Sports

The Los Angeles Rams (12-5) visit the Carolina Panthers (8-9) in an NFC wild-card playoff game on Saturday; Matthew Stafford led the NFL with 4,707 passing yards and 46 touchdowns this season and Davante Adams is set to return from a hamstring injury.

Derek Sprague, who became PGA of America CEO in January, said he will resign to return home to assist with care of his mother and mother‑in‑law; he will remain in an advisory role while the association seeks a replacement.

Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman reassigned Al Washington to coach the linebackers and hired Charlie Partridge to coach the defensive line, moves announced after Freeman restructured his contract and decided to stay with the program.

The Buffalo Bills open their 2025-26 playoff run Sunday at Jacksonville’s EverBank Stadium; coach Sean McDermott and GM Brandon Beane remain without a playoff road win. To reach the Super Bowl the Bills will likely need three straight victories away from Orchard Park, beginning with this game.

The Bengals enter free agency with roughly $69 million in projected cap space and Trey Hendrickson set to reach unrestricted free agency after offseason core muscle surgery; the team also has 15 other unrestricted free agents and one restricted free agent.

Anthony Duclair scored three goals in the Islanders' 9-0 win, prompting a 30 percent off hat sale at the team store; the article also recalls a 1979 game when a Wendy's executive attended a Rangers‑Islanders matchup.

Miami's revamped defense, directed by new coordinator Corey Hetherman and led by Reuben Bain and Akheem Mesidor, has recorded a nation-leading 46 sacks and helped the Hurricanes reach the College Football Playoff semifinal.

The Sabres have 48 points through 41 games and have won 11 of their last 12, leaving them one point outside a playoff spot at the season midpoint.

The Seahawks won a franchise-record 14 games and secured the NFC's No. 1 seed, and general manager John Schneider led a season of roster changes that included major free-agent signings and several high draft picks.

A players-only meeting on Nov. 16 helped tighten accountability, and Washington has won five of seven games since Dec. 26, including a 120-112 victory over the Orlando Magic.

One day after the Baltimore Ravens fired John Harbaugh, Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh publicly defended his brother and said he expects John to be a head coach next season.

The Dallas Cowboys have fired defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus after one season; the team finished 2025 with the NFL's worst scoring defense (30.1 points per game) and a 7-9-1 record. The club has not announced a replacement, and media outlets have identified several potential candidates.

Jones, who has three Super Bowl wins, said he wants to retire as the NFL owner with the most Super Bowl titles and signaled he may pursue a more aggressive approach in free agency.

The Panthers have contacted Cam Newton about beating the Keep Pounding drum before Saturday's wild-card game against the Los Angeles Rams, and sources say the team is optimistic he will attend. The game is Carolina's first home playoff game at Bank of America Stadium in 10 years.

Lane Johnson practiced Wednesday for the first time since his Week 11 Lisfranc foot injury, and the Eagles will list his official status on Wednesday's injury report.

Lane Kiffin left for LSU with several assistants, and despite those midseason departures Ole Miss reached the College Football Playoff semifinals and will face Miami in the Fiesta Bowl.

John Harbaugh was fired as the Baltimore Ravens' head coach after 18 seasons; team officials say president Sashi Brown and general manager Eric DeCosta informed his staff and the organization has announced it will begin a search for a new head coach.

Steven Adams returned after a PCL injury and surgery and is contributing for the Houston Rockets; through 26 games he is averaging about six points and 8.5 rebounds while leading the team's strong offensive-rebounding effort, per Cleaning The Glass.

After scoring 30 points in 33 minutes in a 111-103 win over the Pelicans, LeBron James was praised by coach JJ Redick, who called the 41-year-old's late-career play 'a different form of greatness.' James said decisions about playing back-to-backs for the rest of the season are 'to be determined.'

Iowa (13-2, 4-0 Big Ten) stayed at No. 14 in the USA TODAY Sports coaches poll after wins over then-No. 25 Nebraska and Northwestern.

Zach Metsa scored his first NHL goal, which proved to be the game-winner in Buffalo's 5-3 win over Vancouver; Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 32 saves and the Canucks rallied late before an empty-netter finished the scoring.

After four days of trials in Milwaukee, the U.S. named a 13-skater speed skating team for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, led by Jordan Stolz and Erin Jackson. The group mixes veterans such as Brittany Bowe with several first-time Olympians and includes a strong team pursuit unit that set a world record late last year.

After a 3-14 season, Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey said their first year as head coach and general manager taught them lessons they plan to use while evaluating the roster and staff this offseason.

Florida beat No. 18 Georgia 92-77, with Thomas Haugh scoring 21 points and grabbing 12 rebounds; Georgia center Somto Cyril was ejected in the first half after an altercation that officials reviewed.

Darryn Peterson is in the starting lineup for Kansas' game against TCU after returning from an injury absence, and he scored 26 points in 23 minutes in his Jan. 3 outing at UCF.

Ohio beat UMass 86-83; Javan Simmons scored 20 points and Jackson Paveletzke sealed the win with a late free throw.

The Detroit Lions announced the firing of offensive coordinator John Morton after one season. Head coach Dan Campbell took over playcalling in Week 10 and has not said whether he will remain the permanent playcaller.

Michael Bradley was promoted to head coach of the New York Red Bulls after a rapid rise through the club’s ranks, and he says he plans to build a dynamic, aggressive team as the club begins a rebuilding period.

Connor Bedard said he was disappointed to be left off Team Canada's Olympic roster and is using the decision to identify areas to improve; he returned to limited, non-contact practice after a Dec. 12 shoulder injury.

The 76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe scored all 17 of his points in the second half of Monday's overtime loss to the Denver Nuggets after Joel Embiid delivered a stern halftime message about starting the game earlier.