With the Big Ten set to take the media day spotlight this week, the unofficial media preseason poll for the upcoming college football season has been revealed. So what are the expectations for the Penn State Nittany Lions according to members of the media within the Big Ten footprint?Unlike some conferences, the Big Ten does not organize its own preseason media poll for the annual media days. So, for the past 16 years, Cleveland.com has taken the lead in organizing its unofficial media poll by taking votes from media members from around the conference. As expected, the media is a bit less enthusiastic about Penn State's Big Ten title hopes entering the 2026 season compared to last year.Penn State comes in at No. 6 in this year's preseason media poll from Cleveland.com. Penn State received 380 points and had an average ranking of 6.74 according to the vote tally. Ohio State received the most votes in the poll, including 15 first-place votes, to take the top spot in the preseason media poll.Oregon and Indiana were the only other teams to receive first-place votes from the voters, with the Ducks receiving 11 first-place votes and the defending Big Ten and national champion Hoosiers receiving five first-place votes. The Ducks and Hoosiers followed the Buckeyes, respectively, in the poll. USC and Michigan also sit ahead of Penn State in the poll, with the Trojans at No. 4 and the Wolverines at No. 5.According to the Cleveland.com poll, Penn State was actually the most divisive team on the ballot. The Nittany Lions reportedly ranged anywhere from fourth to 11th in the voting. Talk about a wild card! Penn State was picked to win the Big Ten last season, but that obviously did not pan out.Check out the full poll from Cleveland.com to see how the rest of the Big Ten is shaping up according to the Big Ten media.Kevin McGuire is the lead writer for Nittany Lions Wire, part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on BlueSky, Threads or any of these other platforms.Follow Nittany Lions Wire on X and Facebook.This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Penn State receives mixed results in Big Ten preseason media poll

The biggest addition to the Los Angeles Rams this offseason is making his presence felt at the first day of training camp.Dominant pass rusher Myles Garrett made his debut in Rams gear on Monday, and as defensive coordinator Chris Shula described it, it was worth the wait.Jun 2, 2026; Woodland Hills, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams defensive end Myles Garrett (95) poses with general manager Les Snead (left) and coach Sean McVay at press conference at Rams Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesWeve been looking forward to this day for a long time, and it definitely lived up to it, Shula said, as reported by Greg Beacham of the Associated Press.Myles Garrett key part of revamped Rams defenseGarrett wasnt just wowing his coaches; he impressed his new teammates, too.Newly acquired cornerback Trent McDuffie was also singing Garretts praises.When hes out there, you can just feel his aura, McDuffie said. (Its just) this aura that this guy has. I mean, hes gigantic. Hes a monster. But Im just excited to get him out here and get him loose and get him going, because I know he has a little chip on his shoulder, and I know hes excited about being here, so I think that just fires everybody else up.Aug 9, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie (22) against the Arizona Cardinals during a preseason NFL game at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn ImagesWith the additions to the defense, the return of reigning NFL MVP Matthew Stafford as QB and a pair of the NFLs best receivers at wideout, the Rams have title aspirations, though McDuffie downplayed that to Beacham.Honestly, I dont know if many guys feel the expectation that everybody claims that we have, McDuffie said. For us, were here to play football, to enjoy the locker room, just to get to know each other. I feel like all the expectation, all that, we leave to you guys hyping us up. Whoever is on this field, whoever is on the team, whoever is in the locker room, I feel like we do a good job just enjoying each others presence and living in the moment.That said, the Super Bowl potential is what has legendary lineman Aaron Donald mulling a comeback to the squad.Do you think Aaron Donald will suit up for the Rams again this season?The post Myles Garrett Lived Up to Hype at Training Camp appeared first on LA Sports Report.

At long last, Salahdine Parnasse is ready to take the UFCs lightweight division by storm. The 28-year-old Frenchman has long been considered one of the most talented fighters outside of the UFC. Parnasse left a destructive first impression on American audiences in May with his quick knockout of Kenneth Cross on Netflixs Ronda Rousey-led MVP MMA card, but prior to that he was already one of the kings of European MMA. During a nine-year run with Polish giant KSW, Parnasse captured belts at both featherweight and lightweight, and even fought five rounds for the welterweight title as well.Through it all, Parnasse spurned multiple opportunities to jump ship to the UFC, with Parnasses coach Stphane Chaufourier stating in 2024 that KSWs offer to secure the Frenchmens services was 20 to 30 times greater, and some online reports suggesting Parnasse was earning as much as 600k per fight. But now, the time has finally come.UFC announced Saturday that Parnasse has signed a deal and is set to face longtime contender Dan Hooker in a rare debut main event on Sept. 5 at UFC Paris. "After my fight with MVP, the UFC contacted me, and it was an opportunity, it was really simple it was to be part of this main event in my hometown in Paris. So it was a really good opportunity for me and I accepted, Parnasse told Uncrowned on Monday through a translator.This time, they offered me a really good opportunity. First of all, the deal was better [than last time], and they offered me the [chance] to be part of the rankings by taking a fight against Dan Hooker. So it is a really good opportunity for me to accept this challenge."Parnasse (23-2) said several organizations contacted him during his latest free agency period, including MVP MMA for a potential follow-up bout, but he ultimately decided to accept the UFCs offer because it was the most challenging and bigger for me.Parnasse is known as a vicious offensive fighter in the cage, with his past eight victories since 2022 coming by way of stoppage. All seven of those prior to his Netflix win over Cross came in KSW title bouts in either the featherweight or lightweight division.Its a really good contract, Parnasse said of the offer that finally pushed him to join UFC. Fortunately, I have to prove that I deserve this and I am at the top level for my fans.Of course its an incredible feeling [to debut in a Paris main event], he added. For me, it represents years of hard work finally paying off. I dominated the European scene and also I fought on the first MMA event on Netflix, and now Im ready for the next stage.Its rare to see UFC newcomers debut not only in a headlining spot, but also against an opponent the caliber of Hooker. The 36-year-old New Zealander has been a ranked contender for the better part of a decade, earning UFC wins over the likes of Mateusz Gamrot, Gilbert Burns, Jalin Turner and Paul Felder, while also testing himself against divisional stars like Islam Makhachev, Dustin Poirier and Arman Tsarukyan.Following Saturdays announcement, Hooker told Submission Radio that Parnasses French fans have already begun barraging him with outrageous death threats:The death threats have been outrageous. I didnt get it when I fought [Benoit Saint Denis]. Like just the French people and speaking French telling me Im going to die and telling me theyre going to kill me and s***. The death threats have been outrageous.Parnasse, though, isnt concerned."Everything with the fans, my fans or Dan Hooker's fans, doesn't concern me, he said in response. I have only one goal, and it's to fight Dan Hooker on September 5.I respect Dan Hooker, but the fans do what they want. It doesn't concern me. Dan Hooker's fans can say nasty things to me, but I'm only focused on the fight."

When analyzing the NFLs most dominant rushing attacks, eyes naturally turn to the ball carriers. But for the Los Angeles Rams, the real engine behind last seasons ground game was built directly into the trenches.According to data from FTN Fantasy via Nutshell Sports, guard-tackle combinations from the Colts, Rams, and Bears dominated the top of the league in rushing effectiveness. In fact, Los Angeles claimed a full quarter of the NFLs top eight pairings when measuring average rush Expected Points Added (EPA) per play toward a specific tandem's side of the line.Leading the charge for L.A. was the left-side duo of Steve Avila and Alaric Jackson, who tied for the fifth-highest mark in the league by generating an impressive +0.16 EPA per play across 61 shared rushing snaps. Not far behind, the right-side unit of Kevin Dotson and Warren McClendon Jr. tied for eighth overall, delivering a stout +0.10 EPA per play over 39 snaps.A look at rushing effectiveness behind guard/tackle combos. This was found by calculating average rush EPA when the run went toward the direction of each guard/tackle combo.The Colts, Rams, and Bears dominate the top of the list.Player participation data via @FTNFantasypic.twitter.com/QPx7stnJmj Nutshell Sports (@NutshellSportz) July 25, 2026Having two distinct pairings in the top eight highlights how head coach Sean McVay consistently created push and set edges regardless of where the handoff was directed.That front-line dominance paved the way for massive team-wide efficiency. Led by dynamic backfield duo Kyren Williams and Blake Corum, Los Angeles earned the highest-graded rushing offense in the NFL on Pro Football Network's Offense Impact metric. A composite scatterplot combining data from Pro Football Focus, ESPN, Sports Info Solutions, and nflfastR placed the Rams firmly in the upper-right quadrant of league-wide rushing efficiency, showcasing an elite blend of above-average run blocking and high rush success rate.Furthermore, PFF data shows L.A. generated positive EPA on over 50% of its total handoffs in 2025. It marks just the second time since PFF began tracking in 2006 that an NFL team crossed that 50% thresholdjoining McVay's historic 2018 Rams squad led by Todd Gurley.With Avila, Jackson, Dotson, and McClendon paving pathways, the Rams proved once again that elite ground games start at the point of attack.This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams guard-tackle combos power elite ground game

STRASBOURG, FRANCE - MAY 3: Dayann Methalie of Toulouse FC reacts during the Ligue 1 McDonald's 2025/26 match between RC Strasbourg Alsace and Toulouse FC at Stade de la Meinau on May 3, 2026 in Strasbourg, France. (Photo by Sathire Kelpa/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesAs the Black Cats look to bolster the squad and find that perfect balance of youthful exuberance and tactical flexibility, our scouting network has been working overtime.Today, we are casting our eyes across the English Channel to the south of France. Toulouse has become a breeding ground for elite young talent in recent years, and their latest breakout star, left-back Dayann Mthalie, is catching the eye of scouts all over Europe.Could this France Under-21 international be the dynamic defensive powerhouse Sunderland need to take the next step? Lets dive into the profile of Toulouses rising star.Who is Dayaan Mthalie?Born on 15 February 2006 in Toulouse, France, Dayann Mthalie is a highly rated 20-year-old left-back who can also comfortably operate as a left wing-back or a left-sided centre-back in a back three. Standing at an imposing 1.88m (6ft 2in), Mthalie possesses a unique blend of physical stature and athletic dynamism that is rare for the modern full-back.Mthalie joined his hometown club in 2014 as an eight-year-old. He progressed rapidly through the youth ranks, earning a reputation as one of the most physically dominant defenders in French youth football.After signing his first professional contract, Mthalie made his Ligue 1 debut in August 2025. What followed was an exceptional breakthrough campaign in which he made 30 appearances, scoring twice and registering two assists across all competitions.His impressive domestic performances earned him a place in the highly competitive France Under-21 squad, where he has already made an instant impact with two goals and one assist in four appearances.What Do His Stats Suggest?Mthalies statistical profile paints the picture of a highly robust, dual-threat full-back who excels in defensive duels but still has room to grow in possession.Defensively, Mthalie ranks highly across several key metrics. During the previous Ligue 1 campaign, he made 114 defensive contributions (81st percentile), 55 tackles (85th percentile), 25 interceptions (79th percentile) and 31 clearances (83rd percentile). Add to that 107 duels won (80th percentile) and a 77% aerial duel success rate (77th percentile), and it is clear why he is already regarded as such a dependable defender despite his young age.Going forward, Mthalie is more of a ball-carrying full-back, as shown by his 28 successful dribbles (95th percentile) and his touches in the opposition penalty area (92nd percentile), one of which resulted in Toulouse winning a penalty. Whilst he registered only a single assist in Ligue 1 last season, his xA of 2.22 suggests he could significantly improve that return with higher-quality finishing from his team-mates. That xA figure places him in the 80th percentile among Ligue 1 full-backs.Should Rgis Le Bris require him to play in a more possession-based system, his numbers in this area are less convincing. A passing accuracy of 79.5% and long-ball accuracy of 37.9% place him below average in both categories. However, Toulouse finished mid-table in Ligue 1 with a goal difference of +1, so he has not been playing in one of the leagues dominant sides. Coupled with his more expansive performances for France Under-21s, there is clearly a coachable player here one who could flourish surrounded by higher-quality team-mates.His current profile is comparable to that of Manchester City defender Nathan Ak and Sunderlands own Reinildo Mandava.The VerdictFinding a left-footed defender who stands at 6ft 2in, possesses elite recovery pace and has already proven himself in Ligue 1 is incredibly rare. While competition for his signature would likely be fierce, with Premier League clubs reportedly circling, Mthalie fits the exact high-upside, high-resale profile that Sunderlands recruitment model has consistently targeted. If there is an opportunity to bring him to Wearside, it is certainly one worth exploring.Should he make the switch, Sunderland supporters could expect an exciting, modern defender with all the attributes to develop into a top Premier League player. Personally, Id love to see him pull on the famous red and white, learning from Reinildo while continuing his development as Sunderland look to establish themselves in the Premier League and build on their return to European football.

Two of the main storylines from last weeks U.S. Junior Amateur are back in action this week.Miles Russell, who lost to Noah Maclauchan in the 36-hole final last Saturday at Saucon Valley Country Club, is among those competing in the Western Amateur, which begins Tuesday at Beverly Country Club in Chicago. Charlie Woods, who was eliminated in a 14-for-2 playoff on Wednesday morning, will be at PGA Frisco in Texas for the Junior PGA Championship, which also starts Tuesday.Russell, the worlds seventh-ranked amateur, is one of five top-10 amateurs in the field for the grueling championship, which includes 72 holes of stroke play and four match-play rounds over five days. World No. 2 Tyler Watts, No. 4 Luke Poulter, No. 6 Ethan Fang and No. 8 Josiah Gilbert are also in the field. Russell will be grouped with Watts and Fang for Rounds 1-2, as all three are already part of this years U.S. Walker Cup team.Russell and Watts are joined in the Western field by fellow junior players Giuseppe Puebla, Jackson Ormond, Hamilton Coleman, Preston Hage, Louis Klein and defending Junior PGA champ Lunden Esterline.Other Walker Cup hopefuls such as Kihei Akina, Eric Lee, Carson Bertagnole, Jacob Modleski and Mason Howell will tee it up at Beverly as well.Woods, who is grouped for the first two rounds of the Junior PGA with Ainslie Stanford and Rory Asselta, is coming off his best U.S. Junior finish (T-63), though his championship ended after he made bogey on the first playoff hole, during which a spectators phone camera clicked in Woods backswing on his third shot into the par-5 green.Other notables in the Junior PGA field include Xander Mulder, the son of former MLB pitcher Mark Mulder; Eli Wessel, who got through that U.S. Junior playoff before losing to Russell in the first round of match play; Jaden Soong, who is the highest-ranked player in the field at No. 10 in the AJGA rankings, two spots ahead of fellow 2028 Rory Asselta; plus several other top 2028s, including Chase Bauer, Chase Hughes and JP Lynch.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 11: Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus (R) and Novak Djokovic of Serbia take part in A Night with Novak & Friends at Rod Laver Arena ahead of the 2024 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 11, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)Getty ImagesWorld No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic headline the list of 16 teams announced for the U.S. Open Mixed Doubles Championship Aug. 25-26 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.The total prize money for last years event was $2,360,000, with the winning team of Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori taking home $1,000,000.There had been reports that Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz would team up for the event, but they have not been listed as of yet. Alcaraz is coming back from a wright wrist injury and will make his return at the Cincinnati Open next month.Among the big names not in the event are world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and former U.S. Open singles champion Coco Gauff.The initial entry list for the highly anticipated return of the elevated Championshipwhich won Sports Business Journals Sports Breakthrough of the Year award for its 2025 reimaginationincludes the following teams (listed by combined singles ranking):* Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic* Elena Rybakina and Taylor Fritz* Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev* Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud* Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli* Diana Shnaider and Daniil Medvedev* Amanda Anisimova and Learner Tien* Alexandra Eala and Felix Auger-Aliassime* Leylah Fernandez and Frances Tiafoe* Taylor Townsend and Alexander Zverev* Elena-Gabriela Ruse and Nuno Borges* Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper* Naomi Osaka and Kei Nishikori* Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori* Katerina Siniakova and Henry Patten* Peyton Stearns and Preston StearnsAnytime you can bring women and men together on the same team, you showcase tennis at its best," said tournament director Craig Tiley. "This is exactly what the Mixed Doubles Championship does. We are proud to again bring the worlds top players together in a format that will provide exciting entertainment for our fans. The Mixed Doubles Championship is an innovation that will engage new audiences and give our fans another opportunity to see the biggest stars compete together.The entry window will close at noon on Monday, Aug. 17, at which time the top six teams with the best combined singles ranking at the time will officially be directly accepted into the main draw field. Eight teams will be determined via wild card and announced on a date to follow. Two teams will earn a main draw spot by advancing through the eight-team qualifying draw played on Monday, Aug. 24. The qualifying field will feature six direct entries and two wild cards.This article was originally published on Forbes.com

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more aboutSports Betting on FOX Sports. New users on Betr can use promo code FOXSPORTS to unlock up to $200 in bonuses plus a free pick. Start your Monday on the diamond with a packed MLB schedule. The Miami Marlins haven't been able to come across a win in 12 straight games. Now, they face a rival in the Philadelphia Phillies. The Marlins are looking to end their skid here and get back in the win column. The Chicago White Sox scored 12 runs against the Astros yesterday. Will they be able to keep the bats hot when they take on Max Fried and the New York Yankees today? The Atlanta Braves open a three-game set against the New York Mets. The Cleveland Guardians hope to end a five-game skid against the Cincinnati Reds, and the Milwaukee Brewers begin a series with the San Francisco Giants. New users can use Betr promo code FOXSPORTS to unlock up to $200 in bonuses plus a free pick before today's MLB action. Watch as some of MLB's hottest teams take the field while other ball clubs try to get back on the winning side. How to Sign Up and Claim the Betr Picks Promo Code FOXSPORTS MLB Games on Today

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