Tag Archives: championship

Miami Offers Ty Simpson Record-Breaking Deal After Missing on Sam Leavitt

Many believed the Miami Hurricanes were in a strong position to land former Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt after hosting him on a transfer portal visit over the weekend. However, by Monday, Leavitt announced where he’ll be playing college football in 2026—and it wasn’t in Coral Gables.

Despite a last-ditch effort from Tennessee, Leavitt ultimately chose to play for Lane Kiffin at LSU. This decision leaves the Hurricanes without a clear successor to Carson Beck for the 2026 season.

While the Hurricanes may have missed out on Leavitt, speculation has been swirling around another potential quarterback target.

According to Gay, “The Hurricanes’ official NIL offer to Simpson started at $4 million and quickly ballooned to $5 million within minutes before reaching the current offer.”

Rumors suggest that a move to Miami for Simpson had been in the works for several days. The 23-year-old junior threw for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns, and just five interceptions this past year. He recently declared for the 2026 NFL Draft after receiving feedback indicating he would be a first-round pick.

However, a $6.5 million NIL offer may be too enticing for Simpson to pass up—especially considering that he would need to be drafted within the first seven picks to earn as much or more playing professionally (the salary slot for the No. 8 pick in the 2026 draft is $5.6 million).

Two years ago, the Hurricanes convinced Cam Ward to skip the draft and play for them another year. That decision paid off, as Ward went No. 1 overall to the Tennessee Titans in the 2025 draft. They also persuaded Carson Beck to forgo the draft and play another year of college football, and he’s since led Miami to the College Football Playoff national championship game.

“Simpson has already stated his intention to turn pro, but so did Cam Ward, right?” On3 reported. “With Sorsby and Leavitt—top options that aren’t heading Miami’s way—the team could make a big offer to try and get Simpson to reconsider and stay in college.”

As the 2026 season approaches, the Hurricanes continue to explore opportunities to secure a quarterback who can carry the program forward. Fans will be watching closely to see if Miami can pull off a surprise signing or rely on internal development to fill the void left by Beck’s eventual departure.
https://www.newsweek.com/sports/ncaa/miami-offers-ty-simpson-record-breaking-deal-after-missing-on-sam-leavitt-11348844

Matt Cardona Confirms Cancellation Of Independent Dates Following WWE Return

Matt Cardona recently addressed the status of his remaining independent bookings following his full-fledged return to WWE. Speaking on Notsam Wrestling, Cardona confirmed that he will not be able to fulfill the extensive schedule he had planned through the coming months.

Cardona, who spent the last several years reinventing himself as the “Indie God,” noted that the sheer volume of his commitments made it impossible to balance them with his new WWE contract.

“I was booked until the summer,” Cardona said. “If I took every indie date that I agreed to, I wouldn’t be able to be in WWE. It’s as simple as that. It’s not like I had like one or two. I’m literally booked every weekend until the summer.”

He also clarified that he has taken steps to ensure promoters were not left in a difficult position due to his sudden departure. “Any promoter who gave me a deposit, they’ve already been taken care of. And everybody understood.”

Cardona’s transition back to WWE began on the January 2, 2026, episode of SmackDown in Buffalo, New York. He appeared as a surprise opponent for Kit Wilson, initially teasing his old Zack Ryder gimmick before being officially introduced as Matt Cardona.

He picked up a victory in his return match after planting Wilson with the Rough Ryder. Following the appearance, it was confirmed that SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis had signed Cardona to an exclusive contract with the blue brand.

As he moves forward with WWE, Cardona is already vacating titles held on the independent circuit.

If you use any portion of the quotes from this article, please credit Notsam Wrestling with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription. You can listen to the full interview with Matt Cardona on the Notsam Wrestling YouTube channel or your favorite podcast platform.
https://wrestlingnews.co/wwe-news/matt-cardona-confirms-cancellation-independent-dates-following-wwe-return/

Adam Cole: ‘Hopefully, You’ll Be Seeing A Lot More Of Me In 2026’

Adam Cole made a rare appearance during the Worlds End Zero Hour pre-show, offering a glimmer of hope to fans regarding his wrestling future. The former TNT Champion, sidelined since July, addressed the crowd with a brief but optimistic message about the new year.

Speaking in a pre-taped segment, Cole thanked the AEW fanbase for their continued support throughout his recovery. While he did not provide a specific timeline, he expressed hope to return to wrestling in 2026. “Hopefully, you’ll be seeing a lot more of me in 2026,” Cole said.

He also weighed in on the night’s card, discussing the Continental Classic semifinal matchups between Kyle Fletcher and Jon Moxley, as well as Konosuke Takeshita and Kazuchika Okada.

### A Career In Jeopardy

Cole’s absence stems from a severe concussion suffered just days before he was scheduled to defend the TNT Championship at All In: Texas in July. The injury forced him to vacate the title and led to an emotional address where he hinted at potential retirement.

In November, Bryan Alvarez of the Wrestling Observer reported that Cole’s recovery has been ongoing but difficult. He noted that Cole was “still having a lot of problems” and was unable to fly. Alvarez also revealed just how close Cole came to walking away from the industry entirely.

Fans will undoubtedly be watching closely as 2026 approaches, hoping to see Adam Cole back in the ring and doing what he loves most.
https://wrestlingnews.co/aew-news/adam-cole-hopefully-youll-seeing-lot-more-2026/

Broomfield girls, Mead’s Carter Woods shine At NCCT wrestling tournament

GREELEY — Competing against many of Colorado’s top wrestlers and a few out-of-state visitors, several local standouts impressed throughout the annual Northern Colorado Christmas Tournament.

Saturday’s finals matches at Island Grove Regional Park in Greeley saw Broomfield junior Shayla Martinez win the girls’ 190-pound division, Mead senior Carter Woods take second in the boys’ 190s, and a few other local talents earn a podium finish.

“It’s really good mat time, a lot of good reps and work that’s going to help prepare me and make me better,” Woods said.

### BHS’ Martinez Repeats as 190-Pound Champion

For the second straight year, Martinez claimed the 190-pound crown, this time pinning Thornton’s Kaida Hull in the first-place match.

“I’m proud of myself,” Martinez said. “I won it last year, but this time I had more confidence in myself and knew that I really had another chance to get at the top of the podium.”

Martinez, who last season became the first girls wrestler from the Boulder Valley School District to win a state championship, credited consistency and confidence for helping her repeat at the NCCT.

“Honestly, I had to go in with confidence in myself and thinking, if I want to be the best, I have to beat the best and do everything I can, no matter what,” Martinez said. “While I was wrestling, I stayed calm and knew that if I worked my stuff, I would get what I wanted.”

Currently, Martinez is the top-ranked 190-pound wrestler in the girls’ Class 5A division, according to On The Mat.

Four other Broomfield wrestlers placed in the top eight:
– Abigail Borden (eighth, girls’ 105)
– Nicholas Penfold (fifth, boys’ 157)
– Kaliyah Schimpf (fifth, girls’ 155)
– Bella Barajas (fourth, girls’ 170)

### Legacy’s Clifton Bounces Back from Quarterfinal Loss

Legacy senior Matthew Clifton aimed to stay alive longer in the 132-pound championship bracket but remained proud of his resilience following a quarterfinal defeat.

Instead of giving up in the consolation bracket, Clifton regrouped and earned an 8-1 victory over Littleton’s Christian May in the third-place match.

“I had to fight back, a long day, lots of matches,” said Clifton, who placed third at state last season. “I wanted to finish out hard, I wanted to be dominant, I didn’t want to give up any points. I worked hard. I could have had a better tournament, but I think that’s a strong way to end it.”

Clifton entered the week ranked No. 2 in his 132-pound Class 5A weight class, per On The Mat. Cherokee Trail’s Cooper Matthews, the top-ranked wrestler in Clifton’s division, took first place on Saturday.

Fellow Legacy wrestler Isaac Woolman took third in the 138-pound division, while 285-pound Lightning Leo Medina reached the fifth consolation round.

“We got that dawg energy in some of my guys,” Clifton said. “Last year we had a tough year, but these guys have come back meaner and hungrier.”

### Carter Woods Comes Up Just Short

One year removed from finishing third in the Class 4A 190-pound state tournament, Woods is enjoying another strong start to his senior season.

“I thought I did well,” Woods said. “I thought I got to my shots and offense well, but I’ve got a long way to go. There’s tons of stuff I can work on heading into state.”

Fellow Maverick Breckan Palko took eighth in the 132-pound class.

### Other Local Placers

Erie produced a pair of sixth-place finishers in Tyler Muir (190s) and Wyatt Walston (215s). Holy Family’s Veronika Hafer also took sixth in the girls’ 110s, while teammate Adam Moore placed eighth in the boys’ 157s.
https://www.broomfieldenterprise.com/2025/12/20/broomfield-girls-meads-carter-woods-shine-at-ncct-wrestling-tournament/

Ernie Johnson pays tribute to Lee Corso on GameDay: ‘Not so fast my friend’

Lee Corso said goodbye to ESPN’s College GameDay after 38 years earlier this season, but he hasn’t been forgotten.

Inside the NBA host Ernie Johnson was the guest picker on Saturday’s edition of the show. As a Georgia alum, the decorated broadcaster was there to show support for his Bulldogs as they prepare to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide for the SEC Championship.

When the moment of truth arrived, Nick Saban picked Alabama to beat Georgia, to the surprise of no one. Following him was Johnson, decked out in Bulldogs gear. After pondering Saban’s prediction for a few moments, Johnson turned towards the legendary head coach and blurted out Corso’s iconic phrase, “Not so fast, my friend,” before picking Georgia to win.

Corso would often deploy the phrase in the same way, countering a prediction that differed from his, although he would also sometimes get tricky and reverse course with his prediction in the end. Such was the magic of Lee Corso.
https://awfulannouncing.com/espn/ernie-johnson-tribute-lee-corso-gameday-not-so-fast-my-friend.html

A’ja Wilson Ranks Wild Buzzer Beater Against Mercury on All-Time Satisfying Buckets of her Career

Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson ranked her wild buzzer-beater against the Phoenix Mercury as the most satisfying bucket of her career. She made this known during her appearance on a Thursday episode of the “First We Feast” podcast.

“Oh, it’s number one,” Wilson said [starting from 2:37]. “All the greats have that super cool picture and it’s like, ‘oh, time just kind of froze and you know it was a bucket.’ I didn’t have that until that moment, and I think that kind of solidified my career at that moment of like being the MVP. So, yeah, I love that. That’s like number one.”

Wilson helped the Aces take down the Mercury in Game 3 of the 2025 WNBA Finals. In the closing stages of the game, with five seconds left, she caught the inbounds pass around the elbow. She dribbled once, spun through a double team, faded back, and released a 7-foot turnaround jumper. The ball rattled on the rim but dropped clean with just 0.3 seconds left as the Aces held on for a 90-88 win, taking a 3-0 advantage in the Finals.

Aces coach Becky Hammon said the play was meant for A’ja Wilson. Wilson, in return, praised Coach Hammon for trusting her in such a decisive moment.

“I appreciate Becky trusting me in those moments,” Wilson said. “But those are just playoff basketball moments. Those are moments that you live for. I’m glad I was able to come to work.”

A’ja Wilson finished the game with 34 points and 14 rebounds. This performance made her the first player in WNBA Finals history to record consecutive games of at least 25 points and 10 rebounds.

### A’ja Wilson Names Most Impactful Drill That Shaped Her Pro Game

A’ja Wilson also revealed the most impactful drill from her youth that shaped her career as a professional during the “First We Feast” podcast.

She recalled a conditioning drill called “wing-to-wing” from her college days under Coach Staley.

“I remember in college, Coach Staley had this drill called wing-to-wing and you’re literally just running up and down the court,” Wilson explained. “I wasn’t really too happy about that because I don’t really like to run like that even though my job is running.”

Wilson has turned out to be one of the best players in WNBA history. She led the Aces to their third championship in the 2025 season, winning the Defensive Player of the Year award (shared with Alanna Smith) and earning a record fourth WNBA MVP award. That season, she averaged 23.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game for the Aces.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/us/wnba/news-a-ja-wilson-ranks-wild-buzzer-beater-against-mercury-all-time-satisfying-buckets-career

Popular online personality could become a full-time WWE Superstar, believes Randy Orton

Randy Orton is among the most decorated stars in professional wrestling. The veteran recently opined that a popular internet personality could become a full-time WWE Superstar. For the most recent episode of Speed Goes Pro, IShowSpeed headed to the Performance Center to train like a future WWE Superstar. The YouTuber received training from The Apex Predator before competing in a match against Anthony Luke. The 20-year-old put forth an incredible performance but lost the contest. Thanks for the submission! After the match, Randy Orton told IShowSpeed that although he still has a long way to go, he is certain that the YouTuber has what it takes to be a WWE Superstar. “It takes a very long time to get good at your craft. You got a long way to go. But without a shadow of a doubt, I think you do have what it takes to be a WWE superstar,” Orton told IShowSpeed. The Viper further opined that IShowSpeed is ready, both physically and mentally, to become a professional wrestler. He added that if the online streamer wants, the latter can become a full-time WWE Superstar through hard work and dedication. “He is ready. We’ve got something here. Mentally, he’s there. Physically, he’s got everything it takes. If he wants to stick with this journey, you know, through hard work and dedication, he could one day be a full-time WWE superstar if he wants it,” Orton added. You can check out the entire video below: WWE Hall of Famer wants Randy Orton to turn heel Randy Orton is among the most iconic heels in professional wrestling. However, he has been a babyface since his return from injury at WWE Survivor Series: WarGames 2023. Speaking on TMZ Sports’ Inside the Ring podcast, Mark Henry noted that Randy Orton was being underused. However, the veteran does not want to see The Viper win a championship as a babyface. Henry stated that he wanted Orton to turn heel and claimed playing a bad guy was tailor-made for The Viper. “Some people think he’s being underused right now, and I’m one of those people. But I wouldn’t want Randy to be champion as good guy Randy. I want Randy in the role that’s tailor-made for him-coming in, punting people again, RKO’ing people’s grandmothers and kids, stomping everyone. Let Randy be Randy,” Henry said. It remains to be seen whether WWE has any plans to turn Randy Orton heel in the future. If you use quotes from the first half of this article, please credit IShowSpeed with an H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/wwe/news-popular-online-personality-become-full-time-wwe-superstar-believes-randy-orton

2 Indian players who flopped and 1 who starred in the 2nd Test vs South Africa ft. Rishabh Pant

India endured another miserable outing against South Africa as they lost by 408 runs at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati on Wednesday, November 26. The margin of defeat was the worst in the hosts’ Test history. India are now in serious trouble in the ongoing edition of the World Test Championship and face an uphill battle to make the final of the ICC competition. Most of their players failed to deliver in the second Test against the Proteas, although there was one standout performance. On that note, here are two Indian players who flopped and one who starred in the second Test against South Africa. #3 Flop Dhruv Jurel Playing as a specialist batter in Shubman Gill’s absence, Dhruv Jurel endured a miserable Test. He managed just two runs in the match, with both his dismissals being unbecoming of a Test batter. Jurel attempted a bizarre flat-batted pull off Marco Jansen at a time when India were in trouble in the first innings. He ended up top-edging it and was caught by Keshav Maharaj running back from mid-on. It was almost impossible to understand what he was trying. In the second innings, Jurel was completely out of position while attempting a forward defense off Simon Harmer. The keeper-batter edged it to slip, putting the Proteas in the ascendancy. #2 Star Ravindra Jadeja Ravindra Jadeja fell cheaply to Jansen in the first innings, but he did a good job in the second. The left-hander top-scored with a half-century in testing conditions, ensuring that India weren’t rolled over in an instant. Jadeja used the sweep well and seems to be adding new elements to his batting against spin. He was proactive and rotated strike well, forcing Temba Bavuma to push out some of the close-in catchers. Jadeja also helped himself to four wickets in the second innings and six in total in the Test. The left-arm spinner was, as always, accurate and bowled a few trademark pearlers. #1 Flop Rishabh Pant Rishabh Pant’s maiden Test as captain was an unmitigated disaster. And the stand-in skipper needs to take a significant amount of blame for how the encounter transpired. Pant let the game drift each time South Africa started to stitch together a partnership. His bowling changes were bizarre while he first bowled his spinners in spells that were too short, he later sidelined Kuldeep Yadav from the attack when it seemed like the left-arm wrist-spinner was the team’s most threatening bowler. Pant was also unimpressive with the bat. A wild slog off Jansen saw him caught behind in the first innings, and he was deceived in flight by Harmer in the second. The southpaw made just 20 runs in the Test.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/cricket/2-indian-players-flopped-1-starred-2nd-test-vs-south-africa-ft-rishabh-pant

“How much stability are we going to give him?” – Dinesh Karthik’s massive statement on Team India after whitewash in IND vs SA 2025 Tests

Former batter Dinesh Karthik has hit out at the uncertainty surrounding India’s No. 3 position following their massive 408-run defeat in the second Test against South Africa in Guwahati. The match, which ended on Day 5 (Wednesday, November 26), saw India bowled out for just 140 in their second innings while chasing 549, marking India’s biggest Test defeat by runs as the hosts were whitewashed in the two-match series. Ad After the loss, Karthik, in a video posted on Instagram, questioned India’s constant chopping and changing at the No. 3 slot. Notably, seven different players have been tried in that position since September 2024. Karthik said: “In the World Test Championship cycle, out of the 65 Test matches that have been played, India’s No. 3 holds the 2nd worst record in the first innings of a Test match, averaging 26. That is something for us to ponder about. Who is our No. 3? How much stability are we going to give him? Washington plays at No. 3 in Calcutta. Sai Sudarshan is playing at No. 3 in Guwahati. Is chopping and changing helping Team India, or do we need to give more stability and consistency? What is the answer?” Ad Trending In the same video, Karthik also highlighted the lack of bowling opportunities given to all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy and added that India are a much better team than what they showed in the South Africa series, saying: “But what is lacking? Is it the quality of players? Their inability to play spin? Pacers and spinners being out bowled in India. One too many all-rounders being played. Nitish Reddy, the nominated all-rounder, pace all-rounder has bowled 14 overs across a whole domestic calendar season in Test cricket in India. India has just 2 players who have scored 100 runs in this Test series. South Africa had 7. I mean, come on, we are better than that for sure. How can suddenly there be a nose dive in Test cricket.” Ad This marked only South Africa’s second Test series win in India, with their first coming back in 2000 under Hansie Cronje. “Very minimal chances” Dinesh Karthik on India’s hopes for reaching 2027 WTC final In the same video, Dinesh Karthik stated that India have very slim chances of reaching the 2027 World Test Championship (WTC) final, saying: Ad “It almost feels like, in this World Test Championship cycle, India have very minimal chances. 2 away games against Sri Lanka, 2 away games against New Zealand, and 5 Tests against Australia at home. But the next Test match is after 7 months. Are we going to forget this? Are we just going to move on, saying, okay, that’s a fresh season? By then, so much of white-ball cricket would have happened, and I am sure India is so good at that. Will we tend to overlook what’s happening in Test cricket right now? That’s the big question for us to ponder. Think, what does it take for this Test team to come back and become as good as they were?” India are currently fifth in the 2025-27 WTC standings, with 48. 15 PCT after nine matches. × Feedback Why did you not like this content? Clickbait / Misleading Factually Incorrect Hateful or Abusive Baseless Opinion Too Many Ads Other Was this article helpful? Thank You for feedback Follow IPL Auction 2025 Live Updates, News & Biddings at Sportskeeda. Get the fastest updates on Mega-Auction and cricket news Edited by Dev Sharma.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/cricket/news-how-much-stability-going-give-him-dinesh-karthik-s-massive-statement-team-india-whitewash-ind-vs-sa-2025-tests

Millwall vs Sheffield Wednesday Prediction and Betting Tips | November 26th 2025

Millwall will host Sheffield Wednesday at The Den on Wednesday in another round of the 2025-26 EFL Championship campaign. The home side have had an overall positive season but have lost their way in recent games and have now dropped out of the promotion playoff spots. They suffered a disappointing 3-1 defeat to Portsmouth upon returning from the international break last weekend, falling 2-0 behind before a red card to Joe Bryan midway through the second half all but ended their chances of mounting a comeback. Thanks for the submission! Sheffield Wednesday, meanwhile, have endured a woeful campaign and appear to be on borrowed time in the second tier as they continue to reel from the heavy points deduction handed to them last month. The Owls suffered a 3-0 defeat to rivals Sheffield United in the Steel City derby on Sunday and could have few complaints about the result after failing to register a single shot on target throughout the contest. They remain rock-bottom in the Championship table with -4 points and will be desperate for a positive result on Wednesday to lift the mood around the club. Millwall vs Sheffield Wednesday Head-to-Head and Key Numbers There have been 55 meetings between Millwall and Wednesday. The hosts have won 18 of those games while the visitors have won two more. There have been 17 draws between the two teams including their most recent matchup which ended 2-2. The hosts have lost just one of their last nine games in this fixture. Wednesday have the worst offensive and defensive records in the English second tier this season with 12 goals scored and 32 conceded in 16 games. Millwall have scored 18 goals in the Championship this term, the fewest of any team in the top half of the table. Millwall vs Sheffield Wednesday Prediction The Lions head into the midweek clash on a four-game winless streak after winning each of their previous four. They are, however, undefeated in their last four home matches and are firm favourites for Wednesday’s game. The Owls have lost their last two games and are winless in their last 10. They have the joint-worst away record in the division so far and could lose this one. Prediction: Millwall 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday Millwall vs Sheffield Wednesday Betting Tips Tip 1 Result: Millwall Tip 2 Goals Over/under 2. 5 Over 2. 5 goals (Four of the last five matches between the two teams have produced more than 2. 5 goals) Tip 3 Both teams to score: YES (Both sides have found the back of the net in three of the hosts’ last four matches).
https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/millwall-vs-sheffield-wednesday-prediction-betting-tips-november-26th-2025