PASADENA — Two minutes into the fourth quarter, the Rose Bowl sound system played “Shout,” the famous song played at every Oregon home game. Tens of hundreds of green-clad fans sang in unison because the shadows lengthened and the sun set behind the San Gabriels. But on the Oregon sideline, players stood motionless or huddled silently with coaches.

Across the sector, the scene was very different: Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State's star defenders, immediately recognized “Shout” and started dancing to the music.

Ohio State had done all the things else for the Ducks over the course of a remarkable Wednesday afternoon. Why not adopt their beloved tradition too?

And so the team not playing for the Big Ten title defeated the conference champions with a 41-21 victory within the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff that was much more lopsided than even the rating would suggest.

The result put eighth-seeded Ohio State in a matchup with Texas next week, eliminated the top-seeded Ducks and undoubtedly left an interested viewer with mixed feelings.

According to a conference spokesman, Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti was present at the sport but was not available for interviews. So we’ve to guess his response.

In one respect, Petitti is probably going pleased: Penn State will advance to the semifinals alongside Ohio State after a decisive win over Boise State within the Fiesta Bowl on Tuesday.

But Petitti left the Rose Bowl perhaps frustrated that his conference couldn't get a 3rd team to the semifinals — because Oregon and Ohio State needed to play one another due to a flawed CFP process that prioritizes conference championships.

If the CFP selection committee had seeded the 12 teams based on the ultimate rankings, the Ducks and Buckeyes wouldn’t have played an elimination game within the quarterfinals.

Ohio State would have been a No. 6 seed, not a No. 8 seed, and faced Texas within the quarterfinals. And as a No. 1 seed, Oregon would have needed to play the winner of the sport with Nos. 8-9, Boise State or Indiana.

Both the Buckeyes and Ducks could have advanced to the semifinals, together with Penn State, which might have been a No. 4 seed in a bunch based on the rankings.

Petitti and the opposite conference commissioners who make up the CFP Management Committee are scheduled to satisfy in Atlanta in three weeks.

It's obvious that Petitti will push for the format change. Over the years, the Big Ten's top teams are more likely to be ranked higher than the ACC, Big 12 and Group of Five champions.

Our guess: SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey will agree with Petitti, perhaps in return for Petitti's support on whatever issue Sankey cares about most.

To make format changes in time for next season, the Big Ten and SEC will need unanimous support from the opposite FBS conferences (and Notre Dame).

But that won’t be the case for the 2026 postseason. There isn’t any agreed format. There isn’t any unanimity requirement. The Big Ten and SEC can impose whatever changes they need — with ESPN’s blessing, after all.

At the highest of the list may very well be eliminating the seed reference given to conference champions.

More reactions from the Rose Bowl:

– The Ducks looked slower and more out of sync than they’ve all season – and never within the slightest. The 24-day break clearly had an impact on their performance.

This has been the case with quite a few playoff teams up to now. This will not be an Oregon-specific problem. Layoff causes rust and heavy legs.

The difference this time: Oregon's opponent didn't have a 24-day break. The Buckeyes played within the opening round of the CFP 11 days ago.

In other words, the No. 1 overall seed was at a competitive drawback in comparison with the No. 8 seed.

That too has to alter.

(Notable: The higher-seeded quarterfinalists with weeks off, Oregon, Boise State and Arizona State, were outscored 42-3 in the primary quarter by lower-seeded opponents who played 10 or 11 days ago.)

— The results of Oregon's last two playoff games are as follows:

Ohio State 42, Ducks 20 (2014 championship)

Ohio State 41, Ducks 21 (2024 Quarterfinals)

The opponent is, after all, a part of the issue – Ohio State is as talented as any team within the country on an annual basis. But the top game stays unchanged: The Ducks proceed to pursue a national championship for 86-year-old benefactor Phil Knight.

Was 2024 their best likelihood?

Nope.

This team was an impressive combination of talent, experience, coaching and circumstances. The Ducks were higher prepared for all times within the Big Ten than Washington and USC and benefited from Michigan's poor season.

But it's entirely possible that a rather weaker regular season results in a more successful postseason – that tweaks to the CFP format and no 24 days off and never fidgeting with the pressure of an undefeated season result in an unexpected run through the postseason.

Playoff expansion has created a tournament environment much like March Madness, where momentum comes from nowhere and momentum is fluid.

Remember, the yr the Ducks reached the Final Four, they were a No. 3 seed.

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Originally published: January 1, 2025 at 7:18 pm PST

LAS VEGAS – The New York Liberty has been waiting almost 12 months. From the moment Courtney Vandersloot's jumper misfired in the ultimate seconds of Game 4 of the 2023 Finals, the Liberty were on the lookout for revenge, a probability to redeem themselves after a missed opportunity and the rating against the Las Vegas Aces to balance.

“Think about how it feels,” coach Sandy Brondello said at first of the series. “It's in the past. But we don't forget how we felt in that moment. So if you need motivation, remember how you felt after Game 4.”

The opportunity for redemption got here a round sooner than expected, so New York still couldn't reach the final word prize. But after repeatedly claiming in recent weeks that they’d achieved nothing, the Liberty achieved one goal on Sunday: They dethroned the two-time defending champions.

This was personal for New York, who was referring to the Aces' trash talk after winning their 2023 title. The Liberty won't consider this season successful until they win three more games – they’ll't, considering they already advanced to the finals a yr ago – however the emotions got here through nonetheless.

“I have receipts for the things that were said, the whole team has them,” Breanna Stewart said.

After struggling in elimination this time last yr, Stewart led the best way within the encore with 19 points, 14 rebounds, five assists and 4 blocks. In a tense, arrhythmic Game 4 on Sunday, New York held the Aces at bay all afternoon before pulling away with a 16-2 run within the fourth quarter to prevail 76-62 and clinch the semifinal series. The Liberty reach the WNBA Finals for the sixth time in franchise history, while the Aces fall wanting a title for the primary time since Becky Hammon took over as coach.

New York entered the Michelob ULTRA Arena and took this game from the house team. After a 3-pointer from Jackie Young to open the sport, the Liberty went on a 10-0 run and never trailed again. The Aces pulled inside a degree in a number of instances but never got over the hump. New York's veterans at all times found a strategy to end the rally, whether it was Jonquel Jones sinking a 3-pointer, Vandersloot driving to the basket or Stewart hitting an unattainable runner along with her never-ending arms.

Sloot has what it takes! Big bucket as she makes her strategy to the sting.

NYL leads by 8 points within the 4th quarter.

– WNBA (@WNBA) October 6, 2024

The Liberty's length terrified Las Vegas all night long because the Aces even saw shadows on open shots. Young didn’t make one other basket the remainder of the night – her only possible basket got here when she made a half-court shot after the buzzer within the third quarter – and Las Vegas shot 21 of 64 from the sector, including 7 of 30 on three-pointers . Three of those got here in the ultimate 3:20, when the Aces were already 14 minutes behind and running out of time to finish the comeback. At this point, the house fans left the constructing while the New York fans behind their bench demanded their return to the finals.

Before the series began, Las Vegas acknowledged that the Liberty were the very best team all yr, and Hammon reiterated that after the sport.

“Their group deserves it, they’ve earned it all year,” Hammon said. “(This) team was put together to take us out, and they did.”

Required reading

Celts

Beyond his track record as a championship-winning coach, Joe Mazzulla has already earned a popularity within the NBA as certainly one of the league's most quoted coaches.

Be it his obsession with “The Town”, the avoidance found the brilliant lights During the NBA Finals, he emphasized self-improvement with a stony face and made subtle jabs at Kendrick Perkins, the Boston head coach who stands out as the most unintentional viral star in sports.

And for those who ask on Wednesday podcast concerning the Celtics, as reigning NBA champions, being targeted by the remaining of the league, Mazzulla once more dropped a brand new classic quote about Boston's attitude initially of a brand new season.

“People will say the target is on our back, but I hope it's right on our forehead between our eyes. I hope I can see the red dot,” Mazzulla told Locked On Celtics host John Karalis.

The Celtics need to be the primary NBA team for the reason that Golden State Warriors (2017-18) to defend their title and are again considered favorites in 2024-25.

After losing just three games of their playoff run this spring, the Celtics are expected to return 15 of last season's 17 players.

Not only are the Celtics bringing back a whole lot of elite talent, but their two top stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown also needs to have a whole lot of motivation of their heads after eventful summers.

Brown was turned down by the U.S. national team for participation within the 2024 Summer Olympics, prompting him to take several swipes at Nike, certainly one of the U.S. national team's primary sponsors, via social media and music.

Although Tatum made the U.S. team for the second consecutive Olympics, he was a little bit of a supporting player in coach Steve Kerr's rotations in Paris. Tatum was benched twice within the U.S.'s games against Serbia and played just 11 minutes within the gold medal game against France.

Karalis asked Mazzulla how stars like Tatum and Brown can use these slights as motivation just months after seemingly reaching the head of the NBA as champions.

“They're two competitors and they are who they are,” Mazzulla said. They're two great players, so I'm not going to attempt to work out how they're going to go about it. If they need revenge for that specific game, great for them. Like I said, my primary job is to grow as a coach, to improve so I could make them higher and help them improve and be a catalyst for growth.

“Revenge is healthy and at the same time it's not. I think – like anything else – you can have a little bit of it, but I think it's a short-term thing and when that's used up, what are you supposed to rely on?”

Mazzulla is used to finding unique ways to motivate his team and convey his message. Sam Hauser noted in July that his coach once forced the Celtics to observe clips of killer whales hunting seals last season.

Mazzulla was asked by Karalis why the animal kingdom is a reliable analogy when attempting to instill principles in his team.

“The animal kingdom is the purest form of hierarchy and role definition that exists. Everyone plays their role. Anyone who breaks out of that role is killed.” said Mazzulla. “If you are trying to do something out of pride or arrogance, you’ll likely get killed.

“If you stay within the boundaries, you survive as long as you can until you can't anymore. I just think that's most related to hierarchy, role definition, competition, commitment, and all the things that lead to success and survival.

And yes, Mazzulla is a big fan of killer whales.

“For me, the killer whale [is] obviously the most energetic animal in nature,” Mazzulla said. “But they're humble. They very rarely attack their prey alone. And so you have this concept of, 'I know I could kill you alone, but I'm not going to do it unless I have my herd with me.' They only attack in groups of three or four, so there's a big aspect of humbleness there.”

Candace Parker all the time said she would know when it was time to retire. That day got here on Sunday.

The three-time WNBA champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist announced on social media that her profession was over after 16 seasons.

“The competitor in me still wants one, but it’s time,” Parker wrote an Instagram post. “My HEART and my body knew it, but I had to give my mind time to accept it.”

Parker, 38, had said The Associated Press in November she desired to play one other season if she could get healthy a foot injury That kept them off the sphere last season. However, she warned against cheating “the game” or herself, and expressed the identical when announcing her retirement before the Aces try and win a 3rd straight title. Parker has had ten surgeries throughout her profession.

“I promised that I would never cheat in the game and that I would leave it in a better place than when I came in. … I always wanted to leave the square without a parade or a tour, just privately with those I love,” she wrote. “What was supposed to be my last game, I left the pitch with my daughter. I ended the journey the same way I started it, with her.”

Parker played her first 13 seasons within the league with the Los Angeles Sparks, establishing her dominance early because the No. 1 pick, winning Rookie of the Year and league MVP in the identical season. Parker was the one WNBA player to realize this feat. He averaged 18.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and three.4 assists while helping the Sparks to a 10-win improvement in 2008.

Parker earned her second MVP award in 2013 and won her first title with the Sparks in 2016.

“We are deeply grateful for the remarkable contributions that Candace Parker has made to the Los Angeles Sparks and the sport of basketball as a whole,” Eric Holoman, managing partner and governor of the Los Angeles Sparks, said in a press release. “She will forever be enshrined in Sparks history – from their outstanding MVP and Rookie of the Year seasons to their lead in the 2016 WNBA Championship and the way she revolutionized the game has. Her impact on the community and her ability to inspire will always be felt here in LA. From my many conversations with her about life after basketball, I am confident she will be just as successful in the boardroom.”

She would win a second title with the Chicago Sky in 2021 and a 3rd with the Las Vegas Aces last season. She is the one player in league history to win a championship with three different teams.

“The memories Candace Parker created for a generation of female basketball fans will forever remain embedded in our collective consciousness, but she gave much more to the game than her accolades and statistics,” the Aces said in a press release. “As a teammate and mentor, mother and wife, ballplayer, broadcaster and businesswoman, she has inspired countless young people, boys and girls, to pursue and achieve their dreams.”

Parker played for the late Pat Summitt's last two national championship teams at Tennessee in 2007 and 2008. She then left the corporate with one yr of eligibility remaining.

She won Olympic gold medals in 2008 and 2012 before being surprisingly left off the team in 2016.

“I think Candace has obviously had an amazing career. I'm a little sad about it because you love competing against her, the legend that she is,” said Liberty star Breanna Stewart. “What she did on and off the field was great for our league. I appreciate everything she has done to help me get to where I am. We will definitely miss them this season.”

Liberty coach Sandy Brondello coached Parker overseas in Russia for several years throughout the winter.

Parker began working in broadcasting during her playing profession. She has worked as an NCAA Tournament analyst for CBS Sports and for NBA TV.

She had surgery on her foot in July 2023 and told the AP that it still caused her pain late last yr.

“This offseason hasn’t been fun if you don’t cooperate,” she wrote in her post on Sunday. “My life's mission, as Pat Summitt always said, is to 'pursue people and passions and you will never fail.'” Being a wife and mother remains to be a top priority and I've learned that point flies, so I plan to enjoy my family to the fullest!”

SAN JOSE – The trial of Cain Velasquez – the previous mixed martial arts champion accused of attempting to kill a person accused of abusing his child and as an alternative after an extended chase in South Bay shot the person's stepfather – is scheduled to start on September ninth The judge ruled on Wednesday.

The scheduled start of the trial in Santa Clara County Superior Court would take nearly two years after a unique judge determined there was enough evidence to convict Velasquez, who had fought professionally out of San Jose, on attempted murder and nine charges could stand trial for assault. It would even have been greater than two and a half years after the shooting, which occurred in late February 2022.

Judge Elizabeth Peterson on Wednesday also scheduled a preliminary hearing for June 26 to find out whether the prosecution and defense might be able to go to trial in September.

Velasquez has been out of custody since being granted $1 million bail and monitoring his release following the November 2022 preliminary examination that brought his case to trial.

He has since been allowed to compete in wrestling and mixed martial arts events in California and Arizona under his release conditions, which permit court-approved travel for work. He also trained on the American Kickboxing Academy, the San Jose school he represented during his rise to grow to be UFC heavyweight titleholder last decade.

Velasquez was not required to seem in court for Wednesday's hearing after receiving a court exemption and has had his attorney Renee Hessling appear on his behalf for a full yr as she and the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office appear within the hearings on procedural matters processed.

Velasquez's attorney said after Wednesday's hearing that she didn't know whether she was prepared for a trial in early September. She subpoenaed medical records and other information, however the materials were incomplete, she said, declining to explain the records and knowledge.

Velasquez, 41, is accused of shooting Harry Goularte Jr. no less than twice while he was traveling along with his mother, Patricia Goularte, and stepfather, Paul Bender, who reportedly drove him from Morgan Hill to San Jose on February 28, 2022, to get him fitted for an ankle monitor at a county office. Three days earlier, Goularte Jr. was charged with a lewd and lascivious act with a toddler based on allegations that he abused Velasquez's son at a day care center in San Martin run by his mother. Goularte Jr. was granted supervised release over prosecutors' objections.

Goularte Jr., 45, has since been delivered to trial, however the case remains to be within the trial phase from which Velasquez has just emerged.

Velasquez faces life in prison if convicted of those charges. His lawyers have noted in previous court filings that Velasquez suffered impulse control problems and brain injuries consequently of his mixed martial arts profession.

They have also hinted that they could represent the sexual harassment lawsuit against Goularte Jr., arguing that Velasquez acted in response to the criminal justice system failing his family. Velasquez is suing Goularte Jr. and his parents for alleged sexual abuse; The trial was suspended until the criminal proceedings were accomplished.