Last April, John Calipari decided to "step away" from the University of Kentucky after 15 seasons; a day later, he joined the University of Arkansas.

Well, Calipari returned to Kentucky on Saturday night, and despite a championship in 2012 and a .771 winning percentage there, boos still managed to be loud as he returned.

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Well, Calipari got the last laugh, as his Razorbacks took home an 89-79 upset victory over the 12th-ranked team in the country.

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Calipari admitted that it took some getting used to.

"It’s hard to win in here. And I’ve got to be honest with you, I looked up a couple of times and I thought we were losing because I kept looking at Kentucky instead of Arkansas," Calipari said. "I made it clear it was a privilege and an honor to coach here. We had 15 unbelievable years of a great run and support."

With Kentucky, Calipari made the NCAA Tournament all but two seasons. Last year's team was knocked out in the first round as a No. 3 seed against Jack Gohlke and No. 14 Oakland. In 2022, the Wildcats were upset by No. 15 St. Peter's, and they lost in the Round of 32 in 2023.

ARIZONA STATE’S BOBBY HURLEY SENDS TEAM TO LOCKER ROOM EARLY AFTER OPPONENT’S ‘NO CLASS’ BEHAVIOR, EJECTIONS

Calipari went 410-122 (.771) with the Wildcats – this year's Arkansas team is now 13-8 but 2-6 in conference.

The Hall of Fame coach is the winningest active coach in men’s college basketball and has an 867-271 mark during his stops at Massachusetts, Memphis, Kentucky and now Arkansas. He was 248-26 at Rupp Arena and led the Wildcats to a 93-77 win over Vanderbilt in his last home game at Kentucky last March 6.

It wasn't just a return for Calipari. Adou Thiero, D.J. Wagner, and Zvonimir Ivisic combined to score 42 points against their former team in Lexington en route to the win.

With Arkansas leading 46-45 at the half, Thiero and Wagner combined for a 12-2 run and a 58-47 lead to start the second half. Thiero opened with a dunk and ended the run with a three, and the Razorbacks never looked back.

Fox News' Paulina Dedaj and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

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The final seconds of Saturday's Arizona State-Arizona game took a little while to finish due to some drama on the court and the benches.

With roughly 30 seconds left in the game and the Wildcats up 81-72, Arizona's Caleb Love got tangled up with BJ Freeman. The Sun Devil then headbutted Love.

Love and Freeman were ejected, but as the dust continued to settle between both teams, ASU head coach Bobby Hurley ordered all the players on his bench to go to the locker room.

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As the Wildcats dribbled out the final seconds, Hurley ordered his assistant coaches to leave the bench, leaving just him on the bench and five Sun Devils on the court.

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Seconds before the usual handshake line, Hurley then waved off Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd, and both squads went into their respective locker rooms.

Hurley was asked about the ordeal and said he had no choice but to send his players to the locker room early after his opponents showed "no class."

"If you look right near our bench, it was relentless constant chatter from a couple of the Arizona players that was not being policed properly. Of course, they’re going to be happy with winning, but it was done with no class, in my opinion," Hurley said after the game. 

"Words that were said back and forth led to the moment where Freeman lost his cool, because of the constant talk that was allowed to go on. I had to make a tough decision in the best interest of our team to get them into the locker room so there would be no further incident the rest of the game and in the handshake line."

Hurley then finished his press conference with a parting shot, perhaps at Love.

"I do get a vote for the All-Conference, and I can tell you who’s not getting a vote," he said.

Lloyd called the ordeal "disappointing on all sides."

"We want to be a program that when tough things happen, we want to respond with class. I don’t know if we did or didn’t, but just a tough moment in an emotional game. I got a lot of respect for Bobby and Arizona State," Lloyd said.

The Wildcats improved to 15-6 on the season and 9-1 in Big 12 play, while the Sun Devils are 12-9 overall and 3-7 against conference opponents.

The teams will meet in a rematch March 4.

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EXCLUSIVE: Former San Jose State University assistant volleyball coach Melissa Batie-Smoose's contract with the university expired Friday, and she has been told that it will not be renewed, she exclusively told Fox News Digital. 

Her departure comes after a season plagued by a scandal involving a trans athlete, in which Batie-Smoose took a firm stance to oppose the university's defense of that athlete. She and her family initially moved to California from the East coast to accept the job in 2023. 

"We didn’t make the decision to move our family across the country lightly, but I believe that everything happens for a reason, and I was meant to be at San Jose State to stand up for these young women and do everything I could to protect future generations. In my 30 years of coaching, this is one of the most amazing groups of young women that I've been around. Their strength and resiliency during a difficult season was inspiring and one of the reasons why I had to take a stand," she told Fox News Digital.

San Jose State declined to comment on Batie-Smoose's contract situation when contacted by Fox News Digital. 

"SJSU does not comment on personnel matters," a university spokesperson said. 

Batie-Smoose was suspended from the program on Nov. 2 after she filed a Title IX complaint against the university regarding its alleged handling of a situation involving former transgender player Blaire Fleming. The complaint included allegations that Fleming had conspired with an opponent to have Slusser hit in the face during a match in October.

"I spoke up for the young women on the team who were being silenced and gaslit while dealing with having a male athlete in their locker room, on the court and rooming with them on the road. I could not be silenced and manipulated any longer so I had to stand up for what was right," she said. 

"Speaking out to protect these young women and future women was too much to ignore. This has cost me my job, but we need more coaches to stand up for what is right. I just have to pray that by doing the right thing that justice will prevail and I will be able to continue to do what I was meant to do." 

Batie-Smoose is also currently engaged in a lawsuit against San Jose State and the Mountain West alongside 11 current and former conference players. 

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The lawsuit is led by former San Jose State co-captain Brooke Slusser, who alleges that she had been made to share bedrooms and changing spaces with Fleming for an entire season while the university withheld the truth about Fleming's birth sex from her and other players. 

Both Slusser's lawsuit and Batie-Smoose's Title IX complaint allege that Fleming conspired with Colorado State volleyball player Malaya Jones ahead of the match between the two programs on Oct. 3. The complaint alleges Fleming provided a scouting report to Jones to ensure a Colorado State competitive advantage, and established a plan to set up Jones with a clear lane to spike Slusser in the face during the contest.

NEVADA VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS WERE PRESSURED WITH ‘LEGAL ISSUES’ TO PLAY SJSU TRANS PLAYER DURING FEUD WITH SCHOOL

Slusser was never spiked in the face during that match, but Colorado State did win in straight sets. 

A Mountain West investigation into Batie-Smoose's allegations did not find sufficient evidence to assign discipline to any player who was named in the allegations, which was stated in a letter obtained by Fox News Digital that was addressed to San Jose State athletic director Jeff Konya and Colorado State athletic director John Weber from Mountain West Deputy Commissioner Bret Gilliland.

That letter did not address allegations in Slusser's lawsuit that provided further context on the incident, nor did it address the specific notion of an alleged conspiracy to have Slusser hit in the face. The letter simply referred to all the allegations listed in the complaint as "manipulation of the competition."

Gilliland claimed that any evidence to back the claims in the complaint was insufficient, but did not explicitly state that the allegations were false, according to the letter.

The letter stated that the conference's investigation included interviews with coaches and student-athletes at both San Jose State and Colorado State. However, the letter did not specifically state which individuals had been interviewed. The conference declined to provide any details on the individuals who had been interviewed when asked by Fox News Digital.

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Slusser's attorney Bill Bock later provided a statement to Fox News Digital insisting that the investigation had been "infected with bias." 

"Because the MWC’s investigation was inadequate, and anything but thorough, and because the MWC’s close-out letter is riddled with errors, the undersigned is issuing this rebuttal and demands that the MWC immediately and publicly release: (1) the investigative report prepared by its investigator(s), and (2) all documents connected to the MWC’s claimed ‘thorough investigation’ and upon which the MWC’s decision not to proceed further was based," read the statement from Bock. 

Slusser previously told Fox News Digital she has been spiked in the face by a volleyball in the past, and that the experience "stings, but you kind of just brush it off." However, in their first season together in 2023, Slusser said she took one of Fleming's spikes to her thigh, then had to nurse dark bruises on her thigh for an entire week after that. Slusser says she did not even know that Fleming was a trans athlete back then.

Slusser also previously told Fox News Digital that Batie-Smoose's suspension left some of her teammates in tears.

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"After we found out that she was released, a lot of the team just kind of broke down and was kind of freaking out, and even one of my teammates was like, ‘I don’t feel safe anymore,' because there's no one now that we feel like we can go and talk to about our concerns or our actual feelings and can actually speak freely in front of," Slusser said.

Slusser said she did not feel safe speaking with anyone else involved in the program, especially head coach Todd Kress. 

"You can't truly voice how you're feeling without them just trying to cover it up or act like it's all OK. With Melissa, you could voice how you felt, and she could comfort you and validate your feelings and at least make you feel heard, compared to the other coaches," Slusser said.

SJSU went on to play in the conference championship game against Colorado State on Nov. 30 but lost. The loss kept Fleming, Slusser and the rest of the Spartans out of the NCAA tournament. Batie-Smoose was at the match in Las Vegas, Nevada, that weekend to support her former players, despite being suspended by the program. 

Nearly every one of the players on SJSU's 2024 team that has remaining NCAA eligibility has entered the transfer portal, Fox News Digital previously reported. 

"I think that it speaks volumes that the majority of the team transferred because they did not want to be subjected to the mental anguish the university  put them through. They had had enough of the lies and manipulation, and I wish them the best," Batie-Smoose told Fox News Digital.

Meanwhile, Slusser's lawsuit against the school and conference has not yet gone to trial. Slusser is also engaged in Riley Gaines' lawsuit against the NCAA over its policies on gender ideology that allows trans athletes to compete in women's sports. 

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After playing six years at Indiana University, Mike Katic has decided to put his NFL dreams to the side.

After initially declaring for last year's NFL Draft, then returning for his final year of eligibility, the former center has decided to join Barstool Sports as a media personality and analyst.

"I’m pumped. This is what I think I was born to do," Katic said on "The Yak" with Dan "Big Cat" Katz. "Football’s great, but I think this is my thing. So, I’m super excited to move in here."

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Katic doesn't start officially working until March 1, but he paid a visit to Jon Gruden, who was recently hired by the site, at Barstool's offices. And they had about as much of a greeting as one would predict from a Super Bowl champion coach and a six-year college star.

"Barstool’s got our new center and I already love him!" Gruden said on X while posting a video of their first interaction.

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Immediately after shaking hands, Gruden asked Katic to get into his lineman stance, and the two shared another handshake and hug.

"When [Gruden] tells you to get in a stance, you get into a damn stance!" Katic posted on X.

Katic seemed to hint his playing days were over after the Hoosiers' College Football Playoff loss to Notre Dame when he posted on X, "Thank you Indiana University. Thank you Football."

Katic was likely to be a late-round selection if he had been taken at all. Pro Football Focus graded Katic as the 10th best center in the Power Four conferences.

Katic said he was hired quickly after Dave Portnoy saw him in "three clips doing media" after being connected through a member of the Hoosiers' men's basketball team.

The Pittsburgh native will work out of Barstool's Chicago office after playing in 50 games for the Hoosiers.

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A Title IX investigation into Florida Gators men’s basketball coach Todd Golden was dismissed, his lawyer said in a statement on Monday.

Attorney William Shepherd issued a statement to CBS Sports regarding the investigation into claims made about Golden.

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"The investigation has found no evidence to support the allegations against Coach Golden," the statement read. "The University’s conclusion proves that the complaint was meritless."

Golden was accused of sexual harassment, sexual exploitation, stalking and cyberstalking multiple women, including students, in November. A report in the school’s student newspaper claimed that Golden made unwanted advances on Instagram, requested sexual favors, and sent photos and videos of his genitalia.

The Title IX complaint was reportedly made on Sept. 29.

Shepherd ripped those who tried to generate a "false narrative" around the Gators head coach.

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"Coach Golden and I have respected the process throughout while actively engaging with the University. However, there were many who did not respect the investigative process. Instead, they sought to target Coach Golden and drive their agenda and this investigation for their own self-interest. Some leaked confidential material to the media; falsely posed as a UF lawyer in an effort to intimidate; harassed UF students and parents to try to generate a false narrative; and harassed my client, his family, and his friends.

"Coach Golden appreciates the support he and his program have received from so many at the University and from around the country. Now that this is concluded, Coach can continue to focus on the basketball season and consider his legal options in the off season – but now it’s time to move forward."

Golden denied the allegations in a statement in November and said he would weigh a defamation lawsuit.

"For the last month, I have actively participated in and respected the confidentiality of an ongoing school inquiry," the statement read. "I have recently engaged Ken Turkel to advise me on my ability to bring defamation claims while this confidential investigation is ongoing.

"My family and I appreciate the support we have received and remain confident the university will continue its efforts to finish its review properly."

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Bill Belichick has already been on the recruiting trail, but it’s officially official that he’s North Carolina’s next head football coach after he signed his contract. 

And it’s a contract with eye-popping numbers. 

The Tar Heels released Belichick’s deal, which continues through the end of 2029, Thursday. The 72-year-old will be making $10 million per season, though his official base salary is $1 million. 

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The other $9 million will be coming from what is described as "supplemental income."

Belichick, the six-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots, immediately becomes one of the top 10 highest-paid head coaches in college football. Seven coaches made $10 million or more in 2024, according to USA Today. 

The highest-paid coach in the country is Georgia’s Kirby Smart at over $13 million per season. Clemson’s Dabo Swinney ($11.13 million), Texas’ Steve Sarkisian ($10.6 million), USC’s Lincoln Riley ($10.043 million) and Ohio State’s Ryan Day ($10.021 million), fresh off a national championship win, round out the top five. 

NORTH CAROLINA FOOTBALL GM MAINTAINS BILL BELICHICK WILL STAY AT SCHOOL, SAYS NFL CAN GET TOO POLITICAL

Like many other contracts, Belichick's has incentives that would trigger massive paydays if they’re met, including a $750,000 bonus if the Tar Heels reach the College Football Playoff. If they win a national title, Belichick would receive a $1.75 million bonus. 

Other incentives include a $150,000 bonus for reaching a bowl game as well as a $350,000 bonus if the team makes an "elite" non-playoff bowl. Those would include the Pop-Tarts Bowl, Gator Bowl, Duke’s Mayo Bowl and a few others. 

Finally, a top 25 ranking at the end of the regular season would also trigger a $250,000 bonus for Belichick. And he'd like get his $350,000 bonus for an elite bowl game if the Tar Heels finish in the Top 25.

There is also confirmation that Belichick does have a buyout clause, which was widely reported as North Carolina’s stipulation if he were to leave for a job in the NFL. If Belichick leaves UNC before June 1, the university is owed $10 million. After June 1, the buyout drops to $1 million. 

However, despite multiple NFL teams reportedly reaching out to Belichick, he said during his introductory press conference he's in Chapel Hill to stay. 

He’s already showing his commitment to the program by hitting the road and talking to recruits as he aims to build a playoff roster through the new NIL system. 

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North Carolina Tar Heels football general manager Michael Lombardi doubled down on the position that Bill Belichick has no intention of leaving the program for the NFL.

Belichick had been rumored to be interested in a few NFL jobs that opened up weeks after he decided to jump to the collegiate ranks for the first time in his career. Belichick replaced Mack Brown as the head coach at North Carolina after decades with the New England Patriots.

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Lombardi, who joined Belichick at the program, had expressed multiple times that Belichick would not be leaving the Tar Heels. He made the proclamation again in an interview on Monday on OutKick’s "The Ricky Cobb Show."

"I think one thing everyone could agree on, whether you’re a fan of what Bill did in New England or you were a foe because he beat you in New England, the one thing we can all agree on is Bill’s really smart," he said. "Bill knows the landscape of the NFL better than most fans do. And if Bill thought there was a job out there that was enticing to him, he would not have made the move to North Carolina.

"He wasn’t looking for a job. He wasn’t collecting unemployment. He wasn’t hoping for someone to hire him. He knew there was great opportunities if he wanted to go into the NFL. What we also knew was the NFL is a slippery slope in the sense that there’s a lot of politicalness that goes on. You’re answering to a lot of different people, there’s an agenda within buildings."

Lombardi used a line from one of the greatest NFL head coaches of all time to describe why Belichick wouldn’t go back to the NFL.

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"Bill Walsh told me in 1984 when there were 28 teams in the National Football League, ‘You know, we’re only competing against eight teams here kid.’ He was right then and he was right today," he said. "And I think that line right there sums up why Bill’s at North Carolina. Not all teams are built to win.

"Not all teams are chasing the Super Bowl. Not all teams want to do it. They want to win their way, not the right way. I think that’s why North Carolina became so appealing to him, because we can build a program here the right way."

Belichick’s girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, also maintained that the 72-year-old head coach would stay in Carolina blue.

"Pictured: two people who are overtly committed to @uncfootball," she wrote as the caption in an Instagram photo.

Belichick has been on the recruiting trail in recent weeks and landed a top defensive transfer earlier this month.

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Ashton Jeanty nearly captured the Heisman Trophy in 2024 after putting up incredible numbers in his final season with the Boise State Broncos.

Jeanty ran for 2,601 yards, nearly eclipsing Barry Sanders’ single-season rushing record of 2,628 yards for the former Oklahoma State standout. He also had 29 rushing touchdowns. The former Broncos running back had 4,769 rushing yards and 50 rushing touchdowns in 40 career games.

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He accomplished the feat in the midst of college athletics’ name, image and likeness era. The better a college athlete plays on the field, the more money there could be available to him through NIL deals. Jeanty’s NIL valuation was estimated at $1.6 million, according to On3 Sports.

Jeanty had NIL deals with SAXX underwear and the Boise Hawks minor league baseball team. But he made clear to anyone coming out of high school expecting to get paid that they should really focus on their craft on the field rather than the money that comes with it.

"No. 1, don’t chase the bag," he told Fox News Digital when asked whether he had advice for high school athletes coming into the college game. "Chase your goals and dreams. Everybody seems to get away from that. I had a dream of being an NFL player three years ago, one of the best running backs. And I’m here walking in that because I didn’t chase after the bag. There were plenty of guys I’ve seen getting more money than me that I know for a fact weren’t better than me. That was OK, but I knew if I kept putting the work in, I’d get to where I want to be.

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"You got to trust the process because you can’t expect all that. No entitlement. You got to earn it. That’s the problem nowadays. You might’ve did something in high school, but when you get to college that don’t mean nothing. It doesn’t matter how many stars you got – none of that. I’ve seen five stars who were trash. I’ve seen three stars who were really good, vice versa. But the common thing is just the work ethic and staying focused on the goal."

Jeanty said NIL in college football is kind of the "wild, wild west," so he had to take a professional mindset when navigating the murky waters.

"I think my whole approach was just to be a pro with it," he added. "Obviously, on the next level, I’ll get paid, but I’m not looking for the biggest payday. Honestly, I need a little something, you know what I’m saying? My morals and values – those are No. 1. Wherever I can align that best with, that’s where I’m going to be."

Jeanty declared for the NFL Draft earlier this month. He’s expected to be one of the first running backs off the board.

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ESPN on Monday decided to air a message from President Trump during halftime of the college football national championship between Ohio State and Notre Dame.

Trump could not make the game, which took place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, as he was celebrating his return to the White House and going to inauguration balls.

His message, however, was clear: "the golden age of America has begun."

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"Hello to my great, fellow Americans. This has been a historic and exciting day for our country. In recent years, our people have suffered greatly, but starting now, we’re going to bring America back and make it safer, richer and prouder than ever before," Trump said.

"We’ll have a nation filled with compassion, strength and exceptionalism. Through our power and might, we will stop wars, and we will bring our world to peace. We will be respected again, and we will be admitted again — admired like we haven’t been in many, many years. We’ll put America first, and by doing so, we’re gonna make America great again.

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"In less than three months since the election, you have already seen it happening. You can feel the excitement, and you can see the confidence and spirit returning to our nation. Together we are going to lead our county to glorious new heights. The golden age of America has just begun.

"To all of the players and fans watching tonight, I know it’s been a long and difficult journey. It’s been a long season, but you have two tremendous teams, and get to the game and go out and fight hard and fight fair and let the better team win. And I’m going to enjoy watching it. Thank you, and good night."

ESPN caught social media flak for deciding to air the message.

Trump has been seen on ESPN at college football games before. He attended the national championship in January 2020 when it took place in New Orleans.

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Jack Hoffman, a Nebraska Cornhuskers superfan battling cancer who captured the attention of the nation for his spring game touchdown run when he was 7 years old, has died. He was 19.

Hoffman died of brain cancer on Wednesday, Team Jack Foundation Executive Director Kylie Dockter said. He had battled new and more aggressive tumors late last year.

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"It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of Jack Hoffman, the courageous namesake of the Team Jack Foundation. Jack passed away after a long and hard-fought battle with brain cancer, a journey that inspired countless lives and left a legacy of hope, strength, and resilience," the foundation said in a statement on social media.

"Through his battle, Jack touched lives far and wide. From his unforgettable 69-yard touchdown run during the Nebraska Spring Game that captivated the hearts of millions to the countless families who found solace and support through the work of the Team Jack Foundation, his impact will echo for generations. Jack may no longer be with us in person, but his legacy lives on in the work of the Team Jack Foundation, in the lives of the children and families we've helped, and in the hope he gave to so many."

Hoffman was initially diagnosed with brain cancer in 2011, and his parents helped launch the foundation to support research efforts to end pediatric brain cancer.

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Hoffman’s father, Andy, was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2020 and died March 1, 2021. He was 42.

The foundation has raised more than $12.6 million since 2013.

Hoffman went viral during Nebraska’s 2013 spring game after the coaching staff invited him to run a play in the fourth quarter. Hoffman ran for a 69-yard touchdown, and he was the talk of the sports world for several days.

In the midst of all of it, he started up a friendship with running back Rex Burkhead. The two, along with Hoffman’s family, later visited then-President Obama, who presented the youngster with a new football and told him he was proud of him.

"Love you buddy. Tell Jesus we say hello," Burkhead wrote in a post on X.

Hoffman played football at Atkinson High School and graduated in May. He was pre-law at the University of Nebraska-Kearney.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Bubba Thompson, who was a first-round MLB draft pick in 2017, will trade in his glove for a helmet and some shoulder pads as he’s set to join the South Alabama Jaguars football team.

He will join the team as a walk-on for spring practices, South Alabama head coach Major Applewhite told AL.com. He posted a video on his Facebook page of himself throwing a football at the school’s football facility.

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"We back y’all," he captioned the clip.

Thompson, 26, has experience on the gridiron. He played football while attending McGill-Toolen Catholic High School in Alabama, leading the school to a state title game in 2017.

He then committed to the University of Alabama to play baseball. However, he never enrolled in the college. Instead, he was drafted by the Texas Rangers in 2017 with their No. 26 overall pick and decided to pursue a Major League career.

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Thompson didn’t emerge as a superstar. He was a speedster on the basepaths, recording 18 stolen bags in 55 games in 2022. He was with the Rangers in 2023, playing in 37 games. He then joined the Cincinnati Reds last year and appeared in 17 games.

Because he never enrolled in college, he has five years of eligibility. Rivals rated him as a two-star quarterback coming out of school.

South Alabama was 7-6 last season in Applewhite’s first year. They ended the year with a win in the Salute to Veterans Bowl.

Gio Lopez and Bishop Davenport played quarterback for the Jaguars last season.

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Marcus Freeman’s stock has increased as he’s led the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to the brink of its first national championship since 1988.

The Chicago Bears appeared to have been watching Freeman closely.

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The Bears want to interview Freeman for their head coach position after parting ways with Matt Eberflus in the middle of the 2024 season, the NFL Network reported Sunday. The Bears have not made a decision on Eberflus’ replacement but have been going through the interview process.

Freeman first will have to game-plan for Notre Dame’s national title game against Ohio State. The Fighting Irish narrowly defeated Penn State to get there.

"Obviously unlikely he would entertain NFL overtures prior to that game – a week from tomorrow against Ohio State," NFL insider Tom Pelissero said on the network. "But the Bears have done extensive research for months on Marcus Freeman. He’s only 39 years old. It would not be a shock that at some point he at least considers going to the NFL."

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Chicago is still set to interview Minnesota Vikings’ Brian Floires, Washington Commanders’ Kliff Kingsubury, Baltimore Ravens’ Todd Monken and Pittsburgh Steelers’ Arthur Smith for the job, according to the NFL Network.

Freeman was named as Brian Kelly’s replacement at Notre Dame after the former head coach took the LSU job.

He is 33-9 as head coach of Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish are 14-1 this season after going 9-4 in his first full year in 2022 and 10-3 in 2023.

The Bears were 5-12 in 2024 with Caleb Williams in his first season under center.

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Former Notre Dame Fighting Irish star Malik Zaire fueled the hype for the national championship game on Saturday with harsh criticism of Ohio State quarterback Will Howard.

Howard led the Buckeyes to a College Football Playoff semifinal victory over the Texas Longhorns, 28-14. Howard was 24-of-33 with 289 passing yards and a touchdown pass. He also had an interception.

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Zaire was unconvinced Howard would be able to do enough to get over the Fighting Irish on Jan. 20.

"All the great QBs Ohio State has had the last 15 yrs and Howard is def the worst one by far and ostate fans are trying to convince me that he’s gonna lead them to the chip?!?! Lmao ok," Zaire wrote on X. "I’d even take the OG Jalin Marshall at QB before Howard!!!!!!!!"

Zaire added that Ohio State’s loss to Michigan before the College Football Playoff started was more questionable than Notre Dame’s early season loss to Northern Illinois.

OHIO STATE HERO JACK SAWYER REVEALS 2-WORD MESSAGE FORMER ROOMMATE QUINN EWERS GAVE HIM AFTER TOUCHDOWN

"Ok let’s be honest, we got beat by NIU that was embarrassing. But yall got beat by Michigan for the 4th year in a row, at home as a 20+pt favorite, got the flag planted in the middle of yall field and beat up after the game while ya head coach watched….. lmao yall have nothing to tell me about this Ohio state team lmao," he added.

Notre Dame will be looking for its first national championship in the College Football Playoff era, but have to go up against a tough defense and an offense that has the ability to explode for big plays.

The Fighting Irish narrowly defeated Penn State in their semifinal matchup.

Howard has 3,779 passing yards and 33 touchdown passes this season. He transferred to Ohio State from Kansas State.

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Tennessee Volunteers men’s basketball coach Rick Barnes didn’t mince words when he revealed why he sat the team’s leading scorer, Chaz Lanier, in Saturday’s win over the Texas Longhorns.

Lanier had 10 points in 34 minutes as No. 1 Tennessee won 74-70 over the Longhorns. He’s averaging 19 points per game. Barnes said he removed Lanier after he didn’t shoot the ball on a play designed for him.

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"I took him out the first play of the second half because he didn't shoot the ball," he said, via CBS Sports. "That play is designed for that shot. I told him, 'If you're not going to do what you're getting paid to do, then you're going to sit over here.' Because he is getting paid to do that."

Barnes’ "paid to do" remark raised eyebrows in the name, image and likeness era. No head coach had been as blunt as Barnes was after the win.

CAITLIN CLARK'S IOWA COACH SAYS TEAM IS NOW MISSING LEADERSHIP AFTER CLARK'S DEPARTURE

Lanier has a $1.7 million NIL valuation, according to On3 Sports.

"I've told Chaz all along, he doesn't have to score the ball for us to win," Barnes added. "He's going to have to help those guys by learning how to screen, gonna have to learn to cut harder, learn to do his work early coming off screens, because he kind of gallops a little bit."

Tennessee is 15-1 on the year and 2-1 against SEC opponents.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Whatever Ryan Day said to his team after losing to Michigan obviously worked.

After calls to fire their head coach after Thanksgiving because of their fourth straight loss to the Wolverines – and this one easily the worst – the Buckeyes are off to the national championship after Friday night's 28-14 Cotton Bowl Classic win over Texas.

After Ohio State took a 21-14 lead with 7:02 to go (on a drive that included a huge 4th down conversion), Texas got down the field quickly in response, largely in part to a 34-yard catch by Gunnar Helm. After back-to-back defensive pass interferences in the end zone, the Longhorns had a fresh set of downs at the goal line. It was a matter of time before the game was tied, but then, a nightmare occurred for Texas.

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After getting stuffed on first down, Quintrevion Wisner lost seven yards on a second-down toss, putting Texas in trouble. The third down pass fell incomplete, and on fourth down, Ewers lost a fumble that was forced, and picked up, by Jack Sawyer, who took it 82 yards the other way for a touchdown.

In what seemed to be like another overtime game for the Longhorns, their season flashed before their eyes with the snap of a finger. In hopes of a miracle, Ewers threw a pick on their next drive, and just like that, it was all over.

The Buckeyes got on the board first, scoring a touchdown right after stopping Texas on 4th down. The Longhorns offense was stalled throughout the first half, but they tied the game with 29 seconds left in the half, and were ready to go into the locker room with the game knotted at seven.

Ohio State, though, was not. Right after a touchback, Will Howard dumped a pass off to TreVeyon Henderson, who got some blocks up front and scampered 75 yards to the house, giving the Buckeyes a 14-7 lead into the locker room. It's rather easy to point at the two plays that cost Texas their season, with hindsight being 20/20.

Both teams exchanged punts for most of the third quarter, but with just over three minutes to go, Ewers found Jaydon Blue for their second touchdown connection of the night, tying the game. But then came the Buckeyes score to make it 21-14.

Prior to the game, it was revealed the Ewers said he expected to be playing in the NFL next season, so it will be interesting to see if his plans change.

Now, it'll be the eighth-seeded Buckeyes against No. 7 Notre Dame on Jan. 20 – score one for the expanded playoff. 

Just like Ohio State, the Fighting Irish suffered an embarrassing loss of their own this season, dropping a contest at home to Northern Illinois back in September. But, it's been 13 straight wins since then. 

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Carson Beck's time in the transfer portal didn't last long.

The former Georgia quarterback entered the portal Thursday, roughly a month after injuring his elbow in the SEC title game.

Backup Gunner Stockton stepped up, but the Bulldogs fell in the quarterfinals to Notre Dame.

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But now Beck is already committed to his next stop, and he's soon to be a Hurricane.

"Go Canes," he wrote in an Instagram post, which featured a graphic of him in a Miami uniform and the words "Committed" and "305 Bound."

Beck's girlfriend, Hanna Cavinder, and her twin sister, Haley, star for Miami's women's basketball team. Haley is dating Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson.

The Cavinders initially said they were skipping their final year of eligibility, with Hanna completing her playing career and Haley saying she would play this season at TCU. However, they both returned to the Canes.

VIKINGS-RAMS PLAYOFF GAME MOVED AWAY FROM LOS ANGELES DUE TO WILDFIRES

Beck originally declared for the NFL Draft, then entered the transfer portal this week.

Miamia is losing FBS touchdown leader Cam Ward to the NFL Draft, and Ward is in the running to be the top selection of the draft.

Beck spent five seasons at Georgia, the last two as the Bulldogs' primary starter. He has completed 68% of his passes for 7,912 yards, 58 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in his college career. He appeared in 39 games for Georgia, 27 of them in the last two seasons.

He now could follow a similar path as Ward, who considered entering the 2024 NFL Draft before deciding to join Miami. Ward rewrote the Miami record book this season, completing 305 passes for 4,313 yards and 39 touchdowns, all new Miami single-season records.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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A coalition of women’s advocacy organizations have called on President-elect Donald Trump to demand the NCAA change its policies regarding trans athletes in women’s sports. 

Our Bodies, Our Sports, the first and only coalition of women’s advocacy organizations fighting for fairness in women’s sports in the country, issued a letter to the president-elect requesting that he use his influence to have the NCAA take action "to protect the rights and opportunities of collegiate female athletes," a press release read. 

"We write now to ask you to also use your powerful voice to urge the NCAA to take action and clarify participation rules to protect the rights and opportunities of female athletes," the letter read, in part.

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"The NCAA’s controversial and unscientific Transgender Student-Athlete Participation Policy continues to allow men to participate in women’s sports – taking away women’s opportunities to compete, roster spots on teams, medals, and safe and fair competition," the release read. 

This letter to the president-elect comes ahead of the 2025 NCAA Convention, which takes place from Jan. 14-17 in Nashville, Tennessee. The week is filled with issues, forums, business sessions and award presentations. 

The letter also comes after a federal judge blocked the Biden administration’s attempt to redefine sex in Title IX as "gender identity," striking it down nationwide. 

FEDERAL JUDGE STRIKES DOWN BIDEN ADMIN'S TITLE IX REWRITE

The ruling came in U.S. District Court Eastern District of Kentucky Northern Division in Cardona v. Tennessee on Tuesday. 

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti celebrated the ruling with a post on X. "Another massive win for TN and the country!" the post read. "This morning, a federal court ruled in our favor and vacated the Biden admin's radical new Title IX rule nationwide.

"The court's order is resounding victory for the protection of girls' privacy in locker rooms and showers, and for the freedom to speak biologically-accurate pronouns."

The Supreme Court has previously rejected the Biden administration’s emergency request to enforce parts of a new rule that would have included protection from discrimination for transgender students under Title IX. 

As for the NCAA’s current transgender participation policy, it allows trans athletes to play in a "sport-by-sport approach," which "preserves opportunity for transgender student-athletes while balancing fairness, inclusion and safety for all who compete." The governing body says its policy aligns with that of the "Olympic Movement."

Part of the NCAA’s policy requires transgender student-athletes to provide documentation that meets the 2010 NCAA policy, plus meet the sport standard for documented testosterone levels at three points in time: Prior to competition during regular season, prior to the first competition in an NCAA championship and prior to any competition in the "non-championship segment."

Our Bodies, Our Sports consists of the following member organizations: Independent Women’s Forum, Independent Council on Women’s Sports, Women’s Declaration International USA, Champion Women, International Consortium on Female Sport, Concerned Women for America, Women’s Liberation Front, Independent Women’s Law Center, Young Women for America, Independent Women’s Voice, and Independent Women’s Network.

"We stand together in honor of the generations of women who came before us and in defense of all the women and girls who will come next," the letter to Trump ends. "We ask for your help in demanding that the NCAA finally act to restore fairness and opportunity in collegiate sports and we thank you for standing with us."

Fox News' Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report.

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Colorado coach Deion Sanders has made a name for himself in the college football world and is become a Buffaloes icon in just a matter of three seasons, but the former NFL player has also become a polarizing figure to some. And, according to his security team, he’s been subjected to multiple threats because of it. 

In the latest season of the "Coach Prime" docuseries which aired on Prime Video earlier this week, Sanders’ personal security, officer Michael Rhodes, revealed that Sanders received a "very credible threat" before a game during the 2024 season.

"Coach gets a lot of mail every day, a lot of packages — a lot of gifts," Rhodes said in the second episode as he put on gloves in preparation of reviewing Sanders’ mail.  

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"As he stated publicly, he gets a lot of death threats, a lot of hate mail, so just as a precaution, we go through the mail very carefully. Put on these gloves just to ensure that we don’t come into contact with any type of hazardous material."

Rhodes said he served as a member of Jackson State’s campus police for around 10 years when he was asked to be a member of Sander’s security detail during his tenure there. When Sanders was offered the job at Colorado, he asked Rhodes to join him.

Since then, Rhodes has had his hands full.

DEION SANDERS GIVES 1-WORD REACTION TO TITANS FIRING GENERAL MANAGER AS SON SHEDEUR COULD BE TOP PICK

He said in the episode that before a Sept. 14 game against Colorado State, they received "multiple threats concerning people trying to do harm to Coach."

"There was a very credible threat — two individuals trying to possibly tackle Coach either before, during, or after the game," he continued. "So we had to have multiple law enforcement agencies there — SWAT team, CSUPD as well as Boulder PD." 

Rhodes said during games he keeps his head "on a swivel" watching for any potential threats in the crowd and around the stadium. 

"Everybody doesn’t love Coach. With all of the death threats, I don’t know who is who. I’ve got one job, and that’s to make sure that Coach is good, to make sure he’s safe, so that he can go out and coach the team to a victory."

The Buffaloes closed out the 2024 season on a high note despite a blowout loss to BYU in the Alamo last month. 

Colorado made their first Bowl game appearance since 2020 and sold out every home game for the past two seasons — a first in the program’s 134-year history. Travis Hunter won the Heisman Trophy, and he and Shedeur Sanders are expected to be first-round draft picks in the 2025 NFL Draft in April.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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Dick Vitale, the legendary college basketball broadcaster, revealed some very positive news after visiting his vocal cord doctor on Wednesday. 

Vitale said that, after getting a scope done with his doctor, Steven Zeitels, his vocal cords are cancer-free. 

Zeitels believes that Vitale could be back courtside with a headset on very soon. 

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"Just had a scope of my vocal cords & I was very emotional with the great report by Dr ZEITELS. He said the vocal cords are cancer free & he feels I can return to my love of being at courtside for @espn," Vitale posted on X with pictures of himself in the doctor’s chair. 

Vitale has not lost his passion for college basketball at 85 years old, but he has been through tremendous battles with cancer, including melanoma, lymphoma and laryngeal cancer over recent years. 

But Vitale announced in December 2024 that he was officially cancer-free, though it wasn’t known if he’d be returning courtside to call some of the country’s best college basketball matchups. 

DICK VITALE ENTERS CAITLIN CLARK DEBATE AFTER ESPN ANALYST DOUBLES DOWN ON HOT TAKE

So, this news after his checkup with Zeitels is significant because he clearly wants to get back to entertaining the fans with his enthusiastic broadcasting on game days. 

"Dick, you’re back!" Zeitels said in a video posted to Vitale’s Facebook Watch. "Your vocal cords are not going to hold you up.

"We've been down this road a long time. I didn't know we could get here, but we are here. And you're ready to be with your viewers, the players, ESPN, you're ready to be with everyone again." 

Vitale got emotional after Zeitels said those words, and the doctor comforted him, knowing all too well what he’s been through. 

"Dickie V" has spent 41 years as a college basketball broadcaster after spending time coaching at various levels, from high school to the NBA. 

The New Jersey native spent time coaching at Garfield High School before taking over his alma mater, East Rutherford High School, where he led teams to two New Jersey state titles. 

Vitale would go on to coach as an assistant at Rutgers before heading to the University of Detroit as their head coach. He’d remain in the Michigan city to coach its Pistons from 1978-79.

Once he was done coaching the Pistons, Vitale joined ESPN, calling its first-ever college basketball game in 1979, a game where DePaul beat Wisconsin, and the rest has been sweet history. 

Now, Vitale is excited to get back to his love, as he says, and it’s safe to say every college basketball fan can’t wait for his long-awaited return. 

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