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Football signing day live updates: 2026 commits, rankings for early signing period

On Sunday, 12 teams will see theirnational championshiphope live on when they hear their name called for theCollege Football Playoff.

A few days before that, the building blocks for those future championship dreams will be put into place.

Theearly signing periodbegins on Wednesday, Dec. 3 and continues through Friday, Dec. 5, with many of the top recruits from across the country putting pen to paper (and, in a rarity in 2025, paper into fax machines) to formalize their relationship with their new college home for the next three or four (or five) years. The three-day stretch has become the primary time for high-school prospects to sign with schools, effectively replacing the once-customary National Signing Day in February.

REQUIRED READING:Coaches created this college football calendar mess. It's on them to fix it

It will be a frenzied 72 hours, particularly on Wednesday, with hundreds of players signing with schools they've been committed to for weeks or months while others unveil their college decisions with news conferences, hats and, if the recent past has taught us anything, live animals.

USA TODAY Sports will be providing live updates from college football's early signing period. Follow along.

Early signing period live updates

This section will be updated as recruits are announced as signees.

USC flips Ohio State WR commit

One historic powerhouse has snagged a prized recruit away from one of its Big Ten foes.

USC has flipped four-star wide receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt from Ohio State, with Dixon-Wyatt signing with the program Wednesday. Dixon-Wyatt, who plays at Southern California juggernaut Mater Dei High School, is the No. 135 overall recruit and No. 21 wide receiver in 247's composite rankings.

Kayden Dixon-Wyatt has signed with the USC Trojans.Wide Receiver, out of Mater Dei High School (CA)pic.twitter.com/IossWchR1x

— USC Football ✌️ (@uscfb)December 3, 2025

Dixon-Wyatt is one of four Mater Dei players in USC's top-ranked 2026 class.

Calvin Russell delays signing with Syracuse

Four days after wrapping up a disappointing 3-9 season, Syracuse got even more bad news Wednesday.

Wide receiver Calvin Russell, the No. 70 player in 247 composite rankings and the centerpiece of coach Fran Brown's 2026 recruiting class, has postponed his signing, he announced Wednesday. Russell committed to the Orange back in July, with the Miami Northwestern star choosing them over Michigan and Miami.

🚨NEWS🚨 Elite Syracuse WR commit Calvin Russell will postpone his signing, via@BenjaminRivals👀Read:https://t.co/a7L9aunHrrpic.twitter.com/8eMusq8xMg

— Rivals (@Rivals)December 3, 2025

A report from On3 Sportsadded that Russell is expected to sign Friday, with Michigan and Miami described as "other factors."

Lamar Brown to hold off signing with LSU

The top-ranked player behind Jared Curtis won't be signing with a school — at least not yet.

Lamar Brown, the No. 2 overall player and No. 1 athlete in 247's composite rankings, is not expected to sign with LSU during the early signing period,according to a report Wednesday from ESPN. The report added that Brown plans to wait for newly hired Tigers coach Lane Kiffin to assemble his staff.

Brown, a Baton Rouge native, committed to LSU and then-head coach Brian Kelly on July 10, choosing the Tigers over Texas A&M and Miami.

Jared Curtis signs with Vanderbilt

The top recruit in the country is officially off the board.

Quarterback Jared Curtis, the No. 1 overall player in 247's composite rankings, signs with Vanderbilt, one day after flipping to theCommodoresfrom Georgia. The Nashville native is the highest-ranked recruit in Vanderbilt history and gives coach Clark Lea a nice potential succession plan once Diego Pavia (we think) runs out of eligibility this season.

Signed 🖋️Welcome to Commodore Nation,@Jaredcurtis37pic.twitter.com/XbXUjkvi73

— #14 Vanderbilt Football (@VandyFootball)December 3, 2025

Carter Meadows signs with Michigan

Carter Meadows, the No. 2 edge rusher and No. 6 overall player in the 2026 class, signs with Michigan and coach Sherrone Moore. Meadows is one of the more physically impressive players in the class, standing at 6-foot-6 and 225 pounds.

Building our future with@CarterMeadows_🧱Welcome home, Carter! »https://t.co/ilH2IYpCiy#GoBlue|#BrickByBrick26pic.twitter.com/9bH6X9agcU

— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball)December 3, 2025

Dia Bell signs with Texas

Whenever Arch Manning leaves Texas, theLonghornswill have at least one enticing option to replace him at quarterback. Dia Bell, the No. 9 overall player and the No. 4 quarterback in 247's composite rankings, has signed with Texas, becoming the first player to sign with the Longhorns on what should be a busy Wednesday for coach Steve Sarkisian's program.

The first one is in! Welcome to the Forty,@DiaBell3QB1🤘#AllGas26|#NSD26pic.twitter.com/KErQDmdQAn

— Texas Football (@TexasFootball)December 3, 2025

Faizon Brandon signs with Tennessee

Josh Heupel's quarterback-friendly system at Tennessee may soon include an impressive young passer. Faizon Brandon, the No. 7 overall player and No. 3 quarterback in 247's composite rankings, has signed with the Vols, giving the program an intriguing option to play at the game's most important position in the years to come.

Home sweet home!The signal caller from North Carolina is officially a Vol!@faizon_brandon|#RockyTop26🍊pic.twitter.com/dXk7LZAfq8

— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football)December 3, 2025

Jackson Cantwell signs with Miami

Throughout his coaching career, Mario Cristobal, a former offensive lineman himself, has been praised for his work with offensive linemen. On Wednesday, he got a pretty impressive one to join his team.

Jackson Cantwell, the No. 4 overall player in 247's composite rankings, has signed with Miami. In their announcement of his signing, the Hurricanes listed the Missouri native at 6-foot-8 and 330 pounds.

Welcome to the Canes family,@jcantwell2499🏈: Offensive Lineman🏡: Nixa, Missouri📚: Nixa@CanesFootball|#NSD26pic.twitter.com/0copjGrs0a

— Miami Hurricanes Football (@CanesFootball)December 3, 2025

Early signing period: Player rankings for 2026 class

This section will be updated live as players sign.

Here's the full list of the top 100 players in the 2026 class,according to 247Sports' composite rankings:

REQUIRED READING:College football bowl projections: CFP race, postseason lineup down to final weekend

Early signing period: Team rankings 2026 class

This section will be updated live as class rankings shift

Here are the top 10 teams in the 2026 class rankings,according to 247Sports' Composite rankings:

USC (34 commits)
Alabama (24 commits)
Notre Dame (27 commits)
Oregon (19 commits)
Ohio State (28 commits)
Georgia (28 commits)
Texas (24 commits)
Tennessee (24 commits)
Texas A&M (26 commits)
Miami (29 commits)

To see the full rankings,click here.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Football Signing Day live updates for 2026 commits, team rankings

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December 03, 2025

Football signing day live updates: 2026 commits, rankings for early signing period

On Sunday, 12 teams will see theirnational championshiphope live on when they hear their name called for theCollege Footb...

NBA fines 76ers for violating rules leading up to Joel Embiid's return

The Philadelphia 76ers were fined $100,000 by the NBA on Wednesday for violating league injury reporting rules.

Per the league, the 76ers failed to accurately disclose the availability status of center Joel Embiid prior to their game against the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday.

Embiid was listed as "out" on Philadelphia's initial injury report and subsequently played in the game, scoring 18 points in 30 minutes during the 76ers' 142-134 double-overtime loss to the Hawks.

The seven-time All-Star and 2022-23 NBA MVP has been nursing left knee issues for most of the past two years after tearing his meniscus midway through the 2023-24 season.

Embiid, 31, sat out Philadelphia's next game, a 121-102 win over the Washington Wizards on Tuesday. due to his chronic knee injury.

The fine also accounts for the 76ers' prior history for violating injury reporting rules, the NBA announced in its release.

Embiid has been limited to seven games this season and is averaging 19.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game.

--Field Level Media

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December 03, 2025

NBA fines 76ers for violating rules leading up to Joel Embiid's return

The Philadelphia 76ers were fined $100,000 by the NBA on Wednesday for violating league injury reporting rules. ...

Israel says it will reopen the Rafah border crossing. Here's what it means for Palestinians in Gaza

CAIRO (AP) — Israel said Wednesday thatit would reopen the Rafah border crossingin the coming days, allowing Palestinians to leave Gaza. That could bea major development for residentsof the devastated strip, for whom leaving has been extremely difficult — if not impossible — for most of the war.

The announcement has raised hopes that thousands of sick and wounded people in Gaza will finally be able to access the care they need. Gaza's health system was decimated by the two-year war, rendering advanced surgical procedures out of reach.

But, there are complications. For one, Israel says Palestinians wanting to leave Gaza will have to get Israeli and Egyptian security approval. It's unclear what criteria that will involve.

Another key dispute: Israel says that until militants in Gaza return all the hostages they took in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered the war, it will only allow Palestinians to exit Gaza, not enter.

Egypt, meanwhile, says it wants the crossing immediately opened in both directions, so Palestinians in Egypt can enter Gaza. That's a position rooted inEgypt's vehement opposition to Palestinian refugeespermanently resettling in the country.

A lifeline for Gaza

Before the war, Rafah bustled with goods and people passing to and from Egypt and Gaza. Although Gaza has four other border crossings, they are shared with Israel, and only Rafah links the territory with another country.

After Hamas-led militants invaded southern Israel in 2023, killing roughly 1,200 people and taking 251 others hostage, Egypt tightened its restrictions on traffic through the Rafah crossing. After Israeltook control of the Gaza sidein May 2024 as part of its offensive that has killed more than 70,100 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, it closed the crossing except to the occasional medical evacuation.

The ministry does not distinguish between militants and civilians, though it says roughly half of those killed have been women and children. The ministry operates under the Hamas-run government. It is staffed by medical professionals and maintains detailed records viewed as generally reliable by the international community.

A reopened Rafah crossing would make it easier for Palestinians in Gaza to seek medical treatment, travel internationally or visit family in Egypt. The World Health Organization says there are more than 16,500 sick and wounded who need to leave Gaza for medical care.

It would also help Gaza's decimated economy, allowing Palestinian merchants to market products beyond the borders of the pummeled territory.

Last-minutes hurdles delay reopening

Israel said the crossing would be opened in the coming days. An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss operational plans, said the European Union mission supervising the crossing needed to finalize the logistics before the crossing can open.

The crossing, heavily damaged during the war. may also require repairs. A dispute between Israel and Egypt over Palestinian entry into Gaza may also delay the opening.

Citing an unnamed Egyptian official, Egypt's State Information Service said Wednesday that the crossing, if an agreement is reached, will be used for travel in both directions, in accordance with aceasefire plan advanced by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Egypt is opposed to accepting Gaza refugees. It is already home to tens of thousands of Palestinians and hosts a migrant population of some 9 million people. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi has warned of the security implications of transferring large numbers of Palestinians to Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, bordering Gaza.

Egypt supports the creation of a Palestinian state in the occupied West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem ,and fears a permanent displacement could erode that possibility.

But Israel's government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian said that entry into Gaza would not be permitted until Israel receives all hostages remaining in Gaza. Before the most recent return of remains, there were believed two deceased hostages in Gaza — an Israeli and one Thai national. The remains returned Wednesday have not yet been identified.

Frankel reported from Jerusalem. Associated Press writers Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel, and Sam McNeil in Brussels contributed to this report.

Find more of AP's Israel-Hamas coverage athttps://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

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December 03, 2025

Israel says it will reopen the Rafah border crossing. Here's what it means for Palestinians in Gaza

CAIRO (AP) — Israel said Wednesday thatit would reopen the Rafah border crossingin the coming days, allowing Palestinians...

Lebanon 'far from' diplomatic normalization or economic relations with Israel, prime minister says

BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon's prime minister said Wednesday that his country was "far from" diplomatic normalization or economic relations with Israel, despite a move toward direct negotiations between the two countries aimed at defusing tensions.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam's comments to a small group of journalists in Beirut came in contradiction to a statement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel would send an envoy to talks with Lebanese diplomatic and economic officials, which he described as an "initial attempt to create a basis for relations and economic cooperation" between the two countries.

Lebanon and Israel both announced the appointment of civilian members to a previously military-only committee monitoring enforcement of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire that halted the latest war between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah a year ago. The civilian members took part in Wednesday's meeting of the mechanism, alongside representatives of the U.S., France and the U.N. peacekeeping force known as UNIFIL.

Lebanon and Israel don't have diplomatic relations and have been officially in a state of war since 1948. The move to hold civilian talks appeared to be a step toward the direct bilateral talks between Israel and Lebanon that Washington has pushed for.

However, Salam said Lebanon that is still committed to the 2002 Arab peace plan that conditions normalization of diplomatic relations with Israel on the creation of a Palestinian state — a prospect to which Netanyahu's administration has been adamantly opposed.

"Economic relations would be part of such normalization, so then obviously anyone following the news would know that we are not there at all," Salam said.

A debate over weapons

His comments also come amid fears of a new escalation by Israel against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Since the November 2024 ceasefire, Israel has continued to launch near-daily attacks in Lebanon that it says aim to stop the group from rebuilding its capabilities after it suffering heavy blows in the recent war.

Lebanon has been deeply divided over calls for Hezbollah to disarm. In August, the Lebanese government announced a plan to consolidate all weapons in the hands of the state by the end of the year, but it later backed off of the deadline.

Hezbollah officials have said the group will not consider disarmament until Israel withdraws from all Lebanese territory and halts its attacks.

Salam said Lebanon is on track to implement the first phase of the disarmament plan - under which the Lebanese army should have a monopoly on arms in the area south of the Litani river, near the border with Israel - by the end of the year. The exception is several border points that Israeli forces are still occupying, he said.

The remaining phases of the five-phase plan, which would cover the rest of the country, currently "don't have a time frame," he said.

The lack of a firm timeline is unlikely to satisfy Israel, which has been threatening to escalate its military actions in Lebanon if Hezbollah is not fully disarmed.

Salam said that Lebanon had appointed a civilian representative to the ceasefire committee at the request of the U.S. and Israel.

"We are ready to negotiate with civilian participation," he said. "I hope that this will help defuse the tension."

A ceasefire with vague enforcement

Salam also said Lebanon is ready to put in place a "verification mechanism" to investigate alleged violations of the ceasefire.

The November 2024 agreement required Lebanon to stop armed groups from attacking Israel and Israel to halt "offensive" military actions in Lebanon. It said Israel and Lebanon can act in "self-defense," without elaborating.

Under the ceasefire agreement, both sides can report violations to the monitoring committee, but the deal is vague on enforcement.

In practice, Israel has largely taken enforcement into its own hands and has maintained that its ongoing strikes are in self-defense. Hezbollah has claimed one attack since the ceasefire.

Salam said that in many cases, Israel strikes without reporting violations via the monitoring committee.

"Clearly, we cannot we be responsible for information that wasn't shared with us," he said. He added that Lebanon is willing to have U.S. and French troops on the ground to investigate and verify reported violations.

Salam said that Israel should fully implement its part of the ceasefire by withdrawing from Lebanese territory and should release Lebanese citizens captured during and after the war and currently detained in Israel.

While he insisted that Hezbollah is required disarm under the ceasefire and in accordance with the plan adopted by the government, the Lebanese state's options appear to be limited if the group refuses to do so.

"We have lived civil war - civil wars - in Lebanon. I don't think anyone is tempted to repeat that," he said.

Meanwhile, the country is facing the end of UNIFIL's peacekeeping mandate in southern Lebanon, which expires in just over a year, leaving greater uncertainty over the situation in the border area.

Salam said he would be discussing "what will come post-UNIFIL" with a delegation of representatives of the U.N. Security Council that is set to visit Lebanon later this week.

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December 03, 2025

Lebanon 'far from' diplomatic normalization or economic relations with Israel, prime minister says

BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon's prime minister said Wednesday that his country was "far from" diplomatic normalizat...

Shredded cheese sold at Walmart and other stores recalled due to metal

More than 1 million bags of shredded cheese sold at major retailers, including Walmart, Publix and Aldi, have been recalled because the products may contain metal fragments,accordingto the Food and Drug Administration.

In a Dec. 1 notice, the FDA said the shredded cheese was manufactured by Ohio-based Great Lakes Cheese Co., and was sold in 31 states and Puerto Rico. The recall israted as "class II"by the FDA, which means the product could "cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences," although the potential for serious injuries is remote.

The FDA's notice covers nearly 236,000 cases of low-moisture part-skim mozzarella shredded cheese, which represents the largest portion of the recall. Each case includes between four to 12 bags of cheese. The recall also covers:

15,490 cases of Italian-style shredded cheese blend4,298 cases of pizza-style shredded cheese blend4,131 cases of mozzarella and provolone shredded cheese blend1,900 cases of Happy Farms by Aldi Italian Style shredded cheese blend1,850 cases of Target's Good & Gather mozzarella & parmesan shredded cheese blend117 cases of Food Club finely shredded pizza-style four-cheese blend

The products have sell-by dates ranging from January to late March 2026, according to the FDA.

Where was the cheese sold?

The recalled cheese was sold in the following 31 states, as well as in Puerto Rico:

AlabamaArkansasArizonaCaliforniaColoradoFloridaGeorgiaIdahoIllinoisIndianaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMinnesotaMissouriMississippiNorth CarolinaNebraskaNew MexicoNevadaNew YorkOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaSouth CarolinaTennesseeTexasUtahVirginiaWashingtonWisconsinWhich mozzarella cheese brands are recalled?

The following are the recalled low-moisture part-skim mozzarella shredded cheese brands. Good & Gather is Target's store brand, while Great Value is Walmart's private label.

• Always Save– Shredded, 5 lb., UPC 7003865782, 4/case

• Borden– Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 5300007162, 6 or 12/case– Thick Cut, 8 oz., UPC 5300007170, 6/case

• Brookshire's– Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 9282510119, 12/case– Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 9282510120, 12/case– Shredded, 32 oz., UPC 9282510130, 6/case– Thick Cut, 8 oz., UPC 9282592197, 12/case

• Cache Valley Creamery– Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 7495802553, 6 or 12/case

• Chestnut Hill– Fancy Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 3225116742, 6/case

• Coburn Farms– Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 5193331657, 12/case– Shredded, 12 oz., UPC 5193321820, 18/case– Shredded, 32 oz., UPC 5193334257, 6/case

• Econo– Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 893800294, 12/case

• Food Club– Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 3680045573, 12/case– Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 3680005117, 12/case– Shredded, 16 oz., UPC 3680005144, 12/case– Shredded, 32 oz., tube-style bag, UPC 3680012914, 6/case, case UPC 3680041215– Shredded, 32 oz., square-style bag, UPC 3680038305, 6/case

• Food Lion– Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 3582609008, 12/case

• Gold Rush Creamery– Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 1401401014, 12/case– Shredded, 32 oz., UPC 1401401030, 6/case

• Good & Gather– Fine Cut, 8 oz., UPC 8523903860, 12/case– Classic, 8 oz., UPC 8523903849, 12/case– Classic, 32 oz., UPC 8523903852, 6/case

• Great Lakes Cheese– Shredded, 5 lb., UPC 3651415034, 4/case

• Great Value– Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 7874237425, 6/case– Finely Shredded, 16 oz., UPC 7874204492, 5/case– Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 7874235317, 6/case– Shredded, 16 oz., UPC 7874235321, 5/case– Shredded, 32 oz., UPC 7874237475, 6/case– Shredded, 5 lb., UPC 7874204980, 4/case

• Happy Farms by Aldi– Shredded, 16 oz., UPC 4061463330864, 12/case– Shredded, 32 oz., UPC 4061463369413, 8/case

• H-E-B– Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 4122022272, 12/case– Thick, 8 oz., UPC 4122061295, 12/case– Shredded/Fancy Finamente Rallado, 8 oz., UPC 4122006759, 12/case (Mexico only)

• Hill Country Fare– Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 4122018977, 12/case– Shredded, 16 oz., UPC 4122016234, 12/case– Shredded, 32 oz., UPC 4122042334, 6/case– Shredded, 5 lb., UPC 4122082998, 4/case– Shredded/Rallado, 8 oz., UPC 4122024512, 12/case (Mexico only)

• Know & Love– Fine Cut, 8 oz., UPC 788030650, 12/case– Fine Cut, 16 oz., UPC 788030657, 12/case– Classic Cut, 8 oz., UPC 788030659, 12/case– Classic Cut, 32 oz., UPC 788030658, 6/case– Thick Cut, 8 oz., UPC 788030678, 12/case

• Laura Lynn– Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 8685401031, 12/case– Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 8685400824, 12/case– Shredded, 12 oz., UPC 8685400815, 12/case– Shredded, 16 oz., UPC 8685406528, 12/case– Thick Cut Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 8685407109, 12/case

• Lucerne Dairy Farms– Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 2113004867, 12/case– Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 2113004259, 12/case– Shredded Family Size, 32 oz., UPC 2113004741, 6/case– Rustic Cut, 8 oz., UPC 2113004944, 12/case– Rustic Cut Family Size, 32 oz., UPC 2113004949, 6/case

• Nu Farm– Fancy Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 3104100151, 12/case

• Publix– Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 4141511665, 12/case– Shredded, 16 oz., UPC 4141523365, 12/case

• Schnuck's– Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 4131858010, 12/case

• Simply Go– Classic Cut Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 1015983021, 12/case– Classic Cut Shredded, 32 oz., UPC 1015983020, 6/case– Rustic Cut Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 1015983040, 12/case

• Sprouts Farmers Market– Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 4667052284, 12/case– Shredded Value Pack, 32 oz., UPC 4667052279, 6/case

• Stater Bros. Markets– Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 7417546413, 12/case– Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 7417546402, 12/case– Shredded, 32 oz., UPC 7417546435, 6/case

• Sunnyside Farms– Shredded, 16 oz., UPC 1754450204, 5/case– Shredded, 32 oz., UPC 1754450057, 12/case

What types of Italian-style shredded cheese are recalled?

According to the FDA, they are:

• Brookshire's Italian 6-Cheese– Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 9282510174, 12/case

• Cache Valley Creamery Six Cheese Italian– Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 7495800257, 12/case

• Coburn Farms Italian Style– Finely Shredded, 12 oz., UPC 5193365638, 18/case

• Great Value Italian Style– Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 7874201566, 6/case– Finely Shredded, 16 oz., UPC 7874203979, 5/case

• Know & Love Italian Style– Fine Cut, 8 oz., UPC 788030645, 12/case

• Laura Lynn Italian Blend– Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 8685405157, 12/case

• Publix Italian Six Cheese Blend– Fancy Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 4141518065, 12/case

• Simply Go Italian Style Six Cheese Blend– Fine Cut Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 1015983015, 12/case

Florida charter school company run by GOP figure leaves parents frustrated: "They dropped the ball"

Key Tennessee special election underway between Republican Matt Van Epps and Democrat Aftyn Behn

Polling shows close race in Tennessee special election for open House seat

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December 03, 2025

Shredded cheese sold at Walmart and other stores recalled due to metal

More than 1 million bags of shredded cheese sold at major retailers, including Walmart, Publix and Aldi, have been recall...

NFL Playoff Projection: It's not a classic Ravens-Steelers game, but it could determine a playoff spot

The AFC North has seen better days. The Pittsburgh Steelers-Baltimore Ravens rivalry has too.

Plenty of seasons, the AFC North is among the best divisions in the NFL. That's not the case this season. Every other division has at least two teams with a record over .500. The AFC North has none. Barring a tie, that will change Sunday when the 6-6 Ravens take on the 6-6 Steelers. It will also go a long way in determining who gets a playoff spot out of the AFC North, though the 4-8 Cincinnati Bengals somehow aren't dead yet in the race.

The Ravens have rallied from a 1-5 start to the season, but a 32-14 loss to the Bengals last week indicated they still have plenty of issues that might keep them from a deep playoff run. The Steelers have their issues too. They struggled on both sides of the ball in a 26-7 loss to the Bills, which led some home fans to start a chant to fire coach Mike Tomlin. The Steelers and Ravens once battled many years for AFC supremacy, now they're just hoping for a win to stay relevant.

Baltimore is still favored to win the division, at 51.1% onDVOA's projectionsvs. 42.4% for the Steelers. The Steelers can flip those odds and then some with a win at Baltimore.According to NFL.com, the Steelers will be 61% to make the playoffs with a win and 16% with a loss. For the Ravens it's 81% with a win and 36% with a loss. The teams have similar strength of schedule down the stretch. The division will likely be decided if either team can sweep the other. They face each other again at Pittsburgh in Week 18.

Someone has to win the worst division in the NFL this season. We'll be closer to an answer after Sunday's showdown between the two teams tied for first place.

Here are the other Week 14 games that will have the biggest impact on the playoff picture:

Dallas Cowboys at Detroit Lions

Neither team is in the playoff field heading into Week 14. The winner of this Thursday night game won't be assured of making it to the postseason. But the loser will be in rough shape with four weeks to go.

It feels like a bit of an elimination game in the NFC picture. The 6-5-1 Cowboys have clawed themselves back into the picture, but because they got off to such a slow start, they can't afford a loss that drops them back to .500. They're ninth in the NFC playoff race and barely ahead of the 7-6 Panthers in 10th place.

The Lions being out of the current playoff bracket in December is a shock. But they're just 7-5. Another loss, especially to a fellow wild-card contender, would be a damaging blow.

Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars

The Colts went from a 7-1 start tomaybe needing this win. They are tied with the Jaguars at 8-4 atop the division and the Texans are a game back at 7-5. The Colts' remaining schedule after this game: at Seahawks, vs. 49ers, vs. Jaguars, at Texans. That's a brutal stretch. Falling a game behind the Jaguars with many tough games remaining wouldn't be great for their playoff hopes.

The Jaguars have quietly climbed to four games above .500 and have won three in a row. Winning Sunday would increase their chances of making the playoffs to 96%, according to NFL.com.

Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers

The Bears are currently the No. 1 seed in the NFC, and a win at Green Bay would be a sign that they can stay there. The 8-3-1 Packers are right behind the 9-3 Bears, and that Packers tie at Dallas early in the season eliminates a lot of the math concerning tiebreakers (which might be good for Chicago because they have two divisional losses, and the Packers have none). Chicago plays Green Bay in the late set of games on Sunday and plays the Packers again in Week 16. A loss wouldn't be a horrible blow to the Bears' chances of winning the division because they get the rematch at home, but a win would push them to a nice lead over the Packers with only four games left.

Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs

Chiefshaters, this is a big game. If the Chiefs lose, their playoff chances would be down to 11%, according to NFL.com. But a win boosts them to 50%. This game looked like a Chiefs win a few weeks ago, but the Texans have gotten hot. Houston's defense has been the best in the NFL. The Texans have won four in a row and are in the AFC South race and also the wild-card race. A loss here would hurt in both, and especially for the Texans in the wild-card race because they would cede the head-to-head tiebreaker to Kansas City. They'd also be two games behind the winner of the Colts-Jaguars game.

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December 03, 2025

NFL Playoff Projection: It's not a classic Ravens-Steelers game, but it could determine a playoff spot

The AFC North has seen better days. The Pittsburgh Steelers-Baltimore Ravens rivalry has too. Plenty of ...

Los Angeles Clippers v Charlotte Hornets (David Jensen / Getty Images)

Los Angeles legend Chris Paul has been cut from the Clippers and sent home in a shock move confirmed by the franchise late Tuesday, less than two months into what was meant to be the player's last season.

"Just Found Out I'm Being Sent Home," Paul, 40, wrote on his Instagram Tuesday night.

In astatement toESPN, the Clippers president, Lawrence Frank, confirmed the team is "parting ways with Chris, and he will no longer be with the team."

"We will work with him on the next step of his career. Chris is a legendary Clipper who has had a historic career," Frank said in the statement.

"I want to make one thing very clear. No one is blaming Chris for our underperformance. I accept responsibility for the record we have right now. There are a lot of reasons why we've struggled. We're grateful for the impact Chris has made on the franchise," the statement added.

The Clippers did not immediately respond to NBC News' request for comment.

The LA team has had 5-16 so far this season and sits 14th in the Western Conference. The Clippers are on the road in Atlanta and will face the Hawks on Wednesday night without Paul.

Paul averages 2.9 points this season, his 21st, with 15 appearances and no starts. He played on Monday, where the Clippers lost to the Miami Heat, scoring 8 points and recording three assists.

Paul, known as CP3 or "The Point God," is a modern basketball great, second on the all-time assists list with more than 12,500, and has been an NBA All-Star 12 times.

This is Paul's second stint with the Clippers, having played for the team during a hugely successful six seasons from 2011 to 2017, and his fans had hoped this season would have had a more celebratory ending for an almost certain future Hall of Famer.

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December 03, 2025

Chris Paul sent home after Clippers say they are 'parting ways' with the NBA legend

Los Angeles legend Chris Paul has been cut from the Clippers and sent home in a shock move confirmed by the franchise late Tuesday, less th...

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