Sports category, Page 133
2025 in Pittsburgh college sports: Penn State football tries to recover from implosion
The 2025 year in local college sports featured a blend of results on the scoreboard on top of major administrative maneuvering, as athletic directors adjusted to a new revenue-sharing ecosystem. Pitt football, behind a surprise change at quarterback, looks like a team potentially ready to be a legitimate contender in...
Father of NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin dies after house fire, mother critically injured
RALEIGH, N.C. — The father of NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin died and his mother was critically injured after a weekend fire heavily damaged the North Carolina home where they lived, officials said Monday. Firefighters arrived Sunday night at a two-story home near Stanley that was mostly engulfed in fire, with...
Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald lead Pro Football Hall of Fame modern era finalists; former Steelers WR Hines Ward falls short
Quarterback Drew Brees and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald headlined a group of four modern era finalists in their first year of eligibility for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Tight end Jason Witten and running back Frank Gore were the two other first-year eligible players who were also announced Tuesday...
Penn State’s Dani Dennis-Sutton refused to opt out of the Pinstripe Bowl and delivered a master class
NEW YORK — Dani Dennis-Sutton walked into the Yankee Stadium media room holding the Pinstripe Bowl trophy. Penn State’s star defensive end placed the hardware on the table in front of Terry Smith, patted his interim head coach on the back and sat down next to him. A few weeks...
Rested or rusty? Top 4 playoff seeds eager to show they are ready as CFP quarterfinals arrive
No. 1 Indiana spent several December weeks reveling in the luster of the best season in school history. They sung the school’s fight song in the confetti celebration following their first Big Ten championship since 1967 and first outright title since 1945. They were featured on “60 Minutes.” They signed...
First Call: Steelers refute Myles Garrett’s postgame claim; John Harbaugh says ‘If Lamar’s ready to go, he’s playing’Video
As the Baltimore Ravens prepare for their game in Pittsburgh on Sunday, head coach John Harbaugh expresses different levels of confidence in quarterback Lamar Jackson. The Pittsburgh Steelers are refuting Myles Garrett’s assessment of their game plan in Cleveland over the weekend. One Browns player says Aaron Rodgers was hot...
Penguins 2025 in review: Trades, milestones, new ownership among year’s headlines
The year 2025 presented ample change for the Penguins on so many fronts, forcing them to move on from a proud past and further into an uncertain future. That was represented in a most doleful fashion Feb. 19 when iconic play-by-play broadcaster Mike Lange — perhaps the most beloved member...
Tim Benz: DK Metcalf’s absence can’t be a preemptive excuse for another Steelers slide
There is no excuse for what Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf did in Detroit to get himself suspended for two games. A player can’t make his way over to the crowd, engage with a fan and make forceful contact with a paying customer. It doesn’t matter what the person...
Steelers 2025 in review: 4-time MVP Aaron Rodgers’ arrival defines season — but results appear similar
Great hope remained for the 2024 Steelers as the calendar flipped to 2025. A playoff berth long clinched after a 10-3 start, hopes for a division title endured into the regular season’s final weekend. Instead, the Steelers dropped their Jan. 4 finale to Cincinnati, and a week later they fell...
Pirates 2025 in review: Season ranged from fan frustrations and off-the-field fiascos to Cy Young triumph
To suggest the Pittsburgh Pirates started the 2025 season on the wrong foot is putting it mildly. This one appeared doomed long before they ever played a game at PNC Park. Fans furious over the franchise’s failure to pump up one of the lowest payrolls in the major leagues bought...
Falcons’ Bijan Robinson runs wild, sending Rams sliding into 3rd place
ATLANTA — A Los Angeles Rams team that spent most of the season competing for the best record in the NFL now is third in its division, saddled with a two-game losing streak and bound to open the playoffs on the road. “This is a humbling league, and we got...
Westmoreland County campus clips: Latrobe grad Alex Tatsch looks toward future at Penn State
Freshman linebacker Alex Tatsch did not play in the Pinstripe Bowl for Penn State because of an injury. The question now is, will the former Latrobe standout play for the Nittany Lions next season? The answer appears to be yes. With the coaching change — James Franklin out, Matt Campbell...
Marcus Freeman will return to Notre Dame after having his contract restructured, school confirms
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Notre Dame has restructured coach Marcus Freeman’s contract, and he will coach the Fighting Irish next season, the school confirmed Monday. SI.com first reported Freeman’s new contract and that he notified two NFL teams that had contacted him about jobs that he would stay at Notre...
Robert Morris comes out on short end of close game vs. Northern Kentucky
Another Robert Morris basketball game. Another close outcome. After winning its two most recent games decided by five points or fewer during a span of four days, RMU wasn’t so lucky Monday night against Northern Kentucky. Donovan Oday scored 16 points, including two free throws with 11.1 seconds left, and...
Former Pirates pitcher Andrew Heaney retiring after 12 major-league seasons
Pitcher Andrew Heaney says he is retiring after 12 major-league seasons. “I am now ready to return my focus and energy to being a husband, father, family man and active member of my community,” he wrote Sunday on social media. “I’m retiring from baseball, but I hope to give back...
Penn State hires Southern Cal assistant D’Anton Lynn as defensive coordinator
LOS ANGELES — Last January, D’Anton Lynn was given the chance to trade in his defensive coordinator job with the Trojans to lead the defense at his alma mater, Penn State. But Lynn turned Penn State down, and USC, in turn, gave its rising star coach a significant raise. Now,...
Defending national champ Ohio State will try to fend off CFP 1st-timer Miami in Cotton BowlVideo
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Cotton Bowl has certainly gotten much more significant for Ohio State during three trips in a row to the game. This time, the second-seeded Buckeyes (12-1) are defending national champions as they get ready to play College Football Playoff first-timer Miami (11-2, CFP No. 10 seed)...
Analysis: After beating Steelers, Stefanski and Browns are on to Cincinnati as his future remains uncertain
Kevin Stefanski’s thoughts are on to Cincinnati and not on what might happen after the Cleveland Browns’ season finale. Stefanski’s future continues to be one of the central topics in the midst of another disappointing season. However, the Browns haven’t looked like a team that is playing out the rest...
Bengals defense takes another step with strong performance versus Arizona
CINCINNATI — Facing the seventh-ranked passing game in the NFL, the Cincinnati Bengals’ maligned defense turned in its best performance of the season in Sunday’s 37-14 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. The Bengals emptied their bench in the fourth quarter with a 30-point lead, and Arizona was able to move...
Georgia Southern beats Appalachian State 29-10, wins Birmingham Bowl
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — OJ Arnold had 152 yards rushing on 11 carries, Terrance Gibbs and Weston Bryant each had a rushing touchdown and Georgia Southern beat Appalachian State, 29-10, on Monday in the Birmingham Bowl. Georgia Southern (7-6) has made a bowl appearance in four consecutive seasons — all under...
John Harbaugh hopes Jackson can return after Tyler Huntley’s big win: ‘If Lamar’s ready to go, he’s playing’
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — John Harbaugh said he had some coaches and players over to watch the Steelers-Browns game that could have eliminated his Baltimore Ravens from the playoffs. When the Browns won, saving Baltimore’s season for now, the reaction was what you’d expect. “It was uncorked, man. It was...
Report: Pitt receiver Kenny Johnson plans to enter transfer portal
The Pitt football team will have to plan for life without its top two wide receivers next season. Leading pass catcher Poppi Williams exhausted his eligibility and second-leading receiver Kenny Johnson plans to enter the transfer portal, according a report from CBS Sports. Pitt standout wide receiver and return specialist...
Arturs Silovs makes his case to be the Penguins’ top goaltender
There really isn’t anything tangible that would validate any postulate suggesting rookie Arturs Silovs is the Pittsburgh Penguins’ best goaltender. Veteran Stuart Skinner as well as prospects Joel Blomqvist and Sergei Murashov — each stationed with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League at the moment — might have something to...
Steelers notes: Nick Herbig still upset over missed INT, wants to get win for T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward
Returning from a one-game absence because of a hamstring injury, outside linebacker Nick Herbig went largely unnoticed in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 13-6 loss Sunday to the Cleveland Browns. Except, of course, for one play. Herbig, making his sixth start of the season, couldn’t wrap his hands around a ball that...
Playoffs arrive early for Steelers with must-win game against Ravens in season finale
As disappointing as the 13-6 loss was Sunday to the Cleveland Browns, it could be worse for the Pittsburgh Steelers this weekend. They could be the Browns, hanging their hat on a win that gave them all of four on the season. Or they could be the Cincinnati Bengals, who...
