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Before Facing Each Other, Marcus Freeman And Luke Fickell Coached Together

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 17:00:59 -0400

Marcus Freeman began his college football career as a player under Luke Fickell. Now he gets to coach against him.

No. 4 Notre Dame and Wisconsin open their season facing off on Sunday night at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, bringing together two head coaches whose shared history spans more than two decades.

Freeman and Fickell enter the matchup with personal and professional ties that have helped shape both programs and the coaching staffs surrounding them.

The connection between the two head coaches began when Freeman played linebacker at Ohio State from 2004 to 2008, where Fickell served as his position coach.

That player-coach relationship evolved nearly a decade later when Fickell hired Freeman as his linebackers coach and defensive coordinator at Cincinnati, a role Freeman held from 2017 through 2020.

Over those four seasons, Freeman helped build the Bearcats' defense into a nationally-renowned unit, gaining his first extended experience leading a college defense before moving onto Notre Dame in 2021.

Despite their shared past, both coaches established a distinctly different culture within their respective programs as head coach. Fickell noted that Freeman's progression into one of college football's top head coaches stems from his ability to chart his own course rather than strictly replicating the methods of his mentors.

"The ones who have the most success, like Marcus has, are ones who create an identity for themselves, not just where they've been, whether it's his time with us at Cincinnati or his time at Ohio State or his time under Jim Tressel," Fickell said.

Freeman has pointed to Fickell as a foundational figure in his coaching development, highlighting specific work habits and expectations that he carried forward into his head coaching career.

"I've got a lot of respect for him," Freeman said. "I wouldn't be in this position without the investment he made in me. There's traits that every coach I've had a player, as a coach, that I have in me. When I think about Luke Fickell, I think about a tireless worker, I think about the demands that he has for his players, his coaches. And the mindset of, 'This is the way we're going to play. This is who we are. This is our identity, and we're committed to it.'"

Sunday will not mark the first time Freeman and Fickell have stood on opposite sidelines.

In 2021, Fickell led Cincinnati to a 24-13 victory at Notre Dame Stadium, a key win during the Bearcats' run to the College Football Playoff. Freeman was Notre Dame's defensive coordinator on Brian Kelly's staff during that game before taking over the program as head coach when Kelly departed for LSU at the end of the regular season.

The ties between the Badgers and Fighting Irish also extend beyond the two head coaches.

Notre Dame offensive line coach Joe Rudolph spent six seasons as Wisconsin's offensive coordinator under former head coach Paul Chryst from 2015 to 2020, and remained on staff in 2021 as offensive line coach. Notre Dame offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock, quarterbacks coach Gino Guidugli, and wide receivers coach Mike Brown all served on Fickell's Cincinnati staff during that 2021 playoff season.

"It's not just Marcus that we've got a long history with," Fickell said. "There's a lot of guys over there that in particular we've got great relationships with, and had great relationships with. Like I've always said, I wouldn't be sitting here today if it wasn't for not just Freeman, but a lot of those guys over on that staff."

While the personal connections run deep, the two programs enter Sunday in completely different situations.

Notre Dame are three-touchdown favorite following a 24-4 run over the past two seasons, which included an appearance in the College Football Playoff championship game in 2024.

The Fighting Irish will be led on the field by quarterback CJ Carr, alongside three preseason Associated Press All-America defensive selections in first-team cornerback Leonard Moore, second-team linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, and safety Brauntae Johnson.

Wisconsin enters Fickell's fourth year seeking stability after back-to-back losing campaigns. The Badgers finished 4-8 in 2025 and 5-7 in 2024, snapping a 22-year streak of winning seasons.

Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin is slated to kickoff at 7:30 p.m. ET on Sunday.

The Pac-12 Is Back: How Did We Get Here? Who Will Play In The Conference?

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 16:45:02 -0400

Once the Washington Huskies' celebration of beating bitter rival Oregon in the 2023 Pac-12 Championship Game — and clinching a spot in the College Football Playoff — finally calmed down, an awkward reality began to set in.

This was the end of Pac-12 football as we knew it.

One of the oldest conferences in college sports, dating back to the formation of the Pacific Coast Conference in 1915, was about to disappear. Its demise had been years in the making, with the inability to secure and improve its media rights deal at the center of the problem. As name, image and likeness transformed college football, the premier programs knew they could no longer afford to fall behind the Big Ten and SEC.

Washington, Oregon, UCLA and USC headed to the Big Ten. Reacting to their departure, Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah joined the Big 12. Left hanging, Cal and Stanford scurried to find a home in the ACC. The movement diminished the Pac-12 to a two-team conference of Washington State and Oregon State.

Gone were the days of Pac-12 basketball tournaments in Las Vegas. The Apple Cup rivalry between Washington and Washington State moved to the beginning of the season. The tradition of staying up late to watch the ever-chaotic "Pac-12 After Dark" ended.

Now, after two years of the Pac-12 conference essentially ceasing to exist, it's back.

So back.

The new-look Pac-12 in 2026 looks much different than it did in the past. There will still be rivalries, heated competition, and late-night shockers, but it's no longer viewed as a power conference. Now, a team must be ranked higher than every other Group of Six opponent in the final top 25 to reach the College Football Playoff.

Another fun fact: Every Pac-12 football team has the word "State" in its name.

The new members include five teams from the Mountain West — Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State — and one from the Sun Belt Conference, Texas State. They join Oregon State and Washington State to complete the eight-team Pac-12.

The Broncos have long been one of the premier Group of Six programs, and now bring their famous blue field to the bright lights of the Pac-12. Fresno State and Utah State each qualified for bowl games in 2025, while Colorado State will look to turn things around under former UCLA coach Jim Mora. Texas State, meanwhile, has won a bowl game in each of the past three seasons.

One wrinkle: Gonzaga will join the conference for college basketball, bringing the Pac-12 to nine members in that sport. The Bulldogs have qualified for the NCAA Tournament in each of the past 17 seasons, including trips to the national championship game in 2017 and 2021.

The new-look Pac-12 might not have the luster or level of competition of its predecessor, but it should be one of, if not the, strongest Group of Six conferences in both football and basketball.

LSU Fans Concerned Over Kiffin And LSU's Decision To Recruit Former NFL Players

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 16:44:25 -0400

The showdown between No. 11 LSU and Clemson was always going to be a showcase Week 1 game given Lane Kiffin's debut in the bayou.

But few could have imagined the discussion surrounding the game would be anything like this. The heated on-field rivalry between two national powerhouses that share a stadium nickname (Death Valley) and mascot (Tigers) has been largely overshadowed by court cases involving NFL players returning to college football to use their final year of eligibility.

Matt Moscona, a sports radio talk show host with 104.5 ESPN in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, said the issue has dominated the airwaves this week. He estimates that 10 of the 12 segments on his three-hour talk show on Thursday were devoted to the topic, while only one was about the actual game.

He said LSU fans are genuinely worried. Not about Clemson, but about the long-term impact that Kiffin's desire to recruit and play former NFL players in defiance of SEC rules will have on the football program.

"The phrase everyone here is using is, ‘Is the juice worth the squeeze?,’" Moscona said. "Why go through this big public ordeal to add a couple of backup players? Which is what we're talking about, quite honestly. The overriding sentiment is people are fearful of the punishments."

He said that fear includes speculation that Kiffin might be suspended for ignoring SEC's stance, or even the Tigers being kicked out of the conference altogether after being a founding member in the early 1930s.

"People here are wondering if we are really thinking about the long-term ramifications of playing a few backups," Moscona said.

Kiffin recruited two of his former players at Ole Miss — defensive tackle Zxavian Harris and tight end Dae’Quan Wright — after both spent time with NFL clubs this offseason. That stirred up a hornets' nest, with the Southeastern Conference suing LSU in federal court this week and potentially tainting a partnership dating to the Depression.

Several coaches have been outspoken against NFL players returning to college, including Clemson's Dabo Swinney who called the notion of ex-NFL players suiting up on Saturdays "embarrassing" for the sport.

All four Power Four conferences last week reiterated their rules against pro players and some outlined stiff penalties including fines and suspensions. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey testified that "the line between professional sports and college sports needs to be maintained," even in an era where top college players command million-dollar compensation packages through revenue sharing and NIL deals.

Kiffin, one of the most outspoken and polarizing figures in college football long before his recruitment of NFL players, sees things a little differently than most in college football.

He said he talked with LSU team leaders and all backed the idea of bringing in players who can help the Tigers — whether they tried out for NFL teams or not. He shrugged off the idea that it would wreck any final notion that college is meant for amateur athletes.

"This is how it works at the next level," Kiffin said this week. "This is how the real world works."

Moscona noted that other teams have landed former NFL players including South Carolina, which recently signed kicker Ethan Sanchez after he attended camp with the San Francisco 49ers. He blames for the NCAA for not granting a blanket waiver to allow athletes from the 2022 high school class to return for a fifth year after changing its eligibility model in June.

"The problem here is those players would have never left had they known they would have had another year of eligibility," Moscona said. "... The NCAA did not heed advice that lawsuits would follow. And, the lawsuits have followed. And now it's awful."

Regardless of what happens, this is clearly not your average high-profile college season opener. LSU has a received a record number of requests — more than 900, according to the school — from media and VIPs.

"I think that speaks volumes of the eyeballs on us and people wanting to be around the program and watch the program," Kiffin said. "All that is important nowadays. No. 1 is winning but after that you have a very marketable program."

Reporting by The Associated Press.

Rutgers Fan Goes Off After UMass Loss: 'I’m Done. I’m Canceling Everything'

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 14:48:53 -0400

"I'm done. I'm canceling everything. It's done."

After 20 years as a Rutgers football season-ticket holder, one Scarlet Knights fan had finally reached his breaking point.

And Thursday night's 37-21 loss to UMass — a program that finished 0-12 in 2025 and entered 2026 as the 138th team in FOX Sports' RJ Young's Ultimate 138 — was it.

An anonymous caller unloaded on Rutgers during an appearance on "The Zach Gelb Show," ripping the team's defense, calling for head coach Greg Schiano and his entire staff to be fired and vowing to cancel everything he had planned for the season.

This wasn't a casual Rutgers fan. He had plans to follow the Scarlet Knights across the country this season. A ticket to Boston College next Friday. An Airbnb booked in Madison, Wisconsin, for the Nov. 7 game against the Badgers. He was even planning to watch Rutgers alum Kyle Monangai, now a running back for the Chicago Bears, live in action.

No more.

The Minutemen had just piled up nearly 400 yards of total offense, including 200 on the ground.

"What I saw tonight was the most deplorable, despicable, horrible adjustments on defense," the caller said. "From being the worst team in college football last year, defensively, to what they did tonight, to what they did this year, I'm done."

He wasn't done.

His next call, he said, would be to Rutgers athletic director Keli Zinn.

"My opinion means nothing," the caller said. "But I'm sorry. I want to root for a home team. I want to root for a New Jersey team.

"We have a great fan base, a great rooting section, people I've known for years, but I'm done."

Rutgers' struggles have become even more glaring in the NIL era. Zinn recently said the program is somewhere between $20-$30 million in NIL spending on football and believes the Scarlet Knights are "headed in the right direction" financially.

But Thursday's loss will raise plenty of questions about the direction of Schiano's program. Rutgers entered the game as a 29.5 favorite against a UMass team that had never defeated a Big Ten program (0-7) or a Power Four conference opponent since transitioning to FBS in 2012.

Schiano led the Scarlet Knights to an 11-2 season during his first stint in New Brunswick in 2006, but he hasn't found the same form since returning to the program in 2020, and throughout the NIL era.

"Absolutely should be fired tomorrow," the caller said. "The whole staff."

But the caller saved his best line for last, referencing the awkward fireworks show that played for an empty crowd following Thursday's loss.

"Forget fireworks," he added. "We need a firing squad."

2026 College Football Week 1: Best Games To Watch This Weekend

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 11:25:36 -0400

The Colorado Buffaloes helped kick off college football Week 1 by going into Atlanta as underdogs and shocking the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

With a packed slate of games this weekend, should fans and bettors anticipate more upsets?

Let's take a glance at five matchups to watch this weekend, with odds via DraftKings Sportsbook as of Sept. 4.

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(All Times ET)

Spread: Indiana -40.5
Moneyline: N/A
O/U: 56.5

What To Know: Indiana's title defense begins this weekend. Led by their bold head coach Curt Cignetti and by eventual Heisman winner and NFL No. 1 draft pick Fernando Mendoza at quarterback, the Hoosiers' championship run in 2025 was absolutely magical. Based on the odds, they shouldn't run into any road blocks in Week 1 as 40.5-point favorites. Last season, Indiana opened up its year by cruising past Old Dominion, 27-14.

Spread: Oregon -24.5
Moneyline: Oregon -2400, Boise State +1200
O/U: 51.5

What To Know: The pressure is on for head coach Dan Lanning and the Ducks. Not only are they the No. 2 team in the country, they're fourth on the board to win the College Football Playoff. Starting QB Dante Moore is also one of the Heisman favorites, sitting third on that board behind Notre Dame's CJ Carr and Texas' Arch Manning. FOX Sports betting analyst Geoff Schwartz explained that Oregon's defensive line is one of the best in the sport, and that could spell trouble for Boise State in this game as the Broncos rely heavily on the run game.

Spread: Texas -29.5
Moneyline: Texas -9000; Texas State +2500
O/U: 59.5

What To Know: The Texas Longhorns have high expectations going into 2026. They're third on the oddsboard to win the championship and starting quarterback Arch Manning is neck-and-neck with CJ Carr at the top of the Heisman oddsboard. Texas opened up last season with a loss at Ohio State, but the Longhorns get to play an over-matched Texas State squad to open up 2026. Based on the odds, the heavily favored Horns should hook 'em without much trouble.

Spread: Penn State -23.5
Moneyline: Penn State -3200; Marshall +1400
O/U: 52.5

What To Know: Penn State's 2025 took a turn for the worse, as the Nittany Lions went on a six-game losing streak after winning their first four. They ultimately fired head coach James Franklin, but the damage had already been done in a year when they opened as one of the favoirtes to win it all. FOX Sports betting analyst Will Hill noted that, even though they failed to meet expectations last season, they're still a good bet to at least make the College Football Playoff in 2026. They are No. 18 in the AP Poll currently and are favored to win big in Week 1. The showdown against Marshall should give Penn State a chance to start getting back on track with an easy non-conference win.

Spread: Ole Miss -6.5
Moneyline: Ole Miss -270; Louisville +220
O/U: 55.5

What To Know: The Sunday night, primetime game features two ranked squads — one of which is coming off a solid College Football Playoff showing. After defeating Georgia in the CFP quarterfinal round, the Rebs fell 31-27 to Miami in the semis. Now, veteran Trinidad Chambliss is back as the starting QB for Ole Miss, while Louisville will be trotting out Ohio State transfer Lincoln Kienholz. However, FOX Sports betting analyst Will Hill is backing underdog Louisville to cover the spread, as the Cardinals and their "new-look" roster try to bring down Ole Miss in Nashville.

How to Watch Indiana State vs. Purdue: TV Channel, Live Stream, Time

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 07:53:54 -0400

The Indiana State Sycamores visit the Purdue Boilermakers on Friday, September 4, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. ET from Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN.

Purdue opens its season at home against Indiana State, an FCS opponent already 0-1 after a 21-23 loss to Southeast Missouri State in Week 0. The Boilermakers have won their last two meetings with the Sycamores by a combined 105-0, including a 49-0 result in 2024. Purdue is a 36.5-point favorite at DraftKings, with the total set at 56.5.

Below, we'll give you all the details you need to know about how to watch this game.

Owens already has a real body of work to point to, even after just one game. He threw for 288 yards and two touchdowns in Indiana State's season opener, numbers that immediately made him the most productive quarterback the Sycamores have had in some time. Purdue enters off a 2-10 season of its own, and coach Barry Odom's group has not beaten a Big Ten opponent since November 2023. That does not make Indiana State a threat to pull the upset, but Owens playing a clean, mistake-free game against an FBS defense would be a real building block for a program looking to prove last week's opener was not a fluke.

Indiana State's offense found more than one weapon in its opener, and Wuest was part of that. He caught passes for 67 yards, added 36 yards on kick returns and finished with 103 all-purpose yards, giving the Sycamores a legitimate playmaker on both sides of the ball through one week. Purdue's defense gave up plenty a year ago during a 2-10 season, and while a Missouri Valley Conference team walking into Ross-Ade Stadium is still a significant step up in competition, Wuest's early versatility at least gives Indiana State a specific answer for how it plans to move the ball.

Purdue is trying to climb out of the Big Ten cellar, and Browne is the returning piece the program is building around. He threw for 300 yards or more twice a year ago, including a 30 of 50, 302 yard effort against a top 25 ranked Illinois team, proof that his arm can handle high volume against real competition. Coach Barry Odom's Boilermakers have not beaten a Big Ten opponent since a November 2023 win over Indiana, of all teams, which will feel especially strange now that the Hoosiers are the reigning national champions. An opener against an FCS opponent in Indiana State is exactly the kind of low-risk environment where Browne needs to look sharp before Purdue's Big Ten grind begins.

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How to Watch Toledo vs. Michigan State: TV Channel, Live Stream, Time

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 07:47:22 -0400

The Toledo Rockets visit the Michigan State Spartans on Friday, September 4, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. ET from Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI.

Michigan State and Toledo both enter Friday night's opener at 0-0. Toledo averaged 30.8 points per game in 2025, well ahead of Michigan State's 24.6, a track record the Rockets bring into Spartan Stadium. Michigan State is a 9.5-point favorite at DraftKings, with the total set at 47.5.

Below, we'll give you all the details you need to know about how to watch this game.

Zock is the marquee addition in new coach Mike Jacobs' haul of 21 small-school transfers, and he arrives with a real track record. He picked up 20 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks last season as the Southern Conference's Defensive Player of the Year, numbers that would have led most Group of Five defenses outright. Toledo is chasing its third Mid-American Conference title game in five years, and Jacobs is 33-8 combining his last three seasons at Mercer and Lenoir-Rhyne. None of that translates automatically to the MAC, but a pass rusher who racked up that kind of production against lesser competition gives Toledo's front seven a proven disruptor from the jump. Michigan State's rebuilt offensive line will be the first real measuring stick.

Michigan State overhauled its roster hoping transfers could speed up a rebuild, and Edwards gives the offense a proven workhorse. He rushed for 1,240 yards at UConn last year and enters this season as the fourth-leading returning rusher in the nation with 2,690 career rushing yards over 36 games. New coach Pat Fitzgerald inherited a senior class heavy with new names, and Edwards is the one piece opposing defenses already have to prepare for. Toledo enters with a defense built around transfer additions of its own, led by edge rusher Andrew Zock, so neither team is hiding from how much roster turnover shaped this opener. If Edwards can run against a defense that new, Michigan State's offense has a real foundation to build on.

Every new face at Michigan State arrived through the transfer portal this off-season, except Milivojevic, who remains the same quarterback who threw 10 touchdowns against just three interceptions a season ago. That continuity matters against a Toledo defense that will lean on newcomers of its own to slow down the Spartans. Fitzgerald's rebuild depends on Milivojevic protecting the ball while Edwards and a retooled defense find their footing, and his low interception rate a year ago suggests he can do exactly that. Toledo's own quarterback situation is far less settled, which puts extra pressure on Milivojevic to be the steady half of this matchup rather than the swing factor.

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How to Watch Fresno State vs. USC: TV Channel, Live Stream, Time

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 06:43:49 -0400

The Fresno State Bulldogs visit the USC Trojans on Friday, September 4, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. PT from Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA.

USC enters Friday off a 42-26 win over San Jose State to open the 2026 season, improving to 1-0 as the No. 14 team in the country. Fresno State is still 0-0 on the year, and its last trip to face USC ended in a 45-17 loss back in 2022. USC is a 21.5-point favorite at DraftKings, with the total set at 51.5.

Below, we'll give you all the details you need to know about how to watch this game.

USC needed one week to answer questions about its passing game, and Maiava provided it. He threw for 286 yards and two touchdowns in the opener, added a rushing score, and finished with 18 points as the Trojans built the nation's top third down offense right out of the gate. Lincoln Riley's attack already ranks first in the country in third down conversion rate and total yards per game, and Maiava is the one steering it. Fresno State's defense carried that program through a nine win season a year ago, but it has not faced a quarterback playing at this pace yet. If Maiava is as efficient in Week 2 as he was in Week 1, USC's offense could turn this into a rout early.

Mosley did more than catch passes in USC's opener. He led the Trojans with 118 receiving yards and a touchdown, then added 56 punt return yards to finish with a team high 174 all purpose yards. That versatility matters against a Fresno State team built around defense, since Mosley does not need a shootout to be effective. He can change field position on special teams even on a night when the passing game stalls. With Maiava spreading throws around a deep receiver room, Mosley's ability to win after the catch gives USC a release valve, whether the Trojans are grinding through Fresno State's toughest defensive series or trying to put the game away early.

Fresno State opens the season still sorting out its quarterback room, and Martin is one of two candidates coach Matt Entz has trusted with the job, along with Jayden Mandal. Whichever one starts against USC will lean on a defense that carried the Bulldogs to nine wins a year ago, since Fresno State's only Power Four loss in 2025 came by 24 points to Kansas. Martin does not have to be spectacular for Fresno State to hang in this game. He needs to protect the ball, extend drives and let a defense that already outplays its own offense control the tempo. Against a USC team that scored at will in Week 1, that margin for error will be thin.

Learn more about the Fresno State Bulldogs vs. USC Trojans game and check the full schedule on FOX Sports!

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AFC South Predictions: Can The Texans Reclaim The Division From The Jaguars?

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 01:42:13 -0400

The AFC South is shaping up to be one of the NFL's most unpredictable divisions this season. The Houston Texans have held the crown for years, but can they reclaim the division with the Jacksonville Jaguars' young core not going away any time soon?

With a healthy Daniel Jones back for the Indianapolis Colts and veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen now in the fold, the Colts could make some real noise. Over in Tennessee, the arrival of Robert Saleh puts a rebuilding Titans team in a prime position to play spoiler down the stretch.

If you want to know how the AFC South will unfold, the "First Things First" group of co-hosts were all over it. On Thursday’s show, Nick Wright, Danny Parkins, and Chris Broussard broke down the AFC South. They didn't stop at general commentary, either. The trio made their definitive predictions for how the division will shake out.

The Titans are entering a full rebuild under head coach Robert Saleh, but Nick Wright still sees potential for growth. With offensive additions like Carnell Tate and Wan’Dale Robinson, Wright believes a six-win season is well within reach.

"I do have them getting six wins … here’s the case for them," Wright said. "Carnell Tate, Cam Ward take a year or two jump, and maybe Robert Saleh is actually a good head coach."

When it comes to the expectations for the Colts, all eyes shift towards Jones and his recovery from the season-ending Achilles injury. Wright’s concerns aren't about Jones specifically, but they’re focused squarely on head coach Shane Steichen.

After failing to meet expectations, Wright believes Steichen should be firmly on the hot seat.

"Daniel Jones [is] quickly coming back from the Achilles injury, but how mobile is he actually going to be," Wright said. Also, I worry about Shane Steichen, and I worry about the instant hot seat."

When it comes to the Jaguars, they're not so easy to predict. After winning 13 games last season and winning the division, they could be a team that's not just on the rise, but could be competitive for years to come.

Wright made sure to highlight the Jaguars' young core in quarterback Trevor Lawrence and two-way standout Travis Hunter.

"13 wins like last year," Wright said. "There’s no way they don’t get at least a little more out of Travis Hunter this year. They’re not going to get less. Year two of Trevor Lawrence and [Liam] Coen…I like that. They have, far away, the best quarterback in that division."

The Houston Texans topped Wright's predictions. He highlighted that the performance of quarterback C.J. Stroud will be a large factor in Houston's success this season.

"I think they will be fighting for the No. 1 seed all year," Wright said. "I think they go 12-5. If CJ Stroud is average, they can win 11 games. If he's above average, they can win 12 games. If he's good, you can argue they're the best team in the league."

Broussard followed Wright's lead in his AFC South predictions, with the Texans standing at No. 1 and the Titans at the bottom. With new head coach Robert Saleh, Broussard is hoping for good things to come out of Saleh's first year and Ward's second starting season.

"I hope I'm wrong. I like Cam Ward. I would really like to see him do something this year," Broussard said. "I'd like to see Saleh get a real chance … We'll see, I'm pulling for him."

For the Colts' third-place prediction, Broussard has a hard time believing that Indianapolis won't follow the same pattern this season as it did last season.

"We all remember the 8-2 start, and then one of the worst collapses in NFL history. They lost their last seven. They lost their last three when Jones was healthy. Why? Because they started playing good teams," Broussard said.

For the Jaguars at second, their run to the playoffs was impressive, but Broussard does not see back-to-back appearances.

"At No. 2, the Jags, but missing the playoffs," Broussard said. "He was very good last year. Is that who he finally is? Or is he going to go back down the roller coaster? I'm not betting on a bad year, but I'm not expecting a good year."

As the Texans top Broussard's list, the talented defense is a large factor in its success. However, the talent that Stroud brings to the offense will be another point of focus for Broussard.

"The Houston Texans [are] winning this division. Contrary to popular opinion, C.J. was average last year … obviously he was banged up for a few games. I expect a bounce back," Broussard said. "I don't know if I'm ever expecting him to be that great top-five quarterback that we thought he was going to be."

Like Wright and Broussard, Danny Parkins placed the Titans in last. Parkins did not hold back when it came to what the Titans season could look like under quarterback Cam Ward.

"I'd be really worried if I was a Titans fan. I love Carnell Tate, I loved it leading up to the NFL Draft," Parkins said. "I didn't see much of anything to believe in Cam Ward. I think they are in contention, with the Dolphins, for the worst team in the NFL."

Parkins switched things up and placed the Jaguars third. While Lawrence has been through ups and downs in his NFL career, Parkins is not expecting Lawrence to hold the same standard he did in last year's 13-4 season.

"A huge regression for the Jacksonville Jaguars," Parkins said. "I think Trevor Lawrence cannot be trusted. Is it possible that Liam Coen unlocked it? Absolutely. … He did it with Baker, he did it with Trevor. But his whole career has been a roller-coaster. Seems like we might be ready for a big dip."

As for Parkins' second-place team, the Texans, the defense should not be an issue for Houston. However, the concern lies within Stroud at the helm of the offense.

"You have the best defense in the NFL, but defensive production year over year does fluctuate," Parkins said. They had remarkable defensive health last year … I don't have evidence that C.J. Stroud is good."

And sitting atop his AFC South predictions, Parkins believes the Colts will take home the AFC South title. Parkins emphasized the Colts could be a dangerous team in the division if Jones is back in full force.

"They return four of five starters on their offensive line. … I really like their offense this year … they need to win by scoring," Parkins said. "So if you see the best version of Daniel Jones for a full year, I think the Colts can win the AFC South."

NFL Catchup: Rams Name Ty Simpson QB3; Cardinals Extend WR Michael Wilson

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 00:07:01 -0400

At long last, the NFL season is right around the corner. We are less than a week away from kickoff, and as initial 53-man depth charts take shape, final roster moves and tactical shifts are making noise across the league.

The Los Angeles Rams officially revealed their Week 1 depth chart, listing rookie Ty Simpson as the third-string quarterback. Meanwhile, the NFC West news gets even more intriguing with the Arizona Cardinals agreeing to a massive multi-year extension with wide receiver Michael Wilson.

Staying in the NFC, the Chicago Bears are managing practice injuries with wide receiver Rome Odunze and running back D'Andre Swift. Following that, it turns out New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo briefly considered retirement while recovering from last year's season-ending ankle injury.

Here's the latest NFL news around the league on Thursday.

After a strong preseason showing, the Los Angeles Rams have released their depth chart for the start of the 2026 season. With Week 1 on the way, head coach Sean McVay has opted for Stetson Bennett as Matthew Stafford’s backup quarterback. That means Ty Simpson, who the team took with the 13th overall pick in April's draft, will be the third-string quarterback.

The Rams had been adamant about Simpson sitting and learning this season, especially as Stafford nears the end of his career. Stafford's timeline remains uncertain, but he has been at the center of retirement rumors over the last couple of years.

Simpson and Bennett were in lockstep all camp, but Bennett ultimately took the edge. After watching both get extensive preseason reps, McVay appears to agree, favoring Bennett for the backup job.

"Stetson Bennett being named the No. 2 QB by the Rams over Ty Simpson should not be surprising," our Eric D. Williams noted. "He was clearly the better player during training camp. But Simpson showed steady improvement."

The Rams are set to head to Australia to face off against the NFC West division rival San Francisco 49ers for Week 1.

The Arizona Cardinals reached an agreement Thursday on a three-year contract extension with wide receiver Michael Wilson, according to reports from ESPN and NFL Network. The deal keeps the 26-year-old receiver under contract with the franchise through the 2029 season.

Originally selected by Arizona in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Stanford, Wilson has established himself as a primary target in the Cardinals' offense alongside Trey McBride.

Wilson is expected to officially sign the contract on Thursday ahead of Arizona's regular-season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sept. 13.

New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo shared that he briefly considered retiring from the NFL after suffering a severe ankle injury last year.

Skattebo, who suffered a dislocated ankle, open tibia fracture, and ruptured deltoid ligament in Week 8, shared during an appearance on "Up & Adams" that he contemplated stepping away about a month into his rehabilitation.

"The first month was kind of like, ‘Damn, do I really want to do this?’" Skattebo said. "I think [the injury] gave me an extra step of finding that deep place and coming out of a hole that I didn't know I could come out of. I'm appreciative of it, and I'm excited to see what I can build on it."

Skattebo noted he had a personal rule in college to retire if he suffered a major injury, but ultimately decided to return after showing promise over seven full games as a rookie.

Before the injury, he compiled 410 rushing yards, 207 receiving yards, and seven total touchdowns. The second-year back returned to the field during the preseason on Aug. 15 and is projected to lead a Giants backfield rotation that features Najee Harris, Tyrone Tracy Jr., and Devin Singletary.

The Chicago Bears had a pair of injury scares right before Week 1. Wide receiver Rome Odunze and running back D'Andre Swift were both reportedly sidelined during practice Thursday. According to reports, Odunze exited with a member of the training staff near the beginning of practice and appeared to be dealing with a right leg or foot injury.

Odunze, who missed five games last season with a foot fracture, enters the 2026 campaign expected to serve as Chicago's top receiver alongside Luther Burden III following the offseason trade of DJ Moore.

Swift's injury reportedly occurred near the end of practice during a full-team drill.

With backup Kyle Monangai currently sidelined with a hyperextended knee, Swift's exit leaves Chicago's running back room rather thin heading into the holiday weekend.

After Watching World Cup, 16-Year-Old Cavan Sullivan Sets Sights On USA Call-Up

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 16:15:51 -0400

16-year-old Philadelphia Union midfielder Cavan Sullivan has his sights set on the United States men's national team, as he expressed confidence that he could make an impact in senior international matches, targeting a future call-up.

Sullivan's rapid ascent up the United States soccer ladder has shaped how the teenager watches the senior national team, viewing senior team matches not just as a spectator, but as a stage he intends to reach sooner rather than later.

Speaking on Alexi Lalas' State of the Union podcast, Sullivan reflected on the United States' round of 16 World Cup loss to Belgium, Sullivan expressed confidence in his ability to be an asset for the national team.

"Thinking of that Belgium game, I think I could come into that game on the right side and make a difference, right? That’s just what, you have to believe in yourself, you have to think you can help your team win," Sullivan said. "It's not my team yet, but I'm obviously always dreaming and hoping call-ups."

The Philadelphia Union midfielder made history at age 14, when he became not only the youngest player to appear in a Major League Soccer match, he also became the youngest player to debut in a major American or Canadian professional sports league.

The hype surrounding Sullivan has mushroomed by the day in MLS and could go global by the time he is expected to transfer to Premier League powerhouse Manchester City at the end of 2027 when he is 18.

Though Sullivan remains in the early stages of his career, he pays close attention to the senior national team, particularly during its recent World Cup run. Despite USA's early World Cup exit, Sullivan said he thought supporters of the team established a presence as tournament co-hosts.

"The U.S. made some noise for sure, I think it was dope," Sullivan said.

Sullivan pointed to Alex Freeman's header to extend USA's lead against Australia as a defining moment of the tournament.

"Freeman’s header, that moment, I texted my family group chat, that actually gave me goosebumps, I think that was so cool, I think the crowd pop was insane," Sullivan said.

Seeing the celebrations and hearing entire stadiums sing across the country also made a strong impression on the midfielder.

"I think the country roads, all that stuff, I ate that up," Sullivan said. "I’m pretty patriotic and I love that stuff so it was really cool to see."

Sullivan said he had hoped the co-hosts would make a deeper run in the tournament.

"Unfortunate to lose that early, I feel like that team could have gone much farther," Sullivan added.

For now, Sullivan will spend at least one more year playing stateside before potentially heading abroad to Manchester City.

As the national team begins its next World Cup cycle, the 16-year-old midfielder continues working toward making the transition from watching those big tournament moments as a supporter to helping create them as a player on the international stage.

Clemson Or LSU? Ole Miss Handles Louisville? Joel Klatt's Week 1 CFB Picks

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 14:39:36 -0400

"Showtime!"

Week 1 of the 2026 college football season commences on Thursday night, kicking off a five-day slate where at least one game is played across the sport.

FOX Sports' lead college football analyst, Joel Klatt, shared his picks for the biggest games of the week on the latest episode of "The Joel Klatt Podcast."

Klatt's Thoughts: "This [LSU] defense really should be able to shut down Clemson in this matchup. You've got [defensive coordinator] Blake Baker back. Princewill Umanmielen transfers with Lane Kiffin from Ole Miss. This guy's an excellent defensive end. They're talented out there. You got [linebacker] Whit Weeks. This is a good team. You got Sam Leavitt, an experienced quarterback. … Lane always has a good offense. This team should be good. They should be ready to go, and it comes down to execution. How quickly can they learn this system and execute?

"Baker has been there before, so it shouldn't take that long for these guys to really get acquainted with this defense, and that's where I think that they dominate this game."

Klatt's Pick: "In that environment, with that type of energy, I like LSU, 31-14."

Klatt's Thoughts: "It could look sloppy at times, and we'll see if Louisville can take advantage. Louisville has been a team that has constantly defeated really good opponents like Miami and JMU. When [head coach] Jeff Brohm was at Purdue, he was really the "Spoilermaker." They know how to do this, but I do think Ole Miss, in the end, is going to have too much because I think Trinidad Chambliss is the most unique quarterback in the country in that he's the most threatening both outside of the pocket and inside the pocket.

"That's going to be very difficult for Louisville and its new defensive coordinator [Mark Ivey and Steve Ellis are co-coordinators] to deal with. He's [Chambliss] so dynamic."

Klatt's Pick: "I think Ole Miss wins the game, 30-21."

Klatt's Thoughts: "I think Oregon is further along in its build under Dan Lanning than Boise State. They've got more purpose and more urgency with these guys coming back. They've got an experienced quarterback in Dante Moore. I believe they can be explosive on offense, and I think they're going to be absolutely suffocating on defense. The one question I have for Oregon is at offensive coordinator. Drew Mehringer comes in as a promotion from within to replace Will Stein [at offensive coordinator]. We'll see how he does. I want to see the offense and how it works, very similarly to Ole Miss.

"Boise State had a great pass defense a year ago, but it lost four of its five defensive backs from a year ago. Oregon should really control this game. If they can't control the game with their offense, they should be able to control the game with their defense, and, more specifically, its defensive line. … think about purpose, think about urgency, think about what this team is actually there to do, and it's not just go out there and struggle against Boise State."

Klatt's Pick: "I like Oregon in this one, 42-13."

Lionel Messi To Get Mid-Game Tributes By Soccer Teams Across Argentina

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 13:30:41 -0400

Soccer teams across Argentina will pay tribute to Lionel Messi with a mid-game minute of applause during their next match following his decision to retire from international duty.

Referees will pause play at the 10-minute mark of every match in the upcoming round of the Clausura tournament, as well as in other men's and women's leagues in Argentina, in appreciation of Messi’s career with the national team, the Argentine Football Association said late Wednesday.

The 39-year-old Messi, who wore the No. 10 jersey for Argentina, announced on Monday he will no longer play for the national team after 21 years of service. He led Argentina to the World Cup title in 2022 as well as two other World Cup finals, and made 207 appearances and scored 125 goals — both national records.

Messi, who is idolized in Argentina, has never played professionally in his home country. He moved to Barcelona at the age of 13 to began a once-in-a-generation career and is regarded by many as the greatest player of all time.

Messi is continuing to play at club level with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

Hugh Jackman Wants To Buy Soccer Club To Rival Ryan Reynolds And Wrexham

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 13:30:36 -0400

Hugh Jackman wants to join his fellow Hollywood star and friend Ryan Reynolds in owning part of a soccer club in the English leagues.

Jackman has long been a fan of Norwich, his mother’s home city in the east of England. The Wolverine star was asked in an interview broadcast on Thursday if he would like to "buy a bit" of the club which is majority owned by Mark Attanasio, the Milwaukee Brewers principal owner.

"I’m very, very interested in talking about it right now," he told British broadcaster TalkSport while promoting his new movie, "The Death of Robin Hood."

"You’re the first one to know that. There’s a little exclusive," Jackman said when asked if he would "follow suit" with Reynolds, who put Wrexham on the global soccer and culture map after buying the club with Rob Mac in 2021.

Norwich and Wrexham are now rivals in the English second-tier Championship, though Jackman’s team has the more illustrious history. Norwich last played in the Premier League four years ago, and had perhaps its finest moment in 1993, eliminating German power Bayern Munich in the old UEFA Cup.

"Good on Ryan, you do your thing, I’m all about the Canaries," Jackman said, citing Norwich’s nickname linked to the team’s distinctive yellow and green uniform.

Norwich and Wrexham both are expected to be contenders this season to earn promotion to the Premier League, the world’s most valuable club soccer competition.

"I think it’s an exciting team and it’s going to be an exciting year," Jackman said, praising Norwich’s turnaround since hiring Belgian coach Philippe Clement last November.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

Quinnen Williams: Cowboys' Defense 'Night And Day' From Last Season

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 12:59:42 -0400

The Dallas Cowboys have a lot of new faces on defense, including defensive coordinator Christian Parker, and one of the featured elements of their defense is pumped about how they're shaping up on that side of the ball.

"The growth, it's like night and day," Cowboys star defensive tackle Quinen Williams said about the team's defensive growth on Wednesday, according to the Cowboys' team website. "Starting in OTAs, and starting the first week of training camp, getting a chance to go against one of the best offenses in battle every single day has helped us tremendously. The mindset coming from the coaches, top down to the players and to the leadership, has been drastically changed. It's just fun, man.

"I just can't wait to see the process and the results from all the hard work. But, we're not done yet."

In 2025 under defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, Dallas was last in the NFL in opponent passing yards (251.5 per game) and opponent points (30.1 per game), 30th in opponent total yards (377.0 per game), tied for 22nd in sacks (35.0) and 10th outright in opponent rushing yards (125.5 per game).

The year prior (2024), the Cowboys were 31st in opponent points and 28th in opponent total yards under defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. For context, the Cowboys were fifth in opponent points in 2022 and 2023, seventh in opponent points in 2021 and fifth in opponent total yards in 2023. The aforementioned success came under defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who left Dallas after a three-year stint in the role (2021-23) to become the head coach of the Washington Commanders.

The Cowboys moved on from Eberflus in favor of Parker, the former Philadelphia Eagles passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach. This is Parker's first stint as an NFL defensive coordinator.

"It's been amazing — from where we started off in OTAs to where we are at now," Williams said about the team's defensive progression. "We've got some fine-tuning, some things to clean up, some things to do, but I feel comfortable. The progressions that we made, the growth and the development that we have made, and to go into the right direction that we wanted to go into."

Dallas signed Williams, a 2022 All-Pro and a Pro Bowler in each of the last four years, to a three-year, $105.9 million extension in August, with the $35.3 million average annual value second among NFL interior defensive linemen.

In a 2025 campaign split between the Cowboys and New York Jets – Dallas acquired Williams from New York at last season's NFL trade deadline for a 2027 first-round pick, a 2026 second-rounder and defensive lineman and 2023 first-rounder Mazi Smith – Williams logged a combined 2.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, one interception and 53 combined tackles across 15 regular-season games. He ranked second among defensive linemen with an 88.8 overall grade and seventh with 51 total pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.

As for the players joining Williams, Dallas signed safety Jalen Thompson (three-year, $33 million deal) and cornerback Cobie Durant (one-year, $4 million deal) and acquired veteran linebacker Rashan Gary from the Green Bay Packers, among other moves. Regarding the draft, the Cowboys traded up one spot to select Ohio State Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs with the No. 11 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and also selected UCF Knights linebacker Malachi Lawrence with the No. 23 pick.

Dallas opens its 2026 regular season on the road against the New York Giants on Sept. 13.

How to Watch Brewers vs. Cubs: TV Channel, Live Stream, Time

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 08:52:10 -0400

The Milwaukee Brewers visit the Chicago Cubs on Thursday, September 3, 2026 at 6:15 p.m. CT from Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL.

The Chicago Cubs enter at 78-62, while the Milwaukee Brewers sit at 87-53. Kevin Gausman (8-11, 4.52 ERA in 155.1 innings) takes the mound for the Cubs, opposed by Logan Henderson (9-2, 2.48 ERA in 76.1 innings).

Below, we'll give you all the details you need to know about how to watch this game.

Chicago leads all of baseball in almost every meaningful offensive category, and Crow-Armstrong sits right at the center of that production. The Cubs lead MLB in home runs, RBI, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS, and Crow-Armstrong leads the team with 38 home runs and 91 RBI. Over his last 10 games, he has gone 14 for 45 with seven home runs, making him the biggest power threat in this lineup heading into this divisional game.

Milwaukee counters with one of the sport's stingiest pitching staffs, ranking second in ERA, third in WHIP and second in strikeouts. That kind of staff has shut down plenty of lineups this season, which is why Crow-Armstrong's power stands out as the one matchup Milwaukee's shutdown staff can't fully account for.

Milwaukee's pitching staff does not hand out many scoring chances, which makes Suzuki's supporting punch behind Crow-Armstrong that much more important. Suzuki is second on the Cubs with 24 home runs and 80 RBI this season, and in a game where Chicago may need to cash in on limited opportunities, his run production profile stands out.

Scoring against Milwaukee's staff has been difficult all year, evidenced by a .221 opponent batting average and a .658 opponent OPS this season. Chicago still owns the league's best team OPS at .773, and Suzuki's production against a staff built to suppress it will be a key factor in whether the Cubs' offense holds up on the road.

Milwaukee wins with contact and on-base skill more than raw power, and Turang is the clearest example of that identity. The Brewers rank 30th in home runs but are third in batting average, second in on-base percentage, third in RBI and sixth in stolen bases. Turang leads Milwaukee with 78 RBI and is also one of the club's top power contributors with 17 home runs, making him a central run creator in a lineup built more on pressure than pure slug.

Chicago's own pitching tells a different story, ranking 16th in ERA and already surrendering 211 home runs, among the most in baseball this season. A staff prone to giving up the long ball is exactly the matchup where Turang's contact-first approach can turn into extra bases, and every run he creates chips away at a Cubs staff that has struggled to keep the ball in the yard.

Recent form is squarely in Yelich's favor entering this series. In Tuesday's win over the Cubs, he went 1 for 4 with a two-run homer, a walk and two runs scored, and over his last eight games he is 10 for 27, batting .370 with five extra-base hits. That kind of short-term surge matters in a series between the top two teams in the division.

Chicago's offense carries this roster, but the pitching side hasn't kept pace, posting a 4.17 team ERA and giving up home runs at one of the highest rates in the league this season. Yelich has already shown he can exploit that weakness, and the Brewers will need more of the same from him if they want to protect their spot atop the NL Central.

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How to Watch Red Sox vs. Orioles: TV Channel, Live Stream, Time

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 08:50:43 -0400

The Boston Red Sox visit the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday, September 3, 2026 at 7:15 p.m. ET from Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore, MD.

The Orioles enter at 69-71, while the Red Sox sit at 75-65. Brandon Young (9-3, 3.38 ERA in 130.1 innings) takes the mound for the Orioles, opposed by Jake Bennett (9-6, 3.27 ERA in 93.2 innings). The Red Sox's 264 hits in the month of August are the most in the MLB in the 2026 regular season, while the Orioles' 114 walks on breaking balls are the most in the MLB in the 2026 regular season.

Below, we'll give you all the details you need to know about how to watch this game.

Alonso has been the anchor of Baltimore's offense all season, leading the Orioles with 32 home runs and 91 RBIs. He returns to the lineup healthy after a Monday scare, and he arrives red hot: a 1.050 OPS with nine home runs in August alone.

This game also sets up as a test of whether Baltimore can break through against a Boston staff that owns a 3.64 ERA and 1.239 WHIP, both better than the Orioles' season marks on the mound. Beating a staff like that early is exactly the kind of production Baltimore needs from the middle of its order in a tight wild card chase.

Henderson has already put a charge into this exact matchup. In the Orioles' 5 to 1 win over Boston on July 22, he scored twice and added a triple, and in the 6 to 5 loss on July 20, he went 3 for 5 with three doubles. He ranks second on the club with 22 home runs and 57 RBIs, giving Baltimore a second consistent power source behind Alonso.

Against a Red Sox team that has allowed a .242 opponent batting average and a .687 opponent OPS this season, Henderson's ability to create loud contact matters. Keeping him locked in on hard contact gives Baltimore's offense a real chance to pressure a Boston club that has been the stronger run prevention side all year.

With Willson Contreras on the injured list, more of Boston's offense now runs through Abreu, who is second on the Red Sox in both home runs, with 23, and RBIs, with 70. He already has a taste of success in this series too: in Boston's 8 to 1 win on June 3, he drove in three runs.

The broader matchup fits his importance. Baltimore's pitching staff has a 4.16 ERA, a 1.346 WHIP and ranks 21st in WHIP and 23rd in strikeouts. That gives Boston's lineup a chance to put balls in play and build innings. Abreu turning that traffic into runs would let Boston lean into the edge it has shown all season in run prevention and overall record.

The way this opener plays out could hinge on command from the mound, and that puts real weight on Bennett's start as Boston's projected opener. The Red Sox have been one of the better pitching teams in the American League all season, ranking fourth in ERA and sixth in WHIP, and Bennett steps into a favorable team context behind that staff. He also started the July 22 meeting that Boston won 6 to 3.

His assignment is especially important against an Orioles lineup that has hit 169 home runs but owns a .235 team batting average and a .714 OPS. Baltimore can still punish mistakes, especially with Alonso and Henderson in the middle, so Bennett's command will be the key. Keeping the ball under control and limiting free baserunners would put Boston in position to protect its wild card standing.

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2027 NFL Mock Draft: Arch Manning Or Dante Moore At No. 1 Overall?

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 08:00:39 -0400

What better way to celebrate the return of college football and the NFL than with a fresh mock draft?

Much will change between now and April 29, 2027, so take this forecast as it is intended — a projection of the current top prospects at the college level coupled with the anticipated needs of NFL teams. As always, it will be fun to monitor how both change over the course of the season.

Of course, among the many things that will certainly change in the coming months is the selection order. For the purposes of this mock, we’re taking the inverse order of DraftKings' latest Super Bowl odds.

With a subpar roster (including at quarterback) and forced to compete against three legitimate Super Bowl contenders within their division, the Cardinals have the easiest route to the No. 1 selection. Manning isn’t without his flaws, but there are plenty of signs that he could be the sort of franchise-changer the Cardinals need to become relevant again.

I’m more bullish on Malik Willis as a starting quarterback in the NFL than the folks at DraftKings seem to be, but like the aforementioned Cardinals, it seems unlikely that Miami is going to jump in the standings given its own limitations as well as its schedule. I would love to match Willis with Ohio State’s phenomenal receiver Jeremiah Smith here, but the opportunity to land a blue-chip quarterback doesn’t come often, and Moore is certainly that. He is currently a more instinctive and accurate passer than Manning and looks like a lock at this point to be among the first two players selected next spring — even if it requires another team trading up to get him.

I like the veteran additions made by the Jets (on both sides of the ball) and expect the club’s native first-round pick to be much lower than No. 3 overall. That said, with two other first-round picks added via trades, the Jets have the firepower to do whatever they want. With all due respect to the quarterbacks, Smith is arguably the best player in this class, with a frame, speed and star power similar to a young Julio Jones.

The 2027 first-round selection the Browns received from the Rams in the Myles Garrett trade won’t come until much later on Day 1, but with the top quarterbacks off the board and several blue-chip defensive prospects available, Cleveland should be satisfied with reloading on that side of the ball with this pick. Stewart’s blend of burst, bend and length is the building blocks of a future All-Pro. Adding him to a defensive line already featuring Jared Verse and Mason Graham would be exciting.

Based on the investment made this past spring in No. 1 overall selection Fernando Mendoza and veteran Kirk Cousins, new head coach Klint Kubiak may very well push for a wide receiver (Cam Coleman?) with the Raiders’ top choice. But it would be hard to pass up a talent like Moore here. He's right with Derek Stingley and Patrick Surtain II as one of the cleanest cornerback prospects I’ve evaluated over the past decade. Moore combines size, agility, instincts and ball skills to project as a future NFL star.

Perhaps the Falcons will be feeling better about their edge group a year from now, but with James Pearce Jr. out for half the season (suspension) and Jalon Walker out for the entire season (torn ACL), the club has little choice but to have contingency plans. A former linebacker turned edge rusher following a similar path as Arvell Reese and Micah Parsons, Simmons is a one-man wrecking crew who could fix what currently ails Atlanta’s pass rush.

The Titans invested a lot of money ($82 million over four years) in left tackle Dan Moore Jr., and the results last year were typical of what he’d shown earlier in his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers — he surrendered eight sacks over 16 regular-season games. If picking this high, the Titans could see Goosby as an upgrade as Cam Ward’s blindside protector. Goosby put a scare into the Longhorns (and scouts) by going down with a knee injury in August, but he reportedly suffered a bone bruise that should take just weeks, not months, to heal. Goosby was fantastic last season, but it was his first as a starter. If he can build upon it, he has the talent to be the first offensive lineman drafted this spring.

Four Longhorns among the first eight selections of the 2027 NFL draft? It could happen, which is a big reason why Texas is my pick to win the national title this year. An acrobatic one-handed grab shared on social media from camp this summer had fans gushing, but scouts have been tracking Coleman since he flashed at Auburn. A springy athlete with excellent size and tracking skills, Coleman reminds me a lot of another star wideout playing in Texas: Cowboys star George Pickens. Pairing Coleman with reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan would give the Panthers the opportunity to better evaluate Bryce Young in what will be the last year of his rookie contract.

I like the Saints’ young nucleus in the secondary, but GM Mickey Loomis has been doing this too long to think he wouldn’t consider adding another premier cover corner, if available. Robinson isn’t as big or as physical as the aforementioned Leonard Moore, but he possesses elite agility, acceleration and ball skills.

Trading away Dexter Lawrence left a massive hole in the middle of John Harbaugh’s defense, and I think he’ll prioritize replacing him in the draft. Washington may not have the statistics (33 tackles, including 4.5 for loss and 1.5 sacks in 2026) one normally associates with a first-round selection, but had he entered the 2026 draft, I believe he would’ve joined Caleb Banks (Minnesota) and Peter Woods (Kansas City) as a Day 1 pick. Football is a big man’s game, and Washington has rare quickness for his 6-foot-3, 330-pound frame.

We are all eager to see Jayden Daniels back on the field, but unless the Commanders surround him with more dynamic pass-catchers, Daniels might remain largely a one-man show on offense. Call Green a wide receiver or a tight end, the 6-foot-7, 240-pound target is a matchup nightmare.

It would be fascinating if the Jets use the selection gained in the Sauce Gardner trade on a cornerback, but replacing defensive lineman Quinnen Williams on the inside should be an even higher priority. Echoles isn’t as stout at the point of attack as Williams, but he’s cat-quick and passionate, playing with the high-revving motor Aaron Glenn would appreciate.

The Bucs showed clear vision back in 2020 with the selection of Tristan Wirfs out of Iowa and could return to the deepest well for offensive linemen in college football with Lauck, whose lack of ideal length and foot speed could push him inside to guard in the NFL. Big, powerful and technically sound, Lauck is arguably the "safest" of this year’s offensive line prospects. A big contract will certainly be the most important factor in bringing Baker Mayfield back, but boosting the offensive line wouldn’t hurt.

The Vikings surprised some during the 2026 draft with the gamble on uber-talented but inconsistent defensive tackle Caleb Banks. I could see defensive coordinator Brian Flores pushing for a similarly unique prospect in Jones at cornerback. The 6-foot-4, 196-pound Jones allowed a total of 11 receptions last season, corralling receivers with his long arms and shockingly light feet. New general manager Nolan Teasley saw a lot of success in Seattle with oversized cornerbacks and might also be willing to bet big on Jones’ potential.

Patrick Queen is entering the final season of a three-year, $41 million contract. Brown — an All-ACC honoree after each of his first two seasons at Clemson — plays with similar speed at a much lower salary.

The Jaguars saw Devin Lloyd leave for Carolina (and $45 million) in free agency and could be targeting a cheaper (and more versatile) replacement in the 2027 draft. The 6-foot-3, 235-pound Cole has been moved all over Georgia’s defense the past two seasons, so he doesn’t have the stats to suggest he’ll be a first-round pick. But his raw athleticism has scouts projecting him as one of this year’s breakout stars.

Few teams bet on traits like the Bears, and Seaton is as gifted as there is. The biggest question about the former five-star recruit concerns the level of competition he faced at Colorado the past two seasons. The 6-foot-5, 307-pound Seaton boasts rare quickness and agility. If he passes the SEC test, he has a chance to be the first blocker taken next year, and long off the board by this point.

Armed with three first-round picks in a class widely expected to boast a rich quarterback crop, Jets general manager Darren Mougey probably would get run out of town if he didn’t invest a single Day 1 pick on the game’s most important position. Carr is an intriguing fit for New York because he showed exciting awareness and accuracy as a first-year starter last year for Notre Dame and is perhaps better prepared for the mental rigors of playing in the Big Apple — given the scrutiny he’s endured with the Irish along with being the grandson of former Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr.

The Bengals traditionally use their first-round selections on big, fast athletes with high ceilings, but they might make an exception with Bolden. Officially listed by Georgia at 6-0, 195 pounds, Bolden is slighter than most teams want at safety, but his instincts, physicality and closing speed pop off the tape.

The Broncos boast one of the NFL’s most well-rounded rosters, and I think they’ll be picking later than DraftKings’ current projection. Even after investing a couple of Day 3 picks on tight ends in 2026, the position remains one of the few that I think Denver could use reinforcement. Remember, veterans Evan Engram and Lucas Krull are impending free agents. Johnson was overshadowed by Kenyon Sadiq at Oregon last year, but he's one of my favorite breakout candidates this season.

Catastrophic injuries to Tank Dell and now Jayden Higgins are compromising the Texans' passing attack and stunting the development of young quarterback C.J. Stroud. Rather than banking on a return to health from the undeniably talented pass-catchers already on the roster, GM Nick Caserio may opt to add to the room. A Texas native who inherited his parents’ track-star speed, Wesco could be a perfect fit for Houston.

With expected starting center Cade Maye fracturing his wrist in training camp, Detroit GM Brad Holmes might wish that he could invest his club’s 2027 first-round pick on Pieper right now. It isn’t often that teams are willing to select centers in the first round, but if Pieper’s transition to center (from right guard) this season goes as expected, he’ll earn it. He's the most intriguing interior offensive lineman of this class.

Recruited by Jim Harbaugh to Michigan, Hill could be traveling west to rejoin his former head coach. The 6-foot-2, 189-pound Hill doesn’t have the gaudy statistics one normally associates with first-round cornerbacks (two career interceptions), but his length and physicality project well to the next level and I think he’ll flourish under Kyle Whittingham in Ann Arbor this fall.

Everyone knows that Nick Bosa is one of the NFL’s elite edge rushers, but he’s missed a lot of action over his career and is coming off a third torn ACL. Whether it be to complement Bosa or plan for the future, the 49ers must invest in more pass-rushers, and Pierre has both the twitch and toughness that would fit well with their current bunch.

There have been more flashes than consistency from top Kansas City receivers Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy since they entered the NFL in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Perhaps it all comes together for one (or both) this year. If not, Becker is a polished route-runner and hands-catcher whose dependability could be especially coveted by the Chiefs.

I’m a believer in Javonte Williams and head coach Brian Schottenheimer’s offense, but I think the Cowboys will consider adding more juice to their backfield in the near future. It isn’t often that NFL teams are willing to invest a first-round pick on a running back who weighs less than 200 pounds, but Lacy led the SEC with 306 touches and 24 rushing touchdowns a year ago. Some scouts believe he is the second coming of De’Von Achane.

As one might expect of the defending AFC champs, the Patriots boast one of the league’s most complete rosters. Depth at safety is a question, however, especially with veterans Kevin Byard and Mike Brown approaching free agency. Johnson has size (6-foot-2, 195 pounds), speed and ball-hawking skills.

Yes, the Eagles boast reigning All-Pros Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean at cornerback, but both will be seeking a big payday soon enough, while fellow projected starter Riq Woolen is on a one-year deal. The 6-foot-3, 204-pound Hampton looks the part of a future NFL star and has flashy tape, but his technique is inconsistent. Given all the talent in Philly, this defense could be the perfect spot for him to blossom.

Siereveld was the Buckeyes’ starting left tackle a year ago and plays with surprising balance at 6-foot-5, 325 pounds. I think he might be even better inside at guard or center due to his broad, powerful frame.

A fearsome "Darkside" defense powered the Seahawks’ Super Bowl run, but reinforcements are needed on the edge. DeMarcus Lawrence has already announced that this will be his final season in the NFL, while Uchenna Nwosu (who turns 30 in December) is in the final year of his deal. Enter the 6-foot-5, 265-pound Uiagalelei? He wins against the pass and the run with his length, power and pro-ready technique.

Ed Oliver was limited to just three games a season ago due to injury and is grieving the tragic drowning of his 2-year-old son. Buffalo is another situation where the general manager might wish he could use his 2027 first-round pick on a more immediate contributor at a specific position. Should the Bills wait until the draft, adding Moten would make a lot of sense. While he needs to prove that last year’s breakout was not merely the byproduct of opponents focusing heavily on 2026 first-round edge rushers Rueben Bain Jr. (Bucs) and Akheem Mesidor (Chargers), Moten has all the traits to earn first-round consideration.

For decades, Browns fans have wished their beloved team would earn the final first-round pick of a given NFL draft. Well, having acquired the Rams' first-rounder in the Myles Garrett trade might finally provide the opportunity. In the interest of securing the No. 32 pick via winning the Super Bowl, Cleveland will almost certainly target a quarterback on Day 1 of the 2027 draft. One intriguing option is Leavitt, who flashed at Arizona State and I believe will flourish at LSU with Lane Kiffin.

Harshest Punishments In Sports History: How Does The Clippers Ruling Compare?

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:26:04 -0400

The Los Angeles Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer just learned that circumventing the salary cap carries a steep price tag. After concluding its investigation into Kawhi Leonard’s side deals, the NBA delivered a decisive ruling that proves no franchise is above the league's rulebook.

According to ESPN, the NBA is stripping the Clippers of five first-round picks and slapping owner Ballmer with a $30 million fine. Ballmer will also serve a one-year suspension, leaving the Clippers without control over a first-round pick until 2034.

Leonard escaped the harshest discipline, but he was still ordered to pay $700,000 in restitution over improper benefits received by his uncle, Dennis Robertson. The NBA has also banned Robertson from conducting any future business within the league.

This isn't just a slap on the wrist as it’s one of the steepest penalties ever handed down in pro sports. For a young Clippers team on the brink of rebuilding, losing half a decade’s worth of first-round draft capital is an absolute death blow.

With the hammer officially dropped on the Clippers, let’s dive into the history books. These are the most memorable and impactful sports punishments handed out in history.

Winning Super Bowl XLIV gave Saints head coach Sean Payton the breakout moment he needed to earn respect around the league. But that reputation took a hit when an investigation revealed a scandal brewing behind their magical season.

The victory was soon tarnished when an investigation exposed a bounty program led by defensive coordinator Gregg Williams to intentionally injure opponents. Payton covered it up, resulting in a $500,000 fine and the Saints being stripped of two second-round picks.

However, the league's hammer didn't stop swinging at the top.

The league hit Payton with a full, unpaid one-year suspension for 2012 and suspended Williams indefinitely. General manager Mickey Loomis was also held accountable, serving an eight-game suspension without pay.

With the Clippers' latest punishment now out there, it’s worth going back to the Minnesota Timberwolves scandal involving Joe Smith.

Starting in 1999, Smith signed three consecutive low-salary, one-year contracts with the Timberwolves. This raised concerns, which eventually led to the discovery of an under-the-table agreement to circumvent salary cap rules.

Once the investigation concluded, the Timberwolves were fined $3.5 million, owner Glen Taylor and general manager Kevin McHale were suspended. The Timberwolves, similarly to the Clippers, were stripped of five first-round draft picks.

After winning the 2017 World Series, the Houston Astros seemed like the talk of the league and baseball's next dynasty. However, after an MLB investigation revealed they illegally stole signs from opposing teams, public scrutiny and backlash only intensified.

The Astros were fined the maximum of $5 million and stripped of their first- and second-round picks in the 2020 and 2021 MLB Drafts. On top of that, general manager Jeff Luhnow and manager A.J. Hinch were also suspended for one year, prior to their firings.

Despite widespread backlash across the sport, the Astros went on to win the World Series again in 2022. They may have cheated in the past, but winning it all without stealing signs proved just how talented and well-built the Astros roster truly was.

To no one's surprise, the New England Patriots were a lock for this list. Head coach Bill Belichick was no stranger to league discipline, but his involvement in Spygate remains the most notorious stain on the Patriots historic dynasty.

Early in the season, a Patriots video assistant was caught illegally filming the New York Jets' defensive signals from an unauthorized location on the sideline. Because this violated NFL rules, Belichick and the organization faced league discipline.

Belichick was fined $500,000 and the Patriots organization was fined $250,000. Not only were the fines massive, but the team was also stripped of their 2008 first-round pick.

Following the Astros, the Boston Red Sox were also caught stealing signs during their 2018 World Series winning season. The punishment was far lighter compared to the Astros, but still impactful.

Replay operator J.T. Watkins received a one-year suspension, and the team forfeited its 2020 second-round draft pick. Following the investigation, manager Alex Cora was also suspended for one year, but his penalty was from his role in the Astros scandal.

Since the scandal, the Red Sox have made the playoffs only three times, struggling to regain their former league dominance that fans have come to get accustomed to watching.

One of the most impactful punishments involved the SMU Mustangs. Investigators discovered that administrators and boosters were paying football players under the table and this came even while they were already on probation for previous recruiting violations.

The "death penalty" label comes from the sheer severity of the punishment. The NCAA canceled the Mustangs 1987 season, and the heavy restrictions on scholarships and recruiting forced the school to cancel the 1988 season as well.

The severity of the punishment effectively silenced the program for two consecutive seasons. With 55 scholarships stripped over four years, the roster was systematically gutted, triggering a collapse that took them more than two decades to recover from.

As well-respected as the Atlanta Braves are in baseball today, they aren't without their fair share of controversy. From 2015 to 2017, MLB investigators caught the Braves circumventing international signing rules and bonus caps.

For a Braves franchise built on international scouting, the penalty could not have been more damaging. The Braves lost 13 top international prospects, including prized shortstop Kevin Maitan, setting back their international pipeline for years.

From top to bottom, the fallout for the Braves organization extended far beyond the field.

General manager John Coppolella received a lifetime ban from MLB and the Braves were forced to forfeit a 2018 third-round draft pick. It only got worse as the strict bonus limits effectively shut the team out of the international market through the 2021 season.

Pete Carroll departed USC for the Seattle Seahawks in 2010, executing a perfectly timed exit. This came just months before the NCAA hit the Trojans football program with severe 'lack of institutional control' sanctions.

The investigation centered on star running back Reggie Bush receiving improper benefits from sports marketers. Following the probe, the football program was hit with a two-year bowl ban and the loss of 30 football scholarships over three years.

The Trojans were also placed on four years of probation and forced to vacate 14 wins from the 2004 and 2005 seasons, including their national title win. Bush faced severe fallout as well, forfeiting his 2005 Heisman Trophy.

College football has undergone major reforms regarding athlete protection and mandatory reporting policies. This was largely driven by the fallout from former Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky.

Penn State was hit with historic sanctions after university and athletic department leaders conspired to cover up Sandusky's crimes rather than report him to law enforcement. This resulted in one of the most severe punishments in college football history.

The punishment included a $60 million fine, a four-year postseason bowl ban and the loss of 40 scholarships. The Nittany Lions football program was also forced to vacate 112 victories from 1998 through 2011.

Sandusky is currently serving time in prison for his crimes at Penn State. He is serving a 30-to-60-year sentence in a Pennsylvania state prison following his 2012 conviction on 45 counts of child sexual abuse.

Dolphins owner Stephen Ross was at the center of a six-month, league-wide NFL investigation for tampering. The start of the investigation was actually sparked by a lawsuit from former Dolphins head coach Brian Flores.

The lawsuit revealed that the Dolphins had illegal contact with quarterback Tom Brady and Sean Payton while both were under contract with other teams. Given how high-profile the story was, it came as no surprise when the league handed down harsh penalties.

The Dolphins were stripped of a 2023 first-round pick and a 2024 third-round pick, while Ross was suspended and fined $1.5 million. While it remains unclear whether Brady or Payton was planning a team-up, the punishment is one of the most severe in history.

AFC North Predictions: Who Takes The Steelers Spot As The Top AFC North Team?

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 20:46:42 -0400

The Steelers reign as the AFC North title winners, but two teams are emerging as stronger candidates to win one of the most competitive divisions in football this season, at least according to "First Things First."

From the questions surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers' Aaron Rodgers and the Cleveland Browns' Deshaun Watson, and the healthy talent returning on both the Baltimore Ravens' and Cincinnati Bengals' rosters, the AFC North seems to be unpredictable this season. However, Nick Wright, Chris Broussard and Danny Parkins were in unison on who the top two teams in the division will be.

Here are their picks for the AFC North.

Nick Wright put the Cleveland Browns at the bottom and the Ravens at the top, leaving last year's AFC North winners at third.

Wright did not hold back when it came to the Browns, emphasizing that its quarterback situation does not benefit them or its record.

"I think they’re going to be 4-13. I think it’s the worst quarterback situation in the NFL. … I’d be very surprised if they win six games," Wright said on Wednesday's edition of First Things First.

In terms of the Steelers, the return of Rodgers could go South for new head coach Mike McCarthy, especially with Rodgers turning 43 years old this year.

"I think they finish 6-11, but what is Aaron Rodgers going to look like once the weather turns cold? … He turns 43 this year," Wright said. "I would be surprised if, during that stretch that Drew Allar doesn't start a game or two … I do not think Aaron Rodgers will be the starting quarterback all year."

Wright believes that Cincinnati will fall into the same cycle as last year: win nine games and miss the playoffs. Even with quarterback Joe Burrow back in full force with wide receivers Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase, Wright is not buying any of the hype surrounding its offense.

"Winning only nine games and missing the playoffs. It’s basically what they do every year… I think they will have the ninth-best offense in the NFL."

For Wright's No. 1 team, the Ravens, he sets the bar high for quarterback Lamar Jackson and new head coach Jesse Minter. Wright predicts that Baltimore will also land the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

"I would be shocked if they don’t start 6-0. If they don’t just sweep this conference. I am predicting that the Baltimore Ravens will be the No. 1 seed in the AFC," Wright continued. "I think Minter is a breath of fresh air this year. I think Lamar might win his third NFL MVP. They might be a regular season juggernaut."

Chris Broussard and Wright shared the same predictions from top to bottom. However, there's a twist that came with the Bengals.

For Broussard, the Browns were the clear choice for fourth place, especially with their offseason decision on starting quarterback Deshaun Watson.

"I’m stunned that Deshaun Watson has won the job. He hasn’t played well… He better go out and win those first two road games," Broussard said.

Broussard also turned heads when he made his prediction about the Steelers season, noting it could be their first losing season in over two decades.

"This will be the first losing season for the Steelers since 2003. We’re going to find out that Mike Tomlin was really holding that thing together…I think Mike McCarthy is a good coach, but the last two years he was with Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay…they went 8-10-1…with a team that had the potential to win 13 games," Broussard said.

Rodgers left every NFL fan waiting for his offseason decision to return to Pittsburgh, retire or sign with someone new. However, joining forces with McCarthy adds a new element to the Steelers' success this season.

Broussard's prediction for the Bengals is that they do make the playoffs, but won't win the division.

"They get to the playoffs. I’m expecting a nice year from them, I’m expecting Burrow to be healthy," Broussard said. "The defense is just going to be solid… I think the offense is going to be one of the best in the league."

And none other than Broussard's favorite NFL team, the Ravens, took place as the AFC North winners.

"I am EXCITED about this season," Broussard said.

Parkins followed suit with the Browns in last place, thanks to their lack of talent at quarterback.

"Very obvious. They’re going to play three quarterbacks this season… They’re going to move to Shedeur Sanders early, and then they’re going to have no other move, and they’ll be in trouble," Parkins said. "I think that they’re one quarterback away from making things interesting."

The Steelers placed third, noting that their regular season ended with eight wins and Rodgers will be ‘fine’ this season.

"I think they’re going to be fine. I think Aaron Rodgers is going to go out with a whimper, they’ll be an eight-win team," Parkins said.

However, Parkins split off from Broussard and Wright's predictions and placed the Ravens second, but still making the playoffs. Parkins detailed that Minter could be a good hire on paper, but won't know much until the season rolls around.

"I think it’s going to take 12 wins to win this division. … My thing with Baltimore is, I think Jesse Minter is a good hire, but we don’t know," Parkins said. "We have a head coach who’s never been a head coach, you have an offensive coordinator who’s never been a playcaller."

Parkins labeled the Bengals as his team to win the division. However, even with the talented offense Cincinnati has, the Bengals top the Ravens by a very small amount.

"As for Cincinnati, when Joe Burrow, Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase play, they’re 12-6 over the last two seasons and averaging 29 points per game, and they added a ton to their defense. So, on the thinnest of margins, I have the Bengals over the Ravens," Parkins said.

Joel Klatt's 10 Burning Questions Going Into The 2026 College Football Season

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 16:37:01 -0400

Who runs college football? Can Indiana repeat as national champions? Which team is ready to make the leap? And is LSU officially college football's new villain?

The 2026 college football season is here, and the biggest questions in the sport are waiting to be answered.

FOX Sports lead college football analyst Joel Klatt has plenty of thoughts. On the latest episode of "The Joel Klatt Show," Klatt tackles 10 burning questions heading into Week 1, including which teams can actually win it all.

Klatt's Thoughts: "I think this is the biggest question in college football. … The last three National Championships have come out of the Big Ten: Michigan, Ohio State and Indiana. But it's been even more than that because, for so long, the SEC dominated. They were the premier conference in college football by a wide margin. They won everything. … It was also that way in the NFL Draft, every single year, it was the SEC with the most players drafted in the first round … Over the last few years, we've seen the shift happen, not just at the top winning the championships, but also in the records in these bowl games, and, last year, in the first round of the NFL Draft.

"In the last three seasons, the SEC is 0-4 against the Big Ten in the College Football Playoff. … Every single metric you used to hear about and, candidally, the ones that matter, these games that matter, the first-round draft picks, the elite talent, the Big Ten has overtaken the SEC. … I predict that the Big Ten is going to win another championship this year."

Klatt's Thoughts: "This is an emphatic ‘Yes.’ Indiana is a powerhouse right now. Curt Cignetti, I think, is the best coach in college football. That was proven last year. That roster was not as expensive as all the rosters that they were beating in the College Football Playoff. … Cignetti retained all of his staff. This is the one thing that I think is going to be hard to wrap your minds around. They were 16-0 and national champions last year, and the conversations that I'm having with people around the program at Indiana is that they're quietly ahead of where they were each of the last two years right now with this team. There is a chance this is a better team. …

"Josh Hoover is further along in the offense and with his comfort in the offense than Fernando Mendoza was last year or Kurtis Rourke was two years ago. That's something that they point to. The offensive line is further along. … Their front seven on defense might be better than last year, and this was one of the best defenses in college football."

Klatt's Thoughts: "I think the quarterback class is outstanding. You've got Dante Moore, Arch Manning, CJ Carr, Julian Sayin, Darian Mensah, Jayden Maiava, Sam Leavitt and John Mateer. It is littered with guys who could potentially become that guy in college football … Oh, by the way, I haven't even mentioned the guy who is widely considered the best skill position player we've seen in college football, maybe in our lifetimes, but certainly in over a decade in Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. The potential is limitless for college football this year.

"It could be an unbelievable year, and the guy that grabs the sport and brings it down and becomes the face of the sport is going to be the one that plays the best in high-leverage moments and on big stages. That's what it becomes, and that guy's ultimately going to be the Heisman Trophy winner. … My pick to win the Heisman Trophy is Jeremiah Smith."

Klatt's Thoughts: "I think that [new defensive coordinator] Will Muschamp is going to have a huge impact on this season because if he fixes that defense, then, yes, Arch, Sark and Texas can raise their ceiling, but that's really where it lies. It's not with Arch and Sark. It's with Will Muschamp, the offensive line and the defense. Those are the areas for Texas that have got to change. Obviously, they have a difficult schedule. They've got that Ohio State game. They've got to play at Tennessee. They've got Red River [Oklahoma]. They've got Ole Miss. They've got three road trips in November: Missouri, LSU and Texas A&M.

"So this schedule is daunting. There's no doubt, but they are one of the more talented teams in the country. And if they run it and play good defense, then they could easily win a national championship."

Klatt's Thoughts: "Eric Morris at Oklahoma State. He goes from North Texas to Oklahoma State and takes a bunch of his guys with him. Does it remind you of anybody? Yeah, this is exactly what Curt Cignetti did when he went from James Madison to Indiana, and they popped right away and went to the College Football Playoff. Bob Chesney, now going from James Madison to UCLA. Now, I think it will be much more difficult for UCLA than it would be for Oklahoma State because I think the Big Ten is more difficult than the Big 12, but this is a guy who has a quarterback in Nico Iamaleava, and they can increase their win total drastically right away. This is a really good coach.

"I also feel the same way about James Franklin at Virginia Tech. James is a hell of a football coach. At Penn State, his only problem was that he couldn't get all the way to the mountaintop, but, man, he's a great climber. He built a really solid program at Penn State. He did a great job there, couldn't get to the mountaintop, and now he's at Virginia Tech, and I think he will immediately make them better. Those are guys I think could elevate their programs right away."

Klatt's Thoughts: "I've got seven teams that can absolutely win a national championship this year. They've got the roster and everything that you need. … Oregon, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Georgia, Indiana, Texas, Miami: I won't be surprised at all if any of them win the national championship. It's what makes the sport great this year, by the way. I think that's a deeper, more eclectic list than we've had maybe ever in college football, but easily in multiple decades."

Klatt's Thoughts: "They're absolutely the villain. … Now, you have the SEC actively against LSU and Lane Kiffin [the Tigers have been trying to add players who appeared on NFL rosters in training camp to their roster]. … There's no doubt in my mind that he's the villain in college football …

"It would be the shock of all shocks to me if they came together from a chemistry perspective to run the table, win the SEC and win the national championship. It is a different equation now. I think it takes more than talent and a great offensive mind to go and win a national championship. It takes everything. You've got to have chemistry, depth, experience and togetherness. All these things are really hard to build. That's what it takes. Do they have that? I don't know."

Klatt's Thoughts: "Maybe it's BYU out of the Big 12? In the Big Ten, I look at USC, Michigan, Penn State and Washington trying to level themselves up. These teams are very good teams, but you got to prove to me that you can potentially beat one of the top dogs. In the SEC, you got Alabama, LSU, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, and all these different teams. My money would be on three teams that I think have the talent, coaching and potential to actually go up there and beat one of these top-tier teams in these conferences. In the Big Ten, that's USC and Michigan, and in the SEC, it would be LSU, just because of that talent, but we'll see about the chemistry."

Klatt's Thoughts: "How about Texas Tech and Ole Miss taking the next step? … I would not have told you at this point last year that Indiana had the roster or the chemistry or the experience or any of that to go win a national championship, and they did. Maybe that's the case for Texas Tech? They beat up on teams that they should and lost to the best team that they faced in Oregon last year. Everyone's overlooking Ole Miss because Lane Kiffin left. What if they galvanize around Pete Golding with their great quarterback, Trinidad Chambliss, and they move forward and win the SEC? Maybe they just run roughshod over college football, and they become this year's 2025 Indiana."

Klatt's Thoughts: "It's absolutely ‘Yes.’ For all the things that aren't perfect in this sport, all of these changes, however hard they have been to swallow, to watch and work through, have made the sport better. There's been more engagement than ever with college football. …

"Whatever you think about NIL and whatever you think about the transfer portal and whatever you think about the mess that is college football right now from a governance standpoint, these changes, however hard to swallow, have made the sport incredible. We've got great teams. We've got talent all over the country, and we have every single part of this country represented with high expectations and expectations all the way at the top, as high as winning the national championship. That makes it great. We've got great quarterbacks and players. This could be an epic season of college football."

Will Aaron Donald Play At Hall Of Fame Level Again After Return? Scouts Differ

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 15:49:42 -0400

The odds-on favorite to win the Super Bowl got even better on Sunday, with Aaron Donald rejoining the Los Angeles Rams as he ended his retirement after two years. But should we expect Donald to play at the level that won him three Defensive Player of the Year awards this season?

We asked several scouts around the NFL if they think Donald will have a tremendous impact on the Rams this season and what to expect from the 10-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle. The answers we got varied, with some expressing confidence that he'll play at a high level again and others believing we should lower our expectations for Donald.

Here's more about what we learned from our conversations with scouts and people around the league about Donald's return this season.

Eric D. Williams: Yes, he’s 35 years old and hasn’t struck a man in anger with pads on in two seasons. Still, according to scouts I spoke to, they expect Aaron Donald to have the same type of impact the three-time Defensive Player of the Year had when he left the game after the 2023 season.

"If one man can do it – it’s AD," one longtime scout told me. "He still trains like a player. He’s got a strong appetite for ball! He will be a rotational player, but the snaps will be significant!"

Another scout noted the amount of time Donald spent working out before returning to the field last week. Donald said he spent 14 weeks of intense workouts with personal trainers before determining he was in good enough shape to rejoin the Los Angeles Rams.

"I thought this would be the time he would return," the scout told me. "It looks like they kept tabs on his conditioning too, with several workouts. I’d say he’s a sub-package, plug-and-play guy the first two weeks and then can be an every-down guy after that.

"There will probably be some rust, and the wear and tear may show some. But he’s still a difference maker and leader."

However, not everyone I spoke with offered a glowing perspective on Donald’s return.

"My guess is he is a good player, but not great anymore," a league source told me. "I think he plays around 35 to 40% of the defensive snaps for the Rams this year.

"To me, it’s more about his age than missing time. How many great 35-year-old defensive players are there in the NFL right now?"

Donald has played at least 67% of his team's defensive snaps in each season of his NFL career, including 81% of the Rams' defensive snaps in his last season, per Pro Football Reference. But some older defensive linemen turn into one-down players as they reach the later portions of their career. Von Miller, for instance, played just 37% of the Washington Commanders' defensive snaps last season at age 36.

Ralph Vacchiano: The rich got a little richer when Aaron Donald returned to the Los Angeles Rams this week. But not everyone is convinced that the addition of the future Hall of Famer is the luxury that it seems.

"Look, he’s an all-time great player," an NFL scout told me. "He’s probably still great. I wouldn’t bet against him. But he’s not immune to reality. He’s 35. He retired three years ago. It’s not easy to play at that age. It’s even harder being away for so long."

"Wait and see," another NFL scout told me via text. "The guy was a monster. Is he still? I need to see it first."

Donald last played in 2023 when he had a respectable eight sacks in 16 games, and his last double-digit sack season was 2021 when he had 12.5. But it certainly seems like he has a chance to reach those numbers again playing on a defensive line with Myles Garrett, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year who set an NFL record with 23 sacks last season.

"If he’s healthy, you can’t block them both. It’s a problem for everybody," the first scout told me. "But it’s the health I’m worried about. He’ll say he’s in phenomenal shape. I’m sure he looks it. But working out for a few years is different than playing football for a few years. It just is.

"And he’s going to feel it."

With SEC Expulsion Threats, Could LSU Really Operate As An Independent?

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 13:10:58 -0400

In Follow The Money, Ben Portnoy will bring you into a weekly deep dive into the business of college sports.

Before we jump in, I thought it would be helpful to briefly explain what we’re doing here.

College sports have never experienced a more topsy-turvy era. Longtime traditions and the increased need for commercialization are clashing at every turn. Quarterbacks are signing multi-million dollar deals. Television contracts are popular fodder for fan bases. Even jersey patch deals are becoming mainstream.

Each week we’ll capture some of the angst and inherent fluidity of the ecosystem as we look at the off-the-field storylines that are shaping what you’re seeing on Saturdays.

With that, let’s get into it.

There is no place quite like Baton Rouge.

This is a city where football is king, where politics and the Tigers intertwine like PB&J and where power struggles and backroom dealings are the currency of the day.

So what better place to begin the 2026 football season than a Louisiana courtroom?

For those who haven’t spent the last two weeks locked into PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) tracking court cases, let’s rehash what’s happening down on the bayou:

Yeah, it’s a lot.

That said, the LSU situation got me thinking: What if the SEC really did kick the Tigers from the league? And, if it did, what kind of brand value or sponsorship dollars might LSU command on the open market as an independent?

"A conference like the SEC is just bigger than a single school," Rob Temple, CEO of Pivotal Sports & Entertainment, told me. "A team moving out of it may have a change or an impact on its sponsors tied to the school or whatever, but the big money around advertising and distribution of content, all that kind of flows to another place.

"But the idea of private equity coming into college sports — just like Americans have gone and become owners in the EPL — if that dynamic ever came into college sports, and you got into valuations of franchises, that’s different. That's a huge hypothetical."

Independence isn’t anything new in college sports. Notre Dame is the poster child, but others have played this game — BYU in the 2010s and Miami in the 1980s immediately come to mind. Pulling it off these days, however, is increasingly complicated.

For one, scheduling is its own challenge. Independent UConn and its administrators have long addressed the issues this poses in trying to piece together a coherent ledger.

There’s also a matter of whether LSU would subsequently control its own media rights or whether it'd remain tied to the SEC’s ongoing deal with ESPN. The rights would likely revert to the school, but that’s no guarantee — see Clemson and Florida State’s lawsuits against the ACC in recent years for further proof.

Media rights control aside, the most obvious parallel in all of this is Notre Dame, which brings home an annual payout that neighbors the SEC and Big Ten’s media rights distributions in the $75 million range through its NBC deal and arrangement with the ACC.

Could LSU fetch that on the open market? That’s less clear.

"It's no knock on LSU; it’s just Notre Dame has been Notre Dame, and they've operated independently for so long that to assume LSU would immediately have that same level of independent value is probably unlikely," one media rights consultant told me. "Do they have a good shot of it? Sure, perhaps in the Southwest, but I think the point is, I don't know if they have that same level of national recognition and standing to be considered independent."

There’s also the matter of the school’s broader business value.

The Athletic conducted a study in July that suggested LSU would be the 11th-most valuable program in the country at around $1.3 billion.

That shouldn’t come as a huge surprise.

LSU athletics has reported north of $120 million in revenue every year since 2015 and almost $200 million or more since 2022, per the Knight-Newhouse College Athletics Database. It also reported at least $60 million in donor contributions annually since 2022, while corporate sponsorship and licensing dollars have jumped from $3.3 million in 2022 to $5 million in 2025.

Pro sports exist in Louisiana, but it’s fall Saturdays at Tiger Stadium that capture the consciousness of the state in a way the Saints and Pelicans can’t quite muster — and why a pending game of chicken between LSU and the SEC has everyone paying attention.

"The SEC and Commissioner Sankey are prepared to contest the allegations in the plaintiffs’ petition at Thursday morning’s hearing," the league wrote in a statement released on Sunday night, "and defend the SEC’s rights as a voluntary association to fulfill its mission to its member institutions."

"This whole thing is ridiculous. Don’t hate the player, hate the game." — Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry in a statement to Front Office Sports on the ongoing eligibility fight in the state.

Duke announced a five-year agreement with Edward Jones, which, at face-value, isn’t going to force eyebrows to raise.

That the Blue Devils brass is allowing the company to place its branding on the floor at Cameron Indoor Stadium, however, is noteworthy.

"It’s balancing our needs with the history and tradition, evolving with the current landscape and figuring out what is right to do here," Duke athletics director Nina King told me by phone. "I'm just really excited by how this looks. It's not like, ‘Oh my goodness, we turned into NASCAR.’"

Michigan added signage within the Big House for the first time in recent weeks. Now, Duke is following suit. Such is life in college sports these days.

Cowboys COO Stephen Jones: 'Difficult' To Pay Both CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 13:03:28 -0400

Maybe Dallas Cowboys fans should enjoy having CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens in the same offense while they still can.

"I don't know of any teams that really can pay two top receivers top of the market [money], so that's going to be a really difficult situation as we move forward," Cowboys COO Stephen Jones said about Pickens' future in Dallas in an interview on the DLLS Cowboys podcast on Tuesday.

"We've managed to figure out how we can do it for this year. If everything works out the way we think it is, [in] which CeeDee and George both have huge years again, then it'll be a bigger challenge next year."

Coming off a breakout 2025 campaign that saw Pickens total 93 receptions for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns — all three totals led the Cowboys and were career highs — and earn his first career Pro Bowl, Dallas placed the $27.3 million franchise tag on the now-fifth-year receiver in February, whom they acquired from the Pittsburgh Steelers the offseason prior.

Meanwhile, the Cowboys signed Lamb, a 2023 All-Pro and a Pro Bowler in each of the last four years, to a four-year, $136 million deal in Aug. 2024. Last season (2025), Lamb totaled 75 receptions for 1,077 yards and three touchdowns across 14 games (he missed three games due to an ankle injury). From 2021-25, Lamb averaged 99.4 receptions for 1,296.2 yards and 7.2 touchdowns per year.

Regarding the wide receiver market, Jaxon Smith-Njigba became the highest-paid receiver in NFL history this offseason, inking a four-year, $168.6 million extension ($42.2 million average annual value) with the Seattle Seahawks.

On the paying multiple wide receivers top-line money front, the Cincinnati Bengals are paying roughly $69.1 million in salary to Ja'Marr Chase ($40.3 million AAV) and Tee Higgins ($28.8 million AAV), while the Detroit Lions are paying roughly $56.7 million in salary to Amon-Ra St. Brown ($30 million AAV) and Jameson Williams ($26.7 million AAV).

Dallas is paying a combined $61.3 million to Lamb and Pickens this season. For perspective, the Bengals haven't made the playoffs since 2022, while the Cowboys haven't reached the playoffs since 2023.

"George is really wanting to put back-to-back years on top of one another, so it'll help his market," Jones said. "And certainly, I know at some point, as does every player in this league, he'll want to be rewarded with a long-term contract. So that certainly puts pressure on us to have a unique situation there at wide receiver."

Dallas opens its 2026 regular season on the road against the New York Giants on Sept. 13.

Vikings Reportedly Sign Edge Rusher Kyle Van Noy, Reuniting Him With Brian Flores

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 12:57:28 -0400

With the NFL season about a week away from kickoff, Minnesota Vikings general manager Nolan Teasley isn’t slowing down constructing the roster.

On Tuesday night, the Vikings signed veteran edge rusher Kyle Van Noy, first reported by The Ringer. The 35-year-old veteran reunites with defensive coordinator Brian Flores, with whom he won two Super Bowls on the New England Patriots.

Van Noy has bounced around the league over his career. After being drafted in the second round by the Detroit Lions in 2014, he went on to play for the Patriots, the Miami Dolphins under Flores, the Los Angeles Chargers, and most recently, the Baltimore Ravens.

ESPN reported early Tuesday morning that Van Noy was visiting Minnesota, and with the visit now wrapped up, the signing is officially done.

His 2024 season with the Ravens was highly productive, highlighted by a career-high 12.5 sacks. Van Noy has built a career on leadership and mentorship inside winning organizations, which are qualities head coach Kevin O’Connell could be looking to add in Minnesota.

After trading away Pro Bowl edge rusher Jonathan Greenard during the draft, the Vikings were left needing depth and experience upfront. Pairing Van Noy with first-year starter Dallas Turner and Andrew Van Ginkel instantly stabilizes their pass-rush rotation.

The Vikings also added raw Cincinnati hybrid linebacker Jake Golday in the second round of this year's draft. Adding Van Noy to the fold gives O’Connell and Flores a well-balanced group featuring proven veteran leadership and high-upside depth to start the season.

Flores' defense was top-tier last season, ranking third in total yards allowed (282.6) and seventh in points against (19.6). Adding Van Noy as a rotational pass rusher could give the Vikings the extra edge they need for a fast start when they host the Green Bay Packers in Week 1.