Za’Darius Smith and the Detroit Lions will host the Green Bay Packers for an NFC North battle during this week’s edition of Thursday Night Football. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) If they were in another division, the 9-3 Green Bay Packers might find themselves sitting in the number one spot, but they’re currently No. 3 in the NFC North, outranked this season …

The Oregon Ducks are gearing up to play the Penn State Nittany Lions in the 2024 Big Ten Championship, which is something almost nobody expected to be saying a week ago. The Ducks punched their ticket to the conference championship after beating Maryland on their way to a perfect 12-0 season, and Penn State got in because of Ohio State’s …

(Tim Hubbard / Los Angeles Times) Los Angeles Times NFL writer Sam Farmer examines the matchups this week. Lines according to FanDuel Sportsbook (O/U = over/under). Record last week 16-0 (1.000); season 131-64 (.672). Using point spreads with the scores Farmer predicted, the record against the spread last week would have been 11-5 (.686); season 106-87-2 (.549). OFF: Broncos, Colts, …

Wisconsin Badgers safety Hunter Worker and offensive lineman Jack Nelson accepted invitations to the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl on Wednesday. Wohler and Nelson are among 72 players to accept invitations as of Dec. 4. Serving as somewhat of a post-season college football all-star game, the Senior Bowl aims to showcase NFL Draft prospects who have finalized their college eligibility. NFL …

The Chargers’ Justin Herbert (10) embraces Patrick Mahomes (15) after a 17-10 Chiefs win at SoFi Stadium. The Chargers’ quarterback claims the team has changed plenty since that September meeting. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) Justin Herbert’s haircut isn’t the only thing that’s changed since the Chargers last played the kings of the AFC West. Not only will his …

Dec 31, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; ESPN analyst and Georgia Bulldogs former player David Pollack looks on before the 2022 Peach Bowl against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports The No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs and No. 2 Texas Longhorns have a rematch in the SEC championship this Saturday. Winning the conference championship is paramount …

Despite a Rams victory, quarterback Matthew Stafford took quite a beating from Bryan Bresee (90) and the Saints defense last week. (Associated Press) Matthew Stafford has played nearly 16 NFL seasons, absorbing hits that resulted in broken bones, strains, sprains and bruises. Has the Rams quarterback played a full season without an injury? “No,” Stafford said Wednesday, chuckling. Stafford, 36, …

Over the years, no conference has dominated national signing day quite like the SEC. And even as traditional recruiting has been diminished by the transfer portal, the league continues to lead the Bowl Subdivision. Take the case of Mississippi State, for example. The Bulldogs signed two of the top in-state recruits in linebacker Tyshun Willis and quarterback KaMario Taylor as …

Injuries have been mounting for the Lions and they will be missing four players from the active roster in Thursday night’s game against the Packers. Left tackle Taylor Decker will miss his second straight game with a knee injury. Dan Skipper started in Decker’s place on Thanksgiving and played all but one of the team’s offensive snaps. The Lions also …

A local player primed for a big role in 2025 has opted to leave the Arkansas football program. Isaiah Sategna announced his intention to enter the transfer portal Wednesday night, hours after the Razorbacks signed 22 recruits on early signing day. Sategna graduated from Fayetteville High School and was a consensus four-star prospect in the 2022 class. Sategna is coming …

Dealing with injuries to Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason at running back, the 49ers have made a move at the position. San Francisco has signed Patrick Taylor to the 53-man roster off the team’s practice squad. Taylor has appeared in eight games for San Francisco this year, recording 25 yards rushing on seven carries. He’s also caught a 12-yard pass. …

Aug 31, 2024; College Station, Texas, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman reacts in the fourth quarter against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports The 2025 Notre Dame football recruiting class has been signed, and we now can officially call each of them a member of the Irish program. A …

On Tuesday, Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers made more comments to Pat McAfee and A.J. Hawk regarding the connection between ownership behavior and football success. On Wednesday, Rodgers acknowledged that ownership of his current team doesn’t do one of the things Rodgers believes owners should do. “There needs to be a return to hiring the right person at General Manager, head …

Penn State football is preparing to face its toughest test of the 2024 season. The No. 3 Nittany Lions (11-1) will try to win a Big Ten championship on Saturday against the nation’s No. 1 Oregon Ducks in Indianapolis (8:17 p.m., CBS). There’s a lot on the line for James Franklin’s Lions beyond that title, though. They’ll be fighting for …

The Packers will play without wide receiver Romeo Doubs and cornerback Jaire Alexander again this week. Doubs was a limited participant in practice all of this week, but Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said he has not cleared the concussion protocol and will not play against the Lions on Thursday night. Alexander practiced on a limited basis on Monday and …