Alabama fans were visibly dejected and frustrated after the Crimson Tide’s heavy Rose Bowl loss, expressing disappointment that the team fell short of expectations and lamenting that a program accustomed to national championship contention had such a lopsided defeat, with many saying this has increased pressure on head coach Kalen DeBoer and sparked speculation about his job security if results don’t improve; while some supporters still back the coach and the team’s overall spirit, the blowout loss has provoked wide criticism, intense reactions on social media, and debate over the direction of the program.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named Sports Illustrated’s 2025 Sportsperson of the Year, honoring his historic season leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a franchise-record 68 wins and the NBA championship, while also earning NBA MVP and NBA Finals MVP honors — a remarkable achievement that underscored his on-court excellence and growing cultural impact. The award, one of the most prestigious in sports and given to the athlete who best represents achievement and sportsmanship, also recognized SGA’s influence beyond basketball, including community work in Oklahoma City and Canada, making him the first Canadian to win the honor outright since Wayne Gretzky.

The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation announced it is awarding $6.3 million in grants to six Metro Atlanta school districts over the next three years to expand access to sports programs for middle and high school students. The funding, made in partnership with Atlanta United, the Atlanta Falcons, and PGA TOUR Superstore, aims to establish new sports programs, improve athletic fields and facilities, reduce participation costs, and remove barriers that have limited student involvement in athletics, benefiting thousands of young athletes in the region. 

Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson has been named a first-team All-America all-purpose back by The Sporting News, adding to an already impressive list of postseason honors for his standout 2025 season. The recognition from The Sporting News is one of several first-team All-America nods he’s earned this month — including from Sports Illustrated, On3, and CBS Sports — along with second-team selections from other major outlets. Johnson rushed for 1,451 yards, led the Big Ten in rushing yards per game, ranked fourth nationally, and also led all FBS running backs in receptions, putting him among the most productive offensive players in college football this year. This distinction makes him the first Nebraska player named first-team All-America since 2011 and the first Husker running back to receive such honors since Heisman winner Mike Rozier in 1983.

Over 400 high school students and educators attended the fourth annual High School Sports Media Conference hosted by the Ouachita Sports Digital Network (OSDN) at Ouachita Baptist University on Nov. 12, where participants from about 35 schools took part in free sessions led by professionals in areas like broadcast production, sports photography, podcasting and journalism. The event featured panels with industry experts and OSDN alumni, aimed at giving attendees practical insights they can bring back to their own media programs and showcasing Ouachita’s communications opportunities, with organizers hoping the record turnout reflects growing interest in sports media careers.

“Put me in, coach” highlights how Leveling the Playing Field (LPF), a nonprofit that collects and redistributes donated sports gear to help students access youth athletics, is expanding its impact by encouraging local community members to donate new or gently used equipment; the piece notes that Kent Island High School senior Joseph Huber helped set up the first LPF donation bin at his school to support teams with limited funding and boost participation opportunities for athletes who might otherwise be sidelined due to cost barriers.

In the CBS News story, California’s 2026 governor candidates offer sharply diverging views on whether transgender students should be allowed to play on school sports teams according to their gender identity. Some candidates, like Republican Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco, argue for repealing the current law — citing fairness and protecting girls’ sports — while others, such as Democrat Betty Yee and Tony Thurmond, support inclusion under existing protections. Some want limits (for example, based on puberty), while others say these decisions should be handled by sports governing bodies, not political offices.

Dayton Raiola, a three-star quarterback in Nebraska’s 2026 recruiting class and the younger brother of Huskers’ QB Dylan Raiola, has decommitted from Nebraska and reopened his recruitment just weeks before the early signing period. He had committed in September 2024 over offers from Appalachian State and Charlotte. With his exit, Nebraska now has no quarterback commitment in the 2026 class, and Dayton says his recruitment is “100% open.” Given his family ties (his father Dominic played at Nebraska, and his uncle Donovan is on the Huskers’ coaching staff), the move has sparked speculation — especially with roster depth at QB and his brother Dylan recently suffering a season-ending injury.

The “Battle for the Bones” is a college-football trophy game pitting the Tigers of the University of Memphis against the Blazers of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, with the winner taking home a 100-pound bronze rack of ribs. The trophy was introduced in 2006 to add flair to the rivalry, which dates back to 1997 on the gridiron and has roots in earlier matchups. The article notes how the trophy captures local flavor (with ribs being a regional staple) and how realignment in conferences caused the series to pause for a stretch, but both schools have embraced its revival and the symbol it carries.

The upcoming 7th Annual Pasadena Adaptive Sports Festival is scheduled for Saturday, November 15, 2025 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Brookside Park (360 N. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena). Organized by Triumph Foundation in partnership with the City of Pasadena Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department, the free inclusive event gives participants of all abilities the chance to try a wide variety of adaptive sports—such as wheelchair basketball, hand-cycling, archery, pickleball, fencing, and more—with all equipment and coaching provided. A resource fair and interactive art workshop are also part of the day’s activities, lunch will be provided to registered adaptive athletes, and the festival aims to promote wellness, inclusion, and fun for everyone—from participants to families and friends.