Standout running back Jaydn Ott announced on social media Sunday that he’ll return to Cal for his senior season.

Ott, who was slowed by a lingering ankle injury this season after rushing for more than 1,300 yards in 2023, posted on X that he’s coming back to Berkeley.

Ott’s return is welcome news for the Bears, who lost starting quarterback Fernando Mendoza to the transfer portal, where he eventually landed at Indiana University.

Ott ran for 1,315 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2023, while also catching 25 passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns. He suffered an ankle injury in this year’s season opener and never could get it completely healed as he rushed for just 385 yards on 116 carries with four touchdowns.

A resurgence by Ott would give Cal a strong backfield as Jaivian Thomas is also back for a Bears squad that went 6-7 and 2-6 in their first year in the Atlantic Coast Conference this season. Thomas was Cal’s leading rusher with 626 yards on 100 carries, and he scored seven touchdowns.

— Jon Becker

Franklin touts Saban as ‘commissioner’ >> Penn State coach James Franklin believes college football needs a commissioner and he even has a candidate in mind: former Alabama coach Nick Saban.

“I think he’s the obvious choice, right?” Franklin said.

Franklin — who joked that Saban wouldn’t be thrilled with his comment — made the suggestion at Penn State’s College Football Playoff quarterfinals media day ahead of the Fiesta Bowl. The sixth-seeded Nittany Lions are preparing for their game against No. 3 seed Boise State on Tuesday.

Franklin said that because there isn’t a leader dedicated solely to college football, conference commissioners are left to handle the task of dealing with Name, Image and Likeness era and the transfer portal themselves.

NHL

Kane helps Wings halt slide >> Patrick Kane reached the 1,300-point mark and former Sharks coach Todd McLellan won for the first time as Detroit’s coach in the Red Wings’ 4-2 victory over Washington.

Kane, who needed two points to reach that mark, had a power-play goal and assist during Detroit’s four-goal first period.

Crosby breaks Lemieux’s team record >> Penguins captain Sidney Crosby broke Mario Lemieux’s franchise record for most assists in team history during the second period against the New York Islanders.

Crosby was behind the net when he sent a backhand feed to Michael Bunting, who buried a power-play goal behind Marcus Hogberg at 1:36.

Crosby now has 1,034 assists, good for 12th in NHL history. Only three players — Ray Bourque, Wayne Gretzky and Steve Yzerman — have more assists with a single team.

DUCKS 5, OILERs 3 >> Ryan Strome scored with 2:36 remaining as the Anaheim Ducks rallied from a two-goal deficit in the second period to defeat the Edmonton Oilers at home.

SABRES 4, BLUES 2 >> Jason Zucker scored a tiebreaking power-play goal with 9:30 remaining and Buffalo notched its third straight win by beating the Blues in St. Louis.

Men’s hockey

Finland beats U.S. in world juniors >> Tuomas Uronen scored at 1:46 of overtime to give Finland a 4-3 win over the U.S. in the world junior hockey championships in Ottawa.

The defending champion Americans lost for the first time in three games. They’ll finish Group A play Tuesday night against Canada.

Men’s basketball

NO. 5 ALABAMA 105, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 82 >> Aden Holloway made eight 3-pointers and scored 26 points off the bench, and the Crimson Tide (11-2) overwhelmed the visiting Jackrabbits (9-6) with 19 made 3-pointers.

NO. 6 FLORIDA 85, STETSON 45 >> Alijah Martin scored 18 points and the host Gators (13-0) remained unbeaten by routing the Hatters (2-11).