COLUMBUS, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 06: Cornerback Bryce West #12 of the Ohio State Buckeyes seen in action during the game against the Grambling State Tigers at Ohio Stadium on September 06, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images) | Getty Images40 days out from playing against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish inside Lambeau Field, the Wisconsin Badgers are on the cusp of a program-defining year.Itll be head coach Luke Fickells fourth year as the lead man in Madison. When Fickell first came to Wisconsin in 2022, so did lofty expectations of what the program could achieve with him at the helm. But a 17-21 record in three seasons has left Wisconsin as a shell of the program it once was.2026 may be Fickells last chance to prove hes the right man for the job, especially with the increased financial investment into the program and the arrival of a new Athletic Director.In order for the Badgers to right the ship, theyll need to find out who the most valuable players are on their roster. For this ranking, value will be defined by how much a players absence would impact Wisconsins chances of winning.No. 30: QB Deuce AdamsIf theres anything to take away from Fickells time at Wisconsin, its that the quarterback position can make-or-break a season. Injuries to Tyler Van Dyke and Billy Edwards Jr. left the Badgers without their week one starter for the majority of the past two seasons.While Old Dominion transfer Colton Joseph is the clear choice for the starting job, Wisconsin is now very familiar with the importance of depth at the quarterback position.Louisville transfer Deuce Adams comes into the program in a battle with freshman Ryan Hopkins for the QB2 spot. Adams edges out Hopkins on the list due to his prior experience in college football, even if that only amounts to one start against SMU in 2025.No. 29: S Carson Van DinterContinuing the trend of transfer portal additions, Kaukauna native Carson Van Dinter brings depth to the safety position. Marvin Burks Jr. looks poised to take the starting spot, but Van Dinter comes into Wisconsin looking to make the most of his opportunity.His game time with the Cyclones was limited to 180 snaps, but he made an instant impact in his first career start. Six tackles and a pass deflection against Kansas showcased Van Dinters physicality, which will prove vital in the Big 10. The former three-star recruit is still only a redshirt sophomore as well, giving him time to develop his game in Madison.No. 28: OLB Justus BooneSixth-year linebacker Justus Boone comes to Wisconsin looking to end his collegiate career on a high note. Playing in 12 games and starting in three, Boone totaled 28 tackles and three quarterback hurries for Arkansas in 2025.His level of play at a program like Arkansas gives him the nod over Hope College transfer Liam Danitz, who had a monster year coming into Madison. Boone will have to prove his value in practice and in-game, or Danitz could easily see some playing time as well.No. 27: DL Jake AndersonDefensive lineman Jake Anderson brings the most playing experience out of anyone in this range. Anderson started 17 games for Illinois State during their FCS National Championship run, raking in three sacks and a forced fumble on the year.At 6-foot-4 and 305 pounds, Anderson provides Wisconsin with high-level size inside the defensive line. The Badgers had a solid year in stuffing the run game in 2025, ending the season with an average of 105.25 rushing yards allowed per game, fourth-best in the Big 10. Anderson will be a key depth piece in continuing that trend for 2026.No. 26: WR Shamar RigbyWisconsins wide receiver room is undoubtedly one of its biggest question marks heading into 2026. The departures of Vinny Anthony II, Lance Mason and Trech Kekahuna leave the Badgers without their top three targets from last season.Shamar Rigby comes from Oklahoma State as one of the potential options for Joseph at wideout. The junior got limited run with the Sooners last season, totalling 25 receptions for 351 yards and a touchdown.On the field, Rigby could be used in a similar role that Kekahuna had for Wisconsin during his tenure. Kekahuna was known for his speed and posing as a deep threat at times, with Rigbys 6-foot-4 frame offering even more possibilities for down-the-field plays in 2026.No. 25: RB Bryan Jackson IIFickells tenure at Wisconsin has seen the program move away from the running game that defined its identity for decades. Offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes helped land three transfer running backs this transfer cycle to help bring back the rush attack, with Jackson presenting a power-back option to the Badgers.At 6-foot-2 and 240 pounds, Jacksons a tough back to tackle for any defender. USC used Jackson sparingly, only handing him the ball 36 times for 123 yards. Four touchdowns last season in mainly short-yardage snaps do showcase his ability to get the extra inch, so expect Grimes to bring Jackson in on third-down and goal-line situations often.No. 24: DL Charles PerkinsThe Badgers will be bringing Perkins back for his second season in Madison, where he was mainly a depth piece in 2025. Despite the lack of significant playing time, the redshirt senior showed flashes of the production he could provide on the defensive line, particularly against Indiana.With four tackles and two TFLs on the road in Bloomington, Perkins put on a noteworthy performance against the eventual National Champions. Junior Poyser is expected to be the starting defensive tackle for Wisconsin, but Perkins gives the Badgers the ability to rotate as needed.No. 23: OL Ryan CoryRedshirt sophomore Ryan Cory was a victim of the chaotic week-to-week shuffle that Wisconsin experienced on its offensive line in 2025.Appearing in four games and making one start against Maryland, Cory will need to be prepared if projected starter Austin Kawecki needs a replacement. He has experience being thrust into games on a fly, which may ease the minds of the Badger fans and the coaching staff.No. 22: CB Bryce WestThe former Ohio State cornerback comes into Madison with some real buzz surrounding his potential. A former four-star recruit coming out of Cleveland, Ohio, West can certainly carve out a role for himself in the Badger secondary this season.With a 5-foot-11 frame and weighing in at 200 pounds, West could slide into the nickel back slot for Wisconsin. He did lack significant in-game reps with the Buckeyes last season, only totalling 91 snaps. But his performance in Ohio States regular season finale against Rutgers displayed why Wisconsin was so eager to land him in the transfer portal.West reeled in 10 tackles and forced a fumble against the Scarlet Knights, ending the regular season well and offering a little taste of what he can do in Badger Red.No. 21: S Matthew JungJung comes into his redshirt senior year with a solid foundation to build upon. His 2025 season was a bright spot in a year full of disappointments, as the 6-foot-3 safety played in all 12 games for the Badgers and started in eight.With the fifth-most tackles on the team at 50, Jung proved to be reliable in 1-on-1 tackling situations. Despite not snagging any interceptions last season, his 16 picks during his time at Bethel prove his ability to also be a pass coverage threat.

A couple weeks after losing draft pick and development player Justine Pissott to the Las Vegas Aces, the Indiana Fever filled their second development spot.The Fever announced Friday that they have signed Ugonne Michelle Onyiah to their development roster, joining Bree Hall on the Fever's development squad.Onyiah, a 6-3 forward, played at the University of California-Berkeley from 2020-25. She was a key rotational player for all five of her years at Cal, and shot a conference-leading 60.3% from the field as a full-time starter in her final season in 2024-25. She was not picked in the 2025 WNBA Draft, then spent a year overseas playing in Belgium with Basket Namur Capitale, averaging 11.1 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.She got her first shot in the WNBA in New York this year, signing a rookie-scale contract with the Liberty ahead of 2026 training camp, but she was not able to make either of the Liberty's preseason games because of overseas commitments and was ultimately waived ahead of the regular season on May 7.Onyiah then signed with the Upshot League, a new women's basketball league that started in 2026. She played on the Charlotte Crown, averaging 9.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game. The forward will give the Fever some depth in the frontcourt, especially as starting center Aliyah Boston is dealing with a nagging right lower leg injury, starting forward Monique Billings is working through a left hip injury, and backup center Damiris Dantas is missing Indiana's current three game road trip to rehab her left knee. As a development player, Onyiah can participate in all team activities including practices and travel, but can only be activated for up to 12 games this season. Her salary, which is $750 per week and a $6,136 bonus whenever she is activated for a game, will not count against the Fever's cap. Chloe Peterson is the Indiana Fever beat reporter for IndyStar. Reach her atchloe.peterson@indystar.com.Get IndyStar's Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark coverage sent directly to your inbox with ourCaitlin Clark Fever newsletter.Subscribe toIndyStar TV: Feverfor in-depth analysis, behind-the-scenes coverage and more.This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana Fever fill second development spot with post player from newly created league

CLEVELAND (AP) Forward Mario Hezonja will return to the NBA for the first time in six years after signing a one-year contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers.Hezonja has played the last four years for Real Madrid and was the Spanish League MVP after averaging 13.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists this past season.The 31-year-old from Croatia was the fifth overall pick by Orlando in the 2015 NBA draft and played five seasons for the Magic, New York Knicks and Portland Trail Blazers. He averaged 6.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists. Hezonja also played in the EuroLeague for Panathinaikos in Greece and Russia's UNICS Kazan.Cleveland which advanced to the Eastern Conference finals last season for the first time in 2018 had a need for depth in the front court after the departures of Dean Wade and Keon Ellis during free agency.___AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

The global Cabin Air Sterilization Systems Market is projected to be valued at USD 0.52 billion in 2026 and is expected to reach USD 1.35 billion by 2036, registering a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.0% during the forecast period, according to Fact.MR. Growing demand for advanced in-vehicle air quality solutions and improved passenger comfort is expected to support market expansion...

Casemiro has expressed his delight after completing a free transfer to Inter Miami, calling new teammate Lionel Messi the "God of football."

Gianni Infantino has been the president of Fifa since February 2016 [Getty Images]Fifa president Gianni Infantino's position came under further scrutiny on Friday as the governing body's chief operating officer strongly criticised his plan to sell stakes in competitions to private investors.In a statement released to the Associated Press, Kevin Lamour described the controversial plans as "the project of one person" and said "the time has now come for football political leaders to ask themselves the right questions and make the right decisions".The lengthy statement did not mention Infantino by name.It came on the same day a third confederation spoke out against the plans, a senior adviser to Infantino resigned, and Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the Swiss was "the wrong man" to lead Fifa.US President Donald Trump - addressing the proposals for the first time - said he had not spoken to Infantino about the plans.The two have developed a close relationship since Trump assumed office for a second time in 2025.Lamour said in his statement: "Our mission - the mission of the hundreds of passionate, dedicated, and exemplary Fifa employees - is to serve football."A president must bring people together, unite them, and inspire them. Today, we are experiencing the opposite."Lamour acknowledged he had a duty of loyalty to his employer but also to "certain values" and supporting his colleagues."If that means I lose my job, then so be it," he added. "I will understand and respect that decision. At least I'll sleep well tonight."Fifa says 'nobody selling football' as plan continuesCourting controversy and befriending Trump - the story of Fifa boss InfantinoWhy women's football is first casualty of Fifa plansThe Asian Football Confederation (AFC) had earlier said it "stands in solidarity" with counterparts in Europe and North, Central America and the Caribbean.The AFC added Infantino's plan could not "realistically achieve the necessary broad consensus and unity required to move forward"."The Fifa World Cup is the pinnacle of global football and derives its strength from the participation of all Confederations and the world's leading football nations," it said."Any proposal that risks undermining the unity and universal character of the competition must be reconsidered."Shortly after that statement, Carlos Cordeiro - Infantino's senior adviser on global strategy and governance - resigned, saying the proposal was "a bad deal for football" and would "mortgage football's future".Burnham later described Infantino's proposal as an "outrageous suggestion"."The idea that it could even be brought forward shows that, in my view, [he] is the wrong man to lead the organisation," he added.The AFC's statement means Infantino's plans are unlikely to be approved by Fifa members if put to a vote.Infantino had indicated the proposals would need a straight majority to go through - meaning 106 of its 211 members needed to vote in favour for the proposal.Uefa - the body that governs European football - has 55 votes. Concacaf, which oversees football in North, Central America and the Caribbean, has 35 and Asia has 46.Should all member associations back the stance of their governing body, that would mean 136 nations are against Infantino's plan.What are Infantino's plans?Fifa and Infantino want to create a commercial subsidiary to run its main events, including its World Cups, and external investors will be able to buy stakes in it.It said it would "invite third parties to make minority, non-controlling investments" in a new subsidiary - Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE).In a 25-page document created by investment bank JP Morgan, it is made clear Fifa's tournaments would expand to hit an estimated increased pay-out of 24m euros per member association in the 2035-2039 cycle.It mentions "new business initiatives" and "attracting top talent with incentive-driven compensation".The World Cup is described in it as the "most widely viewed" sporting event but Fifa, by contrast, is said to be "under-monetised".There is no mention in the document of the women's game.If approval is granted, Fifa says Thrive Eternal is expected to lead the proposed investor group for FFE.Thrive is an American venture capital firm founded by Joshua Kushner - the brother of US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared.'If I lose my job, so be it - at least I'll sleep well'As chief operating officer, Lamour is two layers of management below Infantino.In his - which has been seen by BBC Sport - Lamour said "what has been announced in recent days and what has been happening behind the scenes in recent months defies belief and imagination"."It is becoming increasingly difficult for Fifa's administration to work under these conditions and fulfil its mission," he wrote."I have no authority to speak on behalf of my colleagues, and perhaps I am mistaken. But my feeling is that we all want to be proud to work for Fifa, and today, unfortunately, it seems that is no longer the case for many of us. "I know I have a duty of loyalty to my employer. But I also, and above all, have a duty of loyalty to certain values and to support my colleagues."Lamour joined Fifa in November 2024, having previously served as deputy general secretary at Uefa.Cordeiro, meanwhile, had been a Fifa senior adviser for four years and 11 months.He represented the world governing body on the White House taskforce for the 2026 World Cup and was a former investment banker with Goldman Sachs.Appointed in September 2021, he is the first senior figure at Fifa to resign over the plans.In a lengthy statement, Cordeiro said he "unequivocally" opposed the plans and said he "did not accept the proposition" Fifa needed outside investors to "unlock greater value"."The proposal has become a defining question for Fifa's future," he wrote."Fifa's responsibility is not to maximise commercial returns at any cost. It is to protect and strengthen football for future generations."When those principles come into conflict, football must come first."Cordeiro said he had no involvement in this proposal."Most troubling of all is the absence of answers to fundamental questions," he added. "Why this deal? Why now? What oversight exists? Who benefits?" he wrote."These questions remain largely unanswered, and yet member associations are being asked to make a decision of enormous consequence in barely 50 days or risk being left behind."That is not a responsible way to determine the future of the world's game."Carlos Cordeiro (second right) is a former president of US Soccer [Getty Images]What did the AFC say?The AFC in their statement accused Fifa of setting the "direction of travel" for a "significant initiative" before consulting stakeholders.It said Fifa's failure to consult its member associations on the proposals had "exposed fundamental weaknesses in Fifa's consultation and decision-making processes that must now be addressed".The AFC also criticised Fifa for leaving "confederations, member associations and even Fifa's own governing bodies, including the Fifa Council, feeling sidelined."It added: "The Fifa World Cup, and the game itself, belong to the entire global football family."Their future must always be shaped collectively, through institutions that reflect the voices of all Confederations and member associations."The AFC calls upon Fifa to undertake an urgent review of its governance and decision-making framework to ensure that proposals of global significance are developed through proper consultation, meaningful engagement and appropriate oversight by Fifa's statutory bodies."Uefa to boycott World Cups if Fifa plans approvedWhat has been the reaction?On Thursday, Uefa voted to boycott World Cups if the Fifa plan proceeded.Hours later, Concacaf, which hosted this year's World Cup, released a statement also rejecting the proposals made by Infantino.Fifa released a statement early on Friday vowing to continue with the plan - but added "nobody is selling football".The governing body of world football claimed the consultation process had been "disrupted by incorrect media reports".It claimed that would "not come at the cost of either the spirit or the governance of Fifa or football itself".Uefa has accused Fifa of using football "to enrich themselves and their friends", while Concacaf and AFC have both expressed concerns about consultation over the plans."The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product," Uefa's statement on Thursday read."It is one of football's greatest sporting legacies. It has been built over generations by players, national teams and supporters across every continent."No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale.The governing body overseeing football in South America, Conmebol, is yet to publicly comment on the proposals. The governing bodies in Africa (CAF) and Oceania (OFC) have said they will discuss Fifa's plan in August.Why 'smaller' nations could still support InfantinoWhile Uefa members are among the richest on the planet, many other nations rely on Fifa funding for basic infrastructure.While the AFC opposes Infantino's plan, unlike Uefa it has not threatened to boycott Fifa competitions. AFC members would not be obliged to vote against the proposals. Rogers Byamukama, of the Ugandan Football Federation, argued any avenue that could lead to more resources for nations like his should be explored."First and foremost, you need to understand that football is a very expensive venture, especially on the African continent where the resources are not easy to come by," he told Newsday on BBC World Service."For instance in Uganda, the number of infrastructure projects that have been funded by Fifa from the resources generated by Fifa, especially at the World Cup, both from ticket sales as well as sponsors."On top of that, there are many grassroots programmes that have been funded by Fifa, including schools for football."From my perspective, any avenue that brings in more resources is good because those resources would be distributed and given to federations, especially on the African continent and that would inspire growth."Byamukama acknowledged Uefa's right to speak out, but suggested its members were not reliant on Fifa funding like many associations in the rest of the world where Infantino remains popular.In the first two cycles of the Fifa Forward development programme, through to 2022, $2.8bn (2.08bn) was made available for investment across the 211 member associations.Fifa Forward 3.0 - covering the years 2023 through to 2026 - has produced a 30% increase in funding.Fifa has provided a further $5m (3.7m) for every member association, with another $60m (44.48m) paid to each confederation for their own projects.After expanding the men's World Cup to 48 teams from 32 for the 2026 edition, Fifa is seeking an independent agency to assess an expansion to 64 teams for the 2030 tournament.The timeline on documents seen by BBC Sport said Fifa would receive agency proposals by 7 August, with a Fifa decision on 14 August. Delivery of analysis by the agency is then scheduled for 11 September.Fifa offers $40m if nations back controversial planFollow your club with BBC SportGet football news sent straight to your phone

Sam Silvera spent three seasons as a Middlesbrough player [Getty Images]MK Dons have signed winger Sam Silvera on a free transfer after he was released by Middlesbrough at the end of last season.The 25-year-old was a first-choice player under former Boro boss Rob Edwards at the beginning of the 2025-26 season but was unable to retain a regular place in the side after suffering a foot injury in February.He is an Australian international, earning eight caps, but was not part of the Socceroos' 26-man World Cup squad this summer.Silvera made 65 appearances for Middlesbrough across three seasons, scoring eight goals.He becomes MK Dons' sixth signing of the summer transfer window as they prepare for life back in League One, their first season in the third tier since the 2022-23 campaign."Sam is a player that we pursued throughout the summer. He's someone who's quick, wants to take people on and brings a bit more competition along the front line," head coach Paul Warne told the club website."All the research we did on him with his team-mates came back glowing."MK Dons have not disclosed the length of Silvera's deal.All the latest MK Dons newsAll done deals in July 2026

Chelsea have signed Italy midfielder Giulia Dragoni from Barcelona on a four-year contract.The 19-year-old spent the past two seasons on loan at Roma, and Chelsea have been tracking her progress for several years.Dragoni has 24 caps for Italy, having made her international debut aged 16, and has experience in the Womens Champions League."I still can't believe I have signed for Chelsea," said Dragoni."When I was a child, not even in my biggest dreams did I think I would sign for Chelsea. It's unbelievable. I'm really excited. "I spoke with Sonia [Bompastor] and she introduced me to the project here and showed me the possibilities. We all know Chelsea is one of the best clubs in the world so it wasn't hard to convince me to come here."Beever-Jones ready to 'conquer' new season after injury troubles last termWhy women's football is first casualty of Fifa plansGet the latest WSL news on our dedicated pageDragoni joined Barcelona in 2023 after graduating from Inter Milan's youth academy. It is understood Chelsea were attracted to Dragoni's quality because of her versatility and ability to play across multiple attacking positions and in midfield.She becomes the club's fourth summer signing as they seek to regain the Womens Super League title following Manchester City's success last season.

The NFC South has become one of the NFL's most competitive divisions in recent years, but Bleacher Report isn't convinced it's one of the league's best.In a preseason ranking of every NFL division, Kristopher Knox placed the NFC South eighth, making it the lowest-ranked division heading into the 2026 campaign. The ranking factored in last season's results, offseason additions and departures, and each team's placement in Bleacher Report's latest power rankings.Knox acknowledged that every team in the division has reasons for optimism. He pointed to Atlanta's additions of head coach Kevin Stefanski and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, New Orleans continuing to build around young quarterback Tyler Shough, and the Buccaneers addressing their pass rush by signing Al-Quadin Muhammad and drafting Rueben Bain Jr.Tampa Bay also found itself on the list of the division's biggest offseason losses. Knox highlighted the departures of longtime franchise cornerstones Lavonte David, who retired, and Mike Evans, who left in free agency, as significant changes for a team looking to reclaim the NFC South crown after its four-year run at the top of the division came to an end.Despite ranking the NFC South last overall, Knox doesn't believe the race will lack intrigue. He noted that Carolina, Atlanta, Tampa Bay and New Orleans all have a realistic path to contention if their quarterback situations develop as hoped. He also pointed out that the Buccaneers looked like one of the NFL's hottest teams before injuries derailed their season, leaving them with an opportunity to win the division until the final week of the year.Ultimately, the biggest factor behind the ranking was last season's results. No NFC South team finished with a winning record in 2025, and Knox believes the division still has more questions than answers despite its upside. While he expects another tight race, he concluded that potential alone isn't enough to move the NFC South out of the league's bottom spot entering the new season.This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Bleacher Report lists the NFC South as the worst division in the NFL

Last season, the Minnesota Vikings clawed their way to a 9-8 record, winning their last five games in a row. While the offense struggled, the defensive side of the ball played very well, finishing third in total defense. This was spearheaded by a few unsung heroes who are looking to have an even bigger impact in 2026. According to Zachary Pereles of CBS Sports, defensive tackle Jalen Redmond is in line for a big season, as Pereles listed him as an under-the-radar player entering 2026. Here is what he had to say:Last year, theVikingsbrought in bigger names --Jonathan AllenandJavon Hargrave-- only for Redmond, a former undrafted free agent who spent time in the XFL, to outplay both of them by a wide margin. He racked up six sacks and finished 11th in PFF's run defense grades among interior defensive linemen. His disruptive abilities against both the run and the pass are impressive.Redmond was a pleasant surprise last season, and with the departure of Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, Redmond is in line for significantly more playing time alongside rookie Caleb Banks. Redmond is on a one-year deal, and should he play at the level of last season or even more, he could be due for quite the payday next offseason. This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Which Vikings DL is flying under-the-radar heading into 2026?