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The NFL never sleeps, not even in March amid free agency’s doldrums and still a month away from the draft. Last week, the Denver Broncos traded a first-round pick (and more) to the Miami Dolphins for receiver Jaylen Waddle. The Kansas City Chiefs traded with the New York Jets for QB Justin Fields. And the Dallas Cowboys, usually one of the NFL’s loudest teams, have been suspiciously quiet. We also saw current and former NFL players fall hard to a group of all-star flag football players. That’s what we saw at the surface level. This is “Sound Smart,” where I try to spin forward, dive deeper and think outside the box. If I do my job, you’ll have a better understanding of what’s happening this NFL offseason. 1. IF THERE’S ONE THING YOU SHOULD KNOW With the Jaylen Waddle trade, the Broncos got outstanding (hidden) value. But what do the Dolphins know that we don’t? For the Broncos, this is the perfect trade. There aren’t many offenses that fit Waddle better than what Sean Payton runs. The Broncos have been seeking a Waddle-type receiver — the kind of set-it-and-forget-it outside burner who will consistently beat man coverage downfield. (And that’s hardly the only thing he does well.) Denver receivers Troy Franklin and Marvin Mims Jr. haven’t gotten it done in that role, not even alongside the most underrated possession receiver in the NFL: Courtland Sutton. I’d be curious to see what becomes of the tight end position — whether the Broncos find a way to address that role in the draft or whether one of their veterans can step up. I could see them drafting a mid-round tight end (assuming Oregon star Kenyon Sadiq isn’t within striking distance in Round 1) and a mid-round running back to see if they can find a rookie upgrade. But the Denver offense is getting increasingly more dangerous, and it was already dang good last season. For Miami, the move makes a little bit of sense, in a cold and calculated way. For a team that’s clearly eyeing a rebuild, the Dolphins apparently didn’t feel they could take on the risks of holding onto Waddle, 27, for a year too long — with the worry that, by the time the team is competitive, he’s not an elite threat anymore. But I don’t think this is as perfect for Miami as it is for Denver. And that’s because Waddle is a proven entity, which the Dolphins will not be getting at 31st overall or at 94th overall (in the third round). To complicate matters more, the 2026 draft is lacking in star power. And while we’ve said that in years past, it’s truer than ever. That 31st overall pick is going to get the Dolphins a second-round prospect, given the weakness of this draft class. So on paper, Miami got the value they probably wanted, but when we see those players, I’m dubious that the Dolphins will be pleased with the results. The other issue is that this is clearly not what’s best for Miami’s new quarterback, Malik Willis. He’s set to turn 27 before the 2026 season, and while the team’s offensive line isn’t a disaster, the QB has no one of relevance to throw to outside of RB De’Von Achane. I’m more than a little confused about why the Dolphins signed Willis. They could have added a budget option like Geno Smith. They could’ve just hung in there with Tua Tagovailoa for one more year. There were options that wouldn’t have had them investing in Wills for three years and $67.5 million. Maybe the Dolphins have big plans: drafting USC receiver Makai Lemon at No. 11 overall and signing a cheap(ish) but reliable veteran such as Stefon Diggs, Deebo Samuel or Keenan Allen. But right now, the Willis signing — a two-year deal — seems to be on a different timeline than the rest of their moves. What do they have up their sleeves? Is this situation as rough as it looks? Or do they know something we don’t? 2. MONDAY MORNING CONTROVERSY The Team USA flag football team made it clear that NFL athletes might not make the Olympic national team. It seemed like a foregone conclusion that Saquon Barkley, Jayden Daniels and other elite NFL athletes would represent the U.S. in flag football at the 2028 L.A. Olympics. But after what we saw on Saturday at the Fanatics “Flag Football Classic,” I’m not so sure that there will be many NFL players on Team USA. At the Fanatics event, the pro flag football players went undefeated against two teams made up of current and former NFL players. The aggregate score: 106-44. The flag players put on a show. But … there are some important pieces of context. Receivers DeAndre Hopkins and Odell Beckham Jr. were out there. Tom Brady was out there. So was newly-elected Hall of Fame linebacker Luke Kuechly. Some of those veteran or retired NFL players were misfits stylistically for flag football, a game best suited to agile, smaller, explosive players. (That was why Barkley, a power-based back, wasn’t all that useful either.) The pro flag players no doubt wanted to prove their value against the NFL stars, who no doubt wanted to win but also wanted to make sure they didn’t get hurt. And finally, the NFL players were new to these rules and could train to improve their skills. Would they? I don’t know. But they are such incredible athletes that there’s no doubt they could drill away at some of the key differences in the two games. Now that we’ve acknowledged all that, these games showed that it’s a real risk to pick an NFL pro over a flag pro, particularly on defense. The bottom line is that the pro flag players dominated the likes of Daniels, Jalen Hurts and Joe Burrow. There was such a clear advantage for the flag players, masters of their own game (which was far less transferable than anyone in the NFL community anticipated). It would be humbling for NFL players to get an invite to Olympic Trials for flag football, particularly if they genuinely weren’t sure if they could beat out the flag football pros. But that might be what gets the best on-field product for the Olympics — a tryout that mixes players from both games to create the most impressive and dominant unit. But that begs the question: Would any NFL players show up to a tryout? It’s going to be a complicated selection process. 3. WHAT EVERYONE ELSE IS AFRAID TO SAY Justin Fields is back! He’s a Chief — and what a fascinating match between team and quarterback. But first, let’s go back to the QB’s days in Pittsburgh. In 10 games in 2024, including six starts, Fields showed serious promise, playing within the system and without recklessness. His immense tools were on display, but there weren’t many situations where he tried to do too much. In other words, it was a great situation for him. The Jets were the opposite. It was just a brutally obvious place for Fields to regress, with the organization dragging him down — perhaps further than where he was in Chicago. Field’s trip to New York was yet another reminder that young quarterbacks should not — under any circumstances — choose to go to the Jets, particularly not if their development is at a fragile stage. But Fields will get another shot in Kansas City. Patrick Mahomes might be the ultimate competitor, but even he might not be able to get back on the field for Week 1 after his ACL tear in December. This is a legitimately good opportunity for Fields. As bad as the Chiefs’ offense was in 2025, they’re clearly invested in improving it in 2026, with former Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker joining the team as a free agent. There has always been a disparity between Field’s top-end skill and Fields’ consistency in playing the QB position. If anyone can help him bridge that gap, it’s Andy Reid and his staff. If Fields can get back on track in 2026, we are seeing teams give quarterbacks a second chance to start, particularly when they prove themselves as professionals and QB2s. Fields just landed in an ideal spot to — again — rehabilitate his game film. And with a few games to start at the beginning of the season, Fields can keep his dreams alive as a potential starter. 4. WHAT I’M HEARING 5. OFFSEASON ODDITY Has anyone heard from the Cowboys in a while? It’s been an offseason custom for Dallas and owner Jerry Jones to make major headlines in one way or another. But this offseason hasn’t been like that. And that’s despite them having the most highly-coveted pending free agent, All-Pro receiver George Pickens, whom the team tagged to retain. That should have led to ongoing contract talks, but it’s been mostly quiet. The Cowboys traded a 2027 fourth-rounder for Packers defensive end Rashan Gary (rather than make a much larger trade for someone like Maxx Crosby) to hold down the edge. Dallas also signed defensive players in safety Jalen Thompson, DT Otito Ogbonnia, and cornerback Cobie Durant. Gary and Thompson are likely starters and Durant and Ogbonnia are solid contributors. None of those players is likely to transform the defense to the level that the team needs. To the Cowboys’ credit, they haven’t done anything careless. But of course, there’s still time. Dallas has two first-round picks and four picks inside the top 112 picks for 2026. The Cowboys have serious firepower to add more talent in the draft, hopefully more on defense. And of course, there are talented — albeit aging — defensive players on the free agency market. But it’s surprising that Thompson and Gary are the Cowboys’ biggest splashes. We already knew draft night would be huge for the Cowboys. Knowing them, it’ll probably be fireworks. 6. WHAT IF … Malik Willis had signed with basically anyone other than the Dolphins. It’s unclear what other teams were in the hunt for Willis. (Maybe it was really just Miami.) But we have yet to see the Dolphins work to set up Willis for success. In fact, their fire sale could end up doing the opposite. Given what I just wrote about Fields, I worry about a similar outcome for Willis. It’s a deeply comparable situation, with Aaron Glenn (a defensive-minded coach) leaving the Lions to take over the Jets — much like Jeff Hafley (a defensive-minded coach) leaving the Packers to take over the Dolphins. When Hafley signed Willis, I thought the Dolphins might have a plan to honor the QB’s development. But that developmental trajectory is now looking murky. Which is why I’m wondering… What if he’d signed with the Arizona Cardinals? What if he’d signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers? In either place, he’d have an offensive-minded head coach with at least two pass-catchers who have a track record of outstanding production. The Steelers’ offensive line is substantially better than the Cardinals’. (And I suspect new Steelers boss Mike McCarthy will be a substantially better coach than new Cardinals boss Mike LaFleur in 2026.) But in my mind, both cities would have been a better place for Willis to sign and develop at a healthier pace and trajectory than he currently projects in Miami. Willis had only 28 high-difficulty dropbacks during his time at Green Bay, when you take out the quick game and the screen passes. He reversed a downward developmental trend that started in Tennessee. But he’s not forever safe from regression. I don’t trust Miami to protect Willis’ development — not with the Dolphins trading Waddle. Here’s hoping that Willis knew what he was doing when he picked the Dolphins. Here’s hoping the Dolphins knew what they were doing when they picked Willis.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Jaxon Smith-Njigba won Offensive Player of the Year and a Super Bowl title in 2025. Now, weeks into the 2026 offseason, the Seattle Seahawks’ star is adding a new accolade to his name: highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history. Smith-Njigba has agreed to a four-year, $168.6 million extension with the Seahawks that includes $120 million in guaranteed money, ESPN reported Monday. The contract will pay Smith-Njigba $42.15 million per year, which is nearly $2 million more per year than what Cincinnati Bengals star Ja’Marr Chase is making ($40.25 million). Chase signed a four-year, $161 million extension last offseason to become the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history. The deal for Smith-Njigba came a few days after the team announced that they would be picking up the fifth-year option on his rookie contract. With that move, Smith-Njigba was set to be under contract through the end of the 2027 season. However, he became extension eligible earlier in March, and with other star receivers (like Puka Nacua of the Los Angeles Rams) due for new contracts, Monday’s extension allowed the Seahawks to set the market rather than react to it. Cornerback Devon Witherspoon, whom the Seahawks took alongside Smith-Njigba in the first round of the 2023 draft, also had his fifth-year option picked up by Seattle recently. Witherspoon can sign an extension this offseason as well. Seattle also extended offensive tackle Charles Cross, its 2022 first-round pick, to a four-year, $104.4 million extension in January as it looks to maintain its core pieces. Smith-Njigba and Witherspoon were both key to the Seahawks’ Super Bowl run this past season. Smith-Njigba had 119 receptions for a league-best 1,793 yards in the regular season, adding 10 touchdowns. His postseason wasn’t as dominant, but Smith-Njigba had 153 receiving yards in the Seahawks’ NFC Championship Game win over the Los Angeles Rams. As for Witherspoon, he had 72 total tackles and an interception this past regular season. On top of that, Witherspoon graded out as Pro Football Focus’ top cornerback for the 2025 season. He allowed opposing receivers to get just 409 receiving yards on 59 targets (8.09 yards per target), per PFF, and he could become one of the game’s highest-paid corners this offseason. The extension for Smith-Njigba followed the departures of a handful of players from the Seahawks’ Super Bowl-winning squad earlier this month. Running back Kenneth Walker III signed a multi-year deal to join the Kansas City Chiefs. Edge rusher Boye Mafe departed Seattle to sign a three-year, $60 million pact with the Cincinnati Bengals. Cornerback Riq Woolen joined the Philadelphia Eagles on a one-year deal. Seattle was able to keep Rashid Shaheed, though, further stabilizing their wide receiver group as quarterback Sam Darnold looks to have another strong year in 2026. Shaheed re-signed with the Seahawks on a three-year, $51 million deal.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

PORTLAND, Ore. — At Adidas’ North American Headquarters last week, Fernando Mendoza held a cleat in his hands that, uncharacteristically, didn’t have the three diagonal stripes the brand is known for. Not yet. That’s because this shoe is a prototype, still in the design process. Those distinctive stripes will be the finishing touch. But first, the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback and presumptive No. 1 overall draft pick had a few suggestions. This cleat, after all, is special because of its potential for customization. Adidas uses 3-D printing to empower its innovation lab technicians to make a boutique shoe, in this case one specially made for Mendoza. The innovation lab takes up an entire floor and features a small basketball court, a 40-yard dash track, a batting cage and other spaces for athlete-cleat testing. Mendoza was here for Adidas’ first-ever Rookie Pro Day, a promotional event to announce the brand’s 2026 signing class. The class also includes a number of other top NFL prospects: defensive linemen Arvell Reese and Rueben Bain Jr., safety Caleb Downs, receivers Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson, Denzel Boston, Makai Lemon and KC Concepcion, and tight end Kenyon Sadiq. At the event, Mendoza sat with seven members of the Adidas innovation team, including Marc Makowski, SVP of creative direction and innovation. “Could you put extra traction on the cleat here?” Mendoza said, pointing to the inside heel of the right cleat. He demonstrated how he pushes off that back foot during his throwing motion, with that heel often sitting at an angle, akin to a receiver breaking out of a cut. One technician asked: “Would that be weird if you only had the extra traction on the back foot?” “No, I think that would be good,” Mendoza replied. The innovation team pulled out a 3-D rendering of Mendoza’s foot. One technician explained that because the QB’s midfoot is a little more advanced than the average person’s, the team could use the surface area for the additional points of grip that Mendoza wants. The group also discussed his toe box — and his bunions. And they discussed different plates they could put in for protection and support. “This is awesome,” Mendoza said. “This is the perfect solution.” For a quarterback who spent the better part of his interviews, including at the NFL Combine, discussing the importance of the “fine details” of the game, this was his sort of meeting. “He’s the perfect face for you,” one Adidas employee said. “Innovation, analytical, scientific.” It’s hard to argue, particularly if Mendoza can live up to the expectations — not only to be the first-overall pick by the Las Vegas Raiders, but also to be a franchise quarterback for years to come. After Mendoza left, the seven innovation lab technicians huddled to discuss how they will accommodate the QB’s requests. One of them asked: “Should we consider a silver-and-black color scheme?” Yup. In 2024, Adidas went through a similar process with Washington Huskies receiver Rome Odunze, who was the Bears’ first-round pick that year. As a result, the company is now known for locking in wideouts, including the top five prospects this year, according to Rob Rang’s big board. Adidas worked with Odunze to develop a shoe that helped him with separation, not just to increase his acceleration out of his cuts but also to improve his deceleration into his cuts. That fueled faster change of direction and, in turn, helped with separation. In the cleat that Adidas designed with Odunze — the “Adizero One Horizon” — the brand reported a 3% improvement in an athlete’s ability to decelerate and a 2% improvement in acceleration. It might not sound like much, but in a league defined as a game of inches, those marginal gains can be huge for a receiver. That’s what made Mendoza’s conversation so compelling. It’s possible that he and Adidas will create a unique cleat that one day will appeal to quarterbacks in the way that the Adizero One Horizon will with receivers when it comes out this fall. “I do think customization is something that has a potential future,” Aaron Seabron, VP/GM of Adidas’ U.S. Sports and Creation Center, told me at the Pro Day. “Because if you think about it, right, the ads on your phone and my phone are different. So I think customization is certainly prevalent in all of our lives, and I think eventually, does that make its way into the product? In time — probably, yeah.” To be clear, Adidas isn’t pivoting away from its receiver emphasis. The wideout position is important to the company, and Seabron echoed a statement that multiple Adidas executives mentioned, which was that they were excited to have signed Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith last August and that they hope to retain him when he joins the pro ranks next year. Smith was arguably the best receiver prospect in college football in 2025 despite not being draft-eligible. “We strive to be the fastest brand in football, and we do that by fusing speed and culture,” Seabron told me. “If I can think of one position that is truly a speed and culture position, it’s wide receiver, right? They’re normally the ones that make the biggest plays, the biggest catches, and they’re normally some of the biggest personalities on the field. I think our athlete signings reflect who we’re trying to be as a category.” At the Pro Day, most members of Adidas’ 2026 signing class had their feet and gates measured. They ran through drills and wore sensors to help the innovation lab’s 70 cameras measure their every move. To help with the precision, Adidas has 20 “force plates” embedded into the 40-yard dash track. These force plates are planks in the floor that measure the force and angle at which the players are striking their feet. It’s all designed to deliver a special shoe for Adidas athletes. “They put a lot of detail into [the cleats],” Denzel Boston, who had 20 touchdown catches for Washington the past two seasons, told me. “They discuss what goes into the making of the cleats, when it comes to all the different tests that they do. Not only that, but also the way they design cleats, whether it’s to tell a story or it’s a collaboration through another brand to tell their story. They’re very detail-oriented in both those spaces.” Most of the athletes wanted to undergo extensive testing before they pick a shoe to wear during their rookie NFL seasons. And of course, the color scheme could change on April 23, when they hear their names called on draft day. But while they focus on footwear, the athletes spoke highly of Adidas’ overall presentation at the Pro Day. “I haven’t seen anything like that before,” Arvell Reese, Ohio State’s All-American linebacker, told me. “It was a surprise seeing all the tech. “It’s next level.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

With the NFL Draft just a few weeks away, scouting departments across the league are spending countless hours zeroing in on their favorite prospects in the Class of 2026. The purpose of this article is quite the opposite — we aimed to look back and provide some perspective on Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza. He’s the consensus top quarterback of this class, but how does he stack up against recent top-rated prospects at the position? Quarterbacks have been selected No. 1 overall in four of the past five drafts, while Caleb Williams (2024), Bryce Young (2023) and Trevor Lawrence (2021) were also ranked as the top prospects of their respective classes on my annual Big Board. I ranked C.J. Stroud No. 2 overall in my 2023 Big Board. Maye checked in at No. 6 on my 2024 Big Board, albeit amid an elite class with only fellow top-10 picks Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, Brock Bowers and Rome Odunze ranked ahead of him. This year’s class isn’t as rich at the top, and Mendoza checks in at No. 4 overall on my latest 2026 Big Board. But back to that 2024 board, for a moment. I had Daniels ranked two spots lower than Maye, with J.J. McCarthy ranked 23rd, Michael Penix Jr. 25th and Bo Nix 40th overall. Nix and Jaxson Dart (ranked 46th on my 2025 Big Board) were the only first-round quarterbacks since 2021 who I did not rank among the top 32 prospects in their respective draft classes. Clearly, I did not give either enough credit for how well their mobility and grit would transfer into immediate success in the NFL. Each has outplayed my expectations. But again, the purpose of this article is to rank Mendoza with regard to where I had the top quarterback prospects entering their respective drafts, and I can’t alter their pre-draft rankings now. As such, I’ll fess up and share the fact that, like many, I was intrigued by the upside offered by Anthony Richardson and Will Levis in 2023. I ranked them as the ninth and 13th best prospects, respectively, that year. And while Trevor Lawrence was the top prospect on my 2021 Big Board, Justin Fields was the second quarterback and ranked ninth overall, with Zach Wilson (10th), Trey Lance (13th) and Mac Jones (15th) also earning first-round grades. Playing quarterback at a high level in the NFL is just as much about poise and leadership as arm talent, and rarely are QBs equipped to handle the pressure after only starting a year or two at the college level. That fact led to several undeniably gifted quarterbacks with obvious first-round traits falling on my Big Boards. Not every year, after all, does a single quarterback even make my top 10. There wasn’t one in either of my 2022 or 2025 final rankings. I was stunned when Shedeur Sanders fell to the fifth round of last year’s draft, as he was my top-rated quarterback, ahead of Cam Ward. I had Sanders ranked as the No. 12 player in the 2025 class (with Ward No. 14), even when it was clear that Ward was going to be the Tennessee Titans’ choice with the first pick. The rankings of others — including by NFL teams — don’t impact the way I grade prospects. And that is nothing new. Back in 2022, I had Malik Willis ranked No. 19 overall and Kenny Pickett — the only quarterback drafted in the first round that year — listed 32nd. I feel confident that I’m evaluating Mendoza fairly without recency bias toward him or any of the quarterbacks who have since played in the NFL. Despite what you might have heard or read elsewhere, Mendoza’s rise to No. 1 overall this year was more steady than surprising. I listed him as a first-round candidate before the year began, and he personified his Hoosiers all year long, silencing critics throughout a magical season that culminated with the national championship and Heisman Trophy. Mendoza is far and away the top quarterback of this class and warrants being ranked among the top overall prospects of this draft. He offers an exciting blend of polish and untapped potential, with a skill set that projects well for the offense Klint Kubiak figures to employ with the Las Vegas Raiders. Along with physical traits like his prototypical frame, quick release and precision passing — including while on the move — Mendoza enters the NFL with above-average pre-snap awareness and proven poise. He projects as a Day 1 starter with the physical tools and intangibles to develop into a true franchise-changer. So, how does he rank among the best QB prospects from the previous five drafts? Here’s my list. My pre-draft ranking of the top QB prospects since 2021 … 22. Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss (No. 25 overall pick in 2025 by New York Giants)21. Bo Nix, Oregon (No. 12 overall pick in 2024 by Denver Broncos)20. Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh (No. 20 overall pick in 2022 by Pittsburgh Steelers)19. Ty Simpson, Alabama (2026 draft prospect)18. Will Levis, Kentucky (No. 33 overall pick in 2023 by Tennessee Titans)17. Michael Penix Jr., Washington (No. 8 overall pick in 2024 by Atlanta Falcons)16. Mac Jones, Alabama (No. 15 overall pick in 2021 by New England Patriots)15. Malik Willis, Liberty (No. 86 overall pick in 2022 by Tennessee Titans)14. J.J. McCarthy, Michigan (No. 10 overall pick in 2024 by Minnesota Vikings)13. Trey Lance, North Dakota State (No. 3 overall pick in 2021 by San Francisco 49ers)12. Cam Ward, Miami (No. 1 overall pick in 2025 by Tennessee Titans)11. Shedeur Sanders, Colorado (No. 144 overall pick in 2025 by Cleveland Browns) 10. Anthony Richardson Sr., Florida (No. 4 overall pick in 2023 by Indianapolis Colts)9. Zach Wilson, BYU (No. 2 overall pick in 2021 by New York Jets)8. Justin Fields, Ohio State (No. 11 overall pick in 2021 by Chicago Bears)7. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana (2026 draft prospect)6. Jayden Daniels, LSU (No. 2 overall pick in 2024 by Washington Commanders)5. Drake Maye, North Carolina (No. 3 overall pick in 2024 by New England Patriots)4. C.J. Stroud, Ohio State (No. 2 overall pick in 2023 by Houston Texans)3. Bryce Young, Alabama (No. 1 overall pick in 2023 by Carolina Panthers)2. Trevor Lawrence, Clemson (No. 1 overall pick in 2021 by Jacksonville Jaguars)1. Caleb Williams, USC (No. 1 overall pick in 2025 by Chicago Bears) How I’d rank them as of today … 22. Trey Lance, Chargers21. Zach Wilson, free agent 20. Kenny Pickett, Panthers 19. Will Levis, Titans18. Anthony Richardson Sr., Colts17. Justin Fields, Chiefs16. Ty Simpson15. Shedeur Sanders, Browns14. Mac Jones, 49ers13. J.J. McCarthy, Vikings12. Michael Penix Jr., Falcons11. Jaxson Dart, Giants 10. Malik Willis, Dolphins9. Cam Ward, Titans8. Fernando Mendoza7. Bryce Young, Panthers6. C.J. Stroud, Texans5. Jayden Daniels, Commanders 4. Bo Nix, Broncos3. Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars2. Caleb Williams, Bears1. Drake Maye, Patriots​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The first No. 1 seed succumbed around 9:35 p.m. ET on Sunday, by which time a last-ditch possession from Florida ended in a turnover by point guard Xaivian Lee as the final horn sounded, his wrap-around pass sailing fatefully awry. Moments earlier — before back-to-back timeouts that only amplified the searing tension at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida — Iowa forward Alvaro Folgueiras buried a 3-pointer from the right corner with 4.5 seconds remaining. He kissed his hand and pointed to the sky in celebration of what proved to be the winning basket, a swish that sent the Hawkeyes to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999. “As far as my guys go,” Iowa head coach Ben McCollum said in his postgame news conference, “it’s just tough. That’s all it is. It’s just tough kids. They fight. They compete. They stick with it. They exemplify everything that we’ve wanted in Iowa basketball. They’ve established the foundation that we’ve desperately needed, and [I] couldn’t be any more proud of them.” Iowa’s stunning upset capped a historic first weekend of the NCAA Tournament for the Big Ten, which sent a staggering six teams to the Sweet 16. The conference’s only schools that failed to advance to the second weekend were No. 5 Wisconsin and No. 8 Ohio State, who lost by three points combined. Here are my takeaways from Round 2: 1. This is the Big Ten’s best chance to end the championship drought [MEN’S BRACKET: NCAA Tournament Bracket, Leaders & Stats] Twenty-six years have passed since Michigan State cut down the nets in Indianapolis, where a young head coach named Tom Izzo defeated Florida to win the second national championship in program history. He was just five seasons into his career at that point, still a newbie on the big stage, and in that moment on April 3, 2000, almost everyone would have agreed that the Spartans were led by a man capable of dragging them to that pinnacle a few more times. Not only has Izzo been unable to replicate the success he enjoyed on that Monday night more than two decades ago — long before conference realignment, NIL and the transfer portal radically altered the landscape — but nobody else from the Big Ten could conquer college basketball either. Fifteen Big Ten teams have reached the Final Four since 2000, all of which fell short of the ultimate goal. But this particular year and this particular version of the NCAA Tournament is beginning to feel different — even though the journey began somewhat forebodingly when No. 5 Wisconsin tripped against No. 12 High Point in the opening round. Since then, the script has been entirely rewritten. Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska and Illinois all advanced to the Sweet 16 on Saturday, with the Wolverines and Illini both winning their respective matchups by at least 20 points. Purdue and Iowa joined the party on Sunday. There is at least one league representative still alive in each quadrant, meaning the possibility of a Final Four composed entirely of Big Ten schools is not out of the question. The conference sent multiple teams to the Final Four in 2005 (Michigan State, Illinois) and 2015 (Wisconsin, Michigan State) but finished on the wrong end of the national title game each time, twice producing runners-up. This year’s pack of contenders — led by a dominant No. 1 seed in Michigan and four others ranked among the top 12 nationally in KenPom — seems even deeper. Perhaps the Big Ten can become just the second conference in history to send three teams to the Final Four in a single season, which hasn’t happened since the Big East accomplished that feat in 1985. This is shaping up to be the league’s best chance of finally ending its national championship drought. 2. Duke vs. St. John’s is the most intriguing Sweet 16 matchup Ever since Duke entered the ACC Tournament without starting center Patrick Ngongba II and starting point guard Caleb Foster, both of whom were sidelined by injuries, the questions of how much and for how long the Blue Devils would be hamstrung have continued to hover over head coach Jon Scheyer and his team. Ngongba (foot) and Foster (foot) missed all three games that week as Duke disposed of Florida State, Clemson and Virginia to win the conference tournament. They both sat for the opening-round NCAA Tournament game against No. 16 Siena, watching as the Saints’ incredible upset bid fell a few minutes short. Finally, Ngongba returned to play 13 minutes in the Blue Devils’ second-round victory over No. 9 TCU on Saturday. He had four points, four rebounds and four assists while committing four turnovers and picking up four fouls in an up-and-down performance. But anyone who watched the Round of 32 matchup between No. 4 Kansas and No. 5 St. John’s — a game that head coach Rick Pitino’s team held on to win, 67-65 — will know that Foster’s absence now looms far larger than any lingering concerns about Ngongba. Time and again on Sunday, the Red Storm’s trademark full-court pressure disrupted the Jayhawks’ attempts to inbound the ball after made baskets. There were moments when inbounder Tre White threw passes that never touched his teammates’ hands, and others when those teammates couldn’t create enough separation to open quality passing angles. For Kansas to turn the ball over 16 times despite only averaging 10.7 per game all season speaks to how disjointed the operation really was. One of the primary questions for Scheyer and his staff to answer in the coming days is how to handle the press without Foster, whose broken foot is expected to sideline him until at least the Final Four — assuming, of course, that the Blue Devils can even make it to Indianapolis. Without Foster, who averages 8.5 points per game, Duke has turned the primary ball-handling responsibilities over to freshman Caden Boozer, who scored 19 crucial points in the win over Siena but was much quieter against TCU. The bigger concerns for Caden Boozer entering a game against St. John’s are his general lack of experience — he’s appeared in 60 fewer career games than Foster, a junior — and his turnover rate is nearly 5% higher than the starter he’s replacing, according to KenPom. There will be added pressure on fellow guards Isaiah Evans and Dame Sarr to help break the St. John’s press, but neither player is a prototypical ball handler. The stage is set for a fascinating chess match. 3. UConn survives to set up a massive clash with Michigan State No game in the Round of 32 was more beholden to an injury report than the battle between No. 2 UConn and No. 7 UCLA. The Huskies, who endured a legitimate upset scare from No. 15 Furman in the opening round, were navigating an ankle problem for starting point guard Silas Demary Jr. (10.9 points, 6.2 assists) and a knee issue for reserve wing Jaylin Stewart (4.5 points). The former had healed enough to give head coach Dan Hurley a few minutes in each half off the bench, while the latter hasn’t played since Feb. 21. UCLA, which fended off No. 10 UCF on Friday, was hopeful that power forward Tyler Bilodeau (team-high 17.6 points per game) could return after dealing with a knee problem suffered in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals against Michigan State. But in the end, Bilodeau missed his third consecutive game. Twenty-one minutes from Demary — who only scored two points but dished out four assists, grabbed three rebounds and swiped two steals — offered just enough ballast in support of fellow point guard Malachi Smith to help push the Huskies into the Sweet 16. Now, Demary will have several more days to heal before UConn travels to Washington, D.C., to face No. 3 Michigan State on Friday night. The impending showdown between the Huskies and Spartans will be a rematch of an exhibition game played at PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford, Connecticut, on Oct. 28. Hurley’s group led by 13 at halftime and dominated most of the evening in an eventual 76-69 victory. UConn limited Michigan State to 39.1% shooting and finished plus-four in the rebounding margin. But much has changed since then, given the five months of basketball that unfolded in between. Now, two of the most storied programs in the sport will meet with a trip to the Elite Eight on the line. 4. High Point head coach Flynn Clayman is a rising star [NCAA ODDS: Latest Men’s March Madness Odds, Favorites] The on-court interview Clayman gave following his team’s opening-round upset of No. 5 Wisconsin made waves across social media — the fire, the passion, the eternal scowl even after recording the biggest win of his career — but what his team did on Saturday by pushing fourth-seeded Arkansas to the brink, spoke volumes about his burgeoning coaching prowess. “We competed,” Clayman said in the postgame news conference following his team’s 94-88 loss to the Razorbacks. “We competed with the SEC champs, lottery picks, guys who are the best of the best. Our university, our team showed out. We showed out. We packed the house, we had fun, we played with confidence. We were expected to be good, but I don’t think anybody expected us to do what we did here: win 31 games, get to the [NCAA] Tournament, advance, push the SEC champs.” How did Clayman, a 37-year-old in his first season as a full-time head coach, accomplish such an incredible feat? The answer to that question undoubtedly includes the overwhelming support his Panthers receive from the school’s administration and donors, which Clayman acknowledged again on Saturday night. But just as important as High Point’s enviable infrastructure, particularly at the mid-major level, was Clayman’s roster construction that fit seamlessly with his desired style of play — a necessity in the sport’s offensive-driven modern era, according to numerous head coaches. He found a lightning-quick point guard via the transfer portal in Rob Martin, formerly of Southeast Missouri State and Indiana State, who could fuel an offense that ranked among the top 45 nationally in pace while maintaining the fourth-lowest turnover rate. He found an instant-impact wing in Cam’Ron Fletcher, formerly of Xavier, who poured in 25 points off the bench against Arkansas. He accentuated the rapid-fire release of 3-point specialist Chase Johnston with beautiful sets and actions that tormented the Razorbacks and Badgers. Those pieces allowed the Panthers to play beautiful, free-flowing basketball. With so many resources available to Clayman at High Point, a school so committed to supporting athletics that it chartered a plane to fly students to the NCAA Tournament, there’s no pressure for him to leave any time soon — though there will certainly be opportunities after what he accomplished this season. His enticing blend of youth, charisma, passion and basketball savvy make him a name to watch in the years to come. 4½. What’s next? Here are a few storylines to watch as we move into the Sweet 16: No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 2 Houston (Thursday) — This is now the sixth consecutive season that Houston ranks among the top 10 nationally for defensive efficiency. Kelvin Sampson’s squad held its first two NCAA Tournament opponents — Idaho and Texas A&M — to 104 points combined. But Illinois presents an entirely different kind of challenge. The Illini are currently sitting second nationally in offensive efficiency and spent most of the season leading the country in that category. This one should be a classic. No. 6 Tennessee vs. No. 2 Iowa State (Friday) — The Cyclones deserve tremendous credit for pulling away from seventh-seeded Kentucky with a 51-point second half on Sunday despite missing first-team All-American Joshua Jefferson, who sprained his left ankle in the opening round. Head coach T.J. Otzelberger said Jefferson will undergo an MRI on Monday to determine whether he can play in the Sweet 16. Tennessee, meanwhile, is making a fourth consecutive Sweet 16 appearance under head coach Rick Barnes. That represents the longest streak in program history. No. 4 Arkansas vs. No. 1 Arizona (Thursday) — Draft picks, draft picks and more draft picks. This is a game that NBA evaluators will have their eyes glued to given the incredible talent on both rosters. Arkansas has two potential first-round picks in point guard Darius Acuff Jr. (23.3 points per game) and shooting guard Meleek Thomas (15.6 points per game), both of whom are freshmen. Arizona has three potential first-round picks in shooting guard Brayden Burries (16 points per game) and power forward Koa Peat (13.7 points per game) — both of whom are also freshmen — and center Motiejus Krivas (10.4 points per game). It will be as star-studded as a college game can get.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Tyler Reddick opened the 2026 NASCAR season on a three-race win streak, and the winless streak that ensued didn’t match that. The No. 45 car raced to victory again on Sunday, taking home the checkered flag at the Goodyear 400 at Darlington Speedway in Darlington, South Carolina. Reddick opened Sunday’s race in pole position and appeared likely to have another strong showing early on. He led for over half of Stage 1 before multiple issues with his car caused him to fall back a bit. One of the issues Reddick dealt with was a cool suit malfunction, which took place early on in Stage 3. However, that didn’t deter him as he was able to regain the lead with just under 30 laps remaining. He never relinquished it, racing to his fourth victory in six races this season. Brad Keselowski, who dominated the middle portions of the race and won the first two stages, finished second after leading for 142 of the race’s 293 laps. Ryan Blaney came in third, while Carson Hocevar’s late push helped him finish fourth. The Winner Is… Tyler Reddick and Team 23XI have had a fantastic 2026 so far, winning four of the first six races. Reddick took the checkered flag at Daytona, Atlanta and COTA. Then he held off the field to cross the finish line first at Darlington. Reddick closed as the favorite to win at +300. On the oddsboard, he was followed by Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin. How The Race Was Won Tyler Reddick endured battery issues at Darlington, but that wasn’t enough to hold back the driver of the No. 45 car. He ended up leading the final 28 laps on Sunday and led 77 laps on the entire day. In the end, Reddick’s margin of victory was 5.847 seconds over Brad Keselowski to win the day. One Big Moment Every mistake has a price at Darlington, and Denny Hamlin’s contact at the race was no exception. Full results 1. Tyler Reddick 2. Brad Keselowski 3. Ryan Blaney 4. Carson Hocevar 5. Austin Cindric 6. Ty Gibbs 7. Daniel Suarez 8. William Byron 9. Chris Buescher 10. Erik Jones 11. Denny Hamlin 12. Chase Briscoe 13. Ryan Preece 14. Shane Van Gisbergen 15. Chase Elliott 16. Ross Chastain 17. Josh Berry 18. Connor Zillisch 19. Christopher Bell 20. Michael McDowell 21. Kyle Busch 22. Zane Smith 23. Todd Gilliland 24. Justin Allgaier 25. Austin Dillon 26. Noah Gragson 27. John H. Nemechek 28. Cole Custer 29. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 30. AJ Allmendinger 31. Ty Dillon 32. Kyle Larson 33. Joey Logano 34. Bubba Wallace 35. Riley Herbst 36. Cody Ware 37. Timmy Hill​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Outfielder Randy Arozarena insists everything is cool between him and his Seattle Mariners teammate Cal Raleigh after he made expletive-laden comments about the star catcher during the World Baseball Classic. Arozarena also apologized for the remarks he made about Raleigh. “I understand that with Opening Day a few days away, I don’t want it to be a distraction,” Arozarena said in a statement provided by the Mariners on Saturday. “Cal and I have talked, and I apologized for what I said after the game. Nothing in the WBC takes away from the fact that we are brothers and teammates. “He’s family, and we are both focused on helping the Mariners win the World Series.” Raleigh also expressed his appreciation for Arozarena following the Mariners’ 7-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs in their Cactus League game on Saturday night. “We talked it out, and everything went great,” Raleigh said. “Randy knows that I love him, and he’s a brother, and it’s in the past and none of us are carrying this forward. We’re in a good spot. We talked it out. We were both sorry, and we both got in a good place and we’re both happy to be here, too. It was really good walking in the door and seeing everybody. As fun as [the WBC] was, it was nice to feel back here. It feels like the family’s all back together in a way.” The drama between the two Mariners teammates was sparked by a moment during Team USA’s win over Mexico in pool play of the WBC. During the March 9 matchup, Raleigh (playing for Team USA) turned down a handshake from Arozarena when he went up to the plate for Mexico. Following the game, Arozarena used profane language when discussing Raleigh’s actions in an interview with Mexican journalist Luis Gilbert. Arozarena said Raleigh could “f— off” and “go to hell” in Spanish. Arozarena opted not to speak about his comments when he returned to the Mariners this past week, saying “the WBC is behind us now.” Raleigh also downplayed his teammate’s remarks when he met with reporters the day after Arozarena made them. The star catcher iterated that there was “no beef” between the two and apologized to Arozarena if he felt disrespected by the situation. Now, Arozarena and Raleigh will look to lift the Mariners to back-to-back American League West titles and another deep postseason. Arozarena hit a career-high 27 homers in his first full season with the Mariners in 2025, adding 76 RBIs and 31 stolen bases. As for Raleigh, he made history with his 60 home runs last season, which marked the most ever for a catcher in a single season. The Mariners will open their season with a four-game home series against the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

What a finish in Johannesburg, with two of the best golfers in the world taking center stage. Bryson DeChambeau held off Jon Rahm, taking down the Spaniard in a playoff for his second straight LIV Golf win. Rahm was electric on Sunday with an 8-under round, but he couldn’t finish it off against DeChambeau. Here are the takeaways: 1. LIV Golf’s biggest stars provide the fireworks Fans in Johannesburg were treated to an electric Sunday. DeChambeau started the day at 21-under par, three shots ahead of Rahm. The two-time major champion shot a 63 in the final round, though, to force a playoff. The pair played the 18th hole again, a 651-yard par-5. Both are big hitters, but it was DeChambeau who tapped in for birdie to seal his second LIV Golf victory in as many weeks. 2. DeChambeau finishes international events red-hot Two weeks ago, DeChambeau only had one top-15 finish through the first three LIV events of 2026. Now, he has two wins. DeChambeau posted three of his five best rounds in 2026 this week in Johannesburg, starting hot at 21-under through three rounds. If it wasn’t for Rahm’s hot Sunday, he would have cruised to victory. DeChambeau is now second in the points standings behind Rahm, who has four top-two finishes this season (his other finish was fifth in Singapore last week). LIV Golf’s two biggest stars are clear of the field through five events. 3. Anirban Lahiri delivers for Crushers GC It looked like Southern Guards GC, a team of four South Africans, was going to have a feel-good story this week in its home country. And then Anirban Lahiri happened on Sunday. Crushers GC finished the week at 76-under, one stroke better than Southern Guards. The driving force on Sunday was Lahiri, who shot an 8-under 63. DeChambeau shot a 66, while Paul Casey and Charles Howell III also delivered solid 67s. Lahiri delivered by far his best finish this week at T9. He shot 8-under on both Saturday and Sunday to get to a 20-under finish after starting with a pair of 2-under rounds. Crushers GC moves into third with the win, trailing Ripper GC in first and 4Aces GC. 4. What a week in Johannesburg LIV Golf welcomed more than 100,000 fans to Steyn City this week, which was a great way to cap the international start to its season that began in Asia and ended in South Africa. The Club at Steyn City will again host LIV Golf South Africa in 2027, although it will be in late April next year. “Our return to South Africa in 2027 is a proud moment for LIV Golf,” LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil said. “The success of this week’s inaugural event reaffirmed what we’ve long known — South Africa is home to a vibrant golf culture, world‑class talent, and fans whose passion elevates the game.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

These are the definitive rivalries of North American sports. Some of these rivalries span more than 100 years, while others have taken on a life of their own over the past decade. What they all have in common: These matchups mean a little more when the teams face off. Here’s our list of the best rivalries across the continent and major sports: 10. Dodgers vs. Giants Rowan Kavner: This rivalry dates back to the 1800s, long before both teams moved from New York to California in 1958. Remarkably, they’ve each won exactly 1,288 games against the other in their regular-season history. Among the most historic meetings were the 1889 World Series and Bobby Thomson’s “Shot Heard Round the World” to win the pennant in 1951. The teams spent much of the 60s battling for the pennant, and the geographical rivalry has always heightened the animosity between the franchises and their supporters. That has led to some ugly moments on the field (Hall of Famer Juan Marichal once clubbed Dodgers catcher John Roseboro over the head with a bat in 1965) and even uglier and more violent events off the field between their fans. There have been some on-field sparks in recent years, including in the 2010s between Yasiel Puig and Madison Bumgarner and later between Bumgarner and Max Muncy, who told the Giants pitcher to go get his ball out of the ocean after the southpaw took exception to the Dodgers slugger watching a home run in 2019. The rivalry hasn’t been quite as heated lately, though, largely because the Dodgers have dominated the division while the Giants have finished third or worse in the NL West in eight of the last nine seasons. Still, the 2021 season did see one of the biggest battles in recent memory between the clubs, when the Dodgers and Giants met in a postseason series for the first time in modern baseball history. The Giants won the division that year with a record 107 victories — one more than the 106-win Dodgers — before meeting in the NLDS, which the Dodgers won in five games. 9. Cowboys vs. Eagles Ralph Vacchiano: The NFC East is loaded with bitter rivals, backed by rich, intense, and sometimes violent histories. But especially in the intense and violent department, it’s hard to top the war that stretches halfway across the country between Philadelphia and Dallas. There have been many great, nail-biting games between the teams, including the 1980 NFC Championship. But the intensity is still symbolized by two games in 1989, known as the “Bounty Bowls” and sparked by a bitter feud between Eagles coach Buddy Ryan and Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson, who accused Ryan of offering rewards to his team for injuring Cowboys players. Their war of words got so intense that when the Cowboys came to Philadelphia later that season, it was one of the ugliest games in NFL history—marred by fans throwing snow, ice, and other objects from the stands, hitting players, coaches and officials. Not all the 134 games between these teams have been like that, of course. But the intensity between these two NFC East powers is often off the charts. 8. Steelers vs. Ravens Vacchiano: It’s a relatively new rivalry, since the Baltimore Ravens didn’t exist until 1996. But it even though it lacks a lengthy history, it has quickly become an annual clash of the NFL titans. The Ravens have had just five losing seasons since the turn of the century. The Steelers have had only one. And since the NFL realigned into the current division format in 2002, either the Ravens or the Steelers have won the AFC North 18 of the last 24 times. In other words, when they play, it usually matters a lot. That includes five times in the playoffs and the 2008 AFC Championship Game. And added to that is the cold, northeast weather in two outdoor stadiums; the tough, running styles both teams have built over the years; and their two long-term coaches (John Harbaugh and Mike Tomlin), who faced off 40 times over two decades in the regular season and four more in the playoffs. As Steelers WR Hines Ward once said, “The coaches hate each other. The players hate each other. There’s no calling each other after the game and inviting each other out to dinner. They don’t like us, and we don’t like them. There’s no need to hide it. They know it, and we know it.” 7. Army vs. Navy Michael Cohen: Part of what makes college football so wonderful, so uniquely American, is the sport’s unparalleled pageantry. The huge stadiums, the beautiful campuses, the raucous student sections, the snappy marching bands, the lasting traditions. Taken together, all of it provides a truly unique window into this country’s culture. The annual Army-Navy game embodies all of that and more. It’s a rivalry that embodies all the best societal aspects of college football and then infuses them with immense national pride, the Commander in Chief of the armed forces and throwback ideology that reminds viewers of a simpler time. “Go Army, Beat Navy!” and “Go Navy, Beat Army!” are rallying cries that even casual fans can appreciate. 6. Duke vs. North Carolina Cohen: This rivalry is as good and as vitriolic as it gets in college basketball. With the campuses of Duke and North Carolina separated by just nine miles, the annual battles between the Blue Devils and Tar Heels are as much about geographic supremacy as they are the storied histories of each school. It means something to have bragging rights on Tobacco Road. And then there’s the overwhelming success enjoyed by both programs: Five national championships and 18 Final Fours for Duke. Six national championships and 21 Final Fours for North Carolina. Hall-of-Fame coaches in Mike Krzyzewski (Duke), Dean Smith (North Carolina) and Roy Williams (North Carolina). More than 100 combined first-round draft picks. Oh, and some guy named Michael Jordan. What more could you want? 5. Lakers vs. Celtics Kavner: Nothing stokes the flames of a rivalry like the postseason, and these two storied franchises have met in the finals more than any other pair in NBA history. The first occasion was in 1959. It has happened 11 more times since, including six matchups in the 60s and another three in the 80s. The Celtics, under head coach Red Auerbach and later player-coach Bill Russell, had dominated the matchup, winning the first eight title bouts between the teams until Magic Johnson’s “Showtime” Lakers finally conquered Larry Bird and company in 1985 after losing to the Celtics in the finals the season prior. The Lakers would beat the Celtics in the finals again two years later in 1987, starting a lengthy championship drought in Boston. The Celtics wouldn’t make another finals appearance until 2008 against…well, guess who? The rivalry was renewed that year when Doc Rivers’ Celtics beat the Lakers to win the title. Two years later, Phil Jackson’s Lakers responded by triumphing in a seven-game battle against Boston to win their second straight championship. When the Celtics beat the Mavericks in the finals two years ago, it gave them their 18th NBA championship, breaking a tie with the Lakers for the most in NBA history. 4. USA vs. Mexico (soccer) Doug McIntyre: Although the United States won the maiden encounter between the teams in 1934, the first five decades of this cross-border rivalry really weren’t very exciting. Soccer-crazy Mexico completely owned its bigger, richer neighbors, who poured their attention and their money into traditional American sports. The U.S. wouldn’t beat El Tri again for another 46 years. In the 1990s, everything changed. The USMNT qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 40 years, partly because Mexico was disqualified for fielding overage players at a youth competition. The Americans upset El Tri on route to winning the regional Gold Cup in 1991, then in 1994 hosted what remains the best-attended tournament ever. The world’s game essentially went mainstream, and the arrival of MLS raised the quality and the sheer number of players available to the USMNT. Since the start of this century, the U.S has posted record of 19-11-8 (wins-loss-draws) against their former tormentors, including a string of 2-0 World Cup qualifying wins in Ohio plus the most famous dos-cero of them all: an unforgettable Round of 16 triumph at the main event in Korea/Japan in 2002 that stands as the Americans’ only World Cup knockout stage victory in program history. Mexico still leads the overall series, though, with 38 wins to the Stars and Stripes’ 24. 3. Packers vs. Bears Vacchiano: It isn’t quite the oldest rivalry in the NFL, but no two teams have played in each other more than the ones in Green Bay and Chicago. They’ve played 213 times, including the playoffs, dating back to a 20-0 win by the then-Chicago Staleys 105 years ago. And since then, they’ve played each other at least once in all but two of those years. Since they haven’t often been good at the same time—especially over the last 60 years–the big matchups tend to be an even bigger deal—like when they faced off in the wild-card round last season (a 31-27 Bears win), or the 2010 NFC championship (a 21-14 win). But it’s the history and personality that make this great. Two cold, northern cities with games played in outdoor stadiums. Two tough, hardened, blue-collar fan bases. And few franchises share their rich history—a combined 22 NFL championships and 61 Hall of Famers, making them the top two teams in both categories. There’s never a doubt that they are each other’s most important game of the season. It’s why, after the playoff win in January, Bears coach Ben Johnson stormed into his locker room screaming, “F—the Packers”. And when he said later, “I don’t like that team,” everyone on both sides understood. It’s a multi-generational thing. 2. Michigan vs. Ohio State Cohen: How much really needs to be said about this one? It’s the greatest rivalry in college football and one of the fiercest in all of American sports. Not only is “The Game” worthy of a moniker that informs everyone of exactly which matchup you’re referring to — even without mentioning a single school by name — it’s also a 365-day way of life for those who support either Michigan or Ohio State. There’s a reason the two programs spend all year counting down to that magical Saturday afternoon in November. And there’s a reason why conspiracy theories run wild among the fan bases. That both schools have carried their unparalleled national success from the 20th century into the 21st only strengthens this rivalry’s already immense appeal. Michigan has more victories than any other program in college football history. Ohio State is second on that prestigious list. They’ve spearheaded a renaissance in the Big Ten that has seen the conference produce the sport’s last three national champions. “The Game” will always be synonymous with college football royalty. 1. Yankees vs. Red Sox Deesha Thosar: The 107-year rivalry between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox isn’t just baseball’s defining feud. It’s the greatest rivalry in North American sports because it blends history, geography, culture, and competitiveness in a way few others can match. This high-stakes divisional clash — famously featuring Curt Schilling’s bloody sock, Alex Rodriguez’s glove slap, Wade Boggs sitting on the bench and beating Don Mattingly for the 1986 batting title, and countless violent bench-clearing brawls — traces back over a century, most famously to the 1919 sale of Babe Ruth from Boston to New York, which sparked the “Curse of the Bambino.” For 86 years after that deal, the Yankees dominated baseball, building a dynasty while the Red Sox endured heartbreak after heartbreak, turning every meeting into a bitter duel packed with resentment and arrogance. The Red Sox and all their ghosts played with a chip on their shoulder until 2004’s American League Championship Series, when Boston staged an unprecedented comeback from a 3-0 series deficit to defeat the Yankees. In Game 4, David “Big Papi” Ortiz became forever villainized in New York after launching a 12th-inning walk-off home run at Fenway Park, giving the Red Sox their first win of the series. They rode that victory all the way to their first World Series title since 1918. Even in the modern era, the rivalry has lived on. Yankees vs. Red Sox games feel different, complete with arguments in the stands, louder-than-life chants, and dramatic five-hour marathons (yes, even in the pitch clock era). Yankees rookie right-hander Cam Schlitter gave new life to the rivalry last October when the Walpole native held the Red Sox, his favorite childhood team, to eight shutout innings while delivering 12 strikeouts. It’s still a heavyweight fight, with generations of players and fans inheriting the tension. The rivalry is as much about pride as wins and losses. That enduring intensity is why it stands as North America’s greatest rivalry.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

BMO Stadium (Los Angeles) – Put some respect on his name. Team USA football player Darrell Doucette spoke for the rest of his teammates after manhandling some of the best NFL players in the game, winning the inaugural Fanatics Flag Football Championship on Saturday. An emotional and teary-eyed Doucette, who won MVP of the tournament, was thankful for the opportunity for his team to highlight their skills, letting the world know what they do is much different than the tackle football being played on Sundays. “Those guys that we competed against, they didn’t know what they were getting themselves into,” Doucette said. “They just thought that they were going to come out and play. But I think we gained a lot of respect from those guys. “Of course, we are fans of those guys. We love just being in their presence, not necessarily competing against them, but being in their presence and them accepting us. They gave us a lot of respect and a lot of credit.” Team USA’s cat-quick, shifty athletes routinely slid past their NFL counterparts, as the more experienced national team players dominated play on Saturday, finishing 3-0 in the round-robin tournament. Here are my takeaways: 1. Yep, Tom Brady can still play On the opening drive of the game, Brady engineered his most impressive two-play sequence on the day. Brady evaded a would-be pass rusher who attempted to grab his flag by side-stepping him to the left, then delivering a dart to the back of the end zone to Stefon Diggs. Brady followed that up by finding his security blanket in the pros, connecting with tight end Rob Gronkowski for the two-point version as Team Founder took an 8-0 lead to start the game against Team USA. It was short-lived, though, as Team USA marched down the field to tie the game en route to a runaway victory over Brady’s hand-picked team. The seven-time Super Bowl champion finished 8-of-12 for 61 yards with two touchdown passes and no interceptions, while his team finished 0-2 on the day. While the NFL players struggled, Brady said not to rule out the possibility of elite athletes from the highest level of football learning the flag football game over the next two years to make their way onto Team USA by the Olympics. “There’s going to be a selection process, and may the best people play,” Brady said. “That’s the best thing about team sports, it’s a meritocracy. Whoever gives the team the best opportunity to win, that’s who should be out there. There’s a long way from that happening, a couple years. “But I think it’s just good for NFL players to see what this is all about. The NFL players are great athletes. We were literally learning how to take flags off two days ago. Those guys did a great job. I don’t want to take anything away from them. But there’s certainly a long way to go before the selection process happens.” 2. Team USA is the clear winner Team USA accomplished its goal of proving it can compete against the NFL-level talent that was on the field opposite it on Saturday. More experienced and practiced in playing flag football, that wizardry showed as NFL players were routinely fooled schematically or just could not catch the smaller, quicker players on USA Football on the smaller field in open space. It was surprising to see elite NFL athletes struggle to keep up with the Team USA, which makes you wonder how the selection process will be handled two years from now for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. “With that 5-vs-5 field, it’s not as big as a natural football field,” Doucette said. “You can’t get into the deep balls like they’re accustomed to. A 40-yard dash doesn’t mean anything. It’s 50 yards. You’re only going to run 40 yards when you run down the field to the end zone. So, a 40 doesn’t matter. “It’s all about being able to be a little twitchy or quicker. But we just wanted to showcase our talents. And those guys respected us. They treated us great all week, and it’s been a blessing.” 3. Odell Beckham Jr. is still that dude The LSU product sat out last season and served a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy. The 33-year-old receiver certainly looked like he could help an NFL team during the flag football event, though, finishing with a handful of spectacular catches, including a one-handed grab over two Team USA defenders in the back of the end zone for a score. Team USA head coach Jorge Cascudo took notice, pointing to Beckham as an NFL player who could successfully make the transition to his team. “Odell’s a great athlete,” Cascudo said. “He made an excellent catch in our game, and I was like, ‘Whoa. There’s a spot whenever you’re interested. Come talk to me. We’ll put you in trials and come compete.'” 4. NFL players face a steep learning curve in flag football Hall of Famer Luke Kuechly understands NFL players have an uphill climb to learn the flag football game and compete for a spot on the USA Flag Football team. Bulkier players like Kuechly are not built for the short-area quickness required to make plays on the smaller flag football field. “Me and Logan [Paul], we’re not built for this type of game,” Kuechly said. “I think when you look at it, you build it with corner and nickel [defenders] on the defensive side of the ball. And then fast, skilled guys on the other side of the ball. “It was a tremendous opportunity for me to play. I loved it. The fellowship, camaraderie and the opportunity to put cleats on again was great. … But it feels like a nickels and corners game on the defensive side of the ball.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports