Virginia Tech hired James Franklin as the new head coach with a five-year contract. Franklin will earn $8.2 million per year, and the total staff salary has increased by nearly $7 million, making the program a significant contender in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
Key Facts
James Franklin is the new head coach of Virginia Tech's football team.
Franklin signed a five-year contract with an $8.2 million annual salary.
The total staff salary pool increased to $15.5 million, up nearly $7 million.
Virginia Tech will face Miami and Virginia in their final regular season games.
The new contract is fully guaranteed at $41 million, including a potential $9 million from Penn State buyout talks.
Terry Smith, currently Penn State's interim head coach, might join Franklin at Virginia Tech.
Virginia Tech aims to become a strong competitor in the ACC with this investment.
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A spoiler for an upcoming WWE SmackDown event reveals that JD McDonagh from WWE Raw will challenge Ilja Dragunov for the WWE United States Championship. Dragunov, who recently returned from an injury, will defend his title against a member of the Raw brand. This match is part of ongoing WWE storylines.
Key Facts
JD McDonagh from WWE Raw is set to challenge Ilja Dragunov for the WWE United States Championship.
Dragunov is part of WWE SmackDown, often called the "blue brand."
This will be Dragunov's first title defense against a WWE Raw member since winning his singles title.
Dragunov recently returned after a year off due to a torn ACL and won the title from Sami Zayn.
Dragunov is currently involved in a storyline that could lead to a match with wrestler Tommaso Ciampa.
Other matches announced for the SmackDown event include a tournament match featuring Bronson Reed and Carmelo Hayes, and tag team action with Fraxiom vs. DIY.
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The New York Mets are expected to try to trade for Freddy Peralta, a talented pitcher from the Milwaukee Brewers. Peralta had a strong season, and his current contract is affordable for the Mets. The Brewers might trade him because they usually don't pay high salaries for star pitchers.
Key Facts
The New York Mets need a top pitcher for their starting rotation.
Freddy Peralta is a two-time All-Star pitcher from the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Brewers picked up Peralta's $8 million contract option for next season.
Peralta is expected to receive a much higher salary in future contracts.
The Brewers have a history of trading star pitchers before they become too expensive.
Peralta has a 3.30 ERA and made at least 30 starts each season since 2021.
The Mets are considered financially able to afford Peralta's future salary increase.
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Rico Dowdle is having an impressive season with the Carolina Panthers, becoming the leading running back for the team. Despite his success, he has not yet been offered a contract extension. The Panthers aim to continue their success with key players like Dowdle.
Key Facts
Rico Dowdle signed a one-year, $6.25 million contract with the Carolina Panthers.
Originally, Dowdle was the backup for Chuba Hubbard, but he is now the starting running back.
Dowdle has achieved 833 rushing yards and five touchdowns, and 197 receiving yards and one touchdown this season.
Dowdle was named the starting running back in Week 9.
Despite his achievements, the Panthers have not yet discussed a contract extension with him.
The Panthers could be in first place in the NFC South if they win their upcoming game against the San Francisco 49ers.
Dowdle’s performance is a significant factor in the Panthers’ current successes.
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Max Ojomoh will play for England in their rugby match against Argentina. He is replacing Fraser Dingwall, who is injured. Ojomoh has played for England before and will be starting a major game at Twickenham.
Key Facts
Max Ojomoh will start for England against Argentina because Fraser Dingwall is injured.
Ojomoh has played for England once before, in a game against the United States.
England's head coach, Steve Borthwick, chose Ojomoh for his strong attacking and defensive skills.
Ojomoh's usual position is inside centre, but he can also play at other positions in the team's backline.
He was part of the Bath rugby team that won the English title last season.
Ojomoh's father, Steve, also played rugby for England in the past.
The game will take place at Twickenham Stadium on November 23rd.
The match will be available live on BBC Sounds and Radio 5 Sports Extra.
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The Toronto Blue Jays might lose pitcher Max Scherzer to free agency. Scherzer, an experienced player, is predicted to sign with the Detroit Tigers, who could use his skills and experience despite his age.
Key Facts
Max Scherzer is a pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays and a free agent.
Scherzer had a 5.19 ERA in 17 regular season games but improved to a 3.77 ERA in the postseason.
He played in Game 7 of the World Series, allowing only one run in over four innings.
Scherzer is 41 years old and plans to keep playing.
Bleacher Report predicts that Scherzer might sign with the Detroit Tigers.
The Tigers might want him on a one-year deal for his experience, especially in the postseason.
Scherzer has won three Cy Young Awards, been an All-Star eight times, and won two World Series titles.
He is expected to be in the Hall of Fame after retiring.
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An ESPN insider suggested that the Toronto Blue Jays could consider New York Mets player Pete Alonso if current player Bo Bichette leaves the team as a free agent. The Blue Jays have expressed interest in Alonso before and might pursue him to strengthen their lineup.
Key Facts
The Toronto Blue Jays are considering options to strengthen their team for the 2026 season.
Bo Bichette, a key player for the Blue Jays, will be a free agent soon, raising concerns about his possible departure.
ESPN's Jorge Castillo listed Pete Alonso, a New York Mets player, as a potential fit for the Blue Jays.
Last winter, the Blue Jays showed interest in Alonso when Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s future with the team was uncertain.
If Bo Bichette leaves, the Blue Jays could consider Alonso to fill the gap in their lineup.
The Blue Jays need to adjust their team strategy, including possibly moving George Springer back to the outfield, to accommodate new players like Alonso.
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WWE fans are waiting to see who John Cena will face in his final wrestling match. Cena has started a tournament called "Last Time is Now" to decide his opponent for the December "Saturday Night's Main Event." Wrestling legend Mark Henry suggested a unique ending where Cena wins against a non-tournament participant, Joe Hendry, in an emotional farewell moment.
Key Facts
John Cena is preparing for his last wrestling match at "Saturday Night's Main Event" in December.
Cena launched the "Last Time is Now" tournament to find his final opponent.
Recent tournament wins included Rusev, Sheamus, LA Knight, Jey Uso, Solo Sikoa, and GUNTHER.
WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry suggested Joe Hendry should join Cena's final match unexpectedly.
Henry proposed Hendry lie down for Cena to pin him, adding an emotional element to Cena's farewell.
Mark Henry rose to fame quickly through TNA and NXT, leading to a notable WWE appearance at WrestleMania.
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A debate is ongoing about whether Notre Dame or Miami should have a higher ranking in the College Football Playoff selection. Both teams have the same record, but Notre Dame won their most recent games, while Miami lost twice to lower-ranked teams. ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit predicts Notre Dame has a better chance of making it to the playoffs.
Key Facts
Notre Dame and Miami both have an 8-2 record this season.
Notre Dame lost to Miami in their head-to-head game but has won eight games straight since starting 0-2.
Miami has lost two games to unranked teams and sits behind four other Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) teams.
To improve its chance for playoffs, Miami might need to win the ACC championship.
Kirk Herbstreit, a sports analyst, suggests Notre Dame could get into the playoffs over Miami if they win their next games convincingly.
Miami has an upcoming game against Virginia Tech.
Notre Dame has games against Syracuse and Stanford coming up.
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WWE announced that wrestler Sheamus is out of "The Last Time is Now" tournament because of a shoulder injury. This affects the tournament structure, including his planned match against LA Knight. The tournament continues to find John Cena's final opponent.
Key Facts
Sheamus has been removed from the WWE tournament due to a shoulder injury.
He had made it to the quarterfinals by winning against Shinsuke Nakamura.
WWE will provide more details on the situation on SmackDown.
Sheamus's exit alters the tournament structure for John Cena’s last opponent.
LA Knight was supposed to face Sheamus and might advance automatically.
Other matches in the tournament include Carmelo Hayes vs. Big Bronson Reed and Finn Balor vs. Penta.
The winner of Carmelo Hayes vs. Big Bronson Reed will face GUNTHER.
The winner of Penta vs. Balor will face Solo Sikoa in upcoming matches.
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Travis Kelce, a tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, discussed the team's challenging season and his career future. The Chiefs are currently facing tough competition in their division. Kelce is in the final year of his contract and thinking about whether to continue with the team next season.
Key Facts
The Kansas City Chiefs currently have a 5-5 record and are in third place in their division.
Travis Kelce, at 36 years old, is having a strong season with the Chiefs.
Kelce spoke about the team's need to win the remaining games in the season.
The Chiefs have been division champions since Patrick Mahomes was drafted but are now facing stiff competition.
Kelce is considering his future as he is in the last year of his contract with the Chiefs.
He mentioned he would make a decision about staying with the team after the season ends.
Kelce has scored more touchdowns than any other player in Chiefs history, surpassing Priest Holmes.
He has expressed a strong attachment to the Kansas City team and would prefer to stay.
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The Philadelphia Eagles will play against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 12 at AT&T Stadium. The game revisits an incident from their Week 1 match when Eagles player Jalen Carter was ejected for spitting near Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. Both teams and players are discussing the past incident as they prepare for the upcoming game.
Key Facts
The Eagles and Cowboys will face each other in Week 12 at AT&T Stadium.
In their Week 1 game, Jalen Carter was ejected for spitting in the direction of Dak Prescott.
Carter received a one-game suspension by the NFL for the incident.
Prescott did not receive any punishment from the NFL.
Prescott plans to keep things friendly during the upcoming game.
Carter is avoiding discussing the past incident, focusing on the current game.
The Cowboys' coach praises the defensive strength of the Eagles, including Carter.
The game is scheduled to start at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday.
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Scotland's rugby team will face Tonga with significant changes to their starting line-up. Zander Fagerson returns after being injured since April, and Sione Tuipulotu is the only player to keep his spot from the previous game. The match takes place on Sunday at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh.
Key Facts
Scotland's rugby team will play against Tonga on Sunday at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh.
Zander Fagerson will return to the team after being injured for over seven months.
Sione Tuipulotu is the only player keeping his spot from Scotland's last game.
George Turner, playing as a hooker, will earn his 50th cap in this match.
Finn Russell, Darcy Graham, and Blair Kinghorn are not included in the squad for the game.
Scotland made 14 changes to their team after losing to Argentina 33-24 last Sunday.
Magnus Bradbury, Andy Onyeama-Christie, and Jamie Ritchie will start in the back row.
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The Boston Red Sox are looking to strengthen their pitching staff after their recent playoff struggles. They may sign a top free-agent pitcher and make a big trade to enhance their rotation for the next season.
Key Facts
The Red Sox struggled in the playoffs due to pitching issues.
Garrett Crochet is a key pitcher for the Red Sox with a strong past season.
Lucas Giolito is leaving the team as a free agent, reducing their depth.
The team is considering trading assets and spending money to acquire top pitchers.
Joe Ryan from the Minnesota Twins is a potential trade target.
MacKenzie Gore is also a potential target, noted for good strikeout numbers.
The Red Sox have financial resources and trade assets to make significant moves.
They need to improve their pitching to compete better in future seasons.
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San Francisco 49ers player Christian McCaffrey praised his former Carolina Panthers teammate Jaycee Horn. McCaffrey called Horn one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL as they prepare to face each other in an important game. The matchup can impact playoff positions in the NFC.
Key Facts
Christian McCaffrey used to play for the Carolina Panthers but now plays for the San Francisco 49ers.
McCaffrey praised Jaycee Horn for his skills and mindset on the field.
Horn was a rookie when McCaffrey was traded, and he has since become a Pro Bowl player.
Jaycee Horn has three interceptions this season and may be chosen as an All-Pro.
This upcoming game between the Panthers and the 49ers can affect the NFC playoff picture.
If the Panthers win, they gain a tiebreaker advantage over the 49ers for the Wild Card spot.
McCaffrey described Horn as a future Hall of Famer.
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The Philadelphia Phillies claimed Pedro León, a 27-year-old outfielder, off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles. León, who previously played for the Houston Astros' Triple-A team, has shown significant power potential with 77 home runs in minor-league games. The Phillies hope León can compete for a spot on their team in the upcoming season.
Key Facts
The Phillies claimed Pedro León from the Orioles on waivers.
León is 27 years old and played in Triple-A for the Astros.
He suffered a serious knee injury but has since recovered.
León hit 77 home runs in 458 minor-league games, with 24 last season.
The Orioles added León to their 40-man roster but later removed him.
The Phillies are looking to strengthen their outfield roster.
Outfielder Nick Castellanos might be traded, and the Phillies are not fully confident in Johan Rojas for center field.
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Ian Machado Garry, an MMA fighter, expressed confidence that he could defeat Islam Makhachev after Makhachev's recent victory in a UFC event. Garry plans to secure a match against Makhachev by first winning his upcoming fight against Belal Muhammad. The UFC welterweight division has seen significant changes, including a notable victory by Carlos Prates.
Key Facts
Ian Machado Garry plans to fight Islam Makhachev after facing Belal Muhammad.
Makhachev recently won a welterweight title in UFC 322.
Michael Morales and Carlos Prates also secured significant victories in the same event.
Carlos Prates knocked out former UFC Welterweight Champion Leon Edwards.
Garry criticized Jack Della Maddalena's performance against Makhachev.
Garry believes the welterweight division is very competitive and exciting.
Garry expressed his dislike for Leon Edwards, citing past issues.
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The Toronto Blue Jays are looking to strengthen their pitching team due to the departure of key pitchers to free agency. They are considering trading for Mitch Keller from the Pittsburgh Pirates, who is under contract for the next three years.
Key Facts
The Toronto Blue Jays are losing starters from their pitching team.
Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt are now free agents.
The Blue Jays are considering a trade for Mitch Keller from the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Mitch Keller is under contract for three more years and is 29 years old.
Keller's salary will be $16.9 million next season, $18.4 million in 2027, and $20.4 million in 2028.
The Blue Jays already have Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, and Trey Yesavage in their rotation.
José Berríos, another pitcher, is still under contract but had issues late last season.
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The Wisconsin Badgers, ranked No. 23, will play against the No. 9 BYU Cougars in a college basketball game at the Delta Center. Both teams have strong records, with Wisconsin at 4-0 and BYU at 3-1, featuring standout players like Nick Boyd for Wisconsin and AJ Dybantsa for BYU.
Key Facts
The game between Wisconsin and BYU is scheduled for Friday, November 21, 2025, at 4:00 PM ET.
Wisconsin Badgers have a perfect 4-0 record this season.
Nick Boyd from Wisconsin is averaging 20 points per game.
BYU Cougars have a 3-1 record with their only loss by two points to UConn.
AJ Dybantsa, a freshman for BYU, scored 25 points in the loss to UConn.
The game will be available to live stream on Peacock.
Regional restrictions may apply to the live stream.
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The Dallas Cowboys benched wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens for missing curfew before their game against the Las Vegas Raiders. Both players performed well after returning to the field, helping the Cowboys win 33-16. Team owner Jerry Jones commented on the situation, emphasizing that players should view games as business trips.
Key Facts
CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens were benched for the first part of their Week 11 game for missing curfew.
The players said they were at a casino for dinner and drinks the night before the game.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said he has no problem with players enjoying free time but stressed the importance of a professional mindset.
In the game against the Raiders, Lamb caught five passes for 66 yards and scored a touchdown.
George Pickens had nine catches for 144 yards and a touchdown.
Pickens stated that starting on the bench motivated both players to perform better.
Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer expressed a desire to keep Lamb and Pickens as part of the team.
The Cowboys' next game is against the Philadelphia Eagles.
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