The IHSA girls’ basketball postseason tipped off with regional quarterfinal matchups across Illinois, as teams began their quest for a state title. Schools from various classes hosted opening-round games, with higher seeds generally defending their home courts and advancing, while a few lower-seeded teams battled to keep their seasons alive. Standout performances from key players helped set the tone for the playoffs, and coaches emphasized the importance of defense and composure in win-or-go-home situations. With the quarterfinals underway, attention now turns to the regional semifinals as programs continue their pursuit of an IHSA championship.
In a chaotic Valentine’s Day slate of college basketball, St. John’s secured a 79-69 road win over Providence that was overshadowed by an ugly fight between the rivals that led to six ejections and intense physical play, while Florida bolstered its SEC lead with a 92-83 victory over Kentucky, signaling its status as the league’s top team; the article also detailed other notable winners like Duke maintaining ACC dominance, Michigan strengthening its national case, standout individual performances (such as BYU’s Rob Wright scoring 39), gritty victories by TCU and Navy, and tough losses for teams like NC State, Georgia, and Auburn.

The SportsLine golf prediction model, created by DFS pro Mike McClure and renowned for correctly forecasting 16 major champions, simulated the 2026 Farmers Insurance Open 10,000 times and delivered some unexpected results, projecting several surprising performances and value bets at Torrey Pines; notably, a top favorite like Si Woo Kim is predicted to finish well outside the top five, while Patrick Cantlay is highlighted as one of the better value plays, and the model even identifies an extreme longshot at +28000 as the best positive expected value sleeper — all of which could lead to big payouts for bettors who back these picks.
A Pro Football Hall of Fame voter publicly addressed why he didn’t include legendary coach Bill Belichick on his ballot for the Class of 2026, explaining that while he personally believes Belichick deserves Hall of Fame induction, the current voting format — which limited voters to selecting three of five finalists — influenced his decision to cast his votes for other deserving candidates like senior figures instead; he emphasized that his choice wasn’t meant as a judgment on Belichick’s career, but rather a strategic use of his ballot given the voting rules, though the omission of Belichick — who won six Super Bowls with the Patriots — has drawn widespread criticism and highlighted perceived flaws in the selection process.

Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold injured his left oblique during a Thursday practice ahead of Seattle’s NFC Divisional Round game with the San Francisco 49ers and was listed as questionable on the injury report, but he said he feels confident he’ll play and believes the chances of him missing the game are “very low, probably closer to zero.” Darnold felt the oblique while throwing, didn’t push through it, and got treatment and limited practice work thereafter, with Seattle’s coaching staff remaining optimistic about his availability; backups Drew Lock and Jalen Milroe were prepared to step in if necessary.
The Chicago Bears publicly lauded Indiana lawmakers for advancing Senate Bill 27, which would establish a Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority empowered to acquire land, finance improvements and enter into long-term leases with private entities like an NFL team, marking what the franchise called a “significant milestone” in discussions about potentially building a new stadium in Northwest Indiana instead of their current Arlington Heights site; team officials thanked Governor Mike Braun and state legislators for moving the legislative framework forward as they continue evaluating options outside Illinois after earlier efforts to secure support there stalled, with NFL leadership and Bears executives touring both Indiana and Illinois sites amid ongoing uncertainty over the team’s future home.

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.