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Pittsburgh Steelers ' star edge rusher TJ Watt had a truly dominant 2023 season, finishing with 48 solo tackles, 20 assists, 19 sacks, three fumble recoveries, and one interception in 17 games. It was a one-of-a-kind year, and many pundits believed TJ should have been rewarded with the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year Award. Despite his impressive stats, the award went to Cleveland Browns star pass rusher Myles Garrett, who finished behind TJ in nearly every key metric used to measure a defensive player's impact. TJ’s brother, JJ Watt, shared his thoughts on the snub , but he remained respectful when discussing Garrett’s greatness. JJ acknowledged Garrett’s talent and downplayed the controversy, taking a mature approach to the situation. However, Garrett, known for his competitive nature, took the opportunity to fire back after a dominant outing against Pittsburgh on Thursday night, using the Watt brothers' comments as fuel for his three-sack, one-forced fumble performance. "I only speak positively about Myles Garrett.. I've literally never said a single bad thing about the guy" ~ @JJWatt #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/tybDEQMLjP Garrett's recent comments have shown a cocky edge, as he has subtly jabbed at both TJ and JJ. JJ, appearing on The Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday, was asked about Garrett’s trash talk. While JJ maintained his respectful stance, it was clear that Garrett’s words hadn’t gone unnoticed, and the rivalry between the Watt brothers and Garrett is far from over. "What happened? I am curious," JJ said. "I have literally never said a bad thing about the guy. What happened? Find one negative comment I have ever said about the man. Please I literally only speak positively about him." JJ Watt has every reason to be confused by Garrett's claim that he gave him fuel. All JJ did was support his brother, TJ, with facts, not take shots at Garrett. Yet, Garrett twisted JJ’s words to create motivation, despite the respectful nature of JJ’s comments. "I mean I have gone on this show and praised him before," JJ said. "I have gone on CBS and praised him before and I have tweeted many positive things about him. The guy is an unbelievable player, I have never once in my life said he is not a phenomenal player. Same the other way, like TJ has never said anything either. I am very confused why... like there is zero negativity towards Myles Garrett. He is a great football player." JJ seemed a bit frustrated by Garrett twisting his words, especially since all JJ did was support his brother, TJ, with facts. In fact JJ even pointed out the social media post he sent out when the award was announced. JJ's post on social media couldn't have been more respectful. Everybody is asking for my opinion on DPOY. I get it. The problem is I have no interest in tearing down MG. Myles is a phenomenal player, I’m a big fan and he’s had an incredible career so far. I can acknowledge that while also wondering what more TJ could have possibly done. pic.twitter.com/wSWpKVBntl Garrett appeared upset that the Watt brothers overshadowed his award win, but some would argue that if your thunder was stolen, it was for good reason. The stats clearly pointed to TJ having a better defensive season in 2023, but Garrett still took home the award. Steelers' TJ Watt And Brother JJ Did Nothing Wrong Both JJ and TJ handled the situation with respect and have every right to stand up for what they believe is right or wrong. Garrett, of course, has the right to claim it motivated him. While Garrett may feel good after his dominant performance, TJ is still the favorite to win DPOY in 2024, and his team is 8-3. Meanwhile, Garrett’s Browns are 3-8, yet Garrett is celebrating . TJ will likely be fueled by this and could have the last laugh. It's surprising how much Garrett seemed to be bothered by JJ standing up for his brother. One thing is for sure, Garrett hasn't handled the situation with as much respect as the Watt brothers did. This article first appeared on SteelerNation.com and was syndicated with permission.

Trump picks Keith Kellogg to serve as special envoy to Ukraine and RussiaConservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has pledged a “Canada first” approach to foreign policy in response to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s threat of steep tariffs on Canadian goods. Trump blamed Canada and Mexico for being pathways for the large number of illegal immigrants and illicit drugs entering the United States, adding that until they solve this problem, “it is time for them to pay a very big price!” “The federal government needs to take the situation at our border seriously. We need a Team Canada approach and response—and we need it now,” Ontario Premier Doug Ford wrote on the social media platform X, saying that a 25 percent tariff would be “devastating” for both Canadian and U.S. workers. When asked if he agrees with cutting Mexico from the trade deal, Poilievre said his focus is also on trade with Canada’s southern neighbour. The prime minister also said he had contacted Ford to set up a first ministers’ meeting this week to discuss the matter. Several cabinet ministers responded to Trump’s proposed tariff as they headed to a federal cabinet meeting on Nov. 26. Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne said the proposed tariff should be taken seriously and discussions with the incoming Trump administration will continue, adding that Canada would highlight the strategic nature of the relationship and the potential impact on the U.S. economy. Immigration Minister Marc Miller said Canada is considering several measures to deal with illegal immigration. “Clearly, this will be part of a discussion that we'll have with the Americans when we have an opportunity to sit down,” he said. On the economy, he urged Trudeau to adopt a “Team Canada” approach by removing the two carbon taxes—the Federal Carbon Pricing Framework and the Clean Fuel Regulations. “This was an irresponsible policy to begin with, but combining this kind of crippling energy tax increase with potential tariffs from Donald Trump would push our economy into a nightmare and a tailspin,” Poilievre said. “Our economy is teetering on the brink of collapse, and now we face this renewed threat. We need a plan—a plan to put Canada first on the economy and on security,” he added. Asked about the opposition leader’s call to eliminate the emissions cap, Energy Minister Jonathan Wilkinson told reporters that Canada must work with the United States to maintain oil and gas exports. As part of the effort to enhance economic security, Poilievre called on Ottawa to track and ensure the departure of 4.9 million temporary foreign workers whose permits expire by year’s end.

In lieu of a traditional editorial, the editorial board presents the famous traditional poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" with wishes for a very merry Christmas. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on X (Opens in new window) Most Popular Virginia Beach Navy pilots shot down over Red Sea in apparent ‘friendly fire’ incident; recovered alive Virginia Beach Navy pilots shot down over Red Sea in apparent ‘friendly fire’ incident; recovered alive Police identify Hampton man found dead at Great Dismal Swamp Police identify Hampton man found dead at Great Dismal Swamp Williamsburg regional sports complex gets new name Williamsburg regional sports complex gets new name Hampton considers accessory dwelling units as solution to housing shortage Hampton considers accessory dwelling units as solution to housing shortage 45 years ago, a Virginia Beach woman was killed. Her family is still waiting for answers. 45 years ago, a Virginia Beach woman was killed. Her family is still waiting for answers. David Teel: Norfolk State is back in national headlines. It’s imperative Michael Vick gets support. David Teel: Norfolk State is back in national headlines. It’s imperative Michael Vick gets support. James City County police celebrate 2 furry additions for new K-9 unit James City County police celebrate 2 furry additions for new K-9 unit Live: Michael Vick introduced as Norfolk State’s coach Live: Michael Vick introduced as Norfolk State’s coach Larry Rubama: 16 years ago, a teenage football player was killed. His namesake — a rising star — just won a state title. Larry Rubama: 16 years ago, a teenage football player was killed. His namesake — a rising star — just won a state title. All things bright and beautiful: Annual Colonial Williamsburg wreath decorating contest brings out color All things bright and beautiful: Annual Colonial Williamsburg wreath decorating contest brings out color Trending NationallyWay-too-early look at the Montana Grizzlies' 2025 football schedulePet passports for dogs, cats and ferrets to travel within UK ‘an outrage’

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Black Friday, traditionally the single busiest shopping day of the year, arrives a little late this year on Nov. 29, with many stores advertising Black Friday prices much earlier. Instead of setting an alarm to brave crowds for deeply discounted items, dedicated shoppers are expected to look for deals online — if they haven’t already finished their holiday shopping. Retail experts predict increased mobile shopping and tighter budgets in a shorter shopping season. If you do decide to shop in person on Black Friday, the Better Business Bureau offers these tips to make your shopping experience productive (and maybe even enjoyable): Have a plan to make the most of Black Friday deals. Start with a list of items and use sale flyers and promotions to determine which store has the best price for the big-ticket and popular items. Set a budget and stick with it before heading out. Read the fine print. Some retailers may offer an additional percentage off the purchase but could exclude certain deals or items such as “doorbusters.” Watch for companies boasting a high percentage off; the item may be “75% off,” but the original price could be inflated. Carefully check the price tags, terms, and conditions. See if competitors have the item at a better price or have a better return policy. Check the reviews. If you’re not familiar with the retailer, visit BBB.org to check their complaint and review history. BBB reviews can be trusted over other review sites; find out why. Read product reviews on extremely discounted items. Plan out the excursion. Make a game plan of which stores to visit at which time and what items to buy at each store. Some retailers only honor certain sale ads early in the morning and have limited inventory of those items. Plan your mealtimes and when you will grab food to avoid shopping while ‘hangry.’ Sign up for email alerts and reward programs. Many stores send their best Black Friday deals and exclusive coupons to subscribers to their emails. Sign up before the holiday season, then unsubscribe afterward if needed. Use reward cards or credit cards that offer cash back, points, or other benefits. Know the return policy and warranty information. Pass any information about returns, exchanges, repairs, and warranties to the person using the item. Gift receipts are an easy way for recipients to return or exchange a gift if it’s not just right, but make sure the item can be returned before purchasing. Go online. You may not have to leave the house if the store offers the deal online! Look for free shipping and in-store pickup options to avoid the crowds. Coupon sites and browser extensions can offer discount codes that may bring the delivery price below that of an in-person exchange. See if the upcoming Cyber Monday price might be lower than the Black Friday one. Look for the BBB Seal. It’s the Sign of a Better Business. Shop with confidence this Black Friday by choosing businesses that prioritize trust and ethics in the marketplace. You’ll have peace of mind, avoid scams, and make smart purchasing decisions. Visit BBB.org to look up a business, file a complaint, write a customer review, report a scam, read tips, follow us on social media, and more. Report bad business behavior to BBB.org/ScamTracker to alert others and help people learn the signs of a scam.

The Australian treasurer Peter Costello did a splendid thing he steered through the Charter of Budget Honesty Act in 1998. The aim was to inform Parliament and the nation about the cost of policy proposals from politicians from left, right and centre and to produce reports that show how much various tax and spending policies cost the budget each year. or signup to continue reading Costello, of course, was interested in clamping down on government spending on the welfare side: the dole bludgers, the health blow-out, the public-education black hole of waste, and so on. Costello said the best way to ensure the budget did not blow out was to prevent any new welfare scheme from getting up in the first place and to monitor spending as it happened so it could be curtailed. He was right. But the new welfare schemes to be wary of were not the ones that helped the needy, but the ones that gave hand-outs to the already wealthy. The Coalition's fix for an unbalanced budget always seemed to be to cut government help to people who really need it. However, Australia is in a $27 billion fiscal hole, not because of funding for the needy, but because of hand-outs to the distinctly unneedy. The $27 billion could be easily picked up. Information from the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook under the charter and Australian Taxation Office reports shows massive corporate welfare and high-wealth tax deductions that, if stopped, would not only repair the budget deficit but allow the government to provide genuine free universal health and dental care; excellent free public education at all levels; enough social housing to end most homelessness; a raft of sensible environmental policies; and lower income taxes for people on low and middle incomes. Some of the welfare-to-the-wealthy measures and the annual cost of them are as follows: Sure, not all of it could be easily picked up, but the government could at least make some inroads into it. Most of these concessions to the already wealthy were created in the past 25 years and all of them have ballooned since inception. True, Labor has done some things with childcare, student debt, and tinkered on the edge of social housing, but they amount to nearly nothing when compared to the nearly $200 billion a year of largesse going to people who do not need it. Unfortunately, the 2019 election result has been read as an edict in stone that promising to take away tax perks for the wealthy is electoral suicide. It has certainly led to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese being timid to the point of being moribund. But it has resulted in a dangerous failure to stem the increasing fiscal outflows caused by ever more people taking advantage of the tax concessions, many of which were granted by Costello. For example, the mad franked-dividends scheme to give cash back in the form of a tax rebate to investors who paid no tax in the first place, cost $500 million in the first year. Now it is 14 times that. People have flocked to the housing market to take advantage of the capital-gains tax concession, ramping up negative gearing deductions as they go. The Charter of Budget Honesty and last month's MYEFO have honestly revealed the unfairness of the tax system and the inequality it has inflicted in Australia (thank you Peter Costello). We should be asking what is more important: health, education, and fairness or handouts to the already wealthy? What do we want as a nation? The tax system provides the answer to those questions. And they are not pretty. We are not the land of the fair go. Nor are we the compassionate country we like to think ourselves. Worse than that, having put in place various reporting mechanisms (including Closing the Gap for Indigenous Australia and immigration numbers) the maladies and their solutions stare us in the face. And the seven quarters of negative per-capita growth (a big recession for all those on middle or low incomes) could also be fairly easily fixed. The mid-year update revised up the rate of net overseas migration from 260,000 projected in the budget to an out-of-control 340,000. With so many more people to spread the wealth around, no wonder we are going backwards. We should get back to the 70,000 level before the Howard government ramped it up and Albanese ramped it up further post-COVID. The government should take several big tax steps. It should grandfather a lot of the concessions by restricting them to a maximum of what the taxpayer claimed the previous year. This is what happened with the tax deductibility of health gap fees. There was hardly a murmur of protest. And health deductions have more merit than franking credits and negative gearing. Second, it should abolish wage and salary work-related expenses and replace them with an automatic deduction of, say, $4000. At a stroke, millions of taxpayers would be relieved of doing a tax return other than ticking off the ATO's auto-fill and they would also get a tax break. Too much of the tax burden is borne by labour and not enough by capital and consumption. Third it should do what the UK government is doing from January 1, 2025: imposing the 20 per cent VAT (its GST equivalent) on private education fees and use the money to reduce or abolish HECS and HELP debt. As the government picks up the revenue it could, for example, start a universal dental scheme with at least a free annual check-up, with expansion to other procedures down the track. Surely that is more important than subsidising fees for some very wealthy private schools. Labor is going to have to put 2019 behind it and pick up the revenue loss and channel it to people who need it. Otherwise, voters will rightly ask what is the point of a Labor government? Crispin Hull is a former editor of The Canberra Times and aregular columnist. Crispin Hull is a former editor of The Canberra Times and aregular columnist. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Advertisement Advertisement(L-R): John Logue, CEO, Social Enterprise Republic of Ireland (SERI), IFI Chair, Paddy Harte and Colin Jess CEO, Social Enterprise NI (SENI). Fourteen social enterprises from around Northern Ireland are involved in an innovative new cross-border programme. The DISCOVERY programme led by Social Enterprise Republic of Ireland (SERI) and Social Enterprise Northern Ireland (SENI) is focused on building new connections between established social enterprises around the shared social impact challenges they face. The collaborative two year programme is funded by the International Fund for Ireland, under its Communities in Partnership funding Programme, which supports meaningful cross-border partnerships, including ideas that create the conditions for the development of social enterprise and innovation. Read more: Belfast project to transform derelict buildings to be extended citywide Read more: NI social enterprise urging people to 'gift with care' this Christmas DISCOVERY aims to connect and support the leaders of social enterprises, as the key drivers of social impact and good community relations work north and south, the people who provide essential community services and are the backbone of communities on each side of the border. The collaboration to deliver the programme is the first step in a new partnership between SERI and SENI, who have worked together, to design the programme, working in the collective and best interests of the social enterprise sector. Speaking at the launch event, Paddy Harte, Chair of the International Fund for Ireland said: “We know that Social Enterprises are playing an increasingly important role contributing to the economic and social landscape. They operate much needed facilities, providing services, creating employment, working within disadvantaged communities and adding value to all aspects of community life. “This IFI funding will provide the building blocks to help Social Enterprises manage and navigate the challenges around financial sustainability and help develop long-term viable social businesses that will benefit communities. “The DISCOVERY Programme will establish a shared vision to unite communities rather than divide, working with Social Enterprises who are facing similar challenges and ultimately play an important role in building long-term cross-border connections.” As Social Enterprises grow and develop over time, expanding their social impact, community leaders can find themselves running quite complex operations, similar to businesses, but where all surplus or profit generated is reinvested into the community. Over time, the operators of Social Enterprises can encounter a whole different set of challenges from those when they first came together as a committee to start up their community group. Just like businesses that operate in the private sector, this can require a complete different set of management tools, skills and techniques to sustain and grow the social enterprise. The DISCOVERY programme is about understanding this challenge and working in support of communities over the course of the next two years to address it. Colin Jess, CEO of Social Enterprise Northern Ireland (SENI) said: “We are already entrusted by the Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland to deliver the Social Economy Work Programme and the DISCOVERY programme adds great value to the existing work we do on behalf of our SENI members. "The new partnership with SERI, is we believe a key innovation for the sector in that the challenge of financial sustainability, of trading, of growing, of building revenue, of employing and retaining staff, these are challenges that every social enterprise contends with every day. That’s on top of the regular day to day work of delivering services of significant impact and benefit to the community. "What we hope to achieve through the programme, is to support social enterprises to work through some of the key sustainability challenges that they face, while at the same time building new relationships that inspire further innovations across the sector in Northern Ireland.” John Logue CEO of Social Enterprise Republic of Ireland added: “We are excited to launch the new DISCOVERY programme and to work in partnership with Social Enterprise Northern Ireland. Both of our organisations are working separately every day, each side of the border, in the best interests of our community of members, to develop policy, to advocate for much needed funding, and to connect with Government and Political Leaders to raise awareness of each Social Enterprises work, their funding and development needs. "Through the DISCOVERY programme, our motivation is really to practically support the operators of social enterprises, to help them to apply new digital tools, to enhance their financial management expertise, to help to grow and manage income, and to optimise and control costs. Theres also a great learning opportunity from the cross-border collaboration and that’s what we aim to facilitate, and that’s what the programmes about.” Join our Belfast Live breaking news service on WhatsApp Click this link or scan the QR code to receive breaking news and top stories from Belfast Live. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . The DISCOVERY programme will build new connections with social enterprises operating in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Scotland. 24 social enterprises are taking part in the programme pilot and will benefit from an introduction to new skills and digital management tools, mentorship, training, a series of residentials designed around the sustainability theme, and from cross border exchanges as well as different conference events. At the same time, the partners will be working on behalf of the social enterprise sector, to further build awareness of the significant social impact work that social enterprises do, and to advance and align social policy that’s in the interests of all social enterprise operators. Social Enterprises in Northern Ireland involved in Discovery are as follows: CAN (Compass Advocacy Network) ( Antrim ) Life Change Changes Lives ( Down ) Quaker Care (Antrim) React Social ( Tyrone ) Aspire Media NI CIC ( Londonderry/Derry ) Antrim School of Music (Antrim) Empowering Communities Enterprise LTD (Antrim) Marion Centre of Excellence (Antrim) Enterprise Causeway (Londonderry/Derry) ASCERT Training (Antrim) Circusful (Antrim) Studyseed CIC ( Armagh ) Glenshane Community Development (Londonderry/Derry) Portadown 2000 (Armagh) For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here. Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Follow BelfastLive Facebook Twitter Comment More On Co Derry Co Antrim Co Tyrone Co Armagh Northern Ireland Republic of Ireland Portadown Business newsCLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Clemson reserve guard Trent Howard will miss the 12th-ranked Tigers game with No. 16 South Carolina after tearing the ACL in his left knee at practice this week. Tigers coach Dabo Swinney announced Howard's injury Wednesday. The 6-foot-3, 295-pound fifth-year graduate has been a backup much of the season, but had to step into a starter's role due to injuries along Clemson's offensive line. “My heart breaks for him,” Swinney said. Howard came in on the second snap in a 24-20 win at Pitt two games ago when lineman Elyjah Thurmon was hurt on the first play. Thurmon had an ankle injury that required surgery and will not return this season. Howard got his fourth career start last Saturday in a 51-14 win over The Citadel. and was in line for another if injured starter Marcus Tate was unable to go after missing the past three games. Howard was listed as a backup at both right and left guard on this week's depth chart. The Tigers (9-2) face the rival Gamecocks (8-3) on Saturday. —- Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

MISSOULA — The Montana football team will tackle a schedule unlike any other in recent memory during the 2025 season. The Grizzlies will play 12 consecutive games without a true bye week and will be the first-ever FCS team to play eight regular-season home games. Their bye falls in Week 1, which is a result of scheduling all four nonconference games at home while working around the Big Sky Conference slate. They start with four home games beginning in Week 2 on Sept. 6 and will play six of their first seven games in Washington-Grizzly Stadium. They don't leave the state until they hop on a bus to Pocatello, Idaho, for an Oct. 4 game. They won't get on a plane until their Oct. 25 game in Sacramento, California. The Griz will play just three teams that finished with a winning record in the 2024 season. Only two of those teams are FCS programs as the other one with a record above .500 is from the NCAA Division II level. Only one of those two FCS teams are currently slated to have the same head coach in 2025. Montana Grizzlies running back Eli Gillman (10) runs the ball down the field before scoring a touchdown during a college football game between the Montana Grizzlies and the Weber State Wildcats on Saturday, Oct. 5 in Washington Grizzly Stadium. The Wildcats went 8-4 overall and were eliminated in first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs. They played one FCS team, losing 26-7 on the road against San Diego, which plays in the non-scholarship Pioneer Football League. Chris Fisk has been the head coach since 2019. Montana is 3-0 all-time against Central Washington, last playing in the spring 2021 season. The Fighting Hawks went 5-7 overall and 2-6 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference to finish in a tie for eighth place. They missed the playoffs and will have a new coach with Bubba Schweigert out. They hired Eric Schmidt, an All-American linebacker for UND who most recently was the San Diego State defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. This is the second game in a home-and-home series. The first game took place in 2024 in Grand Forks, North Dakota. The Griz lost 27-24 as they were outscored 20-0 in the second half. They'll have an opportunity for revenge in Missoula. Montana is 15-10-1 all-time against UND. The Sycamores went 4-8 overall and 3-5 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference to finish in a tie for sixth place. They missed the playoffs, but they did win their most games since going 5-6 in 2021. Curt Mallory has been the head coach since 2017. This is the second game of a home-and-home series. The Griz won the first game 49-14 in Terre Haute, Indiana, in 2022. Montana is 1-0 all-time against ISU. The Vandals finished the season 10-4 overall and went 6-2 in the Big Sky to finish in a tie for third place. They lost twice to Montana State (FCS playoff No. 1 seed), once to Oregon (FBS playoff No. 1 seed) and once to UC Davis (FCS playoff No. 5 seed). They were knocked out in the quarterfinals for the second season in a row under third-year head coach Jason Eck. He left the day after the season ended to be the head coach at FBS New Mexico. Idaho hired former assistant Thomas Ford to replace Eck after he spent 2024 at Oregon State. The Vandals lose All-Big Sky first-team defensive linemen Keyshawn James-Newby (graduation) and Dallas Afalava (portal), first-team linebacker Jaxton Eck (portal), All-Big Sky receivers Jordan Dwyer (portal) and Mark Hamper (portal), and starting quarterback Jack Layne (portal). Montana and Idaho didn't play in the 2024 season. The Vandals are the only current Big Sky team the Griz have an all-time losing record against; Montana is 32-55-2. The Bengals went 5-7 overall and 3-5 in the Big Sky to finish in a tie for sixth place. They missed the playoffs under second-year head coach Cody Hawkins. It was their best record since going 6-5 in 2018. Their five wins matched the total number of victories they had across the 2021-23 seasons. All-Big Sky first-team receiver Christian Fredericksen exhausted his eligibility. Montana and Idaho State didn't play in the 2024 season. The Griz are 48-13 against the Bengals and have won 15 consecutive games in the series. The Mustangs went 3-8 overall and 2-6 in the Big Sky to finish in 10th place. They missed the playoffs under second-year head coach Paul Wulff. They've had identical 3-8 records in those two years for a total of 6-16. All-American defensive lineman Elijah Ponder exhausted his eligibility. Montana is 19-5 against Cal Poly and has won four consecutive games in the series. The Pioneers went 5-6 overall and didn't defeat a team that finished the year with a winning record. They missed the playoffs. Mark Nofri has been the head coach since 2012. The 2024 season was their first as an FCS independent after they left the Northeast Conference. Their other sports moved to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, which doesn't sponsor football. This will be the first meeting between Sacred Heart and UM. The Hornets went 3-9 overall and 1-7 in the Big Sky to finish in tie for last place in coach Andy Thompson's second year leading the program. They missed the playoffs after winning a postseason game in 2023. Thompson, a former Griz linebacker on the 2001 national championship team, stepped down with an 11-14 record in two seasons. He joined former Sacramento State coach Troy Taylor at Stanford as the assistant head coach, co-defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach. The Hornets hired UNLV offensive coordinator Brennan Marion to replace Thompson. All-Big Sky honorable mention running back Elijah Tau-Tolliver transferred to Michigan State after the season. The Hornets lost quarterback Kaiden Bennett to the portal; he started in 2023 and two games in 2024 before an injury. Montana and Sacramento State didn't play in the 2024 season. Montana leads the all-time series 21-4. The Griz last won a game in Sacramento, California, in 2013. It's their second-longest road drought against a current Big Sky team. The Wildcats went 4-8 overall and 3-5 in the Big Sky to finish in a tie for sixth place under second-year head coach Mickey Mental. They went 1-5 after upsetting Montana 55-48 in overtime in Missoula and missed the playoffs. It'll be a revenge game for the Griz, who also lost their last road game against Weber 24-21 in 2022. Starting quarterback Richie Munoz, All-Big Sky second-team running back Damon Bankston and all-conference honorable mention defensive end Brayden Wilson entered the transfer portal. Wilson landed at Wyoming. Montana leads the all-time series 40-17 but has lost three consecutive games to Weber State. The Griz last won a game in Ogden, Utah, in 2012. It's their longest road drought against a current Big Sky team. The Eagles went 4-8 overall and 3-5 in the Big Sky to finish in a tie for sixth place. They missed the playoffs under Aaron Best, who has been the head coach since 2017. He has gone 52-40 and has had two seasons with a winning record, most recently in 2021. Two-year starting quarterback Kekoa Visperas, who led the FCS in completion percentage, left via the portal and transferred to Tennessee Tech. He was an All-Big Sky honorable mention in 2023. All-American wide receiver Efton Chism III exhausted his eligibility. Montana leads the all-time series 31-18-1. This past year, the Griz won a game in Cheney, Washington, for the first time since 2008. The Vikings went 3-8 overall and 3-5 in the Big Sky to finish in a tie for sixth place. They missed the playoffs under Bruce Barnum, who is 38-64 as the head coach since taking over in 2015. Portland State has had just one winning record under Barnum, when it went 9-3 in 2015. Three-year starting quarterback Dante Chachere, an All-Big Sky honorable mention in 2024, exhausted his eligibility. Montana leads the all-time series 35-13 and have won five consecutive games against PSU. The Bobcats are 15-0, won the Big Sky title for the second time in three years and are in the FCS national championship game for the second time in four seasons under fourth-year head coach Brent Vigen. They'll play North Dakota State on Jan. 6 in Frisco, Texas. They'll try to become the third-ever D-I team to go 16-0, which would equal records by 2019 NDSU and 1894 Yale. They'll have several key players run out of eligibility after this season, including quarterback Tommy Mellott, the Big Sky offensive player of the year, and defensive end Brody Grebe, the Big Sky defensive player of the year. Whether Vigen returns or parlays his success into another job has yet to seen. His departure could lead to anticipated returners hitting the portal. Montana leads the all-time series 74-43-5 but has gone 2-6 in the previous eight meetings. Frank Gogola is the Senior Sports Reporter at the Missoulian and 406 MT Sports. Follow him on X @FrankGogola or email him at . Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Brazilian police indict former President Bolsonaro and aides over alleged 2022 coup attemptRanked teams are on the Wednesday college basketball schedule in six games, including the Ole Miss Rebels taking on the UConn Huskies. Watch women’s college basketball, other live sports and more on Fubo. What is Fubo? Fubo is a streaming service that gives you access to your favorite live sports and shows on demand. Use our link to sign up for a free trial. No. 20 NC State Wolfpack at No. 7 LSU Tigers No. 9 Kansas State Wildcats at DePaul Blue Demons No. 13 Duke Blue Devils at No. 8 Oklahoma Sooners Seton Hall Pirates at No. 6 USC Trojans No. 18 Ole Miss Rebels at No. 2 UConn Huskies No. 14 Kentucky Wildcats at No. 19 Illinois Fighting Illini Catch tons of live women’s college basketball , plus original programming, with ESPN+ or the Disney Bundle.

'Something special brewing at Slot's remarkable Liverpool'So far in December, there have been 24 launch attempts worldwide. There will be no let-up during the holiday period, with at least seven more launches planned for this week. The SpaceX launch manifest for this week includes a single customer payload and three batches of Starlink satellites. SpaceX’s target of 136 launches for the year could still be achieved, but the recent scrub of the Astranis: From One To Many mission casts doubt on whether the 136 launch target will be met. Elsewhere, India will launch a satellite docking experiment mission, and Russia plans to launch an Earth observation satellite mission. China is preparing for a single launch from Jiuquan this week. 🛰️ Filling of Resurs-P No. 5 satellite with fuel and compressed gases had been completed at Baikonur cosmodrome, after which the satellite was transported to MIK No. 112 for the final stage of pre-flight preparation. 🚀The launch of Resurs-P No. 5 is scheduled for late Dec 2024.... pic.twitter.com/lOZhYap9YB — Russian Embassy in South Africa 🇷🇺 (@EmbassyofRussia) December 17, 2024 Roscosmos Soyuz 2.1b | Resurs-P No. 5 On Wednesday, Dec. 25, at 07:45:42 UTC, Russia will launch a Soyuz 2.1b rocket from Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. As described by Roscosmos, the payload consists of one satellite writing, “The Resurs-P spacecraft No. 5 is designed for high-precision, detailed wide-selective and hyperspectral optical-electronic observation of the Earth’s surface to study natural resources, control pollution, and environmental degradation, search for mineral deposits, assess the state of the ice situation, monitoring emergency situations, creating and updating topographic and navigation maps.” The Soyuz 2.1b rocket used for this mission features decals describing it as the 2,000th R-7 rocket to be launched. The R-7 series was first built in 1957 as a missile but quickly became the workhorse of Soviet and Russian space missions. The current Soyuz models are direct developments of the original R-7 model, with two major variants: the Soyuz 2.1a, which serves as a base version, and the Soyuz 2.1b, which utilizes a more powerful third stage. Soyuz 2.1b is powered by four RD-107A engines on the first stage (arranged around the second, core stage), a single RD-108A engine on the core stage, and an RD-0124 engine on the third stage. Each stage uses liquid oxygen and kerosene (RP-1) as propellants. The 2,000th R-7 decal on the Soyuz 2.1b booster. (Credit: Roscosmos) CAS Space Kinetica-1 | Unknown Payload A Kinetica-1 rocket will launch an unknown payload from Site 130 at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in China. Launch is set for Friday, Dec. 27, at 01:03 UTC. The details for this launch are scarce, and no further information has been released. SpaceX Falcon 9 | Starship Group 11-3 SpaceX will launch the Starlink Group 11-3 mission on Saturday, Dec. 28, at 5:35 PM PST (01:35 UTC on Dec. 29) from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. This will likely be the final launch of 2024 from Vandenberg. Falcon 9 | Astranis: From One to Many This launch was postponed following a rare engine abort at ignition on the first launch attempt on Friday, Dec. 20. Falcon 9 will now launch the Astranis: From One to Many mission on Saturday, Dec. 28, at 12:00 AM EST (05:00 UTC). The payload for this mission consists of four MicroGEO satellites built by Astranis Space Technologies Corp. in San Francisco, California. Designed to be smaller than typical geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) satellites, the MicroGEO satellites will provide broadband access and on-orbit services for various Astranis customers. One satellite will provide the Philippines with broadband access via Orbits Corp, two satellites will provide internet connectivity services to aircraft and cruise ships through Anuvu, and the final satellite, Utilitysat, will be used by Astranis for unknown purposes. Falcon 9 will launch the four satellites to GEO after flying east out of the Cape. Following liftoff, the currently unknown booster will land on one of SpaceX’s autonomous droneships, which will be stationed downrange in the Atlantic. SpaceX Falcon 9 | Starlink Group 12-6 SpaceX will launch another batch of Group 12 Starlink v2-Mini satellites into low-Earth orbit on Sunday, Dec. 29, at 12:00 AM EST (05:00 UTC) from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This late addition to the launch manifest will see Falcon 9 flying southeast, where an autonomous droneship will be stationed for the attempted booster landing. SpaceX Falcon 9 | Starlink Group 12-3 The final launch of 2024 from SLC-40 in Florida will occur on Sunday, Dec. 29. Starlink Group 12-3 will consist of 23 more Starlink v2-Mini satellites, including 13 with Direct to Cell capabilities. Falcon 9 will launch the satellites to a 43-degree inclination orbit on a southeastern trajectory. This will be the 132nd Falcon 9 launch of 2024 and the 134th SpaceX mission of 2024. With just two days remaining in the year after this mission, it appears that SpaceX will miss its 136 Falcon launch target. 🚀 PSLV-C60/SPADEX Update: The launch vehicle has been integrated and now moved to the First Launch Pad, for further integration of satellites and launch preparations. Stay tuned for updates on #PSLV -C60 and watch this space for exciting info on the upcoming PSLV-C60/SPADEX... pic.twitter.com/HNUW1SnUdG — ISRO (@isro) December 21, 2024 ISRO PSLV-CA | SPADEX On Monday, Dec. 30, at 16:28 UTC, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch two satellites as part of the Space Docking Experiment (SPADEX) mission. Each satellite masses 220 kg and will demonstrate autonomous docking technologies in orbit. SPADEX will launch atop a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket from First Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Center in India. Ananth Technologies Private Limited (ATL) completed the integration of the two satellites for ISRO and handed them over to ISRO at the UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) in Bengaluru. The SPADEX satellites were then transported to the Indian Spaceport at Sriharikota, where they underwent final testing and preparations for launch. ISRO generally builds its satellites at the URSC, but this is the first time that ISRO is having its satellites completely assembled, integrated, and tested by the Indian private industry at a private facility. This shift is enabled by space sector reforms that grant more opportunities to India’s private aerospace sector. In the Core Alone (CA) configuration being used for this mission, India’s PSLV rocket stands 44 meters tall. Four stages power the vehicle into orbit, with no strap-on stages being utilized. The first and third stages utilize solid rocket motors, with the second and fourth stages using liquid propellants. The solid stages provide the power needed to launch PSLV’s payloads, while the liquid stages adjust for any variance from the solid motors’ performance. Once in orbit, the two satellites, Target and Chaser, will be deployed into a 470 km circular orbit at a 55-degree inclination. The PSLV fourth stage will provide the two spacecraft with slightly different velocities, resulting in Target being deployed “ahead” of Chaser. Chaser will then make up the difference, rendezvous with Target, and perform an autonomous docking. Following successful systems checks, Target and Chaser will separate to perform individual tasks for the remainder of their missions. The PSLV fourth stage is also equipped with the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module 4 (POEM-4) spacecraft, which will carry several experiments. SpaceX Falcon 9 | Thuraya 4-NGS SpaceX’s first launch and first customer launch of 2025 will see Falcon 9 launch the Thuraya 4-NGS mission. Launch is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 1, at 12:00 AM EST (05:00 UTC ) from SLC-40 in Florida. The payload for this mission is an Airbus-built satellite for Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat) of the United Arab Emirates. Thuraya 4-NGS is a next-generation mobile telecommunications system that will deliver higher communications capabilities and flexibility while increasing capacity and coverage across Europe, Africa, Central Asia, and the Middle East. Based on the all-electric Airbus Eurostar Neo Platform, Thuraya 4-NGS will incorporate a 12 m L-band antenna and a payload providing onboard processing. This will give the satellite advanced routing flexibility of up to 3,200 channels and dynamic power allocation over many spot beams. (Lead image: Sunset liftoff of Falcon 9 from LC-39A in December 2024. Credit: Max Evans for NSF)