Yardbarker

Jeff Mezydlo

A Chicago native, Jeff Mezydlo has professionally written about sports, entertainment and pop culture for parts of four decades. He was an integral member of award-winning sports sections at The Times of Northwest Indiana (Munster, Ind.) and Champaign (Ill.) News-Gazette, where he covered the NFL, PGA, LPGA, NCAA basketball, football and golf, Olympics and high school athletics. Jeff most recently spent 12 years in the editorial department at STATSPerform, where he also oversaw coverage of the English Premier League. A graduate of Northern Illinois University, Jeff's work has also appeared on such sites at Yahoo!, ESPN, Fox Sports, Sports Illustrated and NBA.com. However, if Jeff could do it again, he'd attend Degrassi Junior High, Ampipe High School and Grand Lakes University

EXPERTISE:

NCAA football, NCAA basketball, PGA/LPGA, international soccer, sports history, rock music, film history

Too-early World Cup 2022 storylines

The 2022 World Cup is fast approaching. Qatar will play the historic host. That alone has drawn criticism and is just one of many too-early storylines to keep in mind as we get closer to November. We've listed more below.

The 20 greatest WNBA coaches of all time

The WNBA has showcased some of the greatest women's basketball players in history. It's also produced some of the sport's most legendary coaches. Here are the 20 best coaches in WNBA history — ranked.

2022 college football predictions for conferences and College Football Playoff

Yardbarker's 2022 college football conference predictions are here, including our picks for division champions and College Football Playoff teams. 

The top 25 FBS head coaches for the 2022 season

The 2022 college football season is near, and while it's fun to highlight some of the best teams and players to watch, it's also important to note the top coaches in the country. Here are the 25 best FBS coaches for the 2022 season.

Yardbarker 2022 preseason college football All-American team

The 2022 college football season is right around the corner. It's the right time to highlight some of the nation's best players and the perfect time to unveil the 2022 Yardbarker college football All-American team. (Statistics are from the 2021 season unless otherwise noted.)

The greatest players in Georgia football history

The University of Georgia football program has been responsible for some of the best players in college football history. Here are the 25 best players to play football for the Bulldogs, listed in chronological order.

The greatest WNBA teams of all time

The WNBA has featured the best women's basketball players in the world during its illustrious history. Some of those players were part of memorable teams that defined the collective greatness of the league. Here are the 25 best teams in WNBA history, including some that didn't win it all.

Yardbarker 2022 preseason college football top 25

Here we go: Yardbarker's 2022 Preseason College Football Top 25. All statistics in parenthesis are from 2021, unless noted otherwise.

College football teams that might surprise in 2022

As we approach the 2022 season, here are 20 teams that could turn heads -- for the better.

The top college football transfers to watch in 2022

Here's a look at 25 of the more notable transfers for the upcoming season. Listed in alphabetical order.

The most memorable John Belushi characters

A drug overdose took John Belushi's life in 1982, at age 33. However, his comedy legacy, from the early days of Saturday Night Live to two of the most iconic film roles of all time, continues to resonate today. Here's our list of Belushi's best characters.

The 20 most memorable Chris Farley characters

To say Farley was taken too soon would be a major understatement. Yet, he left a lasting legacy as one of the great, young funny men of all time. Here are some of Farley's most memorable characters.

The best fictional Little League baseball players

Baseball continues to be a popular topic when it comes to movies and television. The little league or youth league aspect of the game usually plays well with audiences. So, why not offer our list of favorite fictional Little Leaguers?

The best fictional shopping malls of all time

Online shopping might be the preferred method of consumer purchasing, but the awesomeness of tooling around a shopping mall still has its place in society. And in the world of television and film. Here's our list of the most notable fictional malls.

The 25 greatest psychological thriller films of all time

We can drag on about what officially constitutes a psychological thriller. Various elements of the genre also can be found in horror and supernatural movies. That said, we offer our 25 best films that could fall under the moniker of the psychological thriller.

The best Joe Pesci roles

Whether as a leading man or in a supporting role, Pesci has delivered plenty of memorable on-screen performances. And not just of the mafia variety. Here are 20 of Pesci's notable acting roles.

The best Bill Murray roles

Whether playing the comedic goofball or an eccentric in a semi-dramatic role, Bill Murray has delivered on the big screen for five decades. Here's our list of his best roles.

The 25 best episodes of 'Community'

For six seasons, Community was one of the most creative and unique sitcoms on network television — and then on the internet. Here are our rankings of the top 25 episodes in Community history.

The best Michael J. Fox roles

Fox portrayed some iconic characters from the 1980s that still resonate today. And even after announcing he had Parkinson's disease in the early 2000s, Fox still managed to be a successful television presence. Here's our look at 20 of Michael J. Fox's most notable roles.

The best Brad Pitt roles

Brad Pitt is more than a Hollywood heartthrob. He's built himself up into one of the most successful actors of a generation, and he's still going strong. Here's our ranking of Pitt's 25 best roles. 

The best fictional aliases

There are great fictional television and films characters. Then there are those characters who take it a step further and plop an alias on top of their memorable roles. Here are 20 of our favorite fake aliases from the big and small screen.

The best Jodie Foster roles of all time

From child star to adult Hollywood elite, Jodie Foster is one of the most versatile actresses in film history. The two-time Oscar winner has done it all when it comes to the parts she has played.

The best players in UCLA men's basketball history

No school has won more men's basketball national championships than UCLA's 11. Naturally, the Bruins were successful because of those players on the floor — some blossomed into legends of the game. Here's our list.

The best players in UConn women's basketball history

No program in NCAA women's college basketball history has won more national championships than Connecticut's 11. Guided by legendary coach Geno Auriemma, the Huskies have been the gold standard in the women's game. Here's our list of the 20 best players in school history.