It’s not even the end of December and North Carolina badly needed a win.

The schedule was tough, and almost every test resulted in a loss. The promise that came with a top 10 preseason ranking was fading; and the Tar Heels were headed toward spending the rest of the season on the NCAA men’s basketball tournament bubble

But the Tar Heels finally came through with a defeat of UCLA in New York City.

What has hurt North Carolina for much of the season has followed the same script: slow starts that mostly has been too much to overcome. It happened against unbeaten Florida team. UNC managed to lead in the second half before the Gators rallied. 

Against UCLA it looked like it was headed down the same path. The Bruins came out hot, and after the Tar Heels showed some fight, UCLA got the lead to 16 points with 12 minutes left. Then North Carolina stopped making mistakes. The baskets started to go in. Senior guard RJ Davis overcame some earlier mistakes by hitting the game-winning free throws to knock off the Bruins. 

Come tournament time, North Carolina will benefit from playing one of the nation’s toughest non-conference schedules All five losses have been by teams ranked in the top 20. Saturday’s victory was the second Quad 1 win for the Tar Heels. They’ll need more to justify putting a spot in the field. 

Still, there’s most of the ACC schedule to play, and Hubert Davis’ squad has some much-needed momentum heading into January, making North Carolina one of the biggest storylines from the past weekend of hoops.

Auburn looks like the best team in the country

Yes, there’s no No. 1 next to Auburn’s name. Nevertheless, the Tigers are playing like the top team in the nation after another crushing win over a ranked team.

Purdue hung around for about eight minutes before Auburn went on a 16-2 run over a seven-minute span. It was the Tigers’ ninth double-digit victory and sixth against a Quad 1 opponent.

As Auburn has looked like the top team in the country, its big man Johni Broome continues to look like the best player in the country. His 23-point, 11-rebound performance was his eighth double-double of the season, and he did it on a bad shoulder. 

Ohio State plays big against Kentucky

What a Saturday it was in Columbus. Not only did the football team win its first-round game of the College Football Playoff on campus, but the men’s basketball squad went to New York City and handled Kentucky by 20 points. It was the most surprising result of the weekend given how good Kentucky has looked under Mark Pope and how shaky Ohio State has looked. 

It was one of the worst shooting nights for one of the best offenses in Kentucky, but the Buckeyes deserve credit for taking advantage of it by controlling the paint and getting a career-night from junior guard Bruce Thornton. One week prior, Ohio State lost to Auburn by 38 and didn’t look like much. Seven days later, the Buckeyes look capable of competing in a crowded Big Ten.

Connecticut back as a contender

Remember when the sky was falling in Storrs after Connecticut didn’t win a single game in Maui?

It seems like ages ago with the Huskies not faltering since then, winning six-straight that includes wins over Baylor, Texas and Gonzaga. The latest result came with UConn holding off a pesky Butler team on the road to move to 2-0 in Big East play. 

Mississippi State overpowers Memphis

As if the SEC needed another solidified contender, Mississippi State picked up the best win in the conference with a thrashing of Memphis on the road. The Bulldogs went into FedEx Forum and quickly forced turnovers while knocking down their 3-point shots, and by the time Memphis realized what happened, Mississippi State had already had a firm grasp on the game.

The key to Mississippi State’s success has been taking care of the ball and generating steals. While the Bulldogs uncharacteristically turned the ball over more often on Saturday, they were stripping the ball away from Memphis with 15 steals, the fourth time they’ve had at least 10 in a game this season. 

The dominant win over Memphis gives Mississippi State three Quad 1 wins. It’s a crowded SEC, but Mississippi State is looking less like a bubble team and more like one eyeing a top four seed in the tournament.

Creighton shoots its way to much-needed win

Before the season, Creighton was expected to be a squad that could possibly dethrone UConn in the Big East. It hasn’t looked like one to start the season, but the Bluejays got a boost by beating Villanova.

Creighton lives and die by the 3-point shot and they made 14 on Saturday. While both teams could’ve used the victory, the Bluejays needed it with a slate coming up that includes St. John’s and Marquette next and Connecticut in the middle of January. It could be a slate that determines whether Creighton is legit or not. 

Rutgers gets stunned and continues to drop

The arrival of Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey gave optimism for Rutgers to be a relevant basketball team. So far, it’s not working out well.

The Scarlet Knights had a win snatched away by Princeton in the final second for their fourth loss in six games. To be fair, Harper and Bailey have been sensational and have lived up to expectations. The problem has been the defense, which is allowing opponents to stick around and capitalize late. It’s those mistakes that currently doesn’t have Rutgers on a trajectory toward the tournament, which would be a massive disappointment for Steve Pikiell given the talent he brought in.

It took a fumble on a chaotic first-down play but the Dallas Cowboys earned their fourth win in five games, 26-24, over the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers on ‘Sunday Night Football.’

Down two with 1:41 to go, Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield escaped pressure on first down and flicked the ball to running back Rachaad White, who ran forward for five yards before Cowboys cornerback Jourdan Lewis forced a fumble. Teammate DaRon Bland recovered the ball at the Tampa Bay 31 and the Cowboys’ offense kneeled out the clock for the narrow victory.

Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush had one of his best nights as a starter this season, including a career-high 226 passing yards in the first half. He finished the night 26 of 35 passing for 292 yards and a touchdown as the Cowboys leaned on the passing game all night.

Tampa Bay struggled to start with a turnover on downs on their first drive due to a dropped pass on fourth down by wide receiver Sterling Shepard. They’d go three-and-out on their next drive but scored two touchdowns in their final three drives of the first half, the first on a two-yard run by running back Bucky Irving to cut Dallas’ lead to 10-7.

The Cowboys scored another 10 straight points on an Ezekiel Elliott touchdown run and a Brandon Aubrey field goal for a 20-7 lead.

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Rookie wide receiver Jalen McMillan had his fourth touchdown in the last three games with a sliding 11-yard catch in the end zone with less than a minute to go in the first half. Another Aubrey field goal from 58 yards out, one of four made field goals on the night, gave Dallas a 23-14 lead at halftime.

Both defenses tightened up in the second half. Dallas had more punts (four) than points (three) in the second half and managed just 68 yards. Tampa Bay had just 60 yards in their first three drives of the second half.

Mayfield threw his lone interception of the game on a deep shot to McMillan to end a promising drive. He’d come back on the next drive and complete all nine passes for 87 yards on the Buccaneers’ lone touchdown drive of the second half, capped off by a 13-yard pass to Ryan Miller for a touchdown to make it a two-point game.

Tampa Bay’s defense forced a three-and-out on the ensuing Dallas drive to give their offense the ball back with nearly two minutes to go. But White’s fumble on the first play of that drive ended hopes of a comeback.

The Cowboys (7-8) have now won four of their last five games. They’re eliminated from the playoffs and head on the road next week to take on the NFC East-leading Philadelphia Eagles (12-3).

This loss snaps Tampa Bay’s four-game winning streak. The Buccaneers (8-7) are now tied on record with Atlanta atop the NFC South, but the Falcons have an advantage with two head-to-head wins. The Buccaneers will close the season out with two home games, starting against the Carolina Panthers (4-11) next week.

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Cowboys vs. Buccaneers highlights

Cowboys defense forces turnover on wild play

Baker Mayfield stepped up to avoid a costly sack on 1st-and-10 and pitched the ball forward to running back Rachaad White who ran for five yards before fumbling. Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland recovered the ball at the 31-yard line and Dallas takes over with 1:31 to go in the game.

Buccaneers’ defense comes up with big fourth-quarter stop

Tampa Bay defensive lineman Vita Vea made a key stop on 3rd-and-6 to keep Cowboys’ tight end Jake Ferguson from converting. Dallas punted again and the Buccaneers take over on their own 26-yard line with 1:40 to go in the game.

Cowboys 26, Buccaneers 24: Baker Mayfield finds Ryan Miller for TD

Baker Mayfield completed all nine passes to march the Tampa Bay offense 87 yards down the field and score on a 13-yard pass to Ryan Miller. Chase McLaughlin’s extra point is good to cut the deficit to two with 2:36 to go in the fourth quarter.

Cowboys go three-and-out again after INT

Dallas couldn’t capitalize on the turnover and took 43 seconds off the clock before punting it back to Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers’ offense will take over at its own 23-yard line with 4:43 to go in the game.

Baker Mayfield throws deep INT

On 1st-and-10 from the Dallas 46, Baker Mayfield dropped back and threw a deep shot to Jalen McMillan but Cowboys cornerback Jourdan Lewis snagged the pass for an interception. He was downed in the end zone and the Cowboys take over on their own 20-yard line with 6:22 left in the game.

Cowboys offense goes three-and-out

Dallas’ offense only managed 13 yards in three plays (10 from a penalty) in 98 seconds and the Cowboys settled for their second consecutive punt. Tampa Bay’s offense takes over from its own 9-yard line with 7:32 left in the game.

Buccaneers can’t overcome sack, settle for punt

Cowboys safety Donovan Wilson got to Baker Mayfield on 1st-and-10 at the Buccaneers’ 18-yard line. Tampa Bay’s offense couldn’t recover and the Buccaneers had to punt from their own 14. Dallas takes over on its own 39-yard line with 9:10 to go in the game.

Cowboys punt for first time in second half

A holding call on the Cowboys on 2nd-and-9 from the 47 pushed Dallas’ offense back and they could not make up the difference. The Cowboys punted from their own 43 and pinned the Buccaneers inside their own 5-yard line. Tampa Bay takes over with 11:38 to go in the game.

Cowboys holding on to 26-17 lead entering fourth quarter

Dallas has the ball at their own 32-yard line to start the final quarter with a nine-point advantage.

Cowboys 26, Buccaneers 17: Chase McLaughlin makes 45-yard FG

The Buccaneers drove past midfield and inside the Dallas 30 before a Linval Joseph sack forced a 3rd-and-15. Tampa Bay couldn’t overcome that setback and settled for a 45-yard field goal by Chase McLaughlin to make it a nine-point deficit with 31 seconds left in the third quarter.

Cowboys 26, Buccaneers 14: Brandon Aubrey nails another field goal

The Cowboys passed midfield on the first play of their drive but only managed four more yards on the next four plays to set up Brandon Aubrey for a 53-yard field goal. Aubrey drilled it to continue his impressive night with three field goals from beyond 50 yards.

Buccaneers can’t convert 3rd-and-40, settle for punt

Baker Mayfield couldn’t connect with tight end Payne Durham on 3rd-and-40 from the Buccaneers’ 44. Tampa Bay was in that spot after Mayfield fumbled the ball on a sack and it went out of bounds after Cowboys linebacker couldn’t corral it in time.

Dallas takes over on its own 35 after a short punt.

Cowboys 23, Buccaneers 14: Brandon Aubrey nails 58-yard FG to close half

Dallas managed to move the ball 30 yards within the final minute of the second half to set up kicker Brandon Aubrey for another long field goal. Aubrey made it inside the left upright from 58 yards out as time expired in the second quarter. Dallas holds a two-score lead to close the first half.

Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush completed 18 of 24 passes for a 224 yards, a career-high for a half. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb has six catches for 100 yards.

Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield’s gone 14 for 19 for 142 yards and a touchdown. Tampa Bay’s run game has been more effective than Dallas’ ground attack with rookie Bucky Irving leading the way with a game-high 47 rushing yards and a touchdown.

Cowboys 20, Buccaneers 13: Baker Mayfield hits rookie WR for late score

Tampa Bay’s offense managed to move 71 yards in less than a minute of game time to cut the deficit to one score ahead of halftime. Baker Mayfield extended the play on 1st-and-10 from the Dallas’ 11-yard line and found rookie wide receiver Jalen McMillan for the touchdown. Chase McLaughlin’s extra point is good and the Buccaneers get on the board again with 48 seconds left in the half.

Cowboys 20, Buccaneers 7: Ezekiel Elliott pushes into the end zone

The Cowboys marched 80 yards in two and a half minutes to extend their lead late in the second half. Ezekiel Elliott scored his first touchdown since Oct. 27 with a one-yard run on the left side. Brandon Aubrey’s extra point is good and the Cowboys take a 13-point lead with 1:45 to go in the second quarter.

CeeDee Lamb made multiple crucial catches, including a 52-yard deep shot from Cooper Rush, to get the Cowboys into scoring range. He briefly left the field due to what appeared to be pain in his right shoulder.

Cowboys sack Baker Mayfield on 3rd down, force another punt

The Buccaneers’ offense made it past midfield but on 3rd-and-5 from the Dallas 40, Cowboys’ defensive end Chauncey Golston brought down Baker Mayfield for a sack and a loss of five yards. Tampa Bay couldn’t pin the Cowboys deep and Dallas will take over at their own 20-yard line with 4:14 to go in the first half.

Cowboys 13, Buccaneers 7: Aubrey makes second FG of the half

Dallas was driving into Tampa Bay territory but Cooper Rush overthrew CeeDee Lamb on 3rd-and-5 from the Buccaneers’ 31-yard line. The Cowboys settled for a field goal and Brandon Aubrey extended the lead with a 49-yard field goal, his second make of the night, with 9:15 to go in the first half.

Cowboys 10, Buccaneers 7: Bucky Irving puts Tampa Bay on the board

Rookie running back Bucky Irving broke a tackle on 2nd-and-goal from the 2-yard line and powered forward for the Buccaneers’ first score of the night. Chase McLaughlin’s extra point is good to cut the deficit to three with 11:30 to go in the half.

Irving had four carries for 28 yards on the drive and Baker Mayfield found Mike Evans twice for 29 yards.

Jake Ferguson can’t hold on, Cowboys kick first punt

Cooper Rush threw just his second incomplete pass of the night on 3rd-and-8 as tight end Jake Ferguson couldn’t hang on to move the chains. Dallas kicked its first punt of the night and Tampa Bay will take over on its own 43-yard line with 14:45 to go in the half.

Dallas holds lead to close first quarter

The first quarter comes to a close in AT&T Stadium and the Cowboys are in control early up 10-0. Dallas will face 3rd-and-8 from their own 22-yard line to open the second quarter. Quarterback Cooper Rush is 9-of-10 for 70 yards and a touchdown after the first 15 minutes of action.

Buccaneers punt after first three-and-out

Tampa Bay’s offense sputtered in their second drive of the night. Baker Mayfield’s pass deep down the middle to Sterling Shepard fell incomplete again on 2nd-and-4. Rachaad White couldn’t get the last yard needed to move the chains on third down and the Buccaneers punted for the first time on the night.

Dallas takes over at their own 20 with 1:12 left in the first quarter.

Cowboys 10, Buccaneers 0: Cooper Rush finds Jalen Tolbert for TD

Dallas needed just over two minutes to march 48 yards for the first touchdown of the game. Cooper Rush threw to Jalen Tolbert in the back of the end zone on 3rd-and-9 for the score. Brandon Aubrey’s extra point is good and the Cowboys extend their lead at home.

Buccaneers turn over on downs after Sterling Shepard drop

Tampa Bay was facing 4th-and-3 from the Dallas 48 and decided to go for it. Baker Mayfield’s pass well beyond the first-down marker hit Sterling Shepard in the hands, but Shepard couldn’t hold on. The Cowboys take over on downs with 4:57 left in the first quarter.

Cowboys 3, Buccaneers 0: Brandon Aubrey drills 58-yard field goal

Dallas’ offense picked up three first downs in the opening drive of the game but Tampa Bay’s defense stepped up on 3rd-and-6 to force a long field goal. Former MLS draft pick Brandon Aubrey was reliable as ever and knocked down the kick from 58 yards out to open the scoring of the game.

It’s the 12th made field goal of the season from 50-plus yards for Aubrey.

Cowboys vs. Buccaneers start time

Start time: 8:20 p.m. ET (7:20 p.m. CT)

The Cowboys and Buccaneers are set for kickoff for 8:20 p.m. ET on Sunday night.

Cowboys vs. Buccaneers TV channel

TV channel: NBC

NBC is the broadcast home of ‘Sunday Night Football.’ Mike Tirico will be on the call, and he will be flanked by Cris Collinsworth (play-by-play).

Cowboys vs. Buccaneers live stream 

Live stream:  Fubo | Peacock 

For cord cutters looking for a live stream for the matchup, you can turn to Fubo. Fubo carries NBC, as well as CBS, FOX, NFL Network and the ESPN family of networks, meaning you can catch NFL action through the remainder of the season. 

Peacock, the proprietary streaming service of NBC, will also carry the game. 

Buccaneers inactives vs. Cowboys

Pro Bowl safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (knee) is inactive for a second straight week. Tampa Bay also will be without the services of tight end Cade Otton (knee).

LB K.J. Britt
DL Earnest Brown
OG Royce Newman
TE Cade Otton
LB Jose Ramirez
S Antoine Winfield Jr.

Cowboys inactives vs. Buccaneers

DB Juanyeh Thomas
RB Deuce Vaughn
LB Eric Kendricks
WR Jalen Brooks
OL T.J. Bass
DE Tyrus Wheat
DT Justin Rogers

Cowboys vs. Buccaneers predictions, picks

Here’s how the USA TODAY Sports staff feels the ‘SNF’ tilt between the Cowboys and Buccaneers will play out:

Tyler Dragon: Buccaneers 27, Cowboys 20
Jordan Mendoza: Buccaneers 31, Cowboys 20

Cowboys  vs. Buccaneers odds, moneyline, over/under 

The Buccaneers are favorites to defeat the Cowboys, according to the BetMGM NFL odds. Not interested in this game? Check out expert picks and best bets for every NFL game this week. 

Spread: Buccaneers (-4) 
Moneyline: Buccaneers (-210); Cowboys (+170) 
Over/under: 47.5    

Where is Cowboys vs. Buccaneers? 

The Cowboys defend AT&T Stadium as the Buccaneers travel to Arlington, Texas. 

AT&T Stadium has hosted one Super Bowl — Super Bowl XLV between the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers. It also was the host site for the 2018 NFL draft. The stadium also hosted the first College Football Playoff national championship game in 2015, which was won by the Ohio State Buckeyes against the Oregon Ducks.

Cowboys vs. Buccaneers weather updates 

The roof is closed at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, so weather will not be a factor in Sunday night’s game. 

NFC South standings

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 8-6
Atlanta Falcons: 8-7
New Orleans Saints: 5-9
Carolina Panthers: 4-11

NFC East standings

x – Philadelphia Eagles: 12-3
Washington Commanders: 10-5
Dallas Cowboys: 6-8
New York Giants: 2-13

x – clinched playoff berth

Cowboys’ playoff picture

After the Washington Commanders’ win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, the Cowboys were eliminated from playoff contention.

This season will mark the first time since 2020 that the Cowboys have not qualified for the postseason. The Cowboys have six playoff appearances in the last 11 seasons, with the furthest the team advanced in the postseason being the divisional round. The Cowboys haven’t reached the NFC championship game since the 1995 season, when the team went on to win Super Bowl XXX.

Buccaneers’ playoff picture

With the Atlanta Falcons’ win over the New York Giants on Sunday, the Buccaneers enter ‘Sunday Night Football’ with a half-game edge in the NFC South.

The Buccaneers need to stay ahead of the Falcons in the standings, with Atlanta owning the head-to-head tiebreaker over Tampa Bay.

Which teams have already clinched playoff berths? 

Seven teams had already clinched playoff berths entering Week 16. The Baltimore Ravens made it eight with their win Saturday over the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

AFC 

Kansas City Chiefs (AFC West champions) 
Buffalo Bills (AFC East champions) 
Houston Texans (AFC South champions) 
Baltimore Ravens (playoff berth) 
Pittsburgh Steelers (playoff berth) 

NFC 

Detroit Lions (playoff berth) 
Philadelphia Eagles (playoff berth) 
Minnesota Vikings (playoff berth) 

Updated 2025 NFL draft order 

Here’s the projected 2025 NFL draft order ahead of ‘Sunday Night Football’ in Week 16, according to Tankathon.com:

New York Giants: 2-13 record; .554 strength of schedule
New England Patriots: 3-12; .463 SOS
Jacksonville Jaguars: 3-12; .480 SOS
Tennessee Titans: 3-12; .512 SOS
Cleveland Browns: 3-12; .530 SOS
Las Vegas Raiders: 3-12; .545 SOS
Carolina Panthers: 4-11; .500 SOS
New York Jets: 4-11; .502 SOS
Chicago Bears: 4-11; .557 SOS
New Orleans Saints: 5-9; .506 SOS
San Francisco 49ers: 6-9; .563 SOS
Dallas Cowboys: 6-8; .518 SOS
Miami Dolphins: 7-8; .417 SOS
Indianapolis Colts: 7-8; .461 SOS
Cincinnati Bengals: 7-8; .476 SOS
Arizona Cardinals: 7-8; .532 SOS
Seattle Seahawks: 8-7; .508 SOS
Atlanta Falcons: 8-7; .520 SOS
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 8-6; .508 SOS
Los Angeles Chargers: 9-6; .474 SOS
Houston Texans: 9-6; .482 SOS
Denver Broncos: 9-6; .498 SOS
Los Angeles Rams: 9-6; .506 SOS
Washington Commanders: 10-5; .434 SOS
Pittsburgh Steelers: 10-5; .488 SOS
Baltimore Ravens: 10-5; .530 SOS
Green Bay Packers: 10-4; .535 SOS
Philadelphia Eagles: 12-3; .452 SOS
Buffalo Bills: 12-3; .459 SOS
Minnesota Vikings: 13-2; .474 SOS
Detroit Lions: 13-2; .526 SOS
Kansas City Chiefs: 14-1; .490 SOS

Will the Cowboys fire Mike McCarthy? 

Jerry Jones hasn’t shared his hand one way or another when it comes to Mike McCarthy’s future in Dallas. He recently noted that the endorsements given to the coach by Dak Prescott, Micah Parsons and Troy Aikman were ‘not surprising at all’ and were indicative of the success McCarthy has enjoyed during his NFL career. 

‘He wouldn’t be in this job had he not had the kind of credibility that those endorsements reflect,’ Jones said. ‘He’s a heck of a head coach in the NFL, and he’s got the skins on the wall to prove it.’ 

What happened to Dak Prescott? 

Dak Prescott suffered a partial hamstring avulsion – a tear during which part of the tendon rips off the bone – during Dallas’ 27-21 loss to the Falcons in Week 9. He told reporters after the contest that he wasn’t sure if the injury occurred while he was running or being tackled. He is out for the season. 

Micah Parsons trade rumors 

Could edge rusher Micah Parsons be the odd man out after the Dallas Cowboys paid quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb last offseason? 

If he is, Parsons doesn’t seem too worried about it. 

‘I understand how the business side goes,’ he said when asked about the trade speculation on Sunday, per The Athletic. ‘There are no hard feelings in this business, whether I’m here or anywhere else. Obviously I’ve stated that I wanted to be here. But at the end of the day, I understand the business side.’ 

Jerry Jones squashed the trade rumors earlier this week.  

Baker Mayfield contract details 

Term: 3 years 
Total value: $100 million 
Average annual value (AAV): $33.33 million 
Guaranteed money: $50 million 

Mayfield’s cap hit per season varies across the contract. For 2024, Mayfield’s cap hit is $6.9 million. That escalates to $35.77 million in 2025 and $45.77 million in 2026. There are two void years tacked on to the end of the contract for 2027 and 2028. 

Which NFL team has the most Super Bowl wins? 

The New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers are tied for the most Super Bowl wins with six. 

The Dallas Cowboys and Steelers have the unique distinction of playing each other more than any other team combination in Super Bowl history with three matchups. 

The Cowboys have appeared in eight Super Bowls (that’s tied with three other teams for the second-most ever), but have not played in a Super Bowl since the 1995 season. In all, the Cowboys have won five Super Bowl wins. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have appeared in two Super Bowls, winning both. The Buccaneers’ most recent Super Bowl win came during the 2020 season in Super Bowl 55.

NFL franchises with most Super Bowl wins:

New England Patriots — 6
Pittsburgh Steelers — 6
Dallas Cowboys — 5
San Francisco 49ers — 5
Green Bay Packers — 4
Kansas City Chiefs — 4
New York Giants — 4

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With a four-set win Sunday afternoon, No. 1 Penn State defeated No. 1 Louisville inside the KFC Yum! Arena in Louisville, Kentucky to win the 2024 NCAA Div. I women’s volleyball national championship. The Nittany Lions defeated the Cardinals 25-23, 32-34, 25-20, 25-17. Camryn Hannah sealed the championship win for the Nittany Lions with a kill straight up the middle of the floor.

It’s a historic win by the Nittany Lions, as Penn State coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley became the first woman head coach to win a Div. I volleyball championship in NCAA history.

CELEBRATE THE NCAA TITLE: Buy a cover commemorating Penn State’s national title

‘There have been so many before me and that have paved the way for me,’ Schumacher-Cawley said in an interview on ESPN after the feat. ‘I’m so grateful and hopefully there will be more in the future that will want to coach and be a part of it.’

It’s the Nittany Lions eighth national championship – second most in NCAA volleyball history – and their first in over a decade.

Despite hitting .003 worse than Louisville in Set 1, Penn State took the opener by a score of 25-23 on a service ace from Nittany Lions graduate outside hitter Jess Mruzik.

The Nittany Lions looked to have been on their way to a 2-0 lead late in the second set but were unable to put it away, despite having 10 set-point opportunities. A big reason for that was Louisville outside hitter Payton Peterson, who recorded three aces in the set alone and started in place of injured senior Anna DeBeer. Louisville would take the set 34-32 on a combo block from Diaz Maldonado and Hannah Sherman.

That’d be the lone set Penn State would give up on the afternoon, taking Set 3 and Set 4 by scores of 25-20 and 25-17, respectively. Penn State hit .277 on the day, while Louisville hit .196.

Leading the way for Penn State was Mruzik, who finished with 29 kills, 14 digs and five blocks, while hitting .315 on the afternoon. Mruzik was named the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player after Sunday’s game, as shown on ESPN’s broadcast.

Sunday’s national championship victory also puts an emotional ending to the season on many levels for Schumacher-Cawley, who is dealing with Stage 2 breast cancer. Schumacher-Cawley, who is in her third season leading the Nittany Lions, was diagnosed in September and began undergoing treatment in October, when she made her diagnosis public.

En route to the national championship, Penn State had to reverse sweep Big Ten foe Nebraska in the national semifinals on Thursday after losing the first and second sets. The Nittany Lions also picked up wins over Delaware State, North Carolina, Marquette and Creighton in the NCAA tournament.

Penn State ends the season on a 12-game winning streak and 35-2 overall.

(This story was updated with a new photo)

This story was updated with new information

Bill Belichick seems to have made his first major coaching staff hire at North Carolina.

And it’s a familiar face.

According to 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz, the Tar Heels’ coaches oldest son, Washington defensive coordinator Steve Belichick, is expected to make the cross country move to Chapel Hill after the Huskies’ bowl game against Louisville on Dec. 31. Steve Belichick will serve in the same role as he did at Washington, per Zenitz.

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The hiring of Steve Belichick at UNC has long been expected within those college football, including before the Tar Heels and Bill Belichick came to an agreement on a five-year, $50 million contract to be Mack Brown’s successor.

According to a report from Oliver Connelly at The Guardian on Dec. 6, part of Bill Belichick’s negotiations with North Carolina included Steve Belichick becoming the program’s next-in-line coach after Belichick retires or leaves the program.

Steve Belichick is currently in his first season coaching at the college ranks as Jedd Fisch’s defensive coordinator at Washington. Under Steve Belichick, the Huskies’ defense improved significantly compared to the year prior, when Kalen DeBoer served as Washington’s head coach. Washington ranked 27th in the nation in total defense this year compared to 99th in 2023 per ESPN.

Washington’s defense also ranked 46th in scoring defense (22.83 points per game) and tied for 52nd in red zone defense (81%) in the regular season.

He will now be tasked with replicating that success in Chapel Hill with the Tar Heels defense, which ranked 12th in the ACC this past year in scoring defense. The news of Steve Belichick coming to UNC also comes a day after Washington linebacker transfer Khmori House committed to Bill Belichick and North Carolina.

Prior to joining Fisch’s staff, he spent 11 seasons on Bill Belichick’s staff in New England in various defensive coaching roles from 2012-2023. For his last four seasons in Foxborough, Steve Belichick served as the Patriots defensive play caller, though he did not formally hold the title of the team’s defensive coordinator.

Celebrate Penn State’s historic victory over Louisville in the NCAA women’s volleyball championship match with a mock front page from USA TODAY.

This full-page poster, printed on high-quality, acid-free art paper, features stunning photograph and a memorable headline from the match that sealed the Nittany Lions’ eighth NCAA championship and first since 2014. With a 25-23, 32-34, 25-20, 25-17 victory, Katie Schumacher-Cawley, diagnosed with breast cancer in September, became the first female coach to win it all in a tournament that started in 1981. Schumacher-Cawley, 44, also played on Penn State’s first championship team in 1999.

Show off your Penn State pride starting at $15.25, plus shipping and handling. This mock front page is available at the USA TODAY store, with upgrade options for framed copies and canvas, metal, acrylic and wood prints.

Buy USA TODAY’s commemorative Penn State poster