For generations, March Madness delivered on its name. Valpo. Fairleigh Dickinson. VCU. But now, in a landscape governed by money and movement, are Cinderella stories becoming harder to conjure?

From @theathletic.com: Duke, Michigan and Arizona have put up historically good numbers — meaning favorites could dominate the Final Four again this March Madness. Here are our expert's picks to win during the men's NCAA Tournament: nyti.ms/4bwWRl3

Welcome to The Athletic’s men’s NCAA Tournament big board, where you can find an in-depth breakdown of all 68 teams in the March Madness field. If you’re looking to research the teams before filling out your bracket, you’re in the right place. 🎁 Free to read: www.nytimes.com/athletic/709...

From @theathletic.com: Duke is the top overall seed in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. See who’s in, who’s out and the full bracket.

Let the Madness begin. Who’s your Cinderella team for the 2026 men’s March Madness Tournament?

The dynamic of college football has shifted so much just in the past five years with NIL and the transfer portal. As a result, coaching has become a top priority. Here's our top 25 power rankings for coaches — a snapshot of the coaching landscape today.

The Basketball Gods apparently have a pretty ruthless sense of humor: Miami (Ohio) losing today might've cost Auburn an NCAA Tournament bid

As March Madness tips off, Miami (Ohio) is already a college hoops Cinderella. A loss to UMass in a Mid-American Conference quarterfinal ended their undefeated run at 31 games. Now they must wait to see if an undefeated regular season trumps another MAC tourney letdown for a spot in the bracket.

Wrote a short piece about Troy Murray, for those who never had the incredible good fortune of knowing him: www.nytimes.com/athletic/709...

NEWS: Providence intends to fire men’s basketball coach Kim English but will allow English to coach the remainder of the regular season and the Big East tournament, a source briefed on the decision confirmed to The Athletic.

From @theathletic.com: Four players were suspended after an ugly brawl broke out during a women’s basketball game between Coastal Carolina and South Alabama. The altercation left a referee lying on the floor with an apparent injury.

A referee was knocked to the floor after trying to break up a scrum between Coastal Carolina and South Alabama women's basketball players. Eight players were ejected from the game.

Lou Holtz, who coached six major colleges to bowl games and revived a floundering Notre Dame football program, taking the Irish to an unbeaten national championship season in 1988, has died. He was 89. www.nytimes.com/2026/03/04/s...

For all that Holtz accomplished in his 34 seasons as a head coach, he will be remembered as the last person to lead Notre Dame to a national championship. Full story: www.nytimes.com/athletic/681...

BREAKING: Legendary college football coach Lou Holtz has died at the age of 89, his family announced in a statement.

Prettaaaay, prettaaaay, pretttaaaaaaaay good www.nytco.com/press/the-at...

From @theathletic.com: Eileen Gu was the highest earner at the 2026 Winter Olympics. "The scientist, politician, skier, model, and student is like a magician, the audience dazzled by her mastery but somewhat irked by how she does it," our columnist writes. nyti.ms/3N2Qhui

What's it like when the President of the United States calls you a "loser" before you compete in your first Olympics? “Probably the hardest two weeks of my life," Hunter Hess says. Then he aced his run Friday and flashed an 'L' at the finish line: www.nytimes.com/athletic/705...

From @theathletic.com: The 2026 Milan Cortina Games should go down in history for one very specific reason: This one was for the moms. Gone are the days when women had to choose motherhood or a career in sports, and these Olympic moms proved it. nyti.ms/4tNxALF

a few weeks ago in Aspen, a convo with Olympic freeski halfpipe hopeful Svea Irving turned to her family. "Tell me about your mom, your dad ... Tell me about your grandparents ..." "Oh, my grandpa," Svea answered, "he's like, a kinda famous author." "Really? Who?" www.nytimes.com/athletic/705...

" I wanna go for it, because that's what I do." Chloe Kim had one run left, and a decision to make at the top of the hill: play it safe ... or drop the hammer. "Exciting but terrifying," her boyfriend, Myles Garrett, called it. Story from Livigno: www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...

Cubs camp is barely underway – and Alex Bregman is already making his new teammates better. www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...

The Athletic first reported the Steve Tisch-Jeffery Epstein connection last month. It continues its investigation into the New York Giants’ co-owner, analyzing more emails from the Epstein files. 🔗: www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...

BREAKING NEWS: Convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein connected New York Giants chairman and co-owner Steve Tisch with multiple women, according to newly released emails.

The six teams I think are most likely to win the national title, plus other teams I wouldn’t be shocked to see win it, wildcards and mid-majors who could win a game: www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...

Lindsey Jacobellis, the most decorated snowboard cross rider in history, had to listen to allllll the noise over the years. She knows, as well as anyone, how the Olympics can frame an athlete's life. Now it's her turn to tell the Games' story. www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...

Being an FBI agent wasn’t a job to former Bear Charles Tillman as much as it was a vocation. He loved the people he worked with and found honor, integrity and nobility in their service. Then came that day last January. My story. www.nytimes.com/athletic/689...

Here's our story on Duke QB Darian Mensah--and Duke's leading receiver Cooper Barkate committing to Miami tonight after going to dinner at Prime 112 with a group that included Pro Football Hall of Famer Edgerrin James and star WR Malachi Toney. www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...

Thirty-five years later, Bob Knight’s “I’m f— tired of losing to Purdue” rant that was secretly recorded in the Indiana locker room still has life. The “legendary piece” of the program’s history is also one of its great mysteries.

From @theathletic.com: Minnesotans hoped for a moment of normalcy at the Warriors-Timberwolves game, which had been postponed after federal agents killed Alex Pretti. But that simply wasn't possible. “Nothing feels right. Our hearts aren’t in it.” nyti.ms/4qDpD9T

More Keaton Wagler goodness in this week’s Top 25. How the Illini set up Wagler to go for 46, plus notes on other top freshman performances this weekend, the value of Michigan’s depth and SLU on its way toward statistical history: www.nytimes.com/athletic/699...

The award for Best Timing: Feature goes to @cjmoorehoops.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/699...

Keaton Wagler went to my old high school and I thought he was gonna be special. But this fast? A possible one-and-done lottery pick? Not even he dreamed it. But his story is one other players should learn from. www.nytimes.com/athletic/699...

Breaking News from @theathletic.com: Federal prosecutors charged 20 men in what they described as a conspiracy to manipulate college basketball games.

When the regular season ended last week, the Giants officially embarked on their fifth head coaching search in the 10 years. Landing John Harbaugh is the biggest win for the franchise in a long time. 🔗: www.nytimes.com/athletic/697...

When the Ravens fired John Harbaugh after 18 seasons, 12 playoff appearances and one championship, he instantly became the most qualified candidate in the market. His resume speaks for itself, but how much of Harbaugh's success with Baltimore is exportable?

This week’s Top 25 with Saint Louis, Clemson and Utah State making their debuts and both Vandy and Nebraska moving up: www.nytimes.com/athletic/696...

A year ago, Jamie Anderson was cozy on the couch, snuggled up with her toddler, far removed from pro snowboarding, and relatively at peace with her career being over. She had a second child in April. And now? Anderson is on the verge of her fourth Olympics. Badass ✔️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/695...

Fundraising a sneaky problem for Indiana moving forward, now that the heads of all students and alums have exploded

Michigan breaking algorithms and debuting at No. 1 in a new stat, plus nuggets on Purdue, BYU, Nebraska, Alabama, SMU and Villanova in this week’s Top 25: www.nytimes.com/athletic/694...

In this week’s Top 25, Michigan, Arizona, Iowa State, Nebraska, BYU, Louisville, Arkansas and Kansas are featured: www.nytimes.com/athletic/688...

In 2022, Fernando Mendoza was a two-star recruit from South Florida. He was ranked the No. 140 quarterback nationally by 247Sports. Now, the longest of long shots in Heisman history is part of the most exclusive club in college football.

Why isn’t Kentucky winning with a $22 million roster? Mark Pope built a team that doesn’t fit him and a defense that is supposed to be elite hasn’t played like it: www.nytimes.com/athletic/688...

Former Michigan coach Sherrone Moore is facing charges of third-degree home invasion, stalking and breaking and entering, according to police. The charges stem from an alleged incident on Wednesday involving a female Michigan football staffer.

Sherrone Moore's exit opens up the top job at one of college football’s most storied programs, and at an unusual point in the postseason calendar. Who could replace him at Michigan? @brucefeldmancfb.bsky.social's top candidates ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/688...

Former NBA player Jason Collins announced that he is undergoing treatment for Stage 4 glioblastoma, one of the most severe forms of brain cancer. “Because my tumor is unresectable ... the average prognosis is only 11 to 14 months,” Collins said. 🔗: www.nytimes.com/athletic/688...

Charley Hull’s Instagram tells a story. So does that viral photo of her smoking at the U.S. Open. This summer, I spent time with Hull at her home in England, and it revealed a different picture of the golfer — a much deeper one. www.nytimes.com/athletic/687...

LATEST: Sherrone Moore, who was fired by Michigan for having an “inappropriate relationship with a staff member,” remains in custody at Washtenaw County Jail today after being detained by police on Wednesday. More details ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/687...

Michigan coaching candidates: Five names to watch, from Kalen DeBoer to Jedd Fisch. This is what we’re hearing on the Wolverines coaching search: www.nytimes.com/athletic/688...