DeCourcy: USA draw vs Wales leaves it in limbo with England looming

The United States feared Wales star Gareth Bale's ability to change the game in a single instant. Too much, it turned out, because a desperate foul by defender Walker Zimmerman led to a game-tying penalty kick.

DeCourcy: Qatar makes the wrong kind of history in World Cup opener

Qatar went all-in on chemistry, connection and teamwork in their first-ever World Cup match — and none of that was apparent in a disastrous 2-0 loss to Ecuador dominated by striker Enner Valencia

Is soccer America's fifth major sport? The answer is pretty clear

The FIFA men's World Cup will be one of the most-watched sporting events in the USA and from TV viewership and rights fees to infrastructure and investment, there's plenty of evidence that the sport of the future has arrived as of the five major sports in America.

Scouting the top freshmen (and future draft picks) from Champion's Classic

There were six projected first-round picks in the Champions Classic doubleheader in Indianapolis, and they gave the 75 NBA scouts among the audience plenty to ponder between now and June.

Michigan State passes latest test on brutal schedule with OT win

Michigan State's Tom Izzo has outdone himself in constructing a challenging schedule for his Spartans, but they made their coach proud with a double-OT victory over No. 4 Kentucky

Duke's Jon Scheyer embraces challenge of replacing Coach K

Jon Scheyer figured he'd be just retiring from professional basketball at 35, but a devastating injury meant having to find a new dream in life. Now he's following the greatest college basketball coach of all time.

There aren't many happy endings for college coaches who accept the rare and daunting challenge of succeeding one of the game's legendary figures.

DJ Wagner is a win for Kentucky, and oddly, a win for Louisville

If it seems weird to hear Louisville basketball is better off for not signing the No. 1 prospect in the 2023 recruiting class, well, consider what became of other developing programs that went the one-and-done route before being ready.

Why Sounders duo made it on USA World Cup roster

Jordan Morris and Cristian Roldan are not coming off their best seasons with the Seattle Sounders, but there's a reason they both made the U.S. national team's roster for the upcoming 2022 World Cup.

Bold predictions for 2022-23 college hoops season

North Carolina returns four starters from the team that lost the NCAA Championship game to Kansas last April. Is that enough to hold off the rapidly advancing Kentucky Wildcats, who are eager to erase everything that happened last March?

Armando Bacot is an NIL darling, but basketball still comes first

It is likely there is no one better situated to take advantage of the NIL era than Armando Bacot, who has been preparing for this intersection of basketball and business since he was a kid.

Sporting News preseason college basketball All-America team

The experience and excellence of these All-Americans should lend an extra sense of excitement to the impending college season.

Six college hoops coaches in need of a turnaround

A few rough seasons doesn't mean programs can't find their stride and challenge for NCAA bids. But these programs all are at the point where their fans would like to see more success.

Kentucky, North Carolina lead SN's preseason college hoops Top 25

An experienced Kentucky team has the inside track to John Calipari's second national title.

Expanding March Madness field would be college sports biggest mistake yet

If you look at the teams that barely missed the 2022 NCAA Tournament field, you see how little need there is for an expanded field. There's no there, there.

The Pirates have never recovered from their 1992 NLCS loss to the Braves

Pittsburgh now is exactly 30 years removed from the worst sports defeat in its history, a 3-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves, which kept the Pirates out of the World Series then, and perhaps forever.

Meet the HS phenom rushing for 350 yards a game with no recruiting profile

He is the nation’s leading high school rusher, with 2,507 yards and 29 TDs through seven games, an average of 358 yards per game with five 400-yard games to his credit.

DeCourcy: NCAA should go easy on TCU's Damion Baugh for using non-certified agent

TCU has chosen not to make anything about Baugh's suspension public, but the fact there’s an appeal is an indication this is not a gentle punishment.

In an extensive interview with The Sporting News, Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren expains the league's stance on further expansion, adding UCLA and USC, the pending growth the College Football Playoff field -- and more.

Trayce Jackson-Davis has one final chapter to add to his Indiana legacy

Trayce Jackson-Davis has reached one NCAA Tournament in three college seasons. This year, he doesn't just want to reach March Madness; he wants to stay as long as possible

DeCourcy: USWNT loss to Spain raises questions leading all the way to the top

After the USWNT was shut out yet again, it seems fair to wonder if the national team has more work to get ready for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup than it can accomplish in nine months.

DeCourcy: England vs USA was not just a soccer game; it was a statement

The women's national teams representing the United States and England had scheduled an exhibition to help prepare for the World Cup and promote the growth of their game. It became something more.

USWNT player grades vs. England: Smith stars, but defenders struggled

The U.S. women's national team lost at sold-out Wembley Stadium after a beautiful tying goal was ruled out on video review, but they were able to leave Wembley feeling fine about how their overall performance.

DeCourcy: USA soccer's unique chance to deal English football a dual blow

The USWNT and USMNT both have significant upcoming games against their rivals from England. The women will play a friendly against the reigning European champions. The American men face the Three Lions at the 2022 World Cup. Two wins would represent a massive blow delivered by the USA.

USWNT players react to NWSL abuse investigation: "Trust has been broken"

Members of the U.S. women's national team have a big game against England on Friday at Wembley Stadium, but the focus remains on the fallout from the independent investigation conducted by former U.S. deputy attorney general Sally Yates on player abuse in the NWSL.

Inside Dane Fife's departure from Indiana, and what's next

Dane FIfe thought he was closing in on his dream job when he left a coveted assistant coaching position at Michigan State for a lateral move to his alma mater, Indiana. Now he's trying to find his way back into the business.

So you're angry or anxious because the USMNT played poorly in their final two pre-World Cup friendlies? Tough. What this young team has navigated to reach this point warrants more appreciation than it's getting.

USMNT player grades vs. Saudi Arabia

The saying for some college kids is "C's get degrees", but do C's get a national soccer team out of its World Cup group? The USMNT better do better when they play real games again.

DeCourcy: Pepi might be USA's best chance to resolve forward conundrum

The USMNT have gotten more goals from defenders this year than they have from their strikers. Young Ricardo Pepi remains the player best positioned to create the necessary threat from that spot.

Pulisic's USMNT absence underlines his importance for 2022 World Cup

Christian Pulisic's injury wouldn't have been serious enough to keep him out of a game that mattered, but the USMNT floundered without him in 2-0 friendly loss to Japan.

Matt Turner lone standout performer amongst collective USMNT failure vs. Japan

If the objective for the penultimate World Cup preparation game for the United States men’s national team was to help Matt Turner secure the starting goalkeeper job, then it was a smashing success. In all other aspects, it was an abject disaster.

Should teams start a rookie first-round QB? Results are mixed

The majority of first-round quarterbacks who become rookie starters don't succeed like Ben Roethlisberger did two decades ago. Too many of them don't even last in the league.

DECOURCY: CFP almost gets new format right, but bowls get in way again

The decision to employ historic bowl sites for the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds when the College Football Playoff is expanded to 12 entrants is another goof for a sport that can't get the postseason right.

DeCourcy: Are Broncos making costly mistake with Russell Wilson extension?

Russell Wilson was contracted to play for the Broncos for the next two seasons, but without seeing a snap they've extended him five more years. Is that good business?

Serena conquered her opponents, and the unrelenting demands of a brutal sport

Serena Williams is preparing to end her championship career after more than two decades, but she stayed on top of the game longer than her peers could imagine.

There is clear No. 1 as far as West Virginia's most painful losses: the 100th meeting of the Backyard Brawl that cost the Mountaineers a potential national championship.

The negotiated settlement between NFL and the NFL Players Association gives Watson a serious competitive penalty and also takes a chunk out of the Browns, who chose to give him nearly $250 million despite behavior later termed to be "egregious".

DeCourcy: Why a Pulisic loan to Man United could prove the ideal scenario

USMNT star Christian Pulisic has had a tough time getting regular playing time at Chelsea, and the acquisition of Raheem Sterling has only made it tougher. A loan move to Manchester United might resolve that issue.

What happens in college baseball should not be used as a justification for expanding the NCAA Tournament from its current 68-team field, no matter what SEC commissioner Greg Sankey says.

Barcelona in crisis: Issues explained by author who went inside the club

Renowned soccer author Simon Kuper went behind the scenes for the definitive book on the club "The Barcelona Complex", and his insights help explain the current crisis facing FC Barcelona and why it's still struggling to balance the books.

The president of FGCU -- which gave us "Dunk City" a decade ago -- speculated the NCAA Tournament eventually will drop automatic bids for conference champions and kill Cinderella. That would be bad business.

Steve Sarkisian's 5-7 debut at Texas was underwhelming, but the commitment of Arch Manning gave the program a big shot in the arm this offseason.

The NFL may appeal the Deshaun Watson decision, but the question is, why was Robinson's initial ruling so light?

After hearing what Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff had to say about the Big 12, it's easy to see why the two could not find the common ground for a merger agreement.

DeCourcy: Ohio State-Michigan rivalry is back after Wolverines' rout of Buckeyes in '21

Is it really a rivalry if one team wins 85 percent of the time? That's where Ohio State vs. Michigan stood in the 21st century, but now UM has won 100 percent of the meetings in the past year.

If you think you know where college athletics is headed now that the Big Ten has expanded to include UCLA and USC, you're one of the few.

DeCourcy: USWNT show they're not ready to be brushed aside

The USWNT only beat Canada 1-0 to claim the CONCACAF W Championship and a spot in the 2024 Olympics, but they controlled the game without a half-dozen potential starters available and showed their young talent is extremely promising.

DeCourcy: Stakes are high for new-look USWNT in final vs. Canada

The United States women's national team has waited nearly a year for revenge following the Olympics semifinal loss to Canada. It comes Monday in the CONCACAF W Championship.

DeCourcy: USWNT player grades as Americans reach W Championship final

The USWNT has a perfect record so far in the CONCACAF W Championship without allowing a single goal as it marched into the tournament final following a 3-0 win over Costa Rica. But it seems there's still another level to reach for the Americans.

Still not clear of an NCAA investigation that unofficially commenced nearly five years ago, Sean Miller revels in the chance to return to coaching a program where he feels at home.

The WAC will seed its 2023 men's and women's basketball tournament by advanced metrics rather than league standings. It's an idea whose time definitely has not come.

Sophia Smith shows star potential in USWNT win over Jamaica

21-year-old Sophia Smith starred in a two-goal performance against Jamaica, proving that she could be one of the players who carries on the four-star tradition of USWNT excellence.

USWNT earn high grades across board in 5-0 win over Jamaica

The grades for the USWNT were much higher following the 5-0 victory over Jamaica than they had been for a disconcerting opener in the the Concacaf W Championship.

DeCourcy: USWNT player ratings vs. Haiti

Alex Morgan came close to a perfect grade with her performance in the USWNT's opening win at the CONCACAF W Championship vs. Haiti. But few of her teammates scored nearly so high.

DeCourcy: Three red flags in USWNT's opening qualifying win

A 3-0 victory over world No. 60 Haiti was not the resounding result the USWNT might have wanted in its first competitive game with a revamped, younger lineup. But coach Vlatko Andonovski remained positive.

There is a belief the Big Ten Conference is not finished expanding with USC and UCLA likely to join. But there are obstacles and issues with most of the attractive candidates

Rip Hamilton was quite possibly the most underrated player in UConn basketball history. John Beilein and Lon Kruger were not the most demonstrative coaches on the sidelines. The 2022 class for the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame is one of quiet greatness.

Selected today to the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame, Larry Miller is not one of North Carolina basketball's biggest names, but he might have been the pivotal figure in making the Tar Heels one of the college game's greatest powers.

If Deshaun Watson is given a lengthy suspension by the NFL as expected, the Browns' enormous investment in him will look even riskier.

DeCourcy: Who should be in the USWNT starting XI during qualifying?

USWNT coach Vlatko Andonovski said it should not be a hard guess even for those outside of the coaches' offices to know who'll start for the USWNT in the CONCACAF W Championship in July. But he has decisions to make at striker and goalkeeper.

In the two-round NBA Draft era, Kentucky's lead over Duke in first-round selections is down to one after the Blue Devils' had four players picked on Thursday to UK's two.

Players such as Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus built the PGA Tour into the money machine it's become for pro golfers, and those abandoning it for the Saudi-backed LIV series risk a serious crash for their sport.

Finding the next Draymond: How NBA scouts search for sleepers

Teams that have picked college stars over one-and-done potential in the second half of the first round have seen some positive results recently. This season's NBA conference finals provide several examples.

How Jaden Ivey compares to Ja Morant and Derrick Rose

Purdue guard Jaden Ivey fits a mold of dynamic athlete that basically hasn't failed in the past two decades of NBA competition.

DeCourcy: Stock up, stock down for USMNT vs. Uruguay

Timothy Weah and Yunus Musah continued to show they rank among the most consistent USMNT performers in the USA's latest World Cup prep match against Uruguay.

DeCourcy: USMNT stock up/stock down after win vs. Morocco

Christian Pulisic and Brenden Aaronson combined on the game-winning goal in a pre-World Cup friendly against Morocco, but their damage was not limited to that dazzling play. Three other players didn't do any favors for themselves.

DeCourcy: Could Malik Tillman make USA World Cup squad?

Young Malik Tillman just joined up with the USMNT a few days ago, but if he shines in training and competition in the coming weeks, he could be a member of the squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar

The common belief in college basketball has become that teams need to be "old" to be successful in the NCAA Tournament. But veteran teams do not fare as well in March Madness as the "one-and-dones" from Duke and Kentucky.

DeCourcy: What Liverpool are missing to win more trophies

Liverpool competed in three major finals in 2022 without scoring a single goal, even though the Reds had an extra 30 minutes in two of them. There need to be improvements in the their attack to get them over the biggest hurdles.

DeCourcy: How Fenway Sports Group transformed Liverpool into UCL force

Since taking over a failing Liverpool FC, Fenway Sports Group (FSG) has restored the club's success and prestige through shrewd execution — and being smart enough to hire and keep manager Jurgen Klopp.

Successful college underclassmen like Jaylin Williams of Arkansas and Keion Brooks of Kentucky must convince NBA teams they're good enough for the NBA -- and they're serious about moving on now.

A conference commissioner, ADs, college sports analysts and an athlete advocate discuss where the NCAA should turn to find its next president, and what the role of that president should be.

The next president of the NCAA -- sorry, it won't be me -- must have a vision focused more on where college athletics is going than where it has been

Since Nigel Pack signed an $800,000 NIL deal with a Miami basketball booster and Pitt's Jordan Addison reportedly began considering a transfer for a million-dollar deal, there have been many predictions of college sports' demise. But the sky is not falling.

Sounders make history with first CCL title, but it's only the start for MLS

Winning CONCACAF Champions League after a 15-year run of failure is huge for Major League Soccer, but progessing toward elite status will require a number of these big advances.

The Steelers definitely need a quarterback to chase future Super Bowl glory, but the odds of finding that player with the 20th overall pick are poor — and it's even less likely they'll find him in this draft class

While Kentucky's starting wing players struggled in the season's final weeks, gifted recruit Shaedon Sharpe watched and never played. Now he's gone to the NBA Draft, and the reason he didn't play will anger UK fans.

Over the nine seasons since the current Big East members split from their football-centric partners, Villanova carried the conference flag highest. Jay Wright's retirement might mean the league needs a new standard-bearer.

Villanova's Hall of Fame coach brings down the curtain on an amazing career.

Armando Bacot wasn't likely to be a first-round pick, so he might make more money in his fourth North Carolina season. And he'll enter the year as a preseason first-team All-American.

With uncertainly surrounding players declaring for the NBA Draft and hitting the transfer portal, projecting the 2022-23 college basketball season may be a fool's errand. But it's still fun to look ahead.

It has not been an easy four years at Kansas for David McCormack, but the big man had a most outstanding Final Four and played the most valuable role in the Jayhawks' championship run.

North Carolina's Armando Bacot and Kansas' David McCormack are part of a horde of college big men that are still having a big influence on the game.

Mike DeCourcy watched his first Final Four from the upper reaches of the Superdome, and he saw Keith Smart make history. Saturday, he was down on press row for all the madness, but he took a stroll back to his old seats to get all the feels 35 years later.

Mike Krzyzewski is leaving the arena one last time as Duke's head man after his Blue Devils came up short in a thriller against his arch rival.

Caleb Love's three-pointer with 25 seconds to play was the deciding play in a game that will go down in Final Four lore between the sport's best rivals.

Ochai Agbaji drained six three-pointers and Kansas held Villanova off in the second half to earn a spot in the national championship game.

Three ACC coaches spoke with Sporting News and were granted anonymity to break down the Final Four matchup between Duke and North Carolina.

The persistent myth since the Final Four began to be played exclusively in stadiums is that the vacant background is not conducive to jump-shooting accuracy. UNC coach Hubert Davis thinks that's bunk. And he should know.

Remy Martin's season has not gone as planned, but the preseason Big 12 Player of the Year could be the guy who lifts the Jayhawks to a second national title.

Let's not expect this to be the greatest Final Four game of them all, but perfect rivals Duke and North Carolina squaring off is still plenty to get excited about.

Despite his accomplishments in the 2002-03 regular season, Syracuse freshman Carmelo Anthony was named a first-team All-American by only one media organization, The Sporting News. He proved TSN right with his play in the 2003 Final Four.

New Orleans will host four programs with plenty of history and tradition at the Final Four. Here's how they stack up based on their chances of winning it all.

DeCourcy: Berhalter bests critics as MLS-heavy lineup delivers

USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter dared the critics of his MLS-based players to be furious by starting Paul Arriola and Jesus Ferreira. They were, but maybe not after each scored in a 5-1 U.S. romp.

North Carolina throttled Saint Peter's in the East Regional final, bringing first-year coach Hubert Davis to tears as UNC regained some luster as a program. His team experienced some lows, and now it will experience the high of the Final Four.

Kansas routed No. 10 seed Miami 76-50 with an amazing second-half blitz. The Jayhawks enter the Final Four with legitimate championship hopes.

Duke is awaiting an opponent in the Final Four, and it could be hated rival North Carolina. Are the Blue Devils rooting for the Tar Heels to beat Saint Peter's? We'll never know.

Mike Krzyzewski passed John Wooden with his 13th Final Four berth, and he did it with a talented team that he said is playing 'beautiful basketball.'

Although four of the ACC's five NCAA Tournament entrants earned seeds of No. 8 or below, three teams from the league are among the Elite Eight. How does that happen?

It's National Peacock Day, Night and Year as tiny Saint Peter's astonished the nation with its third NCAA upset and historic berth in the Elite Eight. For Purdue, it was a crushing defeat that extended its Final Four drought.

The top candidates for the NBA Draft overall No. 1 pick are freshmen Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren and Jabari Smith, but only Duke's Paulo Banchero still has a shot at an NCAA championship ring.

Duke's offense was brilliant down the stretch, but Mike Krzyzewski's unusual use of a zone defense in the second half also helped the second-seeded Blue Devils slip past a ferocious Texas Tech squad.

Gonzaga's quest for its first national title will continue beyond 2022 as the top-ranked Bulldogs were taken out by an aggressive Arkansas squad that kept the Zags at arms-length all night.

There never has been a college basketball player quite like Chet Holmgren, so everyone at Gonzaga had some learning to do. He and the Zags are getting high grades now.

Freshman guard AJ Griffin missed Duke's final eight minutes against Michigan State with an ankle sprain, but he will be ready to go in the Sweet 16 against Texas Tech.

The Wildcats knocked off three of the bluest bluebloods of the sport in No. 1 seeds North Carolina, Kansas and Kentucky. But they also survived scares against South Alabama, College of Charleston and Providence (in overtime) to win the 1997 national title.

Fifty-four teams have been eliminated from the NCAA tournament. Which survivor has the best chance to cut down the nets in New Orleans? We rank the Sweet 16.

The SEC had six teams seeded No. 6 or higher in the NCAA tournament. Five of them lost to double-digit seeds on opening weekend.

Jeremy Roach's clutch three-pointer with a minute to go pushed Duke's lead to four and effectively ended Michigan State's upset bid. Coach Mike Krzyzewski and Duke will play on, with a matchup against Texas Tech in San Francisco on tap.

Mike Krzyzewski has dominated his matchups with Tom Izzo over his career, but the Michigan State head man has won the last two matchups, including the Elite Eight classic in 2019. The two titans meet in the second round on Sunday.

Baylor lost four starters from its national championship team, then suffered two season-ending injuries in February. Still, the Bears earned a No. 1 seed, and almost pulled off a historic comeback against North Carolina on Saturday.

Duke sprinted out to a 17-4 lead and was never truly threatened against Cal State Fullerton on Friday night. Mike Krzyzewski says his final Blue Devils squad played better than it has recently.

The New Orleans native, who started his career in his backyard at Tulane, is hoping to make it back to his hometown for the Final Four.

In John Calipari's Hall of Fame career, he'd never suffered a shocking upset in the NCAA tournament. Until Thursday. He and his Wildcats had no answers for Saint Peter's, and now UK is going home early.

Emoni Bates knocked down a first-half three for Memphis in his first action since late January. The NBA prospect was an unexpected participant in the Tigers' first-round win over Boise State.

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Three weeks from now in New Orleans, we will see the student taking on the master in an all West Coast final.

Can Coach K find his way to a record-breaking 13th Final Four?

Every one of the top four teams in the South Region is capable of reaching the Final Four. The problem for the other three, though, is they are grouped with Arizona.

Can Baylor repeat as national champion with almost an entirely different team?

LSU fired Will Wade on Saturday less than a week after the NCAA issued a notice of allegations that reportedly included five Level 1 violations.

The Big Ten might not be the best conference in college basketball this season, but it still is trending toward another busy March.

An epic comeback by the Indiana Hoosiers might be enough to get them into the March Madness Field of 68 after missing four tournaments in a row.

When a basketball comes off the rim, Kentucky center Oscar Tshiebwe insists it belongs to him. That conviction carried him to the second-ever TSN Player of the Year award for a Wildcats player.

Ed Cooley believes in luck, but far more went into a remarkable Providence Friars season that produced a a Big East championship and Coach of the Year Honors for the man in charge.

Kentucky center Oscar Tshiebwe and Wisconsin wing Johnny Davis were the dominant candidates in the voting for The Sporting News All-America squad for the 2021-22 season.

All of the most prominent teams this season have significant flaws, which could lead to one of our Maddest Marches.

So many Hall of Famers have been on the bench opposite Mike Krzyzewski, who coaches his final home game Saturday. They tell us they needed to be at the top of their games to have a chance to succeed.

North Carolina's Roy Williams has done his best to keep a low profile since retiring from North Carolina, but he's at every home game and feels just as strongly about the program.

The best college basketball teams generally have the best players and the coaches doing the best jobs. So who stands out as the best of the best?

Michigan's Juwan Howard received a harsh but appropriate punishment after inciting a brawl with an open-hand slap of a Wisconsin assistant coach. He definitely did not deserve to be fired.

The Wolverines coach should have taken a personal timeout instead of engaging in an altercation with the Wisconsin coaching staff.

What is the most difficult regular season hurdle for the top 16? Glad you asked.

Selection Sunday is just over three weeks away, and we are going to get a good idea of what the top of the bracket is going to look like on Saturday.

A dearth of five-star prospects and future first-round picks at college basketball's most important position will make this a wide-open NCAA Tournament.

David Collins gets a one-game suspension for his dangerous foul on Duke's Wendell Moore, a penalty that does not seem stiff enough.

The Kentucky Wildcats still are chasing more quality wins, but their recent displays of dominance are undeniable.

Harry Statham resides the top of the list for all-time wins among college basketball coaches. His national recognition, along with a spot in the Naismith Hall of Fame, is overdue.

Gonzaga, Auburn Purdue set pace of latest Power Rankings

As Coach K gets set to visit UNC for the final time, the Devils find themselves in the thick of the latest Power Rankings.

Tom Brady has seven Super Bowl championships. But he could've had more — and fewer.

DeCourcy: Getting to Super Bowl not enough for all-in Rams

LA surrounded Aaron Donald with a veteran cast of stars, trading away a lot of its future in the process. Now it needs to win the big game for the plan to be considered a success.

DeCourcy: What ails Pulisic with USMNT

Breaking down the reasons for the U.S. captain's lackluster performance against El Salvador and what could change against Canada.

Louisville could save pain by offering Kenny Payne

The idea that the best programs hire “big names” from major programs is mostly a media and message board concoction. It doesn’t happen in real life.

March is glorious, but it will arrive when it is scheduled to arrive. If one spends too much time obsessing about the impending NCAA Tournament, it’s too easy to miss the wonders of the regular season.

DeCourcy: Big Ben walks away a true Steeler

Big Ben's defining moment as a Steeler came on defense, which might seem odd given all of the quarterback's accomplishments as a passer but meshes well with the franchise's mindset.

DeCourcy: Leaving Auburn would be madness for Pearl

Louisville will likely be looking to tempt Bruce Pearl to be its next head coach, but Auburn's head man would be crazy to leave the Tigers.

How Coach K recruited me to Duke

What is it like to be recruited by Mike Krzyzewski? Six Duke stars tell Sporting News in their own words.

DeCourcy: Fortune flips in Mahomes' favor

Three years ago, Patrick Mahomes' Chiefs ended up on the wrong side of a coin flip and lost a playoff thriller. On Sunday, they were on the right side and made it count in another classic.

DeCourcy: Penny turns on media that hailed his hiring

Penny Hardaway cursed out a Memphis media member after the Tigers fell to 9-8 on Thursday and seem destined to miss the NCAA tournament once again under their former star.

DeCourcy: Putting the 'Power' in my Power Rankings

Throw out resumes, advanced metrics and polls. Mike DeCourcy sees these 16 'power' teams as ready to make the most noise in the biggest games to come.

Sporting News Midseason All-America Team

The Big Ten has plenty of representation at the season's midseason checkpoint.

Hall a tough act to follow at Kentucky

As is so often the case with college coaches, fans did not truly appreciate Joe B. Hall's tenure at Kentucky until after his retirement.

DeCourcy: An emphatic ending to the Dawgs' drought

Georgia put an end to all the 1980 talk with a championship drive and a game-clinching pick-six that sparked a celebration, and some tears from the winning QB.

DeCourcy: Three keys to an Alabama victory

Alabama must protect Bryce Young again like it did in the SEC championship.

DeCourcy: Three keys to an Alabama victory

Alabama must protect Bryce Young again like it did in the SEC championship.

DeCourcy: Bigger would be better for CFP

Football need only look at the NCAA Tournament to understand that bigger can be better when it comes to the postseason.

DeCourcy: Williams goes full superstar at Alabama after transfer

Wide receiver Jameson Williams saw an opportunity for more opportunities at Alabama than at Ohio State. And he took full advantage.

DeCourcy: Not many were bigger than the Big Dog

Glenn Robinson's 1993-94 season was as dominant a season as college basketball has seen in the past 30 years.

DeCourcy: Grieving RayQuan Evans touched by Purdue fans

Florida State senior RayQuan Evans carries a condolence card from Purdue's student section everywhere he goes.

DeCourcy: Parity reigns in 2021 NFL playoff chase

The 2021 NFL season has become Roger Goodell’s dream season.

Say hello to the IARP, which has a crummy acronym, takes forever to complete a case and ultimately gives you the same sort of ruling the infractions committee would have delivered in more or less the same amount of time.

DeCourcy: NFL's fight against COVID-19 is the right one

There are calls for the NFL to loosen some of its COVID-19 policies, but the league has chosen the right path with the virus to date.

Fickell's landmark season earns him SN Coach of the Year

After leading Cincinnati to another undefeated regular season and berth in the College Football Playoff, Luke Fickell won Sporting News Coach of the Year award.

DeCourcy: UCL re-draw debacle leaves Real Madrid royally hosed

If there's one team that will feel hard done by the Champions League redo of the Round of 16 draw, it's definitely Spain's top team.

DeCourcy: NCAA infractions committee lets Auburn, Bruce Pearl off easy

The most severe consequences fall to a few young men who are totally unconnected to any of this.

DeCourcy: Kirk Herbstreit is oddly unaware of CFP preference for biggest brands

Herbstreit's proclamation Tuesday regarding the propriety of the College Football Playoff reached a surprising degree of impudence.

DeCourcy: Mock Brian Kelly all you want, but he'll reach CFP with LSU soon enough

If Brian Kelly had a dollar for every mean tweet circulated about him during the week after he became the new head football coach of the LSU Tigers, he’d be sitting on a pile of money about $95 million high. Oh, man, how about that? He does.

DeCourcy: Purdue has far bigger goals in mind than No. 1 ranking

The goals at Purdue: win the Big Ten, reach the Final Four for the first time in four decades, try to claim the program’s first NCAA championship. Now, that would be truly historic.

The Wolverines scored 42 points against Iowa. Tate Myre wore 42 for Oxford's football team.

Decourcy: No letdown for Michigan as it steamrolls Iowa

Michigan has climbed out of the Appalachian State valley and now finally resides in the rarefied air of the college football playoff.

DeCourcy: When Saban and Smart were on the same side

Jim McElwain worked with Nick Saban and Kirby Smart at Alabama early in the Saban era. He saw the relationship between the two men up close.

DeCourcy: 'One-and-done' Watson focused on 'one' at UCLA

Freshman Peyton Watson is high on NBA Draft boards, but his impact on this loaded UCLA team might not be felt in the early part of the season.

DeCourcy: Spirit's title run like nothing you've ever seen

There is no championship team in U.S. sports history that has had to endure what the Washington Spirit did in its run to the 2021 NWSL crown.

USMNT's draw in Jamaica not as bad as it seems

The U.S. scored an away point in a draw vs. Jamaica. It’s a point more precious than American fans are likely to appreciate: The U.S. easily could have lost.

DeCourcy: Sprinting 4 weeks after an ACL repair? It's possible

A West Virginia surgeon is pioneering a new ACL repair technique that significantly reduces rehab and is showing promising results.

DeCourcy: Feinstein's book on racism his most important work yet

John Feinstein's 'Raise a Fist, Take a Knee' addresses the unbroken link between racism and sports that goes back decades.

DeCourcy: Only a fool believes committee will let UC in

The CFP committee has made it clear its first priority is to include those programs with historic achievement and broad recognition, and only the most glaring failures will cause such teams to be excluded.

DeCourcy: Freshmen hold fate of Coach K's farewell tour

Freshmen Trevor Keels and Paolo Banchero showed in a win over Kentucky at the Champions Classic that they have the goods to give Coach K the only parting gift he seeks.

DeCourcy: Agbaji shows he's ready to lead Kansas

Kansas needs Ochai Agbaji to be its leader if it wants to be a Final Four contender. In Game No. 1, he looked like he is ready.

DeCourcy: Dickie V's cancer battle won't sideline him long

The Hall of Fame broadcaster has raised millions for cancer research during his career. Now he's fighting the disease itself, and remaining tirelessly optimistic.

DeCourcy: As Duke, UK renew rivalry, an inside look at The Shot

Christian Laettner's shot to beat Kentucky propelled Duke and Mike Krzyzewski to a second straight national title and an elite status it has never relinquished.

SN Preseason All-America team

A true freshman from Duke lands with four veterans on SN's first team.

DeCourcy: Brannen latest coach fighting for buyout after firing

Fired Cincinnati coach John Brannen is challenging Cincinnati's stance that he committed NCAA violations and jeopardized the well-being of his players.

Lloyd Legend: What makes USWNT star an all-time great

Beyond the goals and titles, what set Lloyd apart from the rest during her U.S. women's national team career was a drive and mentality that will not easily be matched.

Top 10 U.S. women's soccer players of all-time

How does Lloyd's legendary career compare to the other greats in the pantheon of the U.S. women's national team?

DeCourcy: Teams should say 'no, thank you' to Deshaun Watson

We are hearing from QB-needy teams interested in Deshaun Watson. Why aren't we hearing from QB-needy teams who aren't interested in Deshaun Watson?

Gonzaga, UCLA lead pack for SN's preseason Top 25

Gonzaga and UCLA had a thrilling Final Four matchup a year ago. Could they meet in the NCAA title game in April?

DeCourcy: Huggins' NCAA tournament idea is madness

Bob Huggins thinks limiting the NCAA tournament to 'power' programs would generate more revenue and interest. That's just not the case.

Decourcy: If Tennessee fans don't clean up act, empty the stadium

International soccer fans have been punished for unruly behavior with games held 'behind closed doors'. Could it happen with college football?

DeCourcy: Watt shows Seahawks why Steelers gave him all that money

The All-Pro edge rusher sacked Seattle QB Geno Smith twice in overtime. The second one highlighted why Pittsburgh gave him all that money before the start of the season.

DeCourcy: Why this USMNT is unlike any in the world

The 2-1 World Cup qualifying win over Costa Rica came with the youngest team ever fielded by the USA in this competition. That youth has become its defining trait.

DeCourcy: One-on-one with focused, and emotional, Coach K

As the clock ticks down on his Hall of Fame career, Mike Krzyzewski sat down with Sporting News to discuss his decision to retire, his focus on his team and what has already choked him up.

DeCourcy: Woodson pushing IU to reconnect with greatness

Mike Woodson is at ease with his new team and pressures of coming home to coach at Indiana.

DeCourcy: Faulting Berhalter for USMNT loss is a stretch

The U.S. men's national team is smarting from a narrow 1-0 loss to Panama, but to lay the blame at the feet of head coach Gregg Berhalter is a stretch and overreaction.

DeCourcy: Sorry, Cincinnati; a perfect record won't be enough

Some in the college football universe think the College Football Playoff committee will finally invite an undefeated Group of 5 team. I'm not one of them.

DeCourcy: No one out there quite like Pepi

The U.S. national team has lost dual national players to Mexico over the years, but Ricardo Pepi was the one recruit it had to have

DeCourcy: Big Ten loaded with returning big men

With the role of big men changing in the NBA, the college game is seeing centers stay in school longer. Nowhere is that more evident than in the Big Ten.