Sports
A reunion at Stanford and trolling at the Egg Bowl lead college football Week 14 superlatives
After a long, hard-fought fall, college football’s regular season finally came to a close with Week 14’s Rivalry Week.s
As you might expect for a slate of games that features plenty of animosity and history, shenanigans abounded. From a reunion at Stanford to Egg Bowl trolls, there was more to celebrate this weekend than highlight-reel catches.
As always, we’ve put together a list of nontraditional superlatives to honor some of college football’s most offbeat plays and protagonists in Week 14.
‘Task failed successfully’ play of the week: Nebraska
Nebraska successfully pulled off what might amount to the world’s longest onside kick in the first quarter Friday against Iowa, a clever way to steal a possession in a rivalry game. There was just one problem: The Cornhuskers weren’t actually trying to attempt an onside kick.
John Hohl sent a high-arcing kick down the field, but Hohl’s boot came up short of the end zone — by a lot. So short, in fact, that the Hawkeyes’ return unit couldn’t find its landing spot, at approximately the 22-yard line. The ball hit the ground and took a bounce forward … right into a cluster of would-be blockers and tacklers, with Nebraska able to successfully cover up the unconventional opportunity.
Best reunion: Stanford
Technically speaking, this superlative doesn’t have anything to do with any of the games being played in Week 14 specifically. But as Georgia Tech and Georgia were squaring off Friday, ESPN’s Pete Thamel broke the news that Stanford would be hiring Washington Commanders quarterbacks coach Tavita Pritchard as the program’s next head coach.
Sources: Stanford is hiring Tavita Pritchard as the school’s next head coach. He’s a former quarterback, assistant coach and coordinator at the school, including a run on staff from 2010 to 2022. pic.twitter.com/vpPu1LqHmQ
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) November 28, 2025
The unique tie here? Pritchard and Cardinal general manager Andrew Luck go back — the program’s new leadership tandem were actually teammates and position group-mates during their collegiate careers. Prichard started 20 games for Stanford — his first career start was the Cardinal’s famous 2007 upset of USC as 41-point underdogs — and Luck beat him out for the starting job ahead of the 2009 season.
Most locked in: Jason Eck
Eck led New Mexico to a home win over San Diego State on Friday, securing the Lobos a nine-win regular season for the first time since 1997. Even as fans stormed the field at University Stadium, however, the first-year head coach wasn’t much for celebrating. There was ball to be watched.
New Mexico’s game ended before Boise State–Utah State finished, with the result having implications for the Lobos’ chances of making the Mountain West title game. After the final whistle, Eck was spotted in New Mexico’s weight room alone, watching the final minutes of Boise State’s win.
Best commitment to the bit: Texas Tech
Two weeks ago, Texas Tech made headlines when it bolstered the Heisman campaign of linebacker Jacob Rodriguez by giving the defender a unique chance to record an offensive statistic with a goal-line touchdown carry. It was a fun way to mix things up, but it figured to be a one-off stunt to put attention on Rodriguez’s Heisman résumé.
The Red Raiders had other plans. This weekend, looking to put their first points on the board early against West Virginia, Texas Tech once again found itself in a goal-line scenario. Once again, the Red Raiders put the ball in the hands of their star linebacker, who powered into the end zone for the score.
They say it’s a QB award 🤷
📺 @ESPN | https://t.co/XJTiDdhldB https://t.co/ZHRdwy3RgO pic.twitter.com/UCQgmtMxXc
— Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB) November 29, 2025
Most persistent trolling: Mississippi State
You’ve heard of college football teams trolling their opponents after wins. But how about during a loss? Despite Ole Miss cruising late in the Egg Bowl, whoever was in charge of the stadium speakers at Mississippi State‘s Davis Wade Stadium was undeterred.
Davis Wade’s PA blasted “Should I Stay or Should I Go” by The Clash, a seeming reference to Rebels coach Lane Kiffin’s uncertain future, with Kiffin undecided on taking the open LSU job or extending his contract in Oxford.
Ole Miss, of course, had plenty of its own trolls ready as well after the victory — posting a number of “our state” references to social media as well as reposting an old photo by Bulldogs coach Jeff Lebby, where Lebby proudly repped Ole Miss socks.
Bravest play call: Notre Dame
Most teams, pinned on their 16-yard-line on fourth and nine, would elect to punt. Extremely reasonable, zero controversy, the game moves on.
On Saturday night, Notre Dame wasn’t most teams. In their game against Stanford, the Fighting Irish ran a fake punt deep in their own territory, with defensive lineman Joshua Burnham completing a pass to safety Luke Talich … who took it 84 yards to the house.
0:40
ND pulls off play-fake for an 84-yard Luke Talich TD
Luke Talich takes it 84 yards to the house for Notre Dame vs. Stanford.
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Tarik Skubal, the Detroit Tigers’ ace and two-time defending AL Cy Young Award winner, is set to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left elbow that will keep him sidelined for months, manager A.J. Hinch said on Monday.
Skubal isn’t done for the season, but he is expected to be out two to three months following the surgery to remove loose bodies in his left elbow, ESPN reported.
Hinch called it an “easy process and procedure” while delivering the news, but it’s certainly a blow to the Tigers’ staff and Skubal personally that he is sidelined for months.
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Detroit pitcher Tarik Skubal watches during the Atlanta Braves game on April 29, 2026, at Truist Park in Atlanta, Ga. (Rich Von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire)
Skubal’s arm locked up during a bullpen session on Sunday ahead of his scheduled start against the Boston Red Sox on Monday night. Now, he will undergo the surgery, with Hinch providing no specific timeline for his return.
Skubal’s last start came in a 4-3 win over the league-leading Atlanta Braves this past Wednesday, where he allowed two runs on five hits across seven innings of work. He struck out seven Braves hitters during his outing.
TIGERS ACE TARIK SKUBAL WINS RECORD-BREAKING $32M IN ARBITRATION: REPORTS
However, in that game, Skubal was spotted rubbing his left arm, leading to Hinch and a Tigers trainer going to the mound to check on the pitcher. Skubal, though, remained in the game after tossing a warm-up pitch, and he went on to pitch seven strong innings.
As a result of Skubal being out, the Tigers recalled Ty Madden to the big leagues. Tyler Holton will also be making the spot start on Monday night, serving as the Tigers’ opener before Hinch needs to get creative with his bullpen.
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal reacts after giving up a hit against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minn., on Aug. 14, 2025. (Jesse Johnson/Imagn Images)
Skubal is the latest Tigers starter to be placed on the injured list, joining Casey Mize and Justin Verlander. That leaves Framber Valdez and Jack Flaherty as the only healthy starters at the moment.
For Skubal, the timing isn’t great, especially with impending free agency looming.
Skubal won a record-breaking arbitration case this offseason, where the Tigers were told to pay the left-handed ace $32 million for the 2026 campaign after they proposed a $19 million salary. The victory beat Juan Soto’s arbitration pay by the New York Yankees in 2024 by $1 million.
Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers between pitches during the Braves game at Truist Park in Atlanta on April 29, 2026. (Brandon Sloter/Getty Images)
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But, with no long-term deal in place for Skubal, the electric starter is set to be one of the top free agents after the season, unless he and the Tigers don’t figure something out before then. It seems unlikely that will happen at this point.
All teams interested in Skubal will be watching his recovery and eventual return closely. Until then, Hinch and the Tigers will need others to step up in the meantime for the starting rotation.
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Fernando Mendoza skyrocketed to the top of every NFL pundit’s draft board during the 2025 college football season as the Indiana Hoosiers standout won the Heisman Trophy and led the school to a national championship.
Mendoza’s status stayed clean as the Las Vegas Raiders selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft. He will be tasked with returning the franchise back to glory under head coach Klint Kubiak and veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins, who is set to serve as Mendoza’s mentor.
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Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza runs through a drill during a rookie minicamp at Intermountain Health Performance Center in Henderson, Nev., on May 2, 2026. (Candice Ward/Imagn Images)
A detractor came out of the woodwork on Monday as an anonymous ACC coach told ESPN that he didn’t believe Mendoza had the “NFL traits.” The coach competed against Mendoza when the quarterback was tossing the pigskin around for the Cal Golden Bears.
“He’s a good decision-maker, but I don’t think he’s got the NFL traits,” the coach told ESPN. “They’re all back-shoulder (throws). That’s not working in the NFL. His receivers made plays to make him look better than he is. In the NFL, those throws are getting picked off.”
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza warms up during a rookie minicamp at Intermountain Health Performance Center in Henderson, Nev., on May 2, 2026. (Candice Ward/Imagn Images)
Mendoza showed grit and determination with some of the throws he made at Indiana. One that comes to mind is the game-winning touchdown pass to Omar Cooper Jr. against Penn State.
Cooper made the catch and an incredible toe-tap for the touchdown with 36 seconds left in the game, which kept Indiana’s dream season alive.
Raiders general manager John Spytek said last month he nixed any talk of trading the No. 1 pick because he was sure Mendoza would be their guy.
“I think any coach is excited to work with a big, athletic, talented thrower that is extremely smart and a very driven worker, and that’s been our experience with Fernando,” Spytek said. “That’s a great starting spot for any quarterback.”
It’s the heart that Mendoza showed throughout the season, including in the national title game against the Miami Hurricanes, that made him an attractive prospect for NFL teams.
Quarterback Fernando Mendoza, selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft, attends a news conference at the Raiders Headquarters in Henderson, Nev., on April 24, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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He had 3,535 passing yards and 41 touchdown passes in his lone season at Indiana.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday announced the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 Team of the Tournament, naming Babar Azam skipper after a title-winning campaign.
The Team of the Tournament comprises three players each from Peshawar Zalmi and Hyderabad Kingsmen, two apiece from Lahore Qalandars and Islamabad United, and one player each from Multan Sultans and Quetta Gladiators.
The selection was made by a five-member panel drawn from the commentary team. The jury also finalised the Emerging Team of the Tournament, recognising the standout young performers of the season.
A total of 44 matches were played from March 26 to May 3 across Lahore and Karachi.
Babar Azam, who lifted his third PSL title as a player and first as captain, finished as the leading run-scorer with 588 runs.
Opening the innings, he also claimed the Hanif Mohammad Cap and equalled the record for most runs in a single PSL season, matching Fakhar Zaman’s tally from 2022.
His campaign featured two centuries in four matches against Quetta Gladiators and Islamabad United.
Peshawar Zalmi are further represented by Kusal Mendis and Sufyan Moqim. Mendis scored 550 runs, including four half-centuries and a century, while also contributing eight dismissals behind the stumps.
His century came against Karachi Kings at the National Bank Stadium on April 9. Left-arm wrist-spinner Sufyan Moqim took 22 wickets at an average of 14.40 and an economy rate of 7.20, earning both Player of the Tournament and Best Bowler honours.
Hyderabad Kingsmen have three representatives in Usman Khan, Hassan Khan and Hunain Shah. Usman finished fourth among the top run-scorers with 389 runs, including a century and three half-centuries.
Hassan contributed 139 runs at a strike rate of 195 alongside six wickets and strong fielding performances. Hunain Shah impressed with 17 wickets in 10 matches, emerging as a key bowler in the latter stages of the competition.
Lahore Qalandars’ Fakhar Zaman and Shaheen Shah Afridi also feature in the XI. Fakhar scored 401 runs to finish third overall, while Shaheen claimed 16 wickets at an economy rate of 7.86.
Multan Sultans’ Shan Masood is included after scoring 367 runs at an average of 45.87 and a strike rate of 158.18. Islamabad United captain Shadab Khan also makes the side after a strong all-round season, scoring 173 runs and taking 17 wickets, earning the Best All-Rounder of the Tournament award.
Teammate Richard Gleeson is selected for his impactful new-ball performances, finishing with 12 wickets at an economy rate of 7.13.
Quetta Gladiators’ Hasan Nawaz has been named as the 12th player after scoring 291 runs.
PSL 11 Team of the Tournament
Babar Azam (Peshawar Zalmi) (c), Fakhar Zaman (Lahore Qalandars), Kusal Mendis (Peshawar Zalmi) (wk), Shan Masood (Multan Sultans), Usman Khan (Hyderabad Kingsmen), Shadab Khan (Islamabad United), Hassan Khan (Hyderabad Kingsmen), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Lahore Qalandars), Hunain Shah (Hyderabad Kingsmen), Sufyan Moqim (Peshawar Zalmi), Richard Gleeson (Islamabad United) and Hasan Nawaz (Quetta Gladiators) (12th player).
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