Georgia Athletics is taking Missouri football defensive end Damon Wilson II to court in a novel, nearly first-of-its-kind case over an NIL contract dispute, the Columbia Daily Tribune confirmed through a university source and court documents filed in Georgia by the Bulldogs.

UGA is attempting to take Wilson into arbitration and is seeking $390,000 in liquidated damages from the star edge rusher, who transferred to the Tigers in January 2025, over what the university views as an unfulfilled contract in Athens. The lawsuit is not against the University of Missouri, only Wilson.

According to an ESPN report, Georgia is arguing Wilson signed a contract — a common practice in the NIL era — with what was then UGA’s main NIL and marketing arm, Classic City Collective, in December 2024.

That collective has since shut down, as UGA has partnered with Learfield to negotiate and facilitate NIL deals in the revenue-sharing era.

The report, citing documents attached to UGA’s legal filings, show Wilson signed a 14-month deal worth $500,000 with the Bulldogs. He was set to earn monthly payments of $30,000 through the end of the contract, as well as two $40,000 bonus payments.

Before announcing his intention to transfer in January, he reportedly was paid $30,000.

The contract states if Wilson left the team or transferred, which he ended up doing by transferring to Missouri, then he would owe the collective issuing the payments a lump sum equal to the amount remaining on his deal.

The bonus payments seemingly were not included, which brings that total to the $390,000 Georgia is now seeking in court.

Wilson, per the report, was only paid a fraction of that sum, but the university is arguing he owes the full amount in damages. It’s unclear why Georgia is arguing it is owed the full amount in liquidated damages.

The Tribune has reached out to a Georgia Athletics spokesperson for comment. At the time of publishing, UGA had not responded to the request for a statement.

According to documents viewed by the Tribune through the Georgia courts records system, UGA filed an “application to compel arbitration” on Oct. 17 in the Clarke County Superior Court, which includes Athens and the University of Georgia. Wilson was served with a summons to appear in court, according to documents, on Nov. 19, three days before the Tigers faced Oklahoma.

A similar case occurred at Arkansas last spring, when quarterback Madden Iamaleava transferred out of Fayetteville after spring camp. It’s unclear whether or not that case has been resolved.

Wilson spent his freshman and sophomore seasons at Georgia. He transferred to Mizzou ahead of spring camp in 2025 and has emerged as one of the top pass rushers in the SEC.

Per Pro Football Focus, Wilson generated 49 pressures on opposing quarterbacks this season, which was the second-most in the SEC behind only Colin Simmons at Texas. He’s listed at 6-4, 250 pounds and could declare for the 2026 NFL Draft, where he would likely be a Day 1 or 2 pick.

The lawsuit raises a contentious point. 

By suing Wilson for allegedly not fulfilling the terms of his contract, the school could be treading close to arguing Wilson was paid to play. That’s not how NIL deals currently work. The deals and their payments are typically for an athletes’ likeness for brand deals and marketing. Think of it as advertising money, not salaries.

There’s a reason that’s the case. By paying players for play, there’s an argument they are university employees. University and athletic department leaders are widely against making that distinction, because it would disrupt the amateurism model in place for college athletics.

Wilson’s contract likely includes “liquidated damages” language, which are intended to stop players from transferring.

Missouri currently has multiple players on two-year contracts. Part of that is in the hope that they do not move on after one season.

If Georgia’s arbitration case against Wilson is successful, that would be a groundbreaking ruling in college athletics that could give more weight to liquidated damages clauses in athlete contracts.

Western Michigan football exacted its revenge on Miami (Ohio) on Saturday, Dec. 6.

The Broncos made up for their lone conference loss of the 2025 college football season with a 23-13 win over the RedHawks in the MAC championship game from Ford Field in Detroit.

Miami (Ohio) previously defeated Western Michigan 26-17 in a game in which the Broncos held a lead entering the fourth quarter. WMU (9-4) did not relent a 17-point lead this go around behind a valiant performance from running back Jalen Buckley.

Watch the MAC championship game on Fubo (free trial)

Buckley opened the game with a 67-yard touchdown run on the second play from scrimmage. On the Broncos’ second play from scrimmage to open the second half, he added another, 64-yard touchdown.

The Western Michigan star running back finished with 19 rushes for 193 yards and two scores. The Broncos finished with 288 rushing yards for the game. 

Meanwhile, led by star defensive end Nadame Tucker, the Broncos limited Miami (7-6) to 272 yards of offense. Tucker had 2.5 sacks and three tackles for loss in the win, wreaking havoc on both quarterbacks the RedHawks had to play on Saturday.

Henry Hesson finished 7-of-20 passing for 107 yards and a touchdown, while Thomas Gotkowski went 7-of-17 passing for 92 yards.

USA TODAY brought you updates, scores and highlights from the game. Catch up here:

Miami vs Western Michigan score

Miami vs Western Michigan highlights

Miami (Ohio) vs Western Michigan final score: Broncos 23, RedHawks 13 (Final)

Western Michigan earns 23-13 win over Miami (Ohio), wins MAC championship

Western Michigan defeats Miami (Ohio) 23-13 to earn its first MAC championship since 2016. This, despite an 0-3 start to the season for the Broncos.

Nadame Tucker sack forces Miami (Ohio) turnover

Nadame Tucker picks up his second sack of the game, this time on fourth-and-10 to force Miami (Ohio) to turn the ball over on downs from the RedHawks’ 31-yard line.

Western Michigan turns ball over on downs

Following an unsuccessful onside kick attempt, Miami (Ohio) forces a turnover on downs. The RedHawks have the ball at their own 34-yard line with 6:20 left in the game.

Henry Hesson connects for a touchdown pass to Cole Weaver

This one is not quite over yet, as Henry Hesson hits Cole Weaver for a 6-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 23-13 with 6:43 left in the game. It’s the first score for the RedHawks since the 11:50 mark in the first quarter.

End of third quarter: Western Michigan 23, Miami (Ohio) 6

Western Michigan holds a 23-6 lead heading into the fourth quarter. The Broncos have dominated on the ground, with 42 of their 52 plays coming on the ground. They have 242 rushing yards and are averaging 5.8 yards per carry.

Miami (Ohio) turns ball over on downs

Nadame Tucker sacks Henry Hesson on fourth-and-2 to force a turnover on downs. The RedHawks were driving, just outside the Western Michigan red zone. Instead of kicking a field goal to make it a two-score game, Miami (Ohio) opts to go for it and will not have the chance to add to the scoreboard.

Miami (OH) forces turnover on downs

Miami (Ohio)’s defense gets a key stop following the fumble. A fourth-and-2 run attempt is stopped short of the first down line. The RedHawks will take over from their own 29-yard line.

James Camden recovers Western Michigan fumble

Western Michigan’s James Camden recovers a fumble at the Miami (Ohio) 36-yard line. The handoff was botched by the RedHawks.

Jalen Buckley scores second TD of game

On the second play from scrimmage to open Western Michigan’s second half, running back Jalen Buckley breaks out for a 64-yard touchdown. He scored a 67-yard touchdown on the second play from scrimmage of the first half.

Buckley has nine carries for 160 yards and two touchdowns today.

Miami punts on first possession of second half

Miami (Ohio) goes three-and-out on its first possession of the first half. Western Michigan begins its first drive of the second half from its own 25-yard line.

Halftime: Western Michigan 16, Miami (OH) 6

Western Michigan holds 16-6 halftime lead

Western Michigan holds a 16-6 halftime lead. Dom Dzioban misses a 58-yard field goal for Miami (Ohio) to end the half.

After one half, the Broncos outgained the RedHawks 247-123. Paul Domschke hit three field goals, while running back Jalen Buckley hit a 67-yard run on the second play from scrimmage.

Paul Domschke hits a 50-yard field goal

Paul Domschke hits a field goal from 50 yards out to extend its lead to 16-6 with 50 seconds left in the first half. It’s Domschke’s third field goal of the game.

Paul Domschke adds second field goal

Paul Domschke adds his second field goal of the game, with this one coming from 31 yards out to extend the Western Michigan lead to 13-6 with 13:43 left in the first half.

End of first quarter: Western Michigan 10, Miami (OH) 6

Western Michigan holds a 10-6 lead after one quarter in the MAC championship game. The Broncos are driving inside the Broncos’ 20-yard line with a chance to extend the lead.

Western Michigan hits FG after near turnover

Paul Domschke hits a 27-yard field goal to extend the Western Michigan lead to 10-6 with 6:51 left in the first quarter.

That drive was nearly a disaster for the Broncos as Broc Lowry lost a fumble on a sack. The call was overturned when it was ruled that Lowry had a knee down.

Jordan Brunson responds with Miami (OH) touchdown

Jordan Brunson scores a 1-yard touchdown to cut the Western Michigan lead to 7-6 with 11:40 left in the first quarter. The RedHawks miss the PAT to keep the score 7-6.

A roughing the passer on third-and-goal opened the opportunity for the touchdown.

Jalen Buckley opens game with long TD

Jalen Buckley opens the game with a 67-yard touchdown run to get Western Michigan on the board first. It was the second play from scrimmage.

Pregame

ESPN ‘College GameDay’ picks for MAC championship game

Desmond Howard: Miami (Ohio)
Nick Saban: Western Michigan
Pat McAfee: Western Michigan
Ernie Johnson: Western Michigan
Kirk Herbstreit: Western Michigan

Western Michigan-Miami MAC championship history

Western Michigan has won four MAC titles in program history (1966, 1976, 1988 and 2016). Miami has won 17 while a member of the MAC, and has 25 conference championships in school history.

RedHawks land in Detroit Field

Here’s a look at Miami (Ohio) players walking into Detroit Field:

What time does Miami vs Western Michigan start?

Date: Saturday, Dec. 6
Time: Noon ET
Where: Ford Field (Detroit)

Miami vs Western Michigan will kick off at noon ET on Saturday, Dec. 6 from Ford Field in Detroit.

What TV channel is Miami vs Western Michigan on today?

TV channel: ESPN
Livestream: Fubo (free trial)

The MAC championship game between Miami and Western Michigan will be broadcast on ESPN. Streaming options for the game include Fubo, which carries ESPN and offers a free trial to new subscribers.

Miami vs Western Michigan predictions

Ehsan Kassim, USA TODAY Sports: Western Michigan 20, Miami 17

Western Michigan avenges its lone regular-season conference loss with a win over Miami to win its first MAC title since 2016. The Broncos’ defense will smother the RedHawks in a defensive battle, scoring a touchdown on a fumble return in the first half.

Austin Curtright, USA TODAY Sports: Western Michigan 23, Miami 20

Western Michigan’s lone conference loss this season came against Miami. However, it’s hard to beat a team twice in the same season and the Broncos have won four consecutive games since falling to the RedHawks in late October. It should be a close game, but Western Michigan gets revenge for its first MAC title since 2016.

John Leuzzi, USA TODAY Sports: Miami 24, Western Michigan 21

Defense wins championships, and that is what this game is going to come down to. Both defenses rank in the top four of the MAC in sacks, with Miami leading Western Michigan 38-14 in the category. Whichever defense can get a few stops (or takeaways) in the fourth quarter will win this one.

Miami football schedule 2025

Here’s a look at Miami’s schedule in 2025, including past scores.

Thursday, Aug. 28: Wisconsin 17, Miami 0
Saturday, Sept. 6: Rutgers 45, Miami 17
Saturday, Sept. 13: BYE
Saturday, Sept. 20: UNLV 41, Miami 38
Saturday, Sept. 27: Miami 38, Lindenwood 0
Saturday, Oct. 4: Miami 25, Northern Illinois 14 *
Saturday, Oct. 11: Miami 20, Akron 7 *
Saturday, Oct. 18: Miami 44, Eastern Michigan 30 *
Saturday, Oct. 25: Miami 26, Western Michigan 17 *
Saturday, Nov. 1: BYE
Tuesday, Nov. 4: Ohio 24, Miami 20 *
Wednesday, Nov. 12: Toledo 24, Miami 3 *
Wednesday, Nov. 19: Miami 37, Buffalo 20 *
Saturday, Nov. 29: Miami 45, Ball State 24 *
Saturday, Dec. 6: Miami vs Western Michigan | ESPN, Noon ET **

* – denotes MAC game

** – denotes MAC championship game

Western Michigan football schedule 2025

Here’s a look at Western Michigan’s schedule in 2025, including past scores.

Friday, Aug. 29: Michigan State 23, Western Michigan 6
Saturday, Sept. 6: North Texas 33, Western Michigan 30 (OT)
Saturday, Sept. 13: Illinois 38, Western Michigan 0
Saturday, Sept. 20: Western Michigan 14, Toledo 13 *
Saturday, Sept. 27: Western Michigan 47, Rhode Island 14
Saturday, Oct. 4: Western Michigan 21, Massachusetts 3 *
Saturday, Oct. 11: Western Michigan 42, Ball State 0 *
Saturday, Oct. 18: BYE
Saturday, Oct. 25: Miami 26, Western Michigan 17 *
Saturday, Nov. 1: Western Michigan 24, Central Michigan 21 *
Saturday, Nov. 8: BYE
Tuesday, Nov. 11: Western Michigan 17, Ohio 13 *
Tuesday, Nov. 18: Western Michigan 35, Northern Illinois 19 *
Tuesday, Nov. 25: Western Michigan 31, Eastern Michigan 21 *
Saturday, Dec. 6: Miami vs Western Michigan | ESPN, Noon ET **

* – denotes MAC game

** – denotes MAC championship game

WASHINGTON — The draw for the biggest World Cup in history was probably the cringiest.

‘This will be the greatest FIFA World Cup ever,’ said FIFA president Gianni Infantino, no stranger to hyperbole. ‘The greatest event humanity will ever see.’

How great?

‘I will put it in terms that the American audience will understand. uruguThe World Cup is like 104 Super Bowls in one month,’ added Infantino, recycling a line he trotted out earlier this year.

The star-studded event didn’t get into the actual draw for about 80 minutes, but eventually the groups were set for next summer’s 48-team tournament being staged across North America.

The United States got a favorable draw with matchups against Paraguay and Australia, avoiding group stage matchups with the world’s top teams. Fellow 2026 co-hosts Mexico and Canada were also able to let out a sigh of relief on Friday, neither country unfortunate enough to end up grouped with a top-tier opponent.

From the USMNT’s dream draw to France and England’s tough groups, here’s a look at the winners and losers of the 2026 World Cup draw:

World Cup draw winners

USMNT

The draw could have gone about as well as hoped for the USMNT, placed in Group D with Paraguay, Australia and a to-be-determined European team.

In the draw’s top pot as one of the World Cup co-hosts, the U.S. was gifted the matchup against Australia, the lowest-ranked team in Pot B. That spot in the USMNT’s group could have been filled by a top-11 opponent like Croatia and Morocco, oran 13th and 16th-ranked CONMEBOL opponent in Colombia or Uruguay.

‘My message to the players is Paraguay, Australia and the other team are going to be difficult,’ U.S. manager Mauricio Pochetinno said. ‘We need to prepare like each game is the final of the World Cup. Thinking we should win before we play the games is the wrong mindset.’

Donald Trump

The American president had a big day at the Kennedy Center, officially getting awarded the inaugural ‘FIFA Peace Prize,’ a brand new honor the soccer’s governing body seemed to invent purely to flatter Trump.

“This is truly one of the great honors of my life – and beyond,” Trump said.

The entire world watched the Trump infomercial that accompanied the awarding of both a medal and a trophy – but the president kept his acceptance speech tight and got some earnest laughs. Trump correctly joked that the U.S. should adopt the word ‘football’ rather than ‘soccer’ because the name of (American) football ‘really does not make sense when you think about it.’

To close the event, Trump danced to the ‘Y.M.C.A.’ performed live for him by the Village People .

Argentina

‘We’re going to give it our all and try to do what we did in the last World Cup, which is to give everything we can, not give up on any ball,’ Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni said.

Barring injury, Messi and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo will set a record next summer by appearing in their sixth career World Cup.

World Cup draw losers

France

The world’s third-ranked team was dealt a difficult draw, getting grouped with Senegal (the second-ranked African team) and a Norway side powered by Manchester City’s record-setting striker Erling Haaland.

France was famously upset by Senegal to open its title defense at the 2002 World Cup, arguably the greatest result in the nation’s history.

“It’s always a pleasure to play against France. It’s a country we know well — for me, it’s my second home,’ said Senegal coach Pape Thiaw, who was in the 2002 squad. ‘Twenty-four years later, we face them again. In 2002, it went well for us. This will not be an easy match. We will be well prepared.”

England

The Three Lions, ranked fourth in the world, got as unlucky as possible by having Croatia assigned into Group L with them. The Croats lost to France in the final of 2018 World Cup – after knocking out England in the semifinals – and finished third at the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

Things certainly could have been worse for England with Panama and Ghana as the other two countries in the group, but opening the tournament against one of the best teams in the world is not ideal. Boss Thomas Tuchel has been outspoken about the challenges of playing in the summer heat and different time zones across North America and reaffirmed after the draw that the team would perserve.

‘We have to find a way to dig in,’ Tuchel told reporters. ‘We have to accept it and built a high tolerance towards these obstacles.’

The fans

The first half of the two-hour draw, hosted by Heidi Klum and Kevin Hart, didn’t feature much soccer. Infantino said a bunch of nice things about Trump and viewers were treated to FIFA’s Trump highlight reel as well an uninspiring performance by Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger.

Even Lauryn Hill couldn’t save the block of programming.

Sure, it was funny watching Shaq and Tom Brady struggle opening the balls and Wayne Gretzky butcher the pronunciation of multiple countries, did anybody actually enjoy this thing?

Former NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown filed a motion seeking the dismissal of an attempted murder charge, where a conviction can land him up to 30 years in prison.

Brown, 37, pleaded not guilty to a second-degree attempted murder charge last month, after he was arrested and extradited from Dubai, where he had been since being accused of shooting at a man during a celebrity boxing match in Miami on May 16.

According to documents obtained by USA TODAY Sports and filed this week in Miami-Dade County Circuit Court, Brown’s lawyers filed a motion to have the case thrown out, claiming that the shooting was legal under a 2005 Florida state statute referred to as the ‘Stand Your Ground’ law.

The law says ‘a person is justified in using or threatening to use force, except deadly force, against another when and to the extent that the person reasonably believes that such conduct is necessary to defend himself or herself or another against the other’s imminent use of unlawful force.’

In an arrest affidavit, authorities have said that Brown grabbed a handgun from a person working security after the match and fired two shots at him.

Brown’s attorney said the affidavit is wrong, and that the four-time First Team All-Pro selection used his own weapon, and he wasn’t aiming at anyone.

The alleged victim, Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu, said that one of those bullets grazed his neck, and in the new motion, the two have a history that dates back several years.

It states that in 2022, Nantambu spent 30 days in Dubai for stealing Brown’s jewelry, and in December 2023, Nantambu attacked Brown while he was backstage at the Rolling Loud music festival with some of his children.

After being released on a $25,000 bond, Brown was ordered to stay away from Nantambu and given a GPS ankle monitor, and his lawyers say the circumstances in the case meant his client had every ‘legal right to defend himself,’ and was justified as he believed the alleged victim ‘intended to cause him serious harm.’

A report status in the case is set for December 22.

BYU football looks to play its way into the College Football Playoff when it faces Texas Tech in the Big 12 championship on Saturday, Dec. 6, and can potentially cause some chaos in the process.

The No. 11 Cougars (No. 11 CFP) are currently the first team out of the 12-team CFP bracket. However, BYU could earn an automatic bid for the playoff should it defeat Texas Tech.

BYU is looking to avenge its road loss to the Red Raiders a few weeks ago. The Cougars fell 29-7 and struggled to generate offense in the game, failing to score until midway through the fourth quarter.

No. 10 Alabama (No. 9 CFP) and No. 9 Notre Dame (No. 10 CFP) are both rooting against BYU during conference championship weekend, although the Crimson Tide control their own destiny should they defeat Georgia in the SEC title game.

Here’s how BYU can shake up the College Football Playoff bracket if it upsets Texas Tech.

How BYU can ruin Alabama, Notre Dame CFP chances

BYU, currently on the outside of the CFP, could move into the 12-team bracket with a win over Texas Tech in the Big 12 championship game. The Cougars would earn an automatic bid as one of the five highest-ranked conference champions.

The issue is that Texas Tech, which is currently No. 4 in the CFP rankings, would likely stay in the field as it owns a 29-7 win over BYU from a few weeks ago. A BYU win would most likely force Alabama or Notre Dame out of the CFP.

Alabama has a chance to earn its own automatic bid, though, if it can beat Georgia for the second time this season in the SEC championship game. If BYU wins and Alabama wins, Notre Dame would likely find itself out of the CFP picture.

Things could get even murkier if BYU wins and Alabama loses on Dec. 6. That would mean the CFP committee would have to choose between Alabama with a 10-3 record and Notre Dame with a 10-2 record. The committee moved the Crimson Tide over Notre Dame in the latest CFP rankings update, which could come into play with the committee’s decision.

A three-loss team has never made the CFP, but the committee also has shown a precedent of not punishing teams for losing their conference title game. SMU still made the CFP over Alabama last season despite falling to Clemson in the ACC championship game, and TCU still made the four-team CFP in 2022 despite losing to Kansas State in the Big 12 championship.

Either way, a BYU win puts the committee in quite the bind.

Our long, national nightmare is over. Penn State football has found its head coach.

The Nittany Lions are finalizing an agreement with Iowa State’s Matt Campbell to replace James Franklin, the school announced.

Campbell, 46, has coached the Cyclones for 10 seasons and became the winningest coach in school history with a 72-55 record, including 8-4 in 2025.

Here’s how we grade the hire:

Grade: B+

Penn State took a circuitous route to making a solid hire, if not a home run.

Even after whiffing on Brigham Young’s Kalani Sitake, athletic director Pat Kraft managed to land a proven coach, one who was named the Big 12 coach of the year three times.

Campbell’s name has appeared on candidate lists for prime jobs for many years, but he repeatedly remained loyal to Iowa State. Now, finally, he saw an opportunity good enough to make a move. An Ohio native, the 46-year-old Campbell has spent his entire career in the Midwest. He’ll fit Penn State’s brand.

Campbell departs Iowa State as the best coach in program history, producing a winning record eight times in 10 seasons there. He’s headed to a program with superior resources — and more demanding expectations than Campbell has ever encountered in his career.

Campbell’s resume is not superior to that of the coach Penn State fired, but it always seemed unlikely the Nittany Lions would hire a more accomplished coach than James Franklin.

Campbell’s known more for being a player developer than an ace recruiter. He’ll need to prove he can win blue-chip recruiting battles to get Penn State onto Ohio State’s level, or even to keep it at the level Franklin had Penn State operating at in most seasons before this one.

At Iowa State, Campbell could be counted on to assemble one of the Big 12’s stingiest defenses, year after year. That’ll translate well at Penn State. Can Campbell develop quarterbacks that’ll allow Penn State to stand toe-to-toe with the best Big Ten programs?

As good as Campbell’s Cyclones defenses usually were, his offenses were more middle of the pack or even toward the bottom of the Big 12. Maybe, that’ll elevate with higher-caliber athletes at Penn State. Campbell only ever had one Iowa State quarterback selected in the NFL Draft. That was Brock Purdy, a four-year starter selected in the seventh round in 2022.

An 8-4 season at Iowa State would go down in the good-season column. At Penn State, that won’t cut it anymore. Welcome to the big leagues.

Campbell is a steady hand who now must show he’s ready to perform to the level Penn State demands.

In a recent Instagram post, Luka Dončić shared a photo of his newborn daughter, captioned ‘Olivia’ along with a pink heart emoji. According to ESPN, Dončić was in his hometown of Ljubljana, Slovenia, with his fiancée Anamaria Goltes as they awaited the birth. The couple also has a two-year-old daughter named Gabriela.

After the 126-105 loss to the Boston Celtics, Lakers coach JJ Redick said that Dončić is a game-time decision and could return to the lineup as soon as Sunday as the Lakers head to Philadelphia to face the 76ers.

Dončić has been averaging 35.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 8.9 assists per game this season for the Lakers, who are currently third in the Western Conference standings.

President Donald Trump better savor his FIFA Peace Prize, because it’s the only one he’s going to get.

In a surprise to no one, Trump received FIFA’s made-up, not-to-be-taken-seriously-at-all token award that was created solely for the purpose of stroking the president’s considerable ego. He got a gaudy, gold trophy — the better to match the Oval Office! — a medal he immediately put on and a certificate to commemorate the embarrassing, err, momentous occasion.

“(This is) in recognition of his exceptional and extraordinary actions to promote peace and unity around the world,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino gushed ahead of the 2026 World Cup draw in Washington, D.C.

Which actions are those specifically? The poor fisherman killings that are likely illegal and might even be war crimes? The racist slurs directed at Somali people? The harassment and abuse of brown-skinned people in a bid to enforce this racially pure vision of America while promoting ‘reverse migration’? The elimination of life-saving aid to people in need?

Shall I continue?

Trump is the most divisive person on the planet, let alone the country he was elected to lead, and his actions and rhetoric have made the entire planet a colder, crueler and unsafer place. He’s a champion for peace in his own mind only, and no reputable group would ever honor him as such.

Enter Infantino’s FIFA!

Infantino’s damage to FIFA

Soccer’s global governing body has lost what little moral compass it had left under Infantino, who has cozied up to autocrats and human rights abusers at the expense of sponsors, the LGBTQ community and even FIFA’s own members. He’s been only too happy to debase FIFA further with his fawning devotion to Trump.

Infantino knows how badly Trump craves a Noble peace prize. Actually the whole world does, because Trump mentions it almost any chance he gets. But Infantino also knows tiny Cape Verde has a better chance of winning the World Cup in its first appearance than Trump has of winning over the Nobel committee.

The people who decide the Nobel prizes are not sycophants like Trump’s cabinet. They are not going to give Trump credit for made-up peace deals and agreements so flimsy they fell apart before the ink was dry. They are not going to ignore Trump’s deference to Vladimir Putin, treating him like the wronged party in the unprovoked war on Ukraine that the Russian despot started.

Nor are the Noble committee members going to reward Trump for his efforts to dismantle American democracy, a system that’s been a shining example for the rest of the world for more than 200 years.

Noble idea

So here is Infantino, creating a worthless award to save his good friend’s bruised ego. A month after this year’s Noble winner was awarded — to Venezuelan democracy activist Maria Corina Machado, not Trump — FIFA announced the annual Peace Prize. The award, Infantino said Nov. 5, would “recognize the enormous efforts of those individuals who unite people, bringing hope for future generations.”

It could have been a great idea. Anything that tries to reduce the hatred and division in the world is worth a try, and soccer has enough global sway for it to make a difference.

But Infantino revealed what a farce this Peace Prize is by awarding the very first one to Trump.

‘He says he has brought about peace in countries around the world, but at home and in our region, he is waging war verbally and quite literally, on sections of our people, including by unleashing a militarized force on immigrants,” Evan Whitfield, chair of the Human Rights Soccer Alliance, said in a statement.

“Trump has also threatened to bomb Mexico, a co-host of the World Cup, and to unjustifiably invade Venezuela, our near neighbors, and ridiculously, to subsume Canada, another World Cup co-host, into the U.S. In other words, to invade them.’

Well, when you put it like that …

Infantino made Trump happy — ‘This is truly one of the great honors of my life,” the president said — but it came at the expense of one of FIFA’s biggest events, the World Cup draw. Instead of talking about the best games and debating the Group of Death, the headlines from Friday’s event were about Trump’s ‘award,’ the ridiculousness of it and Infantino’s shameless toadying.

The ‘Peace Prize’ might be a fake, but the shame it leaves on anyone involved is real.

Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.

Our long, national nightmare is over. Penn State football has found its head coach.

The Nittany Lions are finalizing an agreement with Iowa State’s Matt Campbell to replace James Franklin, the school announced.

Campbell, 46, has coached the Cyclones for 10 seasons and became the winningest coach in school history with a 72-55 record, including 8-4 in 2025.

Here’s how we grade the hire:

Grade: B+

Penn State took a circuitous route to making a solid hire, if not a home run.

Even after whiffing on Brigham Young’s Kalani Sitake, athletic director Pat Kraft managed to land a proven coach, one who was named the Big 12 coach of the year three times.

Campbell’s name has appeared on candidate lists for prime jobs for many years, but he repeatedly remained loyal to Iowa State. Now, finally, he saw an opportunity good enough to make a move. An Ohio native, the 46-year-old Campbell has spent his entire career in the Midwest. He’ll fit Penn State’s brand.

Campbell departs Iowa State as the best coach in program history, producing a winning record eight times in 10 seasons there. He’s headed to a program with superior resources — and more demanding expectations than Campbell has ever encountered in his career.

Campbell’s resume is not superior to that of the coach Penn State fired, but it always seemed unlikely the Nittany Lions would hire a more accomplished coach than James Franklin.

Campbell’s known more for being a player developer than an ace recruiter. He’ll need to prove he can win blue-chip recruiting battles to get Penn State onto Ohio State’s level, or even to keep it at the level Franklin had Penn State operating at in most seasons before this one.

At Iowa State, Campbell could be counted on to assemble one of the Big 12’s stingiest defenses, year after year. That’ll translate well at Penn State. Can Campbell develop quarterbacks that’ll allow Penn State to stand toe-to-toe with the best Big Ten programs?

As good as Campbell’s Cyclones defenses usually were, his offenses were more middle of the pack or even toward the bottom of the Big 12. Maybe, that’ll elevate with higher-caliber athletes at Penn State. Campbell only ever had one Iowa State quarterback selected in the NFL Draft. That was Brock Purdy, a four-year starter selected in the seventh round in 2022.

An 8-4 season at Iowa State would go down in the good-season column. At Penn State, that won’t cut it anymore. Welcome to the big leagues.

Campbell is a steady hand who now must show he’s ready to perform to the level Penn State demands.

The draw for next summer’s World Cup went about as well as it possibly could have for the United States men’s national team.

The Americans are assured of playing two teams, Paraguay and Australia, that they’ve played this year, and it could be all three depending on the outcome of a European playoff. Turkey, which the USMNT lost to in June, is the highest-ranked of the four teams vying for the final spot in Group D.

The Americans have winning records against both Paraguay and Australia, including identical 2-1 victories over both teams this fall. Of the four European teams, the USMNT is 2-2-1 against Turkey, has losing records against Romania and Slovakia, and has never played Kosovo.

‘Our friendlies prepared us for, potentially, our full World Cup draw,’ defender Chris Richards said. ‘I think it’ll be good. Regardless of who we get for the final spot, it’s good for us to have already played these caliber of teams.’

The USMNT will not learn that last opponent for another 3½ months. Turkey and Romania face off in one European qualifying playoff game and Slovakia and Kosovo in the other March 26. The winners advance to play each other for a World Cup spot on March 31.

The USMNT will open the 48-team tournament against Paraguay on June 12 in Los Angeles. It plays Australia on June 19 in Seattle and wraps up the group stage June 25 against the European team in Los Angeles.

‘We can go into it with a really good feeling,’ Christian Pulisic said. ‘We’ve played against these teams recently, we know more or less what they’re going to look like. We know they’re tough opponents, as well. We’re not taking anyone lightly.’

Still, the USMNT is facing a much smoother road to the knockout rounds than, say, England or France. England has 2018 runner-up Croatia, USMNT World Cup nemesis Ghana and Panama in its Group L while France has 2022 African champion Senegal, Erling Haaland and Norway and the winner of an intercontinental playoff.

The USMNT caught a break when Paraguay was drawn. It should have gone to Group C, but Brazil is the top seed in that group and countries from the same confederation cannot play each other so it was moved to the USMNT’s group. The Americans also dodged Norway and Mohamed Salah and Egypt in the opener, and Croatia and 2022 semifinalist Morocco for the second game.

Even that third game could wind up being low-stress if the USMNT already has a place in the knockout rounds locked up by then.

‘It does set up well, but we also know that just because it sets up well on paper doesn’t mean it will go that way,’ defender Tim Ream said. ‘We have to focus on ourselves. We know the minimum of what it will take to beat these teams, and you can’t play a tournament like this by playing the minimum.’

The top two teams in each group are assured of advancing to the knockout rounds, but it’s at that point that the USMNT has tended to run into trouble.

The U.S. men have gotten out of the Round of 16 just once in the last 95 years, and that was more than 20 years ago. Led by Landon Donovan, the USMNT reached the quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup before losing to eventual runner-up Germany.

With this World Cup on home soil, fans’ expectations for the Americans to make a deep run are high and their draw will do nothing to dampen those.

But USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino cautioned against looking too far ahead. Maybe a team like Argentina, which has Lionel Messi and is the defending champion, can start strategizing a road to the final, Pochettino said. But the Americans cannot afford to take their focus off the group stage.

‘With the USA, our first game is the final of the World Cup,’ Pochettino said. ‘Then the second needs to be the final of the World Cup. And then the third.’

There’s another reason not to look too far ahead: The USMNT’s path gets decidedly trickier in the knockout rounds.

Should the Americans win the group and their Round of 32 game, they could face Belgium in the Round of 16. That’s where the Red Devils eliminated the Americans in the 2014 World Cup. If they get through that, it’s likely to be either Spain, Argentina, Portugal or England that awaits.

If the USMNT would finish second in the group and win in the Round of 16, their reward would likely be … Messi and Argentina.

‘At some point you’re going to have to play some of the best teams,’ Ream said. ‘There’s so much math going on. There was really no point in sitting there and hoping and praying. It was, OK, you’re going to get who you’re going to get and, once you know, it’s time to get down to business and prepare.’

USMNT World Cup Group D schedule

June 12: USA vs. Paraguay – SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California
June 19: USA vs. Australia – Lumen Field, Seattle
June 25: USA vs. Turkey/Romania/Slovakia/Kosovo – SoFi Stadium