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Purdue’s Smith unanimous preseason All-American

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Purdue’s Smith unanimous preseason All-American


Braden Smith played with Zach Edey in the 2024 national championship game and followed his large footsteps by becoming an All-American last season.

The Purdue guard had a chance to leave for the NBA over the summer, but, like Edey before him, decided to return for another chance at a national championship under coach Matt Painter.

Smith’s decision earned him another similarity to Edey: unanimous preseason All-American.

Smith earned all 57 votes from a media panel in The Associated Press preseason All-America team released on Monday, a week after the Boilermakers were voted preseason No. 1 in the AP Top 25 for the first time. He was joined on a big-man-heavy first team by Texas Tech‘s JT Toppin (52 votes), Michigan‘s Yaxel Lendeborg (30), BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa (22) and Florida forward Alex Condon (16).

“That’s just how Purdue has always been, how every player has always been,” Smith said. “Paint recruits players, recruits the same people, and that’s how they think, how we think. We always want to be a part of a program like this, a culture like this.”

Smith has been one of the nation’s most productive guards since his freshman season at Purdue in 2022-23. The heady 6-foot guard played a key role on the Boilermakers’ first run to the national title game in 2024, averaging 12 points, 7.5 assists, 5.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game while setting a school record for minutes.

Smith was even better as a junior last season, becoming the first player in NCAA history to have at least 550 points, 300 assists, 150 rebounds and 75 steals in a season. Smith averaged 15.8 points, 8.7 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game on a team that reached the Sweet 16.

Toppin’s impact

Toppin had a superb first season at Texas Tech after transferring from New Mexico.

The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 18.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.5 blocks while leading the Red Raiders to the Elite Eight, where they lost to eventual national champion Florida. Toppin was a second-team AP All-American and the Big 12 Player of the Year before opting to return to a team ranked No. 10 in the AP preseason poll.

Landing Lendeborg

Lendeborg had a successful stint at UAB, helping lead the Blazers to the 2024 NCAA tournament. After testing the NBA waters, the 6-9 forward decided he wanted a chance to reach the Final Four, so he stayed in college and transferred to Michigan.

The addition of Lendeborg helped the Wolverines earn a No. 7 ranking in the preseason poll after reaching the Sweet 16 a year ago.

Last season, Lendeborg joined Indiana State‘s Larry Bird as the only players to have 600 points, 400 rebounds and 150 assists in a season. He averaged 15.8 points and 11 rebounds per game in two seasons at UAB, earning American Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors both years.

AJ arrives

BYU took a big step in its first season under coach Kevin Young last season by reaching the Sweet 16.

The No. 8 Cougars have even higher expectations this season after landing Dybantsa.

The nation’s No. 1 recruit had nearly every major program jockeying for his services but chose to play in Provo. The athletic 6-9 forward is an efficient scorer who finishes strong at the rim, has a good midrange game and is a superb defender — attributes that have him projected as a potential No. 1 NBA draft pick.

Condon returns

Condon announced he was heading to the NBA draft after Florida’s national championship last season before changing his mind.

The 6-11 Australian averaged 10.6 points and 7.5 rebounds per game while leading Gators with 49 blocked shots. Condon was superb in the national title game against Houston, finishing with 12 points, 7 rebounds and 4 steals, diving for a loose ball in the closing seconds of the 65-63 win.

Condon returned for a chance to lead the Gators to consecutive national titles and helped them earn a No. 3 ranking in the AP preseason poll.



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Best fits for transfer quarterback DJ Lagway: Five schools that make the most sense

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Best fits for transfer quarterback DJ Lagway: Five schools that make the most sense


Florida quarterback DJ Lagway announced Monday he plans to enter the transfer portal when it opens on Jan. 2. After two challenging seasons and a head coaching change in Gainesville, the former five-star recruit is ready for a fresh start that gets his development back on the right track.

Lagway, the top-rated QB and No. 8 overall recruit in the 2024 ESPN 300, battled injuries throughout his two years at Florida while putting up 4,179 passing yards, 237 rushing yards, 29 total touchdowns and 24 turnovers. He’s coming off a 4-8 season in which he threw an SEC-high 14 interceptions and ranked 14th in the conference in QBR (59.5).

But there’s still going to be a market for his talents regardless of his college résumé, because there’s a ton of untapped potential here if the 19-game starter can find the right situation and stay healthy.

The Willis, Texas, native is expected to take a hard look at opportunities closer to home, sources told ESPN, but most important is finding an ideal fit ahead of his junior season where he can get back to winning and developing into a top NFL prospect.

Here are five programs that could make sense as transfer destinations for Lagway.

There are lots of reasons why Baylor would be a logical pick for Lagway. His father, Derek Lagway, played running back for the Bears in the late 1990s. His family would get to watch him play close to home, two hours away in Waco. Bears offensive coordinator Jake Spavital just developed departing starter Sawyer Robertson into the No. 2 passer in FBS this season with 3,681 passing yards and 31 TDs. Lagway would be a big splash for coach Dave Aranda and a program that badly needs some positive momentum. If the Bears can afford to get involved with a QB of his caliber, Lagway would be a no-brainer.


Lane Kiffin and the new staff at LSU are hunting for an elite QB1 in the portal and should have plenty to choose from for Year 1. Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt is one potential target for the Tigers, and there’s always the possibility that Kiffin could try to bring in one of his QBs from Ole Miss. But Kiffin has gone head-to-head with Florida in each of the past two seasons and seriously considered taking the Florida job, so there’s no doubt he has already made an evaluation of Lagway.

Kiffin watched the true freshman throw for 180 yards and two TDs in a 24-17 upset of Ole Miss in 2024, and Lagway took a lead into the fourth quarter in Oxford this season. Lagway finished No. 2 nationally in yards per attempt (10.0) behind Jaxson Dart last year. Kiffin reposting the news that Lagway is entering the portal on social media Monday morning was probably just intended to troll the Gators, but we’ll see if he’s interested.


Yes, you read that right: Clemson. The Tigers were a finalist for Lagway and Clemson was one of his favorite visits during his high school recruitment. Coach Dabo Swinney tried to make one more last-minute push for Lagway before he signed with the Gators. Clemson must replace departing senior Cade Klubnik and is expected to at least explore its options in the portal ahead of its offseason competition between Christopher Vizzina and Chris Denson. Don’t be shocked if Swinney is interested in reconnecting with a QB who could be a perfect culture fit for a program that rarely dips into the portal.


The Hurricanes are likely going back to the portal for a third year in a row to find their starting QB after succeeding with Cam Ward and Carson Beck. There were lots of rumors during the season that they were eyeing South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, but Sellers opted to re-sign and stick with the Gamecocks for 2026. Lagway had a rough outing against Miami’s defense back in September, completing 12 of 23 passes for 61 yards in a 26-7 defeat, but Hurricanes coaches are well aware of his upside if he’s put in a better situation next season.


This could be a good move for the Horned Frogs if Josh Hoover elects to enter the transfer portal in January. They’re going through big changes on offense and just brought in new OC Gordon Sammis from UConn to transition toward a more run-balanced attack. TCU still needs to hire a quarterbacks coach, and Hoover hasn’t given an indication that he’s leaning toward leaving. But if he does decide there’s a better opportunity elsewhere, TCU will be looking for an experienced replacement.



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Jets defensive lineman rips NFL officials after ejection vs Jaguars

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Jets defensive lineman rips NFL officials after ejection vs Jaguars


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New York Jets defensive lineman Khalen Saunders ripped NFL officials on Sunday after he was ejected from the Jacksonville Jaguars game for contact with an official.

The incident occurred in the third quarter of the 48-20 loss to the Jaguars. Saunders and other players were involved in a shoving contest after the Jaguars’ extra-point attempt following a Travis Etienne touchdown.

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New York Jets defensive tackle Khalen Saunders leaves the field during the Jaguars game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Jacksonville, Florida. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Saunders made contact with an official who was trying to break up the scrum. He was tossed from the game.

On social media, Saunders was upset with the decision.

“7 years, no ejections, no unsportsmanlike conducts, i think maybe one Unnecessary roughness for a tackle right at the whistle in a preseason game,” he wrote on X. “Surrounded by opponents, fending folks off me,  and here i am ‘striking an official’ lmao gtfo.

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Khalen Saunders enters the Ravens game

New York Jets defensive tackle Khalen Saunders takes the field before the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on Nov. 23, 2025. (Peter Casey/Imagn Images)

“Do better. @NFL @NFLOfficiating.”

Saunders joined the Jets on Nov. 17 after the Jaguars released him. Sunday’s game was his fourth with Gang Green. He had one tackle against Jacksonville.

Coming into the game, he had six total tackles in five games this season. He played two seasons with the New Orleans Saints before joining the Jaguars earlier this year. He also played for the Kansas City Chiefs.

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Saunders won two Super Bowl titles while he was with the Chiefs.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.





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Fans react as Babar, Rizwan, Shaheen falter on BBL debuts

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Fans react as Babar, Rizwan, Shaheen falter on BBL debuts


This collage of pictures shows Pakistani cricketers Babar Azam (left), Mohammad Rizwan (centre) and Shaheen Shah Afridi. — Facebook/Sydney Sixers/Melbourne Renegades/ Brisbane Heat

Pakistan’s star trio of Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi made forgettable Big Bash League (BBL) debuts, drawing mixed reactions from cricket fans on Monday.

Babar, who was directly signed by the Sydney Sixers ahead of the players’ auction, failed to live up to the hype created by the franchise as the star batter scored a scratchy two off five deliveries in the curtain raiser against Perth Scorchers on Sunday at the Optus Stadium.

The right-handed batter survived a scare on the third delivery he faced as he lobbed a hard-length delivery, bowled by Joel Paris, briefly into the air, but it fell between the two fielders stationed at mid-wicket and mid-on.

The 31-year-old, however, attempted a similar shot on the fifth delivery he faced and was eventually caught at mid-on, walking out after scoring two off five deliveries.

Former Pakistan white-ball captain Rizwan, representing Melbourne Renegades in the BBL 15, had an equally underwhelming outing with the bat as he fell for a 10-ball four in the ongoing fixture against Brisbane Heat.

The innings also saw Pakistan’s ace pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi being taken away from the attack after bowling two over-the-waist-height no-balls in the same over.

Shaheen, who conceded nine and 19 in his first two overs, respectively, had an abrupt ending to his third, and thus finished with dismal bowling figures of 0/43 in 2.4 overs.

The star trio’s unwanted start to their respective BBL careers drew widespread criticism from cricket fans, who flocked to social media to express their frustration.

A cricket fan, bearing the username Shoaib Niazi, on X termed their struggles as a “horrible” start for Pakistan cricketers in general.

“Horrible start for Pakistani players in BBL .. first Babar and now Rizwan and Shaheen,” he wrote on the microblogging website.

Another cricket fan, bearing the username Maaz, claimed that the trio was “exposed” after being overhyped by their respective BBL franchise, while also holding them responsible for the Pakistan cricket team’s downfall.

“BBL were hyping Babar, Shaheen , Rizwan non stop. All 3 of the overhyped stars got exposed in their first match. They need to do massive self reflection where [their] game is at currently and put their ego aside. PCT downfall started in last 2 years [because] of their under performance.”

For the unversed, a total of seven Pakistan cricketers are representing different franchises in the ongoing 15th edition of the BBL.





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