On Sports: AHL, ECHL postseason runs of WBS Penguins, Wheeling Nailers continue
In Thursday’s installment of “On Sports,” pinch-hitting for “First Call,” we take a look at the latest postseason results by the Penguins’ affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the AHL and Wheeling Nailers in the ECHL. Plus, a look at the travel mileage that the Steelers will undertake for the 2026 campaign....
ACC formally backs Big Ten’s push for College Football Playoff to expand to 24 teams
AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. — The Atlantic Coast Conference is backing the Big Ten’s push for a 24-team playoff, commissioner Jim Phillips said Wednesday. Speaking at the end of three days of spring meetings in a posh resort in northeast Florida, Phillips said ACC coaches and athletic directors reached consensus on...
2027 Florida safety Saniiyn Black commits to Pitt
Pitt’s 2027 recruiting class reached seven Wednesday with the addition of Zephyrhills, Fla., safety Saniiyn Black, who announced his commitment on social media. Black, a 5-foot-11, 165-pound prospect, is rated as a three-star recruit by 247Sports. BLESSED AND HIGHLY FAVORED????????!¡ 1000% COMMITTED!!! #HAIL2PITT????????????????@_CoachCarroll_ @CoachDuzzPittFB @HarlonBarnett @damien_pickett @AthleteAsset @PascoCoSports @pascoschools @PantherLair...
After a court win and 1st spring practice as Ole Miss’ No. 1 QB, Chambliss is ready to recharge
OXFORD, Miss. — Mississippi quarterback Trinidad Chambliss is ready to “disappear” for a while. Having spent the previous eight months under college football’s media microscope, the sixth-year senior smiled when reporters asked about his summer plans once spring practice wrapped up. “I’m looking forward to it,” he said. For Chambliss,...
Pitt elevates Katie Kasprzak to new swimming and diving leadership position
Eight days after coach Chase Kreitler’s sudden resignation, Pitt revealed a new leadership model for the swimming and diving program that comes off one of the most successful campaigns in school history. Katie Kasprzak, Pitt’s diving coach since 2017, was announced Tuesday afternoon with the new title of director of...
College Baseball Notebook: NCAA urges coaches to not cancel games to protect position for tournament
The NCAA has issued what’s becoming an annual appeal to Division I baseball coaches to not cancel nonconference midweek games to protect their teams’ positioning for the national tournament. Scheduling hijinks allow teams to avoid no-win situations this time of year, so games against mid- or low-major opponents sometimes are...
First Call: Former Pitt QB defends Steelers rookie Drew Allar amid criticism of technique; an ex-Penguin scores in playoffs
Monday’s “First Call” has some background on the Drew Allar practice tape making the rounds from Pittsburgh Steelers rookie camp. A former Cleveland Brown is leaving the division to head west. And the Pittsburgh Penguins are celebrating a happy anniversary, while an ex-Penguin is making a playoff impact. Context matters...
Basketball gets more beer money, while tennis, other small college sports worry over future
Basketball got the beer money. Many smaller sports around the NCAA are still looking for a lifeline. The expansion of March Madness and the $300 million in extra revenue that comes with it through opening sponsorships to beer, wine and liquor companies offered a brief reprieve from the steady drip...
Pitt adds 10th transfer with former Syracuse, Georgia Tech big man Ibrahim Souare
The 10th spring transfer jumped aboard for Pitt Friday afternoon in Syracuse big man Ibrahim Souare, who announced his commitment on Instagram. His pledge came hours after the Panthers landed Division II Concord University (W.Va.) forward Kraig Gilbert. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ibrahim Khalil Akir...
Big Ten reports $1.47B in revenue for 2024-25, average $79.9M full-share payouts to member schools
ROSEMONT, Ill. — The Big Ten joined the Southeastern Conference in crossing the $1 billion mark in total revenue for the 2024-25 fiscal year, marking a significant uptick in payouts to its member schools. The league reported roughly $1.47 billion in total revenue in its federal tax filing for the...
Division II forward Kraig Gilbert becomes the latest transfer for Jeff Capel, Pitt
Pitt’s major roster retool had largely cooled off since mid-April, when the Panthers were busy restocking their ranks with a flurry of transfers. But on Friday, the reinforcements for Jeff Capel and Co. grew, as Division II (Concord University, W.Va.) forward Kraig Gilbert became the ninth player from the portal...
Tim Benz: Fans pushing back against expansion of NFL regular season, NCAA Tournament
The NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments are expanding to 76 teams. That news became official Thursday. The expansion is being positioned as a way to get more mid-majors into the field, when, primarily, the universities that will benefit the most by this move will still be the power conferences....
Ex-Ohio State players, including NFL veterans, to join sexual abuse lawsuit against the school
Thirty former Ohio State football players, including some former NFL players, have agreed to join a federal lawsuit against the university over the sexual abuse of student athletes decades ago by a team doctor, a lawyer in the case said Thursday. The lawyer, Rocky Ratliff, said in an interview that...
March Madness tournaments will expand to 76 teams each starting next season
The NCAA announced Thursday that it will expand its two March Madness tournaments by eight teams each next season, a long-expected move that will drop more games into the first week of the highly popular and lucrative showcase without substantially changing its overall form. The new, 76-team brackets will jam...
New Pitt assistants, program alums Ricardo Greer, Ronald Ramon aim to help Panthers get back on track
Ricardo Greer never played at Petersen Events Center. Ronald Ramon might hardly recognize from his days in a Pitt uniform, when the Panthers’ home court was among college basketball’s toughest venues for a visitor and constantly sold out. Greer (1997-2001) and Ramon (2004-08) are former Pitt standouts who were formally...
Duquesne football to play at Michigan State in 2027
The Duquesne football team has scheduled a trip to East Lansing to open the 2027 season, the university announced Thursday. The Dukes will play at Michigan State on Sept. 4, 2027, in their first matchup against a Big Ten opponent in the FBS-FCS era. Kickoff time has yet to be...
First Call: Ex-Pitt QB Nathan Peterman gets another NFL shot; Colts WR praises new Steeler Michael Pittman Jr.Video
Thursday’s “First Call” has evidence of how well-liked Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Michael Pittman Jr. was by his former Indianapolis teammates. An ex-Pitt Panther quarterback is getting another NFL chance. The Penguins’ AHL club is looking to advance in the Calder Cup playoffs. And Mitch Keller tries to stay hot in...
Pitt lands commitment from Texas tight end Ryker Reynolds
Pitt football coach Pat Narduzzi secured his sixth commitment in the Class of 2027 on Wednesday after Texas three-star tight end Ryker Reynolds announced his pledge on X. #H2P After talking with my family and @coachbrentdavis @CoachDuzzPittFB I have decided to commit to the University of Pittsburgh to continue my...
Penn State football team doctor dies at 68 after decades of serviceVideo
Dr. Wayne Sebastianelli, who served as the Penn State football team doctor for the better part of four decades, has passed away, Penn State University confirmed on Tuesday. Sebastianelli was best known for his time working with the late Joe Paterno. Sebastianelli was also Penn State’s team doctor for a...
Pitt swim coach Chase Kreitler resigns
Pitt announced Monday that Chase Kreitler resigned as head swimming and diving coach after four seasons. “When I met with our student-athletes this morning, I shared our continued desire to field a nationally competitive program, while supporting their holistic development as students and athletes,” Pitt athletic director Allen Greene said...
First Call: Steelers QB Drew Allar has a hot-selling jersey; new video of Dallas’ role in Makai Lemon draft saga
Monday’s “First Call” has unearthed footage related to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Round 1 NFL Draft drama. The NFL schedule release may be delayed. A Steelers rookie has a hot jersey on the market. And the Robert Morris lacrosse team is bound for the NCAA Tournament. Behind the scenes By now,...
Former 5-star Penn State OL has chance to turn heads as undrafted free agent
Five years ago, the Indianapolis Colts selected a Penn State offensive lineman with one of the last picks of the 2021 NFL Draft — and it worked out pretty well for them. The Colts took Penn State’s Will Fries with the No. 249 pick in the seventh round. Fries earned...
Duquesne’s new big man Ege Demir brings pro experience
With nearly all its bigs having departed, Duquesne has added a sizable presence to its 2026-27 men’s basketball roster with the addition of Oregon transfer Ege Demir, a 6-foot-11, 275-pound senior with professional playing experience in Turkey. The Nigerian-born Demir, who Saturday posted his decision on his Instagram page, averaged...
NCAA bans 2 former Fordham basketball players for their roles in point-shaving scheme
Two former Fordham basketball players were permanently banned by the NCAA on Tuesday for their roles in a point-shaving scheme that was the subject of a sprawling federal indictment unsealed in January. According to the NCAA’s Division I Committee on Infractions, Elijah Gray and Will Richardson each agreed with a...
More March Madness: NCAA basketball tournaments reportedly set to expand to 76 teams
Ever-growing power conferences are the driving force behind an impending expansion of the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, which ESPN reported could be formalized within weeks and begin next season. The field would grow from 68 teams to 76 that would include eight additional at-large teams in each tournament....
