The SEC buried the Big Ten in the preseason coaches poll, but that does not add up to a College Football Playoff advantage.
Unranked Oklahoma Sooners among underrated teams in US LBM Coaches Poll.
Nick Saban’s preseason effect gone from Alabama.

After an offseason filled with interconference propaganda wars, thinly veiled shots and public sniping, the 67 coaches who vote in the US LBM Coaches Poll got to offer one last, private word on which conference is strongest.

The ballots are in: It’s the SEC. That’s the preseason perception, anyway.

Nine SEC teams are ranked in the preseason coaches poll, compared to six Big Ten teams. Together, the Super Two conferences account for 60% of the Top 25.

The two highest vote-getters among unranked teams also hail from the SEC. Add it up, and coaches widely perceive the SEC as a deep conference. At the top, Texas ranks as preseason No. 1 nationally for the first time in coaches poll history.

But, a Top 25 logjam won’t necessarily help the SEC’s playoff hunt.

Here are my five hot takes from the poll:

Poll does not give SEC a College Football Playoff advantage

The SEC also put nine teams in the preseason rankings last year but qualified only three teams for the playoff – one fewer than the Big Ten qualified.

Translation: The SEC’s preseason Top 25 blitz does not help its playoff pursuits. It means the conference schedule can become a battle royale filled with land mines. That unfolded last season, when Alabama and Mississippi got taken out by teams from the SEC’s middle or lower tier.

The Big Ten’s cream, like No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Penn State, is as sweet as the SEC’s. The Big Ten’s collective strength tapers off more quickly, though. That can assist the Big Ten’s top playoff contenders.

The Big Ten has fewer ranked teams, but with four positioned inside the top 12, it’s as well positioned – if not better positioned – to produce as many or more playoff qualifiers as the SEC.

Here’s an example of what this looks like in practice: No. 12 Illinois will play two teams ranked in the preseason Top 25. Comparatively, No. 17 Florida will play seven teams ranked in the preseason. You’d rather pursue the spot from Illinois’ position, than Florida’s.

If the playoff doubled in size to 24 teams, the SEC’s depth of ranked teams would position it to claim the most bids. With this 12-team playoff, the Big Ten enjoys solid footing.

Nick Saban factor officially gone from Alabama

Alabama’s No. 8 ranking seems appropriate. The Crimson Tide upgraded at wide receiver and in the defensive backfield ahead of Kalen DeBoer’s second season, but there’s enough question marks to maintain skepticism. Like, will quarterback Ty Simpson go boom or bust?

Nick Saban, because of his track record, could transition to an unproven quarterback without losing the benefit of the doubt. This ranking shows that the rinse-and-repeat respect voters bestowed upon Saban’s Alabama in the preseason already has waned since his retirement. It also shows how quickly a team’s reputation can go from elite to just pretty good after a coaching change.

Alabama’s No. 8 position marks its lowest preseason ranking since it went unranked in 2008, ahead of Saban’s second season.

DeBoer’s mission is to get the Tide back into the playoff – and to restore Alabama’s aura.

Pressure is on … Penn State

There’s pressure on Texas and Arch Manning to live up to the hype. That’s obvious.

But, No. 3 Penn State also faces a momentous season, with its loftiest preseason ranking since being tapped No. 2 in 1997. That year, Joe Paterno’s Nittany Lions kept their No. 2 ranking going into November, until getting trounced by Michigan and finishing 9-3.

Penn State’s ranking reflects its possession of highly acclaimed veteran quarterback Drew Allar, plus one of the nation’s best backfields. Penn State upgraded its wide receivers through the transfer market.

On both sides of the ball, proven veterans fill Penn State’s lineup. Credit James Franklin for elevating the program to this perch. Also, question whether Franklin can take it to the highest perch.

Penn State’s failures in the biggest moments under Franklin are well-documented. He’s 0-6 against Ohio State coach Ryan Day.

Fortunately for Franklin, it’s possible to win a national championship without beating the Buckeyes, just as it became possible for Day to capture his first national title without beating Michigan.

Penn State enjoys a cushy schedule. Franklin assembled a team good enough to win a national championship, but a history that says he won’t.

Big 12 will remain more interesting, but less respected, than ACC

No. 6 Clemson gives the ACC a national championship contender, making the Big 12 the only Power Four league that lacks team in the top 10 – but the conference will be more fun to monitor than the ACC.

The rankings reflect this. Clemson, No. 10 Miami and No. 16 SMU account for the ACC’s only ranked teams. I’d be surprised if a team from outside this trio won the ACC. In the Big 12, I struggle to produce a list of teams that absolutely can’t win the conference.

The Big 12 tucked five teams inside the Top 25, with several more receiving votes. It remains the nation’s most unpredictable conference, after Arizona State won the league last year despite being picked to finish last.

Entertaining though it will be, how much will the selection committee respect the Big 12’s anyone-can-beat-anyone nature? Last year, the committee persistently undervalued the conference.

A parity-filled conference like the Big 12 becomes great for entertainment, but the ACC’s top teams establishing separation is better for its playoff hunt.

Coaches poll’s overrated, underrated teams

Overrated teams include No. 13 South Carolina, No. 17 Florida and No. 19 Indiana.

Underrated teams include No. 6 Clemson, No. 20 Kansas State, No. 24 Texas Tech, unranked Oklahoma and unranked Baylor.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.

The 2025 Little League Softball World Series continues on Day 3 of the tournament following another exciting day of action that included standout play from the likes of Pennsylvania’s Reagan Bills.

It’s onto the elimination games Tuesday, with the losing teams from the previous two days playing with a chance to compete in Wednesday’s slate.

The Southwest regionteam from Tulsa, Oklahoma, edged the Southeast squad from Lake Mary, Florida on Monday, Aug. 4, while the Mid-Atlantic girls from Pennsylvania proved to be a juggernaut in their game against the West region team from Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Pitt County, North Carolina continues to represent for the tournament’s host state, collecting a second consecutive win, while the team from Iwate, Japan showed why their country is a powerhouse in all levels of softball with a victory over the squad from Canada.

The Day 3 schedule features four win-or-go-home games, beginning at 10 a.m. ET. Follow along for live updates on all the Little League Softball World Series action today:

How to watch 2025 Little League Softball World Series

The 2025 Little League Softball World Series will be broadcast on ESPN platforms, with the championship game airing on ABC. Games will also be available to stream on ESPN+.

Dates: Aug. 3-10
TV: ESPN | ESPN2 | ABC
Stream: ESPN+
Location: Greenville, North Carolina

Catch the Little League Softball World Series on ESPN+

2025 Little League Softball World Series Day 3 schedule

Tuesday, Aug. 5

Game 9: (Purple Bracket) Northwest region: Mill Creek, Washington vs. West region: Westchester-Del Rey (Los Angeles), 10 a.m. ESPN2
Game 10: (Orange Bracket) Latin America region: São Paulo, Brazil vs. Canada region: Repentigny, Quebec, 1 p.m. ESPN+
Game 11: (Orange Bracket) Europe-Africa region: Prague, Czechia vs. Central region: Floyds Knobs, Indiana, 4 p.m. ESPN+
Game 12: (Purple Bracket) New England region: Guilford, Connecticut vs. Southeast Region: Lake Mary, Florida, 7 p.m. ESPN2

2025 Little League Softball World Series Day 2 results

Monday, Aug. 4

Game 5: (Orange Bracket) North Carolina region: Pitt County, North Carolina 5, Central region: Floyds Knobs, Indiana 3
Game 6: (Purple Bracket) Southwest Region: Tulsa, Oklahoma 2, Southeast Region: Lake Mary, Florida, 1
Game 7: (Purple Bracket) Mid-Atlantic: Johnstown, Pennsylvania 9, West region: Westchester-Del Rey Los Angeles 0
Game 8: (Orange Bracket) Asia-Pacific region: Iwate, Japan 6, Canada region: Repentigny, Quebec 1

2025 Little League Softball World Series Day 1 results

Sunday, Aug. 3

Game 1: (Purple Bracket) Southeast region: Lake Mary, Florida 9, Northwest region: Mill Creek, Washington 2
Game 2: (Orange Bracket) North Carolina region: Pitt County, North Carolina 4, Latin America region: São Paulo, Brazil 3
Game 3: (Orange Bracket) Canada region: Repentigny, Quebec 5, Europe-Africa region: Prague, Czechia 4
Game 4: (Purple Bracket) Mid-Atlantic region: Johnstown, Pennsylvania 2, New England Region: Guilford, Connecticut 1

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A blowout victory over the Las Vegas Aces came at a cost for the Minnesota Lynx on Aug. 2.

With less than a minute left in the third quarter and the Lynx holding a commanding 43-point lead over the Aces, Minnesota star Napheesa Collier collided with teammate Alanna Smith and landed awkwardly on her right foot. The five-time All-Star remained on the floor for a couple of minutes before walking off the court under her power – but with assistance.

Following the game, Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said that Collier would undergo further testing to figure out the extent of her injury. Collier has already missed three games this season.

Collier is averaging a career-high 23.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game in her seventh WNBA season. The 2024 Defensive Player of the Year is the current favorite to win 2025 MVP honors and was named Western Conference Player of the Month for July.

Here’s the latest on Collier’s injury:

Napheesa Collier injury update

Collier sprained her right ankle with less than a minute left in Minnesota’s 111-58 blowout victory over Las Vegas on Saturday, Aug. 2. She sat out the fourth quarter and was officially ruled out of the game midway through the fourth quarter.

On Sunday, Aug. 3, Collier had further testing to find out the extent of her injury. According to an ESPN report, Collier will be out for two weeks with a right ankle sprain. However, the good news is that Collier avoided a major injury.

The Lynx released an official statement on Collier’s injury on Monday, Aug. 4:

‘After undergoing an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), Collier was evaluated by team physician Dr. Elena Jelsing at Mayo Clinic Square, where a right ankle sprain was confirmed. Collier will be re-evaluated in the coming weeks and further updates on her progress will be provided when available.’

At the time of her injury, Collier had 18 points, five assists, three rebounds and two steals in 26 minutes.

Napheesa Collier stats

Here’s a look at Collier’s stats this season. She has missed three games this year.

2025 regular season: 23.5 points on 53.7% shooting with 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.8 steals, 1.6 blocks per game in 26 games (26 starts)
2025 All-Star Game: Voted as captain and was named All-Star Game MVP after scoring a game-high 36 points and leading her team to a 151-131 victory over Team Clark.

Matthew Schaefer, the top selection in the 2025 NHL Draft, has signed a three-year, entry-level deal with the New York Islanders, the team announced on Monday, Aug. 4.

Schaefer was on hand at Citi Field to throw out the ceremonial first pitch in the game between the New York Mets and the visiting Cleveland Guardians. The team announced the signing of the Stoney Creek, Ontario, native just before the pregame ceremony.

‘Feels amazing,’ Schaefer said at Citi Field. ‘Obviously, it’s something I’ve wanted to do my whole life and to do it your first year — there’s still a lot of work, but that was my dream and I want to play in the NHL this season. I wanted to really badly. I know there’s going to be a lot of hard work that comes with it, but I think I’m ready.’

The defenseman, who will turn 18 next month, has competed with the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League for the past two seasons. He earned first-team all-rookie honors in 2023-24.

His 2024-25 OHL campaign came to a halt when he suffered an injured collarbone as a member of Team Canada in the 2025 World Junior Championships in Ottawa.

To date, Schaefer has amassed 10 goals and 29 assists in 73 games with Erie.

He has returned to the ice, competing at Canada’s World Junior Summer Showcase. Schaefer will report to training camp with the Islanders, where he could break camp with the NHL club or be sent to Erie for his third season.

Schaefer won a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2024 U18 World Hockey Championships in Finland.

He is the Islanders’ first No. 1 draft pick since they tabbed John Tavares in 2009 and the fifth overall in franchise history.

The 2025 Little League Softball World Series continued on Monday, Aug. 4 with four games on Day 2 of the tournament at Stallings Stadium at Elm Street Park in Greenville, North Carolina. This followed an opening day, which also featured a slate of four games.

The teams that prevailed on Day 2 now get a day of rest on Tuesday, Aug. 5, while the elimination games begin for the losing squads.

In the opening game on Monday, Pitt County, representing the host North Carolina region, got another comeback win in its game against the Central region squad of Floyds Knobs, Indiana. Johnstown, Pennsylvania’s Reagan Bills was arguably the biggest star of the day, recording double-digit strikeouts as the Mid-Atantic region team blanked the Los Angeles team of Westchester-Del Rey Little League 9-0.

In a battle of the Southwest vs. the Southeast, it was the team from Tulsa Oklahoma, edging the squad from Lake Mary, Florida 2-1, while the Asia-Pacific region team from Iwate, Japan handed the Canadian team from Repentigny, Quebec its first loss of the tournament.

2025 Little League Softball World Series Day 2 scores

Game 5: (Orange Bracket): North Carolina 5, Indiana 3
Game 6: (Purple Bracket): Oklahoma 2, Florida 1
Game 7: (Purple Bracket): Pennsylvania 9, California 0
Game 8: (Orange Bracket): Japan 6, Canada 1

FINAL: Japan 6, Canada 1

Rinka Nozaki struck out the side in top of the sixth inning to give Japan it’s first ever win in the Little League Softball World Series. Nozaki surrendered two walks in the inning, but fanned the other three batters Repentigny, Quebec sent to the plate in their last chance for a late rally. Iwate, Japan, which is representing the Asia-Pacific region, will now get a day off as it continues play in the winner’s bracket, while the Canadian team will face an elimination game on Tuesday, Aug. 5 against the Latin America region team from São Paulo, Brazil.

Canada looking for late rally

The squad from Repentigny, Quebec, put their leadoff batter on in the top of the sixth but it’s facing a five-run deficit to the team from Iwate, Japan.

Japan’s Nozaki tearing Canada up

Canada needs a huge effort to come back at this point, but Japan’s Rinka Nozaki has made it very difficult. After coming into the game in the third, Nozaki has already recorded five strikeouts to keep Canada’s offense at bay.

Japan not letting up

In taking advantage of a Canada defensive mishap, Japan has extended their lead with a single by Soyoka Horiuchi. Horiuchi would wind up at second base after all was said and done. Japan leads 6-1.

Japan retaliates with three runs

Canada pitcher Arielle Prescott found herself in a groove following the first few Japan hitters. They were 2-for-2 to start the game but just 1-for-9 afterwards. However, once the top of the lineup rolled back around, Prescott still had no answer. Japan answered Canada’s run with three of their own in the bottom of the third. Japan could have had many more, but left the bases loaded following a great play by Alicia Dupont in center field.

Japan leads 5-1 heading into the fourth.

Canada strikes back

The top of the third saw Canada get their first run of the game, but they can’t help but feel a little bad after the inning. Canada stranded two runners in scoring position, giving them an opportunity to take the lead for themselves. Unfortunately, they could not plate those runs. Despite their best inning yet, they still trail 2-1.

Arielle Prescott evades jam with no runs

Japan looked ready to strike again in the bottom of the second, quickly getting runners to second and third with no outs. Prescott would come up clutch though, striking out the next two batters and getting the final batter of the inning to lineout to third base.

It remains 2-0 Japan heading into the third.

Japan off to hot start

The Asia-Pacific region representatives wasted no time putting the first run of the game on the board. In the bottom of the first, Yukina Osada led off with a first-pitch double. After a pass ball, she was just 90 feet away from scoring.

Rinka Nozaki would drill a low fastball the other direction, driving in Osada and giving Japan the early lead.

It didn’t take long for a second run to score either. Just two batters later, an overthrow from the Canadian team allowed Nozaki to score Japan’s second run. After the first, they lead 2-0.

FINAL: Pennsylvania 9, California 0

The bottom of the sixth started off as well as an inning could for them, with a leadoff baserunner. However, that runner was short-lived, as Bills would force a double play just a few pitches later. The call originally had the runner safe at first, but after replay, the call was overturned, pushing California to their final out. On the first pitch, California would ground out to second base, securing Pennsylvania’s win. They advance to face Tulsa in the next round. That game will take place Thursday, August 7 at 1 p.m. ET.

Pennsylvania adding insurance

Not that Bills needed the help, but Pennsylvania has added four runs in the top of the sixth inning while only recording one out.

The barrage finally ended after a triple to right from Mallory Bailor plating Pennsylvania’s ninth run of the game. California would record a strikeout and groundout to end the inning, but the damage was irreversible. California has just three outs to record nine runs.

Reagan Bills the star of LLSWS so far

Bills was spectacular in Pennsylvania’s opening game, but was forced out due to an unforeseen injury. However, that injury clearly didn’t hinder her for long. She returned to the mound just one day later and hasn’t skipped a beat, tallying double-digit strikeouts yet again through five innings. Bills even carried a perfect game into the fourth today.

Pennsylvania extends lead

California’s defensive struggles led to another Pennsylvania run as a stolen base followed by a single to left would’ve called for a close play at home, but an error from the left fielder allowed the run to score easily and put a runner on second. That run would not come around, but it will be very difficult for California to make a comeback with further mental errors.

Pennsylvania takes lead on California in big third inning

A leadoff single, well-executed bunt and passed ball gave Pennsylvania two runners in scoring position and no outs to start the top of the third inning. It didn’t waste the opportunity.

Pennsylvania initially took advantage of some confusion in the California infield after a well-hit ball to the shortstop. An errant throw to second base allowed the runner at third to cross home plate and give Pennsylvania the lead after the top of the third inning. A two-out RBI single by Camilla Gaunt followed by a bases clearing double from Reagan Bills then pushed the Pennsylvania lead over California to 4-0 heading into the bottom of the third inning.

Pennsylvania and California still scoreless

California escaped a first-inning jam without giving up a run after Pennsylvania got a couple hits and two runners in scoring position. Pennsylvania has yet to give up a hit through two innings and is up to bat in the bottom of the second inning.

Pennsylvania and California are underway

Game 3 of Day 2 at the Little League Softball World Series between Pennsylvania and California is underway with Pennsylvania batting in the top of the first inning. Pennsylvania won its first game at the LLWS, 2-1, on a walk-off hit on Sunday. California is playing its first game in Greenville, North Carolina

California is represented by Westchester-Del Rey Little League in Los Angeles while Pennsylvania’s team is based out of Johnstown.

FINAL: Oklahoma 2, Florida 1

There was a bit of controversy to close out the second game of Day 2 at the Little League Softball World Series. Florida got back-to-back infield singles off the pitcher’s mitt, but the umpire ruled baserunner interference despite the video replay appearing to show no contact between the Florida runner and the Oklahoma second baseman. The play was not reviewable.

Florida scored its only run in the first inning and didn’t get a runner in scoring position again until down to their final out in the sixth inning facing Oklahoma pitcher Harmoneigh White. Oklahoma improves to 1-0 at the LLWS and moves into the semifinal round of the purple winner’s bracket. Florida is now 1-1 and moves to the purple elimination bracket.

Oklahoma, Florida head to sixth inning

No drama in the fifth inning as both Oklahoma and Florida are held off the scoreboard. Florida is down to its last three outs facing a 2-1 deficit to Oklahoma.

Oklahoma takes lead from Florida in fourth inning

Oklahoma has taken the lead after falling behind in the top of the first inning. Oklahoma loaded the bases and then plated go-ahead run on an RBI hit by pitch that stood after review.

Florida minimized the damage with a nifty catch by its shortstop to close out the fourth inning. It’s 2-1 Oklahoma as they head to the fifth inning.

Oklahoma ties score with Florida after 3 innings

Oklahoma made quick work in the top of the third inning and Florida got two outs on four pitches to start the bottom of the third inning. But Florida then gave up a two-out double that proved troublesome.

A single into right field, followed by a couple bobbles by the Florida right fielder, tied the score at one apiece after three innings.

Florida foils Oklahoma squeeze bunt

Oklahoma pulled off a 1-2-3 in the top of the second inning and then had its first threat of the game when it came to bat.

Oklahoma attempted a squeeze bunt after a Florida error set up second and third with one out, but Florida snuffed it out in a rundown between third and home.

It’s still 1-0 Florida heading into the third inning.

Florida takes early 1-0 lead on Oklahoma

Florida got off to a fast start in its first LLWS game with two hits in the top of the first inning to get on the scoreboard first. Oklahoma managed to limit the damage and then got two runners on base in the bottom-half of the first. But Florida got out of the inning with its 1-0 lead intact.

Florida vs. Oklahoma up next

Next up from Greenville, North Carolina is a purple bracket matchup featuring a team from Tulsa, Oklahoma representing the Southwest Region and a team from Lake Mary, Florida representing the Southeast region. Florida won its opening game of the LLWS, 9-2. Oklahoma is playing its first game of the event.

FINAL: North Carolina 5, Indiana 3

North Carolina completes another comeback for a 5-3 win over Indiana to improve to 2-0 at the Little League Softball World Series. North Carolina pitcher Makayla Montgomery steadied herself after Indiana scored three runs in the first inning. North Carolina has now come-from-behind in two games at the LLWS, in addition to two games in its regional tournament to advance to the LLWS.

North Carolina, which is also the defending LLWS champion, had 5 runs, 11 hits and two errors. Indiana’s line: 3 runs, 8 hits, 2 errors 

North Carolina with a dramatic top of the 6th

Emily Mills had a two-run single to cut the deficit to 3-2 and then Ava Wilson had an RBI-single to tie the game. Avery Cash gave North Carolina the lead with her infield single and Gemma Braxton pushed it to 5-3 with her RBI-single after the top of the sixth.

3-up, 3-down for both teams in the 5th inning

Indiana’s Mercer and North Carolina’s Montgomery are both cruising at this point at Elm Street Park in Greenville, North Carolina. Indiana appeared to get a bunt single from Sawyer Abel but the safe call on the field was overturned on replay.

4 innings complete: Indiana leads North Carolina 3-0

North Carolina got one hit in its half of the inning with two outs but that didn’t translate into any runs. Indiana got two runners into scoring position and that threat was diffused.

After 3 innings Indiana still in control

North Carolina has no runs, four hits and one error while Indiana has compiled three runs, seven hits and had one error. 3-0 North Carolina.

Indiana goes down 1-2-3 in the 2nd inning

North Carolina’s Makayla Montgomery retired two batters on ground outs and another on a pop out to breeze through a quick inning.

North Carolina leaves the bases loaded again

North Carolina loaded the bases with one out on a single by Abby Pohlplatz, which was the team’s third hit of the game. However, Indiana’s Mercer was able to induce a grounder that turned into a force out at home and then a runner interference call was awarded on the runner colliding with the fielder on the subsequent play.

Indiana takes the lead

Grace Fiore had an RBI-single and Kennedy Nickels supplied an RBI-double before Indiana forced North Carolina to switch pitchers from Emily Mills to Makayla Montgomery. However, that didn’t stop the scoring. Indiana’s Scarlett Renn added an RBI-single as the first batter that Montgomery saw. After 1st inning, Indiana leads 3-0.

Briley Mercer gets out of bases loaded jam

Indiana’s Briley Mercer gave up two straight hits to start out the inning and later had to deal with the bases loaded with one out. She was able to get out of it with no runs scoring.

How to watch 2025 Little League Softball World Series

The 2025 Little League Softball World Series will be broadcast on ESPN platforms, with the championship game airing on ABC. Games will also be available to stream on ESPN+.

Dates: Aug. 3-10
TV: ESPN | ESPN2 | ABC
Stream: ESPN+
Location: Greenville, North Carolina

Catch the Little League Softball World Series on ESPN+

2025 Little League Softball World Series Day 1 results

Sunday, Aug. 3

Game 1: Southeast region: Lake Mary, Florida 9, Northwest region: Mill Creek, Washington 2
Game 2: North Carolina region: Pitt County, North Carolina 4, Latin America region: São Paulo, Brazil 3
Game 3: Canada region: Repentigny, Quebec 5, Europe-Africa region: Prague, Czechia 4
Game 4: Mid-Atlantic region: Johnstown, Pennsylvania 2, New England Region: Guilford, Connecticut 1

As the football coach at Tennessee, it often seemed like Derek Dooley was in the wrong business. 

Sure, he had the right surname and the right resumé to be a head coach in the Southeastern Conference, thanks mostly to his father Vince, who led Georgia to the national championship in 1980 and whose influence reached across a wide swath of college football. 

But when it came time to actually do the job, Derek Dooley – with his coiffed side part, fancy law degree and University of Virginia education – often seemed as if he was cosplaying the role, like he would have fit in better as a professor, an attorney or perhaps even future politician.

“Right now we’re like the Germans in World War II,” Dooley said in 2010 as he descended into an infamous soliloquy comparing Tennessee’s 2-5 record to the confusion of Nazi forces as the Battle of Normandy began with commanding field marshall Erwin Rommel back in Germany visiting his wife. “Here comes the boats, it’s coming, the binoculars like, ‘Oh my god, the invasion is coming.’ That’s what they did. They were in the bunkers. ‘It’s coming.’ They call Rommel. They can’t find Rommel. ‘What do we do? I’m not doing anything until I get orders. Have you gotten Rommel yet?’ And the Americans were the exact opposite.”

After that rant, and a few others that went viral for their sheer weirdness, you can understand why a group of young football players didn’t respond to him. Dooley was fired after three seasons and a 4-19 SEC record, his legendary incompetence dragging Tennessee’s proud program into a cycle of dysfunction that would last nearly a decade. 

Now he’s got a new job that always made a lot more sense: Running for Senate. 

This is not a column about Dooley’s politics, which in fact we know very little about other than he’s running as a Republican and has a lifelong friendship with Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, who encouraged him to get in the race. It is also not a column about the viability of his candidacy, either in a primary field or against Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff. 

That’s for voters to decide. We’ll see how that all plays out over the next year. And, at least in Georgia, we have a recent example of an actual Bulldogs legend in Herschel Walker losing a statewide race. 

Dooley, if he’s remembered for anything in Georgia, it’s as the coach who had 13 men on the field for LSU’s final snap from the 1-yard line in 2010, handing the Tigers the one extra chance they needed to win. 

Out-mangling Les Miles at the end of a game? Now that takes some talent.

The point is this: Whereas sports people from Jack Kemp to Tom Osborne to Tommy Tuberville often leverage their athletic or coaching success into political gravitas, it is the fact that Dooley never belonged on a college sideline in the first place that makes his Senate run seem plausible. 

How bad was it? He was the first Tennessee coach to lose to Kentucky in 27 years. He lost to Vanderbilt by 23 points, the worst margin in that rivalry since 1954. He was the first Tennessee coach to suffer three consecutive losing seasons since 1909-11. And In Dooley’s 2012 recruiting class, he didn’t sign a single offensive lineman. Not one. For an SEC program, it’s unheard of.

The Vols paid for that mistake for many years to come. It was one of the most disastrous coaching tenures in SEC history. 

Yet anyone who has been around or interacted with Dooley understands he’s a man of high intelligence, with a heavyweight education to back it up. He speaks in coherent sentences. He knows history, as he demonstrated with the World War II analogy. He even knows a little bit about infectious diseases, as he revealed in another of his greatest hits.

“We have a few staph infections, so we did a clinic yesterday on proper shower technique and soap and using a rag,” he once told the media. “Y’all think I’m kidding. I’m serious. We have the worst shower discipline of any team I’ve ever been around, so we talked about application of soap to the rag and making sure you hit all your body. You can neglect it trying to cut corners and it shows in how you practice and elsewhere.”

It’s a fair point to make. But as with so many of these Dooley tangents that made him the butt of jokes around the SEC, his instinct to show the world he was the smartest guy in the room would have been more useful coaching Tennessee’s debate team than its football program. 

Still, it’s hard to say Dooley made the wrong choice when he left a prestigious Atlanta law firm in 1996 to join the family business. As successful as he probably would have been in any other field, Tennessee paid him $5 million just to go away. 

Dooley never seemed like he belonged in the SEC, but now he’s reemerged to test the theory he’ll be more adept at a different bare-knuckle sport than the one that takes place on Saturdays in the fall. We’ll see soon whether Georgia voters agree or Dooley’s home state puts one more L on his resumé.

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley revealed he declined an invitation to join President Donald Trump’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition.

Barkley explained his decision after the Eagles’ Monday practice.

‘A couple months ago, it was brought to my team about the council. So I’m not really too familiar with it,’ Barkley told reporters at the NovaCare facility, per ESPN. ‘I felt like I am going to be super busy, so me and my family thought it would probably be of best interest to not accept that.’

‘I was definitely a little shocked when my name was mentioned,’ he added. ‘I’m assuming it’s something great, so I appreciate it but was a little shocked when my name was mentioned.’

The executive order allows the council to have up to 30 participants. It will be chaired by LIV Golf star Bryson DeChambeau.

Barkley was named a member of the council by Trump in a news conference announcing its creation; current NFL players Nick Bosa, Tua Tagovailoa and Harrison Butker were also named part of the council along with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Pro Football Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor.

Barkley golfed with Trump ahead of the Eagles’ April White House visit, celebrating their Super Bowl 59 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

Barkley also revealed he golfed with former President Barack Obama in October at Merion Golf Club in Pennsylvania. Eagles owner Jeff Lurie was also in attendance for the round, as was quarterback Jalen Hurts, though he did not participate in the round.

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Guard De’Aaron Fox and the San Antonio Spurs have reached a deal on a four-year, $228.6 million maximum extension, Klutch Sports CEO and Fox’s agent Rich Paul said.

Fox’s deal will put him under contract with the Spurs through 2029-30, and the agreement gives the Spurs their backcourt of the present and future (Fox and Stephon Castle, the 2024-25 NBA Rookie of the Year) alongside blossoming star Victor Wembanyama.

With the extension, Fox is projected to earn $265.6 million over the next five seasons.

The Spurs acquired Fox from Sacramento at the February trade deadline and missed the final 18 games of the 2024-25 regular season. He averaged 23.5 points, 6.3 assists, 4.8 rebounds and shot 46.3% from the field and 31% on 3-pointers last season.

ESPN first reported the news of Fox’s deal.

What does the Spurs’ starting lineup look like?

It’s hard to project San Antonio’s starting lineup because it has not finished its offseason roster moves. But Fox, Castle and Wembanyama are penciled in as starters. Devin Vassell, Jeremy Sochan, Luke Kornet, Keldon Johnson, Julian Champagnie and 2025 first-round draft picks Dylan Harper and Carter Bryant will be part of the rotation with the possibility that Harrison Barnes re-signs with San Antonio.

Can the Spurs make the playoffs in 2025-26?

San Antonio was hurt by late-season injuries, including Wembanyama missing every game after All-Star Weekend with a blood clot. The Spurs were 23-29 at the time but just 3½ games outside of a spot in the play-in game. They finished 34-48.

The Spurs have an improved roster headed into this season, but they are also in a deep conference, and Mitch Johnson had the interim tag removed as head coach, replacing Gregg Popovich, who stepped down amid health issues.