MORE FROM Mike DeCourcy

Ishmael El-Amin organizing 'peaceful protest' at Ball State: 'We deserve change, and we demand it'

In an ordinary year, El-Amin would be preparing for his senior season at Ball State. As we know, 2020 has been anything but ordinary.

Wes Unseld was a giant both on and off the court — even standing just 6-7

Wes Unseld didn't necessarily fill up a basketball stat sheet. But Unseld, who died at the age of 74 on Tuesday, leaves a legacy inside the game and out that transcends sport.

USC pulls football booster's season tickets for 'blatantly racist' tweets promoting violence toward protesters

In a swift rebuke of a football booster, USC athletic director Mike Bohn said Marla Brown's season tickets have been revoked due to a series of tweets about protesters, calling them "abhorrent and blatantly racist."

Bengals legend Ken Anderson's arrival on Twitter scene reminds us Hall of Fame needs him to be complete

You’ve got to be great to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Ken Anderson was all of that. The numbers are there. The results were there. The votes have not been.

When does the Premier League return? Date, TV schedule & more to know about EPL's restart

Here's everything soccer fans need to know about the return of the Premier League, including the restart date and a full TV schedule to watch matches in the United States.

N.C. Central coach LeVelle Moton shares story of harrowing police stop after watching George Floyd tragedy

Moton said he did not speak publicly at the time because Felton had declared for the NBA Draft after his junior season at North Carolina and he did not want any negative circumstance to affect his draft value.

Premier League 'Project Restart' will reach fruition June 17 after three empty months

Tests for the coronavirus have been conducted multiple times of players and staff, with only three positive results out of more than 1,000 in the most recent round of tests in England’s top leagues.

NBA champion Stephen Jackson opens up about friendship with George Floyd during 'Today’ interview

Stephen Jackson promised to fight for social justice change to honor his longtime friend, George Floyd, during an interview Thursday morning on NBC’s "Today" show, successfully fighting back tears at one point.

NCAA grants waiver to transfer wing Johnny Juzang, making him eligible for UCLA in 2020-21

Johnny Juzang, a promising 6-5 wing who decided to transfer from Kentucky to UCLA after a single season with the Wildcats, has been granted a waiver by the NCAA to compete in the 2020-21 season.

If college football limits fans this fall, who gets left out? Athletic directors discuss tough options when sport returns

NCAA athletic directors will face an immense challenge in deciding who to let in for a socially distanced 2020-21 season.

NFL officiating chiefs were the ones who 'failed miserably' on pass interference replay review

The experiment failed not on its own merits, but as a product of disinterested execution.

Voice of Indianapolis Motor Speedway says May without Indy 500 is 'weird as weird can be'

The calendar says this is May, and the welcome sign says this is Indianapolis, but it does not feel like either at the moment.

NFL's proposed rule change to modernize the onside kick should be booted clear off the planet

This silly idea was conceived by the Alliance of American Football, which lasted a single season, which ought to tell you what the idea is worth.

Jaap Stam's excellence as a player won't make him a great coach at FC Cincinnati, but it won't hurt

Stam has not yet demonstrated consistent skill in this profession. He has done some good work and has also struggled at times.

Ohio State should be back in football business June 8, but AD Gene Smith still uncertain about fall schedule

There were a lot of questions posed to Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith during nearly 50 minutes of interaction via teleconference with media, and the one thing that was obvious throughout was this: He does not have all the answers. No one does.

If you're mad about Power 5 lobbying over NIL issues, you don't understand how business gets done

Getting upset about this is like yelling at a couple who bought a new car a month before a flood wiped out their home. It surely was not clear in January and February what March would bring to the the world of college athletics.

Premier League schedule updates: What to know about rumored plans, resumption dates for 2019-20 season

As North Americans were just beginning their work days, whether back in their places of business or still doing the telecommuting thing, Premier League soccer players in England returned to soccer duty Tuesday for the first time since early March.

Had Michael Jordan and 'The Last Dance' Bulls been granted an encore, there's no guarantee it would've been a smash

If there had been the occasion to do another chapter of “The Last Dance” — well, there would have been no reason to do the entire series.

Presented as 'Last Dance' villain, Jerry Krause brought more to Bulls' championships than (almost) anyone

The dialogue in ESPN's docuseries so often impugned Krause, but the subtext of the series has been an affirmation of his enduring contributions to basketball and the Bulls.

Bundesliga's return to action, Dortmund's big victory demonstrate 'new normal' is not as abnormal as many suggest

Saturday's Revierderby between Borussia Dortmund and Schalke proved that soccer without fans is still soccer worth watching.

Steelers' Mike Tomlin 'excited' about having Ben Roethlisberger back at QB

Pittsburgh's coach is eager to get Big Ben back on the field as the franchise works toward a return to the playoffs.

German's Bundesliga returns with Americans at heart of sizzling title race

There are plenty of reasons for soccer fans on this side of the Atlantic to be interested in what we’ll see.

These are the Bundesliga teams to follow as big-time soccer returns to world stage

Germany’s Bundesliga returns to regular-season soccer competition Saturday morning.

Michael Jordan's six championship Bulls teams, ranked

How would you rank each of Michael Jordan's championship teams?

College basketball wishes happy retirement to Tom Konchalski, revered inside the sport but unknown beyond

When Konchalski speaks, the basketball world listens.

Florida prep school IMG Academy finds ways to employ 'distance learning' for sports as well as schoolwork

Regardless of the distance and time zones that separate them, the players are all in.

Watford executive's whining about Premier League return shows some in sport don't embrace competition

If Watford wins its petty argument, who is to say North American teams might not push for their own selfish concerns?

NCAA response to Kansas, Bill Self shows confidence in its case, but not an abundance of logic

The NCAA asserts that adidas representatives and the company itself are representatives of KU’s athletic interests. This is the equivalent of building a high-rise tower on a foundation of sand.

Bundesliga's scheduled return will show us that no fans is preferable to no games

The return to action for one of the world’s top sports leagues can be viewed as a positive development for those hoping to see various sports back on the field.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway to make graduation a lifetime memory for class of 2020 seniors

The Indy 500 had made legends of several IndyCar drivers. Now, seniors at Speedway High School will follow in their tracks.

Big man Olivier Sarr turns Kentucky's recruiting loss into big win

When the consolation prize actually is preferred, does one still call it that?

Bundesliga's back: Alphonso Davies, Tyler Adams resume title races as Germany approves soccer's return

Germany's top soccer league has been ambitious about its return to action after its government's swift response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Notre Dame's Jack Swarbrick 'not concerned' about any competitive disadvantage in reopening schedule

“There will be great disparities that are inevitable in this," Swarbrick admitted, as a wide range of state re-openings could create an uneven 2020-21 collegiate sports schedule.

USWNT won't achieve equal pay without joining U.S. Soccer in attack on World Cup prize imbalance

FIFA needs to be the next target in the USWNT’s fight for fair pay, because that’s where the money is — and where too much of it is staying. For now.

How much should Chris Mack's Louisville Cardinals pay for problems that predated them?

Whatever the outcome, it is inevitable someone will be furious with how the NCAA handles the case.

Memo to the NBA, NHL: Quitting the current season is not an option

Some are pushing for the leagues to cancel what remains of their suspended seasons and instead focus on a successful launch to 2020-21. This is the worst possible approach.

Dick Vitale desperately wants sports back — but only if competitors are 100-percent safe

The legendary analyst and commentator clarified some comments he made over the weekend regarding the return of sports.

New Wake Forest coach Steve Forbes on Deacons in transfer portal: They'll have to tell me no

The Demon Deacons’ best returning player, 7-0 center Olivier Sarr, announced he is entering the NCAA transfer portal, joining Jahcobi Neath, Ismael Massoud and Ody Oguama, and Forbes does not want them to leave.

Wake Forest rebuild might not seem so daunting to Steve Forbes after his career restoration

The former East Tennessee head coach and Tennessee assistant had to work his way back to the top after being knocked down by the NCAA decade ago.

Clearing up the biggest misconceptions about new NIL rules for student-athlete payments

The report issued Wednesday by the NCAA Board of Governors was a lot of information to digest, and there have been many misconceptions flying around.

Five takeaways from NCAA's move toward allowing college athletes to be paid for name, image and likeness

Revolution in the NCAA moves about as rapidly as a glacier, but Wednesday brought about one of those college sports moments that shall be remembered for decades.

Jameis Winston would have had an easy decision had Steelers been a real option

Jameis Winston didn't choose the Saints over the Steelers because, according to Pittsburgh's GM, the team didn't offer a contract to "any veteran quarterback."

Players testing waters for 2020 NBA Draft will make grim discovery: 'That process doesn't exist this year'

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, there almost certainly will be no NBA Combine in 2020, no individual-team workouts for a player to experience the protocols and perhaps demonstrate to teams that there is more to his game than shown to date.

Texas coach Shaka Smart needs better one-and-done outcome with Greg Brown III joining Longhorns

Though Texas didn't get to capitalize on its late surge in the 2019-20 season, recruiting scored a big win in landing Greg Brown III. The Longhorns must turn that into victories when games resume.

Why didn't the Patriots draft a QB? Bill Belichick keeps everyone guessing again with NFL Draft strategy

The Patriots passed on 10 opportunities to choose a quarterback in the 2020 NFL Draft. Instead, they'll move forward with Jarrett Stidham still penciled in as the QB1 and the many questions surrounding that decision.

Patriots draft pick Justin Rohrwasser tries to straighten out his far-right problem

The former Marshall standout says he didn't understand what the Three Percenters represented when he got a tattoo of the group as a teenager.

John Beilein leads Wake Forest's seven best coaching candidates

With Danny Manning out after six seasons, who will take over at Wake Forest?

Eagles' NFL Draft investment in Jalen Hurts an inexpensive Carson Wentz insurance policy

Philadelphia has too much money tied up in Carson Wentz to threaten his job, but it also knows that its No. 2 QB is just another Wentz injury away from playing.

D'Andre Swift hopes to tear Lions' recent running history to pieces

Detroit's rushing attack in the post-Barry Sanders era has been consistently underwhelming. The Georgia product gets his chance to change that.

Blockbuster ratings for NFL Draft underscore American hunger for sports' return

Viewership was higher than ABC averaged last June for its telecast of the NBA Finals.

Greg Brown III's commitment is a big win for Texas — and for all of NCAA basketball

It turns out the collapse of college hoops did not have Luka Garza-style stamina.

Meet Antoine Winfield Jr., the Buccaneers draft pick who is trying to live up to his dad's name

The Minnesota standout is ready to become the next member of his family to play in the NFL.

NCAA about to make high-profile college athletics a lot more rewarding for players

The NCAA Board of Governors meets Monday and Tuesday to consider proposals that will reportedly allow athletes to make individual sponsorship deals with a wide array of business concerns.

ESPN provides a healthy dose of football in its technological marvel of a broadcast

The network's emphasis on sport on the draft's first night was just what America needed.

Who is Clyde Edwards-Helaire? Meet the Chiefs draft pick eager to become NFL's next pocket-sized star

At just 5-8, 210 pounds, it might seem as though there should be more to Clyde Edwards-Helaire if he wishes to succeed in professional football, and yet somehow he managed to make himself the most complete back available in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Missouri's plan to reopen campus for fall gives hope college football can return

In so many ways, the issue surrounding the resuming college is more important than resuming college football. No matter which we care about more, it’s best to understand which comes first.

What if the Browns had picked Ben Roethlisberger ahead of the Steelers in the 2004 NFL Draft?

It's quite possible that Big Ben would have handled the challenges presented by those surrounding him in Browns uniforms and still found a way to be extraordinary.

What if the Steelers had picked Dan Marino ahead of the Dolphins in the 1983 NFL Draft?

Pittsburgh could have had Dan Marino and, perhaps, so much more. It might have come at a price, though. Here's a look at what might have been.

Steelers legend Franco Harris says James Conner has talent to be a star — if he can stay healthy

Franco Harris understands better than most the predicament running back James Conner is confronting entering his fourth season in the league.

Predictions that Jalen Green's pro plan will lead to NCAA basketball's demise are wildly off course — again

We've been down this road before, though it has led in so many disparate directions.

NBA spends more than $500K to keep prospect Jalen Green from facing actual competition

If you want to drill right to the core of the NBA’s new deal with California high school prospect Jalen Green, the league is going to pay him a half-million dollars to not play in the G League because it might be too hard for him.

Mike Brey: 'We can't miss another NCAA Tournament' — meaning Notre Dame, and everyone else

Notre Dame coach Mike Brey can't imagine a world without March Madness for a second-straight year.

Cincinnati's reason to drop men's soccer more a product of conference revenue than COVID-19

Cincinnati's men's soccer program unfortunately had become a luxury in an athletic department that now can afford none.

When Terry Bradshaw says Ben Roethlisberger is the best Steelers QB ever, you should listen to him

Yes, Big Ben is the best quarterback ever to play in Pittsburgh. Whether or not Bradshaw was being honest when he admitted that, he was being truthful.

Seton Hall sports poll on fans' potential post-pandemic return is a big swing and a bigger miss

We really can't know how people will respond to the reopening of our arenas and stadiums until we're further away from the current horrors.

Mark Cuban's ideas about future of NCAA, college athletics are a billion times wrong

Mark Cuban appears to view the NCAA as a monolithic organization imposing its will upon member institutions. It's incredible that he would not know how wrong this is.

Mike Gundy's crazy coronavirus comments don't mean all college coaches speak like fools

The Oklahoma State football coach's ridiculous rant about saving the season should be viewed as the exception, not the rule.

Liverpool boots first chance to do good with furlough announcement — but gets it right in the end

The club deserves no applause for doing the right thing, but neither does it warrant scorn for making the decision too late.

Missing March Madness: Chris Webber's timeout, Dean Smith's 'fluke' and watching Carolina win it all on TV

Sporting News' Mike DeCourcy has worked every NCAA championship game but two since he started covering college basketball in 1988. One of them: the 1993 meeting between Michigan and North Carolina.

How Dean Smith cost me the chance to watch Duke ruin UNLV's run of perfection

Sporting News' Mike DeCourcy finally gets a do-over after missing far too much of Duke's incredible win over UNLV back in 1991.

With no Madness to distract us, John Feinstein's 'The Back Roads to March' is a timely read

Author John Feinstein recently talked about what made him want to write the book, the people he profiled and what the cancellation of the NCAA Tournament meant to all involved.

Missing March Madness: How Christian Laettner's shot launched Kentucky's '90s dynasty

Many of the key figures in the Kentucky program in 1992 tell SN how the team channeled the heartbreak into motivation.

There's nothing cold or shameful about staging the NFL Draft in times like these

We don’t yet know what the 2020 NFL Draft will look like amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but the league shouldn't be shamed for moving forward with it, and nobody should feel badly about watching.

March Madness 2021: SN's Mike DeCourcy ranks 30 years of Final Four experiences

Saturday's Final Four games will mark the 31st year Sporting News' Mike DeCourcy has covered the sport's most illustrious stage. Recapping the memories from each of those 30 events.

Missing March Madness: How Kentucky served up an enormous Elite Eight win over Duke in '98

No matter how one is covering March Madness, it’s impossible not to miss a lot. But sometimes you just goof up and do it to yourself. How Sporting News' Mike DeCourcy missed one of the NCAA Tournament's all-time great comebacks between Kentucky and Duke.

Villanova vs. Georgetown, 1985: Seven things you didn't know about Wildcats' 'Perfect Game' upset

Villanova’s 66-64 victory over Georgetown in the 1985 NCAA title game remains one of the most famous college basketball games ever played.

Arizona vs. Kentucky, 1997: Seven things you didn't know about their epic NCAA title game

The 1997 NCAA championship game culminated one of the astounding runs in tournament history. In defeating the Kentucky Wildcats in overtime, Arizona beat a No. 1 seed for the third time in four games.

Missing March Madness: Kentucky-Ohio State was much too sweet for early NCAA Tournament meeting

The Wildcats and Buckeyes were thrown into a stacked bracket for the 2011 NCAA Tournament. Then they met in the East semifinals.

Consensus All-Americans: Garza, Toppin and more show us how unexpected became the norm

Almost nothing about this season was expected, so of course the list of All-Americans is uncommon, as well.

Remembering Steph Curry's dominance in comeback vs. Georgetown

Steph Curry's impressive second half against Georgetown should have convinced all of his greatness.

Rutgers' NCAA drought isn't officially over, but its days as a doormat are

Every team dealing with the cancellation of the NCAA Tournament felt the pain acutely, but it might have struck the Rutgers program more deeply than any.

Missing Madness 2020: Top 10 things I would have loved to see in NCAA Tournament

The ball was scheduled to go into the air today, signifying the start of the NCAA Tournament. Mike DeCourcy looks at what he wanted to see this year, but never will.

Missing March Madness: How No. 1 Georgetown escaped being 'UMBC'd' by 16-seed Princeton

Mike DeCourcy has missed NCAA Tournament games for several reasons, most of which he will share as we all miss 2020 March Madness from.

Building the Bracket: How the 1985 NCAA Tournament turned March into Madness

It was 35 years ago that America was introduced to the concept of the 16-seed, the 8-9 game, the 12-5 upset. We see now what a glorious innovation the expanded NCAA Tournament field has proven to be.

Bill Belichick, with help from Tom Brady, has been main driver of Patriots' success

Tom Brady has been a spectacular quarterback, the ideal player to execute his coach’s vision on offense, but there is so much more to what has made the Patriots great than the number of points they score.

Rick Pitino admits he deserved to be fired by Louisville, says Iona is his last job in coaching

Pitino said he should have taken more responsibility for the people he hired at Louisville.

Rick Pitino is willing to play far off Broadway in his return to college coaching

The Hall of Fame coach reenters the NCAA game three years after scandal forced him out. That he's returning to work in a "bus league" shows how much he wanted back in.

Waiting forever for Madness: Hofstra and Joe Mihalich have pride of league title but not the March they earned

"We are gutted," the Hofstra head coach told SN after the 2020 NCAA Tournament was canceled. "Somebody just ripped our heart out."

It's madness to assume a college basketball champion can be identified without the NCAA Tournament

Kansas might have been the favorite in March Madness before the tournament was canceled. That does not make the Jayhawks the champions.

NCAA canceling March Madness is for the best — but oh, what might have been

Those who will declare this to be a lost season will be incorrect. But it will be an unfulfilled one.

Fred Hoiberg's illness swayed Kevin Warren, but commissioner would have canceled Big Ten Tournament, anyway

The Nebraska coach was visibly sick during his team's game Wednesday night.

Big Ten Tournament canceled minutes before scheduled tipoff for Michigan vs. Rutgers

The coronavirus pandemic led to the cancellation of multiple college basketball tournaments Thursday.

March Madness 2020: Busting myths about NCAA Tournament selection process

The selection of NCAA Tournament teams is still among the most misunderstood processes in sports. A look at what's true — and what's not — about that operation.

Sporting News' 2019-20 college basketball All-Americans

Sporting News presents its 2019-20 men's college basketball All-Americans, led by Iowa's Luka Garza and Dayton's Obi Toppin.

Dayton's Anthony Grant is Sporting News' 2019-20 Coach of the Year

Anthony Grant carries himself as a person who never is surprised by anything, though this Dayton basketball season probably surpassed even his plans — and earned him Sporting News Coach of the Year honors.

Iowa's Luka Garza is Sporting News' 2019-20 Player of the Year

Luka Garza is accustomed to company on the basketball court, defenders trying to prevent him from scoring. But in one sense, he stands alone: He is Sporting News' 2019-20 Player of the Year.

March Madness 2020: Last 10 games of season carry no significant weight in tournament selection

To think otherwise is like believing you have to wait a half-hour after a meal to go swimming, or that RBIs are the surest measure of a baseball player’s value at the plate. We are past this, people.

March Madness 2020: Texas' buzzer-beater quiets media calling for Shaka Smart's job

Shaka Smart's tenure hasn't reached the level imagined when Texas hired him from VCU. But his Longhorns might be an NCAA Tournament team. And it’s glorious.

March Madness: Kentucky surge, Duke decline illustrate challenge for selection committee's bracketing

If you think March typically is a mad month, take a look at what February has done to the NCAA selection committee‘s official tournament bracket projection.

NCAA already monitoring coronavirus, continuing to prepare for 2020 NCAA Tournament

The NCAA is continuing to prepare for its various winter and spring championships — including the 2020 NCAA Tournament — while it monitors the potential spread of coronavirus.

March Madness 2020: Kentucky's crunch-time dominance could lead to long NCAA Tournament run

Kentucky may play several close contests in the remainder of the 2019-20 season, but it's so good in that circumstance that it'll likely play a lot of games. That's never a bad thing.

March Madness 2020: Road to NCAA Tournament is more generous to mid-majors than many believe

Mid-majors make college basketball better and give the NCAA Tournament so much of its character. That doesn't mean they deserve some sort of scheduling mandate to even the playing field.

March Madness 2020: Seeding Duke could be a devil of a problem for NCAA selection committee

Duke's recent string of vexing performances — in both victory and defeat — could prove a difficult problem to parse through for the NCAA selection committee.

San Diego State's pursuit of a No. 1 March Madness seed is in jeopardy; there's one big reason why

The Aztecs were the last unbeaten team in NCAA men's Division I this season. Their resume makes that first loss hurt a lot.

Kevin Stallings wasn't just a bad coach at Pitt — he was a bad cheater

Former Pitt men's basketball coach Kevin Stallings "did not promote an atmosphere for compliance" during his time with the Panthers.

Indiana should give Archie Miller time, not make a beeline for his successor

Elite college programs don’t fire coaches every four years on average. Indiana owes coach Archie Miller the time to rebuild the Hoosiers program.

John Beilein would be prize of coaching carousel if he returns to college from Cavaliers

News that the Cleveland Cavaliers and Beilein might part ways was an important story in the NBA. It was massive news in college basketball.

Ranking the Champions League 16: Can anyone keep Liverpool from repeat title?

Ranking the 16 Champions League teams heading into the knockout stage:

Latest group of Rising Stars highlights major flaws with NBA Draft's age game

NBA teams are always obsessed with the age of players, and the Rising Stars game offers one more piece of evidence that this approach to drafting might not always be best.

UEFA puts U.S. leagues to shame with Champions League ban of Manchester City

European soccer's governing body is making a powerful club pay for its actions.

With Luke Fickell staying at Cincinnati, Bearcats would be wise to make his stay more comfortable

Luke Fickell has declined the Michigan State job. Now Cincinnati must make it so he leaves only when he wants to — not when he needs to.

Bob Knight returns to IU; 'Where he belongs'

The coach had stayed away from IU since his firing in 2000. He finally came back, to the delight of his former players.

WVU's lofty seeding suggests March Madness selections still need a tweak

What got West Virginia a No. 2 seed in the NCAA's projected bracket?

Wisconsin strength coach resigns after using racial epithet around Badgers players

Eric Helland used the epithet around men's basketball players while recounting a story from his NBA days. Wisconsin athletics says he did not direct it any player.

Big Ten basketball facing unprecedented, unparalleled parity this season

Big Ten teams will find no reprieve as they make their way through the conference schedule en route to the NCAA Tournament.

NFL overtime rules: What's wrong with the current format, and how can it be fixed?

There are multiple approaches to NFL's overtime that would be an improvement over its current randomness.

Deion Sanders' Pro Football Hall of Fame snobbery does not justify so much snubbery

If you do the math on the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the collection of enshrined greats is not out of proportion, not in the least.

49ers' Kyle Shanahan and the 'family business': On fathers, sons and outperforming the perception of nepotism

In sports, there are many examples of children who emulated parents by joining their profession. So it is with 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan, whose Super Bowl 54 run belies his early critics.

ND's Mike Brey to ACC officials: 'Come on, man, we're in the league, too'

Mike Brey's frustration with the officiating at Florida State leads him to claim unequal treatment by the conference.

Bob Huggins' ascent to tie Adolph Rupp in career wins has him walking among legends

Bob Huggins' continued ascent through the career coaching victories list can only help in getting basketball fans to appreciate his greatness.

Kahlil Whitney's decision to transfer from Kentucky could have come at a better time

What Whitney is doing, leaving the UK program halfway through the season, is entirely pointless.

Silvio De Sousa's punishment for role in Kansas-Kansas State brawl should reflect only what occurred

When a photographer knocked a chair from De Sousa's hand to the floor, he changed the outcome of the situation. So the consequences should change, as well.

How to watch Super Bowl 54 as a Chiefs fan: An expert's guide to an enjoyable experience 50 years in the making

The majority of Chiefs fans will tune in to Super Bowl 54 with a specific rooting interest for the first time. Sporting News' resident Steelers fan shares his dos and don'ts gained over decades of (mostly) Super Bowl bliss.

Andy Reid’s Super Bowl return with Chiefs is not to be mocked

Andy Reid is taking a second franchise to the Super Bowl, but people can't get past the fact Reid's Eagles never won the big game.

USWNT legend Carli Lloyd's attempt to qualify for fourth Olympic Games is off to an excellent start

USWNT coach Vlatko Andonovski called Carli Lloyd "a true example" for other players because of her work ethic.

Odell Beckham Jr. and LSU: Explaining potential NCAA violation of cash handout caught on video

Sporting News breaks down the potential rules violation Odell Beckham Jr. committed when handing out hundred-dollar bills to LSU players on Monday.

LSU bungled what should have been clear-cut response to Odell Beckham Jr. incident

Odell Beckham Jr. did his former university no favors by handing out cash to Tigers players after the national title game. But LSU bungled what should have been a clear-cut response.

Sporting News' 2019-20 college basketball midseason All-America team

Sporting News presents its 2019-20 college basketball midseason All-America team.

North Carolina star Cole Anthony says he'll 'be back soon' — but can it be soon enough?

The star freshman said he'd return to Carolina soon, but is there enough time left for that to make a difference in the Heels' season?

Fake money, fake news? LSU says Odell Beckham Jr. 'splashing cash' on field after CFP win was just a show

A viral video on social media appears to show LSU alum Odell Beckham Jr. passing out money to Justin Jerfferson and Jontre Kirklin moments after they beat Clemson, possibly running afoul of NCAA rules.

CFB 150: Top 10 teams in college football history

Sporting News' final CFB 150 entry: The top 10 teams in college football history.

Ravens' loss proves they need a new offensive approach

In order to avoid more postseason defeats like Saturday night's to Tennessee, Baltimore needs to evolve offensively. The option game with Lamar Jackson is not diverse enough.

Quade Green's ineligibility a massive blow to Washington's March Madness plans

The Huskies lose their junior point guard for the remainder of their Pac-12 regular-season schedule.

This Big East, by one metric, is the biggest beast the league has ever been

The Big East in 2019-20 isn't the most talented or top-heavy it has ever been, but that's exactly what makes it stand out this season as an entirely different beast.

Marching toward Madness: Ranking the most compelling major-conference races

Sporting News looks at the most compelling major-conference races of the 2019-20 college basketball season:

Tom Brady-era Patriots will leave complicated legacy whenever their dynasty finally ends

New England has enjoyed an unprecedented run of success dating to the 2002 playoffs. A rainy first-round loss in the 2020 postseason may be the signal that the reign is ending.

Sean McDermott's game management, at times bizarre and bonkers, extends Bills' playoff drought

Buffalo wasn't aggressive enough on offense for much of its wild-card game in Houston, and then it was overly aggressive at the wrong time. Those decisions by the coaching staff contributed to another playoff loss.

There's no safe bet to win the NCAA Tournament thanks to this crazy college basketball season

The 2019-20 college basketball season has seen only two teams reach the new year with undefeated records, and only nine more that have lost just once.

Saints' Super Bowl ambitions cursed again with yet another unholy replay debacle

The NFL somehow found a way to deter the Saints' Super Bowl ambitions for a second straight year, and in a game in which New Orleans didn't even play.

Lawrence's game-winning drive vs. Ohio State more ho-hum than heroic

Clemson's undefeated sophomore quarterback made it look too easy as he drove the Tigers 94 yards for the go-ahead touchdown in just over a minute.

Kentucky plays like winners under extreme pressure of rivalry with Louisville

UK continues to dominate its series with UofL. More importantly for John Calipari's squad, the latest victory shows the Wildcats that they can be good enough to contend during a curious college hoops season.

From Gordon Hayward's miss to Kentucky's togetherness: Mike DeCourcy's best college basketball moments of the 2010s

There also were so many marvelous moments to experience that I really couldn’t fit them all into this column.

John Calipari: Sporting News college basketball Coach of the Decade

No other coach defined the 2010s like Calipari, nor achieved the same degree of consistent excellence.

Comment: James Wiseman walking away from a lot as he leaves Memphis

Wiseman could have become a Memphis legend. His choice to prepare for the NBA Draft instead robs him of that chance, even if he had legitimate reasons to go.

Why Duck Hodges is still Steelers' best QB option for a wild-card playoff berth

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin knows now is not the time for radical change. That's why Pittsburgh fans will see Devlin "Duck" Hodges starting at quarterback against the Jets on Sunday.

Cole Anthony's injury extends North Carolina's losing streak, presents big challenge for Roy Williams

North Carolina's star point guard will be lost for four to six weeks following knee surgery.

Sporting News' women's soccer All-Decade team for the 2010s

The 2010s in women’s soccer were dominated by two teams: the United States women’s national team and Olympique Lyonnais, so it should be no surprise the Sporting News All-Decade team in the sport is dominated by those two, as well.

Sporting News' college basketball All-Decade team for the 2010s

College basketball is perhaps the most curious sport in which to select an All-Decade team because a large percentage of the best and most influential players only stuck around for 1/10th of it.

Carli Lloyd: Sporting News women's soccer Athlete of the Decade

In the space of a single tournament, Carli Lloyd traveled from underrated American great to all-time national team legend.

Jalen Brunson: Sporting News college basketball Athlete of the Decade

With two championship rings and a peerless junior-year performance, Brunson earned the honor.

Messi edges Ronaldo for Sporting News men's soccer Athlete of the Decade

Lionel Messi’s greatness hardly was a secret as the decade began. He already had finished three times among the top three in voting for the annual Ballon d’Or trophy, presented to the greatest player in world soccer, and he won the award by a landslide in 2009. And yet, at that juncture of his career, he was a mere mortal.

Another videotaping issue? Patriots face credibility issues as they try to explain

The league is investigating New England yet again, and given their history, the Patriots need to make one hell of a case to avoid punishment.

Butler is shooting for excellence, not perfection — but right now, Bulldogs have both

There are far more challenges ahead of the Bulldogs than behind them. And one of the biggest, now, might be managing expectations regarding what is expected and what is possible.

Mike Tomlin's miracle playoff push with Steelers in 2019 should force his critics to punt

The Pittsburgh coach is authoring the most astonishing chapter of his Hall of Fame career, and yet some still desperately wish to believe Tomlin is a substandard NFL coach.

Ohio State's comeback win vs. Wisconsin for Big Ten title doesn't capture season-long brilliance

The College Football Playoff should use Ohio State's entire season to determine the Buckeyes' final ranking — not just an underwhelming first half against Wisconsin.

Cowboys over 49ers? How NFL can fix playoff seeding problem

There may be 500 reasons why a 6-6 Dallas team should not earn a postseason advantage over 10-2 San Francisco. The NFL does not need radical change to address what is wrong with this playoff picture.

Manchester derby: A transitioning of PL superpowers

Manchester United vs. Manchester City has been a transitioning of Premier League superpowers over the past decade, but it still holds the intensity that most rivalries in North America simply can't match.

Virginia's championship-level defense won't matter if Cavaliers can't score

Virginia needed to score in order to keep up with Purdue on Wednesday night. At this stage of the Cavaliers' development, that simply wasn't going to happen.

Memphis discovers the cost for fighting NCAA over James Wiseman's eligibility may be exorbitant

The star Memphis freshman cannot play again until Jan. 12 against South Florida after the NCAA decided on Wednesday to uphold his suspension.

Stephen F. Austin's 'biggest' win over Duke sends clear signal to college hoops critics: November matters, too

November upsets of Duke and Kentucky should be considered excellent developments for the 2019-20 college basketball season. With this many people are paying attention before Thanksgiving, that cannot be a bad thing.

Georgia's Anthony Edwards thrills NBA scouts, chills Michigan State with 37-point Maui outburst

Georgia's Anthony Edwards sent a message to Michigan State, the SEC and NBA scouts during his incredible second-half performance against the Spartans.

Devlin Hodges over Mason Rudolph isn't the right choice for Steelers, but it's the only choice against Browns

We're not buying what Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin is selling. If the Steelers were playing anybody but the Browns on Sunday, Rudolph would be starting over Hodges.

Lester Quinones' injury is another bad break for shorthanded Memphis Tigers

Quinones, who was scoring 10.3 points in 25 minutes per game, has been diagnosed with a broken right hand and is expected to miss at least a month.

John Calipari, Roy Williams and other coaches team up for anti-cancer TV campaign

The rivals are teammates with the Coaches vs. Cancer program.

Dick Vitale has millions of reasons to continue sometimes-painful battle against pediatric cancer

Dick Vitale has made a career out of basketball. But he has a calling in fighting pediatric cancer.

Myles Garrett's helmet swing hurt Mason Rudolph, damaged the Browns and wrecked his own budding stardom

Garrett will be remembered with the likes of Albert Haynesworth, Wayne Maki and Kermit Washington, all of whom engaged in conduct well beyond the boundaries of their respective sports.

Steelers' Maurkice Pouncey would have left Cleveland a hero — if he'd kept his feet to himself

What could have been construed as an act of gallantry turned cheap and dirty.

Will James Wiseman play for Memphis again? Explaining next steps in NCAA eligibility process

James Wiseman and Memphis agreed on Thursday to follow the NCAA's rule of law in determining his eligibility. Here is what that most likely means for the rest of their 2019-20 season.

James Wiseman, Memphis abandon fight against NCAA, will work within rules to establish full eligibility

After six days and two games’ worth of open defiance of NCAA authority, Memphis declared star freshman James Wiseman ineligible on Thursday, consenting to the organization's process for eligibility cases.

James Wiseman's eligibility: Explaining the NCAA questions on Penny Hardaway, Memphis basketball star

Everything you need to know about James Wiseman's eligibility case at Memphis and what it means for him, the Tigers' basketball team and the NCAA going forward.

College Football Playoff committee has no defense in ranking Alabama as high as No. 5

It's time the College Football Playoff committee rewarded teams with the best case at making the Playoff, instead of the teams with the best brand names.

Evansville's upset of No. 1 Kentucky sends clear message to college basketball's top programs

Evansville's improbable win over Kentucky showed the 2019-20 season probably won’t be a work of athletic art — but it will be a blast.

James Wiseman loses eligibility battle with Tennessee high school association

A Memphis judge has ruled in favor of the Tennessee Secondary School Athletics Association, which declared Wiseman ineligible to play in 2017-18.

Labor of love: 'The Capital of Basketball' is wife's lasting tribute to sportswriter John McNamara

The completion of the book "The Capital of Basketball" is Andrea Chamblee's tribute to her late husband, John McNamara.

Zachary Winston, brother of Michigan State's Cassius Winston, struck and killed by train

NCAA's ruling on James Wiseman sure to rankle Memphis fans still haunted by 'strict liability'

Tigers fans haven't forgotten how the NCAA acted in the Derrick Rose matter. It's understandable that they fear a repeat involving another No. 1 recruit a decade later.

Oregon's Dana Altman stretches the point about selection committee overemphasizing non-league games

Altman may not like it, but numbers show a team's last 10 games shouldn't matter more than the first 10.

Greg Paulus' unconventional road after Duke leads him to head coaching job at Niagara

Greg Paulus' career playing point guard at Duke and quarterback at Syracuse was anything but conventional, and his path as a coach has been even more so.

Kentucky's John Calipari explains why NCAA basketball needs its own 'summer league'

Kentucky coach John Calipari talked about how useful it would be for college basketball to have these games to engage public interest, in the way that NBA Summer League does.

Big East title contender Xavier will redshirt freshman forward Dieonte Miles for 2019-20 season

Dieonte Miles will spend his freshman season at Xavier as a redshirt and retain four seasons of eligibility starting in 2020-21.

Kentucky freshman Tyrese Maxey shows star quality in Champions Classic victory over No. 1 Michigan State

Another season of UK basketball, another emerging star for the Wildcats. But nobody could have guessed this freshman would be the player to shine on the bright stage of Madison Square Garden on Tuesday.

Duke vs. Kansas takeaways: Blue Devils show what life without Zion, RJ Barrett will look like

Takeaways from Tuesday's Champions Classic matchup between No. 3 Kansas and No. 4 Duke:

Kentucky vs. Michigan State takeaways: Wildcats' additions start strong at 2019 Champions Classic

Takeaways from Tuesday's Champions Classic matchup between Kentucky and Michigan State.

Steelers' trade for Minkah Fitzpatrick was a steal

The safety is giving Pittsburgh exactly what it wanted when the team traded a first-round pick to Miami.

Don't overreact to the Champions Classic: A collection of cautionary tales from a thrilling night in college basketball

The Champions Classic is one of the most exciting nights on the college basketball schedule, but it's just one night. From Kansas' dud in 2011 to Kentucky's introduction to Zion Williamson in 2018, previous years are littered with lessons in patience.

Rules chiefs gamble that replay, longer 3-point line will increase college basketball appeal

The NCAA passed several new regulations and directives that will affect the college game this season, some of which apply more to bettors than players and coaches.

Naismith Award watch list includes some Wildcats you'd expect (Ashton Hagans, Tyrese Maxey), some you would not

Who made the preseason watch list for the Naismith Award ahead of the 2019-20 season?

CFB 150: Top 10 college football coaches of all time

Sporting News ranks the top 10 coaches of all time as part of our ongoing series celebrating 150 years of college football.

Loaded Memphis class is No. 1, but Penny Hardaway's freshmen don't automatically rank with best

There is a wide gap between Memphis' No. 1 recruiting class for 2019 and the Duke and Kentucky teams that have been earning top-five poll rankings on the basis of their freshmen over the past decade.

Sporting News' 2019-20 college basketball preseason All-Americans

Sporting News' preseason All-Americans for the 2019-20 college basketball season, headlined by Michigan State's Cassius Winston and Marquette's Markus Howard.

Michigan State's Tom Izzo says Joshua Langford out till January: 'It breaks my heart'

The senior guard, whose injury sidelined him after 13 games last season, is expected to be out till January.

Vogel's journey prepared him for everything that comes with coaching Lakers

Is Lakers coach Frank Vogel truly ready to lead a team with championship expectations? Good luck finding someone who has dealt with him and is expecting him to fail.

Injury proneness of running QBs like Russell Wilson, Lamar Jackson is overstated

Most assume the more an NFL quarterback runs with the football, the more likely he is to be injured. SN explores why that's not necessarily true.

College basketball rankings: SN's updated preseason top 25 for 2019-20

Sporting News unveils our updated preseason top 25 for the 2019-20 college basketball season.

LeBron James' hypocrisy hits hardest with comments about Daryl Morey, not China itself

LeBron James doesn't have to speak out against China, but he should acknowledge that others within the NBA's sphere are entitled to expression of their beliefs.

Why Game 5 of the 1979 World Series still means so much to Pittsburgh

The team that forever will be known through baseball history as “The Fam-a-lee” almost was lost to baseball history. Then came Game 5.

Tom Izzo is feeling 'greedy' as Michigan State enters season with championship aspirations

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo believes his team has all the pieces necessary for a championship run.

Antonio Brown forfeited a lifetime of glory in Pittsburgh

At Steelers games in 2019, there is almost no evidence that AB was the most gifted wideout in the team's illustrious history. Brown forfeited a lifetime of glory in forcing his way out of Pittsburgh.

CFB 150: Top 10 arguments in college football history

Sporting News continues its series celebrating 150 years of college football. The sixth installment: top 10 arguments in college football history.

NCAA won't budge on its NIL timeline, despite Gov. Newsom's posturing

All of the politicians in all of the states aren’t going to move the NCAA from its own timeline to address NIL rights in college athletics — including California Gov. Gavin Newsom.