Reactions: "We'll head to Bergamo full of confidence next week"
Julian Brandt (in the mixed zone): "Overall, we're satisfied with the game. I would have liked us to have scored another goal in the second half. I think we had one or two more chances that we could have taken. A 2-0 lead is a bit tricky. But it also gives you a bit of security because you've kept a clean sheet and scored two goals. Overall, we're satisfied and will head to Bergamo full of confidence next week."
Alvaro Arbeloa: “We cannot allow this to happen on a football pitch in 2026”
Real Madrid head coach Alvaro Arbeloa spoke to the media after his team’s 1-0 win over Benfica on Tuesday. He was asked about Prestianni’s remarks on Vinicius Jr, to which he said: “You need to ask the Benfica player. We all deserve to hear his answer. It’s clear that there must be no tolerance for racism. We cannot allow things like this to happen on a football pitch in 2026.”
Arbeloa on what he said to Vinicius Jr
“All I told him was that if he wanted to keep playing, we’d be by his side, whatever decision he made. Always by his side. We rode together, we died together, and when something like this happens, we’re always there for him. We’ll always fight together, just like today.”
Arbeloa on whether they considered leaving the pitch
“The referee told me he didn’t hear anything and couldn’t do anything. It was Vinicius’s decision. We can’t tolerate this kind of behaviour. Of course, we would have stood by him.”
Arbeloa on Jose Mourinho’s quotes about provocation
“I didn’t see Vini’s celebration. I did see the amazing goal, though. I think José, when he finds out what happened and what his player said, will be the first to say he won’t allow it. Zero tolerance, and we’re very happy with the team. This is the Real Madrid we want to see.”
Arbeloa on how Vinicius Jr is doing
“Good. The sad thing is, it’s not the first time. Vini isn’t just a spectacular player, but a guy everyone loves. When you get to know him, you realise what a good person he is. He’s always had to overcome situations like this, and we’ll be there for him.”
Arbeloa on whether he believes Vinicius Jr
“I believe what Vini says. Of course. I would never doubt Vini’s words.”
Arbeloa on the game
“Yes. The first half was very good, and we deserved a few more goals. Everything changed after that. We kept trying to create chances. They exposed themselves more, and we lost control. But we saw the Madrid we want to be playing very well, a very solid team that puts in a lot of effort. I’m very happy with the difference compared to the game three weeks ago.”
Arbeloa on the return leg
“Don’t make the mistake of writing off a Mourinho-coached team at 0-1. They’re already preparing for the next match, and this Benfica side won’t let us let up. The Bernabéu will be waiting for Benfica, and that will be crucial. We have 90 minutes of great football ahead of us.”
Arbeloa on Arda Güler
“Arda is a player with qualities that help us a lot. He’s able to link Vini with Kylian. He’s special, different. He’s becoming very important, and his development benefits us. These matches help him grow, and I’m very happy and proud to have a guy like him.”
Arbeloa on what he was worried about with Benfica
“I was worried watching my team. The match three weeks ago was the furthest we’ve been from where we should be, and this one was the closest. Benfica really ran at us on the counter-attack; they were fast. And it wasn’t just about defending, but about attacking with more organisation. And we did that; we finished a lot of chances. There’s room for improvement, but this is the right path.”
Arbeloa on Aurelien Tchouameni
“Spectacular, not just today. He’s been playing at a high level for several matches since I arrived. We’re improving him a lot, getting him into the opposition’s half with the ball.”
Arbeloa on Trent-Valverde-Güler
“These are synergies that we try to work on. Those three players on the right are doing very well. They complement each other and are doing a great job.”
Arbeloa on Kylian Mbappé
“He’s been sidelined for many days. Knee problems are preventing him from performing at 100%. But he’s the best in the world, and at 80% he still is. We appreciate his effort.”
Jaden Rashada, Billy Napier and others settle breach of contract suit over $14M NIL deal
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Quarterback Jaden Rashada's lawsuit against former Florida coach Billy Napier and three other defendants regarding a failed name, image and likeness deal worth nearly $14 million has been settled.
Court documents show the case was formally settled Tuesday when a mediation report was delivered. The sides held a mediation conference early last week. Napier, now the coach at James Madison, was in town for his deposition. The judge had set a trial date for July.
Details of the settlement were not released.
Rashada sued Napier, Florida booster Hugh Hathcock, Hathcock's former company, Velocity Automotive, and Marcus Castro-Walker, the program’s former director of player engagement, in federal court in Pensacola in 2024.
He accused Napier, Hathcock, Velocity and Castro-Walker of fraudulent misrepresentation and inducement, aiding and abetting fraud, civil conspiracy to commit fraud, negligent misrepresentations, tortious interference with a business relationship or contract, aiding and abetting tortious interference and vicarious liability. The complaint requested a jury trial and damages of at least $10 million.
The NCAA began investigating Florida in 2023 regarding Rashada’s recruitment. The NCAA asked the school not to conduct its own investigation and said it would notify the institution “soon regarding the projected timeline of the investigation.”
But the following year, the NCAA halted investigations into booster-backed collectives or other third parties making NIL compensation deals with Division I athletes following lawsuits. The decision came after a federal judge granted a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit brought by the attorneys general of Tennessee and Virginia. The antitrust suit challenged NCAA rules against recruiting inducements, saying they inhibit athletes’ ability to cash in on their celebrity and fame.
The lawsuit, though, landed the Gators back in the spotlight.
Rashada, who threw for 5,275 yards and 59 touchdowns at Pittsburg (California) High School, initially agreed to play for Miami in the fall of 2022. According to the lawsuit, the Hurricanes promised Rashada a $9.5 million NIL deal.
But Napier and Hathcock lured Rashada away from Miami with a $13.85 million NIL deal that violated NCAA bylaws, the suit said. Rashada’s deal was with the Gator Collective, an independent fundraising group that was loosely tied to the university and paid student-athletes for use of their NIL. The Gator Collective has since been disbanded.
The lawsuit accused Napier of vouching for the Gator Collective and promising Rashada $1 million on signing day.
Rashada was granted his release a month after his NIL deal fell through. He later signed with his father’s alma mater, Arizona State. He spent 2023 there, transferred to Georgia in 2024, transferred to Sacramento State in 2025 and is now at Mississippi State.
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AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll
UFL 2026: Full Regular-Season Schedule Released for All 8 Teams
The 2026 UFL season is set to kick off on Friday, March 27, when FOX Sports returns with FOX UFL Friday, and will consist of a 10-week regular season ending on May 31, followed by playoffs starting the week of June 7 and the championship game later that month. There are new teams, new coaches, new players and new uniforms this season — and that's just the beginning. The league’s media partners — FOX, FS1, ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 — combine to broadcast all 43 games during the UFL’s third season. Select games in Spanish will also air across FOX Deportes and ESPN Deportes. Single-game tickets will be available to the public on Monday, February 2, starting at 11 a.m. ET. Fans may access information about season, group and suite ticket packages here. Here are the full 2026 schedules for all eight UFL teams: Week 1 (March 27-29) [UFL 2026: New, Updated Uniforms and Colorways for All 8 Teams] Week 2 (April 3-7) [UFL 2026: Every Player Drafted by Position for All 8 Teams] Week 3 (April 10-12) [UFL 2026: Anthony Becht, AJ McCarron, Ted Ginn Jr. Headline New Head Coaches] Week 4 (April 16-18) Week 5 (April 24-26) Week 6 (April 30-May 3) Week 7 (May 8-10) Week 8 (May 15-17) Week 9 (May 22-24) Week 10 (May 29-31)
No. 1 Michigan Beats Purdue 91-80 in Big Ten Showdown
Aday Mara recorded 10 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Wolverines' dominant interior play against a Purdue team missing Zach Edey. Michigan secured their 11th straight victory, moving 3.5 games ahead of Purdue in the Big Ten standings.