Muddy Water in South Bend

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Welcome back to the Bandit Betting Newsletter, where we deliver the top stories in sports and gambling directly to your inbox, every Sunday.

In today's email:

• Notre Dame: suspends Men’s Swimming Program One Year After Gambling Investigation.

• UFC 305: Dricus du Plessis retains middleweight title with wild 4th-round submission of Israel Adesanya.

• NY Giants: is Daniel Jones an option they ‘can’t afford’?

Let's go...

MUDDY WATER IN SOUTH BEND

A majority of the returning 2024–25 team is believed to have placed bets.

Notre Dame has suspended its men’s swimming program for at least one academic year after investigations revealed widespread gambling violations that breached NCAA rules.

Athletic director Pete Bevacqua cited a “deeply embedded team culture” at odds with Notre Dame’s standards.

The suspension allows athletes, including incoming freshmen, to transfer before classes start on August 27. The women’s and diving teams are unaffected.

Head coach Chris Lindauer and his staff were not disciplined, as the team concealed their gambling activities.

The men’s team had created a sports book to bet on their swimming performances, with most of the returning team involved. NCAA penalties could include permanent loss of collegiate eligibility for athletes who gamble on their own sport.

Some team members also placed bets on other sports, leading to lesser sanctions. Notre Dame initiated a review after concerns arose in 2023, followed by an external investigation.

DDP RETAINS TITLE

He looked gassed, he looked outmatched, he looked uncertain - but Dricus du Plessis just looks like a champion now.

UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis defended his title with a fourth-round submission win over former champ Israel Adesanya at UFC 305.

Despite Adesanya gaining momentum in the third round with effective body shots and becoming the live odds favorite, du Plessis turned the fight around in the fourth round.

He managed to wobble Adesanya, took him to the ground, and secured a rear naked choke to maintain his undefeated UFC record.

Adesanya, who was aiming to become the second fighter with three separate UFC title reigns, looked strong throughout the fight with his striking on point.

However, a mistake on the ground led to the loss, leaving him with limited options for another title shot.

Although there was some retirement speculation post-fight, Adesanya dismissed it, saying, "I'm not f***ing leaving."

Du Plessis has now defeated three of the last four middleweight champions—Adesanya, Sean Strickland, and Robert Whittaker.

A rematch with one of them or a potential fight with current light heavyweight champ Alex Pereira could be next.

DANIEL JONES DEBACLE

“Daniel Jones’ first pass should’ve been intercepted, and his first true taste of contact led to a much bigger disaster.”

In his first game since tearing his ACL last November, Giants quarterback Daniel Jones struggled early, throwing two interceptions in the first 13 minutes, including one returned for a touchdown, during a 28-10 loss to the Texans.

After a shaky start, Jones and the offense slightly improved, especially after the Texans pulled their defensive starters. Jones finished the first half with 11 completions on 18 passes for 138 yards and a 45.8 passer rating.

Jones admitted the rough start but said, "Knee felt good. It was fun to be out there."

Head coach Brian Daboll noted that the plan included deep passes to test the line's protection, a focus in this pivotal year for Jones.

Jones’ first series ended in a three-and-out, and his second possession, under pressure near his own end zone, led to a pick-six. "Can’t take a sack there," Jones acknowledged.

Later, Jones showed he’s physically recovered with a 12-yard scramble but soon threw another interception. Daboll said it was a poor throw, not a bad decision.

Rookie receiver Malik Nabers, back from an ankle sprain, caught four passes for 54 yards, displaying his potential.

Despite the early struggles, Jones led two scoring drives against the Texans' backups, including a 44-yard pass to Darius Slayton that set up a touchdown.

Reflecting on the game, Jones said, "You don’t have time to let [an interception] affect your confidence." With limited preseason games left, this might be his last tune-up before the regular season.

MEME

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