Latest news with #Pac-12Championship
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Chargers star Justin Herbert reveals why he boldly risked NFL career to earn a biology degree
Chargers star Justin Herbert reveals why he boldly risked NFL career to earn a biology degree (Image Via X) Before Justin Herbert became a leading quarterback in the NFL , he surprised almost everyone with a significant decision. He was an elite college football player and was widely considered to go to the NFL early and ultimately a multi-million dollar contract, but in 2019 he made a vastly different decision and finalized his stay at the University of Oregon to accomplish his Biology degree. Why did he wait when he had a clear path to pro football? What made school more important than money? His answer shows a side of him that fans didn't expect. Justin Herbert chose college over early millions to study Biology In 2019, Justin Herbert was already seen as a top quarterback at the University of Oregon in Eugene. He could've entered the 2019 NFL Draft and made millions. But instead he remained for his senior year in order to complete his Biology degree. He graduated with a 4.01 GPA, was a teaching assistant, and led Oregon to a Pac-12 Championship and a victory over Wisconsin at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2020. That season turned him into an academic and an athletic was awarded the William V. Campbell Trophy, also known as the 'Academic Heisman,' in December 2019, for being the top scholar-athlete in college football. Justin Herbert once said he would have become a doctor if football didn't work out At the NFL Combine in March 2020, held in Indianapolis, Justin Herbert said in interviews that if he didn't make it in football, he planned to go to medical school. He said, 'That was always something I wanted to do.' Coaches and scouts noticed his intelligence and calm nature. On The Pat McAfee Show, Herbert was praised for being 'the smartest guy in the room' and for never letting fame change his values. Also Read: Khalil Mack Shocks NFL By Re-Signing With Los Angeles Chargers For Respect Not Rings In the same year, Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley said, 'Justin's approach to life and football is rare. He's sharp, humble, and always wants to learn.' Justin Herbert's teammates also often say he leads with quiet confidence. Justin Herbert didn't just chase fame,he stayed true to who he was. His decision to complete school and pursue medicine demonstrates he was thinking long-term all along. Today, he is a quarterback for the Los Angeles Chargers and a role model for young athletes everywhere. Catch Manika Batra's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 3. Watch Here!
Miami Herald
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Washington State Football Preview 2025: Cougars Season Prediction, Win Total Projection, Top Players
Washington State Cougars Key to the Season Get that ground game not that Washington State didn't have a rushing attack over the years. It just wasn't emphasized as much as the high-octane passing game, especially when you have Cam Ward under center. John Mateer went off, but the running backs now have to become a bigger a pivot for a program that didn't hit the 2,000-yard rushing mark in over a decade, and then had a fantastic 2025. By the way, South Dakota State ran for over 3,500 yards last season. So … X CFN, Fiu | CFN Facebook | Bluesky Fiu, CFN2025 Washington State PreviewWashington State Offense BreakdownWashington State Defense Breakdown Washington State Cougars Key Player Angel Johnson, RB Kirby Vorhees, and Maxwell Woods. Washington State didn't get South Dakota State's star rusher Amar Johnson - he's a Green Bay Packer now - but it brought in three other terrific Jackrabbit the Cougars ran well last year - at least for them - and again, the quarterback was the most dangerous option. This year's offense needs Johnson and the rotation of runners to take over. Washington State Cougars Top Transfer, Biggest Transfer Loss Top Transfer In: Caleb Franci, LB of all the terrific players coming in from South Dakota State, Franci should be the most productive new star. He's only 6-1 and 190 pounds, but he's a big hitter with wonderful range, making 78 tackles with seven broken up passes and 11 tackles for loss last Transfer Out: John Mateer, QB Jr.A whole slew of players followed former Cougar head coach Jake Dickert to Wake Forest, including offensive tackle Fa'ailili Fa'amoe, guard AJ Hasson, and receiver Carlos Hernandez. But Mateer was a Heisman-caliber playmaker last year who led Wazzu in rushing and was one of the nation's most effective passers. Now he's about to be a superstar at Oklahoma. Washington State Cougars Key Game Washington, Sept. 20There's no Pac-12 Championship to play for, and it's not getting into the College Football Playoff with a few too many tough road games, but beat the arch-rival for the second year in a row, and the year is made in before October.- 2025 Washington State Schedule Breakdown Washington State Cougars Top 10 Players 1. Caleb Franci, LB Sr.2. Zevi Eckhaus, QB Sr.3. Tucker Large, S Sr.4. Josh Meredith, WR Sr.5. Colby Humphrey, CB Sr6. Keith Brown, LB Sr.7. Angel Johnson, RB Sr.8. Matt Durrance, S Sr.9. Christian Hilborn, OT Sr.10. Jeremiah Noga, WR Sr. Washington State Cougars 2024 Fun Stats - Onside Kicks: Opponents 2-of-3, Washington State 0-of-0- Field Goals: Opponents 19-of-23, Washington State 8-of-13- Washington State Scoring: 3rd Quarter 66, 4th Quarter 126 Washington State Cougars 2025 Season Prediction, Win Total, What Will Happen Just how quickly can the new coaching staff make this work?This might not be the Washington State you're used to, but the starting 11 on defense should be terrific, and an improved running attack will make up for a toned-down passing Cougars will get off to a hot start, but a run of four road games in five dates from September 13th to October 18th - and a home game against Washington for the fifth game - will be an issue. Including the first of two games against fellow Pac-12 brother Oregon State, six road games in nine will be too much to overcome. But it'll still be a bowl season, it'll be a good first year for the new regime, and then it'll be on to life in the new The Washington State Win Total At … 6Likely Wins: Idaho, Louisiana Tech, San Diego State50/50 Games: at Colorado State, at James Madison, at North Texas, Oregon State, at Oregon State, Toledo, at VirginiaLikely Losses: at Ole Miss, Washington 2025 Washington State PreviewWashington State Offense BreakdownWashington State Defense Breakdown © 2025 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.
NBC Sports
25-05-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Connor Williams-led Arizona State goes from 'broken' to NCAA lead
CARLSBAD, Calif. – Too much winning is often the worst thing for somebody. Those were the words of Arizona State head coach Matt Thurmond after the Sun Devils failed to qualify for the NCAA Championship as the top seed in the 2024 NCAA Ranch Santa Fe Regional and winners of three of their past four events, including the final Pac-12 Championship. 'There's just a certain psychology that comes after you've been broken,' Thurmond explained at the time, 'and it's different than the psychology that you have after you win.' The healing process for Arizona State this season has included three wins, spaced evenly throughout the season, along with five runner-up finishes, including the Sun Devils' inaugural Big 12 Championship and the NCAA Bremerton Regional, where Arizona State cruised by 26 shots over Utah, which finished sixth as the first team out. If last year the Sun Devils were 'numb to the reality of what it takes' to succeed in the postseason, then this time Thurmond's team is fully aware. They entered this week's NCAA Championship relatively under the radar and as newbies having never seen Omni La Costa. Sophomore Connor Williams is San Diego area native, though none of his 100-plus rounds here prior to this week came after Gil Hanse's re-do. 'I was a little worried after missing last year that we would be behind as far as course knowledge,' Thurmond said. 'We had never seen it until the practice round, and I didn't watch one minute of coverage last year.' And yet through 36 holes, Arizona State paces the field at 13 under, three shots better than Oklahoma and 20 clear of Illinois, which sits in ninth and is currently the first team out of match play. The Sun Devils threw out Michael Mjaaseth's 1-under 71 in Saturday's second round and boast two players in the top 5 individually in Josele Ballester (T-5) and Williams, who is tied with Ole Miss' Michael La Sasso at 9 under, four shots better than third place. Thurmond was especially pleased with just six bogeys and no doubles from his counting scorers in Round 2. 'It's nice to get that out of mind,' Thurmond added, 'that we can play this course just like anybody else.' Nobody is playing it better than Williams right now. Williams, who is from nearby Escondido, wasn't the most decorated junior player when former Arizona State player Luke Potter, who now plays for Texas, told Thurmond shortly after committing to the Sun Devils in ninth grade that he should next look at Williams. 'He's not that good yet,' Potter said, according to Thurmond, 'but he does everything right, works super hard, is an awesome guy and we want him at ASU.' 'We started watching him,' Thurmond added, 'and he committed shortly thereafter.' With Ballester and Preston Summerhays soaking up much of the attention and expectations, Williams has sneakily developed into one of the best players in the country. He's ranked 35th in the country and tallied three top-8s in the fall. But he started the spring by finishing outside the top 60 in Hawaii and T-50 at Pauma Valley, missing the Sun Devils' win at the Cabo Collegiate in between to play in the Puerto Rico Open, where he missed the cut. He struggled for the next few events until Thurmond decided to throw him into a two-man, 54-hole qualifier for Big 12s with freshman Peer Wernicke. Williams won that qualifier, then finished runner-up at Southern Hills. He followed with a T-5 at regionals. 'That was big to get through that qualifier,' Williams said, 'and then have a good week at Big 12s and gain that confidence back.' Added Thurmond: 'People have no idea how good this guy is. He wins over and over and over again in drills we do every day in practice. … He hadn't been in a qualifier like that for a long time, but he deserved it. He had to prove to himself that he was the guy that should be there, and he did.'
NBC Sports
18-05-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Little-used junior steps up in relief to keep Oregon women firmly inside NCAA top 8
Oregon head coach Derek Radley was beaming. Ducks junior Anika Varma stepped on the 10th tee Saturday morning at Omni La Costa with just six tournament rounds under her belt, three as part of Oregon's starting lineup. She'd won a qualifier to earn the right to travel to Carlsbad as the Ducks' sixth woman, and with freshman Tong An waking up too sore to compete after an opening 74, Varma was thrust into action in the second round of the NCAA Championship. Varma responded with an even-par 72, tied for the team's low round of the day. She even had it to 2 under at one point on her second nine. 'To throw her in second round of a national championship and for her to go out and do that, just awesome,' said Radley, whose Oregon team sits third at 1 over, six shots back of Stanford and just a stroke shy of Northwestern. 'She really, truly is a mentally tough kid. She's worked her freaking tail off, and I'm so proud of her for continuing to be engaged through this whole time and continuing to work hard in case we needed her, and I commended her on that.' It was because of that dedication that Varma, who graduated this spring, was afforded the opportunity to play Darae Chung in an 18-hole qualifier last week at Emerald Valley, the team's home course. Chung was coming off a second-round 85 at the NCAA Gold Canyon Regional before being subbed out for Karen Tsuru, who missed a few starts this spring with a back injury. Varma hadn't performed much better in limited duty, tying for 43rd as an individual at the Windy City Collegiate last fall and then sharing 44th at the Silverado Showdown, where she took a resting Kiara Romero's spot. In three years at Oregon, Varma has posted three top-20s in 12 career events, all three coming as a freshman, when she went T-11 and T-15 before tying for ninth at the Pac-12 Championship. Yet, Radley went with his gut and gave the relentless worker a shot; Varma responded by making nine birdies to easily defeat Chung, and she followed that up with an impressive week of practice. 'She looked the best she's looked in her time at Oregon,' said Radley, who also felt that La Costa, at just over 6,200 yards but extremely penal if off target, set up perfect for the short-but-accurate Varma. 'If there was ever a golf course that would fit her, it's this one,' Radley added. Varma took advantage of soft, morning conditions, carding just three bogeys and equaling her best round not just of this season, where she was a combined 22 over entering Saturday, but of the past two seasons. 'I'm out here having a blast,' Varma told Radley after her round. 'It's my last go round, so let's go get it.' Suvichaya Vinijchaitham and Tiffany Huang added 72s for Oregon, which advanced to the semifinals last year at La Costa. Romero was the throw-out score with a 74. Most of the morning wave, comprised of the better ranked teams, climbed the leaderboard as well, including the top-ranked Cardinal, who shot 10 under after an opening 5-over round. USC and Florida State are tied for fourth at 3 over while Mississippi State is sixth at 4 over and Texas is tied for seventh with Oklahoma State, the only team in the top 12 that played in the afternoon, at 5 over. The top eight teams after 72 holes qualify for match play, which begins Tuesday. First-round leader Vanderbilt plummeted to T-13 at 12 over after an 18-over day. LSU (14 over), Ohio State (16 over), Wake Forest (+26) and Ole Miss (28 over) were the morning-wave teams who are outside the top 15 and will get bumped to the tougher afternoon wave on Sunday. Mississippi State's Avery Weed leads South Carolina's Eila Galitsky by two shots at 7 under in the individual race. Florida State's Mirabel Ting, the favorite to win the Annika Award, is tied for sixth at 3 under, two shots clear of her teammate Lottie Woad, thought to be her biggest challenger along with Romero.
NBC Sports
17-05-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Unlike regionals, Vanderbilt women start strong to take NCAA Championship lead
Vanderbilt opened its NCAA regional a couple weeks ago in 13 over. The Commodores got off to a much better start Friday, shooting 6 under to take a two-shot lead after the first round of the NCAA Division I Women's Golf Championship at Omni La Costa in Carlsbad, California. Oklahoma State sits second at 4 under as the Cowboys, like Vanderbilt, teed off in the morning wave, which consisted of the lower-ranked squads in the 30-team field. Florida also played early and shot even par, where it is tied with top-10 programs Oregon, Texas and Arizona State. 'I thought the girls did a nice job of bringing the momentum that we had the last two rounds in Lexington with us,' said Vanderbilt head coach Greg Allen, whose Commodores set a new program low at nationals thanks in large part to 3-under 69s from Ava Merrill and Tillie Claggett. 'It's really nice to take advantage of the morning tee time and get off to a good start. … It's still super early, so we understand there's a lot of golf left, and we just need to embrace the leaderboard and where we're at.' Vanderbilt's five players also combined for just one double bogey or worse. Further down the leaderboard, top-ranked Stanford is tied for 11th at 5 over. The Cardinal, which haven't lost a stroke-play competition since prior to last year's Pac-12 Championship, threw out a 77 from Annika Award finalist Meja Ortengren. No. 4 Florida State, which boasts the top two amateurs in the world in Mirabel Ting and Lottie Woad, shares 16th at 7 over. Ting and Woad shot 2-under 70 and even-par 72, respectively. No. 2 Arkansas and No. 3 South Carolina each opened in 9 over, good only for T-21, while No. 7 Wake Forest is beating just three teams at 16 over. Gamecocks senior Hannah Darling, who was subbed out after an opening 84 at last year's NCAA Championship but bounced back this season to be ranked 12th nationally, shot 82 on Friday and is ahead of just three players. Tennessee's Bailey Davis carded just one bogey while shooting 5-under 67. She leads Texas' Lauren Kim, USC's Catherine Park and LSU's Elsa Svensson.
