Grant Williams gets honest about Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown's relationship originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.As a longtime teammate of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown on the Boston Celtics, Grant Williams is quite aware of the dynamic between the championship-winning duo. He is also aware of the media narrative that the two Jays have a fractured relationship, which he has addressed.Williams does not think that there are issues between Tatum and Brown. Of course, they are now rivals on the Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers, respectively. However, it seems they are fine personally, which is a topic that has been brought up constantly in recent weeks.Grant Williams believes Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are okayNow that they are rivals, it is normal for the relationship between longtime teammates to be at least a little muddled. Considering they are in the same Atlantic Division with both teams setting up as top teams in the Eastern Conference, they will be true adversaries.However, that does not mean an end to their friendship. Of course, some people will look deeper into it and find some reasons why they dislike each other, but it seems some of their closest friends, like Williams, know the dynamic between the two players.MORE:Jaylen Brown reveals that he felt some disrespect amid his exit from the CelticsWilliams is well aware of how team dynamics work, especially with the Celtics. He knows how Tatum and Brown improved each other's game by training together and just learning from each other. Now that they are opponents, that adds another dimension to the renewed 76ers vs Celtics rivalry."You can bring the best out of someone else beside you. And I think thats what it was for those two, that they had respect for one another, they enjoyed being around one another when theyre on the court, as well as they didnt have any disdain for one another off the floor. So thats something I can just vividly say is that I dont think those guys disliked each other at all," Williams said about the Tatum and Brown dynamic on SiriusXM NBA Radio.It will be quite exciting to see how this rivalry works out. Thankfully, there is no personal animosity, but the new dynamic brings a renewed fire between the 76ers and Celtics moving forward.More NBA news:Some Celtics fans believe that Brad Stevens is going for Stephen CurryKarl-Anthony Towns speaks about how weird it will be playing against Mitchell Robinson on the CelticsGrant Hill fires back at Jaylen Brown, who questioned his character after Team USA debacleAfter the executives' latest comments, the Jaylen Brown trade becomes clearJayson Tatum admits it will be weird playing against Jaylen Brown

For weeks rumors have swirled that a rematch between former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira and No. 2 ranked contender Arman Tsarukyan was all but signed, sealed and delivered. The fight promotion had other plans.Tsarukyan (23-3) will instead face No. 7 ranked Mauricio Ruffy (14-2) in the UFC 331 co-main event in a five-round fight. UFC 331 takes place on Sept. 19 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles and is headlined by a flyweight championship rematch between titleholder Joshua Van and former champion Alexandre Pantoja. Tsarukyan will enter the bout riding a five-fight winning streak. He last fought at UFC Fight Night 265 last November defeating Dan Hooker via submission. The finish earned him a 'Performance of the Night' bonus. Ruffy has won back-to-back fights and is coming off a TKO win over Michael Chandler at the UFC Freedom 250 event at The White House in June. The event will mark the promotion's sixth visit to Los Angeles but the first in eight years. The last time the octagon was in L.A. was for UFC 227in August 2018.Back on the West Coast The official bout list for #CryptoCom#UFC331 is here![ Tickets on sale TODAY | LIVE SEP 19 at @CryptoComArena ] pic.twitter.com/PWxADetCRv UFC (@ufc) August 5, 2026

WORCESTER Its been a storybook two weeks for John Holobetz.On July 26, the right-handed pitcher was told he was being promoted from Double-A Portland to Triple-A Worcester. Four days later, he made his Triple-A debut on the road.On Wednesday, Holobetz made his first start in a WooSox uniform at Polar Park throwing four innings while allowing five hits and zero runs and striking out two.Just 10 days after learning hed been called up to Worcester, the 23-year-old prospect finds himself settling into Worcester nicely while being one call away from the big leagues.Its cool. I mean, Im one step away, Holobetz told the T&G. It is a dream come true.Holobetz spent all of 2026 with Portland before joining Worcester last week. In 17 games (15 starts), he went 5-3 with a 4.33 ERA, 25 walks and 93 strikeouts across 71 innings pitched. Holobetz had the ninth best ERA among qualifying pitchers in the Eastern League and was tied for seventh in the league in strikeouts, sixth in batting average against (.236) and second in WHIP (1.22).Holobetz was named the Red Sox Minor League Pitcher of the Month for July.Hes just a competitor, said WooSox pitcher Blake Wehunt, who was officially promoted to Worcester on July 21. You know what youre going to get out of him. Hes going to throw strikes. Hes going to either make (the batter) hit (the ball) or theyre going to sit down. Its fun to watch.The 6-foot-3, 190-pound righty was originally selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the fifth round of the 2024 First-Year Player Draft.Holobetz came to the Red Sox as the player to be named later on April 7, 2025 in a deal that sent right-handed pitcher Quinn Priester to Milwaukee from Boston. In 40 games (34 starts) in two Minor League seasons, Holobetz is 13-7 with a 3.54 ERA along with 213 strikeouts in 203 innings.After pitching in a game for Portland in Binghamton, NY on July 23, Holobetz was called into the office of Sea Dogs acting manager Kyle Sasala three days later and told he was going to Worcester and making his AAA debut in Virginia.I was really happy to hear those words, said Holobetz, who went to Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA. But also Norfolk was where I went to school and I have a lot of family down there.Thats storybook type stuff. I was ecstatic.Holobetz fired 5.2 innings of one-run ball in his Triple-A debut. The righty pounded the strike zone (throwing his first 15 pitches for strikes) and struck out six batters while picking up the win in his first WooSox start.From pitch one, he was right in the zone and he fed right off of that, WooSox acting manager Iggy Suarez said. You wouldve thought that hes been with us for a while.He showed tremendous confidence and conviction in what he was throwing, that was what was more impressive, WooSox pitching coach Dan DeLucia said. He took the ball and he was able to fill up the zone like hes done all year in Double A.A self-taught pitcher until he was a sophomore in high school, Holobetz showcases a bit of different delivery that is quick and from the side. Hes currently working on adding a sinker to his arsenal but throws five pitches: fastball, cutter, slider, sweeper and changeup.The latter is a kick-change, which is a work in progress.Its a pitch thats pretty serviceable and gotten him a decent amount of whiff to lefties and righties, DeLucia said. I think thats something hes going to continue to lean on.On Wednesday, Holobetz threw 61 pitches and 48 for strikes. He tossed 33 fastballs, 17 cutters, six changeups and five curveballs/sliders, while lowing his Triple-A ERA to 0.93. Since he pitched just four innings, he didnt pick up his second win with the WooSox.Still, Holobetz has fit right in with Worcester.The balls coming out of his hand pretty freaking good, Suarez said.Meet new WooSox pitcher John Holobetz, who made his Triple-A debut last week on the road and makes his Polar Park debut tomorrow.Holobetz, who was the player to be named later in the Quinn Priester trade last year, grew up as a Yankees fan but now hates the Yankees. Hes also pic.twitter.com/jdFnAoPinB Tommy Cassell (@tommycassell44) August 4, 2026Holobetz, who grew up a Yankees fan while his older brother and grandfather were Red Sox fans, now finds himself pitching for the Red Sox Triple-A club. Adding another chapter to his baseball story.Its definitely not how I would have drawn it up, Holobetz said. But, its all been for the best.Contact Tommy Cassell at tcassell@telegram.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @tommycassell44.This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Storybook season continues in AAA for new WooSox pitcher John Holobetz

According to the official roster provided to the media attending Texas A&M's fall camp practice session on Wednesday night, two Aggies are not listed on the team. Junior wide receiver Jonah Wilson and freshman linebacker Kelvion Riggins were the only players not listed. Wilson is also no longer listed on the online roster, but Riggins is still listed on Texas A&M's website. While there has been no official word from head coach Mike Elko or the coaching staff on the possible explanation for their absence, it doesn't appear like either will be suiting up for the Maroon and White this fall. Texas A&M reporter Carter Karels was the first to break the news, while also providing a snapshot of the 2026 roster given to the media at Wednesday's practice. Texas A&M WR Jonah Wilson and LB Kelvion Riggins are not listed on this roster. They were on the online Aggie roster. https://t.co/G34AdVASd0 Carter Karels (@CarterKarels) August 6, 2026Wilson started his collegiate career at Houston, where he hauled in 11 receptions for 118 yards and one touchdown in limited action through two seasons with the Cougars. He transferred to Texas A&M in 2025, but did not see any action during his sophomore campaign.While Wilson has some experience playing college football, Riggins was just scratching the surface. The former three-star prospect from Forney, Texas, signed to play at Texas A&M in December of 2024, which marked Elko's second recruiting class in College Station. He received offers from schools like Tennessee, Ohio State and Georgia, but chose to come play for Elko and the Aggies. Riggins did not see any playing time last season, however.Contact/Follow us@AggiesWireon X(formerly Twitter) and like our page onFacebookto follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions.Follow Dylan on X:@dylanmflippo.This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Two Texas A&M players not listed on the 2026 roster at preseason camp

India captain who conquered Test series in Australia gives verdict on England coach Stephen Fleming before Ashes 2027 originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.KEY TAKEAWAYS:Ajinkya Rahane has praised England's new Test coach Stephen Fleming ahead of the 2027 Ashes.Rahane played under Fleming at Chennai Super Kings, winning the IPL 2023 title.He credited the coach for the freedom and security he gave players.Ajinkya Rahane gives verdict on England coach Stephen FlemingAjinkya Rahane knows a thing or two about thriving under pressure, having famously led a depleted India to a historic Border-Gavaskar Trophy triumph in Australia in 2020-21. Now the veteran has offered a glowing verdict on Stephen Fleming, the man tasked with reviving England's Test fortunes ahead of the 2027 Ashes.Fleming was appointed England's red-ball head coach in July, succeeding Brendon McCullum, after an enormously successful spell in charge of Chennai Super Kings. Rahane spent time at the franchise under the New Zealander and was part of the squad that lifted the IPL title in 2023.That first-hand experience lends particular weight to Rahane's assessment, especially as England begins a new era under Fleming and the reinstated captain, Joe Root. The Indian batter was unequivocal about the environment his former coach fostered.MORE:Report: ECB unhappy with Cricket Ireland for hosting Afghanistan ODI series despite UK government-backed Taliban policyRahane hails the Fleming factorSpeaking on the Stick to Cricket podcast, Rahane reflected warmly on his time working under the England coach. He said, "I really enjoyed playing under Fleming. Those two years with CSK was really good. From a player's point of view, the freedom what we got, the freedom because when you fail, the insecurity is always there as a player."He went on to explain how Fleming's approach helped players perform without fear. Rahane said, "You always want to play each and every game but that platform provided by the franchisee and the coaching staff, that even if you fail, you go out there and play your game. I thought it was that, so I really enjoyed playing for CSK and under Stephen Fleming."MORE:Stephen Fleming wants Aussie Ashes hero as England Test batting coachA ringing endorsement before a defining assignmentThere is genuine insight in Rahane's words that England supporters may find encouraging. The freedom he describes, the sense of security that lets players express themselves through failure, is precisely the culture that underpinned England's best cricket under McCullum, which suggests Fleming may prove a natural fit rather than a jarring change of direction.The real test, of course, will be whether Fleming can translate franchise success into the unforgiving arena of Test cricket against Australia. Winning five IPL titles is a formidable achievement, but the Ashes is a different beast entirely, and the pressures of an England-Australia series dwarf anything the T20 circuit throws up.If Rahane's account is any guide, though, Fleming will at least create an environment in which England's talented but fragile side can play without fear, and that alone may prove half the battle before 2027.For all the latest cricket news, opinion, and commentary and to share your voice, head to our Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter) pages.

There's a chance that four-time NBA champion Klay Thompson sees his time with the Dallas Mavericks come to an end after two seasons. Thompson, 36, joined the team in July 2024 as a result of a six-team trade, signing a three-year, $50 million contract after spending the first 13 seasons of his career with the Golden State Warriors.Last season, Thompson appeared in 69 games for the Mavericks and started eight. He averaged career-lows in multiple statistical categories including points (11.7), field goal percentage (39.3%), 3-point percentage (38.3%), free throw percentage (76.6%), rebounds (2.1), assists (1.4) and minutes played (21.7).If indeed the 2026 season was Thompson's final season in Dallas, the aging sharpshooter and his agent will soon field calls from teams around the league ready for his services. He has one year left on his contract and the Mavericks owe him $17.5 million. They could opt to put Thompson in trade negotiations, but given the season of career-lows he's coming off of, some could view it as a risk to trade for the 36-year-old and likely give up assets. The other option would be via buyout clause in which Thompson would become a free agent and choose his destination. In that scenario, Thompson would have multiple potential landing spots including some familiar to him. USA TODAY Sports' NBA reporter Lorenzo Reyes wrote that two possible places for Thompson to land are the Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers.Either of the two would make complete sense. Klay Thompson to Golden State Warriors?Thompson began his career with the Warriors when he was drafted in 2011. He helped them to become one of the league's dynasties, while he became a five-time All-Star, Olympic gold medalist and recognized as one of the best shooters in NBA history.He and Stephen Curry formed the dynamic, sharp-shooting backcourt duo nicknamed the "Splash Brothers." And with Draymond Green as an enforcer, the big three would be back together again, albeit a lot older than their initial stint together. A reunion amongst them would be the full-circle moment that many want to see, maybe with the exception of rival opponents.As Reyes wrote, "there would be no fit better for Thompson than Golden State. Coach Steve Kerr is still there. Stephen Curry is still there. Thompson knows the system intimately and the Warriors who tied for 17th last season in 3-point percentage (35.6%) could definitely use a shooter like him."The Warriors might not be a championship contending team leaning on Curry and company. Adding Thompson may not move the needle in wins but nostalgia itself will provide enough energy to make due with however things played out. Klay Thompson plays for the same franchise as his dadThe other possible landing spot for Thompson is another familiar place in La-La Land. The Lakers could be an intriguing destination if Thompson became available for multiple reasons.The most obvious one is that Thompson was born in Los Angeles, has ties to the area and his dad, Mychal Thompson, played four seasons with the Lakers, helping them win back-to-back titles in 1987 and 1988. Before Thompson signed with the Mavericks in 2024, his pops was very vocal in his desire for his son to play for the same legendary franchise as him. And even voiced his disappointment when his son didn't choose the Lakers. If bought out, this could be a second chance to make things right and go back to the place he once called home growing up.He'd also join a team with ball-dominant guards that command defensive attention in Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. The spacing on the floor that they would create would fair well for Thompson who would be the ultimate catch-and-shoot player.Additionally, Reyes wrote, "Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves will dominate ball-handling duties, and Thompson excels at slipping past defenders without the ball in his hands. Coach JJ Redick, who was a sharpshooter in his own right, also knows how to maximize a talented sniper like Thompson."Reyes added that when Thompson signed with the Mavericks in July 2024, one of the main reasons he chose Dallas over his hometown LA was to play alongside Doncic. Things in Dallas changed for Thompson once Doncic was traded to the Lakers in February 2025, now he has a chance to rejoin the Slovenian superstar. If Doncic needs another shooter, Thompson is the guy. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: Klay Thompson could opt to return to home, if Dallas doesn't work out

Aug. 5The Vandals plan to go behind closed doors Thursday for a padded-up-tackle-to-the-ground live practice. So, Wednesday was a dress rehearsal.The University of Idaho football team went through a session in shorts, jerseys and helmets in the Kibbie Dome, focused on red zone work from the 10-yard line to save everyone's legs for the live stuff.Moscow Mountain, north of campus, was almost invisible Wednesday morning because of wildfire smoke and probably harvest dust when Idaho practiced. The air inside the dome was much better. But it was getting sultry in there before practice concluded. The players, however, seemed to power through it.Vandals coach Thomas Ford Jr. said afterwards "the picture is starting to get more clear" with regard to the depth chart. Beyond that, the depth itself heartened him."It is really good right now. The 3s are not far behind (the first and second team)," he said.Offensive line coach Loren Endsley seconded him, saying Idaho's depth in that unit is the best he has seen in two years with Idaho. It is so good, he is calculating how he can rotate players to keep everyone fresh without losing the cohesion of having five linemates attuned to each other's timing."I am still messing with that," he said.Endsley added that senior center Layton Vining "is one of the smartest kids I have ever coached," and he is trying to steer Vining toward a coaching career."You really need a center like that," said Endsley. "You can give him the keys to the car a little bit and trust he is not going to take it off a cliff."Even in the unpadded environment, players took advantage of the opportunity the workout presented. None more so than fifth-year senior tight end Chance Bogan, who caught back-to-back touchdowns in pass skeleton from starting quarterback Joshua Wood. He got isolated on a cornerback for the first one, Bogan said, and he had to sky to get his hands on the second throw. His day's work earned him the daily practice award."I'm a D-I tight end," he said of bringing in that second ball.Ford noted he had recruited Bogan when Ford was a Vandals assistant in 2022, and he said Bogan anymore is a rarity as a five-year player, who overcame injuries to have a breakout spring that he continues to build on.None of this is remarkable to Bogan."I just want to bring glory to the Vandals," he said. "I'm V's up until I freeze up, and I'm not getting cold. I love Idaho, Moscow, and the dome."The offense generally had a good day in the pass skeleton and in the 11-on-11 red zone work, although senior safety Khaled Rawls and Rogers High School alum Jerry Allen III had pass breakups in the end zone, and sophomore safety Brody Michael jumped a route and intercepted Wood. Following the workout, offensive coordinator Ian Shoemaker told the assembled team "we should have 80% touchdowns when we move across the 20 (yard line)." Ford did not shrink from that. The Vandals don't want to trade touchdowns for field goals, he said.As the Vandals progress through their fall camp, Endsley says the daily clash of new offensive coordinator Shoemaker's offense against new defensive coordinator Lee Stalker's defense is paying dividends that will be evident during the season. The Vandals linemen are seeing football from a strategic vantage."They are learning how Coach Shoe's stuff works off itself," he said. "If a defensive coordinator wants to take something away from you guys, he is giving us something, and we can attack it."

Aug. 5A recent court ruling in Ohio has enabled Gonzaga to fill one of its vacant backcourt spots three months before the start of the college basketball season.Javon Bennett, a 5-foot-10 point guard who earned All-Atlantic 10 first-team honors last season at Dayton, committed to the Zags on Wednesday after securing a fifth season of eligibility three weeks ago through a preliminary injunction in Ohio.Bennett's agent, Harrison Gaines, confirmed the player's commitment to Joe Tipton of On3.com.A veteran guard who appeared in 136 college basketball games over four seasons at Merrimack and Dayton, Bennett was one of the 15 student-athletes who filed a lawsuit against the NCAA in Ohio, claiming they should be eligible to return for a fifth season through the governing body's new age-based eligibility model, also known as the "5-for-5" rule.With only eight players signed to financial aid agreements as of Wednesday, Gonzaga is in a position to add multiple players in the coming weeks, and desperately needed to address its depth in the backcourt after combo guard Jack Kayil kept his name in the NBA draft and starting point guard Mario Saint-Supery signed a professional contract with Valencia in early July.Pending other roster moves, Bennett could be a candidate to start at point guard after averaging 15.8 points, 2.9 assists and 2.2 rebounds last season for a Dayton team that advanced to the quarterfinals of the National Invitational Tournament (NIT). Bennett's 3-point shooting numbers have been up and down the last four years, but he made 34.7% of his shots from behind the arc last season while attempting a career-high seven 3s per game.As of Wednesday, the Zags had just one other backcourt player with prior D-I experience signed to the 2026-27 roster Houston transfer Isiah Harwell but nobody with experience as a primary ball-handler. Gonzaga picked up a commitment from 23-year-old Cholet point guard Nathan De Sousa in June, but the Frenchman is still awaiting NCAA clearance and hasn't formally been announced by the school.A native of Orlando, Bennett played his freshman season at Merrimack, where he was named the Northeast Conference Rookie of the Year in 2022-23 while helping the Warriors capture regular season and conference tournament championships. As a school recently transitioning from the Division II level, Merrimack was unable to participate in the NCAA Tournament and its bid automatically went to Northeast Conference runner-up Fairleigh Dickinson, which went on to upset top-seeded Purdue in the opening round.After averaging 9.6 ppg, 3.4 apg and 2.9 spg as a freshman, Bennett transferred to Dayton and started in 28 of 31 games for a Flyers team that won an NCAA Tournament opener against Nevada before losing to former GU assistant Tommy Lloyd and Arizona in the Round of 32. The point guard averaged 8.4 ppg, 3.3 apg and 2.1 rpg while shooting 39.3% from the field and 31.6% from the 3-point line.Bennett averaged double figures for the first time in his career as a junior, scoring 11.6 ppg to go with 2.7 rpg and 2.1 apg, starting in 33 of 34 games for Dayton. He shot a career-best 39% from the 3-point line while shooting better than 40% from the field (43.7%) for the first time in his career.As a senior, Bennett posted career-best scoring numbers and nearly led the Flyers to another NCAA Tournament berth, ultimately losing in the Atlantic 10 championship to VCU. Bennett had at least 20 points in 11 games last season, recording a season-high 27 against Saint Bonaventure in the A-10 Tournament quarterfinals. His career high of 30 points came the year prior during an NIT opener against Florida Atlantic.Bennett becomes Gonzaga's third addition via the transfer portal this offseason, joining Houston's Harwell and Arizona State center Massamba Diop, both of whom signed with Mark Few's program in May.Gonzaga's ability to add to its transfer class and fill remaining scholarship spots could hinge on eligibility rulings in various states. Since the Ohio injunction cleared the way for Bennett and others to secure another year of eligibility, athletes in three other states have prevailed in similar lawsuits.The Athletic listed Bennett in the Honorable Mention portion of a list detailing the top 10 players who could return to college basketball in 2026-27. Another ranking compiled by On3.com listed Bennett at No. 5.

Aug. 5When Ambrose Marsh first joined the Eastern Washington football team, he pretty well knew that he wasn't going to play much that first year.He wasn't alone. Running back Kevin Allen III, quarterback Jake Schakel, wide receiver Bode Gardner, offensive lineman Gavin Allen, to name just a few Eagles players, found themselves all in the same position in the fall of 2024: redshirting and playing a lot on the scout team."The coaches would try to throw us in," Marsh, now a redshirt sophomore cornerback, said at EWU practice on Tuesday. "But they knew we weren't really playing and they were trying to develop us."All of those aforementioned players filled key roles for the Eagles in 2025 and are being counted on to step up again this season.But unlike that class, the current freshmen at Eastern Washington and elsewhere no longer need to redshirt; under a new NCAA Division I policy, they can play right away.That change has altered the nature of competition across the Big Sky this preseason largely, players and coaches said, for the better."I think the five-for-five (rule) is great for college football," Idaho State fifth-year quarterback Jordan Cooke said in July at the Big Sky football kickoff weekend. "For just how crazy college football has become, it'll be nice that you just get five years to play and no redshirts, no players playing for seven or eight years."The NCAA's new age-based model of eligibility, which it officially adopted in July, is intended to simplify what had become a system rife with waivers. Eastern Washington's roster contains a number of examples.Running back Malik Dotson, for example, played two years of junior college in California during the 2021 and 2022 seasons, transferred to Eastern and played four games in 2023, the maximum allowed under the old system for a player to preserve a redshirt. So that's what Dotson did.He played nine games in 2024 his fourth playing college football and came back for the 2025 season thanks to the redshirt rule. But in Game 1 against Incarnate Word, Dotson suffered an injury that kept him out the entire year. He applied for a medical hardship waiver, the NCAA granted it, and now Dotson is back for 2026.Under the new system, Dotson wouldn't be allowed to apply for such a waiver."I would have been done," Dotson said.Under the new system, students will be permitted up to five years of Division I eligibility if they enroll in college no later than the academic year after their 19th birthday. Essentially, athletes could play every game over a five-year period, whereas in the past one of those years had to be limited to a redshirt season.Students who enrolled for this 2026-27 season could still fall under the previous rules or these new ones, but the new system of eligibility will be the only one available to current high school seniors when they graduate in the spring of 2027.In contrast to Dotson, there is current EWU sophomore Bryce Smith. He graduated from Bellevue High School in 2025 and then, as a true freshman, played 11 games at safety for the Eagles last fall. Smith will be allowed to play four more full seasons without having to redshirt, since current student-athletes with eligibility remaining can choose either the previous or the new system, whichever is most favorable.The NCAA will still make a few exceptions that could delay or pause an individual's period of eligibility. These include pregnancy, active-duty military service and official religious missions, so long as the student-athlete doesn't participate in organized competition for the duration of the exception. But that's it."I'm a huge fan of it," UC Davis head coach Tim Plough said of the change. "I just think that everyone was taking advantage of the rules in the past, us included, so guys were getting six, seven years, and it just felt like that's not what college football should be about."Another positive to Plough: increased competition up and down the roster."It allows us to play the younger players without feeling like we're going to penalize them, because the only way they are going to be able to grow and get better is to get on the field," Plough said. "For a team that's trying to get to the playoffs, if we can play all 105 of our players and not feel like we're penalizing them, hopefully that creates more depth for our team and helps us save our veteran players."Already it has changed the nature of practices for the Eagles."We've got a lot of young guys going pretty hard right now," redshirt senior wide receiver Cole Pruett said of a group that includes freshmen Bennett Juve, Giulio Bachero and Oliver Luebkert. "That's good to see. Just knowing that they don't have to redshirt, they can just play right off the bat. They're coming out swinging and making the most of every rep."The rule change will almost certainly be challenged; already a federal court granted an injunction to allow another year for 2022 high school graduates who have already used up their four years.And, as some Big Sky players pointed out, there are plenty of players whose careers included multiple season-ending injuries. Under the previous system they would have been able to appeal for a medical hardship, but they won't be allowed to do so any more."Honestly, if the five-year rule had happened when I first started, I'd be long gone and into my coaching career," Portland State wide receiver Terence Loville said in July.But Loville, who graduated from high school in 2020 and appealed for multiple injury waivers during his now seven-season college career, still likes the new system."I think it's a more fair way for everyone to get the same number of years," Loville said.Above all, players and coaches said, the change should drive one aspect that is core to college sports: competition."Our practices should be more competitive from the start to the end," EWU head coach Aaron Best said. "It's a big, big, awesome deal for us (EWU) coaches and coaches across the country. We don't have to make choices; now (players) make the choices on the depth chart."

Aug. 5LAS VEGAS Spokane's 22-year-old poker phenom, Lucas Jumalon, is set to go heads-up against Finland's Lauri Saaskilahti starting at 6 p.m. PST for a chance to take home $10 million at the final table of the World Series of Poker's Main Event. The Spokesman-Review is providing live updates from the scene.Since the only people who are able to see who has what cards are the players, the dealer, and a production team stationed in a trailer outside of the venue, reporting will be focused on the number of chips each respective player has at different points throughout the night. Once pokernews.com posts what hands each player had, the Spokesman-Review will update accordingly.5 p.m. Six men in black suits with briefcases in both hands strolled into the Main Event's final table on Wednesday, accompanied by heavily armed guards. Inside the briefcases was $10 million. The money was then dumped in the middle of the poker table and arranged into a pyramid for Saaskilahti and Jumalon to stare at during the game.5:30 p.m. Jumalon and his crew have arrived.6:12 p.m. Jumalon's support team is chanting the song "We Ready," by Archie Eversole, "Lucas, Lucas, Lucas," while Saaskilahti's supporters are chanting "ole, ole, ole." Jumalon's friends and family are all wearing black shirts, while Saaskilahti's team stand in contrast with all white apparel.6:17 p.m. Jumalon's friends and family are chanting "Spo-Spo-Spokane!" Their next chant, as four ESPN broadcasters attempt to set the scene for people watching on TV, was "Let's go Spokane!" and "We love Lucas!" Jumalon, who eliminated three players yesterday, currently has 328 million chips and 109 big blinds. Saaskilahti has 225 million and 75 big blinds. Big blind is 3 million chips.6:38 p.m. Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi, the 2025 World Series of Poker's Main Event Winner and nine-time bracelet winner, kicks off the game with a quick opening speech."Let's shuffle up and deal," he said. And so, the game begins.6:45 p.m. Jumalon and Saaskilahti go tit-for-tat to start the game and remain relatively even. With a pot of 35 million on the line, the rail along the poker table was dead silent. When the pot was increased to 57 million, Saaskilahti folded. Jumalon now has 335 million to Saaskilahti's 218 million.