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PARADISE VALLEY, AZ – He’s clearly tired of getting dragged into these hypotheticals, the delicious soundbites feeding the starving masses.

But since everyone wants an answer, Pete Golding finally relented the day before the biggest game in Ole Miss history. Before we find out if this storybook, screw you ride continues for a team, a university and a community hell-bent on exposing the one thing we’ve all overlooked. 

Did Lane Kiffin make Ole Miss, or did Ole Miss make Kiffin?

“I don’t have a message for anybody else,” Golding said — because that’s how he has played the past month as the new Ole Miss coach. Stick to the script, coach the team, win the day. 

And then it happened. 

“I do think the message is I’m replaceable,” Golding continued. “You’re replaceable. Our players are replaceable. You want to build a program where it’s headed in the right direction, and one person or one player is not going to derail that.”

Let me explain for those not skilled at reading between the lines: the Ole Miss team, the program, is more than Lane Kiffin. 

In fact, it may very well be better off without him.

If this team was built Kiffin-centric, it falls apart in the College Football Playoff — instead of winning two games to set up a Fiesta Bowl semifinal showdown with Miami.

Instead of the team’s biggest and brightest players — including star quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and tailback Kewan Lacy — committing to return to Oxford next season. They and many others on the Ole Miss roster have been actively recruited by Kiffin to join him at LSU, not long after he left Oxford for the bright lights and championship history of the school that just fired its coach after he won 34 games in three and a half seasons.

When you think about it, there’s really no decision to be made. Stay at Ole Miss, or leave for LSU and play for the coach who flat left you to fend for yourselves in the biggest moments of your playing careers?

Or leave for the coach who, prior to this season, hadn’t proven to be an elite coach. Hadn’t proven he could build a championship roster at the Power conference level. 

His best team — even better than this year’s white-hot group — did what his teams seem to always do: play down to competition. The 2024 Ole Miss team could’ve made the CFP and advanced this far if it didn’t collapse at home against an awful Kentucky team, and to a reeling Florida team in Gainesville.

And while Kiffin was set on the transition of former five-star quarterback recruit Austin Simmons for 2025, Ole Miss offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. found Chambliss at Division II Ferris State, and convinced him to join the Rebels as a backup. Hey, you never know what could happen. 

“There’s a plan for everything,” Chambliss said. 

This is beginning to feel like the Ole Miss plan all along. Find the one coach who can illuminate the path to winning and convince high-rolling boosters to bankroll it, and then get there and squeeze the life out of the moment. 

Kiffin showed the path, did the heavy lifting and got Ole Miss to the party. Then Golding took over and began producing a sweet symphony that only underscored the undeniable reality of sports. 

“It’s always about the players,” said Ole Miss associate head coach Joe Judge. “There’s a reason coaches aren’t out there playing. We’re here drinking coffee and eating potato chips.”

Or doing daily hot yoga sesh, and avoiding red meat.

Look, I’m not trying to minimize what Kiffin accomplished at Ole Miss. The results paint a clear picture of where it was in Oxford before he arrived in 2020, and what it became.

He had four double-digit win seasons in the past five, an unheard of string of success at a school that has never played in the SEC championship game, and hasn’t won a conference championship game since the days of legendary coach Johnny Vaught.  

He marketed the hell out of the program — “Come to the ‘Sip” — and made it hip to play in a tiny southern town where life moves as slow and sweet as sugarcane molasses. He embraced the transfer portal quickly and with robust intent while most other coaches complained about it. 

But understand this: He was given free reign at Ole Miss by an athletic director and a president that said yes to everything. 

Want to place a Ferrari in front of the Carrier House, the stately Oxford mansion and home of the university president for decades, to attract recruits? Why not.

Or an expanded staff of analysts to help build out recruiting and development, a staff so deep with coaching experience that some of those analysts could move to on-field roles while Kiffin played games with what coaches would be allowed to leave LSU and coach Ole Miss during the CFP.

Or an NIL war chest so deep, Ole Miss could annually rebuild and turn over a roster through the transfer portal, and then supplement with high school recruiting. Or the exact opposite of how championship teams are typically built.

Give all of that to many FBS coaches, and watch what happens. For every Kiffin, there will obviously be more like Billy Napier, who received the same framework from Florida and failed miserably. 

But there are also coaches like Golding, who bust their tails for years in the NCAA lower divisions, get a job at the FBS level as an assistant, and then one day find themselves staring at an opportunity they could only dream of early in their career.

Ole Miss lost at Georgia in October under Kiffin, and came back two months later — against an improved Georgia defense — and beat the Bulldogs in the Sugar Bowl quarterfinal under Golding. Does that mean the Rebels are better off without Kiffin?

Not by a long shot.

But it does mean everybody is replaceable. 

When is Fiesta Bowl? What TV channel is Ole Miss vs Miami on?

The Fiesta Bowl is 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 8 and the main broadcast will be on ESPN.

CFP schedule, bracket

Here’s the CFP schedule with the bracket moving into the semifinals:

  • CFP semifinal Fiesta Bowl: No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 10 Miami, 7:30 p.m. ET, Thursday, Jan. 8, State Farm Stadium (Glendale, Arizona); ESPN (Fubo)
  • CFP semifinal Peach Bowl: No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 5 Oregon, 7:30 p.m. ET, Friday, Jan. 9, Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta); ESPN (Fubo)
  • National championship game: No. 1 Indiana/No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 6 Ole Miss/No. 10 Miami, 7:30 p.m. ET, Monday, Jan. 19, Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Florida); ESPN (Fubo)
This post appeared first on USA TODAY

The Atlanta Hawks have traded guard Trae Young to the Washington Wizards for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert, a person with knowledge of the deal told USA TODAY Sports.

The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deal was not yet official.

Young was in his eighth season with the Hawks, but the signs that his tenure was coming to a close had become apparent in recent months. He leaves as the franchise’s all-time leader in assists (4,837) and 3-pointers (1,295).

Young has only played in 10 games this season and did not play on Wednesday due to a quad injury. Reports of the trade emerged during the team’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans and Young was seen being embraced by members of the organization.

The four-time NBA All-Star has averaged 19.3 points, 8.9 assists and 1.5 rebounds per game this season.

Entering Thursday’s game, the Hawks had an 18-21 record this season and were ninth in the Eastern Conference standings. When Young is not in the lineup, though, the Hawks have produced a 16-13 record.

The trade will keep Young in the Eastern Conference, joining the Wizards, who have a 10-26 record and are 14th out of 15 teams in the conference standings.

Trae Young trade grades

Wizards

Young helps provide an offensive spark to a team that’s struggled in recent seasons and has been missing a superstar-level player on the roster since Bradley Beal’s departure after the 2022-23 season.

Young is not known for his defensive ability and could be seen as a liability on that end of the floor. He also could be a free agent after the season, owning a player option for 2026-27.

Grade: B

Hawks

McCollum may not be the standout player he was during his days in Portland, but he will bring a veteran presence to the locker room in Atlanta, which is one of the younger teams in the NBA this season. On the court, he’s averaged 18.8 points, 3.6 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game in 35 games played.

Kispert played the first five seasons of his career in Washington. After playing in 80 games during the 2023-24 season, he played just 61 last season and didn’t start a game. He started two of the 19 games he played in for the Wizards this season. He has averaged 10.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists during his career. Kispert did not play on Tuesday due to a hamstring injury and McCollum also sat.

Grade: B

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

When asked about the non-conference schedule after the LSU women’s basketball team’s loss at Vanderbilt, Kim Mulkey said the quiet part out loud.

“If we hadn’t played that schedule, we might be sitting here with a lot of losses,’ Mulkey said.

Indeed. And now, SEC play is underway and LSU’s schedule is a whole lot tougher. The average NET ranking of LSU’s opponents so far is 270th in the nation, which is the second-worst in the SEC to only Georgia.

Through two games — losses to Kentucky and Vanderbilt — it seems like LSU isn’t as good as what their unblemished non-conference record was saying. And the Tigers’ schedule doesn’t get any easier.

The Tigers will host undefeated Texas on Sunday (3 p.m. ET, ESPN), another measuring stick game for Mulkey’s team. A week into January, LSU’s ceiling is unclear.

The opposite feels true for Texas, which tested themselves in non-conference action and passed with flying colors. The Longhorns own wins over six ranked teams and could make LSU their next victim. Led by Madison Booker, Rori Harmon and Jordan Lee, coach Vic Schaefer’s squad has the look and feel of a team capable of reaching its second consecutive Final Four.

So far, the same can’t be said for LSU, which has lost in the Elite Eight in back-to-back seasons since winning the 2023 national title with a team powered by Angel Reese. The Tigers lead the nation in scoring, but lost the rebounding battle to Kentucky by double figures and then committed an astounding 22 turnovers against Vanderbilt.

LSU’s problems are just now being exposed in January. The time to fix them is running out.

Here’s the other games to watch in women’s college basketball this weekend:

Game that could shake up national rankings: Oklahoma at Kentucky

4 p.m. ET, Sunday (SEC Network)

This game could be billed as a literal clash of the titans. On one side you have Raegan Beers, the 6-foot-4 post for the Sooners who is averaging 17.4 points and 10.8 rebounds a game while shooting 59% from the floor. On the other end is Clara Strack, the reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year posting 16.8 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game. Both teams also have dynamic guards, with rookie Aaliyah Chavez shining for Oklahoma and veteran Tonie Morgan guiding Kentucky with superb passing. Kentucky will have to grapple with the absence of starting forward Teonni Key, who is out with an elbow injury.

Must-watch player matchup: North Carolina at Notre Dame

1 p.m. ET, Sunday (ESPN)

Hannah Hidalgo has been the one-woman wrecking crew for the undermanned Fighting Irish this season. She’s second in the nation in scoring with 25.3 points per game and first in steals with 5.9. She and Notre Dame will be going up against a North Carolina team led by sophomore center Ciera Toomey and senior wing Indya Nivar. Toomey is making a case for the ACC’s Most Improved Player, as she’s shooting 74.2% inside the arc, which is third nationally. And like Hidalgo, Nivar has garnered a reputation for being adept at picking pockets, posting 3.3 steals per game.

Mid-major matchup worth watching: Davidson at Richmond

6 p.m. ET, Saturday, (ESPN)

There’s a good chance the Atlantic 10 is a multi-bid league for the NCAA Tournament again this season, and the Wildcats and Spiders are jockeying for position atop the conference standings. Katie Donovan, a junior guard for Davidson, is shooting north of 50% from 3-point land this season. For Richmond, Maggie Doogan is a 6-foot-2 Swiss army knife who is the only player in the nation averaging at least 23 points, eight rebounds and five assists per game.

Sickos game of the week: Rutgers at Northwestern

3 p.m. ET, Sunday (Big Ten Network+)

Both of these teams could have new head coaches next season. Longtime Northwestern head coach Joe McKeown is retiring and things haven’t gone well for Coquese Washington in her four seasons leading Rutgers. Both teams are 0-4 in Big Ten play and look like longshots to make the NCAA Tournament. However, the Wildcats do feature Caroline Lau and Grace Sullivan. Lau leads the nation in assists with nine per game, and Sullivan is fifth nationally in scoring with 23.4 points per game.

Also watch…

  • Columbia at Harvard: 2 p.m. ET, Saturday (ESPN+)
  • Arkansas State at Troy: 4:30 p.m. ET, Saturday (ESPN+)
  • UConn at Creighton: 2 p.m. ET, Sunday (truTV/HBO Max)
  • Ohio State at Maryland: 4 p.m. ET, Sunday (Peacock)
  • UCLA at Nebraska: 7 p.m. ET, Sunday (Big Ten Network)
This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Multiple suspects have been arrested in connection with the burglary at the home of Cleveland Browns quarterback, Shedeur Sanders, Medina County (Ohio) police said on Jan. 7.

The Medina County Sheriff’s Office announced in a news release that it arrested three of the four suspects on Jan. 7. Police have also positively identified the fourth suspect, the driver, and issued a warrant for his arrest.

Sanders’ home was broken into during the Browns’ Week 11 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, the same game that he made his NFL debut. Police said that the thieves stole about $200,000 in property during the break-in, which occurred around 6:46 p.m. ET.

Surveillance camera at the residence captured the suspects entering and exiting different portions of the home. It involved three masked and gloved suspects entering Sanders’ home and taking items from the home until just before 6:58 p.m.

It was the latest in a string of break-ins to the homes of professional athletes.

Reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander told reporters on Nov. 2 that his home was broken into on Oct. 30. Like Sanders, the Oklahoma City Thunder guard was not home at the time of the crime.

The Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce both had their homes burglarized during early October of the 2024 NFL season and police also responded to a break-in at Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow’s home during a ‘Monday Night Football’ game on Dec. 9, 2024.

The NFL sent a memo to players following the incidents at Mahomes and Kelce’s homes, warning ‘organized and skilled’ criminals were targeting athletes’ homes for burglaries across sports.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender Glenn Hall died Wednesday, the NHL announced.

Hall, who played for the Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues, died in a Stony Plain, Alberta, hospital at 94 years old, the league said. Hall had mainly lived on his farm there since retiring as a goalie.

‘Glenn Hall was the very definition of what all hockey goaltenders aspire to be,’ NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. ‘Aptly nicknamed ‘Mr. Goalie,’ Glenn was sturdy, dependable, and a spectacular talent in net.’

Hall’s record of 502 consecutive regular-season NHL games is a league record that very likely won’t ever be broken. From Oct. 6, 1955, to Nov. 4, 1962, he did not miss one match. Each of those seven seasons had 70 games, and in 1962-63 when his streak ended due to a back injury, he only missed four games.

That makes Hall the ironman of NHL goaltenders. Considering teams nowadays almost always play backup goalies once during back-to-back games and on other occasions to give the No. 1 netminder a rest, Hall will likely be the NHL ironman goalie forever. And as Bettman said, Hall recorded that streak without wearing a mask.

‘Glenn was a true star, whose career was filled with accomplishment and accolades,’ Bettman said. ‘From the moment he stepped foot in an NHL crease, Hall excelled. He won the Calder Trophy with the Red Wings, earned every win for the Blackhawks in their run to the 1961 Stanley Cup, and captured a Conn Smythe Trophy despite losing in the final with the St. Louis Blues.’

The NHL credited Hall as the ‘pioneering grandfather of the butterfly style of goaltending,’ dropping to his knees to stop low shots instead of standing up.

After retiring as a goaltender, Hall was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1975 and the St. Louis Blues Hall of Fame in 2023. As a goaltending consultant for the Calgary Flames, Hall won the Cup again in 1988-89.

Hall’s No. 1 is retired by the Blackhawks. The team and chairman-CEO Danny Wirtz called Hall one of the most influential goaltenders in the history of hockey and a franchise cornerstone.

‘On behalf of the Wirtz family and the entire Chicago Blackhawks organization, we extend our deepest condolences to Glenn’s family, friends, and the countless teammates and supporters who loved him,’ Wirtz’s statement said. ‘We are grateful for his extraordinary contributions to hockey and to our club, and we will honor his memory today and always.’

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

(TheNewswire)

Crown Porphyry-Stockwork Drill Targets Confirmed

Vancouver, British Columbia, January 7th, 2026 TheNewswire Prismo Metals Inc. (‘Prismo’ or the ‘Company’) (CSE: PRIZ,OTC:PMOMF) (OTCQB: PMOMF) is pleased to announce it has received final assay results for samples taken at the Silver King Project from the Crown porphyry target area located on the east side of the property (Fig. 1).


Click Image To View Full Size

Figure 1.  Map showing the location of the Crown porphyry and stockwork and Black Diamond replacement exploration targets at the Silver King project.  Claim boundaries are shown in yellow.

Overlimit silver assays have been received for the samples taken in late 2025, showing high grade silver mineralization associated with quartz-sulfide veins hosted by the Crown porphyry (Fig 2, Table 1). These assays provide evidence for a high-priority drill target, especially when taken in conjunction with the high gold assays reported previously for the stockwork intrusion (see the News Release of Dec. 3, 2025).  

‘Prismo optioned Silver King with existing drill targets around the historically significant high-grade silver mine. Based on the geology and its location in a well mineralized region, we believed that additional mineralization was also likely present. Our work in the second half of 2025 indicates that we were correct, and we now have exceptional drill targets at the Crown porphyry and adjacent Black Diamond replacement areas,’ stated Craig Gibson, Chief Exploration Officer of the Company. He added, ‘With the high-grade gold assays reported in December and the copper assays at the Black Diamond replacement, we now have a very significant precious-metal and copper target at Silver King similar to other areas in this well mineralized district that includes the Magma mine and the Resolution copper deposit.’  

‘These additional assay results along with the IP survey information continue to enhance and support our exploration thesis of the Silver King mine and surrounding areas,’ stated Gordon Aldcorn.  ‘This modern-day review has yielded additional drill targets and prospective structures to our program in this already very strategically located project.’

 

Table 1. Assay results for selected samples from the Crown porphyry stockwork

Sample

Location

Easting

Northing

Width m

Au g/t

Ag g/t

Cu %

Pb %

Zn %

544559

Crown porphyry

492681

3687905

0.5 m

0.02

18.91

0.02

0.07

0.04

544561

Crown porphyry

492673

3687904

2 m

0.02

177

0.07

0.37

0.02

544563

Crown porphyry

492613

3687848

0.5m

0.03

176

0.09

0.01

544591*

Crown porphyry

492799

3687851

1.0

5.19

46.44

0.05

0.21

0.06

544592*

Crown porphyry

492793

3687823

1.0

4.06

13.97

0.02

0.10

0.07

*Assays previously released in News Release of December 3, 2025.


Click Image To View Full Size

Figure 2. Precious metal and copper assays from the Crown porphyry
and the Black Diamond replacement body at the Silver King Project.

IP Survey

The Company also completed a pole-dipole IP survey over a part of the Silver King project in December 2025.  This survey was designed to provide some additional 3-dimensional data for areas identified during the initial gradient array survey (see News Release dated December 3, 2025). This new survey confirmed the presence of important chargeability and resistivity anomalies at the Silver King project. The Silver King silver mine appears to be associated with a large low resistivity anomaly located on the contact of the Silver King diorite porphyry (Fig 3). There is also low resistivity anomalies associated with the Crown porphyry and near the replacement mineralization at Black Diamond (Fig 3). The highest chargeability anomalies appear to be associated with the altered country rocks along intrusive contacts, but a chargeability high is also associated with the Crown porphyry stockwork intrusion. The anomaly associated with the Crown porphyry is particularly interesting and can be traced from shallow levels to about 300 meters in depth.  


Click Image To View Full Size

Figure 3. IP resistivity map at a depth of 75 meters, overlain on geology and showing the Silver King glory hole (black line), Black Diamond replacement body in red, and the Crown porphyry-stockwork in magenta.  


Click Image To View Full Size

Figure 4. IP chargeability at a depth of 75 meters, overlain on geology and showing the Silver King glory hole (black line), Black Diamond replacement body in red, and the Crown porphyry-stockwork in magenta.  

Drilling Update

Alain Lambert, CEO of Prismo commented: ‘The results announced today confirm the vast exploration potential at Silver King. While we look forward to drilling these new targets in the future, our plans remain unchanged. Our immediate priority is to undertake our fully funded drill program, as previously announced. This drill campaign will primarily focus on the historic Silver King mine site and will be about 2,000 meters. The objective is to test the upper half of the steeply dipping pipelike Silver King mineralized body as well as potential mineralization adjacent to the dense stockwork that was the focus of historic mining.’

Mr. Lambert added: ‘We are pleased with the steady progress on the permitting front. The collaboration of Forest Service officials demonstrates a clear commitment to supporting mining activities in Arizona.’

Prismo recently announced that the Forest Service, the federal surface land management entity for Silver King, had determined that the Company’s proposed drill plan meets the regulatory requirements for processing, and that such plan is complete, as described in the regulations at 36 CFR 228.4(c).

The Forest Service is currently proceeding with the environmental analysis pursuant to 36 CFR 228(a)(5) in conformity with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This analysis is proceeding as a Categorical Exclusion, the lowest level of environment reviews applicable to projects that are not expected to have a significant effect on the environment, such as Silver King.

QA/QC

Samples were analyzed by SGS, an internationally recognized analytical lab, with preparation at the Tempe, Arizona facility and analyses at the Burnaby laboratory.  Prismo inserts controls samples consisting of a standard pulps and a coarse blanks in the sample stream, and the lab also inserts control samples.  

Qualified Person

Dr. Craig Gibson, PhD., CPG., a Qualified Person as defined by NI-43-01 regulations and Chief Exploration Officer and a director of the Company, has reviewed and approved the technical disclosures in this news release.  

About Prismo Metals Inc.

Prismo (CSE: PRIZ,OTC:PMOMF) is a mining exploration company focused on advancing its Silver King, Ripsey and Hot Breccia projects in Arizona and its Palos Verdes silver project in Mexico.

Please follow @PrismoMetals on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube

Prismo Metals Inc.

1100 – 1111 Melville St., Vancouver, British Columbia V6E 3V6 Phone: (416) 361-0737

 

Contact:

Alain Lambert, Chief Executive Officer alain.lambert@prismometals.com

Gordon Aldcorn, President gordon.aldcorn@prismometals.com

  

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as intends’ or anticipates’, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results may’, could’, should’, would’ or occur’. This information and these statements, referred to herein as ‘forward-looking statements’, are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements regarding discussions of future plans, estimates and forecasts and statements as to management’s expectations and intentions with respect to, among other things: the timing, costs and results of drilling at Silver King; and the intended use of any proceeds raised under recent financings.

These forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things: the potential inability of the Company to utilize the anticipated proceeds of the Private Placement as anticipated; and those risks set out in the Company’s public disclosure record on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.com) under the Company’s issuer profile.

In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that the Company will use the proceeds of the Second Tranche as currently anticipated and on the timeline currently expected.

Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward- looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward- looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial outlook that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. We seek safe harbor.

Copyright (c) 2026 TheNewswire – All rights reserved.

News Provided by TheNewsWire via QuoteMedia

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The growing prevalence of chronic diseases like cancer and diabetes is driving increasing innovation in medical device technology. In 2024 alone, 30 new devices were approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Wearable medical devices and the use of artificial intelligence in medical technology are two key trends in this sector.

Investors who want exposure to this wave of growth may want to consider NASDAQ small-cap medical device stocks. Below is a list of the top NASDAQ medical device companies based on year-on-year gains.

All data was compiled on December 31, 2025, using TradingView’s stock screener, and the medical device makers listed below had market caps between US$50 million and US$500 million at that time.

1. MDxHealth (NASDAQ:MDXH)

Year-on-year gain: 50.86 percent
Market cap: US$173.24 million
Share price: US$3.50

MDxHealth is a commercial-stage precision diagnostics company specializing in molecular tests for urologic cancers, particularly prostate cancer, using genomic, epigenetic and exosomal technologies. Its US headquarters and operations are located in Irvine, California.

The company offers non-invasive and tissue-based diagnostic assays that run on standard PCR platforms.

In September, MDxHealth acquired Exosome Diagnostics from Bio-Techne (NASDAQ:TECH) for US$15 million, adding the ExoDx Prostate urine test to its portfolio. The deal also includes a CLIA-certified clinical laboratory and related assets. The deal is expected to generate over US$20 million in revenue in 2026.

2. KORU Medical Systems (NASDAQ:KRMD)

Year-on-year gain: 50.13 percent
Market cap: US$269.6 million
Share price: US$5.82

KORU Medical Systems develops and manufactures medical devices and supplies in the US and internationally, with a focus on mechanical infusion products. Its Freedom Syringe Infusion System first received FDA clearance in 1994.

Based on this system, its primary products include the Freedom60 and FreedomEdge syringe infusion systems, Precision Flow Rate Tubing and High-Flo Subcutaneous Safety Needle Sets.

KORU Medical Systems submitted a 510(k) premarket notification to the FDA on December 30, 2025, seeking clearance for its FreedomEdge system to deliver Phesgo — a HER2+ breast cancer targeted biologic — subcutaneously, targeting infusion centers to cut chair time and boost efficiency.

The company stated this is part of its strategy to expand the indications of FreedomEdge to the wider oncology infusion center market.

3. Vivani Medical (NASDAQ:VANI)

Year-on-year gain: 1.71 percent
Market cap: US$86.81 million
Share price: US$1.19

Vivani Medical is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing miniature, long-term subdermal drug implants using its proprietary NanoPortal technology to treat chronic conditions like obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Headquartered in Alameda, California, Vivani focuses on GLP-1 implants that provide steady drug release over six months to improve adherence and tolerability compared to daily pills or weekly injections.

In August, Vivani Medical reported positive Phase 1 results from its LIBERATE-1 trial of the NPM-115 exenatide implant, confirming safety and steady drug release for obesity treatment without major side effects.

The company plans to rapidly advance its NPM-139 semaglutide implant after it achieved preclinical results of sustained 20 percent weight loss. It is planning a Phase 1 clinical study in the first half of 2026.

Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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2025 marked a turning point for investment in the cannabis sector, shifting the focus toward operational resilience and consolidation after a sluggish 2024.

Key market drivers included an upswing in merger and acquisition (M&A) activity as stronger multi-state operators (MSOs) acquired distressed assets, alongside pivotal regulatory developments.

The central theme for the year was the expected US federal shift to Schedule III, a policy rollercoaster that culminated in an executive order to expedite rescheduling, focusing investor flows into scaled, cashflow-positive MSOs.

Internationally, incremental legalization in Europe, particularly the momentum in Germany, broadened the global footprint and provided new export channels for North American producers.

Within market trends, profitability pivoted away from bulk flower to high-margin consumables, with infused pre-rolls and edibles driving category growth and supporting a rerating of resilient operators.

US cannabis rescheduling a core shift

After 2024’s punishing drawdowns, cannabis navigated a high-stakes policy rollercoaster in 2025.

The sector bottomed in Q1 as anticipated US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) rescheduling hearings were delayed, but ignited in late Q3 and Q4 as the narrative shifted toward a decisive executive-led reclassification.

This momentum culminated in US President Donald Trump’s December 18 executive order, which expedites rescheduling and CBD access. It triggered a parabolic surge followed by a violent ‘sell the news’ correction.

“Cannabis is not just a volatile sector or industry. It is the most volatile place,” said Dan Ahrens, managing director and portfolio manager of the AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF (ARCA:MSOS). “It just proves the point, once again, that we really, really need this federal reform to be officially completed.”

Indeed, 2025 brought plenty of ups and downs. The year opened with Schedule III buzz, which came after prior Department of Health and Human Services recommendations and initial DEA scheduling proposals from late 2024; however, proceedings ground to a halt after the DEA postponed a key January hearing by over 180 days due to administrative turnover, bias claims and leadership gaps post-election. These disruptiosn kept Section 280E tax penalties in place and banking access frozen, keeping margins for MSOs compressed.

Meanwhile, House spending bills included language prohibiting the Department of Justice (DoJ) from spending any funds on rescheduling efforts, while Senate Farm Bill revisions redefined hemp to exclude intoxicating derivatives like delta-8 THC, capping them at trace levels and effectively imposing a nationwide hemp ban on high-potency alternatives.

The MSOS ETF’s portfolio construction exemplified the broader trend of investor flows concentrating into scaled, cash-flow-positive MSOs amid reform volatility. The fund’s top three holdings — Curaleaf Holdings (CSE:CURA,OTCQX:CURLF), Trulieve Cannabis (CSE:TRUL,OTCQX:TCNNF) and Green Thumb Industries (CSE:GTII,OTCQX:GTBIF) — accounted for over 68 percent of its total holdings as of December 31, underscoring confidence in these operators as resilient proxies for US cannabis maturation while smaller single-state players face dilution.

MSOS managers reinforced the shift in the year’s third quarter by trimming three underperformers from the ETF: 4Front Ventures (CSE:FFNT), Lowell Farms (CSE:LOWL) and Gold Flora.

Despite stalls in momentum, Trump kept hope alive in the cannabis sector throughout the year.

In September, he called cannabis reform an “80-20 issue” with broad public backing, and posted a Truth Social video promoting CBD for seniors and suggesting Medicaid coverage.

Those moves, alongside Representative Greg Steube’s (R-FL) Marijuana 1-to-3 Act, aimed at legislatively shifting cannabis to Schedule III, drove a surge in Q3 without any underlying procedural progress.

As mentioned, the December 18 executive order injected fresh life into the sector, directing the DoJ and DEA to expedite cannabis rescheduling to Schedule III, while launching a CMS Innovation Center pilot for federal health programs to cover hemp-derived CBD as early as April 2026, with up to US$500 annual reimbursement for eligible patients.

CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz previously endorsed Medicare reimbursement for CBD therapies during his confirmation hearings, framing them as “low-risk, high-impact” options for age-related ailments.

European cannabis legalization and international growth

2025 brought incremental legalization or medical frameworks in multiple jurisdictions, including Czechia, Malta, Poland, Switzerland and Luxembourg, broadening the investable global footprint.

This continental momentum has directly boosted North American producers through export ramps and licensing deals, with Canadian licensed producers capturing 43 percent of Germany’s Q2 imports alone.

The country’s CanG framework and adult‑use reform, which came into effect in April 2024, have made it Europe’s most important legal market, with 2025 medical sales expected to see explosive year-on-year growth.

Cannabis company trends in 2025

In 2025, cannabis companies pivoted toward operational resilience and product innovation amid persistent commoditization pressures. After 2024’s wholesale flower price declines, down roughly 32 percent since 2021 by some estimates, stronger MSOs like Tilray Brands (TSX:TLRY,NASDAQ:TLRY) are demonstrating pricing power through branded products and category expansion into edibles, vapes and infused pre-rolls.

Deal flow rebounded from 2024’s US$1.17 billion trough, with US transactions reaching US$2.1 billion.

Against that backdrop, cash-rich MSOs pursued distressed roll-ups in oversupplied states like California and New York, with Vireo Growth’s (CSE:VREO,OTCQX:VREOF) acquisitions in Minnesota and New York exemplifying the trend, achieving critical mass with premium valuations amid hemp restrictions.

Private equity and creative deal structures dominated in the cannabis market, preparing operators for federal reform, while consolidating fragmented retail.

Investor takeaway

2025 marked a transformative year for cannabis, with regulatory breakthroughs and market maturation set against the backdrop of volatility. Trump’s execuctive order has brought new life into the sector in the US with the promise of not only banking and tax relief, but also bipartisan momentum for normalization; however, investors remain cautious.

“Everybody is waiting for it to be real and for it to be completed. Because even though we think the executive order was huge … nothing’s complete yet. Nothing’s official yet,” explained Ahrens.

Looking to 2026, he emphasized that the path forward for cannabis isn’t a straight line, but rather a series of volatile ‘waves’ tied to incremental regulatory milestones. Ahrens anticipates that while the finalization of Schedule III should trigger an initial move, it is merely the first domino; subsequent upside depends on the DoJ providing clear guidance for state-legal adult-use programs and the eventual passage of banking reform.

While he does foresee cannabis stocks uplisting to major exchanges, and Big Pharma companies beginning to make acquisitions in the space, Ahrens remains cautious about timing, noting that even with a signed order, large institutional banks will likely keep the ‘blockade’ in place until the legal ink is truly dry.

Ultimately, while 2025’s executive action has established a concrete foundation for federal reform in the US, the cannabis sector remains poised in a state of high-stakes volatility, with its full maturation dependent on official completion of milestones in 2026 and beyond.

Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

(TheNewswire)

Anchors to:

Drill hole LBX25-095

  • 3.50 m@ 1.40 g/t Au and 2.30% Zn (162.50 m to 166.00 m) 

including:

  • 0.70 m @ 5.97 g/t Au,18.4 g/t Ag and 10.8% Zn. 

  • 4.50 m@ 2.00 g/t Au, 5.75 g/t Ag and 1.22% Zn(188.00 m to 192.50 m), 

including:

  • 0.50 m @ 3.30 g/t Au,17.8 g/t Ag and 6.84% Zn (188.00 m to 188.50 m),  

  • 2.40 m @ 3.00 g/t Au and 0.78% Zn (190.10 m to 192.50 m), and 

  • 0.55 m @ 12.15 g/t Au, 16.1 g/t Ag and 2.66% Zn (191.10 m to 192.50 m). 

Drill hole LBX25-096

  •          3.85 m @ 1.92 g/t Au and 0.13% Zn (38.70 m to 42.55 m),
    including:
     

  • 0.60 m @ 2.78 g/t Au, 6.30 g/t Ag and 0.62% Zn (40.60 m to 41.20 m), and 

  • 55 m @ 9.59 g/t Au, 5.50 g/t Ag and 0.11% Zn (42.00 m to 42.55 m). 

TORONTO, ONTARIO (January 7, 2026) – TheNewswire – LAURION Mineral Exploration Inc. (TSX-V: LME | OTC: LMEFF | FSE: 5YD) (‘LAURION’ or the ‘Corporation’) is very pleased to report assay results of the first two drill holes from recent diamond drilling at the A-Zone/McLeod/CRK Zone at the Ishkōday Project, located in the Beardmore–Geraldton Greenstone Belt of north-western Ontario, approximately 220 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay.

The current drill program focuses on the A-Zone/McLeod/CRK Zone, a structurally controlled gold-base metal corridor where historic drilling, surface work, and more recent LAURION drilling demonstrate repeated gold, silver, zinc, and copper mineralization along strike and at depth.

‘These results reinforce what we have been methodically building at Ishkōday — a structurally controlled gold-zinc system with repeated mineralization along a coherent corridor, stated Cynthia Le Sueur Aquin, President and CEO of LAURION. ‘The combination of higher-grade intervals within broader mineralized zones, supported by both historic and recent drilling, gives us confidence that our targeting approach is working as intended. As we continue drilling, our focus remains on understanding continuity, structure, and scale.’

Drill hole LBX25-095 was designed to test a segment of the A-Zone/McLeod/CRK Zone structural corridor supported by proximal historic drill holes 90-41 and 90-49, as well as modern LAURION drill holes LBX20-021 and LBX20-017. Historic drill hole 90-41 intersected multiple gold-bearing intervals at various depths, including 0.55 m grading 3.69 g/t Au and 1.70% Zn, 0.55 m grading 11.88 g/t Au, 8.0 g/t Ag and 8.6% Zn, and deeper intersections including 0.91 m grading 1.63 g/t Au,16.0 g/t Ag, 0.16% Cu and 6.7% Zn, 0.66 m grading 2.12 g/t Au, 14.0 g/t Ag and 10.3% Zn, and 5.36 m grading 0.44 g/t Au, 6.16 g/t Ag and 4.28% Zn (Orient Resources Inc., Sturgeon River Property Diamond Drill Program Report, Claude Larouche, 1990). Nearby historic drill hole 90-49 returned 0.31 m grading 3.87 g/t Au and 1.73 m grading 3.46 g/t Au, 20.36 g/t Ag and 3.72% Zn (Orient Resources Inc., Claude Larouche, 1990). More recent drilling confirmed continuity of mineralization within the same corridor, including 14.08 m grading 0.89 g/t Au in drill hole LBX20-021 and additional gold-silver intervals in LBX20-017 (LAURION press release dated July 28, 2020).

Drill hole LBX25-095 intersected multiple gold-and-zinc-bearing intervals hosted within sheared and altered volcanic rocks consistent with the main A-Zone/McLeod/CRK Zone geological framework.

Reported assay results include 2.60 m grading 1.84 g/t Au from 27.40 to 30.00 m, including 0.60 m grading 7.25 g/t Au, 1.00 m grading 1.02 g/t Au from 45.30 to 46.30 m, and several broader intervals of lower-grade gold with elevated zinc.

A mid-depth mineralized zone returned 3.50 m grading 1.40 g/t Au and 2.30% Zn from 162.50 to 166.00 m, including a higher-grade interval of 0.70 m grading 5.97 g/t Au, 18.4 g/t Ag, 0.22% Cu and 10.8% Zn from 163.05 to 163.75 m.

Deeper in the hole, drilling intersected 4.50 m grading 2.00 g/t Au, 5.75 g/t Ag and 1.22% Zn from 188.00 to 192.50 m, including 0.50 m grading 3.30 g/t Au,17.8 g/t Ag and 6.84% Zn, 2.40 m grading 3.00 g/t Au, and 0.55 m grading 12.15 g/t Au,16.1 g/t Ag and 2.66% Zn.  

Drill hole LBX25-096, located approximately 52 metres east of LBX25-095, was designed to test the eastern continuation of the same structurally controlled mineralized corridor. Targeting for LBX25-096 was informed by proximal drill holes LBX12-006, LBX20-020, and LBX22-089, which intersected gold-bearing mineralization within the same stratigraphic and structural package. Notably, drill hole LBX20-020 returned broad gold-bearing intervals including 6.86 m grading 0.47 g/t Au and 10.84 m grading 0.48 g/t Au, demonstrating mineralized width and continuity and supporting step-out drilling to the east (LAURION press release dated July 28, 2020). Drill hole LBX25-096 subsequently intersected multiple gold-bearing intervals within this corridor, including 3.85 m from 38.70 m to 42.55 m grading 1.92 g/t Au, including a higher-grade interval of 0.55 m from 42.00 m to 42.55 m grading 9.59 g/t Au, and a shallow interval of 1.15 m from 8.35 m to 9.50 m grading 2.14 g/t Au, including 0.50 m from 9.00 m to 9.50 m grading 4.76 g/t Au.

Gold mineralization at Ishkōday occurs within an orogenic gold framework and is commonly accompanied by silver, consistent with orogenic systems globally. In addition, localized enrichment in silver and base metals reflects polymetallic mineralizing events that are overprinted and locally modified by the orogenic gold event. These observations align with structural and geochemical interpretations supporting a multi-phase mineralizing history, as outlined in the Keaton Strongman Report 2024 on the Ishkōday: Ancestral structural controls between Archean epithermal and orogenic gold mineralization.

TABLE Of ASSAYS FOR DRILL HOLES LBX25-095 AND LBX25-096

 

Hole ID

From (m)

To (m)

Core Length (m)

Au (g/t)

Ag (g/t)

Zn (%)

LBX25-095

27.40

30.00

2.60

1.84

0.45

0.02

including

27.90

28.50

0.60

7.25

1.10

LBX25-095

45.30

46.30

1.00

1.02

0.25

0.15

LBX25-095

91.25

95.25

4.00

0.11

0.25

0.01

LBX25-095

132.10

132.60

0.50

0.27

1.40

1.27

LBX25-095

135.20

135.70

0.50

0.53

6.10

0.24

LBX25-095

141.00

141.60

0.50

0.13

1.00

0.13

LBX25-095

143.80

147.80

4.00

0.12

1.71

0.17

LBX25-095

145.00

147.80

2.80

0.14

2.16

0.21

LBX25-095

162.50

166.00

3.50

1.40

4.27

2.30

Including

163.05

163.75

0.70

5.97

18.40

10.80

LBX25-095

167.20

169.35

2.15

0.21

1.36

0.18

LBX25-095

188.00

192.50

4.50

2.00

5.75

1.22

Including

188.00

188.50

0.50

3.30

17.80

6.84

Including

190.10

192.50

2.40

3.00

4.80

0.78

Including

191.1

192.50

0.55

12.15

16.10

2.66

LBX25-096

8.35

9.50

1.15

2.14

5.18

0.61

Including

9.00

9.50

0.50

4.76

8.40

1.35

LBX25-096

10.90

11.40

0.50

0.52

0.70

0.02

LBX25-096

35.75

36.25

0.50

0.31

1.70

0.02

LBX25-096

38.70

42.55

3.85

1.92

2.41

0.13

Including

40.60

41.20

0.60

2.78

6.30

0.62

Including

42.00

42.55

0.55

9.59

5.50

0.11

LBX25-096

98.20

98.70

0.50

0.47

1.80

0.03

LBX25-096

106.80

108.50

1.70

1.19

1.49

0.07

Including

106.80

107.30

0.50

3.14

2.20

0.07

LBX25-096

118.70

121.60

2.90

0.28

3.65

1.41

Including

118.70

119.20

0.50

0.90

14.90

8.18

LBX25-096

129.60

130.10

0.50

2.22

10.10

3.05

 

Name

Elevation

Azimuth

Dip

Easting

Northing

Depth (m)

LBX25-095

332.5

124

-47

446115.3

5512416

201

LBX25-096

331.4

125

-45

446168

5512429

168

TOTAL

         

369

Mineralization on the A-Zone/McLeod/CRK Zone is interpreted to be controlled by the interaction of north–south-trending quartz-gold extensional veins and northeast–southwest-trending sulphide-rich shear veins. Reactivation of earlier sulphide zones during later deformation, locally associated with magnetite-rich assemblages, provides a structural framework that explains repeated gold enrichment, localized grade enhancement within wider base metal envelopes, and strong strike continuity beneath cover.

The current drilling on the A-Zone/McLeod/CRK Zone has focused on refining LAURION’s understanding of the geometry, continuity, and structural controls of the mineralized system. Ongoing work by the LAURION’s technical team and independent consultants is centred on consolidating historical and modern drilling, validating geological interpretations, and strengthening the 3D structural framework. This work is intended to ensure that any future technical milestones are based on a robust, well-constrained geological model, while preserving strategic flexibility as the Ishkōday Project continues to evolve.

Sampling and QA/QC Protocols

All drill core is transported and stored inside the core facility located at the Ishkōday Project in Greenstone, Ontario. LAURION employs an industry standard system of external standards, blanks and duplicates for all of its sampling, in addition to the QA/QC protocol employed by the laboratory. After logging, core samples were identified and then cut in half along core axis in the same building and then zip tied individually in plastic sample bags with a bar code. Approximately five or six of these individual bags were then stacked into a ‘rice’ white material bag and stored on a skid for final shipment to the laboratory.

All core samples were shipped to the ALS facility in Thunder Bay, Ontario, which were then prepared by ALS Global Geochemistry in Thunder Bay and analyzed by ALS Global Analytical Lab in North Vancouver, British Columbia. Samples are processed by 4-acid digestion and analyzed by fire assay on 50 g pulps and ICP-AES (Inductively Coupled Plasma – Atomic Emission Spectroscopy). Over limit analyses are reprocessed with gravimetric finish.

A total of 5% blanks and 5% standard are inserted randomly within all samples. 5% of the best assay result pulps were sent for re-assays. All QA/QC were verified, and no contamination or bias have been observed. The remaining half of the core, as well as the unsampled core, is stored in temporary core racks at the core logging facility in Beardmore and moved to the core storage facility at the Ishkōday Project.

Note: QA/QC review of standards and duplicates indicates analytical results are reliable. One zinc standard adjacent to a high-grade zinc interval returned elevated values consistent with expected analytical behaviour following high-grade samples.

Qualified Person

The technical contents of this release were reviewed and approved by Jean-Philippe Paiement, P.Geo, MSc, a consultant to LAURION and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About LAURION Mineral Exploration Inc.

The Corporation is a mid-stage junior mineral exploration and development company listed on the TSXV under the symbol LME and on the OTCPINK under the symbol LMEFF. LAURION now has 278,716,413 outstanding shares, of which approximately 73.6% are owned and controlled by insiders who are eligible investors under the ‘Friends and Family’ categories.

LAURION’s emphasis is on the exploration and development of its flagship project, the 100% owned mid-stage 57 km2 Ishkōday Project, and its gold-rich polymetallic mineralization.

LAURION’s chief priority remains maximizing shareholder value. A large portion of the Corporation’s focus in this regard falls within the scope of its mineral exploration activities and more specifically, advancing the Ishkōday Project. A consequence of LAURION’s success and advancement over the past several years is that the Corporation has become positioned as an acquisition target for appropriate potential acquirors. Accordingly, the Corporation’s Board of Directors is aware that possible strategic alternatives and transactional opportunities may arise and/or could be procured in the short or medium terms. The Corporation will promptly issue a press release if any material change occurs.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Laurion Mineral Exploration Inc.

Cynthia Le Sueur-Aquin – President and CEO

Tel: 1-705-788-9186 Fax: 1-705-805-9256

 

Douglas Vass – Investor Relations Consultant

Email: info@laurion.ca

Website: http://www.LAURION.ca

Follow us on: X (@LAURION_LME), Instagram (laurionmineral) and LinkedIn ()

 

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements, which reflect the Corporation’s current expectations regarding future events including with respect to LAURION’s business, operations and condition, management’s objectives, strategies, beliefs and intentions, the Corporation’s ability to advance the Ishkōday Project, the nature, focus, timing and potential results of the Corporation’s exploration, drilling and prospecting activities in 2026 and beyond, including the Corporation’s diamond drill program described in this press release and the Corporation’s other planned activities for the Ishkōday Project for the remainder of 2026, and the statements regarding the Corporation’s exploration or consideration of any possible strategic alternatives and transactional opportunities, as well as the potential outcome(s) of this process, the possible impact of any potential transactions referenced herein on the Corporation or any of its stakeholders, and the ability of the Corporation to identify and complete any potential acquisitions, mergers, financings or other transactions referenced herein, and the timing of any such transactions. The forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual events and future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements could differ materially from those projected herein including as a result of a change in the trading price of the common shares of LAURION, the TSX Venture Exchange or any other applicable regulator not providing its approval for any strategic alternatives or transactional opportunities, the interpretation and actual results of current exploration activities, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, future prices of gold and/or other metals, possible variations in grade or recovery rates, failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, the failure of contracted parties to perform, labor disputes and other risks of the mining industry, delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing or in the completion of exploration, as well as those factors disclosed in the Corporation’s publicly filed documents. Investors should consult the Corporation’s ongoing quarterly and annual filings, as well as any other additional documentation comprising the Corporation’s public disclosure record, for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to these forward-looking statements. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. Subject to applicable law, the Corporation disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements. All sample values are from grab samples and channel samples, which by their nature, are not necessarily representative of overall grades of mineralized areas. Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on the assay values reported in this press release.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICE PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE CONTENT OF THIS NEWS RELEASE.

 

Copyright (c) 2026 TheNewswire – All rights reserved.

News Provided by TheNewsWire via QuoteMedia

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  • Nick Saban is not around to save SEC football anymore. But, would Saban coming out of retirement rally the SEC? Probably not much.
  • As the SEC descends, the Big Ten grows in strength.
  • Saban saw writing on the wall: NIL and transfer free agency would strip away at Alabama and SEC chokehold on power.

In any case, he’s not around to save SEC football anymore. The once-mighty conference is knee-deep in a postseason flop, while the GOAT who helped propel the SEC as Alabama’s coach breaks it all down on a television set.

As the SEC descends, the Big Ten grows in strength.

Is the SEC’s loss on its grip of power as simple as Saban retiring? No. That barely scratches the surface.

On this edition of ‘SEC Football Unfiltered,’ a podcast from the USA TODAY Network, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams debate why the SEC has fallen off its throne as college football’s overlord and why not even Saban could have prevented this.

Toppmeyer says Alabama’s whimpering finish under Indiana’s fist at the Rose Bowl shows just how far the SEC has fallen. He compares the Tide to a Big Ten team that finished 9-4.

Even Paul Finebaum, generally a staunch supporter of the SEC, says this postseason has been a “terrible” showing for the conference where it “Just Means More.”  

The SEC’s humbling outcomes include Tennessee losing to Illinois and Vanderbilt falling to Iowa, a pair of Big Ten flexes in bowl games. Indiana didn’t just flex on Alabama. It annihilated the Tide.

Here’s the upshot:

Did the SEC relinquish its perch because Nick Saban retired?

Toppmeyer: No. It’s the other way around. Saban had the foresight to realize the SEC and Alabama would have a tougher time maintaining its edge in a landscape where donors could openly pay players and athletes could transfer without penalty. He saw the writing on the wall and got out.

Give Saban his flowers. From the 2006 through 2022 seasons, a 17-year span, the SEC produced 13 national champions. Saban delivered six of those titles. His last came in the 2020 season. Notably, that was the final season before NIL and transfer free agency began.

Saban perfected the blueprint for the landscape before NIL and transfer free agency. Kirby Smart learned Saban’s blueprint and used it to win back-to-back national titles at Georgia.

College football’s evolutions since 2021 made it so that Saban’s sign, stockpile and develop blueprint isn’t the only way to pursue greatness.

Adams: No. The SEC didn’t stumble because Saban retired. Saban retired, because he knew the SEC (and Alabama) would stumble. Once it became harder for coaches to control the athletes, Saban wanted no part of this.

Why has the SEC slipped?

Toppmeyer: You can’t point to just one thing. A number of factors contributed to this. The SEC’s gleaming facilities, competitive recruiting budgets, unbridled fan and donor passion, and prime location in a portion of the country that pumps out premier recruits gave it a leg up in the era before NIL and transfer free agency.

Plus, the SEC sort of mastered the art of recruiting in a time before above-board pay-for-play, if you catch my drift. Even beyond the SEC’s footprint, before NIL, why wouldn’t a top prospect from California or Texas want to play for a blue blood like Alabama and compete inside the SEC’s cathedrals, while prepping for the NFL?

SEC schools, by and large, acquired the most high school talent, and retaining talent was easier within the old rules structure. Plus, the SEC generally attracted the nation’s best coaches.

Now that anyone can buy players, booster bucks are spreading out the talent to places like Texas Tech, Miami and lands in between. Schools that don’t sit in fertile high school recruiting terrain (see Indiana) can pack a punch by nabbing instant-impact transfers who come with experience.

The SEC still holds good cards, but it doesn’t horde them like before the 2021 rules changes.

Adams: Well said. I’ll add one more item for consideration. Used to be, players aimed to use college ball to set them up for NFL value. The best players were in the SEC, so that’s where the top recruits wanted to be, too.

It’s like Frank Sinatra sang about New York: If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere.

If you could make it in the SEC, you could make it in the NFL.

Now, players don’t have to wait for the NFL to cash in on their value. They can cash checks from a West Texas billionaire just as easily as they can cash checks in Alabama. Oregon’s got money, too. And Indiana. And Miami.

The talent’s getting spread out, because players are cashing in on their value now, and striking deals across the land, instead of everyone gravitating to one conference that served as the NFL’s minor leagues.

So, is the SEC still the top football conference?

Toppmeyer: No. The Big Ten has that claim right now.

You can’t argue the facts. The Big Ten has produced the past two national champions and is well positioned to produce another, with Indiana and Oregon in the semifinals. The B1G’s crème de la crème has become sweeter than the SEC’s. The SEC’s down-ballot depth advantage eroded, too. Iowa showed us that by handling Vanderbilt. The SEC remains a top-two conference, but it’s staring up at the Big Ten.

Adams: No. Advantage, Big Ten.

The SEC’s best argument at the moment might amount to: “Our last-place team is better than the Big Ten’s last-place team.” What a meek argument that is. That’s a loser’s battle cry.

Later in the episode

∎ Toppmeyer fesses up: He wishes he could make one change to his Heisman ballot, involving an SEC quarterback.

CFP semifinal picks against the spread!

Toppmeyer’s CFP picks (picks in bold):

∎ Oregon vs. Indiana (-4)

∎ Miami (-3.5) vs. Mississippi

Season record: 42-41 (3-1 last week)

Adams’ CFP picks (picks in bold):

Oregon vs. Indiana (-4)

∎ Miami (-3.5) vs. Mississippi

Season record: 44-39 (2-2 last week)

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s national college football columnist. John Adams is the senior sports columnist for the Knoxville News Sentinel. Subscribe to the SEC Football Unfiltered podcast, and check out the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.

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