16+ min ago (356+ words) Thomas M'ller knows exactly what it is like to face Lionel Messi with a trophy at stake. And he knows what it takes to win in those moments, too. The 2025 MLS Cup final -- Messi and Inter Miami vs. M'ller and the Vancouver Whitecaps -- is going to draw few comparisons from a personnel standpoint to the 2014 World Cup final and 2010 World Cup quarterfinal matches between Argentina and Germany. Germany, with M'ller, won both times. Messi played in those matches for Argentina, as did Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano. They'll all meet again on Saturday in Fort Lauderdale, with M'ller surely knowing that facing Messi doesn't automatically mean a loss. "It's not about Messi against Thomas M'ller," he told reporters after Vancouver's 3-1 win over San Diego in the Western Conference final on Saturday night. "It's Miami against the Whitecaps." Then he added,…...

20+ min ago (705+ words) EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- New York Jets wide receiver Adonai Mitchell scored his first NFL touchdown Sunday, two months after he turned what should've been his first touchdown into an NFL blooper. Playing for the Indianapolis Colts, Mitchell was about to score a 75-yard touchdown in Week 4, but he let the ball go a split-second before crossing the goal line. It resulted in a touchback, a clumsy gaffe that loomed large in the Colts' seven-point loss to the Los Angeles Rams. This time, he enjoyed a moment of redemption with his 52-yard touchdown reception, one of the key plays in the Jets' 27-24 victory over the Atlanta Falcons at MetLife Stadium. "Yeah, that definitely crosses the mind," Mitchell said, reflecting on his earlier faux pas. "But it was a growing point and a learning point, so all I could do was grow and…...

36+ min ago (288+ words) Sauce Gardner is injured on the Colts' first defensive drive and exits the game. (0:24) INDIANAPOLIS -- Colts cornerback Sauce Gardner sustained a left calf injury early in Sunday's game against the Houston Texans and was ruled out for the remainder of his team's 20-16 loss. After the game, Gardner said he believed the injury was not an Achilles tear, as was feared. "I think it's like a strain," he said. He added that it "felt like I got shot in the calf. But it was higher" than the Achilles. But Gardner said an MRI would be required to make an official diagnosis. After the game, Gardner had been supplied with crutches by the medical staff, but he was walking without any assistance and without a walking boot after showering and dressing into his street clothes. Gardner was in coverage away from the…...

1+ hour, 10+ min ago (167+ words) Week 13 of the 2025 fantasy football season featured standout performances by Bijan Robinson, A.J. Brown and Patrick Mahomes, while fantasy stars Lamar Jackson, Jahmyr Gibbs, Saquon Barkley and Puka Nacua all were held in check. Who were the big winners and losers around the league? Matt Bowen and Tristan H. Cockcroft offer their analyses. Jump to a topic: Ranking winners | Ranking losers Biggest injuries and what's next What we know: He suffered a hip injury on a punt return in the second quarter and was unable to return after that point. What's next: Jakobi Meyers was Trevor Lawrence's go-to receiver in Week 13, and he'll probably serve in the same role next week, regardless of Washington's status. As Washington is typically the Jaguars' slot receiver, Austin Trammell, who went catch-less on four targets Sunday, would most benefit from any further Washington absences. -- Cockcroft Eric…...

1+ hour, 14+ min ago (1847+ words) Paul Finebaum says Alabama will prevail in the SEC title game, securing its second win over Georgia this season. (0:36) OK, so it wasn't the most ridiculous Rivalry Week we've ever seen. Thirteen of the top 14 teams in the College Football Playoff rankings won, and the one that didn't (Texas A&M) was already guaranteed a CFP spot. Chalk has reigned over the past couple of weeks, but as with pizza among other things, Rivalry Week is great even when it's not great. We still got a dramatic Iron Bowl, we still got one last silly plot twist in the ACC title race (the silliest yet, perhaps), we still got all the intense environments we could possibly want -- plus some snow! -- and we still got an all-time comeback in the smaller-school ranks. (We also got whatever continued to go down in Oxford,…...

1+ hour, 18+ min ago (484+ words) CLEVELAND -- Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders will get a third straight start next Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, head coach Kevin Stefanski announced after the team's 26-8 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Sanders, the 144th overall pick in this year's draft, completed 16 of 25 passes for 149 yards and one touchdown in his first home start Sunday. "I'd have to look at it. Obviously, he's battling, like all of our guys are battling," Stefanski said when asked about Sanders' performance. "I know there's plays he wants back, but we'll look at it and correct them." ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Saturday that the Browns were open to giving Sanders an extended look for the rest of this season, just as fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel got in the first half of this season when he made six consecutive starts. Stefanski was noncommittal when asked if Sanders…...

1+ hour, 25+ min ago (184+ words) Live coverage of the Buffalo Bills vs. Pittsburgh Steelers NFL game on ESPN, including live score, highlights and updated stats. Buffalo Bills @ Pittsburgh Steelers Side Judge:Lo van Pham (Shotgun) S.Anderson reported in as eligible. A.Rodgers sacked at PIT 17 for -9 yards (J.Bosa). FUMBLES (J.Bosa) [J.Bosa], RECOVERED by BUF-C.Benford at PIT 17. C.Benford for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN. According to ESPN Analytics Browns say Shedeur Sanders to get 3rd straight start in Week 14 Resilient 49ers ready for bye after winning three straight Panthers' petty posts at Rams lead NFL Week 13 trolls Buffalo Bills @ Pittsburgh Steelers Side Judge:Lo van Pham (Shotgun) S.Anderson reported in as eligible. A.Rodgers sacked at PIT 17 for -9 yards (J.Bosa). FUMBLES (J.Bosa) [J.Bosa], RECOVERED by BUF-C.Benford at PIT 17. C.Benford for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN. According to ESPN Analytics Browns say Shedeur Sanders to get 3rd straight start in Week 14 Resilient 49ers ready for bye after…...

1+ hour, 39+ min ago (171+ words) Coastal Carolina has fired coach Tim Beck after three seasons. Beck went 20-18 at Coastal Carolina, which lost 59-10 on Saturday to James Madison, ending the regular season at 6-6 and on a three-game losing streak. The Chanticleers went 8-5 in Beck's first season in 2023 before backsliding to 6-7 last fall. He twice went 5-3 in Sun Belt play. The 59-year-old Beck came to Coastal from NC State, where he served as offensive coordinator from 2020 to 2022. Beck also held coordinator roles at Texas, Ohio State and Nebraska, and had been a Texas high school coach earlier in his career. Coastal Carolina athletic director Chance Miller did not hire Beck and took over his role last year after serving as deputy athletic director at South Carolina. "After a comprehensive review of our entire football program and its trajectory, I've determined a change is needed moving forward," Miller…...

1+ hour, 57+ min ago (161+ words) The 2025 title fight will go down to the final round in Abu Dhabi after Max Verstappen won the Qatar Grand Prix while championship leader Lando Norris finished fourth. Max Verstappen overtakes Lando Norris to take second place on the opening lap of the Qatar Grand Prix. (1:17) The 2025 title fight will go down to the final round in Abu Dhabi after Max Verstappen won the Qatar Grand Prix while championship leader Lando Norris finished fourth. Verstappen is now Norris' closest competitor heading into next weekend's season finale as Norris' McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri slipped to third place in the standings with a second-place finish in Qatar. Verstappen is just 12 points behind Norris in the standings with a maximum of 25 points available at the final round, with Piastri 16 points adrift after his McLaren team appeared to throw away his shot at victory…...

1+ hour, 57+ min ago (456+ words) North Carolina Tar Heels vs. NC State Wolfpack: Full Highlights (1:00) RALEIGH, N.C. -- NC State coach Dave Doeren is returning for a 14th season with the Wolfpack. Athletic director Boo Corrigan confirmed Doeren's return on Sunday. The previous night, Doeren's Wolfpack (7-5) beat rival North Carolina for the fifth straight year, and the program is headed to a bowl game for the 11th time in Doeren's 13 seasons. Doeren had been emphatic in public comments about his plans to return next season, including in shutting down rumors earlier this month that he might retire after the season. He did so again Sunday. Doeren, who turns 54 on signing day, has posted a 94-70 record with the Wolfpack and became the program's all-time winningest coach with a 2023 victory over Miami. That includes the Wolfpack reaching nine wins four times to flirt with becoming only the second 10-win team in…...