Sports
Virginia Tech fires Brent Pry: Top candidates, transfers and recruits to watch
The first domino of what figures to be a more robust coaching cycle has fallen, as the Virginia Tech Hokies fired coach Brent Pry on Sunday, after an 0-3 start to the season.
Pry was supposed to represent a return to the Frank Beamer glory years in Blacksburg, as he had spent three years there as a graduate assistant in the mid-1990s. Pry reached a bowl game in 2023 and had the roster in a good place. But a lukewarm 2024 and a faceplant to start this season closed the curtain for Pry, who finished his run at 16-24.
A big subplot of the coaching search is: Who will lead it? Athletics director Whit Babcock hired both Justin Fuente to succeed Beamer, and Pry. There are larger post-Beamer problems in the athletic department. Babcock’s status seems tenuous at best.
Candidates | Transfers | Recruits
Five candidates for the job
Virginia Tech surely will prioritize previous head-coaching experience after going with a first-timer in Pry. Connections to the program and region might not matter as much this time around, although Blacksburg is a unique place and the next Hokies coach must know what he’s walking into.
South Carolina coach Shane Beamer: The search likely has to start with Beamer, Frank’s son and a former Virginia Tech player who grew up around the program and witnessed the Hokies reach incredible heights. He has proven himself at South Carolina, beating rival Clemson in two of the past three years and recording other notable victories in SEC play. Beamer, 48, loves South Carolina and sees it as more of a destination than most coaches do. But sustaining success there isn’t easy, and the chance to restore Virginia Tech — in a league with an easier CFP path — could tempt him. Virginia Tech has to make him say no.
South Florida coach Alex Golesh: He would give Virginia Tech a jolt both in recruiting and play style, and brings some knowledge of the region after spending the 2021 and 2022 seasons as Tennessee’s offensive coordinator. Golesh molded his offensive philosophy under Josh Heupel at Tennessee and UCF, after working for Matt Campbell at Iowa State. The 41-year-old began this season with signature wins against Boise State and Florida, and has his team positioned to contend in the American.
Memphis coach Ryan Silverfield: He’s quietly doing exceptional work at a program he has shaped into his own, and could apply the same approach at Virginia Tech. Silverfield is 24-5 since the start of the 2023 season, and has held his own against some of the other top coaches from the American in Tulane’s Jon Sumrall and South Florida’s Alex Golesh. He has been on the Memphis staff since 2016 but also would bring some NFL experience to Virginia Tech. While some might not get past the idea of hiring another Memphis coach — Fuente made the same move in late 2015 — Silverfield deserves a close look.
James Madison coach Bob Chesney: Power 4 programs soon will be coming after Chesney, who has been a head coach since 2010 and has built up programs at various levels. He’s already in the state at James Madison, which he led to a 9-4 record and a win at North Carolina in his debut season. Chesney, 48, is 121-51 as a college coach. The Pennsylvania native is a bit more connected to the Northeast but has familiarity with the areas Virginia Tech primarily recruits.
Southern Miss coach Charles Huff: His knowledge of the area is undeniable as a former player at Hampton who has worked at multiple programs in Tennessee and landed his first head-coaching job at Marshall, which he led to a Sun Belt championship last fall. The 42-year-old Huff made an unusual move to Southern Miss but is already 2-1 there and 34-21 overall as an FBS coach. He has recruited the state of Virginia and the region throughout his career and has made stops in the SEC, Big Ten, ACC and NFL. — Adam Rittenberg
Three important players to retain
The Hokies already endured a bunch of tough hits to their depth chart this offseason with Mansoor Delane (LSU), Braelin Moore (LSU), Xavier Chaplin (Auburn), Jalen Stroman (Notre Dame) and 10 more players transferring to other Power 4 programs. An 0-3 start and an early coaching change could have some players contemplating whether to take a four-game redshirt and start planning their next move. Recruiting departments are going to start evaluating this roster – if they haven’t already – and identifying who to target. Here’s a trio of juniors the new staff will have to prioritize keeping for 2026.
DL Kemari Copeland: The 6-foot-3, 283-pound big man is a freak athlete who broke the program’s squat record soon after he arrived with 10 reps of 605 pounds. He has squatted 685 pounds since, benched 455 pounds and has clocked more than 20 mph on the GPS according to The Athletic. Copeland, a former junior college transfer, missed most of last season with a triceps tear but would still be highly coveted if he opts to enter the portal, especially if he can stay healthy and produce this season, and will have one more season of eligibility in 2026.
WR Ayden Greene: A 6-foot-2, 190-pound wideout, Greene has flashed his athleticism with highlight plays early on this season, including a leaping one-handed grab against Vanderbilt. He has stepped up as the Hokies’ second-leading receiver during his junior season, catching eight passes for 148 yards through three games. He’ll have one more season of eligibility and hasn’t used his redshirt yet.
Ayoo Ayden 😮💨#ThisIsHome | #TeamOverMe pic.twitter.com/3DtqkTCEmi
— Virginia Tech Football (@HokiesFB) September 7, 2025
LB Caleb Woodson: Woodson was named a team captain entering his second season as a starter for the Hokies, but he was stripped of those duties after a DWI arrest in late August. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound junior has still played in all three games with a team-high 24 tackles and had a good year in 2024 with 72 tackles, 7.5 TFLs and two sacks last season. — Max Olson
Three key recruits
OT Thomas Wilder, No. 207 in ESPN 300: One of the highlights of Pry’s last summer in charge came on July 3 when the Hokies beat Maryland and Penn State for Wilder, ESPN’s No. 24 offensive tackle and No. 7 recruit in Virginia. Wilder remains the lone ESPN 300 pledge in Virginia Tech’s incoming class, and he currently leads a key collection of 2026 commits from Virginia Beach, Virginia, alongside three-star cornerback Zaevion Cleveland and offensive tackle Buddy Wegdam, Wilder’s teammate at Green Run High School. Maryland and Penn State likely won’t be the only programs to circle back to Wilder, the lynchpin of a Hokies’ class.
QB Cole Bergeron, No. 34 pocket passer: A summer riser in the quarterback market, Bergeron picked Virginia Tech over Colorado and Georgia Tech a little more than five weeks ago. With Oklahoma State transfer Garret Rangel, redshirt sophomore Pop Watson and 2025 quarterback signee Kelden Ryan on the roster, the Hokies don’t necessarily need to add a passer in 2026. But Bergeron’s departure would deliver a heavy blow to the program’s incoming class. August finalists Colorado and Georgia Tech are each still without a quarterback pledge for 2026, and LSU — in Bergeron’s home state of Louisiana — is still searching for a 2026 passer, as well. With QB-needy programs on the prowl, Bergeron’s recruitment is now one to watch.
DE Andrew Rogers, No. 37 defensive end: Rogers reclassified into the 2026 cycle in July, then followed Bergeron as one of two high-profile August commits ahead of Pry’s fourth season in charge. It was perhaps telling that Rogers opted out of a visit to Virginia Tech in Week 3, choosing instead to visit Tennessee for the program’s SEC opener against Georgia. The Vols are expected to be among the most active programs in the flip market this fall, and with interest from the likes of Auburn, Florida State, Georgia and South Carolina at the time of his pledge last month, Rogers will have no shortage of options if he chooses to look elsewhere before signing day. — Eli Lederman
Real Madrid defender Éder Militão is “100%” confident he will be fit in time to play at the 2026 World Cup.
The Brazil international ruptured the biceps femoris tendon in his left leg during Madrid’s 2-0 league defeat against Celta Vigo on Dec. 7 and could be sidelined until April 2026.
Using crutches, Militao, arrived in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday and told reporters: “No return date has been set. The priority is the World Cup.
“Doing things well so I can come back strong. [I’m] 100% confident.”
“When fit, Militao, who played at the 2022 World Cup, has been a regular in Brazil’s squads.
“Militao, 27, has struggled with serious injuries in recent seasons. In August 2023, he tore his left ACL and only returned to action in March 2024. Last season, he was sidelined for eight months after tearing his right ACL and damaging his meniscus.
“Carlo Ancelotti, who coached Militao at Madrid before taking over the Brazil national team in May, recently warned his players that only those that are “100 percent fit” will make Brazil’s World Cup squad.
– Rating 2025’s Christmas sweaters from top soccer teams
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Militao is expected to miss Brazil’s international friendlies against France and Croatia in the March international window.
Five-time winners Brazil begin their World Cup campaign against Morocco on June 13 in New York. They face Haiti six days later in Philadelphia before their final Group C game against Scotland in Miami.
Pakistan won the toss and elected to bowl first against Bangladesh in the semi-final of the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup 2025 at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai on Friday.
Pakistan have qualified for the semi-final after winning two out of three group matches against Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates. The national side was defeated by arch-rivals India in the group match.
On the other hand, Bangladesh remain unbeaten in this tournament so far, having won against Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.
Playing XIs
Pakistan: Farhan Yousaf (c), Usman Khan, Abdul Subhan, Ahmed Hussain, Ali Raza, Daniyal Ali Khan, Hamza Zahoor, Huzaifa Ahsan, Mohammad Sayyam, Mohammad Shayan, and Sameer Minhas.
Bangladesh: Azizul Hakim Tamim (c), Zawad Abrar, Samiun Basir Ratul, Sheikh Paevej Jibon, Md Abdullah, Farid Hasan Faysal, Kalam Siddiki Aleen, Iqbal Hossain Emon, Rifat Beg, Ahmed Shahriar, and Md Shabuj.
Christmas is just around the corner, which means that many clubs in the Premier League, LaLiga, Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1 have stocked their official stores with Yuletide knitwear.
The Christmas sweater used to be a bit of an afterthought for the big clubs, with many content to merely offer fans a cheap acrylic pullover or two. However, times have changed and the game has most definitely been upped in recent years.
All the usual seasonal staples — Santa Claus, reindeer, snowflakes, wreaths, etc. — have been rolled out for the occasion. But 2025 has seen an influx of designs based on 1990s retro kits, such is the appetite for the gaudy shirts of yesteryear, many of which lend themselves perfectly to being transformed into ugly woolen jumpers.
We have hunted through the virtual racks of clubs’ online stores, perusing the wide range of festive fashion provided by Europe’s elite teams in order to pick out the best (and worst) of the designs on offer this year.
Milan have produced a suitably seasonable jumper in white, the upper two-thirds of which is festooned with a Nordic pattern made up of fir trees and quirky little gnomes. Unfortunately, the Italian side set a high benchmark with a debonaire “Rossoneri tartan” design, which was first released last year, and the 2025 model slightly pales in comparison.
Based on the club’s classic home shirt from 2005-06, their final season at their old Highbury stadium, Arsenal’s retro-inspired Christmas sweater is a vision in redcurrant and gold. The theme is “Walking in a Highbury Wonderland” and features a plethora of tasteful festive flourishes — the highlight being the faux Premier League patches on the sleeves, with the emblem of a roaring lion being reimagined as a reindeer.
With the club crest affixed proudly to the chest, Atleti’s navy jumper is centered around a triangular tree made up from the letters of their famous “Aúpa Atleti” chant. It’s simple, cheerful, colorful and is also available in pajama form should you really wish to hunker down and get ultra-cozy this Christmas.
Barcelona have handed a Christmas jumper debut to the Catalan club’s new mascot, a cat called “Cat,” who was formally unveiled last November. While Cat does appear to be choking on an old leather football that has become lodged in its throat, we are assured that the frisky feline remains “charismatic, demanding and enthusiastic about supporting the club.”
We’ve seen the old “elf’s head” trick attempted many times before but rarely with such panache, and this time there is actually a reason behind it. The theme is a pleasing play on words, the joke being that the German side are nicknamed “Die Werkself” (which roughly translates into English as the “factory team”), with “elf” being German for the No. 11.
Understated stuff from Bayern this year, with the Bundesliga giants eschewing the usual gaudy Christmas fare in favor of a relatively refined design. The deep green base, gold embroidering and patterned raglan sleeves are — for reasons unknown — supposed to make it look like you’re out wearing a t-shirt in the depths of the Bavarian winter.
Despite a reputation for wild kits, Dortmund have played their 2025 yuletide sweater with a straight bat. This simple snowflake pattern comes in muted white, black and yellow tones. The sweater does form part of a wider collection, with gloves, scarves, hats and socks all available in the same design. However, the real star of the show is the “Winter Wonderland” baseball cap, which features tree decorations all over it and even has a little gingerbread man on the peak.
What better source of inspiration for an ugly sweater than one of the ugliest football shirts ever created? We are of course referring to Celtic’s infamously garish away kit from 1991-92, the zigzag pattern of which has been given a festive twist with the addition of snow-capped mountains, blizzards and leaping reindeer. It’s absolutely horrendous, in the best way possible.
Another Christmas sweater modelled on a cult classic away kit from the 1990s, Chelsea have followed suit by basing their design on their custard yellow abomination from 1996-98. The original jersey has been faithfully re-created using festive ornamentation, but with “Santa Claus” across the midriff as a replacement for the old sponsor’s logo is a fantastic finishing touch.
Hoping to tap into the lucrative après-ski market, Inter have toned things right down this year with a mountain skyline scene that goes all the way around the base of the jumper and the words “Inter Milano” scrolled across the chest. Perfect for relaxing by the open fire in your Alpine ski chalet while cradling a warm tankard of mulled limoncello.
About as un-Christmassy as a Christmas sweater gets, Juve have gone retro with a blue and yellow design based loosely on their fan-favorite 1996-98 away kit. The yellow stars on the shoulders have been replaced with snowflakes but, other than that, there’s not much more evident in the way of festive cheer.
Yep, you guessed it — another retro offering, this time in homage to Liverpool’s home kit of the late 1980s. The old pointy geometric pattern has been replaced by Christmas trees but it still feels like a fairly half-hearted effort. There is room for improvement.
With a couple of options to choose from, City fans can either go for a novelty elf design or this club crest Fairisle pattern. Both are firmly on the generic side, but the lively colors and oversized graphics of the latter just about elevate it above the rest of the club’s underwhelming Christmas range.
Man United always keep it bright and breezy when it comes to their official Yuletide attire. The Red Devils have a lively pun-based design in which Santa performs a joyful, Robin van Persie-esque knee slide on the Old Trafford pitch along with a play on the title of Chris Rea’s seasonal classic song “Driving Home for Christmas.”
Napoli are still proudly lauding the fact they are reigning champions of Serie A and have even allowed the sentiment to roll over into their festive selection. Designed by Emporio Armani, the Partenopei’s sweater is a fairly straightforward sky blue Fairisle pattern but with the addition of a giant Scudetto front and center — and who can blame them for wanting to show it off?
Newcastle actually released this black and white Fairisle sweater, with the city’s unmistakable skyline in silhouette stretched across the front and “Ho’way the Lads” on the back, last Christmas. But we’re featuring it again because now there is also a matching version for dogs. Perfect for a night watching coach Eddie Bow-wow’s team play at St James’ Bark.
PSG tend to be a bit hit and miss when it comes to their Christmas knitwear, fluctuating from ultra-stylish to uber-tacky from year to year. They’ve landed somewhere in the middle for 2025 with what could have been a perfectly acceptable Eiffel Tower knit pattern. However, the European champions then went and overlaid it with the giant head of a shades-wearing, Viking-bearded Santa Claus character. We’ve no idea what they were going for, but they missed the mark.
Sumptuous stuff from RB Leipzig here with an extra-chunky knit sweater that wouldn’t look out of place around the table in the music video for Wham’s “Last Christmas.” The colors work well, the cable knit is wonderful, the simplistic club crest design is incredibly chic. And the best part? There’s even a matching bobble hat to complete the ensemble.
Real Madrid are another big club who have made a habit of laying on a full range of Christmas jumpers for fans, though the majority of this year’s designs have been rolled over from 2024. New to the portfolio is this playful little scene in polyester, which features a snowboarding penguin on his way from the North Pole to the Bernabéu.
German side St Pauli are famed for their anarcho-punk ethos, though their skull and crossbones emblem does look slightly off-kilter dotted all over a Christmas sweater. Still, we like the monochrome design, and it would be absolutely perfect for anybody preparing to spend the holidays aboard a 17th Century pirate galleon.
Spurs were ahead of the curve in the retro kit race after releasing a cracker last Christmas that was inspired by the indigo away shirt of 1994-95 made memorable by Jurgen Klinsmann’s spell at White Hart Lane. The club have gone back to the well this year with a snow white jumper that bears the hallmarks of their 1997-99 home kit, complete with era-appropriate snowflake sleeve taping.
The only Premier League side to fully embrace the chintzy spirit of the season, Wolves have cooked up what they are calling their “Jingle-Jangle Light Up Christmas Jumper.” It comes with old gold knitted patterns, wolf heads and real blinking fairy lights built into the sweater itself. Merry *and* bright.
Images courtesy of acmilan.com, arsenal.com, atleticodemadrid.com, bayer04.de, bvb.de, celticfc.com, chelseamegastore.com, fcbarcelona.com, fcbayern.com, fcsp-shop.com, inter.it, juventus.com, liverpoolfc.com, mancity.com, manutd.com, newcastleunited.com, psg.fr, realmadrid.com, redbullshop.com, sscnapoli.com, tottenhamhotspur.com, wolves.co.uk
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