Sports
Amid portal uncertainty, Lincoln Riley keeps one top lineman and loses another
After 48 hours of nagging questions and will-he-or-won’t-he uncertainty, Bear Alexander emerged from the tunnel under the John McKay Center in full pads and helmet, his mere presence a sigh of relief after a dramatic stretch of spring at USC.
Those previous two days had been defined by dizzying speculation surrounding the standout defensive tackle’s future at the school. Alexander seemed all but bound for the transfer portal on Tuesday morning, before a final pitch from USC coaches Wednesday shifted those sentiments. By Thursday afternoon, it was as if nothing had ever happened behind the scenes.
“Bear is doing fine,” coach Lincoln Riley said with a shrug. “I know there was a bunch of stuff on the outside. I know he felt the need to address it because there was so much on the outside, which kind of starts anywhere and everywhere in this day and age.”
With the advent of the transfer portal, the increasing influence of NIL and the rampant regularity of tampering across the sport, this sort of portal chaos and roster uncertainty has become a standard part of the calendar for college coaches. Players are now constantly reevaluating their trajectories, while coaches are focusing more than ever on simply retaining them.
“In past years, maybe these [conversations] would have happened more completely after the spring,” Riley said. “With the transfer portal, you find yourself having some more big-picture conversations with these guys to discuss what you see in them as a coach, what you see potentially their role being both now and in the future. But at the end of the day, I mean, it’s USC. Like, you’re not going to beg people to be here. It’s just, I mean, for every guy that leaves, there’s going to be a line of 100 people that would die to take that spot in a heartbeat.”
For Alexander, the conversation was apparently convincing enough.
“I’m not crystal clear on all of the noise or what any of this portal mess is about,” Alexander said in a post on X. “I’m here to finish what I started and that’s chasing a natty here at USC with my teammates.”
The dust had barely settled on Alexander’s drama before another player declared his plans to enter the portal. Freshman center Jason Zandamela was one of the highest touted players in USC’s 2024 recruiting class, but lasted just a few months on campus before deciding to transfer.
Riley pointed to Zandamela’s “very unique background” as the main factor in his decision to leave so quickly. But the coach didn’t seem all that concerned about losing one of the top prospects from his previous class.
“Jason wasn’t a factor to play this year for us,” Riley said. “A good young player, but a long ways away from being ready to help us.”
Alexander, on the other hand, is expected to be a cornerstone of USC’s rebuilt defense under new coordinator D’Anton Lynn. He’s spent much of the spring sidelined with an injury, which has only highlighted how thin USC would be up front without him.
Defensive line coach Shaun Nua said that he “feels good” about that depth up front. But as of Thursday, the rest of the Trojans’ defensive interior behind Alexander consisted of two experienced, but largely unproven newcomers in Nate Clifton (Vanderbilt) and Isaiah Raikes (Texas A&M) and a host of inexperienced freshmen and sophomores behind them.
That made the prospect of Alexander’s potential transfer seem especially bleak. But in spite of the injury and his brief flirtation with the portal, Riley assured that Alexander has been “really more invested in this team than maybe at any point last year.”
How much he invests in his development this offseason will be critical to the trajectory of the Trojans defense. His first season at USC certainly offered plenty of glimpses of game-wrecking potential, but Riley is expecting more from Alexander as a junior.
“The great ones, it’s less flashes and more consistent,” Riley said. “He has that ability.”
And now, there should be no question about his availability, either. Though, that won’t stop Riley from sifting through the portal for other options up front come next Monday, when the transfer window opens.
“We might,” Riley said when asked about pursuing more defensive linemen. “We’ll certainly look and evaluate the spring. That’s one of those positions you never completely shut the door on.”
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
All Elite Wrestling (AEW) star Kenny Omega blasted a social media user over a remark made about Will Ospreay and Charlie Kirk.
The X user made a critique about Ospreay’s mic skills on Thursday, writing, “Will Ospreay is as bad on the mic as charlie kirk, but can’t sell the neck as well as he did.”
COMPLETE PRO WRESTLING COVERAGE ON FOX NEWS DIGITAL
Kenny Omega enters the ring during the New Japan Pro-Wrestling Wrestle Dynasty event at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan, on Jan. 5, 2025. (Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
Omega, who is friends with Ospreay inside and outside the ring, slammed the poster.
“What the f— is wrong with you? It isn’t hard to try having some class,” he wrote in response.
“A dear friend battles back from a career threatening injury, is no doubt still fighting pain today, and is somehow mocked and compared to a dude that was murdered. I get that a joke is a joke but these things should really be kept separate in my opinion.”
Kenny Omega looks on after the tag match during the Power Struggle – Super Jr. Tag League 2018 at Edion Arena Osaka on November 03, 2018 in Osaka, Japan. (Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
When one X user came to the defense of the commenter, Omega responded once more.
“Please extend my apologies, genuinely. Perhaps I’ve become too sensitive after my own brush with death. I also know of Will’s efforts behind the scenes more than most so it was sad to see such a harsh comparison,” the current AEW champion added.
Kirk, a conservative commentator and the founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed during an event on the campus of Utah Valley University in September. Tyler Robinson was arrested in Kirk’s murder.
Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk spoke during his “American Comeback Tour” at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025, in Orem, Utah. Kirk was fatally shot while appearing at the event. (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Robinson’s trial is currently ongoing.
The final weekend of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is here, with France and England playing for third place on Saturday before defending champion Argentina takes on 2010 winner Spain for the title on Sunday.
Here’s everything you need to know about the last two matches of the 39-day, 48-team tournament in North America (all times Pacific).
Saturday’s third-place game
France vs. England
France star Kylian Mbappé smiles during a World Cup semifinal match against Spain on Tuesday.
(David Ramos / Getty Images)
Where: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla.
Time: 2 p.m.
TV: Fox, Telemundo | Streaming: Fox One, Peacock
The buzz: This is a game neither team really wants to play. The disappointment of missing the final is fresh and the weather report calls for temperatures in the high 80s with 68% humidity and a chance of thundershowers — a brutal South Florida summer day. The $2-million difference in prize money between third and fourth place isn’t likely to make any of that more palatable. Still, the game will have meaning for France since it will be the final match for coach Didier Deschamps, the winningest World Cup manager in history. And captain Kylian Mbappé, tied with Argentina’s Lionel Messi for most goals in the tournament (8), has a chance to become the first player to win consecutive Golden Boots. England is playing in the consolation final for the second time in three World Cups; it lost to Belgium 2-1 in 2018. But this one will probably sting even more since the Three Lions were five minutes away from their first final in six decades before collapsing against Argentina. This could be the last World Cup game for England’s Golden Generation of Harry Kane, Jordan Pickford, John Stones and Jordan Henderson.
Sunday’s championship game
Spain vs. Argentina
Argentina star Lionel Messi celebrates after a win over England in the World Cup semifinals on Wednesday.
(Buda Mendes / Getty Images)
Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.
Time: Noon
TV: Fox, Telemundo | Streaming: Fox One, Peacock
The buzz: Argentina has a chance to become the first repeat World Cup champion since Brazil in 1962, which would give Messi another grand achievement in his sixth and likely final World Cup. Messi enters the weekend as the all-time leader in goals, assists and games played in tournament history. But unbeaten Argentina hasn’t made things easy, with its winning goals in the four knockout-round games coming in the 92nd minute or later. Spain, the reigning European champion, will be playing to put a second star on its jersey to match the one it won in 2010. La Roja, with the sixth-youngest roster in the World Cup, got to the final on the strength of spectacular defense led by Unai Simón, who has six clean sheets in seven games. Mikel Oyarzabal is the team’s leading scorer with five World Cup goals. The teams had one common opponent in this tournament, tiny Cape Verde, a World Cup debutante. It played Spain to a scoreless draw in its opener, then held Argentina to a 1-1 standoff into extra time before falling.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
One of the most memorable moments of the 2026 Winter Olympics came early, when skier Lindsey Vonn delivered a gutsy performance for the ages by competing at 41 just a week after injuring her knee in a crash.
Unfortunately, as admirable as her perseverance was, she injured herself badly in another crash just 13 seconds into her run in the women’s downhill final.
Five months later, Vonn is still very much dealing with her injuries.
MARCELLO HERNÁNDEZ ROASTS JAKE PAUL, TIGER WOODS AND BILL BELICHICK IN ESPYS MONOLOGUE
Lindsey Vonn speaks on stage during the 2026 ESPYs. (Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
“It’s been a very slow process,” Vonn told People while attending the ESPYs Wednesday in New York City. “It’s been five months since I’ve been able to actually go to the gym in a somewhat meaningful way. And walking is actually still really hard for me. My ankle is still broken.”
Regardless of the outcome, her decision to attempt that run remains one of the most courageous moments of the Games.
Lindsey Vonn was involved in a serious crash during the women’s downhill event at the 2026 Winter Olympics. (Screengrab by IOC via Getty Images)
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
Remember when I mentioned that injury before the Olympics? That wasn’t just a minor bump in the road; it was a completely ruptured ACL.
There was no questioning her courage, but the aftermath has been difficult.
Lindsey Vonn walks through pit lane ahead of the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix. (Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto)
“I was in a wheelchair for so long. I was on crutches for so long,” Vonn said. “It was honestly almost 3½ months that I was unable to walk unassisted. I got very emotional when I was able to walk on my own.”
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
This week, Vonn posted an update on her recovery and said she has “a very long road ahead.”
-
Nebraska4 minutes agoNebraska DHHS evaluating USDA guidelines that could limit food access for undocumented immigrants
-
Nevada10 minutes agoNevada secures $30 million from generic drugmaker in nationwide antitrust case
-
New Hampshire16 minutes agoAntique And Vintage Market | Yard Sales | Farmers Markets | Music | More: The Portsmouth Patch Weekender
-
New Jersey22 minutes agoMeteorite that crashed into New Jersey home contains building blocks of life, astronomers say
-
New Mexico28 minutes agoCrews battling tank battery fire in Lea County
-
North Carolina34 minutes agoSBI IT volunteers pack 5,200 meals, 1,300 food bags for North Carolina families
-
North Dakota40 minutes agoClyde Oster
-
Ohio46 minutes agoHumane agents removing chickens from Youngstown property
