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Lars Ricken: “Our goal is to come back with a win”

Lars Ricken on Konstantinos Karetsas:“Kos has a ligament injury in his foot. He won’t be flying to Baku and won’t be able to play against Frankfurt on Saturday either. That’s frustrating, of course, but we initially expected the worst after seeing the reactions of his players.”

… the trip to Azerbaijan:“It’s been an intense week. Just a few days ago, we were still north of the Arctic Circle. After we got back, we headed to Berlin just a few hours later. Now the travel time to Baku is five hours. It’s worth mentioning, but no one’s going to complain about it. That’s just part of the deal when you play for Borussia Dortmund. Sabah is certainly a very strong defensive team with a lot of confidence. They’re in first place in the league, and they’ve just won in the Champions League. Nevertheless, our goal should be to return with a victory.”

… the standings after one win and one loss:“Of course, we can read the standings and know which opponents are still ahead of us. Naturally, there’s a certain amount of pressure, but I think we should view this more as motivation and a privilege, because it also reflects our ambition—that we have high goals.”

… three consecutive games without a win:“We can see that we’re going through a somewhat difficult phase right now. Going three games in a row without a win isn’t normal for Borussia Dortmund. But we have to remind ourselves that we established an excellent position for ourselves early in the season—in the Bundesliga, the DFB Cup, and the Champions League. That’s still the case. Now it’s about showing our willingness to fight and, in the truest sense of the word, to defend that position. But of course, we also want to take the initiative more often on offense again—to be aggressive and determined, create scoring chances, score goals, and regain that hunger to win the games at all costs. When you have a challenge like this in the Champions League, you can fly to Baku with enthusiasm and anticipation. That should be our mindset now.”

… the sluggish offense: “It’s difficult. In principle, you can’t fault the team when it comes to attitude. They’ve really given it their all in every game. In all three games, we actually had individually stronger players in every position. But we shouldn’t rely on that during the games; instead, we need to work together as a united team from the very start to ensure that we win the games through our offense. The foundation, of course, lies in defense, but we’ve been proving that for quite some time now.”Recorded by Christina Reinke

Voting is now open for The Jackson Sun's area high school boys athlete of the week from Oct. 12-17. The poll closes Oct. 22 at 4 p.m.

Nominees are:

JC Gray, Adamsville: Gray was 7-of-7 passing for 123 yards and two touchdowns and had 167 yards and four touchdowns on 12 carries in Adamsville's 56-12 win over Loretto. He added an interception on defense.

Jaden Butler, Haywood: Butler rushed eight times for 203 yards and three touchdowns and converted two two-point attempts in Haywood's 43-0 win over Memphis Business Academy.

Jaden Champion, Humboldt: Champion was 17-of-23 for 317 yards and four touchdowns through the air while adding a touchdown with his legs in Humboldt's 47-7 win over Lake County.

Kelsey Rose Jr., Jackson Christian: Rose had six tackles, two for a loss and a sack, four catches for 40 yards and blocked two punts in Jackson Christian's 49-20 win over Harding.

Carson Kelley, Milan: Kelley had 112 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries in Milan's 49-0 win over Halls.

Stream Tennessee HS football live on NFHS Network

Chace Jenkins, Obion County: Jenkins finished with 12 catches for 264 yards and two touchdowns, including a 87-yard touchdown catch, in Obion County's 29-28 loss to South Fulton.

Jake Payne, USJ: Payne made four catches for 88 yards and a touchdown in USJ's 37-0 win over Dyer County.

The top two picks from the 2026 draft clash on Monday. And while Gavin McKenna has received a lot of attention in the big Toronto market so far, how has Ivar Stenberg's career started? Scout Jason Bukala looks closer at his impact.

Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP via Getty Images | AFP via Getty Images

Hansi Flick is facing quite the selection headache ahead of Barcelona’s Champions League clash with PSG on Tuesday as Jules Kounde and Eric Garcia have been ruled along with Andreas Christensen, leaving the coach with very few defenders available.

Gerard Martín is also a doubt and the coach did not want to confirm whether the full-back could start on Tuesday or not, but he did speak about the other options at center-back currently available in the squad.

“We have options. Rodri and Frenkie can play [center-back]. Àlex Campos is with us; he’s trained with us for the first time. I’m positive. It’s not the best time for us, but we have to accept it. Jules will be back soon; maybe he’ll be an option for the weekend. We have to wait and see.”

It sounds like Martín will be good to go as Pau Cubarsí’s partner, but Flick is more than ready to try something else if Maldini isn’t quite fit enough.

Flick’s ability to remain calm when facing these kinds of problems is one of his best qualities as coach, and he will have full trust in whatever back four combination he ends up choosing on Tuesday.

Chauncey “Chuck” Kennon, the 18-year-old who was the top recruit in Florida State’s 2026 football class, is accused of driving a Dodge Durango past 150 mph through Hillsborough County, Florida, around 2 a.m. on Oct. 10 while a woman in the SUV asked him more than 10 times to let her out. That is the account in a Florida Highway Patrol arrest affidavit, as reported by FOX 13 Tampa Bay. Kennon is charged with aggravated fleeing to elude, false imprisonment and resisting an officer without violence. He is presumed innocent, and none of the reports I found includes a statement from him or an attorney.

What the affidavit says happened on State Road 60

An officer clocked a black Dodge SUV at 70 mph in a 50 mph zone near State Road 60 and South Maydell Drive in Tampa, according to the affidavit. As a deputy and an FHP trooper moved to catch up, the SUV went to 90 mph. The trooper turned on lights and siren, and the driver kept going.

At State Road 60 and U.S. 301 the SUV ran a red light while other vehicles were crossing, swerved, and hit a raised curb, the affidavit says. Eastbound on State Road 60 it passed 150 mph in multiple 50 mph zones. On southbound Interstate 75 a trooper’s cruiser reached 140 mph and the SUV still pulled away. At 150 mph a vehicle covers 220 feet every second, so a 300-foot football field goes by in about 1.4 seconds.

A black Dodge Durango Citadel in a file photo taken in Orlando, not the SUV from this case. Photo: Bull-Doser / Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

Another trooper spotted the SUV near U.S. 41 and Big Bend Road in Apollo Beach with a flat right front tire, consistent with the curb strike. It stopped on the westbound shoulder of Big Bend Road near Wyandotte Road, disabled. Dashcam video aired by WFLA shows the driver getting out and running. He ran east, then north toward an industrial plant, and troopers and deputies set a perimeter with aviation and K-9 units helping. Nobody was arrested at the scene. Investigators identified Kennon from an unlocked phone left in the SUV that held photos of him in a gold chain, which they said matched the chain in the dashcam video and his driver’s license photo. WCTV, citing court records, reported that he turned himself in on Monday, Oct. 12.

At about 3:35 a.m. a trooper found a woman with cuts on her arm and clothing covered in dirt, blood and grass, the affidavit says. She first gave investigators a different account of how she got there. After being advised of her rights, she said she had been with Kennon in Ybor City before he began driving recklessly, that she asked him more than 10 times to stop and let her out, and that he refused. She said she held onto her seat belt. Troopers cited her account, the dashcam video and their identification of Kennon as support for the charges.

How a passenger’s account becomes a second felony

Florida defines false imprisonment in Section 787.02 as restraining or confining another person “against her or his will” and without lawful authority. The statute does not require a locked door, a weapon or a hand on the person. It is a third-degree felony, which carries up to five years under Section 775.082. Troopers cited the woman’s statement that she asked to leave a moving car and was refused as support for the count.

The two main counts rest on different kinds of proof. The red light, the curb strike and the foot chase are on dashcam video, and the speeds come from the affidavit. The false imprisonment count depends on one person’s account, and the affidavit itself says that account changed once. Whether prosecutors file the count as arrested is not known yet.

WCTV reported that a judge set bond at $5,000 on the false imprisonment count, $2,500 on the fleeing count and $500 on the resisting count, and ordered Kennon to have no contact with the woman and to stay in Hillsborough County. The bond on the fleeing count is half the bond on the count that depends on her testimony.

What aggravated fleeing carries without a crash or an injury

Section 316.1935 sets fleeing a marked patrol vehicle with lights and siren on at a third-degree felony. Add driving at high speed or with wanton disregard for the safety of people or property, and it becomes a second-degree felony, with a ceiling of 15 years under Section 775.082. No injury or collision is required. A collision that causes serious bodily injury or death moves it to a first-degree felony with a three-year mandatory minimum, and the reports I read describe no such charge here.

A conviction under the first four subsections of that statute also requires the court to revoke the driver license for at least one year and no more than five. Resisting an officer without violence, under Section 843.02, is a first-degree misdemeanor with a one-year ceiling. Those are statutory maximums, not predictions, and a judge sets the sentence.

Florida State’s statement, and a second chase the same Saturday

FOX 13 reported that a university spokesperson said Kennon was dismissed from the football program for “conduct detrimental to the team.” The school did not confirm a link to the arrest. He played one snap this season, against Virginia on Oct. 3.

Later that same Saturday, FHP says a Corvette left I-275 at the State Road 56 exit near Wesley Chapel at about 130 mph with a trooper behind it. That driver was also charged with aggravated fleeing to elude, which makes two Tampa Bay high-speed pursuit arrests within about a day of each other.

What happens next in Hillsborough County

The reports I found list no court dates. An arrest affidavit is the police agency’s account, and the State Attorney’s Office decides which charges to file, so the final counts can differ from the ones on the jail record. As of WCTV’s Oct. 14 report, Kennon was in custody in Hillsborough County, and the coverage does not say whether he has posted bond.

If a driver runs from troopers at 150 mph with a passenger asking to get out, should prosecutors add a false imprisonment charge on top of the fleeing charge, or is the fleeing charge already the whole offense?

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Winning the first game of the season is a great way to start, but it doesn't necessarily dictate the way your year will go. In 2025, the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots both lost in Week 1—and still wound up playing each other in the Super Bowl.

The Carolina Panthers got blown out in their 2026 opener, losing a wild shootout against the Chicago Bears that got away from them in the second half. Along the way, they allowed 59 points to go with 291 yards and six touchdowns on the ground. That put them back at the very bottom of the NFL in run defense, bringing up memories of their historically-bad 2024 season.

However, since that Week 1 collapse, Carolina's defense has actually been pretty good.

The details are impressive since Week 2—including ranking second in scoring defense, fifth in yards per play and 10th versus the run . . .

Ejiro Evero's defense since Week 1:

Points allowed: 16.0 (2nd)
Rush TDs allowed: 0.5 (4th)
Yards per play: 4.71 (5th)
Yards allowed: 304.8 (8th)
Third down: 34.5% (8th)
Rush yards allowed: 92.5 (10th)

In hindsight, Chicago was the outlier. And he's coached the last two games… pic.twitter.com/TF6RDn1jpo

— Cory Puckett (@PuckettTakes) October 19, 2026

Sunday's 25-14 win saw the Panthers hold to the Philadelphia Eagles offense, albeit a battered one, to just 222 total yards. They also limited them to 3.6 yards per play and a 40-percent success rate on third-down attempts.

These are some very promising numbers, especially considering that starting cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson have been sidelined for the past two outings. So props to much-maligned defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.

Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.

This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers defense rebounding in a dramatic way after nightmarish season opener

Florida basketball is locked and loaded for a run at the NCAA Tournament and a second national title in three years. The Gators return four starters and 81.8% of their scoring from last year's squad while re-adding a key contributor in Denzel Aberdeen.

While expectations are sky-high entering the 2026-27 campaign, Todd Golden's gang fell flat in the first of two preseason matchups on Sunday, falling in overtime to Baylor, 82-76, in Jacksonville. While there were plenty of positive takeaways from the defeat, there are still a few loose ends that need to be addressed before kicking off the regular-season schedule.

Despite the disappointing exhibition results, Florida finds itself atop the preseason USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll with 732 points and 20 first-place votes. That puts the Gators seven points and 12 first-place votes ahead of second-place Duke, and 49 points and 18 first-place votes ahead of third-place Illinois.

The preseason poll includes seven SEC schools among the top 25, headlined by top-ranked Florida, followed by Texas (No. 7), Tennessee (No. 9), Arkansas (No. 13), Alabama (No. 18), Vanderbilt (No. 21) and Kentucky (No. 23). Missouri (60), Texas A&M (19) and Auburn (1) also appeared on the initial ballot.

Florida will play its second exhibition game of the preseason against the Stetson Hatters on Oct. 27 inside the O'Connell Center. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast on the SEC Network+.

USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll preseason top-25 rankingsRKTEAMRECPTS1stPVCHH/L1Florida0-073220NR-1/12Duke0-07258NR-2/23Illinois0-06832NR-3/34Arizona0-06340NR-4/45UConn0-06120NR-5/56Michigan St0-05700NR-6/67Texas0-05270NR-7/78Houston0-04860NR-8/89Tennessee0-04360NR-9/910Virginia0-04090NR-10/1011Louisville0-03690NR-11/1112Gonzaga0-03610NR-12/1213Arkansas0-03450NR-13/1314St. John's0-03160NR-14/1414Iowa State0-03160NR-14/1416Texas Tech0-03140NR-16/1617Miami (FL)0-02920NR-17/1718Kansas0-02860NR-18/1818Alabama0-02860NR-18/1820Michigan0-02190NR-20/2021Vanderbilt0-01640NR-21/2122USC0-01030NR-22/2223Kentucky0-01000NR-23/2324Purdue0-0830NR-24/2425BYU0-0760NR-25/25Others Receiving Votes

Nebraska 66; UCLA 64; Missouri 60; Ohio State 31; North Carolina 24; Texas A&M 19; Villanova 14; Indiana 9; Wisconsin 5; Saint Louis 4; Cincinnati 4; West Virginia 2; Creighton 2; Maryland 1; Auburn 1

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida sits atop preseason Coaches Poll heading into 2026-27 season

Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The streets of Paris are full of demonstrations, some of which have turned into riots, as nationwide protests over the cost of living and poor conditions in schools have swept across France. But that won’t stop the NFL from proceeding with its scheduled International Series game between the New Orleans Saints and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Stade de France on Sunday.

The league released a statement on Sunday indicating “preparations continue as scheduled for NFL events and the game at Stade de France next Sunday,” despite the civil unrest in France. “We continue to work closely with local authorities and partners on all operational and security matters. We are also providing the two clubs with regular updates. There’s been no disruption or impact at league sites,” the league’s statement continued.

The Saints are scheduled to arrive in Paris on Monday, while the Steelers will travel later in the week.

The game, which is scheduled to air on NFL Network at 9:30 a.m. ET, will test how the NFL handles similar situations in the future. While the demonstrations have mostly subsided for now, such social movements can be unpredictable and create tenuous public-safety conditions.

The NFL has made no secret of its desire to expand internationally, perhaps selling a full-season package of international games to a broadcaster once an 18-game regular season becomes a reality.

But whether it be the field conditions in Brazil or civil unrest in France, the decision to expand beyond American borders raises a host of concerns the league hasn’t necessarily dealt with before. The NFL has plenty of experience handling extenuating circumstances that could affect games domestically, but comparatively little experience dealing with foreign authorities, who might act differently.

Given that this Sunday’s game is the first in NFL history to be scheduled in France, the league will have its hands full making sure the game goes off without a hitch.

The post NFL is full steam ahead on Paris game amid civil unrest appeared first on Awful Announcing.

Leeds United 1-1 Manchester United: Calvert-Lewin cancels out Mbeumo opener as rivals share points at Elland Road

Leeds United came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Elland Road, denying Michael Carrick’s side a much-needed Premier League victory in a fiercely contested meeting between the two rivals.

Manchester United forward Bryan Mbeumo opened the scoring in the 35th minute, but Leeds striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin equalised shortly after half-time. Neither side could find a winner, with Daniel Farke’s Leeds extending their unbeaten home run to eight Premier League matches while United’s difficult start continued.

As it happened

The opening exchanges were physical, with Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes and Leeds wing-back Gabriel Gudmundsson both receiving yellow cards inside the first 20 minutes. Leeds created the first clear opportunity when Nico Elvedi met Anton Stach’s free-kick with a downward header, forcing goalkeeper Senne Lammens into a sharp save.

United responded immediately, with Youri Tielemans delivering a cross from the right that found Mbeumo unmarked in the area. The Cameroon international failed to direct his header on target, allowing Leeds to escape.

Mbeumo made amends in the 35th minute. Manchester United midfielder Tielemans combined with Amad Diallo on the right before delivering a low cross into the area, where Mbeumo swept a first-time finish beyond James Trafford to give the visitors the lead.

Leeds emerged with greater attacking intent after the interval and equalised in the 51st minute. Stach delivered a corner that defender Tarik Muharemović headed past Noussair Mazraoui, allowing Calvert-Lewin to control the ball before firing past Lammens from close range.

The hosts continued to threaten through Jayden Bogle, whose deliveries from the right caused problems for United’s defence. Leeds captain Ethan Ampadu appealed for a penalty after being brought down by Harry Maguire during a corner, but VAR allowed play to continue.

United had opportunities to regain their advantage, with Fernandes dragging an effort narrowly wide after combining with Amad and Leny Yoro. At the other end, Stach fired over following a poor defensive clearance as both teams searched for a second goal.

Neither side could produce a decisive moment in the closing stages. Lammens failed to deal convincingly with a late Bogle cross, but Stach’s subsequent effort was blocked. Ampadu and United midfielder Andrey Santos were then booked following a confrontation in stoppage time as the rivals settled for a point apiece.

Liverpool have an option to buy Ronald Araujo for £47.2m at the end of the season [Getty Images]

Seeing Ronald Araujo with the South American drink known as Mate is becoming a regularity around Liverpool.

Those close to the 27-year-old say that true to his Uruguayan heritage, he takes the caffeinated beverage - made by steeping dry leaves in warm water - wherever he goes.

The sight of defender Araujo in Liverpool's starting line-up is also becoming the norm this season.

For all the focus on Liverpool's big-money signings, it is the one they got on loan that is increasingly looking like one of their most important deals.

Since arriving on a season-long loan from Barcelona, Araujo has started eight of Liverpool's 10 games under Andoni Iraola, with six of those appearances coming at right-back and four at centre-back.

Last week, he scored his first Liverpool goal with a header against LASK and there was a backheel assist for Dominik Szoboszlai against Atletico Madrid.

With Conor Bradley out since January with a knee injury and Jeremie Frimpong now sidelined until the November international break with a muscle injury, Araujo, who is taking English lessons, is seizing the chance to showcase the versatility and experience that attracted Liverpool to him.

"I came from a big side, as is Liverpool. I think people here, it's almost like they are more intense when you go down the street, when you go out to the centre of Liverpool, or when you go out to eat something. But that's lovely. You see how they experience football themselves," Araujo said on Monday.

"I am really happy here. My family is very happy and that's also very important. I'm just really hungry to go on this season and give the best I can of myself and continue to learn and grow as a player. I'm having that game time and that's what I want and then we'll see what happens and what I want for the future."

At Barcelona last season, Araujo was granted a leave of absence to prioritise his mental health and the move to England in the summer felt like one that suited all parties - even if he was initially seen as a stopgap solution for Liverpool

Araujo, who has 29 caps for Uruguay, took a wage cut and Liverpool have an option to buy him in the summer for £47m.

It is a hefty sum and remains an unlikely outcome, but the understanding for now is that Araujo is just happy to show his qualities to everyone once again.

"It's very early to talk about these things," he said, when asked about his future.

"I'm just trying to enjoy every day and continue to develop and to play and to give what's required of me to have that confidence. I'm really happy to be here but it's a bit early to be talking about those things."

Araujo's celebration means giving glory to God rather than taking credit for himself [Getty Images]Leaving Liverpool with a decision to make

With Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez's contracts expiring this summer, Liverpool sporting director Julian Ward will have some important decisions to make.

When everyone is fit, Liverpool are well-stocked in the centre-back department and the way Jeremy Jacquet, 21, has settled in since moving from Rennes in the summer is proof that if you are good enough, you are old enough.

Alongside Van Dijk, 35, Gomez, 29, and Jacquet, 19-year-old Giovanni Leoni will offer another option once fit. Leoni is hoping to return next month from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury he sustained on his debut in September 2025.

Liverpool also have an option to buy back Jarell Quansah from Bayer Leverkusen this summer so are not short of options.

The likes of 18-year-old Ifeanyi Ndukwe, currently on loan at Levante in La Liga, and Mor Talla Ndiaye, 18, are names for the future too.

Liverpool did not initially plan to bring in Araujo this summer, but given their injury crisis were forced to act and his abilities have largely benefited Iraola this season.

"Ronald [Araujo] was one of those situations that before the market was not there and the situation appeared," said Iraola.

"Then we talked to the player - the first conversation I had with him was quite encouraging. You see a hungry and experienced player who has played in a top club and is willing to show the level."

"I told him that sometimes we will need you playing as a right-back and he was ready for everything to help the team - the more he plays, the more he speaks the language and the more he learns from his team-mates, the more we will benefit from his experience. Everything has been quite positive with him."

For Araujo, the focus is clear.

"Coming to a club like Liverpool is not easy. There are demands and responsibilities. I'd already experienced that in Barcelona and ultimately that's a huge club where there are huge demands where every game you need to give your very best. You play well in one game, but you have to come back and do that again," he said.

Do that, and both Iraola and Ward may be left with a decision to make.

• Why has Araujo joined Liverpool and where did it go wrong at Barcelona?

• Latest Liverpool news, analysis and fan views
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How many times do you have to lose before you make history?

Daniel Suárez has lost far more races than he has won, but it was precisely those defeats that helped him reach the top of NASCAR.

This is the story of how a kid who didn’t speak English, who lived with friends because he didn’t have a Social Security number to rent an apartment, and who drove a “vochito” from Monterrey across the border into the United States, made his way in the most closed-off sport in the American South, and why he says being Mexican is his “biggest ace.”

Daniel Suárez was 11 years old the first time he got into a go-kart. He remembers feeling, with the absolute certainty of a child, that God had given him a special talent for driving race cars. He was faster than everyone else. And for years, that was enough.

But talent, he says today, only takes you so far.

When he reached the upper levels of NASCAR, he realized something that changed everything: at the highest level, there are only 36 drivers. Thirty-six. And every single one of them once felt the way he did at 11: chosen, gifted with a special talent. The difference, then, wasn’t talent. It was everything else.

“I had to take many, many losses to be able to get here. There’s no way you can succeed at something without going through a lot of setbacks. The important thing is to always keep getting back up.”

Suárez finished a strong seventh in the Freeway Insurance 500, the NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway, on Sunday, Oct. 18.

Getting here, the barriers for Suárez were literal. There was a time when he was living in the United States without speaking English, without money, without a Social Security number. “And without a Social Security number, no one will rent you an apartment,” he said. So he lived with friends, moving from house to house, while trying to learn a language that closed doors before he had a chance to open them.

“Like many immigrants, I had nothing. I didn’t speak English. I didn’t have money,” he said.

And in the middle of all that, there was a race. A small race, in a small place, in 2013. It doesn’t appear among his most important records. It doesn’t carry the prestige of a championship. But for Daniel Suárez, that race meant everything.

“It was a turning point after all the work I had put in trying to learn English, being there, working and winning for the first time in the United States. It was the beginning of the whole wave of everything that came afterward,” he said in an interview with The Arizona Republic.

The day he stopped being ‘the different one’

What followed was historic: more victories, championships, and confirmation that a Mexican driver could win on the most hostile turf. He became the first driver born outside the United States to win a Cup Series race. The first to win a championship. The first to win a race outside the United States.

But there’s something striking about the way Suárez tells the story of that journey. For a long time, he believed that being different, being Mexican, speaking Spanish, coming from another country, was his biggest disadvantage. Until one day, after reaching the upper levels of the sport, he understood it all.

“I started to realize that being different, being Mexican, is the biggest advantage I have. It’s the biggest ace I have,” he said.

He explains it with a scene that sounds almost like something out of a comedy: “We just finished Hispanic Heritage Month, and in NASCAR, I’m the only Mexican. The only one who can speak Spanish. Imagine how many opportunities that creates. Everyone wants a little piece of me,” he says with a smile.

The rock he had been chipping away at for years finally cracked open. And behind it was a world of opportunities that only he, from his unique position, could seize.

Sometimes he doubts himself. He wonders whether he’s doing the right thing, whether he’s good enough. “Even how good I am,” he admits. But doubt doesn’t paralyze him; it pushes him.

“I know that no one has handed me what I have today. I’ve had to work for everything I have. No one has given me anything, and what I have, I deserve. I’ve earned it.”

Discipline beats talent

If you ask Suárez what matters most when it comes to reaching a goal, talent, discipline, preparation, confidence or where you come from, he doesn’t hesitate. Talent is only the starting point.

“All 36 of us have talent. The difference is how disciplined you are, how hard you’re willing to work, and how good a teammate you are.”

Because in NASCAR, he says, no one wins alone.

“I can do my job 100%, but without my engineers, without my mechanics, without the tire changers, it doesn’t work. It’s very important to be a good teammate and to understand that there will be good days and bad days. On the bad days, you have to learn,” he says.

And then there’s that hunger that never goes away.

“It’s very easy to say, ‘I’ve made it here, I’m making good money.’ But you have to have that fire inside you, that hunger to always want more,” he says.

The hour before the roar

Daniel Suárez has a ritual before every race, one that reveals more about him than any victory. A few hours before getting into the car, he steps away from the fans and sponsors and shuts himself away for a few minutes.

He closes his eyes.

First, he visualizes the sacrifices: his family, the difficult moments, everything he had to leave behind to get there. Then he visualizes the victories, the big moments. And after that, the immediate future: the pit stops, the strategy, the lines he plans to run. When he opens his eyes, he walks toward his next challenge and goes after the win.

“And I remind myself how fortunate I am to do what I do. Because when I was a kid, I wanted to be a professional driver, but not for the money or the fame. Simply because I loved racing. And when you reach the professional level, you have so many responsibilities that you get tired, and many times you forget the most important thing: the love of competing.”

“Imagine how beautiful that is. It’s very easy to forget. So I try to remind myself that the dream I have today is the same dream I had 20 years ago, when I was 10 or 11. You have to enjoy it a little more,” he says.

The future, being better, being a dad

Today, Daniel Suárez is married to Julia Piquet, daughter of three-time Formula 1 world champion Nelson Piquet, and last September, he became a father. More than a biographical detail, that milestone has become a point around which everything else falls into place. Fatherhood, accumulated experience and years of chipping away at the same stone have turned him into a different version of himself: smarter, more complete as a driver.

“I think next year I’ll be a better driver than I was this year,” he says.

It’s not something he says lightly. 2026, he says, has been a great year, but there is also a conviction he won’t compromise on: “I’m someone who always wants more. Now I want more, and I keep working,” he says.

When asked which driver he would like to team up with, he doesn’t dodge the question. “Max Verstappen is a great driver. I’d like him to be my next teammate.” He says it plainly, with the ease of someone who knows the next step is always a little higher, on the next mountain.

But when he is asked about his biggest dream, the answer shifts. He is no longer talking about trophies, teams or championships. He talks about something much more personal.

“To keep giving the best version of myself. To be a good dad. That’s the most important thing to me. That’s my dream now.”

That’s the turn. The driver who climbed into a go-kart at 11 believing God had given him a special talent, the one who crossed a border without speaking English, now puts something that cannot be won on a racetrack first: being a good father.

But there is something else he wants to leave behind. Suárez doesn’t want to be just the first. He wants to be the one who opened the door for those who come next: a more diverse sport, a path laid out for future generations. That is the day he will feel his mission is complete.

“The day I can not only look at all the trophies, but also see the change in NASCAR’s culture and make diversity greater, I will feel it,” he says.

It is not an abstract goal. Today, he remains the only Mexican in NASCAR’s highest series, and that, he says, is precisely what needs to change.

“NASCAR has to continue its multicultural efforts to keep bringing in more talent: not just drivers, but mechanics, engineers. I’ve had many conversations with NASCAR about it, and there are definitely things we have to keep pushing.”

And he keeps chipping away at the stone, because he knows that behind each one lies a world of opportunities waiting.

“To those coming up behind me, I say: keep pushing for whatever it is you want to do. Just because no one has done it before doesn’t mean it isn’t possible. It means it might be harder. But once you get there, there will be a world of opportunities. Because being different, being Mexican, being Latino, speaking Spanish, speaking multiple languages, has to be the biggest ace you have.”

And in his case, that ace turned out to be the best one of all.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Daniel Suárez made NASCAR history, but his biggest dream is no longer about racing

Purdue Boilermakers forward Trey Kaufman-Renn (4) leaves the court as the seconds count down in a NCAA Tournament game against the Arizona Wildcats on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. Purdue fell to Arizona 79-64.

Christine Tannous/IndyStar/USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Kansas has added All-Big Ten forward Trey Kaufman-Renn, who played four seasons at Purdue before getting picked by Minnesota in the second round of the NBA draft, filling its biggest perceived hole on the eve of the college basketball season.

Jayhawks coach Bill Self announced his transfer hours before the release of the men’s preseason AP Top 25 poll. The 24-year-old Kaufman-Renn has enrolled in classes at Kansas and began practicing with the team.

“He reached the national championship game, the Elite Eight and the Sweet 16 at Purdue, and has been extremely well-drilled and well-coached,” Self said in a statement. “Even though it’s late in the process, because of his basketball IQ, we think his transition will be quicker than most put in the same circumstance.”

The 59th overall pick in the June draft, Kaufman-Renn intends to play another season of college basketball after the NCAA’s sudden and chaos-inducing rule change designed to allow student-athletes to play five seasons over a five-year span.

The rule was not intended to include players who had finished their careers this past season. But the gray area it created has led to a wave of lawsuits across the country, as athletes in all sports seek another year of eligibility. Kaufman-Renn was granted a preliminary injunction, making the 6-foot-9 power forward eligible to play for Kansas for the time being.

Kauffman-Renn graduated from high school in 2021 but didn’t suit up his first season at Purdue because of a knee injury. He played the following four seasons, appearing in 147 games, and helped Purdue reach the national championship game two years ago.

Jayhawks guard Melvin Council Jr. and Tre White also have won preliminary injunctions to play another season for them.

Kaufman-Renn joins a lineup headlined by Council and White alongside Tyran Stokes, the consensus No. 1 recruit in the nation, and fellow five-star freshman Taylen Kinney. His addition also fills a need in the post, where Flory Bidunga’s transfer to Louisville and Bryson Tiller’s departure for rival Missouri had left a glaring hole in the roster.

Kaufman-Renn averaged 20.1 points and 6.5 rebounds as a junior and 14.2 points and 8.3 rebounds this past season at Purdue. He also appeared in five games for the Timberwolves during the NBA’s summer league, averaging 6.6 points and 3.8 rebounds.

Here's a chance to vote for the Upstate Ingles high school girls' athlete of the week for Oct. 12-18.

Voting is unlimited, and the poll will be open until noon on Oct. 22. Rachel Overton of Spartanburg girls swimming won the previous week's poll.

Lila Davis, Dorman: Davis had 11 kills on 16 attempts and 2 aces in a 3-0 girls volleyball victory over Spartanburg.

Rilyn Johnson, Wren: Johnson had 16 assists and ten digs in a 3-0 win over Berea.

Sam Willis, Woodmont: Willis had 14 kills and nine digs in a 3-0 victory over J.L. Mann

Payden Pitman, Chesnee: Pitman had 18 kills and 17 digs in a 3-1 victory over Landrum.

Lila Moore, Chapman: Moore had 16 kills and 14 digs in a 3-0 victory over Broome.

Lyla Deguzman, Easley: Deguzman had 40 digs and two aces in a 3-2 victory over Fountain Inn.

FALL RIVER — Thirteen football players from the Fall River area have been placed on our Player of the Week ballot.

This poll is for performances from Oct. 15-16 Supporters of the schools — Atlantis Charter, Case, Diman, Durfee, Somerset Berkley and Westport — and student-athletes can visit heraldnews.com to vote for the person of their choosing.

Joseph Case's Cooper Watson won last week's poll with 57.3% of the vote.

Voting will conclude Oct. 25 with the winner announced here and on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Don't wait. Vote now and often for your favorite choice.

Watch MA high school football on NFHS

YOU CAN VOTE HERE

Herald News and Taunton Gazette sports editor Steven Sanchez can be reached at ssanchez@heraldnews.com. You can follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @Chezsports and TikTok @ssanchezsports

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: 13 players up for Herald News Football Player of the Week

Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.

Tickets for ILT20 Season 5 went on sale on Saturday (October 17), with adult prices starting at AED 20 for league and playoff matches and AED 30 for the final, scheduled for December 20 at Dubai International Stadium.

The six-team tournament begins on November 21 with defending champions Desert Vipers facing MI Emirates in a repeat of last season’s final. The 34-match competition will be played across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.

Fans can buy tickets through the official ILT20 ticketing website and Platinumlist. Physical box offices in Dubai and Sharjah will begin selling tickets on November 14.

Children’s tickets start at AED 10 at all three venues, including for the final. The category covers children aged five to 16, while those under five can enter without a ticket when accompanied by an adult.

Families attending matches at Dubai International Stadium can also opt for the Sixes Lounge Family Pass. Priced at AED 500 for league and playoff matches, it covers two adults and two children in the premium hospitality area. The pass costs AED 650 for the final.

Hospitality options are available across the venues, with children’s tickets for the Sixes Lounge at Dubai International Stadium and the Diamond Pavilion at Sharjah Cricket Stadium starting at AED 125. Adult hospitality tickets start at AED 180. Sky Boxes and VIP Suites are also available through individual match bookings, private boxes and season packages covering five home-team matches.

Season 5 will feature several prominent international players across the six franchises. Moeen Ali, Usman Tariq and Finn Allen will represent Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, while Desert Vipers have Babar Azam, Shimron Hetmyer and Naseem Shah.

Dubai Capitals will feature Faf du Plessis, Marcus Stoinis and Mustafizur Rahman. Gulf Giants have Heinrich Klaasen, Liam Livingstone and David Miller, while MI Emirates will field Rashid Khan, Nicholas Pooran and Fazalhaq Farooqi. Sharjah Warriorz have Mohammad Nabi, Sikandar Raza and Adil Rashid.

ILT20 Season 5 Tournament schedule(all timings are local timings – Gulf Standard Time)Saturday, 21 November – Desert Vipers vs MI Emirates – 6:30pm, Dubai

Sunday, 22 November – Sharjah Warriorz vs Gulf Giants – 2:00pm, Sharjah

Sunday, 22 November – Dubai Capitals vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – 6:30pm, Dubai

Monday, 23 November – Sharjah Warriorz vs Desert Vipers – 6:30pm, Sharjah

Tuesday, 24 November – Gulf Giants vs MI Emirates – 6:30pm, Dubai

Wednesday, 25 November – Dubai Capitals vs Desert Vipers – 6:30pm, Dubai

Thursday, 26 November – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs MI Emirates – 6:30pm, Abu Dhabi

Friday, 27 November – Sharjah Warriorz vs Dubai Capitals – 6:30pm, Sharjah

Saturday, 28 November – MI Emirates vs Desert Vipers – 2:00pm, Abu Dhabi

Saturday, 28 November – Gulf Giants vs Dubai Capitals – 6:30pm, Dubai

Sunday, 29 November – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Sharjah Warriorz – 2:00pm, Abu Dhabi

Sunday, 29 November – Desert Vipers vs Gulf Giants – 6:30pm, Dubai

Monday, 30 November – MI Emirates vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – 6:30pm, Abu Dhabi

Tuesday, 1 December – Gulf Giants vs Sharjah Warriorz – 6:30pm, Sharjah

Wednesday, 2 December – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Desert Vipers – 2:00pm, Abu Dhabi

Wednesday, 2 December – Dubai Capitals vs MI Emirates – 6:30pm, Dubai

Thursday, 3 December – Gulf Giants vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – 6:30pm, Dubai

Friday, 4 December – Desert Vipers vs Sharjah Warriorz – 6:30pm, Sharjah

Saturday, 5 December – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Gulf Giants – 6:30pm, Abu Dhabi

Sunday, 6 December – MI Emirates vs Sharjah Warriorz – 2:00pm, Abu Dhabi

Sunday, 6 December – Desert Vipers vs Dubai Capitals – 6:30pm, Dubai

Monday, 7 December – MI Emirates vs Gulf Giants – 6:30pm, Abu Dhabi

Tuesday, 8 December – Dubai Capitals vs Sharjah Warriorz – 6:30pm, Dubai

Wednesday, 9 December – Sharjah Warriorz vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – 6:30pm, Sharjah

Thursday, 10 December – Dubai Capitals vs Gulf Giants – 6:30pm, Dubai

Friday, 11 December – Sharjah Warriorz vs MI Emirates – 6:30pm, Sharjah

Saturday, 12 December – Desert Vipers vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – 6:30pm, Dubai

Sunday, 13 December – MI Emirates vs Dubai Capitals – 2:00pm, Abu Dhabi

Sunday, 13 December – Gulf Giants vs Desert Vipers – 6:30pm, Dubai

Monday, 14 December – Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Dubai Capitals – 6:30pm, Abu Dhabi

Wednesday, 16 December – Qualifier 1: Seed 1 vs Seed 2 – 6:30pm, Abu Dhabi

Thursday, 17 December – Eliminator: Seed 3 vs Seed 4 – 6:30pm, Dubai

Friday, 18 December – Qualifier 2: Loser of Q1 vs Winner of Eliminator – 6:30pm, Sharjah

Sunday, 20 December – Final: Winner of Q1 vs Winner of Q2 – 6:30pm, Dubai

ILT20 Season 5 SquadsAbu Dhabi Knight Riders

Abdul Mannan Ali, Abdullah Tarakhail, Ajay Kumar, Alishan Sharafu, Amshi De Silva, Andre Fletcher, Arab Gul, Colin Munro, Finn Allen, Gulbadin Naib, Ibrar Ahmed, Jakeem Pollard, Jason Holder, Lorcan Tucker, Matthew Tromp, Michael Pepper, Moeen Ali, Muhammad Rohid, Qais Ahmad, Ravija Sandaruwan, Sunil Narine, Usman Tariq

Desert Vipers

Abdullah Ahmadzai, Andries Gous, Babar Azam, Bilal Tahir, Dan Lawrence, David Payne, Fakhar Zaman, Harry Tector, Hassan Nawaz, Ishtiaq Ahmed, Joe Clarke, Khuzaima Bin Tanveer, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, Nangeyalia Kharote, Naseem Shah, Nilansh Keswani, Saleem Safi, Sanjay Pahal, Shadab Khan, Shimron Hetmyer, Vriitya Aravind, Wali Muhammad

Dubai Capitals

Aayan Khan, Anudeep Chenthamara, Darwish Rasooli, Dasun Shanaka, Faf du Plessis, Haider Ali, Hassan Khan, Karim Janat, Luke Wood, Marcus Stoinis, Mark Adair, Masood Ul Rahman Gurbaz, Matt Potts, Max Holden, Muhammad Arfan, Mustafizur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Phil Salt, Rovman Powell, Sediqullah Atal, Tom Moores, Usman Najeeb, Zuhaib Zubair

Gulf Giants

Alick Athanaze, Alzarri Joseph, Awais Ahmed, Azmatullah Omarzai, Blessing Muzarabani, Curtis Campher, David Miller, David Wiese, Dhruv Parashar, Haider Razzaq, Heinrich Klaasen, Ibrahim Zadran, Imran Mir, Imtiaz Khan, Liam Livingstone, Matiullah Khan, Meet Bhavsar, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sagar Kalyan, Shamar Joseph, Shubham Ranjane, Tabraiz Shamsi, Wahidullah Zadran

MI Emirates

Allah Ghazanfar, Asa Tribe, Chris Jordan, Faridoon Dawoodzai, Fazalhaq Farooqi, James Coles, Jonny Bairstow, Jordan Thompson, Kusal Perera, Lizaad Williams, Mohamed Shafeeq, Muhammad Waseem, Nicholas Pooran, Raizal Nadir Nather Shah, Rashid Khan, Romario Shepherd, Ross Adair, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Sherfane Rutherford, Wasim Akram, Zain Ul Abidin, Zahoor Khan

Sharjah Warriorz

Adam Milne, Adil Rashid, Ali Aamer Naseer, Arunraj Selvaraj, Brandon McMullen, Craig Overton, Fareed Malik, George Dockrell, George Linde, James Rew, James Vince, Junaid Siddique, Logan van Beek, Mohammad Nabi, Mohammad Saqib, Nabeel Aziz, Paul Walter, Richard Gleeson, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Sikandar Raza, Tanish Suri, Tom Banton, Waqar Salamkheil.

Hanover High golfer Ryan Poznauskis has been voted the South Shore High School Male Athlete of the Week.

Poznauskis received more than 6,800 votes (49 percent of the total votes cast) to earn the honor. He shared low-medalist honors (1-over-par 35) in a 222-228 win over Whitman-Hanson at Ridder Farm Golf Course and tied for the team lead with a round of 38 at Harmon Golf & Fitness Club in a 242-275 victory over Quincy.

Braintree High soccer player Cole Herget-Harris was second with more than 4,300 votes (31 percent of the total).

And this week's candidates are ...

The poll

The candidatesDylan Baldwin, Pembroke boys soccer

Baldwin had a hat trick in a 4-0 win over Quicy and added a goal in a 6-0 victory over Plymouth South.

Tristan Grant, Canton boys cross country

Grant broke his own 5K home-course record at Pequitside Farm by winning the race in 19:35 in a 19-43 victory over Foxboro.

Cam Howell, Silver Lake boys soccer

Howell had the game's lone goal in a 1-0 victory over Duxbury.

Joe Mento, Archbishop Williams boys cross country

Mento helped the Bishops claim their first Catholic Central League title since 1998 by sweeping Bishop Stang (17-41) and Bishop Fenwick (19-42) in Peabody. Mento won the 3-mile race in 17:18 for Archies (5-0).

Jesse Rafferty, Cohasset boys soccer

Rafferty, a junior goalkeeper, posted shutout wins over East Bridgewater, 4-0, and Martha's Vineyard, 1-0, for his sixth and seventh clean sheets of the season.

Benjamin Tosi, Milton boys golf

Tosi was the individual runner-up at the Bay State Conference championships, shooting 73, as the Wildcats placed fourth overall in team scoring.

Liam Triplett, Quincy boys soccer

Triplett had a hat trick in a 10-0 win over city rival North Quincy.

Beckett Williams, Hingham boys soccer

Williams, a junior goalkeeper, posted a pair of shutouts in 1-0 wins over Plymouth North and Silver Lake.

Votes are unlimited. Voting closes on Monday, Oct. 26 at noon. Emailed votes will not be counted. Send future nominations to cmcdaniel@wickedlocal.com. Our player of the week stories are meant as a way to highlight local high school athletes in the area. Making the list is an achievement in itself. Congratulations to all our athletes.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Vote for the South Shore High School Male Athlete of the Week

Ever since the Oregon Ducks dropped a game to the UCLA Bruins for their second loss, there's a different column to check on regarding the Ducks' potential postseason hopes. For the preseason No. 2 squad, it went from checking on odds of winning the national title to odds of simply making it into the 12-team College Football Playoff field.

We're here to do just that after the Ducks took down the Nebraska Cornhuskers in Week 7, keeping their CFP chances alive as they got to 4-2 on the year.

Their odds are +500 to make the CFP, the 24th-highest mark in college football. Most notably, they're behind the UCLA Bruins, despite losing starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava. The Bruins have odds of +150, as they're 6-0 after defeating Wisconsin.

Boise State, Oregon's opponent in the season-opener, has odds of +170 considering that the top Group of Six team gets an auto-bid into the tournament. Right now, it's looking like the Broncos have the upper hand in that race.

Aside from UCLA, there are four other Big Ten teams that have higher odds than the Ducks: Ohio State (-900), Indiana (-500), Iowa (+300) and USC (+360). Peculiarly enough, the Group of Six's New Mexico has higher odds of making the CFP at +490.

Another noteworthy team that is above Oregon is Will Stein-led Kentucky, holding a 6-1 record and +210 odds of making the CFP — who would've thought?

Last week, the Ducks had the 28th-highest odds, so making it to the 24th-highest odds is an improvement. Though, much of that could've been due to losses from the teams above them around the country, rather than Oregon's rather uninspiring win over Nebraska at Autzen Stadium.

Taking a peek at the national title odds reveals that Oregon has +6000 odds, but none of that matters unless they run the table and put themselves in position to make the CFP. Once they get there, everything resets. With six games to go, we'll see if Oregon can defy the odds and give themselves a shot at reaching the goals that they set out for themselves this season despite dropping two of their first six games.

Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon's CFP odds rise slightly after victory over Nebraska

Tennessee will play its second and final exhibition basketball game on Tuesday. The Vols will play at Duke and tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. EDT at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina (ACC Network).

Tennessee lost to Xavier, 86-70, at Food City Center on Oct. 15 in its first exhibition game.

"I told the coaches, because I think these guys have heard so much about how good offensive players they are, their scoring production, and all that, but we've been telling them all summer, you know, there's going to be nights like tonight when we score, what, 70 points," Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes said after the Xavier game. "I mean, we did that last year with guys that weren't offensively productive, but the fact is, on nights when you don't shoot the ball well, if you're a good basketball team, you're going to find a way to win the game defensively. Once we hit a little bit of adversity, where they scored on us because of bad offense, it really got even worse because of really, really poor defense, and some of this, I'll be honest with you, you couldn't dream of.

"I mean, you don't let somebody run by you to get a layup, all those kinds of things, but it's good. I told the guys, I said, maybe now you'll realize what we've been harping on since you guys have been here. We're going to have to learn to guard at a high rate. In the first half, we thought we'd be a little jittery, which we were. Dwayne (Brown II) missed some shots at the rim that I think he'll make, and free throws. We really could have gotten out ahead, which maybe would have changed our psyche a little bit, but that might have been a little bit of false confidence or whatever. I like the way it played out when they came back and got into the game. When they came back with an 11 or 12-point run, I don't think we responded well. We thought we were going to outscore them, took too many bad shots, and they got too much stuff at the rim. We came out of timeouts talking about things we weren't going to give up, and then we gave them up. We've got to listen better, but now maybe they realize that we're not going to score our way to wins. Xavier, you know, Richard (Pitino) does a great job with this team. I mean, it was good for us. I told the coaches that if we're going to get beat, I hope they really beat us so maybe we can really get their attention."

The preseason USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll was released Monday. The Vols are ranked No. 9.

2026-27 preseason USA TODAY Sports Coaches PollRankTeamRecordPTS1stPrevChgHi/Lo1Florida Gators0-073220NR-1/12Duke Blue Devils0-07258NR-2/23Illinois Fighting Illini0-06832NR-3/34Arizona Wildcats0-06340NR-4/45UConn Huskies0-06120NR-5/56Michigan State Spartans0-05700NR-6/67Texas Longhorns0-05270NR-7/78Houston Cougars0-04860NR-8/89Tennessee Volunteers0-04360NR-9/910Virginia Cavaliers0-04090NR-10/1011Louisville Cardinals0-03690NR-11/1112Gonzaga Bulldogs0-03610NR-12/1213Arkansas Razorbacks0-03450NR-13/1314St. John's Red Storm0-03160NR-14/1414Iowa State Cyclones0-03160NR-14/1416Texas Tech Red Raiders0-03140NR-16/1617Miami (FL) Hurricanes0-02920NR-17/1718Kansas Jayhawks0-02860NR-18/1818Alabama Crimson Tide0-02860NR-18/1820Michigan Wolverines0-02190NR-20/2021Vanderbilt Commodores0-01640NR-21/2122USC Trojans0-01030NR-22/2223Kentucky Wildcats0-01000NR-23/2324Purdue Boilermakers0-0830NR-24/2425BYU Cougars0-0760NR-25/25Others receiving votes

Nebraska 66; UCLA 64; Missouri 60; Ohio State 31; North Carolina 24; Texas A&M 19; Villanova 14; Indiana 9; Wisconsin 5; Saint Louis 4; Cincinnati 4; West Virginia 2; Creighton 2; Maryland 1; Auburn 1

List of voters

The USA TODAY Sports Board of Coaches is made up of 30 head coaches at Division I institutions. All are members of the National Association of Basketball Coaches. The board for the 2026-27 season: John Becker, Vermont; Jeff Boals, Ohio; Matt Braeuer, Stephen F. Austin; Pat Chambers, Florida Gulf Coast; Scott Drew, Baylor; Dan Earl, Chattanooga; A.W. Hamilton, Eastern Kentucky; Alan Huss, Creighton; Donte’ Jackson, Alabama A&M; Ben Jacobson, Utah State; James Jones, Yale; Greg Kampe, Oakland; Eric Konkol, Tulsa; Brad Korn, Southeast Missouri State; Anthony Latina, Sacred Heart; Shantay Legans, Portland; Jim Les, UC Davis; Luke Loucks, Florida State; Nick McDevitt, Middle Tennessee; Mike McGarvey, Lafayette; Dan Monson, Eastern Washington; Chris Mooney, Richmond; Mike Morrell, UNC Asheville; Andy Newman, Cal State Northridge; Nate Oats, Alabama; Matt Painter, Purdue; Paul Sather, North Dakota; Patrick Sellers, Central Connecticut State; Zach Spiker, Drexel; Stan Waterman, Delaware State.

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This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Tennessee basketball ranked top 10 in USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll