CHICAGO — The college football world, according to Ohio State, is volatile. The schedule it plays this season, including road games at Texas, Indiana and Iowa, makes winning uncertain. The fixes required in-game and, especially, at the end of the season grow more complex. There are already clear examples of ambiguity that demand clarity. At…
CHICAGO — Beginning with commissioner Tony Petitti, every leading figure who addressed reporters from the primary stage at Big Ten Media Days has been flanked by the last three national championship trophies. These shimmering, cylindrical showpieces symbolize the conference’s climb toward college football supremacy. Their visual prominence is simple: For the first time since World…
We’re only in the opening week of training camp practices, but things are already heating up in the NFL, literally. Wednesday saw our first scuffle of training camp, with a star being at the center of a skirmish at Cincinnati Bengals practice. A pair of contract stalemates were also at the forefront of Wednesday’s practice…
Get ready for a wild weekend ahead. As the Aug. 3 trade deadline approaches, a plethora of teams still remain on the bubble between buying, selling or doing a little of both. That’s what happens when only nine teams are more than three games out of a playoff spot. The other 21 clubs are all…
It is all too easy to get caught up in the hype of first-round picks in the immediate aftermath of every NFL Draft, but history proves that the greatest impact is often made by players selected after Day 1. Case in point: The two best defensive rookies in the NFL last year — Cleveland Browns…
Desperation makes for great baseball drama. With Monday’s trade deadline fast approaching, contenders are ready to mortgage their futures for a ring and a single blockbuster deal could shift the balance of power overnight. July’s trade deadline is baseball’s ultimate high-stakes gamble. Over the years, some moves have delivered World Series MVPs, while others fell…
Every year, we see established NFL players bounce back from prior injuries or on-field struggles to deliver standout seasons. The players who produce the biggest bounce-back performances are recognized as nominees for AP Comeback Player of the Year. Recent winners of the award include San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe…
Here’s the thing: San Diego Padres closer Mason Miller would improve and be a fit for 29 teams. If he’s available for the right price — which figures to be a commanding one, as the star reliever is under contract through 2029 — at the MLB trade deadline, it’s more about who needs the premier…
All 32 teams across the NFL have reported to training camp, and there’s already plenty of news breaking around the league. Tuesday saw a pair of record extensions, with two stars resetting the market at the respective positions. Aaron Rodgers made another declaration, and the Las Vegas Raiders made a statement on their quarterback competition…
CHICAGO — With pen in hand and talking points rehearsed, new Penn State head coach Matt Campbell introduced himself to the Big Ten and the throngs of reporters attending the conference’s annual media days event in a manner that mimicked his polished predecessor, James Franklin. Campbell’s handy writing utensil provided a callback to Franklin taking…
