標籤: Luke

According to a recent report from Michael Russo of The Athletic, Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin attempted to acquire Luke Hughes from the New Jersey Devils during the 2025-26 season — a move that would have seen Luke leave one brother, Jack Hughes, to join forces with another in the form of Quinn Hughes.

Of course, rumors and speculation about the future of all three Hughes brothers have been running rampant. Just last week on an episode of The Sheet with Jeff Marek, all three brothers’ agent, Pat Brisson, talked about the idea of ​​them all playing together at some point:

“We probably haven’t had any specific discussion about this. These are possibilities, I will not deny the factBut when your three brothers get together during the summer or in the offseason, we have lots of fun conversations about lots of fun things.

Obviously, no deal happened for Luke. Based on the language used by The Athletic, it doesn’t seem like the Devils ever seriously considered parting ways with Luke.

But here’s what we know. All else being equal, there is no reason to believe that Quinn will be someone More He is willing to sign an extension beyond his current deal (which runs through 2026–27), which he would not have done if the team had made a deep run in the playoffs.

“I’m definitely ready to re-sign here,” Quinn said in his exit interview today. He also said that getting a deal in the summer is “more ideal”, but is “so mentally tough” that it is not possible to go into the season without it.

Regardless, the possibility remains that Guerin attempted to acquire Luke to increase his leverage for a Quinn extension. This will prompt a GM who does not have full Confidence in your ability to accomplish it. Quinn’s words confirm that the outlook at this position is far from certain, even if he enjoys playing in Minnesota.

At the end of the day, the Devils have something the Wild don’t: both of Quinn’s brothers. There’s no telling what Devils GM Sunny Mehta’s plan will be – and whether he’s considering a potential pursuit of Quinn in any near-term decisions.

Additionally, Quinn is already 0-for-1 on a contract extension entering the season and there are plenty of rumors surrounding him. Even if he is 100% genuine in his desire to stay in Minnesota, things could change quickly if he doesn’t make a move this offseason.

Mehta, Guerin and everyone involved know that Jack’s contract expires after 2029-30 and Luke’s after 2031-32. If Quinn really wants to play with his brothers, the quickest path is to New Jersey.

While ex-Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald has rightfully faced his fair share of scrutiny, some of his late decisions could potentially play a big role in any Devils success in the future:

Her refusal to part with Luke may one day be the reason the Devils finally meet Quinn. And their ability to let Ondrej Palat’s contract out without any salary retention would add some much-needed flexibility for Mehta to work with this offseason.

Time will tell what direction the Quinn saga and the Devils as a whole will take. In the meantime, until proven otherwise, Devils fans should hold their positions full confidence In Mehta.

Daniel is the New Jersey Devils beat reporter for SportsNut. He graduated from Montclair State University in 2025… More about Daniel Amoia

Bill Guerin appears to want to accomplish what former New Jersey Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald couldn’t. He wants to reunite the Hughes brothers, but in Minnesota.

According to a report from Michael Russo via The Athletic, the Wild GM attempted to trade for Luke Hughes — the youngest of the three NHL phenoms — during the 2025-26 season.

Idea? After ambushing the Devils for Quinn Hughes and luring him to Minnesota, get Luke and sign superstar forward Jack Hughes if he becomes a free agent in 2030.

“Everyone knows the Hughes brothers want to play together. Maybe Jack wants to come to Minnesota to join forces with Quinn instead of waiting now or doing it the other way,” Russo wrote in his latest. “That would be complicated, however, because it’s hard to believe that Jack would leave his youngest brother, Luke, behind with the New Jersey Devils. That’s why, according to league sources, the Wild made an offer to former Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald to acquire Luke last season. Still, it seems unlikely that new GM Sunny Mehta’s first move would be to trade Jack Hughes. The same can be said for Hischier, He’s eligible for an extension this offseason, though. And if the Devils get the impression the Skipper won’t move, you can bet they’ll put him on the market.”

Fitzgerald is no longer in the GM chair as he and the Devils parted ways and New Jersey hired Sunny Mehta as its sixth GM in franchise history.

Fitzgerald’s departure stemmed from Ball dropping the ball in the Quinn saga when he was still in Vancouver and preferred to ply his trade in New Jersey.

However, the ex-Devils GM did do one thing right by nabbing the youngest Hughes brother.

Not only is Luke projected to emerge as the Devils’ No. 1 defenseman, but holding on to him gives New Jersey its best chance to keep Jack long-term.

The Devils signed Luke to a long-term, seven-year contract last September, with six years remaining after the 2025–26 season.

This will be an interesting summer for both the Devils and the Wild.

Quinn is eligible to sign an extension on July 1 as he has one year remaining on his contract. It remains to be seen whether he does so or not, but it’s no secret that Quinn has been highly complimentary of the Wild organization—specifically Guerin.

The Devils have decisions to make themselves this summer, namely the pending free agent contracts in Simon Nemec and Arseniy Gritsyuk, as well as Nico Hischier who, like Quinn, is eligible for an extension on July 1 with one year left on his deal.

We know Guerin will continue his aggressive approach to upgrading the Wild while also doing everything he can to keep Quinn in Minny.

However, Mehta’s approach remains to be seen as a first-time GM in the NHL.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

The New Jersey Devils have announced that defenseman Luke Hughes will be shut down for the remainder of the season so he can undergo the process to begin his offseason rehabilitation early.

The 22-year-old blueliner has appeared in 68 games this season, recording six goals and 35 points.

Hughes suffered a shoulder injury on January 19 on the road against the Calgary Flames. In the second period, he tangled with Flames forward Justin Kirkland on the boards, dislocating his shoulder in the process. The injury took him out of the game shortly thereafter, placing him on long-term injured reserve.

A source confirmed that Hughes had surgery related to a shoulder injury.

At the time, ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reported that Hughes would not go under the knife to repair a shoulder injury.

“After consulting with doctors, Luke Hughes will not undergo surgery at this time and will instead rehabilitate his upper body injury.

“Devils placed Hughes on LTIR today; expected to sideline him during Olympic break [it’s to be determined]”

Hughes returned on February 28 against the St. Louis Blues – missing only 10 games with the Olympic break in between.

The Devils are officially out of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs on Tuesday after losing to the Philadelphia Flyers and the Ottawa Senators beat the Tampa Bay Lightning.

It makes perfect sense for Hughes to begin his rehab as soon as possible, with a source also confirming that Hughes is expected to be ready for training camp in September.

The Devils will face the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night, with Simon Nemec set to take over No. 1 power play duties.

Dennis Cholowski is stepping into Hughes’ shoes on the blueline. No other recalls are expected at this time.

The Devils have four games remaining on their schedule for the remainder of the 2025–26 season.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

Recently, the San Antonio Spurs made headlines when big man Luke Cornette spoke out against the Atlanta Hawks’ planned Magic City Night to pay homage to a local iconic strip club. The NBA eventually intervened and canceled the promotion, with many fans speculating that Cornette’s objections may have had something to do with it.

During a recent episode of his “Mind the Game” podcast with Steve Nash and guest Austin Reeves, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James referenced the controversy.

“We’ve got to get Luke Cornett to talk about Magic City,” James said.

Now this is how you end an episode pic.twitter.com/ESeikM1ySQ

– Jimmy Changa ✌️ (@sultanwaystar) 24 March 2026

“We’re going to slam the laptop,” Nash joked.

The Hawks still sold Magic City Wings at the arena and sweatshirts online for the event, but some game-related promotional events were canceled as a result of the NBA’s decision. Kornet was not the only NBA player to speak out against the incident, as former Hawks big man and Kornet’s former Boston Celtics teammate, Al Horford, also took to social media to sign off on Kornet’s complaints.

Based on his tone, it doesn’t seem like James was serious about inviting Kornet on the podcast to discuss this topic, which has largely been put on the back burner as the NBA season approaches its home stretch. However, for a week or so, it sparked discussion about the intersection of the NBA’s reputation as a family-friendly brand with its continued allegiance to gambling companies and other less palatable aspects of society, with some accusing the league of hypocrisy in the decision to cancel the event.

Meanwhile, the Spurs have continued to blow away opponents over the past few weeks, and appear to have locked up the number two seed in the Western Conference when all is said and done.

Luka Kennard expressed excitement after making the game-winning 3-pointer in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 105-104 win over the Orlando Magic on Saturday night.

Kennard is in the ninth season of his NBA career, his first with the Lakers. He has proven useful as a sharpshooter, being a valuable spark plug on the second unit.

His shooting abilities came to the fore in Los Angeles’ battle with Orlando. He got a 3-pointer in the final seconds of regulation, keeping the team’s winning streak intact for another game. Kennard reflected on the clutch highlights after the game and explained what happened on the biggest play of the night.

“First of all, great performance by us. Executed the play before we even thought we got fouled, everything that came back here, we executed a play, tried to get LeBron to the rim. Two guys went. Smart made a good play, and I was able to knock it down,” Kennard said.

Luke Kennard be ready. 🎯
Big time shot when it mattered most.

Mike Trudell holds up Luke Kennard after winning the game against the Magic pic.twitter.com/ZaZBOIkwQl

– Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) 22 March 2026

Luke Kennard, how the Lakers played against the Magic

Luke Kennard proved himself to be a team player who will perform well in the biggest moments, helping the Lakers get a win over the Magic.

Four players scored in double figures for Los Angeles in the win, including Kennard. He finished with a stat line of 13 points and three rebounds on 5-7 shooting from the field. Luka Doncic led the team with 33 points, eight assists and five rebounds. Austin Reaves came in next with 26 points and seven rebounds, while LeBron James provided 12 points and six rebounds.

Los Angeles improved to a 46–25 record on the season and finished third in the Western Conference standings. They are ranked above the Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets.

Riding a nine-consecutive win streak, the Lakers will be looking forward to their next contest. They remain on the road when they take on the Detroit Pistons on March 23 at 7pm ET.

San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet has been a constant for the team throughout the season, stepping up in the absence of Victor Wembanyama. He found himself starting for the All-Star big man on several occasions this season, which he jokingly talked about white noise podcast.

“Vic was out for a while and then he was back on minutes restriction and coming off the bench,” Kornett said. “And we were doing pretty well. And nobody really asked me how I felt about it. I don’t know if you’re familiar with Wally Pipp. It was fun too because there was the All-Star thing going on and it felt like I was the starter on the team. I saw a lot of votes going the other way.”

Wembanyama returned to the Spurs lineup this season after playing only 46 games in the 2024–2025 season due to deep vein thrombosis. He made one appearance earlier this season in his third year in the league, but was slightly derailed by a calf strain. After being out for a few weeks, he returned in time for the in-season tournament and Christmas Day games versus the Oklahoma City Thunder, but the Spurs coaching staff moved him off the bench out of an abundance of caution. Instead, Luke Cornet began managing Vembanyama’s minutes following the injury.

The Spurs were actually able to remain competitive in the Western Conference without Wembanyama, posting a 10–5 record in 15 games without him this season. Kornet certainly played a role, averaging 6.7 points and 6.2 rebounds on 65% from the floor.

Richard Jefferson took a stance on San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet by criticizing the Atlanta Hawks’ Magic City promotional night on March 16.

Cornette wrote a letter objecting to the Hawks hosting ‘Magic City’ Night. Jefferson agrees with Cornette, but for his own personal reasons, and mostly the way he wants to raise his children, he says, he wouldn’t want them to see them at NBA games.

“I’m going to take Luke Kornet’s side. Magic City, everyone has the ability to do whatever they choose. Spend their money how they want, but the NBA, the brand, the logo. Let’s just say, I think the NBA can partner with whoever they choose, but I understand what Luke Kornet is saying. Especially in a very delicate time. You talk about women’s rights, but also women’s rights to do that. Have potential,” Jefferson said at the 23:11 mark on the road. Trippin’ Podcast.

“To look at it and say, hey we want to do it, but there will be kids at the game. These are things that I love, I’m taking my kids, my nine and eleven-year-olds, this is not what I want to present to my kids, that’s just me.”

What’s next for the Hawks amid Luke Kornet’s comments?

Richard Jefferson and Luke Cornett Hawks may have their own reservations about the Magic City celebration. It’s time to realize what Atlanta can do for this event, but the recent attention will provide plenty of scrutiny before the competition takes place.

Atlanta has a 31–31 record on the season, tied for ninth in the Eastern Conference standings. They are 0.5 games ahead of the Charlotte Hornets and four games behind the Milwaukee Bucks while trailing the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic by 1.5 games.

Coming off four consecutive wins, the Hawks will be looking forward to their next contest. They are on the road when they face the Bucks on March 4th at 9:30 PM ET.

The NBA’s 2025-26 season has been surrounded by controversy, from one hot-button topic to the next, including the latest in which San Antonio Spurs veteran Luke Kornet condemned the Atlanta Hawks’ upcoming “Magic City Night” promotion. Cornette doubled down on his criticism of the Hawks’ plans, leading to an open letter asking the NBA to intervene in Atlanta’s scheduled promotion for their upcoming home game on March 16 against the Orlando Magic.

Cornette says the Hawks honoring a strip club by calling it “the city’s iconic cultural institution” is inconsistent with the values ​​of all NBA players, and the association should not have approved it.

“The NBA must be willing to protect and respect women, many of whom work diligently every day to make it the best basketball league in the world,” Kornett wrote in his personal blog. “We must foster an environment that is protective and respectful of the daughters, wives, sisters, mothers and partners we know and love.

“Allowing this night to proceed without protest would reflect poorly on us as an NBA community, especially given our society’s complicity with the potential objectification and abuse of women. Regardless of how a woman finds her way into the adult entertainment industry, many in the field experience abuse, harassment and violence to which they should never have been subjected.”

For the NBA, a league already mired in ethics concerns tied to its enthusiastic support of sports gambling, Cornette’s points are valid, given the negative connotations associated with the adult entertainment business. While the association’s effort to embrace the culture of the area, the Magic City, has been considered one of the foundations of Atlanta’s hip-hop music scene for the past two decades, the Hawks may have gone too far with their latest promotion.

Kornet’s latest campaign adds up to a difficult season for the NBA, given that the league has bigger issues to deal with technically. After Jonte Porter was banned from the NBA for life in April 2024 for violating league gambling policies, Terry Rozier of the Miami Heat was arrested in connection with an illegal gambling scheme.

Former Portland Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups was also named in the federal investigation, which involved sports betting and rigged, high-stakes poker games. Former Detroit Pistons forward Malik Beasley was at the center of a separate investigation for alleged improper gambling on games during the 2023-24 season.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver has generally been open to thinking outside the box, which has inspired league front offices to do the same in order to rebuild their rosters and compete for championships. Teams deliberately sitting their best players to increase their chances of receiving a high selection in the upcoming draft has emerged as one of the most controversial topics in sports.

The NBA has considered taking intense measures in response to teams intentionally sitting their players to improve their chances of losing. Changes included expanding the lottery to include all play-in tournament teams, determining lottery odds based on team performance over two years, and freezing draft lottery odds at the time limit to discourage intentional losing at the end of the regular season.

Luke Cornet addresses open letter ahead of Spurs matchup

Spurs veteran center Luke Kornet knows it’s rare for an NBA player to speak out about the Hawks’ promotion. Nevertheless, Cornette feels passionately about the topic and has not backed down since his initial blog post.

Cornette was forced to do so after learning of the Hawks’ “Magic City Night” promotion a week earlier. To declarehe said, according to ABC 6’s Jason Dumas.

“I feel like it doesn’t really represent what I know about myself and a lot of other N.B.A. [players] thought. So, I just want to make sure that part of the discussion is expressed. It comes with people like criticism and things like that – that’s part of the process as to why people are hesitant to do it, but I think really trying to start and enable conversation,” Cornet said during the Spurs shootaround on Tuesday.

“It’s important to help make sure that everyone in the league is willing to be represented, and there’s an environment that you want.”

Luke Cornette caused some stir nationally when he urged the Atlanta Hawks to cancel their “Magic City Night”, saying it was disrespectful to women.

I asked him about it after the shooting in Philly. Says he has not spoken to the league since his statement. pic.twitter.com/eTwFuZGAGQ

-Jason Dumas (@JDumasReports) 3 March 2026

The Cornets have reached the league, but no changes have been made regarding the upcoming event. When asked by a reporter if he had spoken to anyone from the Hawks organization, he said, no.

Still, it’s another bad look for the NBA amid a season filled with bad publicity, ranging from allegations that the Clippers circumvented the salary cap to sports gambling investigations to issues stemming from teams intentionally tanking; It feels like one issue after another is coming to the fore during the 2025-26 campaign.

As the San Antonio Spurs (43-17) prepare to conclude their five-game Eastern Conference road trip with a matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers (33-27) on Tuesday at 8:00 PM ET on NBC and Peacock, center Luke Cornette reiterated his criticism of the Atlanta Hawks’ association with the Magic City.

Cornette addressed the controversy while speaking with Jason Dumas of Action News on 6abc following Tuesday’s shooting. His comments come a day after he publicly objected to the Hawks’ planned “Magic City Night” promotion tied to their March 16 home game against the Orlando Magic.

“I actually saw the statement just last week, the Hawks’ announcement and as far as the point that you have the public voice, I feel like it doesn’t really represent what I know about myself and a lot of others in the NBA. [players] thought. So, I just want to make sure that that part of the discussion is expressed and that it includes criticizing people and things like that – that’s part of the process that white people may be hesitant to do but I think really trying to start a conversation and be able to do that.

He continued:

“It’s important to help make sure everyone in the league is ready to be represented and has an environment like you want.”

Cornette’s renewed comments follow backlash after he first expressed concerns about the Hawks’ partnership. On Monday, he elaborated in a post on Medium, where he directly called on the organization to cancel the event.

Luke Cornette caused some stir nationally when he urged the Atlanta Hawks to cancel “Magic City Night”, saying it was disrespectful to women.

I asked him about it after the shooting in Philly. Says he has not spoken to the league since his statement. pic.twitter.com/eTwFuZGAGQ

-Jason Dumas (@JDumasReports) 3 March 2026

“This week, the Atlanta Hawks announced a special one-night collaboration celebrating the city’s iconic cultural institution Magic City during the team’s home game against the Orlando Magic on Monday, March 16,” Cornett wrote. “In their press release, Hawks failed to acknowledge that this location is, as the business itself claims, ‘Atlanta’s premiere strip club.’ Given this fact, I would respectfully ask that the Atlanta Hawks cancel this promotional night with the Magic City.

Luke Kornet says NBA, Hawks haven’t contacted him amid Magic City controversy

Asked whether the league moved forward after his initial statement, Cornette said:

“Not really after that. I talked to a few people in the league first, just to see what the status of it was, to make sure it was up to date on the situation.”

He said the Hawks have not contacted him.

“No, I didn’t.”

The Hawks’ collaboration has attracted widespread attention, including public support from former guard Lou Williams. While Atlanta has not indicated any changes to its plans, Cornette’s comments add another layer to the broader conversation surrounding the event.

San Antonio will now turn their attention back to the court as they prepare to face Philadelphia on Tuesday night, and look to bounce back from a 114-89 loss to the New York Knicks on Sunday.

Recently, San Antonio Spurs big man Luke Cornette made headlines when he took to his blog to speak out against the Atlanta Hawks’ recently announced partnership with adult entertainment venue Magic City for an upcoming game. Now, Golden State Warriors big man and Kornet’s former Boston Celtics teammate, Al Horford, has weighed in on the conversation.

“Luke is right,” Horford, formerly of the Ax, wrote on Twitter.

“The NBA must be willing to protect and respect women, many of whom work diligently every day to make it the best basketball league in the world,” Kornett wrote in his blog post. “We must foster an environment that is protective and respectful of the daughters, wives, sisters, mothers and partners we know and love.”

Horford was a member of the Atlanta Hawks when they hosted the Tinder “Swipe Right” during the 2015 season, which marked the beginning of a brand partnership for the team that many might not have expected from an NBA organization.

So far, there is no indication that the NBA or the Hawks will come forward and follow Kornet’s advice by discontinuing the promotion, which is scheduled for a home game against the Orlando Magic later this month.

The Hawks have advertised Magic City sweatshirts as part of the celebration, and ticket sales for the game skyrocketed as a result of the announcement.

Cornette’s blog post sparked a widespread discussion on social media about the adult entertainment industry as a whole and whether or not family-friendly organizations like the NBA should be associated with it.

Meanwhile, some have called on Cornette to raise the issue but not speak out about the NBA’s partnerships with gambling companies and other equally less savory organizations.

It remains to be seen whether anything will happen as a result of Cornette’s requests.

LOS ANGELES – It’s been two weeks since Luke Kennard was signed to the Los Angeles Lakers following the NBA trade deadline, but Thursday was his first practice with the team. After his acquisition, the Lakers’ schedule did not allow any practice time, and then the All-Star break loomed. But considering the games he has played for the team so far, consider Luka Doncic a fan.

Luka Doncic has not played alongside Luke Kennard yet since he was sidelined with a hamstring injury during the Lakers’ win against the Philadelphia 76ers on February 5, which was just the game before Kennard’s debut. But after watching him on the court in subsequent games, and now after going through a practice session, Doncic likes the confidence that Kennard has whenever he blasts a shot from downtown.

“He was great in practice today. He’s been great just finding himself,” Doncic said after the Lakers’ practice Thursday. “He’s only played four games with us, so obviously he won’t be fit straight away, obviously he needs time. But in practice, whenever he takes a three, he always thinks it’s going to go in. It’s great to see.”

In Kennard’s Lakers debut, on February 7, in a win against the Golden State Warriors, he finished with 10 points, two rebounds, two assists and one steal in 26 minutes. He shot 4 of 7 overall, 2 of 4 from the 3-point line and most importantly, he closed the game as part of the crunch time lineup at the end of the fourth quarter.

Kennard has appeared in four games so far for the Lakers, including one start, averaging nearly 24 minutes per game. He averaged 10.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists with a split of 62.5 percent shooting from the field and 45.5 percent shooting from the 3-point line. When averaging his 3-point percentage from earlier in the season with the Atlanta Hawks, Kennard leads the league with 49.4 percent.

For Lakers head coach JJ Redick, just being with the team is a good way to get through the on-court grind, especially when the entire group is able to practice.

“I just think every day when you’re with the group, it’s more comfortable,” Redick said. “He did his drills this morning, did a good job. He had a great practice today. It was good to have Luca and AR with us as well.”

Reddick mentioned earlier in the season that he used Pechakucha’s Japanese storytelling presentation format to help with team-bonding activities, and Kennard finally got his opportunity.

With the All-Star break now in the rearview, the Lakers resume the season at home against the LA Clippers on Friday.

盧克·利特勒 (Luke Littler) 送給女友一份遲來的生日禮物，這讓他大受鼓舞。

這位世界第一承認，在周日的搭檔費絲生日後，他還沒有給她買禮物。

3

相反，利特勒正忙於在米爾頓凱恩斯舉行的世界大師賽上贏得他的第 11 個 PDC 大滿貫冠軍。

除了獲得 10 萬英鎊的獎金外，這位 19 歲的選手還在澳大利亞網球公開賽上下注後獲得了現金。

利特勒透露，在最終戰勝諾瓦克·德約科維奇之前，他支持卡洛斯·阿爾卡拉斯贏得今年的第一個大滿貫。

《核武器》透露了他和費斯在英超揭幕戰前如何花掉獎金。

利特勒在接受記者採訪時解釋道： “卡洛斯所做的事情令人難以置信。就連周末我也對他有點不滿，他也給了我一些錢。

“我們去了特拉福德中心，從潘多拉那裡得到了一些東西。

“她從 Zara 挑選了幾件運動鞋之類的東西，然後我們去吃了牛排。”

當被問及購物之旅是否減少了他的獎金時，他說： “一點點，一點點。不是太多。”

盧克·利特勒 (Luke Littler) 透露了他需要什麼才能考慮改變他的飛鏢。

這位世界第一在贏得第二個 PDC 世界飛鏢錦標賽冠軍後，上個月與 Target Darts 簽署了一份利潤豐厚的合同。

4

據報導，利特勒與該公司簽訂的 10 年合同價值 2000 萬英鎊。

這位 19 歲的球員現在可以為未來準備新的飛鏢和新的襯衫。

然而，他淡化了放棄目前使用的 Target 飛鏢的可能性，他已經用 Target 飛鏢贏得了 11 個 PDC 大滿貫冠軍。

利特勒在十月份宣布與前任經理馬丁·福爾茲分手後與塔吉特飛鏢公司簽約。

Nuke 在世界大獎賽前離開了 Foulds 的 ZXF Sports 公司，Chris Dobey 和 Nathan Aspinall 也宣布退出。

他討論了他與福爾茲的關係，以及他在英超聯賽回歸之前與 Target Darts 的 10 年合同。

利特勒在紐卡斯爾競技場的第一晚前夕在聖詹姆斯公園接受了 sport 獨家採訪。

少年解釋道： “ZXF 的 Martin，他為我創造了絕對的奇蹟。為我提供了所有優惠和最優惠的價格。

英超飛鏢盛會將於週四晚上在紐卡斯爾拉開帷幕，八名 PDC 頂尖選手已做好戰鬥準備。

盧克·漢弗萊斯將回歸衛冕他在去年決賽中擊敗盧克·利特勒時贏得的英超冠軍，但自那場失利以來，Nuke 一直是一台製勝機器，這位世界冠軍在比賽開始時就是奪冠熱門。

賽制保持不變，每週舉行八人淘汰賽，並爭奪倫敦 O2 體育場決賽之夜的資格。

我們為開幕之夜準備了三重奏。

sport BET 歡迎優惠 – 投注 £10 獲得 £30 免費投注

英超飛鏢聯賽第一周投注技巧

技巧 1 – Stephen Bunting 擊敗 Michael van Gerwen @ 11/8

斯蒂芬·邦廷評價了英超聯賽首周的出色表現，他在四分之一決賽中對陣邁克爾·範格文。

子彈隊上賽季在英超聯賽中表現不佳，但重返賽場後，這一次的表現應該會有所改善。

範格文在一月份的世界大師賽第一輪中被擊敗，過去 18 個月對於 Mighty Mike 來說是一段倒退而非進步的時期。

MVG 確實在上個月的兩項世界大賽中擊敗了 Bunting，但後者在巴林的表現比 Green Machine 更好，並在沙特阿拉伯浪費了大量機會。

邦廷可以在泰恩賽德的首場比賽中以一桿優勢戰勝範格文，彌補這兩場失利。

秘訣 2 – Jonny Clayton 擊敗 Josh Rock @ 6/5

喬尼·克萊頓是前英超聯賽冠軍，威爾士人在過去三場比賽中均進入了決賽之夜。

上賽季，雪貂隊恢復了接近巔峰的狀態，在世界大師賽上獲得亞軍，並在英國公開賽、世界大獎賽和世界比洞賽上進入半決賽。

約什·洛克在過去 12 個月的場上表現非常出色，但克萊頓在重大賽事中的戰績更強，這對於這位北愛爾蘭人的英超首秀來說是一個令人擔憂的問題。

洛基在世錦賽上受到賈斯汀·胡德的壓力而屈服，他是否能在英超聯賽中發揮出自己的最佳狀態還有待觀察。

考慮到對洛克的質疑，堅持讓經驗豐富的克萊頓贏得勝利似乎是明智的。

技巧 3 – Luke Littler v Gian van Veen @ 超過 7.5 180 秒 20/21

週四，世錦賽決賽將重演，屆時盧克·利特勒 (Luke Littler) 和吉安·范維恩 (Gian van Veen) 將在四分之一決賽中相遇。

利特勒在亞歷山德拉宮對決中以 7-1 獲勝，在 0-1 落後的情況下連贏七盤，但范維恩在決賽中以 2-0 領先，荷蘭人可以密切關注 Nuke。

一場勢均力敵的比賽可能會導致四分之一決賽進行 10 或 11 回合比賽，這意味著需要大量的 180 秒。

上個月，兩人在沙特阿拉伯大師賽上交鋒，雙方打出了 11 次最高分，那場比賽打了 10 局。

由於兩名球員都希望儘早發表聲明，預計可能會出現超過 7 個 180 度的重磅得分。

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盧克·利特勒 (Luke Littler) 聲稱，儘管他在不到 13 分鐘的時間內就以 4-0 擊敗了對手，但他對喬什·洛克 (Josh Rock) 的勝利“並不容易”。

這位世界排名第一的選手在周日下午憑藉看似具有統治力的表現輕鬆進入了世界大師賽的半決賽。

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利特勒在取得勝利的過程中連續完成了 8 個 180 度旋轉，僅一條腿摔倒。

與此同時，他的三鏢平均成績為 105.92，這是他在比賽中連續第二次超過平均成績。

此前，在周六第二輪對陣羅斯·史密斯的比賽中，Nuke 隊的場均得分為 107.88。

利特勒現在已經超越了 12 個月前首次亮相時闖入八強的記錄，他的目標是在米爾頓凱恩斯首次獲得冠軍。

世界大師賽是這位少年尚未贏得的僅有的兩項PDC頂級賽事之一，以及歐洲錦標賽。

賽后，利特勒解釋道： “這是我去年在四分之一決賽中落敗的地方，所以能夠獲得額外的勝利並保證我進入半決賽總是好的。”

然而，他補充說，他對洛克的勝利並不像比分所暗示的那麼簡單。

這位19歲的年輕人承認： “不，這絕對不容易。約什沒有發揮出最好的水平，但我沒有理由不發揮出最好的水平。我把一切都扔給了他。”

盧克·漢弗萊斯，鞠躬。

“酷手”擊中了 2026 年首個電視轉播的九鏢，為米爾頓凱恩斯的球迷帶來了難忘的時刻。

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漢弗萊斯在今年的世界大師賽第二輪對陣盧克·伍德豪斯的比賽中，以完美的飛鏢時刻結束了第二盤比賽。

這位衛冕冠軍投出了六支完美的飛鏢，一路將比分降到了 141 分，而且他並沒有鬆懈。

漢弗萊斯拿下高音20分，然後拿下高音19分，最後以雙12結束，讓球迷陷入瘋狂。

伍德豪斯看著漢弗萊斯在幾英尺外展現出的才華，只能站著微笑。

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2026年 PDC世界大師賽 本週末，盧克·漢弗萊斯將繼續捍衛自己的冠軍頭銜。

酷手去年在這項比賽中獲得了勝利，但他面臨著一些激烈的競爭。

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最明顯的競爭者來自盧克·利特勒(Luke Littler)，他在本月早些時候贏得首屆沙特阿拉伯飛鏢大師賽后，正在享受自己的 19 歲生日假期。

這是 Nuke 尚未獲得的少數幾個遊戲之一，他將尋求改變這一現狀。

然而，利特勒在第一輪比賽中險些被淘汰，被邁克·德·德克爾一路過關斬將。

德德克爾錯失了製勝一球，讓這位青少年明星重新回到比賽中，後者最終贏得了比賽。

利特勒現在已經跟隨漢弗萊斯、格文·普萊斯、吉安·範·維恩、斯蒂芬·邦廷和加里·安德森完成了這項工作。

PDC 世界大師賽：日期和開始時間

2026 年 PDC 世界大師賽於 1 月 29 日星期四開始，並於 2 月 1 日星期日進入決賽。

它在米爾頓凱恩斯的 Arena MK 舉行。

週四和周五的比賽於英國時間晚上 7 點開始。

吉安·范維恩透露，邁克爾·範格文在世錦賽決賽慘敗給盧克·利特勒後，並沒有對他表現出多少同情。

范維恩 (Van Veen) 在 1 月初的亞歷山德拉宮 (Alexandra Palace) 決戰中首次亮相，就被利特勒 (Littler) 7-1 擊敗。

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儘管最終的結局令人失望，但荷蘭人在最後一場慘敗之前還是享受了一場難忘的比賽。

為了與利特勒交鋒，范維恩在四分之一決賽和半決賽中連續戰勝了前世界冠軍盧克·漢弗里斯和加里·安德森。

他的功績使他的世界排名攀升至第三位，並超越範格文成為荷蘭飛鏢排名第一的選手。

跨越“強大的邁克”絕非易事，這位傳奇的荷蘭人是三屆世界冠軍和前世界第一。

“a** 上的一聲歡呼”

范維恩現在可能是他的國家領先的飛鏢明星，但范格文在世界錦標賽決賽失利後並沒有放過他的感情。

在即將到來的世界大師賽之前，“巨人”在接受sport採訪時被問及他的同胞在被超越成為荷蘭排名第一後是否對他說了些什麼。

范維恩微笑著向他透露了範格文的搞笑話語：“他只是說決賽后利特勒給了我一個歡呼。

“這是他唯一說的話。”

丹佛野馬隊即將進入超級碗，因為他們距離獲得亞足聯冠軍還有一場胜利。

在即將到來的周日在丹佛 Mile High 的 Empower Field 與 Drake Maye 和新英格蘭愛國者隊的亞冠冠軍賽之前，野馬隊分享了一些關於傷病的好消息，中鋒盧克·瓦滕伯格 (Luke Wattenberg) 似乎即將重返賽場。

“我們已指定 C Luke Wattenberg 從 IR 回歸，”野馬隊週三通過 X（以前稱為 Twitter）上的社交媒體帖子宣布。

這樣一來，野馬隊就有 21 天的時間將他從傷病預備隊中激活，考慮到現在是季后賽，球隊有望在對陣新英格蘭隊的比賽之前隨時這樣做。

在野馬隊第 16 週主場對陣特雷弗·勞倫斯和傑克遜維爾美洲虎隊的比賽后，28 歲的瓦滕伯格被列入傷病儲備名單。在獲得 IR 稱號之前，這位前華盛頓哈士奇隊進攻前鋒在 2025 年 NFL 賽季中首發了 15 場比賽。

瓦滕伯格自 2022 年以來一直效力於野馬隊，但直到 2024 年賽季他才開始成為球隊的常規首發球員。在過去的兩個賽季中，他在 28 場比賽中首發，對丹佛的進攻產生了重大影響。

據《Pro Football Focus》報導，瓦滕伯格在 40 名中鋒中排名第九，總得分為 70.9。他在 PFF 上的 71.0 傳球阻擋評分排名第 11，而他的跑動阻擋評分為 74.4，排名第九。

野馬隊於 11 月與瓦滕伯格續約四年，價值 4800 萬美元。

盧克·利特勒 (Luke Littler) 表示，電子飛鏢板是他收到過的最好的生日禮物，並聲稱它改變了他的生活。

在他 19 歲生日的那天，Nuke 一直在談論他過去收到的禮物，其中有一個明顯的亮點。

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週三，在贏得沙特阿拉伯飛鏢大師賽后，他與女友費絲在迪拜慶祝青少年時期的最後一年。

利特勒在決賽中以 8-5 擊敗邁克爾·範格文，奪得首屆賽事冠軍。

Nuke 現在幾乎贏得了飛鏢比賽的所有冠軍，並且是兩屆世界冠軍。

因此，在 2026 年肯定會非常忙碌之前，他有一點時間享受自己的生日是正確的。

想到他收到的磁性飛鏢靶上有一個孩子，他說：“我認為那是黃金。那是為我自己選擇的。沒有它，誰知道我現在會在哪裡。”

但他想到的不僅僅是生日禮物。

自從利特勒取得突破以來，飛鏢已經發展成為一項更受歡迎的運動，他可以說是現在最受關注的英國體育明星之一。

顯然，他仍在為此苦苦掙扎，正如他所說：“去年，狗仔隊實際上發現我爸爸去玩薯片，而不是我去打保齡球。

盧克·利特勒 (Luke Littler) 和保羅·林 (Paul Lim) 的比賽是兩名飛鏢運動員在電視轉播比賽中年齡上限最大的一場比賽。

18歲的世界第一和71歲的飛鏢傳奇人物在巴林飛鏢大師賽首輪對決，相差53年。

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與此同時，Lim 於 1982 年首次亮相 BDO 世界飛鏢錦標賽，那是在 Littler 的媽媽出生之前。

利特勒是這項運動歷史上最年輕的世界第一和世界冠軍。

Nuke 將於週三迎來 19 歲生日，就在沙特阿拉伯飛鏢大師賽結束後的第二天。

他和林可能會在利雅得再次會面，第一輪比賽定於週一舉行。

利特勒是本週末薩基爾賽的頭號种子，此前他曾在 2024 年首次亮相時就贏得了這項賽事的冠軍。

他與林的比賽獲勝者將在周五的四分之一決賽中對陣格溫·普萊斯。

當晚揭幕戰中，普萊斯以6-4擊敗日本選手酒井元。

至於利特勒，他希望在巴林獲得第五次世界飛鏢系列賽冠軍。

盧克·利特勒 (Luke Littler) 在連續兩年獲得這一殊榮後，不再是 PDC 職業巡迴賽上最年輕的選手。

這位少年立即被 18 歲的約里克·霍夫肯斯 (Yorick Hofkens) 超越。

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儘管兩人目前年齡相同，但霍夫肯斯比他小五個月。

結果，在上週獲得兩年巡迴賽卡後，他超越利特勒，成為 PDC 巡迴賽最年輕的球員。

德國人要到 6 月才滿 19 歲，而利特勒將於 1 月 21 日慶祝生日。

不過，他們仍然是 PDC 職業巡迴賽上僅有的兩名青少年。

利特勒是自 2024 年初以來 PDC 巡迴賽上最年輕的球員。

Nuke 在 PDC 世界飛鏢錦標賽首次亮相進入決賽之前，通過發展巡迴賽獲得了一張巡迴賽卡。

此後，他在亞歷山德拉宮連續贏得冠軍，成為這項運動有史以來最年輕的世界冠軍和世界第一。

約里克·霍夫肯斯是誰？

至於霍夫肯斯，他在周六的比賽中進入了最後兩名，從而確保了他在歐盟資格學校的職業地位。

盧克·利特勒通過在線銷售運動卡為巴林飛鏢大師賽做準備。

《Nuke》透露，他在周日晚上在飛往中東之前打包並張貼了這些紀念品。

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利特勒將於本週在薩基爾參加比賽，這是他贏得 PDC 世界飛鏢錦標賽冠軍後首次重返奧切。

這位 18 歲的選手連續第二次在亞歷山德拉宮奪冠，獲得了高達 100 萬英鎊的獎金。

與此同時，這個數字與他與 Target Darts 達成的新協議相比相形見絀。

這位少年與該品牌簽訂了為期 10 年、價值 2000 萬英鎊的合作夥伴關係。

利特爾的副業

然而，利特勒透露，他的副業也沒有放慢腳步。

這位世界第一在 Instagram 上展示了他必須整理並列出待售的一堆卡片。

其中包括英超球星簽名的物品，利特勒在他的個人 Ebay 頁面上出售這些物品。

在卡片的圖片旁邊，他寫道：“眾所周知，（我）一直在 Ebay 上列出卡片。

盧克·利特勒 (Luke Littler) 與一名飛鏢運動員簽署了創紀錄的讚助協議，同意與 Target Darts 達成價值 2000 萬英鎊的合作夥伴關係。

在 PDC 世界錦標賽上連續第二次獲勝，獲得 100 萬英鎊的收入幾天后，“The Nuke”通過與飛鏢供應商簽訂了一份新合同，獲得了更大的發薪日。

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這份價值數百萬英鎊的協議將持續十年，Target Darts 確認這是同類協議中最有利可圖的。

這家體育領先製造商在一份聲明中稱其為“飛鏢歷史上品牌與選手之間最大的協議”。

自從 2024 年 16 歲的利特勒闖入世錦賽決賽以來，他的事業迅速崛起。

他迅速成為飛鏢界的代言人，並擁有英國公開賽、世界比洞賽、世界大獎賽、大滿貫和球員錦標賽冠軍以及最新的世界冠軍頭銜。

在錢裡

他在發展這項運動方面所發揮的巨大作用已經體現在破紀錄的讚助協議中，該協議將持續到下一個十年。

據報導，這將基於潛在的收入和獎金，以及向箭迷銷售的產品和設備的百分比。

Target 董事長 Garry Plummer 對這筆交易表示歡迎，並透露了 Littler 和 Target Darts 之間的長期合作關係。

普盧默說：“我在盧克 12 歲時在 BDO 青年世界錦標賽預選賽上認識了他，那天他的父親問我們是否願意贊助他。

The highest-paid college football coaches have annual salaries that’ll make anyone’s head spin, but that’s why they’re put in charge of numerous young men and tasked with shepherding powerhouse programs to perpetual prominence.

While some coaches on this list at the nation’s premier football schools probably aren’t going to surprise, the order may well be a shock to many. One thing to keep in mind, being among the highest-paid college football coaches doesn’t guarantee job security. From our list in 2021, three prominent names were fired.

Without further ado, here are the highest-paid college football coaches by annual salary as of the most recent season. This group is compiled from USA Today‘s list, but takes into account coaching changes, compensation information, or lack thereof, and the latest available information.

Just missed:

• P.J. Fleck, Minnesota — $6 million
• Sonny Dykes, TCU — $6 million
• Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern – $5.748 million
• Chip Kelly, UCLA Bruins – $5.6 million
• Steve Sarkisian, Texas – $5.45 million

Highest-paid coaches fired in 2021:

• Gary Patterson, TCU – $6.1 million salary
• Dan Mullen, Florida – $7.57 million salary
• Ed Orgeron, LSU – $9.01 million salary

One thing to keep in mind, the salaries of the highest paid coaches in college football aren’t slowing down. Even before it landed USC and UCLA, the Big Ten wanted huge money for the TV rights to its games. When college football realignment leads to super conferences, even more coaches will make $10-plus million each year.

Let’s dive into the highest paid college football coaches in 2022.

13. James Franklin salary: $7 million (Penn State)

Penn State Nittany Lions head coach is one of the best at using leverage to land an extension. Rumored to be a coaching candidate for the LSU Tigers, Miami Hurricanes and USC Trojans, Franklin turned that into a pay raise and more job security in Happy Valley.

Keep in mind, the Nittany Lions didn’t have a great season. For the second consecutive year, Penn State finished with five losses and ended the regular season outside the top-25 college football rankings. But the new James Franklin contract, a 10-year deal worth $70 million, makes him one of the highest-paid coaches in college football and Penn State seems pleased with the results.

There are some enticing contract incentives for Franklin, including a $250,000 bonus for appearing in the Big Ten Championship Game and a $350,000 bonus for winning it. If Penn State makes a bowl game, Franklin receives $200,000 and that skyrockets to a $400,000 bonus if the Nittany Lions reach the CFB Playoffs.

Considering the Nittany Lions are 0-10 against top 10 teams since 2017 and James Franklin is now 2-14 vs top 10 opponents, we’re not too worried about him earning those incentives.

12. Jim Harbaugh salary: $7.05 million (Michigan)

After flirting with the NFL, Jim Harbaugh landed the contract extension he wanted. The University of Michigan officially announced his new extension, rewarding the head coach for a phenomenal 2021 season. After taking a pay cut to stick around last year, Harbaugh now joins the list of the highest-paid college football coaches.

• Jim Harbaugh record: 73-24 at Michigan, 1-5 in bowl games

The new deal provides a $7.05 million base salary in 2022, per The Detroit News. Importantly, there is also a clause regarding a buyout. If Harbaugh leaves Michigan next year, he owes the university $3 million. Departing in 2023 would result in a $2.25 million buyout and a $1.5 million buyout to Michigan if he exits in 2024.

Harbaugh now has consecutive victories over Ohio State, wins that put the Wolverines into the College Football Playoff. Quite frankly, how far the Wolverines advance in the playoff doesn’t matter as much now. Harbaugh finally has Michigan back on top of its biggest rivalry and that’s worth every dollar of his salary and more.

11. Luke Fickell salary: $7.8 million (Wisconsin)

The Wisconsin Badgers knew in order to lure Luke Fickell away from the Cincinnati Bearcats, they needed to make him one of the highest-paid college football coaches in 2023. Considering this was a program that underfunded recruiting, we could be seeing a new commitment to football at Wisconsin.

Fickell will earn a $7.5 million salary in 2023, one of the largest head-coaching salaries in college football. However, the deal comes with escalators each year that raise the average annual value of the contract to nearly $7.9 million.

• Luke Fickell contract: 7 years, $7.8 million per season

With the massive pay raise comes greater support to build the program his way. Fickell turned down multiple other Power 5 jobs in the past, but Wisconsin finally offered the resources he wanted. This could be a massive turning point for the Badgers’ football program.

10. Mario Cristobal salary: $8 million (Miami)

The Miami Hurricanes are finally taking football seriously once again and it leads to a new entrant in our highest-paid coaches in college football rankings. Fresh off a 10-win season with the Oregon Ducks, Mario Cristobal is headed back to Miami.

It doesn’t come as a surprise. Cristobal grew up in Miami and played offensive tackle for the Hurricanes. With a 35-13 record in five seasons at Oregon, he was always considered a potential candidate to leave for another job. But the Hurricanes haven’t spent money like this before and the sudden change is why they landed their top target.

A former 247 Sports’ National Recruiter of the Year, Cristobal lands in one of the most talent-rich regions in the country. It’s going to take some time to build the Hurricanes back up, but the new commitment being shown by administrators and boosters is a sign that “The U” could be back soon.

• Mario Cristobal coaching record: 67-66

As of now, though, the Mario Cristobal contract looks bad. Miami already lost to Middle Tennessee State, North Carolina and Texas A&M this year and the offense isn’t meeting expectations. Cristobal isn’t going to approach any of his contract incentives and it’s fair to wonder if one of the highest paid coaches in college football will be shown the door by December 2023.

9. Jimbo Fisher salary: $9 million (Texas A&M)

When Jimbo Fisher resigned from Florida State, it was unclear what his coaching future held. Texas A&M turned to him to get its program trending in the right direction, and Fisher has done just that. A 9-1 mark in 2020, including 8-1 in the SEC, saw the Aggies just miss out on the College Football Playoff.

The Aggies were viewed as a disappointment last year, compared to the expectations placed on this team. But beating Alabama, many felt that sent a message about the emerging state of Texas A&M’s football program.

Fast forward to the 2022 season and there are now many calling for Jimbo Fisher to be fired. Even for a program like Texas A&M, which has wealthy boosters who are more than willing to spend to get what they want, that seems unlikely to happen right now.

However, the frustration in Texas is undeniable. A program that entered No. 6 in the preseason top-25 rankings now can’t even win six games. Meanwhile, Florida State looks better off without Fisher. It would take a massive booster to get Fisher pushed out the door, but it seems far more plausible than before after this disastrous season.

• Jimbo Fisher buyout: $80 million

9. Lane Kiffin salary: $9 million (Ole Miss)

The Mississippi Rebels hired Lane Kiffin with the hope the polarizing coach could turn their program around within a few years. Following a 5-5 season in 2020, Kiffin’s Rebels became a college football power this season and finished with a 10-2 record.

Unsurprisingly, Kiffin was rewarded. With plenty of bigger programs inquiring, Ole Miss added Kiffin’s name to the growing list of highest-paid coaches in college football. Kiffin received a $3 million raise from his current salary and will pull in an average value of $7.25 million. Of course, the deal carries additional incentives that can make it worth even more.

• Lane Kiffin salary: $9 million per season

Thanks to the Auburn Tigers, Kiffin received a contract extension for the second consecutive year. According to Ross Dellenger, Ole Miss is signing Kiffin to a six-year contract extension with roll-overs that extend it to eight seasons. Far more importantly, Kiffin’s salary climbs to an average of $9 million per year beginning in 2023. Once an underappreciated coach, Kiffin has now climbed the list of the highest-paid college football coaches in consecutive years.

8. Matt Rhule salary: $9.25 million (Nebraska)

Months after being fired by the Carolina Panthers, Matt Rhule returns to where he always belonged. A top college football coach at both Temple and Baylor, Rhule is taking over as the Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach at a critical time.

The Cornhuskers, once one of the best teams in college football, have plummeted to irrelevancy for the majority of the last decade. Many hoped that alum Scott Frost would turn things around, but the weight of the job and poor decisions led to his termination.

• Matt Rhule salary 2023: $5.5 million

Rhule knows how to build out a coaching staff at the college level and his background in identifying unheralded three-star recruits and helping them develop into impact players is exactly what the Cornhuskers need.

The details of the Matt Rhule contract won’t make him one of the highest-paid college football coaches in 2023, only set to earn a $5.5 million salary. However, it’s a $74 million deal over eight years, averaging at $9.25 AAV. By 2027, Rhule will be earning a $10 million salary and it will top at $12.5 million in 2030.

7. Ryan Day salary: $9.5 million (Ohio State)

Stepping in as Urban Meyer’s successor couldn’t have been easy for Ryan Day, but the Buckeyes haven’t missed a beat since he took the reins. In four seasons as the Ohio State head coach, Day boasts a phenomenal 34-4 record with one College Football National Championship Game appearance (2020).

After earning $6.614 million in 2021, Ohio State finally bumped up the salary for the leader of its program. The new two-year Ryan Day contract extension is worth $9.5 million per season, immediately making him one of the highest-paid college football coaches in 2022.

However, fans will rightfully be wondering whether or not Day is earning his salary right now. Consecutive losses to Michigan, this time at home with Blake Corum out it’s an awful look for one of the highest paid coaches in college football.

6. Mel Tucker salary: $9.5 million (Michigan State)

Hired in 2020, Mel Tucker turned a great opportunity into becoming of the highest-paid college football coaches within two years. The Spartans went 2-5 in a COVID-impacted 2020 season, but everything came together this year. On the verge of a double-digit win year, Tucker earned a 10-year extension worth $95 million. While his contract has just a $5.9 million base salary, there is an additional $3.2 million in supplemental compensation and it averages $9.5 million per year.

Things aren’t nearly as good in 2022. Michigan State already reached four losses before mid-October, a disappointment even for a program that everyone expected some regression from. While Tucker deserves some time to turn things around, it’s clear one of the highest paid coaches in college football isn’t one of the best in the sport.

It’s fair to say Kenenth Walker deserves a portion of Tucker’s salary. While the Spartans showed some life late in the year, improving from 2-4 to 5-6, there is more than enough evidence to suggest Tucker is one of the most overpaid coaches in college football, behind Jimbo Fisher.

Now, let’s dive into the top 5 highest paid coaches in college football.

5. Brian Kelly salary: $9.5 million (LSU)

Days after saying he would never leave the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, unless he was offered $250 million, Brian Kelly became the LSU Tigers head coach. Fourth amongst the active leaders in coaching wins (166), Kelly’s “Irish Exit” from Notre Dame is a repeat of his departure from Cincinnati to join the Fighting Irish.

While he didn’t land $250 million, he easily grabs a spot among the highest-paid college football coaches. Previous reports indicated the deal is worth $100-plus million over 10 years. However, the official terms per LSU are $95 million over 10 years. There are likely reachable incentives that will push the total value well past $100 million.

• Brian Kelly contract: 10 years, $95 million

LSU’s coaching change is going to be the costliest in college football history. Ed Orgeron received a $17 million buyout and when combined with Kelly’s contract, it’s a staggering total being spent. But the Tigers are confident that a coach who posted a 113-40 record at Notre Dame with five consecutive double-digit win seasons will bring a national championship to Baton Rouge.

It feels fitting that LSU’s first regular season with Kelly ended with a loss to Texas A&M. The Tigers sat on the doorstep of a playoff berth, just like so many Notre Dame teams in the Kelly era, ending with the same fate as the Fighting Irish in previous years. LSU should’ve known what it was getting when it paid Kelly.

4. Lincoln Riley salary (estimated): $10-plus million (USC)

What is Lincoln Riley’s salary? We don’t really know. The USC Trojans aren’t required to provide financial details on his deal thanks to the program being a private school. Based on the limited information reported, we can pretty safely say Riley is the highest paid college football coach.

• Lincoln Riley record: 65-11

Early estimates project the deal worth over $10 million per season in average salary with incentives for Pac 12 Championships, College Football Playoff appearances and national championships. Given his resume, that’s easily worth it if he can turn around the Trojans. We could be on the verge of USC becoming a football factory, too. With NIL deals for quarterback Caleb Williams, top assistants and staffers from around the country joining Riley’s program, USC is going beyond having the most paid college football coach.

If you’re wondering what one of the highest-paid college football coaches does with his money, we already know. Riley bought a mansion in Los Angeles, worth $17.2 million. Just take a look for yourself, the features and views are absurd. It might only be a few years in the Big Ten before Riley gets a pay raise, given the revenue those TV rights deals will generate.

The Trojans fell just short of the CFB Playoffs, but this season can only be described as a smashing success. In Riley’s first year, USC reached the No. 4 spot in the penultimate playoff rankings. Keep in mind, the Trojans had to learn on the fly this season with an unusual number of transfers. All of this bodes well for USC’s outlook in 2023.

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3. Kirby Smart salary: $11.25 million (Georgia)

Following a lengthy tenure as Nick Saban’s defensive coordinator at Alabama, Kirby Smart made the leap to head coach at Georgia in 2016. Smart’s maiden year in Athens produced a meager 8-5 record, but he’s been lights-out since then.

The Bulldogs were ranked No. 1 in the country for the first time since 1982. With the best defense in college football and a quality offense, it looked like everything was coming together for Smart’s program. But an ugly loss in the SEC Championship Game made everyone wonder if the Dawgs would ever get over the hump against Alabama.

That’s no longer a question. Georgia’s playoff run, which culminated with a three-touchdown fourth quarter vs. Alabama in the title game, brings a national title back to Georgia. As everyone celebrates, the Kirby Smart contract incentives kick in. He received an additional $850,000 in on-field bonuses for the playoff run, including a $200K bonus for the title.

Finally, the Kirby Smart contract extension arrives. According to Chris Low of ESPN, Smart signed a 10-year contract with a total of $112.5 million. With the Bulldogs headed toward another CFP Semifinal.

As for additional Kirby Smart contract details, his salary climbs to $10.5 million in 2023, $10.75 million in 2024 and hits $11 million in 2025. By 2030, Smart will be making $12 million in salary alone. The Bulldogs coach will also receive a $100,000 bonus for the SEC title game appearance, a $300,000 bonus for winning the SEC and a $500,000 bonus for making the CFB Playoff. If Georgia wins the national championship, Smart receives a $1 million bonus.

2. Dabo Swinney salary: $11.5 million (Clemson)

Dabo Swinney has led Clemson to the College Football Playoff in the past six seasons, claiming two national championships in that span. The Tigers are an absolute juggernaut in the ACC, and Swinney is deservedly among the highest-paid college football coaches.

However, it’s fair to say Swinney didn’t entirely earn his salary in 2021. Clemson’s offense never showed up in the season-opening loss to Georgia and it barely made an appearance in a 14-8 win over Georgia Tech. But that 27-21 loss to North Carolina State gave this program two losses in September for the first time in years. Maybe it was the generational quarterbacks carrying Clemson and not the coach.

But now the Tigers are all-in on their head coach again, giving Swinney a 10-year, $115 million contract extension, locking him in until 2031. It’s the largest college football contract in the history of the sport. Facing questions entering the season about the inexperienced coaching staff, Swinney is stepping up in his “CEO” role when the program needs it. After an underwhelming 2021 season, this is a lot closer to what we expect from one of the highest paid coaches in college football.

1. Nick Saban salary: $11.7 million (Alabama)

Who is the highest paid college football coach? It’s hardly a surprise that the best coach to ever do it on the NCAA gridiron is also once again the highest-paid college football coach. Nick Saban’s “process” is the stuff of legend, and it’s led to a 183-25 record at Alabama, along with six national championships.

In August, the Alabama university’s board of trustees approved an extension to his current deal that would take it all the way to February of 2030. However, and more importantly, they also bumped up his pay by $2 million annually. He will now make $11.7 million each year which now makes him the highest-paid coach in all of college football…again.

Unfortunately for Alabama, we could be at the end of an era. The 2022 season for the Crimson Tide was a massive disappointment by their standards, meaning Saban won’t be reaching any of his contract incentives in 2022.