On Thursday night, the Pittsburgh Steelers kick off the preseason by hosting the Green Bay Packers. This will be the first look at the new and hopefully improved Steelers under new head coach Mike McCarthy. Here are the big four things to watch for versus the Packers.The young quarterbacksAll eyes will be on Will Howard and Drew Allar, both of which will make their Steelers preseason debut on Thursday. Howard missed all of his rookie campaign and is currently in a battle to make the roster with the rookie Allar.Is the pass rush back?After suffering under former defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, the pass rush is back with a vengeance and some huge paydays. We want to see how this new system maximizes the talent on the roster, even in a preseason setting.New and improved Roman WilsonThe star of training camp on offense has been Roman Wilson. He took it personally that the Steelers drafted his replacement and has outplayed him at camp.Using the tight end position in the passing gameThere are rumors that McCarthy is actually throwing to the tight ends at training camp practice and we want to see if it pays off in the preseason. The tight end has been so underused historically that this might be the most exciting change of them all on offense.This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers vs Packers: 4 things to watch in Thursday's preseason matchup

Aug. 12 results: Ducks hit 3 home runs in win over CurveDean Curley, Ryan Cesarini and Bennett Thompson all hit home runs and the RubberDucks beat the host Altoona Curve 4-3 Wednesday for their fourth consecutive win. The dingers came on the heels of a four-homer night Tuesday. Thompson's solo home run with two outs in the sixth put the Ducks (53-56 overall, 18-23 second half) ahead 4-0. Curley's shot was a two-out, two-run homer (his third of the season), and Cesarini hit a solo homer in the sixth to give the Ducks a 3-0 lead.Ducks starter Ryan Degges struck out five in 4 innings. Michael Kennedy (1-1) got the win with 2 innings of relief, and Jay Driver and Adam Tulloch closed out the game, with Tulloch picking up his first save.The Akron BeaconJournalsports department can be contacted via email at bjsports@thebeaconjournal.com.This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron RubberDucks scores: Ducks remain homer-happy in win over Curve

Borussia Mnchengladbachs Nico Elvedi agrees personal terms with LeedsBorussia Mnchengladbach defender Nico Elvedi has reportedly reached a basic agreement with Leeds United as the Swiss international pushes for a move to the Premier League. Sky Germany,as relayed by Kicker, reports Elvedi has agreed personal terms with Leeds on a contract through 2029.The 29-year-old has decided that he would like to make the move to England should the two clubs find an agreement. No formal offer has yet reached Gladbach, however, and there are presently no concrete club-to-club negotiations. Leeds are reportedly preparing an opening bid that could arrive shortly.Gladbach are known to be willing to discuss a sale for an appropriate fee. Elvedi remains under contract through 2027, placing the Bundesliga club in a position where a lucrative summer transfer could make financial sense rather than allowing the defender to enter the final year of his deal next summer.Nico Elvedi remains essential to GladbachThe situation has developed quickly. Get German Football Newsnoted in Wednesdays extensive Borussia Mnchengladbach tactical preview that Premier League interest in Elvedi had yet to produce a formal offer. Elvedi was therefore still projected as part of Eugen Polanskis defensive plans entering the new campaign. Leeds could now alter that picture.The Premier League clubs pursuit may also be connected to the future of Sebastiaan Bornauw. The former Wolfsburg defender is reportedly a concrete transfer candidate for Hamburger SV. Should Bornauw depart Leeds, the English club could move to replace him with Elvedi.The Swiss defender has spent a decade at Gladbach after arriving from FC Zrich in 2015 and has accumulated extensive Bundesliga experience during his time at Borussia-Park. Player-side terms therefore appear to represent the first major hurdle already cleared.

Michigan football is used to being counted out. Even before most of the players on this roster got here, very few had belief that the Wolverines would make any noise in the season.In 2021, 247Sports said that the maize and blue were a dark-horse College Football Playoff candidate (and that was when it was a four-team playoff), and there were laughs all across social media. Despite having just one loss leading up to the Ohio State game, the Wolverines were a big underdog, and then they won, 42-27, in Ann Arbor. The next year, Ohio State was the conference favorite again, and Michigan ran through the schedule unblemished. Finally, Michigan was expected to win the conference in 2023, but even that year, there were detractors, with some analysts even picking Iowa to upset the Wolverines in the Big Ten championship game.And yet, Michigan emerged as the national champion.In 2024, the maize and blue gave very few reasons for optimism. Yet, they upset eventual national champion, Ohio State, in Columbus, but were then paired with Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl. Despite one upset, next to no one thought there would be another, especially considering any player of note was sitting for the Wolverines, while Alabama was putting out most of its starters.And now, a 19-13 upset later, that's a moment that Michigan defensive tackle Enow Etta looks back upon and says, yeah, that was the moment I started to believe in myself and this team."Definitely that Bama game.I think that was two years ago, the ReliaQuest Bowl," Etta said. "Because, man, we would just hop on Twitter.And I know they say you're not supposed to read.I'm like, man, let me just read. They're talking about, 'Oh, man, all these guys in Michigan about to get destroyed.Their starter's not playing.'And it's like, you know, all right, all right. When we went out there, the whole world was waiting for us to get smashed.And we go out there and do what we do.Whoever they had, first rounders -- I mean, two first rounders, right, on that line, I think.You know, do what we do.Go out there and shock the world."And that's when, like, I look at Trey, I'm like, 'Man, you know what I mean?Like, they counted us out.Look what we did.' So I know we can do whatever we do.Because we were the only ones who believed in us.I think that was Tampa. We were in Tampa.We were the only ones in Tampa who believed.I know Michigan fans walking in the stadium, like, 'Oh, it's going to be a rough day.' And look what we did."So I think that was definitely the moment.Because I think that's the most we've ever been counted out. Of course, we've been in Ohio, underdogs.But I think at that moment, the season's over.(And then) we win. And, like, it's Bama, big bad Bama, whatever.Look how it turned out.So I think that was definitely the moment, for sure."Now the Wolverines have something of a reset. 2025 didn't go as hoped, but with Kyle Whittingham leading the charge, the maize and blue have a newfound lease on life. The schedule is perhaps the most difficult in the nation, but even so, Etta says that this team could make some noise -- even if pundits, like in previous years, don't believe."We can be as good as anybody," Etta said."I mean, obviously, we can be as good as anybody.We got all the guys we need. I mean, I've never been down like, man, I wish we had this guy back, or this guy came one more year.Like we have everything.We have everyone that we need."The new season starts on September 5 with a home game against Western Michigan. Week 2 will tell a lot, with Oklahoma coming to town for a noon EDT kickoff.This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Why Enow Etta believes Michigan can shock the world

Couhaib Driouech is set to be Rangers' 10th signing in a huge summer overhaul [Getty Images]PSV Eindhoven winger Couhaib Driouech is at Ibrox to watch Rangers face Jagiellonia Bialystok pending a transfer to the Scottish Premiership club.The 24-year-old Moroccan is expected to complete his move on Friday. Driouech, who predominantly plays on the left, scored nine goals and provided eight assists in 40 appearances last season.However, he was often used as a substitute, starting just once in PSV's eight Champions League outings and coming off the bench 24 times in the Eredivisie.Driouech, who has represented Morocco at Under-23 level, spent three seasons with Rotterdam side Excelsior before joining PSV in the summer of 2024.He will be the 10th summer arrival at Ibrox and the second winger following the signing of Daisuke Yokota from Hannover last week.Chairman Andrew Cavenagh said on Monday he expected "three to five more players" while "a number will possibly go out", with midfielder Mohamed Diomande sold to Turkish club Corum on Wednesday.Having come through the youth ranks, and made his professional debut, with Heerenveen, Driouech rose to prominence with Excelsior, making 101 appearances and scoring 16 goals before his high-profile transfer to PSV.Known for his quick feet, speed, precise finishing and ability to play on both wings, Haarlem-born Driouech had the choice of also representing France and the Netherlands but was part of the Morocco squad that won the Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations.Visit our Rangers page for all the latest news, analysis and fan viewsGet Rangers news notifications in the BBC Sport app

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 13: Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers talks to Kelly Oubre Jr. #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the second half at the Wells Fargo Center on December 13, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)Getty ImagesINDIANAPOLIS Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton can tell you how healthy he is, but hed rather show you.In late July, the two-time All-NBA guard took to social media to share some footage of his current athletic level. Haliburton missed the entire 2025-26 NBA season after tearing his right Achilles in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, then had his rehab process altered in late February when he was diagnosed with shingles. But now, he looks as good as ever.The video shows Haliburton training in the Pacers practice facility, the St. Vincent Center. He throws himself a pass by lobbing a basketball in front of him, then runs under it before leaping, grabbing the ball with his left arm and pushing it between his legs, then dunking all before he lands.I havent been able to do that since I was like 20 years old, Haliburton said. That Eastbay Dunk wasnt a spur of the moment decision. Haliburton attempted to pull one off several times during his rehab. He said he missed it on multiple occasions but had a bet with his strength coach that was fairly simple: Make that dunk, and Haliburton could skip his lifting for the day.For some reason I just felt good that day, Haliburton said. I didnt get to miss my lift. I still had to do the lift.Haliburton has been feeling good for many days recently. He said on Wednesday that hes 100% cleared as it pertains to his Achilles recovery and has no health concerns heading into the coming season. There will still be a ramp up process early in training camp with the Pacers as the former All-Star gets his wind back for game shape, but Haliburton is ready for the coming campaign and will be able to test his explosion against other NBA players soon as he heads out to Los Angeles for some scrimmaging.I feel great. Im doing everything. Playing pickup pretty regularly at this point. So I feel great, Haliburton said. I will be ready for the season. If the season was today, Id be ready. So [it] can't come fast enough.The Pacers first preseason game, as revealed by Haliburton himself, will be on October 7 at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. Thats where the Iowa State basketball teams play and where Haliburton played his college basketball. Its a special venue for him, both because he played there and got engaged to his now-wife in the arena last summer. And now, it will be the scene for Haliburtons return to action after over 15 months without officially playing.Who will Haliburton be playing with for the first time for the 26-27 Pacers?It will also be the first time he puts on a Pacers uniform alongside some new teammates. This offseason, Indiana added both Kelly Oubre Jr and Larry Nance Jr in free agency, and Ivica Zubac was traded to the franchise back in February.Haliburton has yet to play with any of them. Nance and Oubre will be new for everyone, but Zubac who projects to start at center this season did get some court time for the blue and gold last year. Haliburton shared that he has yet to practice with Zubac this offseason but isnt concerned about that reality. In his eyes, they are both smart players, and Haliburton will make sure they are always on the same team during five-on-five settings during training camp so they can build chemistry.Ive never played with a screen setter like this. Ive never played with a roller like this, Haliburton said of Zubac. So I'm really looking forward to it, and I think it's gonna be a lot of fun.INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 31: Ivica Zubac #40 of the LA Clippers passes the ball against Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on December 31, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)Getty ImagesOubre and Nance are the two newest Pacers, at least on standard contracts, and Oubre in particular is a major addition. He projects to be a key reserve for Indiana this season and can play multiple positions. The Pacers off-ball guard/wing group is now filled with Aaron Nesmith, Andrew Nembhard, Oubre, Jarace Walker, and Ben Sheppard.Thats solid depth, and Oubres size is a meaningful addition to that crew. He has averaged over 11 points per game in every season since 2017-18 while gradually improving as a shooter and a defender.Haliburton has connected with Oubre before as they both work with the same trainer, Drew Hanlen. Theyve worked out and lifted together in the past, so there is already some familiarity there as Oubre joins the Pacers.Hes a guy who has definitely been annoying for me to go against throughout my career, so Im excited for him to be on our side, Haliburton began when sharing his opinions on Oubre.I think that he adds a lot to us on both sides of the ball, but specifically defensively being able to take on different challenges, he added. Haliburton pointed to the wing depth of the Eastern Conference continuing to improve as a reason that the Oubre addition is so vital for the Pacers. Youre gonna need multiple guys to throw at all these good players. And I think Kelly fits right in with that group.Nance, meanwhile, projects to be a depth piece on the interior. He has battled injuries in recent seasons and started off the 2025-26 campaign as the backup center for the Cleveland Cavaliers before eventually being replaced in that role. Hes been in the league for 11 years and will be a valuable veteran for Indiana.He averaged 3.7 points and 2.7 rebounds per game last season. Larry, whos been in the league for a long time, I think hes really gonna be able to help with our frontcourt depth, Haliburton said.The Pacers have high hopes this season, and Haliburtons health is the biggest factor in that. But their fresh faces and new-look starting five also provide optimism, and Haliburton is a believer in it all. Truly, its his skillset that brings all different kinds of players together and makes them fit.Healthy once again, he will try to do so with Zubac, Oubre, Nance, and the rest of the 2026-27 Pacers. And the game action will begin in less than two months.This article was originally published on Forbes.com

The biggest question surrounding Michigan football this offseason has to do with quarterback Bryce Underwood, as he enters his second year. The former No. 1 overall recruit didn't exactly have a solid showing in the annual spring game, leading to concerns about his viability. Yet, everyone within the program has been singing Underwood's praises, especially in fall camp.The best praise one can get doesn't come from the coaches as much as a player's peers. And when the peers on the other side of the ball are effusive in such, then it tends to portend good things to come."I feel like he got more comfortable, especially in the new scheme, and the wide receivers that we got, so he's building a connection," senior cornerback Jyaire Hill said."I feel like they all working as one.And boy, he turned into a demon for sure, and looking real good."If Underwood truly has turned a corner, that would likely upend just about every national prediction of where the Wolverines are. They've tended to rank in the teens, with little expectation that they'll finish there given the bear of a schedule.But the thing for Underwood isn't platitudes, like being called 'a demon' -- he's gotten similar praise before. It's about his technique and fundamentals being honed in. And those often went out the window last year when either the protection had broken down or he had perceived that it had. But head coach Kyle Whittingham had noted that the pass protection was among the things that had improved the most from spring to now, and junior right tackle Andrew Sprague says that Underwood is trusting what's in front of him that much more."Yeah, he's doing great," Sprague said. "Stepping up in the pocket, staying in there, setting his feet, he's been launching it, so he looks great."Sophomore wide receiver Jaime Ffrench's job depends heavily on Underwood's improvement, as he'll be the quarterback throwing to the Texas transfer. Ffrench was catching passes at this time last year from another former No. 1 overall recruit in Arch Manning, who took some time in his sophomore campaign to get going before he started to look like the ballyhooed player he finished the season as. Ffrench sees similarities between both of them, but given that Underwood perhaps had more time on task in his first year, the learning curve may be lessened."For one, I'll start off by saying how the way they both approach the game," Ffrench said."Two great quarterbacks, their approach to the game at a very high level.So definitely see the same type of traits for sure, yeah."Given that Michigan plays against Oklahoma, Iowa, Penn State, Indiana, Oregon, and Ohio State this season, the Wolverines will need Underwood to win some games with his arm, even if the run game is as elite as advertised. It all starts on September 5 when the maize and blue host Western Michigan at The Big House.This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Michigan QB Bryce Underwood 'turned into a demon,' teammate says

Point guard Payton Pritchard is everything that the Boston Celtics need this season. Or at least that is the point of view of the hosts of the "How Bout Them Celtics!" podcast, Jack Simone and Sam LaFrance, who took some time on a recent episode of their show to highlight the import of the former Sixth Man of the Year to Boston's offense in the 2026-27 NBA regular season that is soon to arrive.With star forward Jaylen Brown having been dealt to the Philadelphia 76ers for a veteran Paul George who will likely miss his fair share of games, much of the scoring load previously carried by the Georgia native will fall on the shoulders of Pritchard. And LaFrance and Simone break down why they believe that the University of Oregon alum is more than ready to take it on.Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear what they had to say about why they believe Fast PP is set to take another lap with Boston.Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on:Blue Wire: https://tiny.ee/CdKpiTunes: https://tiny.ee/RK47YouTube: https://tiny.ee/cOW3This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Payton Pritchard is everything that the Boston Celtics need this season

Nowacki is world junior champion in the 100m and 200m breaststroke [Getty Images]British teenager Filip Nowacki claimed a dramatic gold in the men's 200m breaststroke final at the European Aquatics Championships in Paris.The 18-year-old finished with a late burst in two minutes 7.70 seconds to edge out Dutch swimmer Caspar Corbeau (2:07.78).Luka Mladenovic of Austria was third (2:08.91), while Briton Gregory Butler finished fifth in 2:09.45.Nowacki made history for Jersey last month by claiming gold in the 200m breaststroke at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.Meanwhile, Lauren Cox and Freya Colbert both won bronze medals for Great Britain.Cox was third in the women's 50m backstroke final as 19-year-old Italian Sara Curtis won the race in a world record time of 26.56s.Curtis broke Australian Kaylee McKeown's previous record by 0.23 seconds with a time of 26.63s in the semi- final on Wednesday and improved on that with her victory a day later.Mary-Ambre Moluh of France was second with 27.06 and Cox was third in 27.15.Colbert was third, with 1:55.81, in the women's 200m freestyle final as she finished behind winner Barbora Seemanova, who set a championship record of 1:54.38, with Marrit Steenbergen of the Netherlands second in 1:54.65.Olympic ambitions for Jersey gold medallist NowackiGB's Evans wins European gold in 100m breaststroke

Indiana Fever players continued to go to bat for embattled head coach Stephanie White on Thursday, two days after White was booed at home following her impassioned pregame address to reporters, in which she defended her scrutinized comments about Chicago Sky wing DiJonai Carringtons flagrant 2 foul on Fever guard Sophie Cunningham and called out the hate, the fear-mongering, the divisiveness online that she believes is trying to hijack the WNBA.Kelsey Mitchell told media on Thursday that the jeers White received ahead of the Fevers 106-92 win over the New York Liberty at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis threw the four-time All-Star guard for a loop.I told her to her face. I said, Coach, this is for you, in terms of just a sense of confidence, a sense of awareness that you're not alone, said Mitchell, a league MVP candidate alongside backcourt partner Caitlin Clark this season, via The Athletics James Boyd.It really hurt my feelings to see her have emotions, in terms of not feeling valued and not feeling wanted in a place where she has to coach. At the end of the day, this is her job. So she has to show up, too. I think that people don't really recognize that. And I think that it's our job to remind her, it's our culture I think we have to remind her that our culture is not going to let her fall to the wayside.Mitchell added: So I hope she knows that.#Fevers Kelsey Mitchell on Stephanie White being booed Tuesday:If anybody know me, I dont play that. So, it really hurt my feelings to see her kind of have emotions in terms of not feeling valued, not feeling wanted Our culture is not gonna let her fall to the wayside. pic.twitter.com/5B3P6Jrfmt James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) August 13, 2026Aliyah Boston, a four-time All-Star center, described the booing as really annoying as well as disrespectful. I think when you are on your home floor and your team's getting announced and the coach is getting announced, I feel like there's no reason for any of that, Boston said, via Boyd.I mean, we come out here and we do everything that we can to win. I think Steph does a great job with us. We love her, and we appreciate her. We kept the main thing the main thing, and we said we're going to come out here and we're going to get that dub.The Fever followed through, with Mitchell, Boston and Clark combining for 69 points and 11 of the teams 16 3-pointers. As a result, Indiana improved to 21-12, good for the fourth-best record in the W. #Fever star Aliyah Boston says she felt the same way as Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham when Stephanie White was booed Tuesday:Steph does a great job with us. We love her, and we appreciate her. So, to hear that, it was really annoying, honestly, and disrespectful. pic.twitter.com/iHSHgDRVHb James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) August 13, 2026Following an offensive clinic that included Cunningham going 4 of 5 from deep and finishing a game-high plus-17 off the bench, she emphasized that, despite the outside noise facing the Fever, their locker room is good.Cunningham, currently at the center of the WNBA's latest controversy after speaking about transgender women in sports, explained that playing, coaching or simply working for the Fever comes with heightened attention and, in turn, distractions. But our locker room in there, it's tight, and we have each other's backs. Coach loves us, she said.White was criticized for the way she initially responded to a postgame question about Carringtons foul on Cunningham this past Saturday. At the time, White praised the effort of Carrington, whom she coached in Connecticut as the Suns head coach from 2023-24, and said that she doesnt oppose the hard foul. That wasnt received well by a contingent of Fever fans, especially considering Carrington took to social media after her ejection, posting "White Privilege" in all caps and tagging the Fever on Threads.On Monday, Carrington insisted on X that she never once claimed that the assessment of the foul was white privilege, however; she did not explain the meaning behind the original post.Cunningham pointed out on Tuesday that, when White gave her postgame answer about the foul, she hadnt had the chance to watch the replay over and over to adequately judge the severity of the infraction.And you know what, DiJonai, she is a hell of a player, Cunningham said. She's a great defender. And so she coached her for I don't know how many years up in Connecticut. So give her her flowers, and she didn't see it, and that's OK. Me and Steph are great. Steph is great with all of us. So it's really the outside noise that's trying to distract us, but we're good.White ultimately noted on Tuesday that she takes personally any suggestions that I don't 100% always have my players back.I ride with them 10 toes down all the time. All the time," White said.Clark conveyed on Tuesday how she can relate to White bubbling up. The 24-year-old guard, a three-star All-Star and one of the leagues most popular players, sympathized with her head coach, saying that its OK to feel those emotions.I just told her, I've been through the same thing, Clark said. There's been days where I've been really upset, and you can have the thickest skin in the world, but sometimes it does get to you. And I think our world is just like, we love to hate, we love to divide that's all we want to do. Nobody wants to see each other succeed.I think that's a really painful thing for myself to watch. I feel like we need to do a better job at uplifting each other.Clark also underscored on Tuesday that there was no way we were losing against the Liberty. I hated that our fans booed her before the game, Clark said. That made me a little sick, to be honest. And you can disagree and this and that. And I get it. It's professional sports, people are going to boo, but at the end of the day, that's our head coach, and we're going to ride for her, and we're always going to have [her] back. That's never going to tear our locker room apart. So I just love her, and I feel for her because I know it can be a lot at times.

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