The chairman of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games organizing committee said he ‘deeply regrets’ his presence in the most recent batch of files and documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice as part of the federal investigation related to convicted sex offender and accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

Casey Wasserman acknowledged in a statement what appear to be a series of flirty and sexually suggestive emails he exchanged in 2003 with Ghislaine Maxwell, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2022 for her role in a scheme to sexually exploit and abuse multiple minor girls with Epstein over the course of a decade.

Included among the electronic correspondence made public in recent days was a March 2003 email in which Wasserman wrote, “I think of you all the time. So, what do I have to do to see you in a tight leather outfit?”

Wasserman, 51, is the founder and CEO of an eponymous global sports marketing and talent agency with clients such as Adam Sandler, Brad Pitt and Katie Ledecky. He is considered a prominent Democratic Party donor and serves as a trustee for the Clinton Foundation. He has not been charged in the criminal cases against Epstein and Maxwell.

‘I deeply regret my correspondence with Ghislaine Maxwell which took place over two decades ago, long before her horrific crimes came to light,’ Wasserman’s statement said. ‘I never had a personal or business relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. As is well documented, I went on a humanitarian trip as part of a delegation with the Clinton Foundation in 2002 on the Epstein plane. I am terribly sorry for having any association with either of them.’

Epstein died in a Manhattan jail in 2019 while awaiting a federal sex-trafficking trial, and has ties to some of the world’s richest and most powerful people, including former President Bill Clinton and President Donald Trump. Both men have denied any wrongdoing, and neither has been charged.

Wasserman helped lead the efforts to bring the Summer Olympics back to Los Angeles in recent years. The city previously hosted the Olympics in 1984.

The WNBA and its players’ association met on Monday to continue ongoing negotiations toward a new collective bargaining agreement.

The two sides reportedly talked face-to-face in New York City, the first such meeting in weeks. However, after three hours at the NBA’s offices, WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike declined to speak to the media about any developments as she left.

‘No, we can’t talk,’ she said.WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert also attended Monday’s meeting along with members of the labor relations committee and New York and Liberty owners Clara Wu and Joe Tsai. From the player side, union vice president Alysha Clark, treasurer Brianna Turner and player representative Stefanie Dolson were in attendance as well.

Vice presidents and Unrivaled co-founders Napheesa Collier (travel issues) and Breanna Stewart did not attend in person and participated virtually. Los Angeles Sparks guard and vice president Kelsey Plum, who was traveling with Collier, also attended via video call.

The WNBA and players’ union have been at an impasse, extending the negotiation deadline twice before entering a ‘status quo’ period on Jan. 9.

Under ‘status quo,’ the working conditions established in the current CBA remain as is, allowing both sides to continue negotiating. The current agreement also prevents either side from engaging in a work stoppage without giving notice.

The main source of contention between the WNBA and the WNBPA continues to be revenue sharing. The players are reportedly prioritizing increased revenue sharing and salary structures. However, the sides differ on whether revenue sharing should be net or gross income, the percentage of the share and the salary cap.

Pending a CBA agreement by the WNBA and WNBPA, the 2026 WNBA season is scheduled to begin May 8. It will be the league’s 30th season.

Obed Vargas has completed a transfer to Atlético Madrid from the Seattle Sounders, the two clubs announced on Monday.

The 20-year-old midfielder has signed a contract with the La Liga power through 2030. He joins for an undisclosed transfer fee, with the Sounders retaining a sell-on percentage in the event of a future move.

Vargas, an Alaska native who represents Mexico internationally, has been an integral member of the Sounders since signing as a Homegrown Player in 2021.

The midfielder made 130 appearances in all competitions with the Rave Green, tallying eight goals and 16 assists. He helped the Sounders win the 2022 Concacaf Champions Cup and 2025 Leagues Cup during his time with the club.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for Obed and a proud moment for Sounders FC. This move reflects his hard work and ambition, as well as the club’s coaching and development staff from the academy up to the first team,” said Sounders GM and chief soccer officer Craig Waibel.

“From the time he joined the academy in 2019, Obed has exhibited maturity, professionalism and commitment to his growth as a player. We’re excited to see him take this next step with Atlético Madrid.”

Vargas represented the U.S. at various youth international levels before completing a one-time switch to Mexico. He has earned three caps for Mexico’s senior national team.

“I want to say thank you to all my teammates, all the technical, medical and equipment staff and everyone that helped me throughout this journey, that made my time in Seattle amazing. You took in a 14-year-old boy and helped him grow,” Vargas said.

“To all the fans – it was an incredible ride. From my debut in Austin to my debut at Lumen, to winning Champions League and playing in front of 70,000 people and winning Leagues Cup. I couldn’t have imagined it any other way and wouldn’t have wanted it with any other team.”

One of the wildest NFL coaching carousels in league history has finally come to a standstill − at least for the top positions.

With 10 head-coaching vacancies popping up, the onset of the offseason was far more active than anyone could have anticipated. But after the Las Vegas Raiders closed in on Klint Kubiak and the Arizona Cardinals hired Mike LaFleur on Sunday, every opening has now been accounted for less than a month the movement first started to ramp up with Black Monday.

Given the myriad unknowns and extenuating circumstances when assessing what went right or wrong at the very top for any team, evaluating head-coaching hires − particularly first-timers − can be notoriously difficult. With that said, here is our initial ranking of all the coaching hires:

1. John Harbaugh, New York Giants

On Black Monday, it seemed as though this year’s candidate pool lacked the equivalent of a Mike Vrabel or Ben Johnson. One day later, John Harbaugh was thrown into the mix and became the clear headliner.

Expecting the former Ravens coach to replicate what the New England Patriots or Chicago Bears achieved in Year 1 of their new regimes would be unreasonable. Still, Harbaugh’s track record – just three losing seasons in 18 years – is the stuff of dreams for a Giants franchise tied for the fewest wins since 2017 (44).

Harbaugh was the one option this cycle who looked capable of flipping an organization’s culture, even if it required some uncomfortable shifts. Given how set in their ways the Giants have been, the transformation might not take place overnight. But Big Blue has seen sharp play-callers flame out, so inspiring hope was going to necessitate finding someone capable of addressing the very core of the organization.

In Harbaugh, they now have that.

2. Jesse Minter, Baltimore Ravens

Parting with Harbaugh only to turn to a family disciple might seem like a strange move. But in hiring Jesse Minter, Baltimore can hold onto much of what worked for the previous regime while still finding a fresh voice and direction for the franchise.

Widely lauded for both his schematic acumen and his ability to connect with others, Minter already has an extensive track record of bringing along young players. That no doubt was a major draw for a Ravens team with a top-heavy roster and a firm commitment to developing home-grown talent. In Los Angeles, Minter’s remaking of the defense took hold almost instantly. The Ravens might be due for a bit more upheaval on that side of the ball than they’re accustomed to, but Minter could help the franchise return to its roots. At the very least, he can help the unit cut down on the considerable number of lapses that became an unfortunate running theme last season.

Leaving the fate of the offense and two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson in the hands of Declan Doyle, the league’s offensive coordinator, is colossal gamble. But there’s considerable upside after the unit seemed to hit its ceiling under Todd Monken.

3. Kevin Stefanski, Atlanta Falcons

Given owner Arthur Blank’s impatience in ending the league’s second-longest active playoff drought, Harbaugh understandably would have been the big prize here. But landing a two-time NFL Coach of the Year should be more than a satisfactory outcome for the Falcons.

It’s fair to wonder how much blame Kevin Stefanski bears for an 8-26 record in his final two years with the Cleveland Browns. There’s no questioning his resourcefulness, though, and that trait should come in handy as he takes on a far less imposing undertaking than the one he had been saddled with. His wide-zone scheme is bound to be a boon for All-Pro running back Bijan Robinson, and he can help compensate for the lack of wide receiver threats beyond Drake London.

The hiccup here could be in the potential disconnect between Stefanski’s tendencies and quarterback Michael Penix Jr.’s strengths, which haven’t included attacking the middle of the field, working from under center or operating with reliable precision. Stefanski might have been best off coming aboard two years ago, when the team was first finding its way with his former pupil, Kirk Cousins. But Atlanta couldn’t afford to center its coaching search on Penix, who is coming off a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

Maybe this isn’t an outright moon shot. Yet with the NFC South still looking eminently winnable, this feels like substantial progress toward at least joining the conference’s second tier of contenders. Bonus points, too, for retaining defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, who revved up the long-dormant pass rush and helped several young defenders break out in 2025.

4. Robert Saleh, Tennessee Titans

Perhaps feeling some pangs of remorse after parting with Mike Vrabel and giving an unproven entity in Brian Callahan a shot, the Titans went hard at second-time head coaches this cycle. In all, 14 of the 18 candidates they interviewed had prior experience running a franchise. With Robert Saleh, Tennessee ended up doling out a second chance to someone who has shown enough to indicate things might go smoother than they did in his first go-around.

Perhaps the optics weren’t great in the early going, as the first three hires this cycle all materialized ahead of scheduled visits with the Titans. But credit Tennessee for not being overly rigid in its process, which many assumed would be focused on pairing 2025 No. 1 pick Cam Ward with an offensive play-caller for a head coach.

Saleh did superlative work in keeping a San Francisco 49ers defense ravaged by injuries afloat, and his plan to hang onto defensive play-calling duties while serving as head coach should facilitate an expedited turnaround on that side of the ball. Though his first stop featured plenty of mishaps with cultural development and locker room management, Saleh surely took away some lessons in what not to do at his next opportunity. And in bringing on former Giants head coach Brian Daboll as offensive coordinator to guide Ward’s development, he’s gotten off to a promising start in establishing a framework for the franchise to actually compete for the first time since Vrabel’s firing.

With Tennessee having an estimated league-high $93.5 million in cap space, according to Over The Cap, and few promising pieces beyond Ward, Saleh at least sizes up as someone who should prove skillful in building from the ground floor.

5. Klint Kubiak, Las Vegas Raiders

After losing out on Ben Johnson last year, the Raiders at long last have their offensive upstart to get this build in motion.

Las Vegas likely had its eyes trained on one side of the ball more so than other franchises after ranking last in scoring and total yards last season, with the Silver and Black holding second interviews with Brady and Denver Broncos passing game coordinator Davis Webb. Ultimately, however, Kubiak gives the organization something even more important than offensive acumen: alignment.

Turning to Pete Carroll – who became the oldest coach in NFL history upon his return to the sidelines – quickly proved to be an odd settling point for an organization that should have been seeking long-term answers rather than quick fixes. Kubiak turns 39 later his month, and there are bound to be some hiccups in his acclimation period as a first-time head coach. Nevertheless, there was no more promising offensive mind to bring aboard and set the stage for Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza’s expected arrival as the No. 1 pick.

Between a rare run on second-chance coaches and the Seahawks’ playoff push limiting his availability, Kubiak didn’t end up commanding the kind of attention one might expect of a candidate with his resume. If he’s able to engineer a comparable sort of instantaneous turnaround in Las Vegas as he did in Seattle, however, this move might quickly become one of the most lauded in this cycle.

6. Joe Brady, Buffalo Bills

In a vacuum, Joe Brady is a perfectly qualified candidate who would invigorate plenty of franchises. He entered the season as one of the most prominent names on the market after deciding to stay put last winter, and his play-calling acumen might be unmatched in a thin pool of offensive-minded options.

But any assessment of the Bills’ hire has to take into account the circumstances of their puzzling firing of Sean McDermott and the even more baffling justification put forth by owner Terry Pegula and general manager Brandon Beane. Now, after giving every indication that the team needs to get over the ‘proverbial playoff wall’ that Pegula referenced, the franchise is turning to … a first-time head coach – and, at 36, the youngest in the NFL – who was interwoven with the issues that Pegula and Beane seemed to cite as grounds for McDermott’s dismissal.

Pegula seemed to center Josh Allen throughout the process, including having the quarterback shape the search for McDermott’s replacement. Viewed through that lens, Brady makes ample sense for Buffalo after he proved capable of orchestrating a versatile attack despite several glaring personnel limitations, particularly at receiver.

Perhaps the Bills took a look around at their external options and simply weren’t moved by any of the choices. (It’s worth noting that they were unable to speak with Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak given the timing of McDermott’s firing and the Seahawks’ Super Bowl run.) But after crowing about the need for change, why skew so heavily toward the familiar?

There’s clearly considerable upside for Brady here, but the challenge facing him is immense. Not only must he figure out a way to push Allen and the offense forward after the unit ranked fourth in both total yards and points in 2025, but he’ll have to do so while taking on a host of unfamiliar game-management and big-picture responsibilities. Bringing in Jim Leonhard to lead the defense adds a bit of excitement on that side of the ball, but navigating that unit’s diminishing returns in several spots could be a bt overwhelming for a first-time NFL defensive coordinator. The cap situation – Buffalo is currently projected to be nearly $14 million overdrawn, according to Over The Cap – is also a little foreboding for a team that has several key pending free agents worth keeping – and several more who should be brought in.

There’s a solid chance that the Bills can be a playoff mainstay and top-tier AFC contender under Brady. The problem for him, however, is that Buffalo has made clear that those accomplishments won’t suffice.

7. Jeff Hafley, Miami Dolphins

By no means is Jeff Hafley an egregious hire. After his two years as the Green Bay Packers’ defensive coordinator, it seemed as though he’d rank among the more attractive potential first-time head coaches. And with Miami bringing aboard fellow Packer ex-pat Jon-Eric Sullivan as general manager, there’s solid alignment here for a franchise that’s probably staring down a full-scale reset in 2026.

But there’s a bit more of an unknown element to him than there is for others on this list.

Hafley managed to revitalize the Packers’ defense almost immediately upon his arrival. His creativity in navigating the unit’s deficiencies at various points augurs well for a team that presents a plethora of its own shortcomings. The Dolphins could also stand to benefit from a shift in accountability after repeatedly reverting to finger-pointing under Mike McDaniel.

Still, this is a lot to take on for someone whose only prior head-coaching experience was at Boston College. The Dolphins probably made the shrewd move in riding things out with a fresh face rather than expecting a retread hire to turn things around right away. But Hafley might have a harder time than some of his peers in filling out a staff capable of accounting for all his blind spots as he takes the wheel. The promotion of Bobby Slowik to offensive coordinator seems like a risky move given the pervasive protection problems he couldn’t solve during his run as the Houston Texans’ coordinator.

8. Mike McCarthy, Pittsburgh Steelers

After Mike Tomlin’s resignation, chairman Art Rooney II made clear the Steelers wouldn’t be undergoing a rebuild. And here’s the proof.

In hiring the 62-year-old McCarthy, who has a career 60.8% winning percentage and a Super Bowl title on his résumé but little postseason success to speak of in the last decade, Pittsburgh proved it prized steady stewardship above all. On some level, that’s understandable for a franchise that hasn’t known what it’s like to be truly out of the playoff hunt in the last 20 years. McCarthy has also demonstrated he’s still a savvy play-caller − his 2022 and ’23 offenses ranked fourth and first in scoring, respectively − who has unparalleled experience in leading storied organizations after his runs with the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys.

But unlike the Giants, the Steelers aren’t a team needing the floor to be raised. Pittsburgh has taken up residence in the AFC’s second tier without much of a threat of breaking through to the first, with its postseason win drought now standing at nine seasons.

It’s difficult to see how McCarthy changes that dynamic much, even if the baseline doesn’t stray too far from a .500 mark. And while the stellar quarterback play that has accompanied his past two stops might be seen as a major draw for a franchise facing plenty of uncertainty behind center, there’s not much to suggest he has a substantial advantage over the field in developing a young passer − a task the Steelers desperately need to embrace but might again resist.

Perhaps the most problematic element of this decision was the stretch run of the process. Pittsburgh held virtual interviews with both Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula − considered by many to be a leading candidate for the role − and Rams passing game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase. But rather than wait until after the NFC championship game for the opportunity to speak in person with both, the Steelers plowed ahead with McCarthy, who hadn’t been in the mix for any of the other remaining vacancies. This was the perfect opportunity for Pittsburgh to step back and consider the full scope of its options. Instead, it opted for the familiar and unthreatening choice.

In the past few years, two of the more notable respectability plays for hires − the Raiders turning to Carroll last year and the Jacksonville Jaguars going to Doug Pederson in 2022 − have flamed out. McCarthy likely won’t go bust at the scale that the former did. But this sure feels like a missed opportunity to make up ground on the conference’s actual contenders by a franchise more concerned with the prospect of ceding it.

9. Mike LaFleur, Arizona Cardinals

It should come as no surprise that the Cardinals were the last team to arrive at a decision for their head-coaching opening. Remember, this was the franchise that ranked last in the NFL Players Association’s annual report card – yes, behind even the New York Jets.

It also stood to reason then that Arizona would again have to go a bit outside the box in its coaching search rather than try to woo the big names that were courted by more appealing outfits. The Cardinals’ choice only emerged after the team waited for a Saturday interview with Kubiak only to have him link up with the Raiders instead.

As the franchise returns its focus back to the offensive side of the ball after Jonathan Gannon’s tenure, the 38-year-old offers plenty of reasons for a franchise to take a chance on him. He’s been a valued asset to both Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay, and the latter’s previous three offensive coordinators – Matt LaFleur, Kevin O’Connell and Liam Coen – have all gone on to find resounding success in top posts. The younger LaFleur could fast-track the revitalization of a run game that ranked second in yards per carry, and he should have no trouble continuing to route the aerial attack through Trey McBride.

But can Shanahan and McVay’s former pupil really compete with the two of them while dealing with a substantial gap in talent and institutional support? This would have been an extremely difficult spot for any candidate, and a large swing was likely necessary. But LaFleur’s track record working with Zach Wilson in New York isn’t exactly inspiring for a team that could need to break in a young passer soon if it opts to move on from Kyler Murray. The timing of the move also does him few favors when it comes to compiling a staff capable of helping a first-time head coach in a difficult position, as many of the more experienced coordinator options have already settled in elsewhere.

10. Todd Monken, Cleveland Browns

Consider this placement not so much an indictment of Todd Monken as everything Cleveland has done to get to this point.

As the Ravens’ offensive coordinator, Monken proved adept at employing an innovative approach to invigorate what had been a stagnant passing game. Under his watch, the Ravens ranked third and fourth in scoring in the two seasons prior to 2025, when Lamar Jackson’s injury and a host of other setbacks muddled the picture for Baltimore. That creativity will surely be needed as Cleveland looks to compensate for massive deficiencies along its offensive line and in its receiving corps. And that’s to say nothing of the great unknown behind center.

Still, Monken, who turns 60 next week, is one of the oldest first-time head coaching hires in recent NFL history. And from the three weeks the Browns went in between firing two-time NFL Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski and settling on his replacement, the franchise served up plenty of reminders of why this job is so daunting.

In total, three candidates – Jesse Minter, later hired as the Baltimore Ravens’ head coach; Mike McDaniel, who settled on becoming the Los Angeles Chargers’ offensive coordinator; and Grant Udinski, who opted to remain the Jacksonville Jaguars’ offensive coordinator – dropped out of consideration for the role. Per multiple reports, Cleveland’s search was colored by a desire to retain defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, a favorite of owner Jimmy Haslam, in some capacity. With Schwartz losing out on the top role, however, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that it was unlikely he would return to the new staff.

Having served as the team’s offensive coordinator in Freddie Kitchens’ disastrous one-year run in 2019, Monken is familiar with the Browns’ rampant dysfunction. Maybe that will serve him well as he takes on one of the NFL’s most imposing jobs. But it seems clear that the Browns’ shift away from Stefanski lacked much of a vision for where the organization wanted to end up.

BLOOMINGTON, IN – Just as Josh Hoover needed little introduction to the football program he joined out of the transfer portal, the former TCU quarterback said he feels no pressure walking in the footsteps of outgoing Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza.

Hoover — who initially committed to Indiana out of Texas high school football before flipping to the Horned Frogs — ranks among Curt Cignetti’s highest-profile additions in this year’s portal class.

His 9,629 career yards passing rank Hoover first in the nation among returning players in that category, positioning the Big 12-turned-Big Ten QB to help Indiana transition seamlessly from one transfer quarterback to another.

“Obviously, Fernando’s an unbelievable player, won the Heisman, won all the awards, they had all the team success you can have last year,” Hoover said Saturday, Jan. 31. “For me, I’m just gonna be myself. That’s why I’m here — to be myself, put my imprint on the program and try to encourage guys and bring people along. Be the best player I can be.”

Celebrate IU’s season with books, special sections!

Speaking following a more than two-hour meet-and-greet session with IU fans, hosted by a Bloomington CVS, Hoover spoke admiringly at the fan support he watched coalesce around Indiana during its run to the national championship.

That support was on display Saturday, as a crowd comfortably beyond 500 fans passed through CVS, the line snaking through multiple aisles while Hoover, several of his new teammates — Tyrique Tucker, Khobie Martin and Lee Beebe Jr. — and Omar Cooper Jr., who declared for the NFL draft, also attended, signed memorabilia, posed for pictures and chatted with supporters.

A small handful of those fans even split their attire between Indiana and TCU gear, a nod to Hoover’s success across three-plus seasons in Fort Worth.

“The fans are awesome. Great people. Love football, love the Hoosiers, for sure, and it’s super cool as a player to have that support,” Hoover said. “How much the fans love football, love this program, love this city and love this state, it’s been super cool.”

A starter across most of the past three seasons at TCU, Hoover has been among the nation’s most-productive passers in a system not dissimilar to the one he’ll now captain in Bloomington.

Just in the past two years, Hoover attempted 884 passes, throwing for more than 7,400 yards, with 56 total touchdowns.

He showed a consistent ability to push the ball down the field vertically, something Indiana will want to maintain following Mendoza’s outstanding 2025 season. And Hoover spoke with confidence about his strength in run-pass option calls, another staple of coordinator Mike Shanahan’s offense.

“It’s something I’ve done for the last eight years of my life (going back to high school),” Hoover said. “The offenses I’ve played in have all been heavy RPO offenses, and so I feel like I’ve got a really good feel for that. I’m excited to bring my skillset in that area to this program, this offense.

“I think it’s going to translate well. We can distribute the ball, get easy touches for these receivers, who do well with the ball in their hands. That’s always a big part of offense: getting positive plays, stealing yards, and that’s exactly what we’re gonna do.”

IU’s lengthy playoff run — coupled to the attendant time off for players following its conclusion — likely moves the spring calendar back. Cignetti is also in the process of onboarding new strength coach Tyson Brown, further affecting the offseason calendar.

With spring practice still relatively far into the future, Hoover’s focus right now is building his rapport with his teammates and furthering his own comfort in his new offense.

As his career comes full circle, from IU commit under one staff to QB1 under another, the Texas native said transferring north to Bloomington for his final year of college football was an easy decision.

“It’s a special place to be right now,” Hoover said. “I’m definitely excited to be here. It’s the place I wanted to go, and it feels good to be back.”

Indiana football transfer portal commitments, exits

IN

• OL Joe Brunner (Wisconsin)
• DE Josh Burnham (Notre Dame)
• LS Drew Clausen (Iowa State)
• P Billy Gowers (Hawaii)
• DB A.J. Harris (Penn State)
• DT Joe Hjelle (Tulsa)
• QB Josh Hoover (TCU)
• WR Nick Marsh (Michigan State)
• K Paddy McAteer (Troy)
• EDGE Tobi Osunsanmi (Kansas State)
• RB Turbo Richard (Boston College)
• EDGE Chiddi Obiazor (Kansas State)
• WR Shazz Preston (Tulane)
• CB Jiquan Sanks (Cincinnati)
• TE Brock Schott (Miami)
• CB Carson Williams (Montana State)
• S Preston Zachman (Wisconsin)

OUT

• S Jah Jah Boyd (Colorado)
• EDGE Aden Cannon
• WR Ace Ciongoli (Florida)
• EDGE Andrew DePaepe (UMass)
• EDGE William DePaepe (UMass)
• CB Dontrae Henderson
• WR Makai Jackson (Liberty)
• CB Amariyun Knighten
• OL Evan Lawrence (San Diego State)
• QB Alberto Mendoza (Georgia Tech)
• DL J’mari Monette
• OL Mitch Verstegen
• EDGE Finn Walters
• DL Hosea Wheeler (Baylor)

The first USA TODAY Sports men’s college basketball poll for February is out, with the top four teams from the end of January holding steady.

Arizona remains at No. 1 with all 31 first-place votes. Michigan stays at No. 2 thanks to a pair of solid Big Ten wins this week. Connecticut and Duke remain at third and fourth respectively.

Gonzaga inherits the No. 5 spot, followed by a surging Illinois vaulting four positions to No. 6 after its Sunday defeat of Nebraska. Iowa State jumps ahead of fellow Big 12 contender Houston by just two poll points for the No. 7 position. Nebraska and Michigan State each fall back multiple spots but stay in the top 10.

TOP 25: Complete USA TODAY Sports men’s basketball poll

There’s a strong Big 12 presence in the next five as Kansas is back up to No. 11 leapfrogging No. 12 Purdue. Texas Tech and Brigham Young hold the next two positions, and Vanderbilt now leads the SEC contingent at No. 15.

Texas A&M joins the rankings at No. 25. Thanks to last week’s tie there are actually two dropouts as Alabama and Iowa fall.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has defended his organization’s controversial decision to award Donald Trump its inaugural Peace Prize.

The U.S. president was presented the award at the 2026 World Cup draw in December, just one month after FIFA announced the creation of the prize.

Though he conceded there had been a ‘strong reaction’ to Trump winning the award, Infantino insisted the prize was deserved.

The FIFA president, who has a close relationship with Trump, said that ‘objectively, he deserves it.’

Many speculated the FIFA Peace Prize was invented to placate Trump, who has been publicly fuming over not winning the Nobel Peace Prize since it was awarded in October.

The prize has looked even stranger in hindsight after U.S. troops invaded Venezuela and removed its president Nicolás Maduro and his wife, followed by the fatal shootings of two American citizens last month amid an immigration crackdown in Minneapolis.

Infantino, however, pointed to the actual winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, to say Trump was deserving.

‘It’s not just Gianni Infantino who said it … (there’s) a Nobel Peace Prize winner who said this,’ Infantino said.

‘He was instrumental in resolving conflicts and saving lives and saving thousands of lives.’

Machado presented her Nobel Prize to Trump during a meeting last month as she continues to seek his endorsement to be Maduro’s long-term replacement.

Trump said that Machado giving him the award was ‘a wonderful gesture of mutual respect,’ but the Nobel committee released a statement that said it didn’t hold any official weight.

‘Once a Nobel Prize is announced, it cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred to others,’ the statement said. ‘The decision is final and stands for all time.’