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Category: College Sports

  • Philly’s Tyreek Chappell overcame an injury to reach the College Football Playoff with Texas A&M

    Philly’s Tyreek Chappell overcame an injury to reach the College Football Playoff with Texas A&M

    Before the 2024 football season began, defensive back Tyreek Chappell was expecting it to be his final year with Texas A&M. But just two games into that season, he suffered a noncontact ACL injury during practice that ended his season prematurely.

    Chappell, a Northeast High graduate who has played football since he was 4 years old, said the “process was long” to get back on the field for the 2025 season.

    “The players that were here, coaches that were here, kind of helped me to come back [to] football, because I was kind of losing it,” Chappell told The Inquirer. “Obviously, just me being hurt and I was supposed to leave that year.”

    The fifth-year senior has made up for lost time and has done so at a new position. After playing outside cornerback in his first three seasons in College Station, he transitioned to nickel corner in 2024, when Penn alum Mike Elko returned to Texas A&M to be the head coach after coaching at Duke for two years. Chappell remained at the spot in 2025, and has yielded just one touchdown across 333 coverage snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.

    Penn receiver Jared Richardson is a second-team FCS All-American

    There has been a lot of change since Chappell arrived on campus. He was recruited under Jimbo Fisher’s staff, which included Elko at defensive coordinator and Camden’s Elijah Robinson as defensive line coach, both of whom recruited the Philly native. When Fisher was fired before the end of the 2023 season, Robinson took over as interim coach, then left for Syracuse at the end of that season.

    Through all of the changes, though, Chappell says he never wavered in his commitment to Texas A&M.

    “After I had got relationships with other coaches, it really wasn’t just about like, ‘Who [is leaving], who [is staying],’ for real, I was just all about A&M at that point,” Chappell said. “The coaches treated me well here ever since I came [here]. … It was pretty much me loving A&M.”

    Crash course together

    When Chappell arrived at Texas A&M in the spring of 2021, former NFL defensive back Antonio Cromartie joined the program as a graduate assistant. Cromartie, who collected 31 career interceptions in 11 seasons with the Chargers, Colts, Cardinals, and Jets, quickly built a relationship with Chappell, since the former NFL player was working with defensive backs.

    Cromartie says he was drawn to coaching because he wanted to “give back what I’ve learned from all the coaches that I’ve learned from.” His coach at Florida State, Bobby Bowden, was big on relationships, and Cromartie says that was “something that I wanted to build on.”

    Antonio Cromartie of the Cardinals intercepts a pass against the Eagles on Oct. 26, 2014.

    “Those two years of me being around them and just being able to coach them and pour into them, you get to see a different side of kids,” Cromartie said. “Get to have a kid come and talk to you, tell you what’s going on. A lot of that time, Tyreek lost friends and family members back at home in Philly, so just being able for somebody he can lean on, to talk to and express himself when he needed to was big, too. … It’s just like having a big brother that can help you along the way and guide you and make sure that you’re doing the things that you need to do, not only just the football, but off the field, too.”

    When Chappell was a freshman, Cromartie immediately recognized his work ethic. At the time, being thrown into the fire as a rookie was a necessity because of injuries in the Aggies’ secondary, and he responded with 41 tackles, one interception, and nine passes defended in 12 starts.

    Philly’s Eric Gentry causes chaos in the middle of USC’s defense: ‘It’s been a perfect match’

    Though Cromartie spent only two years on the coaching staff at Texas A&M, he believes if Chappell had stayed healthy last year, he would have been “one of the better corners in the SEC just from a technique standpoint.” The former coach also supports Chappell’s position switch to nickel.

    “It shows that you can play inside, you can play outside,” Cromartie said. “It just shows how versatile you are, and that’s something that’s very valuable in the NFL. And I think you just see growth and maturity from him, and understanding his role. And I think that’s what makes him who he is.”

    Texas A&M defensive back Tyreek Chappell reacts after the Aggies stopped LSU on a third down in 2022.

    ‘Once-in-a-lifetime moment’

    On Saturday, Chappell will get to play on his biggest stage yet when Texas A&M hosts Miami in the first round of the College Football Playoff (noon, 6abc, ESPN).

    “This is a once-in-a-lifetime moment,” Chappell said. “A lot of people don’t get a chance to make playoffs. So this really is big for everybody.”

    Cromartie will be watching his former player try to slow down Miami’s aerial attack.

    It could be Chappell’s final game in college, but Cromartie believes the Texas A&M defensive back has shown the skill set and dependability to be an impact player at the NFL level.

    “Somebody that’s consistent, that understands what’s been asked of them, that understands what he needs to try to do. I think that is what’s going to make him an even better defensive back once he gets in the NFL,” Cromartie said. “You can look at him and say, ‘OK, I know what I’m getting out of him every single week, every single down, because of the way he practices and the way he plays.’ … He makes plays that he should make, and he does everything that’s asked of him.”

  • A Cobbs Creek man taped basketball broadcasts for five decades. His grieving family wants to find a home for his life’s work.

    A Cobbs Creek man taped basketball broadcasts for five decades. His grieving family wants to find a home for his life’s work.

    Billy Gordon was surrounded by the tapes. They were the first thing he saw in the morning, and the last thing he saw at night. His bedroom, in the basement of his grandmother’s Cobbs Creek home, was not big; maybe 190 square feet, if that.

    But he found enough space for the thousands of basketball games he’d recorded from 1986 to 2024, all on VHS. Each tape came with a neatly written label, noting the name of the event, the teams who played, each team’s record, and the final score.

    They were carefully placed into black crates, organized by year, and stacked on top of one another, creating a technicolor tapestry around his bed. It was an unconventional hobby, but Gordon loved it.

    His family wasn’t surprised. Gordon, who worked as a baggage handler at Philadelphia International Airport, was a diehard sports fan with an encyclopedic mind. He could remember statistics about any athlete, no matter how obscure.

    Billy Gordon made meticulous notations on the tapes he stored neatly for five decades inside his Cobbs Creek home.

    So, it only made sense that he’d spend his free time collecting archival footage of everything from Super Bowl XXXIII to his alma mater, Cheyney, to Pepperdine vs. Loyola Marymount in 1987.

    “He didn’t miss very much,” said Gordon’s uncle, Ron Hall.

    Hall and Gordon lived together in Cobbs Creek for about 15 years. Neither had a traditional work schedule. Hall was a union carpenter who traveled for jobs; Gordon picked up night shifts at the airport.

    But in the moments they did overlap, they’d watch games, often with pizza and chicken wings. This tradition continued through the winter of 2024, when Gordon was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. The illness quickly worsened, and he was moved to a nursing home in King of Prussia.

    As he lay in his hospital bed, hooked to a respirator, Hall sat beside him. They cheered on whatever local team was playing that day: the Eagles, Phillies, or 76ers.

    “Just to let him know that people love him,” his uncle said.

    Gordon died earlier this year, in May, at age 66. He was buried in his blue-and-white Cheyney track suit. To Hall, it was like a losing a brother. It took him months to even step into that basement bedroom.

    Once he did, he was stunned. He always knew that his nephew had a VHS collection, but didn’t realize the full extent of it until then.

    “The magnitude of what was here really hit me,” he said. “I was in disbelief that he had accumulated so much. That he had taken the time to collect so many things.”

    ‘A love for the game’

    Gordon was born and raised in a sports-loving household. His grandmother, Vernese, was an avid Phillies fan. Hall was too, and would bring his nephew to different ballparks.

    After graduating from John Bartram High School in the 1970s, Gordon went on to Cheyney, where he studied industrial arts. It was there that his love for sports information really blossomed.

    The young college student had the fortune of overlapping with John Chaney, who was coaching Cheyney’s men’s basketball team.

    Billy Gordon followed John Chaney’s career closely after their personal interactions during Chaney’s time at Gordon’s alma mater.

    The Wolves were nothing short of dominant. Chaney led them to a 225-59 record from 1972 to 1982, with eight tournament appearances and one NCAA Division II championship.

    Gordon was not athletically inclined, certainly not enough to play on Chaney’s team. But he liked to hang out around the gym and developed a rapport with the players and coaches.

    He also showed an attention to detail to which Chaney gravitated.

    “He had such a love for the game, and knew the game so well, that he could point something out to this player, that player,” Hall said. “[He] really was just being an asset to the coaching staff.”

    Chaney invited Gordon to work at his summer camp, which he ran with Sonny Hill throughout the Philadelphia area. The zealous sports fan couldn’t believe his luck. He’d help with drills, but he also took pride in the little things: packing lunches, inflating basketballs, and setting up exercise equipment.

    Billy Gordon
    The coaches of the Chaney-Hill summer camp. Gordon is pictured second from the right, with the basketball between his ankles

    On rainy days, when the kids couldn’t play outside, Gordon would pop one of his tapes into the VCR.

    “Old Temple games,” said his friend, Mia Harris. “Just so the kids could learn.”

    She said that Gordon worked with Chaney and Hill from the mid-1980s to the early 2000s. The camp was the highlight of his summer; an opportunity to get to know the legends of the Philadelphia basketball scene.

    “They made him feel like a part of the team, even though he wasn’t a player,” Harris said. “He even wore a whistle. That tickled me.”

    It was around this time that Gordon started building his VHS collection. He began taping bigger events — the 1987 Stanley Cup Finals, Super Bowl XXII — but basketball was always the bedrock.

    He captured the dominance of Michael Jordan, the fearlessness of Kobe Bryant, and every March Madness Cinderella story since the mid-1980s. He chronicled the NBA Finals, the WNBA Finals, and a slew of conference college basketball games.

    The sheer number of tapes and labels was dizzying (Hall estimated that his nephew had 40 crates). But upon closer inspection, a trend emerged.

    Chaney was hired as head coach of Temple in 1982, a job he kept until 2006. Among the stacks were pockets of his time there: Mark Macon’s first game for the Owls in 1987; the team’s first loss of that historic season, to UNLV, on Jan. 24, 1988.

    Gordon recorded years of Temple vs. Illinois, Temple vs. Duquesne, Temple vs. Penn State. There even was a sit-down interview with Chaney, from the late 1980s.

    These tapes stuck out. Gordon didn’t personally know any of the NBA greats he filmed. He didn’t know the WNBA stars, either. But he did know John Chaney, long before he became a national figure. And he never forgot him.

    Finding a new home

    A few months after Gordon died, Hall began to sort through his nephew’s things. It was an emotionally taxing process.

    The retired carpenter donated Gordon’s winter coats and appliances to a local men’s shelter in Southwest Philadelphia. He gave his summer gear to a nonprofit that sends gently used clothing to Liberia.

    Billy Gordon’s crates, filled with various tapes of NCAA, NBA, and WNBA games from 1986 to 2024, are awaiting what his family believes is the right price and the right home.

    Gordon’s sneaker collection went to Hall’s son, Gamal Jones, and his food was delivered to charity.

    The only thing left was the thousand-tape-elephant-in-the-room. Jones looked at his father.

    “What do you want to do?” he asked.

    “I have no idea,” Hall responded.

    Jones listed Gordon’s tape collection on Facebook Marketplace, for the modest sum of $123. The response exceeded the family’s expectations.

    They received almost a dozen messages, from NBA superfans, collectors, and archivists. Some offered to travel to Cobbs Creek to assess the collection in person.

    Hall recognizes that his nephew’s trove is worth more than $123. But he says this isn’t about the money.

    He wants to find a buyer who will share the same passion that Billy Gordon had for 38 years. Someone who will honor his hobby and preserve it.

    “He probably would want it to go to somebody that was as enthusiastic about it as he was,” Hall said. “That could really appreciate the time, the energy, that he put in to collect all these.”

  • Villanova promos for football semifinal include $2 concessions, a chance at basketball season tickets, and more

    Villanova promos for football semifinal include $2 concessions, a chance at basketball season tickets, and more

    Villanova is playing its biggest football home game in 16 years on Saturday, and the program is pulling out all the stops to pack Villanova Stadium.

    The Wildcats are hosting their first Football Championship Subdivision semifinal since 2009, the season they won their only FCS championship. The 12th-seeded Wildcats will take on unseeded Illinois State under the lights at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN2.

    Villanova upsets Tarleton State and advances to FCS semifinals with comeback win

    With finals concluding the day before, many students are headed home for break, and the campus is emptying. That is why Villanova is offering students the ability to extend their housing until Sunday at noon in order to attend the game, rather than Saturday at noon. It is one of a long list of incentives set up by Villanova’s athletic program and the university to try and increase attendance.

    All fans with a ticket, not just students, will also be treated to $2 concessions. From when the gates open until the end of the first quarter, fans will be able to purchase select beers and hot dogs for $2 each.

    Students at the game will have the opportunity to be entered in various giveaways. The first 100 students to stop at the table for “The Nation,” Villanova’s official student fan group, will receive a free chicken sandwich from Federal Donuts.

    Villanova, despite being the No. 12 seed, has advanced to the FCS semifinals.

    The first 1,000 students will get free Villanova-themed Santa hats, and the first 4,000 will be provided free hand-warmers. If students scan in using their student QR codes, they will receive a ticket for the Villanova men’s basketball game against St. John’s at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Jan. 17.

    During the fourth quarter, 50 students will win tickets for all remaining home men’s basketball games this season. One student will also earn a pair of tickets to the Big East men’s basketball tournament at Madison Square Garden in March. Lastly, one student will receive a $500 shopping spree to Villanova’s team store.

    Inside, there will be a Christmas Village in the southwest corner of Villanova Stadium. There will be holiday inflatables to take pictures with, face painting, photos with mascot “Will D. Claws,” more commonly known as Will D. Cat, and ornaments to decorate. Children can participate by writing letters to Santa.

    Before the game, Villanova’s president, the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, will host a 4 p.m. Mass at St. Thomas of Villanova Church. The Mass will fulfill the Sunday Mass obligation for the fourth Sunday of Advent, according to Villanova’s website.

    Fans are encouraged to check out Villanova’s Christmas lights in the middle of campus on the Rowen Campus Green. On the Campus Green, there will be free food trucks for ticket holders.

    Throughout the day leading up to kickoff, all food and drink purchases at The Refectory, Villanova’s on-campus restaurant, will be 10% off with a ticket to the game.

    A win over Illinois State would earn Villanova an appearance in the FCS championship game on Jan. 5 in Nashville, where they would play the Montana-Montana State winner. It would be just the second appearance for the Wildcats football program in the championship game.

    Villanova is playing its best complementary football at the right time: ‘We have a good nucleus’
  • With top scorer Ethan Roberts out, Penn looks to use a ‘next-guy-up mentality’

    With top scorer Ethan Roberts out, Penn looks to use a ‘next-guy-up mentality’

    Ethan Roberts is back at Penn’s facilities but still isn’t practicing after colliding with a Villanova player in the Quakers’ loss to the Wildcats in the Big 5 Classic championship on Dec. 6. He was taken to the hospital after the game.

    Penn (6-4) did not share Roberts’ timeline to return or injury details. The star guard is the team’s leading scorer, averaging 18 points in nine games.

    “He’s around the team,” shooting guard Michael Zanoni said. “Just not playing.”

    Without Roberts, the Quakers will have a tough task on the road against Rutgers on Saturday.

    Penn star Ethan Roberts taken to hospital after leaving Big 5 Classic with injury

    Zanoni, who’s third on the team in scoring with 10.5 points per game, believes his teammates can step up and take a scoring-by-committee approach.

    “Our team morale is really good,” Zanoni said. “Obviously had some injuries, some guys out, but it’s a next-guy-up mentality. We have guys ready to step up. We got a big one coming Saturday, so we’re excited.”

    Backup center Dalton Scantlebury has earned a larger role. He was named Ivy League and Big 5 Rookie of the Week in two of the last three weeks. Scantlebury’s emergence, alongside the rise of Zanoni and transfer forward TJ Power, has boosted the Quakers’ confidence heading into Jersey Mike’s Arena in Piscataway, N.J.

    “Any chance to play a high-major team is a great opportunity,” Scantlebury said. “I feel lucky to have played two major teams in Providence and Villanova, so there’s not the same sense of intimidation. We’re not going in there to compete; we’re going in there to win.”

    Penn center Dalton Scantlebury passes against La Salle at the Palestra Nov. 29.

    Looking past the Scarlet Knights, the Quakers have their eyes on a larger prize: a win over Princeton on Jan. 5 to open Ivy League play.

    The Quakers and Tigers have hosted one of the Ivy League’s most heated rivalries, which dates back to 1903. Penn held the series lead since 1905, but its 13-game losing streak since 2018 has allowed Princeton to catch up. The series is tied with 126 wins each.

    “I think we treat nonconference play as getting our feet under us and figuring out rotations,” Zanoni said. “Now it’s real. So we’re all excited. The Princeton game, we’ve had marked as the first game, so obviously trying to win that one, big rivalry.”

    Duke Brennan’s career night displays Villanova’s inside-out game as conference play looms

    The Quakers lost to Princeton twice last year, including a 61-59 heartbreaker on Feb. 7, but have a new coach in Fran McCaffery as well as transfer-portal reinforcements.

    “The level of rivalry and the level of how much distaste there is for Princeton is still incredibly prevalent,” Scantlebury said. “We haven’t focused on them at all from an X’s and O’s standpoint, but I know once Jan. 5 comes, we’re going to be incredibly ready, very well-scouted, and not going to let it be 14 in a row.”

    Said starting point guard AJ Levine: “We have everything we need to win that game. We have the mindset to win that game and the Ivy League.”

  • New coach Rick Santos looks to restore Penn football’s ‘championship standard’

    New coach Rick Santos looks to restore Penn football’s ‘championship standard’

    Penn introduced Rick Santos as its new football coach Tuesday after the departure of Ray Priore, who was with the program for 39 years.

    After he earned three FCS playoff bids in five years at the helm of New Hampshire, Santos is hoping to bring Ivy League and national championships to Franklin Field. Penn athletic director Alanna Wren introduced Santos in front of players, alumni, and Penn football board members.

    “I’m here to win championships,” Santos said. “That is the expectation, and we will deliver on that. To the players: I can’t wait to meet you. Understand, it’s all about you. It’s a player’s game. It always has been.”

    Santos emphasized his passion for molding players on and off the field, deeming himself the “culture coordinator” while promising to lead “from the front.”

    Rick Santos greets attendees after a news conference on Tuesday.

    “Everybody talks about legacy and truly what it means,” Santos said. “That’s why Penn, that’s why now. The place, the people, the institution, the proud tradition of winning football, is why I’m humbled to be standing here in front of you today. I’m honored to be committed to restoring Penn football to a championship standard.”

    Penn is interviewing candidates for the offensive and defensive coordinator positions, which means the program is likely moving away from Bob Benson, the Quakers’ defensive coordinator since 2015, and offensive coordinator Greg Chimera.

    “The transition part of this profession is awful, and I hate it,” Santos said. “It’s an unbelievable job. It’s a tough profession at times. We’ll give them the opportunity to see if there’s some alignment. Can’t promise anything. I’m a loyal guy, and I wouldn’t be standing here if it wasn’t for the staff members that I’ve worked with before. I know how they operate. … I have some really tough and challenging decisions to make.”

    Penn names former New Hampshire coach and star QB Rick Santos as its next head coach

    Santos led the Wildcats to a 37-24 record, going 28-12 in the Coastal Athletic Association, and finished his final season in New Hampshire with an 8-5 record. Santos was named CAA Coach of the Year in 2022, his first season at the helm. The Wildcats won five consecutive games before falling in the first round of the FCS playoffs to South Dakota State this season.

    Wren said a hiring consulting company suggested Santos for the role at Penn. Wren noted that his passionate demeanor, along with his lengthy list of accolades as a player and coach, made him a top candidate. He was one of the best quarterbacks in FCS history at New Hampshire.

    “Rick was somebody I had targeted in this process early,” Wren said. “It’s always nice when a plan comes together.”

    As the wide receivers coach at UNH from 2013-15, Santos saw the Wildcats rise to No. 1 in the national rankings in Division I-AA. He joined former Penn coach Al Bagnoli at Columbia from 2016-18 as the Lions’ quarterback coach.

    Bagnoli “has been influential in this process,” Santos said. “I’d be remiss if I didn’t get a chance to thank him and just what he’s meant to me as a coach, as a leader, as a friend, and someone that I could confide in going through it.”

    Rick Santos speaks during a news conference at Franklin Field on Tuesday.

    Santos added that the Ivy League’s decision last year to participate in the FCS playoffs played a factor in his decision to take over the program: “I don’t think I’d be standing here today if it wasn’t for that,” he said.

    The new coach will take over a roster that is losing 10 of 11 starters on offense, including standout receiver Jared Richardson, while bringing in a new playbook and staff. Santos is looking forward to connecting with the players.

    “They didn’t choose me,” Santos said. “I know that. I understand that. So first and foremost, it’s my mission to put together a really good staff, elite teachers, great mentors, people that they’ll confide in and believe in.”

    Penn has 12 recruiting spots to fill and will begin winter training in January. The Quakers will look to bounce back from a 6-4 season that saw a heartbreaking loss to Harvard end its chances for an Ivy League title. Penn last won a share of the Ivy crown in 2016.

  • Penn receiver Jared Richardson is a second-team FCS All-American

    Penn receiver Jared Richardson is a second-team FCS All-American

    Fresh off the best season of his career at Penn, Jared Richardson was named Tuesday as a second-team Football Championship Subdivision All-American by the Associated Press.

    The senior wideout posted a career-best 1,033 receiving yards for the 6-4 Quakers this season. He ranked in the top five in the FCS in receptions (80) and receiving touchdowns (12).

    Richardson’s breakout performance came against Marist on Oct. 10. The Monroe County native tallied 15 catches for 190 yards and two touchdowns in Penn’s 28-9 victory.

    Richardson was a finalists for the Walter Payton Award, given each year to the outstanding offensive player in the FCS. He finished 23rd in voting by the media and sports information directors.

    In addition to Richardson, three Villanova players earned honorable mention on the AP All-America team. Left guard Temi Ajirotutu and center Jake Picard were honored along with all-purpose player Ja’Briel Mace.

    Penn State’s Kaytron Allen and Olaivavega Ioane named to AP All-American teams

    Mace has starred as the Wildcats’ kickoff return specialist this season. The speedy running back ranked third among FCS players in kickoff return yards (723) and No. 12 in all-purpose yardage. He also has 887 rushing yards and 152 receiving yards.

    After last week’s 26-21 victory over Tarleton State, Villanova (12-2) will host Illinois State in a national semifinal at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Villanova Stadium. The winner advances to the FCS championship on Jan. 5.

  • Judge dismisses lawsuit by Villanova’s Kris Jenkins against NCAA

    Judge dismisses lawsuit by Villanova’s Kris Jenkins against NCAA

    A federal judge in New York ruled Monday to dismiss the antitrust suit brought earlier this year by former Villanova basketball player Kris Jenkins against the NCAA and some of its member conferences.

    Judge Denise Cote of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York said Jenkins’ suit against the NCAA and conferences, including the Big East, which he played in, was brought too late and is barred by the 2017 Alston v. NCAA class action settlement.

    “It is undisputed that Jenkins was a member of the Alston class and did not opt out of that litigation,” Cote wrote.

    Jenkins did not immediately reply to a request for comment. His attorney, Kevin T. Duffy Jr., said they planned to appeal but declined to comment further.

    Jenkins, whose three-point buzzer-beater lifted Villanova to the 2016 national title over North Carolina, filed the lawsuit in April and sought damages for the name, image, and likeness compensation he was unable to receive while at Villanova. In addition to the NCAA, Jenkins sued several conferences: the Atlantic Coast, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Pac-12, and Southeastern.

    Villanova coach Jay Wright with Kris Jenkins, who hit the buzzer-beating shot to win the national title in 2016.

    The suit argued that the named parties violated “antitrust laws and common law by engaging in an overarching conspiracy” that fixed the amount student-athletes could be paid and cut them out of the market.

    Jenkins wanted the money he “would have received” if not for the NCAA and its conferences’ “unlawful restraints on pay-for-play compensation,” a share of television revenue and media broadcast uses of his name, image, and likeness, and money he may have received from other third-party opportunities, according to the initial suit.

    “You want your respect as a man, as a human being,” Jenkins told The Inquirer in April. “Obviously all the other stuff that comes with it. More importantly, to just continue to fight for what’s right.”

    Monday’s ruling stands to make that more difficult. Judge Cote wrote that because Jenkins was a member of the Alston class action, he was barred by that December 2017 settlement from pursuing legal action.

    Why Kris Jenkins filed a lawsuit that could ‘blow up the House settlement’ if successful

    Alston v. NCAA, which challenged the “interconnected” set of NCAA rules that capped the amount of compensation an athlete could receive for his or her athletic services, went all the way to the Supreme Court. Along with the O’Bannon v. NCAA case, it was among the groundbreaking proceedings that eventually laid the groundwork for the landmark House v. NCAA settlement that forever changed college sports.

    Villanova’s Kris Jenkins celebrates his game-winning three-point basket against North Carolina in the national championship game on April 4, 2016.

    Jenkins argued that his claims were not barred because he challenged some rules not raised in the Alston case, but his suit relied on “facts that post-date Alston,” Cote wrote, such as when the NCAA in 2021 suspended its bylaw that prohibited athletes from receiving payments for their name, image, and likeness.

    “None of these arguments permits Jenkins to escape the effect of the Alston release and judgment,” Cote wrote. “Jenkins was a student-athlete from 2013 to 2017. Therefore, any claims that he may have had are claims that arise from anticompetitive conduct that occurred during that period. The NCAA’s suspension of a Bylaw in 2021 did not alter either the substance of his claims [nor] the breadth of his release of those claims.

    “The fact that Jenkins may have identified components of that framework, specifically two NCAA rules, that may not have been the specific focus of the Alston class pleading is immaterial.”

    Cote also ruled in favor of the NCAA and the conferences named in the suit when they motioned to dismiss the case based on the grounds of timeliness, saying Jenkins’ suit was barred by a four-year statute of limitations.

    The House v. NCAA settlement was at the crux of why Jenkins filed his suit. The settlement left the Big East out of the lion’s share of back payments dating to 2016. Jenkins, whose career at Villanova ended in 2017, would have been in an “additional sports class” that would receive minimum payment compared to football players and men’s and women’s basketball players from the power schools. He decided to opt out of the House class.

    It is difficult to quantify exactly how much money Jenkins’ championship-winning shot was worth, although his initial 127-page filing made an effort to. It said Jenkins’ shot, literally nicknamed “The Shot,” and Villanova’s championship victory were the reason behind William B. Finneran’s $22.6 million gift to renovate the now-named Finneran Pavilion and support the men’s basketball program. The filing notes that Villanova received an uptick in applications to the university. The campus footprint has greatly expanded since 2016.

    The NCAA and Big East, the suit said, have benefited greatly from the shot and continue to use it in promotional videos.

    “Everybody can see the value,” Jenkins, 32, said earlier this year. “Everybody knows the value.”

    Jenkins had a brief professional career before a hip injury forced him to stop playing in 2020. He rejoined the Villanova basketball program in a support staff role that year and has been around the program off and on at times since then.

  • Penn State’s Kaytron Allen and Olaivavega Ioane named to AP All-American teams

    Penn State’s Kaytron Allen and Olaivavega Ioane named to AP All-American teams

    Four players from Ohio State are among 10 first-team picks from the Big Ten on The Associated Press All-America team released Monday, a group headed by repeat selection Caleb Downs of the Buckeyes and AP Player of the Year Fernando Mendoza of Indiana.

    The AP has named an All-America team every year since 1925, and Notre Dame’s two first-team picks this season increased its all-time lead to 87.

    Downs, the Big Ten defensive player of the year, has made the first team each of his two seasons at Ohio State after landing on the second team as a freshman at Alabama in 2023. He is one of 12 players on the 27-man first team who did not start their careers at their current school. Downs is joined on the first team by fellow Buckeyes Jeremiah Smith, Kayden McDonald and Arvell Reese.

    Mendoza, who won the Heisman Trophy over the weekend, led the top-ranked Hoosiers to a 13-0 record and the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff after transferring from California. He has thrown a nation-leading 33 touchdown passes and is the catalyst of one of the most productive offenses in the country.

    A total of 18 schools are represented on the first team, including seven of the 12 in the CFP.

    Iowa has had at least one first-team player seven straight years and in 10 of the last 12. This is the fourth year in a row Miami, Notre Dame and Ohio State have had at least one.

    Punter Cole Maynard gave Western Kentucky its first-ever first-team pick. Defensive lineman Landon Robinson is Navy’s first since 1975 and kicker Kansei Matsuzawa is Hawaii’s first since 1986.

    First-team All-Americans (by conference)

    Big Ten — 10

    SEC — 6

    Big 12 — 3

    ACC — 1

    Independent — 3

    Conference USA — 2

    American — 1

    Mountain West — 1

    ___

    The AP All-America team was selected by a panel of 52 college Top 25 poll voters.

    First-team offense

    Wide receiver — Makai Lemon, Southern California, junior, 5-11, 195, Los Angeles.

    Wide receiver — Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State, sophomore, 6-3, 223, Miami Gardens, Fla.

    Wide receiver — Skyler Bell, Connecticut, senior, 6-0, 185, New York, N.Y.

    Tackle — Francis Mauigoa, Miami, junior, 6-6, 335, Ili’ili, American Samoa.

    Tackle — Spencer Fano, Utah, junior, 6-6, 308, Spanish Fork, Utah.

    Guard — Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon, senior, 6-5, 318, Denver.

    Guard — Beau Stephens, Iowa, senior, 6-5, 315, Blue Springs, Mo.

    Center — Logan Jones, Iowa, graduate, 6-3, 202, Council Bluffs, Iowa.

    Tight end — Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt, graduate, 6-4, 235, Denton, Texas.

    Quarterback — Fernando Mendoza, Indiana, junior, 6-5, 225, Miami.

    Running back — Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame, junior, 6-0, 214, St. Louis.

    Running back — Ahmad Hardy, Missouri, sophomore, 5-10, 210, Oma, Miss.

    Kicker — Kansei Matsuzawa, Hawaii, senior, 6-2, 200, Tokyo.

    All-purpose — KC Concepcion, Texas A&M, junior, 5-11, 190, Charlotte, N.C.

    First-team defense

    Edge rusher — David Bailey, Texas Tech, senior, 6-3, 250, Irvine, Calif.

    Edge rusher — Cashius Howell, Texas A&M, senior, 6-2, 248, Kansas City, Mo.

    Interior lineman — Kayden McDonald, Ohio State, junior, 6-3, 326, Suwanee, Ga.

    Interior lineman — Landon Robinson, Navy, senior, 6-0, 287, Fairlawn, Ohio.

    Linebacker — Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech, senior, 6-1, 235, Wichita Falls, Texas.

    Linebacker — Arvell Reese, Ohio State, junior, 6-4, 243, Cleveland.

    Linebacker — CJ Allen, Georgia, junior, 6-1, 235, Barnesville, Ga.

    Cornerback — Leonard Moore, Notre Dame, sophomore, 6-2, 195, Round Rock, Texas.

    Cornerback — Mansoor Delane, LSU, senior, 6-0, 190, Silver Spring, Md.

    Safety — Caleb Downs, Ohio State, junior, 6-0, 205, Hoschton, Ga.

    Safety — Bishop Fitzgerald, Southern California, senior, 5-11, 205, Woodbridge, Va.

    Defensive back — Jakari Foster, Louisiana Tech, senior, 6-0, 211, Piedmont, Ala.

    Punter — Cole Maynard, Western Kentucky, senior, 6-1, 180, Mooresville, N.C.

    Second-team offense

    Wide receiver — Carnell Tate, Ohio State, junior, 6-3, 195, Chicago.

    Wide receiver — Malachi Toney, Miami, freshman, 5-11, 188, Liberty City, Fla.

    Wide receiver — Danny Scudero, San Jose State, sophomore, 5-9, 174, San Jose, Calif.

    Tackle — Kadyn Proctor, Alabama, junior, 6-7, 366, Des Moines, Iowa.

    Tackle — Carter Smith, Indiana, junior, 6-5, 313, Powell, Ohio.

    Guard — Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State, junior, 6-4, 323, Graham, Wash.

    Guard — Ar’maj Reed-Adams, Texas A&M, graduate, 6-5, 325, Dallas.

    Center — Jake Slaughter, Florida, senior, 6-4, 303, Sparr, Fla.

    Tight end — Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon, junior, 6-3, 245, Idaho Falls, Idaho.

    Quarterback — Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt, graduate, 6-0, 207, Albuquerque, N.M.

    Running back — Emmett Johnson, Nebraska, junior, 5-11, 200, Minneapolis.

    Running back — Kewan Lacy, Mississippi, sophomore, 5-11, 210, Dallas.

    Kicker — Tate Sandell, Oklahoma, junior, 5-9, 182, Port Neches, Texas.

    All-purpose — Wayne Knight, James Madison, junior, 5-7, 190, Smyrna, Del.

    Second-team defense

    Edge rusher — Rueben Bain Jr., Miami, junior, 6-3, 270, Miami.

    Edge rusher — John Henry Daley, Utah, sophomore, 6-4, 255, Alpine, Utah.

    Interior lineman — A.J. Holmes Jr., Texas Tech, junior, 6-3, 300, Houston.

    Interior lineman — Peter Woods, Clemson, junior, 6-3, 310, Alabaster, Ala.

    Linebacker — Sonny Syles, Ohio State, senior, 6-5, 243, Pickerington, Ohio.

    Linebacker — Anthony Hill Jr., Texas, junior, 6-3, 238, Denton, Texas.

    Linebacker — Red Murdock, Buffalo, graduate, 6-1, 240, Petersburg, Va.

    Cornerback — D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana, junior, 5-9, 173, Miami.

    Cornerback — Chris Johnson, San Diego State, senior, 6-0, 195, Eastvale, Calif.

    Safety — Dillon Thieneman, Oregon, junior, 6-0, 205, Westfield, Indiana.

    Safety — Louis Moore, Indiana, senior, 5-11, 200, Mesquite, Texas.

    Defensive back — Hezekiah Masses, California, senior, 6-1, 185, Deerfield Beach, Fla.

    Punter — Brett Thorson, Georgia, senior, 6-2, 235, Melbourne, Australia.

    Third-team offense

    Wide receiver — Eric McAlister, TCU, senior, 6-3, 205, Azle, Texas.

    Wide receiver — Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee, junior, 6-5, 200, Midland, Texas.

    Wide receiver — Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State, junior, 6-2, 200, Allen, Texas.

    Tackle — Keagen Trost, Missouri, graduate, 6-4, 316, Kankakee, Ill.

    Tackle — Brian Parker II, Duke, junior, 6-5, 305, Cincinnati.

    Guard — Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech, senior, 6-4, 330, Royston, Ga.

    Guard — Evan Tengesdahl, Cincinnati, sophomore, 6-3, 320, Dayton, Ohio.

    Center — Iapani Laloulu, Oregon, junior, 6-2, 329, Honolulu.

    Tight end — Michael Trigg, Baylor, senior, 6-4, 240, Tampa, Fla.

    Quarterback — Julian Sayin, Ohio State, redshirt freshman, 6-1, 208, Carlsbad, Calif.

    Running back — Cam Cook, Jacksonville State, junior, 5-11, 200, Round Rock, Texas.

    Running back — Kaytron Allen, Penn State, senior, 5-11, 219, Norfolk, Va.

    Kicker — Aidan Birr, Georgia Tech, junior, 6-1, 205, Kennedale, Texas.

    All-purpose — Jadarian Price, Notre Dame, junior, 5-11, 210, Denison, Texas.

    Third-team defense

    Edge rusher — Caden Curry, Ohio State, senior, 6-3, 260, Greenwood, Ind.

    Edge rusher — Nadame Tucker, Western Michigan, senior, 6-3, 250, New York.

    Interior lineman — Tyrique Tucker, Indiana, junior, 6-0, 302, Norfolk, Va.

    Interior lineman — Lee Hunter, Texas Tech, senior, 6-4, 330, Mobile, Alabama.

    Linebacker — Aiden Fisher, Indiana, senior, 6-1, 231, Fredericksburg, Va.

    Linebacker — Caden Fordham, North Carolina State, graduate, 6-1, 230, Ponte Vedra, Fla.

    Linebacker — Owen Long, Colorado State, sophomore, 6-2, 230, Whittier, Calif.

    Cornerback — Avieon Terrell, Clemson, junior, 5-11, 180, Atlanta.

    Cornerback — Treydan Stukes, Arizona, senior, 6-2, 200, Litchfield Park, Ariz.

    Safety — Michael Taaffe, Texas, senior, 6-0, 189, Austin, Texas.

    Safety — Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo, senior, 6-2, 202, Tampa, Fla.

    Defensive back — Bray Hubbard, Alabama, junior, 6-2, 213, Ocean Springs, Miss.

    Punter — Ryan Eckley, Michigan State, junior, 6-2, 207, Lithia, Fla.

  • Duke Brennan’s career night displays Villanova’s inside-out game as conference play looms

    Duke Brennan’s career night displays Villanova’s inside-out game as conference play looms

    Villanova took its lumps earlier this week when it traveled to Ann Arbor to face what is probably the best team in the country in second-ranked Michigan.

    Duke Brennan’s night had to have been discouraging. The Wildcats’ senior center, who leads the nation in rebounding, scored five points on four shots and grabbed a season-low six rebounds. He had four fouls and two turnovers in 22 minutes. Michigan is big and athletic. Its center, Aday Mara, is 7-foot-3, five inches taller than Brennan. Villanova lost by 28, and was really never in the game.

    But the Wildcats flew home from Michigan, landed around midnight on Tuesday night, took Wednesday off, and returned to the practice floor Thursday.

    “You’ve got to bounce back, especially after bad losses,” Brennan said Saturday. “We had two great days of practice. That prepared us for the game.”

    Villanova coach Kevin Willard concurred. He said the practices were strong, and he felt his team showed Saturday that it had let a tough loss go in the way it performed.

    Brennan set a new career high with 24 points, and Bryce Lindsay also scored 24 as Villanova controlled the game and pulled away from Pittsburgh in the second half in a 79-61 victory.

    From left, Villanova guard Acaden Lewis, forward Matt Hodge, and forward Duke Brennan celebrate as guard Bryce Lindsay is interviewed after the team’s 79-61 win against Pittsburgh on Saturday.

    The Wildcats, who are in the top 50 in college basketball in three-pointers attempted, showed a balanced inside-outside attack in the process. Brennan wasn’t up against Mara, but Cameron Corhen was no slouch at 6-10, 235 pounds, averaging 14 points and nine rebounds heading into Saturday. Brennan had his way inside. He made all eight of his attempts from the floor and was 8-for-10 from the free-throw line, a positive development for the transfer from Grand Canyon, who entered Saturday having made just 52% of his free throws.

    Villanova upsets Tarleton State and advances to FCS semifinals with comeback win

    Brennan, who played a season-high 34 minutes, was active. The Wildcats used him as a screener and fed him when he rolled. Their guards executed dribble handoffs with Brennan and, because Brennan had it going, it freed up shooters like Lindsay, who was 4-for-11 from deep, and Matt Hodge, who made two of his four attempts from three-point range.

    “I think Duke’s biggest strength is his energy, how hard he plays, his rebounding,” Willard said. “But when we can get him some points down low, I think it rewards him for how hard he plays throughout the game. It also keeps him involved and keeps him happy a little bit, to be honest with you

    “I think the more we can get Duke involved in pick-and-rolls and get him on rolls, it just puts pressure on the weakside defense. When you have young guards and you have a team that hasn’t been together overly long, sometimes it just takes a little time to kind of know what works and what doesn’t work.”

    Kevin Willard coaching Villanova during the second half against Pittsburgh on Saturday.

    It is all clicking right now for Villanova, save for the 40-minute hell that is playing Michigan right now.

    Freshman point guard Acaden Lewis kept his positive play going with 11 points and seven assists. He had just one turnover, and the Wildcats had just three on the day. They had 20 assists on 26 makes.

    The performance needs to be put in the proper context, though. While Pitt may be a power-conference opponent, the Panthers have struggled so far in 2025. They dropped to 5-6 with Saturday’s loss, and they entered Saturday ranked 163rd in the NCAA’s NET rankings. That made Saturday’s victory of the Quad 4 variety for Villanova, which at least for now makes it as valuable come March as Villanova’s Nov. 11 victory over Sacred Heart.

    Villanova is 8-2, and its best win, at least according to KenPom metrics, is Saturday’s victory over Pitt, which was ranked 118th after the game.

    Despite its rebounding efforts, St. Joe’s shooting woes prove costly in loss to Syracuse

    There’s something to be said for winning the games you’re supposed to. Villanova’s three-year NCAA Tournament drought is dotted with slip-ups. But it’s never too early to start looking ahead to March, especially with the Wildcats through 10 of their 11 nonconference games.

    ESPN bracket master Joe Lunardi had Villanova as his first team out of the NCAA Tournament field as of Saturday morning before the Wildcats played a game that couldn’t help them by winning and could only hurt them by losing.

    Villanova guard Acaden Lewis passes the ball against Pittsburgh on Saturday.

    Up next is Wisconsin, though. A victory over the Badgers in Milwaukee on Friday night would be Villanova’s only win outside of Quad 4 before Big East play starts. It would be a good feather in the cap of the Wildcats, who entered Saturday 37th in NET and were at No. 34 in KenPom after the win.

    Big East play will be here soon enough — Dec. 23 to be exact, a road game at Willard’s old school, Seton Hall, which improved to 10-1 with a win over Rutgers on Saturday.

    The Wildcats have essentially two bubble games next before the holiday break. They at least avoided a major blunder Saturday by handling Pitt, and their balanced attack, with Brennan’s scoring inside, should prove valuable moving forward.

  • Villanova upsets Tarleton State and advances to FCS semifinals with comeback win

    Villanova upsets Tarleton State and advances to FCS semifinals with comeback win

    Villanova advanced to the FCS semifinals for the first time since 2010 with a 26-21 comeback victory over Tarleton State on Saturday in Stephenville, Texas.

    The visiting Wildcats played from behind throughout the first three quarters before taking down the fourth-seeded Texans, who entered Saturday’s contest boasting the No. 1 scoring offense in the FCS, averaging 44.1 points per game.

    Villanova graduate quarterback Pat McQuaide passed for 180 yards and one touchdown, while freshman wide receiver Braden Reed was integral to the victory in multiple ways, including throwing a touchdown pass on a second-quarter trick play and catching the game-winning score on an 11-yard pass early in the fourth quarter. Sophomore running back Ja’briel Mace led the ground attack, rushing for 151 yards and one touchdown on a team-high 18 carries.

    Villanova quarterback Pat McQuaide throws the ball on Saturday.

    With the win, 12th-seeded Villanova (12-2) claimed its second straight upset and extended its playoff run, which already saw defeats of Harvard and No. 5 seed Lehigh in previous rounds. The Wildcats now ride an 11-game win streak into the semifinals in their most successful season since winning the 2009 national championship. They’ll host Illinois State (11-1) next Saturday night (7:30 p.m.).

    “They’ve been doing it all year, so [I’m] really proud of this team,” coach Mark Ferrante said during a postgame interview on ESPN. “We probably had some teams in past years with a little more talent across the board, but these guys have been as together as I’ve ever seen. The locker room is tight, they break down [huddles] on ‘Family’ all the time, and they believe it. So, I’m real excited about these guys.”

    Tarleton takes over early

    Villanova found itself down early after a pair of costly turnovers. Tarleton (12-2) took full advantage and raced to a 14-0 lead on back-to-back drives.

    A promising opening drive took a turn for the worst when McQuaide threw an interception in the end zone on first-and-goal from the 7-yard line. On the first play of Tarleton’s possession, Texans senior quarterback Victor Gabalis hit Peyton Kramer with a deep pass that went for an 80-yard touchdown.

    On the ensuing possession, the Wildcats went three-and-out, before Tarleton blocked their punt, took over at the Villanova 12-yard line, and found itself back in the end zone six plays later.

    Villanova gets creative

    In the second quarter, Villanova began to respond to Tarleton’s early burst.

    Graduate kicker Jack Barnum hit a 31-yard field goal, putting Villanova on the board to open the quarter.

    On the first play of Tarleton’s next drive, Wildcats redshirt defensive back Anthony Hawkins picked off Gabalis and returned the ball to the Texans’ 45-yard line, setting up another scoring opportunity for Villanova, which wasted little time.

    Two plays later, McQuaide handed the ball off to Reed, who launched it to graduate wide receiver Lucas Kopecky in the end zone for a 27-yard TD. The trick play was Reed’s first-ever pass in a game.

    After the touchdown, Villanova trailed, 14-9 — thanks to a blocked extra-point attempt — with 11:20 left until halftime.

    Villanova’s defense kept Tarleton out of the end zone throughout the second quarter and limited the Texans to 125 yards of total offense across the half. And before the break, the Wildcats were able to tack on a 41-yard field goal from Barnum to cut further into Tarleton’s lead.

    Reed for the lead

    The Texans opened the second half extending their advantage to 21-12 on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Gabalis to Trevon West.

    After the Wildcats were limited to just 65 rushing yards in the first half, their ground game picked up in the third quarter. Mace started Villanova’s first drive of the half with a 21-yard run. On the next play, McQuaide again handed it off again to Mace, who sprinted 47 yards to the end zone.

    The Wildcats took their first lead early in the fourth quarter on a 12-play, 78-yard drive. Mace again helped Villanova advance downfield with six carries on the drive, including a 26-yard run. McQuaide then found Reed in the end zone from 11 yards out to set the final score, 26-21.

    It was Reed’s second game-winner of the playoffs, after he also caught the final touchdown against Lehigh last Saturday.

    The Wildcats made key stops down the stretch, surviving several late-game scares. On Tarleton’s final drive, Villanova was charged with holding and unsportsmanlike conduct on the same play, advancing the Texans 25 yards downfield to Villanova’s 27-yard line. Tarleton got inside the red zone, with a first-and 10 from the 15, but Ferrante’s defense held strong.

    On fourth-and-6 from the 11, following the two-minute warning, Gabalis appeared to have a running lane to pick up a first down, but instead found West in the left side of the end zone for what initially appeared to be the go-ahead score. But after review, officials concluded that West’s right foot landed just out of bounds, while his trailing left foot never touched down in bounds.

    Villanova ran out the clock from there.

    “Well, you know, because you asked me earlier, the whole ‘Tap The Rock’ mentality,” Ferrante said on the field after the game, before getting emotional. “You know, be resilient, persevere no matter what’s happening, and our guys do that. I’m really proud of this group.”

    Off to the semis

    Villanova faces Illinois State, who beat No. 8 seed University of California Davis, 42-31, on Saturday night.

    The Wildcats will have another home game at Villanova Stadium in the semifinal round next weekend.

    Villanova celebrates with its fans after defeating Tarleton State, 26-21, on Saturday.