LAS VEGAS — Southern California opened its season at Allegiant Stadium with a victory over LSU that set up the Trojans for early contention for the College Football Playoff, but instead will end the year where they started. Texas A&M also had high hopes for a playoff spot, and the Aggies went even deeper into the season before that dream ended with three defeats in their final four games. Now both teams face each other in Friday night’s Las Vegas Bowl, not the setting either side envisioned but a chance for both to finish the season on a positive note. “We’re all still competitors at heart,” USC coach Lincoln Riley said. “Any chance you get to come play a really good program, like we’re playing a really good team, you’ve got to relish that opportunity.” The Trojans (6-6) will try to avoid their first losing season since 2021 when they went 4-8 and coach Clay Helton was fired. Riley took over the program and immediately went 11-3 followed by an 8-5 record last season. People are also reading... USC appeared to be on the way back to prominence after opening this season with a 27-20 victory over then-No. 13 LSU. But the Trojans lost five games in which they led in the fourth quarter, which is why they’re back in Las Vegas and not potentially preparing for a playoff game. “You’ve just got to stay consistent all the way through and locked in the small things,” USC safety Bryson Shaw said of the lessons learned from the close calls. “We learned a lot this year. It’s been great for us in bowl preparation.” Texas A&M (8-4) also was coming off a victory over LSU when it looked as if the Aggies might even be playing for a national title. They were 7-1 after the 38-23 victory, and at 5-0 the only undefeated team in the Southeastern Conference. But then came the season-ending slide. “It obviously hurt,” Texas A&M linebacker Taurean York said. “Obviously, we wanted to be in the playoffs, but it’s not how our story ended this year. So, hopefully, it ends the right way with a win over USC.” The Aggies will be without defensive ends Nic Scourton and Shemar Stewart, defensive tackle Shemar Turner and backup wide receiver Moose Muhammad III, who opted out to prepare for the NFL draft. “I think it was the right decision for each one of them, and the rest of our roster is here, so we’re excited,” Aggies coach Mike Elko said. “I think we’re in a really good place, and I’m happy with where we are moving forward.” Homecoming for Maiava USC sophomore quarterback Jayden Maiava was a high school star in Las Vegas, and last season as UNLV’s starting quarterback, he played at Allegiant Stadium. Then he left for USC, though initially as the backup to Miller Moss before claiming the starting job with three games left. Maiava went 2-1, passing for 840 yards with seven touchdowns and three interceptions. “I’m really bullish on his future,” Riley said. “He’s a talented kid. I think he’s going to continue to get better and better.” QB change Part II Similar to the Trojans, Texas A&M also made an in-season quarterback change. Redshirt freshman dual threat Marcel Reed took over as the full-time starter after he replaced Conner Weigman in the victory over LSU. He has started seven games and has 1,572 yards and eight 12 touchdowns passing and 501 yards and six TDs rushing. “I think they’ve got to respect him on that run side,” Texas A&M wide receiver Noah Thomas said. “They might throw a couple of more people in the box, so I think that will open me up, too.” Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Philadelphia Flyers rookie Matvei Michkov and Chicago Blackhawks starlet Connor Bedard shared the ice at Wells Fargo Center on Saturday, facing each other for the first time since May 6, 2021. Michkov and Bedard, representing Russia and Canada, respectively, went toe-to-toe in the gold medal game in the 2021 U18 World Junior Championships . Michkov had one goal and two assists in the 5-3 loss, while Bedard had one goal and one assist and became the youngest medallist in U18 history. And although Michkov led that tournament in scoring with 16 points, he came away only with a consolation prize. Michkov still remembers that day and hopes the future Flyers and Blackhawks meetings write more chapters in the story of him and Bedard. “It was really good to see him on the ice,” Michkov said via interpreter Slava Kuznetsov. “It was a long time we don’t play against each other. I hope it’s only the beginning.” Michkov scored the game-winning goal for the Flyers against Bedard’s Blackhawks on Saturday, cashing in on a 4-on-3 power play in overtime to win the game, 3-2, slamming home an excellent pass from Travis Konecny . Matvei Michkov prepared for Connor Bedard rematch Bedard did not score a point for the Blackhawks against the Flyers on Saturday afternoon. He played only 18:05, won 28.6% of his faceoffs, and failed to register a shot on goal. Michkov knows he did not see his Canadian counterpart at his best and expects a hotly contested rematch in the future. Respect. #CHIvsPHI | #LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/YluFlLiQts — Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) November 23, 2024 “I think he will try to get it back,” the Flyers rookie said of Bedard. “I have to be ready for it.” For their next meeting against each other, Michkov and Bedard will have to wait until May 23, 2025, when Philadelphia visits Chicago towards the end of the 2024-25 season. With his goal, Michkov is now up to seven goals, nine assists, and 16 points on the season. His four power play goals are second to only Konecny on the Flyers, and his two game-winning goals — both in overtime — lead the Flyers. “When you get a moment, you have to be cold-blooded and finish it,” Michkov said of his game-winner against the Blackhawks. This article first appeared on Philly Hockey Now and was syndicated with permission.
Westinghouse Air Brake's EVP Gregory Sbrocco sells $113,772 in stockBendigo residents warned of weekend heatwave warning, temperatures to soarWASHINGTON, Dec 13 (Reuters) - In its latest jab at Beijing, the U.S. will empower companies like Google and Microsoft to act as gatekeepers worldwide for highly sought-after access to AI chips, two people familiar with the draft plan said. Under the regime, to be released as soon as this month, these companies would have to comply with strict requirements, from reporting key information to the U.S. government to blocking Chinese access to AI chips. That would permit them to offer AI capabilities within the cloud overseas without a license, the sources said. The new rules, some of whose details are being reported for the first time, show officials are scrambling in the waning days of the Biden administration to streamline the process for approving AI chip exports while also preventing bad actors from accessing them. The U.S. fears China could harness the power of AI to supercharge its military, unleash powerful cyber attacks or even train a bioweapon. The Commerce Department declined to comment on the content and timing of the new regulations. Sources cautioned the administration's plans may change. Alphabet's (GOOGL.O) , opens new tab Google and Microsoft (MSFT.O) , opens new tab did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The measure takes a page from a national security agreement Microsoft inked with the U.S. government in April allowing it to provide AI technology to Emirati firm G42, the people said, whose historic ties to China fueled worry in Washington. Under the new draft rules, other companies beyond those with gatekeeper status will compete for licenses to import a smaller number of high-end Nvidia (NVDA.O) , opens new tab and AMD (AMD.O) , opens new tab artificial intelligence chips in each country, one of the sources said. Nvidia, which makes the world’s most powerful AI chips, said it is ready to work with the administration on the rules. AMD did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Exempted from the regime's caps would be 19 allied countries like the Netherlands and Japan plus Taiwan, which would have unlimited access to the AI chips or the capability they provide, two of the sources said. Also outside the framework would be a list of nuclear embargoed countries, including Russia, China, Iran and Venezuela, which are already blocked from acquiring U.S. AI semiconductors and would remain so. The U.S. government is conducting a final review of an "Artificial Intelligence Diffusion" rule drafted by the Commerce Department, according to a government posting this week, indicating it may be closing in on publication. Three sources said the posting referred to the AI caps. The Information Technology Industry Council, an advocacy association whose members include AMD and Google, is concerned the Biden administration is rushing the complex rule out without industry input that could head off adverse consequences. “If reports are accurate, such changes would dramatically expand the scope of export controls and have significant global implications," Naomi Wilson, the council’s senior vice president of Asia and global trade policy, said in a statement. The rules build on a program unveiled in September that gives permission to pre-approved data centers overseas to receive AI chips without a license, two sources said. To achieve that status, data centers must provide information about customers, business activities, access restrictions and cybersecurity. Sign up here. Reporting by Alexandra Alper and Karen Freifeld; additional reporting by David Shepardson; editing by Chris Sanders and Chizu Nomiyama Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab