CHICAGO — Despite its proximity to Chicago, Indiana is not exactly as beloved as our other neighbors. Wisconsin is like our backyard neighbor who lets us use their pool any time. Michigan is like an old friend who stays out for “one more” after everyone else has gone home. Indiana? It’s a toll road that rips us off on our …

Jerry Jones is a glass half-full kind of guy. Where others, including players on his own team, see a literally glaring problem with a simple fix, he sees upside. Two days after extolling the virtues of the giant westward-facing window at AT&T Stadium, the Dallas Cowboys team owner doubled down on Tuesday while continuing to insist the blinding sunlight the …

The teams left in the WPIAL football playoff field in the Beaver Valley have been cut down to two, as Central Valley and Ellwood City look to punch tickets to Acrisure Stadium this week, in the third week of the playoffs. Let’s take a look at the two semifinal matchups featuring area teams this week: Class 3A: No. 2 Central …

Sunday’s Ravens-Steelers matchup is a big game in one of the NFL’s best rivalries, and a continuation of one of the league’s most significant coaching rivalries as well. Ravens coach John Harbaugh and Steelers coach Mike Tomlin will coach against each other for the 36th time on Sunday. Harbaugh became the Ravens’ coach in 2008, a year after Tomlin became …

Just 64 teams remain in the Illinois postseason, and among the surviving teams are at least 36 players expected to play on Saturday afternoons for some of the nation’s top programs. Before games kick off, here is a list of the top recruits still playing in the IHSA playoffs, according to the recruiting site 247sports.com, along with their information, their …

After defeating the Bengals last Thursday, the Ravens got back on the field for an extra practice on Tuesday in advance of their Week 11 matchup with the Steelers. According to multiple reporters on the scene, safety Kyle Hamilton (ankle) and tight end Isaiah Likely (hamstring) both were not participating in the session. Hamilton suffered his ankle injury during the …

PISCATAWAY – Not too long ago Ian Strong and KJ Duff were starring at St. Anthony’s High School on Long Island. Now they’re in Rutgers football uniforms, establishing roles within the Scarlet Knights offense and becoming go-to weapons for quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis. “Those two guys are awfully talented, and to think that they were on the same high school team …

The Texans activated wide receiver Nico Collins from injured reserve last Saturday, but he wound up being on the inactive list for their loss to the Lions on Sunday night. It was a surprise that the team went ahead with activating Collins, who had missed four games with a hamstring injury, without playing him. He could have remained on injured …

The Holbrook/Avon co-op high school football team, which has battled declining participation numbers all season, has opted to end its season prematurely. The Bulldogs (0-6) chose not to participate in either of the two available consolation-game weeks, and they have withdrawn from their Thanksgiving eve matchup with South Shore Tech, ending a yearly tradition that began in 2017. South Shore …

The Bears can’t get their effort to muster political support — and taxpayer money — for a new stadium off the ground. In an effort to kickstart the stadium construction quest, the Bears are now considering a Chicago location they’d previously written off. Via Crain’s Chicago Business, the Bears have taken a new look at the site of the former …

Army’s path to a College Football Playoff spot is still an uphill climb but now there’s a new threat. The Black Knights (9-0) jumped up one spot, to No. 24, in the second CFP rankings released Tuesday night. However, fellow American Athletic Conference member Tulane has slipped into Army’s old spot at No. 25. On Saturday, Army beat North Texas …

The Chiefs are getting healthier. Both running back Isiah Pacheco and defensive end Charles Omenihu are being designated to return to practice in Kansas City this week, according to multiple reports. It’s not clear if Pacheco or Omenihu will play on Sunday against the Bills, but both of them would be eligible to do so if the Chiefs decide to …

BLOOMINGTON – Tuesday’s might have been the most important pre-Selection Sunday College Football Playoff rankings from Indiana’s perspective. And the Hoosiers appear to have gotten good news in batches. IU jumped three spots, from No. 8 to No. 5, in the committee’s latest top 25. Were the season to end today, that would position Indiana to host a first-round game …

The Raiders are getting one of their offensive contributors back on the field. Las Vegas announced tight end Michael Mayer returned to practice. Mayer has been on the non-football injury list since Oct. 11 due to undisclosed personal reasons. He has not played since the Raiders’ Week 3 loss to the Panthers. A second-round pick in 2023, Mayer caught four …

Tennessee football was passed by Indiana and BYU in the College Football Playoff poll because they won “big games” over Michigan and Utah, respectively, the CFP selection committee chair said. That was part of the explanation for why the Vols remained at No. 7 in the latest CFP ranking, which was released on Tuesday. “It really came down to the …