Texas Tech All-America forward JT Toppin made his season debut for the Red Raiders on Friday night, scoring 31 points and grabbing 14 rebounds during a 98-77 win over Sam Houston.

The reigning Big 12 Player of the Year, Toppin missed the season opener against Lindenwood because of a lower-body injury. Against the Bearkats, Toppin was 10-for-19 from the field and 11-for-16 from the free throw line while also adding four assists and three steals.

Texas Tech will got back Washington State transfer LeJaun Watts, the preseason Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. Watts, who also missed the Lindenwood game with a lower-body injury, had 11 points and 6 rebounds in 25 minutes off the bench.

The No. 10 Red Raiders next play at No. 17 Illinois on Tuesday.

The Arizona Cardinals made a big decision this week regarding Kyler Murray. Now another decision awaits — one that impacts the future of both the quarterback and the franchise.

The Cardinals must decide by this offseason whether to try to trade Murray, release him or pay another $19.5 million in guaranteed money that becomes due on the fifth day of the new league year in mid-March.

Arizona and Murray are expected to have extensive discussions to help determine whether to move forward together or go their own ways. Many sources believe the latter is the likely outcome, with one source saying this week that “a separation is imminent.”

But there is plenty of time, and much to play and figure out, before either side gets to that spot. For starters, Murray was placed on injured reserve Wednesday with a midfoot sprain, which ensures that he will miss at least four games while Arizona starts Jacoby Brissett at quarterback.

It is another opportunity for Brissett, who some around the league believe has run the Cardinals’ offense at a higher and more efficient level than Murray.

With Brissett starting at quarterback this season, the Cardinals have gone 1-2, averaging 25.7 points and 357 yards per game. With Murray starting, the Cardinals have gone 2-3, averaging 18.8 points and 288 yards per game.

Those, of course, are only some of the numbers; financial ones also are likely to impact this situation. As of now, Murray is guaranteed $36.8 million next year — his 2026 base salary and a large part of his roster bonus.

A key trigger date looms on the fifth day of the new league year in mid-March, when $19.5 million of Murray’s 2027 base salary would become guaranteed if he still is on the roster.

If the Cardinals release him before June 1, they would take on a $57.7 million dead cap hit. If they release him after June 1, that dead money would be split into $50.5 million in 2026 and $7.2 million in 2027.

If the Cardinals were to trade Murray, they would create $35.3 million in cap savings while leaving behind $17.9 million in dead money.

Another point that some around the NFL also believe is pertinent is that neither general manager Monti Ossenfort nor coach Jonathan Gannon were a part of the organization when Murray was drafted or signed his contract extension.

But some around the league also wonder if it could be that Murray is turning into this year’s version of Russell Wilson and Daniel Jones, on a team that does not want to expose itself to having its quarterback get injured and locking in future guaranteed money.

During his last media session Oct. 1, Murray was asked about the Cardinals’ new training facility that is slated to open in 2028.

“I hope I’m here to see it,” he said.

Murray is eligible to return in Week 14 against the Los Angeles Rams on Dec. 7. Gannon said placing Murray on injured reserve was a collective decision between the Cardinals and the quarterback, along with his representatives, adding it was the best thing to do for both the player and team.

“He’s fully committed,” Gannon said Wednesday. “Right now, what he’s going to concentrate on is getting healthy. He’s not healthy enough to play. He needs to get healthy so he can get back to playing football.”

Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin has taken an indefinite leave of absence from the team just months after his fiancée, Carolina Matovac, underwent a heart transplant, the team announced Friday.

Head coach Lindy Ruff spoke to reporters Friday and shared that Matovac had not suffered any setbacks, but that Dahlin would be traveling to Sweden as she continues to recover.

“[Dahlin] said everything is OK,” he said, via ESPN. “I think it’s been incredibly hard. I fully understand what this young man is going through. I don’t think you can describe it. I’m very passionate about the fact that no one would want to walk in his shoes and to have dealt with what he has dealt with. He has the support of everybody on this. This is larger than hockey.”

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Ruff said there was no timetable for Dahlin’s return.

In an open letter to fans in September, Dahlin shared that Matovac had been feeling ill for several days, which led to her experiencing “major heart failure.”

“Fortunately, she received CPR on multiple occasions, and up to a couple of hours at a time to keep her alive, which ultimately saved her life. Without her receiving lifesaving CPR, the result would have been unimaginable. It is hard to even think about the worst-case scenario,” he wrote.

Matovac remained on life support for weeks before receiving the transplant in France.

Rasmus Dahlin (26) of the Buffalo Sabres skates during the first period against the Philadelphia Flyers at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York, on April 17, 2025. (Rebecca Villagracia/Getty Images)

NHL STAR REVEALS FIANCÉE RECEIVED HEART TRANSPLANT AFTER SUFFERING ‘MAJOR HEART FAILURE’ DURING VACATION

“Without the incredible commitment, expertise, care, and sensitivity of all the people who treated Carolina, we would not be in the position that we are in today, with Carolina recovering well and on the path to a full recovery.”

“While Carolina is still working through her rehab to return to be with me in Buffalo, she has demonstrated an incredible determination, spirit, positivity, and resilience that I am in awe of,” Dahlin continued. “This has undoubtedly been the most challenging chapter of our lives, however it is something that we have learned so much from. We will continue to grow from these experiences and are so grateful for all the love and support we have received. We are truly blessed in so many ways and fully realize how fortunate we are.”

Rasmus Dahlin (26) of the Buffalo Sabres prepares for a faceoff during an NHL game against the New York Rangers at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York, on Oct. 9, 2025. (Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images)

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Dahlin, 25, is entering his eighth NHL season after being selected first overall by Buffalo in the 2018 draft. The Swedish defenseman has topped 50 points in each of his past four seasons and was selected to represent his country at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

He has nine points in 14 games this season.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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