The men’s NCAA Tournament continued Sweet 16 play on Friday, where one of the more interesting games pitted the No. 6 seed Mississippi Rebels against the No. 2 seed Michigan State Spartans in a high-stakes matchup.

For the 11th time of his storied career, Tom Izzo has led Michigan State to the Elite Eight in March Madness.

The Spartans faced a 33-31 halftime deficit vs. Chris Beard-led Ole Miss, setting up the possibility for yet another SEC team making its way to the Elite Eight. But the Spartans came back strong in the second half, outscoring the Rebels 42-37 to advance another game further into the NCAA Tournament with a 73-70 win.

The Spartans were paced by Jase Richardson’s 20 points on 6-of-8 shooting, though Michigan State also got double-digit scoring from Coen Carr (15 points) and Tre Holloman (10 points off the bench).

Check out the score, highlights and more from Michigan State’s win vs. Ole Miss:

Ole Miss-Michigan State score

Michigan State beat Ole Miss 73-70 in the men’s Sweet 16 game. The Spartans faced a 33-31 deficit at halftime, but had a 42-37 scoring advantage in the second half.

Ole Miss-Michigan State highlights

Tom Izzo emotional after win

Izzo was, understandably, emotional following the Spartans’ come-from-behind win vs. Ole Miss:

Tom Izzo national championships

Another Elite Eight for the venerable Tom Izzo. One more win, against either No. 1 overall seed Auburn or No. 5 seed Michigan, will net him his ninth trip to the Final Four. But he is still in search of his second national title, the first of which came in the 2000 men’s NCAA Tournament. It was his fifth season in East Lansing, Michigan.

Where to watch Ole Miss vs. Michigan State: TV channel, time, live stream

Game Day: Friday, March 28, 2025
Game Time: 7:09 p.m. ET
Location: State Farm Arena (Atlanta, GA)
TV Channel: CBS
Live Stream: Fubo

Watch Ole Miss vs. Michigan State on Fubo (free trial)

Ole Miss vs. Michigan State odds

Odds via BetMGM as of Wednesday, March 26.

Spread: Michigan State (-3.5)
Moneyline Favorite: Michigan State (-165)
Moneyline Underdog: Ole Miss (+140)
Total: 143.5

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Aneesah Morrow and the No. 3 LSU women’s basketball team knocked off No. 2 NC State, 80-73, to advance to the Elite Eight in March Madness.

Morrow poured in 30 points and grabbed 19 rebounds to record her 30th double-double of the season. Sa’Myah Smith finished with 21 points, and Mikaylah Williams added 19. Flau’jae Johnson had just 3 points and collided with NC State’s Zoe Brooks in the fourth quarter, scraping her eye in the process.

USA TODAY Sports brought you live updates, scores, highlights and analysis throughout the game. Check it out.

Aneesah Morrow stats

LSU’s Aneesah Morrow recorded her 30th double-double of the season on Friday, putting up 30 points and grabbing 19 rebounds. She joins Angel Reese as the only SEC players since 2000 with 30-point, 15-rebound performances during March Madness. And just for good measure, Morrow added 3 steals and 2 blocks to her stat line.

Flau’jae Johnson injury

LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson collided with NC State’s Zoe Brooks in the fourth quarter and was down for a couple of minutes, clearly in some pain. ESPN’s Holly Rowe reported it was a scrape to her eye. Johnson was grimacing when she got back up and went to the LSU bench. She was rubbing her right eye with a towel, getting eye drops and asking to go back in the game. — Nancy Armour

Zoe Brooks stats

NC State guard Zoe Brooks led the Wolfpack with 21 points on 9-of-21 shooting.

Kim Mulkey LSU coach outfit

LSU head coach Kim Mulkey brought the heat with her Sweet 16 outfit for today’s game.

Flau’jae Johnson stats tonight

LSU star Flau’jae Johnson scored her first points of game with 6:32 left in the third quarter, a layup assisted by Shayeann Day-Wilson. She finished with 3 points on 1-of-8 shooting to go along with 5 boards, 4 assists, a steal and a block.

Aziaha James stats

NC State star Aziaha James scored 12 points on 3-of-11 shooting. She also recorded 4 boards, 2 assists, 3 steals and a block.

Score of LSU vs. NC State game after 3Q

Aneesah Morrow helped give LSU a 57-53 lead through three quarters. Flau’jae Johnson finally got on the board, with her first points coming on a layup with 6:32 left in the third.

Flau’jae Johnson’s rap career

LSU star Flau’jae Johnson is everywhere this NCAA women’s tournament, and not just for her skills on the court. The junior’s career as a rapper is taking centerstage. Johnson’s new commercial for March Madness features a catchy song that people can’t get out of their heads. Here is what to know about Johnson’s budding rap career.

LSU vs NC State score at halftime

Freshman guard Zamareya Jones turned it up for NC State in the second quarter, draining 11 points to help the Wolfpack take a 40-36 lead into halftime.

Zamareya Jones points tonight

Freshman guard Zamareya Jones came off the bench in the second quarter for NC State and drained three straight 3s, giving the Wolfpack a much-needed jolt. She finished with 13 points.

‘I’m built for this,’ Jones said going into halftime. ‘I’m a dog. So when a dog’s name is called, a dog comes out. I’m just ready to play.’

How old is LSU women’s basketball coach?

Kim Mulkey is 62 years old. She has been head coach at LSU since 2021.

Kim Mulkey on LSU’s play

LSU women’s basketball coach said the Tigers are playing with ‘a lot of confidence’ against NC State.

LSU women’s basketball results vs. NC State after 1Q

LSU held a 23-15 lead after the first quarter.

Aneesah Morrow led the Tigers in the frame with 9 points, including two 3s. Sa’Myah Smith recorded 8 points, and Mikaylah Williams added 6. Flau’jae Johnson was scoreless in the first, but grabbed 2 boards and dished out 2 assists.

For NC State, Aziaha James scored 7 points, Madison Hayes recorded 6 points, and Saniya Rivers chipped in 2.

Who is NC State women’s basketball coach?

Wes Moore has been head coach for the NC State women’s basketball team since 2013. He is aiming to get the Wolfpack to the Elite Eight for the second straight year after a Final Four run last season.

LSU women’s basketball roster

The LSU women’s basketball team is led by two stars in Flau’jae Johnson and Aneesah Morrow. Johnson averages 18.8 points per game to Morrow’s 18.5 points per game. But don’t sleep on Mikaylah Williams, who dropped 28 points in the Tigers’ second-round win over Florida State. Here’s the full LSU roster.

BOSTON — The third day of the 2025 world figure skating championships at TD Garden proved to be a historic one for Team USA.

Nearly three years after retiring from competitive figure skating, Alysa Liu won a stunning world title in women’s singles Friday, the first for the United States in the event since 2006. She even surpassed the three-time defending world champion, Kaori Sakamoto of Japan, to do it.

Liu won both the short program and free skate en route to an overall score of 222.97. Sakamoto finished second, while her compatriot Mone Chiba took third. Isabeau Levito and Amber Glenn of the U.S. finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

Earlier Friday, TD Garden also hosted the start of the ice dance competition. Reigning world champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States are in the lead after the rhythm dance portion of the event, more than three points clear of the Canadian team of Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier. The Americans are in strong position to defend their crown Saturday afternoon.

Here’s everything else you need to know from Day 3 of the world figure skating championships:

Amber Glenn just shy of podium after captivating free skate

Two-time defending national champion Amber Glenn was sitting in ninth place entering the free skate, in large part because of the fall on the triple axel in her short program. But she will likely finish much higher than that after her free skate.

Glenn just hung onto the triple axel on her first jumping pass and fought through a few other minor errors to notch a score of 138.00 in the free skate, which moved her into medal contention ahead of the final group of the night. She was briefly in the lead before three-time defending champion Kaori Sakamoto of Japan took the ice.

Her total score of 205.65 would’ve been good enough for bronze at last year’s world championships, but she will end up just missing the podium this time around.

Everyone’s skating to Hans Zimmer

And now, for the sort of hard-hitting analysis that nobody might care about except for the author of this blog: It feels like a large chunk of skaters at worlds are competing to Hans Zimmer. And his Dune soundtrack, in particular.

So I did some mild research, and the numbers back it up. Six different skaters or teams are competing to Dune at worlds. And, in total, a whopping 18 different skaters or teams went with some sort of music by Zimmer, the legendary film composer.

A special mention here to Kimmy Repond of Canada, who skated to Zimmer in both her short program and free skate.

Madison Chock, Evan Bates wow in rhythm dance

Madison Chock and Evan Bates started off their world championships title defense with a bang, eclipsing the 90-point mark with their rhythm dance en route to a place atop the leaderboard.

Chock and Bates, who have indicated that next season will be their last, entered this year’s worlds as the favorites and proved why Friday against a compilation of music that ran through multiple decades. Their score of 90.18 was more than three points higher than that of Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier, their main rivals from Canada.

‘I would say that’s probably one of the best [times] that we’ve performed that program,’ Chock said.

The theme for the rhythm dance portion of ice dance is set every season, giving each team a genre or specified parameters within which to work. Bates said they took this year’s guidelines to heart and went to great lengths to weave actual dance moves and patterns into their program.

‘The theme this year was 50s, 60s, 70s. But the important part was it was social dance,’ Bates said. ‘So we really studied a lot, at the beginning of the year, all of the social dances from all the decades and tried to incorporate as much as we could.’

The ice dance competition will conclude with the free dance Saturday afternoon.

American, Canadian teams fill top of ice dance leaderboard

Chock and Bates weren’t the only American ice dancers to have a strong showing at TD Garden.

The first American team to take the ice, Caroline Green and Michael Parsons, had one of their best performances of the season en route to a score of 77.51. Then, moments later, their compatriots Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko scored even higher: 81.51. Both teams said their performances were among the best of the year.

‘This is a very demanding program, so I feel like it’s been a climb up stairs,’ Ponomarenko said. ‘And we finally are reaching that point in our cardio where we can do it and give energy. So it’s been a climb up, for sure.’

The Americans and Canadians have long dominated ice dance, and these world championships are no differnet. Teams from North America occupy five of the top seven spots on the leaderboard entering Saturday’s free dance.

Alysa Liu’s unique path to cusp of history

Alysa Liu was something of an American figure skating prodigy. She became the youngest American woman to win a national title in 2019, when she was just 13 years old. And at 16, she represented Team USA at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, where she finished sixth.

A few months later, though, Liu announced that she was retiring from figure skating − news that sent shockwaves throughout the U.S. figure skating community. She spent about two years away from the sport before unretiring last year.

Now, in her first season back in competition, she has a world medal − and perhaps championship − in sight.

‘I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t decide to retire for a little bit,’ Liu said Wednesday. ‘I just am glad that I listen to myself and just do whatever, because it just works out in the end.’

When do the U.S. figure skaters compete tonight?

Here’s a rundown of when the American women will be on the ice tonight.

9:44 p.m. ET: Alysa Liu, women’s free skate

Isabeau Levito is back healthy, in contention for world medal

Isabeau Levito, the reigning world silver medalist, is not just back in the mix for a medal at the world championships but also back from injury. A bone injury in her foot kept her sidelined for roughly three months.

“Yeah, it was frustrating to just sit at home and do nothing,” Levito said Tuesday. “But it gave me a new perspective, and I take all of this for granted less. I feel much more grateful for what I do have and being able to skate every day and being able to jump.”Levito returned to competition for an Olympic test event last month but missed nationals. U.S. Figure Skating essentially gave her a bye to compete at worlds, based on past performance and pending her physical readiness. She finished third in the short program.

What do the world championships mean for Olympic qualifying?

To put it briefly: It’s significant. 

Without going into all of the nuances of the International Skating Union’s quota allocation system, how it basically works is that skaters here will earn Olympic spots for their countries. And those countries will then decide who gets to fill those spots at the end of this year or early in 2026. A total of 83 quota spots are at stake across the four disciplines.

Who are the NBC commentators for figure skating?

The portions of the world figure skating championships that are televised on NBC or USA Network will have many of the usual broadcasting voices. Terry Gannon will once again handle play-by-play duties, with Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir offering color commentary. The telecasts will also feature Gabriella Papadakis, a 2022 Olympic gold medalist, as an ice dance analyst, with Andrea Joyce and Adam Rippon as reporters.

Who are the favorites in ice dance?

It may not be the Four Nations hockey final, but ice dance has its own exciting Canada-U.S. rivalry. 

Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the U.S. are the reigning world champions, but they’ve been going back and forth with the Canadian team of Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier for years − more than a decade, in fact. Together, the two teams have racked up eight world medals since 2011, the first year that they competed as teams. 

Chock and Bates are probably the preliminary favorites, especially with the home crowd behind them. But this one could go either way. And it’s entirely possible that a third team − likely Italy’s Charlène Guignard and Marco Fabbri − could crash the proverbial party, too.

When does Ilia Malinin compete next at the 2025 world figure skating championships?

Ilia Malinin, the 20-year-old defending world champion from Reston, Virginia, is sitting atop the leaderboard in the men’s competition after an outstanding short program Thursday. He will next take the ice in the free skate Saturday night, likely around 9:45 p.m. ET. That portion of the session will be televised on NBC.

World figure skating championships 2025 TV schedule

Here is the complete schedule for the 2025 world figure skating championships, with channel and television coverage start times in parentheses. The entirety of all sessions will be available on Peacock.

Saturday, 1:30 p.m. to 4:50 p.m. ET: Free dance (USA Network, 3 p.m.)

Saturday, 6 p.m. to 9:52 p.m. ET: Men’s free skate (NBC, 8 p.m.)

World figure skating championships standings, results

Here are the standings in each discipline, as of Friday afternoon.

Ice dance (after rhythm dance)

Madison Chock and Evan Bates, USA: 90.18
Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier, Canada: 86.44
Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson, Great Britain: 83.86
Charlène Guignard and Marco Fabbri, Italy: 83.04
Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha, Canada: 81.77

Women’s singles (final)

Alysa Liu, USA: 222.97
Kaori Sakamoto, Japan: 217.98
Mone Chiba, Japan: 215.24
Isabeau Levito, USA: 209.84
Amber Glenn, USA: 205.65

Men’s singles (after short program)

Ilia Malinin, USA: 110.41
Yuma Kagiyama, Japan: 107.09
Mikhail Shaidorov, Kazakhstan: 94.77
Kevin Aymoz, France: 93.63
Shun Sato, Japan: 91.26

Pairs (final)

Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, Japan: 219.79
Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii, Italy: 210.47
Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin, Germany: 219.08
Anastasiia Metelkina and Luke Berulava, Georgia: 202.21
Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps, Canada: 199.76

Kentucky won the first two meetings this season, but Tennessee won the third and most important one, and now the Volunteers are rewarded with a trip to the Elite Eight of the men’s NCAA Tournament.

No. 2 seeded Tennessee finally got the best of No. 3 seeded Kentucky as a hot first half propelled the Volunteers past the Wildcats 78-65 for the win in the Sweet 16. Tennessee led nearly the entire contest, and the lead was in double-digits for the entire second half. Zakai Zeigler has been the leader for Tennessee all season, and the 5-foot-9-inch guard did it again Friday night with 18 points and nine assists.

Tennessee now heads to its second consecutive Elite Eight, and Rick Barnes’ team will have another chance to get the program’s first Final Four trip.

USA TODAY Sports followed the top moments from Friday’s game:

Kentucky vs. Tennessee men’s basketball score

Tennessee wins 78-65. Kentucky’s offense has improved, but Tennessee continued to knock down shots to maintain a big lead.

Zakai Ziegler led all scorers with 18 points, while Tennessee teammate Chaz Lanier added 17 points. Jordan Gainey also has 16 points. Kentucky’s leading scorer was Lamont Butler with 18 points.

Tennessee vs. Kentucky highlights

No. 2 seed Tennessee beat No. 3 seed Kentucky 78-65. Watch the video for best action from the game.

Zakai Zeigler points today

Ziegler leads Tennessee with a game-high 18 points. He also has nine assists and a rebound. He set the single-season SEC record with his dimes Friday.

Amari Williams points today

Williams has 11 points for Kentucky. He was much of the Wildcat offense in the first half, and teammate Lamont Butler has 15 points.

Quick sequence extends Tennessee lead

Tennessee scored five points in seven seconds. After a Felix Okpara dunk, Chaz Lanier stole the pass and gave it to Zeigler, who knocked down a 3-pointer. The Tennessee crowd went crazy and Kentucky coach Mark Pope called a timeout.

Chaz Lanier taking over in second half

After a quiet first half with six points, Lanier has found a rhythm in the second half to keep the Volunteers in front. He is 4-for-7 from the field out of halftime and now has 15 points.

Andrew Carr with big slam

Kentucky is trying to cut the deficit and Carr is doing his part. He had a major dunk early in the second half.

Kentucky vs. Tennessee halftime score

Tennessee leads 43-28 at halftime. The Volunteer offense shook off a slow start and were on fire for a majority of the first half, getting offensive rebounds to convert into second-chance points while Kentucky struggled to get buckets. Tennessee led by as many as 19 points, but the Wildcats cut the deficit before the end of the half.

Tennessee run extends lead

The Volunteers are clicking with an 8-0 run to take a commanding 19-point lead with just under three minutes left in the first half. Meanwhile, Kentucky has missed its last seven shot attempts and hasn’t scored in more than three minutes.

How tall is Zakai Zeigler?

Zeigler is 5-foot-9-inches, the shortest player on Tennessee.

Tennessee controlling rebounds

The early lead for Tennessee can be attributed to the early dominance on the boards. Tennessee is out rebounding Kentucky 13-6 so far. Six of Tennessee’s rebounds have come on the offensive end, leading to nine second-chance points.

3-pointers give Tennessee early lead

The 3-point shot is working for Tennessee with three buckets from downtown to fuel a 10-3 run. Tennessee took a 10 point lead eight minutes into the game.

Peyton Manning at Tennessee Sweet 16 game

Rocky Top royalty is inside Lucas Oil Stadium. Super Bowl-winning quarterback and former Volunteer Peyton Manning was shown on the broadcast.

Tennesse vs. Kentucky underway

The first NCAA Tournament game between the Wildcats and Volunteers has tipped off. After both teams went scoreless in the first 90 seconds, Volunteers forward Igor Milicic Jr. hit two free throws to get the scoring started.

Tennessee starting lineup

Chaz Lanier, G

Zakai Zeigler, G

Jahmai Mashack, G

Igor Milicic Jr., F

Felix Okpara, C

Kentucky starting lineup

Otega Oweh, G

Lamont Butler, G

Koby Brea, G

Andrew Carr, F

Amari Williams, F

What time is Kentucky vs. Tennessee basketball today?

March Madness continues Friday with the Sweet 16 matchup between the No. 3 seeded Kentucky Wildcats and the No. 2 seeded Tennessee Volunteers. The action kicks off at 7:39 p.m. ET

Where to watch Kentucky vs. Tennessee: TV, streaming coverage 

TV channels: TBS and TruTV
Live stream: Max and Sling

Watch March Madness with Sling

What channel is March Madness on?

Men’s NCAA Tournament games will be broadcast across CBS, TBS, and TruTV channels. You can also watch Sweet 16 action via these streaming options: Max and Sling for games carried on TNT, TBS, TruTV. Games carried on CBS are available on Fubo, which offers a free trial subscription to new users.

Watch March Madness games on CBS with Fubo

Kentucky vs. Tennessee odds and betting line

The Tennessee Volunteers are favorites to beat the Kentucky Wildcats, according to BetMGM odds as of Friday, March 28.

Spread: Tennessee (-4.5)
Moneyline: Tennessee (-210); Kentucky (+170)
O/U: 144.5

Kentucky vs. Tennessee predictions and picks

Jeremy Cluff: Tennessee 75, Kentucky 73
Craig Meyer: Kentucky 70, Tennessee 66
Mike Wilson: Tennessee 76, Kentucky 68
Ryan Black: Tennessee 82, Kentucky 78

Three of our four experts are expecting Tennessee to continue dancing into the Elite Eight. Only USA TODAY’s Craig Meyer is predicting Kentucky to win and advance. However, AZ Central’s Jeremy Cluff and Louisville Courier Journal’s Ryan Black are both taking Kentucky to cover the 4.5-point spread. That leaves Knoxville News Sentinel’s Mike Wilson as the lone wolf laying the points with the Volunteers. Meyer and Wilson are taking the under 144.5-point total, while Cluff and Black are on the over. — Nick Brinkerhoff

Kentucky vs. Tennessee all-time head-to-head record, history

The Kentucky Wildcats hold a 163-78 series record over the Tennessee Volunteers. The most recent matchup saw Kentucky beat Tennessee 75-64 on Feb. 11, 2025.

Kentucky Wildcats national championships

The Kentucky Wildcats have won eight national championships, with their most recent coming in 2012. They have appeared in the finals 12 times and the Final Four 17 times.

Have the Tennessee Volunteers won a national championship?

The Tennessee Volunteers have never won a men’s national championship. They have advanced as far as the Elite Eight twice (2010, 2024). The program also claims 11 Sweet 16 appearances.

March Madness championship odds

Odds to win the men’s NCAA national championship, according to BetMGM odds as of Friday, March 28. Here’s a full look at the favorites to win the men’s tournament:

Duke (+180)
Florida (+275)
Houston (+550)
Auburn (+575)
Alabama (+1200)
Tennessee (+2000)
Texas Tech (+2200)
Michigan State (+2500)
Kentucky (+8000)
Michigan (+9000)
Ole Miss (+10000)
Purdue (+12500)

Tennessee looks primed for win over Kentucky 

Both teams have looked great so far in the tournament, but Tennessee’s defense appears to have reached another gear in hopes of clinching its first Final Four spot. As for Kentucky, it’s hard to beat a team twice, but it’s a greater challenge to do it three times in one season. The Volunteers’ defense tightens up and finally gets the best of Kentucky to advance to the Elite Eight. — Jordan Mendoza

March Madness 2025 expert predictions

USA TODAY experts set their predictions ahead of the men’s NCAA Tournament. Here is who they picked before the madness.

Jordan Mendoza

Full bracket

Final Four: Michigan State, Florida, Duke, Houston
Final: Florida vs. Houston
National champion: Houston

Paul Myerberg

Full bracket

Final Four: Auburn, St. John’s, Duke, Tennessee
Final: Auburn vs. Duke
National champion: Duke

Eddie Timanus

Full bracket

Final Four: Auburn, Florida, Duke, Houston
Final: Florida vs. Duke
National champion: Florida

Dan Wolken

Full bracket

Final Four: Michigan State, Florida, Duke, Houston
Final: Florida vs. Duke
National champion: Duke

When does the Final Four start?

On the men’s side, the Final Four is scheduled for Saturday, April 5. The NCAA championship game will take place two days later on Monday, April 7.All games will played at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

For the women, the Final Four will be played on Friday, April 4 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. The championship game will be Sunday at 3 p.m. at the same venue.

The St. Louis Battlehawks entered the 2025 UFL season with questions about how they would replace AJ McCarron at quarterback. They answered them resoundingly Friday in a 31-6 blowout of the Houston Roughnecks.

Anthony Becht tapped quarterback Manny Wilkins to be the successor to McCarron. The 29-year-old answered the call in an efficient and explosive performance.

Wilkins was accurate throughout the evening, completing 17 of 22 passes for 189 yards for the Battlehawks. However, his larger impact came on the ground, where racked up 43 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries.

Becht was vocal about his hope that his 2025 quarterbacks would provide the team with more dynamic scrambling than McCarron. Wilkins did just that and helped diversify St. Louis’ red-zone offense with his read-option skill set.

Wilkins was just one cog in St. Louis’ dominant running game. Top running back Jacob Saylors totaled 98 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries while Jarveon Howard went for 115 yards on 13 carries, most of which came on a 74-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

As for Houston, it’ll be going back to the drawing board after a Week 1 shellacking. The first big decision CJ Johnson’s team will have to make: who will start at quarterback? Backup Nolan Henderson was much more effective than starter Anthony Brown, so the Roughnecks may consider changing up their signal-caller depth chart entering Week 2.

USA TODAY Sports tracked all the action from Houston as the UFL season kicked off. Below are the major updates and highlight plays from the game.

Battlehawks vs. Roughnecks highlights

Final score: Battlehawks 31, Roughnecks 6

Battlehawks sack Nolan Henderson on fourth-and-15

The Battlehawks were able to get one last stop against the Roughnecks, bringing down Henderson and forcing a turnover on downs. That will allow St. Louis to take a knee and run out the clock on a 25-point win.

Roughnecks convert onside kick alternative on facemask penalty

The Roughnecks decided to attempt the UFL’s version of an onside kick: a fourth-and-12 from their own 28-yard line. Nolan Henderson was sacked, but he was brought down by his facemask. That will allow Houston a chance to mount one more scoring drive.

Roughnecks avoid shutout with Nolan Henderson to Justin Hall TD

The Battlehawks will not shut out the Roughnecks in Houston’s home opener. Henderson helped lead Houston down the field and found Hall wide-open in the end zone to ensure the Roughnecks would not go home empty-handed.

The Roughnecks weren’t able to convert on the ensuing 2-point conversion and are still trailing by 25 with 2:24 left in regulation. Battlehawks 31, Roughnecks 6

Jarveon Howard breaks through Houston defense for 74-yard score

The Battlehawks are pouring it on. Howard had a seam open up the middle and he burst through it for a massive gain. He found a way to weave through the defense from there and put the game well out of reach.

Max Duggan took the point-after try into the end zone for St. Louis’ first conversion of the day. The Battlehawks now lead by four scores. Battlehawks 31, Roughnecks 0

Battlehawks put QB Max Duggan into the game for Manny Wilkins

With St. Louis blowing Houston out, head coach Anthony Becht is going to let Duggan get some action. The 24-year-old led TCU to a national championship game appearance in 2023 and was a seventh-round pick by the Los Angeles Chargers that same year. He is in his first UFL season and was one of the league’s marquee offseason signings.

Wilkins finishes the game having completed 17 of 22 passes for 189 yards while adding 43 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

Roughnecks fail to convert fourth-and-10 in Battlehawks territory

Houston’s chances of making a comeback have all but evaporated. Nolan Henderson was able to lead the Roughnecks down the field with more success than Anthony Brown, but he couldn’t help Houston punch it into the end zone.

Kameron Kelly broke up a fourth-and-10 pass by Henderson to end Houston’s lone scoring threat of the evening. The Roughnecks are trailing 24-0 with just over seven minutes remaining in the game.

Manny Wilkins scores second rushing TD to extend St. Louis lead

The Battlehawks are running away with the UFL opener. Wilkins scores his second touchdown of the day, this time doing so on a read-option run that saw him break a tackle and dive into the end zone. Once again, the Battlehawks failed to convert the point after, but they maintain a three-score lead over the Roughnecks. Battlehawks 24, Roughnecks 0

Battlehawks use UFL super challenge to create defensive pass interference

The UFL has a rule that allows coaches to use a ‘super challenge’ to question any call made on the field. Anthony Becht’s Battlehawks utilized that rule to challenge a non-pass interference call on a third-and-3 pass to Hakeem Butler in the end zone.

Mike Pereira agreed with Becht that pass interference should have been called. That resulted in the Battlehawks getting a first-and-goal at the 2-yard line rather than having to attempt a chip-shot field goal.

End of third quarter: Battlehawks leading Roughnecks 18-0 in dominant display

Any hopes of a competitive UFL opener appear to have gone by the wayside. St. Louis has dominated Houston through three quarters, possessing the ball for 31:56 of the first 45 minutes of game time and outgaining the Roughnecks 371-62.

Manny Wilkins has been up to the task of replacing AJ McCarron. The first-year Battlehawks starter has completed 17-of-22 passes for 189 yards while adding 42 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Running back Jacob Saylors has been an even bigger star, racking up 98 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries while adding 47 yards through the air on four catches.

The Roughnecks have replaced starting quarterback Anthony Brown with Nolan Henderson, who spent the 2024 season with the team and made a couple of starts for it. Houston will see if he can provide its offense a spark.

Because of the UFL’s three-point conversion, the Roughnecks are still in a two-possession game. But with the Battlehawks inside Houston’s 10-yard line, it is likely to soon be a three-possession contest.

Nolan Henderson replaces Anthony Brown at QB for Houston

The Roughnecks are changing things up at quarterback. After Brown went 5-of-11 for 21 yards with two interceptions, Henderson will get a chance to prove himself at quarterback.

Henderson, 26, went undrafted in 2023 out of Delaware and signed with the Baltimore Ravens as a free agent. He spent the 2024 season with the Roughnecks and made three starts, completing 58.1% of his passes for 526 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He also ran for 143 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries.

Roughnecks pick up second fourth-down stop

St. Louis decided to go for it on a fourth-and-1 in field goal range but opted not to run the ball up the middle. Instead, the Battlehawks called a naked bootleg to quarterback Manny Wilkins’ left. Houston got immediate pressure on the Battlehawks quarterback and forced him to throw the ball away.

The Roughnecks will get the ball back trailing by 18 and still looking to mount their first scoring drive of the season opener.

Jacob Saylors stats today: Battlehawks RB rips off 25-yard run

Saylors has been rock-solid for the Battlehawks, and his first carry of the second half goes for a 25-yard gain. That’s his longest of the night, and gives him 125 scrimmage yards for the game.

Roughnecks go three-and-out to start second half

Houston’s first play out of the halftime locker room was a microcosm of its evening so far. Kirk Merritt took too long to take a read-option handoff and was tackled for no gain after dancing around in the backfield. He had a marginal gain on second down before Anthony Brown and Keke Chism failed to connect on a third-down pass just beyond the sticks.

The Battlehawks will get the ball back looking to improve upon their 18-point lead.

Roughnecks halftime stats

The Roughnecks have gotten off to a slow start. Houston failed to score in the first half and gained just 48 total yards while logging 8:22 of possession.

Below are the notable first-half stats for the Roughnecks:

QB Anthony Brown: 5-of-10 passing, 21 passing yards, 2 interceptions; 1 carry, 20 rushing yards
RB Kirk Merritt: 3 carries, 4 yards; 2 catches, 5 yards
WR Justin Hall: 3 catches, 16 yards
CB Damon Arnette: 5 tackles, 1 sack

Battlehawks halftime stats

The Battlehawks are off to a strong start, as they outgained the Roughnecks 265-48 in the first half. Manny Wilkins, Jacob Saylors and Jahcour Pearson were the main sources of offense while Rodrigo Blankenship contributed a couple of field goals.

Below are the notable first-half stats for the Battlehawks:

QB Manny Wilkins: 13-of-17 passing, 167 passing yards; 6 carries, 39 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD
RB Jacob Saylors: 11 carries, 53 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD; 4 catches, 47 yards
WR Jahcour Pearson: 5 catches, 75 yards
S Qwynnterrio Cole: 2 tackles, 1 interception
S Lukas Denis: 2 tackles, 1 interception

Battlehawks notch another field goal heading into halftime

After Houston went three-and-out, the Battlehawks had 57 seconds to go 47 yards thanks to a great Jahcour Pearson punt return. St. Louis managed to get into scoring range but couldn’t quite punch it in despite taking a couple of shots into the end zone.

Blankenship made his 33-yard chip shot to give the Battlehawks an 18-point lead heading into halftime. Battlehawks 18, Roughnecks 0

UFL score update: Rodrigo Blankenship makes 48-yard field goal to extend Battlehawks lead

The Battlehawks decided to attempt a 48-yard field goal, but not before faking a trick-play sneak in an effort to draw Houston offsides on fourth-and-2. The Roughnecks didn’t budge, and the Battlehawks’ timeout didn’t bother Rodrigo Blankenship, who sneaked the kick inside the left upright to extend St. Louis’ lead. Battlehawks 15, Roughnecks 0

Battlehawks convert second consecutive third-and-18

Houston forced St. Louis into a second consecutive third-and-18. Once again, the Battlehawks converted, as the Roughnecks defense failed to line up properly before Manny Wilkins fired off a dump-off to Jahcour Pearson, who took the catch 30 yards downfield.

That puts St. Louis on the edge of field-goal range.

Jacob Saylors turns third-and-18 screen into first down

The Roughnecks finally had the Battlehawks moving backward after sniffing out a flea-flicker and drawing a holding penalty on Hakeem Butler. However, St. Louis dialed up a well-timed screen pass to Saylors, who ran through a couple of tackles and dove across the line to gain to give St. Louis another first down.

The Battlehawks are still on their own side of midfield, but they will not have to punt.

Anthony Brown throws second interception

Houston finally got some offensive momentum, picking up a couple of first downs, but Lukas Denis undercut a third-and-10 pass by Brown to intercept the first-year UFL quarterback for a second time.

Denis caught the ball on St. Louis’ 31-yard line and was downed there. The Battlehawks will begin their next drive there, looking to expand upon their 12-0 advantage.

Battlehawks score again on 1-yard Manny Wilkins QB sneak

St. Louis gets on the board again with a short run. This time, Wilkins finds his way into the end zone a play after converting a third-and-6 on a crisp 12-yard pass to Frank Darby near the front pylon. Darby couldn’t get the ball across the goal line, so Wilkins dove over it on the next play.

Once again, St. Louis failed to convert the two-point attempt, so Houston finds itself trailing by 12. Battlehawks 12, Roughnecks 0

End of first quarter: Battlehawks lead Roughnecks 6-0

The Battlehawks have a one-score lead, but they are threatening to score again. They have the ball at Houston’s 17-yard line and have ripped off several chunk plays to Jacob Saylors and Jahcour Pearson to kick-start their season.

St. Louis outgained Houston 156-10 over the first 15 minutes with new starting quarterback Manny Wilkins going a perfect 7-for-7 for 81 yards. Meanwhile, Saylors has 70 total yards and a score on 11 touches.

The Roughnecks possessed the ball for just 2:33 in the first quarter, so CJ Johnson’s squad will need to put together some longer drives in the second quarter as they look to compete with the Battlehawks. Houston has yet to convert a first down while St. Louis has nine.

Score update: Jacob Saylors scores 4-yard touchdown

The Battlehawks get on the board first, as their star running back Saylors found a seam in Houston’s defense and dove across the line for an easy score.

St. Louis tried to trick the Roughnecks on its ensuing two-point conversion, as it allowed receiver Jahcour Pearson to throw a pass on an end-around. He just overthrew his target, so the Battlehawks came away with just six points. Battlehawks 6, Roughnecks 0

Anthony Brown throws interception on first pass attempt

The Roughnecks weren’t able to capitalize on good field position. Houston ran the ball once with Kirk Merritt before Brown attempted the first pass of his UFL career. Battlehawks safety Qwynnterrio Cole was able to tip the ball to himself and come down with an interception.

Roughnecks get early fourth-and-inches stop

Manny Wilkins nearly scrambled for a first down on a third-and-13 play, but Houston stopped him 0.2 inches short of the first down, according to the UFL’s first-down measuring technology. St. Louis decided to go for it on fourth-and-inches, but the Roughnecks were able to bottle up Jarveon Howard to force a turnover on downs.

The Roughnecks will get the ball for the first time of the 2025 UFL season near midfield.

Battlehawks receive opening kickoff to begin 2025 UFL season

The UFL’s second season is underway. It begins with Houston kicker Chris Blewitt launching a kickoff to St. Louis’ Blake Jackson. He gets out to the 30-yard line, where the Battlehawks will get their season started.

Who is the Roughnecks starting quarterback?

Anthony Brown is presently listed as the Roughnecks starting quarterback, though Nolan Henderson, who played with the team last season, is also on the roster. 

Brown went undrafted in 2022 after enjoying a solid college career playing for Boston College and Oregon. He landed with the Baltimore Ravens and made one start during the 2022 season. He completed just 44.9% of his passes for 309 yards with two interceptions. 

Brown, 26, signed with the Roughnecks on Feb. 7 after spending the 2024 NFL season playing for the Las Vegas Raiders, Buffalo Bills and Arizona Cardinals. 

Who is the Battlehawks starting quarterback?

Manny Wilkins is listed as the Battlehawks starting quarterback for Week 1, though Max Duggan may also get some playing time at the position. 

Wilkins, 29, is in his third season with the Battlehawks and is best known for posting a solid college career at Arizona State. He spent the 2019 season on the Green Bay Packers practice squad but was released in April 2020. 

What happened to AJ McCarron?

McCarron started the last two seasons at quarterback for St. Louis. However, the former Alabama star and nine-year NFL quarterback wasn’t retained by the team entering the 2025 season.

‘I just felt like, for me, it was time to just give other players and opportunity to shine and use this platform just like AJ did,’ Becht told USA TODAY in a phone interview.

Who is the St. Louis Battlehawks coach?

Anthony Becht is coaching the Battlehawks in 2025. It marks his third season with the franchise, and he has posted a 14-6 record in his first two seasons. 

Becht, 47, had a 10-season NFL career as a tight end, playing for the New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, St. Louis Rams, Arizona Cardinals and Kansas City Chiefs. He will be seeking his first playoff win as the Battlehawks head coach while breaking in a new starting quarterback.

Who is the Houston Roughnecks coach?

CJ Johnson is coaching the Roughnecks in 2025. It’s his third season in charge of the team, and he is hoping to help Houston bounce back after a 1-9 campaign in 2024. 

Johnson, 63, was an NFL position coach for 12 years, mostly on Sean Payton’s staff with the New Orleans Saints. He also served as the head coach at Tulane from 2012-15, posting a 15-34 record during that stint.

Battlehawks vs. Roughnecks TV channel

TV channel: Fox 

Fox will broadcast the UFL season open between the Battlehawks and Roughnecks. The network will share rights to UFL games with the ESPN family of networks this season, but Fox will broadcast most of the league’s Friday night games. 

Fox’s top UFL broadcast team will be on the call for Friday’s game. Play-by-play announcer Curt Menefee and analyst Joel Klatt will be in the booth while Brock Huard will report from the sidelines. 

Battlehawks vs. Roughnecks start time 

Start time: 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT) 
Location: John O’Quinn Field at TDECU Stadium, Houston, Texas 

The Battlehawks vs. Roughnecks game will kick off at 8 p.m. ET on Friday. The game will be the first of four UFL contests to be played over the season’s opening weekend. 

How to watch UFL: live stream 

Live stream: Fubo

Cord cutters hoping to catch the UFL opener can turn to Fubo to live stream the game. Fubo carries Fox and the ESPN family of networks, meaning you can catch all of the UFL’s action for 2025 with the service.

Battlehawks vs. Roughnecks predictions, picks

Here’s how the USA TODAY Sports team feels the Battlehawks-Roughnecks game will go: 

Jacob Camenker: Battlehawks 19, Roughnecks 17 

Battlehawks vs. Roughnecks odds, moneyline, over/under

The Battlehawks are favorites to defeat the Roughnecks, according to the BetMGM UFL odds. 

Spread: Battlehawks (-6) 
Moneyline: Battlehawks (-275); Roughnecks (+225) 
Over/under: 37.5

Where do the Roughnecks play?

Houston plays at John O’Quinn Field at TDECU Stadium, which is the home of the Houston Cougars. The stadium is set to be renamed “Space City Financial Stadium” beginning with the 2025 college season and has a capacity of 40,000 plus standing room. 

What is the UFL?

The UFL is a spring football league that was created in 2024. The league formed after the USFL and XFL merged from two, separate eight-team leagues that competed head-to-head in the 2023 season into one eight-team league.

The UFL serves as a development ground for players on the NFL roster fringes and gives football fans a 12-week period of live games in the otherwise barren NFL offseason. 

Who owns the UFL?

The UFL is a joint venture between Fox Sports, RedBird Capital Partners, Dany Garcia and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. Fox Sports, which originally invested in the USFL, owns 50% of the league; the other 50% is shared by the other three partners, according to Fox Sports’ website. 

UFL teams 2025

The UFL will have eight teams in 2025. They are as follows: 

Arlington Renegades 
Birmingham Stallions 
DC Defenders 
Houston Roughnecks 
Memphis Showboats 
Michigan Panthers 
San Antonio Brahmas 
St. Louis Battlehawks 

Birmingham, Houston, Memphis and Michigan will compete in the USFL conference while Arlington, DC, San Antonio and St. Louis will be part of the XFL conference.

UFL coaches 2025

The UFL originally returned seven of its eight coaches from the 2024 season to its second season. However, DC Defenders coach Reggie Barlow left the team to take Tennessee State’s head coaching job on eve of the season while the league’s lone new hire, Ken Whisenhunt of the Memphis Showboats, stepped away from his team for personal reasons. 

Below are the coaches for the 2025 season: 

Bob Stoops, Arlington Renegades 
Skip Holtz, Birmingham Stallions 
Shannon Harris, DC Defenders (interim) 
CJ Johnson, Houston Roughnecks 
Jim Turner, Memphis Showboats (interim) 
Mike Nolan, Michigan Panthers 
Wade Phillips, San Antonio Brahmas 
Anthony Becht, St. Louis Battlehawks 

Best UFL to NFL players

Plenty of spring-league players have gone on to have successful NFL careers. Here are some of the most recent success stories: 

Brandon Aubrey, K, Dallas Cowboys 
Jake Bates, K, Detroit Lions 
KaVontae Turpin, WR/KR, Dallas Cowboys 
Dondrea Tillman, EDGE, Denver Broncos 
Jalen Redmond, DT, Minnesota Vikings 
Jeremiah Pharms Jr., DT, New England Patriots 
Adrian Martinez, QB, New York Jets 

UFL Week 1 schedule

Below is a full look at the UFL’s Week 1 schedule: 

Friday, March 28: St. Louis Battlehawks at Houston Roughnecks (8 p.m. ET) 
Saturday, March 29: San Antonio Brahmas at Arlington Renegades (4 p.m. ET) 
Sunday, March 30: Michigan Panthers at Memphis Showboats (Noon ET) 
Sunday, March 30: Birmingham Stallions at DC Defenders (3 p.m. ET)

UFL championship odds 2025

Below is a look at the favorites to win the 2025 UFL championship, per BetMGM’s UFL odds. 

Birmingham Stallions: +225 
St. Louis Battlehawks: +375 
D.C. Defenders: +600 
San Antonio Brahmas: +600 
Michigan Panthers: +650 
Arlington Renegades: +1100 
Memphis Showboats: +1400 
Houston Roughnecks: +1800 

Previous spring pro football league champions

Spring football has been played intermittently dating back to 1983. Below is a look at the teams to win spring football championships across the various leagues. 

UFL 

2024: Birmingham Stallions (over San Antonio Brahmas) 

XFL 

2023: Arlington Renegades (over D.C. Defenders) 

USFL 

2023: Birmingham Stallions (over Pittsburgh Maulers) 

2022: Birmingham Stallions (over Philadelphia Stars) 

XFL 

2001: Los Angeles Xtreme (over San Francisco Demons) 

World League of American Football/NFL Europe/NFL Europa 

2007: Hamburg Sea Devils (over Frankfurt Galaxy) 
2006: Frankfurt Galaxy (over Amsterdam Admirals) 
2005: Amsterdam Admirals (over Berlin Thunder) 
2004: Berlin Thunder (over Frankfurt Galaxy) 
2003: Frankfurt Galaxy (over Rhein Fire) 
2002: Berlin Thunder (over Rhein Fire) 
2001: Berlin Thunder (over Barcelona Dragons) 
2000: Rhein Fire (over Scottish Claymores) 
1999: Frankfurt Galaxy (over Barcelona Dragons) 
1998: Rhein Fire (over Frankfurt Galaxy) 
1997: Barcelona Dragons (over Rhein Fire) 
1996: Scottish Claymores (over Frankfurt Galaxy) 
1995: Frankfurt Galaxy (over Amsterdam Admirals) 
1992: Sacramento Surge (over Orlando Thunder) 
1991: London Monarchs (over Barcelona Dragons) 

USFL 

1985: Baltimore Stars (over Oakland Invaders) 
1984: Philadelphia Stars (over Arizona Wranglers) 
1983: Michigan Panthers (over Philadelphia Stars) 

Kentucky won the first two meetings this season. Tennessee won the third, and is rewarded with a trip to the Elite Eight.

The No. 2 seed finally got the best of No. 3 seed as a hot first half propelled the Volunteers past the Wildcats 78-65 for the win in the Sweet 16. Tennessee led nearly the entire contest and the lead was in double-digits for the entire second half. Zakai Zeigler has been the leader for Tennessee all season, and the 5-foot-9-inch guard did it again with 18 points and nine assists.

Tennessee now heads to its second straight Elite Eight, and Rick Barnes’ team will have another chance to get the program’s first Final Four trip.

USA TODAY Sports followed the top moments from Friday’s game:

Kentucky vs. Tennessee men’s basketball score

Tennessee wins 78-65. Kentucky’s offense has improved but Tennessee continues to knock down shots to maintain a big lead.

Zakai Ziegler led all scorers with 18 points, while Tennessee teammate Chaz Lanier added 17 points. Jordan Gainey also has 16 points. Kentucky’s leading scorer was Lamont Butler with 18 points.

Zakai Zeigler points today

Ziegler leads Tennessee with a game-high 18 points. He also has nine assists and a rebound. He set the single-season SEC record with his dimes Friday.

Amari Williams points today

Williams has 11 points for Kentucky. He was much of the Wildcat offense in the first half, and teammate Lamont Butler has 15 points.

Quick sequence extends Tennessee lead

Tennessee scored five points in seven seconds. After a Felix Okpara dunk, Chaz Lanier stole the pass and gave it to Zeigler, who knocked down a 3-pointer. The Tennessee crowd went crazy and Kentucky coach Mark Pope called a timeout.

Chaz Lanier taking over in second half

After a quiet first half with six points, Lanier has found a rhythm in the second half to keep the Volunteers in front. He is 4-for-7 from the field out of halftime and now has 15 points.

Andrew Carr with big slam

Kentucky is trying to cut the deficit and Carr is doing his part. He had a major dunk early in the second half.

Kentucky vs. Tennessee halftime score

Tennessee leads 43-28 at halftime. The Volunteer offense shook off a slow start and were on fire for a majority of the first half, getting offensive rebounds to convert into second-chance points while Kentucky struggled to get buckets. Tennessee led by as many as 19 points, but the Wildcats cut the deficit before the end of the half.

Tennessee run extends lead

The Volunteers are clicking with an 8-0 run to take a commanding 19-point lead with just under three minutes left in the first half. Meanwhile, Kentucky has missed its last seven shot attempts and hasn’t scored in more than three minutes.

How tall is Zakai Zeigler?

Zeigler is 5-foot-9-inches, the shortest player on Tennessee.

Tennessee controlling rebounds

The early lead for Tennessee can be attributed to the early dominance on the boards. Tennessee is out rebounding Kentucky 13-6 so far. Six of Tennessee’s rebounds have come on the offensive end, leading to nine second-chance points.

3-pointers give Tennessee early lead

The 3-point shot is working for Tennessee with three buckets from downtown to fuel a 10-3 run. Tennessee took a 10 point lead eight minutes into the game.

Peyton Manning at Tennessee Sweet 16 game

Rocky Top royalty is inside Lucas Oil Stadium. Super Bowl-winning quarterback and former Volunteer Peyton Manning was shown on the broadcast.

Tennesse vs. Kentucky underway

The first NCAA Tournament game between the Wildcats and Volunteers has tipped off. After both teams went scoreless in the first 90 seconds, Volunteers forward Igor Milicic Jr. hit two free throws to get the scoring started.

Tennessee starting lineup

Chaz Lanier, G

Zakai Zeigler, G

Jahmai Mashack, G

Igor Milicic Jr., F

Felix Okpara, C

Kentucky starting lineup

Otega Oweh, G

Lamont Butler, G

Koby Brea, G

Andrew Carr, F

Amari Williams, F

What time is Kentucky vs. Tennessee basketball today?

March Madness continues Friday with the Sweet 16 matchup between the No. 3 seeded Kentucky Wildcats and the No. 2 seeded Tennessee Volunteers. The action kicks off at 7:39 p.m. ET

Where to watch Kentucky vs. Tennessee: TV, streaming coverage 

TV channels: TBS and TruTV
Live stream: Max and Sling

Watch March Madness with Sling

What channel is March Madness on?

Men’s NCAA Tournament games will be broadcast across CBS, TBS, and TruTV channels. You can also watch Sweet 16 action via these streaming options: Max and Sling for games carried on TNT, TBS, TruTV. Games carried on CBS are available on Fubo, which offers a free trial subscription to new users.

Watch March Madness games on CBS with Fubo

Kentucky vs. Tennessee odds and betting line

The Tennessee Volunteers are favorites to beat the Kentucky Wildcats, according to BetMGM odds as of Friday, March 28.

Spread: Tennessee (-4.5)
Moneyline: Tennessee (-210); Kentucky (+170)
O/U: 144.5

Kentucky vs. Tennessee predictions and picks

Jeremy Cluff: Tennessee 75, Kentucky 73
Craig Meyer: Kentucky 70, Tennessee 66
Mike Wilson: Tennessee 76, Kentucky 68
Ryan Black: Tennessee 82, Kentucky 78

Three of our four experts are expecting Tennessee to continue dancing into the Elite Eight. Only USA TODAY’s Craig Meyer is predicting Kentucky to win and advance. However, AZ Central’s Jeremy Cluff and Louisville Courier Journal’s Ryan Black are both taking Kentucky to cover the 4.5-point spread. That leaves Knoxville News Sentinel’s Mike Wilson as the lone wolf laying the points with the Volunteers. Meyer and Wilson are taking the under 144.5-point total, while Cluff and Black are on the over. — Nick Brinkerhoff

Kentucky vs. Tennessee all-time head-to-head record, history

The Kentucky Wildcats hold a 163-78 series record over the Tennessee Volunteers. The most recent matchup saw Kentucky beat Tennessee 75-64 on Feb. 11, 2025.

Kentucky Wildcats national championships

The Kentucky Wildcats have won eight national championships, with their most recent coming in 2012. They have appeared in the finals 12 times and the Final Four 17 times.

Have the Tennessee Volunteers won a national championship?

The Tennessee Volunteers have never won a men’s national championship. They have advanced as far as the Elite Eight twice (2010, 2024). The program also claims 11 Sweet 16 appearances.

March Madness championship odds

Odds to win the men’s NCAA national championship, according to BetMGM odds as of Friday, March 28. Here’s a full look at the favorites to win the men’s tournament:

Duke (+180)
Florida (+275)
Houston (+550)
Auburn (+575)
Alabama (+1200)
Tennessee (+2000)
Texas Tech (+2200)
Michigan State (+2500)
Kentucky (+8000)
Michigan (+9000)
Ole Miss (+10000)
Purdue (+12500)

Tennessee looks primed for win over Kentucky 

Both teams have looked great so far in the tournament, but Tennessee’s defense appears to have reached another gear in hopes of clinching its first Final Four spot. As for Kentucky, it’s hard to beat a team twice, but it’s a greater challenge to do it three times in one season. The Volunteers’ defense tightens up and finally gets the best of Kentucky to advance to the Elite Eight. — Jordan Mendoza

March Madness 2025 expert predictions

USA TODAY experts set their predictions ahead of the men’s NCAA Tournament. Here is who they picked before the madness.

Jordan Mendoza

Full bracket

Final Four: Michigan State, Florida, Duke, Houston
Final: Florida vs. Houston
National champion: Houston

Paul Myerberg

Full bracket

Final Four: Auburn, St. John’s, Duke, Tennessee
Final: Auburn vs. Duke
National champion: Duke

Eddie Timanus

Full bracket

Final Four: Auburn, Florida, Duke, Houston
Final: Florida vs. Duke
National champion: Florida

Dan Wolken

Full bracket

Final Four: Michigan State, Florida, Duke, Houston
Final: Florida vs. Duke
National champion: Duke

When does the Final Four start?

On the men’s side, the Final Four is scheduled for Saturday, April 5. The NCAA championship game will take place two days later on Monday, April 7.All games will played at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

For the women, the Final Four will be played on Friday, April 4 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. The championship game will be Sunday at 3 p.m. at the same venue.

Legendary UConn coach Geno Auriemma isn’t thrilled with the schedule this week. And he didn’t hold back in expressing his displeasure.

Friday the Sooners and Huskies had to be at the arena early in Spokane, Washington, with OU’s press conferences starting just after 8 a.m. while the Huskies practiced at that time. 

The early start can be attributed to the “super regional” format with two regionals played in both Spokane and Birmingham, Alabama. 

After hosting games at four locations, the NCAA moved to two regional sites for the women’s tournament in 2023. The women’s March Madness event will have two regional sites through 2028: Fort Worth, Texas, and Sacramento, California, next year; Philadelphia and Las Vegas in 2027; and Portland, Oregon, and Washington, D.C. in 2028.

Auriemma didn’t hold back his frustrations, especially considering both UConn and OU had to play Monday to advance to Spokane. Their game is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. ET Saturday.

“The guys, who don’t know (expletive) about (expletive), according to a lot of basketball people, they finish Sunday and then they have Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and they play Saturday,” Auriemma said. “But there’s a lot of people in the women’s basketball community that think they’re smarter than that. So whoever came up with this super regional stuff — and I know who they are — ruined the game. 

‘They did. They ruined the game. Half the country has no chance to get to a game in person. But you’re making billions off of TV. Well, actually they’re not, that would be the men’s tournament. So yeah, there’s a lot of uses that they need to fix. And again, we could get our ass beat tomorrow and that won’t change my feelings.” 

The Huskies have traveled a lot to the West coast the last two years. They were a No. 2 seed in Seattle in 2023, falling to Ohio State in the Sweet 16, and were a No. 3 seed in Portland last season, when they beat USC to advance to the Final Four in Cleveland.

The Spokane 1 regional games will be held Friday and Sunday, while Spokane 4 contests will take place Saturday and Monday, bringing four consecutive days of games at Spokane Arena.

If the Huskies win Saturday, they would have to play Monday night in the regional final. Then if they punch their ticket to the Final Four in Tampa, they will fly cross-country with two days of practice.

The national semifinal and championship games had long been held on Sunday and Tuesday, respectively, until switching to a Friday/Sunday schedule starting in 2017.

Super regional schedule

Friday, March 28

No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 4 Maryland | 5 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
No. 2 NC State vs. No. 3 LSU | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 5 Ole Miss | 10 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)

Saturday, March 29

No. 2 TCU vs. No. 3 Notre Dame | 1 p.m. | ABC (Fubo)
No. 1 Texas vs. No. 5 Tennessee | 3:30 p.m. | ABC (Fubo)
No. 2 UConn vs. No. 3 Oklahoma | 5:30 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
No. 1 USC vs. No. 5 Kansas State | 8 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)

Sunday, March 30

Winner of No. 1 South Carolina/No. 4 Maryland vs. No. 2 Duke/No. 3 North Carolina | 1 p.m. | ABC (Fubo)
Winner of No. 1 UCLA/No. 5 Ole Miss vs. No. 2 NC State/No. 3 LSU | 3 p.m. | ABC (Fubo)

Monday, March 31

Winner of No. 1 Texas/No. 5 Tennessee vs. No. 2 TCU/No. 3 Notre Dame | 7 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
Winner of No. 1 USC/No. 5 Kansas State vs. No. 2 UConn/No. 3 Oklahoma | 9 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)

The Baltimore Ravens and head coach John Harbaugh have reached a three-year contract extension, the team announced Friday.

Harbaugh was entering the final year of his contract. His new deal will keep him with Baltimore through the 2028 season, which would take him through his 21st season in charge of the Ravens.

Harbaugh has coached the Ravens since 2008 and is presently the league’s second-longest tenured head coach behind only Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Harbaugh is the Ravens’ all-time winningest coach, posting a 172-104 record over his first 17 seasons in Baltimore.

Harbaugh’s extension comes on the heels of a successful 2024 season that saw the Ravens post a 12-5 record. They won a second consecutive AFC North title and saw their offense blossom into one of the NFL’s best, with Lamar Jackson posting a second consecutive MVP-caliber season and helping the team rank first league-wide in offensive EPA.

However, the Ravens weren’t able to mount a Super Bowl run. The Buffalo Bills edged them 27-25 in the divisional round of the AFC playoffs.

Harbaugh will look to get back to the NFL’s biggest stage in 2025 as he takes aim at a second ring as a head coach. He won his first Super Bowl in 2013, when he led Baltimore to a win in Super Bowl 47 against the San Francisco 49ers – then coached by his brother Jim Harbaugh.

LSU head coach Kim Mulkey is bringing Louisiana flair to Spokane, Washington.

Ahead of No. 3 LSU’s Sweet 16 matchup against No. 2 NC State on Friday at Spokane Arena, Mulkey debuted her latest March Madness ensemble — a black denim jacket adorned with gold florals and leaves. It wouldn’t be a Mulkey outfit without bling. Her jacket features rhinestone gems around her neck, the bottom lining and along her cuffs. Mulkey completed her look with matching jeans, black boots, her signature bob and smokey eyeshadow.

Mulkey’s sideline fits have become their own spectacle during the women’s March Madness tournament. She opted for a powder blue pantsuit during LSU’s first-round win over No. 14 San Diego State and a shimmering cerulean blue suit jacket for the Tigers’ second-round win over No. 6 Florida State.

Friday’s outfit marks a departure from blue, which has been good luck for the Tigers so far. They’ve scored 100+ points in back-to-back March Madness games for the first time in program history. 

Kim Mulkey outfit

‘Coach let me get that fit’

Mulkey’s latest look sent the internet into a tizzy.

Several social media users compared Mulkey’s outfit to the late Michael Jackson, whose signature style included elaborate military jackets similar to the one Mulkey donned. One said Mulkey is ‘ready for war.’

Another social media user said Mulkey’s jacket resembles a Matador.

One social media user called dibs on Mulkey’s outfit.

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South Carolina women’s basketball is one win away from returning to the Final Four to defend its national championship, but it didn’t come easy for the top-seeded Gamecocks.

Behind a big second half from MiLaysia Fulwley, the Gamecocks were able to pull out a gritty 71-67 win over No. 4 seed Maryland on Friday in the Sweet 16 of the women’s NCAA Tournament at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama.

The Gamecocks, winner of two of the past three national titles, are now onto their fifth consecutive Elite Eight appearance and seventh total under Staley. South Carolina is now 19-1 in its last four NCAA Tournaments.

Watch South Carolina vs Maryland on Fubo (free trial)

‘We just told each other that we have to play together and find our flow in our offense,’ Fulwley told ESPN’s Kris Budden postgame on how South Carolina was able to pull out the win despite offensive struggles throughout the entire game. ‘… We had great defense throughout the whole game. Just had to match our offense with our defensive intensity.’

Maryland appeared to be on its way to an upset over South Carolina, but five turnovers in the final 2:06 of the fourth quarter served to be the difference-making between playing in the Elite Eight and heading home to College Park, Maryland for Brenda Frese’s squad. The Gamecocks will now take on No. 2 seed Duke in the Elite Eight of the Region 2 Birmingham side of the women’s March Madness bracket on Sunday, March 30, with a trip to the Final Four and Tampa, Florida on the line.

USA TODAY Sports brought you live updates, scores, highlights and analysis throughout the game.

South Carolina vs Maryland score

South Carolina defeated Maryland 71-67 in the Sweet 16 on Friday in Birmingham, Alabama. The Gamecocks turned it up down the stretch in the third quarter on a 13-5 run, and carried it over into the fourth quarter to return to the Elite Eight for the fifth consecutive season.

Maryland vs South Carolina Sweet 16 updates

This section will be updated throughout the game.

Allie Kubek fouls out

Maryland starter Allie Kubek fouls out. She finished with 12 points on 5-of-5 shooting, including 1 of 1 from 3-point range. She added five rebounds and two steals and a block in the game.

MiLaysia Fulwiley points today

On a day when South Carolina was without Te-Hina PaoPao for much of the game, due to foul trouble, MiLaysia Fulwiley took over the Gamecocks’ offense and led them to their eighth Sweet 16 win under Dawn Staley — and did she put on a show in the second half.

The Columbia, South Carolina native finished with 23 points on 9 of 17 shooting from the field off the bench with five rebounds, three assists and a block in Friday’s win vs. Maryland. Of her 23 points, 16 came in the second half.

‘It was working for me today, proud of myself,’ Fulwiley told Budden.

Kaylene Smikle points today

Kaylene Smikle finished with a team-high 17 points for Maryland in its Sweet 16 loss to No. 1 seed South Carolina on 6 of 17 shooting. Smikle went 5 of 7 from the free-throw line in the first half.

The Rutgers transfer entered Friday’s game as Maryland’s leading scorer at 18.0 points per game this season, and is averaging an impressive 22.5 points in two NCAA Tournament games while shooting 45.4% from the field.

Chloe Kitts points today

Chloe Kitts started Friday’s Sweet 16 game off where she left off in the second round of the NCAA Tournament vs. Indiana, as the 6-foot-2 forward scored 10 points on 5 of 8 shooting for South Carolina in the first half. Kitts was also a presence inside the paint for the Gamecocks on the night, as she has 11 rebounds and a block.

She was held to just one basket from the field in the second half, which came in the fourth quarter, but hit two big free throws down the stretch for South Carolina to give her 17 points in the win.

Joyce Edwards points today

Joyce Edwards had a quiet game for South Carolina, as had six points on 2 for 6 from the field in Friday’s Sweet 16 win over No. 4 seed Maryland for the Gamecocks. She has a made basket in each half, a layup in the second quarter and a layup in the third quarter.

The All-SEC First Team Honoree entered Friday’s game leading South Carolina in scoring at 13.2 points and 4.9 rebounds through 35 games this season. She is averaging 13.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in two NCAA Tournament games while shooting 55% from the field.

South Carolina forces turnover

Shyanne Sellers turns over the ball for Maryland on the inbound on a miscommunication between Sellers and Sarah Te-Biasu. South Carolina gets immediately fouled and Sania Feagin heads to the free-throw line.

The origin of South Carolina’s ‘Seat Belt Gang’ celebration

South Carolina takes lead with extended run

Here comes South Carolina!

MiLaysia Fulwiley finds Te-Hina PaoPao in transition for a fast break layup off the glass to give South Carolina a 46-45 lead over Maryland in the third quarter. It’s a 7-0 run for the Gamecocks over the last 1:07, and Maryland calls a timeout on the floor.

Maryland leading South Carolina at Q3 under-five timeout

An upset watch is on in Birmingham, Alabama as No. 4 seed Maryland currently leads No. 1 seed South Carolina 43-39 at the under-five media timeout in the third quarter.

The Gamecocks are 3 of 5 to start the half from the field but have struggled to hold onto the ball, as they have four turnovers in the first 5:17 of the third quarter. Joyce Edwards has just two points for South Carolina, and Chloe Kitts hasn’t scored for the Gamecocks after scoring an early 10 points in the first quarter.

Raven Johnson steps into 3-pointer for South Carolina

The Gamecocks get a lucky roll off the rim as Raven Johnson steps into a 3-pointer from the top of the line. Johnson’s 3-pointer brings South Carolina’s deficit within one at 35-34 in the third quarter.

Maryland leads South Carolina at halftime

South Carolina’s streak of four straight Elite Eight appearances is on the line, as Maryland heads into the locker room with a 33-31 lead over the Gamecocks. It’s the first NCAA Tournament since 2017 that South Carolina has had multiple halftime deficits.

The Gamecocks offense struggled mightily in the second quarter against the Terps defense, as South Carolina went 4 of 17 from the field in the frame. One potential reason for South Carolina’s offensive struggles was Te-Hina PaoPao not being on the floor for much of the second quarter, after she picked up two early fouls in the first quarter.

Kaylene Smikle leads Maryland with nine points.

South Carolina struggling offensively

After jumping starting hot in the first quarter, South Carolina’s offense has gone cold, as the Gamecocks have not made a single field goal in over three minutes. South Carolina’s struggles from the field has allowed Maryland to take a 21-20 lead off a 3-pointer from Sarah Te-Biasu.

South Carolina leads Maryland after one quarter

South Carolina holds a one-point lead over Maryland after one-quarter of play in Birmingham at 17-16. The Gamecocks led as much as five at the 1:49 mark of the frame after a 3-pointer from Te-Hina Paopao but foul trouble and two layups inside the paint from Maryland’s Mir McLean has the Terps in this one.

MiLaysia Fulwiley has the Gamecocks last seven points after Chloe Kitts scored the first eight for Dawn Staley’s squad.

Te-Hina Paopao in foul trouble

A developing story in Birmingham is South Carolina guard Te-Hina Paopao’s foul trouble, as she picks up her second foul of the afternoon in the first quarter.

The second foul came on inside the paint as Kaylene Smikle came to the basket and drew the foul against Paopao. With Paopao on the bench for the remainder of the quarter, South Carolina will need to get its 3-point shooting from someone else on its roster.

Who is Maryland women’s basketball coach?

Brenda Frese is in her 23rd season as Maryland’s women’s basketball coach. She enters Friday’s Sweet 16 game with a 607-168 overall record. 

In her 23 seasons in College Park, Maryland, Frese has led the Terrapins to 14 Big Ten conference titles, 21 NCAA Tournament bids in 23 postseasons, three Final Fours, seven Elite Eights, 12 Sweet 16s and a national championship in 2006. 

The Terps are making their 15th straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament under Frese this year, and are 43-18 all-time under her in The Big Dance.

Chloe Kitts starting hot for South Carolina

Chloe Kitts has turned up the heat early in Friday’s Sweet 16 game, as the 6-foot-2 forward has scored all eight of South Carolina’s first-quarter points on 4 of 5 shooting from the field with five rebounds.

Is Shyanee Sellers related to Brad Sellers?

Yes, Shyanee Sellers is the daughter of former NBA forward Brad Sellers.

Brad Sellers, who also played collegiate basketball in the Big Ten at Wisconsin and Ohio State, was drafted in the first round of the 1986 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls. In six seasons in the NBA, Brad Sellers averaged 6.3 points and shot 45.2% from the field.

South Carolina-Maryland start time announced

As noted by the Greenville News’ Lulu Kesin, the Sweet 16 matchup between No. 1 seed South Carolina and No. 4 seed Maryland will start at 4:55 p.m. ET down in Birmingham, Alabama.

NCAA women’s basketball schedule today

Here’s a look at Friday’s women’s NCAA Tournament schedule:

Duke 47, North Carolina 38
(1) South Carolina vs. (4) Maryland | In action on ESPN
(2) NC State vs. (3) LSU |  7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
(1) UCLA vs. (5) Ole Miss | 10 p.m. ET on ESPN

Maryland women’s basketball record in NCAA Tournament

Maryland brings a 43-18 record in the NCAA Tournament under coach Brenda Frese. Friday’s Sweet 16 game is the 12th Sweet 16 appearance that Frese has led Maryland to, which is making its 16th appearance in The Big Dance as a four seed or higher under her.

The Terrapins are 55-30 all-time in the NCAA Tournament in program history.

Who is Shyanne Sellers?

Shyanne Sellers is the catalyst between Maryland’s offense, both as a scorer and facilitator. The three-time All-Big Ten first-team selection has scored in double figures in 25 of Maryland’s 30 games this season.

As noted by Maryland’s game notes for Friday’s Sweet 16 game vs. South Carolina, Sellers ranks No. 12 on Maryland’s all-time scoring list with 1,666 career points and is third all-time in career assists at 518. She is the only player in Maryland history to have at least 1,500 points, 500 rebounds and 500 assists in a career.

Maryland women’s basketball history in Sweet 16 

Maryland is making its fourth Sweet 16 appearance in the last five years on Friday vs. South Carolina.

South Carolina women’s basketball history in Sweet 16 

South Carolina is making its 11th straight (12th overall) Sweet 16 appearance under Dawn Staley on Friday vs. Maryland. The Gamecocks are 7-4 in their previous 11 Sweet 16 appearances under Dawn Staley. 

Chloe Kitts confident heading into matchup with Maryland

Maryland may have gotten some bulletin board material from Chloe Kitts, who all but guaranteed a win against the Terrapins. She referenced the game possibly being their last game before adding ‘it’s not gonna be.’

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Women’s March Madness championship odds

South Carolina has the second-best odds to win the national championship entering the Sweet 16 on BetMGM. Meanwhile, Maryland has the second-highest odds to do so on BetMGM, at +17500 odds.

1. UConn (+135)
2. South Carolina (+180)
3. UCLA (+700)
4. Texas (+800)
5. Notre Dame (+1300)
T-6. LSU (+3500)
T-6. Duke (+3500)
8. USC (+4000)
T-9. NC State (+5000)
T-9. TCU (+5000)
11. Kansas State (+8000)
12. Oklahoma (+12500)
13. Ole Miss (+15000)
14. Maryland (+17500)
15. North Carolina (+20000)

No. 1 South Carolina vs No. 4 Maryland betting odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Friday, March 28.

Spread: South Carolina (-17.5)
Over/under: 150.5
Moneyline: South Carolina (-3000) | Maryland (+1250)

South Carolina-Maryland expert predictions

Greenville News reporter Lulu Kesin’s prediction: South Carolina 77, Maryland 65

Look for a close, physical game where Staley’s team is tested but prevails with fluid offense and disciplined defense.

USA TODAY Network reporter Ehsan Kassim’s prediction: South Carolina 84, Maryland 66

The Gamecocks are not messing around in the postseason. They cruise to an easy victory as the defense swarms the Terrapins with too much pressure all game.

What time is South Carolina vs Maryland women’s basketball today?

Date: Friday, March 28
Time: 5 p.m. ET

South Carolina and Maryland are scheduled to tip off at 5 p.m. ET from Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala. on Friday.

What channel is South Carolina-Maryland women’s basketball today?

Channel: ESPN
Streaming: Women’s March Madness Live app | Fubo (free trial)

ESPN will nationally televise Friday’s Sweet 16 game between South Carolina and Maryland. Streaming options include the Women’s March Madness Live app and Fubo, which carries the ESPN family of networks and offers a free trial to new subscribers.