Lane Kiffin's disastrous exit from Ole Miss is a stain on college football

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🚨 Headlines

🏈Coaching carousel:Lane Kiffinleft Ole Miss for LSU(more below), Kentuckyfired Mark Stoopsafter 13 seasons, Floridahired Jon Sumrall(Tulane), Arkansashired Ryan Silverfield(Memphis), Auburnhired Alex Golesh(USF), Michigan Statehired Pat Fitzgerald(ex-Northwestern), andmore.

🏎️Down to the wire:Red Bull's Max Verstappenwon Sunday's Qatar Grand Prixto set up a season-ending three-way race for the title. McLaren's Lando Norris leads Verstappen by 12 points and teammate Oscar Piastri by 16 points entering the finale in Abu Dhabi.

🏀NBA Cup knockouts:Group play is complete and theknockout stage is setfor the in-season tournament, with the Magic, Raptors, Knicks and Heat advancing in the East and the Thunder, Lakers, Spurs and Suns advancing in the West.

⚽️Iran boycotts draw:Iran isboycotting this week's World Cup drawin Washington, D.C., after members of its delegation were denied visas to enter the United States. Barring further action, Iran still plans to compete in next summer's World Cup.

🏀Deadline extended again:The WNBA and players associationhave agreed to extend their CBA for a second timeas negotiations continue, this time through January 9. The first extension was set to run out on Sunday night.

🏈 Kiffin's disastrous exit from Ole Miss

After weeks of public scrutiny and private consternation, Lane Kiffinfinally made his decisionon Sunday, ditching Ole Miss on the eve of the College Football Playoff to take the job at LSU.

Behind the scenes:In his statement announcing his departure, Kiffin said he wanted to coach the Rebels in the postseason but the school wouldn't allow it. Hard to disagree with them on that one.

From Yahoo Sports' Dan Wolken:

Kiffin leaving the No. 7 team in the country to take a job with another SEC program before the sport's marquee event is bad for the product, and no other well-run sports league would tolerate it.

While it's easy to blame "the system" or "the calendar," as you might have heard on ESPN over the weekend, this is a story of individual choices and responsibilities.

It's Kiffin's choice to leave a trail of sleaze on his way out of town. And it's the choice of SEC commissioner Greg Sankey and other college sports leaders to do nothing about it, to shrug their shoulders and to rail against professionalization of college sports when making it a priority would be the best path for their business.

Instead, lack of action is a strategic choice, and it's one that needs to be called for what it is: A dereliction of duty in protecting the best interests of college football.

Don't you think, during all those years of the Patriots winning championships, that other NFL franchises would have liked to break up the dynasty by putting a huge pile of cash in front of Bill Belichick right before a Super Bowl run?

Loyalty wasn't the reason it never happened. It's not possible because the NFL understands how bad it would be for its product and has made rules that govern when and under what circumstances coaches can change jobs when they're under contract.

Without collective bargaining, college sports has often run into legal trouble when trying to regulate anything regarding compensation or movement of personnel.

And yet, every time people like Sankey end up on Capitol Hill begging for some type of NCAA protection legislation, it's amazing how the focus is always on the chaos of NIL and the transfer portal while the coaching carousel never gets mentioned as a source of harm for the product and schools that pour hundreds of millions of dollars into their programs.

A coach leaving is, by definition, traumatic and overwhelming. Players start thinking about their own futures and options. Routines get broken up. It would truly defy the odds if Ole Miss was as good of a team under these circumstances as it has been for the past three months.

That's Kiffin's fault, and his reputation will pay a price across generations. The circus of the last few weeks will go down in SEC infamy, a forever stain on his already pock-marked record.

But this is also the product of an ecosystem where players changing jobs on a whim or for a paycheck is a crisis that needs to be dealt with immediately and regulated through a literal act of Congress, while coaches getting paid $10 million a year wrecking their own teams gets met with a shoulder shrug.

This might be the first time it's happened in college football. But in the 12-team playoff era, you can bet it won't be the last.

If the leaders of college sports aren't willing to make this as much of a priority as opt-outs and portal windows while it turns their national playoff into a punch line, they've lost all sense of perspective on what's good or bad for the game.

Read the full story.

🏀 OKC is unstoppable

The 2024-25 Thunder put together a historic campaign en route to a championship. So far this season, the defending champs look even better.

Historic start:OKC beat Portland on Sunday to win their 12th straight game and become just the fourth team in NBA history to start a season 20-1 or better.

• The 1969-70 Knicks started 20-1 and went on to win the championship.

• The 1993-94 Rockets started 20-1 and went on to win the championship.

• The 2015-16 Warriors started 21-0 and went on to lose in the NBA Finals.

• The 2025-26 Thunder started 20-1 and [TBD].

The straw that stirs the drink:Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is putting up 33-5-7 on 67.3% true shooting, which is pretty incredible for a guy who rarely even plays in the fourth quarter and has been without his wingman, Jalen Williams, for all but two games.

• If not for Nikola Jokić, who is casually averaging a near 30-point triple-double, SGA would be the runaway favorite to win back-to-back MVPs.

• He scored 20+ points for the 93rd consecutive game on Sunday, which is the longest streak by any player not named Wilt Chamberlain (126 straight).

Just how good are these guys?Well, let's see: Last year's Thunder team outscored opponents by 12.9 points per game, which broke the previous NBA record that had stood for more than half a century (12.3 by the 1971-72 Lakers). This year's Thunder squad? They're outscoring opponents by15.5 points per game.More nights than not, they're cruising to victory.

Looking ahead:What if I told you the NBA's best team could soon be adding the NBA's best prospect? The Thunder own the Clippers' 2026 first-round pick, and L.A.'s putrid 5-15 start means OKC currently has a 10% chance of landing the No. 1 pick (and a 40% chance of landing a top-four pick) in next year's draft. Something to keep an eye on as L.A.'s season spirals dangerously out of control.

🏈 Does anybody want to win the Super Bowl?

The Rams, Eagles, Chiefs, Seahawks and Colts entered Week 13 as the five betting favorites to win the Super Bowl. Four of those teams (all but Seattle) promptly lost and got exposed in various ways.

The big picture:The final month of the regular season is upon us, and it'shard to find any reliable contenders.

• In the NFC, the defending champion Eagles (8-4) are flailing and the rock solid-seeming Rams (9-3) just showed they, too, are prone to a bad loss. The Bears (9-3) are the No. 1 seed, but can they really be trusted?

• The Seahawks (9-3), 49ers (9-4), Packers (8-3-1) and Buccaneers (7-5) are the other teams in playoff position, while the Lions (7-5), Cowboys (6-5-1) and Panthers (7-6) are all in the hunt.

• Meanwhile, in the AFC: The Colts (8-4) have gone from "best team in the league" to ceding control of their own division to the Jaguars (8-4). They now find themselves in the messy middle alongside the Bills (8-4), Chargers (8-4), Texans (7-5), Chiefs (6-6), Ravens (6-6) and Steelers (6-6).

• The Broncos (10-2) have won nine straight games to leapfrog the Patriots (10-2) for first place, but they continue to fly under the radar. Perhaps that's because they barely eked out most of those wins, with seven of the nine being decided by four or fewer points.

Week 13 Scoreboard:

• Cowboys 31, Chiefs 28 (Thanksgiving)

• Packers 31, Lions 24 (Thanksgiving)

• Bengals 32, Ravens 14 (Thanksgiving)

• Bears 24, Eagles 15 (Black Friday)

• Texans 20, Colts 16

• Panthers 31, Rams 28

• Seahawks 26, Vikings 0

• Broncos 27, Commanders 26 (OT)

• Bills 26, Steelers 7

• Buccaneers 20, Cardinals 17

• Jets 27, Falcons 24

• Jaguars 25, Titans 3

• 49ers 26, Browns 8

• Chargers 31, Raiders 14

• Dolphins 21, Saints 17

Fantasy Focus:Underdog in your league? Week 13 showed there is always hope for an upset

🇺🇸 Photos across America

Fort Lauderdale, Florida —Inter Miami crushed NYC FC,5-1, on Saturday to reach the MLS Cup Final for the first time in franchise history. Breakout star Tadeo Allende netted a hat trick, giving him eight goals across Miami's five playoff games.

Meanwhile, out West: Vancouver ended top-seeded San Diego's dream debut seasonwith a 3-1 victory, sending the Whitecaps to their first MLS Cup Final.

Seattle —The Seattle Torrent drew 16,014 fans to Climate Pledge Arena on Friday for their inaugural home game,breaking the attendance recordfor a professional women's hockey game in the U.S.

On the ice: Seattle lost, 3-0, to two-time defending champion Minnesota, leaving the expansion Torrent as theonly PWHL team without a winthrough two weeks of action.

Las Vegas —No. 7 Michigandominated the Players Era Festivalwith blowout victories over No. 21 Auburn (102-72) and No. 12 Gonzaga (101-61), making the Wolverines the first team in AP poll history (since 1948) to post consecutive 30-point wins against ranked opponents.

On the women's side: No. 4 Texaswon the Players Era Festivalafter beating No. 3 UCLA and No. 2 South Carolina on consecutive days.

Copper Mountain, Colorado —Death, taxes, and Mikaela Shiffrin winning the slalom. Sunday's victory, which came in front ofan adoring crowd on her home snow, marked the Olympian's fourth straight win in her best discipline and her record-extending 104th career World Cup win.

A league of her own: How dominant was Shiffrin? The 1.57-second gap between her and the runner-up was the same as the gap between the runner-up and 11th place.

📺 Watchlist: Monday, Dec. 1

🏈 Giants at Patriots

New England hosts New York(8:15pm ET, ABC/ESPN)in just theirfourth meetingsince Super Bowl XLVI nearly 14 years ago. Can the last-place Giants (2-10, six straight losses) pull off another stunner against the first-place Pats (10-2, nine straight wins)?

⚽️ USWNT vs. Italy

The Americans close out the year in Fort Lauderdale with another friendly against the Italians(7pm, TBS/HBO Max)just three days after beating them,3-0, in Orlando.

More to watch:

• 🏀 NBA: Bulls at Magic (7:30pm, Peacock); Suns at Lakers (10pm, Peacock) … The Lakers (15-4) have won seven straight games to take over second place in the West.

• 🏒 NHL: Penguins at Flyers (7pm, NHL) … Philly hosts the season's second Battle of Pennsylvania. The Flyers took round one in a shootout.

Today's full slate.

🏈 NFL trivia

Josh Allen recorded his 76th career rushing touchdown on Sunday, passing Cam Newton for themost by a QB in NFL history.

Question:Who ranks third on that list with 63 rushing TDs?

Hint:Unlike Allen and Newton, he was not a first-round pick.

Answer at the bottom.

🍿 Top plays of the weekend

This weekend featured some of the best catches you'll ever see on the football field. Four of them top our list, and five made the cut overall.

1. 🏈 Treylon Burks!!!

2. 🏈 KJ Duff!!!

3. 🏈 Puka Nacua!!!

4. 🏈 Brock Bowers!!!

5. 🏀 Pitt at the buzzer

6. 🏀 Stanford at the buzzer

7. ⚽️ Tyler Adams from way out

8. 🏈 CJ Daniels!!!

9. 🏒 Assist while injured

10. 🏒 Ridiculous finish

11. 🥍 No-look goal

12. 🏈 Hardy to the house

13. 🏀 Block → Dunk

Watch all 13.

Trivia answer:Jalen Hurts

We hope you enjoyed this edition ofYahoo Sports AM, our daily newsletter that keeps you up to date on all things sports.Sign up hereto get it delivered to your inbox every weekday morning.

byAdministrator

in

December 01, 2025

Lane Kiffin's disastrous exit from Ole Miss is a stain on college football

Yahoo Sports AMis our daily newsletter that keeps you up to date on all things sports.Sign up hereto get it every weekda...

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'Fire Tomlin': Steelers fans losing patience with Pittsburgh’s long run of mid football

The year that Mike Tomlin took over the head coaching duties of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Tom Brady and the Patriots went undefeated in the regular season and lost the Super Bowl to Eli Manning and David Tyree's Helmet Catch. Adrian Peterson was the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year, and Randy Moss, Brett Favre and Peyton Manning were in the primes of their careers. George W. Bush was still president, and there was no such thing as a Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Mike Tomlin took charge of the Steelers a long time ago, is what we're saying. But now, judging from the "Fire Tomlin" chants that resounded throughout Pittsburgh on Sunday afternoon, that union might just be reaching its end.

[Get more Steelers news: Pittsburgh team feed]

By any measure, Tomlin has had a spectacular head-coaching career. A Super Bowl champion, his next win will move him into a tie with Dan Reeves for 10th place on the NFL's career coaching wins list at 190. His famous, and justly celebrated, streak of never finishing a season below .500 remains intact; the Steelers are 6-6 even after Sunday's miserable loss to Buffalo.

That woeful 26-7 defeat brought fans' long-simmering frustrations to a full boil.Chants of "Fire Tomlin" resonated throughout Acrisure Stadium. And these weren't just a few isolated cranks hopped up on cheap beer. No, these chants wereloud:

Fire Tomlin chants loud and clear at Steelers game. The city has finally had enoughpic.twitter.com/GNkLkUDLJt

— Simon Ince (@SirSimon43)December 1, 2025

"I share their frustration tonight," Tomlin said, when asked about the chants. "We didn't do enough."

That's a fair assessment of Sunday, where the Steelers gained just 166 yards of total offense — 108 in the air, 58 on the ground — and managed to convert only three of nine third-down opportunities. Meanwhile, the Bills set a stadium rushing record of 249 yards over, around and through the Pittsburgh defense.

But "we didn't do enough" applies to the season as a whole, too … maybe to the entire decade of the 2020s for Pittsburgh. Although Aaron Rodgers' name isn't exactly synonymous with Pittsburgh, it was impossible to look at photographs of him aftersuffering a cut to his nose on Sunday— weary, bleeding, bandaged, gray in his beard and a resigned look in his eyes — and not think of the larger picture, that the best on-field days of both Rodgers and the Steelers are, for now, behind them.

"I totally understand the frustration," Rodgerssaid after the game. "That was a boo-worthy performance."

The Steelers of the 2020s lurk in the NFL's murky middle — enough name recognition to earn a few nationally televised games, but not enough talent to seize control of the division or the conference. Enough wins to make the playoffs on a regular basis, but too many to get anywhere near a position to draft a reliable quarterback.

Since the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger — whose arrival in Pittsburgh predated even Tomlin's — the Steelers have cycled through a procession of rent-a-QBs whose performances have ranged from decent to disastrous, with a whole lot more lows and mids than highs. Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky, Russell Wilson, Mason Rudolph, Justin Fields and now Rodgers — all quarterbacks whose best days, whether college or pro, came long before they arrived in Pittsburgh.

One column on one spreadsheet tells the Steelers' tale. In the "Notes" section of Tomlin'sPro Football Reference career chartare his full-season accolades — a Super Bowl championship in his second season, an AFC title game in his fourth, and then … nothing since then. A long stretch of emptiness. The Steelers have reached the playoffs four of the past five years, but haven't won a playoff game since the 2016 season and have only three playoff wins since their Super Bowl run in 2010 when they lost to a 27-year-old QB named Aaron Rodgers.

A coaching change in Pittsburgh would be a seismic civic event akin to tearing down one of the city's signature bridges. The Steelers have only had three head coaches — Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher and Tomlin — since1969. Between them, they've won six Super Bowl titles, so that's the baseline for any new hire. Tomlin was just 35 years old when he took over from Cowher, and managed to nab his Lombardi quickly. Could any replacement do the same with this roster?

Tomlin, still just 53, remains under contract through 2027. Should he and/or Pittsburgh decide a fresh start is in order, he'd have a line of suitors waiting at his front door before he got home from his farewell press conference. A whole lot of teams in the NFL would love to have the "problem" of never finishing below .500.

But that's a hypothetical. The reality is that Pittsburgh has five games remaining — Baltimore twice, Miami, and at Detroit and Cleveland. Pittsburgh remains tied with the Ravens for first place in the AFC North, although on the outside of the playoff bracket due to tiebreakers. (The AFC North's overall stench means that merely mediocre is enough to lead the division.)

Even if Pittsburgh makes the playoffs, though — by any definition a good season — how long would the Steelers last against, say, the Colts, Chargers or these same Bills? Steelers fans have decided that "good" isn't good enough. And if the front office feels the same way, some fascinating days are ahead in Pittsburgh.

byAdministrator

in

December 01, 2025

'Fire Tomlin': Steelers fans losing patience with Pittsburgh’s long run of mid football

The year that Mike Tomlin took over the head coaching duties of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Tom Brady and the Patriots went...

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NFL Week 13 winners and losers: Colts losing contender status as crisis hits

Sunday's slate wrapping upWeek 13in theNFLessentially amounted to being fed Thanksgiving leftovers.

The league loaded up on captivating matchups for both the holiday itself and Black Friday. But that setup left the weekend a little light on marquee showdowns.

Still, while there might not have been much drama in specific games on Sunday, things appear to be setting up for a fascinating finish over the final five weeks of the regular season.The playoff pictureshifted substantially inWeek 13, and many divisions that once looked to have a runaway winner are getting unexpectedly close.

Here are the biggest winners from Sunday's action:

Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.

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Best images of the 2025 NFL season

Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18)makes a catch for a touchdownagainst the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.

NFL Week 13 winners

Carolina Panthers

Having upended theGreen Bay Packersat Lambeau Field only to lose at home against theNew Orleans Saintsthe following week, thePanthershad already established themselves as capable of almost anything on a week-to-week basis. But a stunning31-28triumph over the previously NFC-leadingLos Angeles Ramsput Carolina over the top asthe NFL's agents of chaos.

The Panthers were largely content to chip away at the Rams with a steady ground game, but breakthroughs came via the air on a pair of fourth downs in the second half: first on a 33-yard scoring shot from Bryce Young to Jalen Coker, and another on a 43-yard touchdown connection with rookie receiver Tetairoa McMillan. What truly set Carolina apart from Los Angeles' past challengers, however, was the defense's playmaking streak. MVP front-runner Matthew Stafford was picked twice – with one takeaway returned by Mike Jackson for a touchdown – to double his interception total for the entire season, and his costly fumble on a sack while in field goal territory ended any chance at a rally.

Carolina still sits a half game behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the NFC South lead with a less favorable setup down the stretch. But with two tilts against the four-time defending division champs in the coming weeks, the Panthers now have a legitimate shot at ending a seven-year playoff drought - so long as they skew closer to this extreme on their spectrum of possible performances. Given how low the ceiling has been in Carolina for years, that's volatility that the franchise will gladly take.

NFC playoff pandemonium

In the next month or so, talk about theKansas City Chiefsand other AFC powers might seem inescapable. But the bigger postseason entropy likely will be found in the other conference.

The Rams' loss cratered the power structure that was starting to emerge in the NFC, with theChicago Bearssurging to the No. 1 seed while theSeattle Seahawkscaught up to force another tie atop the NFC West. Three of the divisions feature only one game of separation between the leader and second-place team, and even the NFC East has renewed relevance with theDallas Cowboys' emergence coinciding with thePhiladelphia Eagles' stumbles. Seedings and berths truly seem like a toss-up, making for a highly entertaining – and consequential – final five weeks.

AFC South intrigue

The division has long been considered the NFL's least enticing foursome – at least on a national stage – with the winner annually destined for a Saturday afternoon wild-card slot. This year, however, the race for the AFC South crown might be one of the more noteworthy stories down the stretch. TheIndianapolis Coltsonce looked poised to wrap things up early, but their loss to theHouston Texanshelped vault theJacksonville Jaguars, who beat the Tennessee Titans, into first place. But this is still very much a logjam, with Indianapolis set to meet Jacksonville twice in the next four weeks before wrapping things up against Houston. Of course, barring some unexpected schedule flexing, don't expect a prime-time spotlight for the chase.

Adonai Mitchell

The 2024 second-round pick was largely seen as a mere toss-in to the Sauce Gardner trade between the Colts andNew York Jets, as Indianapolis made him a non-factor following his costly gaffes in aWeek 4loss to the Rams. On Sunday, however, Mitchell re-emerged for the rebooting Jets, notching a career-high 102 yards on eight catches to help power a27-24overtime win against theAtlanta Falcons. Missed opportunities for big plays downfield have dogged the receiver throughout his first two seasons in the pros, but he finally made good on his deep speed by hauling in a 52-yard heave from Tyrod Taylor, which was both New York's longest play from scrimmage his season and Mitchell's first career NFL touchdown. The Jets still need a suitable No. 2 next to Garrett Wilson for 2026, and it's not clear yet whether Mitchell can hold down that role. But he's making a strong case to Aaron Glenn and offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand that he's a piece worth developing.

Mike McDaniel

When theMiami Dolphinsparted with general manager Chris Grier at midseasonbut opted to hang on to their embattled coach, they seemingly gave McDaniel a decent runway to turn things around. So far, he's taken advantage of that opportunity. A21-17win over the New Orleans Saints might not seem like it would move the needle much on his tenure, with Miami only fending off a comeback bid in the final two minutes once Minkah Fitzpatrick ran back an interception on a potential game-tying two-point conversion attempt by New Orleans. But the Dolphins have now won three consecutive games and set themselves apart from the league's bottom tier of teams. With a meeting against the Jets next weekend, McDaniel will have a shot at creeping closer to .500 before the schedule ramps up in the final four weeks.

NFL Week 13 losers

Los Angeles Rams

Since aWeek 5loss to theSan Francisco 49ers, Sean McVay's crew had essentially gone unchallenged, never having trailed since the first quarter ofWeek 6. That made Sunday's outcome all the more remarkable, as the Rams previously looked to be in a class of their own in the NFC.

With the uncharacteristic turnovers looming so large, it's difficult to say any true weaknesses were exposed here for Los Angeles. The secondary experienced a bit of regression to the mean, with cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr. allowing both of the fourth-down touchdowns and a total of five receptions for 110 yards after an extremely stellar stretch. And the defense as a whole looks a bit adrift without standout safety Quentin Lake, who could be back for the playoffs after landing on injured reserve with a dislocated left elbow.

The larger issue for Los Angeles is the missed opportunity. The Rams had a chance to maintain their advantage over the rest of the NFC's top threats but instead ceded their spot at the front of the pack. And any further missteps could be costly, with Seattle ready to pounce for the division lead and the Eagles owning the head-to-head tiebreaker for seeding. With aWeek 15matchup with the desperate Detroit Lions looming before a potentially NFC West-shaping"Thursday Night Football"tilt against the Seahawks inWeek 16, this slip-up could end up being the difference between securing home-field advantage and having to hit the road for the entirety of the postseason.

Indianapolis Colts

Assign fault or extend qualifiers as you see fit. No matter how you arrive there, it's getting exceedingly difficult to keep the Colts in the NFL's contender class, with the team having lost three of its last four games after Sunday's20-16setback against the Texans.

In a vacuum, Indianapolis being held to a season-low scoring output by a stifling Houston defense wouldn't be cause for concern. But an offense that started out the season setting the league-wide high water mark for efficiency has shown serious signs of sputtering in recent weeks. As Daniel Jones plays on through a fractured fibula, the quarterback appears to be noticeably inhibited, particularly in his ability to extend plays or evade pressure. Coach Shane Steichen might not admit it, but that setup has taken a toll on an offensive approach that was becoming increasingly more risk-averse – and therefore unable to punish teams regularly through the air. Jones enjoyed some success in scattered instances working downfield, like with his 19-yard scoring strike to Alec Pierce or his 34-yard connection with Josh Downs. But Steichen's play-calling and Jones' limitations in extending plays have put Indianapolis in a spot where it barely threatens teams if Jonathan Taylor can't lead the way. In the Colts' three November losses, the back has been held to just 3.69 yards per carry.

The defense is also showing signs of unraveling. While Gardner appears to have avoided a worst-case scenario of a torn Achilles, his calf injury still could sideline him for a critical stretch. That's a major blow to a unit that had shifted its coverage approach to a much heavier dose of man coverage since his arrival. Meanwhile, the pass rush still isn't up to par, with the front lacking any juice beyond what coordinator Lou Anarumo can scheme up.

After a 7-1 start, Indianapolis finds itself having lost its grasp on the division lead. Worse yet, the schedule brings matchups with eight- or nine-win teams over the next four weeks before the season finale against the Texans. If the division falls through the Colts' hands, Indianapolis could be hard-pressed to find a path forward in the near future after giving up its next two first-round picks in the Gardner deal.

Max Brosmer

The Minnesota Vikings' undrafted rookie quarterbackwas forced into an impossibly unfair spot in having to make his first start against the Seattle Seahawks' swarming defense, all while the offense around him continued to come undone. Brosmer hardly deserves to bear the brunt of the blame for the26-0rout, but his four interceptions also put to rest the notion that the unit could be saved merely by extracting J.J. McCarthy from behind center. Desperation set in quickly, with a fourth-down fling caught by Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV and returned 85 yards for a score serving as a harbinger for the hurting that would be inflicted in the shutout. Minnesota's offensive outing was so inept that it essentially rendered any Sam Darnold revenge plot lines moot, as the signal-caller registered a season-low 128 yards on 14-of-26 passing but didn't need to give his new team anything more. If McCarthy can clear concussion protocol in the next week or two, Minnesota has little choice but to turn back to him and continue gaining insight on whether a full reset is required.

Aaron Rodgers

When thePittsburgh Steelerssigned Rodgers in June, it figured Pittsburgh would be able to scale back its ask of the 41-year-old by equipping him with abundant support. But a26-7home flop against theBuffalo Billsreinforced how badly almost every level of the operation - particularly on offense - has failed to do its part.

Pittsburgh managed just 166 total yards on Sunday, including the rushing attack mustering just 58 against a Bills defense that has been repeatedly gashed on the ground. The game was broken open at the start of the second half when Rodgers, while trying to buy time against the oncoming pass rush by maneuvering in the pocket, was pummeled by Joey Bosa, who forced a fumble that was returned for a touchdown by Christian Benford. From there, the Steelers proved unable to climb out of a hole, as the bloodied four-time NFL MVP's fractured wrist - and left tackle Broderick Jones' absence - seemingly exacerbated the offense's inability to get anything going in the downfield passing game.

Rodgers stood by Mike Tomlin after the loss, but it became clear that frustration is mounting, with the quarterback demanding that players – including himself – be held accountable. That's a good start, but it seems unlikely the missing spark will be ignited simply by willpower given how this team has been built. If Pittsburgh falters next week against the rival Baltimore Ravens and surrenders further ground in the AFC North, the team - and Rodgers - will have to face some uncomfortable realities about where this season is headed.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:NFL Week 13 winners, losers: Colts lose contender status amid crisis

byAdministrator

in

December 01, 2025

NFL Week 13 winners and losers: Colts losing contender status as crisis hits

Sunday's slate wrapping upWeek 13in theNFLessentially amounted to being fed Thanksgiving leftovers. The le...

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Michigan's big statement leads winners, losers from college hoops holiday week

It took Dusty May five seasons before he turnedFlorida Atlanticinto a Final Four team.

At Michigan, it may just take two.

Over three days in Las Vegas, theWolverinesproved they are a national championship contender after a dominant showing in the Player's Era Festival.

The showing came after Michigan had struggled in the first few weeks of the season with close wins against Wake Forest and TCU. There were questions about how the Wolverines would fare in the 18-team tournament loaded with ranked teams. Those doubts went away as fast as chips at a blackjack table.

Michigan blew out San Diego State and No. 25Auburnby a combined 70 points to earn the spot in the championship game against No. 10 Gonzaga. The Bulldogs had also been impressive over two games in Sin City, making the matchup billed as a meeting of a possible Final Four opponents.

Instead, it looked like a No. 1 seed playing against No. 16. Michigan jumped out to a 20-5 lead in the first five minutes and never looked back in a 40-point over the Bulldogs, the biggest loss in the Mark Few tenure.

It's hard to grasp how exceptional Michigan looked with its closest game the 30-point defeat of Auburn.

Yaxel Lendeborg showed why he was the top transfer in the country with 52 points and 22 rebounds in the three games, and the 6-foot-9-inch forward just one piece of what is a long lineup that features 7-foot-3-inch Aday Mara and 6-foot-9-inch Morez Johnson Jr.

Is it early to declare a national championship favorite? Probably, with Selection Sunday more than three months away. But it's hard to not laud Michigan after one of the most impressive three-day stretches you can have in November.

The Wolverines have sent a message to the rest of the country, and that's why they lead the winners and losers of Feast Week.

Winners

Kansas

Kansas had a favorable road in the Player's Era Festival and were set up to fail in the third-place game. Instead, Kansas proved it still is a contender with a perfect finish in Las Vegas.

After handling unranked Notre Dame and Syracuse, it felt like the the Jayhawks would have a rough outing against No. 16 Tennessee, which just knocked off No. 2 Houston. The result seemed locked when the Volunteers had a 12-point lead in the second half. That's when Kansas turned it on. Elmarko Jackson and Melvin Council Jr. combined for 27 second half points and shut down Tennessee for a massive 81-76 win.

It can't be overstated how much Kansas needed that win since it looked flat against North Carolina and Duke earlier in November. It felt like it was trending to another down year, but this game certainly gives Bill Self his mojo back, especially with standout freshman Darryn Peterson still sidelined. The Jayhawks can ride the momentum into big contests against Connecticut and North Carolina State in December.

Iowa State

The Cyclones were denied the Player's Era championship due to its unusual tiebreakers, but you can't take away what was an exceptional week in Las Vegas for T.J. Otzelberger's squad.

No. 13 Iowa State got a major test in the first game against No. 15 St. John's, and proved to be tougher in the final minutes for a major one-point victory over the Red Storm. The win did come at a cost with star guard and leading scorer Tamin Lipsey being injured late and missing the rest of the tournament.

It wasn't much of a problem. The Cyclones returned with a rout of Creighton, and took their frustrations out on missing out on the big prize in the Player's Era Festival by putting a beat down on Syracuse in the second half of a 31-point victory. Iowa State remains undefeated and gets two early Quad 1 wins to make its case for being among the Big 12 favorites.

There's a noticeable trend that the Big 12 had a great week, capped off by TCU's performance at the Rady Children's Invitational in San Diego.

The Horned Frogs have recovered from the season-opening loss against New Orleans. They nearly beat Michigan on Nov. 14, but got the job done last week with a key win over defending champion Florida on Thanksgiving Day. Against Wisconsin in the championship, the Horned Frogs kept a safe distance from the Badgers, never trailing despite 30 points from Badgers guard John Blackwell.

Credit Jamie Dixon's team for not letting the season get away, and the Horned Frogs become another team that makes the Big 12 a gauntlet of a conference.

Southern California

All aboard the Muss Bus? It wasn't a loaded Maui Invitational, but it's still impressive to win in Lahaina, and the Trojans are feeling the aloha spirit after winning the prestigious tournament.

USC powered pastBoise Stateand Seton Hall in its first two games, and in the championship, the offense shined in a comfortable win overArizona State. What's even more impressive is the win over the Sun Devils came without leading scorer Rodney Rice. That's when a guy that knows about winning the tournament in Chad Baker-Mazara stepped up. The Auburn transfer has transitioned well for USC and looked like the best player on the court with 23 points in the title game, earning tournament MVP.

Eric Musselman has been trying to bring some hype back to Los Angeles, and starting 7-0 will certainly help. The Trojans have the makings of an NCAA Tournament team, something it's trying to get back to after two straight seasons missing out.

Michigan State

Michigan wasn't the only team in the state to have a great week with No. 12 Michigan State picking up another ranked win to prove the Spartans still are a contender.

In the Fort Myers Tip-Off, the Spartans had a comfortable win over East Carolina, but the main attraction was the Thanksgiving matchup against No. 17 North Carolina. Both teams have impressed so far, and the winner would get another big boost. It was a back-and-forth first half, but Michigan State grabbed control before halftime and never let it go en route to a 16-point win over the Tar Heels.

That's now three ranked wins in the first seven games for Tom Izzo, and it's notable that two of those ranked victories were by double-digits. Michigan State is an experienced team and it shows, and it's the first undefeated November for the Spartans since 2015-16, and this team is capable of winning 30 games again this season.

Magic Johnson
college dominance: Led Michigan State to the 1979 NCAA Championship, defeating Larry Bird's Indiana State.
NBA: 5× NBA champion in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988 with the Los Angeles Lakers. 3× NBA Finals MVP in 1980, 1982 and 1987. 3× NBA Most Valuable Player in 1987, 1989 and 1990. 12× NBA All-Star: 1980, 1982-1992. 2× NBA All-Star Game MVP in 1990 and 1992. Inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Carmelo Anthony college dominance: In his lone season (2003), led Syracuse to a national championship and earned Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors. Averaged 22.2 points and 10 rebounds per game as a freshman.
NBA: 10× NBA All-Star. 2012–13 NBA scoring champion, averaging 28.7 points per game.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

Before NBA glory: How Jordan, Bird, Magic and Curry ruled in college

Magic Johnsoncollege dominance:Led Michigan State to the 1979 NCAA Championship, defeating Larry Bird's Indiana State.NBA:5× NBA champion in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988 with the Los Angeles Lakers. 3× NBA Finals MVP in 1980, 1982 and 1987. 3× NBA Most Valuable Player in 1987, 1989 and 1990. 12× NBA All-Star: 1980, 1982-1992. 2× NBA All-Star Game MVP in 1990 and 1992. Inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002.

LOSERS

Florida

A 1-1 showing in the Rady's Children Invitational is not what Florida had in mind. Instead of winning the four-team tournament, the Gators head back from the West Coast with more questions.

Things seemed to be going well against TCU until Florida's offense fell apart in the second half, leading to a head-scratching loss. The Gators were able to regroup for a win against Providence to avoid a disastrous time in San Diego.

It's obviously hard to defend a national championship, but Florida came into this season looking like it would be well positioned to do so with a mix of key transfers joining some veteran pieces. But it hasn't looked quite right since the season-opening loss to Arizona, and the Gators don't look anywhere near as dominant as last season's national championship-winning squad.

St. John's

Rick Pitino's magic in New York looks like its fading, with the hype surrounding St. John's coming to a screeching halt after a losing week in the Player's Era Festival.

The Red Storm fell in a thriller to Iowa State in the opening contest. There wasn't anything wrong with the loss, and they came back to beat Baylor in the second game, but the consolation round performance was troubling. After leading Auburn by nine points at halftime, the Tigers outscored St. John's by 20 points in the second half to win. A team that could've contended for a Player's Era crown instead went 1-2 in Las Vegas.

St. John's is now 4-3 in the young season looks suspect on defense. It's allow 76.4 points per game and gave up an astonishing 88 points against the SEC and Big 12 teams it has played this season. If it can't defend against top-tier teams, there won't be another big season for Pitino.

Oregon

The inaugural Player's Era Festival champion didn't get anywhere near an encore with a winless showing in the expanded field.

Oregon returned to Las Vegas and had double-digit losses to Auburn, San Diego State and Creighton. The Ducks returned two key pieces from last season's tournament team, but they haven't been able to put together solid performances. Jackson Shelstad struggled as he recovers from a broken hand, and big man Nate Bittle got hurt against San Diego State. The result led to sloppy performances throughout the week.

North Carolina State

There was a great opportunity for Will Wade to prove in Maui the Wolfpack were ready to get off to a fast start in his first season. Instead, NC State showed it still has some ways to go.

According to the rankings, NC State was the best team in the Maui Invitational, but ended up finishing in sixth place. The Wolfpack fell to Seton Hall before responding beat Boise State. In their final game, they allowed 102 points to Texas to head back to the mainland with a 1-2 record.

Defense is a glaring problem, but what is a real concern is Texas Tech transfer Darrion Williams hasn't been the dominant player he can very easily be. It will go a long way if Williams can assert himself as one of the best players in the ACC, but at this point, the Wolfpack don't look like they can be a heavy contender yet.

Boise State

It's far too early in the season to be declared out of the at-large tournament discussion, but Boise State has a lot of ground to make up if it doesn't the Mountain West's automatic bid.

After the stunning season-opening loss to Division II Hawaii Pacific, the Maui Invitational provided for the Broncos to earn some quality wins, but they couldn't capitalize in their first two games. They played Southern California close in the opener before not being able to keep up with NC State the following day. That left Boise State in the last=place game against Chaminade, another game against a Division II school that won't count in the NET rankings.

What was a big moment for Boise State ended in a dud with no signature victory, and things are going to have to drastically change in Boise if the Broncos don't want to miss the tournament again.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:College basketball winners, losers: Michigan makes major statement

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NFL news, injury updates: Justin Herbert to have surgery on hand, Sauce Gardner suffers possible calf strain

Week 14 means crunch time for some NFL teams, with the end of the season rapidly approaching. But there may be some injury uncertainty for two teams in the playoff hunt, as the Chargers and Colts prepare for some potentially tough injuries.

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is dealing with a fracture in the back of his left non-throwing hand, andwill undergo surgery on Monday to fix it. Herbert suffered the injury on the first drive of the win over the Raiders, but returned in the second quarter with a padded glove over his left hand, and finished the game.

It's unclear if Herbert will miss time with the injury, with the Chargers set to face the Eagles on Monday. But Herbert told reporters postgame that he believes the surgery is simply meant to "stabilize" it and that doctors are "hopeful" he can play in Week 14.

Elsewhere in the AFC, Colts cornerback Sauce Gardnerwent down with an apparent calf strainin Indianapolis' loss to the Texans on Sunday. Gardner said postgame that he doesn't believe it was an Achilles injury, but that he will undergo additional tests to determine the severity, including how much time he might have to miss.

Overall, Sunday was also a big day for quarterbacks getting rocked: Bills defensive end Joey Bosa hit Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers so hard in Buffalo's win that Rodgers had tobriefly exit the game with a bloody nose. And Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence got decked by Titans linebacker Arden Key, with the hitquickly sparking a bench-clearing scuffle. Vikings backup QB Max Brosmer also had some poor luck, with the rookie taking four sacks in his first pro game — and throwing four picks —as Minnesota's quarterback struggles continue.

It would be amiss not to note one of the bigger developments of the weekend: After the Panthers stunned the Ramswith a three-point upset win, the Chicago Bears are nowthe best team in the NFC, almost one year to the dayafter firing Matt Eberflus.

Follow along with Yahoo Sports for the latest NFL news coming out of Week 13:

• 

  Mon, December 1, 2025 at 4:54 PM GMT+2

  Chris Cwik

  Davante Adams sets record for most goal line touchdowns

  Los Angeles Rams wideout Davante Adams is having one heck of a season. Despite taking a loss in Week 13, Adams managed two more scores, bringing his season total to a league-leading 14.

  Both of those scores came within the 5-yard line, which actually helped Adams set a record, per NFL.com. With his two scores Sunday, Adams set the record for most receiving touchdowns inside the 10-yard line. The two scores gave Adams 60 touchdowns of that variety. The previous leader, Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, had 58 such scores over his legendary career.

  Adams also set the record for most receiving scores inside the 10-yard line in a single season. He has nine this year, passing Randy Moss in 2004 and Bubba Franks in 2001. Both had eight receiving touchdowns within the 10-yard line in those seasons.

  Adams has been a revelation for the Rams' offense, and has played a major role in Matthew Stafford elevating his play to MVP level in his 17th season.

• 

  Mon, December 1, 2025 at 4:30 PM GMT+2

  Chris Cwik

  Justin Herbert hoping to play Week 14 despite hand fracture

  Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is hoping to play in Week 14 despite a break in his left hand during Sunday's game.

  Herbert is expected to undergo surgery Monday to repair the issue. He said after the game that he believes it just needs to be stabilized and that doctors were "hopeful," per ESPN.

  Herbert missed nine plays due to the injury. He returned to the field in a hard cast and glove and finished the game. Herbert, however, had trouble taking snaps under center and was used in shotgun formations the rest of the way.

  It's unclear whether he'll have those same restrictions in Week 14 if he's able to play following his surgery.

• 

  Mon, December 1, 2025 at 4:19 PM GMT+2

  Chris Cwik

  Jaxson Dart set to return in Week 13

  New York Giants rookie passer Jaxson Dart is ready to return in Week 13. Dart will start Monday night against the New England Patriots after missing the last two games due to a concussion, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

  Dart, 22, has shown promise as a rookie, passing for 10 touchdowns and 3 interceptions in seven starts. He's been a true dual threat with the ball, rushing for 317 yards and seven scores as a runner.

  Some of those runs have gotten him in trouble, however, as Dart faced multiple concussion tests earlier in the year before eventually landing in the NFL's protocol. He'll look to be more careful with his rushes against the Patriots in Week 13.

• 

  Mon, December 1, 2025 at 4:10 PM GMT+2

  Chris Cwik

  Sauce Gardner to undergo MRI on Monday

  Indianapolis Colts cornerback Sauce Gardner will undergo an MRI on Monday to determine the extent of his calf injury, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

  Gardner, 25, left Sunday's game after just a handful of plays after appearing to injure his leg in coverage. The injury looked worrisome at the time, but Gardner apparently avoided an Achilles injury.

  From @GMFB: #Colts CB Sauce Gardner is expected to miss some time with a calf strain, though he'll have an MRI today to determine how much. pic.twitter.com/wkS8Tz1D1A

  — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 1, 2025

  The cornerback is expected to miss some time due to the injury, but the MRI will determine how long the 8-4 Colts will be without the star player.

byAdministrator

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NFL news, injury updates: Justin Herbert to have surgery on hand, Sauce Gardner suffers possible calf strain

Week 14 means crunch time for some NFL teams, with the end of the season rapidly approaching. But there may be some inju...

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