The U.S. men’s national team hammered Uruguay 5-1 to close out the year on Tuesday, a performance that was made even more impressive due to the number of mainstays that weren’t on the field.

But Mauricio Pochettino did not want to look at Tuesday’s win in that context, with the coach angrily responding to two questions in his press conference about missing ‘regulars.’

“I don’t want to be negative, but I hate the ‘no regular players’ [question],” Pochettino said after the game.

“What does this mean? It’s USA playing, it’s the national team. Stop with that mindset. Every time our decision to pick a starting XI, it’s the U.S. men’s national team playing.

‘After one year, I think you need to really know me that I hate to talk in this way. It’s so disrespectful because I think we need to give credit to all the guys that today were involved and [against] Paraguay too.’

Several players considered integral to the USMNT weren’t involved in the team’s November camp, including Christian Pulisic, Chris Richards, Tyler Adams, Tim Weah, Antonee Robinson, Weston McKennie, and Malik Tillman.

In addition, Pochettino completely rotated his squad after Saturday’s 2-1 win over Paraguay, with only Matt Freese and Sergiño Dest keeping their place for the Uruguay match.

The result was a lineup that averaged just 14 caps. Dest was the most experienced player in the XI with 37 international appearances.

But an inexperienced USMNT side ran roughshod over the Uruguayans, as defender Alex Freeman scored a brace and was joined on the scoresheet by Sebastian Berhalter, Diego Luna and Tanner Tessmann. The goals from Freeman, Berhalter and Tessmann were their first on the international level.

Pochettino has made a point to integrate new faces into the team during his tenure, fostering a spirit of competition that wasn’t always present under his predecessor Gregg Berhalter.

That ethos was manifested in a fiery post-game press conference, during which Pochettino said he felt like his team had lost 5-1 rather than the opposite.

“I am the USA coach. Tell me which ‘regular players’ you are talking about?” Pochettino asked. “I don’t understand what ‘regular players’ means.’

The USMNT closed out 2025 on a five-game unbeaten run against World Cup-qualified sides, with four of those matches ending in wins.

The next, and final time the USMNT will convene before the World Cup roster is named will be in March, when Pochettino’s side will reportedly face Belgium and Portugal.

• Oklahoma got rewarded for beating Alabama, but not by a lot.
• Alabama’s season became shaky with its fall, and Texas’ CFP hopes are all but dead.
• There are some questionable teams in the bottom half of the rankings.

Some seismic events occurred in Week 12 that dramatically affected the College Football Playoff race. Did the selection committee react to those affairs correctly?

There’s no such thing as continuity in college football, evident in the latest weekend of action with two top 10 teams in Alabama and Texas losing while the teams that beat them in Georgia and Oklahoma boosting their resumes. Those results − among others − shifted how several squads are positioned, and there’s bound to be some elation or frustration from where they are slotted heading into Week 13.

With the pressure turning up on the selection committee with just two weeks left in the regular season, here are the grades for every single team in the Nov. 18 release of the College Football Playoff rankings.

1. Ohio State: A+

The Buckeyes have a strong grip on the No. 1 spot, and it would take a loss for Ohio State to go down the rankings.

2. Indiana: A+

No nail-biting was needed against Wisconsin, and Indiana affirms its positioning at the two spot.

3. Texas A&M: A+

After needing some dramatic heroics to beat South Carolina, the perfect record keeps Texas A&M from dropping down.

4. Georgia: A+

With Alabama’s loss and the win over Texas, the Bulldogs rightfully have a chance for a first-round bye.

5. Texas Tech: A

6. Mississippi: B+

It nearly got dangerous against Florida, yet Mississippi gets to move up a spot after a shaky performance.

7. Oregon: B-

The goal for Oregon is to obviously beat Southern California, but there has to be some worry about its fate if it doesn’t win.

8. Oklahoma: B

Beating Alabama in Tuscaloosa is one of the best wins of the season, but Oklahoma likely hoped for a bigger jump.

9. Notre Dame: A-

Dominating Pittsburgh was an impressive victory that could have rewarded Notre Dame with a move up, but the resume is hard to compare to the Sooners.

10. Alabama: C+

Even with four wins against ranked teams, Alabama was reminded the Florida State loss still carries weight, and the playoff outlook looks unfortunately shaky.

11. BYU: B-

The one-loss Cougars still have a chance for an at-large spot, but some more help is going to be needed.

12. Utah: B+

As long as BYU stays ahead, it’s a long shot for Utah to get into the field.

13. Miami: A-

Yes, Miami is the ACC’s best chance in the playoff. But the Hurricanes also don’t control their destiny for the automatic spot.

14. Vanderbilt: A

Good on the committee for not moving Vanderbilt up on an off week. It’ll be interesting to see if teams behind can leapfrog over the Commodores.

15. Southern California: A-

A case could be made for USC to jump ahead over Vanderbilt after a gritty win over Iowa, but the playoff still is possible if the Trojans beat Oregon.

16. Georgia Tech: D-

That was an odd performance against one-win Boston College. Georgia Tech should have dropped at least a spot.

17. Texas: D+

The dramatic free fall ensures Texas needs a miracle to make the playoff, but even with three losses, the resume is better than the Yellow Jackets.

18. Michigan: B-

The Wolverines get lucky staying put after they barely got past a scrappy Northwestern squad.

19. Virginia: B

The position still isn’t ideal, but the automatic spot through an ACC title remains more than possible for Virginia.

20. Tennessee: C+

Nothing much to brag about beating New Mexico State, yet Tennessee takes advantage of other teams losing and moves up three spots.

21. Illinois: A-

22. Missouri: C

By avoiding a three-game losing streak, Missouri gets to jump back in the rankings and help Alabama, Vanderbilt and Texas A&M look better.

23. Houston: F

Even at 8-2, Houston barely survived Central Florida and got outplayed by four-win West Virginia before that.

24. Tulane: C+

25. Arizona State: B-

Major League Baseball is returning to Dyersville, Iowa, in 2026 for a third ‘Field of Dreams’ game.

After refraining from playing in the Iowa cornfields in 2023, 2024 and 2025, MLB, in partnership with Netflix, is coming back to the beloved ballpark and bringing it to fans across the country. The televised game will take place on Aug. 13, 2026.

The previous two installments of the ‘Field of Dreams’ game were both met with incredible warmth from fans. In fact, the first edition in 2021 was labeled ‘Sports Event of the Year’ by the Sports Business Journal. At the time, the game between the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox was the most-watched regular season MLB game on any platform in 16 years.

Who is playing in the 2026 ‘Field of Dreams’ game?

The Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies will participate in the game, set for Aug. 13, 2026. This will be both teams’ first time playing in the beloved contest.

Why wasn’t there a ‘Field of Dreams’ game the last three years?

Various circumstances prevented the league from having a game in Dyersville the last three years. In 2023, there was abundant construction around the field, but neither the league nor the field’s owners ever ruled out the possibility of games returning in the future.

In 2024 and 2025, the ‘Field of Dreams’ game was replaced with a pair of different special events, including a ‘Tribute to the Negro Leagues’ game at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama, and another similar game at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee.

What happened in the prior ‘Field of Dreams’ games?

• 2021: Chicago White Sox 9, New York Yankees 8
• 2022: Chicago Cubs 4, Cincinnati Reds 2

Kansas City forward Temwa Chawinga is in a league of her own.

Chawinga was named the NWSL’s Most Valuable Player for the second consecutive season on Wednesday during the inaugural NWSL Awards in San Jose, California, just days ahead of the 2025 NWSL championship between the Washington Spirit and Gotham FC on Saturday (8 p.m. ET, CBS and Paramount+).

Chawinga also picked up her second straight Golden Boot after finishing the regular season with a league-high 15 goals.

Chawinga isn’t the only player that cleaned up. Here’s everything you missed during the 2025 NWSL Awards, from the full list of winners to all the finalists:

Here’s everything you need to know you the NWSL Awards, from how to watch to the list of finalist:

Temwa Chawinga wins Most Valuable Player

Winner: Kansas City forward Temwa Chawinga

Chawinga was named the NWSL’s Most Valuable Player for the second consecutive season, becoming the first player in league history to win the honor in back-to-back season. Sam Kerr is the only other player to win NWSL MVP twice. Chawinga led the league with 15 goals in 23 matches played.

Finalists: Delphine Cascarino (San Diego Wave FC), Esther González (Gotham FC), Manaka Matsukubo (North Carolina Courage), Bia Zaneratto (Kansas City Current)

Best XI first and second teams

The Kansas City Current dominated the Best XI First Team, taking over five of the 11 positions.

Bev Yanez wins Coach of the Year

Winner: Racing Louisville FC head coach Bev Yanez

Yanez became the first person to make it to the NWSL playoffs as both a player and a coach after Racing Louisville FC punched its postseason ticket for the first time in franchise history on Decision Day on Nov. 2. The second-year head coach led Racing to its best season with a record 10 wins and 37 points.

The award was announced by Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase, who was named the 2025 WNBA Coach of the Year after her team made the playoffs in its expansion season.

Finalists: Adrian Gonzalez (Washington Spirit), Vlatko Andonovski (Kansas City Current)

Manaka Matsukubo wins Midfielder of the Year

Winner: North Carolina Courage midfielder Manaka Matsukubo

Manaka appeared in all 26 matches this season and finished third in the Golden Boot race with 11 goals this season, in addition to four assists. Her 15 goal contributions led all midfielders.

Finalists: Kenza Dali (San Diego Wave), Debinha (Kansas City Current), Claire Hutton (Kansas City Current),Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns)

Temwa Chawinga receives Golden Boot trophy

Chawinga won the Golden Boot for the second consecutive season after scoring 15 goals. She’s the first player in NWSL history to win back-to-back Golden Boots since Sam Kerr accomplished the feat three consecutive seasons from 2017-2019.

Sam Hiatt wins Lauren Holiday Impact Award

Winner: Portland Thorns defender Sam Hiatt

The Lauren Holiday Impact Award recognizes NWSL players for ‘outstanding service and character off the pitch, spotlighting those who exemplify dedication and commitment to giving back to their local communities.’ As a result, a $50,000 donation from Nationwide will be donated to Candlelighters For Children With Cancer, an organization selected by Hiatt.

Finalists: Katie Zelem (Angel City Football Club), Racheal Kundananji (Bay FC), Bea Franklin (Chicago Stars), Ryan Campbell (Gotham FC), Abby Smith (Houston Dash), Claire Hutton (Kansas City Current), Lauren Milliet (Louisville Racing FC), Hannah Betfort (North Carolina Courage), Haley McCutcheon (Orlando Pride), Cassie Miller (Seattle Reign), Kyra Carusa (San Diego Wave FC), Kate Del Fava (Utah Royals), Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit)

Tara McKeown wins Defender of the Year

Winner: Washington Spirit center back Tara McKeown

McKeown led the Spirit to 11 clean sheets across all competitions in 2025. She finished second in the league in interceptions and top four in blocked shots and tackle success rate, while leading her team in clearance, interceptions and blocks.

Finalists: Jordyn Bugg (Seattle Reign), Avery Patterson (Houston Dash), Izzy Rodriguez (Kansas City Current), Kayla Sharples (Kansas City Current)

Lorena wins Goalkeeper of the Year

Winner: Kansas City Current goalkeeper Lorena

Lorena’s first season in the NWSL on the Kansas City Current was nothing short of historic. The goalkeeper led the league with 14 regular season clean sheets and recorded 690 consecutive shutout minutes, which both set NWSL records. She reached her 10th shutout in just 17 matches, tying the league record for the fastest keeper to reach the milestone. Lorena made 24 starts and logged 2,160 minutes in her first season with the Current.

Finalists: Ann-Katrin Berger (Gotham FC), Claudia Dickey (Seattle Reign), Lorena (Kansas City Current)

Lilly Reale wins Rookie of the Year

Winner: Gotham FC fullback Lilly Reale

Gotham FC fullback Lilly Reale appeared in all 26 matches this regular season, including 21 starts in her rookie campaign. She led Gotham with 36 interceptions and ranked second in tackles (54).

Finalists: Maddie Dahlien (Seattle Reign), Riley Tiernan (Angel City FC)

Trinity Rodman is in the building

Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman incorporated her jersey into her evening wear, which she debuted on AT&T’s custom blue carpet ahead of the event.

What time is 2025 NWSL Awards?

The 2025 NWSL Awards will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at 5:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2) in San Jose, California.

2025 NWSL Awards: Time, streaming for award show

• Date: Wednesday, Nov. 19
• Time: 5:30 p.m. ET (2:30 p.m. PT)
• Location: San Jose Civic Center (San Jose, California)
• TV: ESPN2
• Stream: Fubo, the ESPN App

NWSL Award Finalists

Most Valuable Player

• Delphine Cascarino (San Diego Wave)
• Temwa Chawinga (Kansas City Current)
• Esther González (Gotham FC)
• Manaka Matsukubo (North Carolina Courage)
• Bia Zaneratto (Kansas City Current)

Defender of the Year: 

• Jordyn Bugg (Seattle Reign)
• Tara McKeown (Washington Spirit)
• Avery Patterson (Houston Dash)
• Izzy Rodriguez (Kansas City Current)
• Kayla Sharples (Kansas City Current)

Goalkeeper of the Year

• Ann-Katrin Berger (Gotham FC)
• Claudia Dickey (Seattle Reign)
• Lorena (Kansas City Current)

Midfielder of the Year

• Kenza Dali (San Diego Wave)
• Debinha (Kansas City Current)
• Claire Hutton (Kansas City Current)
• Manaka Matsukubo (North Carolina Courage)
• Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns)

Rookie of the Year

• Maddie Dahlien (Seattle Reign)
• Lilly Reale (Gotham FC)
• Riley Tiernan (Angel City FC)

Coach of the Year

• Vlatko Andonovski (Kansas City Current)
• Adrian Gonzalez (Washington Spirit)
• Beverly Yanez (Louisville Racing)

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The King may be back, but JJ Redick and the Los Angeles Lakers still have plenty of work to do.

Yes, they erupted in the second half, and, yes, they eventually dusted the Utah Jazz to improve to 11-4, but the team’s offense lagged early in LeBron James’ highly anticipated regular season debut. Eventually, the Lakers prioritized ball movement and found their rhythm. But – and the sample size is so small that it’s almost unfair to assess Los Angeles in its first game at full health – a potential concern emerged in the victory: the Lakers, by and large, struggled Tuesday night when both James and Luka Dončić were on the floor.

This was most evident early in the game, when sluggish defense and stagnant passing curbed Los Angeles.

What’s most interesting was that Los Angeles did particularly well when one of James or Dončić was off the floor – regardless of whom it was.

Take Tuesday night’s on/off numbers: in the stretches when both Dončić and James played together, the Lakers posted a net score of -11.

Yet, when Dončić was on the floor without James, that number ballooned to +17.

Similarly, when James was on the floor without Dončić, the Lakers also outscored Utah by 17.

Again: tiny sample size.

This shouldn’t be a signal that Redick, the Lakers coach, needs to reassess or scrap his plan, but – rather – that it’s going to take time and effort to integrate James.

After all, he only practiced with his teammates for the first time Monday, Nov. 17, after nearly two months spent treating a sciatica issue on his right side.

James finished with 11 points and 12 assists, six of which came in the fourth quarter on consecutive Lakers field goals. He was an efficient 4-of-7 from the field and appeared to settle as the game went on, when the ball was swinging far more freely.

‘When you have Luka and what he’s doing on pick-and-rolls and his ability to gravitate so many players around him, I can just sit back and wait for the ball to be swung to me,’ James told reporters after the game. ‘And then I can play the pick-and-roll game as well.’

James’ debut was, by most measures, a success.

Los Angeles entered Tuesday as the NBA’s top-ranked shooting team, converting shots at a 50.4% clip; against the Jazz, the Lakers blistered the net, draining a ridiculous 59.5% of their attempts. They dominated the paint (outscoring Utah 74-56) and their bench dropped 40 points.

The 140 Lakers points marked a season-high.

But, with his team now at full health, Redick is going to have to address some questions:

1. Will he need to intentionally manufacture offense for guard Austin Reaves, who entered Tuesday averaging 28.3 points on 17.9 field goal attempts per game?
2. Will opting to start forward Rui Hachimura over the more defensively minded Marcus Smart make it too easy for opponents to score?
3. And, most importantly, can James and Dončić not only co-exist, but simultaneously thrive?

Reaves did score 26 against the Jazz, though he took just 11 shots.

The starting lineup allowed the Jazz to catch fire from 3 in the first quarter before Utah sprinted out to a 71-point first half.

But the largest conundrum facing Redick is that both Dončić and James are most comfortable with the ball in their hands.

Dončić is a ball-dominant volume scorer who needs time to get to his spots. He’s also an ingenious passer who sucks in defenders, allowing his teammates to find open creases.

James is the smartest basketball player of his generation. His spatial awareness and vision remain unrivaled, and he rarely makes mistakes; not only did he lead all players in assists, he committed just one single turnover. But, when he’s relegated to standing in the corner, he loses some of that magic.

It’s incumbent on Redick to continue scheming ways for players to move without the ball and to stimulate James’ play-making ability – something his age has not yet stripped. It’s also incumbent on him to encourage Dončić to be more dynamic off the ball.

This may also require either or both to slightly tweak their games.

It’s important to point out, once again, that this was merely one game, and the Lakers, frankly, should be encouraged. One of the best stretches the two had on the floor together came at the end of the third quarter – a period the Lakers won by 15.

This was always going to take time.

‘After the game, just waiting on the guys to get back to the locker room, the word we were using as a coaching staff was our poise,’ Redick said. ‘Not overreacting, not pulling apart, problem-solving – all that stuff in real time – just continuing to play.

‘That, at times, was missing last year, and for us to get that on the first night was really good. It’s good to see, first game back with everybody healthy, a collective spirit, a collective pull all in the right direction.’

AI-assisted summary
• Shedeur Sanders is expected to make his first NFL start for the Cleveland Browns after an injury to the starting quarterback.
• Deion Sanders expressed fondness for the Browns’ injured starting quarterback, Dillon Gabriel.
• The coach alluded to behind-the-scenes challenges his son has faced this season with the Browns.

Colorado football coach Deion Sanders said Nov. 18 that he didn’t know yet if he’d make it to Las Vegas to watch his son Shedeur’s first expected start as an NFL quarterback. But Sanders also said he likes quarterback Dillon Gabriel − Shedeur’s teammate with the Cleveland Browns − and knows what’s been going on ‘behind the curtains’ this season in Cleveland.

‘I think a lesser man would have crumbled,’ Deion Sanders said of his son at his weekly news conference in Boulder.

Shedeur Sanders, a rookie with the Browns, came off the bench in a 23-16 loss against Baltimore Nov. 16 after Gabriel, the starting quarterback, suffered a concussion. Gabriel is expected to miss the Brown’s Nov. 23 game, putting Shedeur in the spotlight against the Las Vegas Raiders.

“Haven’t made that decision as of yet,” Deion Sanders said Tuesday about going to Las Vegas. “I’m so focused on what we have at hand. I’m not thinking about that, although I just got off the phone with him a minute ago.”

Sanders’ Colorado team hosts Arizona State in a 8 p.m. game Nov. 22. His team is 3-7 this year and often practices on Sundays.

Deion Sanders said he’s fond of Dillon Gabriel

The father said he was “in tears” after learning in his office in Boulder that his son finally saw his first action in a regular-season game last Sunday. He said he predicted to Shedeur beforehand that he would play against the Ravens.

“I thought the Ravens would have played better early on to provoke him getting in,” Sanders said Tuesday. “I didn’t want him to get in by the injury because I’m fond of Dillon, and I want him to be successful as well. But I didn’t want that to happen.”

Deion Sanders alludes to issues ‘behind the curtains’

Shedeur Sanders came back from a fractured back that he suffered at Colorado in 2023 and entered the NFL draft in April as a projected first-round pick. But then he fell all the way to the fifth round and Cleveland, which also drafted Gabriel in the third round. Fans of Sanders have questioned why the Browns didn’t give him a better chance until Sunday, when he completed 4 of 16 passes for 47 yards with an interception against the Ravens.

“I was happy for him just getting the opportunity and running on that field because I know the fight behind the fight,” Deion Sanders said. “Yeah, if I could say that modestly. I know what’s been transpiring behind the curtains, and I’m just proud of him, because he’s not just saying the right things, he’s doing and living the right things. That’s just who he is.”

Deion Sanders said ‘a lesser man would have crumbled’

The father said he’s been providing advice to Shedeur and is even trying to “buy a house together” with him. He said he’s proud of him.

“Thank God that God prepared him for everything he’s dealing with,” Deion Sanders said. “I mean, I think a lesser man would have crumbled. But he’s been built for this, and who else is built for the adversity like he is? Like, going into the NFL? I don’t think it’s too many quarterbacks that have (been) built like that for the adverse situations and not having the best of things to happen around him.”

Follow Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com

(This story was updated with new information.)