THURSDAY SPORTS, OCTOBER 23, 2025
MITCHELL KERNELS
— Mitchell Kernels football ends the season at home vs. No. 2 Yankton on Thursday night at 7 pm. The KORNer Booth pregame show starts at 6 pm on KORN News Radio.
— Mitchell Kernels volleyball will be at Tea Area on Friday at 6:30 pm on KORN.
DAKOTA WESLEYAN
— Dakota Wesleyan women’s basketball is ranked No. 9 in the NAIA preseason poll for the upcoming 2024-25 season. The Tigers, who finished last season ranked No. 13 and made it to the second round of the national tournament, are also ranked second in the GPAC preseason poll. DWU is one of four GPAC teams in the preseason top 25, alongside Dordt (No. 1), Hastings (No. 12), and Briar Cliff (No. 20).
— Dakota Wesleyan volleyball picked up a 3-1 road win on Wednesday at Waldorf (25-22, 26-24, 20-25, 28-26). The Tigers improve to 14-9 on the season and 8-5 in the GPAC. Evy Knoblock had a match-high 19 kills. DWU hosts Northwestern on Friday night at 7:30 pm.
— Dakota Wesleyan’s Lizzie Tyler was named the GPAC Defender of the Week for the second straight week on Wednesday. Tyler had a season-high 35 digs in a four-set victory over Morningside, along with 21 digs against Concordia.
— Dakota Wesleyan men’s soccer was shutout on Wednesday, losing 1-0 at Briar Cliff. The Tigers will be at Bellevue on Saturday at 3 pm.
— Dakota Wesleyan women’s soccer picked up a 4-2 win on Wednesday at Briar Cliff. The Tigers will be at the College of St. Mary on Saturday at 1 pm.
— Dakota Wesleyan football hosts Waldorf for homecoming on Saturday at 2 pm.
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
— SDSU’s Brooklyn Meyer was named to the preseason watch list for the 2026 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award on Wednesday. Meyer is one of 25 representatives on the preseason watch list. Meyer averaged 17 points and 5.9 rebounds per game as a junior last season and earned an honorable mention All-America nod from the WBCA.
— South Dakota State basketball makes its 2025-26 debut on Wednesday, Oct. 29, for the ninth annual SDSU Tipoff. The event, which gives fans the first chance to meet this year’s men’s and women’s SDSU basketball teams, will be held in conjunction with an exhibition doubleheader. The Jackrabbit women host Augustana at 6 p.m., while the Jackrabbit men host Mayville State at 8:30 p.m. Tickets will be required for all fans, but children (K-8th grade) will receive complimentary admission to the event with the purchase of an adult ticket. The event will feature a costume contest, Trick-or-Treat for the kids, a Junior Jacks slam dunk contest, a knockout contest with SDSU students and much more.
— South Dakota State volleyball hosts Oral Roberts on Thursday at 7 pm. The Jackrabbits lead the Summit League with an 8-0 conference record, two games better than second place St. Thomas.
— South Dakota State women’s soccer will be at Kansas City on Thursday at 7 pm. The Jacks are 3-1-2 in the Summit League, currently in third place with two matches remaining in the regular season.
— No. 2 South Dakota State hosts top-ranked North Dakota State in the annual Dakota Marker game on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 7 pm. on ESPNU. The Jackrabbit pregame show is at 5 pm on KORN News Radio.
SOUTH DAKOTA
— USD volleyball host Denver on Thursday at 7 pm.
— USD women’s soccer will be at Omaha on Thursday at 7 pm.
— USD football hosts Illinois State next Saturday at 1 pm.
NBA
— Anthony Edwards had 41 points as the Minnesota Timberwolves rallied late in the fourth quarter for a 118-114 season-opening win over the Portland Trail Blazers. Edwards, who set a career high last season with an average of 27 points, was questionable for the game because of back spasms, but started. Edwards three-pointer gave Minnesota a 114-112 lead and Rudy Gobert’s dunk with 32 seconds left sealed the win.
— OG Anunoby had 24 points and 14 rebounds, while Jalen Brunson scored 23 points as the New York Knicks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 119-111 on Wednesday night in their first game under head coach Mike Brown. Karl-Anthony Towns added 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Knicks, who blew a 17-point lead in the first half, then regained the lead for good with a 14-0 run early in the fourth quarter. Donovan Mitchell finished with 31 points, 21 in the third quarter, for Cleveland.
— Victor Wembanyama had 40 points and 15 rebounds leading the San Antonio Spurs past the Dallas Mavericks 125-92 Dallas rookie Cooper Flagg, the second-youngest player to start in his NBA debut by two days behind LeBron James, didn’t score until the first possession of the second half, finishing with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Anthony Davis had 22 points and 13 rebounds for the Mavericks.
— Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey scored 40 points and rookie V.J. Edgecombe added 34 in his NBA debut to help the 76ers beat the Boston Celtics 117-116 in their season opener. Edgecombe scored the most points in an NBA debut since Wilt Chamberlain had 43 in 1959.
MLB
— The San Francisco Giants are hiring University of Tennessee head baseball coach Tony Vitello as their manager for his first professional coaching job. It’s a bold gamble by San Francisco executive Buster Posey on a coach with no previous experience in the pros. The 47-year-old Vitello is making the jump after spending his entire career at the college level. He guided Tennessee to their first NCAA title last year. The Giants went 81-81 this season under Bob Melvin.
NFL
— Quarterback Drew Brees and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald have advanced to the next stage of consideration for the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame class in their first year of eligibility. Six other players in their first year of eligibility have also advanced from the original list of 128 modern-era nominees to the 52 that will be considered by the full selection committee. The full selection committee will reduce the list to 25 and then 15 finalists, who will be voted on by the committee before the Super Bowl in February.
— Quarterback Jayden Daniels will miss the Washington Commanders’ game at the Kansas City Chiefs because of an injured right hamstring and Marcus Mariota will start in his place. Washington has lost two games in a row heading into Sunday’s game at Kansas City. Daniels had an MRI exam a day after leaving in the third quarter of Washington’s 44-22 loss at Dallas on Sunday.
— Lamar Jackson has returned to the practice field for the Baltimore Ravens after missing two games with a hamstring injury. The Ravens have been holding out hope that Jackson’s return can help save their season after four straight losses. Baltimore hosts the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
— An Indianapolis judge has confirmed a Dec. 11 trial date for Fox Sports analyst and former NFL QB Mark Sanchez. He’s charged with attacking a truck driver outside an Indianapolis hotel over a parking dispute on Oct. 4. The pretrial conference on Wednesday was brief, and Sanchez, who’s recovering from his injuries, was not present.
GOLF
— Golf legend Jack Nicklaus has won a $50 million verdict in a defamation lawsuit filed in Florida against his former business partners. A six-person jury found that the Nicklaus Companies had damaged the 18-time major champion’s reputation and exposed him to ridicule, hatred, mistrust, distrust or contempt. Nicklaus Companies owner and executive chairman Howard Milstein and executive Andrew O’Brien were also named individually as defendants, but jurors did not find them personally liable. According to the lawsuit, Nicklaus claimed that Milstein, O’Brien and others at the company spread false stories that Nicklaus considered a $750 million deal to join the Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf League and that he was suffering from dementia and no longer mentally fit to manage his affairs.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
— The NCAA approved a rule change on Wednesday that will allow athletes and athletic department staff members to bet on professional sports. Two weeks after the Division I cabinet approved the change, Division II and III management councils signed off on it, allowing the new rule to go into effect Nov. 1. This doesn’t change the NCAA rule which forbids athletes from betting on college sports. The NCAA also prohibits sharing information about college competitions with bettors. The institution also doesn’t accept advertising or sponsorships of NCAA championships by betting sites.
— The Southeastern Conference has fined Texas A&M $50,000 for violating its policy on faking injuries during games. The league also reprimanded coach Mike Elko for allowing cornerback Tyreek Chappell to feign an injury during the Aggies’ 45-42 win at Arkansas on Saturday. It happened with less than 13 minutes remaining in the game, when the Razorbacks completed a pass deep in A&M territory with the Aggies leading 38-27. Chappell was not in on the tackle and gave no indication he was hurt until he went to the ground and pointed to his right leg, stopping play. Texas A&M was flagged and charged a timeout because he presented as injured after the ball was spotted.
— The Big 12 Conference fined Arizona State $50,000 and publicly reprimanded the school after its fans stormed the field following Saturday’s win over No. 14 Texas Tech. Arizona State’s fans poured out of the stands after the Sun Devils rallied to beat the Red Raiders 26-22.
— The Music City Bowl in Nashville has a new title sponsor with Liberty Mutual Insurance taking over for the game pitting teams from the SEC and Big Ten. Th bowl, which started in 1998, will be played Dec. 30 at Nissan Stadium.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL – SATURDAY
No. 2 Indiana vs. UCLA, 11 am on FOX
No. 13 Oklahoma vs. No. 8 Ole Miss, 11 am on ABC
Nebraska vs. Northwestern, 11 am on FS1
Iowa vs. Minnesota, 2:30 pm on CBS
South Carolina vs. No. 4 Alabama, 2:30 pm on ABC
No. 10 Vanderbilt vs. No. 15 Missouri, 2:30 pm on ESPN
Iowa State vs. No. 11 BYU, 2:30 pm on FOX
No. 20 LSU vs. No. 3 Texas A&M, 6:30 pm on ABC
NFL – SUNDAY
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Minnesota Vikings, 7:15 pm on Amazon, Thursday
Baltimore Ravens vs. Chicago Bears, Noon on CBS
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants, Noon on FOX
Denver Broncos vs. Dallas Cowboys, 3:25 pm on CBS
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Green Bay Packers, 7:20 pm on NBC
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Washington Commanders, 7:15 pm on ABC/ESPN, Monday Night Football
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS – THURSDAY
CLASS 11B
No. 1 Elk Point Jefferson (8-0) vs. No. 16 Flandreau (2-6)
No. 8 Sioux Valley (4-4) vs. No. 9 Parker (5-3)
No. 4 Deuel (7-1) vs. No. 13 McCook Central/Montrose (5-3)
No. 5 Wagner (6-2) vs. No. 12 Chamberlain (4-5)
No. 2 St. Thomas More (8-0) vs. No. 15 Hot Springs (4-4)
No. 7 Mt. Vernon/Plankinton (4-4) vs. No. 10 Mobridge-Pollock (6-2) – Q107.3
No. 3 Clark/Willow Lake (7-1) vs. No. 14 Groton Area (3-5)
No. 6 Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central (7-1) vs. No. 11 Winner (5-4) – KORN Country 92.1
CLASS 9AA
No. 1 Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy (8-0) vs. No. 16 Garretson (3-5)
No. 8 Britton-Hecla (6-2) vs. No. 9 Kimball/White Lake (5-3)
No. 4 Hill City (7-1) vs. No. 13 Great Plains Lutheran (4-4)
No. 5 Hamlin (7-1) vs. No. 12 Scotland/Menno (4-4)
No. 2 Elkton-Lake Benton (7-1) vs. No. 15 De Smet (3-5)
No. 7 Viborg-Hurley (6-2) vs. No. 10 Hanson (4-4)
No. 3 Parkston (7-1) vs. No. 14 Bennett County (3-5)
No. 6 Bon Homme (6-2) vs. No. 11 Gregory (4-4)
CLASS 9A
No. 1 Wall (8-0) vs. No. 16 Lemmon/McIntosh (3-5)
No. 8 Castlewood (7-1) vs. No. 9 Dupree (6-2)
No. 4 Phillip (6-1) vs. No. 12 Estelline/Hendricks (4-4)
No. 5 Ipswich (7-1) vs. No. 12 Harding County/Bison (5-3)
No. 2 Warner (8-0) vs. No. 15 Timber Lake (3-5)
No. 7 Howard (6-2) vs. No. 10 Centerville (5-3)
No. 3 Alcester-Hudson (6-2) vs. No. 15 Deubrook Area (3-5)
No. 6 Platte-Geddes (7-2) vs. No. 11 Lyman (4-4)
CLASS 9B
No. 1 Dell Rapids St. Mary’s (8-0) vs. No. 16 Irene-Wakonda (1-7)
No. 8 Kadoka Area (4-4) vs. No. 9 Corsica-Stickney (5-3)
No. 4 Faulkton Area (5-3) vs. No. 13 Burke (3-5)
No. 5 Sully Buttes (7-1) vs. No. 12 Hitchcock-Tulare (3-5)
No. 2 Avon (7-1) vs. No. 15 Oldham-Ramona-Rutland (2-6)
No. 7 Sioux Falls Lutheran (5-2) vs. No. 10 Iroquois/Lake Preston (5-3)
No. 3 Colman-Egan (5-3) vs. No. 14 Arlington (3-5)
No. 6 Herreid/Selby Area (6-2) vs. No. 11 Canistota (3-5)
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL – THURSDAY
Class 11AAA
1. Brandon Valley vs. 3. SF Jefferson
2. SF Lincoln vs. 4. Harrisburg
5. O’Gorman vs. SF Roosevelt
Rapid City Central vs. Rapid City Stevens
Class 11AA
1. Huron at Brookings
2. Yankton at Mitchell
3. Pierre vs. Douglas
4. Spearfish at Sturgis
5. Tea Area at SF Washington
Aberdeen Central vs. Watertown
Class 11A
1. SF Christian vs. Dakota Valley
2. Dell Rapids vs. 3. Lennox
4. Madison at Milbank
5. West Central at Vermillion
HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL – FRIDAY
Bridgewater-Emery vs. Sanborn Central/Woonsocket
Kimball/White Lake vs. Wessington Springs
Hanson vs. Viborg-Hurley
Corsica-Stickney vs. Scotland
Howard vs. Sioux Falls Lutheran
Canistota vs. McCook Central/Montrose
Miller vs. Ethan
No. 3 Brandon Valley vs. Douglas
No. 3 Brandon Valley vs. Rapid City Central
No. 3 Brandon Valley vs. Sturgis
Watertown vs. Sturgis (Brandon)
Brookings vs. Rapid City Central (Brandon)
Watertown vs. Douglas (Brandon)
Brookings vs. Sturgis (Brandon)
Watertown vs. Rapid City Central (Brandon)
Brookings vs. Douglas (Brandon)
No. 1 Harrisburg vs. Rapid City Stevens
No. 1 Harrisburg vs. Spearfish
Yankton vs. Spearfish (Harrisburg)
Yankton vs. Rapid City Stevens (Harrisburg)
No. 2 O’Gorman vs. Pierre
SF Jefferson vs. SF Roosevelt