The West Coast Conference and the SEC battle in an intriguing 7-10 matchup in the South Region on Thursday in the 2026 NCAA Tournament as the No. 7 seed Saint Mary’s Gaels take on the No. 10 Texas A&M Aggies. The Gaels (27-5, 16-2 WCC) split the WCC regular-season title with Gonzaga, though they did have a surprising loss to Santa Clara in the semifinals of the conference tournament. The Aggies (21-11, 11-7 SEC), meanwhile, jumped out to a fast start for first-year head coach Bucky McMillan, but went 4-7 down the stretch and were bounced in the second round of the SEC Tournament by Oklahoma.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every college basketball game 10,000 times. It entered the 2026 NCAA Tournament on a sizzling 11-1 run on its top-rated over/under college basketball picks dating back to last season, and is on a 28-22 run on top-rated CBB side picks. Anyone following its college basketball betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen strong returns.
After 10,000 simulations of Saint Mary’s vs. Texas A&M, SportsLine’s model is going Over on the total (148.5 points). The Aggies trended to the Over this season as 56% of their matchups cleared the total. When the Aggies, had four or more days of rest, which is the cast for this matchup, Texas A&M games cleared the total 60% of the time. Those trends aren’t surprising given that A&M ranked eighth nationally in scoring with 87.7 points per game, but 321st in the nation on defense.
Saint Mary’s is more of a defensive-focused squad, but the Gaels should be able to pile up points at the free-throw line. They rank second nationally in free-three percentage (80.5), and that could come into play regularly with Texas A&M’s propensity to pile up fouls. SportsLine’s model projects that both teams clear 70 points with some room to spare as they combine for 153 and go Over in 63% of simulations.
The following is the full transcript of the interview with International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Rafael Grossi, a portion of which will air on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on March 22, 2026.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And we’re joined now by the Director General of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi. It’s good to have you here.
DIRECTOR GENERAL RAFAEL MARIANO GROSSI: Thank you. It’s good to be here.
MARGARET BRENNAN: These are some very serious times, particularly for you and your portfolio. Can you explain to our audience, can Iran’s nuclear ambitions be destroyed through military action only?
DIRECTOR GENERAL GROSSI: Well, of course, there has already been a lot of damage done. Last year, the 12 Day War was, in that sense, quite effective. If I can use that, that word, that kind of word. In terms of the physical distraction at three of the major facilities- or more compounds, I should say, because you have many buildings that have been- Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, we have been covering, covering that. This time around, I think the focus of the campaign does not seem to be specifically the nuclear facilities, although there have been some hits in Natanz and Isfahan and also at another place near Parchin, which used to be a facility more related to the weaponization efforts, but back in the early 2000’s. So, there has been some, but I would say they have been relatively marginal when you consider the overall nature of the military campaign so far. So, going back to your question, there has been a lot of impact on the program. One cannot deny that this has really rolled back the program considerably, although, you know, I’m very skeptical about these metrics, days, minutes, months, because everything is relative. But my impression is that once the military effort comes to an end, we will still inherit a number of major issues that have been at the center of all of this. One, most notably, the inventory of enriched uranium at 60%, which is very close to the degree you need to make a bomb, that is going to still be where it is, largely–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –Under the rubble.
DIRECTOR GENERAL GROSSI: –Under the rubble, and in some cases no rubble. And some- somewhere under. And also, importantly, some facilities, infrastructure, equipment, which have most probably survived some of the attacks, even- they could be damaged, seriously damaged, but that is something that we will only be able to ascertain once our inspectors go back. So–
MARGARET BRENNAN: Let’s talk about that. What I heard you say there is, Iran had that nuclear weapons program that in 2003, according to U.S. intelligence, was halted. But as you know, there’s this debate over whether Iran’s nuclear program actually did have a weapons ambition. You were never quite able to say yes or no.
DIRECTOR GENERAL GROSSI: Well, because we are- we are not analysts or people having opinions. We are the IAEA. So whenever we say something, it has to be based on actual inspection. But, we were as precise as we could be in terms of characterizing what we were seeing. And one important conclusion of that was, and I think I have- I have repeated that in view of the conflicting narratives that are out there, especially here in the United States, they have it, they don’t have it, what- and in particular, people tend to like part of a sentence I pronounce and not the other, or forget the two. And the thing is, and continues to be one, yes, like you say, yes, we haven’t seen a systematic program like the Ahmad plan, with offices people reporting to people, and an array of places where you are doing stuff. But there were many, many concerning things, many unanswered questions, and especially since 2019, 2020 when I became- more or less, when I became director general, where yes, in 2015 in 2016 when the JCPOA, the previous agreement, you remember–
MARGARET BRENNAN: The Obama-era nuclear accord–
DIRECTOR GENERAL GROSSI: Exactly. When that started to be applied, Iran was complying with a number of things, but we started seeing new stuff. We started seeing and getting new elements that gave rise to concerns, and we were talking about them with Iran. You’ve seen me many times go to Tehran, sign declarations and see commitments on their part. And then it came a point, very important point, when I said, you know, in view of this, I have to say that I’m no longer able, I’m no longer able to say that everything is in order–
MARGARET BRENNAN: Because you were finding uranium in places it wasn’t supposed to be because they weren’t allowing you unfettered access. You couldn’t say clearly, one way or the other.
DIRECTOR GENERAL GROSSI: Exactly that.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Let’s come back to that. I- according to what you did know and did- were able to declare in these IAEA reports, Iran had uranium enriched up to 60%, weapons-grade is 90 as I understand it.
DIRECTOR GENERAL GROSSI: Yeah.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And if that material remains now in Iran after combat ends, will it still have nuclear capabilities if it has the enriched material and the centrifuges?
DIRECTOR GENERAL GROSSI: Well, you remember, and for this, I would quote, or partially refer to things that have been said in Iran by Iranians. You remember very important officials saying, we have all the elements of the puzzle. You remember that. So, of course, and not said by a journalist or a newspaper, important people that had been working in the program. So when this is said, we were telling them, this is unhelpful, or at least you should explain what is- what is meant by that. The- it’s a vast program, all right, and so albeit the physical distraction that has been operated, acted upon these facilities, there’s a lot going on. And don’t forget something, Margaret. When we talk about centrifuges, when we talk about this kind of facilities, this is an activity that can be relatively, I wouldn’t say easily, but it is very possible to reconstruct this effort is metallurgy, is a sophisticated washing machine. If I can put it like that, you have rudders. You have rudders, bellows, but it’s about metal, the ability to curve metal in a certain way, the ability to weld it in a certain way, the ability to have it spin at great speed, membranes. It’s nothing- I mean, and you cannot unlearn what you’ve learned.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Right, you can’t bomb away the knowledge. So that capability will exist after combat–
DIRECTOR GENERAL GROSSI: –Exactly, and it was very sophisticated. Let’s not forget, again, referring back to JCPOA. JCPOA was based, or predicated upon a very primitive type of centrifuge. Now Iran has the most sophisticated, fast and efficient machine that exists, and they know how to make them, they know. And on top of that, there might- there may be places out there which are not nuclear places. So, I mean, could be a workshop, dozens of workshops that exist. And they- this capability exists. This is why, what I say is that we still need to find a framework, an agreed framework, that is going to be providing us with the necessary [sic] visibility and sense of a clear idea of where they are, where they want to go.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Because this war will not destroy Iran’s nuclear ambitions–
DIRECTOR GENERAL GROSSI: –any war–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –and capabilities.
DIRECTOR GENERAL GROSSI: I would say any war–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –Any war.
DIRECTOR GENERAL GROSSI: –unless it was nuclear war and you go for destruction in an unfathomable way, which we hope, of course, will not- never be the case.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, talk to me about the options that we know are being discussed by the United States right now. Including President Trump and Israel have talked about the potential of sending special forces in to secure some of this enriched material. You have been to Isfahan, you have seen some of the underground facilities. How difficult would it be to move these cylinders that are there full of chemicals?
DIRECTOR GENERAL GROSSI: Listen, of course, I’m not, I’m not a military expert, and I don’t know what kind of abilities there could be out there, and I have no doubt that, you know, looking at the efficiency of military operations that the United States has been performing this year, in particular from the beginning of the year, perhaps there are ways that they can do that, and I will not enter into- into that assessment. But I have to say that we’re talking about cylinders containing gas of highly contaminated uranium hexafluoride at 60%, so it’s very difficult to handle. So much so that, for example, in terms, of this negotiation, we might perhaps discuss that a little bit, that did not bear fruit. One of the things that we were discussing was downblending it because of its difficulty in terms of handling in the scenario, for example, of a ship out of the material, exfiltrating the material. So it is very difficult. Then, of course, I guess there will be a number of decoys, a number of distracting cylinders, materials over there, which would make it very difficult. I’m not saying it’s impossible. I know that here there are incredible military capacities to do that, but it would be very challenging operation for sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: For special- for a military operation to be carried out. After combat ends, Iran’s foreign minister on this program last week told us their nuclear material is under the rubble and they’d be willing to deal with your agency. Just like they were negotiating before the U.S. started bombing. Have you talked to the White House about this idea that your inspectors can go in and gather that material and take it out?
DIRECTOR GENERAL GROSSI: We are considering these options, of course. Our relationship with Iran is a treaty-based obligation, because even in the context of this war and the situation that we are in, Iran is a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, so they have a contractual obligation to allow our inspectors in. Of course, there’s common sense. Nothing can happen while bombs are falling. But yes, I’ve been having important conversations here at the White House, and also with Iran. There are some contacts, and we hope to be able to reestablish that line.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Do you think you can revive parts of that deal that were being put together before the bombing began, where Iran would downblend? I mean, Oman’s Foreign Minister on this program said that Iran had agreed to zero stockpiling, that they had agreed to send that material out and to dilute it down, downblend it.
DIRECTOR GENERAL GROSSI: Yes.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Was there really the possibility of a deal? Because it was just hours before the bombing began that he told us peace was possible.
DIRECTOR GENERAL GROSSI: While, while there’s a negotiation, there’s always a possibility of an agreement. We cannot deny that.
MARGARET BRENNAN: But you believed Iran truly was offering an option?
DIRECTOR GENERAL GROSSI: There was a discussion, but there was no agreement.
MARGARET BRENNAN: There was no agreement that Friday that the bombing began. The Omani foreign minister said he needed another 90 days. Would a real deal have been possible?
DIRECTOR GENERAL GROSSI: Well- maybe, I think- I praise his efforts. I respect him enormously. I think he was really trying very, very hard, and we had long discussions. He invited me in, of course, together with the two belligerents today. So we were having very frank and very deep discussions. So one cannot deny the nobility of the effort of someone who’s trying to prevent a war, and I applaud that as a diplomat and as a citizen. But there was no agreement at that point. So much so- remember this, you remember that we had agreed to have a technical meeting on the Monday after the weekend where the operation started. That should tell you that there were very significant, if not disagreements, there was no alignment on what we- what many of the things that were discussed that really meant. And this is why I offered and I said, well, let’s- the technical level piece, send me your people to Vienna. We will go through this and see what this or that may- may mean.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You wanted to keep talking to avoid military action?
DIRECTOR GENERAL GROSSI: Well, I felt that that was my obligation. I was invited to provide my technical support.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, let’s talk about that. Because, you know, Iran disputes that they have a weapons program now, but they do have a nuclear program, including a research reactor in Tehran for medical isotopes. President Trump told reporters that this was “a complete and false pretense to hide the fact that they were stockpiling there.” He meant nuclear fuel. The IAEA monitors that location. Is that what Iran was doing, secretly stockpiling material?
DIRECTOR GENERAL GROSSI: Let’s try to clarify, unpack that a little bit, because there’s also a lot of confusion that I see in characterizing, what the- what the Tehran Research Reactor is, what is happening there. The relevant point for and in terms of this negotiation and what could have happened is that this research reactor, and in general research reactors, require for their fuel a level of enrichment which is 20%.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Which was permitted under existing agreements.
DIRECTOR GENERAL GROSSI: Yes, but- yeah, it’s permitted in general. But the thing is that we were in the middle of a negotiation which was proceeding from the assumption that there wouldn’t be any enrichment.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Zero enrichment?
DIRECTOR GENERAL GROSSI: Zero or something very, very limited. So when you, when you talk about 20%, you are exceeding that amount. Forget about if there was stockpile or not. The concept, and this is what I would like your audience to grasp, that the idea that if you go for an agreement that presupposes that you can have 20%, this is three or four times more what the JCPOA was permitting. You remember, the level of enrichment agreed in the JCPOA was 3.6. In general, enrichment–
MARGARET BRENNAN: But there were allowments for these medical- I should just clarify. I said President Trump. I meant President Trump’s officials, his representatives said that. But for you, you- you did have questions about this Tehran Research Reactor. I’m bringing it up because these Trump officials keep pointing to the IAEA as providing information that made them say, wait a second, Iran’s not being honest. Is that what you were telling the U.S.?
DIRECTOR GENERAL GROSSI: Not about- we don’t discuss honesty or dishonesty. What we discuss is technical capabilities, and what technical capabilities may allow you to do or not. Intentions are legitimately discussed at the national level, and I won’t get into that discussion because every country and the United States and the President of the United States has every right to believe that they were going to do something or that they have an intention. My job is a different job, it is to explain, on the basis of the technologies that are there, what can happen and what is the impact vis a vis the negotiation you’re trying to get. And 20% is a lot of enrichment.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So then, was it correct for those Trump officials to say that the agency, your agency, provided the U.S. information that Iran never once used that material to make even a single medicine, that everything that was being done there was a cover for what could be a nuclear program?
DIRECTOR GENERAL GROSSI: Well, there you’re putting words that relate to intentions. And I don’t get into the cover or something like this. What I can say is that this is a reactor that potentially could be used for radio isotope production. There was very, very limited. We were inspecting this facility. We are inspecting it, actually. So there was limited use. Of course, Iran has every right to say, no, we are going to have a big program for radio isotope you know, this is what is used to detect and sometimes cure cancer. So it’s a [unintelligible].
MARGARET BRENNAN: But the IAEA is the UN, is this supposed to be just calling balls and strikes, as we say here, just calling it as they see it?
DIRECTOR GENERAL GROSSI: Yeah.
MARGARET BRENNAN: As you saw it, Iran might have been cheating?
DIRECTOR GENERAL GROSSI: I think, again, to come to the judgment, we have to have certainties. What we- and I go back to what we were discussing at the beginning of the conversation, Margaret. There were many unanswered questions, many unanswered questions, many concerning facts. And what we were asking Iran is, give us the clarity that we need. If you say that you have a fatwa that prohibits the country to develop nuclear weapons, well, let us check. If you don’t have anything to hide, and this is, by the way, what we tell everybody in the IAEA, let’s say, operation, you don’t have anything to hide? Show us.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Right, and you want, you want that access now. U.S.- the U.S. Director of National Intelligence told Congress yesterday that Iran’s enrichment program was obliterated, that the U.S. has seen no efforts to try to rebuild their enrichment capability. Do you agree with that assessment? Do you have any indication that the new Supreme Leader would want a weapons program?
DIRECTOR GENERAL GROSSI: Well, I don’t disagree with that. We don’t see major activity, which is logical, because there is a- there is a military campaign ongoing, whatever- you’re not going to start, you know, bringing cranes and workers–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –but they weren’t doing it in the lead up to the war, either, according to the Secretary of State.
DIRECTOR GENERAL GROSSI: Maybe. By the way, what we have is satellite imagery, all right? So at least the IAEA, maybe others have other technical means or personal means to check what is happening. As far as we are concerned, we haven’t seen activity. But as I was saying, a lot still has survived. They have the capabilities, they have the knowledge, they have the industrial ability to do that. This is why we need to go back to a negotiating table. It’s going to be needed.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And the U.S. has bombed twice in nine months during the course of diplomacy. Who has the credibility to lead negotiations now? Do you think it needs to be a regional conversation?
DIRECTOR GENERAL GROSSI: I don’t think a regional conversation would be- anything can happen, and the IAEA will help. But this is about a national program on a highly sensitive national security issue, like a nuclear program. So, I don’t see how a regional conference or conversation could be more effective than what is needed. We need the United States, of course, and Iran at the table. The IEA can help, maybe, I don’t know. The Omani effort could be revived, I don’t know, that is not my discussion, which is a political discussion. But I don’t think anybody would disagree, even here in Washington, that- that for a durable, long-standing solution, we will have to see each other again around the table.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And Iran has reached out to you? Their foreign minister has said he’s interested in a negotiation?
DIRECTOR GENERAL GROSSI: It’s- I wouldn’t say that, it would be unfair to him. But there are contacts.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Let me just ask you about one other thing. You said about half the nuclear material was around Isfahan.
DIRECTOR GENERAL GROSSI: Well, it’s a little bit more. There is- but the majority of the material is there. And this is no secret, because I’ve seen a lot of hype about it. This has been in our reports. The vast majority is there. There is some in Natanz as well, and some other parts.
MARGARET BRENNAN: There is focus on these other undeclared facilities President Trump has brought up. There’s a facility called Pickaxe Mountain, for example, that comes up. Are you concerned about those others?
DIRECTOR GENERAL GROSSI: Well we should have- we should visit those. They were not operational. So this is why we hadn’t. You may remember that on the- on the eve of the June 2025 campaign, Iran announced that they had a new enrichment facility in Isfahan.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
DIRECTOR GENERAL GROSSI: On the same day, I issued a request for an urgent inspection, which was granted, and the inspectors were there, and the morning where the- or the, you know, late night when the attacks happened. So we never got to see the place. We will have to go there eventually.
MARGARET BRENNAN: But just- final thought here. Do you think President Trump supports what I heard you say, which is that a military campaign cannot destroy Iran’s nuclear program, and that the only way to understand what they’re really doing is to be on the ground inspecting it, and that can’t be done by the United States military fully either?
DIRECTOR GENERAL GROSSI: Well, I think- I don’t know what he- whether he would endorse this or not, but he has said also that, of course, diplomacy is the preferred option. I think that is encouraging, and we have had a very constructive conversation in the past, and now. So–
MARGARET BRENNAN: Have you spoken to him?
DIRECTOR GENERAL GROSSI: Not to the president, no. I hadn’t had the honor. But I was talking to people that I have been talking in the past. And we continue- we continue this- this effort. I think the essence of this is that in the bleakest hour, we should never lose hope.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Director Grossi, thank you for your time.
WHITE SANDS, N.M. (KRQE) – The 37th Annual Bataan Memorial Death March, in honor of the heroic defenders of the Bataan peninsula during World War II, will be shortened this year due to the weather expected at the White Sands Missile Range this weekend. Typically, the march spans 26.4 miles across rugged desert terrain in high elevation; […]
Lamb Of God has issued a statement on their Into Oblivion bonus track “Wire”. It seems there was some confusion about the track’s existence and if it would be included in any digital formats.
Long story short, yes – it’s available on iTunes, but only until midnight tonight. Then you’re outta luck… or at least until there’s some 10 year anniversary reissue of this record, or whatever.
Lamb Of God stated: “Hello to all Lamb of God fans around the world. We wanted to take a moment, and address some of the rumors that have been circulating online about the band and our latest album… We’ll address the situation in as much detail as we can share, and we’ll do our best to speak candidly on the next couple of slides.
“You may have heard that we have a bonus track ‘Wire’ that was NOT included in the original Into Oblivion tracklisting. THIS IS TRUE. You can grab the Into Oblivion (Bonus Track Edition) now on iTunes and Amazon music for just $4.99. HOWEVER. DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES. UNFORTUNATELY…
“With our deepest regret, we must inform you all that the bonus track edition is only availble until MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. So this is your last chance. Hopefully, we lay some of these rumors to rest or at least provide some clarity to the ongoing discourse.
“If you’ve got something else to say, feel free to scream it to our faces on the Into Oblivion North America Tour. We’ll see you out there.”
Lamb Of God is currently on tour with Kublai Khan TX, Fit For An Autopsy, and Sanguisugabogg. Get those dates below and get your tickets here.
3/19 Montreal, QC Bell Centre 3/20 Toronto, ON GCT Theatre 3/22 Detroit, MI Fox Theatre 3/24 Minneapolis, MN Armory 3/25 Chicago, IL Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom 3/27 Denver, CO Fillmore Auditorium 3/28 Salt Lake City, UT The Union Event Center 3/30 Portland, OR Theater of the Clouds 3/31 Seattle, WA WAMU Theater 4/1 Vancouver, BC PNE Forum 4/3 San Francisco, CA The Masonic 4/4 Inglewood, CA YouTube Theater 4/5 Phoenix, AZ Arizona Financial Theatre 4/7 Albuquerque, NM Revel Entertainment Center 4/10 Austin, TX Moody Amphitheater 4/11 Irving, TX The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory 4/12 Houston, TX 713 Music Hall 4/14 Nashville, TN War Memorial Auditorium 4/15 Atlanta, GA Coca-Cola Roxy Theatre 4/16 Raleigh, NC Red Hat Amphitheater 4/18 Reading, PA Santander Arena 4/19 Virginia Beach, VA The Dome 4/21 Buffalo, NY Buffalo RiverWorks 4/23 Brooklyn, NY Brooklyn Paramount 4/25 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena 4/26 Boston, MA MGM Music Hall at Fenway
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Superstars can carry their teams to a national championship the way Carmelo Anthony did for Syracuse in 2003 and Kemba Walker did for UConn in 2011. NBA draft prospects can raise their stock the way Walter Clayton Jr. did last season, boosting his projection from the second round to the first round after leading Florida to the title.
That’s why we’ve ranked the top 50 players to watch this March Madness not just by who is the most talented. The best of the best — the All-Americans and the future lottery picks — are still at the top. But players’ expected impact on their teams’ trajectory in the tournament also is factored in, meaning talented players who are unlikely to survive more than a game or two were given lower rankings (or left out) in favor of others we expect to make deeper runs.
We also made a point to feature potential first-weekend Cinderella breakout stars on mid-major teams with double-digit seeding who could enter the national spotlight by the end of the week.
Five teams had three players make the cut: Arizona, Florida, Iowa State, Michigan and UConn. And another six teams had two players make the cut: Duke, BYU, Arkansas, Kansas, Tennessee and Louisville.
After the RedHawks lost to Akron in the MAC tournament final last season, Suder told coach Travis Steele that he had decided to reject NIL offers from power programs in favor of staying with Miami. That decision compelled other key players to return, setting the stage for Suder and his teammates to become just the fifth Division I men’s college basketball team of this century to finish the regular season with a perfect record. Suder is averaging 14.6 points and 4.0 assists while shooting 42.9% from 3. — Myron Medcalf
Davis started his career with stops at Iona then St. John’s, but he didn’t truly find his footing until transferring to Hofstra to play for coach Speedy Claxton. Davis has established himself as one of the premier mid-major scorers in the country, averaging 20.2 points this season while shooting nearly 40% from 3 on 6.0 attempts per game. He is capable of eruption performances, as evidenced by averaging 29.0 points in wins at Pitt and Syracuse in December. — Jeff Borzello
If you’re looking for a player to score 30 or 40 points in a 4-13 matchup, Daniels is your guy. He is fifth in the country in scoring at 23.2 points per game. He put up 41 points in the WAC semifinals and hit the winning shot in the conference title game. He also had 47 points against regular-season league champ Utah Valley earlier this season and put up 31 against Utah in December. Daniels is an absolute bucket-getter. — Borzello
Billy Armstrong captured the Southland tournament title in his first season at the helm — a year after former coach Will Wade achieved the same feat — with the help of Johnson. The redshirt freshman who transferred from Creighton averaged 17.5 points for a Cowboys team that has a similar profile as last season’s squad that reached the second round of the tournament. — Medcalf
Nelson followed coach Bryan Hodgson from Arkansas State to South Florida and became arguably the best mid-major big man in the country. The American Conference player of the year is averaging 15.7 points and 9.6 rebounds while shooting better than 56% from the field. And he hasn’t just racked those numbers up against inferior competition: He registered 25 points and 12 boards at Alabama, 16 points and 12 boards against VCU, and another double-double versus Utah State. — Borzello
Dennis Gates turned to Mitchell throughout Missouri’s campaign in securing another NCAA tournament berth. When his team’s dreams of going dancing needed a boost, Mitchell scored 23 points in a win over Tennessee in February. He had 35 combined points in back-to-back wins over Kentucky and Florida in January too. He has delivered when the Tigers have needed him to. — Medcalf
With Darius Acuff Jr. struggling in the SEC tournament semifinals (7-for-21 shooting), Thomas stepped up to finish with 29 points in the overtime win against Ole Miss. Thomas has had similar performances throughout the season, including 30 points in the regular-season finale at Missouri among his eight games with 20 or more points this season. He also led the SEC with 49% shooting from beyond the arc in conference play. — Medcalf
The Wildcats’ star freshman announced his arrival with a tremendous effort — 30 points, seven rebounds and five assists — in a season-opening win over reigning champion Florida. The 6-foot-8 NBA prospect went on to have an up-and-down season while contending with a lower leg injury and typical freshman growing pains. But since Jan. 1, he has scored 20 or more points in five games, including in his 21-point, six-rebound effort in the Big 12 tournament championship win over Houston. — Medcalf
Dan Hurley has made no secret that Reed’s play could determine UConn’s ceiling. The 6-foot-11 center is averaging career highs in scoring (13.7) and rebounding (8.1), punctuated by huge performances: He had 20 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks against St. John’s; 21 points and nine rebounds against Seton Hall; and 21 points and eight rebounds against BYU. Reed also had four double-doubles over his final six regular-season games. — Borzello
Amid the uncertainty surrounding Darryn Peterson‘s freshman season, Bidunga gave Kansas the stability it needed. The Jayhawks were a top-10 defensive team throughout because of Bidunga, one of the most imposing players in the nation at 6-foot-10. The Jayhawks are 19.5 points per 100 possessions better when the sophomore is on the court, per advanced analytics site EvanMiya. He’s averaging 13.5 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.6 blocks. — Medcalf
Dent was one of the most sought-after point guards in the portal last spring, and for most of the season, it didn’t look as if he would live up to that hype. The senior transfer from New Mexico is having his worst scoring season since his freshman year but emerged as one of the nation’s elite point guards in the final few weeks before the tournament. In the final eight games of the regular season, Dent totaled 78 assists to only six turnovers. He also recorded the first triple-double in Big Ten tournament history with 12 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists against Rutgers in the quarterfinals. — Borzello
After Lipsey led Iowa State to a 15-0 start, head coach T.J. Otzelberger declared the Cyclones had the “best point guard in the country.” Lipsey spent the bulk of last season not feeling like himself because of a variety of ailments. Now at 100%, he established career highs in points (13.3) and assists (5.0) this season. He’s also rated as a “very good” defender by Synergy Sports. — Medcalf
As injuries mounted in Lexington, Oweh’s outsized role in the Wildcats’ offense grew until he became the clear alpha in SEC play. He’s averaging 18.2 points on the season, but that increased to more than 21 in SEC play. His downhill driving style is nearly impossible to stop in transition, making him a factor in late-game situations. He has become more dangerous from the perimeter this season, too, averaging 3.6 attempts on 33.6% shooting from 3. — Borzello
Jon Scheyer turned to his bench instead of the portal as he prepared Duke for the departures of Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel. The growth of Evans — from 6.8 to 14.9 points per game with a 39% 3-point shooting rate in ACC play — allowed the Blue Devils to return to the top of college basketball’s hierarchy despite losing two players who are currently competing for NBA Rookie of the Year. — Medcalf
Chinyelu is in the running for National Defensive Player of the Year, leading efforts on that end of the court for a Florida team that’s top 10 in adjusted defensive efficiency. At 6-foot-10, opponents have registered an adjusted offensive efficiency of just 82 points per 100 possessions against him — the equivalent of UConn’s subpar production in a 20-point loss to St. John’s in the Big East tournament championship. The junior is averaging career highs in scoring (11.2) and rebounding (11.5). — Medcalf
When BYU’s big three became a big two following the loss of Richie Saunders to a season-ending ACL tear, Wright’s role in BYU’s postseason success increased exponentially. He’s now the Robin to AJ Dybantsa‘s Batman, and will have to come up with huge offensive performances if the Cougars are to advance. Wright is more than capable, scoring at least 25 points six times this season, including a 39-point performance against Colorado on Valentine’s Day. He’s averaging 18.2 points and 4.7 assists. — Borzello
At Indiana, the 6-foot-9 forward had a promising junior season under former head coach Mike Woodson. Now under Jai Lucas at Miami, Reneau has played to his full potential averaging 18.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 59% shooting inside the arc. A string of strong performances from Reneau — 24 points against Louisville, 26 against NC State, 16 against North Carolina — were critical to the Hurricanes earning their first NCAA tournament berth since 2023. — Medcalf
UConn entered last offseason in desperate need of a point guard and landed Demary, who has transformed the Huskies at both ends of the court and made them a Final Four contender again. He’s among the best perimeter defenders in the Big East and has emerged as an excellent distributor, ranking near the top 20 nationally in assists (6.2). His demeanor and improving 3-point shot are true assets against the stiffer defenses of March. — Borzello
After starting only nine games in two seasons at UCLA, Mara transferred to Michigan, where he immediately cemented himself as the starting center for a national championship contender. He’s one of the elite rim protectors in the country, blocking 2.6 shots per game while also anchoring a Wolverines defense that ranks third in 2-point percentage defense, third in block rate and first in average 2-point attempt distance allowed. On top of that, Mara is averaging 11.6 points on 67.4% shooting from the field. — Borzello
Johnson had to find a role with the strongest frontcourt in America, anchored by Mara and Yaxel Lendeborg. That’s no easy task, but the Illinois transfer managed to pull it off. He has made 67% of his shots around the rim and has held opposing players to a 46% clip on the same field goal attempts. That two-way excellence has been a cornerstone for a Michigan team that enters the NCAA tournament with the nation’s best defense. — Medcalf
Conwell is at his fourth school in four years, but he’s finishing his senior season with the best scoring numbers of his career. The Indianapolis native is averaging 18.7 points and really filled up the stat sheet with Mikel Brown Jr. sidelined for the final four games of the season, scoring at least 22 points in three of those four games. If Brown is healthy, Pat Kelsey will have one of the elite offensive backcourts in the country. — Borzello
After Caleb Wilson suffered a left hand fracture that preceded a season-ending injury on his right thumb, Veesaar became the leader of a North Carolina squad that needed one. He has averaged 18.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in the past six games. The Tar Heels have been top-35 in adjusted offensive efficiency in those games, too — far from a collapse with their best player sidelined. — Medcalf
A year ago, Sandfort scored double figures in Iowa’s win over Nebraska in the Big Ten tournament. This season, he joined the Cornhuskers, who opened 2025-26 on a 20-0 run. He has started every game of the season for Fred Hoiberg’s squad, making 62% of his shots inside the arc and 40% of his 3-point attempts. His 32-point effort in a Dec. 13 win over Illinois forced any doubters to take Nebraska seriously. — Medcalf
Gillespie moved into a starring role as a senior, and he responded with career highs in scoring (18.0) and assists (5.5) to establish himself as one of the best guards in the SEC. He had a shooting slump from the perimeter late in the season but had 21 points with three 3-pointers in the Vols’ SEC semifinal loss to Vanderbilt, so we’re banking on him finding form in the tournament. — -Borzello
Stirtz’s production hasn’t missed a beat since following coach Ben McCollum from Drake to Iowa. Stirtz is still the same high-usage, uber-productive playmaker he always has been, averaging 20.0 points and 4.5 assists while shooting nearly 38% from 3-point range. He really hit his stride in Big Ten play, scoring 30 points three times over a four-game stretch, and ranking third in scoring during the conference schedule at 22.2 points on 50% shooting from the field. — Borzello
The big question is whether Brown will be healthy for the NCAA tournament. The freshman guard sat out the last four games of the season because of back issues after sitting out eight games earlier in the season with the same injury. When he’s on the court, Brown is one of the most dynamic guards in the country, averaging 18.2 points and 4.7 assists. He had a 45-point performance against NC State in February, making 10 3-pointers. — Borzello
Pound-for-pound, Thornton is one of the best players in the country. The 6-foot-2 guard was the difference between the Buckeyes sweating Selection Sunday vs. confidently tracking to make the field — he averaged 21.0 points over a five-game stretch to end the regular season, which included a pivotal win over Purdue. — Medcalf
We had seen flashes of the five-star freshman’s potential, but he took the next step in his development once the calendar turned to 2026. Starting with a 29-point effort in a win at Alabama on Jan. 24, Ament has averaged 20.4 points over the 13 games since. The 6-foot-10 projected NBA draft lottery pick is one of the most perplexing matchups in the NCAA tournament thanks to his rare combination of elite talent and size. — Medcalf
Karaban gets a bump for being a key player on two national championship teams in his career. He’s someone who has taken — and made — big shots in high-leverage situations. His stats have been inconsistent in Big East play, but Dan Hurley knows he will need to count on Karaban in the NCAA tournament. And we’re expecting the senior forward to respond. — Borzello
For all the talk about how Condon has taken a step back from last season, the Aussie big man is third in KenPom‘s SEC Player of the Year ranking and averaging career highs in scoring (15.0), rebounding (7.7) and assists (3.5) while shooting nearly 55% from the field. He has been as productive as any frontcourt player in the SEC since the start of February in particular, averaging more than 18 points and shooting nearly 63% from the field over the latest stretch. — Borzello
Boyd has surged up this list in recent weeks, as the San Diego State transfer is operating at an incredibly high level on the offensive end down the stretch of the season. He had a fantastic performance against Illinois in the Big Ten tournament, scoring 38 points and dishing out six assists, and has scored at least 20 points in 15 of 21 games since the calendar turned to 2026. In Big Ten play, Boyd ranks fourth in scoring and 10th in assists, averaging 20.6 points for the season. — Borzello
The Cyclones star is on pace to have one of the most prolific 3-point shooting seasons in recent college basketball history. Since 1992-93, only 15 players have made 50% of their 3-point attempts (minimum 2.5 per game); Momcilovic is averaging 49.6% from 3 heading into the tournament. Not even some of college basketball’s all-time best shooters such as Steph Curry, Reggie Miller and JJ Redick matched that level of production from beyond the arc. — Medcalf
The Wildcats have seven players averaging at least 9.0 points, but Burries is their leading scorer at 15.9 on 36.7% shooting from 3. The freshman has proved where he stands on a talented roster by rising to the occasion in big matchups, scoring 28 points in a December win over Alabama and 20 in a February win over Kansas. He also had 10 points in the first half of the Big 12 tournament championship against Houston. — Medcalf
You saw his winning shot at the buzzer to beat Iowa State in the Big 12 tournament, right? That’s just about all that needs to be said for the Big 12 Player of the Year, one of the best two-way players and one of the best late-game players in the country. His numbers — 13.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists — don’t jump off the page, but he consistently makes winning plays when it matters. — Borzello
Since Braden Huff (17.8 PPG) suffered a left knee injury in January, Ike has successfully carried the additional weight for a short-handed Gonzaga team. He has averaged 22.5 points with Huff sidelined, better than his season mark of 19.7, and the Bulldogs have been a top-10 defensive team over that stretch. — Medcalf
Fears is enjoying a breakout season as a redshirt sophomore, leading the nation in assists per game at 9.2. He has also more than doubled his scoring average, going from 7.2 last season to 15.7 this season. He has become even more aggressive as a scorer in Big Ten play, averaging nearly 18 points in conference games. Fears puts immense pressure on the defense with the ball in his hands and is also the leader of one of the nation’s elite defenses. — Borzello
Haugh was an important part of the rotation for Florida’s national title run last season. Now, he’s the Gators’ top scorer (17.1), nearly doubling his offensive output from a season ago (9.8). He has made 59% of his shots around the rim, according to Synergy Sports, and has scored 20 or more points in five games over a 12-game winning streak that ended with a loss to Vanderbilt in the SEC tournament semifinals. — Medcalf
One of the most electric players in college basketball, Tanner is the two-way tone-setter for a Vanderbilt team with hopes of a deep NCAA tournament run. The local Tennessee product ranks right around the top 50 nationally in scoring (19.1) and assists (5.1); he’s also top 10 in steals (2.4). The sophomore breakout proved he could put the Commodores on his back when backcourt mate Duke Miles was sidelined earlier this season. — Borzello
A unanimous All-Big East selection, Ejiofor did his best work in the second half of the season when the Red Storm were nearly unbeatable, going 19-1 in the final 20 games to finish with a Big East tournament title. He had 21 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists in St. John’s 81-72 win over UConn on Feb. 6, which was the decisive victory in their second regular-season Big East championship run in a row. He’s averaging 16.3 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks. — Medcalf
Peterson is one of the most polarizing college basketball players in recent memory. The projected No. 1 NBA draft pick has sat out 11 games and failed to finish others because of injuries and cramping, with questions about his availability overshadowing one of the most efficient freshman seasons of late: 19.8 points and 38.4% shooting from 3 in 28.4 minutes per game. The 6-foot-6 guard is an effortless scorer when he’s available. — Medcalf
Smith is two assists away from breaking Bobby Hurley’s all-time NCAA assists record (1,076) and is having the most efficient offensive season of his career. Though Purdue hasn’t lived up to its preseason No. 1 ranking, and Smith won’t win National Player of the Year as was billed before the season started, he has still shown many times why he’s as good a point guard as there is in college basketball. He’s averaging 14.0 points and is second nationally in assists at 9.1 per game. — Borzello
The lowest-ranked recruit of Houston’s three top-25 freshmen, Flemings has been one of the best guards in college basketball and the catalyst for the Cougars on offense. He has emerged as their primary playmaker and go-to scorer despite the return of Milos Uzan and Emanuel Sharp, who both started in last season’s national title game. Flemings is averaging 16.4 points and 5.3 assists, and has broken out of a shooting slump that lasted for most of February. — Borzello
On a team with both Lipsey (13.3 PPG) and Momcilovic (17.1 PPG), Jefferson is the most important player on the roster. The Cyclones have been 20.5 points better per 100 possessions with the 6-foot-9 forward on the court, per EvanMiya. He is averaging 16.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.7 steals. — Medcalf
It was clear within minutes of this season tipping off that Anderson was in for an enormous season, opening with 34 points and 11 assists against Lindenwood. He was already one of the highest-usage guards in the Big 12 before JT Toppin‘s season-ending injury, and has taken on an even bigger role without his All-American partner. Anderson is averaging 18.9 points and ranks third nationally with 7.6 assists; he has also tallied five games of 20 points and 10 assists. — Borzello
Last season, the 6-foot-4 guard made just 31.5% of his shots from 3. This season, he has connected on 40.2% of those same attempts. Philon has also graduated from a “good” to “excellent” offensive player, per Synergy Sports, which has allowed an Alabama team that lost 2024-25 All-American Mark Sears to maintain its top-five mark in offensive efficiency. — Medcalf
Wagler is one of the season’s best stories, exiting high school as an under-the-radar recruit before transforming himself into an All-American and projected NBA draft lottery pick in only one season. The star freshman has had some of the best individual performances of any player in college basketball this season, including his 46-point outing at Purdue. Averaging 17.9 points and 4.4 assists this season, Wagler needs to regain some momentum in the tournament — he hasn’t shot 50% from the field in a game since Feb. 10. — Borzello
Lendeborg’s numbers aren’t as gaudy as most of the others on this list — 14.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists — but he has been a foundational player for one of the national championship favorites and is arguably the best transfer in the country. He is capable of huge scoring outputs, can dominate the glass, make plays and is a defender. He has also added a consistent 3-point shot after moving from the center spot at UAB to the small forward position at Michigan. — Borzello
No player in the country was more dominant than Acuff over the last month of the regular season. He has averaged 28.2 points on 50.7% shooting from beyond the arc to go with 7.2 assists since the start of February. He has built an argument to be the best guard John Calipari has coached at this level. — Medcalf
In most college basketball seasons, a 6-foot-9 freshman who led the nation in scoring (25.3) and dominated arguably the strongest conference in the country would have the edge in the National Player of the Year race. Dybantsa had eight games with 28 or more points in the second half of the season, including a 43-point effort against rival Utah on Jan. 24. He’s also averaging 6.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists. — Medcalf
The National Player of the Year favorite since the first few weeks of the season, Boozer has been one of the most consistent and dominant players in the sport. He ranks in the top 15 nationally in scoring (22.8) and rebounding (10.2), while also dishing out 4.1 assists and shooting nearly 58% from the field. He had one of the most decorated and successful high school careers in modern history, and has carried over that reputation into college. — Borzello
Lawyers for the eldest son of Norway’s crown princess called on Thursday for his acquittal on charges of rape, as six weeks of high-profile court proceedings that have cast a shadow over the royal family drew to a close.
Prosecutors this week sought a prison sentence of seven years and seven months for Marius Borg Høiby, who denies the rape allegations. A verdict is expected at a later date.
Høiby, 29, is the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit by a previous marriage and the stepson of Crown Prince Haakon, the heir to Norway’s throne. He is charged with 40 offenses in total, including four counts of rape between 2018 and 2024 involving women who prosecutors say were unable to give consent because they were asleep or otherwise incapacitated.
Defense lawyers for Høiby, who has no royal titles or official duties, said that there was no evidence of rape in any of the cases.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: This story includes discussion of sexual assault. If you or someone you know needs help, please call 1-800-656-4673 for the national sexual assault hotline in the U.S. or +47 800 57 000 for the helpline for victims of sexual abuse in Norway.
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Høiby’s trial at Oslo District Court has drawn intense attention at home and abroad, putting the royal family in an unwanted spotlight and exposing a rarely seen side of the country’s elite social scene.
Mette-Marit separately has faced scrutiny in recent weeks over her connections with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. That has raised questions over her judgment, though she is not accused of any wrongdoing.
Around 70 witnesses have testified at the trial and hundreds of text messages and pieces of digital evidence were presented. Prosecutors pointed to photos and videos recovered from Høiby’s phone.
During his trial, Høiby has denied engaging sexually with sleeping women and said the encounters were consensual. He has admitted to a number of lesser offenses, including drug possession, transporting 3.5 kilograms of marijuana in 2020, traffic violations and breaches of a restraining order involving a former partner. He has also partially admitted to acts related to violence and threats, but disputes key aspects of those allegations, including intent.
The defense argued that Høiby has lived under extraordinary media pressure due to his royal connections, which they said has shaped both public perception and the context of the case.
In court, Høiby said the scrutiny had “erased him as a person,” adding that he had been shunned by much of his social circle and struggled with depression.
“My whole life is common property,” he said. “I am no longer Marius, I’m a monster.”
Defense lawyer Petar Sekulic said Thursday that media coverage “bordered on the insane, but almost exceeded anything one could have feared beforehand.”
The investigation of Høiby began in 2024. Police were first called to an apartment in Oslo’s upscale Frogner neighborhood following reports of a violent incident. Høiby was arrested and later released, but the case expanded as more women came forward with allegations.
At the heart of the trial are the four charges of rape, each of which are alleged to have occurred after consensual sex. They center on whether the women were capable of resisting and whether Høiby understood their condition.
Prosecutor Sturla Henriksbø told the court on Wednesday that Høiby should be judged “not for who he is, but for what he has done,” outlining what he described as patterns of behavior across the charges. He pointed to repeated violations of rules and boundaries, including interactions with police, breaches of restraining orders and what he characterized as a disregard for whether women consented to sexual activity or being filmed.
“The rules are designed so that one cannot evade guilt by getting high or drunk,” Henriksbø said, arguing that the court should assess the case based on how a sober person would have understood the situation.
“Rape and abuse in close relationships are among the most serious acts one can expose others to, and that must be reflected in the punishment,” Henriksbø told the court.
Summing up the defense case on Thursday, Sekulic said that no evidence supported the rape charges and that none of the pictures or videos seen during the trial proved a crime. He questioned the credibility of the alleged victims.
Sekulic acknowledged that aspects of Høiby’s behavior had been “unsympathetic,” but said that should not weigh on the court’s judgment.
“What can be described as bad behavior, bad morals, which cannot be punished under the criminal law, should be disregarded,” he told the court. “It is irrelevant.”
Trump’s new DHS pick says there’s a ‘better approach’ to current ICE operations
U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin, a Democrat from Michigan, questioned how Markwayne Mullin would change ICE operations from former Secretary Kristi Noem’s tenure.
You say you don’t want ice in the news. You say you want to rebuild trust. Your predecessor was fired because she couldn’t manage that, and, um, uh, you know, people had to go in and bring the temperature down. Can you, without other words, just state clearly what you’d be willing to do to fundamentally reform ICE. Um, and put into law to do so since that trust is gone. Ma’am, as you know, I, I can’t make the law. You guys make that for me. You’re gonna be the secretary, I, I agree, but I can’t make the law. I can work within the parameters. Tell us, tell us what you’d be willing to put into law. So, um, let’s, I, right now, the law that I work into is, is your guys’ decision. We’ll work through that, but I do believe there is *** better approach, and I think working with municipalities, um, I would love to see ICE become *** transport more than the front line. If we get back, if we can get back into just simply working with law enforcement, we’re going to them and we’re picking up these criminals from their jail. One, they’re, we’re going to reimburse them for having the person there, and *** partnership is vitally important. I don’t think there needs to be *** law to change that. I think I can work within what is there, um, but there’s ***, there’s an approach that can happen. But we’ve got to have partners. Yes, I understand. I understand, but I just, I would just, we’re not going to agree to this here, but I would just say. Um, the ability, you know, the trust is gone and not just with Democrats. Um, that’s why we’re here. That’s why your predecessor was fired, and there, there needs to be fundamental reform of this law enforcement agency, and I think that the public writ large is crying out for.
Trump’s new DHS pick says there’s a ‘better approach’ to current ICE operations
U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin, a Democrat from Michigan, questioned how Markwayne Mullin would change ICE operations from former Secretary Kristi Noem’s tenure.
Markwayne Mullin, President Donald Trump’s pick for Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, faced tough questions during his confirmation hearing Wednesday. U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin, a Democrat from Michigan, questioned the role of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement under the Trump administration and former Secretary Kristi Noem’s tenure. “You say you don’t want ICE in the news. You say you want to rebuild trust. Your predecessor was fired because she couldn’t manage that,” Slotkin said. “Can you, without other words, just state clearly what you would be willing to do to fundamentally reform ICE?” While Mullin said what is enacted into law is not the job of the DHS secretary, he said he does believe there is a “better approach” to overseeing ICE in the U.S. He said that includes working with municipalities. Video above: Rand Paul-Markwayne Mullin exchange during DHS confirmation hearing”I would love to see ICE become a transport more than the front lines. If we can get back into simply working with law enforcement. We are going to them. We are picking up these criminals from their jails,” Mullin said. “A partnership is vitally important. I don’t think there needs to be a law to change that. I think I can work within what is there.” The Michigan senator said that the trust in DHS is gone, and “not just with Democrats.” She said that there needs to be reform and that the public is crying out for it.Whether Mullin did enough to convince lawmakers to back him remains to be seen; the committee is expected to vote on whether to advance Mullin’s nomination Thursday.CNN contributed to this report.
Markwayne Mullin, President Donald Trump’s pick for Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, faced tough questions during his confirmation hearing Wednesday.
U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin, a Democrat from Michigan, questioned the role of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement under the Trump administration and former Secretary Kristi Noem’s tenure.
“You say you don’t want ICE in the news. You say you want to rebuild trust. Your predecessor was fired because she couldn’t manage that,” Slotkin said. “Can you, without other words, just state clearly what you would be willing to do to fundamentally reform ICE?”
While Mullin said what is enacted into law is not the job of the DHS secretary, he said he does believe there is a “better approach” to overseeing ICE in the U.S. He said that includes working with municipalities.
Video above: Rand Paul-Markwayne Mullin exchange during DHS confirmation hearing
“I would love to see ICE become a transport more than the front lines. If we can get back into simply working with law enforcement. We are going to them. We are picking up these criminals from their jails,” Mullin said. “A partnership is vitally important. I don’t think there needs to be a law to change that. I think I can work within what is there.”
The Michigan senator said that the trust in DHS is gone, and “not just with Democrats.” She said that there needs to be reform and that the public is crying out for it.
Whether Mullin did enough to convince lawmakers to back him remains to be seen; the committee is expected to vote on whether to advance Mullin’s nomination Thursday.
When the NFL’s 32 owners get together in Phoenix at the end of the month, they’ll be voting on multiple rule changes, including one proposal from the Cleveland Browns that could lead to more NFL trades.
The Browns proposal is simple: They want to make a rule change so that teams can trade draft picks up to five years in the future. The current rule only allows for teams to trade for picks three years into the future.
The NFL has turned into a trade-happy league and the belief is that this rule change would lead to even more changes. Since the start of the league year on March 11, there have been 18 trades in just eight days.
The Browns will need 24 of the NFL’s 32 owners to approve the rule for it to pass, and so far, it sounds like they definitely have the support of at least one team: The Los Angeles Rams.
Rams president Kevin Demoff gave his opinion on the proposal Wednesday night.
“Nothing creates more interest in the NFL than trades,” Demoff wrote on social media. “This is why Cleveland’s proposal to allow teams to trade picks up to 5 years out as opposed to 3 years out makes so much sense. More picks to trade = more trades = more interest & team building options.”
No one loves to trade draft picks more than the Rams, so if they’re on board with the proposal, it’s possible other teams feel the same way. As things currently stand, teams are allowed to trade picks all the way until the 2028 draft. If the Browns proposal had been in place this offseason, teams would have been allowed to trade picks up until the 2030 draft.
The Browns have been doing their best to make the NFL a more trade-friendly league. Back in 2024, they proposed a new rule that called for the NFL to extend the trade deadline and that proposal passed. The trade deadline is now the first Tuesday after Week 9, instead of Week 8, which is where it was under the previous rule.
Cleveland’s proposal is one of just two teams proposals that will be presented at the NFL’s annual league meeting, which kicks off on March 29 and runs through April 1.
The other one came from Pittsburgh.
The Pittsburgh proposal. The Steelers proposed a rule that actually went into effect this year: For the first time ever, teams were allowed to have one video or phone call with up to five prospective unrestricted free agent during the two-day negotiation period. The Steelers want to make that rule permanent and they want the NFL to allow teams to make travel arrangements for any player who agrees to terms during the two-day negotiating period. Under the current rule, if a player agrees to a deal on Monday, teams still can’t make his travel arrangements until the new league year starts at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
One rule proposal that won’t be on the table this year is a unique one from the Rams. They have withdrawn their proposal related to the Seahawks‘ crazy two-point conversion that took place in Seattle’s wild 38-37 win back in Week 16.
CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jonesreported in February that the Rams were thinking about proposing a rule that would have nullified the play. Basically, the gist of the proposal is that a backward pass that bounces off a defender and crosses the line of scrimmage would be incomplete.
The proposals by the Steelers and Browns won’t be the only rules that the owners vote on. The competition committee will release its own proposals at some point and those are expected to come next week.
