Latest news with #SECChampionship
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
What would an NBA championship mean to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander?
What would an NBA championship mean to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander? Conventional wisdom took a while to catch up to reality, but the Oklahoma City Thunder destroying the Western Conference en route to the 2025 NBA Finals has finally forced folks to realize the truth — one of the greatest teams ever is four wins away from a championship. Despite the sports world laser-focusing on OKC ahead of Game 1 against the Indiana Pacers, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander remains as locked in as ever. Everybody might view the NBA Finals as a foregone conclusion, considering how lopsided the odds are, but the MVP winner can't look past Indiana. "Honestly, not really," Gilgeous-Alexander said on if he's reflected on their historic season. "I've been so focused on just Game 1. Trying to be the best version of myself for this group and trying to make sure that we're clicking on all cylinders on the biggest stage of our careers has been on the forefront of my mind and all I do worry about when I worry about basketball." Gilgeous-Alexander understands he sets the mindset for the rest of the squad. How he treats the lengthy wait before Game 1 will be copied by the rest of his teammates. They might be the overwhelming favorite on paper, but the games are played on the court for a reason. "To win a title on top of everything that happened this year would be special. I said this so many times, I don't play for the individual stuff, I don't play for anything else besides winning. I never have in my whole life," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "When I was nine years old, I played to win an OBA championship. When I was 20 years old, I played to win the SEC Championship. Now I'm 26, I want to win the NBA championship. It's always about winning for me." If the Thunder do what everybody expects them to do, that will catapult Gilgeous-Alexander into all-time great conversations. That would be a surreal cherry on top to one of the most unlikely journeys into one of the league's best players over the last four years.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Three Florida football legends land on 2026 College Football Hall of Fame ballot
Three Florida football legends land on 2026 College Football Hall of Fame ballot Three former Florida football greats are among the nominees for the 2026 College Football Hall of Fame class. The National Football Foundation announced on Monday that defensive linemen Alex Brown and Brad Culpepper, along with wide receiver Percy Harvin, are part of a star-studded ballot that includes 79 players and nine coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision, along with 100 players and 35 coaches from the divisional ranks. Ballots are distributed to more than 12,000 NFF members and current Hall of Famers. Voting closes July 1, with the 2026 class to be officially announced early next year. Brown, a dominant pass rusher from 1998 to 2001, was a consensus All-American and two-time first-team All-SEC selection. He ranks second all-time in career sacks for Florida and played a critical role in the Gators' 2000 SEC Championship run. Brown later enjoyed a successful NFL career with the Chicago Bears. Culpepper anchored the Gators' defensive line in the early 1990s and earned consensus All-America honors in 1991. Known for his strength and intelligence, Culpepper was also a finalist for the Outland Trophy and the recipient of an NCAA postgraduate scholarship. He played nine seasons in the NFL and remains involved in advocacy for athletes post-retirement. Harvin, one of the most electrifying players in college football during his time, was a key figure in Florida's national championships in 2006 and 2008. The versatile receiver and return man scored 32 total touchdowns in just three seasons, earning All-American honors before being drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft. With this trio under consideration, Florida continues to assert its historic legacy within the sport. The Gators boast multiple inductees in the College Football Hall of Fame, including Steve Spurrier, Emmitt Smith and Tim Tebow. Urban Meyer was the latest Gator to be inducted as part of the 2025 class. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Florida football: Three former Gators named to CFB Hall of Fame ballot
Three former Florida football standouts ― Alex Brown, Brad Culpepper and Percy Harvin ― were named on June 2 to the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame ballot for the 2026 class. Harvin helped lead the Florida Gators to national championships in 2006 and 2008 as a two-way rushing and receiving threat in head coach Urban Meyer's spread offense. In three seasons at UF, Harvin had 33 catches for 1,929 yards and 13 TDs, while rushing 194 times for 1,852 yards on 19 TDs. He went on to a seven-year NFL career, winning a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks in 2014. Advertisement Brown played at UF from 1998-2001 under Steve Spurrier, earning consensus All-American honors his final season at UF. A Japser native and former Hamilton High standout, Brown finished his four-year Florida career with 161 tackles, 47 tackles for loss and 33 sacks. He went on to an eight-year NFL career with the Chicago Bears (2002-09) and New Orleans Saints (2010). Culpepper played at UF from 1988-91, finishing his career with 47.5 tackles for loss, 18 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, 5 fumble recoveries and 4 pass breakups. In 1991, Culpepper captained the Gators to their first SEC Championship and led the defense with 50 tackles. Culpepper went on to a seven-year NFL career from 1993-2000 with the Minnesota Vikings, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chicago Bears. Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun's Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@ Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1. Read his coverage of the Gators' national championship basketball season in 'CHOMP-IONS!' — a hardcover coffee-table collector's book from The Sun. Details at This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: CFB Hall of Fame ballot includes three former Florida football standouts
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Against all odds: What are Texas A&M's chances to reach the 2025 SEC Championship?
Against all odds: What are Texas A&M's chances to reach the 2025 SEC Championship? After finishing last year's campaign 8-5 (5-3 SEC), the Texas A&M football program is eyeing another opportunity to reach the Southeastern Conference Championship in 2025. It will be easier said than done, however. The conference is in no short supply of depth and talent, as 12 teams have odds of 5000 or better to make an appearance in the championship game this season. The question is, what are the odds the Aggies reach the SEC Championship for the first time in program history? According to BetMGM, here are the current odds for each SEC program to participate in this year's conference championship. Texas A&M was within striking distance of reaching the championship game last season, before the Aggies dropped three of four contests to close out the regular season. Heading into the second year under head coach Mike Elko, the Aggies fanbase is clamoring for more. With the talent on this year's squad, reaching the big game is a realistic goal for the Aggies. Sophomore dual-threat quarterback Marcel Reed returns after finishing last season by throwing for 1,864 yards and 15 touchdowns. The Aggies also brought in multiple outstanding transfers during the offseason, including former NC State standout wide receiver KC Concepcion and Mississippi State's Mario Craver. Not to mention, running back Le'Veon Moss returns after showcasing his ability to lead the Aggies on the ground last season. This year's schedule is daunting, however. Texas A&M has to go on the road at Notre Dame, LSU, and Texas this season. According to On3 Sports, the Aggies' schedule is the ninth-toughest in the country in 2025. The program's strength of schedule is 0.807, and its projected win total currently stands at 8.1. Out of On3's top 10 most difficult schedules this season, nine programs are from the SEC. With everyone facing a new challenge on the road to reaching the apex of the conference, it will be intriguing to see how the Texas A&M Aggies handle the adversity that will eventually arise throughout this year's campaign. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Dylan on X: @dylanmflippo.
Miami Herald
6 days ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Miami Hurricanes Football Preview 2025: Prediction, Win Total, Top 10 Players, Keys to the Season
X CFN, Fiu | CFN Facebook | Bluesky Fiu, CFN2025 Miami PreviewMiami Offense BreakdownMiami Defense Breakdown Miami Hurricanes Key to the Season Chill on all of the would be nice if the Hurricane defense forced more fumbles - it only came up with four last year - but overall, slowing down a little bit on the flags will matter a bit was 120th in the nation in penalty yards, getting hit for 67.5 every time out. The team was able to overcome its sins, for the most part, but the nine penalties for 110 yards made the Cal game more of a fight than it should've been. The nine flags for 90 yards were a killer in the loss to Syracuse. Miami Hurricanes Key Player Raul Aguirre, LB Mauigoa tackled everything. He made 238 stops, 13 sacks, and 35 tackles for loss over the last three seasons - he'll be missed. The 230-pound Aguirre can work in any linebacking spot, but he should be a thumper on the inside. He might not be Mauigoa, but the defense needs him to make a whole lot of plays. Miami Hurricanes Top Transfer, Biggest Transfer Loss Top Transfer In: Carson Beck, QB were too many interceptions, too many empty drives, and too many misfires, but he still got Georgia to the SEC Championship game and played a half before injuring his 2023 version hit 72% of his passes for over 3,900 yards with 24 touchdowns and just six picks. If that Carson Beck shows up, look out. There might be a lot going on with him, but if he can grip-and-rip, he's got the talent to take Miami where Cam Ward didn' Transfer Out: Isaiah Horton, WR was just coming into his own after a 56-catch season with five touchdowns, and he would've been a good part of the Miami receiving corps, but he should blow up as more of a downfield threat in the Alabama attack. Miami Hurricanes Key Game Notre Dame, Aug. 31You didn't make the College Football Playoff, Miami? You want to be a true player right away? Beating Notre Dame in the season opener would be an even bigger deal than rolling Florida 41-17 to kick off 2024.- 2025 Miami Schedule Breakdown Miami Hurricanes Top 10 Players 1. Francis Mauigoa, OT Jr.2. Carson Beck, QB Sr.3. Reuben Bain, EDGE Jr.4. Wesley Bissainthe, LB Sr.5. Xavier Lucas, CB Soph.6. Zechariah Poyser, S Soph.7. Anez Cooper, OG Sr.8. CJ Daniels, WR Sr.9. OJ Frederique, CB Soph.10. Mark Fletcher, RB Jr. Miami Hurricanes 2024 Fun Stats - 1st Quarter Scoring: Miami 132, Opponents 57- Time of Possession: Miami 32:45, Opponents 27:15- Scoring: Miami 530, Opponents 287 Miami Hurricanes 2025 Season Prediction, Win Total, What Will Happen There are way too many moving parts to assume Miami can get to 10-2 like it did in the 2024 regular season, but there are also too many good pieces to underestimate how good this campaign might no Clemson to deal with, and not playing Georgia Tech is probably a plus, but that shouldn't matter. If this is the team it's supposed to be with all of this talent, it's better than just about everyone on the slate. Notre Dame might be the exception, but that's in Miami in late August. Florida will be nasty, but that's a home date, too. If Florida State is back to form, the road game will be a fight, and maybe, just maybe, going to SMU will be will be misfires. Going to Virginia Tech and Pitt in late November is scary, and if Carson Beck isn't all that he can and should be, uh oh. So let's set the win total bar a tad too low, but with the understanding that an ACC Championship and top four CFP seed should both be on the The Miami Hurricanes Win Total At … 8.5Likely Wins: Bethune-Cookman, Stanford, USF50/50 Games: Florida, at Florida State, Louisville, Notre Dame, NC State, at Pitt, at SMU, Syracuse, at Virginia TechLikely Losses: No projected sure-thing losses2025 Miami PreviewMiami Offense BreakdownMiami Defense Breakdown © 2025 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.
