WWE’s tour through Europe rages on as the build up to WrestleMania 41 is heating up.

Raw last week in Belgium featured John Cena’s return and he addressed the shocking turn he had at the 2025 Elimination Chamber. His WrestleMania opponent, Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, faced him and delivered a strong message to his now enemy. The two big-time stars met again in the ring, and it got much more intense this time around.

Other action that took place included both the men’s and women’s Intercontinental Championship on the line, CM Punk on the mic and Jey Uso partnering up with a familiar ally to face A-Town Down Under.

With WWE still in Europe, this week’s episode aired live earlier than usual, so here’s what happened on WWE Raw Monday:

Intercontinental Championship match: Bron Breakker (c) vs. Penta

The match quickly went outside of the ring with Breakker delivering a flying clothesline to the challenger onto the announcer’s table, and as the two stars were on the floor, Dominik Mysterio and Carlito emerged to possibly get involved.

Breakker had control for a while before Penta was able to land some strikes. It lasted for a few seconds until Breakker recovered with powerful shots against Penta. A hurricanrana off the top turnbuckle was the pivotal move to finally give Penta momentum. He had a Mexican Destroyer executed and went for the pin, which wasn’t successful.

Penta had some words for Mysterio and when he looked back, Breakker was back and ready to strike. He took Penta up for a Frankensteiner, and as he set up the spear, Mysterio and Carlito got involved. Carlito was the victim of the spear but Mysterio did a sneak attack on Breakker, ending the match in disqualification. Finn Balor then emerged and used a steel chair to attack Breakker.

Mysterio offered the chair to Penta to hit Breakker, but Penta wouldn’t do it. He threw the chair at Mysterio and used it for a powerful super kick. A frustrated Balor then attacked both Penta and Breakker, and The Judgement Day stood tall as the show came to a close.

CM Punk speaks

Now with a match against Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins at WrestleMania, Punk said the match isn’t what he was striving for but it will just be business. Clearly, both people have issues with him and he said there will be a contract signing for the match on Friday at SmackDown. He looked in the camera and reminded the audience that neither Reigns or Rollins haven’t beaten him without the help of each other.

Punk said he brought Reigns and Rollins to WWE and he will be the one to take them out of the company.

Dragon Lee vs. El Grande Americano

Raw’s ‘newest’ luchador made his in-ring debut and surely looked to display the same moveset as Chad Gable, using technical skills to get ahead of Lee.

The LWO member didn’t go down easy and both stars put on an impressive display of athleticism. However, things got wild when El Grande Americano pulled the mask off Lee. Obviously, he shielded his face and El Grande Americano went for the ankle lock. Lee quickly tapped out and El Grande Americano got his first official victory in WWE.

Iyo Sky, Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley face off

The contract for the WrestleMania 41 Women’s World Championship match was signed by all three people last week, putting the situation in limbo. All three stars emerged, and Raw general manager Adam Pearce announced that Ripley would get her rematch against Sky next Monday, and the winner will face Belair at WrestleMania.

Pearce left and all of the stars attacked each other, and it ended up with Belair standing alone in the ring.

Later in the night, Pearce revealed Belair will be the special guest referee for next Monday’s match.

Jimmy Uso slaps Gunther

After challenging Gunther to a match at next week, ‘Big Jim’ delivered a loud slap to the World Heavyweight Champion.

Women’s Intercontinental Championship match: Lyra Valkyria (c) vs. Raquel Rodriguez

Rodriguez had a clear size advantage on the champion and her approach out of the gate was to use her strength while Valkyria tried to get the challenger on the ground. Valkyria tried a jump off the top turnbuckle and was met with a powerful kick from Rodriguez that sent her quickly to the mat.

The challenger took control from there and Valkyria tried several things to get out of the disadvantage, including a flying leg drop, but Rodriguez was quick to regain composure. Valkyria appeared to have a quick pin to victory, but Liv Morgan was ringside and put her tag team partners leg on the rope. Rodriguez recovered and tried a Tejana Bomb, but Valkyria rolled her up and got the victory to retain her title.

Frustrated, Morgan and Rodriguez attacked Valkyria afterward, but Bayley came out to save the champion and stop the attack.

The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) vs. A-Town Down Under (Austin Theory and Grayson Waller)

Jey Uso did quick work against Theory and he did the same the Waller before he tagged in his brother. Jimmy Uso then went flying out of the ring to take down both opponents. Waller got in some hits but a sneak tag from Theory allowed him to get a big blow to Jimmy Uso and get on offense.

Both Uso brothers dealt with a 2-on-1 advantage for their opponents, and countered it with their own special combination that made them one of the best tag teams in recent memory. Jimmy Uso threw Theory up in the air and Jey Uso speared him. But it wouldn’t be all, as the tag team brought back their signature 1D finisher on Theory and got the pin for the victory.

Afterward, Gunther came out and attacked his WrestleMania 41 opponent. Luckily Jimmy Uso scared the World Heavyweight Champion away and the brothers were able to continue their celebration.

Jey Uso’s mystery tag partner

Jey Uso’s tag team partner is a very familiar one. Jimmy Uso joins his brother for tag team action.

Cody Rhodes emerges

After hearing Cena’s bold claim, the current champion made his way to the ring. Rhodes said if Cena wants to ruin wrestling, he’d have to take the title away from him. He figured he gave his challenger another opportunity to reflect on his recent actions, but Rhodes realized Cena was sincere and that was a mistake.

Rhodes challenged Cena to take the title away from him as he readied to fight. Cena thought about it, but left the ring with a smirk on his face. A frustrated Rhodes called Cena back, but he didn’t give in. Rhodes said he needs Cena to see him as he is now the ‘champ.’

John Cena speaks

The 16-time WWE champion heard several expletive chants from the crowd as he once again reminded fans why it’s so easy to hate on them. He said people don’t know anything about him and everyone in the crowd has sad life. They were experiments to Cena, and he recalled one in particular in 2005 when he introduced the WWE Championship spinner belt. When he received backlash for it, he said he learned how to change the business.

‘I am going to ruin wrestling for every fan, for every wrestler, for everyone,’ he said.

Winning the WWE Championship would make him a record 17-time title holder, and he said when he wins it at WrestleMania 41, he’s taking it to retirement with him, therefore as the last true champion of the company.

John Cena makes entrance

This week’s episode begins with the same man that started last week.

John Cena’s music hit the OVO Hydro speakers and the crowd instantly started to boo. The ‘John Cena sucks’ chant emerged and the 16-time champion looked around the arena as he made his way to the ring.

What time is WWE Raw today?

WWE Raw on March 24 begins at 4 p.m. ET.

Where is WWE Raw today?

WWE Raw will be taking place at OVO Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland.

How to watch Monday Night Raw

Monday Night Raw is available only on Netflix. Viewers will need a Netflix subscription to watch the event, and it’s available at no additional cost. Fans with any Netflix subscription tier will be able to watch.

Monday Night Raw match card, scheduled events

Cody Rhodes and John Cena meet face-to-face
Intercontinental Championship match: Bron Breakker (c) vs. Penta
Women’s Intercontinental Championship match: Lyra Valkyria (c) vs. Raquel Rodriguez
Jey Uso and mystery partner vs. Austin Theory and Grayson Waller
CM Punk speaks

The LSU Tigers women’s basketball team is dancing in March Madness. Literally.

Ahead of the Tigers’ second-round matchup against Florida State on Monday, LSU head coach Kim Mulkey joined her team as they let loose and performed the Flex Line Dance on the court at Pete Maravich Assembly Center with musician Cupid, the creator of the line dance and ‘Cupid Shuffle.’

Mulkey was donning a white pullover when she jumped in to showcase her dance moves. She later switched to a bedazzled cerulean blue suit jacket and a pair of white trousers for tip-off against the Seminoles.

With its 101-71 win over Florida State on Monday, LSU is returning to the Sweet 16 for the third consecutive year.

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NFL mock drafts are, at their core, an exercise in hypotheticals and guesswork. But with the first round now just a month away, some of the latest projections can be a little bit more rooted in reality than editions from a few weeks ago.

With the overwhelming bulk of free agency money already allotted, teams have had to show their hands on at least part of their offseason plans. And while there are still several key figures who could shape the class’ outlook – namely Aaron Rodgers, who visited the Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday and also appears to have the New York Giants on hold – some elements for the early order are falling into place.

Here’s USA TODAY Sports’ latest mock draft projection for the full first round:

1. Tennessee Titans – Cam Ward, QB, Miami (Fla.)

With two weeks having passed since the first free agent deals were reached, Will Levis has only been joined by Brandon Allen on Tennessee’s roster, and the team doesn’t appear to be in the mix for any other quarterbacks who would be seen as a potential bridge starter. That’s left many to conclude that the Titans already have their eyes trained on Ward. While it might be early to declare that outcome a lock, the odds for other possibilities are certainly dwindling. It remains to be seen whether Ward clears the ‘generational talent’ bar that the team has thrown around in reference to the first pick, but the scintillating 6-2, 219-pound passer would certainly give the franchise a distinct sense of direction after Brian Callahan’s first year was a wash.

2. Cleveland Browns – Abdul Carter, DE, Penn State

Myles Garrett stirred some intrigue when he said he had an ‘idea’ of what the team was planning to do at quarterback, leading many to speculate that Shedeur Sanders would be the target. And while establishing some kind of spark behind center might be necessary to ignite this group, bypassing one of the class’ two apparent elite talents would constitute a significant gamble. Pairing Garrett with Carter, the draft’s pre-eminent disruptive force, would be a sensible way to optimize assets early, with a quarterback still potentially in play later on.

3. New York Giants – Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

Adding Jameis Winston only highlighted the extent of the Giants’ desperation at quarterback, with at least one other move almost sure to come. If Rodgers decides to sign with New York, using this pick on either Carter or Travis Hunter would be a reasonable move for a regime already put on notice. But if Big Blue has to move even further down its list of desired veteran signal-callers in the coming weeks, taking on Sanders as well might be the only way out of quarterback purgatory.

4. New England Patriots – Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado

With the Giants’ pick shaping up to be the inflection point of the first round, the Patriots are left to ponder whether one of this year’s premier talents will fall into their lap or if they’ll need to pivot to focusing on sizable voids at left tackle and wide receiver. In this case, the former scenario materializes, and New England can prioritize value while sorting out positional matters later – though Hunter surely qualifies as the game-breaking receiver the team has been missing, so long as the team is willing to give him extensive reps there.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars – Mason Graham, DT, Michigan

After making a handful of mid-tier moves in early free agency, first-year general manager James Gladstone is preparing for a youth movement, saying, ‘We’re going to allow these rookies to get a chance to get out on the field and help us this coming fall.’ One area that looks ripe for help through the draft is the defensive line, where Graham could help establish a new tone with his hyperactive pursuit.

6. Las Vegas Raiders – Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona

This might be early for McMillan, who could have a fairly wide range of outcomes in the first round given questions about his long speed. But if the Raiders don’t feel comfortable leaving Geno Smith to throw to Brock Bowers and a ragtag receiving corps, McMillan might not have to wait as long on draft day as some envision.

7. New York Jets – Armand Membou, OT, Missouri

Both Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey know the transformative value offered by a top-notch offensive line after their respective runs with the Detroit Lions and Denver Broncos. Whether running roughshod over defenders or keeping them at bay in the passing game, Membou can step in at right tackle and be a standard-bearer for the new regime.

8. Carolina Panthers – Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia

At 6-1 and 243 pounds, Walker isn’t the prototype for a potential cornerstone of a team’s pass rush. But the Panthers shouldn’t be dissuaded by the Butkus Award winner’s size, as he could represent their best chance at awakening a unit that ranked 31st in ESPN’s pass-rush win rate metric.

9. New Orleans Saints – Will Johnson, CB, Michigan

Trading away Marshon Lattimore and losing Paulson Adebo in free agency has left New Orleans wobbly at cornerback. While a team in significant transition shouldn’t force picks on need alone, Johnson is well worth consideration in this spot as a player who, prior to an injury-marred 2024 campaign, fully looked the part of a longtime No. 1 corner.

10. Chicago Bears – Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

Is taking a running back this high a luxury for a team that went 5-12 last season? Maybe. But after transforming the team’s offensive line and bolstering its defensive front, general manager Ryan Poles said the Bears’ spring spending spree ‘really opens the whole board for us.’ Rather than merely be an additive presence, Jeanty could be the kind of figure who helps recalibrate the attack, creating big gains by slipping past would-be tacklers or bouncing off them.

11. San Francisco 49ers – Will Campbell, OT, LSU

A shift away from a roster replete with highly paid veterans creates an onus on general manager John Lynch to bring aboard some new low-cost building blocks. If San Francisco is intent on finding steady ground after a rocky offseason, a natural first step would be turning to Campbell. Savvy and smooth as a blocker, the consensus All-American might end up moving inside due to concerns about his arm length, though he has the tools to hang at tackle – perhaps even as an eventual successor to Trent Williams.

12. Dallas Cowboys – Matthew Golden, WR, Texas

After again treating free agency like a yard sale while other teams operated as though they were at the auction house, Dallas is due for a spark. Golden certainly provides that, with his knack for creating separation making him an enticing asset for Dak Prescott and a Cowboys offense searching for some semblance of a threat beyond CeeDee Lamb.

13. Miami Dolphins – Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas

Miami has already experienced many of the limitations left by its underperforming lines, so allotting early picks up front is imperative for general manager Chris Grier. A natural scheme fit for the Dolphins, Banks could slot in at guard while still providing flexibility if Patrick Paul has trouble taking over at left tackle.

14. Indianapolis Colts – Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State

If Warren makes it out of the top 10, this should be his floor. The Colts could surely use a pass catcher who can not only be a safety valve for either Daniel Jones or Anthony Richardson but also bail out his quarterback by snagging contested catches or picking up huge chunks of yards after the catch.

15. Atlanta Falcons – Mike Green, DE, Marshall

Perhaps it seems simplistic to address a long dormant pass rush by plugging in the Football Bowl Subdivision leader in sacks. But Green gives something Atlanta has long lacked: a jolt off the edge who can truly create chaos rather than merely clean plays up.

16. Arizona Cardinals – Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama

Elevating the talent level of the front seven no longer seems to be such a pressing concern after an offseason highlighted by the signing of Super Bowl 59 standout Josh Sweat. But Monti Ossenfort and Jonathan Gannon still have plenty of reason to be drawn to Campbell, an ascendant talent who would electrify the pass rush early while honing his instincts as an off-ball linebacker.

17. Cincinnati Bengals – Shemar Stewart, DE, Texas A&M

Ponying up to keep Trey Hendrickson is the sensible move for a team that appears to be all in on its current vision following the massive extensions handed out to receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. No matter how the organization chooses to proceed with its remaining disgruntled star, Stewart offers the immense upside that Cincinnati will be eager to capitalize on after a spotty run of early round defensive draft picks in recent years.

18. Seattle Seahawks – Grey Zabel, G/C, North Dakota State

In swapping out Geno Smith for Sam Darnold and replacing DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett with Cooper Kupp, the Seahawks have fully embraced the vision for a Klint Kubiak offense. The next logical step: importing Zabel, who can shore up the pressing deficiency at guard and looks tailor-made for a heavy dose of outside zone runs.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas

If there’s one coach who would most appreciate the full scope of Barron’s ability, it’s Todd Bowles. The Buccaneers coach and former NFL defensive back would surely relish the versatility and savvy of the Thorpe Award winner, and Tampa Bay could deploy him in a wide array of different looks and assignments.

20. Denver Broncos – Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina

Utilizing an early draft pick on a running back is essentially a necessity for the Broncos, who have yet to fulfill Sean Payton’s offseason commitment to ‘stack that position group.’ The biggest question for Denver is whether it sees sufficient value in taking Hampton in the first round or would prefer to pursue a Day 2 alternative. But given how easily the powerful 6-0, 221-pound ball carrier could slide into this ascending attack, it’s easy to see why this will remain a popular projection throughout the pre-draft process.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers – Jaxson Dart, QB, Mississippi

Though Pittsburgh has managed not to let its shortcomings behind center submarine the team, it still has paid a heavy price for its inability to forge a path forward at quarterback. Dart might be hard-pressed to step in as a Day 1 starter, especially for a playoff-caliber outfit, but he could be an efficient facilitator in Arthur Smith’s scheme if he develops his anticipation and footwork – perhaps behind someone like Aaron Rodgers.

22. Los Angeles Chargers – Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan

With Najee Harris and Mekhi Becton joining Jim Harbaugh’s crew, the Bolts appear to be only leaning further into the established identity of the Greg Roman offense. But reuniting with another former Wolverine in Loveland would open things a bit more for Justin Herbert, who surely would stand to benefit from having a much more dynamic downfield threat at tight end than checkdown option Tyler Conklin.

23. Green Bay Packers – Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon

With seemingly no true No. 1 receiver available, the easy call for Green Bay is to focus on creating more disruption on defense. That could point the Packers to Harmon, a versatile force who would allow Brian Gutekunst to comfortably move on from Kenny Clark or Devonte Wyatt if the GM doesn’t want to pay a hefty bill for either defensive tackle in 2026.

24. Minnesota Vikings – Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina

After an active and aggressive run in free agency to resolve uncertainties along both lines and in the secondary, Minnesota has enviable flexibility here. Trading back remains a strong option for a team with just four picks, but standing pat could land them Emmanwori, a phenomenal athlete and versatile coverage piece who no doubt would stand to benefit from apprenticing under Harrison Smith.

25. Houston Texans – Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State

Yes, the Texans added both Cam Robinson and Trent Brown to provide some relief at offensive tackle after trading Laremy Tansil. But with both veterans on one-year prove-it deals, there’s still no long-term protection plan in place for C.J. Stroud. As Simmons continues to work his way back from a torn patellar tendon suffered in October, he could take a backseat to the more established presences before eventually taking over and becoming the fixture required to settle this front.

26. Los Angeles Rams – Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky

After reconfiguring their pass rush last year by drafting NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Jared Verse and finalist Braden Fiske, the Rams should be seeking out a similar revitalization of their secondary. Comfortable in both man and zone coverage, the feisty Hairston would accelerate the youth movement on defense.

27. Baltimore Ravens – Donovan Ezeiruaku, OLB, Boston College

Though he’s never one to force a selection based on short-term considerations, Ravens GM Eric DeCosta acknowledged at the combine that ‘having a continuous influx of young pass-rush talent … that’s a priority for us, sure.’ As perhaps the draft class’ most refined edge rusher after notching 16 ½ sacks last season, Ezeiruaku has the requisite tools to enjoy an expedited transition to the NFL if the 6-3, 248-pounder can hold up against bigger and more powerful blockers.

28. Detroit Lions – Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan

Re-signing Levi Onwuzurike to a one-year deal provides a little more clarity for the Lions’ interior, which had a murky outlook as Alim McNeill continues to recover from a torn ACL suffered in December. But Detroit could solidify the spot much more by adding Grant, a 6-4, 331-pound magnet for double teams.

29. Washington Commanders – Mykel Williams, DE, Georgia

Barring a trade for Trey Hendrickson, Washington looks bound to head into the draft in search of a difference-maker on the edge. The 6-5, 265-pound Williams could easily go much higher thanks to his nearly ideal set of physical traits at a position where they’re prized. In this scenario, however, he lands at what should be considered his floor.

30. Buffalo Bills – Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida State

While the Bills boast two staples in the secondary thanks to Christian Benford and Taron Johnson, the AFC title game – in which Benford was knocked out with a concussion and since-traded cornerback Kaiir Elam was repeatedly picked on – reinforced the importance of eliminating any weak links. Thomas’ size and physicality in coverage would give Buffalo some peace of mind about matching up in man coverage against the likes of the Chiefs and other AFC powers.

31. Kansas City Chiefs – Walter Nolen, DT, Mississippi

Further investment in the offensive line can’t be entirely ruled out here, but trading Joe Thuney to the Bears and ponying up big for Jaylon Moore might wrap up the team’s offseason plan of drastic action for its biggest vulnerability. Dropping Nolen in next to Chris Jones would ensure opponents will have their hands full with the Chiefs’ interior line for some time.

32. Philadelphia Eagles – Malaki Starks, S, Georgia

Another highly regarded Georgia defender? Why not? If Howie Roseman doesn’t utilize his top draft pick to indulge his obsession with building along the lines, maybe he can make another signature move by upping his defense’s Dawg quotient, which has already been boosted with the signing of Azeez Ojulari.

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After leading Drake men’s basketball to an NCAA Tournament berth and a first-round upset of Missouri in his first season, Ben McCollum is headed to Iowa.

McCollum was named as the Hawkeyes’ new coach on Monday, succeeding Fran McCaffery, who spent 15 seasons in that role at Iowa.

He’ll take over a Hawkeyes program that finished with a 17-16 record this past season, tied for 12th in the Big Ten with a 7-13 mark in conference play. He’ll have to do an instant rebuild, with seven players on this season’s roster already entering the transfer portal — and two members of Iowa’s 2025-26 incoming class reopening their recruitments.

On the other hand, Iowa is getting one of the fastest-rising young coaches in college basketball.

McCollum, a former player at Northwest Missouri State, began his coaching career at his alma mater in 2009 and turned it into a national Division II power. After getting off to a slow start, McCollum led the Bearcats to 13 consecutive winning seasons and four national titles — compiling an overall record of 394-91 in 15 years at the helm.

He was hired by Drake last year and quickly revamped the Bulldogs program. McCollum turned over more than half of the roster, bringing some players with him from Northwest Missouri State, including star Bennett Stirtz (who still has a year of eligibility remaining).

Under McCollum, 43, Drake set a school record with 31 wins, which included the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season and tournament titles.

In the NCAA Tournament, the 11th-seeded Bulldogs knocked off No. 6 Missouri in the opening round before being eliminated on Sunday by No. 3 seed Texas Tech, 77-64.

With the ballgown on, the carriage and horses in tow, Colorado State was ready for its Cinderella moment. The Rams were primed to be the life of the ball with all the talk surrounding them, and they were ready to reap the fortunes.

Instead, the clock struck midnight, and the Rams − and every other bracket busting hopeful − saw its fairy tale ending disappear and the glass slipper shatter.

For it being called March Madness, it’s been a March without much of it. Yeah, there’s been some upsets like No. 10 Arkansas taking down No. 2 St. John’s and No. 6 Mississippi’s beatdown of No. 3 Iowa State. But as the second round ends and the 16 remaining teams prepare for next weekend, the Big Dance will go on without an unexpected appearance from the one that got blessed by a fairy godmother.

The Sweet 16 will have no team seeded No. 11 or higher, the first time since 2007. No Cinderella story happening in these parts.

It’s quite the change in narrative considering how often it’s happened. There’s been multiple years where at least two No. 11 seed or lower teams made it. In recent editions, we’ve had multiple No. 16 seeds prove they can actually win, and in 2021 and 2022, a whopping four teams seeded that low made it. Last year there was only one, but it was an NC State team that made it all the way to the Final Four.

Entering the second round, it was going to be a tough challenge for the streak to stay alive. Colorado State, Drake and McNeese were the only teams that pulled off significant upsets in the first round with the hope of getting to the second weekend.

On Saturday, McNeese got blitzed by Purdue from the start in a 14-point loss. Texas Tech was too much for Drake and the Bulldogs lost by 13 points. Colorado State was the last chance and it looked like the Rams would do it with a late 3-pointer, but Maryland’s Derik Queen hit the first buzzer-beater of the men’s NCAA Tournament to send Colorado State home.

This year’s Sweet 16 exclusively will have teams from major conferences for the first time since the round began in 1975, according to OptaStats. Only the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC will be represented. That’s only four conferences when every Sweet 16 prior had at least seven.

What happened to the bracket busters?

There is no definite answer, but there are several factors that could be the reason the bracket has mostly been chalk the past two seasons.

Before exploring what could be going wrong at the mid-major level, we must remember the really good teams this season are, in fact, really good. All of the No. 1 seeds had no more than five losses this season, none of the top 10 overall seeds had double-digit losses.

Led by the SEC powers, there’s been a clear separation of good and elite this season, and those at the top have proved it so far this tournament. The metrics support it as the top eight teams in KenPom are still alive. The lowest-rated team in KenPom? Arkansas at No. 36, although it’s hard to call the Razorbacks a Cinderella given the talent it had to survive the SEC gauntlet. 

Those elite teams have gotten some pretty stiff competition from mid-major teams that dominated their conferences and had all the makings of a Cinderella run. UC San Diego fell just short of its comeback attempt against Michigan, High Point couldn’t hang with Purdue, and Liberty and Akron got steamrolled in their opening matchups. All teams with potential not getting their one shining moment.

So could something be wrong at the mid-major level? Possibly.

Look around at the remaining teams and you’ll see rosters full of transfers. The main contributors sometimes come from other premier programs, but mostly they arrive from the mid-major level, wanting a bigger platform to shine – or possibly cash-in on NIL offerings. 

It’s rare to find continuity on any team in this day and age, but the lack of it at the mid-major level is hurting their chances of going on significant runs in March. Most Cinderella teams are full of players that have spent years together, building for the moment. 

“I think what’s changed in college basketball is there’s not as many old mid-major teams as there used to be,” said Colorado State head coach Niko Medved. “There’s not as much of that because older guys who played together are pretty good.”

The lack of Cinderella runs doesn’t help the case to expand the tournament. There’s no point in adding more teams to the field if they’re going to end up getting squashed by the championship favorites. It also doesn’t help the casual fans, who fill out brackets and watch just so they can see those little schools beat the powerhouses.

But it sure does set up an elite second weekend of basketball. In the Midwest Region, the top four seeds are alive and with the exception of Arkansas, all remaining teams are seeded No. 6 or better. It will be heavyweight fights for the remaining 15 games of the college basketball season, with each one having a must-watch label.

Yet it will be without the ones that make March the spectacle that it is, and they hope it won’t be the new normal down the road. 

“Sometimes, it’s just the way the year goes,” Medved said. 

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Kim Mulkey, Flau’jae Johnson and the No. 3 LSU women’s basketball team knocked off Ta’Niya Latson and No. 6 Florida State, 101-71, in the second round of Women’s March Madness on Monday night to earn a spot in the Sweet 16. 

Three Tigers scored at least 20 points: Mikaylah Williams led the way with 28, Aneesah Morrow dropped 26 to go along with 11 rebounds, and Sa’Myah Smith recorded 20 points and 12 rebounds. Johnson chipped in 13 points. Latson, the nation’s leading scorer, poured in 30, but it wasn’t enough for the Seminoles.  

Mulkey and LSU are back in the Sweet 16 for the third consecutive season, and will face NC State next as they vie for their second national championship in the last three seasons.

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

Watch LSU vs. Florida State on Fubo (free trial)

LSU women’s basketball score, highlights

The LSU women’s basketball team took a one-point halftime lead and turned it into an 101-71 victory. LSU’s defensive attack led to a Florida State scoring drought of more than 8 minutes across the third and fourth quarters. The Tigers outscored the Seminoles 31-6 in the third.

Flau’jae Johnson finished with 13 points, Mikaylah Williams scored 28, Aneesah Morrow recorded 26, Sa’Myah Smith put up 20.

Kim Mulkey gets doused by LSU players in postgame celebration

Who will LSU women’s basketball play in Sweet 16?

The No. 3 LSU Tigers will play No. 2 NC State on Friday in the Sweet 16. Aziaha James and the Wolfpack beat Michigan State in the second round to advance.

Aneesah Morrow stats

LSU’s Aneesah Morrow recorded a double-double against FSU of 26 points (12-of-21 shooting) and 11 rebounds.

Mikaylah Williams stats

LSU’s Mikaylah Williams led the Tigers in scoring with 28 points on 10-of-12 shooting, including 3-of-3 from 3. She was perfect from the floor in the first quarter, going 5-of-5 shooting and 2-of-2 from 3 to score 12 points in the frame.

Ta’Niya Latson stats

Ta’Niya Latson, the nation’s leading scorer, dropped 23 first-half points for Florida State before the LSU defensive stymied her — as much as the nation’s leading scorer can be stymied. She finished 30 points on 11-of-26 shooting and 6-of-7 from the free throw line. Her career high points in a game is 40, reached earlier this season, and the Florida State tournament record is 28 points, which she recorded in the Seminoles’ first-round win.

Flau’jae Johnson injury update

LSU guard Flau’jae Johnson, who has dealt with shin inflammation in her right leg that caused her to miss time earlier this season, now has a small wrap around her right knee. A day before LSU’s first-round game, Johnson was asked if she felt 100% and she answered: ‘Yep.’

Flau’jae Johnson layup gets LSU crowd on their feet

Flau’jae Johnson made a tough layup through contact in the third quarter to give the Tigers a 58-51 lead with about 7:30 left in the frame, sending the LSU bench and crowd into a bit of a frenzy. She’s got 11 points so far.

LSU women’s basketball score vs. Florida State at halftime

LSU leads Florida State 50-49 at halftime. The sides battled hard in the second quarter, trading leads seemingly every possession. Ta’Niya Latson is up to 23 points, and Aneesah Morrow is up to 14 points.

Flau’jae Johnson’s dad: How he influenced her rap career

‘I feel like his legacy was cut short,’ Johnson told ESPN. ‘It was taken from him. That’s why I sometimes feel like it’s my duty to finish what he started.’ — Jenna Ortiz

LSU vs. Florida State women’s basketball 1Q score

LSU led 31-24 after the first quarter. The guard play in this matchup is already living up to the hype. Ta’Niya Latson is on another planet early with 16 of Florida State’s first-quarter 24 points. — Meghan L. Hall

Flau’jae Johnson, Mikaylah Williams swarming Ta’Niya Latson

Flau’jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams are playing lightning fast, keeping Latson on her heels. There are steals, snatched ankles and timely baskets all over the court. Fans should keep an eye on Johnson, who is the primary defender on Latson. Let’s see if Johnson gets into foul trouble trying to contain her. — Meghan L. Hall

LSU women’s basketball vs. FSU underway

Ta’Niya Latson opened up the scoring with a layup, quickly answered by an Aneesah Morrow layup.

Kim Mulkey outfit

LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey entered the Tigers’ second-round matchup against Florida State in a shimmering outfit. Mulkey’s look consists of white slacks underneath a cerulean blue suit jacket. The jacket is adorned with ombre crystals that fade out around the top of her chest. She’s wearing a simple white blouse underneath and her shoes are shiny silver stilettos. 

LSU football coach Brian Kelly in the house

LSU head football coach Brian Kelly is in the building to support the No. 3 LSU women’s basketball team in their NCAA Tournament second-round game against No. 6 Florida State.

Kelly entered the Pete Maravich Assembly Center at the opening tip and was greeted with a warm applause as he approached his seat in the fifth row of the stands surrounded by LSU fans. 

After LSU took a 17-10 first-quarter lead following an emphatic 11-0 run, Kelly rose to his feet as Florida State called a timeout.

Kelly’s support comes as the women’s team looks to build on their dominant 103-48 victory over San Diego State in the first round. The return of key players Flau’jae Johnson and Aneesah Morrow has bolstered LSU’s championship aspirations.

The winner of this matchup will secure a coveted spot in the Sweet 16. — Kyle Tatelbaum, Special to USA TODAY

Flau’jae Johnson stats

Entering Monday, LSU guard Flau’jae Johnson is averaging 19.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.7 steals and 31.9 minutes per game. The 5-foot-9 junior is shooting 46.9% from the floor and 38.3% from 3.

Ta’Niya Latson stats 

Latson is the top scorer in the nation at 25.0 points per game and is a key piece to the Seminoles having the second-highest scoring offense in the country (87.4 ppg). Latson has recorded at least 20 points in 24 of 28 games this season. She had six 30-point games this year and a career-high 40-point performance against Virginia Tech on Jan. 2. Latson became the fastest player in Florida State basketball history to score 2,000 points this season and picked up her third All-ACC First Team selection. She’s also a finalist for the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award. — Cydney Henderson

LSU women’s basketball last game

The Tigers knocked off No. 14 San Diego State 103-48 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Flau’jae Johnson scored 22 points, and six Tigers scored in double digits.

LSU women’s basketball stats

The LSU women’s basketball team has the sixth-ranked offense (85.0). The Tigers shoot 45.71% from the floor, good for 32nd in the country, and 34.28% from 3, 55th in the country.

LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey on Ta’Niya Latson

LSU coach Kim Mulkey acknowledged the challenge of containing the nation’s leading scorer Ta’Niya Latson in Monday night’s game. 

‘She’s such a tremendous player,’ Mulkey said of Latson, who poured in 28 points in the first round and averages 25.0 a game. ‘She is going to get her points. What you have to do is try your best to contain her where she doesn’t hit 50 on you.’ 

The Tigers plan on containing Latson through a collective effort. 

“She requires five LSU players to guard her,’ LSU guard Mikaylah Williams said. ‘All five will need to be ready to help and take those charges and be ready when the ball kicks out.’ — Kyle Tatelbaum, Special to USA TODAY 

Women’s basketball bracket update: Who’s in Sweet 16 so far?

The Sweet 16 field for the women’s NCAA Tournament is nearly complete, with eight more teams eager to punch their ticket to the second weekend. Here’s the latest women’s bracket update.

LSU vs. Florida State score prediction

Cory Diaz, Lafayette Daily Advertiser: High octane matchup between two prolific offenses in LSU and FSU. Latson will get her points but the Tigers will do enough of slowing down her teammates that the Seminoles can’t quite catch up. LSU moves on to the Sweet 16. LSU 94, Florida State 89.

LSU vs. FSU stats

The matchup is poised to be a scoring showdown: The Seminoles are the second-ranked offense (87.5 points per game) and the Tigers are ranked sixth (85.0). Latson is the nation’s leading scorer (25 points per game), and Johnson is ranked 32nd (19 ppg). 

Flau’jae Johnson, Ta’Niya Latson ready to face off again 

LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson and Florida State’s Ta’Niya Latson will face off for the first time since high school in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Monday.  

The last time the two met was in 2022 when Latson’s American Heritage School beat Johnson’s Sprayberry High School 77-63. Latson outscored Johnson 38-33 in the game.  

“Me and Flau’jae go way back,” Latson said. “We used to train together a little bit, too. She’s stronger now. She’s bigger now. She can shoot the ball. She’s always great to play against.” — Tatum Esparza, Special to USA TODAY 

LSU vs. FSU women’s basketball odds 

Spread: LSU (-11.5) 
Moneyline Favorite: LSU (-700)
Moneyline Underdog: Florida State (+500) 
Total: 170.5 

Women’s March Madness championship odds 

March Madness odds, according to BetMGM, as of Sunday, March 23. 

Here’s a full look at the favorites to win the women’s tournament, everyone who sits at better odds than +5000. 

South Carolina (+200) 
UConn (+225) 
UCLA (+550) 
Texas (+700) 
USC (+800) 
Notre Dame (+1000) 
TCU (+2500) 
Duke (+3500) 
Tennessee (+3500) 
NC State (+4000) 
LSU (+4000) 

The UFL is once again set to field eight teams in its second season as a unified spring football league following the 2024 USFL and XFL merger.

The UFL’s 2025 format mimics that of most recent spring-league startups. The USFL fielded eight teams in each of its two seasons as a separate entity, while the XFL did the same during its 2020 and 2023 campaigns.

That said, while the league’s basic structure for 2025 remains status quo, the UFL is beginning to explore potential expansion as it seeks to establish staying power in the spring.

‘Expansion is definitely something that we have talked quite a bit about this year,’ UFL executive vice president Daryl Johnston told USA TODAY in a phone interview.

Why UFL is considering expansion

Johnston noted expansion discussions show signs of ‘confidence’ in the league’s growth and trajectory. It’s an acknowledgment that UFL has put together a good product that is attracting quality personnel to its ranks.

There has been a ‘big uptick’ in new players expressing an interest in the league, according to Johnston. That has contributed to improving overall roster quality, as Michigan Panthers head coach Mike Nolan detailed.

‘Each year, the talent has really gotten considerably better,’ Nolan told USA TODAY. ‘Last year, when they merged the two leagues – naturally when you take 800 players and narrow it down to the best 400, that’s quite an improvement. That’s what happened last year when they merged the USFL and the XFL.’

Why is there an increased interest in joining the UFL? Nolan believes it’s all about players and agents ‘seeing the benefits of playing in the spring.’

‘I was in the NFL for a long time, and players don’t typically improve their skills by going to a weight room and getting bigger and stronger,’ Nolan said. ‘They just get bigger and stronger, but they don’t play the game any better.

‘When you get into the spring league, it’s an opportunity for you to improve your ability to play football.’

Johnson has seen a similar effect manifest in the UFL’s coaching searches. They have had no shortage of options to replace departing coaches and have often landed proven, high-level candidates to lead the league’s teams.

His top example? The Memphis Showboats were tasked with replacing head coach John DeFilippo ahead of the 2025 season. They landed Ken Whisenhunt, a coach with eight seasons of NFL head coaching experience who led the Arizona Cardinals to an appearance in Super Bowl 43.

‘I think that’s a real feather in our cap,’ Johnston said. ‘When we have a position that needs to be filled, the quality of the candidate that’s coming forward.’

‘And I think we’ve seen that exact same thing with some of the potential cities that are vying for expansion,’ he added. ‘It’s very flattering to see that list.’

UFL expansion potential

Currently, the UFL is in the exploratory phase of potential expansion, as Johnston detailed.

‘We’re moving towards starting to look at potential markets that are out there for us that would be a good fit,’ he explained. ‘I think that’s one of the things that is the most important. Are you in the right markets? I think that’ll be our key driver.’

Particularly, Johnston noted that proximity to the league’s Arlington hub would not be a major consideration when expansion opportunities arise. He said that is trying to creatively leverage its Texas ties – three of the eight teams are located in the Lone Star State – but that all options for new teams will be evaluated on a market-by-market basis.

‘There’s going to be a number of different things that we’ll be looking at,’ Johnston explained. ‘Regionality is not going to be one of those things. It’ll be more specific; things that we feel are the drivers to have a successful home market, and those will be the ones that we’ll focus on the most.’

Johnston did not elaborate on which markets were drawing consideration for UFL expansion at this time, nor did he provide an update on an expansion timeline.

However, there appears to be an interest in and an appetite for adding teams to the UFL in future seasons.

‘We’ve been very pleasantly surprised by not just the number of markets but kind of the variance we have there,’ Johnston said. ‘There’s a number of different markets that have expressed an interest when we are ready to do the expansion, and that’s another way where we’ve gotten some confidence.’

Much to the relief of the Golden State Warriors, it appears as though Stephen Curry avoided a serious injury.

The All-Star guard, who left Thursday night’s victory over the Raptors in the third quarter after suffering a hard fall, is making his way back to the court. The Warriors announced Friday that Curry underwent an MRI that revealed a pelvic contusion with no structural damage. It was good news.

Curry didn’t travel with the team for a game Saturday night in Atlanta against the Hawks, an eventual 124-115 loss. Curry, however, rejoined his teammates in Miami ahead of Tuesday night’s game against the Heat.

Here’s the latest on Curry’s injury and his status for the Warriors:

Stephen Curry injury update

The Warriors practiced Monday in Miami and Curry participated in the session, a good indication of the progress he’s making toward a return. Following the practice, Curry also went through an individual workout to further test the injury.

The team had said Friday that the plan was always for Curry to be reevaluated Monday. Warriors coach Steve Kerr said after the practice that Curry looked ‘good’ and that ‘he was moving great; no surprise, he knocked down a lot of shots,’ though the team’s session did not include a scrimmage.

Kerr added that Curry, who will be officially listed as questionable for Tuesday’s game against the Heat, would play depending on how his body reacts to the practice and post-practice workout.

‘I think Steph feels an obligation always to be there for his teammates, regardless of the circumstances,’ Kerr told reporters Monday following the team’s practice in Miami. ‘He’s an amazing teammate. He wants to get back as soon as possible, mainly so we can win games and climb the ladder in the playoff race.’

With Tuesday marking the first time former Heat forward and current Warrior Jimmy Butler makes his return to Miami, Kerr indicated that it might push Curry to get himself ready for a return Tuesday night.

‘No doubt he wants to be there for Jimmy, too,’ Kerr continued. ‘That’s one of the things I love about Steph: he wants to be there for his guys.’

Golden State Warriors schedule: When could Stephen Curry play next?

Tuesday night, Golden State is set to play the second game of a six-game roadtrip, against the Miami Heat. The team said Curry would officially be listed as questionable. That means that — even if he doesn’t return in Miami — he could be back on the court imminently.

The Warriors will then get the benefit of two-days’ rest before a game against the Pelicans Friday night in New Orleans. Golden State will also play Sunday against the San Antonio Spurs, Tuesday, April 1 against the Memphis Grizzlies and will conclude its road trip Thursday, April 3 against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Golden State (41-30) is currently sitting in sixth place in the Western Conference, and has gone 16-4 since trading for Jimmy Butler.