The NFL proposes contingencies for replacement refs in hopes of avoiding another ‘Fail Mary’
The NFL is preparing for the possibility of replacement officials in the 2026 season, proposing a rule change for one season that would allow the replay center in New York to correct any “clear and obvious” mistakes by on-field officials in case of a work stoppage. The competition committee released...
WWE’s Jacob Fatu talks rapid rise and long journey ahead of Pittsburgh eventVideo
Jacob Fatu has been one of the fastest rising stars on WWE television. He debuted in summer of 2024, adding another member to WWE’s roster coming from the vast Samoan family tree that includes Roman Reigns, The Uso’s, The Rock and many more. Fatu wrestled around the world for independent...
Mark Madden: Is it still hating if it happens? Expect 77 wins for these Pirates
I’m often accused of hating the Pittsburgh Pirates. Not true. I’m just a beacon of harsh truth. The Pirates were my first big sports love. I have 41 sets of ticket stubs from the 1971 world championship season to prove it. That includes Game 4 of the World Series at...
Cup of Joe: Every game is Penguins’ biggest of the year now — starting in Ottawa
Cup of Joe: Starkey on sports in 400 words or less It gets real now. The Pittsburgh Penguins have survived all manner of adversity this season, including the prolonged absences of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin and a ridiculously brutal March schedule. That schedule — one of the toughest stretches...
‘It’s just too loud’: Penguins need to turn down the volume in their own endVideo
Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Muse wants to turn down the volume during Penguins games. Not the goal horn. Not the PA microphone. Not even the constant banging of Iceburgh’s “Let’s Go Pens” drum. Muse isn’t bothered by any of those things. It’s the constant buzzing of opposing players around the...
Paul Skenes leans into leadership as Opening Day starter wants to will the Pirates to win
Paul Skenes will be the first to admit that he wasn’t the leader of the Pittsburgh Pirates last season, instead taking a deferential disposition toward franchise icon Andrew McCutchen and other veteran players. Now that Skenes has asserted his dominance as a two-time All-Star starting pitcher, the reigning National League...
First Call: Mike Tomlin hires agents for potential TV work; Strong Steelers presence expected for Ohio State pro day
Mike Tomlin has hired representation for a future in television. The Steelers won’t get a look at a potential draft target at his pro day. A former Steelers coach is going to take on an important job in Las Vegas, and Omar Khan is making a crucial pro day stop....
Tim Benz: Some Pirates optimism is warranted but let’s not go overboardVideo
If there is a line of people ahead of me who are more cynical and jaded about the Pittsburgh Pirates, it’s a short one. Yet here I am — with Game 1 of the 2026 season approaching Thursday — predicting 81 wins. I’ve been hovering around that number for quite...
Penguins’ defensive struggles continue in loss to Avalanche
Sound defense has been a hallmark of the success the 2025-26 Pittsburgh Penguins have enjoyed. Odd-man rushes or second-chance rebounds have largely been stifled through an adherence to a sound defensive scheme during five-on-five play or even while on the penalty kill over the first five-plus months of the season....
North Carolina parts ways with men’s basketball coach Hubert Davis after 5 seasons
North Carolina and men’s basketball coach Hubert Davis have parted ways after five seasons leading the tradition-rich program. The school announced the decision Tuesday night, saying it had made “a leadership change” to end Davis’ tenure as successor to retired Hall of Fame coach Roy Williams. That run featured featured...
NCAA Tournament has best opening week on record, averaging 10.1 million viewers
The NCAA Tournament had its best first week on record, averaging 10.1 million viewers through the second round across CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV. Tournament viewership is up 7% from last year, according to Nielsen. CBS and TNT began showing all of the games in 2011 after CBS had done...
Riverhounds hope to jump start their season in U.S. Open Cup match vs. Steel City FC
Professional sports teams face challenges during their seasons when it comes to scheduling. For the defending USL Champion Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Wednesday’s derby match vs. Steel City FC in the first round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup — a game rescheduled from last week because of poor weather —...
NFL Draft top prospect profile: Sonny Styles, Ohio State LB
TribLive highlights the top prospects leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft on April 23-25 in Pittsburgh. Sonny Styles School: Ohio State Position: Linebacker Height/Weight: 6-foot-5, 244 pounds One of the highest risers among NFL Draft prospects has Western Pennsylvania roots. The son of a Mercer County hall of famer,...
Respect for Ryan Day helped Arthur Smith land at Ohio State
COLUMBUS, Ohio — In a roundabout way, Woody Hayes could be responsible for Arthur Smith being the new offensive coordinator at Ohio State. The legendary former head coach of the Buckeyes died in 1987, but his name is on the football facility in Columbus, and one of his sayings —...
Penn State’s Matt Campbell on his QB’s health: ‘A little bit ahead of schedule’
Penn State’s most important player has made significant progress from pair of shoulder injuries that affected him during the 2025 season. Redshirt senior quarterback Rocco Becht, who started 39 consecutive games at Iowa State before transferring to PSU, had surgery in December to repair a torn labrum in his non-throwing...
Trib 10: State champs highlight final edition of WPIAL basketball power rankings
The Road to Hershey, much like the Path to the Pete, is now complete. Another high school basketball season is in the books following the crowning of 12 state champions on the floor of the Giant Center this past weekend. The WPIAL saw three district teams return home with PIAA...
Down to 4 defensemen, Senators hold the Rangers to the fewest shots by an NHL team since 2003
NEW YORK — James Reimer kept expecting the New York Rangers to put shots on net. They rarely did. And by the end of the game Monday night, the Ottawa Senators had allowed just nine shots on goal in a 2-1 victory at Madison Square Garden. It was the fewest...
Brewers add to bullpen depth, acquire Woodford from Rays
MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Brewers boosted their bullpen depth Tuesday by acquiring right-handed pitcher Jake Woodford from the Tampa Bay Rays for minor league right-hander K.C. Hunt. Milwaukee made room for Woodford on its 40-man roster by transferring outfielder Akil Baddoo to the 60-day injured list. Woodford, 29, spent last...
Mohamed Salah to leave Liverpool at end of the season after 9 years with club
Mohamed Salah will leave Liverpool at the end of the season, the English club said Tuesday, after nine years at Anfield in which he has established himself as one of its greatest-ever players. Liverpool said the 33-year-old Salah has “reached an agreement” to leave the team a year before his...
From Spain to the United States, former Robert Morris forward Alvaro Folgueiras’ basketball dream has Iowa in the Sweet 16
TAMPA, Fla. — Alvaro Folgueiras left Spain as a 16-year-old with a dream to play basketball in the United States. He made the biggest shot of his life in the national spotlight to eliminate the defending champions from the NCAA Tournament. On college basketball’s grandest stage and with his mother...
Even with robot umpires, MLB managers will find reasons to argue and get ejected
TAMPA, Fla. — Kevin Cash isn’t worried that manager ejections will become a relic of baseball’s past just because robot umpires have arrived to settle some debates. “You only get two challenges, right? That can come up in the first inning,” the Tampa Bay Rays manager said. Manager tantrums at...
Penguins defenseman Ryan Shea eager to return from injury
It was a simple question. But Ryan Shea qualified his answer somewhat. Can he eat? “I can,” Shea said. “Today.” Any issues the Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman had with caloric intake were because of a presumed jaw injury he suffered during a 5-4 home shootout win against the Winnipeg Jets on...
Pitt parts ways with men’s basketball assistants Tim O’Toole, Jason Capel
Jeff Capel might have been retained by athletic director Allen Greene — at least for 2025-26 — but early into the offseason, a pair of his assistants are being let go. Associate head coach Tim O’Toole and assistant Jason Capel, Jeff Capel’s younger brother, will not be retained for this...
Pitt’s Isaiah Neal enjoying life at defensive end
Pitt’s Isaiah Neal had good reason to enter the offseason with confidence. Last fall, after the Panthers were decimated by injury at defensive end, Neal — to that point a tackle — was tasked to transition to the outside midseason. By year’s end, Neal had impressively played the part, recording...
Penguins defenseman Ryan Shea expected to rejoin lineup
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Ryan Shea is expected to rejoin his team’s lineup for a game against the Colorado Avalanche at PPG Paints Arena on Tuesday. Shea, sporting a full face shield to protect a suspected jaw injury, participated in a morning skate in Cranberry with no apparent limitations on contact....
