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Pavia’s pose, Brohm’s big win: Week 8’s CFB superlatives

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Pavia’s pose, Brohm’s big win: Week 8’s CFB superlatives


Week 8 had everything imaginable in a slate of college football.

There were acrobatic catches, Heisman poses, left-handed completions, successful fake punts and, of course, trolling. Louisville coach Jeff Brohm strengthened his résumé as an underdog, Minnesota‘s conservative punt paid off and California‘s mascot delivered a blow to Bill Belichick and North Carolina.

With the busy schedule, we handed out several nontraditional superlatives for Week 8.

Scariest coach to face while in the AP top 5?: Jeff Brohm

Louisville entered Hard Rock Stadium unranked and with a seven-game losing streak against AP top-5 opponents as undefeated Miami awaited. The No. 2-seeded Hurricanes were double-digit favorites; however, history and the betting market didn’t account for Cardinals coach Jeff Brohm.

Brohm has found unlikely success as an underdog. Before Friday, he had secured three victories as an unranked opponent against an AP top-5 foe. He improved that mark to four after Louisville stunned Miami 24-21. Brohm is 4-4 when facing a top-5 team, with this marking his first such victory with the Cardinals.

Louisville’s schedule doesn’t currently include a similar matchup. But if it all lines up again, Brohm will be back in his element.

Best display of the Heisman pose: Diego Pavia

Vanderbilt defeated LSU at home in a statement win for the program — and Diego Pavia’s Heisman case. Pavia threw for 160 yards and a score, and he added two rushing touchdowns. He’s the second Vanderbilt quarterback over the past 20 seasons with multiple rushing touchdowns against an AP top-10 opponent.

The senior quarterback has 1,409 passing yards with 14 touchdowns and just 4 interceptions this season. It’s never too early for Pavia to make a push for the Heisman — he entered the game with 150-1 odds to win the award, per ESPN BET — and he made the most of it Saturday.

After scoring a rushing touchdown in the third quarter, Pavia struck the pose.

Best use of their nondominant hand: Dylan Raiola

Minnesota‘s defense stifled Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola, sacking the sophomore nine times Friday, the Golden Gophers’ most in a game since 1977. Pressured throughout the game, Raiola had to think creatively to get the ball out at times.

He displayed perfect execution on second-and-6 early in the second quarter. While running a bootleg play-action pass, Golden Gophers linebacker Maverick Baranowski rushed Raiola as he began moving to his right. Raiola then stopped, avoided the sack, moved the ball to his nondominant left hand and delivered a strike to tight end Luke Lindenmeyer for 18 yards.

Least likely to go all-in during a card game: Minnesota

In an era of fourth-down aggressiveness, spearheaded by analytics, Minnesota went back to simpler times against Nebraska.

The Golden Gophers held a 7-3 lead early in the second quarter after forcing a three-and-out. They received the ball at their 38-yard line, gained nearly 10 yards then punted on fourth-and-inches from the 47. (Don’t tell Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell.)

The conservative play call proved to be correct. Minnesota upset Nebraska 24-6.

Every catch matters in a game, and it doesn’t matter how it’s completed. Just ask Tulane wide receiver Shazz Preston and Duke wide receiver Jake Taylor.

Tulane was on the brink of defeat until Jake Retzlaff fired a pass toward Preston. An Army defender deflected the ball, sending it to the end zone, where Preston juggled it then secured the go-ahead touchdown catch.

With the Blue Devils facing a third-and-3 late in the second half against No. 12 Georgia Tech, quarterback Darian Mensah fired a strike toward Taylor.

The ball bounced off Taylor’s hands and helmet in front of him, prompting the wide receiver to tip the ball in the air with his right hand toward the sideline. The ball flew over Georgia Tech defensive back Jon Mitchell as Taylor dove to make the 4-yard grab.

Fake punt of the week: Indiana State

When playing one of the best teams in the FCS, all tricks are on the board — including fake punts.

Indiana State hosted undefeated North Dakota State and made a statement early. Facing a fourth-and-2 deep in their territory, the Sycamores brought out the punting unit. But they didn’t plan to kick.

Punter Harry Traum ran the ball for 18 yards, shifting momentum toward Indiana State. The risk paid dividends as the Sycamores scored a touchdown to end the drive. North Dakota State won 38-7.

Safest job security in America: Cal’s mascot

North Carolina‘s opponents have found ways to troll the program and Bill Belichick this season. California took it to another level during its 21-18 win Friday, and utilized its mascot, Oski the bear.

The Tar Heels seemed headed toward a late lead as they set up in the red zone. Quarterback Gio Lopez found Nathan Leacock for 12 yards, but when Leacock went to cross the goal line for a score, Cal defensive back Brent Austin punched the ball out to gain possession.

The Golden Bears immediately trolled, posting a “statement” from Oski on the jumbotron that read: “I am fully committed to Cal athletics and the program we are building here. Why do you ask?” Below it was a statement from Cal executives that read: “Oski has our full support. No, really, we mean it. Why else would we make this statement?”

The mock quotes were a reference to an Oct. 8 story, in which Belichick put out a statement that he was “fully committed to UNC Football and the program we’re building here.” UNC athletics director added that Belichick has the administration’s “full support.”





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Expected winter storm has some leagues reshuffling schedules

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January 21, 2026

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Expected winter storm has some leagues reshuffling schedules


Jan 21, 2026, 01:37 PM ET

One year after a winter storm forced postponements across U.S. sports, another major weather system is prompting a reshuffling of games this week and threatened to wreak havoc on the weekend schedule.

A storm that meteorologists say could rival the damage of a major hurricane is expected to bring snow, ice and frigid temperatures from New Mexico to New England starting Friday.

The Sun Belt Conference preemptively shook up its women’s basketball schedule, moving around the start times on several games from Thursday through Saturday.

Tennessee’s swim meet at Georgia and the USC Upstate women’s basketball game at Longwood were moved up to Friday from Saturday because of the forecast.



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Arizona State unveils James Harden-inspired threads

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January 21, 2026

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Arizona State unveils James Harden-inspired threads


Arizona State‘s on-court threads will look a bit different, courtesy of a program icon.

The Sun Devils unveiled a new uniform on Tuesday that blends elements from James Harden‘s time at Arizona State with his signature shoe deal.

On a black base, “Arizona State” appears in a blocky font in maroon and outlined with gold, with the jersey number sandwiched by the school’s name.

Arizona State’s “Sparky” mascot logo is featured on two locations — under the front collar of the jersey and on the sides of the shorts.

On the jersey’s maroon back collar is a cream-colored patch with No. 13 — Harden’s jersey number as a Sun Devil — in gold, a nod to the LA Clippers guard’s two seasons with the program.

Similar to Louisville‘s Donovan Mitchell uniform and Texas Tech football’s Patrick Mahomes threads, Arizona State will feature Harden’s signature logo — in this case on the right side of the jersey’s collar and the bottom left of the shorts.

Harden, a 16-season NBA veteran, played for the Sun Devils from 2007 to 2009 before being selected as the No. 3 pick in the 2009 NBA draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder. He averaged 19 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.9 steals per game as a Sun Devil, leading the team to a 2009 NCAA tournament berth.

The Clippers guard first signed a 13-year deal with Adidas in August 2015, after Nike failed to match the shoe company’s $200 million offer.





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Bangladesh reiterates stance about India travel after ICC rejects request

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January 21, 2026

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Bangladesh reiterates stance about India travel after ICC rejects request


India’s Axar Patel looks dejected after losing his wicket during their game against Bangladesh at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, UAE, February 20, 2025. — Reuters

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) reiterated its position against touring India for the T20 World Cup on Wednesday, following the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) rejection of its request to shift the side’s matches out of the country.

Bangladesh have refused to play their matches in India, citing concerns regarding players’ safety, and demanded to play their games in Sri Lanka, which is co-hosting the tournament alongside India.

Following the ICC’s rejection of the request, BCB president Aminul Islam said that he sought more time from the cricket-governing body to talk to his government “for one last time”.

“They [ICC] said it’s a valid point, and gave me 24 or 48 hours to get back to them. I don’t want to put pressure on the government. We know that India is not secure for us. We remain in the stance that we want to play in Sri Lanka,” he added.

Acknowledging the ICC’s decision to keep the tournament’s schedule unchanged, Islam said he would consult the government and convey its feedback to the ICC.

“I am hoping for a miracle from the ICC,” he said, adding that players and the government wanted Bangladesh to play the World Cup.

“But we don’t think India is safe for our players. A government doesn’t only consider the players, but they consider all, when it takes a decision,” the BCB president added.

The ICC announced its decision on Bangladesh’s request after a board meeting earlier in the day.

“The decision was taken after considering all security assessments conducted, including independent reviews, all of which indicated there was no threat to Bangladesh players, media persons, officials and fans at any of the tournament venues in India,” the ICC said in its statement.

The cricket-governing body maintained that it was “not feasible to make changes” so close to the tournament.

Further, the ICC stated that altering the schedule under the circumstances, in the absence of any credible security threat, could set a precedent that would jeopardise the sanctity of future ICC events.

As per the schedule, Bangladesh are drawn in Group C and scheduled to play their first three group matches in Kolkata — against West Indies on February 7, Italy on February 9 and England on February 14 — before concluding their group stage against Nepal in Mumbai on February 17.





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