EDDIE PELLS

National writer

As a national writer, Pells reports on the intersection of power, money and sports. He focuses on the Olympics and college sports.

Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese, left, celebrates his sack against Penn State with teammate defensive lineman Kenyatta Jackson during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

College Football Playoff committee to release its first rankings in a season of chaos

The College Football Playoff selection committee is set to release its first rankings of the season on Tuesday night.

St. John's head coach Rick Pitino reacts during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Creighton, Feb. 16, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray, File)

In new era of college hoops rosters, $20.5M salary cap feels more like a suggestion than a rule

College basketball is navigating a new financial landscape with schools allowed to pay players up to $20.5 million.

World Athletics blames employees for $1.7M taken in ‘systematic theft’

World Athletics says it has lost more than $1.7 million to “systematic theft” by its own employees. World Athletics says it has handed over detailed case information to “the relevant judicial and legal authorities for criminal investigation.”

A general view shows Team USA Media Summit, on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Better than gold? $100,000 for US athletes who make the Winter Olympics and Paralympics

The stakes for all these U.S. skiers, skaters, snowboarders and sliders over the next 100 days could not be more clear. A chance for Olympic glory.

Board Chair and President of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee Gene Sykes speaks during a press conference during Team USA Media Summit, on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Gender testing on tap for female skiers, snowboarders with 100 days to Olympics

With 100 days to go until the Winter Olympics, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee has begun the complicated and expensive task of identifying female skiers and snowboarders who need to take gender tests before they arrive in Italy.

United States' Sha'Carri Richardson celebrates as she anchors the team to gold ahead of Britain's Daryll Neita in the women's 4 X 100 meters relay final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Sept. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File)

Relay revamp featuring Lyles and Richardson has US Olympic team looking for gold at 2028 LA Games

The U.S. track team overhauled its struggling relay strategy to start this Olympic cycle and won four of five possible gold medals at the world championships in Tokyo last month.

NCAA President Charlie Baker speaks during the Division I Business Session at the annual NCAA convention, Jan. 15, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File)

NCAA president urges conferences and schools to be cautious of equity deals

The president of the NCAA is urging schools and conferences tempted by riches offered through potential deals with new equity sources to think about the long-term repercussions before jumping into the deals.

SCORE vs. SAFE: Two competing bills in Congress seek to protect college sports and its athletes

Efforts to reform college sports remain uncertain as fall arrives, with two major legislative attempts struggling for support in Congress.

Big Ten Conference Commissioner Tony Petitti speaks during an news conference at the Big Ten Conference NCAA college football media days at Lucas Oil Stadium, Wednesday, July 26, 2023, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)

Senator’s letter to Big Ten presidents: Private equity ‘unlikely to align’ with academic goals

Washington Sen. Maria Cantwell has sent a letter to Big Ten presidents, warning that a move into private equity could have negative consequences, including impacting the schools’ tax-exempt status.

Cody Campbell walks on the field before a NCAA college football game between Texas Tech and Oregon State, Sept. 13, 2025, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Annie Rice, File)

In college squabble, booster rips commishes, but they say he doesn’t know what he’s talking about

One of the most vocal and potentially powerful boosters in college sports has lashed out at conference commissioners for stymieing changes he thinks could save the industry.

Fans cheer during the first half of an NCAA college football game between Maryland and Washington, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in College Park, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

College sports watchdog sets up tip line for confidential reporting of violations in new NIL era

The College Sports Commission has launched a tip line that allows for anonymous reporting of potential violations of new rules in the name, image and likeness era that outline how players are paid, place limits on roster sizes and set a $20.5 million cap on revenue sharing.

Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., speaks during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on Capitol Hill, Thursday, July 10, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

College-reform bill could generate extra billions by allowing conferences to pool their TV rights

Democratic senators are proposing a bill that would rewrite a 1961 law prohibiting college sports conferences from banding together to sell their media rights.

United States captain Keegan Bradley watches on the 16th hole during their singles match on the Bethpage Black golf course at the Ryder Cup golf tournament, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Farmingdale, N.Y. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

In close Ryder Cup loss, Keegan Bradley singles out Bethpage Black course setup as mistake

Asked what he might have done differently in a Ryder Cup that got away early, U.S. captain Keegan Bradley focused on the way he set up the course at Bethpage Black.

Europe's Shane Lowry celebrates after making the winning putt putt on the 18th hole during their singles match on the Bethpage Black golf course at the Ryder Cup golf tournament, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Farmingdale, N.Y. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Shane Lowry makes the clinching Ryder Cup putt: ‘Coolest thing I’ve done in my life’

With a sure thing slipping from Europe’s grasp at the Ryder Cup, Shane Lowry saved the day. He made a 6-foot putt to clinch a tie in his match with Russell Henley and secure the halve that gave Europe its 14th point it needed to bring the cup home.

United States' Cameron Young hits from the rough on the 11th hole at Bethpage Black golf course during the Ryder Cup golf tournament, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Farmingdale, N.Y. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

US looks for a sports miracle Sunday at the Ryder Cup. Keegan Bradley says he’s seen them before

U.S. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley will send Cameron Young out first for the singles matches Sunday, hoping the New Yorker can ignite a historic comeback against a European team firing on all cylinders.

Europe's Shane Lowry react after their match win on the 18th hole at Bethpage Black golf course during the Ryder Cup golf tournament, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Farmingdale, N.Y. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Ryder Cup summaries from Saturday’s matches at Bethpage Black

Ryder Cup summaries from Saturday’s matches at Bethpage Black

United States' Collin Morikawa reacts after missing a putt on the 13th hole at Bethpage Black golf course during the Ryder Cup golf tournament, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Farmingdale, N.Y. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

In rematch vs. ‘Fleetwood Mac,’ US Ryder Cup pairing of English and Morikawa gets the same result

It was reasonable to think nobody was going to beat a Ryder Cup duo on a roll — one that’s so good, it has its own nickname, “Fleetwood Mac.”

Europe's Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood hug after they won their match at Bethpage Black golf course during the Ryder Cup golf tournament, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Farmingdale, N.Y. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

McIlroy gives as good as he gets at Ryder Cup, telling fans to shut up, then sending them to exits

With the match tightening and the crowd screaming, Rory McIlroy backed off his approach shot from the rough on the 16th hole at Bethpage Black and shouted “Shut the (expletive) up!”

United States' Cameron Young watches his tee shot on the 12th hole at Bethpage Black golf course during the Ryder Cup golf tournament, Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, in Farmingdale, N.Y. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Cameron Young, a native New Yorker, was a rare bright spot for US on Ryder Cup Day 1

When the U.S. needed a spark, Cameron Young delivered. The New York native, playing about an hour’s drive from where he grew up, sank five birdies in his Ryder Cup debut Friday as he and Justin Thomas beat Europe’s Rasmus Højgaard and Ludvig Åberg 6 and 5.

United States' Harris English watches his tee shot on the third hole at Bethpage Black golf course during the Ryder Cup golf tournament, Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, in Farmingdale, N.Y. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Trailing at the Ryder Cup, America stays (mostly) the same for Day 2, Europe doesn’t change a thing

Even though he’s in a hole at the Ryder Cup, American captain Keegan Bradley is sticking with the same lineup, with only one tweak.

Europe's Jon Rahm celebrates on the 15th hole at Bethpage Black golf course during the Ryder Cup golf tournament, Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, in Farmingdale, N.Y. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Ryder Cup summaries from the opening day at Bethpage Black

A capsule summary of the eight matches Friday at the Ryder Cup

Europe's Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton and captain Luke Donald celebrate after their win on the 15th hole at Bethpage Black golf course during the Ryder Cup golf tournament, Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, in Farmingdale, N.Y. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Rahm and Hatton take down US power pair as Ryder Cup’s main event turns into a big win for Europe

A match that was supposed to be a tone-setter for the Americans at the Ryder Cup turned out to be just that. In a bad way.

United States' Cameron Young hits from the rough on the 16th hole during a practice round at the Ryder Cup golf tournament, Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, on the Bethpage Black golf course, in Farmingdale, N.Y. (AP Photo/Robert Bukaty)

For the Ryder Cup, Bethpage Black might not be the beast it’s cracked up to be

The setup for this week’s Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black looks more like a regular tour event than one of the majors that have been played here in years past.

Fans greets United States' Bryson DeChambeau on the 17th hole during a practice round at the Ryder Cup golf tournament, Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, on the Bethpage Black golf course, in Farmingdale, N.Y. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Bryson DeChambeau, a man of the people, brings his show to Ryder Cup with some bickering to boot

There might not be a more watchable player at the Ryder Cup this week than Bryson DeChambeau. And for those who miss him on the course, there’s plenty of content available on YouTube.

USA's Phil Mickelson, left, and Keegan Bradley celebrate after winning their foursomes match on the 15th hole at the Ryder Cup PGA golf tournament Friday, Sept. 28, 2012, at the Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Ill. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)

Phil Mickelson is an unwanted outsider in what could have been his Ryder Cup at Bethpage

This could have been Phil Mickelson’s Ryder Cup. When Bethpage Black was awarded the 2025 version of USA vs.

As part of reforms, SafeSport center seeks greater efficency, improved communication on long cases

The U.S. Center for SafeSport will add language to explain to people involved in abuse investigations about the potential for the “long duration” of cases as part of a broad sweep of changes designed to improve communication about what some complain is a confusing, drawn-out process.

Europe team captain Paul McGinley, center right, and his team wear their national flags and celebrate with the trophy after winning the Ryder Cup golf tournament at Gleneagles, Scotland, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2014. (AP Photo/AP Photo/Peter Morrison, File)

Ryder Cup has power to divide — or unite — during fraught and fragile time in the US

This week’s Ryder Cup is an example of sports as an international score-settler. Could a group of pro golfers give Americans a break from the nonstop news cycles that makes their country feel fraught and fragile?

United States' Cole Hocker celebrates winning the gold in the men's 5,000 meters final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Cole Hocker gets to race and gets his gold in worlds 5,000 meters

American Cole Hocker came to world championships hoping for two medals. He was only allowed to run for one, and when he won that one, it felt pretty good.

United States' Sha'Carri Richardson reacts after winning the women's 4 X 100 meters relay at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Relays in the rain! Sha’Carri, Sydney, Noah anchor wins on a big closing day for Americans at worlds

Sha’Carri Richardson and Noah Lyles blasted through the anchor legs of back-to-back wins in the rainy 4x100s to close out world championships with a relay sweep for the U.S.

United States' Jacory Patterson races to compete in the men's 400 meters semifinal at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Effects of failed Grand Slam Track league felt in different ways across world championships

The failure of Michael Johnson’s attempt to transform track and field, the Grand Slam Track league, hovered over big swaths of the sport’s world championships this week.