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CONWAY, S.C. (AP) — Kobe Knox's 13 points helped South Florida defeat Portland 74-68 on Thursday. Knox also had six rebounds for the Bulls (3-2). Brandon Stroud added 11 points while shooting 4 for 12 (1 for 3 from 3-point range) and 2 of 4 from the free-throw line while he also had six rebounds. Jamille Reynolds shot 3 of 6 from the field and 4 of 5 from the free-throw line to finish with 10 points. The Pilots (2-3) were led in scoring by Max Mackinnon, who finished with 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Vincent Delano added 14 points for Portland. A.Rapp also had 11 points and eight rebounds. South Florida went into the half ahead of Portland 38-33. Knox scored eight second-half points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

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PITTSBURGH — Maybe the most deflating aspect of the Steelers' last-minute loss in Cleveland was the second-stingiest defense in the NFL failing to protect another lead against one of the worst offenses in the league. And it wasn't the first time. Not only did the Steelers allow the Browns, the lowest-scoring team in the AFC, to top 18 points for only the second time this season in a 24-19 defeat, but they failed to stop them after the Steelers battled back from an 18-6 deficit in the fourth quarter to take a 19-18 lead with 6:15 remaining. The Steelers allowed Browns quarterback Jameis Winston to complete three consecutive passes after tight end Jordan Akins dropped what appeared to be an easy walk-in touchdown to set up Nick Chubb's winning score with 57 seconds remaining. "It is very deflating," outside linebacker T.J. Watt said. "We need to close out games and we were not able to do that. It sucks that we could not hold on, but a loss is a loss." The Steelers have not been very good at closing out games. They did the same thing in the home loss to Dallas Cowboys on Oct. 6, giving up a touchdown to receiver Jalen Tolbert with 20 seconds remaining in a 20-17 defeat. Even against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, the Steelers let Lamar Jackson complete 6 of 8 passes for 74 yards on a nine-play, 69-yard drive, including a 16-yard touchdown with 1:06 remaining, to come within a failed two-point conversion of forcing overtime. Just as disturbing was the Steelers lack of pressure on Winston, who was sacked only once — by outside linebacker Nick Herbig, who forced a fumble that DeShon Elliott recovered and led to the go-ahead touchdown throw to Calvin Austin III. The Browns had allowed a league-high 46 sacks and were using their fourth different starter at left tackle, Germain Ifedi, against the Steelers. But it didn't lead to any extra pressure by the Steelers, who are on pace to have 39 sacks — their fewest since the 2016 season (38). That was especially evident on the third-and-6 play with 1:55 remaining, when Winston had plenty of time to throw against a four-man rush and completed a 15-yard pass to receiver Jerry Jeudy to the Steelers' 9 to set up Chubb's winning touchdown. "They were able to convert when they were able to and make plays in big time moments and we were not able to," Watt said. Well received? Wide receiver Mike Williams played 19 snaps against the Browns and, for the second game in a row, did not even get a target. That means Williams has played 44 snaps since his winning touchdown catch in his Steelers debut in Washington without getting a pass thrown in his direction. The good news: The Steelers got their other receivers involved in the offense for a change. Receiver Calvin Austin had catches of 45 and 23, the latter for the go-ahead touchdown with 6:15 remaining; Van Jefferson had a 35-yard catch that led to a field goal; and tight end Pat Freiermuth re-emerged to have his most receptions (four for 57 yards) since Week 4 in Indianapolis. "We had some really good explosive plays down the field, throwing the ball to Van," quarterback Russell Wilson said. "He made some great catches.... Calvin, too. I thought the guys, the receivers, did a really good job of making plays tonight in tough weather conditions. We were able to put the ball down the field and make plays in key moments, and that was really good." Wilson had his highest completion percentage of the season (21 of 28, 75%) and second-highest yardage total (270) despite the snowy conditions. It was his third game in five starts with a 100-plus passer rating. But after cornerback Donte Jackson intercepted Winston with 4:22 remaining, the Steelers went three-and-out from their own 24 with Justin Fields, not Wilson, taking two of the final three snaps. Fields did not run the ball on either of his two plays. What's more, it seemed like a dubious decision to have Fields throw on third-and-4, especially a deep incompletion to George Pickens. That failed series led to a chunked 15-yard punt by Corliss Waitman to the Steelers 45, leading to the Browns' winning touchdown. Fields played seven snaps against the Browns, which, in the end, was one too many. "I think that we all as a team, we're trying to make plays," Wilson said. "We're trying to do different things. Obviously, we have trust in Justin, too, and what he can do and what he's capable of. Listen, I always want to be in there. That's just the competitor in me. But at the same time, we have great trust in Justin, and our team, our coaches, and everything we're doing." (c)2024 the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Visit the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette at www.post-gazette.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Dabo Swinney Ripped by Fans for Blowing Clemson's CFP Bracket Spot vs. S. CarolinaIt’s been decades in the making. On Friday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the European Union (EU) and Mercosur, the South American economic bloc comprising Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, had struck a major trade agreement. The deal, which would create a free trade area covering more than 780 million people, came over vocal opposition from France and still needs to be approved by a qualified majority of EU member states and by a majority in the European Parliament before it goes into effect. What are the economic and political implications of this massive trade agreement? And what hurdles remain before it can be finalized and implemented? Our experts freely exchange their insights below. 1. Why is the deal moving forward now? On the one hand, this agreement has been in process for a long time, so at some point, the EU just has to move forward, and a fresh start with a new European Commission is a good excuse and as good a time as any. On the other hand, it’s hard to ignore that the main opponent of the agreement, France, is in a weak position politically, as is Germany, and that the portfolio structure of the new Commission gives von der Leyen more power to advance her priorities. Therefore, there is likely an element of “striking while the iron is hot” to the timing of the agreement. — L. Daniel Mullaney is a nonresident senior fellow with the Atlantic Council’s Europe Center and GeoEconomics Center. He served as assistant US trade representative for Europe and the Middle East in the Office of the United States Trade Representative from 2010 to 2023. Both sides clearly felt the global circumstances made the deal even more important for their respective interests. From an EU perspective, it’s about having new destinations for EU exports if President-elect Donald Trump raises US tariffs and the Chinese economic slump continues. More broadly, it’s a win for the EU’s longstanding approach to economic security: instead of using economic coercion, the EU prefers to use the attractiveness of its single market to secure bilateral deals on market access. But this approach has become less and less fashionable, including in the EU, so von der Leyen felt the months ahead were the last chance to get a Mercosur deal ratified. But its passage is still far from certain. — Charles Lichfield is the deputy director and C. Boyden Gray senior fellow of the Atlantic Council’s GeoEconomics Center. The deal is moving forward now in large part because the negotiations have produced a text that most parties believe they can live with; the deal is “ripe,” so to say. But three other factors have been influential in why the deal is being signed right now: The most vocal opponent of the deal, French President Emmanuel Macron, has been politically wounded, perhaps mortally, by the collapse of Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s government, although it remains to be seen whether he can marshal a blocking minority in the European Council. Von der Leyen is in a strong political position, and she knows there will be opposition, so she might as well get this done early in her term. This also allows her to give a gift to the country she knows best—Germany—which looks to the Mercosur countries as a valuable market. The Commission is well aware that it needs to be seen as engaging with developing countries, and it needs to bring them on as economic and political partners, especially as relations with the United States could become difficult. If you see this as, in part, a signal to Trump, you are probably right. — Frances Burwell is a distinguished fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Europe Center and a senior director at McLarty Associates. The current geopolitical landscape—marked by rising global protectionism and economic uncertainties—has created momentum for finalizing the deal. Both blocs view this agreement as a strategic move to bolster economic ties and secure a stronger position in global trade. — Abrão Neto is a nonresident fellow with the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center and a former secretary of foreign trade of Brazil. 2. What are the pros and cons for Mercosur members? For Mercosur nations, the agreement unlocks significant access to the European market, a major importer of key Mercosur exports, such as food and critical minerals. It also positions these economies to attract greater investment, driven by the EU’s stringent criteria. On the other hand, the influx of European manufactured goods will challenge Mercosur industries to modernize, digitalize, and boost efficiency to stay competitive. — Valentina Sader is a deputy director at the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center, where she leads the Center’s work on Brazil, gender equality, and diversity, and manages the Center’s Advisory Council. The agreement improves market access for Mercosur exports, reduces costs for importing essential inputs and machinery, attracts foreign investment, and fosters economic growth and job creation. However, local industries might face heightened competition from EU manufacturers, and there is concern that EU-imposed environmental and sustainability standards could disproportionately affect Mercosur producers, potentially offsetting some benefits. — Abrão Neto 3. What are the pros and cons for the EU and EU member states? Improving trade integration with a significant part of the Western Hemisphere will be a useful diversification of the EU trade portfolio, as US-China and US-EU trade relations shift to a potentially more disruptive period with the incoming US administration. The other side of the coin is that providing agricultural market access to Mercosur has been very controversial, particularly in France (whose government is weakened, perhaps only temporarily, by political challenges from the left and the right). Some of the “sustainability” practices in Mercosur countries have also drawn controversy. So while this may be a wise economic choice, it could trigger significant political backlash. —L. Daniel Mullaney The pros are clear. In addition to better market access terms to Latin America for EU goods, the bloc hopes to access the critical minerals available in the ground in Mercosur countries and stymie China’s increasing influence in that sector. The cons are supposedly a glut of cheap Argentine beef and Brazilian bananas. But there are tough quotas in the deal, including a limit equivalent to one Mercosur steak per EU citizen per year. So European farmers’ objections are not entirely justified, although the complaint that they have to follow more constraints (on emissions and the use of fertilizer and pesticides) than Mercosur farmers do is probably more reasonable. —Charles Lichfield This agreement has the potential to bring serious economic benefits to the EU in terms of new markets. In 2023, the EU had a slight trade surplus vis-à-vis Mercosur, and certain European countries had a significant surplus. Germany’s surplus was nine billion euros, Belgium’s was three billion euros, and even France had a two-billion-euro surplus. These countries are all in a position to benefit from the Mercosur arrangement. But in every trade deal, there are winners and losers, and clearly some of the losers in France, especially the farmers, are very powerful politically. It is also true that critics of Mercosur have ignored some of the provisions in the deal that answer their concerns, such as a ban on imports of hormone-fed beef. In this partisan environment, the economic advantages of the deal may be cancelled out by the political disadvantages. The signature today will only exacerbate the anger of those in Europe who believe the Commission acts in its own interests and fails to protect the interests of European citizens. While the German government and mainstream parties may support the EU-Mercosur arrangement, there are many in that country who feel left out economically and who are likely to see this as another reason to vote for a Euroskeptic party. Thus, while the agreement brings many economic benefits, these might be outweighed by the political costs. —Frances Burwell 4. What do the next steps look like for the deal? The process involves legal scrubbing, translation into multiple languages, formal signing, and ratification by national parliaments in both blocs. While this agreement represents a historic milestone, significant political and stakeholder debates are anticipated, presenting challenges before full implementation. — Abrão Neto In the EU, the next steps are a likely challenging process of approval from the member states and consent by the European Parliament. The debate over the positive and negative aspects of this initiative will play out very publicly among relatively new actors in the EU institutions and member states. In the meantime, France’s and Germany’s political challenges may or may not endure. Fasten your seat belts and pass the popcorn! —L. Daniel Mullaney Further reading

NoneCharles Barkley is letting everyone know how he feels about Donald Trump voters. The legendary NBA star turned Turner Sports analyst isn't afraid to talk politics. Barkley, one of the biggest voices in social media, is a registered Independent, who voted for Kamala Harris this year. But Barkley, who grew up in Alabama and starred collegiately at Auburn, has made it clear that he has respect for people on both sides of the political aisle. Barkley, 61, is a good example for the rest of us. TNT. Auburn Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl is one of Barkley's good friends. Pearl is a conservative and has spoken out in support of Donald Trump. While Barkley might have voted for Kamala Harris, he can still be friends and respect Donald Trump voters. He's tired of people sending him articles about Bruce Pearl voting for Donald Trump. “Oh, another thing. The next one of you fools, idiots and (expletives) send me an article about Bruce Pearl supporting Trump, I’m gonna punch you in your face. Bruce Pearl can vote for who he wants to. Bruce Pearl got two jobs, win basketball games and graduate players,” Barkley said on his podcast with Ernie Johnson . “People can vote for who they want to. I voted for Kamala. But like I said, we didn’t win...it’s all our faults for not having a game plan. We’re not having concerts and rallies. People want solutions, they want money in their pocket, they want the border secure.” Barkley's main point - "people can vote for who they want to" - is a good one. And while he might lean left and vote for Kamala Harris, he's not afraid to rip the Democratic Party, too. “The reason I think the Democratic Party and Mr. Biden, President Biden, is losing Black votes is they only care about Black people every four years,” he said earlier this summer. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Barkley, who is set to join ESPN with the rest of the "Inside the NBA" team in 2025-26, hopefully won't ever stop speaking his mind - on politics or anything else. Good for Charles Barkley.

Michigan (7-5, 5-4 Big Ten) stunned No. 2 Ohio State (10-2, 7-2 Big Ten) in one of the biggest upsets of the college football season. Kicker Dominic Zvada hit the game-winning field with 45 seconds remaining. The Buckeyes were stopped on 4th down on the next drive, securing Michigan's upset victory. Michigan running back Kalel Mullings led the Wolverines with 116 rushing yards on 32 carries and one rushing touchdown. The Buckeyes were held to 77 rushing yards on 26 carries, highlighting the offensive struggles against the Wolverines. The Wolverines have won four consecutive games against the Buckeyes, their longest winning streak in the rivalry since 1988-91. Following the game, Michigan players rushed to midfield to plant a flag at the 50-yard line, which caused a massive brawl between the two teams. A fight has broken out between Michigan and Ohio State after The Game pic.twitter.com/XPwdAjfYzN The teams were separated by security, but the tension continued to rise, leading to a second altercation. Following the first brawl, Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer ripped the Michigan flag and started a second brawl near the 30-yard line. Multiple Ohio State players were seen getting physical with Michigan staffers as they tried to grab the flag. Ohio State’s Jack Sawyer rips away the Michigan flag and throws it amid the insanity after the game. Cops. Pepper spray was even used. Two Michigan players were on the ground rubbing their faces. A photographer as well. Police later lined up at 50 to build a human wall. pic.twitter.com/xANs878xe7 Multiple reports surfaced that security used pepper spray on the players during the brawl. This had fans across college football concerned for the players' safety and well-being inside the stadium. Michigan running back Kalel Mullings called out the Buckeyes in his postgame interview after the brawl. "You hate to see stuff like that after the game," Mulling said. "It's just bad for the sport, bad for college football. They gotta learn how to lose, man. You can't be fighting." "You hate to see stuff like that after the game. It's just bad for the sport, bad for CFB... They gotta learn how to lose man. You can't be fighting." @JennyTaft speaks with Michigan's Kalel Mullings after a fight broke out between Ohio State and Michigan after the game ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/z6rmxu2YJQ Ohio State's chances at the Big Ten Championship game took a significant hit with the loss. Penn State will advance to the title game with a win over Maryland and an Ohio State loss, while Indiana will secure a spot with a win and Penn State and Ohio State loss. Related: Social Media Demands Accountability After Photo of Ohio State Fan Goes Viral

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