Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson has won just one of five career starts against Pittsburgh.Photograph: Loren Elliott/Getty Images Game of the week Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4) v Baltimore Ravens (9-5) The battle for the AFC North nears its climax with two bitter rivals gutting it out for hallowed home-field advantage in the playoffs. If the Pittsburgh Steelers continue their hot streak and …

Dylan Widger-Imagn Images Nebraska football hired UCF Knights defensive coordinator Addison Wiliams as defensive backs coach. The program made the announcement on Thursday. Williams led a talented Knights secondary in 2023. They allowed the fewest passing yards per game with 196.7. They also allowed only 12 touchdown passes, the fewest allowed since the 2001 season. Williams also worked as the …

It’s been three drives and the Chargers cannot stop the Broncos’ offense. Bo Nix threw his second touchdown of the game — this time to fellow rookie Devaughn Vele for a 6-yard score to give Denver a 21-10 lead midway through the second quarter. With 6:22 left in the second quarter, the Broncos already have 219 yards. They’re averaging 7.8 …

BLOOMINGTON — The first round of this year’s College Football Playoff will bring together neighbors that haven’t seen each other in awhile. Indiana football’s (11-1) matchup against Notre Dame (11-1) in South Bend will be only the second game between the programs since 1958.  The Irish lead the all-time series between the schools with a 23-5-1 record — IU hasn’t beaten Notre …

Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (knee) remained a full participant in Thursday’s practice, and he had his best weapons back with him. Running back Kenneth Walker III (calf), receiver DK Metcalf (shoulder) and wide receiver Tyler Lockett (rest) returned to full participation a day after missing practice. Running back Zach Charbonnet (oblique) returned to practice on a limited basis. Tight end …

The Georgia Bulldogs are getting ready to play the College Football Playoff without star quarterback Carson Beck, sources confirmed to ESPN. The sports network said Beck is exploring surgery options to repair an elbow injury on his throwing arm. ESPN said Beck hasn’t practiced with the team since Georgia’s victory against Texas in the SEC Championship game. RELATED STORIES: After …

The Broncos — who will clinch a playoff berth with a win — dominated the first two quarters of Thursday night’s game against the Chargers and enter halftime with a 21-13 lead. Denver scored three touchdowns on its first three possessions, with a sack on the fourth putting the club behind the chains to eventually bring up a punt. But …

Columbus football set the tone by scoring three first quarter touchdowns and rolled to a 48-14 win against Malakoff to capture the Class 3A Division I state championship on Thursday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. It’s the first state championship for the Cardinals, who conclude the season with a 15-1 record. “We played really well as a team and against …

It takes a specific circumstance for an NFL team to try a fair catch free kick. That’s why one hadn’t been made in almost 50 years. On Thursday night, viewers got a lesson on a little-known rule: the fair catch free kick. The Denver Broncos couldn’t run out the rest of the first half against the Los Angeles Chargers so …

Dec. 19—PULLMAN — Like many Washington State players, Djouvensky Schlenbaker didn’t know coach Jake Dickert was leaving the program until Wednesday morning. He doesn’t usually check his phone much past 9 p.m., he said, which means he missed out on any chatter around the possibility. So even early Wednesday morning, when the Cougars’ third-year running back got a text about …

Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker made the first successful fair-catch kick since 1976, and it was the longest such kick in NFL history. A little known NFL rule allows a team the right to take a free kick from the line of scrimmage on the next play following a fair catch. It essentially is a field goal with a holder (but …

ARLINGTON — The UIL Class 3A Division I was headlined by a star-studded group of college football prospects. In addition to Wyoming signee Grayson Rigdon, who notched four rushing touchdowns, cousins Adam and John Schobel both logged incredible performances. Adam Schobel earned the game’s offensive MVP award, while John Schobel was named the contest’s defensive MVP. More: Reign on: Gunter …

The Broncos had a chance to clinch a postseason berth with a victory over the Chargers on Thursday night. They can still get to the postseason if they get some help over the weekend. But head coach Sean Payton called the 34-27 loss to the Chargers disappointing because his club had so much at stake. “We had a fast start, …

Maybe the most pleasant surprise for Penn State in the Big Ten championship-game loss was the outstanding play of its offensive linemen. The Nittany Lions piled up 518 total yards, including 292 on the ground, against unbeaten Oregon, which has one of the top defenses in the country. Penn State’s blockers face another formidable defense when the Lions (11-2) meet …

Before Cameron Dicker’s successful 57-yarder, the last time a team attempted a fair-catch kick was the Panthers in 2019. Joey Slye had a 60-yard attempt during a London game. But before that, 49ers kicker Phil Dawson attempted one from 71 yards in a game against the then-St. Louis Rams back in 2013. San Francisco’s head coach that season? Jim Harbaugh, …