From the bench to a new contract in the Michael Carrick revolution — and more

Defender’s future looks set to continue at Old Trafford

From the bench to a new contract in the Michael Carrick revolution

Manchester United close to renewing Harry Maguire’s contract as talks progress positively ahead of the 2025 /26 season end.

Renewal talks move forward

Manchester United moving closer to agreement with defender Harry Maguire as discussions over contract extension continue in positive atmosphere.

Reports in February 2026 suggest the club is open to keeping the 32 year-old for at least one more season despite his current deal running until the end of the 2025 /26 campaign.

While no final agreement has been signed, reports indicate that both sides are confident of reaching common ground.

The talks reflect Maguire’s renewed importance at Old Trafford during demanding phase of the season.

Strong form under Michael Carrick

Maguire’s situation has improved greatly under head coach Michael Carrick. After returning from nine match absence caused by groin injury, the defender played every minute of four straight victories showing consistency & leadership at the back.

His experience has become even more valuable due to the long-term absence of Matthijs de Ligt who is sidelined with serious back injury.

Key role and contract balance

Inside the club Maguire is seen as a key figure especially when paired with Lisandro Martínez. Since 2022 the duo have started 14 match togetherwinning 11 of them, a record that highlights their effectiveness.

Contract talks expected to focus on middle ground. This could include shorter extension or changes to Maguire’s salary as co-owner Jim Ratcliffe continues efforts to control costs.

Geno Auriemma breaks AP Top 25 record as UConn stays perfect at No. 1 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

There are milestones in sports that feel ceremonial. This one feels earned.

On Monday, Geno Auriemma made his 655th career appearance in the Associated Press Top 25, breaking the record he previously shared with Tara VanDerveer for the most by any coach in the history of the women’s poll. It is another layer added to a resume that already reads like a blueprint for sustained excellence.

And fittingly, it comes with UConn sitting exactly where it has so often lived under his watch: at the top.

A number that reflects decades, not weeks

Six hundred fifty-five rankings is not about one special team.

It is about generation after generation of players who bought into a standard. It is about surviving injuries, expectations and evolving competition. It is about adjusting without slipping.

Auriemma has built a program where being ranked is not the goal. It is the floor. The expectation is deeper than that. Compete for championships. Every year.

This week is simply another example.

UConn looks every bit the part

The Huskies are 29-0 and the unanimous No. 1 team in the country. All 31 voters placed them atop the poll. They are the last unbeaten team in Division I and have now won 45 consecutive games dating back to last season.

This team does not just win. It controls games. It defends at a high level, shares the ball and closes with poise. When the fourth quarter tightens, UConn rarely looks rattled. That calm traces back to the sideline.

Auriemma’s teams often mirror his personality. Demanding. Disciplined. Confident.

The contenders are closing in

Behind UConn, the top five remains unchanged.

UCLA holds steady at No. 2 after celebrating its first outright league title. South Carolina sits at No. 3, once again proving it can handle the grind of the SEC. Texas is No. 4 with one of the most complete rosters in the country. Vanderbilt rounds out the top five and has survived several tight matchups against ranked opponents.

Each of those teams has a case as a national title threat. But all of them know that the standard still runs through UConn.

Shifts inside the top 10

There was movement just outside that elite tier.

LSU climbed to No. 6 after a strong week. Oklahoma jumped to No. 7, one of the more notable rises in the poll. Iowa surged to No. 9 after beating Michigan in a pivotal Big Ten showdown that tightened that conference race.

Michigan slipped to No. 8 after the loss. Louisville checks in at No. 10. Duke fell to No. 12 after its 17-game winning streak ended at Clemson. Ohio State now sits at No. 13 after dropping two of its last three games.

The Big Ten race feels especially tense. Iowa, Michigan, Ohio State and Maryland are all fighting for position as the regular season winds down.

MORE: ESPN analyst slams Tennessee's Kim Caldwell over abandoning her team

Tennessee’s unexpected fall

One of the most surprising developments this week is Tennessee dropping out of the rankings.

The Lady Vols lost to Ole Miss, Texas A&M and Oklahoma and have now dropped seven of their last nine games. They had been ranked in 31 straight polls before this week.

For a program built on tradition and consistency, it is a difficult stretch. And with LSU and Vanderbilt still ahead, there is little room to regroup.

Conference depth on display

The SEC leads all conferences with nine ranked teams. The Big Ten follows with seven. The Big 12 has four, the ACC has three, and both the Ivy League and Big East have one.

That depth has created a tight national picture. There are very few nights off, and every loss shifts momentum.

Still, the headline belongs to Auriemma.

Six hundred fifty-five appearances in the AP Top 25 is more than a statistic. It is proof of a standard that has refused to dip, even as the sport around it has changed.

UConn is undefeated. March is approaching. And Geno Auriemma, once again, is exactly where he has been for most of the past three decades: at the center of the conversation.

More college basketball news:

• Adrian Autry buyout, contract details as Syracuse Orange coach
• Darryn Peterson situation not alarming to NBA teams, ESPN insider says
• AJ Dybantsa makes college basketball history never done by NBA stars
• John Calipari says college athletics is broken — Here’s his plan to fix it
• Bill Self sends clear message to Darryn Peterson over ducking out of games

AFCON final referee joins FIFA development camp.

World Cup 2026: Jean-Jacques Ndala prepares

As part of preparations for the 2026 World Cup, Congolese international referee Jean-Jacques Ndala has been selected to take part in a training camp held in Doha, Qatar.

The referee of the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations final is among a select group of 15 officials gathered for this advanced camp. This program, launched by FIFA, aims to review and unify refereeing standards ahead of the global football showpiece set to kick off in June in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

With this, Jean-Jacques Ndala joins the ranks of the world's elite referees. Despite criticism over his handling of the Africa Cup of Nations final between Senegal and Morocco, the African Football Confederation cleared him of any refereeing errors.