OSU’s Meyer retiring after Rose Bowl trip
Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer abruptly announced his retirement Tuesday, citing health reasons and a difficult year that included a three-game suspension over his handling of domestic violence allegations against fired assistant coach Zach Smith. He will step down after the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.
Meyer is leaving at the top of his career after three national championships and seven years at OSU, where he has an 82-9 record. The 54-year-old Meyer has an arachnoid cyst in his brain that causes severe headaches, and had shown obvious effects of being in pain on the sideline.
Assistant coach Ryan Day will take over as the 25th coach of the storied program where Meyer won a national title in 2014 after two at Florida (2006, 2008).
◆ Maryland hired Alabama offensive coordinator Mike Locksley to be its head coach. Locksley was the OC at Illinois from 2005-08.
◆ Former Clemson quarterback Kelly Bryant, who lost his job to Trevor Lawrence and left the school, is transferring to Missouri.
NU misses winner at buzzer
Ryan Taylor’s 25-foot jumper that would have won the game bounced off the rim as time expired and Northwestern fell to No. 5 Michigan 62-60 at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Dererk Pardon led the Wildcats (6-3, 0-2 Big Ten) with 20 points, while Vic Law added 19 and seven rebounds. Ignas Brazdeikis led the Wolverines (9-0, 2-0) with 23 points.
◆ Romeo Langford scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half to lead visiting Indiana (7-2, 2-0 Big Ten) past Penn State 64-62.
◆ Despite 18 points from TJ Gibbs, Notre Dame (6-2) lost 85-80 to Oklahoma in New York City.
Noah signs with Grizzlies
The Grizzlies signed forward Joakim Noah for the remainder of the season for a reported $1.73 million, the prorated portion of the veterans’ minimum. He appeared in just seven games with the Knicks last season. He has career averages of 8.9 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.35 blocks in 11 seasons with the Bulls (2007-16) and Knicks (2016-18).
◆ Sixers guard Markelle Fultz reportedly will miss three to six weeks with thoracic outlet syndrome, a compression in the area between the lower neck and upper chest. He will be treated with physical therapy.
◆ Hawks forward Taurean Prince (15 ppg) will miss at least three weeks with a sprained left ankle.
LHP Corbin gets $140M
The Nationals reportedly signed left-hander Patrick Corbin to a six-year, $140 million contract. The 29-year-old is coming off his best season in the majors, going 11-7 with a 3.15 ERA for the Diamondbacks while pitching 200 innings for the second time in his career.
◆ The possibility of bringing in Colin Kaepernick for a tryout was “discussed” by the quarterback-needy Redskins, but coach Jay Gruden said the team made a “strictly football” decision to look elsewhere. Quarterback Colt McCoy broke his right fibula Monday night against the Eagles.
◆ Steelers running back James Conner has a sprained left ankle and will not play against the Raiders.
◆ The Bills cut receiver Kelvin Benjamin, who had just 23 catches for 354 yards and one touchdown.