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ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Michigan's defense of the national championship has fallen woefully short. The Wolverines started the season ranked No. 9 in the AP Top 25 , making them the third college football team since 1991 to be ranked worse than seventh in the preseason poll after winning a national title. Michigan (6-5, 4-4 Big Ten) failed to meet those modest expectations, barely becoming eligible to play in a bowl and putting the program in danger of losing six or seven games for the first time since the Brady Hoke era ended a decade ago. The Wolverines potentially can ease some of the pain with a win against rival and second-ranked Ohio State (10-1, 7-1, No. 2 CFP) on Saturday in the Horseshoe, but that would be a stunning upset. Ohio State is a 21 1/2-point favorite, according to the BetMGM Sportsbook, and that marks just the third time this century that there has been a spread of at least 20 1/2 points in what is known as “The Game.” Michigan coach Sherrone Moore doesn't sound like someone who is motivating players with an underdog mentality. “I don’t think none of that matters in this game,” Moore said Monday. “It doesn’t matter the records. It doesn’t matter anything. The spread, that doesn’t matter.” How did Michigan end up with a relative mess of a season on the field, coming off its first national title since 1997? Winning it all with a coach and star player contemplating being in the NFL for the 2024 season seemed to have unintended consequences for the current squad. The Wolverines closed the College Football Playoff with a win over Washington on Jan. 8; several days later quarterback J.J. McCarthy announced he was skipping his senior season; and it took more than another week for Jim Harbaugh to bolt to coach the Los Angeles Chargers. In the meantime, most quality quarterbacks wanting to transfer had already enrolled at other schools and Moore was left with lackluster options. Davis Warren beat out Alex Orji to be the team's quarterback for the opener and later lost the job to Orji only to get it back again. No matter who was under center, however, would've likely struggled this year behind an offensive line that sent six players to the NFL. The Wolverines lost one of their top players on defense, safety Rod Moore, to a season-ending injury last spring and another one, preseason All-America cornerback Will Johnson, hasn't played in more than a month because of an injury. The Buckeyes are not planning to show any mercy after losing three straight in the series. “We’re going to attack them," Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer said. “We know they’re going to come in here swinging, too, and they’ve still got a good team even though the record doesn’t indicate it. This game, it never matters what the records are." While a win would not suddenly make the Wolverines' season a success, it could help Moore build some momentum a week after top-rated freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood flipped his commitment from LSU to Michigan. “You come to Michigan to beat Ohio,” said defensive back Quinten Johnson, intentionally leaving the word State out when referring to the rival. "That's one of the pillars of the Michigan football program. “It doesn’t necessarily change the fact of where we are in the season, but it definitely is one of the defining moments of your career here at Michigan.” AP Sports Writer Mitch Stacy in Columbus, Ohio, contributed to this report. Get alerts on the latest AP Top 25 poll throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-pollTrump has promised again to release the last JFK files. But experts say don’t expect big revelations DALLAS (AP) — The nation is set to mark 61 years since President John F. Kennedy was assassinated as his motorcade passed through downtown Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963. Even after over six decades, conspiracy theories about what happened that day still swirl and the desire to follow every thread of information hasn’t waned. President-elect Donald Trump made promises over the summer that if reelected he would declassify the remaining records. At this point, only a few thousand of millions of pages of governmental records related to the assassination have yet to be fully released. And those who have studied what's been released so far say that the public shouldn’t anticipate any earth-shattering revelations even if the remaining files are declassified. Bitcoin is at the doorstep of $100,000 as post-election rally rolls on NEW YORK (AP) — Bitcoin is jumping again, rising above $98,000 for the first time Thursday. The cryptocurrency has been shattering records almost daily since the U.S. presidential election, and has rocketed more than 40% higher in just two weeks. It's now at the doorstep of $100,000. Cryptocurrencies and related investments like crypto exchange-traded funds have rallied because the incoming Trump administration is expected to be more “crypto-friendly.” Still, as with everything in the volatile cryptoverse, the future is hard to predict. And while some are bullish, other experts continue to warn of investment risks. NFL issues security alert to teams and the players' union following recent burglaries The NFL has issued a security alert to teams and the players’ union following recent burglaries involving the homes of Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo obtained by The Associated Press, the league says homes of professional athletes across multiple sports have become “increasingly targeted for burglaries by organized and skilled groups.” Law enforcement officials noted these groups target the homes on days the athletes have games. Players were told to take precautions and implement home security measures to reduce the risk of being targeted. Some of the burglary groups have conducted extensive surveillance on targets. Penn State wins trademark case over retailer's use of vintage logos, images PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Penn State has won a closely watched trademark fight over an online retailer’s use of its vintage logos and images. A Pennsylvania jury awarded Penn State $28,000 in damages earlier this week over products made and sold by the firms Vintage Brand and Sportswear Inc. Penn State accused them of selling “counterfeit” clothing and accessories. The defendants said their website makes clear they are not affiliated with Penn State. At least a dozen other schools have sued the defendants on similar grounds, but the Pennsylvania case was the first to go to trial. Has a waltz written by composer Frederic Chopin been discovered in an NYC museum? NEW YORK (AP) — A previously unknown musical work written by composer Frederic Chopin appears to have been found in a library in New York City. The Morgan Library & Museum says the untitled and unsigned piece is the first new manuscript of the Romantic era virtuoso to be discovered in nearly a century. Robinson McClellan, the museum’s curator, says he stumbled across the work in May while going through a collection brought to the Manhattan museum years earlier. He worked with outside experts to verify the document's authenticity. But there’s debate whether the waltz is an original Chopin work or merely one written in his hand. Volcano on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula erupts for the 7th time in a year GRINDAVIK, Iceland (AP) — A volcano on the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwestern Iceland is spewing lava from a fissure in its seventh eruption since December. Iceland's seismic monitors said the eruption started with little warning late Wednesday and created a long fissure but looked to be smaller than eruptions in August and May. Around 50 houses were evacuated after the Civil Protection agency issued the alert, along with guests at the famous Blue Lagoon resort, according to the national broadcaster. The repeated eruptions over the past year have caused damage to the town of Grindavík and forced people to relocate. Australian teen and British woman who drank tainted alcohol in Laos have died, bringing toll to 5 VIENTIANE, Laos (AP) — An Australian teenager and a British woman have died after drinking tainted alcohol in Laos in what Australia’s prime minister said was every parent’s nightmare. Officials earlier said an American and two Danish tourists also had died following reports that multiple people had been sickened in town popular with backpackers. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told Parliament that 19-year-old Bianca Jones had died after being evacuated from Vang Vieng, Laos, for treatment in a Thai hospital. Her friend, also 19, remains hospitalized in Thailand. Later Thursday, Britain said a British woman also died and the media in the U.K. identified her as 28-year-old Simone White. US ahead in AI innovation, easily surpassing China in Stanford's new ranking The U.S. leads the world in developing artificial intelligence technology, surpassing China in research and other important measures of AI innovation, according to a newly released Stanford University index. There’s no surefire way to rank global AI leadership but Stanford researchers have made an attempt by measuring the “vibrancy” of the AI industry across a variety of dimensions, from how much research and investment is happening to how responsibly the technology is being pursued to prevent harm. Following the U.S. and China were the United Kingdom, India and the United Arab Emirates. Pop star Ed Sheeran helps favorite soccer team sign player before getting on stage with Taylor Swift It turns out British pop star Ed Sheeran is also good at recruiting soccer players. Sheeran is a minority shareholder at English soccer team Ipswich Town and it needed his help over the summer to get a player to join the club. Ipswich CEO Mark Ashton tells a Soccerex industry event in Miami: “Ed jumped on a Zoom call with him at the training ground, just before he stepped on stage with Taylor Swift. Hopefully that was a key part in getting the player across the line.” Ashton didn’t disclose the player in question, saying only: “He’s certainly scoring a few goals.” Chris Stapleton wins 4 CMA Awards, but Morgan Wallen gets entertainer of the year It was mostly Chris Stapleton’s night at the Country Music Association Awards. Stapleton won four times and took the stage to perform three times Wednesday night at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. But an absent Morgan Wallen won the biggest award, entertainer of the year. Stapleton's wins included single of the year and song of the year for “White Horse,” and his eighth trophy as male vocalist of the year. Best female vocalist of the year went to Laney Johnson. An all-star ensemble including both Stapleton and Johnson performed in tribute to George Strait, who won the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award.
Delah Coffee , an authentic Arabian coffee brand based in Northern California, is getting ready to make its Southern California debut in San Diego with a new location in North Park at 3959 30th St. The company’s fifth location is set to move into a part of the former home of Il Postino Restaurant, according to documents submitted to the San Diego Department of Environmental Health and Quality. Owner Majed Jahamee tells What Now San Diego that this location is under construction, and he recently submitted the drawings plan to the city, so it’s hard to say exactly when this cafe will open. Jahamee says he hopes to open around April 2025 . The authentic Arabian coffee shop currently has two locations in San Francisco and additional sites in Berkeley and Oakland. All locations honor the traditions and culture of Yemen and offer a variety of breakfast food, espresso, cakes, Turkish baklavas, specialty teas, frappes, and more. This will be an excellent spot for the company’s Southern California debut, considering it will sit on a busy North Park street. While its neighbor, Caffè Calabria, might seem like competition at first, these two cafes beside each other bring a wide range of coffee from different regions. Calabria specializes in coffees from South and Central America. “Everything we do is a matter of heart, body and soul,” according to the company’s website. “Our mission is to provide sustainably sourced, hand-picked, micro-roasted quality coffee. Great coffee is our passion, and we want to share it with you. We believe that coffee is more than just a drink – it’s a social experience that brings people together. That’s why we’ve created a comfortable space with a friendly atmosphere where you can enjoy our coffee and connect with others.”
Even as the stock market has been on the recovering path for the past few weeks with benchmark indices posting biggest weekly gains in the last six months on December 6, Andrew Holland, CEO Avendus Capital Alternate Strategies, believes the volatility may not be far from over in the near term. Share Market View All Nifty Gainers View All Company Value Change %Change Speaking on the sidelines of CNBC-TV18’s India Business Leader Awards (IBLA) 2024, Holland cautioned the D-Street of a very volatile January ahead as the Donald Trump administration is set to take over in the US. “January 20 is a big event, Trump is taking over the US administration. That's an event we have to be very careful about. So, I'm very cautious between now and then,” he told CNBC-TV18. He believes that while FIIs may go on holiday in the second half of December, domestic domestic will have the full range for investing but come January, all bets will be off. “It's going be a very volatile January ahead of us.” When asked if he would recommend lightning positions, he said sometimes the strategy is having cash, waiting for some of these events to pass and then making a move. Even if one misses the first five percent of gains, that's okay, as there'll be a longer bull run but one should be reasonable to not get caught in the volatility, he said. Explaining the reason behind being so cautious about Trump 2.0, Holland said, “there’s many things about tariffs, the narrative for India... Sometimes, it doesn't always work out the way everyone says. I’m just a bit skeptical, so just being cautious is the right way to be.” Few days after Trump 2.0 takes over, India will be ready with its Budget 2025 in February. Against the backdrop of a slowdown in growth in Q2 and the upcoming budget, Holland said there is no reason to get really excited. He is of the view that there is no catalyst for the markets to go very high as valuations are already very high, the economy is slowing quite quickly and there's no rate cut. Therefore, even if government spending picks up, the multiplier effect may not be very quick and so, earnings are going to remain under pressure for the rest of this year.Arizona State makes College Football Playoff with 45-19 win over Iowa State in Big 12 title game ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Big 12 newcomer Arizona State will represent the conference in the 12-team College Football Playoff. Cam Skattebo ran for 170 yards and two scores while adding a touchdown catch the 12th-ranked Sun Devils beat No. 16 Iowa State 45-19 in the Big 12 championship game. The Sun Devils with 34-year-old head coach Kenny Dillingham are 11-2 after being the preseason pick to finish at the bottom of their new 16-team league. They have won six games in a row. Iowa State is 10-3, already the first 10-win season in the program's 133-year history. Arizona State roars into college football playoffs, and waits to see who else makes the bracket INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Forget about rankings, analytics or any other number they might place next to Arizona State’s name. Instead, go straight to the “eye test,” or check the scoreboard. Does anyone really want to face the Sun Devils in the College Football Playoff? Someone will have to after ASU clobbered Iowa State 45-19 in the Big 12 title game. The Sun Devils have won their last two games by a combined score of 94-26. More spots will be handed out when Georgia plays Texas, Oregon plays Penn State and SMU meets Clemson, all with conference titles at stake. Lindsey Vonn competes in a pair of downhills, another step on her comeback trail at the age of 40 COPPER MOUNTAIN, Colo. (AP) — Lindsey Vonn finished in the middle of the pack in a pair of lower-level downhill events as she competed for the first time in nearly six years. The 40-year-old Vonn is on the comeback trail after stepping away from the sport because of injuries. Vonn wasn't concerned with times and places in the races so much as getting used to the speed again and gaining the necessary points to compete on the World Cup circuit. Vonn accomplished both, finishing 24th in the first downhill race of the day and 27th in the second. She posted on social media after the FIS races she had enough points to enter World Cup events. Man City drops more points after draw with Crystal Palace and Man United loses again Manchester City’s Premier League title defense has taken another blow after a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace. Four-time defending champion City ended a seven-game winless run on Wednesday by beating Nottingham Forest. But City has dropped more points on Saturday after the draw at Selhurst Park. It could have been worse for City after Palace led twice. Pep Guardiola’s team is fourth in the standings and eight points behind leader Liverpool. Liverpool has a game in hand after its derby with Everton was postponed due to a storm. Malinin and Glenn win as US figure skaters take 3 gold medals at Grand Prix Final GRENOBLE, France (AP) — Ilia Malinin has landed six quadruple jumps and Amber Glenn has ended a 14-year wait for gold for the United States on an historic day for American figure skaters at the Grand Prix Final in Grenoble. Malinin and Glenn won their individual events and Madison Chock and Evan Bates retained their ice dance title on Saturday to earn the U.S. three of the four senior gold medals. Glenn continued her breakout unbeaten season and three-time world champion Kaori Sakamoto had to settle for third place. Norris takes pole for season-ending Abu Dhabi GP and Hamilton 18th in Mercedes farewell ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Lando Norris took pole position for the last Formula 1 race of the season alongside teammate Oscar Piastri to put McLaren on the verge of a first constructors’ title in 26 years. Norris’ last lap put him .209 of a second faster than Piastri, with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jr. .020 further back. Seven-time F1 champion Hamilton qualified 18th for his last race with Mercedes after a bizarre incident wrecked his final qualifying lap. A plastic pole marking the inside of a corner was knocked loose by Kevin Magnussen’s Haas and Hamilton drove over it. Big 12's Yormark brings up hard choices for fans before sparsely attended title game ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — College football fans are facing some hard choices in the expanded playoff system with some teams set to play away from home multiple times. Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark raised that point No. 12 Arizona State's 45-19 victory over 16th-ranked Iowa State. The announced crowd of 55,889 at the home of the Dallas Cowboys appeared far smaller. Yormark says he remains committed to having a Big 12 title game. Besides the issues of fans, there have been suggestions that some leagues might be better off without title games as it relates to playoff hopes. Everton vs. Liverpool postponed because of Storm Darragh. Other Premier League games remain on LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — The Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool has been postponed because of Storm Darragh's dangerous winds and heavy rain on the west coast. The Met office says parts of Wales have experienced wind gusts of over 90 mph. The four other Premier League games Saturday remained on as planned. Manchester United will host Nottingham Forest at 5:30 p.m. local time at Old Trafford. The remaining games start at 3 p.m. local time. Aston Villa hosts Southampton and urged fans to use extra time to get to Villa Park in Birmingham. In London, Brentford will host Newcastle, and Crystal Palace will host Manchester City. Ashton Jeanty lets his play do the talking for CFP-bound Boise State BOISE, Idaho (AP) — After Ashton Jeanty streaked through the middle of UNLV’s defense on his way to a 75-yard touchdown run Friday night in the Mountain West Conference title game, he didn’t strike the Heisman pose. He didn’t even lobby for it after the game, instead letting his play do the talking in No. 10 Boise State's 21-7 victory over No. 19 UNLV 21-7. Jeanty added another 209 yards — his sixth game over 200 yards this season — to push his total to 2,497 — just 132 yards short of passing Barry Sanders’ FBS season rushing record. The Broncos earned a spot in the College Football Playoff with the victory. No. 24 Army wins AAC championship in first attempt as Daily runs for 4 TDs in 35-14 win over Tulane WEST POINT, N.Y. (AP) — Bryson Daily rushed for four touchdowns to tie the American Athletic Conference championship game record, and No. 24 Army completed a perfect first season in the league by beating Tulane 35-14. Kanye Udoh rushed for 158 yards, including a 72-yarder to set up a Daily TD, and a score. Daily added 126 yards on the ground for the Black Knights, who overwhelmed AAC opponents with their bruising, clock-eating rushing attack during their first around the league, then ran it to perfection in the championship game. Army moved to 11-1. Daily had runs of 5, 3, 4 and 7 yards.
Nantucket vs. Martha’s Vineyard, 5 (Fenway Park) Stoneham vs. Reading, 7:30 (Fenway Park) Brighton at Tech Boston, 1 Latin Academy vs. O’Bryant, 2 (West Roxbury) Central Catholic vs. Lawrence, 4 (Fenway Park) KIPP vs. Lynn Tech, 4 (Manning) Holbrook/Avon at South Shore, 5 Somerset Berkley at Central (RI), 5 Andover at North Andover, 6 Bishop Stang at Bishop Feehan, 6 Cambridge at Somerville, 6 East Boston at Chelsea, 6 Greater Lowell vs. Lowell Catholic, 6 (Chelmsford) Milford at Taunton, 6 Nashoba Tech at Monty Tech, 6 North Middlesex at Rockland, 6 Old Colony at Tri-County, 6 St. John’s (Shrewsbury) at Malden Catholic, 6 West Bridgewater at East Bridgewater, 6 Whittier at Greater Lawrence, 6 Bishop Fenwick at St. Mary’s, 6:30 Swampscott vs. Marblehead, 6:30 (Fenway Park) Acton-Boxboro at Westford Academy, 10 Amesbury at Newburyport, 10 Apponequet at Old Rochester, 10 Arlington at Waltham, 10 Ashland at Hopkinton, 10 Attleboro at North Attleboro, 10 Bellingham at Norton, 10 Beverly at Salem, 10 Billerica at Chelmsford, 10 BC High at Catholic Memorial, 10 Braintree at Milton, 10 Bridgewater-Raynham at Brockton, 10 Bristol-Plymouth at Blue Hills, 10 Brookline at Newton North, 10 Burlington at Bedford, 10 Cardinal Spellman at Archbishop Williams, 10 Carver at Middleboro, 10 Case at Atlantis Charter, 10 Concord-Carlisle at Lexington, 10 Danvers at Gloucester, 10 Dartmouth at Fairhaven, 10 Dighton-Rehoboth at Seekonk, 10 Dover-Sherborn at Medfield, 10 Duxbury at Marshfield, 10 English/New Mission vs. Boston Latin, 10 (Harvard) Falmouth at Barnstable, 10 Fitchburg at Leominster, 10 Framingham at Natick, 10 Franklin at King Philip, 10 Greater New Bedford at Diman, 10 Hamilton-Wenham at Ipswich, 10 Hingham at Scituate, 10 Hull at Cohasset, 10 Lincoln-Sudbury at Newton South, 10 Lowell at Haverhill, 10 Lynn Classical at Lynn English, 10 Manchester-Essex at Essex Tech, 10 Mansfield at Foxboro, 10 Masconomet at Northeast, 10 Mashpee at Sandwich, 10 Medford at Malden, 10 Medway at Millis, 10 Methuen at Dracut, 10 Minuteman at Keefe Tech, 10 Nauset at Dennis-Yarmouth, 10 North Quincy at Quincy, 10 Norwell at Hanover, 10 Norwood at Dedham, 10 Oliver Ames at Sharon, 10 Peabody at Saugus, 10 Pentucket at Triton, 10 Plymouth North at Plymouth South, 10 Revere at Winthrop, 10 St. John Paul at Monomoy, 10 Silver Lake at Pembroke, 10 Stoughton at Canton, 10 Upper Cape at Cape Cod Tech, 10 Wareham at Bourne, 10 Watertown at Belmont, 10 Wayland at Weston, 10 Wellesley at Needham, 10 Westwood at Holliston, 10 Weymouth at Walpole, 10 Whitman-Hanson at Abington, 10 Wilmington at Tewksbury, 10 Arlington Catholic at Shawsheen, 10:15 Durfee at New Bedford, 10:15 Wakefield at Melrose, 10:15 Woburn at Winchester, 10:15 Xaverian at St. John’s Prep, 10:15 Lynnfield at North Reading, 10:30 Billerica at Chelmsford, 10 BC High at Catholic Memorial, 10 Dartmouth at Fairhaven, 10 Duxbury at Marshfield, 10 English/New Mission vs. Boston Latin, 10 (Harvard) Fitchburg at Leominster, 10 Franklin at King Philip, 10 Hingham at Scituate, 10 Lynn Classical at Lynn English, 10 Mansfield at Foxboro, 10 Mashpee at Sandwich, 10 Medford at Malden, 10 Nauset at Dennis-Yarmouth, 10 North Quincy at Quincy, 10 Wellesley at Needham, 10 Weymouth at Walpole, 10 Wilmington at Tewksbury, 10 Xaverian at St. John’s Prep, 10:15 Lynnfield at North Reading, 10:30 DIVISION 1 – Thursday, Dec. 5 at Gillette No. 4 Needham (11-0) vs. No. 3 Xaverian (8-3), 5:30 DIVISION 2 – Thursday, Dec. 5 at Gillette No. 2 King Philip (11-0) vs. No. 1 Catholic Memorial (10-1), 8 DIVISION 3 – Friday, Dec. 6 at Gillette No. 3 Mansfield (8-3) vs. No. 4 North Attleboro (9-2), 8 DIVISION 4 – Thursday, Dece. 5 at Gillette No. 2 Scituate (11-0) vs. No. 1 Duxbury (10-1), 3 DIVISION 5 – Friday, Dec. 6 at Gillette No. 1 Shawsheen (11-0) vs. No. 3 Foxboro (8-3), 5:30 DIVISION 6 – Wednesday, Dec. 4 at Gillette No. 3 Fairhaven (10-1) vs. No. 1 Hudson (11-0), 8 DIVISION 7 – Wednesday, Dec. 4 at Gillette No. 1 Uxbridge (11-0) vs. No. 3 Mashpee (9-2), 5:30 DIVISION 8 – Friday, Dec. 6 at Gillette No. 1 Randolph (10-1) vs. No. 2 West Boylston (9-2), 3 VOCATIONAL BOWL PLAYOFFS LARGE SCHOOL FINAL – Wednesday, Dec. 4 No. 6 Whittier (8-3) at No. 1 Bay Path (10-1), TBA SMALL SCHOOL FINAL – Wednesday, Dec. 4 No. 4 Tri-County (7-3) at No. 3 Blue Hills (6-5), 6
The economist who predicted the election outcomes in detail tells BI his forecasts for 2025 GDP, inflation, and the threshold that would explode the deficitANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Michigan's defense of the national championship has fallen woefully short. The Wolverines started the season ranked No. 9 in the AP Top 25 , making them the third college football team since 1991 to be ranked worse than seventh in the preseason poll after winning a national title. Michigan (6-5, 4-4 Big Ten) failed to meet those modest expectations, barely becoming eligible to play in a bowl and putting the program in danger of losing six or seven games for the first time since the Brady Hoke era ended a decade ago. The Wolverines potentially can ease some of the pain with a win against rival and second-ranked Ohio State (10-1, 7-1, No. 2 CFP) on Saturday in the Horseshoe, but that would be a stunning upset. Ohio State is a 21 1/2-point favorite, according to the BetMGM Sportsbook, and that marks just the third time this century that there has been a spread of at least 20 1/2 points in what is known as “The Game.” Michigan coach Sherrone Moore doesn't sound like someone who is motivating players with an underdog mentality. “I don’t think none of that matters in this game,” Moore said Monday. “It doesn’t matter the records. It doesn’t matter anything. The spread, that doesn’t matter.” How did Michigan end up with a relative mess of a season on the field, coming off its first national title since 1997? Winning it all with a coach and star player contemplating being in the NFL for the 2024 season seemed to have unintended consequences for the current squad. The Wolverines closed the College Football Playoff with a win over Washington on Jan. 8; several days later quarterback J.J. McCarthy announced he was skipping his senior season; and it took more than another week for Jim Harbaugh to bolt to coach the Los Angeles Chargers. In the meantime, most quality quarterbacks wanting to transfer had already enrolled at other schools and Moore was left with lackluster options. Davis Warren beat out Alex Orji to be the team's quarterback for the opener and later lost the job to Orji only to get it back again. No matter who was under center, however, would've likely struggled this year behind an offensive line that sent six players to the NFL. The Wolverines lost one of their top players on defense, safety Rod Moore, to a season-ending injury last spring and another one, preseason All-America cornerback Will Johnson, hasn't played in more than a month because of an injury. The Buckeyes are not planning to show any mercy after losing three straight in the series. “We’re going to attack them," Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer said. “We know they’re going to come in here swinging, too, and they’ve still got a good team even though the record doesn’t indicate it. This game, it never matters what the records are." While a win would not suddenly make the Wolverines' season a success, it could help Moore build some momentum a week after top-rated freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood flipped his commitment from LSU to Michigan. “You come to Michigan to beat Ohio,” said defensive back Quinten Johnson, intentionally leaving the word State out when referring to the rival. "That's one of the pillars of the Michigan football program. “It doesn’t necessarily change the fact of where we are in the season, but it definitely is one of the defining moments of your career here at Michigan.” AP Sports Writer Mitch Stacy in Columbus, Ohio, contributed to this report. Get alerts on the latest AP Top 25 poll throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll
In a landmark moment for Africa’s creative and tech industries, Singapore’s TSC Global and Nigeria’s Del-York Group have signed a $4.5 billion joint venture agreement for the Lagos Film City, marking the largest investment in Africa’s creative sector to date. The signing ceremony, held in Singapore and attended virtually by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, heralds the development of Lagos Film City (Kebulania), a project poised to position Lagos as a global hub for film, media, and technology. Sanwo-Olu said: “Lagos Film City represents Lagos State’s vision for creative excellence and technological innovation. This investment will transform our creative landscape while creating groundbreaking opportunities for our talented youth. This development demonstrates our commitment to positioning Lagos as Africa’s premier creative capital.” He credited President Bola Tinubu’s leadership and the state’s Creative Industry Policy for facilitating this transformative partnership. Under the new partnership, TSC Global will bring its expertise in sustainable, high-performance technical infrastructure, an area where the company is known globally. Linus Idahosa, CEO of Del-York Group, serves as the lead developer of the project and is dedicated to building ecosystems that fuel Africa’s creative industry. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the Lagos State Government in 2022, and a groundbreaking ceremony was held at the Epe site last year. Architectural work will begin in early 2025, followed by construction in the second quarter. On his part, Chairman/CEO of Del-York Group, Linus Idahosa, said: “Today marks Africa’s emphatic entry into global creative and technological leadership.” “Kebulania stands as a testament to what is possible when visionary leadership at both national and state levels creates an enabling environment for transformative investments. With the unwavering support of the Lagos State Government, alongside our partners, we are building more than an infrastructure – we are creating a legacy that will empower generations of African creators and innovators.” CEO of TSC Global, Michael Dickerson, highlighted the strategic significance. “Our $4.5 billion Joint Venture bridges Africa and the world, creating unparalleled opportunities for creative and technological collaboration between continents. Together with the Del-York Group, we are creating a new model for creative industry development that will resonate globally.” The Kebulania project is expected to generate over 10,000 direct jobs and 25,000 indirect employment opportunities, contributing more than $3.5 billion annually to Nigeria’s creative economy. It will also offer 50,000 training positions and boost foreign exchange earnings through international film and media productions.NORAD's Santa tracker was a Cold War morale boost. Now it attracts millions of kidsBritain is in danger of abandoning a generation of boys to a life without hope with “destructive” consequences for the nation, leading campaigners have warned. It is feared the UK will face more riots and even higher prison numbers if the country’s crisis of “lost boys” spirals further out of control. There is alarm that Britain is storing up problems for the future if it turns a blind eye to boys’ educational failings and young men’s high suicide and imprisonment rates. Former England rugby captain Lawrence Dallaglio called for society to stop treating boys and young men as the “lowest of the low”. He is fed up seeing youths “on the employment scrapheap and filling up our prisons”. Declaring that “enough is enough”, he said: “Boys and men matter just as much as anyone else, and it’s time that we got serious about that.” The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) is launching a major new research project on how boys can avoid disaster. Miriam Cates, a former MP and senior fellow at the CSJ who battles to protect the quality of childhood in the UK , said: “We must step in to rescue a generation of boys and men who are at risk of falling out of society at great cost to themselves and us all.” She warned that “large numbers of disenfranchised young men are always a destructive force in society” and claimed the “riots over the summer were in large part a reaction to the sharp decline in value and status felt by working-class British males”. The think tank states men have a suicide rate more than three times that of women and are much more likely to be behind bars or sleeping rough. Ninety-six percent of prisoners are men, and in London, 82% of those on the streets are male. A top concern is that boys struggle in school and get into trouble early on. They are twice as likely to face suspension and permanent exclusion than girls. There is a glaring difference in how well boys and girls perform academically. Three-quarters of girls are judged “ready to learn” at age five, but just six out of 10 boys. When it comes to post-school education, 1,279,970 women and just 882,225 men with permanent in-home in the UK enrolled on an undergraduate or postgraduate course. The CSJ is launching the Lost Boys project to identify how boys can have a better start in life. It accuses Britain’s political class of “wilful institutional neglect” towards boys and is pushing for a radical change in attitudes. Mrs Cates claims the modern focus on “fashionable identity politics” has led to the neglect of boys and men – especially if they are poor. She says that much attention has been given to the dangerous impact of social media on girls; many boys suffer from “debilitating gaming addiction” and “exposure to violent and extreme pornography from a young age”. The mother of two boys argues that the condemnation of “toxic masculinity” in schools and the media has left boys wondering if it is possible to be a “good man”. She warns that if our culture “turns traditional male attributes such as strength and risk-taking from virtue into vice,” we should “not be surprised when young men struggle to find their place in education, employment and wider society”. “Almost all of the post-pandemic increase in young people who are not in education, employment in training is driven by men – a 40% rise amongst males compared to just seven percent for females,” she said. She claims that “boys are more likely now to own a smartphone than to live with their dad” and says that they must be “taught, trained, encouraged and inspired” to “harness their natural masculine tendencies for good”. Nearly one in four pupils in England qualifies for free school meals – a key indicator that children may be at risk of deprivation. This is the equivalent of around one million boys. The latest figures show that just 33.5% of “white British” boys on free school meals gained a grade four or above in English and mathematics at GCSE in 2022-23. This compares with 57.3% of boys from a “Black African” background who also qualified for free school meals and 67% of boys from an Indian background. Nick Fletcher – who has campaigned for a dedicated minister for men and is now running to be mayor of Doncaster – is in no doubt what will happen if white working-class boys continue to fall behind. He said: “All we’ll end up doing is building more prisons.” If this challenge is not addressed, he warned, more men will suffer from mental health issues and drug addiction. Labour MP Shaun Davies, who is backing the Lost Boys project, said: “The challenges facing men and boys in Britain are a cross-party issue that affect all of us and I am glad to see that serious work is happening in this space. Whether it’s education, family life, crime or health, boys are faced with increasingly poor outcomes.” Former education minister Robert Halfon is concerned about the plight of both white boys and girls from disadvantaged backgrounds and wants this to be one of the top priorities for the Government. He said: “At every stage, right from early years to university, the white working class are one of the most underperforming groups in the country.” Mr Halfon said this is partly because “all the investment goes into big cities whereas often these communities live in towns”. He is also concerned that talk of “white privilege” can have a harmful effect. “If you tell people from disadvantaged backgrounds they are privileged, you are just perpetuating angst and resentment, and it doesn’t help at all,” he said. Mr Halfon wants extra funding for “outstanding teachers and mentors in those disadvantaged areas”. When chair of the education committee, Mr Halfon led an investigation into the struggles of white pupils from poorer backgrounds. It found just 16 per cent of white pupils who were eligible for free school meals had started higher education by age 19 in 2018-19 – the lowest of any ethnic group other than those of Irish traveller or Gypsy/Roma heritage. This is compared with 72.8% of children from a Chinese background who qualified for free school meals. A spokeswoman for the Department for Education said: “Our Plan for Change sets out our clear mission to give every child the best start in life, breaking the link between background and success. “We know there are baked-in inequalities that remain in our education system, which is why we are taking swift action to break down barriers to opportunity. “This government will drive high and rising standards in schools by recruiting 6,500 new teachers, rolling out career advice, guaranteeing work experience, improving mental health support, reforming the SEND system and delivering a cutting-edge curriculum to set young people up for life, work and the future.” The Samaritans can be reached round the clock, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you need a response immediately, it’s best to call them on the phone. You can reach them by calling 116 123, by emailing jo@samaritans.org or by visiting www.samaritans.org .
The United States Postal Service might have found a way to unite a nation bitterly divided after this month's election: It will release a Betty White stamp. The beloved actor known for roles in "The Golden Girls," "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "Boston Legal" and others will be on a 2025 Forever stamp, USPS announced this past week. White died in late December 2021 , less than three weeks before her 100th birthday. The Postal Service hasn't announced a release date for the stamp. Betty White speaks Sept. 17, 2018, at the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. “An icon of American television, Betty White (1922–2021) shared her wit and warmth with viewers for seven decades,” the Postal Service said in announcing the stamp, which depicts a smiling White based on a 2010 photograph by celebrity photographer Kwaku Alston . “The comedic actor, who gained younger generations of fans as she entered her 90s, was also revered as a compassionate advocate for animals.” Boston-based artist Dale Stephanos created the digital illustration from Alston's photo. "I'd love to send a letter back to my 18-year-old self with this stamp on it and tell him that everything is going to be OK," Stephanos posted on Facebook . Regardless of personal politics, self-proclaimed supporters of Republican President-elect Donald Trump and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris reacted with delight on social media. "Betty White was my hero, all of my life! I actually had a doll when I was a little girl I named Betty White," one Trump supporter posted on X , formerly Twitter. “Something to make this awful week a little better: We’re getting a Betty White stamp,” a pro-Harris X account posted. White combined a wholesome image with a flare for bawdy jokes . Her television career began in the early 1950s and exploded as she aged. “The only SNL host I ever saw get a standing ovation at the after party," Seth Meyers posted on Twitter after her death. "A party at which she ordered a vodka and a hotdog and stayed til the bitter end.” Allen Ludden and his wife Betty White, who love to play games, continue a two year gin rummy battle in which she's ahead by a cumulative 6,000 points in Westchester, N.Y. on April 29, 1965. They do it professionally on TV. He's the master of ceremonies on "Password," and she makes frequent guest appearances on game shows. They play games to relax at home. (AP Photo/Bob Wands) Allen Ludden and his wife Betty White admire magnolia blossoms on the lawn of their country home in Westchester, N.Y. on May 14, 1965. (AP Photo/Bob Wands) Actress Betty White in 1965. (AP Photo) Betty White shares a moment backstage at the 28th annual Emmy Awards with Ted Knight after they each won an Emmy for their supporting roles in "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." On the series Miss White played Sue Ann Nivens while Knight played newscaster Ted Baxter. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon) LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 17, 1976: (L-R) "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" co-stars - Ed Asner, Betty White, Mary Tyler Moore and Ted Knight - all won awards at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences 28th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Shubert Theatre on May 17, 1976 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by TVA/PictureGroup/Invision for the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences/AP Images) Actress Betty White with Ted Knight at the Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, Sept. 13, 1981. (AP Photo/Randy Rasmussen) Betty White and Anson Williams don't seem to faze Buckeye, a St. Bernard, during an awards ceremony during which Williams was honored by the Los Angeles Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals as a friend and lover of animals. Ms. White presented a humanitarian plaque to Williams at the event, which was held in Hollywood, California, Friday, May 1, 1982. (AP Photo/Marc Karody) Actress Betty White with actor John Hillerman arriving at Emmy Awards, Sept. 22, 1985 in Pasadena, California. (AP Photo/LIU) Actresses Betty White Ludden, left, and Mary Tyler Moore, right, smile at each other in Los Angeles, Friday, June 22, 1985 during Annual Meeting of Morris Animal Foundation, at which Ludden announced her retirement as President of the animal health group, held at the Sheraton Universal Hotel in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Nick Ut) These four veteran actresses from the television series "The Golden Girls" shown during a break in taping Dec. 25, 1985 in Hollywood. From left are, Estelle Getty, Rue McClanahan, Bea Arthur and Betty White. (AP Photo/Nick Ut) Actress Betty White poses in Los Angeles, Ca. in June, 1986. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon) Betty White stands backstage at the NBC TV Bob Hope "I Love Lucy" special on Sept. 16, 1989. (AP Photo/Djansezian) Michael J. Fox and Betty White, winners of Emmys for best actor and actress in a comedy series, stand backstage at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California, Sunday, Sept. 21, 1986 after receiving their honors. (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac) Comedienne Betty White places her hand on the star that was presented posthumously to her husband, Allen Ludden, during ceremonies inducting him into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood, Los Angeles, Thursday, March 31, 1988. Ludden was honored with the 1,868th star of the famed walkway — between those of White and Tyrone Power. (AP Photo/Nick Ut) Estelle Getty, who plays Sophia, poses with her new husband, who plays Max, and the other "Golden Girls" after taping of episode on Friday, night, Nov. 5,1988 in Hollywood. Left to right are Rue McCLanahan (Blanche), Getty, Gilford, Bea Arthur (Dorothy) and Betty White. (AP Photo/Ira Mark Gostin) Former cast members of the Mary Tyler Moore Show, sans Mary Tyler Moore, are reunited for the Museum of Television and Radio's 9th annual Television Festival in Los Angeles Saturday, March 21, 1992. From left are Gavin MacLeod, Valerie Harper, Cloris Leachman, Betty White and Ed Asner. (AP Photo/Craig Fujii) Actress Betty White, left, writer/producer David E. Kelley, actress Bridget Fonda, and actor Oliver Platt pose at the premiere of their movie "Lake Placid," Wednesday night, July 14, 1999, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Betty White, from "Golden Girls," and Mr. T, Lawrence Tureaud, from "The A Team," pose for photographers at NBC's 75th Anniversary Party, Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2002, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Rene Macura) Actors Betty White, left, Georgia Engel, second left, Gavin MacLeod, center, Valerie Harper, second right, and John Amos pose for photographers during arrivals at CBS's 75th anniversary celebration Sunday, Nov. 2, 2003, in New York. (AP Photo/Louis Lanzano) Actress Betty White laughs as an African eagle roosts overhead at the Los Angeles Zoo Monday, Feb. 20, 2006, in Los Angeles, where White was honored as Ambassador to the Animals by the city for her decades of dedication to the humane treatment of animals. (AP Photo/Nick Ut) Betty White poses for photographers on the red carpet before Comedy Central's "Roast of William Shatner," Sunday, Aug. 13, 2006, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Rene Macura) Betty White arrives at the 34th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, on Friday, June 15, 2007. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Beatrice Arthur, left, Betty White, center, and Rue McClanahan, of the Golden Girls, arrive at the TV Land Awards on Sunday June 8, 2008 in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) Actor Henry Winkler, center, is seen Beatrice Arthur, right, and Betty White at the TV Land Awards on Sunday June 8, 2008 in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) In this Nov. 24, 2009 file photo, actress Betty White poses for a portrait following her appearance on the television talk show "In the House," in Burbank, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File) Actress Betty White poses for a portrait on the set of the television show "Hot in Cleveland" in Studio City section of Los Angeles on Wednesday, June 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) Actress Betty White is seen on stage at the Teen Choice Awards on Sunday, Aug. 8, 2010 in Universal City, Calif. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) Betty White, a cast member in "You Again," poses with fans holding Betty White masks at the premiere of the film in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) Actress Betty White wears a U.S. Forest Ranger hat after being named an Honorary Forest Ranger by the US Forest Service, at the Kennedy Center in Washington Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2010. White has stated in numerous interviews that her first ambition as a young girl was "to become a forest ranger, but they didn't allow women to do that back then". (AP Photo/Cliff Owen) Betty White, left, Bradley Cooper and Scarlett Johansson arrive at the MTV Movie Awards in Universal City, Calif., on Sunday, June 6, 2010. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) Betty White, left, Kristen Bell, center, and Jamie Lee Curtis, cast members in "You Again," pose together at the premiere of the film in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) Betty White, left, accepts the Life Achievement Award from Sandra Bullock at the 16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) From left, actresses Betty White, Wendie Malick, Valerie Bertinelli, and Jane Leeves pose for a portrait on the set of the television show "Hot in Cleveland" in Studio City section of Los Angeles on Wednesday, June 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) Alec Baldwin, left, and Betty White are seen on stage at the 17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Betty White attends a book signing for her book 'If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won't)' at Barnes & Noble in New York, Friday, May 6, 2011. (AP Photo/Charles Sykes) Actress Betty White attends a press conference prior to the taping of "Betty White's 90th Birthday: A Tribute To America's Golden Girl" on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Vince Bucci) Actress Betty White arrives on a white pony as she is honored at a Friars Club Roast sponsored by Godiva, Wednesday, May 16, 2012 at the Sheraton Hotel in New York. (AP Photo/Starpix, Marion Curtis) Betty White, at left, attends her wax figure unveiling at Madame Tussauds on Monday, June 4, 2012 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Katy Winn/Invision/AP) From left, Sgt. 1st Class Chuck Shuck, Actress Betty White and The 2012 American Hero Dog Gabe pose during 2012 American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, in Los Angeles, Calif. (Photo by Ryan Miller/Invision/AP) Betty White and Cloris Leachman onstage at the 24th Annual GLAAD Media Awards at the JW Marriott on Saturday, April 20, 2013 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Todd Williamson/Invision/AP) Ellen DeGeneres, left, presents Betty White with the award for favorite TV icon at the People's Choice Awards at the Nokia Theatre on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) Betty White, left, speaks at the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards on Monday, Sept. 17, 2018, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Looking on from right are Alec Baldwin and Kate McKinnon. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!Former Washington Wizards and Golden State Warriors superstar Gilbert Arenas joked that Elon Musk might be behind LeBron James' incredible return to action - with the soon-to-be 40-year-old looking back to his best this week. James had returned to the Lakers after missing five games, struggling with a nagging injury while also highlighting 'personal issues' had kept him away from the floor, but has put in two strong performances in back-to-back wins over the Memphis Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings . In the Grizzlies game, James, 39, led the team to a dominant start in the first-half in a do-it-all performance, scoring 18 points while registering eight rebounds and eight assists while performing strongly on defense. LeBron James shows his true colors after explaining why he stepped back from Lakers Exclusive: Nets superfan Mr. Whammy says he's reason for Jarrett Allen turnaround - 'He couldn't make a shot' A die-hard Lakers fan, Arenas was shocked to see James perform as well as he had. Speaking on his YouTube show, Arenas said: "We gotta thank Elon Musk... He [James] is a robot. LeBron had to go down to the Tesla and get them batteries recharged. "Y’all seen him running right, jumping," before going on to joke that he's shocked to see James playing with the levels of athleticism at his age, stating: "You can’t come back on day one with the new battery charge, brother. You got a limp a little or something!" In the Lakers recent win over the Kings, James passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for most minutes played in the NBA while having an incredible 57,446 minutes on the floor. It's the second-record that James has passed over Abdul-Jabbar recently, having become the league's all-time scorer over the former Lakers big-man last year. Coming towards the end of his career, many expected James to play this final year with the Lakers, hopefully playing more games with his son, Bronny James, before potentially walking away from the sport. Somewhat shockingly, though, James' recent absence has led to rumors that the team could even trade him - potentially seeing James team up with close friends Steph Curry and Draymond Green with the Warriors. ESPN's Brian Windhorst said on 'Get Up': "The Warriors have dreamed of pairing LeBron with Steph Curry and Draymond Green since last year. They've made an inquiry and it got shut down last February. That was before LeBron played with Steve Kerr and Steph Curry and won the gold medal over the summer. "So, they will definitely monitor the situation, and I don't think they do anything without knowing this door is locked, but I would just say with LeBron, it's up to him. He has a no-trade clause and he has given no indication he wants the Lakers to do anything but upgrade the roster they've got, not that he wants to go anywhere."