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This is one in a series of stories breaking down PBN’s Top 30 Pirates prospects.

Big-league debuts for pitchers don’t get much better than the one Khristian Curtis had for the Pirates on July. In the second game of a doubleheader against Cleveland on July 18, the right-hander threw five-scoreless innings out of the bullpen. He allowed just two hits, walked two and struck out four.

Curtis was optioned back to Triple-A Indianapolis following the game. But he delivered a strong encore once he returned. The 24-year-old took the mound against the Dodgers in Los Angeles on Aug. 23. He threw three-scoreless innings and didn’t allow a hit against one of the league’s most dangerous lineups.

Curtis was again optioned following the game. He returned in early September and spent most of the final month of the season with Pittsburgh. He earned his first big-league win in his third-career appearance against the Giants on Sep. 3. Curtis made three more appearances to end the year and went through some growing pains most rookies endure. He finished the year 2-0 with a 4.71 ERA in six appearances.

For Curtis, it wasn’t a particularly strong season in the minor leagues. He split the year between Indianapolis and Double-A Altoona and went 3-8 with a 4.90 ERA in 22 appearances/17 starts. Strikeouts were high for the 2023 12th-round pick (11.3 per nine innings). But so were walks (5.0 per nine innings).

But the fact that Curtis made it to the big leagues at all is remarkable. He underwent ulnar transposition surgery in 2021 and suffered complications, requiring a second operation. Some thought his career was over, but Curtis returned to the mound.

Now that he’s back, Curtis serves as important depth for the Pirates heading into 2027. While all his appearances came out of the bullpen with the Pirates this season, he could be in line to make some starts next year and beyond.

It wasn’t all perfect for Curtis during his first taste of the big leagues. But he showed he’s capable of holding his own. And he might pitch his way to a bigger role next year.

Related Headlines

• Pirates Top Prospects No. 12: Carlos Tejera Starts Fast
• Pirates Top Prospects No. 13: Johan De Los Santos Joins Brother on List
• Pirates Top Prospects No. 14: Duce Gourson Continues to Ascend

Read more at Pittsburgh Baseball Now

Action resumes on the PGA Tour this week with the Butterfield Bermuda Championship.

We've reached the halfway point of the 2026 FedEx Cup Fall series, as this is the fourth of eight events on the Tour's autumn slate and the second of four consecutive tournaments played outside the U.S.

The venue for this week's event is Port Royal Golf Course on the small Atlantic island of Bermuda, located about 600 miles off the coast of North Carolina. Reigning champ Adam Schenk is back to defend his title against a field full of young rising stars, including PGA Tour rookie Ben James and 17-year-old amateur Miles Russell.

Keep scrolling to see tee times and groupings, as well as TV and streaming information for Thursday's opening round of the 2026 Butterfield Bermuda Championship.

More: Before the trophy, he looked to the sky: Corey Pereira's long road back from grief to a KFT card

Butterfield Bermuda Championship tee times

Listed below is the full tee sheet for the first round of the 2026 Butterfield Bermuda Championship. All times ET.

• 6:35 a.m. (1 tee) – Brice Garnett, Dylan Frittelli, Kevin Streelman
• 6:35 a.m. (10 tee) – Harry Higgs, Greyson Sigg, Chandler Phillips
• 6:46 a.m. (1 tee) – Lee Hodges, Aaron Baddeley, David Lingmerth
• 6:46 a.m. (10 tee) – Cameron Champ, Robert Streb, Eric Cole
• 6:57 a.m. (1 tee) – Kevin Yu, Cam Davis, Lucas Glover
• 6:57 a.m. (10 tee) – Austin Smotherman, Adam Schenk, Davis Thompson
• 7:08 a.m. (1 tee) – Camilo Villegas, Ben Kohles, John Parry
• 7:08 a.m. (10 tee) – Mackenzie Hughes, Kevin Roy, Ben Silverman
• 7:19 a.m. (1 tee) – Troy Merritt, Jonathan Byrd, Zac Blair
• 7:19 a.m. (10 tee) – Austin Eckroat, Luke List, William McGirt
• 7:30 a.m. (1 tee) – Erik van Rooyen, C.T. Pan, Vince Whaley
• 7:30 a.m. (10 tee) – Matthieu Pavon, Taylor Moore, Chan Kim
• 7:41 a.m. (1 tee) – Adam Svensson, Tyler Duncan, S.Y. Noh
• 7:41 a.m. (10 tee) – Brendon Todd, Takumi Kanaya, Danny Walker
• 7:52 a.m. (1 tee) – Neal Shipley, Luke Clanton, Austin Lemieux (a)
• 7:52 a.m. (10 tee) – Jesper Svensson, Jeremy Paul, Rudy Sautron (a)
• 8:03 a.m. (1 tee) – Haotong Li, Christo Lamprecht, Camiko Smith
• 8:03 a.m. (10 tee) – Zecheng Dou, Davis Chatfield, Matthew Anderson
• 8:14 a.m. (1 tee) – Hayden Springer, Willie Mack III, Kihei Akina (a)
• 8:14 a.m. (10 tee) – Taylor Montgomery, Marcelo Rozo, Nixon Lauritzen (a)
• 11:05 a.m. (1 tee) – Tom Hoge, Justin Lower, Rico Hoey
• 11:05 a.m. (10 tee) – Emiliano Grillo, Adam Hadwin, David Skinns
• 11:16 a.m. (1 tee) – Seamus Power, Joel Dahmen, Will Gordon
• 11:16 a.m. (10 tee) – Chez Reavie, Chad Ramey, Martin Laird
• 11:27 a.m. (1 tee) – Aldrich Potgieter, Andrew Novak, Corey Conners
• 11:27 a.m. (10 tee) – Davis Riley, Taylor Pendrith, Bill Haas
• 11:38 a.m. (1 tee) – Chris Kirk, Aaron Wise, Charley Hoffman
• 11:38 a.m. (10 tee) – Mark Hubbard, Henrik Norlander, Dylan Wu
• 11:49 a.m. (1 tee) – Patton Kizzire, Ryan Brehm, Max McGreevy
• 11:49 a.m. (10 tee) – Nick Dunlap, Peter Malnati, Adam Long
• 12:00 p.m. (1 tee) – Rafael Campos, Austin Cook, Ben Martin
• 12:00 p.m. (10 tee) – Nick Hardy, Denny McCarthy, Kristoffer Ventura
• 12:11 p.m. (1 tee) – Max Greyserman, Hank Lebioda, A.J. Ewart
• 12:11 p.m. (10 tee) – Ben James, David Ford, Miles Russell (a)
• 12:22 p.m. (1 tee) – Patrick Fishburn, Paul Peterson, Mason Howell (a)
• 12:22 p.m. (10 tee) – Kensei Hirata, John VanDerLaan, Nick Jones
• 12:33 p.m. (1 tee) – Alejandro Tosti, Trace Crowe, Ren Yonezawa
• 12:33 p.m. (10 tee) – Chandler Blanchet, Pontus Nyholm, Jay Leng (a)
• 12:44 p.m. (1 tee) – Isaiah Salinda, Adrien Dumont de Chassart, Virgilio Paz (a)
• 12:44 p.m. (10 tee) – Jimmy Stanger, Jeffrey Kang, Greg Koch

How to watch the Butterfield Bermuda Championship

Golf Channel has exclusive TV coverage of the 2026 Butterfield Bermuda Championship. The first round will be live from 1-4 p.m. ET.

Watch Golf Channel on Fubo

Nick Stavas is a digital producer and commerce writer for Golfweek. Follow him on X/Twitter (@nickstavas).

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: 2026 Butterfield Bermuda Championship tee times, how to watch first round

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Raphinha rallies Barcelona dressing room after PSG defeat ahead of El Clasico

Raphinha has urged his FC Barcelona teammates to put their Champions League disappointment behind them and turn their attention to Sunday’s El Clasico against Real Madrid, according to journalist Santi Ovalle on Cadena SER (h/t SPORT.)

The Brazilian addressed the squad in the dressing room after the Catalans’ 4-2 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, attempting to lift spirits and ensure the European setback did not undermine the team’s confidence ahead of one of the biggest fixtures of the season.

With the trip to the Santiago Bernabeu approaching just days after the PSG loss, Raphinha’s message was centred on maintaining composure, continuing to work and keeping the squad focused on its immediate objectives.

The forward’s intervention also underlined his growing importance as a leader within Hansi Flick’s squad.

Having returned to the starting lineup against PSG, Raphinha took responsibility after the final whistle and is expected to feature prominently again against Real Madrid.

Raphinha urges Barcelona to move on from PSG disappointment

Raphinha returned to the starting XI vs PSG. (Photo by Franco Arland/Getty Images)

Barcelona have little time to dwell on their European defeat, with El Clasico offering an immediate opportunity to respond.

According to Ovalle, Raphinha wanted his teammates to retain their belief in the team’s work rather than allow one disappointing result to affect their approach to the next match.

There is also a sense within the Barça camp that the circumstances surrounding the PSG game played a part in the outcome such as the absences of Eric Garcia and Jules Kounde, as well as the absence of Rodri in the starting XI.

The assessment reflects the belief that Barcelona could have given PSG a stronger contest with a fuller squad.

Raphinha’s leadership to be key

Raphinha returned to the starting lineup against PSG and took on a leadership role after the match. Having missed part of Barcelona’s campaign because of fitness problems, he is regaining prominence at a crucial point in the season.

Raphinha will be key vs Real Madrid. (Photo by Franco Arland/Getty Images)

His influence in the dressing room could prove particularly valuable ahead of the Clasico, which arrives only days after the European disappointment.

Raphinha is expected to start against Real Madrid at the Spotify Camp Nou, although the final lineup will depend on Flick’s selection decisions and the condition of the available players.

Beyond his contribution on the pitch, the Brazilian’s effort to lift the squad may also help the team approach the game without allowing the PSG result to dominate its thinking.

Raphinha’s intervention addresses an important challenge for Barcelona: recovering mentally from a disappointing European result before another high-pressure fixture arrives.

A strong display against Real Madrid would help restore momentum after the European setback.

We are through the first six weeks of the 2026 NFL season and one of the most talked-about incidents of the season has been the recent tirade that former NFL quarterback and current analyst Ryan Fitzpatrick went on in the direction of Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix.

Now, everyone is seemingly putting their two cents in on the subject.

The latest was that of former Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott, who was asked about the topic during an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show.

Rich Eisen discussed Fitzpatrick and ESPN's Dan Orlovsky being highly critical of Nix. McDermott gave both analysts credit because they played the position at a high level before giving his opinion on the Broncos' starting QB.

"I remember going against Bo last season and the season before that", said McDermott on The Rich Eisen Show. "He's a very competitive, edgy type of player with a certain play style, that's how I know him, and I have a great amount of respect for him. What I'm seeing a little bit this year, to their point, is some of the... maybe indecisiveness. And listen, he's kind of vollied back and forth to two different play-callers now, so maybe that's it. You just never know.

"He's got game, he's got the skills. I see him on the bench a little bit this year. He looks very relaxed and maybe that's just how he is. I wasn't in this seat that I'm in currently this year, I wasn't in that seat last year, I was on the other sideline where I'm not looking at Bo and how he is off the field and on the bench. But, sometimes, a quarterback in particular needs to have that demeanor on the sideline because you have to stay consistent, you have to stay poised for your team. There is something a little bit off this year, and I would agree from that standpoint, because I know what he's capable of doing."

When Eisen commented that Nix looks different than the guy that McDermott saw in the division round, McDermott replied, "Absolutely."

As of right now, McDermott's final game in the NFL came in a loss to Nix and the Broncos in last year's playoffs. Buffalo fired McDermott shortly after that loss after nine seasons as the team's head coach.

Nix gets his next chance to reverse this ongoing negative narrative when the Broncos (4-2) face the Arizona Cardinals (2-4) on Sunday.

Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! 

This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Sean McDermott says something seems ‘off’ with Bo Nix this season

Washington's 38-26 win over Purdue proved to be a major step in the right direction for many members of Jedd Fisch's offense. Among them was center Landen Hatchett, who made his second start of the season after missing the first five games due to a wrist injury.

Despite entering the season with sky-high expectations, the unit has struggled, in part due to the growing pains of young starters and a lack of on-field cohesiveness. After facing heavy criticism for their collective performances throughout the first half of the season, the boys up front turned things around last week in West Lafayette, led by the fourth-year. On Monday, Jedd Fisch had high praise for the anchor of his offensive line.

"I thought Landen did a great job making all the calls for us," he said. "He did a great job of keeping the group together, confidence, did a really good job blocking, shade, and on top of that, you just felt his leadership on the field, you felt his leadership on the bench, you felt his leadership all week long, challenging the boys, challenging me, challenging the group of 'Hey coach, we can do this, believe in us, believe in this group, and just continue to give us this opportunity.' And he was a tremendous advocate for his offensive group and for the running game."

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After a shaky return to action against Iowa, Hatchett looked much more comfortable against the Boilermakers. Just a week after posting a Pro Football Focus grade of 56.4 against the Hawkeyes, the team captain received a grade of 61.5 against Purdue, playing every snap for Washington in their best performance in Big Ten play thus far.

With their backs against the wall entering the Week Seven showdown, the Huskies' offense delivered, led by backup quarterback Elijah Brown. While the second-string signal caller had an impressive showing of his own, the matchup in West Lafayette marked a coming-out party for the running game. Led by sixth-year transfer Trey Cooley, who took eight carries for a career-high 113 yards, Washington posted a season-high 188 yards on the ground and hung 38 points on the scoreboard, good for the second-most this season and most against an FBS opponent.

Now enjoying the fruits of a much-needed bye week, the week off gives Hatchett and his peers up front the chance to continue to build off of last week's showing. Next, the Huskies will head east again to take on Nebraska on Halloween, where they'll once again lean on their leader to help guide them to a second consecutive road victory.

This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Jedd Fisch Praises Landen Hatchett's Leadership for Washington

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes made more history last Sunday with his victory, tying him with Tom Brady. An emerging star on another team joined him in the quarterback record books.

In the Chicago Bears' 31-23 win over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 6, Bears quarterback Caleb Williams passed for 305 yards and recorded his 50th career touchdown pass. Williams returned after missing three games with a hamstring injury.

Williams now has 50 touchdown passes and 14 interceptions, making him the third quarterback in NFL history with fewer than 15 interceptions at the time of his 50th career touchdown pass. He joined Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, with 10 interceptions, and Mahomes, with 13.

The former top overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, who entered the league with many comparisons to Mahomes, has added another reason people point to similarities. The Chiefs and Bears aren't scheduled to meet in the regular season, but both teams would welcome a Super Bowl showdown in Los Angeles.

This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: Resilient QB's Week 6 play earns shared record with Patrick Mahomes

Good luck catching Florida softball commit Kylie Holden on the high school softball field.

It's not just because of her speed. It's actually because she's barely on the field for her high school, Ocoee High School (FL).

This is by design, as Florida plays its flag football season during the spring high school sports season, the same time as softball.

"If I'm telling you the truth, in high school, I do play flag football more than I play softball," Holden told USA TODAY Sports. "I have 25 games in softball; you'll only see me playing 10 because I'll be playing flag."

Love at first sight with softball

Don't let Holden's preference for flag football over softball confuse you. She still has a strong passion for the sport played on the diamond.

Holden — the No. 2 player in the 2028 recruiting class according to Softball America — is following in her mother Kamilah Johnson's footsteps; she was once a Hall-of-Fame catcher at Bethune-Cookman. However, Holden needed convincing and a nudge to give softball a shot at first.

"I just wanted to kind of get her out there and try to play," Johnson told USA TODAY Sports. "Naturally, she could catch, so that kind of helped us convince her that this is something she might want to try out. I was not necessarily trying to say, 'You have to play softball because I played softball.'"

So when she was 8 years old, Holden went out to play softball to give the sport her mother was a star in a try for the first time.

"As soon as I stepped on the field and actually played the first game, I fell in love with the sport," Holden said. "After that, it just came into me growing up and working at it every day. And here I am now."

Holden, who also plays volleyball, basketball and flag football, says she gets a different feeling on the softball diamond than anywhere else.

"Softball feels like a home away from home," Holden said. "It's my getaway."

Kylie Holden commits to Florida softball

It turns out, giving softball a chance was the right choice. Five years later, when Holden was 12, Florida softball coach Tim Walton started gauging Holden's interest in becoming a Gator.

"Walton has been recruiting me since I was 12," Holden said. "He was the first Division I coach to ever follow me."

While Florida is the in-state school and the campus in Gainesville, Florida, is just about an hour-and-a-half away from Ocoee, Holden's final decision came down to the Gators and Ole Miss.

Holden announced her commitment at a ceremony before Ocoee's football game on Friday, Oct. 2.

"I chose Florida because I feel as if I'm going to be around people who are going to make me better and grow, not only as a player, but as a person as well," Holden said. "In addition, being close to home was a great decision, too."

For her father, Carl Holden, his daughter picking the Gators will cause a bit of a change of allegiance.

"I have to go from doing the tomahawk chop because I've been a Florida State fan my whole life to doing the gator chomp," Carl told USA TODAY Sports with a laugh. "I'm a Gator now."

Holden also joked that he will be excited to see his daughter leave high school and head to college next year, as her four-sport schedule keeps him busy.

"I'm the dean at (Ocoee), so I actually have a couch in my office so I don't have to go home," Carl joked. "I spent a lot of days on that couch watching volleyball, basketball, flag football and softball. So, I can't wait until she's off to college."

Holden joins an elite Florida recruiting class that includes five-star catcher Ryann Harris (No. 8 overall recruit), five-star two-way player Kate Losh (No. 11 recruit) and four-star catcher Brooklyn Evans (No. 21 recruit).

"Me being around the best of the best, our class is probably going to be the No. 1 class in 2028," Holden said. "I think that's a big factor. I feel as if them recruiting the top recruits also played a large role, because I want to be around the best of the best, always."

Why flag football over softball in high school?

When it comes to the spring season, Holden picks high school flag football over softball. Part of the reason is that her dad is her coach on the flag football field.

Holden plays quarterback and safety for the Knights. She led Ocoee to the State Final Four in 2025 after throwing for 2,375 yards and 25 touchdowns. She also recorded 15 interceptions on defense.

"Honestly, those are my two favorite sports to play," Holden said. "... I actually love it because I'm non-stop. If we have both softball and flag football on the same day, I'll play softball and if we end earlier, I'll go run and put all my flag stuff on and go play flag football right after that."

While she does not play a ton of high school softball, she does play for the Virginia Unity Johnson 18U travel team. For the Virginia Unity, Holden had 61 hits, nine home runs, 52 RBI, four triples and 50 runs scored.

So how does one juggle four sports during the high school season, in addition to starring on a travel softball team? The answer might surprise you.

"It's honestly not that hard, because my whole life is sports," Holden said. "If I'm not playing a sport, I would literally be at home doing nothing. So, I really don't know what I would do without sports."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why this elite Florida softball commit prefers playing another sport in high school

Ohio State football coach Ryan Day meets with media ahead of Iowa game. | Ohio State Athletics

We know that your life is busy, but that doesn’t mean you want to miss any news about your favorite team. So, we are rounding up all of the most important news, analysis, and commentary from LGHL and the rest of the Buckeye beat.

This week’s fan survey

With 7 games of data and Sayin’s injury, how are you feeling heading into the bye?
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land

On the gridiron

Presser Bullets: Ryan Day Says Julian Sayin Is Out Indefinitely, Luke Fahey and Tavien St. Clair Will Compete During Bye Week
Lyle Alenstein, Eleven Warriors

Ryan Day gives update on Sayin’s future, status of quarterbacks
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch

Julian Sayin out indefinitely; Ryan Day says Luke Fahey and Tavien St. Clair will battle to be starter
Doug Lesmerises, The Bill & Doug Show

Ohio State Quarterback Julian Sayin Out Indefinitely, “Doubtful” to Return in Regular Season
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors

‘We’re going to need them to win a championship’: Ohio State charts path forward without Julian Sayin
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Ja’Kobi Jackson Undergoes Surgery for Lisfranc Injury, Hopes to Return By Michigan Game
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors

Julian Sayin isn’t the only Ohio State injury worth watching during the bye
Cole VanWiechen, Land-Grant Holy Land

View Link

‘It’s Fahey’s time’: Ohio State players rally around presumptive new starter
Brianna Mac Kay, The Columbus Dispatch

Rivals analysts who watched Luke Fahey in high school say his football IQ sets him apart
Mick Walker, Lettermen Row

How Will Luke Fahey Change The Offense?
Justin Whitlatch, Buckeye Insiders

Does Ohio State have enough offensive creativity to survive remaining schedule?
Jami Jurich, Land-Grant Holy Land

Jaylen McClain helping lead surging Buckeyes’ defense
Dave Biddle, Bucknuts

Where do Ohio State, Jeremiah Smith stand in championship, Heisman odds after Sayin injury?
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land

Ohio State-Indiana Rewatch: Matt Patricia turns up the heat, Jay Timmons shines, offense misses chances
Bill Landis, The Bill & Doug Show

You’re Nuts: Who is your favorite Ohio State backup QB forced into action?
Brett Ludwiczak and Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land

Celebrate Jeremiah Smith’s record-breaking season with a trio of bobbleheads
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land

On the hardwood

Ava Watson: Ohio State women’s basketball 2026-27 player preview
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land

Men’s basketball: The Lantern’s sit-down interview with men’s basketball head coach Jake Diebler
Reilly Cahill, The Lantern

Jake Diebler said that Thad Matta will be here Sunday and Ohio State will acknowledge him at halftime on the court for his time at Ohio State and his 500 career wins.

"Heck, if I can persuade him to, maybe I can get him to come down and draw up the first play or something." pic.twitter.com/oGuc7yjd13

— Connor Lemons (@lemons_connor) October 20, 2026

Ohio State basketball players reveal reasons behind the number they wear
Jeremy Birmingham, Lettermen Row

Amare Bynum hopes to provide increased production, leadership for Ohio State basketball
Steve Helwagen, Bucknuts

Women’s basketball: Elsa Lemmilä preparing for larger offensive role heading into junior season
Dylan Buganski, The Lantern

Ohio State basketball preseason profile: Forward Alex Smith
Mick Walker, Lettermen Row

Outside The Shoe and Schott

Men’s Ice Hockey: Jardine Named B1G Second Star of the Week
Ohio State Athletics

Men’s Tennis: Carpico and Lilov Qualify for NCAA Singles Tournament
Ohio State Athletics

And now for something completely different

Be like J.J. with this new ‘Air Jeremiah’ t-shirt
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land

Chicago Bulls rookie Caleb Wilson plans to keep his pregame ritual simple, even in the NBA.

Hit an early morning workout at shootaround. Come home. Eat, sleep. Wake up, meditate. And then, before he heads to the arena, Wilson will take a moment to watch his own highlights.

It’s a practice in recognition. Wilson is driven by a deep inner faith — in his talent, in his work ethic, in the path he patiently trod to arrive at the first night of his NBA career. But that faith needs to be tended.

Wilson pours into this self-belief constantly and purposefully through visualization practices and a constant stream of positive self-talk. When in doubt, the best way to remind himself of what he can do is to watch what he already has done.

Wilson doesn’t keep a folder of his mixtapes saved on his phone. He looks up his highlights the same way as anyone else — by opening YouTube, searching his name and picking the top result.

The morning before his NBA debut, the first video available was a mix created by the league’s official channel showing Wilson’s best dunks and 3-pointers from the Bulls’ five preseason games. Sometimes he scrolls a little farther to find the mixes from his high school days, his hair tied on top of his head as he crushes dunks through the rim.

Watching the past makes Wilson even more eager to begin building his future. And after a lengthy summer of anticipation, the No. 4 draft pick will start to take on that opportunity in Wednesday night’s season opener against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena (6:30, CHSN).

“I feel like I prepared for the moment,” Wilson said. “It’s time to get out there and show what I can do.”

A debut carries extra weight for a lottery pick such as Wilson. There are expectations and then there are the lofty dreams of a city that has been starved for a star for a decade. Before he ever played one second in a Bulls jersey, Wilson already had been dubbed the franchise’s next great hope.

He doesn’t shy away from this. He promises greatness. He welcomes comparison with the best of the best.

On Wilson’s first day in Chicago, a team photographer captured a shot of the rookie in the United Center atrium, gazing up at the Michael Jordan statue, eyes focused and hands clasped behind his back in pensive thought. Wilson posted it to his Instagram story with a two-word caption: “One goal.”

First-year Bulls coach Tiago Splitter doesn’t want to add to that pressure. He needs Wilson to learn his system, to embrace the defensive principles that will allow the Bulls to compete on the margins this season. But he’s not worried about giving Wilson extra motivation — especially before his debut.

“Caleb has a ton of things on his mind right now — first NBA game, how we play on offense, how we play on defense,” Splitter said. “There’s a lot of things going on. And sometimes you’ve got to relax a little bit and just go out there and hoop. Slowly, he’s going to get those things better, but I just want to see him enjoying and competing.”

This level-headed perspective is a necessity for a rookie with a ceiling this high — and this far away. Wilson did not overwhelm in the preseason. At times, he showed an exhilarating capacity for off-ball movement and finishing at the rim. In other moments, he got completely lost in the shuffle on defense, whipping his head back and forth while attempting to twist and wrench his body through traffic to stay on his man.

His primary goal for the first two weeks of the season is to learn how to play NBA-caliber defense. The Bulls need Wilson to pick up that lesson quickly as they start the season without center Nic Claxton, who was acquired over the summer to handle the bulk of the team’s rim-protection responsibilities.

Without Claxton for the next two weeks, the Bulls will face a series of significant rim threats from such teams as the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks. That gauntlet starts Wednesday in Toronto with Kawhi Leonard and Scottie Barnes, two jumbo-sized opponents who will stretch Wilson’s abilities from the opening whistle.

Wilson isn’t taking this matchup lightly. He modeled his game off Leonard as a kid and carefully studied Barnes’ progression as a roadmap for his own NBA journey. But he also has embraced the inevitability of his mistakes.

“You’ve got to give yourself grace,” Wilson said. “I don’t know what the timetable is on me being an All-Star or all that stuff, but I feel like every day I’ll come out and be better than I was the day before. I feel like I’ve grown so much as a player just in the past week, so there’s no telling what I’ll look like come January.

“I know that this is going to happen and I can’t give anyone a timetable, even myself, because I feel like expectations lead to disappointment most of the time. I’ll just go out there and approach every day with the best of my God-sent ability, and I know the results will come.”

1. Russia says it freed American Stephen Hubbard, 74, as Trump envoy meets with Putin  NBC News
2. Russia Releases American Who Was Jailed for 4 Years, State Media Reports  The New York Times
3. Russia releases detained American Stephen Hubbard during a visit by Trump administration envoy  The Press Democrat
4. Trump hails Russia’s release of US teacher amid Witkoff’s visit – politics live  The Guardian
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Europe weighs giving utilities, infrastructure companies more powers to bring down drones  ReutersSee more headlines & perspectives on Google News

Sep 5, 2026; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Tigers running back Jaylin Carter (6) reacts after a touchdown against Arkansas State during the second half at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Wesley Hale-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect Game notes

• Time and date: Thursday, October 22 at 7:30 p.m. ET
• Network: ESPN2
• Location: Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium — Memphis, TN
• Spread: Memphis (-10)
• Over/under: 54.5
• All-time series: East Carolina leads, 18-8
• Last meeting: East Carolina 31, Memphis 27 — November 15, 2025
• Current streak: East Carolina, 3 (2021-25)

Setting the scene

East Carolina and Memphis are both coming off frustrating defeats.

Last Thursday night, the Pirates manufactured a quick 14-0 lead over UAB and didn’t allow a single touchdown for the first 59 minutes. Yet, the Blazers used a 10-play, 93-yard drive in the final 100 seconds of regulation to force overtime at 17-17. Then in the extra period, UAB scored another touchdown while ECU threw a pick-six, leaving the Blazers with a rare 13-point overtime victory.

One day later, Memphis also watched its perfect conference record falter. The Tigers were touchdown favorites at Tulane but committed six turnovers, failed two fourth downs within the Green Wave 11-yard line, and missed a field goal in a mistake-riddled Friday night.

Now both teams are eyeing a rebound on Thursday night in Memphis. ECU has recently controlled this series with three-straight wins dating back to 2021, but Memphis is 3-0 at home in the Charles Huff era.

East Carolina Pirates outlook

East Carolina (3-3, 1-1 American) features one of the premier defenses in the American.

The Pirates allowed exactly one offensive touchdown in regulation in each of their last four games. First-year defensive coordinator Jordon Hankins, who arrived from Memphis this offseason, has carried over the dominance from last year’s front. In 2025, ECU ranked fourth nationally with 7.8 tackles for loss per game. This year, the Pirates are first nationally with 10.2 tackles for loss per game.

ECU has eight different players with at least 3.5 tackles for loss, with the majority of them stemming from the defensive line. Defensive end Kieran Davis leads the group with 8.0, while former Memphis linebacker Crews Law ranks second with 5.0. As expected, this backfield invasion translates to a strong run defense. ECU ranks 23rd in the country by allowing just 3.18 yards per carry, and no UAB rusher eclipsed 33 yards in last Thursday’s showcase.

The Pirates’ defensive success has translated to the back end as well. East Carolina has allowed the fifth-fewest completions in the FBS this year, and its opponent completion rate of 54.7 checks in at 14th in the country. ECU has only surrendered three passing touchdowns, while the defense has recorded five interceptions. Free safety Ayden Duncanson has been pivotal in the turnover battle, returning two interceptions for touchdowns this season.

ECU is one of 23 teams with multiple defensive touchdowns this season, but it isn’t getting enough scoring output from the offense. Although first-year offensive coordinator Jordan Davis led the nation’s No. 1 offense last season at North Texas, the Pirates average just 19.8 points per game against FBS opponents and rank 112th nationally in yards per game. Finding consistency through the air has been the main obstacle. ECU switched quarterbacks from Mitch Griffis to Emory Williams after the 1-2 start, but they remain 114th in the FBS in passing yards per game and 123rd in yards per attempt. In five games against FBS teams, the Pirates have only had one 150-yard passer — the Week 2 loss to Appalachian State when Griffis produced 230.

The run game has found its footing in recent weeks, however. Running back TJ Engleman Jr. rushed for 99 yards in Week 3 against Old Dominion and has eclipsed the century mark in all three games since. Engleman’s 6.9 yards per carry are third in the American among ball carriers with at least 70 attempts, and he’ll be complemented by former North Texas running back Ashton Gray.

Memphis Tigers outlook

Memphis (5-2, 2-1 American) suffered its first conference defeat of the Charles Huff era, and now the Tigers are ready to bounce back and prove their merit as contenders.

Murphy’s Law was regularly enacted during Memphis’ Friday night showdown at Tulane. With six turnovers, the Tigers snapped the FBS’s sixth-longest active streak of 35 games without committing more than two turnovers, and they failed to score 20 points for just the third time in their last 60 games.

Even after a game full of turnovers and turnovers on downs, Memphis still had an opportunity to win in the final minutes but couldn’t register a late fourth down stop. Now the Tigers turn the page, relying on what had been a well-rounded team through the first six weeks. Quarterback Marcus Stokes has been relatively efficient this season, completing 66.9 percent of passes and eclipsing the 300-yard mark three times. The former Division II standout has delivered multiple touchdown strikes in six of seven starts and offers capable mobility as well.

Memphis’ top receivers fluctuate from week to week. In Week 7, it was Stonka Burnside and Jemyri Davis carrying the load. But the Tigers featured five different players ranging from 233 to 380 receiving yards, and all five have multiple touchdowns. Tight end Hunter Tipton is the leader with 380, which is the fourth-most among FBS tight ends this season.

Jaylin Carter leads the American and ranks seventh nationally with 780 rushing yards. The running back is fresh off his third 130-yard game, and he’ll look to evade ECU’s backfield pressure and create breakaway runs, which were common occurrence for him early in the season.

Defensively, Memphis did enough to emerge victorious against Tulane, limiting the Green Wave to 12-of-22 through the air and stifling their ground game to 3.9 yards per carry. Memphis offers a disruptive defensive line led by defensive ends Elijah Kinsler and J’Mond Tapp, who combine for 7.0 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss.

The Tigers have been a very opportunistic unit. Even after the offense committed six turnovers last week, the Tigers are still a plus-2 in the turnover battle on the season, thanks to the defense collecting 13 takeaways. Oklahoma State transfer strong safety Dylan Smith has three interceptions, along with three pass breakups and 31 tackles as the most disruptive secondary presence. Outside linebacker JJ Clayton has also a pair of fumble recoveries in addition to his 4.0 tackles for loss.

Prediction

Memphis’ offense is one of the more explosive and dynamic units in the American. The Tigers’ progress was only stopped by Tulane in the form of turnovers, and they still managed 488 yards in the defeat. Memphis is known for its big-play potential, and the Tigers have six 70-yard pickups and three 80-yard pickups — which both rank first in the FBS.

East Carolina’s defense normally dictates the pace of games, but Memphis has enough offensive firepower to give the Pirates’ dominant front their toughest test since Alabama. On the flipside, ECU’s offense hasn’t demonstrated the consistency it needs to emerge on the road against an offense like Memphis’. The Pirates will most likely need to rely on another turnover barrage from the Tigers to pull off a road upset Thursday night. Memphis defends homefield for the fourth time this season and restakes its claim as contenders in the American.

Prediction: Memphis 28, East Carolina 17

A massive Houston-area showdown and some marquee Peach State matchups headline the slate of high school football games around the country this week.

Who will come out with much-needed victories as most states inch closer and closer to the postseason? Our staff took a stab at making their predictions for the nation's top games.

But first, here are staff prediction standings heading into Week 10:

• 1. Alex Martin: 68-22
• 2. Joe Spears: 66-23
• 3. Ansley Gavlak 63-27
• 4. Alyce Brown 61-29
• 5. Logan Newman: 60-30
• 6. Ehsan Kassim: 58-32

Rankings: Big changes in USA TODAY Sports Super 25, Week 10

Game of the Week: King (TX) at No. 19 North Shore (TX)

Date: Friday, Oct. 23, 7 p.m. CT

Two of Houston's best square off in a rematch of a game that North Shore won 42-27 last season. North Shore has never lost to King, leading the series 10-0.

King (6-1) had an uncharacteristic loss to Cypress Ranch (TX) early in the year but senior quarterback Khylan Davis (1,379 yards, 16 touchdowns) has the Panthers averaging 55.6 points over their last five games. The defense also gained a massive boost with the addition of Texas A&M four-star edge commit Zyron Forstall.

When they aren't shutting out teams, the Mustangs (7-0) have played other top teams in close games and still managed to hold on for wins. In wins over South Oak Cliff (TX) and Summer Creek (TX), they won by three total points. North Shore has leaned on a rushing attack that's averaging 250.6 yards per game.

Alex Martin prediction: North Shore 31, King 27

Alyce Brown prediction: North Shore 28, King 25

Ansley Gavlak prediction: North Shore 35, King 31

Ehsan Kassim prediction: King 31, North Shore 27

Joe Spears prediction: King 31, North Shore 30

Logan Newman prediction: North Shore 33, King 24

Liberty (AZ) at No. 15 Hamilton (AZ)

Date: Friday, Oct. 23, 7 p.m. MT

Many expected Hamilton to be tested last week as the Huskies traveled to Pinnacle (AZ). That wasn't the case though as they cruised to a 34-13 win to remain unbeaten.

They'll face their biggest challenge of the season, once again going on the road against a Liberty (6-1) side whose only loss came to Basha (AZ) on Sept. 18 by eight points. Sophomore Jason Haines has been a standout for the Lions this season, completing 67% of his passes for 1,653 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Hamilton (7-0) has been Arizona's most consistent team this year, winning all of its games in double figures aside from one. They've done this without USC four-star receiver commit Roye Oliver III, who was injured early in the year. However, his younger brother Roman Oliver has had a breakout season, catching 39 passes for 619 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Alex Martin prediction: Hamilton 27, Liberty 25

Alyce Brown prediction: Hamilton 28, Liberty 24

Ansley Gavlak prediction: Hamilton 31, Liberty 24

Ehsan Kassim prediction: Hamilton 34, Liberty 24

Joe Spears prediction: Hamilton 35, Liberty 23

Logan Newman prediction: Hamilton 24, Liberty 23

Orange Lutheran (CA) at No. 21 Mater Dei (CA)

Date: Friday, Oct. 23, 7 p.m. PST

Since suffering back-to-back losses to No. 6 Bishop Gorman (NV) and No. 1 Santa Margarita (CA), the Monarchs have found their offense.

Mater Dei (6-2) has won back-to-back games by double digits, scoring more than 35 points in each game. Las week, they rolled past Servite (CA) 38-15 while rushing for 211 yards and three touchdowns as a team.

The case for Orange Lutheran (5-3) having the toughest schedule in the country is one that would be easy to make. While the Lancers have a winning record, they've suffered a one-point loss to Miami Central (FL), an 18-point loss to No. 9 Sierra Canyon (CA) and a 14-point loss to St. John Bosco (CA).

Alex Martin prediction: Mater Dei 17, Orange Lutheran 13

Alyce Brown prediction: Mater Dei 28, Orange Lutheran 21

Ansley Gavlak prediction: Mater Dei 34, Orange Lutheran 28

Ehsan Kassim prediction: Mater Dei 26, Orange Lutheran 20

Joe Spears prediction: Mater Dei 28, Orange Lutheran 14

Logan Newman prediction: Mater Dei 20, Orange Lutheran 14

Brother Rice (MI) at Detroit Catholic Central (MI)

Date: Saturday, Oct. 24, 7:30 p.m. CT

Last year, the Shamrocks had no issues with Brother Rice, breezing past the Warriors 41-8.

This season's version of the Warriors (6-2) is vastly improved compared to that team. However, their two losses to St. Mary's Prep (MI) and Central Catholic (MI) came by 50 combined points.

Catholic Central (8-0) beat both of those teams but did get a test from St. Mary's Prep, only winning by seven. Last week, the Shamrocks leaned heavily on its run game as they crushed St. Francis de Sales (MI) 42-0. They ran for 265 yards and four touchdowns in the shutout.

Alex Martin prediction: Detroit Catholic Central 34, Brother Rice 20

Alyce Brown prediction: Detroit Catholic Central 35, Brother Rice 21

Ansley Gavlak prediction: Detroit Catholic Central 38, Brother Rice 28

Ehsan Kassim prediction: Brother Rice 27, Detroit Catholic Central 21

Joe Spears prediction: Detroit Catholic Central 42, Brother Rice 23

Logan Newman prediction: Detroit Catholic Central 38, Brother Rice 24

Omaha Westside (NE) at Millard South (NE)

Date: Friday, Oct. 23, 7 p.m. CT

There may not be a bigger game in Nebraska this week than the showdown between two undefeated Omaha-area powers. Omaha Westside (8-0) has been dominant, winning its past two games by a combined score of 105-7, including a 49-7 victory over Papillion-La Vista South last week.Millard South (8-0), meanwhile, has been just as impressive, extending its winning streak to 21 games with a 65-0 shutout of Lincoln East. Five-star Nebraska commit Trae Taylor has thrown 31 touchdown passes with three interceptions and added 13 rushing scores.

The Patriots have beaten Westside in the playoffs each of the past two seasons, setting the stage for a heavyweight showdown Friday.

Alex Martin prediction: Millard South 42, Omaha Westside 37

Alyce Brown prediction: Millard South 35, Omaha Westside 31

Ansley Gavlak prediction: Millard South 34, Omaha Westside 28

Ehsan Kassim prediction: Omaha Westside 42, Millard South 40

Joe Spears prediction: Millard South 45, Omaha Westside 38

Logan Newman prediction: Millard South 35, Omaha Westside 28

DeMatha Catholic (MD) at St. John’s (DC)

Date: Saturday, Oct. 24, 2 p.m. CT

There may not be a bigger game in the northeast this week than the Stags' short road trip over to see the Cadets.

Playing a mostly national schedule, St. John's (6-1) has exceeded all expectations this year. The Cadets do have a one-point road loss to St. Edward (OH) but did beat West Boca Raton (FL) by one on the road and also beat Cornerstone Christian (TX) by seven at home.

DeMatha (7-1) is a seven-point loss to Roman Catholic (PA) away from being unbeaten. The Stags rounded a corner since that loss, winning their next five games all by double figures. That streak may be in jeopardy on Saturday as they only beat St. John's by three in the regular season meeting between the schools last year.

Alex Martin prediction: St. John's 20, DeMatha Catholic 17

Alyce Brown prediction: St. John's 28, DeMatha Catholic 24

Ansley Gavlak prediction: St. John's 27, DeMatha Catholic 24

Ehsan Kassim prediction: St. John’s 30, DeMatha Catholic 17

Joe Spears prediction: DeMatha Catholic 24, St. John's 21

Logan Newman prediction: DeMatha Catholic 20, St. John's 17

Don Bosco Prep (NJ) at St. Peter’s Prep (NJ)

Date: Friday, Oct. 23, 7 p.m. ET

Don Bosco rebounded nicely from its four-point loss to Bergen Catholic (NJ) with a resounding 34-14 win over DePaul Catholic (NJ) last Friday. The Ironmen (6-1) have a rising star in junior running back Casi Thomas, who has now rushed for 894 yards and 12 touchdowns on 149 carries.

St. Peter's was in a similar spot last week coming off of a loss and were just as dominant, beating Paramus Catholic (NJ) 34-10. The Marauders (5-2) are 2-2 over the last four games with a 17-point loss to Bergen Catholic and an eight-point loss to St. Joseph Regional (NJ).

Don Bosco had no issues in this game last season winning 31-6.

Alex Martin prediction: Don Bosco 28, St. Peter's 17

Alyce Brown prediction: Don Bosco Prep 28, St. Peter's 21

Ansley Gavlak prediction: Don Bosco 31, St. Peter's 21

Ehsan Kassim prediction: Don Bosco 31, St. Peter's 21 

Joe Spears prediction: Don Bosco 38, St. Peter's 17

Logan Newman prediction: Don Bosco 28, St. Peter's 23 

Duncanville (TX) at Waxahachie (TX)

Date: Friday, Oct. 23, 7 p.m. CT

After three straight wins over teams they were expected to breeze past, Duncanville (4-3) gets its biggest test since North Crowley (TX) as the Panthers travel to Waxahachie (6-1).

The Panthers have leaned heavily on their ground game during their current three-game winning streak. Joe McKinney leads the team in yards with 349 to go with five touchdowns but it's Brayden Arnold who's found the end zone consistently will 11 scores to his name.

Friday night offers Waxahachie an opportunity for some revenge as Duncanville beat them 35-27 in the postseason last year. The Indians bounced back from their 42-17 to North Crowley with an impressive 48-3 win over Red Oak (TX) last Friday.

Alex Martin prediction: Duncanville 30, Waxahachie 28

Alyce Brown prediction: Duncanville 28, Waxahachie 24

Ansley Gavlak prediction: Duncanville 34, Waxahachie 31

Ehsan Kassim prediction: Waxahachie 31, Duncanville 28

Joe Spears prediction: Waxahachie 34, Duncanville 24

Logan Newman prediction: Waxahachie 30, Duncanville 24

Langston Hughes (GA) at Creekside (GA)

Date: Saturday, Oct. 24, 2 p.m. ET

One of two massive Peach State showdowns this week, fans of the Seminoles and Panthers will have to wait until Saturday afternoon to see this huge matchup.

Since losing to Clay-Chalkville (AL) to open the year, Creekside (6-1) has yet to be tested again, winning each of its last six games by 29 or more points. They've outscored their last four opponents 238-0.

Langston Hughes (6-1) also lost a game early in the year and since turned the corner. Led by junior quarterback Prince Amari Aminu (745 yards, 12 touchdowns), the Panthers have won five games in a row by an average of 40.4 points.

Alex Martin prediction: Creekside 34, Langston Hughes 31

Alyce Brown prediction: Creekside 31, Langston Hughes 21

Ansley Gavlak prediction: Creekside 35, Langston Hughes 31

Ehsan Kassim prediction: Langston Hughes 37, Creekside 33 

Joe Spears prediction: Creekside 38, Langston Hughes 21

Logan Newman prediction: Creekside 30, Langston Hughes 23

Milton (GA) at Gainesville (GA)

Date: Friday, Oct. 23, 7:30 p.m. ET

The Friday night marquee game to get to in Georgia this week involves a road trip for Milton as the Eagles (6-1) head just under an hour northeast to Gainesville (6-2).

A one-point loss to five-star Ohio State edge commit DJ Jacobs and Blessed Trinity (GA) is all that's keeping Milton from a perfect record so far this season. Indiana wide receiver commit Jordan Carrasquillo has been one of the best in the state this season, catching 30 passes for 641 yards and nine touchdowns.

There weren't many teams in the country that had a harder start to the year than Gainesville. The Red Elephants opened the year with a 39-19 loss to No. 3 Buford (GA) and then lost by three to No. 22 East St. Louis (IL). They've since rattled off six straight wins winning by an average of 36.3 points.

Alex Martin prediction: Milton 27, Gainesville 24

Alyce Brown prediction: Gainesville 24, Milton 21

Ansley Gavlak prediction: Gainesville 35, Milton 28

Ehsan Kassim prediction: Gainesville 28, Milton 27 

Joe Spears prediction: Milton 28, Gainesville 24

Logan Newman prediction: Gainesville 24, Milton 23 

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: High school football schedule, score predictions for Week 10 Games of the Week

As the NFL standings get looser, the pucker factor in certain corners of the league is tightening.

That certainly happened in Indianapolis this week, Colts co-owner and CEO Carlie Irsay-Gordon serving up this season’s first executive sacrifice to the always bloodthirsty football gods (and fans) by pink-slipping longtime GM Chris Ballard on Monday, Oct. 19.

There will be more, it’s only a matter of when and where – though in a region where the hot seat is a way of life, a simmer threatens to turn into a boil in the nation’s capital. With Week 7 looming, our latest list of NFL head coaches seemingly in Dutch (listed alphabetically):

Todd Bowles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-5)

The Bucs finally got into the win column, but even defeating the floundering Dallas Cowboys hasn’t aged all that well. Bowles really needs QB Baker Mayfield back – he’s supposed to practice this week – and really needs to win the two upcoming divisional games on the schedule, because recapturing the NFC South flag is his team’s only viable avenue to the postseason. Otherwise? After a notably successful run of middling post-Brady football, Tampa looks like a place due for some level of reset in 2027.

Aaron Glenn, New York Jets (2-4)

Call it a hot seat. Call it keeping a seat warm for the next guy. The Jets continue to look like an ascending team given their influx of young talent and more competitive showings between the lines. And they’ll probably move to 3-4 this weekend with the winless and talent-stripped Miami Dolphins coming to town. But whether he was confused or not, Glenn got roasted again after Week 6 for seeming to indicate he thought the Jets would get the second-half kickoff during their eventual (annual) loss to the Patriots in New England. They did not – worse, his Monday news conference ironically went dark online when he was asked about it. Glenn later explained it away, telling the New York Post, regarding his sideline interview with CBS: "I think they were talking about sustaining drives, and my conversation with them is when the offense gets the ball back, man, we want to be able to sustain a drive and go score.”

Regardless, while the defense is performing much better – and that is in Glenn’s wheelhouse – the offense remains in the bottom quartile of the league in terms of both points scored and yardage gained. And given the Jets will be in the market for a young quarterback next year and, presumably, a new offensive mastermind to mentor him while putting another system in place … it's hard to envision a future where Glenn remains, barring a crazy hot streak ahead.

Jim Harbaugh, Los Angeles Chargers (0-6)

Your classic rah-rah coach has seemed virtually lifeless as the Bolts have tumbled to 0-6 for the first time since 2000 … when Harbaugh was 0-5 as one of their quarterbacks. He’s been repeatedly asked about the status of OC Mike McDaniel, who’s overseen an attack – wrong word there – that ranks 26th overall and is scoring 15 points per game, third worst in the league. The Chargers’ 15 turnovers are also the most in the NFL, with QB Justin Herbert serving up a league-leading eight interceptions (against five TD passes).

“We’re looking into everything at this point, and that process is ongoing,” Harbaugh said Monday, "particularly offensively, scoring more points.

“Oh and six does not give the privilege to rule out anything at this point, and we’re looking into everything.”

It’s worth wondering when Bolts ownership starts taking a hard look at Harbaugh, in the third season of a five-year contract, given his nomadic history. His four-year hitch with the San Francisco 49ers ended in 2014, when the organization was clearly on a downswing.

Dan Quinn, Washington Commanders (1-4-1)

It's never a good sign when minority co-owner Magic Johnson is weighing in on social media regarding game-ending execution. Or when Hall of Famer and "Monday Night Football" analyst (for now) Troy Aikman is labeling your squad an “undisciplined football team," but that's where things stand at the moment for Quinn and Co.

After Week 5's humiliating tie against the New York Giants − QB Jayden Daniels and the offense clearly weren't attuned to the situation, which merely required a spike of the ball to set up an attempt for a makeable game-winning field goal (which never happened) − Monday night's loss to the undefeated San Francisco 49ers was more of a mixed bag. Daniels displayed his dynamism anew, leading a valiant second-half comeback that fell just short − though on the heels of two uninspired quarters to open the game. And for those who read lips and body language, there appeared to be another mental lapse early in the second quarter when Daniels threw the ball away on fourth down inside the Niners' red zone, apparently thinking he had a free play. A penalty was called on Washington instead, ending the drive, and Quinn seemed caught off guard that it actually was fourth down. The coach denied it after the game.

"I definitely knew it was fourth down," Quinn said. "I knew what happened. I think I was probably just commenting on the headset, somebody asking me, and after an illegal shift, like it was a turnover on downs."

Quinn indicated a day later that he'd be doing an intense deep dive into everything during the team's bye week but also said the only thing he wished Daniels had done differently on that particular play was take a shot, even if he thought a penalty was coming.

Tactics and on-field communication aside, Quinn has historically enjoyed the loyalty and support of his players, and that could be his salvation during a season when Washington still has a unique opportunity to recover given the state of affairs in the NFC East.

"This is a special group − they're resilient, they're tough," he said Tuesday, Oct. 20. "They also know − as bad and difficult and frustrated as we are − there’s also a golden opportunity this year in our division. ... They're gonna fight their ass off every time."

Robert Saleh, Tennessee Titans (1-5)

He’s finally got a W after an ugly 0-5 start – and courtesy of a fairly hideous 26-20 win at Indy, a blocked Colts punt returned by the Titans for the go-ahead touchdown being the turning point. “Was this perfect? No. But today we made some freaking plays,” Saleh said afterward. “This league is hard.”

Yep.

The Titans still need to show signs of life on offense, and presumed franchise QB Cam Ward certainly needs to display belated evidence of progression at some point. But the timing of the win was at least inspired, insomuch as it occurred days after owner Amy Adams Strunk expressed, through the team’s CEO that, “she desperately wants to reverse the team’s fortunes” and was “experiencing tremendous disappointment and grief” over the winless start.

Not what you want to hear from the person who signs your paychecks, though Saleh and GM Mike Borgonzi did get votes of confidence that were rewarded … for one week anyway.

Brian Schottenheimer, Dallas Cowboys (2-4)

Let’s first note that owner Jerry Jones actually isn’t prone to kneejerk reactions, and only one coach in his nearly four-decade reign (Chan Gailey) has failed to reach his third season. That said, Jones is also 84 now and desperate to end a Super Bowl drought that’s now beyond 30 years. And his team is quite obviously underachieving, with even the normally high-powered offense faltering in Sunday night’s embarrassing loss in Green Bay … which followed that embarrassing loss to the previously winless Bucs. Like Quinn, the one thing that currently seems to be going for Schottenheimer and his team is residency in the disastrous NFC East.

Watching the @dallascowboys struggle two weeks in a row reminded me of why we as a Jets offense were terrible in back to back afc championship games in '09' and '10'....mid OC by the name of Brian Schottenheimer.

— Braylon Edwards (@OfficialBraylon) October 19, 2026Nick Sirianni, Philadelphia Eagles (2-4)

You’re probably not going to find a ton of folks claiming to feel for Sirianni, whether in the City of Brotherly Love or elsewhere. But man. His perennially competitive team has lost four in a row while losing most of its key offensive starters to a variety of circumstances. Then Sirianni gets tasked to face local reporters while trying to make sense of the medical mystery – and the team’s handling – of the blood clotting issues that have apparently ended QB Jalen Hurts’ season. Woof. Sirianni may not be for everyone, but he is 67-34 in five-plus seasons, and this will probably be his first without a playoff appearance – hardly his fault given the situation here. Doesn’t mean there isn’t − or won’t be − some measure of the annual heat that seems to bathe his tenure.

JARRETT BELL: Eagles' version of 'transparency' lacking in Jalen Hurts blood clot saga

Shane Steichen, Indianapolis Colts (2-4)

If defeating the then-winless Houston Texans in Week 3 provided a ray of hope, losing to the winless – and far less capable – Titans at home on Sunday extinguished it. Ballard’s departure could be interpreted as a signal that Steichen will be retained, at least until the end of the season – through Irsay-Gordon also expressed what seems like a fairly unrealistic expectation that the Colts achieve something in 2026. But this also feels quite similar to the 2025 Dolphins, when GM Chris Grier unsurprisingly parted with the team on Halloween while then-HC McDaniel finished out the season before his axe fell. The Colts are overleveraged and underperforming – badly – and the long-term outlook might be worse than the current product on the field.

Zac Taylor, Cincinnati Bengals (3-2)

A last-place operation! Seriously, while that shouldn’t currently be a major concern in the tightly packed AFC North, whether this organization values stability or whether it values not paying people who no longer work for it, Taylor’s standing is worth keeping a close eye on. And blame can no longer be laid at the feet of an under-resourced and/or unhappy defense.

Taylor, now in his eighth season, was hired after Marvin Lewis lasted for 16 years here – and Taylor came much closer than Lewis to leading the Bengals to their first championship, coming up just short in Super Bowl 56. But Cincinnati hasn’t reached the playoffs since 2022 and continuity – Taylor was the only returning head coach in the division this season – hasn’t seemed to give them much of a bump yet, nor has a so-far middling offense run by Taylor.

The biggest issue could be the ever-swirling speculation around QB Joe Burrow, who’s only amplified the expectations around this team while also having to address his own occasionally cryptic remarks regarding his future in Cincinnati. But Burrow seems to hold more sway than anyone in this operation, and there’s little doubt who would stick around if it became a choice between the Ohio-bred franchise QB and his coach.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL hot seat coaches led by Dan Quinn after another Commanders' blunder

The Ohio high school field hockey regular season has concluded, and a three-week run to the state tournament is underway. That means it is time to determine the top Columbus-area player for the regular season by voting for your choice.

The 12 candidates are below, in alphabetical order. After reading their bios, scroll down to the ballot and cast your vote.

Voting will conclude at noon Oct. 27. Please do not email your votes; they will not count.

Candidates were nominated by area coaches and The Dispatch sports staff. Postseason accomplishments are not included.

In addition, keep an eye out for the annual All-Metro teams for fall sports in November.

Mae Conroy, Thomas Worthington: The senior goalie and Indiana commit stopped 87 of 95 shots as the last line of defense for the four-time defending state champions. The Cardinals went 13-3-2 and earned the top seed in the regional tournament.

Maddy Fry, Dublin Coffman: A senior midfielder and defender, Fry scored eight goals and assisted on four more during the Shamrocks’ 10-7-1 regular season.

Avery Garrett, Olentangy Liberty: The versatile junior far and away led the Patriots in points during the regular season with 38, split between goals (13) and assists (12). Both of those led the team.

Kelsey Grubbs, Olentangy Berlin: The junior center midfielder had 14 goals and 16 assists through 17 games (12-5) and provides an “excellent defensive presence,” coach Greg Siehl said. Grubbs also is a standout guard and forward for Berlin’s girls basketball team.

Alexis Itano, Olentangy Berlin: The senior forward leads the Bears in goals (16), has assisted on three more and provides speed on the outside.

Katie Neviaser, Columbus Academy: The senior midfielder and Georgetown commit had 13 goals and 18 assists for a team-high 44 points to lead the Vikings (14-2-1), the fourth seed in the regional.

Caroline Overmyer, Upper Arlington: The senior midfielder and linchpin of the Golden Bears’ 2024 and 2025 state tournament teams leads UA (12-5-1) in goals (11), assists (14) and points (36).

Kayla Ruiz Beech, Dublin Coffman: The junior forward/midfielder’s 25 points – nine goals and seven assists – led a balanced Shamrocks team. Ruiz-Beech tied for the team lead in goals.

Riley Snead, New Albany: Coach Marissa Weldon described the Eagles’ senior center back as “an essential part of our offensive and defensive corner units.” New Albany went 14-3-1, earned the second seed in the region and outscored its opponents 58-10. Snead is committed to Batten, a Division III program in Virginia.

Logan Snyder, New Albany: The senior midfielder leads the Eagles in points with 29 (12 goals, 5 assists). The Dartmouth lacrosse commit helps generate offense and anchors the defense on corners.

Camryn Spears, Thomas Worthington: The sophomore attacker had 23 goals, 13 assists and 44 steals in 15 games. Spears missed three games because of a concussion. She is one of MAX Field Hockey’s Top 100 players to watch nationally for the 2029 class.

Kennedy Turner, Olentangy Liberty: The junior forward had 10 goals and four assists, helping the Patriots to an 11-5 regular season.

High school sports reporter Dave Purpura can be reached at dpurpura@dispatch.com and at @dp_dispatch on X.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Vote for top central Ohio field hockey player of regular season

A well-rested UCF football team will need all of its energy to take down undefeated BYU coming off perhaps its biggest win since winning the national championship in 1984.

The Knights enter their homecoming game at 3-3 (1-2 in Big 12) after back-to-back road losses to ranked opponents in Houston and Oklahoma State before their bye week. Keyone Jenkins has been holding down the fort at quarterback since Alonza Barnett III went down with a hamstring injury Sept. 12. There's a chance the James Madison transfer could return to face the Cougars.

BYU (6-0, 3-0) rallied late, then survived a last-second effort by Notre Dame to win the battle of unbeatens 28-24. Quarterback Bear Bachmeier is best known for bulldozing defenders in the run game, but he showcased his passing talents last week by throwing for 224 yards and a touchdown ... while also running in two scores and even catching a 15-yard TD.

Buy UCF vs. BYU football tickets

Here's when the Knights and Cougars square off this week.

UCF football schedule: Knights' next game

UCF hosts BYU, ranked No. 3 in the US LBM Coaches Poll, on Saturday in their Week 8 game. The game will air on Fox with streaming options including Fubo, which offers a free trial for new subscribers.

What time is UCF vs BYU?

The Knights and Cougars kick off at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Bounce House in Orlando, Florida.

UCF vs BYU prediction

There's one bit of good news for UCF: BYU will be without running back LJ Martin, who ran for 101 yards the last time the Cougars came to Orlando in 2024. Otherwise, the Knights are effectively facing a more fine-tuned version of themselves. Neither team scores a ton of points but plays tough on defense, especially against the run. Neither one passes all that much: They're 14th and 15th in the 16-team Big 12 for air yards.

But the gulf between what the BYU defense can do and what the UCF offense can is overwhelming. The Cougars rank 13th in the nation in allowing just under 275 yards per game. The Knights rank a hair above 100th in total offense. Barnett's return would be a huge help, but though he did lead a 70-50 barnburner of a win over a Power 4 team while he was at JMU, 2024 North Carolina isn't quite in the same neighborhood as these Cougars. If BYU also didn't have the No. 8 run defense, maybe we could see Duke Watson and company grinding them down over the course of the game and having the Bounce House crowd carry the day.

Prediction: BYU 31, UCF 13

UCF vs BYU tickets

To see a full list of ticket prices, visit StubHub.

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This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: When is UCF vs BYU? Time, date, TV, prediction for Week 8 game

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The Wisconsin Badgers are only hours after a gut-wrenching 17-7 loss at the hands of the No. 10 UCLA Bruins. Since that loss, a lot has gone around on social media, and not much of it has been good. 

That being said, there is still room for the Badgers to turn it around, as the season is nowhere near finished. The question is: Where do the Badgers have to take the biggest steps forward?

This is still an offense that is ranked No. 94 in the nation in total yards, notching just 341 yards per game. 

In Fickell’s time with the Cincinnati Bearcats, starting in 2017, his offenses averaged 408.8 yards per game. 

Since joining the Badgers, Fickell has averaged 330.4 yards per game. While year two under offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes has seen the Badgers go from 253.1 yards per game to 341 yards per game. 

The lack of consistency has reared its ugly head all season long, especially in the loss against the Bruins, where the offense totaled just 214 yards.

Until this offense becomes more effective, results like these will only continue. 

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion. 

This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: What's next for Wisconsin after first Big Ten loss of the season?

FBL-EUR-C1-BAYERN MUNICH-BODO/GLIMT - AFP

Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich will play no part in Wednesday night's heavyweight Champions League encounter against visiting Premier League champions Arsenal. The Bundesliga holders confirmed that the German international has been granted compassionate leave following a bereavement in his close family.

Compassionate leave rules out midfielder

Kimmich will be absent from the Die Roten squad for Wednesday night's league-phase clash against the Gunners after suffering a bereavement in his close family. The German champions announced the news in a brief statement on Wednesday after the midfielder missed Tuesday's final training session for personal reasons. His unavailability is a major blow for the hosts as they bid to capture a first European crown in seven years.

Bavarian giants request complete privacy

Losing their midfield lynchpin compounds a mounting selection headache for the Bavarian outfit ahead of kick-off in Munich. Winger Michael Olise is suspended following his dismissal last week, attacker Jamal Musiala is sidelined with a thigh injury, and veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer remains a doubt with a foot issue. Head coach Vincent Kompany has also been battling illness and missed his pre-match press conference, though he is still expected to take his place on the touchline.

Confirming the player's absence and offering their support in an official post on X, Bayern stated: "On behalf of the family, we ask that his privacy and grief be respected, and that further inquiries and reporting be refrained from. We send our deepest condolences to Joshua Kimmich and his loved ones."

Due to a passing in his immediate family, Joshua Kimmich is not in the squad today for the match against Arsenal.

On behalf of the family, we ask that his privacy and grief be respected, and that further inquiries and reporting be refrained from.

We send our deepest…

— FC Bayern (@FCBayernEN) October 21, 2026Domestic dominance contrasts European hiccup

Despite those absentees, the German title holders enter the contest unbeaten across six Bundesliga outings while also progressing to the DFB-Pokal second round via a 4-1 victory at second-tier Osnabruck.

Their domestic campaign began with a 5-1 rout of Stuttgart before a goalless draw with Schalke, a narrow win over newly-promoted Elversberg and a 7-0 thrashing of Union Berlin inspired by an Olise hat-trick. After twice coming from behind to salvage a draw against Augsburg, they bounced back on Saturday by dismantling RB Leipzig 6-1 courtesy of a Luis Diaz treble.

In Europe, an opening 5-0 demolition of Bodo/Glimt was followed by a frustrating 3-3 draw away at Viking last week, where they overturned a two-goal deficit to lead 3-2 before conceding a last-minute equaliser.

Formidable home record faces examination

Even without Kimmich anchoring the midfield, Bayern can draw confidence from having lost just one of their last 31 home fixtures in the Champions League, recording 24 wins and six draws. Furthermore, they are unbeaten in eight European outings in Munich since a 2-1 quarter-final defeat to Inter Milan in 2024-25, winning seven of those matches. That imperious Allianz Arena record will now be put to the test against Arsenal.

Would you pay nearly $6,000 to have your ashes stored at your favorite team’s stadium? 

Some Jacksonville Jaguars fans already have as a result of a novel agreement between the NFL team and a company called Eternal Fan, which specializes in designing large-scale artwork that functions as shared memorials.

As the Jaguars’ “official fan memories partner,” Eternal Fan is creating a roughly 14-foot-by-14-foot installation that will be placed on the plaza outside the team’s “Stadium of the Future,” currently under construction and slated to open ahead of the 2028 NFL season. Fans can purchase dedicated space within the memorial—dubbed the 904Ever Club, a nod to Jacksonville’s area code—to store memorabilia and personal items, including sealed cremains.

Design details are still being finalized, but current renderings show a blockish structure topped with a giant football bearing the Jaguars logo and the 904Ever Club name. It will be made of bronze or granite.

“Would I say it’s a brick on steroids? Yeah, maybe,” Eternal Fan founder Matt Linn tells Front Office Sports. “But at the end of the day, we’re creating a type of fan engagement—fan legacies—that’s kind of never been done before.”

Linn has spent nearly 30 years in the funeral industry and currently owns and operates a funeral home in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The idea for Eternal Fan came from decades of listening to end-of-life planning conversations. “So many people talk about wanting to be at their ‘happy place’,” he says, “and so often that has something to do with a sports team.”

Eternal Fan was founded in 2015, but the Jaguars are only the second sports property to embrace its thesis. The first was Richmond Raceway in Virginia, which installed a 21-foot stainless steel memorial shaped like an engine piston on its grounds in 2018. 

The Jaguars partnered with Eternal Fan out of a desire to “create a lasting tribute to the unwavering commitment” of their fans, according to Scott Massey, the team’s SVP of corporate partnerships. He tells FOS the monument will be accessible 365 days a year once finished, though Eternal Fan will control when customers can open and fill their “fan spaces” with approved items.

The Price of Forever

The 904Ever Club’s highest membership tier, the $5,904 “Founders Level,” provides fans with a private space within the memorial and perks such as invitations to special events. Two lower tiers, priced at $2,904 and $904, offer access to communal storage spaces, where fans can keep items in “living memory pouches.”

Eternal Fan sets the prices and keeps all revenue. But it also bears all costs of construction and operation, including annual fees to use the Jaguars’ brand marks and stadium grounds. All told, Linn says the installation will cost “well into the six figures.”

Eternal Fan

The company’s CMO Brad Zimmerman says a portion of each sale goes into a “stewardship account” to cover ongoing maintenance, security, and insurance, as well as any costs associated with relocating the memorial if the Jaguars ever move cities. (Of this situation, he says: “It’s a hypothetical right now, but I believe we would give people the option to stay or go.”)

Zimmerman declined to specify how many fan spaces have sold, but says purchasers tend to fall into two categories: those buying to honor their own fandom and those buying to memorialize a Jaguars fan who has already died.

Sizing the Afterlife Market

Funeral homes and funeral-product makers FOS reached said they don’t formally track sports-related end-of-life requests, but acknowledged they are made with some regularity. A spokesperson for Batesville Casket Company, which provides caskets and cremation urns, said: “Families today want a memorial that reflects who their loved one really was, and for many people, a favorite team is a big part of that identity.”

It’s also not uncommon for prisoners facing execution to use their last words to call out support for a beloved team, and some fans have even gone so far as to write already-wealthy athletes into their wills.

Zimmerman and Linn see these trends as proof that Eternal Fan’s offerings have a market, and they point to rising cremation rates as another reason to make alternative memorial options more visible. “It sounds crazy, but everyone knows there’s very few guarantees in life, and [death] is one of them,” says Zimmerman. “ A big part of our marketing moving forward is going to be to get this conversation out in the open and make people more comfortable and familiar with it.” 

For now, Eternal Fan is targeting partnerships with other NFL and college football programs—these have the most devoted fan bases and college, specifically, is always searching for more revenue. But the company eventually aims to expand into other properties like concert venues, amusement parks, and golf courses.  

The Jaguars deal is a major stamp of approval, and Linn says a second engagement with a “major Division I university” is also nearing the finish line. Still, he’s realistic that the concept may not ever go fully mainstream.

“This ultimately isn’t for everyone,” Linn tells FOS. “Maybe it ends up being right for half of Division I schools and half of the NFL. We want to make sure we can service everything properly, and we want to pick the right partners. This is a permanent piece of fandom—you have to get in there with [teams] and make sure they’re really going to be deeply connected.”

The post Die-Hard Sports Fandom Has Reached the Afterlife appeared first on Front Office Sports.

While much of the focus in 2026 has been on high school football, basketball is starting to grab some headlines. As hard as it may be to believe, several states will tip off their seasons in just a few weeks.

Who are the nation's top players entering the 2026-27 season? USA TODAY High School Sports is taking a look at the answer, with a first look at the boys basketball composite rankings for the 2027 class, based on industry data.

Here are the top 50 seniors entering the season...

T-1. Beckham Black - Southeastern Prep (Orlando, FL)

Position: Point Guard

Height: 6-3

Weight: 180

Industry composite ranking: 2.00

College commitment: Uncommitted

T-1. CJ Rosser - Southeastern Prep (Orlando, FL)

Position: Power Forward

Height: 6-10

Weight: 195

Industry composite ranking: 2.00

College commitment: Uncommitted

3. Demarcus Henry - Compass Prep (Chandler, AZ)

Position: Small Forward

Height: 6-7

Weight: 190

Industry composite ranking: 2.67

College commitment: Uncommitted

T-4. Cayden Daughtry - Calvary Christian Academy (Fort Lauderdale, FL)

Position: Point Guard

Height: 6-0

Weight: 160

Industry composite ranking: 5.00

College commitment: Uncommitted

T-4. AJ Williams - Eagle's Landing Christian Academy (McDonough, GA)

Position: Small Forward

Height: 6-8

Weight: 210

Industry composite ranking: 5.00

College commitment: Uncommitted

6. Adan Diggs - Millennium (Goodyear, AZ)

Position: Combo Guard

Height: 6-5

Weight: 180

Industry composite ranking: 6.33

College commitment: Uncommitted

7. Lewis Uvwo - Prolific Prep (Fort Lauderdale, FL)

Position: Power Forward

Height: 6-11

Weight: 225

Industry composite ranking: 7.67

College commitment: Uncommitted

8. Asa Montgomery - Hillgrove (Powder Springs, GA)

Position: Power Forward

Height: 6-7

Weight: 200

Industry composite ranking: 8.33

College commitment: Uncommitted

9. Reese Alston - Houston Second Baptist (Houston, TX)

Position: Point Guard

Height: 6-2

Weight: 175

Industry composite ranking: 9.33

College commitment: Uncommitted

10. Nasir Anderson - Prolific Prep (Fort Lauderdale, FL)

Position: Point Guard

Height: 6-4

Weight: 205

Industry composite ranking: 11.33

College commitment: Uncommitted

11. NaVorro Bowman Jr. - Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, CA)

Position: Point Guard

Height: 6-3

Weight: 180

Industry composite ranking: 11.67

College commitment: UConn

12. Jordan Page - IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL)

Position: Shooting Guard

Height: 6-5

Weight: 195

Industry composite ranking: 12.33

College commitment: UConn

13. Darius Wabbington - Sunnyslope (Phoenix, AZ)

Position: Center

Height: 6-10

Weight: 245

Industry composite ranking: 12.67

College commitment: Indiana

14. Moussa Kamissoko - SPIRE Academy (Geneva, OH)

Position: Small Forward

Height: 6-8

Weight: 180

Industry composite ranking: 13.67

College commitment: Syracuse

15. King Gibson - SPIRE Academy (Geneva, OH)

Position: Combo Guard

Height: 6-4

Weight: 185

Industry composite ranking: 14.33

College commitment: LSU

16. Jalen Davis - Bremerton (WA)

Position: Point Guard

Height: 6-3

Weight: 165

Industry composite ranking: 17.33

College commitment: Uncommitted

17. Kager Knueppel - Wisconsin Lutheran (Milwaukee, WI)

Position: Power Forward

Height: 6-10

Weight: 220

Industry composite ranking: 18.00

College commitment: Duke

18. Dooney Johnson - East River (Orlando, FL)

Position: Combo Guard

Height: 6-6

Weight: 185

Industry composite ranking: 18.67

College commitment: Gonzaga

19. Malachi Jordan - Prolific Prep (Fort Lauderdale, FL)

Position: Small Forward

Height: 6-6

Weight: 205

Industry composite ranking: 21.00

College commitment: Uncommitted

20. Paul Osaruyi - Bella Vista Prep (Scottsdale, AZ)

Position: Center

Height: 6-10

Weight: 210

Industry composite ranking: 21.67

College commitment: Uncommitted

21. Isaiah Hill - Pike (Indianapolis, IN)

Position: Center

Height: 7-0

Weight: 205

Industry composite ranking: 22.67

College commitment: Purdue

22. Ryan Hampton - Rockwall-Heath (Rockwall, TX)

Position: Shooting Guard

Height: 6-6

Weight: 205

Industry composite ranking: 23.33

College commitment: Kentucky

23. Antonio Pemberton - Masters Academy International (Stow, MA)

Position: Point Guard

Height: 6-1

Weight: 165

Industry composite ranking: 24.33

College commitment: Michigan State

T-24. Ahmad Hudson - Ruston (LA)

Position: Center

Height: 6-6

Weight: 245

Industry composite ranking: 25.67

College commitment: LSU

T-24. Chase Lumpkin - McEachern (Powder Springs, GA)

Position: Shooting Guard

Height: 6-4

Weight: 180

Industry composite ranking: 25.67

College commitment: Alabama

26. Dawson Battie - St. Mark's (Dallas, TX)

Position: Small Forward

Height: 6-8

Weight: 215

Industry composite ranking: 26.67

College commitment: Nebraska

T-27. Micah Gordon - SPIRE Academy (Geneva, OH)

Position: Point Guard

Height: 5-11

Weight: 180

Industry composite ranking: 30.33

College commitment: Creighton

T-27. Zion Green - Compass Prep (Chandler, AZ)

Position: Small Forward

Height: 6-9

Weight: 190

Industry composite ranking: 30.33

College commitment: Uncommitted

29. Devin Cleveland - La Lumiere School (La Porte, IN)

Position: Shooting Guard

Height: 6-3

Weight: 160

Industry composite ranking: 30.67

College commitment: Uncommitted

T-30. Chase Branham - La Lumiere School (La Porte, IN)

Position: Shooting Guard

Height: 6-4

Weight: 175

Industry composite ranking: 31.67

College commitment: Indiana

T-30. Josh Leonard - IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL)

Position: Small Forward

Height: 6-7

Weight: 205

Industry composite ranking: 31.67

College commitment: Uncommitted

32. Ahmed Nur- Bella Vista Prep (Scottsdale, AZ)

Position: Power Forward

Height: 6-8

Weight: 190

Industry composite ranking: 33.33

College commitment: Uncommitted

33. Scottie Adkinson - Webster Groves (St. Louis, MO)

Position: Point Guard

Height: 6-4

Weight: 190

Industry composite ranking: 35.00

College commitment: Missouri

34. Kevin Savage - Wheeler (Marietta, GA)

Position: Point Guard

Height: 5-11

Weight: 160

Industry composite ranking: 35.33

College commitment: Purdue

35. Dylan Jones - Bartlett (TN)

Position: Small Forward

Height: 6-6

Weight: 180

Industry composite ranking: 35.67

College commitment: Uncommitted

36. Cherif Millogo - St. Francis (La Canada Flintridge, CA)

Position: Center

Height: 7-5

Weight: 250

Industry composite ranking: 37.00

College commitment: Uncommitted

37. Oneal Delancy - Montverde Academy (FL)

Position: Shooting Guard

Height: 6-3

Weight: 170

Industry composite ranking: 40.33

College commitment: Houston

38. Jarvis Hayes Jr. - Woodward Academy (Atlanta, GA)

Position: Shooting Guard

Height: 6-5

Weight: 160

Industry composite ranking: 41.33

College commitment: Georgia

39. J'lon Lyons - Clinton Grace Christian (MD)

Position: Point Guard

Height: 6-2

Weight: 175

Industry composite ranking: 42.33

College commitment: Butler

40. Kamsi Awaka - Blair Academy (NJ)

Position: Center

Height: 6-10

Weight: 250

Industry composite ranking: 43.67

College commitment: Uncommitted

41. Josiah Harrington - North Scott (Eldridge, IA)

Position: Center

Height: 6-5

Weight: 200

Industry composite ranking: 44.33

College commitment: Iowa State

42. TJ Jamison - Calvary Baptist Academy (Shreveport, LA)

Position: Point Guard

Height: 6-2

Weight: 170

Industry composite ranking: 44.67

College commitment: Baylor

43. Jaxson Davis - Monarch Academy (Kansas City, KS)

Position: Point Guard

Height: 6-1

Weight: 165

Industry composite ranking: 48.00

College commitment: Ohio State

44. Darrell Davis - SPIRE Academy (Geneva, OH)

Position: Point Guard

Height: 5-11

Weight: 160

Industry composite ranking: 49.00

College commitment: Houston

45. Jahari Miller - Faith Family Academy of Oak Cliff (Dallas, TX)

Position: Point Guard

Height: 6-2

Weight: 190

Industry composite ranking: 49.33

College commitment: Uncommitted

46. Howard Williams - Dynamic Prep (Dallas, TX)

Position: Small Forward

Height: 6-6

Weight: 225

Industry composite ranking: 52.00

College commitment: Arizona State

47. RJ Moore Jr. - Ambassador Christian (Huntersville, NC)

Position: Shooting Guard

Height: 6-6

Weight: 185

Industry composite ranking: 53.00

College commitment: Rutgers

48. Gene Roebuck - La Mirada (CA)

Position: Shooting Guard

Height: 6-4

Weight: 180

Industry composite ranking: 53.67

College commitment: Uncommitted

49. Justin Wise - North Oconee (Bogart, GA)

Position: Shooting Guard

Height: 6-4

Weight: 175

Industry composite ranking: 55.33

College commitment: Georgia

50. Tyran Frazier - Principia (St. Louis, MO)

Position: Power Forward

Height: 6-9

Weight: 190

Industry composite ranking: 56.33

College commitment: Uncommitted

Follow Sports Reporter Joe Spears on X at @joe_spears7 or via email: JSpears@usatodayco.com. For additional high school sports coverage, be sure to follow USA TODAY High School Sports on Instagram and X.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2027 basketball recruiting rankings: Top 50 high school players