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6 lessons learned from NCAA football over the weekend

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Of course, there was Week 0 last end of the week, yet the game truly returned this end of the week with Week 1.

Throughout the course of recent days — Thursday through Saturday — 83 games highlighting no less than one FBS program were played, with three additional games to be played today and a solitary game scheduled for Monday.

Also, as usual — when you move away from gathering realignment and media privileges bargains — the game didn’t frustrate.

There were significant bombshells, barnburners and no lack of victories. Currently a few projects seem to be shoe-ins to battle for the public title, while others give off an impression of being finished and complete dumpster fires. Hot wet trash being another relevant descriptor.

Groups from Utah — at both the FBS and FCS levels — joined to go 3-2 in general, however there are clearly those in each fanbase that accept theirs is the main in-state group that ought to have been won. This weekend and forever.

According to Matt Murschel of the Orlando Sentinel, a total of 3.8 million people watched Utah’s 24-11 win over Florida on Thursday night.

Those numbers were made even more great by the way that a lot of Focal Florida and different pieces of the nation can’t watch ESPN by any stretch of the imagination at the present time, given a continuous debate between The Walt Disney Organization and the link organization Sanction Range.

The fans that got to watch saw the Utes handle the Gators, all while being without eight starters, the greater part of whom play at pretty significant positions, similar to quarterback, cautious tackle and focus.

Utah was flawed using any and all means. Outside of the first series, the offense was pretty inconsistent, and the Utes’ rushing attack never really developed beyond a few QB runs by Nate Johnson.

Protectively, the Utes were strong front and center — which was noteworthy given who was missing — truly strong at linebacker and security and needing some improvement along the outside.

The Gators moved the ball against the Utes, but Florida made a lot of ill-timed mistakes because of timely plays, a loud crowd, and mental lapses.

Utah was supposed to battle for the Pac-12 title again this year, and possibly a spot in the School Football Season finisher, and after the success over the Gators those assumptions feel fair.

Yes, Utah clearly has areas of improvement, and no, the Gators did not appear to be in their best form. Be that as it may, in the wake of dominating at least nine matches in seven of the last eight seasons — yes we are overlooking the 2020 season — the Utes merit the opportunity to be vindicated. What’s more, a persuading prevail upon a Power Five rival, a skilled Florida group no less, just approves the elevated requirements.

We should begin here. BYU is 1-0 to start the season. The protection under new facilitator Jay Slope looked great, with playmakers arising on edge line and in the optional (it has been for a spell since that could be said about a Cougar guard).

Likewise, BYU wasn’t one of the Power Five groups upset Week 1 by an apparent lesser rival. Additionally, the Cougars joined Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF in winning their first Big 12 Conference games.

Yet, … the Cougars were somewhat of a given down Saturday night access their 14-0 win over Sam Houston State.

Nobody ought to have entered the season anticipating that BYU should be first class. The Cougars’ first year in a P5 conference should be considered a win if they qualify for the bowl. Also, nobody ought to have criticized Sam Houston, as FCS groups have demonstrated risky while making the progress to the FBS level (recollect James Madison last season).

BYU should play better going ahead, however, especially on offense, or it will be a long season.

The hostile strategy/play calling/execution was harsh, depending an extraordinary arrangement on quarterback Kedon Slovis, when it turned out to be promptly clear that Cougars have numerous proficient running backs in LJ Martin and Aidan Robbins.

Obviously, the Cougars’ hostile line battled powerfully, which made any kind of genuine hostile assault an off limits.

There likewise appeared to be to some degree an obsession with getting the ball to tight end Isaac Rex, which is fine, he’s a decent player, yet in addition he isn’t Travis Kelce or George Kittle.

Is BYU the most horrendously awful group in the Large 12? Presumably not. Are the Cougars going to be a tricky competitor in the meeting? Once more, presumably not.

Utah State lost to Iowa on Saturday, 24-14. That didn’t surprise me in and of itself. The Hawkeyes were a main 25 positioned group from the Enormous Ten, while the Aggies were picked to complete eighth in the Mountain West Meeting.

But, the Aggies were equivalent to the test for a significant part of the game. In terms of total offense, USU outgained Iowa and was more dynamic on defense (through tackles for loss, sacks, and close calls).

Notwithstanding a hopeless first quarter, when the Aggies were obviously awed by the stage, and a few natural and badly planned punishments, Utah State might have vexed Iowa. The chance was genuine.

However, those not well coordinated punishments are not another thing.

Against Iowa, Utah State had 10 punishments for 75 yards. Punishments lead trainer Blake Anderson weeped over different times a while later. After Week 1, Utah State is positioned No. 115 in the country in least punishments per game and negative. 116 is the nation’s lowest average number of penalty yards per game.

It is multi week, you say. The principal seven day stretch of the time. Yes, but this is also pretty typical for a team coached by Anderson.

In 2022, Utah State was positioned No. 129 in the country in least punishments per game, averaging 8.5 per challenge. Additionally, the Aggies ranked No. 130 in least punishment yards per game, at 77 yards for every game.

Indeed, even in 2021, when the Aggies had their fantasy season and won the MW, they positioned No. 69 (six punishments a game) and negative. 75 in the country in least punishments and least punishment yards per game.

Utah State has ability. That was demonstrated by the Aggies against the Hawkeyes, which, as a side note, is remarkable in light of the roster cuts that occurred during the offseason. In any case, become accustomed to seeing a great deal of punishments. Furthermore, whether Utah State is fruitful this season will come down to whether the group can to some degree limit its miscues, and defeat the rest.

The coaching debut of Deion Sanders with Colorado was nothing short of electrifying, entertaining, and unexpected.

With quarterback Shedeur Sanders and wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter, the Buffaloes may actually have two Heisman Trophy contenders on the team. They also have arguably the best receiving corps in the country.

The 45-42 success at TCU was downright tremendous and you can hope to hear a great deal about Colorado throughout the following week. Furthermore, the week later on the off chance that the Buffs can overcome Nebraska (Cornhuskers fan are clearly expecting to end the scourge of Scott Ice against Colorado, the group against which every one of the late game disappointments started).

However, we must stop assuming that teams are superior to one another. In this example we are discussing TCU, not Colorado.

The Horned Frogs played for the public title last year, however everybody realized they wouldn’t have been near a similar group this season. Their No. 17 positioning was to a great extent granted keeping in mind what they did in 2022, not for what the group has all the earmarks of being in 2023.

TCU doesn’t reload like Georgia, Ohio State or Alabama. Furthermore, TCU lost a ton on offense from last season — including their hostile facilitator — which really make the 42 focuses they set facing Colorado presumably more demonstrative of how unfortunate Colorado’s safeguard is.

TCU won’t be winning the Enormous 12 this season. They won’t win ten games again, either. Since joining the Enormous 12, the Horned Frogs have dominated at least 10 matches in sequential years only once, in 2014 and 2015.

Also, lead trainer Sonny Dams has never dominated at least 10 matches in sequential seasons in his training profession.

So, yes, Colorado’s victory was thrilling. In any case, so were Wyoming’s over Texas Tech and Fresno State’s over Purdue. What’s more, TCU’s not all that great.

Regarding Wyoming and Fresno State, those two MW programs were the catalysts for two of the most notable upsets of Power Five programs by Group of Five programs over the weekend.

The Cattle rustlers brought down Texas Tech in twofold additional time, while the Bulldogs overturned the Boilermakers.

The two successes were outstanding for the MWC explicitly, particularly after Boise State was destroyed by Washington and San Diego State battled powerfully with Idaho State, yet that isn’t what we are referring to here.

Promptly following the misfortunes by Texas Tech and Purdue, a large part of the clamor/conversation wasn’t, ‘Goodness look, disturbs are fun,’ yet rather, ‘Why for heaven’s sake did Texas Tech and Purdue plan those games in any case?’ Especially Texas Tech going to Laramie, Wyoming.

What’s more, the equivalent could be said to describe conversations encompassing Baylor-Texas State — likely the most stunning upset of the end of the week — Northern Illinois-Boston School, Illinois-Toledo (Illinois won yet it was a two-point game) and Houston-UTSA (another P5 triumph, scarcely).

The opinion is reasonable. A misfortune to a G5 group can be extremely harming to a fighting P5 program.

In any case, any misfortune is harming to a fighting P5 program. What’s more, none of the groups that were vexed or almost agitated about apparent lesser adversaries Week 1 are CFP competitors.

It sucks when your group is disturbed, or loses a game, yet disturbs are darling in American games. But in school football for reasons unknown. Basically for a noisy subset of fans.

Beyond major, surprising bombshells, there truly isn’t anything more engaging in that frame of mind than a significant matchup between Top 25 rivals.

That is the explanation gathering realignment has pushed the game nearer to super meetings. Fans — fanatics and casuals — love big time name brand matchups.

Week 1 didn’t have a lot, be that as it may.

No. 5 LSU and negative. 8 Florida State play Sunday night, in clash of top 10 ten groups, however that is all there is to it. That is the positioned matchup this week.

Presently, many groups merit recognition for booking rivals who might have been positioned. Utah and Florida for example. Virginia and Tennessee. North Carolina and South Carolina. The rundown could proceed.

What’s more, FCS programs needs games against FBS ones. Many can’t help contradicting that thought, yet at the same not here. Also, disturbs possibly happen when enormous schools plays less renowned ones in any case.

However, the timing of top-tier games needs to be better balanced. Greater adaptability in planning. Furthermore, more guideline of timetables by gatherings.

That would forestall games like Georgia-UT Martin, Alabama-Center Tennessee, USC-Nevada, Texas-Rice, Oregon-Portland State, Oklahoma-Arkansas State, Ole Miss-Mercer, Texas A&M-New Mexico, Notre Woman Tennessee State from all being played that very end of the week.

Each of those games ended in blowouts, and the teams won by a total of 403 points.

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49ers’ Playoff Chances Decline Despite Sunday’s Victory

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The 49ers’ resounding victory over the unfortunate Chicago Bears on Sunday gave them a chance to look like Super Bowl contenders for the first time. However, the Niners’ odds of making the playoffs worsened despite the win.

For San Francisco, especially in the NFC West, it was a difficult weekend for their hopes of qualifying for the NFC playoffs. Despite improving to 6-7, the Niners’ odds of winning the division were reduced by one percentage point from the previous week to 4% according to the Athletic’s playoff model. They still had a 6% chance of making the playoffs overall.

Using various statistical models or projections doesn’t seem to improve the situation significantly. San Francisco has an 8% probability of making the playoffs, according to NFL.com’s NextGenStats model. The Niners have a 2% chance of winning the division and a 4% chance of making the playoffs, according to the Washington Post’s most pessimistic prediction.

The Niners’ three blown leads in their divisional matchups and the prolonged consequences from them are the primary causes of the lower odds, despite their victory.

The division-leading Seattle Seahawks improved to 8-5 on Sunday by defeating the Arizona Cardinals 30-18 in the Valley of the Sun. That earned Seattle their third division victory of the season and kept San Francisco two games behind them.

If Seattle defeats the Rams on the road in Week 18 and records one additional victory (hosting the Packers and Vikings before traveling to play the Bears), the Niners will not be able to win the division, even if the 49ers finish 10-7, which would put their division record at 3-3. A victory over the Rams would give Seattle four NFC West victories, and since the teams have split their two games this season, division record will be the next tiebreaker.

In the meantime, the Rams advanced to 7-6 by defeating the Buffalo Bills 44-42 in a shootout in Inglewood. The Rams will end their schedule by playing the Jets away from home before hosting the Cardinals and Seahawks, but the 49ers can even the score in their Thursday night matchup. The Rams, who are now 2-1 in the division, could sweep their next three games and defeat the 49ers for a division title even if they lose; the final two victories would give them four NFC West victories.

Given that the Washington Commanders are 8-5, the 49ers still have a chance to earn a wild card berth. However, the 49ers will need to lose two of their next four games (at the Saints, hosting the Eagles and Falcons, and then at the Cowboys) in order to even have a chance of catching up to Washington. Although it seems unlikely, it is undoubtedly conceivable.

Regardless of your point of view, the 49ers will not be in charge of their own fate and will want assistance from some of their NFC opponents in order to maintain their prospects of making the playoffs.

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Caitlin Clark declined a larger offer and invested in the team ownership bid despite earning a five-figure WNBA salary

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The investment group for FC Cincinnati stated that Caitlin Clark is contributing to a bid for a Cincinnati-based National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) expansion team.

“The NWSL Cincinnati bid team is thrilled that Caitlin Clark has joined our ownership group in pursuit of bringing women’s professional soccer to our city,” the announcement read.

“Her passion for the sport, commitment to elevating women’s sports in and around the Greater Cincinnati region and influence as an athlete and a role model for women and girls around the world make her a vital part of our compelling bid to become the 16th team in the NWSL.”

Cincinnati joins Cleveland and Denver as the third finalist for an expansion bid.

The amount that Clark contributed to the proposal has not been made public.

According to 2024 Sportico data, the average NWSL team is worth $104 million. At $250 million, Los Angeles’ Angel City FC is the league’s most valuable team, while the Chicago Red Stars are the least valuable at $53 million.

Clark’s investment would certainly surpass her whole yearly WNBA pay if it were even close to 1% of the average franchise’s total worth.

The Impact Of Caitlin Clark On Men’s Basketball In Detail

In the first year of her rookie deal with the WNBA, Clark earned $76,535 in salary. She will earn $78,066 next year.

Joining the new Unrivaled 3-on-3 league, which will take place during the WNBA summer, gave Clark the opportunity to augment her basketball revenue. Clark was apparently being offered more than $1 million by Unrivaled. Clark, however, declined. Like other WNBA players, she declined chances to play professional basketball in Europe.

This offseason, Clark played a little amateur golf, but she has mostly been going to Taylor Swift concerts and other athletic events, such as Butler University college basketball games, which are coached by her boyfriend.

It will be April 2025 before she reports to training camp for her second WNBA season.

Clark is thought to have numerous more sources of income from endorsement deals, though.

Over the course of eight years, Clark’s endorsement contract with Nike is worth roughly $28 million. This contract covers Nike marketing initiatives, product endorsements, and promotional appearances.

She also has agreements with Goldman Sachs, Wilson Sporting Goods, Gatorade, Bose, State Farm, Buick, H&R Block, Topps, and Shoot-A-Way.

Hy-Vee even makes a cereal that she calls “Caitlin’s Crunch Time.”

Since Clark keeps her spending habits under wraps, not much else is known about her lifestyle. However, if the city wins the expansion franchise, everyone will know if she is responsible for her investment in the Cincinnati FC proposal. Clark’s involvement as an investor might influence the choice.

Swift and Clark were recently featured on the cover of Time magazine’s Inspiring Women special edition issue, which highlighted eight women in leadership roles, including several athletes.

Clark appeared in all 15 of the WNBA’s most watched games from the previous season.

The willingness of Cincinnati residents to support a professional women’s soccer club might therefore have a significant impact on her financial future if that secures her investment group the NWSL team.

In 2023, Cincinnati’s median household income was $54,314. In 2022, the median household income in the Cincinnati metro region was $75,062, which is somewhat higher than the median for the entire country. Women make up more than half of Cincinnati’s population.

The WNBA does not have a team in Cincinnati. It does, however, have FC Cincinnati, a men’s professional soccer team in Major League Soccer. The city’s only professional sports teams are the Reds of Major League Baseball and the Bengals of the NFL.

Since turning pro, Clark’s fiercest WNBA competitor has already acknowledged having financial difficulties.

In an October social media post, Chicago Sky star Angel Reese acknowledged that she is unable to use her WNBA earnings to cover her rent. Reese earned $73,439 as a rookie with the Sky, but her annual rent of $8,000 is $96,000.

Reese said to her audience, “I just hope y’all know,” that “the WNBA don’t pay my bills at all. I don’t even think that pays one of my bills. Literally. I’m trying to think of my rent for where I stay at. Let me do the math real quick.”

“I’m living beyond my means!” Reese said with a laugh after realizing her pay and what she was paying.

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Some ‘telekinesis’ helps the Utah Jazz defeat the Mavericks 115-113 for their first home victory

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To be honest, after the 3-pointer he had just made, that was the only suitable reaction. Clarkson almost double-dribbled, almost ran out of time, and then almost committed a backcourt violation. His shaky running 3-pointer from the wing instead went in.

At the end, he could have done the same.

To be honest, after the 3-pointer he had just made, that was the only suitable reaction. Clarkson almost double-dribbled, almost ran out of time, and then almost committed a backcourt violation. His shaky running 3-pointer from the wing instead went in.

After catching Dallas in a preswitch, Clarkson zipped a pass under the rim to a wide-open John Collins. With 6.4 seconds left, he made an uncontested two-handed slam that proved to be the game-winning basket as Utah defeated the Mavericks 115-113.

During that last possession, Luka Doncic was on Collins down low. Doncic had his sights set on the corner, and Quentin Grimes started to cheat up the wing to meet Collins, who seemed to be expecting him to run up to set a pick for Clarkson.

The issue? He was left alone in the most hazardous area of the court when Collins chose not to go up.

“I’m just happy me and John had some, like, telekinesis action going on,” Clarkson stated. “I mean, he just read my eyes and knew what I was looking for.”

“Me and JC were just like looking at each other: ‘You gonna be open?'” Collins grinned as he spoke. “You can see JC saying (with his eyes), ‘No stay, Here you go.’ And it was just like a great play that shows our chemistry. We always had a JC-to-JC connection. JC made a great read, finished the play, and we finally got a home win.”

Collins completed a 28-point evening with the final dunk, maintaining his impressive recent play.

After it appeared that the home team was losing the game, he scored Utah’s final two baskets. Utah led by 16 points early in the fourth quarter after a solid third quarter, which has been unusual for the Jazz this season. Doncic then guided Dallas to victory.

The Dallas star finished the game with nine assists and 37 points. With 1:33 left, he helped Derrick Lively, giving the Mavericks a two-point advantage.

At that moment, Utah appeared to have no answer for a Mavericks team on the rise and was without Lauri Markkanen, who was hurt in the eye and missed the end of the game.

Collins and Clarkson supplied one.

“JC and John were unbelievable down the stretch,” Hardy stated. “Their poise really stood out. JC, made big plays. John made big plays all night. His energy is infectious for us.”

Clarkson finished a 3-point play on the other end after he was knocked down by a bucket. Then, with 36.7 seconds left, Collins dunk after rebounding a rejected Clarkson jumper to put Utah ahead 3 points.

Klay Thompson’s wing three to tie the game only served to set up the last play by Clarkson and Collins.

“They got confused on whether they were switching or not—sort of two guys went back out towards the corner and JC threw him a dart,” Hardy recalled. “But that’s JC and John understanding the moment together.”

Collin Sexton ended with 16 points and five rebounds, while Clarkson finished with 20 points and four assists. Kyle Filipowski scored 11 of his 14 points in a dominant second quarter, and Lauri Markkanen added 14 points before he left.

Six of the Jazz’s players were in double figures.

“Tonight’s not about like the X’s and O’s piece, the tactical piece. It was about the mental and the physical toughness the team showed throughout and really stuck with it against a good team tonight. That’s what we’re looking for,” Hardy stated.

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