EAST LANSING — Jonathan Smith’s whirlwind start to his new job as isn’t slowing down, 55 days into his tenure. Not even to celebrate his birthday. Michigan State football’s new coach finalized his 10-man coaching staff Wednesday. Overlapping Smith’s 45th birthday, Thursday’s agenda brought delivering an evening keynote speech to people he wants and needs to get to know better …

Kristen Shilton, ESPN NHL reporterJan 19, 2024, 07:00 AM ET CloseKristen Shilton is a national NHL reporter for ESPN. We’re another week closer to All-Star Weekend — the spiritual, if not mathematical midway point of the season — but our voters caused no change atop the Power Rankings, with the Winnipeg Jets holding down the No. 1 slot again. Of …

Jeremy Johnson summed it simply, “We got a tough task ahead of of this season, but we’ll be prepared.” Entering his third season on the sidelines as the quarterbacks coach for Montgomery Catholic, the former Auburn football quarterback is impacting the future stars of the game with his offensive expertise. Last season, Johnson complemented a coaching staff that led the …

Greg Wyshynski, ESPNJan 19, 2024, 07:01 AM ET CloseGreg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer. When the Anaheim Ducks celebrate a win on the ice this season, there’s a more bizarre celebration happening on social media: a duck triumphantly slamming its webbed feet on a drum, in a room filled with team memorabilia. Did we mention this duck’s name is …

Not to take credit, but we wrote this week that firing Mike McCarthy because he can’t get the team over the hump would be the wrong move for the Dallas Cowboys. Jerry Jones must have been logging in to check our recommendation. Sure enough, word broke Wednesday night that the Cowboys’ owner has decided to stick with McCarthy as head …

Tennessee football fans can get a sneak preview of the newest Vols on national TV. Five UT signees in the 2024 class will play in the Polynesian Bowl on Friday (9 p.m. ET) in Hawaii. The high school all-star game will be televised on the NFL Network. This is the same game where UT quarterback Nico Iamaleava won MVP honors …

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes won the 12th postseason game of his career last weekend, and if he makes it 13 on Sunday against the Bills, he’ll join a very short list of quarterbacks who have accomplished that in NFL history. Only seven quarterbacks in NFL history have 13 or more playoff wins, and if Mahomes gets to 13, he’ll tie …

Well, this is about to get a little weird. In need of an experienced offensive coordinator, Ohio State is reportedly set to hire former Penn State head coach Bill O’Brien to call the offense under head coach Ryan Day. The news came from Pete Thamel, via X (formerly known as Twitter) of ESPN on Thursday evening. O’Brien will join the …

Ohio State has a new offensive coordinator. The Buckeyes are hiring former NFL head coach Bill O’Brien as its offensive coordinator, a source told The Dispatch Thursday, replacing quarterbacks coach Corey Dennis. Here’s what you need to know about Ohio State’s new offensive coordinator. Bill O’Brien replaced Joe Paterno at Penn State Oct. 27, 2012: No. 9 Ohio State 35, …

Jan. 18—The Cardinal football team will be under new leadership next season, as Rich Turner has accepted the spot left vacant by the recent resignation of former coach Chris Perrotti. The hiring of Turner, who spent this past season as an assistant at Warren JFK, is pending board approval at the next meeting, which is scheduled for Jan. 24. Turner, …

Photograph: Carmen Mandato/Getty Images What the Texans need to do to win: Head coach DeMeco Ryans has to be aggressive on defense. The Ravens’ last defeat, a 33-31 loss to Cleveland in November, provides the blueprint. Given time, Lamar Jackson will pick teams apart. But the Browns blitzed him 33.3% of the time on passing downs as they knocked him …

Welcome to Wittenmyer & Williams – a point/counterpoint column from Enquirer Reds reporter Gordon Wittenmyer and columnist Jason Williams. Today, they tackle a non-baseball issue: How all the changes in college sports could take a toll on a place like the University of Cincinnati and fans of college football and basketball. Williams: Together again for the first time in 2024. Glad to see you emerge from …

After news broke last week of the retirement of Alabama’s legendary head coach Nick Saban it was anticipated that many of the Crimson Tide’s best players would become available. That has come to fruition as Alabama has already seen multiple top contributors from last year’s team enter the transfer portal including true freshman safety Caleb Downs. Downs’ play raised eyebrows …

Ohio State will name Bill O’Brien its new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Columbus Dispatch, part of the USA TODAY Network, on Thursday evening. O’Brien, who coached Penn State for two years following the firing of longtime coach Joe Paterno, served as offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots this past …

Although Ohio State typically looks for higher profile recruits, it found a potential diamond in the rough and made on offer on Thursday. Virginia athlete, Harry Dalton III, was the recipient of the scholarship, as the 5-foot, 10-inch and 197-pound prospect has seen his recruiting pick up in January. The Buckeyes were the latest program to offer him, following Kentucky …