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Fresno State grinds down Miami (Ohio) to win Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl

Published

2 months ago

December 28, 2025

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Fresno State grinds down Miami (Ohio) to win Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl

Justin Spears
| Arizona Daily Star

The next episode of the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl presented by Gin & Juice by Dre and Snoop was a low-scoring game, but it was a closer contest than the previous year.

Fresno State outlasted Miami (Ohio), 18-3, in a low-scoring game and dethroned the Redhawks as the Arizona Bowl champion on Saturday at Casino Del Sol Stadium.

FSU ended the season winning four of its last five games and the Bulldogs finished their first season under head coach Matt Entz with a 9-4 record.

Miami, which has appeared in the last three MAC championships, finished the season with a 7-7 record.

Fresno State’s postgame celebration included Snoop Dogg delivering the Arizona Bowl trophy in a 1963 Chevy Impala and handing out “Death Row Records” chains to FSU players and coaches.

“A guy from Northeast Ohio probably looks unique with a Death Row necklace on,” Entz joked.

“When you finish with a win in December, that’s a good year,” Entz said. “Period. … When you’re winning a game after Christmas, with these type of young men, that’s a win for the administration, that’s a win for the program, that’s a win for Fresno State, that’s a win for our administration and all of our coaches and support people.”

Added Entz: “For them to walk out being a winner, being a champion of the Arizona Bowl, that’s exciting. I’m excited for them. That’s what it should be about.”

Fresno State, which ranks 14th in college football in total defense, is the first team in Arizona Bowl history to not allow a touchdown. The 21 total points on Saturday marked the lowest-scoring Arizona Bowl in the bowl game’s history.

After Miami kicker Dom Dzioban kicked a 33-yard field goal to grab a 3-0 lead, Fresno State outscored the Redhawks 18-0 to finish the game. Following Miami’s field goal on its opening drive, the Redhawks had drives result in two turnovers, two turnover on downs and five punts.

“Their defense outplayed our offense by a large margin,” said Miami head coach Chuck Martin.

Turning point

Miami was without long snapper Hudson Powell, who is expected to enter the transfer portal on Jan. 2. The Redhawks turned to backup long snapper Gray Maultsby, who sailed a snap over the head of punter Pierse Stainton in the second quarter.

Instead of giving up a potential safety or touchdown, Stainton picked up the dribbled snap in the end zone and attempted a punt that was blocked by Fresno State’s Ethan Thierney and recovered by FSU’s Jonathan Arceneaux at the Fresno State 10-yard line. A stuffed run, an incomplete pass and a short run by Fresno State quarterback and Phoenix native E.J. Warner forced the Bulldogs to settle for a 23-yard field goal to tie the game, 3-3.

Miami’s longest drive of the game, a seven-play, 53-yard possession, was cut short after Fresno State linebacker forced Miami running back Jordan Brunson to fumble, which was recovered by cornerback Jakari Embry at the FSU 22-yard line. Miami only had one trip to the red zone the entire game.

“That definitely shifted momentum and gave them some life,” Martin said of the fumble. “We just weren’t going to get in the plus territory many times against that defense, so we knew we had to cash in. … Big shift right there.”

Fresno State kicker Dylan Lynch made a 25-yard field at the end of the first half and the Bulldogs led 9-3 at halftime. Fresno State out-gained Miami 156-40 in the second quarter.

Even though former Arizona Wildcat and Fresno State running back Rayshon “Speedy” Luke suffered an injury in the first half and was limited throughout the game, FSU out-gained in total offense, 391-192 yards, and controlled time of possession, 38:40-21:20.

Fresno State’s only touchdown of the game was a 2-yard pass from Warner to sophomore tight end Richie Anderson III.

“Maybe we didn’t score touchdowns, but we leaned on people and we imposed on our will,” Entz said. “We got our run game going at different times. The gap-scheme stuff was really good.”

Offensive MVP

Warner, who’s the son of Super Bowl MVP Kurt Warner, was named MVP for the Arizona Bowl after completing 16 of 23 passes for 214 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions.

Warner’s top target was senior wide receiver Josiah Freeman. Fresno State’s leading receiver had seven catches for 143 yards — 109 yards after catch (YAC). Freeman had receptions of 51, 47 and 21 yards.

“Definitely the most (YAC) I’ve had,” Freeman said.

Defensive MVP

Embry entered Saturday with one career interception and he doubled it with an interception on a deep ball near the left sideline in the first quarter.

Embry, who recorded two tackles, had the momentum-shifting fumble recovery.

“The energy from that point went up,” Embry said of the fumble. “Ain’t nothing better on defense than getting a takeaway. That’s the best thing.”

Unsung hero

Lynch was 4-for-5 on field goals on Saturday. Lynch was a combined 8-for-9 in Fresno State’s final two games of the season.

Fresno State was 5-for-7 scoring in the red zone.

Extra points

— Announced attendance for the Arizona Bowl was 37,232. The attendance for the Arizona Bowl last season was 40,076.

— Miami had three players finish with double-digit tackles on Saturday: Safety Eli Blakey and linebacker Malcolm McCain each had 13 tackles and defensive back Silas Walters had 12 tackles.

— Luke, who had four carries for 14 yards, on his return to Tucson: “It felt great, seeing things I haven’t seen in almost a year. It’s a little shocking, because I never thought I’d be back here. It’s amazing.”

— Martin, on the experience at the Arizona Bowl over the last two years: “Amazing. It’s a great bowl. All the bowls are great, I’ve been around all of them, but this is as good as it gets for me, personally. Everybody treats you great, but it is above and beyond here. Everywhere you turn, someone wants to help you if you need something. … The interaction with Snoop, it’s a big deal to a lot of people, not just the players. There’s a lot of adults that are starry-eyed to be close to Snoop. … It’s the funnest football game you’ve ever been a part of.”

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9 people injured, 1 critical, after Cincinnati mass shooting

Published

9 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

9 people injured, 1 critical, after Cincinnati mass shooting

Nine people were injured after a shooting broke out at Riverfront Live on Cincinnati’s East Side early Sunday.

The shooting was reported about 1 a.m. March 1 at the Kellogg Avenue music venue on the border of East End and Linwood, according to Cincinnati Interim Police Chief Adam Hennie.

Dozens flooded out from inside the venue in a panic as gunshots rang out, according to a neighboring business’ surveillance camera footage obtained by Enquirer media partner Fox 19.

Eight of the people shot were taken to University of Cincinnati Medical Center and one person was brought to Good Samaritan Hospital, Hennie said.

One person at UC Medical Center is in critical condition, according to hospital spokeswoman Heather Chura-Smith. Five people are in stable condition and two have been treated and released, she said.

The status of the person at Good Samaritan Hospital is unknown. Hospital staff declined to provide an update on the person’s status.

An event was in progress at the venue, Hennie said, but he did not say what it was. A description on the venue’s website lists it as a “nightlife concert venue.”

Mayor Aftab Pureval called the shooting “unconscionable” in a statement.

This story will be updated.

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Purdue vs. Ohio State Prediction, How to Watch, Odds, Channel – Mar 1

Published

21 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Purdue vs. Ohio State Prediction, How to Watch, Odds, Channel – Mar 1

Data Skrive

The No. 8 Purdue Boilermakers (22-6, 12-5 Big Ten) will try to continue a three-game road winning streak when they take on the Ohio State Buckeyes (17-11, 9-8 Big Ten) on Sunday, March 1, 2026 at Value City Arena. The matchup airs at 1:30 p.m. ET on CBS.

The Boilermakers are a 5.5-point favorite against the Buckeyes when the Boilermakers and the Buckeyes meet. The game’s over/under is set at 150.5.

Continue scrolling to get all the information before betting on the Purdue-Ohio State clash.

Purdue vs. Ohio State How to Watch & Odds

When: Sunday, March 1, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. ET
Where: Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio
TV: CBS
Live Box Score: FOX Sports

Boilermakers vs Buckeyes Betting Information
Favorite	Spread	Favorite Spread Odds	Underdog Spread Odds	Total	Over Total Odds	Under Total Odds	Favorite Moneyline	Underdog Moneyline
Boilermakers	-5.5	-114	-106	150.5	-110	-113	-277	+220

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Purdue vs. Ohio State Prediction

Pick ATS: Purdue (-5.5)
Pick OU: Over (150.5)
Prediction: Purdue 79, Ohio State 73

Learn more about the Purdue Boilermakers vs. the Ohio State Buckeyes game on FOX Sports!

Purdue vs. Ohio State Betting Insights

Betting Line Implied Predictions

Based on the spread and over/under, the implied score for the encounter is Boilermakers 78, Buckeyes 72.
The Boilermakers have a 73.5% chance to claim victory in this meeting based on the moneyline’s implied probability.
The Buckeyes sit with a 31.2% implied probability to win.

Key Spread Facts

Purdue has covered 13 times in 28 games with a spread this season.
Ohio State has won 13 games against the spread this season, while failing to cover 15 times.
When playing as at least 5.5-point favorites this season, Purdue has an ATS record of 9-12.
When playing as at least 5.5-point underdogs this season, Ohio State has an ATS record of 3-2.

Key Total Facts

In 15 games this season, the Boilermakers and their opponent have combined to score more than 150.5 points.
There have been 15 Buckeyes games this season with more than 150.5 points scored.
The Boilermakers and Buckeyes combine to average 162.1 points per contest, which is 11.6 more than the total for this game.

Key Moneyline Facts

Purdue has been the moneyline favorite 24 times this season. They’ve gone 19-5 in those games.
Ohio State has won two, or 18.2%, of the 11 games it has played as underdogs this season.
When it has played as a moneyline favorite with odds of -277 or shorter, Purdue has a record of 16-1 (94.1% win percentage).
Ohio State has not won as an underdog of +220 or more on the moneyline this season in four games with those odds or longer.

Purdue vs. Ohio State: Recent Results

Boilermakers vs Buckeyes Recent Games
Date	Favorite	Spread	Total	Favorite Moneyline	Underdog Moneyline	Result
1/21/2025	Boilermakers	-9.5	140.5	-549	+403	73-70 OHIOST

Purdue vs. Ohio State: 2025-26 Stats Comparison

	Purdue	Ohio State
Points Scored Per Game (Rank)	82.6 (48)	79.5 (100)
Points Allowed (Rank)	69.5 (66)	73.1 (159)
Rebounds (Rank)	10 (102)	7.7 (311)
3pt Made (Rank)	9.4 (66)	7.8 (175)
Assists (Rank)	19.8 (3)	14.1 (159)
Turnovers (Rank)	8.8 (11)	9.9 (64)

Purdue 2025-26 Key Players

Ohio State 2025-26 Key Players

FOX Sports created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Where does Ohio State basketball rank in latest March Madness bracketology?

Published

1 day ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

Where does Ohio State basketball rank in latest March Madness bracketology?

The Ohio State men’s basketball team will host No. 8 Purdue on March 1 while fighting to keep its NCAA Tournament hopes intact.

The Buckeyes have three games left in Big Ten regular-season play and are 17-11 overall and 9-8 in the league. On Feb. 25, they lost 74-57 at Iowa, marking their second consecutive defeat and their first losing streak of the season. Afterward, the Buckeyes struggled to explain why they came apart when the Hawkeyes went on their first run of the game.

The Boilermakers 22-6 overall, 12-5 in the Big Ten and fresh off a 76-74 home loss to No. 13 Michigan State on Feb. 26.

As of Feb. 26, the Buckeyes were ranked No. 38 in the NET rankings used by the NCAA Tournament selection committee. They are also No. 46 in Wins Above Bubble, another category being utilized by the committee.

Purdue is No. 7 in the NET, making this a Quad 1 game for the Buckeyes. Ohio State is 1-10 in Quad 1.

Here is where Ohio State sits in the major NCAA Tournament projections as it prepares to host the Boilermakers at the Jerome Schottenstein Center:

Ohio State basketball standing in latest bracketology

In a bracket update published Feb. 18, USA Today projects the Buckeyes to make the NCAA Tournament and play in the First Four in Dayton. Ohio State is included as a No. 11 seed, facing fellow No. 11 seed Missouri. The winner of that game would head to Portland to face No. 6 seed Louisville.

Two weeks ago, Ohio State was a No. 10 seed and projected to avoid the First Four in Dayton. Now the Buckeyes are projected second on the list of the final four teams to make the tournament.

Ten Big Ten teams are included in the field, the second-most for any conference after the SEC (11).

In a Feb. 24 update, one day before the Buckeyes lost at Iowa, ESPN’s Joe Lunardi had Ohio State as the first team not to make the tournament. After the loss, he dropped them to the third team in the first four out.

ESPN’s Bubble Watch noted that the loss now has Ohio State’s odds of making the tournament at about 50%.

CBS has the Buckeyes fourth on its list of the first four out.

The website BracketMatrix.com, which aggregates 118 different bracket projections, has Ohio State as a potential No. 11 seed. The Buckeyes appear in 41 brackets, many of which had not been updated after the Iowa game.

Analytics site BartTorvik.com projects Ohio State as a No. 10 seed and gives the Buckeyes a 52.1% chance to make the tournament as of Feb. 27.

Ohio State men’s basketball beat writer Adam Jardy can be reached at ajardy@dispatch.com, on Bluesky at @cdadamjardy.bsky.social or on Twitter at @AdamJardy.

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