Sports category, Page 372
Notre Dame jumps to 3rd in AP Top 25 women’s poll after win over UConn; UCLA, South Carolina 1-2
Notre Dame jumped to No. 3 in The Associated Press Top 25 on Monday after beating rival UConn last week. The Irish climbed five spots after the 79-68 victory over the Huskies, who fell two places to fourth. Notre Dame’s victory over UConn gave the Irish three wins over top...
No. 2 Auburn closes the gap on No. 1 Tennessee as the SEC holds 5 of top 7 spots in AP Top 25
Tennessee held onto No. 1 in the AP Top 25 for the second consecutive week, though No. 2 Auburn closed the gap as the top five remained unchanged in the men’s college basketball poll Monday. The Volunteers received 50 first-place votes from the national media panel after wins over Miami...
AP All-America team: Travis Hunter, Xavier Watts back on first team; Ashton Jeanty is unanimous pick
Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter of Colorado was a first-team selection at two spots and a second-team pick at another on The Associated Press All-America team announced Monday. Hunter and Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts were repeat first-team selections, and Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty was the only unanimous pick after...
Pitt All-American running back Desmond Reid says he’ll return for 2025 season
On the day he was named an Associated Press All-American, running back Desmond Reid announced Monday via Instagram and X that he is returning to Pitt for the 2025 season. Let’s run it???? pic.twitter.com/ppfrGEGw5Z— Desmond Reid (@fastboidez) December 16, 2024 The news was not unexpected but qualifies as a significant...
Mark Madden: Steelers’ humbling loss to Eagles revealed certain truths
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ 27-13 loss Sunday at Philadelphia seemed a declaration that they are a tier below the host Eagles and, indeed, several other top-echelon NFL teams. The Steelers might have stolen a victory had Najee Harris not fumbled away a potential game-tying drive in the third quarter with the...
Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson ‘week to week’ because of injury
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson will be sidelined on a “week-to-week” basis because of an undisclosed injury. Coach Mike Sullivan announced Pettersson’s status after practice Monday in Cranberry. Pettersson was injured during a 3-2 overtime road loss to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. He did not record a shift beyond...
Pitt lands 2 players on AP All-America team
For the second time in three seasons, Pitt has placed two players on the Associated Press All-America team. Sophomore linebacker Kyle Louis and junior all-purpose back Desmond Reid were second-team selections at their positions on the team that was revealed Monday. Louis and Reid previously were named All-Americans by The...
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin leaving ‘door ajar’ for injured starters, including T.J. Watt, to play vs. Ravens
Three starters didn’t dress Sunday, and the Pittsburgh Steelers lost two others, plus their backup quarterback, to injury in a 27-13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Coach Mike Tomlin said Monday he is leaving the “door ajar” for all six to suit up when the Steelers complete a short turnaround...
Penn State QB Drew Allar expected to return next season
Drew Allar is expected to come back to Penn State for the 2025 season. Allar, Penn State’s starting quarterback, has informed James Franklin and the coaching staff of his intention to return for his senior season in 2025, according to a Monday morning report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel. The news...
Preparation, teamwork have Seton Hill women’s basketball team perfect after 10 games
For her second season as the Seton Hill women’s basketball coach, Maeve Gallagher wanted to increase the degree of difficulty in the Griffins’ nonconference schedule. The goal, of course, was to prepare them for the rigors of the PSAC West. So Gallagher loaded up the front of the schedule, opening...
St. Joseph grad Julie Spinelli immediately steps into starting lineup for Frostburg State women’s basketball team
Just before her team faced Towson in an exhibition game, Frostburg State women’s basketball coach Jenna Eckleberry noticed freshman Julie Spinelli looked a little antsy. And Spinelli hadn’t even received the news that she was going to be in the starting lineup. Having some butterflies isn’t unusual for a freshman....
Penn State volleyball advances to final four after beating Creighton in 5 sets
The Penn State women’s volleyball team advanced to the national semifinal for the 14th time in program history after defeating second-seeded Creighton, 3-2, on Sunday night at Rec Hall in University Park. The Nittany Lions reached the NCAA final four for the first time since 2017 with the 25-15, 16-25,...
Notre Dame gives coach Marcus Freeman contract extension as playoff week begins
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Marcus Freeman opened his first playoff week as a head coach by holding a team meeting and fielding questions from reporters. A few hours later, Notre Dame made sure Freeman wasn’t going anywhere. Freeman has agreed to a long-term contract extension, making him one of the...
WVU to play No. 25 Memphis in Frisco Bowl before re-hired Rich Rodriguez returns to sideline
FRISCO, Texas — West Virginia’s first game after hiring Rich Rodriguez as head coach again will be in a bowl — just like it was the first time 24 years ago. But Rodriguez won’t coach the Mountaineers (6-6) in the Frisco Bowl on Tuesday night against 25th-ranked Memphis (10-2). Offensive...
5 things we learned: Steelers’ offense has historically bad showing in loss to Eagles
Five things we learned from Eagles 27, Steelers 13: 1. Historic horror story The Steelers entered the game leading the NFL in time of possession but ended having their offense on the field about as long as the average hockey shift. How bad was it? The Steelers had the ball...
Penn State beats Marquette for women’s volleyball berth in regional final
STATE COLLEGE — Camryn Hannah hit .476 with 24 kills to lead the Penn State women’s volleyball team to a 3-1 (25-15, 25-21, 24-26, 25-20) win over Marquette in an NCAA regional semifinal Friday afternoon inside Rec Hall. The Nittany Lions improved to 32-2 overall while advancing to the NCAA...
First Call: Steelers early underdogs in Baltimore; Patrick Mahomes injures ankle
In Monday’s “First Call,” the Pittsburgh Steelers are already underdogs for Saturday’s game in Baltimore. The Chiefs are monitoring Patrick Mahomes’ injured ankle before their Saturday date with Houston. A pair of former Steelers found the end zone in wins for their teams. Mason Rudolph saw some action for Tennessee....
Steelers vs. Eagles: What they’re saying in Philadelphia after win
As is becoming tradition, the Pittsburgh Steelers left Philadelphia without a win Sunday. For nearly six decades now, the Eagles (12-2) have been beating the Black and Gold (10-4) on their home turf. Sunday’s matchup kept with the status quo, with Philadelphia coming out on top at Lincoln Financial Field...
Madden Monday: On loss to Philly — ‘I never felt the Steelers were in danger of winning that game’
If you are looking for positives, the Pittsburgh Steelers can take from Sunday’s 27-13 loss to the Eagles, good luck. Those are going to be tough to unearth, seeing as how the team held onto the ball for only about 20 minutes, had just one touchdown drive, and could only...
‘The refs let them push off’ — Joey Porter Jr., Steelers secondary allow big day from Eagles WRs
PHILADELPHIA — In the eyes of cornerback Joey Porter Jr., the Pittsburgh Steelers secondary had to deal not only with the Philadelphia Eagles’ dynamic duo of wide receivers but with another group that made the task of limiting them all the more daunting. “I mean, the refs let them push...
Penn State backup QB Beau Pribula announces intentions to enter transfer portalVideo
Penn State is set to lose one of its most impactful players from the 2024 roster. Backup quarterback Beau Pribula, a redshirt sophomore, plans to enter the transfer portal, he announced on social media. With the timing of the news, Pribula will not be with the team for Penn State’s...
Steelers’ Donte Jackson, Justin Fields leave game with injuries; Eagles’ Saquon Barkley OK
PHILADELPHIA — Pittsburgh Steelers starting cornerback Donte Jackson and change-of-pace quarterback Justin Fields left Sunday’s game at the Philadelphia Eagles because of injury and did not return. After the game, coach Mike Tomlin did not provide much in regards to the status of Jackson or Fields for Saturday’s AFC North...
Airing of Grievances: Tackling woes, failed conversion downs sink Steelers’ latest attempt to win in Philadelphia
With the Pittsburgh Steelers failing to win in Philadelphia since 1965, let’s not be surprised by the club dropping another contest there again Sunday, 27-13. Very few people, including myself, expected them to even cover the 5½-point spread against the (now) 12-2 Eagles. But, at 10-3 entering the game, there...
Even in defeat, Steelers clinch 4th playoff berth over past 5 seasons
PHILADELPHIA — The Pittsburgh Steelers lost the battle Sunday, but they won the season-long war that involves qualifying for the playoffs. Despite a 27-13 defeat against the Philadelphia Eagles that dropped them to 10-4, the Steelers qualified for the postseason by way of losses by the Miami Dolphins and Indianapolis...
Steelers star T.J. Watt leaves with ankle injury, X-rays negative
PHILADELPHIA — Pittsburgh Steelers star edge defender T.J. Watt left Sunday’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles during the fourth quarter because of an ankle injury. Watt, who eventually walked off under his own power, downplayed the injury after the game. “Ankle rolled,” Watt said, adding that X-rays were negative. Watt...
