HOUSTON, Tx. — After years and years of hand-wringing, underachievement, close calls, questionable plays, and disappointing seasons, Michigan football is finally one game away from winning a national championship for the first time since 1997. It will face off against a hungry Washington team that hasn’t won it all since 1991, when the Huskies were in their heyday. Both teams …

NEWARK, N.J. — Chicago Blackhawks rookie Connor Bedard departed Friday night’s game against New Jersey after he was leveled by Devils defenseman Brendan Smith in the first period. Bedard was selected by Chicago with the No. 1 overall pick in last year’s draft. The 18-year-old center has 15 goals and 18 assists in 38 games. Bedard was hit by Smith …

Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase becomes eligible for a contract extension this offseason. He has one year left on his rookie deal, and it’s certain the Bengals will exercise his fifth-year option, putting him under team control through 2025. But Chase hopes for a new deal with the Bengals sooner than later. “Lord knows, I want to do that. I mean, …

Not one player – or one person – can fix how horrendous the UNC football team’s defense is. The 6-0 start fooled all of Tar Heel Nation. A 9-sack performance in the 2023 opener against South Carolina and emergence of Alijah Huzzie, turned into allowing Georgia Tech and a lowly UVA squad to combine for over 1,000 offensive yards. There …

Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield is good to go for Sunday. Mayfield injured his ribs late in last Sunday’s game against the Saints, but was able to practice on Thursday and head coach Todd Bowles told reporters on Friday that Mayfield is going to start against the Panthers in the regular season finale. A win in that game will make the …

HOUSTON — Michigan football’s plane touched down at George Bush Intercontinental Airport shortly before sunset on Friday evening, marking the Wolverines’ the final road trip of the season. However, coach Jim Harbaugh barely remembers the trip. “I think I fell asleep before we even took off,” Harbaugh told reporters on the tarmac shortly before the team loaded onto buses and …

Saints running back Alvin Kamara is questionable to play against the Falcons on Sunday, and coach Dennis Allen calls him a game-time decision. “He’s one of those guys that is so valuable to our team that we’re going to go all the way up to game time to see where he’s at,” Allen said, via Katherine Terrell of ESPN. “He’s …

Who’s Playing Houston Texans @ Indianapolis Colts Current Records: Houston 9-7, Indianapolis 9-7 How To Watch When: Saturday, January 6, 2024 at 8:15 p.m. ETWhere: Lucas Oil Stadium — Indianapolis, IndianaTV: ABCFollow: CBS Sports AppOnline streaming: fuboTV (Try for free. Regional restrictions may apply.) What to Know The Texans have enjoyed a two-game homestand but will soon have to dust off their road jerseys. They will square off …

One day after The Sentry concludes, the NCAA football national championship will be contested between Michigan and Washington in Houston, Texas. A couple of Georgia Bulldogs are in contention in Hawaii and both were asked Friday if their college should have been allowed into the playoffs. “No, I think that they were right to leave us out of the playoffs,” …

49ers ‘intend’ to play Williams early in regular-season finale vs. Rams originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area It appears one of the 49ers’ best players will suit up for Sunday’s Week 18 matchup with the Los Angeles Rams at Levi’s Stadium. General manager John Lynch joined KNBR 680’s “Murph & Markus” on Friday morning, and revealed that All-Pro left …

We haven’t put a bow on the 2023-24 college football season yet but already we have odds for who hoists the national championship trophy in January of 2025. As a reminder, next year the playoff format changes from the current four-team playoff to a 12-team playoff with first round games set to be played on college campuses. So who has …

The Eagles won’t have wide receiver DeVonta Smith for Week 18. Smith hurt his ankle in last Sunday’s loss to the Cardinals and the Eagles ruled him out of their final regular season game on Friday. Smith did not take part in practice this week, so there was no surprise about that decision. The Eagles will be playing next week …

The post-playoff exodus continued for Texas football Friday afternoon when quarterback Charles Wright, safety Jerrin Thompson and safety Kitan Crawford entered their names into the transfer portal. The inclusion of Thompson on the transfer list is a big hit to a secondary that had its struggles in 2023. The senior from Lufkin racked up 176 tackles and five interceptions while …

The Browns have placed yet another key player on injured reserve. Linebacker Anthony Walker has joined Cleveland’s long list with a knee injury, the team announced on Friday. The Browns had been monitoring Walker’s status after undergoing a procedure on the knee last month. But it will now keep him out for what’s likely to be the rest of Cleveland’s …

The Pittsburgh Steelers will try to earn a playoff berth for the seventh time in the past 10 years when they battle the Baltimore Ravens in a key AFC North matchup on Saturday. The Steelers (9-7), who have not had a losing record under coach Mike Tomlin since he took over in 2007, are coming off a 30-23 win at …