Breaking News

N/A

Tag Type
Slug
breaking-news
Visible in Content Tool
Off
Visible in Programming Tool
Off
Auto create Channel for this Tag
Off

AP College Basketball Poll 2025: Complete Week 15 Men's Rankings Released

Feb 10, 2025

A loss to Florida wasn't enough to dislodge Auburn from the No. 1 spot in the newest Associated Press Top 25 poll.

With a 21-2 overall record, the Tigers lead the way for the fifth straight week. The Gators' upset did, however, move them up three spots to No. 3.

Alabama made it through the week unscathed, beating Arkansas 85-81 and improving to 20-3 overall in its only game, which was enough to earn a bump up to No. 2 thanks to Duke's loss to Clemson.


Week 15 AP Poll

1. Auburn

2. Alabama

3. Florida

4. Duke

5. Tennessee

6. Houston

7. Purdue

8. Texas A&M

9. St. John's

10. Iowa State

11. Michigan State

12. Texas Tech

13. Arizona

14. Memphis

15. Kentucky

16. Wisconsin

17. Kansas

18. Marquette

19. Ole Miss

20. Michigan

21. Missouri

22. Mississippi State

23. Clemson

24. Creighton

25. Maryland


If you're the No. 1 team in the country, then it's a good idea to avoid Florida moving forward. The Gators' upset of Auburn was their second victory against the top-ranked program in the AP poll.

Senior guard Walter Clayton Jr. had a team-high 19 points, while sophomore forward Alex Condon dropped a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. The 16 points and nine boards from sophomore forward Thomas Haugh were instrumental in the win as well.

"I thought our guys were fantastic for 40 minutes tonight," Gators head coach Todd Golden said after the game. "We were able to withstand a little rush early in the game, which we knew we were going to see. The last 36 minutes of the game, I thought we were just about as good as you could be in an environment like this."

Auburn's upset wasn't a huge shock because the Tigers had had some close calls against SEC foes already.

There probably weren't many fans who had Duke losing to Clemson on their radar. The Tigers were coming off a defeat to Georgia Tech in three overtimes, and they had played just four times against opponents in the top 50 of ESPN's Basketball Power Index.

Clemson successfully out-muscled Duke inside. It nearly doubled the Blue Devils up on points in the paint with a 40-22 edge, and it grabbed 13 more rebounds.

The Tigers succeeded in limiting the impact of freshman phenom Cooper Flagg as well. The 6'9" forward shot 6-of-17 from the floor for 18 points.

Now sitting with an 11-2 mark in the ACC, Clemson reinforced its status as a legitimate threat to claim a regular-season conference time.

Over in the Big East, St. John's Rick Pitino is working his usual magic. The Red Storm ran their winning streak to 10 games by beating Marquette and UConn.

Against the Huskies, St. John's rallied from a 14-point deficit early into the first half.

Junior guard RJ Luis Jr. put up 21 points and seven rebounds, and he was one of four St. John's starters to score in double figure. The Red Storm did an excellent job defensively, holding UConn to 39.2 percent shooting overall, including 8-of-29 from the perimeter.

It's not as though fans doubted Pitino's résumé as a coach, but his age, 72, and St. John's lack of recent success provided some reason to question whether this experiment would work.

Midway through his second season, the Hall of Famer is delivering more than the school's administrators could've expected when they hired him.

Kendrick Lamar's NFL Super Bowl 59 Halftime Show Set Inspired by PlayStation

Feb 10, 2025

If it appeared that the stage used for Kendrick Lamar's halftime performance at Super Bowl LIX resembled the four buttons on a PlayStation controller, well, that was intentional.

According to Angela Watercutter of Wired, "Each performance space was shaped like a button on a PlayStation-style controller, a performance intended to portray Lamar's life as a video game. That concept came from Lamar himself. [Halftime art director Shelley Rodgers] says she doesn't know if the concept has anything to do with his highly publicized beef with Drake but will say that Lamar had a vision for what he wanted his show to be, and she made it her mission to execute it. 'I think the [video game theme] was symbolic, his way to reach young people," Rodgers says. "A lot of it is showing his journey, traveling through the American dream.'"

Lamar continues to push the right buttons. Since winning his beef with Drake in dominant, unforgettable fashion, he's since won five Grammys and performed the halftime show at the Super Bowl, one of the marquee performances any artist can be granted.

By the time Serena Williams was crip walking out on the stage, another clever dig at Drake, it was plenty obvious that this is Lamar's moment. He's certainly making the most of it.

Schefter: Vikings Signed Daniel Jones In Case Sam Darnold Leaves amid Raiders Rumors

Feb 10, 2025
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - JANUARY 13: Quarterback Daniel Jones #13 of the Minnesota Vikings warms up prior to an NFC Wild Card game against the Los Angeles Rams, at State Farm Stadium on January 13, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - JANUARY 13: Quarterback Daniel Jones #13 of the Minnesota Vikings warms up prior to an NFC Wild Card game against the Los Angeles Rams, at State Farm Stadium on January 13, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images)

The Minnesota Vikings' decision to sign Daniel Jones following his departure from the New York Giants may have been part of a contingency plan for the potential free agency loss of Sam Darnold.

ESPN's Adam Schefter said Monday on the Pat McAfee Show that he believes the Las Vegas Raiders plan to pursue Darnold this offseason.

"I think the Raiders are going to make a play for Sam Darnold. I think Sam Darnold's a candidate to be the Raiders' quarterback," Schefter said. "We'll see whether Minnesota lets him go or not, but let's see if that works out with Sam Darnold winding up in Vegas. And so, if he goes there, then the Vikings have to bring in another quarterback. J.J.'s obviously going to be there; J.J.'s coming along.

"And I think that was part of the reason they brought in Daniel Jones because they were kind of getting him up to speed in their system in their organization in the event that they do lose Sam Darnold."

The Vikings signed Jones to their practice squad in November and elevated him to the active roster in January. The former Giants starter has not seen game action since he was waived by New York.


This article will be updated soon to provide more information and analysis.

For more from Bleacher Report on this topic and from around the sports world, check out our B/R app, homepage and social feeds—including Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

Lakers' Luka Doncic's Foundation Will Donate $500K to LA Wildfire Recovery Efforts

Feb 10, 2025
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 06:  Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers is introduced before a game against the Golden State Warriors at Crypto.com Arena on February 06, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.  NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Luka Doncic

Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić announced he's donating $500,000 through his charitable foundation to aid in the recovery efforts from the recent Los Angeles wildfires.

"It's been so sad to see and learn more about the damage from the wildfires since I landed in L.A," he said in a statement. "I can't believe it and I feel for all the kids who lost their homes, schools, and the places where they used to play with their friends."

At least 29 people died as a result of the wildfires, and one projection from AccuWeather had the economic loss at between $250 billion and $275 billion.

Lakers head coach JJ Redick said the home he and his family were renting in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles burned down, incinerating countless possessions and mementos.

Even now, with the fires extinguished, the Los Angeles Times' Rong-Gong Lin II wrote how the scorching of the local ecosystem has increased the risk of landslides and debris flows with heavy rain in the forecast.

The Lakers acquired Dončić ahead of the NBA trade deadline, after the worst wildfires are contained, but as he said, the damage is readily apparent to anybody who visits the city. The state government estimates that 57,636 acres were burned and 16,246 structures were destroyed.

Video: Jameis Winston Reacts to A.J. Brown Doing His Super Bowl Celebration Request

Feb 10, 2025
NEW ORLEANS, LA - FEBRUARY 09: Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) celebrates with Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Mekhi Becton (77) during Super Bowl LIX between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs on February 9, 2025 at the Superdome in New Orleans, LA. (Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - FEBRUARY 09: Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) celebrates with Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Mekhi Becton (77) during Super Bowl LIX between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs on February 9, 2025 at the Superdome in New Orleans, LA. (Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Jameis Winston was thrilled to see Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown take his suggestion to do the cha-cha slide after scoring a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX.

"I told him to do that celebration... this is epic," Winston told comedian Bert Kreischer from the stands at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.

Winston continued: "I've just been on the Jumbotron, and I technically celebrated in the Eagles end zone. Let's go!"

Winston made his request to Brown when speaking with the Eagles wideout during media availability in Super Bowl week.

"I know that at family reunions, we talk about the cha-cha slide," Winston told Brown. "I want you to slide to the left, slide to the right, criss-cross, eat a W."

Brown and offensive tackle Mekhi Becton did exactly that after catching a touchdown pass from Jalen Hurts to put the Eagles ahead by 24 points in the second quarter.

After the Eagles' 40-22 championship win, Brown confirmed the celebration idea had come from Winston.

"We got it from Jameis," Brown told reporters. "Shoutout to Jameis."

Winston, who joined Fox Sports as a digital correspondent, could potentially be on track for a post-playing media career, should he decide to pursue it. For now, the quarterback will hit NFL free agency following the expiration of his contract with the Cleveland Browns.

Video: Tom Brady Warns Jalen Hurts to Not Let Eagles' Super Bowl Jersey Get Stolen

Feb 10, 2025
TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 16: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles talk after the NFC Wild Card playoff game at Raymond James Stadium on January 16, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 16: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles talk after the NFC Wild Card playoff game at Raymond James Stadium on January 16, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images)

Tom Brady offered Super Bowl LIX MVP Jalen Hurts some helpful advice immediately after the Philadelphia Eagles' 40-22 win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night.

Brady told Hurts to keep close tabs on his game jersey, saying that "I had a few of those stolen over the years."

The locker room of the winning team is a frenzied place at the Super Bowl. Players and coaches are celebrating the triumph. Some are getting pulled aside for interviews and media hits. Nobody is focused too much on their lockers.

As Brady can attest, that opens the door wide open for something bad to happen.

In one famous example, the FBI led an investigation in 2017 that pointed to an international media member taking two of Brady's jerseys and a helmet potentially belonging former Denver Broncos star Von Miller while covering the Super Bowl.

Of course, entering and exiting the Eagles locker room means going through "Big" Dom DiSandro, the team's chief security officer. Good luck trying to sneak one of Hurts' jerseys past him.

NFL Agent 'Bets' Aaron Rodgers Retires: 'He Won't Want the Teams That Will Want Him'

Feb 10, 2025
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 22: Aaron Rodgers #8 of the New York Jets reacts during a game against the Los Angeles Rams at MetLife Stadium on December 22, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 22: Aaron Rodgers #8 of the New York Jets reacts during a game against the Los Angeles Rams at MetLife Stadium on December 22, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

One NFL agent believes Aaron Rodgers' departure from the New York Jets will be a prelude to his exit from the league entirely.

"I bet he doesn't (play again)," the agent said to The Athletic's Mike Sando. "He won't want the teams that will want him."

Sando cited a different executive who said Rodgers would "definitely" be an upgrade for some teams, but The Athletic insider wrote, "smart team builders will struggle with adding everything else that comes along with Rodgers."

Fox Sports' Jay Glazer reported Sunday that Rodgers met with Jets officials last week and was told the team is moving on. As a result, the four-time MVP will be hitting the open market.

What kind of market Rodgers will have is anybody's guess.

His career résumé speaks for itself. The 41-year-old is one of the greatest QBs of his generation and a shoo-in to be voted into the Hall of Fame on the first ballot. But past achievements will only go so far.

Rodgers is coming off one of his worst seasons as a starting quarterback and isn't getting any younger. He threw for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, and his 48.0 QBR ranked 25th in the league, per ESPN.com.

Then there's the general circus that surrounded Rodgers and the Jets over the last two seasons. Not all of the problems belong at his doorstep, but he was a contributing factor.

If you're a team with serious Super Bowl aspirations, then it's fair to wonder whether Rodgers is worth signing at this point. From the player's perspective, meanwhile, the idea of joining a franchise that might be middling at best probably isn't too enticing.

Some legendary quarterbacks get to leave on top. John Elway and Peyton Manning both retired on the heels of winning a Super Bowl. They're often the exceptions, though.

In the case of Rodgers, he'd be far from the first to have such a disappointing conclusion to an impressive career.

Trey Wedig NFL Draft 2025: Scouting Report for Indiana OT

Feb 10, 2025
SOUTH BEND, IN - DECEMBER 20: Indiana Hoosiers offensive lineman Trey Wedig (75) blocks during the CFP First Round game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on December 20, 2024 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - DECEMBER 20: Indiana Hoosiers offensive lineman Trey Wedig (75) blocks during the CFP First Round game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on December 20, 2024 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

HEIGHT: 6'6"

WEIGHT: 310

HAND: 9¾"

ARM: 32¾"

WINGSPAN: 81¾"


POSITIVES

— Effective on double-teams and combo blocks with proper aiming points and spacing to cover up his target, overtake, and timely release to the second level.

— Has solid play strength to dig out and widen the gap on angle-drive, base, and kick-out blocks.

— Can sit down on the bull-rush and keep rushers off of his frame to anchor.

— Understands the play's intent in the run game and works hard to stay between his man and the ball.


NEGATIVES

— High-cut frame with an upright playing style.

— Minimal range to expand his set points against high-side speed rushes.

— Marginal foot quickness, body control and recovery skills.


NOTES

— 4-star and top overall recruit in Wisconsin from the 2020 class, per 247Sports

— Originally committed to Wisconsin where he appeared in 35 games with eight starts before transferring to Indiana for the 2024 season

— 21 career starts at right tackle (18), right guard (two) and left guard (one)

— Accepted his invite to the 2025 Shrine Bowl


OVERALL

Trey Wedig is a two-year starter with 13 starts at right tackle in 2024 inside Indiana's 58-42 run-pass split, multiple-run scheme.

Wedig wins as a run blocker with proper aiming points to hit his landmark, and he uses his size to cover up targets on double-teams and combo blocks with timely releases to the second level. He can cover up and widen the gap on angle-drive blocks with solid leg drive and upper body strength. Wedig's upright play style and lower-body stiffness leads to persistent leaning that leads to getting overextended late in the rep, sapping his sustain and finishing skills.

In pass protection, Wedig has a solid anchor to combat the bull rush, but his marginal foot quickness and lack of range make him a liability on an island and will necessitate a move inside as a pro.

Overall, Wedig is a functional run blocker due to his understanding of the play's intent, size, and decent upper-body strength. Still, marginal athletic ability, body control, and recovery skills will make it an uphill battle to make an active roster, barring a move inside where he has minimal experience.


GRADE: 5.3 (Backup/UDFA with roster potential)

OVERALL RANK: 200

POSITION RANK: IOL30

PRO COMPARISON: Austin Schlottmann


Written by B/R NFL Scout Brandon Thorn


Prospect workout numbers, measurables (40-yard dash, hand size, etc.) and 2024 statistics will be added at a later date.

David Walker NFL Draft 2025: Scouting Report for Central Arkansas Edge

Feb 10, 2025
STILLWATER, OK - SEPTEMBER 02: Central Arkansas Bears defensive end David Walker (8) hits Oklahoma State Cowboys quarterback Alan Bowman (7) along the sidelines at Boone Pickens Stadium on September, 02 2023 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. (Photo by William Purnell/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
STILLWATER, OK - SEPTEMBER 02: Central Arkansas Bears defensive end David Walker (8) hits Oklahoma State Cowboys quarterback Alan Bowman (7) along the sidelines at Boone Pickens Stadium on September, 02 2023 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. (Photo by William Purnell/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

HEIGHT: 6'1"

WEIGHT: 267

HAND: 9¼"

ARM: 31⅞” 

WINGSPAN: 77½”


40-YARD DASH: 4.69

3-CONE: 7.15

SHUTTLE: 4.39

VERTICAL: 35"

BROAD: 9'10"


POSITIVES

— Sets up his pass-rush moves well during the stem phase of the rush and has impressive quickness to go from the inside to the outside or vice versa and throw off offensive tackle's angles.

— Solid rip move that he can win around the edge with and is decent at working the offensive lineman's hands as a pass-rusher.

— Has good change of direction to turn speed to power.

— Natural leverage and physical at the point of attack when taking on blocks against the run, making him hard to block for tight ends and allowing him to set the edge against pullers.

Ad Placeholder

— Keeps his hands tight when taking on blocks.


NEGATIVES

— Sawed-off frame, lacks NFL height and length for an edge defender.

— Not explosive off the line of scrimmage to win with speed around the edge.

— Has a habit of rushing through the middle of offensive tackles' chest instead of getting on an edge, causing him to lose contain on the quarterback.

— Has some ankle tightness that limits his ability to turn tight corners.

— Reliant on natural leverage and doesn't play with much knee bend against the run.

Ad Placeholder

— Short arms limit his extension and make it hard for him to get off blocks.


NOTES

— Born June 3, 2000

— Not ranked in the 2019 class, originally a DII player

— No reported injuries

— Played two seasons with one redshirt year at Southern Arkansas before transferring to Central Arkansas ahead of the 2022 season

— 2024 United Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, First-Team All-UAC, FCS All-American, FCS Defensive Player of the Year

— 2023 United Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, First-Team All-UAC, FCS All-American

Ad Placeholder

— 2022 Atlantic Sun Conference Defensive Player of the Year, First-Team All-ASUN, FCS All-American

— 2021 First-Team All-Great American Conference, led the conference in sacks and TFL


OVERALL

Ad Placeholder

David Walker is a highly productive and well-decorated FCS prospect, logging 31 sacks and 63 TFL in three years while making numerous All-American teams and winning the Buck Buchanan Award (FCS DPOY) this past season.

As the numbers suggest, Walker is a disruptive player. He stands out most as a pass rusher, where he can win around the edge, with inside moves and by turning speed to power. Against the run, he's a physical player who will take the fight to blockers and is difficult for tight ends to handle.

However, given the jump from FCS, it's a big question how much Walker's production will transfer to the next level. He doesn't have the physical profile of a typical NFL edge defender and is a good but not great athlete, making the former more difficult to overcome. So, it will be important for him to post good numbers at the combine and his pro day.

Overall, Walker is worth taking a flier on during Day 3 of the draft. But some time may take him off their boards, given his physical profile and age, as he'll be a 25-year-old rookie.


GRADE: 6.0 (Developmental Prospect — 5th)

OVERALL RANK: 218

POSITION RANK: EDGE24

PRO COMPARISON: Joe Schobert


Written by B/R NFL Scout Matt Holder


Prospect workout numbers, measurables (40-yard dash, hand size, etc.) and 2024 statistics will be added at a later date.