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Three more Arkansas football assistants were fired on Monday, Sept. 29, in the wake of head coach Sam Pittman being dismissed.

According to Jackson Fuller of the Southwest Times Record — part of the USA TODAY Network — interim coach Bobby Petrino and Arkansas football have fired defensive coordinator Travis Williams, defensive line coach Deke Adams and co-defensive coordinator Marcus Woodson.

Williams and Woodson were in their third season with the program, whereas Adams was in his fourth year.

Petrino, who served as Arkansas’ head coach from 2008-11, was in his second season at the Razorbacks’ offensive coordinator before being elevated to interim coach. Petrino also expressed his interest in serving as Arkansas’ head coach moving forward, Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek noted in a news release announcing Pittman’s firing.

Pittman was fired after Arkansas’ 56-13 home loss to Notre Dame in Week 5, which marked three consecutive losses for the program. The Razorbacks blew an 18-point lead against Memphis on the road the week prior.

Arkansas ranked 112th in scoring defense (30 points per game) and 116th in total defense (425 yards per game), with Notre Dame scoring 42 points in the first half against the Razorbacks.

Pittman finished his Arkansas tenure with a 32-34 career record. His best season came in 2021, when the Razorbacks went 9-4 and won the Outback Bowl. Arkansas never finished with more than seven wins in any of his other seasons.

For now, Petrino will look to make an impact as interim head coach to strengthen his case to take over the role permanently. Arkansas now shifts its focus to casting a wide net of head coaching candidates to help right the ship in Fayetteville.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Bad Bunny is known for celebrating his Puerto Rican heritage, which the NFL believes will appeal to a global audience.
The league’s selection is seen as a strategic move to expand its international presence and fan base.
While the decision may be controversial, the NFL is focusing on long-term growth and financial opportunities.

You need to understand what the NFL has done by selecting Bad Bunny for the Super Bowl halftime show. I mean, really understand.

The music artist recently finished what has been described as a 31-date concert residency at Coliseo de Puerto Rico. Here’s how the event was described by USA TODAY: ‘… a total of 31 shows − served as a respite for fans during a time when social media feeds were overwhelmed with headlines about mass deportations of Latinos in the United States, reflecting a constant fear amid President Donald Trump’s ongoing immigration crackdown across the country.’

‘Bad Bunny’s shows felt like a space for fans and the people of Puerto Rico to sing, dance, unwind and bask in their cultural pride.’

The NFL knows that Bad Bunny’s emphasis on Puerto Rican pride would likely upset certain people, people who like football, but may not like a message of diversity. In fact, they may hate a message of diversity. The league knew this and didn’t care.

In making the Super Bowl announcement, Bad Bunny wore a pava, a traditional Puerto Rican hat. ‘What I’m feeling goes beyond myself,’ he said in a statement shared by the NFL. ‘This is for my people, my culture, and our history.’

‘Bad Bunny represents the global energy and cultural vibrancy that define today’s music scene. As one of the most influential and streamed artists in the world, his unique ability to bridge genres, languages, and audiences makes him an exciting and natural choice to take the Super Bowl halftime stage,’ said Jon Barker, SVP of global event production for the NFL, in a statement.

‘We know his dynamic performances, creative vision, and deep connection with fans will deliver the kind of unforgettable experience we’ve come to expect from this iconic cultural moment.’

Global energy. Cultural vibrancy. Bridging languages. Cultural moment.

This is the opposite energy of what we’re seeing in this country now with ICE raids and draconian imigration policies. The New York Times reported that for the first time in decades, more immigrants are leaving the United States than coming here.

I’ve covered this league for three decades and it still possesses the ability to shock. Usually, that shock isn’t a good thing. In this instance, it is.

So what exactly is the NFL doing? The league is playing the long game.

It is banking on a world when there is no Trump and the NFL continues its attempt to become a truly international sport. The NFL really believes American football can dominate globally. Who knows if that can happen but the thing is the league believes it can. Commissioner Roger Goodell recently said the goal of the NFL is to have 16 international games a season so every team has one.

To the NFL, Bad Bunny is an investment on that international future.

To be clear, the NFL isn’t doing this because of altruism. LOL no. The NFL also isn’t making this move because the league has some heartfelt belief that we should all live in a diverse world. LOL no. What the league mostly believes in is a diverse bank account. This is all about money and power.

That’s all true, and you know what, in this case at least, who cares about the league’s motivation? The NFL knows it will catch major hell from some powerful people who will be opposed to Bad Bunny and the league still made this decision. Good for the NFL.

So, yes, you need to understand what the NFL has done by selecting Bad Bunny as its Super Bowl halftime show. I mean, really understand.

The league is using its immense power to push for a more diverse universe, in a country that is, for now, retreating from it.

In other words, the NFL, for once, did the right thing.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

President Donald Trump released his new 20-point plan to end the Gaza war on Monday, when he also welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House. 

The Trump administration published a 20-point plan on Monday afternoon on how it will end the war in Gaza as the bloodshed continues raging since Oct. 7, 2023. The plan includes granting Hamas terrorists who give up their arms in favor of peace ‘amnesty,’ establishing Gaza as a ‘deradicalized terror-free zone’ and redeveloping the area so that it no longer poses a threat to its neighbors or residents alike. 

‘If both sides agree to this proposal, the war will immediately end. Israeli forces will withdraw to the agreed-upon line to prepare for a hostage release. During this time, all military operations, including aerial and artillery bombardment, will be suspended, and battle lines will remain frozen until conditions are met for the complete staged withdrawal,’ the third point of the document reads.

The plan explained that within 72 hours of Israel accepting the agreement, the country will release remaining hostages in its captivity — whether they are alive or deceased. Upon the release of the remaining hostages, Israel will then release ‘250 life sentence prisoners plus 1700 Gazans who were detained after October 7th 2023,’ according to the fifth point of the plan.

The plan adds that Hamas terrorists who are peaceful and give up their weapons will be granted ‘amnesty.’

‘Once all hostages are returned, Hamas members who commit to peaceful co-existence and to decommission their weapons will be given amnesty. Members of Hamas who wish to leave Gaza will be provided safe passage to receiving countries,’ the sixth point of the plan read. 

Hamas has not yet accepted the agreement, with Trump threatening the terrorist group to accept the plan or likely face further bloodshed. 

‘Israel would have my full backing to finish the job of destroying the threat of Hamas,’ Trump said on Monday during a press conference, warning Hamas to accept the deal. ‘But I hope that we’re going to have a deal for peace. And, if Hamas rejects the deal, which is always possible — they’re the only one left. Everyone else has accepted it. But, I have a feeling that we’re going to have a positive answer. But if not, as you know, maybe you’d have our full backing to do what you would have to do.’

A 21-point peace plan circulated at the United Nations earlier this month, as Israel launched long-range strikes deep inside Yemen, hitting targets more than 2,000 kilometers from home and underscoring how volatile the Middle East remains even as diplomacy played out in New York.

Trump unveiled the 21-point initiative to end the Gaza war during meetings with Arab leaders on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly earlier in September. 

A White House official, speaking on background, previously told Fox News Digital, ‘The President underscored his desire to bring fighting in Gaza to an expeditious close. Special envoy Witkoff summarized the U.S. plan for Gaza, including the return of all hostages living and deceased, no further attacks on Qatar, a new dialogue between Israel and Palestinians for peaceful coexistence and more.

‘Foreign partners expressed broad agreement that President Trump was the only one who could end the fighting in Gaza and expressed the hope that they could work together with Special Envoy Witkoff to consider the President’s plan as Americans continue to engage with Israeli officials,’ the White House official added. 

Arab officials told Fox News Digital that, during the meeting, leaders pressed Trump to confirm he would block Israeli annexation of the West Bank, describing the discussion as ‘productive.’

Speaking at the Concordia Annual Summit in New York, U.S. special envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff also described a ‘very productive’ meeting Tuesday between Trump and officials from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Indonesia and Pakistan.

‘We presented what we call the Trump 21-point plan for peace in the Middle East,’ Witkoff said. ‘I think it addresses Israeli concerns as well as concerns of neighbors in the region.’

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, speaking in a recorded UNGA address after being barred from entry to the U.S., also signaled support. 

‘We declare that we are ready to work with U.S. President Donald Trump and with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and France, the United Nations and all partners to implement the peace plan that was approved in the conference that was held on the 22nd of September, in a way that would lead towards a just peace and regional cooperation,’ Abbas said.

Abbas added that the PA is prepared to take over security and governance in Gaza, while Hamas must disarm. 

‘The dawn of freedom will emerge, and the flag of Palestine will fly high in our skies as a symbol of dignity, steadfastness and being free from the yoke of occupation,’ he said. ‘Palestine is ours. Jerusalem is the jewel of our hearts and our eternal capital. We will not leave our homeland. We will not leave our lands.’

Netanyahu, before departing for New York, where he was scheduled to address the UNGA Friday, said without directly commenting on the 21-point proposal, ‘In Washington, I will meet for the fourth time with President Trump, and I will discuss with him the great opportunities our victories have brought, as well as our need to complete the war’s objectives: to return all of our hostages, to defeat Hamas and to expand the circle of peace that has come our way following the historic victory.’

Even as Trump pushed diplomacy in New York, Israel expanded its campaign against Iran-backed militias. The IDF confirmed Thursday it carried out a wide wave of airstrikes against Houthi targets in Sana’a, Yemen, less than 24 hours after a Houthi drone slammed into a hotel in Eilat, wounding 24 people, two of them seriously.

Saudi and Israeli media reported more than 10 strikes during the Houthis’ weekly address, targeting command centers, intelligence headquarters and military compounds. Israeli officials estimate over 50 militants were killed. The IDF said the operation involved dozens of aircraft and long-range refueling, marking Israel’s 15th strike in Yemen since the war began.

Defense Minister Israel Katz said the raids, carried out under the code name Package Delivered, dealt a heavy blow. 

‘We struck numerous terror targets of the Houthi regime in Sana’a, eliminating dozens of operatives and destroying stockpiles of drones and weapons,’ Katz declared. ‘As I promised yesterday — those who harm us will be harmed sevenfold.’

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and House GOP leaders urged their fellow Republicans to stay united ahead of a likely government shutdown during a lawmaker-only phone call on Monday, Fox News Digital has learned.

‘Realistically, the way [Democrats have] painted themselves into a corner, I don’t think they’ll be willing to yield. There’s going to be some shutdown at least on October 1st, for a few days at least,’ Johnson said on the call, Fox News Digital was told. ‘I think that’s probably a good bet.’

House GOP leaders spent roughly an hour rallying their conference to stay on-message ahead of a possible government shutdown, which will occur if the Senate does not pass a short-term federal funding bill before midnight Wednesday. 

Johnson urged Republicans to ‘stay completely united,’ Fox News Digital was told, while arguing that Democrats have ‘no credible argument’ against rejecting the GOP spending bill.

He asked House Republicans to keep a low profile before they are due to return to Capitol Hill next week, including forgoing any House floor speeches and political events, Fox News Digital was told.

His comments on a shutdown being likely were in response to one House GOP lawmaker asking whether to pull out of a planned event this week.

Democrats and Republicans are at odds over how to avert a potential shutdown, with the former warning they will not vote for the latter’s bill without significant concessions on healthcare reform. 

Republicans, in turn, have pointed out that the funding levels are roughly the same as those Democrats supported under former President Joe Biden at the end of fiscal year (FY) 2024, and have accused Democrats of making unreasonable or partisan demands for a seven-week funding bill.

The measure, a stopgap bill keeping government spending levels mostly flat until Nov. 21, is aimed at giving the House and Senate more time to set funding priorities for FY 2026, which begins on Oct. 1.

It passed the House largely along party lines earlier this month. But in the Senate, where at least several Democrats are needed to meet a 60-vote threshold to advance the bill, its fate is more uncertain.

‘If you want to win the shutdown, we have to stay on offense,’ House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., said on the call. 

He emphasized that Republicans ‘did our job’ in passing the funding bill.

‘We need to keep emphasizing that. And if we do, we’re going to win this battle,’ Emmer said, Fox News Digital was told.

House GOP Conference Chair Lisa McClain, R-Mich., urged Republicans to keep the messaging focus on federal funding, rather than entering into a debate on healthcare, Fox News Digital was told.

Democrats are demanding legislation that reverses some of the Republicans’ Medicaid cuts in their ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill,’ and an extension of COVID-19 pandemic-era Obamacare subsidies.

Republicans, who have accused Democrats of trying to restore barriers on illegal immigrants getting Medicaid, have said the left’s demands would add about $1.5 trillion in spending.

It comes as the top four leaders in the House and Senate are expected to meet with President Donald Trump on Monday afternoon to discuss government funding in a last-ditch effort to avert a shutdown.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

The United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS) has come under fire for potentially prioritizing cultural sensitivity over significant health concerns after it published a report last week questioning a major issue of public debate — should first-cousin marriages be banned?

Debate over the issue heightened earlier this year after U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he would not ban the practice outright, despite known risks to future generations, as children born from first cousins are at increased risk for diseases like sickle cell disease and cystic fibrosis.

Starmer, along with members of his Labour government, has argued that education should be prioritized instead of overreaching government mandates.

The article, which was posted to the NHS’s Genomics Education Program’s website and titled, ‘Should the UK government ban first-cousin marriage,’ had been removed by Monday morning, and Fox News Digital could not gain direct access to the report, nor did the NHS immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s questions. 

According to U.K.-based media outlets, the article caused some uproar after it suggested there were certain ‘benefits’ to first-cousin marriages, including ‘stronger extended family support systems and economic advantages,’ the Telegraph reported. 

The NHS report also noted that inter-family marriages have ‘long been the subject of scientific discussion’ due to the increased risk of inherited diseases, and that first-cousin marriages have been legal in the U.K. since the 1500s, when King Henry VIII married Catherine Howard, his ex-wife’s cousin.

First cousin marriages are also not federally banned in the U.S., where the practice is still permitted in 20 states.

The article also noted that there are risks of genetic disorders related to other external factors like alcohol use during pregnancy and smoking. The age of the parents can also impact certain disorders. 

The report pointed out that ‘none of [these factors] are banned in the U.K.’

‘Genetic counseling, awareness-raising initiatives and public health campaigns are all important tools to help families make informed decisions without stigmatizing certain communities and cultural traditions,’ the article added, according to the Telegraph.

The article, first posted last week, drew rebuke from conservative Tories like Member of Parliament Richard Holden, who accused the Labour government, headed by Starmer, of ‘taking the knee to damaging and oppressive cultural practices.’

‘The Conservatives want to see an end to cousin marriage as a backdoor to immigration too, but Labour are deaf to these sensible demands,’ he told the Daily Mail.

Similarly, Conservative Member of Parliament Claire Coutinho took to X on Monday to say, ‘The NHS puts conditions on IVF by age, BMI and history of conception. The NHS tells you (a lot) not to smoke or drink during pregnancy. But the NHS won’t say a word against cousin marriage.’

The Daily Mail report also noted that the NHS article said in first-cousin marriages the increased risk of being born with a genetic condition was ‘small.’

‘In the general population, a child’s chance of being born with a genetic condition is around two to three percent; this increases to four to six percent in children of first cousins. Hence, most children of first cousins are healthy,’ the article said, according to the Daily Mail.

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, who oversees the NHS, did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s questions for this report.

Proponents of the ban in the U.K. tend to be conservative Tories, while Labor officials have argued the ban insensitively targets certain cultures, like British Pakistanis, where in-family marriages are more common. 

Starmer’s cabinet office directed Fox News Digital’s questions to the Department of Health and Social Care, who did not immediately provide comment for this report. 

Holden also could not be immediately reached for this report. 

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

Tyrese Haliburton is recovering from a ruptured Achilles he suffered in Game 7 of the NBA Finals.
Haliburton will miss the entire 2025-26 season but plans to remain involved with the team.
The Pacers star has not rewatched any postseason games, calling the experience ‘tough.’

Tyrese Haliburton is trying to look forward.

For the first time since his devastating Achilles rupture in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, Haliburton addressed reporters and updated the progress on his injury. Haliburton described the summer as a ‘drag,’ but said he’s on track with his recovery.

‘Just taking it day-by day,’ Haliburton told reporters Monday, Sept. 29 at the Pacers’ media day session. ‘It’s a monotonous thing of just feeling like you’re doing the same thing every time.’

Haliburton, 25, has been Indiana’s best player, and he was the catalyst who led the team to its first NBA Finals appearance in 25 seasons. He suffered the Achilles tear early in Game 7 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, after he started the game hot with 9 points on 3-of-5 shooting.

Haliburton, since suffering the injury, has not rewatched a single game from the postseason.

‘It’s been tough, it’s been tough,’ he said. ‘I think as time has went on, I’ve been able to go around the city more and move around, there’s been a lot of people come up to me and showing love for what we did this past year. You can just feel the love and the excitement in our city. …

‘What we did was very special, and it’s something that I’ll cherish for a long time, but I don’t think that I’m prepared quite yet to go back and watch games because it has been hard for me.’

Haliburton averaged 17.3 points, 8.6 assists and 5.3 rebounds per contest in the postseason, and laced several shots to tie or win games.

The Pacers finished the 2024-25 season 50-32, which placed them fourth in the Eastern Conference, though they were one of the hottest teams in the league after the start of 2025.

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said earlier on Monday that Indiana would have ‘some adjustments’ with Haliburton sidelined, though he stressed that he wanted the Pacers to maintain their identity.

Haliburton expects to be heavily involved.

‘Well I think whenever you don’t get to play, you get a new perspective on things,’ Haliburton said. ‘There’s always time to learn and grow, and I think that this year, I’m going to be able to see the game in a different way – potentially see it more from a coaching perspective, where I don’t always see eye-to-eye with the coaching staff and what they’re seeing.

‘I look forward to being able to digest the game without playing for a full year. That’s going to be different for me.’

As he walked up to the podium, he referred to his injured foot and even kicked it up on the table, before saying that was his ‘good foot.’ Later, when asked how he could help out in practices, Haliburton said: ‘I can’t really rebound, but I can pass.’

Haliburton maintained that he would still be a presence in the Pacers locker room and would still use his voice to help the team. He added that he wants to ‘try to be the bridge’ between the players and the coaching staff, since he’ll be watching games from the bench.

He said he’ll try to travel to as many games as possible, but will need to stay in Indianapolis at times for practical reasons, as he continues to rehab the injury.

‘The standard is the standard,’ Haliburton said. ‘We’ve created a culture here, and that’s not changing. Playing fast, picking up full-court , playing with infectious joy – that doesn’t change. I’m definitely excited to see everyone grow.”

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Entering its fourth year, Major League Baseball’s new playoff format featuring the best-of-three wild card series has already created some memorable moments and impressive upsets.

Last year’s World Series participants, the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees, find themselves in the extra round of games for the first time. The Yankees host the Boston Red Sox in the Bronx, the latest postseason meeting in baseball’s most storied rivalry.

The Cincinnati Reds visit Dodger Stadium, the Chicago Cubs play the San Diego Padres at Wrigley Field and the Detroit Tigers head to Cleveland to face the Guardians. Things get underway with a quadruple-header on Tuesday, Sept. 30.

Here’s how the USA TODAY Sports MLB writers and editors see MLB’s wild card series shaking out:

MLB wild card predictions

Yankees vs. Red Sox

Bob Nightengale: Yankees in 3
Gabe Lacques: Yankees in 2
Jesse Yomtov: Red Sox in 3

Guardians vs. Tigers

Bob Nightengale: Guardians in 3
Gabe Lacques: Tigers in 2
Jesse Yomtov: Guardians in 2

Dodgers vs. Reds

Bob Nightengale: Dodgers in 2
Gabe Lacques: Dodgers in 2
Jesse Yomtov: Dodgers in 3

Cubs vs. Padres

Bob Nightengale: Cubs in 3
Gabe Lacques: Padres in 2
Jesse Yomtov: Padres in 2

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Mississippi is currently the highest-ranked of the 10 SEC teams in the US LBM Coaches Poll.
Despite a recent loss, Georgia’s manageable remaining schedule could still lead them to the playoff pool.
Penn State’s ability to compete against playoff-caliber teams remains a concern for the program.

Now that the first month of the college football season is in the books, we have all the answers about every team, right?

Ha! Well, that’s how we do things here at Overreaction HQ, and the action in Week 5 certainly provided us with a lot of possibilities. Such is the nature of this sport, in which coaches can go from program saviors to inspiring fire chants or vice versa in a matter of weeks – or sometimes just a quarter or two.

For the uninitiated, the following statements are overreactions. Some of them might prove to have been accurate, while others will turn out to be wildly off the mark.

Here are the top five.

Mississippi is the best team in the SEC

For now at least, the conference of ‘just means more’ apparently means more ranked teams. There are 10 in the US LBM Coaches Poll Top 25, and the No. 4 Rebels head that list for the moment.

Should they? They do have three conference victories in the bank already, though two of them came at the expense of the minority of programs in the league that are not ranked. Saturday’s home win against LSU is unambiguously the best of the three, but how valuable will that one ultimately be? The Tigers, remember, had a shaky resume themselves despite entering the weekend with a top-five ranking, as their victories against Clemson and Florida haven’t exactly held up.

By the time all is said and done it probably won’t matter where Ole Miss or any of the other league contenders are ranked heading into October, but whenever SEC fans are involved, there’s always debate.

Georgia will be fine

We’ll now turn our attention to a couple of the teams that were on the short end of the weekend’s marquee contests. We’ll start with the Bulldogs, who were in a similar position a year ago thanks to an early loss to Alabama. Things worked out for the 2024 edition of UGa, as the Dogs went on to win the SEC title.

There might be a few more red flags with this year’s version, however. Yes, like last year, the team already had a solid win in the bank. But even in the victory at Tennessee a couple of weeks ago there were concerns about Georgia’s pass defense, and the Crimson Tide also found areas to exploit. The good news for Georgia is its remaining schedule is manageable, or at least as manageable as an SEC slate can be. Dates with Ole Miss and Texas are the biggest apparent hurdles, and at least a split of those two home games should keep the ‘Dogs in the playoff pool. Losses in both or any other upset specials would cause some early December angst in Athens.

Penn State will be fine

Had the Nittany Lions not mounted a fourth-quarter rally to force overtime with Oregon, there would be a lot more reason to question the team’s viability going forward. But though the loss became somewhat less damaging, there’s still reason for worry in Happy Valley.

As matters stand now, a three-game stretch over four weeks of at Iowa, at Ohio State and home against Indiana beginning Oct. 18 will determine PSU’s fate. Going 2-1 through that part of the slate should earn them a return trip to the field of 12, while a sweep would almost certainly mean a spot in the conference finale.

The real concern, however, is that there’s still no actual proof the Nittany Lions can beat a playoff-caliber team. Until that happens, the feeling of a next step yet to be taken will linger.

The SEC and Big Ten will get the entire at-large pool anyway

With only seven at-large spots available in the 12-team playoff format, space is limited even for other members of the so-called power conferences. We won’t really know how the committee’s emphasis this year on schedule strength will manifest itself until we see the group’s first set of actual rankings, but it’s fair to assume quality wins will be prioritized in some fashion, and those two conferences that are currently dominating the polls will present more opportunities to earn such victories.

The ACC and Big 12 already had limited paths to multiple berths, and a number of results over the weekend lengthened their odds. Notre Dame finally looked the part of a postseason contender in its demolition of Arkansas, but the Fighting Irish will ironically help other teams more than themselves by winning out. A lot can still change in the next two months, but it looks like a case of the rich getting richer.

The Heisman winner will be …

… Probably someone nobody is talking about yet. Will someone like Diego Pavia, Fernando Mendoza, or even Trinidad Chambliss bring a statue to a school that’s never claimed one before, or will someone from a traditional power like Ty Simpson, Jeremiah Smith or Dante Moore start putting up numbers too good to ignore? As we used to say before the age of computers, stay tuned.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

A week after a rush of upsets and statement wins reshaped the USA TODAY Sports Super 25, a quartet of losses once again reshuffled the national rankings.

No. 12 Thompson (Alabaster, Ala.) fell to Clay-Chalksville (Pinson, Ala.) as Ole Miss commit Corey Barber gave Rebel fans a great start to a fantastic weekend, posting 222 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns. At No. 15, Santa Margarita was blanked by No. 6 Bishop Gorman. While the result in and of itself isn’t shocking or calamitous, given that the Gaels are perennial contenders, it was only the Eagles’ second time being shut out in the 2020s.

One spot down, No. 16 Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) mustered only nine points against Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J) in a 14-9 defeat. Now 4-0, Don Bosco has entered the radar for potential Super 25 action. In the west, No. 20 Lone Peak (Highland, Utah) was a quick come-and-go in the Super 25, entering a week ago after beating Corner Canyon (Draper, Utah) but picking up its second loss this week to American Fork (Utah).

These losses opened the door for five new teams to enter from Tennessee, Indiana, Michigan, and Georgia.

As high school football action moves into October, here is the full Super 25:

1. St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.)

Record: 5-0

Previous rank: 1

Last result: DNP

2. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)

Record: 5-0

Previous rank: 2

Last result: Defeated Central (Phenix City, Ala.) 49-14

3. St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Md.)

Record: 3-1

Previous rank: 3

Last result: DNP

4. Centennial (Corona, Calif.)

Record: 4-1

Previous rank: 4

Last result: DNP

5. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)

Record: 3-1

Previous rank: 5

Last result: DNP

6. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.)

Record: 5-1

Previous rank: 6

Last result: Defeated Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) 14-0

7. Grayson (Loganville, Ga.)

Record: 6-0

Previous rank: 7

Last result: Defeated Newton (Covington, Ga.) 50-3

8. Buford (Ga.)

Record: 5-0

Previous rank: 8

Last result: DNP

9. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.)

Record: 5-0

Previous rank: 9

Last result: DNP

10. Edna Karr (New Orleans, La.)

Record: 4-0

Previous rank: 10

Last result: Defeated Holy Cross (New Orleans, La.) 42-3

11. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)

Record: 4-1

Previous rank: 11

Last result: DNP

12. Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.)

Record: 4-1

Previous rank: 13

Last result: Defeated Western (Davie, Fla.) 56-0

13. DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.)

Record: 4-0

Previous rank: 14

Last result: DNP

14. Carrollton (Ga.)

Record: 6-0

Previous rank: 17

Last result: DNP

15. Southlake Carroll (Texas)

Record: 5-0

Previous rank: 18

Last result: Defeated Timber Creek (Fort Wort, Texas) 55-13

16. De La Salle (Concord, Calif.)

Record: 5-0

Previous rank: 19

Last result: Defeated St. Mary’s (Stockton, Calif.) 36-7

17. Allen (Texas)

Record: 5-0

Previous rank: 23

Last result: Defeated McKinney (Texas) 62-0

18. Grimsley (Greensboro, N.C.)

Record: 5-0

Previous rank: 22

Last result: Defeated Western Guilford (Greensboro, N.C.) 66-6

19. Basha (Chandler, Ariz.)

Record: 5-0

Previous rank: 24

Last result: Defeated Queen Creek (Ariz.) 35-13

20. Baylor (Chattanooga, Tenn.)

Record: 5-0

Previous rank: NR

Last result: Defeated Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville, Tenn.) 45-18

21. Cass Tech (Detroit, Mich.)

Record: 5-0

Previous rank: NR

Las result: Defeated Mumford (Detroit, Mich.) 48-0

22. Milton (Ga.)

Record: 5-1

Previous rank: NR

Las result: Defeated Seckinger (Buford, Ga.) 34-0

23. Duncanville (Texas)

Record: 2-1

Previous rank: 21

Last result: Defeated Skyline (Dallas, Texas) 50-3

24. Brownsburg (Ind.)

Record: 6-0

Previous rank: NR

Last result: Defeated Westfield (Ind.) 14-10

25. McCallie (Chattanooga, Tenn.)

Record: 5-1

Previous rank: NR

Last result: Defeated Heidelberg (Miss.) 21-18

Super 25 watchlist

Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.)
Bixby (Okla.)
Northwestern (Miami, Fla.)
Central (Miami, Fla.)
Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.)

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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., has signaled that Democrats are not budging on their key demands ahead of a high-stakes meeting with President Donald Trump about government funding.

The federal government will enter a partial shutdown at midnight on Wednesday if Republicans and Democrats do not reach a deal on funding priorities for fiscal year (FY) 2026, which ends at the end of the day on Sept. 30.

All but one House Democrat rejected Republicans’ plan for a roughly straightforward extension of FY 2025 funding levels, through Nov. 21, aimed at giving appropriators more time for a longer-term deal.

Jeffries blasted the measure — called a continuing resolution (CR) — as partisan and has demanded that Republicans make concessions on healthcare in exchange for Democratic support.

He signaled during a last-minute news conference on Monday that Democrats would reject anything less than a written plan to extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

‘No one can trust their word on healthcare. Are you kidding me? These people have been trying to repeal and displace people off the Affordable Care Act since 2010. That’s 15 years,’ Jeffries said. ‘And on behalf of the American people, we’re supposed to simply take their word that they’re willing to negotiate? The American people know that would be an unreasonable thing for us to do.’

Jeffries also pointed out that an alternate CR offered by Democrats would expand those subsidies under the ACA, colloquially known as ‘Obamacare,’ permanently.

It comes hours before he, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., are set to meet with Trump to discuss government funding at 3 p.m. on Monday.

Johnson and Thune, along with other Republicans in Congress, have been pushing Democrats to accept the deal on the table — pointing out that funding levels have remained roughly the same since former President Joe Biden’s time in office.

‘We are ready, we are willing, we are able to find a bipartisan path forward and reach a spending agreement that actually keeps the government open, but meets the needs of the American people in terms of their health, their safety, and their economic well-being related to lowering the high cost of living, as opposed to allowing tens of millions of Americans to experience dramatically increased health care costs,’ Jeffries told reporters.

‘What we will not do is support a partisan Republican spending bill that continues to gut the healthcare of the American people.’

The COVID-era Obamacare subsidies are due to expire at the end of this year without any action by Congress.

Thune told NBC News’ ‘Meet the Press’ on Sunday that he would be open to negotiating a deal but not paired with the current government funding talks.

‘We can have that conversation, but before we do, release the hostage. Set the American people free, keep the government open, and then let’s have a conversation about those premium tax credits. I’m certainly open to that. I think we all are,’ he said. 

‘I will say … that particular program is desperately in need of reform. It’s fraught with waste, fraud and abuse. So we are going to have reforms if we take action there, but I think there’s potentially a path forward.’

The GOP-led CR passed the House earlier this month largely along party lines.

It’s now on the Senate, where at least several Democrats will be needed to reach the 60-vote threshold to proceed with the bill.

Schumer is under tremendous pressure by his left flank after playing a key role in advancing Republicans’ earlier CR in March, which extended through Sept. 30.

This time, however, Jeffries assured that he and Schumer are in ‘lock-step’ on bucking the Republican plan unless a compromise is reached.

He said of their upcoming sit-down with Trump, ‘We’re heading into the meeting to have a good faith negotiation about landing the plane in a way that avoids a government shutdown but does not continue the Republican assault on the healthcare of the American people.’

‘Republicans control the House and the Senate, and there’s a Republican president. If the government shuts down, it’s because Republicans want to shut the government down,’ Jeffries said at another point.

Johnson, meanwhile, hammered Democrats’ position in an appearance on ‘Sunday Morning Futures.’

‘We passed a continuing resolution, a simple, very clean, 24-page continuing resolution to keep the government open for seven more weeks, so the appropriators can finish that process,’ Johnson said.

‘And [Schumer] said, ‘No. Instead, I want to add $1.5 trillion in new spending to a seven-week stopgap bill…we want to reinstate free healthcare to illegal aliens paid for by U.S. taxpayer dollars. We want to claw back the $50 billion that we passed, Republicans passed, in our big, beautiful bill, the Working Families Tax Cuts, to provide for rural hospitals and healthcare, and a laundry list of other partisan priorities. He knows it’s a nonstarter.’

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