Jordon Hudson, the 24-year-old girlfriend of North Carolina football coach Bill Belichick, claimed on social media she’s suing Pablo Torre, the host of popular sports podcast, ‘Pablo Torre Finds Out?’

‘Hi (Jordon), I assume this means you’re declining my invitation to be a guest on (‘Pablo Torre Finds Out?’) Either way, I’m looking forward to hearing from you! Thanks, Pablo.’

Here’s everything to know of the situation.

Is Jordon Hudson suing Pablo Torre?

Hudson claimed on Nov. 23 she’s suing Torre, although it seems she has yet to file a lawsuit at the time this story was published.

The 24-year-old Hudson and the 73-year-old Belichick have been in the headlines since they announced their relationship in late 2024. Most recently, Torre posted a podcast uncovering an exclusive clip of Hudson and Belichick during planning of ‘Coach with Bill Belichick.’

Belichick has said previously he and Hudson have a ‘personal and professional relationship.’ The behind-the-scenes clip showed the two’s dynamic outside of the media limelight, with Hudson appearing to play a substantial role in the planning process of the show.

It’s not the first time Torre has covered Hudson on his show, though, as he previously reported North Carolina prohibited Hudson’s access of the school facilities, hence her showing off an all-access pass on her Nov. 23 social media post.

North Carolina disputed the report in the spring. A request for comment from UNC on Hudson’s proclaimed suit against Torre was not returned to the USA TODAY Network at the time this story was published.

Hudson has reportedly been a driving force in Belichick’s decision-making process, a sentiment that has also been reported by Torre. Torre reported Hudson used her influence to appear in a ‘Dunkin” Super Bowl advertisement alongside Belichick.

“There is deep worry for how detrimental Jordon can be for not just North Carolina but Bill’s legacy, reputation (and) everything he has built and worked for over decades,’ Torre reported on his show in May.

Torre’s podcasts chronicling the Hudson-Belichick situation started after a ‘CBS Sunday Morning’ interview with Belichick was interrupted by Hudson. Belichick was asked how he and Hudson met, before Hudson interjected from the background that he wasn’t going to be answering questions about their relationship.

The interview prompted Belichick to issue a statement. He wrote a few days later: ‘She was not deflecting any specific question or topic but simply doing her job to ensure the interview stayed on track.’

Torre laid out his reporting process in an online post in May titled ‘How We Investigated Jordon.’ Torre, a longtime ESPN personality-turned Peabody Award nominee and Edward R. Murrow award winner for sports reporting from his work on ‘Pablo Torre Finds Out,’ doesn’t appear to be fazed by Hudson’s threat on social media.

It’s unclear what bounds Hudson feels she has on a potential lawsuit, and it seems like she won’t be accepted Torre’s invitation to his podcast anytime soon, either.

There’s an active search underway in Virginia for a successful high school football coach who went missing in the midst of an undefeated season.

The Virginia State Police confirmed in a statement to News Channel 11 on Saturday, November 22 that it is trying to locate Travis Turner, the head football coach at Union High School in Wise County, Virginia. The announcement came two days after local authorities revealed special agents from the Bureau of Criminal Investigation Wytheville Field Office were in the early stages of an investigation involving Turner.

Turner was officially named as a missing person on the Virginia State Police website on Sunday and listed as missing since Thursday. The Virginia State Police public information office did not immediately respond to a message from USA Today Sports on Monday morning seeking an update on the case.

The timing of the situation is unfortunate for Union’s football team, which advanced to Virginia’s Region 2D championship game and improved to 12-0 for the season with a 12-0 win over Graham High School on Saturday. Wise County Public Schools Superintendent Mike Goforth told News Channel 11 that assistant coach Jay Edwards handled coaching responsibilities during Saturday’s game.

Mike Norvell officially avoided the buyout pit of college football coaching, extending his time at Florida State by at least another year. 

For what it’s worth. And we’re not talking millions. 

“I love Florida State,” Norvell said in a statement Sunday. “And I am fully committed to this program and our shared goals.”

Odds are, it won’t last much longer. Nor will his perch among the elite of profession.

Of the Top 10 coaching buyouts in college football history, only two coaches returned to lead a different Power conference team: James Franklin (Virginia Tech) and Charlie Weis (Kansas).

Welcome to the world of walking away with millions upon millions of dollars — and more than likely the unofficial end of your high-profile career. 

If there’s one thing we’ve learned from colleges paying exorbitant buyouts to failed coaches, it’s that those fired don’t often return to the profession. And when they do, it’s certainly not at the same level.

Whether it’s the uncomfortable idea of paying a coach more millions after he was gifted a golden parachute for failing, or a coach’s weaknesses being exposed, universities aren’t thrilled about second chances with high-dollar coaches.

If Franklin didn’t give up a majority of his $49 million buyout from Penn State to take the Virginia Tech job, this undeniable trend would look uglier than it already does. 

A look at the Top 10 college football buyouts, and where each coach landed. 

1. Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M

The buyout: $76.8 million

The fallout: Sat out the past two seasons, but not for a lack of trying to get a job. He wanted the West Virginia job at the end of 2024, but it went to Rich Rodriguez. 

Fisher has a career winning percentage of .727 in 14 years at FSU and Texas A&M. He won a national title at FSU in 2013, and has four major bowl wins. And is no closer to getting a job than when Texas A&M paid him to leave.  

2. Brian Kelly, LSU

The buyout: $53.8 million

The fallout: He has been fired twice, according to LSU officials. Or is that once? Because LSU says he wasn’t officially fired the first time in late October, but this time — as recent as late last week — you better believe they’re firing him (it’s a Louisiana politics thing). Kelly, 64, released a statement two weeks ago saying he wants to continue coaching after failing at LSU.

He’s the winningest coach in Notre Dame history, and has had success everywhere he has coached (.725 winning percentage in 22 seasons at major college programs). But no one will touch him if he’s in the middle of a lawsuit with LSU.    

3. James Franklin, Penn State

The buyout: $49 million.

The fallout: Franklin got right back in the hunt by accepting the Virginia Tech job, but only after he gave up all but $9 million of his Penn State buyout to do so. Franklin won 104 games in 12 seasons at Penn State, and had back-to-back nine-win seasons at Vanderbilt — a program best until this year’s team won its ninth game Saturday.   

4. Gus Malzahn, Auburn

The buyout: $21.4 million

The fallout: Fired at the end of 2020, Malzahn took a job with UCF while it was still a member of the American Conference. He resigned after four years to take the offensive coordinator role at FSU, more than likely getting ahead of another firing. 

5. Billy Napier, Florida

The buyout: $21.2 million

The fallout: Fired by Florida in late October, Napier was later seen at a Georgia practice — though Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart said it was because the two are close friends. 

Napier’s only job prior to his three and a half years at Florida was a four-year stint at Louisiana. He has 62 wins in 97 career games, and will likely have to take the assistant coach route to get back into the business.  

6. Charlie Weis, Notre Dame

The buyout: $18.9 million

The fallout: The industry leader in buyouts for years, Notre Dame fired Weis following the 2009 season. He took assistant coach jobs with the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs, and with Florida under coach Will Muschamp. 

Weis eventually returned as a Power conference coach when hired by Kansas in 2012. He was fired four games into the 2014 season and hasn’t coached since. 

7. Willie Taggart, Florida State

The buyout: $18 million

The fallout: Taggart arrived in Tallahassee after one season in Oregon, and after Fisher left a mess in Tallahassee in the locker room and classroom. Taggart spent a majority of his time getting players to actually go to class (back when it meant something), and coached 21 games at FSU before getting fired with a 9-12 record. 

He moved to FAU, where he was fired three years later with a 16-20 record. Taggart has been the running backs coach with the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens since 2023.

8. Ed Orgeron, LSU

The buyout: $16.9 million

The fallout: Orgeron won the national title at LSU in 2019, in part, because he convinced backup Ohio State quarterback Joe Burrow to transfer to Baton Rouge. Orgeron never recreated the magic of the most prolific offense in the modern era, and was fired in October of 2021.

Orgeron hasn’t coached since, but not because he hasn’t tried to get back into the profession. He now says he’d be interested in returning to LSU as a position coach.    

9. Tom Allen, Indiana

The buyout: $15.5 million

The fallout: The high-water mark was the 2020 pandemic season, when the Big Ten changed its rules to return midstream to get Ohio State in the conference championship game — ahead of Indiana. 

Allen won eight games in 2019, and six of eight in 2020, and IU threw crazy cash at the coach who looked like he had it figured out at the basketball school. Allen won nine games over the next three seasons, and was fired. He has been the Penn State and Clemson defensive coordinators since. 

10. Tom Herman, Texas

The buyout: $15.4 million

The fallout: Once the hottest young coach in the game, Herman spent four years in the sport’s best job and was fired after the 2020 season. He was 32-18, and looked like he had the program turned with a 10-win season (and a bowl win over Georgia) in 2018.

He took a job with the NFL’s Chicago Bears as an analyst following the blowout at Texas, and was then head coach at FAU for two years before getting fired in November of his second season. He’s currently not coaching. 

Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow him on X at @MattHayesCFB.

NBA action is intensifying, as the league is turning quickly to December.

That also means the NBA Cup picture is clarifying, with group stage play concluding Friday, Nov. 28. The league, however, is contending with several injuries to star players, forcing players like Bucks forward-center Giannis Antetokounmpo, Magic forward Paolo Banchero, Spurs forward-center Victor Wembanyama and plenty others to miss time.

To that point, it’s the teams managing those absences well who are the ones remaining competitive. And no team has weathered the loss of an All-Star better than the Oklahoma City Thunder, the reigning NBA champions.

Here are USA TODAY Sports’ NBA power rankings after Week 5 of the 2025-26 regular season:

USA TODAY Sports NBA power rankings

Note: Records and stats through Nov. 23. Parentheses show movement from last week’s rankings

NBA Week 5 power rankings: Top 5

1. Oklahoma City Thunder, 17-1 (—)

2. Detroit Pistons, 14-2 (+1)

3. Denver Nuggets, 12-4 (-1)

4. Los Angeles Lakers, 12-4 (+1)

5. Houston Rockets, 10-4 (-1)

The OKC Thunder have the NBA’s fourth-best offensive rating (119.6) and the league’s best defensive rating (102.8) and net rating (16.9), and they have done this all without Jalen Williams (wrist). The Pistons just got Jaden Ivey back and have the NBA’s top active win streak, at 12 games. It has become clear the Lakers will need some time to integrate LeBron James and the Nuggets, who will be without forward Aaron Gordon (hamstring) for at least a month, showed in a loss against the Kings that life may be tough without him.

NBA Week 5 power rankings: Nos. 6-10

6. Cleveland Cavaliers, 12-6 (+2)

7. Minnesota Timberwolves, 10-6 (+2)

8. San Antonio Spurs, 11-5 (-1)

9. Toronto Raptors, 12-5 (+3)

10. Miami Heat, 11-6 (+7)

Just when the Cavs were finally getting healthy, center Jarrett Allen suffered a broken ring finger, but Cleveland has nonetheless won four of its last five. The Raptors have been the surprise of the season, and lead the NBA in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.18). And the Heat have won four consecutive, relentlessly attack the rim and rank second in points in the paint per game (58.0) and Tyler Herro is reportedly set to make his debut Monday night.

NBA Week 5 power rankings: Nos. 11-15

11. Phoenix Suns, 11-6 (+3)

12. Atlanta Hawks, 11-7 (-2)

13. New York Knicks, 9-6, (-7)

14. Orlando Magic, 10-8 (+4)

15. Golden State Warriors, 9-9 (-4)

Phoenix, with its remade roster, has leaned in on aggressive defense and its 10.7 steals per game trails the league-leading Thunder by just 0.1. The Knicks have lost three of their last five, and their defense is a far cry from what it was under previous coach Tom Thibodeau. The Warriors have lost three consecutive games, and the locker room feels like it’s already fraying.

NBA Week 5 power rankings: Nos. 16-20

16. Boston Celtics, 9-8 (—)

17. Philadelphia 76ers, 9-7 (-2)

18. Milwaukee Bucks, 8-9 (-5)

19. Chicago Bulls, 9-7 (+1)

20. Portland Trail Blazers, 7-10 (-1)

The Celtics far too inconsistent and a loss against the Nets mars some of the good; no team commits fewer turnovers than Boston’s 11.3 per game. Losers of four in a row, the Bucks are flailing without Giannis Antetokounmpo and are averaging just 107.8 points over that span. And the Trail Blazers, after starting the season hot despite the drama surrounding suspended coach Chauncey Billups, have lost eight of their last 11.

NBA Week 5 power rankings: Nos. 21-25

21. Memphis Grizzlies, 6-11 (+2)

22.Los Angeles Clippers, 5-12 (—)

23. Dallas Mavericks, 5-13 (+1)

24. Utah Jazz, 5-10 (-1)

25. Charlotte Hornets, 4-13 (—)

The lone Clippers wins in nearly three weeks have come against the Hornets and Mavericks, a pair of teams below L.A. on this list. Dallas is still being patient with Anthony Davis and the Hornets have lost nine of 10.

NBA Week 5 power rankings: Nos. 26-30

26. Sacramento Kings, 4-13 (—)

27. Brooklyn Nets, 3-13 (—)

28. Indiana Pacers, 2-14 (+1)

29. New Orleans Pelicans, 2-15 (-1)

30. Washington Wizards, 1-15 (—)

The Kings are a weird team; they’re awkwardly constructed and will beat the Nuggets — as they did Sunday, Nov. 23 — and then lose to the Grizzlies by 41. The Nets have shown more competitive spirit and center Nic Claxton recorded his first career triple-double in a win against the Celtics. The Wizards, meanwhile, have the NBA’s worst net rating (-15.5) and have lost 14 games in a row.

As the Houston Astros’ eight-year streak of making the playoffs came to an end, Alex Bregman’s lived on.

Perhaps that’s the most germane – or at least marketable – data point Bregman can flaunt as he hits the market for a second consecutive winter. This time, unattached to a qualifying offer and the draft pick compensation that comes with it, Bregman shouldn’t have to worry about doing this again for many, many years.

That’s because Bregman’s one season with the Boston Red Sox was a relative smash: He predictably dominated at Fenway Park, posted an .821 OPS and lifted the Red Sox to the playoffs for just the second time in the past seven seasons.

Bregman? This was his ninth straight autumn featuring playoff baseball, and as such, he exercised an out clause in the three-year, $120 million deal he signed with Boston on the eve of spring training in February.

Oh, it wasn’t perfect: Injuries limited Bregman to 114 games, and his 18 home runs were his fewest since playing just 91 games in 2021. But know this: Bregman more than maintained his value, and will easily clear the $80 million he had coming to him had he opted into his final two years in Boston.

USA TODAY Sports examines the best landing spots for Bregman’s permanent home:

Boston Red Sox

Hey, the glove still fits. It was Bregman’s arrival that induced the strange dance between Boston and Rafael Devers that resulted in the trade of their franchise third baseman to San Francisco in June.

Now, should Bregman depart, there’d be a massive hole at third base and in the lineup.

Sure, the club could pencil top prospect Marcelo Mayer in there alongside shortstop Trevor Story. Yet staying healthy over the course of a season has proven difficult for Mayer in both the major and minor leagues.

Additionally, the lineup hollows out significantly behind burgeoning star Roman Anthony, who figures to bat leadoff next season. Boston signed Anthony to what figures to be a team-friendly eight-year, $130 million contract, gifting the lefty slugger lifetime security while keeping the club’s payroll healthy for years to come.

And the team saved nearly $250 million offloading Devers. Reinvesting that back into Bregman is simply good business – bringing Bregman’s career gravitas and potent bat to back up Anthony’s emerging greatness.

Detroit Tigers

So, we’re gonna do this again, huh?

The Tigers landed on the podium in the Bregman sweepstakes last winter, offering him a six-year deal for $171.5 million, yet he could not be swayed by the promise of hitting in Fenway and hitting the market again.

So, time to push that boulder back up the hill?

Not much has changed since a year ago: The Tigers claimed another wild-card berth, advanced to the American League Division Series and still have a hole to fill at third base.

They did all right in the aggregate last year, shuffling around fungible pieces like Colt Keith and Zack McKinstry and Andy Ibanez and Javy Baez, winning 87 games behind Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal.

There’s little they can do to avoid losing Skubal after next year, unless they’re interested in tying up a significant percentage of payroll in his left arm. So in a sense, signing Bregman would likely seal Skubal’s departure.

The upside: They’d get one year to go all-in with the two-time reigning Cy Young winner and Bregman galvanizing the lineup. Worry about 2027 when it gets here.

Comerica Park would be a tough adjustment for Bregman after years of hitting in Fenway and Minute Maid p

arks. But if his ego can take the drop in OPS, his mentality could be just what the Tigers need to push past the ALDS for the first time since 2013.

Arizona Diamondbacks

The Diamondbacks aren’t exactly made of money and already toted a franchise-high $186 million payroll last year. Yet if the club truly believes the ship has sailed on Ketel Marte in the desert, moving him would create both financial flexibility and a spot on the infield.

Even if Marte stays in Arizona – he’s due $91 million over the next five seasons – there’s stil an immediate opening at third base. For the moment, that’s penciled in for prospect Jordan Lawlar, but he’s played in just 114 games the past two seasons and struggled in limited big league stints in 2023 and ’25.

Bregman, paired with shortstop Geraldo Perdomo, who finished fourth in NL MVP voting, would give the Diamondbacks one of the greatest left sides in the infield. And Bregman’s elite 14% strikeout percentage would give Arizona, already a great contact-hitting team, one of the toughest lineups to attack.

His price tag will probably exceed owner Ken Kendrick’s comfort zone. But the fit is actually really nice.

Seattle Mariners

In 2025, the Mariners discovered just how wonderful a go-for-it mentality can be: Their deadline deals for corner infielders Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suarez paved the way for their first appearance in the American League Championship Series since 2001.

Naylor was such a good fit, they re-upped the first baseman to a four-year, $92 million deal. They still haven’t replaced Suarez.

Interesting fit, here.

On one hand, the Mariners are loaded with top infield prospects. Cole Young reached Seattle last year. Colt Emerson lurks at Class AAA. Ben Williamson played a capable third base for half of 2025.

On the other hand, shortstop J.P. Crawford is eligible for free agency after 2026. It may take a year or two for the kids to pan out. And the club saw fit to trade for Suarez and send Williamson back to Class AAA for the final two months of the season.

Taking on Bregman’s massive salary – he’d almost assuredly make more per annum than even Cal Raleigh – might seem like a solution looking for a problem. Yet this is a club that fell just eight outs shy of a World Series berth.

Essentially, these are the good old days. Moving aggressively to fill an obvious need could help the Mariners maintain a firm grip on an AL West they final conquered after so many decades of mediocrity.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford is making a strong case for league MVP, throwing for 273 yards and three touchdowns in the game.
Stafford now has 30 touchdown passes and only two interceptions on the season.
The Rams have the longest active winning streak in the NFC with six straight victories.

INGLEWOOD, California — A national primetime game was the perfect setting for the Los Angeles Rams (9-2) to make two statements.

The Rams are playing like the best team in the NFL. While quarterback Matthew Stafford is making the case to be league MVP. The Rams showcased both during a 34-7 demolition of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday night.

Stafford completed his first 12 passes as the Rams built a comfortable 21-0 lead in the first half. The Rams had an insurmountable 31-7 lead at halftime.

Stafford tossed three touchdowns in the first half, including two to wide receiver Davante Adams. The quarterback passed for 273 yards and three touchdowns in the victory.

Stafford joined Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers as the only players in NFL history with at least 30 touchdown passes and five-or-fewer interceptions in their team’s first 11 games of a season. He’s thrown 27 straight touchdowns without an interception, tying Brady (2010-2011 seasons) for the most consecutive passing touchdowns without an interception all-time.

“Hall of Famer, MVP of the NFL this season,” Rams running back Kyren Williams told USA TODAY Sports of Stafford. “The best quarterback in the world. There’s not really any other way to describe him, besides the best.”

Stafford’s leading one of the NFL’s most prolific offenses. He tops the NFL with 30 touchdown passes and only has two interceptions.

“I think it feels like the game is slowing down,’ Rams coach Sean McVay said. ‘I feel like he’s in total command. I think he’s got a lot of trust in the teammates that he’s playing with. There’s a true ownership. I think he’s just totally and completely present, and he’s really just enjoying the opportunity to compete week in and week out.”

Stafford has registered a 117 passer rating or better in four of the past five contests.

“He’s a fine wine. He’s getting better with age,” McVay added. “He’s playing really well. He’s in total command.”

Stafford’s performance this year has made an offseason filled with uncertainty seem like a distance memory.

Remember when the Rams granted Stafford’s agent permission to speak to other teams about a trade? Or the aggravated disk in his back that caused him to miss most of training camp?

Stafford does.

It’s made him appreciate the game even more.

“It’s a whole lot of fun. My situation during training camp, with the injury that I was going through, and not being able to really do much of anything for about 4 to 6 weeks, whatever it was. Sometimes being without something, lets you know how much you really love doing it. And I love playing this game. I appreciate it,” Stafford said. “When you’re without something like that, and then you get the chance to go back and do it. It sure is a whole lot of fun. And obviously it’s a lot of fun winning ball games.”

Most importantly, though, the Rams have now won six straight games, the longest active winning streak in the NFC.

The winning streak should put the rest of the league on notice.

The Rams defense is rounding into form. The unit forced four turnovers versus the Seattle Seahawks in Week 11 and held the Bucs to just one touchdown in Week 12.

On offense, Stafford is in the midst of an MVP campaign, Puka Nacua is a matchup nightmare for opposing secondaries and Davante Adams has a league-leading 12 touchdown catches.

“I’m having the most fun playing that I’ve ever had,” Adams said. “It’s just one of those teams where we just have a lot of fun together. … Sean’s always talking about being totally, and completely present, and that’s really where we are. I mean, it’s not really nobody’s thinking about the third quarter. Nobody’s thinking about the end of the game. It’s more about just enjoying where our feet are and going out and playing the biggest team sport that there is. Together and coming out, obviously, on top of a lot of these games, that helps the feeling of a lot as well.”

The Rams deserve to be feeling good. The surging Rams are atop the NFC. The No. 1 seed is a suitable spot for them at this juncture in the regular season, because they are playing like the best team in the NFL right now, and Stafford is performing like an MVP.

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.