Author: Gabby Har

The Sooners will play Mizzou this weekend.

For the third straight weekend, the top-ranked and undefeated Oklahoma puts its perfect record on the line in the softball mine field that is the SEC, heading to Columbia, Missouri, to take on an old foe.

The top-ranked Sooners (27-0, 6-0) and Missouri Tigers (17-13, 0-3) begin a three-game series on Friday at 2,600-seat Mizzou Softball Stadium. Oklahoma holds a 55-41 record all-time against the Tigers and is 19-10 in games played at Mizzou.

Although Oklahoma and Missouri used to play several times every season as members of the Big Eight and Big 12, the two teams have met just four times since Missouri left the Big 12 for the SEC after the 2012 season. The Sooners last played in Columbia in 2011, when they lost back-to-back one-run games.

Oklahoma is coming off of back-to-back series sweeps over No. 10 South Carolina and No. 15 Arkansas, and earlier this week won 8-0 over East Texas A&M behind a combined no-hitter thrown by Isabella Smith, Kiersten Deal and Paytn Monticelli.

This is only Missouri’s second SEC series in 2025. The Tigers were swept at No. 23 Kentucky a couple of weeks ago, but have won six times since then, including a 5-3 home win on Tuesday against bordering-state rival Illinois.

The series opener on Friday will start at 5 p.m. CT, the start time on Saturday is 2 p.m. and noon on Sunday. All three games will be on SEC Network+.

In some way, the New York Yankees cleaned house this offseason after making it to the World Series. They watched a number of free agents depart and traded some other notable names to clear a path for newer additions.

One of those trades featured 2022 All-Star Jose Trevino, who was sent to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for relief pitcher Fernando Cruz. The agreement allowed the Yankees to add bullpen depth and free up about $3.5 million in salary (Trevino’s expected arbitration figure).

And it only took a few months for Trevino to get a larger payday. In what some Yankees fans would consider a jarring move, the Reds signed Trevino to a three-year extension in the $15 million range on Thursday afternoon.

For as much as Yankees fans loved Trevino, there was no debating his declining play. His bat quickly regressed (perhaps as a result of injuries, or perhaps as a result of 2022 being some sort of an aberration) and his arm strength suffered greatly due to shoulder woes.

The Yankees didn’t deem him worth $3.5 million for 2025, but the Reds, a small market club, just invested $15 million in him? We know New York doesn’t always make shrewd personnel decisions, but what gives here?

But congratulations are in order. Trevino has been in MLB since 2018 and has worked his way into a valuable backup role. Entering his age-32 season, he was in need of a payday, and he secured it. Good for him, he’s undoubtedly worked hard.

In fact, he was once among the best defensive catchers in the sport. And he still remains there in a few categories. He’s tops in the league for blocks above average and framing. There’s a ton of value in that.

 

NORMAN — Lauren Chamberlain, third all-time on the NCAA’s career home run list, sat perched behind OU softball’s dugout in her seat inside Love’s Field.

The former Sooners legend surveyed Tiare Jennings, fourth on the list, strolling to the plate as she entered the batter’s box. Two pitches later when Jennings returned to Chamberlain’s eyeline, the latter wasn’t alone in third.

Jennings blasted a 1-0 offering over the centerfield wall and into the batter’s eye for her 95th career homer, tying her with Chamberlain for third in NCAA history and second in program history. Jennings cemented herself further in OU postseason lore, recording her 18th career home run in the NCAA Tournament.

“She’s awesome,” Chamberlain told The Oklahoman during the game. “One of my favorite people. I’ve always been a fan of her and it’s awesome to see her now, closing out her chapter with the Sooners and doing it on top and just showing how powerful she is.”

Jennings’ solo shot gave No. 2 OU its first lead and contributed to its 11-3 win over No. 15 Florida State in Game 1 of the NCAA Norman Super Regional. Jennings is hitting .428 with three home runs and six RBIs in four games during this year’s postseason.

When asked about the hit that tied Chamberlain, Sooners coach Patty Gasso, catcher Kinzie Hansen and Jennings herself were stunned.

“I never would have thought,” Jennings said. “I honestly didn’t really know that was a thing. But records are meant to be broken, so it’s definitely a huge honor. Just shows the power of the Sooners and their home run power, but it’s just super cool.”

This season has been a trying one for Jennings. Gasso has mentioned she’s pressed herself at times to perform this season, leading to some slumps.

Jennings’ numbers have dipped a bit from a season ago and opposing pitchers are attacking her differently than in past years. She sees more pitches out of the zone and has had to adjust her approach at times.

Jennings is hitting .373 this season, a career-low. Her career batting average entering 2024 stood at .427.

Alumnae such as Chamberlain and Sydney Romero — ninth on OU’s career home run list — have been there for Jennings this season when she has sought their guidance. Jennings has handled juggling expectations to win her fourth consecutive national title, anxieties about her future and her role as one of the Sooners’ captains alongside Hansen like a professional.

“You can see her growth and the “C” on her chest,” Chamberlain said. “She’s a captain and she takes pride in it and that’s what you want as a former Sooner. To see the current Sooners carrying the torch and she’s doing a great job.”

Chamberlain wasn’t surprised in the slightest as she watched Jennings round the bases. This is who Jennings is and has been her entire career — one of the most dangerous hitters in the country.

“She’s just hitting good pitches, she doesn’t chase,” Chamberlain said. “I know, especially in the postseason, the pitching gets better. But that’s when she starts to elevate her stuff and it’s awesome to see her progress and trust herself in the postseason. She’s somebody that the Sooners can always depend on.”

Following Jennings’ surprise reaction to the news, Chamberlain made her way near OU’s locker room to congratulate her and pose for a photo.

“Honestly, every time I see her it’s a hug and she’s so warm,” Chamberlain said. “So there’s still such a good relationship between the alumni and our players and (Gasso) continues to (encourage it).”

The Sooners’ winning streak ended with a loss to Missouri.

The streak is over.

After 31 straight wins, the Oklahoma Sooners finally lost a softball game. The Sooners had started the season 28-0, plus three wins that carried over from last year after winning their fourth national title in a row.

The Sooners had been the last undefeated team still standing in Division-I softball this season for two weeks.

In what seemed like an impossible feat, it was the lackluster Missouri Tigers who beat OU 3-1 on Saturday in Columbia, Missouri. The Sooners run-ruled Mizzou 8-0 the night before to start the weekend series. Now, OU will have a rubber game for the first time this season.

As Missouri tallied its first conference win after starting SEC play 0-4, the Sooners suffered their first loss ever in SEC play after beginning 7-0 with sweeps over South Carolina and Arkansas.

The Sooners could never get their bats going, though. OU didn’t even score until Nelly McEnroe-Marinas hit a home run over left field in the seventh inning.

The Tigers put up two quick in the first inning, then added another in the fourth.

Of the teams ahead for the Sooners, Missouri seemed like the least likely to scrap together a win against them. The Tigers were the only SEC opponent on OU’s schedule that’s not ranked with a now 18-14 record.

The Sooners will now have to bounce back after a loss for the first time since last year’s Women’s College World Series. However, that obviously didn’t rattle Patty Gasso & Co. much since they recovered with 31 straight wins afterward.

OU and Mizzou will play Game 3 at noon CT Sunday.

In the second round of the NCAA Tournament, the No. 1 Duke Blue Devils will take on the No. 9 Baylor Bears in the East Region. According to DraftKings, the Blue Devils are heavy 12.5-point favorites.

Defensively, Duke will be going up against one of its former teammates in Baylor guard Jeremy Roach. Roach spent the first four seasons of his basketball career from 2020-2024. He decided to transfer to Waco for his fifth and final season.

Let’s take a look at why Roach opted to transfer, and how he’s done at Baylor during the season.

“Personally, I wanted to stay,” Roach said as transcribed via CBS Sports. “But stuff didn’t meet up, and it was just my time to go. … I did my four years, sacrificed a whole lot, and I made the most of it. It was no hard feelings or anything like that. It was all cool.”

“It was kind of like a mutual thing,” he continued. “[Coach Jon Scheyer] already knew what was kind of expected.”

One other factor in his decision is likely Baylor utilizing Roach as a point guard instead of a shooting guard, which he played four four seasons at Duke. In the same interview, Roach said playing at Baylor would allow him to play a position that’s more comfortable to him, and one that he played in high school.

“I made the most of what I did [at Duke],” Roach said. “It’s great getting back to what I do. Ball is in my hands now, I have to make plays for myself and others now.”

“I’ll let the whole world know right now. I’m not a 2,” Roach said. “I’m not a 3. I’m not a scoring guard. I’m a point guard. That’s just what I had to do at Duke. Right now, I’m a point guard. It’s great to get back to what I do. That was a big thing in my offseason training. I needed to get back to being that point guard. I feel more comfortable. I’m doing what I need to do. It’s no shade at Duke.”

At Baylor, Roach helped lead the Bears to a 19-14 regular-season record, with a 10-10 mark in conference play.

Roach was a huge part of Duke success in recent years.  He led the Blue Devils in assists the last two seasons, and helped Duke make a Final Four three seasons ago and reach the Elite Eight last season.  His stats at Duke were impressive:

Roach hasn’t put up as big numbers at Baylor as what he did at Duke. But he’s helping the Bears rank 16th overall in KenPom adjusted offensive efficiency. Roach is still helping facilitate the offense as the point guard, too:

One of Roach’s best games with the Bears came during a March 1 win over Oklahoma State. He finished with a season-high 21 points with three assists and four boards.

 

A small gesture from Steph Curry made a big impact earlier this week.

Ahead of the Golden State Warriors’ 117–114 win over the Toronto Raptors on Thursday night, Curry entered Chase Center rocking a shirt with the name and likeness of South Carolina women’s basketball star MiLaysia Fulwiley.

Fulwiley, a star sophomore for the defending-champion Gamecocks, saw Curry’s shirt while scrolling through social media.

“It’s a blessing, man. When I saw it, I couldn’t really say nothing, but I almost cried, honestly,” Fulwiley said in an interview with Fox 57. “Just seeing how I grew up and where I come from—nobody from where I come from that would ever happen to them. I’m just proud of myself. Just keep going, trust in the process and just locking in because other great people will be on notice, like Steph.”

Curry wearing a shirt to support Fulwiley was no random coincidence. Fulwiley signed a multi-year NIL deal with the Curry Brand last March, becoming the first collegiate athlete to partner directly with the Warriors star’s line.

Fulwiley went on to star in the Gamecocks’ 108–48 win over No. 16 seed Tennessee Tech on Friday, scoring 15 points and talling five assists in 19 minutes.

Curry, meanwhile, continues to recover from the pelvic contusion he suffered Thursday night. Even if he misses a few more games, you can bet Curry will be locked in on the NCAA women’s basketball tournament—and South Carolina games, especially.

Fans won’t see any West Virginia football players hitting the renegade dance on TikTok this year. New coach Rich Rodriguez said he’s limiting what players can do on the popular social media app.

It’s impossible to keep the young men off the app entirely, Rodriguez confessed to reporters this week, but the coach won’t let players post any dancing videos.

“I’m just banning them from dancing on it,” he added. “It’s like, look, we try to have a hard edge or whatever, and you’re in there in your tights dancing on TikTok, ain’t quite the image of our program that I want.”

Rodriguez, who coached the Mountaineers from 2001 through 2007, is taking over again for the 2025 season. The West Virginia native went 27-10 the past three seasons at Jacksonville State.

“I hope our focus can be on winning football games,” he said. “How about let’s win the football game and not worry about winning the TikTok?”

Summer camp for the Ohio State Buckeyes football team is still months away.

But the quarterback competition for the program has already started. Through spring practices, sophomore signal-caller Julian Sayin is emerging as an early favorite to earn the starting job.

But quarterback explained to On3’s Spencer Holbrook on Wednesday that he isn’t getting caught up in who the public sees as potentially leading the quarterback competition.

“I don’t listen to the outside noise,” Sayin told Holbrook. “I’m just focused on getting better every day, getting ready for Friday’s practice, just improving on practice three.

“I think, kind of like I said before, I’m really just focused on the fundamentals and improving every day and just getting better.

Taking what Coach Day, Coach Mick, and Coach Fessler are bringing to us in the quarterback room.”

Sayin initially signed with the Alabama Crimson Tide as part of the 2024 recruiting class.

But he transferred to Ohio State after Nick Saban retired. Sayin appeared in four games for the Buckeyes last season. The quarterback completed five of 12 attempts for 84 yards with a touchdown.

Early in the quarterback competition but man the way the ball just jumps off the hand of Julian Sayin is just different.

Five-star freshman quarterback Tavien St. Clair is Sayin’s top competition to start for the Buckeyes. Signal-caller Lincoln Kienholz is also returning for the Ohio State quarterback room.

On3 projects Sayin’s NIL value to be $1.1 million entering the 2025 season. That value should only increase if Sayin wins the starting job.

Three-star wide receiver Rico Blassingame is taking his talents to the Big Ten. The impressive pass catcher from Tolleson (Ariz.) Union announced his commitment to Minnesota Thursday, a few weeks after making it to campus for an unofficial visit.

It’s a notable victory for the Golden Gophers.

The University of Minnesota football team has secured a significant commitment with the addition of Rico Blassingame, a highly-rated wide receiver from Arizona. Blassingame, ranked as the No. 3 wide receiver in the state, announced his decision to join the Gophers on social media, marking a major win for head coach P.J. Fleck and the program’s recruiting efforts.

Blassingame, who stands at 6’2″ and boasts elite speed and playmaking ability, was heavily recruited by multiple programs but ultimately chose Minnesota for its promising future and the opportunity to play in the Big Ten. Known for his dynamic ability to stretch the field and make explosive plays, Blassingame is expected to make an immediate impact on the Gophers’ offense.

“I’m excited to announce that I will be committing to the University of Minnesota,” Blassingame wrote in his post. “Thank you to all the coaches who believed in me, and I’m ready to make my mark at Minnesota.”

The commitment solidifies the Gophers’ position as one of the top teams in the conference when it comes to recruiting high-profile offensive talents. Blassingame’s decision comes on the heels of Minnesota’s recent success in securing top-tier recruits from across the country, further adding to their growing pipeline of elite athletes.

With Blassingame’s commitment, the Gophers are poised to strengthen their receiving corps, providing quarterback Tanner Morgan (or his successor) with a dynamic weapon in the passing game. Fans are already excited to see what the future holds for this emerging star in maroon and gold.