Louisiana hosts Troy following Conerway's 20-point performance
Lafayette, Louisiana; Wednesday, 8:30 p.m. EST
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Trojans -9.5; over/under is 136.5
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NBC Sports
3 hours ago
- NBC Sports
Mississippi State working to bounce back from rough first season under Jeff Lebby
STARKVILLE, Miss. — Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby enters his second season still looking for his first victory with the Bulldogs in Southeastern Conference play. Lebby, however, doesn't judge his maiden campaign solely by the Bulldogs' winless league record. 'The result was not what we want, wasn't the expectation,' he said. 'But if you know football and you watch, you can tell that it's a group of guys that believe, and so people want to be a part of that. There's great belief, passion, toughness, confidence inside the program right now.' The former offensive coordinator at Ole Miss and Oklahoma was widely seen as a rising star when he was hired at State after the regular season in 2023. His new job presented some tough challenges. The Bulldogs had been through a tumultuous calendar year that included coach Mike Leach unexpected death during the team's bowl game preparations. Defensive coordinator Zach Arnett took over, but couldn't last a full season as the Bulldogs struggled to a 5-7 record. Just four games into Lebby's first season, starting quarterback Blake Shapen went out with a shoulder injury. Lebby was left with true freshman Michael Van Buren at QB and the conference's worst statistical defense, resulting in a 2-10 overall mark. Lebby brought in Phil Loadholt to replace Cody Kennedy as offensive line coach, and added former head coaches Mike MacIntyre and Paul Rhodes as defensive analysts, along with former Colorado defensive line coach Vincent Dancy to coach the pass rushers. He also bolstered the roster with nearly 30 transfers and a full signing class. Second-year defensive coordinator Coleman Hutzler has more more depth and talent on a unit that accounted for just 10 sacks last season. Offensively, Shapen returns for a final season of eligibility. It will be an offense built around a stable of running backs and led by a QB who enters his second year in Lebby's system and fifth year of college football. 'Being able to move a lot faster than I was last year is a big thing for me and then moving with tempo but also being able to lead other guys too,' Shapen said. 'I feel like last year I was very focused on the offense. This year I have a lot of opportunity to lead other guys and get guys in spots.' Ground game It took some time last year for the Bulldogs to get the running game off the ground, but former Utah State running back Davon Booth and junior college product Johnnie Daniels became a solid 1-2 punch. After Booth was granted another season of eligibility — stemming from Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia's precedent-setting case regarding junior college players — he is set for a huge senior campaign. Booth and Daniels have had plenty of competition from former South Alabama standout Fluff Bothwell, who gained more than 800 yards and a Sun Belt-Leading 13 touchdowns in 2024. Seth Davis, Kolin Wilson and Xavier Gayten also have shown potential. Retooled offensive line For the running game to thrive, Loadholt's line will have to pave the way. Lebby and Loadholt added five new faces from the transfer portal and added size to give the Bulldogs one of the bigger lines in the country. Jimothy Lewis and Luke Work are promising blockers poised to improve in Year 2, while Albert Reese and Canon Boone return as fifth-year veterans. Colorado transfer Zach 'Flap Jack' Owens and Virginia's Blake Steen could make an impact as well. Defensive line beefed up Improving the defensive line was among the Bulldogs' top priorities. Veteran line coach David Turner now has bigger players up front. Meanwhile, there's been an emphasis on getting defensive ends and linebackers better equipped to pressure QBs after finishing last in the league in sacks last season. The schedule The Bulldogs' SEC schedule features four teams that played in last season's inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff and seven ranked in the preseason AP Top 25. Lebby and his squad will host playoff teams Arizona State, Tennessee, Texas and Georgia with road trips to teams like Missouri and Texas A&M. The Bulldogs also have their annual matchup at home against rival Ole Miss, a team that was on the outside looking in of last year's playoff.
Chicago Tribune
8 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
Dave Melton's top 10 girls soccer teams and 25 players to watch in Northwest Indiana for the 2025 season
Crown Point and Munster will try to defend their conference titles, but challenges await both teams. 1. Crown Point (14-3): The defending Duneland Athletic Conference champion Bulldogs, who also won a Class 3A sectional title, bring back their top scorer, senior forward Hannah Pesich (15 goals), and starting goalkeeper, senior Sam Quick (4 shutouts). Senior defender Jordan Villeneuve and senior midfielder Addy Sabau also are key players, and sophomore forward Ariana Schutt is an additional scoring threat. 2. Lake Central (13-4): Longtime boys soccer coach Jereme Rainwater adds the girls program to his responsibilities and inherits a lineup that features multiple key producers from last season, including senior midfielder Phoebe Fogarty (10 goals), sophomore forward Claire Widstrand (8 goals, 7 assists) and senior defender Olivia Connelly. Rainwater also raved about freshman forward Ella Crowley, who should make an immediate impact. 3. Valparaiso (14-5-2): Leading the Vikings after their 3A regional runner-up finish last season is junior forward Mia Smith (14 goals), who was an all-state sprinter in the spring. The defense also has a veteran presence, senior Grace Ely, while newer varsity players like junior midfielder Ainslee McGinty and sophomore defender Gabby Bilek should be lineup fixtures. 4. Chesterton (7-10): Senior forward Adey Avey is healthy again and looking for her fourth double-digit goal season. Senior forward Eva Montes and senior midfielder Claire Vrahoretis will also help the Trojans score goals, while senior defenders Salina Ford and Alice Fancher will help prevent them. 5. Munster (11-6-1): The defending Northwest Crossroads Conference champion Mustangs return their leading scorer, senior forward Maya Maldonado (11 goals), and senior goalkeeper Jenna Krieg. They provide bookends for a team that should remain a conference contender. 6. Hobart (14-3-1): The Brickies have advanced from four wins in 2020 to NCC title contention. Junior forward Kurah Krucina (19 goals, 9 assists) and junior midfielder Addy Hendricks (11 goals, 18 assists) return, and the defense is led by juniors Olivia Mehay and Emma Bullington. 7. Lowell (7-8-1): Seniors lead at every level of the field for the Red Devils with defender Ginny Banek, midfielder Brooke Miller (6 assists) and forward Kaelen Lulinski (14 goals). But a trio of freshmen are expected to start: midfielder Emma Hamilton and defenders Lilly Oman and Camille Joppek. 8. Hanover Central (18-3): The graduation of Kiara Desiderio, who scored 241 career goals, leaves a sizable hole for the 2A semistate runner-up Wildcats. But junior goalkeeper Layla Nestor (8 shutouts) returns. 9. Highland (12-6): After winning a 2A sectional title last season, the Trojans will be anchored by senior defender Addison Hill. But veterans are all over the field with junior midfielder Grace Houchin, junior midfielder Savannah Ballard, senior midfielder Payton Bailey, sophomore forward Elise Barreiro and junior forward Madelyn Gora. 10. Wheeler (12-6): The Bearcats, who have won two straight sectional titles and nine in 13 seasons, are led by senior forward Jessica Surufka (14 goals). Senior defender/midfielder Sadie Bolan and senior goalkeeper Ashlynne Trinidad also are key players.
USA Today
10 hours ago
- USA Today
USC football countdown to kickoff—Charles White in focus
The countdown to USC's 2025 football season is officially on! The Trojans kick off their new campaign 12 days from today. You need something to help you while away the days and hours in the spring and summer. This is one way to do so. In this new series, countdown to kickoff, we will be counting down the days by highlighting a notable Trojan who wore each number. Today, we look at USC Heisman Trophy running back Charles White. Position: Running back Years played at USC: 1976-1979 Career highlights: Of all of the great running backs that have come through USC, none have rushed for more yards than White. He finished his four-year career in Cardinal and Gold with 6,245 yards and, the next closest, Marcus Allen, sits more than 1,400 yards behind. In both 1978 and 1979, White earned Unanimous All-American honors. In 1978, he led the Trojans to the national championship, and in 1979, he became USC's third Heisman Trophy winner. White is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. After USC: The Cleveland Browns selected White with the 27th overall pick in the 1980 NFL Draft. He went on to play eight seasons in the league—four with Cleveland and four with the Los Angeles Rams. His best season in the league came in 1987 with Los Angeles, when he rushed for 1,374 yards and 11 touchdowns. That season, he was namedto the Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro. From 1993-1997, White served as the running backs coach at USC. In his later years, he struggled with dementia, likely caused by CTE from his playing days and years of struggling with drug use. White passed away in 2023 at the age of 64. The Trojans honored him during the 2023 season.
