Boxer Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford, who has won world championships in five different weight classes, announced his retirement from the sport on Dec. 16.

Crawford posted the announcement on social media with a caption saying ‘Walking away as a great with nothing else left to prove.’

‘I’ve been blessed to live out a dream that started long before the lights, the fans, or the world titles. From Omaha to the biggest stages in boxing, every step of this journey was earned through sacrifice, discipline, and faith,’ Crawford wrote in the caption of a five-minute YouTube video.

‘I gave this sport everything I had. I faced the best, moved through weight classes, and made history on my own terms. 42-0. 3x Undisputed. 5 Division World Champion. No shortcuts. No excuses.

‘This isn’t goodbye to boxing … it’s a thank you. Thank you to my family, my team, my city, and the fans who rode with me through every chapter. Thank you to the sport for shaping the man I am today. The gloves may have come off, but legacy is forever.’

The 38-year-old Crawford finishes his career with a 42-0 record (31 KOs), including his last fight in September, an unanimous decision victory over Canelo Alvarez, taking the World Boxing Council super-middleweight title.

Just two weeks ago, the WBC stripped Crawford of that belt for failing to pay their sanctioning fees.

“Very unfortunately, the WBC did not receive an acknowledgment of receipt nor any response to any of those communications,” the WBC said at the time. “The WBC had no choice but to act.”

Crawford, an Omaha, Nebraska, native, had been boxing since he was 8, and turned professional in 2008 after a prolific amateur career. He started racking up world titles in 2013, winning the NABO lightweight title with a TKO victory over Alejandro Sanabria.

Crawford then won world titles at light welterweight, welterweight, light middleweight, and super middleweight, becoming the first boxer ever to be crowned undisputed champion in three weight classes.

Congratulations to the fantasy football managers who survived an injury-riddled first round of the fantasy playoffs in 2025. The hard work will now continue into Week 16, especially for those with Patrick Mahomes on their roster.

It won’t be easy to navigate injuries to Mahomes and other key contributors. Fantasy managers are all in do-or-die mode at this point in the season, so every start ’em, sit ’em decision is of the utmost importance.

And some bold calls – like benching some high-volume running backs in tough matchups for streamers in good ones – might be necessary to earn a coveted spot in the fantasy championship game.

Who can you start and sit in fantasy football for Week 16 of the NFL season? USA TODAY Sports outlines eight players to start and eight to sit.

Fantasy football players to start in Week 16

Quarterbacks

• Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers (at Dallas Cowboys)

Herbert has averaged just one passing touchdown per game over his last five starts, but he gets a great matchup in Week 16 against a Cowboys team that has allowed the most fantasy points per game (FPPG) to quarterbacks this season. Dallas just let J.J. McCarthy throw for 250 yards with three total touchdowns and Herbert could post similar numbers.

• C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans (vs. Las Vegas Raiders)

Stroud has averaged 246.3 passing yards per game in three starts since returning from a concussion he suffered against the Broncos. He also just had his second, three-touchdown game of the season against the Cardinals and could be poised for similar output against a Raiders team that has allowed 28.6 points per game over its last five outings.

Running backs

• Michael Carter, Arizona Cardinals (vs. Atlanta Falcons)

The Cardinals lost starting running back Bam Knight to an ankle injury against the Texans. Carter was able to log 14 carries for 56 yards and add four catches for 38 yards against a tough Houston defense. The veteran could be asked to handle a similar workload if Knight can’t play against the Falcons, which would immediately make the 26-year-old a volume-based fantasy flex.

• Devin Neal, New Orleans Saints (vs. New York Jets)

Neal suffered a hamstring injury in the Saints’ Week 15 win over the Panthers, but if he can play in Week 16, he could end up being a matchup-winner. The Jets have allowed the second-most FPPG to running backs this season and have allowed a league-high eight receiving touchdowns to the position. Neal is a good receiver – he has 17 catches on 19 targets across 268 snaps this season – and has logged a touchdown in back-to-back games.

Wide receivers

• Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers (at Chicago Bears)

Reed just had his best game of the season, racking up five catches for 55 yards on six targets against a tough Broncos defense. Now, he faces a Bears unit that has allowed 18 receiving touchdowns to wide-outs this season, good for third-most in the NFL. Reed should be a high-floor WR3 and could have WR2 upside if Christian Watson (shoulder) isn’t able to play in Week 16.

• Jalen Coker, Carolina Panthers (vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

The Buccaneers have allowed at least 263 passing yards and two passing touchdowns in five of their last six games. Their secondary has been leaky, and that could allow Coker to have solid game. The second-year receiver has averaged four catches for 67 yards over his last two games and scored a touchdown in each. He has good chemistry with Bryce Young and should be a fine flex play for fantasy managers to grab off the waiver wire.

Tight end

• Darren Waller, Miami Dolphins (vs. Cincinnati Bengals)

Waller has played in seven games this season but has managed to score six touchdowns. That included two against the Steelers in Week 15, a game during which he recorded a season-high seven receptions and logged 66 receiving yards. The Bengals have allowed the most catches (99), receiving yards (1,276) and receiving touchdowns (15) to tight ends this season, so Waller could have another big-time outing in Week 16.

Defense/special teams

• New Orleans Saints (vs. New York Jets)

The Saints have only once allowed more than 21 points in their last five games. They have averaged two sacks per game over that span and have generated six turnovers. New Orleans is a getting an easy matchup against a Brady Cook-led Jets offense in Week 16 and will be playing at the Superdome. Feel free to back them in a favorable streaming spot.

Fantasy football players to sit in Week 16

Quarterbacks

• Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys (vs. Los Angeles Chargers)

If you were lucky enough to survive Prescott’s zero-TD performance against the Vikings, you may want to sit him against the Chargers. Los Angeles has allowed a league-low 12 passing touchdowns to quarterbacks this season, so Prescott has a lower ceiling than usual in what could be more of a run-heavy game plan for Dallas.

• Jaxson Dart, New York Giants (vs. Minnesota Vikings)

Dart put together a strong performance against the Commanders in Week 15 but will face a much stiffer test against the Vikings in Week 16. Minnesota ranks No. 1 in the league in pressure rate, per the NFL’s Next Gen Stats, and Dart has a passer rating of 69 when pressured this season, per Pro Football Focus. That will gives Dart a low passing floor, which could drop him out of the starter-worthy quarterbacks in fantasy for this week.

Running backs

• RJ Harvey, Denver Broncos (vs. Jacksonville Jaguars)

Harvey has averaged 18 touches per game since J.K. Dobbins went down with what is expected to be a season-ending foot injury. However, Harvey has only averaged 3.4 yards per carry over that span and is facing a Jaguars team in Week 16 that has allowed the fewest rushing yards to running backs this season (933). Harvey is also battling a rib injury, so it’s probably best to steer clear of him.

• Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers (at Detroit Lions)

Warren has a solid floor thanks to his volume, but Kenneth Gainwell has been more effective than him of late. Gainwell had 80 yards on 13 carries against the Dolphins in Week 15 while Warren had just 33 yards on 12 carries. If the Steelers lean more heavily on Gainwell, that could leave Warren with a tough path to posting production against a Lions team that has allowed the fifth-fewest FPPG to running backs this season.

Wide receivers

• Deebo Samuel, Washington Commanders (vs. Philadelphia Eagles)

Samuel is averaging just 38 receiving yards per game since Week 6 and has scored just twice over that eight-game span. The Eagles have allowed just six receiving touchdowns to receivers this season, tied for the second-fewest in the league, which could limit Samuel. So too could the absence of Jayden Daniels and the presence of Terry McLaurin, who has seen 24 targets to Samuel’s 18 in three games since returning to Washington’s lineup.

• Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts (vs. San Francisco 49ers)

Philip Rivers performed better than expected for the Colts against the Seahawks, but there are still clear limitations to the 44-year-old’s game. Notably, he averaged just 4.4 yards per attempt against Seattle and had an average depth of target (ADOT) of just 5.46 yards, per Sumer Sports. Rivers’ inability to consistently go deep will limit Pierce, who leads the NFL with an average of 20.1 yards per reception, and drop him out of flex consideration for most fantasy managers.

Tight end

• Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys (vs. Los Angeles Chargers)

Ferguson hasn’t scored a touchdown in any of his last four games, which has made him more of a fringe TE1 than a clear-cut starter. As mentioned earlier, the Chargers are weaker against the run than the pass, so Dallas may not have as much passing volume as usual in this game. That could hurt Ferguson’s bottom-line.

Defense/special teams

• Green Bay Packers (at Chicago Bears)

The Packers just lost Micah Parsons for the season to a reported torn ACL. It isn’t clear how well Green Bay will play without him, and there will at least be an adjustment period as the Packers look to replace their top defensive player. The Bears could take advantage of that, just like the Broncos did in their 34-point Week 15 outburst.

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Jacksonville State football closed out its 2025 college football season on a high note. 

In what was a defensive battle between two in-state foes, the Gamecocks outlasted the Troy Trojans, 17-13, in the 2025 Salute to Veterans Bowl on Tuesday, Dec. 16 at the historic Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama.

It is the second-ever bowl win for Jacksonville State since the Gamecocks transitioned from Division I FCS in 2023. The loss for the Trojans snapped their 79-game win streak when they entered the fourth quarter with a lead.

After giving up a rather easy opening drive touchdown, Troy flipped the game’s momentum near the end of the first quarter when TJ Thompson stripped the ball out of Jacksonville State quarterback Caeden Creel’s hands on a flea-flicker attempt. The stripped sack led to a defensive touchdown for the Trojans. 

Things then changed again in the fourth quarter for Troy after Jacksonville State turned a late third-quarter interception off Tucker Kilcrease into seven points with a 1-yard rushing touchdown from Andrew Paul to reclaim the lead at 17-13 at the 10:06 mark. 

The Gamecocks defense then created a turnover on downs on the Trojans’ next drive before getting their second interception of the night to seal the win.

Creel completed 14 of 20 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown, a 22-yard pass to Brock Rechsteiner in the first quarter. Kilcrease took most of the snaps under center for Troy after Goose Crowder got banged up in the first quarter. He completed 12 of 22 passes for 116 yards and two interceptions. 

Jacksonville State played without a key member of its offense: Conference USA Player of the Year Cam Cook. The Gamecocks’ running back, who leads the nation in rushing yards, was ruled out after warm-ups with an injury. 

Final score: Jacksonville State 17, Troy 13

Jacksonville State vs. Troy Salute to Veterans Bowl highlights

Jacksonville State wins Salute to Veterans Bowl

Jacksonville State’s defense comes up with a stop on a last-second touchdown drive for Troy to seal the 17-13 win in the Salute to Veterans Bowl. Gamecocks’ safety Trevor Woods broke up a Hail Mary pass from Tucker Kilcrease in the end zone to seal the win.

The Gamecocks end the season with a 9-5 record, while the Trojans finish 8-6 on the year.

Jacksonville State intercepts Tucker Kilcrease

Tucker Kilcrease attempts to go downfield on first-and-10 and it costs the Trojans, as Jacksonville State’s Tyrin Taylor intercepts the pass. It’s a costly mistake by Kilcrease, who had 3:30 to work with in a four-point game.

Troy will look to get another stop with three timeouts to work with.

Troy gets stop, forces punt

Troy gets the stop it needs on defense as Caden Creel is sacked on third-and-6, and it forces Jacksonville State to punt the ball back to the Trojans. Down 17-13, Tucker Kilcrease and the Trojans have 3:30 to work with for a game-winning touchdown drive opportunity.

Troy turns it over on down

Tucker Kilcrease fires a quick throw to Peyton Higgins, but Higgins is ruled a yard short of the first down. It’s brutal ball placement by Troy as it turns the ball over on downs and looks to its defense for a stop down 17-13 with 5:34 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Andrew Paul gives Jacksonville State lead with TD

Jacksonville State retakes the lead at 17-10 in the fourth quarter after Andrew Paul punches it in from the 1-yard line. It’s the first touchdown score for the Gamecocks since the first quarter. It’s a nice drive put together by Jacksonville State overall, as it converted three third-downs on the ground.

The scoring drive was 11 plays for 47 yards and took 5:44 off the game clock. The Gamecocks are 10:55 away from winning their second bowl win in program history.

End of third quarter: Troy 13, Jacksonville State 10

Jacksonville State is moving with the ball, and will open the fourth quarter with a third-and-8 at Troy’s 48-yard line. The Gamecocks are looking for their first touchdown score since the first quarter, down 13-10.

Jacksonville State intercepts Tucker Kilcrease

Ian Mitchell intercepts Tucker Kilcrease on first-and-10 to give Jacksonville State its first takeaway of the night. Mitchell was all over Kilcrease’s throw on the cross route. The Gamecocks get the ball back down 13-10 with under a minute to go in the third quarter.

Jacksonville State forced to punt after penalty on coach

Due to an unsportsmanlike penalty on Jacksonville coach Charles Kelly, the Gamecocks are pushed back 15 yards and forced to punt instead of maybe going for it on fourth-and-4. Kelly was seen coming onto the field to express his frustration with officials not calling a defensive pass interference on Troy on third-and-4 when Caden Creel tried going do field.

Troy misses field goal attempt

Troy comes up short on a great field goal position from DJ Epps’ 79-yard kickoff return, as Scott Taylor Renfroe’s 49-yard field goal attempt misses left. It’s a tough end to what started as a great drive for the Trojans.

DJ Epps returns Troy kickoff for 79-yards

The first explosive play of the night comes on special teams, as Troy’s DJ Epps returns the kickoff for 79 yards down the right sideline. The Trojans are still looking for their first offensive touchdown score of the night, as they’ve had to settle for field goals on their last two drives to the red zone.

Jacksonville State cuts deficit with field goal

Jacksonville State ends its scoring drought with a 51-yard field goal from Garrison Rippa. The Gamecocks now trail Troy 13-10 with 6:35 remaining in the third quarter.

The scoring drive was nine plays for 22 yards and took 4:16 off the game clock.

Jacksonville State punts

Jacksonville State begins the second half with a 16-yard catch from Caden Creel to Deonandre Johnson, but then stalls on offense, as the Gamecocks send out the punt unit three plays later. It is the third punt of the night for the Gamecocks.

Not the start Jacksonville State needed or wanted. The Gamecocks haven’t scored since the 9:41 mark of the first quarter when they marched down the field for an opening-drive touchdown.

End of first half: Troy 13, Jacksonville State 7

Why did the lights go out at halftime of Salute to Veterans Bowl?

As Troy coach Gerad Parker was being interviewed on ESPN going into halftime, the lights at the Cramton Bowl went dark. As noted by the Gadsden Times, part of the USA TODAY Network, it was because of a normal operating procedure at Cramton Bowl, the host site of the bowl game. The stadium hosts at least one high school football game per week for the Montgomery City Public School System.

Troy leads Jacksonville State at halftime

Troy takes a 13-7 lead into halftime as Jacksonville State lets the clock run out after an 11-yard pass from Caden Creel to Khristian Lando. The Trojans came up with a 15-yard sack on Creel on second-and-10 that set the Gamecocks’ offense back once again.

The Gamecocks will start the second half with the ball.

Troy extends lead with field goal

Troy elects to take the points on fourth-and-7 instead of going for the touchdown, and Scott Taylor Renfroe hits the 30-yard field goal down the middle. It’s an 11-play drive for 58 yards and took 6:35 off the game clock.

The Trojans have now scored 13 unanswered points after Jacksonville State went down the field and scored a touchdown on its opening drive. Troy now leads 13-7 with 1:49 remaining until halftime.

Jacksonville State sacks Tucker Kilcrease

Walker O’Steen rushes Tucker Kilcrease and is all over the Troy quarterback for an 8-yard sack. It’s a big play by O’Steen, and a much-needed play for Jacksonville State’s defense.

Troy gets stop, forces punt

Jacksonville State punts for the second time on the night, as the Gamecocks are not able to recover from an offensive pass interference call on Deondre Johnson on third down. Johnson’s penalty wiped out a 49-yard catch for the wide receiver from Caden Creel.

The Gamecocks’ offense continues to struggle since driving down the field for a touchdown on their first drive of the night.

Troy takes lead on field goal

Scott Taylor Renfroe hits a 38-yard field goal attempt to give Troy its first lead of the night at 10-7. The scoring drive for the Trojans was nine plays for 25 yards and it took four minutes off the game clock.

Goose Crowder back in for Troy

After missing the whole last series, Goose Crowder is back on the field operating the Troy offense.

Jacksonville State misses fake punt

Another lost opportunity for Jacksonville State, as Pearson Baldwin drops the fake punt pass from Gavin Wimsatt. It’s a turnover on downs for the Gamecocks and gives Troy the ball at the Jacksonville State 41-yard line.

End of first quarter: Jacksonville State 7, Troy 7

Troy recovers fumble, scores touchdown

Jacksonville State tries a flea flicker on first-and-10, but TJ Thompson forces the ball out of Caden Creel’s hands. Luis Medina then recovers the fumble in the end zone for the touchdown to tie the game at 7-7. It’s a costly play by the Gamecocks, who were at their own 12-yard line. It’s also a costly ball control mishap by Creel, who fumbled the toss back.

Cam Cook ruled out for Jacksonville State

Cook ran for 1,584 yards and 16 touchdowns this season for the Gamecocks, and had been named Conference USA Player of the Year.

Tucker Kilcrease remains in for Troy

Tucker Kilcrease stays in at quarterback, as Troy heads onto the field for its third drive of the night. Crowder remains on the sideline, where ESPN reports he’s getting an ankle retapped after getting banged up on the last drive. Crowder came into the game injured; he had been injured late in the Sun Belt championship game vs. James Madison.

Troy turns it over on down

Troy elects to go for it on fourth-and-5, but Jacksonville State comes up with the stop, as Tucker Kilcrease’s throw to RaRa Thomas sails out of bounds. Kilcrease is in for the Trojans at quarterback after Goose Crowder appeared to have gotten injured on a 13-yard carry on the second play of the drive.

Jacksonville State strikes first on 22-yard TD pass

Caeden Creel finds Brock Rechsteiner down the field, standing on the goal line for the easy 22-yard touchdown pass to put Jacksonville State on the board first. It was a nine-play drive for 71 yards for the Gamecocks and it took 3:41 off the game clock.

Troy punts, Cam Cook not out for Jacksonville State

It’s a quick three-and-out for Troy’s offense, as the Trojans send out the punt unit onto the field. As the Jacksonville State offense trots out, Gamecocks star running back Cam Cook is not with the unit. ESPN mentioned that Cook is dealing with an undisclosed injury and was a game-time decision.

Jacksonville State wins toss, Troy on offense to start

The Gamecocks win the opening coin toss and defer the opening kickoff to the second half. That means it will be Goose Crowder and the Troy offense out first to begin the night in Montgomery.

Pregame

Salute to Veterans Bowl moved to ESPNU

It seems like the start of the Salute to Veterans Bowl between Jacksonville State and Troy will be aired on ESPNU due to the ongoing Tennessee-Louisville men’s basketball game.

Salute to Veterans Bowl kickoff time delayed

The Salute to Veterans Bowl between Jacksonville State and Troy will now kick off at 9:08 p.m. ET due to the ongoing Tennessee-Louisville men’s basketball game still on ESPN.

Salute to Veterans Bowl coming up

The Salute to Veterans Bowl between Jacksonville State and Troy is coming up in Montgomery. Kickoff might be delayed slightly due to the ongoing Tennessee-Louisville men’s basketball game still on ESPN.

Caden Creel warming up in Salute to Veterans Bowl

Jacksonville State quarterback Caden Creel has taken the field in Montgomery for the Salute to Veterans Bowl against Troy. Creel finished 12 of 21 passing for 96 yards with two sacks and an interception in the Conference USA championship game. He also had 112 rushing yards and a score on 18 carries in the Gamecocks’ loss to Kennesaw State.

Jacksonville State unveils uniforms for Salute to Veterans Bowl

The Gamecocks look to be wearing their red on white uniform set, with the red pinstripes down the side of the pants, for the Salute to Veterans Bowl against Troy.

What time does Troy vs Jacksonville State start?

• Date: Tuesday, Dec. 16
• Time: 9 p.m. ET
• Where: The Historic Cramton Bowl (Montgomery, Ala.)

Troy and Jacksonville State are set for a 9 p.m. ET kickoff on Tuesday, Dec. 16 in the Salute to Veterans Bowl from The Historic Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama.

What TV channel is Troy vs Jacksonville State on today?

• TV channel: ESPN
• Streaming: ESPN app | Fubo (free trial)

ESPN will nationally broadcast the Salute to Veterans Bowl between Troy and Jacksonville State. Matt Barrie and Tom Luginbill will call the game from the booth at The Historic Cramton Bowl, while Harry Lyles Jr. will report from the sidelines.

Streaming options for the game include the ESPN app (with a TV login) and Fubo, which carries the ESPN family of networks and offers a free trial to new subscribers.

Stream the Salute to Veterans Bowl live with Fubo (free trial)

Troy vs Jacksonville State predictions in Salute to Veterans Bowl

Here’s a compilation of predictions from experts within the USA TODAY Sports Network for the Salute to Veterans Bowl between Troy and Jacksonville State:

• Matt Hayes: Troy
• Jordan Mendoza: Troy
• Paul Myerberg: Jacksonville State
• Erick Smith: Troy
• Eddie Timanus: Troy
• Blake Toppmeyer: Troy

Troy vs Jacksonville State odds, spread for Salute to Veterans Bowl

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Monday, Dec. 15

• Spread:
• Over/under:
• Moneyline:

Troy football schedule 2025

Here’s a look at Troy’s 2025 schedule:

Here’s a look at Troy’s schedule in 2025, including past scores.

• Saturday, Aug. 30: Troy 38, Nicholls 20
• Saturday, Sept. 6: Clemson 27, Troy 16
• Saturday, Sept. 13: Memphis 28, Troy 7
• Saturday, Sept. 20: Troy 21, Buffalo 17
• Saturday, Sept. 27: BYE
• Saturday, Oct. 4: Troy 31, South Alabama 24 (OT) *
• Saturday, Oct. 11: Troy 48, Texas State 41 (OT) *
• Saturday, Oct. 18: Troy 37, Louisiana-Monroe 14 *
• Saturday, Oct. 25: Troy 35, Louisiana 23 *
• Saturday, Nov. 1: Arkansas State 23, Troy 10 *
• Saturday, Nov. 8: BYE
• Thursday, Nov. 13: Old Dominion 33, Troy 0 *
• Saturday, Nov. 22: Troy 31, Georgia State 19 *
• Saturday, Nov. 29: Troy 28, Southern Miss 18 *
• Friday, Dec. 5: No. 19 James Madison 31, Troy 14 **
• Tuesday, Dec. 16: vs. Jacksonville State | 9 p.m. ET | ESPN (Fubo) ***

* Denotes Sun Belt game

** Denotes Sun Belt Championship game

*** Denote bowl game

Jacksonville State football schedule 2025

Here’s a look at Jacksonville State’s 2025 schedule:

• Thursday, Aug. 28: UCF 17, Jacksonville State 10
• Saturday, Sept. 6: Jacksonville State 34, Liberty 24 *
• Saturday, Sept. 13: Georgia Southern 41, Jacksonville State 34
• Saturday, Sept. 20: Jacksonville State 45, Murray State 10
• Saturday, Sept. 27: Southern Miss 42, Jacksonville State 25
• Saturday, Oct. 4: BYE
• Thursday, Oct. 9: Jacksonville State 29, Sam Houston 27 *
• Wednesday, Oct. 15: Jacksonville State 38, Delaware 25 *
• Saturday, Oct. 25: BYE
• Wednesday, Oct. 29: Jacksonville State 24, Middle Tennessee 21 *
• Saturday, Nov. 8: Jacksonville State 30, UTEP 27 *
• Saturday, Nov. 15: Jacksonville State 35, Kennesaw State 26 *
• Saturday, Nov. 22: FIU 27, Jacksonville State 21 *
• Saturday, Nov. 29: Jacksonville State 37, Western Kentucky 34 *
• Friday, Dec. 5: Kennesaw State 19, Jacksonville State 15 **
• Tuesday, Dec. 16: vs. Troy | 9 p.m. ET | ESPN (Fubo) ***

* Denotes Conference USA game

** Denotes Conference USA Championship game

*** Denote bowl game

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Mike White, who had stints as the head coach of Cal, Illinois and the Oakland Raiders, died at the age of 89 on Sunday, Dec. 14 in Newport Beach, California.

News of his death was announced on Monday, Dec. 15 by the Cal athletic department.

Born in Berkeley, California, White was a star end and halfback for the Golden Bears in the 1950s.

Appropriately, he began his coaching career at Cal, and after a successful detour at rival Stanford, returned to become his alma mater’s head coach in 1972.

His Golden Bears managed a first-place tie in the Pac-8 in 1975 after going 8-3. Cal again went 8-3 in 1977, and White finished his time there with a 35-30-1 record.

A two-year run as an assistant coach with the San Francisco 49ers led White back to another top college job, this time at Illinois from 1980-87. His tenure — in which he went 47-41-3 — peaked with a 10-2 Big-Ten championship and Rose Bowl season in 1983.

White eventually served as an offensive assistant with the Los Angeles Raiders under Art Shell for five seasons before taking the head coaching reins in 1995, coinciding with the team’s return to Oakland. That tenure lasted two seasons and resulted in a 15-17 record.

‘The Raiders family is saddened by the passing of Mike White, former head coach of the Silver and Black and a long-time NFL and college coach and mentor,’ a statement from the Las Vegas Raiders read. ‘The prayers of the entire Raider Nation are with Mike’s family at this time.’

White’s coaching career ended in 1999 when he won a Super Bowl with the St. Louis Rams as an offensive assistant.

In later years, he served as a founding board member of the Lott IMPACT Trophy, awarded to college football’s top defender and named for former defensive back Ronnie Lott.

‘The Lott IMPACT Trophy is saddened to learn of the passing of Mike White, an integral board member, who served as he coached, with fervor, determination and joy,’ the organization stated. ‘We extend our condolences to his wife Marilyn and children Chris, Matt, and Carrie.’

The San Antonio Spurs shocked the basketball world on Dec. 13, taking down the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Cup semifinals. Now, they are just one win away from earning the NBA Cup title and earning an additional $530,933 each.

Of course, that’s easier said than done, and their opponent in the championship game, the New York Knicks, are no push-over. The Spurs know they can’t take it easy against the Knicks; they’ll have to pull out all the stops once again in order to emerge victorious. But could that actually mean keeping their best player out of the starting lineup?

Spurs center Victor Wembanyama played limited minutes during the semifinal victory over the Thunder. Now, head coach Mitch Johnson has expressed that the team is considering employing a similar strategy in the NBA Cup final.

‘It’ll be something that Victor and I will continue to talk through,’ Johnson said Monday, Dec. 15, according to ESPN. ‘It’s hard. He wants to play. He wants to start. He wants to finish. … We still have to think about what’s best for the team, unfortunately. That decision can’t be made in a vacuum, even though it’s a very impactful and influential decision.’

How did Wembanyama do in the semifinal game?

Wembanyama returned from a 12-game absence on Saturday to participate in the semifinal against Oklahoma City. Wembanyama came off the bench for the first time in his career. Still, the third-year pro played 21 minutes and racked up 15 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter. The rest of the Spurs compiled just 18 points combined in the fourth.

‘I trust in Mitch 100 percent. They had the perfect plan,’ Spurs guard Devin Vassell told ESPN. ‘I know they talked about it over and over, and we executed it. As soon as Vic came in, he had the impact that we needed.’

Despite the success, the Spurs might limit Wembanyama again, promoting his long-term health above winning the NBA Cup.

‘It’s going to be a mix of different opinions,’ Wembanyama said Monday, according to ESPN. ‘But I’m ready. Even I will have my own opinion [about what to do]. It will also be based on my thoughts and the thoughts of the staff. But basically, we’re going to discuss it.’

Will Wembanyama be limited to 21 minutes again?

Head coach Mitch Johnson says that the team cannot afford to be ‘uninentional’ with Wembanyama’s minutes right now. Having learned from Wembanyama’s past injury struggles, the team has already worked on finding a path for Wemby to play as many minutes as possible with as little stress on his body as possible as well.

Although Johnson never offered a plan for Wemby Monday, it stands to reason that his minutes will be dictated by the flow of the game. On Saturday, Wembanyama did not check-in until the start of the second quarter. He only played seven minutes in the first half, before tallying nearly 13.5 minutes in the second half. The Spurs were trailing by 11 before Wembanyama came in and were still trailing at the start of the third quarter. Should the Spurs struggle to keep pace with New York, it’s likely that Wembanyama’s minutes could increase as the game wears on.

Wembanyama’s on/off court splits

Wembanyama’s presence can be felt on the floor. This year, when Wembanyama is on the court, opponents are averaging 105.4 points per 100 possessions, compared to 120.6 when Wembanyama is on the bench.

The Spurs have managed a stellar 9-3 record without Wembanyama this year, but it’s obvious that the team would rather have the DPOY frontrunner manning the glass tomorrow.

Tyler Adams, a U.S. men’s national team midfield mainstay, sustained a knee injury Monday, Dec. 15 that could severely impact his availability heading into a World Cup year.

Adams, playing for Bournemouth in a Premier League match at Manchester United, got hurt in the second minute during a challenge with Matheus Cunha and exited the game.

After the contest ended in a 4-4 draw, Bournemouth coach Andoni Iraola said of Adams, ‘He’s the worst news from the game, definitely. The knee twisted, I think the MCL. We’ll have to check and see if it is a small sprain or bigger.

‘To lose a player like Tyler for us is massive, especially when you don’t have Lewis Cook (who is suspended). Alex (Scott) has to play in that holding midfield position, and he has done it really well, but it’s bad news for us because Tyler is massive for us.’

Adams, 26, was just days removed from being honored for scoring the Premier League’s goal of the month. He lobbed a shot from the center circle over the head of Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs and into the net in Bournemouth’s 3-2 road loss Nov. 29.

The tally was just Adams’ second in three seasons with Bournemouth and four seasons in the Premier League. He played for Leeds United in 2022-23.

Adams was the captain on the USMNT at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where the squad lost to the Netherlands in the round of 16. He has been in and out of the U.S. team in the current World Cup cycle due to injuries, but he is viewed as a near-lock to start in a holding midfield role if healthy next summer when the World Cup is played in North America.

The full U.S. team is next scheduled to assemble for friendlies against Belgium on March 28 and against Portugal on March 31, both in Atlanta. The USMNT kicks off World Cup play against Paraguay on June 12 at Inglewood, California.

The NFL’s playoff races are quickly heating up as December football kicks into high gear.

Yet there’s a flip side to the best teams jockeying for postseason position − quite a few other clubs have been and will continue to be officially eliminated from playoff consideration. Heading into Week 15, nine of the league’s 32 teams already knew their seasons would conclude with their Week 18 games. Others joined their ranks Sunday, as the reigning AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs did for the first time since 2014.

Here’s a look at which clubs are already playing out the string, and which ones could soon be doing exactly that:

Which NFL teams have been eliminated from playoff contention?

These are the teams that have already seen their postseason chances for 2025 extinguished:

 New York Giants (2-12, eliminated in Week 12)

 Arizona Cardinals (3-11, eliminated in Week 13)

 New Orleans Saints (4-10, eliminated in Week 13)

 Tennessee Titans (2-12, eliminated in Week 13)

 Las Vegas Raiders (2-12, eliminated in Week 13)

 Washington Commanders (4-10, eliminated in Week 14)

 Atlanta Falcons (5-9, eliminated in Week 14)

 New York Jets (3-11, eliminated in Week 14)

 Cleveland Browns (3-11, eliminated in Week 14)

 Cincinnati Bengals (4-10, eliminated in Week 15)

 Minnesota Vikings (6-8, eliminated in Week 15)

 Kansas City Chiefs (6-8, eliminated in Week 15)

 Miami Dolphins (6-8, eliminated in Week 15)

NFL teams outside projected playoff bracket but not yet eliminated going into Week 16

 Baltimore Ravens (7-7, 47% chance to make playoffs, per NFL’s Next Gen Stats)

 Dallas Cowboys (6-7-1, 1%)

 Carolina Panthers (7-7, 23%)

 Indianapolis Colts (8-6, 17%)

 Detroit Lions (8-6, 41%)