All-metro Football Player Of The Year: Wayzata's A.j. Tarpley

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Bennett Durando and sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene with the regular season set to tip off. Among the topics discussed: Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon got his contract extension — a four-year, $133 million deal that could have him in Denver through the 2028-29 season.

The best part of Aaron Gordon’s contract extension to Michael Malone was the timing. More than a month after point guard Jamal Murray signed a max extension with the Nuggets, this was the team’s last order of business to complete before opening night. Gordon’s four-year, $133 million agreement Monday signified a triumphant end to Denver’s heavily scrutinized offseason and a transition into basketball season.

BOULDER — Travis Hunter’s Heisman Trophy stock might be in flux. But his health is trending up, CU Buffs football coach Deion Sanders said Tuesday. “Travis is better than last week,” said Coach Prime, whose 5-2 Buffs (3-1 Big 12) host Cincinnati (5-2, 3-1) in a Big 12 showdown late Saturday night at Folsom Field.

By JAMES ELLINGWORTH Vinicius Junior scored a hat trick as Real Madrid turned boos into cheers with a 5-2 win over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Tuesday, while Paris Saint-Germain dropped more points. Madrid was 2-0 down at halftime in a rematch of last season’s final but rallied with three goals from Vinicius Junior — who also scored in the final in May — and one each from Antonio Rudiger and Lucas Vazquez. The crowd had jeered loudly after the halftime whistle as Madrid struggled and looked set for its second straight Champions League loss following a 14-match unbeaten run in the competition. “We know that when we are at home playing in front of our fans, anything can happen,” Vinicius Junior said.

In one regard, the Pac-12 hasn’t splintered: All 12 schools remain tied to the bowls that have been affiliated with the conference in recent years. Exceptions are made for teams that qualify for the College Football Playoff as conference winners or at-large entrants. Otherwise, what’s past is present for the 2024-25 seasons. The Hotline will provide weekly projections for the teams throughout the regular season. Please note: We also unveil our weekly CFP picks each Monday. The stretch run to an unprecedented college football season is fast approaching, with all the accompanying conjecture, debate and tribal messaging.

Colorado women’s basketball coach JR Payne took some time to sit in front of the media on Monday to talk about a new era of Buffaloes basketball, with the next season just two weeks away from tipping off. Payne made sure, however, to give some props to a former Buff. “I can’t start the day without shouting out recent grad Jaylyn Sherrod, who became a WNBA champ last night,” Payne said after the New York Liberty knocked off the Minnesota Lynx in an epic series that concluded Sunday night.