Category: Sports

With the NFL Draft just a few weeks away, scouting departments across the league are spending countless hours zeroing in on their favorite prospects in the Class of 2026. 

The purpose of this article is quite the opposite — we aimed to look back and provide some perspective on Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza. He’s the consensus top quarterback of this class, but how does he stack up against recent top-rated prospects at the position? 

Quarterbacks have been selected No. 1 overall in four of the past five drafts, while Caleb Williams (2024), Bryce Young (2023) and Trevor Lawrence (2021) were also ranked as the top prospects of their respective classes on my annual Big Board.

I ranked C.J. Stroud No. 2 overall in my 2023 Big Board. Maye checked in at No. 6 on my 2024 Big Board, albeit amid an elite class with only fellow top-10 picks Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, Brock Bowers and Rome Odunze ranked ahead of him. 

This year’s class isn’t as rich at the top, and Mendoza checks in at No. 4 overall on my latest 2026 Big Board.

But back to that 2024 board, for a moment. I had Daniels ranked two spots lower than Maye, with J.J. McCarthy ranked 23rd, Michael Penix Jr. 25th and Bo Nix 40th overall.

Nix and Jaxson Dart (ranked 46th on my 2025 Big Board) were the only first-round quarterbacks since 2021 who I did not rank among the top 32 prospects in their respective draft classes. Clearly, I did not give either enough credit for how well their mobility and grit would transfer into immediate success in the NFL. 

Each has outplayed my expectations. But again, the purpose of this article is to rank Mendoza with regard to where I had the top quarterback prospects entering their respective drafts, and I can’t alter their pre-draft rankings now. 

As such, I’ll fess up and share the fact that, like many, I was intrigued by the upside offered by Anthony Richardson and Will Levis in 2023. I ranked them as the ninth and 13th best prospects, respectively, that year. 

And while Trevor Lawrence was the top prospect on my 2021 Big Board, Justin Fields was the second quarterback and ranked ninth overall, with Zach Wilson (10th), Trey Lance (13th) and Mac Jones (15th) also earning first-round grades.  

Playing quarterback at a high level in the NFL is just as much about poise and leadership as arm talent, and rarely are QBs equipped to handle the pressure after only starting a year or two at the college level. 

That fact led to several undeniably gifted quarterbacks with obvious first-round traits falling on my Big Boards. Not every year, after all, does a single quarterback even make my top 10. There wasn’t one in either of my 2022 or 2025 final rankings.

I was stunned when Shedeur Sanders fell to the fifth round of last year’s draft, as he was my top-rated quarterback, ahead of Cam Ward. I had Sanders ranked as the No. 12 player in the 2025 class (with Ward No. 14), even when it was clear that Ward was going to be the Tennessee Titans’ choice with the first pick.

The rankings of others — including by NFL teams — don’t impact the way I grade prospects. And that is nothing new. 

Back in 2022, I had Malik Willis ranked No. 19 overall and Kenny Pickett — the only quarterback drafted in the first round that year — listed 32nd. 

I feel confident that I’m evaluating Mendoza fairly without recency bias toward him or any of the quarterbacks who have since played in the NFL. 

Despite what you might have heard or read elsewhere, Mendoza’s rise to No. 1 overall this year was more steady than surprising. 

I listed him as a first-round candidate before the year began, and he personified his Hoosiers all year long, silencing critics throughout a magical season that culminated with the national championship and Heisman Trophy. 

Mendoza is far and away the top quarterback of this class and warrants being ranked among the top overall prospects of this draft. He offers an exciting blend of polish and untapped potential, with a skill set that projects well for the offense Klint Kubiak figures to employ with the Las Vegas Raiders. Along with physical traits like his prototypical frame, quick release and precision passing — including while on the move — Mendoza enters the NFL with above-average pre-snap awareness and proven poise. 

He projects as a Day 1 starter with the physical tools and intangibles to develop into a true franchise-changer. So, how does he rank among the best QB prospects from the previous five drafts? Here’s my list.

My pre-draft ranking of the top QB prospects since 2021 …

22. Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss (No. 25 overall pick in 2025 by New York Giants)
21. Bo Nix, Oregon (No. 12 overall pick in 2024 by Denver Broncos)
20. Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh (No. 20 overall pick in 2022 by Pittsburgh Steelers)
19. Ty Simpson, Alabama (2026 draft prospect)
18. Will Levis, Kentucky (No. 33 overall pick in 2023 by Tennessee Titans)
17. Michael Penix Jr., Washington (No. 8 overall pick in 2024 by Atlanta Falcons)
16. Mac Jones, Alabama (No. 15 overall pick in 2021 by New England Patriots)
15. Malik Willis, Liberty (No. 86 overall pick in 2022 by Tennessee Titans)
14. J.J. McCarthy, Michigan (No. 10 overall pick in 2024 by Minnesota Vikings)
13. Trey Lance, North Dakota State (No. 3 overall pick in 2021 by San Francisco 49ers)
12. Cam Ward, Miami (No. 1 overall pick in 2025 by Tennessee Titans)
11. Shedeur Sanders, Colorado (No. 144 overall pick in 2025 by Cleveland Browns)

10. Anthony Richardson Sr., Florida (No. 4 overall pick in 2023 by Indianapolis Colts)
9. Zach Wilson, BYU (No. 2 overall pick in 2021 by New York Jets)
8. Justin Fields, Ohio State (No. 11 overall pick in 2021 by Chicago Bears)
7. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana (2026 draft prospect)
6. Jayden Daniels, LSU (No. 2 overall pick in 2024 by Washington Commanders)
5. Drake Maye, North Carolina (No. 3 overall pick in 2024 by New England Patriots)
4. C.J. Stroud, Ohio State (No. 2 overall pick in 2023 by Houston Texans)
3. Bryce Young, Alabama (No. 1 overall pick in 2023 by Carolina Panthers)
2. Trevor Lawrence, Clemson (No. 1 overall pick in 2021 by Jacksonville Jaguars)
1. Caleb Williams, USC (No. 1 overall pick in 2025 by Chicago Bears)

How I’d rank them as of today …

22. Trey Lance, Cardinals
21. Zach Wilson, free agent 
20. Kenny Pickett, Panthers 
19. Will Levis, Titans
18. Anthony Richardson Sr., Colts
17. Justin Fields, Chiefs
16. Ty Simpson
15. Shedeur Sanders, Browns
14. Mac Jones, 49ers
13. J.J. McCarthy, Vikings
12. Michael Penix Jr., Falcons
11. Jaxson Dart, Giants

10. Malik Willis, Dolphins
9. Cam Ward, Titans
8. Fernando Mendoza
7. Bryce Young, Panthers
6. C.J. Stroud, Texans
5. Jayden Daniels, Commanders 
4. Bo Nix, Broncos
3. Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars
2. Caleb Williams, Bears
1. Drake Maye, Patriots

Tyler Reddick raced to his fourth win of the NASCAR season in Sunday’s Goodyear 400 at Darlington Speedway, and it might have been the victory that impressed 23XI Racing owner Michael Jordan the most. 

The No. 45 car started Sunday’s race in pole position and led for nearly the entirety of the final 30 laps, but Reddick’s win didn’t come without hiccups. He had an issue with his alternator early on, which preceded a slow pit stop. His car’s alternator belt needed a look in the middle of Stage 2, which led to a battery change. Finally, there was an issue with his cool suit as that stopped working early in Stage 3.

However, Reddick was able to persist through it all, and Jordan commended his driver for getting through the problems with his car to race to victory.

“I’m pretty sure it was frustrating for him because he had an unbelievable car,” Reddick told FOX Sports’ Jamie Little. “You never know what’s going to happen, especially in Darlington. The key to him winning was keeping his head. I think Billy did a good job of trying to keep him calm. We knew we had a fast car. We knew we had a 30-lap run [and] we’d be real good. We knew on a short lap run, we’d be real good. 

“So, we just had to get the car right, and he kept his composure and I think he did an unbelievable job.”

Reddick said that he was “sweating his tail off” inside his car during Sunday’s race as he dealt with several issues with his car. 

“I knew never to give up,” Reddick told FOX Sports’ Regan Smith. “I think it’s very fitting that when we finally get our first win at Darlington, that the lady in black would test like that. We’ve been so close so many times.”

Jordan didn’t seem too surprised that Reddick had that mentality to get through Sunday’s race.

“I just wanted everything to be good. Once he gets back out there, I think his competitive juices are going to carry him all the way to the end,” Jordan said. “Those are the longest 18 to 20 laps that I could even imagine. I just didn’t want to see a caution. A caution would’ve changed everything. But he did the job. He earned it all week. 

“I’m real proud of the team.”

Ja’Kobi Gillespie scored 21 points, Nate Ament and Bishop Boswell made critical free throws down the stretch and sixth-seeded Tennessee advanced to its fourth straight Sweet 16, beating Virginia in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, 79-72.

The Vols (24-11) will face No. 2 seed Iowa State in a Midwest Region semifinal in Chicago on Friday night.

A year after he helped Maryland reach the Sweet 16, Gillespie led the way for the Vols. Tennessee has been a consistent first-weekend winner under coach Rick Barnes, who has yet to lead the school to the Final Four.

Gillespie had 50 points in two games in Philly — he scored 29 against Miami (OH) in the first round.

Against No. 3 seed Virginia, he made the shot of the game on a desperation 3-point heave as the shot clock expired and followed that with a tremendous lob pass for an alley-oop to J.P. Estrella for a 62-53 lead.

Yet Virginia — coming off its first NCAA Tournament win since its 2019 national championship — pushed the Vols to the limit over the final minutes.

The Cavaliers (30-6) trailed by two points and seemingly wasted an opportunity when Jacari White shot two airballs on the same possession to give the Vols the ball with 2:12 left.

No worries.

The Vols threw away the inbound pass and Virginia had a chance to make some happy March memories. Dallin Hall drove the lane and kicked the ball out to an open Thijs De Ridder for a 3 that put the Cavaliers ahead 71-70 with 2:03 left. De Ridder led Virginia with 22 points.

This lead wouldn’t last — no last-shot heroics necessary.

Ament hit two free throws for a 72-71 lead and Boswell made 1 of 2.

Again, White had a shot at tying the game, only to miss a layup and have the ball go off Virginia as it bounced out of bounds. After a review that upheld the original call, Tennessee had possession, and Gillespie made six free throws in the final 30 seconds as the Vols celebrated yet another trip to the tournament’s second weekend.

Ament, a gifted 6-foot-10 freshman who was scoreless in the first round, scored 16 points. Boswell had 13.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

Alvaro Folgueiras nailed a 3-pointer with 4.5 seconds remaining and Iowa eliminated defending national champion Florida, sending the top-seeded Gators home with a 73-72 victory on Sunday in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Under first-year coach Ben McCollum, Iowa reached the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2015, while Florida (27-8) became the first No. 1 seed to be knocked out of this year’s March Madness.

[March Madness: 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Highlights]

The ninth-seeded Hawkeyes (23-12) wasted a 12-point lead in the second half but rallied in the final minutes. They will face No. 4 seed Nebraska in the South Region semifinals Thursday night in Houston.

Xaivian Lee’s driving layup put Florida ahead 71-68 with under two minutes left. Bennett Stirtz answered with a floater to cut it to 71-70 with 57 seconds remaining.

After Thomas Haugh missed a 3-pointer, Stirtz missed a running layup and Isaiah Brown grabbed the rebound with 8.9 seconds left. Brown made his second free throw.

But Iowa easily broke Florida’s full-court press and Folguerias was wide open in the corner for his 3. Florida didn’t get a shot off before the buzzer, with Lee’s desperate drive ending with a pass that Haugh couldn’t handle.

Coming off a 59-point victory over Prairie View A&M on Friday night, Florida played like a team that hadn’t been tested.

It felt like a home game for the Gators, who played in front of a sea of orange and blue at Benchmark International Arena, home of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Fans left stunned.

Tavion Banks led Iowa with 20 points, Folgueiras had 14 and Stirtz finished with 13 on another off night when he shot just 5 of 16. Cooper Kock scored 12 points on four 3s.

Alex Condon led Florida with 21 points, Haugh had 19 and Lee added 17.

A scuffle broke out just past the midpoint of the first half with Iowa leading 19-13 when Condon and Folgueiras battled for a loose ball. Both players went to the floor holding on tightly. Folgueiras swung his arm back but didn’t follow through with a punch and the players had to be separated. Florida coach Todd Golden sprinted onto the floor to help calm things down, and both players were assessed technical fouls.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

France are preparing for a seismic shift in the dugout as Zinedine Zidane has reportedly reached a verbal agreement to become the next head coach of Les Bleus. 

The legendary former Real Madrid boss is set to succeed Didier Deschamps following the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup in North America. Zidane has been out of work since leaving Los Blancos for a second time in 2021.

FFF president confirms successor is in place

In a significant development for the future of Les Bleus, French Football Federation (FFF) president Philippe Diallo has confirmed that the identity of the next national team manager is already decided. While Deschamps remains focused on the upcoming 2026 World Cup, the groundwork for the post-tournament transition has been completed behind the scenes.

The FFF chief had previously been cautious about undermining Deschamps, but his latest comments suggest that a formal plan is now firmly in place.

Zidane the chosen one for Les Bleus

The name on everyone’s lips is, unsurprisingly, Zidane. The former Real Madrid manager has been out of work since leaving the Santiago Bernabeu in 2021, and it is widely understood that he has rejected numerous lucrative offers from top European clubs and other national teams to wait for the France job.

According to Le Parisien, Zidane has reached a verbal agreement to take the reins. Diallo’s criteria for the role seem to point directly at the legendary midfielder, as the president noted the need for a figure who commands national respect and can handle the unique pressure of the position.

Diallo remains tight-lipped but confident

Despite the growing certainty surrounding Zidane, Diallo has managed to keep the finer details under wrap until now. However, his recent admission has shifted the narrative from ‘if’ to ‘when’ the legendary No.10 will take over.

“Yes, I know his name,” the patron of the French Football Federation admitted when questioned about the future appointment.

Expanding on the selection process, Diallo insisted that the role requires a very specific profile. “It takes a profile that ticks many boxes and which can also be the subject of support from the French people, since this French football team is the team of the French people,” he explained.

The FFF boss further noted that he had received “fewer than five applications,” adding that they were “all French” because the team is one that “not everyone can pilot.”

The end of the Deschamps era

Deschamps has enjoyed an incredibly successful tenure, leading France to World Cup glory in 2018 and a second consecutive final in 2022. However, he has already confirmed the 2026 tournament will be his final bow as the head of the national side.

The first No. 1 seed succumbed around 9:35 p.m. ET on Sunday, by which time a last-ditch possession from Florida ended in a turnover by point guard Xaivian Lee as the final horn sounded, his wrap-around pass sailing fatefully awry. 

Moments earlier — before back-to-back timeouts that only amplified the searing tension at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida — Iowa forward Alvaro Folgueiras buried a 3-pointer from the right corner with 4.5 seconds remaining. He kissed his hand and pointed to the sky in celebration of what proved to be the winning basket, a swish that sent the Hawkeyes to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999.

“As far as my guys go,” Iowa head coach Ben McCollum said in his postgame news conference, “it’s just tough. That’s all it is. It’s just tough kids. They fight. They compete. They stick with it. They exemplify everything that we’ve wanted in Iowa basketball. They’ve established the foundation that we’ve desperately needed, and [I] couldn’t be any more proud of them.”

Iowa’s stunning upset capped a historic first weekend of the NCAA Tournament for the Big Ten, which sent a staggering six teams to the Sweet 16. The conference’s only schools that failed to advance to the second weekend were No. 5 Wisconsin and No. 8 Ohio State, who lost by three points combined.

Here are my takeaways from Round 2: 

1. This is the Big Ten’s best chance to end the championship drought

[MEN’S BRACKET: NCAA Tournament Bracket, Leaders & Stats]

Twenty-six years have passed since Michigan State cut down the nets in Indianapolis, where a young head coach named Tom Izzo defeated Florida to win the second national championship in program history. He was just five seasons into his career at that point, still a newbie on the big stage, and in that moment on April 3, 2000, almost everyone would have agreed that the Spartans were led by a man capable of dragging them to that pinnacle a few more times.

Not only has Izzo been unable to replicate the success he enjoyed on that Monday night more than two decades ago — long before conference realignment, NIL and the transfer portal radically altered the landscape — but nobody else from the Big Ten could conquer college basketball either. Fifteen Big Ten teams have reached the Final Four since 2000, all of which fell short of the ultimate goal. 

But this particular year and this particular version of the NCAA Tournament is beginning to feel different — even though the journey began somewhat forebodingly when No. 5 Wisconsin tripped against No. 12 High Point in the opening round. Since then, the script has been entirely rewritten. 

Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska and Illinois all advanced to the Sweet 16 on Saturday, with the Wolverines and Illini both winning their respective matchups by at least 20 points. Purdue and Iowa joined the party on Sunday. There is at least one league representative still alive in each quadrant, meaning the possibility of a Final Four composed entirely of Big Ten schools is not out of the question.  

The conference sent multiple teams to the Final Four in 2005 (Michigan State, Illinois) and 2015 (Wisconsin, Michigan State) but finished on the wrong end of the national title game each time, twice producing runners-up. This year’s pack of contenders — led by a dominant No. 1 seed in Michigan and four others ranked among the top 12 nationally in KenPom — seems even deeper. Perhaps the Big Ten can become just the second conference in history to send three teams to the Final Four in a single season, which hasn’t happened since the Big East accomplished that feat in 1985. 

This is shaping up to be the league’s best chance of finally ending its national championship drought. 

2. Duke vs. St. John’s is the most intriguing Sweet 16 matchup

Ever since Duke entered the ACC Tournament without starting center Patrick Ngongba II and starting point guard Caleb Foster, both of whom were sidelined by injuries, the questions of how much and for how long the Blue Devils would be hamstrung have continued to hover over head coach Jon Scheyer and his team. 

Ngongba (foot) and Foster (foot) missed all three games that week as Duke disposed of Florida State, Clemson and Virginia to win the conference tournament. They both sat for the opening-round NCAA Tournament game against No. 16 Siena, watching as the Saints’ incredible upset bid fell a few minutes short. Finally, Ngongba returned to play 13 minutes in the Blue Devils’ second-round victory over No. 9 TCU on Saturday. He had four points, four rebounds and four assists while committing four turnovers and picking up four fouls in an up-and-down performance.

But anyone who watched the Round of 32 matchup between No. 4 Kansas and No. 5 St. John’s — a game that head coach Rick Pitino’s team held on to win, 67-65 — will know that Foster’s absence now looms far larger than any lingering concerns about Ngongba. 

Time and again on Sunday, the Red Storm’s trademark full-court pressure disrupted the Jayhawks’ attempts to inbound the ball after made baskets. There were moments when inbounder Tre White threw passes that never touched his teammates’ hands, and others when those teammates couldn’t create enough separation to open quality passing angles. For Kansas to turn the ball over 16 times despite only averaging 10.7 per game all season speaks to how disjointed the operation really was.

One of the primary questions for Scheyer and his staff to answer in the coming days is how to handle the press without Foster, whose broken foot is expected to sideline him until at least the Final Four — assuming, of course, that the Blue Devils can even make it to Indianapolis. Without Foster, who averages 8.5 points per game, Duke has turned the primary ball-handling responsibilities over to freshman Caden Boozer, who scored 19 crucial points in the win over Siena but was much quieter against TCU.

The bigger concerns for Caden Boozer entering a game against St. John’s are his general lack of experience — he’s appeared in 60 fewer career games than Foster, a junior — and his turnover rate is nearly 5% higher than the starter he’s replacing, according to KenPom. There will be added pressure on fellow guards Isaiah Evans and Dame Sarr to help break the St. John’s press, but neither player is a prototypical ball handler. The stage is set for a fascinating chess match.

3. UConn survives to set up a massive clash with Michigan State

No game in the Round of 32 was more beholden to an injury report than the battle between No. 2 UConn and No. 7 UCLA.

The Huskies, who endured a legitimate upset scare from No. 15 Furman in the opening round, were navigating an ankle problem for starting point guard Silas Demary Jr. (10.9 points, 6.2 assists) and a knee issue for reserve wing Jaylin Stewart (4.5 points). The former had healed enough to give head coach Dan Hurley a few minutes in each half off the bench, while the latter hasn’t played since Feb. 21. 

UCLA, which fended off No. 10 UCF on Friday, was hopeful that power forward Tyler Bilodeau (team-high 17.6 points per game) could return after dealing with a knee problem suffered in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals against Michigan State. But in the end, Bilodeau missed his third consecutive game. 

Twenty-one minutes from Demary — who only scored two points but dished out four assists, grabbed three rebounds and swiped two steals — offered just enough ballast in support of fellow point guard Malachi Smith to help push the Huskies into the Sweet 16. Now, Demary will have several more days to heal before UConn travels to Washington, D.C., to face No. 3 Michigan State on Friday night.

The impending showdown between the Huskies and Spartans will be a rematch of an exhibition game played at PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford, Connecticut, on Oct. 28. Hurley’s group led by 13 at halftime and dominated most of the evening in an eventual 76-69 victory. UConn limited Michigan State to 39.1% shooting and finished plus-four in the rebounding margin.

But much has changed since then, given the five months of basketball that unfolded in between. Now, two of the most storied programs in the sport will meet with a trip to the Elite Eight on the line. 

4. High Point head coach Flynn Clayman is a rising star

[NCAA ODDS: Latest Men’s March Madness Odds, Favorites]

The on-court interview Clayman gave following his team’s opening-round upset of No. 5 Wisconsin made waves across social media — the fire, the passion, the eternal scowl even after recording the biggest win of his career — but what his team did on Saturday by pushing fourth-seeded Arkansas to the brink, spoke volumes about his burgeoning coaching prowess. 

“We competed,” Clayman said in the postgame news conference following his team’s 94-88 loss to the Razorbacks. “We competed with the SEC champs, lottery picks, guys who are the best of the best. Our university, our team showed out. We showed out. We packed the house, we had fun, we played with confidence. We were expected to be good, but I don’t think anybody expected us to do what we did here: win 31 games, get to the [NCAA] Tournament, advance, push the SEC champs.”

How did Clayman, a 37-year-old in his first season as a full-time head coach, accomplish such an incredible feat? The answer to that question undoubtedly includes the overwhelming support his Panthers receive from the school’s administration and donors, which Clayman acknowledged again on Saturday night. But just as important as High Point’s enviable infrastructure, particularly at the mid-major level, was Clayman’s roster construction that fit seamlessly with his desired style of play — a necessity in the sport’s offensive-driven modern era, according to numerous head coaches.  

He found a lightning-quick point guard via the transfer portal in Rob Martin, formerly of Southeast Missouri State and Indiana State, who could fuel an offense that ranked among the top 45 nationally in pace while maintaining the fourth-lowest turnover rate. He found an instant-impact wing in Cam’Ron Fletcher, formerly of Xavier, who poured in 25 points off the bench against Arkansas. He accentuated the rapid-fire release of 3-point specialist Chase Johnston with beautiful sets and actions that tormented the Razorbacks and Badgers. Those pieces allowed the Panthers to play beautiful, free-flowing basketball. 

With so many resources available to Clayman at High Point, a school so committed to supporting athletics that it chartered a plane to fly students to the NCAA Tournament, there’s no pressure for him to leave any time soon — though there will certainly be opportunities after what he accomplished this season. His enticing blend of youth, charisma, passion and basketball savvy make him a name to watch in the years to come. 

4½. What’s next? 

Here are a few storylines to watch as we move into the Sweet 16: 

No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 2 Houston (Thursday) — This is now the sixth consecutive season that Houston ranks among the top 10 nationally for defensive efficiency. Kelvin Sampson’s squad held its first two NCAA Tournament opponents — Idaho and Texas A&M — to 104 points combined. But Illinois presents an entirely different kind of challenge. The Illini are currently sitting second nationally in offensive efficiency and spent most of the season leading the country in that category. This one should be a classic. 

No. 6 Tennessee vs. No. 2 Iowa State (Friday) — The Cyclones deserve tremendous credit for pulling away from seventh-seeded Kentucky with a 51-point second half on Sunday despite missing first-team All-American Joshua Jefferson, who sprained his left ankle in the opening round. Head coach T.J. Otzelberger said Jefferson will undergo an MRI on Monday to determine whether he can play in the Sweet 16. Tennessee, meanwhile, is making a fourth consecutive Sweet 16 appearance under head coach Rick Barnes. That represents the longest streak in program history. 

No. 4 Arkansas vs. No. 1 Arizona (Thursday) — Draft picks, draft picks and more draft picks. This is a game that NBA evaluators will have their eyes glued to given the incredible talent on both rosters. Arkansas has two potential first-round picks in point guard Darius Acuff Jr. (23.3 points per game) and shooting guard Meleek Thomas (15.6 points per game), both of whom are freshmen. Arizona has three potential first-round picks in shooting guard Brayden Burries (16 points per game) and power forward Koa Peat (13.7 points per game) — both of whom are also freshmen — and center Motiejus Krivas (10.4 points per game). It will be as star-studded as a college game can get. 

Antoine Griezmann is reportedly on the verge of completing a deal to sign for Orlando City, with a view to moving to MLS this summer, according to The Athletic. The former France captain has been linked with a move to the Florida club for weeks, and has been officially granted permission to travel to the United States to seal a permanent switch.

Finalizing a long rumored move

Reports first emerged that Griezmann would consider leaving for Orlando City at the end of February, but Atlético Madrid’s qualification for the Copa del Rey final reportedly stalled his move as he was eager to end his time at Atlético Madrid with silverware.

Still, the Frenchman has kept his intent to seal the deal despite the closure of MLS’s primary transfer window. Should all go to plan, he will officially move to North America following the end of the European club season.

Well-chronicled MLS aspirations

Griezmann has long made it clear that he wants to play in Major League Soccer. The Frenchman is an avowed fan of American sports, and is often pictured at NBA games. He has been linked with multiple MLS clubs in the past, including LAFC, Chicago Fire, and, briefly, Inter Miami.

However, it would seem that Orlando is his final destination.

A fine European career

Griezmann would immediately be among the best players in the league. The Frenchman captained his national team, bagged 44 goals for

The 34-year-old has seen his form dip a little this year, but still remains a key piece for Atleti. He has scored six goals and added an assist in the Spanish top flight, and scored five goals in Atleti’s Copa del Rey run.

The boost that Orlando City could need

Orlando City, meanwhile, have struggled. They parted ways with long-time manager Oscar Pareja on March 11, and haven’t seen their luck improve much since then. The Lions lost to Nashville SC 5-0 on Saturday. Still, they have a young core, a history of bringing in top European players. And in Griezmann, they might just have a level-raising star on the way.

Sixteen teams remain and eight games are on deck.

Let’s check out the odds for the men’s NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 at DraftKings Sportsbook as of March 23, as well as what to know about each game.

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THURSDAY, MARCH 26

No. 4 Arkansas vs. No. 1 Arizona

Spread: Arizona -8.5
Moneyline: Arizona -395, Arkansas +310
O/U: 166.5

What to know: Things haven’t been super easy for Arizona so far this Tournament. Yes, it beat and covered against 16-seed Long Island in Round 1 (92-58), but Round 2 was a bit testier, as it outlasted 9-seed Utah State (78-66), covering by half a point. Still, the Wildcats are nearly 10-point favorites over a Razorbacks squad that beat 13-seed Hawai’i in the first round (97-78) and beat 12-seed High Point in the second round (94-88). Arizona has been favored by fewer than 10 on 11 occasions this season, covering six of those games.

No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 2 Houston

Spread: Houston -2.5
Moneyline: Houston -148, Illinois +124
O/U: 139.5

What to know: Houston won both its first-round game and its second-round game by exactly 31 points, over 15-seed Idaho (78-47) and 10-seed Texas A&M (88-57), respectively. The Cougars have been doing it with defense, not allowing either opponent to score 30 points in a half over the course of the first two rounds. Illinois beat 14-seed Penn by 35 (105-70) in the first round and 11-seed VCU by 21 (76-55) in the second round. Both teams have covered in both of their Tournament wins.

No. 11 Texas vs. No. 2 Purdue

Spread: Purdue -7.5
Moneyline: Purdue -360, Texas +285
O/U: 148.5

What to know: Purdue is looking like the preseason title favorite that it was. The Boilermakers beat Michigan in the Big Ten title game, then beat Queens U in the first round (104-71) and Miami FL in the second round (79-69). Now, they are favored over a Texas team that eked past fellow 11-seed NC State in the First Four (68-66) before upsetting 6-seed BYU in the first round (79-71) and 3-seed Gonzaga in the second round (74-68). Both teams have covered each of their Tournament games.

No. 9 Iowa vs. No. 4 Nebraska

Spread: Nebraska -2.5
Moneyline: Nebraska -148, Iowa +124
O/U: 134.5

What to know: The first major upset of the Tournament belongs to the Hawkeyes, who took down 1-seed and defending champion Florida in the Round of 32 (73-72). Wow. Iowa was a 10.5-point underdog in that one, after covering in its first-round tilt with 8-seed Clemson (67-61). Nebraska covered both of its Tournament games, beating 13-seed Troy (76-47) and 5-seed Vanderbilt (74-72). Now, the Hawkeyes and Cornhuskers will have a Big Ten rematch, after splitting the season series. Iowa won on its home floor, 57-52, and Nebraska won on its home floor, 84-75.

FRIDAY, MARCH 27

No. 5 St. John’s vs. No. 1 Duke

Spread: Duke -6.5
Moneyline: Duke -310, St. John’s +250
O/U: 142.5

What to know: Duke has been favored in nine straight games, but has only covered four of the last six. In the Round of 64, the Blue Devils got a scare against 16-seed Siena, winning by six after being favored by 28.5 (71-65). In the Round of 32, Duke got back on track, beating 9-seed TCU by 23 after entering as 12.5-point favorites (81-58). As for St. John’s, it had covered six in a row — including its first-round win over 12-seed UNI (79-53) — before beating 4-seed Kansas by two in the second round (67-65) as a 3.5-point favorite. 

No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 1 Michigan

Spread: Michigan -10.5
Moneyline: Michigan -600, Alabama +440
O/U: 175.5

What to know: Michigan won both of its first two Tournament games by 20+, beating 16-seed Howard (101-80) and then 9-seed Saint Louis (95-72). It only covered in the Round of 32, however, and the Wolverines have failed to cover six of their last seven games, all of which they were favored in. The Crimson Tide cooked 13-seed Hofstra in Round 1 (90-70), and then kept up that momentum against 5-seed Texas Tech in Round 2 (90-65). Alabama covered both games.

No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 2 UConn

Spread: UConn -1.5
Moneyline: UConn -115, MSU -105
O/U: 137.5

What to know: UConn has won two of the last three championships, and it is still in it to make it three out of four. The Huskies beat 15-seed Furman in the first round (82-71) but failed to cover, and then covered against 7-seed UCLA in the second round (73-57). The Spartans blew out 14-seed North Dakota State in the first round (92-67) and then got past 6-seed Louisville in the second round (77-69). They covered both games. This one is in pick ’em territory.

No. 6 Tennessee vs. No. 2 Iowa State

Spread: ISU -4.5
Moneyline: ISU -198, Tennessee +164
O/U: 137.5

What to know: Iowa State hasn’t faced much resistance so far in the Tournament, beating 15-seed Tennessee State in the first round (108-74) and 7-seed Kentucky in the second round (82-63). Tennessee beat 11-seed Miami OH in the Round of 64 (78-56), before upsetting 3-seed Virginia in the Round of 32. Both teams covered each of their first two Tournament games. ISU has covered its last six games, five of which have been wins, all of which have been by 19 or more. Its lone loss was to Arizona by two.

St. John’s guard Dylan Darling missed his first four shots in Sunday’s Round of 32 matchup against Kansas, but that didn’t stop him from asking coach Rick Pitino to give him the final shot of the game in the Red Storm’s eventual win.

After Darling made a runner at the buzzer to seal a win for St. John’s, Pitino shared that the junior asked to take the final shot during the final timeout in what the Hall of Fame coach called “the funniest thing I’ve been involved with.” 

“Bells (Darling) comes up to me and says, run ‘Power,’ which is a high, back-screen pick-and-roll,” Pitino told reporters. “So I walk away, and I said, ‘Wait a second. He hasn’t scored a bucket, and he wants to run a play for himself?’ But he’s Bells — and not only did he do it, he went with his right hand. 

“I’m real proud of him because to want the ball when you haven’t made a shot is unbelievable.”

Darling’s runner led to the only two points he scored all night. However, they proved to be the difference in St. John’s 67-65 win, which will send it to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999. 

While Darling had such an off night that Pitino had told him to stop aiming the ball when he shot, St. John’s head coach expressed that the confidence he showed during the timeout allowed him to have faith in his junior guard. 

“He’s extremely fast,” Pitino said. “They would probably look at him to go left. He went right. It was the only play we could run, or we could try to throw it into the high post area and let Zuby [Ejiofor] go. 

“But as soon as Bell said to me to run power, I knew he could get to the rim because he hadn’t done a damn good thing the whole night. So, I knew he was going to do it.”

The camaraderie between Pitino and Darling was on display during their postgame press conference. When Darling was asked if Sunday’s shot was his first buzzer-beater, he replied that it was his first in college. 

Pitino jumped in and teased Darling, asking him if he had made a buzzer-beater in the NBA before. 

“I’m saying I played in high school and middle school, coach,” Darling said with a laugh. “I didn’t just start playing ball.”

Still, Darling was a bit surprised that Pitino trusted him to make such a big play. 

“I probably don’t deserve this,” Darling said. “I was pretty bad all night long. But my teammates held it down tonight. Everybody stepped up. Just happy to keep this thing rolling.”

But Darling’s teammates had faith in him as well, including Ejiofor, who scored 18 points in the win.

“I was fully confident in him making a play, a great decision, and he obviously made the best decision possible,” Ejiofor said. “We know who Dylan is. He’s a really confident player, a high-level competitor, and he was able to make a big-time bucket.”

Now, Pitino, Darling and St. John’s will take on the tournament’s No. 1 overall seed, Duke, in the Sweet 16 on Friday. Pitino has had several memorable matchups against Duke in his legendary career, including one of the most iconic games in the history of college basketball when the Blue Devils beat his Kentucky squad in the Elite Eight in 1992. 

Pitino is hoping that Darling’s shot could be a good omen for St. John’s on Friday. 

“I’m hoping we can get Duke at the buzzer next, to make up for that Christian Laettner shot,” Pitino said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Bill Self says he hasn’t decided whether he will continue his Hall of Fame coaching career after the Kansas Jayhawks‘ season ended with a heartbreaking loss to St. John’s in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday.

The 63-year-old Self has won two national championships and built a powerhouse during his 23 seasons in charge of the Jayhawks, but he has missed several games over the past few seasons due to heart issues and other health concerns.

“I’ve gone through some stuff off the court, so I’ll get back and get with family and visit and see what’s going on,” Self said. “I love what I do. I need to be able to do it where I’m feeling good and healthy to do it fairly well. I’ll get back home and it will all be discussed.”

Self most recently missed a game at Colorado in January after taking a precautionary trip to the hospital. He also had two stents inserted in his heart in 2023, and two more last year.

Self has been one of college basketball’s most successful coaches since he replaced Roy Williams in Lawrence in 2003. He joined the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017, and he became the winningest coach in Kansas history in November 2024, passing Phog Allen.

But Self’s health problems are understandably something to consider. When asked Sunday if he was completely healthy, Self replied: “I don’t know about completely.”

“But I’m feeling — I feel as good as I’ve felt in a long time,” Self added. “I’m not making any statements whatsoever. But every year, I think … when you get to be doing it as long as I’ve done it, I look at it in five-year increments. Now I’m probably looking at it in more two-year increments, so to speak. So I try to focus on this season and try to get us to a second weekend, which we failed at. So I’ll go back now and break it down and see where that leads.”

Self’s Jayhawks have won 16 regular-season Big 12 titles — including 13 straight at one point — and nine conference tournament titles. His teams have reached three Final Fours, winning championships in 2008 and 2022.

But Kansas hasn’t returned to the Sweet 16 since that second championship, going out three times in the second round and once in the first.

The Jayhawks’ latest season-ending loss was gut-wrenching. Facing a 13-point deficit with 7 1/2 minutes to play, Kansas fought all the way back to tie it with 13.1 seconds left, but St. John’s advanced on Dylan Darling’s layup as time expired.

The final six weeks of the season were rough for the Jayhawks. They ended Arizona’s unbeaten season in a landmark victory on Feb. 9, but subsequently lost six of their final 11 games.

Self’s career record stands at 855-272.

“My career ain’t going to be based on one game,” Self said when asked if it would be tough to end his career on such a crushing defeat. “I said I was going to get back and evaluate my health situation.”

Self coached at Oral Roberts, Tulsa and Illinois before returning to Kansas, where the Oklahoma native was an assistant in his first coaching job 40 years ago. He has coached 43 NBA players at Kansas, including 12 lottery picks and 18 first-round picks.

Reporting by The Associated Press.