ON TODAY'S SCORECARD
Combine This

The 2026 NFL Scouting Combine (held February 23–March 2 in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium) has invited 16 quarterback prospects to attend. Attendance means they are present for interviews, medical evaluations, measurements, and potentially on-field workouts (though some top prospects opt out of throwing drills to showcase at their pro days instead).

The official list of invited QB prospects, as reported consistently by NFL.com, various team sites (e.g., Commanders, 49ers), and media outlets like CFB on FOX, includes:

• Joey Aguilar (Tennessee)

• Drew Allar (Penn State)

• Luke Altmyer (Illinois)

• Carson Beck (Miami)

• Jalon Daniels (Kansas)

• Joe Fagnano (UConn)

• Taylen Green (Arkansas)

• Haynes King (Georgia Tech)

• Cade Klubnik (Clemson)

• Fernando Mendoza (Indiana)

• Behren Morton (Texas Tech)

• Garrett Nussmeier (LSU)

• Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt)

• Cole Payton (North Dakota State)

• Sawyer Robertson (Baylor)

• Ty Simpson (Alabama)
  

Key notes on top prospects:

• Fernando Mendoza (Indiana), the consensus projected No. 1 overall pick and Heisman winner/national champion, is attending but will not throw at the Combine. He plans to throw at Indiana's pro day on April 1 with his preferred receivers and teammates.
  

• Several others (e.g., Ty Simpson, Carson Beck, Drew Allar, Cade Klubnik, Garrett Nussmeier, Diego Pavia) are expected to participate in on-field throwing drills, per recent reports.
  

• The QB class is considered solid but not elite at the very top beyond a few standouts, with many prospects using the event for athletic testing, interviews, and to boost their stock.

VANDERBILT over Georgia by 16

The Commodores return home for another sold-out performance in their home theater, where they last played a close 69-65 in-state battle against Tennessee, with neither team leading by double digits at any point. With the loss, 21-win Vanderbilt fell to 8-6 in the SEC, where they are in a four-way tie for sixth place. Lurking just behind is 19-win Auburn, on a three-game winning streak. Vandy will look to stop two losses in two years in this series, knowing they are 24-14-1 ATS against the Dawgs when coming off a loss, including 10-3 SU / 8-4-1 ATS with a win percentage over .666, as well as 8-2
SU / ATS at home after a previous home defeat. Meanwhile, Georgia has a 25-40 ATS record when riding a three-game win streak. All in all, everything looks promising... if you’re Vandy tonight.

This preview was extracted from the current issue of the PLAYBOOK Hoops Newsletter. Click here to download a copy now.

TRENDING TODAY
Tank Wank

You knew it was coming.

Rick Carlisle was not happy with how the NBA went about investigating the Pacers before handing down a $100,000 fine before the All-Star break.

As outlined in Monday’s Coffee Club, the Pacers are one of many teams that will be tanking down the stretch run of this NBA season.

Unlike most others of their ilk, though, Indiana didn’t really plan to be in this position after making a Finals run last season. But Tyrese Haliburton’s torn Achilles took away the team’s top offensive option, and an utterly awful stretch to begin this year has anchored the Pacers to the bottom of the standings.

Nevertheless, Indy was one of the nails the NBA hit with the anti-tanking hammer before the All-Star break. The Pacers were levied the fine after the league determined they violated the Player Participation Policy (which was instituted to address load management, but is used to battle tanking, as well) by resting All-Star Pascal Siakam and two other starters on the second night of a back-to-back on Feb. 3.

It was not nearly as heavy a fine as the Jazz received that day; Utah was hit with a $500,000 penalty for conduct detrimental to the league. Even so, $100,000 was a strong slap on the wrist for Indianapolis, and one coach Carlisle did not agree with.

And on and on go the tanking allegations now permeating the NBA.