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Galatasaray continued their impressive league form with another away victory against Bodrumspor A flurry of attacking attempts from Victor Osimhen and his club teammates led to a winning goal by Michy Batshuayi With the win on the night, the Istanbul outfit etched their name into the Turkish Süper Lig record books CHECK OUT: Education is Your Right! Don’t Let Social Norms Hold You Back. Learn Online with LEGIT. Enroll Now! Victor Osimhen and Galatasaray continued their impressive start to the season with a hard-fought victory over a resilient Bodrumspor side. Heading into the match as clear favourites, the Istanbul giants were pushed to their limits, despite playing the entire second half against 10 men. Osimhen came close to scoring on several occasions, but it was Michy Batshuayi who eventually broke the deadlock. The Belgian striker latched onto a pinpoint cross from compatriot Dries Mertens, slotting the ball past Portuguese goalkeeper Diogo Sousa with composure. PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Instagram - get the most important news directly in your favourite app! Okan Buruk’s men pushed for a second goal, but wasteful finishing and a string of superb saves from Sousa ensured the match ended with a narrow 1-0 scoreline. Read also Galatasaray president details club's true position on signing Osimhen amid Napoli's new demands Despite the tense nature of the win, Galatasaray extended their lead at the top of the table. Adding to the triumph, reports emerged after the game that the club had set a new Turkish Süper Lig record. Galatasaray sets new Turkish league record According to a report from media outlet Nexus Sports , Galatasaray’s victory over Bodrumspor saw them become the first club to reach 34 points within the opening 12 weeks of a Süper Lig season. This remarkable achievement marks a historic milestone for Coach Okan Buruk’s team, as no other side has accomplished this feat in the league's history. Galatasaray will aim to carry this dominant form into their UEFA Europa League clash against AZ Alkmaar. The Istanbul giants will be counting on marquee striker, Osimhen, whose future at the club remains a topic of speculation, to make a decisive impact. Read also Galatasaray president provides update on Osimhen's future ahead of January transfer window With 11 goal contributions so far this season, according to data from FotMob , Osimhen will be key to Galatasaray’s aspirations as they continue their impressive campaign. Galatasaray president speaks on signing Osimhen Legit.ng in another report detailed that Galatasaray’s president has spoken about signing Osimhen permanently. President Dursun Özbek outlined the club’s strong interest in securing the Nigerian striker but emphasised that their spending limit would be a significant factor to consider in the transfer window. PAY ATTENTION: Сheck out news that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ find the “Recommended for you” block on the home page and enjoy! Source: Legit.ngA recent TikTok featuring aespa has started a debate about Korean cultural etiquette, specifically while eating a meal together. In a viral clip, the members take a moment before eating cake. NingNing , the youngest member, is the first one to take a bite. NINGNING PLS 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/gj6z2C7jgt — ningning pics (@ningningpics) November 17, 2024 A popular TikTok brings up the topic: Is it against cultural etiquette for the youngest person to eat first? Or is this the norm? i am MY dont come for me #aespa ♬ original sound – um. no. It is true that this idea does exist in Korean culture, but only under certain circumstances. The unwritten table manner rule enforces that younger people at the table must wait until the elders/oldest eat first or give a signal to eat. However, unless the age gap is large (think grandparents eating with their grandchildren), then this rule isn’t necessarily applied. Additionally, with such little age differences between members of a K-Pop group, the rule wouldn’t typically apply in these situations. It is important to remember that each unique situation depends on various factors like the occasion and group dynamic, so there is no blanket answer. A formal setting and group dynamic will enforce these rules more than a casual meeting between friends. So, next time you’re having a meal with your friends or family, feel free to flex your Korean cultural knowledge! aespa Aespa’s NingNing Gains Attention For Bold Message On Her Shirt 3rd Gen Female Idol Draws Massive Interest With Her Live Visuals On The Big Screen Aespa’s NingNing Baffles Netizens With Her Weight Loss Aespa’s “2024 MAMA Awards” Win Triggers Debate Over AI Usage See more aespa
Assembly election results: Mahayuti registers historic win in Maharashtra, JMM-led INDIA victorious in Jharkhand
Jeeno Thitikul makes late charge to catch Angel Yin in the LPGA finale
Lautaro Martinez ended a near two-month goal drought as Inter Milan closed to within one point of Serie A leaders Atalanta by sweeping aside Cagliari 3-0. Martinez had gone eight matches since last finding the back of the net against Venezia on November 3 but after Alessandro Bastoni opened the scoring in the 54th minute, the Argentina international struck in Sardinia. The Inter captain took his tally against Cagliari to 10 goals in as many games after 71 minutes before Hakan Calhanoglu capped an excellent night for the visitors from the penalty spot a few moments later. Inter’s fifth-successive league victory led to them temporarily leapfrogging Atalanta, who reclaimed top spot but saw their lead cut to a single point following a 1-1 draw at Lazio. Gian Piero Gasperini’s side were grateful for a point in the end after falling behind to Fisayo Dele-Bashiru’s first-half strike, only drawing level with two minutes remaining thanks to Marco Brescianini. Lautaro Valenti’s last-gasp strike condemned rock-bottom Monza to a 10th defeat in 18 matches as Parma edged a 2-1 victory, while Genoa defeated Empoli by the same scoreline.TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Two-time Pro Bowl linebacker Shaquil Barrett is rejoining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs signed the two-time Super Bowl champion on Saturday, while also announcing safety Jordan Whitehead was activated from injured reserve ahead of Sunday’s home game against the Carolina Panthers. Barrett spent five seasons with Tampa Bay from 2019 to 2023. He led the NFL with a franchise-record 19 1-2 sacks in his first year with the Bucs, then helped the team win its second Super Bowl title the following season. In all, Barrett started 70 games with Tampa Bay, amassing 45 sacks, 15 forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and three interceptions. He was released last winter in a salary cap move, signed a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins in free agency, then abruptly announced his retirement on social media before the start of training camp in July. Barrett, who also won a Super Bowl during a four-season stint with the Denver Broncos, decided to unretire last month. He signed with the Bucs after clearing waivers earlier in the week. Whitehead has missed the past four games with a pectoral injury. His return comes of the heels of the Bucs placing safety Christian Izien on IR with a pectoral injury. On Saturday, the Bucs also activated rookie wide receiver Kameron Johnson from IR and elevated punter Jack Browning to the active roster from the practice squad. ___ NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Two-time Pro Bowl linebacker Shaquil Barrett is rejoining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs signed the two-time Super Bowl champion on Saturday, while also announcing safety Jordan Whitehead was activated from injured reserve ahead of Sunday’s home game against the Carolina Panthers. Barrett spent five seasons with Tampa Bay from 2019 to 2023. He led the NFL with a franchise-record 19 1-2 sacks in his first year with the Bucs, then helped the team win its second Super Bowl title the following season. In all, Barrett started 70 games with Tampa Bay, amassing 45 sacks, 15 forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and three interceptions. He was released last winter in a salary cap move, signed a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins in free agency, then abruptly announced his retirement on social media before the start of training camp in July. Barrett, who also won a Super Bowl during a four-season stint with the Denver Broncos, decided to unretire last month. He signed with the Bucs after clearing waivers earlier in the week. Whitehead has missed the past four games with a pectoral injury. His return comes of the heels of the Bucs placing safety Christian Izien on IR with a pectoral injury. On Saturday, the Bucs also activated rookie wide receiver Kameron Johnson from IR and elevated punter Jack Browning to the active roster from the practice squad. NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflTens of thousands of Spaniards protest housing crunch and high rents in Barcelona
TRENTON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 27, 2024-- Jackpot.com , the online website and app that allows individuals to safely and securely order official state lottery tickets and scratchers from their mobile phone and other devices, announced today that a New Jersey resident has won a $2 million dollar Powerball prize after purchasing a ticket on the Jackpot.com app. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241227524088/en/ Ordering Mega Millions tickets via the Jackpot.com app has never been easier. (Graphic: Business Wire) This latest claimed prize comes amid a surging Mega Millions jackpot that now sits at $1.15 billion. The lucky player, who wishes to remain anonymous, is still relatively new to the Jackpot.com app, though they experienced some quick luck, scoring a massive win just three weeks after signing up with the lottery courier. “This time of year is always busy for the lottery industry, and now even more than usual given all the buzz around the over one billion dollar Mega Millions jackpot, but it’s great to celebrate any life-changing win,” said Akshay Khanna, CEO and co-founder of Jackpot.com . “For those who have yet to purchase lottery tickets online via Jackpot.com , don’t wait! We are very excited to award this prize to our winner and hope people continue to leverage the ease and accessibility of ordering lottery tickets digitally, you never know if you’ll be the next winner.” Jackpot.com has launched a special promotion for new players that join the website or app, giving a FREE Mega Millions ticket on their first play by using promo code XMAS. This latest prize is part of a flurry of activity within the lottery industry that took place over the course of 2024. The record-breaking year started off strong as a once-in-a-lifetime $842.4 million Powerball jackpot was won on New Year’s Day, shortly followed by a second lucky winner that took home a $1.13 billion Mega Millions prize in March, and a $1.326 billion Powerball jackpot that was won in April, all of which signify some of the largest prizes ever awarded. Following its New Jersey launch in May 2024, Jackpot.com has become one of the major players in the Garden State lottery landscape, contributing to a fiscal year 2024 sales amount totaling $3.63 billion, the fourth-highest sales result in the New Jersey Lottery’s history. Currently live in eight states (AK, AZ, CO, MA, NJ, NY, OH, TX) with more on the way, Jackpot.com has significantly invested in responsible gaming protocols and player safety by allowing customers to set limits on both spending and daily deposits, as well as providing access to local and national responsible gambling resources, self-exclusion, self-suspension and automated notifications that offer help should problematic behavior be detected. Jackpot.com is also the only lottery courier service to launch with iCap certification from the National Council on Problem Gambling. About Jackpot.com Jackpot.com allows customers to order official state lottery tickets from their mobile phone, tablet, or computer. Currently available in Arizona, Colorado, Massachusetts, Arkansas, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Texas, Jackpot.com is expanding its safe and secure lottery courier service to additional markets across the US. An Associate Member of the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries (NASPL), Jackpot.com has invested significantly in responsible gaming safeguards, with default spending limits and other features built in throughout the experience, earning it iCap certification from the National Council on Problem Gaming. To learn more, visit www.jackpot.com or download the iOS or Android app. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241227524088/en/ jackpot@5wpr.com KEYWORD: NEW JERSEY UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: ENTERTAINMENT APPS/APPLICATIONS TECHNOLOGY ONLINE MOBILE/WIRELESS CASINO/GAMING SOURCE: Jackpot.com Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/27/2024 01:00 PM/DISC: 12/27/2024 01:03 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241227524088/enOTTAWA — The national chief of the Assembly of First Nations is calling on all members of Parliament to send a First Nations water bill to the Senate before the holiday break, saying the water crisis demands urgent action. “This legislation reflects years of advocacy by First Nations and marks a milestone in a decades-long fight for adequate water and wastewater in First Nations across Canada,” Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak wrote in an open letter to MPs. “We cannot afford further delays to this legislation or missed opportunities while First Nations continue to live without access to safe and clean water. Bill C-61 must advance now, not next year. We urge all members of Parliament, across all party lines, to act.” The government legislation known as Bill C-61 recognizes that First Nations have an inherent right to clean drinking water and commits the government to provide adequate and sustainable funding for water services in First Nations. The House of Commons has been gridlocked since late September because of an ongoing privilege debate that centres on a request for the Liberals to hand over to Parliament and the RCMP unredacted documents about misspending at a now-defunct green tech fund. That has taken precedence over nearly all other government business, and the water bill is awaiting a final vote in the House of Commons. Last week, Liberal MP Jaime Battiste, who is Mi’kmaq from Eskasoni First Nation, asked for unanimous consent from MPs to adopt the bill and send it to Senate. But several Conservative MPs said no. The Conservatives then introduced a unanimous consent motion of their own that also asked MPs to condemn the Liberals for their inaction on the file. That, too, was voted down. Chiefs who gathered with Battiste and Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu last week expressed their disappointment with the bill not moving forward, and accused Conservative House leader Andrew Scheer of using the bill as a political tactic. “I’m very disappointed that he used clean drinking water as a tactic in this House in order to say, ‘If you do this, then we will do this,’ where there’s real lives that are being affected,” Cowessess First Nation Chief Erica Beaudin told reporters at a news conference. “We’re not talking about toys, we’re not talking about items that are not essential, but water is essential and you either believe in clean drinking water for everybody or you don’t. And if you do, you do everything you possibly can to work toward that happening.” There are 31 long-term boil water advisories on First Nations across the country, and 36 short-term advisories, government data shows. In a statement last week, Scheer said the Liberals shut down his motion because they would like to avoid “proper debate” on the legislation. “Liberal MPs should be outraged with themselves. They could properly debate this legislation today if they stopped their cover up of their $400 million green slush fund scandal by providing the documents to the RCMP as ordered by Parliament,” Scheer said. Since Bill C-61 was introduced nearly a year ago it has been subject to debate in the House of Commons, studied at committee and had amendments tacked on. At the Assembly of First Nations gathering last week, the AFN executive passed a resolution to continue advocating for the bill’s approval. Hajdu and Woodhouse Nepinak stood together in October making a similar push for the bill to move forward, with Hajdu blaming the Conservatives for delays. Scheer, in response, pointed back to that privilege debate and said the House can resume its work once the Liberals hand over the documents. It’s unclear whether the Liberals will attempt a unanimous consent motion again before the holidays. They are expected to introduce the fall economic statement on Monday, and the House of Commons is set to rise on Tuesday for a break that last until Jan. 27. In her letter to MPs, Woodhouse Nepinak said advancing the bill before then will demonstrate Canada’s commitment to upholding its responsibilities. “Support and prioritize the advancement of Bill C-61, refer it to the Senate, and take this necessary step toward ensuring every First Nation has access to the clean and safe drinking water, as it is their basic human right,” she said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 13, 2024. — With files from David Baxter Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian PressI’m a Celeb fans blast Dean McCullough as he makes ‘cheeky’ request to Danny Jones
It seems like Selena Gomez won't be "Single Soon," now that she's engaged to Benny Blanco. While announcing their engagement on social media Dec. 11, Gomez posted a close-up of her ring. The main diamond takes center stage, but the chunky yellow gold band also sparkles with smaller stones. "When I first saw the ring, all I could think about was how unique it was," jewelry content creator and gemstone wholesaler Julia Hackman Chafé told TODAY.com in an email statement. At first, Chafé was surprised by the ring choice. She expected Gomez to "go for a colored stone ring" since Blanco, whose real name is Benjamin Levin, "specifically wears a lot of colored gemstones." Blanco wore a necklace with a large red stone during his May 2024 TODAY with Hoda & Jenna appearance, for example. Instead, she went for a marquise cut diamond.... Georgina DiNardo
National chief urges MPs to send water bill to Senate before holiday breakHistory will — or at least should — see a $165 billion error in revenue estimates as one of California’s most boneheaded political acts. It happened in 2022, as the state was emerging from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Department of Finance, based on one short-term spike in income taxes, projected that revenues from the state’s three largest sources would remain above $200 billion a year indefinitely. Newsom then declared that the budget had a $97.5 billion surplus , although that number never appeared in any documents. “No other state in American history has ever experienced a surplus as large as this,” Newsom bragged as he unveiled a 2022-23 fiscal year budget that topped $300 billion. With that in mind, he and the Legislature adopted a budget with billions in new spending, most notably on health and welfare programs and cash payments to poor families. Within a few weeks, Newsom and legislators learned that real revenues were falling well short of the rosy projections. But the damage, in terms of expanded spending, was done. Two years later, buried in its fine print, the deficit-ridden 2024-25 budget acknowledged that sales taxes and personal and corporate income tax revenues would fall well short of the $200 billion a year projection, estimating a $165.1 billion shortfall over four years. The past two years have seen budgets with deficits papered over with direct and indirect borrowing, tapped emergency reserves, vague assumptions of future spending cuts, and accounting gimmicks. For instance, the current budget “saves” several billion dollars by counting next June’s state payroll as an expenditure in the following fiscal year. This bit of fiscal history is important to remember because the twin 2022 acts of overestimating revenues and overspending billions of nonexistent dollars on new and expanded services continues to haunt the state, as a new analysis indicates. The Legislature’s budget analyst, Gabe Petek, unveiled his office’s annual overview of the state’s finances Wednesday and it wasn’t a pretty picture. There’s been a recent uptick in personal income tax revenues thanks to wealthy investors’ stock market gains , some stemming from Donald Trump’s presidential victory. However, Petek said, government spending — much of it dating from 2022’s phony surplus — is continuing to outpace revenues from “a sluggish economy,” creating operating deficits. “Outside of government and health care, the state has added no jobs in a year and a half,” the analysis declares. “Similarly, the number of Californians who are unemployed is 25% higher than during the strong labor markets of 2019 and 2022. Consumer spending (measured by inflation‐adjusted retail sales and taxable sales) has continued to decline throughout 2024.” Meanwhile, it continues, “one reason the state faces operating deficits is growth in spending. Our estimate of annual total spending growth across the forecast period — from 2025‐26 to 2028‐29 — is 5.8% (6.3% excluding K‐14 education). By historical standards, this is high.” Petek’s grim outlook coupled with the more conservative bent of voters , as shown in this month’s election, present a political dilemma for a governor and a Legislature oriented toward expanding government. Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas , reacting to the analysis in a statement, indicated that he’s gotten the message. “We need to show restraint with this year’s budget, because California must be prepared for any challenges, including ones from Washington,” Rivas said. “It’s not a moment for expanding programs, but for protecting and preserving services that truly benefit all Californians.” Newsom will propose a 2025-26 budget in January, but no matter what he and the Legislature decide, the structural budget deficit will still be there when he exits the governorship in 2027. It will be part of his legacy. — CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters. For more stories by Dan Walters, go to Commentary .
The Texas A&M football program added a much-needed top 10 recruiting class earlier this month, but the players the Aggies add through the transfer portal could have a big say in how many of those players remain at A&M. A year ago, Mike Elko signed the 19th-ranked class according to 247sports.com . He had been on the job for just over three weeks and it showed. Eight Southeastern Conference teams signed higher-ranked classes, six of them in the top 10. Elko did much better in the portal, signing 25 players to fill the holes left by the fallout that typically comes with a coaching change. Fourteen of the transfers started at least one game this season. Leading the way were cornerback Will Lee III, right offensive guard Ar’maj Reed-Adams, safety Marcus Ratcliffe and defensive end Nic Scourton who all started 12 games. Tight end Tre Watson started 11 games, while linebacker Scooby Williams and center Kolinu’u Faaiu both started 10. A&M would have struggled without those players. With them, the Aggies went into the last game of the regular season with a chance to play for the Southeastern Conference championship. A&M took a step forward this season on many fronts, but it should have come into this season talented enough to compete for a championship, considering the last four recruiting classes were ranked eighth, first, 15th and 19th. The only remnants of those recruiting classes remained for Elko to work with, which is why the transfers accounted for 108 of the possible 264 starts by the 22 starters. Elko needs another solid portal class. Williams and Lee have announced they’ll return. Faaiu, Ratcliffe and Ricks are expected to be back as well. That will give A&M much needed veterans along with the seven returning starters from previous recruiting classes, eight if you count senior cornerback Tyreek Chappell who started the first two games of the season and then was lost to an injury. Some thought A&M would be in position to make a run at national championship after adding the top-ranked 2022 class, which was the best of the recruiting era. It turned out to be fool’s gold. Only 16 players from that class remained when the season started. Seven already have entered the portal and junior defensive tackle Shemar Turner will declare for the NFL Draft. Turner and junior running back Le’Veon Moss are the only players from that class to earn all-conference honors for the Aggies. Turner was a second-team pick last year and a third-team pick this year, while Moss was a second-team selection this year and was on his way to being a first-team pick until he got injured. The 2023 freshman class was much smaller but might turn out to be more productive. Offensive guard Chase Bisontis, safety Dalton Brooks, quarterback Marcel Reed and linebacker Taurean York combined for 34 starts this year. That class also includes running back Rueben Owens, defensive end Rylan Kennedy, linebacker Daymion Sanford and defensive tackle DJ Hicks, players with a high ceiling along with punter Tyler White who has been a weapon this season. Last year’s freshman class didn’t have a player make a start this season. Multi-talented five-star recruit Terry Bussey was the plum. Assistants on both sides wanted him. He ended up at wide receiver and kick returner, showing potential, but his statistics don’t jump out. He has 13 receptions for 179 yards, 14 carries for 97 yards, seven punt returns for 37 yards and seven kickoff returns for 175 yards. His highlights were a 65-yard touchdown run against McNeese State and a 52-yard kickoff return against Auburn on the final play of the first half. Other than Bussey, the only true freshmen from the signing class to appear in more than three games have been defensive back Myles Davis (11) and linebacker Tristan Jernigan (8). None have entered the transfer portal, so they must be happy with their status. A few might become starters next season and others supply depth, but A&M needs help in the portal. It was remarkable A&M had all its goals within reach heading into the Texas game when you look at production. A&M ranks 52nd in the country in total offense at 402.7 yards per game, which is 10th in the SEC. On defense, A&M ranks 64th in the country at 364.6 ypg, which is 12th in the SEC. Elko and his staff got pretty much the most out of what they had. The team’s strength was the defensive line, and that unit underachieved, though you can’t lay all the blame there, but the bottom line is A&M ranked 49th in the country in run defense, allowing 137.7 ypg to rank 11th in a league where you have to win along the line of scrimmage. Maybe the most disappointing statistic is A&M is ranked 65th in the country in sacks at two per game, which is 13th in the SEC. A&M might rank first in the country in almost getting quarterbacks tackled with 42 quarterback pressures. If the Aggies could have just averaged one more sack a game, they’d be in the top 10 in the country. A&M might need to hit the portal to find a defensive end to replace All-American Nic Scourton or Stewart, though it is high on Kennedy and junior Cashius Howell. The Aggies certainly need to find one or two stud wide receivers. History shows those players can be found in the portal and they can make a huge difference. The SEC announced its all-league teams earlier this week that included 95 players on the three teams. Almost a third of the players – 31 – were transfers. South Carolina fifth-year senior end Kyle Kennard, the defensive player of the year, spent his first four seasons at Georgia Tech. Ole Miss senior Jaxson Dart, the first-team quarterback, spent his first season at Southern California. Dart is among nine Ole Miss players on the All-SEC teams and all but two of started their college careers elsewhere, including junior defensive tackle Walter Nolen, a first-team pick. Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin is the master of the portal and this was by far his best collection, but the Rebels failed to make the 12-team College Football Playoff because of losses to Kentucky at Florida. There’s still something to be said for recruiting and developing players, which is the case with the SEC teams headed to the CFP. Georgia had 13 players earn All-SEC honors and the only two transfers were running back Trevor Etienne (Florida) and deep-snapper Beau Gardner (UCLA). Texas had seven all-league players with defensive back Andrew Mukuba (Clemson) and quarterback Quinn Ewers (Ohio State) starting their careers elsewhere. Tennessee had five players earn all-league honors with defensive back Jermod McCoy (Oregon State) being the lone transfer. The Vols’ home-groomed players include running back Dylan Sampson, the league’s offensive player of the year. Winning is still about developing players, but coaches are expected to do that in one or two years, not four or five. The transfer portal has changed that. Name, image and likeness has changed that. And schools and alums are pumping more money than ever into the program. You must win now. Teams have used the transfer portal to close the talent gap on the likes of Georgia and Alabama, which had six players earn all-conference honors with none of them being transfers. Elko and his staff did a great job developing last year’s transfers with Scourton and cornerback Will Lee III earning all-conference honors. They also developed the players he inherited with Moss and junior offensive tackle Trey Zuhn III both earning all-league honors for the first time. The key for A&M is getting to the point where it is complementing the players it has developed with a few transfers, not completing revamping the roster every year. The sky is the limit for A&M’s incoming class, which has two five-star recruits and 13 four-star recruits, but the Aggie might need one more strong portal class to bridge the gap. The two reasons a player might leave would be the most important, not winning enough and getting a better NIL deal. A&M checks all the other boxes along with a few unique ones. “I think what we have to offer that’s completely different is we don’t talk about NIL in terms of what we have to offer,” Elko said. “What we have to offer [is] a phenomenal university with the best fan base in the country, the best stadium atmosphere in the country, the best facilities in the country, unbelievable mentorship development in every aspect of their life, [and] tremendous support in every aspect of their life, whether it be nutrition, academics, mental health, being an Aggie forever, and everything that that stands for, and everything that that needs, and that's what this university is, and that sells.” A&M’s atmosphere for games this season against Notre Dame, LSU and Texas was off the charts. A lot of big-time recruits in the 2026 and ’27 recruiting classes were in attendance for one or more of those games. “We’ve been dealing with this all the way back to when I was a defensive coordinator,” Elko said. “When you get kids on this campus for the first time, they’re always blown away by what this is. I don’t think the message is out there as loud and as clear as it needs to be about what Texas A&M really is. And so I think the more that word travels, the more they understand what this place and what this university is really all about that makes his process a lot easier.” The word that is out there is A&M’s not a national championship contender, at least not now. If A&M had knocked off Texas, it’s a different story. The Aggies would have arrived. That’s not the case. The reality is the Aggies are headed to the Las Vegas Bowl, which is much better than a year ago when they were headed to the Texas Bowl with nothing but questions. A&M knows exactly what it needs. It needs to do well in the transfer portal. It also needs to put the finishing touches on another top 10 recruiting class and most of all it needs to be better on the field next year. There’s no time like the present. Scourton grabs honors. Scourton was named a second-team All-American by the Walter Camp Foundation on Thursday night. Scourton, who transferred from Purdue, had 37 tackles, 14 of them for losses, including five sacks. The 6-foot-4, 285-pounder had four quarterback pressures and broke up two passes. The former Bryan High standout, who has declared for the NFL Draft, forced a fumble. The first-team defensive lineman on the Walter Camp All-American team were South Carolina's Kennard, Michigan junior Mason Graham, Marshall sophomore Mike Green and Penn State Junior Abdul Carter. Linemen joining Scourton on the second team were Virginia Tech senior Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Boston College senior Donovan Ezeiruaku and Ole Miss’ Nolen. Colorado junior Travis Hunter made the first team at both wide receiver and defensive back. SEC players on the first team were LSU junior offensive lineman Will Campbell and Texas junior offensive lineman Kelvin Banks Jr. SEC players on the second team were Alabama junior offensive lineman Tyler Booker, junior Tennessee’s Sampson, senior place-kicker Alex Raynor, Texas sophomore linebacker Anthony Hill Jr., Georgia junior linebacker Jalon Walker, Georgia junior defensive back Malaki Starks and Texas senior defensive back Jahdae Barron. A challenging 2025 schedule. Next year’s A&M football schedule is exactly what we all thought it would be: challenging. Road trips to Notre Dame, Arkansas, LSU, Missouri and Texas are daunting. It also doesn’t matter who A&M is playing on the road, it’s a challenge for a program that’s lost 12 of its last 14 road games. That in turn puts a premium on home games, another concern with A&M having been unbeaten at home only once in 25 years. Let me repeat that: A&M has been unbeaten only once since the 1999 team went 6-0 to cap a 55-4-1 decade at Kyle Field. Oh, those were the days. With history in mind, pencil in A&M for a 6-1 record at home. The Aggies probably will go 3-2 on the road. Las Vegas probably will set the over/under for road victories at 2.5. So that means A&M goes 9-3 or 8-4. The Aggies could be much better as a team yet go 8-4 or even 7-5. Such is life in the SEC. A&M had an easier schedule this year and took advantage of it until ending SEC play with three straight losses. Maybe next year it’ll be the one pulling off upsets and finishing strong a la South Carolina. Next season obviously hinges on a trio of three-game stretches. A&M better take advantage of having Auburn, Mississippi State and Florida at home. A&M needs to flourish in those games with up next road games to Arkansas, LSU and Missouri, though there is a bye between LSU and Missouri. A&M needs to be at 5-1 or 6-0 starting the second half of the season at Arkansas. Ending with a smile. The best bumper sticker I saw last week was “be careful of the idiot behind me.” I hate it when they are factual. The best marquee sign was C&J Barbeque with “Who had medians on their Christmas list?” At least I knew to go the back way to avoid William Joel Bryan Parkway. I wonder what happens when residential folks complain about more traffic? Maybe more medians. Robert Cessna’s email address is robert.cessna@theeagle.com .
None"Weeks too late": Small business owner facing huge financial hit as Canada Post strike endsNow Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens can rest a bit. They’ve certainly earned it. Baltimore’s 31-2 rout of Houston on Wednesday capped a sweep of a grueling stretch of three games in 11 days. Baltimore looked like a Super Bowl contender while handling the Giants, Steelers and Texans. A win next week would give the Ravens the AFC North title — and a third MVP award for Jackson seems to be very much in play. “These guys took these three games in 11 days and smashed it, obliterated it, tore it up and made into a bunch of smithereens laying around everywhere,” coach John Harbaugh said. “I’m proud of the guys (and) how they did it. They did a great job.” Jackson’s passer rating is up to 121.6 on the season. The NFL record is 122.5 by Aaron Rodgers in 2011. Derrick Henry has 1,783 yards rushing, the second most of his career. Justin Tucker, who has struggled to an alarming degree this season, made a 52-yard field goal that went right down the middle in the first quarter Wednesday. A win next week would be Baltimore’s 12th of the season — only one behind the number that gave the Ravens the league’s best regular-season record in 2023. They won’t be the top seed this season, but a victory over Cleveland in Week 18 would mean a division title. Baltimore can also win the division if Pittsburgh loses to Cincinnati. “I believe how our season has gone — the regular season — it just explains how the NFL is. It really doesn’t matter how you start off. It’s about how you finish,” Jackson said. “And I believe we’re finishing pretty well right now.” The Ravens lost their first two games of the season, but their open date came right before this tough 11-day stretch, which may have helped. Now they get some extra time to prepare for Cleveland. What’s working The Ravens outrushed Houston 251-58, with Jackson scoring on a 48-yard run and Henry racing through big holes from the outset. Jackson passed Michael Vick to take over first place on the NFL’s career list for yards rushing by a quarterback. The MVP odds at BetMGM on Thursday showed Buffalo’s Josh Allen (-250) as the favorite, but Jackson (+160) was by no means a long shot. “I’ve seen a lot of great plays from Lamar Jackson,” Harbaugh said. “I told him I was proud of him. I’m not just proud of him just because he makes great plays. I’m proud of him for all the things that go into making great plays and also for all the things he’s overcome along the way.” What needs work The Ravens have cycled through punt returners of late, and newcomer Steven Sims did not have much success in that area Wednesday. He was tackled at his 6-yard line on one return, and when a penalty made Houston do that punt over, the ball bounced inside the 10 and was downed at the 4, leading to a safety and the Texans’ only points of the game. Stock up The Baltimore defense, such a liability at times earlier this season, held Houston without a point offensively. C.J. Stroud was sacked five times and threw an interception, and Joe Mixon rushed for only 26 yards. “I’d say we’ve come full circle,” cornerback Marlon Humphrey said. “It’s always good when you can have their offense not score. You’ve got to say you played pretty well. This is a testament to it all kind of coming together. I felt the coaching was there, and I just felt as players, ‘What is the formula to continue to get high percentages of 11 guys doing 11 guys’ jobs?’” Stock down Keaton Mitchell and Rasheen Ali managed only 17 yards on 12 carries. Justice Hill’s absence following a concussion left Baltimore without an effective change-of-pace back to pair with Henry. Injuries Ali injured his hip in the third quarter and didn’t return, another blow to Baltimore’s running back depth. Key numbers After a 99-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter, the Ravens now have 10 TD drives of 90-plus yards this season. That’s the most in the NFL since at least 2000. Up next The Ravens face a Cleveland team that has only three wins entering Week 17 — although one of those victories was against Baltimore. The Ravens allowed 401 yards in a 29-24 loss at Cleveland in late October. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
FBI warns NBA players to ramp up US home security as sophisticated theft rings target stars
