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Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Breakthrough coming? USA TODAY Sports Network's Big Ten football preseason rankings tabs Penn State as best
INDIANAPOLIS — One of the fiercest rivalries in all of sports has teams who represented the Big Ten quite well as College Football Playoff national champions in consecutive years. But it's a team that has for years played third fiddle that is picked to break the glass ceiling it has faced. A pool of writers across the USA TODAY Sports Network from coast to coast were polled on who will win the league, and Penn State was the preseason choice to win the championship Dec. 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Nittany Lions have not won the Big Ten since 2016, their only time supplanting Ohio State and Michigan in the defunct East Division. Penn State lost to Oregon, 45-37, in last year's championship game, the first without divisions, but went on to reach a CFP national semifinal where they lost to eventual national runner-up Notre Dame. It may be Penn State's best chance to win a national championship for the first time in 39 years. Though its 1994 team went undefeated, it was Nebraska that claimed the national title after beating Miami in the BCS national championship game. The Nittany Lions will have competition, though, as the Big Ten hopes to have a third straight national champion. There was a grouping of Penn State, Ohio State and Oregon as the three programs who were predicted to finish first by network writers. A pool of teams were bunched up in the middle, and another cluster in the lower third. They ranked teams first through 18th with a total points system used to rank teams: a first-place prediction equaled one point and last was 18. The team with the fewest points was ranked first. First-year Purdue football coach Barry Odom has his work cut out for him. His Boilermakers were a consensus pick to finish 18th. Meanwhile in-state rival Indiana is not expected to have much of a drop off from a (tied) second-place finish in Curt Cignetti's first season. Toppmeyer: Why the Big Ten desperately wants to rig College Football Playoff USA TODAY Sports Network preseason Big Ten champion, order of finish 1. Penn State, 16 2. Ohio State, 20 3. Oregon, 26 4. Michigan, 45 5. Illinois, 55 6. Indiana, 63 Insider: IU football schedule a politicking punching bag in inconsistent College Football Playoff process 7. USC, 72 (tie) 8. Nebraska, 85 (tie) 8. Washington, 85 10. Iowa, 86 11. Minnesota, 112 12. Wisconsin, 117 13. Rutgers, 138 14. UCLA, 139 15. Michigan State, 141 16. Maryland, 155 17. Northwestern, 165 18. Purdue, 180 Local Boiler: 'Authentic' Lawrence Central grad can go 'as far as he wants' as Purdue football general manager Champion: Penn State (5 votes) Aaron Ferguson is assistant sports editor at the Indianapolis Star. He coordinates Big Ten polls, rankings, enterprise and more for the USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow him on Twitter/X at @Sports_Aaron, Instagram at a_ferg_writes, TikTok at sports_aaron, Reddit at sports_aaron and BlueSky at This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: USA TODAY Network's Big Ten football preseason rankings, championship picks
Washington Post
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Indianapolis to host US Olympic swimming trials again in 2028 after last year's record run
INDIANAPOLIS — The 2028 U.S. Olympic swimming trials will return to Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium after drawing record-breaking crowds last year in the first event held inside a football stadium. USA Swimming officials made the announcement Tuesday in Indianapolis where this year's national championships are being held this week. Dates for the event have not yet been announced.
Associated Press
03-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Indianapolis to host US Olympic swimming trials again in 2028 after last year's record run
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The 2028 U.S. Olympic swimming trials will return to Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium after drawing record-breaking crowds last year in the first event held inside a football stadium. USA Swimming officials made the announcement Tuesday in Indianapolis where this year's national championships are being held this week. Dates for the event have not yet been announced. Organizers intend to build three temporary pools on top of the NFL's Colts' home field — a 50-meter competition pool and two warm-up pools. The Indiana Convention Center, which is connected to the stadium, will host USA Swimming's Toyota Aqua Zone. Last year, more than 285,000 fans attended the nine-day trials. That was a 60% increase over previous events. Single session records also were shattered as television ratings increased 20% from the previous team trials in 2021. Organizers estimated the event helped generate $132 million in revenue for the city. The 2024 trials also won the annual Fan Engagement Award and were a finalist for Sports Business Journal's event of the year. Indianapolis has a long and storied history with the Olympic swimming trials. The 2028 trials will mark the eighth time the city has hosted the event since 1924 when Johnny Weissmuller and Duke Kahanamoku were the stars. Other familiar names who qualified for the U.S. Olympic teams include Amanda Beard, Janet Evans, Rowdy Gaines, Katie Ledecky, Ryan Lochte, Michael Phelps, Jenny Thompson and Dara Torres. The 2028 Olympics will be held in Los Angeles and could again feature the brother-sister duo of Alex and Aaron Shackell, who swam for nearby Carmel High School. ___ AP sports:
Washington Post
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Jim Irsay, owner of the Indianapolis Colts, dies at 65
The NFL lost one of its most prominent, outspoken and charismatic leaders and one of its most eclectic figures Wednesday when the Indianapolis Colts announced the death of the franchise's longtime owner, Jim Irsay. The Colts said that Irsay, 65, died 'peacefully in his sleep' Wednesday afternoon. The team did not specify a cause of death. 'Jim's dedication and passion for the Indianapolis Colts in addition to his generosity, commitment to the community, and most importantly, his love for his family were unsurpassed,' the Colts said in their statement. The announcement came hours after the NFL's team owners completed a two-day meeting at a Minneapolis-area hotel. Irsay had been absent from the meeting, just as he'd missed other such owners' meetings in recent months while struggling with health and mobility issues. But he'd remained in touch with people throughout the league and had stayed involved in team and NFL business. 'We were deeply saddened to learn of Jim Irsay's passing today,' NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a written statement. 'Jim was a friend, and a man deeply committed to his family, the game, the Colts, and the Indianapolis community. He spent his life and career in the National Football League. Starting as a teenager as a Colts' ballboy, he learned every position in the organization before assuming leadership of the Colts approximately 30 years ago. Jim's Colts won the Super Bowl, hosted another and built Lucas Oil Stadium.' Irsay was an NFL lifer who was named the Colts' general manager in 1984 under his late father, Robert Irsay, who moved the team from Baltimore to Indianapolis. Jim Irsay took over sole ownership of the franchise in 1997. 'Some of Jim's fondest memories came from his youth working training camps in Baltimore and growing relationships with players, coaches, and staff whom he considered his extended family,' the Colts said. 'He worked in every department before he was named the youngest general manager in team history. … [H]e led the Colts to a long series of division titles and brought the city its first Super Bowl Championship [as owner].' The Colts were among the NFL's most successful franchises in the early 2000s, with Tony Dungy as their coach and Peyton Manning as their quarterback. They reached the playoffs in seven straight seasons under Dungy and won a Super Bowl title in the 2006 season. Manning became an all-time great in a Colts uniform and established the league's top rivalry with his New England Patriots counterpart, Tom Brady. 'I am heartbroken to hear about Jim Irsay's passing,' Manning wrote on social media. 'He was an incredibly generous and passionate owner and I will always be indebted to him for giving me my start in the NFL. His love for the Colts and the city of Indy was unmatched. His impact on the players who played for him will not be forgotten. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and everyone in the Colts community. He will be missed.' The team returned to the Super Bowl in the 2009 season under Dungy's coaching successor, Jim Caldwell, but lost to the New Orleans Saints. The Colts reached the playoffs in the 2010 season but went 2-14 in 2011 as Manning was sidelined by a neck injury. He moved on to the Denver Broncos. The Colts thought they had their next iconic quarterback when they selected Andrew Luck with the top overall choice in the 2012 NFL draft. But Luck, after a promising start to his NFL career, struggled with injuries and shockingly retired just before the 2019 season. The Colts have been unable to find consistent success in recent seasons, with a revolving door of starting quarterbacks and a succession of coaches. Irsay drew criticism for naming Jeff Saturday, Manning's former center who had a dearth of coaching experience, the team's interim head coach during the 2022 season after firing Frank Reich. Irsay often spoke of his respect for NFL traditions. He was a power broker within the league who served on the NFL's influential finance committee, which oversaw major transactions such as the $6.05 billion sale of the Washington Commanders from Daniel Snyder to Josh Harris in 2023 and Brady's purchase of a minority ownership stake in the Las Vegas Raiders last year. The Raiders called Irsay 'one of professional football's most passionate stewards' and said in a statement: 'Jim's love of the Colts and appreciation for the NFL was evident in his tireless efforts to promote and improve the game, and his commitment to the Indianapolis community and generosity in his philanthropic efforts touched countless live.' Said Goodell: 'He led with integrity, passion and care for the Colts' players, coaches and staff, and his courageous work in support of mental health will be a lasting legacy. Outside of football, he was a talented musician and built an extraordinary collection of historical and musical artifacts that he shared with people across the country.' Amid investigations into allegations of misconduct in the Commanders' workplace in 2022, Irsay became the first owner to say publicly that he and his peers should seriously consider removing Snyder from ownership of the team. 'That's not what we stand for in the National Football League,' Irsay said in October 2022 in New York. 'And I think owners have been painted incorrectly a lot of times by various people and under various situations. And that's not what we're about. … There's just a lot of closeness in this league. And I don't think, some of the things I've heard, it doesn't represent us at all. And I want the American public and the world to know what we're about as owners.' Irsay had varied interests away from football. He was a musician whose band performed concerts before sizable crowds. He was an avid collector who owned rare and expensive guitars and other notable items, reportedly including the manuscript of Jack Kerouac's 'On the Road' and the founding document of Alcoholics Anonymous. Irsay, his family and the Colts established the Kicking the Stigma Action Fund to address mental health issues. But Irsay also battled personal demons. He told HBO's 'Real Sports' last year he'd been to rehabilitation at least 15 times and had previously overdosed. The NFL suspended Irsay for six games and fined him $500,000 under its personal conduct policy after he pleaded guilty in 2014 to a misdemeanor count of driving while intoxicated. He acknowledged to a judge that he was under the influence of painkillers when he was arrested near his home in an Indianapolis suburb. Irsay was taken to a hospital in December 2023 after reportedly being found unresponsive and breathing abnormally. Irsay has three daughters who could be in line to take over ownership of the Colts. 'Jim's generosity can be felt all over Indianapolis, the state of Indiana and the country,' the Colts said. 'He made philanthropy a daily endeavor. He never hesitated to help countless organizations and individuals live better lives. Music was one of Jim's passions and the ability to share his band and collection with millions of people across the world brought him tremendous joy. Simply put, he wanted to make the world a better place and that philosophy never wavered. Jim will be deeply missed by his family, the Colts organization, and fans everywhere, but we remain inspired by his caring and unique spirit.'
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Jim Irsay dead at 65: Peyton Manning breaks his silence on Indianapolis Colts owner's passing
Peyton Manning has paid an emotional tribute to Jim Irsay following the Indianapolis Colts owner's death on Wednesday. Irsay, who was rarely seen in public during the last NFL season, died in his sleep on Wednesday afternoon, the team announced. He was in charge when the Colts won the Super Bowl against the Chicago Bears with Manning at quarterback in 2007 and oversaw the construction of their Lucas Oil Stadium. In a devastating Instagram post, Manning said: 'I am heartbroken to hear about Jim Irsay's passing. 'He was an incredibly generous and passionate owner and I will always be indebted to him for giving me my start in the NFL. His love for the Colts and the city of Indy was unmatched. His impact on the players who played for him will not be forgotten. 'My thoughts and prayers are with his family and everyone in the Colts community. He will be missed. Jim, rest in peace my friend, #18'. Tom Brady was among those to comment on the post, writing 'RIP' with prayer and love heart emojis. The Colts' outspoken and sometimes controversial owner was once a team ball boy before he learned every position in the organization and eventually took control of the franchise. However, away from football, Irsay battled crippling addiction problems and personal demons. He had three daughters with ex-wife Meg Coyle. In a 2023 interview with HBO Sports, Irsay admitted he had been to rehab for alcoholism and painkiller addiction at least 15 times but hadn't consumed an alcoholic beverage since 2002. Irsay had become less visible following a fall at his home in December 2023. Police officers from Carmel, Indiana responded to a 911 call from Irsay´s home and officers found him breathing but unresponsive and with a bluish skin tone. The report said Pete Ward, Irsay´s longtime right-hand man and the teams chief operating officer, told officers he was worried Irsay was suffering from congestive heart failure and that Irsay´s nurse had said his oxygen level was low, his breathing was labored and he was 'mostly' unconscious. Police later characterized the incident in a report as a suspected overdose. A month later, he was diagnosed with a respiratory illness. During his annual training camp news conference last summer, Irsay told reporters he was continuing to rehab from two subsequent surgeries - though he remained seated in his golf cart. Irsay did not speak during the recent NFL draft as he typically did. A Colts statement on Wednesday read: 'We are devastated to announce our beloved Owner & CEO, Jim Irsay, passed away peacefully in his sleep this afternoon. 'Jim's dedication and passion for the Indianapolis Colts in addition to his generosity, commitment to the community, and most importantly, his love for his family were unsurpassed. 'Our deepest sympathies go to his daughters, Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt, Kalen Jackson, and his entire family as we grieve with them. 'Jim's generosity can be felt all over Indianapolis, the state of Indiana and the country. He made philanthropy a daily endeavor. He never hesitated to help countless organizations and individuals live better lives. 'Music was one of Jim's passions and the ability to share his band and collection with millions of people across the world brought him tremendous joy. 'Simply put, he wanted to make the world a better place and that philosophy never wavered. Jim will be deeply missed by his family, the Colts organization, and fans everywhere, but we remain inspired by his caring and unique spirit.' Irsay was arrested in 2014 for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, which he later claimed was because he was targeted for being 'a rich, white billionaire.' At the time, Irsay insisted a recent hip surgery was why he failed a field sobriety test and not alcohol. Also in 2014, a woman alleged to be Irsay's mistress was found dead in a townhouse provided by the billionaire, according to Irsay's fortune comes from his family's heating and cooling (HVAC) empire, not to mention the Colts, a team his late father bought in Baltimore in 1972 before famously moving the franchise to Indianapolis nine years later. According to The Athletic, the oldest of Irsay's three daughters, Carlie Irsay-Gordon, is expected to assume principal ownership duties of the Colts. It's claimed Irsay preferred all three of his daughters, Carlie, Casey Foyt and Kalen Jackson, would work together as co-owners. An X account belonging to Irsay posted a good luck message to the Indiana Pacers earlier in the day.
