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It was an odd week for fantasy basketball with the NBA Cup quarterfinals and semifinals taking place in Week 8. As a result, many fantasy managers had fewer games to work with. That definitely impacted the week’s High Score fantasy basketball perfect lineup. Let’s take a look at the top-six scorers on the week after recapping the NBA Cup so far.

In the Eastern Conference, the Magic took down the Heat while the Knicks defeated the Raptors last Tuesday to advance to the semifinals. Desmond Bane was brought in via trade to Orlando before the season and this was his signature performance so far, dropping 37 points on 14-of-24 shooting from the floor. The Knicks got 35 points from Jalen Brunson in their win over Toronto. Brunson would continue his strong play, scoring 40 points in the semifinal against the Magic to lift the Knicks to the NBA Cup Final.

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[High Score is a new way to play Fantasy Basketball on Yahoo with simple rosters and scoring. It’s not too late to create or join a league]

Out West, the Thunder kept up their historic win pace by demolishing the Suns 138-89. A career game from point guard Stephon Castle helped the Spurs get by the Lakers to advance. Castle had 30 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists, carrying the team with Victor Wembanyama sidelined. Then, Wemby returned in heroic fashion to help San Antonio stun OKC with a 111-109 victory for the Thunder’s second loss of the season. Wembanyama came off the bench but scored 22 points in 21 minutes with nine rebounds.

The Knicks and Spurs will meet on Tuesday in the NBA Cup final — those stats will not count for fantasy matchups this week.

A closer look at the top performers

Russell Westbrook: The Kings are likely headed for the lottery again and could start to move pieces as a result. But in the meantime, Westbrook is surprising everyone as a top-25 fantasy asset in High Score. He posted a vintage triple-double line of 24-12-14 with three stocks against the Pacers to start the wonky schedule week. There’s almost always going to volatility with his box scores but we’re seeing a 70-point ceiling for Westbrook in the right spot.

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Keyonte George: The Jazz guard has taken a huge step in Year 3 in the NBA. He’s becoming a nice 1B option to Lauri Markkanen’s 1A for Utah. Isaiah Collier missing time early on really cleared the way for George, who scored a career-high 39 points against the Grizzlies over the weekend. He has great category coverage averaging 4.0 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game this season. That will allow him to maintain his floor of around 45 fantasy points.

Derik Queen: Freezing Cold Takes must be having a field day with everyone questioning the trade for Queen at the 2025 NBA Draft. While New Orleans gave up a lot, it looks like the franchise may have a stalwart as Queen is firmly in the Rookie of the Year conversation. He lands on this list thanks to his first career triple-double with 33-10-10 to go with three blocks against the Spurs on Monday. Since Nov. 4, Queen is averaging 14.9 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game while playing over 28 minutes per contest.

Nikola Jokić: This feels like it’s becoming a de factor weekly Jokić update. The top High Score asset had a quiet week with just one game in which Joker and the Nuggets made swift work of the Kings on Thursday. It was one of the lower High Score totals for the big man this season but still likely helped your lineup pick up the W with scoring down last week. He had 36-12-8 with two steals in just 29 minutes of action.

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Jalen Johnson: A down week can also be said about Johnson, who failed to reach the 70-point mark but sneaks onto this list after edging out a few players at 59 points. Johnson recorded two triple-doubles on the week and now has a four-game streak of triple-doubles. He continues to make his case for Most Improved Player as we await the return of PG Trae Young. Young is expected to be back at practice this week so a return appears imminent. That will likely impact Johnson’s fantasy stock.

Stephen Curry: Steph nearly reached a 50-burger on Sunday night to make it into the top-six scorers for the week. He was lights out, shooting 16-26 from the floor and 12-19 from distance for 48 points. He also added 3 boards, 2 assists, 3 steals and a block. We talk about this a lot but the beauty of High Score is that players like Curry can still turn it back and give us a ceiling game in the right environment. That was the fourth time Steph has scored 40+ points in a game this season. The magic is still there.

Welcome back to The Playlist — your weekly scan of the fantasy basketball landscape, where we break down waiver adds for 9-cat and standard points leagues to help you stay competitive.

Week 9 offers some time off for every team except for the Spurs and Knicks, who will play in the Emirates NBA Cup championship on Tuesday. Speaking of Tuesday, the results of the NBA Cup championship will not count towards Week 9 scoring.

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Three teams play four games (MIA, HOU, TOR), 14 teams play three games and 13 teams play just two games this week. This will be the final odd scheduling week until we reach the All-Star break. Now that’s out of the way, let’s talk pickups.

You can also read my High Score pickups story for advice in that format.

🎧 Who’s in My Rotation: Shallow leagues

Jay Huff – C, Indiana Pacers (32% rostered)

Huff is building momentum as one of the best shot blockers in the NBA. He leads the league in total blocks and is averaging 2.5 blocks in just 19 minutes per game. As the starting center, he’s risen to 2.8 per game, and over his last six outings, he’s swatting 3.5 shots a game. His defense alone warrants him being on every roster, yet he’s still under 40%.

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One thing I’m expecting? Some positive regression on his shooting numbers. He’s currently sitting at 42% FG and 56% TS, which are far below his career numbers of at least 50% FG and 65% TS, respectively. Shallow leagues need to take action.

Jaylon Tyson – SG/SF, Cleveland Cavaliers (28% rostered)

Tyson is surging in his second season and, like Huff, is somehow still under-rostered. In December, he’s averaging an efficient 17.5 points, 9 rebounds, including three double-doubles. His versatility gives him real 9-cat value: strong FG%, rebounds from the wing, low turnovers and just enough stocks to matter.

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In points leagues, he’s hitting 30-38 FP with regularity thanks to rebounding and efficiency. Tyson should be rostered in all leagues, especially with Evan Mobley becoming the latest victim of the dreaded calf strain.

Tari Eason – SF/PF, Houston Rockets (25% rostered)

Eason was upgraded to questionable ahead of Monday’s tilt against Denver, indicating he’s nearing a return from his oblique injury that sidelined him for 11 games.

He’s a target in 9-cat leagues for efficiency, 3s, rebounds and stocks, especially with Houston playing four games this week, offering multiple lineup opportunities. Eason is a key factor of the Rockets’ rotation, so getting him back gives Houston another two-way weapon.

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🎧 Who’s in My Rotation: Deeper leagues

Marcus Smart – PG/SG, Los Angeles Lakers (10% rostered)

Since Austin Reaves will miss at least the next week or so with a calf strain, Smart has some short-term appeal in deeper leagues. Smart drew his 10th start of the season on Sunday, finishing with 8 points (2-7 FG, 3-4 FT), 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 3-pointer, 1 steal and 2 blocks in 31 minutes — solid all-around production. The 12-year vet remains a disruptive defender, averaging 1.7 steals per contest. While he can be helpful in any format depending on need, I prefer him in points leagues because efficiency is his primary weakness.

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Jamal Shead – PG, Toronto Raptors (6% rostered)

Shead has been one of the Raptors’ biggest surprises over the past two weeks, producing TJ McConnell-like numbers off the bench: strong assists, low turnovers and steals, but with more 3s.

With Toronto entering a favorable Week 9 schedule (four games, including a Saturday/Sunday back-to-back), Shead profiles as a streaming option in 12+ team 9-cat and points leagues.

Jock Landale – C, Memphis Grizzlies (12% rostered)

The Grizzlies will be without Zach Edey (ankle) for at least four weeks, leaving Santi Aldama and Landale to help man the frontcourt. Landale is an add for deeper 9-cat formats, since he’s more of a bench depth streamer whose upside can be a low-end double-double.

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In 14 games without Edey this year, Landale is averaging 10.5 points with 5.7 rebounds per game. That’s not too far off his seasonal numbers, with the primary difference being that he averages three more minutes per game when Edey is not active.

Welcome to The High Score Playlist: my weekly column that lets you know who to add off the waiver wire and get in your lineup for the upcoming week in fantasy basketball. You can also read my 9-cat and standard points leagues pickups story for advice in those formats.

So press play and shuffle through the latest fantasy basketball info.

🎧 Who’s in My Rotation: High Score

Jabari Smith Jr. – FC, Houston Rockets (46% rostered)

Smith isn’t a classic waiver add in shallow leagues, but he’s still available in far too many High Score formats. Over his last five games, he’s averaging 32 fantasy points in High Score with a 42-point outing in his last contest.

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The Rockets play two of their four games against fantasy-friendly teams in the Pelicans and Kings, leaving multiple chances to start Smith in an abridged week. He should be well over 50% rostered.

Cedric Coward – G/FC, Memphis Grizzlies (33% rostered)

The rookie from Washington State has been inconsistent recently; however, there have been a couple of boom performances over the past two weeks that could surge again in Week 9. He’s had two double-digit rebounding efforts with at least five assists in his last three games.

With the Clippers and Wolves on tap for Monday and Wednesday (five-game slates), you can start him with the chance at another 40-point fantasy performance. Coward dropped 50 fantasy points on the Clippers just two weeks ago, plus he has dual eligibility.

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Anthony Black- G, Orlando Magic (28% rostered)

Franz Wagner’s latest injury extended Black’s run as a player to roster in High Score. He’s been an invaluable piece of Orlando’s recent success, and it’s translated into substantial fantasy numbers. Over the past 30 days, Black ranks 76th overall in High Score, averaging 35.6 fantasy points per game thanks to his multi-category output of 16-5-4 and 1.5 steals per game.

Orlando plays two games on the biggest slates this week, so he may not fit into your lineup now, but he’s a hold across all formats.

[High Score is a new way to play Fantasy Basketball on Yahoo with simple rosters and scoring. It’s not too late to create or join a league]

Jordan Walsh – G/FC, Boston Celtics (25% rostered)

Walsh remains severely underrated in High Score and fantasy in general. He’s averaged 32 fantasy points per game over the last two weeks and has evolved into an efficient scoring option for the Celtics while leaning into his strengths as a defender and decent rebounder.

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While Walsh faces challenging opponents in Detroit, Miami and Toronto in Week 9, the Miami game falls on a small five-game slate where he can get run in a fast-paced game. He’s established himself as a viable starter for a Boston team that continues to surprise in what was assumed to be a gap year.

Noah Clowney – FC, Brooklyn Nets (31% rostered)

Clowney’s long-term outlook continues to surge after he’s been a reliable 30+ point fantasy asset over the past month, averaging 17.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.9 stocks per game. Brooklyn plays two games this week, and the only real chance to start him will be ahead of Sunday’s clash with the Raptors.

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If he hits 30+ minutes, he has 40+ point upside. Also, given the state of the organization and his contract, the Nets need to see what they have in their 21-year-old big, who is putting up career numbers in his third campaign.

The New York Jets fired defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, one day after a 48-20 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, head coach Aaron Glenn announced Monday.

Chris Harris will take over defensive coordinator duties in the interim.

The Jets are 3-11 and sit at the bottom of the AFC East. On Sunday, New York allowed six touchdowns to Trevor Lawrence — five through the air and one on the ground. This season, the Jets rank 30th in defensive scoring, giving up 28.4 points per game, and they are last in the league with three takeaways, all of which were fumbles.

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Wilks was one of Glenn’s earliest hires after he got the head coaching job during the 2025 offseason. During Wilks’ first season in New York, the Jets traded key defensive stars, including cornerback Sauce Gardner and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. Wilks was also fired after just one season as DC at his previous team in San Francisco. Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan was ready to move on from Wilks following the 2023 campaign despite the team’s success.

[Get more Jets news: New York team feed]

In 2005, Wilks began his NFL coaching career as an assistant in Washington, then became a defensive backs coach for Chicago, San Diego and ultimately Carolina in 2012. Wilks worked his way up to defensive coordinator with the Panthers in 2017 before getting his first head coaching opportunity with the Arizona Cardinals in 2018. He lasted only one season there, finishing 3-13. Wilks had a brief second stint with the Panthers in 2022, where he served as interim head coach/secondary coach.

Defensive backs coach Chris Harris steps in to finish the season as defensive coordinator. Harris is a former NFL defensive back, selected by the Chicago Bears in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. During his eight-year career, Harris played for Chicago, Carolina, Detroit and Jacksonville, retiring after the 2012 season.

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The Jets’ next game will be Sunday on the road against the New Orleans Saints, before they close out a disappointing season against New England and Buffalo in Weeks 17 and 18.

There will be no more drives into deep left field for Nick Castellanos with the Philadelphia Phillies. The team signaled the end of the Castellanos era on Monday, when it reportedly agreed to a one-year, $10 million deal with Adolis García, according to multiple reports.

With the move, García — who was non-tendered by the Texas Rangers in November — is expected to be the primary right fielder for the Phillies in 2026. While García struggled at the plate last season, hitting just .227/.271/.394, with 19 home runs, he’s considered a strong defensive addition. That’s something the Phillies lacked with Castellanos, who expressed frustration about being removed from games for defensive reasons last year.

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While defense played into Philadelphia’s decision to sign García, the team is likely also hoping for a resurgent offensive year from the 32-year-old. After posting an All-Star season with the Rangers in 2023, García has seen his numbers decline the past two seasons, when he has slashed just .225/.278/.397.

Although García struggled in 2025, he show some signs that suggest he has one more strong season left in his bat. He saw a rebound in his exit velocity after it dipped in 2024. He also managed to cut his strikeout rate to a career-low 24.7%. Neither of those improvements resulted in a better year in 2025, but the Phillies might view both as promising signs that García can recoup some of his previous form in the short term. It helps that his main calling card — power — should play well in Citizens Bank Park, one of the best places to hit home runs in the majors.

[Get more Phillies news: Philadelphia team feed]

With García expected to take over as the team’s primary right fielder, the Phillies need to make a decision on Castellanos. The 33-year-old is entering the final season of his five-year, $100 million deal and is set to make $20 million in 2026. Following the García signing, the Phillies are expected to trade or release Castellanos ahead of spring training.

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Castellanos has also seen a decline in his performance at the plate in recent years, though he has actually hit better than García lately. Over the past two seasons, Castellanos has a .252/.303/.416 slash line. But frustration over his role last season, combined with his poor defense, was apparently enough for the Phillies to move on from the veteran.

Castellanos is still capable of popping home runs at a fair clip, but he saw his exit velocity and hard-hit rate drop in 2025, two possible signs of decline. Because of that, the Phillies might need to eat some of his contract if they want to trade the outfielder. Given his struggles on defense, Castellanos could be used as a designated hitter with his new club.

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That isn’t an option for the Phillies after Kyle Schwarber re-signed with the team. With Schwarber firmly entrenched as the designated hitter, the Phillies are prioritizing improving their outfield defense. While the team rated well in most areas last season, defense was a weakness, with nearly every metric ranking the Phillies as a below-average defensive team.

Despite contending for multiple seasons, the Phillies are still searching for their first World Series championship since 2008. Bringing in García isn’t a blockbuster move, but one that should shore up one of the team’s biggest weaknesses.

Given how close the Phillies have come to winning it all in recent seasons, even a small upgrade could pay major dividends when the season is on the line in October.

As NBA trade season approaches, we looked at sellers last week, and now it’s time to look at some teams that could end up being buyers before the Feb. 5 trade deadline.

They are 20-5 and sitting atop the Eastern Conference, but this team is in dire need of more shooting and a firm secondary scoring option.

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Lauri Markkanen makes a lot of sense, and facilitating a deal for him wouldn’t be particularly difficult, at least through the lens of matching salaries or attaching draft equity, because the Pistons control their future draft assets.

The beauty of Detroit’s flexibility is it can go in a bunch of different ways and it can also put Jaden Ivey on the table in negotiations. But the Pistons do need to move now, as Jalen Duren is up for a new contract next summer.

So, this is complicated.

The Knicks should be looking for whatever upgrade they can get their hands on to improve their depth and make a real Finals run with the East being as open as it is.

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However, they’re so short on assets and less than $150,000 away from the second apron, so it’s almost unrealistic to expect them to do something major. That doesn’t mean they shouldn’t try, though.

This is a weird team, and the pieces may not all fit together. But that’s all the more reason to try to make a real upgrade, if one is there for the taking.

The contract of Tyus Jones ($7 million, expiring) could bring the Magic something, but their first apron buffer is at just $1.2 million, which in the NBA is peanuts.

As such, look for the Magic to package Jones with Jett Howard to see if they can extract a larger contract elsewhere.

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They can get just about anyone they want to, but given the fact that they’re as good as they are right now, they can easily choose to stand pat.

They improved their depth last summer and remain $2.8 million under the second apron, which does give them some flexibility for the trade deadline.

More than likely, they’ll stick with their main core and instead make moves around the margin.

They’re not in bad shape by any stretch, so we’ll see what — if anything — they cook up.

It was tempting to leave them out, simply due to the Fred VanVleet injury, but at 16-6 and with Kevin Durant on the roster, that would be indefensible.

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They need a point guard. Full stop. They probably won’t be able to acquire a big-name player, but they could attempt to use VanVleet’s $25 million salary to facilitate something.

Going into the rest of the season short on playmaking guards wouldn’t be advisable.

Victor Wembanyama will, more than likely, sign a full-max contract extension next offseason, which means the Spurs are on the clock to round out the roster as they see fit.

They have multiple expiring contracts in the form of Harrison Barnes and Kelly Olynyk ($32.4 million in total), a plethora of draft picks and plenty of young players, all of which could be combined to make a push for another star — such as Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo.

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Whichever player the Spurs identify, they have enough juice to do something big if they want to.

When you have a team with Luka Dončić, you’re almost always in a state of competitiveness, meaning you’re automatically looking to buy and add pieces around him.

While the Lakers will more than likely wait to do something big during the offseason, that doesn’t mean they won’t be on the lookout for something that makes sense.

They have expiring contracts, but very little draft equity and are short on young players. That’s a tough mix, which could lead them to try their luck in free agency instead.

Arizona is running it back leading the sport after what turned out to be another dominant week for the Wildcats.

Here’s everything you missed in the sixth week of the regular season, and the latest Associated Press poll.

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Arizona survives early scare to stay perfect

For a brief minute, it looked like we were going to have a new No. 1 team this week.

But then, quickly, Arizona kicked into gear and picked up yet another commanding road win over a ranked opponent.

The Wildcats, despite entering the break down by two points for their first halftime deficit of the season, erupted in the second half to pick up a 21-point win over Alabama on Saturday night in Birmingham. Brayden Burries dropped 20 of his 28 points in the second half.

The win marked the fifth for Arizona against a ranked opponent this season, and the second straight after it beat Auburn by almost 30 earlier this month. The Wildcats also beat defending national champion Florida to open the season, and picked up wins over UCLA and UConn.

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Naturally, that kept the Wildcats at No. 1 in the poll this week. Alabama fell to No. 16.

The Wildcats’ win was part of what was a relatively straightforward week of college basketball. There was just one change in the top 11 spots of the AP Poll, with Gonzaga and Houston swapping spots at Nos 7 and 8. Michigan held at No. 2, and Duke, which was off this past week, held at No. 3. Iowa State, which held on to beat Iowa on Thursday, remained at No. 4 and UConn then rounded out the top five.

The biggest surprise of the week came from Nebraska, which stunned Illinois with a last-second game-winner from Jamarques Lawrence on the road. That got the Huskers to a perfect 11-0, which is the best start in program history. The win over Illinois, which was their first ranked win, pushed them up eight spots to No. 15. The Illini, now with three losses, fell to No. 18.

As for Arizona, winning the Big 12 won’t be an easy thing to do There are four teams in the top 10 alone. But over the first stretch of the season, the Wildcats have clearly separated themselves from the rest of the pack in the league.

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Games to watch this week

All times ET | * denotes neutral site

Tuesday, Dec. 16

No. 11 Louisville at No. 20 Tennessee | 7 p.m. | ESPN

Saturday, Dec. 20

No. 22 St. John’s at Kentucky | 12:30 p.m. | CBS *
Ohio State at No. 12 North Carolina | 3 p.m. | CBS *
No. 8 Houston at No. 14 Arkansas | 5:30 p.m. | CBS *
No. 21 Auburn at No. 6 Purdue | 6:30 p.m. | Peacock *
No. 3 Duke at No. 19 Texas Tech | 8 p.m. | ESPN *

AP Top 25

The full Associated Press men’s basketball poll from December 15, 2025.

1. Arizona (9-0)
2. Michigan (10-0)
3. Duke (10-0)
4. Iowa State (11-0)
5. UConn (10-1)
6. Purdue (10-1)
7. Gonzaga (10-1)
8. Houston (10-1)
9. Michigan State (9-1)
10. BYU (9-1)
11. Louisville (9-1)
12. North Carolina (9-1)
13. Vanderbilt (10-0)
14. Arkansas (8-2)
15. Nebraska (11-0)
16. Alabama (7-3)
17. Kansas (8-3)
18. Illinois (8-3)
19. Texas Tech (7-3)
20. Tennessee (7-3)
21. Auburn (8-3)
22. St. John’s (6-3)
T23. Florida (6-4)
T23. Virginia (9-1)
25. Georgia (9-1)

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Others receiving votes: USC 68, Iowa 47, Seton Hall 46, LSU 19, Kentucky 19, UCLA 16, Clemson 14, California 13, Saint Mary’s 12, Arizona State 5, Villanova 5, Notre Dame 4, Indiana 4, Miami (Ohio) 4, Miami 4, Utah State 2, Saint Louis 1, Wisconsin 1

The Green Bay Packers’ loss to the Denver Broncos went from bad to worse Monday, as an MRI confirmed star pass rusher Micah Parsons sustained a torn ACL in Week 15, according to multiple media reports.

The injury will keep Parsons out at least nine months, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

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That was the expected result after Parsons went down with a non-contact injury in the third quarter of the Packers’ 34-26 loss to the Broncos on Sunday. Parsons confirmed the news on social media, saying:

I may be sidelined, but I am not defeated. This injury is my greatest test—a moment God allowed to strengthen my testimony. I believe He walks with me through this storm and chose me for this fight because He knew my heart could carry it. I’m deeply grateful to the Packers organization and my teammates for their unwavering support, love, and belief in me during this season. I trust His timing, His plan, and His purpose. I will rise again.

It was Green Bay’s second major injury in the quarter, as wideout Christian Watson also left the contest with a chest injury. While Watson’s injury likely played a role in the Packers’ loss, the Parsons injury threatens to wreck the rest of the year for the Packers.

It’s impossible to overstate the impact Parsons had on the Packers after the team gave up two first-round draft picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark to acquire Parsons from the Dallas Cowboys.

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In 14 games, Parsons had already racked up 12.5 sacks. He was well on his way toward setting a career-high in the stat prior to the injury. And Parsons managed that figure despite seeing limited snaps early in his tenure with the Packers due to a back injury and training camp holdout when he was with the Cowboys.

The injury comes at a miserable time for the Packers, who fell out of first place in the NFC North following Week 15’s loss. Things won’t get much easier for Green Bay, as the team has to play the Chicago Bears on Saturday night with the division on the line. Green Bay’s defense came up big against Caleb Williams and the Bears when the two teams met in Week 14. Without Parsons, it could be a different story this time around.

After that, the Packers will square off against the Baltimore Ravens and the Minnesota Vikings to close out the season. It’s not an easy slate.

While the injury is devastating, the Packers are still in good standing to make the playoffs. A win over the Bears in Week 16 would put the team in tremendous position to play in the postseason. Even with a loss, the Packers could secure a lower playoff seed if the team can finish strong down the stretch.

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But the loss of Parsons would hit even harder in the postseason, when the Packers will face much stiffer competition and better quarterbacks. Parsons is capable of blowing up game plans with his elite pass-rushing ability. If teams no longer have to account for him, offenses should have an easier time ensuring passing plays remain on schedule.

With the injury expected to keep Parsons out multiple months, the Packers also face the possibility of not having the pass rusher early next season. That will depend on Parsons’ rehab and whether he can avoid setbacks as he attempts to come back from a devastating injury.

If there’s a silver lining, it’s that Parsons has plenty of time to get the Packers back on track. After his trade, Parsons signed a four-year, $188 million extension with the Packers, ensuring he’ll be a member of the franchise through the 2029 NFL season.

That gives Parsons plenty of time to still make an impact in Green Bay. His first year with the franchise may have ended in disappointment, but Parsons will be back striking fear into quarterbacks before long.

Toluca hero Alexis Vega stepped up to the spot for the second time. Once again, he delivered. Once again, Toluca became Liga MX champion.

In a penalty shootout that extended to a dozen rounds, Vega fired Toluca past Tigres and to a 12th Liga MX championship.

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But even before he stepped up to the spot, the debates in Mexico already had begun. Were either of these teams, coming off the back of regular seasons in which they lost three games combined, worthy of being called grandes?

Mexico has four historic grandes, the most successful and best-supported teams over time. Three (Club América, Cruz Azul and Pumas) are in Mexico City with Chivas de Guadalajara also fitting the bill. But the Toluca win, its second in a row in Mexico’s short-tournament format, means it moves into a tie for second place all-time with Chivas when it comes to league titles won. Toluca has more title wins than Cruz Azul or Pumas.

Tigres, too, would’ve been denigrated as a “small club” had it won a ninth Liga MX trophy — which for much of the match it looked like it would. Few foreigners, however, would see Tigres or crosstown rival CF Monterrey as anything other than big teams.

After all, Tigres bolstered their title chances this summer by signing Angel Correa from Atlético Madrid. He joined a team that was undoubtedly the team of the 2010s, with Andre-Pierre Gignac and Co. winning six league titles since the 2011 Apertura, getting to the final four more times including this season’s loss and also winning a first-ever CONCACAF Champions Cup in 2020.

Meanwhile, Monterrey headed to the Club World Cup this past summer with Real Madrid legend Sergio Ramos in its employ, later added Manchester United ex Anthony Martial and also boasts rising Mexican talents like center back Victor Guzman and midfielders Fidel Ambriz and Iker Fimbres.

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But look at the comments of any post celebrating the achievements of the Nuevo León teams. They’re not even being accused of being “nouveau riche.” They’re just being taunted for being small.

Who decides who gets to be a grande? Generally, it’s powerful media commentators based in Mexico City. Rarely would they give teams from far north Monterrey the time of day, and even Toluca, around 40 miles to the west in the State of Mexico, is seen much more as a provincial team than one that belongs.

It’s time to change the thinking.

Toluca has assembled a team with few weaknesses. The injured Vega returned for a late cameo in the second leg of the final after more than a month out with a hamstring issue suffered two weeks before the end of the regular season. After the match, he noted that he “wasn’t doing very well” physically but believed he had avoided making the injury any worse by rushing back onto the field.

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But the Toluca academy product, who returned after a miserable spell with Chivas in which it seemed he was out on the town more than he was on the training ground, so badly wanted to help the team become back-to-back champions that he said he never doubted the choice to risk it. “It was a very important day for me, my family, the fans who have been with us at all times,” he said.

Even without their playmaker, Toluca has seen others step up to fill the void. Top scorer Paulinho arrived from Sporting Lisbon in the summer of 2024 and two league titles and three top scorer awards later, he is pushing to get back into the Portugal national team setup ahead of the 2026 World Cup. He linked with Mexican midfielder Jesus Angulo and Brazilian winger Helinho to provide a spark in attack while Vega was absent.

Two-way midfielder Marcel Ruiz stayed at Toluca despite summer interest from clubs in the English Championship and Brazil’s top division and also was one of Toluca’s most important players. Uruguayan defender Federico Pereira anchored things at the back, allowing the Diablos Rojos to do their work going forward.

And their impressive manager Antonio Mohamed added a fifth Liga MX crown, his first time winning two at the same club. He’s had stops at the grandes, having won at Club América. He’s worked with smaller teams, pushing Club Tijuana to its first Liga MX title in 2012.

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“Let me enjoy this right now. After that, we’ll have time to organize the squad, prepare well. Right now, we’ve got an end of year period of celebration. It’s just about celebrating with the fans tomorrow and after that take a well-deserved rest” Mohamed said as he left the Estadio Nemesio Díez. “I’m very happy. We’re now grandes.”

Media commentators can keep shrugging off Toluca’s sustained success. Rival fans can continue putting “too small” emoji in the Instagram comments. Toluca will be busy planning another parade, enjoying more title celebrations and — after what Vega said would be five or six days of partying — looking at another title defense, another Liga MX trophy and another piece of evidence that no matter the size of the market, what they’re doing on the field is what matters.

Dylan Raiola won’t return to Nebraska next season. The 20-year-old quarterback will reportedly enter the transfer portal after his promising sophomore year was cut short by injury, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

Raiola was in the midst of an excellent second season before a broken fibula limited him to nine starts. In those games, Raiola threw for 2,000 yards, with 18 touchdowns against six interceptions. He saw his completion percentage jump from 67.1% as a freshman to 72.4% in his second year.

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Raiola is a true sophomore, and has two seasons of eligibility left, per Thamel.

Raiola, one of the top quarterbacks available in the 2024 class, made waves in 2023 when he flipped his commitment from Georgia to Nebraska. That turned out to be a strong choice, as Raiola played in 13 games as a freshman with the Cornhuskers. He showed promise in those games despite throwing 13 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

As a sophomore, Raiola appeared to take a significant step forward as a passer. He was out to a strong start before sustaining a broken fibula in a loss to USC. Nebraska went 1-2 the rest of the way, finishing out the year 7-5. It’ll take on Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 31.

Rumors emerged about Raiola’s future at Nebraska after his brother, Dayton, de-committed from the school in November. Dylan reportedly had suitors who tried to lure him away from Nebraska after a rocky freshman season. He ultimately remained at Nebraska for his sophomore season before reportedly deciding to transfer.

Given his ability and previous five-star ranking, Dylan should draw plenty of interest in the portal.