ESPN analyst lists Steelers as favorites to sign Daniel Jones in 2025

Could Daniel Jones find a fresh start in Pittsburgh? One ESPN analyst sees the Steelers as a top landing spot if the Giants move on in 2025.

Pittsburgh is slowly becoming a quarterback rehab center, where struggling signal callers leave their worries, and former teams, behind to become a much more confident QB. Russell Wilson and Justin Fields looked far more comfortable with the Steelers than they did with the Broncos and Bears, respectively, and now it appears one ESPN analyst believes Pittsburgh could add one more name to this list come the 2025 offseason.

QB Daniel Jones of the New York Giants has seemingly fallen out of the team’s aspirations for their long-term future, with backup QB Tommy DeVito being named the team’s starter by Head Coach Brian Daboll.

ESPN analyst Ben Solak fully expects the Giants to cut Jones in 2025 and touched on potential landing spots for the QB, shooting down the New York Jets as suitors while hyping up Pittsburgh’s odds: “I’m also keeping my eyes on the Steelers (current running favorite), Titans and Browns.”

If the Pittsburgh Steelers are unable to keep Fields or Wilson past 2024, could Jones provide a much-needed bridge in 2025 while the team searches for their future signal caller?

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

MMA Junkie LIVE debate: Does Jon Jones deserve No. 1 pound-for-pound ranking? (3 p.m. ET)

Jon Jones is back on top of the MMA Junkie pound-for-pound rankings. Is his No. 1 spot justified? The MMA Junkie crew debates live.

[autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] successfully defended his heavyweight title in the UFC 309 main event, and now, the debate about his placement in the pound-for-pound rankings rages on.

Jones reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the USA TODAY SPORTS/MMA Junkie Men’s Pound-for-Pound rankings following his TKO finish of Stipe Miocic at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Was the performance worthy of landing ahead of stellar talents such as Alex Pereria, Ilia Topuria, Islam Makhachev and Francis Ngannou?

In a special live debate, MMA Junkie’s Simon Samano, Matthew Wells, Mike Bohn, “Gorgeous” George Garcia and Brian “Goze” Garcia will get together to hash out where Jones should land in the P4P rankings.

Watch this special live debate in the video above, and submit your questions in the YouTube live chat.

[lawrence-related id=2788181,2788042,2787842]

Ohio State football missing pivotal chance to recruit Class of 2026 No. 1 QB due to noon kickoff

Ohio State football won’t be able to bring in Jared Curtis, the No. 1 QB in the Class of 2026, on Saturday due to the noon kickoff start.

The Ohio State Buckeyes are a powerhouse college football program, and they have the ability to bring in some of the best of the best high school athletes, not only to visit in Columbus but to play there as well.

The talent pool for the next generation is always a top of conversation for collegiate programs, and having incoming prospects and recruits to high-energy games is immensely beneficial for all parties as they get to see the type of environment that a college can have on the brightest stage.

However, when it is a noon ET game and high school football playoffs are still ongoing, it makes matters a bit tougher, and the Buckeyes are figuring that out the hard way as they will miss out on a chance to have No. 1 overall Class of 2026 quarterback Jared Curtis to Columbus.

Curtis is the No. 1 quarterback, the No. 1 player from Tennessee and the No. 4 overall prospect from the Class of 2026 per 247Sports Composite scoring.

Per On3’s Steve Wiltfong, Curtis won’t be able to make the game due to having a third-round playoff game and logistics just won’t be able to work themselves out.

The game was announced as FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff several days ago and will also have ESPN’s College Gameday prior. It is a big deal as the regular season college football slate only has so many top-five games.

With Indiana No. 5 and Ohio State No. 2, it is bound to be the most high-profile battle this weekend.

Vikings keep moving up NFL power rankings ahead of Week 12

The Vikings are surging upward in the power rankings.

Following the Vikings’ 23-13 win over the Titans in Nashville this past weekend, Minnesota has moved up ESPN’s latest power ranking. Entering the weekend, the Vikings were the eighth-best team. But after the win, Minnesota has moved up to No. 6.

“Adofo-Mensah is the general manager of a team that has surprised the NFL by starting 8-2 despite the season-long loss of rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy (knee). His 2024 draft hasn’t helped much, similar to the 2022 and 2023 drafts, but Adofo-Mensah’s free agent class — including linebackers Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel and Blake Cashman, along with cornerback Stephon Gilmore — has been fantastic. There was never a high likelihood that Adofo-Mensah would be fired this winter, but the team’s performance raises the chances that he will receive a contract extension.”

The Detroit Lions are ESPN’s top team in the NFL following the Chiefs’ loss to the Bills. The Vikings’ next opponent, the Bears, are ranked No. 23 in the power rankings.

Where Wisconsin basketball lands in Joe Lunardi’s latest 2025 bracketology

Where Wisconsin basketball lands in Joe Lunardi’s latest 2025 Bracketology

Wisconsin men’s basketball program appeared in Joe Lunardi’s latest 2025 March Madness men’s field prediction on Wednesday. 

After being projected as one of the bubble teams in Lunardi’s May installation of his bracketology, the ESPN analyst now considers the Badgers a No. 9 seed in the Midwest region of the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

Wisconsin’s placement arrives on the heels of UW’s statement win over No. 17 Arizona on Nov. 15 at the Kohl Center. The win, fueled by 41 points from wing sensation John Tonje, rocketed Wisconsin up to No. 19 in the latest AP Poll.

If Lunardi’s forecast comes to pass, the Badgers will square off against Mississippi State, a program that holds the No. 8 seed in the Midwest cohort. The Bulldogs most recently dropped their first-round match as an eight-seed to No. 9 Michigan State in the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

Wisconsin, meanwhile, lost its opening round contest to No. 12 James Madison in the 2024 tournament. Shortly after, veteran point guard Chucky Hepburn and volume scorer A.J. Storr elected to transfer from the program.

Now, UW looks like it can compete once more in the postseason. The Badgers lead the nation in free throw percentage at 88.64% (117-of-132) and can turn to several playmakers for scoring contributions at all three levels.

Greg Gard’s program will return to the court for a bout against UCF on Nov. 22 at the Greenbrier Tip-Off in West Virginia.

Strands hints today: Clues and answers on Thursday, November 21 2024

Some hints, tips and the spangram to guess in Strands on November 21, 2024, along with the answers.

WARNING: THERE ARE STRANDS SPOILERS AHEAD! DO NOT READ FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT THE NOVEMBER 21, 2024 STRANDS ANSWER SPOILED FOR YOU.

Ready?

OK!

Have you been playing Strands, the super fun game from the New York Times, the makers of Connections and other brain-teasers like Wordle in which you have to do a search in a jumble of letters and find words based on a theme? It’s pretty fun and sometimes very challenging, so we’re here to help you out with some clues and the answers, including the “Spangram” that connects all the words.

Let’s start with the clue: You’re getting warm.

If you want our help? Think of something that makes you warm! As for the answers, scroll below the photo below:

(Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Hearth, Flue, Poker, Chimney, Mantle, Broom, Screen

The Spangram is … FIREPLACE.

UFC Fight Night 248: Make your predictions for Petr Yan vs. Deiveson Figueiredo

We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 248 event in Macau.

We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 248 event in Macau.

Our staff picks feature includes the consensus picks from MMA Junkie readers. Simply cast your vote for each bout below, and we’ll use the official tallies that are registered by Thursday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).

Those reader consensus picks will be part of the main card staff predictions we release ahead of UFC Fight Night 248 (ESPN+), which takes place Saturday at Galaxy Arena in Macau.

Make your main card picks below.

Ozzy Diaz vs. Zhang Mingyang

Records: Diaz (9-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC), Mingyang (17-6 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
Past five: Diaz 4-1, Mingyang 5-0
Division: Light heavyweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 11.18.24): Diaz +260, Mingyang -340

[opinary poll=”whats-your-pick-for-ozzy-diaz-vs-zhang-mingyang_mmajunkie” customer=”mmajunkie”]

Volkan Oezdemir vs. Carlos Ulberg

Records: Oezdemir (20-7 MMA, 8-6 UFC), Ulberg (11-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC)
Past five: Oezdemir 3-2, Ulberg 5-0
Division: Light heavyweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 11.18.24): Oezdemir +230, Ulberg -280

[opinary poll=”whats-your-pick-for-volkan-oezdemir-vs-carlos-ulberg_mmajunkie” customer=”mmajunkie”]

Wang Cong vs. Gabriella Fernandes

Records: Cong (6-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Fernandes (9-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC)
Past five: Cong 5-0, Fernandes 3-2
Division: Women’s flyweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 11.18.24): Cong -725, Fernandes +450

[opinary poll=”whats-your-pick-for-wang-cong-vs-gabriella-fernandes_mmajunkie” customer=”mmajunkie”]

Song Kenan vs. Muslim Salikhov

Records: Kenan (22-8 MMA, 6-4 UFC), Salikhov (20-5 MMA, 7-4 UFC)
Past five: Kenan 2-3, Salikhov 2-3
Division: Welterweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 11.18.24): Kenan +140, Salikhov -170

[opinary poll=”whats-your-pick-for-song-kenan-vs-muslim-salikhov_mmajunkie” customer=”mmajunkie”]

Yan Xiaonan vs. Tabatha Ricci

Records: Xiaonan (18-4 MMA, 8-3 UFC), Ricci (11-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC)
Past five: Xiaonan 2-3, Ricci 4-1
Division: Women’s strawweight
Rankings: Xiaonan No. 4, Ricci No. 9
Odds (as of 11.18.24): Xiaonan -190, Ricci +160

[opinary poll=”whats-your-pick-for-tabatha-ricci-vs-yan-xiaonan_mmajunkie” customer=”mmajunkie”]

Petr Yan vs. Deiveson Figueiredo

Records: Yan (17-5 MMA, 9-4 UFC), Figueiredo (24-3-1 MMA, 13-3-1 UFC)
Past five: Yan 2-3, Figueiredo 4-1
Division: Bantamweight
Rankings: Yan No. 5, Figueiredo No. 12
Odds (as of 11.18.24): Yan -330, Figueiredo +255

[opinary poll=”whats-your-pick-for-petr-yan-vs-deiveson-figueiredo_mmajunkie” customer=”mmajunkie”]

UFC Fight Night 248 fight card (as of Nov. 21, 7 a.m. ET)

MAIN CARD (ESPN, 6 a.m. ET)

  • Petr Yan vs. Deiveson Figueiredo
  • Yan Xiaonan vs. Tabatha Ricci
  • Song Kenan vs. Muslim Salikhov
  • Wang Cong vs. Gabriella Fernandes
  • Volkan Oezdemir vs. Carlos Ulberg
  • Ozzy Diaz vs. Zhang Mingyang

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 3 a.m. ET)

  • Balgyn Jenisuly vs. Su Young You
  • Dong Hoon Choi vs. Kiru Sahota
  • Xiaocan Feng vs. Ming Shi
  • Carlos Hernandez vs. Nyamjargal Tumendemberel
  • Lone’er Kavanagh vs. Jose Ochoa
  • Quang Le vs. Xiao Long
  • Hayisaer Maheshate vs. Nikolas Motta

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 248.

Connections hints, clues and answers on Thursday, November 21 2024

Some clues hints, tips and strategies to guess Connections on November 21, 2024, along with the answers.

WARNING: THERE ARE CONNECTIONS SPOILERS AHEAD! DO NOT READ FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT THE NOVEMBER 21, 2024 NYT CONNECTIONS ANSWER SPOILED FOR YOU.

Ready?

OK!

Have you been playing Connections, the super fun word game from the New York Times that has people sharing those multi-colored squares on social media like they did with Wordle? It’s pretty fun and sometimes very challenging, so we’re here to help you out with some clues and the answer for the four categories that you need to know:

1. What you might wear on top.

2. Under the sea.

3. In the tea.

4. Think tomato sauce.

The answers are below this photo:

(Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

1. Kinds of shirts

2. Marine invertebrates, familiarly

3. Spheres in milk tea

4. Starts of pasta names

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=421393776]

Chiefs HC Andy Reid provides a positive update on Isiah Pacheco ahead of Week 12

Kansas City #Chiefs head coach Andy Reid provides a positive update on Isiah Pacheco ahead of Week 12 | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs are fresh from their first loss of the season but got some positive news regarding an injured starter. Head coach Andy Reid spoke with reporters on Wednesday to discuss the status of starting running back Isiah Pacheco as he continues to work his way back from injury.

“We’ll see on both those two (Charles Omenihu),” said Reid. “Kind of go through the practice (and) see where we’re at this week and go from there. We’ll just have to say, a day-by-day-type thing.”

Reid also mentioned rehabbing Charles Omenihu’s progress toward a potential return, but Pacheco’s potential this weekend seems promising. During his press conference, the Chiefs head coach praised Pacheco’s work ethic and desire to return.

“He’s a spark plug, emotionally; he’s something that way, and he’s worked his tail off to get to the point he’s at now. We’ve got to keep an eye on him that way,” said Reid. “He would’ve played three weeks ago if he had his choice, but that’s sometimes how it goes. I appreciate that, though, that mentality. That’s what’s helped him get to this point.”

Pacheco was off to a productive start this season before going down with a fractured fibula in the team’s Week 2 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. A backfield alongside Kareem Hunt appears to be a matter of time as the Rutgers standout’s health is on the uptick.

A familiar face could be the Vikings playoff opponent in opening round

As of now, the Vikings are projected to face Kirk Cousins and the Atlanta Falcons.

It’s not impossible for the Vikings to receive a first-round bye, but with the Detroit Lions extremely hot, Minnesota will need some magic to win the NFC North. If the Vikings can’t beat out the Lions, they would likely get a five—or six-seed in the playoffs.

According to the latest playoff predictor, the Vikings would be the fifth seed and get the chance to play a familiar face in the first round on the road. They would have to go to Atlanta to play the fourth-seed Falcons, who obviously have Kirk Cousins as their starting quarterback.

Cousins has had an up-and-down season with Atlanta in his first season away from the Vikings. Cousins was benched this past weekend after the Falcons were down late to the Denver Broncos.

In 2024, Cousins has passed for 2,807 yards and thrown for 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions. For Viking fans, beating Cousins in the first round would be a dream scenario.