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MADISON, Wis. — Alabama went from its clunkiest performance to its cleanest, which didn’t surprise coach Kalen DeBoer or his players.

A week after a mistake-ridden win over South Florida, No. 4 Alabama dominated Wisconsin 42-10, delivering big plays on both sides of the ball while also reducing its own mistakes. The Crimson Tide, who had three lost fumbles and 13 penalties against South Florida, did not commit a turnover, forced four fumbles and drew only four penalties in their first road performance under DeBoer, who pointed to a sharp series of practices that “set us up for success.”

“It just takes time,” DeBoer said. “It takes repetitions for everyone, and we were much more in sync this week, whether it was today or whether it was all week, through our game-planning. There’s some recall with play calls from last week or the week before, and it isn’t just us going against our defense. We’re seeing different looks.”

Quarterback Jalen Milroe became the first player since Nevada’s Colin Kaepernick in 2010 to record multiple passing and rushing touchdowns in each of his team’s first three games. Milroe had three passing touchdowns and two on the ground, as Alabama averaged 7.3 yards per play with four scores of 26 yards or longer. Freshman wide receiver Ryan Williams continued his blistering start with a 31-yard touchdown catch and a 47-yarder to set up another score before halftime.

Milroe avoided a turnover and so did his teammates, including running back Jam Miller, who had 71 rushing yards and a touchdown. Both Milroe and Miller lost fumbles against South Florida.

“After last week, I have to take that preparation on working on protecting the ball even more this week and for the rest of the weeks, in every game,” Miller said.

While Alabama protected the ball, four different Tide defenders forced Wisconsin fumbles, including two that the Tide recovered deep in Badgers territory and converted for touchdowns. LT Overton, Deontae Lawson and Keon Sabb led the defensive effort.

DeBoer expected a strong performance after a practice week when Alabama had its “best rhythm.” Alabama also prepared for Wisconsin’s Camp Randall Stadium by playing “Jump Around.” Up 35-10 before the fourth quarter, Tide players took part in the tradition.

“We had a tough week of practice, listening to that jump song,” said wide receiver Germie Bernard, who recorded his first touchdown catch for Alabama with 19 seconds left in the first half. “We were ready to shut that weak-ass jump song down. We were on the sideline, jumping up and just excited, enjoying the togetherness of our team.”

Alabama enters an open week before hosting No. 1 Georgia on Sept. 28. DeBoer said standout safety Malachi Moore, who left the game in the third quarter, is going through concussion protocol but expects to have him back for the Bulldogs. Linebacker Qua Russaw will be evaluated following a lower-leg injury.

“There’s just playcalling rhythms and taking the field and how we communicate, just so many nuances that the great teams have,” DeBoer said. “We’re a work in progress.”

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Nebraska nixes Tennessee home-and-home plan

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Nebraska nixes Tennessee home-and-home plan

The NebraskaTennessee football home-and-home football series scheduled for 2026 and 2027 will not be played after Nebraska opted out of the agreement.

Tennessee athletic director Danny White posted on X that Nebraska called off the series and added that Tennessee is “very disappointed” by the cancellation, especially so close to the initial game in 2026. The teams had been set to play in 2026 at Nebraska and at Tennessee the following year.

In a statement, Nebraska athletic director Troy Dannen explained renovations to the team’s stadium, which will temporarily lower seating capacity, ultimately led to the decision.

“We are making plans to embark on major renovations of Memorial Stadium that may impact our seating capacity for the 2027 season,” Dannen said. “The best scenario for us is to have eight home games in 2027 to offset any potential revenue loss from a reduced capacity. The additional home games will also have a tremendous economic benefit on the Lincoln community.”

The Cornhuskers announced they will host Bowling Green in 2026 and Miami (Ohio) in 2027 on the dates when it was originally set to play Tennessee. Nebraska has never faced either school. The team will play eight homes in 2027 for the first time since 2013.

The cancellation ends a nearly two-decade process around a Nebraska-Tennessee series, which was originally agreed upon in 2006 and set for the 2016 and 2017 seasons. In 2013, the two schools agreed to delay the games for a decade. Nebraska will pay $500,000 to get out of the scheduling agreement.

White told Volquest that the “buyout implications need to be much steeper” with an “old contract,” and the cancellation puts Tennessee in a bind. Tennessee, which opens the 2025 season against Syracuse in Atlanta, had its nonleague schedule set through the 2030 season. The school either must find an opponent who can fill the 2026 and 2027 dates for a home-and-home series, or explore neutral-site options.

“You really can’t pull an audible this late in the game,” White told Volquest.

Nebraska’s stadium renovation, the first phase of which had been set to begin after the 2024 season, has been delayed until after the 2025 season, at the earliest.

Tennessee and Nebraska have played only three times before, most recently in the 2016 Music City Bowl, won by the Vols. Nebraska beat Tennessee in the 1998 Orange Bowl to secure a share of the national title that season.

Tennessee has been on the other side of a similar situation. The Vols in 2021 canceled a game against Army for the next season in 2022 and added Akron instead.

Information from ESPN’s Chris Low was used in this report.

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Changing stripes: Yanks OK well-groomed beards

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Changing stripes: Yanks OK well-groomed beards

TAMPA, Fla. — The New York Yankees‘ facial hair and grooming policy, an infamous edict in place for nearly 50 years, was formally amended for the first time Friday.

In a statement, Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner said the organization will allow “well-groomed beards” effective immediately, changing a rule his father, George, established in 1976.

“In recent weeks I have spoken to a large number of former and current Yankees — spanning several eras — to elicit their perspectives on our longstanding facial hair and grooming policy, and I appreciate their earnest and varied feedback,” Hal Steinbrenner said in the statement. “These most recent conversations are an extension of ongoing internal dialogue that dates back several years.

“Ultimately the final decision rests with me, and after great consideration, we will be amending our expectations to allow our players and uniformed personnel to have well-groomed beards moving forward. It is the appropriate time to move beyond the familiar comfort of our former policy.”

George Steinbrenner implemented the mandate before the 1976 season, leaving players with a choice of being clean-shaven or wearing a mustache. Hal Steinbrenner kept the policy in place after becoming chairman and controlling owner of the franchise in 2008.

Players overwhelmingly obliged with the order over the next five decades, from spring training through October, often before letting themselves go during the offseason, though a few have pushed the limits.

In the 1990s, for example, star first baseman Don Mattingly was fined and benched by manager Stump Merril for refusing to trim his mullet. Four years later, Mattingly wore a goatee for part of his final season in 1995.

This year, All-Star closer Devin Williams, acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers in December, reported for his spring training physical with a beard before shaving it down to a mustache for the team’s first workout the next day. On the other end, former Yankees Gleyber Torres and Clay Holmes reported to camp with their new teams sporting full beards.

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Sources: Gators to promote Callaway to OC

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Sources: Gators to promote Callaway to OC

The Florida Gators are expected to promote Russ Callaway to offensive coordinator, sources told ESPN on Thursday.

Callaway spent last season as Florida’s tight ends coach and co-coordinator. This move marks his third straight year with a promotion since joining the Gators in an off-field role in 2022.

Florida coach Billy Napier remains the play-caller. Callaway’s offensive responsibilities continue to grow, and he’ll remain with the tight ends in the position room.

Callaway, 37, has coordinating experience and time in the NFL. He spent 2016 to 2019 as Samford‘s offensive coordinator. From there, he spent a year at LSU as an analyst and a year with the New York Giants as an offensive assistant.

Florida, which finished 8-5, won four in a row to close last season, including wins over LSU, Ole Miss and at Florida State.

There’s optimism around Florida taking another jump in 2025 after true freshman quarterback DJ Lagway went 6-1 in seven starts. Florida returns 15 starters for 2025.

Callaway’s tight ends accounted for 44 receptions for 444 yards and five touchdowns in 2024.

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