Two weeks before the Alamo Bowl, USC got its best news of the bowl season: Star quarterback Jayden Maiava was forgoing the NFL draft to stay in L.A. for another year.
Two days later, TCU’s star quarterback, Josh Hoover, delivered his own announcement: He was entering the transfer portal.
Those two decisions will have the teams in drastically different places on offense. USC won’t have two of its starting offensive linemen or most of its regular receiving corps, but will have one of the Big Ten’s best quarterbacks at the helm. TCU, meanwhile, has most of its offense available, including star receiver Eric McAlister, but a backup quarterback who last started in 2023 in Ken Seals.
“Ken started 22 games in the SEC,” TCU coach Sonny Dykes said. “He’s been a great teammate, a great practice player. Now he’s going to get a chance to go perform on the big stage.”
Maiava should get plenty of chances Tuesday to show why he’ll be seen as a serious Heisman contender next season. TCU struggles to pressure opposing passers, ranks 109th in the nation in yards allowed through the air and has yet to face a passing attack this season as prolific as USC’s.
Not to mention there’s a notable calm to Maiava that wasn’t there at this point last bowl season.
“He’s just taken giant steps,” offensive coordinator Luke Huard said. “[You] just see him playing free and with a lot of confidence.”
What’s not clear is how much he’ll play, with freshman Husan Longstreet waiting in the wings and USC still hoping he’ll settle for another season sitting behind Maiava.
Stephen Bunting said he has been left “hurt” after his son was the victim of online abuse.
World number four Bunting, 40, was knocked out of the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship on Saturday with a dramatic 4-3 loss to world number 63 James Hurrell.
Bunting’s son, 13, was in attendance at Alexandra Palace and was shown regularly on television cameras passionately supporting his father during his dramatic loss in seven sets.
Posting on X for the first time since Saturday’s exit, Bunting said the abuse his son has received has been “hurtful” for the whole family.
“Hi guys. Sorry I’ve had a few days away from my socials but I just needed a small bit of time after my game to recover and rest,” Bunting posted.
“I love my family so much and they give me massive motivation to continue this journey. I still believe I have a lot to give darts over the rest of my career and I want to make them forever proud.
“They see the negative comments and do their best to make sure I don’t see them – and even [my son] has had some hate from some of the trolls online, which really is hurtful for us as a family.
“[He] is one of the nicest kids you could wish to meet and I’ll be doing a lot more social stuff with him this coming year.”
Stephen’s son regularly appears alongside his father at events on and off the oche, including Bunting’s social media pages.
The Bullet’s defeat to Hurrell could cost him an automatic qualification spot for the 2026 Premier League Darts campaign, with Bunting likely to drop outside the world’s top four following his early tournament exit.
Nick Smith Jr. placed his newest souvenir nonchalantly underneath the press conference table. This game ball will likely go to his mother.
Smith earned it Sunday with a starring performance off the bench while filling in for the injured Reaves. The 21-year-old guard on a two-way contract scored 21 points on eight-for-14 shooting with three rebounds and one assist. He made five three-pointers, including his first four from beyond the arc while starting seven-for-seven from the field.
With Reaves sidelined for at least a month with a grade two strain in his left calf, Smith will be in line for more consistent minutes, Redick said before the game. Especially with fellow guard Gabe Vincent missing his fourth game because of a back injury Sunday, the Lakers need Smith’s ball handling and shiftiness alongside James and Doncic.
But to offset the loss of their second-leading scorer, the Lakers are most desperate for Smith’s scoring.
“It’s why we wanted him on the Lakers and part of our program, because we knew he could score,” Redick said. “I like when he’s aggressive. … If he could just do him within our structure, a lot of times, good things happen.”
Smith has already flashed his scoring potential in big moments. The former first-round draft pick who signed with the Lakers a day before training camp started rescued the team with 25 points in Portland in a game without James, Doncic or Reaves. He had 12 points in 14 minutes off the bench against Toronto when the Lakers survived thanks to a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Rui Hachimura.
“We trust him,” Redick said before the game.
After getting waived by the Charlotte Hornets, Smith recognized that he hasn’t had this level of trust from a coaching staff “in a long time.” To have it “means everything,” he added.
“It’s a different stage, you know, where I came from, and I understand that,” Smith said. “So I just want to make sure I’m ready. … I’m just blessed to be here, just have the opportunity just to even play with the Lakers and stuff like that, even be in the league. A lot of guys where I’m from would, like, love to be in this situation.”
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery says it “does not make sense” to speak about the title race in December, after rising to third place in the Premier League.
Lossiemouth took the final Grade One win of the year after holding off 2024 winner Brighterdaysahead in Monday’s December Hurdle at Leopardstown.
The pre-race favourite (4-6) produced the goods in what was an exciting finish as jockey Paul Townend delivered the victory for trainer Willie Mullins.
It was the first race of the season for Gordon Elliott’s Brighterdaysahead and the second favourite (5-2) made a late gallop with Jack Kennedy on board, but was unable to overhaul the favourite at the line.
“She was brilliant,” Townend said of the winner, speaking to RTE Sport.
“I hoped she’d get me out of trouble, like she did.
“I was anxious when Patrick [Mullins on Anzadam] flew over a couple of hurdles to go past us. It probably got us racing a bit sooner than if he hadn’t gone by me, but I wanted to mark him and cover all bases and make the rest of them dance to my tune as much as we could.”
Casheldale Lad set the early pace with Lossiemouth on the shoulder, while Brighterdaysahead stayed on the outside along the back straight.
Anzadam, with Patrick Mullins in the saddle, made a move to open a brief lead, yet it was Lossiemouth who roared back superbly and surged ahead on the home straight.
Brighterdaysahead rose to the challenge, narrowing the gap but had to settle for second with Casheldale Lad (16-1) pipping Anzadam for third.
Here is what to look out for on the final round of Scottish Premiership fixtures for 2025, including Motherwell v Celtic, Djeidi Gassama’s form and the pressure on David Martindale.
As Villa manager Unai Emery’s changes swung the game in their favour, Maresca’s substitutes made little impact.
Star attacker Cole Palmer reacted furiously to being taken off in the 72nd minute for 18-year-old Estevao Willian, while the decision to withdraw Marc Cucurella drew criticism – though it was later revealed that the Spaniard had a potential hamstring issue.
Maresca’s substitutions have faced scrutiny before, notably in defeats with 10 men against Manchester United and Brighton earlier this season. Atalanta forward Charles De Ketelaere even suggested they “drop” in the second half after his side came from behind to beat Chelsea in their Champions League game in Italy earlier this month.
While Maresca’s changes have occasionally worked, it has usually been when resting key players. In the Carabao Cup against Nottingham Forest, Brentford and Cardiff City, he rotated heavily but ultimately relied on star players to secure wins.
This has sparked a chicken-and-egg debate: some blame the lack of quality on the fringes of the squad, while others question Maresca’s handling of certain players.
Asked about the issue by BBC Sport, Maresca smiled before replying: “No, I think it’s in general.”
That guarded response came after a defeat defined by substitutes.
Villa’s quintet of Watkins, Amadou Onana, former Chelsea loanee Jadon Sancho, Lucas Digne and Lamare Bogarde, had an average age of over 26.
Chelsea, meanwhile, made four changes – Estevao Willian, Jamie Gittens, Liam Delap and Malo Gusto – with an average age of under 21.
In terms of attacking impact, Estevao has delivered five goals and an assist since moving to Stamford Bridge, but injury-hit Delap has scored just once, as has Gittens, albeit having also delivered five assists in all competitions.
“It’s probably how we can improve after we concede a goal, to manage the game a little bit better, in terms of experience game after game,” says Maresca.
Chelsea rely on youth, and have had minimal impact from their changes in the Premier League this season.
The average age of their starting XI is 24 years and 219 days, while substitutes average 21 years and 349 days – both are the youngest in the league.
Alongside Arsenal, Chelsea make the earliest changes, averaging their first substitution at 48 minutes, often at half-time. Despite this, their substitutes have contributed only three goals and one assist in the league this season.
Jacob Bethell said he wants to remain England’s number three but admitted he has “a lot more to do” to make the position his own.
The 22-year-old was recalled for the fourth Ashes Test and made a crucial 40 in the second innings as England won by four wickets to end an 18-match winless streak in Australia.
Bethell had never batted higher than number four in first-class cricket until he had three Tests for England at number three in New Zealand last year.
The left-hander played only three first-class matches in 2025 before replacing Ollie Pope for the Boxing Day Test.
His impressive 40 actually came at number four after England promoted Brydon Carse as a pinch-hitter in the second-innings run chase of 175. Now Bethell will get the opportunity to stake a claim for a long run in the team in the final Ashes Test in Sydney.
“I like three,” he said. “You come in when the ball is new and in some scenarios the ball’s going all over the shop, but in other scenarios it presents opportunities to score when bowlers are trying to take wickets and the field is attacking there’s loads of gaps.
“I’ve still got a lot more to do to call it my position.”
Bethell’s selection in Melbourne was the culmination of year-long speculation over Pope’s position at number three.
After impressing with three half-centuries in New Zealand last December, Bethell’s international progress was hampered by an injury, a stint at the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Pope’s good form at the start of the home summer.
The Warwickshire man made his first professional century in a one-day international against South Africa in September. Following the Ashes, he will be part of England’s white-ball plans in the new year then will return to the IPL with Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
It could mean Bethell’s next first-class cricket following the tour of Australia is England’s first Test of the home summer against New Zealand in June.
“I’m not thinking too far ahead yet,” said Bethell. “Hopefully next week in Sydney and then we’ve got a lot of cricket to play before next summer.”
Asked about securing the number three spot, he said: “I would like to. I would like to just nail down any role in the team. If you’re in the XI and contributing to winning I’m pretty happy with that.”
A bowler from Bhutan has become the first cricketer to take eight wickets in a T20 international.
Left-arm spinner Sonam Yeshey finished with fine figures of 8-7 from four overs in his side’s 82-run win, external over Myanmar in the third of five men’s T20s between the sides in Gelephu.
The 22-year-old now has the best-ever figures of any bowler in men’s or women’s T20 international cricket.
Six of Yeshey’s wickets were caught while one was bowled and the other lbw.
Bhutan were victorious after they made 127-9 then bowled out Myanmar for 45.
Malaysian seamer Syazrul Idrus previously held the best T20 figures for a man with the 7-8 he claimed against China in July 2023.
Indonesia off-spinner Rohmalia Rohmalia has the best figures in women’s T20s for her 7-0 against Mongolia in April 2024.
Bhutan are an Associate member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and many players representing countries at that level are unpaid amateurs.
However, Bhutan have 36 players – equally split across their men’s and women’s national sides – who are paid via central contracts.
Bhutan are currently ranked 77th in the ICC men’s T20 rankings while Myanmar are 95th.
It may have taken a little longer than some antsy fans wanted, but Bob Chesney is on the way to Westwood after completing his final season at James Madison.
In reality, James Madison’s result against Oregon in the opening round of the College Football Playoff on Saturday was always going to be a win-win for the Bruins.
If the Dukes upset the Ducks, then the buzz around Chesney and his new employer would have only intensified. (Did you notice the free publicity the school received on the broadcast 13 minutes before kickoff when it was mentioned that Chesney was on his way to UCLA?)
If the Dukes lost, then Chesney could thank his team for a historic season and pack his things for the West Coast to get started on his latest program revival.
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He’ll get to do just that in the wake of James Madison’s 51-34 setback at Autzen Stadium. It’s expected that Chesney will bring a big chunk of his staff with him while retaining a sprinkling of UCLA coaches in a variety of roles. Dukes offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy and defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler are among those who will join Chesney at his new stop, the coaches likely bringing with them at least a handful of James Madison players.
Several showed they could play at the Big Ten level given their performance against the Ducks.
Running back Wayne Knight, who will be a redshirt senior next season, should be a top target after displaying both speed and power while rushing for 110 yards — more than twice the 52 yards that USC managed on the ground as a team during the Trojans’ 42-27 loss to the Ducks in November.
While he also has another season of eligibility, quarterback Alonza Barnett III is probably not joining Chesney at UCLA given counterpart Nico Iamaleava’s decision to return in 2026. Barnett has already used his redshirt season, so it wouldn’t make sense for him to travel across the country just to be a backup in his final college season after having led another team to the CFP.
Others with remaining eligibility who impressed included wide receiver Landon Ellis (making several big catches, one going for 50 yards on a double pass), tight end Lacota Dippre (hurdling a defender while scoring on a reverse), wide receiver George Pettaway (making a 24-yard touchdown catch on a wheel route) and cornerback Justin Eaglin (intercepting a Dante Moore pass).
Kennedy’s offense was unquestionably the showpiece of an aggressive approach that also included two onside kicks, a fake punt and no hesitation to go for it on fourth downs. The Dukes showed plenty of imagination on the way to rolling up 509 yards. There were countless trick plays and formations — many including bunched receivers and tight ends — that kept the defense guessing what they were going to do.
Chesney didn’t sound a happy-to-be-there tone in either his halftime or postgame interviews, revealing a strong desire to do better on such a big stage. But there was nothing to be ashamed about after James Madison outscored Oregon, 28-17, in the second half despite a massive talent discrepancy.
Now, after getting a closeup view of what’s needed to compete in the upper tier of the Big Ten, Chesney will get a chance to start restocking his new roster before the calendar flips to 2026.
Keeping the band together
Part of Chesney’s winning formula in his rise from Division III to the CFP has involved staff continuity.
Kennedy’s connection with Chesney goes back to a flurry of job-seeking letters that Kennedy sent to college football coaches around the country while he was a young assistant at Florida.
Chesney not only responded but also donated to two charities with ties to Kennedy’s family after doing some research on the persistent assistant. A year later, Chesney hired Kennedy when a quarterbacks coach vacancy opened on his staff at Holy Cross prior to the 2022 season.
Kennedy earned a promotion to offensive coordinator the following season before accompanying Chesney to James Madison.
Hitschler’s ties to Chesney go all the way back to the Division III level. In 2011, Hitschler was Chesney’s defensive line coach and co-special teams coordinator at Salve Regina before the duo reconnected at James Madison before the recently completed season.
Both Kennedy and Chesney presided over units that were among the best in the country last season, James Madison ranking No. 11 nationally in points scored (37.1 per game) and No. 15 in points allowed (18.4). Kennedy is known for designing creative offenses that spread the field, breaking out flea-flicker and Statue of Liberty plays to help the Dukes post 70 points against North Carolina in 2024 while tying a record for the most points ever given up by the Tar Heels.
Both coordinators possess something their boss doesn’t – experience coaching at the Power Four level. Kennedy was a graduate assistant at Mississippi State and Florida before earning a promotion to offensive quality control coach and later assistant quarterbacks coach with the Gators.
Hitschler was co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Wisconsin in 2023 before taking a job as co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Alabama in 2024. Hitschler also has NFL experience as a training camp assistant with the Philadelphia Eagles and a player personnel assistant with the Kansas City Chiefs.
A generous man of mystery
Zachary Rosenfeld teared up recently when he saw a tweet about the $1-million gift to UCLA football from the estate of the late Richard Shtiller.
His “someday” had finally arrived.
Having previously worked in fundraising for UCLA’s athletic department before leaving to run his own sales company, Rosenfeld cultivated a relationship with Shtiller that helped secure that donation. There were hundreds of phone calls leading to four conversations, one in-person meeting and a handsome payoff that the football team can put to good use under its new coach.
Richard Shtiller
(Courtesy of the Shtiller family)
For most of the time Rosenfeld corresponded with Shtiller, he didn’t know much about the intensely private man or his generosity when it came to helping his alma mater. The most Shtiller offered was a vague assurance when Rosenfeld inquired about a seven-figure gift that Shtiller first teased in the summer of 2015.
At the time, Rosenfeld was an intern with UCLA athletics who was given the unfortunate task of fielding calls about increased donation requirements for football season tickets. One of those who called to complain was Shtiller, who approached the conversation with what seemed like a massive bargaining chip.
“What if I told you,” Shtiller said, “that I had $1 million to UCLA football in my will.”
Rosenfeld jokingly told Shtiller that he didn’t believe him, putting him on hold so that he could confer with a boss. By the time Rosenfeld picked the phone back up, Shtiller had hung up.
It was the start of a sometimes playful, sometimes frustrating relationship. After Rosenfeld was hired full-time by UCLA the following year, he made it his mission to get to know Shtiller. He called Shtiller’s Beverly Hills law office at least once a week, usually getting voicemail.
They finally met in person during a chance encounter at a football practice in 2016, Shtiller greeting Rosenfeld with a cheerful brush of his face.
“It’s Richard Shtiller, Zach,” he said. “You’re my noodge. You’ve been calling my office every day.”
Those calls continued, sometimes a year going by before they would reconnect. Rosenfeld eventually sent Shtiller information on the proper legal terminology to include in his will in case he really was going to donate all that money to UCLA football, never knowing if it would amount to anything.
During their final conversation upon Rosenfeld’s departure from UCLA athletics in 2019, Rosenfeld kidded Shtiller about never securing that big donation.
“Well,” Shtiller said, “maybe someday.”
That was the last time they spoke. Six years later, Rosenfeld learned that Shtiller was a man of his word upon his passing earlier this year. Not only did Shtiller give the money he had promised, he also used the terminology Rosenfeld had suggested to insert in his will so that it got to the right place.
Along the way, Shtiller provided Rosenfeld a lesson in perseverance while also giving back to a program that had given him so much joy even after going more than a quarter of a century without so much as a conference title.
“It was a reminder,” Rosenfeld said, “that even in the depths of rock bottom, UCLA football still means something to many of us.”
What’s it all worth?
(Luke Hales / Getty Images)
UCLA prides itself on being one of the top athletic departments in the country.
There’s those 125 NCAA championships — behind only Stanford’s 137 — a combination of academic and athletic success that few big-time schools can match, and the association with legendary figures such as John Wooden, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Jackie Robinson, among many others.
But how much is it all worth when it comes to cold, hard cash?
Not as much as you might think.
In a CNBC valuation of U.S. college athletic programs, UCLA ranked No. 52, with a valuation of $539 million. The Bruins trailed schools such as Purdue, Virginia Tech and North Carolina State that are not as widely known for broad-based athletic excellence.
There were some common themes among the leaders.
The top five schools — Texas ($1.48 billion), Ohio State ($1.35 billion), Texas A&M ($1.32 billion), Georgia ($1.16 billion) and Michigan ($1.16 billion) — all have thriving football programs and massive donor bases, not to mention at least $239 million in revenue in 2024. By comparison, UCLA reported $119 million in revenue for the same year, according to the report.
Among the 18 Big Ten teams, UCLA ranked No. 16, ahead of only Maryland (No. 53) and Rutgers (No. 56). USC ranked No. 8, largely on the strength of $242 million in revenue and a football team that continues to flirt with the College Football Playoff under coach Lincoln Riley.
What can be done about it?
Two words: Bob Chesney.
If UCLA’s new football coach wins at a high level and fills his home venue — be it the Rose Bowl or SoFi Stadium — then those metrics could look vastly different in just a few years.
Some real finds
UCLA had three men’s soccer players selected in the second round of the Major League Soccer SuperDraft last week, becoming the school’s 85th, 86th and 87th picks in league history — the most of any college program.
Junior defender Tre Wright was picked No. 33 by Real Salt Lake, graduate left back Schinieder Mimy was taken No. 38 by the New England Revolution and senior midfielder Tarun Karumanchi was selected No. 49 by the Columbus Crew.
UCLA coach Ryan Jorden, in his seventh year, has had nine players drafted by MLS teams.
Opinion time
With James Madison reaching the College Football Playoff in Chesney’s second and final season, how many players do you hope the new Bruins coach brings with him to Westwood?
We asked, “How does the rest of the men’s basketball season play out for the Bruins?”
After 388 votes, the results:
The team plays better before another early tournament exit, 68.9% Everything comes together and the team makes a deep tournament run, 17.7% The bubble is burst and the team misses the tournament, 13.4%
Do you have a comment or something you’d like to see in a future UCLA newsletter? Email me at ben.bolch@latimes.com, and follow me on X @latbbolch. To order an autographed copy of my book, “100 Things UCLA Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die,” send me an email. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.
Kawhi Leonard scored a career-high 55 points, James Harden added 28, and the Clippers extended their winning streak to a season-high four games with a 112-99 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night at Intuit Dome.
Leonard went 17 for 26 from the floor, including five for 10 from three-point range, and made 16 of 17 free throws, his miss in the third quarter ending a streak of 64 straight from the line this month. He scored 26 points in the third quarter.
Leonard tied the team record for points in a game, set by Harden on Nov. 22 at Charlotte, and became the second in franchise history to score at least 40 points in consecutive games at home, joining Bob McAdoo.
Nicolas Batum scored 12 points, while Leonard added 11 rebounds and five steals for the Clippers (10-21), who lost 10 of 11 before this four-game run.
The Clippers, the oldest team in the NBA, took things to the extreme with three starters in Harden, Batum and Brook Lopez age 36 or older. All five starters were in their 30s, with Leonard (34) and Kris Dunn (31) the other two.
Cade Cunningham finished with 27 points for the Eastern Conference-leading Pistons after being held scoreless in the first half while in foul trouble. Jalen Duren had 18 points and 14 rebounds, and Jaden Ivey added 11 points for Detroit, which lost back-to-back games for just the second time.
Playing without injured center Ivica Zubac for the third consecutive game, the Clippers were all business from the start. Their first double-digit lead came four minutes into the game at 16-6 on a three-pointer from Harden.
The Clippers led by as many as 20 points in the first half when Leonard scored 25 points. The Pistons pulled within nine points twice in the third quarter before a 16-5 run gave the Clippers another 20-point lead at 81-61 on a Leonard three-pointer.
Up next for the Clippers: vs. the Sacramento Kings at Intuit Dome on Tuesday.
While a 3-2 defeat would clearly read a lot better for England than 4-1, it would be even more frustrating in many ways because it would only add to a feeling of what could have been.
England could have won this series given the Australia XIs they have been up against and the situations they have been in, had they been stronger mentally and better tactically.
They cannot think like that going into the next Test, of course.
Even if a 3-2 scoreline would frustrate, it may save jobs when the review does come after this series with a win even more important for the coaching staff than the players.
These players are good – the likes of Harry Brook, whose talent is exceptional, or Zak Crawley, whose innings in the second innings in Adelaide should give him a template for the future.
I would hate for them to be thrown out in an upheaval.
England showing they have adapted and learned from the mistakes made in Perth and Brisbane would reflect the work done by the coaching staff.
That is important going forward.
In contrast, I hope Australia are hurting after defeat in Melbourne and use that to spur them on.
They have played so well to get to this point, coping impressively with captain Pat Cummins, fellow frontline bowler Josh Hazlewood, spinner Nathan Lyon and Steve Smith all missing at times.
They have done the important bit in winning the series but you do not want to take your foot off the gas.
Was Cummins rested for Melbourne because there are genuine fitness concerns? If so, that is fine but this is still an Ashes series. You have to put a high price on every Test match.
Jake Weatherald needs a score to secure his future, having failed to pass 20 in any of his past four innings.
All-rounder Cameron Green will come under pressure for his place from Beau Webster after his poor run, though I still think he will have an amazing career when he settles back into Test cricket following his injury absence, and I am surprised Usman Khawaja has not already announced this will be his final Test aged 39.
I retired after the Sydney Test of the 2006-07 series, along with Shane Warne and Justin Langer. Damien Martyn also called time on his career earlier in the series.
Warney and I spoke about the prospect of retiring before the Perth Test, at which point we were 2-0 up. The last thing we wanted to do was make an announcement while the series was still live.
Our win in Perth, when Adam Gilchirst scored an incredible hundred, allowed us to announce our decisions but that only placed even more importance on the next two Tests.
The fact we finished in such a dominant fashion is something I am really proud of.
There was never any talk about dead rubbers and there should not be now.
As ever, the Sydney Test will be a special occasion for me and my family.
This will be the 18th ‘Pink Test’ where we raise money in the name of my late wife Jane and last year we broadened the reach of the foundation to cover all types of cancer as well as breast cancer.
It can be emotional but is an occasion unique in sport given the scale – one that I view as a celebration of life.
I just hope we have more than two days of play this time…
Gus Atkinson has become the third England pace bowler to be ruled out of the Ashes series after confirmation he will miss the final Test against Australia in Sydney.
Atkinson suffered an injury to his left hamstring on the second and final morning of England’s win in the fourth Test in Melbourne.
The tourists will not call up a replacement, leaving Matthew Potts in line to play in the fifth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday (23:30 GMT on Saturday).
Atkinson joins Mark Wood and Jofra Archer in failing to complete the series because of injuries. All three were in England’s first-choice XI for the first Test in Perth.
Wood has not played since Perth because of a knee issue, while Archer was ruled out after three Tests because of a side strain.
Surrey’s Atkinson struggled in the first two Tests, managing only three wickets, and was subsequently left out of the third.
The 27-year-old looked nearer his best when he was recalled for the fourth Test, taking three wickets and making 28 with the bat in England’s first innings.
He grabbed his left hamstring at the end of the fourth over of his spell on the second morning and immediately left the field. Atkinson played no further part as England completed a four-wicket win later the same day.
There is no confirmation on when he will return to the UK, at which point he will be assessed further. Earlier this year Atkinson spent two months out with an injury to his right hamstring.
Atkinson’s absence leaves Durham’s Potts in line to add his to his 10 Test caps and make an Ashes debut.
The 27-year-old has not played a Test match since the defeat by New Zealand in Hamilton last December.
A regular in the first summer of the Ben Stokes-Brendon McCullum era, Potts has made sporadic appearances over the past two years. His previous seven caps have come against six different opponents.
The Lakers underwent some soul-searching at practice Saturday, with coach JJ Redick starting the conversation before allowing players to speak freely about the team’s issues.
It was an attempt by Redick and the team to prevent things from spiraling out of control after three consecutive losses.
When the Lakers faced the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night at Crypto.com Arena, Redick wanted to see players executing on defense and playing harder.
For the Lakers, it was more than Doncic finishing with 34 points, seven assists and five rebounds. It was Doncic playing defense, illustrated best when he blocked a shot by DeMar DeRozan. It was Doncic hustling, such as when he dove to the floor for a loose ball.
It was more than James scoring 24 points and handing out five assists. It was James throwing down a reverse dunk and offering words of wisdom to teammates.
And it also was reserve Nick Smith Jr. finding a role in the rotation and producing, one of the six Lakers scoring in double figures. Smith had 21 points on eight-for-14 shooting, making five of 10 threes.
Rui Hachimura had 12 points, Deandre Ayton had 11 points and 11 rebounds, and Jake LaRavia had 11 points.
The Lakers (20-10) took control from the start of the third quarter, going on a 13-2 run to give them a 26-point lead that reached as high as 30 in the fourth quarter.
Granted, the Kings (8-24) have the second-worst record in the West and were missing injured stars Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis and Keegan Bradley, three of their top four scorers.
But the Lakers lost three straight games because of poor defense and an overall effort that Redick described as “terrible.”
And with Austin Reaves out for at least a month because of a calf strain, getting the chance to talk through their issues might end up changing the team’s fortunes.
“They’re trying, and you know, I told the guys, this is normal,” Redick said. “There’s very few teams that don’t hit troughs throughout the season. It’s not all peaks. … It’s just a natural cycle that every team goes through.
“So we need to identify the problems and then come up with the solutions. So that’s just the process that we’re in the middle of right now.”
Match of the Day pundits Joe Hart and Danny Murphy praise Leeds United’s build-up play, which resulted in Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s equaliser against Sunderland.
Match of the Day pundit Joe Hart says Richarlison stood out for Tottenham Hotspur in a match where they were ‘absolutely battered’ by Crystal Palace, despite winning 1-0.
Match of the day Pundit Joe Hart breaks down how David Raya was able to execute an ‘absolutely brilliant’ save for Arsenal in their 2-1 victory over Brighton.
Opening day at Santa Anita might have been delayed by two days because of heavy rain, but it was worth the wait for no other reason than to watch the stretch run of the $200,000 Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes.
And for trainer Bob Baffert, it was even better than that. Not only did Nysos and Nevada Beach run 1-2 for him Sunday in the thrilling Grade 2 Pincay, but he also captured the two Grade 1 races he entered, the La Brea with Usha and the Malibu with Goal Oriented.
It was the fourth time Baffert won three stakes on the same day at Santa Anita, including the same trio of races on opening day in 2022.
He was especially excited after the Pincay, and not just by what he saw on the track.
“You know what’s great?” Baffert said as he stood in the winner’s circle and motioned to the grandstand, which was crowded with an announced 41,962 fans, the largest opening day audience since 2016. “It’s great to see this place packed. Look, everybody came out. They’ll come out to see a good horse and everybody was on the apron for this one. And they saw a great horse race.
“It was actually fun watching.”
Particularly for Baffert, who knew as the field turned into the stretch he couldn’t lose. Nysos, the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile champion ridden by Flavien Prat, was on the inside of Nevada Beach, the Goodwood Stakes winner ridden by Juan Hernandez.
Nysos was the heavy 1-5 favorite, having lost only one of his seven lifetime races, but for at least a moment it looked as if he might not get past Nevada Beach, at 3 a year younger than his stablemate.
But, in a virtual rerun of the Dirt Mile, when Prat and Nysos edged past Hernandez and another Baffert 3-year-old, Citizen Bull, the older horse once again prevailed, again by a head.
“I was close,” Hernandez said. “My horse ran really good. I was in front on the stretch for a couple of jumps and then it was just back and forth between Nysos and my horse. … He was giving me everything he had.”
The Grade 2 Pincay (formerly the San Antonio) was one of six stakes races on opening day, which is traditionally held the day after Christmas. It wasn’t one of the three Grade 1 races, but the presence of Nysos made it feel like the day’s main event.
Nysos returned $2.40 after running 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.36, the fastest since the Pincay was moved to that distance in 2017.
Baffert said in the leadup to the race that Nysos likely would start next in the $20-million Saudi Cup on Feb. 14 in Riyadh, while Nevada Beach was more apt to go to the $3-million Pegasus World Cup next month at Gulfstream Park. After the Pincay, he didn’t rule out sending both to Saudi Arabia.
The only downside to Baffert’s stakes day was having to scratch Barnes and Cornucopian, the two morning-line favorites, from the Malibu. Barnes suffered a “minor setback” Saturday while Cornucopian had an incident in the paddock minutes before the race, which forced his withdrawal (he was uninjured).
No matter, though; Goal Oriented ($4.20) took over favoritism and earned his first stakes win, defeating stablemate Midland Money by a length in 1:20.97, the fastest Malibu since 2016.
“I’m just happy it turned out that we won it because it was so upsetting for a little bit,” Baffert said.
Usha ($13.20) was starting in a Grade 1 race for the first time, but she won the La Brea like a filly who has more victories in her future. She finished seven furlongs in a rapid 1:21.68 to beat 2-1 favorite Formula Rossa by 5¼ lengths.
The first of the six stakes races was the $200,000 Mathis Mile for 3-year-olds on the turf. Tempus Volat, trained by Leonard Powell, led the race but was passed in the final yard by Hiding in Honduras ($21.40), a 9-1 long shot ridden by Antonio Fresu for Jonathan Thomas. Namaron, the 1-2 favorite ridden by Prat, finished third.
There was no such drama in the second turf stakes, the $100,000 San Gabriel, in which Cabo Spirit ($14.80), trained by George Papaprodromou, took the lead shortly after the start under Mike Smith and rolled to a 1¼-length victory over Astronomer. Stay Hot, the 2-1 favorite, lost a photo for third to Mondego.
The final race of the day was the other Grade 1 event, the $300,000 American Oaks, won by another Thomas trainee, Ambaya, a 12-1 long shot. The daughter of Ghostzapper was ridden by Kazushi Kimura, who picked up the mount when Fresu injured his ankle earlier in the day.
Etc.
The two cards that were rained out over the weekend will be made up Monday and Wednesday, with free parking and admission. Both days will offer two stakes races; Monday’s highlight is the $200,000 Joe Hernandez, which includes Motorious and Sumter, who were 1-2 in the race last year, and Imagination, last month’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint runner-up who will be racing on turf for the first time.
Rain is forecast beginning Wednesday, with track officials saying they will monitor the situation before deciding on how it will affect the racing, if at all. The schedule calls for racing Thursday through Sunday before Santa Anita begins its normal schedule of Fridays through Sundays on Jan. 9.
Alabama understands that stopping Indiana’s powerful offense in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day starts with containing Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
“[Mendoza] is operating at a really high level,” Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack said. “When you watch the tape and the challenge, really the cry for our guys [is] to have to operate at a really consistent level, and you’re going to have to take away those windows that he’s wanting to get the ball through.”
During top-seeded Indiana’s undefeated season, Mendoza threw for 2,980 yards and 33 touchdowns for a team that ranked eighth in total offense (472.8 yards per game). Despite his impressive numbers, ninth-seeded Alabama isn’t showing signs of being intimidated by Mendoza heading into the College Football Playoff quarterfinal showdown.
“He’s a man, just like me,” Alabama defensive lineman Tim Keenan III said. “He put himself in a position to achieve the accolades, so we need to make sure we do what we need to, to play our game.”
Added Alabama safety Keon Sabb: “Congrats to him for winning [the Heisman], but we’ll play our game.”
Alabama is planning to put pressure on Mendoza in an effort to force potential turnovers and limit Indiana’s attack, cornerback Zabien Brown said.
“I want to stop quarterbacks whether they’ve won the Heisman Trophy or not,” Wommack added.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The parents of a 13-year-old girl killed by a hockey puck got $1.2 million in a settlement with the NHL and other groups, according to a copy of the agreement made public Wednesday.
Brittanie Cecil’s family reached the settlement last year, but it was sealed until Wednesday, when the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that it was a public record and must be made public in response to a request from WBNS-TV of Columbus.
Brittanie Cecil died after being struck at a March 2002 Columbus Blue Jacket game.
The team, league and Nationwide Arena agreed to pay $705,000 to Jody Sergent, the girl’s mother, and $470,000 to David Cecil, the girl’s father.
The court ruled, 6-1, that Preble County Probate Judge Wilfred Dues erred in creating an exception to the state’s public records laws to protect the family’s privacy rights.
Elsewhere in the Africa Cup of Nations 2025, Cameroon and Ivory coast draw 1-1, while Sudan see off Equatorial Guinea.
Published On 28 Dec 202528 Dec 2025
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Mozambique have claimed a historic first victory in the Africa Cup of Nations, breathing new life into their campaign after overcoming Gabon 3-2 in Agadir, while Algeria have booked their place in the last 16 of AFCON with a narrow win over Burkina Faso.
Beaten in their tournament curtain-raiser by Ivory Coast, Mozambique scored twice before half-time in their Group F game on Sunday as Faizal Bangal headed home and Geny Catamo netted from the penalty spot.
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Former Arsenal and Chelsea forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang pulled one back for Gabon before the break, but Diogo Calila restored Mozambique’s two-goal cushion. It was ultimately enough to seal a maiden win for Mozambique in this tournament at the 17th attempt, despite Gabon’s Alex Moucketou-Moussounda pulling one back.
Elsewhere in the group, defending champions Ivory Coast took a lead that lasted only five minutes before Cameroon equalised to secure a 1-1 draw in their heavyweight clash on Sunday.
Amad Diallo scored for a second successive game to open the scoring for the Ivorians in the 51st minute, but full-back Junior Tchamadeu levelled for Cameroon with the help of a deflection in the 56th minute at Marrakesh Stadium.
Cameroon and the Ivory Coast, who have eight AFCON titles between them, now share the lead in Group F with four points apiece, followed by Mozambique on three.
Gabon need to win their final group game to have any chance of reaching the knockout stages as one of the best third-placed teams.
Algeria have secured their place in the last 16, after a Riyad Mahrez penalty gave them a 1-0 victory over Burkina Faso.
Captain Mahrez converted from the spot midway through the first half at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat on Sunday, and Algeria then held on to win a bruising contest against a determined Burkina outfit.
The penalty that decided the game was awarded when Manchester City’s Rayan Ait-Nouri was bundled over.
Mahrez made no mistake with his 23rd-minute kick as he followed his brace in the opening 3-0 defeat of Sudan to take his tally at this Cup of Nations to three goals. The former Leicester City and Manchester City winger, appearing at his sixth AFCON, now has nine goals at the tournament, an Algerian record.
Pierre Landry Kabore, the Hearts’ striker, came close to equalising for Burkina Faso with a header from a corner, before Mahrez teed up Mohamed Amoura for a shot that was saved by goalkeeper Herve Koffi at the end of an Algerian breakaway in the first half of stoppage time.
Bayer Leverkusen’s Ibrahim Maza twice failed to convert good opportunities in the second half, while substitute Georgi Minoungou fired just over as Burkina Faso pushed unsuccessfully for an equaliser.
Algeria, African champions in 1990 and in 2019, have the maximum six points after two games in Group E and are yet to concede a goal, with Vladimir Petkovic’s side living up to their billing as one of the pre-tournament favourites.
Burkina Faso and Sudan come next on three points each, but they play each other in the final round of group games on Wednesday. This means Algeria are guaranteed a top-two finish even if they lose their final outing against the currently pointless Equatorial Guinea.
Sudan boosted their chances of qualifying for the knockout stage of the Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday after a Saul Coco own goal gave them a 1-0 win over Equatorial Guinea.
Unlucky Torino centre-back Coco saw the ball come off him and ricochet into the net in the 74th minute in Casablanca when his teammate Luis Asue attempted to clear a Sudan free kick.
Sudan won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1970, but this is just their second victory in 18 matches across six appearances at the tournament since then.
