Pro Sports News

1. Biffle, Dorton, Sprague added to NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2025 nominees  NASCAR
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3. Jack Sprague Hall of Fame nominee bio  Yahoo Sports
4. Dorton named to 2025 NASCAR Hall of Fame nominees list  Hendrick Motorsports
5. NASCAR announces nominees for NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2025  Jayski.com

Leicester Tigers centre Solomone Kata is suspended for three matches for his dangerous tackle on Northampton's Fraser Dingwall.

These are supposed to be dream jobs for many college basketball coaches. And yet, top candidates turned down the opportunity to lead Kentucky men's and Tennessee women's basketball. Why?

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April 24 marks the anniversary of when the Jets made the biggest trade in team history for the future Hall of Famer.

This weekend and next, flyweight competitors headline inside the octagon, bringing the 125-pound weight class into the spotlight as the UFC returns following its one-week hiatus after a historic night in Las Vegas at UFC 300. 

For the last several years, the flyweight division has been a favourite of diehard fans; an action-packed collection of talent that still receives a boost in support on the basis of the UFC thinking about shutting down the weight class more than five years ago. 

After a two-year stretch where the title changed hands between Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno multiple times during the course of their four-fight series, a new era has dawned in the division, with Alexandre Pantoja seated on the throne, poised to defend his belt for the second time next weekend against Steve Erceg in the main event of UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro. 

Perhaps of greater interest is the fact that several of the established names that remained stationed at the top of the weight class for the last few years have either moved on or are currently question marks, with an emerging class of contenders starting to gather momentum and support as they work their way forward. 

With all that in mind, it’s time to take a look at some of the key matchups on tap over the next several weeks and examine the names to know in the 125-pound weight class as we head into the spring slate in the UFC. 

Matheus Nicolau vs. Alex Perez (UFC Vegas 91 — April 27) 

Nicolau has been a Top 10 fixture since returning to the division after being a part of the talent cull when the organization was moving towards shuttering the weight class several years ago. He carried a four-fight winning streak into his clash with Brandon Royval last year in Kansas City, and returns this weekend looking to get things moving in the right direction again. 

Perez rocketed into contention after earning a place on the roster following a first-round stoppage win on Season 1 of Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS). He won six of his first seven appearances inside the octagon to land a championship opportunity, but he has faced hard times since. 

After losing to then-champion Figueiredo at UFC 255, injuries, medical issues and opponent withdrawals limited Perez to just one fight over the next three years, a first-round stoppage loss to the current champ as he was working his way into title contention. He went the distance in a losing effort opposite Muhammad Mokaev earlier this year, and Saturday’s pairing with Nicolau feels like a potential referendum on his future, with a strong showing likely buying him further opportunities, and a bad loss potentially signalling the need to take a step back in competition in order to regroup. 

Neither man has yet to show they can beat someone from the current crop of contenders and this fight will determine which one of these two divisional stalwarts will get another chance to clear that hurdle later this year. 

Alexandre Pantoja vs. Steve Erceg (UFC 301 — May 4) 

For a couple years, Pantoja was in a similar place as Nicolau is now — stationed as a top talent in the division, but unable to take that final step to establish himself as a legitimate title threat. A three-fight winning streak capped by his demolition of Perez at UFC 277 earned the Brazilian veteran his first championship opportunity last summer. He made the most of it, landing on the happy side of a debated split decision verdict in a clash with Moreno to claim UFC gold. 

Pantoja successfully defended the title for the first time back in December, grinding out a unanimous decision win over Royval to extend his overall winning streak to five and set up this opportunity to defend his title on home soil in the main event of UFC 301. 

Erceg is one of the most unheralded title challengers in recent memory and the next in a line of flyweight hopefuls hustled into championship opportunities despite a limited number of appearances inside the octagon, joining the likes of John Moraga, Ali Bagautinov, and Kyoji Horiguchi. But unlike that trio that stepped in to face Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson during the height of his dominant reign, Australia’s “Astro Boy” has quickly proven himself as a top contender and has a greater chance at unseating the champion next weekend. 

In less than a year on the roster, Erceg has posted a trio of victories, showing improvements and a clearer superiority each time out. After out-hustling David Dvorak on short notice last summer at UFC 289 in Vancouver, he out-pointed late replacement Alessandro Costa at UFC 295 in New York City, and then kicked off his 2024 campaign with a blistering second-round knockout of Top 10 staple Matt Schnell to literally punch his ticket to his forthcoming championship opportunity. 

Pantoja is a dominant positional grappler, but his decision to prioritize position and hunting for submissions over inflicting damage could come back to bite him at some point during this run, perhaps even as soon as next weekend against a crisp boxer and quality scrambler like Erceg. 

Tim Elliott vs. Tatsuro Taira (UFC Vegas 92 — May 18) 

This one gets special mention as Elliott is the preeminent veteran litmus test in the division and Taira is one of its top rising stars, and how things shake out will tell us a great deal about where each man stands in the careers. 

Elliott carried a three-fight losing streak into the summer of 2020, but since then, the former TUF winner and title challenger has posted a 5-2 mark, most recently submitting Sumudaerji in a bantamweight contest at the end of last year. The Missouri native has a funky style that makes him a tough out for anyone, but he’s also historically lost to the best competition he’s faced, which makes him a perfect measuring stick to station opposite an ascending talent like Taira next month. 

Unbeaten in five UFC starts and a perfect 15-0 overall, Taira showed improved hands in his second-round stoppage win over Carlos Hernandez on that same December fight card where Elliott put Sumudaerji to sleep. The surging Japanese prospect is still just 24 years old, but has reached a point where this type of test is in order. 

If he passes, Taira will establishing himself as a contender-in-waiting, and if he falters, there is still plenty of time to go back into the gym, continue working and build to the point of re-taking this test in another 12 months time. 

Other Important Names to Know 

What’s interesting about the flyweight division right now is that there are several key talents that are currently question marks, either because they’re on sabbatical, injured, or struggle to make it to the cage routinely. 

Former champ Brandon Moreno announced recently that he was going to take some time away in order to be with his family and regroup after a seven-fight run of five-round matchups, including six title bouts. He’s only 30 years old and has been a pillar of the division since returning to the promotion in 2019, and should return to that position whenever he opts to return to action. 

Brandon Royval bounced back from his title loss to Pantoja with a split decision win over Moreno earlier this year in Mexico City. He called for a rematch with the champion, which was thankfully not granted, but remains one of the top contenders in the division. 

Amir Albazi was targeted to face Moreno on that Mexico City card earlier this year, but was forced out of the contest after undergoing neck surgery. “The Prince” is 5-0 in the UFC and 17-1 overall, which makes him a legitimate threat in the division, though his time away could set him back a step or two in the pecking order. 

This weekend’s main event was supposed to be a rematch between Nicolau and Manel Kape. But after their initial clash this year was scuttled when Kape came in significantly over the 125-pound divisional limit, Kape was forced to withdraw due to unknown reasons, resulting in his being replaced by Perez. 

There is no denying Kape’s talent, but his focus, dedication, and professionalism can certainly be questioned, and continue to feel like factors that will limit the gifted former RIZIN standout until he genuinely addresses them. 

Muhammad Mokaev has climbed to No. 7 in the divisional rankings on the strength of six wins in as many starts inside the Octagon. The 23-year-old has been positioned as a future champion since arriving on the big stage, and a victory over an established contender this summer — how about Royval, maybe in July, in Manchester — could thrust him into the title conversation. 

Kai Kara-France is another perennial contender currently on the sidelines, having yet to return after being forced out of a clash with Kape last September after suffering a concussion. Many feel like the New Zealander did enough to merit the nod in his close battle with Albazi last summer, but as it stands “Don’t Blink” is sitting on consecutive losses, and will likely find himself facing someone outside of the Top 5 whenever he makes his return to action. 

And finally, keep an eye on both Joshua Van and Felipe dos Santos, a pair of young, talented fighters that appear to have bright futures in the division. The former is already 3-0 in the UFC and 9-1 overall after making his pr debut in October 2021, while the latter gave Kape all his could handle while replacing Kara-France at UFC 291 in Sydney last fall before getting a favourable decision in his sophomore outing earlier this year. 

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It’s halfway through the Olympic cycle in curling as teams continue to make lineup adjustments (or full-scale changes) on the road to Milan-Cortina for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games.

Here’s a rundown of all the top changes you need to know.

Last updated: April 24, 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT

TEAM CAREY

Lineup: Chelsea Carey, Karlee Burgess, Emily Zacharias, Lauren Lenentine

Details: Carey will handle skip duties alongside Jennifer Jones’s former teammates after the iconic skip announced her retirement. Carey has won the Scotties Tournament of Hearts twice, in 2016 and 2019, and filled in for Jones during a handful of tour events this season.

Read More.

TEAM HOWARD

Lineup: Scott Howard, Mat Camm, Jason Camm, Tim March

Details: Following Glenn Howard’s retirement, Scott has taken the reins full-time. The Camm brothers, previously with Team Epping, have come on board as second David Mathers has also stepped back from competitive curling. Scott has skipped the team in the past, notably at the Ontario Tankard and Montana’s Brier this season. Glenn will stay on as the team’s coach.

Read More.

TEAM ST-GEORGES

Lineup: Laurie St-Georges, Jamie Sinclair, Emily Riley, Lisa Weagle

Details: Weagle returns to four-player curling joining the two-time reigning Quebec women’s champions after focusing on mixed doubles over the past two seasons. She previously played with skip Rachel Homan, winning the world championship in 2017, and has represented Canada twice at the Winter Olympics: once with Homan in 2018 and again with Jennifer Jones in 2022. Weagle takes over at lead for Kelly Middaugh, who the team parted ways with in March.

Read More.

TEAM JACOBS

Lineup: Brad Jacobs, Marc Kennedy, Brett Gallant, Ben Hebert

Details: Jacobs joins Brendan Bottcher’s former teammates to form a powerhouse Alberta rink. All four have earned medals at the Winter Olympics, with Jacobs skipping Canada to gold in 2014, and combined have numerous world and Brier championships. They’ll retain a pre-qualifier berth to next season’s Brier based on points.

Read More.

TEAM SLUCHINSKI

Lineup: Aaron Sluchinski, Jeremy Harty, Kyle Doering, Dylan Webster

Details: The reigning Alberta men’s championship needed a new second after Kerr Drummond stepped back while Doering was looking for a new team with Team Sturmay breaking up. Doering, from Winnipeg, recently served as the alternate for Brad Gushue’s Team Canada at the world men’s curling championship and earned a silver medal.

Read More.

TEAM CARRUTHERS

Details: The reigning Manitoba men’s champions announced skip Brad Jacobs has left the team. With Jacobs joining Brendan Bottcher’s former teammates, Reid Carruthers, Derek Samagalski and Connor Njegovan are now exploring their options.

Read More.

TEAM BOTTCHER

Details: Brendan Bottcher’s teammates — Marc Kennedy, Brett Gallant and Ben Hebert — announced they’ve parted ways with their skip and were moving in a different direction. The Alberta-based trio named Brad Jacobs as their new skip, with Bottcher yet to announce his new plans.

Read More.

TEAM EPPING

Lineup: John Epping, Jacob Horgan, Tanner Horgan, Ian McMillan

Details: Epping, who has won three Grand Slam titles as a skip, disbanded his Toronto-based team and linked up with the Horgan brothers and McMillan, who played out of Northern Ontario last season.

TEAM CAMERON

Details: The Winnipeg-based rink announced third Meghan Walter was stepping back from curling to focus on her studies as skip Kate Cameron, second Taylor McDonald and lead Mackenzie Elias search for a new teammate. Team Cameron earned bronze at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts this season.

TEAM CAMPBELL

Lineup: Jolene Campbell, Abby Ackland, Rachel Erickson, Dayna Demmans

Details: Shifting from Manitoba to Saskatchewan, Team Campbell will now have Dayna Demmans at lead, taking over for Sara Oliver. Campbell and Demmans previously played together with skips Robyn Silvernagle and Kristen Streifel.

TEAM THEVENOT

Lineup: Ashley Thevenot, Brittany Tran, Taylor Stremick, Kaylin Skinner

Details: The new Team Thevenot announced on Facebook the addition of Tran at third. Tran previously played with Team Skrlik and has competed in three Scotties Tournament of Hearts. Thevenot has moved up to skip the reigning Saskatchewan women’s championship as Skylar Ackerman is taking a break from competitive curling to continue her studies in healthcare.

TEAM BROWN

Lineup: Corryn Brown, Erin Pincott, Sarah Koltun, Samantha Fisher

Details: Koltun, who has competed in the Scotties Tournament of Hearts nine times, joins at second following the departure of Jennifer Armstrong. The B.C.-based Brown skipped a wild-card entry in the Scotties this season after finishing runner-up to Team Grandy in provincial playdowns.

TEAM SKRLIK

Lineup: Kayla Skrlik, Margot Flemming, Geri-Lynn Ramsay, Ashton Skrlik

Details: With third Brittany Tran moving on, the Calgary-based club added Flemming, formerly with Kerry Galusha’s team in the Northwest Territories. Skrlik represented Alberta at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in 2023 and finished runner-up to Selena Sturmay in provincial playdowns this season.

TEAM ASSELIN

Lineup: Felix Asselin, Jean-Michel Menard, Martin Crete, Jean-Francois Trepanier

Details: Former skip Menard makes his return to men’s curling joining Team Asselin at third. The 48-year-old Menard has compete in the Brier 11 times and won the Canadian title in 2006 along with a silver medal at the world championship. Crete moves down to second as the team parted ways with Felix’s brother Emile Asselin.

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The inside story of how Tom Brady and Brock Purdy came to be picked so late in the draft, becoming two of the biggest steals in NFL history.

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The Carolina Hurricanes might be without defenceman Brett Pesce for the remainder of their first-round series against the New York Islanders, according to Luke DeCock of the Raleigh News and Observer.

Head coach Rod Brind’Amour didn’t sound optimistic about the status of Pesce after the defenceman exited the team’s Game 2 playoff win in the second period due to a lower-body injury.

Pesce appeared to be curling back on the ice when he came up hobbled in a non-contact situation. He was ruled out for the night.

“That’s not looking good,” Brind’Amour said after the 5-3 comeback win against the New York Islanders.

Brind’Amour said Pesce would be further evaluated Tuesday, calling the injury “the big negative of tonight for sure.”

Pesce has played all nine of his NHL seasons with the Hurricanes, including 57 playoff games as a blue-line fixture typically in a second pairing with Brady Skjei.

Carolina’s defensive roster includes Tony DeAngelo, who was a healthy scratch Monday; and rookie Scott Morrow, a 2021 second-round draft pick by the team.

The Hurricanes lead the best-of-7 series 2-0 entering Thursday’s Game 3 after rallying from a 3-0 deficit with five unanswered goals Monday.

With files from the Associated Press.

The Edmonton Oilers are intimately familiar with the Los Angeles Kings’ defensive structure, having gone up against it in two previous first-round series. They know the Kings’ primary aim is to slow down their high-speed attack.

On Monday, the Oilers took it right to the Kings in their playoff-opening 7-4 win, forcing the game to be played on their terms.

“I thought we played a really connected game,” Oilers captain Connor McDavid told reporters. “I thought all five guys were working together. Even if we had to dump it in, I thought we had good numbers on the forecheck. But ultimately, we didn’t have to dump it in all that much, because we were connected coming through (the neutral zone).”

The Kings make it extremely difficult to enter the offensive zone with possession, but the Oilers had no issues with that in Game 1, carrying in the puck 36 times. Los Angeles allowed an average of 31.4 carry-ins per game during the regular season, which ranked fourth in the NHL.

Seventeen of Edmonton’s 36 carry-ins (47.2 per cent) resulted in a shot on net — much higher than the 10.7 that Los Angeles gave up per game in the regular season. (The Kings allowed a shot on net on 34 per cent of opposing carry-ins over 82 games.)

“The rushes were just too many,” Kings defenceman Drew Doughty told reporters. “We’re letting their top guys get way too much speed and just go through the neutral zone like it’s nothing. It’s tough on the ‘D’ when those guys are flying.”

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Zach Hyman, who led the league in inner-slot shots on net (2.01 per game) and inner-slot goals (45), feasted on the Kings around the blue paint Monday. He scored all three of his goals from the inner slot on six shots from that area of the ice. No other player had more than four inner-slot shots in a game against Los Angeles this season.

By comparison, Hyman had three total inner-slot shots in four regular-season games against the Kings. His line with McDavid and Adam Henrique was responsible for all three of the Oilers’ 5-on-5 goals in Game 1.

“You want to exert your style and (play) the game in the flow that you want it in,” Hyman told reporters. “You’re not happy if they’re imposing their will on you. It’s not a great feeling.” 

The Kings had that feeling Monday night after an uncharacteristic performance, which included going a ghastly 1-for-4 on the penalty kill. They will be highly motivated Wednesday, but perhaps the Oilers simply have their number.

All stats via Sportlogiq

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The playoff race is on — “The Chase to the Championship,” as the PWHL is branding it — with fewer than two weeks remaining in the league’s inaugural regular season.

Teams have either three or four games to go, and only Toronto has clinched a berth in the post-season. Meanwhile, Montreal and Minnesota are both on the doorstep, with four of six teams cracking the playoffs. 

The most interesting part of the “Chase” is the race for the final spot. Ottawa sits in fourth with four games remaining, and Boston is two points behind with three games to go and a chance to nab that final berth if Ottawa stumbles. Last place New York isn’t yet mathematically eliminated, but they’re close, and it would take a miracle or two or three to climb up the rankings and earn that last playoff spot. 

Ottawa controls its fate

“Everything is in our hands,” Ottawa forward Katerina Mrazova told Sportsnet on Monday, after her team’s practice. “Coming up, every game is really important.” 

The players in the nation’s capital control their destiny. Keep winning and they’re in. 

An especially big game comes Wednesday against Boston, with three points up for grabs for a regulation win. Ottawa wins in 60 minutes and they take a five-point lead over Boston, with a game in hand, and a chance to clinch the playoffs as early as Saturday. 

“Obviously Boston is sitting right behind us, fighting for that spot — it’s going to be a really good game,” Mrazova said. “We’re all excited. We want these games when it’s tight and competitive, and we’re really looking forward to it. It’s not gonna be easy, we know that.”

Boston comes in looking for a third straight win, while Ottawa is gunning for a fourth in a row. 

Mrazova hopeful to return this week

One big question is whether Mrazova will be in Ottawa’s lineup.  

The Czechia star injured her knee ahead of world championships earlier this month and was forced to watch from the stands as her team lost the bronze medal game to Finland in a shootout. She wasn’t in the lineup April 20 when Ottawa steamrolled Minnesota, 4-0, at home. 

Mrazova is a massive part of Ottawa’s offence and plays on the first line with captain Brianne Jenner and speedster Daryl Watts. Only four players in the league (Toronto’s Natalie Spooner, Montreal’s Marie-Philip Poulin, New York’s Alex Carpenter and Jenner) have tallied more than Mrazova’s 17 points this season. 

She was practicing this week, but without contact as of Monday.

“The recovery time should be shorter than what we thought it was at the beginning,” she said, of her knee. “It’s been getting better.… Aiming for this week. We’ll see how it’s gonna feel, how it’s gonna be. Anything can change but hopefully it’s gonna be good this week.” 

Certainly PWHL Ottawa teammates and fans are hoping the same. 

“I felt really good before I got injured and I think it’s gonna take me maybe a couple games to get back to how I felt before,” Mrazovasaid. “I have to build the confidence back. I think I’ll keep it simple, build on that every time, in every game. It will be huge for me, coming into the playoffs.” 

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Draft Order Points

New York plays Montreal on Wednesday, and a win in regulation would keep them alive in the playoff race so long as Boston beats Ottawa. 

If New York is eliminated from contention on Wednesday, their game on Sunday would be the team’s first where any points earned would be “Draft Order Points.” That’s another of the league’s rules: As soon as a team is eliminated from the playoffs, all points earned in remaining games count towards getting the No. 1 pick in the 2024 PWHL Draft. 

The team with the most points earned upon playoff elimination gets that top pick and a chance to draft a franchise player in a stacked draft that’ll include Canadian national team star Sarah Fillier and Team USA star Hannah Bilka. 

New York plays every team in the league once more to close out the season. They’ve lost eight of their last nine games (two of those losses came in extra time) and with teams still vying for playoffs and wanting to close out the season on a winning note, points will be tough to come by.

Sold-out love for Poulin

The headline going into Saturday night’s tilt between Montreal and Toronto at the Bell Centre was that the sold-out crowd of 21,105 would break a world record for attendance at a women’s hockey game, and the event delivered.  

It’s the sixth attendance record set in the PWHL since it launched in January, fewer than five months ago. The previous record was 19,285 fans, for a game at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. 

The Bell Centre attendance made history, but the biggest takeaway from the game was a moment before the puck dropped, one that also involved that record-setting Montreal crowd. Check out the ovation for Poulin, the Montreal captain and Team Canada’s “Captain Clutch,” who recently led her national team to a world championship. You might get chills.   

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Toronto the first to clinch, and what if they finish No. 1?

League-leading PWHL Toronto earned a win in that record-setting Saturday night tilt between the PWHL’s top two teams. 

Sarah Nurse scored the winner just 13 seconds into overtime, and her goal not only sealed the victory, it also made Toronto the first team to crack the playoffs. 

If Toronto manages to hold on to that top spot in the standings, they’ll be the first team given a chance to exercise their will via the PWHL’s awesome playoff rule: If you’re first after the regular season, you get to pick your first-round playoff opponent, between the third- and fourth-placed teams. 

The top team will no doubt look at lots of factors, including head-to-head matchups, the health of the teams and overall finish when determining their selection. 

“I think it’s a lot of pressure on the first team,” Mrazova said. “All the teams are gonna be really, really good…. I call it a different season, the playoffs. Whoever it is, it’s definitely not going to be an easy choice.” 

The top team could well pick Ottawa. 

“I would just like to say good luck to them,” Mrazova said, laughing. “If we’re going to go all the way up, we have to beat everyone, so it doesn’t really matter who we play first.” 

Ottawa is heading into this home stretch feeling confident. Goalie Emerance Maschmeyer recorded her second shutout of the season in the team’s last game, which also happened to give her two shutouts in three starts. 

“I think we’re playing the best hockey right now,” Mrazova said. “And I think it’s going to get even better and better.” 

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LOS ANGELES — Reggie Bush has his Heisman back.

The Heisman Trust reinstated the former Southern California tailback as the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner on Wednesday, citing fundamental changes in the structure of college athletics during the 14 years since Bush forfeited the trophy and the honor.

Bush gave up his Heisman following an NCAA investigation that found he received what were impermissible benefits during his time with the Trojans. College football players are now allowed to profit from their work in many ways, and the Heisman Trust decided it was time to move past the conflict with one of the most exciting players in the sport’s history.

“We are thrilled to welcome Reggie Bush back to the Heisman family in recognition of his collegiate accomplishments,” said Michael Comerford, president of The Heisman Trophy Trust. “We considered the enormous changes in college athletics over the last several years in deciding that now is the right time to reinstate the Trophy for Reggie. We are so happy to welcome him back.”

The Heisman Trust has returned the trophy to Bush and the replica to USC. Bush also will be invited to all future Heisman Trophy ceremonies.

Bush won the trophy awarded to the top player in college football after amassing 2,218 yards from scrimmage and scoring 18 touchdowns in 2005. His 784 first-place votes were the fifth most in Heisman history, and the trophy was a crowning achievement for Bush after three seasons at USC as one of the most dynamic college football players in decades.

“I am grateful to once again be recognized as the recipient of the Heisman Trophy,” Bush said in a statement. “This reinstatement is not only a personal victory, but also a validation of the tireless efforts of my supporters and advocates who have stood by me throughout this arduous journey.”

The reinstatement of Bush gives USC a total of eight Heisman winners, most of any school.

USC typically displays its replicas of the Trojans’ Heisman Trophies in the lobby of Heritage Hall, its historic football headquarters, while the retired uniform numbers of its Heisman winners are displayed on huge banners draping the Peristyle at the Coliseum during USC home games. Bush’s No. 5 jersey is expected to be back among the honored numbers this fall.

“What a historic day!” said USC coach Lincoln Riley, who coached Caleb Williams to the school’s most recent Heisman in 2022. “Reggie’s reintroduction to the Heisman Family is a special moment for every person that has been associated with USC football. We are thrilled that Reggie’s athletic accomplishments as one of the greatest to ever play the game can officially be recognized.”

The USC football program wrote “back where it belongs ” in a social media post.

“This is a momentous day for Reggie Bush and the entire USC community as we celebrate the rightful return of his Heisman Trophy,” USC athletic director Jen Cohen said. “Reggie’s impact at USC and on college football as a whole is truly unmatched. He has displayed the utmost resiliency and heart throughout this process and is so deserving of every accolade and trophy he’s ever received. We are grateful to the Heisman Trophy Trust for making this happen.”

Bush had his award vacated in 2010 after USC was hit with massive NCAA sanctions when it was found that Bush and his family received money and gifts from fledgling marketing agents who were hoping to represent him. The sanctions were the final result of a prolonged, antagonistic dispute between the NCAA and USC under former athletic director Mike Garrett.

USC received a two-year post-season ban and lost a whopping 30 scholarships under the sanctions. The NCAA also vacated 14 wins by the Trojans during the heart of Bush’s career, including the 55-19 victory over Oklahoma in the Bowl Championship Series title game at the Orange Bowl following the 2004 season.

USC was even required to “disassociate” from Bush for 10 years following the NCAA’s decision. The school immediately ended its disassociation when that period ended in June 2020, welcoming Bush back to the school.

The Trust said in its statement that its decision followed a “deliberative process” in which it closely monitored changes in the college athletics landscape. That included the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2021 decision that questioned the legality of the NCAA’s amateurism model and opened the door to athlete compensation; the ability of players to be paid for their name, image and likeness; and the NCAA’s recent proposal to remove the cap on education-related payments.

“Recognizing that the compensation of student athletes is an accepted practice and appears here to stay, these fundamental changes in college athletics led the Trust to decide that now is the right time to return the Trophy to Bush, who unquestionably was the most outstanding college football player of 2005,” the Trust said.

Public opinion has long favoured the return of Bush’s trophy. Johnny Manziel, the 2012 Heisman winner from Texas A&M, said on social media last month that he would not participate in Heisman festivities unless Bush got his trophy back.

Manziel thanked the Trust on Wednesday “for doing what’s right and welcoming a storied member of our history back into the fold. There were many voices throughout this process that stood on the table for Reggie simply because of the kind of human being he is. I look forward to being on that stage with you this December (Reggie Bush) you deserve it.”

Among others praising the decision were Williams, the 2022 winner and the projected No. 1 pick in Thursday’s NFL draft; 2001 winner Eric Crouch of Nebraska; and 2011 winner Robert Griffin III of Baylor.

Bush was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2006 NFL draft by New Orleans, and he played for five teams over 11 seasons. He is now a commentator and studio analyst for Fox Sports.

Last August, Bush filed a defamation lawsuit against the NCAA for issuing a statement to media in 2021 that said Bush had a “pay-for-play” arrangement. That statement was in response to media inquiries about whether Bush would have his statistics from his USC career reinstated when NIL payments became permissible. Bush contended the statement cast him in a false light.

“I want to make it abundantly clear that I have always acted with integrity and in accordance with the rules and regulations set forth by the NCAA,” Bush said Wednesday. “The allegations brought against me were unfounded and unsupported by evidence, and I am grateful that the truth is finally prevailing.”

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