The Arizona Cardinals have fired offensive line coach and running game coordinator Sean Kugler following an incident the night before the team’s game Monday in Mexico City, a team source confirmed to The Athletic on Tuesday.
Coach Kliff Kingsbury spoke to the Arizona Republic, confirming the incident happened on Sunday night. Kugler was dismissed before Arizona’s 38-10 loss to San Francisco on Monday night.
“We relieved him of his duties, and he was sent home Monday morning prior to the game,” Kingsbury told the Republic. “It’s challenging anytime you make a staff change in that type of manner and I’m just going to leave it at that.”
No other info has been released about the nature of the incident. The Cardinals were in Mexico City for the weekend and through Monday night’s game against the 49ers. The team returned to Arizona following the game.
Arizona hired Kugler as an assistant in 2019 and he was promoted to running game coordinator in June 2021.
Kingsbury said assistant offensive line coach Brian Natkin and tight ends coach Steve Heiden will share Kugler’s duties. Offensive assistant Mike Bercovici will fill in for Heiden as tight ends coach. Kingsbury added that a search for a new running game coordinator and offensive line coach would begin after this season.
This is the second time this season the Cardinals have lost an assistant. In August, running backs coach James Saxon was placed on administrative leave after ESPN reported he had been charged with assaulting a woman in Indianapolis.
On Oct. 6, Saxon pled guilty to one count of domestic battery. He resigned from the Cardinals.
The Angels’ early-offseason aggressiveness continues. The Halos announced the acquisition of outfielder Hunter Renfroe from the Brewers on Tuesday night. Pitchers Janson Junk, Elvis Peguero and Adam Seminaris head to Milwaukee in return.
It’s the third early strike of the offseason for the Halos, who’ve already signed starter Tyler Anderson to a three-year free agent deal and acquired infielder Gio Urshela in a trade with the Twins. Now, they take a step towards fixing an outfield that had a major question mark alongside Mike Trout and Taylor Ward.
Renfroe should solidify the corner outfield spot opposite Ward. He’s been an above-average hitter in each of the past two seasons, with strikingly similar production for the Red Sox in 2021 and Brewers this year. The former first-rounder has combined for 60 home runs over the last two seasons, following up a 31-homer showing with the Sox with 29 more in Milwaukee. He had an identical .315 on-base percentage in each year but more than offset that modest number with big power production.
The right-handed hitter has hit between .255 and .260 in each of the last two years while slugging around .500 both seasons. He has a cumulative .257/.315/.496 line in just under 1100 plate appearances going back to the start of 2021. His 22.9% strikeout rate is right around average, while he’s walked at a slightly below-average 7.6% clip. He’s a lower-OBP slugger who has particularly decimated left-handed opposition. Renfroe carries a .269/.357/.508 line over that stretch while holding the platoon advantage. He’s had starker on-base concerns but hit for enough power to remain a decent option against right-handed pitching (.252/.292/.491).
That power production is Renfroe’s calling card, but he’s also a viable defender. Defensive Runs Saved has pegged him right around league average in right field in each of the last three seasons. Statcast’s range-based metric has Renfroe a few runs below average annually, but he compensates for his fringy athleticism with top-tier arm strength. He’s picked up double-digit assists in each of the last two years, and he leads all MLB outfielders with 27 baserunners cut down in that time.
Renfroe’s excellent arm strength has kept him primarily in right field over the past few years, although he did log a number of innings in left earlier in his career. If he steps into right field at Angel Stadium, that’d push Ward over to left field. Former top prospect Jo Adell now looks as if he’ll be relegated to fourth outfield/bench duty after beginning his career with a .215/.259/.356 showing in roughly one full season’s worth of games. Adell is still just 23 years old and coming off a solid year in Triple-A Salt Lake, but the Angels don’t appear prepared to count on him for a regular role as they look to vault their way into the playoff picture in 2023.
As with last week’s Urshela trade, the Renfroe acquisition is about deepening the lineup with a productive but not elite veteran for a season. Renfroe turns 31 in January and is in his final season of club control. He’s projected by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz for an $11.2MM salary, and he’ll be a free agent at the end of the year. That’s a reasonable sum for a player of this caliber, but one moderately expensive season of arbitration control over a lower-OBP corner slugger isn’t teeming with trade value. Renfroe is the second player of that ilk dealt in as many weeks.
The Blue Jays sent Teoscar Hernández to the Mariners for reliever Erik Swanson and pitching prospect Adam Macko. That trade came as a surprise to a number of Toronto fans, but each of Swanson and Macko are arguably more appealing players than any of the trio of pitchers Milwaukee received in this swap. Hernández is a better hitter than Renfroe is, but the gap between the former’s .282/.332/.508 line over the past two seasons and the latter’s production isn’t all that dramatic. Nevertheless, Renfroe has had a hard time sticking in any one spot as his price tag has escalated throughout his arbitration seasons. The Halos will be his fifth team in as many years, as he’s successively played for the Padres, Rays, Red Sox and Brewers going back to 2019.
Adding his projected arbitration salary pushes the Halos’ estimated 2023 payroll up to around $192MM, per Roster Resource. That’d be the highest mark in franchise history, narrowly topping their approximate $189MM figure from this past season. They’re up to roughly $206MM in luxury tax commitments, around $27MM shy of the $233MM base threshold. The franchise’s spending capacity this winter has been in question with owner Arte Moreno exploring a sale of the franchise. There’s still no indication the club is willing to approach luxury tax territory, but the acquisitions of Anderson, Urshela and Renfroe have tacked on an estimated $31.9MM in 2023 spending. The latter two players represent one-year investments, but it seems Moreno is affording general manager Perry Minasian and his group some leeway to add to the roster in advance of the club’s final season of control over defending AL MVP runner-up Shohei Ohtani.
The Brewers add a trio of pitchers, two of whom already have big league experience. Junk is a former 22nd-round pick of the Yankees. He went to the Halos in the 2021 deadline deal that sent southpaw Andrew Heaney to the Bronx. The right-hander has pitched in seven MLB games over the past two seasons, starting six. He’s allowed a 4.74 ERA through 24 2/3 innings, striking out a below-average 19.4% of opponents but posting a sterling 4.4% walk rate.
Junk, 27 in January, leans primarily on a low-80s slider which prospect evaluators suggest could be an above-average pitch. He has decent spin on his 92-93 MPH four-seam but hasn’t cemented himself on a big league staff to this point. He spent most of this year on optional assignment to Salt Lake, where he posted a 4.64 ERA through 73 2/3 innings as a starter in a hitter-friendly environment. His 22.1% strikeout percentage was a touch below average, but he only walked 5.8% of opponents. The Seattle University product still has a pair of minor league option years remaining and can bounce between Milwaukee and Triple-A Nashville as rotation or middle relief depth.
Peguero, on the other hand, is a pure reliever. The righty debuted with three appearances as a COVID replacement late in the 2021 season. He earned a permanent 40-man roster spot last offseason and appeared in 13 games this year. Tasked with low-leverage innings, Peguero put up a 7.27 ERA across 17 1/3 innings. He only struck out 15.6% of opponents but got swinging strikes on a more impressive 12% of his total pitches. The Dominican Republic native induced grounders on roughly half the batted balls he surrendered in the majors.
He also had an excellent year in Salt Lake, where he tossed 44 1/3 frames of 2.84 ERA ball. Peguero fanned 27.5% of batters faced against a quality 7.1% walk rate and racked up grounders at a huge 57.5% clip. Like Junk, Peguero leaned primarily on a slider during his MLB look, although he throws much harder. Peguero’s slider checked in at 91 MPH on average while his fastball sat just north of 96. He turns 26 in March and also has two options remaining, so the Brewers can deploy him as an up-and-down middle reliever while hoping he can translate his Triple-A success against big league opponents.
Seminaris went in the fifth round in the 2020 draft out of Long Beach State. A 6’0″ southpaw, he wasn’t ranked among the top 30 prospects in the Anaheim system at Baseball America. He traversed three minor league levels this year, showing well at High-A against younger competition but struggling as he climbed the minor league ladder. Altogether, he worked 101 2/3 frames of 3.54 ERA ball with a 22.1% strikeout rate and an 8.7% walk percentage. He’s not on the 40-man roster but will have to be added by the end of the 2023 season or be exposed in the Rule 5 draft.
While Milwaukee clearly likes all three mid-20’s hurlers, they’re each flexible depth options. Surely, a key motivator in the deal was reallocating Renfroe’s hefty arbitration projection. Slashing payroll wasn’t the sole impetus for the trade — the Brewers could’ve simply non-tendered Renfroe last week if they were committed to getting his money off the books — but GM Matt Arnold and his staff elected to clear some payroll room while bringing in a few depth arms of note.
The Brewers are projected for a salary around $115MM at Roster Resource thanks largely to an arbitration class that still includes Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff and Willy Adames, among others. That’s about $17MM shy of this year’s Opening Day mark, and more roster shuffling figures to be on the horizon. Dealing a complementary player like Renfroe doesn’t suggest the Brewers are about to flip any of Burnes, Woodruff or Adames, but Milwaukee could consider moving second baseman Kolten Wong or a depth starter like Adrian Houser or Eric Lauer. They’ve already drawn some interest from the Mariners on Wong and are sure to contemplate a number of ways to try to balance the present and the future.
Milwaukee could now dip into the lower tiers of the free agent corner outfield market to backfill for Renfroe’s absence, with Tyrone Taylor standing as the current favorite for playing time alongside Christian Yelich and Garrett Mitchell in the outfield. Highly-touted young players like Sal Frelick and Joey Wiemer could play their way into the mix midseason, but it’d be a surprise if the Brewers didn’t add at least one veteran outfielder before Opening Day.
The University of Kansas and head football coach Lance Leipold have agreed to terms on a new contract that includes an extension through the 2029 season, sources told ESPN.
Leipold, 58, has resuscitated the Jayhawks program in just his second season in Lawrence, leading Kansas to a 6-5 record and its first bowl game since the 2008 season. This is Leipold’s second extension this season; the school announced an extension through the 2027 season in September.
The commitment to Leipold, who was averaging $2.75 million annually on his initial six-year deal when hired in 2021, is indicative of Kansas’ surge in commitment to football investment. In October, the school announced a stadium overhaul project and other facility improvements that are expected to cost more than $300 million.
The deal also is structured to keep Leipold in Lawrence for the long term. His name had been linked to the open jobs at both Nebraska and Wisconsin.
The facility improvement announcement at Kansas came just before the Jayhawks hosted TCU for an appearance on ESPN’s “College GameDay” in October, the first time the show had visited Lawrence. Kansas started this season 5-0, with star quarterback Jalon Daniels emerging as an early favorite for the Heisman Trophy. The Jayhawks won road games against West Virginia and Houston and at home versus Duke and Iowa State, leading to the school’s first national ranking since 2009.
Leipold didn’t get hired by Kansas until late April of last season, inheriting a mess left behind by former coach Les Miles, who went 3-18 in two seasons. In Leipold’s first year in 2021, he authored a signature victory with an overtime upset of Texas in Austin. Kansas was a 31-point underdog in that game, which snapped a 56-game conference road losing streak. Perhaps more important, the win delivered a jolt of hope to a program that had long been entrenched in the Big 12’s basement and gave immediate credibility for Leipold’s program.
Since reaching the Insight Bowl and Orange Bowl in back-to-back seasons, in 2007 and 2008, Kansas football had spiraled into one of the sport’s laughingstocks. None of the four coaches since Mark Mangino’s firing in 2009 — Turner Gill, Charlie Weis, David Beaty and Miles — delivered a winning record or lasted longer than four years.
Leipold emerged as an early candidate for national coach of the year in 2022, although those expectations have been tempered after Daniels got injured in the home loss to TCU and the Jayhawks lost three straight. Kansas then beat No. 18 Oklahoma State to clinch bowl eligibility.
Leipold won six national titles at Division III Wisconsin-Whitewater, where he went 109-6 before taking the Buffalo job in 2015. He led the Bulls to three bowl appearances and two bowl victories in six seasons.
A two-loss team has never made the College Football Playoff, but at No. 5 this week, LSU (9-2) inched one step closer to making history.
In the most notable decision from an otherwise predictable top six, the CFP selection committee deemed the Tigers a notch above one-loss USC, which is coming off its best win of the season, a 48-45 road victory against No. 18 UCLA. The Trojans also have a CFP Top 25 win against No. 21 Oregon State, but the committee bumped LSU up one spot after Tennessee lost 63-38 to still-unranked South Carolina and dropped from No. 5 to No. 10.
That same Tennessee team beat LSU 40-13 in Baton Rouge.
LSU, though, has wins against No. 7 Alabama and No. 20 Ole Miss, and the 32-31 overtime victory against the Tide on Nov. 5 is clearly carrying weight in the room, along with the fact the Tigers have clinched the SEC West and will face Georgia in the SEC championship game. With LSU on the bubble, there should be little doubt the Tigers can finish in the top four on Selection Day on Dec. 4 if they beat Texas A&M on Saturday and Georgia in the SEC championship.
“It came up over and over again to make sure, and there’s reasons for both teams, but the committee at the end of the day saw the wins over Alabama and Mississippi as stronger than the wins over UCLA and Oregon State,” selection committee chair Boo Corrigan said. “One area we still have questions on is the strength of the defense of USC, and looking at it in its entirety, we believe that LSU deserved to be ranked 5 and SC 6.”
The possibility of LSU winning the SEC should concern every other contender — especially the loser of the Ohio State-Michigan game Saturday — because it sustains the possibility of two SEC teams finishing in the top four.
Again.
Here’s what the fourth of six rankings means to the biggest rivalry games of Week 13, ranked in order of their greatest impact:
Jump to: Anger Index | 12-team bracket | Résumés |
1. Michigan at Ohio State
If Michigan wins: The Wolverines win the Big Ten East and position themselves as the Big Ten’s top playoff contender. Ohio State would need Georgia to run the table and beat LSU, eliminating the possibility of two SEC teams (it’s happened twice before: 2017 and 2021), and it would help the Buckeyes tremendously if Notre Dame beats USC and knocks out the Pac-12. Ohio State would be banking on wins against Notre Dame and Penn State to impress the selection committee to get in at the expense of a one-loss ACC champion Clemson. Ohio State has five wins over current FPI top-40 teams — by an average of 22.4 PPG.
If Ohio State wins: The Buckeyes would win the Big Ten East and emerge as the league’s top playoff contender. Michigan would need its win against No. 11 Penn State and game film to trump a Power 5 conference champion. Much like Ohio State, Michigan needs Georgia to win the SEC and eliminate LSU and the possibility of two SEC teams, and it needs USC to lose to Notre Dame and eliminate the Pac-12. Michigan’s biggest problem is its nonconference schedule (Colorado State, Hawai’i and UConn), which is the second weakest in the FBS. Right now, though, Michigan is No. 4 in ESPN’s strength of record metric, while Clemson is No. 6. If Michigan loses, it would have four wins against teams ranked currently in the top 40 of FPI (PSU, Illinois, Iowa and Maryland) and two of those four wins were by one possession.
The NEW #CFBPlayoff top 25 rankings heading into rivalry week‼️
Which matchup are you looking forward to? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/HPRCgNRmbd
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) November 23, 2022
2. Notre Dame at USC
If Notre Dame wins: The Pac-12 is eliminated from the playoff because its champion would have at least two losses, and USC is already looking up at a two-loss team. A Notre Dame win would also help Ohio State’s résumé, giving the Buckeyes another small boost in case they don’t beat Michigan.
If USC wins: The Pac-12’s hopes would remain strong, and USC could jump LSU and crack the top four in the committee’s fifth ranking after the loser of Ohio State-Michigan falls out. Even if USC wins the Pac-12, though, and ends its season with three straight wins against CFP Top 25 opponents, there could still be a debate. USC needs Georgia to run the table and eliminate LSU, along with the possibility of two SEC teams in the top four. The best-case scenario for USC would be for Ohio State to win the Big Ten, because the Trojans are more likely to win a résumé battle against Michigan as runner-up. With Notre Dame as a common opponent with Ohio State, that could get tricky depending on how the game plays out. If Georgia, Ohio State and TCU are in, one-loss USC seems to have separated itself from one-loss Clemson in the committee meeting room. The question would be if the opponents in their respective conference championship games change that perception, and if the committee is bothered more by Clemson’s average offense, or USC’s porous defense.
“I think we’re looking for a stronger showing by the defense,” Corrigan said. “As a committee, a more dominant win in those situations to continue to move forward.”
3. South Carolina at Clemson
If Clemson wins: The Tigers will avoid elimination but remain a fringe CFP team in need of help beyond an ACC title. No team ranked lower than No. 7 at this point in the season has ever made the playoff. Clemson’s win against No. 16 Florida State continues to help the Tigers, and North Carolina dropped only four spots after its dreadful loss to Georgia Tech on Saturday. It also helped Clemson that Louisville popped into the ranking this week at No. 25. Clemson could finish the season with three wins against CFP Top 25 teams but will be dinged by the committee for its 35-14 loss to Notre Dame in South Bend. If Clemson finishes in the top four, that 21-point deficit would be the third-largest regular-season loss by a CFP semifinalist. The loss to Notre Dame, though, could be one factor that keeps the Tigers out because the committee also compares common opponents, and USC and Ohio State also will have played Notre Dame. In order to have a realistic chance, Clemson needs to run the table and hope for some combination or all of the following: a TCU loss, Georgia to run the table and win the SEC, and a two-loss Pac-12 champion.
The committee has some questions about what it sees from Clemson’s offense.
“Will Shipley from Clemson is a dynamic player for them,” Corrigan said. “I think they’ve had maybe a little bit of ups and downs with regards to the quarterback position that we’ve talked about in the room.”
If South Carolina wins: The ACC is eliminated. Clemson and Coastal Division champion North Carolina would each enter the conference title game with two losses, and neither of them has played well enough or has the résumé to compensate for that.
Anger index
During the first few rankings reveals, a common refrain is offered: These rankings don’t really mean anything.
Well, at this point, that notion can largely be forgotten because while there’s still much to be decided, there’s also little precedent for a team not already in the top four or just outside of it making the playoff. And given the lack of significant shake-ups to the rankings without a team losing (see: USC stays behind LSU this week in spite of its big win over UCLA), the committee has largely decided who it thinks is best, and a few teams have a real reason to argue with those decisions.
1. Clemson Tigers (No. 8)
Let’s do a little blind résumé review here.
Team A: 10-1, No. 6 strength of record, No. 56 strength of schedule, three wins by a TD or more over teams ranked in the top half of FBS, two wins vs. currently ranked teams, loss to a top-15 opponent.
Team B: 10-1, No. 9 strength of record, No. 58 strength of schedule, one win by a TD or more over teams ranked in the top half of FBS, two wins vs. currently ranked teams, loss to a top-15 opponent.
Extremely similar profiles, but you’d give Team A the slight edge, right? Well, Team A is Clemson. Team B is USC, ranked two spots higher and far better positioned to make the playoff if the status quo largely holds.
Why is Clemson dinged in a way the Trojans aren’t? Well, USC lost by a point to Utah, which was ranked at the time. Clemson lost by 21 to a Notre Dame team that was not ranked at the time. Context matters.
Here’s some additional context: Clemson surrendered 21 points to Notre Dame on two turnovers and a blocked punt. USC was actually +1 in turnover margin against Utah (though it didn’t turn into points). There’s a genuine skill involved in turnover margin, but there’s also a lot of luck and situational differences involved, too. Play a game free of turnovers and basically Clemson played Notre Dame about the same way USC played Utah. But, of course, those turnovers happened, and a 21-point loss is still worse than a one-point defeat. But if we’re splitting hairs here, it’s worth considering all the context, not just the surface-level metrics.
Of course, there’s another issue with Clemson that pundits have discussed: The Tigers aren’t doing anything particularly well. USC’s offense is astounding, even if the defense is a mess. Clemson is … fine. There’s very little to get excited about — even if there’s nothing to specifically critique either.
So let’s look at another comparison:
Team A: 10-1, 5-1 vs. FPI top 50, 36.5 points per game and 19.7 points per game allowed vs. FBS foes, 48.7% offensive success rate vs. FBS, 62.7% defensive success rate, five wins by more than a touchdown.
Team B: 10-1, 5-1 vs. FPI top 50, 34.7 points per game and 20.8 points per game allowed vs. FBS foes, 47.2% offensive success rate vs. FBS, 62.6% defensive success rate, seven wins by more than a touchdown
Who’s been the more impressive team? Maybe a slight edge for Team A, but both pretty evenly matched, right? Well, Team B is this year’s Clemson team. Team A is Clemson through 11 games in 2016, when the Tigers went on to win a national championship.
Clemson might not be great at anything at the moment, but it’s pretty good at nearly everything. And Clemson’s loss might look ugly, but when the Tigers have avoided turnovers, they’ve handled their competition with ease.
And yet, here they are, ranked No. 8 — a ranking that seems to come with a message from the committee. Clemson will not only need to win out, but it needs to have a lot of other things go right if it wants to make the playoff. No team ranked outside the top seven at this point has ever made the final four.
2. Tennessee Volunteers (No. 10)
When South Carolina hangs 63 on you, there’s really no way to put a bow on that and make it look good. It was a brutally bad loss for the Volunteers. But the committee is supposed to avoid recency bias and look at the entirety of the season, not just what happened last week. And that brings us to this important point: Tennessee, LSU and Alabama all have two losses. Tennessee has wins over both LSU and Alabama. Alabama and LSU are both ranked ahead of Tennessee.
If the committee’s point is that Tennessee was overrated before and the South Carolina game revealed some previously unknown flaw, then OK. Dropping the Vols makes sense. But then the losses suffered by LSU and Alabama at the hands of Tennessee should be reevaluated, too.
There’s no absolute math, no perfect formula for creating playoff rankings. But the most obvious and easiest metric is head-to-head performance, because for all we can say we think we know about teams, nothing matters more than what actually happens on the field. So when all else is equal, head-to-head should be the ultimate line of demarcation. Instead, the committee has decided that one bad loss to South Carolina is more significant than head-to-head wins over two teams it ranks higher.
3. Washington Huskies (No. 13)
That case we just made for Tennessee? Copy and paste that here. Washington has the same record as Oregon, beat Oregon head-to-head, and while it also has a worse overall loss, it has the better overall résumé.
4. Coastal Carolina, Troy and UTSA (all unranked)
There’s no good argument for a Group of 5 team to make the playoff this season, as there has been in most past years. But the race for a New Year’s Six bid remains wide open. The only problem is, the committee has basically decided that whoever wins the American Athletic Conference deserves the bid, wholly ignoring UTSA (8-2 with only a two-point loss to Houston and a loss to No. 23 Texas).
Perhaps the lackluster performance of Conference USA explains that oversight, but the Sun Belt has actually been quite good this season, and yet Coastal Carolina (9-1) and Troy (9-2 with a four-point loss on a last-second Hail Mary to Appalachian State and a road loss to No. 20 Ole Miss) get no love either. There’s no clear-cut best team outside the Power 5 this year, but it feels like what could easily be a six- or seven-team race for the New Year’s Six spot is being boiled down to a couple of games deciding the American instead.
5. Minnesota (unranked)
We’re shedding no tears for the Gophers. Lose to Iowa, and earn no pity. That’s a simple rule. But it’s worth pointing out that Minnesota is 7-4, ranked No. 17 in SP+ and No. 21 in FPI. No unranked team in either metric ranks higher. Then again, don’t lose to Iowa.
How a 12-team playoff would look
Everyone with the power to expand the College Football Playoff wants the field to grow to 12 teams in time for the 2024 season.
But currently, expansion is scheduled to begin in 2026. So while discussions continue on how to move up the timeline, we’re taking a look at how a 12-team playoff would look today based on the already-determined model released by the commissioners and presidents.
The field will be composed of the selection committee’s six highest-ranked conference champions and its next six highest-ranked teams. The four highest-ranked conference champions will earn the top seeds and a first-round bye. The other eight teams will play in the first round, with the higher seeds hosting the lower seeds on campus or at another site of their choice.
Here’s what the playoff would look like if the 12-team format were in place today:
Seeds with byes
1. Georgia 2. Ohio State 3. TCU 4. USC
Remaining seeds (conference champs in bold)
5. Michigan 6. LSU 7. Alabama 8. Clemson 9. Oregon 10. Tennessee 11. Penn State 12. Tulane
First-round games
No. 12 Tulane at No. 5 Michigan No. 11 Penn State at No. 6 LSU No. 10 Tennessee at No. 7 Alabama No. 9 Oregon at No. 8 Clemson
Quarterfinal games
No. 9 Oregon-No. 8 Clemson winner vs. No. 1 Georgia No. 10 Tennessee-No. 7 Alabama winner vs. No. 2 Ohio State No. 11 Penn State-No. 6 LSU winner vs. No. 3 TCU No. 12 Tulane-No. 5 Michigan winner vs. No. 4 USC
Top résumés
No. 1 Georgia
Record: 11-0 | SOS: 43 | SOR: No. 2 Biggest win: Nov. 5 vs. Tennessee Last playoff appearance: 2022 CFP National Championship: No. 3 Georgia 33, No. 1 Alabama 18
No. 2 Ohio State
Record: 11-0 | SOS: 54 | SOR: No. 3 Biggest win: Oct. 29 at Penn State, 44-31 Last playoff appearance: 2021 CFP National Championship: No. 1 Alabama 52, No. 3 Ohio State 24
No. 3 Michigan
Record: 11-0 | SOS: 74 | SOR: 4 Biggest win: Oct. 15 vs. Penn State, 41-17 Last playoff appearance: 2022 playoff semifinal at the Orange Bowl: No. 3 Georgia 34, No. 2 Michigan 11
No. 4 TCU
Record: 11-0 | SOS: 35 | SOR: 1 Biggest win: Nov. 12 at Texas, 17-10 Last playoff appearance: Never
No. 5 LSU
Record: 9-2 | SOS: 15 | SOR: 8 Biggest win: Nov. 5 vs. Alabama, 32-31 Last playoff appearance: 2020 CFP National Championship: No. 1 LSU 42, No. 3 Clemson 25
No. 6 USC
Record: 10-1 | SOS: 58 | SOR: 9 Biggest win: Nov. 19 at UCLA, 48-45 Last playoff appearance: Never
No. 8 Clemson
Record: 10-1 | SOS: 56 | SOR: 6 Biggest win: Oct. 15 at Florida State, 34-28 Last playoff appearance: 2021 playoff semifinal at the Sugar Bowl: No. 3 Ohio State 49, No. 2 Clemson 28
It’s back! An all-star slate of epic proportions! 15 matchs in total, 11 men’s and four women’s bouts will be held today in Austin, TX. Check back here early and often for updates in real-time!
2022 NWCA All-Star Classic
First whistle is scheduled for 8:00PM eastern! Below is the bout order:
125: Pat McKee (Minnesota) vs Kysen Terukina (Iowa State)
133: Lucas Byrd (Illinois) vs Michael McGee (Arizona State)
157: Bryce Andonian (Virginia Tech) vs Will Lewan (Michigan)
197: Jacob Warner (Iowa) vs Rocky Elam (Missouri)
285: Anthony Cassioppi (Iowa) vs Greg Kerkvliet (Penn State)
191: Kelani Corbett (Missouri Valley) vs Sydnee Kimber (McKendree)
170: Yelena Makoyed (North Central) vs Jessie Lee (Life)
184: Aaron Brooks (Penn State) vs Parker Keckeisen (Northern Iowa)
141: Cole Matthews (Pittsburgh) vs Andrew Alirez (Northern Colorado)
143: Adaugo Nwachukwu (Iowa Wesleyan) vs Alara Boyd (McKendree)
109: Peyton Prussin (Life) vs Emily Shilson (Augsburg)
165: David Carr (Iowa State) vs Quincy Monday (Princeton)
165: Dean Hamiti Jr. (Wisconsin) vs Keegan O’Toole (Missouri)
149: Sammy Sasso (Ohio State) vs Austin Gomez (Wisconsin)
174: Carter Starocci (Penn State) vs Mekhi Lewis (Virginia Tech)
It’s nearly time! Blogging perch secured. I’m flanked by the great Mark Bader to my left and the inimitable Shane Sparks to my right!
5 minutes out! pic.twitter.com/P32AwULNuz
— Andrew Spey (@SpeyWrestle) November 23, 2022
125: #3 Pat McKee (Minnesota) vs #12 Kysen Terukina (Iowa State)
1st period: These guys are used to being the first match of an event. Terukina repping Iowa State by way of Hawaii, McKee is a local Minnesota product. Good action but no scores after a minute. Terkuina shoots a sweep single but a strong chest wrap from McKee defends. Still no scores. 1 minute left in the period. Another shot by Terukina, he’s in deep but McKee head cartwheels over and scores the takedown. Impressive counter by Pat. Solid ride by McKee, Terukina keep pretty close to the mat for the final minute and McKee has a 2-0 leads and 55 seconds of riding time at the break
2nd period: McKee chooses bottom. He stands and is out after about 15 seconds. A couple shots from Terukina, reattack by McKee. Knee pick straight to the back. McKee pounces on the head. Terukina may have though they were going out of bounds but McKee drags his toe. Readjust, barely in bounds still, and there’s the fall! Pat McKee wins the first All-Star Classic bout since 2018 via pinfall!
Patrick McKee is a dangerous man!
He kicks off the All-Star Classic with a fall over Kysen Terukina. pic.twitter.com/cZ2EpFAknO
— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) November 23, 2022
133: #5 Lucas Byrd (Illinois) vs #4 Michael McGee (Arizona State)
1st period: McGee comes out in a Sunkist Kids freestyle singlet. Byrd is wearing the traditional Illinois singlet featuring a Block I. All of which is allowed, as these matches are exhibitions. It’s also why they’re wearing red and blue ankle bands rather than red and green. No scores half way through the 1st period. Byrd with the first penetrating attack with about a minute left. And he converts for two, McGee tried to roll through but Byrd had the move sniffed out. McGee escapes after 28 seconds of RT. 2-1 Byrd leads at the break.
2nd period: Byrd chooses down. Builds to a quad-pod. And Byrd’s out while preserving 3 seconds of RT in his favor. 3-1 leads for Illinois. Another good shot from Byrd, he’s got a leg, McGee goes over the top, grabs some angles, no a crotch lock. There’s a scramble. McGee is close. No score! Time expired, and Mark Perry, in the corner for McGee, throws the challenge brick. Thorough review, and call is confirmed. No takedown, still 3-1 Bryd.
3rd period: McGee underneath and a stand to a granby and and McGee is out in about 10 seconds. 3-2 now, RT not a factor. Final minute of regulation, still on our feet. No stall calls on either wrestler. McGee furiously attacking. Byrd doesn’t let him get close, and Byrd takes it 3-2!
157: #4 Bryce Andonian (Virginia Tech) vs #2 Will Lewan (Michigan)
1st period: Andonian is appointment viewing and Lewan is as tough as they come. Should be a fun one, although, duh, they all should be. No scores after a minute. Andonian coils up and unleashes a deep double but Lewan pulls him up with overhooks and stops the attack. No scores as we get to short time. And a perfectly timed double by Lewan scores with just 6 seconds left in the period. 2-0 as we go to the break.
2nd period: Lewan starts underneath, and he’s out in 6 seconds so RT clock reads triple zero and Lewan has a 3-0 lead. Another double by Lewan but Andonian stops him. Bryce slaps on an over-under bodylock. Lewan fights out of it. Good flurry in short time but no scores. Another flurry as the clock hits zero, still 3-0 Lewan.
3rd period: Andonian with a turn on bottom. He’s out quickly, 3-1. RT not a factor. Lewan not afraid to go upper body. Some good flurries but still 3-1 with a minute to go in regulation. Andonian picks up the pace but Lewan won’t let him lock anything up tight. Time expires and Will Lewan wins 3-1!
One takedown is the difference – Will Lewan gets the 3-1 decision over Bryce Andonian pic.twitter.com/vyQx7O3X7W
— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) November 23, 2022
197: #2 Jacob Warner (Iowa) vs #4 Rocky Elam (Missouri)
1st period: Our first of two back-to-back bouts featuring Hawkeyes. Warner was an NCAA runnerup last season and a three-time All-American. Elam is a two-time All-American. This is the first collegiate meeting between the two of them. Warner walks out to ‘Fat Bottom Girls’, Elam appropriately comes out to the Rocky theme song. Elam his a single early and he scores quickly. Warner out quickly, Elam leads 2-1. Collar ties and hand fighting, not a lot of level changes over the next 90 seconds. The period ends with no more scores, still 2-1 Missouri.
2nd period: Elam on bottom. False start and caution on Rocky. Clean start, Warner lifts and returns. Takes a few tries but Elam is out after about 30 seconds. Elam in on a shot. Stalemated with 44 seconds on the clock, 3-1 Elam. We break for blood, looks like it’s coming from Elam. We’re back in business. No scores to close out the period, still 3-1 Elam, RT not a factor.
3rd period: Warner starts on bottom. He sits and is out in 4 seconds. Great exchange, attack by Elam, reattack by Warner, both almost scores. Another attack by Elam, he’s got a leg, he’s chewing up clock, and the takedown at the edge. 5-2 Elam now and he’s got a 3 point lead with 52 seconds to go on the restart. Warner with a switch off the whistle, and cuts him immediately. Shot by Elam, he leads 6-4 and wants to use up this clock. Warner counters and the Iowan ties it up! 6-6, Warner on a leg, he gets hit with a stall call but it’s worth it because the period expires and we’re going to overtime!
Sudden Victory: Warner pressuring in. Elam drops underneath and converts for the win! 8-6, and a statement win for thr Missouri Tiger. He’ll likely move up to #2 in the nation after that victory.
Cristiano Ronaldo will not wear a Manchester United uniform again. Just two days before the Portugal captain begins his World Cup campaign, United terminated their star forward’s contract in a move that they described as mutual.
The club had begun a process that could have led to Ronaldo being sacked following an explosive interview with Talk TV earlier this month in which he had accused the club of “betraying” him and said he had “no respect” for his head coach Erik ten Hag. Instead of his employers unilaterally forcing him out of the club, the 37 year old has agreed to terminate his contract.
Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe.
Thanks for signing up!
Keep an eye on your inbox.
Sorry!
There was an error processing your subscription.
“Cristiano Ronaldo is to leave Manchester United by mutual agreement, with immediate effect,” said the club in a statement. “The club thanks him for his immense contribution across two spells at Old Trafford, scoring 145 goals in 346 appearances, and wishes him and his family well for the future.
“Everyone at Manchester United remains focused on continuing the team’s progress under Erik ten Hag and working together to deliver success on the pitch.”
Listen below and follow In Soccer We Trust: A CBS Sports Soccer Podcast where three times a week your three favorite former USMNT players cover everything you could possibly want to know about the beautiful game in the United States.
Legal experts believe that the club could have ultimately concluded that Ronaldo was guilty of gross misconduct within the terms of his contract, allowing them to terminate the deal. However that may have opened the door to a lengthy appeal process; in securing the player’s agreement United are able to swiftly move on from what has proven to be a trying saga for Ten Hag and the hierarchy.
In a statement Ronaldo said: “Following conversations with Manchester United we have mutually agreed to end our contract early. I love Manchester United and I love the fans, that will never ever change. However, it feels the right time for me to seek a new challenge. I wish the team every success for the remainder of the season and for the future.”
United have not confirmed whether they will pay any of the remaining sum on the contract, which was valued at in excess of £500,000-a-week. Ronaldo’s deal had been due to expire at the end of the season but he will now be searching for his fourth club in a little over four years. The record goalscorer in men’s international football had rejected a sizeable offer from a Saudi Arabian club but CBS Sports revealed in the summer that a rival suitor in the country would be interested in his services if he departed Old Trafford in January. That is understood to still be the case.
In spite of insistence to the contrary by, among others, his former team mate Roy Keane, no top European clubs made a serious attempt to sign Ronaldo when he told Manchester United in the summer that he wanted to leave to join a club offering Champions League football. It is hard to see how the events of recent months — which have also included him leaving Old Trafford before the final whistle and refusing to be substituted on against Tottenham Hotspur — will have changed many minds. However one club that stands out as a source of potential intrigue is Chelsea, whose owner Todd Boehly was interested in a move for Ronaldo only for then head coach Thomas Tuchel to argue vociferously against the transfer. The German has since left the club.
It says for everything about the damage Ronaldo has done to his legacy at Old Trafford — where he emerged as one of the brightest stars of the global game in the late 2000s before joining Real Madrid — that his departure will bring with it a sigh of relief for Ten Hag and club supporters. Though he was United’s top scorer last season, he did not prove to be the missing piece in a side that had finished second in the Premier League before he arrived. Instead, the goals dried up for his team mates, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked, Ralf Rangnick almost immediately undermined and United had to scrabble to qualify for the Europa League.
For now, Ronaldo will follow in the footsteps of Jay DeMerit, Gary Breen and six members of Canada’s 1986 squad in playing at a World Cup as a free agent. Portugal face Ghana in their opening game on Thursday and their captain insists that his incendiary comments will not have an impact on their performances in Qatar. “I don’t have to think about what other people think,” said Ronaldo. “I speak when I want. The players know me really well for many years and know the type of person I am.
“It’s an ambitious group that is hungry and focused. So I’m sure it [the interview] won’t shake the changing room’s concentration and focus.”
The 2022 FIFA World Cup continued Tuesday with Mexico–Poland battling to a 0-0 draw, earning each squad a point in its Group C opening match.
While Tuesday’s match was scoreless, there was a spurt of excitement in the early stages of the second half. Mexico’s Guillermo Ochoa stopped Robert Lewandowski on a penalty kick and Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny had a diving save of his own a few minutes later.
Earlier, Argentinawas stunned by Saudi Arabia while Denmark and Tunisia played to a scoreless draw.
[Guillermo Ochoa knows he needs to tap into ‘genius’ level for Mexico]
You can watch this game and every match of the tournament on the FOX Sports family of networks — the tournament’s official English-language broadcast partner in the U.S. — and the FOX Sports app and FOXSports.com. You can also stream full-match replays for free on Tubi.
Here are the top plays from Tuesday’s group stage action.
Mexico vs. Poland
The start of a run for Mexico?
Mexico coach Tata Martino shares the hopes he has for his squad as it opens up group play on Tuesday.
26′ – Mexico on the doorstep
Alexis Vega’s header off the cross nearly found its way into the net, but it went just wide to keep the game 0-0.
54′ – Lewandowski draws the PK
Robert Lewandowski got his jersey yanked and was pulled down by Hector Moreno in front of the net to draw a penalty kick. After VAR reviewed the play, Moreno was given a yellow card.
58′ – Ochoa makes the stop!
Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa guessed correctly on Lewandowski’s penalty kick to make the save and keep the game scoreless. The play sent Mexico fans wild and seemed to energize the squad.
Ochoa’s magic led to all sorts of celebrations from the Mexican fans in attendance, with fans jumping and yelling in excitement to tears of joy.
Lewandowski was in disbelief after his shot was stopped.
But Mexican fans continued their celebration around the world.
64′ – Wojciech Szczesny answers back for Poland!
It wasn’t a penalty stop, but the Polish goalkeeper made a diving save to prevent Henry Martin’s header on a redirection from going into the net.
Stay tuned for updates!
Check out the full schedule for the World Cup and how to watch each match live here.
Read more from the World Cup:
Get more from FIFA World Cup 2022Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Manchester United have reached an agreement with Cristiano Ronaldo to mutually terminate his contract.
The Athletic reported last week that United had started a legal process against Ronaldo for breach of contract after his interview with Piers Morgan.
That work has developed rapidly and the 37-year-old’s exit has been finalised.
He has left the club without a payoff. There are no restrictions on who he can play for next.
A statement from United read: “Cristiano Ronaldo is to leave Manchester United by mutual agreement, with immediate effect.
“The club thanks him for his immense contribution across two spells at Old Trafford, scoring 145 goals in 346 appearances, and wishes him and his family well for the future.”
Ronaldo conducted a highly-critical interview prior to the World Cup — where the attacker is set to play for Portugal — in which he accused his employers of betrayal and took swipes at head coach Erik ten Hag, as well as the club’s hierarchy.
The Old Trafford side released a statement on Thursday, which read: “Manchester United has this morning initiated appropriate steps in response to Cristiano Ronaldo’s recent media interview.
“We will not be making further comment until this process reaches its conclusion.”
GO DEEPER
Cristiano Ronaldo leaves Manchester United: How a glorious return turned sour
All top-flight players sign a Premier League employment contract with their teams.
Under that agreement, they are obliged to “comply with and act in accordance with all lawful instructions of any authorised official of the club” and are not allowed to “write or say anything which is likely to bring the club… into disrepute… or cause damage to the club”.
Ronaldo said he “felt betrayed” by the club in an interview with Morgan, published in The Sun newspaper.
The forward added that he feels he is being forced out of United, “Not only by the coach (Erik ten Hag), but also by two or three other people around the club”.
He said: “I feel betrayed.
“Some people, I feel, don’t want me here. Not just this year, but last year too.”
Ronaldo also touched on his relationship with Ten Hag, adding: “I don’t have respect for him because he doesn’t show respect for me.
“If you don’t have respect for me, I’m never gonna have respect for you.”
He also spoke on Ralf Rangnick’s time at the club, who was appointed interim manager after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s departure last season.
The German has had significant success as a director of football but had not managed a team for over two years before taking over at United in November last year, with Ronaldo commenting: “If you’re not even a coach, how are you going to be the boss of Manchester United? I’d never even heard of him.”
GO DEEPER
Manchester United are better for being a Bruno Fernandes team, not a Cristiano Ronaldo one
Ronaldo told United he wanted to leave last summer, if they received a suitable offer, but no satisfactory proposals arrived.
He previously drew criticism from his manager in August when he left early during a friendly against Rayo Vallecano.
Ronaldo was substituted at half-time during the warm-up game and was then filmed outside the ground before the end.
Last month, he refused to come on as a substitute during the closing stages of United’s win over Tottenham Hotspur.
He was then omitted from their squad to face Chelsea the following weekend and trained alone before returning to the line-up for a 3-0 Europa League defeat of Sheriff.
The Portugal international also missed his side’s final Premier League match before the World Cup break, a 2-1 victory over Fulham on Sunday, due to illness.
Ronaldo has struggled for form in front of goal this season. The Portugal international has scored one goal in 10 Premier League appearances this season.
He has, however, played a more prominent role in the Europa League campaign. Ronaldo has started all six of United’s matches in the competition, scoring two goals and claiming two assists.
In the Premier League, Ronaldo has largely been cast as a peripheral figure with just four starts.
United went into the World Cup break in fifth place in the Premier League table.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup continues Tuesday with France–Australia underway on FOX, and we’ve got you covered with every must-see moment from start to finish!
Earlier, Argentinawas stunned by Saudi Arabia while Denmark and Tunisia played to a scoreless draw. Mexico and Poland also battled to a scoreless draw.
You can watch this game and every match of the tournament on the FOX Sports family of networks — the tournament’s official English-language broadcast partner in the U.S. — and the FOX Sports app and FOXSports.com. You can also stream full-match replays for free on Tubi.
Here are the top plays from Tuesday’s group stage action.
France vs. Australia
The title defense begins now
Kylian Mbappe and the rest of the French squad arrive at the pitch looking as it plays its first match of the 2022 World Cup.
9′ – That was fast!
Australia opened its upset bid in the opening minutes as Craig Goodwin got his left boot on the ball for the goal off the cross.
Craig Goodwin strikes first in the 9th minute, giving Australia a 1-0 lead over France
Craig Goodwin scores off a perfect cross in the 9th minute to give Australia an early 1-0 lead over France.
13′ – Brother replaces brother
French left back Lucas Hernandez suffered an injury in the early stages of the match and had to leave the game. His younger brother Theo replaced him.
22′ – So close to doubling up
Australia’s upset effort nearly strengthened when Mitchell Duke’s shot fired off his foot. But the strike was just outside the post.
27′ – France evens it up
After a reset off a corner kick, Hernandez helped France regroup and his cross into the box connected with Adrien Rabiot’s head, leading to a goal to make it 1-1.
France’s Adrien Rabiot scores goal vs. Australia in 27′ | 2022 FIFA World Cup
Watch France’s Adrien Rabiot scoring a goal against Australia in the 27′ in the 2022 Men’s FIFA World Cup.
32′ – Giroud does his thing
Olivier Giroud, the second-leading goalscorer in French history, put his squad in front on a center pass in the box from Rabiot.
France takes a 2-1 lead over Australia after goals by Adrien Rabiot and Olivier Giroud
France took a 2-1 lead over Australia in the 2022 FIFA World Cup after goals by Adrien Rabiot and Olivier Giroud.
45′ + 2′ – Australia close again!
Australia came close again to scoring its second goal when Jackson Irvine’s header hit off the post, keeping the game at 2-1 in favor of France.
50′ – Giroud wanted the fancy highlight
The Frenchman wanted to score off a bicycle kick, which would’ve tied him with Thierry Henry for the most international goals in French history.
68′ – Mbappe gets on the board!
The superstar got perfect placement on his header to extend France’s lead to 3-1.
72′ – Giroud ties the record
Mbappe linked up with Giroud on a crosser, which led to another French goal to make it 4-1. Giroud’s goal off the header is his 51st in international play, tying him with Henry for the most in French history.
Stay tuned for updates!
Check out the full schedule for the World Cup and how to watch each match live here.
Get more from FIFA World Cup 2022Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Cristiano Ronaldo is leaving Manchester United with immediate effect, the English Premier League club announced on Tuesday.
In a brief statement, United said the decision, which comes a week after Ronaldo gave an explosive TV interview about his frustrations at the club, was made by mutual agreement.
“The club thanks him for his immense contribution across two spells at Old Trafford, scoring 145 goals in 346 appearances, and wishes him and his family well for the future,” the statement said.
“Everyone at Manchester United remains focused on continuing the team’s progress under Erik ten Hag and working together to deliver success on the pitch.”
Ronaldo is currently with the Portugal national team in Qatar for the World Cup and said on Monday that the timing of his recent comments about United wouldn’t affect the concentration of his Portuguese teammates.
In an interview with Piers Morgan for TalkTV released just before the start of the World Cup, Ronaldo explained how he felt United had betrayed him and that he has no respect for manager ten Hag.
Ronaldo’s departure from United brings the 37-year-old’s second spell at the club to an acrimonious and disappointing end having scored just once in 10 Premier League appearances this season.
He has largely been used as a substitute by Ten Hag and last month refused to go onto the pitch against Tottenham Hotspur, instead walking down the tunnel with minutes of the match still remaining.
This is likely to be Ronaldo’s last appearance at a World Cup, and beyond that it is unclear which club will sign him for the second half of the season.
When he first joined United in 2003, Ronaldo transformed himself from a tricky, skilful winger into one of the best players in the world.
He won three Premier League titles, the FA Cup, two League Cups, the Champions League, and the first of his five Ballon d’Or crowns before moving to Real Madrid in 2009.
Ronaldo’s return to United from Juventus last year was greeted with much fanfare by the club’s supporters, but his second period at Old Trafford failed to match the success of his first as United ended last season without any trophies.
“Following conversations with Manchester United we have mutually agreed to end our contract early,” said Ronaldo in a statement.
“I love Manchester United and I love the fans, that will never ever change. However, it feels like the right time for me to seek a new challenge.
“I wish the team every success for the remainder of the season and for the future.”
