Michigan State basketball has been the best team in the country since the turn of the new year, according to one notable analytics rankings system.

Since January 1, Michigan State basketball ranks as the No. 1 team nationally in the Torvik rankings. The Torvik system is one of the top analytics metrics rankings used in college basketball, comparable to KenPom rankings or traditional RPI rankings.

Michigan State holds a record of 6-1 in the month of January with their lone loss being a two-point defeat at undefeated Nebraska to open the new year. Since then, Michigan State has won each of its six games by double-digits, with an average margin of victory of just under 23 points per game.

The competition Michigan State has played in January hasn’t necessarily been stellar, but blowout wins over USC and Indiana are notable considering both are in the hunt for a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Things are also about to get harder this week with a tricky road game at Rutgers and a massive top 10 matchup against rival Michigan on Friday.

Michigan State ranks as the No. 5 team in the country overall in Torvik’s season-long rankings. The Spartans are 18-2 overall and 8-1 in Big Ten play, and again look like a threat for a deep run in March.

Click on the post below to see the complete rankings of the top 20 teams in January per Torvik:

Top 20 Teams since January 1st via Torvik:

1. MSU
2. Houston
3. Arizona
4. Virginia
5. Nebraska
6. Texas Tech
7. Illinois
8. Duke
9. Saint Louis
10. Florida
11. Michigan
12. TAMU
13. Wisconsin
14. Auburn
15. Kansas
16. Clemson
17. Iowa State
18. Purdue
19. Gonzaga
20. Vandy

— College Basketball Report (@CBKReport) January 25, 2026

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.

This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: MSU basketball ranked as top team in January by popular metrics system

For Longhorns football, the 2025 campaign did not go as planned. After starting the season ranked as the top team in the country, they were unable to make the College Football Playoff. While they fell short of their goal of winning a national title, they are stacked with talent heading into the 2026 campaign. The list of returning veterans includes Graceson Littleton, who generated excitement for the future with his freshman campaign. 

In 13 games, the Tampa native recorded 47 total tackles, including four for a loss. He also added eight pass deflections, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles to his resume. As the season continued, the Wirergass Ranch High saw his playing time jump, and he made the most of it. 

Texas Freshman CB Graceson Littleton This Season:

🤘 324 Coverage Snaps
🤘 Zero Touchdowns Allowed

Use Code BLACKFRIDAY to get 40% Off PFF+

🔗 https://t.co/qntuFWVjLupic.twitter.com/m75GWSYzN1

— PFF College (@PFF_College) November 27, 2025

Due to his play, Littleton saw the field against some of the best programs in the country. That list includes Georgia, Oklahoma, Michigan, Vanderbilt, and Texas A&M. Against the Sooners, Littleton recorded an interception, and in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, he had six total tackles. 

As Littleton prepares for his sophomore campaign, he will be taking on a bigger role. He showed during his first season in Austin that he had star potential while playing in one of the best conferences in the nation. That should lead to him once again being a starter when spring practices begin ramping up.

Graceson Littleton as a true freshman in 2025:

541 snaps (6th on the team)
58 times targeted, 38 receptions allowed (65.5%)
388 yards allowed (6.7 per target)
70.2 passer rating allowed
2 PBU
2 INTs

Locked up Jeremiah Smith

Not an SEC All-Freshman?pic.twitter.com/1zltmRxOq0

— Evan Vieth (@EvanVieth) December 11, 2025

Although Littleton will be taking on more responsibility, he will have a  highly regarded group to rely on. That includes transfer portal addition Bo Mascoe and returning pieces such as Warren Roberson and Jelani McDonald. 

If Littleton can continue to develop, then the Longhorns will have another star in their secondary to rely on as they chase a title.

This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Graceson Littleton could be next Texas Football star DB

LAS VEGAS – Justin Gaethje might know a thing or two about MMA math.

Not the kind you’re used to hearing about – how if Fighter A beat Fighter B, and Fighter B beat Fighter C, then Fighter A would X, Y and Z, ad infinitum – but the actual, trackable kind.

Told his UFC 324 main event interim lightweight title win Saturday tied him with Dustin Poirier and Edson Barboza for the most Fight of the Night bonuses in UFC history, he knew exactly what the MMA math was.

“That’s through 15 (UFC) fights (for me),” Gaethje told MMA Junkie at his post-fight news conference at T-Mobile Arena. “They had 32 or 31. No one’s been as exciting and consistent as me ever. … I’m proud of that. Luckily, it’s just who I am, because I don’t try.”

Gaethje (27-5 MMA, 10-5 UFC) was an underdog against Paddy Pimblett (23-4 MMA, 7-1 UFC), who was around a -250 betting favorite. But over 25 minutes he fought through his toughest moments and did the lion’s share of the visible damage that was done in the fight, leaving Pimblett’s face a bloodied and bruised mild horror show.

Gaethje has 15 post-fight bonuses in 15 UFC fights. Only twice has he not gotten a bonus – but he’s evened things out by having two fights in which he earned both Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night. In the case of his assertion he’s been the most exciting and consistent fighter in UFC history, there are numbers like those to back up the claims.

Poirier, who retired in 2025, had his 10 Fight of the Night bonuses over 31 UFC fights. Barboza, who still is active, has had 32 bouts in the promotion for his 10 Fight of the Nights. He’s currently on a three-fight skid.

Gaethje now will sit back and wait to find out when and where he’ll fight champion Ilia Topuria, who took time away for personal reasons, creating the interim situation. Topuria plans to return between April and July, he has said.

Gaethje, now a two-time interim champion, will get a rare second chance at a title while holding a temp belt. In his first time as interim champion in 2020, he lost a unifier to Khabib Nurmagomedov – who retired afterward, opening the belt up again.

He thinks things might go different against Topuria when the time comes.

“I’ve just got to trust in the preparation, trust in my coaches and trust in my skills,” he said. “I’m here for a reason. I hope it’s my destiny, but I don’t get to write that. We’ll see.

“… I get to fight for the belt next fight, I get to get paid as a champion, and hopefully I have a good manager and he’ll renegotiate my contract. It’s better than losing tonight.”

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Justin Gaethje does the math on UFC Fight of Night bonus record

The New England Patriots have spent the last season engineering a remarkable turnaround, and on Sunday, they stunned the NFL by completing their journey back to the Super Bowl with an AFC Championship win over the Denver Broncos.

The Patriots captured a 10-7 win over the Broncos in a defensive struggle that turned out to be the second consecutive snow game for New England. And despite the challenging wintry environment and natural atmospheric challenges that accompany a trip to Empower Field at Mile High, the Patriots took care of business for their 17th victory of the season, returning to the Super Bowl for the first time since capturing Super Bowl LIII at the close of the 2018 season.

The Super Bowl appearance for the Patriots puts the cherry on top of a remarkable season that has gone better for the organization than any of their fans – or really anyone who follows the league – could have imagined. The Patriots are coming off back-to-back four-win seasons and are in their first season under the leadership of head coach Mike Vrabel, who previously captured three Super Bowls as a player with the franchise.

The Patriots will face the winner of the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX, as the NFC West Divisional Rivals battle in a rubber match on Sunday night in the NFC Championship Game after splitting their first two games of the year. Check out some of the reactions to their dramatic turnaround below.

After two straight seasons of going 4-13, who would’ve thought? pic.twitter.com/zrgyVaOGul

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 25, 2026

THE THRONE IS RECLAIMED 👑

New England is AFC royalty again, headed to the Super Bowl for the first time since Super Bowl LIII. pic.twitter.com/fDhN7caIiK

— ESPN (@espn) January 25, 2026

From 4-13 to Super Bowl bound.

Mike Vrabel is one hell of a coach. pic.twitter.com/11xvGOJjo9

— JPA (@jasrifootball) January 25, 2026

With Sunday’s AFC-clinching victory, the Patriots have now won 17 games this season.

They won 16 games over the previous three seasons combined. pic.twitter.com/VHU3jeITaG

— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) January 25, 2026

This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Internet reacts as Patriots cap stunning season with Super Bowl trip

It’s early, but Madrid look far more engaged under Álvaro Arbeloa than during the final months of Xabi Alonso’s tenure. The change is visible in energy, focus, and collective discipline.

Arbeloa’s approach has been straightforward: simple game plans, defined responsibilities, and confidence in the squad. Rather than constant tactical experimentation, he has emphasized clarity and emotional buy-in.

The result is a side playing with more cohesion and fewer self-inflicted errors.

PHOENIX (AP) — Phoenix Suns All-Star guard Devin Booker will miss at least a week with a sprained right ankle.

Booker will be re-evaluated in a week, the Suns said before Sunday night’s game against Miami.

He and guard Jalen Green both went down with injuries in Phoenix’s 110-103 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night.

Booker, a four-time All-Star, went down with five seconds remaining in the third quarter after stepping on the foot of the Hawks’ Onyeka Okongwu. Booker leads the Suns with 25.4 points and 6.2 assists per game.

Green re-injured his right hamstring against the Hawks in his second game since missing 33 games. He was walking without a limp after the game and the Suns hope it won’t be a long-term injury.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Chris Finch’s voice cracked and faltered as the coach expressed on behalf of the Minnesota Timberwolves their heartbreak for the community’s collective fear and pain from the ongoing immigration crackdown, following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti by a federal officer.

Finch presents a straightforward, no-nonsense approach in his public statements and rarely reveals much emotion, but he was clearly moved by the situation in Minneapolis before his team hosted Golden State on Sunday. The game between the Timberwolves and Warriors was postponed by 24 hours, after Pretti was killed on Saturday.

“I’m more than a resident. This is my home. I love living here. I love being a part of this community. I’ve been embraced from day one. People have been amazing. It’s sad to watch what is happening,” said Finch, who was hired by the Timberwolves five years ago. “On the human level, certainly as somebody who takes great pride in being here, I know a lot of our players feel the same. They all love being here, and it’s just hard to watch what we’re going through.”

The Timberwolves held a moment of silence for Pretti prior to the national anthem, just as they did for Renee Good before their game on Jan. 8, the day after she was fatally shot by a federal officer. The Trump administration in December launched what the Department of Homeland Security declared the largest immigration enforcement operation in history and earlier this month announced a surge of more officers to push their force past 2,000.

The NBA announced Saturday that the rescheduling decision was made to “prioritize the safety and security of the Minneapolis community” after Pretti was killed during a confrontation in a commercial district less than 2 miles south of Target Center. Finch said on Sunday that the Timberwolves pushed for the postponement to respect the public grieving process.

“Playing basketball just didn’t feel like the right thing to do,” Finch said, thanking the NBA and the Warriors for their support.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr, long one of the league’s most outspoken coaches, was measured but clearly moved as he expressed his own sympathy.

“This has always been a great stop on the NBA tour. I love the city of Minneapolis. People here are wonderful, and it’s very sad what’s happening. I feel for the city. There’s a pall that’s been cast over the city. You can feel it. A lot of people are suffering, and obviously a loss of life is the number one concern. Those families will never get their family members back,” Kerr said.

Tens of thousands of people swarmed downtown Minneapolis on Friday in protest of the tactics and presence of immigration officers, a crowd the Warriors could see from their hotel as it moved toward Target Center. A smaller protest march took place downtown before the game Sunday.

There were plenty of other voices being raised around the sports world on Sunday. Women’s basketball star Breanna Stewart held a sign with “abolish ICE” printed on it during introductions at her Unrivaled league game. Minnesota Frost fans during a PWHL game chanted “Ice out now!” The NBA Players Association issued a statement in support of the protests in Minnesota and urged its members to speak up.

The perspectives in a polarized country vary wildly on what constitutes constitutionally protected protesting and what becomes violent political disruption, and Kerr seemed to sense that tension as he spoke before the game on Sunday.

“People are so angry. There should be an appeal to our better angels to look after one another and to recognize what’s happening. We’re being divided by media for profit, by misinformation. There’s so much out there that is really difficult for all of us to sort of reconcile,” Kerr said. “And so in times like these you have to lean on values and who you are and who you want to be, either as an individual or a country.”

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

The Cleveland Cavaliers could be seeing the return of one of their key bench players. Sam Merrill, who has missed the team’s last five games with a right-hand sprain, is listed as questionable for Monday’s game against the Orlando Magic.

Merrill has been dealing with a hand sprain for much of the season. He injured it originally in a November win against the Milwaukee Bucks. This resulted in him missing just over a month of games. When he did return to the lineup, he wasn’t pain-free, as head coach Kenny Atkinson said at the time that he couldn’t even shake Merrill’s hand after games due to the pain he was in.

Merrill injured his hand again in the team’s Jan. 14 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. That’s the same game in which Darius Garland injured his other toe.

We don’t have any further updates on Garland’s injury beyond what the team released last Sunday. The Cavs said that Garland would be reevaluated in seven to 10 days after suffering a Grade 1 right great toe sprain. That initial timeframe would put the reevaluation happening anytime between now and Wednesday.

Even though the Cavs won’t be fully healthy for their game against the Magic, it would be beneficial to possibly get Merrill back in the lineup. Merrill has the third-best on/off differential on the team this season (+4.7 points per 100 possessions, 75th percentile). They’re 16-8 in the games he’s played.

On the season, Merrill is averaging 13.8 points on .470/.455/.882 shooting splits.

The Magic will once again be without their leading scorer, Franz Wagner (ankle), in Monday’s rematch.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Wienermobiles are coming back for a bite at the Brickyard in May, giving them another chance to relish the spotlight of racing’s biggest weekend.

Oscar Mayer announced Sunday all six of its famed street-ready vehicles will compete for the second straight year on Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s historic 2.5-mile oval. The Wienie 500 is scheduled for May 22 during the track’s annual Carburation Day festivities.

Last year’s race was such a hit, organizers wanted to give fans a second round to savor the flavor of a light-hearted competition just two days before IndyCar’s marquis race — the Indianapolis 500.

The presentation will have a familiar look for fans who watched last year’s inaugural race.

Each Wienermobile will feature toppings representing an American regional favorite while carrying carry custom decals. Drivers will don Hotdogger racing suits while the iconic “Wiener Song” plays and the champ drives into “wieners circle.”

Slaw Dog, which represents the Southeast, will try to prove it is beefy enough to defend last year’s crown. Four other regional favorites also are expected to return — Chi Dog (Midwest), New York Dog (East), Chili Dog (South) and Seattle Dog (Northwest).

But the Sonoran Dog may be replaced after failing to cut the mustard in 2025.

Fans can choose the final entrant from a menu of seven possibilities, including the Sonoran Dog, by visiting Instagram in the first “Pick Your Dog” Wienie 500 bracket. Updates will be provided on the Instagram account or on TikTok.

“The response to the first Wienie 500 was overwhelming, and we heard the fans loud and clear that they were hungry for more,” Kelsey Rice, Oscar Mayer brand communications director said in a statement. “This year, we’re supercharging the experience, delivering an even bigger, bolder and more unforgettable event that puts the fans at the forefront. With amplified engagement, intensified rivalries and more surprises in store, we’re giving the people what they want — an unparalleled live experience that will leave them craving more.”

___

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing