SEC football teams currently play eight regular-season games a year against conference opponents.
Utah QB Cam Rising medically retires from football
Rising said he'd been advised to retire because of the hand injury he suffered against Baylor in 2024.
Nick Saban, college football czar? Meeting with President Trump hints at former coach’s larger aims
While he was on the sidelines, Saban reshaped the entire college football universe in his image. You didn’t really think he’d stop bending the world to his will just because he’s not coaching, did you?
Cutting Justin Tucker allows the Ravens and NFL to use 'football decision' as a shield
(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)
Justin Tucker’s release by the Baltimore Ravens offers a glimpse into the team's culture and how the NFL tends to handle uncomfortable or controversial situations — especially when legal or personal conduct issues are involved.
From the "Inside Coverage" podcast, Yahoo Sports' Jason Fitz, Frank Schwab and Jori Epstein discussed the complexity of the decision and what it really says about the Ravens and, by extension, the league.
The trio agreed: this situation will be quietly swept under the rug, and once Tucker is out of sight on the field, he’ll quickly be out of mind for the league and most fans. It’s a process we've seen before, and, barring any criminal developments, the Ravens and the NFL will likely move on with little more said.
Ravens explain their 'football decision'
The Ravens were very deliberate in labeling Tucker’s release a “football decision,” repeating that language in their official statement. As Epstein pointed out: "When people actually make football decisions, they don’t usually say this is a football decision." This suggests the organization was using that phrase to avoid directly addressing the serious off-field allegations against Tucker (multiple accusations of improper conduct from massage therapists, which is being investigated by the league).
Epstein also highlighted that the Ravens have a history of employing players with sexual assault or domestic violence allegations. This paints a picture of a team that often chooses to manage and sidestep these issues rather than taking a clear moral stance.
Schwab noted the “coldness” and legal calculation behind the Ravens’ language, emphasizing they want to avoid liability or being caught in denial if it turns out they knew something.
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Avoiding the allegations discussion involving Tucker
The "Inside Coverage" trio's conversation points out that the team and league generally prefer to “dance around” these topics and rarely confront them head-on unless absolutely forced. As Schwab says, the playbook is to “skate from this without ever having to really deal with the allegations,” and Fitz adds that the league's investigation and eventual press releases likely will be “buried on a Friday afternoon when nobody’s paying attention.”
The crew also brought up the comparison to Deshaun Watson, noting the selective outrage and scrutiny based on position and value to a team. There's a cynicism around who the NFL chooses to protect and for how long, suggesting that stars get more leeway than role players or aging veterans.
Ultimately, both the Ravens’ move and the NFL’s likely course of action highlight that, when the calculus tips toward distraction or diminished value (and especially if a player’s performance is declining), teams and the league will cut ties swiftly and quietly. Pride in “no distractions” outweighs almost every other consideration.
Tucker's release is a microcosm of how the Ravens — and the NFL as a whole — prioritize their business interests and public image over transparency. These situations are usually handled with strategic PR, legal maneuvering, and an eye on minimizing controversy rather than addressing the root problem or making any sort of example for better conduct.
To hear more NFL discussions, tune into Inside Coverage on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.
Scott Frost reportedly receives 5-year, $22.1 million deal to return to UCF
Scott Frost, who led UCF to an undefeated season in 2017, returned to the program in December.
Former Oklahoma State QB Maealiuaki Smith transfers to Ole Miss
Smith made two starts as a freshman in 2024 for the Cowboys.
Forget Barkley and Chase — CeeDee Lamb could be the No. 1 fantasy football player of 2025
(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)
When building a dominant fantasy football roster, nailing your first-round pick is essential — and, according to the recent debate between Matt Harmon and Dalton Del Don on the Yahoo Fantasy Forecast, nobody is better set up to explode as the top overall player than Dallas Cowboys receiver, CeeDee Lamb.
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Let’s break down exactly what sets up Lamb for a fantasy football takeover this season.
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Del Don put it simply: Lamb had "135 catches, 1,750 yards and 12 TDs” in 2023. That’s already elite territory. But take a look at what’s happened in Dallas since then. The entire Cowboys receiver room behind Lamb is a collection of question marks: Jalen Tolbert, Jonathan Mingo, Jalen Brooks, KaVontae Turpin, Ryan Flournoy. It's honestly hard to imagine a bigger gulf between a WR1 and the rest of a depth chart in the NFL right now.
That leads to possibly historic target volume. Del Don even says, “I think he could approach 200 targets this season.” For context, any WR pushing near 200 looks is an automatic top-three option — think peak Davante Adams — especially when you have Lamb’s elite mix of route-running and separation skills.
Lamb doesn’t just project to earn targets; he cashes them in. Harmon points out that, with no other true alpha options and quarterback Dak Prescott throwing his way, the Cowboys have every incentive to funnel the offense through Lamb: “This is the type of situation too where it's like, who else are they going to throw to? ... why would they throw to other guys when they have CeeDee Lamb there?”
It’s not just about opportunity. Over the last couple of years, Lamb has already proven he’s one of the top playmakers in the league. As Dalton notes, “CeeDee Lamb has the most PPR points per game among all wide receivers since 2003”, even while playing through quarterback injuries at times. Last year, he was the focal point, and this offseason only made the picture clearer.
Usually, you can nitpick a No. 1 receiver’s situation — maybe there’s a new star rookie added, or a veteran threatening to siphon targets, or a running game strong enough to limit volume overhead. That’s not the case here. Harmon and Del Don both repeatedly stress just how much this offense is set up to lean completely on Lamb:
No WRs drafted this season
Other pass-catchers on the roster are purely dart throws
Even if someone like Amari Cooper is theoretically added, Lamb would still “comfortably clear like 160 targets.”
Fantasy drafters have spent all offseason lining up Justin Jefferson or Ja’Marr Chase as their unquestioned No. 1 WR picks. Del Don? He’s “closer to moving [Lamb] to my WR1 than I am No. 3.”
Why? The Jefferson–Lamb debate is especially interesting this year. While both are awesome, Jefferson is breaking in a new quarterback (J.J. McCarthy). As Harmon puts it: “We've just never seen him play yet. It's a new variable there.” Lamb, meanwhile, has his proven chemistry with Prescott, and the Cowboys offense isn’t changing.
Lamb is only “half a year older than Chase,” meaning he’s still in his absolute physical prime. Whether you play full-PPR or half-PPR, both Harmon and Del Don agree — no receiver in football projects for a better combo of safe, elite target share and monster upside.
In short? CeeDee Lamb fits the exact mold of a league-winning fantasy WR1: he’s an elite player, at his peak age, with huge target share, in a pass-happy offense and zero real competition for touches.
Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark reportedly gets extension through 2030
Yormark has led the Big 12 since 2022.
Penn State DC Jim Knowles says he’d have stayed at Ohio State if he was offered a contract earlier
Knowles is the highest-paid assistant in the country after leaving the Buckeyes following their national title.
Sources: Notre Dame, Clemson agree on 12-year college football scheduling partnership
The scheduling strategy comes on the heels of the ACC settling a lawsuit with FSU and Clemson, and following Notre Dame’s march to the national championship game.
Is the Padres' hot start sustainable?
(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)
The San Diego Padres took center stage in baseball after pulling off this past weekend's only sweep in MLB. In the latest episode of "Baseball Bar-B-Cast," podcast hosts Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman dove in on the Padres, who despite their winning ways lately have glaring weaknesses.
The lineup: Still top-heavy, still full of holes
Let’s be real: The top of San Diego’s batting order is stacked. Fernando Tatis Jr., Luis Arraez, Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts — all are looking solid, with Bogaerts in particular showing signs that he’s heating up.
But then the well dries up: As Jake puts it, “The Padres are the opposite [of ‘no letup’ lineups]. There’s some let-up.” Jordan agrees, pointing out that when teams pitch around the stars, the bottom of the San Diego lineup can’t seem to punish pitchers.
If you’re wondering, that “bottom” Sunday included Luis Campusano, José Iglesias, Elias Díaz and Brandon Lockridge. Yuli Gurriel is now gone, so at least the organization is turning the page on ill-fated depth signings.
The wild card: Jackson Merrill’s return
Jordan hammers home a key point: Jackson Merrill — already one of the better young players in the game — has been MIA since he suffered a right hamstring strain in early April. He’s expected back from injury this week, and his early season performance was sizzling.
If he picks up where he left off, San Diego’s offense could be genuinely dangerous — not just “dangerous if” or “dangerous on paper."
The real story: The pitching staff
This is where things get spicy. Did you know that the Padres own the lowest team ERA in baseball? Their rotation ERA is good, but their bullpen ERA is a mind-melting 1.73. Jake acknowledges, “How sustainable is that? Not sustainable. But to get that low, you have to be legitimately good.”
Jordan breaks down why: Robert Suarez has become one of MLB’s most quietly dominant closers — no breaking ball, just fastballs and a filthy changeup. Plus San Diego has Jason Adam (the key multi-year acquisition from Tampa Bay), Jeremiah Estrada (24 Ks in 16 innings) and a quirky mix of arms such as Alec Jacob and Yuki Matsui. Not to mention, there's the revival project: lefty Adrian Morejon, now a nasty reliever after starting never quite clicked for him.
The rotation: King & Cease solid … but after that?
Michael King and Nick Pivetta have both exceeded expectations so far, but Dylan Cease, while still striking hitters out, has had a bumpier ride than hoped. The real wild card, though? Randy Vasquez.
Jake spins a fascinating tale about Vasquez, who is running one of the lowest strikeout rates in modern baseball but somehow still getting outs, despite walking more batters than he punches out. “Perplexing,” “effectively wild” and “the pitching version of David Fletcher” are among the descriptions thrown around.
Jordan notes that Vasquez had real strikeout stuff as a prospect, so this low-whiff, high-walk act is weird even by Padres standards. But because San Diego’s depth has evaporated after years of win-now trades, the team is letting Vasquez continue to try, even if it feels like a science experiment gone rogue.
Playoff hopes and X-factors
San Diego's is a roster with extreme strengths and glaring weaknesses — so much so that Jake compares them to the “outrageous amount of depth” that the Dodgers possess and says, “I just love [the Padres’ top-heaviness] in comparison to the Dodgers.”
The hope: If King, Pivetta and Cease stay healthy, Merrill returns strong and the bullpen doesn’t combust, this is a group that could rattle the NL in October. But the floor is there, too. If the offense goes cold or injuries pile up, the lack of depth could come back to bite San Diego.
In Jake and Jordan’s words, the Padres are “a strange club” but pretty darn good. If you catch only one Padres game this week, let it be a Randy Vasquez start — you’ll likely see some defense, plenty of traffic and baseball at its funkiest. No team combines chaos and intrigue quite like San Diego.
For more on the Padres and other baseball debates, tune in to "Baseball-Bar-B-Cast" on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.
LA Galaxy continue winless rut, PRO refs reveal thoughts on VAR + EA FC curse coming for Lamine Yamal?
Christian Polanco and Alexis Guerreros react to the LA Galaxy’s latest loss which still leaves them winless this MLS season. What is going on with the Galaxy and who is to blame for their abysmal form? Christian and Alexis then bring on Professional Referee Organization referees Natalie Simon and Alyssa Nichols to chat why they became refs and how VAR helps or hurts their jobs. Later, Christian and Alexis then react to the latest news around soccer in another edition of Rápido Reactions including Harry Kane’s first trophy, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s awkward goodbye & EA FC’s newest cover athlete.
Michigan coach Sherrone Moore will reportedly be suspended 2 games as fallout from Connor Stalions scandal
Sherrone Moore will reportedly be allowed to coach against Oklahoma in Week 2.
Clemson’s Ian Schieffelin will switch from basketball to football, playing tight end for Dabo Swinney
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Looking for a sleeper RB for your dynasty league? Well, the Cowboys drafted him
(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)
Every fantasy football summer, there’s a running back whose name lingers in the later rounds, only for savvy managers to snatch him up and ride a surprising wave of production. In this year’s dynasty rookie drafts, that name should be Jaydon Blue.
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After listening to Matt Harmon and Nate Tice break down the rookie class on the latest Yahoo Fantasy Forecast, it’s crystal clear: Blue checks every sleeper box. Here’s why making him a priority in your dynasty drafts might be the move that wins your league.
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Unlike many Day 3 running backs who flash speed, Blue isn’t just a home run hitter. As Nate Tice noted, “He ran a sub-4.4. He’s 195 pounds. Usually, those guys bounce all their runs … [but] he runs between the tackles.”
That last part is crucial. So many undersized backs get pigeonholed into gadget or outside-only roles, but Blue presses the hole, sets up blockers and runs with vision and patience. Tice likened his style to Dolphins star De’Von Achane, noting, “He can do the real running back stuff — run between the tackles, has vision, sets up his blockers, runs with tempo.” There’s more than just “track speed” here; there’s legitimate, translatable football skill.
Let’s be real: the Dallas Cowboys’ RB room is ripe for the taking. As both hosts discussed, Blue’s only real competition right now is Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders — both players whose best days may be behind them.
“Javonte Williams is on the roster. Miles Sanders is on the roster. He’s [Blue] better than that. He’s a better running back than those guys, even if he’s smaller,” Tice said. Unless Dallas pulls off a surprise signing, there’s nobody on the roster who profiles as an obvious roadblock. And as Harmon pointed out, when you add in Dallas’ physical, mauling offensive line, Blue’s skill set could be maximized right away.
The Cowboys always build with their run game in mind. Nate Tice explained, “With this offensive line, they’re always going to run it. Dak [Prescott] wants to always have running be part of the offensive system.” Blue’s inside running prowess and ability to catch passes align perfectly with Dallas’ offensive DNA — a critical factor overlooked in rookie drafts.
And don’t forget the “Texas bump.” As Tice put it, the fact that Blue is a local product only helps his chances at getting opportunities and winning over the coaching staff.
Even as a fifth-round pick, Blue has the clearest runway among late-round rookie RBs. The hosts were quick to hammer home value: “How is he not going to see the field when we’re talking about Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders?” Harmon asked. The Cowboys will inevitably need fresh legs, and Blue could see meaningful carries from the jump.
Harmon summed up the excitement with: “He could outkick that Day 3 draft capital.” In the second round of their dynasty rookie mock on the latest Fantasy Football Forecast, Blue stood out for how easily he could surge up the depth chart and surprise the league, much like Isiah Pacheco did or past late-round breakouts.
In dynasty startups and rookie-only drafts, targeting Blue in the second or third rounds is a chance to capitalize on uncertainty and opportunistic roster construction. He’s not just a “sleeper” because he’s a real-life fifth-round pick — he’s a sleeper because he’s got NFL talent, an immediate path to touches and a coaching staff invested in his success.
If you want a running back who could shatter expectations and pay off big-time as the season unfolds, Jaydon Blue is your guy. Let your league-mates chase the obvious names. You’ll be the one with a future Cowboys starter before they know what hit them.