Steve Greenberg

Lou Holtz, 89, led Notre Dame back to the top and left college football fans laughing — most of the time Holtz, coach of the 1988 Fighting Irish team that won the school's last national championship, died Wednesday in Orlando.

Lou Holtz, 89, led Notre Dame back to the top and left college football fans laughing — most of the time chicago.suntimes.com/college-spor...

DePaul men's basketball is starting to do that thing called — wait for it — winning After completing a season sweep of Marquette, the Blue Demons have their most Big East wins in 19 years and three straight Big East road wins for the first time ever.

DePaul men's basketball is starting to do that thing called — wait for it — winning. Column: chicago.suntimes.com/college-spor...

The Sun-Times Sports cover, featuring Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, who could be in line for a major contract extension. mrf.lu/hn5p

DePaul basketball still has demons, as latest dispiriting loss shows This time, the Blue Demons couldn't buy a free throw against Providence. It's always something, isn't it?

DePaul basketball still has demons, as latest dispiriting loss shows chicago.suntimes.com/college-spor...

Illini 'O' is golden, but their 'D' keeps foldin'. Is it a fatal flaw? If there’s anything separating the obvious national championship contenders from the Illini, it's killer defense.

Illini 'O' is golden, but their 'D' keeps foldin'. Is it a fatal flaw? chicago.suntimes.com/college-spor...

Michigan the new No. 1, Northwestern hitting a new low and off friend Porter Moser is up against at Oklahoma "Three Points" on men's college basketball to keep in mind with three weeks to go in the regular season.

Michigan the new No. 1, Northwestern hitting a new low and off friend Porter Moser is up against at Oklahoma. "Three Points" on college basketball: chicago.suntimes.com/college-spor...

Illini freshmen (better than last year?), NCAA potential (better than 2024?) shine through in rout of Indiana With Keaton Wagler, David Mrkovic and others cooking, the Hoosiers had no shot. Just how good are these Illini?

Illini freshmen (better than last year?), NCAA potential (better than 2024?) shine through in rout of Indiana chicago.suntimes.com/college-spor...

It's White Sox spring training. Let the gaffes begin! It's the middle of February, and already the Sox are making little missteps that make one wonder what's going on here.

It's White Sox spring training. Let the gaffes begin! Column: chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/20...

Entering college basketball's stretch run, here are 10 things to get you all caught up With football over, it's time to dive into college hoops. Selection Sunday is only a month away.

Big 12 or Big Ten? What if Illinois cuts down the nets — twice — in Chicago? On college basketball: chicago.suntimes.com/college-spor...

The 1985 Bears — man, what a story! But does it ever end? Chicago has loved the Shufflin' Crew for so long, the whole thing is far past the point of becoming a caricature of itself. We went to a casino in Rockford for another walk down Memory Lane anyway.

The 1985 Bears — man, what a story! But does it ever end? Column: chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/0...

EXCLUSIVE: Northwestern's new Ryan Field won't open until Oct. 2 against Penn State The $862 million football stadium project won't get to the finish line in time for either of the Wildcats' first two home games, which will be played at the temporary lakefront venue used in 2024 and ...

EXCLUSIVE: Northwestern's new Ryan Field won't open until Oct. 2 against Penn State chicago.suntimes.com/college-spor...

2026 visions of Pete Crow-Armstrong, Caleb Williams, the Pope and World Series watching at Gallagher Way On a weekend without football, the mind just started wandering and wouldn’t stop. Here are way too many sports predictions for the rest of 2026, some of them possibly even serious.

Caleb Williams pitching to PCA? Munetaka Murakami vs. Portillo's? It'll be a strange 2026, indeed. Column: chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/01...

Will Big Ten men's basketball follow football's lead and end its way-too-long national title drought? Five Big Ten teams — No. 3 Michigan, No. 5 Nebraska, No. 7 Michigan State, No. 9 Illinois and No. 12 Purdue — are tantalizing the imagination these days, each in its own way.

Will Big Ten men's basketball follow football's lead and end its way-too-long national title drought? chicago.suntimes.com/college-spor...

The Sun-Times Sports cover, featuring Illinois coach Brad Underwood, who reflects at the doorstep of his 100th Big Ten win, by @slgreenberg.bsky.social. trib.al/4SLaMEf

Bears' season grades are in. How did they do? It was fun getting to know coach Ben Johnson, marveling at quarterback Caleb Williams and seeing all those turnovers created by the defense, but the fun is over — it's grading time.

Bears' 2025 position, coach, GM grades are in. How did they do? chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/0...

Illinois' Brad Underwood reflects on doorstep of 100th Big Ten win: 'I'm in basketball heaven' The 11th-ranked Illini play at fourth-ranked Purdue on Saturday.

Illinois' Brad Underwood reflects on the doorstep of his 100th Big Ten win: "I'm in basketball heaven," he tells the @suntimes. Column: chicago.suntimes.com/college-spor...

Bears' journey was the gift that wouldn't stop giving — until, alas, it finally did After a 20-17 loss in overtime against the Rams, it's all over. Maybe wildness like this was the only way it could end.

Bears' journey was the gift that wouldn't stop giving — until, alas, it finally did. Column: chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/0...

Bears' grades are in. How did they do against the Rams? Three interceptions for Caleb Williams in a 20-17 overtime playoff loss is going to leave a scar.

Bears' grades are in. How did they do against the Rams? chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/0...

'Good, better, best' didn't start with Bears — just ask Cubs great Billy Williams “It was a positive chant for me my whole life, just like it’s a positive chant for the Chicago Bears," the 87-year-old Hall of Famer said. “I’m telling you, it’s great.”

It's the Bears' mantra now, but it's been Cubs great Billy Williams' for damn near 80 years. Not that he minds sharing it one bit. Column:

chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/01...

Former DePaul players and former Bulls player Antonio Blakeney charged in scheme to rig games In the 70-page indictment, authorities say fixers recruited the college basketball players with "bribe payments" usually ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 per game.

ICYMI: Former DePaul players and former Bulls player Antonio Blakeney charged in scheme to rig games chicago.suntimes.com/college-spor...

Bears grades vs. Packers are in. How'd they do in 31-27 wild-card win? Did the real Caleb Williams stand up? Yep — all of them.

Did the real Caleb Williams stand up? Yep — all of them.

Bears grades vs. Packers are in:
chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/0...

Deal with it, Green Bay: The Bears have turned the tables on the Packers at last (or have they?) The Bears have so much going for them these days, it’s nearly impossible not to get swept up in the notion that an era of payback is in order. What could go wrong?

Deal with it, Green Bay: The Bears have turned the tables on the Packers at last (or have they?) chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/0...

Is Bears rookie Colston Loveland the team's top receiving weapon entering the playoffs? Loveland's teammates marvel at both his remarkable athleticism and his maturity as a 21-year-old thrust into a major role on a playoff team.

Is Colston Loveland the Bears' top receiving weapon entering the playoffs? Column: chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/0...

Oldest living Chicago Bear, 92, hopes team has Super Bowl in its future: 'It would be my greatest goodbye' John Damore, an offensive lineman who played in the 1950s, discussed the Bears-Packers rivalry, a potential stadium move to the suburbs or Northwest Indiana and playoff projections.

“It would be my greatest goodbye if I died the second day after they won it.”

Lotta fun, this Mary Norkol story on the oldest living Chicago Bear, 92, who hopes the team has a Super Bowl in its future: chicago.suntimes.com/2026/01/07/j...

Note to Bears: The Packers will be happy to end your season if you start slowly yet again in wild-card game In a regular-season-ending loss to the Lions, the Bears — especially Caleb Williams and the offense — didn’t bother to show up until their backs were completely against the wall.

Note to Bears: The Packers will be happy to end your season if you start slowly yet again in wild-card game chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/0...

Bears' grades are in. How'd they do against the Lions? The game started at 3:25 p.m. Apparently, the offense didn't get the memo.

Bears' grades are in. How'd they do against the Lions? chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/0...

College Football Playoff: Are Big Ten's Buckeyes, Hoosiers and Ducks all semifinal-bound? The predictions are in.

College Football Playoff picks: Are Big Ten's Buckeyes, Hoosiers and Ducks all semifinal-bound? chicago.suntimes.com/college-spor...

From the Capitol to the clubhouse, a Sun-Times politics reporter took a swing at covering baseball Covering the White Sox isn't all that different from covering Illinois politicians, Sun-Times reporter Mitchell Armentrout found.

From the Capitol to the clubhouse, a ⁦‪@chicago.suntimes.com‬⁩ politics reporter took a swing at covering the White Sox. Fun read from our ⁦‪@mitchtrout.bsky.social‬⁩, a nice, smart, curious sort who handled himself well out there, if you ask me.

chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/2025...

Bears' grades are in. How'd they do against the 49ers? No last-play magic for Caleb Williams this time, though he flashed such quality throughout that he looked — more so than at any other time to this point — like a superstar in the making.

Bears' grades are in. How'd they do against the 49ers? chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2025/1...

Bears' 'phew' flu entering 49ers game could have been so much worse Practically a blink of an eye ago, it was plausible the Bears would miss the playoffs altogether. Win, lose or draw at Levi's Stadium, the Bears were safely in as division champions.

Bears' 'phew' flu entering 49ers game could have been so much worse chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2025/1...