Today is Wednesday, Nov. 12, the 316th day of 2025. There are 49 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Nov. 12, 1954, Ellis Island officially closed as an immigration station and detention center. More than 12 million immigrants arrived in the United States via Ellis Island between 1892 and 1954.

Also on this date:

In 1927, Josef Stalin became the undisputed ruler of the Soviet Union as Leon Trotsky was expelled from the Communist Party.

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In 1936, the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge opened as President Franklin D. Roosevelt pressed a telegraph key in Washington, D.C., and gave the green light to traffic.

In 1936, American playwright Eugene O’Neill received the Nobel Prize in Literature.

In 1948, Japanese general and former Prime Minister Hideki Tojo and several other World War II Japanese leaders were sentenced to death by a war crimes tribunal; he was executed in December 1948.

In 1970, the Bhola cyclone struck East Pakistan, now Bangladesh. The deadliest tropical cyclone on record claimed the lives of an estimated 300,000-500,000 people.

In 2001, American Airlines Flight 587, en route to the Dominican Republic, crashed after takeoff from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, killing all 260 people on board and five people on the ground.

In 2019, Venice saw its worst flooding in more than 50 years, with the water reaching 6.14 feet (1.87 meters) above average sea level; damage was estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

In 2021, a judge in Los Angeles ended the conservatorship that had controlled the life and money of pop star Britney Spears for nearly 14 years.

In 2024, a federal judge sentenced Jack Teixeira, a Massachusetts Air National Guard member, to 15 years in prison for leaking classified military documents about the war in Ukraine; Teixeira had pleaded guilty to willful retention and transmission of national defense information under the Espionage Act, nearly a year after his arrest in the most consequential national security breach in years.

Today’s Birthdays:

Actor-playwright Wallace Shawn is 82.
Rock musician Booker T. Jones is 81.
Sportscaster Al Michaels is 81.
Singer-songwriter Neil Young is 80.
Author Tracy Kidder is 80.
Democratic Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island is 76.
Actor Megan Mullally is 67.
Olympic gold medal gymnast Nadia Comăneci is 64.
Olympic gold medal swimmer Jason Lezak is 50.
Pakistani filmmaker and journalist Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is 47.
Actor Ryan Gosling is 45.
Actor Anne Hathaway is 43.
Golfer Jason Day is 38.
NBA point guard Russell Westbrook is 37.

The best running back in the National Football League is on bye this week. And that’s bad news for about 10 percent of the nation’s fantasy football teams.

Indianapolis’ Jonathan Taylor is in the running for NFL Most Valuable Player, along with New England quarterback Drake Maye, Rams QB Matthew Stafford and a few others. He’s on pace for 25 touchdowns and could make a run at 2,000 yards for the AFC-leading Colts.

So many fantasy league leaders need a RB replacement for this week, and there aren’t many decent prospects left. Here’s the best you could probably do this week:

Sean Tucker (Buccaneers) — He has taken a bigger share of the workload since Bucky Irving’s injury. Over the past two games he has 21 rushes for 95 yards and one TD, outshining Tampa’s presumed No. 2 back, Rachaad White. And the Bills’ run defense he’ll see this week stinks.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Sean Tucker (44) runs the ball during an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)

Tyler Allgeier (Falcons) — Bijan Robinson is Atlanta’s star back, but this fellow is getting most of the goal-line work. This former Brigham Young standout tallied 11 carries for 57 yards and two TDs last Sunday.

Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier (25) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts during an NFL football game in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025. (Dave Shopland/AP Content Services for the NFL)

Emari Demercado (Cardinals) — With all of Arizona’s injuries, Demercado is probably now their best backfield option. He topped 100 yards last week on only seven touches, and he’ll get much more work than that if Zonovan Knight is still hobbled this week.

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27) lunges at Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado (31) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025 in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ben VanHouten)

Devin Singletary (Giants) — The former New York starter is getting more work since Cam Skattebo’s season-ending injury. He had 11 touches last week for 73 yards. And since he’s still scoreless this season, he’s certainly due.

New York Giants running back Devin Singletary (26) reacts after getting a first down during the second half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Blake Corum (Rams) — The former Michigan Wolverine is getting an increased workload for one of the league’s top offenses. Over the past three weeks he has 38 carries for 151 yards. He’ll see more work as Rams try to lighten workload for Kyren Williams.

Los Angeles Rams running back Blake Corum (22) runs the ball against the San Francisco 49ers in an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Lewis)

Sitting stars

Sure, it’s almost sacrilege, but we wouldn’t count on Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes against Denver with so many good QB options on waivers this week. … Same goes for Detroit’s Jared Goff versus that Philly defense. … The running will be tough for the Jets’ Breece Hall against New England and Rams’ Kyren Williams versus Seattle. … Vikings WR Jordan Addison will lose more market share to teammate Jalen Nailor against Chicago. … Now that Keenan Allen set the Chargers’ career receiving record, he’ll have a quiet week against the Jaguars. … And as bad as Packers QB Jordan Love looked Monday night against the Eagles, he won’t look a whole lot better against the Giants.

Buffalo Bills defensive ends Greg Rousseau, right, Michael Hoecht (55) and Joey Bosa (97) sack Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

Matchup game

Packers will need to run to rebound against the Giants, and Josh Jacobs will have a big game. … Other RBs who will shine this week are Carolina’s Rico Dowdle vs. Atlanta and Steelers’ Jaylen Warren vs. Bengals. … Eagles will need WR A.J. Brown to regain his mojo in shootout against Detroit. … Taking advantage of meager pass defenses will be Arizona WR Marvin Harrison Jr. versus depleted Niners and Raiders tight end Brock Bowers against Dallas. … Also feasting on poor defenses will be two under-the-radar QBs: Cincinnati’s Joe Flacco versus Pittsburgh and Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa facing the Commanders in Spain.

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (8) runs with the ball during an NFL game against the Philadelphia Eagles,, Monday, Nov. 10, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps

Injury watch

The big injury this week was Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson, making a disappointing season even worse. … Could this be the week Brock Purdy returns as the 49ers’ QB? … The long list of questionables includes three running backs (Denver’s J.K. Dobbins, Patriots’ Tre’Veyon Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson), seven pass catchers (Rams’ Davante Adams, Green Bay’s Romeo Doubs and Matthew Golden. Tennessee’s Calvin Ridley, New England’s Kayshon Boutte, Jacksonville’s Brian Thomas, Buffalo TE Dalton Kincaid) and three quarterbacks (Houston’s C.J. Stroud, Vegas’ Geno Smith and the Giants’ Jaxson Dart).

New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson (5) in action against Dallas Cowboys cornerback Daron Bland (26) during an NFL football game on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (Brad Penner/AP Images for Panini)

Deepest sleeper

Among many surprises for first-place New England is wide receiver Mack Hollins. The eight-year veteran had six catches for 106 yards last Sunday, and he led the Patriots with 10 targets in their victory over Tampa Bay. He’ll be busy again Thursday night against what’s left of the New York Jets’ defense.

New England Patriots wide receiver Mack Hollins (13) makes a catch against Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Zyon McCollum (27) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

The Thursday pick

Jets at Patriots (-11½)

Pick: Patriots by 17

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) scrambles for yardage against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

You can hear Kevin Cusick on Thursdays on Bob Sansevere’s “BS Show” podcast on iTunes. You can follow Kevin on X– @theloopnow. He can be reached at kcusick@pioneerpress.com.

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The Wild are familiar with what a young San Jose team can do. Led by budding star forwards Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith, the Sharks came into Tuesday night’s game at Grand Casino Arena.

In the last two meetings between the teams, the Sharks scored a combined 15 goals while going 1-1 in St. Paul. And San Jose entered Tuesday’s game on a three-game winning streak and averaging 3.3 goals a game, 12th in the 32-team NHL.

So, a 1-0 lead midway through the third period, no matter how hard-fought, was delicate. And it broke.

Smith scored on a third-period power play to knot the game 1-1, and Collin Graf converted on a 2 on 1 during the 3 on 3 overtime to give the Sharks a 2-1 victory.

Celebrini had the first assist on both goals.

The Wild worked hard to hold the Sharks scoreless, and to just 13 shots on goal, midway through the third period. But their lead was precarious, 1-0 on Matt Boldy’s second-period power-play goal. It was unlikely that would be enough to win the game, and everyone in the arena knew it.

So when defenseman David Jiricek was penalized for slashing, the other shoe seemed about to drop, and it did. The Sharks’ top line of Tyler Toffoli, Celebrini and Smith went tic-tac-toe to knot the game on Smith’s one-timer from the right circle with 10 minutes, 3 seconds left.

The Wild dominated the second period, outshooting the Sharks 15-5, and putting together 10 scoring chances. But Minnesota could only convert on goaltender Yaroslav Askarov once on Boldy’s one-timer from the right circle off a cross-ice pass from Mats Zuccarello on a man advantage at 5:02.

That made it 1-0, and it seemed the Wild would build on that as they kept the pressure on for the rest of the period. But the Sharks started putting on pressure of their own.

San Jose Sharks right wing Collin Graf, center left, celebrates with center Macklin Celebrini after scoring the game-winning goal during overtime of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

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The competition was supposed to be much tougher, but the result stayed the same as the Gophers women’s basketball team again won with ease.

Grace Grocholski scored 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds, Tori McKinney scored 16 points, and Minnesota routed Marquette 90-47 Tuesday night at Williams Arena.

Brylee Glenn scored 13 points and Mara Braun added nine points, seven assists and six rebounds for the 3-0 Gophers, who beat North Dakota 91-47 and Manhattan 99-36 last week.

Sophie Hart had 14 points inside, and Amaya Battle grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds and had seven assists. The Gophers shot 50.7%, outscored the Golden Eagles 48-12 in the paint and had a 47-28 rebounding advantage.

Picked to finish second in the Big East Conference behind national power Connecticut, Marquette was led by 13 points from Lee Volker. This was the second straight Big Ten opponent for the Golden Eagles, who erased an eight-point deficit in the final three minutes Friday to beat Wisconsin 65-62 in overtime.

The game’s opening seconds set the tone in this one.

Marquette won the tip, but McKinney made a steal and scored on a layup a mere eight seconds in.

McKinney had seven points in an 11-0 Minnesota run to start the game. The Golden Eagles (2-1) got within three, but a 7-0 run capped by a Grocholski 3-pointer at the buzzer gave Minnesota a 22-12 lead.

Four players scored in an 11-2 second-quarter surge as the Gophers shot 45.2% in the first half with a trey by Makena Christian providing a 19-point lead at the break.

A 21-3 run over the final six minutes of the third quarter and first three of the fourth upped Minnesota’s lead to 70-37.

Marquette shot 32.7% from the field and had just three free-throw attempts.

Minnesota welcomes the New Jersey Institute of Technology at 5 p.m. Friday before travelling to Kansas on Nov. 19.

Minnesota forward Finau Tonga, center, drives to the basket between Marquette guard Olivia Porter, left, and forward Jada Bediako in the first half during an NCAA basketball game on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)
Since the Gophers lost Mara Braun to a foot injury, sophomore Minnesota’s Grace Grocholski, right, ledas the team in scoriing with a 12.7-point average. (Brad Rempel / Gophers Athletics)