There’s nothing finer in college football than notching a win over your rival. On the field is the best, but transitive works too — My team beat Team X, and Team X beat your team, so my team is better than your team. It’s just math. 
Good news, then, for literally every SEC team: the conference’s Circle of Chaos is complete. When Vanderbilt beat Mississippi State this past weekend, the Commodores closed a chain that now wraps every one of the conference’s 16 schools in a combined snarl of suckitude.

Former Manchester United manager Michael Carrick (C) speaks with Matheus Cunha during an English Premier League match against Aston Villa on Sunday in Manchester, England. Photo by Adam Vaughan/EPA
Nov. 12 (UPI) — Manchester United fired coach Michael Carrick, the Red Devils announced Thursday.
The move occurred amid the Red Devils’ links to United States Men’s National Team coach Mauricio Pochettino. Sources told ESPN, The Athletic and The Guardian that Pochettino has been in contact with the club and the parties reached a framework agreement.

Michael Carrick was sacked by Manchester United after a disastrous start to the season (PIERO CRUCIATTI)
Michael Carrick is the latest in a long line of managers to be sacked by Manchester United as they struggle to recapture former glories, but their problems run far deeper than the dugout.
For the first time in 40 years, the 20-time English champions find themselves in the Premier League relegation zone at this stage of the season.

Most people probably have forgotten about Fran Tarkenton. His name popped up this week after he paid a recorded $51.89 million for an extensively renovated Palm Beach oceanfront mansion in Palm Beach.
But Fran Tarkenton, who plans to use his new residence as his winter home like so many other snow birds, is a Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback who once held numerous NFL passing records. Now 86, he redefined the position with his amazing scrambling and passing abilities and led the Minnesota Vikings to three Super Bowls.

Chase Hooper has a fight booked.
The UFC fan-favorite lightweight has been added to the lineup of the last numbered event of the year. Hooper (17-5-1 MMA, 9-5 UFC) is set to take on Chris Padilla in a three-round bout. UFC 335 takes place on Dec. 12 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Two people with knowledge of the matchup recently informed MMA Junkie of the booking but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. Connected MMA first reported the bout.
Hooper is coming off a submission win over Mitch Ramirez in July.

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The San Francisco 49ers knew what they wanted in a receiver, and veteran Keenan Allen fit the bill for head coach Kyle Shanahan.
San Francisco acquired the veteran wide receiver from the Indianapolis Colts this week, sending a 2027 sixth-round pick to add another experienced pass catcher. Shanahan said Wednesday that Allen checked the boxes the team was looking for, particularly with his ability to separate, catch the football and contribute when he’s not a target.
“Just trying to get the best receiver that you can,” Shanahan told reporters.

Pierre Sage’s time as Crystal Palace manager lasted just five months and 16 games [Getty Images]
Crystal Palace have sacked manager Pierre Sage after just five months in charge, with the club bottom of the Premier League.
Former Brentford and Tottenham boss Thomas Frank is in advanced talks to take over.
Sunday’s 3-1 defeat by Liverpool was Palace’s fourth in succession in the Premier League.
The Eagles have won just two of their opening 10 games and also have the worst defensive record in the league, conceding 24 goals.

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 24: Sebastian the Ibis, mascot of the Miami Hurricanes, points towards the crowd during the first half of a college football game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Hard Rock Stadium on October 24, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Eston Parker/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images) | ISI Photos via Getty Images
To continue the 2026 season, the Miami Hurricanes head home to Hard Rock stadium to play the first of 3 consecutive home ACC games to close out the regular season. First up on that list: the Duke Blue Devils for Homecoming.

Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images
The NBA finally made a call that Miami fans have waited nearly 40 years to hear. On Monday, an individual familiar with the situation informed the Associated Press that Miami was selected by the league to host the 2028 All-Star weekend. This is not a maybe or a hope. The decision was made several months ago, and the big parts of the deal are already done. A logo is approved, and the planning is moving fast. The city gets its moment back, but the clock is ticking on the biggest star in the game.
The timing creates a wild question for the Heat roster.

MADISON, WI – NOVEMBER 07: Wisconsin Badgers outside linebacker Sebastian Cheeks (15) sacks Rutgers Scarlet Knights quarterback AJ Surace (10) in a college football game between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Wisconsin Badgers on November 7th, 2026 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, WI. (Photo by Dan Sanger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Wisconsin Badgers have enjoyed a quality season to date, sitting at 6-3 with three games left in the season.

ESPN has exclusively obtained more than 1,000 p

(Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Ending weeks of speculation, Visa Cash App Racing Bulls confirmed that both Liam Lawson and Arvid LIndblad will be back for the 2027 Formula 1 season.
Both drivers have been impressive this year. Lindblad quickly acclimated to life on the F1 grid as a rookie, scoring points on debut with an eighth-place finish in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. Lindblad currently sits 11th in the F1 Drivers’ Championship standings, with 38 points.

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – SEPTEMBER 27: Aaron Rodgers #8 of the Pittsburgh Steelers speaks with Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals following an NFL football game at Acrisure Stadium on September 27, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Dean/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NFL has made it through the trade deadline and we saw some significant moves this week. The Jaguars went all in on some defensive additions, the 49ers add Keenan Allen to their receiver depth chart, the Bills improved at the safety position, and Kirk Cousins is headed back to Minnesota.

Thursday night’s game against the Washington Commanders should be like a homecoming game for the NFC East-leading New York Giants.
The team will wear its throwback 1980s all-white uniforms and has encouraged fans to do the same. They are calling it the Giants’ “White Out.”

❕ WHITE OUT ❕
Wear white to TNF! All fans will receive a rally towel & lightbands! pic.twitter.

Kamario Taylor is finalizing a deal to return to the Mississippi State Bulldogs in 2027 that will make him the highest-paid quarterback in college football, On3’s Chris Low and Pete Nakos reported Wednesday. The deal is worth $7.5 million and could climb past $9 million with incentives. Taylor has played less than a quarter of football since Oct. 3, and Mississippi State is paying him like a player who never left the field.
With Taylor healthy, Mississippi State opened 4-0 and scored 172 points, an average of 43 per game, capped by a 31-24 win over the No. 19 Missouri Tigers on Sept. 26.

The Michigan Wolverines are 5-4 and 2-4 in the Big Ten after a 15-6 home loss to the Michigan State Spartans on Saturday, a game in which the Spartans kicked five field goals, forced four turnovers and recorded five sacks to beat Michigan for the first time since 2021. On Wednesday, the man who coached many of those players through last season’s bowl game went on X to speak up for them.
“I know the kids on this Michigan team. It is not going as they hoped. However, they will not be broken, discouraged or quit. There is a lot of toughness and determination in that group.

Kalen DeBoer used his Wednesday night Hey Coach radio show to push back on the questions he has fielded all week about the Vanderbilt Commodores, the 4-5 team the No. 3 Alabama Crimson Tide visit on Saturday in Nashville, and he aimed his answer at the people asking them.
“I can tell by the questions as I go through interviews throughout the course of the week that everyone outside of the building hasn’t watched Vanderbilt. They haven’t watched them. Our guys understand what it looks like.

The NC State Wolfpack board of trustees is expected to finalize a contract Friday that makes Philip Rivers the program’s next head football coach, ESPN’s Pete Thamel and Mark Schlabach reported Wednesday. The full board meets Friday morning in Raleigh, and the agenda ends with a closed session, according to WRAL News.
Rivers, 44, is in his sixth season as head coach at St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Alabama, a program he started from nothing and took to the state semifinals in 2024 and 2025. He has never coached in college or the NFL.

Manchester United have sacked head coach Michael Carrick, the club have confirmed.

Nottingham Forest v Leeds United – Carabao Cup Second Round – Getty Images Sport
Eintracht Frankfurt have identified Nottingham Forest striker Arnaud Kalimuendo as their priority attacking target for the upcoming January transfer window. The Premier League outfit are ready to sanction a departure after placing a €30 million valuation on the peripheral Frenchman, while also remaining open to a loan deal.

Michael Carrick has been sacked by Manchester United, with the club inside the relegation zone during the international break and considering a fourth permanent manager in three years since minority owners Ineos, under Sir Jim Ratcliffe, took control of football operations.
Carrick – who impressed during his interim spell in charge last season – saw the goodwill this season evaporate after United’s worst start to a season in 40 years, with a disastrous defensive performance seeing them go two goals down against Aston Villa before a miraculous late comeback earned a 4-4 draw.

The University of Akron will play Creighton in a Big East Conference men’s soccer tournament semifinal at 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, at the Maryland SportsPlex in Boyds, Md.
Akron (11-1-4, 4-1-3) is the No. 3 seed and Creighton (12-1-5, 4-1-3) is the No. 2 seed. No. 1 seed Georgetown (14-1-2, 7-0-1) will play No. 4 seed Seton Hall (7-4-6, 4-2-2) in the second semifinal around 7:30 p.m.
Both games will stream live on ESPN+, with the championship match set for 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15, on ESPNU.
Here are five things to know about the Akron men’s soccer team.

ZURICH (AP) — The United States soccer body pulled its team from the boys’ Under-17 World Cup in Qatar starting next week for security reasons, FIFA confirmed on Thursday.
Qatar and the Gulf region have been on high security alert since the United States military attacks on Iran started in February.
The 48-nation FIFA tournament kicks off in Doha next Wednesday and the U.S. team’s scheduled first game was Nov. 21 against Montenegro. Its other opponents were Chile and Algeria.
“FIFA understands that U.S. Soccer’s decision was made in light of the existing U.S.

Cricket Australia chairman David Boon has thrown his support behind Test captain Pat Cummins following fresh allegations about the 2018 ball-tampering scandal. Boon has made it clear that Cummins’ position as captain is safe and that the board continues to have full faith in him.
The controversy has returned to the spotlight after former Australia batter Usman Khawaja made fresh claims in his autobiography, “Sabr”. Khawaja alleged that all members of the Australian team on the 2018 South Africa tour knew about the plan to tamper with the ball.

Jeremiah Smith is still in the mix for the Heisman Trophy, but he is no longer the favorite in the mix.
Smith’s chances to win the Heisman have shrunk since his quarterback, Julian Sayin, has missed the past two weeks with an injury. Despite a touchdown in the fourth quarter from freshman Luke Fahey, Smith struggled to get targets in the second and third quarters against Oregon.
The Buckeyes suffered their third loss of the season against the Ducks and received a No. 20 ranking in the first College Football Playoff top 25 list.

GT retention list for IPL 2027 auction: Full list of retained and released players by Gujarat Titans ahead of mini-auction originally appeared on Cricket News.
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KEY TAKEAWAYS:

GT are expected to retain their core squad after finishing runners-up in IPL 2026.
Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler, Rashid Khan and Kagiso Rabada are among the likely retentions.
The official retention list is yet to be announced, with the mini-auction scheduled for December 16 in Goa.

The Detroit Lions are bringing back a fan favorite.
After waiving him from their active roster to make room for newly-acquired safety Andre Cisco, the Lions re-signed tight end Jackson Meeks to their practice squad.
Meeks began his career as a wide receiver, but he made the position switch to tight end this offseason. Meeks appeared in two games last season, and has played in four games thus far this season with one catch for eight yards.

Lions have re-signed TE Jackson Meeks to the Practice Squad. pic.twitter.

Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur – Carabao Cup: Quarter Final – Getty Images Sport
Manchester United are rapidly closing in on the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino, but reports suggest the dressing room had other ideas for the top job. While the former Tottenham and Chelsea boss is the man chosen to lead the rebuild, a significant portion of the squad was reportedly holding out for a different Premier League rival.

Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images
Luka Doncic suffered an injury scare against the Milwaukee Bucks, and Skip Bayless believes JJ Redick is to blame.
Luka Doncic seemed to injure his ankle due to a dangerous closeout from Kyle Kuzma in the fourth quarter of a blowout win for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Both players would end up leaving the game after getting hurt, but the Los Angeles Lakers still managed to earn a big win to extend their record to 11-2.

Today’s Papers – Run Italy, Tresoldi’s price, Zidane makes Juventus dream
La Gazzetta dello Sport

Run, Italy
Nations in Milan: A new test against France (20.45)
Mancini launches his young players. ‘I believe in them, we can win.’ Zidane without Mbappé: ‘One day, I’ll coach Juventus.’
Milan, Tresoldi’s price
Bruges warn the Devil: They want 60m
Corriere dello Sport

A pole like Kimi
Mancini with the Espositos, Mbappé abandons Zidane
At San Siro for the top spot in the Nations League group (20.

Joe Hart pinpoints ‘unbelievable’ Alisson Becker trait which makes him ‘one of the best’
Joe Hart has proclaimed that Alisson Becker will ‘forever be regarded as one of the best’ goalkeepers to have graced the Premier League.
Liverpool’s number 1 has been rightly acknowledged as one of the foremost players in his position in world football since his move to Anfield in 2018 and has been pivotal towards the trophies won by the Reds in that time.

Zion Williamson called for accountability after the New Orleans Pelicans lost their fourth straight game, 145-111 to the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night, saying the team needs to look itself in the mirror. “Unacceptable,” Williamson said after the game. “I don’t even have a lot of words. Just unacceptable.”
ESPN

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: “Unacceptable,” Williamson said after the game.

“As men we have to, as a unit, players, coaches, everybody, you have to go look yourself in the mirror when you by yourself and say, did I do everything that I needed to do for my team?” Williamson said. “Did I do — was I in the gaps on defense? Was I a low man when I was supposed to? Did I get out there and contest shots to make it tough on them? Did I do everything I needed to do? Did I give in real effort? “That’s what everybody has to do.

The Bucks lost for the eighth straight game, in a 123-112 loss to the Lakers, their longest losing streak since Mar 24, 2014.

MUMBAI: In one of the biggest trades in IPL history, Mumbai Indians (MI) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) have swapped two of India’s premier white-ball players, with Hardik Pandya moving to Punjab and Arshdeep Singh heading to Mumbai.
Pandya, who captained MI over the last three seasons but could not restore the franchise to its title-winning ways, will begin a new chapter with PBKS. The IPL confirmed on Wednesday that Pandya will join Punjab for Rs 18 crore, up from his previous fee of Rs 16.35 crore, while Arshdeep moves to MI on his existing Rs 18-crore contract.

France predicted XI v Italy: Kylian Mbappé out, Désiré Doué to lead the line

France play Italy away tonight at Milan’s San Siro for Matchday 5 of the 2026-2027 UEFA Nations League. Zinédine Zidane’s Les Bleus only need a draw tonight to qualify for the tournament’s quarter-finals in March 2027. Zidane won’t have a fully-fit squad at his disposal as several key players will miss out. France captain Kylian Mbappé won’t feature against Roberto Mancini’s Azzurrias he nurses a minor hamstring strain.

Cal guard Michael Cooper shoots over USC forward Jacob Cofie during the first half of Wedensday’s game at Haas Pavilion.  (D. Ross Cameron/Associated Press)

Thierry Darlan scored 16 points to lead five Santa Clara players in double figures and the Broncos overcame a 10-point second half deficit to defeat host North Texas 76-71 on Wednesday night.
Santa Clara (4-0) trailed by seven at halftime, then saw its deficit grow to double figures before the Broncos eventually pushed ahead 70-68 on a layup by Darlan with 2:44 to play.

Wednesday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks wasn’t the best of outings for Luka Doncic. After scoring 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting in the first quarter, he started to go cold and finished the game with just 10 makes in 25 field-goal attempts, as well as five turnovers. The Los Angeles Lakers still managed to defeat the Bucks 123-112 to secure their seventh win in a row, but now there is some mild concern about Doncic’s health.
In the fourth quarter, he landed on the foot of former Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma while hitting a long jumper and tweaked his right ankle as a result.

[SNS]
Aberdeen linked with former Scotland manager and in-form Rangers forward attracts attention from English Championship.
Aberdeen have spoken to seven candidates about potentially filling their newly vacant manager’s post. (Record – subscription required)
Former Sporting Kansas City boss Raphael Wicky is in the frame for the Aberdeen job, as is former Scotland head coach Steve Clarke. (Sun)
However, there has been no Aberdeen contact with former Leicester and Birmingham manager Gary Rowett, 52.

Phillies predicted to sign $15M power hitter to pair with Bryce Harper, fulfill major position need originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Philadelphia Phillies are like a ticking time bomb. They only have so much time to get everything right with their current core, and the organization knows the pressure is mounting as its championship window continues to shrink.
Their latest playoff exit made that reality even more apparent.

Cheltenham Town v Tottenham Hotspur U21: Jersey Mike’s Trophy – Getty Images Sport
Tottenham Hotspur forward Richarlison faces a slim chance of sealing a January return to former club Everton despite being frozen out under head coach Roberto De Zerbi. The Toffees are reluctant to revive their interest in the Brazilian this winter and are instead assessing a move for prolific Dinamo Zagreb striker Dion Beljo.

San Antonio Spurs forward/center Victor Wembanyama, right, shoots as Chicago Bulls forward Noa Essengue guards during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Chicago, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) (Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press)

CHICAGO – After the Spurs gave up 70 points to a one-win Chicago team in the first half Wednesday, the visitor’s locker room at the United Center was not a happy place.
Stephon Castle will spare you the grisly details.
“It was about what you’d imagine it was like,” the Spurs guard said.

What to Know

Fight announcements include a three-belt unification fight at super welterweight between Jaron “Boots” Ennis and Josh Kelly on February 27 in Atlanta.
WBA and Lineal Strawweight champion Oscar Collazo will defend his title on January 9 against an opponent to be named on the Amanda Serrano undercard in Puerto Rico on January 9.
Undercard fights added to the Fury vs Joshua card on December 11 including Martin Bakole vs Solomon Adebayo and Da’Mazion Vanhouter vs Michael Essomba.

Islam Makhachev’s decision to withdraw from negotiations for UFC 336 has become one of the biggest talking points in the MMA world this month. The reigning welterweight champion was initially expected to put his title on the line against Carlos Prates on the promotion’s January 30 card in Toronto.
However, the Dagestani had other ideas. Makhachev pointed to the growing number of contenders at 170lbs and suggested that Prates and Michael Morales should settle the No. 1 contender debate inside the Octagon rather than expect an immediate title shot.

Tonight on Inside The NBA, Chris Webber joins E

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