“THE SCOREBOARD”
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SCOREBOARD
DIAMONDBACKS 4, DODGERS 3
RED SOX 13, ATHLETICS 1
YANKEES 3, BRAVES 2 (10 INNINGS)
METS 6, PIRATES 4
GUARDIANS 8, WHITE SOX 2
TWINS 8, BREWERS 6
ANGELS 4, MARLINS 3
NATIONALS 5, REDS 3
CUBS 6, ROYALS 4
ASTROS 6, PADRES 3
RANGERS 2, ORIOLES 1
CARDINALS 3, ROCKIES 2
BLUE JAYS 5, PHILLIES 4
RAYS 2, MARINERS 1
GIANTS 5, TIGERS 2
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MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SCOREBOARD
IOWA 9 INDIANAPOLIS 3
CEDAR RAPIDS 15 SOUTH BEND 2
WEST MICHIGAN 14 FT. WAYNE 4
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WNBA SCOREBOARD
SUN 75 MERCURY 72
MYSTICS 79 DREAM 74
VALKYRIES 94 WINGS 76
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INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULES
https://scoreboard.homestead.com/football/teams.htm#load
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INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL
https://www.maxpreps.com/in/volleyball
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INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL BOYS SOCCER
https://www.maxpreps.com/in/soccer
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INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS SOCCER
https://www.maxpreps.com/in/soccer/girls
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INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
https://www.ihsaa.org/sports/boys/cross-country
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INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
https://www.ihsaa.org/sports/girls/cross-country
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INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL BOYS TENNIS
https://www.ihsaa.org/sports/boys/tennis
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INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL WEEK 1
ALL TIMES EASTERN
ADAMS CENTRAL AT FORT WAYNE LUERS 7:00 PM
ALEXANDRIA AT GREENFIELD-CENTRAL 7:00 PM
ANDREAN AT MERRILLVILLE 8:00 PM
ANGOLA AT GOSHEN 7:00 PM
ATTICA AT FAITH CHRISTIAN 7:00 PM
AVON AT DECATUR CENTRAL 7:00 PM
BATESVILLE AT TRITON CENTRAL 7:00 PM
BELLMONT AT MADISON-GRANT 7:00 PM
BLOOMINGTON SOUTH AT BLOOMINGTON NORTH 7:00 PM
BOONVILLE AT EVANSVILLE BOSSE 7:30 PM
BROWN COUNTY AT OWEN VALLEY 7:00 PM
BROWNSBURG AT LAWRENCE NORTH 7:00 PM
BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL AT CORYDON CENTRAL 7:00 PM
CARROLL (FLORA) AT SEEGER 7:00 PM
CASCADE AT MONROVIA 7:00 PM
CASTLE AT EVANSVILLE NORTH 7:30 PM
CASTON AT WHITKO 7:00 PM
CENTRAL NOBLE AT CULVER 7:30 PM
CHRISTEL HOUSE AT BOWMAN ACADEMY 7:30 PM
CHURUBUSCO AT BREMEN 7:00 PM
CLINTON CENTRAL AT FRANKFORT 7:00 PM
CLINTON PRAIRIE AT FRONTIER 7:00 PM
COLUMBUS EAST AT MOORESVILLE 7:00 PM
COLUMBUS NORTH AT WHITELAND 7:00 PM
COVENANT CHRISTIAN AT PARK TUDOR 7:00 PM
COVINGTON AT TRI-COUNTY 7:00 PM
CRAWFORDSVILLE AT PARKE HERITAGE 7:00 PM
DELPHI AT BENTON CENTRAL 7:00 PM
DELTA AT MUNCIE CENTRAL 7:30 PM
EASTERN (GREENTOWN) AT OAK HILL 7:00 PM
EASTERN (PEKIN) AT WEST WASHINGTON 7:00 PM
ELKHART AT CONCORD 7:00 PM
ELWOOD AT SOUTHERN WELLS 7:00 PM
EVANSVILLE HARRISON AT EVANSVILLE REITZ 7:30 PM
EVANSVILLE MATER DEI AT EVANSVILLE CENTRAL 7:30 PM
EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL AT JASPER 7:30 PM
FAIRFIELD AT CALUMET 7:30 PM
FISHERS AT CARMEL 7:00 PM
FLOYD CENTRAL AT GIBSON SOUTHERN 7:30 PM
FORT WAYNE NORTH AT EAST NOBLE 7:00 PM
FORT WAYNE SNIDER AT WARSAW 7:00 PM
FORT WAYNE WAYNE AT LEO 7:00 PM
FRANKLIN AT SOUTHPORT 7:00 PM
FRANKLIN CENTRAL AT PLAINFIELD 7:00 PM
FRANKTON AT TIPTON 7:00 PM
FREMONT AT FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK 7:00 PM
GARRETT AT DEKALB 7:00 PM
GARY WEST AT FORT WAYNE NORTHROP 7:00 PM
GREENCASTLE AT CLOVERDALE 7:00 PM
GREENSBURG AT SHELBYVILLE 7:00 PM
HAGERSTOWN AT KNIGHTSTOWN 7:00 PM
HAMILTON HEIGHTS AT LAPEL 7:00 PM
HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN AT CARROLL (FORT WAYNE) 7:30 PM
HAMMOND CENTRAL AT SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON 7:30 PM
HAMMOND MORTON AT PORTAGE 8:00 PM
HAMMOND NOLL AT SOUTH BEND RILEY 7:30 PM
HARRISON (WEST LAFAYETTE) AT WEST LAFAYETTE 7:30 PM
HENRYVILLE AT CLARKSVILLE 7:00 PM
HERITAGE HILLS AT SOUTH SPENCER 8:00 PM
HIGHLAND AT GRIFFITH 8:00 PM
HOBART AT CHESTERTON 8:00 PM
HUNTINGTON NORTH AT EASTBROOK 7:00 PM
INDIANAPOLIS ARSENAL TECH AT NOBLESVILLE 7:00 PM
INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL AT BEN DAVIS 7:00 PM
INDIANAPOLIS CHATARD AT LAFAYETTE JEFF 7:00 PM
INDIANAPOLIS HOMESCHOOL AT CAMBRIDGE CITY LINCOLN 7:00 PM
INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN AT INDIANAPOLIS ATTUCKS 7:00 PM
INDIANAPOLIS RITTER AT DANVILLE 7:00 PM
INDIANAPOLIS RONCALLI AT FORT WAYNE DWENGER 7:00 PM
INDIANAPOLIS SCECINA AT FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA 7:00 PM
INDIANAPOLIS TINDLEY AT EDINBURGH 7:00 PM
JAY COUNTY AT BLACKFORD 7:00 PM
JEFFERSONVILLE AT LAWRENCE CENTRAL 7:00 PM
JENNINGS COUNTY AT PAOLI 7:00 PM
JOHN GLENN AT BOONE GROVE 7:30 PM
KNOX AT NORTH JUDSON 8:00 PM
LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC AT MITCHELL 7:30 PM
LAPORTE AT NEW PRAIRIE 8:00 PM
LAVILLE AT TRITON 7:00 PM
LAWRENCEBURG AT EAST CENTRAL 7:30 PM
LOGANSPORT AT PERU 7:00 PM
LOWELL AT CROWN POINT 8:00 PM
MARION AT FORT WAYNE SOUTH 7:00 PM
MARTINSVILLE AT BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE 7:00 PM
MCCUTCHEON AT GUERIN CATHOLIC 7:00 PM
MICHIGAN CITY AT HANOVER CENTRAL 8:00 PM
MILAN AT RUSHVILLE 7:00 PM
MISHAWAKA AT MISHAWAKA MARIAN 7:00 PM
MOUNT VERNON (FORTVILLE) AT KOKOMO 7:00 PM
MOUNT VERNON (POSEY) AT FOREST PARK 7:30 PM
MUNSTER AT LAKE CENTRAL 8:00 PM
NEW CASTLE AT FRANKLIN COUNTY 7:00 PM
NEW HAVEN AT HERITAGE 7:00 PM
NORTH CENTRAL (FARMERSBURG) AT NORTH VERMILLION 7:00 PM
NORTH CENTRAL (INDIANAPOLIS) AT BREBEUF JESUIT 7:00 PM
NORTH DAVIESS AT WASHINGTON 7:00 PM
NORTH DECATUR AT SOUTH DECATUR 7:00 PM
NORTH HARRISON AT SALEM 7:00 PM
NORTH NEWTON AT WHITING 8:00 PM
NORTH POSEY AT SOUTHRIDGE 7:30 PM
NORTH PUTNAM AT SOUTH PUTNAM 7:00 PM
NORTH WHITE AT TAYLOR 7:00 PM
NORTHEASTERN AT EASTERN HANCOCK 7:00 PM
NORTHFIELD AT NORTH MIAMI 7:00 PM
NORTHRIDGE AT WEST NOBLE 7:00 PM
NORTHVIEW AT TERRE HAUTE NORTH 7:00 PM
NORTHWESTERN AT MANCHESTER 7:00 PM
NORTHWOOD AT COLUMBIA CITY 7:00 PM
NORWELL AT MISSISSINEWA 7:00 PM
OSCEOLA GRACE AT PURDUE ENGLEWOOD 8:00 PM
PENDLETON HEIGHTS AT LEBANON 7:00 PM
PERRY MERIDIAN AT BEECH GROVE 7:00 PM
PHALEN ACADEMY AT INDIANAPOLIS WASHINGTON 7:00 PM
PIKE CENTRAL AT EASTERN GREENE 7:00 PM
PIONEER AT LEWIS CASS 7:00 PM
PLYMOUTH AT TIPPECANOE VALLEY 7:00 PM
PRAIRIE HEIGHTS AT WOODLAN 7:00 PM
PRINCETON AT TECUMSEH 8:00 PM
PROVIDENCE AT NEW ALBANY 7:00 PM
RENSSELAER CENTRAL AT KANKAKEE VALLEY 8:00 PM
RICHMOND AT CONNERSVILLE 7:00 PM
RIVER FOREST AT EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL 8:00 PM
RIVERTON PARKE VS. LINTON 7:30 PM
SCOTTSBURG AT MADISON 7:00 PM
SEYMOUR AT GREENWOOD 7:00 PM
SHENANDOAH AT BLUFFTON 7:30 PM
SILVER CREEK AT CHARLESTOWN 7:00 PM
SOUTH ADAMS AT EASTSIDE 7:00 PM
SOUTH BEND ADAMS AT CULVER ACADEMY 7:00 PM
SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH AT LAKELAND 7:00 PM
SOUTH CENTRAL (UNION MILLS) AT WHEELER 8:00 PM
SOUTH NEWTON AT LAKE STATION 8:00 PM
SOUTHMONT AT FOUNTAIN CENTRAL 7:00 PM
SOUTHWOOD AT ROCHESTER 7:00 PM
SPEEDWAY AT HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 7:00 PM
SPRINGS VALLEY AT EDGEWOOD 7:00 PM
SULLIVAN AT NORTH KNOX 7:00 PM
SWITZERLAND COUNTY AT CRAWFORD COUNTY 7:00 PM
TELL CITY AT PERRY CENTRAL 8:00 PM
TERRE HAUTE SOUTH AT VINCENNES LINCOLN 7:00 PM
TRI-CENTRAL AT WES-DEL 7:00 PM
TRINITY LUTHERAN AT INDIANAPOLIS SHORTRIDGE 7:00 PM
TWIN LAKES AT NORTH MONTGOMERY 7:00 PM
UNION CITY AT TRI 7:00 PM
UNION COUNTY AT MONROE CENTRAL 7:30 PM
VALPARAISO AT PENN 7:30 PM
WABASH AT MACONAQUAH 7:00 PM
WALNUT HILLS (OHIO) AT SOUTH DEARBORN 7:00 PM
WARREN CENTRAL AT CENTER GROVE 7:00 PM
WAWASEE AT JIMTOWN 7:00 PM
WEST CENTRAL AT WINAMAC 7:00 PM
WEST VIGO AT SOUTH VERMILLION 7:00 PM
WESTERN AT INDIAN CREEK 7:00 PM
WESTERN BOONE AT TRI-WEST 7:00 PM
WESTFIELD AT HOMESTEAD 7:00 PM
WHEATON ST. FRANCIS (ILL.) AT NEW PALESTINE 7:00 PM
WINCHESTER AT CENTERVILLE 7:00 PM
YORKTOWN AT ANDERSON 7:00 PM
ZIONSVILLE AT PIKE 7:00 PM
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COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 1 SCHEDULE/TV
FRIDAY, AUG. 28
IDAHO AT CAL POLY | 10 P.M. | ESPN
SATURDAY, AUG. 29
TCU VS. NORTH CAROLINA (AVIVA STADIUM IN DUBLIN, IRELAND) | 12 P.M. | ESPN
SAN JOSE STATE AT USC | 3 P.M. | NBC
ALABAMA STATE VS. SOUTHERN (LEGION FIELD IN BIRMINGHAM, ALA.) | 3 P.M. | ESPNU
NC STATE AT VIRGINIA | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN
JACKSONVILLE STATE AT NORTH DAKOTA STATE | 5:30 P.M. | CBSSN
SACRAMENTO STATE AT EASTERN MICHIGAN | 6:30 P.M. | ESPN+
HAWAI’I AT STANFORD | 7 P.M. | ACC NETWORK
NEW MEXICO STATE AT FLORIDA STATE | 7 P.M. | THE CW NETWORK
EAST TEXAS A&M AT MERCER | 7 P.M. | ESPN
HOWARD VS. ALABAMA A&M (CENTER PARC STADIUM IN ATLANTA) | 7:30 P.M. | ABC
PRAIRIE VIEW A&M AT TARLETON STATE | 9 P.M. | ESPN2
MEMPHIS AT UNLV | 10 P.M. | FOX
WEEK 1
THURSDAY, SEPT. 3
UMASS AT RUTGERS | 6 P.M. | BIG TEN NETWORK
BETHUNE-COOKMAN AT UCF | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
AKRON AT WAKE FOREST | 7 P.M. | ACC NETWORK
MERRIMACK AT DELAWARE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
WEST GEORGIA AT KENNESAW STATE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
UALBANY AT BUFFALO | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF AT MISSOURI | 8 P.M. | SEC NETWORK
COLORADO AT GEORGIA TECH | 8 P.M. | ESPN
EASTERN ILLINOIS AT MINNESOTA | 8 P.M. | PEACOCK
IDAHO AT UTAH | 9 P.M. | ESPNU
UAB AT ILLINOIS | 9 P.M. | BIG TEN NETWORK
FRIDAY, SEPT. 3
SAN JOSE STATE AT EASTERN MICHIGAN | 6:30 P.M. | ESPN+
INDIANA STATE AT PURDUE | 7 P.M. | BIG TEN NETWORK
NORTH CAROLINA A&T AT GEORGIA STATE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
UTEP AT OKLAHOMA | 8 P.M. | SECN+
LIU AT KANSAS | 8 P.M. | ESPNU
TOLEDO AT MICHIGAN STATE | 8 P.M. | FS1
MIAMI (FLA.) AT STANFORD | 9 P.M. | ESPN
FRESNO STATE AT USC | 9 P.M. | FOX
SATURDAY, SEPT. 4
EAST CAROLINA AT ALABAMA | 12 P.M. | ABC
OREGON STATE AT HOUSTON | 12 P.M. | ESPN
COASTAL CAROLINA AT WEST VIRGINIA | 12 P.M. | TNT/HBO MAX
NEW HAMPSHIRE AT SYRACUSE | 12 P.M. | ACC NETWORK
NORTH TEXAS AT INDIANA | 12 P.M. | FOX
OHIO AT NEBRASKA | 12 P.M. | FS1
BRYANT AT ARMY | 12 P.M. | CBSSN
TARLETON STATE AT BOWLING GREEN | 12 P.M. | ESPN+
LIBERTY AT JAMES MADISON | 12 P.M. | ESPNU
MIAMI (OHIO) AT PITT | 12:30 P.M. | ESPN UNLIMITED AND THE CW NETWORK
BALL STATE AT OHIO STATE | 12:30 P.M. | BIG TEN NETWORK
KENT STATE AT SOUTH CAROLINA | 12:45 P.M. | SEC NETWORK
YOUNGSTOWN STATE AT KENTUCKY | 1 P.M. | SECN+
SE MISSOURI STATE AT IOWA STATE | 1 P.M. | ESPN+
DUQUESNE AT AIR FORCE | 1 P.M. | MW+
RHODE ISLAND AT TEMPLE | 2 P.M. | ESPN+
TENNESSEE STATE AT GEORGIA | 3 P.M. | SECN+
AUBURN VS. BAYLOR (MERCEDES-BENZ STADIUM IN ATLANTA) | 3:30 P.M. | ABC
FURMAN AT TENNESSEE | 3:30 P.M. | SECN+
TEXAS STATE AT TEXAS | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN
BOSTON COLLEGE AT CINCINNATI | 3:30 P.M. | FOX
TULANE AT DUKE | 3:30 P.M. | ACC NETWORK
BOISE STATE AT OREGON | 3:30 P.M. | CBS
MARSHALL AT PENN STATE | 3:30 P.M. | FS1
THE CITADEL AT CHARLOTTE | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+
TOWSON AT NAVY | 3:30 P.M. | CBSSN
UT RIO GRANDE VALLEY AT UTSA | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+
FORDHAM AT NORTH DAKOTA STATE | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN UNLIMITED AND THE CW NETWORK
MAINE AT APP STATE | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+
OKLAHOMA STATE AT TULSA | 3:45 P.M. | ESPNU
NORTH ALABAMA AT ARKANSAS | 4:15 P.M. | SEC NETWORK
NORTHERN ILLINOIS AT IOWA | 4:15 P.M. | BIG TEN NETWORK
ALCORN STATE AT SOUTHERN MISS | 5 P.M. | ESPN+
WYOMING AT COLORADO STATE | 6 P.M. | USA NETWORK
NORFOLK STATE AT OLD DOMINION | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
MISSOURI STATE AT TEXAS A&M | 7 P.M. | ESPN
AUSTIN PEAY AT VANDERBILT | 7 P.M. | SECN+
ABILENE CHRISTIAN AT TEXAS TECH | 7 P.M. | FS1
NICHOLLS AT KANSAS STATE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
IDAHO STATE AT UTAH STATE | 7 P.M. | CBSSN
ARKANSAS STATE AT MEMPHIS | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
HOUSTON CHRISTIAN AT RICE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL AT SOUTH FLORIDA | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
MURRAY STATE AT MIDDLE TENNESSEE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
EASTERN KENTUCKY AT JACKSONVILLE STATE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
CHARLESTON SOUTHERN AT GEORGIA SOUTHERN | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
SE LOUISIANA AT SOUTH ALABAMA | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
SAM HOUSTON AT TROY | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
CLEMSON AT LSU | 7:30 P.M. | ABC
UL MONROE AT MISSISSIPPI STATE | 7:30 P.M. | ESPNU
VMI AT VIRGINIA TECH | 7:30 P.M. | ACC NETWORK
WESTERN MICHIGAN AT MICHIGAN | 7:30 P.M. | NBC
NORTHWESTERN STATE AT LOUISIANA TECH | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN+
FLORIDA ATLANTIC AT FLORIDA | 7:45 P.M. | SEC NETWORK
UTAH TECH AT BYU | 8 P.M. | ESPN+
HAMPTON AT MARYLAND | 8 P.M. | BIG TEN NETWORK
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE AT NORTHWESTERN | 8 P.M. | BIG TEN NETWORK
LAMAR AT LOUISIANA | 8 P.M. | ESPN+
MORGAN STATE AT ARIZONA STATE | 9 P.M. | ESPN+
MERCYHURST AT NEW MEXICO STATE | 9 P.M. | ESPN+
NORTHERN ARIZONA AT ARIZONA | 9:30 P.M. | ESPN+
PORTLAND STATE AT SAN DIEGO STATE | 9:30 P.M. | USA NETWORK
UNLV AT HAWAI’I | 10 P.M. | ESPN UNLIMITED AND THE CW NETWORK
CENTRAL MICHIGAN AT NEW MEXICO | 10 P.M. | FS1
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE AT SACRAMENTO STATE | 10 P.M. | ESPN+
UCLA AT CAL | 10:30 P.M. | ESPN
WESTERN KENTUCKY AT NEVADA | 10:30 P.M. | CBSSN
SUNDAY, SEPT. 6
TEXAS SOUTHERN AT PRAIRIE VIEW A&M | 12 P.M. | ESPN2
FLORIDA A&M VS. SOUTH CAROLINA STATE (HARD ROCK STADIUM IN MIAMI GARDENS, FLA.) | 3 P.M. | ESPN
WASHINGTON STATE AT WASHINGTON | 4 P.M. | NBC
OLE MISS VS. LOUISVILLE (NISSAN STADIUM IN NASHVILLE, TENN.) | 7:30 P.M. | ABC
NOTRE DAME VS. WISCONSIN (LAMBEAU FIELD IN GREEN BAY, WIS.) | 7:30 P.M. | NBC
MONDAY, SEPT. 7
SMU AT FLORIDA STATE | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN
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NFL PRE-SEASON SCHEDULE
WEEK 1
THURSDAY, AUGUST 13
DETROIT AT CINCINNATI, 7:00
GREEN BAY AT PITTSBURGH, 7:00
INDIANAPOLIS AT NEW ENGLAND, 7:30
L.A. CHARGERS AT HOUSTON, 8:00
ARIZONA AT LAS VEGAS, 8:00
TENNESSEE AT SAN FRANCISCO, 9:00
FRIDAY, AUGUST 14
DENVER AT ATLANTA, 7:00
TAMPA BAY AT N.Y. JETS, 7:00
MIAMI AT WASHINGTON, 7:00
SATURDAY, AUGUST 15
CAROLINA AT BUFFALO, 1:00
CLEVELAND AT CHICAGO, 1:00
MINNESOTA AT N.Y. GIANTS, 1:00
L.A. RAMS AT KANSAS CITY, 4:00
JACKSONVILLE AT NEW ORLEANS, 4:00
PHILADELPHIA AT BALTIMORE, 7:00
DALLAS AT SEATTLE, 8:00
WEEK 2
THURSDAY, AUGUST 20
LAS VEGAS AT HOUSTON (ESPN), 8:00
SAN FRANCISCO AT L.A. CHARGERS, 10:00
FRIDAY, AUGUST 21
N.Y. JETS AT PITTSBURGH, 7:00
CAROLINA AT JACKSONVILLE, 7:30
GREEN BAY AT DENVER, 9:00
SATURDAY, AUGUST 22
WASHINGTON AT DETROIT, NOON
BUFFALO AT CLEVELAND, 1:00
ATLANTA AT INDIANAPOLIS, 1:00
BALTIMORE AT MINNESOTA, 1:00
NEW ORLEANS AT L.A. RAMS, 4:00
N.Y. GIANTS AT MIAMI, 4:00
CHICAGO AT CINCINNATI, 7:00
PHILADELPHIA AT NEW ENGLAND, 7:00
KANSAS CITY AT TAMPA BAY, 7:30
DALLAS AT ARIZONA, 10:00
SUNDAY, AUGUST 23
SEATTLE AT TENNESSEE (FOX), 8:00
WEEK 3
THURSDAY, AUGUST 27
PITTSBURGH AT BUFFALO, 7:00
NEW ENGLAND AT CLEVELAND (PRIME VIDEO), 8:00
SAN FRANCISCO AT LAS VEGAS, 8:00
L.A. RAMS AT L.A. CHARGERS, 10:00
FRIDAY, AUGUST 28
WASHINGTON AT BALTIMORE, 6:00
HOUSTON AT CAROLINA, 7:00
ATLANTA AT MIAMI, 7:00
TAMPA BAY AT JACKSONVILLE, 7:30
N.Y. GIANTS AT N.Y. JETS, 7:30
NEW ORLEANS AT DALLAS, 8:00
ARIZONA AT GREEN BAY, 8:00
SEATTLE AT KANSAS CITY, 8:00
CINCINNATI AT PHILADELPHIA (CBS), 8:00
MINNESOTA AT DENVER, 9:00
SATURDAY, AUGUST 29
DETROIT AT INDIANAPOLIS, 1:00
CHICAGO AT TENNESSEE, 6:00
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2026 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS SCHEDULE
WEEK DATE OPPONENT TV / TIME (ET)
WEEK 1 THU, AUG 13 @ NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS LOCAL (7:30 PM)
WEEK 2 SAT, AUG 22 VS. ATLANTA FALCONS LOCAL (1:00 PM)
WEEK 3 SAT, AUG 29 VS. DETROIT LIONS LOCAL (1:00 PM)
#####
2026 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE
WEEK DATE OPPONENT TIME (ET) TV / STREAMING
1 SUN, SEPT 13 VS. BALTIMORE RAVENS 1:00 PM CBS
2 SUN, SEPT 20 @ KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 8:20 PM NBC
3 SUN, SEPT 27 VS. HOUSTON TEXANS 1:00 PM CBS
4 SUN, OCT 4 @ WASHINGTON COMMANDERS 9:30 AM NFL NET
5 SUN, OCT 11 @ PITTSBURGH STEELERS 1:00 PM CBS
6 SUN, OCT 18 VS. TENNESSEE TITANS 1:00 PM FOX
7 SUN, OCT 25 @ MINNESOTA VIKINGS 1:00 PM CBS
8 SUN, NOV 1 @ JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 1:00 PM CBS
9 SUN, NOV 8 VS. DALLAS COWBOYS 1:00 PM FOX
10 SUN, NOV 15 VS. MIAMI DOLPHINS 1:00 PM CBS
11 THU, NOV 19 @ HOUSTON TEXANS 8:15 PM PRIME VIDEO
12 SUN, NOV 29 VS. NEW YORK GIANTS 1:00 PM FOX
13 BYE WEEK
14 SUN, DEC 13 @ PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 1:00 PM FOX
15 SUN, DEC 20 @ TENNESSEE TITANS 1:00 PM CBS
16 TBD – FLEX VS. CINCINNATI BENGALS TBD TBD
17 SUN, JAN 3 @ CLEVELAND BROWNS 1:00 PM FOX
18 TBD – FLEX GAME VS. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS TBD TBD
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TOP NATIONAL SPORTS HEADLINES
NFL NEWS
RAIDERS QUARTERBACK KIRK COUSINS AND MAXX CROSBY SCUFFLE LATE IN FRIDAY PRACTICE
HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins and star pass rusher Maxx Crosby got into a scuffle late in practice Friday before their teammates quickly jumped in and separated them.
Cousins, who is operating the first-team offense in training camp, remained on the field to finish the drive. Crosby, however, was sent to the sideline.
“Those are two leaders of our team going at it, so that is part of camp,” coach Klint Kubiak said. “Obviously, if you fight in a game and throw a punch in game, then you’re out of the game. So we’ve got to be smart and treat it like a game.”
Cousins appeared upset that Crosby tipped his pass, forcing an incompletion, and then charged the 6-foot-5, 256-pound defensive end who is three inches taller and 42 pounds heavier.
“We don’t want to be throwing punches, but I think on any padded day of camp, there’s going to be some tussles,” tight end Michael Mayer said. “That’s our starting quarterback right now, and you want him to defend your team and you want him to have some edge to him, which he does. He’s always had since the first day I met him when he came in here.
“I don’t want him getting thrown out. I don’t want him getting a flag. Nothing like that, but you’ve got to be able to defend yourself.”
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WASHINGTON-AREA NATIVE STEFON DIGGS RETURNS HOME TO THE COMMANDERS IN A FULL-CIRCLE MOMENT
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — For the first decade of his NFL career, Stefon Diggs always felt like he had something to prove when going up against Washington.
“That’s my hometown team, them and the Baltimore Ravens,” Diggs said Friday. “I always played with a chip on my shoulder, but the chip got really big when I’d go home because I felt like they passed up on me, didn’t give me a chance, and I was right in their backyard.”
Washington, and every NFL franchise, passed on Diggs multiple times in the 2015 draft before Minnesota selected him in the fifth round. After stints with the Vikings, Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans and New England Patriots, and four Pro Bowl selections later, Diggs signed with his hometown Commanders earlier this week.
It’s a full-circle moment for Diggs, a Gaithersburg, Maryland, native who played for youth programs in the area growing up. A five-star recruit with scholarship offers practically anywhere in the country, Diggs chose to stay home and play for the University of Maryland.
“I can’t write a better story,” Diggs said. “At this point in my career, being healthy, coming off an ACL (injury), having success, going to your hometown team and wanting to shine for them. … I want to put on for my city.”
His homecoming is more than just a feel-good story. The Commanders entered training camp with a massive hole at No. 2 wide receiver opposite Terry McLaurin, and Diggs figures to fill it as an instant upgrade.
Stylistically, Diggs is an excellent fit opposite McLaurin, who is a more traditional “X” receiver. Diggs has experience playing on the perimeter and in the slot and was one of the league’s best chain-movers in 2025 — 51 of his 85 receptions went for first downs.
“When you see him work inside as a slot player, he’s got great feel,” head coach Dan Quinn said. “He’s a great competitor. … He’s somebody certainly that can move the chains, and you know how important that is — to have somebody that has the detail of option routes and specifics.”
Diggs said he didn’t have a personal relationship with McLaurin before his arrival, but admired his new teammate’s game and intensity from afar and called it “real similar to myself.” Diggs praised the rest of the Commanders’ receivers, specifically rookie Antonio Williams, who he said “can hoop a little bit.”
Quinn said the plan for Diggs was to ramp up over the next two days, but the 32-year-old arrived in great shape and participated in individual and team drills on Friday. His immediate focus is in the classroom, hoping to learn new offensive coordinator David Blough’s system quickly.
Throughout his career, Diggs has earned the reputation of helping elevate young quarterbacks. After a so-so rookie year, New England’s Drake Maye finished second in MVP voting last season with Diggs as his top target. Josh Allen took a major step forward in 2020, Diggs’ first year in Buffalo.
“Quarterbacks got a lot on their plate, so I bring it down a notch and talk to them brother to brother,” Diggs said. “With young quarterbacks, making plays for them gives them confidence. That puts a battery in their back to feel like, ‘Man, I can do anything out here.’ That’s how I try to help them: just by playing well.”
With Washington, Diggs joins Jayden Daniels, who proved himself as AP Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2024. The duo started building their chemistry on Friday.
“They got a great young quarterback,” Diggs said. “He’s a star. He’s a superstar. I’m excited for him, excited for this team.”
In Buffalo and Houston, Diggs was selected as a team captain. Quinn said the receiver’s leadership skills have already stood out in their brief time together.
For now, Diggs’ goal is to earn the respect of his teammates and coaches through his play and experience.
“I always try to push the guys around me to be the best version of themselves,” Diggs said. “At the same time, more show than tell. I can say a bunch of hoopla, but I’d rather just go out there and hoop and show you why I did what I did or communicate through the actions.”
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AT 35 AND IN 14TH SEASON, JETS’ GENO SMITH HAS FRANK REICH SEEING A QB IN HIS PRIME ‘LIKE HE’S 28′
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Frank Reich had to think for a second while raving — again — about Geno Smith, pondering the New York Jets quarterback’s age.
“I don’t know how old he is. Isn’t he past 35?,” the offensive coordinator asked Friday before being told Smith is actually 35. “It feels like he’s 28. I’m telling you, it feels like physically, I see no … like, he is in his prime, physically.”
Not bad for a quarterback entering his 14th NFL season, a journey that began as a second-round draft pick of the Jets in 2013 and has included several ups and downs on the field along the way.
“Like his arm, the way he moves, his feet in the pocket, he’s physically in his prime,” said Reich, in his first season running the Jets’ offense. “So he takes great care of himself and that’s going to help this team.”
New York certainly hopes so. The Jets acquired Smith in the offseason from Las Vegas to add a veteran quarterback to an offense that struggled mightily during a 3-14 season. The Jets ranked last or near the bottom in several offensive categories as the likes of Justin Fields, Tyrod Taylor and Brady Cook took turns calling the signals for then-coordinator Tanner Engstrand. Their 8 yards per completion was the lowest mark in the NFL, and that’s something that’s expected to improve significantly.
Smith has always been able to stretch the field, especially during three straight seasons of at least 3,500 yards passing in Seattle from 2022-24. He threw for 3,025 last year in a down season with Las Vegas that included an NFL-leading 17 interceptions.
Back with the Jets, Smith has had a mostly good training camp. And he has thoroughly impressed Reich, who said during minicamp that the quarterback has an “elite” football mind. Reich was back gushing about Smith on Friday.
“Geno’s the leader,” Reich said. “He’s the leader of the offense, make no mistake about it, in every way, shape and form. And to me, what has become crystal clear in this early time in training camp, the attribute that sticks out to me is his laser focus. This man is laser focused like people don’t understand. Like, he comes to work and he is locked in.
“And I feel like the whole offense plays off of that. That’s a really big deal.”
Reich has seen what leadership looks like from a quarterback. He was a longtime backup to Jim Kelly as a player and has coached Peyton Manning, Philip Rivers, Andrew Luck and Matt Ryan.
The offensive coordinator also knows what good quarterback play looks like. And he sees all of that in Smith, granted, still in the protected, no-contact confines of training camp.
“I remember when he was coming out (of college), I had a high grade on him,” Reich said. “His throwing mechanics, if I’m just talking pure upper-body mechanics, they’re pure. There’s only a couple guys in the league that I would say are pure. Geno’s one of them.”
Smith has also been drawing positive reviews from his teammates, who have praised his leadership since re-joining the Jets.
“Geno is a legend to guys like me,” fifth-year tight end Jelani Woods said. “He’s been in the league for a long time. You look up to him, just the professionalism he has, it’s something that you look into and he’s one of those guys that you go up to and talk to him at any time. He sits with you at the lunch table, he sits with anybody at the lunch table and you just have a simple conversation with him and just talk about life outside of football.
“And, you know, stuff like that goes a long way.”
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BILLS AGREE TO SIGN RIGHT GUARD TORRENCE TO 4-YEAR EXTENSION WITH $46M GUARANTEED, AP SOURCE SAYS
PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills reached an agreement to sign starting right guard O’Cyrus Torrence to a four-year contract extension with $46 million in guarantees, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Friday.
The agreement represents the Bills’ latest major investment in keeping much of their offensive line intact for the long term.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract has not been announced by the team.
Torrence was selected in the second round of the 2023 draft out of the University of Florida, and was entering the final season of his rookie contract. The 26-year-old has been a starter since his rookie season and part of a line that’s played a key role in protecting Josh Allen and helped James Cook to lead the NFL in yards rushing last season.
Torrence has 57 career starts, including playoffs, and was part of a line that allowed the NFL’s fewest sacks in both 2023 and 2024.
The group has been mostly together since 2024. The only change entering this season is at left guard, with Alec Anderson and Austin Corbett competing for the starting job left open following David Edwards’ free-agent departure to New Orleans in March.
Otherwise, the four returning starters, including left tackle Dion Dawkins, are now under contract through at least the 2027 season.
In March, the Bills signed center Connor McGovern to a four-year, $52 million contract to prevent him from entering free agency.
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LIONS’ JAHMYR GIBBS RELIEVED “STRESSFUL” CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS OVER
ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Detroit Lions Pro Bowl running back Jahmyr Gibbs finally got what he wanted.
A record-setting contract brought financial security, but for Gibbs, it also ended an anxious wait that had kept him off the practice field.
“This process has been extremely stressful,” Gibbs said Friday, one day after signing a three-year contract extension that made him the highest-paid running back in NFL history. “I just wanted to play ball. I missed being out there with my teammates and coaches and it’s just fun being out there now.”
The extension, agreed to Thursday, is worth $67.5 million over three years and could reach $75.75 million with incentives. It includes $51.5 million in guaranteed money, according to multiple reports, surpassing the deal Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson signed earlier this week.
After signing the contract, Gibbs participated only in individual drills Friday, but said the biggest relief was putting the negotiations behind him.
Three years ago, many questioned whether the Lions had reached by selecting a running back with the 12th overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft.
Gibbs said the criticism never bothered him.
“For me, I didn’t really care, because I knew what I could do, and I was confident in myself,” he said.
Three seasons into his career, Gibbs has put together one of the most productive starts by a running back in NFL history.
Despite sharing the backfield with David Montgomery, Gibbs has scored 49 total touchdowns in his first three NFL seasons, the most by any player during that span. He broke the previous record of 47 set by Hall of Famer and former Lion Barry Sanders.
Last season, Gibbs totaled 1,839 yards from scrimmage, including 1,223 rushing yards and 616 receiving yards, while scoring 18 touchdowns. He also set career highs with 77 receptions, 616 receiving yards and five touchdown catches.
Since entering the league, Gibbs has rushed for 3,580 yards — seventh-most in the NFL during that span — while averaging 5.3 yards per carry. He has topped 1,200 rushing yards in each of the past two seasons and caught at least 50 passes in all three years.
Lions Associate Head Coach Scottie Montgomery said Gibbs earned the extension through both his production and his professionalism.
“He has came in from day one and did everything we asked him to do,” Montgomery said. “He is what a pro should be.”
Montgomery said Gibbs has continued to improve each season while maintaining the same approach that made him the 12th overall pick.
“I hope a lot of kids, a lot of people are watching the way that he went about the process,” Montgomery said. “Going from year one to year two to year three and continually getting better.”
Montgomery also pointed to Gibbs’ versatility as one of the reasons he has become such an important part of Detroit’s offense.
“When you got a guy like Jah, you can be a bell cow and touch it 10 times and have 200 total yards,” Montgomery said. “He can play at the receiver position. He can play at the wing position. He can play at the back.”
Gibbs said he heard from several fellow NFL running backs after agreeing to the extension, including Robinson, Montgomery, Derrick Henry, Jonathan Taylor, Christian McCaffrey, James Cook and De’Von Achane.
Gibbs said signing the extension also means he gets to remain in a city he has embraced since arriving in 2023.
“Before I got here, everything you hear about Detroit is negative,” Gibbs said. “Since I’ve been here, all I can say is positive things. The people, there’s a lot of good food, the culture.
“I love being here. I’m so glad I get to be here for the next five years.”
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CHIEFS’ ANDY REID: PATRICK MAHOMES UNLIKELY TO PLAY IN PRESEASON
Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes is unlikely to play in next week’s preseason opener against the Los Angeles Rams, head coach Andy Reid told reporters on Friday.
Reid didn’t stop there, however. He said he’d likely shy away from playing Mahomes in the preseason as a whole.
The decision is hardly surprising, given Mahomes is working his way back after undergoing surgery to repair tears to the ACL and LCL in his left knee.
“There’s a pretty good chance I don’t play him (against the Rams) — percentages are leading that way,” Reid said. “I don’t know that I’d play him in the second or third game. … Percentages probably lean against doing that.
“We’ve got new people in those other positions behind him that need some work. The more reps they get, the better.”
Justin Fields, rookie Garrett Nussmeier and Chris Oladokun are the other quarterbacks on the roster.
Kansas City hosts the Rams on Aug. 15. The Chiefs also play preseason games against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Aug. 22) and Seattle Seahawks (Aug. 28) before opening the regular season at home against the Denver Broncos on Sept. 14.
Mahomes sustained the injury in the closing minutes of Kansas City’s 16-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Dec. 14, a result that eliminated the Chiefs from playoff contention.
The two-time league MVP and three-time Super Bowl MVP was in the midst of arguably his worst season as a pro.
Mahomes, who turns 31 on Sept. 17, completed 62.7% of his passes for 3,587 yards with 22 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. The completion percentage, passing yards and TD passes were all career-low marks since he became a regular in 2018.
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COWBOYS ROOKIE DEFENSIVE BACK CALEB DOWNS IS LIVING UP TO EXPECTATIONS WHILE LEARNING TWO SPOTS
OXNARD, Calif. (AP) — Expectations are high for Dallas Cowboys rookie defensive back Caleb Downs, the No. 11 overall draft pick who is being counted on to help overhaul their defense.
Downs’s personal goals are even more ambitious.
“That’s for me to know, and y’all to find out,” Downs said.
Downs has shown nothing so far in training camp to indicate he should set a ceiling on those aspirations, demonstrating every bit of the pedigree established during his college career at Alabama and Ohio State. That track record is one of the reasons the Cowboys have been comfortable using the 6-foot, 210-pounder in the slot and at safety.
Downs played both positions in college, but new Dallas defensive coordinator Christian Parker seems to be looking at him as a slot defender first, a role that has taken on greater significance as the NFL has embraced spread offenses.
Quarterback Dak Prescott cited the need for a standout nickel back to counter the use of elite wide receivers in the slot, listing off his top target in CeeDee Lamb and others around the league, including Jaxon Smith-Njigba of the Seattle Seahawks, Ja’Marr Chase of the Cincinnati Bengals and Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings.
“Those guys are moving around, and that’s what makes these offenses great, when you can move these type of guys in and out,” Prescott said. “So if you don’t have a guy that can travel with them, if you don’t have a guy that can match up and play that, you’re putting yourself in a bind. And he not only has to travel and get inside when that guy goes inside, but he also has to stop the run. And so to have a guy that can do that, to be versatile, but more importantly physical, that’s what makes great defenses great.”
Downs is already getting a sense of the position’s demands from daily battles against Lamb, who has topped 1,000 yards receiving in five straight seasons. Coach Brian Schottenheimer recalled how Lamb beat Downs on a play during organized team activities, but the rookie was ready the next time that same route concept was used.
“He’s a young player, he’s a rookie, he’s going to make mistakes,” Schottenheimer said. “But like I said in the spring, I’ll say it again, he doesn’t repeat mistakes, and that is a sign of a young man that understands X’s and O’s in football, and he’s wired the right way.”
Parker has been pleased with Downs’ willingness to learn, particularly as he navigates different positions. It stood out to the 34-year-old Parker, who had success helping young defensive backs thrive in his previous role with the Philadelphia Eagles, during the pre-draft process.
“Curiosity is one thing for young players that you really look for,” Parker said. “They want to know the why behind everything. We give them that up front, the intent behind each thing that we’re trying to do. And so, I think, with him, he has that natural spirit about him for sure.”
Downs, in turn, is able to to put those lessons to immediate use.
“Playing under Kevin Steele, coach (Nick) Saban’s defense, playing under Jim Knowles, and playing under Matt Patricia, I have a lot of defensive knowledge to bank from, and I feel like that allows me to play fast out here,” he said.
“Every day, things slow down just a little bit, and that’s how it’s supposed to be.”
Downs has also shown strong communication skills, which are important as Parker stresses the need to take and receive information as the foundation of a successful defense. Cornerback Cobie Durant said the slot defender serves as a valuable conduit between the linebackers and cornerbacks in relaying and adjusting coverages, putting Downs in a key role.
Those abilities allowed Downs to thrive in two of the most demanding systems in college football. He had six interceptions, a forced fumble, 16 tackles for loss, and 257 total tackles in 44 career games, earning numerous individual honors and winning a national championship after the 2024 season.
The confidence Downs carries from those experiences is what has impressed his fellow Buckeyes alum, safety Malik Hooker.
“You’ve seen Caleb day in and day out lining up against CeeDee, and he gives him his respect, obviously, it ain’t nothing like that,” Hooker said. “But every play he gets a chance to line up against him, he feels like he’s going to win that rep, and that’s the type of mentality we want on this defense. Especially coming from a guy that we’re expecting to play a lot, and not only play a lot, but to be a difference maker in our defense.”
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TITANS GUARD PETER SKORONSKI JOINS NFL’S $100M CLUB
The Tennessee Titans signed guard Peter Skoronski to a four-year, $100 million contract extension, making the 2023 first-round pick the NFL’s highest-paid player at his position.
“This is a tremendous blessing. It’s a reflection of the work, sacrifice and support that has helped me get to this point, and I don’t take any of it for granted,” Skoronski said in a statement Friday. “Thank you to (owner) Ms. Amy (Strunk), (general manager) Mike Borgonzi and (head) coach (Robert) Saleh for believing in me. From the moment I got here, this is where I wanted to be. I love this organization, I love this city, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue representing this franchise. I appreciate the faith they’ve shown in me, and now it’s my job to earn it every day. I’m excited for what’s ahead, but more than anything, I’m ready to get back to work.”
The deal includes $88 million guaranteed, according to multiple reports.
Dallas’ Tyler Smith held the previous record for average annual salary. He signed an extension with the Cowboys worth $96 million ($81.2 million guaranteed) over four years last September.
“He has the work ethic to match his talent and a perpetual desire to win that we want permeating throughout our building. We’re excited to enter the season knowing he and his family will remain Titans for years to come,” Borgonzi said Friday.
Skoronski, 25, has started 47 consecutive games for the Titans and started in all 48 games he’s appeared in since the opener of the 2023 season. He was the 11th overall pick in 2023 and moved to guard after being named unanimous All-American as a left tackle for the Wildcats.
Pro Football Focus rated Skoronski as the sixth-best guard (out of 81 qualified) in the NFL in 2025. He earned a 84.5% pass-blocking grade (second amongst guards), a pass block win rate of 96% (fourth) and a 73.2 grade in run blocking (13th).
PFF ranked the Tennessee offensive line at No. 11 in the NFL entering the final week of the season. However, the 3-14 Titans allowed 56 sacks, the sixth-most in the league in 2025.
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2026 DENVER BRONCOS PREVIEW
Changes:
Offense: Head coach Sean Payton returns; promoted passing game coordinator Davis Webb to offensive coordinator. Webb received numerous head coaching interviews this offseason but ultimately remained with the franchise via the promotion.
Defense: Vance Joseph returns as defensive coordinator, his fourth season in the position.
Personnel Changes ::
Key free agent departures include DL John Franklin-Myers, S P.J. Locke, and LB Dre Greenlaw.
Acquired WR Jaylen Waddle from the Dolphins in exchange for a 2026 first (No. 30 overall), third (No. 94), and fourth-round pick swap (No. 111 for No. 130).
Had a relatively quiet free agency outside of the Waddle acquisition, instead focusing on re-signing key depth pieces.
Added more depth via the draft after dealing away picks in the Waddle trade. Selected DT Tyler Onyedim in the third (No. 66 overall) and RB Jonah Coleman in the fourth (No. 108).
QB Bo Nix attempts to return from a fractured ankle suffered in their AFC Divisional Round win. There is a lot to unpack here considering Payton alluded to the fact that Nix’s injury could have been the result of a congenital condition. “It wasn’t a matter of it, it was a matter of when,” Payton told reported on 26 January. And then there’s the aftermath of that comment, which raised some potential HIPAA issues in addition to seemingly creating a rift between the quarterback and his coach. The most recent credible report came from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, who asserted that Nix is still on track for the start of training camp after a “scheduled re-check and subsequent cleanup procedure” in early May.
Schedule:
Divisional Games (6)::
Chiefs x 2, Raiders x 2, Chargers x 2
AFC East (4)::
Bills, Dolphins, @Jets, @Patriots
NFC West (4)::
Rams, Seahawks, @Cardinals, @49ers
Jaguars, @Steelers, @Panthers
The bulk of the roster from a 2025 season in which the team averaged 23.2 points per game returns, with the key addition of wide receiver Jaylen Waddle giving this team another established threat through the air. Head coach Sean Payton continually led top-five offenses during his time with the Saints and has proven to be an adept offensive mind while quarterback Bo Nix should have his most talented assortment of skill position players that he’s had in his three-year professional career. Finally, the Broncos boast one of the league’s top offensive lines and return all five starters from a season ago. In 2025, this unit blocked to the sixth most adjusted rushing yards before contact and allowed below average pressure in the pass game.
Beyond what this team has working in its favor heading into 2026, they suddenly find themselves in a wide-open division considering the coaching and scheme changes for the Chargers, the fact that Patrick Mahomes is coming off a major injury, and the complete rebuild the Raiders currently find themselves in. The path to a second consecutive divisional title is palpable in Denver.
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2026 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS PREVIEW
Changes:
Offense: Eric Bieniemy returns as the offensive coordinator after serving in the same position from 2018 through 2022. It isn’t as simple as taking what this team did the last time Bieniemy had his hand in the offense and extrapolating it forward to 2026, but it is noteworthy that the last time Mahomes and Bieniemy were together the team ranked first (2018), second (2019), sixth (2020), fourth (2021), and first (2022) in points per game. Head coach Andy Reid has already confirmed he will continue to call offensive plays. It is also noteworthy that Reid called offensive plays from 2018 through 2022.
Defense: Steve Spagnuolo retains his position as the defensive coordinator. 2026 will be his eighth season in that role.
Personnel Changes:
Signed RB Kenneth Walker via free agency. Added key defensive players with the signings of DT Khyiris Tonga, S Alohi Gilman, CB Kader Kohou, and CB Kaiir Elam.
Selected CB Mansoor Delane (pick No. 6) and DT Peter Woods (No. 29) in the first and EDGE R Mason Thomas in the second (No. 40). Added RB Emmett Johnson in the fifth (No. 161) and QB Grant Nussmeier in the seventh (No. 249).
QB Patrick Mahomes is recovering from a torn ACL and LCL. The most recent update from Reid is that Mahomes has a realistic chance of being ready for Week 1.
Added QB Justin Fields as the primary backup to Mahomes.
The NFL closed the Rashee Rice disciplinary case on 3 April with no further discipline. Rice is fully cleared to play in the 2026 season.
Traded CB Trent McDuffie to the Rams and lost CB Jaylen Watson and S Bryan Cook via free agency. Other notable free agent departures include WR Hollywood Brown, LB Leo Chanel, RB Isiah Pacheco, DL Derrick Nnadi, and OT Jawaan Taylor.
Schedule ::
Divisional Games (6):
Broncos x 2, Raiders x 2, Chargers x 2
AFC East (4):
Patriots, Jets, @Bills, @Dolphins
NFC West (4):
Cardinals, 49ers, @Rams, @Seahawks
Colts, @Bengals, @Falcons
Patrick Mahomes could be ready to go by the start of the regular season, which is something initially thought to be completely impossible. Furthermore, the Chiefs’ top receiving option avoided further league discipline this offseason. Finally, the franchise significantly upgraded their run game with the addition of Kenneth Walker. It doesn’t take too much convincing before we start to see the upside case here, and that’s before we reintroduce Eric Bieniemy or any continued growth from Xavier Worthy. Sure, Travis Kelce is aged past his prime, but the offense has plenty of firepower to return to the top of the league in scoring in 2026.
On the other side of the ball, Steve Spagnuolo remains one of the top defensive coordinators in the league, but he’ll be forced to work his magic with an almost entirely new secondary moving forward. His intricate scheme and vast moving pieces require both elite athleticism and communication, something that could take this unit time to fully master. In other words, not only does the offense look good-to-elite on paper, but their defense is unlikely to start the season playing to the level we’ve grown accustomed to.
Take those two pieces together and we could have a recipe for increased tempo, quicker paths to the “oh crap” phase of games, and increased pressure on the offense to maximize scoring, all while the offensive pieces on paper have improved.
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2026 LAS VEGAS RAIDERS PREVIEW
Changes:
Offense: Klint Kubiak replaces the “doomed from the beginning” Pete Carroll as head coach, bringing along his former quarterbacks coach from Seattle, Andrew Janocko, to serve as the offensive coordinator. Janocko replaces former OC Chip Kelly while it will be Kubiak that calls offensive plays.
Defense: The organization promoted from within at defensive coordinator, moving former defensive line coach and run game coordinator Rob Leonard to the position.
Personnel Changes ::
The Raiders had one of the busier offseasons and were involved in one of the weirder storylines in recent memory with the Maxx Crosby saga. The Raiders agree in principle to send Crosby to the Ravens before signing OLB Kwity Paye, LB Quay Walker, and LB Nakobe Dean. The Ravens then backed out of the trade, citing concerns over Crosby’s surgically repaired knee, leaving the Raiders “stuck” with the free agent moves they made under the assumption that Crosby was no longer a member of their team.
Also signed WR Jalen Nailor, OG Spencer Burford, C Tyler Linderbaum, FB Connor Heyward, QB Kirk Cousins, and K Matt Gay while trading for CB Taron Johnson.
Drafted QB Fernando Mendonza with the No. 1 overall pick. Took CB Treydan Stukes in the second, OLB Keyron Crawford and OG Trey Zuhn in the third, and RB Mike Washington and CB Jermod McCoy in the fourth.
Saw K Daniel Carlson, OG Dylan Parham, S Lonnie Johnson Jr, QB Kenny Pickett, and OL Alex Cappa depart via free agency.
Have yet to re-sign DE Malcolm Koonce, LB Elandon Roberts, RB Raheem Mostert, and WR Tyler Lockett.
Schedule:
Divisional Games (6)::
Chargers x 2, Chiefs x 2, Broncos x 2
AFC East (4)::
Dolphins, Bills, @Patriots, @Jets
NFC West (4)::
Rams, Seahawks, @49ers, @Cardinals
@Saints, @Browns, Titans
Going from Pete Carroll and Chip Kelly to Klint Kubiak and Andrew Janocko is about as big a change you can muster for the Raiders, particularly for the structure of their offense. Kelly’s rigid and antiquated design attempted to fit square pegs in round holes, relying too heavily on pace and tempo without being able to sustain drives. His zone read never got going with Geno Smith, Kenny Pickett, and Aidan O’Connell under center and the offense became stale and unimaginative. Enter Kubiak, whose West Coast system with significant Shanahan influence is designed to get his playmakers in space while simplifying reads for his quarterback. Expect heavy pre-snap motion and play action rates to pair with an outside zone-heavy run scheme. The beauty of the system is that all of those layers work in conjunction to exploit opposing defenses. Outside zone run schemes typically draw linebackers and safeties closer to the line of scrimmage to help off the edge and pre-snap motion typically aids the quarterback in diagnosing opposing coverages (man, zone, safety alignments, quarters, etc), with play action most dangerous when the quarterback understands the coverage and alignment with the benefit of a creeping second level. This isn’t the “spread them out horizontally and hit them in the mouth with outside zone” scheme like Kelly’s, this is the “keep the defense guessing and off balance and then hit the lapses in coverage and/or communication.” Night and day, and I expect this offense to be far more successful and explosive because of it.
This roster also experienced some major overhaul this offseason, paying particular attention to the interior defense and offensive line, and they already had two superstars in the making in Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty. I don’t know who will begin the season under center after the team also signed Kirk Cousins this offseason, but the ingredients for a fun and successful offense are all present here.
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2026 LA CHARGERS PREVIEW
Changes:
Offense: Out is former OC Greg Roman and in is Mike McDaniel, former head coach of the Dolphins. This offense should be structured entirely differently than what we saw last season. Roman ran an offense rooted in 11-personnel, whereas McDaniel has been near the bottom of the league in 11 usage while in Miami. Bolstering that assertion were the signings of FB Alec Ingold, who followed McDaniel to Los Angeles, TE David Njoku, who signed after the draft, and TE Charlie Kolar, who is regarded as one of the top blocking tight ends in the league.
Defense: Former DC Jesse Minter was hired away to be the head coach of the Ravens. Filling his massive shoes is Chris O’Leary, who previously served as the safeties coach for the Chargers (2024) before spending the 2025 season at the collegiate ranks, serving as the defensive coordinator for Western Michigan. It will be O’Leary calling defensive plays in the coming season.
Personnel Changes:
C Bradley Bozeman retired, OG Mekhi Becton was released, and OG Zion Johnson left via free agency, leaving the offensive line to be reshuffled. The team signed C Tyler Biadasz and OG Cole Strange and drafted OG Jake Slaughter in the second to fill those vacancies.
Other notable free agent departures include TE Will Dissly, WR Keenan Allen (presumably, has yet to sign with anyone, including the Chargers), and RB Najee Harris.
Signed FB Alec Ingold and TEs David Njoku and Charlie Kolar, as mentioned above.
Signed RB Keaton Mitchell and NT Dalvin Tomlinson.
Schedule:
Divisional Games (6)::
Chiefs x 2, Raiders x 2, Broncos x 2
AFC East (4)::
Jets, Patriots, @Bills, @Dolphins
NFC West (4)::
Cardinals, 49ers, @Seahawks, @Rams
Texans, @Ravens, @Buccaneers
The Chargers really had a tale of two seasons in 2025, most of which revolved around the health of OT Joe Alt. They averaged 26.75 points per game in the four games in which Alt played a full complement of snaps, averaging 21.46 points per game in the other 13 games. It appeared, to me, that Roman struggled to piecemeal an effective game plan together through the mounting injuries a season ago. The talent on this offense was not an issue in 2025, anchored by Justin Herbert, Omarion Hampton, breakout tight end Oronde Gadsden, and wide receiver Ladd McConkey, it just appeared to me that being forced to continually alter their weekly game plan, and then adjust it further during games, became a challenge that couldn’t be overcome. Now, you remove those issues with a clean bill of health, and we can return to being really excited about this bunch.
Then, enter Mike McDaniel, someone we must continue to regard as one of the top offensive minds in the sport. McDaniel did not forget how to exploit opposing defenses in 2025, but it was a similar story for the Dolphins a season ago. Both parties simply needed a change of scenery, and I think the Chargers made out like bandits in the process. The talent on this roster should not be overlooked, the talent of McDaniel calling plays should not be overlooked, and a largely “stuck in the mud” division should not be overlooked. The Chargers have a path to the division title in 2026, particularly with the level of rebuild the Raiders find themselves in and the fact that the other two teams in the division have quarterbacks coming off major injuries.
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2026 NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS PREVIEW
Matt Rhule was hired to improve Nebraska’s player development, their physicality on the lines of scrimmage, and then cash in with his usual third-year breakthrough. 2025 was Rhule’s third season, but there was no breakthrough. Far from it. Nebraska entered 2025 on a 10-35 run in one-score games, and they were able to notch a few close wins like the 20-17 opener over Cincinnati, a roller-coaster 34-31 win over Maryland, and touchdown decisions over
UCLA and Northwestern. It was enough to punch a ticket to bowl season. But Nebraska has been waiting for a signature, ranked win on the national stage. They had two opportunities last season, both in Lincoln, but lost to Michigan and USC by a combined seven points. They have now lost 30 straight against ranked teams – second-worst behind Rutgers’ drought – and while the run started before Rhule, he has personally lost 20 straight including his Baylor tenure.
There was no breakthrough in the trenches. Michigan sacked quarterback Dylan Raiola seven times, Minnesota set a school-record with nine sacks, and the defensive line finished #114 against the run. Player development? Nebraska is second-worst in the Big Ten with just three NFL draft picks (2024- 2026) despite signing Top 25 recruiting classes most years. Rhule’s November record fell to 2-10 after consecutive blowout losses at Penn State 37-10 and then
a 40-16 loss to Iowa for the 10th time in 11 years. In the bowl game, they were outgained by 200 yards and lost to Utah 44-22. Part of the Rhule era breakthrough was supposed to be five-star Raiola, but he shocked Husker Nation and transferred out to Oregon. There were other factors at play – weather, their March Madness run – but it was still shocking to see Memorial Stadium empty for their annual Red-White spring game. Was it a Rhule Referendum? HuskerOnline’s Steven Sipple noticed it: “Nebraska needs a boost to fan enthusiasm now more than I can ever remember, and I’ve been covering this since 1995.”
OFFENSE
Raiola was injured in the ninth game and freshman TJ Lateef led the UCLA win before the season-ending three-game losing streak. With Raiola gone to Oregon, the staff got a commitment from four-star Notre Dame backup Kenny Minchey but 24 hours later he flipped to Kentucky. Finally, they signed Mountain West Player of the Year, Anthony Colandrea (UNLV).
At UNLV, Colandrea dazzled with 23 passing touchdowns, 10 more rushing scores, and cut down on his 26-20 touchdown-to-pick ratio from his time at Virginia. If there was ever a fit for the term “gunslinger” Colandrea is the definition – he will produce highlight-reel scrambles and off-balance throws but will also turn it over (29 picks and 17 fumbles over three seasons).
Offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen is intrigued by Colandrea’s pocket elusiveness and creativity when the play breaks down. They studied Diego Pavia film of off-script plays, and Colandrea’s mobility adds an element missing from Raiola’s skillset. Theoretically this will help cut down on the pass protection woes, and even create more downfield explosive plays with the extra few seconds outside the pocket. Lateef also returns but Colandrea is the focal point of the offense heading into fall camp. As the pass game began to struggle last season, the staff doubled down on what was working in the run game. Emmett Johnson was the engine of the offense with a 251-carry workload, and he surged for 1,451 yards and earned first-team All-Big Ten. Johnson went pro and leaves behind a wide-open running back room which Rhule decided not to supplement from the transfer portal. It looks like a trio for 2026 with Mekhi Nelson, four-star Isaiah Mozee, and true freshman Jamal Rule who had huge offseason reviews
from the staff and scored on a 75-yarder in the spring game.
Dane Key departs but the other two starters Jacory Barney and yardage-leader Nyziah Hunter return to the receiver room. Hunter made game-changing plays in three of their wins and could push for All-Big Ten this season. The staff signed UCLA starter Kwazi Gilmer to replace Key, and the starting trio are experienced former four-stars. Starting tight end Luke Lindenmeyer also returns after a productive 29- catch, 312-yard season that earned him All-Big Ten honorable mention. Nebraska has patiently waited for an offensive line breakthrough but last year it collapsed in pass protection — #112 in Sack Rate – and stunted the pass game. Rhule made a coaching change and hired offensive line guru Geep Wade who just helped build Georgia Tech into one of the sport’s strongest lines. They hit the transfer portal and brought in three experienced Power 4 starters that Wade was familiar with: Paul Mubenga (LSU), Brendan Black (Iowa State), and Tree Babalade (South Carolina). Black earned a four-star transfer grade and started 30 games at guard, Babalade was also a four-star with 15 starts, while Mubenga started 11 at LSU. Nebraska returns two impact starters with center Justin Evans and former five-star left tackle Elijah Pritchett who is developing into a pro prospect.
DEFENSE
Rhule made another coaching change on defense after the Blackshirts were pushed around in the final three games and ultimately finished #41 of 68 Power 4 in my opponent-adjusted rankings — #62 against the run. He replaced John Butler with San Diego State’s Rob Aurich who helped lead a stat turnaround from #97 to #5 in scoring defense in his only season as their coordinator. Nebraska will shift away from their 3-3- 5 scheme to Aurich’s 4-2-5. But Rhule was more focused on non-scheme items: “I want player development, I want physicality, I want effort.” The defensive line loses two full-time starters in end Elijah Jeudy and tackle Keona Davis who transferred out to Miami with high four-star grades. Two ends return in Cameron Lenhardt and former five-star Williams Nwaneri. At tackle, the staff added Boston College starter Owen Stoudmire and breakout freshman Jahsear Whittington (Pittsburgh) to join veteran Riley Van Poppel. Three of the top four linebackers are gone, but Vincent Shavers returns after battling through injuries to post a productive 61-tackle (7.5 for loss) season. Aurich wanted a bigger set of linebackers and they added a pair of 6’3 transfers in Dexter Foster (Oregon State) and Owen Chambliss (San Diego State) who earned first-team All-Mountain West in this scheme.
The secondary played well last year, ranking #3 nationally in pass/yards game, and #28 in my opponent-adjusted passing number. Two All-Big Ten defensive backs are gone but they return one in corner Andrew Marshall. At the other corner spot Nebraska signed five-star Danny Odem (Orlando, FL) and he’ll battle spring game starter Jeremiah Charles. Aurich brought his starting safety Dwayne McDougle with him from San Diego State, Jamir Conn will start at the other safety spot, and Donovan Jones moves into the new nickel role. It’s worth noting true freshman Odem is the only blue-chipper on the secondary’s two-deep as they go through a scheme change.
OUTLOOK
Nebraska hopes that Colandrea’s scrambling skillset can help elevate the other positions groups around him. The offensive line’s breakthrough still hasn’t materialized, and now the defense has a coordinator/scheme change. Nebraska was #10 in the Big Ten in Game Grader, #11 in my opponent-adjusted yardage margin, and now the schedule heats up as they draw the Playoff trio and six of the league’s top ten.
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2026 ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI PREVIEW
In the Music City Bowl, quarterback Luke Altmyer led a game-winning drive that melted the final five minutes to knock off Tennessee. It was a fitting end to an all-time career. For the past three seasons, Altmyer has been Illinois’ get-out-of-jail- free card, bailing them out of one-score games. His seven game- winning drives are the nation’s most over that span. Head coach Bret
Bielema has grown accustomed to the late-game heroics: “I looked at Luke before our final drive, he gave me a head nod, that’s all I needed to see.” Altmyer has been the leader and figurehead of the program’s best five- year run (37 wins) since 1905. The 10-win season in 2024 tied a program-high and they clinched back-to-back bowl bids for the first time in 15 years. llinois stacked consecutive 9+ win seasons for the first time ever. The wins led a fan resurgence too. Memorial Stadium posted four consecutive sell-outs last season for the first time since 2008. Illinois demonstrated some staying power in the top half of the deep Big Ten, and as they
attempt to ascend further, Bielema credits this senior class for building the foundation: “our
2026 recruiting class is one of the best I’ve ever assembled – these seniors have been a big part of that.” Far from just coach-speak, the rankings back up that claim. At #21 nationally, the 2026 class became the highest-ranked class Illinois has ever signed in the modern recruiting era. In the ten years prior to Bielema, Illinois signed just three Top 50 classes. He’s five for five, and this Top 25 class raises the bar.
OFFENSE
Altmyer ended his Illinois career with the second-most wins by a quarterback (23), the highest
completion percentage (64%), highest QB Rating, and became the first 3,000-yard passer since
Nathan Scheelhaase in 2013. Illinois hit the transfer portal again and signed a former four-star Katin Houser who began at Michigan State but then posted two successful seasons at East Carolina. Last year he placed fourth in the AAC in QB Rating with an impressive two-year stat line: 5,306 yards, 37 touchdowns, and 17 picks. Houser has a bigger frame, strong arm, but lacks the elusiveness of Altmyer. That could be an issue given the complete rebuild of the offensive line. Last year the veteran line was expected to become a strength with the ability to grind down opponents, Big Ten West style. Instead, they remained average in OL Run Push (#50), below-average in yards/carry (#98), and struggled in pass protection (#110) allowing a sack on 9% of attempts. And that was with a top-notch scrambler in Altmyer. Four starters are gone, including first-team All-Big Ten JC Davis, with guard Brandon Henderson as the only returner. Nathan Knapik played well in the bowl game with Davis opted out, center Jake
Renfro (Wisconsin) transferred in with Big Ten starting experience, and then the staff hit the junior- college ranks. They signed three of the top five JUCO linemen this cycle: Maika Matelau, TJ Taylor, and Alfred Washington. Christian Abney moves up into a starting role after both tight ends – blocker Tanner Arkin and receiver Cole Rusk – departed. Rusk (Arizona) earned a four-star transfer grade and left after posting the most yards by a tight end here since Daniel Barker in 2020. Illinois at least has stability at the other skill positions. Last year Kaden Feagin, Aidan Laughery, and Ca’Lil Valentine shared carries and the trio returns intact for 2026. The speedy, shifty Valentine led with 614 yards, Laughery may be the best of the bunch if he can avoid injuries, and big-back Feagin was getting reps at tight end this spring. They do lose their top receiver in third-team All-Big Ten Hank Beatty who emerged as a reliable
playmaker in the slot. He finished #2 in the Big Ten in yards-after-catch trailing only the Biletnikoff winner Makai Lemon. Beatty, and red zone threat Justin Bowick (Oklahoma State) are gone, but their #2 and #3 receivers return. Collin Dixon and Hudson Clement combined for 1,002 yards and eight touchdowns. A pair of freshmen Brayden Trimble and four-star Nas Rankin could push into the rotation. Then the staff signed first-team All-CUSA 6’5 Alex Perry (FIU) and speedy Jayshon Platt (FAU) who together combined for 1,560 yards and 14 touchdowns at the non-AQ level.
DEFENSE
Back in 2022, Bielema threw out the defensive playbook and together with Ryan Walters they
designed a new scheme from scratch. It puzzled opposing coordinators and they posted the #1
scoring defense in America. Since then, Bielema claims two-thirds of the Big Ten has copied the
scheme, and that it’s essentially been figured out by now. Illinois fell to #31 in 2024, #56 in 2025, and Bielema wanted another change this offseason. He surprised by hiring longtime Montana head coach Bobby Hauck. Bielema said he was the “only person in mind and I offered only one man the job.” Hauck is from the Rocky Long tree, known for its aggressive, attacking 3-3-5 scheme. The scheme change caused an exodus from the defensive line and four top linemen transferred out to Power 4 rosters: four-star Tomiwa Durojaiye (South Carolina), Angelo McCullom (Texas A&M), Eli Coenen (Michigan State), and Curt Neal (Purdue). That is quite the talent drain. Pat Farrell was in the rotation last year and moves into a starting role. The staff backfilled with rotational linemen from the non-AQ level in Connor Sullivan (Washington State) and Darrell Prater (Jacksonville State) and All-Ivy Carter Janki (Penn). Top defender Gabe Jacas is off to the pros after earning first-team All-Big Ten honors and posting one of the program’s best pass rushing seasons. He led the league with 11 sacks, and two other
outside backers Alec Bryant and Leon Lowery are also gone. Joe Barna played well in the bowl
game, and Daniel Brown is a former JUCO All-American. Starting middle backer Dylan Rosiek is gone, but four-star Grant Beerman impressed as a freshman and could become their next star. James Kreutz is back and Ismael Kante was ranked the #1 JUCO linebacker.
The clear strength of the defense, and the overall team, is in the secondary. Safeties Matthew Bailey and Xavier Scott both turned down the pros for a final season in Champaign. Juice Clarke is back at corner to make it three all-league stars in the defensive backfield. They added yet another JUCO star in #1 cornerback Jakwon Morris and this room is strong enough to lead them through the scheme change. They will miss three-year starter and two-time captain Miles Scott, but this will still be a top secondary in the Big Ten.
OUTLOOK
The graduation of a large, program-changing senior class leaves behind a younger and inexperienced two-deep for 2026. While the recruiting is surging in the right direction, it may need a few development seasons to translate onto the field. Illinois also loses Altmyer, their cheat code in close games. While they fall down a few spots in the Big Ten projection in this transition-type season, Bielema has clearly elevated the program’s floor. If the JUCO wildcards
hit, Illinois can get back to the upper-half of the league.
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2026 MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS PREVIEW
In his ninth season, head coach PJ Fleck notched another eight-win season and winning record in Big Ten play for the fourth time in five years. That makes this the best extended run since the 1960s when Minnesota last won a national title. They gave the fans in Huntingdon Bank Stadium plenty to cheer for. Minnesota went a perfect 7-0 at home for the first time since 1967 and did so with a disruptive defense and last-second resiliency. The Minnesota defense set two school records by holding Northwestern State to just 42 total yards and then swarming Nebraska for nine sacks. Two-way sensation Koi Perich took back a game- winning Pick Six to beat Purdue, and redshirt freshman quarterback Drake Lindsey led late game-winning drives to beat Rutgers and Michigan State. Stacking winning seasons is an achievement in such a deep league, but from a statistical standpoint, not all “8-5 seasons” are equal. All five of Minnesota’s conference wins came against teams with losing Big Ten records (9-46 combined), they were outgained in four of them, and three were within a score. Their five losses were by an average margin of 24 points/game including blowouts against Iowa (41-3) and Playoff teams Ohio State (42-3) and Oregon (42-13). This ended up as an interesting case-study for my opponent-adjusted Game Grader formula. Despite the 8-5 record, Minnesota finished just 55th of 68 Power 4 in Game Grader – their worst ranking in the entire Fleck era.
Then the program was stunned with the transfer departure of Perich — the two-time All-Big
Ten, homegrown face of the program – who took Oregon’s offer. There are thousands of FBS
transfers each cycle, but this one was unbelievable. The staff was able to rally a respectable transfer haul of their own, ranking 10th in the Big Ten, and are building around Lindsey for 2026 and beyond.
OFFENSE
Like the pessimistic outlook from Game Grader, my opponent-adjusted offense stats dropped
Minnesota all the way to second-worst in Power 4. It was one of the least explosive offenses in both long-yardage rushing (#128) and passing (#131). The run game finished #117 in yards/carry and averaged just over 100 per game (#128) and it was even worse in the handful of games when star running back Darius Taylor was injured. They did find a bright spot at quarterback in Lindsey. The first-time starter exceeded expectations and took care of the ball with just six interceptions against 18 touchdowns. He showed off a strong arm, led several fourth-quarter scoring drives, and “took really good command of the offense,” per Fleck.
Lindsey returns and should get a second-year bonus. He noted pre-snap reads and audibles were points of emphasis for him this offseason, as well as pocket elusiveness. He finished 11th in the Big Ten in QB Rating – tied with fellow freshman Bryce Underwood (Michigan) – and that should improve in 2026. Leading receiver Le’Meke Brockington graduated, and the entire second-tier of backups is gone. Last year’s second and third options Jalen Smith and Javon Tracy are both back after combining for 65 catches, 873 yards, and 10 touchdowns. The staff signed a big one in former five-star Perry Thompson (Auburn) who should have an instant impact in the slot. Zion Steptoe (Tulsa) could help with the explosiveness issue as the vertical threat led the AAC in average depth of target last year. Taylor returns as the workhorse back. In 2024 he was just short of 1,000 yards, and when healthy last year he averaged just under 100 per game. Taylor closed with back-to-back 100-yard games against Wisconsin and New Mexico and the offense was noticeably different with him in the Backfield. He could use some help from the trenches. The offensive line ranked just #123 in my OL Run Push stat and will be rebuilding the right side of the line. Minnesota does return its top two blockers in left tackle Nathan Roy and left guard Greg Johnson, plus starting center Ashton Beers. Tony Nelson started the final two games at right guard and moves up into the full-time role, and the staff signed
Bennett Warren (Tennessee) who was a Top100 recruit in the 2024 class. The line is more athletic but smaller than the usual giant Minnesota offensive lines of the Fleck era.
The top three tight ends are gone, and they turn to a fifth-year Kaden Helms (Oklahoma) who has minimal game experience but was a four-star recruit stuck in a deep room.
DEFENSE
Fleck has an acronym or slogan for everything. First-time defensive coordinator Danny Collins
certainly backed up their H.A.V.O.C. motto by disrupting opposing offenses at a top five clip.
Minnesota ranked #4 in my Negative Play Rate which tracks how often the defense makes a sack or tackle behind the line of scrimmage. The unit had big performances like the sack-fests against Nebraska and Michigan State, but collapsed in the 38-35 Northwestern loss, not to mention the Playoff-team blowouts. Three of their four All-Big Ten stars are back for 2026, but the headliner Perich’s departure stings. The silver lining may have been more resources to boost the incoming transfer class, and they added some firepower to an already strong pass rush. TJ Bush transferred in and was Cal’s best pass rusher last year. First-team All-Big Ten Anthony Smith is back and his 12.5-sack season was the school’s first double-digit sack year since Willie VanDeSteeg in 2009. If Smith stacks another 10+ sack season he would break the Minnesota career record. Karter Menz (6.5 sacks) also returns, making this defensive end trio one of the best in the Big Ten. It’s a total rebuild in the middle, with the top four defensive tackles departing. The staff hit the portal with 320-pound space-eater Naquan Crowder (Marshall) and Xion Chapman (FIU). Maverick Baranowski earned All-Big Ten honors after posting the school’s first 100-tackle season since Blake Cashman in 2018. His fellow starter Devon Williams is gone, but Matt Kingsbury and Emmanuel Karmo moved up the depth chart.
Perich will be missed in the secondary, but John Nestor played well at corner and Fleck called him “the ultimate competitor.” Aydan West (Michigan State) got nearly 400 snaps last year as a true freshman and could be the starter opposite of Nestor. The safety room returns an All-Big Ten headliner in Kerry Brown, plus Zack Harden who transitioned to the position midseason and impressed. The staff signed a wildcard in All-Patriot League Mekhai Smith (Lehigh) from the FCS level.
OUTLOOK
Minnesota was an interesting case study for Game Grader. Their five close-margin Big Ten wins were against teams with a combined 9-46 league record, so yes Minnesota went 8-5 but placed down at 55th in Game Grader (13th in the Big Ten). They return program stars in Lindsey, Taylor, and Smith but now the schedule reverses and they draw six of the Big Ten’s top nine. Statistically they were more like a six-win team last year, and that is where they are projected
in 2026.
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2026 UCLA BRUINS PREVIEW
Back in 2011, UCLA suffered a 50-0 loss to USC, an embarrassment so severe it caused the administration to change coaches and recommit to recruiting. It led to the Jim Mora era that started with a 29-11 run and pair of Top 15 seasons. After a 5-7 debut season, DeShaun Foster’s second team suffered a 43- 10 loss to Utah, a loss to UNLV, and then a 35-10 meltdown against New Mexico. An 0-3 start, with a blowout loss to a coach-transition,
Mountain West program – that was Foster’s 50-0 moment. UCLA fired Foster two days later and opened up a season-long coaching search that allowed for a much more thorough process than
the February 2024 scramble after Chip Kelly left for Ohio State. In the meantime, the interim staff sparked a three-game win streak capped by the 42-37 win over then #7 Penn State. Tight ends coach Jerry Neuheisel took over the playcalling and outdueled PSU’s Jim Knowles to become the first 0-4 team to beat a Top 10 opponent in 40 years. “You’d think it was Mardi Gras,” said interim head coach Tim Skipper regarding the postgame locker room celebration.
They notched wins over Michigan State and Maryland but lost the final five games. That makes
it seven losing seasons in the past ten, and Rose Bowl attendance dwindled to a 37,000 per-
game average. The three-month coaching search ended with a major win as they hired James Madison’s Bob Chesney, one of the top prizes in the biggest coaching carousel in college football history. Chesney took over JMU in 2024 after Curt Cignetti took his staff and 20 players with him to Indiana. In two years he went 21-6, won the Sun Belt, and earned a spot in the Playoff – quite the achievement for a school just five years removed from the FCS level.
Before that at Holy Cross he won the Patriot League five times in six seasons, and had similar
success at DII Assumption and DIII Salve Regina. He brought both JMU coordinators and 10
of his players with him to Westwood to help spark the program rebuild.
OFFENSE
UCLA ranked in the national bottom ten in both scoring offense and scoring defense. James
Madison was in the top ten in both with coordinators and schemes that clearly work.
Nico Iamaleava returns as the face of the franchise. The former five-star finished just 14th in the Big Ten in QB Rating, but he showed off his big arm and his athleticism in the Penn State win with five touchdowns. His toughness cannot be questioned, as he shouldered the team-high in carries and rushing yards, battled through hits and a November concussion, and rallied the locker room after the Foster firing. His skillset fits better with this scheme, as James Madison used a lot of quarterback designed-runs. The biggest concern is in the trenches, where last year’s transfer portal gamble backfired and produced a below average unit. This cycle, they flipped the strategy and signed guys with proven starting experience. UCLA only returns one starter, but it’s their best one in left guard Eugene Brooks. From there, it is Pick Your Transfer at the other four spots. Three JMU linemen transferred in with tackle JD Rayner and the All-Sun Belt duo of Riley Robell and Carter Sweazie. Hall Schmidt was a starter on Boise State’s 2024 Playoff team, Jordan Davis (South Alabama) is a three-year starter, and Derek Osman (Harvard) was All-Ivy. Iamaleava was the lead rusher, and the trio of running backs shared carries with Jalen Berger, Anthony Woods, and Jaivian Thomas all getting 60+ attempts. Berger graduated, and the staff signed their star running back Wayne Knight who rushed for 1,300 yards for them at JMU last year. Knight is a speedy 5’7 and put up 100+ yards in the Playoff loss to Oregon. Look for another three- man committee here. Three of the top four receivers are gone, but with a boost from the portal it is an upgraded unit. The lack of explosiveness in the pass game (#134 nationally) was an issue but it’s a fresh start for 2026. Aidan Mizell (Florida) is a former Top100 recruit and earned a four-star transfer grade and brings track speed to the room. Another speedster Brian Rowe (South Carolina) was a 2025 four-star and he’ll battle veteran Mikey Matthews for reps in the slot. They signed some proven production too. 6’4 Leland Smith (San Jose State) and Landon Ellis (James Madison) were both all-league performers at the non-AQ level, and combined for 77 catches and 1,312 yards last year. The staff also brought their blocking tight end Josh Phifer with them from JMU.
DEFENSE
Chesney brought defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler with him after building a dominant unit at
JMU last year that placed in the national top ten in total defense, rushing defense, opponent QB
Rating, and third downs among other categories. 10 of his 11 starters earned All-Sun Belt honors and three of them came to UCLA: corner DJ Barksdale and defensive ends Sahir West and Aiden Gobaira. West is the headliner after a 7 sack, 14 tackle-for-loss season earned him Sun Belt Freshman of the Year. West and Gobaira, along with California’s best edge rusher Ryan McCulloch, directly addresses their weakness in pass rush last year. UCLA was the least disruptive defense in America per my Negative Play Rate. The interior tackles struggled too. Both starters Gary Smith and Keanu Williams are gone, and UCLA turns to Darold DeNgohe who was a projected starter for Rutgers before a preseason injury. DeNgohe was actually at JMU before that with the staff in 2024 and posted a productive season. Former Top100 Tyson Ford (California) emerged as the other tackle starter. Jalen Woods is the lone returning starter at linebacker after JonJon Vaughns graduated and Isaiah Chisom transferred out to Oklahoma State. The staff reloaded from the portal with four-star transfer Sammy Omosigho (Oklahoma) who posted 89 tackles, and 9.5 for loss, in two years in the rotation. Anthony Sacca (Notre Dame) was a 2025 four-star, and Drew Spinogatti came over from JMU. Corner Rodrick Pleasant was arguably their top defender last year and he returns with all-league potential.
Three more transfers are projected starters in Dante Lovett (Virginia Tech) at the other corner, Utah starter Tao Johnson at safety, and DJ Barksdale (JMU) at nickel. Key Lawrence graduated but Cole Martin is back at strong safety.
OUTLOOK
UCLA hired a proven winner in Chesney. He brought both of his James Madison coordinators, ten of their players, and multiple all-conference stars to jump start the transition. The staff was also able to retain five-star Iamaleava and upgrade all the position rooms around him. UCLA will
bounce back to the mid-tier of the Big Ten.
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BASEBALL NEWS
MLB ROUNDUP: RYAN WALDSCHMIDT’S WALK-OFF HR LIFTS D-BACKS OVER DODGERS
Ryan Waldschmidt hit a walk-off two-run homer with one out in the ninth inning and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Dodgers 4-3 in Phoenix on Friday, sending Los Angeles to its seventh consecutive loss.
Max Kepler walked to open the ninth off Edwin Diaz (1-1). Pinch runner Jorge Barrosa stole second with one out before Waldschmidt lined a 411-foot homer to left center. It was the rookie’s second homer, his first to end a game.
Nolan Arenado homered and Geraldo Perdomo had a double, a triple and an RBI for the D-backs. Tommy Edman had two hits and an RBI for the Dodgers.
Arizona starter Merrill Kelly no-hit the Dodgers for five innings before removing himself with a right leg cramp after giving up two hits, two walks and a run in the sixth. Dodgers starter Roki Sasaki gave up two runs and four hits in six innings.MLB news
Red Sox 13, Athletics 1
Payton Tolle recorded a career-high 14 strikeouts and Jarren Duran homered to help Boston extend its winning streak to nine games by beating the visiting Athletics.
Duran’s third home run in the past five games came against Jack Perkins (2-8) and ignited a five-run second inning. Tolle (7-6) didn’t allow a baserunner until Tyler Soderstrom led off the fifth with a homer. He was pulled after six innings, having yielded one run on two hits and no walks.
The Athletics were limited to two hits in their ninth consecutive loss. Perkins gave up five runs on five hits in three innings.
Yankees 3, Braves 2 (10 innings)
Ryan McMahon notched a walk-off sacrifice fly in the 10th inning and host New York rallied for a victory over Atlanta after a lengthy rain delay before the first pitch.
McMahon gave the Yankees just their second win in 10 extra-inning games this season when he followed two walks by lifting a fly ball to right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. off Tyler Kinley (6-5), Acuna’s throw was offline and automatic runner Luis Garcia Jr. easily scored.
David Bednar (5-3) tossed a scoreless top of the 10th. Austin Riley homered in the eighth off New York’s Fernando Cruz, and Matt Olson went deep in the ninth off Tim Hill for the Braves, who had their eight-game winning streak end.
Mets 6, Pirates 4
Marcus Semien hit a three-run homer and Carson Benge drove in two runs to lead New York to a win over host Pittsburgh.
The Mets matched their season high with a fourth consecutive victory. Semien’s homer highlighted a four-run third inning for New York, which jumped out to a 6-0 lead and held off a late Pirates rally in the ninth. Zac Thornton (3-2) threw five shutout innings.
A.J. Ewing finished with three hits to lead the Mets. Bryan Reynolds, Jared Triolo, Ronny Simon and Nick Gonzales each had two hits for the Pirates. Carmen Mlodzinski (6-4) yielded five runs on seven hits in three innings.
Guardians 8, White Sox 2
Angel Martinez hit a grand slam during a five-run fifth inning and finished with a career-high six RBIs for visiting Cleveland, which rolled to a win over Chicago.
Martinez opened the scoring with a two-run single in the first. Guardians starter Parker Messick (9-6) fanned eight while permitting two runs on four hits in seven innings.
White Sox starter Noah Schultz lasted just one out before being pulled because manager Will Venable visited him shortly after pitching coach Zach Bove visited the mound. Schultz (3-9) was charged with two runs on three hits with one strikeout.
Twins 8, Brewers 6
Josh Bell went 4-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs as visiting Minnesota outlasted Milwaukee.
Kaelen Culpepper hit a solo home run in his big-league debut for the Twins. Royce Lewis went 2-for-5 with an RBI double. Minnesota starter Zebby Matthews (5-8) allowed six runs, three earned, on seven hits in five innings.
Brice Turang went 2-for-4 with a two-RBI double for the Brewers, and Jackson Chourio socked his third homer in four games. Antonio Senzatela (9-3) gave up two runs on three hits in one inning of relief.
Angels 4, Marlins 3
Nolan Schanuel slugged a tiebreaking two-run homer in the seventh inning, lifting Los Angeles to a win at Miami.
Mike Trout homered on his 35th birthday for the Angels. Los Angeles reliever Shaun Anderson (2-0) got one out, and Jose Fermin pitched a one-run ninth to earn his first career save.
Kyle Stowers went 4-for-4 with a walk and two RBIs for the Marlins. Reliever Josh Ekness (0-1) served up Schanuel’s homer. Miami nearly tied the score in the ninth, but Los Angeles got the final out on left fielder Jose Siri’s throw to nail Leo Jimenez at the plate.
Nationals 5, Reds 3
Daylen Lile hit a three-run homer and Harry Ford added a two-run shot as host Washington beat Cincinnati.
Nationals starter Cade Cavalli (9-5) allowed seven hits and three runs in six-plus innings. He struck out eight and walked two. Clayton Beeter threw a perfect ninth inning for his 12th save.
With ace Hunter Greene going down for the season this week, the Reds were forced to go with a bullpen game. Reliever Julian Garcia (2-3) gave up two runs in 2 1/3 innings. Cincinnati got solo home runs from Eugenio Suarez, Matt McLain and Elly De La Cruz.
Cubs 6, Royals 4
Kevin Gausman allowed two runs over seven solid innings in his Cubs debut and Pedro Ramirez homered and singled as Chicago won its fifth straight, defeating host Kansas City.
Acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays last weekend, Gausman (6-10) found a rhythm following a hectic first inning. He yielded just four hits and a walk while striking out four on 96 pitches as the Cubs improved to 19-6 in their past 25 road games.
Carter Jensen homered and Jac Caglianone had two hits for the Royals, who took their sixth loss in eight games. Royals opener Daniel Lynch IV (4-3) was charged with four runs on three hits over 1 2/3 innings.
Astros 6, Padres 3
Cam Smith homered twice and visiting Houston made it 13 wins in 16 games by downing San Diego.
Smith and Isaac Paredes each had three hits for the Astros. Houston reliever Bryan Abreu (4-3) threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings, and Josh Hader threw a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his 16th save in as many chances.
Robbie Ray (10-7) lost in his first San Diego start, breaking a 12-start undefeated streak. The left-hander gave up seven hits and four runs in five innings. Fernando Tatis Jr. homered and singled.
Rangers 2, Orioles 1
Joc Pederson homered in the sixth inning and Brandon Nimmo made a game-saving throw from right field in the ninth for Texas, which earned its third consecutive win by defeating Baltimore in Arlington, Texas.
The Rangers won despite mustering just three hits and a walk. It marked the fewest hits for Texas in a victory this season. Reliever Tyler Alexander (3-2) got two outs, and Jacob Latz fired two scoreless innings for his 22nd save.
Orioles starter Shane Baz (4-11) tied his career high with eight innings and tossed his first career complete game, albeit in a losing effort. He permitted two runs on three hits and a walk with nine strikeouts.
Cardinals 3, Rockies 2
Ivan Herrera hit a solo home run and Kyle Leahy fanned eight in five effective innings as St. Louis defeated visiting Colorado.
The Cardinals recorded just four hits yet won for the fourth time in five games to get back to .500. Leahy (8-4) allowed two runs on eight hits and no walks. Riley O’Brien got the final three outs for his 28th save.
Troy Johnston drove in both runs for the Rockies on groundouts. Ryan Feltner (4-6) gave up four hits and three runs in 5 1/3 innings.
Blue Jays 5, Phillies 4
Josh Smith collected three hits, including a homer, and scored three runs as visiting Toronto held on to nip Philadelphia.
Philadelphia scored twice in the ninth inning and had the bases loaded with one out before Blue Jays reliever Tyler Rogers got the final two outs — including covering first on a bang-bang play to end it. Lazaro Estrada (1-0) worked 1 1/3 frames for his first major league win, and Rogers picked up his fourth save.
Andres Gimenez hit an early home run for Toronto, and Alejandro Kirk provided a pair of sacrifice flies. Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler (10-3) issued five walks in 5 1/3 innings while giving up four runs and seven hits. Bryce Harper had two hits and two RBIs.
Rays 2, Mariners 1
Drew Rasmussen pitched seven scoreless innings as Tampa Bay defeated host Seattle Mariners.
Jonny DeLuca and Jonathan Aranda homered for the Rays, who have won 13 of their past 17 games. Rasmussen (11-5) allowed just two hits, walked two and struck out eight.
The Mariners’ Julio Rodriguez homered with two outs in the ninth off Bryan Baker, who then fanned Josh Naylor to complete his major-league-leading 33rd save. Seattle starter Logan Gilbert (8-7) gave up two runs on four hits over 6 2/3 innings.
Giants 5, Tigers 2
Rafael Devers and Willy Adames hit home runs, Adrian Houser threw five innings of effective relief and San Francisco opened a three-game home series with a victory over Detroit.
Devers opened the scoring with a two-run shot in the first before Jung Hoo Lee chipped in with a two-run single as the Giants retook the lead for good in the second. Houser (3-7) allowed a game-tying run on an RBI single by Zach McKinstry, the only run he surrendered.
Detroit starter Keider Montero (8-7) surrendered five runs on five hits in six innings. Kevin McGonigle and Spencer Torkelson collected three hits apiece, and McKinstry had two for the Tigers. Detroit stranded 12 on base, going 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position.
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TARIK SKUBAL SAYS HE ‘WOULD LOVE TO RETURN’ TO TIGERS
Former Detroit ace Tarik Skubal’s time with the Tigers may not be over after all.
The two-time American League Cy Young Award winner said he “would love to return” to Detroit in a podcast released on Friday, less than a week after he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“I would love to play my whole career in Detroit. And hopefully those negotiations can pick back up in November once the playoffs are done,” the left-hander said in an episode of “Pardon My Take.”
“Hopefully (the Tigers) are involved with everything. I would love to return. I’ve got nothing but good things to say about the city of Detroit.”
Skubal, 29, will be one of the most coveted free agents on the market after the 2026 season. Despite the sentiments Skubal expressed in the podcast, the potentially record-setting salary figures he is likely to command may be too rich for the Tigers’ blood.
There is a precedent, however. After trading right-hander Jack Flaherty to the Dodgers at the 2024 trade deadline, the Tigers re-signed him in free agency to a two-year, $35 million deal.
Skubal said he broke down in tears when saying goodbye to his teammates in Detroit, where he made his major league debut in 2020.
“I hate crying, I don’t cry a lot,” he said on the podcast. “When my wife walked down the aisle I didn’t cry because I was so nervous, and I’m crying in a clubhouse with a bunch of other grown men saying bye to everybody and giving everybody a hug.”
After going 7-5 with a 2.79 ERA in 16 starts this season with the Tigers, Skubal dropped his debut with the Dodgers on Tuesday. He allowed two runs on four hits in six innings in a 5-1 loss to the host Chicago Cubs.
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REPORT: TWINS TO PROMOTE NO. 2 PROSPECT IN SEARCH OF OFFENSIVE BOOST
Back in the playoff race, the Minnesota Twins are calling up Kaelen Culpepper, their No. 2 prospect, in hopes he will provide increased offense at shortstop, The Athletic reported Friday.
He is expected to be available for the weekend series against the Milwaukee Brewers, per the report.
Culpepper, 23, has appeared in 74 games at Triple-A St. Paul and is hitting .271 with 14 home runs, 46 RBIs and 17 stolen bases. He has 39 walks, 64 strikeouts and an .845 OPS.
In 116 games, Twins’ shortstops have combined for 11 home runs, 67 RBIs, 21 walks and 91 strikeouts while batting .235 with a .652 OPS.
Culpepper’s defense also has saved runs for the Saints.
“He’s taken it really seriously and worked very hard at it,” Twins assistant GM Alex Hassan said, per The Athletic. “He’s got a lot of physical tools to do it, and especially his arm is incredible. There’s a lot of good attributes on defense. It’s getting as many reps as possible and learning as many situations as possible.”
Culpepper was selected by the Twins in the first round of the 2024 MLB Draft out of Kansas State.
He is baseball’s No. 29 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline.
The Twins (57-59) were eight games under .500 and seven games behind in the American League Central on June 13 and have slowly worked themselves back into postseason contention.
They enter the series in Milwaukee tied with the Cleveland Guardians in the Central, three games behind the Chicago White Sox and a half-game out of the final AL wild-card spot.
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ATHLETICS, GM DAVID FORST MUTUALLY AGREE TO PART WAYS
The Athletics and general manager David Forst have mutually agreed to part ways, ending his 27-year tenure with the organization, the team announced Friday.
Assistant general manager Dan Feinstein will serve as interim GM for the remainder of the season while the Athletics search for a permanent replacement.
Forst, 50, joined the organization as a scout in 2000 and became Billy Beane’s assistant general manager four years later. He took over as GM after the 2015 season and spent the next decade overseeing a franchise that repeatedly cycled between contention and rebuilding.
“It was truly an honor to spend the last 27 years with the A’s, especially the last 11 as the GM,” Forst said. “This organization is full of incredibly talented, devoted and good people and I am lucky to have worked alongside them for so long.”
The Athletics reached the postseason in three consecutive seasons from 2018-20, winning the American League West during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign. That stretch was followed by another teardown that included trades involving Matt Olson, Matt Chapman, Sean Murphy, Chris Bassitt and others.
This season has brought another step backward. The Athletics entered Friday 45-70 and on pace for a fifth straight losing season despite the emergence of young players such as Nick Kurtz, Jacob Wilson and Lawrence Butler.
“David has been an integral part of the A’s and our success for nearly three decades,” owner John Fisher said. “His leadership, dedication and commitment to this team have helped shape our baseball operations department and position us for the future. We are grateful for everything David has done for our organization.”
Forst’s departure comes during a transitional period for the franchise, which is playing in Sacramento while preparing for its planned move to Las Vegas in two years.
Manager Mark Kotsay informed players of the decision during a team meeting before Friday’s game at Boston.
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REPORT: GIANTS 3B MATT CHAPMAN (ABDOMEN) NEEDS SEASON-ENDING SURGERY
Giants third baseman Matt Chapman is ticketed for season-ending surgery to fix a hernia and a muscle tear in his abdomen, according to the San Francisco Chronicle on Friday.
Chapman becomes the third San Francisco hitter in eight days to be declared out for the year due to an injury.
Infielder Casey Schmitt underwent surgery on July 31 to repair a meniscus tear in his left knee. Outfielder Harrison Bader, already on the injured list with a foot injury, further injured himself in a scooter accident and Giants manager Tony Vitello announced recently that he’s not expected back this season.
Chapman, 33, has endured the worst season of his 10-year career in home runs (seven) and OPS (.692). He posted a .235/.324/.368 slash line with 42 RBIs in 84 games. He has not played since June 30.
Second-year infielder Christian Koss has been handling third base lately for the Giants. In 23 games this season, he’s hitting .167 with one RBI.
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NBA NEWS
BRANDON CLARKE DIED FROM HEROIN, COCAINE EFFECTS, EXAMINER RULES
The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner reported on Friday that Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke died due to the effects of heroin and cocaine.
The medical examiner ruled Clarke’s May 11 death an accident. The combined effects of multiple prescription medications were also identified as a significant contributing condition, though the specific medications were not disclosed. The full medical examiner’s report has not yet been released.
Clarke, 29, was discovered unresponsive in a bedroom at a residence in California’s San Fernando Valley and was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. The medical examiner conducted an examination the following day before formally certifying the cause and manner of death on Friday.
Clarke spent his entire seven-year NBA career with Memphis after finishing his college career at Gonzaga. He averaged 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds over 309 games (50 starts) and finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting in 2019-20.
Injuries limited Clarke during his final seasons. He missed more than a year after tearing an Achilles tendon in 2023 and appeared in only two games during the 2025-26 campaign because of knee and calf ailments.
About six weeks before his death, Clarke was arrested in Arkansas on charges that included possession and trafficking of a controlled substance following a traffic stop.
Following Clarke’s death, the Grizzlies remembered him as an “outstanding teammate and an even better person” whose influence extended beyond the organization and into the Memphis community.
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GOLF NEWS
BEAU HOSSLER LEADS WYNDHAM BY 1 AS PLAYOFF PICTURE STARTS TO CLEAR
Beau Hossler hung onto the Wyndham Championship lead after posting a second-round 67 on Friday at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, N.C.
One day after leaping out to an early lead on the back of a 61, Hossler stands at 12-under-par 128, one stroke ahead of Ben James (67) and England’s Jordan Smith (64). There is a massive 10-way tie for fourth at 9 under par at the PGA Tour’s regular-season finale.
Only the top 70 in the season-long FedEx Cup standings will qualify for the first leg of the playoffs next week. Hossler entered the week more or less needing a victory to vault from No. 122 into the top 70; his current projection, if results were to hold, is No. 53.
Hossler brushed off a bogey-bogey start at Nos. 10-11 by carding three birdies on the back nine and adding a pair at Nos. 5 and 9 coming in. The 11-foot putt he made at the par-4 ninth broke him out of a tie with James and Smith during the afternoon.Breaking sports news
“Was really happy with the way I kind of righted the ship and made a (birdie) 2 on hole 12, which is a really challenging hole, which kind of moved the momentum back in my favor,” Hossler said. “Kind of all day I felt like I was fighting it a little bit. … To shoot 3 under par on a day like that was really, really good. Sometimes even more satisfying, frankly, than shooting really low.”
Smith entered the week on the FedEx Cup bubble at No. 68, but he’s all but assured to make the field of 70 now that he’s made the cut in Greensboro. His round of 64 included an eagle-birdie stretch at Nos. 5-6 as he finished his day on the front nine.
“Yeah, I’m reasonably happy,” Smith said of his first season in the states after a career on the DP World Tour. “We made a lot of cuts, built up our points nicely, had a couple nice finishes. Yeah, it’s been pretty good. So hopefully we can sort of make it a really good year by having a good week here and pushing on into the playoffs.”
James, 23, continues to threaten for his first PGA Tour victory after he turned pro this summer and held the 36-hole lead in his first professional start at the Canadian Open. He made an eagle 2 on his first hole of the day, his approach at the par-4 10th slowly spinning back toward the pin and eventually dropping.
“Sometimes, you just make golf bigger than it is,” James said of what he’s learned. “It’s not that big. I’m going to do the best I can, play as smart as I can and keep doing the right things. I’m doing a lot of things really well and just going to keep going for the weekend.”
The 10 players knotted at 9 under: Doug Ghim (67), Max Greyserman (66), Sahith Theegala (69), Alex Smalley (64), Michael Brennan (65), Billy Horschel (66), Alex Noren of Sweden (65), David Skinns of England (65), Matti Schmid of Germany (67) and Rico Hoey of the Philippines (65).
The player who entered the week sitting exactly on No. 70, breakout rookie Jackson Koivun, made the cut with rounds of 67 and 68 to place him 5 under. As of Friday evening, he was projected to slip one spot to No. 71 due to Hossler’s projected move up the standings.
The cut line landed at 3 under par, with a pair of recognizable names sneaking in right on the number. Keegan Bradley shot a 67 Friday and has a fighter’s chance of moving up from No. 72 in the race to the top 70; Tony Finau posted a 66 to make the weekend, but at No. 89 his chances are fading fast, and he’d need a win or very high finish to elbow his way into the field.
Bradley has made the FedEx Cup playoffs every year he has played on tour, and he is doing everything he can to keep that streak alive.
“I’m trying to enjoy this because I’ve never had to do this in my career,” he explained. “I really want to see if I can go out there and do it. It’s something that I’ve never had to do is play my way into the playoffs in the last tournament. I really feel like I play some of my best golf when I’m under a little bit of pressure.”
Defending Wyndham champ Cameron Young (66) recovered from a poor opening round to make the cut at 3 under.
Steven Fisk (2 over) entered the week at No. 69 in the race and is the current projected No. 70 after missing the cut. No. 71 Mac Meissner (2 under) missed the cut by a single shot and will not be able to qualify for the playoffs.
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JOAQUIN NIEMANN EXTENDS LEAD AT LIV GOLF NEW YORK
Joaquin Niemann fired a 6-under-par 65 and extended his lead to five shots halfway through LIV Golf New York on Friday in Bedminster, N.J.
After rounds of 64-65, the Chilean stands at 13-under 129, five strokes ahead of England’s Lee Westwood and six better than Spain’s Sergio Garcia. Westwood and Garcia both matched Niemann’s 65 at Trump National Golf Club.
Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin (66) and Harold Varner III (67) are tied for fourth place at 6 under par.
Australia’s Lucas Herbert and England’s Ian Poulter both started the day two shots behind Niemann, but fell off the pace with rounds of even-par 71 and 1-over 72, respectively. At 5 under through 36 holes, Herbert is tied with three others, while Poulter is tied for 10th at 4 under.
Niemann, who is looking for his ninth LIV Golf individual title, leads the field in strokes gained off the tee and approach. But he is still not satisfied with where he is.
“I mean, to be honest, that’s the kind of discussion that I always have with my coach,” Niemann said. “He would come out to me and say, ‘Hey, you were No. 1 in strokes gained off the tee or approach to the green or whatever stat.’ But I don’t feel like — I feel like I’m hitting it a lot better. I feel like it can be a lot better, too, right now.
“I know how I can kind of get closer to that better. So I’m just working towards that. I just like feeling my body before the shot, seeing what the ball wants to do and try to match my body muscles to kind of recreate that.”
The 27-year-old has yet to make a bogey through 36 holes. For the second consecutive day, he birdied five of the nine holes on the front side. Niemann went on to par Nos. 10-17 and closed with a birdie four at the par-5 18th hole.
After hitting 15 of 18 greens in regulation Thursday, he found the surface 16 of 18 times on Friday.
Westwood caught fire on the sixth hole, birdieing three in a row and four of five. Like Niemann, he converted for birdie on No. 18.
The veteran Englishman will keep the same game plan for the weekend.
“I’m delighted with 8 under par after two days,” Westwood said. “Joaco is obviously a world-class player. For me, he’s top 20 in the world.
“When he’s on his game, he can run away with a tournament.”
Garcia, who was even par through 14 holes on Thursday, made seven birdies on Friday, but avoided the trouble he found in the opening round when he suffered through two bogeys and a double-bogey.
Garcia admitted there was not much the rest of the field could do if Niemann kept playing at his current pace.
“Well, I think that Joaco has everything that you want to have in your game to be able to do amazing things in golf,” Garcia said. “So obviously he’s got a great head on his shoulders. I think that he’s a very positive guy. He really loves and enjoys the game. He can drive it really, really well and hit it very far. So that’s a great combination. His iron play, it’s always at a good level.”
Niemann also has the team he captains, Torque GC, comfortably on top of the team leaderboard. Torque is 9 under for the week, five shots clear of HyFlyers GC.
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NASCAR NEWS
WILLIAM BYRON LOOKS TO DEFEND TITLE AT IOWA CORN 350
One solid month of races — four events in what will likely be a sauna-like August — is all that remains to set the first Chase field of 16 drivers to race for 10 weeks and determine the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series championship.
The first of the final four happens Sunday at Iowa Speedway with the Iowa Corn 350 (3:30 p.m. ET, USA Network) in Newton, Iowa, where William Byron is the defending champion at the short track.
Like at North Wilkesboro, drivers again will deal with a unique number of laps. It was 450 at the refurbished iconic short track last month, and drivers will go a scheduled 350 circuits this week.
That sounds like a compromise, like one faction wanting 300 and the other replying, “That’s too short. Let’s make it 400 instead,” then meeting in the middle.
Ryan Blaney won at Iowa in 2024 by leading 201 laps and beating Byron by 0.716 seconds, but the Hendrick Motorsports pilot found Victory Lane a year later by outrunning Chase Briscoe with Blaney running fourth.
Blaney’s No. 12 and Byron’s No. 24 are certainly ones to keep an eye on, but the bigger picture Sunday will continue to be the standings.
The group trying to hold or get into a top-16 spot — say, from 13th-place Joey Logano to his former Team Penske teammate Brad Keselowski in 19th — deserves more attention as the series creeps closer to the regular-season finale at Daytona.
Denny Hamlin, Tyler Reddick, Blaney and Ty Gibbs have all qualified for the Chase, but fifth-place Carson Hocevar — the highest Chevrolet driver — holds just a 29-point lead over Christopher Bell back in 10th.
In between Hocevar and Bell are four drivers who have combined for only three wins: sixth-place Chase Elliott (two wins, minus-3 to Hocevar), Chase Briscoe (one win, minus-15), Kyle Larson (minus-21) and Chris Buescher (minus-25).
Stat of the week: Rising star Corey Heim has the same number of wins in eight starts in 2026 as the Hendrick Motorsports drivers do in 88 combined, with Byron, Larson and Alex Bowman all winless while Elliott has two wins.
Times are tough at legendary HMS, which has 15 Cup titles and 322 victories since its 1984 inception, but it has gone three straight races without one of its four drivers inside the top 10 — an almost unheard-of multi-race slump last experienced in the Hendrick’s stable in 2020.
HMS drivers slot in sixth, eighth, 12th and 29th, with the lowest position belonging to the 33-year-old Bowman, who missed four races during a battle with vertigo and is set to retire from Cup racing after 2027.
Hamlin said the organization needs to seriously regroup.
“They need to have a Snickers,” kidded the points leader on his podcast. “They’ve not been (themselves) in a while. It’s not really indicative of their speed … (but) when I see William Byron in 12th, that’s mind-boggling to me.”
Will a Hendrick driver hit on something and be interviewed on the frontstretch in the heart of America’s farmland as darkness falls Sunday in Iowa, brandishing a checkered flag in one hand and taking a bite of a Snickers in the other to needle Hamlin on Sunday?
That would warm up August even more.
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INDYCAR
CHAMPIONSHIP LEADER ALEX PALOU ON POINT IN OPENING PORTLAND PRACTICE
Alex Palou’s path toward history became just a bit smoother Friday after he led the opening practice for the OnlyBulls Grand Prix of Portland.
Series leader Palou, aiming for his record-tying fourth consecutive NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship and fifth overall, was quickest at Portland International Raceway with a best lap of 58.5716 seconds in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Palou and CGR teammates Scott Dixon and Kyffin Simpson tested July 29 at the 12-turn, 1.964-mile circuit, a decision that’s paying dividends.
SEE: Practice Results
“Good day, great start,” Palou said. “I think there’s some work to do with the alternates (Firestone Firehawk tires), but we were really good on primaries, so I’m looking forward to tomorrow.
“It’s good that we tested here because it allowed us to start with good speed already in the No. 10 DHL Honda. But, yeah, some work to do still. We just need more speed.”
Kyle Kirkwood was second overall in the 64-minute session divided into three groups, turning a best lap of 58.6602 in the No. 27 Sam’s Club Honda of Andretti Global. Kirkwood is third in the series standings, 87 points behind Palou and four points behind second-place David Malukas of Team Penske. Kirkwood’s engineers made significant changes to the car setup that resulted in him qualifying 19th and finishing 20th last year at this race.
“We definitely came here with a much different car than we’ve ever ran here, and hopefully it’s paying off,” Kirkwood said. “Early days here, but it’s promising. Compared to where we were last year, this is a big step in the right direction.”
Rinus VeeKay continued his strong season by ending up third at 58.7996 in the No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet. VeeKay is 10th in the standings for one of the smallest teams in the series.
Two-time reigning Portland winner Will Power was fourth at 58.9096 in the No. 27 TWG AI Honda of Andretti Global, which he joined this season after 15 full-time seasons with Team Penske. Louis Foster rallied from technical problems early in the session that forced extended repair time in the paddock, rounding out the top five at 58.9274 in the No. 45 Desnuda Organic Tequila Honda of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.
Malukas, 83 points back of Palou, stopped the clocks eighth at 58.9888 in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet that Power drove to victory the last two years at Portland.
Marcus Armstrong of Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian and Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren needed extended time in the pits for repairs after clouting the Armco barrier at the apex of the circuit’s tricky Turn 1 with their respective right-front wheels in separate incidents.
Up next is the second practice at 1 p.m. ET Saturday, followed by NTT P1 Award qualifying at 7 p.m. ET (FS1). Expect a close chase for the pole and first few rows of the starting grid, as less than one-half second separated the top 10 on the speed chart Friday.
The 110-lap race starts at 4 p.m. ET Sunday on FOX and FOX Deportes. FOX One and INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls also will broadcast all sessions this weekend.
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TOP INDIANA SPORTS HEADLINES
COLTS FOOTBALL
(COLTS RELEASE)
The NFL in 2026 is all about explosive plays. Offensive coordinators are constantly trying to get them; defensive coordinators are constantly trying to prevent them.
Over the last few years, defensive coordinators have found ways to limit those chunk gains through the air, largely by playing both safeties deep as opposed to dropping one into the box. From 2016-2020, offenses averaged 5.7 explosive (15+ yards) passing plays per game. From 2021-2025, that dropped to 5.3; it may seem small, but explosive plays are a skeleton key to unlock drives that end with points. From 2016-2020, offenses averaged +.025 EPA per play; from 2021-2025, offenses averaged -.004 EPA per play.
So how does an offense counter it being more difficult than ever (at least in recent memory) to generate explosive plays through the air?
One answer: Have a running back who can get you those explosive plays himself.
Like Jonathan Taylor.
From 2021-2025, Taylor gained 15+ yards on 69 rushes, third in the NFL behind only Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley. Sixteen of those rushes went for touchdowns, behind only Henry’s 18.
And out of 47 players with 20+ rushes of 15+ yards in the last five seasons, only Taylor averaged over 30 yards per carry on those. Meaning: Taylor isn’t just getting explosive plays, he’s detonating an entire defensive plan when he breaks into the open field.
Plenty of these big-time runs by Taylor, too, come after contact. Taylor in 2025 led the NFL in rushing yards after contact (637) and missed tackles forced (93).
All that leads to Taylor being an explosive play waiting to happen every time he touches the ball. And in a league geared toward limiting those, the Colts can take comfort in Taylor’s ability to go against the grain – and, often, into the end zone.
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COLTS CB CAM TAYLOR-BRITT SUSPENDED FOR SEASON OPENER
The NFL announced on Friday that Indianapolis Colts cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt has been suspended for one game and will not play in the season opener against the visiting Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 13.
The league determined that the former Cincinnati Bengals cornerback violated the league’s personal conduct policy.
On January 6, 2026, two days after the 2025 regular season ended, Taylor-Britt submitted a guilty plea for charges of reckless driving and driving without a valid driver’s license. The charges stemmed from a pair of 2025 traffic stops, and the four-year veteran spent five days in jail.
Taylor-Britt signed a one-year, $1.402 million deal with the Colts in March. He is expected to back-up projected starters Sauce Gardner and Charvarius Ward.
In four seasons with Cincinnati, the former Nebraska Cornhusker has started 40 of the 47 games he’s played in. He excelled in 2023 and 2024, starting 29 games and recording all seven of his career interceptions. Taylor-Britt had a pick-six in each of those campaigns.
For his career, Taylor-Britt also has 203 tackles, four tackles for loss and two forced fumbles.
Taylor-Britt is allowed to practice and compete in the Colts’ preseason games but is not permitted to be around the team the week of the first regular-season game.
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INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indianapolis Indians briefly took the lead with a three-run third inning, but the Iowa Cubs came back to defeat them, 9-3, on Friday night at Victory Field. Oneil Cruz went 0-for-1 with two walks and played center field as he today joined Indy on a major league rehab assignment.
With the Indians (23-14, 54-58) trailing 2-0 in the third frame, Termarr Johnson got them on the board with an RBI double to deep right center field. Cruz drew a walk to load the bases and Billy Cook brought the second run home with a run-scoring groundout. Enmanuel Valdez then followed with an RBI groundout of his own to give Indy a 3-2 advantage.
Iowa (15-22, 45-64) quickly tied the game when Chas McCormick hit his 10th home run of the season in the top of the fourth inning. Five I-Cubs runs came across in the seventh to put the game away. A final tally was added on a sacrifice fly in the ninth.
Brandon Eisert opened for the Indians and allowed one run over 1.1 innings with bulk man Thomas Harrington behind him; who tossed 3.1 innings of two-run ball. Michael Darrell-Hicks recorded the last out of the fifth inning via strikeout and then punched out the side in order in the sixth. Noah Murdock (L, 0-1) allowed four straight baserunners to begin the seventh inning.
Kohl Franklin tossed 3.0 innings of three-run ball in his Iowa season debut and Paul Campbell (W, 2-5) followed with 3.0 shutout to set up the I-Cubs win.
The six-game series between Indianapolis and Iowa continues Saturday night at 7:05 PM ET. RHP Noah Davis (1-8, 4.45) is scheduled to start for the Indians and an I-Cubs starter has not yet been named.
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INDIANA FEVER
By Wheat Hotchkiss | FeverBasketball.com
Indiana Fever at Chicago Sky
Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026
United Center | 3:30 p.m. ET
BROADCAST INFO
TV: ABC
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan – John Nolan (play-by-play), Bria Goss (analyst)
PROBABLE STARTERS
Indiana Fever (19-11)
Guard – Caitlin Clark
Guard – Kelsey Mitchell
Forward – Lexie Hull
Forward – Monique Billings
Center – Aliyah Boston
Chicago Sky (12-19)
Guard – Courtney Vandersloot
Guard – Jacy Sheldon
Forward – Natasha Cloud
Forward – Aicha Coulibaly
Center – Kamilla Cardoso
GAME PREVIEW
After a tough overtime loss on Thursday night, the Fever will try to get back in the win column on Saturday afternoon in Chicago. It will be the second of three meetings between the Fever and the Sky this season. Indiana prevailed 114-106 in overtime on June 11 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The Fever had won five straight and nine of their last 11 before stumbling in competitive games against the two teams with the WNBA’s best records over the past week. Indiana lost 108-100 on Sunday in Minnesota, then fell to Las Vegas 86-84 in overtime on Thursday night in Indianapolis.
The Fever had several chances to win the game, but costly mistakes and clutch shotmaking from the Aces’ Chelsea Gray proved to be the difference.
Indiana was up by three with the ball in the final seconds of regulation, but All-Stars Kelsey Mitchell and Caitlin Clark combined to miss three straight free throws to give Las Vegas one last chance. Gray then buried a three at the buzzer on a broken play that began with a deflected inbounds pass to force overtime.
In the extra session, the Fever had the ball up one in the closing seconds, but A’ja Wilson stole Clark’s pass and Gray hit another buzzer-beating three on the other end to stun Indiana.
After the game, head coach Stephanie White said that while the ending sequences of regulation and overtime were frustrating, blame could equally be laid on other stretches of the game. The Fever surrendered 22 unanswered points to squander a 20-point lead over the end of the second and start of the third quarters and committed 22 turnovers in the loss.
The Sky are six games out of the playoffs, but have been playing better recently, winning three of their last four games, including a one-point win over the Aces on Aug. 1.
Rookie guard Sydney Taylor has been arguably Chicago’s leading scorer this season, averaging 14.7 points per game, but missed the Sky’s game on Wednesday with a left groin strain. 6-foot-7 center Kamilla Cardoso — a former teammate of Fever players Aliyah Boston, Raven Johnson, and Bree Hall at South Carolina — adds 14.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game for Chicago.
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INDY ELEVEN
Indy Eleven vs. Hartford Athletic
Sun., Aug. 9, 2026 | 5:00 pm
Carroll Stadium | Indianapolis
Follow Live
Watch: WRTV-ABC, CBS Sports Golazo Network, Sirius XM FC 157, Greg Rakestraw & Brad Ring
In-game updates: IndyEleven
Stats: #INDvHFD MatchCenter at USLChampionship.com
Setting the Scene
Indy Eleven hosts Hartford Athletic in an important USL Championship Eastern Conference match on Sunday, Aug. 9 at 5 p.m. at Carroll Stadium.
Series
Indy leads 6-2-4 | GF 23, GA 13
Recent Meetings
Mar. 28, 2026 D, 2-2 Away
Sept. 3, 2025 W, 2-0 Away
May 28, 2025 D, 4-4 Home
Sept. 7, 2024 D, 0-0 Away
May 18, 2024 W, 4-1 Home
June 24, 2023 W, 2-0 Away
June 10, 2023 D, 1-1 Home
Aug. 13, 2022 L, 2-1 Away
April 30, 2022 W, 1-0 Home
July 29, 2020 W, 4-1 Home
Last Meeting
Indy Eleven came back from a halftime deficit with two second-half goals to earn a 2-2 draw at Hartford Athletic on March 28. Coming into the game, Hartford had only allowed one goal in its first three matches.
The Boys in Blue started the second half quickly in the 48th minute, with forward Bruno Rendon making a long run down the right sideline into the area, where he played it forward to midfielder Cam Lindley, who played a perfect cross to the far post, with midfielder Noble Okello finishing it with his left foot to even the match at 1-1. It is the 31st career assist for Lindley in USL-C regular-season play, good for a tie for 22nd on the league’s all-time list.
Indy Eleven took the lead in the 72nd minute, with goalkeeper Eric Dick starting the sequence with a goal kick to midfield, where Okello was fouled. Lindley hurried to play a quick restart to midfielder Josh O’Brien, who played an angled ball to Mikah Thomas on the left side. The 20-year-old Thomas, who entered two minutes earlier, played three quick touches and curled a beautiful left-footed ball to the far post, where Rendon finished for his team-best second goal this season in the last two games.
Defender Anthony Herbert made a brilliant sliding block to clear an Augi Williams shot off the line in the 87th minute, but Hartford got the equalizer on an own goal off the ensuing free kick.
The Boys in Blue had an early chance in the sixth minute when defender Hayden White made a long throw-in to defender Paco Craig, who headed it inside the area to Herbert, but his shot was saved. Hartford countered immediately, but Dick saved Sadat Anaku’s shot from close range.
Boys in Blue forward Loïc Mesanvi made his first USL Championship start, generating an opportunity from outside the box that was saved. The Indy Eleven attack generated eight shots in the first half, with Mesanvi recording a team-high three.
USL Championship
Indy Eleven 2:2 Hartford Athletic
Sat., Mar. 28, 2026 – 5:00 p.m.
Trinity Health Stadium | Hartford, Conn.
Weather: Partly sunny, 39 degrees
Scoring Summary
HFD – Sadat Anaku (Adrián Diz Pe) 33’
IND – Noble Okello (Cam Lindley) 48’
IND – Bruno Rendón (Mikah Thomas) 72’
HFD – Own Goal 89’
Discipline Summary
IND – Anthony Herbert (caution) 31’
IND – Loïc Mesanvi (caution) 66’
HFD – Beverly Makangila (caution) 83’
HFD – Adrián Diz Pe (caution) 90+3’
Indy Eleven Lineup: Eric Dick, Aodhan Quinn (captain), Paco Craig, Anthony Herbert, Hayden White, Cam Lindley, Dylan Sing (Alejandro Mitrano 45’), Noble Okello (Edward Kizza 84’), Josh O’Brien, Loïc Mesanvi (Mikah Thomas 71’), Bruno Rendón.
Indy Eleven Subs Not Used: Allen Gavilanes, Kian Williams, Makel Rasheed, Reice Charles-Cook.
Hartford Athletic Lineup: Antony Siaha, Britton Fischer, Jordan Scarlett (captain), Adrián Diz Pe, Matt Real, Sebastian Anderson, Junior Moreira (Christos Hadjipaschalis 82’), Beverly Makangila, Andrés Hernández (Michee Ngalina 63’), Augi Williams, Sadat Anaku.
Hartford Athletic Subs Not Used: Enzo Carvalho, Jack Loura, TJ Presthus, Galen Flynn, Spencer Gordon.
Indy 100
Indy Eleven gaffer Sean McAuley will become the first coach in franchise history to lead the Boys in Blue in 100 matches in all competitions on Sunday. McAuley is currently tied with Martin Rennie, who coached 99 games from 2018-21.
McAuley earned USL Championship “Team of the Week” honors on May 12 in the midst of his team’s 10-game home unbeaten streak (9-0-1) from Aug. 31, 2025 to July 24, 2026.
McAuley earned USLC “Coach of the Month” in May 2024 and was nominated for USLC Midseason “Coach of the Year” after leading his team to a 12-match unbeaten streak (4/17-6/15).
The Sheffield, England, native led Indy Eleven to the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semifinals with four straight victories, including a 2-1 triumph at MLS-side Atlanta United.
In 2025, Indy Eleven continued its run of Cup success under McAuley with a 4-0-3 record in cup play. The Boys in Blue won their U.S. Open Cup Third Round match vs. Miami FC on Hayden’s White’s stoppage-time goal from Cam Lindley.
Indy 100/300
Goalkeeper Eric Dick has played in 99 USL Championship matches, making 294 saves and recording 14 clean sheets. He is tied for 14th all-time in clean sheets and 19th in saves.
The Carmel native and Butler grad is tied for fifth in the USL-C with 48 saves after making five at San Antonio FC on July 31.
USL Championship Regular Season Shutout % (min. 30)
6. Eric Dick 34.3%, 34 Clean Sheets, 99 Games Played
Welcome Back Dylan!
Indy Eleven forward Dylan Sing has been recalled from short-term loan with Portland Hearts of Pine of USL League One, where he scored a goal at Athletic Club Boise on July 17.
In his first season with the Boys in Blue, the 25-year-old Sing is tied for third on the team with two goals in USL Championship play. He scored his first Indy Eleven tally on a header in his home debut vs. Detroit City FC on March 21.
The Western Michigan product sealed a victory vs. Lexington SC on May 23 with a 76th-minute header into the upper 90. He earned his first Boys in Blue assist on WMU teammate Charlie Sharp’s goal vs. Des Moines Menace on March 17 in the U.S. Open Cup.
The 6’3 Sing has started four matches in 2026, including three in USL-C play.
O’Brien scores 5th Goal of 2026
Indy Eleven midfielder Josh O’Brien scored his fourth goal of the USL Championship season and fifth in all comps at San Antonio FC on July 31st.
Logan Neidlinger started the scoring sequence with a long throw-in to the box to Makel Rasheed, who headed it into the six. The ball caromed out to Anthony Herbert, who won a 50-50 ball with his back to the goal, turned, and uncorked a pass as he was falling into the six to O’Brien who finished inside the near post.
O’Brien is second on the Boys in Blue in goals in USL-C and all competitions, playing all 1,440 minutes in Indy Eleven’s 16 USL-C games this season. He led the team with four shots.
Herbert recorded his second assist of the campaign in his second game back in the starting lineup after missing almost two months due to an injury suffered when he was playing for the Trinidad & Tobago National Team in a match at Russia on June 9. He tied for the team lead with two tackles won.
Indy almost broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute when a Cam Lindley corner from the left was flicked on target at the near post by Nabi Kibunguchy, forcing a reflex save by Joey Batrouni before O’Brien’s header off the rebound clipped the crossbar.
Indy tried to find a way back into the game just before the hour-mark when Jack Blake’s long-range effort was kept out by Batrouni.
USL Championship
Indy Eleven 1:3 San Antonio FC
Fri., July 31, 2026 – 9:00 p.m. ET
Toyota Field | San Antonio, Texas
Weather: Sunny, 95 degrees
Attendance: 6,145
Scoring Summary
SA – Emil Cuello (Christian Sorto) 25’
SA – Cristian Parano (Mikey Maldonado) 48’
SA – Cristian Parano (Jorge Hernández) 70’
IND – Josh O’Brien (Anthony Herbert) 94’
Discipline Summary
SA – Lucio Berrón (caution) 49’
IND – Jack Blake (caution) 53’
IND – Alejandro Mitrano (caution) 59’
Indy Eleven Lineup: Eric Dick, Aodhan Quinn (captain) (Alejandro Mitrano 59’), Paco Craig, Anthony Herbert, Nabi Kibunguchy (Makel Rasheed 45’), Loïc Mesanvi (Logan Neidlinger 45’), Josh O’Brien, Cam Lindley, Mohamed Omar (Jack Blake 45’), Bruno Rendón, Noble Okello (Edward Kizza 71’).
Indy Eleven Subs not used: Reice Charles-Cook, Hesron Barry.
Indy Eleven Appearances (All Competitions)
1. Cam Lindley 135 2020, 2023-
2. Ayoze 126 2018-22
3. Jack Blake 117 2023-
4. Brad Ring 115 2014-18
5. Karl Ouimette 108 2018-22
6. Don Smart 101 2014-17
Indy Eleven Goals (All Competitions)
1. Jack Blake 28 2023-
2. Eamon Zayed 27 2016-17
3. Tyler Pasher 24 2018-20
Indy Eleven USL Era (2018-) Goals (All Competitions)
1. Jack Blake 28 2023-
2. Tyler Pasher 24 2018-20
3. Sebastian Guenzatti 16 2023-24
4. Manuel Arteaga 15 2021-22
5. Aodhan Quinn 14 2023-
Aodhan Quinn USL Championship All-Time Rankings
Games Started | 291 | 1st
Assists | 64 | 2nd
Minutes | 25,428 | 2nd
Appearances | 305 | 2nd
Tackles Won | 214 | 17th
USL Championship Regular Season Goal Contributions
1. Dane Kelly 132 (106 goals, 26 assists)
2. Enzo Martinez 131 (78 goals, 53 assists)
3. Aodhan Quinn 121 (57 goals, 64 assists)
Most USLC Regular Seasons with 10 Assists
1. Aodhan Quinn – 3 (2018-OC, 2021-PHX, 2025-IND)
2. Kenardo Forbes – 2 (2022-PIT, 2023-PIT)
2. Antoine Hoppenot – 2 (2018-RNO; 2022-DET)
Paco Craig USL Championship All-Time Rankings
Aerial Duels Won | 758 | 1st
Clearances | 1,037 | 1st
Blocks | 178 | 3rd
Duels Won | 1,286 | 4th
Interceptions | 338 | 4th
Games Started | 239 | 13th
Minutes | 21,177 | 13th
2026 USL Championship Stats
Category Player Rank Total
Crosses-Aodhan Quinn 5th, 96
Cam Lindley T16th, 79
Chances Created-Aodhan Quinn T5th, 34
Saves-Eric Dick T5th, 48
Shots on Target-Bruno Rendon T8th, 18
Aerial Duels Won-Bruno Rendon 10th, 54
Paco Craig 15th, 49
Goals-Bruno Rendon T10th, 7
Shots-Bruno Rendon T14th, 29
Clearances-Paco Craig 16th, 84
Category Rank Total
Goals Conceded T9th, 20
Goals, Second Half T9th, 15
Shots 12th, 212
Team Leaders (USL Championship stats)
Goals-Bruno Rendon, 7
Assists-Aodhan Quinn 3
Shots-Bruno Rendon, 29
Shots on Target-Bruno Rendon, 18
Chances Created-Aodhan Quinn, 34
Crosses-Aodhan Quinn, 96
Duels Won-Bruno Rendon, 99
Tackles Won-Aodhan Quinn, 15
Aerial Duels Won-Bruno Rendon, 54
Clearances-Paco Craig, 84
Fouls Won-Jack Blake, 25
Blocks-Aodhan Quinn, 9
Interceptions-Cam Lindley, 16
Minutes-Eric Dick, Cam Lindley, Josh O’Brien, 1440
USL Career Regular Season Individual Rankings
Clean Sheets
T14. Eric Dick – 34
Saves
19. Eric Dick – 294
Assists
2. Aodhan Quinn – 64
T19. Cam Lindley – 32
Goals
T23. Aodhan Quinn – 57
40 Goals
Jack Blake – 44
20 Goals
Edward Kizza – 21
Goals+Assists
3. Aodhan Quinn – 121 (57 goals, 64 assists)
20 Assists
Jack Blake – 27
70 Goals+Assists
Jack Blake – 71 (44 goals, 27 assists)
30 Goals+Assists
Cam Lindley – 37 (5 goals, 32 assists)
20 Goals+Assists
Edward Kizza – 24 (21 goals, 3 assists)
Penalties Converted (attempted)
1. Aodhan Quinn – 25 (28)
T5. Jack Blake – 15 (17)
20,000 Minutes
2. Aodhan Quinn – 25,487
13. Paco Craig – 21,177
15,000 Minutes
Cam Lindley – 15,582
Jack Blake – 15,453
200 Appearances
Paco Craig – 251
Jack Blake – 211
Cam Lindley – 204
100 Appearances
Edward Kizza – 120
Pat Hogan – 107
Games Started
1. Aodhan Quinn – 291
13. Paco Craig – 239
150 Games Started
Jack Blake – 180
Cam Lindley – 177
Team Highs/Lows
Single-Match Highs
Shots: 26 | May 9 vs. JAX
SOT: 9 | May 9 vs. JAX, July 25 vs. LDN
Possession: 54.2% | May 9 vs. JAX
Corners: 12 | May 9 vs. JAX
Single-Match Lows
Shots: 7 | May 30 vs. RI
SOT: 2 | May 30 vs. RI, June 13 at PIT
Possession: 29% | Mar. 21 vs. DET
Corners: 2 | Mar. 28 at HFD, Apr. 4 vs. PIT, Apr. 19 at BHM
Opponent Highs
Shots: 26 | July 31 at SA
SOT: 8 | Apr. 4 vs. PIT, July 18 at DET, July 31 at SA
Possession: 71% | Mar. 21 vs. DET
Corners: 11 | Mar. 21 vs. DET
Opponent Lows
Shots: 6 | May 9 vs. JAX
SOT: 1 | May 9 vs. JAX
Possession: 45.8% | May 9 vs. JAX
Corners: 1 | July 15 at MIA
Coach Sean McAuley
Sean McAuley was named to the USL-C “Team of the Week” for Week 12 of 2026. His team was undefeated in league matches at Carroll Stadium from August 31, 2025 to July 24, 2026 (9-0-1).
McAuley earned USLC “Coach of the Month” in May 2024 and was nominated for USLC Midseason “Coach of the Year” after leading his team to a 12-match unbeaten streak (4/17-6/15).
The Sheffield, England, native led Indy Eleven to the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semifinals with four straight victories, including a 2-1 triumph at MLS-side Atlanta United on July 9.
In 2025, Indy Eleven continued its run of Cup success under McAuley with a 4-0-3 record in cup play. The Boys in Blue won their U.S. Open Cup Third Round match vs. Miami FC on Hayden’s White’s stoppage-time goal from Cam Lindley.
ALL: 40-37-22 (.516) | USL Championship: 30-33-17 | US Open Cup: 6-2-1 | USL Cup: 4-1-4
2026 Roster Breakdown (8/5/26)
Goalkeepers (2): Reice Charles-Cook, Eric Dick
Defenders (9): Hesron Barry, Paco Craig, Anthony Herbert, Pat Hogan, Nabi Kibunguchy, Alejandro Mitrano, Josh O’Brien, Makel Rasheed, Hayden White
Midfielders (6): Jack Blake, Cam Lindley, Logan Neidlinger, Noble Okello, Mohamed Omar, Aodhan Quinn
Forwards (7): Edward Kizza, Tyler Lowden, Loïc Mesanvi, Bruno Rendon, Charlie Sharp, Dylan Sing, Kian Williams
On Loan (1): Allen Gavilanes
Newcomers (15)
USL-C (7): Paco Craig (North Carolina), Eric Dick (Pittsburgh), Allen Gavilanes (Miami), Anthony Herbert (Las Vegas),
Alejandro Mitrano (Miami), Noble Okello (Phoenix), Mohamed Omar (San Antonio)
USL League One (1): Makel Rasheed (South Georgia Tormenta)
MLS NEXT Pro (4): Hesron Barry (New England), Loïc Mesanvi (Minnesota), Charlie Sharp (Toronto), Dylan Sing
(Charlotte)
Canadian Premier League (1): Kian Williams (Valour FC)
Singapore Premier League (1): Nabi Kibunguchy (Hougang United FC)
Indy Eleven Academy (1): Tyler Lowden
Player Transactions
Aug. 5, 2026: Recalled F Dylan Sing from Portland Hearts of Pine (USL1)
July 14, 2026: Signed D Nabi Kibunguchy from Hougang United FC
May 29, 2026: Signed F Tyler Lowden to USL Academy Contract.
May 15, 2026: Loaned M Allen Gavilanes to Union Omaha (USL1)
Apr. 9, 2026: Signed M Mo Omar from San Antonio FC (USL-C).
Mar. 16, 2026: Signed GK Ryan Hunsucker to Academy Contract
Mar. 12, 2026: Acquired D Mikah Thomas on loan from Charlotte
Mar. 2, 2026: Signed F Loïc Mesanvi from Minnesota United (MLS)
Jan. 21, 2026: Signed D Paco Craig from North Carolina (USL-C)
Jan. 20, 2026: Signed D Hesron Barry from New England (MLSN)
Jan. 15, 2026: Signed M Noble Okello from Phoenix (USL-C)
Jan. 12, 2026: Signed F Kian Williams from Valour FC (CPL)
Jan. 8, 2026: Signed D Alejandro Mitrano from Miami (USL-C)
Jan. 7, 2026: Signed D Anthony Herbert from Las Vegas (USL-C)
Dec. 18 2025: Signed M Allen Gavilanes from Miami (USL-C)
Dec. 11, 2025: Signed D Makel Rasheed from South Georgia Tormenta (USL League One)
Dec. 9, 2025: Signed GK Eric Dick from Pittsburgh (USL-C)
Dec. 4, 2025: Signed F Dylan Sing from Charlotte FC (MLS)
Dec. 2, 2025: Signed F Charlie Sharp from Toronto FC (MLS)
Nov. 26, 2025: Announced 10 players returning from 2025:
M Jack Blake, GK Reice Charles-Cook, D Pat Hogan, F Edward Kizza, M Cam Lindley, M Logan Neidlinger, D Josh O’Brien,
M Aodhan Quinn, F Bruno Rendon, and D Hayden White.
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NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Junior kicker Spencer Porath was named to the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, as announced by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission.
Porath is one of 35 players chosen to this year’s watch list in honor of the 35th anniversary of the award.
A Brownsburg, Indiana native, Porath competed the past two seasons for Purdue and converted 15-of-17 field goal attempts last year, good for 88.2%. He was also a perfect 24-of-24 on PAT attempts, including hitting four against Ball State and Southern Illinois. He hit a career-long 53 yard field goal last year at Washington, one of two kicks he made from 50 or more yards in 2025.
Against the Irish last September, Porath connected on all three of his field goal attempts, converting from 48, 35 and 26 yards. He also drilled all three PATs at Notre Dame Stadium in 2025.
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BUTLER WOMEN’S TENNIS
Natalie Boesing, who earned All-BIG EAST accolades three times during her Butler career, has been hired to lead the Bulldog women’s tennis program.
“We are excited to welcome Natalie back home to Butler to lead our women’s tennis program,” said Butler Vice President and Director of Athletics Grant Leiendecker. “Not only is she one of the most accomplished student-athletes in program history, her experience since graduation has been focused extensively on coaching and mentoring. Her leadership, competitiveness and ability to build genuine relationships will serve Butler, our program and our student-athletes extremely well.”
Boesing most recently worked as a sports performance coach at the University of Louisville. She spent two years working with the Arizona State sports performance team while earning a masters degree in strength and conditioning. At Arizona State, Boesing worked with many of the Sun Devils’ programs, including as the lead sports performance coach for the women’s triathlon and gymnastics teams. She also assisted in performance training for ASU’s women’s and men’s tennis, women’s and men’s basketball, among other programs.
Throughout her time as a student-athlete at Butler and in the years after, Boesing has also instructed both youth and adult tennis players in the private sector.
“Being back at Butler and part of this incredible team is a dream come true,” said Boesing. “Hinkle Magic is real, and there’s no better place to call home. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to lead the Butler Women’s Tennis program and represent Butler University with pride. I can’t wait to get to work with our student-athletes and build something special together. Go Dawgs!”
Boesing graduated from Butler in 2024 with a degree in International Business and Spanish, earning Dean’s List honors during her academic career. She was the No. 1 player in Butler’s line-up in each of her four seasons, collecting All-BIG EAST honors in 2021, 2022 and 2023. She finished the 2023 campaign ranked No. 20 in the ITA Ohio Valley regional rankings.
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BUTLER WOMEN’S LAX
Assistant coach Abigail Lagos will continue to be a part of the Butler lacrosse program moving forward, working alongside new head coach Leah Rubino.
Lagos, who served on Maggie Zentgraf’s staff last season will remain with the Bulldogs as an assistant coach.
“I am thrilled to have Abigail join my staff as an assistant coach,” said Rubino. “She has a great understanding of the game and will play a pivotal role in helping us build our program. She is an excellent coach and brings a plethora of experience to our staff and we are so excited she is a Dawg!”
Lagos came to Butler from Duquesne University where she had completed her first year of collegiate coaching, helping the Dukes triple their win total from the 2023 season. As the offensive coordinator, Lagos helped increase Duquesne’s totals in categories including points, shots, shots on goal, and shots per game. The Dukes earned two A-10 player-of-the-week selections as well as a postseason All-A-10 selection.
Lagos graduated from the University of Indianapolis in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and then continued in graduate school, earning a Master of Science in Sports Management in 2022. She moved on and joined the roster for one season as a player-coach at national-powerhouse Syracuse University where she received a Certificate of Conflict and Collaboration in 2023.
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BALL STATE MEN’S GOLF
MUNCIE, Ind. – – The Ball State men’s golf team tees up its 2026 fall slate September 6-7 when it returns to Bark River, Michigan, for the Island Resort Intercollegiate according to the schedule released by 29th-year head coach Mike Fleck.
The Cardinals’ return to the Sage Run Golf Club is the first of six events on the team’s fall slate and is followed by the RedHawk Intercollegiate (Sept. 14-15) at the Pittsburgh Field Club.
From there, Ball State will host back-to-back events at the Delaware Country Club, starting September 26-27 with the Earl Yestingsmeier Invitational – Presented by Devoe Chevorlet.
Last season, the Cardinals established team records for 18-hole (-14 / 266 in round one), 36-hole (-24 / 536) and 54-hole (-27 / 813) scoring at the EY Invite. In addition, sophomore Luke Johnston returns as the event’s individual champion after winning in a four-hole playoff and turning in a program-record 54-hole score of -12 (198). Johnston also registered the program record for 36-hole scoring in the event, at -11 (129).
Select Ball State individuals will take on the Delaware Country Club for a second straight event when the Cardinals co-host the Golfweek Put Me in Coach Invitational.
The team returns to action October 12-13, when it travels to the Kampen-Cosler Golf Course for the Purdue Fall Invitational. Ball State closes the fall at the NCR – South Course October 19-20 for the Dayton Flyer Invitational.
While Ball State’s complete 2027 spring slate will be released at a later date, it will be highlighted by the Cardinals hosting the 2027 MAC Championships at Talis Park Golf Club in Naples, Florida.
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BALL STATE WOMEN’S GOLF
MUNCIE, Ind. – – For the fourth consecutive season, the Ball State women’s golf team will begin its fall slate at the Boilermaker Classic (Aug. 31-Sept. 1) according to the schedule released by fifth-year head coach Cameron AndryFriday (Aug. 7).
It is a good omen for the Cardinals, who have posted record-breaking seasons in each of the last three years after opening play at the challenging Kampen-Cosler Golf Course in West Lafayette, Indiana.
Last season, Ball State finished the year with a 299.24 team scoring average, marking the first time the program has broken the 300-stroke mark in a single season. The previous record was 301.66 set during the 2024-25 campaign, which bettered the mark of 303.61 following the 2023-24 season.
In all three instances, like the team will do again this season, Ball State followed its trip to West Lafayette by hosting the Brittany Kelly Classic at The Players Club at Woodland Trails. The Cardinals will be battling for its fourth straight BK Classic title Sept. 14-15.
Ball State will have a pair of quick turnarounds after its home event, playing in the Golfweek Red Sky Classic (Sept. 21-23) and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Invitational (Sept. 26-27) to close the first month of the season.
The fall culminates Oct. 18-20 when the Cardinals return to the Diamante Intercollegiate hunting for more program records. Last season, Ball State set team records for 18-hole (-6 / 282 in round one), 36-hole (-2 / 574) and 54-hole (-2 / 862) scoring in another successful visit to the Diamante Country Club.
While Ball State’s complete 2027 spring slate will be released at a later date, it will be highlighted by the 2027 MAC Championships hosted by Eastern Michigan at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio.
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PURDUE FT. WAYNE MEN’S SOCCER
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Purdue Fort Wayne men’s soccer will see the field for the first time in 2026 on Saturday (Aug. 8) when Marquette comes to Fort Wayne for an exhibition. The game will be free to fans and be played with a running clock.
Game Day Information
Who: Marquette Golden Eagles (exhibition)
When: Saturday, August 8 | Noon
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Hefner Soccer Complex
Live Stats: None
Watch: None
Tickets: Free
Know Your Foe
Marquette was 7-7-2 (1-7-0 BIG EAST) last season. Head coach David Korn is in his third season leading the program. He was previously at NCAA Division II Maryville (Mo.) for eight years, winning three league tournament titles. Mads Konrad Horgøien had a team-best six goals last year. The sophomore had three game winning goals in his first season of collegiate soccer.
Series History
The Golden Eagles and Mastodons have three regular season meetings with Marquette leading 2-0-1. Marquette has wins in 1996 and 2023, with the two teams tying in 2024 in Milwaukee 0-0.
New Faces
Jordan Rodgers, Nico Mullen, Marko Martsinkovsky, Kellen Larson, Jonny Escobedo, Kevin Whitlow, Jozef Palushaj, Davan Arias, Max Aquino, Finn Railey, Ben Graham and David Valencia are new to the Mastodons in 2026.
Old Face in an Old Place
Aidan Antcliff is back in 2026. Antcliff was a Mastodon 2022-24 before transferring to play at Memphis in 2025. In 2023 he was named to the Horizon League All-Freshman Team. He has three goals and an assist in his Mastodon career.
Back in 2026
Sep Habibi, Max Titterington, Karsten Ternes, Ben Hissrich, Christian Agyekum, Jonny Hernandez, Jackson Liley, Ameer Shetiah, Antonio Tiscareno, Eason Haller, Trey Theard, Julian Zambrano, Tegan Gumbs and Brandon Razo are back for the Mastodons in 2026.
About Last Year
The Mastodons advanced to the Horizon League Championship match for the first time, falling at Cleveland State in extra time in the championship match.
2025 Honors
Shane Anderson (Horizon League Offensive Player of the Year and All-League First Team), Iann Topete (All-League First Team) and Andrew Hollenbach (All-League First Team) have graduated. Goalkeeper Sep Habibi (All-League Second Team) and midfielder Jonny Hernandez (All-League Third Team) are back in 2026.
Coming Up
The Mastodons travel to UIC on Tuesday (Aug. 11) for an exhibition contest against the former Horizon League member Flames.
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PURDUE FT. WAYNE WOMEN’S SOCCER
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Purdue Fort Wayne women’s soccer team is set to travel to Miami (OH) on Saturday (Aug. 8) for an exhibition against the RedHawks at 7 p.m.
Game Day Information
Who: Miami RedHawks
When: Saturday, August 8 | 7 PM
Where: Oxford, Ohio
Live Stats: None
Watch: None
Know Your Foe
Miami held an 11-5-3 record last season, 8-2-2 in Mid-American Conference play. The RedHawks dropped a penalty shootout following two scoreless overtime periods to Bowling Green in the MAC Semifinals last season. Miami returns Katie O’Malley (All-MAC First Team), Sophia Penegor (All-MAC Second Team), Kayle Perfect (All-MAC Second Team), Caroline Mortonson (All-Freshman Team) and Jaden Sink (All-Freshman Team).
Series History
The RedHawks hold a 2-1 lead in the series history over the ‘Dons. The last meeting between the squads was over a decade ago, resulting in a 3-0 Miami victory in Oxford.
New Faces
The Mastodons added former goalkeeper Jordan Imes as an assistant coach and Josh Routte as associate head coach. The team also added six freshmen, Aimee Abraham, Reese Alexander, Dalia Sabet, Lexi Toporcer, Soraya Flading and Ellie Ulrich, along with three transfers, Maggie Marlin, Paige Radel and Elise Mayfield.
Coming Up
The Mastodons will travel to Purdue University next Sunday (Aug. 16) to play their first regular season game of the 2026 season.
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SOUTHERN INDIANA MEN’S BASKETBALL
The Ohio Valley Conference has announced its men’s and women’s basketball conference schedules for the 2026-27 season on Friday.
This season the league membership includes nine teams (Eastern Illinois, Lindenwood, Morehead State, Southeast Missouri, SIUE, Southern Indiana, Tennessee State, UT Martin and Western Illinois) and features a round-robin slate of 16 games.
Except for a one-off men’s game on December 11, Conference play fully gets underway with games on December 30 and 31. Conference play wraps on Saturday, February 27.
The 2027 OVC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament is slated for March 3-6 at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana. It marks the 10th year in a row the event will be held at the venue, and the event is contracted to be there through 2032.
All Conference games and home non-conference contests can be seen on ESPN networks, with the majority of games broadcast on ESPN+. Additional linear exposures on ESPNU and ESPN2 will be announced at a later date.
All dates are subject to change.
2026-27 OVC Basketball Schedule
Friday, December 11
Tennessee State at Western Illinois (MEN’S ONLY)
Wednesday, December 30
Lindenwood at SIUE
Morehead State at UT Martin
Thursday, December 31
Southeast Missouri at Eastern Illinois
Tennessee State at Southern Indiana
Saturday, January 2
SIUE at Western Illinois
Southern Indiana at Southeast Missouri
Tennessee State at Eastern Illinois
UT Martin at Lindenwood
Thursday, January 7
Eastern Illinois at Morehead State
Lindenwood at Southern Indiana
Southeast Missouri at UT Martin
Western Illinois at Tennessee State
Saturday, January 9
Lindenwood at Morehead State
SIUE at Tennessee State
Southern Indiana at UT Martin
Western Illinois at Southeast Missouri
Wednesday, January 13
Southern Indiana at Morehead State
Thursday, January 14
Eastern Illinois at Western Illinois
Southeast Missouri at Lindenwood
UT Martin at SIUE
Saturday, January 16
Lindenwood at Eastern Illinois
Morehead State at Tennessee State
Southeast Missouri at SIUE
UT Martin at Western Illinois
Thursday, January 21
Eastern Illinois at Southeast Missouri
SIUE at Southern Indiana
Tennessee State at Lindenwood
Western Illinois at Morehead State
Saturday, January 23
SIUE at Morehead State
Tennessee State at Southeast Missouri
UT Martin at Eastern Illinois
Western Illinois at Southern Indiana
Thursday, January 28
Morehead State at Lindenwood
Southeast Missouri at Western Illinois
SIUE at UT Martin
Southern Indiana at Tennessee State
Saturday, January 30
Eastern Illinois at Lindenwood
Morehead State at Southern Indiana
UT Martin at Tennessee State
Western Illinois at SIUE
Thursday, February 4
Lindenwood at Tennessee State
Southeast Missouri at Morehead State
Southern Indiana at Eastern Illinois
Western Illinois at UT Martin
Saturday, February 6
Lindenwood at UT Martin
Southeast Missouri at Southern Indiana
SIUE at Eastern Illinois
Tennessee State at Morehead State
Thursday, February 11
Eastern Illinois at Tennessee State
Lindenwood at Western Illinois
Morehead State at SIUE
UT Martin at Southeast Missouri
Saturday, February 13
Eastern Illinois at UT Martin
Morehead State at Western Illinois
SIUE at Southeast Missouri
Southern Indiana at Lindenwood
Wednesday, February 17
Lindenwood at Southeast Missouri (MEN’S ONLY)
Tennessee State at SIUE (MEN’S ONLY)
Thursday, February 18
Lindenwood at Southeast Missouri (WOMEN’S ONLY)
Tennessee State at SIUE (WOMEN’S ONLY)
UT Martin at Southern Indiana
Western Illinois at Eastern Illinois
Saturday, February 20
Tennessee State at Western Illinois (WOMEN’S ONLY)
Eastern Illinois at Southern Indiana
SIUE at Lindenwood
UT Martin at Morehead State
Thursday, February 25
Eastern Illinois at SIUE
Morehead State at Southeast Missouri
Southern Indiana at Western Illinois
Tennessee State at UT Martin
Saturday, February 27
Morehead State at Eastern Illinois
Southeast Missouri at Tennessee State
Southern Indiana at SIUE
Western Illinois at Lindenwood
Wednesday, March 3 – Saturday, March 6
OVC Tournament – Ford Center, Evansville, Indiana
Dates and times subject to change
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INDIANA SMALL COLLEGE WEB SITES
UINDY ATHLETICS: https://athletics.uindy.edu/
MARIAN ATHLETICS: https://muknights.com/
INDIANA WESLEYAN ATHLETICS: https://iwuwildcats.com/
EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/
WABASH ATHLETICS: https://sports.wabash.edu/
FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/
ROSE-HULMAN ATHLETICS: https://athletics.rose-hulman.edu/
ANDERSON ATHLETICS: https://athletics.anderson.edu/landing/index
TRINE ATHLETICS: https://trinethunder.com/landing/index
BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/
DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/
HANOVER ATHLETICS: https://athletics.hanover.edu/
MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/
HUNTINGTON ATHLETICS: https://www.huathletics.com/
OAKLAND CITY ATHLETICS: https://gomightyoaks.com/
ST. FRANCIS ATHLETICS: https://www.saintfranciscougars.com/landing/index
IU KOKOMO ATHLETICS: https://iukcougars.com/
IU EAST ATHLETICS: https://www.iueredwolves.com/
IU SOUTH BEND ATHLETICS: https://iusbtitans.com/
PURDUE NORTHWEST ATHLETICS: https://pnwathletics.com/
INDIANA TECH ATHLETICS: https://indianatechwarriors.com/index.aspx
GRACE COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://gclancers.com/
ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ATHLETICS: https://smwcathletics.com/
GOSHEN COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://goleafs.net/
HOLY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php
TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/
VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index
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TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
AUGUST 8
1867 – A Grand match for the benefit of the Masonic Hall and Asylum Fund is played between picked nines from New York and Brooklyn at the Union Grounds. New York wins the well-played game‚ 13 – 7.
1872 – 2,500 people watch the Baltimore Canaries rally for three runs in the 9th to tie the Mutuals, 8 – 8, and then win the game in the 12th, 12 – 8 at the Union Grounds in Brooklyn. Lipman Pike scores the winning run on a hit by Tom Carey off Candy Cummings.
1877 – After St. Louis C John Clapp has his cheek smashed by a foul tip‚ replacement Mike Dorgan goes behind the plate wearing a mask. Though used earlier in the International Association‚ this is perhaps the first use of a catcher’s mask in an official National League game.
1878 – Errors by 2B Bill McClellan and 1B Joe Start enable Boston to score in the 9th and edge Chicago‚ 2 – 1.
1881 – Providence C Emil Gross snaps tendons in his leg and is out for the season.
1885 – All games are canceled in New York City today because of General Ulysses S. Grant’s funeral.
1886 – Rumors of the imminent demise of the St. Louis Maroons abound after star 2B Fred Dunlap is sold to Detroit for $4‚700.
1889 – Jack Glasscock is 5 for 6 and hits for the cycle against Mickey Welch as Indianapolis drubs New York‚ 14 – 1.
1890 – Chicago (Players League) romps over Cleveland‚ 18 – 4‚ with Jimmy Ryan leading the way. Ryan swipes four bases and hits a home run to pace the winners.
1891 – Boston edges Chicago, 4 – 3, in nine innings. The Colts now lead the Giants by two games and the Beans by 2 1/2.
1892 – Boston gets its third straight shutout‚ 7 – 0 over Washington‚ and moves into a first-place tie with Cleveland. Tomorrow Washington will snap the Beaneaters’ 33-inning scoreless streak with an 8 – 3 win.
1893 – Sam Dungan of Pittsburgh starts the game against Chicago by scoring from first base as George Van Haltren’s wild throw rolls into a rat hole under the grandstand. Pittsburgh finishes up by scoring five runs in the top of the 9th and hanging on for a 9 – 8 win.
1894 – Led by Billy Hamilton‚ who scores five runs‚ the Phils outslug first-place Boston‚ 18 – 10. Baltimore sweeps two from Brooklyn to move a game behind the Beaneaters.
1896 – Paced by Joe Kelley’s five runs‚ Baltimore defeats Washington, 21 – 16. Each team hits exactly the same number of singles as its run total‚ with the 37 singles establishing a still-standing major league record for a nine-inning game. Baltimore star John McGraw makes his first appearance of the season when he pinch-hits in the 3rd. McGraw has been sidelined with typhoid fever. The New York Clipper box score for the game credits the Orioles with only 20 singles (plus three doubles and a home run)‚ not 21; thus, the record claimed for singles in this game may be suspect.
1901 – At the Polo Grounds‚ the Giants and Brooklyn split two‚ Brooklyn winning the opener‚ 3 – 0‚ before losing the nitecap to Christy Mathewson‚ 4 – 1. Brooklyn threatens in the 6th‚ putting two on with no outs‚ but Matty K’s Cozy Dolan‚ allows a single‚ then strikes out Tom Daly and Bill Dahlen to end the threat.
1903:
The New York Giants’ Joe McGinnity repeats his feat from August 1st, when he defeats the Brooklyn Superbas in both ends of a doubleheader, 6 – 1 and 4 – 3. A week earlier he beat the Boston Beaneaters, 4 – 1 and 5 – 2. McGinnity also is credited with a steal of home in the second game while Brooklyn is arguing a disputed call at third base. Brooklyn P Henry Schmidt is so upset about the steal that he throws the ball out of the park‚ a toss that gets him tossed from the game. On August 31st‚ Iron Joe will beat the Phillies twice. He has now done double work five times‚ including two losses on each of the two occasions at Baltimore in 1901. The combination of his 434 innings pitched and 31 wins‚ with Christy Mathewson’s 366 innings pitched and 30 wins‚ will make them the century’s most productive one-season duo.
An overhanging gallery atop the left field bleachers at Philadelphia’s National League Park collapses at 5:40 p.m. during a doubleheader with Boston‚ killing 12 and injuring 282. The second game is canceled and Philadelphia’s remaining home games are played at the American League’s Columbia Park.
Furious when an old black ball is put into play when Cleveland is at bat in the last of the 11th and his objections are ignored by umpire Tom Connolly‚ Naps manager Nap Lajoie hurls the ball over the grandstand‚ suffering the loss of the game to Detroit by forfeit. Detroit was leading 6 – 5.
1904:
Christy Mathewson wins his second game in three days‚ beating St. Louis in relief‚ 4 – 3. Matty enters in the 9th‚ fans two of the three outs‚ and New York then tallies a run off Charles McFarland to win.
In Cleveland‚ with the Naps ahead of New York‚ 7 – 1 in the 4th‚ Dave Fultz and manager Clark Griffith argue a strike call with umpire Silk O’Loughlin. When they refuse to go to the bench‚ Silk orders a policeman to escort them off the field. Tomorrow‚ Silk will throw out pitcher Jack Powell and have the police escort Jimmy Williams off the field. Griffith and Williams will receive suspensions from the American League‚ and Highlander owner Frank Farrell vows O’Loughlin will not be allowed to enter Hilltop Park again. To no avail.
1905:
Dave Brain‚ who hit three triples in a game in Pittsburgh for St. Louis on May 29th‚ repeats the performance for Pittsburgh against visiting Boston. The Pirates win in ten innings‚ 5 – 4‚ with Brain’s triples coming in the first nine innings. He is the only major league player to perform the feat twice in one season. The two performances also ties the career major league record: no one else in the 20th century will have two three-triple games in his career.
In Chicago‚ the Cubs notch six hits and three runs off Luther Taylor‚ but the Giants still lead, 4 – 3, in the bottom of the 4th‚ when John McGraw lifts the pitcher for Christy Mathewson. Matty shuts out Chicago over the last 5+ innings‚ but the win goes to Taylor. By today’s standards the win would go to Mathewson‚ since Taylor did not last through the first five innings.
1906:
National League President Harry Pulliam upholds the forfeit to the Cubs of yesterday’s Giants game, caused by the Giants’ refusal to allow umpire Jim Johnstone into the ballpark, stating: “I uphold the action of the umpires absolutely‚ and if I am not sustained by the NL Board of Directors I will not only resign my position as President of the NL‚ but I will quit professional baseball forever.” Giants owner John Brush then allows Johnstone to officiate today’s game‚ and the Cubs win, 3 – 2, behind Three Fingers Brown and Ed Reulbach. At the month’s end‚ the Cubs will have a 15-game lead.
The White Sox edge the A’s‚ beating Eddie Plank‚ 1 – 0‚ in ten innings. Patsy Dougherty’s hit in the 10th‚ just the second allowed by Plank‚ drives in George Davis with the run. Roy Patterson is the winner.
1907 – At Pittsburgh‚ the Giants sweep two from the Pirates‚ 4 – 3 and 7 – 0. Christy Mathewson wins the opener‚ with relief help from Joe McGinnity‚ and Hooks Wiltse slams the door in the nitecap. The Giants move ahead of Pittsburgh into second place.
1909 – In a 3 – 0 Giant win at St. Louis‚ outfielder Bill O’Hara swipes second base‚ third base‚ and home in the 8th inning.
1911 – Bill Keen‚ 18‚ debuts with the Pirates at 1B and injures himself in the 5th running from first to third. He’s replaced by a pinch runner‚ who breaks the 8 – 8 tie with the Phils‚ by scoring on a single. Keen makes six more pinch-hitting appearances this year‚ but never scores a major league run.
1913:
Earl Hamilton‚ in his last start of the year‚ pitches the Browns to a 6 – 4 win over the Yankees. Hamilton is 3-0 against New York this year‚ two of them one-hitters.
The Yankees pick up 3B Fritz Maisel from Baltimore (International League) for $12‚000 plus 3B Ezra Midkiff (who is hitting .197) and OF Bert Daniels (.216). Daniels will return to the majors next year with the Reds and improve his batting average by three points.
1914 – Tris Speaker of the Boston Red Sox records an unassisted double play against the Detroit Tigers – his second of the season. Tiger runner Harry Heilmann is doubled off second base in the 4th inning when a hit-and-run play becomes a line drive to Speaker. Boston wins‚ 5 – 2. Speaker previously accomplished the feat against the Philadelphia Athletics on April 21st. This is a record for outfielders
1915:
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Gavvy Cravath ties a major league record with four doubles against the Cincinnati Reds. Philadelphia wins, 14 – 7. Two of Gavvy’s doubles come with the bases loaded‚ a major league record‚ and the only time this century that someone has doubled with the sacks full twice in a game. Grover Cleveland Alexander coasts home to the win.
Hank O’Day‚ who managed the Cubs in 1914‚ returns to umpiring.
1916 – The Athletics set an American League record with their 19th loss in a row on the road (20th overall)‚ a 9 – 0 yawner to the Tigers. The streak began on July 25th‚ making it a record for losses in two weeks.
1918:
Brooklyn tops the Cubs again‚ beating Hippo Vaughn‚ 4 – 1‚ done in by two wild heaves by 3B Eddie Pick. Zach Wheat‚ hit by a pitch once by Vaughn‚ goes hitless to stop his hitting streak at 26. Rube Marquard‚ despite leaving in the 5th with a strained back‚ is the winner. With the Giants losing to the Reds‚ the Cubs stay 6 1/2 ahead.
It is announced that Ebbets Field will become a Government storehouse as soon as the season is over on September 2nd. The Brooklyn team offers the park as a much-needed storage facility for war supplies‚ and it is now expected that other teams will follow suit. The New York Times states that “the turning over of the baseball park means that the major leagues will not attempt to play next season.” Washington Park‚ the old Federal League park‚ has already been converted to a government storehouse.
1919 – Reserve outfielder Casey Stengel is traded to the Phils for Possum Whitted‚ who will bat .389 for the Pirates in the last 35 games.
1920:
Detroit Tigers pitcher Howard Ehmke wins the American League’s shortest game ever when he defeats the New York Yankees, 1 – 0, in one hour, thirteen minutes. With no outs and two on in the 5th inning‚ the Yanks fail to capitalize as Ping Bodie falls for the hidden ball trick applied by 2B Ralph Young.
The Browns sweep a pair from Washington‚ winning, 3 – 2 and 11 – 4. Jack Tobin is 4 for 4‚ with a double and triple in the first game‚ while in the second game‚ against Eric Erickson‚ the Browns’ George Sisler hits for the cycle and drives in six runs.
1921 – In his first at bat‚ St. Louis Browns rookie Luke Stuart hits a home run‚ becoming the first American League rookie to accomplish the feat. His 9th-inning blast‚ good for two runs‚ comes off no less than Washington’s Walter Johnson. Johnson‚ leading 16 – 3 after his teammates score seven runs in the 8th‚ cruises home with a 16 – 5 win. Stuart‚ who appeared in one game on July 28th but did not bat‚ will play one more game and then leave the majors with this home run as his only hit. The next AL rookie to connect for a homer on his first at-bat will be Earl Averill in 1929.
1922:
New York Giants pitcher Phil Douglas is suspended and fined $100 by John McGraw. He writes a letter to St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Les Mann which says in part “I want to leave here, but I want some inducement. I don’t want this guy (McGraw) to win the pennant and I feel if I stay here I win it for him”. Mann gives the letter to manager Branch Rickey who notifies Kenesaw Landis. In Pittsburgh on August 16th‚ Douglas will admit he wrote the letter‚ and Landis will bar him from baseball for life.
Pittsburgh makes a major league record 46 hits in a doubleheader against Philadelphia. Pittsburgh sweeps‚ winning 19 – 8 and 7 – 3. With their 27 hits in the first game‚ and 22 the day before‚ a two-game record (49) is set. In today’s double pounding‚ the hitting stars are Reb Russell and Cotton Tierney‚ each of whom collects eight hits and each scores five runs in the first game.
The Red Sox collect 21 hits against Cleveland in a 15 – 6 win at Fenway Park. Cleveland manager Tris Speaker retaliates by hitting two homers over the right field wall.
Tom Zachary and the Senators beat the Browns’ Dixie Davis‚ 3 – 1‚ cutting the St. Louis lead in the American League to a game.
1924:
Babe Ruth has a pair of homers – his 37th and 38th – plus a triple and two walks‚ but it is not enough as the Yankees fall to Cleveland‚ 10 – 8. Joe Bush and Bob Shawkey do the bleeding. George Myatt’s two-run homer is the difference in the three-run 9th. Myatt also has a single and double.
The Washington Potomacs of the Eastern Colored League connect for 14 consecutive hits in one inning against South Philadelphia of the Penn-Jersey League.
At Philadelphia‚ Lee Meadows wins a pitching duel‚ 1 – 0, over Jimmy Ring, by hitting an 8th-inning homer over the left field wall. At 1 hour and 12 minutes‚ it is one of the fastest games of the year.
1925 – The second-place Giants make two deals to help in the pennant race. Hack Wilson goes to Toledo for Earl Webb‚ and Freddie Fitzsimmons is picked up from Indianapolis for cash and two players to be named later. Fat Freddie will be a fine addition‚ but Webb will soon be back in the minors. Wilson‚ sent to Toledo for seasoning‚ will be left unprotected by the Giants’ front office‚ and the Cubs will swipe the fireplug slugger in the Rule V Draft.
1929 – Rogers Hornsby cracks a 4th-inning homer – one of his four hits – as Chicago edges the Reds, 1 – 0, at Wrigley Field. Charlie Root allows seven hits in beating rookie Benny Frey.
1930 – In St. Louis, the first-place Robins beat the Cardinals, 11 – 5 and are now 12 games ahead of the fourth-place Birds (53-52). The Cubs win to stay close in second place and the Giants sweep a pair to stay 5 1/2 games behind in third place. But it will be the fourth-place Cardinals who will make the charge.
1931 – The Washington Senators’ Bobby Burke no-hits the Boston Red Sox, 5 – 0, in Washington, walking five and striking out eight.
1934 – Wilbert Robinson dies in Atlanta. Beloved as “Uncle Robbie‚” the jovial and bemused manager of the Brooklyn Robins for 18 seasons went 7 for 7 in one game with Baltimore, which still stands as a major league record.
1936 – At the Olympics in Berlin‚ the announcement is made of the formation of the World International Baseball Federation‚ a 16-nation group‚ including Hawaii‚ to be headquartered in Miami.
1937:
The White Sox stop Boston’s winning streak of 12 games by pounding the Bosox‚ 13 – 0‚ after losing the opener‚ 7 – 6. The Red Sox win with two runs in the 9th. John Whitehead holds to the Red Sox to four hits in the second game‚ while Zeke Bonura provides a grand slam.
The East beats the West, 7 – 2, in the 1937 East-West Game. Barney Morris gets the win while Wild Bill Wright gets three hits, two runs and two RBI.
1940 – At Fenway Park‚ 27-year-old Tiny Bonham makes his major league debut for the Yankees and loses‚ 4 – 1‚ to Fritz Ostermueller. Bonham‚ brought up to replace the sore-armed Lefty Gomez‚ will still end the season at 9-3‚ complete ten games‚ and toss three shutouts. His ERA will be 1.90 but Bob Feller will lead the American League at 2.61, although some will consider Bonham the title holder.
1941:
Cubs rookie Paul Erickson wins his first major league game‚ pitching a nifty one-hitter to beat the Pirates’ Johnny Lanning‚ 1 – 0. The Cubs collect ten hits while Bob Elliott’s hit in the 7th is the lone Buc shot.
The White Sox roll over the Browns‚ 16 – 2. Taffy Wright paces the 15-hit attack with two homers and a double to drive in six runs.
1942 – A beanball salvo between Manny Salvo of the Braves and Whit Wyatt of the Dodgers ends in a 2 – 0 Boston victory. Only two batters are hit‚ but many pitches are close and the hurlers almost come to blows twice. Salvo gets fined $50 and Wyatt $75. Wyatt also tosses a bat. For Wyatt (8-1)‚ it is his first loss after ten straight wins over the Braves.
1943 – In Cleveland‚ the Browns lose, 5 – 2. St. Louis takes the field eight times without recording an assist in the game‚ a major league first. The Reds had no assists in a seven-inning contest on July 22‚ 1907. The Yanks will have no assists in a nine-inning game on July 4‚ 1945.
1945 – A line drive of the bat of Hank Greenberg fractures the skull of pitcher Jim Wilson, resulting in two hours of surgery. Wilson will recover and pitch in the majors until 1958.
1946:
Bill Benswanger‚ son-in-law of Barney Dreyfuss‚ owners of the Pittsburgh Pirates since 1900‚ sells the club to a group headed by Frank McKinney and John Galbreath. Singer Bing Crosby is among investors in the team. The Pirates are purchased for a reported $2.5 million.
A bloop single in the 7th inning by former battery-mate Frankie Hayes deprives Bob Feller of a no-hitter against the White Sox. Hayes was traded by Cleveland in June‚ just weeks after hitting a homer in Feller’s April 30th no-hitter. It is the eighth one-hitter of Feller’s career. His ten games of less than two hits betters Addie Joss’s old mark of nine.
1947 – At Wrigley Field‚ Bill Nicholson breaks up a pitching duel between Johnny Schmitz and Ewell Blackwell with an 11th-inning solo homer. The Cubs whip the Reds‚ 2 – 1. Nicholson also scores the Cubs’ first run‚ an unearned tally. Chicago helps Schmitz out with a 7th-inning triple play when Lennie Merullo snags a liner‚ steps on second base‚ and fires to Eddie Waitkus.
1948 – In Cleveland‚ 73‚484 fans watch the Indians and Yankees square off for two games. Trailing in the opener‚ an ailing Lou Boudreau hits a bases-loaded pinch single in the 7th to tie the game‚ and Satchel Paige wins it in relief‚ 8 – 6. Steve Gromek goes seven innings in the nitecap to give the Indians a 2 – 1 win over rookie Bob Porterfield‚ making his major league debut.
1949 – After pinch hitting yesterday‚ Carl Furillo returns to the Dodgers’ lineup after an injury and has two hits and a run in a 2 – 1 win over the Giants. Don Newcombe wins on a three-hitter. Furillo will hit .431 in the final eight weeks of the season and finish at .322‚ fourth best in the National League.
1952 – Bob Neighbors, who played seven games for the St. Louis Browns, is killed in action in North Korea. He is the only major leaguer to die in action in the Korean War.
1953 – Yankee southpaws Whitey Ford and Bob Kuzava hurl 1 – 0 and 3 – 0 shutouts against the White Sox. Kuzava gives up only Bob Boyd’s double in the 9th.
1954:
The Dodgers score a National League-record 13 runs in the 8th off Cincinnati in Ebbets Field to win, 20 – 7. Twelve of the runs are unearned and an NL-record 12 are tallied with two outs and no one on. Gil Hodges gets a triple and a home run in three at bats in the inning‚ while Clem Labine‚ who has a career .100 BA‚ walks twice. Jackie Robinson drives in three runs with a single as Duke Snider scores from first base. Roy Campanella‚ Jim Gilliam‚ and Don Hoak all homer for Brooklyn in the game to pin the loss on Karl Drews.
The Yankees spot the host Tigers a four-run lead‚ tie it up‚ then watch as Detroit wins it, 10 – 8, in ten innings. Mickey Mantle has one homer‚ off Billy Hoeft‚ and just misses on a titanic opposite field drive that curves foul before leaving the stadium.
1955 – With his record at 18-1‚ the Dodgers’ Don Newcombe loses a 1 – 0 game to the Cubs’ Sam Jones. Newk’s two losses have both been to the Cubs.
1956:
Mickey Mantle’s opposite-field homer‚ off Camilo Pascual in the 1st inning, jump starts the Yankees to a 12 – 2 win over the Senators. Mantle is now nine games ahead of Babe Ruth’s 1927 pace.
Robin Roberts wins his eighth straight and his fourth game in ten days‚ as the visiting Phils defeat the Giants‚ 9 – 3. Ted Kazanski lines an inside-the-park grand slam off Jim Hearn‚ just the fourth in club history, to pace the attack.
At Milwaukee‚ the Cards’ Herm Wehmeier stages a one-man attack‚ hurling a four-hitter and driving in the winning run in the 10th to win‚ 3 – 2. He singles off Lew Burdette’s glove. He also stops Hank Aaron’s hitting streak of 25 straight games. The Braves win the lidlifter easily‚ 10 – 1, behind homers by Johnny Logan‚ Del Crandall and 2 by Joe Adcock.
1957 – Club President Walter O’Malley offically announces that the Brooklyn Dodgers will play in Los Angeles in 1958.
1960 – Before a day crowd of 48‚323‚ the largest day crowd ever at Comiskey Park‚ Billy Pierce pitches a four-hit victory over the Yankees‚ 9 – 1. Pierce faces just 31 batters.
1961 – At Fenway Park‚ the Twins’ Camilo Pascual gives up an inside-the-park grand slam to Gary Geiger in the 3rd and a solo shot to Don Buddin in the 7th‚ but wins‚ 6 – 5. Pascual drives in his first three runs of the year to snap the Twins’ eight-game losing streak.
1963:
Vern Law (4-5) is placed on the retired list with a sore arm. He will come back in 1964.
In the 5th inning‚ Frank Howard and Moose Skowron pinch-hit back-to-back home runs for the Dodgers‚ only the second time this has ever occurred in the National League. Cub pitchers Bob Buhl and Don Elston are the victims. But the Cubs hold on to win, 5 – 4, at Wrigley Field.
1964 – The Los Angeles Angels sign a contract to move to Anaheim in 1966.
1965:
Recently released by the Mets‚ Warren Spahn records his 361st victory and first as a Giant. San Francisco beats the Cards, 6 – 4.
In New York‚ the Cubs score six runs in the 9th inning to whip the Mets‚ 14 – 10. Chris Krug is not much help in the 9th‚ as the Cubbie strikes out twice. It’s the first time since 1922 a Cub has K’ed twice in one inning.
The Cincinnati Reds defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 18 – 0, the worst loss ever for the Dodgers. Jim Maloney coasts to the win‚ while Don Drysdale takes the loss.
1966:
The Reds beat the Giants‚ 10 – 6‚ and Cincy OF Tommy Harper stretches his hitting streak to 24 games.
The Red Sox-Cleveland game at Fenway Park is stopped four times because of fog. The Red Sox eventually win‚ 3 – 1.
1967 – At Crosley Field‚ Reds P Milt Pappas allows two hits in beating Houston‚ 5 – 0.
1968 – Jarry Park is grudgingly approved by Montreal Mayor Jean Drapeau for interim use by the Montreal Expos. Montreal officials tell National League President Warren Giles that a new stadium will be ready by 1972. In fact, the Expos will play their home games at tiny Jarry Park until the end of the 1976 season.
1969:
Hot-hitting Manny Sanguillen collects a single‚ double‚ and triple to lead the Pirates to a 7 – 1 win over the Padres. Sanguillen is 13 for his last 26. Bob Veale allows 11 hits but strikes out ten for the win.
Three-run homers by Tom Tresh and Willie Horton allow the Tigers to sweep a pair from the White Sox‚ 7 – 3 and 9 – 7. Tresh’s homer comes in the 8th inning of the nitecap. Rookie of the Year candidate Carlos May has two hits in the second game‚ his last before going on weekend Army reserve duty at Camp Pendleton‚ California. While there‚ May suffers a serious injury when a mortar misfires and blows off most of his right thumb. May‚ hitting .281 with 18 homers‚ will have extensive skin grafts and surgery and will return to play 150 games and hit .285 in 1970. His home run output will drop to 12.
1970:
The New York Yankees honor Casey Stengel at Old Timers Day in Yankee Stadium. Stengel’s number 37 is retired, then the Baltimore Orioles beat the Yankees, 4 – 2.
Milwaukee reliever Dave Baldwin intentionally walks Boog Powell to load the bases and pitch to Don Buford. The Baltimore infielder promptly smacks a grand slam to give the O’s a 7 – 4 victory.
In Los Angeles‚ Tony Perez collects six RBIs on two homers and a single to lead the Reds to a 10 – 6 win over the Dodgers.
The Giants edge the Astros‚ 6 – 5‚ with the win going to reliever Don McMahon. Giants starter Skip Pitlock has his first and only major league homer (half his career hits)‚ an inside-the-park liner off Wade Blasingame.
1971 – Behind Lee May’s two homers and five RBIs‚ the Reds beat the visiting Montreal Expos‚ 6 – 3. His second homer is a three-run shot in the 9th.
1972:
The New York Yankees sign a 30-year lease to play in renovated Yankee Stadium starting in 1976; they will share Shea Stadium with the New York Mets while the renovations take place in 1974 and 1975.
At Riverfront Stadium‚ the Reds beat the Dodgers‚ 2 – 1‚ in 19 innings. The Dodgers use five pitchers and the first four – Tommy John‚ Jim Brewer‚ Pete Richert and Ron Perranoski – strike out 22 batters to tie a National League record. The fifth‚ Pete Mikkelsen‚ fans no one in the defeat to Pedro Borbon. Joe Hague’s single drives in pinch runner Ted Uhlaender to end the marathon.
1973:
Boston DH Orlando Cepeda ties the major league record with four doubles in a 9 – 4 triumph over Kansas City. Luis Tiant is the winning pitcher.
Against Texas‚ Yankee starter Fritz Peterson injures himself fielding a bunt single by leadoff hitter Dave Nelson and he is replaced by Fred Beene. Beene pitches nine innings‚ allowing four hits and winning‚ 3 – 2, on Gene Michael’s two-out single in the 9th off starter Jim Merritt.
1974 – The Royals-Twins game is briefly interrupted by President Nixon’s resignation speech. The speech is broadcast after it begins and the next inning is delayed until the conclusion of the speech. The Twins prevail over the host Royals‚ 3 – 2, in 14 innings, when Tony Oliva’s sacrifice fly drives home Rod Carew. Bill Campbell pitches seven innings of relief for the win.
1976:
The Chicago White Sox play the first game of a doubleheader wearing navy blue bermuda shorts. The Sox defeat the Kansas City Royals, 5 – 2.
Padres rookie Butch Metzger is credited with a 4 – 3 victory over the Astros‚ his tenth win without a defeat. With a victory in each of the previous two seasons as well‚ Metzger’s mark of 12-0 to start a career matches Hooks Wiltse‚ in 1904. Metzger will lose his last four decisions this year.
1979:
Oakland’s Matt Keough loses to California, 8 – 1‚ running his season record to 0-14‚ and tying a dubious major league record. His 14 straight losses ties him for the fourth most in American League history.
At Riverfront Stadium‚ Reds P Bill Bonham surrenders just two hits in beating the Braves‚ 3 – 1.
1982 – Just five days after hitting three home runs in a 5 – 4 loss to the Twins, California’s Doug DeCinces hits three more home runs in a 9 – 5 win at Seattle, joining Ted Williams as the only American League players ever to hit three home runs in a game twice in the same season.
1984
The Cubs tighten their grip on first place in the NL East with a 7 – 6 win over the Mets at Wrigley Field‚ completing a four-game series sweep. Keith Moreland leads the way with three hits and four RBIs. Hubie Brooks is 4 for 4 with four runs for New York. Davey Johnson gets tossed in the 7th after Bob Dernier gets hit by a pitch‚ a continuation of yesterday’s beanballing. Cubs manager Jim Frey follows Johnson in the 9th when Lee Smith throws behind George Foster.
Veteran P Don Sutton ends Milwaukee’s ten-game losing streak with a 3 – 2 win over the Royals. Sutton also passes the 100 strikeout mark for the 19th straight season‚ a major league record.
1985:
Cardinals pitcher John Tudor one-hits the Cubs, 8 – 0, for his sixth shutout of the season‚ allowing only Leon Durham’s 5th-inning single. Tudor started the season 1-7 but will win 20 of his last 21 decisions to finish 21-8.
Keith Hernandez has five hits in the Mets’ 20-hit attack as they beat the Expos‚ 14 – 7. Rick Aguilera is the winner.
1987 – Tom Candiotti goes the distance as the Indians top the Blue Jays‚ 3 – 1. Toronto’s only run is George Bell’s 35th homer and extends Bell’s hitting streak versus Cleveland to 34 games. Bell sits out tomorrow’s game and will go hitless in the first encounter with Cleveland in 1988.
1988 – 91-year-old Chicago Cubs fan Harry Grossman throws a switch lighting Wrigley Field for its first-ever night game. Heavy thuderstorms wipe out the Cubs-Phillies game after three innings. The first official night game will be recorded tomorrow night.
1989:
Mauro Gozzo pitches eight shutout innings in his major league debut as Toronto beats Texas, 7 – 0, to go over .500 for the first time since Opening Day. The Blue Jays will eventually overtake the surprising Orioles and win the AL East.
The Royals’ Tom “Flash” Gordon stops the visiting Red Sox‚ 8 – 1. Sox C Rick Cerone starts the game behind the plate‚ then moves to RF for the first time in his career.
1990 – Pete Rose reports to the federal work camp in Marion, IL to serve his three-month sentence for tax evasion.
1991 – The Detroit Tigers fan a team record 21 times in a 14-inning‚ 4 – 0, win over the Blue Jays. Mark Salas hits a three-run pinch homer off Tom Henke in the top of the 14th. Mickey Tettleton follows one out later with another homer. Starters Bill Gullickson and Tom Candiotti match zeroes for seven innings‚ with Candy striking out 12.
1992 – Cleveland P Charles Nagy hurls a one-hitter against the Orioles‚ defeating Baltimore by a score of 6 – 0. Glenn Davis gets the only Baltimore safety.
1993:
Mariners P Brad Holman is struck in the forehead by a line drive off the bat of Texas’s Mario Diaz. The Rangers win the game‚ 7 – 1‚ and Holman suffers a fractured sinus cavity. Ken Griffey Jr. makes an error in the contest‚ ending his American League record string of 573 consecutive chances without a miscue.
Cleveland OF Albert Belle drives home two runs with a sacrifice fly as the Indians lose to Baltimore‚ 7 – 6.
1995:
Yankees DH Ruben Sierra drives home seven runs to lead New York to an 11 – 4 win over Baltimore. Sierra’s three hits include a single‚ double and home run.
Pittsburgh’s Jeff King connects for two homers in the nine-run 2nd inning‚ and Pittsburgh rides it to a 9 – 5 win over the Giants. King is the first Pittsburgh player to homer twice in an inning since Jake Stenzel in 1894
The Rangers acquire P Bobby Witt from the Marlins in exchange for two players to be named.
1996:
Eddie Murray’s 494th homer moves him ahead of Lou Gehrig to 15th place on the all-time list. The two-run homer in the 6th inning breaks a tie as Baltimore beats the Brewers‚ 6 – 4.
Darryl Strawberry powers a pair of homers to lead the Yankees to an 8 – 4 win over the White Sox. Strawberry now has five homers in his last nine at bats.
The Rangers acquire P John Burkett (6-10) from the Marlins in exchange for P Ryan Dempster and a player to be named.
1997:
Randy Johnson becomes the first pitcher to strike out 19 batters in a game twice in one season when he fans 19 Chicago White Sox in a 5 – 0 victory.
Recently-acquired slugger Mark McGwire hits a home run for the St. Louis Cardinals, his first in the National League.
1998 – Behind Rafael Palmeiro’s 35th home run‚ the Orioles defeat the Twins‚ 6 – 3‚ despite five hits by Minnesota DH Paul Molitor. Molitor also swipes his 500th base. He’s the sixth player with 500 steals and 3,000 hits.
1999 – The Diamondbacks defeat the Phillies‚ 7 – 4‚ despite five hits‚ including a double‚ by OF Bobby Abreu. Arizona P Armando Reynoso wins his seventh consecutive decision. He has not lost in 17 starts‚ dating back to April 27th.
2000 – The Dodgers defeat the Cubs‚ 7 – 5‚ hitting four homers (Kevin Elster‚ Darren Dreifort‚ Gary Sheffield and Shawn Green) in the 4th inning off Chicago P Phil Norton‚ who is making the second appearance of his major league career. Pitcher Dreifort hits two homers in the contest for Los Angeles‚ becoming the first pitcher to do so since 1990. Norton also sets a record becoming the first Cubs pitcher in the team’s 124-year history to surrender four homers in an inning.
2001:
Tigers P Nate Cornejo makes his major league debut against Rangers P Joaquin Benoit. It is the first time since August 21‚ 1990‚ that both starting pitchers are making their big league debuts. The Tigers tie a modern record by scoring 13 runs in the 9th inning to snap a 6 – 6 tie and roll‚ 19 – 6. Damion Easley gets six hits‚ including two in the 9th‚ to tie an American League and team record‚ last done by Ty Cobb. The winning pitcher is former Ranger Danny Patterson‚ who faces one batter in the 8th.
With 50‚863 on hand at Oakland‚ the A’s down the Red Sox‚ 6 – 1, behind the pitching of Tim Hudson. Carl Everett’s home run accounts for the only Bosox score‚ while Jason Giambi homers for Oakland. Johnny Damon hits a double the hard way when his drive down the RF line lands in a beer cup. Trot Nixon is the right fielder.
2002 – Atlanta defeats Arizona‚ 4 – 1‚ as Braves relief pitcher John Smoltz reaches 40 saves in a season faster than any pitcher in history.
2003 – The Dodgers defeat the Cubs‚ 3 – 1‚ as Eric Gagné sets a major league record for most consecutive saves from the beginning of the season with 39. It is Gagné’s 48th straight save overall‚ second on the all-time list behind Tom Gordon’s 54.
2004:
With the Toronto Blue Jays struggling in last place and mired in a five-game losing streak, manager Carlos Tosca is fired and replaced by first-base coach John Gibbons.
The Red Sox defeat the Tigers‚ 11 – 9‚ despite seven Detroit home runs. Tim Wakefield records the win for Boston despite tying a major league record by allowing six of the homers. Wakefield is the sixth modern pitcher to yield six round-trippers‚ but the first since Philadelphia’s George Caster did so 64 years ago against the Red Sox. The last pitcher to give up six homers and still win the game was Brooklyn’s Hollis Thurston in 1932.
The Athletics beat the Twins‚ 6 – 5‚ in 18 innings. It is the second-longest game in the 23-year history of the Metrodome.
The Cardinals defeat the Mets‚ 6 – 2‚ as Edgar Renteria gets five hits for St. Louis.
2005:
The Tigers defeat the Blue Jays‚ 9 – 8‚ in 12 innings. Alex Rios gets five hits for Toronto‚ including a home run, in a losing cause.
The Rockies and Marlins play a doubleheader‚ necessitated by a snowout on April 27th and 28th. The Rockies start two Kims‚ Sunny and Byung-Hyun and win, 4 – 3 and 5 – 3. Sunny Kim was picked up on waivers August 5th from the Nationals. The opener is won in the 11th on Dustan Mohr’s walk-off homer with two out. In the second game, Byung-Hyun Kim pitches seven strong innings for the win. Danny Ardoin hits a two-run home run in the bottom of the 6th for the lead. The last time two pitchers with the same name started in a doubleheader was in 1974‚ when the Cleveland Indians started brothers Gaylord and Jim Perry against the Boston Red Sox.
2006 – In Oakland’s 7 – 6 win over the Rangers, the A’s Jason Kendall turns the fourth unassisted double play of his career. It happens when Mark DeRosa strikes out, then is called for interfering with Kendall’s throw to catch Jerry Hairston, Jr., stealing second. The play ends the game.
2007 – Aaron Harang shuts out the Dodgers, 1 – 0. It is the third straight shutout endured by Los Angeles. The last time the franchise suffered three whitewashes in a row was in the 1966 World Series.
2009:
Albert Pujols is the first player in the majors to reach 100 RBI this year with a three-run double in St. Louis’ 5 – 3 win over Pittsburgh. Pujols reaches the milestone for the ninth straight season. Only Hall of Famer Al Simmons has had a longer such streak, with 11 seasons of 100 or more RBI from the start of his career.
Carl Pavano makes his debut with the Minnesota Twins a good one, pitching seven scoreless innings in an 11 – 0 win over Detroit. Denard Span goes for 5 for 5 for the Twins.
2010:
Toronto’s Brandon Morrow keeps the Rays hitless for 8 2/3 innings before Evan Longoria bounces a single just outside the reach of 2B Aaron Hill. Morrow has to settle for a one-hit shutout when he fans the next batter, Dan Johnson, to complete the 1 – 0 victory. Johnson is his 17th strikeout victim on the day, one shy of the team record established by Roger Clemens in 1998.
Boise Hawks manager Jody Davis is suspended six games and fined an undisclosed amount for pulling his team off the field and causing a forfeit in a Northwest League game against the Everett AquaSox yesterday. Davis argued that the field was unsafe after rain delayed the start of the game, and when the umpires disagreed, he ordered his players to walk off.
2011:
The Rockies outblast the Reds, 10 – 7, in a game that features seven homers. Carlos Gonzalez hits a two-run shot in the 8th off Bill Bray to put the Rox ahead to stay. Seth Smith – twice – and Todd Helton also hit homers for Colorado, while Jay Bruce, Drew Stubbs and Brandon Phillips reply for the Reds.
The Pirates end a ten-game losing streak that has taken the team out of playoff contention with a 5 – 0 win at San Francisco. Charlie Morton is the winner over Ryan Vogelsong with eight scoreless innings. Garrett Jones has four hits for the Bucs, whose goal for the season is now to finish above .500. The losing streak took the team to five games below the mark, and they will be unable to stop their record string of 18 consecutive losing seasons.
2012:
Marco Scutaro drives in seven runs as the Giants stomp on the Cardinals, 15 – 0. He caps his day with his third career grand slam, off Mitchell Boggs in the 9th. Ryan Vogelsong is the beneficiary of the offensive outburst, pitching seven scoreless innings. It is the 21st straight time the Giants’ starter has pitched six or more innings, and he improves his record to 10-5.
The Indians end an 11-game losing streak with a 6 – 2 win over the Twins. Justin Masterson gives up only three hits over seven innings to earn the win, while Shin-Soo Choo is 4 for 4 with a pair of RBI. Cleveland was outscored 95-36 during the skein, which falls one game short of the franchise record.
2013 – Detroit wins its 12th straight game, 10 – 3 over Cleveland, completing a four-game sweep of its closest rivals in the AL Central. Max Scherzer improves to 17-1. The last pitcher to have such a mark was Roger Clemens in 2001, and only two others, Don Newcombe (1955) and Roy Face (1959), who both had records of 18-1 at one point, have done it since Rube Marquard started the 1912 season 19-0.
2014:
Bartolo Colon records the 200th win of his career in the Mets’ 5 – 4 win over the Phillies.
Brothers Justin and B.J. Upton both homer in Atlanta’s 7 – 6 win over Washington. It is the fifth time they have done so, setting a new major league record. They were previously tied with Vladimir and Wilton Guerrero, and the Giambi brothers, Jason and Jeremy, who both performed the feat four times.
2016 – Brandon Crawford of the Giants becomes the first player in 41 years to collect seven hits in a game, as he gets a triple, a double and five singles in a 14-inning, 8 – 7 win over the Marlins. His final hit, a single off Andrew Cashner in the 14th, drives home the winning run. The last player with seven hits in a game, Rennie Stennett, had accomplished the feat in only nine innings on September 16, 1975.
2018 – P Brett Kennedy of the Padres gets a rough introduction to the big leagues in his debut as he surrenders consecutive home runs to Jesus Aguilar, Travis Shaw and Eric Thames in the 1st inning, the first of these coming with two men on base. He allows one more run before departing after four innings as Milwaukee cruises to an 8 – 4 win.
2019 – Playing his first game in his home ballpark of Rogers Centre, Blue Jays SS Bo Bichette extends his hitting streak since his debut to 11 games with a homer off Domingo German of the Yankees, and then doubles off Shawn Green to set a major league record with a double in nine straight games as he now has 13 extra-base hits in his first 11 games. However, his efforts are no match for the slugging Yankees who tee off against Thomas Pannone, including a two-homer game by Gio Urshela, and win, 12 – 6. The Bronx Bombers have hit 19 homers in their last four games, all on the road.
2020 – The Tigers start off their game against the Pirates with a roar, as Niko Goodrum, Miguel Cabrera, C.J. Cron and Jeimer Candelario all homer off Derek Holland before an out is recorded in the 1st inning, leading to five runs. There is a scary moment in the 6th, as RF Gregory Polanco and 1B Phillip Evans collide at full speed while going after a foul ball hit by Cabrera. Evans gets the worst of it and has to be evacuated from the field on a stretcher.
2022 – One of the great comeback stories of the year comes to an unfortunate end as Matt Carpenter fouls a ball off his leg in a game against Seattle, breaking his foot. Carpenter was added to the Yankees’ roster in May after being released by the Rangers’ AAA affiliate. He batted below .200 in in his previous two seasons and almost saw his career come to a full stop, but found the fountain of youth in the Big Apple. He is batting .305 with 15 homers and 37 RBIs in 128 at-bats at the time of the injury. He will return to play a few games during the postseason.
2023 – Mexico makes its Women’s Baseball World Cup debut. Facing pool host Canada, they fall 9 – 1 as Madison Willan drives in four and Raine Padgham and two relievers fan eight. In other opening action, Elise Berger pitches Team USA to a 3 – 2 win over Australia and Hong Kong rallies for a 9 – 8 victory against South Korea.
2024 – Sporting the worst record in baseball at 28-89 and threatening to set a new American League record for losses in a season, the White Sox fire manager Pedro Grifol and most of his coaching staff. Grady Sizemore is named interim manager.
2025 – It’s literally a pitching match-up for the ages as Toronto faces the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium, with Max Scherzer starting against Clayton Kershaw. The two first faced each other as rookies in 2008, and today, they are sure-fire future Hall of Famers, having both compiled over 200 wins and 3,000 strikeouts and earned three Cy Young Awards over their illustrious careers. Kershaw gets the best of the match-up today, as he allows just one run in six innings, while Scherzer gives up a two-run homer to Mookie Betts in his six. L.A. adds three insurance runs off reliever Brendon Little in the 7th and ends up with a 5 – 1 win, credited to Kershaw.
Births[edit]
1853 – Eden Kipp, umpire (d. 1913)
1853 – Frank Wash, umpire (d. 1906)
1859 – Hal McClure, outfielder (d. 1919)
1861 – Jocko Milligan, catcher (d. 1923)
1861 – James Searle, Australian baseball pioneer (d. 1936)
1864 – Toad Ramsey, pitcher (d. 1906)
1865 – Henry Fournier, pitcher (d. 1945)
1865 – Billy Gumbert, pitcher (d. 1946)
1870 – Dan Leahy, infielder (d. 1903)
1873 – Jay Andrews, minor league infielder and manager (d. 1925)
1875 – Ernie Baker, pitcher (d. 1945)
1877 – Sam McBirney, minor league player and manager (d. 1936)
1884 – Hi West, pitcher (d. 1963)
1889 – Al Cypert, infielder (d. 1973)
1891 – Chick Keating, infielder (d. 1959)
1893 – Jack Smith, infielder (d. 1962)
1895 – Elmer Wicks, infielder (d. ????)
1897 – Charlie Eckert, pitcher (d. 1986)
1897 – Ken Holloway, pitcher (d. 1968)
1898 – John Slappey, pitcher (d. 1957)
1899 – Dewey Griggs, scout (d. 1968)
1903 – Clise Dudley, pitcher (d. 1989)
1903 – Nat Trammell, infielder (d. 1973)
1906 – Tot Pressnell, pitcher (d. 2001)
1908 – Bo Briggery, infielder (d. 1971)
1908 – Jack Marshall, infielder; All-Star (d. 1990)
1913 – Cecil Travis, infielder; All-Star (d. 2006)
1915 – Ed Steele, outfielder (d. 1978)
1917 – Ken Raffensberger, pitcher; All-Star (d. 2002)
1918 – Goro Kobayashi, NPB infielder
1918 – Red Roberts, infielder (d. 1998)
1918 – Marlin Stuart, pitcher (d. 1994)
1919 – Jimmie Bennett, pitcher (d. 1991)
1922 – Leo Ferguson, minor league infielder (d. 2014)
1922 – George Jefferson, pitcher (d. 1985)
1923 – Jim Atchley, minor league pitcher (d. 2013)
1924 – D.J. Coker, minor league pitcher (d. 2008)
1925 – Frank Messer, broadcaster (d. 2001)
1926 – Tokio Hatanaka, NPB outfielder (d. 1995)
1927 – Eleanor Callow, AAGPBL outfielder (d. 1974)
1927 – Vicente Scarpatte, Dominican national team catcher (d. 2010)
1927 – Johnny Temple, infielder; All-Star (d. 1994)
1928 – Vern Morgan, infielder (d. 1975)
1928 – Mitsuo Murokawa, NPB catcher
1928 – Jane Stoll, AAGPBL outfielder
1930 – Herb Nauert, minor league infielder (d. 2014)
1932 – Vicente Amor, pitcher
1932 – William Cary, US national team pitcher (d. 2010)
1932 – Román Vilchez, minor league infielder
1934 – Dave Chitkowski, minor league player (d. 2012)
1934 – Mamoru Nagasaka, NPB pitcher
1935 – Kunio Yokoyama, NPB pitcher
1936 – Frank Howard, outfielder, manager; All-Star (d. 2023)
1937 – Katsumi Fujimoto, NPB infielder
1937 – Curt Gentry, minor league outfielder (d. 2022)
1941 – Grady Montgomery, Negro League infielder
1942 – Seiichi Hirai, NPB infielder
1942 – Seiji Kamibayashi, NPB infielder
1943 – Jim Miles, pitcher
1945 – Mark Johnson, college coach
1947 – Jose Cruz, outfielder; All-Star
1947 – Jerry McClain, college coach
1949 – Hideo Kusumoto, NPB outfielder
1952 – Mike Ivie, infielder (d. 2023)
1952 – Greg Mahlberg, catcher
1952 – Doug Melvin, general manager
1952 – Ron Norman, minor league pitcher
1953 – Al Woods, outfielder
1954 – Tadashi Matsumoto, NPB outfielder
1956 – Kyu-ok Heo, KBO outfielder
1956 – Randy Phillips, minor league coach
1956 – Cliff Speck, pitcher
1957 – Ray Fontenot, pitcher
1957 – Mark Ross, pitcher
1958 – Alan Fowlkes, pitcher
1958 – Jeff Kraus, minor league outfielder
1959 – Dave Meier, outfielder
1959 – Dave Myers, coach
1961 – Ed Sedar, coach
1961 – Tony Thomson, Australian national team catcher
1962 – Phil Dale, minor league pitcher
1962 – Kazuhiro Otsu, NPB pitcher
1963 – Bernie Anderson, minor league outfielder
1963 – Brett Gideon, pitcher
1963 – Ron Karkovice, catcher
1965 – Kevin Christman, scout
1966 – John Hudek, pitcher; All-Star
1966 – Bridget Venturi-Veenema, USA women’s national team pitcher-outfielder
1967 – Kevin Belcher, outfielder
1967 – Tom Eiterman, minor league outfielder
1967 – Matt Whiteside, pitcher
1969 – Gary Maree, South African national team pitcher
1969 – Ray Montgomery, outfielder
1970 – Byron Browne Jr., minor league pitcher
1970 – Chih-Yuan Chu, CPBL infielder
1970 – Kenji Horie, NPB infielder
1970 – Chung-Yueh Liu, CPBL catcher
1970 – Gareth Scott, South African national team infielder
1971 – Johnny Balentina, Hoofdklasse catcher-outfielder
1971 – Kris Ralston, minor league pitcher (d. 2015)
1972 – O’Brian Cunningham, minor league outfielder
1972 – Junya Orita, NPB pitcher
1973 – Robert Paul, Extraliga pitcher
1974 – Cody Allison, minor league catcher
1974 – Rafael Gross, minor league pitcher
1974 – Petr Koptioukh, Russian national team outfielder
1974 – Takashi Shiozaki, Japanese national team pitcher
1975 – Chad Meyers, infielder
1975 – Alanna Rizzo, broadcaster
1976 – Shih-Kuei Huang, Chinese Taipei national team pitcher
1977 – Jeremy Hill, pitcher
1977 – Travis Minix, minor league pitcher
1978 – Dan Neil, minor league pitcher
1978 – Brian Sanches, pitcher
1978 – Felix Villegas, minor league pitcher
1979 – Chih-Cheng Chen, CPBL pitcher
1979 – Alex Dvorsky, minor league catcher
1979 – Humberto Quintero, catcher
1979 – Joe Wilkins, college coach
1980 – Craig Breslow, pitcher
1980 – Jack Cassel, pitcher
1980 – Clint Hosford, minor league pitcher
1980 – Diegomar Markwell, minor league pitcher
1981 – Eddy Rodriguez, pitcher
1981 – Andrei Sazonov, Russian League catcher
1982 – Matthew Brown, infielder
1982 – Trey Hendricks, scout
1982 – Hitoshi Miki, NPB pitcher
1982 – Ross Ohlendorf, pitcher
1982 – Ben Swaggerty, minor league pitcher
1982 – Zong-yeon Wang, South Korean womens’ national team catcher
1983 – Jake Blalock, minor league player
1983 – Eric Wordekemper, minor league pitcher
1984 – Ronnier Mustelier, Cuban league infielder
1984 – Shoji Nagamine, NPB pitcher
1985 – Deunte Heath, pitcher
1985 – Isaac Hess, minor league pitcher
1985 – Blake Wood, pitcher
1986 – Marco Quevedo, minor league pitcher
1987 – Taihei Fukuda, Japanese national team outfielder
1988 – Muhammad Usman Azam, Pakistani national team infielder
1988 – Andrew Lambo, outfielder
1988 – Relly Mercurio, minor league infielder and manager
1988 – Benino Pruneda, minor league pitcher
1988 – Jose Rojas, minor league pitcher
1988 – Rinku Singh, minor league pitcher
1989 – Greg Garcia, infielder
1989 – Anthony Rizzo, infielder; All-Star
1989 – Jake Thompson, minor league pitcher
1990 – Aaron Kurcz, minor league pitcher
1990 – Juri Perez, minor league pitcher
1990 – Webster Rivas, catcher
1991 – Rafael Castro, minor league pitcher (d. 2009)
1991 – Yandy Diaz, infielder; All-Star
1992 – Shuhei Fukuda, NPB outfielder
1993 – Yudai Fujioka, NPB infielder
1993 – Yuki Katayama, Japanese national team pitcher
1993 – Nathan Lorentz, Thai national team outfielder
1994 – Kazuki Tanaka, NPB outfielder
1995 – Tomoya Mori, NPB catcher
1995 – Garrett Wilkinson, minor league coach
1995 – Shih-Tsung Wang, CPBL outfielder
1996 – Yuto Takahama, NPB infielder
1997 – Oleksii Boiko, Ukrainian national team infielder
1997 – Yunis Haleem, Palestinian national team utility man
1997 – Garrett Stallings, pitcher
1997 – Chavez Young, minor league outfielder
1998 – Wilfredo Jiménez, Salvadoran national team player
1999 – Mason Denaburg, minor league pitcher
2000 – Cheng-Ling Lee, CPBL outfielder
2000 – Shota Matsuyama, Japanese national team catcher
2000 – Jeandro Tromp, Hoofdklasse outfielder
2001 – Ben Smith, minor league pitcher
2001 – Wenbin Xing, Chinese national team outfielder
2002 – Petar Juričić, Croatian national team pitcher-outfielder
2003 – Brittany Apgar, WPBL outfielder
2005 – Se-min Lee, South Korean national team pitcher
Deaths[edit]
1889 – Harry McCormick, pitcher (b. 1855)
1895 – Billy Colgan, catcher (b. 1862)
1895 – Arthur Thomas, minor league catcher (b. 1864)
1911 – Joe Walsh, infielder (b. 1864)
1913 – John Gaffney, manager (b. 1855)
1924 – Henry Blackmon, infielder (b. 1891)
1927 – Billy Gilbert, infielder (b. 1876)
1929 – Dan Minahan, infielder (b. 1865)
1932 – Billy Becannon, umpire (b. 1856)
1933 – Bill Irwin, pitcher (b. 1859)
1934 – Wilbert Robinson, catcher, manager; Hall of Famer (b. 1864)
1938 – Otto Mitchell, infielder (b. 1898)
1941 – Ralph Works, pitcher (b. 1888)
1952 – Bob Neighbors, infielder (b. 1917)
1958 – Ray Ryan, minor league catcher and manager (b. 1883)
1958 – Fred Winchell, pitcher (b. 1882)
1959 – Phil Lewis, infielder (b. 1884)
1964 – Ches Buchanan, pitcher (b. 1907)
1965 – Red Applegate, pitcher (b. 1922)
1965 – George Crable, pitcher (b. 1885)
1969 – Juan Reggeti, Venezuelan League owner (b. 1909)
1974 – Howie Pollet, pitcher; All-Star (b. 1921)
1977 – Tod Dennehey, outfielder (b. 1899)
1980 – Allan Collamore, pitcher (b. 1887)
1980 – Henry Henderson, infielder (b. 1905)
1982 – Al Gould, pitcher (b. 1893)
1984 – Bert Hamric, pinch hitter (b. 1928)
1986 – Kiichiro Nomoto, NPB pitcher (b. 1922)
1987 – Juan Antonio Yánez, executive (b. 1902)
1989 – Bob Harris, pitcher (b. 1915)
1997 – Oad Swigart, pitcher (b. 1915)
1997 – Tom Kruta, minor league pitcher (b. 1926)
1999 – Harry Walker, outfielder, manager; All-Star (b. 1918)
2001 – Ramón Herazo, Colombian national team infielder (b. ~1926)
2002 – Willie Young, pitcher (b. 1912)
2004 – Pete Center, pitcher (b. 1912)
2005 – Gene Mauch, infielder, manager (b. 1925)
2006 – Judsel Baranco, Hoofdklasse player (b. 1963)
2007 – Samuel Williams, pitcher (b. 1922)
2008 – Cecil Davis, minor league pitcher (b. 1932)
2009 – Cal Ermer, infielder, manager (b. 1923)
2011 – Akinobu Kono, NPB infielder (b. 1930)
2013 – Joe Romano, minor league owner (b. ????)
2014 – Red Wilson, catcher (b. 1929)
2015 – Walt Piggott, college coach (b. 1927)
2016 – Mike Brumley, catcher (b. 1938)
2017 – Ken Kaiser, umpire (b. 1945)
2020 – Wayne Redmond, outfielder (b. 1945)
2020 – Don Brown, college coach (b. 1933)
2025 – Felix Torres, infielder (b. 1932)
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TV SPORTS TODAY
Saturday, August 8
AUTO RACING
Noon
FS1 — Indy NXT Series: Practice, Portland International Raceway, Portland, Ore.
1 p.m.
FS1 — NTT IndyCar Series: Practice, Portland International Raceway, Portland, Ore.
3 p.m.
FS1 — Indy NXT Series: Qualifying, Portland International Raceway, Portland, Ore.
5 p.m.
CW — NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series: NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Race at Iowa, Iowa Speedway, Newton, Iowa
7 p.m.
FS1 — NTT IndyCar Series: Qualifying, Portland International Raceway, Portland, Ore.
BOXING
10 p.m.
ESPN — MVPW-05: Main Card, Orlando, Fla.
GOLF
Noon
FOX — LIV Golf League: Third Round, Trump National Golf & Country Club Bedminster, Bedminster, N.J.
1 p.m.
GOLF — PGA Tour: Wyndham Championship, Third Round, Sedgefield Country Club, Greensboro, N.C.
3 p.m.
CBS — PGA Tour: Wyndham Championship, Third Round, Sedgefield Country Club, Greensboro, N.C.
GOLF — 2026 U.S. Women’s Amateur: Quarterfinals and Semifinals, The Honors Course, Ooltewah, Tenn.
GYMNASTICS
2:30 p.m.
NBCSN — USGA: 2026 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships, Phoenix
4 p.m.
NBC — USGA: 2026 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships, Phoenix
HORSE RACING
5 p.m.
FOX — Whitney Stakes: From Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
LACROSSE (MEN’S)
1 p.m.
ABC — PLL: Denver vs. New York, Boston
LACROSSE (WOMEN’S)
5:30 p.m.
ESPN2 — WLL: California at Boston
LITTLE LEAGUE SOFTBALL
3 p.m.
ESPN2 — Little League Softball World Series: TBD, Game 19, Greenville, N.C.
6 p.m.
ESPN2 — Little League Softball World Series: TBD, Game 20, Greenville, N.C.
MLB BASEBALL
4 p.m.
FS1 — Athletics at Boston (4:10 p.m.)
7 p.m.
FOX — Regional Coverage: Baltimore at Texas (7:15 p.m.), Cleveland at Chicago White Sox (7:15 p.m.) OR Detroit at San Francisco (7:15 p.m.)
NFL FOOTBALL
Noon
ESPN — 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony: From Canton, Ohio
NFLN — 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony: From Canton, Ohio
SOCCER (WOMEN’S)
4 p.m.
ION — NWSL: Utah at Denver
6:30 p.m.
ION — NWSL: North Carolina at Washington
8:45 p.m.
ION — NWSL: Kansas City at Houston
SOFTBALL
7 p.m.
ESPNU — Athletes Unlimited All-Star Cup: TBD, Rosemont, Ill.
WNBA BASKETBALL
1 p.m.
CBS — Las Vegas at Minnesota
3:30 p.m.
ABC — Indiana at Chicago
8:30 p.m.
NBATV — Seattle at Portland
_____
Sunday, August 9
AUTO RACING
1 p.m.
FS1 — NTT IndyCar Series: Warmup, Portland International Raceway, Portland, Ore.
2 p.m.
FS1 — Indy NXT Series: Grand Prix of Portland, Portland International Raceway, Portland, Ore.
3:30 p.m.
USA — NASCAR Cup Series: Iowa Corn 350 Powered by Ethanol, Iowa Speedway, Newton, Iowa
4 p.m.
FOX — NTT IndyCar Series: OnlyBulls Grand Prix of Portland, Portland International Raceway, Portland, Ore.
BIG3 BASKETBALL
1 p.m.
CBS — Week 8: Dallas Power vs. Chicago Triplets, Boston Ball Hogs vs. Detroit Amps, Boston
GOLF
9 a.m.
GOLF — Ladies Euro Tour: PIF London Championship, Final Round, Centurion Club, Saint Alban, England
11 a.m.
FOX — LIV Golf League: Final Round, Trump National Golf & Country Club Bedminster, Bedminster, N.J.
1 p.m.
GOLF — PGA Tour: Wyndham Championship, Final Round, Sedgefield Country Club, Greensboro, N.C.
3 p.m.
CBS — PGA Tour: Wyndham Championship, Final Round, Sedgefield Country Club, Greensboro, N.C.
GOLF — 2026 U.S. Women’s Amateur: Championship Final Match, The Honors Course, Ooltewah, Tenn.
GYMNASTICS
1:30 p.m.
NBC — USGA: 2026 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships, Phoenix
4 p.m.
NBCSN — USGA: 2026 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships, Phoenix
6 p.m.
NBC — USGA: 2026 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships, Phoenix
LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL
2 p.m.
ESPN — Little League World Series: TBD, Regional
4 p.m.
ESPN — Little League World Series: TBD, Regional
LITTLE LEAGUE SOFTBALL
Noon
ESPN2 — Little League Softball World Series: TBD, Game 21, Greenville, N.C.
3 p.m.
ABC — Little League Softball World Series: TBD, Game 21, Greenville, N.C.
MLB BASEBALL
Noon
NBCSN — Cincinnati at Washington (12:15 p.m.)
PEACOCK — Cincinnati at Washington (12:15 p.m.)
8 p.m.
NBC — Houston at San Diego (8:20 p.m.)
PEACOCK — Houston at San Diego (8:20 p.m.)
SOCCER (WOMEN’S)
4 p.m.
CBSSN — NWSL: Portland at Boston
9 p.m.
ESPN — NWSL: Angel City at Seattle
WNBA BASKETBALL
12:30 p.m.
ABC — Las Vegas at New York
3:30 p.m.
NBC — Dallas at Minnesota
PEACOCK — Dallas at Minnesota
7 p.m.
ESPN — Golden State at Los Angeles
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