CMPES Global to discover innovative renewable energy solutions. Drive sustainability, optimize energy systems, and build a greener future.

The disappearance of the spring transfer portal window creates the opportunity for a reappearance of spring football games on campuses across the country. Playing a game in front of fans to end spring practice had become a fading tradition in the age of conference networks and the transfer portal. Coaches feared the possibility that rival staffs could watch televised spring games and turn them into scouting opportunities. "It just didnt incentivize us to be out there playing when people could watch that tape on national TV and call a kid," said Nebraska coach Matt Rhule, who did away with the spring game last year. Thats not as much of a concern now that college football no longer has a second transfer portal window in April. Nebraska responded to the change by bringing back its spring game. "We missed it," Rhule said. "We wanted to do it. Its a great thing for the fans. Its a great thing for people who want to come watch us play. Once they kind of changed the calendar, we went back to a more traditional setting." Nebraska is holding spring practice earlier than most schools, as it held its first workout on Feb. 21 and will conduct its spring game on March 28. Most schools wont finish spring practice until April. At least a handful of Football Bowl Subdivision programs that responded to a survey from The Associated Press have decided to hold traditional spring games this year after not having them in 2025. That list also includes Auburn, UConn, North Texas and San Diego State, among others. Auburn, UConn and North Texas made their decisions following coaching changes. New staffs decided to go with new approaches that included going back to college footballs past. Spring football games were once an offseason staple. Teams would close spring practices by playing a game in front of thousands of their fans, either by matching the offense against the defense or conducting a pregame draft that divided the team into two separate rosters. But less than half the FBS schools that responded to the APs survey indicated they had a traditional spring game last year. The change happened in part because of the arrival of a mid-April transfer portal window that opened as most teams were closing spring practice. Teams nowadays still hold some sort of event to mark the end of spring practice, but it usually doesnt have a typical game format. For instance, Nebraska had a skills competition last year that included a 7-on-7 game. Other schools staged open practices with some scrimmaging. San Diego State also had a skills event similar to the Pro Bowl Games format that the NFL has adopted. This year, San Diego State instead plans to have an Offense vs. Defense spring game on May 2. "We will block and we will tackle," San Diego State coach Sean Lewis said. "Its not going to be fan fest. Its not going to be dodgeball, right? Hearing some feedback from the fans year to year, obviously things are a little bit different, but with no spring portal, we can do things a little bit differently." The NCAA removed the second window last fall and made Jan. 2-11 the lone opportunity for players to enter the portal. Coaching staffs dont have to worry anymore about players transferring after spring practice. But this shift in the college football calendar also could cause teams to be cautious about how they handle spring workouts. For instance, Wisconsin lost projected starting left tackle Kevin Heywood to a torn anterior cruciate ligament at spring practice last year. The Badgers responded by signing offensive lineman Davis Heinzen, who had entered the portal after starting 36 consecutive games at Central Michigan. Teams wont have nearly as many options this year to find replacements if a key player suffers a season-ending injury in practice. "For the most part, theres not going to be a whole lot of people available after spring football," Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell said. "We all know what can happen in spring ball. Theres still a bunch of people who wont have homes, so I still think if people around the country need something in April, there will be some opportunities with guys out there, but I dont think thats something you can bank on." Fickell acknowledged the balancing act coaches face as they try to get their teams as prepared as possible while avoiding injuries. "Were trying to find what that balance looks like and how do we practice physical, how do we do the demanding things that you have to do to get better at the game of football while also being smart and making sure our highest-end guys, were in a position to make sure theyre getting better but that were going to get them through the summer and get them into the start of the fall," Fickell said. Reporting by The Associated Press.

World Champion D Gukesh's hunt for a win continued as Iran's Parham Maghsoodloo held the Indian ace to a draw in the seventh round of the masters section of the Prague International chess festival.

The Midshipmen came one game away from the NCAA Tournament last year; they're back with a vengeance this season.

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) Star freshman Caleb Wilson is increasing practice work for No. 17 North Carolina ahead of the rivalry game at No. 1 Duke but has yet to be cleared for 5-on-5 action due to his hand fracture, coach Hubert Davis said Thursday.The 6-foot-10 high-end NBA prospect has missed six games since he hurt his left hand in a Feb. 10 loss at Miami. The injury is to Wilson's off hand, though Davis said earlier this week that he had shed his cast and had been doing non-contact work like dribbling and shooting.He is progressing, Davis said Thursday. He's been doing individual workouts. Since we played on Tuesday, we didn't have practice yesterday and we'll practice today. He'll do more today. But other than that I don't have any other information.North Carolina is 5-1 without Wilson, who is averaging 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds. The injury in the Miami loss came days after he had 23 points in a thrilling win against the Blue Devils on Seth Trimble's last-second 3-pointer.The ultra-competitive rookie has said in social-media posts that he intends to return this season.Caleb really wants to play, he wants to get back as soon as he can," Trimble said Thursday. So nothing really surprises me anymore.The Tar Heels (24-6, 12-5) are already locked into the No. 4 seed at next week's Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament. If Wilson misses Saturday's trip to Cameron Indoor Stadium, UNC's quarterfinal opener in Charlotte would mark 30 days after his injury.Duke (28-2, 16-1) has won seven straight since the Feb. 7 loss at UNC, including a neutral-court win against then-No. 1 Michigan and last weekend's 26-point win against now-No. 13 Virginia.It's a good challenge either way for our defense, Duke coach Jon Scheyer said Thursday of Wilson's status. "And I really want us to play our standard in who we are and what we've done regardless if he's playing or not.___Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

The Maple Leafs traded center Nicolas Roy to the Avalanche for a conditional first-round draft choice in 2027 and a conditional fifth-round pick in 2026.

Telling broadcast vision has countered claims of a tense moment between Ollie Florent and Callum Mills after the final siren on Thursday night.

Former Manchester City captain Andy Morrison has revealed that he has been diagnosed with a severe neurological condition called Ramsay Hunt Syndrome in a heartbreaking video online.