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Why the Panthers could become a ‘modern-day dynasty’

SUNRISE, Fla. — Fresh off Sunday’s victory parade, the Florida Panthers are probably enjoying some much-needed rest following several days of celebrating their back-to-back Stanley Cup championships. Now, fans are already talking about the possibility of a three-peat, which hasn’t been done in the NHL since the early 1980s. WATCH BELOW: Could the Panthers become […]

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SUNRISE, Fla. — Fresh off Sunday’s victory parade, the Florida Panthers are probably enjoying some much-needed rest following several days of celebrating their back-to-back Stanley Cup championships.

Now, fans are already talking about the possibility of a three-peat, which hasn’t been done in the NHL since the early 1980s.

WATCH BELOW: Could the Panthers become a ‘modern-day dynasty’?

Could Panthers become ‘modern-day dynasty’?

It’s a rare feat that Panther players know will be talked about heavily next season.

“We just want to keep building; it’s been a lot of fun,” Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk said. “Myself, Barkov and we’ve got a bunch of guys that are here for five plus years, and we just want to keep this thing going.”

Between locking up the team’s core players, building a future in this week’s NHL Draft and free agency just days away, the Panthers will be primed for another strong season.

“I think it’s already the makings of a modern-day dynasty. They’ve gone to the Stanley Cup finals three times and won it twice. What the window is, the window is huge,” Scripps Sports play-by-play announcer Steve Goldstein said. “I think they’ve got a physical advantage. I think they’ve got a goaltending advantage on the conference with Sergei Bobrovsky. Who knows once we get to the playoffs next year? They might have a psychological advantage as well.”

Goldstein said the culture the team has built is no fluke.

“It’s all here, and it starts with our ownership, and that practice rink, and the way we travel,” Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said. “The way the players are treated and anything they need, it’s there for them.”

With the team’s success, it has grown the population of hockey in Florida.

“I think with winning the Cup down here the first time, it changed hockey in South Florida, and now hockey has taken on a life of its own down here,” Tkachuk said. Read more of

WPTV’s coverage of the Florida Panthers’ second straight title win:

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‘I love the Panthers’: Fans from Palm Beach County attend victory parade

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Panthers fans flood Fort Lauderdale for back-to-back Stanley Cup parade

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PHOTOS: Florida Panthers victory parade 2025

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Panthers superfan adds iconic tattoo to his collection

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Why the Panthers’ TV announcer is issuing an apology to fans

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Man who sang national anthems at Game 6 says it was ‘very humbling’

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Panther fans recount ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ moments

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Stanley Cup damaged as Panthers celebrate another title

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PANTHER PARTY! Players, fans celebrate Stanley Cup victory

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PHOTOS: Panthers, fans celebrate back-to-back Stanley Cups

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Sam Bennett wins Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP

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Brad Marchand plays key role in Panthers’ 2nd championship

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Panthers repeat as Stanley Cup champs, defeat Oilers in 6 games





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Head Coach, Womens Ice Hockey in Stevenson, MD for Stevenson University

Details Posted: 15-Jul-25 Location: Stevenson, Maryland Type: Full-time Categories: Coaching Coaching – Ice Hockey Sector: Collegiate Sports Head Coach, Womens Ice Hockey Summary: The Head Women’s Ice Hockey Coach is responsible for overseeing all aspects of coaching a highly competitive NCAA hockey program. This includes recruiting student athletes, monitoring student-athlete academic performance, coordinating practices, pre […]

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Details

Posted: 15-Jul-25

Location: Stevenson, Maryland

Type: Full-time

Categories:

Coaching

Coaching – Ice Hockey

Sector:

Collegiate Sports

Head Coach, Womens Ice Hockey

Summary:

The Head Women’s Ice Hockey Coach is responsible for overseeing all aspects of coaching a highly competitive NCAA hockey program. This includes recruiting student athletes, monitoring student-athlete academic performance, coordinating practices, pre and post-game meetings, team strength and conditioning activities, team travel and meal arrangements, monitoring team budgets and promoting events and activities within athletics and the institution.


Department: Athletics: Women’s Ice Hockey


Education/Experience:

Bachelor’s degree plus Collegiate level competition and/or coaching experience with a commitment to Division III philosophy and experience with NCAA or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Valid driver license with good driving record: must be insurable.


Knowledge/Skills/Ability:

  • Exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
  • Ability to maintain composure, effectiveness, and focus when facing difficult challenges; demonstrating sound judgment and discretion in a potentially stressful environment.
  • Ability to manage multiple tasks under pressure and is highly adaptable to rapidly changing priorities.
  • Must be a self-starter with unquestionable integrity and a strong sense of professional ethics.
  • Ability to make administrative and procedural decisions on sensitive, confidential issues and the ability to maintain confidentiality of information.
  • Knowledge of the University structure, policies and procedures or ability to acquire knowledge in a short period of time.
  • Ability to manage a budget and to be fiscally responsible for the team budget; analyze situations and develop solutions; provide leadership and direction.
  • Ability to objectively evaluate physical skills in the areas of physical potential and mental capability for intercollegiate athletics.
  • Working knowledge of NCAA DIII Ice Hockey rules and regulations; the ability to teach critical skills, competitive skills, tactical strategies and training techniques.
  • Adheres to departmental policies and procedures, as well as rules and regulations of the University, the MAC and the NCAA.
  • Ability to effectively communicate both within and outside the University including, but not limited to, student-athletes, parents, recruits, coaches, athletic training staff, and athletic department staff.
  • Ability to provide effective leadership to student athletes to encourage both successful academic development and competitive performance.
  • Travel is a requirement of this position
  • Ability to work a flexible schedule.
  • Evening and weekend hours is a requirement of this position.


Physical Requirements:

Medium Work: Exerting up to 40 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Position involves both inside sedentary and work on the ice and turf /grass fields while coaching and training situations with student-athletes. Evening and weekend hours in all types of weather, with travel between campuses necessary. Lifting required (i.e., set-up of scorer’s table, etc.), some manual labor is expected. Because of the location of athletic facilities on each campus, organizing and some transportation between campuses is expected.


Essential Functions:

  • Manage all aspects of a competitive NCAA women’s ice hockey program
  • Oversee and supervise assistant coaches and volunteer assistant coaches
  • Provide leadership for the team; establish coaching strategies and teaching methods to develop student-athletes’ skills and teamwork; analyze team performance and adjust strategies as needed.
  • Implement and maintain a quality recruiting program that serves the coaching staff of Stevenson University on both campuses.
  • Coach the Women’s Ice Hockey team to include: recruitment and supervision of student assistants; scheduling, counseling, equipment inventory, office work, budget preparation, working with sports information staff, public relations staff, student services personnel and athletics staff to ensure quality programs.
  • Travel with the Women’s Ice Hockey team and work nights, weekends, and holidays, as necessary.
  • Develop team policies and procedures for student-athletes and assistant coaches.
  • Develop strategies to foster athletic and academic progress of student-athletes.
  • Work within the Arms and Teamworks Hub software to track recruits, compliance, team and recruit communications.
  • Perform marketing or public relations duties to promote the program.
  • Work with the Equipment Manager to help maintain and care for uniforms and equipment
  • Work with Institutional Advancement to aid in team fundraising initiatives and to promote the Campaign for Mustang Athletics on an annual basis.
  • Promote and participate in community service activities to build the connection between our teams and the community.
  • Work Game Day Admin Coverage as needed
  • Serve on committees as assigned.


Reports To: Associate Athletic Director
Work Location: Owings Mills
Position Category: Staff
Position Type: Full-Time
Months/Year: 12
Hrs/Week: 40
FLSA: Exempt
Close Date:
Open Until Filled: No


To be considered for this position please visit our web site and apply on line at the following link: stevenson.peopleadmin.com


EOE/AA Employer of Minorities/Females/Veterans/Disability


Copyright ©2025 Jobelephant.com Inc. All rights reserved.

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Nice grades on ice | News, Sports, Jobs

Northern Michigan University’s Anthony Cliche, left, celebrates with teammates on the Wildcats’ bench after tying the score 1-1 in the first period of a college hockey game played against Arizona State at the Berry Events Center in Marquette on Oct. 25. (Journal file photo) Northern Michigan University’s Anthony Cliche, left, celebrates with teammates on the […]

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Northern Michigan University’s Anthony Cliche, left, celebrates with teammates on the Wildcats’ bench after tying the score 1-1 in the first period of a college hockey game played against Arizona State at the Berry Events Center in Marquette on Oct. 25. (Journal file photo)

MARQUETTE — The American Hockey Coaches Association has named 11 Northern Michigan University hockey players to its quite demanding Krampade All-American Scholars list for the 2024-25 season.

Student-athletes must have attained at least a 3.75 grade-point average for each semester last school year while appearing in at least 40% of their team’s games. Exceptions on the participation rule were granted to injured players and backup goaltenders. Schools must also be a member of the AHCA.

There were 709 students honored in NCAA Division I, 360 men’s players and 349 women.

In addition to the 11 honored from NMU, other CCHA members schools also earned awards — 13 from Ferris State, six from St. Thomas, nine each from Lake Superior State and Bemidji State, five from Minnesota State-Mankato, four from Augustana and two from Michigan Tech.

With about half of last year’s Wildcats team composed of first-year players, freshmen made up most of Northern’s honorees.

Northern Michigan University’s Jakub Altrichter, center, watches the play along with Minnesota State-Mankato’s Adam Eisele, left, and Evan Murr during a CCHA hockey game played at the Berry Events Center in Marquette on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

They were forwards Jakub Altrichter, Colby Browne, Will Diamond, Ryan Duguay, Aidyn Hutchinson and William Renfrew.

The freshmen defensemen earning this honor were Anthony Cliche, Grayden Daul, Rasmus Larsson and Trevor Mitchell.

The lone Wildcats upperclassman named one of these All-American scholars was junior defenseman Nicolas Ardanaz.

The full news release from the AHCA is available at www.ahcahockey.com/news/2425/0702d1aas.php.

Krampade is a high-potassium electrolyte sports drink. The Nebraska-based company’s products are focused on mitigating cramp formation while enhancing performance using patent-pending formulations.

Story contents based on Northern Michigan University Sports Information press release reviewing/previewing the games/meet. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.



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Column | Updated projections for Penn State men’s hockey’s 2025-26 depth chart | Penn State Men’s Hockey News

Superstar forward Gavin McKenna, the highest-rated recruit in NCAA history, shook up the college hockey world with his commitment to Penn State on July 8. While I made original line predictions in early June after Jackson Smith’s pledge, McKenna’s commitment shakes up those projections for the 2025 season, and when broken down, the new predictions […]

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Superstar forward Gavin McKenna, the highest-rated recruit in NCAA history, shook up the college hockey world with his commitment to Penn State on July 8.

While I made original line predictions in early June after Jackson Smith’s pledge, McKenna’s commitment shakes up those projections for the 2025 season, and when broken down, the new predictions show the immense depth the Nittany Lions have for next year.

With that being said, here are my line projections for next season.

Projected Lines:

First line: Gavin McKenna – Reese Laubach – Aiden Fink

Reasoning:

With the addition of McKenna in July, the superstar forward immediately slots into the first line. He’s an elite playmaker with immense creativity that will significantly boost Aiden Fink and Reese Laubach’s stock.

While Laubach is not the most talented center on the team following the offseason acquisitions for Guy Gadowsky, he still centered Fink during a season which saw Fink finish as a top-10 Hobey Baker finalist and the leading scorer in the Big Ten.

Laubach’s strong work along the boards also helps with puck battles and holding extended o-zone time, something the opposition doesn’t want against Fink or McKenna.







Men's Hockey vs. Michigan Playoff, Matt DiMarsico Poses

Forward Matt DiMarsico (14) poses after scoring during the Penn State men’s hockey playoff game against Michigan on Friday, March 7, 2025 in the Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor, Mi. The Nittany Lions beat the Wolverines 6-5 in overtime.




Second line: Matt DiMarsico – Charlie Cerrato – JJ Wiebusch

Reasoning:

The 2024-25 campaign saw a first line of Fink, Laubach and Danny Dzhaniyev dominate the opposition. It also saw this second line put Penn State on its back and carry it to a Frozen Four berth.

The trio led the team in postseason scoring by a wide margin and meshed well, leaving no reason for Gadowsky to split them up.

This line sends the puck toward the net often and forechecks well, but is also stout defensively. All three skaters totaled a net rating of 12 or higher over the course of last year.

Third line: Shea Van Olm – Luke Misa – Andrew Kuzma

Reasoning:

A third line of Shea Van Olm, Luke Misa and Andrew Kuzma will bring the intensity. It consists of two big forwards in Van Olm and Kuzma who are physical and a quick, agile center in Misa who thrives in transition — it’s a match made in heaven.

Gadowsky also confirmed Tuesday that Kuzma is ready to go for 2025 after undergoing heart surgery last season and missing the entire 2024 campaign, which means a spot among the four offensive lines should be his to lose after scoring 52 points in the USHL in the 2023-24 season.







Men's Hockey vs. Michigan Playoff, Dane Dowiak

Forward Dane Dowiak (19) shoots the puck during the Penn State men’s hockey playoff game against Michigan on Friday, March 7, 2025 in the Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor, Mi. The Nittany Lions beat the Wolverines 6-5 in overtime.




Fourth line: Lev Katzin – Keaton Peters – Dane Dowiak

Reasoning:

A fourth line that consists of an elite playmaker in Lev Katzin, strong faceoff center in Keaton Peters and gritty, do-it-all forward in Dane Dowiak could cause problems for opponents. It shapes up as one of the best fourth lines in college hockey and it might be an identity line with three high-energy players.

Projected Defense Pairings:

First pairing: Jackson Smith – Nolan Collins

Reasoning:

Jackson Smith was drafted 14th overall to the Columbus Blue Jackets in this year’s NHL draft due to his high ceiling. He’s a 200-foot, versatile defenseman who turns defense into offense in a split second. Pair that with a big-bodied blue liner in Nolan Collins who is stout defensively and it’ll be hard to score on the Nittany Lions.







Men's hockey versus Michigan, Christenson watches

Defender Cade Christenson (27) watches the play at the Penn State men’s hockey game against Michigan at the Pegula Ice Arena on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 in University Park, Pa. The Wolverines beat the Nittany Lions 10-6.




Second pairing: Cade Christenson* – Mac Gadowsky

Reasoning:

Tuesday afternoon, Guy Gadowsky made it public news that Cade Christenson is unlikely to be ready at the start of the 2025 campaign.

Regardless, whenever Christenson is healthy, he is a stout defensive presence next to Mac Gadowsky, who brings elite offensive prowess to Penn State’s blue line after finishing as a top-10 Hobey Baker finalist for Army last season.

Third pairing: Carter Schade – Casey Aman

Reasoning:

Carter Schade and Casey Aman paired together last season and were an instant match. Both players recorded numerous career highs and are set for a strong 2025 season. Schade is still recovering from a lower-body injury, but he’s expected to be ready in October.

Projected Goaltenders:

Starting netminder: Kevin Reidler

Backup netminder: Josh Fleming

Third-string netminder: John Seifarth

Reasoning:

Guy Gadowsky confirmed Tuesday that he will be rolling with only three goaltenders this season. That leaves netminder Noah Grannan as the odd-man out. Kevin Reidler was brought in to replace Arsenii Sergeev as the starting goaltender, while Josh Fleming and John Seifarth will battle for the second and third-string positions.

MORE HOCKEY CONTENT


‘We certainly encourage creativity’ | Men’s hockey’s Gadowsky details approach to coaching McKenna

Summers in State College are typically calm for Guy Gadowsky. The weather is beautiful and t…

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Five of the best sports documentaries of all time (and where to watch them)

Here is a collection of the most exciting, nail-biting, emotional documentaries you’ll ever see. Advertorial by Bestbettingsiteoffers The great thing about sports documentaries is that they can cover a huge, HUGE amount of events. Obviously, the stuff that immediately comes to mind are the huge sporting events from around the world, but if you think […]

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Five of the best sports documentaries of all time (and where to watch them)

Here is a collection of the most exciting, nail-biting, emotional documentaries you’ll ever see.

The great thing about sports documentaries is that they can cover a huge, HUGE amount of events. Obviously, the stuff that immediately comes to mind are the huge sporting events from around the world, but if you think smaller, think more niche, there is very likely a fantastic documentary dealing with that event too.

Fascinated by deep-sea diving? A must-watch for you is The Deepest Breath. A lover of e-sports? Then you have to check out The King Of Kong. Looking for something completely left field but still super competitive? Spellbound is the one for you, set in the world of spelling bees.

Sports fans tend to follow more than just the games—news, stats, even things like betting offers often come up in the mix. These documentaries tap into that same wide interest, showing how deep the love for competition can go.

See what we mean? There is quite literally something for everyone. Whittling down that list to five of the best is tough, but these picks are tremendous, and some of the best movies ever made, not just under the banner of sports documentaries.

So on with our five picks, and where to watch them* right now:

Free Solo – Disney+

From the description alone, you would be forgiven for thinking this isn’t going to be THAT interesting a watch, as the documentary profiles rock climber Alex Honnold on his quest to perform the first-ever free solo climb of a route on El Capitan, a vertical rock formation found in Yosemite National Park in California. So you’ll have to trust us when we tell you this is one of the most edge-of-your-seat movies you’ll ever see, and it proved to be so impressive that it went on to win the Best Documentary Oscar back in 2019.

Murderball – rent on Apple TV

This documentary focuses on the intense rivalry between the American and Canadian wheelchair rugby teams in the run-up to the 2004 Paralympic Games taking place in Athens, Greece. We get to know the players and their families, who all talk openly and frankly about their injuries, personal lives, and the love of the game that has them all vying for the gold. This movie was nominated for Best Documentary at the 2006 Oscars, but lost out to March of the Penguins.

Icarus – Netflix

Some of the best documentaries are those that begin filming with something specific in mind – in this case, director Bryan Fogel wanted to expose the inadequacy of the procedures to catch athletes using performance-enhancing substances – but become something else over the course of the movie being made – here, the World Anti-Doping Agency’s investigation of doping in Russia led to the head of the Moscow Anti-Doping Laboratory to flee his country and become a whistleblower. Icarus went on to win the 2018 Best Documentary Feature Oscar.

Senna – Netflix

Arguably one of the best and most impactful documentaries not to even be nominated for an Oscar, this film tells the story of much-loved Brazilian motor-racing champion Ayrton Senna. Directed by Asif Kapadia (who went on to win an Oscar in 2016 for his Amy Winehouse documentary), it tells us about Senna’s life, death, and intimate rivalry with fellow driver Alain Prost through archival race footage and home video recorded by Senna’s friends and family.

When We Were Kings – Sky/NOW

Another Best Documentary Picture winner, focusing on the night of The Rumble in the Jungle in 1974. Betting offers on underdog Muhammad Ali were 4-1 against the then-unbeaten, heavy-hitting George Forman. It took director Leon Gast over 22 years to edit and finance before it could be released in 2006, when it was met with immediate critical acclaim, and the movie is still considered to be one of the best sports documentaries ever made.

*Information correct for readers in the UK and Ireland at the time of writing

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Kai Trump teams up with Olivia Dunne after scoring first NIL deal

The president’s granddaughter has already secured her first partnership despite not yet becoming a college athlete, having signed with a renowned energy drinks brand alongside some famous faces Kai Trump has secured her first major NIL deal with energy drink brand Accelerator Active Energy(Image: Instagram – Kai Trump) Kai Trump has secured her first NIL […]

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The president’s granddaughter has already secured her first partnership despite not yet becoming a college athlete, having signed with a renowned energy drinks brand alongside some famous faces

Kai Trump
Kai Trump has secured her first major NIL deal with energy drink brand Accelerator Active Energy(Image: Instagram – Kai Trump)

Kai Trump has secured her first NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) partnership ahead of playing golf at the University of Miami next year after joining forces with energy drinks brand Accelerator Active Energy.

The 18-year-old aspiring golfer doesn’t begin her scholarship with the Hurricanes until 2026 but is already making the most of her popularity by linking up with the company, which is renowned for launching “The Livvy Fund” with former LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne to support women’s college athletes.

Earlier this year, it emerged that U.S. President Donald Trump’s granddaughter could become one of the highest paid female athletes ever having developed a growing NIL stock since taking up golf. The teenager’s substantial social media following also significantly contributes to her valuation, as does her highly-popular YouTube channel.

READ MORE: Jordan Spieth reveals major family update on eve of The Open ChampionshipREAD MORE: Mike Tyson wastes no time calling out Jake Paul after Katie Taylor result

In January, Trump actually sealed an NIL deal with Dallas-based Leaf Trading Cards, which sells autographed cards for $200 a pack, but it would appear that her recent announcement involving Accelerator Active Energy has blown that out of the water.

Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, Trump used a presidential-themed announcement to reveal her big news, in which she made a speech at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, telling all “fellow Americans and content creators” that she’s partnered and invested in Accelerator.

“My fellow Americans and content creators. After months of reflection, I made a decision. I’ll be running, no stepping into a new role,” Trump began. “One with great responsibilities and 100% natural caffeine. I’ve partnered with Accelerator. No sugar. No crash. Cheers.”

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In the post’s caption, she added: “Not running for office… just running on Rocket Pop. Proud to partner with @drinkaccelerator — check out my favorite energy drink on Amazon and select retailers near you!”

In the comments section, the official Drink Accelerator account posted: “Welcome to the team, Kai”, while former college gymnastics champion Dunne wrote: “Welcome to the fam!!!”

Also on the energy drink’s roster as an equity partner is Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, who has helped to highlight the drink’s key features, such as its natural caffeine, lack of added sugar and preservatives, in previous campaigns.

“It’s pretty cool, especially being partners with such great athletes and being up there with him,” Trump told FOX Business about what it’s like to be part of a star-studded team.

Olivia Dunne
Former LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne is also part of the
Accelerator Active Energy team
(Image: Photo by Georgia Jones/LSU/University Images via Getty Images)

The aspiring golfer added how Accelerator is “so important to ensuring I stay focused and have extra energy when I’m in the gym, on the golf course, studying, traveling or as part of my daily routine.”

Trump’s arrival has been welcomed with open arms by Accelerator Active Energy CEO Andrew Wilkinson, who said in a statement: “Kai has a very busy schedule including golf, content creation, travel and much more and Accelerator is the perfect solution to providing her the sustained energy without sugar while she’s on the go.

“We are excited to see all she is going to accomplish in the years ahead as she becomes a leading voice in NIL and beyond.”



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SEC Power Shift in Motion

Morning Edition July 16, 2025 Texas enters the SEC football season as the favorite, backed by one of college football’s most expensive rosters. Lucrative NIL deals and a $20.5 million revenue-sharing plan could push total player compensation to $40 million, but how the Longhorns navigate this new era remains uncertain. —David Rumsey, Eric Fisher, and […]

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Front Office Sports - The Memo

Morning Edition

July 16, 2025

Texas enters the SEC football season as the favorite, backed by one of college football’s most expensive rosters. Lucrative NIL deals and a $20.5 million revenue-sharing plan could push total player compensation to $40 million, but how the Longhorns navigate this new era remains uncertain.

David Rumsey, Eric Fisher, and Colin Salao



Austin American-Statesman

ATLANTA — Texas is the betting favorite to win the SEC this season, and there’s serious momentum around the Longhorns not only taking over the conference between the lines—but off the field, too.

“The popularity of the Texas Longhorns is at an all-time high,” coach Steve Sarkisian said Tuesday at SEC media days, quickly pointing out metrics like eight million average TV viewers per game last season, average home attendance of 102,000 fans, and selling out season tickets for a fourth straight year.

Last season, Texas lost to Georgia in the SEC championship game, but it was the last team standing from the conference in the College Football Playoff, losing to eventual champion Ohio State in the semifinals.

This season, the Longhorns will have one of the most expensive rosters in college football, thanks to lucrative NIL (name, image, and likeness) deals signed before a July 1 shift in regulating said contracts—on top of the athletic department planning to pay football players roughly 75% of its $20.5 million revenue-sharing budget. The total sum, including revenue-sharing and NIL (name, image, and likeness), could reach $40 million, the Houston Chronicle previously reported.

Additionally, Texas’s five road games this season—at Ohio State, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi State, and Georgia—will see the Longhorns travel over 9,000 miles, more than any other team in the SEC.  

Manning Mania

The most important player for Texas (and almost certainly the highest-paid) will be quarterback Arch Manning, who has taken over the starting job after Quinn Ewers was drafted by the Dolphins. 

Manning said he’s excited to compete in “a big-time conference” in the SEC, but he is blocking out the intense media interest around his debut season. “I’m here to play ball,” he said in front of dozens of reporters Tuesday. “This is very much so secondary.”

Sarkisian is confident Manning, who comes from one of the most famous families in football, is ready for the moment. “He grew up in this era of seeing high-level football,” Sarkisan said. “He’s watched Super Bowls. He’s watched gold jackets getting put on.”

Cash Flow

Sarkisian echoed thoughts from many other coaches in expressing uncertainty about how the newly created College Sports Commission will regulate revenue-sharing and NIL deals.

“Honestly, I have no idea,” he said. “I don’t know. We’re in such the beginning stages of this thing. I think that everybody is operating differently. Everybody is trying to navigate this differently, and what are exactly the rules and are they going to be enforced? Nobody really knows.”

When it comes to paying players, Sarkisian believes Texas takes a different approach than many other schools. “When kids come on our campus, we don’t talk about NIL or revenue-sharing or publicity rights until the very end,” he said. “And that may hurt us on some kids, but if a kid is coming to Texas for that reason, we don’t want him anyway.”

Sarkisan added, “If you’re coming for the other reason, he’s probably going to be the guy in 18 months that’s back in the portal going somewhere else where they’re going to offer him more money.”


ATLANTA — History was made late Tuesday at Truist Park as the National League prevailed in the MLB All-Star Game, thanks to the first-time use of a little-known home run tiebreaker. 

The game was settled with a home-run swing-off instead of extra innings, with the tiebreaker format created by MLB and the MLB Players Association in 2022 as part of the labor deal struck that year, but not needed until now. 

Three players per team each had three swings to amass as many homers as possible—with the unique structure designed to avoid player injury and overuse and aid in each manager’s roster deployment during the All-Star Game.

The American League’s trio of hitters—Brent Rooker of the Athletics, and Randy Arozarena and Jonathan Aranda of the Rays—amassed a total of three home runs. The NL crew of the Marlins’ Kyle Sowers, Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber, and Mets’ Pete Alonso countered with four.

Schwarber in particular provided the key heroics, homering in all three of his swings en route to winning Most Valuable Player honors for the All-Star Game.

The late drama to the game, in which the AL rebounded from a 6–0 deficit to tie the game and then the unprecedented swing-off, could be a boon for viewership of the Fox Sports broadcast. The swing-off, however, did not start until after 11:30 p.m. ET. 

The swing-off tiebreaker for the All-Star Game will remain at least through the current collective bargaining agreement between the league and union, expiring in December 2026. 

Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images

ATLANTA — As the 2025 MLB All-Star Game at Truist Park is now history, with the National League winning in unprecedented fashion, the focus in baseball now turns to the second half of the season, and there is no shortage of major storylines and pressing issues. Among them:

  • What’s next for Cal Raleigh? The Mariners catcher is baseball’s man of the moment, dominating the sport like few before him and winning the MLB Home Run Derby on Monday. Several records are quite reachable for him, including the single-season home run mark for a switch-hitter, the most by a catcher, and the Mariners’ single-season record. More importantly, the Mariners are also looking for just their second playoff berth since 2001.
  • How much will attendance and viewership grow? Entering the All-Star break, the league was essentially flat in attendance after a prior gain of 2% earlier in the season. The league, however, remains on track to post its best year-end total since 2017, and perhaps earlier. Each of the league’s national-rights holders, meanwhile, is posting even stronger seasons, and MLB streaming is setting numerous records on local and national levels. ESPN, particularly, is in the midst of a renaissance with Sunday Night Baseball viewership, up 11% and also at its best level in eight years, despite the network’s intent to leave the package after the season. 
  • What happens with MLB’s national media rights? The league is still looking to resell the national rights being abandoned by ESPN. A prior hope of completing new deals by the All-Star Game, however, has passed. The pacts will be a bridge to 2028, when a much larger reconstruction of MLB’s media rights is planned. 
  • Can there be any improvement in MLB’s worsening labor situation? With 17 months to go before the expiration of the current labor pact, the situation already looks grim, and the prospect of the first missed games due to labor since 1995 is growing. The MLB Players Association is accusing the league of pursuing a salary cap long hated by the union, and it says it would disrupt the sport’s current run of growth. The league, conversely, is heightening its call for systemic change to baseball’s economics. 
  • Will the Dodgers repeat as World Series champions? Early on, Los Angeles looked like a juggernaut in its title defense, winning its first 8 games and 21 of the first 31. The Dodgers, however, are just 5–7 this month, and despite a $406 million luxury-tax payroll that is a league record, have been much more beatable over the last two months as injuries have mounted. Amid heightened competition across the National League, a return to the Fall Classic is far from assured. Aiding the Dodgers, however, is Shohei Ohtani’s continued return to pitching.  
  • Will there be baseball joy in New York? The Yankees are trying to win their first World Series in 16 years, and the Mets are seeking their first title in 39 years. Both teams are spending aggressively, posting the No. 2 and No. 3 luxury-tax payrolls in the league, and both are drawing well at the gate, helping to make the Big Apple one of the sport’s epicenters. Each club, however, has battled midseason swoons and is looking up at rivals leading their divisions. 
  • Does anybody beat The Miz? Brewers rookie phenom Jacob Misiorowski, who gained an All-Star nod after just five starts, continues to electrify the sport, even as his appearance in Atlanta drew rebukes in some corners. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, however, came to his defense.

“Do I understand five starts is short? Yeah, I do. And do I want to make that the norm? No, I don’t,” Manfred said. “But I think it was the right decision given where we were.”

ATLANTA — The 2025 MLB Home Run Derby came down to less than an inch at one point of Cal Raleigh’s march to victory. The event’s viewership, however, had a clearer margin of growth. 

ESPN said its coverage of the Derby averaged 5.73 million viewers, spanning its primary coverage on ESPN itself and an alternate, Statcast-driven presentation on ESPN2. The figure is up 5% from the average of 5.45 million last year.

The network had a cleaner window in which to operate compared to last year, when the Derby competed for viewers with the 2024 Republican National Convention. 

Even as the network is opting out of its rights deal with MLB after this season, absent a renegotiation, the network sought to pull out all the stops on its presentation. It brought in top on-air personality Pat McAfee to do a live episode of his show from The Battery and introduce the eight competitors at Truist Park. ESPN also deployed drone cameras, similar to what is used in golf coverage, to help track ball flight. 

“Got a chance to do something new with a different sport,” McAfee said in a social media post. “I really enjoyed it and think it went exactly how all parties envisioned it.”

ESPN’s broadcast, however, still generated some complaints from fans. Most at issue was a split-screen presentation showing the contact batters made with pitches and where balls ultimately landed, but in some cases, it omitted the action in between.

The traditional presentation of the Derby on ESPN averaged 5.23 million viewers, while the alternate Statcast feed averaged 499,000.

Sunday’s coverage of the start of the MLB draft, meanwhile, averaged 776,000 viewers across ESPN and MLB Network, down 10% from a year ago, but still slightly above marks from 2023.


Do you think Texas will win the SEC in football this season?

Tuesday’s result: 41% of respondents watched the Home Run Derby.






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