As Nina Simone famously sang, “It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day….” The lyric continues to say, “And I’m feeling good”; however, a majority of college football fans beg to differ.

Today the College Football Playoff announced the expansion to 24 playoff-team format, putting an end to conference championship games and the current 12-team playoff.

With NIL, the transfer portal, conference expansion, and realignment happening in the past two years, college football is in constant change and a different space once again.

As for head coach Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs, the Bulldogs are ranked number two in the College Football Playoff rankings and number one in the AP Poll. They are coming off a dominant 42-7 victory against quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and the Ole Rebels, the very quarterback who ended its season in the Sugar Bowl last season.

The Bulldogs are arguably the best team in college football and are seeking their third national title in this decade.

You may ask, “Why is this the most important year for the Bulldogs to win a national title? Didn’t they break the long streak of not having won since 1980 by winning in 2021? Didn’t they get over the ‘Saban’ and ‘Bama’ hump?” 

While this may be true, here is why:

NO SEC team has won a national title since 2022 

Let’s address the elephant in the room: The SEC has not won a national title since 2022 (Georgia). To add more gas to the fire, since the playoff expanded from four to 12 teams, the SEC has yet to make it to the title game. The Big 10 is the conference to win the past three seasons consecutively.

While many will agree that Smart and the Bulldogs are the standard of college football, some are also questioning the fact that Smart has yet to win a championship in this day of college football with NIL, the transfer portal, and expansion.

Nobody can forget the SEC winning seven consecutive years and having a team play for the national title eight consecutive years (2015-2022). However, the Bulldogs’ quest for a three-peat in 2023 was derailed by Saban and the Crimson Tide, causing the SEC to not have a representative in the national title game ever since then. 

This goes into the next point:

Georgia vs. Alabama (possible round 2, maybe 3)

If you are a Bulldogs fan, you may want to not remember this part. For many years, the Crimson Tide tormented the Bulldogs. Who can forget the last time the Bulldogs beat the Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium, in 2007 (a streak that was broken this season)? How about the 2012 SEC Championship game with a winner-take-all (The Bulldogs do not spike the ball in the last few seconds, you know the rest). What about the 2015 regular season matchup at Sanford Stadium in the rain where the Tide dominated in a 38-10 win? Who can forget the Ryan Coleman-Williams) catch in 2024?  How about the 2018 national championship game, the 2019, 2021, and 2023 SEC Championship games? I think you get the point.

While the Bulldogs ultimately got their revenge against Saban and the Tide in the 2022 national championship game, this rivalry never disappoints. It also gives Bulldogs fans nerves because of past history with the Tide.

Last season, the Bulldogs fell at home to Alabama before getting revenge in the SEC Championship game. This season, the Bulldogs defeated the Tide on the road but may possibly play them again. Currently, both teams are the top two SEC teams that would play in the SEC Championship if both win out.

Also remember the SEC Championship game; this goes into my next point.

The last SEC Championship game

The SEC Championship game has been a mixed experience for the Bulldogs and their fans, although they’ve won four SEC championships since Smart arrived. In a way, you can argue that while the Bulldogs have won, the losses have hurt more than the wins.

This will be the last year of the SEC Championship game, a game originally started in 1992. In the SEC, “It means more” to SEC teams and fans. If you understand the history of this game, you know how this game has elevated and ruined SEC teams’ chances of a perfect season and a chance for a national title.

While it is likely this year’s game will not have as much weight as years past, it is the last one and something fans will miss. 

How fitting would it be if it were the Bulldogs and the Tide to play in the last game? Deep down, I think football fans want that.

Conclusion

Whether Bulldogs fans will admit it or not, they are living in the glory days. These are times that fans imagined, and nothing more than a national title will be the perfect ending. Smart has continued to recruit and retain high-level talent, win at a high level, and create a formula for success. With new changes coming to the sport, it only gets tougher from here on out.

Before the playoff expanded to 12 teams, the Bulldogs missed the playoffs (thanks to Bama), missing out on the opportunity for a three-peat. Since then, the Bulldogs have been seeking to reach the top of the mountain.

This year will be an opportunity for the Bulldogs to close another chapter and end on a high note.

By Dr. Y’Anad Burrell Special to The Post

In only their second year as a franchise, the Golden State Valkyries became the WBNA 2026 Champions, with Gabby Williams named WNBA Finals MVP. A Halloween night movie of magic and there was no surprise that the game was sold out, with more than 18,000 fans inside Chase Center while thousands more packed the open space at Thrive Center from hours preceding the game through the final buzzer.

In the decisive Game 7, Williams delivered a legendary performance, scoring 30 points to lead the Golden State Valkyries to a 68-63 championship victory over the Atlanta Dream. Remarkably, 28 of her 30 points came in the second half, setting a WNBA postseason record for points in a half and earning her Finals MVP honors.

The team celebrated its victory on Wednesday with a rally in Oakland followed by a ferry ride to San Francisco’s Embarcadero and then a two-mile parade that drew about 400,000 fans.

Williams has become a symbol of the Bay Area’s impact on the team. Although born in Nevada, Williams has deep family roots in Oakland and has often said the city’s culture, community, and basketball traditions shaped her identity and playing style.

After signing with the Valkyries, she began calling the city home and noting that “there’s no Golden State without Oakland.”

The Valkyries have several ballers who made an impact on winning this series, including Veronica Burton, Tiffany ‘Tip’ Hayes, Kayla Thornton, Kaila Charles, and Cecilia Zandalasini.

Veteran center Kiah Stokes brought championship experience and defensive leadership when she signed a multi-year free-agent contract with the franchise on April 13. A former first-round draft pick out of UConn and a three-time WNBA champion with the Las Vegas Aces before joining Golden State, Stokes was recruited by head coach Natalie Nakae, with whom she had previously worked in Las Vegas.

Known as one of the league’s premier rim protectors and rebounders, Stokes quickly became a defensive anchor for the expansion franchise and played a major role in leading the Valkyries to their historic championship run.

The Valkyries have accomplished something extraordinary, proving that a new franchise can make an immediate impact both on and off the court. In their first year, the Valkyries became the first WNBA expansion team to reach the playoffs in its inaugural season and set all-time league attendance records. The franchise sold out all home games, reporting 18,064 attendees per game in both seasons — the highest attendance figures in WNBA history. The Valkyries’ success has also translated into extraordinary franchise value. After entering the league by paying a $50 million expansion fee, the organization generated record revenues and rapidly became one of the most valuable franchises in women’s sports, valued at over $! billion.

The WNBA Finals’ deciding game averaged 3.3 million viewers, making it the most-watched WNBA playoff game in league history and the most-watched finals game since 1999.

The record audience reflects the league’s growing popularity and has major implications for its future, including higher media rights value, increased advertising revenue, stronger sponsorship opportunities, rising merchandise sales, and greater ticket demand.

The Finals also featured sold-out arenas and record postseason viewership, demonstrating that the WNBA is expanding its commercial reach, attracting new fans, and strengthening its position as a major professional sports league.

By Tanya Dennis

Mike Jenkins is a serial entrepreneur with a vision to make a lasting impact in Oakland.

Raised in a military family in the Pinole area, Jenkins played basketball at Merritt College before continuing his athletic career at Sacramento State.

His lifelong interest in health and wellness led him to consider a troubling reality: as members of the Black community age, health challenges often increase. Jenkins believes investing in health is an investment in wealth, and he has made it his mission to give Oakland’s youth a stronger foundation for life.

Years ago, Jenkins invested in young people by building Speed Power Strength, a world-class strength-training facility in the Fruitvale neighborhood. For 10 years, the facility served hundreds of children, providing training entirely free of charge. Displaced by gentrification, the program eventually found a new home in Jack London Square.

That move inspired a new name: Oakland Strong, reflecting both the program’s mission and its pride in the city it represents.

“When we found the new home, I needed to put a spotlight on what we were doing– producing the strongest kids in Oakland – so I named our new location Oakland Strong,” Jenkins explained. “We are known nationally and internationally, so when we compete, our city’s name is on our chest.”

Through Olympic weightlifting, governed nationally by USA Weightlifting, the program has developed an extraordinary record. Its athletes have earned 10 national championships, a team national championship, and international titles. Today, two Oakland Strong athletes are Olympic hopefuls.

This past summer, Oakland had three athletes at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs at the same time. One was Olympic figure skating champion Alysa Liu. The other two were Oakland Strong’s Robert Whitlock and Rucker Johnson, there for a weightlifting camp for Olympic hopefuls.

Whitlock, an Oakland Technical High School student, began training at age 10. Now a three-time consecutive national champion, two-time Pan American champion, and Team USA representative, Whitlock also holds an American record while maintaining straight A’s in school.

“If Oakland can’t support these kinds of kids, then what are we doing?” Jenkins asks.

Oakland Strong continues offering free training in Jack London Square to young people ages 8-18. The program welcomes girls as well as boys, with approximately 12 kids currently participating with room for 20.

With limited city support for free youth programs, Jenkins must find other ways to sustain the work.

When Carlyle Chicken Wings opened nearby, he approached the owner with an idea connecting nutrition and community investment. Because Oakland Strong teaches healthy eating alongside athletic training, they developed the Oakland Strong Bowl, a protein-focused meal. Carlyle will contribute $2 from each bowl sold to support the program.

For Jenkins, the mission extends far beyond medals and records. He wants to create generational health by teaching young people habits they can carry into adulthood and share with their families.

The strongest legacy, he believes, is not simply producing champions, but building healthier generations who understand their worth, their potential, and the importance of investing in themselves.

DALLAS (Oct. 21, 2026) – Dallas Trinity FC announced today that it has signed 15-year-old midfielder and forward Kaiya Brewer to an academy contract. The academy contract allows Brewer to train and compete with Dallas Trinity FC in the Gainbridge Super League while preserving her collegiate eligibility.

Brewer joins Dallas Trinity FC after competing with Kansas City Current II in the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL). The Kansas City, Kansas, native also played for Utah Royals U19 ECNL, where she earned ECNL Midwest All-Conference First Team honors.

“Kaiya is an exciting young player with the opportunity to take an important next step in her development here in Dallas,” said Brian Corcoran, sporting director for Dallas Trinity FC. “Our academy pathway gives players the chance to challenge themselves in a professional environment while keeping their college options open. We look forward to supporting Kaiya as she grows within our club.”

Brewer made her first appearance for Dallas Trinity FC on Oct. 17, opening the scoring in the club’s 3-2 win over Chivas Femenil in the 2026 State Fair Clásico at Cotton Bowl Stadium. The international friendly did not count toward official league statistics.

“Kaiya brings pace, vision and a willingness to put pressure on opponents,” said Lee Nguyễn, first team manager and technical director for Dallas Trinity FC. “The Clásico was a great opportunity for her to test herself, and it was encouraging to see her take that chance and score. We’re excited to help her build on that experience and keep developing her game.”

Brewer joins her older sister, Dallas Trinity FC defender Meila Brewer, who signed with the club in September and is representing the United States at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.

PLAYER BIO

Name: Kaiya Brewer

Pronunciation: KAY-uh BROO-er

Position: Attacker

Height: 5-7

Jersey Number: #26

Date of Birth: December 6, 2010 (15)

Hometown: Kansas City, Kansas

Nationality: United States

Previous Club: Kansas City Current II (WPSL)

TRANSACTION: Dallas Trinity FC signs midfielder and forward Kaiya Brewer to an academy contract. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The post Dallas Trinity FC Signs Kaiya Brewer to Academy Contract appeared first on Dallas Weekly.

Based on reporting by The Dallas Weekly.

Dirk Nowitzki played 21 seasons for the Dallas Mavericks, becoming one of the most recognizable players in franchise history. However, some of the younger fans attending the team’s 2026 Community Tip-Off had a question for the Mavericks legend.

“I’m sure some of these kids didn’t know who I was because they asked,” Nowitzki said. “Some of them asked me, ‘Did you play for the Mavs?’ I think so, when your parents were around.”

It was one of many interactions that took place Monday afternoon as the Mavericks brought their 2026 Community Tip-Off directly to the people of Southern Dallas at Halperin Park in Oak Cliff.

Thousands of children had the opportunity to play basketball, enjoy festivities and spend time with their favorite Mavericks players and legends at the free community event, presented by Ticketmaster.

Mavericks president of business operations Ethan Casson spoke about the planning that went into bringing the celebration to Oak Cliff and the organization’s desire to create something different for the community.

“I think what we wanted to do for this season was really establish something that was about creating something more substantial, being very intentional with our efforts,” Casson said. “What if we showed up in a very grand way?”

That vision helped bring the Mavericks to Halperin Park, a bridge park constructed over Interstate 35E to reconnect Oak Cliff neighborhoods that had been separated by the highway for decades.

“We recognize what this park physically represents, which is connecting communities,” Casson said. “And when you’re able to visit, which we did with April and her team, the vision started to come to life.”

The park officially opened in May after years of planning, fundraising and community involvement. The Mavericks saw an opportunity to bring basketball and entertainment to a space created to strengthen relationships between neighborhoods.

April Allen, president and CEO of the Southern Gateway Public Green Foundation, appreciated the organization choosing Oak Cliff for its season-opening celebration.

“For the Mavs to come here to Oak Cliff, to spend the time, energy and resources that you see here is really a testament to their commitment to community,” Allen said. “We’re so grateful and honored that they chose us for this experience.”

The Mavs Foundation also presented a $50,000 grant to Halperin Park during the celebration, providing additional financial support for the community space.

Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert attended the event and emphasized the importance of bringing celebrations and resources to Southern Dallas rather than leaving communities behind.

“We’ve got to continue to make sure that our community members are not left behind, and we’ve got to take things and be bold about going and being a part of community assets like Halperin Park,” Tolbert said.

The park represents an opportunity for neighborhoods to reconnect while creating a space where residents can gather and build relationships.

“I see that park as now a bridge that’s going to help us do that, even at a higher level,” Tolbert said.

Nowitzki also recognized the significance of the park and the investment that went into bringing the project to life.

“We all know what this park means to Dallas,” Nowitzki said. “Obviously, it’s been a project that’s been in the works for a long, long time.”

The Mavericks transformed Halperin Park into a gathering place filled with children playing basketball, visiting food vendors and interacting with players they had watched throughout the season.

Casson estimated approximately 3,000 children participated in the Community Tip-Off, including students from kindergarten through sixth-grade after-school programs.

Parents, teachers, local businesses and nonprofit organizations also attended, helping bring different parts of the Southern Dallas community together for the afternoon.

Approximately 200 Mavericks staff members helped organize the celebration, along with basketball operations personnel and corporate partners. Casson emphasized that bringing the entire organization together was an important part of making the event possible.

“When I say it was all hands on deck, it was all hands on deck,” Casson said. “It was really just one goal. How do we make it grand?”

Once the celebration began, the players had opportunities to interact with young fans and share messages about pursuing their dreams.

Mavericks forward Morez Johnson Jr. was among those who took the opportunity to encourage children to believe in themselves and work toward their goals.

“I think it means a lot, you know, to give these kids a lot to look up to,” Johnson said.

Johnson also reflected on messages shared with the children by his teammates, including P.J. Washington, Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg, about working hard and remaining focused on their dreams.

As one of the newer members of the Mavericks organization, Johnson appreciated the welcome he received and the chance to begin building relationships with the Dallas community.

“They welcomed me with open arms,” Johnson said. “I’m excited to get a chance to spend some time with these kids when I’m done with the interviews. I’m grateful to be here.”

For Casson, having players interact with children was one of the most meaningful parts of the celebration. He believes many athletes can relate to the experiences of young fans because of the coaches, teachers and mentors who helped shape their lives.

“To see your superheroes in person and know that those superheroes raised their hand and said they want to be here and be a part of it for this group is pretty special,” Casson said.

Nowitzki has experienced that relationship with Mavericks fans for more than two decades. Although some of the children were too young to remember his playing career, he appreciated the opportunity to connect with another generation.

“It’s cool to still get embraced by the city that I’ve played for for so long and now is my home,” Nowitzki said. “So definitely special. It means a lot.”

While the Community Tip-Off helped introduce the Mavericks to another generation of fans, the organization hopes to continue bringing similar celebrations to neighborhoods throughout Dallas.

Casson said the team plans to make the event an annual tradition, with future celebrations taking place in different communities.

“This is just the beginning,” Casson said. “This celebration we plan to bring to different communities, special communities throughout Dallas, year after year after year.”

The organization’s plans to visit other neighborhoods will not end its involvement in Southern Dallas. Casson emphasized that the Mavericks intend to continue supporting the community through additional programs, resources and investments.

Halperin Park was built to reconnect neighborhoods that had been separated for decades. On Monday, it also brought together generations of Mavericks fans, from those who watched Nowitzki throughout his career to children meeting him and the current team for the first time.

The Mavericks came to Oak Cliff to celebrate the beginning of the 2026-27 NBA season, but their goal extends beyond one afternoon of basketball and entertainment.

For Casson, the lasting impact of the celebration will depend on the organization’s willingness to continue showing up for the communities it serves.

“I think it’s important when you do any event, big or small, that it’s not a one-off,” Casson said. “This is about showing up again and again and again in different ways.”

The post Dallas Mavericks Unite Players, Legends and the Oak Cliff Community at 2026 Community Tip-Off appeared first on Dallas Weekly.

Based on reporting by The Dallas Weekly.

N.C. Central University snapped its three-game losing streak Friday, defeating Delaware State University 31-12.

After three consecutive losses, the Eagles entered Friday’s game determined to turn their season around. NCCU played with confidence, communicated effectively and showed greater consistency on both sides of the ball.

The Eagles’ offense struggled to maintain consistency early in the game but gradually found its rhythm, building momentum and moving the ball down the field. Despite allowing the Hornets to score an early touchdown, the Eagles remained focused and continued to fight.

Freshman running back Gino Addison recorded 214 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while sophomore running back Zion Dobson contributed 57 rushing yards and a touchdown.

Sophomore quarterback Cobey Thompkins also connected with fifth-year tight end Luke Bracey for a touchdown, adding to the Eagles’ offensive production.

Freshman specialist kicker Riley Daniels continued to deliver on extra-point attempts following touchdowns. Daniels also made an important tackle during a kickoff against the Hornets, contributing beyond his kicking duties.

The Eagles’ defense remained strong throughout the game, making it difficult for the Hornets to advance the ball and forcing them to punt multiple times.

Freshman defensive back Amari Sifford recorded two interceptions, while senior defensive lineman Zarion Walters contributed a sack to help limit Delaware State’s offensive opportunities.

The Eagles ability to maintain their composure and build momentum helped them secure the 31-12 victory over Delaware State University.

The Eagles enter next week with the record of 3-5.

NCCU will face Howard on October 31st against Howard at O’Kelly – Riddick Stadium streamed on ESPN+.

The post NCCU snap three – game losing streak with win over Delaware State University first appeared on Campus Echo Online.

Based on reporting by North Carolina Central University – Campus Echo.