Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza puts on impressive show at Indiana’s biggest pro day

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Fernando Mendoza warmed up with his college roommate Wednesday while nearly two dozen college teammates took turns running the 40-yard dash.

Then the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback did what he always seems to do — deliver another impressive performance.

All 32 NFL teams sent scouts to Indiana, more than 100 media members were credentialed and dozens of family members and friends of ex-Hoosiers showed up for a pro day unlike any other in school history. Most came to see the guy expected to be the first-overall pick in this month’s NFL draft and Mendoza didn’t disappoint, using his platform to potentially help his ex-teammates improve their draft stock.

“I feel like it went great,” Mendoza said after throwing the last of his roughly 56 passes inside the John Mellencamp Pavilion. “You know quarterbacks have passed, have done shorter pro days than that. However, I just wanted to make sure everybody could showcase their abilities in front of all 32 NFL teams and really run routes that are applicable to the timing we’re going to be running in the NFL.”

Mendoza threw short, deep and medium-range passes, targeting receivers to the left, right and over the middle. He also threw on the run.

No, he wasn’t perfect. The former Florida prep star and Cal graduate overthrew a diving Elijah Sarratt on a deep ball by a half yard, one of several balls that hit the ground.

Then again, the 6-foot-5 22-year-old doesn’t have to be perfect after seemingly already convincing Las Vegas’ decision-makers to take him at No. 1. The Raiders also seem like a perfect fit for the Boston-born Mendoza, a longtime fan of Raiders minority owner Tom Brady.

Mendoza’s 2025 season certainly got the attention of Brady, who attended January’s national championship game in Miami with majority owner Mark Davis and general manager John Spytek.

Mendoza completed 72% of his throws for 3,535 yards with 41 touchdowns and six interceptions last season, showed his mettle with a twisting highlight-reel scoring run late in the national championship game and defeated a murderer’s row of football powerhouses — Ohio State, Alabama, Oregon and Miami — in succession to capture Indiana’s first outright Big Ten title since 1945 and the school’s first national football title.

At February’s NFL scouting combine, Mendoza skipped the workout and he participated only in the throwing session Wednesday. But with coach Curt Cignetti watching and with bright television lights in the corner of the end zones on opposite ends of the field, Mendoza may have shown how committed he is to exceling as a pro away from the field.

He arrived at 236 pounds — 11 pounds heavier than his listed playing weight. He looked strong and more capable of surviving the big blows from the NFL’s heavier, faster pass rushers.

But Mendoza also said he’s far from a finished product.

“I’m putting all of my efforts toward just trying to be the best quarterback possible for the season,” he said. “But I know at the next level, there’s going to be a lot more snaps under center and that’s a big adjustment. I need to get used to that and just the nature of the game. Not only that, the hash (marks) are more condensed and the speed of the game is faster. So all those things, I look forward to learning.”

Mendoza said he’s already met the Raiders twice, once at the combine and again on Zoom, and he has one additional meeting scheduled before Las Vegas goes on the draft clock April 23. All he can do now is wait, though the pro day gave him one more chance to cherish this last college season.

“You have to take a second to kind of realize what we have all accomplished together here,” Mendoza said, referring to his teammates who finished the workout with a sprint to the end zone, followed by a group hug. “It was a little bit of a moment of a gratitude, looking at those guys and really seeing the special moments I’ve had with each individual. It’s unlikely we’ll all play on the same team again, but, hopefully, I’ll get to play against and with some of those guys again.”

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Pivetta, Laureano lead the Padres to a 7-1 win against the Giants to avoid 3-game sweep

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Nick Pivetta struck out eight in five sharp innings and Ramón Laureano hit a two-run home run for the San Diego Padres, who beat the San Francisco Giants 7-1 Wednesday to avoid a three-game sweep.

The Padres and their rookie manager, Craig Stammen, were outscored 12-5 in losing the first two games of the series to the Giants and their rookie skipper, Tony Vitello. The Giants, in turn, had been outscored 13-1 in getting swept by the New York Yankees in their opening series.

Pivetta (1-1) bounced back from a rough opening day start, when he allowed six runs and seven hits in three innings of an 8-2 home loss to Detroit.

His second start was much better. He allowed just a single to former Padres teammate Luis Arraez leading off the second and walked two.

Arraez had three of the Giants’ four hits and was the only San Francisco baserunner to reach scoring position, doing so three times. The Giants struck out 14 times.

After Jeremiah Estrada pitched a perfect sixth, Arraez opened the seventh with a leadoff double down the right field line off Adrian Morejon, advanced on a groundout and scored on Harrison Bader’s two-out single to left.

Mason Miller got the final four outs for his second save. Miller struck out the side in the ninth after allowing Arraez’s leadoff single.

Laureano got the four-run eighth going with a two-run homer off José Buttó, his second of the season. Buttó walked the bases loaded and then allowed Fernando Tatis Jr.’s RBI infield single and Xander Bogaerts’ RBI walk.

Gavin Sheets doubled twice and drove in a run off Adrian Houser (0-1), who was making his Giants debut. Sheets doubled in Laureano in the sixth.

San Diego’s first two runs were unearned because of two infield errors.

Houser allowed three runs, one earned, and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Up next

Giants RHP Robbie Ray (0-1, 3.38 ERA) opens a home series against the New York Mets on Thursday night. Padres RHP Michael King is scheduled to start Friday’s matinee series opener at Boston.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Injury Update: Mark Williams Upgraded to ‘Questionable’

Mar 17, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green (4) and center Mark Williams (15) watch as their team plays the Minnesota Timberwolves in the fourth quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images | Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images

The Phoenix Suns have been without Mark Williams since March 3rd due to a stress reaction in his left foot. They have gone 6-8 since his extended absence began. He had set a career-high in games played this season with 56 total.

Williams was upgraded on the injury report to “questionable” ahead of their contest against the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday evening.

Mark Williams Career Games Played:

  • 2022-23: 43
  • 2023-24: 19
  • 2024-25: 44
  • 2025-26: 56 (and counting)

Williams is averaging 11.6 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.9 BPG, 0.9 SPG on 63.3% shooting from the floor in his first season in Phoenix.

Dillon Brooks just returned to the lineup against Orlando on Tuesday, so the reinforcements are coming as the season winds down to a close. Just in time for the final playoff/play-in push — this will be a great way for them to get reps ahead of the games that actually matter most.

This pushes Khaman Maluach back to the third-string center spot and Oso Ighodaro to backup center. He and Oso more than did their part in Mark’s absence. If they get this trio of centers healthy entering the postseason, they are in good hands down low with plenty of weapons and size at their disposal.

As Voita stated, now with the postseason approaching and a Play-In game looming at home, the timing matters. The enforcer is back (Brooks). The starting center is back. Are we back? We shall see.

Magic’s Franz Wagner available against Hawks on Wednesday, expected to be on a minutes restriction

Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner will be available in Wednesday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks. Wagner is expected to be on a minutes restriction, according to the Orlando Sentinel’s Jason Beede. Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley said pre-game that they’ll “be smart about it” and “very diligent” with how they handle his minutes. Wagner last played Feb. 11 after suffering an ankle injury.

Injuries have kept Wagner out for most of the year, including the last 15 games. When healthy this season, the 24-year-old has started 26 of the 28 games he has played in. 

Wagner has performed well when he has been on the court, averaging 21.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists on 47.9% from the field and 36.5% from 3.

Magic point guard Anthony Black has also been out with injuries. Black was ruled out against the Hawks and has missed the last 14 games with a core injury. Black is in the midst of a breakout season, averaging 15.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists on 45.1% from the field.

In their absence, the Magic have struggled, winning three of their last 10 games. The Magic were able to bounce back in Tuesday’s game against the Phoenix Suns after giving up a 31-0 run in Sunday’s 139-87 blowout loss to the Toronto Raptors. The Magic are 40-35 and currently the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Orioles beat Rangers on MLB’s first-ever game-ending ABS challenge

The first week of the automated ball-strike (ABS) challenge system has providedplenty ofhighlights across MLB. Wednesday’s matinee between the Baltimore Orioles and Texas Rangers provided a historic moment in the technology’s history: the first game-ending challenge.

The Orioles led the Rangers 8-3 with two outs in the top of the ninth inning. Rangers outfielder Evan Carter was at-bat with a 1-2 count. Albert Suárez’s pitch was judged by home plate umpire Manny Gonzalez to be outside for ball two. Baltimore catcher Samuel Basallo immediately tapped the top of his head to signify a challenge.

The result? Ballgame over. Orioles win.

“I think we had two [challenges remaining] at that point,” Basallo said through an interpreter, via the Associated Press. “I thought why not use it? Better to use it and see what happens instead of holding onto it.”

The win improved the Orioles’ record to 3-3 to conclude a six-game homestand to open the season. They’ll hit the road Friday for games at the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago White Sox.

When asked about his opinion on ABS, Suárez said, via MLB.com’s Jake Rill, “I think I like it more after what happened today.”

This wasn’t the first time an ABS challenged helped the Orioles in a big spot. On Sunday, Minnesota Twins manager Derek Shelton was ejected after he erupted over a decision that was made in the ninth inning of an 8-6 loss.

Umpire C.B. Bucknor helped off field by trainers after taking foul ball directly to the face mask

MLB umpire C.B. Bucknor was removed from Wednesday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays in the second inning after taking a foul ball directly off his face mask.

The incident occurred with two outs in the inning and Rays catcher Nick Fortes at the plate. Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski threw an inside fastball on a 1-2 count. Fortes swung just under the ball, knocking it directly behind him and slightly up, causing it to collide with Bucknor’s face mask.

Bucknor, 63, immediately stumbled to the ground and was tended to by Brewers catcher William Contreras before trainers got out to the field. Bucknor was evaluated and eventually able to stand under his own power, but it was determined that he should leave the contest. He left the field with trainers, though was mostly able to walk on his own. Members of the Brewers’ training staff assisted Bucknor as he walked into the team’s dugout to leave the contest.

The incident came a day after Bucknor was involved in a controversial play call at first base. During Tuesday’s game — a 6-2 win by the Brewers — Bucknor erroneously claimed Brewers first baseman Jake Bauers did not touch first base while attempting to beat a throw. The play was challenged and clearly showed Bauers touching the base. Bucknor’s umpiring error was overturned, causing both managers to laugh at the sequence of events.

Near the end of that sequence, Brewers play-by-play announcer Jeff Levering quipped, “I’m really excited for him to have the plate tomorrow,” obviously not knowing Bucknor would exit the game early.

On Sunday, Bucknor also caught flak from fans for having consecutive calls overturned during a crucial at-bat. Cincinnati Reds fans erupted in cheers after both of Bucknor’s calls were wrong.

It’s unclear whether Bucknor will miss additional time after leaving Wednesday’s game.

This story will be updated.

76ers, Joel Embiid send mixed messages over whether center is playing vs. Wizards: ‘Must be April Fools joke’

Philadelphia 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey confirmed to the Philadelphia Inquirer that Joel Embiid will not play Wednesday following a few hours of confusion.

Ahead of the 76ers’ game against the Washington Wizards, the team announced Embiid would miss the contest due to an illness, but the center posted on social media that his injury designation must have been an “April Fools joke.”

In his tweet, Embiid mentioned he played against the Miami Heat on Monday despite the same symptoms.

Morey said that the team had Embiid visit a doctor after he missed a film session on Wednesday morning.

The most recent NBA injury report also has Embiid as being ruled “out” for the contest.

The 32-year-old center was productive during that game, scoring 26 points and pulling down seven rebounds in the 119-109 loss.

The 76ers did not participate in a shoot-around Wednesday, instead opting to do a film session at the team’s hotel, per the Inquirer. Embiid’s shoes were reportedly laid out at a court-side seat before shoot-around was canceled.

The 76ers big man has been limited to just 36 games this season due to various injuries. When on the court, he’s been productive, averaging 26.9 points and 7.4 rebounds.

Where to watch Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat: Live stream, start time, TV channel, odds for Wednesday, April 1

The Boston Celtics, who have already clinched a playoff berth, face the Miami Heat, who are aiming to move in the play-in tournament seeding. Boston is the favorite with a moneyline of -220.0.

  • Boston Celtics: 50-25 (No. 1 in Atlantic Division)

  • Miami Heat: 40-36 (No. 3 in Eastern Southeast Division)

  • Spread: Miami Heat +5.5

  • Moneyline: Miami Heat +180 / Boston Celtics -220

  • Over/Under: 228.5