The Heisman Trophy ceremony is set to take place, with Fernando Mendoza, quarterback from Indiana, being the favorite to win. Mendoza's chances increased after Indiana's victory over Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship. If Mendoza wins, he will be the first Indiana player to receive this prestigious award.
Key Facts
The Heisman Trophy ceremony will occur in New York.
Four finalists are competing: Fernando Mendoza, Diego Pavia, Jeremiyah Love, and Julian Sayin.
Fernando Mendoza is a quarterback for Indiana and is the favorite to win.
Mendoza's odds improved significantly after Indiana's victory over Ohio State.
Prediction markets and sportsbooks show Mendoza with odds of nearly 96%.
If Mendoza wins, he will be the first player from Indiana University to win the Heisman.
Past Indiana players like Antwaan Randle El and Tevin Coleman have received some Heisman votes but never won.
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The article discusses a promotional offer from Underdog Fantasy where new users can sign up with a promo code from Newsweek. By betting $5 on sports like the NBA or NFL, users can receive a $75 bonus. The offer includes options for picking players in upcoming games.
Key Facts
Underdog Fantasy is offering a promo code for users to get a $75 bonus after a $5 bet.
The promo applies to sports like the NBA and NFL, including upcoming games.
Users need to make picks for 2-8 players to qualify for the bonus.
There are different payout options: max payout for getting all picks correct and flex payout for partial success.
To access the offer, users must register with Underdog using the promo code NEWSWEEK.
An initial deposit is required with a secure payment method to start betting.
Newsweek may earn a commission if users sign up through their links.
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The article provides guidance for fantasy football managers on which quarterbacks to start or bench in Week 15. It recommends starting Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys due to his recent performance, while advising against starting Jacoby Brissett. The analysis is based on recent game statistics and matchups.
Key Facts
Fantasy football managers need to decide which quarterbacks to start or bench each week.
Dak Prescott, from the Dallas Cowboys, has been recommended to start in Week 15.
Prescott has performed well in recent games, with over 300 yards passing in his last three games.
Prescott's team, the Cowboys, has scored high points at home this season.
The Minnesota Vikings have a strong defense against quarterbacks, which could impact Prescott's performance.
Jared Goff of the Detroit Lions ranked tenth in quarterback fantasy points after 14 weeks.
The Los Angeles Rams have a tough defense, limiting quarterbacks to lower average yards per pass.
Jacoby Brissett of the Arizona Cardinals is advised to be benched despite good recent performances.
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Utah's head football coach, Kyle Whittingham, will step down after coaching the team in the Las Vegas Bowl on December 31. The university plans to promote defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley as the new head coach. Whittingham has been with Utah for 21 seasons, achieving a record of 177 wins and 88 losses.
Key Facts
Kyle Whittingham is stepping down as Utah's head football coach after the Las Vegas Bowl.
He has been head coach for 21 seasons and has a record of 177 wins and 88 losses.
Whittingham led Utah to conference titles in 2008 (Mountain West) and 2021 and 2022 (Pac-12).
He won the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year award in 2019 and AFCA Coach of the Year in 2008.
Whittingham played college football as a linebacker at BYU.
Morgan Scalley, the current defensive coordinator, is set to become the new head coach.
Scalley has been part of Utah's football staff since 2007 and was a former player for the team.
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The New York Knicks, a strong team in the NBA's Eastern Conference, are considering trading for Donte DiVincenzo from the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Knicks have had discussions with teams about possible trades to strengthen their roster for a deeper playoff run.
Key Facts
The New York Knicks have a record of 17 wins and 7 losses in their first 24 games this season.
The team is currently the second seed in the NBA's Eastern Conference.
They are exploring trade options to enhance their chances in the playoffs.
The Knicks have shown interest in acquiring Donte DiVincenzo, a guard from the Minnesota Timberwolves.
DiVincenzo previously played one season with the Knicks, averaging 15.5 points per game.
The Knicks are also considering New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado in trade discussions.
The team needs a player who can handle the ball and create opportunities for teammates.
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Marcel Reed, a quarterback for Texas A&M, announced he will return for another college football season, skipping the 2026 NFL Draft. Lane Kiffin, who recently left Ole Miss to coach at LSU, attempted to recruit Reed through social media, but Reed reaffirmed his commitment to Texas A&M.
Key Facts
Marcel Reed is a quarterback for Texas A&M.
Reed decided to stay in college for another year instead of entering the 2026 NFL Draft.
Lane Kiffin left Ole Miss to become the head coach at LSU.
Kiffin attempted to recruit Reed to LSU via a social media post.
Reed plans to stay at Texas A&M, expressing no desire to leave.
Johnny Manziel, a former Texas A&M player, showed support for Reed on social media.
Reed's return makes him a strong candidate for the Heisman Trophy, a prestigious college football award.
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Kevin Owens and Natalya will serve as mentors in season three of the reality show "WWE LFG," which airs on A&E. The show features new performers at the WWE Performance Center who are competing for a spot on the "NXT" roster. Filming for the new season is currently taking place in Orlando, Florida.
Key Facts
Kevin Owens and Natalya have been cast as mentors in the show "WWE LFG."
The show is a reality competition aired on A&E.
It focuses on recruits at the WWE Performance Center trying to join the "NXT" roster.
Filming for the third season is happening in Orlando, Florida.
Owens and Natalya join existing mentors Bully Ray and Booker T.
There is no announced premiere date for the new season yet.
Kevin Owens is currently sidelined from wrestling due to neck surgery but stays active in other ways.
Natalya brings experience as a mentor, drawing from her background and training facility.
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Liverpool faces Brighton in an English Premier League match at Anfield in Liverpool on December 9. There is speculation about Mohamed Salah's future at Liverpool, as he has not started the last few games. Liverpool is in 10th place, while Brighton is slightly ahead on goal difference.
Key Facts
Liverpool will play against Brighton on December 9 at Anfield in the UK.
The match is part of the English Premier League.
Mohamed Salah has been benched for recent games and is rumored to leave Liverpool.
Liverpool is currently in 10th place in the Premier League standings.
Brighton is slightly ahead of Liverpool, higher in the table due to goal difference.
The last match between Liverpool and Brighton ended with Brighton winning 3-2.
Liverpool's manager, Arne Slot, plans to talk with Salah about his participation in the game.
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Britain's Kate Waugh won the T100 Triathlon World Championship in Qatar, securing her first world title. Waugh finished ahead of rivals Julie Derron from Switzerland and Lucy Charles-Barclay from Britain by leading in the final stages. The T100 is a longer triathlon format, featuring a swim, bike ride, and run.
Key Facts
Kate Waugh won the T100 Triathlon World Championship in Qatar.
This is Waugh's first world title in triathlon.
Waugh was leading the standings before the final race.
Her closest rivals were Julie Derron from Switzerland and Lucy Charles-Barclay from Britain.
Waugh finished 20 seconds ahead of Georgia Taylor-Brown in the Qatar race.
The T100 triathlon involves a 2 km swim, 80 km bike ride, and 18 km run.
The T100 is nearly twice as long as the Olympic triathlon distance.
Waugh had her debut season at this distance and was on the podium in all six of her races.
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The Toronto Blue Jays are considering signing Bo Bichette to a significant contract as part of their offseason plans. Bichette, a top free agent and valuable player for the team, is expected to receive several offers, but the Blue Jays aim to keep him by offering a deal possibly worth $210 million over seven years. This deal would be one of the largest for a shortstop in baseball history.
Key Facts
The Toronto Blue Jays signed Dylan Cease for $210 million and Cody Ponce for $30 million recently.
The team is also interested in Kyle Tucker, with a potential deal over $400 million.
Bo Bichette has expressed his desire to stay with the Blue Jays.
Bichette is one of the top free agents and may have many offers.
A predicted offer from the Blue Jays for Bichette is $210 million over seven years.
If signed, Bichette's contract would be the sixth-largest for a shortstop.
Bichette's fielding was a concern, with a ranking in the 1st percentile among shortstops last season.
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The Toronto Blue Jays made a significant move in the offseason by signing pitcher Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million contract. This deal and their interest in other top players show the team's new status as a preferred destination for free agents. The Blue Jays aim to strengthen their bullpen and lineup as they prepare for the next baseball season.
Key Facts
The Toronto Blue Jays signed pitcher Dylan Cease to a seven-year contract worth $210 million.
The team has become a popular choice for top free agents this offseason.
Manager John Schneider noted a change in how players view the Blue Jays, seeing them as an attractive team on their own merits rather than needing persuasion.
The Blue Jays are interested in signing free agent Kyle Tucker.
In past offseasons, the Blue Jays narrowly missed acquiring top players like Roki Sasaki and Shohei Ohtani.
The team aims to improve both their bullpen and lineup before the season starts.
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A top official from the Athletics Integrity Unit says that anti-doping efforts in sports are not keeping up with athletes who use banned substances. Some elite athletes continue to evade detection, undermining the credibility of anti-doping efforts. Recent cases show that intentional doping remains a significant problem in sports.
Key Facts
David Howman leads the Athletics Integrity Unit and was formerly head of the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada).
He says the anti-doping system is not effectively catching athletes who use banned drugs.
Elite athletes like Marvin Bracy-Williams and Erriyon Knighton have recently faced bans for doping.
Ruth Chepngetich, a marathon world record holder, was banned for using a masking agent.
There are disagreements between Wada and the US anti-doping agency about handling doping cases.
Kenya's anti-doping authority is under scrutiny due to many positive tests.
Russia remains non-compliant with Wada due to past systematic doping issues.
Howman suggests better information sharing and new incentives to catch dopers.
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The Philadelphia Phillies re-signed Kyle Schwarber to a five-year contract worth $150 million. This move may lead to the loss of Ranger Suárez, an All-Star pitcher, as he is likely to sign with another team, possibly the Chicago Cubs, due to financial constraints.
Key Facts
The Phillies signed Kyle Schwarber to a $150 million deal for five years.
Retaining Schwarber was a major priority for the Phillies.
Ranger Suárez, an eight-year veteran, is expected to leave the Phillies due to financial limits.
Suárez might sign a contract worth over $25 million per year.
The Chicago Cubs are a potential team for Suárez, along with the Houston Astros and the Baltimore Orioles.
Suárez had a strong performance last season with a 3.20 ERA and 151 strikeouts.
Suárez has had previous back injuries, affecting his contract terms.
The Cubs need a strong pitcher for their starting lineup, making Suárez a suitable option.
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T.J. Watt, a star player for the Pittsburgh Steelers, has been hospitalized with a lung injury following a dry needling treatment. His brother, J.J. Watt, shared that T.J. had surgery to repair a partially collapsed lung and is now recovering at home. T.J. Watt will not play in the upcoming game against the Miami Dolphins.
Key Facts
T.J. Watt is a key player for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
He suffered a lung injury after a dry needling session, which is a treatment involving inserting thin needles into the skin for pain and muscle relief.
T.J. Watt had surgery to fix a partially collapsed lung.
J.J. Watt updated fans on social media about T.J.'s surgery success and recovery.
T.J. is now out of the hospital and recovering at home.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are currently leading their division, the AFC North.
T.J. Watt will miss the game against the Miami Dolphins.
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The Toronto Blue Jays have extended their president and CEO, Mark Shapiro, with a five-year contract after reaching the World Series for the first time since 1993. This decision comes after significant improvements in the team's performance and roster changes over the past year.
Key Facts
The Toronto Blue Jays reached the World Series this year, their first time since 1993.
Mark Shapiro has been the president and CEO of the Blue Jays since 2015.
Shapiro received a new five-year contract in recognition of his leadership.
The team improved from 23rd to 4th in runs scored this season.
Blue Jays chairman Edward Rogers praised Shapiro's influence on the team's success.
The Blue Jays signed starting pitchers Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce to strengthen their pitching rotation.
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The Los Angeles Lakers are considering trading for NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks. The potential trade could involve Austin Reaves and other assets, although the Lakers are not currently top contenders due to their limited resources. NBA experts discuss the possibility and challenges of such a deal.
Key Facts
The Lakers are interested in Giannis Antetokounmpo, a star player from the Milwaukee Bucks.
Austin Reaves is seen as a key player that the Lakers might offer in the trade.
The Lakers may struggle to offer enough value compared to other teams.
Proposed trade could include Reaves and several future draft picks.
NBA experts note that the trade market for players like Giannis has changed.
Giannis has a history of injuries and is over 30 years old, affecting his trade value.
The Lakers want to build their team around Luka Doncic in the future.
Their draft picks may be less valuable due to the strength of their roster.
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost to the Atlanta Falcons in a close game with a final score of 29-28, dealing a blow to their playoff hopes. Quarterback Baker Mayfield faced criticism after the game from former NFL star Aqib Talib. The Buccaneers need to win upcoming games, including against the Carolina Panthers, to improve their playoff chances.
Key Facts
The Buccaneers lost to the Falcons with a score of 29-28.
The loss made it harder for the Buccaneers to make the playoffs.
Baker Mayfield, the Buccaneers' quarterback, has been playing with a shoulder injury.
Aqib Talib, a former NFL player, criticized Mayfield for not succeeding in important games.
Mayfield has played 14 games this season, with a 61.2% pass completion rate.
He has thrown for 2,999 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions this season.
The Buccaneers will play a key game against the Carolina Panthers, which is important for their division title hopes.
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Michail Antonio, a 35-year-old football player, is aiming to restart his career with Leicester City in the Championship. He is training with the team as a free agent, nearly a year after a serious car crash that put his playing future in question. Antonio previously played for West Ham and is known for his successful scoring record.
Key Facts
Michail Antonio was involved in a car accident in December 2024, resulting in a severely broken leg.
He broke his femur in four places after crashing his Ferrari into a tree.
Antonio was out of action for a significant time and missed the end of his contract with West Ham.
He has been training with Leicester City, who are considering him due to another player's absence.
Antonio was West Ham's all-time leading Premier League scorer with 68 goals.
He has played for multiple clubs, including Southampton and Nottingham Forest, across his career.
Antonio has scored over 130 goals in more than 550 career appearances.
His career began at non-league level before moving up to professional football.
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A new video on WWE’s YouTube channel features wrestlers sharing advice from John Cena. CM Punk appears in the video, seemingly using the moment to reference past conflicts with AEW's Adam Page. Punk shares that Cena advised him to "stay true to yourself."
Key Facts
WWE released a video where wrestlers share advice they received from John Cena.
The video includes stars like Cody Rhodes, R-Truth, and Becky Lynch.
CM Punk appears to make a reference to past issues with AEW and Adam Page.
Punk mentioned he is "not the guy that really listens to people," referencing a previous statement by Page.
This comment links back to a 2022 conflict involving AEW and Punk's eventual departure.
Punk highlighted Cena's advice to "stick to your guns" and "be yourself."
The video suggests WWE is acknowledging Punk's controversial history.
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Coach Lane Kiffin left Ole Miss for LSU, and Pete Golding is now leading the team. Golding hired John David Baker as the new offensive coordinator to keep things stable. Baker worked with Ole Miss before and knows the team's style well.
Key Facts
Lane Kiffin left Ole Miss to coach at LSU.
Pete Golding is the new head coach at Ole Miss.
John David Baker was hired as the offensive coordinator.
Baker worked with Ole Miss and East Carolina before taking this role.
Baker is familiar with Ole Miss' playing system and language.
Charlie Weis Jr. will continue as offensive coordinator during the College Football Playoff games.
Ole Miss will play Tulane in the first round of the College Football Playoff.
Golding believes stability and keeping the same systems are important for the team’s success.
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