The #4 ranked Miami Hurricanes beat the Florida Gators 26-7, in their rivalry game. The Gators continue their freefall this season.
#17 Texas Tech beat the #16 Utah Utes, at Rice-Eccles Stadium, 34-10, in a turnover prone game.
#24 Notre Dame finally got a win, beating Purdue 56-30.
#19 Indiana Hoosiers absolutely beat the snot out of #9 Illinois Fighting Illini, 63-10.
In a great Saturday night game, #11 Oklahoma Sooners got a big conference win, over #23 Auburn Tigers, 24-17.
The Clemson Tigers and Wisconsin Badgers continue to fall apart, with losses to unranked opponents, Syracuse and Maryland.
With so many performances to choose from, here are your Week 4 college football helmet stickers.
1) Indiana Hoosiers.
There was no better team performance in Week 4, then Indiana. The college football spotlight was on Bloomington, IN with a primetime game on NBC, and the Hoosiers put their best foot forward. The offense couldn’t be stopped, and the defense was a stonewall, not allowing the Illini to get anything going. Great win for the team and the program.
2) Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana Hoosiers.
The 6’5″ junior transfer quarterback shone the brightest in the biggest game of his career to date. He went 21 of 23 (91.3%), for 267 yards, and 5 TDs, with a 260.0 RTG, and 96.3 QBR. He didn’t make any mistakes and kept the ball out of harm’s way. That’s exactly what he needs to do, if they’re going to keep winning as conference play ramps up.
3) Red Murdock, LB, Buffalo Bulls.
The 6’3″, 240 lbs senior was all over the field, and just wreaking havoc all game long, in a 21-17 loss. He finished the game with 12 tackles, 1 sack, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery.
– by Sean McKenzie
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Stats courtesy of…..NCAA.
Pictures courtesy of…..wallpapercave, indystar, and ubbulls.
Is #25 USC for real??? We’ll find out as they take on an undefeated and scrappy Michigan State.
The last time we saw Oklahoma State on the field, they lost 69-3 to the Oregon Ducks. Can they bounce back against a woeful Tulsa team on Friday night?
We have the Iron Skillet Game this week, as undefeated TCU takes on their bitter rival SMU.
Will the #4 ranked Miami Hurricanes send the Florida Gators back home to Gainsville with their 3rd straight loss?
I went 2-1 last week, and I am 5-1 for the season.
So here are the 3 games you should watch this week.
1) #9 Illinois Fighting Illini at #19 Indiana Hoosiers. Game is Saturday night, at 7:30 PM (EST) on NBC.
I am so happy to see that NBC is doing the right thing and putting this game in primetime. 2 teams that are historically mid to bad, are having back-to-back good seasons. It’s nice to see them rewarded.
The Fighting Illini are led by QB Luke Altmyer has gone 56 of 79, for 709 yards, with 8 TDs and 0 INTs, but it’s been the running game that has really stolen the show. Junior Kaden Feagin has 50 carries for 222 yards and 3 TDs. He’s a 250 lb hammer that wears a defense down with his physical style of running.
The defense is led by senior LB Gabe Jacas, who leads the team in sacks (3.5) and forced fumbles (2). They are gap sound, and they make opposing teams earn every yard.
The Hoosiers offense is led by QB Fernado Mendoza. The Cal transfer has come in a really taken control of the offense, going 55 of 76, for 708 yards, with 9 TDs and 0 INTs. The running game has shown up so far this season, with 3 players (Kaelon Black, Lee Beebe Jr, and Roman Hemby) each already running for over 200 yards rushing a piece.
The defense is active on every level. They show a lot of movement up front and with the linebackers, trying to confuse the quarterback and disguise schemes. This had led to 4 INTs already this season.
Prediction – Illinois pulls away late to get a 31-24 win on the road.
2) #22 Auburn Tigers at #11 Oklahoma Sooners. Game is Saturday afternoon at 3:30 PM (EST) on ABC.
Are either of these two teams for real? Especially after such dismal seasons last year. Both teams are 3-0 coming into their SEC conference openers. Of course, everyone is talking about Auburn coming back to Norman, OK after transferring out in the offseason.
Yes, Arnold was brought into Auburn to “fix” the passing game. He’s gone 48 of 69, for 501 yards, with 4 TDs and 0 INTs, but it’s been his running ability that has sparked the offense (35 carries, 192 yards, 4 TDs). Being teamed with leading rusher, junior HB Jeremiah Cobb (46 carries, for 314 yards, and 4 TDs) has turned the Tigers into a running team.
They have a very active secondary, as 3 of their Top 5 tacklers are defensive backs. Senior defensive end Keyron Crawford leads the team in sacks (3), interceptions (1) and forced fumbles (1).
The Sooners are led by transfer QB John Mateer and his gun slinging, gritty, hardnosed mentality. He’s 71 of 105, for 944 yards, with 5 TDs but he’s thrown 3 INTs. He’s ran the ball 33 times, for 161 yards, and 4 TDs. Can he keep this pace in the SEC?
This is a Brent Venables team, which means the defense is sound. Their Top 4 tacklers are all linebackers, and they make you earn every yard, and every score. They’ve been much more physical so far this season, than last season.
Prediction – Something is telling me that Auburn pulls the upset. Mateer throws a late game INT, and the Tigers get out of Norman with a big 28-24 win.
Arkansas Razorbacks at Memphis Tigers. Game is Saturday afternoon, at Noon (12:00 PM, EST) on ABC.
Not expecting this, were you? This is a dangerous trap game for the Razorbacks, who are coming off a hard fought, disappointing loss last week.
Arkansas is led by senior QB Taylen Green, and he is so fun to watch. He’s completed 63 of 92 passes, for 866 yards, with 11 TDs and 2 INTs. He also leads the team in rushing with 32 carries, for 307 yards, with 2 TDs. He’s a dynamic dual threat quarterback.
The defense flies around with that “SEC speed” that they like to brag about. Their back seven causes havoc with that speed, and the defensive line doesn’t get out of position, which allows them to cause said havoc.
This is not the high-flying Memphis offense that we’ve all come to expect. This Tigers offense is running the football. Senior QB Brendon Lewis is 55 of 75, for 608 yards, with only 2 TDs and 1 INT. He’s also 2nd on the team with 190 yards rushing, with 2 TDs. Junior HB Sutton Smith has 247 yards, on 41 carries, with 4 TDs.
They may not be an “SEC team” but the Memphis defense has the speed to match. They already have 8 players that have 10+ tackles, and their 10 sacks and pressure have led to 4 INTs this season. Senior linebacker Sam Brumfield leads the Tigers in both tackles (17) and sacks (3).
Prediction – Arkansas is mad and will not fall victim to this trap game. Razorbacks win 42-28.
The San Francisco 49ers have signed their starting quarterback Brock Purdy to a 5-year $265 million dollar contract extension, including $181 million dollars guaranteed. The new contract runs through the 2030 season.
Purdy made a total of $2.6 million in his first three seasons combined, now he’ll have an average salary of $53 million dollars, which is $2.9 million per week.
The old saying “He who laughs last, laughs the hardest”. Well, Purdy who is known as “Mr. Irrelvant” for being the final pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, is laughing all the way to the bank.
In his career, Purdy has completed 67.5% of his passes, for 9,518 yards, with 64 TDs and 27 INTs.
NBA PLAYOFFS.
The NBA Conference Finals are now set.
The #1 seeded Oklahoma City Thunder will take on the #6 seeded Minnesota Timberwolves in the West.
The Thunder and Wolves split the season series 2-2.
Game 1 is Tuesday night, in Oklahoma City, at 8:30 PM (EST) on ESPN.
The #3 seeded New York Knicks will take on the #4 seeded Indiana Pacers in the East.
The Knicks got the season series 2-1.
This is a great nostalgia feel for me. Brings back memories of the Knicks-Pacers rivalry games in the 90’s.
Game 1 is Wednesday night, in New York, at 8:00 PM (EST) on TNT, truTV, and Max.
NHL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS.
The Conference Finals for the Stanley Cup are now finally set.
In the West, the C2 Dallas Stars will take on the P3 Edmonton Oilers.
Game 1 is Wednesday night, in Dallas, at 8:00 PM (EST) on ESPN.
In the East, the A3 Florida Panthers will take on the very rested M2 Carolina Hurricanes.
Game 1 is Tuesday night, in Charlotte, at 8:00 PM (EST), on TNT, truTV, and Max.
MLB SCORES AND NEWS.
Philadelphia Phillies P Joe Alvarado has been suspended by Major League Baseball for the next 80 games, after testing positive exogenous testosterone, which is a performance-enhacing drug.
The suspension is effective immediately and also disqualifies him from being eligible to play in the postseason, if the Phillies make the playoffs.
Alvarado will not appeal the suspension.
My Aunt Chris’ teams continue to beat mine in 2025, as her Cincinnati Reds complete the weekend sweep against my Cleveland Guardians with a 3-1 win yesterday afternoon.
The Milwaukee Brewers ended the Minnesota Twins 13-game winning streak with a 5-2 win.
The Cubs sweep the White Sox with a 6-2 win.
The Yankees take two out of three from the Mets in the Subway Series, as they get the 8-2 victory last night.
OTHER NEWS.
The PWHL’s (Professional Women’s Hockey League) Walter Cup Finals are set.
The Ottawa Charge will take on the defending champion Minnesota Frost.
I’m very much looking forward to this series. Both teams have good goalie tandems and strong forward lines.
Women’s hockey doesn’t get enough love or credit.
Game 1 is Tuesday night, at TD Place in Ottawa, at 7:00 PM (EST), on TSN and RDS for Canada, and on FanDuel Sports Newtwork North and YouTube for America.
Prediction – I love that Ottawa has made it here, it’s good for the city and the fans, but Minnesota has been here before.
Frost forwards Kendall Coyne-Schofield (12G-12A-24P) and Taylor Heise (8G-14A-22P) just always seem to be around the puck in the big moments this season. The Frost also have a big edge on the Powerplay and Penalty Kill.
I’m taking Minnesota to repeat as Walter Cup Champions winning in 4 games.
– by Sean McKenzie
Stats and information courtesy of…..ESPN, NBA, NHL, MLB, NWHL, NFL.
My #1 seeded Cleveland Cavaliers have officially been eliminated from the NBA Finals Playoffs, losing to the #4 seeded Indiana Pacers 4-1, with a 114-105 loss last night.
The injury bug finally got his teeth into the Cavaliers at the worst possible time. Superstar SG Donovan Mitchell with an ankle injury, PF Evan Mobley, SF De’Andre Hunter, all missed time in this series.
The shots just weren’t falling for the Cavaliers in this series. The momentum that came from winning 60+ games in the regular season and sweeping the Miami Heat, just didn’t follow them into the 2nd round.
The Pacers budding stars played their best this series. PG Tyrese Haliburton and PF Pascal Siakam stepped up when it was needed throughout this series. Full game highlights below.
PG Tyrese Haliburton led the team with 31 points and 8 assists, while SF Aaron Nesmith brought in 13 rebounds.
The Pacers await the winner between the #2 seeded Boston Celtics and the #3 seeded New York Knicks.
The Knicks lead that series 3-1.
The #1 seeded Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the #4 seeded Denver Nuggets 112-105 last night, to take a 3-2 lead in the series.
PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 31 points and 7 assists. F Jalen Williams led the team with 8 rebounds.
Nuggets C Nikola Jokic had a big night in a losing effort, scoring 44 points, bringing in 15 rebounds, and 5 assists. Full game highlights below.
Game 6 is Thursday night, in Denver, at 8:30 PM (EST) on ESPN.
Boston Celtics superstar SF Jayson Tatum had surgery to repair a torn left Achilles tendon yesterday.
He suffered the injury late in the 4th quarter of the Celtics Game 4 loss to the Knicks on Monday.
No timetable has been given for his return.
NFL NEWS.
The NFL released the schedule for their international games this upcoming season.
The Minnesota Vikings have 2 games overseas this upcoming season, including one against my Cleveland Browns on October 5th.
My fellow LabRoomFam and close friend Nick, might have to put another wager on that game. I won the last bet on 10/3/21, when the Browns beat the Vikings 14-7 in Minnesota.
Games will be played in England, Ireland, Spain, Germany, and Brazil.
The full schedule release will be tonight at 8:00 PM (EST) on NFL Network.
NHL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS AND NEWS.
The C2 Dallas Stars defeated the C1 Winnipeg Jets last night 3-1, to take a big 3-1 lead in the series.
Stars C Mikael Granlund got his first career playoff hat trick, scoring goals in all 3 periods, including 2 of them on the powerplay.
Stars goalie Jake Gettinger stopped 31 of the 32 shots he faced.
See all 3 goals below.
Game 5 is Thursday night, in Winnipeg, at 9:30 PM (EST) on TNT, truTV, and Max.
The Anaheim Ducks have hired Joel Quenneville as their new head coach.
The 66-year-old is 2nd in NHL history with a record of 969-572-150, in stints with the St. Louis Blues, Colorado Avalanche, Chicago Blackhawks, and Florida Panthers.
He’s been out of the league since October 27th, 2021, when he was fired by Florida Panthers, after he covered up evidence, of sexual assault on former Blackhawks player Kyle Beach, by then video coach Brad Aldrich in 2010.
My personal opinion is that this is a disgusting move. Quenneville deserves to be banned from coaching at any level, in any league, anywhere in the world.
It’s a disgrace to victims of sexual assault of both sexes everywhere. He knowingly covered up evidence and misled law enforcement and NHL investigators.
I’m ashamed of the NHL for even allowing this to happen. It puts a dark pall on what has been a very exciting Stanley Cup Playoffs this season.
MLB SCORES AND NEWS.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred removed all-time hits leader Pete Rose, “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, and others from the leagues permanently ineligible list.
They had all been banned from anything MLB related for admitting to gambling and in Jacksons’ case “fixing” the 1919 World Series.
They will now all be eligible for the MLB Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.
In my personal opinion, lifting the ban on Pete Rose in long overdue. He never lost games on purpose. Lifting the ban on “Shoeless” Joe Jackson is a disgrace to the game of baseball and all sports. He and others intentially rigged the 1919 World Series. There should never, ever be a place of forgiveness in any sport, for that.
Guardians beat the Brewers 2-0.
The Detroit Tigers continue to surprise everyone, as they beat the Boston Red Sox 10-9.
The Mariners beat the Yankees 2-1, in extra innings (11).
The Dodgers get smoked by the Athletics 11-1.
Question of the day – Do agree that Pete Rose and “Shoeless” Joe Jackson’s bans deserve to be lifted???
Drop a comment telling me why or why not.
– by Sean McKenzie
Stats and information courtesy of…..NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, ESPN, bleacherreport, MSN.
Pictures and videos courtesy of…..NFL, SI, MLB, MSN, bleacherreport, and YouTube.
Quarterback Derek Carr has decided to retire, after 11 seasons in the NFL. The former Raiders and Saints QB attended Fresno State and was the 36th pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. He finishes his career throwing for 41,245 yards, with 257 TDs and 112 INTs.
Rookie mini camps were held over the weekend. Jaguars #2 pick WR/CB Travis Hunter took snaps on the offensive side of the ball. HC Liam Coen said that Hunter will get defensive reps next week. Browns #5 pick DT Mason Graham made headlines after he was caught vomiting on the field. HC Kevin Stefanski blew it off saying that he simply ate too much.
MMA NEWS.
Jack Della Maddalena (18-2) defeated Belal Muhammad (24-4) to become the new UFC Welterweight Champion, in an absolute slugfest. The judges gave Jack the UD win with scores of 48-47 (x2) and 49-46. Jack has now won 18 straight fights. His last lost coming way back in 2016.
Some things just seem to stay the same. Valentina Shevchenko (25-4-1) defended her Women’s Flyweight Championship for a record 10th time, defeating Manon Fiorot (12-2) by UD. 48-47 (x3).
Featherweight legend Jose Aldo (32-10), retired in the octagon after losing to Aiemann Zahabi (13-2).
Former Light Heavyweight Champion Vitor Belfort will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame later this year.
Belfort (26-14) burst onto the scene when he won the UFC Heavyweight Tournament back in 1997, at only 19 years of age.
In 2013, his legal use of testosterone-replacement therapy (TRT) became a worldwide sports controversy. The Nevada State Athletic Commission later banned TRT, from competition without medical proof of necessity.
He holds career wins against legends Randy Couture, Wanderlei Silva, Rich Franklin, Luke Rockhold, Michael Bisping, and Dan Henderson.
NBA Playoffs.
The #4 seeded Indiana Pacers defeated the #1 seeded Cleveland Cavaliers 129-109, to take a 3-1 series lead.
PF Pascal Siakam led the team with 21 points. C Myles Turner had 7 rebounds, and PG T.J. McConnell had 8 assists.
Game 6 is Tuesday night, in Cleveland at 7:00 PM (EST) on TNT, truTV, and Max.
The #1 seeded Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the #4 seeded Denver Nuggets 92-87, to tie the series at 2-2.
PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led with 25 points and 6 assists. C Isaiah Hartenstein had 14 rebounds to lead the team.
Game 5 is also on Tuesday night, in Oklahoma City, at 9:30 PM (EST) on TNT, truTV, and Max.
NHL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS.
The A3 and defending Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers, defeated the A1 Toronto Maple Leafs 2-0, to tie the series at 2-2.
Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky got his 5th career playoff shutout, stopping all 23 shots attempted.
Tempers flared at the end of the game, when Maple Leafs C Max Domi (Pussycat Max, as I call him), landed his latest in a long career of cheap shots, this time on Panthers C Aleksander Barkov.
Game 5 is Wednesday night, in Toronto, at 7:00 PM (EST) on ESPN.
The C2 Dallas Stars defeated the C1 Winnepeg Jets 5-2, to take a 2-1 lead in the series.
Stars RW Mikko Rantanen continues his incredible playoff run with another 3 points (1G/2A). Full game highlights below.
Game 4 is Tuesday night, in Dallas, at 8:00 PM (EST) on ESPN.
MLB NEWS.
Phillies beat the Guardians 3-0.
In a battle of division leaders, the Mets beat the Cubs 6-2.
League leading Dodgers beat the Diamondbacks 8-1.
Surprising Tigers lose to the Rangers 6-1.
The Rockies actually win a game!!! Beating the Padres 9-3.
OTHER NEWS.
Congratulations to my Aunt Chris’ as her Toledo Walleye defeated my Fort Wayne Komets 4 games to 2 and advance to the Western Conference Finals in the ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs.
Question of the day – Did your favorite team make the playoffs?
– by Sean McKenzie
Stats and information courtesy of…..ESPN, NFL, NHL, MLB, ECHL, NBA, bleacherreport, UFC.
Pictures and video courtesy of…..wallpapercave, UFC, ECHL, bleacherreport, and YouTube.
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