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Second-and-26. Santonio Holmes’ toe tap. Blowing a 3-1 series lead. 28-3. Sometimes, you don’t need more than a score or a couple of words to conjure memories of stunning championship-winning games. The pressure, stakes, legacies and dreams of winning it all elevate incredible performances to unforgettable moments etched in sports lore. Going back to the beginning of the 21st century, we’re breaking down the top-10 championship games across the NFL, the World Cup, college football and basketball, MLB and NBA, and reexamining what made them so special and memorable. Here are our 10 best title games since 2000. Honorable mention: 10. 2013 NBA Finals: Ray Allen’s Shot for Heat vs. Spurs in Game 6 Rowan Kavner: The San Antonio Spurs led by five points with less than 30 seconds on the clock and were seven seconds away from celebrating an NBA championship. The trophy presentation was already getting prepared when history was rewritten with one of the most iconic shots in playoff history. After a LeBron James 3-pointer brought the Miami Heat within two with 20 seconds to go, Kawhi Leonard made one of two free throws on the other end. A three would tie it. James came off a screen from Chris Bosh and had a good look but couldn’t connect. Bosh crashed to the rim. No one boxed him out. He secured the offensive board as Ray Allen backpedaled toward the corner. Allen barely got his feet behind the 3-point line when he launched the game-tying shot that would send the contest to overtime, where the Heat prevailed before winning their second straight NBA title in Game 7. The Spurs would get their revenge on the Heat a year later, needing only five games in the 2014 NBA Finals to end Miami’s run. 9. 2009 Super Bowl: Santonio Holmes’ Toe-Tap TD Gives Steelers the Win Ralph Vacchiano: Kurt Warner was supposed to be the star of this show, in a Super Bowl that would be the perfect capper to his Hall of Fame career. But two players on the Pittsburgh Steelers stole his spotlight and the game. The first highlight-reel moment came just before halftime with Warner and the Arizona Cardinals at the Steelers’ 1-yard line. That’s when Pittsburgh linebacker James Harrison picked Warner’s pass off at the goal line and rumbled 100 yards the other way for a touchdown — the longest interception in Super Bowl history — giving the Steelers a 10-point halftime lead. Warner led the Cards back and even got them the lead with 2:37 to go, when he hit Larry Fitzgerald with a 64-yard touchdown. But Ben Roethlisberger and receiver Santonio Holmes had one last surprise left in them. They quickly drove back down the field, and, with 35 seconds to go, Roethlisberger hit Holmes in the back of the end zone where he made arguably the greatest catch in Super Bowl history — reaching for the ball way out of bounds while his toes miraculously stayed just inside the white lines. It was enough to deny Warner his second championship and give the Steelers ring No. 6. 8. 2016 NBA Finals: LeBron’s Iconic Chase-Down Block vs. the Warriors in Game 7 Rowan Kavner: With three NBA championships in four years, the one title that slipped away from the Golden State Warriors was the year in which they won a record 73 games. They were unstoppable during the 2015-16 season and looked on their way to cementing one of the league’s all-time great seasons… until LeBron James and Kyrie Irving authored a different ending. James returned to Cleveland to bring a championship to the city, and he did so by reviving the Cavaliers from the brink in the NBA Finals. James scored 41 points in Game 5, another 41 in Game 6 and then produced a triple-double in Game 7 along with an iconic chase-down block on Andre Iguodala that will live on highlight reels in Cleveland forever. In the waning minutes of a tie game, James came out of nowhere to swat the shot. One minute later, Irving buried a step-back three, and the Cavs became the first team ever to rally back from a 3-1 NBA Finals deficit to win a championship. 7. 2016 NCAA Championship: Villanova’s Kris Jenkins Hits Buzzer-Beater to Beat North Carolina Michael Cohen: How often does the biggest moment of the biggest game on a sport’s grandest stage really and truly come down to a buzzer beater, the outcome only decided when the clock shows all zeroes? It’s exceedingly rare — something fans will remember forever — and that’s why the 2016 national championship game between North Carolina and Villanova claims its rightful place on this list. It wasn’t enough for Tar Heels guard Marcus Paige to make a leaning, double-clutch 3-pointer of his own with 4.7 seconds remaining, tying the game at 74-74. No, that incredible bucket would be swiftly upstaged by arguably the greatest shot in NCAA tournament history. Wildcats point guard Ryan Arcidiacono flipped an underhand pass to forward Kris Jenkins for a championship-winning, buzzer-beating 3-pointer as time expired. It’s a moment that has been replayed millions of times since then as the ultimate One Shining Moment in a sport that glorifies such things, and it won’t be forgotten any time soon. 6. 2018 CFP Title: Tua Tagovailoa Leads Alabama to Overtime Win Over Georgia RJ Young: What I remember — what some Georgia fans loathe — is the play before The Play, resulting in Bulldogs defensive end Jonathan Ledbetter and linebacker Davin Bellamy absolutely planting Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for a sack and a 16-yard loss. The game was in overtime, and Georgia had a three-point lead. The Bulldogs were just two downs from glory — two downs from the program’s first national championship in 38 years. But on second-and-26 from Georgia’s 31, Tagovailoa reared back, planted his left foot and uncorked a shot gorgeous in its arc and spiraling as if it would explode like a Roman candle. A beautiful pass that became a title-winning shot when wideout DeVonta Smith caught it in stride as two Georgia players watched him float into the end zone, run along the back of the white line with his right fist high and into a crush of hugs from his Bama teammates. That DeVonta Smith turned out to be the Heisman Trophy winner two years later on an undefeated national title team only adds to the mystique. 5. 2008 Super Bowl: Giants Beat Undefeated Patriots Ralph Vacchiano: The New England Patriots were 18-0 and everyone thought they were unbeatable, especially by a New York Giants team that barely made the playoffs and entered with few expectations. The Pats were already a dynasty, led by the consensus greatest coach (Bill Belichick) and quarterback (Tom Brady) in NFL history. But Tom Coughlin and Eli Manning got in the way. And they did it in style, sealing the deal with a brilliant, dramatic game-winning drive in the final minutes, which included one of the greatest plays in Super Bowl history. Manning saved the drive by pulling himself away from two Patriots defenders and heaving the ball 32 yards downfield to fourth receiver David Tyree, who made a leaping, one-handed catch by pinning the ball against his helmet. And that wasn’t all. Manning finished the drive by hitting Plaxico Burress for a game-winning touchdown pass with 35 seconds remaining. And when the Giants defense, which had battered Brady all game long, stopped the Patriots’ final, desperation drive, the Giants had capped the most unexpected, improbable and perfect Super Bowl upset of all time. 4. 2006 Rose Bowl: Vince Young and Texas Beat Undefeated USC RJ Young: The Vince Young Game — that’s how I and many others remember it. That’s because, with 19 seconds left to play, on fourth-and-5, Young took off for the pylon from the 8-yard line to score the touchdown that would earn Texas a 41-38 win against the No. 1 USC Trojans and the 2005 BCS championship. It capped off an improbable win against a seemingly unbeatable opponent. When the game ended, Young clutched a rose stem in his teeth. The box score reflected he’d accounted for 467 total yards — including 200 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns — in a win against a program that had not lost a single game in 831 days (Sept. 27, 2003) and had been ranked No. 1 in the country for 735 consecutive days. 3. 2025 World Series: Dodgers Beat the Blue Jays in Game 7 Rowan Kavner: The Blue Jays returned home with two chances to knock out the reigning champs. Instead, the city of Toronto was left heartbroken. After getting doubled off on a line drive to end Game 6, the Blue Jays responded by striking first on a three-run homer by Bo Bichette in Game 7. They were two outs away from celebrating their first championship since 1993 when Miguel Rojas, whose nifty pick at second base ended Game 6, became the Los Angeles Dodgers’ unlikely Game 7 hero. The light-hitting infielder lifted the first-ever game-tying home run in the ninth inning of a winner-take-all World Series finale. The Blue Jays still had multiple chances to walk it off in the bottom of the frame, but Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s slide home was just late on a bases-loaded grounder and a deep drive in the gap by Ernie Clement was tracked down by center fielder Andy Pages, who bulldozed teammate Kiké Hernandez to make the play. Two innings later, a home run from Will Smith put the Dodgers ahead for the first time, and World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto — one night after throwing 96 pitches in a Game 6 win — recorded the final eight outs of Game 7 to cement a dynasty. The Dodgers became the first repeat champions since the New York Yankees won three straight titles from 1998-2000. 2. 2022 World Cup Final: Argentina Beat France in Penalties Doug McIntyre: At halftime at jam-packed Lusail Stadium, most of the almost 90,000 souls in attendance were already in a celebratory mood. With Argentina comfortably ahead 2-0, everyone but the relatively small minority of Les Bleus backers in attendance was convinced that Lionel Messi was less than an hour away from lifting his first World Cup and cementing his legacy as the greatest soccer player of all time. Then all hell broke loose with 10 minutes left. France got a penalty that Kylian Mbappe converted. Seconds later, in front of a global television audience of 1.5 billion, Mbappe capitalized on a Messi turnover in midfield and evened the score with a ruthless volley. Messi scored his second of the match deep into extra time — the storybook ending every neutral wanted. Yet another French penalty somehow sent Mbappe to the spot again. Of course, he completed his hat trick. France then had a golden chance to win, but Albiceleste keeper Emiliano Martínez’s spectacular kick save on Randal Kolo Muani ensured that the contest would be decided via a tiebreaker. Club teammates in Paris turned hated rivals on this night in Qatar. Messi and Mbappe both scored from 12 yards again, but another Martinez stop, combined with a French effort that sailed wide, left Argentina one shot from glory. Gonzalo Montiel stepped up and calmly stroked the ball past Hugo Lloris, giving Messi his moment and ending the greatest World Cup final ever played. 1. 2017 Super Bowl: Patriots Overcome 28-3 Deficit to Beat Falcons Henry McKenna: This was a game for the record books with Tom Brady and the Patriots overcoming the — now meme-ified — 28-3 deficit, the largest comeback in Super Bowl history. Sorry, Falcons fans. The comeback started almost as a joke on the sideline, with Julian Edelman saying to Brady: “Going to be a hell of a story.” Edelman delivered in the fourth quarter with what must be the most improbable catch in Super Bowl history — with the Patriots receiver famously bobbling the ball off a defender’s shoe. That helped send the game into the first-ever overtime period in a Super Bowl, where New England finished it off with a touchdown from James White. The Patriots and Falcons scored 62 total points. Brady threw for 466 yards and two touchdowns. To this day, Matt Ryan has to deal with people reminding him of “28-3.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

San Francisco – Walking briskly as he made his way to another appearance on Radio Row, Hall of Famer Rod Woodson was not pleased by Bill Belichick not earning a gold jacket in his first year of eligibility for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. “I just want to make sure that we’re looking at greatness – excellence,” Woodson told me. “When you look at your time in the National Football League, as a player, you have to have multiple All-Pros. You can’t say I was never the best at my position, but now I’m one of the best to ever play. That’s not a true statement.” Woodson’s comments follow a similar thought process to that of fellow Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, who believed the Hall had become watered down and not exclusive enough. However, Sanders was also upset about Belichick being left out and suggested that only Hall of Famers should be the ones voting on what players, coaches and contributors should be joining them. “I wouldn’t want the Grinch who stole Christmas voting on a beauty pageant,” Sanders said. Change is coming to the Hall of Fame voting process, but what should it look like? I spoke with Hall of Fame president Jim Porter at the Hall’s announcement for the five players who earned their gold jackets this week: Drew Brees, Roger Craig, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri. Porter confirmed what has been reported: The 50 voters on the Hall of Fame selection committee will meet in person and closer to the announcement of the 2027 Hall of Fame class in January of next year. And as they have done every year, Porter said the Hall will reexamine the voting process, along with the people doing the voting, to make sure everything is being executed so the most deserving candidates advance. The selection committee last met in person in 2019, a year before COVID. The committee was scheduled to meet in person in 2023, but inclement weather affected voters’ travel and forced the Hall to cancel, reverting to a virtual meeting. “We’ll do some tweaks, and we’ll take a look,” Porter said. “We’re going to do what’s best for the Hall of Fame. My job is to protect the integrity of the Hall, protect the integrity of the process.” As one of the 50 voters on the selection committee, I wrote about some of the perceived flaws in the process that potentially led to, in my opinion, deserving candidates not making it because of the limited spots available, like Belichick and Patriots owner Robert Kraft, both of whom were on my ballot, along with Craig. Belichick and Kraft not getting in has led to an onslaught of people around the league clamoring for a change in the process. And I spoke to a few of those people at different events throughout the week. As expected, they provided differing perspectives. Ravens edge rusher Kyle Van Noy said he would like more diversity on the voter selection committee in terms of their involvement around the league. “More players should be involved for sure, especially to give their perspective,” Van Noy told me. “I don’t think it should be so heavily media-driven. I really think they need a process where there’s more players. “You definitely need to have media involved. You should have upper management involved. I really believe in being able to have three different levels – players, media and front office. It’s just like politics; there should be another party in there. It shouldn’t be one way where you have just media, because things could get skewed.” Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz said candidates potentially having to wait their turn to get in is part of the process. Along with Belichick and Kraft, New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning also did not make the cut for the second time as a finalist. “I know the whole Bill Belichick, Kraft thing has been blowing up,” Munoz told me. “But one of the things we learn is you’re not a given first-ballot anything. It was brought to my attention that guys like Bill Walsh and all the top coaches were not first-time ballot guys. So, they’ll get in. “It’s a shame that it happened that way. I know if I was one of the voters it might be a little (different), but I had nothing to do with it.” Former NFL linebacker and head coach Ron Rivera would like to see the Hall go back to voting for separate categories for coaches, contributors and players, not lumping them together for the selection committee to vote on. “Those should all be separate,” Rivera told me. “You’re talking about completely different groups. If you’re going to talk about coaches, then let’s do coaches. People that contribute, whether it be broadcasters or owners, these are special people based on what they have accomplished, and we should treat them like that as we go through it. “For everything that Coach (Belichick) accomplished, and then not to get in on the first ballot, everyone is going to sit back and go, ‘Huh?” Bottom line for Woodson: The Hall of Fame is reserved for the best of the best. “It’s OK to be in the second tier,” Woodson told me. “It’s OK to be there. But I think we just need to have a better understanding of what greatness is, and excellence.” NFL to revisit tush push this offseason Troy Vincent, executive vice president of football operations for the NFL, said the league will once again take a closer look at the tush push play made popular by the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason. The soonest the NFL’s competition committee might address the issue would be at the NFL owners meetings in March at the Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix, Ariz. A proposal to ban the play garnered 22 votes last year, falling two votes shy of the required 75 percent majority for a rule change. NFL referees have struggled to accurately officiate the play, failing to see offsides in the close quarters of a scrum. “It will be discussed,” Vincent said during a press conference this week. “No. 1 we want to be accurate, recognizing when someone is offsides or moving early. But also, the difficulty of when you see forward progress and blow the whistle, you blow it too early. Now, you have back or tight ends back there running and progress is still moving forward. We’ve got some work to do. We will revisit that particular play and see how membership feels about it, and if they want to do anything about it.” Van Noy is not a fan of the tush push. “I think it’s a dumb play,” he told me. “But I’ve heard why they don’t want to, because if it gets taken out, then you’re taking out all the pushes. So, I don’t agree with that. I think they’re just going to have to find a way to make the language right, so it doesn’t take away from being able to push a guy into the end zone. “I don’t think it’s a play that you can referee properly, unless they get closer. So, if they are going to do that play, then they should bring the referees closer so they can see if there’s a false start or someone is lining up offside. But unfortunately, lawyers make up all the language, not actual football people.” Like Van Noy, Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Kobie Turner said the league needs to bring more clarity to how the play can be run. “If we don’t ban it, we just need to be able to officiate it better,” Turner told me. “Or to be able to have more clarity on what’s required.” An offensive tackle in the league for 13 years, Munoz believes the tush push is just football. “You’ve got 11 guys on offense and 11 guys on defense – stop it,” Munoz told me. “Back when I played the game was a little different; we had the wedge (play). But it’s not like the offense brings in two or three extra guys. It’s still 11-on-11. “There are some things I think have to stay. It’s tackle football. It’s a rough sport.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Flory Bidunga had 17 points, 10 rebounds and seven blocks and No. 11 Kansas beat Utah on Saturday, 71-59, to take a seven-game winning streak into its Monday night home showdown with top-ranked Arizona. Trey White added 16 points for Kansas (18-5, 8-2 Big 12). Darryn Peterson had 14, and Melvin Council Jr. had 11. The Jayhawks led 38-31 at halftime and didn’t take a double-digit lead until Council hit a short jumper midway through the second half. That was part of a 10-0 run, capped by a thunderous dunk by Peterson that made it 60-44. Keanu Dawes led Utah (9-14, 1-9) with 20 points. Terrence Brown added 16, and Don McHenry had 12. The Utes have lost five straight. Next, Kansas hosts No. 1 Arizona on Monday night, and Utah hosts No. 8 Houston on Tuesday night. Reporting by The Associated Press.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Ripper GC rookie Elvis Smylie held off a hard-charging Jon Rahm to claim victory at LIV Golf Riyadh in his first LIV Golf start. The performance from Smylie was incredibly impressive as he made some fantastic shots down the stretch and handled the pressure with the poise of a veteran. The 23-year-old shot a final-round 64 to finish the tournament at 24-under, one shot ahead of Rahm. He’s the first player to win in his LIV Golf debut since Henrik Stenson won LIV Golf Bedminster in 2022. “It’s a dream come true,” Smylie said. “I really didn’t know what to expect this week. Playing at night is obviously a whole different ballgame out here. “I wanted to come out here and make a statement. I wanted to prove that I’m one of the best out here, and I feel like I’ve done that, and it’s only up from here.” Rahm gave Smylie a run for his money, firing a 63 on Sunday, which was the best round of the week. The Legion XIII captain ended the round with four consecutive birdies, including the par-4 18th where he hit a massive drive onto the green, leaving himself about 15 feet for eagle. Despite coming up just short for the week, it was a valiant effort from the reigning LIV Golf Individual Champion. Peter Uihlein finished in third place, which was his first podium finish since LIV Golf Las Vegas in 2024. The RangeGoats GC veteran shot a bogey-free 67. Led by their unflappable rookie, Ripper GC won the team title by three shots over Torque GC. The win matches their win total from last season when they won LIV Golf Miami for their lone victory of the year. Smylie’s teammates Cameron Smith, Marc Leishman and Lucas Herbert all made significant contributions, and each finished in the top 24 individually. Torque’s runner-up finish was led by Abraham Ancer’s T4 finish and Sebastian Munoz’s eighth-place finish. In third place was 4Aces GC, which earned its first podium finish despite playing with a reserve player in Miguel Tabuena. The overall scoring average for Round 4 was the lowest of the week at –4.15. Seventeen of 18 holes played under par for the round, with the easiest being the 565-yard par-5 13th for the fourth consecutive day (-0.86). LIV Golf Riyadh Leaderboard This piece is courtesy of Matt Vincenzi in partnership with LIV Golf.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

With Super Bowl LX just two days away, let’s take a closer look at some of the major storylines from this week in anticipation of the big game — a rematch of Super Bowl XLIX between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. Of course, most Seahawks fans I bump into here don’t want to be reminded of that game, a 28-24 heartbreaker in which Malcolm Butler famously intercepted a Russell Wilson pass at the 1-yard line intended for Ricardo Lockette. Yes, Pete Carroll failed to hand the ball off to his best player on offense, Marshawn Lynch, in one of the most important plays in franchise history. As one fan told me, though, Sunday’s rematch is not about revenge: “We just want to get back what we deserve.” That said, let’s get into five takeaways from this week heading into the Super Bowl. Seahawks embrace Mike Macdonald’s vulnerability, laser-like focus on football The leader of “The Dark Side” — Seattle’s nickname for one of the dominant defenses in the NFL — defensive tackle Leonard Williams said it plainly when asked to explain the personality of his head coach, Mike Macdonald. “We joke around and say that he’s pretty much like an AI and that he’s learning how to be human,” joked Williams. “It’s just an inside joke, though. He’s just a really smart guy. He’s all about football. I mean, the way he treats us in the building is like his family.” Seahawks offensive lineman Abraham Lucas offered another window into the stoic McDonald’s personality. “Mike is a great guy,” Lucas told me. “He is who he is. Who you see is Mike Macdonald, which I think is what I respect about him. He doesn’t try to be anybody else.” However, Seahawks special teams coach Jay Harbaugh provided the most detailed opinion on McDonald, stressing his humility. And much like Harbaugh’s father, Jim Harbaugh — who Macdonald worked for as the defensive coordinator of the Michigan Wolverines — Macdonald, at his core, is a football coach. “Mike kind of sets that tone of excellence and improvement,” Harbaugh told me. “And after that, also an accountability. You’ll hear him say he should have called a better game or had a better game plan. And there’s a real trickle down to that for the coaches and the players. “You don’t have to be perfect. It’s not your job to get every single thing right. And if you don’t, you own up to it. When the headman sets that tone, it does a lot for the organization in terms of not having egos.” If Seattle wins on Sunday, Macdonald will become the third-youngest coach to win the NFL championship in league history. Sean McVay and Mike Tomlin both won it at 36 years old. Is Drake Maye the next … Eli Manning? At 23 years and 162 days old on Sunday, Maye will be the second-youngest quarterback to start a Super Bowl. If the Patriots win, Maye would be the youngest quarterback to lead a team to victory in the Super Bowl. Ben Roethlisberger currently holds that distinction, at 23 years and 340 days old. Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady were both 24 years old when they won their first Super Bowl title. Maye could become the fifth quarterback to win the Super Bowl in his first or second season, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer Kurt Warner, Russell Wilson, Brady and Roethlisberger. Maye has expectedly drawn comparisons to Brady because of the team he plays for and the fact that Vrabel is a defensive head coach, like Brady’s head coach, Bill Belichick. Also, because of his mobility, struggles in college and knack for making big plays at crucial moments so far in his career, Mahomes is another apt comparison for Maye. While the quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs missed the playoffs for the first time in his NFL career this season and is rehabbing from a season-ending knee injury, Mahomes has still won three Super Bowls in his first nine NFL seasons and remains in his prime at 30 years old. Maye could be entering the start of a Mahomes-like run if he can lead the Patriots to a victory on Sunday. However, an NFL front office personnel executive offered another quarterback to compare Maye to — two-time Super Bowl champion Eli Manning. “Young Eli was a good athlete [like Maye],” the personnel executive told me. “Maye has poise, anticipation, accuracy, with good pocket feel and subtle slides. Nothing fazes him in-game.” The front office executive pushed back on the Mahomes comparison. “I just see him different,” he told me. “There’s not enough body of work to say he’s clutch, but it’s trending that way. Maye’s athletic but is a pocket passer. Mahomes is rare outside the pocket. … I love Maye, and he is just scratching the surface.” Could Kyler Murray stay with the Cardinals? Considered a foregone conclusion that the Arizona Cardinals would move on from Murray this offseason, the Cardinals placed the quarterback on season-ending injured reserve with a foot injury last year. Selected No. 1 overall in the 2019 NFL Draft, Murray failed to play to his draft status in Arizona. He’s posted a 38-48-1 record, completing 67.1% of his passes for 20,460 yards, with 121 touchdowns and 60 interceptions for a 92.2 passer rating. Murray still has $36.7 million in guarantees remaining for the 2026 season, along with another $19.5 million of his 2027 salary that will be guaranteed if he’s on the roster in March. However, at 28 years old, Murray is still a young quarterback who could have a more productive second chapter of his career like Sam Darnold with the Seahawks. Also, the Cardinals don’t have a long-term answer at quarterback ready to replace Murray. Last year’s starter, Jacoby Brissett, remains on the roster but is considered a backup at this point of his career. New head coach Mike LaFleur did not close the door on Murray staying with the team for the 2026 season. LaFleur said he’s touched base with Murray. “I’ll say this, being in this division for seven years, it was never fun [to play him],” LaFleur said. “I have a lot of respect for him as a player. He was never a fun challenge to go against.” A league source echoed those sentiments, saying that the Cardinals potentially moving on from Murray shouldn’t be set in stone. “The Steelers and Saints are the best examples when you don’t have a succession plan at QB, you run the risk of setting your organization back for years,” a league source told me. “And while Kyler is far from perfect — particularly in the leadership category — he has proven to be an above average QB on the field, and he’s still [in his] young ‘QB years.’ “If you’re moving on from an above-average QB with warts, who are you moving onto? There’s no clear answer to that question in Arizona, so why do you make the move?” NFL’s players not sold on 18-game schedule Considered an inevitability because of NFL owners’ desire to add another game, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell pumped the brakes on the idea that an 18th game will be consummated in the near future. “It is not a given that we’ll do that,” Goodell told reporters this week. “It is not something that we assume will happen. It’s something we want to talk about with the union leadership.” That jives with what NFL Players Association interim executive director David White said later this week, stating his members had “no appetite” for an 18th regular season game. His predecessor, Lloyd Howell Jr., made it seem like an inevitability that players would agree to an 18th game, so White’s comments are a way to gain leverage in negotiations with the league. “You heard that last year when the executive committee was up here, and they were talking about what happens to their bodies when they’re with their families, when they’re with their kids,” White said. “They were very open and candid about that. It’s punishing, and we can see that on the teams that have deep postseason runs. … When your average career is already three to four years, which becomes something that is existential. So, the 18th game is not casual for us. It’s a very serious issue. It is something that comes out of negotiations.” The current collective bargaining agreement runs through 2030 but could be reopened to negotiate an 18th game. However, for now, the players aren’t interested in expanding the regular season. Grass vs. Field Turf debate continues NFL players continue to push for grass fields at all NFL stadiums, stating that they curb injuries and are better for the longevity of players’ careers. However, NFL owners are still not fully on board. Currently, 15 NFL stadiums have grass fields. “Our members have stated, over 90% of them have stated that they prefer grass,” White said. “The data that we do have access to shows that the energy return from a synthetic surface is significantly higher than it is on natural grass, which reinforces what players say just from their experience and from common sense. “It’s just harder. It’s harder on the body. … We need this data if we’re going to standardize fields and have them be at the level where our players are truly going to be safe.” But former players like NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Troy Vincent and Sean Lee, who works for data and analytics firm Adrenaline, said they preferred to play on turf because of the consistency of the surface. “Playing on turf, you could wear the same cleats, week in and week out,” Lee said. “You get on grass, and if it’s muddy, you need to put different cleats on or put studs on. There’s just so much that goes into preparing for games, and I know each player has their different way of preparing. But I preferred playing on turf.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Meet the point guard who’s an extension of Michigan State coach Tom Izzo on the court. The men’s college basketball season is ramping up with high-stakes games every night and the NCAA Tournament just around the corner. In those key regular-season games, March Madness stars introduce themselves to the nation with magical moments and Cinderella runs. We’re teaching you about them before they become national heroes. Ahead of No. 5 Illinois at No. 10 Michigan State on Saturday night (8 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app), let us help you get to know Jeremy Fears Jr. 1. Player Build Fears is a 6-foot-2 junior point guard. He’s a rugged player who epitomizes everything Izzo wants in a point guard — fearless, tough, good decision-maker. 2. Dime For Days Fears leads the Big Ten in total assists (204) and is second to Purdue star Braden Smith in assists per game (8.9). He also has a 4-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio, second among Big Ten point guards behind only Nebraska’s Sam Hoiberg. 3. Controversy Fears came under fire for seemingly committing unnecessary contact with his opponents during Michigan State’s games against Michigan and Minnesota. After the rivalry game against the Wolverines, Michigan head coach Dusty May accused Fears of tripping one of his star players, forward Yaxel Lendeborg. During the game against the Golden Gophers, Fears was called for a technical foul after kicking Minnesota forward Langston Reynolds between the legs. 4. Family Ties Fears’ younger brother, Jeremiah, was the seventh overall pick by the New Orleans Pelicans in the 2025 NBA Draft. He’s averaging 13.3 points and 2.9 assists while starting at point guard in his rookie season with the Pelicans. Jeremiah played at Oklahoma last season. The two shared a backcourt at Joliet West High School in Illinois in 2022. 5. Career Briefly Paused Between his freshman and sophomore years, Fears survived a gunshot wound while in his hometown of Joilet, Illinois. He needed surgery on his thigh and didn’t play another game in the 2023-24 season. He returned to the court for the start of his sophomore year.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Illinois fans endear him. Purdue fans fear him. The men’s college basketball season is ramping up with high-stakes games every night and the NCAA tournament just around the corner. In those key regular-season games, March Madness stars introduce themselves to the nation with magical moments and Cinderella runs. We’re teaching you about them before they become national heroes. Ahead of No. 5 Illinois at No. 10 Michigan State on Saturday night (8 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app), let us help you get to know Keaton Wagler. 1. Player Build Wagler, a 6-foot-6 freshman point guard, is both the primary play-initiator and go-to scorer for the Fighting Illini. His tight, quick handle allows him to create room for his own shots and penetrate the lane to set up his teammates. 2. Instant Success Wagler leads all Big Ten freshman with 17.9 points per game. He set the record for the most points by an opponent in Purdue’s Mackey Arena when he scored 46 points to lift the Illini over the Boilermakers on Jan. 24. 3. Conference Accolades Wagler has earned both freshman and player of the week honors in the Big Ten after his breakout game against Purdue. Wagler has also lifted Illinois into a tie with No. 2 Michigan at the top of the conference standings. 4. Underrated Wagler was the No. 150 ranked recruit in the 2025 freshman class, per 247Sports. He only got two offers from Power 4 schools — Minnesota and Illinois. He’s now in the conversation to be a top-five pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. 5. Blind Trust Wagler was the first American prospect Illinois coach Brad Underwood offered without seeing him play in high school in person, The Athletic reported. Underwood’s son, Tyler, an assistant coach at Illinois, scouted Wagler and convinced his father to recruit the guard. Underwood, reportedly, felt more comfortable trusting film after adding two overseas players — David Mirkovic and Mihailo Petrovic, whom he didn’t see play live — to his roster.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Azzi Fudd scored 15 of her 17 points in the first half as top-ranked UConn rolled to an 80-48 win over visiting Butler on Saturday as the Huskies won their 41st game in a row. UConn’s sophomore star Sarah Strong, the top scorer and rebounder for the Huskies, missed her first game in her two seasons for the Huskies to rest. Blanca Quinonez, the top-scoring reserve for UConn, and Caroline Ducharme also missed the game. Ziebell made her second start of the season. She matched Arnold with a team-high four steals. Serah Williams, Ashlynn Shade and Allie Ziebell had 11 points each and KK Arnold finished with 10 points for UConn (25-0, 14-0 Big East). The Huskies won their 62nd consecutive regular-season conference game. All nine available UConn players had at least two field goals. Caroline Dotsey led Butler (9-15, 3-11) with 13 points. Saniya Jackson had nine points and 12 rebounds, while Mallory Miller added nine points for the Bulldogs. UConn is 25-0 for the 11th time in program history. The Huskies have won the national championship seven times when opening 25-0. The Huskies also improved to 10-0 against the Bulldogs. The average margin of victory in those games is 40.3 points. Butler, which trailed 26-10 at the end of the first quarter in the first meeting, was only down by five after a layup by Jackson with 4:48 left in the first quarter. Fudd had five points as the Huskies scored the final nine points of the quarter. Fudd had five points in a 12-0 run in the second quarter. UConn led 44-19 at halftime. Next, Butler plays at Providence on Wednesday, while UConn hosts Creighton. Reporting by The Associated Press.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Yeah, this would’ve been something. Last offseason, superstar defensive end Micah Parsons and the Dallas Cowboys were at an impasse in extension talks, and the team considered trade offers. In the end, the Cowboys traded Parsons to the Green Bay Packers mere days before the 2025 regular season. Here’s the kicker: Dallas apparently almost traded Parsons to their bitter NFC East division rival. “It [a trade] was very close [with the] Philadelphia Eagles, before the Jaelan Philips move, it was me,” Parsons said during a live broadcast of his podcast, “The Edge With Micah Parsons.” “I was really about to come [to Philadelphia], but there was one person that I had to play with that, if he was gone, I did not want to be there, and that was Jalen Carter. They [the Cowboys] wanted a D-Tackle, and they wanted to trade me, plus some picks. I don’t really care about the picks, but I’m coming to play next to JC [Jalen Carter], you feel me? “So, sorry, Cowboys fans. It really almost happened.” This story lines up with FOX Sports NFL Insider Jay Glazer revealing in September that, at one point, the Eagles had the strongest trade offer on the table for Parsons, which included two first-round picks and a third- and fifth-rounder. That said, Dallas refused to make a move of that magnitude within its division, per Glazer. Ultimately, to extract Parsons from Dallas, Green Bay traded defensive tackle and three-time Pro Bowler Kenny Clark and two first-round draft picks. The Packers then signed Parsons to a four-year, $186 million extension, which begins next season. Parsons, a three-time All-Pro and Pro Bowler in each of his five NFL seasons, recorded 12.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and 41 combined tackles in 14 games this season. Unfortunately for Parsons, his debut campaign with the Packers ended in December after he tore his left ACL. Both Philadelphia and Green Bay were eliminated in the NFC wild card round this season, while Dallas missed the playoffs for a second consecutive year. Parsons is targeting a return in September of next season. He has registered double-digit sacks in each of his five seasons in the sport.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

From George Clooney to Ben Affleck, and from the Clydesdales to a defecting polar bear, we’ve got the best of Super Bowl Sunday ads. Like in previous years, we’re getting pre-releases of some of the best commercials they’ll air in Super Bowl LX between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots. And there’s no shortage of star power. That said, let’s take a look at some of the top Super Bowl commercials of 2026. You can also check our list of the best Super Bowl commercials of all time, too. Hailee Steinfeld stars in State Farm ad alongside Jon Bon Jovi Steinfeld, Josh Allen’s wife, stars in a parody of Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ On a Prayer” in this comedic insurance ad. George Clooney makes Super Bowl debut with a major announcement for Grubhub George Clooney has an announcement to make: Grubhub will eat the fees. The star actor appeared at a dinner in this commercial to share that Grubhub will no longer charge delivery or service fees on orders of at least $50. Matthew McConaughey still believes football is a conspiracy to make people hungry in Uber Eats ad For the second year in a row, Matthew McConaughey tries to convince celebrities like Bradley Cooper and Parker Posey that football is a conspiracy to make people hungry so they order food. Budweiser celebrates its 150th anniversary The Budweiser Clydesdale foal is back. In this year’s Budweiser Super Bowl ad, we see it age over the years to the tune of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird” as it grows up alongside a bald eagle. Ben Affleck has a pitch to make in Dunkin’ spot This is actually a tease for a Super Bowl commercial, as Ben Affleck shows Jennifer Aniston, Matt LeBlanc and Jason Aelxander some unseen tape ahead of a potential Super Bowl ad for Dunkin’. Emma Stone creates cinematic masterpiece with Squarespace Emma Stone throws a fit because the website domain name she wants is unavailable from — another planet? Pringles presents “Love at First Bite” with Sabrina Carpenter Sabrina Carpenter builds her dream man — Pringleleo — out of potato chips in this funny and clever new ad. Pepsi pokes fun at Coca-Cola A polar bear — a longtime Coca-Cola mascot — chooses Pepsi over Coke in a blind taste test. Ben Stiller, Benson Boone join forces for Instacart ad Techno-disco singer Ben Stiller and his performing partner and brother Benson Boone plug the food-delivery company’s online banana-ripeness selector. Yes, you read that right. Dove continues to empower girls in sports The soap brand’s latest commercial centers on supporting a positive body image and girls’ sports through the #KeepHerConfident initiative. Lay’s passes the torch in its Super Bowl ad In its Super Bowl ad, Lay’s depicts a father handing down his potato farm to his daughter. Hellmann’s brings “Sweet Sandwich Time” Andy Samberg does his best Neil Diamond impression in this year’s Hellmann’s Super Bowl ad, singing “Sweet Sandwich Time” and getting a diner full of patrons to join him. Backstreet Boys stars in T-Mobile’s Super Bowl ad Backstreet Boys sang a reimagined version of its hit song, “I Want It That Way,” as they said, “Tell me why,” T-Mobile offers a lot of perks. The stars get down and dirty for a keg of Bud Light While attending a wedding, Peyton Manning, Shane Gillis and Post Malone went running and fell down a hill to get a keg of Bud Light in the latest edition of the beer company’s star-studded Super Bowl ad.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports