A leading Cardiff Rugby figure has criticised the Welsh government after the team have been left stranded in South Africa due to Covid-19 concerns.

Health minister Eluned Morgan said on Tuesday no Covid isolation exceptions could be given.

Blumberg says Cardiff only want to get back on Welsh soil to start quarantine.

Blumberg was supported by Cardiff head of performance Trystan Bevan, who is in South Africa.

"Being out in SA [South Africa] I feel that I must support Rhys here," Bevan wrote on Twitter.

"The performative fist-pumping empty bluster of 'get the boys home' in the WG [Welsh government] press conference earlier sadly rang out identical to the empty rhetoric that the WG so profoundly seems to dismiss as Westminsterian. Disappointing."

UK rules state anyone arriving from six recently red-listed countries in Africa, including South Africa, must isolate in a hotel for 10 days.

Cardiff and Scarlets have been looking to return to Wales to start their self-isolation after the regulations were brought in last Thursday.

Scarlets were also in South Africa but they landed in Dublin on Monday on a flight both teams were scheduled to take.

Scarlets were driven to Belfast where they have been told by the Welsh government they must complete their isolation.

Cardiff's initial two positive Covid cases ended hopes of flying out of South Africa on Sunday. The club confirmed one of the initial cases is suspected to be the Omicron variant which sparked travel restrictions on flights from South Africa to the UK.

They are waiting for a return flight but they will also not be able to self-isolate in Wales. Welsh health minister Morgan said there are no quarantine hotels in the country and new legislation would need to be passed to allow that to happen.

A Welsh government spokesperson said: "In order to keep Wales safe, under Welsh law, it is illegal for anyone who has been in a red list country in the last 10 days to enter Wales directly.

"Therefore there are no quarantine facilities in Wales. This has been the case since early last year, and this applies to everyone, including rugby teams."

The procedure is stated as those arriving in the UK from a red list country must have proof of a negative coronavirus test, taken no more than 72 hours before departure.

They must enter through a designated port in England or Scotland. Cardiff International Airport is not a designated port of entry, meaning travellers cannot travel directly to Wales.

They must enter managed quarantine for 10 days and to reduce public health risk, the Welsh government says they advise travellers should isolate as close to the point of arrival as possible.

As most international travel to Wales is via English ports, the Welsh government claim there is a clear rationale for locating quarantine hotels near these ports.

The Welsh government say there is no capacity anywhere in the UK to comply with red list quarantine requirements and train. Isolation requirements are the same for all individuals, no matter what their profession.

Scarlets players and staff will continue to quarantine in a Belfast hotel for 10 days.

Scarlets had hoped to be able to complete their quarantine in Wales but were informed by the Welsh government they must do so in their Belfast hotel

Cardiff remain in Cape Town after positive Covid-19 cases, while Scarlets' tests were all clear.

A Scarlets statement on Tuesday read: "Scarlets have today received a letter from Dawn Bowden, the Welsh government's Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, confirming that they must see out the remainder of their Covid-19 quarantine period in Belfast.

"The travelling party of 47 have been at the government-managed facility since early Monday morning following their return from South Africa and will complete the designated 10-day isolation period in Northern Ireland, which ends on Friday, December 10.

"Scarlets will continue to adhere to the testing regime set out for this quarantine period.

"Since the decision was made for the group to return from South Africa, we have been in continual discussions with the Welsh government about completing our quarantine in Wales, but have been told that current legislation makes this option impossible because there is no quarantine facility in Wales.

"While disappointed, our utmost priority is the health and well-being of our players and staff. Club officials are in constant contact with the coaching team, players and support staff over in Belfast and we will continue to ensure they have everything they need while respecting the rules of the quarantine process."

On Monday, Scarlets director Ron Jones had called on the Welsh government to help the region's isolating players and staff return to Wales.

But Welsh health minister Eluned Morgan said there were no hotels in Wales which could accommodate the Scarlets' travelling party, adding that new legislation would need to be passed to allow that to happen anyway.

Current rules in Wales state elite sports people are not exempt from isolation upon return from red-list countries and they are not permitted to leave their place of isolation for training.

Like Cardiff, Munster and Italian side Zebre, Scarlets had been in South Africa to play United Rugby Championship matches when the new Omicron Covid variant emerged, prompting UK and Welsh governments to implement new travel restrictions.

They include the requirement for people arriving after 04:00 GMT last Sunday morning from red-list countries, including South Africa, to spend 10 days in hotel quarantine. Scarlets arrived in Dublin on a charter flight at 02:15 GMT on Monday.

Scarlets are scheduled to visit Bristol on Saturday, 11 December in the Heineken Champions Cup.

Speaking on BBC Radio Wales on Monday, Scarlets chairman Simon Muderack accepted that fixture may now be in doubt.

"Time is ticking, the reality is we haven't played a game as a team for quite some time," he said.

"Our last game would have been at the end of October and here we are now essentially into December and every day that the boys are in quarantine, they are deconditioning.

"So we are starting to get to a point, if we are not already at a point, where there is, to be blunt, some personal health and safety issues where you've got a bunch of boys who haven't played rugby for six weeks, who may well be confined to a hotel for 10 days, going up a against a set of finely-tuned athletes who've not skipped a beat in terms of game-time, preparation, nutrition, access to sunlight and being able to spend time decompressing at home with their families.

"There's a set of challenges there that we can't ignore but that's to pick up through the rest of the week."

Scotland international and Stirling County back row Siobhan Cattigan has died at the age of 26.

She started all three matches in the 2021 competition, with her most recent appearance coming in the World Cup qualifier against Spain in September.

Scottish Rugby said their thoughts "go out to Siobhan's family and team-mates at this incredibly difficult time".

They added that specialist employees would provide support to those most closely affected.

Pep Guardiola has told Jack Grealish that the start to his Manchester City career has been "better than maybe he believes."

Grealish has admitted he has found life at the Etihad Stadium "difficult" after leaving Aston Villa to become English football's first £100 million player in the summer.

He returns to Villa Park for the first time with City on Wednesday and ahead of the game, Guardiola has assured the 26-year-old he has been happy with his form since his arrival.

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"My opinion is he's played much better than maybe he believes," Guardiola told a news conference on Tuesday.

"Maybe at Villa, everything started with him and he was free, you know, now he's in a new position and maybe has not been so determined or so clinical in the final third.

"Maybe because he respects his mates, maybe because it's a new environment, and that's normal, it's a process. He needs time. All the players who come here, for the first season, always struggle.

"But what he sees and what he has to do, is so easy for him with the quality he has. Just be free here and be who you are, that's all, no more. I don't say to the players what they have to do -- they play.

"When they get the ball close to the box, my friend, you decide whatever you want. That's why you are Jack Grealish and not another player. They have to play and make their moments."

Grealish is hoping to be fit to face his former club after missing the last three games through injury.

He has been a consistent starter for City so far this season but was left on the bench for the 2-0 win at Manchester United before the international break when Guardiola opted for a front three of Gabriel Jesus, Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden.

"Sometimes it's the environment, a new house, private life, but not just Jack -- all the players," added the City boss.

"Sometimes you have all your life living in one place and then you come to a different place and the expectations are huge, in terms of what you have to do. But play bad? Absolutely not. I didn't see one game yet where he did not play with the quality he has."

As well as Grealish, City are also sweating on the fitness of Foden and Kevin De Bruyne, who has tested negative for COVID-19 but is yet to return to full training.

Ferran Torres remains sidelined through injury while Aymeric Laporte is suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season in the 2-1 win over West Ham on Sunday.

"We are in an emergency in the squad," said Guardiola.

"We have few, few, few people. We never complain when it is not possible for players to play for injuries or red cards, I trust a lot in the squad and other players come in but we are in real trouble for December -- the toughest month of the year -- because we have few, few players.

"We have just 14, 15 players. We are in a difficult position because a lot of players play a lot of minutes."

Arsenal have cleared Marcelo Flores to play for Mexico against Chile in a Dec. 8 friendly in Austin, Texas, outside of the FIFA window.

The call-up would be the first for the 18-year-old on Mexico's senior team. The midfielder also has the option to play for England or Canada.

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Arsenal Academy acknowledged the call-up via a tweet, saying: "Marcelo Flores has received his first call-up to the senior Mexico squad. Our #AFCU18 midfielder will travel to Austin for Mexico's friendly against Chile next week. Congratulations, Marcelo! We're so proud of you."

Bringing in the midfielder is a significant step forward for the Mexican Football Federation (FMF), which is well aware of the fact that the Canadian-born midfielder also has the option to play for England or Canada. Earlier this year, Flores was included in Canada's provisional roster for the 2021 Gold Cup.

Because the upcoming Mexico game is a friendly, Flores will still be able to weigh his options for national team allegiance between the three countries.

Looking ahead to 2022, Flores could become a new addition to a Mexico senior side that is coming off of two losses in CONCACAF's Octagonal round of World Cup qualifying. Mexico currently sits in 3rd in the qualifying table and need to remain in the top three in order to guarantee an automatic spot for the World Cup in Qatar in 2022.

It finally feels like the new era of the U.S. women's national team has begun. With the retirement of legend Carli Lloyd out of the way with last month's games, U.S. coach Vlatko Andonovski brought a young squad to Australia for a two-game series that finished up Tuesday, including five USWNT players who got their first caps.

With a 3-0 win Saturday for the USWNT followed by a 1-1 draw on Tuesday, the Matildas may not have provided the sting the Americans may need in the long run, but the games did mark a full page-turn from the summer's 2020 Olympics, which saw the U.S. finish with bronze. With an average age of 26 years old and a dozen of the players with single-digit (or fewer) caps, the trip abroad was a good test for an American team that is very much in transition after failing to meet expectations in Japan.

Of course, the Matildas are a team in transition, too. Their weakest spot, central defense, was even more vulnerable thanks to a new pairing -- 17-year-old debutant Jessika Nash and 19-year-old Courtney Nevin -- who were tested together in the first game. Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson had no choice but to tinker and try to shore up an Aussie back line that's conceded a whopping 36 goals in 15 games. That may have flattered the USWNT a bit, but there's no denying that the USWNT was the better team in the first game, and they also looked destined for another win until giving up a late equalizer in the second.

Andonovski was clearly experimenting not just with new players, but also with tactics, as the Americans switched to a back-five defense in a new formation at one point. But as small of a sample size as a pair of games is, playing on "enemy" turf in front of a record-sized crowd in Australia is as good a test as any of these players may get for some time -- after all, the USWNT doesn't usually go abroad that for friendlies that often.

So who rose to the challenge and raised their stock within the USWNT pool?

GK Casey Murphy

In her first two caps for the USWNT, Casey Murphy quickly showed that the USWNT may have found its next starting goalkeeper after Alyssa Naeher. That's no small revelation given that 33-year-old Naeher is still a likely candidate to lead the U.S. to the 2023 World Cup. After Hope Solo's unchallenged dominance in goal for so long, as well as the abrupt change that put Naeher in her spot, the USWNT hasn't had a true positional battle for the starting goalkeeper spot in at least a decade.

Murphy could change that. Across both games, the NC Courage keeper faced 10 shots on goal, registering nine saves -- some of them difficult ones that showed off her impressive wingspan to stretch for the ball. The 6-foot-1 goalkeeper had her share of quick reactions, command of the box and good communication with her defenders, which may only get better if she gets more reps. She also out-performed the expected goals conceded stat -- an advanced metric that projected two goals for Australia, though Murphy conceded just one on a deflection.

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Although the USWNT's 3-0 win over the first game looks like a runaway on paper, Australia worked their way back into the game, forcing several key saves out of Murphy.

"The last 10 minutes of the first half we basically relied on Casey," Andonovski said. "We needed her there, and when we needed her the most she came up huge. I thought it was good for her. She gained a lot of confidence."

MF Lindsay Horan

Horan had the most touches on ball of any American across both games and she was an engine in the middle of the field, creating danger and holding possession. That was especially true in the first game as she danced through yellow shirts and, after threatening all day, eventually found the third goal, albeit on a penalty.

That said, it's not surprising to see Horan do well. In 2018, she was the best player in the NWSL, rightfully earning the league's MVP award that season, a run of form that helped her solidify her spot on the USWNT. Horan wasn't just good, she was consistent, and consistency is the hardest part -- so much so that during the 2019 World Cup, Samantha Mewis took her spot and Horan's been locked into a positional battle ever since.

That's the question for Horan: can she continually step up in every game? A more consistent showing across both games might have vaulted Horan further.

In the first game against Australia, Horan led the way with the best passing accuracy (79%) of any American starter other than Emily Fox (83%) -- but the second game was tougher going. The Portland Thorns midfielder still got plenty of touches, but completed just 66% of her passes and was less effective in helping the USWNT move the ball. When a player has a ceiling has high as Horan's, the expectations become all that much higher.

Still, it's notable that Horan wore the captain's armband for both games, and she did lead the way in expected assists for both games. While she may not have necessarily sewn up a starting spot -- Andi Sullivan is an admirable potential challenger, along with Mewis -- Horan clearly continues to factor into Andonovski's plans in a big way. Horan is a player to watch.

DF Emily Fox

With the news that attacker-turned-defender Crystal Dunn is pregnant, the left-back spot is open for the taking, at least for a little while, and Emily Fox did not pass her opportunity up. To be clear, although Dunn has been the USWNT's best option at left-back, Dunn is a good option anywhere on the field; if a better left-back had come along, there's reason to believe Dunn would be deployed elsewhere. That hasn't happened over the past several years due to a dearth of viable options, but now it seems Fox is changing that.

Given the unenviable task of trying to contain speedy forward Hayley Raso and the overlapping runs from even speedier fullback Ellie Carpenter, Fox rarely put a foot wrong, getting into much-needed one-on-one battles and closing down space. She also looked comfortable playing through pressure, and was a threat up the field as well.

FW Mallory Pugh, FW Trinity Rodman

Two players not in this camp are Pugh and Rodman. Andonovski said both were called in, but both opted out, and Andonovski has said not said why they have opted out, nor have the players. Days after the USWNT roster was announced, Pugh missed an NWSL playoff game in a COVID-related absence. Andonovoski noted that per an Australian government mandate, all players had to be vaccinated as a requirement to be allowed into the country for the friendlies.

Regardless of why the pair ultimately missed out, it was a lost opportunity for Pugh, a player trying to re-establish herself with the national team after falling out of the squad, and Rodman, a young player looking for her first USWNT cap.

"The forward position is an area where we felt we needed to increase the competition -- and not just the competition, but the overall experience of the players, so we have to give them games like this in tough environments like this," Andonovski said of the young players he brought in. "We have to see where they're at."

The crop of forwards in Australia largely looked up to the task, and unfortunately for Pugh and Rodman, the slate of newer call-ups -- including Morgan Weaver, Sophia Smith, Ashley Sanchez, Ashley Hatch and others -- didn't leave any obvious shortcomings. Indeed, while Hatch clearly led the way with her two goals in two games, all of the attackers earned more time with the USWNT to fight for a spot against established veterans like Alex Morgan and Christen Press, who were not part of this camp.

Still, the Australia friendlies were one window of many that will come between now and 2023 World Cup qualifying, which will likely not start until January 2023, and Andonovski said Pugh and Rodman will have another chance soon.

"The January window is open for all these players," he said. "And like I said, you know, someone like Mal and Trinity, super, super good young players, one of the most exciting players probably in the in the league this year. We're excited to have them in the next camp."

Former UCF running back Otis Anderson Jr. was shot and killed at his parents' home in Jacksonville, Florida, on Monday evening, and his father has been charged in his death, shocking former teammates, coaches and those who knew him best in his Central and North Florida communities.

According to an arrest report released by the Jacksonville Sherriff's Office on Tuesday, Otis Anderson Jr.'s mother, Denise, told police that Anderson Jr. and his father, Otis Anderson Sr., got into an argument that escalated and then involved her. Anderson Jr. and Anderson Sr. eventually separated, but Denise Anderson told police that Anderson Sr. returned from the garage and met Anderson Jr. in the kitchen.

When police arrived, they found Anderson Jr. suffering from at least one gunshot wound to the chest. He was pronounced dead at the hospital. Denise Anderson was hospitalized with multiple graze wounds but later discharged.

Anderson Sr. was charged with first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder. On Tuesday, he appeared in front of a judge, who found probable cause on the charges. Anderson Sr. was being held without bond and appointed a public defender. His next court appearance is set for Dec. 22.

Anderson Jr., 23, played at UCF from 2017 to 2020, rushing for 2,182 yards and 17 touchdowns, while catching 91 passes for 1,025 yards and nine touchdowns. Nicknamed "Juice" because of his OJ initials, he was beloved around the football team and known for his uplifting smile and personality.

UCF said in a statement, "We have now confirmed and are devastated to hear of the passing of Otis Anderson Jr. He was revered by his teammates, our fans, and everyone within Knight Nation. Our deepest condolences go out to everyone who loved Otis. He was taken too soon and will truly be missed."

The tributes poured onto social media throughout the day Tuesday. Anderson's jersey and flowers were placed on the football field, and UCF put photos of him on their videoboard inside the football facility lobby.

His former coach Josh Heupel, posted a statement on Twitter, writing, "Saddened and stunned by the passing of Otis Anderson Jr. Tough and gritty, fun and full of laughter, he made such a positive impact on our university, community, and our locker room. He was an unbelievable teammate. My condolences go out to the entire UCF family."

Anderson was with the Los Angeles Rams for training camp this year. The NFL franchise said in a statement that "he was a promising young man with a bright future. Our sincere condolences are with his family during this very difficult time."

The most exciting weekend of what was perhaps the greatest season in recent college football history brought us to this: 10 conference championship games that will decide as many as three spots in the College Football Playoff.

If we can assume No. 1 Georgia will make the playoffs whether it wins or loses to No. 3 Alabama in Saturday's SEC championship game, then the Crimson Tide along with Cincinnati, Michigan, Oklahoma State and Notre Dame are competing for three spots. The Fighting Irish are the only team that won't be playing this weekend. Since the playoff began in 2014, 24 of the 28 participants have been conference champions.

After a flurry of upsets, coaching changes and possibly another dose of chaos on the horizon, here are some more college football overreactions:

Brian Kelly heads to LSU with reputation intact

Last week, Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly told reporters that "unless that fairy godmother comes by with that $250 million check" he wouldn't be leaving Notre Dame

Apparently, because of inflation, the fairy godmother could only come up with $100 million or so.

Kelly, who won 113 games in 12 seasons at Notre Dame, is leaving for a bigger paycheck from LSU, a 10-year deal worth $95 million plus incentives. That's the only way to explain his sudden departure, which comes just five days before the Irish will learn whether they'll be among the four teams competing in the playoffs. If Georgia beats Alabama and Baylor knocks off Oklahoma State in the Big 12 championship game or Houston upsets Cincinnati in the AAC title game, there's a good chance Notre Dame could once again make the CFP field.

Unfortunately, the Irish won't have their head coach.

Kelly had a chance to be remembered as one of the top three or four coaches in Notre Dame history. If there was a Mount Rushmore of Irish coaches, he'd be up there with Knute Rockne, Ara Parseghian and Lou Holtz. The big difference between Kelly and the other three is that his teams never won a national championship. Now, he'll be remembered as the one who bolted when the Irish still might have had a chance to win a national title.

Maybe that's another reason he's departing for LSU. The last three LSU coaches guided the Tigers to national titles. And it could certainly be argued that only one of them -- Nick Saban -- was an above-average coach.

Still there's absolutely no excuse for how Kelly treated his players, assistant coaches and administrators. In a text message to his players on Monday night, Kelly apologized for not being able to tell them in person that he was leaving. "[F]or now, just know that my love for you is limitless and I am so proud of all that you have accomplished," Kelly said. A team meeting was scheduled for 7 a.m. ET Tuesday.

In a sport that has suddenly gone mad, loyalty has gone out the window -- along with Kelly's reputation.

Lincoln Riley was scared of the SEC

Oklahoma's pending move to the SEC and Riley's abrupt departure for USC probably aren't coincidental, but I think it's unfair to assume that he left because he didn't want to play the likes of Alabama, Auburn, LSU and Texas A&M each season.

Riley left, in large part, because USC can be a better job than the one he had. It might not be a better opportunity right now, but given his track record with quarterbacks (he coached two Heisman Trophy-winning passers at OU) and the abundance of high school prospects in California, he won't have many problems building an upgraded roster.

Many of the top quarterbacks in the FBS right now are California natives: Alabama's Bryce Young (Pasadena), Ohio State's C.J. Stroud (Rancho Cucamonga), Ole Miss' Matt Corral (Ventura) and Clemson's D.J. Uiagalelei (Inland Empire). According to ESPN Recruiting, Malachi Nelson of Los Alamitos, California, is the No. 2-rated quarterback prospect in the Class of 2023, behind Arch Manning of New Orleans. Nelson was committed to the Sooners, but he has already decommitted, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him flip to the Trojans.

As colleague Tom VanHaaren noted, USC has signed only 30 of the 143 ESPN 300 recruits from California over the past five recruiting cycles. That's about to change. Additionally, getting OU defensive coordinator Alex Grinch to follow Riley to L.A. will vastly improve a USC defense that ranked last in the Pac-12 in scoring defense (32.5 points) and 10th in total defense (420 yards).

Because of its location, tradition and recruiting base, USC is one of the top five jobs in the country. It was the best job when Pete Carroll was coaching at USC and Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart were playing there. Interest in the program has diminished because of mismanagement at the top, but Riley is innovative enough to bring the Trojans back. He didn't leave Oklahoma because he was scared; he went to USC because he's smart.

Alabama can't block Georgia

There have been few defensive lines as deep, athletic and talented in recent history as Georgia's this season. Interior tackles Jordan Davis and Devonte Wyatt are both worthy of being All-Americans, and Jalen Carter might end up being the most talented when all is said and done. Even after losing suspended Adam Anderson, the Bulldogs have a plethora of edge rushers in Nolan Smith, Robert Beal Jr. and Travon Walker.

So, after watching Alabama's struggling offensive line get manhandled by Auburn's defensive front in Saturday's Iron Bowl, it's safe to assume the Tide won't be able to block the Bulldogs in Saturday's SEC championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, right?

"Well, first off, Auburn played them in a very different style," Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart said Monday. "It was not what you see Auburn play all the time. They used a couple different methods with their receivers and different things, but they had [five] first-round draft picks on that offense last year. So anytime you have that you're going to have guys who have to get playing time, get experience. ... They've had some injuries, they've had guys move in and out at right tackle, just as all of us in the SEC have to do in finding the right combination."

In Alabama's 24-22 victory in four overtimes at Auburn, the Tigers sacked Bama quarterback Young seven times. The Tide had 17 plays of zero or negative yards. That led to two changes on the offensive line, with Chris Owens, the former starter, coming back to replace right tackle Damieon George Jr., and Seth McLaughlin replacing center Darrian Dalcourt.

Smart attributed some of the Alabama offensive line's problems at Auburn -- and in a 41-38 loss at Texas A&M on Oct. 9 -- to crowd noise and playing in a difficult road environment.

"I don't know how you guys look at it, but that's a really tough place to play -- so is A&M," Smart said. "That doesn't fall on deaf ears with our staff, and [we] understand probably two of the hardest places to play in the country are right there. We haven't been to A&M, but I've been to A&M, and we've always gone to Auburn. It's a tough environment."

Still, Alabama has allowed 35 sacks, 2.92 per game, which is tied for 108th in the FBS.

The Big 12 is dead

When Oklahoma and Texas unexpectedly announced in July they were leaving the Big 12 for the SEC no later than the 2025 season, we all assumed that it might be a death knell for their former league. Without its two flagship programs, how could the Big 12 remain as relevant as the Big Ten and SEC?

Well, the Big 12 might not have added programs with brand names as powerful as the Longhorns and Sooners, but its future position looks pretty good right now. Oklahoma State, a current Big 12 team, and Cincinnati, a future one, might both make the playoff. Baylor has an outside chance too, and it seems the Bears might keep second-year coach Dave Aranda, who received some interest from LSU and USC. TCU just plucked Sonny Dykes, one of the sport's best offensive minds, away from SMU. Houston, another future Big 12 team, is in the CFP selection committee's top 25.

Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby took a lot of heat when OU and Texas pulled one over on his league, but he has to be smiling now. The Longhorns, who haven't won a conference title since 2009, went 5-7 under first-year coach Steve Sarkisian. The Sooners lost Riley, most of their nationally ranked recruiting class and a few of their key assistants. Karma.

A defensive player should win the Heisman Trophy

Unless Young throws for 300 yards with four touchdowns and leads Alabama to an upset of the No. 1-ranked Bulldogs on Saturday, I'm not sure there's a player in the country who is truly worthy of winning the Heisman Trophy. No one is having a Joe Burrow-like year; then again the former LSU quarterback might have had the greatest statistical season of any player in college football history in 2019.

At the very least, there should be at least two defensive players invited to the Heisman ceremonies in New York: Davis, Georgia's mammoth nose tackle, and Will Anderson, Alabama's dynamic pass-rusher. Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson and Georgia linebacker Nakobe Dean might also have an argument for being included in the top 10 of voting.

In the past two decades, only four defensive linemen have finished in the top 10. One of them was Nebraska's Ndamukong Suh, who had one of the all-time best performances by a defender in the Cornhuskers' 13-12 loss to Texas in the 2009 Big 12 title game. In Nebraska's last game in that league, Suh had 4½ sacks, 7 tackles for loss and 12 tackles. It was the last time I turned in my Heisman ballot before the conference championship games. Davis, Anderson or Dean might very well end up on a lot of Heisman ballots with a similar performance on Saturday.

NORMAN, Okla. -- Imagine the shock around Oklahoma -- the entire country, even -- following a move so bold and seemingly out of nowhere, yet obviously in the works for some time and impossibly kept under wraps.

That was four months ago, when we learned Oklahoma and Texas were bolting the Big 12 for the SEC.

The tables turned Sunday, when Oklahoma got the same treatment from head coach Lincoln Riley, who jilted the Sooners for USC.

It's a reminder that all's fair in love, war and college football.

Four months ago, Texas and Oklahoma were finagling their way into the most exclusive club in college football, changing the sport. Playoff expansion discussions immediately took on a new tone of suspicion. The Big 12 went into expansion mode, which shook up the American, which picked up schools and shook up Conference USA, and on down the line.

Texas had already begun preparations, firing Tom Herman and hiring Steve Sarkisian, who had recently been re-polished in Nick Saban's spin machine in Tuscaloosa after two previous head-coaching opportunities with mediocre results. The Longhorns brass banked on Sark's offensive prowess and his experience inside that Alabama operation to know what the Horns were up against. Oklahoma, with the supreme confidence of a school that has won 50 conference titles and seven national championships, announced it would be just fine.

"We believe the special Sooner magic that we will bring to the SEC will only make us, and our new conference rivals, stronger," Oklahoma president Jay Harroz said when the decision was announced on July 30.

All that's happened since? The Longhorns suffered through their longest losing streak since 1956 and the Sooners lost Riley -- Bob Stoops' hand-picked successor -- who became the first coach since 1947 to leave OU voluntarily for another college job.

In between, Texas lost to Kansas at home, endured soap-opera drama with a Halloween incident involving an assistant coach's pet monkey, a leaked video from a coach upset with players joking around after a loss to Iowa State, and had a starting wide receiver get into an argument with Sarkisian and later leave the team. Oklahoma suffered through a season of underwhelming wins and a couple of crushing losses, all while navigating a quarterback controversy as preseason Heisman favorite Spencer Rattler was supplanted by freshman Caleb Williams.

Big 12 teams never needed motivation to face either of them, but at every turn opposing crowds took glee in derisively chanting "S-E-C!," including Oklahoma State fans who stormed the field after their team beat the Sooners on Saturday. Texas suffered the brunt of it all season en route to going 5-7. But Oklahoma's turn came this weekend when Riley's abrupt exit shocked the entire state.

On his Sunday night show, Dean Blevins, the sports director of KWTV in Oklahoma City who grew up in Norman and played quarterback at Oklahoma from 1974 to '77, said the Bedlam loss coupled with Riley's departure will go down as one of the worst weekends in Oklahoma football history. A string of six straight conference titles was over, the team eliminated from contention by an in-state rival that's still seething from being kept in the dark in the realignment derby.

For now, Bob Stoops is back as the interim coach to hold down the fort while the Sooners look for the right man for the job. Riley, it turns out, was no longer it despite a 55-10 record at Oklahoma, four Big 12 titles in five years and three College Football Playoff appearances.

There hasn't been much elaboration on Riley's motivation, other than USC was a "unique opportunity." Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione said on Monday that Riley was "on board" with the SEC move and that they had frequent conversations about how they'd adjust in terms of staffing.

The one thing we don't know is whether Riley was involved in the SEC decision. One thing we do know is that he cares about winning. A lot. And the USC job offers a great deal of upside without beating your head against the wall in the SEC every week.

The SEC hasn't explained how divisions will break down in the expanded league, but it can be assumed Oklahoma's path would include some combination that frequently includes Texas A&M, LSU, Alabama, Auburn and the Mississippi schools, given that those are in the current SEC West, along with Oklahoma's blood rivalry with Texas. Alabama, LSU, Auburn and Texas have won 10 national championships in the past 15 years, and if you include Florida, another potential league opponent, that runs the total to 11 of 15.

At USC, Riley's path to the playoff would be through Arizona, Arizona State, UCLA, Colorado and Utah. Currently, only 9-3 Utah, at No. 19, is in the CFP rankings. The last Pac-12 school other than USC, which won NCAA-recognized titles in 2003 and '04, to win a national championship was Washington in 1991.

It brings to mind a conversation a few years ago with a longtime SEC coach on the subject of what constitutes a dream job. His response was simple: being the big dog in a mediocre conference, like Bobby Bowden was at Florida State or like Dabo Swinney became at Clemson when he surpassed FSU. At USC, the resources and recruiting ground are there -- particularly for Riley, who regularly mined Southern California -- to take command in a league that has struggled to get footing in the CFP era.

In July, Harroz included in his statement that, during the Big 12 era, Oklahoma won 20 national team championships, 101 conference titles and four Heisman Trophies, and produced 113 NFL draft picks.

But none of that matters moving forward. On Monday, Barry Switzer, the last coach to take over at Oklahoma after a coach left for another job -- Chuck Fairbanks to the New England Patriots in 1972 -- told ESPN that Riley's departure was a "tipping point" for the Sooners with the SEC move looming. There's no guarantee that long history of success at Oklahoma will continue, much like Nebraska has struggled since Tom Osborne retired, Frank Solich was fired and the Huskers moved to the Big Ten.

"You can't recruit off tradition," Switzer said. "S---, 18-year-old kids don't give a damn about Bud Wilkinson, Barry Switzer, Bob Stoops. They don't know who the hell they were."

After four months of shockers, Oklahoma is preparing for a new world with an unprecedented amount of uncertainty for a program that has prided itself on stability. The Sooners haven't known mediocrity since Stoops arrived in 1999. Stoops projected confidence in a news conference on Monday in his role as interim coach.

"OU football has been here a long time. And it isn't going anywhere else," Stoops said. "It's going to be here and it's going to be at the top of college football and it's going to continue that way."

But the SEC decision may test a fan base that's accustomed to decades of winning. Couple that with a coaching change, which is never a guarantee for quick success -- just ask Texas -- and all of a sudden, the landscape looks different in Norman.

On Sunday night at Othello's, the Italian restaurant at Campus Corner that was Switzer's old haunt and the site of his famed "Table of Truth" where he has held court for years, bar patrons talked about Riley being "the first casualty of the SEC move."

After a thrilling Bedlam win on Saturday night, Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy also lamented the shakeup after what might have been the last rivalry game between the two in Stillwater, depending on when OU finally exits for the SEC.

"That's about as good as it gets for college football," Gundy said after a 37-33 win over the Sooners, just his third victory in 17 games against OU as a head coach. "We need to be careful about messing with the structure of college football. College football is pretty good the way it is."

But on Monday, USC athletic director Mike Bohn crowed about it when he introduced Riley as the Trojans' new coach.

"It was never our goal to change the landscape of college football with one of the biggest moves in the history of the game," he said, "but we did exactly that."

It marked a stunning end to a turbulent season for two teams that made their own landscape-changing moves, with the rest of the college football world waiting to see what's next.

At Othello's, one Sooner die-hard wore an "In Lincoln We Trust" shirt with Riley's face on a penny on it, unwittingly throwing it on in the morning before the news broke. Interesting choice of shirts, a reporter told him.

"I'll let you have it if you want," he said.

PITTSBURGH -- Catcher Roberto Perez and the Pittsburgh Pirates are in agreement on a one-year contract, a source familiar with the deal tells ESPN's Jeff Passan.

The deal is worth $5 million, a source told the Associated Press and contingent upon Perez passing a physical.

Pérez, 32, won Gold Gloves in 2019 and 2020 with Cleveland but struggled at the plate throughout his career and hit just .149 with seven home runs and 17 RBI in 44 games in 2021. The Guardians declined his $7 million option for 2022.

Pérez takes over for Jacob Stallings, a Gold Glove winner in 2021 who was traded to Miami on Monday for reliever Zach Thompson and a pair of prospects.

Pérez is a year older and considerably more expensive than Stallings, but the Pirates were able to flip Stallings - who is under team control through 2024 - for minor leaguers, the main focus of general manager Ben Cherington's franchise-wide reboot.

The trade left Pittsburgh, temporarily at least, without a catcher on the major league roster after Michael Pérez was outrighted to Triple-A Indianapolis last week.

Roberto Pérez will take over as the primary receiver for a pitching staff in flux. The Pirates used 17 different starters in 2021 and the rotation is a bit of a jumble, though Pittsburgh did sign veteran left-handed pitcher José Quintana on Monday to a one-year deal worth $2 million.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report