FOR NOW, the NCAA Tournament will remain at 68 teams, although that is still subject to change in future years. After meeting this week, the men’s and women’s basketball committees met to discuss possible expansion, but no decisions or recommendations were adopted. ESPN’s Peter Thamel reports that while nothing has been agreed upon, all options remain on the table and discussions are continuing. In a statement, Dan Gavitt, NCAA senior vice president of basketball, said: “Outcomes that are still viable include tournaments remaining at 68 teams or expand the fields to 72 or 76 teams before the 2026 or 2027…
Author: Michael Sanders
We’ve heard from several Virginia Tech players revealing their plans to return in 2026 over the past week. Only a few have announced their intention to enter the transfer portal. On Friday, redshirt sophomore quarterback William “Pop” Watson confirmed he was entering the portal.This should come as no surprise. The 5-foot-11, 201-pound Springfield, Massachusetts native served as Kyron Drones’ backup in 2025. Watson played in just two games, completing 2 of 4 passes for 77 yards. He also ran for 22 yards and a touchdown.AdvertisementWatson is the second Virginia Tech quarterback to announce he is entering the portal, joining Garret…
Kyle Whittingham I won’t wait until after Utah football appearance at the Las Vegas Bowl to begin the next chapter of his coaching career at Michigan.According to multiple reports, Whittingham is expected to join the Wolverines in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, December 27 for their preparations to play Texas in the Citrus Bowl. He is expected to inform his current players of his decision on Friday, December 26 once Utes land in Las Vegas.AdvertisementWhittingham agreed to a five-year contract with the Wolverinesaccording to Tony Garcia of the Detroit Free Press – part of the USA TODAY network – to be…
Pop-Tarts trophy accident during head coaches meeting originally appeared on Sports news. Add The Sporting News as Favorite source by clicking here.The 36th annual Pop-Tarts Bowl is set to kick off, but the spotlight first turned to a moment of levity during the head coaches meeting. Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key and BYU head coach Kalani Sitake participated in the popular tradition of the bowl’s Pop-Tarts toaster trophy. However, this year’s ceremony didn’t go as planned when the toaster didn’t work and part of the trophy even fell off.AdvertisementUsually, the two coaches place Pop-Tarts in the toaster-shaped trophy and…
Pat Kelsey chose to focus on the little things as a result of Louisville Basketballof the lopsided defeat at the hands of the number 1 at the time. 23 Tennessee on December 16.“Believe it or not, the sun came up yesterday,” he told host Paul Rogers during a Dec. 18 episode of his radio show. “I was pretty sure it wasn’t going to happen, but it did.”AdvertisementKelsey had to call out during the first segment of the show. He was late – he lost track of time while debriefing with a member of his team after a major training session…
One of the best offensive linemen in the country has opted out of his team’s bowl game. Utah right tackle Spencer Fano will not play when the Utes face the Nebraska Cornhuskers at the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl.The junior started all 12 regular season games at right tackle for the Utes in 2025. He is a first-team All-American recognized by all five major organizations: AFCA, Associated Press, FWAA, Sporting News and Walter Camp.AdvertisementFano is the first recipient of the Outland Trophy in Utah history. The Outland Trophy is awarded annually to the nation’s most outstanding interior lineman.Nebraska will face…
Expanding the men’s NCAA Tournament wouldn’t be a good move for women’s March Madness.The numbers don’t add up, although it doesn’t matter.If the men’s peloton expands to 72 or 76 teams, as was a topic of conversation last a few monthsit would almost be a foregone conclusion that the women’s field would also develop for reasons of equity. While it’s doubtful that the men’s tournament is ready to expand, it seems clear that the women’s March Madness is not. It’s not ready from a competitive or financial point of view.Consider this: The first round of this year’s women’s tournament featured…
The NCAA Football Oversight Committee has recommended eliminating the spring transfer window, said Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports reported Friday.If approved, the change would take effect immediately, eliminating a window currently scheduled for April 16 to 30, 2025. The only window for the upcoming window would be December 9, 2024 to January 7, 2025. The proposal would have to be approved by the NCAA Division I Council, a 40-member group. compromise primarily faculty representatives, athletic directors and commissioners. The Football Oversight Committee is a 17-member committee also made up primarily of ADs, but it understand AFCA Executive Director Craig Bohl,…
Jacksonville State’s top running back enters transfer portal originally appeared on Sports news. Add The Sporting News as Favorite source by clicking here.Jacksonville State running back Cam Cook, one of the most productive players in college football this season, announced his intention to enter the NCAA transfer portal on Wednesday. After a breakout year with the Gamecocks, Cook is expected to become one of the most in-demand players once the portal officially opens.AdvertisementCook shared the news in a post on Instagram, thanking Jacksonville State for helping shape him on and off the field. He explained that after extensive conversations with…
UC Riverside athletic director Wesley Mallette was on his way to dinner with his wife Sunday night when his phone started going crazy. The messages and calls were all variations of the same two ideas:“Congratulations on making the NIT!”“Wait, Wes, how are you going to perform in two tournaments?” “I’m confused at this point,” Mallette told CBS Sports on Tuesday, recounting his state of mind on one of the strangest days of his professional career. “I’m like, ‘Wait a second. We haven’t heard from the NIT. Nobody told us.’ This was a problem because UC Riverside had, at that point,…