INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL WEEK 7
COACH KEITH MEYERS TALKS WITH HCAC COMMISSIONER JAY JONES:
ADAMS CENTRAL 48 SOUTHERN WELLS 7
ALEXANDRIA 40 FRANKTON 0
ANDREAN 35 ANGOLA 7
BEECH GROVE 46 SPEEDWAY 13
BLOOMINGTON NORTH 42 COLUMBUS EAST 0
BLOOMINGTON SOUTH 55 COLUMBUS NORTH 24
BLUFFTON 35 HERITAGE 0
BOONE GROVE 28 WHITING 16
BOONVILLE 34 PRINCETON 6
BREBEUF JESUIT 42 ARSENAL TECH 7
BREMEN 40 CULVER ACADEMY 24
BROWNSBURG 38 ZIONSVILLE 6
BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL 63 MADISON 7
CARMEL 43 BEN DAVIS 0
CARROLL (FLORA) 49 CLINTON CENTRAL 8
CARROLL (FORT WAYNE) 49 HOMESTEAD 0
CASCADE 98 GREENCASTLE 13
CENTERVILLE 64 UNION COUNTY 0
CHARLESTOWN 27 CORYDON CENTRAL 26
CHESTERTON 27 LAKE CENTRAL 6
CHURUBUSCO 62 CENTRAL NOBLE 3
CINCINNATI LASALLE (OHIO) 22 INDIANAPOLIS RONCALLI 14
CLOVERDALE 67 BROWN COUNTY 0
CONCORD 42 GOSHEN 0
CRAWFORDSVILLE 39 NORTH MONTGOMERY 28
CROWN POINT 42 LAPORTE 7
DEKALB 42 NORWELL 0
DECATUR CENTRAL 69 GREENWOOD 7
EAST CENTRAL 63 CONNERSVILLE 0
EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL 58 LAKE STATION 20
EAST NOBLE 41 COLUMBIA CITY 10
EASTBROOK 31 MADISON-GRANT 26
EASTERN (GREENTOWN) 67 PHALEN ACADEMY 0
EASTERN HANCOCK 40 MILAN 7
EASTSIDE 42 FREMONT 13
EVANSVILLE HARRISON 28 EVANSVILLE CENTRAL 14
EVANSVILLE MATER DEI 42 EVANSVILLE BOSSE 0
EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL 28 EVANSVILLE REITZ 7
EVANSVILLE NORTH 28 VINCENNES LINCOLN 22
FISHERS 36 FRANKLIN CENTRAL 35 OT
FLOYD CENTRAL 41 BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE 22
FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK 66 IRVINGTON PREP 0
FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA 21 FORT WAYNE WAYNE 20
FORT WAYNE DWENGER 27 FORT WAYNE LUERS 7
FORT WAYNE NORTH 28 FORT WAYNE SOUTH 13
FORT WAYNE NORTHROP 35 FORT WAYNE SNIDER 14
FOUNTAIN CENTRAL 51 SOUTH VERMILLION 6
FRANKLIN COUNTY 28 SOUTH DEARBORN 10
FRONTIER 62 TRI-COUNTY 8
GARRETT 21 FAIRFIELD 14 OT
GIBSON SOUTHERN 56 WASHINGTON 0
GREENSBURG 31 BATESVILLE 30
GRIFFITH 49 GARY WEST 12
HAMILTON HEIGHTS 25 TWIN LAKES 17
HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN 31 NOBLESVILLE 6
HAMMOND MORTON 76 HAMMOND CENTRAL 0
HERITAGE HILLS 69 MOUNT VERNON (POSEY) 7
HOBART 42 HANOVER CENTRAL 23
INDIANAPOLIS ATTUCKS 58 INDIANAPOLIS SHORTRIDGE 6
INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL 21 CENTER GROVE 15
INDIANAPOLIS CHATARD 40 HARRISON (WEST LAFAYETTE) 24
INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN 65 GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN 16
INDIANAPOLIS RITTER 38 COVENANT CHRISTIAN 7
INDIANAPOLIS WASHINGTON 6 PURDUE ENGLEWOOD 0
JASPER 28 CASTLE 7
JEFFERSONVILLE 42 NEW ALBANY 27
KNIGHTSTOWN 61 TRI 59 OT
KNOX 56 JIMTOWN 13
LAVILLE 45 JOHN GLENN 0
LAFAYETTE JEFF 49 KOKOMO 16
LAPEL 35 HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 7
LAWRENCE CENTRAL 49 NORTH CENTRAL (INDIANAPOLIS) 14
LAWRENCE NORTH 63 WARREN CENTRAL 48
LAWRENCEBURG 63 RUSHVILLE 0
LEBANON 38 DANVILLE 35
LEO 35 HUNTINGTON NORTH 28
LINTON 54 NORTH KNOX 7
LOGANSPORT 44 WEST LAFAYETTE 43 OT
LOWELL 56 KANKAKEE VALLEY 14
MACONAQUAH 21 LEWIS CASS 13
MANCHESTER 42 WHITKO 0
MARTINSVILLE 46 PERRY MERIDIAN 21
MERRILLVILLE 48 VALPARAISO 21
MICHIGAN CITY 43 PORTAGE 3
MISHAWAKA 42 WARSAW 21
MISSISSINEWA 48 ELWOOD 0
MUNCIE CENTRAL 42 ANDERSON 6
MUNSTER 35 HIGHLAND 0
NEW CASTLE 57 MOUNT VERNON (FORTVILLE) 28
NEW HAVEN 45 BELLMONT 22
NEW PALESTINE 65 SHELBYVILLE 3
NEW PRAIRIE 34 MISHAWAKA MARIAN 30
NORTH CENTRAL (FARMERSBURG) 71 EDINBURGH 0
NORTH DAVIESS 52 MITCHELL 6
NORTH DECATUR 59 EASTERN GREENE 14
NORTH JUDSON 56 WINAMAC 14
NORTH MIAMI 53 SOUTH CENTRAL (UNION MILLS) 6
NORTH POSEY 42 FOREST PARK 7
NORTH PUTNAM 57 FRANKFORT 12
NORTHWOOD 41 PLYMOUTH 14
NORTHRIDGE 42 WAWASEE 7
NORTHVIEW 48 SOUTH PUTNAM 33
NORTHWESTERN 48 WABASH 13
OAK HILL 54 BLACKFORD 6
OSCEOLA GRACE 33 MONROE CENTRAL 30
OWEN VALLEY 47 WEST VIGO 15
PAOLI 49 CRAWFORD COUNTY 14
PARKE HERITAGE 46 NORTH VERMILLION 20
PENDLETON HEIGHTS 49 DELTA 6
PENN 37 ELKHART 12
PIKE 41 GUERIN CATHOLIC 21
PIONEER 35 CULVER 0
PLAINFIELD 30 FRANKLIN 6
PROVIDENCE 51 INDIANAPOLIS SCECINA 7
RENSSELAER CENTRAL 51 BENTON CENTRAL 0
RICHMOND 35 MARION 34
RIVER FOREST 29 HAMMOND NOLL 6
RIVERTON PARKE 59 ATTICA 6
ROCHESTER 51 NORTHFIELD 14
SALEM 44 EASTERN (PEKIN) 14
SCOTTSBURG 70 CLARKSVILLE 7
SEEGER 45 COVINGTON 8
SEYMOUR 44 JENNINGS COUNTY 7
SHENANDOAH 50 NORTHEASTERN 43
SHERIDAN 45 DELPHI 6
SILVER CREEK 41 NORTH HARRISON 28
SOUTH ADAMS 42 JAY COUNTY 16
SOUTH BEND ADAMS 28 SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON 7
SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH 21 SOUTH BEND RILEY 6
SOUTH SPENCER 41 PIKE CENTRAL 33
SOUTHMONT 26 WESTERN BOONE 23
SOUTHPORT 36 TERRE HAUTE NORTH 0
SOUTHRIDGE 63 TELL CITY 14
SOUTHWOOD 20 PERU 14
SPRINGS VALLEY 31 TECUMSEH 0
SULLIVAN 28 EDGEWOOD 21
TAYLOR 40 CLINTON PRAIRIE 8
TERRE HAUTE SOUTH 34 MCCUTCHEON 7
TIPPECANOE VALLEY 38 WESTERN 7
TIPTON 49 LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC 7
TRI-CENTRAL 44 CHRISTEL HOUSE 14
TRI-WEST 42 MONROVIA 6
TRITON CENTRAL 17 INDIAN CREEK 14
TRITON 28 CASTON 16
UNION CITY 92 CAMBRIDGE CITY LINCOLN 6
WES-DEL 58 PARK TUDOR 50 OT
WEST CENTRAL 72 FAITH CHRISTIAN 14
WEST NOBLE 34 LAKELAND 7
WEST WASHINGTON 49 PERRY CENTRAL 8
WESTFIELD 38 AVON 21
WHEELER 21 CALUMET 16
WHITELAND 35 MOORESVILLE 14
WINCHESTER 42 HAGERSTOWN 14
WOODLAN 30 PRAIRIE HEIGHTS 6
YORKTOWN 35 GREENFIELD-CENTRAL 0
_____________
+++INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL SCORES:+++
https://www.maxpreps.com/in/volleyball/scores/?date=10/3/2025
Z RATINGS: HTTPS://WWW.ZVOLLEYBALL.COM/IPV/INDIANA-HS-Z-RATINGS/Z-GIRLS-2025
__________
+++INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL BOYS SOCCER SCORES:+++
https://www.maxpreps.com/in/soccer/scores/?date=10/3/2025
___________
+++INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS SOCCER SCORES:+++
https://www.maxpreps.com/in/soccer/girls/scores/?date=10/3/2025
___________
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS GOLF STATE FINALS
OCTOBER 4,5
FRIDAY TEE TIMES: https://www.ihsaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2025-26%20GGo%20State%20First%20Round%20Pairings.pdf
_________________
+++INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY RESULTS:+++
NO RACES SCHEDULED
__________________
+++INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL BOYS TENNIS +++
SECTIONAL DATES: SEPTEMBER 30, OCT 1, 2, 3, 4
1. Avon (5) | Bracket
Avon, Brownsburg, Danville, Plainfield, Tri-West Hendricks.
2. Mooresville (4) | Bracket
Greencastle, Martinsville, Mooresville, South Putnam.
3. Terre Haute North (4) | Bracket
Northview, Terre Haute North Vigo, Terre Haute South Vigo, West Vigo.
4. Bloomington South (5) | Bracket
Edgewood, Bloomington North, Bloomington South, Brown County, Owen Valley.
5. Jasper (4) | Bracket
Forest Park, Jasper, Northeast Dubois, Southridge.
6. Linton-Stockton (4) | Bracket
Bloomfield, Linton-Stockton, Sullivan, White River Valley.
7. Vincennes Lincoln (4) | Bracket
South Knox, Vincennes Lincoln, Vincennes Rivet, Washington.
8. Loogootee (4) | Bracket
Barr-Reeve, Loogootee, North Daviess, Paoli.
9. Princeton Community (5) | Bracket
Gibson Southern, Pike Central, Princeton Community, Tecumseh, Wood Memorial.
10. Mt. Vernon (Posey) (5) | Bracket
Evansville Central, Evansville Mater Dei, Evansville Reitz, Mt. Vernon (Posey), North Posey.
11. Evansville Bosse (Hosted @ Evansville North) (5) | Bracket
Evansville Bosse, Evansville Christian, Evansville Harrison, Evansville Memorial, Evansville North.
12. Tell City (5) | Bracket
Boonville, Castle, Heritage Hills, South Spencer, Tell City.
13. Lanesville (5) | Bracket
Corydon Central, Crawford County, Lanesville, North Harrison, South Central (Elizabeth).
14. New Albany (5) | Bracket
Clarksville, Christian Academy of Indiana, Jeffersonville, New Albany, Providence.
15. Floyd Central (4) | Bracket
Borden, Eastern (Pekin), Floyd Central, Salem.
16. Silver Creek (4) | Bracket
Charlestown, Henryville, New Washington, Silver Creek.
17. Scottsburg (4) | Bracket
Austin, Madison Consolidated, Scottsburg, Southwestern (Hanover).
18. Bedford North Lawrence (5) | Bracket
Bedford North Lawrence, Brownstown Central, Jennings County, Seymour, Trinity Lutheran.
19. East Central (6) | Bracket
Batesville, East Central, Lawrenceburg, Milan, Oldenburg Academy, South Dearborn.
20. Columbus North (5) | Bracket
Columbus East, Columbus North, Edinburgh, Greensburg, Hauser
21. Perry Meridian (4) | Bracket
Decatur Central, Perry Meridian, Roncalli, Southport.
22. Connersville (4) | Bracket
Connersville, Franklin County, Rushville Consolidated, Union County.
23. Center Grove (5) | Bracket
Center Grove, Frankin Community, Greenwood Community, Indian Creek, Whiteland Community.
24. Shelbyville (5) | Bracket
Morristown, Shelbyville, Southwestern (Shelby), Triton Central, Waldron.
25. Ben Davis (4) | Bracket
Ben Davis, Covenant Christian (Indianapolis), Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter, Speedway.
26. North Central (Indpls.) (5) | Bracket
Herron, Indpls. Bishop Chatard, Indianapolis Crispus Attucks, Indpls. Shortridge, North Central (Indpls.).
27. Lawrence North (5) | Bracket
Heritage Christian, Indpls. Arsenal Tech, Indpls. Cathedral, Lawrence Central, Lawrence North.
28. Franklin Central (5) | Bracket
Beech Grove, Franklin Central, Indpls. Lutheran, Indpls. Scecina Memorial, Warrren Central.
29. New Castle (5) | Bracket
Blue River Valley, Knightstown, New Castle, Shenandoah, Tri.
30. Mt. Vernon (Fortville) (4) | Bracket
Eastern Hancock, Greenfield-Central, Mt. Vernon (Fortville), New Palestine.
31. Fishers (4) | Bracket
Anderson, Fishers, Hamilton Southeastern, Pendleton Heights.
32. Richmond (5) | Bracket
Cambridge City Lincoln, Centerville, Hagerstown, Northeastern, Richmond.
33. Fountain Central (4) | Bracket
Covington, Fountain Central, Parke Heritage, South Vermillion.
34. Crawfordsville (5) | Bracket
Crawfordsville, Lebanon, North Montgomery, Southmont, Western Boone.
35. Carmel (4) | Bracket
Carmel, Guerin Catholic, University, Zionsville.
36. Park Tudor (4) | Bracket
Brebeuf Jesuit, Park Tudor, Pike, International School of Indiana.
37. South Bend St. Joseph (Hosted @ South Bend Adams) (4) | Bracket
Glenn, South Bend Riley, South Bend St. Joseph, South Bend Washington.
38. LaPorte (4) | Bracket
LaPorte, Marquette Catholic, Michigan City, New Prairie.
39. Valparaiso (4) | Bracket
Chesterton, Portage, Valparaiso, Wheeler.
40. Hobart (5) | Bracket
Andrean, Hobart, Lake Station Edison, Merrillville, River Forest.
41. Harrison (West Lafayette) (5) | Bracket
Benton Central, Harrison (West Lafayette), Lafayette Jefferson, Rossville, West Lafayette.
42. Frankfort (5) | Bracket
Attica, Frankfort, Lafayette Central Catholic, McCutcheon, Seeger.
43. Logansport (5) | Bracket
Carroll (Flora), Delphi Community, Lewis Cass, Logansport, Twin Lakes.
44. Kokomo (4) | Bracket
Eastern (Greentown), Kokomo, Northwestern, Western.
45. Crown Point (5) | Bracket
Crown Point, Hanover Central, Kankakee Valley, Lowell, Rensselaer Central.
46. Highland (6) | Bracket
Calumet, Griffith, Highland, Illiana Christian, Lake Central, Munster.
47. East Chicago Central (4) | Bracket
East Chicago Central, Hammond Academy of Science and Technology, Hammond Bishop Noll, Hammond Central.
48. Culver Academies (5) | Bracket
Culver Academies, Knox, North Judson-San Piere, Plymouth, Triton.
49. Madison-Grant (5) | Bracket
Blackford, Madison-Grant, Marion, Mississinewa, Huntington North.
50. Norwell (5) | Bracket
Adams Central, Bellmont, Bluffton, Norwell, South Adams.
51. Homestead (5) | Bracket
FW Bishop Luers, FW Canterbury, FW South Side, FW Wayne, Homestead.
52. Peru (5) | Bracket
Maconaquah, Manchester, Peru, Rochester Community, Wabash.
53. Jay County (4) | Bracket
Jay County, Randolph Southern, Union City, Winchester Community.
54. Delta (4) | Bracket
Delta, Muncie Burris, Muncie Central, Yorktown.
55. Alexandria Monroe (4) | Bracket
Alexandria Monroe, Elwood, Frankton, Tipton.
56. Noblesville (4) | Bracket
Hamilton Heights, Lapel, Noblesville, Westfield.
57. Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran (5) | Bracket
FW Blackhawk Christian, FW Bishop Dwenger. FW Concordia Lutheran, FW North Side, New Haven.
58. Carroll (Fort Wayne) (5) | Bracket
Carroll (Fort Wayne), Churubusco, FW Northrop, FW Snider, Leo.
59. DeKalb (4) | Bracket
Central Noble, East Noble, DeKalb, West Noble.
60. Angola (5) | Bracket
Angola, Fremont, Lakeland, Prairie Heights, Westview.
61. Warsaw (5) | Bracket
Columbia City, Tippecanoe Valley, Whitko, Warsaw Community, Wawasee.
62. Concord (4) | Bracket
Concord, Elkhart, Jimtown, Northridge.
63. NorthWood (5) | Bracket
Bethany Christian, Bremen, Fairfield, Goshen, NorthWood.
64. Penn (4) | Bracket
Mishawaka, Mishawaka Marian, Penn, South Bend Adams
________________
+++INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL UNIFIED FLAG FOOTBALL+++
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
________________
+++MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL+++
MLB PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
++++NO. 1 TORONTO VS. NEW YORK
GAME 1: SATURDAY, OCT. 4
GAME 2: SUNDAY, OCT. 5
GAME 3: TUESDAY, OCT. 7
GAME 4 (IF NECESSARY): WEDNESDAY, OCT. 8
GAME 5 (IF NECESSARY): FRIDAY, OCT. 10
++++NO. 2 SEATTLE VS. DETROIT WINNER
GAME 1: SATURDAY, OCT. 4
GAME 2: SUNDAY, OCT. 5
GAME 3: TUESDAY, OCT. 7
GAME 4 (IF NECESSARY): WEDNESDAY, OCT. 8
GAME 5 (IF NECESSARY): FRIDAY, OCT. 10
++++NO. 1 MILWAUKEE VS. CHICAGO
GAME 1: SATURDAY, OCT. 4
GAME 2: MONDAY, OCT. 6
GAME 3: WEDNESDAY, OCT. 8
GAME 4 (IF NECESSARY): THURSDAY, OCT. 9
GAME 5 (IF NECESSARY): SATURDAY, OCT. 11
++++NO. 2 PHILADELPHIA VS. NO 3. LOS ANGELES++++
GAME 1: SATURDAY, OCT. 4
GAME 2: MONDAY, OCT. 6
GAME 3: WEDNESDAY, OCT. 8
GAME 4 (IF NECESSARY): THURSDAY, OCT. 9
GAME 5 (IF NECESSARY): SATURDAY, OCT. 11
++++ALCS (HIGHER SEED HOSTS GAMES 1-2, 6-7, LOWER SEED HOSTS GAMES 3-5)
GAME 1: SUNDAY, OCT. 12
GAME 2: MONDAY, OCT. 13
GAME 3: WEDNESDAY, OCT. 15
GAME 4: THURSDAY, OCT. 16
GAME 5 (IF NECESSARY): FRIDAY, OCT. 17
GAME 6 (IF NECESSARY): SUNDAY, OCT. 19
GAME 7 (IF NECESSARY): MONDAY, OCT. 20
++++NLCS (HIGHER SEED HOSTS GAMES 1-2, 6-7, LOWER SEED HOSTS GAMES 3-5)
GAME 1: MONDAY, OCT. 13
GAME 2: TUESDAY, OCT. 14
GAME 3: THURSDAY, OCT. 16
GAME 4: FRIDAY, OCT. 17
GAME 5 (IF NECESSARY): SATURDAY, OCT. 18
GAME 6 (IF NECESSARY): MONDAY, OCT. 20
GAME 7 (IF NECESSARY): TUESDAY, OCT. 21
++++WORLD SERIES (HIGHER SEED HOSTS GAMES 1-2, 6-7, LOWER SEED HOSTS GAMES 3-5)
GAME 1: FRIDAY, OCT. 24
GAME 2: SATURDAY, OCT. 25
GAME 3: MONDAY, OCT. 27
GAME 4: TUESDAY, OCT. 28
GAME 5 (IF NECESSARY): WEDNESDAY, OCT. 29
GAME 6 (IF NECESSARY): FRIDAY, OCT. 31
GAME 7 (IF NECESSARY): SATURDAY, NOV. 1
__________
+++COLLEGE FOOTBALL+++
WEEK 6 SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, OCT. 3
#23 BYU 38 WEST VIRGINIA 24
WESTERN KENTUCKY 27 DELEWARE 24
SOUTH FLORDIA 54 CHARLOTTE 26
SAN JOSEY STATE 35 NEW MEXICO 28
SAN DIEGO STATE 45 COLORADO STATE 24
SATURDAY, OCT. 4
12 P.M. | KENTUCKY AT NO. 12 GEORGIA | ABC
12 P.M. |NO. 14 IOWA STATE AT CINCINNATI | ESPN2
12 P.M. | WISCONSIN AT NO. 20 MICHIGAN | FOX
12 P.M. | NO. 22 ILLINOIS AT PURDUE | BIG TEN NETWORK
12 P.M. | BOSTON COLLEGE AT PITT | ACC NETWORK
12 P.M. | CLEMSON AT NORTH CAROLINA | ESPN
12 P.M. | KANSAS STATE AT BAYLOR | ESPN+
12 P.M. | AIR FORCE AT NAVY | CBS/PARAMOUNT+
12 P.M. | ARMY AT UAB | ESPNU
12 P.M. | OHIO AT BALL STATE | CBSSN
1 P.M. | WAKE FOREST AT VIRGINIA TECH | THE CW NETWORK
1 P.M. | UTSA AT TEMPLE | ESPN+
2 P.M. | CAMPBELL AT NC STATE | ESPN+/ACC EXTRA
2 P.M. | OKLAHOMA STATE AT ARIZONA | TNT/TRUTV/HBO MAX
2:30 P.M. | WESTERN MICHIGAN AT UMASS | ESPN+
3:30 P.M. | NO. 7 PENN STATE AT UCLA | CBS
3:30 P.M. | NO. 9 TEXAS AT FLORIDA | ESPN
3:30 P.M. | NO. 16 VANDERBILT AT NO. 10 ALABAMA
3:30 P.M. | BOISE STATE AT NO. 21 NOTRE DAME | NBC/PEACOCK
3:30 P.M. | WASHINGTON AT MARYLAND | BIG TEN NETWORK
3:30 P.M. | UL MONROE AT NORTHWESTERN | BIG TEN NETWORK
3:30 P.M. | OREGON STATE AT APPALACHIAN STATE | ESPN+
3:30 P.M. | NO. 24 VIRGINIA AT LOUISVILLE | ESPN2
3:30 P.M. | SYRACUSE AT SMU
3:30 P.M. | FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL AT UCONN | CBSSN
3:30 P.M. | JAMES MADISON AT GEORGIA STATE | ESPN+
3:30 P.M. | CENTRAL MICHIGAN AT AKRON | ESPN+
3:30 P.M. | EASTERN MICHIGAN AT BUFFALO | ESPN+
3:30 P.M. | MIAMI (OHIO) AT NORTHERN ILLINOIS | ESPN+
4 P.M. | KENT STATE AT NO. 5 OKLAHOMA | SEC NETWORK
4 P.M. | MICHIGAN STATE AT NEBRASKA | FS1
4 P.M. | TEXAS STATE AT ARKANSAS STATE | ESPNU
6 P.M. | COASTAL CAROLINA AT OLD DOMINION | ESPN+
7 P.M. | NO. 11 TEXAS TECH AT HOUSTON | ESPN
7 P.M. | UNLV AT WYOMING | CBSSN
7 P.M. | SOUTH ALABAMA AT TROY | ESPN+
7 P.M. | FLORIDA ATLANTIC AT RICE | ESPN+
7:30 P.M. | MINNESOTA AT NO. 1 OHIO STATE | NBC/PEACOCK
7:30 P.M. | NO. 3 MIAMI (FLA.) AT NO. 18 FLORIDA STATE | ABC
7:30 P.M. | MISSISSIPPI STATE AT NO. 6 TEXAS A&M | SEC NETWORK
7:30 P.M. | COLORADO AT TCU | FOX
7:30 P.M. | KANSAS AT UCF | ESPN2
8 P.M. | TULSA AT MEMPHIS | ESPNU
10:30 P.M. | DUKE AT CAL | ESPN
10:30 P.M. | NEVADA AT FRESNO STATE | CBSSN
_________
+++NFL SCHEDULE+++
WEEK 5
SUNDAY, OCT. 5
MINNESOTA VS. CLEVELAND AT LONDON, 9:30 A.M. (NFLN)
NY GIANTS AT NEW ORLEANS, 1 P.M. (CBS)
DENVER AT PHILADELPHIA
HOUSTON AT BALTIMORE, 1 P.M. (CBS)
DALLAS AT NY JETS, 1 P.M. (FOX)
LAS VEGAS AT INDIANAPOLIS, 1 P.M. (FOX)
MIAMI AT CAROLINA, 1 P.M. (FOX)
TENNESSEE AT ARIZONA, 4:05 P.M. (CBS)
TAMPA BAY AT SEATTLE, 4:05 P.M. (CBS)
WASHINGTON AT LA CHARGERS, 4:25 P.M. (FOX)
DETROIT AT CINCINNATI, 4:25 P.M. (FOX)
NEW ENGLAND AT BUFFALO, 8:20 P.M. (NBC)
MONDAY, OCT. 6
KANSAS CITY AT JACKSONVILLE, 8:15 P.M. (ESPN/ABC)
BYES: ATLANTA, CHICAGO, GREEN BAY, PITTSBURGH
______________________
NBA PRE-SEASON
PHOENIX 103 LA LAKERS 81
NEW ORLEANS 107 MELBOURNE 97
______________________
+++WNBA SCORES+++
CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND
LAS VEGAS 89 PHOENIX 86 (VEGAS LEADS SERIES 1-0)
______________
NHL PRE-SEASON
PITTSBURGH 5 BUFFALO 4 OT
MINNESOTA 3 CHICAGO 2
WINNIPEG 5 CALGARY 4
VANCOUVER 3 EDMONTON 2 OT
SAN JOSE 4 VEGAS 1
__________________
+++MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER+++
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
___________________
+++TOP NATIONAL HEADLINES/NEWS RELEASES+++
COLLEGE FOOTBALLN EWS
BEAR BACHMEIER, NO. 23 BYU OVERWHELM WEST VIRGINIA
Freshman Bear Bachmeier threw for a career-high 351 yards, LJ Martin ran for two touchdowns and No. 23 BYU overcame a spate of mistakes to stop West Virginia 38-24 in Provo, Utah, on Friday night.
Bachmeier completed 18 of 25 passes with a touchdown and an interception for the Cougars (5-0, 2-0 Big 12 Conference), who outgained the Mountaineers 516-291. That was more than enough to overcome three turnovers that led to 14 points along with 10 penalties for 68 yards.
West Virginia (2-4, 0-3) lost its third straight game, all by at least two touchdowns. Redshirt freshman Khalil Wilkins rushed for 89 yards and a score on 23 carries but hit just 7 of 15 passes for 81 yards and two interceptions in his first start.
The first of those picks helped BYU initiate scoring in the first quarter. Therrian Alexander III pilfered Wilkins and returned it 49 yards, setting up Parker Kingston’s 1-yard touchdown run at the 9:14 mark.
Kingston made it 14-0 with 3:41 left when he took Bachmeier’s pass and lugged it 54 yards for his second score. It was one of six completions Bachmeier had of at least 20 yards and one of four that went for 35 or more yards.
Kade Hensley got the Mountaineers on the board with a 45-yard field goal just 45 seconds into the second quarter but Martin made it 21-3 on a 4-yard touchdown run with 5:17 on the clock. That came one play after Bachmeier hit Chase Roberts down the left sideline for an 85-yard gain.
Diore Hubbard drew West Virginia within 21-10 on a 3-yard scoring jaunt 1:58 before halftime. But Bachmeier, whose fumble set up that score, made up for it by powering in from the 2 with 19 seconds left for a 28-10 halftime lead.
Will Ferrin added a 37-yard field goal for the Cougars with 6:53 left in the third quarter, capping a drive of 7:59. Wilkins got the Mountaineers within 31-17 on a 6-yard run with 37 seconds remaining in the third.
Martin tacked on a 1-yard plunge at the 8:50 mark of the fourth quarter.
Backup quarterback Scotty Fox found Cam Vaughn for a 29-yard touchdown pass with 1:14 left for West Virginia to finish off the scoring.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAME OF THE WEEK: VANDERBILT AT ALABAMA
VANDERBILT NOTES:
STORYLINES CENTER STAGE • Off to a 5-0 start for the first time since 2008 and just the second time in 80 years, Vanderbilt will feature on College GameDay for just the second time as well when the Commodores visit Alabama. • Vandy is 1-0 with GameDay on site, earning a 14-13 win over Auburn in 2008. • Saturday’s contest marks the first ranked showdown between Vanderbilt and Alabama since 1937. It’s just the fourth time the Dores have been ranked facing the Tide, going 1-1-1 in the previous meetings. • Vandy has won each of its first five games by 20-plus points for the first time since 1915. • The Commodores are one of five teams nationally and four in the Power 4 ranked in the top 20 nationally in rushing offense and defense (BYU, Indiana, James Madison, Missouri). FULL STEAM AHEAD • Vanderbilt’s offense has produced at an historic level to open the season, sitting fourth nationally in scoring offense at 49.0 points per game through five contests. The mark is Vanderbilt’s best scoring average in its first five games since 1915. • In program history, the Commodores have only finished three seasons with a scoring average better than 40 points: 1904, 1905 and 1915. • Vanderbilt’s offense ranks in the top 20 nationally in eight major categories and 31st or better in every offensive statistic. The Dores lead the SEC in passing efficiency and rank second in four additional categories. • With 70 and 55 points in its last two contests, Vanderbilt produced back-to-back games with 50-plus points for the first time since 1915.
CONTROLLING THE SEAS • Historic offense, meet great defense. Vanderbilt’s defense ranks 21st nationally, holding opponents to just 278.8 yards per game through five contests in 2025. • The Commodores have been particularly adept at plundering opponents with nine takeaways on the season. With a forced fumble vs. Utah State in Week 5, Vandy created a turnover for a seventh consecutive contest. • Vanderbilt has recovered a fumble in each of those seven games and is one of five teams tied for the national lead with six fumble recoveries this season. • The Commodore defense surrendered just 135 total yards to Charleston Southern in the season opener. • The 135 yards were the eighth-lowest total allowed in the past 30 seasons by Vandy. It was also the second-lowest output by an opposing offense in the season opener. • The Dores followed by holding Virginia Tech to just 248 total yards, including a stifling 21-yard second half, in the Week 2 win. • In the Week 3 win at South Carolina, Vandy forced four turnovers, the most in a game since Oct. 10, 2022 vs. Missouri. POLL PLACEMENT • Vanderbilt’s climb in the polls continued after its fifth-straight win, coming in at No. 16 in the AP poll and No. 17 in the AFCA Coaches poll. • The No. 16 mark in the AP poll is Vanderbilt’s highest ranking since 2008 when the Dores reached No. 13. • It’s the second consecutive season the Dores have appeared in the polls, marking the first occurence since 2012 and 2013. It is just the second time Vanderbilt has reached the top 25 in consecutive seasons since 1956 and only the sixth occurence in the AP poll’s 90-year history. • Week 5 marks the third consecutive appearance in the AP poll this season. Vandy has never been ranked for more than four weeks in a single season, occurring three times: 2008, 1941 and 1937.
GAME NOTES DOMINANT DIEGO • Diego Pavia enters Week 6 sitting fifth in the country and first in the SEC with 13 passing touchdowns. He ranks sixth nationally in points responsible for with 90, eighth in passing efficiency (184.6), 13th in yards per pass attempt at 9.61 and 14th in total offense with 301 yards of production per game. • Pavia matched the Vanderbilt school record with five touchdown passes vs. Utah State, finishing 26-of-34 for 321 yards. He added 79 rushing yards and another score to become the only Commodore to account for six touchdowns against an FBS opponent since 1996. • Entering Week 6, Pavia has 7,927 career passing yards to his credit. He is also closing in on the top 10 in career passing at Vanderbilt with his 3,504 yards as a Commodore, needing 10 yards to reach John Gromos in 10th all-time. • With 236 passing and 322 all-purpose yards in the first half vs. Georgia State in Week 4, Pavia eclipsed 3,000 passing and 4,000 yards of total offense at Vanderbilt. • Pavia tossed two touchdowns in Vandy’s win at South Carolina, becoming the first Vanderbilt quarterback to throw for multiple touchdowns in four-straight games since Jordan Rodgers in 2012. • Pavia accounted for 1,105 yards of offense through the first four games, going 68-of-92 through the air for 890 yards while adding 215 yards on 39 carries to go over 10,000 total yards for his NCAA FBS career. • In Vandy’s season-opening win over Charleston Southern, Pavia completed 20-of-25 passes for 275 yards and three touchdowns. The 80 percent completion rate was a career best for Pavia when completing 20 or more passes and tied for the second best performance in any game of his career. • The three passing touchdowns and 275 passing yards against the Bucs both matched Vanderbilt highs for Pavia. • Pavia’s 20 passing touchdowns in 2024 ranked sixth in the SEC. The 20 touchdowns were fifth-most by a Commodore in a season. • In 2024, Pavia ran for a Vanderbilt QB record 801 yards. That total was the highest by a Power 4 quarterback last season and seventh-most among non-service academy quarterbacks in all of FBS. • For his career, Pavia capped 2024 second among active FBS quarterbacks with 2,232 rushing yards, trailing only Army’s Bryson Daily. In addition, his 6,716 career passing yards ranked 12th among active quarterbacks heading into 2025. • He was named one of 16 semifinalists for the 88th Maxwell Award, as well as one of 16 semifinalists for the Davey O’Brien Award. • His performance in the win over top-ranked Alabama on Oct. 5 landed him SEC Offensive Player of the Week. He was also named the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback of the Week and the Maxwell Award Player of the Week. • He became the 13th quarterback since 2004 to defeat Alabama and Auburn in the same season and just the fourth do to so without playing in the SEC West (Stetson Bennett, Deshaun Watson, Matthew Stafford). He is the seventh quarterback in that same time frame to have at least three career wins over the Tigers and Tide, joining Jayden Daniels, Bennett, Joe Burrow, Jarrett Lee, Jordan Jefferson, Stafford and JaMarcus Russell. • Pavia piloted a deadly efficient offense in 2023 while leading New Mexico State to 10 wins. He ranked among the top 35 in FBS in passing touchdowns, points, passing yards per attempt and passing efficiency.
BACKFIELD CAPERS • Graduate edge Miles Capers is wreaking havoc in opposing backfields, leading the SEC and ranking 11th in the country with 1.5 tackles for loss per game this season. • Capers’ 7.5 TFL are just 0.5 shy of his career-best eight from the 2024 season. He had 11.5 career TFL entering the season. • His 3.5 sacks through five games have also eclipsed his previous season high of three from 2024. • Capers has recorded multiple tackles in every game this season and 12-straight contests dating back to October 2024. • He has made 2.5 tackles for loss in three games this season, including each of the past two contests entering the showdown with Alabama. SHERRILL STRIKES • Junior Sherrill notched three touchdowns and 91 yards on six catches in the Week 5 victory over Utah State, all career highs for the junior wideout. All three touchdown grabs came in the first half, making Sherrill the first Commodore with three TD catches in a half since Earl Bennett in 2005. • Sherrill leads the Dores with five touchdown receptions on the season and his six total scores are second on the team behind Sedrick Alexander. His five TD grabs rank sixth nationally and second in the SEC. • The wideout needs just 71 yards to reach 1,000 career receiving yards, sitting at 929 entering Week 6. • He registered the first rushing score of his career with an 8-yard touchdown run in the win over Georgia State. • Sherrill is third on the team with 17 catches while averaging 13.2 yards per reception in 2025. • Sherill finished his rookie year with 20 receptions for 293 yards and two touchdowns while playing in all 12 contests. He surpassed all three totals in 10 games last season. • The Nashvillian has made at least one catch in 28 straight games. • Sherrill received the opening kickoff vs. Tennessee and returned it 100 yards to the house for Vandy’s longest kickoff return for a touchdown since 2014. • He had a personal-best five catches for 62 yards and a receiving touchdown vs. No. 5/6 Texas on Oct. 26, 2024. • Sherrill was rated the No. 8 freshman wide receiver in the nation by Pro Football Focus in 2023. SEDRICK THE ENTERTAINER • Running back Sedrick Alexander picked up right where he left off in 2024, scoring in each of the first four games of the season. • The back leads the team with four rushing, and seven total touchdowns. Alexander ranks ninth in the nation in total touchdowns. • With a 3-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter vs. Georgia State, Alexander extended his four-game scoring streak, which was the longest of his career. He also hauled in a 10-yard touchdown catch to post a rushing and receiving touchdown in back-to-back games. • Alexander racked up 67 all-purpose yards and snagged his second receiving touchdown of the season in the win at South Carolina. The TD grab came on an 18-yard catch and run to open the scoring. • Alexander went for 83 yards on 12 carries in the season-opening win against Charleston Southern. The 83 yards propelled Alexander past the 1,000-yard mark for his career. Alexander also added 26 yards receiving to top 100 all-purpose yards for the first time in his collegiate career. • Alexander followed with a 73-yard, two-touchdown performance on just 10 carries in the win at Virginia Tech. The two touchdowns matched a career high for the junior. The opening two games also marked the first time in his career Alexander rushed for 70-plus yards in back-to-back contests. • Last season, he tallied a career-high 21 carries in the win over top-ranked Alabama on Oct. 5, matching his career best with two rushing touchdowns, and was included on the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Honorable Mention List for the week. • He finished his sophomore campaign as the team’s second-leading rusher, trailing only Diego Pavia, with 586 yards and six touchdowns. He became the 26th Vandy running back to eclipse 500 rushing yards in a season since 1996 and his total was second among all SEC sophomores. • The Texan played in all 12 games as a freshman, logging 504 all-purpose yards, 371 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. • He led SEC freshmen in rushing yards and touchdowns and was named to the league’s All-Freshman team. • Alexander was named to the Doak Walker and Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List entering 2025.
ALABAMA NOTES:
INSIDE THE SERIES Overall: 87th Meeting (Alabama leads, 63-19-4 (61-20-4 NCAA)) In Tuscaloosa: 19th Meeting (Alabama leads, 17-1 (16-1 NCAA)) Current Streak: Alabama, Lost 1 Last Meeting: Oct. 5, 2024 (L, 35-40) Series Notes: Alabama and Vanderbilt will square off for the 87th time when the two teams meet on Saturday afternoon inside Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Crimson Tide holds a 63-19-4 (61-20-4 NCAA) all-time series advantage, including a 17-1 mark in Tuscaloosa and a 32-6-2 record as the home team. The Tide is currently riding an 11-game home winning streak over Vandy. Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer is 0-1 against the Commodores. Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea is 1-1 all-time against the Crimson Tide.
STREAKING AT HOME: Alabama is currently riding a 14-game home winning streak dating back to the Tide’s Sept. 23 win over Ole Miss during the 2023 season. The Crimson Tide’s last loss inside Saban Field at Bryant Denny Stadium came on Sept. 9 of that ‘23 campaign when UA fell to 11th-ranked Texas, 34-24. Alabama’s 14-game home winning streak is tied for the third-longest active home winning streak in Division I.
BEATING THE BEST: The Crimson Tide is 84-23 (.785) against the Associated Press Top 25 since the start of 2008. That record includes Alabama’s 24-21 win at then-No. 5 Georgia on Sept. 27. The Tide had three ranked wins in 2024, including Alabama’s 42-13 win over then-No. 14 LSU on Nov. 9, a 34-0 win over then-No. 21 Missouri on Oct. 26 and a 41-34 win over then-No. 2 Georgia on Sept. 28. Since 2007, Alabama has 27 wins over AP top-five teams, the most in the country. LSU has produced the next-closest win total with 13. DEBOER AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS: Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer is 16-3 across 19 career matchups with teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25, including an impressive 6-1 mark against top-10 teams. DeBoer owns a 4-1 record against AP Top 25 opponents since beginning his tenure with Alabama in 2024, including the Tide’s 24-21 win at then-No. 5 Georgia on Sept. 27 as well as last season’s 42-13 win over then-No. 14 LSU on Nov. 9, a 34-0 win over then-No. 21 Missouri on Oct. 26 and a 41-34 win over then-No. 2 Georgia on Sept. 28. DeBoer’s first career matchup against a top-25 foe at the FBS level came at Fresno State on Sept. 4, 2021, with the Bulldogs falling at No. 11 Oregon. Following the loss to the Ducks, DeBoer-led teams at Fresno and Washington proceeded to reel off 12 straight wins against ranked foes, including six victories in 2023. The winning streak was snapped following Washington’s 34-13 loss to top-ranked Michigan in the 2025 CFP National Championship Game.
ALABAMA IN THE AP POLL: Alabama’s No. 10 ranking in the Week 6 edition of the Associated Press Poll marked the 284th consecutive week that the Crimson Tide has appeared in the poll. That streak is the longest active streak in college football. The 284 weeks more than doubles second-place Georgia with the Bulldogs appearing in the poll for 138 consecutive weeks. Alabama’s 284 straight weeks tops the Crimson Tide’s previous program-long streak of 105 consecutive weeks under head coach Gene Stallings in the mid-1990s. ALABAMA IN THE AP SINCE 2008: Alabama began the 2008 season at No. 24 in the Associated Press Preseason Poll. The Crimson Tide opened the year with a dominant 34-10 win over then-No. 9 Clemson in Atlanta, and since that win over the Tigers, UA has not exited the 283 polls that have followed. According to the College Poll Archive, the Tide is the only team to be represented on all 284 editions of the poll from the start of the 2008 season to the current week. The next closest team is Ohio State with 269 appearances followed by Oklahoma at 250. Alabama has spent 91.5 percent of the 18-plus years ranked in the top 10. A whopping 77.5 percent of that time Alabama has been ranked in the top five. The Crimson Tide has also been ranked No. 1 a total of 110 times since 2008. Only 14 other teams have earned the No. 1 ranking over that time, with the second-most appearances coming from Georgia at 40 and Clemson in third at 23.
ALWAYS IN THE HUNT: Since the 2008 season, Alabama has played in 200 of 206 regular season games that have had national championship implications. The final three games of the 2010 campaign and the final three weeks of the 2022 schedule marked the only six regular season contests without direct national championship implications over the last 17 seasons. ALABAMA REACHES 1K: With the Oct. 26, 2024 victory over then-No. 21/17 Missouri, Alabama reached 1,000 on-field wins. The Crimson Tide became only the second program in NCAA Division I history to record 1,000 wins (1,003), joining Michigan (1,012). Entering the 2025 season, the Tide’s record, as recognized by the NCAA, stands at 974-341-43 (.733), accounting for vacated and forfeited victories.
MR. RELIABLE: Germie Bernard was one of the most consistent wideouts in college football a season ago and has maintained his form through four games in 2025. After leading all Tide receivers in receptions (50) and finishing second in receiving yards (794) last season, Bernard currently paces UA wideouts in receptions (20), receiving yards (310) and receiving touchdowns (4). The senior’s 310 receiving yards are 13thmost in the SEC and are 63rd among all Division I receivers. Bernard’s 77.5 receiving yards per game is the sixth-highest average among SEC wideouts while placing him 39th among all Division I receivers. A SWISS ARMY KNIFE: Josh Cuevas earned a more prominent role at tight end for the Crimson Tide in 2025 and has delivered in more ways than one. Cuevas has totaled 10 catches for 91 yards and two touchdowns in four games so far this season. Cuevas has also shown his mettle as a pass protector, managing a 78.1 pass blocking grade from Pro Football Focus, the second-highest pass blocking grade among Division I tight ends. NO BETTER CENTER: Alabama center Parker Brailsford continues to showcase his talent in the middle of the Tide’s offensive line. Through four games, Brailsford has protected for 157 dropbacks according to Pro Football Focus, allowing just one quarterback hurry and zero sacks or quarterback hits in that span. Brailsford is responsible for an 84.4 pass blocking grade from PFF, the eighth-highest grade among centers in Division I. 400+ YARDS OF TOTAL OFFENSE: Alabama has gained 400-plus yards of total offense in 75 of its last 100 games, dating back to the start of the 2018 season. The Crimson Tide produced 400-plus yards of offense for the second time this season against Wisconsin on Sept. 13, amassing 454 yards of total offense. Alabama also finished with 583 total yards against ULM on Sept. 6. In the 25 instances where the offense did not go over 400 yards, Alabama is 17-8. 500+ YARDS OF OFFENSE: With 583 yards of offense in the 73-0 win over ULM on Sept. 6, Alabama has eclipsed 500 yards of offense in 61 games since the start of the 2015 season. The 61 instances include three games in 2024 when UA went for 500- plus against Western Kentucky (600), Georgia (547) and Mercer (508). The Crimson Tide accumulated 500-plus twice in 2023 along with seven times apiece in both 2022 and 2021. Additionally, the Tide went for 500-or-better eight times in 2020 and nine times in 2019, with the 2018 roster setting the Alabama single-season record with 500-or-more yards in 12 contests. 600+ YARDS OF OFFENSE: Alabama totaled 600 yards of offense in the 63-0 win over Western Kentucky to open the 2024 campaign. The 600-plus yard performance marked the 15th instance in program history that the Tide has been at or above 600 yards.
TAKING CARE OF THE FOOTBALL: Over its first four contests, the Alabama offense has not surrendered a turnover, joining UConn and Temple as one of just three teams entering Week 6 yet to record a giveaway. Of those three, the Tide’s plus-seven turnover margin is the highest in the group. THIRD DOWN CONVERSIONS: The Alabama offense has been among the most successful units in converting third downs so far in 2025. Through four games, the Tide has converted 30-of-55 (54.5 percent) third down tries, the fourth-best mark in the SEC and the 13th-best rate in the FBS. The Crimson Tide converted 13-of-19 third down opportunities in its 24-21 win at then-No. 5/3 Georgia on Sept. 27, the most third down conversions allowed by UGA in the last 30 seasons.
DEFENSIVE NOTES HUBBARD NAMED SEC DEFENSIVE POTW: Bray Hubbard was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 15 following his standout performance against Wisconsin on Sept. 13. Hubbard collected five total tackles and two interceptions against the Badgers, helping limit Wisconsin to just one offensive score and only 209 yards of total offense. The league honor was the first of Hubbard’s Alabama career. Hubbard was also named the Panini Senior Bowl Defensive Player of the Week as well as the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Defensive Back of the Week for his efforts against Wisconsin. THIS IS THE BRAY: Bray Hubbard has been a force for the Tide defense through four games so far in 2025. The junior safety owns 22 total tackles, including one and a half for loss for loss (-3 yards), to go with two interceptions, one forced fumble, one quarterback hurry and one pass breakup. Hubbard’s 22 tackles are second-most among all Alabama defenders, while he is responsible for three of the Tide’s seven takeaways. JJ ALL THE WAY: Linebacker Justin Jefferson has taken on an elevated role at the second level of the Crimson Tide defense in 2025. Jefferson enters the matchup with No. 16 Vanderbilt with 21 total tackles, a half tackle for loss (-1 yard), one interception, one pass breakup and one quarterback hurry in his first four games. Jefferson has succeeded mightily in coverage, owning an 86.8 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus, the fifth-ranked coverage grade among all linebackers in Division I. ON THE MARGINS: Alabama has created seven turnovers over its first four games, including four fumbles and three interceptions. As a result, UA is one only five Division I programs responsible for at least a plus-seven turnover margin so far in 2025. More specifically, Alabama’s 1.75 turnovers per game mark is tied with Maryland for the top figure in the nation. MAKING IT TOUGH: The Tide defense has been difficult to maneuver over its first four outings, allowing just 274.0 total yards per game to begin the 2025 season. The 274.0 total yards allowed stands as the fourth-best mark in the conference and the 19th-best figure in the country. YOU SHALL NOT PASS: The Crimson Tide has been stout in its pass defense through four games so far this season. Alabama has allowed an average of just 113.5 passing yards over its first four contests, the best figure in the SEC and the second-best mark in the NCAA. GETTING OFF THE FIELD: Alabama has surrendered just 60 first down conversions through four games, the fifth-fewest allowed in the SEC and the 18th-fewest among all Division I defenses. BACKFIELD BARRAGE: The Alabama defense tallied 12.0 tackles for loss (-31 yards) in the Tide’s 73-0 win over ULM on Sept. 6. The 12.0 tackles for loss were the most by a UA defense since Nov. 27, 2021, when Alabama recorded 15.0 tackles for loss (-70 yards) at Auburn in a four-overtime affair. The Tide’s 12.0 tackles for loss against the Warhawks are the most recorded in regulation since Nov. 13, 2021 against New Mexico State when Alabama matched the total with 12.0 tackles for loss (-44 yards).
TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS: Alabama has forced at least one turnover in 126 of the last 143 contests (dating back to the start of the 2015 season). During the current run, Alabama has forced 229 turnovers (145 interceptions, 84 fumbles) and returned 43 of those miscues for touchdowns. SHUTOUTS SINCE 2007: Since 2007, Alabama has recorded 29 shutouts, including 13 in Southeastern Conference play. The Crimson Tide most recently kept ULM off the scoreboard in its 73-0 win on Sept. 6, the largest margin of victory in a shutout in program history, surpassing the previous best margin of 66-0 against Cal on Sept. 15, 1973. Alabama produced two shutouts in 2024, including a 34-0 win over then-No. 21/17 Missouri on Oct. 26 and a 63-0 win over Western Kentucky on Aug. 31. The Crimson Tide defense has 13 more shutouts than its nearest competitor, with Ohio State’s 16 shutouts the next-closest total in that span. HARD TO FIND THE END ZONE AGAINST THE TIDE: Since the start of the 2009 season, no team has allowed fewer touchdowns than the Crimson Tide. Alabama has surrendered only 402 touchdowns over the last 225 games. That is 48 fewer than second-place Iowa (450).
AIR FORCE-NAVY FOOTBALL GAME IS STILL ON DESPITE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
The Air Force-Navy football game will go on as planned in Annapolis, Maryland, on Saturday, but that doesn’t mean the athletic departments at the service academies are unaffected by the government shutdown.
The Naval Academy Athletic Association is a nonprofit that has acted independently since 1891, limiting the impact of government actions on Navy’s athletic teams. But Scott Strasemeier, Navy’s senior associate athletic director, said some coaches who are civilians and are paid by the government are affected, though none are with the football program. The rest of the coaches are paid by the Naval Academy Athletic Association and are unaffected.
“A couple of our Olympic sports teams are affected by a coach or two that also teaches PE (physical education) and therefore is still government,” he wrote in an email. “Every team has coaches, so all teams are competing and practicing.”
Air Force is feeling it as well. Emails to Troy Garnhart, the associate athletic director for communications, prompt an automated response saying he is “out of the office indefinitely due to the government shutdown and unable to perform my duties.” Garnhart is a civilian who handles media for the football program.
Air Force also won’t be streaming home athletic events, and the academy said on its athletics website that updates would be significantly reduced and delayed.
Air Force canceled several sporting events during a shutdown in 2018, but the athletics website said that won’t be the case this time.
“All Air Force Academy home and away intercollegiate athletic events will be held as scheduled during the government shutdown,” Air Force said in a statement on its website. “Funding for these events, along with travel/logistical support will be provided by the Air Force Academy Athletic Corporation (AFAAC).”
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NFL GAME CAPSULES
MINNESOTA VIKINGS (2-2) AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (1-3)
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium | Referee: Scott Novak
All-Time Series History
Regular Season: MIN leads series, 11-5 (away team won past 4)
Postseason: MIN leads series, 1-0
The Last Time…
Regular Season: 10/3/21: CLE 14 at MIN 7
Postseason: NFL-C 1/4/70: CLE 7 at MIN 27
VIKINGS NOTES:
VIKINGS are 1st team to play consecutive international games in different cities. Won previous 2 games at Tottenham (10/2/22 vs. NO; 10/6/24 vs. NYJ). • QB CARSON WENTZ passed for 350 yards & 2 TDs last week, his 6th-career game with 350+ pass yards. Aims for his 3rd international game in row with 285+ pass yards & 2+ TD passes. Has 2 TD passes in 2 of his 3 career starts vs. Cle. • RB JORDAN MASON had 72 scrimmage yards (57 rush, 15 rec.) in Dublin last week. Has 70+ scrimmage yards in 3 of 4 games this season. Had rush TD in his last game vs. Cle. (10/15/23 w/ SF). • RB ZAVIER SCOTT had career-high 6 catches & 1st-career TD catch last week. • WR JUSTIN JEFFERSON had 10 catches for 126 yards last week, his 35thcareer game with 100+ rec. yards, tied with Julio Jones for 2nd-most by player in 1st 6 seasons all-time. Has 6+ catches & 90+ rec. yards in each of his previous 3 international games. Aims for his 4th in row with 75+ rec. yards. Had 6 catches for 84 yards & rec. TD in last meeting. • WR JORDAN ADDISON had 114 rec. yards in season debut last week, his 5thcareer 100-yard game, incl. 81-yard reception, longest play from scrimmage in an international game. Has 19 career rec. TDs. • WR JALEN NAILOR had 1st rec. TD of season last week. • LB JONATHAN GREENARD had 8th-career FF in Week 4. • LB ERIC WILSON had 9 tackles & TFL last week & aims for his 4th in row with 5+ tackles. Has FF in 2 of his past 3. • LB IVAN PACE aims for his 6th in row with 5+ tackles. • DL JONATHAN ALLEN has sack in 2 of his 3 career games vs. Cle. • DL JALEN REDMOND had 1st-career 2 sack game in Week 4. Has 2 TFL in 2 of his past 3. • S JOSH METELLUS tied for team-lead with 9 tackles last week. • S HARRISON SMITH has TFL in 2 of his 3 career games vs. Cle.
BROWNS NOTES:
QB JOE FLACCO has 2+ TD passes in 2 of 4 career starts vs. Min. Seeking 1st-career win internationally (0-1 in previous lone start – 2017 in London vs. Jax., with Bal.). • RB QUINSHON JUDKINS led team with season-high 115 scrimmage yards (82 rush, 33 rec.) & had rush TD last week, 1st Cle. rookie with 100+ scrimmage yards & rush TD in a game since Nick Chubb in 2018. Aims for 3rd in row with 95+ scrimmage yards & rush TD. Can become 1st Cle. player ever with 70+ scrimmage yards in each of 1st 4 career games. Ranks 3rd among rookies with 237 rush yards in 2025. • RB JEROME FORD has 4+ catches in 2 of past 3. • WR JERRY JEUDY had 48 rec. yards last week & has 45+ rec. yards in 3 of 4 games this season. Had 5 catches for 58 yards in only career game vs. Min. (11/19/23 w/ Den.). Had TD catch in only career game in London (10/30/22 vs. Jax., w/ Den.). • WR ISAIAH BOND (rookie) led team with season-high 58 rec. yards in Week 4. • TE DAVID NJOKU has 4+ catches & 40 rec. yards in 2 of past 3. • DE MYLES GARRETT has TFL in 11 straight games, longest active streak in NFL. Has 0.5+ sacks in 3 of 4 games this season. Had 5 tackles, 2 TFL & half sack in last meeting. Appearing in 1st-career international game. Leads NFL with 8 TFL in 2025. • DT MALIEK COLLINS aims for 3rd in row with 5+ tackles. • LB CARON SCHWESINGER had 8 tackles last week & is only rookie in NFL with 8+ tackles in 3 games this season. Ranks 2nd among rookies with 29 tackles. • LB DEVIN BUSH has 7+ tackles in each of 1st 4 weeks of season. Had 8 tackles & 2 PD in only career game vs. Min. (12/8/21 w/ Pit.). • CB DENZEL WARD had 1st INT of season last week. Has PD in 3 of 4 games this season. Had PD & half sack in last meeting. • S RONNIE HICKMAN led team with career-high 9 tackles & had TFL in Week 4.
HOUSTON TEXANS (1-3) AT BALTIMORE RAVENS (1-3)
M&T Bank Stadium | Referee: Land Clark
All-Time Series History
Regular Season: BAL leads series, 11-2 (BAL won 6 of past 7)
Postseason: BAL leads series, 2-0
The Last Time…
Regular Season: 12/25/24: BAL 31 at HOU 2
Postseason: AFC-D 1/20/24: HOU 10 at BAL 34
TEXANS NOTES:
TEXANS recorded 3rd shutout in franchise history last week & 1st since 2010. • QB C.J. STROUD completed 22 of 28 atts. (season-high 78.6 pct.) & set season highs in TD passes (2), pass yards (233) & rating (125.1) with 0 INTs last week, 4th-career game with 125+ rating. Has 95+ rating in 2 of past 3. • RB WOODY MARKS led team with career-high 119 scrimmage yards (69 rush, 50 rec.) & had 1st 2 career TDs (1 rush, 1 rec.) last week, becoming 1st Texans rookie ever with 100+ scrimmage yards, rush TD & rec. TD in a game. Has 50+ scrimmage yards in 2 of past 3. Ranks 5th among rookie RBs with 209 scrimmage yards (113 rush, 96 rec.) this season. • RB NICK CHUBB had 62 scrimmage yards (47 rush, 15 rec.) last week & has 60+ scrimmage yards in 3 of 4 games this season. Had 107 scrimmage yards (91 rush, 16 rec.) & rush TD in his last game at Bal. (10/23/22 w/ Cle.). • WR NICO COLLINS led team with 79 rec. yards in Week 4. Aims for 4th in row with 50+ rec. yards & 3rd in row with 75+ rec. yards. Has TD catch in 2 of past 3. Has 55+ rec. yards in each of 3 career games vs. Bal., incl. playoffs. • WR CHRISTIAN KIRK had 114 rec. yards in only career game at Bal. (9/15/19 w/ Ari.). • WR JAYDEN HIGGINS (rookie) had 1st-career TD catch last week. • TE DALTON SCHULTZ aims for 3rd in row with 5+ catches. • DE DANIELLE HUNTER had 2 sacks in Week 4 & is only player in NFL with 2 sacks in multiple games this season (also in Week 2). • DE WILL ANDERSON has sack in 3 of 4 games this season & in both road games. Aims for his 3rd in row in reg. season vs. Bal. with 0.5+ sacks. • LB AZEEZ AL-SHAAIR had PD last week. Has 7+ tackles in 3 of 4 games this season. Tied career high with 15 tackles in his last game vs. Bal. (10/15/23 w/ Ten.). • CB DEREK STINGLEY had 1st INT of season in Week 4. Aims for 4th in row with PD. • CB KAMARI LASSITER had 2 PD last week. Aims for 5th in row with 5+ tackles.
RAVENS NOTES:
QB LAMAR JACKSON completed 14 of 20 atts. (70 pct.) for 147 yards & TD & rushed for 48 yards last week. Has 27 TDs (26 pass, 1 rush) vs. 2 INTs with 127.7 rating in his past 10 home starts, with 90+ rating in each start & 2+ TD passes & 100+ rating in 9 of 10. Is 5-0 with 12 TDs (9 pass, 3 rush) vs. INT & 122.6 rating in 5 career starts vs. Hou., incl. playoffs. Leads qualified passers with 10 TD passes & 130.5 rating this season. • QB COOPER RUSH completed 9 of 13 atts. for 52 yards last week. Has TD pass in 12 of 14 career starts. • RB DERRICK HENRY has 55+ scrimmage yards in 3 of 4 games this season. Rushed for 147 yards & TD in last meeting. Has 1,578 rush yards (105.2 per game) in 15 career games vs. Hou., most rush yards vs. any opponent in career. • RB JUSTICE HILL led team with career-high 117 scrimmage yards (76 rush, 31 rec.) last week & had 2 TDs (1 rush, 1 rec.), incl. 71-yard rush TD, longest in NFL in 2025. Had career-high 2 rush TDs in his last game vs. Hou. (9/10/23). • WR ZAY FLOWERS had 7 catches for 74 yards in Week 4 & has 7 catches & 70+ rec. yards in 3 of 4 games this season. Had 9 catches for 78 yards in last home meeting. • WR RASHOD BATEMAN has TD catch in 3 of his past 4 at home. • WR DEANDRE HOPKINS ranks 2nd in Texans franchise history in catches (632), rec. yards (8,602), & rec. TDs (54). • TE MARK ANDREWS aims for 3rd in row with 6+ catches. Has rec. TD in 5 of his past 6 at home. Had 68 rec. yards & TD catch in last meeting. • LB TAVIUS ROBINSON had sack & PD last week & has sack in 2 of past 3. • LB ODAFE OWEH had season-high 5 tackles in Week 5. Had sack in last meeting. • LB TEDDYE BUCHANAN (rookie) aims for 3rd in row with 7+ tackles. • CB CHIBODE AWUZIE had 4 tackles & 1st PD of season last week. Had FF in his last game vs. Hou. (1/5/25 w/ Ten.). • S KYLE HAMILTON has 8+ tackles in 3 of 4 games this season. Had INT in last meeting.
MIAMI DOLPHINS (1-3) AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (1-3)
Bank of America Stadium | Referee: Clay Martin
All-Time Series History
Regular Season: MIA leads series, 6-2 (MIA won past 2)
Postseason: —
The Last Time…
Regular Season: 10/15/23: CAR 21 at MIA 42
Postseason: —
DOLPHINS NOTES:
QB TUA TAGOVAILOA completed 17 of 25 atts. (68 pct.) for 177 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs with 114.9 rating last week. Aims for 4th in row with 2+ TD passes. Has 110+ rating in 2 of past 3. Is 2-0 with 4 TDs vs. 0 INTs & 121.2 rating in 2 career starts vs. Car. Has 90+ rating & 0 INTs in 5 of his past 6 vs. NFC. • RB DE’VON ACHANE rushed for season-high 99 yards & TD last week. Is 1 of 5 RBs with 75+ scrimmage yards in each of 1st 4 weeks of season. Aims for 4th in row with 90+ scrimmage yards. Has TD in 3 of 4 games this season. Has 816 scrimmage yards (102 per game) in 8 career games vs. NFC. • WR JAYLEN WADDLE had 48 rec. yards last week. Has 5 catches & rec. TD in 2 of past 3. Has 7+ catches, 50+ rec. yards & rec. TD in each of 2 career games vs. Car. Aims for his 4th in row vs. NFC South with TD catch. • TE DARREN WALLER had 2 TD catches in season & Mia. debut last week, 3rd-career game with 2 rec. TDs. Had 6 catches in only career game vs. Car. (9/13/20 w/ LV). • DT ZACH SIELER had 5 tackles & 1st 2 TFL of season in Week 4. Aims for 3rd in row with 5+ tackles. Had sack in last meeting. • LB JORDYN BROOKS had 18 tackles last week, most by any player in NFL in a game this season. Has 6+ tackles in 19 of his past 20. Had 8 tackles & TFL in his last game vs. Car. (9/24/23 w/ Sea.) & aims for his 3rd in row vs. Car. with 8+ tackles. • LB BRADLEY CHUBB has sack in 3 of 4 games this season, incl. both road games. Had 6 tackles, sack & FF in last meeting. • LB TYREL DODSON had 9 tackles, 2 TFL, sack & FF last week & is 1 of 2 in NFL (Devin White) with 9+ tackles in each of 1st 4 weeks of season. Aims for 3rd in row with sack. Has 10+ tackles in 3 of his past 4 on road. • CB RASUL DOUGLAS had 2 PD & 1st sack of season in Week 4. Has PD in 3 of 4 games this season. Had 3 PD & INT in only career game at Car. (10/12/17 w/ Phi.). • S MINKAH FITZPATRICK had PD & 6th-career FR last week.
PANTHERS NOTES:
QB BRYCE YOUNG passed for 150 yards & TD vs. 0 INTs last week. Aims for 3rd in row with 0 INTs. Has 0 INTs in 5 of his past 6 at home. Passed for 217 yards & TD vs. 0 INTs in last meeting. • RB CHUBA HUBBARD led team with 69 scrimmage yards (49 rush, 20 rec.) in Week 4. Is 1 of 5 NFC RBs with 65+ scrimmage yards in each of 1st 4 weeks of season. Aims for his 3rd in row at home with 75+ scrimmage yards. Rushed for 88 yards & TD in last meeting. Has 818 scrimmage yards (90.9 per game) over his past 9 vs. AFC. • RB TREVOR ETIENNE (rookie) had season-high 33 rush yards last week. • WR TETAIROA MCMILLAN (rookie) led team with 62 rec. yards in Week 4. Is 1 of 2 rookie WRs (Emeka Egbuka) with 60+ rec. yards in 3 games this season. Ranks 2nd among rookies with 278 rec. yards & tied-2nd with 18 catches. • WR HUNTER RENFROW has 5 catches in each of his 3 career games vs. Mia. • TE TOMMY TREMBLE set season highs in catches (5) & rec. yards (42) & had 1st TD catch of season last week. • TE MITCHELL EVANS (rookie) had 1st-career TD catch in Week 4. • DT TERSHAWN WHARTON had 5 tackles & 1st sack of season last week. Has sack in each of 2 career games vs. Mia. • DE A’SHAWN ROBINSON tied for team lead with 6 tackles last week. • LB CHRISTIAN ROZEBOOM has 7+ tackles in 3 of 4 games this season. Had career-high 3 PD in his last game vs. Mia. (11/11/24 w/ LAR). • LB TREVIN WALLACE had 5 tackles & 1st PD of season last week. Has 5 tackles in 3 of 4 games this season. Aims for his 3rd in row at home with TFL. • LB NIC SCOURTON (rookie) had 1st-career TFL in Week 4. • S TRE’VON MOEHRIG has 6+ tackles in 3 of 4 games this season. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Mia. with 5+ tackles. • S NICK SCOTT tied for team lead with season-high 6 tackles last week.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (1-3) AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (3-1)
All-Time Series History
Regular Season: Series tied, 10-10 (IND won 3 of past 4)
Postseason: Series tied, 1-1
The Last Time…
Regular Season: 12/31/23: LV 20 at IND 23
Postseason: AFC-D – 12/24/97: OAK 37 at BAL 31 (2OT)
RAIDERS NOTES:
QB GENO SMITH completed 14 of 21 atts. (66.7 pct.) for 117 yards & 2 TDs & had season-high 31 rush yards last week. Aims for 3rd in row with 2+ TD passes. Is 5-1 with 10 TDs vs. INT & 113.5 rating over his past 6 road starts. • RB ASHTON JEANTY led team with season-high 155 scrimmage yards (138 rush, 17 rec.) & 3 TDs (2 rec., 1 rush) last week, 4th-most rush yards ever by Raiders rookie & became 3rd rookie RB in NFL history with 100+ rush yards, rush TD & 2 rec. TDs in a game. Aims for 3rd in row with 60+ rush yards. Leads rookies with 282 rush yards & tied for lead with 4 TD (2 rush, 2 rec.) in 2025. • RB RAHEEM MOSTERT had 73 scrimmage yards (62 rush, 11 rec.) in season & LV debut last week. Had 50 rush yards in his last game vs. Ind. (10/20/24 w/ Mia.). • WR JAKOBI MEYERS had 4 catches in Week 4. Has 60+ rec. yards in 3 of 4 games this season & aims for his 6th in row on overall on road with 60+ rec. yards. Has 5+ catches in each of 3 career games vs. Ind. • WR TRE TUCKER aims for his 3rd in row on road with 50+ rec. yards. • TE BROCK BOWERS is 1 of 4 TEs with 5+ catches in 3+ games this season. Has 75+ rec. yards in 2 of his past 3 on road. • DE MAXX CROSBY had 5 tackles, 3 PD, 10th-career FF & 1st-career INT last week, becoming 3rd DL since 2000 & 1st since 2013 with 3+ PD, INT & FF in single game. Aims for his 8th in row with TFL & 3rd in row with 2+ TFL. Aims for 3rd in row on road with sack. Had 6 tackles, TFL & FF in last meeting. Ranks tied-2nd in NFL with 7 TFL & leads all DL with 4 PD in 2025. • DE TYREE WILSON had 2nd sack of season in Week 4. • DT JONAH LAULU had 1st PD of season last week. Has TFL in 2 of past 3. • LB DEVIN WHITE is 1st player since 2020 (Blake Martinez) with 6+ tackles & TFL in each of his team’s 1st 4 games of season. • CB KYU BLU KELLY has PD in 3 of 4 games this season. • S JEREMY CHINN had season-high 7 tackles in Week 4.
COLTS NOTES:
COLTS rank 3rd in NFL in total offense (397.3 yards/game) in 2025. • QB DANIEL JONES completed season-high 24 of 33 atts. (72.7 pct.) for 262 yards & TD last week. Has 105+ rating & 0 INTs in 3 of 4 games this season. Has 270+ pass yards, 0 INTs & 105+ rating in each of 2 home starts with Ind. Ranks 3rd in NFL with 1,078 pass yards in 2025. • RB JONATHAN TAYLOR led team with 96 scrimmage yards (76 rush, 20 rec.) last week & is 1 of 4 RBs with 95+ scrimmage yards in each of 1st 4 weeks of season. Has 100+ rush yards & TD in 2 of past 3. Has 711 scrimmage yards (177.8 per game) & 5 TDs (4 rush, 1 rec,) over his past 4 at home. Has 100+ scrimmage yards & rush TD in each of 4 career games vs. LV. Leads NFL with 414 rush yards in 2025. • WR MICHAEL PITTMAN had 5 catches for 51 yards & TD in Week 4. Has TD catch in 3 of 4 games this season. Aims for his 4th in row vs. LV with 5+ catches. • WR ADONAI MITCHELL led team with career-high 96 rec. yards last week. • TE TYLER WARREN (rookie) had 5 catches for 70 yards & rushed for 1stcareer TD in Week 4. Is only TE in NFL ith 70+ rec. yards in 3 games this season. Leads TEs with 263 rec. yards & leads rookies with 19 catches in 2025. • DT DEFOREST BUCKNER had season-high 8 tackles with 2 TFL last week. Aims for 4th in row with 5+ tackles. Had sack in last meeting & has 0.5+ sacks in 4 of 5 career games vs. Raiders. • DT ADETOMIWA ADEBAWORE had half sack & 1st-career FR last week. • DE LAIATU LATU had 1st sack of season in Week 4. Has PD in 2 of past 3. • LB ZAIRE FRANKLIN aims for 4th in row with 5+ tackles & PD. • CB MEKHI BLACKMON had 1st-career sack last week. Aims for 4th in row with 5+ tackles. • S NICK CROSS had half sack & led team with season-high 14 tackles in Week 4. Aims for 4th in row with 7+ tackles. Has TFL in 2 of past 3 at home. • S CAM BYNUM had season-best 7 tackles last week.
NEW YORK GIANTS (1-3) AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (0-4)
Caesars Superdome | Referee: Alan Eck
All-Time Series History
Regular Season: NYG leads series, 17-16 (NO won 3 of past 4)
Postseason: —
The Last Time…
Regular Season: 12/8/24: NO 14 at NYG 11
Postseason: —
GIANTS NOTES:
GIANTS had 1st win of season in Week 4 & became 1st 0-3 team to defeat 3-0 team since 9/28/08 (KC 33, DEN 19). • QB JAXSON DART (rookie) had 165 yards (111 pass, 54 rush) & 2 TDs (1 pass, 1 rush) vs. 0 INTs for 96 rating in 1st-career start last week & became 1st QB to win 1st-career start vs. team with 3-0 or better record since Marc Bulger (10/13/02). • RB CAM SKATTEBO (rookie) had 90 scrimmage yards (career-high 79 rush, 11 rec.) in Week 4. Has rush TD in 2 of his last 3. Aims for his 4th in row with 50+ scrimmage yards. • WR DARIUS SLAYTON led team with 44 rec. yards last week. Had 4 catches for 63 yards in last road meeting (12/17/23). • WR WAN’DALE ROBINSON aims for his 3rd in row vs. NO with 4+ catches. Has 5+ catches in 8 of his past 9 on road & aims for his 5th in row on road with 6+ catches. • TE THEO JOHNSON had 2nd-career rec. TD last week. • LB BRIAN BURNS had 5th sack of season last week, his 7th-straight season with 5+ sacks. Is 1 of 2 (Byron Young) with sack in each of 1st 4 weeks. Aims for his 3rd in row on road with sack & 2 TFL. Had sack, 2 TFL & FF in last meeting & has 5 sacks & 6 TFL in 9 career games vs. NO. • LB KAYVON THIBODEAUX had sack last week. Has 0.5+ sacks & TFL in 5 of his past 6. Had sack & 2 TFL in last meeting. • LB BOBBY OKEREKE aims for his 3rd in row on road in 2025 with 10+ tackles. • LB DARIUS MUASAU led team with 6 tackles last week. • DT DEXTER LAWRENCE had TFL & 1st-career INT last week. • CB DRU PHILLIPS had career-high 4 PD & 2nd INT of season last week. Leads NFL with 8 PD & aims for his 4th in row with 2+ PD. • CB DEONTE BANKS aims for his 3rd in row with PD.
SAINTS NOTES:
QB SPENCER RATTLER had TD pass vs. 0 INTs & rushed for career-high 49 yards last week. Ranks 2nd in completions (98) in 2025. Aims for his 4th in row with TD pass. • RB ALVIN KAMARA had 4 catches & rushed for 70 yards last week. Has 586 career catches, tied with Tiki Barber for 6th-most ever by RB & can surpass HOFer Marcus Allen (587) for 5th-most all-time by RB. Aims for his 7th in row at home with 50+ scrimmage yards. Has 490 scrimmage yards (122.5 per game) & 3 rush TDs in 4 career games vs. NYG, incl. 110+ scrimmage yards in both home meetings. • WR CHRIS OLAVE had 1st rec. TD of season last week. Ranks tied-6th in NFL with 26 receptions this season. Aims for his 3rd in row at home in 2025 with 6+ catches & 50+ rec. yards. • WR RASHID SHAHEED led team with 47 rec. yards in Week 4. Has 4+ catches in each of 1st 4 weeks. • TE JUWAN JOHNSON has 5+ catches in 5 of his past 6, incl. each of his past 3 at home. Ranks 3rd among TEs in receptions (22) in 2025. • LB DEMARIO DAVIS had 7 tackles & 4th TFL of season last week. Has 8 TFL in his past 8. Had 2 PD & INT in last meeting. • DE CAMERON JORDAN had sack last week & ranks 2nd among active players with 124 career sacks. • DE CARL GRANDERSON had sack & 2 TFL last week. Has 6 TFL in 2025, his 5thstraight season with 5+ TFL. Aims for his 3rd in row at home with 1.5 sacks. • DT BRYAN BRESEE had 1st sack of season in Week 4, his 13th-career sack. Had sack & 2 PD in last meeting. • CB ALONTAE TAYLOR aims for his 3rd in row at home with TFL. • CB KOOL-AID MCKINSTRY tied career high with 7 tackles in Week 4. • S JONAS SANKER (rookie) had 1st 3 career PD & 1st-career INT last week.
DALLAS COWBOYS (1-2-1) AT NEW YORK JETS (0-4)
MetLife Stadium | Referee: Alex Moore
All-Time Series History
Regular Season: DAL leads series, 8-5 (NYJ won 3 of past 4)
Postseason: —
The Last Time…
Regular Season: 9/7/23: NYJ 10 at DAL 30
Postseason: —
COWBOYS NOTES:
QB DAK PRESCOTT passed for 319 yards & had 4 TDs (3 pass, 1 rush) vs. 0 INTs for 124.9 rating in Week 4, his 30th-career 300-yard game & his 30thcareer rush TD. Had 2 TD passes & 112.2 rating in last meeting. Can become 4th player since 2000 with 30+ completions in 4 straight games. • RB JAVONTE WILLIAMS rushed for 85 yards & tied his career high with his 4th rush TD of season last week. Aims for his 4th in row with 75+ rush yards. Rushed for 77 yards in his only career game at NYJ (9/29/24 w/ Den.). • WR CEEDEE LAMB had 11 catches for 143 yards in last meeting. • WR GEORGE PICKENS tied his career high with 8 catches & had 134 yards & 2 rec. TDs last week, his 2nd-career 2 TD game. Aims for his 4th in row with 5+ catches & 65+ rec. yards. Has 5+ catches & 100+ rec. yards in both of his career games vs. NYJ. • TE JAKE FERGUSON had 7 catches & 1st rec. TD of season last week. Leads all TEs & ranks 2nd in NFL with 34 catches in 2025 & is 1 of 2 TEs (Trey McBride) with 5+ catches in each of 1st 4 weeks. Had TD catch in last meeting. • LB JACK SANBORN led team with 11 tackles & had 1st PD of season last week. Aims for his 5th in row with 6+ tackles. Had career-high 14 tackles & 2 TFL in his only career game vs. NYJ (11/27/22 w/ Chi.). • LB KENNETH MURRAY aims for his 5th in row with 6+ tackles. Has 7+ tackles in each of his 3 career games vs. NYJ. • DE JAMES HOUSTON had sack, 2nd-career FF & 1st-career FR last week. Has sack in 2 of his past 3 & TFL in 3 of 4 games this season. Had sack in his only career game vs. NYJ (12/18/22 w/ Det.). • DE JADEVEON CLOWNEY aims for his 4th in row vs. NYJ with 0.5+ sacks. • CB DARON BLAND had 5th-career TFL last week. • CB TREVON DIGGS had INT in last meeting. • S DONOVAN WILSON aims for his 4th in row with 6+ tackles.
JETS NOTES:
QB JUSTIN FIELDS had 307 yards (226 pass, 81 rush) & 2 TDs (1 pass, 1 rush) vs. 0 INTs for 111 rating in Week 4, his 14th-career game with both TD pass & rush TD. Ranks 2nd among QBs with 178 rush yards in 2025 & aims for his 4th in row with 45+ rush yards. Has 5 TDs (4 pass, 1 rush) vs. 0 INTs for 105.6 rating in 2 career starts vs. Dal. & aims for his 3rd in row vs. Dal. with 2+ TD passes. • RB BREECE HALL had 5 catches & 111 scrimmage yards (81 rush, 30 rec.) in Week 4, his 14th-career game with 100+ scrimmage yards. Has 50+ scrimmage yards in 14 of his past 15 games, incl. 3 of 4 games this season. Needs 29 scrimmage yards to reach 4,000 career scrimmage yards. • WR GARRETT WILSON led team with 6 receptions for 82 yards & rec. TD last week & is 1 of 4 AFC WRs (Keenan Allen, Michael Pittman & Courtland Sutton) with 5+ catches & rec. TD in 3 games this season. Has 50+ rec. yards in 9 straight games, 2nd-longest active streak in NFL (Puka Nacua – 12). Had 83 rec. yards & TD catch in last meeting. • TE MASON TAYLOR (rookie) set career highs with 5 catches & 65 rec. yards last week. • DL QUINNEN WILLIAMS had 2nd FF of season last week, his 7th-career FF. Is 1 of 3 AFC DL (Maxx Crosby & Myles Garrett) with TFL in each of 1st 4 weeks. Has 8 TFL in his past 6 at home & aims for his 3rd in row at home with TFL. Had 2 TFL in last meeting. • EDGE WILL MCDONALD had 3rd TFL of season last week. Has 4.5 sacks & 6 TFL in his past 5 at home. • LB JAMIEN SHERWOOD led team with 10 tackles, his 9th-career 10-tackle game. Is only AFC player with 3 games of 10+ tackles in 2025 & aims for his 4th in row with 10+ tackles. • CB SAUCE GARDNER had 5 PD in his past 4 at home. Had FF in last meeting. • S ANDRE CISCO aims for his 6th in row with 5+ tackles.
DENVER BRONCOS (2-2) AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (4-0)
Lincoln Financial Field | Referee: Adrian Hill
All-Time Series History
Regular Season: PHI leads series, 9-5 (PHI won 3 of past 4)
Postseason: —
The Last Time…
Regular Season: 11/14/21: PHI 30 at DEN 13
Postseason: —
BRONCOS NOTES:
QB BO NIX completed 29 of 42 atts. (69 pct.) for career-high 326 yards & 2 TDs vs. INT with 97.9 rating & had rush TD last week. Had 2+ TD passes & 90+ rating in 5 of his past 6 on road. Aims for 5th in row vs. NFC with 0 INTs & 3rd in row vs. NFC with 3+ TD passes. • RB J.K. DOBBINS rushed for season-high 101 yards last week. Is 1 of 2 AFC RBs (James Cook) with rush TD in 3+ (3) games this season. Aims for 4th in row with 80+ scrimmage yards. • RB RJ HARVEY (rookie) had season-high 98 scrimmage yards (58 rush, 40 rec.) & 1st-career TD catch last week. • WR COURTLAND SUTTON had 5 catches for 81 yards & TD last week & has 5+ catches, 60+ rec. yards & rec. TD in 3 of 4 games this season. Hsa 50+ rec. yards in 6 of his past 7 on road. • WR MARVIN MIMS had season-high 6 catches for 69 yards & 1st-career rush TD in Week 4. Has rec. TD in 2 of his past 3 on road. • WR TROY FRANKLIN has 55+ rec. yards in 2 of past 3. • TE EVAN ENGRAM had season-high 4 catches last week. Had 5 catches in his last game vs. Phi. (11/3/24 w/ Jax.). • DE JOHN FRANKLIN-MYERS aims for 3rd in row with sack. • LB NIK BONITTO had 1.5 sacks last week & has sack in 3 of 4 games this season. Aims for 3rd in row with 1.5+ sacks. • LB ALEX SINGLETON aims for 4th in row with 9+ tackles & 3rd in row with 11+ tackles. Spent 1st 3 career seasons (2019-21) with Phi. • LB JONATHON COOPER had PD & half sack last week. Has 0.5+ sacks in 3 of 4 games this season. Had 5 tackles & TFL in last meeting. • CB PAT SURTAIN II has PD in 3 of 4 games this season. Had TFL & PD in last meeting. • S BRANDON JONES aims for 4th in row with PD. Has 7+ tackles in 3 of 4 games this season & in each of his past 4 on road.
EAGLES NOTES:
PHILADELPHIA can begin 5-0 for 3rd time in past 4 seasons & become 8th reigning SB champ to begin 5-0 since 2000. • QB JALEN HURTS is 1st QB with 5 TD passes, 4 rush TDs & 0 INTs in his team’s 1st 4 games of season. Aims for his 3rd in row with 2+ TD passes & 100+ rating. Has 2+ TD passes & 100+ rating in 5 of his past 7 home starts. Aims for his 7th in row at home with rush TD. Had 2 TD passes & 103.2 rating in last meeting. • RB SAQUON BARKLEY had 74 scrimmage yards (43 rush, 31 rec.) & 51stcareer rush TD last week. Has rush TD in 3 of 4 games this season. Has 50+ scrimmage yards in each of his 20 reg. season games with Phi. since 2024. Needs 99 scrimmage yards to reach 10,000 career scrimmage yards. • WR A.J. BROWN has TD catch in 3 of his past 4 at home. Had 5 catches in his last game vs. Den. (9/14/20 w/ Ten.). • WR DEVONTA SMITH has 8 rec. TDs in his past 9 at home. Had 66 rec. yards & 2 rec. TDs in last meeting. • TE DALLAS GOEDERT had 2nd career game with 2 rec. TDs last week & aims for his 3rd in row with TD catch. • LB ZACK BAUN had 1st sack of season & 6th-career FF last week. Aims for his 4th in row at home with PD. • LB JIHAAD CAMPBELL (rookie) had 1st-career INT last week. • LB JALYX HUNT had 2nd-career FF in Week 4. • DB COOPER DEJEAN led team with 9 tackles & had 3rd-career game with 2 PD last week. Aims for his 6th in row with 5+ tackles. • CB QUINYON MITCHELL had career-high 5 PD last week & has 18 PD in 20 career reg. season games. • CB KELEE RINGO had 1st-career FR last week. • S REED BLANKENSHIP aims for his 3rd in row with PD.
TENNESSEE TITANS (0-4) AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (2-2)
State Farm Stadium | Referee: Shawn Smith
All-Time Series History
Regular Season: ARI leads series, 8-4 (ARI won 3 of past 4)
Postseason: —
The Last Time…
Regular Season: 9/12/21: ARI 38 at TEN 13
Postseason: —
TITANS NOTES:
QB CAM WARD (rookie) passed for 108 yards in Week 4. Has TD pass in 2 of his past 3. • RB TONY POLLARD led team with 76 scrimmage yards (64 rush, 12 rec.) last week. Aims for his 6th in row with 50+ scrimmage yards. Rushed for 122 yards in his last game vs. Ari. (9/24/23 w/ Dal.). • WR CALVIN RIDLEY had TD catch in his last game vs. Ari. (10/13/19 w/ Atl.). • WR TYLER LOCKETT has 71 catches for 1,010 yards & 9 TDs in 12 career games vs. Ari. • WR ELIC AYOMANOR (rookie) led team with 44 rec. yards in Week 4. Has TD catch in 2 of his past 3. • WR VAN JEFFERSON has TD catch in 3 of his past 4 vs. Ari. • TE CHIG OKONKWO has 4+ catches in 2 of his past 3. • DT JEFFERY SIMMONS had 5 tackles, 4 TFL & sack last week. Has sack in 3 of his past 4 on road. Had 5 tackles & sack in last meeting. • LB CODY BARTON had 9 tackles in Week 4. Aims for his 10th in row with 5+ tackles on road. Had 5 tackles in his last game vs. Ari. (9/10/23 w/ Was.). • LB CEDRIC GRAY led team with career-high 17 tackles & had 1st-career TFL last week. Has 7+ tackles in 3 of his past 4 on road. • LB ARDEN KEY had 1st sack of season in Week 4. Has sack in his last game vs. Ari. (11/7/21 w/ SF). • S AMANI HOOKER had 5 tackles last week & aims for his 9th in row with 5+ tackles. Had 6 tackles in last meeting. • S QUANDRE DIGGS had 5 tackles & 1st PD of season in Week 4. Has 5+ tackles in 3 of his past 4 on road. Had 6 tackles & TFL in his last game vs. Ari. (1/7/24 w/ Sea.). • S XAVIER WOODS had 4 tackles last week. Had 6 tackles in his last game vs. Ari. (12/22/24 w/ Car.). • CB L’JARIUS SNEED had 8 tackles, sack & PD in his last game vs. Ari. (9/11/22 w/ KC).
CARDINALS NOTES:
QB KYLER MURRAY totaled 241 yards (200 pass, season-high 41 rush) & 2 pass TDs last week. Aims for his 8th in row with TD pass. Passed for 289 yards & had career-high 5 TDs (4 pass, 1 rush) vs. INT for 121 rating in last meeting, 1 of 3 career games with 4 TD passes. • RB EMARI DEMERCADO had 1st-career rec. TD last week. • RB TREY BENSON had career-high 5 catches & 54 scrimmage yards (35 rush, 19 rec.) in Week 4. Has 50+ scrimmage yards in 3 of 4 games this season. • TE TREY MCBRIDE had season-high 7 catches for 52 yards & aims for his 7th in row with 5+ catches. Aims for his 7th in row at home with 50+ rec. yards. Since 2023, leads all TEs in receptions (216) & & rec. yards (2,205). • WR MARVIN HARRISON JR. had 6 catches for 66 yards & 2nd rec. TD of season last week, his 10th-career TD catch. Has 5+ catches, 60+ rec. yards & rec. TD in 2 of his past 3 at home. • DL CALAIS CAMPBELL had sack & 2 TFL last week & aims for his 3rd in row at home with sack & 2 TFL. Has 13 TFL & 5.5 sacks in 10 career games vs. Ten. • DL DARIUS ROBINSON had career-high 2 TFL & 2nd-career sack last week. • LB JOSH SWEAT had 46th-career sack & 9th-career FF last week. Aims for his 3rd in row at home & 4th in row overall with sack. Had 2 sacks in his only career game vs. Ten. (12/4/22 w/ Phi.). • LB MACK WILSON has 5 PD in his past 5. Aims for his 5th in row with 7+ tackles. • LB AKEEM DAVIS-GAITHER had season-high 8 tackles & TFL last week. Had 12 tackles in his last game vs. Ten. (12/15/24 w/ Cin.). • CB MAX MELTON had 1st-career game with 2 PD last week. • S BUDDA BAKER has 5+ tackles in 22 straight games, longest active streak among DBs. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Ten. with 7+ tackles & PD. • S JALEN THOMPSON led team with 9 tackles last week. Aims for his 6th in row at home & 10th in row overall with 6+ tackles.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (3-1) AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (3-1)
Lumen Field | Referee: Craig Wrolstad
All-Time Series History
Regular Season: SEA leads series, 9-6 (home team has won 7 of past 8)
Postseason: —
The Last Time…
Regular Season: 11/13/22: SEA 16 at TB 21 (Munich)
Postseason: —
BUCS NOTES:
QB BAKER MAYFIELD passed for 289 yards & 2 TDs in Week 4. Has 2+ TD passes in each of his past 4 on road. Is 1 of 4 NFC QBs with 215+ pass yards in 3 games this season. Passed for 147 yards in his last game vs. Sea. (1/8/23 w/ LAR). • RB BUCKY IRVING led team with season-high 165 scrimmage yards (102 rec., 63 rush) & had TD catch last week. Aims for his 4th in row with 95+ scrimmage yards. Has TD in 2 of his past 3. • RB RACHAAD WHITE had 46 scrimmage yards (29 rec., 17 rush) in Week 4. Has 45+ scrimmage yards in 2 of his past 3. Rushed 22 times for career-high 105 yards in last meeting. • WR EMEKA EGBUKA leads all rookies with 282 rec. yards & 4 TD catches & tied 2nd-most catches (18) by rookie WR this season. Had 4 catches for career-high 101 yards & TD last week. Is only rookie with TD catch in 3 games this season. • WR CHRIS GODWIN had 3 catches for 26 yards in his first game since Week 7, 2024. Has TD catch in 2 of his past 3 on road. Had 6 catches for 71 yards & TD in last meeting. • DT VITA VEA had 5th-career game with 2 sacks in Week 4. Had 3 tackles in only career game at Sea. (11/3/19). • LB HAASON REDDICK had 4 tackles, TFL & 1st PD of season last week. Has TFL in 3 of his past 4. Had TFL in his last game vs. Sea. (12/1/24 w/ NYJ). • LB ANTHONY NELSON had 6th-career FF in Week 4. Had FR in last meeting. • LB SIRVOCEA DENNIS had 8 tackles & TFL last week. Has TFL in 3 of his past 4. Has 10 tackles in 2 of his past 3 on road. • S ANTOINE WINFIELD JR. had 4 tackles & TFL in Week 4. Aims for his 3rd in row with TFL. Has 4+ tackles in 17 of his past 18 on road. Had 5 tackles & TFL in last meeting. • S TYKEE SMITH led team with 9 tackles & 2 PD last week. Aims for his 5th in row with 6+ tackles. Has PD in 3 of his past 4.
SEAHAWKS NOTES:
QB SAM DARNOLD passed for 242 yards & TD vs. 0 INTs for 111.4 rating in Week 4 & aims for his 3rd in row with 100+ rating. Has 15 games with 100+ rating since 2024, 2nd-most in NFL. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. TB with 2+ TD passes. • RB KENNETH WALKER had 110 scrimmage yards (81 rush, 29 rec.) in Week 4. Had 6 catches & 72 scrimmage yards in last meeting. Aims for his 4th in row with 50+ scrimmage yards. Has 50+ scrimmage yards in 4 of his past 5 at home. • RB ZACH CHARBONNET had 2nd rush TD of season last week, his 11th-career rush TD. Has rush TD in 2 of his past 3 at home. • WR JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA had 4 catches & 90 scrimmage yards (79 rec., 11 rush) in Week 4 & is 1 of 2 WRs (Puka Nacua) with 90+ scrimmage yards in each of 1st 4 weeks. Aims for his 6th in row at home with 75+ rec. yards & 9th in row at home with 5+ catches. • WR COOPER KUPP needs 62 rec. yards to reach 8,000 career rec. yards. Has 46 catches (9.2 per game) for 672 yards (134.4 per game) & 5 rec. TDs in 5 career games, incl. playoffs, vs. TB, with 8+ catches & 95+ rec. yards in each game. • DE LEONARD WILLIAMS had 1.5 sacks last week & aims for his 4th in row with 0.5+ sacks. Has sack in 2 of his 3 career games vs. TB. • LB ERNEST JONES had half sack & 6th-career INT last week. Aims for his 20th in row with 5+ tackles. • LB UCHENNA NWOSU had 1st 2 sacks of season last week, his 6th-career 2-sack game. • CB DEVON WITHERSPOON had 9 tackles & half sack last week. Aims for his 4th in row with 8+ tackles. • CB RIQ WOOLEN had INT in last meeting. • CB JOSH JOBE had 1st-career half sack last week. Aims for his 5th in row with PD. • S COBY BRYANT had 5th-career INT last week. Aims for his 4th in row with PD. • S JULIAN LOVE aims for his 3rd in row with PD.
DETROIT LIONS (3-1) AT CINCINNATI BENGALS (2-2)
Paycor Stadium | Referee: Carl Cheffers
All-Time Series History
Regular Season: CIN leads series, 10-3 (CIN won 10 of past 11)
Postseason: —
The Last Time…
Regular Season: 10/17/21: CIN 34 at DET 11
Postseason: —
LIONS NOTES:
DETROIT leads NFL in scoring offense (34.3 points per game) in 2025. • QB JARED GOFF had 2 TD passes last week & has 32 games with 2+ TD passes since 2022, 2nd-most in NFL. Leads NFC with 9 TD passes. Has 100+ rating in 3 of his past 4 road starts. Has 70+ comp. pct. in 9 of his past 10 road starts. • RB JAHMYR GIBBS had 30th-career rush TD last week & became 7th RB in SB era with 30 rush TDs prior to 24th birthday. Aims for his 4th in row with 95+ scrimmage yards & rush TD. Has rush TD in 4 of his past 5 on road. • RB DAVID MONTGOMERY has 15 rush TDs in 16 road games with Det. since 2023, incl. rush TD in 3 of his past 4 road games. • WR AMON-RA ST. BROWN had 2 rec. TDs last week, his 5th-career game with 2+ TD catches. Leads NFL with 6 rec. TDs in 2025. Aims for his 4th in row with 7+ catches, 70+ rec. yards & TD catch. Has 6+ catches & 50+ rec. yards in 7 of his past 8 road games. • WR JAMESON WILLIAMS has 2nd-highest yards per reception (17.3) in NFL since 2022, min. 75 receptions. • WR KALIF RAYMOND had 3rd-career PR-TD last week. • DE AIDAN HUTCHINSON had 2 sacks & 6th-career FF last week, his 7th-career game with 2+ sacks. Aims for his 3rd in row with FF & 4th in row with sack. • LB ALEX ANZALONE had 12th-career sack last week. • LB JACK CAMPBELL had 10 tackles last week, his 6th-career game with 10+ tackles. Aims for his 3rd in row with TFL. • CB D.J. REED had 3 PD & 7th-career INT last week. • DB BRIAN BRANCH had TFL & tied career high with 3 PD last week, his 9th game with TFL & PD, tied-most in NFL since 2023. • S KERBY JOSEPH had 19th-career INT last week, most in NFL since 2022. Can become 6th player since 2000 with 20 INTs in 1st 4 career seasons.
BENGALS NOTES:
QB JAKE BROWNING completed 14 of 25 atts. (56 pct.) for 125 yards with 0 INTs last week. Is 3-1 with 106.3 rating in 4 career home starts, with 95+ rating in each start & 2+ TD passes in each of past 3. • RB CHASE BROWN led team with season-high 71 scrimmage yards (40 rush 31 rec.) last week. Has 50+ scrimmage yards in 3 of 4 games this season & 65+ scrimmage yards in 2 of past 3. Has 522 scrimmage yards (104.4 per game) over his past 5 at home. Has TD in 4 of his past 5 vs. NFC. • WR JA’MARR CHASE aims for 4th in row with 5+ catches. Has 50+ rec. yards in 2 of past 3. Has 450 rec. yards (112.5 per game) & 3 rec. TDs in his past 4 at home, with 85+ rec. yards in each game & 100+ rec. yards in each of his past 2. Had 97 rec. yards in last meeting. • WR TEE HIGGINS aims for his 6th in row at home with 55+ rec. yards & TD catch. Had 44 rec. yards in last meeting. • TE MIKE GESICKI had TD catch in his last game vs. Det. (10/30/22 w/ Mia.). • DE TREY HENDRICKSON had season-high 4 tackles last week. Aims for his 4th in row at home with 0.5+ sacks. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Det. with sack. • DE JOSEPH OSSAI has 0.5+ sacks in 3 of his past 4 at home. • DT B.J. HILL had 5 tackles & TFL in Week 4. • LB DEMETRIUS KNIGHT tied for team lead with 10 tackles & had 1st-career INT in Week 4, becoming 1st rookie since 2023 (Ivan Pace) with 10+ tackles & INT in a game. Leads all rookies with 31 tackles this season. • LB LOGAN WILSON has 5+ tackles in each of his past 28 games. • CB DAX HILL had 9 tackles & PD in Week 4. Has 8+ tackles in 3 of 4 games this season & PD in 2 of past 3. • CB DJ TURNER has PD in 3 of 4 games this season. • S GENO STONE led team with career-high 10 tackles last week. Has 5+ tackles in 3 of 4 games this season. Had INT in last meeting.
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (2-2) AT LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (3-1)
SoFi Stadium | Referee: John Hussey
All-Time Series History
Regular Season: WAS leads series 7-5 (LAC won 5 of past 6)
Postseason: —
The Last Time…
Regular Season: 9/12/21: LAC 20 at WAS 16
Postseason: —
COMMANDERS NOTES:
QB JAYDEN DANIELS has 2+ TD passes in 4 of his past 6 road starts. Has 200+ pass yards in each of his 5 career starts vs. AFC, with 2+ pass TD in 3. • QB MARCUS MARIOTA passed for 156 yards & 2 TDs in Week 3. Has 2 TD passes in 3 of his past 4. Completed 24 of 32 atts. (75 pct.) for 237 yards & TD in only career start at LAC (10/21/18 w/ Ten.). • RB JACORY CROSKEY-MERRITT (rookie) had 57 scrimmage yards (47 rush, 10 rec.) last week. • RB CHRIS RODRIGUEZ led team with season-high 59 rush yards in Week 4. • WR TERRY MCLAURIN had 4 catches for 62 yards in last meeting. • WR DEEBO SAMUEL led team with 81 scrimmage yards (72 rec., 9 rush) with 6 catches & TD last week. Has TD in 5 of his past 6. Had 51 scrimmage yards (27 rush, 24 rec.) in only career game vs. LAC (11/13/22 w/ SF). • WR LUKE MCCAFFREY had 2nd-career TD catch in Week 4. Aims for his 3rd in row with TD catch. • TE ZACH ERTZ had 5 catches for 81 yards in his last game vs. LAC (10/1/17 w/ Phi.). • LB BOBBY WAGNER led team with 10 tackles & had TFL last week. Is only player in NFL with 10+ tackles in each game this season. Has TFL in 4 of his past 5. Has 30 tackles (10 tackles per game) & 3 PD in 3 career games vs. LAC. • LB FRANKIE LUVU has 8 tackles & sack in Week 4. Aims for his 3rd in row with 7+ tackles. Had TFL in only career game vs. LAC (11/22/20 w/ NYJ). • DE DORANCE ARMSTRONG had 4 tackles & TFL last week. Has TFL in 7 of his past 8. Has sack in 3 of his past 4. • DT DARON PAYNE had TFL & FF in Week 4. Has TFL in 3 of his past 4. • CB MIKE SAINRISTIL had 6 tackles & 1st INT of season last week. Aims for his 4th in row with 5+ tackles. Has 5+ tackles in 5 of his 6 games vs. AFC. • CB MARSHON LATTIMORE had 6 tackles & TFL in Week 4. Had PD in his last game vs. LAC (10/27/24 w/ NO).
CHARGERS NOTES:
QB JUSTIN HERBERT passed for 203 yards & TD in Week 4, 7th-straight game 200+ pass yards, longest active streak in NFL. Aims for his 10th in row with TD pass. Completed 31 of 47 atts. (66 pct.) for 337 yards & TD in last meeting. • RB OMARION HAMPTON led rookies with 165 scrimmage yards (128 rush, 37 rec.) & had rush TD last week. Is only rookie with 100+ scrimmage yards in 2 games this season. Aims for his 3rd in row with 125+ scrimmage yards & rush TD. • WR KEENAN ALLEN had 5 catches in Week 4 & aims for his 5th in row with 5+ catches. Has rec. TD in 3 of his past 4. Has 5+ catches & 100+ rec. yards in 3 of his career games vs. Was. • WR QUENTIN JOHNSTON led team with 8 catches for 98 yards & TD in Week 4. Is 1 of 3 in NFL (Amon-Ra St. Brown & Garrett Wilson) with 70+ rec. yards & TD catch in 3 games this season. • WR LADD MCCONKEY has 5+ catches in 7 of his 9 career home games. • LB DAIYAN HENLEY had 9 tackles last week. Has 5+ tackles in 4 of his past 5. Has 10+ tackles in 6 of his past 7 at SoFi Stadium. • LB TROY DYE led team with season-high 12 tackles in Week 4. Aims for his 4th in row with 9+ tackles vs. NFC. • LB TULI TUIPULOTU led NFL with career-high 4 sacks & had 9 tackles & 4thcareer FF last week. • CB BENJAMIN ST-JUSTE played 1st 4 seasons (2021-24) with Was. Aims for his 3rd in row with PD. • CB TARHEEB STILL has PD in 2 of his past 3 at SoFi Stadium. • S DERWIN JAMES had 8 tackles & half sack last week. Is only DB with 8+ tackles & 0.5+ sacks in 2 games this season. Aims for his 6th in row with 5+ tackles at SoFi Stadium. Had 8 tackles & PD in last meeting. • S ALOHI GILMAN had 4 tackles & PD last week. Has PD in 2 of his past 3.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (2-2) AT BUFFALO BILLS (4-0)
Highmark Stadium | Referee: Shawn Hochuli
All-Time Series History
Regular Season: NE leads series, 78-50-1 (home team won past 5)
Postseason: Series tied, 1-1
The Last Time…
Regular Season: 1/5/25: BUF 16 at NE 23
Postseason: AFC-WC 1/15/22: NE 17 at BUF 47
PATRIOTS NOTES:
PATRIOTS scored 40+ points (42) last week for 1st time since 2021. • QB DRAKE MAYE completed 14 of 17 atts. (82.4 pct.) for 203 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs with career-high 155.6 rating last week, becoming 3rd NE QB ever (Tom Brady & Steve Grogan) with 150+ rating in a game, min. 15 atts. Is 1st player 24-oryounger with 2+ TD passes & 75+ comp. pct. in 3 straight games, min. 15 atts. per game. Passed for 261 yards & 2 TDs with 90.2 rating in last road meeting. Leads qualified QBs with 74 comp. pct. in 2025. Making 1st-career start on SNF. • RB RHAMONDRE STEVENSON aims for his 4th in row on road with 75+ scrimmage yards. Had 73 scrimmage yards (60 rush, 13 rec.) & rush TD in last road meeting & has 70+ scrimmage yards in each of 5 career games vs. Buf. • RB TREVEYON HENDERSON (rookie) rushed for 1st-career TD last week. • RB ANTONIO GIBSON rushed for 1st TD of season in Week 4. • WR STEFON DIGGS led team with 6 catches for season-high 101 yards last week, 1st 100- yard game since 10/15/23. Has 5+ catches in 6 of his past 7 on road. Had 6 catches for 82 yards in his last game vs. Buf. (10/6/24 w/ Hou.). Has 85+ rec. yards in of his past 5 on SNF. Had 445 catches, 5,372 rec. yards & 37 rec. TDs over 4 seasons (2020-2023) with Buf. • WR MACK HOLLINS has TD catch in 2 of past 3. • TE HUNTER HENRY aims for 3rd in row with rec. TD. Had TD catch in last road meeting. • DE MILTON WILLIAMS has TFL in 3 of 4 games this season & 2 TFL in 2 of past 3. Had 2 sacks in his last game on SNF (11/24/24 vs. LAR, w/ Phi.). • LB K’LAVON CHAISSON had sack last week & has sack in 3 of 4 games this season. Aims for 4th in row with TFL. • LB ROBERT SPILLANE aims for 3rd in row with 10+ tackles. Has PD in 2 of past 3. Had 14 tackles & sack in his last game vs. Buf. (9/17/23 w/ LV). • LB JACK GIBBENS had season-high 9 tackles last week. Aims for 3rd in row with TFL. • CB MARCUS JONES had 87-yard PR-TD last week, 3rd-longest PR-TD in NE history.
BILLS NOTES:
BILLS can begin 5-0 for 4th time in franchise history & 1st since 1991. Are 4th team in NFL history to win 14 straight reg. season home games with 24+ pts. in each game. • QB JOSH ALLEN completed 16 of 22 atts. (72.7 pct.) for 209 yards & 2 TDs vs. INT with 113.6 rating & rushed for 45 yards & TD last week, 27th-career game with 2+ TD passes & rush TD, most in NFL history. Has 2+ TD passes & 110+ rating in 3 of 4 games this season. Has rush TD in 3 of his past 4 at home. Is 8-2 in 10 career starts on SNF. • RB JAMES COOK led team with 135 scrimmage yards (117 rush, 18 rec.) & had rush TD last week & is 6th player in SB era with 100+ scrimmage yards & rush TD in each of team’s 1st 4 games of season. Aims for his 9th in row overall in reg. season & 3rd in row vs. NE with rush TD. Aims for his 3rd in row on SNF with 100+ scrimmage yards & rush TD. Leads NFL with 5 rush TDs & ranks 2nd with 401 rush yards in 2025. • WR KHALIL SHAKIR had 5 catches for season-high 69 yards & TD in Week 4. Aims for 3rd in row with rec. TD. • WR KEON COLEMAN had 45 rec. yards last week. • TE DALTON KINCAID had TD catch in Week 4 & is only TE in NFL with rec. TD in 3 games this season. Has 5+ catches in 3 of 4 career games on SNF. • DE JOEY BOSA had sack & FF last week. Is 1st player since 2020 (Myles Garrett) with FF in 3 of team’s 1st 4 games of season. Has sack in 2 of past 3. Has 5 sacks in 8 career games on SNF. Leads NFL with 4 FFs in 2025. • DE GREG ROUSSEAU had FF in last home meeting. Has TFL in 3 of his past 4 on SNF. • DE A.J. EPENESA had 1st sack of season in Week 4. Has TFL in 2 of his past 3 vs. NE. • DT DAQUAN JONES had sack last week & has sack in 2 of past 3. • LB TERREL BERNARD aims for his 4th in row vs. NE with 10+ tackles. • CB TRE’AVIOUS WHITE led team with season-high 7 tackles last week. Has TFL in each of his 3 games this season & PD in 2 of 3. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. NE with PD. • S COLE BISHOP had 5 tackles & 1st-career INT in Week 4.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (2-2) AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (3-1)
EverBank Stadium | Referee: Brad Rogers
All-Time Series History
Regular Season: KC leads series, 9-6 (KC won past 7)
Postseason: KC leads series, 1-0
The Last Time…
Regular Season: 9/17/23: KC 17 at JAX 9
Postseason: AFC-D 1/21/23: JAX 20 at KC 27
CHIEFS NOTES:
QB PATRICK MAHOMES set season highs in completions (25), comp. pct. (67.6), pass yards (270) TD passes (4) & rating (124.8) with 0 INTs last week, 43rd-career game with 3+ TD passes, 2nd-most ever by QB in 1st 9 seasons. Has 0 INTs in 3 of 4 games this season & aims for his 6th in row on road with 0 INTs. Is 5-0 with 12 TDs (11 pass, 1 rush) vs. 4 INTs & 107.6 rating in 5 career starts vs. Jax. Has 252 career TD passes, becoming fastest QB ever (116 games) with 250+ TD passes. Has won 6 of his past 7 primetime starts. • RB ISIAH PACHECO had 1st TD catch of season last week. Has 70+ rush yards in each of 2 career games vs. Jax. • RB KAREEM HUNT has rush TD in 2 of his past 3 on road. Has rush TD in 2 of 3 career games vs. Jax. • TE TRAVIS KELCE had season-high 5 catches last week. Aims for 4th in row with 4+ catches. Has rec. TD in 2 of past 3 on road. Has 80+ rec. yards in 3 of his past 4 vs. Jax. & TD catch in each of past 2. Aims for his 6th in row on MNF with 5+ catches. • WR XAVIER WORTHY had 5 catches for team-high 83 yards in Week 4. • WR TYQUAN THORNTON aims for 4th in row with rec. TD. • WRs HOLLYWOOD BROWN & JUJU SMITH-SCHUSTER each had 1st TD catch of season last week & both have 4+ catches in 3 of 4 games this season. Brown had 6 catches for 98 yards in last meeting. • DT CHRIS JONES had TFL & PD last week. Aims for 4th in row with TFL. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Jax. with 1.5+ sacks. • DE GEORGE KARLAFTIS had sack in Week 4 & has sack in 3 of 4 games this week. Aims for his 5th in row on road with sack. Had 1.5 sacks in last meeting. • DT JERRY TILLERY had 1st sack of season last week. • LB DRUE TRANQUILL led team with season-high 7 tackles & had 4th-career FR last week. Aims for his 10th in row with 5+ tackles. • LB LEO CHENAL had 1st-career INT in Week 4. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Jax. with TFL. • CB TRENT MCDUFFIE has PD in 3 of 4 games this season.
JAGS NOTES:
JAGUARS have won 3 of 1st 4 games for 2nd time in last 15 years (2018). • QB TREVOR LAWRENCE completed 21 of 31 atts. (season-high 67.7 pct.) for 174 yards & TD vs. 0 INTs with season-high 92.7 rating last week. Has 0 INTs in each of 2 career reg. season starts vs. KC. • RB TRAVIS ETIENNE rushed for 124 yards & TD last week & is only player in NFL with 120+ rush yards in multiple games this season (also Week 1). Aims for 4th in row with TD. Has 85+ scrimmage yards in 3 of 4 games this season. Ranks 3rd in NFL with 394 rush yards in 2025. • RB BHAYSHUL TUTEN (rookie) has TD in 2 of past 3. • WR BRIAN THOMAS JR. had season-high 5 catches for 49 yards last week. Aims for 4th in row with 45+ rec. yards. Has 55+ rec. yards in 4 of his past 5 at home. • WR PARKER WASHINGTON had 87-yard PR-TD in Week 4, his 2nd-career PR-TD. • WR/DB TRAVIS HUNTER (rookie) had season-high 42 rec. yards last week. • TE BRENTON STRANGE aims for 3rd in row with 6+ catches. Has 55+ rec. yards in 3 of his past 4 at home. Ranks tied-5th among TEs with 19 catches. • TE HUNTER LONG had 2nd TD catch of season in Week 4. • DE JOSH HINES-ALLEN had TFL last week. Has 0.5+ sacks in 2 of his past 3 at home. • DT ARIK ARMSTEAD had sack & 4th-career FF last week, his 1st FF since 2019. Aims for 4th in row with 0.5+ sacks. Had sack in only career game vs. KC (9/23/18 w/ SF). • LB FOYESADE OLUOKUN had 7 tackles, FF & FR last week. Aims for his 8th in row with 6+ tackles. Has PD in 2 of past 3 at home. Had 10 tackles & FR in last meeting. • LB DEVIN LLOYD had season-high 8 tackles, career-high 2 INTs & TFL in Week 8, 1 of 2 LBs (Tremaine Edmunds) with 2 INTs in a game this season. Had 11 tackles & 2 PD in last meeting. • CB TYSON CAMPBELL led team with season-best 9 tackles last week. • S ANDREW WINGARD had 5 tackles, FR & PD in Week 4.
JETS RUNNING BACK BRAELON ALLEN LIKELY OUT 8 TO 12 WEEKS WITH KNEE INJURY
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — New York Jets running back Braelon Allen will likely be out between eight and 12 weeks with a knee injury that landed him on injured reserve this week, coach Aaron Glenn said Friday.
Allen was hurt while returning a kickoff last Monday night in the Jets’ 27-21 loss to the Dolphins in Miami. The team hasn’t specified the exact nature of the injury, but it’s believed to be to the MCL in his left knee.
Glenn said Allen, in his second season with the Jets, was still contemplating his next step in his recovery.
“There’s two different ways he can go about it,” Glenn said. “He could actually rehab this. It’ll be the same time frame or he could have surgery and get it cleaned up. But the rehab time will be exactly the same. So, that will be a decision him and his agent will have to make. I’m not making that decision for him.”
With an 8-to-12 week timetable, that would keep Allen sidelined until at least December.
“So, we know it’s going to be a significant amount of time,” Glenn said. “But again, that’ll be his decision on how he wants to go about that and I know he’ll make the right decision for himself.”
The 21-year-old Allen, a fourth-rounder last year out of Wisconsin, rushed for 334 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie and caught 19 passes for 148 yards and a score. This season, he has 76 yards and a TD on 18 carries, along with two catches for 17 yards.
Breece Hall remains the Jets’ No. 1 running back, but Isaiah Davis will move up into Allen’s backup spot for the game Sunday against Dallas. The Jets also signed veteran Khalil Herbert off Seattle’s practice squad on Thursday to add depth and experience.
“I remember him and D-Mo — David Montgomery, who the Lions have right now — and going against both of those guys,” Glenn recalled of the running backs’ time in Chicago when he was Detroit’s defensive coordinator. “It’s funny because I just told him this today that we thought he was just as good as David was.”
The 27-year-old Herbert has rushed for 1,905 yards and nine touchdowns and caught 53 passes for 312 yards and two scores in his career that also has included stops with Cincinnati and Indianapolis.
“I’m happy we got this player,” Glenn said. “He still has a lot of meat on the bone left. And with the injuries we’ve had, to get a player like this was critical for us.”
New York also signed former Falcons and Eagles running back and kick returner Avery Williams to the practice squad. The Jets are hoping to get running back Kene Nwangwu, their primary kick returner, back from an injured hamstring but Williams gives them some depth.
Glenn ruled out nickel cornerback Michael Carter II, who remained in the concussion protocol after getting injured in Miami. Recently acquired Jarvis Brownlee Jr. could make his debut for New York and fill in for Carter.
A decision on edge rusher Jermaine Johnson’s return from a calf injury could “come down to the wire,” Glenn said. Johnson, who has missed the last two games, posted an optimistic update on X: “I feel great.”
VIKINGS QB J.J. MCCARTHY WILL MISS 3RD STRAIGHT GAME BECAUSE OF ANKLE INJURY
WARE, England (AP) — Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy will miss his third straight game because of a right ankle sprain.
The second-year quarterback, who missed his entire rookie season after knee surgery, was ruled out Friday ahead of Minnesota’s game against the Cleveland Browns at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.
McCarthy injured his ankle in the third quarter of Minnesota’s 22-6 loss to Atlanta in Week 2 and hasn’t returned to practice.
Coach Kevin O’Connell said this week that the goal was to ease McCarthy back into practice going into the bye week. He had cautioned: “We want to be really smart and make sure we let that high ankle (sprain) fully heal.”
Carson Wentz will make his third start as the Vikings try to avoid losing both ends of their historic road trip. They are the first NFL team to play consecutive international games in different countries.
Minnesota lost 24-21 to Pittsburgh in Dublin last week, when Wentz threw for 350 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He was also sacked six times.
The Vikings will be missing three starters from the offensive line. Right tackle Brian O’Neill (knee), center Ryan Kelly (concussion), and left guard Donovan Jackson (wrist) were all ruled out Friday. Michael Jurgens (hamstring), who had filled in for Kelly against the Steelers, was also ruled out.
PANTHERS RB CHUBA HUBBARD OUT VS. MIAMI WITH CALF INJURY, RICO DOWDLE TO START
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard will miss Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins because of a nagging calf injury, coach Dave Canales confirmed.
Rico Dowdle will start in Hubbard’s place with Trevor Etienne and DeeJay Dallas serving as backups.
Hubbard played through the injury last week at New England but saw his regular heavy workload reduced. Canales said Hubbard didn’t come out the Week 4 game as well as he had the previous week and needed some rest to recover.
Canales called Hubbard day to day.
“We couldn’t get Chuba around quickly enough to feel confident enough to get him out there,” Canales said. “We thought this would be a good week to get him back to strength, back to health. We will keep looking at him through the weekend and take a look at him early next week.”
Hubbard ran for nearly 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, but has been limited to 217 yards this season and hasn’t scored a touchdown on the ground. He does have two TD receptions.
Dowdle eclipsed 1,000 yards rushing last season with the Dallas Cowboys before signing with the Panthers as an unrestricted free agent. Dowdle is averaging only 3 yards per carry this season but has scored one rushing touchdown for Carolina.
MAC JONES IS THE LATEST QUARTERBACK TO THRIVE WITH A NEW TEAM
Mac Jones is becoming the latest quarterback to prove he was dumped too soon.
Playing for his third team in three years, the 2021 first-round pick has thrived with the San Francisco 49ers in coach Kyle Shanahan’s system. Jones is 3-0 filling in for Brock Purdy following a tough, gritty performance in a 26-23 overtime victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night.
Jones threw for 342 yards and two touchdowns to help the injury-depleted 49ers pull off an improbable upset with Purdy, two-time All-Pro tight end George Kittle, left guard Ben Bartch and wide receivers Brandon Aiyuk, Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings all sidelined. Star edge rusher Nick Bosa also is out for the season for San Francisco.
“Kyle came up to me before the game and he was (ticked) how we were underdogs and he was like: ‘Let it fly.’ I’m like: ‘Coach, you don’t have to tell me twice,’” Jones said on the Amazon Prime Video broadcast. “We made it happen. I’m happy for the guys. What a great team win.”
Jones was selected 15th overall by the New England Patriots a year after Tom Brady departed for Tampa Bay. He had an impressive rookie season and led the Patriots to the playoffs but struggled after offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels left New England. Jones went 8-17 over the next two seasons and was traded to Jacksonville. He started seven games as a backup for the Jaguars last year, going 2-5.
BROWNS QB DILLON GABRIEL IS CONFIDENT FOR HIS 1ST NFL START AND JOKES THAT HIS DAD NEEDS A PASSPORT
WATFORD, England (AP) — Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel seems to take everything in stride, like not stressing about his parents being unable to attend his first NFL start.
They’re in his native Hawaii. The game is in London.
“So, fun fact — need to get my dad a passport,” Gabriel said Friday.
Gabriel was selected midweek as the starter for Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings, taking over from Joe Flacco with coach Kevin Stefanski hoping the 24-year-old quarterback can spark what’s been an anemic offense.
During kickoff at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, it will be 3:30 a.m. in Hawaii.
“I’ve always been used to it, when I was in Florida to Hawaii, a six-hour difference. Texting family is a little different,” said Gabriel, an “808” — Hawaii’s area code — tattoo visible on his right thigh as he spoke to local and international reporters at the team’s hotel north of London.
While traveling internationally for your first NFL start might seem daunting, Gabriel said “there’s comfort there” because he was reminded of long flights from Hawaii to various games.
The 5-foot-11 Gabriel will be the fifth different starting quarterback in 10 games, joining Jameis Winston, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Bailey Zappe and Flacco. Cleveland is ranked next-to-last in scoring, averaging 14 points per game. The team fell to 1-3 with a 34-10 loss to Detroit last week.
BRIAN SCHOTTENHEIMER LEADS COWBOYS AGAINST JETS LONG AFTER COMING OF AGE IN NEW YORK
FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Brian Schottenheimer figured his chance to be a head coach in the NFL had come and gone long before the Dallas Cowboys promoted him a quarter-century into his career as an assistant.
Star quarterback Dak Prescott wasn’t even thinking about Schottenheimer taking over the Cowboys when owner Jerry Jones and the rest of the front office sought his opinion following the departure of former coach Mike McCarthy.
Until they clarified that they were talking about the son of the late Marty Schottenheimer, a 200-game winner as an NFL coach, replacing McCarthy after serving as his offensive coordinator for two years.
“And I’m like, ‘Oh, yeah, if I’m promoting him so much as the OC, I’m not going to take away everything I just said because you said head coach,’” Prescott said.
Schottenheimer was the offensive coordinator for the New York Jets when he was a hot head coaching prospect nearly 20 years ago. He returns Sunday, all these years later, when the Cowboys (1-2-1) visit the Jets (0-4).
“I learned a lot back then thinking that I had all the answers,” Schottenheimer said. “Here I was a hotshot, 32-year-old coordinator that after one year is getting head coaching opportunities. This is a very humbling business. I think as I look back, those were some great memories and some great experiences. But I never stopped learning.”
He was a 34-year-old calling plays for 39-year-old Brett Favre in 2008, then went to consecutive AFC championship games with Mark Sanchez at quarterback the next two years. Rex Ryan was a first-time head coach for those Jets.
Back then, Schottenheimer didn’t think he was ready to be a head coach, even after having a front row seat for most of his dad’s 21 years in that position.
Schottenheimer went to the St. Louis Rams before returning to the college ranks at Georgia for a year. His next shot as an offensive coordinator came in Seattle, and the Seahawks had a top-10 offense his second year.
The phone calls didn’t come, and then-coach Pete Carroll fired him a year later after a wild-card loss followed a 12-4 record in the pandemic-altered 2020 season, when the Seattle offense faltered late in the season.
“I thought my window had passed me by,” said Schottenheimer, who joined the Cowboys as a consultant in 2022. “Winning divisions in Seattle and you are not getting interviews. The phone is not ringing when you are having success.”
The Cowboys were working on a plan to have McCarthy return as coach despite a crushing wild-card loss that ended the 2023 season, followed by a 7-10 record last year when Prescott missed the final nine games with a torn hamstring.
Schottenheimer wanted to call plays, and was prepared to go elsewhere to do it when the Cowboys and McCarthy decided to part ways. Conversations with Schottenheimer progressed from there.
“I always felt like he was a head coach,” said special teams coach Nick Sorensen, who joined Schottenheimer after working with him in Seattle and Jacksonville. “I thought that way with him in Seattle. I thought that way in Jacksonville. And when he called, I was even more fired up to work with him. You just know. He’s a head coach.”
A reporter jokingly asked how his trip back to New York compared to Micah Parsons’ return to Dallas last weekend, exactly a month after the blockbuster trade that sent the star pass rusher to Green Bay.
“Little different,” a smiling Schottenheimer said. “Wasn’t as big of a story when I left the Jets.”
It became a big story for him personally, though, considering that the further removed he got from that six-year stint, the more remote it seemed to him that he would follow in his father’s footsteps.
Now, he sometimes looks skyward while saying he knows his dad is watching, and he has no regrets over not pursuing a head coaching job just a few years after Marty Schottenheimer last coached in 2006.
Schottenheimer was on his dad’s staff with the San Diego Chargers from 2002-05.
“I remember sitting in San Diego and Cam Cameron was our coordinator, and thinking, ‘I’d do it this way or I’d do it that way,’” Brian Schottenheimer said. “And then you get in that seat and you’re sitting there and something comes across your desk and you’re like, ‘I don’t know what I’m supposed to do right now.’ You’re literally learning on the job.”
Plenty of lessons later, Schottenheimer is about to be back at the home of the Jets, finally having upgraded from the title of offensive coordinator.
“It’s truly been no different with him as the head coach,” Prescott said. “It’s easy to say that when me and him have such great communication. He’s the play-caller. But just watching him throughout practice with other players and positions, a guy that’s true to himself and loves the game and gives it everything he has daily.”
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MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
YANKEES’ AARON BOONE HASN’T FORGOTTEN JAYS ANNOUNCER’S CRITICISM
On Sept. 9, Toronto Blue Jays TV analyst and former manager Buck Martinez said the New York Yankees are “not a good team.”
A month later, New York manager Aaron Boone hasn’t forgotten, and he let the media know when the Yankees touched down in Toronto on Friday ahead of the teams’ American League Division Series matchup.
“Contrary to some thoughts up here, we’re a really good team,” Boone said during a news conference.
“I know Buck had some thoughts,” he later added. “That’s all I was responding to. He’s wrong. But it doesn’t matter, we gotta go play.”
Back on Sept. 9, during the Blue Jays’ game against the Houston Astros, Martinez said, “The Yankees, they’re not a good team. I don’t care what their record is. They have a lot of wild pitches. They make a lot of mistakes in the field. They don’t run the bases very well. … They don’t have a chance to win.”
The remarks came during Toronto’s first game after dropping two of three in New York, the last time the teams played before this weekend. Despite the series defeat, the Blue Jays finished with an 8-5 record against the Yankees this season, including a three-game home sweep to begin July.
But a lot has happened since the teams’ final meeting on Sept. 7, which ended with Toronto two games up on New York in the AL East.
The Yankees went 14-5 after that game, compared to 12-7 for the Blue Jays. Sitting at 86-68 after a loss in Baltimore on Sept. 19, the Yankees won eight straight to end the regular season and finish tied with the Blue Jays atop the division. Toronto won the tiebreaker based on taking the season series.
Game 1 of the ALDS is scheduled for Saturday afternoon. New York will send Luis Gil to the mound while Kevin Gausman gets the ball for Toronto in a battle of right-handers.
CAM SCHLITTLER: RED SOX FANS ‘CROSSED THE LINE’ ON SOCIAL MEDIA
As it turns out, Cam Schlittler was pitching with a little extra motivation in his record-setting performance in the American League wild-card decider on Thursday.
Schlittler, 24, became a household name after a dominant performance in the Yankees’ 4-0 victory over the Red Sox. After dropping the first game, New York won the series and advanced to take on top-seeded Toronto in the AL Division Series.
In just his 15th major league start, Schlittler became the first pitcher ever to hurl at least eight scoreless innings with a dozen strikeouts and no walks in a postseason contest. He overwhelmed Boston with his fastball, firing 64 of a career-high 107 pitchers at least 98 mph.
On Friday, as the Yankees were preparing in Toronto, Schlitter expressed his thoughts that some Red Sox fans “crossed the line” with social media posts attacking members of his family.
The Walpole, Mass., native was especially distressed that the venom emanated from his hometown. A Red Sox fan growing up, Schlittler still roots for other Boston professional teams.
Friends sent the right-hander several of these posts, including one that ridiculed Schlittler’s mother, forcing her to switch her account to private.
“I’m a competitive player,” Schlittler said. “All they’re doing is feeding the fire. Just making sure I’m staying off my phone. I see it. I noticed it the other day. But at the end of the day, I’m going to go out there and just lock in even more. So, honestly, I can thank them as well for putting me in that position.”
Barring a sweep by either team, Schlittler is in line to start in Game 4 of the ALDS in Yankee Stadium next Wednesday.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone had no fear about putting his rookie pitcher in a pressure-packed situation.
“Cam’s a tough kid,” Boone said, “and I know (he) is going to handle any slings and arrows. Social media can be an ugly place sometimes, unfortunately. We try to prepare our guys and obviously support our guys in so many different ways, but Cam is broad-shouldered, confident, clear-eyed, and I don’t think going to be affected by much.”
Schlittler has not allowed a run in his last two outings, fanning 21 batters and walking only one in 15 innings. His nine-strikeout effort over seven innings in a 6-1 win over Baltimore on Sept. 27 put the rest of the AL playoff teams on notice.
But that paled in comparison to the dagger he delivered to the Red Sox and their fans.
“But at the end of the day,” Schlittler said, “there’s not much they can say now.”
“I wasn’t really expecting it to go that far,” he said.
BLUE JAYS HOLD KEY EDGES VS. YANKEES, TRY TO SHAKE RECENT PLAYOFF HISTORY
TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays will have two advantages going into the opener of their best-of-five American League Division Series against the New York Yankees on Saturday.
They will have home-park advantage with a loud crowd behind them, and they will also have an edge in rest.
The Blue Jays have not played since Sunday when they clinched first in the AL East on the final day of the regular season. The Blue Jays and Yankees both finished with 94-68 records, but Toronto had the tiebreaker after winning the season series 8-5.
While the Blue Jays enjoyed the bye by playing two intrasquad games, the Yankees completed a three-game wild-card series against the Boston Red Sox Thursday night with a 4-0 victory in the decisive game behind the brilliant eight-inning pitching of Cam Schlittler.
The Yankees realize the challenge of playing the Blue Jays, who were 54-27 at home. They lost six of seven in Toronto in the regular season.
“They’re a complete team,” said Aaron Judge, who has 41 career home runs and a .300 batting average against Toronto. “They don’t strike out a lot, so they’re going to put the ball in play and force your hand on defense.”
Toronto will be hoping that outfielder George Springer can continue his success against the Yankees after going .348/.464/.652 with four home runs and 12 RBIs over 13 games against them this season.
The Blue Jays will be trying to win a playoff game for the first time since 2016. In their past three appearances — 2020, 2022 and 2023 — they have gone 0-for-6 at the wild-card stage. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. exemplified those struggles hitting .136/.240/.182 with no homers and one RBI over those six games. He also was picked off second base in a key situation in 2023.
“I feel pretty good mentally, physically, but the most important thing for me is winning,” Guerrero said on Friday. “We’ve got to find a way to win.”
A question mark hovers over Toronto shortstop Bo Bichette, who has been out with a sprained knee incurred while sliding on Sept. 6, when he was out at home. It seemed unlikely he would be on the ALDS roster by the way manager John Schneider talked on Friday.
“He would have to play pretty regularly,” Schneider said. “We don’t want to deviate too much from what we have been doing. So, it’s not saving him for a Kirk Gibson at-bat once-a-game that may not come.”
Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger was limping running to first late in the game on Thursday. Manager Aaron Boone said that he had bruised his heel scoring in the fourth inning.
“He should be good to go,” Boone said.
Toronto is scheduled to start Kevin Gausman (10-11, 3.59) in the opener. He is 12-10 with a 3.67 ERA in 39 career games (33 starts) against the Yankees. This season, he is 2-1 (3.97 ERA) in four starts.
Boone has tabbed Luis Gil (4-1, 3.32) to start. He is 1-1 with a 4.34 ERA in four career starts against the Blue Jays, including 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in one start this season.
It was undecided whether it would be Gil or Will Warren before Boone’s announcement on Friday evening.
“We feel like he’s ready for this and he’s in line,” Boone said. “He’s been very effective. It’s not always pretty, but he’s not afraid out there.”
CUBS LHP MATTHEW BOYD TO START NLDS GAME 1 ON SHORT REST
The Chicago Cubs will start Matthew Boyd in Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the host Milwaukee Brewers on three days’ rest on Saturday.
Boyd threw 58 pitches over 4 1/3 innings on Tuesday in Chicago’s wild-card opener, allowing one run in a no-decision as the Cubs beat the San Diego Padres 3-1. He was monitored through a Friday workout before the team finalized the decision about the Saturday starter.
Manager Craig Counsell acknowledged the request is unusual, with Boyd not having pitched on short rest all season.
“We wouldn’t make this decision, this would not be a decision (if he was coming off) a six-inning start or a 90-pitch start,” Counsell said. “We would not be considering this. But, yeah, I think he had his head on it, probably when he got in the dugout. Yeah, and he’s asked repeatedly about it.”
The left-hander has pitched on three days’ rest three times in his career, most recently on Oct. 1, 2022 in a relief appearance for the Seattle Mariners. The last short-rest start for Boyd came on Aug. 22, 2017, when he was a member of the Detroit Tigers. Boyd has posted a 4.70 ERA over 15 1/3 innings during his career on short rest.
“I think our staff does a great job of preparing us to have success when the time comes, whatever role we’re in or whatever the opponent,” Boyd said. “They do an amazing job in preparing us to get to where we need to go.”
Boyd even got loose in the ninth inning of the Thursday clincher against the Padres as part of his between-start routine.
“He was willing to take the ball yesterday, so that tells you,” Counsell said Friday.
In the regular season, Boyd went 14-8 with a 3.21 ERA in 31 starts. For his career in the postseason, he is 0-0 with a 1.10 ERA in five games (four starts).
He has poor career numbers against the Brewers, though: 2-2 with a 9.00 ERA in five starts. This year, he lost at Milwaukee on July 28 after yielding five runs on six hits and five walks in five innings, and he beat the Brewers in Chicago on Aug. 19 despite permitting four runs on six hits and three walks in 5 1/3 innings.
The Cubs’ rotation likely will feature left-hander Shota Imanaga on normal rest for Game 2 in Milwaukee and right-hander Jameson Taillon for Game 3 in Chicago. Rookie Cade Horton is out for the NLDS because of a fractured right rib.
MARINERS, CAL RALEIGH READY TO FACE TIGERS TO OPEN RARE PLAYOFF TRIP
A little more than six months ago, catcher Cal Raleigh sat in an interview room at T-Mobile Park to discuss the six-year, $105 million contract extension he signed with the Seattle Mariners.
He was back in the same spot Friday, talking about his record-setting season and the best-of-five American League Division Series against the Detroit Tigers, which is set to begin Saturday.
Raleigh hit an MLB-leading 60 home runs, shattering the marks for most by a primary catcher (Salvador Perez, 48 in 2021) and by a switch-hitter (Mickey Mantle, 54 in 1961). In addition, Raleigh won the Home Run Derby at the All-Star Game in Atlanta with his father pitching and his little brother catching.
“I mean, it’s been a crazy year,” Raleigh said. “First off, I mean, obviously getting to win the (AL) West last week was something super special, and it’s something we haven’t done in 20-plus years. It was just nice to enjoy it with the guys, let the guard down, really just celebrate with them. And like I said, something that hasn’t been done in a long time. So it meant a little more doing that, and doing that was amazing.
“And yeah, with the rest of this stuff, you know, contracts and then everything that kind of came after that with the hot start, and then, you know, the Home Run Derby, and what felt like every single day, you know, some stat being thrown around there, it being talked about, you know, on TV or whatever. So it was just crazy, something I never thought would happen and something — I don’t really have much words. It’s been a crazy kind of ride this year.”
The division champion Mariners, making just their second playoff appearance since 2001, hope that ride continues.
Manager Dan Wilson announced Friday that with All-Star Bryan Woo still recovering from a strained pectoral muscle, right-hander George Kirby (10-8, 4.21 ERA) will pitch the opener.
Kirby also started the Mariners’ lone home playoff game in 2022, pitching seven scoreless innings in a game Houston won 1-0 in 18 innings to wrap up a series sweep.
“Super honored,” Kirby said. “It’s a big game and something you always dream of, to start Game 1 or any game in the playoffs.”
The Tigers, who went the distance to defeat host Cleveland in the best-of-three AL wild-card series, will counter with rookie Troy Melton (3-2, 2.76), who made four regular-season starts. Reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal, who pitched 7 2/3 innings Tuesday in a 2-1 victory against Cleveland, will remain on regular rest and start Sunday in Game 2.
“I let Troy know on the plane (Thursday) night that he was going to start, and we’re excited to hand him the ball,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “Plus stuff, great demeanor, the ability to handle what’s probably going to be the most excitable outing for him in a couple months’ worth of major league outings.”
Melton pitched one-third of an inning of relief Wednesday in a 6-1 loss, giving up four runs on three hits.
“I had good stuff. Nothing I’m really too concerned with as far as that,” Melton said. “They put three good swings on three mistakes that I made, and that’s the name of the game.”
While the Mariners went on a 17-1 run late in the regular season to clinch the division title, the Tigers blew a record 15 1/2-game lead to finish second in the AL Central.
Dillon Dingler’s homer in the sixth inning broke a 1-all tie Thursday and they went on to score four more runs in the seventh to beat the Guardians 6-3 in the decisive Game 3.
“We were on quite a journey to start the season. We race out. We have this big lead. We get a lot of love and a lot of attention and a lot of power rankings and all the stuff that doesn’t mean anything at the point of the season until you get to the finish line,” Hinch said. “So we’ve had to deal with a lot. Maybe that hardened us. Maybe that toughened us up. … We’ve always had a ton of confidence, and we’re coming off a big series win that we hope to carry that momentum into playing the Mariners.”
(WORLD SERIES HISTORY)
1903 WORLD SERIES
BOSTON AMERICANS (5) VS PITTSBURGH PIRATES (3)
In an effort to end a bitter two year rivalry and promote unity in baseball, the veteran National League and newly established American League decided to bury the hatchet and come together for a new kind of season finale.
Nine years earlier, the two top teams in the National League competed in an experimental post-season championship in which Boston beat Pittsburgh five games to three. In 1903, both teams (now in separate leagues) found themselves competing against one another in the first official “World Series”. Echoing the 1894 proposal of owner William C. Temple, Pittsburgh’s Barney Dreyfuss and Boston’s Henry Killilea agreed that their ball clubs, who were both pennant winners, should meet in a best-of-nine playoff series for the “World Championship.”
The spectacle would represent the first step towards a mutual reconciliation for years of open hostilities and blatant player raids. The Pirates, who had just won their third consecutive pennant, were the perfect representatives for the veteran Nationals. Their rivals, the Americans, had won their flag by 14½ games and represented the fledgling Americans who were still trying to establish themselves as a worthy competitor.
Game 1 of the series proved to be a complete success as fans were treated to the best baseball that both leagues had to offer. The Pirates played exceptionally well on both sides of the ball as Deacon Phillippe pitched a six hitter and right fielder Jimmy Sebring hit the first home run in World Series history. He alone drove in four runs for a 7-3 victory. Game 2 did not disappoint either as Boston mirrored Pittsburgh’s previous performance. They evened the series when Bill Dinneen threw a three-hitter and Patsy Dougherty walloped two homers in a 3-0 triumph.
Pittsburgh’s pitching staff, ravaged by illness and injuries, forced the Pirates to start Phillippe again in Game 3 after only one day of rest. The veteran workhorse, a twenty-five game winner during the regular season, rose to the challenge allowing only four hits in a 4-2 win. Three days later, Pittsburgh went to their dependable ace for a third time and backed him up with reinforcements who came out swinging. Third basemen, Tommy Leach, knocked in three runs while Honus Wagner and Ginger Beaumont each collected three hits. Boston was unable to answer and Pittsburgh led the series three games to one.
Boston was down, but far from out. Cy Young, a veteran, twenty-eight game winner was called upon to cool off the Pirates in Game 5 and that’s exactly what he did. Pittsburgh never knew what hit them. Young yielded only six hits and drove in three runs in an 11-2 runaway. The following day, Game 2 winner Bill Dinneen maintained Boston’s momentum with a 6-3 victory in a contest that featured four hits, two RBIs and two stolen bases by the losing Pirates. The series was now tied at three games each.
Deacon Phillippe, who was undefeated in the series, took the mound for the Pirates in Game 7. Unfortunately for Pittsburgh, all good things must come to an end. The Americans’ playing manager Jimmy Collins and Chick Stahl knocked him for first inning triples and Boston bolted to an early 2-0 lead en route to a 7-3 triumph. For the first time, the Americans had seized the Series lead. Ahead four games to three, Boston would attempt to nail down the championship on its own Huntington Avenue Grounds.
Game 8 looked to be a pitchers duel as Dinneen and Phillippe went head-to-head to a scoreless tie through the first three innings. Boston managed to get on the board twice in the fourth and again in the sixth. Phillippe battled on and would end up pitching his fifth complete game in the Series, which lasted thirteen days, but Dinneen bested him in the climactic finale, tossing his second shutout of the Series and notching his third victory.
The 3-0 decision was the Americans fourth straight triumph and made the upstart Boston team champions of the First American League vs. National League World Series. With great pitching dominating the play, hitters obviously had a rough time at the plate. Boston batted .252 while Pittsburgh, despite the presence of National League batting champion Honus Wagner, hit .237.
1904-NO WORLD SERIES
1905 WORLD SERIES
NEW YORK GIANTS (4) VS PHILADELPHIA ATHLETICS (1)
After refusing an invitation to play the Boston Americans the 1904 World Series, the New York Giants agreed to participate in the 1905 Fall Classic in an effort to win back it’s fan approval. Many were upset by the Giants’ “no thanks” attitude of the previous year and it was clearly visible in their regular season attendance. This time, John T. Brush and company were eager to take on the American League champion Philadelphia Athletics after an National League race in which the Giants won one-hundred five games. The Series would be contested under guidelines drawn up by the Giants’ owner, seeking to stabilize an event he earlier had cancelled. Besides outlining a revenue formula, the John T. “Brush Rules” called for a best-of-seven format.
The Giants were extremely confident going into their first combined post-season championship for obvious reasons. Their pitching rotation read like an All-Star ballot and featured Christy Mathewson (thirty-one victories), Joe McGinnity (twenty-one) and Red Ames (twenty-two) and also included Dummy Taylor (fifteen) and Hooks Wiltse (fourteen). New York wound up using only two of its “big five” as starters in the Series, but that twosome proved more than enough. The Athletics were not as fortunate and were still reeling from the late-season loss of standout lefthander Rube Waddell.
In the opening game, lefthander Eddie Plank, a twenty-five game winner for the Athletics, was matched up against the Giants ace Mathewson. Recalling memories of the first World Series, it remained a pitcher’s duel until the fifth inning when the Giants offense finally broke through for two runs. Game 1 was all Mathewson – on both sides of the ball. At the plate, he contributed a single in the fifth that ignited New York’s scoring drive and a key sacrifice in the ninth. On the mound, he completed a four-hit, 3-0 victory and did no walk a single batter. For Game 2, Athletic’s manager Connie Mack called on righthander Chief Bender to even the score. He obliged the legendary skipper with support from Bris Lord’s run-scoring singles in the third and eighth innings. In the end, Bender out-dueled the Giants’ Joe McGinnity for a 3-0 victory. The Series was now tied and an interesting trend had developed with two shutouts in two games.
With two days rest, Game 1 winner Christy Mathewson was given the start for Game 3. Once again, the righthanded sensation dominated the contest and held Philadelphia to only four hits and one walk. First baseman Dan McGann was the Giants’ big gun in a 9-0 romp, collecting two singles and a double and driving in four runs. New York was now ahead, but the Athletics refused to roll over and entered the following contest with a renewed vigor. Game 4 represented the ultimate pitcher’s duel and to this day, is still considered one of the best match-ups ever on the mound during a World Series. This time McGinnity and Plank hooked up in a contest that allowed only nine hits and one run. Philadelphia matched the Giants play in every aspect of the game and only lost due to a crucial infield error. The 1-0 triumph increased New York’s Series lead to three games to one.
Once again, Mack decided to go with Chief Bender to halt the Giants in Game 5, while McGraw decided to stick with a winner and brought Mathewson back for a third performance. Pitching on only one day of rest, the Giant’s workhorse was again up to the challenge allowing only six hits with no walks. His counterpart was almost as good yielding only five hits, but allowing two runs. The 1905 New York Giants suddenly found themselves the champions of a contest that they had previously boycotted and had a newfound respect for their American League rivals who made them earn it.
Mathewson was clearly the most valuable player of the 1905 Fall Classic although the award had not yet been established. In the space of six days, he pitched three shutouts and permitted only fourteen hits. The Giants’ ace struck out eighteen and walked one in twenty-seven innings. Besides Mathewson and McGinnity, the only other Giants pitcher to see action was Ames, who worked all of one inning (as a reliever in Game 2). Pitching was the most noteworthy aspect of the Series with five shutouts in five games.
1906 WORLD SERIES
CHICAGO WHITE SOX (4) VS CHICAGO CUBS (2)
The 1906 World Series was the first to feature two teams from the same city, “the windy city” that is. Chicago was split in two as the American League’s (South Side) White Sox prepared to battle the National League (West Side) Cubs.
The Sox, despite having a meager offense, managed to win the Series opener 2-1. In fact they would play true to form in the first four games of the Series collecting only six runs and eleven hits. The Cubs rebounded with a 7-1 victory in Game 2 that featured the one hit pitching of Ed Reulbach and the timely hitting of Harry Steinfeldt and Joe Tinker. Third baseman Steinfeldt, a .327 hitter after his off-season acquisition from Cincinnati, went three-for-three and Tinker had two hits and scored three runs.
In Game 3, White Sox pitcher Ed Walsh allowed one single off of Solly Hofman and a double to Frank Schulte in the first inning He then went on to hold the Cubs hitless for the rest of the way. The South Side’s franchise emerged as 3-0 winners, with Walsh striking out twelve batters and George Rohe tagging Jack Pfiester for a bases-loaded triple in the sixth inning. Mordecai Brown drew the Cubs even the next day, denying the White Sox a hit for the first 5 2/3 innings on the way to a two-hit, 1-0 victory. The trend would not last as the White Sox bats came alive in Games 5 and 6. Nicknamed the “Hitless Wonders” by the local press, they came out swinging and drove Reulbach from the mound in the third inning. Continuing their momentum, they added four runs in the fourth and held on for an 8-6 victory. Frank Isbell paced the Sox’s twelve hit attack with a Series-record four doubles and George Davis knocked in three runs as well.
The Cubs were stunned by their cross-town rival’s renewed zeal and were unable to stop them in Game 6 despite their best efforts. The “born-again” bats from the South Side defeated Mordecai Brown (the Cubs’ Game 4 winner) and cruised to a stunning Series-deciding 8-3 victory that was fueled by fourteen hits.
The Sox had pulled off an upset of gigantic proportions despite hitting only .198 in the Series. Their top threesome, Patsy Dougherty, Billy Sullivan and Fielder Jones, the team’s playing manager, combined for only four hits in sixty-two at-bats. Nevertheless they had out-hit the Cubs, who batted only .196. Their top hitter, center fielder Solly Hofman, had appeared in only sixty-four games during the regular season, yet he played every inning of the Series and batted .304.
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WNBA NEWS
DANA EVANS LEADS ACES’ 4TH-QUARTER RALLY FOR WIN IN FINALS OPENER
LAS VEGAS — Olympians and All-Stars headline the Las Vegas Aces’ roster, but the team turned to the bench for a hero in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals.
Reserve guard Dana Evans tallied 21 points, including nine in the fourth quarter, leading Las Vegas on a furious rally en route to a come-from-behind 89-86 victory against the Phoenix Mercury on Friday.
Evans finished 8-for-13 from the field overall and 5-for-6 from 3-point range. She became the first player in WNBA history to record five treys and four steals in a Finals game.
“She’s a pro,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said of Evans. “She’s consistent, she stays ready. She does the work, whether she’s going to play 25 minutes or 15 minutes, she just stays locked in. … You feel her when she comes into the game, and you feel her on both ends.”
While A’ja Wilson is consistently lauded as the Aces’ dominant presence, the four-time MVP made it clear that Evans is playing a crucial role in her first year with the organization.
“I’ve said often that Dana’s our battery,” Wilson said. “She makes us play at a different pace. I told her that we go when she goes, and that’s a quick pace. We’re going to always try to follow her. We know she’s very hard to stop in this league, very hard to keep in front of, and so when she’s able to get downhill and get good looks, it plays in our favor.”
Wilson also finished with 21 points, shooting 7-for-16 from the field in addition to grabbing 10 rebounds.
While the Aces did lots right in their fourth-quarter comeback, they were helped by some Mercury missteps.
Las Vegas was up 87-86 with 24.6 seconds remaining when Alyssa Thomas missed a pair of free throws that could have given Phoenix the lead. After the Aces’ Jackie Young sank two free throws, Las Vegas closed the game with a defensive stop on the final possession.
Momentum shifted early in the fourth quarter. Las Vegas trailed 76-70 with 8:23 remaining when Phoenix’s Satou Sabally was assessed a technical foul for spiking the ball after being whistled for her fifth foul of the night. That incident kick-started a 17-6 Aces run.
“We have to play better defense,” Sabally said. “Just going back to what we do best, and then I think the results will show that we are the better team. I’m really not too down on myself.”
Evans sank a 3-pointer that put the home team ahead for good, 85-82 with 3:37 remaining. Wilson capped the run with a 10-footer with 2:41 left, giving the Aces a five-point edge.
While Evans led the charge off the Las Vegas bench in the second half, Jewell Loyd did so in the first. Loyd finished with 18 points, 13 of which came before halftime, helping keep the Aces within five points at halftime despite a slow start from their usual scoring core.
Phoenix’s Kahleah Copper had a game-high 19 points in the first half and made five 3-pointers, tying former Mercury point guard Diana Taurasi’s WNBA Finals record for most 3-pointers in a half.
However, after the Aces made the timely decision to switch their defense, Copper was held to two points in the second half.
“They went from man to zone, and then we rushed some shots, didn’t really execute,” Copper said. “… We should have slowed down a little bit.”
Sabally ended the night with 19 points, while Thomas compiled 15 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.
Game 2 in the best-of-seven series is scheduled for Sunday in Las Vegas.
“We’ll go back, we’ll practice tomorrow, we’ll walk through our mistakes and find better solutions for some things, and then we’ll just come back on Sunday,” Sabally said.
The Mercury stretched their lead to a game-high nine points in the third, but the Aces managed to claw within 71-67 by the end of the quarter.
The Aces tied the game at 57 all with a trio of Gray free throws after a flagrant-1 violation was called due to Copper encroaching in Gray’s landing area on a 3-point attempt. Gray was injured on the play and went to the locker room. Immediately after, DeWanna Bonner and Monique Akoa Makani hit triples to regain a 63-57 lead with 4:30 remaining in the third.
After a streaky start for each side, Phoenix and Las Vegas began the second quarter with a mutually torrid shooting display. Vegas began the quarter 8-for-11 from the field but still found themselves trailing, because Phoenix began the frame 10-for-11 from the field itself and had an answer at every turn.
Copper led the scoring outburst for the Mercury, scoring 12 points in the second quarter while making all four attempts from behind the arc.
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GOLF NEWS
AKIE IWAI 1 SHOT UP ON 8 CHALLENGERS AT LOTTE CHAMPIONSHIP
Akie Iwai produced her worst round of the tournament on Thursday but still emerged with the lead entering the final day of the Lotte Championship in Ewa Beach, Hawaii.
The 23-year-old Japanese player shot a 1-under-par 71 in the third round at Hoakalei Country Club, ending up at 13-under 203 for a one-stroke edge.
Second-round leader Youmin Hwang of South Korea shot a 75 in the third round, leaving her in an eight-way tie for second at 12 under.
Hwang is level with Meghan Khang (third-round 67), Brooke Matthews (69), Jessica Porvasnik (72), Japan’s Minami Katsu (66), South Korea’s Hyo Joo Kim (66), Taiwan’s Peiyun Chien (68) and Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum (69).
World No. 2 Nelly Korda (69) and Japan’s Nasa Hataoka (71) share 10th place at 11 under.
Iwai led after shooting 64 on Wednesday, and she followed that up with a 68 on Thursday. On Friday, she opened with a birdie but ended the day with three birdies and two bogeys.
She earned her initial LPGA Tour win in August at the Portland Classic, and she has four top-five finishes this year.
Looking ahead to the fourth round, Iwai said, “No change. Keep going. Yeah, I have just smiling and just fun, have fun. … I forget what happened today and (get) ready for tomorrow.”
Katsu birdied three of her first five holes, and she added a run of three birdies in four holes on the back nine immediately after making her lone bogey of the day at the par-3 12th hole.
“I feel like my (putter) today was working really well, even though it has some bad shots,” said Katsu, an eight-time winner on the LPGA of Japan Tour who is seeking her first win on the U.S.-based circuit. “I think I was able to keep a good par save on with my putting. I had a pretty long birdie putt, too, so I felt like that kept my momentum going today.”
Hyo Joo Kim put together a bogey-free round while tying Katsu and South Korea’s A Lim Kim for the best score of the day.
Korda isn’t giving up hope of earning her first win of the year. She was a seven-time winner in 2024.
“For me, the most important thing is giving 100 percent to every shot,” she said. “That’s what I’m going to do tomorrow. You never know. Golf is a crazy sport. Sports are crazy. You sometimes just need a little bit of momentum.”
GARRICK HIGGO CONTINUES BIRDIE FEST FOR SOLO LEAD AT SANDERSON FARMS
South Africa’s Garrick Higgo followed up his 7-under-par 65 on Thursday with a 66 on Friday to take a one-stroke lead (-13) into the weekend of the Sanderson Farms Championship in Jackson, Miss.
Taylor Montgomery carded the low round of the tournament, a 9-under-par 63, and was knotted with Eric Cole at 12 under, one stroke behind Higgo.
Danny Walker, who started the day tied with Higgo and Cole for the lead, is two shots behind after carding a 4-under 68.
Higgo, 26, birdied four of the final seven holes at the Country Club of Jackson layout. The former UNLV standout earned his second PGA Tour victory earlier this year in mid-April at the Corales Puntacana Championship in the Dominican Republic.
For Higgo, the key was keeping the ball out of the thick Bermuda rough.
“I don’t know what worked the best, but my tee shots were similar to yesterday, like I kept it in play,” he said. “For me, whenever I think — obviously for everybody else as well, like the more fairways, the more greens I can hit, like I feel like I can take advantage of my putter, give myself a lot of looks, and I’ll make my fair share.”
Three players are tied for fifth place at 10 under — South Korea’s Tom Kim, Frankie Capan III and Vince Whaley.
Higgo finished T7 at the Procore Championship three weeks ago, but was able to play the final round with winner Scottie Scheffler. The experience was invaluable.
“Yeah, I learned a lot. I couldn’t tell you how much I learned, but I learned so much just by watching. He’s an inspiration for all of us. He’s set the bar so high. It’s just phenomenal how high his skill level is.”
Montgomery, 30, started on the back nine and parred the first five holes. Then, he ignited, birdieing seven in a row en route to his 63. Montgomery also competed at UNLV, but exited the program the year before Higgo arrived in Las Vegas. He struggled out of the gate this year, but has a pair of top-12 finishes in his last four PGA Tournament starts.
“This year has been a lot of like kind of tinkering and messing around,” said Montgomery. “My swing has gotten a lot better, but I was working on that. Now if I can take how I play at home out here to tournament golf, I think — it’s more like what I’ve done today.”
Higgo will be paired with Cole and Montgomery will play alongside Walker on Saturday.
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NASCAR NEWS
PLAYOFF PRESSURE RISES AS ROVAL HOSTS ROUND OF 12 ELIMINATION RACE
The NASCAR Cup Series playoff Round of 12 has its elimination race Sunday at the center of it all in Charlotte, N.C. While the trip to the track will be a short one, the added pressure on about six drivers will be immense.
That’s because the playoffs are headed to the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course, aka the Roval, for the final road test of 2025.
Designed to weave its way through the 1.5-mile speedway that hosts the Coca-Cola 600, the 17-turn, 2.32-mile road course has been a challenging and occasionally thrilling layout since the first lap was turned there in 2018.
In that dramatic debut, Ryan Blaney watched as Jimmie Johnson tried to pass leader Martin Truex Jr. in the final chicane, causing a wreck between the former champions and sending then-third-place Blaney to his second career victory and first with Team Penske.
Sunday afternoon’s event will be the eighth at the oddly-configured track. Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott (2019, 2020) and defending winner Kyle Larson (2021, 2024) have accounted for over half the wins, while Christopher Bell and A.J. Allmendinger have also notched checkers.
Thus far, the playoffs have provided drama, and the series arrives in Charlotte with its winningest driver Denny Hamlin again catching heat two weeks after he dumped Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Ty Gibbs at New Hampshire.
Hamlin, who owns the No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota driven by Bubba Wallace, battled side-by-side with the 2025 Brickyard 400 winner on the final lap.
Lacking power steering and pushing hard on the inside of Wallace’s Camry, Hamlin drifted high in Turn 3 and took them both toward the wall, killing momentum and allowing Elliott to slip by, bang doors with Hamlin’s No. 11 and advance to the Round of 8.
Was Hamlin, seeking career victory No. 60 and his series-high sixth win this season, supposed to let the car he co-owns with Michael Jordan finish first and send Wallace to the next round?
Evidently not.
“On Sunday I am the driver,” Hamlin explained on his podcast. “The person in the 11 car is the driver. That’s where the disconnect, I think, comes from. People expect me to be a different person, they expect me to be the guy with the 23XI shirt on when I’m in the 11 car, and that’s just not possible.”
Ninth-place Ross Chastain trails reigning champ Joey Logano by 13 points, and seventh-place JGR pilot Chase Briscoe is 21 points to the good. Unless there is a complete collapse by Briscoe or Logano, 10th-place Wallace (-26) and teammate Tyler Reddick (-29) will need a miraculous combination of events or a victory, while last-place Austin Cindric (-48) is in must-win mode.
Shane van Gisbergen, Chastain’s Trackhouse Racing partner, has won the past four road-course races, but teammates racing hard against one another may reach its peak level Sunday just like what happened with Hamlin and Wallace last weekend.
“I have zero doubts in my mind — I know because I know where my mind was in that moment — that I was racing the 23 the same as I would race anybody in that moment,” Hamlin said of roughing up his driver. “Truthfully, I’d have raced my teammates the same way.”
Ty Gibbs would second that.
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+++TOP INDIANA SPORTS NEWS/RELEASES+++
COLTS FOOTBALL
COLTS RULE OUT RB TYLER GOODSON, WR ALEC PIERCE, CB KENNY MOORE II, S DANIEL SCOTT FOR WEEK 5 GAME VS. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
The Colts on Friday ruled out running back Tyler Goodson (groin), wide receiver Alec Pierce (concussion), cornerback Kenny Moore II (Achilles) and safety Daniel Scott (knee) for their Week 5 game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Lucas Oil Stadium, head coach Shane Steichen said.
Pierce, who sustained a concussion in Week 3 and was a full participant in Wednesday and Thursday practices this week, but did not practice on Friday. Steichen said he has not yet cleared concussion protocol.
Moore also sustained his injury during the Colts’ Week 3 win over the Tennessee Titans and has not participated in practice since. Scott did not practice this week. Neither did Goodson, who sustained his injury in Week 4.
Guard Matt Goncalves (toe), who did not play in Week 4, participated in all three practices this week.
COLTS-RAIDERS PREVIEW: ASHTON JEANTY, MAXX CROSBY PRESENT MAJOR CHALLENGES IN WEEK 5
One of the narratives emanating from Week 4 – not just here at Colts.com, but nationally – was that the Colts took a good Los Angeles Rams team to the wire and lost by one score, mainly, because of self-inflicted mistakes. It was about as positive as analysis gets following a defeat.
Internally, none of that chatter impacted the Colts much. This is a confident group, and like 31 other teams, they preach an on-to-the-next-one mentality no matter if the previous result was an exhilarating win or a gutting loss.
“I think we’re all determined to get back out there and play well,” quarterback Daniel Jones said. “I don’t think there’s an idea that we need to necessarily turn things around. I think it’s about getting back to what we do and executing well, learning from what we didn’t do as well last week and continuing to improve as a team every week.”
Still, for the way those of us non-players and non-coaches think and talk about the 2025 Colts, Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders carries significant weight. Following up a narrow loss to a team widely considered a Super Bowl contender with a win over the 1-3 Raiders would be a sign the Colts are resilient on a week-to-week basis, and that’d be a strong indicator that, yes, a narrow loss to the Rams was more a sign of what the Colts could accomplish this season than a sign of any sort of long-term fault.
The Raiders, despite their record, will present a handful of difficult challenges for the Colts on Sunday. Let’s look at a few key ones on each side of the ball:
When the Colts are on offense
Since his debut season in 2019, Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby has the sixth-most sacks (61.5), the most tackles for a loss (112) and the fifth-most quarterback hits (149) in the NFL. He is one of the league’s premier defenders, a menace against both the run and pass, and a player whose presence has to be accounted for every time he’s on the field.
“I don’t have enough words in my vocabulary to describe it,” offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter said. “He’s a force on the field. He’s one of the best players in the league, he has been for several years. He’s an excellent, excellent football player. He plays just about every single down of the game, and he plays at maximum intensity every single down he’s out there. He competes to and through the whistle. If we weren’t playing against him, he’s a pleasure to watch play football. He’s just a great, great football player.”
Crosby is an ironman who rarely comes off the field – he played 100 percent of Las Vegas’ defensive snaps in 11 of his previous 16 games, and is one of four defensive ends to play over 1,000 snaps in a season (which he did in both 2022 and 2023) since 2020. He has a well-developed arsenal of pass rushing moves and is adept at shedding blocks to make tackles against the run; chipping and double-teaming him sometimes isn’t enough.
And even if you think you have Crosby taken care of on a snap, he’s an ultimate play-to-the-whistle guy.
“I think just his motor, how hard he plays play in and play out,” Jones said when asked what sticks out about Crosby. “I think when you think about all the best players at that position, I think that’s the first thing you see, is just how hard they play every single play. He does it as well, if not better than anybody in the league.”
The Raiders’ defense has done some good things this season – they’re 8th in success rate allowed (32.6 percent) and are fourth in tackles for a loss or no gain (27), indicators that it can be difficult to stay in favorable down-and-distances against this group. Which leads us here: The Colts’ offense has the NFL’s second-highest average yards per play on first down (6.6); the Raiders’ defense has the NFL’s second-lowest average yards per play allowed on first down (3.5).
While it might seem easy to say which team’s strength wins out here on first down will be a key factor on Sunday, that would gloss over what we just covered here – Crosby will be on the field, and even if you get to second and two, his ability to blow up a play – and a drive – needs to be accounted for by the Colts’ offense.
When the Raiders have the ball
It took until Week 4, but the Raiders finally got the explosive return they expected from rookie running back Ashton Jeanty, the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Jeanty ripped of 138 yards, including a 64-yard dash, with three total touchdowns last weekend against the Chicago Bears; in the first three games of his career, the Boise State product totaled 144 rushing yards with one touchdown.
“He’s a powerful runner,” head coach Shane Steichen said. “Very strong. He doesn’t shy away from the contact, and so it’s going to be a physical football game on Sunday with him running the football. We’re excited for the challenge. He’s just a hell of a player.”
Jeanty enters Week 5 with the second-most missed tackles forced (22) in the NFL, behind only the Atlanta Falcons’ Bijan Robinson (24) and slightly ahead of the Colts’ Jonathan Taylor (20). But digging into Sunday, there’s a fascinating matchup between the Colts’ defense and the Raiders’ running back here.
The Colts, heading into Week 5, have only missed eight tackles on running plays this season, the third-lowest total in the NFL. But opposing running backs are gaining 1.5 yards before contact per carry against the Colts’ defense, the fifth-highest rate in the NFL; Jeanty, though, is averaging just 0.2 yards before contact per carry, the lowest rate among running backs this season.
Essentially: Jeanty is excellent at breaking tackles and the Colts’ defense hasn’t missed many tackles; Jeanty has had to do much of his work after contact, while the Colts’ defense has allowed opposing running backs to churn out a higher rate of yards before contact. It’s strength-on-strength when it comes to Jeanty’s ability to break tackles, but both the Raiders’ offense and Colts’ defense need to improve before that contact is made.
“The kid, he gets it — he plays hard, he plays through contact, he doesn’t shy away from contact,” defensive tackle DeForest Buckner said. “It’s definitely going to be a group effort getting him down. They got him going last week against Chicago and I’m sure they’re going to stick with the run game and take some of the pressure off Geno (Smith). As a unit, we always preach 11 as one, so just gotta get hats on the ball.”
Speaking of Smith, while he has the most interceptions (seven), has taken the fifth-most sacks (12) and has the seventh-lowest passer rating (79.1) in the NFL, those numbers are a little deceptive. Smith has had two rough games (Weeks 2 and 4, in which he’s thrown for a combined 297 yards with two touchdowns and six interceptions) and two games that’ve been more the norm for him over the last few years (Weeks 1 and 3, in which he’s thrown for 651 yards with four touchdowns and one interception).
Smith has proven himself to be one of the league’s better quarterbacks since taking over as a full-time starter with the Seattle Seahawks in 2022, and the Colts expect to get that version of Smith – not the guy who’s thrown those league-leading seven interceptions.
“Just a ton of respect on his work ethic and how he went about his business,” Steichen, who coached Smith in 2018 with the Los Angeles Chargers, said. “And to see the success he’s had in Seattle and now with the Raiders, just a ton of respect there.”
Notably, though, the Raiders will be without starting left tackle Kolton Miller, who was placed on injured reserve this week due to an ankle injury.
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INDIANA WOMEN’S SOCCER
HOOSIERS KEEP GOLDEN BOOT IN DRAW AT PURDUE
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Indiana women’s soccer forced a draw in an in-state rivalry match against the Purdue Boilermakers. The Hoosiers back line made several key stops late to keep the Golden Boot in Bloomington, Ind. for the third consecutive year.
With the draw, Indiana holds a record of 3-4-5 overall and 0-2-4 in conference play.
KEY MOMENTS
The first half was dictated by the defense with both teams combining for only five shot attempts at the break.
Senior forward Sarah Sirdah had an opportunity off a takeaway to advance late in the first half. She played the ball to senior defender Abbey Iler, who took a shot that was saved by Purdue.
The offense and pace picked up for both teams in the second half as The Hoosiers and Boilermakers combined for 18 shot attempts to finish the game.
The goalkeeper duo of Dani Jacobson and Sally Rainey continued to be a force in the box for the Hoosiers. Rainey pulled in a season high of four saves to keep the result at a 0-0 draw.
NOTABLE
IU led the game in total saves 5-3
Indiana took four corners in the match.
Eight Hoosiers recorded a shot attempt: Neighbors, Albert, Grzesiak, Hamm, Kim (2), Haggerty, Sirdah (2), Iler
Grace Hamm, Bella Haggerty, and Abbey Iler each recorded a shot on goal.
UP NEXT
IUWS will head back home as they prepare to welcome Northwestern to Bloomington, Ind. The match is set to kick off from Bill Armstrong on Thursday, Oct. 9, at 7:30 p.m.
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INDIANA VOLLEYBALL
LATE NIGHT STUNNER IN LOS ANGELES
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – It took everyone on the roster. And everyone delivered.
Just after the clock struck midnight in Bloomington, the Indiana volleyball team (12-1, 3-0 B1G) delivered one of the biggest wins in the head coach Steve Aird era. IU battled back from a poor first set to take care of No. 17 USC in four sets (15-25, 25-22, 25-19, 25-20) on Friday (Oct. 3) evening at the Galen Center.
The Hoosiers completely flipped the script on the Trojans after the opening frame. IU hit .252 (47-18-115) on the night, led by 14 kills from California native and senior opposite Avry Tatum. Freshman outside hitter Jaidyn Jager provided 12 kills in the return to her home state.
IU’s will to win was on full display the entire contest. A team full of freshmen continues to grow up as the season progresses. Freshman setter Teodora Kričković dished out 33 assists to pair with six kills, six digs and one block. Freshman middle blocker Victoria Gray had a career-high seven blocks.
Perhaps no one provided more of a spark than junior middle blocker Ava Vickers. After missing the first 12 games of the year following offseason surgery, she made her season debut in a big way. She offered up four kills and five blocks after coming off the bench in the first set.
Paired with effective serving, IU’s block came to life late in the match. The Hoosiers recorded 12 team blocks in four sets. Gray led the way with seven while Vickers had a hand in five. IU kept USC’s outstanding freshman opposite Abigail Mullen in the negative (-.065, 7-9-31),
The win on Friday was the eighth ranked road win in program history. No head coach has beaten more top-18 teams on the road than Steve Aird (3). It’s IU’s third ranked win on the road since the 2022 season. With the win, IU’s off to its best start in the Big Ten (3-0) since 1993.
How it Happened (See USC Volleyball)
• The first set skewed most of IU’s numbers on the night but the team battled back to outhit USC with a significant advantage (.252-.192). The Hoosiers had nine fewer attacking errors and committed six fewer service errors to come away the win.
• A big part of IU’s success on Friday night was the play of its defense. The Hoosiers racked up 12 blocks, out blocking the Big Ten’s most imposing net force, and recorded more digs (43-35) than the Trojans. IU flipped into a two-libero system and got a big performance from freshman defensive specialist Avery Freeman.
Top Hoosier Performers
#13 Tatum, Avry
14 kills, .357 hitting percentage, 3 blocks, 3 digs
#24 Jager, Jaidyn
12 kills, 9 digs, 1 assist, 1 ace, 1 block
#23 Gray, Victoria
7 blocks, 2 kills, 2 digs
Notes to Know
• The victory over No. 17 USC on Friday evening was the eighth top-25 road win in program history. Seven of those eight wins have come against Big Ten opponents with three of them coming in the past four seasons. Head coach Steve Aird is the only coach in program history to win at least three road games against top-25 opposition.
• With the win on Friday evening, the Hoosiers are off to their best conference start in over 30 years. IU is 3-0 in the Big Ten for just the first time since 1993. In two of those three victories, IU has had to scrap on the road to win a four-set contest (at Northwestern, at No. 17 USC).
• Freshman outside hitter Jaidyn Jager has been fantastic to begin her Big Ten career. She’s produced at least 12 kills in all three of IU’s conference wins this season. On each occasion, Jager has missed a double-double by two-or-fewer digs. She’s averaging 3.73 kills per set and 2.36 digs per set in Big Ten action.
• When IU needed it most, the team got career performances from a number of players. Freshman setter Teodora Kričković
had a career-high six kills in the win. Freshman middle blocker Victoria Gray had a hand in a lifetime-best seven blocks. While it wasn’t a career night, junior middle blocker Ava Vickers had a season-high four kills and five blocks.
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INDIANA MEN’S SOCCER
HOOSIERS SUFFER SETBACK IN SEATTLE
SEATTLE — Indiana men’s soccer (7-3-1, 2-3-0 B1G) just could not solve a high-powered Washington (7-3-2, 4-1-0 B1G) attack Friday (Oct. 3) night at Husky Soccer Stadium, falling 3-0 to the hosts.
KEY MOMENTS
• 20′ – GOAL! Sophomore Alex Hall received a pass at the top of the box and surged through the right side of the Hoosier defense before curving a shot around graduate goalkeeper Holden Brown, giving Washington the lead. Washington 1, Indiana 0
• 44′ – The Hoosiers had a flurry of close chances in the closing minutes of the first half. In the 42nd minute, a long distance effort from senior midfielder Jack Wagoner sailed just high. Moments later, sophomore forward Michael Nesci saw a volley saved.
• 74′ – GOAL! Through a lot of contact in the box, the Hoosiers couldn’t clear pressure from the Huskies, and a ball played across found the boot of junior Charlie Kosakoff. His volley doubled the host’s lead. Washington 2, Indiana 0
• 83′ – GOAL! Sophomore defender Asher Hestad converted a header from a corner kick to give the Huskies their third. Washington 3, Indiana 0
NOTABLES
• Indiana suffered its worst loss since October 22, 2022, a matching 3-0 defeat to Kentucky.
• The loss marks IU’s first in the month of October since October 24, 2023, at Northwestern.
• Brown became the first Hoosier to make 10 saves since Jay Nolly’s 10 versus St. John’s on December 12, 2003.
UP NEXT
Indiana returns home to host Ohio State next Friday, October 10, on Jerry Yeagley Field at Bill Armstrong Stadium.
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INDIANA FIELD HOCKEY
INDIANA WINS IN SHUTOUT FASHION OVER UC DAVIS, 5-0
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. ––– Indiana Field Hockey notched a 5-0 win over UC Davis on Friday afternoon at Deborah Tobias Field.
The win moves IU’s record to 5-5. Indiana’s conference record stands at 0-2.
KEY MOMENTS
• Freshman Molly Stutte struck first for the Hoosiers in the ninth minute of play to put IU up 1-0. The goal was Stutte’s fourth of the season.
• Charlotte Glasper found the back of the cage in the 20th minute, putting the Hoosiers up 2-0. Mijntje Hagen recorded the assist.
• Mijntje Hagen notched a goal on a penalty corner inserted by Glasper and assisted by Javi Baeza to move IU’s lead to 3-0 in the 33rd minute.
• After finding space, Hagen sent the ball into the back of the cage to put Indiana up 4-0 in the 39th minute.
• Hagen connected on a pass from Inés Garcia Prado in the 56th minute of play to cement the Hoosiers’ win 5-0. Glasper inserted the penalty corner.
NOTABLES
• Freshman Kai Killian recorded her first shutout of her career.
• Molly Stutte notched her fourth goal of her collegiate career.
• Charlotte Glasper recorded her fifth goal of the 2025 season and of her career.
• Mijintje Hagen’s trio of goals brings her season total to five and her career goal total to ten.
• Hagen’s three goals tie the program record for most goals in a game.
• The Hoosiers outshot the Aggies 15-4.
UP NEXT
• Indiana will stay in Bloomington to continue Big Ten play against Rutgers on Friday, Oct.10 at noon.
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PURDUE WOMEN’S SOCCER
BOILERS BATTLE IU TO SECOND-CONSECUTIVE SCORELESS DRAW
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue soccer and in-state rival Indiana battled to a hard-fought scoreless draw Friday night at Folk Field.
The scoreless draw marked back-to-back years without a goal from either side, the first time in Golden Boot history for a scoreless tie in consecutive years. The Boilermakers moved to 5–6–3 (2–3–1 B1G) with the result, earning a point in Big Ten play.
After a quiet first half with just two Purdue shots, the Boilermakers came alive after halftime, outshooting the Hoosiers 11–7 in the final 45 minutes. Megan Santa Cruz, Irene Campo, Angelina Thoreson, and Chiara Singarella each pushed forward with quality looks, forcing five saves for the Indiana keeper.
Defensively, the Boilermakers stood tall. Goalkeeper Emily Edwards recorded three saves, backed by strong play from defenders Zoe Cuneio, Margaux Chauvet, and Lauren Adam. Purdue’s back line blocked multiple second-half efforts, keeping the game scoreless.
The Boilers and the Hoosiers continued to hold strong, marking another scoreless draw, after the same result a year ago.
UP NEXT
The Boilers will head on the road to take on Nebraska and Illinois next week.
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NOTRE DAME CROSS COUNTRY
IRISH DEFEND HOME TURF, SWEEP JOE PIANE TEAM TITLES
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The No. 10 ranked Irish women and the No. 9 ranked Irish men swept the top team finishes at the 2025 Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational cross country race in the Blue Division on Friday morning.
It marks the first time since 2003 that the Irish cross country squads have both captured first place team finishes at the event.
Women’s Race
The opening race of the invitational saw the Irish women go out as a pack early and stay connected en route to a team score of 29 to finish 18 points ahead of the field for the team title. All five scoring runners claimed top 10 finishes individually.
Mary Bonner Dalton took the individual title with a time of 15:53.1, which is the fastest women’s time in the history of the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational by a margin of four seconds and is the second sub-16 minute result by a winner in the race’s history. Dalton is the first Irish individual champion at the event since Anna Rohr in 2016.
Amaya Aramini claimed fourth place overall with a 16:01.3 – a 38-second improvement from her time on the same course from two weeks ago. The pack of Gretchen Farley, Siona Chisholm and Arianne Olson wrapped up the team victory by claiming seventh, eighth and ninth, respectively. Farley posted a 16:10.6 for seventh. Chisholm turned in a 16:12.9 for eighth, and Olson placed ninth with a 16:13.5.
Women’s Blue Division Results
Mary Bonner Dalton – 1st (15:53.1)
Amaya Aramini – 4th (16:01.3)
Gretchen Farley – 7th (16:10.6)
Siona Chisholm – 8th (16:12.9)
Arianne Olson – 9th (16:13.5)
Sophie Novak – 13th (16:23.9)
Chloe Huyler (unattached) – 14th (16:29.1)
Reagan Riley – 21st (16:44.8)
Isabel Allori- 22nd (16:46.1)
Addison Knoblauch – 49th (17:09.0)
Women’s Blue Division Team Scores (Top Eight)
1. Notre Dame – 29
2. South Carolina – 47
3. Boise State – 108
4. Grand Valley State – 161
5. Liberty – 190
6. Ohio – 204
7. Bradley – 238
8. Cincinnati – 251
Men’s Race
The men made a collective move ahead of the 4k mark on their way to posting four top-10 finishes for a team score of 40 and the win. Ethan Coleman finished second in a time of 22:40.6. Izaiah Steury, Dylan Throop and Daelen Ackley all took top-10 finishes with times of 22:53.7, 22:57.0 and 22:58.9, respectively. Cameron Todd closed out the team win with an 18th place finish in a time of 23:19.1.
Men’s Blue Division Results
Ethan Coleman – 2nd (22:40.6)
Izaiah Steury – 5th (22:53.7)
Dylan Throop – 7th (22:57.0)
Daelen Ackley – 8th (22:58.9)
Cameron Todd – 18th (23:19.1)
CJ Singleton – 21st (23:26.6)
Sam Rich – 28th (23:37.9)
Ryan Pajak – 42nd (23:51.1)
Colin Whitaker – 48th (23:52.8)
Benji Anderson (unattached) – 50th (23:53.9)
Men’s Blue Division Team Scores (Top Eight)
1. Notre Dame – 40
2. Boise State – 71
3. Wyoming – 125
4. Purdue – 146
5. Grand Valley State – 158
6. Wisconsin-La Crosse – 172
7. Cincinnati – 239
8. Liberty – 243
Open Race
Several Irish runners competed in the combined men’s and women’s open race. Kevin Sanchez took first place in the men’s open 8k race with a time of 23:48.9. Jason Parra placed third with a 23:59.2, and Jack Henzke was sixth in a time of 24:20.8.
In the women’s open 5k race, Helen Sachs competed unattached and captured first place overall with a 16:53.1. Rosie Mucharsky was also competing unattached and took second in a time of 17:11.4. Nicki Southerland placed fourth in the race after turning in a 17:20.3.
Open Results – Men
Kevin Sanchez – 1st (23:48.9)
Jason Parra – 3rd (23:59.2)
Jack Henzke – 6th (24:20.8)
Jack Bertram (unattached) – 8th (24:25.7)
Riku Sugie (unattached) – 25:11.7
Open Results – Women
Helen Sachs (unattached) – 1st (16:53.1)
Rosie Mucharsky – 2nd (17:11.4)
Nicki Southerland – 4th (17:20.3)
Alexis Allen – 9th (17:40.8)
Grace Schager – 11th (17:44.4)
Elena Ryback – 17th (17:54.7)
Bella Guillamondegui – 28th (18:09.3)
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NOTRE DAME VOLLEYBALL
NOTRE DAME LOSES BATTLE TO #4 STANFORD
PALO ALTO, Calif. – The Notre Dame volleyball team battled hard in the first two sets at fourth-ranked Stanford, but ultimately fell Friday night, 22-25, 24-26, 14-25. The Irish are now 4-7 overall and 1-2 in Atlantic Coast Conference play.
Morgan Gaerte continued her excellent play this season, recording 13 kills on a .344 hitting percentage. She had seven of those kills in the second set alone. The sophomore has had double-digit kills in every game this season.
Grace Langer had eight blocks and five kills on the night, while Sydney Helmers and Anna Bjork both had five blocks. Notre Dame had 13.0 total blocks on the evening.
The Irish will look to bounce back Sunday at California at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT.
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NOTRE DAME MEN’S SOCCER
#23 IRISH AND HOKIES BATTLE TO 1-1 STANDSTILL
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The No. 23 Fighting Irish and Virginia Tech played to a 1-1 draw on Friday evening at Alumni Stadium. The result moves Notre Dame’s record to 6-2-3 on the season and 2-1-1 in ACC play.
Notre Dame’s goal once again came by way of a set piece, as Wyatt Borso scored a header off a corner. The Irish now have 10 set piece goals on the season with six coming off corners.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Irish absorbed some early pressure on the counter from the visitors in the opening stages of the match but didn’t allow any clear cut chances to keep the contest scoreless.
Notre Dame scored the opener in the 21st minute to take a 1-0 lead. Borso had an effort from the edge of the area blocked out for a corner and Nolan Spicer’s service found Borso at the back post for a header that he powered into the back of the net.
Neither team was able to score for the remainder of the half and the Irish held the one-goal advantage at the halftime intermission.
The Irish nearly doubled their lead out of the gate in the second half, as Borso won the race to a ball over the top, took a touch to get around the keeper but his shot rolled just wide of the near post.
Notre Dame’s press nearly produced a goal in the 59th minute, as the Irish turned the Hokies over in the final third. Borso calmly laid a pass off at the edge of the area to an on rushing Baffour, who put his effort just wide of the post.
The Hokies began throwing numbers forward, trying to find the equalizer and in the 83rd minute the pressure paid off. Virginia Tech scored off a header from a corner to level the score at 1-1.
In the final minutes of action Blake Kelly made a huge diving stop to help the Irish come away with a 1-1 draw.
McFARLAND FAMILY MEN’S HEAD SOCCER COACH CHAD RILEY’S TAKE
On the match…
“Disappointed not to get the result but Virginia Tech is a very good team. We played really well, played tough and gritty and had some great moments of quality. I’m disappointed and think we were a little unfortunate not to get a goal to start the second half. I thought we came out exceptional in the second half.”
UP NEXT
Notre Dame’s seven-match homestand comes to a close against Green Bay at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Oct. 7 in a non-conference match at Alumni Stadium. Admission to the game is free and it will be streamed on ACCNX.
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NOTRE DAME HOCKEY
IRISH VICTORIOUS OVER USNTDP FRIDAY NIGHT
PLYMOUTH, Mich. — The Notre Dame hockey team opened the 2025-26 season in convincing fashion, topping the U.S. National Team Development Program 5-2 in exhibition play Friday night.
Scoring from 10 individuals Friday night ultimately lifted the Irish to victory, including four newcomers in Will Belle (1-1-2), Pano Fimis (1-1-2), Sutter Muzzatti (0-1-1) and Dash Oliver (0-1-1).
The Irish got on the board quickly after Michael Mastrodomenico connected with Pano Fimis off the rush for a goal at 3:27 of the opening frame.
The U18s found the equalizer shortly after when a shot from AJ Garcia beat Nicholas Kempf in the Irish crease but the score wouldn’t last long as Cole Knuble brushed off his stick and fired a shot into the back of the net just seconds into an Irish powerplay opportunity to reclaim the lead at 11:42 of the first.
The score would hold through the end of the first as Knuble’s tally proved the difference-maker after 20 minutes of play.
The two teams remained locked in the 2-1 tally at the first media timeout of the second period following a successful kill by the Irish just under five minutes into play.
Notre Dame got a chance on the man-advantage shortly after the second media timeout. However, a shot from Cole Brown rang off the pipe to keep it a one-goal game.
The two sides returned to full strength and the U18s peppered the Irish net with shots but Kempf managed to cast them all aside in the final minutes.
With just under one minute to play in the frame, Mastrodomenico extended the lead with assists from a pair of new faces on the squad this season as Sutter Muzzatti and Dashel Oliver set up the third goal of the night.
The Irish wasted no time extending their lead in the third as Will Belle net his first for the Blue and Golf just 64 seconds into the frame, giving the Irish the 4-1 edge.
The U18s would get one back with 10:42 left in regulation, making it a 4-2 game, but the Jack Williams would hold them to that one goal in the period while Jayden Davis finished the scoring off with the team’s fifth of the night.
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BUTLER MEN’S SOCCER
BUTLER NETS FOUR, SHUTS OUT DEPAUL
CHICAGO, Ill. – The Butler men’s soccer team scored four goals for the first time this season and produced a defensive shutout in a road victory at DePaul. The Bulldogs (3-8-0, 1-2-0 BIG EAST) scored one goal in the first half and added three in the second in their second-consecutive defeat of the Blue Demons (2-4-5, 0-2-1 BIG EAST) in as many seasons.
Key Moments
24′ | Josemir Gomez puts Butler on the board with an assist Lou-Kent Bosc.
HALFTIME
58′ | A Butler foul in the area leads to a penalty kick for DePaul. The shot from the mark is saved by Aurie Briscoe, preserving the 1-0 lead for the Bulldogs.
61′ | Luca Raso scores for the Bulldogs, increasing the lead to 2-0.
65′ | A hard DePaul foul leads to a red card. The Blue Demons will play a man down through the remainder of the match.
65′ | Edgar Opsahl gives Butler a three-goal cushion with assists from Ryan Hannosh and Peter Tolkin.
80′ | Aiden Benitez tacks on one more. It’s 4-0 Dawgs.
Butler Points Summary
GOALS: Josemir Gomez, Luca Raso, Edgar Opsahl, Aiden Benitez
ASSISTS: Lou-Kent Bosc, Ryan Hannosh, Peter Tolkin
Bulldog Bits
The goal for Josemir Gomez was his first this season. He has nine in his career at Butler.
Luca Raso’s goal was his second this season and the third of his career.
Edgar Opsahl’s goal was a career first.
The goal by Aiden Benitez was his third this season.
The assist from Lou-Kent Bosc was his first this season and the second of his career.
Peter Tolkin’s assist was his first this season and the second of his career.
The assist from Ryan Hannosh was his first this season and the ninth of his career.
Aurie Briscoe made four saves in his second shutout of the season.
Up Next
Butler remains on the road for a non-conference match at Oakland on Tuesday, October 7.
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BUTLER VOLLEYBALL
VILLANOVA DEFEATS BUTLER IN STRAIGHT SETS
Villanova, Pa.- Butler fell to BIG EAST foe Villanova 3-0 Friday evening. Butler moves to 7-9 on the season and 0-3 in conference play.
Bulldog Bites
Sawyer Jones tied her career high in blocks tonight (6)
Alaleh Tolliver led the Dawgs in kills and digs. She picked up 12 kills and tallied nine digs.
Zoe McDonald and Ellery Rees each had four blocks
McDonald finished with six kills while hitting .600
Set 1 Villanova (25-19)
The Wildcats started the match strong, building an early 10-4 lead. Two kills from Alaleh Tolliver and another from Zoe McDonald highlighted a 10-4 Butler run that tied the set at 14. Villanova responded by regaining the lead and maintaining it for the rest of the set. Tolliver notched back-to-back kills to bring Butler within 18-16, but the Wildcats held off the Bulldogs to take the first set.
Set 2 Villanova (25-23)
The Bulldogs jumped on the Wildcats early in the second set, building a 12-8 lead behind kills from Sawyer Jones, Ellery Rees, Alaleh Tolliver, Zoe McDonald and Elise Ward. Butler extended its advantage to 17-10 with additional kills from Ward and Tolliver. Villanova, however, mounted an impressive comeback, tying the set at 20 and eventually winning it, 25-23.
Set 3 Villanova (25-15)
Set three belonged to Villanova. The two sides went back and forth early, and a block assist from Zoe McDonald and Elise Ward, along with a kill from McDonald, helped Butler remain within striking distance. However, Villanova built a 20-13 lead before winning the set, 25-15, and the match, 3-0.
Up Next
Butler will be back in action tomorrow night, taking on Georgetown at 7 p.m. ET.
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BUTLER FOOTBALL
BULLDOGS TAKE TO THE ROAD FOR SATURDAY KICK AT ST. THOMAS
GAME 6: Butler (3-2, 1-0 PIONEER FOOTBALL LEAGUE) at ST. THOMAS (2-2, 0-1 PFL)
Date: Saturday, Oct. 4
Time: 2PM ET / 1PM CT
Location: St. Paul, Minn. | O’Shaughnessy Stadium
LAST WEEK: Archie Cox took a short pass, broke a tackle and sprinted 48 yards for the deciding score with 1:47 remaining on the clock as Butler captured a 31-28 Homecoming win over Marist Saturday afternoon.
THE SERIES: This is the fifth meeting in the series between the two programs with St. Thomas holding a 3-1 advantage. Butler won last year’s match-up in Indianapolis by a score of 36-20 (Nov. 16, 2024). The teams first met in 2021 and have played each season since.
ONE YEAR AGO: Nick Howard ran for three touchdowns and passed for one helping the Bulldogs pick up the 36-20 home victory over St. Thomas. The Bulldogs gave Howard 22 carries in the win which resulted in 97 yards. Butler ran the ball 49 times against the Tommies and limited one of the best backs in the PFL to just 61 rushing yards. Forty of Hope Adebayo’s 61 yards came on one play. Butler’s defense was led by Steven Stephany and his six-tackle, two-interception performance. The Bulldogs picked off four passes in total.
BULLDOG BLITZ:
Following Saturday’s win, the Bulldogs are 17-4 when playing at the Sellick Bowl since the beginning of the 2022 season.
Butler quarterback Reagan Andrew returned to action for the Bulldogs after missing the last two games. He tossed three touchdown passes and combined for 151 yards through the air and 57 yards rushing against Marist.
Will Mason had an interception, forced fumble and two passed defended for the Bulldogs in the win over Marist.
Tight end Brady Preston has three receptions in 2025; each has resulted in a touchdown.
Griffin Caldwin broke loose for a 56-yard touchdown run against Marist Saturday, which was the longest run of his Butler career.
Caldwell’s run contributed to 225 rushing yards for the Bulldogs in Saturday’s win over Marist. Butler ran the ball 39 times for an average of 5.8 yards per carry. As impressive as Butler’s rushing attack was, the Bulldogs’ run defense was even better, limiting the Marist offense to only 21 yards on 23 carries for a 0.8-yards-per-rush average.
Ten different Bulldogs have been parts of sacks so far during the young season, led by Jackson Stratton and his four sacks. That figure leads the PFL and is 25th in FCS.
Marist entered last week’s game leading FCS at 38.0 yards per kick-off return. Butler kicker neutralized them with touchbacks on all six kick-offs.
Subbing for an injured Reagan Andrew in the Sept. 20 game at Weber State, redshirt freshman quarterback Gabe Passini had 175 yards rushing on 23 carries in the most extensive action of his Butler career. He added five completions for 51 yards, while accounting for touchdowns both on the ground and through the air.
Butler was picked fourth in the 2025 Pioneer Football League Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
Jeremiah Jackson and Danny Orgler represent Butler on the 2025 Preseason All-PFL Team.
Butler added 29 newcomers to the 2025 roster, including transfers from Ball State, Idaho, and Toledo, and Tulane.
TAKING OUR TIME: Controlling the ball for an average of 33:26 per game so far this season, Butler ranks seventh in FCS in time of possession. Butler had the ball for 40:10 in the Sept. 6 win over Truman State.
MONEY ON THE MONEY DOWNS: Butler’s defense did not allow Marist to convert a third down in Saturday’s game as the Red Foxes were 0-for-13 on third down conversions. On the season, Butler opponents have converted only 28.8 percent of third-down chances. That figure places Butler’s defense 12th in the FCS. Marist went for it on fourth down seven times in the contest, converting four. Those were the first successful fourth-down conversions against the Butler defense this season. On the season, Butler opponents have only converted 33.3 percent of fourth-down attempts, a mark that ranks the Butler defense 14th in FCS.
YOU SHOULDN’T BE THROWING THINGS: Butler has not seen many yellow flags so far this season. The Bulldogs rank among the FCS Top 10 in fewest penalties committed. Butler’s average of only 4.0 accepted penalties per game is eighth nationally. Butler’s average of 36.6 penalty yards per game is 16th fewest nationally.
MIGHT NOT NEED TO WASH THAT JERSEY: The Bulldogs have allowed only four sacks through five games. That average of 0.8 sacks allowed per game is ninth fewest in FCS.
NOT AT A LOSS FOR YARDS: Ethan Loss ranks eighth in FCS, averaging 142.6 all-purpose yards per game. He ranks second in the PFL with 28 receptions on the season and ranks fourth in the PFL with his 339 receiving yards. Loss had a 90-yard kick-off return for a touchdown Sept. 13 at Hanover and a rushing touchdown at Weber State Sept. 20.
BIG PAW: Butler redshirt sophomore Luke Green was named the Pioneer Football League (PFL) Special Teams Player of the Week after Green blocked two PATs in Butler’s 37-27 Sept. 6 victory over Truman State. He is one of four players tied for the FCS lead with two blocked kicks on the season.
SCOUTING ST. THOMAS: The Tommies are 2-2 on the season and lost their PFL opener last week at San Diego, 30-27, as the home team used a pair of field goals in the final two minutes to take the win. St. Thomas has been part of relatively clean games all season, turning the ball over only twice (both fumbles) while forcing only three turnovers by their opponents.
NEW ON THE WHISTLE: Butler head coach Kevin Lynch was hired in December to lead the Bulldog program after serving as Ball State’s offensive play caller last year (as well as the Assistant Head Coach and Quarterbacks Coach for the Cardinals during the 2024 season). Former Butler assistant Colin Johnson, who was part of the Ball State staff alongside Lynch, returned to the Bulldog staff as the offensive coordinator. Lynch hired Jordan Belfiori as defensive coordinator and retained Joe Cheshire, who has been part of the Butler staff since 2004, to oversee special teams.
UP NEXT: The Bulldogs return to the Sellick Bowl to host Presbyterian Saturday, Oct. 11; that contest is part of Family Weekend on the Butler campus. Presbyterian, which has a bye this weekend, is 5-0 and currently ranked in both FCS national polls (at No. 23 and No. 24, respectively).
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IU INDY VOLLEYBALL
JAGUARS EARN STATEMENT WIN OVER PANTHERS
INDIANAPOLIS – The IU Indy volleyball team battled back after a slow start to knock off Milwaukee in four sets (17–25, 25–18, 26–24, 25–16) on Friday night inside the Jungle. The win marked the Jaguars’ first over the Panthers since 2022, snapping a recent skid in the series.
After dropping the opening set, the Jaguars roared back. The turning point came in the third set, a back-and-forth battle featuring 12 ties. A late kill from Ninah Miranda sealed the 26–24 win, giving the Jaguars momentum they carried into the fourth, where they rolled past the Panthers with a .342 hitting clip.
Jillian Tippmann powered the offense with a match-high 17 kills, while Morgan Ostrowski and Chloe Macias chipped in 10 apiece. Ostrowski was especially efficient, hitting .529 and adding two blocks.
Setter Grace Purichia directed the attack with 53 assists and spread the offense well, while also contributing 11 digs. Miranda shined on both ends of the floor, tallying 10 kills and a team-high 15 digs. Libero Laura Roeder anchored the defense with 20 digs, helping IU Indy out-dig Milwaukee 72–65.
With the victory, IU Indy evened its record at 8–8 (2–2 Horizon League), while Milwaukee dropped to 3–14 (3–1 Horizon League). The Jags and Panthers are set for a 2:00 PM rematch tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 4.
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BALL STATE VOLLEYBALL
4-0 IN #MACTION, VOLLEYBALL TOPS WESTERN MICHIGAN 3-1
MUNCIE, Ind. – – The Ball State women’s volleyball team remained undefeated in Mid-American Conference play, earning a 3-1 (25-16, 14-25, 25-23, 25-22) victory over Western Michigan Friday night in Worthen Arena.
The Cardinals (8-8; 4-0 MAC) turned in another solid effort on defense, including limiting the Broncos (6-11; 3-1 MAC) to a .108 hitting mark in the final set to earn the hard-fought victory. Playing a huge role in sealing the victory for Ball State was junior middle Gwen Crull who registered three kills and four total blocks in the final frame.
Overall, Crull finished the match with 11 kills and led the Ball State offense with a .500 (11-1-20) attack percentage. She also tied for match-high honors with six total blocks, while serving up one of the Cardinals’ seven aces. It was Crull’s fourth match with double-digit kills in the last seven outings.
Sophomore outside Carson Tyler once again led all players with 15 kills on the night, while earning 14 digs for her ninth double-double of the season. Five of Tyler’s kills came in the final set, including the blast to end the match.
Ball State also received solid offensive performances from sophomore opposite Tiffany Snook and junior middle Camryn Wise who tallied nine and seven kills, respectively. Snook hit .389 (9-2-18) on the night, while league-leader Wise connected at a .385 (7-2-13) clip.
Once again, the setter duo of junior Lindsey Green and freshman Reese Axness ran the show for Ball State, guiding the team to a .227 (54-20-150) attack percentage with 28 and 18 assists, respectively. Axness would add two aces and eight digs, while Green was credited five digs, one ace and one kill.
Sophomore libero Sophie Ledbetter led all players with 21 digs, her fifth with 20+ digs this season, while successfully passing 43 of the match-high 44 serves she faced. Redshirt freshman opposite Riley Whitlock chipped in five kills, three blocks and three digs, while graduate outside Noelle VanOort added six kills, three digs and two blocks.
Also seeing action was sophomore Elizabeth Tabeling with five digs and an ace. Overall, all 10 Cardinals who entered the match recorded at least one dig to help limit WMU to a .222 (55-21-153) attack percentage.
Annalise Patchett and Mary Clare Brusek each collected 12 kills for the Broncos, while Molly Brown chipped in 11 to give the guests three in double figures. Elana Erickson led the WMU defense with 14 digs, while Amanda Glanton tied for match-high honors with six total blocks.
The Ball State women’s volleyball team returns to the road Tuesday, when it battles league travel partner Miami for a 6:30 p.m. first serve at Millett Hall. The Cardinals then return home Friday (6 p.m.) and Saturday (4 p.m.) to host Toledo.
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BALL STATE FIELD HOCKEY
FIELD HOCKEY FALLS TO NO. 19 JAMES MADISON
HARRISONBURG, Va. – The Ball State field hockey team couldn’t overcome a strong start by No. 19 James Madison and fell 5-0 to the Duke on Friday afternoon at the JMU Field Hockey Complex.
James Madison (8-4, 3-1 Mid-American Conference) scored twice in the first three minutes on its way to building a 3-0 edge after the first quarter over the Cardinals (3-9, 1-3 MAC). After being shut down in the second and third periods, the Dukes scored twice more in the fourth quarter for the final margin.
Ball State goalkeeper Carleigh Hofelich made 11 saves while playing the entire contest. Christine Ditizio (two shots on goal) and Jade Vandevoorde (one) both had looks to score for the Cardinals, who registered seven total shots on the day.
The hosts earned more penalty corners (16-3) and took more shots (33-7), but failed to convert on any of the 15 shot attempts across the second and third quarters.
Ball State will stay in Virigina to face Richmond at 11 a.m. on Sunday.
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INDIANA STATE VOLLEYBALL
SYCAMORES WIN ON THE ROAD AT SOUTHERN ILLINOIS FRIDAY NIGHT
CARBONDALE, Ill. – Indiana State volleyball secured their second-straight conference win in four tonight versus. Southern Illinois. The Sycamores continue conference play on the road Saturday, Oct. 4 at Evansville.
The Trees’ offense was led by Kira Holland with 17 kills, followed closely by Curry Kendall with 11 and Hadley Hardersen with 10. Holland also led the defense with 16 digs, Emily Weber added an additional 15 and Chole Gilley with 13 digs.
Set 1 | Indiana State 25, SIU 22
The Sycamores opened the set in a back and forth manner. It was not until a 7-0 serving run, aided in part by kills by Holland and Hardersen, that gave the Sycamores a six-point lead. The Salukies were able to string a few runs together to battle back to tie the game at 22. However, two kills by Kendall gave the Trees the edge to close out set one.
Set 2 | Indiana State 26, SIU 24
The Salukies opened up set two with a 7-1 run. A kill by Kendall set the Sycamores up for a 6-0 run to bring the game back to even. The rest of the match was back and forth with neither team having a larger lead than three. A kill by Kendall and a block by both Kimora Whetstone and Kendall gave the Sycamores the two-point edge in an extended set.
Set 3 | SIU 25, Indiana State 17
Both teams came out wanting to put this set away. With the game knotted at nine, the Salukies went on an 8-0 run that ultimately led to the eight-point set victory. Despite kills by Hardersen and Whetstone, SIU finished the set with a .483 hitting percentage as a team to take the set from Indiana State.
Set 4 | Indiana State 25, SIU 23
The Sycamores were able to open set four on a 4-3 run on the backs of errors by the Salukies’ offense. Despite back and forth efforts by both teams, the Sycamores took the lead at 3-2 early in the set and kept the edge over the Salukies until late into the fourth. An error by the Trees tied the game at 19. A kill by Ava Robart and a service ace by Ella Scott gave the Sycamores a crucial three-point lead at 22-19. Despite attempts by the Salukies, a kill by Holland sealed the deal for Sycamores to secure their second conference win in a row.
News and Notes
Indiana State recorded back-to-back MVC wins for the first time since November 20 and 25, 2021.
The Sycamores hit .177 and tallied up 70 total digs and secured the win despite the Salukies hitting .230 and having 73 digs.
This win marks the first time the Sycamores beat SIU in the Ashlee Pritchard era (dating back through the start of the 2022 season).
Out of the six main categories, SIU finished with better numbers in five:
Total points: Indiana State 63, SIU 74
Kills: Indiana State 54, SIU 59
Aces: Indiana State 3, SIU 2
Block: Indiana State 6, SIU 13
Assists: Indiana State 52, SIU 56
Digs: Indiana State 70, SIU 73
Kira Holland, Emily Weber, and Avery Hales all recorded a double-double for the second-straight match.
Kimora Whetstone finished with a .444 hitting percentage, the eighth time this season.
Hadley Hardersen recorded back-to-back 10-kill matches for the first time this season.
With Kira Holland (16) and Chloe Gilley (15) recording 15+ digs, it marks the first time done so since October 2024.
Up Next
The Sycamores head to the University of Evansville on Saturday, Oct. 4 for a 6 p.m. ET start time.
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PURDUE FT. WAYNE VOLLEYBALL
MASTODONS DROP #HLVB MATCH TO GREEN BAY
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Green Bay won a 3-0 (29-27, 25-14, 25-23) volleyball match against the Purdue Fort Wayne women’s volleyball team on Friday night (Oct. 3) in the Gates Sports Center.
The opening set was as tightly contested as could be, with both teams having at least one set point opportunity. The Mastodons put together a 5-0 run midway through the set, which featured a Meg Berkland Ace and two blocks from Haiden Means. Green Bay pushed back with a 5-1 stretch, then the two traded individual points and mini-runs the rest of the way. Green Bay ultimately scored three of the last four to take the set. Trinity Rye and Mya Plemons both had five of their eight kills in the opening frame.
After a 9-8 Green Bay lead, the second set was all Phoenix. They had 4-0, 3-0, 2-0 and 6-0 runs after that point. The last set was as competitive as the first with 11 ties and four lead changes, but a late timeout for Green Bay led to a 6-2 finish for the Phoenix to end the match early.
Plemons was a bright spot offensively for the Mastodons, finishing with eight kills on 16 swings for a .438 percentage. Riley Rosneck finished with 11 kills and seven digs while owning a solid .308 hitting percentage. Becky Barrett had 15 digs for the ‘Dons.
Green Bay was great on the offensive side, hitting .362 as a team. Reigning Horizon League Player of the Week Diane Pichelman had 18 kills on a .607 percentage. Setter Emma Johnson had a good night as well, dishing out 46 of the team’s 49 assists.
Purdue Fort Wayne fell to 2-13, 0-4 Horizon League while Green Bay improved to 4-11, 3-1. The two teams will meet again on Saturday (Oct. 4) at 2 p.m.
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EVANSVILLE VOLLEYBALL
UE FALLS TO BELMONT IN WEEKEND OPENER
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Ryan Scheu recorded 13 kills to lead the University of Evansville volleyball team in a 3-0 loss to Belmont on Friday evening inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse.
Scheu finished the night hitting an efficient .545. Holland Morris added 10 kills. Ainoah Cruz led all players with 19 digs while Kora Ruff totaled 34 assists. Sabrina Ripple was credited with three block assists and four kills. Leading the Bruins was Brooke Gilleland with a match-high 14 kills.
Game 1 – Belmont 25, UE 18
Ryan Scheu had a big start as she posted a pair of early kills leading to a 4-4 tie. From that point, the Bruins took control. After going up by a score of 10-6 Belmont slowly pulled away to go up 18-11. Kills by Kora Ruff and Holland Morris were followed by an ace from Ainioah Cruz, which brought UE back within three at 18-15. Following a time out, Belmont regrouped to win by a 25-18 final.
Game 2 – Belmont 25, UE 23
Another kill by Scheu put UE up by a pair before Belmont tied things up at 3-3. A close battle ensued with things staying within a single point. Morris put UE back on top at 9-8 before the Aces opened a 16-13 edge thanks to a pair of Chloe Cline kills. Belmont stormed back to go up by a 19-17 margin, however, the Aces staged a rally of their own. Scheu’s 10th kill of the night tied things up at 21-21 while Cline’s fifth kill later knotted the score at 23-23. The Bruins retook control as they scored the final two points to take a 2-0 match advantage.
Game 3 – Belmont 25, UE 19
Helped by a Brooke Herdes service ace, UE jumped out to a 3-0 lead. Belmont came back to tie the set at 5-5 before going up 8-6. A pair of Morris kills tied things right up before the Bruins would wrestle away a 13-9 lead. As the set moved along the Bruins added to the lead, going up by a 23-14 margin. UE made a final push with Scheu notching two more kills to cut the deficit to 23-18. After calling a time out, Belmont finished the match with a 25-19 decision.
UE is back home on Saturday to face Indiana State at 5 p.m.
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SOUTHERN INDIANA VOLLEYBALL
SCREAMING EAGLES TAKE THEIR FIRST OVC WIN OF 2025
EVANSVILLE, Ind.- University of Southern Indiana Volleyball takes its first Ohio Valley Conference win of the season against Eastern Illinois University in a dominant three-set sweep.
The Screaming Eagles handed the Panthers their first OVC loss of the season, as they hosted Dig Pink night to raise awareness for breast cancer.
Set 1: USI 25, EIU 20
The Screaming Eagles came out strong in their first OVC match in Liberty Arena, maintaining the lead after the third point. Senior Bianca Anderson and junior Leah Coleman led the court with five kills each. Junior Ashby Willis picked up four digs. The Eagles challenged EIU from the service line, landing four aces.
Set 2: USI 25, EIU 23
USI pumped up their offensive production in the second set, tallying 19 kills as a team for a .422 hitting percentage with no errors. Kills were led by Coleman, who added another six to the board. Willis recorded six kills, as well, to bring her total to eight, while she led the team with seven more digs.
Set 3: USI 25, EIU 19
The Eagles came in dominant for the final set, taking the lead after two points and maintaining it to the end. Anderson led the offense with four kills, followed by Willis and freshman Carley Wright with three each. The defense kept EIU to their lowest hitting percentage of the game, picking up 21 digs and three blocks.
As a team, the Eagles tallied their second-highest hitting percentage of the season at .342, making just eight errors, the lowest in a game since the 2021 season. Three Eagles reached double-digit kills, led by Anderson and Coleman with 12 each.
Freshman setter Aysa Thomas marked her eighth consecutive double-double with 39 assists and 10 digs. Willis marked her sixth double-double of the season with 11 kills and 15 digs, which led the team.
Next up, the Eagles are back in Liberty Arena tomorrow to take on the Panthers for the second game of the series. Fans can follow USI Athletics on Facebook, Instagram, and X for game coverage and online at usiscreamingeagles.com.
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SOUTHERN INDIANA WOMEN’S SOCCER
SCREAMING EAGLES SET TO BATTLE TROJANS
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Soccer starts October with the front end of back-to-back Ohio Valley Conference road matches on Sunday at Noon when the Screaming Eagles travel to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
Sunday’s match can be seen with a subscription to ESPN+.
USI Women’s Soccer (5-5-2, 2-0-1 OVC) is 1-2-1 in the all-time series against Little Rock (3-3-4, 1-0-2 OVC), including a 1-0 home win last season and a 0-0 draw in USI’s previous visit to Little Rock in 2023. USI enters the weekend matchup second in the OVC with seven points, while Little Rock is fourth at 5 points.
The Screaming Eagles head into Sunday’s OVC contest on a seven-match unbeaten streak, going 5-0-2 in the last seven matches. It is USI’s best stretch since 2021, when USI collected a seven-game winning streak. The Eagles have outscored the opposition during the streak, 13-2. As part of the current streak, USI went undefeated for the entire calendar month of September, a program first since 1998.
Last time out, the Eagles recorded their third consecutive OVC result and second straight win with a 2-1 home victory last Sunday against Southeast Missouri State University. After the Redhawks tied the match, 1-1, with 15 minutes to go, USI answered with its second penalty-kick goal of the match nearly five minutes later for the game-winning goal. Senior forward Peyton Murphy and redshirt sophomore forward Eva Boer scored USI’s goals in the match. Boer tallied a career-high eight shots with a career-high four on target in the game. It was also Boer’s fourth straight game with a shot on goal.
Before SEMO scored its goal last Sunday in the 75th minute, the Screaming Eagles’ defense organized its second defensive scoreless streak of 300-plus minutes this season. The most recent stretch lasted 317 minutes, which is the third-longest streak among OVC teams this season. Earlier this season, USI had a defensive scoreless stretch of 313 consecutive minutes.
This season, senior forward Emerson Grafton leads USI in scoring with eight points off three goals and two assists. Boer and sophomore forward Josie Pochocki are tied for second on the team with seven points off three goals and an assist. Grafton and Boer are top five in the OVC in shots with 28 and 26 attempts, respectively. In goal, redshirt junior goalkeeper Anna Markland has a 1.39 GAA with 33 saves and five shutouts, ranking tied for second in the OVC.
As a team, USI ranks second in the OVC with 17 goals and first with 15 assists, adding up to second in the OVC with 49 points on the season. The 17 goals, which have come in the last nine matches, are already USI’s second-best team total in a season in the program’s D-I era behind the 20 goals the Eagles scored in 2024. The Screaming Eagles also rank second in the OVC with 156 shots and top five with 59 shots on goal.
Little Rock carries a four-match unbeaten streak in Sunday’s clash with USI. The Trojans are coming off a 2-0 victory at home last Sunday against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, scoring both goals in the second half. Prior to that win, the Trojans notched three consecutive ties. Little Rock has not lost at home this season (2-0-2).
Sunday’s matchup features a battle of the top two offensive teams in the OVC, as Little Rock is just in front of USI with 21 goals scored and 159 shots this season. Sophomore forward Maria Schuller leads the charge for Little Rock, pacing the squad with 16 points on a team-best six goals and four assists. Schuller also has a team-high 35 shots and 15 shots on goal. Senior midfielder Amaya Arias and sophomore forward Maggie Turner have four goals each, while junior midfielder Candice Kilderry has three goals and three assists.
Between the posts, senior goalkeeper Peyton Urban has a 1.85 GAA with 43 saves in 10 starts. Urban recently recorded her first solo shutout of the season and 17th career clean sheet last Sunday against SIUE, setting a new program record. Urban made seven saves against SIUE.
Following Sunday’s game, USI Women’s Soccer continues the OVC road stretch next Thursday afternoon at Eastern Illinois, which currently sits first in the conference standings ahead of USI.
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VALPO VOLLEYBALL
VOLLEYBALL EMERGES VICTORIOUS IN FIVE SETS AT ILLINOIS STATE
The Valpo volleyball team jumped out to a two-set lead Friday night at Illinois State, and after the host Redbirds came back to take the next two sets, the Beacons controlled the fifth set to walk away with a 3-2 (29-27, 25-21, 24-26, 21-25, 15-11) victory.
How It Happened
The decisive fifth set started with Addy Kois (Osceola, Ind./Penn) on the serve as Valpo won the first three points of the set, starting a frame in which the Beacons would never trail.
The Redbirds tied the score at 4-4 and 5-5, but at the latter point, Valpo put together another three-point spurt — including an overdig turned killed for Emma Hickey (Granger, Ind./Penn) and a service ace by Mara Thomas (Bogart, Ga./Athens Academy) — to take an 8-5 lead into the media timeout.
ISU got back to within one point at 9-8 and 10-9, but both times the Beacons responded, first with a kill from Kadence Brumitt (Niles, Mich./Brandywine) and then a kill from Sam Warren (Kentland, Ind./South Newton). All Valpo had to do from that point was keep the Redbirds from stringing together consecutive points, and the Beacons handled that, with Hickey eventually closing the match with a service ace.
A back-and-forth opening set which featured 14 ties and four lead changes saw the largest lead come early on with Valpo ahead 5-2. After that point, neither side’s lead was largest than two points.
The Beacons had set point at 24-23, the Redbirds at 25-24, and the Beacons at 26-25 and 27-26, but each time the opposition came up with a point to extend the frame. Finally, on Valpo’s fourth set point chance, Lilly Merk (Terre Haute, Ind./Terre Haute South Vigo) came through with a kill to give the Beacons the opener.
The second set was trending ISU’s way with the Redbirds leading 20-15 before a Hickey kill sent the libero back to the service line. The senior proceeded to serve the next eight points — including three kills from Ava Helming (Johnston, Iowa/Johnston) — to turn what had been a five-point deficit into a four-point lead.
Finally, at 24-20, a Valpo attack error snapped the run, but an ISU service error closed the second set in Valpo’s favor to give the Beacons a 2-0 lead in the match.
Valpo was within three points of a sweep after rallying from a six-point deficit in the third set, holding a 22-21 lead, but the Redbirds rallied to earn the first set point chance at 24-23. A Helming kill extended the set, but ISU came up with the next two points.
The Beacons held a four-point lead at the media timeout in the fourth set at 15-11, but were unable to maintain it, as the Redbirds scored six in a row later in the frame to go up 20-17. Valpo responded with the next three points to briefly even the set before ISU closed the set on a 5-1 run to force the decisive fifth frame.
Inside the Match
Valpo is now 2-1 in MVC play, having played three of the top four teams in the Valley preseason poll in its first three matches.
After going 1-6 in their first seven matchups against the Redbirds in Normal after joining the MVC, the Beacons have won their last three road meetings with Illinois State.
The five-set win was Valpo’s first victory of the year in a match which goes the distance, as the Beacons had previously dropped five-set matches to Northern Kentucky and Northwestern.
Valpo’s nine-point run in the second set tied its largest run of the year, while the Beacons also won a set they trailed at the 20-point mark for just the third time this year (3-14).
On the attack, the Beacons’ 74 kills and 67 assists both marked season highs. Defensively, their 14 blocks were tied for second-most in a match this year and their 93 digs were second-most.
Known for her digging prowess, Hickey stood out at the service line Friday. The senior delivered a career-best five service aces, capped by the match-clinching point. Five aces are tied for second-most in a five-set match by a Valpo player in the 25-point era and tied for third-most in any length match in the 25-point era.
Of course, Hickey also did her normal work in the back row as well, posting a match-best and season-high 37 digs while also contributing a season-best eight assists. Along the way, Hickey surpassed the 2,400-dig mark for her career.
Jessica Pickett (Carmel, Ind./Carmel) flew past the 200-block milestone for her career, as she was part of a match-high and season-best nine blocks.
Valpo’s attack featured four players in double digits in kills, led by Helming, who recorded 17 terminations to go with four blocks. It marked the 10th time this year the sophomore has paced the Beacons in kills from the right side.
Warren easily bested her season high with a 16-kill night, hitting at a .367 clip. Brumitt posted 12 kills and 15 digs, while Jordyn Gove (Amarillo, Texas/Randall) matched her season best with 11 kills.
Kois registered a double-double with 33 assists and 15 digs — both season highs — while Thomas handed out 24 assists in the win.
Next Up
Valpo (11-5, 2-1 MVC) looks to sweep the central Illinois road trip for the third consecutive time on Saturday when it takes on Bradley at 5 p.m.
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VALPO SWIMMING
SWIMMING SWEEPS DUAL MEET AT EIU TO OPEN SEASON
The Valpo swim teams got the 2025-26 campaign off to a winning start on Friday in Charleston, Ill., earning 18 event victories as they swept a dual meet from host Eastern Illinois. The women emerged victorious by a 168-97 count, while the men earned their first win over the Panthers since 2017 with a 157.5-104.5 win.
How It Happened
A pair of freshmen on the women’s side enjoyed tremendous collegiate debuts Friday. Una Dizdarevic (Bloomingdale, Ill./Lake Park) earned event victories in both the 50 free (24.79) and the 100 free (55.04), leading 1-2-3 Valpo finishes in both events.
Dizdarevic also anchored the Beacons’ winning 400 medley relay squad, joined by Sophie Schoch (Medina, Ohio/Medina), Natalie Eaton (Tulsa, Okla./Jenks) and Kailyn Benoit (Sussex, Wis./Hamilton) as the quartet took top honors with a time of 4:04.18.
Dizdarevic closed the meet by leading off Valpo’s winning 400 free relay, as the Beacons posted a time of 3:41.02 with Caroline Gorski (Melrose Park, Ill./Leyden), Bri Keese (Brighton, Colo./Brighton) and Audrey Morgan (Villa Park, Ill./Willowbrook) following Dizdarevic.
Morgan’s anchoring of the winning 400 free relay capped a stellar day for her as well. Earlier in the meet, she took top honors in both the 200 free (1:57.93) and the 500 free (5:19.36) as the Beacons nabbed the top two spots in both events.
Benoit claimed an event win in the 200 fly (2:14.87), while Ally Unruh (Peoria, Ill./Dunlap) touched the wall first in the 1000 free (10:57.97).
On the men’s side, a pair of freshmen also had impressive collegiate debuts. Caleb Smesko (Green, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) cracked the Beacons’ record book in a pair of events as he swept the backstroke swims, coming home in 51.89 in the 100 back — sixth-fastest in program history — and 1:56.21 in the 200 back — eighth-fastest all-time by a Valpo men’s swimmer.
Evan Curran (Golden, Colo./Golden) earned a pair of individual event wins as well, taking the 200 free (1:43.92) and the 500 free (4:49.81).
Curran also anchored both of the Beacons’ winning relay squads. Valpo kicked off the meet by taking the 400 medley relay in 3:30.15, with Jackson Oostman (Aurora, Ill./Marmion Academy), Carson Parker (Silver Lake, Ind./Tippecanoe Valley) and Asa Sadowsky (Green Bay, Wis./Bay Port [Milwaukee]) joining Curran.
The Beacons closed the meet by taking the 400 free relay with a time of 3:10.35. The quartet in that event consisted of Parker, Isaac Dinari (Houston, Texas/Memorial), Anthony Martin (Bartlett, Ill./Bartlett) and Curran.
Four Valpo men’s swimmers claimed one individual event apiece. Matthew Mantz (Spokane, Wash./Mead) won the 1000 free with a time of 10:12.38, Dinari covered the 50 free in 21.56, Martin touched the wall first in the 100 free in 48.06 and Oostman took top honors in the 200 IM in 1:57.49.
Next Up
Valpo continues the 2025-26 season with a short in-state trip next weekend, heading to West Lafayette to compete at the Dan Ross Indiana Intercollegiate. The meet begins at 11 a.m. CT.
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+++SMALL INDIANA COLLEGE SPORTS 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/index.aspx
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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+++SPORTS EXTRA+++
+++TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY+++
Oct. 4
1895 — Horace Rawlins wins the first U.S. Open. Rawlins beats Willie Dunn with 36-hole total of 173 at the Newport Golf Club in Newport, R.I.
1927 — John Longden rides the first official winner of his career, named Hugo K. Asher, in Salt Lake City.
1940 — Fritzie Zivic scores a 15-round decision over Henry Armstrong to win the world welterweight title in New York. Armstrong had 20 successful title defenses.
1964 — Mary Wills captures the LPGA championship with a two-stroke victory over Mickey Wright.
1964 — Kansas City’s Bobby Hunt ties an AFL record with four interceptions as the Chiefs post a 28-7 victory over the Houston Oilers.
1969 — Mississippi’s Archie Manning becomes the first player in college football history to throw for 300 yards and rush for 100 yards in the same game as the Rebels fall short in a 33-32 loss at Alabama. Manning passes for 436 yards and two touchdowns while adding 104 yards rushing yards and three touchdowns.
1980 — Alabama’s 45-0 win over Kentucky at Legion Field gives coach Paul “Bear” Bryant his 300th career coaching victory.
1987 — The NFL continues the regular-season schedule with replacement players while the players’ association strikes. Average attendance is 16,947, down from 57,205 the first week and 59,824 the second week.
1991 — Edmonton Oilers trade captain Mark Messier (on the team for all 5 Stanley Cups) to the NY Rangers in exchange for Bernie Nicholls, Steven Rice & Louie DeBrusk; Messier leads Rangers to Cup 2 seasons later.
1991 — The San Jose Sharks surrender 52 shots and lose 4-3 to the Vancouver Canucks in their first NHL regular-season game.
1998 — Atlanta scores three touchdowns in a 48-second span of the third quarter — the quickest trio of TDs since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 — and routs Carolina 51-23.
2001 — SF Giants slugger Barry Bonds hits his 70th home run in 10-2 win v Houston; ties Mark McGwire for the most MLB home runs in a single season.
2003 — B.J. Symons of Texas Tech tosses a Big 12-record eight touchdown passes and tops 500 yards passing for the third straight game when the Red Raiders beat Texas A&M 59-28.
2010 — The Europeans reclaim the Ryder Cup winning 14½-13½. The Americans rally from a three-point deficit to tie the score, but Graeme McDowell beats Hunter Mahan in the final singles match.
2012 — The NHL cancels the first two weeks of the regular season, the second time games had been lost because of a lockout in seven years. Unable to work out how to split $3 billion in hockey-related revenues with the players’ association, the NHL wipes out 82 games from Oct. 11-24.
2014 — Jared Goff throws for 527 yards and five touchdowns as California holds on to beat Washington State 60-59. WSU quarterback Connor Halliday breaks the NCAA passing record with 734 yards and six touchdowns for Washington State and sets the NCAA passing yardage record for all levels, breaking the mark of 716 set by David Klingler of Houston in 1990.
2015 — Drew Brees hits C.J. Spiller with a short pass that the running back turns into an 80-yard touchdown — the 400th of the Saints quarterback’s career — on the second play of overtime, and New Orleans won for the first time this season, 26-20 over the Dallas Cowboys.
2015 — Adam Vinatieri makes a 27-yard field goal in overtime to lift Indianapolis to a 16-13 victory over Jacksonville. Vinatieri converts all three field-goal attempts and one PAT to become the first player in NFL history to score at least 1,000 points with two different teams.
2017 — Sylvia Fowles scores 17 points and breaks her own WNBA Finals record by grabbing 20 rebounds to lead the Minnesota Lynx to their fourth championship in seven years with an 85-76 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks in Game 5.
2018 — Tom Brady becomes the 3rd NFL quarterback to record 500 career touchdown passes.
2022 — NY Yankees slugger Aaron Judge breaks Roger Maris’s A.L. single season HR record when he slams his 62nd homer in a 3-2 loss against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
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Oct. 5
1900 — Britain’s Harry Vardon wins the U.S. Open golf title, beating J.H. Taylor with a 313 total at the Chicago Golf Club.
1985 — Eddie Robinson becomes college football’s winningest coach as Grambling beats Prairie View A&M 27-7. It’s Robinson’s 324th career victory, one more than Paul “Bear” Bryant had before he retired from Alabama after the 1982 season.
1991 — Fresno State ties an NCAA record for most points in a quarter, with 49 in the second period as it pounds New Mexico 94-17. Fresno State’s Derek Mahoney ties an NCAA record with 13 extra points.
1994 — The NBA shortens the 3-point distance to a uniform 22 feet.
1996 — Byron Hanspard rushes for 287 yards, his fifth straight 200-yard game this season, to lead Texas Tech to a 45-24 win over Baylor.
2001 — Barry Bonds sets a new mark for home runs in a single season, hitting Nos. 71 and 72, but San Francisco is eliminated from the playoffs with an 11-10 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
2001 — The Mariners win their 115th game of the year to become the winningest team in American League history, passing the record the Yankees set three years earlier.
2004 — 7-time All-Star and 6-time NBA Champion forward Scottie Pippen announces his retirement from the NBA and the Chicago Bulls.
2005 — Daniel Alfredsson scores twice in the final 6 minutes of regulation and once during the first shootout in NHL history, leading Ottawa to a 3-2 win over Toronto.
2006 — Brendan Shanahan of the New York Rangers becomes the 15th player with 600 goals in the NHL when he scores twice in a 5-2 win over Washington.
2008 — Peyton Manning turns a colossal collapse by the Houston Texans into a stunning victory for the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts score 21 points in a late span of 2:10 — two touchdowns thanks to fumbles by Sage Rosenfels — then intercepts Rosenfels’ last-ditch comeback attempt for a 31-27 win.
2013 — Eighth-ranked Florida State stays undefeated in Atlantic Coast Conference play with a 63-0 victory over No. 25 Maryland. Maryland matches the largest losing margin by a ranked team. UCLA beat No. 11 Texas 66-3, on Sept. 13, 1997.
2013 — Marcus Mariota throws five touchdown passes and runs for two scores as No. 2 Oregon routs Colorado 57-16. The Ducks reach the 50-point plateau for a school record fifth straight time. Oregon have scored at least 55 points in all of its games under first-year coach Mark Helfrich.
2014 — Brian Hoyer’s 6-yard touchdown pass to Travis Benjamin with 1:09 left rallies the Cleveland Browns from a 25-point deficit to beat the Tennessee Titans 29-28. It’s the largest comeback in league history by a road team.
2014 — Denver’s Peyton Manning was 31 of 47 for a career-high 479 yards with four TDs, including the 500th of his career, along with two interceptions to help the Broncos beat Arizona 41-20.
2015 — San Jose Sharks forward Raffi Torres is hit with the longest suspension in NHL history when the league banned him for the first 41 games of the season for an illegal check to the head of Anaheim’s Jakob Silfverberg during an Oct. 3 preseason game.
2017 — Connor McDavid, Alex Ovechkin, Wayne Simmonds and Brandon Saad each record a hat trick in his team’s season opener. It’s the first time four different players score at least three goals in his season opener in 100 years, since the NHL’s first two games back in 1917.
_____
Oct. 6
1926 — Babe Ruth becomes first MLB player to hit 3 home runs in a World Series game as NY Yankees beat St. Louis Cardinals, 10-5 in Game 4.
1928 — Leo Diegel wins the PGA championship, beating Al Espinosa 6 and 5.
1956 — Oklahoma blanks Kansas 66-0 to set a modern college football winning streak of 32 straight. The Sooners had the previous record of 31 set 1948-50. The victory is also a conference record of 54 straight wins.
1963 — Baseball World Series: LA Dodgers edge NY Yankees, 2-1 at Dodger Stadium for 4-0 series sweep; MVP: Dodgers pitcher Sandy Koufax.
1973 — Washington’s Chris Rowland ties an NCAA record with four touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, but still loses to California, 54-49.
1976 — Roland Erickson of the Minnesota North Stars has four assists in his first NHL game, a 6-5 loss to the New York Rangers.
1980 — Marvin Hagler wins the world middleweight title, beating Alan Minter in three rounds at Wembley Arena in London.
1985 — San Francisco’s Joe Montana passes for 429 yards and five touchdowns and sets an NFL record with 57 passes attempted and no interceptions in a 38-17 win over the Atlanta Falcons.
1990 — Stacey Robinson sets an NCAA quarterback rushing record with 308 yards and scores five touchdowns to lead Northern Illinois to a 73-18 victory over Fresno State.
1993 — Michael Jordan announces his retirement after nine seasons in the NBA.
2000 — Marty McSorley is found guilty of assault with a weapon for his two-fisted stick attack on an opponent by a Canadian court. McSorley is convicted for the Feb. 21 blow that sent Vancouver Canucks forward Donald Brashear sprawling to the ice.
2001 — Maurice Hicks runs for a record 416 yards and four touchdowns, but it isn’t enough as Morgan State defeats N. Carolina A&T 52-42. Hicks breaks the Division I-AA single-game rushing record of 409 yards set by Charles Roberts of Sacramento State in a 1999 game against Idaho State.
2001 — Middle Tennessee State beats Idaho 70-58 as the teams set a Division I record for total points scored in a game. The teams combine for 1,445 yards of offense.
2001 — Michigan’s victory, combined with Yale’s 32-27 loss to Dartmouth, gives the Wolverines the record for all-time wins in all divisions at 809.
2003 — Indianapolis, led by Peyton Manning, becomes the first team in NFL history to win after trailing by 21 or more points with less than 4 minutes left in regulation. Mike Vanderjagt’s 29-yard field goal with 3:47 left in the extra period gives the Colts a 38-35 victory over Tampa Bay.
2007 — Texas Tech’s Michael Crabtree sets the NCAA record for touchdown receptions by a freshman with a 32-yard scoring catch in a 42-17 win over Iowa State. Crabtree scores three times against the Cyclones, giving him 17 for the season.
2010 — Roy Halladay pitches the second no-hitter in postseason history, leading the Philadelphia Phillies over the Cincinnati Reds 4-0 in Game 1 of the NL division series.
2013 — Tiger Woods beats Richard Sterne, 1 up, to give the Americans the 18 points they need to win the Presidents Cup for the fifth straight time. It’s the third straight Presidents Cup that Woods wins the cup-clinching match.
2013 — Matt Prater kicks a 28-yard field goal as time expires and Peyton Manning and Denver overcome the first 500-yard passing game in Dallas history for a 51-48 victory over the Cowboys. Tony Romo throws for 506 yards and five touchdowns for Dallas, but he is intercepted by Danny Trevanthan inside the Dallas 30 to set up Prater’s winning kick. It’s the second-highest scoring game in regulation since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970. Manning finishes with 414 yards and four scores for Denver.
2017 — The Vegas Golden Knights defeat the Dallas Stars 2-1 in franchise’s inaugural season opener. James Neal scores both of the Knight goals in the third period and goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury stops 45 of 46 shots for the win.
2023 — American Simone Biles wins all-round gold at the World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, – becoming the most decorated gymnast ever with 34 world and Olympic medals.
Oct. 7
1904 — Jack Chesbro registers his 41st victory of the season as New York defeats Boston 3-2.
1916 — Georgia Tech, coached by John Heisman, beats Cumberland 222-0 in the most lopsided college football game in history.
1933 — Baseball World Series: NY Giants beat Washington Senators, 4-3 at Griffith Stadium to clinch 4 games to 1 series victory.
1935 — Baseball World Series: Detroit Tigers beat Chicago Cubs, 4-3 at Navin Field for 4 games to 2 series win; Tigers win first championship in 5 WS appearances.
1945 — The Green Bay Packers score 41 points in the first quarter in a 57-21 win against the Detroit Lions.
1950 — Baseball World Series: New York Yankees beat Philadelphia Phillies, 5-2 at Yankee Stadium to sweep series, 4-0 for 13th WS title in team history; MVP: NY 2B Jerry Coleman.
1952 — Baseball World Series: NY Yankees beat Brooklyn Dodgers, 4-2 at Ebbets Field in Game 7 to tie own record 4th straight WS; MVP: NY 1B Johnny Mize.
1962 — Judy Kimball wins the LPGA championship with a four-stroke victory over Shirley Spork.
1967 — Tulsa wide receivers Ricky Eber and Harry Wood have the best day by a receiving duo in college football history. Eber has 20 receptions for 322 yards and three touchdowns, while Wood grabs 13 passes for 318 yards and three scores in Tulsa’s 58-0 win over Idaho State.
1970 — Willie Shoemaker wins his 6,033rd race to pass Johnny Longden as the winningest jockey. His first race was won on April 20, 1949.
1984 — Walter Payton breaks Jim Brown’s career rushing mark of 12,312 yards and Brown’s career mark of 58 100-yard rushing games in a 20-7 victory over New Orleans. Payton breaks the record on Chicago’s second play from scrimmage in the second half.
1985 — Lynette Woodard, captain of the women’s basketball team that won the gold medal at the 1984 Olympics, is chosen to be the first woman to play for the Harlem Globetrotters.
1995 — Coach Eddie Robinson gets his 400th victory as Grambling beats Mississippi Valley State 42-6.
2000 — Zamir Amin of Menlo College sets an NCAA all-divisions record, passing for 731 yards in the Division III school’s 37-32 loss to Cal Lutheran. Amin, 39-of-66 with four TDs and three interceptions, breaks the mark of 716 set by David Klingler of Division I-A Houston against Arizona State on Dec. 2, 1990.
2001 — San Diego’s Rickey Henderson becomes the 25th player with 3,000 hits with a bloop double in a 14-5 loss to Colorado.
2001 — Barry Bonds wraps up his record-breaking season with his 73rd homer and shatters the slugging percentage record that Babe Ruth had owned for 81 years. He finishes with a slugging percentage of .863, easily surpassing the mark of .847 that Ruth set in 1920.
2006 — Denis Hopovac’s fifth field goal of the game, in an NCAA record-tying seventh overtime, gives North Texas a 25-22 victory over Florida International. The other two seven-overtime games involved Arkansas — against Mississippi in 2001 and Kentucky in 2003.
2011 — Minnesota Lynx beat the Atlanta Dream 73-67 to complete a three-game sweep of the WNBA championship series.
2012 — Drew Brees finishes 29 for 45 for 370 yards with four TD passes and an interception in New Orleans’ 31-24 win over San Diego. Brees breaks the NFL record by throwing a touchdown pass in his 48th straight game. His 40-yard pass to Devery Henderson eclipses the mark of 47 consecutive games set by Johnny Unitas from 1956-60.
2017 — Jarvion Franklin runs in from the 12 to give Western Michigan a 71-68 victory over Buffalo in a record-tying seven overtimes with a record-breaking 139 total points.
2017 — Backup Khalil Tate rushes for 327 yards, an FBS record for a quarterback, and accounts for five touchdowns to help Arizona hold off Colorado 45-42.
2017 — Alex Ovechkin scores four goals to become the first player in 100 years with back-to-back hat tricks to open a season, and the Washington Capitals beat the Montreal Canadiens 6-1.
_____
Oct. 8
1933 — Cliff Battles of the Boston Redskins becomes the first NFL player to gain more than 200 yards rushing with 215 yards in a 21-20 win over the New York Giants.
1949 — Walt Pastuszak has five of Brown’s 11 interceptions in a 46-0 rout of Rhode Island.
1950 — Bill Grimes of the Green Bay Packers gains 167 yards on 10 carries in a 44-31 loss to the New York Yankees.
1956 — Don Larsen of the New York Yankees pitches the only perfect game in World Series history, a 2-0 triumph over Brooklyn.
1966 — Jerry DePoyster of Wyoming becomes the first player in college football to make three field goals of 50 yards or more in a game. DePoyster connects on two 54-yard tries and a 52-yarder in the Cowboys’ 40-7 rout of Utah.
1961 — Paul Hornung scores 33 points, with four touchdowns, six extra points and a field goal, to lead the Green Bay Packers to a 45-7 romp over the Baltimore Colts.
1977 — No. 7 Alabama beats No. 1 Southern California 21-20 in Los Angeles. USC fullback Lynn Cain scores with 38 seconds remaining but the 2-point attempt fails.
1992 — Doug Smail scores two goals and the expansion Ottawa Senators rock the Montreal Canadiens 5-3 — the first regular-season NHL game by an Ottawa franchise in 58 years.
1993 — The Anaheim Mighty Ducks, before 17,174 at the Arrowhead Pond, lose 7-2 to the Detroit Red Wings in their first NHL game.
1995 — Dolphin’s Dan Marino breaks Tarkenton’s NFL career completions record.
1997 — Adam Oates reaches 1,000 points with three goals and two assists as the Washington Capitals post a 6-3 victory over the New York Islanders.
2005 — Baylor wins a Big 12 road game for the first time in the league’s 10-year history, beating Iowa State 23-13. The Bears had been 0-37 on the road in the Big 12 Conference.
2006 — Randy Moss’ 22-yard TD catch between two defenders 51 seconds before halftime is the Oakland receiver’s 100th touchdown reception. He’s becomes the seventh receiver in NFL history with 100 TD catches.
2011 — Howard scores all its points in the fourth quarter, including 16 in the final 1:27 to beat 29-28 Florida A&M. Parker Munoz caps the improbable comeback by hitting a 21-yard field goal with 4 seconds left following FAMU’s Damien Fleming fumble on the 28-yard line.
2015 — Tampa Bay’s Jason Garrison scores his second goal of the game at 2:17 of the extra period to lead the Lightning past the Philadelphia Flyers in the first 3-on-3 overtime game in NHL history. T
2016 — Will Worth and Navy stuns No. 6 Houston, romping to a 46-40 victory. Worth runs for 115 yards and throws two scoring passes for the Midshipmen. Navy hadn’t beaten a top 10 team since 1984, when it topped then-No. 2 South Carolina in Annapolis.
2017 — Aaron Rodgers throws a 12-yard touchdown pass to Davante Adams with 11 seconds remaining, lifting Green Bay over the Dallas Cowboys 35-31 in another thriller nine months after the Packers’ divisional playoff victory on the same field.
2018 — Drew Brees’ 62-yard touchdown pass to rookie Tre’Quan Smith makes him the NFL’s all-time leader in yards passing and sends the New Orleans Saints well on their way to a 43-19 victory over the Washington Redskins. Brees enters the game needing 201 yards to eclipse Peyton Manning’s previous mark of 71,940 yards. He finishes 26 of 29 for 363 yards and three touchdowns.
2018 — Red Sox utility Brock Holt becomes the first MLB player to hit for the cycle in a postseason game.
_____
Oct. 9
1928 — Baseball World Series: NY Yankees beat St. Louis Cardinals, 7-3 at Sportsman’s Park to become first to sweep consecutive World Series; Babe Ruth hits smashes 3 HRs for Yanks.
1934 — Baseball World Series: St Louis Cardinals rout Detroit Tigers, 11-0 at Navin Field to clinch 4 games to 3 series victory and 3rd championship.
1943 — Bob Hoernschemeyer throws six touchdown passes, an NCAA record for a freshman, to lead Indiana past Nebraska 54-13.
1965 — The United States wins the Ryder Cup 19½-12½ at the Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England. Arnold Palmer clinches the title, beating Peter Butler 2 up. It’s the 13th victory for the Americans in this event, which began in 1927. Britain, a three-time winner, last won in 1957.
1966 — Baseball World Series: Baltimore Orioles claim first championship in franchise history; edge LA Dodgers, 1-0 at Memorial Stadium for 4-0 sweep; MVP: Orioles outfielder Frank Robinson.
1974 — The Washington Capitals lose their first NHL game, 6-3 to the Rangers at New York’s Madison Square Garden.
1982 — Al Del Greco kicks six field goals for all of Auburn’s points in an 18-3 triumph over Kentucky.
1983 — Buffalo’s Joe Ferguson passes for 419 yards and five touchdowns in an 38-35 overtime win against Miami. Uwe Von Schamann of the Dolphins misses two field goals in the overtime and Joe Danelo ends the game with a 36-yard field goal.
1988 — Dennis Eckersley saves all four games in a championship series.
1991 — The San Jose Sharks gain their first NHL victory, defeating the Calgary Flames 4-3.
1993 — Minnesota’s Scott Eckers passes for 402 yards and a school-record six touchdowns in his first college start, sending the Gophers past Purdue 59-56.
1993 — Carey Bender rushes 33 times for 417 yards, setting an NCAA all-division single-game rushing record, in Coe’s 69-7 Division III victory over Grinnell.
2004 — Texas Tech beats Nebraska 70-10, the worst lost in the Cornhuskers’ storied 114-year history.
2004 — Texas loses to Oklahoma 12-0, getting shut out for the first time in 282 games and ending the longest streak in the country.
2005 — Chris Burke hits a home run in the bottom of the 18th inning and Roger Clemens pitches three scoreless innings of relief in Houston’s 7-6, series-ending victory over Atlanta in the NLDS. The longest postseason game in history takes 5 hours, 50 minutes.
2010 — Mike Brinkley passes for six touchdowns and Armond Smith runs for five scores to lead Union (Ky.) to an 84-55 victory over Bethel (Tenn.) in an NAIA game.
2010 — Derek Stepan becomes the fourth player to score three times in his NHL debut to lead the New York Rangers to a season-opening 6-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres.
2011 — Sebastian Janikowski kicks four field goals, including three from at least 50 yards (54, 55, 50), in Oakland’s 25-20 win over Houston. Houston’s Matt Schaub throws for 416 yards and two touchdowns.
2011 — The NHL returns to Winnipeg, but Carey Price stops 30 shots and the Montreal Canadiens dampen a city celebration with a 5-1 victory over the Jets.
2012 — Jerry Sandusky is sentenced to at least 30 years in prison in the child sexual abuse scandal that shamed Penn State and led to coach Joe Paterno’s downfall.
2015 — Sepp Blatter, hoping to return to power as FIFA president, is banned for 90 days, essentially ending his 17-year reign as the leader of soccer’s governing body. UEFA President Michel Platini also gets a 90-day ban following an investigation of financial misconduct at FIFA in a Swiss criminal case.
2016 — Tom Brady returns from his four-game “Deflategate” suspension, passing for 406 yards and three touchdowns to Martellus Bennett in the New England Patriots’ 33-13 victory over the Cleveland Browns.
2022 — Dutch Red Bull driver Max Verstappen secures his second consecutive World F1 Drivers C’ship after finishing in front of Sergio Pérez and Charles Leclerc in the Japanese GP at Suzuka.
_____
+++TV SPORTS+++
(ALL TIMES EASTERN)
SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND/OR BLACKOUTS
Saturday, Oct. 4
AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL (WOMEN’S)
3 a.m.
FS2 — AFL: Brisbane at Gold Coast
5 a.m.
FS2 — AFL: Western at Port Adelaide
AUTO RACING
5:25 a.m.
ESPN2 — Formula 1: Practice, Marina Bay Street Circuit, Marina Bay, Singapore
8:55 a.m.
ESPN2 — Formula 1: Qualifying, Marina Bay Street Circuit, Marina Bay, Singapore
2 p.m.
TRUTV — NASCAR Cup Series: Practice, Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course, Concord, N.C.
3:10 p.m.
TRUTV — NASCAR Cup Series: Qualifying, Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course, Concord, N.C.
4 p.m.
FS2 — ARCA Menards Series: The Owens Corning 200, Toledo Speedway, Toledo, Ohio
5 p.m.
CW — NASCAR Xfinity Series: The Blue Cross NC 250, Playoffs – Round of 12, Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course, Concord, N.C.
2:30 a.m. (Sunday)
FS1 — FIM MotoGP: The Indonesia Grand Prix, Tenggara, Indonesia
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Noon
ABC — Kentucky at Georgia
ACCN — Boston College at Pittsburgh
BTN — Illinois at Purdue
CBS — Air Force at Navy
CBSSN — Ohio at Ball St.
ESPN — Clemson at North Carolina
ESPN2 — Iowa St. at Cincinnati
ESPNU — Army at UAB
FOX — Wisconsin at Michigan
SECN — Kentucky at Georgia (SkyCast)
1 p.m.
CW — Wake Forest at Virginia Tech
3 p.m.
TNT — Oklahoma St. at Arizona
3:30 p.m.
ABC — Vanderbilt at Alabama
ACCN — Syracuse at SMU
BTN — Regional Coverage: Washington at Maryland OR Louisiana-Monroe at Northwestern
CBS — Penn St. at UCLA
CBSSN — FIU at UConn
ESPN — Texas at Florida
ESPN2 — Virginia at Louisville
NBC — Boise St. at Notre Dame
PEACOCK — Boise St. at Notre Dame
4 p.m.
ESPNU — Texas St. at Arkansas St.
FS1 — Michigan St. at Nebraska
SECN — Kent St. at Oklahoma
7 p.m.
CBSSN — UNLV at Wyoming
ESPN — Texas Tech at Houston
7:30 p.m.
ABC — Miami at Florida St.
ACCN — Miami at Florida St. (Field Pass)
ESPN2 — Kansas at UCF
FOX — Colorado at TCU
NBC — Minnesota at Ohio St.
PEACOCK — Minnesota at Ohio St.
SECN — Mississippi St. at Texas A&M
8 p.m.
ESPNU — Tulsa at Memphis
10:30 p.m.
CBSSN — Nevada at Fresno St.
ESPN — Duke at California
COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL (WOMEN’S)
7:30 p.m.
BTN — Iowa at Washington
9:30 p.m.
BTN — Purdue at Southern Cal
GOLF
7 a.m.
GOLF — DP World Tour: The The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, Third Round, The Old Course at St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland
Noon
GOLF — Korn Ferry Tour: The Compliance Solutions Championship, Third Round, The Patriot Golf Club, Owasso, Okla.
2 p.m.
GOLF — PGA Tour Champions: The Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS, Second Round, Timuquana Country Club, Jacksonville, Fla.
4 p.m.
GOLF — PGA Tour: The Sanderson Farms Championship, Third Round, The Country Club of Jackson, Jackson, Miss.
7 p.m.
GOLF — LPGA Tour: The LOTTE Championship presented by Hoakalei, Final Round, Hoakalei Country Club, Oahu, Hawaii
6:30 a.m. (Sunday)
GOLF — DP World Tour: The The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, Final Round, The Old Course at St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL (BOY’S)
2:30 p.m.
NBATV — The Border League: Prolific Prep (Fla.) vs. Mega Mis (Belgrade, Serbia), Las Vegas
4 p.m.
NBATV — The Border League: Notre Dame (Calif.) vs. Blair Academy (N.J.), Las Vegas
HORSE RACING
Noon
FS1 — NYRA: America’s Day at the Races
4 p.m.
CNBC — Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: The Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes, Keeneland Racecourse, Lexington, Ky.
MIXED MARTIAL ARTS
3 p.m.
FX — UFC 320 Early Prelims: Undercard Bouts, Las Vegas
5 p.m.
FX — UFC 320 Prelims: Undercard Bouts, Las Vegas
8 p.m.
ESPNEWS — UFC 320 Prelims: Undercard Bouts, Las Vegas
MLB BASEBALL
2:05 p.m.
TBS— N.L. Division Series: Chicago Cubs at Milwaukee, Game 1
4:05 p.m.
FOX — A.L. Division Series: N.Y. Yankees at Toronto, Game 1
6:35
TBS — N.L. Division Series: L.A. Dodgers at Philadelphia, Game 1
TRUTV — N.L. Division Series: L.A. Dodgers at Philadelphia, Game 1
8:35 p.m.
FS1 — A.L. Division Series: Detroit at Seattle, Game 1
NBA BASKETBALL
11 a.m.
NBATV — Preseason: New York vs. Philadelphia, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
8 p.m.
NBATV — Preseason: Orlando at Miami
11 p.m.
NBATV — Preseason: Melbourne United vs. New Orleans, Melbourne, Australia
NHL HOCKEY
2 p.m.
NHLN — Preseason: N.Y. Rangers at Boston
RODEO
8 p.m.
CW — PBR: Camping World Team Series – Day 2, Kansas City, Mo.
RUGBY (MEN’S)
4:25 a.m. (Sunday)
FS2 — NRL Postseason: Brisbane at Melbourne, Grand Final
RUGBY (WOMEN’S)
12:50 a.m. (Sunday)
FS2 — NRL Postseason: Brisbane at Sydney, Grand Final
SAILING
9:30 a.m.
CBSSN — Sail GP: Event 11 – Day 1, Andalucia-Cadiz, Spain
SOCCER (MEN’S)
7:25 a.m.
CBSSN — English League Championship: Stoke City at Blackburn
7:30 a.m.
USA — English Premier League: Tottenham Hotspur at Leeds United
10 a.m.
USA — English Premier League: Sunderland at Manchester United
12:30 p.m.
NBC — English Premier League: Liverpool at Chelsea
6:45 p.m.
FS2 — 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup Group Stage: Argentina vs. Italy, Group D, Valparaiso, Chile
SOCCER (WOMEN’S)
7:30 p.m.
ION — NWSL: Louisville at North Carolina
10 p.m.
ION — NWSL: Bay at Portland
TENNIS
6 a.m.
TENNIS — Beijing-WTA Semifinals; Shanghai-ATP 2nd Round
12:30 a.m. (Sunday)
TENNIS — Beijing-WTA Final; Shanghai-ATP 3rd Round
6 a.m. (Sunday)
TENNIS — Beijing-WTA Final; Shanghai-ATP 3rd Round
_____
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive TV listings provided by LiveSportsOnTV.
(All times Eastern)
Schedule subject to change and/or blackouts
Sunday, Oct. 5
AUTO RACING
7:55 a.m.
ESPN — Formula 1: The Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix, Marina Bay Street Circuit, Marina Bay, Singapore
ESPNU — Formula 1: The Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix, Marina Bay Street Circuit, Marina Bay, Singapore (F1 Kids)
1 p.m.
CBSSN — FIM Motocross: Motocross of Nations – Race 1, Crawfordsville, Ind.
2:30 p.m.
CBSSN — FIM Motocross: Motocross of Nations – Race 2, Crawfordsville, Ind.
4 p.m.
CBSSN — FIM Motocross: Motocross of Nations – Race 3, Crawfordsville, Ind.
3 p.m.
USA — NASCAR Cup Series: The Bank of America ROVAL 400, Playoffs – Round of 12, Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course, Concord, N.C.
COLLEGE FIELD HOCKEY
Noon
BTN — Rutgers at Michigan
COLLEGE SOCCER (MEN’S)
6 p.m.
ACCN — Virginia at NC State
COLLEGE SOCCER (WOMEN’S)
2 p.m.
ACCN — California at SMU
BTN — Ohio St. at Michigan St.
3 p.m.
SECN — Alabama at Missouri
4 p.m.
ACCN — Pittsburgh at North Carolina
COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL (WOMEN’S)
Noon
ACCN — Georgia Tech at Pittsburgh
1 p.m.
SECN — Georgia at South Carolina
4 p.m.
BTN — Penn St. at Maryland
5 p.m.
ESPN — Louisville at Stanford
GOLF
6:30 a.m.
GOLF — DP World Tour: The The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, Final Round, The Old Course at St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland
Noon
GOLF — PGA Tour Champions: The Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS, Final Round, Timuquana Country Club, Jacksonville, Fla.
3:30 p.m.
GOLF — PGA Tour: The Sanderson Farms Championship, Final Round, The Country Club of Jackson, Jackson, Miss.
7:30
GOLF — Korn Ferry Tour: The Compliance Solutions Championship, Final Round, The Patriot Golf Club, Owasso, Okla. (Taped)
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL (BOY’S)
Noon
NBATV — The Border League: Dream City (Ariz.) vs. Sierra Canyon (Calif.), Las Vegas
3 p.m.
ESPN2 — The Border League: OC Knights (Calif.) vs. The St. James Academy (Va.), Las Vegas
5 p.m.
ESPNU — The Border League: New York Crusaders (N.Y.) vs. Explorers (Fla.), Las Vegas
7 p.m.
ESPN2 — The Border League: Prolific Prep (Fla.) vs. The Tribe (Calif.), Las Vegas
9 p.m.
ESPN2 — The Border League: Dynamic Prep (Texas) vs. Blue Knights (Calif.), Las Vegas
HORSE RACING
9:30 a.m.
FS1 — 2025 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe: From Longchamp Racecourse, Paris
1 p.m.
FS1 — NYRA: America’s Day at the Races
3:30 p.m.
FS2 — NYRA: America’s Day at the Races
4 p.m.
NBC — Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: The Falls Star Sunday, Keeneland Racecourse, Lexington, Ky.
MLB BASEBALL
4:05 p.m.
FS1 — A.L. Division Series: N.Y. Yankees at Toronto, Game 2
8 p.m.
FS1 — A.L. Division Series: Detroit at Seattle, Game 2
NBA BASETBALL
8:30 p.m.
ESPN — Preseason: L.A. Lakers at Golden State
NFL FOOTBALL
9:30 a.m.
NFLN — Minnesota vs. Cleveland, London
1 p.m.
CBS — Regional Coverage: N.Y. Giants at New Orleans, Denver at Philadelphia, Houston at Baltimore
FOX — Regional Coverage: Las Vegas at Indianapolis, Dallas at N.Y. Jets, Miami at Carolina
4:05 p.m.
CBS — Regional Coverage: Tennessee at Arizona OR Tampa Bay at Seattle
4:25 p.m.
FOX — Regional Coverage: Detroit at Cincinnati OR Washington at L.A. Chargers
8:20 p.m.
NBC — New England at Buffalo
RODEO
12:30 p.m.
CW — PBR: Camping World Team Series – Day 3, Kansas City, Mo.
5 p.m.
CBS — Regional Coverage: PBR: Camping World Team Series, Kansas City, Mo. (Taped)
RUGBY (MEN’S)
4:25 a.m.
FS2 — NRL Postseason: Brisbane at Melbourne, Grand Final
SAILING
9:30 a.m.
CBSSN — Sail GP: Event 11 – Day 2, Andalucia-Cadiz, Spain
SOCCER (MEN’S)
6:55 a.m.
CBSSN — English League Championship: Norwich City at Ipswich Town
9 a.m.
USA — English Premier League: Nottingham Forest at Newcastle United
11:30 a.m.
USA — English Premier League: Manchester City at Brentford
3:45 p.m.
FS2 — 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup Group Stage: South Africa vs. U.S., Group F, Rancagua, Chile
5 p.m.
ESPN2 — USL Championship: Las Vegas at Rhode Island
6:45 p.m.
FS2 — 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup Group Stage: Nigeria vs. Colombia, Group E, Talca, Maule, Chile
9 p.m.
CBSSN — Liga MX: Guadalajara at Pumas UNAM
SOCCER (WOMEN’S)
1 p.m.
ESPN — NWSL: San Diego at Washington
TENNIS
6 a.m.
TENNIS — Beijing-WTA Final; Shanghai-ATP 3rd Round
11 p.m.
TENNIS — Shanghai-ATP 3rd Round; Wuhan-WTA 1st Round
6 a.m. (Monday)
TENNIS — Shanghai-ATP 3rd Round; Wuhan-WTA 1st Round
VOLLEYBALL (WOMEN’S)
6:30 p.m.
ESPNU — Athletes Unlimited: Team Hentz vs. Team De la Cruz-Mejia, Ralston, Neb.
9 p.m.
ESPNU — Athletes Unlimited: Team Kingdon Rishel vs. Team Abercrombie, Ralston, Neb.
WNBA BASKETBALL
3 p.m.
ABC — WNBA Finals: Phoenix at Las Vegas, Game 2
