On the final snap of the first quarter in Texas A&M’s spring game, Horton made a great sliding catch along the sidelines. The fifth-year senior showed his hands late to prevent the defender from making a play on the ball and hauled in the pass from quarterback Brady Hart for a gain of roughly 35 yards.

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Horton joined Texas A&M, in part, to replace the production of soon-to-be NFL Draft pick KC Concepcion. The departed wideout, who earned All-American honors (All-Purpose/Return Specialist) last season, led the Aggies receptions (61), yards (919) and touchdowns (9). Horton, along with Ashton Bethel-Roman and Terry Bussey, are presumably competing for starting spot(s) beside Mario Craver.

Horton’s strong snare didn’t come on a throw from starting quarterback Marcel Reed, but impact plays like that will help him earn trust in the Texas A&M offense.

The Aggies begin the 2026 season versus Missouri State on Sept. 5.

RELATED: Did you know Underdog is legal in Texas? Here’s an Underdog review to help answer any questions you may have about one of the best DFS sites in 2026!

The post Isaiah Horton makes incredible grab during Texas A&M’s spring game appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Saturday morning, Jemison — the No. 38 player in the 2025 recruiting class, per 247Sports Composite rankings — announced he will remain at Alabama for the 2026-27 campaign. The Oakdale, CT native averaged 6.2 points and 3.4 rebounds in 15.7 minutes per game as a freshman.

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At this moment, Jemison is the only player from the 2025-26 Crimson Tide confirmed to return for next season. However, Alabama’s roster is far from barren.

Head coach Nate Oats has added three high-major players — Brandon Garrison (Kentucky), Jamarion Davis-Fleming (Mississippi State) and Cole Cloer (NC State) — from the transfer portal and has commitments from three top-40 recruits (Qayden Samuels, Jaxon Richardson and Tarris Bouie).

The biggest domino in the Crimson Tide’s offseason has yet to fall. Aden Holloway, the rising senior guard who missed the NCAA Tournament after being suspended for a felony drug arrest, intends to return to the program, but has only been cleared to resume classes at the time of this article.

How Alabama proceeds before the transfer portal closes will likely give fans an indication of whether or not Holloway will be on the team next year.

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Michigan

15%

Duke

12%

Illinois

9%

UConn

8%

Florida

6%

Arizona

5%

St. John's

3%

Tennessee

2%

Alabama

2%

Saint Mary's

0%

Predict

The post Alabama forward London Jemison announces future plans appeared first on Saturday Down South.

According to On3’s Hayes Fawcett, Kentucky has landed 4-star safety Tristin Hughes. The Rocky River, OH native chose the Wildcats over Virginia Tech, Michigan and Penn State.

Hughes, who stands 5-foot-11, 190 lbs., according to 247 Sports, is the No. 351 overall player in 247 Sports’ Composite rankings of the 2027 recruiting class. He’s the No. 21 safety and No. 14 player from Ohio, based on the same rankings.

Stein, in his first offseason as Kentucky’s head coach, now has 10 commitments for 2027. The highest-profile recruit he has landed is QB Jake Nawrot, who was seen as the No. 2 QB in the class before committing to the Wildcats. He is now slotted as the No. 64 player and No. 5 QB in the country, based on 247 Sports’ Composite rankings.

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Kentucky currently has the country’s ninth-best 2027 recruiting class, according to the 247 Sports’ Composite. The Wildcats will face the Youngstown State Penguins in their first game under Stein on Sept. 5.

The post Kentucky beats out multiple top programs for 4-star safety recruit appeared first on Saturday Down South.

After his team dropped Friday’s series opener against the Aggies, head coach Jay Johnson took responsibility for the Tigers’ struggles. He said choices he made in roster construction have plagued the squad.

“It’s a deep-rooted thing… we’re off, and this will never happen again,” Johnson told reporters. “I made some mistakes in constructing the team, in trying to replace 2 guys that were irreplaceable, where we should have looked for replacing them through guys that were already in the program… we won’t make that mistake again.”

Johnson centered his attention on the team’s approach in the batter’s box. He believes there is too much focus from players on exit velocity and the long ball, as opposed to quality, competitive at-bats.

“We have plenty of home runs… if you attached professional at-bats, which is what we’re known for… [and] is why we have 2 national championships, with the power on this team, it would be plenty,” Johnson said. “Texas A&M… won the game tonight because they hit the ball hard and low the other way… the appearance is, we’re trying to do too much. And trying to do too much is not a plan, or a sign of a mature offensive baseball team.”

LSU could take its series versus Texas A&M with wins today (5:30 p.m. E.T., SEC Network+) and Sunday (2:00 p.m. E.T., ESPN).

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UCLA

14%

Georgia Tech

12%

Texas

11%

North Carolina

6%

Georgia

6%

Mississippi St.

5%

Arkansas

4%

Auburn

4%

LSU

3%

Tennessee

2%

Predict

The post LSU baseball coach Jay Johnson admits roster construction mistakes after latest loss appeared first on Saturday Down South.

According to On3’s Brett McMurphy, the Poinsettia Bowl is making a comeback. Last played in 2016, its return — and the addition of a bowl game in Puerto Rico — negate the loss of the Detroit Bowl and LA Bowl.

The Poinsettia Bowl is played in San Diego, CA. It was originally created in 1952 as an armed forces championship game, but lasted just 4 seasons. Miraculously, it was revived in 2005 (after a 49-year layoff) as a game between a Mountain West team and at-large foe.

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The biggest matchup in Poinsettia Bowl history featured No. 11 TCU and No. 9 Boise State in 2008. Andy Dalton’s Horned Frogs prevailed 17-16 over Kellen Moore’s Broncos in the affair. According to McMurphy, the Poinsettia Bowl could feature the champions of the Mountain West and newly re-formed Pac-12.

The last Poinsettia Bowl pitted BYU against Wyoming. The Cougars defeated the Cowboys, 24-21, behind Jamaal Williams’ 210 rushing yards. Wyoming QB Josh Allen threw for 207 yards, 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions in the loss.

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Texas

24%

Georgia

23%

LSU

15%

Texas A&M

12%

Alabama

11%

Florida

11%

Missouri

10%

Oklahoma

10%

Arkansas

6%

Vanderbilt

3%

Predict

The post Former college football bowl game to return to lineup in 2026, per report appeared first on Saturday Down South.

According to the man himself, Tennessee forward JP Estrella is entering the transfer portal. The rising senior, who spent his first 3 seasons with the Vols, posted a career-best 10.0 points and 5.4 rebounds per game in 2025-26.

Estrella, a native of South Portland, ME, began his collegiate career in 2023-24. He made 25 appearances for Rick Barnes that year, but saw only 5 minutes per game and averaged just 1.6 points per contest.

He was taking on a bigger role as a sophomore, averaging 10.6 minutes per night before a foot injury derailed things just 3 games into the season. He was finally able to demonstrate pieces of what made him a heralded prospect this year after getting healthy.

Estrella was the No. 61 recruit in 247Sports’ Composite rankings of the 2023 class. His former high school teammate, Alabama’s Taylor Bol Bowen, also announced he’d be entering the transfer portal on Monday. It will be interesting to see if they decide to join forces again for the 2026-27 campaign. The transfer portal officially opens on Tuesday.

The post Tennessee’s JP Estrella announces plans for 2026-27 season appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Reese, the No. 7 pick of the 2024 WNBA Draft, has now joined forces with Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray and Britney Griner in A-Town.

The Dream posted the Eastern Conference’s best record (30-14) in 2025. Their 30 wins are 7 more than Reese notched in her 2 seasons with Chicago combined (23). While Reese is surely grateful for her Sky tenure, she appears to have no qualms about moving to the ATL.

In 2024, Atlanta won just 15 games and fired head coach Tanisha Wright. The Dream immediately doubled their win total under first-year head coach Karl Smesko, but were upset by the No. 6 seed Indiana Fever — who did not have superstar Caitlin Clark due to injury — at the same playoff stage. Their desire to win now led them to ship two first-round picks to the Sky for Reese.

Reese, a two-time All-Star, has averaged a double-double and led the league in rebounding in both of her WNBA seasons. The 2-time All-Star raised her shooting percentage by nearly 7 points (39.1% to 45.8%) last year. She also posted nearly twice as many assists per game (3.7) as the year prior (1.9). If she can provide the all-around game she demonstrated in 2025 alongside Howard and Gray, Atlanta will have a real shot at winning its first championship in 2026.

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The post Angel Reese reacts to trade from Chicago Sky to Atlanta Dream appeared first on Saturday Down South.

They felt their difficult schedule — which included non-conference games versus Michigan, Arizona, St. John’s and Purdue — should have compensated for the underwhelming mark.

When they didn’t win their case with the NCAA Tournament committee, the Tigers didn’t hang their heads. Instead, they went out on a mission to prove that they belonged. They accomplished their task on Sunday, defeating Tulsa 92-86 (OT) to win the NIT. Afterward, head coach Steven Pearl spoke on the NIT title serving as a springboard for the 2026-27 campaign.

“You’ve got to use it as positive momentum going into the offseason,” Pearl said. “I feel like the guys that we want to have return are obviously in a better place mentally. You know, seeing what it’s capable of looking like.”

Auburn, by necessity, played a lot of small ball this season, routinely using Filip Jovic and Sebastian Williams-Adams (both 6-foot-8) as centers. Pearl believes getting them back to their respective positions — something he can do following the addition of Narcisse Ngoy — will enable the Tigers to be more successful next year. But he also knows he needs to add more talent to truly raise their ceiling.

“Being able to find pieces that can encourage the rest of these guys to come back and continue to finish the job, I think is important,” he said.

Nebraska ripped off 20 consecutive wins to start the 2025-26 season after winning the College Basketball Crown last year. If Auburn can replicate the Cornhuskers’ feat, they’d feel all their claims this year were justified and have the last laugh after missing this year’s Big Dance.

The post Steven Pearl reacts to Auburn’s NIT championship, talks ‘momentum’ entering next season appeared first on Saturday Down South.

According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, neither UCONN’s Solo Ball nor Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg are listed on the injury report for Monday night’s contest. Two Wolverines — guard L.J. Cason, who tore his ACL at the end of February, and forward Winters Grady, a freshman who’s taking a medical redshirt (foot) and last played on Jan. 2 — are out for the game. Meanwhile, the Huskies will have their full complement of players.

Ball, who did not practice on Sunday, according to head coach Dan Hurley, has averaged 11.7 points per game from the Sweet Sixteen through Final Four. Lendeborg, a first-team All-American and the Big Ten Player of the Year, hurt his ankle in the Final Four. He played only 14 minutes versus Arizona, but scored 11 points and went 3-for-3 from three-point range.

Here are the current odds for this game on Kalshi:

Connecticut and Michigan tip off today at 8:50 p.m. E.T. (TBS/TNT/TruTV).

The post Michigan, UConn issue injury updates on key players ahead of national title game appeared first on Saturday Down South.

The 6-foot-10, 195-lb. forward had just connected no 41.4% of his three-pointers for the Seminoles, and expected to carry over that success with the Crimson Tide. Unfortunately, things don’t always go as planned.

According to On3’s Joe Tipton, Bol Bowen is entering the transfer portal for the second consecutive year. The rising senior played fewer minutes per game (19.0) as a junior at Alabama than he did as a sophomore with Florida State (25.0). A big reason why? His three-point percentage (30.2%) was 11.2% worse for the Crimson Tide than it was for the Seminoles in 2024-25.

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Bol Bowen was the No. 73 recruit in 247Sports’ Composite rankings of the 2023 class. The Jericho, VT native chose Florida State over a host of SEC schools, including LSU, Georgia and Arkansas when in high school. He also received offers from Duke, Kansas and Houston throughout his initial recruiting process.

Alabama (25-10, 13-5 SEC) reached the Sweet Sixteen for the 5th time in 6 seasons under Oats this year. The Crimson Tide’s season felt like a whirlwind due to the ongoing eligibility discussion around Charles Bediako and off-court developments for Aden Holloway. Perhaps a deeper NCAA Tournament run will be on the horizon in 2026-27 once the program’s seas calm down.

The NCAA transfer portal will officially open on Tuesday.

The post Alabama’s Taylor Bol Bowen reportedly makes decision on plans for 2026-27 season appeared first on Saturday Down South.

According to Dan Hurley, Solo Ball is not practicing due to “some kind of foot sprain.” ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported the news shortly before 12:00 p.m. E.T. on Sunday.

Ball, a junior guard, is UConn third-leading scorer (12.9 PPG). He connected on just 14.3% (3/21) of his three-point shots through 4 NCAA Tournament games, but went 3-of-7 from behind the arc in the Huskies’ 71-62 victory over Illinois on Saturday. His 13 points trailed only Tarris Reed Jr. (17) and Braylon Mullins (15).

Hurley has primarily used a 7-man rotation throughout this tournament, but had only 6 players on the floor for more than 10 minutes against the Fighting Illini. If Ball were to miss the game, Dayton transfer Malachi Smith would be counted on to fill Ball’s shoes. UConn and Michigan tip off at 8:50 p.m. E.T. on Monday night (TBS/TNT/TruTV).

UConn or Michigan? Predict the national champion at Kalshi!

The post UConn guard missing practice ahead of national title game due to injury, per Dan Hurley appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Roughly one month later, we see how predicting these things truly is a fool’s errand. Dan Hurley’s team feels unkillable ahead of a national championship matchup with Michigan, and Geno Auriemma is in hot water after a Final Four loss to South Carolina. The 12-time NCAAW Tournament winner had a notable confrontation with Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley at the conclusion of their matchup, stemming from a supposed pregame handshake snub.

Hurley, of course, is no stranger to making waves on the sideline. Following his Huskies’ Final Four triumph over Illinois, he spoke on the Auriemma drama. He told reporters that his colleague should be “given the benefit of the doubt.”

Hurley surely understands why he was asked about Auriemma’s situation, but with so much on the line, he’s likely not focused on it at all. If UConn can topple Michigan on Monday night, he’ll become the seventh coach in NCAAM history to win 3 championships. The Huskies and Wolverines tip off at 8:50 p.m. ET (TBS/TNT/TruTV).

UConn or Michigan? Predict the college basketball national champion at Kalshi!

The post Dan Hurley says Geno Auriemma deserves benefit of the doubt after Dawn Staley incident appeared first on Saturday Down South.

According to Sam Keyser of League Ready, guard Josh Holloway will be entering the transfer portal. The former Bulldog, who has played all 3 of his collegiate seasons for Bucky McMillan, averaged 4.6 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 13.4 minutes per game in his lone year at Texas A&M.

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Holloway averaged 6.0 points, 2.4 assists and 2.0 rebounds per game in 68 appearances (11 starts) under McMillan at Samford. His presence in College Station gave other Aggies someone with experience playing McMillan’s unique namesake scheme (“Bucky Ball”). He helped instill his head coach’s culture and set a foundation for sustained success following the departure of Buzz Williams. Now, he’s hoping to find more playing time in his final season of eligibility.

Samford and Texas A&M are the only schools Holloway has ever known. His 40% shooting from three-point range should appeal to schools at the high and mid-major levels.

The post Texas A&M guard to return to transfer portal after 1 season with Aggies appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Friday afternoon, NFL Network was interviewing Miller for their evening episode of The Insiders. During the taping, Ian Rapoport received news that former No. 1 pick Travon Walker, a Georgia alum, had signed a 4-year, $110 million extension with the Jacksonville Jaguars. When Rapoport gave Miller the news, the 2026 NFL Draft prospect couldn’t contain the excitement for his friend and mentor.

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“How much?! A hundred [million]?! Whooo, hoo hoo,” an ecstatic Miller reacted. “That’s what I call four pockets full… he’s four pockets full right now… that’s a blessing.”

After the initial wave, Miller dove into Walker’s path to prominence at Georgia. He recapped how Walker built himself from a rotational piece to foundational defender in college, and how he has translated his game to the professional ranks.

“People don’t understand his story… the first year, he didn’t start at Georgia. Second year, was in the rotation… the third year, he hit the ground running,” Miller said. “From there, he ain’t stopped since. He has been a double-digit sack guy in the league… that’s what I look up to… just hearing that, that just makes me want to go harder. Shoutout Travon… congrats to you, brother.”

Miller won’t go No. 1 overall, but a handful of mock drafts have projected him to be selected late in the first round. ESPN ranks Miller as the No. 49 overall prospect (No. 4 DT) in this year’s draft. The 2026 NFL Draft begins on Apr. 23.

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Los Angeles R

80%

Baltimore

75%

Detroit

73%

Kansas City

70%

Los Angeles C

68%

Seattle

67%

Green Bay

62%

San Francisco

62%

Chicago

56%

Dallas

54%

Predict

The post Christen Miller has awesome reaction to Travon Walker extension news appeared first on Saturday Down South.

“We would like to thank Coach ABE for her leadership and wish her well moving forward,” Josh Brooks, Georgia’s athletic director, said in a statement. “We are committed to building on the proud tradition of Lady Bulldog basketball and will continue to support our program with the necessary resources for future success… our search for a new head coach will focus on someone who will carry on this legacy and connect with our student-athletes, alumni and supporters in an impactful way.”

Abrahamson-Henderson, who coached at UCF (2016-22) before heading to Athens, went 69-59 as the Lady Bulldogs’ head coach. She took Georgia to 2 NCAA Tournaments (2023 & 2026). The Lady Bulldogs fell to No. 10 seed Virginia 82-73 in the first round of this year’s tournament. After beating Georgia, the Cavaliers toppled No. 2 seed Iowa 83-75 (2 OT) to become the first ‘First Four’ women’s team to reach the Sweet Sixteen.

Prior to UCF and Georgia, Abrahamson-Henderson coached at Missouri State (2002-07) and Albany (2010-16). Her all-time record is 441-216. She has made the NCAA Tournament in 13 of her 21 seasons as a D1 college head coach.

The post Georgia announces dismissal of Lady Bulldogs basketball coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Vic Schaefer’s squad shot a paltry 31% from the floor versus fellow No. 1 seed UCLA. This poor shooting display allowed the Bruins, who committed a whopping 23 turnovers, to beat the Longhorns 51-44 and advance to the national championship game against South Carolina.

Madison Booker, Texas’ leading scorer, finished the game with a season-low 6 points (3-of-23 shooting). Friday’s Final Four contest marked just the third time in 2025-26 that she scored less than 10 points. Overall, the Longhorns went 20-of-65 from the field, 2-for-9 from 3-point range, and 2-of-5 from the free throw line.

Kyla Oldacre (11 points) was the only Texas player in double figures. UCLA had four different players crack double-digits. Bruins center Lauren Betts, the Big Ten Player of the Year and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, was the best player on the court, posting 16 points (7-of-10 shooting), 11 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks.

The Longhorns’ loss represented their second straight defeat in the Final Four. The Bruins will battle Dawn Staley’s Gamecocks for the national championship on Sunday (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC).

The post Shooting struggles doom Texas in Final Four loss to UCLA appeared first on Saturday Down South.

According to Jacob Polacheck of Kentucky Sports Radio, the Wildcats are targeting former Butler guard Finley Bizjack in the transfer portal. The rising senior posted 17.1 points per game and earned All-Big East Third Team honors for the Bulldogs in 2026-26.

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Bizjack was the No. 14 combo guard in 247Sports’ Composite rankings of the 2023 recruiting class. He gradually earned bigger roles for head coach Thad Matta over his 3 years with Butler, raising his minutes and scoring averages significantly year-over-year:

• 2023-24: 14.9 MPG, 4.2 PPG
• 2024-25: 27.6 MPG, 10.3 PPG
• 2025-26: 34.0 MPG, 17.1 PPG

Bizjack, unlike many players these days, has shown some school loyalty. Had Matta not retired 2 weeks ago, it’s possible he’d have remained a Bulldog for his entire collegiate career. He will be a leader both on and off the floor for Kentucky if Mark Pope can bring him to Lexington.

Kentucky is expected to see many players hit the transfer portal. Jaland Lowe, one of their prized finds from last year’s cycle, has already done so. Getting out ahead of a potential mass exodus by landing a player of Bizjack’s caliber would give Pope some leeway with a fanbase that has its doubts about his ability to win a national championship.

The post Kentucky to reportedly target Butler guard in transfer portal appeared first on Saturday Down South.

According to On3’s Joe Tipton and The Field of 68, Jeremiah Wilkinson is entering the transfer portal. The Bulldogs’ sophomore guard averaged a team-high 17.4 points per game last season.

Wilkinson, who hails from Powder Springs, GA, began his collegiate career at Cal. He posted 15.1 points per game with the Golden Bears in 2024-25 before returning home to Georgia an offseason ago. His departure will make things tougher on White, who has come under fire for the Bulldogs’ poor postseason showings. Georgia has never made 3 consecutive NCAA Tournaments, so another trip to the Big Dance in 2026-27 would be a major accomplishment. However, no fanbase wants to get trounced the way the Dawgs have been the past 2 years.

As a recruit, 247Sports’ Composite rankings listed Wilkinson as the No. 34 combo guard in the 2023 class. He had offers from a host of colleges, and was once committed to Mississippi State, but wound up heading to Berkeley instead. Both Ole Miss and Florida gave an offer to Wilkinson when he was in high school.

The post Georgia losing leading scorer to transfer portal, per report appeared first on Saturday Down South.

On Saturday’s national broadcast of the Yankees-Giants game, FOX’s Ken Rosenthal asked Vitello what adjustments he has made in his new role. Vitello joked that he could no longer “talk down” to players before describing how much vaster an MLB manager’s duties are than that of a college head coach.

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“I can’t talk down to guys anymore. They’re my age, or it feels like they’re close to it,” Vitello said with a smile. “But in all honesty… there’s just so many more people involved. There’s more people in the stands… in the clubhouse… it truly is a manager position, not just a head coach position.”

Vitello’s transition will be a long process, but it’s safe to say he and the Giants hoped for better results in their opening series. San Francisco scored just 1 total run in the series versus New York, and is 0-3 ahead of a three-game set in San Diego against the Padres. First pitch for tonight’s matchup, featuring Landen Roupp and Walker Buehler, is 9:40 p.m. ET.

Vitello had the Vols on top in 2024. Who’s winning the College World Series this year? Predict it at Kalshi!

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UCLA

14%

Georgia Tech

12%

Texas

11%

North Carolina

6%

Georgia

6%

Mississippi St.

5%

Arkansas

4%

Auburn

4%

LSU

3%

Tennessee

2%

Predict

The post Tony Vitello jokes ‘I can’t talk down to guys anymore’ as MLB manager appeared first on Saturday Down South.

They opened the season as the No. 2 team in the country, but were unranked for last weekend’s series versus Kentucky. Despite this, they defeated the Wildcats in the series, which culminated in a 17-10 route that was kickstarted by a massive home run from Seth Dardar.

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Dardar’s home run distance was rivaled by that of his bat, which he flipped to the moon in celebration of giving the Tigers an 11-10 lead. Umpired discussed ejecting Dardar for the toss, but wound up keeping him in the game. Kentucky was not pleased with that decision. Moments later, a member of the Wildcats’ staff got into a verbal altercation with LSU head coach Jay Johnson. The Tigers’ manager spoke on the confrontation after the game.

“[The umps] gave [Dardar] a warning… I thought they were going to kick him out of the game… so I just motioned to the dugout and said, ‘Seth, flip it lower,'” Johnson explained to reporters. “That was my instruction… then the [Kentucky] pitching coach wants to fight me… just another weekend in the SEC.”

LSU (19-10, 4-5 SEC) scored 10 unanswered runs to snag their first SEC series win of the year. Kentucky (21-6, 5-4 SEC) has now lost back-to-back series in conference play. The Tigers face the Tennessee Volunteers in Knoxville next weekend. Meanwhile, the Wildcats will host the Missouri Tigers.

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UCLA

14%

Georgia Tech

12%

Texas

11%

North Carolina

6%

Georgia

6%

Mississippi St.

5%

Arkansas

4%

Auburn

4%

LSU

3%

Tennessee

2%

Predict

The post LSU coach Jay Johnson recounts heated exchange after Seth Dardar’s bat flip against Kentucky appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Things changed entirely, though, in the second half, as the Huskies mounted an incredible comeback and stole a Final Four berth at the buzzer.

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Braylon Mullins’ long trey came with Duke’s Isaiah Evans as the nearest defender. When the dust had somewhat settled on the stunning finish, social media realized that Evans’ actions in that moment were tremendously ironic. Why? Because his Instagram handle, “getuhhandup,” is what he failed to do as Mullins pulled his shot.

College basketball fans don’t need much reason to chide the Blue Devils when the opportunity arises. This, on top of the ignition of Mullins’ make, only added fuel to the fire.

While plenty of users had fun at Evans’ expense, a handful came to his defense, suggesting he was too far away from Mullins for a hand in the air to make a positive impact. Others blasted SportsCenter/ESPN for the jab.

Evans’ defense isn’t the main reason Duke blew its 19-point lead, but when it rains, it pours. The Blue Devils have been college basketball’s most despised team for 40 years, and that likely will never change. But Evans’ Instagram handle might.

The post Social media laughs at Isaiah Evans’ Instagram handle in wake of Duke’s improbable loss appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Tomas Valincius tossed 5.0 innings of 3-hit, 0-run ball as the Bulldogs beat the Rebels 6-1 to clinch this weekend’s series. Valincius struck out 9 hitters and walked only 2, improving his ERA to a miniscule 0.91 and personal record to 6-0.

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Offensively, Mississippi State belted 3 home runs. Catcher Kevin Milewski took Ole Miss starter Hudson Calhoun deep in the third inning to stake the Bulldogs to a 1-0 lead. In the sixth inning, Jacob Parker and Gehrig Frei went back-to-back to give Mississippi State a 6-0 edge. That advantage proved to be more than enough, due to Valincius and the Bulldogs’ bullpen combining to strike out 14 batters.

Mississippi State (23-4, 6-2 SEC) has won 7 straight games since dropping a series at then-No. 5 Arkansas. The Rebels, meanwhile, have lost 3 consecutive contests after last weekend’s series win over previously No. 15 Kentucky. Ole Miss (19-9, 3-5 SEC) entered the D1 Baseball top 25 because of their victories over the Wildcats.

The Bulldogs and Rebels round out their series this afternoon at 4:00 p.m. E.T. (SEC Network).

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UCLA

14%

Georgia Tech

12%

Texas

11%

North Carolina

6%

Georgia

6%

Mississippi St.

5%

Arkansas

4%

Auburn

4%

LSU

3%

Tennessee

2%

Predict

The post Mississippi State dominates Ole Miss 6-1 to secure series win appeared first on Saturday Down South.

According to The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman, offensive tackle Neff Giwa has committed to South Carolina. Giwa, a 3-star prospect out of Ireland, is tied for No. 191 in 247Sports’ Composite rankings of offensive tackles in the 2026 class.

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Giwa, who has never played American football, became the apple of many schools’ eye when a 3-second clip of him in a pass protecting rep went viral. Feldman wrote an article on Giwa last week, detailing his journey and eventual interest in the sport.

According to Feldman, Giwa stands 6-foot-7, 295 lbs. The Nigerian emigrant has played track and field, rugby, soccer and basketball. He is obviously as raw as they come when it comes to playing American football, but his athleticism and size have coaches tantalized at what he could become on the gridiron. South Carolina beat out Miami, North Carolina, Tennessee, SMU and James Madison to land him.

Feldman credits the track record of Gamecocks offensive line coach Randy Clements for Giwa’s decision. At previous coaching stops, Clements developed international prospects Sebastian Vollmer and Danny Watkins into early-round draft picks. Giwa’s path toward the draft is just beginning, but with any luck, he’ll follow in their footsteps.

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College Football SEC Championship Winner (2026)

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Kalshi

Texas

24%

Georgia

23%

LSU

15%

Texas A&M

12%

Alabama

11%

Florida

11%

Missouri

10%

Oklahoma

10%

Arkansas

6%

Vanderbilt

3%

Predict

The post South Carolina lands commitment from Irish rugby player, projected college OT appeared first on Saturday Down South.

The Gators, with a complete team effort, topped the fourth-ranked Razorbacks 7-4 on Saturday. Florida’s pitching staff allowed only 6 hits and walked just 3 batters in the game. Meanwhile, the Gators’ lineup pounded out 10 hits and drew 8 walks. This constant action on the basepaths forced Arkansas to use 7 different pitchers to try and stop the bleeding.

Jackson Barberi threw 3.1 innings of relief — in which he allowed no hits or walks and struck out 7 — to earn the win. His stellar showing, along with four Florida hitters — Kyle Jones, Brendan Lawson, Karson Bowen and Cade Kurland — reaching base 3 times apiece, clinched the series for the visiting squad.

The Gators have won 3 straight games, all against top 10 foes (they beat No. 10 Florida State 5-0 on Tuesday). Their performance on Saturday, where they made the Razorbacks call the bullpen so frequently, should help them potentially complete the sweep on Sunday. First pitch between Florida and Arkansas in the series finale is 1:00 p.m. E.T. (SEC Network).

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College Baseball D1 Champion?

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Kalshi

UCLA

14%

Georgia Tech

12%

Texas

11%

North Carolina

6%

Georgia

6%

Mississippi St.

5%

Arkansas

4%

Auburn

4%

LSU

3%

Tennessee

2%

Predict

The post Florida baseball stuns No. 4 Arkansas again, secures weekend series appeared first on Saturday Down South.

According to Kalshi, there’s a 73% chance this year’s NCAA Tournament winner will be a No. 1 seed. Arizona (25%), Michigan (25%) and Duke (23%) have been the favorites all season long, and remain as such with the Elite Eight on tap. The only other team with a greater than 10% chance of hoisting the trophy is Illinois (13%).

Each of those four squads are the respective favorite in their Elite Eight matchup. Of the remaining underdogs, UCONN (6%) and Purdue (6%) have the best odds of winning the championship. Both the Huskies (No. 4) and Boilermakers (No. 1) were top-five teams in the preseason AP poll. Their campaigns have been a bit up-and-down, but they both reside just 1 win away from the Final Four.

Unsurprisingly, the two lowest remaining seeds in the bracket have the smallest chances of becoming champions. Both No. 6 seed Tennessee and No. 9 seed Iowa have only 2% odds of being the last team standing. The Hawkeyes, under head coach Ben McCollum, don’t have to play a No. 1 seed to make the Final Four, but are easily the lowest-rated team in KenPom (22nd) left in the bracket. The Volunteers (No. 11 in KenPom) may have to defeat three No. 1 seeds to win the championship.

Here is the TV schedule for the Elite Eight:

• Iowa vs. Illinois: 6:09 p.m. E.T., TBS/TruTV
• Purdue vs. Arizona: 8:49 p.m. E.T., TBS/TruTV
• Tennessee vs. Michigan: 2:15 p.m. E.T., CBS
• UCONN vs. Duke: 5:05 p.m. E.T., CBS

The post An updated look at each Elite 8 team’s odds to win the National Championship appeared first on Saturday Down South.

According to Field of 68’s Jeff Goodman, Lowe is entering the transfer portal for the second consecutive offseason. The 21-year-old rising senior averaged 8.0 points, 2.4 assists and 2.1 rebounds per game in 9 appearances for Kentucky.

The Wildcats’ point guard spot has been hampered with injuries in both of Mark Pope’s seasons. Last year, Lamont Butler — like Lowe this campaign — dealt with a shoulder ailment. Kentucky could effectively run its offense through forward Amari Williams with Butler out of the lineup in 2024-25. This season, the Wildcats had no “point-forward” type of player to pivot toward.

Kentucky will remain a transfer-heavy bunch in 2026-27. but the Wildcats did land guard Mason Williams on Friday afternoon and are still in the running for top high school recruit Tyran Stokes. Big Blue Nation desperately wants to see Pope land the plane with Stokes. Regardless, they’re going to need to see more victories and a deeper run in next year’s NCAA Tournament for them to believe Pope can bring them another national championship during his tenure.

The post Injured Kentucky guard plans to enter transfer portal, per report appeared first on Saturday Down South.

The Bulldogs and Rebels traded blows throughout the back half of their contest. When the dust settled, though, it was Mississippi State on top, thanks to 2 runs in the top of the ninth. Jacob Parker’s RBI groundout knotted things 4-4. Then, with a runner on third, pinch hitter Chone James came to the plate and swatted the ball the opposite way. Ole Miss right fielder Tristan Bissetta slipped while trying to catch it, resulting in an RBI triple.

Tyler Pitzer, who pitched the 8th inning for Mississippi State, stayed in the game and retired the side in the bottom of the ninth to secure the victory.

The Bulldogs, ranked No. 6 in the country, have now won 6 straight games. The Rebels, ranked No. 18, have lost back-to-back contests. Ole Miss will try to even the series versus Mississippi State on Saturday (2:30 p.m. E.T., ESPN+). The two schools cap the series on Sunday (4:00 p.m. E.T., SEC Network) and play a fourth time on Apr. 28 (7:00 p.m. E.T.)

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Kalshi

UCLA

14%

Georgia Tech

12%

Texas

11%

North Carolina

6%

Georgia

6%

Mississippi St.

5%

Arkansas

4%

Auburn

4%

LSU

3%

Tennessee

2%

Predict

The post Chone James’ triple lifts Mississippi State over Ole Miss in series opener appeared first on Saturday Down South.

As the Stallions were headed back to the locker room for halftime, Kings fans booed them. Birmingham wide receiver Justyn Ross, a former Clemson Tiger and Kansas City Chief, took exception to what he heard. After some jawing, he grabbed a drink and slung its contents into the crowd. Moments later, a fan returned the favor. Ross was not happy, and needed to be held back by teammates following the retaliatory action.

Ross wound up having the last laugh. He only made 2 catches for 30 yards in the game, but his last grab was a game-winning 14-yard touchdown. The pass came from former Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral, who threw for 208 yards and that score.

On the other side, Jason Bean — a former Kansas signal-caller — racked up 253 total yards, 1 touchdown pass and 2 interceptions. Kentucky legend Benny Snell, suiting up for Louisville, had 5 carries for 12 yards.

The Stallions take on the Houston Gamblers in Week 2 (Apr. 5, 6:00 p.m. E.T., NFL Network). Meanwhile, the Kings hit the road for the first time to play Orlando (Apr. 4, 8:00 p.m. E.T., ESPN).

March Madness is getting good! Try out our latest BetMGM Bonus Code SDS1550 to collect a First Bet Bonus worth up to $1500.

The post UFL player splashes fans with drink, has to be held back by teammates appeared first on Saturday Down South.

On Tuesday, Sumrall provided some updates on the Gators’ practices. When asked about the quarterback competition, he declined to declare any one man had the early edge.

“Do we know who the starter is today? No. No clue,” Sumrall said, according to Florida reporter Scott Carter. “I like the room and how they are competing with each other. They are challenging each other.”

Sumrall spoke on multiple offensive players beyond the QB position. According to Carter, Sumrall is “very impressed” with running back Jaden Baugh’s coachability. He also has seen wide receiver Micah Mays “flash” in the sessions. On the injury front, wide receiver Dallas Wilson is out of his boot, and defensive lineman Joseph Mbatchou returned to the field.

Sumrall knows how rabid his new fanbase can be. So, while it could take time to build the program into a championship contender, he doesn’t want to waste time proving he’s the right man for the job. Florida opens its season versus Florida Atlantic on Sept. 5.

Prediction Markets

College Football SEC Championship Winner (2026)

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Kalshi

Texas

24%

Georgia

23%

LSU

15%

Texas A&M

12%

Alabama

11%

Florida

11%

Missouri

10%

Oklahoma

10%

Arkansas

6%

Vanderbilt

3%

Predict

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The post Jon Sumrall provides brief update on QB battle, spring practice appeared first on Saturday Down South.

On the latest episode of the Mac & Murray CFB Show, former ESPN analyst and Georgia player David Pollack expressed belief that the Bulldogs have “no chance” of winning a championship unless Stockton improves. However, the focus for Pollack seems to reside in the mental aspects of the position more than the physical ones.

“If Gunner Stockton’s the same quarterback he was a year ago, Georgia has no chance to win a [national title]. They have no chance,” Pollack said. “I saw him grow. I saw him put more touch on the football… it’s more personality driven with Gunner Stockton than anything. He’s a kid that doesn’t want to mess up… wants to be perfect. Those are hard things, man.”

Prediction Markets

Predicting AP No. 1 team (Week 1)

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Kalshi

Texas

38%

Ohio St.

37%

Notre Dame

16%

Oregon

10%

Indiana

9%

Georgia

3%

Predict

Perhaps Pollack’s analysis can be compared to a coach playing not to lose instead of playing to win. When someone is trying to be perfect as a quarterback, they’re not going to regularly take shots downfield. That forces you to sustain long drives to score points, which shrinks your margin for error. Georgia’s closer-than-expected games against Auburn and Florida are great examples of this.

Stockton’s performance against Tennessee — his only 300-yard passing game — shows he’s capable of letting it rip when the moment calls for it. If he can find a happy middle between full-on gunslinger and his current conservative nature, the Bulldogs will have a great chance at reclaiming their throne.

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The post Georgia has ‘no chance’ to win championship if Gunner Stockton doesn’t improve, says David Pollack appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Unfortunately, the latter program has already seen a major injury occur.

According to Volquest.com, Tennessee defensive tackle Daevin Hobbs will miss the remainder of the Volunteers’ spring practice. Hobbs reportedly suffered a foot injury.

Hobbs, a former 4-star prospect, was the No. 57 recruit in the 2023 class, according to 247Sports’ Composite rankings. He was the No. 7 defensive lineman and No. 2 player in North Carolina by the same metric.

As a freshman, Hobbs recorded 14 tackles and 1 tackle for loss in 10 games. The next year, he notched 20 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and his first career sack. After missing the Vols’ first 5 contests with injuries, Hobbs totaled 30 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 3 sacks in 8 appearances.

Tennessee had high hopes for Hobbs last season, and still has big dreams for him. He could have had a full-fledged breakout in 2025 had he not gotten hurt. If this ailment doesn’t linger through the summer, he could realize all his potential and make waves in 2026. The Volunteers kick off their season against Furman on Sept. 5.

Tennessee basketball is set to face off against Iowa State for a shot at the Elite 8. Here’s a look at the latest odds for the game, via Kalshi:

The post Tennessee defensive lineman to miss remainder of spring practice with foot injury, per report appeared first on Saturday Down South.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Acuff has received a signature shoe from Reebok. The deal makes Acuff the first NCAA men’s athlete to receive a signature shoe deal from a major U.S. brand while still in college.

Check out our latest BetMGM Bonus Code SOUTH1550 to claim up to $1500 paid back in bonus bets ahead of the Sweet 16 and Elite 8.

Acuff, the 2025-26 SEC Player of the Year, has been exceptional all season. However, in the past month-plus, he has taken his game to another level. The Detroit native has averaged 28.5 points, 7.1 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game since the calendar turned to February (13 games). He has scored 30 points or more 5 times and hit countless big-time shots in crunch time. during this tear.

When High Point tied Arkansas 83-83 with 3:19 remaining in regulation on Saturday in the NCAA Tournament, Acuff reeled off a 7-0 run to pull the Razorbacks to the Sweet Sixteen. He’ll try to will the Hogs to the Elite Eight when they face No. 1 seed Arizona on Thursday (appx. 9:45 p.m. E.T., CBS).

Here’s a look at the latest odds for Wildcats vs. Razorbacks:

The post Darius Acuff Jr. makes college basketball history with shoe deal appeared first on Saturday Down South.

According to On3’s Hayes Fawcett, 4 SEC teams are in the running to land 2027 interior offensive lineman Terrance Smith. The Philadelphia native recently included LSU, Florida, Auburn and Tennessee in his top 5 schools.

Smith, a 4-star prospect who stands 6-foot-6, is the No. 266 overall player in 247 Sports’ Composite rankings. He is the No. 14 interior offensive lineman and the No. 9 player from Pennsylvania. The lone team not from the SEC in his top 5 schools is Rutgers, which is located roughly 80 miles from his hometown.

LSU, Florida and Auburn all brought in new head coaches this offseason. Lane Kiffin, Jon Sumrall and Alex Golesh all want to implement a culture and foundation for success as soon as possible. Smith’s massive presence on their offensive line would presumably have a positive impact on those aspirations. Meanwhile, Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel, entering year 6, is focused on reloading an offense that will be without quarterback Joey Aguilar.

Who will win the SEC next season? Here’s a look at the latest odds, via Kalshi:

Prediction Markets

College Football SEC Championship Winner (2026)

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Kalshi

Texas

24%

Georgia

23%

LSU

15%

Texas A&M

12%

Alabama

11%

Florida

11%

Missouri

10%

Oklahoma

10%

Arkansas

6%

Vanderbilt

3%

Predict

The post Several SEC programs listed among 5 favorites for standout 2027 IOL prospect appeared first on Saturday Down South.

The Hawkeyes avoided a foul in the backcourt, then hit a corner three-pointer to take a 73-72 lead. This left the Gators just 4.5 seconds to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Unfortunately, they failed to get a shot up, sealing their fate.

Golden spoke on Florida’s final sequence after the game. He was asked about Xaivian Lee’s decision to pass the ball on his drive with so little time remaining. Golden admitted he’d have liked to see Lee shoot the ball instead.

“I would have preferred him to obviously get to the rim on that,” Golden said. “I thought he had a good advantage on the guy that was defending him. His defender was not in legal guarding position, so I feel like… we would have either scored it or got fouled.”

Hindsight is 20/20, of course. So, while Golden feels one way, he’s not blaming Lee for the choice.

“[It’s] a split-second decision. He’s out on the floor. And he obviously played a really good game for us tonight,” Golden continued. “We’ve got to live with the results on that, but I thought he did a good job getting around his guy. I would have loved to have seen him go finish it.”

Lee scored 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting against Iowa. The Hawkeyes’ win sends them to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 1999. They’ll face their Big Ten rival, the No. 4 seed Nebraska Cornhuskers, on Thursday (7:30 p.m. ET, TBS/TruTV).

With Florida out, a new college basketball champion will be crowned! Make a prediction on Kalshi!

The post Todd Golden shares assessment of Florida’s failed final possession appeared first on Saturday Down South.

As we near the end of March, D1Baseball has released its latest top 25 rankings. The publication has 10 SEC squads in its top 25 this week, 4 more than the next closest conference (ACC). SEC teams also hold 6 of the top 10 spots:

• 1. UCLA
• 2. Texas
• 3. Georgia Tech
• 4. Arkansas
• 5. Auburn
• 6. Mississippi State
• 7. Georgia
• 8. Oklahoma
• 9. Virginia
• 10. Florida State
• 11. Southern Miss
• 12. USC
• 13. North Carolina
• 14. NC State
• 15. Coastal Carolina
• 16. Oregon State
• 17. West Virginia
• 18. Ole Miss
• 19. Kentucky
• 20. Oregon
• 21. Tennessee
• 22. Arizona State
• 23. Notre Dame
• 24. Nebraska
• 25. Texas A&M

The Longhorns shockingly lost at home 6-1 to Tarleton State on Tuesday, but rebounded by winning a series over Auburn on the road. That accomplishment allowed them to remain just behind UCLA for the top spot. The Tigers, by virtue of their 4-3 series-opening win, weren’t punished for dropping the next 2 games to the Longhorns.

Ole Miss is the only new SEC entrant to this week’s rankings. The Rebels handed Texas its first loss earlier this month, then beat then-No. 15 Kentucky in a series over the weekend. Their success vaulted them above the Wildcats in the top 25.

Florida fell out of this week’s top 25 after being swept at Alabama. The Gators have an opportunity to fly back up the rankings this week with a Tuesday game against No. 10 Florida State and a weekend series at No. 4 Arkansas.

Will one of these top teams win it all in Omaha? Kalshi is taking predictions on this year’s national champion!

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College Baseball D1 Champion?

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Kalshi

UCLA

14%

Georgia Tech

12%

Texas

11%

North Carolina

6%

Georgia

6%

Mississippi St.

5%

Arkansas

4%

Auburn

4%

LSU

3%

Tennessee

2%

Predict

The post D1Baseball Top 25: 10 SEC teams ranked after Week 6 as Ole Miss replaces Florida appeared first on Saturday Down South.

On Sunday afternoon, Miami Hurricanes forward Malik Reneau was spotted at the concession stand following his team’s loss to Purdue. The 6-foot-9, 238 lb. senior was seen in line for some pizza.

Reneau had 16 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists in Miami’s loss to Purdue. The No. 7 seed Hurricanes defeated No. 10 Missouri 80-66 on Friday night to advance to Sunday’s second round. In that contest, Reneau poured in a game-high 24 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists.

Reneau, a Miami native, played three seasons at Indiana before joining the Hurricanes last offseason. He was an integral part of first-year head coach Jai Lucas’ mission of establishing a culture in Coral Gables. The Hurricanes, who had missed the last 2 NCAA Tournament, returned to the Big Dance and finished 26-9 (13-5 ACC). Reneau led them in points per game (18.9) and was second in rebounds per game (6.2).

Thanks to Reneau’s contributions, Miami is headed in the right direction again. Hopefully he won’t have to foot the bill too frequently once he’s back in the Sunshine State.

The post Miami basketball player goes viral for visiting concession stand in uniform after NCAA Tournament game appeared first on Saturday Down South.

The Gators let out some frustration from their SEC Tournament semifinals loss on Prairie View A&M, beating the Panthers 114-55. Meanwhile, the Hawkeyes advanced by defeating Clemson 67-61 in a rock fight.

ESPN’s Jay Bilas predicted both Florida and Iowa would advance and meet in the Round of 32 during his bracket preview. He believes the Gators’ front court will carry them past the Hawkeyes.

“Florida has arguably the best frontcourt in the nation, featuring Thomas Haugh (an SEC Player of the Year contender); Rueben Chinyelu, an elite defender; and Alex Condon,” Bilas wrote. “Size matters… I favor Florida. Winner: Florida.”

Bilas didn’t dismiss Iowa’s chance at winning. He noted the Hawkeyes could prevail if Bennett Stirtz has a big game. Stirtz is the best guard on either team, and guard play can take you far in March. However, Iowa’s lack of depth and overdependence on Stirtz to create offensively plays into Florida’s advantage. The Gators and Hawkeyes tip at 7:10 p.m. E.T. on Sunday evening (TBS).

Will Florida or Iowa advance to the Sweet 16? Make a prediction on Kalshi!

The post Jay Bilas predicts the winner of Florida vs. Iowa in Round of 32 appeared first on Saturday Down South.

According to Chris Karpman of SunDevilSource.com, Saint Mary’s head coach Randy Bennett is considering leaving the Gaels for the Sun Devils. Bennett, who has been at Saint Mary’s since 2001, recently took the Gaels to the NCAA Tournament for the 12th time. He is Saint Mary’s all-time winningest coach (589-228).

The Gaels fell to the Texas A&M Aggies 63-50 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday. Saint Mary’s played very uncharacteristically in that contest, committing a season-high 18 turnovers and shooting just 4-of-11 (36.4%) from the free-throw line. Texas A&M deserves immense credit for dominating the game and forcing the Gaels out of their comfort zone, but one must wonder if any chatter about the Sun Devils also contributed to their poor showing.

If Bennett were to leave Moraga, CA for Tempe, AZ, Hawaii’s Eran Ganot could be Saint Mary’s first call. The Rainbow Warriors’ head coach was a Gaels’ assistant for nearly a decade (2003-06, 2010-15) before spending the last 11 years in Honolulu. Hawaii’s move to the Mountain West, though, could compel Ganot to remain in his current role despite Saint Mary’s having a higher pedigree.

The post Head coach of NCAA Tournament team considering Arizona State job, per report appeared first on Saturday Down South.

South Carolina and Mainieri parted ways on Saturday morning. The Gamecocks had the 2009 College World Series champion inked through the 2029 season, leading many to wonder how his buyout could be processed. According to The State’s Jordan Kaye, it’s entirely dependent on how Mainieri’s departure is classified.

If Mainieri was fired without cause, he would be owed the entirety of what’s remaining on his contract, which… would be around $4.15 million,” Kaye writes. “Per his contract, if Mainieri chose to step down by his own volition, he would owe the university the entirety of what’s remaining on his contract — or around $4.15 million.

“Given the wording of the announcement, it would be reasonable to assume that the two parties will — if they haven’t already — negotiate a settlement that allows them to amicably go their separate ways,” Kaye continued. “University leaders are not expected to discuss Mainieri’s buyout terms, at least not any time soon.

South Carolina set a record for SEC losses (24) and overall losses (28) last year. The Gamecocks are just 12-11 so far this season, with losses to multiple lower-level programs, including Northern Kentucky and Queens. They were thumped 22-7 by Arkansas on Friday in what serves as the last game of Mainieri’s tenure.

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College Baseball D1 Champion?

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Kalshi

UCLA

14%

Georgia Tech

12%

Texas

11%

North Carolina

6%

Georgia

6%

Mississippi St.

5%

Arkansas

4%

Auburn

4%

LSU

3%

Tennessee

2%

Predict

The post Paul Mainieri buyout details revealed upon South Carolina coaching change appeared first on Saturday Down South.

According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, North Carolina is considering moving on from head coach Hubert Davis. The conversations come after Davis’ team blew a 19-point lead in the first round of this year’s NCAA Tournament.

“The future of Hubert Davis at North Carolina, right now, is squarely in flux,” Thamel said. “The sides are expected to talk in the upcoming days… do not expect Davis to be fired outright. Any kind of departure would be synchronized… the options here are simple: keep Davis with significant changes… [or] bring in a whole new regime. The tenor at North Carolina, right now, is that there will be a new coaching staff there next season.”

The Tar Heels had never lost in the first round of consecutive NCAA Tournaments (since expansion in 1985) prior to 2025 and 2026. North Carolina’s 19-point lead against VCU, and its 16-point edge over Kansas in the 2022 national championship, are the largest blown leads in NCAA history in those respective rounds.

UNC’s head coaching gig is one of college basketball’s premier jobs. Anyone who’s anyone will be in the running for it, and the allure of Carolina Blue could pry even the most devoted of coaches away from their current program. If the position does open up, it will cause a massive chain reaction throughout the sport.

The post ESPN’s Pete Thamel shares latest on Hubert Davis’s future at North Carolina appeared first on Saturday Down South.

The Panthers hung tough early in the game, tying the Gators 15-15 on a three-pointer with 13:41 remaining in the first half. Florida went on an 18-0 run from there, though, to lead 33-15 at the under-8 media timeout. That’s when Prairie View head coach Byron Smith called upon the heavens to help his team remain competitive.

“We need some help from the lord,” Smith told reporter AJ Ross during his in-game interview. “They’re very good. They’re very good. We just gotta keep defending, try to switch our defenses… but they’ve been very efficient.”

The Panthers did end the 18-0 spurt after the timeout, but the Gators wound up leading 60-21 at halftime. Fans on social media respected the candid nature of Smith’s comments.

Prairie View was the No. 8 seed in the SWAC. Winning that conference tournament in itself, and then beating Lehigh in the First Four, was a heck of an accomplishment. They may not have knocked off Goliath, but they won the first NCAA Tournament game in school history and provided multiple fun moments during their time in the Big Dance. As a fan, you can’t ask for more than that.

Florida won big in Round 1! Can the Gators keep it going in the Round of 32? Kalshi is taking action on UF vs. Iowa!

The post Prairie View A&M coach goes viral for asking for ‘help from the lord’ during Florida game appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Early Saturday morning, the NCAA released its start times for Sunday’s games. Like they did on Friday, things get started in St. Louis, where No. 7 seed Miami (FL) faces No. 2 seed Purdue at 12:15 p.m. E.T. We see an SEC squad take the floor after that, when No. 7 Kentucky battles No. 2 Iowa State. The Cyclones may be without do-it-all forward Joshua Jefferson for the game, which would give the Wildcats a real shot at an upset victory.

The most captivating coaching matchup of the day, between Rick Pitino and Bill Self, comes at 5:15 p.m. E.T. St. John’s and Kansas were lined up to play one another in the second round last season, but John Calipari’s Arkansas team spoiled things. Throughout the night, 3 more SEC teams will try their hand at reaching the second weekend:

• No. 6 Tennessee vs. No. 3 Virginia – 6:10 p.m. E.T. (TNT)
• No. 9 Iowa vs. No. 1 Florida – 7:10 p.m. E.T. (TBS)
• No. 5 Texas Tech vs. No. 4 Alabama – appx. 9:45 p.m. E.T. (TBS)

If every SEC team playing this weekend were to win, the conference would send 8 schools to the Sweet Sixteen. Even getting 4 teams that far, in a “down” year — compared to the lofty heights of 2025 — would be quite an accomplishment.

Who’s making it to the Sweet 16? Make a prediction today at Kalshi!

The post NCAA Tournament 2026: TV info, tipoff times revealed for Sunday, March 22 appeared first on Saturday Down South.

The Commodores and Cornhuskers are two of the best stories in college basketball this year. Both were among the final unbeaten teams in the country, starting a combined 36-0. Vandy hadn’t won an NCAA Tournament game since 2012 before Thursday afternoon. Meanwhile, Nebraska had never advanced in the Big Dance prior to defeating Troy. Now, they’re both in search of a Sweet 16 berth.

ESPN’s Jay Bilas had both the Commodores and Cornhuskers advancing in his bracket preview earlier this week. Bilas said Vanderbilt guards Tyler Tanner and Duke Miles were “too good” for McNeese to pull a first-round upset. He pointed to the ‘Dores guards again — Miles in particular — when explaining why Vandy would also beat Nebraska.

“This is a great matchup. Nebraska can beat almost anyone,” Bilas wrote. “But Vanderbilt’s guards will be the difference… take Duke Miles’ Commodores. He made a steal in the SEC final on Sunday at midcourt against Arkansas with his left hand that I thought was one of the best thefts I’ve seen all season long. He’s legit.”

The Commodores and Cornhuskers follow Houston and Texas A&M on Saturday evening. Their tipoff is scheduled for 8:45 p.m. E.T. (TNT).

Will Vanderbilt or Nebraska make the Sweet 16? Predict the game on Kalshi!

The post Jay Bilas predicts the winner of Vanderbilt vs. Nebraska Round of 32 clash appeared first on Saturday Down South.

“For over a century, the Army-Navy Game, known as ‘America’s Game,’ has stood as a symbol of excellence and the American spirit,” Trump wrote. “Now, the recent and potentially ongoing expansion of the College Football Playoffs (CFP) and other postseason college football games threatens to encroach upon the second Saturday in December — a date traditionally reserved exclusively for ‘America’s Game.'”

“Such scheduling conflicts weaken the national focus on our Military Service Academies and detract from a morale-building event of vital interest to the Department of War,” Trump continued. “Accordingly, it is the policy of the United States that no college football game, specifically college football’s CFP or other postseason games, be broadcast in a manner that directly conflicts with the Army‑Navy Game.”

The CFP expanded from 4 teams to 12 back in 2024. Before the first 12-team CFP concluded, discussions about further expansion had already begun. Now, before we’ll ever see a bracket featuring more than 12 teams, conference commissioners will have to figure out how it’d look with Army-Navy locked into its slot.

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College Football Playoff Qualifiers 2026

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Kalshi

Notre Dame

88%

Ohio St.

79%

Oregon

76%

Georgia

70%

Texas Tech

70%

Texas

69%

Indiana

67%

Miami (FL)

65%

LSU

45%

Ole Miss

40%

Predict

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Every game on day one provides lessons for the teams who play on day two. In Charles Barkley’s opinion, the biggest advice for today’s teams came from a pair of bluebloods: Duke and North Carolina.

“There’s two ways [playing on day two] is an advantage… you can use Duke… as a high seed, and say, ‘guys, we got to come out ready to play on the jump ball,” Barkley said on CBS’ pregame show. “These teams, they’re gonna come out full of energy… but also, you can say, ‘guys, did you see what happened to UNC last night? These guys had a 19-point lead. We can’t screw around. We get the lead, don’t relax.'”

Duke, the No. 1 overall seed, fell down 43-32 to No. 16 Siena at halftime on Thursday. North Carolina, a No. 6 seed, lost to No. 11 seed VCU in overtime after leading by nearly 20 points. Louisville almost blew a massive lead to South Florida in another 6/11 matchup. Any team hoping to advance today, as Chuck mentioned, would be wise to heed the warnings that yesterday provided.

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The Bulldogs, making their second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, hoped to get off the schneid and advance in the Big Dance for the first time since 2002 when they took the floor against No. 9 seed Saint Louis. Instead, they were soundly whipped by the Billikens, trailing by 17 at halftime — and by as many as 40 in the second half — in their 102-77 loss.

This is the second straight year Georgia was absolutely thumped in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. In 2025, as a No. 9 seed, the Bulldogs lost to mascot sibling Gonzaga 89-68. That Zags squad was a top-10 team in KenPom and an unfortunate draw. But Saint Louis, slotted lower than Georgia on KenPom before their matchup, was a fair foe. As a result, the putrid performance had social media dogging head coach Mike White.

Georgia fans were (understandably) going through it on the timeline, but they weren’t alone in their bashing of White. Florida fans took the opportunity to gloat, while others called the showing “pathetic” and “maybe the worst” they had ever seen.

White won 22 games this year, the most for Georgia since 2001-02. He is going to be the Bulldogs’ head coach next season (and is signed through 2030-31). However, if he wants to make it to the end of that deal, he’ll need to be better than he was on Thursday. Another tournament performance like that will lose him whatever segment of the fanbase remains in his corner.

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McMillan, the chef behind “Bucky Ball,” hit the transfer portal hard. He plucked players from every possible location for his roster. His 3 leading scorers — Rashaun Agee (USC), Rylen Griffin (Kansas), Marcus Hill (NC State) — weren’t even in the SEC last season. His fourth-best healthy scorer, Ruben Dominguez, was in Spain. Once they arrived in the College Station pot, McMillan cooked up a team that started 17-4 (and was leading the SEC for a chunk of the year) before finishing 21-11 (11-7 SEC). In the end, his Aggies earned the No. 10 seed in the East region.

This debut campaign for McMillan, merely by making the Big Dance, has been a success. That, plus Williams’ Terrapins winding up 17th in the Big Ten standings, gives Texas A&M an undeniable victory in its breakup. Whether the school can win an NCAA Tournament game for the third consecutive season, though, remains to be seen.

Here’s how far Saturday Down South predicts Texas A&M will advance in the 2026 NCAA Tournament:

Round 1: No. 7 Saint Mary’s (in Oklahoma City)

Record: 27-5 (16-2 WCC); KenPom: +23.07 (24th); Net Rank: 22nd

Best Wins: Gonzaga, Santa Clara, Northern Iowa, Virginia Tech; Worst Loss: Boise State

The Gaels, unlike their soon-to-be former conference rival Zags, aren’t regarded as a high-major cosplaying as a mid-major in a non-Power 5 conference. However, maybe they should be given that level of respect. Head coach Randy Bennett has led Saint Mary’s to 5 consecutive NCAA Tournaments, and has snagged no worse than a No. 7 seed in any of those appearances. The Gaels have also not finished with fewer than 20 wins in a season (COVID year exception) since 2006-07.

Saint Mary’s has 3 players — Paulius Murauskas, Mikey Lewis and Joshua Dent — that average at least 13 points per game. Each member of that trio earned first-team West Coast Conference honors. Murauskas (6-foot-8), Andrew McKeever (7-foot-1) and Harry Wessels (7-foot-1) anchor the Gaels on the interior and help pull down 40.3 rebounds per contest, tied with Duke for 11th-most in the nation.

On paper, Saint Mary’s should own the glass in this matchup. According to KenPom, the Gaels’ defense allows opponents to grab only 24% of their misses, the fourth-best mark in the country. Their 37.4% offensive rebound rate ranks 15th-best. Texas A&M sits a respectable 116th with its own offensive rebounding percentage (32.3%), but 284th in opponents’ offensive rebound rate (32.5%). If the Aggies can’t keep the Gaels off the boards — Saint Mary’s has the nation’s fourth-best rebounding margin — or can’t avoid fouling them when trying, they will gobble up points at the free throw line with their best-in-the-sport free throw percentage (80.5%).

The Gaels have better offensive and defensive metrics than the Aggies. They also have the size advantage on the inside and shoot the ball better from 3-point range. Texas A&M’s proximity to home and ability to avoid/create turnovers will give the Aggies a chance to advance. But Saint Mary’s is the better team.

PREDICTION: Saint Mary’s 75, Texas A&M 69

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Whether a No. 10 seed beating a No. 7 seed is truly an upset is in the eye of the beholder. However, in betting markets, the Texas A&M Aggies beating the Saint Mary’s Gaels on Thursday evening would qualify. Sportsbooks have settled on the Aggies being roughly a 3-point underdog against the Gaels despite facing off in Oklahoma City’s Paycom Center.

For better or worse, ESPN Analytics is also backing Saint Mary’s. The worldwide leader in sports gives the WCC squad a 53.2% chance of beating Texas A&M on Thursday afternoon. This aligns with the appx. percentage of ESPN Tournament challenge users who have picked the Gaels (54.3%) to knock off the Aggies, as of 10:10 a.m. ET.

A Texas A&M win would be its third consecutive first-round NCAA Tournament triumph. A Saint Mary’s victory would be its fourth first round win in the last 5 seasons. Both schools have a strong recent NCAA Tournament tradition, but only one can advance. The Gaels and Aggies tip off at 7:35 p.m. ET (TruTV).

Make a prediction on tonight’s game and every NCAA Tournament game on Kalshi!

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Had the Ohio State-TCU game not been chosen to kick off the festivities, Georgia-Saint Louis would have been a solid choice. Instead, their matchup represents the last one of the day that feels like it could go either way. ESPN’s Jay Bilas labeled two other 8-9 games as “coin flips” when making his bracket, but not this one. He believes the Bulldogs’ athleticism will help them advance to the second round.

“Saint Louis hunts great shots and runs a beautiful offense,” Bilas writes. “Georgia has better athletes — sophomore Jeremiah Wilkinson averages 17.0 points per game — and can beat Saint Louis in transition. Winner: Georgia.”

If Mike White’s team prevails, the Bulldogs will have won an NCAA Tournament game for the first time in more than two decades (2002). A Billikens’ victory would be their first in the Big Dance since 2014, so both teams are hoping to end sizeable droughts. Tip between Georgia and Saint Louis is set for appx. 9:45 p.m. ET (CBS).

Can the Dawgs make it to the Round of 32? Kalshi is taking prediction action on Georgia vs. Saint Louis!

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The Broncos’ all-time NCAA Tournament résumé is not nearly as lavish as the Wildcats’ (to be fair, few schools compare to the 8-time national champions in that regard). But that doesn’t mean Santa Clara is incapable of beating Kentucky, especially when its head coach learned under “The Godfather” in Lexington.

Here are 3 things Big Blue Nation should know about Santa Clara:

1. Herb Sendek used to be Kentucky’s assistant coach

You may have known this already, but it’s worth repeating. Sendek, the Broncos’ head coach — who has been an NCAA head coach for the better part of 3 decades — was once a Wildcat. From 1989-1993, Sendek was an assistant for Rick Pitino. He spent 2 years (1985-87) on Pitino’s staff at Providence before rejoining him at Kentucky. In fact, the Wildcats’ assistant position was the last non-head coaching gig Sendek held prior to taking the Miami (OH) job.

Sendek spent 3 seasons with the RedHawks (1993-96), then worked for NC State (1996-2006) and Arizona State (2006-2015). He went to 8 NCAA Tournaments in that time, including 5 straight for the Wolfpack (2002-06). He recorded his 600th career win when Santa Clara beat Saint Mary’s in the West Coast Conference semifinals. His all-time NCAA Tournament record is 7-8, with a buzzer-beating loss to Texas in his last appearance.

2. Santa Clara won an NCAA Tournament game as a No. 15 seed

This is the Broncos’ fifth NCAA Tournament appearance since the bracket expanded to 64 teams in 1985. They failed to win a game in their 1987 trip, but pulled off an absolute stunner their next go-round. In 1993, they defeated No. 2 seed Arizona 64-61 to become the second-ever 15 seed to advance in the Big Dance.

Future NBA MVP Steve Nash is the big-name referenced when Santa Clara’s iconic victory is discussed. The true freshman played a big role down the stretch — 8 of his 10 points came at the charity stripe — and had a team-high 4 assists, but he did not even start in the game. Forwards Pete Eisenrich (19 points, 8 rebounds) and DeWayne Lewis (13 points, 7 rebounds) led the way offensively. Defensively, Eisenrich added 4 blocks, while guard John Woolery had 6 steals.

Overall, the Broncos are 11-13 in the NCAA Tournament. They’ve been to 1 Final Four (1952), where they lost to Kansas. Their last NCAA Tournament appearance, in 1996, also ended with a loss to the Jayhawks.

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3. Santa Clara’s last NCAA Tournament win came as a No. 10 seed

Kentucky fans surely hope this isn’t a sign of things to come. Before Santa Clara lost to Kansas in the second round of the 1996 NCAA Tournament, the No. 10-seed Broncos defeated the No. 7-seed Maryland Terrapins 91-79. Nash, now a senior, had a game-high 28 points and 12 assists to prevail over a Terp squad that had 4 future NBA players on its roster.

This Santa Clara team doesn’t have a slam-dunk NBA Draft pick like Nash, but it still has some international flavor. Four of its 7 leading scorers are from outside the United States. If the Wildcats are to move on and (likely) face Iowa State, they’ll have to slow down the Broncos’ entire stable. Kentucky and Santa Clara kick off Day 2 of the NCAA Tournament on Friday at 12:15 p.m. E.T. (CBS).

Will Kentucky avoid an upset? Kalshi currently gives the Wildcats a 60% chance to pull off the Round 1 win:

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