super hexagon game Topline Former Fox News host Pete Hegseth received a net-positive reaction to his nomination as Defense secretary in a poll released Sunday, despite a sexual assault allegation—which he denies—that could complicate his Senate confirmation process. Key Facts What To Watch For Hegseth and Vice President-elect JD Vance are lobbying lawmakers on Capitol Hill, and other GOP senators have expressed support, including Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., who met with Hegseth on Thursday and told Politico he is a “strong nominee” who “pledged that the Pentagon will focus on strength and hard power—not the current administration’s woke political agenda.” What Are The Allegations Against Hegseth? The sexual assault allegations first surfaced several days after Trump announced Hegseth as his pick to lead the defense department via a memo sent to his transition team from a woman who said she was friends with the accuser. The memo reportedly contains similar details to those in the police report. The accuser told police she went to the hospital, where a rape kit was performed, after having flashbacks to the incident several days after returning home from the conference, according to the police report. What Is Hegseth’s Response To The Allegations? Hegseth has firmly denied the allegations through his lawyer, Timothy Parlatore, who said Hegseth paid the woman a settlement in 2020 as part of a nondisclosure agreement. Parlatore said Hegseth entered into the agreement when he learned the woman and her husband hired a lawyer and told other people she planned to file a lawsuit against him. Hegseth told police he was intoxicated that night and did not know why the accuser returned to his hotel room with him, but that they had consensual sex, according to the police report. He said the woman “showed early signs of regret” the next morning, and he assured her that he would not tell anyone about the encounter, the report states. Has Hegseth Been Charged With A Crime? No. Police recommended the case to the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office for review, but charges were never filed. What Has Trump Said About Hegseth? Trump called Hegseth a “warrior” and “a true believer in America First” in a statement announcing the nomination on Nov. 12. The statement touts his service in the Army National Guard and his deployments to Guantanamo Bay, Iraq and Afghanistan, along with his eight years as a Fox News host. A spokesperson for Trump’s transition team told the Associated Press in response to the police report being made public Thursday it “corroborates what Mr. Hegseth’s attorneys have said all along: the incident was fully investigated and no charges were filed because police found the allegations to be false.” The report does not say whether officials made a determination about the allegations. What Are Hegseth’s Views On The Military? Hegseth—who served in the National Guard—has argued women should not serve in combat roles, drawing some criticism . He’s also publicly and privately advocated for members of the military accused of war crimes. The Guardian reported Friday that Hegseth, who would oversee the military, wrote in his 2020 book “American Crusade” that if President Joe Biden won the election, the military and police would be “forced to make a choice” and that there would be “some form of civil war.” Trump has previously suggested he would use the military to go after domestic political opponents, which he described as “the enemy from within.” Further Reading New Sexual Assault Allegation Details Against Pete Hegseth Emerge: Here’s What To Know As Trump Defends Defense Secretary Nominee (Forbes) Police Report Details 2017 Sexual Assault Allegation Against Pete Hegseth (Forbes) Trump’s Defense Secretary Pick Pete Hegseth Named In 2017 Sexual Assault Probe (Forbes)Non-Hindu Staff: New TTD Board Charts Course to End Row‘Unsurpassed’: Aussie great’s big announcement

Two teams with contrasting fortunes this season are set to clash on Sunday when AVS host giants Benfica at Estadio Clube Desportivo das Aves in Portugal's Primeira Liga . The home side are at risk of relegation this season and are on a lengthy winless streak, while the visitors are in the hunt to reclaim their Primeira Liga crown from Sporting Lisbon. © Imago Vitor Campelos 's AVS have earned 11 points from their 13 league games and are currently 15th, two points above Nacional, who occupy the relegation playoff spot in Portugal's top flight. Heading into Sunday's match, AVS have not won any of their last seven games, and the only win they have registered in their last 10 competitive fixtures was a 2-0 victory in October over Pro Nacional Serie 2 side Sandinenses in the Taca de Portugal. Last time out on December 8, Campelos's side drew 1-1 with Casa Pia in the league, a match in which AVS needed a 72nd-minute penalty from Gustavo Assuncao to cancel out the early goal they conceded to Joao Goulart . Most problematic for this weekend's hosts is the fact that they have won just twice this league season, the last of which came in mid-September when they beat Rio Ave 1-0, and since then they have have drawn four and lost four. On Sunday, Campelos will be desperate to stay above Nacional and the relegation places but will likely have to settle for trying to avoid a repeat of the embarrassing 5-0 home thrashing his side endured against Porto earlier this season. © Imago Meanwhile, Bruno Lage 's Benfica are second in the Primeira Liga table with 31 points from their 12 matches so far, two points behind defending champions Sporting Lisbon with a game in hand. Following Ruben Amorim 's move to Manchester United, Lage's side have gained ground on their title rivals and will be looking to keep the pressure up with another win on Sunday. In stark contrast to AVS, As Aguias have lost just once in the league this term and are currently on an eight-game winning streak in Portugal's top flight, a run that includes a dominant 4-1 win over Porto on November 10. To add to their impressive season, Benfica boast the best defensive record in the division having conceded just seven goals in 2024-25, and Lage will be looking to keep a third consecutive clean sheet in the league this weekend. On Sunday, the visitors will face a side that have only scored 10 goals this term, and will feel confident of not only securing all three points, but also keeping the opposition at bay. © Imago AVS will be without midfielder Gustavo Assuncao, who scored the equaliser in last week's draw, due to suspension after he accumulated enough yellow cards for a ban. However, Jaume Grau and centre-back Jorge Teixeira should be available for selection this weekend after serving their own suspensions last week, though Giorgi Aburjania is not expected to return from his thigh injury until late December at the earliest. With absentees in midfield, boss Campelos may line up with Luis Silva and Gustavo Mendonca in the middle of the park. Benfica have also been dealing with absentees due to yellow cards, and talismanic midfielder Orkun Kokcu is expected to return to the starting lineup this weekend after missing the last game, though Alvaro Carreras is suspended and will not be available. With this in mind, Lage may partner the Turkey international with Florentino Luis in midfield and move Fredrik Aursnes to left-back in place of Carreras. Elsewhere, forward Tiago Gouveia is still recovering from a shoulder injury, and is not expected back until the end of the month. AVS possible starting lineup: Simao; Rodriguez, Castro, Roux; Fonseca, Mendonca, Silva, Afonso; Mercado, Luis, Piazon Benfica possible starting lineup: Trubin; Bah, Otamendi, Araujo, Aursnes; Luis, Kokcu; Di Maria, Cabral, Pavlidis, Akturkoglu AVS and Benfica come into Sunday's match having had contrasting seasons so far, and the visitors are in drastically superior form. Campelos's side will try to avoid another heavy defeat but it is hard to see anything other than a comprehensive victory for Lage's title chasers. For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here .Travis Hunter and Ashton Jeanty give this year's Heisman Trophy ceremony a different vibe

Stock market today: Wall Street rises at the start of a holiday-shortened weekStocks End Higher as Tech Fuels Pre-Holiday Rally

AP News Summary at 2:05 p.m. ESTWorld News | US President Jimmy Carter Passes Away at 100

We interviewed Shanina Shaik because we think you'll like her picks. Our writers and editors independently determine what we cover and recommend. When you buy through our links, E! may earn a commission. Learn more . The holidays are all about giving , and who better to inspire your gift list than supermodel and self-care expert Shanina Shaik ? In an exclusive E! interview, Shanina shared her favorite part of the season—spending time with loved ones—and her top gift recommendations . Whether she’s surprising her family back home in Australia or creating art with her son , Shanina knows how to make the holidays unforgettable. Among her favorite finds is a skincare essential under $13 that’s perfect for gifting or adding to your own routine for a radiant holiday glow. Shanina’s pick proves you don’t have to splurge to give (or get) something truly special. E!: What beauty product would you choose as a fantastic stocking stuffer? SS: I would recommend Dots for Spots Pimple Patches . Dots for Spots Pimple Patches " Everyone needs some pimple patches every once in a while." Customer Ratings : 26,400+ 5-star Amazon reviews E!: You’re such a fan of K-Beauty. If someone wanted to give the gift of that coveted glass skin glow this holiday season, what products would you recommend? SS: I would recommend Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum Propolis and Niacinamide for irritated, uneven skin and the Beauty of Joseon Glow Replenishing Rice Facial Sebum Toner for oily or combination skin. I love that these two items alone added to someone’s skincare routine create the glass skin look. The combination delivers a bright and dewy skin finish. Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum Propolis Niacinamide Get hydrated, radiant skin with this serum, infused with propolis and niacinamide to brighten, soothe, and enhance your natural glow . Customer Ratings : 3,500+ 5-star Amazon reviews Beauty of Joseon Glow Replenishing Rice Facial Sebum Toner This lightweight toner, enriched with rice water and niacinamide, restores balance, boosts hydration, and leaves your skin feeling smooth and refreshed . Engrave Personalized Charcuterie Board "My go-to host gift is a personalized charcuterie board , since it’s custom it’s one of a kind." E!: You’re going to a white elephant gift exchange and the limit is $25. What gift are you bringing? SS: I would bring LAPCOS Daily Sheet Mask Variety Pack . Lapcos Daily Sheet Mask Variety Pack "It’s a great self-care gift and we all need a reminder to slow down and take care of ourselves." Customer Ratings : 4,900+ 5-star Amazon reviews Olaplex No. 8 Bond Intense Moisture Damage Repair Hair Mask Treatment "I use the Olaplex hair mask once a week. I think the health benefits for your hair boost your confidence." Customer Ratings : 10,300+ 5-star Amazon reviews and 1,900+ 5-star Ulta reviews E!: Share a product you discovered on TikTok and why it would be such a great holiday gift. SS: I discovered the NuDerma High Frequency Wand for anti-aging and anti-acne daily care. NuDerma Professional Skin Therapy Wand "It's great to have on hand for those hormonal breakouts !" Customer Ratings : 4,900+ 5-star Amazon reviews 111Skin Cryo De-Puffing Facial Mask "My favorite are the 111Skin face sheet masks, they’re worth the splurge!" More Celebrity Fans : Leah Kateb , Caelynn Bell Skin Gym Revilit LED Light "I enjoy the results from the red light therapy for puffiness and dark spots ." E!: Is there a game or gift that you enjoy with your son this holiday season? SS: I purchased art supplies on Amazon and together we create art pieces. Shuttle Art 186 Piece Deluxe Art Set "It's perfect for us to bond over using our imaginations and creativity." Customer Ratings : 1,700+ 5-star Amazon reviews E!: With your busy travel schedule in mind, what’s a gift that you think would be ideal for someone who is constantly on the go? SS: A gift card for Kindle or e-books, you can’t go wrong with that gift because people who travel love to read. Kindle Paperwhite Experience endless reading with the Kindle Paperwhite , offering a glare-free display, adjustable warm light, and weeks of battery life, perfect for reading anywhere, day or night. More Celebrity Fans : Jenna Bush Hager , Gia Giudice , Kyle Richards , Allyson Felix E!: If you only had 2 days to get a gift, what are you ordering from Amazon Prime ? SS: I would order a Theragun massager and a yoga mat because they encourage relaxation and living a healthy lifestyle. Gaiam Essentials Thick Yoga Mat Size: 640x640 This yoga mat offers a non-slip surface for a stable practice, complete with a convenient carrying strap, making it perfect for workouts at home or on the go. More Celebrity Fans : Luann de Lesseps Color Options : 9 Customer Ratings : 32,000+ 5-star Amazon reviews Therabody TheraGun Mini Massage Gun Soothe sore muscles and relieve tension on the go with the Theragun Mini , a compact yet powerful device offering professional-grade percussive therapy in the palm of your hand. More Celebrity Fans : Suni Lee , Gwyneth Paltrow , Charli D'Amelio , Rylee Arnold , Remi Bader , Matt James , Britt Stewart , Dylan Barbour , Romain Bonnet Color Options : 4 Customer Ratings : 5,700+ 5-star Amazon reviews E!: What is your favorite part about celebrating the holidays? SS: Gathering with loved ones and family. E!: How do you make the holidays extra special for your family? SS: Traveling back home to Australia to surprise my family makes the holidays extra special. E!: What’s a thoughtful gift under $50 that you think anyone would appreciate, regardless of their interests? SS: An Amazon gift card because it can get you a lot of things! If you want to do more celeb-approved holiday shopping, you'll love these picks from Dancing With the Stars pro Rylee Arnold . The E! Insider Shop editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources, comb through customer reviews, and use our own personal experiences to make shopping easier for our readers. As an editorial team, we independently create content and determine coverage based on research, reporting and what we think our readers would like to read about. The goal of our content is to provide a service and inform readers who are on the hunt for the latest products to help make their life better. Items are sold by retailer, not E!. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time.

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NEW YORK (AP) — Same iconic statue, very different race. With two-way star Travis Hunter of Colorado and Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty leading the field, these certainly aren't your typical Heisman Trophy contenders. Sure, veteran quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel from top-ranked Oregon and Cam Ward of No. 15 Miami are finalists for college football's most prestigious award as well, but the 90th annual ceremony coming up Saturday night at Lincoln Center in New York City offers a fresh flavor this year. To start with, none of the four are from the powerhouse Southeastern Conference, which has produced four of the past five Heisman winners — two each from Alabama and LSU. Jeanty, who played his home games for a Group of Five team on that peculiar blue turf in Idaho more than 2,100 miles from Manhattan, is the first running back even invited to the Heisman party since 2017. After leading the country with 2,497 yards rushing and 29 touchdowns, he joined quarterback Kellen Moore (2010) as the only Boise State players to be named a finalist. “The running back position has been overlooked for a while now," said Jeanty, who plans to enter the 2025 NFL draft. "There's been a lot of great running backs before me that should have been here in New York, so to kind of carry on the legacy of the running back position I think is great. ... I feel as if I'm representing the whole position.” With the votes already in, all four finalists spent Friday conducting interviews and sightseeing in the Big Apple. They were given custom, commemorative watches to mark their achievement. “I'm not a watch guy, but I like it,” said Hunter, flashing a smile. The players also took photos beneath the massive billboards in Times Square and later posed with the famous Heisman Trophy, handed out since 1935 to the nation's most outstanding performer. Hunter, the heavy favorite, made sure not to touch it yet. A dominant player on both offense and defense who rarely comes off the field, the wide receiver/cornerback is a throwback to generations gone by and the first full-time, true two-way star in decades. On offense, he had 92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns this season to help the 20th-ranked Buffaloes (9-3) earn their first bowl bid in four years. On defense, he made four interceptions, broke up 11 passes and forced a critical fumble that secured an overtime victory against Baylor. Hunter played 688 defensive snaps and 672 more on offense — the only Power Four conference player with 30-plus snaps on both sides of the ball, according to Colorado research. Call him college football’s answer to baseball unicorn Shohei Ohtani. “I think I laid the ground for more people to come in and go two ways,” Hunter said. “It starts with your mindset. If you believe you can do it, then you'll be able to do it. And also, I do a lot of treatment. I keep up with my body. I get a lot of recovery.” Hunter is Colorado's first Heisman finalist in 30 years. The junior from Suwanee, Georgia, followed flashy coach Deion Sanders from Jackson State, an HBCU that plays in the lower level FCS, to the Rocky Mountains and has already racked up a staggering combination of accolades this week, including The Associated Press player of the year. Hunter also won the Walter Camp Award as national player of the year, along with the Chuck Bednarik Award as the top defensive player and the Biletnikoff Award for best wide receiver. “It just goes to show that I did what I had to do,” Hunter said. Next, he'd like to polish off his impressive hardware collection by becoming the second Heisman Trophy recipient in Buffaloes history, after late running back Rashaan Salaam in 1994. “I worked so hard for this moment, so securing the Heisman definitely would set my legacy in college football,” Hunter said. “Being here now is like a dream come true.” Jeanty carried No. 8 Boise State (12-1) to a Mountain West Conference championship that landed the Broncos the third seed in this year's College Football Playoff. They have a first-round bye before facing the SMU-Penn State winner in the Fiesta Bowl quarterfinal on New Year’s Eve. The 5-foot-9, 215-pound junior from Jacksonville, Florida, won the Maxwell Award as college football’s top player and the Doak Walker Award for best running back. Jeanty has five touchdown runs of at least 70 yards and has rushed for the fourth-most yards in a season in FBS history — topping the total of 115 teams this year. He needs 132 yards to break the FBS record set by Heisman Trophy winner Barry Sanders at Oklahoma State in 1988. In a pass-happy era, however, Jeanty is trying to become the first running back to win the Heisman Trophy since Derrick Henry for Alabama nine years ago. In fact, quarterbacks have snagged the prize all but four times this century. Gabriel, an Oklahoma transfer, led Oregon (13-0) to a Big Ten title in its first season in the league and the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. The steady senior from Hawaii passed for 3,558 yards and 28 touchdowns with six interceptions. His 73.2% completion rate ranks second in the nation, and he's attempting to join quarterback Marcus Mariota (2014) as Ducks players to win the Heisman Trophy. “I think all the memories start to roll back in your mind,” Gabriel said. Ward threw for 4,123 yards and led the nation with a school-record 36 touchdown passes for the high-scoring Hurricanes (10-2) after transferring from Washington State. The senior from West Columbia, Texas, won the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback of the Year award and is looking to join QBs Vinny Testaverde (1986) and Gino Torretta (1992) as Miami players to go home with the Heisman. “I just think there's a recklessness that you have to play with at the quarterback position,” Ward said. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.LONDON (AP) — After a sprawling exposed the communications of an unknown number of Americans, U.S. cybersecurity officials are advising people to use encryption in their communications. To safeguard against the risks highlighted by the campaign, which originated in China, federal cybersecurity authorities released an extensive list of security recommendations for U.S. telecom companies — such as Verizon and AT&T — that were targeted. The advice includes one tip we can all put into practice with our phones: “Ensure that traffic is end-to-end encrypted to the maximum extent possible.” End-to-end encryption, also known as E2EE, means that messages are scrambled so that only the sender and recipient can see them. If anyone else intercepts the message, all they will see is a garble that can’t be unscrambled without the key. Law enforcement officials had until now resisted this type of encryption because it means the technology companies themselves won’t be able to look at the messages, nor respond to law enforcement requests to turn the data over. Here’s a look at various ways ordinary consumers can use end-to-end encryption: Officials said the hackers targeted the metadata of a large number of customers, including information on the dates, times and recipients of calls and texts. They also managed to see the content from texts from a much smaller number of victims. If you’re an iPhone user, information in text messages that you send to someone else who also has an iPhone will be encrypted end-to-end. Just look for the blue text bubbles, which indicate that they are encrypted iMessages. The same goes for Android users sending texts through Google Messages. There will be a lock next to the timestamp on each message to indicate the encryption is on. But there’s a weakness. When iPhone and Android users text each other, the messages are encrypted only using Rich Communication Services, an industry standard for instant messaging that replaces the older SMS and MMS standards. Apple has that RCS messages “aren’t end-to-end encrypted, which means they’re not protected from a third party reading them while they’re sent between devices.” Samsung, which sells Android smartphones, has also hinted at the issue in a footnote at the bottom of a last month on RCS, saying, “Encryption only available for Android to Android communication.” To avoid getting caught out when trading texts, experts recommend using encrypted messaging apps. Privacy advocates are big fans of Signal, which applies end-to-end encryption on all messages and voice calls. The independent nonprofit group behind the app promises never to sell, rent, or lease customer data and has made its so that it can be audited by anyone to examine it “for security and correctness.” Signal’s encryption protocol is so reputable that it has been integrated into rival , so users will enjoy the same level of security protection as Signal, which has a much smaller user base. End-to-end encryption is also the default mode for , which like WhatsApp is owned by Meta Platforms. Telegram is an app that can be used for one-on-one conversations, group chats and broadcast “channels” but contrary to popular perception, it doesn’t turn on end-to-end encryption by default. Users have to switch on the option. And it doesn’t work with group chats. Cybersecurity experts have warned people against using Telegram for private communications and pointed out that only its opt-in ‘secret chat’ feature is encrypted from end-to-end. The app also has a reputation for being a haven for scammers and criminal activity, highlighted by founder and CEO Pavel Durov’s . Instead of using your phone to make calls through a wireless cellular network, you can make voice calls with Signal and WhatsApp. Both apps encrypt calls with the same technology that they use to encrypt messages. There are other options. If you have an iPhone you can use for calls, while Android owners can use the service, which are both end-to-end encrypted. The only catch with all these options is that, as with using the chat services to send messages, the person on the other end will also have to have the app installed. WhatsApp and Signal users can customize their privacy preferences in the settings, including hiding IP address during calls to prevent your general location from being guessed.Andrew Callahan: It’s time to forget about Jerod Mayo getting firedUS stocks climbed higher on Monday, with a rally among chipmakers fueling the tech sector. Nvidia gained 3%, while Broadcom and Advanced Micro Devices rose 5% and 4% respectively. Investors will see a short trading week, with the NYSE shuttering early on Tuesday. US stocks climbed on Monday, with chip stocks leading the tech sector higher while investors eyed a possible year-end rally. All three benchmark indexes ended the trading session in the green, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite rising nearly 1%. Chipmakers fueled the climb in tech shares, clawing back losses from last week's Fed-fueled sell-off. Nvidia gained 3% by the closing bell. Broadcom and Advanced Micro Devices rose 5% and 4% respectively. "It's been an AI-driven year, and it appears that's how it is headed into the year-end," Louis Navellier, the chief investment officer of Navellier & Associates, said in a note. Investors, meanwhile, are eyeing a possible Santa Claus rally, which refers to a stock surge that takes place over the last trading week of the year and the first two trading days of the new year. If one occurs, it could indicate another positive year for the stock market, according to Sam Stovall, the chief investment strategist at CFRA Research. "A positive Santa Claus Rally has preceded a 10.4% average annual gain for the S&P 500 since WWII," Stovall wrote in a note. "However, a decline in this seven-day period saw the S&P 500 post an average annual increase of only 5.7%, posting a gain just 32% of the time." Investors will see a short trading day tomorrow as the New York Stock Exchange closes for the Christmas holiday. Trading will end Tuesday at 1 p.m. ET. Here's where US indexes stood at the 4:00 p.m. closing bell on Monday: S&P 500 : 5,947.07 (+0.73%) Dow Jones Industrial Average : 42,906.95 (+0.16%) Nasdaq composite : 19,764.88 (+0.98%) Here's what else is going on: US consumer confidence unexpectedly dropped to levels close to recession territory, according to the Conference Board. Russia's overheated economy is squeezing one of Moscow's key trading channels with China. MicroStrategy has kept up its bitcoin buying spree for seven weeks in a row. The probability of a recession next year is 0%. Here's what to worry about instead, according to one top economist. There are 2 defensive sectors of the stock market primed for gains, according to Goldman Sachs.

NEW YORK (AP) — Same iconic statue, very different race. With two-way star Travis Hunter of Colorado and Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty leading the field, these certainly aren't your typical Heisman Trophy contenders. Sure, veteran quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel from top-ranked Oregon and Cam Ward of No. 15 Miami are finalists for college football's most prestigious award as well, but the 90th annual ceremony coming up Saturday night at Lincoln Center in New York City offers a fresh flavor this year. To start with, none of the four are from the powerhouse Southeastern Conference, which has produced four of the past five Heisman winners — two each from Alabama and LSU. Jeanty, who played his home games for a Group of Five team on that peculiar blue turf in Idaho more than 2,100 miles from Manhattan, is the first running back even invited to the Heisman party since 2017. After leading the country with 2,497 yards rushing and 29 touchdowns, he joined quarterback Kellen Moore (2010) as the only Boise State players to be named a finalist. “The running back position has been overlooked for a while now," said Jeanty, who plans to enter the 2025 NFL draft. "There's been a lot of great running backs before me that should have been here in New York, so to kind of carry on the legacy of the running back position I think is great. ... I feel as if I'm representing the whole position.” With the votes already in, all four finalists spent Friday conducting interviews and sightseeing in the Big Apple. They were given custom, commemorative watches to mark their achievement. “I'm not a watch guy, but I like it,” said Hunter, flashing a smile. The players also took photos beneath the massive billboards in Times Square and later posed with the famous Heisman Trophy, handed out since 1935 to the nation's most outstanding performer. Hunter, the heavy favorite, made sure not to touch it yet. A dominant player on both offense and defense who rarely comes off the field, the wide receiver/cornerback is a throwback to generations gone by and the first full-time, true two-way star in decades. On offense, he had 92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns this season to help the 20th-ranked Buffaloes (9-3) earn their first bowl bid in four years. On defense, he made four interceptions, broke up 11 passes and forced a critical fumble that secured an overtime victory against Baylor. Hunter played 688 defensive snaps and 672 more on offense — the only Power Four conference player with 30-plus snaps on both sides of the ball, according to Colorado research. Call him college football’s answer to baseball unicorn Shohei Ohtani. “I think I laid the ground for more people to come in and go two ways,” Hunter said. “It starts with your mindset. If you believe you can do it, then you'll be able to do it. And also, I do a lot of treatment. I keep up with my body. I get a lot of recovery.” Hunter is Colorado's first Heisman finalist in 30 years. The junior from Suwanee, Georgia, followed flashy coach Deion Sanders from Jackson State, an HBCU that plays in the lower level FCS, to the Rocky Mountains and has already racked up a staggering combination of accolades this week, including The Associated Press player of the year. Hunter also won the Walter Camp Award as national player of the year, along with the Chuck Bednarik Award as the top defensive player and the Biletnikoff Award for best wide receiver. “It just goes to show that I did what I had to do,” Hunter said. Next, he'd like to polish off his impressive hardware collection by becoming the second Heisman Trophy recipient in Buffaloes history, after late running back Rashaan Salaam in 1994. “I worked so hard for this moment, so securing the Heisman definitely would set my legacy in college football,” Hunter said. “Being here now is like a dream come true.” Jeanty carried No. 8 Boise State (12-1) to a Mountain West Conference championship that landed the Broncos the third seed in this year's College Football Playoff. They have a first-round bye before facing the SMU-Penn State winner in the Fiesta Bowl quarterfinal on New Year’s Eve. The 5-foot-9, 215-pound junior from Jacksonville, Florida, won the Maxwell Award as college football’s top player and the Doak Walker Award for best running back. Jeanty has five touchdown runs of at least 70 yards and has rushed for the fourth-most yards in a season in FBS history — topping the total of 115 teams this year. He needs 132 yards to break the FBS record set by Heisman Trophy winner Barry Sanders at Oklahoma State in 1988. In a pass-happy era, however, Jeanty is trying to become the first running back to win the Heisman Trophy since Derrick Henry for Alabama nine years ago. In fact, quarterbacks have snagged the prize all but four times this century. Gabriel, an Oklahoma transfer, led Oregon (13-0) to a Big Ten title in its first season in the league and the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. The steady senior from Hawaii passed for 3,558 yards and 28 touchdowns with six interceptions. His 73.2% completion rate ranks second in the nation, and he's attempting to join quarterback Marcus Mariota (2014) as Ducks players to win the Heisman Trophy. “I think all the memories start to roll back in your mind,” Gabriel said. Ward threw for 4,123 yards and led the nation with a school-record 36 touchdown passes for the high-scoring Hurricanes (10-2) after transferring from Washington State. The senior from West Columbia, Texas, won the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback of the Year award and is looking to join QBs Vinny Testaverde (1986) and Gino Torretta (1992) as Miami players to go home with the Heisman. “I just think there's a recklessness that you have to play with at the quarterback position,” Ward said. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballDejan Kulusevski cannot wait to play Man City again after Tottenham run riot

A burden has been lifted off Lora Wood’s shoulders. Lora Wood was one of 39 people who had non-violent convictions pardoned by President Joe Biden on Dec. 12, 2024. For 20 years, the 39-year-old Maxwell, Nebraska resident has been living under the pall of having been convicted of a felony. That limited her career opportunities. It also made her unable to own a firearm, which, as a livestock farmer, created difficulty at times. Wood was one of 39 people who had their non-violent convictions pardoned by U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday. Biden also commuted the sentences of close to 1,500 people. Wood’s pardon stems from 2004, when she pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Wood said when she was 19, she got involved with the wrong guy. Wood served one year in federal prison in Illinois and four years under supervised release as part of her plea agreement. Today, Wood said she's happy; living with her husband, Jeremy, and two children. She works as a graphic designer for Pro Printing and Graphics — a printing company owned by her mother-in-law in North Platte — and spends time on the farm. Having been clean for 20 years, Wood remains active in the community. She volunteers helping animals through Paws-itive Partners Humane Society in North Platte. With the humane society, she has organized pet food fundraisers, including Woofstock, an event where people can come with their dogs to a carnival-like atmosphere. She also works with therapy dogs. Wood began applying for a pardon five years ago. As part of her application process, the Federal Bureau of Investigation interviewed her, her family and her employers both present and past. When she got the call on Wednesday, she was moved to tears. “I was really excited,” she said. “This has been one of those things where you don’t have any information. It just came out of the blue.” In a press release, the White House noted Wood’s steady employment and volunteer service. The White House added Wood has been praised for her work ethic and devotion to her children. Although it does not expunge Wood’s conviction, she believes the pardon will give her better job opportunities and access to a firearm, which she said would come in handy if she needs to put down a sick pig at her and her husband’s farm. “Trying to put down a pig without a gun is a very difficult process,” Wood said. “We have to call neighbors to do it for us.” She also said the pardon would allow her to visit nursing homes to help comfort residents with a therapy dog. Wood said her drug conviction prevented her from doing that. Wood is thankful her pardon will now allow her to put a dark chapter of her past behind her. “It’s definitely lifted a burden off my shoulders,” she said. “I can move forward and basically never have to think about it again.” A few snowflakes rest on a hand rail at the Gerald R. Ford Birthsite and Gardens in Omaha on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. Watie White prepares to hang the portraits he drew for an exhibit inside the carriage house at the Joslyn Castle in Omaha on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. Watie White poses for a portrait holding some potraits he drew that will hang in an exhibit inside the carriage house at the Joslyn Castle in Omaha on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. Creighton's Pop Isaacs (2) goes up for a 3-pointer s head coach Greg McDermott motions in the background during the second half of a men's college basketball game against Kansas at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. Creighton players react as they are unveiled on the NCAA Volleyball Tournament bracket during a watch party at DJ's Dugout in Omaha on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. Damany Rahn, CEO of the Heart Ministry Center, poses for a portrait at FRESH Floral in Omaha on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. FRESH Floral helps support the Heart Ministry Center, a nonprofit that aims to provide food, healthcare and a way forward for people affected by poverty. The Omaha World-Herald 2024 All-Nebraska Volleyball Team, from left, Lincoln Lutheran's Keri Leimbach, Norris' Anna Jelinek, Papillion-La Vista South's Charlee Solomon, Omaha Skutt's Addison West, Fremont's Mattie Dalton, Omaha Westside's Ashlyn Paymal and Grand Island's Tia Traudt photographed at Steelhouse Omaha on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. Siblings Aria, 9, and Apollo Taylor, 6, hold out alfalfa for a Camille, a camel from Scatter Joy Acres during the annual Christmas in the Village in Omaha on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.

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