Connect with us

South-Carolina

Why Illinois Football Has No CFP Case Over South Carolina, Ole Miss, Alabama

Published

on

Why Illinois Football Has No CFP Case Over South Carolina, Ole Miss, Alabama


In the latest College Football Playoff rankings, Illinois clocked in at No. 21, clearly on the outside looking in and with no shot at making the field, regardless of what happens throughout the college football world this weekend. For Illini fans, it’s a major-league bummer.

The issue, for many, is this: Illinois’ 9-3 record is no different than that of 9-3 Alabama, which sits at No. 11 in the latest CFP rankings, and as of today would slip into the CFP.

But is it really?

The slotting of Alabama in the last CFP at-large spot has some key figures in the college football world in a frenzy, including Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin and even Illinois’ own Bret Bielema.

Advertisement

But outrage doesn’t automatically equal controversy. There are good reasons why the Illini rank no higher than No. 19 and, frankly, have absolutely no argument for a spot in the CFP. Disregarding 10-2 Miami (that’s an entirely difference conversation), let’s compare the resumes of the three-loss teams in the CFP mix with that of Illinois:

South Carolina (No. 14 CFP)

The Gamecocks’ three defeats came against No. 13 Ole Miss (27-3), No. 11 Alabama (27-25) and LSU (36-33). Compare those to Illinois’ three losses: No. 1 Oregon (38-9), No. 3 Penn State (21-7) and Minnesota (27-25). Basically a coin flip. Each team lost two games to current top-15 teams, although the Illini’s losses came against the highest caliber of opponent. Moreover, South Carolina lost two of its three at home (Ole Miss and LSU), while Illinois dropped just one in Champaign (Minnesota). When comparing the “quality” of losses, give the Illini a slight edge.

And the wins? Illinois beat three teams that were ranked at the time, but Kansas finished the year 5-7 (though strung together three straight wins against ranked foes in November); Nebraska stumbled to a 6-6 season (3-6 Big Ten); and Michigan closed the regular season at 7-5 (5-4 Big Ten), its worst showing since before Jim Harbaugh arrived in Ann Arbor. (It didn’t stop the Wolverines from beating Ohio State for the fourth consecutive time, but that merits as little more than a footnote in this conversation.)

Meanwhile, South Carolina beat No. 17 Clemson just last week, took down No. 19 Missouri and dominated a solid Texas A&M team that entered their Week 10 game ranked 10th in the country. Those wins easily vault South Carolina ahead of Illinois. If you need the numbers to back it up, ESPN’s analytics give the Gamecocks college football’s 11th-best Strength of Record (which reflects a team’s results as compared to the projections of an average top-25 team against the same schedule). Illinois’ Strength of Record: No. 21.

Advertisement

South Carolina wins this one. On to the next. 

Ole Miss (No. 13 CFP)

Let’s start with the losses again. Ole Miss fell at home to a Kentucky squad that finished the year 4-8, then lost at Death Valley to 8-4 LSU, as well as at 7-5 Florida. Each of those teams is unranked, but in the Rebels’ defense, playing at LSU or Florida is a tall order in any season. As for the Kentucky loss, there’s no excuse. The Illini, whose losses we covered above, blow the Rebels out of the water here.

Moving on to the wins, Ole Miss thrashed No. 13 South Carolina on the road and handily beat No. 3 Georgia at home, 28-10.

Illinois’ best win: 7-5 Michigan.

Credit the Illini for beating the teams they were supposed to (aside from Minnesota) and not playing down to their competition, but the CFP committee is seeking teams with the ability to compete with anyone – and Illinois’ double-digit losses to the Ducks and Nittany Lions would seem to keep them from fitting that mold.

Advertisement

Ole Miss takes this one, although it’s perhaps a closer call than the South Carolina comparison.

Alabama (No. 11 CFP)

Speed round.

Losses: at Vanderbilt, at No. 7 Tennessee, at Oklahoma – a 24-3 stinker. (The Sooners finished with only two conference wins.)

The losses are not pretty. Tennessee is understandable. Even a road loss to Vanderbilt, which was in and out of the top 25 all year, isn’t unconscionable. But mustering three points and falling by three touchdowns to a Sooners squad that went 2-6 in the SEC is the textbook definition of a bad loss.

As history – meaning Ole Miss and South Carolina – has taught us, however, the losses don’t matter nearly as much as the wins. And the Tide have a handful of high-quality wins: a 42-13 blowout at LSU, a 41-34 win over No. 5 Georgia and a 34-0 whitewashing of No. 19 Missouri. 

Advertisement

Three marquee wins. Two in extremely dominant fashion.

No need to rehash Illinois’ biggest wins. (Sorry, Illini fans – it’s still just Michigan.)

The Tide easily clear the Illini here. As for whether or not they deserve to go in over Ole Miss and South Carolina – let alone Miami – is a debate for another time and place.

Now, enough with the negativity. 

The Illini have already locked up their ninth victory to reach that plateau for the first time since 2007), and in their upcoming bowl game they have a chance to tie the school record with a 10th win.

Advertisement

And regardless of how things shake out this weekend, Illinois is all but guaranteed to get a shot at one of the aforementioned SEC squads and a chance to prove it should have been ranked higher and been a larger part of the CFP discussion.

In any case, coach Bret Bielema and the Illini have put together one of the best campaigns in Illinois’ 100-years-plus football history and parlayed it into a top-50 incoming recruiting class. More help could be on the way. The Illini are one of the youngest teams in the FBS and next year welcome back quarterback Luke Altmyer. A bowl win over an SEC power and a 10-win season would set them up for an excellent season and a prolonged stretch of success that would be impossible for recruits not to notice.

Even with no CFP appearance this season, bigger things for Illinois may be very close at hand.

Advertisement

Illinois Football Receiver Pat Bryant Declares for NFL Draft

Why Illinois Football Fans Should Be Laser-Focused on SMU vs. Clemson

Illinois Football Finalizes 2025 Recruiting Class on National Signing Day





Source link

South-Carolina

South Carolina Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 results for March 10, 2026

Published

on

South Carolina Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 results for March 10, 2026


play

The South Carolina Education Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Advertisement

Here’s a look at March 10, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from March 10 drawing

16-21-30-35-65, Mega Ball: 07

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL numbers from March 10 drawing

Midday: 7-8-3, FB: 4

Evening: 6-9-0, FB: 0

Advertisement

Check Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL numbers from March 10 drawing

Midday: 3-7-7-1, FB: 4

Evening: 1-3-5-8, FB: 0

Check Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from March 10 drawing

Midday: 07

Advertisement

Evening: 06

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Palmetto Cash 5 numbers from March 10 drawing

04-05-06-07-11

Check Palmetto Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Advertisement

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

Advertisement

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

Advertisement

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.



Source link

Continue Reading

South-Carolina

Source: Lamont Paris returning to South Carolina next season

Published

on

Source: Lamont Paris returning to South Carolina next season


NOTE: The above video is a livestream of WIS featuring current newscasts, Soda City Living and Gray Media’s Local News Live.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – Lamont Paris will remain the head coach for South Carolina men’s basketball next season.

A source confirmed to WIS that Paris will return for his fifth season at the helm.

The Gamecocks have gone 62-67 under Paris, which included an NCAA Tournament appearance during the 2023-24 season. In the two seasons since, however, South Carolina has gone 12-20 and 13-18, respectively.

Advertisement

Paris’s tenure has also included a 23-49 record against the SEC as of Tuesday.

The Gamecocks will face Oklahoma on Wednesday in the first round of the SEC Tournament in Nashville. Tipoff is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. The game will also be televised on the SEC Network.

Feel more informed, prepared, and connected with WIS. For more free content like this, subscribe to our email newsletter, and download our apps. Have feedback that can help us improve? Click here.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

South-Carolina

Alexander brothers convicted of sex trafficking in Manhattan federal court

Published

on

Alexander brothers convicted of sex trafficking in Manhattan federal court


NEW YORK — Three brothers, including two of the nation’s most successful luxury real estate brokers, were convicted of sex trafficking Monday after a five-week trial over accusations that they drugged and raped scores of women they had dazzled with their wealth and opulent lifestyle.

The verdict came after 11 women testified in Manhattan federal court they were sexually assaulted by one or more of the brothers: twins Oren and Alon Alexander, 38, and Tal Alexander, 39. All three shook their heads as the jury foreperson said “guilty” 19 straight times, a powerful reckoning that could put them behind bars for the rest of their lives.

Tal Alexander dropped his head into his crossed arms. Their stunned parents sat in the gallery behind them. Alon Alexander’s wife shielded her face with her hand and appeared to fight back tears.

Judge Valerie E. Caproni set sentencing for Aug. 6. The brothers, jailed since their 2024 arrests, will appeal the verdict, their lawyers said.

Advertisement

“We believe in our clients’ innocence and we’re not going to stop fighting until we prevail, and we believe that we will one day prevail,” defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo said outside the courthouse.

U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton lauded the verdict as vindication for victims of crimes that often go unreported and unpunished.

“The truth is sex trafficking and other federal sex offenses are present in many walks of life and we have not done enough to root it out,” Clayton said in a statement.

Dozens of women say they were drugged and assaulted

The verdict represented a spectacular fall for Oren and Tal Alexander, once known as real estate’s “A Team” for their high-ticket sales and celebrity clientele. After smashing sales records at industry powerhouse Douglas Elliman, the brothers started their own firm. Alon Alexander ran their family’s private security company.

Victims testified that they met the brothers at nightclubs, parties and on dating apps, and were attacked after accepting their invitations to all-expense paid getaways to the Hamptons; Aspen, Colorado; and a Caribbean cruise. More than 60 women say they were raped by one or more of the brothers, according to prosecutors.

Advertisement

Defense lawyers suggested the accusers had faulty memories or were hoping to cash in on the brothers’ fortunes. The brothers were womanizers, their lawyers conceded. But they insisted any sex was consensual.

In addition to the top charges, Alon and Tal Alexander were also convicted of sex trafficking of a minor while Alon and Oren Alexander were convicted of aggravated sexual abuse by force or intoxicant and sexual abuse of a physically incapacitated person. Oren Alexander was also convicted of sexually exploiting a minor after prosecutors showed the jury a video he recorded of himself appearing to assault a drugged 17-year-old.

Lawsuits expose an open secret in the real estate world

Besides the criminal case, the brothers have faced about two dozen lawsuits over the last two years, including one filed last week in which Tracy Tutor, a star of Bravo’s “Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles,” alleges Oren Alexander drugged and assaulted her while she was in New York City for a real estate event.

When the first of the lawsuits were filed, multiple women came forward claiming they had also been assaulted, and that the brothers’ misconduct had been an open secret in the real estate world. The government took notice and opened a criminal case.

During the trial, many women who testified said they believed the brothers had spiked their drinks. Some described feeling like they’d lost control of their bodies.

Advertisement

One woman testified that she met the brothers in 2012 at a party at actor Zac Efron’s Manhattan apartment. She said she had almost no interaction with the actor, who was not accused of any misdeeds, and went to a nightclub later in the night before waking up naked with a nude Alon Alexander standing over her.

“I don’t want to have sex with you,” she testified telling him. “Haha, you already did,” she recalled him snapping back as he “laughed in my face.”

Testimony challenges claim that money drove allegations

Prosecutors pushed back against the idea that the accusers were hoping to cash in on lawsuits. Only two have lawsuits pending, prosecutor Elizabeth Espinosa told jurors, and both are wealthy.

One woman who testified said she was raped by Alon Alexander in Aspen, Colorado, in 2017, when she was 17. She said she was the daughter of a billionaire.

“I don’t want their money. I just don’t want them to have it,” she told jurors.

Advertisement

Lindsey Acree, an artist and gallery owner, testified she was raped by Tal Alexander and another man at a home in the Hamptons in 2011 after taking a drink that left her feeling paralyzed.

The woman said she sued last year even though she will “never need their money” because the Alexanders “kept calling us gold diggers, shake down artists, con artists.”

“If there’s a kid with a stick who keeps hitting people, you take their stick away,” she told the jury. “Money is their stick, so you take it away so they can’t hurt people anymore.”

The Associated Press does not typically identify people who say they are victims of sexual assault unless they choose to come forward publicly, as Acree and Tutor have done.

Copyright 2026 NPR

Advertisement





Source link

Continue Reading

Trending