Role reversals: Alabama returns to the Rose Bowl as a CFP underdog to face powerhouse Indiana
LOS ANGELES — Nick Saban coached his final game for Alabama just two years ago in the Rose Bowl. Although the sport didn’t know it at the time, an era ended for the 21st century’s most dominant program to date when Jalen Milroe got stopped on fourth down in overtime...
Louisiana Tech rallies to beat Coastal Carolina 23-14 in Independence Bowl
SHREVEPORT, La. — Trey Kukuk followed his fourth-quarter touchdown pass with a big run to set up Andrew Burnette’s go-ahead plunge in a 17-point fourth quarter, and Louisiana Tech rallied to beat Coastal Carolina, 23-14, on Tuesday to win the Independence Bowl. Louisiana Tech (8-5) trailed 14-6 heading to the...
Mike Tomlin not ready to think about Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers playing final NFL game
If he keeps his word and retires after the season, Aaron Rodgers will play in the final regular-season game of his 21-year career Sunday night when the Pittsburgh Steelers face the Baltimore Ravens at Acrisure Stadium. The Steelers must defeat the Ravens to win the AFC North and continue Rodgers’...
Mirror images Texas Tech, Oregon set to face off in Orange Bowl in CFP quarterfinals
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The formula for getting to this season’s Orange Bowl apparently went like this: Score a ton of points, allow very few points, have a big play on basically every possession, excel on third downs offensively, be stingy on third downs defensively. That was Texas Tech’s path....
Cowboys waive cornerback Trevon Diggs to end tumultuous finish to his Dallas career
FRISCO, Texas — The Cowboys waived cornerback Trevon Diggs on Tuesday, ending a tumultuous final season a game early in a Dallas career that never lived up to the promise of a 2021 All-Pro performance that included 11 interceptions. The move came five days before Dallas’ season finale Sunday at...
Patriots star receiver Stefon Diggs faces strangulation charges, denies allegations
BOSTON — New England Patriots star wide receiver Stefon Diggs is facing strangulation and other criminal charges in connection with an incident that happened earlier this month, police said. News of the charges emerged after a court hearing Tuesday in Dedham, Massachusetts. It is unclear what led to the charges,...
Penguins coaches, teammates excited by new forward Yegor Chinakhov
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson admitted to having a limited scouting report on his new teammate, forward Yegor Chinakhov, acquired in a trade Monday afternoon. By Tuesday morning, Karlsson was asked what he knew about the 24-year-old winger. “Not too much,” Karlsson said. “Obviously, read a little bit about it....
Riverhounds 2025 in review: Team made history with USL Championship title
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC added to the City of Champions legacy in 2025. For the first time in the club’s 26-year history, the Riverhounds were crowned league champions. Their shootout victory over Tulsa in front of 10,000 fans and a national television audience Nov. 22 sealed the USL Championship title. The...
Mike Tomlin optimistic about T.J. Watt’s return for Steelers against RavensVideo
With their season on the line, the Pittsburgh Steelers could get their former NFL Defensive Player of the Year back Sunday night for a winner-take-all game against the Baltimore Ravens. Coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that outside linebacker T.J. Watt could return from a three-game absence because of a partially...
New Penguins forward Yegor Chinakhov to be scratched against Hurricanes
Forward Yegor Chinakhov will not make his debut for the Pittsburgh Penguins in Tuesday’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes at PPG Paints Arena. Coach Dan Muse announced Chinakhov’s status following an optional morning skate in Cranberry. The Penguins acquired Chinakhov in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday...
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...
