South-Carolina
QB carousel sends Russell Wilson to Steelers; Benches clear in South Carolina-LSU SEC tournament title game
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🏈 Good morning to everyone but especially …
NFL FREE AGENCY
Russell Wilson is getting a new fresh start. Both he and the Steelers hope it goes better than the last one. The former Seahawks star — and more recently embattled Broncos signal caller — announced late Sunday he is heading to Pittsburgh just days after Denver said it would release him. The Broncos allowed him to talk to other teams, and things apparently went well enough in the Steel City. It’s a one-year deal around the league minimum of $1.2 million; the Steelers can pay him that little because the Broncos are paying him so much.
I went over this last week, when Denver announced it would release Wilson despite $85 million in dead cap: In his first year in Denver, he was awful, the coaching was awful, and that was that. Then the Broncos hired Sean Payton, whose fit with Wilson was a curious one, and though Wilson was better, he wasn’t great. Then came an ugly benching, and now comes what will be Wilson’s third team in four years.
It’s an intriguing landing spot. Kenny Pickett, a first-round pick two years ago, hasn’t exactly impressed, but his offensive coordinator didn’t either, which is why he was fired. So in comes Wilson on an extremely cheap deal, playing alongside several promising playmakers, a win-now defense and a very good coach. It’s a low-downside, high-upside move in theory.
The deal technically won’t be official until Wednesday afternoon, when the new league year begins. But it provides a thrilling precursor to what will be a busy few days. NFL free agency starts today at noon — kind of — with the legal tampering period, meaning any player on an expiring contract can speak with teams through their representation, and deals can be agreed upon. I’ve always thought the phrase “legal tampering” — two antonyms — is ridiculous, but that’s a discussion for another day because this is a busy newsletter.
Elsewhere at quarterback, the Buccaneers kept Baker Mayfield on a three-year, $100-million extension that includes
$50 million guaranteed. It’s an incredible career resurgence for Mayfield, who signed a one-year, $8.5-million deal last year and was viewed as a bridge quarterback. Here’s who else stayed put over the weekend:
We also had notable moves ahead over the weekend …
Then we have the group everyone is watching: the free agents looking for homes. It’s a group Kirk Cousins joined after he informed the Vikings he will test the market while remaining in touch. Even at 35 and coming off an Achilles tear, Cousins is the No. 1 free agent in both Pete Prisco’s top 100 and Cody Benjamin’s top 50.
Jared played free agent matchmaker for every AFC team and every NFC team, and he says Cousins fits perfectly with …
- Dubin: “Falcons — There’s been a lot of talk about how the Falcons are close to contending because they are only a quarterback away from being good. If you’re a quarterback away, you’re not actually that close; because it’s the only thing you can’t win without, as we saw in Atlanta last year. But if the Falcons land Cousins, things become much more interesting.”
Here’s our free agency live blog, and here’s our top 100 free agent signings, so keep those open all day … every day … for the next few weeks. Here’s more to get you ready:
And if you’re looking for anything else, here’s our full primer.
🔥 Honorable mentions
😬 Not so honorable mentions
🏀 High drama in women’s college basketball conference tournament championships
Getty Images
South Carolina will enter the NCAA Tournament undefeated, but certainly not without drama — drama that cost the Gamecocks one of their stars. The nation’s top team defeated LSU, 79-72, to win the SEC Tournament and improve to 32-0, but the victory was marred by a benches-clearing brawl in the fourth quarter.
- South Carolina’s MiLaysia Fulwiley stole the ball from LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson, who then intentionally fouled Fulwiley.
- Johnson then shoved Ashlyn Watkins before 6’7″ Gamecocks center Kamilla Cardoso shoved Johnson to the ground.
- Benches cleared, and Johnson’s brother even left the stands and came onto the court, making contact with Cardoso before leaving in handcuffs, per the broadcast.
- Six players were ejected: five who left the benches and Cardoso, whose fighting disqualification means she’ll miss the first game of the NCAA Tournament.
The incident happened a day after Cardoso banked in a buzzer-beating 3-pointer against Tennessee, making it quite the weekend of ups and downs.
In Big Ten country, Caitlin Clark‘s Sunday started very down and ended very up as Iowa rallied past Nebraska, 94-89, in overtime, for the program’s third straight Big Ten Tournament title. Clark scored 30 of her 34 points after halftime and scored or assisted on the Hawkeyes’ final 28 points of regulation.
Elsewhere, Hannah Hidalgo led Notre Dame over NC State, 55-51, for the ACC Tournament crown, and McKenzie Forbes led USC over Stanford, 74-61, for the Pac-12 Tournament crown. Here’s our conference tournament tracker.
🏀 Men’s college basketball: North Carolina sweeps Duke, four bids clinched
USATSI
No. 7 North Carolina will enter this week’s ACC Tournament riding high, and with good reason. The Tar Heels finished their regular-season sweep of No. 9 Duke with an impressive 84-79 win in Durham. Cormac Ryan scored a career-high 31 points and made six 3-pointers. Making matters worse for Duke, Kyle Filipowski appeared to trip Ingram, putting the star Blue Devil in the unfavorable section of our weekend winners and losers.
Also winning on the road was No. 15 Kentucky, which held off No. 4 Tennessee, 85-81, in Knoxville. Reed Sheppard and Antonio Reeves scored 27 each, helping the Wildcats survive a 40-point onslaught by Dalton Knecht. Kentucky earned an “A” in Kyle Boone’s weekly grades. He even called the week “splendiferous.” Yes, it’s a real word.
No. 14 Kansas earned a (perhaps generous) “C-“ after a 76-46 shellacking at the hands of No. 1 Houston, the Jayhawks’ fewest points in a conference game since 2000. This Kansas team just doesn’t have the firepower, and potential injuries to Hunter Dickinson and/or Kevin McCullar Jr. certainly won’t help.
We’ll see the teams above in their conference tournaments this week. As for completed conference tournaments, four champions earned a ticket to dance:
- ASUN: Stetson
- Big South: Longwood
- Missouri Valley: Drake
- Ohio Valley: Morehead State
Here’s our conference tournament tracker, and here’s more from the weekend:
🏆 USWNT wins inaugural Concacaf W Gold Cup
Getty Images
It may not have been pretty, but the USWNT is back to lifting trophies. The Star and Stripes topped Brazil, 1-0, to win the inaugural Concacaf W Gold Cup.
Lindsey Horan provided the game-winner with a wonderful header off Emily Fox‘s cross just before halftime, and a strong defensive effort followed. After World Cup disappointment — and ahead of Emma Hayes‘ arrival as coach and the 2024 Olympics — give credit to interim coach Twila Kilgore, Sandra Herrera writes.
📺 What we’re watching Monday
🏀 Iowa State vs. No. 19 Oklahoma (W), 2:30 p.m. on ESPN2
🏀 No. 16 Kansas State vs. No. 6 Texas (W), 5 p.m. on ESPN2
🏀 Big East Championship Game: vs. No. 9 UConn, 7 p.m. on FS1
🏀 Warriors at Spurs, 7:30 p.m. on NBA TV
🏀 Santa Clara vs. No. 23 Saint Mary’s (M), 9 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 Celtics at Trail Blazers, 10 p.m. on NBA TV
🏀 San Francisco vs. No. 19 Gonzaga (M), 11:30 p.m. on ESPN2
Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw show off new Anson Point at Palmetto Bluff
The famed designers created a new course that perfectly fits its South Carolina Lowcountry environment.
BLUFFTON, S.C. – Anson Point, the latest design to open by the architectural team of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, is a welcomed change of pace in today’s market of high-profile course introductions. Its subtlety and Lowcountry charms offer a sense that the course has been there for decades.
Those sensations run contrary to most recent course openings in the Southeast. The past 10 years have seen a huge boom in high-profile private golf in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. In Florida we have seen Panther National, Apogee, High Grove, Soleta, the soon-to-open Miakka and a host of other developments. Georgia has welcomed Ohoopee Match Club and Fall Line. South Carolina has had The Tree Farm, Old Barnwell, Broomsedge, 21 Club and more come online. These offerings are all welcome additions to the golf scene, and they all feel big, bold and new.
Where those courses zig, Anson Point zags. The private course is located near the southern tip of Palmetto Bluff, a 20,000-acre waterfront development with three golf courses, a marina, two village centers, a Montage hotel and a wide selection of nature activities. The course plays inland through mostly pines and oaks before offering marshland views from multiple holes on the back nine.
Opened early this year, Anson Point wasn’t ready in time to qualify for the various 2026 course rankings within this magazine, but it’s easy to anticipate the layout landing coveted spots on the lists as enough raters play it. Palmetto Bluff’s two other courses are the Jack Nicklaus-designed May River, which opened in 2004, and the non-traditional, nine-hole Crossroads by Tad King and Rob Collins, which opened in 2024 and offers a reversible layout.
Unlike many courses within such large developments, including May River, Anson Point is void of surrounding homes. This adds greatly to the tranquility of the experience. Hats off to South Street Partners and Henderson Park, owners of Palmetto Bluff, for taking such an approach on their newest course.
“The scale and conservation ethos of Palmetto Bluff provided South Street with a unique opportunity to site Anson Point on 500 dedicated acres within which Coore and Crenshaw could design a ‘core golf course’ without any single-family homes fronting the course,” said Chris Randolph, managing partner at South Street Partners. “While direct golf frontage real estate has historically driven premium pricing that developers seek when justifying the cost of golf course and clubhouse construction, South Street believes proximity to a world-class golf experience alone should drive even higher premiums across the entirety of the community.”
This approach, which has been the model at several new courses but not all, works well for both golf and homeowners. Residents receive easy access and increased home values with the close affiliation to the course, yet they are not bothered by mowers early in the morning or golfers in their backyards. Most important, the homes don’t impact the golf.
In an era of frequently wide-open golf, Anson differs from many other new developments in that most internal holes — those away from Savannah River’s marsh with its long views toward Georgia — are framed by trees so that the longest view across the course is about 500 yards. This provides an intimate feel that showcases the subtle features incorporated by Coore and Crenshaw.
Coore spent ample time at Anson Point discovering a routing that takes golfers through the woods and out to the marsh on multiple occasions. Coore and Crenshaw associate Ryan Farrow was the on-site lead and handled much of the shaping. The green-to-tee walks are short, the fairways and greens hug the ground, the bunkering is sparse, and areas between the fairways and the woods vary based on what was there at the outset of the project. The design embraces all the features that were available, starting at No. 1.
“There was a really special little quarry area with exposed sand and mossy edges, and we sited No. 1 green right there and used that feature as our guiding light for how to best showcase the land,” Coore said. “That and the beautiful trees and marsh edges.”
There is a mixture of holes, long and short with doglegs left and right. A pair of three-hole stretches on each nine showcase the best of Anson Point.
The par-5 seventh starts wide and gently narrows all the way to the green – players have choices off the tee, on the second shot and all around the green. The long par-4 eighth looks straight in planning, but on the ground players should favor moving the ball left to right. The tiny par-3 ninth plays across a low sandy area to a green set on a diagonal from front-left to back-right.
On the back nine, the par-4 15th is drivable for many players, with a small bunker that looks greenside but is well short and must be avoided. The par-5 16th moves from right to left and is reachable for long hitters, but the hole location dictates how to attack. The long par-3 17th plays toward the marsh, starting in a narrow shoot before the hole opens up to a green with a strong flash at the back edge, all with views of Savannah some 10 miles across the water.
These are all the types of holes that would play differently day to day, and a member would learn the subtle nuances and strategies in time. If it were a resort course, Anson Point might feel a bit underwhelming, as it lacks elevation change, multiple water features and expansive bunkering. But as a member’s course, it is a shining example of the long-term relationship one would seek out.
“We worked hard to uncover and incorporate little details throughout, and I believe it is a golf course that will reveal itself over time,” Coore said. “I imagine members will like and appreciate it even more after years of play.”
At a time when golf development in the Southeast is booming, it is nice to see that a low-profile layout is still welcome in Lowcountry. Gwk
– Jay Blasi is a golf course architect based in California who writes occasional stories for Golfweek and hosts groups of Golfweek’s Best course raters around the world.
Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win
Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.
Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The South Carolina Education Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at July 3, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from July 3 drawing
05-09-29-47-57, Mega Ball: 16
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL numbers from July 3 drawing
Midday: 6-8-5, FB: 0
Evening: 3-5-7, FB: 4
Check Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL numbers from July 3 drawing
Midday: 7-0-6-6, FB: 0
Evening: 5-8-1-1, FB: 4
Check Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from July 3 drawing
Midday: 12
Evening: 08
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Palmetto Cash 5 numbers from July 3 drawing
09-13-14-25-42
Check Palmetto Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
The South Carolina Education Lottery provides multiple ways to claim prizes, depending on the amount won:
For prizes up to $500, you can redeem your winnings directly at any authorized South Carolina Education Lottery retailer. Simply present your signed winning ticket at the retailer for an immediate payout.
Winnings $501 to $100,000, may be redeemed by mailing your signed winning ticket along with a completed claim form and a copy of a government-issued photo ID to the South Carolina Education Lottery Claims Center. For security, keep copies of your documents and use registered mail to ensure the safe arrival of your ticket.
SC Education Lottery
P.O. Box 11039
Columbia, SC 29211-1039
For large winnings above $100,000, claims must be made in person at the South Carolina Education Lottery Headquarters in Columbia. To claim, bring your signed winning ticket, a completed claim form, a government-issued photo ID, and your Social Security card for identity verification. Winners of large prizes may also set up an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) for convenient direct deposit of winnings.
Columbia Claims Center
1303 Assembly Street
Columbia, SC 29201
Claim Deadline: All prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the draw date for draw games.
For more details and to access the claim form, visit the South Carolina Lottery claim page.
When are the South Carolina Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
- Pick 4: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
- Cash Pop: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
- Palmetto Cash 5: 6:59 p.m. ET daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Carolina editor. You can send feedback using this form.
South-Carolina
Tennessee Football 2026 SEC Opponent Summer QnA Preview: South Carolina | Rocky Top Insider
Tennessee football is returning to a house of horrors next season. The Vols will play at South Carolina, where their magical 2022 season essentially came to an end, and Hendon Hooker tore his ACL to finish his college career.
With fall camp around the corner, I spoke with Lulu Kesin of The Greenville News to get the inside scoop on where the Gamecocks are at this summer ahead of this year’s matchup.
Here’s what she said.
More From RTI: Tennessee Quarterback Reportedly Joining Manning Passing Academy Instructors
Heading into year six, what’s the feeling around where the program is at under Shane Beamer?
I think there’s still lingering disappointment in how big of a step back 2025 was, but a lot of fans’ blame really went on former offensive coordinator Mike Shula. With the Kendal Briles hire and just with time, there’s been some optimism starting to flood in, but overall I think most feel like this is a make-or-break year for Shane Beamer. His transfer portal success combined with the fact that high school recruiting didn’t take a huge hit despite the 4-8 season helps a lot, but South Carolina can’t miss a bowl game again.
South Carolina was able to return LaNorris Sellers at quarterback. What are the expectations for him this season?
It’s rare to see a quarterback stay in one place for three seasons which is an advantage that should LaNorris Sellers has to capitalize on. He’s had three different OCs which isn’t great. Without a spring game, it’s hard to tell how things are going in Briles’ system, but there are high expectations regardless. LaNorris is a football junkie and often described as a perfectionist so last season was likely a harsh wake-up call in some ways. He’s had bad protection so far but also his own issues to improve upon. I think the expectation now is that Briles is the OC who can get him to where he needs to be, which is closer to his 2024 self.
What have the Gamecocks built around Sellers on offense?
WR Nyck Harbor is the biggest piece downfield, and their chemistry took a big step forward last year. Nitro Tuggle, a transfer WR from Purdue, is another player to keep an eye on. South Carolina does not necessarily have a clear RB1 now, but Beamer brought in three portal RBs, which will hopefully give the offense some life on the ground. On both sides of the ball South Carolina lacked maturity and experience last year so Beamer intentionally brought in some players who had in-game experience, even if it was limited.
A major factor was a lack of protection so South Carolina completely revamped its offensive line. That’s a huge element to Sellers success. He was sacked 42 times last year, the third most in DI.
What projects to be the strengths, weaknesses of the defense?
South Carolina’s secondary will have to operate without DQ Smith, Brandon Cisse and Jalon Kilgore and those are some big shoes to fill. Dylan Stewart was never fully healthy towards the latter half of last season, so if he’s back to 100% then there’s still a lot of strength there, especially with freshman edge rusher Julian Walker coming in.
Do you have an early prediction for the game, or is it too far out to tell still?
I lean more towards it’s too far out to tell but under Beamer, South Carolina is 1-3 in games played during that Oct. 22-26 range. It’s also after a bye week which can either hurt or help the Gamecocks but being at home is certainly an advantage.
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