Bill Belichick had seemingly been waiting for the right opportunity to return to an NFL sideline. Instead, the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach is headed to the college ranks to take over at North Carolina.

The school announced it had reached a five-year deal with Belichick on Wednesday night, roughly a week after Belichick’s name surfaced as an unlikely candidate to replace the program’s winningest all-time coach in Mack Brown. The deal requires approval by UNC trustees as well as the UNC public system’s governors; an introductory news conference has yet to be scheduled.

Moving on from the 73-year-old Brown to hire the 72-year-old Belichick means UNC is turning to a coach who has never worked at the college level, yet had incredible success in the NFL alongside quarterback Tom Brady throughout most of his 24-year tenure with the Patriots, which ended last season.

There’s also at least a small family tie to the UNC program for Belichick; his late father, Steve, was an assistant coach for the Tar Heels from 1953-55.

Belichick holds 333 career regular-season and postseason wins in the NFL, trailing only Don Shula’s 347 for the NFL record, while his 31 playoff wins are the most in league history.

He’s the second coach to win a Super Bowl and then later become a college head coach; Bill Walsh won three Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers and later went 17-17-1 at Stanford from 1992-94.

Former West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez is finalizing a deal to return to the country roads where he experienced his greatest success as a head coach, sources told ESPN.

LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier announced that he would return to the Tigers for his senior season, ESPN reported.

“I’m fully committed to bringing this university a championship,” Nussmeier said in a video posted to social media. “My teammates, coaches, and the fans will get the absolute best out of me every single day until we complete that goal.”

After backing up Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels in 2022 and 2023, Nussmeier took over as the Tigers’ starting quarterback this season and threw for 3,739 yards with 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

Michigan cornerback Will Johnson has joined defensive tackle Mason Graham in the NFL draft. Johnson declared for the draft one day after Graham decided he would also skip his senior season with the Wolverines.

Both preseason All-America players are expected to be first-round picks.

Johnson was limited to six games this year due to an injury. He had two interceptions, returning them both for touchdowns to set a school record with three scores off interceptions. Johnson picked off nine passes in three seasons.

Matt Campbell, who led Iowa State to its first 10-win season and became the program’s all-time leader in coaching victories, has agreed to an eight-year contract that would keep him with the Cyclones through 2032.

Texas offensive lineman Kelvin Banks Jr. won the Lombardi Award as the nation’s best collegiate lineman.

Banks beat out finalists LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell, Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter and South Carolina defensive end Kyle Kennard for the award presented in Houston.

MLB

Garrett Crochet was acquired by the Boston Red Sox from the White Sox for four prospects, giving Chicago a better deal for the All-Star left-hander than available at the trade deadline in July.

Chicago got back catcher Kyle Teel, infielder Chase Meidroth. right-hander Wikelman Gonzalez and outfielder Braden Montgomery in the trade announced during the winter meetings.

Crochet was 6-12 with a 3.58 ERA in 32 starts for a White Sox team that went 41-121, the most losses for any club since 1900. The 25-year-old was picked for the AL All-Star team in his first season as a starter.

college basketball

Koby Brea scored 17 points, including five to cap a critical second-half spurt that rallied No. 5 Kentucky (9-1) past Colgate 78-67. Parker Jones had 17 points for Colgate (2-9).

Miles Byrd scored 19 points to leads No. 23 San Diego State (7-2) past Cal Baptist 81-75. Dominique Daniels Jr. led Cal Baptist (5-5) with 22 points.