📰🏟️ Injury-napolis

Good afternoon. Welcome back to another week full of top sports stories in an easy-to-digest format. Let’s dive right in.

—Kyle

1) Injury-napolis Colts to try out retired QB Philip Rivers

Indianapolis is hosting retired NFL great Philip Rivers, 44, for a workout today, after starting QB Daniel Jones was ruled out for the season due to a torn right Achilles suffered Sunday, and his backup also received an injury.

• It’s unclear whether Rivers, an 8x Pro Bowler who last played for the Colts in 2020, is still in playing shape. 
• The Colts reportedly haven’t yet decided to sign him, and Rivers—who recently became a grandfather—hasn’t yet decided to play.
• After starting the season 7-1, the Colts have fallen out of a playoff spot in the AFC after losing three straight games to reach 8-5.

Inside Rivers’ potential comeback

2) 2025 Heisman finalists unveiled

The Heisman Trust released this year’s finalists on Monday night, setting up a showdown in New York City next week.

• Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza, the Big Ten Offensive Player and Quarterback of the Year, helped power the Hoosiers to an unlikely undefeated season.
• Ohio State QB Julian Sayin led the nation in overall QB rating and completion percentage.
• Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia’s dual-threat ability led Vandy to its first 10-win season in program history.
• Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love ranks in the top-five nationally in rushing yards, yards per game, all-purpose yards, and TDs.

The fight for CFB’s biggest award

3) Kentucky hoops isn’t living up to its $22M price tag

After reportedly spending an average of $1.5M/player to assemble this year’s men’s basketball team, Kentucky is off to a disappointing 5-4 start that includes a 35-point blowout loss to #8 Gonzaga on Saturday (one of the worst in program history).

• Kentucky, which has struggled mightily with injuries, has yet to beat a Power Four team this season.
• But despite their early struggles, ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi currently projects the Wildcats to course-correct and sneak into the NCAA tournament.

Explore Kentucky’s $22M headache

4) Steroid Era still hurts Bonds, Clemens HoF case

Barry Bonds, the MLB’s all-time home run leader, and Roger Clemens, the only pitcher ever to win seven Cy Young awards, both fell far short of joining Cooperstown in the latest Hall of Fame vote on Sunday.

• In comments yesterday, HoF chair Jane Forbes Clark said voters still view steroids as a disqualifier for the Hall of Fame.
• Under a new rule, candidates who receive as few votes as Bonds and Clemens did aren’t eligible for HoF voting again for three years. 
• And if they deliver a repeat performance, they’re permanently banned from the ballot.

Could Bonds/Clemens miss the Hall for good?

5) Notre Dame-ACC relationship is on the rocks 

Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua said the ACC has inflicted “permanent damage” on its relationship with the Irish in public comments yesterday, after the conference pushed for the CFP to include Miami over Notre Dame in the lead-up to this weekend’s selection show.

• The ACC Network, whose programming isn't controlled by the conference, also replayed the Miami-Notre Dame game over a dozen times last week, despite Miami not participating in the ACC title game.
• In response, ACC commissioner Jim Phillips said the league was simply advocating for all 17 football-playing members, and that officials never suggested Notre Dame wasn’t worthy of inclusion.

Inside ND’s escalating standoff

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