The three-game suspension for Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair for his illegal hit on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence was upheld on Wednesday.  In handing out its suspension, the NFL said Al-Shaair has committed repeated violations of rules intended to protect the health and safety of players and promote sportsmanship. Al-Shaair, who was ejected from Sunday’s win over the Jaguars, appealed the suspension. His …

It was only a few weeks ago that the Baltimore Ravens swung a trade with the Carolina Panthers for wide receiver Diontae Johnson, but things have largely gone downhill since. The latest development in what has been a muted tenure for Johnson is a suspension handed down by the Ravens for one game, the organization announced in a press release.  …

The No. 2 Texas Longhorns and No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs will meet in the 2024 SEC Championship on Saturday in one of the biggest games on the Championship Week college football schedule. Texas suffered its lone loss against Georgia in October, but it has won five straight games since then. The Longhorns are 2.5-point favorites in the Championship Week college …

Caleb Williams has had a mixed start to his NFL career but has looked promising in recent weeks.Photograph: Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears Williams walked into the NFL with sky-high expectations. He was compared to Patrick Mahomes and was billed as someone who could, almost single-handedly, turn Chicago into a playoff contender. Thirteen weeks on, the …

. USC football now confronts the reality of needing to get a lot of work done in the transfer portal. On Tuesday, USC kicker Denis Lynch announced his intention to enter the NCAA transfer portal. It’s one of several portal departures for the Trojans, as the flurry of roster activity begins in the offseason. USC has had multiple offensive linemen …

Neil PaineDec 5, 2024, 07:40 AM ET CloseNeil Paine writes about sports using data and analytics. Previously, he was Sports Editor at FiveThirtyEight. Hockey, perhaps more so than any other sport, thrives on the unexpected. Whether it’s a journeyman suddenly breaking out for a career season, an established star mysteriously going cold in the middle of his prime, or a …

How Jalyx Hunt is continuing to develop from expanded role originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia It took just a few weeks of facing Jalyx Hunt on scout team earlier this season for All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson to come to a realization. “I’m like, ‘this guy needs to be playing,’” Johnson said. And now he is. When the Eagles …

Nov 30, 2024; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Brian Kelly looks on against the Oklahoma Sooners during the fourth quarter at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images Following LSU’s National Early Signing Day festivities, head coach Brian Kelly shed some light on who he sees ahead of the pack in the class. The Tigers’ 2025 signing …

Emily Kaplan, ESPNDec 5, 2024, 07:30 AM ET CloseEmily Kaplan is ESPN’s national NHL reporter. A few days before Thanksgiving, Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin was in Columbus to scout the Blue Jackets. After the game, he went for dinner and drinks with Chris Kelleher, his assistant general manager. As the restaurant started emptying out, a few Blue Jackets players …

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 …