A former Michigan State assistant coach has been hired by the Dallas Cowboys.

Former Michigan State football assistant coach Brandon Jordan has been reportedly hired by the Dallas Cowboys, according to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports. Per Zenitz, Jordan will serve as a pass rush consultant for the Cowboys.

Jordan worked under former Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker as a pass rush specialist during the 2022 season. Jordan is known for working with numerous premier NFL players and previously worked for the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks since his short stint with the Spartans.

Jordan was one of three Michigan State staff members that were penalized by the NCAA this past fall for recruiting violations. Jordan received a five-year show cause penalty for his role in knowingly providing impermissible recruiting inducements, according to the NCAA.

The #Cowboys are hiring prominent private pass rush trainer Brandon Jordan in a pass rush consultant role, sources tell @CBSSports.

Has trained numerous premier NFL players. Has also been a pass rush consultant with Denver. Was previously a pass rush specialist with Seattle. pic.twitter.com/6WK4mkx2wa

— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) February 24, 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: Former MSU staffer Brandon Jordan reportedly hired by Dallas Cowboys

No. 2 Oregon Responds with Statement Win Over No. 3 Quinnipiac

The second-ranked Oregon acrobatics and tumbling team delivered a sharper, more complete performance in its home opener Saturday, defeating No. 3 Quinnipiac, 270.640–265.425, at Matthew Knight Arena.

Oregon set the tone immediately. A perfect 10.0 in the toss heat of the compulsory event gave the Ducks an early edge, and they controlled the meet from start to finish in a wire-to-wire victory between two top-three programs.

The win marked clear progress from Oregon’s season-opening score of 267.325 at Missouri State. The Ducks improved by more than three points overall and saw a significant jump in the team event, climbing from 89.100 to 92.290.

How It Happened
Oregon opened strong in compulsory, winning three of four heats. The highlight came in toss, where the Ducks earned the program’s first perfect 10.0 in the skill since 2020. The side-by-side precision of two quintets delivered the milestone score: Shea Barnes, Kamryn Horiuchi, Charlotte Lippa, Ashlyn Parlett and Emily Rezner; and Selah Bell, Molly Dahlager, Makenna Guidish, Angelica Martin and Blessyn McMorris.

The Ducks exited the opening event with a 38.000–37.700 lead and built on it in acro, outscoring Quinnipiac 65.100–63.300. Cassidy Cu and Angelica Martin anchored the effort with a 9.800 in the five-element heat and a 9.750 in the seven-element heat.

Everyone’s effort! #GoDucks | #Powerpic.twitter.com/aaYoucAVUI

— Oregon Acro&Tumbling (@OregonAcroTumb) February 22, 2026

Oregon maintained a narrow advantage after pyramid, leading 94.300–92.350. Quinnipiac gained ground in toss, but the Ducks responded in tumbling. Nya Womack posted a 9.800 in the aerial pass, and Morgan Willingham matched that mark in the six-element pass, helping Oregon steady its momentum.

Entering the team event with a slim 178.350–177.175 lead, the Ducks closed emphatically. Oregon outscored the Bobcats 92.290–88.250 in the final event to secure the five-point victory.

Up Next
Oregon hits the road next Saturday for a marquee matchup at No. 1 Baylor, scheduled for 3 p.m.

Erickson Blazes to Indoor PR, Ducks Put Two Under 1:47 at Arkansas Qualifier

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Matthew Erickson continued to build momentum toward the postseason Friday night, racing to an indoor personal best of 1:45.93 in the 800 meters at the Arkansas Qualifier.

New PBs for the 800m men.
Matti Erickson 1:45.93 (PB, UO No. 2 All-Time)
James Harding: 1:46.44 (PB, UO No. 4 All-Time)#GoDuckspic.twitter.com/rfGBlAo1ol

— oregontf (@OregonTF) February 21, 2026

The reigning NCAA indoor champion finished second overall and became just the second man in Oregon history to break 1:46 indoors, joining school-record holder Charlie Hunter (1:45.59). Based on marks entering the weekend, Erickson moves to No. 7 on the NCAA descending order list.

James Harding added to the Ducks’ strong showing, clocking a lifetime best of 1:46.44 to place third. His performance elevates him into the top 16 nationally and improves his standing in Oregon’s record book, moving from sixth to fourth all-time indoors. Harding bettered his previous season best of 1:46.83, set earlier this year at the Razorback Invitational.

With the qualifying window open through conference weekend, the top 16 declared individuals in each event and top 12 relays will advance to the NCAA Indoor Championships, set for March 13–14 in Fayetteville.

Friday Results
Arkansas Qualifier (Fayetteville, Ark.)
MEN
800 Meters
2. Matthew Erickson – 1:45.93 (PB, UO #2*)
3. James Harding – 1:46.44 (PB, UO #4)
*already held that ranking, improved mark

Oregon DMR Rewrites Record Book, Climbs to No. 2 in NCAA

BOSTON — Oregon’s men’s distance medley relay delivered a historic performance Sunday night, breaking the school record and surging to No. 2 on the NCAA descending order list at the Saucony Battle in Boston.

Competing at Boston University’s Track & Tennis Center, the quartet of Simeon Birnbaum, Fuad Omer, Elliott Cook and Tomas Palfrey combined for a blistering 9:14.88, making them the second-fastest collegiate DMR team in history.

DQ Friday ➡️ School record Sunday.
Tom Palfrey brings home the Ducks for redemption. #GoDuckspic.twitter.com/RfSbLxIlhw

— oregontf (@OregonTF) February 23, 2026

The Ducks’ time marks a significant milestone. Oregon becomes just the second program ever to run sub-9:15 on a banked, 200-meter track, joining Virginia, which clocked 9:14.19 earlier this season. Overall, only four programs in NCAA history have broken 9:15 indoors.

Sunday’s effort eclipsed the previous school record of 9:17.57, set at last year’s NCAA Indoor Championships in Virginia Beach. Cook, Omer and Palfrey were also members of that record-setting squad, making this latest performance both a breakthrough and a continuation of Oregon’s distance tradition.

The race proved to be one of the fastest in the country this season. Based on marks entering the meet, three of the top five times nationally were produced Sunday, including Virginia Tech at 9:15.05 and Virginia at 9:16.75.

The performance came just two days after Oregon competed at the Arkansas Qualifier, underscoring the group’s depth and resilience during a demanding weekend.

With the NCAA qualifying window open through conference weekend, the top 12 relays will advance to the NCAA Indoor Championships, set for March 13–14 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Oregon’s 9:14.88 places the Ducks firmly in contention heading into the postseason.

Sunday Results
Saucony Battle for Boston (Boston, Mass.)
MEN
Distance Medley Relay
1. Birnbaum, Omer, Cook, Palfrey – 9:14.88 (UO#1, NCAA #2)

Up Next
The Ducks open postseason competition Feb. 26–28 at the Big Ten Indoor Championships at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis.

A change has been made to the upcoming Gamebred FC card on April 10 that kicks off the $500k heavyweight tournament.

Ex-UFC heavyweight Mohammed Usman has been forced off the card due to undisclosed reasons and former UFC light heavyweight title challenger Thiago Santos has been tapped as his replacement. Santos is now set to clash with Guto Inocente in one of the opening round matchups for the 16-man tournament that also features Anthony Smith coming out of retirement to face Chase Sherman on the same card.

Promotion officials confirmed the news to MMA Fighting on Tuesday.

Usman’s exit comes after he was released from the UFC following news that he was facing an 18-month suspension for violating the company’s anti-doping policy.

With Usman out, Santos takes his place after booking his first fight since 2024 when he faced Denis Goltsov in the PFL. At his peak, Santos ranked as one of the top light heavyweights in the UFC, which included his run for the title when he took Jon Jones to a split decision back at UFC 239 in 2019.

Unfortunately after his razor-close fight against Jones, Santos struggled to get back on track with a 1-7 record with one no contest over his next nine fights.

But Santos attempts to right the ship when he returns in April to face Inocente in an opening round matchup for the Gamebred FC heavyweight tournament.

The event takes place in the Dominican Republic with the card airing live on Masvidal’s YouTube channel in April.  

It’s that time again, time for the annual NFL Scouting Combine, where the top players in college football who have declared for the NFL draft and are specifically invited are brought to Indianapolis, Indiana’s Lucas Oil Stadium. Each player is then run through a variety of drills and tests based on their position, unless they opt out of a certain phase of the testing. The individual teams’ staff also hold personal interviews with various players that they may be interested in drafting during the annual NFL draft held the following April.

The Combine can make or break an individual player’s draft status and where they are actually selected. Even the highest-rated players can damage their draft stock with poor testing numbers or a poor personal interview. The reverse is also true: guys who are assumed to be picked much later before the combine can move up the draft, sometimes by a substantial amount, if they are better than expected in their testing and interviews.

With all of that in mind, this evening’s question is something that I have wondered and at times for sure believed as a long-time (like a very long time) Miami Dolphins fan. So this evening’s question of the day is:

Do you think that our own Miami Dolphins or even the NFL in general has, in the past, relied too much on combine numbers and interviews as opposed to what the players have put on tape in college, in the past, when deciding who to draft, especially in the higher rounds?

Please share your thoughts and answers in the comments section below-

Dave Roberts expresses more excitement than ever before after back-to-back titles?!?! originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Last October, the Los Angeles Dodgers became the eighth team ever to repeat as World Series champions after a grueling seven-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays. They won their ninth championship in franchise history and third in six years.

Even with all of the success during the mid-way point of the decade, manager Dave Roberts is still more excited about what’s ahead compared to their past victories.

“I’m more excited about this year than I was last year or the year prior… Guys are still hungry, and that’s scary for the rest of the league,” Roberts stated.

More: Giants get great news on top prospect Carson Whisenhunt with huge velocity increase

If this is truly the case in Los Angeles, that is indeed a scary sight for the rest of the league, because ideally, it is very difficult to believe a team that has consistently been in the mix for a title is hungrier than ever, but when you look at the improvement they continue to make to the team every offseason the competitive nature is obviously still there.

Last season, long-time Chicago Cub Kyle Tucker signed a four-year deal with the Dodgers after already hitting 20+ home runs and having multiple MVP candidates and future Hall of Famers, including Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and Mookie Betts.

If the Dodgers win another World Series this season, they would join an even more elite list of teams to three-peat, becoming the third team ever to do so and the first since the New York Yankees did so from 1998-2000.

It was already going to be tough to knock the Dodgers off their pedestal. Still, with Roberts making a statement like that, it makes it even harder to defeat them as they are a championship team continuing to act like they have a chip on their shoulder.

More MLB news:

• MLB Hot Stove tracker: Live updates on news, rumors, signings and trades for 2025 free agency
• Yankees’ Jazz Chisholm reveals his 9-figure contract asking price
• Twins get devastating injury news on Pablo Lopez
• Cubs’ Alex Bregman makes assertive no-trade clause Red Sox statement
• German Marquez takes shot at Rockies after signing with team that ‘wants to win’
• Mets fans should be concerned with Bo Bichette after fielding struggles go viral
• Phillies’ Jhoan Duran teases new pitch, but won’t reveal what it is

Not all of the U.S. Men’s Hockey team is in attendance for the State of the Union address.

Over the weekend, the U.S. Men’s Hockey Team pulled off an overtime win against Canada to nab the gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The victory sparked celebrations across the country, but the team went viral after FBI Director Kash Patel was seen celebrating in their locker room and later calling President Donald Trump on the phone so that he could congratulate the athletes and invite them to his State of the Union address.

However, the president earned a bit of backlash when a video of the call caught him begrudgingly telling the gold medal-winning team, “I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team,” adding that he “probably would be impeached” if he didn’t invite them. The Women’s U.S. Hockey Team also brought home the gold medal at the Olympics.

While the majority of the men’s team made the trip Tuesday to Washington, D.C., visiting Trump at the White House before the SOTU address, five players notably did not attend.

Which Players Skipped the White House Visit and State of the Union?

• Jake Guentzel of the Tampa Bay Lightning
• Brock Nelson of the Colorado Avalanche
• Kyle Connor of the Winnipeg Jets
• Jake Oettinger of the Dallas Stars
• Jackson LaCombe of the Anaheim Ducks

What Did the Absent Players Do Instead?

Most of the players just returned to their respective homes ahead of more games in the upcoming NHL season. It was reported that Nelson wanted to spend time with family before more travel with the Avalanche in the coming days.

Why Did the U.S. Women’s Hockey Team Decline Trump’s Invitation?

Trump did end up inviting the women’s hockey team as well, but they declined, citing “timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments” for missing the State of the Union.

“We are sincerely grateful for the invitation extended to our gold medal-winning U.S. Women’s Hockey Team and deeply appreciate the recognition of their extraordinary achievement,” a USA Hockey spokesperson said. “Due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games, the athletes are unable to participate.”

What Did the Men’s Hockey Team Do in Washington, D.C.?

The majority of the players that ended up making the trip to D.C. on Trump’s invite went on a tour of the White House. They snapped photos on the grounds, looked through the West Wing and then got more pictures with President Trump in the Oval Office while sporting USA sweaters and their Olympic gold medals.

AMERICAN DOMINANCE. pic.twitter.com/xXyNGft12T

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 24, 2026

The post Here’s Which US Men’s Hockey Players Skipped the State of the Union Address appeared first on TheWrap.

NEED TO KNOW

• An Italian athlete who competed in the 2026 Winter Olympics pulled out before his competition was over
• Tommaso Giacomel underwent heart surgery after “struggling to breath and to move” during the sporting event
• The 25-year-old biathlete is scheduled to be discharged from the hospital later this week, according to the Italian Winter Sports Federation

An Olympic athlete who competed in the Milan Cortina Games has undergone heart surgery just days after forfeiting.

Italian biathlete Tommaso Giacomel is set to be discharged from Milan’s Galeazzi Hospital on Thursday, Feb. 26 following an ablation procedure that was described as a “complete success,” the Italian Winter Sports Federation (FISI) announced Tuesday, Feb. 24.

Days before the FISI shared the update, the 25-year-old athlete shared a post to social media explaining why he felt the need to withdraw from his final ​​biathlon race at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

“Right after the second prone my body somehow stopped working properly and I was really struggling to breath and to move, therefore I had to stop. Worst feeling I have ever experienced in my life so far,” he wrote in a lengthy Instagram post.

Giacomel’s single photo upload was a selfie of him in a hospital bed with several medical sensors attached to his exposed chest. 

“I tried to ski really slow the first part of the third lap but my body wasn’t allowing me to ski anymore,” he continued. 

The athlete added that in the moment, he felt “frustration, anger, [and] disappointment.”

“It’s devastating. It’s devastating to stop but there wasn’t anything I could do against my own body today. Absolutely not the end of the games I was hoping for but I will never give up. 4 years fly by fast and I will try again in France,” Giacomel said.

He ended his post by letting his supporters know that doctors would continue running medical checks in the coming days to find the root cause of his health issues. 

“Get well soon, Tommy! You’ll come back stronger,” the official account for the International Biathlon Union commented.

​​Biathlon is a winter sport that merges cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. It began in 19th-century Scandinavia, originating in ski warfare, and developed from the sport of military patrol.

On Tuesday, the FISI said their organization’s medical commission completed a series of diagnostic tests on Giacomel in collaboration with Professor Daniele Andreini. 

Giacomel “underwent a CT scan, an MRI scan, and a maximal exercise test, all of which were normal.” 

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“A subsequent electrophysiological study revealed an atrial conduction abnormality, which recommended a subsequent ablation, which has already been performed and was a complete success,” the FISI said. 

Following his discharge from the hospital on Thursday, the Italian athlete who has competed in the Biathlon World Cup since 2019, will have routine check-ups in two weeks. 

Giacomel is expected to return to regular training following the completion of those check-ups, FISI said.

Read the original article on People

Take a deep breath. Scottie Scheffler isn’t in the field at the 2026 Cognizant Classic. That means we have a normal oddsboard. Sort of. A litany of top names withdrew on Monday, meaning we’re left with a seemingly weak top half of the board.

That shouldn’t matter too much. As Betsperts Golf’s Ron Klos points out in his DFS column on GolfDigest.com this week, 14 of the past 16 winners at PGA National have been triple-digit odds or more. It’s time to fire at the sleepers. Our group is here for it.

RELATED: Cognizant Classic picks 2026: Our DFS expert is buying the longshot with the home-course advantage

Watch the Pat Mayo Experience betting show with Read The Line’s Keith Stewart here.

The Golf Digest betting panel is comprised of Pat Mayo of Underdog/Mayo Media Network, Andy Lack of the Inside Sports Network, Ryan Noonan of Betsperts, your two authors and Keith Stewart, the CEO of Read The Line.

Scroll down for our complete betting analysis of the 2026 Cognizant Classic:

Sign up for the industry’s leading data tool to make golf stats easy to decipher—head to BetspertsGolf.com now and get access to The Rabbit Hole for only $10 for your first month. Use promo code GD10 at sign up for this amazing deal! Cognizant Classic picks 2026: Our Experts’ Outright Predictions

Pat Mayo, Underdog/Fantasy National, Mayo Media Network analyst: Ryan Gerard (+1850, DraftKings) — Gerard’s hot putting evaporated at Riviera, looking more like the guy who lost a third of a stroke per round on greens the last three years than someone who could actually make a few 10-footers. It could have been him, or could just be Riviera making guys’ heads explode on the putting surfaces. It wasn’t only Gerard riding the struggle bus. I’m willing to give him a mulligan because his high-end ball-striking remained firmly intact. He’s now gained over 3.5 strokes on approach in four of five starts, and PGA National has historically rewarded great ball-strikers who are lousy putters.

Keith Stewart, PGA, Read The Line: Nicolai Hojgaard (+2150, DraftKings) — Nicolai Højgaard comes into the Cognizant Classic displaying amazing form. Højgaard’s tee-to-green talent has been on fire since mid-October. Nicolai has five top-15 finishes in his past seven events! Højgaard’s putter has been hot. At Farmers, he gained a couple of strokes and almost three with the flat stick at TPC Scottsdale en route to a third-place finish. In a weak field, only Gerard is better tee to green than Nicolai, but Højgaard has the putter going, and that’s why he will win.

Ryan Noonan, Content Manager 4for4/Betsperts: Michael Thorbjornsen (25-1, Bet365) — Michael Thorbjornsen has played well on easier scoring setups against weaker competition, can pour in birdies, especially on par 5s, and some of his best putting performances since turning pro have come on Bermuda greens. The increase in driver usage at PGA National since the renovation works in Thorbjornsen’s favor, as does the ease of scrambling, which is probably the weakest part of his game at this stage.

Stephen Hennessey, Golf Digest managing editor: Rasmus Neergard-Peterson (40-1, Caesars Sportsbook) — The great Dane leads this field in strokes gained/tee to green over the past 50 rounds and is fourth in strokes gained on par 3s, which is an underrated stat this week with PGA National’s difficult one-shotters. He’s a name unfamiliar to most casual fans but won against a great field at the Australian Open in the winter, so he knows how to close.

Christopher Powers, Golf Digest senior writer: Nicolai Hojgaard (+2150, DraftKings) — Lot of talk about Ryan Gerard and how well he’s hitting it this week, but tee-to-green, Hojgaard has been better this year. And he’s played a hell of a lot less rounds and didn’t have to make the cross-country trip from L.A. to Florida, so he should be very fresh. Hojgaard also top 20’d in this event a year ago, and is coming off a T-3 in Phoenix.

Andy Lack, Inside Sports Network: Ryan Gerard (+1850, DraftKings) — I am certainly not in love with Ryan Gerard’s betting number after all of the withdrawals, but he is absolutely playing the best golf out of anyone teeing it up this week. Gerard put together three runner-up finishes to open the season, and his ball-striking looked sharp as ever last week at Riviera.

Past results: We have our FIRST winner of 2026, with Stephen Hennessey correctly predicting Justin Rose’s victory at Torrey Pines at 60-1!

Listen to Golf Digest’s weekly betting podcast, “The Loop,” (above) where we interview the industry’s leading experts (and sometimes tour pros) to help you make your bets and pick your fantasy lineups. And be sure to subscribe to “The Loop” wherever you get your podcasts!

Cognizant Classic picks 2026: Sleepers/Dark Horses Who Could Win

Mayo: Johnny Keefer (52-1, DraftKings) — Keefer couldn’t chip or putt out West. Maybe a change of scenery can set him straight. At least with the putting. The last time he was on Bermuda in this region of the country (RSM Classic) was the last time he gained strokes with his flat stick. And for the awful chipping, that’s not getting better any time soon, it’s just bad. Hopefully with the change in ease of hitting greens in regulation, coupled with Keefer’s elite ball-striking (first in SG/approach and third in SG/off the tee of all players in this field in 2026), he simply won’t have to use his short game very often. Plus, there’s the out that PGA National is one of the tour easiest for around-the-green play.

Stewart: Seamus Power (68-1, DraftKings) — Not many people are talking about Seamus Power. That’s probably because they have not looked at the weekend forecast. It is going to get windy and wet. Power’s ability to flight his irons and putt in challenging conditions makes him a sneaky favorite to climb the Cognizant leader board. A notoriously great mid-iron and wedge player, Seamus has gained on approach in seven of his past eight events. Throw in four straight positive starts with the putter, and we have two complementary skills that work well at PGA National.

Noonan: Nico Echavarria (60-1, DraftKings) — Echavarria is one of the best Bermudagrass putters in this week’s field, offering floor and ceiling on the greens. He’s also at his best when the scoring is easy, and the fields aren’t strong. He’s missed the cut in four of his past six starts, but the other two finishes were a T-4 at the RSM and a T-8 two weeks ago at Pebble Beach.

Hennessey, Golf Digest: Mac Meissner (47-1, DraftKings) — It’s scary to type out that Mac Meissner is #1 in my model this week—but he’s third in weighted strokes-gained total over the past 50 rounds and loves Bermuda, ranking fifth in SG/putting on Bermuda. He’s a stellar ball-striker with the potential to get hot on these putting surfaces—which is exactly the recipe for success at PGA National.

Powers, Golf Digest: David Ford (115-1, DraftKings) — After earning his way on tour via the PGA Tour University ranking, the North Carolina product has found fairly solid footing in his three starts, highlighted by a T-13 at the AMEX. Like all the other fresh-out-of-college studs on the modern tour, he hits it a country mile, which is now the path to contention on the soft version of PGA National. Can he win? Probably not, but it’s certainly worth finding out at triple-digit odds in an event where either favorites or mega longshots have won 14 of the last 16 Cogs, an excellent stat brought to you by Ron Klos in our DFS column this week.

Lack: Jesper Svensson (90-1, BetRivers) — Jesper Svensson’s power off the tee should play serious dividends at PGA National this week and the Swede is coming off a top-25 finish at the Qatar Masters where he gained over a stroke in both ball-striking categories.

RELATED: The Undercover Pro: How a lot of us feel about Brooks coming back

Cognizant Classic picks 2026: Players We’re Fading

Mayo: Shane Lowry (12-1, BetRivers) — Top 5, Top 10? Absolutely. To win? He hasn’t won on U.S. soil in more than 10 years. Don’t want to back him as the betting favorite this time around.

Stewart: Michael Thorbjornsen (20-1, Caesars Sportsbook) — The putter showed some of life for Michael Thorbjornsen in Phoenix. Pebble Beach? That was a completely different story. Thorbjornsen lost 10 strokes on the greens. After watching Michael manage his way through a TGL match on Monday night inside the SoFi Center, it was obvious his flat-stick issues remain. Bermudagrass greens are hard to putt when you have confidence, and unfortunately for Thorbjornsen, it does not look like he has any.

Noonan: Will Zalatoris (35-1, FanDuel) — I would normally love Will Zalatoris at the Honda Classic. But at The Cog? Not so much. Throughout his career, Zalatoris has played his best golf when the test is tough. Those days at PGA National seem to be behind us now that the ryegrass overseed covers the fairways, rough, and around-the-green areas.

Hennessey, Golf Digest: Keith Mitchell (28-1, Bet365)— I’m as big of a Keith Mitchell fan as there is, and I get his course history is among the best here. But PGA National is too volatile, and Mitchell hasn’t contended for a win in a long time.

Powers, Golf Digest: Ryan Gerard (+1850, DraftKings) — Screw it, I’m doing it. It’s nothing against Gerard, who I’ve spoken to twice now. Incredibly nice, soft-spoken dude who I personally believe has major championship-winning potential. But due to all the WDs he’s now the solo favorite and expected to win. And the whole world is on him. It just doesn’t work like that, as much as we all wish it did.

Lack: Michael Thorbjornsen (25-1, Bet365) — I am certainly high on Michael Thorbjornsen long term, but I don’t think this is the right spot for him. He is coming off nearly a dead last place finish at Pebble Beach, and he has still yet to find considerable success on Bermuda.

RELATED: Cognizant Classic 2026: Why Brooks Koepka is one of my favorite bets

Cognizant Classic picks 2026: Matchups

Mayo: David Ford (+105) over Gary Woodland (Coolbet) — Love Ford, and Woodland, despite his familiarity with the course over the years, has been riding the struggle bus. Yet Woodland is a big favorite in this match-up. We’ll go the other way.

Stewart: Nico Echavarria (-124) over Garrick Higgo (DraftKings) — Nico Echavarria’s iron game is coming back. Combined with his exceptional putting skill, Echavarria finished eighth at the AT&T. That form reminds us of the great run Nico went on to close 2025. Garrick Higgo was also great in the fall. Unlike Nico, there are no signs of life, especially with his iron game. Losing a bunch of strokes in five straight events on approach is not a recipe for any success at PGA National. I’ll take Echavarria and cash a winning ticket on Friday night.

Noonan: Max McGreevy (-125) over Chris Kirk (BetOnline) — McGreevy finished third in my model this week and is grinding the schedule hard, staying in the field despite earning his way into the early-season Signature Events. McGreevy struggled with his putter out west, but he’s been a significantly better putter on Bermuda grass, including back-to-back strong fall finishes at the Butterfield Bermuda (T-3) and RSM Classic (solo second).

Hennessey, Golf Digest: John Parry (-125) over Michael Brennan (DraftKings) — Brennan’s performances post-win in Utah has been puzzling. He seems to be searching for something, which is always a perfect target for matchups. Parry, the 39-year-old rookie from England, had a nice tournament at the Sony Open and hasn’t missed a cut across all tours since October. Seems like a nice steady-eddie against a super volatile golfer.

Powers, Golf Digest: Keith Mitchell (+100) over Michael Thorbjornsen (Bet365) — Really good starts to the year for both guys, especially on the OTT front. Mitchell can’t buy a putt, but he should be able to on Bermuda this week at a place he’s won before.

Lack: Johnny Keefer (-175) over Andrew Putnam (Southpoint) — This is typically more juice than I enjoy laying in the matchup market, but I could not believe these players were matched up against each other. Johnny Keefer is a far superior ball-striker to Andrew Putnam, who may struggle even further out of the thicker rough this year.

Matchup Results from the Genesis Invitational: Hennessey: 1 for 1 (Morikawa (-110) over Henley); Noonan: PUSH (Fleetwood (-111) over Schauffele); Lack: 0 for 1; Stewart: 0 for 1; Powers: 0 for 1; Mayo: 0 for 1

Matchup Results from the 2026 season (Wins-Losses-Pushes): Lack: 5-1-0 (up 3.26 units); Stewart: 3-1-1 (up 1.65 units); Powers: 4-2-0 (up 1.61 units); Mayo: 3-3-0 (up 0.26 units); Hennessey: 3-3-0 (down 0.26 units); Noonan: 1-4-1 (down 3.05 units)

Cognizant Classic picks 2026: Top 10s

Mayo: David Ford (+930, DraftKings) — Between the swing season and the start of 2026, there’s no player in the field ahead Ford in ball-striking. Can he make enough putts to win? That’s debatable. But a Top 10, certainly a possibility at long odds.

Stewart: Johnny Keefer (+500, DraftKings) — I believe John Keefer is an incredible value play, and I’m far from the only one. Keefer’s outright odds started in the triple digits this week. Those plummeted quickly into the mid-50s. An impeccable ball-striker, John needs a new putting surface. The last time he rolled the rock on Bermudagrass, he finished seventh at the RSM Classic. Keep the tee-to-green play the same, and when the putter pops in Florida, collect on those 10 places will make you wish you took him to win!

Noonan: Johnny Keefer (+500, DraftKings) — It’s been a pretty uneventful start on the PGA Tour for the top Korn Ferry grad of 2025, but Johnny Keefer has made the cut in his first four starts, and the ball-striking numbers have been eye-popping. Keefer has 13 Shotlink-measured rounds to start the season, and he’s gained an average of 1.54 strokes per round ball-striking, the third-highest mark this week’s field over the same time frame. His short game has held him back, but he’s played a lot of collegiate, PGA Tour of Americas, and KFT events on Bermuda putting surfaces and fared well, including a T-7 finish this fall at the RSM Classic, where he gained 0.9 strokes per round putting. If he can keep the elite ball-striking numbers going, I like his chances this week.

Hennessey, Golf Digest: Daniel Berger (+360, FanDuel) — The Jupiter resident eats at PGA National, ranking fifth in SG/total at the Cognizant Classic venue. He has three top-five finishes over the course of his career, and it’d be no surprise to see him near the top of the leader board yet again.

Powers, Golf Digest: Eric Cole (+750, FanDuel) — This is just a large top 10 number on the California-born Cole, who has grown into the Florida Man of all Florida Men, building a reputation as a mini tour legend in the Sunshine state. Don’t love how he’s played this event since they massacred the course in 2024, but he’s still an auto play on the FLA swing to me.

Lack: Alex Smalley (+450, BetRivers) — Alex Smalley is coming off a sneaky top-20 finish at Pebble Beach where he gained strokes in all four categories in a signature event. Smalley is now back on Bermuda and the East Coast, where he played his college golf, and I expect him to continue his momentum this week at PGA National in a much weaker field.

Top-10 results from the Genesis Invitational: Noonan: 1 for 1 (Collin Morikawa +250); Everyone else: 0 for 1

Top-10 results from the 2026 season: Noonan: 3 for 6 (up 8.6 units); Mayo: 3 for 6 (up 10.7 units); Stewart: 2 for 6 (up 2.65 units); Lack: 1 for 6 (up 1 units); Powers: 1 for 6 (down 0.9 units); Hennessey: 0 for 6 (down 6 units)

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Pat Mayo is an award-winning video host and producer of long and short-form content, and the host of The Pat Mayo Experience daily talk show. Mayo helped create the golf stats and research website Fantasy National along with the Race for the Mayo Cup One and Done contest. Mayo won the 2022 Fantasy Sports Writing Association Daily Fantasy Writer of the Year and is a finalist for three FSWA Awards in 2023 (Best Podcast, Daily Fantasy Writer of the Year, Golf Writer of the Year). His 27 FSWA nominations lead all writers this decade and are second-most all-time. Follow him on Twitter: @ThePME.

Keith Stewart is a five-time award-winning PGA professional, a betting contributor for Golf Digest and founder of Read The Line, the premier on-site live golf betting insights service covering the LPGA and PGA TOUR. Subscribe to Read The Line’s weekly newsletter here and raise your golf betting acumen. Keith’s winning content can also be found on Sports Grid, Bleacher Report and The Sporting News. Follow him on Twitter @readtheline_.

Ryan Noonan is the Betting Content Manager for 4for4 and Betsperts Golf, writing articles and hosting multiple shows under the Betsperts Group umbrella, including Move The Line and our Betsperts Golf Betting Show. Find him on Twitter: @RyNoonan.

Andy Lack is a PGA Tour writer and podcaster from New York City who now resides in Los Angeles. Andy is the founder and CEO of Inside Sports Network, a website devoted to the predictive quality of advanced analytics and golf course architecture. He came to Golf Digest’s betting panel after previously writing for Run Pure Sports, RickRunGood.com, the Score and GolfWRX. In his free time, Andy can likely be found on a golf course. Follow him on Twitter: @adplacksports.

How the 49ers’ contract dispute with Trent Williams could impact the NFL Draft originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The San Francisco 49ers cannot afford to lose Canton-bound left tackle Trent Williams.

The only problem is that they cannot afford to pay him, either.

San Francisco is dealing with the consequences of an aging roster and an unfulfilled competitive window. With stars demanding raises and a Super Bowl in sight, the 49ers have kicked the cap can down the road long enough. It has come back to bite them, and as Williams inches closer to free agency, San Francisco may have to look to the NFL Draft for his replacement.

Could the 49ers lose Trent Williams?

On Tuesday, Adam Schefter reported that releasing Williams is on the table.

“With five-time All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams scheduled to carry a $39 million cap number this season, he and the 49ers currently are struggling to find a contractual solution, per league sources,” he posted. “If the two sides can’t bridge their differences in their standoff, Williams would be expected to join this year’s free-agent class, making him one of the premier players available.”

Of course, that’s not a guarantee of Williams’ departure. But Williams is perhaps the most valuable offensive lineman in the sport, appearing bulletproof into his late-30s. He’s a stalwart in the game’s preeminent rushing attack. And as a crux of Kyle Shanahan’s scheme, there’s reason to believe the 49ers view the position at a premium.

The first and most obvious pivot from Williams is an early-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. In a tackle class that has fallen short of expectations, a handful of candidates have fallen toward the back of Round 1. 

Among them is Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor. At 360 pounds, there are questions about how consistently his athleticism will play at the next level, but high-level play against SEC defensive lines has kept his stock high. Elsewhere, Caleb Lomu held down the blindside for Utah’s elite offensive line, offering a more natural fit into Shanahan’s zone scheme (at least physically). He’s a work in progress as a run blocker, but a first-round pass protector with traits that inspire upside.

Late in Round 1, San Francisco is also in range to capture upward momentum on a prospect like Monroe Freeling, who is bound to rise when athletic testing becomes the most recent source of information. 

MORE: 49ers get bad news on Trent Williams amid looming $39 million decision

Taking a first-round tackle could reverberate throughout the NFL’s toughest division. The Los Angeles Rams are unsteady at offensive tackle. Right tackle Rob Havenstein has retired, and Warren McClendon Jr. isn’t necessarily the long-term answer in his place. The positional difference could render this moot, but the 49ers pick before Los Angeles’ second pick in the first round.

There’s a world in which the Rams lose out on their preferred tackle prospect because the 49ers feel they can turn Blake Miller — or a similarly-valued prospect — into their franchise left tackle.

Furthermore, it may become clear that replacing Williams isn’t a one-man job, but a structural one. San Francisco isn’t drafting an upgrade at left tackle in Round 1. Baking in that regression could mean a greater emphasis on other positions, like drafting a receiver for Brandon Aiyuk’s vacant snaps or a defensive X-factor to compensate for a step back offensively.

Ultimately, teams do an excellent job of keeping their best players in-house for as long as possible. There’s little reason why Williams should retire in another team’s jersey, and he’s enough of a difference-maker to gamble on, even at 37 years old. Losing Williams would be the biggest transaction of San Francisco’s offseason, leaving awfully big shoes to fill for whoever the 49ers take at No. 27.

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