(Champaign, IL) — Aaron Jordan led all scorers with 19 points as Illinois dominated Evansville 99-60 in their season opener in Champaign. Ayo Dosunmu netted 18 points and Andres Feliz added 16 for the Illini. Illinois is back home Tuesday to play Georgetown.
(Pittsburgh, PA) — Ben Roethlisberger passed for 328 yards and five touchdowns as the Steelers stomped the Panthers 52-21 on Thursday Night Football in Pittsburgh. The Steelers have won five in a row to lead the AFC North at 6-2-and-1. Carolina had won three straight, but slipped to 6-and-3.
>>Dez Practices With Saints, Uncertain For Sunday
(Metairie, LA) — New Saints wide receiver Dez Bryant isn’t ruling out playing Sunday against the Bengals in Cincinnati. The former Cowboys star practiced with New Orleans yesterday after signing a one-year contract. Bryant says it will be up to head coach Sean Payton as to whether he plays.
(Chicago, IL) — The Bears face the Lions Sunday at Soldier Field. Chicago leads the NFC North with a 5-and-3 record. Detroit is 3-and-5 and last in the division. The Bears rank fifth in the league in average points per game, averaging just over 29 points per contest this season.
(Indianapolis, IN) — The Colts return from the bye week to clash with the Jaguars on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium. It’s the first of three-straight home games for Indy. They will also host the Titans and Dolphins before hitting the road on December 2nd to visit Jacksonville. The Colts are on a two-game winning streak and will head into play at 3-and-5. The Jags are also 3-and-5 but riding a four-game slide.
>>Rams Send Condolences After Mass Shooting In Thousand Oaks
(Thousand Oaks, CA) — The Rams and head coach Sean McVay are offering their condolences to the those affected by Wednesday’s mass shooting at a bar and grill in Thousand Oaks, California. Twelve people were killed. The incident took place just over four miles from the Rams’ practice facility.
(Chicago, IL) — The Blackhawks scored three-straight goals but their rally fell short in a 4-3 loss to the Hurricanes at the United Center. Patrick Kane, David Kampf, and Nick Schmaltz all lit the lamp for the Hawks, who have lost six straight. Carolina spoiled Jeremy Colliton’s first game as head coach. He took over after longtime coach Joel Quenneville [[ KWEN-vill ]] was fired earlier this week. Chicago travels to Philadelphia tomorrow.
>>College Football Preview
(Undated) — In college football tomorrow, top-ranked Alabama puts its 9-and-0 mark on the line hosting number-16 Mississippi State, number-two Clemson plays at 17th-ranked Boston College, fifth-ranked Georgia hosts 24th-ranked Auburn and number-10 Ohio State visits 18th-ranked Michigan State.
>>Boston’s Martinez First To Win Two Silver Sluggers In Same Season
(New York, NY) — Baseball’s Silver Slugger Awards are out and Red Sox star J.D. Martinez is taking home two. He received Silver Sluggers as the top offensive player in the American League at both designated hitter and the outfield. Martinez is the first to win two Silver Sluggers in the same season.