Objectors to the proposed settlement of three athlete-compensation antitrust cases against the NCAA and Power Five conferences on Tuesday continued pursuing their arguments against final approval of the deal in responses to filings made hours earlier by the principal parties that included presumption revisions to the agreement and their case for a notable non-revision revision to roster limits that also are part of the deal.

Lawyers for various objectors and objector groups combined to make 12 filings during the one-day window that U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken had established for such responses at the close of her hearing April 7 on whether to grant final approval of the agreement, which would cover roughly 390,000 athletes. (A couple of the filings were received by the court on Tuesday, but not posted to the public-facing case record until Wednesday).

At issue is the outcome of a 10-year settlement that include $2.8 billion in damages from the NCAA and the conferences that would go to current and former athletes — and their lawyers — over the 10 years and enable Division I schools to start paying athletes directly for use of their name, image and likeness (NIL) starting July 1, subject to a per-school cap that would increase over time and be based on a percentage of certain athletics revenues.

The agreement also includes new roster limits, which would be implemented in combination with the end of the NCAA’s current system of team-by-team scholarship limits. They are a major target of several objectors to the settlement. Thousands of current walk-on athletes stand to lose their places on Division I teams if the settlement is approved. And in the case of recruits in this year’s high-school senior class, objectors have said that some have been told that spots they were going to receive will no longer exist.

It’s expected that Wilken will not seek further filings from either side in the matter, leaving the door open for her to either finalize settlement or reject it at any point. Wilken has acknowledged the need for a timely decision given the coming July 1 deadline.

The NCAA and the conferences argued late Monday night, Pacific Time (early Tuesday morning Eastern Time) that the limits should remain in the settlement, as proposed, although Wilken last week offered a suggestion to phase in the limits under a grandfathering plan. On a practical level, the principals’ argument stemmed from what they said was the difficulty of potentially unwinding decisions schools already have made as part of their 2025-26 roster planning. On an antitrust law level, they argue that the overall settlement meets the requirement of being fair, reasonable and adequate and the impact of roster limits is offset by the possibility of more scholarship being offered to athletes, since those restrictions would be lifted.

Objectors on Tuesday continued their push against the roster limits, with attorney Laura Reathaford writing: “Essentially, the Parties seek final approval of this settlement based on their unilateral conversion of a preliminary approval order into a final approval order; making a mockery of the class notice, objection and final approval process.

“However, just because the schools prematurely cut people from teams before final approval does not mean this court does not have an obligation to comply with due process in finally approving this injunction. … Any settlement that violates the law and harms class members must be denied.”

Reathaford and other objectors argued that roster limits create an inequality of treatment of the athletes being covered by the settlement on a going-forward basis that is not allowed by antitrust law.

Other matters covered by objectors included:

An argument that the 10-year length of the settlement results in future athletes having their rights illegally bargained away. Wilken expressed interest in this issue last week, and the principals revised the settlement proposal to clarify, and give greater formal precision to, notice and objection and procedures that would apply to future groups of incoming athletes. Each year’s new group would be notified of the settlement and given 60 days to file legal objections that could result in a judge scuttling the deal.

However, objector attorney Michael Hausfeld contended that remains insufficient. He argued that, under due-process law, antitrust law and legal precedents, anyone covered by going-forward provisions of the settlement “are entitled to voice their concerns with the court prior to final approval. … ‘Prior to final approval’ means just that – not 60 days after a now seven-year-old child becomes a freshman in college and acts on a notice letter from the NCAA.”

Hausfeld has appeared previously before Wilken while representing the plaintiffs in the Ed O’Bannon antitrust case against the NCAA.

The question of the College Football Playoff’s role in, and legal coverage from, the settlement. This, too, was addressed by Wilken last week. Attorneys representing Florida State quarterback Thomas Castellanos addressed a more elaborate effort on this issue, making a motion to strike from the proposed settlement a revision regarding the CFP that was submitted by the principals on Monday night/Tuesday morning.

This argument contends that the initial settlement language regarding the CFP was insufficient for athletes to make fully informed decision about whether to opt out of the arrangement. Now that there is new language, whose sufficiency also is being challenged by these attorneys, athletes and their lawyers again should be given time to consider whether to opt out.

If successful with Wilken, this approach to objecting to the settlement, could delay its implementation and cause major problems for schools and conferences as they try to prepare for implementation.

Continuing assertions that the settlement’s damages allocations violate Title IX gender-equity legal requirements. Wilken has shown sympathy for this issue, but has said it has no legal backing in these lawsuits.

The NHL playoff bracket is down to one race.

The Montreal Canadiens will clinch the second wild-card seed in the Eastern Conference if they get one point against the visiting Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday night. That would send the Canadiens to the playoffs for the first time since their 2021 trip to the Stanley Cup Final. They would face the Washington Capitals in the first round.

The Hurricanes might be dressing a lineup without several regulars. Coach Rod Brind’Amour’s son, Skyler, is expected to make his NHL debut.

If the Canadiens lose in regulation, the Columbus Blue Jackets would stay alive. Because of the NHL’s tiebreaker procedure, they would need to beat the New York Islanders in regulation on Thursday on the final day of the season in order to make the playoffs.

Tuesday was an eventful night as the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues locked up playoff berths to complete the Western Conference side of the playoff bracket. The Toronto Maple Leafs also clinched the Atlantic Division title.

Here’s a look at the NHL playoff picture through games of April 15:

When do the NHL playoffs start?

The NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs are scheduled to begin on Saturday, April 19.

Who’s in the NHL playoffs?

• Eastern Conference: Washington Capitals, Carolina Hurricanes, New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers, Ottawa Senators
• Western Conference: Winnipeg Jets, Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche, Vegas Golden Knights, Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton Oilers, Minnesota Wild, St. Louis Blues

Who can clinch Wednesday?

The Canadiens will clinch a playoff berth if they get one point against the Hurricanes.

NHL games today (Wednesday, April 16)

• Carolina at Montreal, 7
• Anaheim at Winnipeg, 7
• Detroit at New Jersey, 7:30 | TNT | truTV | Max | Sling
• Dallas at Nashville, 8
• Vegas at Vancouver, 10
• Edmonton at San Jose, 10:30

NHL Eastern Conference standings 2024-25

(through games of April 15; c-clinched conference title; x-clinched playoff berth; y-clinched division title; z-eliminated from postseason contention)

Metropolitan Division

• c-Washington Capitals (111 points)
• x-Carolina Hurricanes (99)
• x-New Jersey Devils (91)

Atlantic Division

• y-Toronto Maple Leafs (106)
• x-Tampa Bay Lightning (102)
• x-Florida Panthers (98)

Wild card

• x-Ottawa Senators (95)
• Montreal Canadiens (89)

Sitting outside playoff position: Columbus Blue Jackets (87), z-Detroit Red Wings (83), z-New York Rangers (83), z-New York Islanders (82), z-Pittsburgh Penguins (78), z-Buffalo Sabres (77), z-Philadelphia Flyers (76), z-Boston Bruins (76)

NHL Western Conference standings 2024-25

(through games of April 15; p-clinched Presidents’ Trophy; x-clinched playoff berth; y-clinched division title;z-eliminated from postseason contention)

Central Division

• p-Winnipeg Jets (114)
• x-Dallas Stars (106)
• x-Colorado Avalanche (102)

Pacific Division

• y-Vegas Golden Knights (108)
• x-Los Angeles Kings (105)
• x-Edmonton Oilers (99)

Wild card

• x-Minnesota Wild (97)
• x-St. Louis Blues (96)

Missed the playoffs: z-Calgary Flames (94), z-Vancouver Canucks (90), z-Utah Hockey Club (89), z-Anaheim Ducks (79), z-Seattle Kraken (76), z-Nashville Predators (66), z-Chicago Blackhawks (61), z-San Jose Sharks (52). Note: The Sharks have clinched the best draft lottery odds.

NHL playoffs if they started today

NHL Eastern Conference playoff bracket

Here is how the Eastern Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended after games of April 15 (all series are set except the first one):

Key: M – Metropolitan Division. A – Atlantic Division. WC – wild card

• Washington (M1) vs. Montreal (WC2)
• Carolina (M2) vs. New Jersey (M3)
• Toronto (A1) vs. Ottawa (WC1)
• Tampa Bay (A2) vs. Florida (A3)

The winner of the first series would play the winner of the second. The winner of the third series would play the winner of the fourth. 

NHL Western Conference playoff bracket

Here is how the Western Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended after games of April 15 (all series are set):

Key: C – Central Division P – Pacific Division. WC – wild card

• Winnipeg (C1) vs. St. Louis (WC2)
• Dallas (C2) vs. Colorado (C3)
• Vegas (P1) vs. Minnesota (WC1)
• Los Angeles (P2) vs. Edmonton (P3)

The winner of the first series would play the winner of the second. The winner of the third series would play the winner of the fourth.

What is the tiebreaker procedure for the NHL playoffs?

If two teams are tied in points at the end of the regular season, here are the tiebreakers (how tiebreakers affect the playoff races):

• Regulation wins
• Regulation and overtime wins
• Total wins
• Most points earned in head-to-head competition: If teams had an uneven number of meetings, the first game played in the city that has the extra game is excluded.
• Goal differential
• Total goals

When does the NHL regular season end?

The NHL regular season is scheduled to end on Thursday, April 17, with seven games.

Rory McIlroy not speaking to Bryson DeChambeau during the entire final round of the Masters wasn’t a result of any animosity between the two, it was ‘just the game plan.’

McIlroy’s sports psychologist, Bob Rotella, said Tuesday the need to stay focused ‘didn’t have anything to do with Bryson.’

‘We didn’t want to pay attention to what anyone else was scoring, or shooting, or swinging or how far they were hitting it – we just wanted Rory to play his game,’ Rotella said.

McIlroy later admitted he probably should have been more aware of what else was going on during the back nine on Sunday, when he squandered a two-shot lead on the par-5 13th hole by hitting a relatively short pitch into the creek and ending up with a double bogey.

However, he recovered from his mistake, made it into the playoff with Justin Rose and eventually won his first Masters title.

‘We begin with the idea that golf, by design, is a game of mistakes,’ Rotella said, ‘and if you love golf, you have to love the mistakes.’

All the players and the plays: Sign up for USA TODAY’s Sports newsletter.

McIlroy said his display of raw emotion after sinking the winning putt on the first playoff hole was a culmination of everything that had been building up inside him during his 11-year pursuit of the career Grand Slam – something only five other golfers have ever accomplished.

Finally winning the Masters – his fifth major title, but first since 2014 – could spur the 35-year-old to even greater heights.

‘My guess is that he will go on and win quite a few more,’ Rotella said. ‘I think he’s thinking of having a multiple-win season.’

The next major on the golf calendar is the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow next month. After that, the U.S. Open is at Oakmont Country Club in June and the British Open is at Royal Portrush in McIlroy’s native Northern Ireland in July.

The New York Giants are, fittingly, undergoing a giant transformation this offseason.

‘Big Blue’ is coming off yet another disappointing season, this time landing the third pick in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft. With just one playoff appearance since 2017, the Giants have done one thing consistently during that time: Lose.

The general manager, Joe Schoen, has now turned his attention to the draft, but isn’t willing to commit to making a selection at No. 3.

‘We’ll be open to all options,’ Schoen said. ‘Those type of strategy sessions have been ongoing and talking through different scenarios. We’re always going to be open to either or of those scenarios.’

It’s unclear whether those trades will come to fruition, considering the lack of movement thus far. Every team owns its first-round pick this year, but that could change quickly if the board breaks a certain way. Regardless, Schoen indicated there has been interest.

‘We’ve received some calls,’ Schoen said.

The general manager added that they are happy with their options at No. 3 and don’t feel the need to take a quarterback with the pick.

‘I don’t think that’s mandatory, or, feet to the fire, something we have to do,’ Schoen said, highlighting the Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston signings. ‘The two guys we signed have played a lot of ball, have got a lot of skins on the wall and I do think we’ve upgraded that room compared to where it was a year ago.’

Schoen said if they feel there is a young franchise quarterback available, they’ll take one, but added it’s out of the team’s control if there isn’t one when they pick.

After a honeymoon phase that included a playoff appearance in their first season, Schoen and Brian Daboll could be sitting on some increasingly hot seats this year.

As a result, Schoen has taken out the checkbook this offseason, dishing out over $225.9 million in free agency, according to OverTheCap, which ranks fourth-most in the league.

There is some level of pressure to deliver in the draft, especially given their struggles with finding talent in recent years. The first round has been mostly a disaster for the Giants over the last decade, with Saquon Barkley and Malik Nabers being the best of the bunch.

This year, they should have some options to secure a top-tier talent in the class. Here’s a look at who that might be.

Giants draft targets

• Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado: Arguably the best player in the draft, the Giants would pounce at the chance to take the unique prospect if he slips by Cleveland. Hunter could fill a need on both sides of the ball for New York, while adding a star that the city would rally around.
• Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State: If it’s not Hunter, it’s probably Carter. The Giants’ pass rush has always been a key position in the franchise’s history and Carter could be the next in line.
• Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado: Cam Ward is almost certainly going to Tennessee. If Schoen believes Sanders is a franchise quarterback, then this is the spot to draft him.

The 2025 NFL Draft is just around the corner and the forecast is calling for some cloudy skies with rumors swirling in the wind.

It’s officially smokescreen season in the league, where teams are seemingly interested in everyone and no one at the same time.

The only thing we seem to know at this point is that Miami’s Cam Ward will seemingly be the No. 1 pick and head to the Tennessee Titans. Other than that, it is anyone’s guess what may happen after Roger Goodell officially opens the draft at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 24 in Green Bay.

Adding a layer of intrigue to this year’s festivities, every team also owns their first-round pick. Could we see a flurry of trades as teams maneuver the board? As always, what about the quarterbacks?

The possibilities are endless and it’ll be some time before we start getting some concrete answers. In the meantime, we’ll be left to sift through the rumor mill and sort fact from fiction.

Here’s a look at the latest NFL draft rumors.

NFL draft rumors 2025

Mel Kiper Jr. talks best fit for Shedeur Sanders

• Date: April 16
• Source: ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.

Kiper called Sanders an ‘old-school’ traditional quarterback that reminded him of Drew Brees, in the lack of great arm strength and the importance of destination. He believes that the Saints would be a great spot for Sanders to land, given that he would play home games in a dome while possessing the necessary decision-making, accuracy and toughness. Kiper downplayed size concerns and said his arm strength will get better over time, adding the quarterback can be great with the right offense and the right personnel.

Giants GM Joe Schoen doesn’t think it’s ‘mandatory’ to draft a QB this year

• Date: April 16
• Source: Joe Schoen

During his pre-draft press conference, the Giants’ general manager said it’s not ‘mandatory’ to take a quarterback in this year’s draft.

He added, ‘Yeah, if the value matches up with what we have on a player. (But) I’m not going to force it if it’s not the right value. If the board lines up when we’re on the clock, we’ll go with it. I’m not going to be backed into a corner on that.’

TreVeyon Henderson to meet with Denver Broncos

• Date: April 16
• Source: 9NEWS’ Mike Klis

The Ohio State running back met with the Pittsburgh Steelers yesterday and meets with another AFC playoff team today on the final day of top-30 visits. Denver is currently slotted to pick No. 20 overall in the first round, one pick ahead of Pittsburgh. Henderson is one of the four best running backs in a very deep class and could be a surprise riser into the first round thanks to his speed, receiving abilities and zero career fumbles.

James Pearce Jr. to visit 49ers, Will Johnson to visit Seahawks

• Date: April 16
• Source:NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport

On the last day of top-30 visits, Pearce is set to visit the 49ers and Johnson will meet with the Seahawks. San Francisco is slated to pick 11th, while Seattle is slotted in at 18th. Pearce was previously thought of as a top player in this class, but has fallen out of favor over time. Johnson is considered the best cornerback after Travis Hunter, but injury concerns could push his down the board.

Did Mason Graham reveal his draft landing spot?

• Date: April 16
• Source:CBS Sports

Graham was seen wearing a Jacksonville Jaguars shirt in a workout video posted to social media by coach Brandon Jordan. The post was later deleted, but Graham has been commonly linked to the Jaguars throughout the draft process. A California native that played college football at Michigan doesn’t have a direct link to Jacksonville, so perhaps Graham is tipping his hand a bit here.

Giants expressed interest in trading for Eagles’ tight end Dallas Goedert

• Date: April 16
• Source:ESPN’s Jordan Raanan

‘I heard at one point they looked into Dallas Goedert,’ Raanan said on Giants After Dark. ‘He sounds like a guy who is going to get traded at some point in this draft.’

Goedert is entering the final season of a four-year, $57 million contract with the Eagles. He has no guaranteed money remaining and carries an $11.7 million cap hit.

New York currently has Theo Johnson, Daniel Bellinger, Chris Manhertz and Greg Dulcich on their tight end depth chart, but none have the experience or production that Goedert offers. Last season, Goedert had one of the least productive years of his career, missing seven regular-season games, finishing with just 496 receiving yards his lowest total since his rookie season.

Cam Ward may have tipped his hand to where he’s going during ‘Fortnite’ stream

• Date: April 15
• Source: Cam Ward

There are no games this time of year. Well, except ‘Fortnite,’ apparently.

Top NFL draft prospect and presumptive No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward had some downtime to play the popular video game on Tuesday night, and he let out just a little bit of a tell when it comes to where he might land come next Thursday.

The best wide receiver in the game? Calvin Ridley. The best running back? Tony Pollard. A head coach he likes more than any others? Brian Callahan. What do all those have in common? They’re all members of the Tennessee Titans, who, coincidentally, own the No. 1 overall pick.

Cowboys could look to move down

• Date: April 15
• Source:Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones

During an appearance on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, Jones indicated the team doesn’t seem to be in a spot to move up on draft night.

‘I don’t necessarily see us moving up, based on the way the board is coming together,’ Jones said. ‘But could see a situation where we move down.’

He highlighted the depth of the draft and added the team has experienced some good fortune just outside the top-10.

Giants could trade back up for Shedeur Sanders

• Date: April 15
• Source:ESPN’s Peter Schrager

Schrager said the Steelers previously met with Sanders for five hours, but suggested the Giants could take Abdul Carter at No. 3 before trading back up for Sanders. He likened the possibility to what the Texans did in 2023, when they drafted C.J. Stroud and traded up for Will Anderson.

Jalen Milroe, Tyler Shough to work out with Giants

• Date: April 15
• Source:NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport

Already set to have a workout for Shedeur Sanders, the Giants are adding Milroe and Shough to the list of potential options. New York is leaving no stone unturned in their quest to find a quarterback for the future, especially as it relates to Sanders.

Milroe is the most intriguing player out of that group, however. Head coach Brian Daboll has previously worked with former Alabama head coach, Nick Saban, so the Giants might have some additional information on the Crimson Tide prospects.

Tyler Shough draft stock rising

• Date: April 15
• Source:The Athletic’s Dianna Russini

Russini has heard Shough’s name a lot more in league circles recently, adding that he could end up in the first round. According to the report, one current NFL head coach told her that they believe Shough is the best quarterback in the class – even better than Cam Ward.

Panthers open to trading back

• Date: April 15
• Source:Panthers GM Dan Morgan

General manager Dan Morgan said the team is open to trading back and acquiring more picks, adding they are open to all possibilities. He didn’t say how far the Panthers would be willing to move back, but it’s clear Carolina would like do some wheeling and dealing.

Mike Tomlin likes Shedeur Sanders

• Date: April 14
• Source:The Ringer’s Todd McShay

Whether Sanders makes it to No. 21 is unclear, but McShay said he has heard Tomlin likes the quarterback. The Steelers are in an interesting spot thanks to Aaron Rodgers and currently set to enter the 2025 season without a clear starting quarterback. With Russell Wilson landing with the Giants and Justin Fields signing with the Jets, Pittsburgh seems to be in Rodgers-or-bust territory. The only way out would be through the draft. Sanders might just be the escape hatch.

Shedeur Sanders an option at No. 3 for Giants

• Date: April 14
• Source:The Ringer’s Todd McShay

McShay said people have told him to not close the book on Sanders to the Giants at No. 3, saying it’s either the Colorado quarterback or Abdul Carter for them. With the extensive work New York has done on Sanders, it’s clear that there is plenty of interest from Big Blue.

When is the NFL draft 2025?

The NFL draft is set to begin on Thursday, April 24 with the first round. It will resume on Friday, April 25 with the second and third rounds before wrapping up on Saturday, April 25 with the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh rounds.

Four American female athletes are among the 100 most influential people in the world, according to this year’s list from Time magazine.

Leading the way as one of five cover subjects, is tennis star Serena Williams, who made the annual list for a third time.

A mother, entrepreneur, investor, WNBA expansion team owner and even Super Bowl halftime performer, Williams continues to demonstrate her influence in a wide variety of areas – even after her retirement from competitive tennis.

‘She doesn’t have to do any of this. She could take a break from being in the public eye and raise her family. Instead, she continues to pave the way,’ writes gold medal-winning track star Allyson Felix in her essay for the magazine on Williams.

‘So many female athletes see ourselves in Serena. A win for her is a win for all of us.’

Other athletes on Time’s list

Joining Williams among the magazine’s 100 most influential people are gymnastics legend Simone Biles, basketball stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and French swimmer Léon Marchand.

Biles, perhaps the greatest gymnast of all-time, has won a total of 11 Olympic medals – seven of them gold – during a career that spans the 2016 Games in Rio, 2020 Games in Tokyo and 2024 Games in Paris.

Yet through all her successes, Biles has also waged a public battle with her mental health, which led her to withdraw from the team and individual all-around competition in Tokyo.

‘Simone has faced – and withstood – mounting expectations, pressures, and adversity, which seem to intensify each year,’ writes fellow gymnast Aly Raisman. ‘Through it all, she has embraced her vulnerability, while refusing to let it define or limit her.’

The basketball duo of Collier and Stewart make the list – not only for their excellence on the court, but also for founding Unrivaled, the women’s professional 3-on-3 league.

‘Their ability to continue to shine in the WNBA – in fact, Phee and Stewie faced off in the 2024 finals – while building the next big thing blows me away,’ writes U.S. women’s soccer icon Alex Morgan.

‘The dynamic duo stuck their necks out there to give players a chance to make money in the U.S. in the offseason, and not have to move their families across the world.’