No 14705, Saturday 31 Jan 2026, Dr. X

 ACROSS

1 & 24 What sports inventor might create is a completely different situation (1,5,3,4,4) A WHOLE NEW BALL GAME [DD]

8 Weaken in club, overwhelmed by a drug (5) ABATE {A}{BAT}{E}

9 After having grass, one perhaps gets most ravenous (9) GREEDIEST {REED}{I} in {GETS}*
11 Stoned on dope outside room, associate shows tongue in a European country (4,6) HIGH GERMAN {HIGH} {GE{RM}{{A}N}
12 Knocked back a drink in Italian city (4) PISA { A SIP <}

14 One found in a canoe floating in Pacific region (7) OCEANIA {I} in {A CANOE}*
16 Apprehension of popular model carrying a little ganja and heroin (7) INSIGHT {IN}{SI{Ganja}{H}T}
17 Needs answer - is truant unhappy under guardianship? (2,5) IN TRUST {IS TRUaNT}*
19 Not at all! University fellows accepted entities in Kantian philosophy (7) NOUMENA {NO}{U}{MEN}{A}
21 South Indian food in retreat, eaten by child instantly (4) IDLI [T<]
22 Act of plundering by one in platoon is abominable (10) SPOLIATION {I} in {PLATOON IS}*
25 Dead bodies in vehicles transporting cocaine, dope and ecstasy (9) CARCASSES {CAR{C}{ASS}{E}S}
26 Provide more tacos, sandwiches, rolls (5) CATER [T<]
27 Bespoke dress, extremely minuscule, aroused mate (4-2-7) MADE-TO-MEASURE {MinisculE AROUSED MATE}*

DOWN
2 Row and manoeuvre across river (7) WRANGLE {W{R}ANGLE}
3 Start to observe gasoline spilled outside university - it's oily (10) OLEAGINOUS {Observe}{GASOLINE}* around {U}
4 On the contrary, rave about liberal English composer (5) ELGAR {RAGE<} about {L}

5 Rise with joy, securing victory after struggle finally (9) ELEVATION {V}<=>{strugglE} in {ELATION}
6 Start to diet, inspired by lad's physique (4) BODY {BO{Diet}Y}
7 Eyeing the French group touring Spain (7) LEERING {LE}{E}{RING}
8 Delirious chap outside bar is essentially using a stimulant (11) APHRODISIAC {CHAP}* around {ROD}{IS}{usIng}{A}
10 Device that collects leaves from ground in curiosity-inducing ad (3-8) TEA-STRAINER {TRAIN} in {TEASER}
13 Curse an ass breaking promises (10) ASSURANCES*
15 Correct! Tapa is not an Italian appetiser (9) ANTIPASTO*

18 Brief discussion on a broadcast about winged sandals (7) TALARIA {TALk}{A}{AIR<}

20 One sending out English member and model going topless (7) EMITTER {E}{M}{sITTER}
23 Cotton thread in spool is lengthy (5) LISLE [T]
24 See 1 Across

REFERENCE LIST

Drug=E, One=I, Room=RM, Associate=A, Model=T, Answer=A, University=U, Accepted=A, Cocaine=C, Ecstasy=E, River=R, Liberal=L, The French=Le, Spain=E, English=E, Member=M.