Author: Jesse

With the exit of the No. 1 recruit of the 2026 class, Utah’s locker room faces a major blow. The four-star athlete left within a week after enrollment, which can be traced to Kyle Whittingham’s move to Michigan. While the timing could not be worse, reports suggest that the receiver is well aware of his transfer destination even before entering the portal.

According to Chris Hummer of CBS Sports, Utah 2026 signee Salesi Moa entered the transfer portal on Monday evening, January 12, with a ‘do not contact’ tag, typically suggesting that he’s already made up his mind on his transfer destination. Moa was originally committed to Tennessee but flipped his commitment to Utah the day after the early signing period.

Apart from him, former offensive coordinator Jason Beck left alongside assistant coaches Jim Harding, Micah Simon, Lewis Powell, Koy Detmer Jr., and Doug Elisaia, have also left since longtime coach Kyle Whittingham exited the program for Michigan on December 26. Meanwhile, the Utes continue to face the ripple effects of this transfer.

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Moa claimed it was a very difficult decision to make, and had to make the decision considering his long-term and short-term goals.

“It was really hard because I love Morgan Scalley, and I have a lot of respect for Chad Bumphis, the new WR coach, as well,” Salesi Moa said, per On3’s Greg Biggins. “Utah is always going to be close to my heart…it is a big stage, but I want to play on an even bigger stage.”

Moa is the No. 5 athlete of the 2026 class, who could play on either side of the ball, and the scouting report reveals that he’s most likely fit for the wide receiver role. As a prospect from Fremont High School in Ogden, Utah, he was named Utah Region 5 MVP and had offers from 24 top schools across the country. He is now available on the portal, after two brief stints at Tennessee and Utah.

While the ‘no contact tag’ started a lot of buzz about his future destination, reports reveal that he’s trending toward Michigan already.

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Michigan emerges as the favorite for Salesi Moa

According to a report by On3’s Pete Nakos, Michigan is the likely destination for Salesi Moa in the transfer portal.

“Michigan is currently trending to land a transfer wide receiver, sources tell On3’s Steve Wiltfong and I,” Pete Nakos wrote. “We’ve logged predictions in favor of Kyle Whittingham’s program landing a commitment from Utah short-term Salesi Moa. The top-ranked recruit out of Utah in the cycle projects as a wide receiver for the Wolverines.”

This might be a little hyperbolic, but Michigan football has long been connected to Salesi Moa, but they were never on the same page. The Wolverines’ old staff tried their best to recruit Moa as a DB, but he was committed to Kyle Whittingham and Utah as a wide receiver. The 6-foot-2 prospect even visited Ann Arbor this November for a game.

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He signed with Utah just days before Whittingham was announced as the head coach of Michigan, and now the Wolverines could likely add their dream recruit to their roster. With Brady Marchese leaving for Auburn, Moa could be a great fit for the Wolverines and could make dynamic plays along with Travis Johnson, Jaime Ffrench, and JJ Buchanan, who Whittingham’s staff just brought through the transfer portal.

The post Utah Utes’ Worst Nightmare of Kyle Whittingham Leaving for Michigan Comes True appeared first on EssentiallySports.

Toronto Maple Leafs (23-15-7, in the Atlantic Division) vs. Utah Mammoth (22-20-4, in the Central Division)

Salt Lake City; Tuesday, 10 p.m. EST

Mammoth -157, Maple Leafs +132; over/under is 6.5

BOTTOM LINE: The Toronto Maple Leafs will try to keep their four-game win streak alive when they visit the Utah Mammoth.

Utah has an 11-7-2 record in home games and a 22-20-4 record overall. The Mammoth have a 21-7-0 record when scoring at least three goals.

Toronto is 23-15-7 overall and 7-10-2 on the road. The Maple Leafs have a +10 scoring differential, with 152 total goals scored and 142 conceded.

Tuesday’s game is the second time these teams meet this season. The Maple Leafs won the previous meeting 5-3.

TOP PERFORMERS: Dylan Guenther has 21 goals and 16 assists for the Mammoth. Nick Schmaltz has four goals and six assists over the past 10 games.

Auston Matthews has 22 goals and 14 assists for the Maple Leafs. Matthew Knies has five goals and four assists over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Mammoth: 5-4-1, averaging 2.8 goals, 5.1 assists, 3.8 penalties and 8.4 penalty minutes while giving up 2.4 goals per game.

Maple Leafs: 8-0-2, averaging 4.3 goals, 5.8 assists, 3.4 penalties and 7.7 penalty minutes while giving up 2.5 goals per game.

INJURIES: Mammoth: None listed.

Maple Leafs: None listed.

——

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Emotion filled the arena Monday night.

Love. Appreciation. Nostalgia. Joy. Excitement.

But by the end of the game, there was an overriding feeling: Disappointment. Perhaps even anger.

The enigmatic Cavs lost to the reeling Utah Jazz, 123-112, at Rocket Arena. Cleveland is now just 2-3 in its last five games.

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“They came in and just outplayed us,” Donovan Mitchell said. “But we are at fault as well for not coming out ready to go.”

Fresh off quite possibly their best and most complete win of the season, the Cavs spoke about playing more like themselves, looking like the contender so many expected at the beginning of the season.

So much for that.

The Jazz entered the night losers of six of the last seven. They were days removed from a 55-point rout.

And, yet the Cavs went down 12-2 in the first four-plus minutes. It was 21-4 around the midway point of the first quarter.

That’s when franchise legend Kevin Love, playing just his second game in Cleveland since an unceremonious buyout in 2023, received a warm embrace complete with a sentimental video tribute.

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Shortly after that special moment, which led to Love getting a standing ovation and pointing to his ring finger — a nod to the 2016 championship — the 18-year NBA veteran checked into the game for the Jazz.

Another round of applause.

The Cavs welcomed him back by going on a 10-2 run, trimming the Jazz lead back to single digits. But that surge short-circuited. By the end of those mostly lifeless 12 minutes, heavily favored Cleveland was down by a dozen.

The Cavs awoke in the second quarter, seemingly overwhelming the 25-loss Jazz and outscoring them 40-20, securing an eight-point halftime advantage.

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But Utah regrouped, pulling even three minutes into the third quarter and then leading by four going into the fourth. It was up by double digits with about nine minutes remaining and the Cavs only got as close as six before the Jazz stifled every comeback attempt, closing out the game with relative ease.

Cleveland, which trailed for nearly 38 minutes Monday night, didn’t lead at any point in the final 17:15.

As the final minutes ticked away, boos started trickling through the crowd. It’s been the soundtrack to this up-and-down season.

Another inexplicable and inexcusable loss.

“I think it’s the psychology of sports,” Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said following the loss. “I think they took one on the chin — a tough, tough defeat, and they came in here desperate. We scored 146 points against Minnesota, get a little on your high horse, which you have no right to do, and sometimes the psychology of this is the most important thing.

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“They were desperate, they were physical. They won the aggressive match. I think they won the mental battle and I guess I could do a better job of putting appropriate fear. It’s the NBA. They’ve got a lot of talent out there. I think they were desperate and we just kind of played. You get your tail handed to you and it’s like that in this league.”

Utah guard Keyonte George finished with a game-high 32 points. Former Cavalier Lauri Markkanen, the centerpiece of the blockbuster deal that brought Mitchell to Cleveland nearly four years ago, added 28 points and 12 rebounds. Love chipped in with 11 points off the bench.

The Cavs were led by Darius Garland who had 23 points and eight assists. Mitchell tallied 21 points, going just 7 of 18 from the field. Evan Mobley nearly recorded a triple-double with 15 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.

Sam Merrill (14 points), Nae’Qwan Tomlin (13) and Jaylon Tyson (11) also hit double figures for the Cavs, who were without Dean Wade (knee contusion) and Max Strus (foot surgery).

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“I think we’ve got a good team,” Atkinson proclaimed. “Games like this happen. I hate to say it. We won five out of seven. Like, it’s not like we’ve lost five out of seven, so we just gotta keep perspective.”

Before the game, it was all smiles, hugs and handshakes — a chance to reminisce.

Mitchell with the old franchise that helped mold him into an MVP candidate. Injured Georges Niang, traded by the Cavs at last year’s deadline, with former teammates that miss his leadership and veteran voice. Markkanen with familiar faces that helped resuscitate his career. Love with past mates, coaches and trainers. There were even fans who brought jerseys, asked for autographs and posed for photos with Love.

It was a feel-good night in Cleveland — until the game started.

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“We gotta fix it,” Mitchell said pointedly. “Focus on the little details. When we’re in this position, we can’t afford to have the little mistakes. We don’t have the margin for error. That’s the frustrating part is it’s like, it’s there. We see it. We just gotta figure it out.”

Up next

The Cavs will head to Philadelphia for two games against the 76ers. The first is Wednesday night. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

Read the original article on cleveland.com.

It’s Monday, and it was another great weekend of basketball! Plus, transfer portal updates are happening constantly. News will continue to come your way, and we are here for it all. Check out our original coverage and what we can find from the World Wide Web below.

Utah State opened the game on a 10-0 in the first three minutes and was in complete control for nearly all 60 minutes. They kept their foot on the gas, increasing their lead to 23 with a three-pointer at the end of the first half. The Aggies ended up winning by 25, resulting in one of the worst home losses Boise State has suffered recently. Utah State continues to be head and shoulders above the rest of the conference.

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Nevada continues their strong start to conference play, besting Wyoming 92-83 in this contest. They were led by Corey Camper Jr, who had a huge day, scoring a career-high 31 points. It was a back-and-forth battle all night, but Camper kept coming up with big buckets when the team needed them. The win helped the Wolf Pack move to 4-1 in the Mountain West and 12-4 overall on the season.

New Mexico has been playing some great basketball and enjoyed a laugher against Air Force, winning by 42 in a game that wasn’t close. The win was their largest road win ever, and their second-largest conference win in program history. Freshman Jake Hall had a banner day, scoring a game-high 24 points. The Lobos are now also 4-1 in MW play, with a strong record of 13-3 overall.

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Bracketology

(prior to Jan 10th games)

Kosgei on Bowerman Watchlist

On the horizon:

Later today: MBB Players of the Week

Later today: A new MW Recruiting Roundup: All about the transfer Portal

Later today: Men’s Basketball Rankings

Coming Tuesday: Reacts Survey

Coming Tuesday: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly: Too early MW 2026 Football Rankings

Coming Tuesday: Hike’s Peak Podcast Episode 137

Coming Wednesday: Peak Perspective: 2025 Football Final Grades

Coming Wednesday: MBB Transfer Team of the Week

The Wolverines added a high-quality player at a position of need, as former Utah tight end JJ Buchanan has committed to Michigan through the transfer portal.

The 6-foot-3, 225-pound Henderson, Nevada native was a four-star recruit coming out of high school in the 2025 class. He played in all 13 games for the Utes as a true freshman this past season, catching 26 passes for 427 yards and five touchdowns. He saved his best game of the season for last, putting up a four-catch, 76-yard and one-touchdown performance in the Las Vegas Bowl against Nebraska.

Given the fact that Marlin Klein declared for the 2026 NFL Draft and Brady Prieskorn entered the transfer portal — and four-star recruit Matt Ludwig backed out of his letter of intent — Michigan was in dire need of another player at the tight end position this offseason.

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But Buchanan is not just another body in the room — he is an excellent addition with high upside that has experience under head coach Kyle Whittingham. He has some work to do in the blocking aspect of his game (59.7 run blocking grade on PFF this past season), but he should still be able to push Hogan Hansen, Zack Marshall and Deakon Tonielli for immediate playing time.

Buchanan will have three years of eligibility remaining.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Games between Utah and Cleveland will always feel like a reunion, yet still slightly uncomfortable.

Monday night at Rocket Arena will be a gathering of faces, histories and questions that haven’t yet been answered.

For Donovan Mitchell, it’s the latest chapter in a complicated story.

Drafted by Utah in 2017, he carried the Jazz on his back, a dynamic scorer whose departure left a void both in Utah’s identity and in the Cavs’ hopes. Since arriving in Cleveland, he’s brought energy, leadership and an infectious competitiveness that lifts the players around him.

But the franchise’s decision to bring him here was never just about talent — it was about timing, finances, and long-term strategy.

Mitchell’s contract looms large. As he approaches his 10th year of accrued service, the Cavs are navigating the second apron, luxury tax thresholds and the delicate calculus of sustaining a competitive roster without mortgaging the future. Every move — whether extending a young core player, trading for complementary talent or holding onto veterans — must be weighed against the singular question of playoff success. Yet playoff results have remained elusive thus far. Mitchell hasn’t passed the conference semifinals in his career.

The organization has already given up pieces like Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen and Georges Niang, each a building block that might have shaped a different path, all in the hope of advancing further in the postseason.

The stakes are mutual.

The Blue Jackets were looking tired ahead of its 3-2 overtime win over the Mammoth.

After all, Columbus were playing the second of its back-to-back series, which started with a 4-0 loss to Colorado, giving a more rested Utah team a big advantage with the game looking on track for overtime.

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There was just one problem though: Daniil But had been called for a tripping minor with just 23.9 seconds left in the third period.

Suddenly, Utah couldn’t count on winning the battle of attrition anymore.

Though the Mammoth would force the game into overtime-securing a point in the standings-Utah simply was unable to overcome Columbus’s 4-on-3 advantage on Dmitri Voronkov’s game-winning goal.

Mikhail Sergachev was certainly put in a hard position having to guard between Adam Fantilli and Zach Werenski, who assisted Voronkov on his goal, largely because of the man advantage the Blue Jackets had.

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Not only were the Mammoth at a disadvantage, the team was facing some bad luck too as it turns out that the puck didn’t even touch the blade of Voronkov’s stick- it deflected just above on the shaft.

If not for Werenski making one of the most perfect passes you’ll see in any hockey game, Utah very well could have held on and killed the Columbus’s power play.

But instead, it was the Blue Jackets who got itself a win thanks to its numbers advantage and straight willpower.

No goalie wants to be a part of a losing streak.

But with his last win coming in late October, Vitek Vanecek now has a record of 2-9-2 and is experiencing a 10-game losing streak.

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In his game against the Blue Jackets, Vanecek arguably had his best game, too, with a 33-save night. But it doesn’t matter whether Vanecek has a good or bad game — Utah can’t seem to deliver him wins.

“Tough situation [for Vanecek]. He didn’t play for a little bit, and came in and the guys did not play their A game in front of him, and he kept us there,” said André Tourigny. “I think he did a great job.”

While it was good for Vanecek to help Utah come away with a point for the first time since Nov. 11 — a 3-2 overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks — it has to be frustrating to go this long without any wins, especially with Karel Vejmelka being the first goalie to reach 20 wins across the NHL.

“Every point matters,” said McBain. “The (penalty) kill did a good job to get it into overtime. It was unfortunate that (Columbus) was on the 4-on-3, that’s tough. But every point matters all the way through the rest of the season.”

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If Vanecek is going to keep playing at this level, a win will surely come, but Utah needs to make sure it plays with added urgency if it wants to help its backup goalie out.

Every game there seems to be a player from each team fighting for position in front of goalie every game and it’s for good reason- deflections often make impossible goals possible.

Usually, a player is looking to deflect using his stick or his skates to change the projection of the goal; sometimes even his body serves as a puck deflector.

But on McBains goal in the first period, something very rare happened: he scored a goal using his shoulder.

Not even McBain could have processed what just happened in that moment. He is trying to dodge the puck while simultaneously protecting his face after all. He probably couldn’t even see the puck.

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But as weird as McBain’s goal was against Columbus, nothing will be weirder than when Ottawa forward Shane Pinto accidentally ended up making a save for Utah the game prior.