LSU reeled in Lane Kiffin. Mostly, though, SEC schools hired unproven up-and-comers. Big Ten schools like Michigan and Penn State landed veteran winners.
Kyle Whittingham, Matt Campbell and Pat Fitzgerald have a lot of notches on the belt.
For SEC to claim victory in this hiring cycle, coaches like Jon Sumrall and Alex Golesh need to prove they’re up to the challenge.

The Big Ten is thriving so far this postseason. (OK, so maybe Southern Cal’s tackling isn’t thriving, but the rest of the B1G is doing just fine.)

With a couple of exceptions, the SEC is wilting.

And what of the coaching carousel? Did the Big Ten club the SEC there, too? You could make that case.

LSU scored the big fish by securing Lane Kiffin. Mostly, though, SEC schools hired promising but largely unproven up-and-comers, while Big Ten schools like Michigan and Penn State landed veteran winners with solid resumes.

On this edition of ‘SEC Football Unfiltered,’ a podcast from the USA TODAY Network, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams evalute which conference did it better in this hiring cycle.

They also debate which conference has the better complete roster of coaches. And they discuss which SEC schools would have been well-served by hiring Kyle Whittingham, who wound up at Michigan.

Coaching hires in the SEC

LSU: Lane Kiffin (Mississippi)
Auburn:Alex Golesh (South Florida)
Florida: Jon Sumrall (Tulane)
Arkansas:Ryan Silverfield (Memphis)
Kentucky:Will Stein (Oregon offensive coordinator)
Ole Miss: Pete Golding (promoted from defensive coordinator)

Overview: LSU made the splashiest hire of this coaching cycle, plundering Kiffin from a conference rival and luring him away from a playoff team. Elsewhere, three SEC schools hired coaches from the American Conference, while two schools went the coordinator route.

Coaching hires in the Big Ten

Michigan:Kyle Whittingham (Utah)
Penn State: Matt Campbell (Iowa State)
Michigan State: Pat Fitzgerald (formerly at Northwestern)
UCLA:Bob Chesney (James Madison)

Overview: This marks a sharp pivot from the SEC’s strategy of raiding the American. UCLA went the Group of Five route with Chesney, but the other three Big Ten schools making hires turned to veterans. Whittingham is the winningest coach in Utah history. Campbell is the winningest coach in Iowa State history. Fitzgerald is the winningest coach in Northwestern history.

Which conference hired better?

Advantage goes to the Big Ten. Bravo to LSU for securing Kiffin, but the rest of the SEC hired less proven coaches than Whittingham, Campbell or Fitzgerald. That doesn’t mean someone like Sumrall or Golesh won’t succeed, but any of the SEC’s hires not named Kiffin seems riskier than someone who’s as accomplished as Campbell.

Which conference has better roster of coaches?

Toppmeyer: The Big Ten has the better full roster of coaches. At the top, the SEC is just as good. I’d put an SEC five-pack of Kirby Smart, Kalen DeBoer, Kiffin, Steve Sarkisian and Josh Heupel up against the Big Ten’s Ryan Day, Curt Cignetti, Dan Lanning, Whittingham and Campbell.

In the middle of the conferences and in the lower-third, I give the nod to the Big Ten. Consider, Bret Bielema (Illinois) probably ranks somewhere in the No. 8 range of the Big Ten’s pecking order of coaches. Bielema beat South Carolina and Tennessee in bowl games in the past two seasons. He’s won 19 games with the Illini the past two years. That’s no small feat, and he’s just one example of the Big Ten’s solid collection of down-ballot coaches.

A few years from now, we might say the SEC’s coaches are as good or better than the Big Ten’s, but we can’t say that now. Too many unproven figures.

Adams: Toppmeyer is right. The Big Ten enjoys the edge.

The SEC remains strong at the top, but it can’t match the Big Ten’s quality in the middle or lower ranks. The Big Ten upgraded its roster of coaches in this hiring cycle. The SEC took ambitious shots on younger candidates. That might work, so we reserve the right to re-evaluate this in a couple of years. For now, I’d take the Big Ten’s coaching roster.

Later in the episode

∎ The hosts unpack the College Football Playoff quarterfinal matchups, including what’s at stake for Kalen DeBoer in Alabama-Indiana and whether Mississippi plays with house money in a rematch with Georgia.

Where to listen to SEC Football Unfiltered

Apple
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Google

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s national college football columnist. John Adams is the senior sports columnist for the Knoxville News Sentinel. Subscribe to the SEC Football Unfiltered podcast, and check out the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.

Texas quarterback Arch Manning ended his first season as the Longhorns’ full-time starter with a bang against Michigan on Wednesday, Dec. 31.

Manning led Texas to a 41-27 win over the Wolverines in the Citrus Bowl, scoring four total touchdowns with nearly 400 yards of offense in the high-scoring affair. The redshirt sophomore quarterback outplayed fellow former five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood, who completed 23 of 40 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns to three interceptions in the loss.

Manning, the nephew of Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning, entered the season as one of the most hyped players in recent college football history due to his family ties and background as a five-star recruit. He struggled at first but ultimately ended the regular season with 2,942 passing yards and 24 touchdowns to seven interceptions, also rushing for 244 yards and eight scores.

Manning has already announced he’s returning to Texas in 2026, and will have huge expectations after the Longhorns failed to reach the College Football Playoff this season despite opening the year as the preseason No. 1 team in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll.

Here’s a look at Manning’s full stats against Michigan in Texas’ season-closing win over Michigan in the Citrus Bowl:

Arch Manning stats

Passing: 21-of-34 passing for 221 yards with two touchdowns
Rushing: Nine carries for 155 yards with two touchdowns (17.2 yards per carry)

Arch Manning highlights

Each of Manning’s four touchdowns were at least 15 yards, starting with a 17-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jack Endries in the second quarter.

Manning scored again late in the third quarter, taking it himself for a 23-yard touchdown run off the scramble, avoiding numerous defenders while breaking a few tackles.

He later threw a pinpoint pass to Kaliq Lockett in a one-on-one situation for a 30-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter to give Texas a 31-27 lead.

He also showed off his wheels when, immediately following an Underwood turnover, he outran the entire Michigan defense for a 60-yard score to put the game out of reach.

In all, Manning’s performance helped lift an undermanned Texas team to a win in the Citrus Bowl — and kickstart what could be an even more anticipated follow-up season in 2026.

You ready for some more Arch Manning Heisman hype? Here comes another round, after Manning picked apart Michigan in a bowl victory for Texas.
On its best day, Texas was a College Football Playoff team. It had too few best days and too many flops.
Bryce Underwood throws three interceptions as new Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham observes.

Can’t spell Citrus without U-T.

Sorry, couldn’t resist.

Steve Spurrier’s quip rings as true today as it did when he uncorked it in 1997 at the expense of Tennessee and Peyton Manning.

A different UT and another Manning finished a season at the Citrus Bowl. Say this much for the Mannings: They don’t lose these also-ran bowl games in Orlando.

You ready for some more Arch Manning Heisman hype? Here comes another round, after Manning picked apart Michigan in this 41-27 bowl victory for Texas.

Buckle up, Arch Manning fuels some fresh Heisman hype

Manning concluded his seesawing first season as Texas’ starter on a crescendo. He looks miles better than he did at the beginning of the season. Also, coach Steve Sarkisian gradually accepted he must embrace Manning’s best quality — his speed. He’d smoke his uncles in a foot race. Manning rushed for a career-high 155 yards against Michigan.

Heisman voters relish a dual-threat quarterback. Just saying.

With three pass rushers in Manning’s face and Texas trailing in the fourth quarter, he somehow wriggled out of trouble to move the chains on a pivotal fourth-down scramble. A few plays later, he tossed a go-ahead 30-yard touchdown strike.

Heisman moments! Just kidding. Manning will have to settle for a Citrus Bowl bow — for now, anyway.

Manning will put the NFL on hold to return to Texas in 2026. Buckle up for another offseason of Manning mania.

How did Texas fail to reach College Football Playoff? Good question

Let’s learn from our past mistakes and keep the hyperbole in check, shall we? In the span of several weeks this fall, Manning went from being the nation’s most ballyhooed quarterback with the famous surname to ‘a man synonymous with failure,’ if you believed the New York Times’ absurd narrative.

Manning is not some superhuman blend of Tim Tebow meets Joe Burrow with a dash of Cam Newton. He’s got talents of his own, though, and they were on full display against the Wolverines.

Manning played well enough that it remains difficult to understand why Texas’ season ended here and not in the College Football Playoff.

What a waste, for Texas, of a talented roster backed by a well-funded war chest.

A Texas team good enough to beat Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Vanderbilt and Michigan should have reached the playoff and not lost three games, but the Longhorns were maddeningly inconsistent and not especially fundamentally sound.

In that way, Texas’ bowl performance reflected the regular season that preceded it.

Texas, the SEC’s most penalized team, attracted 12 flags in this one. Its wide receivers betrayed Manning by showing the holiday spirit hadn’t softened their hands of stone. Michigan enjoyed some success working against a reconstructed Texas defense affected by opt-outs.

And, still, Manning played well enough that a Texas season marred by a few bad games, including a crippling flop in The Swamp, ended in triumph.

On its best day, Texas could look like one of the nation’s 12-best teams. The Longhorns didn’t make the playoff for a few reasons. For one, this CFP format isn’t designed to produce the 12-best teams. Also, on any given Saturday, Texas was as likely to flop as it was to dazzle.

The same Texas team that looked miserable in a loss to Florida (which finished 4-8) and needed overtime to fend off Kentucky and Mississippi State beat four opponents that finished with at least nine wins.

Go figure.

Kyle Whittingham gets eyes on Bryce Underwood

Manning outplayed Michigan’s Bryce Underwood, himself a former five-star quarterback recruit.

If Underwood returns to Michigan, new coach Kyle Whittingham must engineer more consistency than the Wolverines got from the true freshman. Underwood interspersed brilliance with blunders. Texas intercepted him three times.

Not unlike Manning, Underwood requires more wide receiver help, too. He also needs to gain some of the polish Manning acquired throughout his first season as Texas’ starter.

Of course Manning would play well in Orlando. Uncle Peyton’s career included two triumphs in the Citrus Bowl, while Spurrier’s Gators played in more premier bowl games. Peyton came up just short of the Heisman Trophy in his final season at Tennessee.

Texas kept the UT in Citrus this season, but Arch isn’t done yet.

Manning for 2026 Heisman? That campaign begins now.

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

The parents of Aidan Zingg, a 16-year-old motocross star who died June 28 during a race in Mammoth Lakes, Calif., submitted a wrongful death and survival lawsuit to the Superior Court of California in Riverside County for filing against the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) and other entities involved in the race, according to an electronic confirmation generated by the court Tuesday, Dec. 30.

The parents alleged the fatal collision was preventable and resulted from careless race operations and defective safety equipment, according to a copy of the complaint reviewed by USA TODAY Sports.

After initially going down on the track, Aidan was conscious and alert as he made attempts to regain his feet, according to the complaint, which states no caution flags or warnings were raised by race operators as the race continued at Mammoth Mountain Motocross.

According to the complaint, Aidan’s jersey and equipment showed visible signs of being struck by at least one other rider, according to the complaint, which says the chest protector Zingg wore during the race was punctured.

Despite efforts to perform life-saving measures on Aidan, he was pronounced dead at Mammoth Hospital later that day, according to the complaint.

According to the electronic confirmation of the filing, the documents submitted to the court by the Zinggs’ attorney will be accepted, partially accepted or rejected by the Clerk of Court. The confirmation provides no timetable for the process to be completed.

A wrongful death lawsuit seeks compensation for surviving relatives based on the economic and emotional impact of the death. A survival action lawsuit seeks compensation for costs the deceased person may have incurred before death and compensation for the deceased person’s conscious pain and suffering from the time of injury to death. 

“Most of all, the Zingg family is seeking transparency and accountability wherever it is fair and just,” attorney Kevin Biniazan, representing the family, said in a statement provided to USA TODAY Sports. ‘If this legal action motivates safer operations of these races and equipment that these riders wear in a way that saves another family from enduring what the Zinggs have endured and will continue to endure, it will have been a success.” 

Is Motocross the deadliest sport for youth? An Investigation

Aidan is one of at least 158 children and teens who have died on dirt bikes and at motocross tracks since 2000, according to a USA TODAY Investigation. That makes it the deadliest sport for young people – roughly seven times greater than tackle football.

During the USA TODAY investigation, a spokesperson for the AMA said it has longstanding safety protocols for its sanctioned events and can’t control unaffiliated tracks.

But the lawsuit filed by Aidan’s parents, Robert and Shari, says Mike Burkeen, Deputy Director of Racing for the AMA, was present at Mammoth Motocross June 20-29 and “possessed the responsibility and authority to manage the racing activities to preserve the safety of riders.’’ The races were sanctioned by the AMA.

In addition to the AMA, other defendants named in the lawsuit include 2XP LLC, a California-based company that worked with the AMA to promote the annual amateur races; Alterra Mountain Company U.S. Inc., a hospitality company in Denver that owns Mammoth Mountain; and Revelyst Adventure Sports that does business as Fox Racing and manufactures motocross protective equipment, including the chest protector Aidan wore during the fatal crash,  according to the complaint.

The AMA and 2XP, according to the complaint, entered into a joint venture and agreement ‘to plan,organize, operate, promote, and oversee the motocross racing at Mammoth Motocross.”

The defendants did not immediately respond to requests for comment USA TODAY Sports submitted by phone, text message and email.

Aidan Zingg’s death timeline, according to complaint

The day of the race, Aidan, a prodigy with Kawasaki’s prestigious Green Team program, was participating in the morning 250B class race, according to the complaint. The complaint says Aidan went down after rounding the corner at Turn 9, which was the furthest from the start line where most spectators were located, according to the complaint.

The corner was left unmanned by flaggers, who raise and wave flags to communicate cautions and dangers, including when a rider goes down, according to the complaint. The complaint described that decision to leave the turn unmanned as a, “particularly reckless decision.’’

No caution flags or warnings were raised by race operators when Aidan went down and, according to riders, he was conscious and attempted to regain his feet. He was found later face down on the racetrack.

The race had continued for approximately three more laps before it was stopped, according to the complaint, which says Aidan’s father became alarmed when he did not see his son lap the track with the other riders, according to the complaint.

Making his way to the back of the track, Aidan’s father saw his son on the track, according to the complaint, which says Aidan’s father and others “swarmed’’ to render aid, but Aidan was pronounced dead at Mammoth Hospital later in the day.

The complaint also cited design, construction, and maintenance or some combination thereof, in creating ‘a dangerous condition at Turn 9 because of a near hairpin turn coming out of a jump and into another.”

“The design, construction, and maintenance of Turn 9 increased the risk of riders crashing into each other while riding or crashing into a rider who had fallen on the track and created a heightened risk of injury by participating in Mammoth Motocross as compared to other motocross races or tracks,’’ according to the complaint.

The AMA and 2XP “coordinated and approved a crowded field of 29 riders’’ who competed in the 250B class race.

Aidan’s parents have demanded a jury trial and are seeking damages, including but not limited to, pain, suffering, and disfigurement and other losses or damages that the decedent sustained or incurred before death, according to the complaint.

The San Francisco Giants continue to make splashes during this offseason with new hires and signees.

In their most recent transaction, the Giants reportedly will sign 31-year-old right-hand pitcher Tyler Mahle on a one-year deal. He spent the 2025 season with the Texas Rangers.

The deal was first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle and confirmed by MLB.com, ESPN and NBC Sports Bay Area.

Mahle is expected to help the Giants address their shortcomings at pitcher after the club signed starting pitcher Adrian Houser and relief pitcher Jason Foley.

Entering his 10th MLB season, Mahle has battled some injuries in recent years, including undergoing Tommy John surgery that ended his 2023 season.

Mahle battled back from surgery in 2024, but a nagging injury to his right shoulder forced him to be sidelined again as the 2024 season wound down, and subsequently, he was shut down for the remainder of the year.

He persevered to bounce back in 2025, where he started 16 contests for the Rangers at the start of the season. Mahle put up a 6-4 record as a starter and produced a 2.18 ERA with 66 strikeouts in 86 innings pitched. He sat for months during the 2025 season, as his right shoulder — a rotator cuff strain– continued to give him problems.

Mahle has a career record of 39-46 in 144 games played, including 141 games as starting pitcher. He has a career win percentage at 45.9%. He’s struck out 753 batters in his career, compared to allowing 264 walks.

Tyler Mahle Highlights

In 2020, the National Links Trust signed a 50-year deal to oversee Washington D.C.’s three municipal golf courses. Just five years later, the Trump administration has officially ended that lease, claiming a breach of contract with the National Parks Service, which owns each the land that the courses are on.

According to reports, the deal was meant to propel projects to redesign and renovate the three courses, using money from donors and government funding. The Trump administration claims that these improvements have not been done in a timely enough manner, thusly breaking their agreement.

‘The Trump administration prides itself on getting the job done for the American people and partnering with others who share that same goal,’ the Interior Department said in a statement Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the National Links Trust is ‘devastated’ at this development, believing they’d always maintained a ‘productive and cooperative working relationship with the National Park Service.’

What does this mean for D.C.’s municipal golf courses?

In the short-term, not much. The National Links Trust has agreed to stay on for the time being in order to maintain operations at each of the three courses. However, all long-term projects, including the Rock Creek Park rehabilitation project, which is currently ongoing, will halt immediately.

Is Trump attempting to take over D.C.’s golf scene?

This decision has sparked controversy, with some media outlets believing Trump is attempting to take over the county’s public golf system. Just a few days ago, reports emerged that D.C.’s local golf officials and elected leaders would do anything in their power to prevent President Trump from gaining control of the system, even noting that the termination of the lease with the National Links Trust had been brewing since earlier in the fall when Trump’s administration sent the Trust a notice.

Since its inception, the National Links Trust has maintained that its mission is to maintain affordability and access for D.C.’s local golf scene. Charles Allen, a member of the D.C. council, has gone on record stating that he believes Trump’s decision to end the lease with the National Links Trust is an attempt to obtain the land ‘for the wealthy and well connected.’

Allen said, ‘These are historic, important public courses that have a rich history of affordability and access.’ He continued, ‘It concerns me to have the Trump administration terminate the lease for, let’s be honest, made-up reasons.’

How many golf courses does Trump own?

Trump owns more than a dozen courses around the world, including 11 in the United States. He’s also made his love for the East Potomac Golf Links — widely considered the best course in the D.C. Area — well-known, recently telling the Wall Street Journal ‘If we [renovate] them, we’ll do it really beautifully.’

Some sources indicate that Trump’s vision is to transform the East Potomac Golf Links into a ‘championship-level facility capable of holding professional tour events and international competition.’ Many critics believe that this decision would go against everything East Potomac has stood for, namely creating a space for affordable golf in a densely populated metropolitan area.

Will the National Links Trust take legal action against the Trump administration?

According to reports, The National Links Trust had ‘retained legal counsel from two prominent D.C.-area firms’ just a few days ago, weighing their legal options should their lease be terminated.

Well, that day has come.

However, they also noted that filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration would only be a last resort for the Trust. There is no news currently that the National Links Trust is looking to file any such suit.

Ohio State and Miami (Fla.) have met before in the postseason before with a national championship at stake. That meeting was during the 2002 season in the Bowl Championship Series title game. It ended with the Buckeyes winning after a controversial pass interference call extended the game in overtime.

Things have changed greatly for both programs since. Ohio State has been a consistent presence at the top of college football, winning two more national championships. Miami hasn’t been anywhere title contention, making just one ACC title game appearance and their first College Football Playoff this year.

But that means little come Wednesday night in the Cotton Bowl when both teams will be playing for a berth in the semifinals. Who will be the winner that moves on to the Fiesta Bowl. Our experts offer their predictions for the New Year’s Eve showdown.

Ohio State vs Miami predictions in Cotton Bowl

Matt Hayes

A line of scrimmage game. Two of the best offensive and defensive lines in the nation. More important: two quarterbacks who must figure out how to adjust. Ohio State’s Julian Sayin is accurate when escaping the rush, Miami’s Carson Beck has struggled against pressure. Ohio State 27, Miami 17.

Jordan Mendoza

We saw how Ryan Day responded after a loss right before the playoff last season, can he and the Buckeyes do it again? Miami’s offense struggled mightily against Texas A&M and it doesn’t get any easier in the Cotton Bowl. This one stays close in the early stages before the Buckeyes pull away and put the game on cruise control in the second half. Ohio State 27, Miami 13.

Paul Myerberg

Miami is capable of making things tough on Ohio State on both lines. Ideally, the Hurricanes’ defense will win on first down and pin its ears back on third down. But OSU has so many weapons that Miami will have to play something close to an A-level game, especially with the Buckeyes’ own defense leading the nation in yards per game and per play. Ohio State 27, Miami 17.

Erick Smith

This looks to be a walkover for Ohio State given its advantage in offensive talent. It might take a while to get there with Miami’s strength at the line of scrimmage mucking things up. However, look for a strong fourth quarter to allow the Buckeyes to pull away unless Hurricanes quarterback Carson Beck has a memorable night. Ohio State 28, Miami 10.

Eddie Timanus

The defenses will set the tone in this one with just a few big throws mixed in. The Buckeyes will force a key miscue late and come away with the win. Ohio State 24, Miami 17.

Blake Toppmeyer

Miami’s defense is excellent. It showed that against Texas A&M. That unit gives the Hurricanes a chance, but Ohio State enjoys the quarterback advantage. Ohio State 17, Miami 13.

Two New England Patriots players have been charged with assault in the last 36 hours.

Wide receiver Stefon Diggs is facing felony strangulation or suffocation charge as well as misdemeanor assault as of Dec. 30. Defensive lineman Christian Barmore is facing assault and battery charges as of Dec. 31.

Coach Mike Vrabel has the team at 13-3 and fighting for the No. 1 seed in the AFC in his first year in New England. He was asked today about the charges against Diggs and Barmore as the team prepares for Week 18.

‘We’ve been aware of these allegations,’ Vrabel said. ‘Yesterday and today isn’t the first that we’ve heard about them. [We] try to do everything in accordance with the league policy and making sure that the league, that we’re in compliance with the league.’

Vrabel shot down any fears that Diggs and Barmore’s legal proceedings would be a distraction for the other players.

‘I’m 50 years old, going to be 51, I’m not afraid,’ Vrabel said. ‘I love coaching this football team.’

The team put out a statement about both players and said the franchise is aware of reports regarding both Diggs and Barmore. The statements did not include comments because both are ‘ongoing legal matters,’ a stance Vrabel reiterated through much of his news conference today.

‘There’s ongoing legal matters,’ he said. ‘We’ve made a statement, we take these allegations seriously and what comes of that, then we’ll have another discussion. I don’t think we have to jump to any sort of conclusions right now and let the process take its toll.’

Vrabel said Barmore likely will not be at practice today due to an illness. As of today, he considers both players available to play against the Miami Dolphins in Week 18.

‘I haven’t heard anything that would keep either player from the game,’ Vrabel said. ‘The NFL hasn’t told me anything… I haven’t had a call with the NFL.’

New England is playing for the No. 1 seed in the AFC with one game to go in the regular season. They’ll face Miami at home on Sunday.

The Sun Bowl on New Year’s Eve saw a brutal injury, with Duke defensive end Kobe Smith colliding with a teammate and suffering a gruesome bend of his leg.

The injury was such that CBS play-by-play analyst Brad Nessler immediately said they would not show it again after showing the replay once. Smith’s shin collided with his teammate’s and his leg immediately went limp after.

Smith’s left leg was put in an air cast and he was carted off as Duke’s players took a knee on the field in support of their teammate.

Smith, a freshman, had 10 tackles and a forced fumble in 2025. He entered the Sun Bowl vs. Arizona State having played 24 snaps in four games. It’s the second straight year Duke has seen a serious injury in a bowl game. The Blue Devils lost star safety Terry Moore to a torn ACL against Mississippi in the Gator Bowl last season.

Kobe Smith injury update

Smith was carted off with a significant left leg injury. He was put in an air cast. The extent of the injury is undetermined, but at the very least he appeared to suffer broken bones after his shin collided with his teammate’s.

This section will be updated.

The No. 1 ranked UConn women’s basketball team had little trouble with Providence, jumping out to a 21-point lead after the first quarter and finishing with a 90-53 victory in Big East play on Wednesday.

Azzi Fudd had 18 points to lead the Huskies, who improved 14-0 and 5-0 in the Big East. Sarah Strong had five 3-pointers in the first half and finished with 17 points. She added seven rebounds and three assists but had an uncharacteristic five turnovers.

The Huskies, who have won 30 games in a row dating back to 2024, had 16 steals, 41 points off turnovers and 38 points in the paint. They also committed 21 turnovers, eight more than their average.

UConn’s sloppiness on offense may have been because of the absence of starting point guard KK Arnold, who sat out with a nasal fracture. Forward Ayanna Patterson did not play because of a concussion. Both injuries happened in practice Tuesday.

Sabou Gueye scored 12 points and Payton Dunbar and Princess Moody added 11 points each for Providence (8-7, 1-3 Big East).

The Huskies have 39 straight victories over the Friars and 53 in a row against Big East opponents.

Third quarter: UConn 70, Providence 35

The Huskies have doubled up the Friars by outscoring them 22-16 in the quarter. Azzi Fudd now leads UConn in scoring with 18. Sarah Strong has 17 points, seven rebounds and five turnovers.

Providence has 27 turnovers with UConn scoring 39 points off of them.

The Huskies’ lead has been as large as 38 points.

Halftime: UConn 48, Providence 19

The Huskies only outscored the Friars 18-12 in the second quarter. UConn is shooting 60% from the field compared to 26% for Providence.

The Friars have 20 turnovers. The Huskies have cashed in with 28 points off turnovers. They also have 18 points in the paint compared to four for Providence.

Sarah Strong has 15 points and Azzi Fudd 11 points for UConn. Payton Dunbar has 11 points for Providence.

Sarah Strong from 3!!!

UConn forward Sarah Strong has tied her career high with five 3-pointers and it’s only the second quarter.

First quarter: UConn 30, Providence 7

The Huskies went on a 21-0 run to end the first quarter, dominating the Friars. Sarah Strong has 12 points for UConn on 4-of-5 shooting from the 3-point line. Blanca Quiñonez added seven points.

The Huskies have scored 19 points off turnovers and are shooting 65% from the field.

We are underway in Providence

Sarah Strong has six points in the early going as the Huskies have jumped out to an 11-6 lead.

What time is UConn vs Providence?

The UConn Huskies play the Providence Friars on Wednesday, Dec. 31 at 3 p.m. ET at Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, Rhode Island.

UConn vs Providence: Streaming

Date: Wednesday, Dec. 31
Time: 3 p.m. ET (12 p.m. PT)
Location: Amica Mutual Pavilion (Providence, Rhode Island)
Stream: Peacock

UConn Huskies starting lineup

Providence Friars starting lineup

UConn without starting point guard KK Arnold

Starting point guard KK Arnold sustained a nasal fracture in practice Tuesday and will not be available on Wednesday. She’s averaging 6.9 points, 4.7 assists and 2.5 rebounds for the Huskies.

Forward Ayanna Patterson will miss the game after suffering a concussion Tuesday.

Providence getting amped

UConn in Providence

The Huskies have started their warmups.