Jason Momoa has good news for Minecraft fans who have been waiting to hear what’s next from the blocky Overworld.
The actor has confirmed that a sequel to A Minecraft Movie is officially moving forward and will begin production very soon, bringing him back to a world that clearly left a strong impression.
Momoa, who starred in the first film as pro gamer Garrett “The Garbage Man” Garrison, shared the update during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Speaking openly about his excitement, he revealed just how close the sequel is to getting underway.
“Very soon. Dude. Bro, end of April. They’re in it,” he said, adding that the new script made a big impact on him.
“The script is even better. It’s so good, I was laughing out loud. I haven’t laughed out loud in a very long time at a script. I was perplexed on the first script, this one I’m laughing out loud.”
The sequel was first confirmed in October, when Deadline reported that director Jared Hess would return to helm A Minecraft Movie 2, working from a script written by Hess and Chris Galletta.
The film is currently set for a July 23, 2027 release.
‘Minecraft’ movie sequel
Hess has previously expressed enthusiasm about continuing the story, especially after the first movie’s record-breaking box office debut in April, which became Warner Bros.’ third-largest opening of all time.
Reflecting on that success, Hess explained that the Minecraft universe still has plenty of room to explore.
He said the team had “so much fun making this movie,” noting that the game’s world is so expansive that many ideas were left untouched.
He added that returning for a sequel would be exciting, especially given the positive fan response and the tease hidden in the end credits.
That tease included the introduction of another major character from the game.
As Hess confirmed, “It’s Steve (Jack Black) and Alex, and so that’s the one that we will be bringing to the table without a doubt.”
With production set to begin and the creative team energised, Momoa’s update signals that the next Minecraft adventure is officially loading.
Every Friday, I will pick the weekend’s best or most exciting games that are not to be missed in the world of football. From derbies to top-of-the-table clashes, relegation six-pointers to world-class players facing each other, or interesting tactical battles, there will be something for everyone to enjoy.
This week, we take you to England, Spain, France, Germany and Morocco for a big derby, a top-of-the-table clash, some league debuts on benches, and a big tournament final!
The East of France derby is back! Metz, who were promoted back to the top flight last summer, will be greeted by arch-rivals Strasbourg and a very hostile crowd on Sunday.
Back in August, Strasbourg won away from home, but it is a different team now, with former Wolves boss Gary O’Neil replacing Liam Rosenior on the bench (after he left for Chelsea) and still no star striker Emmanuel Emegha up front because of injury. And we are more likely to see a back four for Strasbourg instead of Rosenior’s back three.
It is a new era starting, but there will still be some toxicity and I expect a lot of protests against the BlueCo ownership, who continue to strengthen Chelsea by weakening the French club. Strasbourg are seventh in the table, six points off fifth and eight points behind the UEFA Champions League positions. They have to win this game before some tough fixtures arrive with a trip to Lille, then Paris Saint-Germain, AS Monaco (in the Coupe de France), and Marseille.
But Metz are the ones who really need the points right now. They are bottom of the table with only three wins in 17 league games so far. It is not all bad as it is quite tight at the bottom of the table, with only six points between 18th and 13th, but a win would go a long way in terms confidence for Stephane Le Mignan — a manager very much under pressure.
MY PREDICTION: Strasbourg 3-1 Metz. O’Neil’s league debut will go well on Sunday. He will experience a great atmosphere in his first Ligue 1 game and his team will be too good for struggling Metz.
How about: what an incredible start to 2026 for Real Madrid! They lost the Spanish Supercopa final against Barcelona, sacked Xabi Alonso, and were then humiliated at second-tier Albacete in the Copa del Rey under new manager Alvaro Arbeloa. The last few days have been incredible. So you could say it is a good time to face struggling Levante, but is it really?
Levante will make it hard for the home side, even though they are not a defensive team. However, despite being second from bottom in the table, with three wins only so far this season, they have been good away from home. They are actually eighth in the away results table (three wins, two draws and five defeats). They surely couldn’t pull this off … could they?
Since Luis Castro took over as managerial role, Levante have won at Sevilla 3-0 and drawn against Espanyol 1-1 at home. But Saturday will be all about Real Madrid and how (or if) they can get out of the mini-crisis they are in. They are still only four points behind Barcelona and can still win LaLiga given the number of games remaining, but they will have to play better and defend better if they want to do so. They can’t afford anything less that a win, otherwise the crisis will deepen even more.
Making it slightly more difficult is the fact that Kylian Mbappé will not be returning to the lineup ahead of a meeting with his former club Monaco in the Champions League on Tuesday. His current team need him more than ever.
MY PREDICTION: Real Madrid 2-0 Levante. It won’t be pretty, but there is surely no way that Real Madrid don’t beat Levante at the Bernabéu. Losing to Albacete was bad enough, but they won’t have another disastrous result three days later. They will win but not convincingly.
Premier League, Matchday 21 Kickoff: Saturday, 7:30 a.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. GMT
This is the first game of the Michael Carrick era at Manchester United. It will be a short spell — he’s taken over until the end of the season, with no guarantees of anything further — but it starts with a bang and a Manchester derby against title-contenders Manchester City.
One can assume that Carrick would have preferred a gentler start than facing the second-best team in the league and legendary manager Pep Guardiola. It is what it is, however, and he will have to throw himself at the deep end and do his best.
We are not sure what to expect from him or United, but let’s hope the Red Devils play with a back four, that Bruno Fernandes is back in his natural No. 10 position, that Carrick can tighten things up defensively, and that forwards Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo (now back from AFCON) start performing well together up front. It is a lot to ask, especially with not much time in training, but not impossible.
It is also a great opportunity to derail City’s title challenge and the fans at Old Trafford would love that. City have not put in great performances or results lately, with some draws in the league preventing them from keeping close to leaders Arsenal, but new winger Antoine Semenyo (who has two goals in two games already) has shown how impactful he can be.
Erling Haaland‘s form is more of a worry. Of course he will probably score on Saturday, but he has not found the back of the net in open play now for five games in a row in all competitions, with just one penalty in that time. Rayan Cherki is the one who has been making City tick recently.
MY PREDICTION: Man United 1-2 Man City. United have actually done well against big clubs in the Premier League in recent seasons, despite the chaos, and will do well again. It just won’t be enough to stop their noisy neighbors from taking the win.
Can Bayern repeat their almost perfect first half of the season? They start 2026 with the first of their three toughest away trips: first in Leipzig on Saturday, before they have to go to Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen. But for now, they face a team eager to avenge their humiliating 6-0 defeat at the start of the season.
Leipzig are third and could trouble the Bayern defense, like Wolfsburg did at the start of the game last weekend before imploding and losing 8-1. Apart from Arsenal in the Champions League (3-1), Mainz (2-2) and Union Berlin (2-2), everyone else has lost against Bayern.
They are a machine with incredible attacking power; Harry Kane and Michael Olise are having the seasons of their lives, young prodigy Lennart Karl is shining, and Jamal Musiala is on his way back to full fitness after a horrific injury over the summer.
Leipzig will have to put a lot of intensity in their game, but without making the mistakes that usually get punished against this Bayern side.
MY PREDICTION: RB Leipzig 1-3 Bayern Munich. Bayern will remain unbeaten in the league; Leipzig will put them under pressure, but Kane and company will find a way to stay on top and win again.
This is an amazing final to finish off a great Africa Cup of Nations as arguably the two best teams on the continent — and in this tournament — face each other. There will be two massive stars on the pitch, in Achraf Hakimi and Sadio Mané, as well as a lot of tension and passion from both sets of fans.
The stats are massively in favor of Morocco. The AFCON host countries have won six out of seven finals in the competition, and Senegal have never beaten an AFCON host in the knockout phase. Meanwhile, Morocco have won 39 games in a row at home in official competitions — their last loss was in November 2009 against Cameroon during the 2010 World Cup qualifiers.
Home advantage will be a massive help for Morocco, but could the burden of expectation be too heavy to carry. The more of the game that passes without Morocco being in the lead, the more pressure there will be on their shoulders. And Senegal have played and won an AFCON final before. They have great experienced players who have been there before and have done it before. They will want to crash the party.
However, it is easier said than done. Morocco are a very well-organized team as we saw in their semifinal against Nigeria, who only put 0.05 expected goals in 120 minutes!
MY PREDICTION: Morocco 2-1 Senegal. It is hard to look past the hosts. Statistically they are the favorites and will have incredible home support. Senegal have been very good all tournament, but the odds are against them and they will lose a tight final.
Duke starting quarterback Darian Mensah is entering the NCAA transfer portal.
Mensah submitted his request for transfer paperwork Friday, ahead of the midnight deadline for FBS and FCS players to enter the portal.
“This wasn’t an easy decision, but after talking with my family, I believe it’s in my best interest to enter the transfer portal,” Mensah said in a post on X.
Miami looms as the expected favorite in Mensah’s recruitment when he officially becomes available. The Hurricanes have signed transfer quarterbacks in consecutive years — Cam Ward and Carson Beck — and have not landed one during the two-week transfer window that opened Jan. 2.
Mensah had decided Dec. 19 to return to Duke for his redshirt junior season after exploring the possibility of entering the NFL draft. He was No. 5 in Mel Kiper Jr.’s quarterback rankings for the 2026 draft before his latest decision.
The quarterback was entering the second year of a two-year deal with Duke that would pay him up to $4 million in 2026. If Mensah leaves Duke, sources told ESPN’s Pete Thamel that his contract grants the university his exclusive name, image and likeness rights, which could prevent Mensah from earning revenue-sharing money at his next school unless Duke terminates its deal.
The 6-foot-3, 205-pound redshirt sophomore from San Luis Obispo, California, transferred from Tulane to Duke after the 2024 season and led the Blue Devils to their first outright ACC championship since 1962 with a 27-20 overtime upset of No. 17 Virginia in the conference title game.
Mensah earned second-team All-ACC honors after producing a conference-leading 3,973 passing yards on 67% passing with 35 total touchdowns and six interceptions. He has started 27 career games at Tulane and Duke, and has two more years of eligibility.
If Mensah departs the program on the final day of the NCAA transfer window, it will put coach Manny Diaz and the Blue Devils in a difficult position with few proven options available in the portal.
Backup quarterback Henry Belin IV already entered the portal as a graduate transfer and committed to Missouri State on Thursday.
Duke closed out a 9-5 season with a 42-39 victory over Arizona State in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl on Dec. 31.
Nickelodeon child star Kianna Underwood dies in hit and run
A beloved former child actor from Nickelodeon has died after being struck in a hit-and-run crash in Brooklyn, New York, in a shocking incident that has left many fans and neighbours saddened.
Police and law enforcement sources confirmed that 33-year-old Kianna Underwood, known for her early roles on All That and Little Bill, was killed in the collision on the morning of Friday, Jan. 16.
Underwood was crossing the street near Pitkin Avenue and Mother Gaston Boulevard in the Brownsville neighbourhood around 6:50 a.m. when she was hit by a sedan that was heading west on Pitkin Avenue.
According to law enforcement reports, the vehicle dragged her body for about two blocks before she was dislodged onto the roadway, where she was found with severe trauma.
She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities confirmed that the driver fled and has not been identified or arrested, and the hit-and-run investigation is ongoing.
Born in New York City, Underwood began acting as a child, building her early career with voice work and television roles.
She appeared in the final season of Nickelodeon’s sketch comedy show All That in 2005, and she also voiced the character Fuchsia Glover on Little Bill, an animated series aimed at younger audiences.
These performances helped establish her presence in children’s television during the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Beyond her work on Nickelodeon, Underwood’s early credits also include film and theater, such as touring with the musical Hairspray as Little Inez, showcasing the range of her talents beyond the small screen.
After All That ended, she largely stepped away from acting and lived privately in New York for many years.
Though she had been out of the public eye for some time, a resurfaced 2023 video showing Underwood identifying herself as the All That actress reminded fans of her earlier career and sparked a wave of online remembrance following news of her death.
With no arrests reported yet, police continue to seek information about the hit-and-run driver.
Underwood’s passing has prompted an outpouring of condolences from fans who grew up watching her on Nickelodeon, remembering her contributions to television and the joy she brought to viewers in her youth.
FIRST ON FOX: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Friday announced the arrest of what it called the “worst of the worst” criminal illegal immigrants during Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota, including a man with 24 criminal convictions.
The agency blasted state and local leaders for refusing to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.
DHS said the arrests show the results of ICE enforcement operations in sanctuary jurisdictions, contrasting the agency’s actions with what it described as the refusal of Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey to honor ICE detainers.
That policy, DHS claims, has resulted in hundreds of criminal illegal aliens being released back into local Minnesota communities.
“As our law enforcement are facing rampant violence against them, they arrested murderers, drug traffickers and an illegal with 24 criminal convictions in Minneapolis,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said. “These are the criminals Governor [Tim] Walz and Mayor [Jacob] Frey are protecting. No American wants these criminals for neighbors.”
DHS arrested more illegal criminal aliens Thursday during Operation Metro Surge, identifying 13 of them in a release first shared with Fox News.(DHS and Getty Images)
DHS said the arrests were made as part of Operation Metro Surge, a targeted enforcement effort focused on removing criminal illegal aliens from Minnesota neighborhoods. The department said the operation prioritizes offenders with serious criminal histories, including violent crimes.
According to DHS, criminals arrested in the state during the operation include Hien Quoc Thai, a Vietnamese national who was previously convicted of murder.
Brian Anjain from the Marshall Islands has 24 criminal convictions, including assault causing bodily injury, domestic abuse, public nudity, theft, interference with official acts, public intoxication and trespassing, DHS said.
Hien Quoc Thai of Vietnam was previously convicted of murder, according to DHS.(Department of Homeland Security)
Eddy Xol-Lares of Venezuela was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine while aboard a vessel.
Those arrested also include criminal illegal immigrants from Guatemala, Cuba, Mexico, Honduras, South Africa and Romania, according to DHS.
DHS said the operation also resulted in the arrests of people convicted of crimes including domestic violence, assault, fraud, identity theft, forgery, restraining order violations, property damage and multiple drunken driving offenses, with several facing prior charges involving kidnapping, robbery with deadly weapons, gun possession and narcotics offenses.
Brian Anjain from the Marshall Islands has 24 convictions, including assault causing bodily injury, domestic abuse, public nudity, theft, interference with official acts, public intoxication and trespassing, according to DHS.(Department of Homeland Security)
The department claims that since President Donald Trump took office, nearly 470 criminal illegal immigrants have been released back into Minnesota communities due to sanctuary-style policies.
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DHS also said it is urging Walz and Frey to honor ICE detainers for more than 1,360 aliens, including violent criminals currently in custody, arguing that cooperation would improve public safety.
Additional information about those arrested nationwide is available through the agency’s public-facing database at wow.dhs.gov, which tracks enforcement actions involving serious offenders.
Jasmine Baehr is a Breaking News Writer for Fox News Digital, where she covers politics, the military, faith and culture.
Sara Foster slams age gap relationship after ‘blah’ George Clooney date
Sara Foster revealed she once went on a very awkward date with George Clooney
The daughter of music producer David Foster dished on the past event on The World’s First Podcast while talking to her sister Erin.
The 44-year-old actress shared that supermodel Cindy Crawford and her husband Rande Gerber were behind setting her up with Clooney three decades ago.
“I got set up with George Clooney, like, 30 years ago. It was such a blah. Sorry, had to say it,” Foster claimed.
She said she was about 24 at the time and met Clooney along with Crawford and Gerber, but the connection was off right away.
“It was just such a hard no,” she said. “I remember thinking, ‘Oh, he is so old.’”
Foster further shared her opinion on age-gap relationships.
Calling the dynamic unappealing, she noted, “I’ve never understood a 19-year-old that’s into a 40-year-old. I just always thought that was so weird.”
She admitted she felt “offended” by the setup, adding, “He felt so old.”
“I’m sure George Clooney is a nice guy, but I just remember it being the four of us sitting there and thinking like, ‘I’m gonna die,’” she said, noting she was already heartbroken over an ex.
She later clarified that Clooney likely wasn’t behind the setup. “I don’t think it was George being like, ‘Oh, set me up with Sara Foster.’”
The date ended awkwardly when she began crying about her ex. “So I think he was like, ‘This chick’s not OK,’” she joked.
Foster later moved on and found love with tennis star Tommy Haas.
Washington — The Trump administration and a bipartisan group of governors called for reforms in the largest electric grid in the country to make sure the development of new artificial intelligence plants doesn’t drive up electric costs.
Federal and state officials signed onto a statement of principles that’s focused on the PJM Interconnection grid, which serves over 67 million people in 13 states in the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest. The pact calls on technology companies to foot the bill for new power plants in PJM’s region, to address the surge of artificial intelligence data centers that the White House wants to see built. The administration says the National Energy Dominance Council reached an agreement with several states for over $15 billion in new power-generation projects.
The statement also calls on PJM to hold an emergency capacity auction for this power — and to protect residential customers from capacity price increases.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum signed onto the plan near the White House, at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building with Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin of Virginia and Democratic Govs. Wes Moore of Maryland and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania.
Wright said in a statement that President Trump had “asked governors across the Mid-Atlantic to come together and call upon PJM to allow America to build big reliable power plants again.”
He promised that the directives would “restore affordable and reliable electricity so American families thrive and America’s manufacturing industries once again boom.”
PJM’s grid serves over 65 million people and operates in parts or all of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, North Carolina, Delaware, Kentucky and Tennessee. Governors from every state signed onto the statement of principles.
The Board of Managers for PJM announced Friday it would take actions to address the additional load to the grid new AI data centers would bring. It says they’d have an “immediate initiation” to secure more power, and hold a “backstop generation procurement process to address short-term reliability needs.”
PJM’s announcement also says it expects the “data center community … to play a constructive role in addressing the reliability and affordability challenges associated with the scale and pace of the forecasted load additions in the PJM region.”
Friday’s announcement also revealed a little bipartisanship between the Republican White House and potential 2028 presidential Democratic candidates Moore and Shapiro, who have both been calling for an increased power supply and lower energy prices.
“We cannot build a 21st-century economy on an energy market that blocks new supply,” Moore said in a statement. “This moment calls for urgency. Maryland families and businesses must be served by a reliable grid without shouldering the cost of sky-high energy bills.”
Shapiro sued PJM in 2024 to stop price hikes, and said he’s been working with governors and federal energy officials for months to push PJM to make reforms.
“I’m glad the White House is following Pennsylvania’s lead and adopting the solutions we’ve been pushing for,” Shapiro said in a statement.
Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss has sued the NCAA after being denied a sixth year of eligibility.
Chambliss’ lawyers are asking a Mississippi judge for a preliminary injunction that would allow him to play one more collegiate season, according to multiple reports.
The NCAA formally rejected his request for a sixth year of eligibility Jan. 9 due to him and his team not being able to provide evidence he was suffering from an “incapacitating injury or illness” when he did not play for Division II Ferris State in 2022 due to apparent respiratory issues.
Mississippi Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss warms up before a game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field Nov. 28, 2025.(Petre Thomas/Imagn Images)
“In November, Ole Miss filed a waiver request for football student-athlete Trinidad Chambliss, seeking to extend his five-year Division I eligibility clock, citing an incapacitating illness or injury. Approval requires schools to submit medical documentation provided by a treating physician at the time of a student’s incapacitating injury or illness, which was not provided,” the statement says.
“The documents provided by Ole Miss and the student’s prior school include a physician’s note from a December 2022 visit, which stated the student-athlete was ‘doing very well’ since he was seen in August 2022.
“Additionally, the student-athlete’s prior school indicated it had no documentation on medical treatment, injury reports or medical conditions involving the student-athlete during that time frame and cited “developmental needs and our team’s competitive circumstances” as its reason the student-athlete did not play in the 2022-23 season. The waiver request was denied.”
Mississippi Rebels running back Kewan Lacy (5) celebrates with quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (6) and wide receiver Deuce Alexander (11) after scoring a touchdown against the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the first half at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field Nov. 28, 2025.(Petre Thomas/Imagn Images)
Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter said the school would appeal the ruling.
“We are disappointed with today’s announcement by the NCAA and plan to appeal the decision to the Committee level,” Carter said in a social media post, in which he included the flag of Trinidad and Tobago. “Additionally, we will continue to work in conjunction with Trinidad’s representatives in other avenues of support.”
Chambliss’ attorney also released a statement that day suggesting litigation could be coming.
“I understand that Ole Miss will file an appeal with the NCAA. However, there’s now an opportunity to move this case to a level playing field where Trinidad’s rights will be determined by the Mississippi judiciary instead of some bureaucrats in Indianapolis who couldn’t care less about the law or doing the right thing,” Tom Mars said.
“Whether to pursue that course of action is a decision only Trinidad and his parents can make.”
Chambliss and his legal team will go to court in an effort to keep him on the field for the 2026 season.
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Trinidad Chambliss of the Ole Miss Rebels celebrates a touchdown against the Miami Hurricanes in the second quarter during a 2025 College Football Playoff semifinal at the VRBO Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium Jan. 8, 2026, in Glendale, Ariz.(Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The NCAA referred to its Jan. 9 statement when contacted for a response to the lawsuit by Fox News Digital.
Ole Miss came within a quarter of advancing to the NCAA semifinal, losing a 31-27 thriller to Miami in the Fiesta Bowl Jan. 8.
Jackson Thompson is a sports reporter for Fox News Digital covering critical political and cultural issues in sports, with an investigative lens. Jackson’s reporting has been cited in federal government actions related to the enforcement of Title IX, and in legacy media outlets including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Associated Press and ESPN.com.
Jeff Borzello is a basketball recruiting insider. He has joined ESPN in 2014.
After weeks of relative consistency at the top, Michigan’s stunning home loss to Wisconsin and Iowa State’s blowout loss to Kansas have prompted a massive shuffle in ESPN’s Power Rankings.
How far do the Wolverines and Cyclones drop?
Michigan still has elite efficiency-based metrics, ranking No. 1 in the NET, at KenPom and at BartTorvik. And while the Wolverines have only four Quad 1 wins, they own a long list of blowout victories, including a 40-point one over Gonzaga — enough to fall only one spot.
Iowa State has one of the most impressive wins we’ll see from any team this season: a 23-point road rout at Purdue. The Cyclones also own victories over a couple of borderline Top 25 teams in St. John’s and Iowa. They still rank among the top five at KenPom but dropped out of that group in every other metric.
Now, Duke, Purdue and Nebraska each have cases to pass Iowa State in the rankings. (Vanderbilt could have made one if it, too, hadn’t lost its first game Wednesday night.)
The Blue Devils have outstanding résumé-based metrics, sit at No. 1 in ESPN’s BPI and own wins over Michigan State, Arkansas, Kansas and Florida. Their lone loss was by one point on a neutral court, against Texas Tech.
Purdue has a better metric-based résumé than Iowa State, but it’s hard to put the Boilermakers ahead, given their loss at home to the Cyclones.
Nebraska has arguably the best résumé in the sport, ranking No. 2 in wins above bubble and No. 2 in ESPN’s strength of record. The Cornhuskers are also unbeaten. Yet they lag behind the others when it comes to their efficiency margin.
Ultimately, Duke gets the nod at No. 4 this week, with Iowa State rounding out the top five.
Previous ranking: 1
Of the Arizona freshman duo, Brayden Burries received most of the attention to end the 2025 calendar year. Since the start of Big 12 play in early January, however, Koa Peat has taken back the headlines. Peat was terrific in Wednesday’s rivalry win over Arizona State, finishing with 24 points and 10 rebounds (in the second half, he had 16 points, 5 boards and 2 assists while shooting 7-for-7 from the field). In four Big 12 games, Peat is averaging 19.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists. He might never top his 30-point career debut, but he’s back to his most productive self.
Next seven days: at UCF (Jan. 17), vs. Cincinnati (Jan. 21)
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Brayden Burries gets the steal for a Koa Peat slam
Brayden Burries snatches the rock from TCU and throws it ahead to Koa Peat for a beautiful dunk.
Previous ranking: 4
UConn extended its winning streak to 13 games by hanging on to beat Seton Hall on the road Tuesday, but the Huskies have showed potential flaws along the way. They succumbed to the Pirates’ pressure defense in the second half, turning it over 17 times — and that’s not necessarily a new issue, either. BYU sparked its attempted comeback against UConn in November by forcing turnovers, and as Lukas Harkins of Basket Under Review pointed out this week, the Huskies had turned it over on 19.5% of possessions in their past seven games heading into the week.
Next seven days: at Georgetown (Jan. 17)
Previous ranking: 2
Michigan saw its invincibility cloak disappear in its close win over Penn State, then truly fell back to earth with its stunning loss at home to Wisconsin over the weekend. The Wolverines bounced back with a 10-point road win at Washington, but the dominance they had showed for the previous seven weeks has waned. It has been most noticeable on the defensive end, where they’ve allowed three straight opponents — and four of six opponents in Big Ten play — to hit the one point per possession mark. Michigan’s pace is also worth monitoring: After routinely playing games with possessions in the high 70s and low 80s, Michigan’s past three games have checked in around 71, per KenPom.
Next seven days: at Oregon (Jan. 17), vs. Indiana (Jan. 20)
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Wisconsin Badgers vs. Michigan Wolverines: Game Highlights
Wisconsin Badgers vs. Michigan Wolverines: Game Highlights
Previous ranking: 5
Prior to the start of January, Isaiah Evans had one 20-point game in his college career. He quadrupled that number in the first 10 days of 2026: 28 points at Florida State, 23 against Louisville and 21 SMU. His streak ended on Wednesday against California, though he still finished with 17 points. He has also made at least four 3s in each of those past four games, averaging 22.3 points while shooting 40% from 3-point range. Providing consistent perimeter balance to Cameron Boozer‘s interior dominance will be key moving forward.
Next seven days: at Stanford (Jan. 17)
Previous ranking: 3
Despite more competitive wins in recent weeks, it was impossible to see a 21-point loss to Kansas in the cards for Iowa State on Tuesday. It was comfortably the Cyclones’ worst offensive performance: a season-low 63 points on a season-low 37% shooting and a season-low 0.97 points per possession. It was also by far their worst defensive showing, with the Jayhawks scoring 1.29 points per possession. And how about this stat from ESPN Research: Tuesday was the largest loss by a team that was 16-0 or better since Marquette lost to Detroit by 21 in 1972.
Next seven days: at Cincinnati (Jan. 17), vs. UCF (Jan. 20)
Previous ranking: 6
There won’t be many more impressive second-half offensive performances than Purdue’s against Iowa on Wednesday. The Boilermakers hit nearly 73% of their shots after halftime, missing just one from the field while making nine in the final 10:30. They also went 14 for 16 from the free-throw line in the final 20 minutes. And all of it was sparked by All-American point guard Braden Smith, who had 16 points and 4 assists in the second half.
Next seven days: at USC (Jan. 17), at UCLA (Jan. 20)
Previous ranking: 7
Nebraska continues to win in different ways, erasing a 16-point second-half deficit to defeat Indiana on Saturday before turning around and beating Oregon by 35 on Tuesday. But the stimulus of the Cornhuskers’ offense continues to be the 3-point shot. Indiana took a nine-point lead as Nebraska missed seven straight 3s spanning both halves, but the Huskers came back by hitting six of their next eight 3s. Against Oregon, they made 17 3s, including five straight from late in the first half to early in the second half to turn a tied score into a 15-point lead in four minutes of game action.
Next seven days: at Northwestern (Jan. 17), vs. Washington (Jan. 21)
Previous ranking: 9
In a career filled with dominant seasons, Graham Ike could be trending toward his strongest yet. While he put up more points and rebounds in 2021-22 at Wyoming, Ike is averaging the most points (17.8), rebounds (8.6) and assists (2.6) of his three seasons at Gonzaga. He has the best offensive rating and true shooting percentage of his career. And he has taken his game up a notch in WCC play, shooting 72.5% inside the arc in five conference games thus far, most recently finishing with 34 points and 11 rebounds against Santa Clara.
Next seven days: at Washington State (Jan. 15), at Seattle (Jan. 17), vs. Pepperdine (Jan. 21)
Previous ranking: 10
Houston is really starting to tighten it up on the defensive end of the floor. After allowing Arkansas and Middle Tennessee to each score more than one point per possession at the end of nonconference play, the Cougars have locked things down since Big 12 play began. They held West Virginia to 48 points on Tuesday — including just one 2-pointer in the first half — after limiting Baylor to 55 points this past Saturday. Their four conference opponents so far have scored just 0.9 points per possession.
Next seven days: vs. Arizona State (Jan. 18)
Previous ranking: 11
BYU will take a 13-game winning streak into a massive showdown on Saturday at Texas Tech, where the Cougars will look for a true statement win to solidify their position in the top 10. They’ve beaten several Top 25 teams up to this point — including Villanova, Clemson and fringe team Miami — but a win in Lubbock would immediately go to the top of the résumé. Will Tech have an answer for AJ Dybantsa? His 25-point performance against TCU marked his 10th straight 20-point game, although his record-setting nine-game streak of 20 points and 50% field goal shooting came to an end.
Next seven days: at Texas Tech (Jan. 17)
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BYU rallies back to defeat TCU
AJ Dybantsa leads BYU with 25 points as the Cougars overcome a halftime deficit to win 76-70.
Previous ranking: 12
After hitting double-figures six times in his first 12 games of the season, Jeremy Fears Jr. has now scored at least 14 points in five straight games — including Tuesday’s career-high 23 points against Indiana. His assist numbers haven’t dropped off, either. He had 10 in the win over the Hoosiers and was responsible for 18 of the Spartans’ 27 field goals via points or assists. Over the five-game stretch, Fears is averaging 17.6 points and 8.0 assists while turning the ball over just 12 times total.
Next seven days: at Washington (Jan. 17), at Oregon (Jan. 20)
Previous ranking: 8
Vanderbilt fell from the ranks of the unbeaten on Wednesday, getting blown out by Texas. So what happened? The counting numbers from Tyler Tanner and Duke Miles weren’t much different than their season averages, but they weren’t nearly as efficient in reaching those numbers. They also didn’t get much help from the supporting cast. The Commodores entered the night averaging 93.0 points per game, and Texas held them to 64. It was also their worst defensive performance since Nov. 8 from an efficiency standpoint, giving up 1.21 points per possession. After allowing just three of its first 13 opponents to hit the one-point-per-possession threshold, Vandy’s past four opponents have all reached that mark.
Next seven days: vs. Florida (Jan. 17), at Arkansas (Jan. 20)
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Highlight: Texas pulls away to upset No. 10 Vandy
Matas Vokietaitis records 22 points and seven rebounds as Tramon Mark scores 21 points as the Longhorns earn a win over the Commodores, 80-64.
Previous ranking: 15
Keaton Wagler checked in at No. 18 in ESPN’s latest NBA mock draft — a remarkable rise for an unranked four-star recruit coming out of high school. But with the way the freshman is playing lately, it’s hard to see him not moving comfortably into the lottery once the process is over. After scoring 22 points against Northwestern on Wednesday, Wagler is now averaging 19.3 points and 4.7 assists and shooting 44.4% from 3-point range in Big Ten play.
Next seven days: vs. Minnesota (Jan. 17), vs. Maryland (Jan. 21)
Previous ranking: 13
Arkansas had a mixed week, losing by 22 at Auburn on Saturday then destroying South Carolina by 34 on Wednesday. On the positive side, the offensive performance (1.48 points per possession) against the Gamecocks was the Razorbacks’ best outing since a November win over Jackson State. Freshman guards Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas combined for 39 points and 15 assists — and no turnovers. On a less positive note, Arkansas has now allowed at least one point per possession in eight straight games and is just seventh in the SEC in defensive efficiency.
Next seven days: at Georgia (Jan. 17), vs. Vanderbilt (Jan. 20)
Previous ranking: 18
While Grant McCasland’s team has developed better balance in recent weeks, Wednesday’s win over Utah showed why Christian Anderson and JT Toppin form arguably the best inside-outside tandem in college basketball. Anderson went for 26 points and 10 assists, while Toppin put up 31 points, 13 rebounds and 7 assists. And we’re about to get a better handle on where Tech sits in the Big 12 pecking order: The Red Raiders host BYU on Saturday before heading to Baylor on Tuesday then returning home to host Houston next weekend.
Next seven days: vs. BYU (Jan. 17), at Baylor (Jan. 20)
Previous ranking: 17
Days after Kansas fell out of the AP Top 25 (but not these rankings) for the first time all season, the Jayhawks turned around and pummeled Iowa State by 21 points — their third-largest win over a top-five opponent in program history, per ESPN Research. They had one of their best shooting performances of the season, going 12-for-24 from 3. And while Darryn Peterson‘s 16 points were key, the Jayhawks’ ancillary players had massive outings. Tre White had 19 points (including five 3s), 10 rebounds and three assists, while Jamari McDowell played his most minutes of the Big 12 season en route to eight points and six assists.
Next seven days: vs. Baylor (Jan. 16), at Colorado (Jan. 20)
Previous ranking: 21
Thijs De Ridder has been the first-year Virginia player getting most of the attention, but Johann Grunloh changed the game at both ends of the floor in Tuesday’s win over Louisville. The 7-foot Germany native tied his career high with 16 points while adding 7 rebounds and 4 blocks in what was arguably his best game in a Cavaliers uniform. And it came on a night when De Ridder was struggling, going 3-for-10 from the field with five turnovers. Grunloh is now up to 42.9% from 3 in ACC play, hitting three shots from deep Tuesday.
Next seven days: at SMU (Jan. 17)
Previous ranking: Unranked
The Gators might be back. Since losing by two at Missouri on Jan. 3, the reigning national champions have run three straight SEC opponents off the floor. They beat Georgia, Tennessee and Oklahoma by an average of 18.7 points, scoring an average of 93.0 points in the process. Boogie Fland‘s emergence has been important; he has put up 19.0 points and 6.0 assists in their past two games. And Rueben Chinyelu has been dominant down low, averaging 18.0 points and 14.0 rebounds over his past two games.
Next seven days: at Vanderbilt (Jan. 17), vs. LSU (Jan. 20)
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Highlight: No. 19 Florida dominates the glass in blowout win vs. Oklahoma
Thomas Haugh leads the way with 21 points while Rueben Chinyelu follows up with 19 points and 12 rebounds as the Gators outrebound the Sooners 43-31 in their 96-79 win.
Previous ranking: 16
Tuesday wasn’t shaping up to be an ideal night for Nate Oats’ program. The Crimson Tide were on a two-game losing streak coming off Saturday’s home defeat to Texas, and five rotation players were ruled out for the road trip to Mississippi State. The Bulldogs then jumped out to a 14-point lead with eight minutes left in the first half. But over the final 28 minutes, Alabama scored 82 points and outscored Mississippi State by 29. Labaron Philon Jr. was the catalyst with a career-high 32 points on just 14 shots.
Next seven days: at Oklahoma (Jan. 17)
Previous ranking: 14
Through the first two months of the season, North Carolina was very solid on the defensive end of the floor. The Tar Heels allowed only four of their first 14 opponents to reach one point per possession, and they ranked 17th nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency. But the defense has been porous over the past three games, resulting in a 1-2 record with losses to SMU and Stanford. They allowed 97 points to the Mustangs and 95 to the Cardinal, surrendering 84 points in a close win over Wake Forest in between. In that three-game stretch, they allowed an average of 1.3 points per possession.
Next seven days: at California (Jan. 17), vs. Notre Dame (Jan. 21)
Previous ranking: 19
After Saturday’s listless 24-point loss to Florida, Rick Barnes needed to see a response from his team — and he got one in the form of a double-overtime win over Texas A&M on Tuesday. While the play of Bishop Boswell and Felix Okpara was promising, the biggest reason for optimism moving forward comes from the more assertive Nate Ament. An elite prospect coming out of high school, Ament has been inconsistent on the offensive end after a strong start. But he finished with 23 points against the Aggies — including nine in the second half and 10 in the overtimes — to go with 12 rebounds. Tennessee was looking for him, and he was looking for his shot. That needs to continue.
Next seven days: vs. Kentucky (Jan. 17)
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Nate Ament relives win in double-OT madness vs. Texas A&M
Ament reflects on taking over late in the game while emphasizing the Vols’ perseverance and details the building momentum in Rocky Top after a bounce back win over the Aggies.
Previous ranking: 22
MJ Collins leads the team in scoring and continues to put up 20-point nights with regularity, but junior guard Mason Falslev has arguably been the better of the two Aggies stars in Mountain West play. It can only be a good thing for Jerrod Calhoun. Falslev had 26 points in Wednesday’s win over Nevada and now has a KenPom offensive rating above 150.0 in league play (for context, only Purdue’s Oscar Cluff has a higher offensive rating than 150.0 over the full season). Falslev is shooting 62.8% from 2 and 47.1% from 3 and averaging 17.7 points in six MWC games.
Next seven days: at Grand Canyon (Jan. 17), vs. UNLV (Jan. 20)
Previous ranking: Unranked
Clemson has quietly won eight in a row and is off to a 5-0 start in ACC play after losing back-to-back close games to Alabama and BYU in early December. The Tigers have a real chance to stake a claim in the ACC standings over the next week, with home games against Miami and NC State. Win both, and suddenly Brad Brownell’s team is likely favored in its next five games before heading to Duke on Valentine’s Day. The Tigers currently have the best defense in the ACC, holding teams to 0.94 points per possession in conference play.
Next seven days: vs. Miami (Jan. 17), vs. NC State (Jan. 20)
Previous ranking: Unranked
Villanova bounced back from its home loss to Creighton with back-to-back road wins over Marquette and Providence, setting up a showdown against St. John’s on Saturday. The winner will very likely be in next week’s rankings; the loser will fall completely out of the Big East title race. Two veterans have been key in the Wildcats’ strong play of late. Grand Canyon transfer Duke Brennan has been one of the best offensive rebounders in the country and is shooting nearly 79% from the field in conference play. And the well-traveled Devin Askew — now at his fifth school — averaged 16.5 points off the bench in the two most recent wins.
Next seven days: vs. St. John’s (Jan. 17), vs. Georgetown (Jan. 21)
Previous ranking: 20
Louisville is clinging on to its spot in the rankings, losing for the third time in four games to Virginia at home on Tuesday. The Cardinals are now just 3-4 without Mikel Brown Jr., and with no known return date, the outlook is worrisome for Pat Kelsey’s team. After Brown’s last game, a win over Memphis on Dec. 13, Louisville was 9-1 and ranked No. 9 at BartTorvik. In the past seven games, the Cardinals are down at No. 42 in Torvik’s rankings. They’ve fallen off a cliff on the offensive end, ranking fourth in adjusted efficiency with Brown and 55th without him. With him, Louisville turned it over on just 14.7% of its possessions and shot 37.5% from 3. Without him, the Cardinals are coughing it up on 17.8% of possessions and shooting 29.3% from 3.
Jennifer Garner says she once endured Ben Affleck’s intense obsession with a single Beyoncé song during their marriage.
The actress spoke candidly during an appearance at a Los Angeles bookstore on Thursday, where she appeared alongside author Laura Dave. During the event, the conversation turned to creative routines and listening to music while working, at which Garner said the habit was very familiar to her.
She joked that she had lived through the experience firsthand, as Affleck tends to play the same song repeatedly. It can even last for weeks or months, she revealed.
Garner then recalled a specific period while Affleck was filming The Town in Cambridge, Massachusetts. At the time, she was caring for their children in a rental home. One kid was three months old. The other was three years old.
She said Beyoncé’s Halo became the constant soundtrack of that period after it released in 2009 and turned into one of Beyoncé’s biggest hits. Garner said Affleck played it on repeat while she was nursing their baby.
Affleck has previously acknowledged his habit of looping music. In a 2016 interview at the Golden Globes, he said he often selects a few songs and listens to them continuously while writing.
He explained at the time that the repetition helps him concentrate. He also said it puts him in the emotional space he wants for a scene.
Garner’s remarks come amid renewed public interest in Affleck’s personal life as he finalised his split from Jennifer Lopez in 2025 after three years of marriage. The exes don’t share any kids, but Garner continues to co-parent her three children with Affleck.
Battle between East French clubs
Who can become Africa’s best?
