Sports
Which college basketball coach is under the most pressure? John Calipari, Mike Woodson and more
When we asked our men’s college basketball writers to name the coach under the most pressure this season, no other guidelines were given and interpretations varied.
Yes, the coach on the hottest seat is the first thing that comes to mind, and as always, several are in that category as the season tips off Monday. But there’s also the pressure of getting close and never quite reaching the place you’ve spent decades chasing (Purdue’s Matt Painter a year ago, and he got there). There’s the pressure of coming off a historic failure and needing to respond with basically the same group (Painter a year ago, and he did; Virginia’s Tony Bennett entering the 2018-19 season, same).
Isn’t it about time Mark Few won the whole darn thing? Can Mark Pope be the rare coach who flourishes at his alma mater (like Painter has)? Speaking of coaches at alma maters, Jon Scheyer went 27-9 in each of his first two seasons at Duke, which is nice, but it’s Duke, and now he has freshman Cooper Flagg on his team so … time to win the whole thing? And what about the guy who won the last two? Surely, UConn’s Danny Hurley is feeling the pressure of everyone expecting the Huskies to do it again, or of no one believing they can — whichever works best.
And now for our actual answers:
John Calipari
Yes, this category probably translates closer to, “Who might get fired if he doesn’t win?” But I’m going existential here. The Calipari epitaph gets written in Fayetteville, one way or another. Either he adjusts and creates an elite roster that can win in modern college basketball and at least threatens to make a couple of Final Fours … or he turns into a kind of Harold Hill, taking the same act to a different town and flailing about, compromising his legacy. It’s fascinating. — Brian Hamilton
Kyle Neptune
Jay Wright is in the Basketball Hall of Fame because he established an extraordinarily high standard at Villanova, including winning two national championships and reaching two more Final Fours — including his final season in 2021-22. Neptune, his replacement, had an unenviable task and has struggled in two seasons at Villanova. Neptune is 35-33 overall and 20-20 in Big East play. Both of his teams finished tied for sixth in the league and lost in the first round of the NIT. Wright’s first three Villanova teams were NIT qualifiers, so there is the precedent that a slow start can yield results in the future. But Neptune could use some positive momentum in Year 3. — Jesse Temple
Kyle Neptune has yet to make the NCAA Tournament heading into his third season at Villanova. (Brad Penner / Imagn Images)
He’s two games over .500 in two seasons since taking over for Wright at Villanova, and the Wildcats missed the NCAA Tournament in both years. Making the dance might not be make-or-break for Neptune in terms of keeping his job, but he desperately needs to show some progress, especially with a top-20 preseason projection from KenPom. — Justin Williams
I was trying to think of someone else, to add a little diversity to this exercise, but Neptune is the slam-dunk choice. After Wright’s tenure, Villanova is not a place where you can miss the NCAA Tournament multiple seasons in a row — and Neptune’s counter is already at two, to go along with a .500 record in Big East play and several high-profile nonconference losses. Following Wright was always an unenviable position, and Wright’s blessing probably earned Neptune a little patience, but it’s hard to imagine him surviving a third season without making the Big Dance. — Brendan Marks
Mike Woodson
The former NBA coach has won one NCAA Tournament game through three seasons, and Indiana’s donors opened their pocketbooks to give the Hoosiers a roster equipped to get back to the tournament (after missing last year). Getting there might not be enough, though; Indiana fans are ready to see IU look more like a blue blood again and start going on tourney runs. If Woodson doesn’t win with this group, he’ll probably lose the fan base. And if Indiana alum Dusty May is successful in Year 1 at Michigan, a lot of Hoosiers fans will be upset IU didn’t make a move for May this past offseason. — CJ Moore
With Painter taking Purdue to the NCAA championship game a year ago, all Hoosier eyes are on Woodson to try to match it. IU has the talent, and it snagged some good pieces in the portal. If the Hoosiers can’t get into the top third of the Big Ten and win a game or two in the NCAA Tournament, there are going to be some long conversations, especially if Painter continues to win up the road. — Scott Dochterman
Ron Sanchez
The answer is Neptune, but I’ll switch it up. If we’re talking pressure — real pressure — then you have to look at Sanchez. The 51-year-old will be coaching for his job every night. Sanchez previously spent five years as Charlotte’s head coach, going 72-78 overall, and leading the 49ers to a 22-win season in his final year. In 2023, he left the school and returned to an assistant coaching position under Bennett. Now he has the chance to be a high-major coach in a marquee post. Bennett’s departure is a clean handoff, but now it’s a question of whether Sanchez can hold on. If he doesn’t, he’ll be without the UVA head job and the head coach he spent most of the past 25 years alongside. — Brendan Quinn
Porter Moser
The easy answer would be Neptune, as he is 35-33 with no tournament appearances, two sixth-place Big East finishes and two NIT first-round exits, but I will go with Oklahoma’s Moser. In three seasons in Norman, he has yet to finish higher than seventh place in the conference and has made it to the NIT only once. Oklahoma is in the SEC now so it’s time for a reset, but the Sooners were picked to finish 15th in the SEC preseason poll. Changing leagues might not fix their roster issues. — Tobias Bass
Tom Izzo
Izzo is coaching to win another national championship, as has been the case since his first, in 2000. But he doesn’t have a team that looks quite up to it, as preseason rankings reflect. He doesn’t have the same program he used to have, either, as recent results reflect. Michigan State has double-digit losses in four straight seasons for the first time in his tenure. Since Izzo’s last Final Four in 2019, he’s 4-4 in the NCAA Tournament with no seed higher than No. 7 and one advance to the second weekend. He’s not a huge fan of the transfer portal, MSU has been finishing second lately with some of its top high school targets, and Izzo turns 70 in January. He shrugs off retirement questions, but he has also long vowed he wouldn’t go out with things in decline, as some of his legendary peers have. That puts a ton of pressure on this season to reassert the Spartans. — Joe Rexrode
(Photo of Mike Woodson: Rich Janzaruk / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
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Who’ll win the Golden Boot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup? The race is on for who’ll score the most goals at the tournament, and it is set to be one of the tournament’s most closely watched storylines.
Several of the world’s top forwards will be aiming to finish as the competition’s leading goalscorer. Kylian Mbappé enters the tournament after winning the Golden Boot at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, while Harry Kane, Erling Haaland, Lionel Messi, and Mikel Oyarzabal are among the other players expected to challenge for the award.
And check out our list of all the 2026 World Cup goals, ranked!
Favorites To Win The Golden Boot
Harry Kane: +310 (bet $10 to win $41 total)
Lionel Messi: +350 (bet $10 to win $45 total)
Kylian Mbappé: +350 (bet $10 to win $45 total)
Erling Haaland: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)
Kai Havertz: +1300 (bet $10 to win $140 total)
Vinícius Júnior: +3300 (bet $10 to win $340 total)
Folarin Balogun: +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total)
Mikel Oyarzabal: +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total)
Lamine Yamal: +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total)
Raphinha: +4500 (bet $10 to win $460 total)
Michael Olise: +4500 (bet $10 to win $460 total)
Romelu Lukaku: +4500 (bet $10 to win $460 total)
Viktor Gyökeres: +4500 (bet $10 to win $460 total)
Cody Gakpo: +5500 (bet $10 to win $560 total)
Cristiano Ronaldo: +5500 (bet $10 to win $560 total)
3 Goals
Lionel Messi (Argentina)
2 Goals
Johan Manzambi (Switzerland)
Harry Kane (England)
Erling Haaland (Norway)
Kylian Mbappé (France)
Harry Kane (England)
Elijah Just (New Zealand)
Yasin Ayari (Sweden)
Kai Havertz (Germany)
Folarin Balogun (USA)
1 Goal
Granit Xhaka (Switzerland)
Rubén Vargas (Switzerland)
Ermin Mahmic (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Michal Sadilek (Czechia)
Teboho Mokoena (South Africa)
Jáminton Campaz (Colombia)
Luis Díaz (Colombia)
Daniel Muñoz (Colombia)
Abbosbek Fayzullaev (Uzbekistan)
Caleb Yirenkyi (Ghana)
Jude Bellingham (England)
Marcus Rashford (England)
Martin Baturina (Croatia)
Petar Musa (Croatia)
Yoane Wissa (DR Congo)
João Neves (Portugal)
Marko Arnautović (Austria)
Jude Bellingham (England)
Marcus Rashford (England)
Yoane Wissa (DR Congo)
João Neves (Portugal)
Caleb Yirenkyi (Ghana)
Ali Olwan (Jordan)
Romano Schmid (Austria)
Leo Østigard (Norway)
Ayman Hussein (Iraq)
Ibrahim Mbaye (Senegal)
Bradley Barcola (France)
Ramin Rezaeian (Iran)
Mohammad Mohebbi (Iran)
Maxi Araújo (Uruguay)
Abdulelah Al-Amri (Saudi Arabia)
Emam Ashour (Egypt)
Alexander Isak (Sweden)
Viktor Gyökeres (Sweden)
Mattias Svanberg (Sweden)
Omar Rekik (Tunisia)
Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast)
Keito Nakamura (Japan)
Daichi Kamada (Japan)
Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands)
Crysencio Summerville (Netherlands)
Felix Nmecha (Germany)
Nico Schlotterbeck (Germany)
Jamal Musiala (Germany)
Nathaniel Brown (Germany)
Deniz Undav (Germany)
Connor Metcalfe (Australia)
Nestory Irankunda (Australia)
John McGinn (Scotland)
Ismael Saibari (Morocco)
Vinícius Júnior (Brazil)
Breel Embolo (Switzerland)
Gio Reyna (USA)
Mauricio (Paraguay)
Cyle Larin (Canada)
Jovo Lukić (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Ladislav Krejcí (Czechia)
Julián Quiñones (Mexico)
Raúl Jimenez (Mexico)
Hwang In-Beom (South Korea)
Oh Hyeon-Gyu (South Korea)
Own Goals
Yazan Al-Arab (Jordan; 1)
Ayman Hussein (Iraq; 1)
Mohamed Hany (Egypt; 1)
Miro Muheim (Switzerland; 1)
Damián Bobadilla (Paraguay; 1)
Last 5 Golden Boot Winners
- 2022 (Qatar): Kylian Mbappé (France) – 8 goals
- 2018 (Russia): Harry Kane (England) – 6 goals
- 2014 (Brazil): James Rodríguez (Colombia) – 6 goals
- 2010 (South Africa): Thomas Müller (Germany) – 5 goals
- 2006 (Germany): Miroslav Klose (Germany) – 5 goals
Sports
Justin Gaethje and Ilia Topuria receive lengthy medical suspensions after UFC Freedom 250 fight
Justin Gaethje waited a long time to become an undisputed UFC champion.
Now the 37-year-old MMA star might have to wait another six months or so before fighting again.
Gaethje upset former two-weight champion Ilia Topuria with a technical knockout in a lightweight unification championship bout at the UFC Freedom 250 event Sunday on the White House South Lawn.
Topuria was a bloody and swollen mess by the time his corner stopped the fight between the fourth and fifth rounds. Gaethje executed a soaring back flip off the cage to celebrate his first undisputed belt, but it turns out that the former two-time interim champion also suffered significant injuries during the bout.
Both Gaethje and Topuria were among the five UFC Freedom 250 fighters who received 180-day medical suspensions from the Assn. of Boxing and Combative Sports Commissions, according to a list issued by the commissions and viewed by The Times.
Ilia Topuria suffered two broken orbital bones during his loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14 in Washington.
(Chris Graythen / Getty Images)
Gaethje’s suspension can be shortened if he is cleared with negative MRIs for his right wrist and left knee. Topuria, who suffered two broken orbital bones, can return early if cleared by a an Oral and Maxillofacial Foundation specialist.
Both men also are required to serve mandatory rest days (45 for Gaethje, 60 for Topuria).
Alex Pereira, who lost his interim heavyweight title bout to Ciryl Gane by TKO, was medically suspended for 180 days or until he’s cleared with a negative maxillofacial CT scan. Undercard fighters Aiemann Zahabi and Steve Garcia also received 180-day medical suspensions.
Topuria won the UFC featherweight championship by knocking out Alexander Volkanovski in February 2024. He vacated that title a year later and in June 2025 defeated Charles Oliveira by knockout to claim lightweight belt.
In November, Topuria announced he was temporarily stepping away from fighting. Gaethje earned the interim lightweight title in January by defeating Paddy Pimblett by unanimous decision.
That set up the unification bout between Gaethje and Topuria, which was the final fight of an elaborate event at the White House held on President Trump’s 80th birthday and billed as part of a summer-long celebration of the country’s 250th anniversary.
Sports
Deion Sanders wanted more from his son, Shedeur Sanders, but backs development plan after Myles Garrett trade
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The Cleveland Browns entered last season with one of the NFL’s more crowded quarterback rooms.
Shedeur Sanders took over as starting quarterback in Week 12 last season, and after two more starts, he was named the starter for the remainder of the season. Sanders’ stunning slide to the fifth round of the 2025 draft set the stage for him becoming one of the most scrutinized rookies in recent memory.
Few know Shedeur’s game better than Deion Sanders, his father and former college coach. On Wednesday, the two-time Super Bowl champion reflected on his son’s rookie season.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders throws a pass to tight end Harold Fannin Jr. during the first half of an NFL game against the Buffalo Bills in Cleveland, Ohio, on Dec. 21, 2025. (Sue Ogrocki/AP Photo)
After Shedeur endured an uneven rookie season for the 5-12 Browns, the Colorado football coach said he hoped for more from his son but also pointed to the support young quarterbacks need early in their development.
“I would have wanted him to perform a little better, but that’s not just an individual thing, that’s a team thing,” Sanders told Covers while speaking on behalf of his partnership with Depend.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders greets his dad Deion Sanders before an NFL game against the Buffalo Bills in Cleveland on Dec. 21, 2025. (Sue Ogrocki/AP Photo)
“A quarterback needs help tremendously from the offensive line, from the receivers, from the running game, from the coordinators as well. “It’s not just a singular thing, like a defensive back. I don’t care what the pass rush is, (the DB) has got to do his job. It’s a little different with a quarterback. He needs several things to go right for him to be successful.”
BROWNS GM ANDREW BERRY WON’T COMMIT TO SHEDEUR SANDERS AS 2026 STARTER DESPITE ROOKIE’S PROGRESS
Sanders also weighed in on Cleveland’s decision to trade the reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams, a move that underscored the Browns’ rebuild.
“I’m happy with Mr. Berry, the GM, and what he’s doing, I’m not going to question his direction of what he’s bringing to the table,” Sanders said of Browns general manager Andrew Berry.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders warms up before an NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers in Cleveland on Nov. 30, 2025. (Sue Ogrocki/AP Photo)
“I’m not there, so I don’t know all the intangibles that provoked that trade. I’m happy with what they got, and I can’t wait to see how it plays out.”
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Sanders finished his rookie season 3-4 as a starter, with seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
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