A year ago, Dave Becker would attend Indiana's games, not sure what version of his son, Charlie, he would see afterward. Charlie Becker was working hard and gained an increased role on special teams. He had impressed coach Curt Cignetti and Indiana's assistants behind the scenes, validating their decision to retain him from the previous staff's recruiting class.
The college football season is almost halfway finished, but we have enough of a sample size for us to know a few things by now. Some top programs (and surprise risers) successfully addressed glaring needs from 2025, while some fading contenders failed to do so. We're talking about the rushing attacks at Alabama and Oklahoma, the offenses at Clemson and Northwestern and the run defense at Utah.
You probably know by now that I can talk myself into any Saturday slate. The sport is too rich, the backstories are too bountiful, and the crowds are too big -- there's always something interesting going on. Some weeks do require less convincing than others, however, and Week 7 is loaded.
IN THE EIGHT months since Jimmy Butler's right knee buckled during the hottest streak of his 15th NBA season, his mood and memory of the traumatic moment have improved as his leg has slowly healed. He remembers the high-arcing pass from Brandin Podziemski while rolling toward the rim, the instant he felt Miami Heat guard Davion Mitchell slide under him on the catch and that shooting pain on the landing that incited an arena-silencing scream. In a conversation with ESPN following the...
