Category: Sports

The last time the NFL welcomed in 10 new head coaches was 2022, and four short years later, eight of those 10 have already been fired. So at least this year’s group of 10 can’t possibly be worse, right? Time will tell, of course. But for now, here’s the FOX Sports ranking of the 10 new head coaches hired in the 2026 cycle, complete with a very early grade for each. 10. Mike LaFleur, Arizona Cardinals Did the Cardinals accidentally pick the wrong coordinator off of Sean McVay’s staff? The NFL world was buzzing at the start of this cycle about the potential for Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula to be the next great coach off the McVay tree. Instead, the 38-year-old LaFleur leapfrogged him. Maybe the Cardinals saw something others didn’t in his two unremarkable years as the Jets offensive coordinator directing eventual draft bust Zach Wilson? Or maybe they just loved the Rams’ offense so much they were willing to overlook the fact that McVay, not LaFleur, called the plays? None of that is to say LaFleur can’t be a good head coach. He spent seven years working for Kyle Shanahan in various stops and three years at the side of McVay, so some of their genius could have rubbed off. Still, it’s a curious choice, especially considering some of the candidates the Cardinals chose not to hire. Grade: D- 9. Joe Brady, Buffalo Bills Terry Pegula insisted he made the decision to fire Sean McDermott after seeing the scene in the postgame locker room in Denver. He felt he had a team capable of reaching a Super Bowl, and he needed a leader who could put them over the top. That made sense … until he put his supposed title-ready team in the hands of a 36-year-old, first-time head coach who was on the staff he felt just failed the franchise. I guess Brady, in his two-plus years as the Bills’ offensive coordinator, had nothing to do with their playoff failures? He was a favorite of quarterback Josh Allen, who clearly wanted the offensive system to remain the same. That’s why so many thought the Bills were going to hire ex-Giants coach Brian Daboll, who was the offensive coordinator in Buffalo that helped turn Allen into a star. Instead, the Bills conducted a sham of a search and anointed Brady who, to be fair, is well-respected around the league and has had a lot of head coaching interviews over the past three offseasons. It’s still a risk, though, for a franchise that could have benefited from bringing in an external candidate — which is what it sounded like Pegula initially intended to do. Grade: D 8. Jeff Hafley, Miami Dolphins The Dolphins tried the offensive whiz kid route with Mike McDaniel, and the results were just OK. But it too often appeared that leadership was lacking in that locker room. It’s why they needed to pivot to a “CEO” type of coach. And that fits Hafley, who has experience running a program from his four years as the head coach at Boston College. Unfortunately, he had a pretty mediocre run there, with an overall record of 22-26 and one trip to a minor bowl. College coaches also don’t often translate well to the pros, either, though Hafley has spent nine years as an NFL assistant. He did his best work the past two seasons as the defensive coordinator in Green Bay, where he helped turn the Packers’ defense into a championship-caliber unit. But it’s his leadership that will likely define his tenure in Miami, not his defensive scheme. Grade: C 7. Robert Saleh, Tennessee Titans The 46-year-old Saleh doesn’t deserve all the blame for what happened during his time as head coach of the New York Jets, but he can’t disavow all of that 20-36 record. It’s true he was saddled with a bad quarterback (Zach Wilson), but he made plenty of bad decisions that helped ruin his tenure, too. Maybe he’s learned from them. That’s what the Titans are counting on. And there are plenty of examples of coaches who thrived when they got a second chance. But sometimes a failure just proves that a coach can’t handle the big job. We’ll see if that’s true. If nothing else, Saleh is an impressive presence and everyone who has played for him lauds his leadership. He’ll bring a new attitude to the Titans, for sure. He’s also a brilliant defensive mind, so there likely won’t be many issues on that side of the ball. Oddly, he hired another failed New York coach to run his offense — ex-Giants coach Brian Daboll, who had a Saleh-like record of 20-40-1. He’s well-respected, too, and will be a big help for promising young quarterback Cam Ward. Perhaps this will be a great redemption story for both exiled New Yorkers, though the odds feel long. Grade: C+ 6. Todd Monken, Cleveland Browns It takes someone with a strong stomach to be the head coach of the Browns, but it also probably takes someone with more experience than Monken. At least Monken brings a strong track record for developing quarterbacks, though, which is what the Browns need right now more than anything. They have a tremendous defense. They’ve even got some promising talent at running back and receiver. But if they can’t develop a quarterback — whether it’s Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, or someone else — none of it matters. And Monken has had a string of success, running a top-10 offense in Tampa (2016-18) with Jameis Winston, helping turn Lamar Jackson back into an MVP in Baltimore (2023-25), and even developing a prolific offense behind Stetson Bennett at the University of Georgia. The downside is the Browns’ messy search might have cost them respected defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. And Monken, at age 59, hasn’t been a head coach in the NFL before. But if he can fix the quarterback mess, at least the Browns will take the most important first step. Grade: C+ 5. Klint Kubiak, Las Vegas Raiders He is the hot offensive assistant this year after his masterful work with the Super Bowl-bound Seattle Seahawks and quarterback Sam Darnold. But plucking the young, offensive star is often a boom-or-bust proposition, as not every great coordinator makes for a quality head coach. The Raiders can afford to take that chance, though, assuming they are patient with the 38-year-old. They are a few years away from contending and Kubiak’s primary job will likely be to develop quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the presumptive top pick of the 2026 NFL Draft. What Kubiak did in Seattle surely caught the Raiders’ attention, but don’t discount his coaching lineage. He’s worked under his father, Gary Kubiak, as well as Kevin Stefanski and Kyle Shanahan. A lot of offensive knowledge has been passed down to him. Whether he can handle the big job remains to be seen. But if he can develop the new quarterback, he’ll be off to a heck of a start. Grade: B- *The Raiders cannot officially announce the hire until after Super Bowl LX 4. Mike McCarthy, Pittsburgh Steelers It’s hard to argue against hiring a coach with a résumé like the one McCarthy has. He is, quite simply, one of the NFL’s biggest recent winners. He went 125-77-2 during his 13 years in Green Bay. He had three 12-win seasons in five years in Dallas. He’s been to the playoffs 12 times in 18 years overall and won a Super Bowl. Who wouldn’t want that? The only problem here is the fit. McCarthy is 62 years old and has 18 years of experience and doesn’t seem to be the kind of coach who would want a rebuilding project. And while the Steelers don’t think they’re rebuilding, perhaps they should be. They have hovered around mediocrity for more than a decade and been searching for their next franchise quarterback since at least 2018 when they drafted Mason Rudolph. Hiring McCarthy makes it feel like they’re ready to run it back, perhaps with deteriorating 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers at quarterback. Now, if they could somehow land a young franchise QB, McCarthy could be very good for him. Don’t discount his influence on Rodgers’ early career. But without that position resolved, this coaching hire could quickly prove to be too old and too stale. Grade: B 3. Jesse Minter, Baltimore Ravens At the beginning of this hiring cycle, no up-and-coming assistant was talked about as much as the 42-year-old Minter. He figured to be a top candidate for multiple teams, until the market suddenly became flooded with experienced coaches. Though it requires a bit of speculation, he deserves to be ranked near the top, especially since he probably inherits the best of the 10 openings. On a loaded roster with Lamar Jackson at quarterback, he’s got the best shot of winning right away. Can he? Well, his pedigree as an assistant is strong. He’s an apple off the Harbaugh tree, having worked with both John in Baltimore and Jim in Michigan and with the Los Angeles Chargers. He built college football’s best defense when Michigan won the national championship in 2023, and he turned a bad Chargers defense into a top-10 unit over the past two seasons. So he can coach. And many NFL executives think he’s ready for the big chair. Given the one he’s sitting in, it would be hard for him to screw this opportunity up, though the Ravens’ defense took a major step back in 2025. Grade: B+ 2. Kevin Stefanski, Atlanta Falcons The Falcons are a team loaded with offensive talent that seemed wasted and misused under Raheem Morris. It’s a big reason why, maybe more than any other club, they needed an offensive-minded head coach. And Stefanski is one of the best, despite what happened during his last two ugly seasons in Cleveland (8-26). He was undermined there by a series of disastrous quarterback decisions. Before that, he was a miracle worker. Consider that the Browns have been to the playoffs twice in the past 23 years — both times under Stefanski. He remarkably won 11 games twice in Cleveland — its only two 11-win seasons since Bill Belichick hit that mark there in 1994 — and was the NFL Coach of the Year both times. Stefanski helped develop Baker Mayfield into a viable NFL quarterback (they went to the playoffs in their first season together), and he had his other winning/playoff season in a year when he had to juggle five different starting quarterbacks. So don’t blame him for how the Browns fell apart. Look at what he did before the collapse. He’ll do the same in Atlanta with whomever his quarterback is. Grade: A 1. John Harbaugh, New York Giants He’s the home-run hire of the offseason and the Giants had to hit it given their miserable, embarrassing record over the past 14 years. They tried a line of promising, inexperienced coaches and it just didn’t work. They needed someone who had done it before, and would instantly restore credibility to their franchise. Harbaugh, of course, had a long and successful run in Baltimore, going 180-113 over 18 seasons, making the playoffs 12 times and winning a Super Bowl. But more than his coaching success, he boasts a presence and credibility the Giants have been missing since Tom Coughlin. He can stand in front of a team that is generally perceived as talented but underachieving, and the players know that what he says and does will work — because it has. He will immediately restore discipline and confidence, and he has a history of being great with young quarterbacks. He is the one coach who could make the Giants’ desired turnaround incredibly quick. Grade: A+

This is the most interesting men’s college basketball season I can remember in the past 15 years. This freshmen class is incredible. NIL means that talent is staying put and the quality of play I’m watching is fantastic. What’s more, the race for the top-4 seed lines of the NCAA tournament has never been more compelling. Here’s the latest edition of my men’s college basketball rankings, as of Feb. 1. *Note: Miami (Ohio) is 22-0, but its strength of schedule is 332nd in the country. The RedHawks are a great story, but I’m not sure that I’ll rank them at all this year. Being undefeated is cool and all, but you have to put it into context. Texas A&M head coach Bucky McMillian is pushing all the right buttons with this team. The Aggies sit atop the SEC with a 7-1 record and are averaging 91.0 points in their past three games. Still, there are big challenges ahead. Arkansas lost an emotional affair with Kentucky on Saturday. The Razorbacks have six losses, but none of them are bad losses. They can’t find a rhythm, though, as their longest win streak of the season is just four games. St. John’s has won seven games in a row and beat Butler by 22 points on Wednesday. Guard Ian Jackson had 18 points and is starting to figure out his scoring role. Kentucky is turning its season around. The Wildcats beat Arkansas, led by their former coach John Calipari, on Saturday in an emotional game. Guard Otega Oweh has scored 20 or more points in seven of his past nine games. Clemson boasts one of the 15 best defenses in the country, and the Tigers used it to suffocate Pitt on Saturday; the Panthers could only muster 52 points. Clemson is now 8-1 in the ACC with its only loss in overtime to NC State. Tennessee is on a three-game win streak, beating Alabama, Georgia and Auburn. The Vols have a top-15 defense (again). St. Louis is now 21-1 after crushing Dayton by 31 points on Saturday, with its only loss coming on a miracle shot against Stanford back in November. North Carolina picked up another road win at Georgia Tech on Saturday. I enjoy watching the frontcourt duo of forward Caleb Wilson and center Henri Veesaar. The pair combined for 42 points and 18 rebounds. Virginia has the 17th best offense in the land and got two road wins this week, despite going 14-for-52 from behind the arc combined. That’s a good sign that this team is legit and can find ways to win. Three losses in a row for Purdue seemed unfathomable when it started the preseason as the top-ranked team. This team can score against anyone, but the Boilermakers struggle to guard elite, athletic teams like Iowa State and Illinois. Understandably, BYU went 0-2 this week against Arizona and Kansas. Cougars star forward AJ Dybantsa was only outscored by one point (17 to 18) by Kansas freshman guard Darryn Peterson, but it felt like more than that. Guard Richie Saunders had 33 points and greatly improved his NBA Draft stock in front of the throng of scouts that were in attendance. I was a bit surprised that Texas Tech lost at UCF after shooting above 50% as a team, but the Red Raiders couldn’t get stops in an 88-80 shootout. Texas Tech star forward JT Toppin continued his stellar season with 27 points on Saturday. I still think the Red Raiders can beat any team — anywhere. Vanderbilt smashed a good Kentucky team earlier this week and is back to its winning ways — three straight wins, in fact. Sophomore guard Tyler Tanner is only 6-foot, but his game is massive. I was so jacked up for the matchup between Dybantsa and Peterson — until the ball was tipped, and Peterson completely took over with 18 points in 17 minutes in the first half. Of course, he only played three minutes in the second half (cramping?), but his Kansas teammates kept it going, shooting 57% overall. Kansas is hitting its stride. Florida made a statement with its thrashing of Alabama at home. Alex Condon had his best game of the season with 25 points and six assists at the center position. Florida ranks sixth in KenPom and is 7-2 in the SEC. [Men’s College Hoops Spotlight: Villanova Eyes NCAA Tournament Berth] Michigan State squeaked out an overtime win at Rutgers early in the week, and the Spartans couldn’t recover fast enough for their top-10 showdown against Michigan on FOX on Friday night, losing 83-71 (the game wasn’t as close as the final score). Spartans star Jeremy Fears Jr. did his part with 31 points, but nobody else really showed up. Graham Ike returned from injury this week, and he scored 30 points in Gonzaga’s win over Saint Mary’s on Saturday night. The Zags’ only loss of the season was a 40-point beatdown at the hands of Michigan in November. Count me as one of the people who was more impressed with Nebraska in defeat (at Michigan) than any other game I’ve seen the Huskers play. Their loss on Sunday to a surging Illinois team doesn’t change their potential, but it does bring them (and their fan base) back to Earth a bit. Illinois owns the No. 1 offense in the sport and used it to avenge its loss to Nebraska. Outside of Arizona, is anyone playing better in the sport right now? Illinois has won 11 consecutive games. Besides those back-to-back road losses a few weeks ago to Kansas and Cincinnati, Iowa State looks every bit like a No. 2 or No. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament. [NCAA Bracket Projections: Michigan Reclaims No. 1 seed, ACC Rising] Houston freshman guard Kingston Flemings only had seven points on Saturday against Cincinnati, but fellow freshman forward Chris Cenac Jr. had 13 and senior guard Milos Uzan closed things out with 16. The Bearcats had no shot in that game. On Saturday, Duke star forward Cameron Boozer posted 24 points, eight rebounds and five assists in a road win at Virginia Tech. That is a career-best day for most players, but it’s just another day at the office for the best player in the sport. After narrowly escaping most of their Big East opponents, UConn demolished Creighton on the road by 27 points. The Huskies broke out of a slump by hitting 16 of their 31 3-pointers. Michigan followed up its come-from-behind win over Nebraska by controlling most of the game at Michigan State. Wolverines star forward Yaxel Lendeborg finally had a breakout game in conference play with 28 points and 12 rebounds. Arizona is the most physical team in the country and continued to impress, getting road wins at BYU and Arizona State. It seems likely the Wildcats will win the Big 12 by multiple games.

Michigan guard Elliot Cadeau directed traffic and stayed composed in the raucous Breslin Center, leading the third-ranked Wolverines to a victory over in-state rival No. 7 Michigan State on Friday night. Cadeau’s poise in the Wolverines’ 83-71 win caught the attention of FOX Sports play-by-play announcer Gus Johnson, and earned him a spot on Johnson’s weekly “GOT IT” team. “What a game, Elliott,” Johnson said. “You ended with 17 points, six assists. You hit three 3s. But it’s not the numbers. It’s the timely baskets when the game is on the line.” Cadeau pulled up for a right-wing 3 to give Michigan a 69-63 lead with 3:08 remaining. He hit two free throws to extend the lead to double digits with 44 seconds to play. He made three 3-pointers for the fourth time this season. His perimeter shot has been his greatest point of improvement in his junior year. Cadeau spent two seasons at North Carolina before transferring to Michigan. He shot 18.9% as a freshman with the Tar Heels and 33.7% last season. His efficiency has skyrocketed to 42% on 4.2 attempts per game. Not every player can increase their effectiveness at a greater volume, but Cadeau has. Having elite surrounding talent leading to more open shots doesn’t hurt. While Cadeau’s 3 has been a pleasant surprise for Michigan and Dusty May, the Wolverines’ head coach brought him to Ann Arbor because he could unleash that surrounding talent with his facilitation abilities. “Not only did you hit big shots,” Johnson said to Cadeau. “You got your teammates involved. You knew where to hit them on their sweet spots tonight.” “That just comes with practicing every day, building chemistry on and off the court,” Cadeau replied. Cadeau created an easy layup for Morez Johnson Jr. in the final moments. He ended Friday’s game with six assists. More importantly, he kept his team calm in a hostile environment, leading Michigan to its first win in the Breslin Center since Jan. 13, 2018.

Keaton Wagler scored 28 points and No. 9 Illinois won its 11th straight game, beating No. 5 Nebraska on Sunday, 78-69, in the first matchup of top-10 teams the Cornhuskers have hosted. The Fighting Illini (19-3, 10-1 Big Ten), who haven’t lost since falling 83-80 at home to Nebraska on Dec. 13, held the Huskers to four field goals in the first 13 minutes of the second half. Nebraska (20-2, 9-2) lost its second straight. The Huskers were beaten on the road Tuesday by another top-10 opponent, No. 3 Michigan, ending their 24-game win streak dating to last season. Jake Davis finished with 13 points for Illinois, Tomislav Ivisic scored 12 and David Mirkovic had 10. Braden Frager returned for Nebraska after missing the previous two games with an ankle injury and scored 20 points. Pryce Sandfort added 14 points, Sam Hoiberg had 13 and Jamarques Lawrence scored 10. Nebraska hit 11 of 20 3-pointers before halftime to lead 39-33 at the break. But the Huskers made only four 3s in the second half against a tightened Illinois defense. The Illini outscored Nebraska 18-8 to open the second half. A 3-pointer by Wagler with 13:05 left put Illinois ahead 49-47, a lead it did not relinquish. Wagler hit another 3 with 6:45 remaining to cap a 10-0 run that made it 63-52. The Huskers trailed by at least seven points the rest of the way. While Illinois made nine 3-pointers to 15 for Nebraska, the Illini dominated at the free-throw line, outscoring the Huskers 21-4. Illinois also had a 10-point edge in the paint and a 40-27 advantage in rebounds. Next, Illinois hosts Northwestern on Wednesday, and Nebraska visits Rutgers on Saturday. Reporting by The Associated Press.

In terms of preseason betting odds, the Seattle Seahawks-New England Patriots matchup in Super Bowl LX is the most unlikely Super Bowl matchup ever — and someone close to one of the teams was able to cash off that stat. Patriots fullback Jack Westover’s sister placed a $5 bet on her brother’s team to take on the Seahawks in Super Bowl LX back in training camp. Roughly six months later, she’s $18,000 richer as a result of the bet, Westover told KJR 93.3 FM in an interview. “She has her second baby on the way, so she’s happy about that,” Westover said. Westover’s comment implies that his sister wagered the Patriots and Seahawks to meet in Super Bowl LX at roughly +360000 odds, capitalizing on the longshot odds each team would be playing in Santa Clara on Feb. 8. Regardless of who wins Super Bowl LX, it will be the most unlikely Super Bowl champion in terms of preseason betting odds since 1999, when the Rams had +15000 odds to win the Super Bowl. The Patriots held +8000 odds to win the Super Bowl entering the year, while the Seahawks had +6000 preseason odds to win it all when the regular season began. Westover and his family grew up in Washington, so his sister’s wager might have been a bit of a homer bet. The second-year fullback actually began his NFL career with the Seahawks, joining them as an undrafted free agent in 2024 before getting cut at the end of training camp that year. He spent the majority of his childhood in Bellevue, Washington, and was a walk-on at Washington, starring as a tight end for the Huskies team that made the national championship game in 2023. Just over a month after Westover was released by the Seahawks, he joined the Patriots’ practice squad. He found a spot on the Patriots’ 53-man roster when he decided to switch his position from tight end to fullback over the offseason, carving himself a role in offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels’ offense. Westover didn’t have a terribly productive year. He has two catches on three targets for eight yards between the regular season and playoffs. He also hasn’t recorded a carry, but he’s played in 24.2% of the Patriots’ offensive snaps this season and been a special teams contributor.

Sam Darnold has quarterbacked the Seattle Seahawks to the Super Bowl after leaving the Minnesota Vikings in the offseason, and Justin Jefferson can’t help but think what could’ve been if the quarterback remained in the Twin Cities for another year. In fact, the Vikings’ star wide receiver admitted in an interview with USA Today that he thinks his team would’ve done better than the 9-8 record they posted in 2025 had they kept Darnold. “Everyone knows the difficulty of the quarterback position this year, how we were dealt it, but having a quarterback that already had a season under his belt with us, knew the plays, knew the playbook, knew the players, throwing to me, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, all these guys, I definitely feel like we would’ve done better,” Darnold said. “But it is what it is, it’s on to newer and better things. But I’m definitely happy and proud of him that he is able to reach it this year.” Of course, the Vikings opted to go with J.J. McCarthy, who the team selected with the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, at quarterback this season, even after Darnold’s strong 2024 campaign. McCarthy struggled on the field and had multiple injury concerns during the 2025 season, completing 57.6% of his passes for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 10 games. Darnold, meanwhile, threw for 4,048 yards, 25 touchdowns and 14 interceptions to help the Seahawks go 14-3 in the regular season. He’s also played well this postseason, throwing for 346 yards and three touchdowns in the Seahawks’ NFC Championship Game victory over the Los Angeles Rams last week. That’s a major step up from how Darnold played in the Vikings’ final two games last season, when they put up just 18 total points as they saw their season end in the wild-card round. Jefferson thinks that could’ve been the Vikings hoisting the NFC title if they kept Darnold. “Yeah, for sure, definitely,” Jefferson told USA Today when asked if he’s thought about the Vikings playing in the Super Bowl had Darnold stayed. Darnold was actually better with the Vikings last season than he was with the Seahawks this season. He threw for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions to go with a 102.5 passer rating. The Vikings won 14 games as a result of Darnold’s play, and the quarterback earned himself a three-year, $100.5 million payday from the Seahawks in the offseason. Jefferson’s numbers were certainly with Darnold last season than they were with McCarthy and the Vikings’ backup quarterbacks this season. Jefferson had 103 receptions for 1,533 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2024 before recording 84 catches for 1,048 yards and two touchdowns in 2025. The Vikings seemed to get some improved play from McCarthy as the season went on, and Minnesota was able to win its last five games. Still, that isn’t much compared to the Super Bowl run that the Seahawks and Darnold are on, and Jefferson knows it. “It’s definitely tough. It’s tough to watch,” Jefferson said. “I love that he’s in the Super Bowl. I’m happy for him, I want nothing but the best for him, especially the way his journey was at first, people doubting him and people not giving him the respect. Now they’re giving him the respect. Now they’re seeing that he’s a top-tier quarterback in this league. “Of course, selfishly, I wish he had done that for us last year, but to see him blossom and bounce back right after last year and make it this year, I’m happy for him and I hope he wins. I’m rooting for Seattle and I think Seattle’s gonna win. I’ll be rooting for him.”

Angela Dugalic scored a season-high 22 points and had a career-high five steals as No. 2 UCLA extended its winning streak to 15 with an 88-65 victory over No. 8 Iowa on Sunday. Kiki Rice had 17 points and seven assists and Lauren Betts scored 16 points as the Bruins (21-1, 11-0 Big Ten) remained the only undefeated team in conference play while improving to 10-0 at home. UCLA has won both of its games against Iowa since moving to the Big Ten last season. The Bruins shot 57.8% from the floor and went 6 of 12 from 3-point range after they entered fifth in the nation from distance at 38.4%. Iowa shot 43.4% from the field. Ava Heiden scored 19 points and Hannah Stuelke added 13 for the Hawkeyes (18-3, 9-2), who went 0-2 on their trip to Los Angeles. They lost 81-69 to Southern California on Thursday. Taylor Stremlow scored 12 points for Iowa, which fell behind by double digits midway through the second quarter and never threatened the rest of the way. Iowa led 5-2 just over two minutes into the game before UCLA went on a 6-0 run and never trailed again. The Bruins led 17-13 after one quarter and were up 28-18 near the midway point of the second. UCLA led 39-28 at halftime, shooting 54.8% from the floor and getting 10 points from Dugalic. The Bruins pushed ahead 58-30 with an 11-0 run in the third quarter. Iowa got within 66-53 on a 3-pointer from Stremlow with 7:07 remaining before UCLA went on a 14-4 burst. Reporting by The Associated Press.

Pitchers and catchers will begin reporting to spring training camp between Feb. 10-12. But before the 2026 MLB season ramps up, and that starts with keeping tabs on all the deals. Here are all the notable free agency signings, trades, and extensions throughout the offseason: Feb. 1 Reds sign 3B Eugenio SuarezDetails: One year, $15 million with 2027 mutual option Red Sox trade RHP Jordan Hicks to White SoxDetails: White Sox also receive RHP prospect David Sandlin, $8 million; Red Sox receive RHP prospect Gage Ziehl Jan. 31 Giants sign IF Luis ArraezDetails: One year White Sox sign OF Austin HaysDetails: One year, $6 million Jan. 30 Athletics extend SS Jacob WilsonDetails: Seven years, $70 million Jan. 26 Giants sign OF Harrison BaderDetails: Two years, $20.5 million Jan. 24 Guardians adjust 3B Jose Ramirez’s contractDetails: Seven years, $175 million ($70 million deferred) Jan. 23 White Sox sign RHP Seranthony DominguezReported terms: Two years, $20 million Jan. 22 Rangers acquire Nationals LHP MacKenzie Gore Rangers receive: LHP MacKenie GoreNationals receive: IF Gavin Fien (2025 first-round pick), IF/OF Abimelec Ortiz, IF Devin Fitz-Gerald, RHP Alejandro Rosario, OF Yeremy Cabrera Jan. 21 Yankees re-sign OF Cody BellingerReported terms: Five years, $162.5 million Jan. 16 Twins sign C Victor CaratiniReported terms: Two years Mets sign IF Bo BichetteReported terms: Three years, $126 million Phillies re-sign C J.T. RealmutoReported terms: Three years, $45 million Jan. 15 Angels, Rays, Reds make three-team trade Angels receive: OF Josh LoweRays receive: UTL Gavin Lux, RHP Chris ClarkReds receive: LHP Brock Burke Rockies sign UT Willi CastroReported terms: Two years Jan. 14 Red Sox sign LHP Ranger SuarezReported terms: Five years, $130 million Jan. 13 D-backs acquire 3B Nolan Arenado Diamondbacks receive: 3B Nolan Arenado, cash considerationsCardinals receive: RHP Jack Martinez Yankees acquire LHP Ryan Weathers Yankees receive: LHP Ryan WeathersMarlins receive: OF Brendan Jones, OF Dillon Lewis, OF Dylan Jasso, INF Juan Matheus Jan. 7 Dodgers sign IF Andy IbanezReported terms: One year Rockies sign RHP Michael LorenzenReported terms: One year, $8 million Dodgers sign RHP Brusdar GraterolReported terms: One year, $2.8 million Jan. 3 Blue Jays sign Japanese IF Kazuma OkamotoReported terms: Four years, $60 million2025 stats: 15 home runs, 51 RBIs, .322/.411/.581 slash line (270 at-bats) Dec. 31 Giants sign RHP Tyler MahleReported terms: One year, $10 million White Sox sign OF Jarred KelenicReported terms: Non-roster invite Dec. 30 Angels buyout 3B Anthony RendonDetails: Rendon will make $38 million over the next three-to-five years Angels sign RHP Kirby YatesReported terms: One year, $5 million Dec. 27 Cincinnati, Miami make tradeReds receive: OF Dane MyersMarlins receive: OF Ethan O’Donnell Reds sign OF JJ BledayReported terms: One year Dec. 24 Marlins sign RP Pete FairbanksReported terms: One year, $13 million Dec. 23 Pirates sign 1B Ryan O’HearnReported terms: Two years, $29 million White Sox sign LHP Sean NewcombReported terms: One year, $4.5 million Dec. 21 Red Sox trade for Cardinals 1B Willson ContrerasTrade details: Red Sox receive Contreras and $8 million to cover $41 million remaining on his contract; Cardinals receive RHP Hunter Dobbins, RHP Yhoiker Fajardo and RHP Blake Aita White Sox sign INF Munetaka MurakamiDetails: Two years, $34 millionStats: Hit 246 home runs in eight seasons for NPB’s Tokyo Yakult Swallows, breaking the league record for most home runs in a season in 2022 (56). Dec. 19 Giants agree to two-year deal with P Adrian HouserStats: 8-5 record and 3.31 ERA (in 2025) Orioles acquire RHP Shane BazRays receive: LHP Slater de Brun, C Caden Bodine, RHP Michael Forret, OF Austin Overn, Compeitive Balance Round A pick 3-Team Trade Pirates receive: 2B Brandon Lowe, OF Jake Magnum, LHP Mason MontgomeryRays receive: OF Jacob Melton, RHP Anderson BritoAstros receive: RHP Mike Burrows Kansas City, Philadelphia make tradeRoyals receive: LHP Matt StrahmPhillies receive: RHP Jonathan Bowlan Padres sign IF Sung-Mun SongReported terms: TBD2025 Stats (KBO): 26 home runs, 90 RBIs, 25 stolen bases, .315/.387/.530 slash line (574 at-bats) Dec. 18 Padres agree to three-year deal with SP Michael KingStats: 5-3 record with a 3.44 earned run average Dec. 17 Guardians designate OF Jhonkesny Noel for assignmentStats: Hit 13 home runs in 67 regular-season games in 2024 Mets sign RHP Luke WeaverReported terms: Two years, $22 million Phillies sign RHP Brad KellerReported terms: Two years, $22 million Dec. 16 Reds sign LHP Caleb FergusonReported terms: TBD Giants sign RHP Adrian HouserReported terms: Two years, $22 million Giants sign RHP Jason FoleyReported terms: One year, $2 million Nationals sign LHP Foster GriffinReported terms: One year, $5.5 million Cubs re-sign LHP Caleb ThielbarReported terms: One year Dec. 15 Blue Jays finalize deal with RHP Tyler RogersReported terms: Three years, $37 million Phillies sign OF Adolis GarcíaReported terms: One year, $10 million Twins sign 1B Josh BellReported terms: One year with a mutual option Dec. 13 Cardinals sign RHP Dustin MayReported terms: One year Tigers sign RHP Kenley JansenReported terms: One year Yankees re-sign IF Amed RosarioReported terms: One year, $2.5 million Mets sign IF Jorge PolancoReported terms: Two years, $40 million Dec. 12 Marlins sign OF Christopher MorelReported terms: One year Royals extend 3B Maikel GarciaReported terms: Five years, $57.5 million (maximum $85 million) Dec. 11 Braves sign RHP Robert SuarezReported terms: Three years, $45 million Athletics sign RHP Mark Leiter Jr.Reported terms: One year, $3 million Dec. 10 Braves sign OF Mike YastrzemskiReported terms: Two years, $23 million Orioles sign 1B Pete AlonsoReported terms: Five years, $155 million Dec. 9 Pirates sign LHP Gregory SotoReported terms: One year, $7.75 million Tigers re-sign RHP Kyle FinneganReported terms: Two years, $19 million Angels acquire IF Vaughn GrissomReported terms: Grissom to Angels; Red Sox received OF Isaiah Jackson Phillies re-sign DH Kyle SchwarberReported terms: Five years, $150 million Dodgers sign RHP Edwin DiazReported terms: Three years, $69 million Dec. 6 Seattle, Washington make swapMariners receive: LHP Jose A. FerrerNationals receive: C Harry Ford, RHP Isaac Lyon Dec. 3 Reds re-sign RHP Emilio PaganReported terms: Two years, $20 million Dodgers re-sign C Miguel RojasReported terms: One year, $5.5 million Rays sign OF Cedric MullinsReported terms: One year Dec. 2 Blue Jays sign RHP Cody PonceReported terms: Three years, $30 million Astros sign RHP Ryan WeissReported terms: One year, $2.6 million (option that could exceed $10 million over two years) Angeles sign HP Alek ManoahReported terms: One year, $1.95 million Dec. 1 Mets sign RHP Devin WilliamsReported terms: Three years, $45 million Nov. 29 Orioles sign RHP Ryan HelsleyReported terms: Two years, $28 million Nov. 26 Blue Jays sign RHP Dylan CeaseReported terms: Seven years, $210 million Nov. 25 Red Sox land RHP Sonny Gray from CardinalsReported terms: Gray reworking contract, will receive $31 million in 2026 and a $10 million mutual buyout for 2027 Cubs sign RHP Phil MatonReported details: Two years, $14.5 million with a club option for 2028 Nov. 24 Semien to Mets; Nimmo to RangersReported terms: Mets acquire INF Marcus Semien; Rangers acquire OF Brandon Nimmo November 19 Braves, Astros trade infieldersReported terms: Braves acquire INF Mauricio Dubón, Astros acquire INF Nick Allen Braves re-sign RHP Raisel IglesiasReported terms: One year, $16 million November 18 Angels trade Taylor WardReported terms: Orioles receive OF Taylor Ward; Angels receive RHP Grayson Rodriguez. Four players accept qualifying offer (one-year, $22.025 million deal): November 17 Padres re-sign LHP HartReported Terms: Padres sign LHP Kyle Hart to a one-year, $1.2 million contract that includes a club option for 2027 November 16 Dodgers, Mariners trade pitchersReported Terms: Dodgers acquire RHP Tyler Gough; Mariners acquire LHP Robinson Ortiz November 11 Rays trade CF Kameron Misner to RoyalsReported Terms: Rays acquire Misner; Royals acquire player to be named later November 5 Rays trade RHP Cole Wilcox to MarinersReported Terms: Mariners acquire Wilcox; Rays get cash considerations November 4 Cubs trade RHP Andrew Kittredge to OriolesReported Terms: Orioles acquire Kittredge; Cubs get cash considerations Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!

The NFL Honors might not take place until Thursday, but Tom Brady is ready to settle all the big awards debates now. Brady announced the recipients of his LFG Awards for the 2025 NFL season on Sunday. The seven-time Super Bowl winner and three-time MVP dished out nine awards, making some traditional awards picks. But he also had a few non-traditional award selections, naming his Sixth Round Pick of the Year, Call of the Year and Best Value Player of the Year. “I know this goes up there with some of the greatest awards in award season,” Brady said of his LFG Awards. So, without further ado, here are Brady’s LFG Awards for the 2025 NFL season. LFG Player of the Year: Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles Rams Brady didn’t name an MVP, but his LFG Player of the Year is the closest thing to it. And for that honor, he believes that Stafford was the Player of the Year. “I covered him a bunch this year. I was so impressed by what he did the entire season,” Brady said of Stafford. “I think his consistency was incredible. He showed up in the biggest moments for his teammates. He made throws so few guys in the NFL could make. They did it in tough conditions. Look, they play in a dome out there in SoFi, but he went on the road and they were great on the road. They were great in the wind. He had his main guys go down a few times. Puka [Nacua] was down. Davante [Adams]was down. And he always found ways to produce. He had an incredible touchdown-to-interception ratio. He was absurd.” Stafford ended the regular season as the favorite to win MVP, having the best season of his 17-year career. He led the league in passing yards (4,707) and passing touchdowns (46), leading the Rams to a 12-5 record and an NFC title game appearance. Brady also had a couple of honorable mentions for the award, naming Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Buffalo Bills running back James Cook in that group. Fortunately for Smith-Njigba, he’s taking home some other hardware instead … LFG Offensive Player of the Year: Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams; Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seattle Seahawks While Brady had a clear winner for most of his awards, there were a couple of awards for which he felt he couldn’t pick just one person. LFG Offensive Player of the Year was one of them. “I know, it’s too hard to pick between the two of them, but they’re both phenomenal. On a team, when you’re the quarterback, you love having two of these guys. Not just one. Puka, what can I say about him? Tremendous catches, his body control, yards after catch, those suction cup hands of his — he’s made some of the most ridiculous plays this season. “Then, JSN, had a 100-plus catches, one-handed catches in the [NFC] Championship Game, big catches and touchdown catches. He was [Sam] Darnold’s, I don’t even want to say safety blanket. He was an explosive player. He did everything for that team in the pass game.” Smith-Njigba and Nacua both finished the regular season as the favorites to win Offensive Player of the Year. They were also each named as unanimous selections to the AP All-Pro first team. Smith-Njigba and Nacua also showed out in last week’s NFC Championship Game. The Seahawks star had 10 catches for 153 yards and a touchdown in the win, while the Rams’ receiver logged nine grabs for 165 yards and a touchdown. LFG Defensive Player of the Year: Myles Garrett, edge rusher, Cleveland Browns Unlike with LFG Offensive Player of the Year, Brady’s pick for LFG Defensive Player of the Year was clear. “[Garrett] broke my buddy Michael Strahan’s record, which is absolutely insane,” Brady said. “The impact he has on every game is second-to-none. He’s just a hard-working guy, Myles is. For a guy that gets as much attention by every offensive coordinator — in terms of gameplanning, tackles, chip blocks — what are you going to do to this guy? He’s got a great motor, and he knocks people out.” Garrett was the catalyst of a Browns’ defense that was one of the best in football. As Brady mentioned, Garrett’s 23 sacks this season gave him the single-season sack record. He also had three games where he recorded at least three sacks, including a three-sack outing against the Patriots in Week 8. There was another player Brady wanted to give props to, though. “I want to give love to my guy Micah Parsons, too,” Brady said. “I know he played incredible throughout the entire season. At the point he got injured and tore his ACL, he led the league in pressures. So, that could’ve been something special down the stretch.” LFG Offensive Rookie of the Year: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Carolina Panthers For Brady, McMillan was a clear choice to win the LFG Offensive Rookie of the Year. “I didn’t cover a lot of Carolina games, but what I saw from him was a dynamic ability to get open, catch the ball down the field, explosive plays and ball possession plays,” Brady said. “He really rose to the occasion. There were some questions coming out of the draft. But I think he showed to everyone what he’s all about with a monster year.” McMillan led all rookies in receiving yards (1,014) and receiving touchdowns (seven) as he ranked in the top-15 in the league in both categories. That helped the Panthers become one of the NFL’s surprise teams this season and win the NFC South But there is another offensive rookie Brady wanted to tip his cap to. “I covered a lot of Bears games and watched this offense perform, and Kyle Monangai as a seventh-round pick, I kept saying sixth-round pick on the air … he ran so hard, so forceful and determined,” Brady said. “He was like a dynamo back there. Every time Caleb [Williams] handed the ball off to him, he was running through people’s facemasks. I love that style of play. You had a tremendous year, Kyle.” Monangai ran for 783 yards on 4.6 yards per carry and five touchdowns, helping the Bears win the NFC North behind one of the league’s top rushing attacks. LFG Defensive Rookie of the Year: Nick Emmanwori, S, Seattle Seahawks Brady didn’t call any Seahawks games until the playoffs, but Emmanwori left such a strong impression on him that he felt he had no choice but to name the safety his LFG Defensive Player of the Year. “There’s some great competition out there, but the guy that I’ve covered the last two weeks on Seattle’s defense, who does it all. He’s kind of a joker out there. They play him as basically a nickel defender and they leave him out there: Nick Emmanwori, what an animal this guy is,” Brady said. “He’s big. He’s fast. He’s physical. He made some game-changing plays last Sunday in the championship game — covering people, knocking balls away, pass defense, tackles in the run game, aggressive in his run fits. This guy has a very bright future.” Emmanwori was 10th in tackles among rookies (81 combined tackles) to go with 2.5 sacks. While Emmanwori has had a strong postseason, his Week 14 performance against the Atlanta Falcons was one for the ages. He had two tackles for loss, a sack, a blocked field goal and an interception in that game, showing his all-around ability. LFG Coaches of the Year: Ben Johnson (Chicago Bears), Mike Vrabel (New England Patriots), Mike Macdonald (Seattle Seahawks), Liam Coen (Jacksonville Jaguars) Coach of the Year seems to be the most hotly contested of the major awards this season, and Brady views it the same way. He picked four coaches as his LFG Coach of the Year. “Ben Johnson in Chicago, [what] a ridiculous year. How he taught Caleb [Williams] the offense he wanted to run, play to the skill sets of the guys was insane,” Brady said of the Bears head coach’s first season in Chicago, leading his team to an 11-6 record and an NFC North title. Brady also shouted out Macdonald and Coen, who led their respective teams to division titles as well. “We also have Mike Macdonald in Seattle, who’s done the most unbelievable job with that defense, suffocating opponents week-in, week-out,” Brady said. “Seventeen points [allowed] per game, that’s absolutely absurd. And the respect your players have for you. “Liam Coen, one year as a coordinator in Tampa, moves onto to Jacksonville and has an incredible season with Trevor Lawrence in that offense. So many great, young coaches in this league.” The Seahawks didn’t have as dramatic a turnaround as the Jaguars this year, but as Brady said, they were one of the league’s most dominant teams in 2025. The Seahawks went 14-3 in the regular season, with Macdonald’s defensive mind helping their defense lead the league in scoring. Offensively, Macdonald’s decision to hire Klint Kubiak as offensive coordinator paid major dividends as Sam Darnold had another strong year to help the Seahawks reach the Super Bowl. Finally, Brady also recognized Vrabel as one of his four recipients for LFG Coach of the Year as he’s helped the Patriots go from back-to-back 4-13 seasons to playing in the Super Bowl. “Vrabes, you’re like my brother,” Brady said. “I love ya, I’m so proud of ya. Even though you went to Ohio State, your caliber of decision-making was questionable back then, you’ve become a great teammate of mine and a Super Bowl champion. Not to mention a great goal line, and I’m just going to mention a goal line, wide receiver. You didn’t do anything outside of the 1-yard line. So, you’re not that good as a wide receiver, but you’re a hell of a coach.” And Brady has a message for the coaches he didn’t honor for LFG Coach of the Year. “All you coaches, get your asses back to work,” Brady said. “The season’s over, and the 2026 sesaon’s underway.” LFG 6th Round Pick of the Year: Quentin Lake, S, Los Angeles Rams Brady had a couple of names in mind to receive his LFG Sixth Round Pick of the Year honor. “[Lake] had a great year in the secondary, played nickel, safety, covered guys, zone coverage, man coverage, blitzing and they really missed him when he was out, that Rams defense,” Brady said. “When he was out, their points per game went way up. When he’s in, he’s the X-factor in that secondary. “One other guy, just as an honorable mention, Josh Metellus in Brian Flores’ defense. Same type of thing, versatile, does a lot of things, pressures, covers, picks, sacks, tackles and they do it all. So, don’t sleep on these sixth-rounders. They’re diamonds in the rough.” Lake, a sixth-round pick in the 2022 draft, had 61 total tackles, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and an interception in 10 games. He was also Pro Football Focus’ 13th-highest graded safety in 2025. As for Metellus, he had 86 total tackles and two interceptions, following in Brady’s footsteps as a productive sixth-round pick from Michigan. Of all the awards, this might be Brady’s favorite. “This just speaks to my heart, just thinking about these guys that are drafted late and are passed over all these times by these genius scouts and personnel executives that think they have all the answers all the time,” Brady said. “Sometimes, they just slipped through the cracks into the sixth-round.” LFG Call of the Year: Kevin Burkhardt’s call of Caleb Williams’ game-winning touchdown pass to DJ Moore in Bears’ Week 16 win vs. Packers Brady was initially asked to give his LFG Game of the Year, but when he reminisced on which game to pick, he instantly changed the award to LFG Call of the Year. “I’m changing this, it ain’t going to be LFG Game of the Year. It’s going to be the LFG Call of the Year, and that goes to my boy Kevin Burkhardt with that game in Week 16, Packers at Bears,” Brady said. “Bears get an onside kick, they score late, game goes to overtime, Caleb Williams drops an absolute dime, probably 60, 65 yards in the air with frigid temperatures in huge winds drops a dime to DJ Moore. My boy, Kevin Burkhardt, was on the call, and you know what? I’m not even going to describe it. Play the tape!” You’ve got it, Tom. Here’s Burkhardt’s call of the Bears’ game-winning touchdown from their Week 16 win over the Packers: “My boy KB with the call of the year,” Brady said. “I get goosebumps just thinking about it.” LFG Best Value Player of the Year: Nahshon Wright, CB, Chicago Bears The teams in the league are also the ones that can find productive talent at a cheap cost. The Bears did that this offseason when they signed Wright to a one-year, $1.1 million contract. “He had a tremendous season. He was an absolute turnover machine,” Brady said of Wright. “The Bears, they didn’t do a great job between the 20s. The ball was moved a lot. But when it came to turning the ball over, they were better than every team in the league and he was a huge reason why. He was intercepting passes, strip sacks, fumbles, fumble recoveries … what I saw with my eyes is that best value player in the year. “Congratulations, you’ve earned yourself quite a contract in the future. And shoutout Nashon Wright’s agent, you’re going to do pretty well, too.” Wright had a league-leading eight takeaways in 2025, logging five interceptions. He was also named a Pro Bowler as a result of his play, helping him out before he becomes a free agent again.

It’s called The Great American Race for a reason. The Daytona 500 (Feb. 15 on FOX) has provided many memorable moments — everything from fighting to dancing when drivers exited the car, and everything from dramatic contact to dramatic finishes. So let’s count down my top 20 Daytona 500 memorable moments. You might not consider some of these to be great, but they sure are memorable. No. 20: 2016 Daytona 500 After Matt Kenseth’s block attempt went awry thanks to the fast run from behind, Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr. went side-by-side to the finish line with Hamlin winning by 0.01 seconds — the closest margin in race history. It was the first of what is now three Daytona 500 wins for Hamlin, but also will be remembered as a battle between Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Hamlin and Kenseth at the end. Hamlin pulled a couple of moves on Kenseth, and they made slight contact as Kenseth appeared to attempt to side-draft him after he pulled underneath him, a move that followed an attempt to pass Kenseth up against the wall. 19. 2018 Daytona 500 Austin Dillon would not be denied when he tried to pass Aric Almirola on the final lap. Almirola blocked him once to the outside and then again on the inside before Dillon made another move to the outside. Almirola ended up in the wall while Dillon sped to the victory. Dillon’s win put the iconic No. 3 back in Daytona 500 victory lane and Dillon followed the win with a burnout celebration making No. 3s in the Daytona grass. 18: 1988 Daytona 500 Father-and-son. Bobby Allison wins, while his son, Davey, tries to make a move to the bottom on the final lap but to no avail and finishes second. Davey Allison visited Victory Lane and celebrated a little with his father. Davey said: “When I was a little kid, I always dreamed of racing with my dad and having a 1-2 finish, but I wanted him to be second.” For Allison fans, this was the best. No. 17: 1989 Daytona 500 Darrell Waltrip leads the final four laps and earns his first Daytona 500 victory. It was one of the most memorable Victory Lane celebrations. Waltrip was in tears — tears of joy. And then he danced, doing his version of the “Ickey Shuffle,” a move made popular by football player Ickey Woods during his touchdown celebrations. When you talk about the thrill of victory, this is what you’re talking about. No. 16: 2011 Daytona 500 This race was during the “tandem” era of drafting, and Jeff Gordon found himself helping a young driver, Trevor Bayne. And lo and behold, Bayne took all the help and found himself in the lead late in the race. The 20-year-old driver, in just his second career Cup start, held off Carl Edwards for the win — the first Daytona 500 victory for the legendary Wood Brothers Racing since 1976. No. 15: 1993 Daytona 500 Dale Jarrett wins. What made this more memorable was his father, Ned, calling him to the finish line as one of the TV analysts. And while many remember it for the sound of Jarrett’s voice, it was also a big moment for Joe Gibbs Racing. It was the first win for JGR after it went winless in its inaugural season. Check back daily for the next memorable moment in the countdown.