In case you missed it, here were the top sports stories from FOX Sports Florida from Wednesday, Oct. 23:
* Miami center Greg Oden, the former No. 1 overall draft pick, played his first game in nearly four years late in the second quarter of the Heat's 108-95 preseason road victory against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night. Read More
* LeBron James scored 27 points, Dwyane Wade added 25 and the Miami Heat handed the New Orleans Pelicans their first preseason loss, 108-95, Wednesday night. Read More
* During the Miami Dolphins' three-game losing streak, Ryan Tannehill has been sacked 12 times and committed seven turnovers. Tannehill ranks fourth in the NFL with 11 turnovers, including three that made a difference of at least 13 points in the Dolphins' 23-21 loss last week to the Buffalo Bills. Read More
* The Southeastern Conference's coordinator of officials Steve Shaw says allowing replay officials to overturn player ejections for targeting and not penalties should be re-examined. The new rule is, however, cutting down on the potentially dangerous hits, Shaw said Wednesday. Read More
* If he coached in the NFL, this is the sort of week Gators coach Will Muschamp would scan the waiver wire for help. Maybe call up a recent retiree and see if he had anything left. Talk to the general manager about a potential trade. This isn't the NFL. Read More
* Surely some people are still snickering at the Southeastern Conference. The big, bad SEC -- the powerhouse league that has won seven consecutive national titles -- had a stunning number of upsets Saturday. Florida, Georgia, LSU, South Carolina and Texas A&M all lost in league play. Now, they're looking for significant help in the division race while trying to make the most of a disappointing season. Read More
* The UCF coaching staff is hoping the Knights continue to play offense with the confidence they displayed during the upset of Louisville last week. The late-game 75-yard touchdown drive against the Cardinals not only wound up being the game-winner, but was a huge growth-spurt for a young offense in its on-going maturation process. Read More
* It's little surprise, but Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Carolina Panthers. Martin, 24, tore the labrum in his left shoulder in a loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, as reported by FOX Sports NFL Insider Mike Garafolo. Read More
* National TV, a chance to shine with the rest of the NFL watching. The winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers can think of no better stage to prove they're not nearly as bad as an 0-6 record suggests heading into Thursday's primetime test against Cam Newton and the surging Carolina Panthers. Read More
* NBA owners unanimously voted Wednesday to change the NBA Finals format from 2-3-2 to 2-2-1-1-1. The change will take effect with this season's finals after it was approved during the preseason board of governors meetings. Read More
* The Florida Panthers will have to make due without starter Tim Thomas again. Coach Kevin Dineen announced the team placed Thomas on injured reserve Wednesday with a lower-body injury. The netminder is ineligible to play Friday against Buffalo and Sunday vs. Tampa Bay. Read More
* Bobby Bowden will walk into Doak Campbell Stadium and step on Bobby Bowden Field for the first time since the 2009 season. Bowden will be honored at a pregame ceremony before the 3:30 p.m. kickoff against NC State. And instead of Chief Osceola riding in on Renegade to plant the flaming spear at midfield before the game, Bowden will do the honors. Read More
* After being called out by their coach, the Jacksonville Jaguars see their overseas game against the San Francisco 49ers as a chance to redeem themselves to Gus Bradley. The Jaguars are in London for the first of four NFL International Series games they have signed up to play at Wembley Stadium. Read More
* The Jacksonville Jaguars are sticking with quarterback Chad Henne for Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers. Coach Gus Bradley says the Jaguars "feel good about what Chad has done the last few weeks" and "we just want to continue to build on that." Read More
* Christina De Nicola takes a look at the Marlins outfielders from 2013 and analyzes what they need to do to improve. View Gallery
* Virtually the entire Miami athletic administration has been hired since the Nevin Shapiro scandal broke widely in 2011 or has assumed a new role during that time. Compliance officials are far more visible now, utilizing social media and seminars to educate anyone around the program -- even boosters -- about what's right and what's wrong under NCAA rules. Read More
* During his weekly press conference Wednesday, Florida coach Will Muschamp announced that redshirt freshman linebacker Jeremi Powell is the latest Gator to suffer a season-ending knee injury. Powell joins LB Matt Rolin (knee), WR Andre Debose (knee), OL Chaz Green (shoulder), QB Jeff Driskel (fibula), RB Matt Jones (knee), DB Nick Washington (shoulder) and DT Dominique Easley (knee) on the season-ending injury list. Read More
