Mission accomplished for Kenny Dillingham and Arizona State.

Behind a big day from star running back Cam Skattebo, the Sun Devils capped off their impressive season by going from picked dead last in the Big 12 preseason poll to winning their first conference championship title as a member of the Big 12.

With their 45-19 rout of Iowa State on Saturday in AT&T Stadium, the Sun Devils also punched their ticket to the College Football Playoff. The only question that now remains around Arizona State is its seeding: a top-four seed with a first-round bye, or an automatic qualifier further down the 12-team bracket.

Dillingham spoke adamantly to ABC’s Katie George about where he thinks his team deserves to be seeded in the CFP bracket shortly after being showered in Gatorade. The Sun Devils are fighting for the final first-round bye with Boise State.

‘Last year, they (CFP selection committee) kept Florida State out because their quarterback didn’t play, we’re 11-1 with our quarterback and we’re Big 12 champs. I think we should be treated like an 11-1 team,’ Dillingham told George after Saturday’s Big 12 championship game.

The Seminoles, of course, were infamously left out of the final four-team playoff for one-loss Alabama, despite going undefeated and winning the ACC championship. The committee reasoned that FSU was not the same without quarterback Jordan Travis, creating yet more controversy more in the final year of the four-team era.

In just two seasons at Arizona State, Dillingham has turned around the Sun Devils program a full 180 degrees from the final years of the Herb Edwards era. At 11-2 on the season, the Sun Devils have improved their win total from last season by eight games — just one of three Power Four teams to improve their win total year-by-year to eight games since 2012.

Sun Devils quarterback Sam Leavitt finished 12 of 17 passing for 219 yards and three touchdowns against Iowa State on Saturday. The Michigan State transfer only missed one game this season back on Oct. 19 at Cincinnati due to a rib injury, just one of two Big 12 losses this season for Arizona State.

Entering Saturday’s Big 12 championship game, Arizona State was ranked No. 15 in the penultimate CFP top 25 rankings. The Sun Devils, as the highest-ranked Big 12 team, were projected as the No. 12 seed in the final bracket under the current template of the bracket. Current rules state that if the fifth-highest-ranked conference champion is ranked outside of the top 12 in the final CFP top 25, they are slotted in at No. 12.

Arizona State did not receive any outside help to improve its CFP projected seeding, as Boise State and Ashton Jeanty, ranked No. 10 in the latest playoff top 25, defeated UNLV 21-7 in the Mountain West championship Friday, advancing to 12-1 on the season and likely clinching a top-four seed.

The Sun Devils (11-1 overall, 7-2 in Big 12) will find out their final ranking and seeding on Sunday at noon ET in the final CFP rankings show.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen is opening his proposal playbook.

Two weeks after Allen asked Oscar-nominated actress Hailee Steinfeld to marry him in a beachside proposal, the two-time Pro Bowler offered an inside look into the couple’s special day during an interview with his new fiancee.

‘The funniest thing was that we woke up and were getting ready for brunch and you jumped on the bed and said, ‘Can we get married already?!? What are you waiting for??!” Allen said in Steinfeld’s latest ‘Beau Society’ newsletter on Friday. ‘I replied, ‘Just give me a little more time.’ Little did you know I was about to propose to you.’

Although Steinfeld, 27, was on the right track, Allen, 28, said she was ‘extremely surprised.’ He added, ‘I didn’t blow it nor did anyone else.’

‘I think I was most nervous about you finding out about the proposal,’ Allen explained. ‘It was hard to keep secrets from you and have other people in your life keep secrets from you. Multiple times throughout the day, a song would come on and I would tear up thinking about how special our day was going to be.’

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Allen and Steinfeld announced their engagement in a joint Instagram post last week. A photo of the proposal shows Allen down on one knee in front of a pink floral arch as Steinfeld leans down and presses her forehead to his. The two were surrounded by candles as the romantic setup overlooked the ocean.

When he was down on one knee, Allen revealed that he told Steinfeld, ‘I couldn’t wait any longer. I said I can’t wait to start a family with you. I said your full name, and I asked you very nicely. I said please.’

He added: ‘You said yes, and that was all that mattered to me. And the sun was out.’

Allen and Steinfeld went pubic with their relationship on Instagram in July after more than a year of speculation. In the post, Allen shared several photos with Steinfeld, including one of the couple near the Eiffel Tower ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

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It seems rather apparent, and pretty shameful that George Pickens has little, if any, respect for the Cleveland Browns.  

After the Browns gutted out a 24-19 thriller in a snowstorm to snap the Pittsburgh Steelers’ five-game winning streak in Week 12, the big-play receiver for the losing team that night declared that he didn’t see Cleveland as “a good team at all.” 

Then Pickens went on to add some nonsense about the weather, maintaining that “the conditions kind of saved them.” 

Now it’s Week 14 and the Browns (3-9) are headed to Pittsburgh for the AFC North rematch. And Pickens still shows little respect for this particular opponent, which includes the cornerback, Greg Newsome II, with whom he scuffled at the end of the game in Cleveland. Add rivalry subplot. 

According to reports from Pittsburgh on Friday, Pickens still isn’t giving the Browns much due. He said, “I just go by the record.” 

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Asked about engaging with Newsome, he replied, “I don’t even know who that is.” 

Ouch. 

In many cases, such messages might be considered good ole-fashioned trash talk. Bulletin board material. Because it’s coming from Pickens, though, there’s another layer of context. 

As much as Pickens has demonstrated the skill to rank among the NFL’s elite receivers, the third-year pro has repeatedly shown immature, knucklehead tendencies that can undermine his star track – and his team (9-3), which is trying to close in on a division title. 

It’s no wonder that after Pickens drew two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties last Sunday in Cincinnati, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said, “He’s got to grow up in a hurry.” 

Last weekend, Pickens hauled in a reception of at least 30 yards for the seventh game in a row. He is an electric difference-maker, a big play waiting to happen, a perfect complement for the resurgence that Russell Wilson has had. Wilson can still throw his deep passes – aka “the moon ball” – with lethal precision, but Pickens has made that even more threatening because of his uncanny knack to make acrobatic catches and tendency to win on contested catches. On the season, he’s averaged 15.5 yards on 55 catches for 850 yards. 

Yet Pickens, 23, also has the look of a ticking time bomb. The scuffle with Newsome – after the game had ended with a failed Hail Mary attempt – had to be broken up by stadium security and others. In Week 4, there was also an incident at the end of Pittsburgh’s loss to the Cowboys, when Pickens yanked Dallas cornerback Jourdan Lewis to the turf by his facemask. 

Throw in the penalties from last weekend and it’s not a stretch to conclude that Pickens’ biggest enemy might be himself. One of the flags came when he threw the ball at a group of Bengals defenders; the other came as he celebrated making a first down and officials deemed that his gesture mimicked shooting a weapon. It’s one thing to disrespect an opponent, but silly penalties show a lack of respect for your team, too. 

“I was telling him on the sideline, when you’re one of the best in the world, you expect to make those plays and you don’t need to do anything extra,” Wilson said. “He’s learning it as we go. He’s got to be smarter, too, and he’s going to do that.” 

And Wilson is hardly the only teammate in Pickens’ ear. Left tackle Broderick Jones was a college teammate at Georgia. Speaking to reporters after the game in Cincinnati, Jones described their relationship as such that they can check each other with constructive criticism. He, too, weighed in on the penalties. 

The gist of his message to Pickens: “Everybody knows you’re a playmaker. We’ve just got to stop the stupid stuff.” 

During his midweek news conference, Tomlin refused to elaborate on what may be in the works behind the scenes with Pickens. Undoubtedly, Tomlin, who has never had a losing season in 18 campaigns as Steelers coach and got several All-Pro seasons from wide receiver Antonio Brown, has his ways. 

“Being transparent with you guys doesn’t necessarily help or accelerate the growth process,” Tomlin told reporters. “And that’s my agenda, not necessarily feeding the best.” 

After last week’s game, Tomlin acknowledged the emotions of the game and Pickens’ status as a key player as factors. It’s just that managing his responses apparently has not been as easy for Pickens as it may be for others. In any event, the influence that Tomlin and others, including teammates, can have on the situation could be a key factor on whether the Steelers can have a deep playoff run. Or any type of playoff run. 

Perhaps a revealing glimpse for that possibility came during the first episode of HBO’s in-season “Hard Knocks,” which is devoted to the entire AFC North. Tomlin was mic’d up, and his message to Pickens on the sideline during the win at Cincinnati perfectly captured why he ranks second among active coaches for career victories. 

The scene showed Tomlin consoling a dejected Pickens on the sideline early in the game, after Cam Taylor-Britt shoved Pickens to the turf – a penalty not called by the officials – before he intercepted a Wilson pass and returned it for a touchdown. 

“I need you to stay with me!” Tomlin told the receiver as he cupped the back of Pickens’ neck. “Hey, this…ain’t going to decide the outcome of the game.” 

Tomlin was right on both counts. The Steelers won the game. And Pickens clearly needs to keep his head in the game.      

Chargers safety Derwin James has wide-ranging impact

After the Los Angeles Chargers claimed veteran safety Marcus Maye off waivers last week to bolster their injury-depleted secondary, Derwin James made a promise to Jim Harbaugh. 

Maye, released by the Miami Dolphins, joined the Chargers on Wednesday and had all of a half-speed practice on Friday before making his debut at Atlanta on Sunday. 

“Coach, I’ll get him ready,” Harbaugh recalled of the message from James. 

“I’ll tell him, ‘Hey, be in the post. Be in the half. Be in the flat.” 

Maye wound up playing 21 snaps and collected one of four interceptions off Kirk Cousins – a fourth-quarter theft in the end zone – as the Chargers stung the Falcons for a 17-13 victory. While the eighth-year vet crammed to absorb as much as he could in a matter of days, he acknowledged that the constant communication – and the pointing from his new Pro Bowl teammate as they aligned in the secondary – was welcomed. 

“He’s not complaining,” James said. “He’s a baller. He came right in. We had all the confidence in the world in him. He hasn’t said more than 10 words. He’s got his nose down, working hard and bro, you saw it. He got an interception in the end zone. So, that was big.”  

Harbaugh raved about James’ leadership in the aftermath of the win at Atlanta. 

“All you have to do it watch him.” he added. “It’s infectious.” 

The task doesn’t any easier this weekend. The Chargers (8-4) have a Sunday night matchup at Arrowhead Stadium, where the Chiefs will be out to clinch the AFC West crown for the ninth consecutive year. 

“We know what type of team they are,” James said. “We’ve just got to prepare our butt off. We’re going to just keep stacking the days.” 

If the playoffs were today, the Chargers would be the fifth seed in the AFC as the top wild-card entrant. After a 5-12 finish in 2023, the turnaround in Harbaugh’s first season is striking. Just ask James. 

“When you’re in December, these games count,” James said. 

It was mentioned to James that December leads to January. 

“Hello!” he shot back. “And what’s after January?” 

Uh, February. 

“Hello!” he added with a certain sort of glee. 

Bill Belichick as…Rodney Dangerfield?

Needing just 15 victories to surpass Don Shula as the winningest coach in NFL history, it’s hard to fathom the notion that Bill Belichick’s next job could be on the college level. 

Yet according to multiple reports, Belichick spoke last week with the University of North Carolina about the opening created with the firing of head coach Mack Brown. 

Would B.B. go back to school? 

I’d have to see this to believe it. Then again, it was stunning that Belichick was shut out during the last NFL hiring cycle, interviewing only with the Falcons for the seven openings beyond the Patriots job.  

Maybe Belichick, 72, is pondering whether the college level could become a legitimate option for him if no other NFL team comes calling. If it were to be an option, the time isn’t now. With perhaps as many as seven NFL teams projected to be in the market for a coach with the upcoming cycle, he’ll get more action than the last time around. I think. 

Belichick – the winningest coach in NFL postseason history with a 31-13 record, on top of his 302-165 regular-season mark – hasn’t declared whether chasing Shula’s regular-season victory total (328) or the overall win count (347) is a big motivator. That wouldn’t be his style. But it’s hard to think that it wouldn’t be an incentive, given a lifetime of competing. I’m guessing it ranks right below the chance to coach again. In the NFL.    

Quick slants

— Prayers for Randy Moss, dealing with a personal health crisis that has forced him to take a leave of absence from his role as studio analyst for ESPN’s “Sunday NFL Countdown.” In the meantime, there are constant reminders of the Hall of Famer’s impact as one of the greatest receivers in history. For instance, Bengals star Ja’Marr Chase leads the NFL with 13 receiving TDs this season, and his NFL-high 42 receiving scores since entering the league in 2021 is tied for fourth-most in a player’s first four seasons. The most over that span? Moss produced 53 receiving TDs in his first four campaigns. Respect, man. 

— Here’s a good thing amid all the setbacks the San Francisco 49ers have endured in the nightmare follow-up to last season’s Super Bowl berth: George Kittle. The All-Pro tight end leads the NFL with eight TD receptions on snaps from the red zone.  

— Micah Parsons has tallied 5 ½ sacks in the four games since returning from the high ankle sprain that sidelined him for more than a month. And despite missing four games, the All-Pro linebacker still leads the Dallas Cowboys with 6 ½ sacks on the season. 

— Justin Herbert is gunning for his 11th consecutive game without an interception, which would match Tom Brady’s 2010 record for the longest-such streak within a single season (minimum 15 pass attempts in each game). The Chargers quarterback also has a streak of 305 passes without a pick, 98 shy of breaking the mark Aaron Rodgers established in 2018. 

When Harbaugh was hired as Michigan’s head coach, the Wolverines had lost three straight games to their biggest rival, the Ohio State Buckeyes. Harbaugh started 0-5 versus Ohio State before finally getting over the hump in 2021. The Harbaugh-led Wolverines beat Ohio State the next two seasons, as well, before reaching the college football mountain top in 2023.

The Kansas City Chiefs are the NFL equivalent of Ohio State for Harbaugh.

The back-to-back Super Bowl champion Chiefs have won six-straight games versus the Chargers and Patrick Mahomes is 9-2 against the Chargers since becoming the Chiefs’ starting quarterback in 2018. Harbaugh experienced his first defeat to the Chiefs as Chargers head coach at home in Week 4. His Chargers travel to Kansas City for this week’s ‘Sunday Night Football’ game (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC).

“(The Chiefs) do an incredible job with everything that they do,” Harbaugh said this week. “Run game, pass game, protection, scheme (and) execution. (It’s) a tall task. We are working our way through it for the second time. Compiling the game plan that gives us our best chance of winning.”

All things Chargers: Latest Los Angeles Chargers news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter served the same role under Harbaugh at Michigan in 2022 and 2023. As Michigan’s defensive coordinator, Minter was 2-0 versus Ohio State.

Minter’s defense held the Chiefs scoreless in the first quarter in their first meeting, but Kansas City went on to score 17 unanswered points in the 17-10 Week 4 win. It marked the Chiefs’ second-lowest point total this season and is one of nine one-score games the team has played.

Minter believes the Chiefs have sustained success because of their ability to win in a variety of ways.

“They’ve really leaned into the run game more,” Minter says. “Everybody loves the 60-yard touchdowns and the explosives, but they’ve proven it now and really since Mahomes has been there, but especially the last couple years, that they can win games just about every which way. They can get in the shootout and hit the explosives, and they got the skill guys to do that. And then they can grind it out. They got a really good defense, too. They trust Patrick to move the sticks.

‘I think what makes them challenging is even when they are methodical, they’re still so good on third down that they just move the ball.”

If the Chiefs win Sunday night, the franchise will clinch its ninth straight AFC West title — the second-longest division title streak in NFL history.

“I think it’s always a great opportunity to play against them,” Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert said. “We’ve got so much respect for them, and we understand how much success they’ve had the past few years and what they’ve been able to do, but it’s another great opportunity to go play football.”

Herbert was battling an ankle injury in Los Angeles’ Week 4 loss. He’s 2-6 in his career versus the Chiefs, but both of his victories came in Kansas City — though in the win in 2020 the Chiefs were resting their starters.

Harbaugh, Herbert and the Chargers can keep their (slim) AFC West title chances alive if they can pull off an upset victory in a raucous road environment in prime time at Arrowhead Stadium. A win would put the Chargers two games behind Kansas City with four games remaining.

“It’s a special place to play. I think those opportunities under the lights, ‘Sunday Night Football,’ it’s always a great opportunity,” Herbert said. “We got a healthy amount of respect for them and their crowd.”

The respect is mutual. Although … it’s not quite a rivalry because the Chiefs have dominated the Chargers in recent years. Just like when Harbaugh and Michigan lost five straight games to Ohio State before the Wolverines finally got over the hump.

San Antonio Spurs forward Zach Collins can expect to be lighter in the wallet soon.

Collins was ejected from Friday night’s 140-113 loss to the Sacramento Kings after picking up his second technical foul, but it’s what he did afterward that might catch the ire of NBA disciplinarians.

Collins, who played nine minutes and scored two points starting for injured star Victor Wembanyama, was tossed with 9:07 left in the second quarter when he protested a foul call, his third of the game, on Kings All-Star forward Domantas Sabonis.

Collins was then checked out of the game and continued to bark his objections to the officials on his way to the bench, leading to two quick technicals and an automatic ejection.

After being ejected, Collins didn’t immediately leave the court, instead flipping off Michael Smith, who has spent more than three decades as an NBA referee.

All things Spurs: Latest San Antonio Spurs news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

Collins, a seven-year veteran, is averaging six points and 3.3 rebounds in 23 games this season.

Two of Major League Soccer’s original clubs will compete in the MLS Cup final on Saturday when the Los Angeles Galaxy host the New York Red Bulls at 4 p.m. ET (1 p.m. PT) at Dignity Sports Health Park in Carson, Calif.

The Galaxy have been dominant during its postseason run, and hope to hoist a sixth MLS title, 10 years to the day after winning its last.

The Red Bulls, who knocked out the defending champion Columbus Crew in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs, hope to win their first MLS title.

“To see two clubs that have been at it as long as this league has been around to be here, I think it’s a special moment,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said this week.

Maybe, even Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi – the 2024 MLS MVP – will be tuned in. He promoted the match on Instagram Saturday, saying “The MLS Cup final is today, and next season we will come back stronger to try and fight for the title.”

Here’s everything you need to know for today’s MLS Cup final, and you can follow along here with USA TODAY Sports for live updates from the match:

Where to watch MLS Cup final: LA Galaxy vs. New York Red Bulls

The game will be available to live stream for free via MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

The game will be also available on TV on FOX and FOX Deportes in the U.S., and on TSN and RDS in Canada.

LA Galaxy vs. New York Red Bulls betting odds

According to BetMGM, here are the odds after regulation: LA Galaxy (-130), New York Red Bulls (+280), tie (+310). The over/under is set at 2.5 goals.

Galaxy hopes to win sixth MLS Cup final

Ten years after the club’s last title, the Galaxy hopes to win the MLS Cup final again.

The team will be playing without star playmaker Riqui Puig, who suffered a torn ACL during the Western Conference final – before he delivered the game-winning assist to Dejan Jovelić last week.

Still, Los Angeles is loaded behind Gabriel Pec, Jovelić and Joseph Paintsil. The Galaxy has scored 16 goals in four postseason games, needing one more to tie to MLS record for goals by a club in the playoffs.

“We have been waiting for 10 years to have this opportunity,” center back Maya Yoshida said.

Red Bulls vying for first MLS Cup title

The Red Bulls have assumed the underdog role, and a “why not us?” mentality as the lowest playoff seed (No. 7) to reach the MLS Cup final.

The Red Bulls beat the Crew, New York City FC and Orlando City to reach the final, avoiding Inter Miami and FC Cincinnati – the last two Supporters’ Shield winners – in the playoffs.

Red Bulls goalkeeper Carlos Coronel has been instrumental, accounting for 19 saves and the club’s three clean sheets this postseason.

“We’re the lowest seed to make the final, and everybody keeps doubting us, and we’ve won three on the road now in the playoffs. It’s not an easy thing to do. We are on the road again now. Why can’t we?” Red Bulls defender John Tolkin said.

LA Galaxy vs. New York Red Bulls history: 1996 MLS opening weekend

The LA Galaxy and New York Red Bulls (then the New York/New Jersey MetroStars) faced each other in the inaugural game for both teams during the first full weekend of Major League Soccer play on April 13, 1996.

In the historic clash in front of 69,255 fans at the historic Rose Bowl, U.S. national team icon Cobi Jones scored a goal in the Galaxy’s 2-1 win. 

The Galaxy would go on to reach MLS Cup, where they were defeated in an epic game by D.C. United in extra time at rainy Foxboro Stadium.

Is Lionel Messi playing in MLS Cup 2024?

No.

The recently crowned MLS MVP Lionel Messi and Inter Miami were knocked out in the first round of the MLS playoffs by Atlanta United. It was one of the most stunning playoff upsets in MLS history.

Which teams have won the most MLS Cups?

Los Angeles Galaxy: 5
D.C. United: 4
Columbus Crew: 3
Houston Dynamo: 2
Seattle Sounders FC: 2
Sporting Kansas City: 2
San Jose Earthquakes: 2

MLS CUP: Ranking every Major League Soccer championship game

MLS Cup winners (1996-2023)

2023: Columbus Crew over Los Angeles FC (Lower.com Field), 2-1
2022: Los Angeles FC over Philadelphia Union (Banc of California Stadium), 3-3 (LAFC won penalty shootout, 3-0)
2021: New York City FC over Portland Timbers (Providence Park), 1-1 (NYCFC won penalty shootout, 4-2)
2020: Columbus Crew over Seattle Sounders FC (Mapfre Stadium), 3-0
2019: Seattle Sounders FC over Toronto FC (CenturyLink Field), 3-1
2018: Atlanta United over Portland Timbers (Mercedes-Benz Stadium), 2-0
2017: Toronto FC over Seattle Sounders FC (BMO Field), 2-0
2016: Seattle Sounders FC over Toronto FC (BMO Field), 0-0 (Sounders won penalty shootout, 5-4)
2015: Portland Timbers over Columbus Crew (Mapfre Stadium), 2-1
2014: Los Angeles Galaxy over New England Revolution (StubHub Center), 2-1 (extra time)
2013: Sporting Kansas City over Real Salt Lake (Sporting Park), 1-1 (SKC won penalty shootout, 7-6)
2012: Los Angeles Galaxy over Houston Dynamo (Home Depot Center), 3-1
2011: Los Angeles Galaxy over Houston Dynamo (Home Depot Center), 1-0
2010: Colorado Rapids over FC Dallas (BMO Field), 2-1 (extra time)
2009: Real Salt Lake over Los Angeles Galaxy (Qwest Field), 1-1 (RSL won penalty shootout, 5-4)
2008: Columbus Crew over New York Red Bulls (Home Depot Center), 3-1
2007: Houston Dynamo over New England Revolution (RFK Stadium), 2-1
2006: Houston Dynamo over New England Revolution (Pizza Hut Park), 1-1 (Dynamo won penalty shootout, 4-3)
2005: Los Angeles Galaxy over New England Revolution (Pizza Hut Park), 1-0 (extra time)
2004: D.C. United over Kansas City Wizards (Home Depot Center), 3-2
2003: San Jose Earthquakes over Chicago Fire (Home Depot Center), 4-2
2002: Los Angeles Galaxy over New England Revolution (Gillette Stadium), 1-0 (extra time)
2001: San Jose Earthquakes over Los Angeles Galaxy (Crew Stadium), 2-1 (extra time)
2000: Kansas City Wizards over Chicago Fire (RFK Stadium), 1-0
1999: D.C. United over Los Angeles Galaxy (Foxboro Stadium), 2-0
1998: Chicago Fire over D.C. United (Rose Bowl), 2-0
1997: D.C. United over Colorado Rapids (RFK Stadium), 2-1
1996: D.C. United over Los Angeles Galaxy (Foxboro Stadium), 3-2 (extra time)

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Reports on Saturday morning indicated that Gundy and Oklahoma State football had agreed on a restructured contract to keep him in Stillwater. Gundy, 57, will return for his 21st season with the Cowboys in 2025.

The Oklahoman reported Gundy had been offered a restructured contract, which included a pay cut and other restrictions for him to remain the Cowboys coach.

According to the USA TODAY Sports coaches database, Gundy was the 17th-highest-paid coach during the 2024 college football season at $7.75 million and was set to be paid $7.875 million for the 2025 season. However, the restructuring will change that number.

In his first 20 years in Stillwater, Gundy has posted a 169-88 overall record and a 102-72 Big 12 record. He is the winningest coach in school history. However, Oklahoma State is coming off a 3-9 season in which it did not win a single conference game. Coordinators Kasey Dunn (offensive) and Bryan Nardo (defensive) were fired on Wednesday.

This story will be updated as more information is available.

The NFL is closing the book on Deshaun Watson’s latest legal matter. The Cleveland Browns quarterback will not be fined or suspended for the most recent sexual assault allegations made against him, with the league citing a lack of evidence.

“The matter is closed,” league spokesman Brian McCarthy told The Associated Press on Friday. “There was insufficient evidence to support a finding of a violation of the personal conduct policy.”

Rusty Hardin, Watson’s attorney, issued a statement on the NFL’s decision, saying: “We are delighted to put this issue behind us so that Deshaun can concentrate on recovering from his injury and preparing for next season.”

Watson served an 11-game suspension in 2022 and was fined $5 million by the NFL for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. One day after the Browns’ season opener, a new lawsuit was filed against Watson, accusing the quarterback of sexual assault and battery in October 2020. The sides later reached a confidential settlement agreement.

The quarterback has faced 24 civil suits that first began to surface in 2021, filed by attorney Tony Buzbee, 23 of which have been settled. Watson was traded to the Browns in March 2022, despite the legal situation surrounding him.

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Watson’s career on the field has been in a downward spiral since he arrived in Cleveland. The latest chapter came when he ruptured his Achilles in October. Although his 2024 campaign is over, the quarterback does have plans to play next season.

The 29-year-old still carries an average salary of $46 million in each of the next two seasons, which would complete the five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed deal Watson inked upon his arrival in Cleveland. The Watson experiment has been nothing short of a disaster for the Browns. He’s appeared in just 19 games over three seasons, posting a 9-10 record and has been routinely outplayed by the likes of Joe Flacco and Jameis Winston.

Watson owns what is regarded as the worst contract in the NFL, which makes it difficult for the Browns to move on. It remains to be seen if the team is willing to pay the hefty price, financially, to end the Watson era.