GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida’s visit from No. 19 Miami on Saturday in the Swamp has a make-or-break feel. A victory would provide season-opening optimism for Billy Napier. A loss would rekindle doomsday scenarios for the third-year coach. Neither result or reaction might have staying power against a schedule featuring seven subsequent preseason Top-25 foes. But perception is reality when a …

Where eight 49ers stars rank on ESPN’s list of top-100 NFL players originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area With the 2024 NFL season nearing, ESPN has released its rankings for the top 100 players, and the 49ers boast a league-leading eight entries. San Francisco stars Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Brock Purdy, George Kittle, Fred Warner, Nick Bosa, Trent Williams …

Aug. 27—It was 671 days between Shawnee’s 33-19 win over Lima Central Catholic on the opening night of high school football Thursday and the last time the Indians celebrated a victory on the final night of the 2022 regular season. But it was a mere 56 seconds that played a huge role in Thursday night’s victory, which Shawnee hopes means …

Odell Beckham Jr. will begin the 2024 season on the physically unable to perform list and will miss at least the first four games of the regular season. Beckham, who signed a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins in May, has yet to suit up for his new team because of an undisclosed injury. The Dolphins added the three-time Pro …

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said Tuesday that he expects wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase to be on the field Week 1 when the team opens up against the New England Patriots. Asked if he felt confident the three-time Pro Bowler would be ready to play come Sept. 8, Taylor replied simply, “Yes.” Chase did not play in any of …

Keep an eye on Marmion’s Mateusz Nycz. It shouldn’t be hard. The senior tight end/outside linebacker has always been big for his age but keeps growing. It prompted a position change this year under a new coach, changing Nycz’s outlook on the game. An offensive lineman since he started playing football at age 5, Nycz will get his chance to …

The Colts’ preseason finale against the Cincinnati Bengals last week showcased the full Anthony Richardson experience.  He was dialed in on Indianapolis’ opening drive, displaying complete command of Shane Steichen’s offense. Richardson went 7-of-8 for 65 yards and a touchdown.  But it was a rollercoaster the rest of the way. He completed just one of his final seven passes for …

Once considered to be battling Easton Stick for the No. 2 quarterback job, Luis Perez (11) did not make the Chargers’ 53-man roster. (Ryan Sun / Associated Press) Luis Perez and Isaiah Spiller were notable cuts Tuesday as the Chargers reduced their roster to 53 players by the NFL’s mandatory deadline. Perez was signed midway through the camp to compete …

GAINESVILLE — Florida’s visit from No. 19 Miami on Saturday in the Swamp has a make-or-break feel. A victory would provide season-opening optimism for Billy Napier. A loss would rekindle doomsday scenarios for the third-year coach. Neither result or reaction might have staying power against a schedule featuring seven subsequent preseason Top-25 foes. But perception is reality when a program …

Former rugby union star Louis Rees-Zammit has not been selected in the Kansas City Chiefs’ 53-man squad for the 2024 season. The former Wales winger, who quit rugby in January to pursue a career in the NFL, has been training with the Chiefs throughout the offseason. The 23-year-old played in all three of their pre-season games, but missed out on …

EAST LANSING — Jonathan Smith warned about “chasing ghosts.” So did Joe Rossi. In other words, Michigan State football’s new staff can’t worry as much about what Florida Atlantic did a year ago. Their focus needs to be on adjusting to what they see on the field when the Spartans kick off the season Friday night. And on themselves. “I …

NFL roster cuts: Best available players for Patriots to consider adding originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston The New England Patriots have finalized their initial 53-man roster, but there could still be more roster changes between now and Week 1 of the NFL regular season. The Patriots still need help on the offensive line. The problem is there aren’t many …

The countdown to the official start of the Manny Diaz era at Duke is down to five days. Diaz, the longtime defensive-minded coach who recently spent two seasons as the defensive coordinator at Penn State, takes over a Duke football program that saw time in the national polls last season under Mike Elko, who left for Texas A&M in the …

Eric Williams NFL Reporter Cooper Kupp is looking for some redemption. The last time Kupp was fully healthy, he put together one of the most historic campaigns in league history, leading the league in catches (145), receiving yards (1,947) and receiving touchdowns (16) on his way to earning NFL Offensive Player of the Year and MVP of the Super Bowl. …

Though he missed a chunk of training camp, Simone Biles’ husband’s job with the Chicago Bears is safe. Safety Jonathan Owens officially made the Bears’ 53-man roster on Tuesday afternoon. While that may not have been much of a surprise, Owens’ training camp was unlike perhaps anyone else’s in the league this summer. Owens left midway through camp to go …