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Super Bowl Opening Night kick-off with X Ambassadors and Warren Moon

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The NFL today announced that Super Bowl Opening Night Fueled by Gatorade will feature performances by rock band X AMBASSADORS and an appearance by Pro Football Hall of Famer WARREN MOON. Held on Monday, January 30th at 7:00 PM CT, Super Bowl Opening Night will mark the first time that players and coaches meet with thousands of media members at Minute Maid ParkTM in Houston.

“We are thrilled to kick-off Super Bowl Opening Night with X Ambassadors and Warren Moon,” said PETER O’REILLY, NFL Senior Vice President of Events. “As fans in Houston will experience first-hand, this year’s Super Bowl Week features more events, more entertainment, and more excitement than ever before.”

“Being able to perform at Super Bowl Opening Night is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said X AMBASSADORS. “We look forward to putting on an electrifying show as part of the amazing festivities occurring during Super Bowl Week.”

“I will always be grateful to the City of Houston and its fans for giving me a chance to play professional football,” said WARREN MOON. “On Super Bowl Opening Night, I am excited to return to my second home and to help fans experience the energy of the big game before kickoff on Sunday.”

X AMBASSADORS’ debut full-length album VHS was released in June 2015 where it debuted at #7 on the Billboard Top 200 chart, and it has since been certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. The set features the platinum selling singles “Renegades” and “Unsteady.” In 2016, the group set out their VHS 2.0 Tour, which included stops at festivals such as Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza. X Ambassadors have been nominated for two Billboard Music Awards, including Top Rock Artist and Top Rock Song for “Renegades.”

Fans will have two opportunities to see X AMBASSADORS perform during Super Bowl Opening Night – first at “Halftime” between AFC and NFC media availabilities at approximately 8:15 PM CT, and then following the conclusion of media sessions at approximately 10:00 PM CT. Tickets are available for purchase at Ticketmaster.com.

Fans in attendance will also enjoy special appearances and autographs by NFL Legends, headlined by former NFL quarterback WARREN MOON. A staple of the Houston community, Moon started for the Houston Oilers from 1984-1993, breaking numerous franchise records including most passing yards and most touchdown passes.

SUPER BOWL OPENING NIGHT, to be televised live on NFL Network, ESPN2, and FS1, will also feature cheerleaders, team mascots, and a red carpet fan photo opportunity. The event will culminate with an enormous fireworks display, kicking off week-long festivities surrounding SUPER BOWL LI, which will be played on February 5, 2017 at NRG Stadium in Houston.

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Sports

LIV Golf to begin winding down operations Nov. 9 after five years, $5 billion spent

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LIV Golf sign in a landscaped setting in Orlando, Florida. Photo by Florida National News

NEW YORK CITY, NY (FNN SPORTS) – LIV Golf plans to begin winding down operations Monday, Nov. 9, following five years and more than $5 billion in spending.

Attorney Matthew Williams outlined the league’s plans during a bankruptcy court hearing Thursday, Nov. 5, in New Jersey. The process includes selling its remaining assets.

“We believe the wind down path is the best path,” Williams told the court.

LIV Golf confirmed the decision after a proposed restructuring deal fell through. The league said it will continue considering alternatives during the shutdown process.

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Basketball

USF Women’s Basketball Opens Season With 80–54 Victory Over Furman

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TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — On Monday November 2, at the Yuengling Center, the South Florida women’s basketball team opened with a successful debut undernew head coach Kristy Curry.

The Bulls established control early with a 9–0 opening run, taking a 27–12 lead after the first quarter. Furman narrowed the margin before halftime, but South Florida maintained a 46–32 advantage heading into the break.



A dominant third quarter proved decisive, as USF outscored Furman 23–9 to extend its lead to 69–41 entering the fourth.

Balanced Scoring Leads the Bulls

Stefanie Ingram led South Florida with 15 points, followed by Hannah Kohn with 13 and Kendall Puryear with 12 points and nine rebounds.


The Bulls placed six players in double figures, shot 51.6 percent from the field and controlled the boards with a 48–25 rebounding advantage.

A Winning Debut for Kristy Curry

The victory marked Curry’s first win leading South Florida after arriving from Alabama.

Ahead of the season opener, Curry expressed confidence in the program’s potential:

“I’m so excited to be here. I truly think the sky’s the limit at USF.”

— Kristy Curry, USF Head Coach, in pregame remarks published by USF Athletics.

South Florida (1–0) will face Belmont on Friday, November 6, in Nashville, Tennessee.

– Nisey Spruill is a reporter and photojournalist for Florida National News (FNN), covering major news, sports and special events across Florida and nationwide. Contact sports@FloridaNationalNews.com

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Central Florida News

USF Defeats UAB 30–10, Secures Fourth Consecutive Bowl-Eligible Season

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C.J. Hicks (#1) USF defensive end lines up before the snap during the Bulls’ 30–10 victory over UAB at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa on October 31, 2026. Photo by Nisey Spruill / Florida National News

Bulls overcome early deficit behind defensive touchdowns and a record-tying performance from C.J. Hicks.

TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — The University of South Florida (USF) secured its sixth victory of the season Saturday, October 31, defeating the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) 30–10 at Raymond James Stadium. The victory improved the Bulls’ record to 6–2 overall and 2–2 in American Conference play, making the program bowl-eligible for the fourth consecutive season.

Defense Turns the Game Around

UAB opened the game with a 10–0 first-quarter lead, but South Florida responded with 30 unanswered points, highlighted by two defensive touchdowns.

Defensive end C.J. Hicks delivered one of the game’s most significant performances, recording four sacks to tie the USF single-game record. Two of those sacks forced fumbles that resulted in touchdowns.

Late in the second quarter, Hicks forced a fumble by UAB quarterback Ryder Burton, allowing USF defender Asani Redwood to recover the football and return it six yards for a touchdown. The play gave South Florida a 17–10 halftime lead.

Asani Redwood and UAB #71 UAB defensive lineman #71 attempts to tackle USF’s Asani Redwood during the October 31, 2026, matchup at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. Photo by Nisey Spruill / Florida National News

Hicks created another scoring opportunity in the fourth quarter, forcing a second fumble that linebacker Grayson Howard recovered and returned 13 yards for a touchdown, extending USF’s lead to 27–10.

South Florida’s defense finished with six sacks and 11 tackles for loss, limiting UAB to just 177 total offensive yards, including 17 rushing yards.

Offensive Adjustments Provide Momentum

Following an injury to starting quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr., sophomore Luke Kromenhoek entered the game and helped shift momentum in South Florida’s favor.

Luke Kromenhoek (#17) USF quarterback Luke Kromenhoek (#17) carries the football while facing pressure from a UAB defender during the Bulls’ 30–10 victory at Raymond James Stadium on October 31, 2026. Photo by Nisey Spruill / Florida National News

Kromenhoek finished with a career-high 92 rushing yards, including a 42-yard run that helped establish the Bulls’ offensive rhythm.

Running back Jason Collins Jr. added a six-yard rushing touchdown late in the second quarter to tie the game at 10–10.

Kicker Nico Gramatica contributed three field goals, connecting from 31, 30 and 33 yards to help secure the victory.

Bowl Eligibility Marks Another Program Milestone

With its sixth win, South Florida secured bowl eligibility for the fourth consecutive season, matching the second-longest such streak in program history.

The accomplishment allows USF to qualify for postseason bowl consideration, although an official bowl invitation and destination have yet to be determined.

The victory also kept the Bulls competitive in the American Conference standings, with four regular-season games remaining following the UAB matchup.

Looking Ahead

USF will return to conference competition Friday, November 6, traveling to face East Carolina as the Bulls continue their pursuit of a stronger conference finish and a postseason bowl invitation.

Final Score: USF 30, UAB 10

– Nisey Spruill is a reporter and photojournalist for Florida National News (FNN), covering major news, sports and special events across Florida and nationwide. Contact sports@FloridaNationalNews.com

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