The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1994 and is named in honor of Chuck “Concrete Charlie” Bednarik who was an All-American player at the University of Pennsylvania and later a multiple year All Pro linebacker and center for the Philadelphia Eagles. He is a member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame and was the last NFL player to be a full-time player on both offense and defense.

The honor marks Lathan’s second Watch List of the 2026 season after being named to the Butkus Award Preseason Watch List on Aug. 13, awarded to the nation’s top linebacker.

Lathan enters his redshirt senior season as Kansas’ leading tackler from a season ago with 86 tackles, 7.0 tackles-for-loss, 1.5 sacks and an interception and earned Honorable Mention All-Big 12 honors at the conclusion of the season. Lathan has started 30 career games and played in 34 over his career at linebacker, totaling 198 career tackles.

Semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced November 10, 2026, while the three finalists for the will be unveiled November 24, 2026. The winner of the 32nd Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 10, 2026. The formal presentations of the Maxwell Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on Saturday March 13, 2027, at the Coca Cola Roxy Theater in Atlanta, Georgia.

Last year’s Chuck Bednarik Award winner was Jacob Rodriguez. (Texas Tech) who went on to be the 2rd round selection of the Miami Dolphins in the 2025 NFL Draft.

NORTH PLATTE – The McCook Community College volleyball team improved to 3-0 in the North Platte Community College season-opening tournament with a pair of sweeps Friday. The Lady Indians prevailed 3-1 against both Laramie County Community College and Cloud County Community College.

“I thought the girls played well,” said MCC Coach Hayley Kobza. “They had to play through some tough and tight situations which showed the tenacity that this group has all around.”

The coach was also pleased with the support from the MCC sideline.

“They were huge supporters and really helped with momentum moments with our team,” said Kobza.

MCC 3-0, will conclude the tournament on Saturday with a 10 a.m. match against Colorado Northwestern Community College.

McCook CC 3, Laramie County CC 1: The Lady Indians won 25-17, 24-26, 25-21 and 25-23.

Freshman Maggie Fiene (Murray, Neb | Conestoga High School) paced the MCC attack with 11 kills, four assist blocks and asolo block. Freshman Jade Powell (Sterling, Colo.) added nine kills, three assist blocks, one solo block and one ace.

Leia Young (sophomore, Amarillo, Texas) had seven kills, two assist blocks and two aces. Freshman Relebohile Phamotse  (Maseru, Lesotho) was credited with six kills, five assist blocks and three aces. Sophomore Bobbi Starkebaum (Haxtun, Colo.) had five assist blocks and three kills.

Paula Urizar (freshman Guatemala City, Guatemala) led MCC from the serving line with four aces.

McCook CC 3, Cloud County CC 1: After losing the first set 20-25, MCC came back to win the final three sets, 25-15, 25-12, 27-25.

Phamotse led MCC with 12 kills and added five assist blocks. Fiene tallied 10 kills and one assist block while Starkebaum powered 10 kills, had two solo blocks and five assist blocks.

“Bobbi Starkebaum played a good match against Cloud County and that effort and grit she had today is a great example of what can be done in the off season,” said Kobza.

Powell totaled nine kills and three assist blocks while Young added eight kills.

Freshman Cheyanne Ortiz (Pueblo, Colo.) led the Lady Indians with 30 assists and had five assist blocks and two aces.

Paula Urizar had four more aces in the second match of the day.

SATURDAY RECAP

NORTH PLATTE – The McCook Community College women’s volleyball team snagged their first sweep of the season Saturday morning in North Platte taking down Colorado Northwestern Community College in three sets.

MCC topped the Spartans 25-19, 25-6 and 25-19 to complete a 4-0 mark in the tournament to start the season.

“I’m glad how the last three days ended up,” said MCC Coach Hayley Kobza. “We will need that momentum going into next weekends’ matches in Texas.”

Freshman Relebohile Phamotse (Maseru, Lesotho) topped the kill chart with nine to go along with three assist blocks, a solo block and an ace from the service line. Sophomore Leia Young (Amarillo, Texas) netted six kills and two assist blocks. Bobbi Starkebaum (sophomore, Haxtun, Colo.) had two kills and one assist block.

Jade Powell (freshman Sterling, Colo.), was credited with seven digs, three kills, one assist block and one solo block. Sophomore Anna Richardson (Worland, Wyo.) had six digs, three kills and two aces and freshman Tanna Bailey (Stoneham, Colo.) had two kills.

Freshman setter Cheyanne Ortiz (Pueblo, Colo.) led MCC with 21 assists and connected on five ace serves and one assist block. Freshman Paula Urizar (Guatemala City, Guatemala) had six digs.

The Lady Indians will pack up their 4-0 record and take it to Gainesville, Texas where they will play four matches next weekend in the North Central Texas College Invitational Tournament. MCC will play Western Texas and Dallas College-Brookhaven Friday then take on the host NCTC and Wharton County JC on Saturday.

“I hope the girls are ready to hit the ground running this week and work on a few things,” said Kobza.

MCC returns home Sept. 3 to host Eastern Wyoming at 6 p.m. to kick off the MCC Labor Day Weekend Tournament in the Peter and Dolores Graff Events Center, which continues Sept. 4-5.

Up-to-date information about MCC volleyball including up-to-date schedule and changes, livestream links for home games, rosters, photos, statistics and more can be found on the MCC Athletics website, www.mccindians.com<http://www.mccindians.com/>

A release issued alongside the song confirmed Vernon took part in writing and composing the track. Built around an electronic pop sound, I’ll Be Back gives fans new music as he steps away from regular group activities during his service period.

Vernon had already introduced the song during a V8 live performance in July, giving listeners an early preview before its official release. The title also carries added meaning because of the timing, pointing toward his eventual return to music activities.

After completing basic training, Vernon is expected to continue his service as a social service agent. His enlistment follows a period of recent activity that included work with fellow SEVENTEEN member The8 as part of the V8 unit.

The release details describe the EP as coming from a personal place and reflecting JENNIE’s most sincere self-expression. A music video for the title track, Fallen Angel, is also scheduled to arrive on August 28 alongside the full project.

The EP continues JENNIE’s solo work following her first full-length studio album, Ruby, which was released in 2025. That 15-track project included collaborations with artists including Dua Lipa, Doechii, Dominic Fike, Childish Gambino, Kali Uchis, and FKJ.

JENNIE has continued balancing individual releases with her work as a member of BLACKPINK. Fallen Angel gives listeners a shorter three-song project focused on her latest solo material, with the complete EP becoming available on digital platforms at the end of August.

The Aug. 21 chart update also highlights how far the collaboration has moved beyond the previous benchmark. Frankie Laine’s I Believe held the record for decades after spending 18 weeks at No. 1 in 1953. Rein Me In surpassed that total in July and has continued to hold the top position.

The song is showing fresh momentum in the United States as well, although its performance there remains more modest. It climbed from No. 70 to a new peak of No. 50 on the Hot 100 dated Aug. 22, improving on its previous high of No. 64.

The contrast makes Rein Me In an unusual modern hit, with record-breaking popularity in Britain alongside a gradual rise with American listeners.

The live debut also marked a reunion with producer John Fields, who worked closely with Nick, Joe and Kevin Jonas during an earlier chapter of their career. The new recording is their first studio collaboration with Fields since 2009, bringing a familiar creative connection back into the group’s current music.

“Listen When Sad” draws from emo and alternative influences associated with some of the band’s earlier material. Its introduction fits the broader theme of the new tour, which combines recent songs with music and references from the Jonas Brothers’ late-2000s era.

The tour gives the trio room to revisit different stages of their catalog while also introducing new material. “Listen When Sad” now becomes the latest addition to that mix as its release date approaches.

The milestone gives Combs his 21st No. 1 on the chart and places him alongside Thomas Rhett and Keith Urban among artists who have reached that total. Be By You is also the third Country Airplay leader from Combs’ album The Way I Am, following Back in the Saddle and Sleepless in a Hotel Room.

The song stands out from much of Combs’ catalog because he is not one of its writers. Dan Alley, Sam Banks and Nick Walsh wrote Be By You. It becomes only the third Country Airplay No. 1 recorded by Combs that he did not help write.

The latest chart achievement continues a long run of radio success for Combs, who has remained one of country music’s most consistent hitmakers in recent years.

Lost Boys is the lead single from Lost Weekend, Bridgers’ third solo studio album and her first full-length solo release in six years. The album arrived on August 14, bringing her back to a solo catalog that last expanded with Punisher in 2020.

The chart success adds a new dimension to Bridgers’ commercial track record. She has built a prominent career through her solo releases as well as collaborations and group projects, but a No. 1 radio song marks a separate milestone tied specifically to airplay.

Lost Boys has also received wider exposure through live performances, including appearances on late-night television. Its rise on adult alternative radio now gives the song another notable benchmark during the early weeks of the Lost Weekend release cycle.

The event confirmed Williams will first perform in the Mounting Yard around the arrival of the Melbourne Cup trophy. Later in the day, he is scheduled to return for a larger post-race headline set on The Elms Live Stage.

The Melbourne Cup appearance adds another major date to Williams’ Australian schedule. His BRITPOP World Tour is also set to reach Melbourne later in November, with a stadium show planned at Marvel Stadium.

Williams has maintained a strong following in Australia throughout his career, with songs including Angels, Rock DJ, and Let Me Entertain You remaining familiar parts of his live shows. The Melbourne Cup booking brings his music to a setting that traditionally combines horse racing with fashion, hospitality, and live entertainment.

The opening-night concert also introduced production elements tied to Brooks’ earlier tours, including the return of his rotating drum pod. As announced in connection with the tour, performances from the new run are also expected to contribute material for an upcoming live album.

The set focused on familiar hits and fan favorites, giving the show a strong connection to Brooks’ 1990s catalog. Rather than presenting the tour as a complete reinvention, the production brings several recognizable parts of his classic live shows back into a modern arena setting.

Indianapolis serves as the first stop for the tour, with multiple performances scheduled in the same venue before Brooks moves on to additional dates. The opening night established the tour as a celebration of the music and concert style that helped define his career.