COLUMBUS, Ohio — Fans and Columbus Blue Jackets players gathered for an emotional candlelight vigil outside the team’s arena Wednesday night to remember Johnny Gaudreau and brother Matthew, who died last week when they were struck by a suspected drunken driver while riding bicycles in their home state of New Jersey. The crowd of of roughly 1,000 outside Nationwide Arena …

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) address the team as coach Jim Harbaugh (right) watches. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) From his first day on the job, Jim Harbaugh was enamored with Justin Herbert’s leadership abilities. The fifth-year quarterback “leads from the front,” Harbaugh praised. That is, unless Herbert is emerging from a broken elevator. When about a dozen …

Kobe Pepe Fall Camp In 2024, the USC Trojans are set to face a challenging out-of-conference schedule. They already prevailed against LSU. In late November, they will meet Notre Dame. Additionally, within the Big Ten, they will encounter Penn State and Michigan, two of the Big Ten’s most formidable defenses. These matchups promise to test the Trojans’ abilities and determine …

Bears bolster defensive line in pre-Week 1 mock draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago The 2024 NFL Draft will be remembered for producing 14 consecutive offensive selections, starting with the Chicago Bears taking quarterback Caleb Williams as the first overall pick. Interestingly, the last two Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks were chosen with the first two picks, and a third signal-caller …

Oct 28, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Michigan State Spartans kicker Jonathan Kim (97) is congratulated on his 42-yard field goal against the Minnesota Golden Gophers by offensive lineman Kristian Phillips (71), wide receiver Christian Fitzpatrick (16), and tight end Evan Morris (92) during the first quarter at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports Michigan State football heads …

Matthew Stafford does want distractions, especially when he walks into an opponent’s stadium. So, unlike many athletes, the Rams’ veteran quarterback forsakes headphones upon arrival, and embraces a hostile environment when he jogs onto the field for pregame warmups. “I want to hear all of it,” Stafford said Wednesday before practice in Woodland Hills. “I want to smell it. I …

The NFC was the San Francisco 49ers invitational last season, a conference that showed the 49ers supremacy over the course of the year. Of course, San Francisco was challenged by the Green Bay Packers in the NFC divisional round and the Detroit Lions in the NFC Championship game, setting the stage for a wide-open conference in 2024.  Is the 49ers’ window closing? Will this be their …

No. 24 NC State and No. 15 Tennessee will each be looking for a statement non-conference victory when they meet in the 2024 Duke’s Mayo Classic on Saturday night in Charlotte. The Wolfpack opened the season with a 38-21 win over Western Carolina, but they needed 21 unanswered fourth-quarter points to seal the game as 32-point favorites. Tennessee cruised from …

Kirk Cousins hasn’t played since Oct. 29, tearing his Achilles on his 61st snap against the Packers. The quarterback now plays for a new team, and at 36 and with a first-round rookie backing him up, doesn’t know how much longer he will play. Cousins will make his debut with the Falcons on Sunday against the Steelers. He is eager …

April 13, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes running back TreVeyon Henderson (32) runs the ball for the scarlet team during the first half of the LifeSports spring football game at Ohio Stadium on Saturday. Ohio State football beat up on the Akron Zips Saturday in Week 1 action, winning 52-6. While it didn’t cover the spread, it did …

Report: 49ers knew teams planned to claim Purdy on waivers in 2022 originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area Brock Purdy changed the entire trajectory of the 49ers franchise, but the young quarterback nearly found himself on an path that would have taken a sharp turn to another NFL organization during his rookie campaign. San Francisco elected to keep Purdy …

USATSI Florida freshman DJ Lagway will make his first career start against Samford on Saturday, 247Sports reports. The news comes as starting signal-caller Graham Mertz remains in concussion protocol due to an injury suffered last weekend in a 41-17 loss to Miami. Lagway played in Florida’s final three series and finished 3 of 6 for 31 yards and an interception. He also …

Jets RB Hall explains idolizing, mimicking CMC since middle school originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area Star New York Jets running back Breece Hall wants to be like 2023 AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year and 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey. Who wouldn’t want 6,185 yards rushing and 4,320 receiving over a seven-year career comprised of three NFL …

Sep 2, 2023; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes offensive coordinator Brian Hartline calls a play during the second half of the NCAA football game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Indiana University Memorial Stadium. Ohio State won 23-3. Ohio State football has consistently been able to recruit the best receivers in the country. It was able to get the No. …

Jets star, ex-Iowa State teammate Hall lauds ‘ultimate leader’ Purdy originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area Star 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy and electric Jets running back Breece Hall proudly were teammates at Iowa State. The duo helped lead the Cyclones to a 23-15 record over three seasons and a 2020 Fiesta Bowl victory. Purdy and Hall became good friends …