Clemson's Dabo Swinney and UNLV's Dan Mullen and Kentucky's Mark Stoops are among the college football coaches with fascinating contract situations.
Who are the five most underpaid college football coaches? Curt Cignetti leads list
Indiana has gotten more than expected from its hiring of Curt Cignetti. He leads our list of most-underpaid college football coaches.
Who are college football’s most overpaid coaches? Lincoln Riley, Bill Belichick lead way
College football hires don't always go as planned and schools are stuck with bad contracts. That's the case with our five most-overpaid coaches.
Colorado’s transparency at issue with how it’s paying for Deion Sanders and his players
Skeptics question why Colorado isn't more transparent about how it is paying for big new sports expenses, including Deion Sanders' new contract
Colorado is paying big bucks for Deion Sanders and his players, but how? Answer is ‘TBD’
Colorado has committed to paying tens of millions for coach Deion Sanders and his players. The question is how. Right now, it's a mystery
The 10 best Red River Rivalry games between Oklahoma and Texas, ranked
Oklahoma and Texas have played in many memorable games. Here are the 10 best Red River Rivalry games in the history of the iconic matchup.
What excites Al Horford most about playing alongside ‘fun' Jonathan Kuminga
What excites Al Horford most about playing alongside ‘fun' Jonathan Kuminga originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
One of the main setbacks with Jonathan Kuminga’s fit in the Warriors’ offense is the spacing.
The addition of veteran center Al Horford hopes to help with that at times, although we didn’t get a good enough preview of the two on the floor together during Golden State’s preseason opener against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.
Still, Horford already sees the value in playing alongside Kuminga in his first season with the Warriors.
“I think it’s great. JK with his athleticism and the way that he moves, and how much pressure he generates on the rim, it’s going to be great,” Horford told reporters after practice Tuesday. “With me and him, I feel like I’ll be able to give him some space and he probably won’t always have an extra defender there. And if he does, then I’m going to be open and either I’m going to shoot it or we’re going to get a really good shot. So I think it’s really good.
“And he’s the type of player where it’s fun to play with a guy like that because the pace that he wants to play at and how he wants to attack the basket, I actually enjoy playing in that way. I know we played very little last game, but I’m sure we’ll continue to play more and more, and get more familiar with one another.”
In just a few weeks, Horford already has demonstrated the impact he can have on all his Warriors teammates.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr, however, said he’s looking most forward to the combination of Horford and Kuminga.
“I think that’s a two-man combo that could make some sense,” Kerr told reporters last week. “With JK, we want to give him space when he’s got the ball. Al can do that. So, if JK’s at the four, Al’s at the five and we put shooters around those guys, that could be an interesting combination.”
It will be a case of trial by fire for the Warriors, but if Horford is a solution to the longtime concern of Kuminga’s fit, that’s certainly good news for Golden State.
Watford sack Pezzolano after 10 games and bring back Gracia as manager
Uruguayan was appointed in May and has Watford 11th
Gracia had spell as club’s manager that ended in 2019
Watford have sacked their manager Paulo Pezzolano after only five months and 10 games in charge, with their former manager Javi Gracia confirmed as his replacement.
It is understood that Pezzolano, who was appointed to replace Tom Cleverley in May, and his technical staff were told not to take training on Wednesday after speculation that he was to depart began to mount on Tuesday. The Uruguayan was summoned to a meeting at which he became the 11th manager Watford have sacked since the start of 2020.
Continue reading...Penn State firing James Franklin would be pricey. There’s another solution
Penn State doesn't need James Franklin to actually win a national championship. It only needs him to think he can — somewhere else.
With Texas fading, who is SEC’s top title contender? Ole Miss, Alabama would like a word
Who’s taken up the mantle as the SEC’s top national championship contender, with Texas underwater?
Zach LaVine hails Dodgers starter Blake Snell as most ‘electrifying' MLB pitcher
Zach LaVine hails Dodgers starter Blake Snell as most ‘electrifying' MLB pitcher originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Zach LaVine is gearing up for his first full season with the Kings, but he’s keeping a close eye on the 2025 MLB playoffs. And for good reason.
LaVine’s brother-in-law and good friend, Blake Snell, has been pitching lights out for the Los Angeles Dodgers as the team aims for back-to-back World Series wins, and Snell’s first of his 10-year MLB career.
Snell helped those chances with another dominant start in Game 2 of the NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday, tossing six scoreless innings with nine strikeouts in the Dodgers’ 4-3 win. Snell didn’t allow a hit until the fifth inning with two outs — and he never allowed another.
“Shoutout my boy Blake, man,” LaVine told reporters in Sacramento after Kings practice Tuesday. “He’s probably the most electrifying pitcher in baseball. I’m really excited for him. I wish I was able to go to a couple games. Hopefully, we have an off day and [I can] slide down there. We’ll see. We’ll figure it out.
“But Blake Snell right now is my MVP of the playoffs.”
Now through 13 innings pitched in his first two Dodgers playoff starts, Snell has a 1.38 ERA and 0.77 WHIP.
He now has four playoff outings with nine or more strikeouts and no more than two hits allowed, which is the most by any pitcher in MLB postseason history.
After one season with the Giants, Snell signed a five-year, $182 million free-agent contract with the Dodgers. And thus far, he’s proven to be worth every penny for Los Angeles.
Best Fantasy Basketball Sleepers 2025-26: Undervalued Players to Target
The 2025-26 fantasy basketball season is nearly here, and smart managers know that championships aren't won in the first three rounds—they're won by finding sleepers who outperform their ADP.
Which players currently being drafted after round 5 have legitimate top-50 upside? After analyzing the latest roster moves, injury reports, and playing time projections, we've identified five fantasy basketball sleepers for 2025-26 who could provide multiple rounds of value. From Myles Turner's move to Milwaukee to Matas Buzelis' expanded role in Chicago, these undervalued players represent some of the best draft values available.
Top Fantasy Basketball Sleepers
Myles Turner, Bucks 
(Yahoo ADP: 50)
Following an offseason trade, Turner will find himself playing for his first team other than the Pacers, suiting up for the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks parted ways with veteran Brook Lopez during the offseason, making way for Turner to slide straight into the starting lineup. While the decision by the Pacers was somewhat confusing, given the recent success, it does provide Turner with an opportunity to play without as much pressure. Having been the subject of constant trade rumors, Turner will now be looking to prove a lot of people wrong, including perhaps the Indiana brain trust.
Turner finished the 2024-25 season as the 50th-ranked player in 9-category leagues, averaging 15.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 2.2 three-pointers in 30.2 minutes per contest. If nothing else, Turner is likely to play minutes in the low to mid-30s this season, an upgrade on what he has been afforded in recent times. Despite losing both Lopez and Damian Lillard, the Bucks will almost certainly be looking to win as many games as possible in what is a weakened Eastern Conference. Assuming Turner can improve slightly across the board, it wouldn't be surprising to see him end the season as a borderline second-round player.
OG Anunoby, Knicks 
(Yahoo ADP: 66)
Despite a change in head coach, there is no reason to think Anunoby's role will change this season. While it is almost certainly guaranteed that the starters in New York will be scaled back, the playing time for someone like Anunoby should continue to hover in the mid-30s on most nights. The Knicks added some much-needed depth during the offseason, meaning although Anunoby should play a little less, it could also result in more games played across what promises to be another hard-fought season.
Anunoby is coming off arguably his best statistical season, during which he averaged career-high numbers in scoring and blocks. He finished with averages of 18.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 0.9 blocks and 2.3 three-pointers in 36.6 minutes per contest, sitting just inside the top 50 in 9-cat fantasy formats. There is no reason to think his production will change significantly, while in fact, he could be tasked with doing a little more on the offensive end if Mitchell Robinson is to replace Josh Hart in the starting lineup. Expect to see Anunoby flirting with the top 40 once again, providing managers with potentially two rounds of value.
Jakob Poeltl, Raptors 
(Yahoo ADP: 81)
Much like Anunoby, Poeltl is often overlooked in drafts, with this season being no different. While the 2024-25 season was one to forget for the Raptors, Poeltl provided the team with a reliable inside presence once again. With a healthy Brandon Ingram on the roster, things are looking up in Toronto. The Eastern Conference is wide open following significant injuries to Tyrese Haliburton in Indiana and Jayson Tatum in Boston. While the Raptors certainly don't have the deepest roster in the league, their top-end talent is intriguing.
Poeltl closed the most recent season as the 44th-ranked player in 9-cat, averaging 14.5 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks, shooting 62.7 percent from the floor and 67.4 percent from the line. Although his block numbers fell slightly, his scoring, rebounds and steals all marked career highs. Based on the current roster, Poeltl has very little competition for minutes, meaning he could log in excess of 30 minutes per game for the first time in his career. Not unlike Turner, small increases across the board could see him nudge the top 30 once all is said and done.
Ausar Thompson, Pistons 
(Yahoo ADP: 87)
After a promising rookie season, Thompson's 2024-25 season was delayed due to health concerns, with his first game coming in late November. His playing time was heavily monitored throughout the season, limiting him to just 22.5 minutes per game. The restrictions were a key factor when analyzing his production, preventing him from building any sort of momentum. Fast forward to the 2025-26 season, and it appears as though Thompson is fully healthy and ready to hit reset on his career.
Despite the hurdles, Thompson's per-game numbers were encouraging, taking steps forward on both ends of the floor. He closed the season with averages of 10.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.7 blocks, shooting 53.5 percent from the floor and 64.1 percent from the stripe. His twin brother, Amen Thompson, took massive strides forward during his sophomore season, providing fantasy managers with somewhat of a blueprint as to what Ausar might be capable of. Factoring in a 30 percent increase in playing time, Thompson is positioned to also take some big steps forward. Managers can typically grab him in the seventh or eighth round, a range that could be considered his floor moving forward. With a top-40 ceiling, there could be plenty of value to be found when it comes to drafting Thompson.
Matas Buzelis, Bulls 
(Yahoo ADP: 95)
On the whole, Buzelis put together a serviceable rookie season but finished outside the top 250 in 9-category formats. Taken with the 11th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Buzelis was considered someone who could potentially have an immediate impact for a Bulls team with little to no identity. From the outset, it was clear the coaching staff had different opinions, limiting him to single-digit minutes for basically the first month of the season. While it was another disappointing season for Chicago, there were moments of positivity, including the rise of Josh Giddey, the continued growth of Coby White, and eventually, the promise shown by Buzelis down the stretch.
When he was finally thrust into a meaningful role, Buzelis made the most of his opportunities. In 16 games over the final month, he averaged 14.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 0.8 steals, 1.3 blocks and 2.3 three-pointers in 26.8 minutes per contest, good enough for top-70 value. Common sense would indicate that he should be in the starting lineup come Opening Night, allowing him to play upwards of 28 minutes per game. Factor in added opportunities and skill development, and we have a player who could very well flirt with top-50 value for stretches throughout the season.
How Quinten Post already is learning from new Warriors teammate Al Horford
How Quinten Post already is learning from new Warriors teammate Al Horford originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Just a few weeks in, Al Horford already has made an impact on second-year Warriors center Quinten Post.
Post told reporters after practice Tuesday that he has been picking his new teammate’s brain and constantly asking him questions. The 25-year-old, coming off a solid rookie season, shared how taking notes from Horford can help elevate his game on both ends of the court in Year 2.
“Offensively right now we play a similar role in our system, being a spacer,” Post explained. “But he’s very good at looking for his own [shot]. He’s actually quite an aggressive player while also being a really good team player. I feel like I can definitely learn from him from where he picks his own spots to be aggressive. He’s very aggressive with his shots; he even attacks the rim out of those closeouts.
“And then defensively, he’s just very steady from what I’ve seen right now. He’s always in the right spots. Obviously, he’s in great shape. He’s athletic for 39. Definitely a lot to learn and I’m trying to see what he’s doing every day.”
From one sharpshooting big man to another, Post will take all the advice he can get from the 18-year veteran and five-time NBA All-Star.
Over the last three seasons, Horford has shot 46.9 percent from the field and 40.9 percent from 3-point range on nearly five attempts per game.
As a rookie, Post shot 44.9 percent from the field and 40.8 percent from distance on 4.3 attempts per game.
But Post wants to provide the Warriors with more than just his shooting in his sophomore season, and Horford is the perfect player to lean on along his path toward becoming a versatile center in the league. And Horford already believes Post is on the right track.
“A very high IQ type player,” Horford said of Post on Tuesday. “[He] really understands how to play. Can really shoot the ball. I just think he’s in the process of finding his footing in the league. Being a part of this team and this group, he understands what he has to do. Since I’ve been here in the Bay Area, every time I come in, I see him working. He’s always working, whether it’s in the weight room or on the court. He is consistent with his work.
“He has the right tools to be successful because he listens, he works hard and you can already see some flashes on the floor with him.”
Avalanche Spoil Kings Season Opener
Both the Kings and the Avalanche entered this game with high expectations. Colorado built its team around its core players, Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, while Los Angeles added a few veteran pieces and is leaning towards their up-and-coming young talent and veterans.
It was shaping up to be a great game, but it was the exact opposite.
In a season opener that’s already shaping to be a statement game for the Avalanche, they surged out to a 3-0 lead through the first two periods, scoring three goals in the second period alone.
What looked like a tight, close, cautious first period of action blew open as Colorado’s offense began to attack the Kings and found a groove, while Los Angeles struggled to find answers on both sides of the ice.
Final from LA. #GoKingsGopic.twitter.com/yquOPADMBw
— LA Kings (@LAKings) October 8, 2025
First Period: Tight Defense, No Goals
In the first period, both teams appeared sluggish and deficient, with both goaltenders standing strong and protecting their nets. Neither team could break the tie and score the team's first goal of the season, making it interesting to see if the entire game would go this way.
The ice was played with discipline and toughness, with a few penalties and hard hits.
Speaking of a few hits, the biggest hit was the one Josh Manson delivered to Warren Foegele, which sparked a fistfight between Jeff Mallot and Manson, resulting in an extra 2-minute unsportsmanlike penalty. Many argue that this was the breaking point for Los Angeles.
WHAT A HIT, WHAT A FIGHT 💥
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 8, 2025
Josh Manson lays a massive hit on Warren Foegele and then follows it up with a fight with Jeff Malott 🥊 pic.twitter.com/nag285X1Qh
Second Period: Avalanche Takes Over
Colorado came out with a statement once the second period began, putting Los Angeles on its heels.
Avs opened the scoring 48 seconds into the middle frame, setting up forward Martin Necas for a snipe to score Colorado’s first goal of the season, assisted by MacKinnon.
The next play that sparked a 2-0 lead came just a few minutes later when Sam Malinski scored from the left side of the ice through a maze of traffic in front of him that was a very tough shot, one that Kings goaltender Kuemper never even saw go through.
Suddenly, what had looked like a defensive battle became a runway. As left-wing Artturi Lehkonen dived down on the ice and scored a goal off the assist from Makar to take a commanding 3-0 lead.
Third Period: Avalanche Hold Off Kings
The Kings managed to score in the final period with Kevin Fiala cashing in on the fast break to avoid the shutout, but it wasn’t enough to mount a comeback.
Overall, it wasn’t a pretty night for the Kings, as it looked like mentally they weren’t in the game after the first period. Give credit to Scott Wedgewood, who came up big for his squad and spoiled Anze Kopitar’s final home opener.
It’s just one game; there's no need to panic for the Kings. However, mentally, they let the Avs get in their heads, and they can’t allow that to happen again against superior teams in the Western Conference if they’re going to be contenders.
Judge rallies Yankees past Blue Jays 9-6 to save season and avert ALDS sweep
NEW YORK — Aaron Judge hit a tying homer and drove in four runs during a clutch performance for the ages, and the New York Yankees staved off elimination by rallying from five runs down to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 9-6 on Tuesday night in Game 3 of their AL Division Series.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. launched a go-ahead homer in the fifth inning and the Yankees took advantage of two Toronto errors to avoid a three-game sweep. They scored eight unanswered runs and pulled to 2-1 in the best-of-five series, with Game 4 on Wednesday night in the Bronx.
“We need another one tomorrow,” manager Aaron Boone said. “We’ll enjoy this for about 10 minutes and get ready for tomorrow.”
Judge went 3 for 4 with an intentional walk and scored three times, also making critical plays with his glove and legs as fans chanted “MVP! MVP!” After struggling at the plate in previous postseasons, he is 7 for 11 in this series (.636) with five RBIs and three walks.
“Tonight was special, but there’s still more work to be done,” the Yankees' captain said. “Hopefully we have some more cool moments like this the rest of the postseason.”
With the season on the line, New York starter Carlos Rodón gave up six runs and six hits in 2 1/3 innings - but five Yankees relievers bailed him out as they combined for 6 2/3 scoreless innings. Tim Hill got four outs for the win, and David Bednar worked 1 2/3 perfect innings for his second playoff save as New York improved to 3-0 in elimination games this postseason.
It was the Yankees' largest comeback ever in an elimination game, and tied for its second-biggest in any postseason game.
Toronto hadn't lost all season when leading by at least four runs.
“Kind of just didn’t play our game, really,” manager John Schneider said. “Their bullpen did a really good job, and we just gave them extra outs.”
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit an early two-run homer and Ernie Clement had four hits for the AL East champion Blue Jays, who squandered a golden opportunity to put away the Yankees as Toronto tries to reach its first American League Championship Series since 2016.
Consecutive doubles by Trent Grisham and Judge to start the third began New York’s comeback from a 6-1 deficit. Later in the inning, Judge stayed in a rundown between third base and home plate long enough to allow Cody Bellinger to reach third. That became important when Bellinger scored on Giancarlo Stanton’s sacrifice fly against Toronto starter Shane Bieber, who lasted 2 2/3 innings.
Stanton also had an RBI single in the first after Blue Jays second baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa committed a fielding error against his former team.
With the Yankees trailing 6-3 in the fourth, third baseman Addison Barger dropped Austin Wells’ wind-blown popup for another costly error with one out. Grisham walked, and right-hander Louis Varland was brought in to face Judge, who turned on an 0-2 fastball clocked at 100 mph off the inside corner and somehow kept it fair, launching a three-run drive that clanged high off the left-field foul pole.
“He made a really good pitch look really bad,” Varland said.
Judge tossed his bat aside and gestured to teammates on the bench as the sellout crowd of 47,399 burst into a frenzy.
“It's an amazing swing,” Boone said. “That’s shades of Edgar Martínez right there, taking that high-and-tight one and keeping it fair down the line. Manny Ramirez used to do that really well, too. But just a great swing on a pretty nasty pitch, obviously.”
The right fielder then made a diving catch with a runner at second in the fifth, drawing more “MVP" chants.
Chisholm gave the Yankees their first lead of the series with a solo homer off Varland in the bottom half. Amed Rosario doubled and scored on Wells’ two-out single to make it 8-6, and Ben Rice added a sacrifice fly in the sixth that scored Judge after he was intentionally walked with one out and nobody on base.
Call it the ultimate sign of respect. Or perhaps, fear.
Guerrero went full-out Superman while diving across home plate to score on Clement’s single in the third, and Anthony Santander’s two-run single capped a four-run inning that made it 6-1.
Rookie right-hander Cam Schlittler starts Wednesday night for New York, coming off a dominant performance in a winner-take-all Wild Card Series game against rival Boston last Thursday at Yankee Stadium.
Toronto will go with a bullpen game, using Varland as an opener and potentially left-hander Eric Lauer as the bulk reliever.