Bill Belichick snubbed by Pro Football Hall of Fame in first year of eligibility, report says
ESPN has reported that six-time Super Bowl champion head coach Bill Belichick didn’t get voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. Citing four unidentified sources, ESPN said Belichick didn’t receive the necessary 40 votes from the 50-person panel of media members and other Hall of Famers. ESPN said Belichick received a call from the Hall of Fame last Friday with the news. The Hall of Fame class of 2026 will be announced at NFL Honors in San Francisco on Feb. 5.
No. 5 Nebraska's run of 24 wins in a row is over. It was the nation's longest streak since 2014-15
Major college basketball’s longest winning streak in more than a decade ended at 24 games with No. 5 Nebraska’s 75-72 loss at No. 3 Michigan on Tuesday night. Nebraska did not score over the last 3:20, missing its last five shots after leading most of the game despite two key players being out of the lineup. Rienk Mast missed the game with an illness as did double-digit scorer Braden Frager, who was out for a second straight game with an ankle injury.
QB Darian Mensah joins Miami Hurricanes after legal battle with Duke
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Darian Mensah has enrolled at Miami, boosting the Hurricanes with another standout transfer quarterback. Mensah transferred from Duke after resolving a legal battle over his eligibility to sign elsewhere. On Tuesday, Mensah and wide receiver Cooper Barkate toured Miami's campus. Mensah is joining his third team in three years, having led Duke to a conference title last season. Miami hopes he continues its success with transfer quarterbacks. The Hurricanes return key offensive players, including star wide receiver Malachi Toney. Miami opens the 2026 season at Stanford on September 4.
Bills promote offensive coordinator Joe Brady to take over as head coach
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills stayed in-house by promoting offensive coordinator Joe Brady as their new head coach. The move provides continuity to a Josh Allen-led perennial winner that has accomplished everything short of reaching a Super Bowl. The team announced the five-year deal. The 36-year-old Brady just completed his fourth season in Buffalo and his second full season as coordinator. Brady’s promotion comes a little more than a week after Sean McDermott was fired following a nine-year tenure.
Pegula beats fellow American Anisimova to reach the Australian Open semifinals
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Jessica Pegula defeated fellow American Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 7-6 (1) to reach the semifinals of the Australian Open. Pegula also beat Madison Keys, another American and the defending champion, in her previous match to advance to the quarterfinals. In Wednesday's other quarterfinal at Rod Laver Arena, Elena Rybakina defeated Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-1 to prevent the Polish player from completing a career Grand Slam of singles titles.
Red Wings' Kane ties Stars' Modano as highest-scoring American-born players in NHL history
DETROIT (AP) — Patrick Kane of the Detroit Red Wings has tied Dallas’ Mike Modano as the highest-scoring U.S.-born players in NHL history. Kane matched Mike Modano by recording his 1,374th point on an assist on a goal by Alex DeBrincat late in Detroit’s 3-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday night. He got there a couple of months after turning 37, while Modano was 40 when he scored a goal to register point No. 1,374.
Caitlin Clark joining NBC's 'Sunday Night Basketball' for Lakers-Knicks pregame at MSG
Caitlin Clark is joining NBC's pregame coverage for “Sunday Night Basketball.” NBC announced Tuesday that the Indiana Fever star will be part of its team when the Los Angeles Lakers play the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. She'll return on March 29 for another pregame role. NBC calls Clark “a special contributor” alongside host Maria Taylor and analysts Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady. A two-time WNBA All-Star, Clark has a marketing relationship with Xfinity. She says she's excited to join the crew and share her insights on the game she loves.
Koepka is excited to be back on the PGA Tour. It comes with nervousness over how he's received
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Brooks Koepka is back on the PGA Tour feeling a nervousness he rarely experiences. The five-time major champion is not known as someone who cares what anyone thinks about him. Now he wonders how the fans will receive him at the Farmers Insurance Open. Koepka says Tiger Woods is the first person he called after he was freed from the final year of his contract with Saudi-funded LIV Golf. Koepka says he's grateful the tour found a way for him to return. But part of him can't wait for this week and all the distractions to be over with.
Are tennis players being treated like zoo animals? Iga Swiatek thinks so
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Iga Swiatek is echoing Coco Gauff's concerns about the constant camera gaze at tennis tournaments. Gauff highlighted the lack of privacy after her racket-smashing frustration at the Australian Open went viral. She believes a conversation is needed about the lack of private spaces for players off the court. Swiatek, after her quarterfinal loss to Elena Rybakina, expressed similar feelings on Wednesday. She questioned whether players are being treated like "animals in the zoo." Swiatek says she understands the need to keep the public entertained but feels some moments should remain private.
US sending ICE unit to Winter Olympics for security, prompting concern and confusion in Italy
MILAN (AP) — News that a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement unit will be present at the upcoming Winter Games has sparked confusion and concern in Italy. Some in Italy are upset about the inclusion of ICE, known for its role in the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. Milan’s mayor has stated ICE is not welcome in the city. Homeland Security Investigations, a unit within ICE, often assists with security at international events. HSI is distinct from the ICE arm at the forefront of U.S. immigration enforcement. The controversy highlights a growing rift between the U.S. under President Donald Trump and its allies.
