When the Indianapolis Colts, in desperate need of a viable quarterback, reached deep into their emergency contacts list to sign Philip Rivers, it was surprising because he was retired and hadn’t played since 2020.

And you know what has been equally surprising in the wake of this move? No one of note complained Colin Kaepernick wasn’t an option.

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No Kaepernick Complaint Whatsoever

Kaepernick didn’t get a workout with the Colts, wasn’t contacted, wasn’t even considered, although the Colts did reach out to other quarterbacks. 

And what followed after that Kaepernick omission was, well, nothing.

There has been no backlash. No notable complaints about Kaepernick being blackballed. No charges of racism after Indianapolis signed a 44-year-old white guy instead of the 38-year-old black guy.

There has not been so much as a mention in NFL media and pundit circles about another Kaepernick snub – not even from Kaepernick advocate-in-chief Mike Florio.

So why is this noteworthy? 

It merits attention because it could signal the end of an era. Finally! It signals that maybe we’re past the days when people accused every NFL team of being racist when they didn’t sign Kaepernick to fill a quarterback need.

Colin Kaepernick arrives for a workout for NFL football scouts and media in Riverdale, Georgia, on Nov. 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Todd Kirkland, File)

Colin Kaepernick Memory Fades

It signals an understanding that teams don’t care about fan or media complaints nearly as much as Kaepernick’s complications.

It signals that folks at last understand charges of racism from people of a certain political bent against the 75-percent-black NFL ring hollow. 

So, yeah, this is a big deal. 

BRONCOS’ PRACTICE SQUAD QUARTERBACK REVEALS HE DECLINED OPPORTUNITY TO RETURN TO COLTS

It matters because the worshipers that portrayed Kaepernick as some kind of hero when he said, “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” once forgot what a hypocrite he was the very day of his first protest.

But now maybe they’ve just forgotten him.

Tons Of QB Moves Without Complaint

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers (17) on the sideline during the game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on Dec. 6, 2020. (Troy Taormina/USA TODAY Sports)

Rivers is not the first quarterback this year to come out of nowhere and get signed to a practice squad deal ahead of Kaepernick. We’ve had a slew of mostly unaccomplished quarterbacks sign practice-squad contracts throughout this season.

Shane Buechele with the Bills.

Brady Cook with the Jets.

Bailey Zappe with the Browns.

Seth Henigan with the Jaguars before he worked out for the Colts on Tuesday, just as Rivers did.

More? Well traveled Trevor Siemian with the Titans, Chris Oladokun with the Chiefs, Cam Miller with the Raiders.

Colts Also Added Brett Rypien

There are close to a dozen more such quarterbacks toiling on NFL practice squads. And some of these guys were cut and replaced. Some even caught on with other teams.

Brett Rypien started out with the Bengals, then got promoted to the active roster, then got released, then got signed to the Colts’ practice squad, then got promoted to the Indy active roster on Wednesday.

But amid all these moves, no Kaepernick

And no complaints about it, either.

Activists in 2017 would not recognize this peace.

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The End Has Come For Kaepernick

None of these other guys have reached the ceiling Kaepernick once did in starting for a Super Bowl team. But their potential is much higher than the floor Kaepernick fell to at the end of his NFL career.

Notice what I did there? “At the end of his NFL career” was not typed by mistake. 

That end indeed came after the 2016 season.

It just so happens that it took nearly a decade for everyone to accept it and apparently move on.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Thursday that it has launched ticket sales for the Men’s T20I World Cup 2026, with more than two million tickets available in the first phase.

In a statement, the ICC said it set at as low as INR100 in India and LKR1,000 in Sri Lanka, the two hosting countries of the 20-team tournament.

The details regarding the second phase of the T20 World Cup 2026 ticket sale will be announced in due course.

“The low and affordable pricing for Phase I has been done to give cricket fans a fair and equitable opportunity to purchase tickets in the landmark 10th edition of the tournament,” the ICC said in a statement.

ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta termed the first phase of ticket sales an “important milestone” in their strategy of delivering the most accessible and global cricket event ever staged.

“Phase I of ticket sales is an important milestone in our journey towards delivering the most accessible and global ICC event ever staged,” Gupta was quoted as saying by ICC.

It added: “Our vision for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is clear: every fan, regardless of background, geography or financial means, should have the chance to access an in-stadia experience of world-class marquee cricket.”

“With tickets starting from just INR100 and LKR1000, we are putting affordability at the centre of our strategy. This is about opening the gates wide and inviting millions to be part of a global celebration of cricket, not as spectators from afar, but as active participants in the energy, emotion and magic that only a stadium can offer.”

For the unversed, the 10th edition of the men’s T20 World Cup will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8 next year.

The mega event will feature 20 teams, divided into four groups of five, with the top two from each group advancing into the Super Eight stage, which will then feature two pools of four sides each.

The tournament will get underway with Pakistan taking on Netherlands on the opening day, which will also see hosts and defending champions India taking on the United States of America (USA) in Mumbai.

The group stage will conclude on February 20 with the fixture between Australia and Oman in Kandy. The Super Eight stage will then run from February 21 to March 1, followed by the two semi-finals on March 4 and 5, respectively.

Meanwhile, the blockbuster final will be played on March 8 in either Ahmedabad or Colombo, depending on Pakistan’s qualification, as the 2009 champions will play all of their matches in Sri Lanka.

The fifth AP Top 25 poll of the 2025-26 season has arrived, following the first week of league play for many conferences, as well as a week that shook up many of the Top 25 teams. Saturday was the first time multiple AP top-10 teams lost nonconference home games on the same day since Dec. 6, 2017, exactly eight years ago.

After being blown out 81-58 by Iowa State on Saturday, Purdue drops out of the top 5, with the Cyclones rising up to No. 4. Arizona is now No. 1. Michigan, Duke and UConn round out the rest of the top 5.

Arkansas (eight spots), Iowa State (six), Gonzaga (three) and Texas Tech (three) saw the biggest jumps this week. Tennessee (seven spots), Louisville (five) and Purdue (five) saw the biggest drops in ranking.

Kentucky, Indiana and USC dropped out to make way for new entrants Nebraska, Virginia and UCLA.

Overall, just UConn (No. 4) and Alabama (No. 12) didn’t change position.

Let’s take a look at the Top 25, how teams got there and what’s coming up next for each team this week.

All times Eastern. Unless otherwise noted, all stats courtesy of ESPN Research.

Previous polls: Preseason | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4

Previous ranking: 2

2025-26 record: 8-0

Stat to know: Arizona defeated Auburn by 29 points, its largest win over an AP Top 25 team since Nov. 23, 2002, against then-No. 19 Western Kentucky (won by 39). The Wildcats are now 95-0 (since 2018-19) when leading by 20 or more points at any point of a game.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Alabama in Birmingham, 9:30 p.m., ESPN

Previous ranking: 3

2025-26 record: 8-0

Stat to know: Michigan has outscored its past four opponents by a combined 151 points. Three of those teams went to the Final Four within the past five years (Auburn last season, San Diego State in 2022-23, Gonzaga in 2020-21). That is the largest point differential by the Wolverines since they outscored their opponents by 151 points through four straight games in 2015-16 against Delaware State, Northern Kentucky, Youngstown State and Bryant.

What’s next: Tuesday vs. Villanova, 6:30 p.m., FS1

Previous ranking: 4

2025-26 record: 10-0

Stat to know: Duke now has four wins against AP-ranked opponents this season, tied for its most within the first 10 games of a season since the AP poll era began in 1948-49 (also happened in 1978-79). The Blue Devils are tied with Arizona for most wins over AP-ranked opponents this season.

What’s next: Tuesday vs. Lipscomb, 6 p.m., ACC Network

Previous ranking: 10

2025-26 record: 9-0

Stat to know: After defeating Purdue by 23 points over the weekend, Iowa State is the first team to win three consecutive meetings against the AP No. 1 team since Boston College did it from 2009-17. Each of those games have been on the road or at a neutral site, making the Cyclones the fourth team in AP poll history to have three straight meetings against AP No. 1 opponents come away from home and win all three. They join: Arizona from 1997-2001 (two road wins, one neutral), UMass from 1993-95 (all neutral) and Cincinnati from 1959-62 (all neutral). The Cyclones are also one of just two teams in AP poll history to have multiple 20-point wins against No. 1 opponents (beat Houston by 28 in the 2024 Big 12 championship game), joining North Carolina, which defeated then-No. 1 Duke by 20 in 1989 and by 24 in 1998.

What’s next: Thursday vs. Iowa, 8 p.m., FS1

Previous ranking: 5

2025-26 record: 8-1

Stat to know: UConn now has 35 consecutive regular-season wins at home against nonconference unranked opponents, the second-longest streak among current Big East teams. (Providence has 37 such wins.)

What’s next: Tuesday vs. Florida in New York (Jimmy V Classic), 9 p.m., ESPN

Previous ranking: 1

2025-26 record: 8-1

Stat to know: Purdue’s 23-point loss to Iowa State matches the largest home loss by an AP No. 1 team in the AP poll era, tying a 96-73 loss by then-No. 1 UConn at the hands of Villanova on Feb. 18, 1995.

What’s next: Wednesday vs. Minnesota, 7 p.m., BTN

Previous ranking: 8

2025-26 record: 8-1

Stat to know: The Cougars have the longest active win streak (29) against unranked opponents in Division I men’s college basketball, after defeating Florida State over the weekend. That win also gave coach Kelvin Sampson his 807th in Division I, passing Eddie Sutton for 15th most all-time.

What’s next: Wednesday vs. Jackson State, 8 p.m., ESPN+

Previous ranking: 11

2025-26 record: 9-1

Stat to know: On Friday, coach Mark Few picked up his 750th career win as a head coach, in his 903rd game. That’s the second-fewest games to reach 750 wins in Division I history, one game shy of legendary Kentucky coach Adolph Rupp (902). (Note: Gonzaga has 751 wins during Few’s tenure as head coach, but assistant Brian Michaelson is credited with one game (a win) in 2021-22 while Few was serving a suspension.)

What’s next: Saturday vs. UCLA in Seattle, 11:30 p.m., ESPN

Previous ranking: 7

2025-26 record: 8-1

Stat to know: The Spartans now have nine consecutive losses to AP top-5 opponents, with their last win coming Nov. 22 against then-No. 4 Kentucky. That’s their longest losing streak in such games since they went 0-15 from 1985-91, before Tom Izzo was hired.

What’s next: Saturday @ Penn State, 12 p.m., BTN

Previous ranking: 9

2025-26 record: 7-1

Stat to know: AJ Dybantsa has scored 15 or more points in all eight games this season, tying Cameron Boozer for the most such games among Division I freshmen this season. He also now passes Kevin Durant for the second-longest 15-plus-points scoring streak to begin his college career in Big 12 history. Only Trae Young has more, with 26.

What’s next: Tuesday vs. Clemson in New York (Jimmy V Classic), 6:30 p.m., ESPN

Previous ranking: 6

2025-26 record: 8-1

Stat to know: Louisville has now scored 80 points or more in eight games, its most within the first nine games of a season since 1991-92 (also eight). Among those are two wins over ranked nonconference opponents, the Cardinals’ first season with multiple wins over AP-ranked nonconference opponents since 2016-17 (three that season).

What’s next: Saturday vs. Memphis, 3:30 p.m., ESPN

Previous ranking: 12

2025-26 record: 7-2

Stat to know: Bama has won seven of its nine games this season by scoring 90 or more points, tied for second in Division I behind Kent State (eight games).

What’s next: Saturday vs. Arizona in Birmingham, Ala., 9:30 p.m., ESPN

Previous ranking: 14

2025-26 record: 7-2

Stat to know: Illinois is now 2-4 against Tennessee after this weekend — the other win came Jan. 17, 1988. The win is also its first over an AP top-15 SEC team since Dec. 22, 1990, when it defeated then-No. 10 LSU 102-96.

What’s next: Tuesday @ Ohio State, 7:30 p.m., Peacock

Previous ranking: 16

2025-26 record: 8-1

Stat to know: Caleb Wilson has six double-doubles this season, breaking a tie with four players for most among Division I freshmen. He is also tied for fifth for the most double-doubles in a season by a UNC freshman, with Day’Ron Sharpe, Tyler Hansbrough, Rasheed Wallas and Mike O’Koren. Ahead of him are Sam Perkins (nine), J.R. Reid (nine), Armando Bacot (11) and Antawn Jamison (13).

What’s next: Saturday vs. South Carolina Upstate, 2 p.m., The CW Network

Previous ranking: 17

2025-26 record: 9-0

Stat to know: Vanderbilt has its longest win streak to begin a season since 2007-08, when it went 16-0.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Central Arkansas, 6:30 p.m., SEC Network

Previous ranking: 19

2025-26 record: 7-2

Stat to know: JT Toppin has six games with 15 or more rebounds while at Texas Tech. No other player in the program’s past 30 years has had more than two such games.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Arkansas in Dallas, 12 p.m., ESPN2

Previous ranking: 25

2025-26 record: 7-2

Stat to know: Arkansas is 12-1 as a ranked team facing unranked teams under John Calipari. The sole loss came against Illinois last November.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Arkansas in Dallas, 12 p.m., ESPN2

Previous ranking: 15

2025-26 record: 5-3

Stat to know: Florida has lost three of its first eight games this season. The defending champion Gators didn’t lose their third game last season until Feb. 1 (and lost just four games overall).

What’s next: Tuesday vs. UConn in New York (Jimmy V Classic), 9 p.m., ESPN

Previous ranking: 21

2025-26 record: 7-3

Stat to know: Without star freshman Darryn Peterson in the lineup for seven games, the Jayhawks averaged 71 points per game. With him in the lineup — he returned against Missouri for just his third game of the season — they average 84 ppg.

What’s next: Saturday @ NC State, 5:30 p.m., ESPN

Previous ranking: 13

2025-26 record: 7-3

Stat to know: Tennessee has lost three consecutive games, each of which it led at halftime. That is the Vols’ longest streak of losses when leading at halftime since losing three straight in 2019-20. They had won 10 straight games when leading at halftime before this losing stretch.

What’s next: Tuesday vs. Louisville, 7 p.m., ESPN

Previous ranking: 20

2025-26 record: 7-3

Stat to know: In Saturday’s loss to Arizona, Tahaad Pettiford scored 30 of the Tigers’ 68 points. It was a career high for Pettiford, and the most points by an Auburn player against an AP top-5 team in the past 20 seasons.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Chattanooga in Atlanta, 4:30 p.m., SEC Network

Previous ranking: 23

2025-26 record: 5-3

Stat to know: St. John’s has 23 straight wins at home against unranked opponents. The Johnnies’ last home loss against an unranked opponent was Feb. 18, 2024, against Seton Hall.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Iona, noon, TNT

Previous ranking: Unranked

2025-26 record: 9-0

Stat to know: Nebraska extends its win streak to 13 games dating back to last season, the longest active win streak in Division I and tied for the team’s third-longest win streak in program history. The Cornhuskers beat Creighton by 21, the team’s largest win in the in-state rivalry since 1995-96 (also 21). Nebraska is now 9-0 on the season, tied with the 1915-16 team for the second-best start to a season in program history (started 10-0 in 1977-78).

What’s next: Wednesday vs. Wisconsin, 9 p.m., BTN

Previous ranking: Unranked

2025-26 record: 8-1

Stat to know: Jacari White went 9-for-9 from the field, and 7-for-7 from the 3-point line against Dayton over the weekend. He has made 12 straight 3s dating back to his last two on Nov. 28, the longest streak in program history — previously held by Kyle Guy in 2018-19 (11).

What’s next: Tuesday vs. Maryland Eastern Shore, 7 p.m., ACC Extra

Previous ranking: Unranked

2025-26 record: 7-2

Stat to know: Eric Dailey Jr. lead all five UCLA starters in double figures with 18 points to beat Oregon in the Bruins’ second Big Ten game on Saturday.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Gonzaga in Seattle, 11:30 p.m., ESPN