For Diego Pavia, December should have marked the start of a carefully orchestrated four-month march to the NFL draft.

The Vanderbilt quarterback had already positioned himself as a Heisman Trophy finalist after leading his school to its first 10-win season. Along the way, he established himself as one of the most dynamic playmakers in college football, totaling more than 4,000 combined yards and 36 touchdowns on the year. Though his pro prospects lagged significantly behind those of his peers at the ceremony in New York, Pavia earlier in the week accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl, where he would try to build the case that he possesses the necessary tools to be a trustworthy passer whom a team could bring along.

Then came the massive unforced error.

After finishing second in Heisman voting to Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza on Saturday, Pavia reposted a picture of himself in front of Vanderbilt’s offensive line, writing ‘(Expletive)-ALL THE VOTERS’ with a thumbs down emoji and ‘BUT … FAMILY FOR LIFE.’ A video also circulated on social media of Pavia at a club giving the middle finger to a sign that read ‘(expletive) INDIANA.’

The blowback arrived as swiftly as an SEC defensive end barreling down on him. On Sunday, he posted a lengthy apology.

‘To be so close to my dream and come up short was painful,’ Pavia wrote. ‘I didn’t handle those emotions well at all and did not represent myself the way I wanted to. I have much love and respect for the Heisman voters and the selection process, and I apologize for being disrespectful.’

That’s the first of what is sure to be many forthcoming statements of contrition from the quarterback, who likely will be pressed throughout the pre-draft process about his reaction. And while to suggest that this action somehow tanks his stock would be insincere, the misstep serves as another impediment on what already looked like a rather arduous path to the pros.

If Pavia was at least somewhat close to Mendoza – an almost surefire top-five pick and potential front-runner for the No. 1 overall slot – in his draft standing, the incident might be easy to dismiss. But the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award winner is a long way off from that.

Pavia’s height, play style already work against pro prospects

Listed at 6-foot-0, Pavia is sure to cause a stir with his measurements in Mobile, Alabama, given that multiple reports say he might not even clear 5-10. The reckless, structure-breaking playing style that sparked his star turn for the Commodores isn’t particularly tenable at the pro level. And the developmental label given to raw, young prospects might not stick for a passer who will be 24 on draft day.

Despite his progress this season, Pavia still has the profile of a late-round pick or even an undrafted free agent.

Pavia now is on notice to present a more polished and palatable version of himself to the myriad coaches and front-office types he’s sure to meet in the coming months. But it will be difficult for him to convince evaluators that this was a mere lapse in judgment. While at New Mexico State, Pavia urinated on the logo in the middle of rival New Mexico’s practice field. And while his brash persona helped amplify his accomplishments to elevate Vanderbilt football to a much larger stage, his repeated antics might not sit well with NFL teams looking for a more humble presence to round out their depth chart.

‘Diego knows his actions were unacceptable and he has apologized,’ athletic director Candice Lee said in a statement to The Tennessean and the USA TODAY Network on Dec. 15. ‘I know he is contrite and regrets the hurt he caused. He is a passionate and authentic competitor, and while his authenticity has been nurtured and celebrated here, it does not change the responsibility that comes with representing Vanderbilt University.’

If Pavia is able to convey his competitive fire properly, he’d likely have a captive audience in many NFL coaching staffs. There’s an undeniable allure to an undersized player who worked himself up from the junior college ranks to starring in the SEC, especially while working alongside a group that often was operating at a perceived talent deficit in many of its matchups. Senior Bowl director of football operations Jack Gilmore told AL.com that despite Pavia’s frame, he ‘has everything you want in a quarterback’ and ‘one of the best competitors in the entire draft class.’

Underdog story aside, Pavia’s Heisman heel turn won’t play with NFL execs

For better or worse, the underdog ethos comes through in all of Pavia’s actions.

‘I’ve been doubted my whole life,’ Pavia said in his apology. ‘Every step of my journey I’ve had to break down doors and fight for myself, because I’ve learned that nothing would be handed to me. My family has always been in my corner, and my teammates, coaches and staff have my six. I love them – I am grateful for them. – and I wouldn’t want anything to distract from that.’

Perhaps this is the start of a course correction for someone who will need to compartmentalize his inner motivations with his public-facing actions. Any NFL decision-maker who wants Pavia to maintain his edge still might expect him to sublimate his energy into behavior that won’t necessitate an apology tour.

And as the cases of Shedeur Sanders and several others have shown, NFL teams want neither hero nor heel from young quarterbacks who begin their career on the bench.

Pavia already was under pressure to show he won’t try to skew heavily toward the former label after a college career in which he frequently went his own way. Now he’ll have to show he won’t revert to the latter category, either.

(This story was updated to add a video.)

Behind a 100-yard rushing performance from quarterback Quinn Henicle and a five-turnover performance from its defense, the Monarchs defeated South Florida 24-10 in the Cure Bowl at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, on Wednesday, Dec. 17.

In just his second career start, Henicle struggled as a passer, going 11-of-25 for 127 yards, but dominated on the ground with 24 rushes for 107 yards and two touchdowns. He picked up a 51-yard touchdown with just over two minutes remaining to ice the 10th win of the season for ODU.

Henicle earned the start after starting quarterback Colton Joseph announced his intention to transfer.

USF, without its own starting quarterback, Byrum Brown, and head coach Alex Golesh ― who is headed to Auburn ― struggled to run the ball and turned the ball over five times against the Old Dominion defense.

The Bulls finished with 35 rushes for 52 yards, averaging just 1.5 yards per carry, with a long run of 12 yards. They also turned the ball over five times, including throwing four interceptions and losing a fumble.

Gaston Moore was forced from the game in the fourth quarter after he hit his head on the turf. He did not return, which meant true freshman Locklan Hewlett was thrown into the fire. Moore finished 20-of-28 passing for 236 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, while Hewlett was 7-of-12 passing for 45 yards and an interception.

Two of the three losses for ODU this season came against teams in the College Football Playoff field ― Indiana and James Madison.

South Florida held a 10-7 halftime lead, but was outscored 17-0 in the second half.

USA TODAY Sports brought you live updates, scores and highlights from the game. Check it out.

Old Dominion vs South Florida score

Old Dominion vs South Florida highlights

Old Dominion-South Florida score: Monarchs 24, Bulls 10 (Final)

Old Dominion-South Florida final stats

Daevon Iles picks off Locklan Hewlett

Daevon Iles picks off a pass near the end zone from Locklan Hewlett and that should do it. It’s the fifth turnover of the game for the Bulls, which led to seven points for the Monarchs.

Quinn Henicle scores a 51-yard touchdown

Quinn Henicle takes a QB keeper and goes 51 yards for a touchdown to extend the Old Dominion lead to 24-10 with 2:24 left in the game.

Henicle has 107 yards and two rushing touchdowns on 24 attempts. He had a 16-yard run on third-and-5, which helped take more time off the clock one play earlier.

The scoring drive is four plays for 57 yards and takes 1:15 off the game clock.

USF fake punt pass intercepted

Trailing by seven points and time winding down, USF attempts a fake punt, but Jerome Carter picks off a pass from Chase Leon. The Monarchs take over from their own 28-yard line following an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

Nathanial Eichner misses field goal wide left

Old Dominion misses a chance at a nail in the coffin with Eichner missing a 36-yard field goal. The score remains 17-10 with 5:54 left in the game. The Bulls will take over on their own 18-yard line.

Christian Neptune muffs punt

Christian Neptune muffs a punt that goes off a teammate’s arm from Old Dominion, with USF is about to get the ball back with a chance to tie it. Old Dominion will take over on the Bulls’ 38-yard line with a chance to extend the lead.

Locklan Hewlett in for Gaston Moore

Freshman Locklan Hewlett is in with Gaston Moore out of the game. He is a true freshman and the third-string QB for USF.

Gaston Moore down following long pass to JeyQuan Smith

Gaston Moore is down on the field with the USF medical staff examining him after he completes a pass to Jeyquan Smith. Moore was hit late by an ODU defender and appeared to hit his head on the turf.

His offensive line immediately motioned for the medical team to come out. Moore walked off the field under his own power.

End of third quarter: Old Dominion 17, South Florida 10

Old Dominion holds a 17-10 lead over USF through three quarters in the Cure Bowl. The Bulls will face a fourth-and-5 from the ODU 39-yard line when the fourth quarter commences.

Nathanial Eichner field goal extends ODU lead

Eichner hits a 24-yard field goal to extend the Old Dominion lead to 17-10 with 3:27 left in the third quarter.

The scoring drive is 10 plays for 73 yards and takes 4:13 off the game clock.

De’Shawn Rucker ejected for targeting

De’Shawn Rucker is ejected for targeting on his hit on Quinn Henicle, which keeps the ball with Old Dominion at the USF 9-yard line.

Henicle remains in the game.

Quinn Henicle loses fumble, hurt on rushing attempt

Quinn Henicle loses a fumble following a 12-yard rush. He was hit on the play and is down on the field with an injury.

However, the play is under review for targeting.

Nico Gramatica misses second field goal

Nico Gramatica misses his second field goal of the game, with this coming from 39 yards out. The kick is missed wide left. Gramatica also missed a kick from 48 yards out earlier in the game. He made a 28-yard field goal in the first quarter.

Gramatica entered the game 17-of-21 on his kicks this season.

Trequan Jones gives Old Dominion lead

Facing a third-and-7, running back Trequan Jones finds a big hole after cutting and takes it 22 yards to give Old Dominion a 14-10 lead with 10:06 left in the third quarter.

The scoring drive is three plays for 25 yards and takes 38 seconds off the clock, coming off the interception from Jerome Carter.

Jerome Carter intercepts Gaston Moore

Gaston Moore throws inaccurately and safety Jerome Carter intercepts his pass. Carter returns the interception for 26 yards to the USF 25-yard line.

Old Dominion begins second half of Cure Bowl on offense

After deterring the decision to possess the ball on the coin toss, Old Dominion will begin the second half on offense. The Monarchs trail South Florida 10-7 after one half of play.

Halftime: South Florida 10, Old Dominion 7

Old Dominion-South Florida halftime stats

Old Dominion turns ball over on botched snap on field goal

Ian Brandt cannot handle the snap on a field goal attempt that would have tied the game at 10-10 at the end of the first half. Instead, Old Dominion does not score and the game will be 10-7 at halftime.

That stalls a drive that went 14 plays for 56 yards and gave the Monarchs the chance to take the lead or tie the game going into halftime.

Earlier in the drive, Quinn Henicle missed a wide-open tight end in the end zone that would have given Old Dominion the lead.

Brandon Crutchfield picks off Gaston Moore

With USF driving, Gaston Moore sails a pass, and it is picked off by Old Dominion’s Brandon Crutchfield with 3:23 left in the first half. The Monarchs begin the drive from their own 20 following an 11-yard return.

Jeremiah Koger TD catch gives USF lead

Gaston Moore hits freshman receiver Jeremiah Koger for a 31-yard touchdown to give USF a 10-7 lead with 7:24 left in the first half. Moore connected with Koger for a 25-yard play on the play before the touchdown.

The scoring drive is three plays for 55 yards and takes 1:03 off the game clock.

Koger has three receptions for 62 yards and the score, while Moore is 10-of-12 passing for 136 yards.

Nico Gramatica misses 48-yard field goal

Nico Gramatica’s field goal from 48 yards is no good, as it misses wide right. USF’s seven-play, 48-yard drive does not produce any points.

End of first quarter: Old Dominion 7, USF 3

Old Dominion holds a 7-3 lead after the first quarter. Quinn Henicle scores the only touchdown of the opening quarter on a keeper.

The Monarchs outgained USF 116-29 in the quarter, including 65-18 in the air.

Quinn Henicle gives Old Dominion lead in Cure Bowl

Quinn Henicle scores on a QB keeper from 6 yards out to give Old Dominion a 7-3 lead with 42 seconds left in the first quarter. The first-and-goal situation comes after a roughing the passer call on Jahari Grant.

The scoring drive is 10 plays for 75 yards and takes 4:36 off the game clock.

Nico Gramatica field goal gives USF lead

Nico Gramatica hits a 28-yard field goal to give USF a 3-0 lead with 5:18 left in the first quarter. Following the turnover, the Bulls drove the ball to the 10-yard line, but saw the drive stall out.

The scoring drive is eight plays for 31 yards and takes 2:03 off the game clock.

Fred Gaskin returns fumble for USF

Fred Gaskin returns a fumble from Old Dominion QB Quinn Henicle for 22 yards to the Monarchs’ 41-yard line. Jarvis Lee sacked Henicle for a loss of 19 and forced the fumble after ODU drove to the USF 18-yard line and looked poised to take the lead.

Old Dominion turns ball over on downs

Old Dominion goes for it on fourth-and-four from the 26-yard line, but the pass falls incomplete, giving USF the ball back. The Bulls’ defense comes up with a big stop with the Monarchs having a short field.

Kris Trinidad, DeAndre Lynch sack ends USF’s first drive

Kris Trinidad and DeAndre Lynch combine for a sack to force a three-and-out on USF’s opening drive. Following the three-and-out, Devin Roche returns a punt for 48 yards to give the Monarchs the ball at the USF 32-yard line for their first offensive possession.

USF opens Cure Bowl on offense

Old Dominion wins the toss and defers to the second half. USF will receive and ODU will defend the north goal.

Pregame

Quinn Henicle stats

With Colton Joseph opting out of the bowl game and entering the transfer portal, redshirt freshman Quinn Henicle earns the start for Old Dominion. Henicle has attempted 15 passes this season and 40 for his career.

Like Joseph, Henicle provides a dual-threat option for the Monarchs. He averaged 8.2 yards per carry and three touchdowns last season and has averaged 5.1 yards per carry this season.

• 2024: 14-of-25 (56%) passing for 181 yards, two touchdowns and one interception; 34 rushes for 278 yards and three touchdowns
• 2025: 6-of-15 passing (40%) for 57 yards; 20 rushes for 102 yards

Gaston Moore stats

With Byrum Brown opting out of the bowl game, senior signal-caller Gaston Moore will earn the start for South Florida. Moore is 14-of-20 passing for 54 yards and a touchdown this season.

For his career, Moore is 40-of-64 passing for 327 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions in five seasons with Tennessee and USF.

• 2021 (Tennessee): 2-for-2 (100%) passing for six yards
• 2022 (Tennessee): 4-for-5 (80%) passing for 30 yards and an interception
• 2023 (Tennessee): 4-for-10 (40%) passing for 36 yards; Three rushes for four yards
• 2024 (Tennessee): 16-of-27 (59.3%) passing for 201 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions; Three rushes for 18 yards
• 2025 (South Florida): 14-of-20 (70%) for 54 yards and a touchdown; Seven rushes for 12 yards

What channel is Old Dominion vs South Florida on today?

• TV Channel: ESPN
• Livestream:Fubo (free trial)

Old Dominion vs South Florida will broadcast nationally on ESPN for the Cure Bowl. Dave Neal and Fozzy Whittaker will call the game from the booth at Camping World Stadium, with Morgan Uber reporting from the sidelines. Streaming options for the game include Watch ESPN and Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.

Old Dominion vs South Florida time today

• Date: Wednesday, Dec. 17
• Start time: 5 p.m. ET

The Old Dominion vs South Florida game starts at 5 p.m. ET from Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

Old Dominion vs South Florida predictions, picks, odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Wednesday, Dec. 17

• Spread: South Florida (-4)
• Over/under: 53.2 points
• Moneyline: South Florida -190 ∣ Old Dominion +155

Prediction: South Florida 27, Old Dominion 23

This one may end up being lower scoring than anticipated with both teams’ starting quarterbacks having opted out. The Bulls still have more than enough pieces from the nation’s No. 2 scoring offense to get past what’s been a red-hot Monarchs squad.

If you know anything about Jake Paul, you know he can be quite the promoter. With today’s presser hyping up his upcoming fight against two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua on Friday, Paul pulled out all the stops. He called himself a better boxer than Joshua. He said people who don’t take him seriously need to shut up. He even said he’s done more for boxing than anyone in the last two decades.

Love him or hate him, he knows how to rile up the masses, and that is what is driving the intrigue for this fight.

When the two faced off, the massive Joshua towered over Paul, which is to be expected given their five-inch height discrepancy. However, what wasn’t expected was how unserious Paul seems to be taking this fight. Paul made faces at Joshua and stuck out his gut, clearly goading Joshua.

Given how much publicity Paul’s fight against Tyson got a year ago after Tyson punched Paul at their face-off, it makes sense that Paul would look to create a similarly viral moment. Alas, no such moment happened, but sparks will certainly fly when the pair duke it out on Friday.

Here are the highlights from Wednesday’s presser.

Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua face-off

When all was said and done, Joshua and Paul faced off just 48 hours before their fight. Paul didn’t seem to take Joshua seriously at the start, sticking out his gut and making faces at the two-time heavyweight champion.

Meanwhile, Joshua stood there sternly, towering over Paul. Finally, the two backed off and flexed for the cameras. Paul might need to start putting more respect on Joshua’s name before their fight. There’s a reason Joshua is the favorite.

Fighters choose Paul to beat Joshua

To end the first part of the presser, each of the fighters participating on the card were asked whether they thought Jake Paul or Anthony Joshua would win. Shockingly, Paul earned seven votes to Joshua’s four.

Many of the fighters abstained from making a choice.

Anthony Joshua: ‘Jake Paul is a great challenge for me’

It’s clear that Joshua and Paul have immense respect for each other. Despite their jawing throughout this presser, including Joshua clearly stating that he plans on proving he’s a far superior boxer on Friday, Joshua still made sure to give Paul his flowers.

Paul’s fearlessness was the biggest point of Joshua’s praise. Paul believes that fearlessness is what has made him such a great boxer. He noted that he used to want to be a NAVY Seal, ‘going around killing people. So, maybe I’m just f—-d up like that.’

Jake Paul calls out skeptics

After being asked how Paul responds to people who believe his fights are fake, Paul said that he treats it as a compliment, but that those people need to ‘shut up.’ He also inferred that people who believe such things are not the brightest bulbs.

Jake Paul: ‘Boxing fans should want me to win’

It didn’t take long for Paul to be asked how he responds to boxing fans who believe he isn’t a real boxer. Paul responded by claiming that nobody has done more for the sport of boxing in the last two decades than him.

He followed that up by saying that given how he’s been able to grow the sport, real boxing fans should want him to win. While Paul did admit that he understands where the animosity is coming from, he also established that he deserves a bit more respect for bringing boxing back into the national spotlight.

Jake Paul enters

The man of the hour has entered the building for the presser. Here was his entrance:

Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua press conference: Date, time, stream and how to watch

• Date: Wednesday, Dec. 17
• Time: 6 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT)
• Stream: MVP’s YouTube Channel and Netflix Sports’ YouTube Channel

Joshua vs. Paul full fight card

• Jake Paul-Anthony Joshua (main event): Heavyweight
• Anderson Silva-Tyron Woodley: Cruiserweight
• Alycia Baumgardner-Leila Beaudoin: Women’s Unified Super Featherweight World Champion title match
• Cherneka Johnson-Amanda Galle: Women’s Undisputed Bantamweight World Champion title match
• Yokasta Valle-Yadira Bustillos: Women’s WBC Strawweight World Champion title match
• Avious Griffin-Justin Cardona: Welterweight
• Keno Marley-Diarra Davis Jr.: Cruiserweight

Anthony Joshua, Jake Paul career records

Anthony Joshua boasts an impressive 28-4 record with 25 wins coming via knockout. Paul hosts an equally impressive 12-1 career record with seven knockouts.

When is the Anthony Joshua vs. Jake Paul fight?

Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua is set for this Friday, December 19 at 8 p.m. ET. The fight will be a sanctioned heavyweight bout, a step up from the cruiserweight division that Paul typically fights at.

The fight will take place at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, home of the NBA’s Miami Heat.

How to watch Joshua vs. Paul:

Anthony Joshua vs. Jake Paul will stream exclusively on Netflix. Subscribers will be able to watch this highly-anticipated combat event without any additional pay-per-view fees.

For people without a Netflix subscription, restaraunts and bars and other commercial establishments will be able to air the fight so long as they secured permission to do so through EverPass Media.

Following three successful seasons leading the Bulls, Alex Golesh took the Auburn head coaching job this coaching carousel and will not coach the bowl game. USF will also be without quarterback Byrum Brown, as he is likely to enter the transfer portal.

In the Cure Bowl from Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, the Bulls (9-3) will open the new era against Old Dominion (9-3), which will be without starting quarterback Colton Joseph, who has already announced his intention to transfer.

Watch Old Dominion vs South Florida in Cure Bowl live with Fubo (free trial)

USF went 23-15 in three seasons under Golesh, but will have Brian Hartline ― formerly the Ohio State wide receivers coach ― taking over the program for the 2026 season. The Bulls’ signature win was an 18-16 win over Florida on Sept. 6.

Meanwhile, the Monarchs ended the season on a five-game winning streak after losing their opener to Indiana. Two of the three losses for ODU this season came against teams in the College Football Playoff field ― Indiana and James Madison.

This marks the first-ever matchup between USF and Old Dominion.

USA TODAY Sports is bringing live updates from the game. Follow along.

Old Dominion vs South Florida score

Old Dominion vs South Florida highlights

Old Dominion-South Florida score: Monarchs 24, Bulls 10 (Final)

Daevon Iles picks off Locklan Hewlett

Daevon Iles picks off a pass near the end zone from Locklan Hewlett and that should do it. It’s the fifth turnover of the game for the Bulls, which led to seven points for the Monarchs.

Quinn Henicle scores a 51-yard touchdown

Quinn Henicle takes a QB keeper and goes 51 yards for a touchdown to extend the Old Dominion lead to 24-10 with 2:24 left in the game.

Henicle has 107 yards and two rushing touchdowns on 24 attempts. He had a 16-yard run on third-and-5, which helped take more time off the clock one play earlier.

The scoring drive is four plays for 57 yards and takes 1:15 off the game clock.

USF fake punt pass intercepted

Trailing by seven points and time winding down, USF attempts a fake punt, but Jerome Carter picks off a pass from Chase Leon. The Monarchs take over from their own 28-yard line following an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

Nathaniel Eichner misses field goal wide left

Old Dominion misses a chance at a nail in the coffin with Nathaniel Eichner missing a 36-yard field goal. The score remains 17-10 with 5:54 left in the game. The Bulls will take over on their own 18-yard line.

Christian Neptune muffs punt

Christian Neptune muffs a punt that goes off a teammate’s arm from Old Dominion, with USF is about to get the ball back with a chance to tie it. Old Dominion will take over on the Bulls’ 38-yard line with a chance to extend the lead.

Locklan Hewlett in for Gaston Moore

Freshman Locklan Hewlett is in with Gaston Moore out of the game. He is a true freshman and the third-string QB for USF.

Gaston Moore down following long pass to JeyQuan Smith

Gaston Moore is down on the field with the USF medical staff examining him after he completes a pass to Jeyquan Smith. Moore was hit late by an ODU defender and appeared to hit his head on the turf.

His offensive line immediately motioned for the medical team to come out. Moore walked off the field under his own power.

End of third quarter: Old Dominion 17, South Florida 10

Old Dominion holds a 17-10 lead over USF through three quarters in the Cure Bowl. The Bulls will face a fourth-and-5 from the ODU 39-yard line when the fourth quarter commences.

Nathaniel Eichner field goal extends ODU lead

Nathaniel Eichner hits a 24-yard field goal to extend the Old Dominion lead to 17-10 with 3:27 left in the third quarter.

The scoring drive is 10 plays for 73 yards and takes 4:13 off the game clock.

De’Shawn Rucker ejected for targeting

De’Shawn Rucker is ejected for targeting on his hit on Quinn Henicle, which keeps the ball with Old Dominion at the USF 9-yard line.

Henicle remains in the game.

Quinn Henicle loses fumble, hurt on rushing attempt

Quinn Henicle loses a fumble following a 12-yard rush. He was hit on the play and is down on the field with an injury.

However, the play is under review for targeting.

Nico Gramatica misses second field goal

Nico Gramatica misses his second field goal of the game, with this coming from 39 yards out. The kick is missed wide left. Gramatica also missed a kick from 48 yards out earlier in the game. He made a 28-yard field goal in the first quarter.

Gramatica entered the game 17-of-21 on his kicks this season.

Trequan Jones gives Old Dominion lead

Facing a third-and-7, running back Trequan Jones finds a big hole after cutting and takes it 22 yards to give Old Dominion a 14-10 lead with 10:06 left in the third quarter.

The scoring drive is three plays for 25 yards and takes 38 seconds off the clock, coming off the interception from Jerome Carter.

Jerome Carter intercepts Gaston Moore

Gaston Moore throws inaccurately and safety Jerome Carter intercepts his pass. Carter returns the interception for 26 yards to the USF 25-yard line.

Old Dominion begins second half of Cure Bowl on offense

After deterring the decision to possess the ball on the coin toss, Old Dominion will begin the second half on offense. The Monarchs trail South Florida 10-7 after one half of play.

Halftime: South Florida 10, Old Dominion 7

Old Dominion-South Florida halftime stats

Old Dominion turns ball over on botched snap on field goal

Ian Brandt cannot handle the snap on a field goal attempt that would have tied the game at 10-10 at the end of the first half. Instead, Old Dominion does not score and the game will be 10-7 at halftime.

That stalls a drive that went 14 plays for 56 yards and gave the Monarchs the chance to take the lead or tie the game going into halftime.

Earlier in the drive, Quinn Henicle missed a wide-open tight end in the end zone that would have given Old Dominion the lead.

Brandon Crutchfield picks off Gaston Moore

With USF driving, Gaston Moore sails a pass, and it is picked off by Old Dominion’s Brandon Crutchfield with 3:23 left in the first half. The Monarchs begin the drive from their own 20 following an 11-yard return.

Jeremiah Koger TD catch gives USF lead

Gaston Moore hits freshman receiver Jeremiah Koger for a 31-yard touchdown to give USF a 10-7 lead with 7:24 left in the first half. Moore connected with Koger for a 25-yard play on the play before the touchdown.

The scoring drive is three plays for 55 yards and takes 1:03 off the game clock.

Koger has three receptions for 62 yards and the score, while Moore is 10-of-12 passing for 136 yards.

Martin Gramatica misses 48-yard field goal

Martin Gramatica’s field goal from 48 yards is no good, as it misses wide right. USF’s seven-play, 48-yard drive does not produce any points.

End of first quarter: Old Dominion 7, USF 3

Old Dominion holds a 7-3 lead after the first quarter. Quinn Henicle scores the only touchdown of the opening quarter on a keeper.

The Monarchs outgained USF 116-29 in the quarter, including 65-18 in the air.

Quinn Henicle gives Old Dominion lead in Cure Bowl

Quinn Henicle scores on a QB keeper from 6 yards out to give Old Dominion a 7-3 lead with 42 seconds left in the first quarter. The first-and-goal situation comes after a roughing the passer call on Jahari Grant.

The scoring drive is 10 plays for 75 yards and takes 4:36 off the game clock.

Nico Gramatica field goal gives USF lead

Nico Gramatica hits a 28-yard field goal to give USF a 3-0 lead with 5:18 left in the first quarter. Following the turnover, the Bulls drove the ball to the 10-yard line, but saw the drive stall out.

The scoring drive is eight plays for 31 yards and takes 2:03 off the game clock.

Fred Gaskin returns fumble for USF

Fred Gaskin returns a fumble from Old Dominion QB Quinn Henicle for 22 yards to the Monarchs’ 41-yard line. Jarvis Lee sacked Henicle for a loss of 19 and forced the fumble after ODU drove to the USF 18-yard line and looked poised to take the lead.

Old Dominion turns ball over on downs

Old Dominion goes for it on fourth-and-four from the 26-yard line, but the pass falls incomplete, giving USF the ball back. The Bulls’ defense comes up with a big stop with the Monarchs having a short field.

Kris Trinidad, DeAnde Lynch sack ends USF’s first drive

Kris Trinidad and DeAnde Lynch combine for a sack to force a three-and-out on USF’s opening drive. Following the three-and-out, Devin Roche returns a punt for 48 yards to give the Monarchs the ball at the USF 32-yard line for their first offensive possession.

USF opens Cure Bowl on offense

Old Dominion wins the toss and defers to the second half. USF will receive and ODU will defend the north goal.

Pregame

Quinn Henicle stats

With Colton Joseph opting out of the bowl game and entering the transfer portal, redshirt freshman Quinn Henicle earns the start for Old Dominion. Henicle has attempted 15 passes this season and 40 for his career.

Like Joseph, Henicle provides a dual-threat option for the Monarchs. He averaged 8.2 yards per carry and three touchdowns last season and has averaged 5.1 yards per carry this season.

• 2024: 14-of-25 (56%) passing for 181 yards, two touchdowns and one interception; 34 rushes for 278 yards and three touchdowns
• 2025: 6-of-15 passing (40%) for 57 yards; 20 rushes for 102 yards

Gaston Moore stats

With Byrum Brown opting out of the bowl game, senior signal-caller Gaston Moore will earn the start for South Florida. Moore is 14-of-20 passing for 54 yards and a touchdown this season.

For his career, Moore is 40-of-64 passing for 327 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions in five seasons with Tennessee and USF.

• 2021 (Tennessee): 2-for-2 (100%) passing for six yards
• 2022 (Tennessee): 4-for-5 (80%) passing for 30 yards and an interception
• 2023 (Tennessee): 4-for-10 (40%) passing for 36 yards; Three rushes for four yards
• 2024 (Tennessee): 16-of-27 (59.3%) passing for 201 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions; Three rushes for 18 yards
• 2025 (South Florida): 14-of-20 (70%) for 54 yards and a touchdown; Seven rushes for 12 yards

What channel is Old Dominion vs South Florida on today?

• TV Channel: ESPN
• Livestream:Fubo (free trial)

Old Dominion vs South Florida will broadcast nationally on ESPN for the Cure Bowl. Dave Neal and Fozzy Whittaker will call the game from the booth at Camping World Stadium, with Morgan Uber reporting from the sidelines. Streaming options for the game include Watch ESPN and Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.

Old Dominion vs South Florida time today

• Date: Wednesday, Dec. 17
• Start time: 5 p.m. ET

The Old Dominion vs South Florida game starts at 5 p.m. ET from Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

Old Dominion vs South Florida predictions, picks, odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Wednesday, Dec. 17

• Spread: South Florida (-4)
• Over/under: 53.2 points
• Moneyline: South Florida -190 ∣ Old Dominion +155

Prediction: South Florida 27, Old Dominion 23

This one may end up being lower scoring than anticipated with both teams’ starting quarterbacks having opted out. The Bulls still have more than enough pieces from the nation’s No. 2 scoring offense to get past what’s been a red-hot Monarchs squad.

The New York Knicks won the NBA Cup, but you won’t find any evidence of that in their home arena.

According to ESPN, the Knicks will not raise a commemorative NBA Cup championship banner in Madison Square Garden, the iconic Midtown Manhattan arena where they play their home games. This bucks the trend of previous winners hanging banners in their arenas; after their 2023 victory, the Lakers raised an NBA Cup banner at Crypto.com Arena and the Bucks hung one in Fiserv Forum after their Cup title last year.

This reflects the difference of opinion teams have held with the NBA Cup. The decision also may have come as a surprise to Knicks coach Mike Brown, who struck a different tone in his postgame press conference Tuesday, Dec. 16, after New York defeated the San Antonio Spurs to claim the 2025 NBA Cup.

‘The most positive is being able to hang a banner in MSG,’ Brown said, ‘the most iconic arena in the league.’

Multiple Knicks players were asked the question about whether they would want a banner raised to commemorate the title, and responses were mixed.

From Karl-Anthony Towns (‘The Cup is special … we going to hold this Cup championship dear to our heart’), to Josh Hart (‘Ah, man, I don’t know. I’ll let y’all decide that. Someone’s going to be mad whatever we do’), Knicks players appeared to be caught in the balance of celebrating the achievement, while understanding that the grind of the NBA season wears on.

The Knicks last hung a banner after the 1998-99 season, when the Knicks won the Eastern Conference but lost in the NBA Finals to the Spurs.

New York’s next home game will be Friday, Dec. 19 against the Philadelphia 76ers.

‘I don’t think we’re having a parade, one,’ Jalen Brunson said after the game. ‘To the city of New York, I think it’s good that we won this. I think the way we won it is special as well. … This is great and now we’re going to enjoy this, but once we leave tomorrow, we’re moving on.’

(This story was updated to add a video.)

NHL goaltenders take longer to blossom and reach peak levels than other positions.

With most teams running with two goalies, there’s simply not as much room to break out into the NHL right away, compared to forwards and defensemen like Connor Bedard, Macklin Celebrini and Matthew Schaefer, who made ‘The Show’ at 18.

Of course, that’s a trend, not a rule.

There are a handful of netminders who are 25 years old or younger, either taking the NHL by storm or coming into their own as they mature. 

So, who are the NHL’s five best young goaltenders? Let’s take a look:

NHL’s 5 best young goalies

5. Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Jet Greaves

While it’s one thing to have a cool name, backing it up with sound play is a different matter altogether. 

Despite his middling 18-17-7 record, the 24-year-old has enjoyed a terrific start to his NHL career. Greaves’ breakout came last year when he assembled an impressive 7-2-2 record with two shutouts and an otherworldly .938 save percentage and 1.91 goals against average. 

In 2025-26, Greaves is among the top 15 in goals saved above expected, meaning he’s stopping more chances than an average goalie would in his situations, according to moneypuck.com. Enjoy watching Jet as he ascends the goaltending ranks. 

4. Chicago Blackhawks goalie Spencer Knight

Drafted with the 13th pick in the first round of the 2019 draft by the Florida Panthers, Spencer Knight played four seasons before earning his first crack as a team’s No. 1 netminder. 

With the fourth-most goals saved above expected thus far in the 2025-26 season, he’s making the most of his opportunity with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Knight’s story is also one of redemption as he missed the 2023-24 season after entering the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program and completing the required steps to re-enter the league.

3. Anaheim Ducks goalie Lukas Dostal

Lukas Dostal made his NHL debut in 2021-22, starting four games for the Anaheim Ducks. 

Drafted 85th overall by the Ducks in 2018, Dostal became the team’s No. 1 goaltender in 2024-25, finishing with 14.3 goals saved above expected. That was the second-best total among goaltenders who are 25 or younger, with Greaves’ 14.5 marginally better. 

Just outside the top 10 for goals saved above expected in 2025-26, the 25-year-old is off to another exquisite start. 

2. Minnesota Wild goalie Jesper Wallstedt

Jesper Wallstedt, the youngest on this list at 23, secured five shutouts in his first 15 NHL starts. Only Frank ‘Mr. Zero’ Brimsek got to five shutouts faster. In 1938, Brimsek accomplished the feat in just nine starts. 

Wallstedt shut out the opponent four times in a six-game stretch earlier this season, with the high-octane Edmonton Oilers among the victims. That stretch encapsulates how impressive Wallstedt has been in the embryonic stages of his NHL career.

1. Calgary Flames goalie Dustin Wolf

In Dustin Wolf, the Calgary Flames are confident they have found their franchise goaltender. 

Selected in the seventh round with the 214th pick in 2019, the 24-year-old from California came close to not even being drafted. In 2024-25, he paid back the faith the Flames showed in him by propelling them to within a point of an improbable playoff appearance. 

Wolf’s superb de facto rookie season earned him a place among the Calder Trophy finalists. He finished with the second-most votes in front of Macklin Celebrini and behind the winner, Lane Hutson.