Jordan Pope’s 4-point play gave the Longhorns a 69-68 lead with 2:43 remaining, and then Dailyn Swain scored three the hard way with 1:55 left to help fuel the big run. The win puts the Longhorns over .500 in SEC play at 6-5 and 15-9 overall.
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Late run fuels Longhorns to 79-68 win over Ole Miss, former head coach
TOM MORELLO Says YUNGBLUD Wasn’t Originally Supposed To Perform “Changes” At BLACK SABBATH’s Final Show
Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello recently opened up in an interview with Shan Man (98KUPDradio) about his role as the “curator” for Black Sabbath‘s all-star farewell show, Back To The Beginning — an event that also marked Ozzy Osbourne‘s final performance.
Morello described the weight of the responsibility: “If we’re gonna do this, we have to aim to make it the greatest day in the history of heavy metal… Heavy metal is the music that made me love music. It’s in the DNA of 90% of my favorite artists. And so if we’re gonna do this, we really have to treat it with the gravity that it deserves.”
He recounted one particularly surreal moment the night before the show: witnessing Black Sabbath rehearsing “War Pigs” in an empty Birmingham stadium.
Morello, Steven Tyler, and Scott Ian were among only a dozen spectators, watching the band practice a song for the second-to-last time in history: “The red lights are on, the sirens are wailing… and then they play ‘War Pigs’ for us. At the end, they don’t even know we’re there. We go absolutely nuts. I felt, ‘Okay, this is something that could really, really matter.'”
The guitarist also shared a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the massive logistical effort required to bring the show together, including last-minute lineup changes. He recalled Yungblud‘s performance of “Changes”, which nearly didn’t happen just 48 hours before the show: “Things were changing… I landed at Heathrow and got a call, ‘That’s not happening.’ So I’m like, ‘Okay, let’s figure it out.’ It turned out to be one of the highlights. But that’s the gig. That’s what the gig is.”
Morello highlighted the emotional payoff when the show concluded. At the afterparty, fans and artists alike celebrated the event’s success, with Ozzy Osbourne himself in attendance. One of Morello‘s last personal interactions with Ozzy was both humorous and heartfelt: “I’m at the afterparty playing pinball with my son… Somebody’s tugging at my shirt.
“It’s Ozzy. Jack Osbourne comes back and goes, ‘Dude, that was my dad.’ I go over to him… he was appreciative of everything. I got to give him a kiss on the head one more time. The last words Ozzy said to me were, ‘Tell Sharon I wanna get the fuck outta here’ — in true Ozzy form and also sort of poetic.”
Morello‘s reflections provide an intimate window into the planning, chaos, and emotion behind a historic farewell to one of metal’s most influential bands, highlighting both the human and musical significance of the event.
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Why James Harden’s tenure — and an era — is over with the Clippers
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Ramona Shelburne
Multiple Authors
TYRONN LUE SMILED when he saw James Harden at the LA Clippers‘ training facility Tuesday afternoon. It was just hours before the organization agreed to trade the 36-year-old, 11-time All-Star to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Darius Garland and a second-round pick.
Everyone in the building, including Harden, knew the trade was imminent. And yet, there he was in Clippers gear, getting treatment from the training staff and going through a workout with a group of teammates.
“When people are getting traded, it’s not usually like that,” Lue told ESPN. “But we all love James. … So, I walked over to the training table and started f—ing with him. I was like, “You weird.’ That’s his favorite word. Weird. And he just started laughing.
“We’re all going to miss him. Of course, his play. But just his personality.”
Unlike Harden’s past messy exits, this one was amicable. There was no trade demand or extended purgatory as there was in Houston or Brooklyn or Philadelphia.
Before leaving the facility Tuesday, Harden even gave his goodbyes to a handful of staffers and players.
Because this separation was as much a mutual recognition as it is a larger admission. Harden and the team realized that the team’s torrid run — the Clippers have been the NBA’s hottest team since Christmas Day, winning 71% of their games — probably wasn’t sustainable. And that this Clippers era, which began in 2019 with the free agent signing of Kawhi Leonard and the subsequent trade for Paul George, is effectively over.
Harden was the final big swing.
Harden, who in his two-plus seasons with the Clippers had played 72 and 79 games, and then 44 of the team’s first 47 games this season before sitting out the past two amid trade discussions, was supposed to counteract the fragility of George and Leonard. But even still, that trio, like Harden’s time with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in Brooklyn, was never healthy or available enough.
And now, Leonard, perhaps the most fragile of them all, is the last one standing in Los Angeles.
“Obviously, you need luck in this league,” Leonard said Wednesday night. “With shots, with injuries, with everything, so it’s just how it played out. I wanted to give it another run, but it didn’t happen that way, so now we’re here.”
Asked if the era felt unfinished, especially after the team’s latest run, Leonard shrugged.
“From what was expected? … It’s over,” he said. “Guys are gone.”
THE BEGINNING OF the end of Harden’s tenure with the Clippers dates back to the summer, when the team told Harden it didn’t feel comfortable guaranteeing him more than the $39.2 million he was getting this season because of his age (36) and the team’s preference to maintain financial flexibility starting this summer.
Harden, in turn, felt that he had reestablished himself as an All-Star, sources close to him say, after averaging 22.8 points, 8.7 assists and 5.8 rebounds and being named third-team All-NBA, and deserved an extension similar to the two-year, $111 million deal the Warriors gave to Jimmy Butler, who is the same age as Harden.
Still, Harden wanted to be in his hometown of Los Angeles and believed the Clippers’ roster had enough talent to contend, so he accepted a contract in which only $13.8 million of the $42.3 million he was due in the second year of the deal would be guaranteed.
If the team played well, he figured the Clippers would likely pick up the full amount. The deal included a player option and the opportunity to veto any trade as a hedge.
But the team sputtered badly, on the court and off. The franchise, already beleaguered by allegations of circumventing the salary cap stemming from the Aspiration scandal, endured more self-inflicted wounds: an ugly fallout with franchise legend Chris Paul.
Losses continued to mount, and pressure rose. The Clippers were 6-21 on Dec. 20, tied with the Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers, and ahead of just the New Orleans Pelicans and Washington Wizards.
It was then, sources involved in the negotiations say, that teams around the league began calling the Clippers about their three intriguing players — Harden, Leonard and center Ivica Zubac, who Thursday was traded to the Pacers for former lottery pick Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson and two first-round picks.
At the same time, Harden’s representatives began gauging which teams might be interested in him, trying to get ahead of potential trade discussions.
Harden was interested in reuniting with the Houston Rockets, sources say, a natural fit because their point guard, Fred VanVleet, had torn his ACL before the season. But the Rockets showed little interest in their former MVP.
Cleveland did, however. The Cavaliers were intrigued to see how Harden could elevate their two standout big men, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, and take some of the load off dynamic shooting guard Donovan Mitchell.
Discussions between the teams softened as Harden and the Clippers attempted to resurrect their season, and the Cavaliers assessed whether their current roster was built to contend for a title.
Reality eventually emerged for both: The Clippers couldn’t, and the Cavaliers’ roster wasn’t.
LATE LAST WEEK, as the deadline loomed, talks between the teams quickly escalated, sources say. Harden sat out a game in Phoenix on Sunday and a game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday as the discussions intensified.
Officially, the team listed Harden as out for personal reasons — a common way of dealing with players who are about to be traded. But it tipped off the rest of the league that Harden might be available despite the Clippers’ recent surge.
That became even clearer when Harden was seen on the sideline at his alma mater, Arizona State, as it hosted No. 1 Arizona on Saturday night, about 20 minutes from where his teammates would play a game against the Suns the following night without him.
By Monday, the league was ablaze with speculation about Harden’s seemingly out-of-nowhere entrance into the NBA trade landscape, which made for a weird scene — and not in the way Harden uses that word — at Monday’s game in Los Angeles.
Players on the Clippers and 76ers barely concealed their chatter that Harden could be dealt before the deadline. When news of the talks with Cleveland broke during the game, there even appeared to be open dialogue on the court.
That’s not all they were talking about, though. After months of dormancy, the specter of an update or resolution to the NBA’s investigation into whether the Clippers circumvented the NBA’s salary cap because of Leonard’s endorsement deal with former team sponsor Aspiration has been building.
Although sources close to Harden deny the potential fallout from the investigation factored into his decision to accept the trade, leaguewide interest in the outcome of the investigation has been hard to ignore.
Harden knew by Tuesday that the trade was likely to go through and had decided he would not veto it when it did.
“It made sense for both sides,” Harden told ESPN. “I didn’t want to feel like I was holding the Clippers up in their future. I wanted them to actually have a chance to rebuild and get some draft capital.
“And in Cleveland, I see an opportunity to win in the East. They’ve got a very good team, coaching staff, all of the above. So, as much as I wanted to stay in L.A. and give it a go — I’ve never won one before. And as a basketball mind, I think we have a bit better chance.”
Harden said he’ll always wonder what could’ve been in L.A., had Leonard and George been healthy during the playoffs.
“In life, not even just basketball, when things don’t work out, there are ways to end things in relationships without having to crack each other,” Harden said. “Maybe we just don’t see a future together. Maybe we just outgrew each other.”
Harden just saw a better future for himself in Cleveland. The Clippers saw a better future for themselves with Garland, a 26-year-old two-time All-Star. The Cavaliers decided their future needed to begin now.
Gaza’s Rafah border crossing reopens again, allowing limited travel for Palestinians to and from Egypt
A limited number of Palestinians were able to travel between Gaza and Egypt on Sunday after Gaza’s Rafah crossing reopened after a two-day closure, Egyptian state media reported. The vital border point opened last week for the first time since 2024, one of the main requirements for the U.S.-backed ceasefire.
The crossing was closed on Friday and Saturday due to confusion about reopening operations, AP reported.
Egypt’s Al Qahera television station said that Palestinians began crossing in both directions around noon on Sunday. Israel did not immediately confirm.
Egyptian state media also reported on Sunday that the country was preparing to receive another group of Palestinians who were wounded or sick and seeking treatment in Egyptian hospitals.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to travel to Washington this week, though the major subject of discussion will be Iran, his office said.
Over the first four days of the crossing’s opening, just 36 Palestinians requiring medical care were allowed to leave for Egypt, plus 62 companions, according to United Nations data, after Israel retrieved the body of the last hostage held in Gaza and several American officials visited Israel to press for the opening.
Abdel Kareem Hana / AP 
Palestinian officials say nearly 20,000 people in Gaza are seeking to leave for medical care that is not available in the war-shattered territory. Those who have succeeded in crossing described delays and allegations of mistreatment by Israeli forces and other groups involved in the crossing, including an Israeli-backed Palestinian armed group, Abu Shabab.
A group of Palestinian patients and wounded gathered Sunday morning in the courtyard of a Red Crescent hospital in Gaza’s southern city of Khan Younis, before making their way to the Rafah crossing with Egypt for treatment abroad, family members told The Associated Press.
Amjad Abu Jedian, who was injured in the war, was scheduled to leave Gaza for medical treatment on the first day of the crossing’s reopening, but only five patients were allowed to travel that day, his mother, Raja Abu Jedian, said. Abu Jedian was shot by an Israeli sniper while he was building traditional bathrooms in the central Bureij refugee camp in July 2024, she said.
On Saturday, his family received a call from the World Health Organization notifying them that he is included in the group that will travel on Sunday, she said.
“We want them to take care of the patients (during their evacuation),” she said. “We want the Israeli military not to burden them.”
The Israeli defense branch that oversees the operation of the crossing did not immediately confirm the opening.
A group of Palestinians also arrived Sunday morning at the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing to return to the Gaza Strip, Egypt’s state-run Al-Qahera News satellite television reported.
Palestinians who returned to Gaza in the first few days of the crossing’s operation described hours of delays and invasive searches by Israeli authorities and Abu Shabab. A European Union mission and Palestinian officials run the border crossing, and Israel has its screening facility some distance away.
The Rafah border crossing reopened Feb. 2 as a key step in the current ceasefire deal, which halted more than two years of war between Israel and Hamas. However, traffic was limited. State-run Egyptian media and an Israeli official confirmed at the time that the reopening was largely symbolic, since not many people would be allowed to travel in either direction and no goods could enter.
Restrictions negotiated by Israeli, Egyptian, Palestinian and international officials meant that only 50 people would be allowed to return to Gaza each day, and 50 medical patients — along with two companions for each — would be allowed to leave, but far fewer people have so far crossed in both directions.
An essential lifeline for Palestinians in Gaza, the Rafah crossing was the only one in the Palestinian territory not controlled by Israel before the war. Israel seized the Palestinian side of Rafah in May 2024, though traffic through the crossing was heavily restricted even before that.
American figure skater Vadym Kolesnik reunites with family from Ukraine
It had been four long years since American figure skater Vadym Kolesnik saw family members still living in Ukraine.Related video above: ‘She’s different’: How a 2-year retirement helped renew Olympian Alysa Liu’s joy in skatingFour years of Russian bombs landing on Kharkiv, reducing their homes to rubble. Four years of war that destroyed the appliance and lighting business run by Kolesnik’s father, Igor. Four years of drones flying over the head of his brother, also named Igor, who enlisted in the Ukrainian army following the Russian invasion in 2022.”It seems like it’s been a lifetime,” Kolesnik said.Yet thanks to a GoFundMe set up with modest expectations in January, shortly after Kolesnik qualified for the Milan Cortina Games with his ice dance partner, Emilea Zingas, the wait ended Saturday. Family members Snezhana Kolesnik and Irina Kobchenko were able to fly to northern Italy to watch Kolesnik participate in the Winter Games this week.Earlier that day, Russia had carried out its latest major attack, one involving hundreds of drones and 32 ballistic missiles.”I’m just so, so thankful,” Kolesnik told The Associated Press after a practice session at the Milano Ice Skating Arena, where he’ll open competition with the rhythm dance Monday night. “They wouldn’t have been here without everyone’s help.”The goal had been $25,000, and that was easily surpassed by the time Kolesnik’s family landed in Milan. The 24-year-old plans to use any money left over to help cover training and coaching costs after the Olympics.”We never expected that much,” Zingas said. Kolesnik came to the U.S. in 2016 for a tryout with renowned coach Igor Shpilband. But he soon learned how difficult it can be for an immigrant when, after a brief return to Ukraine, he was denied re-entry. He eventually secured a long-term visa to train in the U.S., but he was largely on his own until his mother, Svitlana, joined him about three years ago.Kolesnik’s father remained in Ukraine to care for his grandmother, while his older brother ultimately headed off to war.Given what his family has endured, it makes sense that Kolesnik is against Russian athletes at the Milan Cortina Games. Several were vetted for connections to the Russian military and cleared to compete, including figure skaters Adeliia Petrosian and Petr Gumennik, who will be considered neutral athletes.”To me, they’re a terrorist country,” Kolesnik said. “They’re killing Ukrainians every day. Until the war is over, they have no place.”Kolesnik, who obtained his U.S. citizenship last summer, told the AP he has learned to compartmentalize what is happening in Ukraine with life in America. When he’s not training with Zingas, he works at the Novi Ice Arena in suburban Detroit.”When the war just started,” he said, “it was definitely affecting my life drastically, especially my skating life. I was just trying to pour all the feelings, all the emotions I had into skating, and this is not a good way of training. I wanted it so bad, to be successful.”But all of this happening outside of skating life was affecting me, so I learned through sports psychology the way to block it. I have to go out there, tell the story, focus on my job, and whatever happens outside of skating is outside of it.”Zingas and Kolesnik both said they use figure skating as an escape.”You have to remember this war is really close to his heart,” Zingas said. “Every day, he gets sent videos and messages about friends dying or getting injured. It’s not an easy thing. For the last four years, every day, he’s had some big weight put on him.” While Kolesnik was able to fly two family members from Ukraine for the Olympics, his mother made the brutal choice to stay behind in Michigan. She wouldn’t have had an issue getting to Europe, he said, but returning to the U.S. could have been a problem.”Our lawyer advised us that it was not a good idea,” Zingas explained. “She has a visa and all the right paperwork, but they’ve heard stories about people having all the right paperwork and something happens, and they get denied entry anyway.”Kolesnik’s mother has a visa through 2027, but he is hoping to secure a green card so she can stay indefinitely.”They’re so proud of me, especially my dad,” Kolesnik said. “My mom wasn’t so supportive of my figure skating dream. My dad was always behind it. He sent me to the U.S. to follow my dreams. My mom wanted me to choose a different path, something more safe, but my dad knew when I was growing up that I would rather go skating than do anything else.”Now, Kolesnik is getting to do it on the biggest stage in the sport, with some of his family on hand to watch.
MILAN —
It had been four long years since American figure skater Vadym Kolesnik saw family members still living in Ukraine.
Related video above: ‘She’s different’: How a 2-year retirement helped renew Olympian Alysa Liu’s joy in skating
Four years of Russian bombs landing on Kharkiv, reducing their homes to rubble. Four years of war that destroyed the appliance and lighting business run by Kolesnik’s father, Igor. Four years of drones flying over the head of his brother, also named Igor, who enlisted in the Ukrainian army following the Russian invasion in 2022.
“It seems like it’s been a lifetime,” Kolesnik said.
Yet thanks to a GoFundMe set up with modest expectations in January, shortly after Kolesnik qualified for the Milan Cortina Games with his ice dance partner, Emilea Zingas, the wait ended Saturday. Family members Snezhana Kolesnik and Irina Kobchenko were able to fly to northern Italy to watch Kolesnik participate in the Winter Games this week.
Earlier that day, Russia had carried out its latest major attack, one involving hundreds of drones and 32 ballistic missiles.
“I’m just so, so thankful,” Kolesnik told The Associated Press after a practice session at the Milano Ice Skating Arena, where he’ll open competition with the rhythm dance Monday night. “They wouldn’t have been here without everyone’s help.”
The goal had been $25,000, and that was easily surpassed by the time Kolesnik’s family landed in Milan. The 24-year-old plans to use any money left over to help cover training and coaching costs after the Olympics.
“We never expected that much,” Zingas said.
Kolesnik came to the U.S. in 2016 for a tryout with renowned coach Igor Shpilband. But he soon learned how difficult it can be for an immigrant when, after a brief return to Ukraine, he was denied re-entry. He eventually secured a long-term visa to train in the U.S., but he was largely on his own until his mother, Svitlana, joined him about three years ago.
Kolesnik’s father remained in Ukraine to care for his grandmother, while his older brother ultimately headed off to war.
Given what his family has endured, it makes sense that Kolesnik is against Russian athletes at the Milan Cortina Games. Several were vetted for connections to the Russian military and cleared to compete, including figure skaters Adeliia Petrosian and Petr Gumennik, who will be considered neutral athletes.
“To me, they’re a terrorist country,” Kolesnik said. “They’re killing Ukrainians every day. Until the war is over, they have no place.”
Kolesnik, who obtained his U.S. citizenship last summer, told the AP he has learned to compartmentalize what is happening in Ukraine with life in America. When he’s not training with Zingas, he works at the Novi Ice Arena in suburban Detroit.
“When the war just started,” he said, “it was definitely affecting my life drastically, especially my skating life. I was just trying to pour all the feelings, all the emotions I had into skating, and this is not a good way of training. I wanted it so bad, to be successful.
“But all of this happening outside of skating life was affecting me, so I learned through sports psychology the way to block it. I have to go out there, tell the story, focus on my job, and whatever happens outside of skating is outside of it.”
Zingas and Kolesnik both said they use figure skating as an escape.
“You have to remember this war is really close to his heart,” Zingas said. “Every day, he gets sent videos and messages about friends dying or getting injured. It’s not an easy thing. For the last four years, every day, he’s had some big weight put on him.”
While Kolesnik was able to fly two family members from Ukraine for the Olympics, his mother made the brutal choice to stay behind in Michigan. She wouldn’t have had an issue getting to Europe, he said, but returning to the U.S. could have been a problem.
“Our lawyer advised us that it was not a good idea,” Zingas explained. “She has a visa and all the right paperwork, but they’ve heard stories about people having all the right paperwork and something happens, and they get denied entry anyway.”
Kolesnik’s mother has a visa through 2027, but he is hoping to secure a green card so she can stay indefinitely.
“They’re so proud of me, especially my dad,” Kolesnik said. “My mom wasn’t so supportive of my figure skating dream. My dad was always behind it. He sent me to the U.S. to follow my dreams. My mom wanted me to choose a different path, something more safe, but my dad knew when I was growing up that I would rather go skating than do anything else.”
Now, Kolesnik is getting to do it on the biggest stage in the sport, with some of his family on hand to watch.
What’s Kid Rock’s Big Surprise For the Turning Point Halftime?
Kid Rock says he’s got a surprise planned when he takes the stage for his headlining set at Turning Point USA’s Halftime show on Sunday night (Feb. 8.)
Specifically, he’s planning a surprise song.
During an interview with Fox & Friends over the weekend, Rock teased the moment, saying it’s a big country song, he’s putting his own spin on it and he’ll release a studio version after the show.
Read More: Lee Brice Explains Why He’s Playing Turning Point USA Halftime Show
He didn’t share exact details, but we’ve got a theory about what that song could be and why he’s choosing to debut it on this specific stage. Keep reading and we’ll break it down.
What Did Kid Rock Say About The Surprise Song He’s Performing on the Turning Point USA Halftime Show?
Rock said he’s planning to begin his set “pretty classic Rock, in your face, high energy,” but then shift the mood in a different direction.
Read More: Remember When Kid Rock Sang “I Like ‘Em Underage” On a Song in a Kids’ Movie Soundtrack?
“Musically, I know that nothing beats a great song. That’s the most powerful thing,” he explained. “No performance, no pyro, no lighting will beat a great song. So I’m gonna flip a 180 and do what I think is one of the best-written songs in a long time.”
To us, that sounds likes his surprise is a story song and a ballad.
He also said that this song is a “pretty current” country song released within the last few years, and that it was originally recorded by a “friend of mine” who is a “very talented, famous artist.”
“And I actually wrote something new for it,” Rock continues, “that I thought they missed when they were writing this beautiful song.”
He added that he recorded it a while ago, and decided to release it at midnight on Monday (Feb. 9), just hours after he sings it at Turning Point USA’s show.
What is Kid Rock’s Surprise Song at the Turning Point USA Show?
We’ll have to wait until the show to find out for sure.
But based on the clues Rock gave, we’ve got a theory: We’re guessing that Rock will give a performance of Cody Johnson‘s “‘Til You Can’t.”
This song ticks all the boxes: It’s a ballad that tells a story. It came out just a few years ago, in 2021. And Johnson is one of the biggest artists in the genre.
But there’s even more evidence that “‘Til You Can’t” might be Rock’s surprise song. Rock performed the song during Arizona’s Hondo Rodeo Fest last November, and he added a new verse he’d written for it — inspired by the late Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.
Read More: Kid Rock Adds Charlie Kirk-Inspired Verse to Cody Johnson’s “‘Til You Can’t”
The original version of “‘Til You Can’t” presents a variety of scenarios, from a relationship to an aging father to a girlfriend waiting patiently on a proposal, and reminds listeners not to take them for granted.
The verse Rock tacked on is about finding faith.
“There’s a book that’s sitting in your house somewhere that could use some dusting off / There’s a man that died for all our sings hanging from the cross,” Rock sings in that verse. “You can give your life to Jesus and he’ll give you a second chance / ‘Til you can’t, ’til you can’t.”
Read More: Brantley Gilbert On Why He’s Playing Turning Point Halftime Show
For an event so closely tied to Kirk’s legacy, with such a strong emphasis on faith, a performance of this song — and subsequent track drop — would fit into Rock’s Turning Point USA set like a hand in a glove.
When is the Turning Point USA Halftime Show + How to Watch?
This show was created in response to the NFL’s decision to book Bad Bunny as its Super Bowl Halftime performer for 2026. It’s expected to air around 8PM ET on Sunday night.
Read More: Turning Point USA Halftime Show — Details Announced!
Lee Brice, Brantley Gilbert and Gabby Barrett have been announced as Turning Point USA show performers alongside Rock.
60 Artists Not in the Country Music Hall of Fame
Which county singer is most deserving of a Country Music Hall of Fame induction? Here are 60 artists who don’t have a medallion yet, with some thoughts on when each is eligible and if their fans can expect that nod soon.
Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes
2026 Super Bowl anytime touchdown scorer picks, back Smith-Njigba to score
The Super Bowl is one of the most exciting annual sports days on the calendar, and millions of Americans watch football for the touchdowns. With online sports betting becoming legalized in more states, anytime touchdown scorer bets have become among the most popular bets you can make on any NFL Sunday, especially for Super Bowl Sunday. The 2026 Super Bowl features the Seattle Seahawks against the New England Patriots from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET, and Seattle and New England both had top-10 scoring offenses, which could lead to plenty of potential winning Super Bowl 60 anytime touchdown scorer bets. Seattle’s over/under for total team points is 25.5, while New England’s is 20.5. The Seahawks are favored by 4.5 points, and the over/under for total points scored is 45.5.
The SportsLine Projection Model has simulated Super Bowl 60 10,000 times, and found multiple players with value to cash 2026 Super Bowl anytime TD scorer bets. One of the model’s top picks is Seahawks star wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who has scored a touchdown in each of Seattle’s first two playoff games.
The model projects that to continue, locking in Smith-Njigba as one of its best bets for Super Bowl 2026 anytime touchdown scorer picks. The model is also backing a pair of Patriots, projecting value in both New England running back Rhamondre Stevenson and wide receiver Kayshon Boutte to score in Super Bowl 60. Targeting anytime touchdown bets is one way to approach Super Bowl betting at online sports betting sites. With NFL props available for almost every player in Super Bowl 60 at DraftKings, the SportsLine Projection Model can help you find value to add to your 2026 Super Bowl picks.
Super Bowl 60 anytime touchdown picks:
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks (-110)
- Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots (+140)
- Kayshon Boutte, Patriots (+330)
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks (-110)
The third-year receiver is staking his claim as the best wideout in the NFL. He led the league with 1,793 receiving yards this season, while finishing fourth in receptions (119) and tied for sixth with 10 touchdowns. Smith-Njigba was nearly unstoppable against the Rams last week, posting 10 receptions for 153 yards and a touchdown on 12 targets. He’s scored in both playoff games, as, despite teams knowing he’s going to be the focal point of the offense, Seattle still finds ways to scheme him open while other teams can’t stop him, even with multiple defenders. The model projects the 23-year-old to score in 65% of simulations, compared to his implied probability of 52.4%.
Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots (+140)
The 27-year-old running back appeared to be being pushed out of the top spot in the backfield toward the end of the regular season, with rookie TreVeyon Henderson playing more snaps as the season progressed, but New England has made it clear which back it trusts more for the postseason run. Stevenson outsnapped Henderson 60-4 last week, with the veteran playing 94% of snaps against the Broncos. Stevenson has played at least 62% of snaps in all three playoff games, with Henderson’s snaps never totaling more than 41%. Stevenson had at least one rushing touchdown in each of New England’s final three regular-season games, and the model projects him to score in 53% of simulations, compared to his implied odds of 41.7%.
Kayshon Boutte, Patriots (+330)
Boutte leads the Patriots with 147 receiving yards this postseason, and he’s one of four New England pass catchers with a touchdown during the playoffs (no Patriot has more than one). He is second behind Stefon Diggs in receptions (eight) and targets (15), yet he’s only third among Patriots pass catchers in anytime touchdown odds and eighth for all players at DraftKings. During the regular season, he was second on the Patriots in touchdown receptions (six), which doubled his touchdown total over the first two years of his career. The model projects him to score in 31% of simulations, which shows strong value for a player priced at more than 3-1 odds.
Want more Super Bowl NFL picks?
You’ve seen the best model Super Bowl 60 anytime touchdown picks. Now, get Super Bowl betting advice before locking in your Super Bowl 60 picks: Visit SportsLine now to see expert Matt Severance’s best bet for Patriots vs. Seahawks, all from the expert on a 10-3 roll on 13 NFL picks, returning $842.5 for $100 bettors.
Want to go even bigger on your Super Bowl parlay? Visit SportsLine to see its model longshot parlay that returns $15,000 on a $10 bet.
SportsLine’s resident NFL props experts, Alex ‘PropStarz’ Selesnick just locked in his top plays as well. Visit SportsLine to get prop picks from the expert who is 62-44 (+916.5) over his last 106 NFL player props.
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Iran’s top diplomat strikes hard line, saying Tehran’s power comes from saying ‘no’
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iran’s top diplomat insisted Sunday that Tehran’s strength came from its ability to “say no to the great powers,” striking a maximalist position just after negotiations with the United States over its nuclear program and in the wake of nationwide protests.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking to diplomats at a summit in Tehran, signaled that Iran would stick to its position that it must be able to enrich uranium — a major point of contention with President Donald Trump, who bombed Iranian atomic sites in June during the 12-day Iran-Israel war.
While Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian praised the talks Friday in Oman with the Americans as “a step forward,” Araghchi’s remarks show the challenge ahead. Already, the U.S. moved the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, ships and warplanes to the Middle East to pressure Iran into an agreement and have the firepower necessary to strike the Islamic Republic should Trump choose to do so.
“I believe the secret of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s power lies in its ability to stand against bullying, domination and pressures from others,” Araghchi said. “They fear our atomic bomb, while we are not pursuing an atomic bomb. Our atomic bomb is the power to say no to the great powers. The secret of the Islamic Republic’s power is in the power to say no to the powers.”
Araghchi’s choice to explicitly use an “atomic bomb” as a rhetorical device likely wasn’t accidental. While Iran has long maintained its nuclear program is peaceful, the West and the International Atomic Energy Agency say Tehran had an organized military program to seek the bomb up until 2003.
Iran had been enriching uranium up to 60% purity, a short, technical step to weapons-grade levels of 90%, the only non-weapons state to do so. Iranian officials in recent years had also been increasingly threatening that the Islamic Republic could seek the bomb, even while its diplomats have pointed to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s preachings as a binding fatwa, or religious edict, that Iran wouldn’t build one.
Pezeshkian, who ordered Araghchi to pursue talks with the Americans after likely getting Khamenei’s blessing, also wrote on X on Sunday about the talks.
“The Iran-U.S. talks, held through the follow-up efforts of friendly governments in the region, were a step forward,” the president wrote. “Dialogue has always been our strategy for peaceful resolution. … The Iranian nation has always responded to respect with respect, but it does not tolerate the language of force.”
It remains unclear when and where, or if, there will be a second round of talks. Trump, after the talks Friday, offered few details but said: “Iran looks like they want to make a deal very badly — as they should.”
During Friday’s talks, U.S. Navy Adm. Brad Cooper, the head of the American military’s Central Command, was in Oman. Cooper’s presence was likely an intentional reminder to Iran about the U.S. military presence in the region. Cooper later accompanied U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, to the Lincoln out in the Arabian Sea after the indirect negotiations.
Araghchi appeared to be taking the threat of an American military strike seriously, as many worried Iranians have in recent weeks. He noted that after multiple rounds of talks last year, the U.S. “attacked us in the midst of negotiations.”
“If you take a step back (in negotiations), it is not clear up to where it will go,” Araghchi said.
Trending unseasonably warm with fire risk on Monday
Happy Sunday! We are starting today with clear skies compared to the clouds that moved into Albuquerque throughout Saturday. Temperatures around the state have bottomed out in the teens, 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s, so far, this morning. Sunnier skies are expected to take hold of a majority of the state while temperatures warm up […]
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Which One Is Right for You?
Pros
- Flexible funding: Helocs let you use the money for various purposes and draw on the line of credit as needed rather than getting a single lump sum.
- Lower interest rates: Helocs often have lower interest rates than personal loans or credit cards, so they are a more affordable option. Plus, you only pay interest during the draw period, so if you don’t have a balance, you don’t pay anything.
- Potential tax benefit: The interest you pay on a Heloc for the portion used for home improvements might be eligible for a tax deduction.
Cons
- Variable interest rate: Most Helocs have variable rates, so your payments can increase if interest rates rise, making it harder to plan your monthly budget.
- Closing costs: Like a home equity loan, a home equity line of credit often comes with closing costs and other potential fees, increasing your overall cost of borrowing.
- Risk of losing your home: A Heloc is secured with your home’s equity, meaning you could lose your house if you can’t make payments on your line of credit.
Deciding factors
Whether you choose a Heloc vs. home equity loan depends on your financial goals.
Use a Heloc if:
- You’re not sure how much you need to borrow and want flexibility to access more funds without reapplying.
- You plan to access the money over time instead of all at once.
- You want the Heloc available if needed, but might not draw on the line of credit immediately.
Use a home equity loan if:
- You know how much you want to borrow, and you’re reasonably sure you won’t need additional funds.
- You want the stability of regular, fixed payments for a predetermined period of time.
Differences between Helocs and home equity loans
Both Helocs and home equity loans are based on the value you’ve built up in your home. A Heloc is a subset of home equity loan. Here are some of the major differences between the two:
- A Heloc is a line of credit while a home equity loan is generally disbursed in a lump sum.
- Helocs allow you to continue drawing on the credit line, up to your available balance, without the need to reapply for funds. If you want additional funds with a home equity loan, you generally need to apply for a new loan.
- Repayment on a home equity loan typically begins immediately, while you’re normally required to only pay interest on a Heloc during the initial draw period. After the draw period on a Heloc, you begin making regular payments.
- Interest rates on a home equity loan are generally fixed, while Helocs usually have variable rates. Once the draw period is over, some lenders allow you to convert a portion of your Heloc to a fixed rate.
Requirements for a Heloc or home equity loan
When applying for any loan based on the equity in your home, you generally need to have adequate value available. For example, a lender might allow you to borrow an amount that brings your combined loan-to-value (CLTV) ratio up to 80%. This means that you need to have built up enough equity so that your new home equity loan or Heloc, when added to your existing mortgage, doesn’t exceed 80% of your home’s value.
Let’s say you owe $230,000 on your home. However, it’s worth $325,000. The difference between what you owe and what your home is worth—your equity—is $95,000. If the lender allows an 80% CLTV, you can bring your total debt up to $260,000 (80% of $325,000). You can borrow up to $30,000 ($260,000 – $230,000) using this formula.
Some lenders allow a 90% or 95% CLTV, which could lead to a higher amount of available equity. However, it’s important to note that you aren’t usually able to access your entire equity.
In addition to adequate equity in your home, lenders also usually require that you have good credit and stable income. You typically need to show that you’re likely to make regular on-time payments. As with any loan, your credit history, income and term length influence your approval chances and your interest rate.
FAQ
Are interest rates higher on Helocs or home equity loans?
Helocs typically have lower initial interest rates than fixed-rate home equity loans. However, over time, if interest rates rise, a Heloc could end up with a higher interest rate than a home equity loan. Currently, the average Heloc APR is 7.44%, while a 15-year home equity loan rate is 8.09%.
How does repayment differ between a Heloc and a home equity loan?
Repayment on a Heloc usually only requires interest payments during the draw period, while repayment on a home equity loan usually begins immediately after you receive the funds.
Can I use a Heloc or home equity loan for investment purposes?
You can typically use the money from both home equity borrowing options for any purpose, including investing.
What are the tax implications of a Heloc vs. a home equity loan?
Loans aren’t usually considered income for tax purposes. However, with both Helocs and home equity loans, you might be able to deduct the interest you pay if the funds are used for home improvements.