[Posted Sun. p.m., before late football action.]
Brief Add-on up by noon, Tues.
College Football / Ohio State Quiz: How many of the eleven Buckeyes to rush for 3,000 yards in their Ohio State careers can you name? Answer below.
College Football Review
Going back to the CFP Rankings from last Tuesday night, with Alabama’s loss to Oklahoma, Georgia moved into the fourth spot, Bama dropping to 10.
But with the Group of Five, the committee still hasn’t ranked James Madison, which the AP has No. 22. Tulane, at 24, would get the playoff bid, assuming they win the American Conference championship.
The CFP said that JMU has played just one Power Four team, losing at Louisville 28-14, while Tulane had tried three, winning against Northwestern and Duke and losing against No. 6 Ole Miss.
Speaking of Ole Miss, LSU is reportedly finalizing a $90 million offer to entice Lane Kiffin to leave Ole Miss. Friday, Ole Miss said an “announcement on Coach Kiffin’s future is expected the Saturday following” the Egg Bowl. The Rebels play Mississippi State next Friday.
Why Kiffin would leave for LSU I’ll never know. He’s already making more than enough money and he’s king in Oxford. From a college football standpoint to me it’s a lateral move, but this would be classic Kiffin.
On to Saturday’s action…some major cupcake games…and no major upsets….
No. 1 Ohio State (11-0) was without receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate (both day-to-day with leg injuries) but took care of Rutgers (5-6) 42-9. The Buckeyes defense has allowed 7.6 points per game and not allowed more than 16 in a game, the best defense through 11 games since Oklahoma in 1987.
3 Texas A&M (11-0) destroyed Samford (1-11) 48-0, though the line was 54.5!
4 Georgia (10-1) beat Charlotte (1-10) 35-3…this line was 43.5….
7 Oregon (10-1) had an important 42-27 win over 15 USC (8-3), in all likelihood locking up a playoff spot, and maybe a bye.
USC has yet to make the playoffs since the format was introduced in 2014.
8 Oklahoma (9-2) did enough to get by 22 Missouri (7-4) 17-6 and will get an at-large playoff bid, despite an offense that hasn’t gained more than 359 yards in an SEC game.
9 Notre Dame (9-2) got off to a 35-0 lead in the first quarter, aided by two pick-sixes and a punt return for a touchdown (it was 21-0 before the Fighting Irish even snapped the ball), on the way to a 70-7 demolition of Syracuse (3-8). Jeremiyah Love had 171 yards and three touchdowns on just eight carries, Jadarian Price with 70 yards and a score on only four carries. Syracuse actually had more first downs than ND, 18-16.
Love has to be a finalist for the Heisman and earn the trip to New York.
10 Alabama (9-2) whipped Eastern Illinois (3-9) 56-0, outgaining the Panthers 539-34! E. Illinois did receive $560,000 for their ‘efforts.’
11 BYU (10-1) is very much in the playoff picture, 26-14 victors over Cincinnati (7-4) 26-14.
In an absolutely crazy game, 12 Utah (9-2) rallied to beat Kansas State (5-6) 51-47, despite Joe Jackson’s 293 rushing and three touchdowns for the Wildcats, who had 472 yards rushing as a team.
13 Miami (9-2) continued to stay relevant, beating Virginia Tech (3-8) 34-17, as quarterback Carson Beck was 27/32, 320, 4-0, for the Hurricanes.
14 Vanderbilt (9-2) is very much in the playoff hunt, and quarterback Diego Pavia is a top three for the Heisman, Pavia 33/39, 484, 5-1, plus 48 yards rushing and another score in Vandy’s 45-17 win over Kentucky (5-6).
In a killer for their playoff hopes, 16 Georgia Tech (9-2) fell behind Pitt (8-3) at home 28-0, staged a heroic rally to cut it to 35-28, but lost 42-28. Just a few weeks ago they seemed like a CFP lock.
Arch Manning had four touchdown passes, had one rushing, and caught a pass for another TD in 17 Texas’ (8-3) 52-37 win over Arkansas (2-9).
18 Michigan (9-2) gears up for Ohio State with a 45-20 win over Maryland (4-7), the Terps’ seventh straight loss.
20 Tennessee (8-3) beat Florida (3-9) 31-11.
21 Illinois (7-4) inexplicably lost to Wisconsin (4-7) 27-10.
23 Houston (8-3) fell to TCU (6-5) 17-14.
24 Tulane (9-2) is still in control of the Group of Five bid, 37-13 over Temple (5-6).
25 Arizona State (8-3) defeated Colorado (3-8) 42-17, Raleek Brown with 255 yards rushing for the Sun Devils. I think it’s safe to say that the Boulder faithful are tired of Deion Sanders.
In other games of note…Duke (6-5) beat North Carolina (4-7) as Bill Belichick’s team will fail to play in a bowl game for the first time since 2019.
North Texas (10-1) kept its CFP hopes very much alive with a 56-24 win over Rice (5-6).
Ditto SMU (8-3), 38-6 over slumping Louisville (7-4).
James Madison moved to 10-1 to stay Group of Five relevant, 24-20 over Washington State (5-6), but as noted above, the CFP selection committee has already voted…the bid will go to the American Conference champion. [Also, North Texas demolished Washington State 59-10 earlier this season.]
Lehigh moved to 12-0 and will head to the D-IAA (FCS) playoffs after a 42-32 win over Lafayette (8-4) in their big rivalry game, running back Luke Yoder with 234 yards and four touchdowns on 19 carries. Lehigh alum David P. and Jimbo are fired up.
And little old Wake Forest, shockingly decent, is almost better than that, 8-3 following a 52-14 whipping of Delaware (5-6), generating 577 yards of offense, receiver Carlos Hernandez with 197 yards and two touchdowns on just five receptions (TDs of 79 and 93 yards!).
One more game to go for coach Jake Dickert’s boys, on the road against Duke, before we see what bowl game we get.
—Conference Standings….
American
Navy 6-1
Tulane 6-1
North Texas 6-1
ACC
Virginia 6-1
Pitt 6-1
SMU 6-1
Georgia Tech 6-2
Miami 5-2
Duke 5-2
Big 12
Texas Tech 7-1
BYU 7-1
Utah 6-2
Arizona State 6-2
Big Ten
Ohio State 8-0
Indiana 8-0
Oregon 7-1
Michigan 7-1
SEC
Texas A&M 7-0
Georgia 7-1
Ole Miss 6-1
Alabama 6-1
And now the new AP Poll!
- Ohio State (58) 11-0
2. Indiana (7) 11-0
3. Texas A&M (1) 11-0
4. Georgia 10-1
5. Oregon 10-1
6. Ole Miss 10-1
7. Texas Tech 10-1
8. Oklahoma 9-2
9. Notre Dame 9-1
10. Alabama 9-2
11. BYU 10-1
12. Vanderbilt 9-2
13. Miami 9-2
14. Utah 9-2
15. Michigan 9-2
16. Texas 8-3
17. Washington 9-2
18. Tennessee 8-3
19. USC 8-3
20. James Madison 10-1
21. North Texas 10-1
22. Tulane 9-2
23. Georgia Tech 9-2…down 8
24. Pitt 8-3
25. SMU 8-3
Next week…Ohio State at Michigan, Texas A&M at Texas, Georgia at Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt at Tennessee, and Miami at Pittsburgh are the games with both ranked, but so many more of consequence for the conference championship matchups, let alone the CFP. It will be a fun one.
A little more in my Add-on, Tuesday.
—A University of Alabama at Birmingham football player was arrested Saturday and charged with aggravated assault and attempted murder. Daniel Israel Mincey, a freshman lineman, allegedly stabbed two of his teammates at the team’s facility. The two players are in stable condition.
NFL
—Thursday night, the Texans (6-5) beat the Bills (7-4) 23-19 behind their stellar defense, sacking Josh Allen (24/34, 253, 0-2, 67.4) eight times while picking him off twice, including Calen Bullock’s second INT to seal the win.
Houston doesn’t have an offense, but come the playoffs you don’t need much with this ‘D.’ Rookie defensive end Will Anderson (Alabama) had 2 ½ sacks, giving him 10 ½ on the season, with at least one the last six games.
That said, the Bills could have won it in the end, an earlier missed extra-point hurting bigly.
—Sunday, the Jets fell to 2-9, falling 23-10 to the Ravens (6-5), who won their fifth straight, but at least New York showed up and actually outgained Baltimore 285-241. But the Jets had two costly turnovers.
For the Ravens, Lamar Jackson was less than stellar.
–And the Giants (2-10) had a 27-17 lead over the Lions (7-4) in the fourth quarter, but lost in OT 34-27, as Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs had a decisive 69-yard touchdown run for the win, Gibbs with a whopping 219 yards and three TDs on just 15 carries.
Detroit’s Jake Bates hit a 59-yard field goal to get the Lions into OT.
New York’s Jameis Winston, starting a second straight week for Jaxson Dart, still in concussion protocol, was at times electric, as he always is, 18/36, 366, 2-1, 93.1…but the team fell short.
It is not a good sign that Dart has been in the protocol two weeks. These days, that’s scary.
–The Chiefs (6-5), backs against the wall, season on the line, came back from being down 20-9 in the fourth quarter to beat the Colts (8-3) 23-20 in overtime on Harrison Butker’s fifth field goal of the game. K.C. remains relevant, the Thanksgiving Day game against Dallas still must-see TV, when it might not have been.
At least Summit’s Michael Badgley did his job for Indy…making all four of his kicks, after a rough day in Berlin (but in a victory).
–The Packers (7-3-1) beat the Vikings (4-7) 23-6, holding Minnesota to 145 yards of offense! Eegads, that blows. J.J. McCarthy threw two picks for the Vikes, casual fans of the sport, such as moi, wondering what management saw in McCarthy to think he was a franchise quarterback. There is a massive difference between college and the NFL.
–With Aaron Rodgers out, Mason Rudolph had two turnovers and the Steelers (6-5) fell to the Bears (8-3) 31-28; Caleb Williams with three touchdown passes for Chicago.
–The Seahawks (8-3) beat the lowly Titans (1-10) 30-24 in Nashville.
–The Patriots are a rather astounding 10-2, 26-20 over the Bengals (3-8) in Cincy.
College Basketball
—5 Duke is looking real strong, defeating 24 Kansas Tuesday 78-66, freshman Cam Boozer with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Also Tuesday, 17 Michigan State beat 12 Kentucky 83-66, as Tom Izzo just keeps winning.
—Wednesday, 4 Arizona defeated 3 UConn in Storrs, the Wildcats outrebounding the Huskies 43-23! UConn was playing without the injured Tarris Reid Jr., one of the better big men in the country.
Also Wednesday, 11 Alabama beat 8 Illinois 90-86.
—Thursday, Wake Forest had a biggie vs. 15 Texas Tech in the Baha Mar tournament in the Bahamas and the Deacs once again fell short of a quality team, 84-83 despite Juke Harris’ 26 points and 10 rebounds. Alas, Wake was 13 of 22 from the free throw line. We’ve got to win one of these games.
—Friday, 1 Purdue then demolished 15 Texas Tech 86-56, as South Dakota State transfer Oscar Cluff had 15 points, 15 rebounds. The Boilermakers are really a complete team.
9 BYU whipped 23 Wisconsin 98-70, Richie Saunders with 26 for the Cougars.
And then there was Wake Forest…with a dramatic, and much-needed 69-68 win against Memphis.
The Deacs tied it at 66-66 on Sebastian Akins two free throws with 9.1 left in the game. The Tigers came down and were fouled. But Dug (sic) McDaniel, after making his first free throw, inexplicably made the second, 68-66.
Understand, Wake had no timeouts and there was 1.5 left on the clock. That time would have been eaten up on a scramble for the rebound.
Instead, the Deacs inserted freshman Isaac Carr, a 6’4” guard who the night before executed a game-ending play, heaving it downcourt that led to a 3-pointer that made the final score against Texas Tech 84-83.
Carr again threw a perfect ¾-court heave, Tre’Von Spillers got it and tossed it out to Myles Colvin who drained the three. It was awesome! And it’s hard to believe, but in all honesty it may have saved the season, even in November. Finally, a big out of conference win, with opportunities down the road against West Virginia, Oklahoma and Vanderbilt before conference play begins.
Meanwhile, Rutgers lost Friday night at home to Central Connecticut State 67-54. That can’t happen.
—Wake Forest fans are mourning the loss of the great Rodney Rogers, the star from the 1990-93 teams, a man among boys, who lived until the age of 54 after tragically being paralyzed in 2008 from the shoulders down following an accident on an all-terrain vehicle. Despite his situation, he remained a powerful and inspirational presence. He established the Rodney Rogers Foundation, where he encouraged individuals living with spinal cord injuries and used his platform to promote resilience and personal growth.
Former Wake Forest coach Dave Odom called Rogers “truly one of the greatest athletes to ever play in the Atlantic Coast Conference – without reservation.”
“You can place him alongside the very best our league has ever seen. It’s easy to focus on his extraordinary talent, but what stood out to everyone who knew him was that he was every bit as remarkable as a human being,” Odom said. “He loved his teammates, he loved his family, he loved Wake Forest and he loved the game of basketball. Every time we visited him, I walked away reminding myself never to complain – because he never did.”
If you are too young to remember him, Rogers was 6’7”, 235 lbs. of solid muscle. He was intimidating with his power, but he also had finesse.
Rogers was ACC Freshman of the Year, ACC Player of the Year, and an All-American. In his three seasons he averaged 19.3 points and 7.9 rebounds.
Rogers was the ninth overall pick in the 1993 draft, taken by Denver. He would go on to play 12 seasons in the NBA for seven teams, averaging 10.9 points and 4.5 rebounds. In 1999-2000 for Phoenix, he earned the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year honors.
Randolph Childress, the former Wake point guard and teammate of Rogers, echoed sentiments regarding Rogers’ presence.
“Rodney is the strongest person I have ever met – physically and mentally – and his resilience was evident in the fight he showed every single day,” Childress said. “I’ve said this before and I still mean it today: he was the best athlete ever to walk onto Wake Forest’s campus. He meant so much to so many people, and I feel profoundly blessed to have been with him yesterday.”
I’ve written this many times before since his tragic accident, but among the many aspects of this that seemed so unfair, Rogers was a huge NASCAR fan and no doubt would have become at least a part-owner of a team, a la Brad Daugherty.
NBA
—LeBron James made his debut Tuesday in L.A.’s 140-126 win over the Utah Jazz; James with 11 points and 12 assists. LeBron thus set the NBA record for most seasons played with 23, surpassing the mark he and Hall of Fame guard Vince Carter had held.
Bazooka Joe said: Wake Forest’s Jake LaRavia chipped in with 16 points off the bench!
–The Knicks (9-6) lost to the Magic (10-7) on the road Saturday night, 133-121, and they may have lost key guard Landry Shamet for a lengthy period, Shamet leaving early with a serious looking shoulder injury, the same shoulder he dislocated in 2024.
—The NBA has had a lot of injuries the last few seasons, and there is no one answer. Some are complaining about a schedule that has more back-to-back contests…others talking about the speed of the game and more ‘dynamic’ moves that stress the ligaments.
Anyway…San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama has a calf injury that is going to keep him out at least 2 to 3 weeks, which sucks for the sport, Wemby having had his deep vein thrombosis scare last season. You already have Jayson Tatum, Tyrese Haliburton and Damian Lillard all suffering Achilles tears during the postseason that are costing their teams dearly for 2025-26.
Giannis is missing one to two weeks with a groin strain for the Bucks.
–Another former Wake Forest Demon Deacon, Chris Paul, announced his retirement Saturday after the season, following 21 years in the NBA. The 12-time All-Star and future Hall of Famer never won an NBA title…and sure as heck isn’t winning one this year, playing with the Clippers, who are injury riddled and destined to lose 50+ games…currently 5-11 after a 131-116 win over the Hornets Saturday, James Harden with a franchise-record 55 points, 10 of 16 from three.
Golf Balls
It’s all come down to one week…one week to finish in the Top 100 and get your PGA Tour card privileges for 2026, and one week for some to get in the AON next ten, 51-60, which guarantees two signature events.
Coming into the RSM Classic at beautiful Sea Island Golf Club, St. Simons Island, Georgia, I was focused on two veterans, Matt Wallace and Beau Hossler. Wallace started the week 102nd on the points list, Hossler 103rd.
They both made the cut, step one, but after three rounds had moved up one spot each to 101 and 102. Such is the pressure this week.
So today, the leader after 54, Sami Valimaki, was up by two over Michael Thorbjornsen and Patrick Rodgers.
Valimaki was in danger just a few weeks ago of losing his tour card as he was well off the 100 mark, but then he had second in Mexico.
Valimaki started play Sunday having now moved from 74 to 51.
Thorbjornsen, the young stud from Worcester, Mass., had gone from 72 to 55, looking for his first win like Valimaki, and Rodgers had moved from 63 to 53, Rodgers as well seeking that first W.
As in all three were in line for two signature (big money) events next year if they could hold their spots.
And then in the fourth round, Ricky Castillo, who started the week 135th, fired an 8-under 62 to finish early, moving up to 95…but Max McGreevy would finish solo second to Valimaki…who played clutch golf down the stretch…getting that first win.
Castillo finished solo third, but 102 on the points list. Nos. 101-125 at least get into numerous events next year, but they can’t set their schedule.
McGreevey zoomed from 89 to 60…massive.
Thorbjornsen and Rodgers fell short of the Aon next ten, ending up Nos. 70 and 62, respectively.
Matt Wallace and Beau Hossler ended up 103 and 104…not getting it done this week.
NHL
–Thursday night, Alex Ovechkin had a hat trick in Washington’s 8-4 victory against the Canadiens. He also had an assist, giving him 1,643 career points, moving him into 10th all-time in points, surpassing Joe Sakic. Ovechkin is up to 907 goals.
–My Rangers just about ten days ago appeared to have righted the ship, only to lose four straight, including Saturday in Salt Lake City against the Mammoth, 3-2, the offense non-existent these days, the team falling to 10-11-2. Ugh.
MLB
—MLB announced a new three-year partnership with ESPN, NBCUniversal and Netflix.
Netflix will open the MLB season with a single game on Opening Night. It will also get the Home Run Derby, the 2026 MLB at Field of Dreams Game and the World Baseball Classic in Japan.
ESPN gets a 30-game national package throughout the season.
NBCUniversal gets the right to Sunday Night Baseball and all four Wild Card Series.
–But when it comes to free agency, there’s a sense of doom and gloom. Teams need to be strategic in doling out the big bucks knowing that there is a real possibility the 2027 season is canceled, or, I imagine, the first half of it until panic sets in and the season starts on the Fourth of July 2027.
Like all of 2026, we’re going to be talking about the looming lockout.
That said, Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham accepted the one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer from the team, though New York still must re-sign Cody Bellinger.
Grisham’s move was probably smart. He could have received four years, $60 million or so from someone else, but with the uncertainty of 2027, take the $22 million now. [The Yanks were stupid to offer him that much.]
–We note the passing of former Padres great, Randy Jones, who died Tuesday at the age of 75.
Jones pitched ten seasons in the big leagues, the first eight with the Padres before finishing up with the Mets for two seasons, where he was a rather miserable 8-18, 4.69.
But the ground-ball specialist had two outstanding seasons, 1975-76, with San Diego.
1975…20-12, 2.24 ERA…second in the Cy Young Award balloting…
1976…22-14, 2.74…wins the CYA…
In ’76, he threw 25 complete games, 315 innings, and struck out a whopping 93 batters. Picture that today.
Jones’ No. 35 was retired by the Padres, where he went 92-105, but with a fine 3.30 ERA. Overall, he was 100-123, 3.42.
Premier League
In action, Saturday, Chelsea beat Burnley 2-0, and Crystal Palace defeated Wolverhampton by the same score.
But Nottingham escaped the relegation line with a 3-0 road win at Liverpool, the Reds’ sixth loss in their last seven PL games. Just shocking.
And Newcastle shocked Manchester City 2-1.
Today, Arsenal hosted Tottenham, and it was the Gunners 4-1 over the Spurs.
Standings…12 of 38 played….
Arsenal 29 points
Chelsea 23
Man City 22
Aston Villa 21
Crystal Palace 20
- Tottenham 18
10. Man U 18
11. Liverpool 18
Stuff
—Mikaela Shiffrin did it again, winning another slalom race today in Gurgl, Austria…that is win No. 103 (66 slaloms). Amazing.
—Max Verstappen won the Las Vegas Grand Prix Saturday night, and then hours later learned that both points-leader Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were disqualified! Suddenly, Verstappen has a very real shot of winning his fifth straight F1 championship with two races to go, as he’s tied in points with Piastri, Norris leading them by 24 points. [George Russell finished second, Kimi Antonelli third.]
It turns out that both Norris’ and teammate Piastri’s cars had illegal rearmost skids.
That’s a problem with F1…it is highly complex in its rules, including during pit stops, and NASCAR, which has its own issues, seems far more simple by comparison.
That said, did you see Beyonce’s outfit? Good gawd!!! [It was worthy of a Trump-like 3 exclamation points.]
–I watched the NCAA D1 Cross Country championships Saturday morning and it was good stuff. Congratulations to the North Carolina State women and Oklahoma State men for winning their respective titles. [OSU men took 4th, 5th and 6th in the race…which is mighty strong.]
Alabama’s Doris Lemngole and New Mexico’s Habtom Samuel were the individual winners.
But major kudos to Wake Forest’s Rocky Hansen, who finished second in the men’s race.
The Wake women finished 21st out of 32 teams. The men were 12th out of 32.
I have to admit I wouldn’t have watched had I not seen a note from our athletic director, this being the first time since 2000 that both the Wake men’s and women’s teams qualified for the championship.
For you track/cross country fanatics, I was also interested to see how the Oregon Ducks did…the women third, the men fifth.
—Gotham FC defeated the Washington Spirit, 1-0, for the National Women’s Soccer League championship, the lone goal from Rose Lavelle.
–What a horrible incident in British Columbia, when a grizzly bear attacked a school group taking an afternoon hike Thursday.
Residents were warned to remain indoors after the bear left 11 injured, two critically. Three of the injured were children. Four of the injured remained in the hospital as of Friday, local authorities said.
A male teacher “got the whole brunt of it” and some children were hit with bear spray as the adults tried to fend off the animal, one parent told the Canadian Press.
Veronica Schooner said her 10-year-old son was part of the group, though he was not attacked.
“He said that the bear ran so close to him, but it was going after somebody else,” she said, adding that “he even felt its fur.”
The group was from the indigenous Nuxalk Nation, and the Nation wrote on Facebook: “Officers are armed. Remain indoors and off the highway.”
Top 3 songs for the week 11/25/67: #1 “Incense And Peppermints” (Strawberry Alarm Clark) #2 “To Sir With Love” (Lulu) #3 “The Rain, The Park & Other Things” (The Cowsills)…and…#4 “Soul Man” (Sam & Dave) #5 “Daydream Believer” (The Monkees) #6 “Please Love Me Forever” (Bobby Vinton) #7 “I Say A Little Prayer” (Dionne Warwick) #8 “It Must Be Him” (Vikki Carr…great tune…) #9 “I Can See For Miles” (The Who) #10 “Expressway To Your Heart” (Soul Survivors…A- week…)
College Football / Ohio State Quiz Answer: Eleven to rush for 3,000 yards….
Archie Griffin (1972-75)…5,177
J.K. Dobbins (2017-19)…4,459
Ezekiel Elliott (2013-15)…3,961
TreVeyon Henderson (2021-24)…3,761
Eddie George (1992-95)…3,578
Chris Wells (2006-08)…3,382
Braxton Miller (2011-15)…3,314
J.T. Barrett (2014-17)…3,263
Tim Spencer (1979-82)…3,246
Carlos Hyde (2010-2013)…3,198
Keith Byars (1982-85)…3,006
Brief Add-on up top by noon, Tuesday.
