This weekend, the magic of the FA Cup was akin to the sorcery of an episode of "Stranger Things." It was an Upside Down in which the biggest teams in England's grandest division fell victim to -- or survived narrow escapes -- against seemingly no-hopers from the lower leagues.

In Germany, Borussia Dortmund weren't the beneficiaries of the patented "new manager bounce," with the Schwarzgelben falling in Niko Kovač's debut in the dugout.

Meanwhile in LaLiga, Barcelona took advantage of the stalemate in the Madrid derby on Saturday to close in on the league's leading pair with a victory that now sees the top three clubs in Spain separated by just two points.

Luis Miguel Echegaray, Sam Marsden and Constantin Eckner make observations from across Europe to bring you up to speed on what you might have missed this weekend.

English FA Cup

Top takeaway: Drama of the Cup on full display

The FA Cup's fourth round gave us plenty of dramatic highlights this weekend and delivered various narratives from across the board. From six-goal thrillers and penalty shootouts in a Championship matchup to absolute bangers that caused mayhem in the stands, there was something for everyone.

Let's begin with the struggles from the top of the Premier League table. If Nottingham Forest lose to Exeter City on Tuesday, that will mean the current top four (Liverpool, Arsenal, Forest and Chelsea) of England's top flight will be out of the competition. The Premier League sides that are still in don't look dominant, so there's a chance -- not a great chance but a chance nonetheless -- that a team from the lower leagues could reach the final. It's highly improbable, but never say never.

Plymouth Argyle earned a historic victory over Arne Slot's Liverpool, Leyton Orient led against Manchester City for 40 minutes before eventually losing and Tom Brady's Birmingham City fought extremely hard before succumbing to Newcastle United. We'll see if League Two's Doncaster Rovers can create more magic on Monday against Crystal Palace.

In an all-Premier League affair on Sunday, Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio made their Aston Villa debuts as Unai Emery's side won 2-1 against Tottenham Hotspur. Villa are now in the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time in 10 years.

The oldest knockout competition in the world seldom disappoints.

Best match: Plymouth Argyle 1-0 Liverpool

Plymouth Argyle are at the very bottom of the Championship. They have conceded more goals than any other team in the top four divisions of English football (63), and what did they do on Sunday? They won 1-0 against the leaders of the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League.

It was a magnificent, historic victory in front of their fans at Home Park. It was Liverpool's first defeat in the competition to lower-league opposition while topping the table since 1984. Sure, Slot rotated his team and there's an argument to make that he was perhaps slightly arrogant in his selection as the clearly had an eye on Wednesday's Merseyside derby, but you can't take anything away from Argyle, who quite simply became warriors against arguably the best team in Europe.

"We all came here today with a dream and we have done it," goal scorer Ryan Hardie said to ITV. "I don't know what to say."

You don't need to say anything, Ryan. Just savor the moment.

Best goal: Stefan Ortega (own-goal) vs. Orient

This might prove to be a controversial take because Tomoki Iwata's screamer for Birmingham against Newcastle was a majestic cannon of a half volley that nearly broke the, net so it really deserves a mention, so does Kaoru Mitoma's delightful finish for Brighton & Hove Albion against Chelsea. The FA Cup is all about David-over-Goliath moments of glory that have the power to electrify an entire stadium with a single opportunity, though, and that's exactly what Jamie Donley's 50-yard shot did for Leyton Orient against Man City.

It was the 16th minute at Gaughan Group Stadium and both teams were at a stalemate when the Spurs loanee saw Ortega off his line and attempted an audacious attempt. The ball bounced back off the bar and proceeded to hit the German goalkeeper before going into the net. It was a ridiculous moment and one that provided nothing but joy for the League One side. City won 2-1 in the end, but thanks to that opening goal, Orient fans went into pandemonium and experienced a moment they'll never forget.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- For the second time in three years, wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. has requested that the San Francisco 49ers trade him. This time, the 49ers are willing to accommodate such a move.

Samuel told ESPN on Sunday that the Niners granted he and agent Tory Dandy permission to find a trade partner after Samuel first expressed his desire to move on at his exit meeting with coach Kyle Shanahan in January.

"It was a hard conversation to have with Kyle because of the relationship that we have," Samuel told ESPN's Adam Schefter. "But I have to do what's best. I'm more than thankful for the Niners giving me the opportunity of a lifetime but now I think it's best that we find another team."

Trading Samuel would come with significant salary cap ramifications for the Niners. They restructured Samuel's contract in September, a move that means if they were to trade him before June 1, they would absorb a $31.55 million dead money hit on the cap. Samuel is also due a $15.4 million option bonus on March 22, which means the Niners would almost certainly want any deal completed before then.

If a trade can't be consummated, the possibility remains that the Niners could release Samuel despite general manager John Lynch saying on Jan. 8 that such a move isn't an option. In that scenario, the 49ers could use a post-June 1 designation on the transaction after the new league year begins on March 12 and before his option bonus is due; if they do that, that cap hit would be decreased to $10,751,753 over the next two years.

"Deebo is under contract," Lynch said then. "[He's] a good player and has done a ton for this organization and we're not in the business of letting good players out of here."

But unlike Samuel's 2022 trade request, the Niners are more inclined to part ways him this time around. Samuel's previous request came when he was going through contract negotiations with the 49ers. When those discussions were slow to materialize, Samuel grew frustrated and asked to be dealt.

At the time, Samuel was coming off his best season, nearly leading the Niners to a Super Bowl appearance, and he was viewed as a key part of the team's future. San Francisco never seriously entertained offers for Samuel then and ultimately signed him to a three-year, $71.5 million extension in August 2022.

This time, Samuel, 29, is coming off arguably his worst season, with 806 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns (both career lows save for a 2020 season in which he played just seven games).

During one four-game stretch late in the season against Seattle, Green Bay, Buffalo and Chicago, Samuel had just 97 yards from scrimmage on 17 touches, finishing with 21, 21, 20 and 35 yards in those games. It was the first time Samuel failed to have at least 50 yards from scrimmage in four straight games since a five-game stretch in his rookie season of 2019.

On Dec. 9, one day after the game against the Bears, Samuel vented on social media, writing in a since-deleted post on X that he was "Not struggling at all just not getting the ball!"

When asked about the post the next day, Samuel said, "You read what you read. [I'm] a little frustrated for sure."

The 49ers selected Samuel with a second-round pick in the 2019 draft, and his versatility quickly allowed him to become a sparkplug for their offense.

Samuel's ability to play running back became prominent in 2021, when he finished with 77 receptions for 1,405 yards and six touchdowns to go with 59 carries for 365 yards and eight more scores on his way to first-team All-Pro honors. That season, Samuel became just the third player in NFL history to have 1,000 receiving yards with at least five touchdowns rushing and five more receiving.

Samuel has 334 receptions for 4,792 yards and 22 touchdowns, along with 202 carries for 1,143 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns in his career. Those 20 rushing scores are the most by a wide receiver since at least 1960.

The 49ers began planning for the the real possibility that Samuel was entering his final season with the team last offseason, when they used the No. 31 pick in the draft to select receiver Ricky Pearsall. The Niners also signed receivers Brandon Aiyuk (four years, $120 million) and Jauan Jennings (two years, $15.39 million) to contract extensions.

Aiyuk is recovering from a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee, but he, Pearsall and Jennings are expected to be the team's top three options at the position if Samuel is dealt, though they also figure to be in the market to add at the position this offseason, given that Aiyuk is coming off an injury, Pearsall is still largely unproven and Jennings is entering the final year of his deal.

Samuel's trade request also adds another layer of drama to what is an important offseason in San Francisco. The 49ers will be looking to deal Samuel while working on a mega-contract extension for quarterback Brock Purdy and another deal for star tight end George Kittle.

AUSTIN, Texas -- Madison Booker had 20 points and 11 rebounds and Rori Harmon hit two critical free throws in the final seconds as the Texas women's basketball team beat No. 2 South Carolina 66-62 on Sunday, ending the Gamecocks' 57-game Southeastern Conference regular-season winning streak dating back to 2021.

Harmon converted a pair of free throws with 10.8 seconds left to extend Texas' two-point lead to the final four-point margin.

A 3-point try by South Carolina's Sania Feagin missed the mark with nine seconds left and Harmon grabbed the rebound to seal the No. 4 Longhorns' eight consecutive win and 20th straight at home dating back to January 2024.

Backup center Kyla Oldacre scored eight of her 13 points in the fourth quarter for Texas (24-2, 10-1 SEC).

MiLaysia Fulwiley scored 13 points for South Carolina (22-2, 10-1), which had its 17-game win streak this season halted. Joyce Edwards and Chloe Kitts each scored nine points.

While Oldacre had a strong second half, starting center Taylor Jones had 11 points and six rebounds in the first half.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- The New York Jets-Aaron Rodgers marriage appears to be ending after two disappointing seasons, as the future Hall of Fame quarterback is unlikely to remain with the team in 2025, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Sunday.

Rodgers, 41, flew to New Jersey last week to meet with new coach Aaron Glenn and new general manager Darren Mougey, a source confirmed to ESPN. Fox Sports reported Sunday that Rodgers was informed in that meeting that the team has decided to part ways with him.

A Jets spokesman declined to confirm the report.

Glenn has been in contact with Rodgers since he was hired, as part of an evolving discussion on the quarterback's future. Glenn, at his introductory news conference on Jan. 27, was noncommittal on Rodgers. The coach said he wanted to meet with the veteran before choosing a direction at quarterback.

A formal announcement is likely in the coming days.

Rodgers said at the end of the season that he understood the circumstances, that the Jets, with a new regime, might want to start fresh at quarterback.

"Either way, I won't be upset or offended whatever they decide to do," he said.

Rodgers accounted for 18 starts, six victories, one highly publicized Achilles tear and countless headlines in his two years with the Jets. It's unclear whether he will continue his career; he has maintained that he's undecided on a 21st season.

The future Hall of Famer has one year remaining on his contract, a nonguaranteed $37.5 million. He was due to count $23.5 million on the cap.

The Jets will be left with $49 million in dead money, which can be spread over two years if he's designated a post-June 1 cut. In that case, they would have to carry his $23.5 million on the cap until June 1. At that point, he'd count $14 million in 2025, a net savings of $9.5 million.

However, in the June 1 scenario, there would be a $35 million charge in 2026.

If he opts for retirement, the same accounting applies.

Determined to end their five-decade Super Bowl drought, the Jets made the biggest trade in franchise history on April 24, 2023, acquiring the four-time MVP from the Green Bay Packers for a package of draft picks.

Expectations soared, as the Jets trumpeted Rodgers as the missing piece. His first season ended soon after it began, with a torn left Achilles on the fourth snap of the 2023 season.

Rodgers returned healthy in 2024, started every game despite some nagging leg injuries and delivered a vintage, four-touchdown game in the season finale -- a 32-20 win over the Miami Dolphins. There weren't many games like that for Rodgers, whose performance over the course of the season was uneven.

He passed for 3,897 yards and 28 touchdowns, both third on the Jets' single-season list, but he also had 11 interceptions and finished with a 48.1 QBR, which ranked 25th out of 32 qualified NFL passers. The Jets underachieved on offense, finishing 24th in scoring, and went 5-12, in one of the season's biggest disappointments.

Rodgers' slow start was a big reason coach Robert Saleh was fired only five games into the season. Rodgers' closest confidant, offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, was demoted at that point. Six weeks later, Joe Douglas was fired as the general manager.

Saleh, Douglas and Hackett were part of the Jets' contingent that visited Rodgers at his Malibu, California, home in March 2023, persuading the quarterback to play for the Jets. At that point, the Jets and Packers started working on a trade that took a month to finalize. By then, the Packers had decided to promote Jordan Love to the starting job.

So began five months of breathless hype for the Jets, highlighted by an appearance on HBO's "Hard Knocks." Rodgers debuted with the team Sept. 11, 2023, on "Monday Night Football." During introductions, he ran out of the MetLife Stadium tunnel carrying an American flag -- one of the greatest moments of his career, he later said.

Within minutes, he crumpled to the ground after a sack, his left Achilles ruptured.

Rodgers' expected departure will leave Tyrod Taylor, 35, as the only experienced quarterback on the roster. The Jets are likely to pursue a starting-caliber quarterback in the offseason. They also could draft a quarterback.

Rodgers' imminent departure also means they could release wide receiver Davante Adams, who will have to renegotiate his prohibitive cap charge ($38.3 million) to stay on the roster. Adams said after the season that his decision would be influenced by whether Rodgers stays or goes.

There may be no better host for Super Bowl LIX than New Orleans, a city rich in supernatural lore. Either the Chiefs will complete their mystical season with an unprecedented three-peat, or the Eagles will revisit history by avenging their Super Bowl LVII loss to Patrick Mahomes & Co.

To get here, the Chiefs survived a thriller against the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game, while the Eagles steamrolled the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship Game. The last time these two teams met with the Lombardi Trophy on the line, Kansas City eked out a 38-35 victory.

But so much has changed in the two years since that showdown.

Philadelphia's backfield now runs through powerhouse Saquon Barkley, Mahomes has a revamped cast of wide receivers, and -- unrelated to football but very much relevant to pop culture -- Travis Kelce is dating Taylor Swift (ever heard of her?).

The teams may be familiar, but the stakes are bigger than ever. No matter the outcome, Super Bowl LIX is poised to deliver a history-making finale to the 2024 season. -- Brooke Pryor

Follow along for highlights and insights from Super Bowl LIX at the Caesars Superdome.

Hubie Brown received tributes from across the NBA community as the former coach and longtime broadcaster headed into retirement after spending more than half a century in pro basketball.

The 91-year-old Brown called his final game Sunday as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Philadelphia 76ers 135-127. He was awarded the game ball after the final horn sounded.

"I have so many things to be thankful for, but my family and I can never thank everyone enough," Brown said at the end of the telecast. "We just want to send them the love that I've seen today right back with a big hug. It was a fantastic ride."

Players from both teams approached him before the game to shake his hand. He received a standing ovation during the opening timeout as a video honoring him aired on the Fiserv Forum scoreboard. Brown responded by blowing kisses to the crowd and mouthing "Thank you."

Brown indicated he almost cried as that video aired.

He considered it fitting that he was in Milwaukee for his final game as a broadcaster. His first NBA coaching job was as an assistant with the Bucks on Larry Costello's staff, a two-season stint that began in 1972.

"When I came here to the Milwaukee Bucks and Larry Costello, I received a master's degree and a doctorate's degree in basketball in two years," Brown said at the start of Sunday's telecast.

That launched an illustrious career on the bench and behind a microphone.

Brown coached 15 seasons with the ABA's Kentucky Colonels (1974-76) and NBA's Atlanta Hawks (1976-81), New York Knicks (1982-87) and Memphis Grizzlies (2002-05). He won an ABA title with Kentucky in 1975 and was voted the NBA Coach of the Year in 1978 and 2004.

He spent 35 years as a national TV and radio analyst, covering 18 NBA Finals. Brown was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2005.

"I'm sure he's seen so much growth and so much change not only in the game of basketball but in the league," Bucks guard Damian Lillard said after the game. "It's come so far in a lot of ways, and I think that obviously you're going to have the commissioners and you're going to have players come along, but I think it's the people who love on the game and love the league and the contributions that come from people like Hubie Brown is what has allowed it to become what it is, is what makes it special."

Mike Breen, the play-by-play broadcaster for Sunday's game, called it the "ultimate honor" to have Brown as a colleague. Breen spoke for other play-by-play broadcasters who worked alongside Brown by saying "you've been like a father to many of us, our NBA father."

"Could we pause, as I have a tear here," Brown replied.

ABC started its Sunday telecast by showing footage of Brown's very first NBA broadcast, a 1981 game airing on USA Network. NBC's Mike Tirico, Brown's former broadcast partner, joined the telecast remotely to pay his respects late in the first quarter.

During breaks in the telecast, ABC showed highlights from Brown's coaching and broadcasting career along with testimonials from various NBA figures.

"You brought so much passion to every telecast," NBA commissioner Adam Silver said during one of those breaks. "You took great joy in teaching the finer points of basketball."

Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse presented Brown with a tiny replica of the Liberty Bell in the green room before the game. Bucks assistants wore T-shirts with the message "Thank You Hubie" and a heart during pregame warmups.

Bucks coach Doc Rivers said before the game that Brown remains one of the former coaches he often seeks out for advice.

"He was one of my first calls all the time and still is when things are rough or I'm trying to figure out something to me that's complicated," Rivers said.

Rivers said he often sought Brown's counsel in those situations because he figured there wasn't any kind of situation that the longtime coach and broadcaster hadn't encountered at some point in over a half-century in professional basketball.

Bucks veteran center Brook Lopez made sure to talk to Brown before the game and say how much he had meant to the NBA.

"That was one of my real first, real cool 'welcome to the league' experiences, was having him call one of my games and to see him in person, get to meet him, hearing he was a fan of me and my game, appreciated my game," Lopez said. "He's always had good tips for me. He's still coaching, even though he's commentating. It's in his DNA and in his blood, trying to help players get better."

As the Bucks prepared for Sunday's game, Rivers asked the youngest players on the roster what they knew about Brown. When they weren't aware of Brown's accomplishments, Rivers got Lopez to offer a primer.

"He gave a very impressive history run on Hubie and even knew the reason his last game was in Milwaukee is because this is where it all started, with him and Larry Costello," Rivers said.

Brown said that's what made it so appropriate to finish his career in Milwaukee.

"For me to end it here is very meaningful because I learned so much here," Brown said.

Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont acknowledged fans' frustration following the shocking decision to trade franchise superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, while still defending the move and making clear there are no plans to relocate the team from Dallas.

Speaking for the first time publicly about the trade, Dumont told The Dallas Morning News that it has been an emotional week for the franchise, which has seen its own fans protest outside the arena.

"I clearly understand that, and I really appreciate that," Dumont said about the fans' reaction to the blockbuster deal. "I'm a big Luka fan. My family are big Luka fans. I have a really deep appreciation for what he brought to this team, what he brought to Dallas, and the excitement he brings. He's an electrifying player.

"I want you to know I really sympathize with all of our fans who feel hurt. Look, as far as I'm concerned, Luka is a Mav for life, and I really wish him nothing but happiness and success in his career as he continues in L.A."

The Mavericks received 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis back in the trade, an addition the franchise thinks will help it return to the NBA Finals. Dumont said that goal was top of mind when making the move. The Mavericks had struggled this season following their Finals appearance last summer, most notably since Doncic went down with a calf strain Dec. 25.

Doncic's recent injury history has been tied to conditioning concerns the Mavericks had with their star, according to reporting from ESPN's Tim MacMahon. Dumont reiterated statements made by general manager Nico Harrison that the team was focused on bringing in players who could help build and improve the Mavericks' "culture," but he stopped short of saying Doncic didn't fit that culture.

"In my mind, the way teams win is by focus, by having the right character, by having the right culture, and having the right dedication to work as hard as possible to create a championship-winning outcome," Dumont told the Morning News. "And if you're not doing that, you're going to lose."

Dumont also addressed rumors that the trade was the first step in an attempt to move the Mavericks from Dallas to Las Vegas, where much of his family's business is based.

"The Dallas Mavericks are not moving to Las Vegas," Dumont said. "There is no question in that. That is the answer, unequivocally. The Dallas Mavericks are the Dallas Mavericks, and they will be in Dallas."

Questions have also been raised about the Mavericks' willingness to pay for a supermax contract worth nearly $350 million, which Doncic would have been eligible to sign this summer. Dumont denied that the trade was related to cutting costs.

"This is not a resource consideration," he said. "For people who understand the NBA ... the salary cap is basically the cap. So this is just a risk-allocation decision, right? No problem signing someone to the supermax. It's just a portion of your cap. So it wasn't an issue. Happy to do it if it's there, no problem."