The NBA named Phoenix Suns executive James Jones as executive vice president, head of basketball operations, the league announced.

Jones replaces Hall of Famer Joe Dumars, who left the league office in April to become the New Orleans Pelicans’ executive vice president of basketball operations. Jones, a former NBA player, will be in charge of the league’s basketball operations, rules enforcement and discipline.

Jones spent 14 seasons as a player in the NBA, winning three championships with the Miami Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers before moving into basketball operations upon retiring.

“I’m thrilled and honored to take on the responsibility of leading the Basketball Operations department,” Jones said in a statement.  “This is an exciting opportunity to pour my passion for the game into a new role and collaborate with so many talented professionals on driving the continued success and growth of the NBA.”

Jones spent eight years with the Suns, starting as a vice president of basketball operations in 2017, then being promoted to general manager two years later. He won the NBA Executive of the Year Award in 2021.

Colorado, Oklahoma State, Kansas, West Virginia, Houston, TCU, Arizona and Utah coaches and players participated in the media event at The Star in Frisco, Texas, after Arizona State, Iowa State, BYU, Cincinnati, UCF, Baylor, Texas Tech and Kansas State conducted interviews on Day 1.

Rich Rodriguez made his return to West Virginia, after last coaching the program in 2007. The Mountaineers coach left what was a perennial BCS bowl contender and has since seen varying levels of success at Michigan, Arizona and Jacksonville State — though none of it as prevalent as his first stint in Morgantown.

Colorado coach Deion Sanders brought the juice, as always, noting the Buffaloes still haven’t named a starter between first-year Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter and high-end freshman recruit Julian Lewis.

Here are the highlights from Day 2 of Big 12 media days, which concluded the event in 2025.

Big 12 media days live updates

Deion Sanders talks depth of Big 12

Deion Sanders predicts the Big 12 champion to have at least two losses this season, due to the depth of the conference that’s expected in 2025.

‘I’m going to go on record saying, whoever wins the Big 12 is probably going to lose two games,’ he said. ‘It’s going to go down to the end, like it was last season.’

Deion Sanders says Colorado is improved from 2024

Deion Sanders tells ESPN he thinks Colorado has a better team than last year, despite losing quarterback Shedeur Sanders and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter.

‘They were great players. We have a better team,’ Sanders said. ‘It’s a difference between great players and a great team. We have a better team, but we can never replace those types of players. It might take three players on offense to replace a Travis Hunter. It might take two players to replace a Shedeur Sanders, and that’s what we brought here.

‘We feel like we have a better defense for sure (and) a better offense more understanding of the scheme.’

Deion Sanders says Colorado has QB competition

Deion Sanders says he’s unsure who will start at quarterback between Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter and true freshman Julian Lewis, who both were brought to Big 12 media days.

‘We brought both of them because I don’t know which one is going to start,’ Sanders said.

Deion Sanders declines to comment on health

Deion Sanders, who was absent from spring camp due to an undisclosed health issue, declined to comment on his health status at Big 12 media days on Wednesday, July 9.

‘I’m really not going to tell you much,’ he said. ‘I’m not going to talk about my health, I’m here to talk about my team.’

Sanders also said: ‘I’m living good. I’m living lovely. Not a care in the world.’

Deion Sanders arrives at Big 12 media days with Michael Irvin

Deion Sanders arrives at Big 12 media days alongside his former Dallas Cowboys teammate Michael Irvin. Coach Prime is scheduled to meet with the media in a few minutes in Frisco, Texas.

Kyle Whittingham: ‘Couldn’t step away’ after ‘disappointing’ 2024 season

Entering his 21st season at Utah, Kyle Whittingham has been around the block a time or two in college football. The Utes looked to be positioned to win the Big 12 last season after being picked first in the conference’s preseason poll; however, that didn’t turn out to be the case. After starting the season 4-0, the Utes finished 5-7 overall — the program’s first losing season since 2013 — and lost seven of their final eight games.

He announced his return to Utah in December and appears to be energized for the 2025 season based on his comments at Big 12 media days. Whenever Whittingham decides to retire, Utah defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley will take over the helm of the program, as Scalley is the current coach in waiting.

‘The bottom line and the final analysis was I couldn’t step away on that note,’ Whittingham told ESPN at Big 12 media days on July 9. ‘It was too frustrating, too disappointing. As much as college football has changed with all the other factors that might pull you away, that was the overriding reason: that’s not us, that’s not who we are. It just left a bad taste in my mouth. I did not want to miss the opportunity to try to get that taste out.’

Julian Lewis, Colorado arrives at Big 12 media day

A new era of Colorado football is in store in Boulder for Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes, as Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders are off to the NFL with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Cleveland Browns, respectively. Headlining the group of Colorado players at Big 12 media day is freshman quarterback Julian Lewis, who flipped his commitment from USC to Colorado back in November.

Lance Leipold says Jalon Daniels is healthy

Kansas football quarterback Jalon Daniels was limited this spring due to injury and has dealt with injury issues earlier in his college career, but coach Lance Leipold reiterated that Daniels is healthy and through that adversity has always remained the same guy. Those positive, consistent qualities Daniels has are things the rest of the locker room respects. With Daniels leading the way, the Jayhawks have the potential to have a potent offense if everyone is playing well.

Of course, KU has to replace former running back Devin Neal. Neal was drafted into the NFL by the New Orleans Saints. But Kansas should have a veteran duo of Daniel Hishaw Jr. and Leshon Williams it can rely upon at that position.

— Jordan Guskey, The Topeka Capital-Journal

Rich Rodriguez running throwback offense

Rich Rodriguez, who was hired for his second tenure at West Virginia in the offseason, said he’s set to run a similar offense to when he led some dominant offenses for the Mountaineers from 2001-07.

“It was more fun 20 years ago when everyone wasn’t running tempo and was not prepared for it.’

Mike Gundy reflects on unknowns for Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy is nearing the start of a preseason camp in which more than half the players on his roster are in their first season with the Cowboys. 

“The offseason for us has been crazy,” Gundy said. “Whenever I used to go on vacation in July, I’d have a really good idea of who our two-deep was gonna be, and in most cases, who the starting quarterback was gonna be. 

“I’m gonna try to go on vacation in a week or so, and I’m not sure that I know who will be the starters in eight of the 22 spots, not counting special teams. Coaches understand that it’s gonna have to happen faster in August than it ever has before, so we can get established, so we can create some identity, hopefully develop some team chemistry and get ready to play in the first game.”

Of the 114 players on the roster OSU released ahead of Big 12 media days, 62 are first-year Cowboys. And that’s in addition to a coaching staff turnover that resulted in 12 new offensive and defensive assistants hired over the winter.

— Scott Wright, The Oklahoman

Oklahoma State QB situation still in competition

Mike Gundy says Oklahoma State is still figuring out its starting quarterback for 2025, whether it’s Zane Flores or Hauss Hejny, who transferred from TCU in the offseason.

Neither quarterback have taken a snap for the Cowboys.

Gundy also said Oklahoma State has 35 new players, 18 of which via the transfer portal.

Cam Smith says Oklahoma State has chip on shoulder

Oklahoma State defensive back Cam Smith says the Cowboys are being overlooked after their 3-9 finish last season. No Oklahoma State players appeared on the preseason All-Big 12 team.

‘I feel like we are, as a team playing with a chip on our shoulder,’ he said. ‘I feel like everybody is kind of overlooking Oklahoma State based on our season we had last year. We kind of don’t want to focus on the media too much, just kind of focus on what we got going on.’

Mike Gundy reacts to video game depiction

‘That for sure says I have a full head of hair,’ Gundy said. ‘They got me all muscled up, I’m not that muscled up.’

Willie Fritz with high praise for Conner Weigman

Houston coach Willie Fritz expects new quarterback Conner Weigman to be one of the best quarterbacks in the Big 12 this season after transferring from Texas A&M.

‘I think he can be a top quarterback in the Big 12,’ Fritz said via ESPN. ‘I think Conner is really excited for this fresh start.’

Fritz also said the former five-star quarterback was clocked at 21 mph this offseason.

Colorado’s pair of new QBs in the building

Projected starter Kaidon Salter, a transfer from Liberty, and blue-chip freshman Julian Lewis, are both at The Star in Frisco for Big 12 media days. Here’s the duo checking in:

Big 12 partners with WWE

The Big 12 announced a partnership with WWE on Wednesday, July 9, which brings Friday Night Smackdown events to conference markets in 2025.

Here is the full list of dates for Friday Night Smackdown events in Big 12 cities this season:

Friday, Aug. 22: Iowa State vs. Kansas State (Dublin, Ireland)
Friday, Oct. 3: Iowa State at Cincinnati (Cincinnati)
Friday, Oct. 24: Houston at Arizona State (Tempe, Arizona)
Friday, Oct. 31: Cincinnati at Utah (Salt Lake City)

Big 12 media days schedule, lineup

Here’s the full lineup of participants for Day 2 of Big 12 media days, which is scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET.

Arizona

QB Noah Fifita
OL Rhino Tapa’atoutai
DL Tre Smith
DB Treydan Stukes
DB Dalton Johnson
DB Genesis Smith

Colorado

QB Julian Lewis
QB Kaidon Salter
OL Jordan Seaton
DB DJ McKinney
K Alejandro Mata

Houston

WR Mekhi Mews
WR Stephon Johnson
DL Carlos Allen Jr.
DB Latrell McCutchin Sr.

Kansas

QB Jalon Daniels
C Bryce Foster
DE Dean Miller
DT D.J. Withers

Oklahoma State

TE Josh Ford
DT Iman Oates
DB Cam Smith

TCU

QB Josh Hoover
WR Eric McAlister
OL Coltin Deery
LB Devean Deal
LB Namdi Obiazor
DB Bud Clark

Utah

QB Devon Dampier
OL Spencer Fano
DB Smith Snowden
LB Lander Barton

West Virginia

WR Jaden Bray
OL Landen Livingston
DL Edward Vesterinen

Big 12 media days recap

Here are the highlights from Day 1 of Big 12 media days, which took place on Tuesday, July 8:

What channel are Big 12 media days on?

TV channel: ESPNU | ESPN2
Streaming: ESPN app | ESPN+ | Fubo (free trial)

Both days of the event will air live on ESPNU, with portions of the event partially airing on ESPN2, as well. Streaming options include the ESPN app (with a TV provider login) and ESPN+, which requires a subscription. Another option is Fubo, which carries the ESPN family of networks and offers a free trial.

Janie Hunt, a 9-year-old who was a relative of Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt, was killed in the flooding that hit Texas over the weekend while attending Camp Mystic.

Janie’s mother and grandmother both confirmed the deaths to various news outlets. Clark’s wife, Tavia Hunt, addressed it in an Instagram post.

“Our hearts are broken by the devastation from the floods in Wimberley and the tragic loss of so many lives – including a precious little Hunt cousin, along with several friend’s little girls,” she wrote.

It was Janie’s first time at Camp Mystic and she was joined by six of her cousins who survived, her grandmother, Margaret Hunt, told the New York Times.

According to the Kansas City Star, Janie was the great-granddaughter of William Herbert Hunt, who was the brother of Chiefs founder Lamar Hunt. Clark, the current principal owner of the team, is Lamar’s son.

As of Monday, the death toll from Camp Mystic in Kerrville, Texas had reached at least 27 counselors and campers. The total number of deaths from the flooding along Guadalupe River has reached 111 with 161 people in Kerr County alone still missing as of Wednesday morning, according to Texas governor Greg Abbott.

USA TODAY Sports has reached out to the Kansas City Chiefs for comment.

This story will be updated.

The race for the College Football Playoff is about to start, but who are the teams that could really make the 12-team field?

The expanded playoff means more teams have the chance to win a national championship, and while there are some teams expected to make the field, last season showed Cinderella squads have the chance to shock the country and qualify for a spot.

It’s no different heading into the upcoming season with perennial national championship contenders, but it’s unknown whether they’ll actually make it, or some dark horse team will emerge like Indiana and Arizona State last season. Luckily, EA Sports College Football 26 out to give a preview of what could happen.

Most College Football Playoff appearances in College Football 26 simulation

Penn State had the most College Football Playoff appearances, making it in 88 of the 100 simulated seasons. It also won the most national championships of the simulation with 20 titles and 17 second-place finishes.

A total of eight schools − Penn State, Oregon, Georgia, Miami, Texas Tech, Clemson and Duke − appeared in the playoff more than 50% of the time.

College Football 26 simulation College Football Playoff breakdown

Penn State: 88 appearances (made final 27 times)
Oregon: 73 appearances (made final 22 times)
Georgia: 71 appearances (made final 23 times)
Miami: 70 appearances (made final 16 times)
Texas Tech: 68 appearances (made final 13 times)
Clemson: 67 appearances (made final 23 times)
Duke: 52 appearances (made final nine times)
Texas: 49 appearances (made final 10 times)
Boise State: 47 appearances
Ohio State: 44 appearances (made final two times)
Michigan: 41 appearances (made final 10 times)
Oklahoma: 37 appearances (made final five times)
Southern California: 36 appearances (made final three times)
Florida: 33 appearances (made final nine times)
Texas A&M: 32 appearances (made final four times)
Brigham Young: 27 appearances (made final one time)
Alabama: 26 appearances (made final one time)
Southern Methodist: 25 appearances
Notre Dame: 24 appearances (made final two times)
Indiana: 24 appearances (made final one time)
Tulane: 24 appearances
Iowa State: 21 appearances (made final one time)
Baylor: 20 appearances (made final two times)
Auburn: 15 appearances (made final one time)
Louisville: 14 appearances (made final one time)
Illinois: 13 appearances
LSU: 12 appearances (made final one time)
Kansas State: 12 appearances (made final one time)
UNLV: 11 appearances
South Carolina: 11 appearances
Arizona State: 10 appearances
Pittsburgh: nine appearances (made final one time)
Nebraska: eight appearances
Navy: eight appearances
Tennessee: seven appearances
Mississippi: six appearances
Memphis: six appearances
UCLA: five appearance (made final one time)
Virginia Tech: five appearances
Southern Mississippi: four appearances
Colorado: four appearances
North Carolina: four appearances
Missouri: four appearances
Kansas: three appearances
Washington: three appearances
California: three appearances
South Florida: three appearances
West Virginia: two appearances
Buffalo: two appearances
UTSA: two appearances
James Madison: two appearances
Rutgers: two appearances
Colorado State: one appearance
Vanderbilt: one appearance
Hawaii: one appearance
Mississippi State: one appearance
North Texas: one appearance
Wake Forest: one appearance
Liberty: one appearance
Wisconsin: one appearance
San Jose State: one appearance
San Diego State: one appearance

The New Orleans Saints will be patrolling in new domes during the 2025 season, for a few games anyway.

The team introduced a white helmet into its uniform closet Wednesday. It features the familiar fleur-de-lis logo in gold, golden face masks and a gold stripe down the center of the helmet with more fleur-de-lis embossed onto it. Unlike the team’s black alternate helmet, there is no tapering effect. Two thinner black strips border the gold one. There are also black flecks adorning the white shell, giving the helmet a slight resemblance to vanilla ice cream (maybe for those who like it atop their King cake).

The black helmet has been occasionally worn – but not widely embraced by the fan base – since its introduction in 2022.

The league’s relaxed restrictions for wearing alternate helmets provide options for the Saints. However they did announce Wednesday that they would use the white helmet with their Color Rush uniform, which features a white jersey and white pants with black and gold trim and gold numbers.

The black alternate helmet had been exclusively used with that white-over-white combination, worn four times over the past three seasons but never in New Orleans. The Saints are 0-4 in those games. However the black one could now be paired with the club’s black jerseys and, presumably, black pants.

The Saints have officially hopped on a growing trend of teams adding white helmets to their inventories. Sixteen of the NFL’s teams – exactly half – utilized a white primary or alternate helmet at some point during the 2024 season, the Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars and Minnesota Vikings among those who introduced them as new alternatives.

The Saints, along with every other team, will be permitted to wear alternate and/or throwback uniforms a combined total of four times this season.

Kylian Mbappé will start for Real Madrid in Wednesday’s titanic 2025 FIFA Club World Cup semifinal against Paris Saint-Germain, his former club.

Mbappé, one of the biggest names in global soccer, has barely featured at the Club World Cup. He didn’t play in any of Real Madrid’s group-stage games due to what the club said was gastroenteritis. Mbappé’s symptoms resulted in him being briefly hospitalized on June 19, but he was able to return to play 22 minutes in a 1-0 win over Juventus in the round of 16.

REAL MADRID VS. PSG: Updates and highlights from Club World Cup clash

The France forward came off the bench again on Saturday in a 3-2 victory over Borussia Dortmund, scoring what eventually became the game-winning goal. In his absence, Real Madrid has gotten goals from a surprising source, with 21-year-old reserve Gonzalo García scoring his first four times in competitive play for the first team.

Mbappé joined Real Madrid just over a year ago, leaving PSG as a free agent after seven seasons with France’s most famous team. In his first season with the La Liga giants, Mbappé scored 44 goals in 58 competitive appearances, including a league-leading 31 goals in the Spanish top flight.

Watch Club World Cup free on DAZN

The Oklahoma City Thunder and center Chet Holmgren agreed to a five-year contract extension, Holmgren’s agent Bill Duffy confirmed the deal.

Holmgren, 23, averaged 15 points, eight rebounds, and two assists in 32 games for the NBA champions after missing time when he broke his pelvis in November. Holmgren was the second pick in the 2022 NBA Draft out of Gonzaga, and his rookie campaign was wiped out after a right foot injury. When he did see the court in the 2023-24 season, he averaged 16.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 2.3 blocks per game, finishing second in the Rookie of the Year voting.

The Thunder have been busy this offseason after winning the NBA title in seven games over the Indiana Pacers. The team signed star guard and NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to a four-year, $285 million contract extension, with an annual average of $71.25 million per season being the highest in NBA history. Jalen Williams, a third-team All-NBA selection, is next to earn a big pay day and is scheduled to become a restricted free agent in 2026.

The 2025-26 season is the final year of Holmgren’s four-year, $45 million rookie deal. He was set to make $13.7 million under a club option for the fourth year.

Chicago Sky superstar Angel Reese is adding to her impressive resume.

On Wednesday, the two-time WNBA All-Star was named the cover athlete for the NBA 2K26 WNBA Edition. To make the occasion even more special, Reese debuted her first signature shoe with Reebok on the cover.

“Being on the cover of NBA 2K26 and debuting my first-ever signature shoe with Reebok on thatcover, the Angel Reese 1, is more than a milestone — it’s a statement,” Reese said in a press release. “It’s about representation and showing young girls they can be confident, bold, and take up space unapologetically.’

Reese, 23, signed with Reebok in October 2023 ahead of her senior season at LSU shortly after Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal, a fellow Tiger, was named the president of Reebok Basketball.

Reese follows in the footsteps of WNBA greats who have graced the cover of the popular video game. Candace Parker graced the NBA 2K22 WNBA 25th Anniversary Edition while playing for the Chicago Sky. Phoenix Mercury legend Diana Taurasi and Seattle Storm icon Sue Bird were featured on the NBA 2K23 WNBA Edition. New York Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu was the cover athlete for the NBA 2K24 WNBA Edition, followed by Las Vegas Aces’ A’ja Wilson for NBA 2K25 WNBA Edition.

‘To be cemented in NBA 2K history is a special honor that reflects not only my journey, but also all the veteran WNBA players who have paved the way before me and the growing impact of the league as a whole,’ Reese said. ‘I’m proud to be part of a game that continues to elevate women’s basketball and can’t wait for fans to see how NBA 2K26 brings our game to life like never before.”

Reese burst onto the scene while leading LSU to a national championship in 2023. She was drafted seventh overall by the Chicago Sky in the 2024 WNBA Draft and quickly made an impact her rookie year. Reese led the league in total rebounds (13.1) and offensive rebounds per game (5.1), setting a WNBA single season rookie record for the most rebounds (446). Her 15-game double-double streak set a record for the most consecutive since Candace Parker had 12 in a row spanning the 2009 and 2010 seasons. A wrist injury cut Reese’s rookie campaign short, but she was named WNBA All-Rookie Team.

This season Reese is averaging 12.6 points, 12.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists throughout 17 games.

Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be featured on the NBA 2K26 cover.

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