Big Ten, Pac-12, ACC set to form alliance
The Big Ten, Pac-12 and ACC are expected to formally announce their alignment as early as next week, according to multiple sources. The details of the alliance remain murky, as there are countless factors to process, though issues of governance remain front and center.
The conferences are like-minded in prioritizing broad-based sports offerings and the academics for their schools, particularly with graduating athletes. Each league in the alliance averages more than 22 different sports per campus; SEC schools average 19.9.
Those involved in the new alignment still believe in the “collegiate model” and want to avoid turning college football into a minor-league system for the NFL, even for those who support NIL.
The alliance came in response to the SEC adding Oklahoma and Texas to become a 16-team conference.
According to ESPN, the conference commissioners, George Kliavkoff (Pac-12), Kevin Warren (Big Ten) and Jim Phillips (ACC), have been in regular communication. The alliance hopes to “create stability without schools moving conferences.”
† Texas A&M basketball coach Buzz Williams was suspended for two games and the team has been put on two years of probation for multiple NCAA rules violations.
† Auburn football coach Bryan Harsin tested positive for COVID-19 and is isolating at home without any symptoms.
MLB
Sale pitches 5 scoreless innings in win
Chris Sale pitched five scoreless innings in his second outing since Tommy John surgery to help the Red Sox beat the Rangers 6-0. Sale threw 71 pitches, allowing five hits and a walk while striking out five for his second win in two starts since returning from elbow ligament replacement surgery.
† Catcher Travis d’Arnaud celebrated his two-year, $16 million contract extension with a two-run homer, Jorge Soler also went deep and the Braves beat the Orioles 3-0, extending their winning streak to seven games while handing Baltimore its 16th consecutive defeat.
† Pinch hitter Harold Castro singled home the go-ahead run in the 10th inning, and the Tigers went on to beat the Blue Jays 4-1. Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera remained at 499 career home runs after going 0-for-5 with three strikeouts.
† Luke Voit backed his recent demand
for playing time with a homer, four hits and four RBI, and the Yankees beat the Twins 10-2 for their season-high eighth win in a row.
† Sonny Gray pitched one-hit ball through seven scoreless innings, Tyler Naquin and Joey Votto homered in the fifth and the Reds beat the Marlins 5-3.
† MLB is ending a 70-year relationship with trading card company Topps after signing a new partnership with Fanatics.
NBA
Giannis purchases stake in Brewers
One month after leading the Bucks to their first NBA title in half a century, Giannis Antetokounmpo is teaming up with the city’s other major pro sports franchise by joining the Brewers’ ownership group.
† Celtics center Robert Williams agreed to a four-year, $54 million contract extension.
MISCELLANEOUS
Rahm leads by 1 at northern trust
Jon Rahm shot a 4-under-par 67 for a one-shot lead over Tony Finau through 36 holes at The Northern Trust in Jersey City, New Jersey, the first of three playoff events that concludes in two weeks at the Tour Championship. Rahm doesn’t like how the FedEx Cup format works, though. “I don’t think it’s fair,” he said.
† Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, 39, who was a five-time All-Star with the Rangers and won the Vezina Trophy in 2011-12, is retiring after a 15-year NHL career. ✶