tigers for his senior season. "I'm fully committed to bringing this university a championship," Nussmeier said in a video posted to social media. "My teammates, coaches, and the fans will get the absolute best out of me every single day until we complete that goal." After backing up Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels in 2022 and 2023, Nussmeier took over as the Tigers' starting quarterback this season and threw for 3,739 yards with 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Nussmeier, the son of Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier, is ESPN NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.'s No. 7-ranked draft-eligible quarterback and was a potential first-round pick. LSU went 8-4 during the regular season and will play Baylor in the Texas Bowl on New Year's Eve.

The Phoenix Suns are among the teams that  Jimmy Butler's agent has indicated in NBA circles that the six-time NBA All-Star is open to as a destination as the Miami Heat listen to trade offers, league sources told ESPN on Wednesday. As reported in the Inside Pass on Tuesday, the Heat are open to dealing Butler if the trade proposal is right, according to league sources, and Butler's agent, Bernie Lee, expressed in league circles that he was open to the Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors and Suns. Butler was believed to prefer a win-now contender. He said Wednesday he doesn't mind his name being in the rumor mill. "I actually like it," Butler said. "It's good to be talked about. I don't think there's such a thing as bad publicity -- to a point." Butler, 35, is averaging 19 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists this season. He's one of the NBA's elite competitors and is a perennial postseason performer....

LAS COLINAS, Texas -- Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said he is perplexed by his team's 3-10 record but will evaluate its performance in totality after the season -- including the outlook at quarterback. He also expressed support for coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry. "We went from 11-6 and making the playoffs to 3-10, so it's a little perplexing what happened," Haslam told ESPN as he departed the NFL owners meetings Wednesday.  Asked whether he has the right players in place with Stefanski and Berry, Haslam added: "I do. We do. We're very supportive." Berry and Stefanski signed contract extensions before the 2024 season and have made the playoffs together in 2020 and 2023. The primary issue for Cleveland is the quarterback position. Deshaun Watson is owed $92 million in guaranteed money over the next two years. He has struggled with injuries and poor play since the team acquired him from the Houston Texans and then signed him...

PHILADELPHIA -- Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and receiver A.J. Brown addressed the speculation surrounding their relationship Wednesday, with both indicating it isn't fractured, as teammate Brandon Graham suggested earlier this week. "BG was just being BG," Brown said at his locker Wednesday. "He's emotional. In that case, he just misspoke. Me and Jalen are good." Hurts echoed Brown's sentiment, saying that Graham, one of the most respected players on the team, "spoke out of place. He knows that." The drama started following the Eagles' 22-16 win over the Carolina Panthers, marking their ninth consecutive victory. The passing game was not up to their standards, as Hurts finished 14-of-21 for 108 yards with a pair of touchdowns. Brown, who wasn't targeted until late in the second quarter despite flashing open on a couple of occasions, slammed his helmet on the sideline following a three-and-out and expressed frustration after the...

Six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach Bill Belichick is finalizing a deal to become the new head coach at North Carolina, sources told ESPN on Wednesday.  The expected hiring of Belichick, 72, will resonate as one of the most stunning and compelling moves in college football history. He worked in the NFL in some capacity from 1975 until his divorce from the New England Patriots after the 2023 season. Belichick's father, Steve, served as an assistant coach for the Tar Heels in the 1950s. Belichick's hiring at North Carolina, which hasn't won an ACC football title since 1980, was spearheaded by board chair John P. Preyer, who had homed in on Belichick in recent weeks. The sides met multiple times at length, including for five hours on Sunday, and those talks culminated with Belichick finalizing the deal Wednesday.  For a program awash in apathy and mediocrity, this marks a distinct and compelling shift from Mack Brown, as Belichick gives the Tar Heels an...

Dusan Vlahovic and Weston McKennie scored to lead Juventus to a 2-0 Champions League win over Manchester City on Wednesday, a major blow to the English champions' hopes of clinching a top-eight spot in the group stage of Europe's elite competition. City, who lifted the 2023 Champions League trophy, continued a poor run of form which has brought only one victory in their last 10 games across all competitions. "You can see that sometimes one action we miss the ball or lose a duel and you can see that we drop immediately," City midfielder Ilkay Gündogan told Amazon Prime. "It has such a big effect on us right now. At the crucial moment right now we are doing the wrong things." Vlahovic scored by the narrowest of margins in the 53rd minute when Kenan Yildiz swung the ball in and the Serb's header from close range sneaked past City keeper Éderson and just across the line, according to the goalline technology. City picked up the tempo...

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Lakers congregated as a team Wednesday for the first time since Sunday's win over the Portland Trail Blazers, only an important figure was missing from the group: LeBron James. "LeBron is not with the team right now," Lakers coach JJ Redick said after practice. "He's out for personal reasons, excused absence." James sat out the Blazers game because of soreness in his left foot. It was the first game James, 39, missed all season. With the schedule providing a break -- L.A. plays just two games in a 10-day stretch from Dec. 9-18 -- Redick gave the entire team Monday off and designated Tuesday as an optional "get what you need" day. Redick met with many of the Lakers' players individually Tuesday, but James was not present, the coach said. The coach was asked about the upcoming break on Sunday and made it clear he would give his players the freedom to use the time as they deemed fit. "Heck, if somebody wants to...