THE “SPORTSPAGE” FRIDAY AUGUST 29, 2025

“THE SCOREBOARD”

INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL WEEK 2:

ADAMS CENTRAL (1-0) AT EASTSIDE (1-0)

ALEXANDRIA (1-0) AT SHERIDAN (1-0)

ANGOLA (1-0) AT LEO (1-0)

ARSENAL TECH (0-1) AT INDIANAPOLIS ATTUCKS (0-1)

AVON (1-0) AT BEN DAVIS (0-1)

BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE (1-0) AT BLOOMINGTON NORTH (0-1)

BELLMONT (0-1) AT SOUTH ADAMS (0-1)

BENTON CENTRAL (0-1) AT SEEGER (1-0)

BOWMAN ACADEMY (1-0) AT CALUMET CHRISTIAN

BREMEN (0-1) AT TRITON (0-1)

BROWN COUNTY (0-1) AT CRAWFORD COUNTY (0-1)

BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL (1-0) AT CHARLESTOWN (1-0)

CARROLL (FLORA) (1-0) AT MACONAQUAH (1-0)

CASCADE (1-0) AT DANVILLE (0-1)

CASTON (0-1) AT NORTH WHITE (0-1)

CENTER GROVE (1-0) AT CARROLL (FORT WAYNE) (0-1)

CENTERVILLE (1-0) AT HAGERSTOWN (0-1)

CENTRAL NOBLE (0-1) AT WOODLAN (0-1)

CHRISTEL HOUSE (0-1) AT NOBLESVILLE HOMESCHOOL

CHURUBUSCO (1-0) AT LAKELAND (0-1)

CLINTON CENTRAL (1-0) AT FAITH CHRISTIAN (1-0)

CLINTON PRAIRIE (0-1) AT FRANKFORT (0-1)

COLUMBUS NORTH (1-0) AT COLUMBUS EAST (0-1)

COVENANT CHRISTIAN (0-1) AT INDIANAPOLIS SHORTRIDGE (0-1)

CRAWFORDSVILLE (1-0) AT FOUNTAIN CENTRAL (0-1)

CROWN POINT (1-0) AT PIKE (0-1)

CULVER (1-0) AT WEST CENTRAL (1-0)

CULVER ACADEMY (0-1) AT MISHAWAKA MARIAN (0-1)

DEKALB (0-1) AT GARRETT (0-1)

DELTA (0-1) AT HERITAGE (1-0)

EASTBROOK (1-0) AT FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA (0-1)

EASTERN (GREENTOWN) (1-0) AT NORTHWESTERN (0-1)

EASTERN (PEKIN) (0-1) AT CLARKSVILLE (1-0)

EDGEWOOD (1-0) AT SOUTH SPENCER (0-1)

ELKHART (0-1) AT NORTHRIDGE (0-1)

ELWOOD (1-0) AT TIPTON (1-0)

EVANSVILLE BOSSE (0-1) AT EVANSVILLE CENTRAL (0-1)

EVANSVILLE MATER DEI (1-0) AT CASTLE (0-1)

EVANSVILLE NORTH (1-0) AT EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL (1-0)

FAIRFIELD (1-0) AT JOHN GLENN (1-0)

FISHERS (0-1) AT LAWRENCE NORTH (1-0)

FLOYD CENTRAL (1-0) AT WHITELAND (0-1)

FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK (0-1) VS. SOUTHERN WELLS (0-1)

FORT WAYNE SNIDER (0-1) AT EAST NOBLE (1-0)

FORT WAYNE WAYNE (0-1) AT SOUTH BEND RILEY (1-0)

FRANKLIN (1-0) AT MOUNT VERNON (FORTVILLE) (0-1)

FRANKLIN COUNTY (1-0) AT CONNERSVILLE (1-0)

FRANKTON (0-1) AT LAPEL (1-0)

FREMONT (1-0) AT BLACKFORD (0-1)

FRONTIER (1-0) AT WINAMAC (0-1)

GARY WEST (0-0) AT EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL (0-1)

GOSHEN (0-1) AT SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON (1-0)

GRAND RAPIDS CATHOLIC (MICH.) AT LAKE CENTRAL (1-0)

GREENCASTLE (0-1) AT SOUTH PUTNAM (1-0)

GREENFIELD-CENTRAL (0-1) AT GREENSBURG (0-1)

GREENWOOD (1-0) AT INDIAN CREEK (1-0)

GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN (0-1) AT TAYLOR (1-0)

HAMILTON HEIGHTS (0-1) AT TRITON CENTRAL (1-0)

HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN (1-0) AT NORTH CENTRAL (INDIANAPOLIS) (1-0)

HAMMOND MORTON (1-0) AT CHESTERTON (0-1)

HARRISON (OHIO) AT EAST CENTRAL (1-0)

HARRISON (WEST LAFAYETTE) (1-0) AT PLAINFIELD (1-0)

HERITAGE CHRISTIAN (1-0) AT INDIANAPOLIS SCECINA (1-0)

HIGHLAND (0-1) AT WHITING (0-1)

HOBART (1-0) AT PORTAGE (0-1)

HOMESTEAD (0-1) AT NOBLESVILLE (1-0)

HUNTINGTON NORTH (0-1) AT FORT WAYNE NORTHROP (1-0)

ILLINOIS HOMESCHOOL AT LAKE STATION (1-0)

INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL (1-0) AT BROWNSBURG (1-0)

INDIANAPOLIS CHATARD (1-0) AT HANOVER CENTRAL (0-1)

INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN (1-0) AT NEW ALBANY (0-1)

INDIANAPOLIS RONCALLI (1-0) AT FRANKLIN CENTRAL (1-0)

INDIANAPOLIS TINDLEY (1-0) AT PARK TUDOR (1-0)

INDIANAPOLIS WASHINGTON (0-0) AT ANDERSON (0-1)

IRVINGTON PREP (0-1) AT PURDUE ENGLEWOOD (1-0)

JASPER (0-1) AT EVANSVILLE HARRISON (0-1)

JENNINGS COUNTY (0-1) AT BEECH GROVE (1-0)

JIMTOWN (0-1) AT CONCORD (1-0)

KNIGHTSTOWN (1-0) AT WINCHESTER (1-0)

KNOX (1-0) AT PIONEER (1-0)

LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC (0-1) AT INDIANAPOLIS RITTER (1-0)

LAPORTE (1-0) AT LOWELL (0-1)

LAVILLE (1-0) AT NORTH JUDSON (0-1)

LAWRENCEBURG (0-1) AT TAYLOR (OHIO)

LINTON (0-0) AT MONROVIA (0-1)

LOUISVILLE HOLY CROSS (KY.) AT PROVIDENCE (1-0)

LOYOLA ACADEMY (ILL.) AT MERRILLVILLE (1-0)

MADISON (0-1) AT SOUTH DEARBORN (1-0)

MANCHESTER (1-0) AT BLUFFTON (1-0)

MARION (1-0) AT MISSISSINEWA (1-0)

MARTINSVILLE (0-1) AT BLOOMINGTON SOUTH (1-0)

MCCUTCHEON (0-1) AT WEST LAFAYETTE (0-1)

MICHIGAN CITY (1-0) AT LAFAYETTE JEFF (0-1)

MILAN (1-0) AT BATESVILLE (0-1)

MISHAWAKA (1-0) AT PENN (1-0)

MOUNT VERNON (POSEY) (1-0) AT BOONVILLE (1-0)

MUNSTER (0-1) AT GRIFFITH (1-0)

NEW HAVEN (0-1) AT FORT WAYNE NORTH (1-0)

NEW PALESTINE (1-0) AT DECATUR CENTRAL (0-1)

NORTH DAVIESS (1-0) AT NORTH CENTRAL (FARMERSBURG) (1-0)

NORTH DECATUR (1-0) AT EASTERN HANCOCK (1-0)

NORTH HARRISON (1-0) AT SCOTTSBURG (1-0)

NORTH KNOX (0-1) AT EASTERN GREENE (0-1)

NORTH POSEY (1-0) AT TECUMSEH (0-1)

NORTH PUTNAM (0-1) AT CLOVERDALE (0-1)

NORTH VERMILLION (0-1) AT PARIS (ILL.)

NORTHFIELD (0-1) AT LEWIS CASS (0-1)

NORTHVIEW (1-0) AT SPEEDWAY (0-1)

NORTHWOOD (0-1) AT NEW PRAIRIE (0-1)

NORWELL (0-1) AT OAK HILL (0-1)

OSCEOLA GRACE AT HAMMOND NOLL (0-1)

OWENSBORO APOLLO (KY.) AT HERITAGE HILLS (1-0)

PAOLI (0-1) AT CORYDON CENTRAL (0-1)

PARKE HERITAGE (0-1) AT WEST VIGO (0-1)

PENDLETON HEIGHTS (1-0) AT GUERIN CATHOLIC (1-0)

PERRY CENTRAL (0-1) AT FOREST PARK (0-1)

PERRY MERIDIAN (0-1) AT SOUTHPORT (0-1)

PLYMOUTH (0-1) AT COLUMBIA CITY (1-0)

PRAIRIE HEIGHTS (0-1) AT BRONSON (MICH.)

PRINCETON (1-0) AT PIKE CENTRAL (0-1)

RENSSELAER CENTRAL (1-0) AT NORTH NEWTON (1-0)

RICHMOND (0-1) AT EATON (OHIO)

RIVER FOREST (1-0) AT CALUMET (1-0)

RIVERTON PARKE (1-0) AT EDINBURGH (0-1)

RUSHVILLE (0-1) AT SHELBYVILLE (1-0)

SEYMOUR (0-1) AT JEFFERSONVILLE (0-1)

SHENANDOAH (0-1) AT SOUTH DECATUR (0-1)

SILVER CREEK (0-1) AT SALEM (0-1)

SOUTH BEND ADAMS (1-0) AT LOGANSPORT (1-0)

SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH (1-0) AT FORT WAYNE SOUTH (0-1)

SOUTH CENTRAL (UNION MILLS) (0-1) AT BOONE GROVE (0-1)

SOUTH NEWTON (0-1) AT COVINGTON (1-0)

SOUTHMONT (1-0) AT OWEN VALLEY (1-0)

SOUTHRIDGE (0-1) AT WASHINGTON (0-1)

SOUTHWOOD (0-1) AT MADISON-GRANT (1-0)

SPRINGS VALLEY (1-0) AT MITCHELL (0-1)

ST. FRANCIS DE SALES (OHIO) AT FORT WAYNE DWENGER (0-1)

SULLIVAN (1-0) AT SOUTH VERMILLION (1-0)

SWITZERLAND COUNTY (1-0) AT CINCINNATI LANDMARK (OHIO)

T.F. SOUTH (ILL.) AT HAMMOND CENTRAL (0-1)

TELL CITY (1-0) AT WEST WASHINGTON (1-0)

TERRE HAUTE NORTH (0-1) AT MOORESVILLE (1-0)

TERRE HAUTE SOUTH (0-1) AT KOKOMO (0-1)

TIPPECANOE VALLEY (1-0) AT ROCHESTER (1-0)

TRI (1-0) AT NORTHEASTERN (1-0)

TRI-CENTRAL (0-1) AT WES-DEL (0-1)

TRI-COUNTY (0-1) AT ATTICA (0-1)

TRI-WEST (1-0) AT BREBEUF JESUIT (0-1)

TWIN LAKES (1-0) AT DELPHI (1-0)

UNION CITY (0-1) AT MONROE CENTRAL (0-1)

UNION COUNTY (0-1) AT CAMBRIDGE CITY LINCOLN (0-1)

VALPARAISO (0-1) AT CHICAGO RICE (ILL.)

VINCENNES LINCOLN (1-0) AT EVANSVILLE REITZ (1-0)

WABASH (0-1) AT NORTH MIAMI (1-0)

WARREN CENTRAL (0-1) AT WARSAW (1-0)

WAWASEE (1-0) AT WEST NOBLE (1-0)

WESTERN (0-1) AT NORTH MONTGOMERY (0-1)

WESTERN BOONE (0-1) AT LEBANON (0-1)

WESTFIELD (1-0) AT CARMEL (1-0)

WHEELER (1-0) AT KANKAKEE VALLEY (0-1)

WHITKO (1-0) AT PERU (0-1)

YORKTOWN (1-0) AT MUNCIE CENTRAL (1-0)

ZIONSVILLE (1-0) AT LAWRENCE CENTRAL (0-1)

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INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL

SCOREBOARD: https://www.maxpreps.com/in/volleyball/scores/?date=8/28/2025

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INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL BOYS SOCCER

SCOREBOARD: https://www.maxpreps.com/in/soccer/scores/?date=8/28/2025

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INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS SOCCER

SCOREBOARD: https://www.maxpreps.com/in/soccer/girls/scores/?date=8/28/2025

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INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS GOLF-REPORTED SCORES

BELLMONT 188, LEO 222, NEW HAVEN 236

NEW PALESTINE 176, AVON 203, SPEEDWAY 221

FRANKLIN WINS THE JOHNSON COUNTY TOURNEY (FIRST TIME SINCE 2004) 315, CENTER GROVE 2^ND 320

TRI-WEST DEFEATS PIKE. TRI-WEST SHOT A 181. HALLE PHILLIPS MEDALIST WITH A 39

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INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY RESULTS

LAWRENCEBURG, TAYLOR: https://in.milesplit.com/meets/701742-lawrenceburg-taylor-2025/results

SOUTH DECATUR INVITE: https://in.milesplit.com/meets/693141-south-decatur-invitational-2025/results

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INDIANA BOYS TENNIS REPORTED SCORES

BROWNSBURG 4 FISHERS 1

PARK TUDOR 4 BISHOP CHATARD 1

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INDIANA UNITED FLAG FOOTBALL

NO GAMES SCHEDULED

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WNBA SCORES

NEW YORK 89 WASHINGTON 63

SEATTLE 93 MINNESOTA 79

PHOENIX 83 CHICAGO 79

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MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

BOSTON 3 BALTIMORE 2

ARIZONA 6 MILWAUKEE 4

HOUSTON 4 COLORADO 3

ST. LOUIS 4 PITTSBURGH 1

SAN FRANCISCO 4 CHICAGO CUBS 3

PHILADELPHIA 19 ATLANTA 4

MIAMI 7 NY METS 4

NY YANKEES 10 CHICAGO WHITE SOX 4

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MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

BUFFALO 5 INDIANAPOLIS 3

PEORIA 5 SOUTH BEND 2

DAYTON 3 FT. WAYNE 1

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL

WEEK 1

THURSDAY, AUG. 28

SOUTH FLORIDA 34 #25 BOISE STATE 7

RUTGERS 34 OHIO 31

BOWLING GREEN 26 LAFAYETTE 7

CENTRAL FLORIDA 17 JACKSONVILLE STATE 10

WYOMING 10 AKRON 0

NORTH CAROLINA STATE 24 E. CAROLINA 17

DELAWARE 35 DELAWARE STATE 17

LOUISIANA MONROE 29 ST. FRANCIS 0

DUKE 45 ELON 17

OKLAHOMA STATE 27 TENNESSEE MARTIN 7

MISSOURI 61 CENTRAL ARKANSAS 6

HOUSTON 27 STEPHEN F AUSTIN 0

MINNESOTA 23 BUFFALO 10

WISCONSIN 17 MIAMI OHIO 0

NEBRASKA 20 CINCINNATI 17

SAN DIEGO STATE 42 STONY BROOK 0

FRIDAY, AUG. 29

SATURDAY, AUG. 30

SUNDAY, AUG. 313 P.M. | VIRGINIA TECH AT SOUTH CAROLINA | ESPN (IN ATLANTA, GA)
7:30 P.M. | NOTRE DAME AT MIAMI (FL)| ABC

MONDAY, SEPT. 1

8 P.M. | TCU AT NORTH CAROLINA | ESPN

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NFL WEEK ONE TV SCHEDULE

WEEK 1

THURSDAY, SEPT. 4

DALLAS AT PHILADELPHIA, 8:20 P.M. (NBC)

FRIDAY, SEPT. 5

KANSAS CITY VS. LA CHARGERS AT SAO PAULO, BRAZIL, 8 P.M. (YOUTUBE)

SUNDAY, SEPT. 7

LAS VEGAS AT NEW ENGLAND, 1 P.M. (CBS)

PITTSBURGH AT NY JETS, 1 P.M. (CBS)

MIAMI AT INDIANAPOLIS, 1 P.M. (CBS)

ARIZONA AT NEW ORLEANS, 1 P.M. (CBS)

NY GIANTS AT WASHINGTON, 1 P.M. (FOX)

CAROLINA AT JACKSONVILLE, 1 P.M. (FOX)

CINCINNATI AT CLEVELAND, 1 P.M. (FOX)

TAMPA BAY AT ATLANTA, 1 P.M. (FOX)

TENNESSEE AT DENVER, 4:05 P.M. (FOX)

SAN FRANCISCO AT SEATTLE, 4:05 P.M. (FOX)

DETROIT AT GREEN BAY, 4:25 P.M. (CBS)

HOUSTON AT LA RAMS, 4:25 P.M. (CBS)

BALTIMORE AT BUFFALO, 8:20 P.M. (NBC)

MONDAY, SEPT. 8

MINNESOTA AT CHICAGO, 8:15 P.M. (ESPN/ABC)

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MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER

NO GAMES SCHEDULED

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TOP NATIONAL HEADLINES/PRESS RELEASES

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

TOP 25

FAKE-PUNT TD HELPS USF CRUISE PAST NO. 25 BOISE STATE

Locklan Hewlett threw a touchdown pass to Keshaun Singleton on a fake punt to help South Florida notch a convincing 34-7 season-opening rout over No. 25 Boise State on Thursday night at Tampa.

The stunning trick play gave the Bulls a 10-point lead in the middle of the third quarter and was part of 34 unanswered points as USF halted an 18-game losing streak against ranked teams. Byrum Brown rushed for two touchdowns and finished 16-for-24 passing for 210 yards to pace the Bulls.

Maddux Madsen completed 25 of 46 passes for 225 yards and one touchdown for the Broncos, who reached the College Football Playoff quarterfinals last season. Chris Marshall caught a touchdown pass for Boise State.

Sire Gaines rushed for 44 yards on nine carries and Malik Sherrod gained 27 yards on 11 attempts for the Broncos, who are trying to replace star running back Ashton Jeanty. The 2024 Heisman Trophy runner-up racked up 2,601 on the ground last season.

USF led 10-7 when the momentum-changing play occurred on fourth-and-6 from the Boise State 45-yard line in the third quarter.

The Bulls went into punt formation and Hewlett came in from the sideline. The true freshman quarterback lined up as the punter and the Boise State players and coaches didn’t notice.

Hewlett caught the snap and looked to his right and threw deep toward Singleton, who caught the ball at the Broncos 19-yard line and broke three tackles en route to giving the Bulls a 17-7 lead with 8:18 left in the third quarter.

Boise State failed from fourth-and 2 from the USF 23 with 2:47 remaining in the third. The Bulls answered by moving 77 yards on three plays, the big one being Brown’s 55-yard completion to Chas Nimrod. USF then hurried to the line and Brown kept the ball and went around the left side to score from the 15 and make it 24-7 with 1:44 left.

The Broncos came up empty on fourth-and-7 from their own 43 on their next possession. USF then drove 43 yards on five plays with Cartevious Newton crashing through two tacklers on an 8-yard scoring run to make it a 24-point lead with 13:26 left in the contest.

USF’s Nico Gramatica tacked on a 33-yard field goal with 3:29 left.

The Broncos struck first when Madsen hit Marshall on a 6-yard touchdown pass with 1:10 left in the opening quarter.

USF got on the board on Gramatica’s 52-yard field goal with 12:39 left in the first half.

Six-plus minutes later, Brown dropped back to pass before scampering 23 yards through a big hole for the touchdown that put the Bulls on top for good.

BIG 10

ATHAN KALIAKMANI HAS ALL-AROUND PERFORMANCE IN RUTGERS’ OPENING WIN OVER OHIO

Athan Kaliakmanis threw a pair of touchdown passes as Rutgers nipped visiting Ohio 34-31 Thursday in both teams’ season opener in Piscataway, N.J.

Kaliakmanis finished without an interception going 18-of-23 for 252 yards, while Antwan Raymond chipped in 88 rushing yards and a touchdown for Rutgers (1-0). Ian Strong led the Scarlet Knights’ receiving corps with 100 yards on seven receptions, while KJ Duff and DT Sheffield each caught a touchdown for the hosts.

Parker Navarro went 21-of-31 for 239 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions for Ohio (0-1). He added a team-high 93 yards and a TD on the ground, while Jake Bruno had two catches for two scores for the visitors.

After squandering a 17-point lead, Rutgers used a 14-play drive, spanning the third and fourth quarters, to break a 31-31 tie. Jai Patel’s 26-yard field goal with 11:11 remaining gave the Scarlet Knights a 34-31 edge.

Ohio punted midway through the fourth quarter and never saw the ball again. Kaliakmanis’ 10-yard completion to Sheffield on fourth-and-7 with under two minutes remaining sealed the win.

The game began with the Scarlet Knights uncorking a 12-play, 75-yard drive that Raymond capped with a 14-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-2.

Patel kicked a 23-yard field goal on Rutgers’ next possession. Then, on the first play after a punt by Ohio, Kaliakmanis found a wide-open Sheffield streaking down the left sideline for a 54-yard score to make it 17-7.

However, the Bobcats kept fighting, as Navarro’s 28-yard scramble eventually led to his 14-yard TD pass to Bruno to make it 17-14.

On the ensuing Rutgers possession, Kaliakmanis threw a 6-yard scoring strike to Duff as the lead increased to 24-14.

The Bobcats were set to punt on their next trip, but the snap was low and Magnus Haines’ attempt was blocked by Kaj Sanders. Cam Miller corralled the ball in the end zone to make it 31-14.

Ohio kicked a field goal in the waning seconds of the first half to get within 31-17. Navarro then ran for a score (17 yards) and threw for one (13 yards to Bruno) to draw the visitors even with 4:07 left in the third quarter.

WISCONSIN STARTER BILLY EDWARDS JR. LEAVES GAME VS. MIAMI (OHIO) WITH INJURY

Reserve quarterback Danny O’Neil threw for a second-half touchdown and ran for another and Wisconsin held Miami (Ohio) to 117 total yards en route to a 17-0 victory on Thursday in the nonconference season opener for both teams in Madison, Wis.

O’Neil, who replaced injured starter Billy Edwards Jr. midway through the second quarter, directed a 54-yard scoring drive that put Wisconsin up 10-0 with 4:08 left in the third quarter.

O’Neil, a sophomore transfer from San Diego State, set up the score with a 22-yard completion to Grant Stec to the 3-yard line, then hit Vinny Anthony II with a touchdown toss on the following play.

Edwards, making his debut after transferring from Maryland, left with a lower-body injury and did not return. The senior, who passed for 2,881 yards and 15 touchdowns last season as the Terrapins’ starter, completed 6 of 13 passes for 68 yards before the injury.

Preston Zachman returned an interception 17 yards to the Miami 2-yard line to set up Wisconsin’s final touchdown, a 1-yard sneak by O’Neil with 6:45 left.

O’Neil completed 12 of 19 passes for 120 yards with one interception.

Wisconsin redshirt freshman Dilin Jones ran for 73 yards on 14 carries, helping the Badgers finish with 165 yards on the ground.

Miami, which returned no starters on offense, rushed for just 34 yards, averaging just 1.5 yards per carry.

The RedHawks, who advanced to the MAC title game the last two seasons, managed just seven first downs and were 0-for-9 on third-down conversion attempts.

Miami quarterback Dequan Finn, a seventh-year transfer from Baylor who also previously played at Toledo, completed 9 of 18 passes for 83 yards with two interceptions.

Wisconsin took a 3-0 lead on its second possession, marching 69 yards in 15 plays from its own 6-yard line before settling for Nathanial Vakos’ 42-yard field goal with 1:39 left in the first period.

O’Neil led a 65-yard drive on the opening possession of the second half, but was picked off by Silas Walters in the end zone on fourth-and-3 from the 10-yard line.

DRAKE LINDSEY, DARIUS TAYLOR HELP MINNESOTA OUTLAST BUFFALO

Drake Lindsey completed 19 of 35 passes for 290 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in his first career start, and Minnesota pulled away for a 23-10 win over Buffalo in the season opener for both teams Thursday night in Minneapolis.

Jalen Smith and Jameson Geers each caught a touchdown pass for Minnesota. Darius Taylor led the ground attack with 30 carries for 141 yards.

Ta’Quan Roberson completed 12 of 20 passes for 107 yards and one touchdown for Buffalo. Victor Snow had five catches for 67 yards and a score.

The Golden Gophers outgained the Bulls 443-151.

Minnesota opened the scoring with 13:53 remaining in the second quarter. Lindsey lofted a pass toward the end zone for Geers, who hauled in the 9-yard touchdown catch.

Buffalo pulled within 7-3 on a 36-yard field goal by Jack Howes with 7:56 left in the half.

The Golden Gophers made it 10-3 just before the intermission. Brady Denaburg connected on a 38-yard field goal with two seconds to go before halftime.

Denaburg made another field goal, this time from 29 yards, to increase Minnesota’s lead to 13-3 with 11:39 remaining in the third quarter.

The Bulls tallied their first touchdown to cut the deficit to 13-10 with 6:48 left in the third quarter. Roberson heaved a long pass down the field to Snow, who caught it while falling backward into the end zone for a 40-yard score.

Minnesota took a 16-10 lead on a 25-yard field goal by Denaburg with 11:31 to play.

The Golden Gophers finally found a crack in Buffalo’s defense during their next drive. Lindsey stepped up in the pocket and fired a pass to Smith, who made the catch near the 30-yard line and sprinted the next 30 yards for a 60-yard touchdown to increase Minnesota’s lead to 23-10 with 10:52 remaining.

Buffalo running back Al-Jay Henderson managed only 25 yards on 11 carries. Teammate Terrance Shelton Jr. added two carries for 16 yards for Buffalo, which finished with an average of 1.8 yards per carry after notching 44 yards on 24 carries.

NEBRASKA HOLDS OFF CINCINNATI THANKS TO LATE INTERCEPTION

Malcolm Hartzog Jr. made an acrobatic one-hand interception in the end zone with 34 seconds remaining, sealing Nebraska’s 20-17 win over Cincinnati on Thursday in Kansas City, Mo.

The game was the season opener for both teams.

The Bearcats got the ball with 1:36 left at their own 9-yard line after a Nebraska punt. Quarterback Brendan Sorsby guided Cincinnati to the Cornhuskers 33-yard line before Hartzog’s clinching pick.

It was a tight game the entire night, with the teams relying on methodical approaches to move the ball.

Cornhuskers quarterback Dylan Raiola was accurate and decisive throughout the night, throwing for 243 yards and two touchdowns while completing 33 of his 42 passes.

Five Cornhuskers had at least five receptions, with running back Emmett Johnson leading the way with seven receptions. Nyziah Hunter topped the team with 65 receiving yards and added a touchdown grab among his six catches.

Nebraska’s secondary held Sorsby in check. He had just 20 passing yards at halftime and then threw for a meager four yards in the third quarter. He finished 13 of 25 for 69 yards.

However, with the passing lanes not open, Sorsby used his legs to move the Bearcats down the field in the second half. Cincinnati’s second-year quarterback led the team in rushing with 96 yards on 13 attempts and scored both of his touchdowns on the ground in the second half.

After not running a single play in the red zone in the first half, the Bearcats took two of their first three drives in the second half all the way to the end zone for touchdowns. Those two drives covered 57 and 75 yards.

Cincinnati, though, has now lost six straight games dating back to last season and are now 8-17 with Scott Satterfield as the head coach.

ALSO:

DEION SANDERS CALLS FOR PAYING PLAYERS WHO REACH THE PLAYOFF AND SABAN SUPPORTS THE PROPOSAL

Leave it to Deion Sanders to come up with an idea for the College Football Playoff that nobody has really mentioned yet: Pay the players for making the tournament, and pay them more when their teams win.

If they do that, then “now it’s equality, now it’s even and every player is making the same amount of money,” the Colorado coach said.

Sanders and former Alabama coach Nick Saban talked to The Associated Press as part of their unveiling of a new Aflac commercia l that rolls out this week with a storyboard ripped from today’s headlines: It opens with Sanders complaining: “This game has gotten out of control. All the money. All the unpredictability.”

He is talking about health insurance, of course, and the commissioner he wants to see run it isn’t Saban, but that kooky duck who wears the same powder-blue sportscoat as the two football legends.

It’s an endorsement that Sanders says hits home some two years after his diagnosis with bladder cancer, from which he says he is fully recovered.

“I’ve been walking with my coaches over a mile” after practice, he said ahead of Friday night’s season opener against Georgia Tech.. “Exercising, lifting.”

Saban will be back on the set with ESPN in his second year of “retirement” after leaving the Crimson Tide, where he won six national titles. He insists he wants to help college sports find its footing, but not via a commissioner job that was floated last year with his name coming up as the ideal fit.

“I don’t want to be in that briar patch of being a commissioner, but I do want to do everything I can to make it right,” he said.

He and Sanders agreed that there needs to be more structure around deals players sign. Since July 1, schools have been able to start paying up to $20.5 million each to their athletes over the next year under the House settlement alongside third-party NIL deals that have turned some players into millionaires.

Saban said he believes that forgotten amidst all the hype about name, image, likeness deals — deals Sanders says are a joke because “there are only three or four guys who you might know their NIL, and the rest you’re just giving money to” — is what happens to the vast majority of these players after they leave school.

“For years and years and years as coaches, and when we were players, we learned this, we’re trying to create value for our future,” Saban said. “That’s why we’re going to college. It’s not just to see how much money we can make while we’re in college. It’s, how does that impact your future as far as our ability to create value for ourselves?”

Currently, conferences whose schools advance to the 12-team playoff receive $4 million for making the bracket, with payments increasing for every round they win.

Saban said Sanders’ idea about spreading the wealth with an NFL-style playoff bonus structure for players (winners of the Super Bowl got $171,000 last year) sounded like a good idea to him. He also had no love for proposals coming out of the Big Ten that would give that league and the Southeastern Conference multiple automatic bids.

“The NFC East has the Cowboys, Eagles and Giants, they have the biggest fan bases of anyone and they have to play their way in,” Saban said. “Everyone should play their way in. One year, a conference might get five teams in, another it might get three. But there’s no (scenario) in any competitive venue where you get a guaranteed playoff spot.”

NO. 2 NITTANY LIONS TO LEAN ON DEEP ROSTER IN SEASON OPENER AGAINST NEVADA

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — It’s been just over seven months since Penn State center Nick Dawkins and his teammates last played a football game. They feel like they’ve been waiting much longer.

Coming one game away from playing for a national championship seems to have that effect. The No. 2 Nittany Lions are eager to get back at it following one of the most successful seasons in the program’s 139 years. Although Saturday’s season-opener against Nevada won’t draw the attention of a College Football Playoff matchup, everyone has to start somewhere.

“It is no longer and it is not the idea of proving other people wrong,” Dawkins said. “It is the idea of proving ourselves right.”

The Nittany Lions have all the pieces to make another deep run, including 15 starters who helped them win the most games in program history a season ago. Drew Allar, who’s thrown for 6,302 yards, 53 touchdowns and helped Penn State win a program-best 34 games over three years, is back to chase what would be the program’s first national championship since 1986.

They have also bolstered their ranks with a handful of transfers and added coordinator Jim Knowles, coming off the title run with Ohio State, to guide a top 10 defense.

Opening as more than six-touchdown favorites, the Nittany Lions likely won’t be tested until No. 7 Oregon visits on Sept. 27. Until then, coach James Franklin will use the non-conference portion of the schedule to further develop the roster.

“That’s something I’m pretty adamant about,” Franklin said. “Especially early in the year, is trying to get these guys on the field so we can evaluate them, know what we have, know what the strengths are, know areas we need to work on in a weakness standpoint or deficiency standpoint.”

Nevada coach Jeff Choate doesn’t see many weaknesses when he looks at film, but believes the payday game is an ideal situation for his team.

“I think it’s good to play a really elite opponent Week 1,” Choate said. “You’re going to have your team’s full attention the second you put the tape on. We know who these guys are. We know what kind of caliber team this is and we’re going to have to have our best.”

Big boys

It all starts up front for the Nittany Lions, who can plug players with starting experience in at any spot. Dawkins leads the group that helped the team’s running backs combine for 202.3 rushing yards per game and 35 touchdowns. Dani Dennis-Sutton and Zane Durant will lead a defensive line that helped chip in 119 tackles for loss and 44 sacks last season.

Running for history

Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen have split carries and catches almost 50-50 at Penn State. Now, both running backs have Evan Royster’s career rushing record in sight.

Royster ended his career under Joe Paterno in 2010 with 3,932 yards. Singleton is currently 10th on the program’s career rushing list with 2,912 yards while Allen is right behind him with 2,877 yards.

Both Singleton and Allen eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards last season.

“Honestly, that doesn’t’ handle itself unless we handle every game,” Dawkins said. “If we do our job every game starting with Nevada, I think something like that will naturally occur.”

Transfer watch

Both teams are looking to break-in new skill position players.

The Nittany Lions brought in Kyron Hudson (USC), Devonte Ross (Troy) and Trebor Peña (Syracuse) to bolster its thin wideout corps. They’ll try to lift a passing game that finished 66th in the country.

Nevada added former Utah State running back Herschel Turner to boost a running game that generated 163.4 yards per game last season.

New-look stadium

Beaver Stadium has a new look this season. Gone is the old press box and bleacher seating that led up to it along the west side. Both have been replaced with temporary seats and lighting as a part of a multi-year, $700 million renovation project.

NEW-LOOK OREGON DUCKS READY TO EMBARK ON THEIR SECOND BIG TEN SEASON

The new season has brought some big changes for both Oregon and Montana State.

Neither the No. 7 Ducks nor the Bobcats will look much like they did last year when the two teams meet on Saturday at Autzen Stadium.

Oregon lost 10 players to the NFL draft, including quarterback Dillon Gabriel, top receiver Tez Johnson and top running back Jordan James.

Montana State’s prolific quarterback Tommy Mellott also went pro, to the Las Vegas Raiders, and running back Scottre Humphrey is now at New Mexico.

All the new faces make it a bit hard for either team to scout their opening opponent. But the Ducks have one advantage in that they’ve faced the Bobcats’ new quarterback before.

Montana State starter Justin Lamson spent the last two seasons at Stanford. He started for the Cardinal against the Ducks back in 2023, going 11-of-20 for 106 yards in a 42-6 Oregon win. He was sacked four times.

Oregon coach Dan Lanning said that while it’s helpful to have seen Lamson before, other more important factors go into preparation for the opener.

“You look at that for an evaluation as a player, but you spend a lot more time watching scheme from coordinator’s perspective and what Montana State did last year on offense perspective as that falls in,” Lanning said.

Lamson played in six games for Stanford last year, throwing for 300 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions.

Oregon will likely have Dante Moore under center. Moore spent last season as Gabriel’s backup, eventually redshirting, after transferring from UCLA.

Montana State coach Brent Vigen said Moore poses a different challenge than Gabriel and his Oregon predecessor, Bo Nix.

“They’ve had the two most experienced quarterbacks in the history of college football. So that’s going to change. So what does that mean? I would suggest that’s going to mean they’re going to have to lean more and more on all those playmakers, and those playmakers have changed a little bit, too,” Vigen said. “So I think the big thing is let’s not get caught up in maybe certain individuals so much as know that they’re gonna be good all over the place.”

Bobcats rewind

Montana State, which plays at the FCS level, won its third straight Big Sky Conference title after going undefeated in league play. The Bobcats went a program-best 15-1 last season, with the lone loss coming in the FCS National Championship, where they fell 35-32 to North Dakota State.

Ducks rewind

After beating top-ranked Ohio State at Autzen in October, Oregon went on to defeat Penn State in the Big Ten title game 45-37, finishing undefeated in its first season in the conference. But the Buckeyes got revenge in the College Football Playoff, beating Oregon 41-21 in the quarterfinals at the Rose Bowl.

It’s not how you start …

Asked if he got a good sense of his team’s identity in camp, Lanning said he hoped not.

“I think regardless of result or whoever we are on Saturday, I hope it’s not remotely close to who we become, right? And you always talk about becoming, you know, the best version of yourselves. And I think we’re a long ways away from what we could become, but I think this would be a good starting point to assess exactly where we’re at,” he said.

Moving on

How exactly do you replace a dynamic player like Mellott? He threw for 2,759 yards and rushed for another 1,050, accounting for an eye-popping 46 touchdowns. He won the Walter Payton Award.

It will take a team effort. In addition to Lamson, the Bobcats return last season’s top receiver, Taco Dowler. And then there’s running back Adam Jones, who rushed for 1,172 yards and 14 touchdowns last season, and was named Big Sky freshman of the year. He was named the league’s preseason offensive MVP heading into this season.

NO. 1 TEXAS AT NO. 3 OHIO STATE AND NO. 9 LSU AT NO. 4 CLEMSON ARE THE SPOTLIGHT GAMES INVOLVING SEC

Things to watch this week in the Southeastern Conference:

Game of the week

No. 1 Texas at No. 3 Ohio State, Saturday, noon ET (Fox)

Texas is the preseason No. 1 for the first time and the fifth straight SEC team to sit atop the Associated Press poll entering the season. The Longhorns are being put to the test right away with a game against the defending national champion Buckeyes in the Horseshoe in a rematch of a College Football Playoff semifinal.

It’s a grand stage for Texas’ Arch Manning, next in a family line of quarterback royalty. He started two games last year in place of an injured Quinn Ewers, but this is viewed as his coming out party. Julian Sayin will make his first start for the Buckeyes.

A couple streaks are on the line. Texas leads the nation with 11 straight wins in true road games; Ohio State leads the nation with a 25-game win streak in openers.

BetMGM has Ohio State as a 1 ½-point favorite.

The undercard

No. 9 LSU at No. 4 Clemson, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (ABC)

This is a battle of Heisman Trophy hopefuls in Clemson’s Cade Klubnik and LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier. Klubnik is the first-team quarterback on the Associated Press preseason All-America team and Nussmeier is the second-team pick.

The teams are meeting for the first time since Joe Burrow threw five touchdown passes and ran for another in a 42-25 win in the 2019 season CFP championship game.

BetMGM Sportsbook has Clemson as a 4-point favorite.

Impact players

Vanderbilt TE Eli Stowers: The first-team AP preseason All-American’s 638 receiving yards last season were second-most by a Vanderbilt tight end since 1996, and his 49.1 receiving yards per game tied for first among SEC players at the position. He also was Vandy’s first tight end since 1996 with multiple 100-yard receiving games.

Texas A&M RB Le’Veon Moss: He’s back for his senior season after rushing for 765 yards and 10 touchdowns on 121 carries and catching 10 passes for 141 yards. He did all that in the first nine games before sustaining a season-ending injury.

Georgia CB Daylen Everette: The Bulldogs lost NFL first-round draft pick Malaki Starks from the secondary but return Everette, the MVP of the SEC championship game. Everette led the Bulldogs with three interceptions and was sixth on the team with 58 tackles. He enters the season with 28 consecutive starts.

Inside the numbers

The SEC has a record 10 teams in the AP Top 25: No. 1 Texas, No. 5 Georgia, No. 8 Alabama, No. 9 LSU, No. 13 South Carolina, No. 15 Florida, No. 18 Oklahoma, No. 19 Texas A&M, No. 21 Mississippi and No. 24 Tennessee. … The SEC hasn’t had a team in the national championship game since the 2022 season. In the 17 seasons before that, an SEC team had played for the title 16 times. … Since 2006, the SEC has posted the highest nonconference winning percentage (regular season and bowls). The league has a 927-232 record for an .800 winning percentage. The SEC was 63-16 (.797) last season. … Florida enters the season having not been shut out in a Football Bowl Subdivision-record 461 games since a 16-0 loss to Auburn in 1988.

Get to know him

QB Joey Aguilar will be Tennessee’s fourth starting quarterback in four years when the Volunteers open against Syracuse in Atlanta. The Vols started Hendon Hooker in 2022, Joe Milton III in 2023 and Nico Iamaleava in 2024.

Aguilar took a circuitous route to Knoxville. He played at City College of San Francisco in 2019, Diablo Valley Community College in California in 2021-22 and Appalachian State in 2023-24. He spent the spring at UCLA and entered the transfer portal on April 21.

Aguilar is the FBS active career leader in total offense per game (288.5) and second in passing yards per game (270.4). He’ll be making his 25th FBS start.

TOP QBS CLASH AS NO. 4 CLEMSON HOSTS NO. 9 LSU IN HUGE COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON OPENER

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik has national championship aspirations and is one of the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy.

The same can be said of LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier.

The two highly touted quarterbacks clash on Saturday night in a much-anticipated season opener when No. 4 Clemson hosts No. 9 LSU in the first head-to-head matchup between the college football powerhouses since LSU won 42-25 in the 2019 national championship game behind five touchdown passes from Joe Burrow.

The two teams are similar in many respects, and that goes well beyond sharing a mascot name and a home stadium they call Death Valley.

They both have prolific passing games and are able to put up points in a hurry, which could lead to a high-scoring affair, indicative of the over/under being listed at 57 1/2 points, per BetMGM Sportsbook.

Klubnik, who has led Clemson to two Atlantic Coast Conference championships, threw for 3,639 yards and 36 touchdowns last season, while also running for 463 yards and seven scores. Nussmeier, after biding time playing behind Jayden Daniels, became the school’s first quarterback to eclipse 4,000 yards passing since Burrow.

“Cade Klubnik played his best football at the end of last year, and his dual-threat ability is central to their offense,” LSU coach Brian Kelly said.

Swinney expressed equal respect for Nussmeier, praising his poise in the pocket.

“He’s on his way to being a high draft pick,” Swinney said. “He’s got a lot of poise. He’s got great instincts, really good pocket awareness. He’s got big time arm talent. He’s tough, and they’ve put a good group together up front.”

Can LSU avoid Week 1 loss?

LSU has lost its last five season openers, including three straight under Kelly.

In fact, the last time the Tigers won a season opener was 2019 when they hammered Georgia Southern 55-3 to begin an unbeaten season. Kelly said that has no bearing on this year, and that he’s excited about this team. Kelly said the Tigers did get into their game routine earlier than normal this season, and believes the changes in the roster have produced tougher players.

“Everybody talks about iron sharpening iron,” Kelly said. ”We didn’t have iron all the time (in previous camps). We had iron vs. butter. Butter doesn’t like iron. So, from that perspective, the competition in (this) camp was so much different.”

Experience matters

Clemson typically doesn’t dip into the transfer portal, priding itself on retaining its players. The Tigers have one of the most experienced team in college football, returning eight starters on both sides of the football, contributing to their high preseason ranking.

Swinney said experience only counts for so much.

“The guys have put the work in,” Swinney said. “We’ve been around a lot of good teams, and this team has the ingredients to be a really good team, but we’ve got to go do the work. We can’t talk about it or predict our way into it.”

Transfer kings

LSU might not have the returning experience, but they did have the No. 1 transfer class, according to 247 Sports.

“They brought in some really good players, some experienced guys and got big time skill,” Swinney said. “They got guys that can take the top off, guys that can complement their run game with the screen game and getting the ball in space and breaking tackles.

“In my opinion, they really don’t have any weaknesses on the offensive side of the ball. They equip the quarterback to make them right and most of the time he does that.”

Pressuring Nussmeier

Unlike Klubnik, Nussmeier is not known for his mobility. He had minus-38 yards rushing last season. That will put added pressure on LSU’s offensive line to protect him against a Clemson defensive front that is expected to be more productive this season. Edge rusher TJ Parker and defensive tackle Peter Woods are both considered likely first-round NFL draft picks,

Suds on tap

For the first time ever, Clemson will be selling alcohol at Memorial Stadium, which could add to what is expected to be raucous atmosphere Saturday night.

“It may be the first time they’re selling it, but it’s not the first time it’ll be in there. I can tell you that,” Swinney joked. “As long as I’ve been here, they just let people go out at halftime, right? I’m sure they ain’t all bringing back Diet Coke back in.”

NO. 8 ALABAMA AIMS TO OVERCOME ROAD WOES AGAINST REBUILDING FLORIDA STATE IN OPENER

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — If No. 8 Alabama is going to return to the College Football Playoff, the Crimson Tide will need to play better away from home.

It starts Saturday at rebuilding Florida State.

The Tide, which lost four times outside Tuscaloosa in 2024 and failed to reach the CFP, gets an early chance to prove last season’s road woes were more of a fluke than a foreshadowing under second-year head coach Kalen DeBoer.

“You got to start fast,” DeBoer said. “You dig yourself a hole on the road, it gets hard. The crowd gets behind the home team.”

Alabama dropped road games to Vanderbilt, Tennessee and Oklahoma last year and then lost to Michigan in a bowl game in Tampa, Florida. Those setbacks left the Tide at 9-4 and snapped the program’s 16-year run with double-digit victories.

The Tide will try to end the trend against the Seminoles, who have lost 11 of their last 13 games.

Fourth-year junior Ty Simpson, a five-star quarterback prospect in the 2022 recruiting class, will make his first career start Saturday. He has thrown just 50 passes in three years while waiting his turn behind Bryce Young and then Jalen Milroe.

While Simpson has star receiver Ryan Williams to help ease his transition from sideline to spotlight, Alabama will be without tailback Jam Miller (dislocated collarbone). He is expected to return in time for Alabama’s Southeastern Conference opener against Georgia in late September.

The Crimson Tide will turn to transfer Dre Washington and others to help pick up the ground attack slack. Washington had 1,343 yards and nine touchdowns in four seasons at Louisiana-Lafayette.

“They’ve really embraced the next-man-up mentality,” Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said. “I don’t think there’s necessarily anything that’s Earth-shattering that they’re doing, but they’re excited about the opportunity.”

Despite the question marks, the Crimson Tide is a 13 1/2-point favorite, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. Florida State has nearly 50 new players, including former Boston College quarterback Thomas Castellanos, in a significant roster overhaul that could include nine first-year transfers starting on offense.

Seminoles coach Mike Norvell is looking to bounce back after a 2-10 season by leaning on a run-first offense under the guidance of new coordinator and former Auburn and UCF coach Gus Malzahn. Norvell also brought in Tony White, who led a pair of top-25 defenses at Nebraska, to run a 3-3-5 scheme.

“This is a team that has a lot of versatile playmakers,” Norvell said. “When you look on both sides of the ball, guys that can align in different places with what they’re being asked to do. I’m excited to see all of it come together with the different combinations.”

Injury report

Alabama starting offensive lineman Jaeden Roberts is in the concussion protocol and is “still in question,” DeBoer said. Florida State will be without backup receiver Lawayne McCoy and freshman defensive tackle Kevin Wynn.

DeBoer in Year 2

DeBoer has a track record of improvement in Year 2 at his prior stops, including a jump at Washington from 11-2 in 2022 to 14-2 in 2023. At Fresno State, DeBoer went 3-3 in a COVID-shortened 2020 before leading the Bulldogs to a 9-3 mark in 2021.

Starting experience

Among the team’s 49 newcomers, Florida State brought in 22 transfers who have started 293 games. Norvell and the staff prioritized experience, production and leadership.

A number of the new pieces also have SEC experience, including multi-year starters in offensive linemen Gunnar Hansen (Vanderbilt) and Micah Pettus (Ole Miss) and defensive tackle Jayson Jenkins (Tennessee). Wide receiver Squirrel White, another Tennessee transfer, had 10 receptions for 111 yards and a touchdown against Alabama in 2023.

Doak renovation

Doak Campbell Stadium has undergone a $265 million renovation, one that brings luxury boxes and chair-back seating to the west side as well as new video boards. Capacity has been reduced to 67,277.

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NFL NEWS

MICAH PARSONS TRADED TO THE GREEN BAY PACKERS FROM THE COWBOYS AFTER CONTRACT DISPUTE

Micah Parsons is headed to the Green Bay Packers after a blockbuster trade on Thursday, leaving the Dallas Cowboys following a lengthy contract dispute.

The two-time All-Pro edge rusher confirmed the deal in a text to The Associated Press.

A person with knowledge of the details said Parsons and the Packers have agreed on a record-setting $188 million, four-year contract that includes $136 million guaranteed. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade hasn’t been announced.

Parsons becomes the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.

“I never wanted this chapter to end, but not everything was in my control,” Parsons wrote in a statement he posted on X. “My heart has always been here, and still is. Through it all, I never made any demands. I never asked for anything more than fairness. I only asked that the person I trust to negotiate my contract be part of the process.”

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones declined to discuss Parsons’ deal with agent David Mulugheta. Instead, Jones spoke directly to Parsons and insisted they had agreed on the parameters of a new contract.

The Cowboys are receiving two first-round picks and veteran defensive tackle Kenny Clark for Parsons, a person with knowledge of the details told the AP. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the teams haven’t released the terms.

The 26-year-old Parsons has 52 1/2 sacks, recording at least 12 in each of his four seasons while making the Pro Bowl each year.

Parsons provides a huge boost for a franchise that has reached the playoffs five of the past six years but hasn’t made it to the NFL championship game since Aaron Rodgers led them to their fourth Super Bowl title 15 years ago.

Parsons bolsters a defense that was inconsistent at getting to opposing quarterbacks last season, when the Packers went 11-7 and lost to Philadelphia in the NFC wild-card round. The Packers had 45 sacks last season to tie for eighth place in the NFL, but more than half of those sacks came in just four games.

In seven of their 17 games, the Packers had no more than one sack.

Green Bay ranked 16th in pressure rate, which calculates the number of hurries, knockdowns and sacks for each team divided by an opponent’s drop-back attempts.

Now, the Packers add one of the game’s elite pass rushers while the Cowboys lose their best player because of a power struggle with Jones.

Even with Parsons, who missed four games because of injury last season, Dallas finished 28th in defense and the team went 7-10. The Cowboys have a healthy Dak Prescott returning but this is a devastating blow for the defense.

The Packers haven’t had anyone get 12 sacks in a season since Za’Darius Smith had 12½ in 2020.

Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst spoke Wednesday about the philosophy of taking a “big swing” to land a superstar.

“I think every opportunity that’s out there to help your football team, we’ve always taken a look at try to see how it affects us right now, how does it affect us in the future and make the best decision we can,” Gutekunst said. “Sometimes we’ve been right, sometimes we’re wrong. Sometimes we’ve taken risks that really worked out for us. Sometimes it didn’t.

“Sometimes we didn’t take risks, and we look back and wish we would have and sometimes, you know, as (former general manager) Ted (Thompson) used to say, you know, God helps those that can’t help themselves a little bit sometimes. So sometimes the best deals you make are the ones you don’t, you know. And so you just kind of, I think you weigh everything, and you weigh what is in the moment and what is in the future as well.”

The Packers, who once signed Reggie White in free agency, just took their biggest swing in decades. White helped a Green Bay team led by Brett Favre win a Super Bowl and reach another on his way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS AIM TO RETURN TO CONTENTION IN NFC AFTER INJURY-FILLED 2024

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (6-11)

Expectations

Despite coming off a six-win season, the 49ers enter 2025 as one of the favorites to contend in the NFC. Injuries derailed last season with stars such as Trent Williams, Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk all missing significant time. The Niners came into this season refreshed thanks to a longer offseason than they had the previous three seasons when they made long playoff runs that fell short of a Super Bowl title. San Francisco believes the pieces are still in place to make a run even after several veterans were jettisoned in the offseason in an attempt to get younger and cheaper. There is still plenty of star power with Williams, McCaffrey, George Kittle, Fred Warner and QB Brock Purdy, who was rewarded with a five-year, $265 million extension in the offseason. If the young players can contribute quickly, San Francisco should be a contending team once again.

New faces

DE Mykel Williams, DT C.J. West, CB Upton Stout, DT Alfred Collins, QB Mac Jones, WR Demarcus Robinson, S Jason Pinnock, RB Brian Robinson, S Marques Sigle, TE Luke Farrell, WR Skyy Moore, LB Nick Martin, S Richie Grant, P Thomas Morstead, WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, DC Robert Saleh.

Key losses

WR Deebo Samuel, LB Dre Greenlaw, CB Charvarius Ward, S Talanoa Hufanga, LG Aaron Banks, RB Jordan Mason, DT Javon Hargrave, DT Maliek Collins, DE Leonard Floyd, OL Jaylon Moore.

Strengths

Quarterback. While the offseason moves chipped away at the depth at many positions, the Niners go into the season in good shape at quarterback. Purdy showed he’s more than just the product of a great system and teammates with the way he played last season and has established himself as one of the better passers in the league. The addition of Jones gives San Francisco a better option as a backup if Purdy goes down at any point this season.

Weaknesses

Safety. The Niners lost 2022 All-Pro Hufanga to Denver in free agency and enter the season with serious questions on the back end of the defense. Malik Mustapha had a promising rookie season, but could miss up to half of this season recovering from knee surgery. Ji’Ayir Brown showed promise as a rookie in 2023, but struggled at times last season and is danger of losing his starting job. San Francisco is relying heavily on Pinnock and Sigle, a fifth-round rookie.

Camp development

Last season’s first-round pick Ricky Pearsall wasn’t able to do much as a rookie after missing the start of the season recovering from a gunshot wound in the chest following a robbery attempt in San Francisco. With Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings missing all or most of camp, Pearsall got plenty of opportunities to be the featured receiver this summer and showed that his 14 catches for 210 yards in the final two games last season might not have been an aberration.

Fantasy player to watch

McCaffrey won the AP Offensive Player of the Year in 2023 when he led the NFL with 2,023 yards from scrimmage and 21 TDs. He played only four games last season because of injuries, dooming fantasy owners who picked him high in their drafts. If McCaffrey stays healthy, he once again figures to be one of the top fantasy performers.

SAINTS WITH ROOKIE COACH KELLEN MOORE BEGIN A NEW ERA WITH UNPROVEN PLAYERS AT KEY SPOTS

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — New Orleans Saints (5-12)

Expectations

Twice since the 2000 season, the Saints bounced back from 3-13 records the previous year to make the playoffs with a new coach and new quarterback. The first instance came under coach Jim Haslett with veteran Jeff Blake, acquired in free agency, under center until an injury elevated younger QB Aaron Brooks into that role. The second time was in 2006 with then-rookie coach Sean Payton and veteran free-agent acquisition Drew Brees. This year, it’s rookie coach Kellen Moore and newly named starting QB Spencer Rattler, a second-year pro out of South Carolina. Rattler started six games for the then-injured and since-retired Derek Carr last season and the Saints lost them all. This preseason, Rattler won a competition that came down to him and rookie Tyler Shough, a second-round pick out of Louisville. While Saints fans can hope for a repeat of 2000 or 2006, it appears less likely, given the relative inexperience at QB, the fact that New Orleans hasn’t made the playoffs since Brees’ last season in 2020 and that last season’s record was the club’s worst since 2005.

New faces

Moore and nearly all of his staff, headlined by defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, a former Los Angeles Chargers head coach. NT Davon Godchaux, DE Jonathan Bullard, OL Luke Fortner, P Kai Kroger, RB Velus Jones, S Julian Blackmon, S Justin Reid, OT Kelvin Banks Jr., WR Brandin Cooks, WR Devaughn Vele, TE Jack Stoll, RB Devin Neal, TE Moliki Matavao, S Jonas Sanker, OL Dillo Radunz, OL Asim Richards.

Key losses

CB Paulson Adebo, LB Willie Gay, S Tyrann Mathieu, S Will Harris, WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, RB Jamaal Williams, DE Payton Turner, OL Lucas Patrick.

Strengths

RB Alvin Kamara has had the most productive career of any player on the current offense and remains a threat as both a runner and receiver, although his success in the latter role will depend on his chemistry with Rattler and Moore’s new offense. The Saints also have an offensive line featuring four former first-round draft picks (Banks, OT Taliese Fuaga, G Trevor Penning and G Cesar Ruiz) and former second-rounder Erik McCoy at center.

Weaknesses

The Saints are unproven at QB. Rattler is 0-6 in his young career as a starter. Shough has never appeared in a regular-season game.

Camp development

While the QB decision was the main storyline during training camp, the Saints also revamped their offensive line, moving Banks Jr., a first-rounder this year, into a starting tackle spot and 2022 first-rounder Trevor Penning from tackle to guard. But Penning injured his foot in the preseason opener and could miss the regular-season opener. Top receiver Chris Olave, who has struggled with recurring concussions early in his career, including late last season, has remained healthy through the preseason. Versatile tight end and special teams standout Taysom Hill and tight end Foster Moreau are starting the season on the physically unable to perform list as they continue their attempted comebacks from reconstructive knee surgeries.

Fantasy player to watch

While the Saints struggled as a team last season, Kamara continued to produce, leading the club in rushing (950 yards, 6 TDs) and catches (68 for 543 yards, 2 TDs). Kamara’s eight total TDs also were a team high in 2024. The 30-year-old appears healthy as he enters his ninth NFL season after being rested for virtually the entire preseason.

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Win Super Bowl: 300-1.

THE PACKERS HOPE TO CONTEND FOR THE SUPER BOWL. IT STARTS WITH BEING BETTER IN THEIR DIVISION

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay Packers (11-7)

Expectations

After making the playoffs with the NFL’s youngest season-opening roster each of the last two years, the Packers are eager to make a run at their first Super Bowl appearance since their 2010 title. That starts with becoming more competitive in their division. Green Bay went 1-5 in NFC North games last season. The Packers didn’t make major changes in the offseason and are relying on improvement from their returning nucleus. Green Bay’s two major free-agent additions were former San Francisco 49ers OL Aaron Banks and ex-Las Vegas Raiders CB Nate Hobbs. Banks will take over at left guard, with two-time Pro Bowl selection Elgton Jenkins sliding over to center. Hobbs is expected to help the Packers withstand the loss of two-time Pro Bowl CB Jaire Alexander, who was released after playing just seven games in each of the last two seasons. The Packers are optimistic that a defense that improved a year ago in its first season under coordinator Jeff Hafley will get even better now that players have adjusted to his scheme. Green Bay’s hopes of a deep playoff run will depend in part on whether Jordan Love stays healthy and recaptures the form he showed late in the 2023 season. Love had a fine 2024, but he didn’t make the leap that was expected of him.

New faces

Banks, Hobbs, OL Anthony Belton, WR Matthew Golden, DL Barryn Sorrell, WR Savion Williams.

Key losses

Alexander, QB coach Tom Clements, RB AJ Dillon, C Josh Myers, CB Eric Stokes, LB Eric Wilson.

Strengths

Josh Jacobs re-established himself as a Pro Bowl-caliber running back last season. All-Pro selection Xavier McKinney leads an outstanding safety group that also includes second-year players Evan Williams and Javon Bullard. Edgerrin Cooper was outstanding in a part-time role as a rookie last year and can team up with Quay Walker to form an exceptional linebacker tandem. Brandon McManus was 20 of 21 on field-goal attempts last season after joining the team in mid-October.

Weaknesses

Although Green Bay already got accustomed to playing without Alexander for much of the last two seasons, his exit leaves the Packers lacking cornerback depth. Also, none of the remaining cornerbacks on the roster has the coverage skills of a healthy Alexander. Green Bay’s playoff loss to Philadelphia last season exposed the Packers’ lack of offensive line depth, and that still may be an issue.

Camp development

Golden spent training camp showing just why the Packers liked him enough to make him the first wide receiver they’ve drafted in the first round since Javon Walker in 2002. He seemingly made a highlight-worthy play in every practice and capped the preseason with a 39-yard reception that set up a touchdown. He figures to make an immediate impact.

Fantasy player to watch

Tucker Kraft showed he was a tight end worth starting on fantasy teams when he caught 50 passes for 707 yards and seven touchdowns as a second-year pro. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he improves upon those numbers this year and establishes himself as one of the top half-dozen or so fantasy tight ends. One concern is that Kraft delivered those big totals last year while injuries limited Luke Musgrave to seven games. If Musgrave stays healthy and gives the Packers two quality pass-catching tight ends, it could cut into Kraft’s production.

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Win Super Bowl: 22-1

CARDINALS HOPE BEEFED-UP DEFENSE AND CONTINUITY ON OFFENSE CAN END PLAYOFF DROUGHT

Arizona Cardinals (8-9)

Expectations

Arizona took a big step forward last season, finishing with eight victories, which was a four-win improvement over 2022 and 2023. Now there’s ample pressure to make the NFL’s postseason for the first time since 2021. Former No. 1 overall pick Kyler Murray is in his seventh season and established himself as a very good quarterback, even if he’s not considered among the league’s elite. He’s surrounded by star tight end Trey McBride, talented young receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and a competent offensive line. General manager Monti Ossenfort spent much of the offseason beefing up the defense, particularly along the line, adding pieces such as Josh Sweat, Dalvin Tomlinson and Calais Campbell.

New faces

Sweat, Campbell, Tomlinson, QB Jacoby Brissett, WR Simi Fehoko, DE Jordan Burch, DT Walter Nolen III, LB Akeem Davis-Gaither, LB Cody Simon, CB Will Johnson, CB Denzel Burke.

Key Losses

LB Kyzir White, CB Sean Murphy-Bunting, LB Krys Barnes, DT Roy Lopez, DT Naquan Jones, LB Dennis Gardeck.

Strengths

The Cardinals bring back seven-time Pro Bowl selection Budda Baker and veteran Jalen Thompson, which has been a rock solid combo at safety for the past several years. Their presence should be a calming presence for a talented, but inexperienced cornerbacks room that includes rising star Garrett Williams, Max Melton and the rookie Johnson. On offense, the Cardinals are particularly deep at tight end. McBride returns after having 1,146 yards receiving last year, second-year pro Tip Reiman is a physical blocker and veteran Elijah Higgins is another good all-around option.

Weaknesses

Arizona is hoping Harrison Jr. — the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 draft — can take a big step forward after a tantalizing but occasionally frustrating rookie season. Harrison needs to be a true No. 1 option because the depth chart gets thin in a hurry. Michael Wilson, Zay Jones and Greg Dortch are among the team’s other options. Murray relied heavily on the tight ends last season — particularly McBride — but it might be nice for the Cardinals to have a bit more balance in the passing game.

Camp development

Nolan, the Cardinals’ first-round pick, suffered a calf injury during offseason workouts and still hasn’t practiced during the preseason. He’ll be brought along slowly as the team makes sure he’s healthy. Arizona also lost Starling Thomas V for the season due to a knee injury, meaning there’s even more pressure on a young cornerbacks room.

Fantasy player to watch

On offense, McBride has ascended into the NFL’s elite among tight ends and should be one of the first selected in fantasy drafts, joining the likes of George Kittle and Brock Bowers. Over the past few years, Arizona’s defense has best been avoided but that could change this fall. The addition of guys like Sweat, Tomlinson and Campbell should shore up the team’s troubles against the run game and the secondary has potential to be very good.

BetMGM Sportsbook

Win Super Bowl: 50-1.

VETERAN WILKINSON MAY BE FALCONS’ STARTER AT RIGHT TACKLE FOLLOWING MCGARY’S SEASON-ENDING INJURY

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons are still adjusting to the jarring loss of right tackle Kaleb McGary for the season to a lower left leg injury that could hurt the team’s running game while also complicating pass protection for left-handed quarterback Michael Penix Jr.

Coach Raheem Morris said before Thursday’s practice that players who practiced through training camp and played in the preseason, including veteran Elijah Wilkinson, are leading the competition to replace McGary in next week’s opening game against Tampa Bay.

Michael Jerrell, acquired from Seattle on Tuesday, provides an option at right tackle but would have difficulty moving ahead of Wilkinson in just one week. The Falcons signed tackles Ryan Hayes and Carter Warren to their practice squad on Thursday.

Morris said the staff also discussed moving starting left guard Matthew Bergeron to right tackle. Another tackle, Storm Norton, was placed on injured reserve/designated to return with an ankle injury on Tuesday. Rookie Jack Nelson is another option at tackle.

While protecting Penix is a priority in his first full season as the starting quarterback, the loss of McGary could be a bigger blow to the line’s ability to open lanes for running backs Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier. The Falcons’ running game flourished with running to the right side behind McGary and right guard Chris Lindstrom.

Morris said McGary’s injury is “a huge thing” for the running game.

“That’s more of what McGary does,” said Morris when comparing McGary’s strength as a run blocker to the issue of protecting Penix’s blind side. “That’s more of our strength. We run the ball significantly better to the right side because of guys like McGary and Lindstrom.”

Also Thursday, the Falcons placed edge rusher Bralen Trice on injured reserve and re-signed safety Jordan Fuller to their active roster. Morris said Trice has a “recurring” knee injury that forced him to miss his 2024 rookie season and is facing possible surgery.

Fuller started 48 games in four seasons with the Los Angeles Rams.

Morris announced two rookies — safety Xavier Watts and nickel back Billy Bowman Jr. — have earned starting jobs in the secondary. Even with Watts beating out Fuller at free safety, Morris said he celebrated having Fuller back on the active roster after the veteran was released to set the initial 53-man roster.

Watts and Bowman join edge rushers Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr., both first-round picks, to give Atlanta four rookies who are expected to start or play key roles on defense.

Wilkinson, 30, is in his ninth season and has played both tackle and guard with Denver, Chicago and Atlanta. He has 45 starts.

McGary was carted off the practice field with the injury on Aug. 20 and was placed on injured reserve as the team set its initial 53-man roster, ending his season.

VIKINGS TURN TO UNTESTED MCCARTHY AT QB AFTER ROOKIE-YEAR KNEE INJURY KEPT HIM OUT OF 14-WIN SEASON

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — MINNESOTA VIKINGS (14-4)

Expectations

The fourth year together for coach Kevin O’Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah comes with a high bar for success after they each received a long-term contract extension and led another ownership-supported aggressive push for upgrades at several positions in free agency. Matching their 14-win total from 2024 will be a tall task in a stacked division, but the Vikings are 0-2 in the playoffs since the current leadership arrived in 2022 so there’s the first place to seek improvement. They’re determined to do so despite new quarterback J.J. McCarthy never having taken a regular-season NFL snap after missing his rookie year with a knee injury. Coaches and teammates have raved about McCarthy’s attitude, confidence, athleticism and intelligence, and the 10th overall pick in the 2024 draft will have the benefit of throwing to Justin Jefferson among many other standouts surrounding him on the roster.

New faces

C Ryan Kelly, RG Will Fries, LG Donovan Jackson, DT Jonathan Allen, CB Isaiah Rodgers, WR Adam Thielen, DT Javon Hargrave, RB Jordan Mason, CB Jeff Okudah, WR/KR Tai Felton, QB Carson Wentz.

Key losses

QB Sam Darnold, CB Stephon Gilmore, SS Cam Bynum, CB Shaquill Griffin, C Garrett Bradbury, DT Harrison Phillips, RG Dalton Risner, OLB Patrick Jones II, WR Brandon Powell.

Strengths

The Vikings had the best interception-per-pass-attempt rate in the league last season (3.77%) that was the NFL’s highest mark in three years, fueled by defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ aggressive and unpredictable scheme that generated plenty of heat on opposing quarterbacks. Adding two accomplished veterans with inside pass-rushing prowess in Allen and Hargrave gives the front seven even more oomph, with Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel leading the push in their edge rusher roles. Jefferson, who has the most receiving yards through a player’s first five seasons in NFL history, is in a clear tier with former LSU teammate and Cincinnati Bengals star Ja’Marr Chase above the rest of the pass-catchers in the game. O’Connell’s influence on the revival of Sam Darnold’s career provides a blueprint for the success McCarthy could have. He’ll be better protected than his recent predecessors, after the entire interior of the line was turned over between stalwart tackles Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill.

Weaknesses

The depth at three crucial positions — wide receiver, cornerback and quarterback — is a significant concern in case any of the starters there are injured. Jefferson’s sidekick, Jordan Addison, must sit out the first three games of his third season to serve a suspension for a drunken driving arrest last summer. Newcomer Rondale Moore’s season-ending knee injury in the first preseason game was a setback to the push for more production from the punt and kickoff return roles as well as to the depth at wide receiver.

Camp development

Jefferson missed more than three weeks of practice time with a mild hamstring strain, as the Vikings exercised extra caution and encouraged the two-time All-Pro to converse more intently with McCarthy about his decision-making process to keep synching their mindsets while they were unable to work on their pass-and-catch rhythm on the field. McCarthy often shined in full-team drills, though, particularly during joint practices against the New England Patriots. The Vikings acquired Thielen in a trade with the Panthers to try to stabilize the depth behind Jefferson, bringing back the player with the third-most receptions in franchise history. The return of Darrisaw to the field at full strength from a torn ACL that sidelined him midway through last season was another heartening sign for the offense. Greenard was wreaking havoc all over the place in practices.

Fantasy player to watch

Mason broke out last season with the 49ers by rushing for 667 yards and three touchdowns over the first seven games with star Christian McCaffrey sidelined, before Mason suffered his own injuries, first to his shoulder and then his ankle. Acquired by the Vikings for a late-round draft pick, Mason is a powerful runner with the potential to flourish sharing the load with Aaron Jones, who had a career-high 1,138 rushing yards in 2024 but will turn 31 later this season. The Vikings have revamped the interior of their offensive line and are as committed as ever under O’Connell to a productive running game.

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Win Super Bowl: 25-1.

GIANTS AIM TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE AFTER REVAMPING AT QB FOLLOWING 3-14 SEASON

New York Giants (3-14)

Expectations

There is nowhere to go but up for the Giants after cutting ties with once-franchise quarterback Daniel Jones after he lost the starting job and bottoming out to a tie for the worst record in the NFL at 3-14. Teams have made rapid turnarounds, but it would be stunning if they can compete for even an wild-card spot in the East Division topped by reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia and NFC championship finalist Washington. New York’s over/under win total is 5½ at BetMGM Sportsbook, so there’s hope for some improvement but nothing earth-shattering. General manager Joe Schoen, who along with coach Brian Daboll is going into his fourth season in charge, expects the Giants to be “a competitive team (with) a competitive roster.” The first month of the schedule is brutal, opening at Washington and Dallas, following by home games against Kansas City and the Los Angeles Chargers.

New faces

QBs Russell Wilson, Jaxson Dart and Jameis Winston, RB Cam Skattebo, WR Beaux Collins, OL James Hudson, DT Roy Robertson-Harris, DE Darius Alexander, LB Abdul Carter, CB Paulson Adebo, S Jevon Holland, secondary coach Marquand Manuel, cornerbacks coach Jeff Burris.

Key losses

QBs Tommy DeVito and Drew Lock, LB Azeez Ojulari, CB Adoree’ Jackson, S Jason Pinnock, defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson, safeties coach Michael Treier.

Strengths

Only seven teams had more sacks than the Giants’ 45 last season, and the pass rush already featuring nose tackle Dexter Lawrence and edge rushers Brian Bruns and Kayvon Thibodeaux should only make this a more fearsome front with the addition of Carter, the third pick in the draft out of Penn State. It’s up to the coaching staff to figure out how to best employ Carter, moving him around the field and putting him in positions to be a difference-maker. Quarterback play should be much improved with Wilson taking over for the rotation of Jones, Lock and DeVito. Top receiver Malik Nabers is looking to build off his stellar rookie year during which he caught 109 passes for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns.

Weaknesses

Who else is there for Wilson — or Dart or Winston — to throw to beyond Nabers? The Giants are banking on veteran wideout Darius Slayton, Collins and tight end Theo Johnson to solve that equation. The offensive line also has a lot to prove coming off allowing 48 sacks, though the return of standout left tackle Andrew Thomas from foot surgery can only help that unit. The secondary got an infusion of talent with the signings of Adebo and Holland, but they are only two players and plenty of questions remain about the rest of the defensive backs on the roster. The pressure is on cornerback Deonte Banks to bounce back from his sophomore slump or for someone else to step up. And as good as the pass rush can be, Lawrence pointed out on Day 1 of training camp, it’s moot if the defense can’t force opponents to throw the ball by stopping the run on first and second downs. New York ranked 27th of 32 teams against the run last season, allowing 136.2 yards a game.

Camp development

The competition to start at right guard fizzled out, with Greg Van Roten winning the spot almost by default with converted tackle Evan Neal missing time because of undisclosed injuries. Banks and Cor’Dale Flott competing for the starting job opposite Adebo, with mixed results, and they could alternate there early in the season. Collins, an undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame, flashed enough in practices and exhibition games to make the team. Dart also impressed — and perhaps put himself in position to debut sooner than later, if Wilson falters.

Fantasy player to watch

Tyrone Tracy has become the no-doubt feature back after rushing for 839 yards and five TDs as a rookie. Skattebo, drafted in the fourth round, and Daboll favorite Devin Singletary will get mixed in, but expect Tracy to get a bulk of the carries until defenses show they can stop him.

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Win Super Bowl: 200-1.

TITANS EAGER TO SPEED UP REBUILDING PROCESS WITH NO. 1 DRAFT PICK QB CAM WARD

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — TENNESSEE TITANS (3-14)

Expectations

The Titans benefit from nobody expecting anything from a franchise that went 3-14 in coach Brian Callahan’s debut season, dropping the final six games of 2024. That got the Titans the No. 1 pick overall in the NFL draft allowing them to select Cam Ward out of Miami and start the rebuilding process with the top spot on the waiver wire. Tennessee switched general managers in January and brought in Mike Borgonzi from Kansas City trying to make sure the right personnel decisions get made. Showing improvement across the board over 2024 is the biggest goal for the Titans this season with anything more than that a happy bonus.

New faces

Ward, Borgonzi, LB Cody Barton, LT Dan Moore Jr., RG Kevin Zeitler, OLB Dre’Mont Jones, WR Tyler Lockett, WR Van Jefferson, TE Gunnar Helm, WR Elic Ayomanor, WR Chimere Dike, OLB Oluwafemi Oladejo, S Kevin Winston Jr., QB Brandon Allen, P Johnny Hekker, K Joey Slye, special teams coordinator John Fassel, S Xavier Woods, S Quandre Diggs, senior offensive assistant Mike McCoy.

Key losses

OLB Harold Landry III, WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, K Nick Folk, P Ryan Stonehouse, special teams coordinator Colt Anderson, QB Mason Rudolph, TE Nick Vannett.

Strengths

Ward. The rookie quarterback’s confidence is infectious combined with his work ethic, communication and field vision. The Titans brought in Moore and Zeitler to improve the offensive line for Ward along with a pair of veteran receivers in Tyler Lockett and Van Jefferson as well.

Weaknesses

That offensive line has to stay healthy and protect Ward so the rookie can play and learn. Someone has to step up at pass rusher with Landry, last season’s sack leader, cut in March. The Titans also have to show they can defend the run better than 2024 when they ranked 26th.

Camp development

Depth at inside linebacker and who would start beside Barton has improved with the growth of a pair of 2024 draft picks. Cedric Gray and James Williams Sr. both made their share of plays to leave depth behind the trio the only concern with the group.

Fantasy player to watch

WR Calvin Ridley. The veteran had a 1,000-yard receiving season despite Will Levis’ struggles with injury, sacks and turnovers. Callahan moved his locker beside Ward to speed up their chemistry, and their connection on the field has grown quickly. Ridley had just four TD catches last season, a number sure to improve with Ward.

BetMGM Sportsbook

Win Super Bowl: 200-1.

CHIEFS AIM FOR ANOTHER SUPER BOWL TITLE AFTER LOSS TO EAGLES SPOILED THEIR THREE-PEAT BID

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City Chiefs (17-3)

Expectations

Super Bowl or bust. Really, that is the only expectation in Kansas City these days, especially after the Chiefs came up short in their quest for an unprecedented three-peat. And the Chiefs didn’t just lose to the Eagles in the Super Bowl in February, they were dominated on both sides of the ball in a 40-22 defeat. The lopsided nature of the loss fueled Patrick Mahomes through one of his best offseasons, inspired Travis Kelce to get in better shape, and led general manager Brett Veach and coach Andy Reid to aggressively plug their biggest problem areas through free agency and the draft. If rookie left tackle Josh Simmons can live up to expectations, and the Chiefs can avoid the injury issues that decimated their wide receiver corps a year ago, Kansas City could have its most electrifying offense since Tyreek Hill was making defenses look foolish years ago.

New faces

LT Josh Simmons, WR Tyquan Thornton, RB Elijah Mitchell, WR Jalen Royals, QB Gardner Minshew, CB Kristian Fulton, DT Omarr Norman-Lott, DL Jerry Tillery, DE Ashton Gillotte, CB Nohl Williams.

Key losses

LG Joe Thuney, SS Justin Reid, QB Carson Wentz, WR DeAndre Hopkins, WR Mecole Hardman, RB Samaje Perine, WR Justin Watson.

Strengths

The Chiefs could have their best passing attack in years now that Marquise Brown and Rashee Rice are healthy and Xavier Worthy has a year of experience under him. Patrick Mahomes has made it clear that Kansas City wants to take more deep shots this seasons after defenses have forced him to constantly check down the past few years. For that to work, the Chiefs need a running back group led by Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt to pick up consistent yardage on first and second down. And for that to work, the rebuilt offensive line with Josh Simmons at left tackle and Kingsley Suamataia at left guard needs to open holes, which that side of the line struggled to accomplish for most of last season.

Weaknesses

The Chiefs have an aggressively blitzing defense, and that has left them susceptible to giving up big yardage on the ground the last few years. They struggled so mightily to stop the run throughout the preseason that they made a trade to bring back defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi, who had left in the offseason for the New York Jets. The Chiefs are solid at cornerback, where Trent McDuffie has emerged as one of the best in the game, but there are question marks on the back end. The Chiefs allowed veteran safety Justin Reid to depart in free agency and are hoping Bryan Cook and Chamarri Conner can take a step forward.

Camp development

Much of the attention in camp was on the left side of the offensive line, and Simmons has exceeded all expectations after he was picked No. 32 overall in the draft. Many thought he was the best left tackle available, and the Chiefs were fortunate that he slid that far because he was coming off a torn patellar tendon. They went through several options at left tackle last season and could never settle on a reliable starter, so the fast emergence of Simmons has been a bright spot of fall camp.

Fantasy player to watch

Rashee Rice. He has a disciplinary hearing set for Sept. 30 following his car crash on a Dallas highway that led to serious legal trouble, and the expectation is that he will serve a multi-game suspension. But he also plays a role in the Kansas City offense that could produce a lot of catches, making him a potential game-changer in PPR leagues. If you can survive without him for however long he is suspended, Rice could be back in time to make a big difference in the fantasy playoffs.

BetMGM Sportsbook

Win Super Bowl: 15-2.

AFTER WINNING 4 STRAIGHT DIVISION TITLES, BUCCANEERS ARE AIMING FOR A DEEPER PLAYOFF RUN

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-8)

Expectations

The four-time defending NFC South champions aren’t satisfied with owning their division. They want to go on a deep playoff run and have the talent to make the franchise’s 50th season special. Baker Mayfield has turned into an elite quarterback on his fourth team. He’s coming off a sensational season in which he became the fourth player in NFL history to achieve at least 4,000 passing yards, 40 touchdowns and a 70% completion percentage in a single season. The offense is stacked with talent, including star wide receiver Mike Evans, running back Bucky Irving and All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs. They were top 5 in passing and rushing last year. A defense that was depleted by injuries last season needs to step up, pressure quarterbacks and create more turnovers. General manager Jason Licht and coach Todd Bowles both received contract extensions in the offseason. Licht is one of the league’s top executives. Bowles has won the division in each of his three seasons, but is 1-3 in the playoffs.

New faces

Offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard, edge rusher Haason Reddick, WR Emeka Egbuka, CB Benjamin Morrison, CB Jacob Parrish, LB Anthony Walker, QB Teddy Bridgewater, LT Charlie Heck, DT Elijah Roberts, P Riley Dixon.

Key losses

Offensive coordinator Liam Coen, LB K.J. Britt, S Jordan Whitehead, OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, T Justin Skule, CB Tavierre Thomas.

Strengths

Mayfield has plenty of options at wide receiver. Evans, a likely Pro Football Hall of Famer, leads the way. He’s the only player in NFL history to start his career with 11 consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons. Only Jerry Rice had that many at any point. Chris Godwin, who’s returning from a severe ankle injury, is one of the league’s best slot receivers. Egbuka, selected in the first round, was a star at Ohio State. Veteran Sterling Shepard has chemistry with Mayfield from their days at Oklahoma. Rookie Tez Johnson is a playmaker. Jalen McMillan, coming off an impressive rookie season, will start the season on injured reserve.

Weaknesses

A secondary that was riddled with injuries last season lacks proven depth. Rookies Morrison and Parrish join starting cornerbacks Jamel Dean and Zyon McCollum. They were Day 2 picks, so expectations are high. If they can step up right away, that’ll be a big boost. Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. was an All-Pro in 2023 but is coming off an injury-plagued season. Tykee Smith and Christian Izien are versatile. The Buccaneers need this group to create more turnovers after they had just seven interceptions last season.

Camp development

The injury bug hit the Bucs again. Camp opened with news that Wirfs had knee surgery and would miss the start of the season. Godwin also won’t be ready until perhaps October. Rookie linebacker David Walker went down with a season-ending knee injury. Morrison and Izien are questionable for Week 1.

Fantasy player to watch

Mayfield. He threw for 4,500 yards and 41 TDs, and his 69 TD passes are the most in the NFL during the past two seasons.

BetMGM Sportsbook

Win Super Bowl: 30-1

MIKE MCDANIEL’S DOLPHINS SEEK A TURNAROUND AFTER INJURIES DERAILED LAST SEASON’S PLAYOFF HOPES

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Miami Dolphins (8-9)

Expectations

The Dolphins had high hopes entering last season after making the playoffs in each of coach Mike McDaniel’s first two years. Miami hardly lived up to its goal of making a deep playoff run, largely because of injuries to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (concussion, hip), starting right tackle Austin Jackson (knee) and wide receiver Tyreek Hill (wrist). The Dolphins had to rally from a 2-6 start to be in position to make the playoffs, but were eliminated in the final week of the regular season. General manager Chris Grier has retooled some of Miami’s weaker units by bringing in a mix of experience and youth. Miami’s pass rush should be much improved from last season with the return of linebackers Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb. And new additions on the offensive line should result in a better, more consistent run game. The Dolphins are still without a playoff win since 2000. They’ll need their key players to stay healthy and to improve their performances against tough competition to end that drought.

New faces

TE Darren Waller, QB Zach Wilson, OG James Daniels, OL Jonah Savaiinaea, QB Quinn Ewers, WR Nick Westbrook‑Ikhine, S Minkah Fitzpatrick, OLB Matthew Judon, LB Willie Gay Jr., S Ifeatu Melifonwu, S Ashtyn Davis, DT Kenneth Grant.

Key losses

CB Jalen Ramsey, DT Calais Campbell, LT Terron Armstead, S Jevon Holland, RB Raheem Mostert, TE Jonnu Smith, CB Kendall Fuller, S Jordan Poyer.

Strengths

Miami’s defensive front has the potential to be one of the best in the league, which could possibly make up for the deficiencies in the secondary. The Dolphins beefed up their interior line by drafting Grant out of Michigan to play alongside veteran Zach Sieler and perhaps fill the void left by the departure of Campbell. Second-year defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver also has a deep edge rushing rotation at his disposal with Judon, Jaelan Phillips, Bradley Chubb and Chop Robinson. Both Philips and Chubb are coming off major knee injuries, but have been ramping up in the preseason and are expected to be ready by Week 1.

Weaknesses

The Dolphins enter the season thin at cornerback after trading Ramsey and releasing 2024 starter Fuller, and preseason injuries have further depleted the secondary. Kader Kohou and Artie Burns sustained season-ending knee injuries in camp, while Ethan Bonner and Kendall Sheffield are dealing with injuries that could put their availability in question for Week 1. Jack Jones and Mike Hilton were brought in during camp, but depth is still an issue in Miami’s secondary.

Camp development

Hill was sidelined early in camp recovering from offseason wrist surgery and he has missed time recently with an oblique injury. That has hindered the wide receiver’s ability to get valuable reps with Tagovailoa, but it has also allowed the quarterback to develop chemistry with other receivers. Malik Washington, a 2024 sixth-round pick, has been one of Tagovailoa’s go-to targets in camp, and the second-year receiver had an impressive 25-yard touchdown catch from Tagovailoa in Miami’s final preseason game against Jacksonville.

Fantasy player t

o watch

RB De’Von Achane. He has had back-to-back 100-carry seasons to start his NFL career and also plays a huge role in Miami’s passing offense. Achane finished 2024 with 1,499 yards from scrimmage with six touchdown runs and six TD catches. He should be in for another big season, especially as Miami has made upgrades to its offensive line to potentially improve its run game.

BetMGM Sportsbook

Win Super Bowl: 80-1.

DOLPHINS RECEIVER TYREEK HILL SET TO PRACTICE, ON TRACK FOR WEEK 1 OPENER VS. COLTS

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill is set to return to practice Thursday and is on track to play in Miami’s Week 1 opener against the Indianapolis Colts, coach Mike McDaniel said.

Hill will practice in a limited capacity after being sidelined the past several weeks with an oblique injury.

McDaniel said the team had been cautious with Hill to make sure he doesn’t aggravate the injury ahead of the season and added that the All-Pro receiver “looks great.”

“He’ll do some stuff today,” McDaniel said ahead of Thursday’s practice. “We’ve been making sure he was going to have no setbacks for next week, but yeah, we look good.”

He had 81 receptions and 959 yards with six receiving touchdowns as he played through a wrist injury in 2024.

The Dolphins will be without second-year running back Jaylen Wright to start the season. McDaniel said Wright had a “small procedure” that is not expected to be season-ending but will require some time to recover from.

Wright’s injury left rookie Ollie Gordon III as Miami’s only healthy running back, with starter De’Von Achane nursing a calf injury — he’s expected to be ready by Week 1 — so the Dolphins signed veterans Jeff Wilson Jr. and JaMycal Hasty.

NEW PATRIOTS COACH MIKE VRABEL AIMS TO TURN TEAM AROUND AFTER BACK-TO-BACK 4-13 SEASONS

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — New England Patriots (4-13)

Expectations

The Patriots made an abrupt course correction, parting ways with former coach Jerod Mayo after just one season following the team’s second straight 4-13 finish. Enter new coach Mike Vrabel, a former Patriots linebacker with a connection to the past run of Super Bowl wins, having won three rings playing for Bill Belichick. Vrabel is now eager to prove the culture he developed while leading the Tennessee Titans to three playoff appearances in his six seasons as their coach can have a similar effect in New England. The way his new staff attacked the offseason appears to be a step in that direction. They improved the protection around second-year quarterback Drake Maye, added new playmakers for him to get the ball to and infused the defense with more athleticism up front and in the pass rush. That, combined with a favorable schedule, should mean more wins and a shot at a playoff berth.

New faces

Vrabel, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, defensive coordinator Terrell Williams, WR Stefon Diggs, DT Milton Williams, OT Morgan Moses, edge rusher Harold Landry, and 2025 draft picks that include OT Will Campbell, RB TreVeyon Henderson, WR Kyle Williams and OL Jared Wilson.

Key losses

C David Andrews, CB Jonathan Jones, DE Deatrich Wise.

Strengths

It starts with Maye. He showed his potential to be a franchise quarterback as a rookie and he has flourished this offseason in McDaniels’ system. In the limited preseason action he did get, he was a little careless with the ball at times. But overall he seems poised to make a jump in Year 2. Those hopes are bolstered by an offensive line that should provide much better blindside protection with Campbell at left tackle and with guard Mike Onwenu and right tackle Morgan Moses fortifying the right side. Defensively, cornerback Christian Gonzalez has been sidelined since leaving the team’s first padded practice with a hamstring injury. His prolonged absence is worrisome, but the hope is the issue won’t prevent him from starting in Week 1 or from being the anchor of the secondary this season. Williams was the team’s most expensive free agency acquisition and, as expected, has been the standout for the D-line.

Weaknesses

Diggs will be the most decorated receiver Maye has played with, though it’s unclear how much of a go-to threat he’ll be coming off a knee injury. That could put a lot of pressure on young pass catchers such as Demario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte and Williams to produce, which is similar to the spot Maye was in last season.

Camp development

Running back TreVeyon Henderson, a second-round pick, emerged as an impact player both as a kick returner and on offense. Campbell had his early struggles adjusting to playing tackle in the NFL, but found some comfort by the end of camp. Wilson also overtook Cole Strange on the depth chart at left guard and appeared to be in a battle with Ben Brown for the first-team spot.

Fantasy Player to Watch

Henderson’s dual-threat ability also bodes well for him as a fantasy team addition. He turned heads with a 100-yard kickoff return in his first exhibition game touch. He’ll also likely get a lot of opportunities in the passing game, which will allow him to stack up lots of numbers.

BetMGM Sportsbook

Win Super Bowl: 125-1

EXPECTATIONS REMAIN HIGH FOR ALLEN-LED BILLS, WITH FOCUS ON TEAM FINALLY DETHRONING CHIEFS ATOP AFC

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo Bills (15-5)

Expectations

They’re high as usual for the Josh Allen-led team that’s projected to win its sixth straight AFC East title. The biggest question is also a familiar one: Will this finally be the year the Bills get over the playoff hump and displace the Kansas City Chiefs for conference supremacy? Four of Buffalo’s past five postseasons have ended with losses to the Chiefs, including a 32-29 defeat in the AFC championship game in January. A year after getting the Bills’ payroll in order, GM Brandon Beane spent this offseason securing the team’s young core by signing six players to contract extensions, including running back James Cook following a week-long hold-in during training camp. The offense returns almost entirely intact with the addition of free-agent receiver Joshua Palmer to provide a much-needed deep threat. Allen earned NFL MVP honors for overseeing a spread-the-ball approach in leading Buffalo to rank second in the NFL in points scored despite lacking a receiver topping 900 yards. Beane focused much of his offseason efforts upgrading an aging, patchwork defense that excelled in forcing 32 takeaways, the third-most in the league last year, but struggled in most other categories while allowing 30 or more points four times, including playoffs. Buffalo used six of nine draft picks on defensive players, while bulking up its front in free agency with edge rushers Joey Bosa and Michael Hoecht, and tackle Larry Ogunjobi. Questions remain with Hoecht and Ogunjobi to miss the first six games serving NFL suspensions for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy. Meanwhile, the secondary is unsettled. Cornerback Tre’Davious White’s status is uncertain after sustaining a lower body injury in practice last week. White, who returned to Buffalo after splitting last year between the Rams and Ravens, was projected to be the season-opening starter to allow the Bills to ease in rookie first-rounder Maxwell Hairston. Hairston’s development was stalled as he remains sidelined by a knee injury sustained during the first week of training camp. Injuries also slowed Cole Bishop’s bid to beat out Damar Hamlin for the starting safety spot opposite Taylor Rapp.

New faces

Bosa, Hoecht, Palmer, Ogunjobi, White, Hairston, rookie edge rusher Landon Jackson, WR Elijah Moore, LB Shaq Thompson, rookie DTs T.J. Sanders and Deone Walker, P Brad Robbins, special teams coordinator Chris Tabor.

Key losses

Edge Von Miller, CBs Rasul Douglas, Kaiir Elam, WRs Amari Cooper, Mack Hollins, P Sam Martin, special teams coordinator Matthew Smiley.

Strengths

The offense is among the NFL’s elite and fed off a so-called “Everybody Eats” approach, featuring a balanced attack that led to Cook being the NFL’s co-leader with 16 TDs rushing last year. The offensive line returns all five starters. Benford has gradually developed into one of the NFL’s top pass defenders. Linebackers Terrel Bernard and Matt Milano, should he stay healthy after missing much of the past two seasons, are a formidable tandem.

Weaknesses

At 30, Bosa provides Buffalo’s pass rush a younger upgrade over the 36-year-old Miller, but needs to stay healthy after three injury-shortened seasons. The secondary, once a strength, has several question marks. Suspensions to Hoecht and Ogunjobi place more emphasis on Buffalo’s youngsters to step up in September.

Camp development

Injuries and Cook’s contract standoff dominated the news. Cook’s hold-in is no longer a distraction after he signed a four-year contract extension. Injury concerns linger at several positions, including receiver. Khalil Shakir, who led Buffalo with 76 catches and 821 yards last year, has missed a month with a high ankle sprain, but is expected to be ready for Week 1. Curtis Samuel missed significant time, leading to questions over whether the ninth-year receiver might be cut or traded. Coach Sean McDermott was so protective of Allen, the quarterback didn’t see any preseason action for the first time in his eight seasons in Buffalo — not including 2020 when the NFL’s August schedule was wiped out due to COVID-19.

Fantasy player to watch

Third-year tight end Dalton Kincaid is healthy and added muscle in a bid to regain the promise he showed with 73 catches for 673 yards in his rookie season. Injuries led to a drop-off in production last year. Kincaid is still remembered for having Allen’s fourth-and-5 pass attempt slip through his hands in ending Buffalo’s final drive in the playoff loss to the Chiefs.

BetMGM Sportsbook

Win Super Bowl: 7-1.

WITHOUT LONG-TERM ANSWER AT QB, IT’S EXPECTED TO BE ANOTHER LONG SEASON FOR THE BROWNS

CLEVELAND BROWNS (3-14)

Expectations

Very low, as has been the case most seasons. The Browns have had 11 seasons with at least 12 losses since returning to the league in 1999. Kevin Stefanski enters his sixth season, giving him the longest tenure for a Cleveland coach since Sam Rutigliano roamed the sidelines from 1978 until midway through the 1984 season. As usual, most of the drama revolves around the quarterback position. Joe Flacco will be the Week 1 starter and gives Stefanski a veteran leader who can bring a semblance of stability to the position. After Kenny Pickett was traded to Las Vegas, third-round pick Dillon Gabriel will be the backup while Shedeur Sanders, the fifth-round rookie QB, will get time to develop leading the scout team. Even with two rookies, the Browns could be in the running to take a quarterback next year with two first-round picks. Stefanski wants to go back to a ball-control offense now that he is calling plays again. The Browns drafted Quinshon Judkins in the second round, but he has not signed because of a legal matter. Jerome Ford and fourth-round pick Dylan Sampson are expected to split the carries in the early going. Cleveland had the top-ranked defense in 2023, but fell to 19th last season because of injuries and being out on the field for long stretches. All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett leads an aggressive front seven that should be able to pressure the quarterback.

New faces

QB Joe Flacco, QB Dillon Gabriel, QB Shedeur Sanders, OT Cornelius Lucas, DT Mason Graham, LB Carson Schwesinger, TE Harold Fannin Jr., LB Jerome Baker, DT Maliek Collins, DE Joe Tryon-Shoyinka.

Key losses

QB Jameis Winston, RB Nick Chubb, OT James Hudson, WR Elijah Moore, LT Jedrick Wills Jr., LB Jordan Hicks, S D’Anthony Bell, S Juan Thornhill, DT Dalvin Tomlinson, LS Charley Hughlett.

Strengths

The defense remains formidable. Garrett is the only player to have at least 14 sacks in four straight seasons since it became an official stat in 1982. Defensive tackle Mason Graham, the fifth overall pick in the April draft, and linebacker Carson Schwesinger, a second-round selection, have made immediate impacts during training camp. The secondary had a league-low four interceptions last season, but has enough talent to bounce back with cornerbacks Denzel Ward and Greg Newsome II.

Weaknesses

If Flacco gets injured, the Browns will first turn to Gabriel after trading Kenny Pickett to the Raiders. Gabriel was solid in the preseason and directed a pair of two-minute drives, but doing that against the second- or third-team defense is different compared to facing starters who are mixing up coverages and schemes in a regular-season game. Considering Cleveland’s recent injury history at quarterback, Sanders could possibly start a game at some point this season. He did a nice job displaying accuracy on passes during training camp, but there remain issues with footwork and a tendency to make bad plays worse by taking sacks instead of getting rid of the ball.

Camp development

Third-round pick Harold Fannin Jr. has made a quick transition to the offense. Fannin set Football Bowl Subdivision tight end records for receiving yards (1,155 yards) and receptions (117) at Bowling Green last season but he can also line up as a wide receiver.

Fantasy player to watch

Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy had career highs in receiving yards (1,229 yards) and receptions (90) last season after being acquired from Denver. He might be drafted lower in some leagues because of having only four touchdowns last season.

BetMGM Sportsbook

Win Super Bowl: 300-1 (tied with New Orleans for longest odds).

LIONS COACH DAN CAMPBELL SAYS THIS IS HIS BEST TEAM IN 5 YEARS WITH FRANCHISE, COMING OFF EARLY EXIT

DETROIT (AP) — DETROIT LIONS (15-3)

Expectations

Lions coach Dan Campbell said this season’s team is his best in five years. If that ends up being accurate, it would be quite a feat. Detroit won a franchise-record 15 games last season, a year after having a 17-point, third-quarter lead in the NFC championship game before blowing it at San Francisco. The Lions’ injury-depleted defense led to a loss against Washington last January in the divisional round as the conference’s top-seeded team. Campbell, though, is the most optimistic he has been since being hired to turn around the franchise in 2021. It will be tough to top last year’s number of wins due to a difficult schedule. The two-time defending NFC North champions have nine road games and their non-division matchups will be challenging against Baltimore, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Washington, Philadelphia and the Los Angeles Rams. The Lions kick off the season Sept. 7 at Green Bay.

New faces

CB D.J. Reed, DT Tyleik Williams, OG Tate Ratledge, CB Rock Ya-Sin, DT Roy Lopez, WR Isaac TeSlaa, QB Kyle Allen, offensive coordinator John Morton.

Key losses

C Frank Ragnow, OG Kevin Zeitler, CB Carlton Davis, S Ifeatu Melifonwu, LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin, offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn.

Strengths

QB Jared Goff has a lot of options with the ball through the air with two-time All-Pro WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR Jameson Williams and TE Sam LaPorta and on the ground with two-time Pro Bowl RB Jahmyr Gibbs and RB David Montgomery. DE Aidan Hutchinson, who had an NFL-high 7 1/2 sacks through five games when his left leg broke in two places to end last season, appears to be at full strength for his fourth year in the league. All-Pro Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch might be the best pair of safeties in the league, playing behind standout linebackers Alex Anzalone and Jack Campbell.

Weaknesses

The Lions lack an edge rusher opposite Hutchinson, a void that the franchise didn’t aggressively address in the offseason. DT Alim McNeill might be out until midseason, recovering from knee surgery, to leave a hole in the middle of the defensive line. The team is counting on 2024 sixth-round pick Christian Mahogany to start at guard, replacing Zeitler, and second-round rookie Tate Ratledge to start at guard in place of Graham Glasgow, who is shifting to center. Campbell had coaching continuity during his first four years, then his success set up two of his coordinators for head coaching jobs shortly after last season. The NFC North-rival Chicago Bears hired offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and the New York Jets named defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn head coach.

Camp development

TeSlaa, a third-round pick from Arkansas, emerged as a dependable 6-foot-4 target to complement St. Brown and Williams in training camp practices and games. The rookie had 10 catches for 146 yards and three touchdowns in preseason games — matching the number of receiving scores he had last season for the Razorbacks.

Fantasy player to watch

Williams has the talent, and the team, to follow up his breakout season with even more production. He had 58 catches for 1,001 yards and seven touchdowns last season in his third NFL season. Williams may also be motivated to earn a contract extension. He also has a chance to complete a season for the first time. Jameson was suspended two games last year by the NFL for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substance policy. He served a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s gambling policy in 2023, a year after he was limited to six games as a rookie while recovering from knee surgery.

BetMGM Sportsbook

Win Super Bowl: 10-1.

BOLSTERED DENVER BRONCOS ARE CONFIDENT THEY CAN TAKE FURTHER STEPS AFTER ENDING LONG PLAYOFF DROUGHT

DENVER (AP) — DENVER BRONCOS (10-8)

Expectations

Coach Sean Payton set the bar high, suggesting all summer that this roster has championship potential and declaring that second-year starter Bo Nix is among the top quarterbacks in the NFL. The Broncos ended an eight-year playoff drought last season and hung with the Buffalo Bills until about the final 20 minutes in the wild-card round. Payton and general manager George Paton fortified an already stout defense led by NFL Defensive Player of the Year Pat Surtain II by adding free agents Talanoa Hufanga and Dre Greenlaw from the San Francisco 49ers and drafting former Texas standout defensive back Jahdae Barron in the first round. The front office also took care of Nix, signing tight end Evan Engram and running back J.K. Dobbins in free agency and drafting running back R.J. Harvey. The Broncos had such enviable depth at wide receiver that they dealt second-year pro Devaughn Vele to the New Orleans Saints for a pair of draft picks. The Broncos are a trendy pick to dethrone the Kansas City Chiefs, who have won the last nine AFC West crowns and have reached the AFC championship seven straight seasons.

New faces

S Talanoa Hufanga, ILB Dre Greenlaw, TE Evan Engram, RB J.K. Dobbins, DB Jahdae Barron, RB R.J. Harvey, P Jeremy Crawshaw, WR Pat Bryant, WR/KR Courtney Jackson, DE Sai’vion Jones, WLB Que Robinson, WR Trent Sherfield Sr.

Key losses

P Riley Dixon, WR Devaughn Vele, CB Tremon Smith, LB Cody Barton, RB Javonte Williams, WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey.

Strengths

Defense. The Broncos not only have an elite secondary but they led the league in sacks last year with a club-record 65. Nik Bonitto is poised to become the next Bronco to cash in with a big contract extension, following WR Courtland Sutton and DE Zach Allen.

Weaknesses

The Broncos have an elite defense and an improving offense but they are rolling the dice with a rookie punter whose more-than-occasional errant punts drew comparisons from Payton to the neighbor’s fireworks going astray and rattling your house. Field position will be important and Crenshaw will have to show off his powerful leg with a higher dose of accuracy to stick around.

Camp development

While Greenlaw nursed leg injuries and didn’t play a single snap in the preseason, fellow former 49er Hufanga was terrific. His highlight came when he picked off a pass from Nix by skying for the ball about 8 yards downfield and trotting into the end zone for a pick-6.

Fantasy player to watch

Sutton looks poised for another big season after totaling 18 TD grabs in the two years since Payton’s arrival in Denver.

BetMGM Sportsbook

Win Super Bowl: 25-1.

RAIDERS BANKING THAT NEW DIRECTION FROM PETE CARROLL AND TOM BRADY WILL CHANGE FRANCHISE TRAJECTORY

HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Las Vegas Raiders (4-13)

Expectations

Sick of getting further away from his father’s championship legacy, owner Mark Davis handed much of the organizational control to minority owner Tom Brady. The seven-time Super Bowl winner had a big hand in hiring 73-year-old Pete Carroll as the coach and his former Michigan teammate, John Spytek, as the general manager. With the new regime in charge, the Raiders traded for quarterback Geno Smith — who played for Carroll in Seattle — and drafted running back Ashton Jeanty with the sixth pick. They also moved on from defensive tackle Christian Wilkins over a dispute regarding his recovery from a broken foot. The Raiders likely will be more competitive but they also play in an AFC West with Kansas City, Denver and the Los Angeles Chargers. All three made the playoffs last season. The Raiders last appeared in the Super Bowl in the 2002 season and haven’t won a playoff game since then, something unthinkable when Al Davis was winning three Lombardi Trophies. There are reasons to believe Las Vegas is finally heading in the right direction as Carroll — who coached the Seahawks to two Super Bowl appearances and one championship — puts his stamp on the franchise and gives it a long-missing identity. Success for this season likely would mean contending for a playoff spot and perhaps even sneaking into the field. A fourth Super Bowl title? That’s going to require a lot more work and a lot more time.

New faces

QB Geno Smith, RB Ashton Jeanty, WR Dont’e Thornton, WR Jack Bech, G Alex Cappa, DT Thomas Booker IV, LB Germaine Pratt, LB Elandon Roberts, LB Devin White, CB Darien Porter, CB Eric Stokes, S Jeremy Chinn.

Key Losses

QB Gardner Minshew, RB Alexander Mattison, RB Ameer Abdullah, C Andre James, DT Christian Wilkins, LB Robert Spillane, LB Divine Deablo, CB Nate Hobbs, CB Jakorian Bennett, S Tre’von Moehrig.

Strengths

Defensive end Maxx Crosby is fully recovered from ankle surgery that hampered and eventually ended his season last year. He was dominant in training camp, again looking like one of the NFL’s fiercest pass rushers. Second-year pro Brock Bowers already might be the league’s best tight end, a true game-breaker who helped wide receiver Jakobi Meyers reach 1,000 yards last season for the first time by giving him more one-on-one opportunities. Jeanty is the favorite at BetMGM Sportsbook for AP Offensive Rookie of the Year. Smith finally gives Las Vegas needed stability at the sport’s most important position.

Weaknesses

This is a top-heavy team, and injuries at just about any position could expose the lack of depth. For all the weapons at the offensive skill positions, it remains a big question whether the line will do enough to help those players succeed. Crosby is an elite player, but he isn’t surrounded by many on his level on the defensive side. If others don’t step up on the defensive line, opponents will feel even more freedom to send double teams Crosby’s way and limit his impact. Key losses at linebacker and at cornerback might be too difficult to make up.

Camp development

Second-year pro Jackson Powers-Johnson was expected to be the starting center, but Jordan Meredith beat him out for the position. Powers-Johnson switched to right guard and is battling Cappa for that spot. Porter appeared to grab hold of one of the cornerback spots, but Kyu Blu Kelly is giving him a fight. The Raiders’ acquisition of Booker has helped make defensive tackle a competitive spot as Las Vegas looks to replace Wilkins.

Fantasy player to watch

Jeanty would be worth a look based on his running ability alone given the Raiders likely will make him a major focal point of the offense. The Raiders also have worked to make him a multipurpose threat by involving him in the passing game. That makes him particularly valuable to fantasy owners. It’s especially true for those involved in keeper leagues where Jeanty could be an integral part of the roster for years.

BetMGM Sportsbook

Win Super Bowl: 100-1.

BENGALS NEED TO GET OFF TO A FAST START TO AVOID QUESTIONS ABOUT COACH ZAC TAYLOR’S FUTURE

CINCINNATI BENGALS (9-8)

Expectations

Owner Mike Brown has the most patience in professional sports when it comes to his coaches, but if the Bengals get off to another slow start or miss the playoffs, it will likely be the end of Zac Taylor’s tenure. The Bengals reached the Super Bowl in 2021 and the AFC Championship game the next season but have missed the playoffs the last two years. Taylor is going into his seventh season as coach and is 7-14-1 in September games, the fourth-worst mark among teams since 2019. Cincinnati opens at Cleveland on Sept. 7 and hosts Jacksonville one week later. It should be 1-1 at worst before a tough five-game stretch — at Vikings, at Broncos (on Monday night), vs. Lions, at Packers and vs. Steelers (on Thursday night). They have one of the top offenses in the league with quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. The Bengals can put up the points but have had problems the past couple seasons stopping the other team. They lost four games last season where they scored at least 30 points. First-year defensive coordinator Al Golden will have All-Pro defensive end Trey Hendrickson after he agreed to a reworked one-year deal that should earn him $30 million. Hendrickson led the league with 17 1/2 sacks last season and has accounted for most of the team’s pressure. First-round pick Shemar Stewart should add pressure from the other side, but the unit is still getting up to speed after struggling in the preseason.

New faces

OG Lucas Patrick, DT T.J. Slaton Jr., LB Oren Burks, DE Shemar Stewart, LB Demetrius Knight Jr., OG Dylan Fairchild, OL Jalen Rivers

Key losses

DT Sheldon Rankins, OG Alex Cappa, DE Sam Hubbard, OT Trent Brown, DL Jay Tufele, LB Akeem Davis-Gaither, LB Germaine Pratt, CB Mike Hilton, S Vonn Bell.

Strengths

Burrow has his top two playmakers for the foreseeable future after Chase and Higgins signed long-term extensions during the offseason. Higgins has dealt with injuries and has missed at least five games each of the past two seasons. The receivers aren’t the only pass catchers that opposing defenses have to worry about, however. Tight end Mike Gesicki had 38 first downs on his 65 receptions while Noah Fant was signed less than a week into training camp.

Weaknesses

The task of keeping Burrow upright remains a work in progress. He has been sacked 196 times since being the top overall pick in 2020, second-highest in that span. Cincinnati will go into the season with two rookies starting at guard. Dylan Fairchild was expected to start immediately at left guard when he was taken in the third round in April, and Jalen Rivers could get the call at right guard. Patrick and Cody Ford are injured, and Cordell Volson is out for the season after having shoulder surgery. Rivers is a fifth-round pick and a converted offensive tackle.

Camp development

Rivers began training camp as a swing tackle, but may be the starting right guard.

Fantasy player to watch

Along with capturing the receiving triple crown, Chase had five 100-yard games and two streaks last season where he had a touchdown catch in at least three straight games.

BetMGM Sportsbook

Win Super Bowl: 20-1.

HOUSTON TEXANS AIM FOR THIRD STRAIGHT AFC SOUTH TITLE BEHIND CJ STROUD

HOUSTON (AP) — HOUSTON TEXANS (11-8)

Expectations

The Texans are favored to win the AFC South for a third straight season with a team led by young stars quarterback C.J. Stroud and defensive end Will Anderson. Stroud’s strong first two years helped the Texans turn things around and this year they’ll try to reach the playoffs in three straight seasons for the first time in franchise history. Stroud will be directing a new offense led by first-time offensive coordinator Nick Caley, who took over after Bobby Slowik was fired this offseason following Houston’s loss to the Chiefs in the divisional round. General manager Nick Caserio also beefed up the team’s receiving corps, led by Nico Collins, by adding veteran Christian Kirk and drafting Jayden Higgins in the second round and Jaylin Noel in the third. Coach DeMeco Ryans has vowed the offensive line will be better this season after Stroud was sacked 52 times last season, which was second-most in the league. But it’s difficult to see how his protection will be better after they traded left tackle Laremy Tunsil and didn’t make any big moves to replace him. Defensively, Anderson should take another step forward in his second year playing with veteran Danielle Hunter after the third-overall pick in the 2023 draft had 17 sacks combined in his first two seasons. Cornerback Derek Stingley returns to lead a talented young secondary after earning first team AP All-Pro honors last season when he had five interceptions and defended 18 passes.

New faces

OC Nick Caley, WR Jayden Higgins, WR Christian Kirk, WR Jaylin Noel, LT Cam Robinson, RB Nick Chubb, RT Aireontae Ersery, LG Laken Tomlinson, C Jake Andrews.

Key losses

LT Laremy Tunsil, WR John Metchie III, G Kenyon Green, TE Brevin Jordan, CB Eric Murray, WR Robert Woods, CB Kris Boyd.

Strengths

Stroud and Houston’s stacked receiving group should be the stars of the team this season. The 2023 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year has been great in his first two seasons to bring the Texans back into contention after an awful stretch. His interception rate was up last season but he’s looking for improvement this season in Caley’s offense, which he has described as “exciting.” He’ll have plenty of strong targets to throw to, led by Collins, who had a second straight 1,000-yard season last year despite missing five games with injuries. He’ll be joined by Kirk, who should fill in at the slot with Tank Dell likely to miss all season recovering from an injury he suffered in December. Higgins and Noel come to Houston after combining for 2,377 yards receiving and 17 touchdowns last season at Iowa State.

Weaknesses

It’s hard to see how the offensive line will be improved this season with Tunsil gone to Washington. Though he was penalty-prone, he was the team’s most consistent lineman. They completely revamped the line after his trade and return just one starter from last year’s group. They’ll likely rely on rookie Ersery to protect Stroud’s blind side after taking him in the second round of the draft. He started 38 games at left tackle over three seasons at Minnesota. Veteran Tytus Howard returns at right tackle after starting 16 games there last season. The center is Jake Andrews in his first year in Houston and he returns after missing all of last season with an injury before being released by the Patriots. Left guard Laken Tomlinson and right guard Ed Ingram are also new to the team.

Camp development

Houston’s secondary sustained a big blow in camp when safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson suffered a leg injury. The injury isn’t season-ending but he is likely to miss significant time. Gardner-Johnson is in his first year in Houston after he was acquired from the Eagles in March in exchange for left guard Kenyon Green. He was expected to be the team’s starting free safety after the Texans lost Eric Murray in free agency to the Jaguars. The Texans will also be without backup Jimmie Ward indefinitely after he was placed on the commissioner exempt list Tuesday as he faces a felony domestic violence charge after a June arrest.

Fantasy player to watch

Collins should have another big year after finishing with more than 1,000 yards receiving in each of the last two seasons. He’s had 15 touchdowns combined in the last two seasons despite missing seven games with injuries.

BetMGM Sportsbook

Win Super Bowl: 35-1.

RAMS EYE SUPER BOWL CONTENTION WITH DAVANTE ADAMS JOINING RETURNEES FROM LAST SEASON’S LATE SURGE

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles Rams (11-8)

Expectations

Serious title contention. The Rams believe they’ve got the talent and the experience to vie for the third Super Bowl appearance of Sean McVay’s career. They return nearly every significant player from the team that got on a serious roll after its October 2024 bye week, finishing last season on a 10-4 surge — with two of those losses to Philadelphia and the third in a meaningless regular-season finale played by backups. McVay again masterminded a tenacious, resourceful squad that won even when the offense struggled in December. The Rams got impressive improvement out of a defense that was poor earlier in the season. They’ve also got continuity going for them in a sport where it’s often lacking; their only major personnel change this year is the replacement of oft-injured Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp with Davante Adams, one of the best receivers of his generation. The Rams might not have the Super Bowl champion Eagles’ depth of talent and championship experience, but they appear to be a match for any other team in the NFC.

New faces

WR Davante Adams, NT Poona Ford, LB Nate Landman, C Coleman Shelton, LT D.J. Humphries.

Key losses

WR Cooper Kupp, LB Christian Rozeboom, WR Demarcus Robinson, OT Joseph Noteboom, LB Michael Hoecht, NT Bobby Brown.

Strengths

McVay’s passing game will have new dimensions this season for 37-year-old Matthew Stafford, who has been given nearly all the ingredients necessary to lead a prolific offense. Adams and Puka Nacua could form one of the NFL’s best receiving tandems, while Los Angeles added second-round pick Terrance Ferguson to create a deep tight end room. Kyren Williams will team up with youngsters Jarquez Hunter and Blake Corum in a talented group at running back. The Rams had the NFL’s best young defensive front last season, and almost everybody has returned along with respected veteran Poona Ford, who takes over at nose tackle. Jared Verse and Braden Fiske are eager to build on their standout rookie seasons while becoming the leaders of the defense.

Weaknesses

Stafford missed a month of training camp with a bad back, and he’s hesitant to say it’s all behind him. One big hit on the 17-year veteran could change the Rams’ entire season outlook by thrusting Jimmy Garoppolo into the lineup. Keeping Stafford safe would be even harder in the absence of starting left tackle Alaric Jackson, who missed all of training camp with blood clots. While he’s on track to return, any absence would hinder an offensive line that already looks competent at best. The entire offense faded down the stretch of the regular season to some of the worst production in McVay’s career, but he doesn’t seem concerned after its playoff rebound. The Rams curiously added nobody to a secondary that struggled for long stretches last season, unable to reacquire Jalen Ramsey and uninterested in signing a proven veteran. They believe they can win with Darious Williams and Ahkello Witherspoon as their starting cornerbacks while Quentin Lake again plays the current version of Ramsey’s do-it-all “star” role from their Super Bowl title run 3 1/2 years ago.

Camp development

The Rams allowed leading tackler Christian Rozeboom to walk, but ex-Falcons linebacker Nate Landman seized the largely thankless role at inside linebacker with his work this summer. Undrafted rookie linebacker Shaun Dolac also earned a roster spot. Returnee Coleman Shelton beat out Beaux Limmer for the starting job at center, as expected. Receivers Xavier Smith and rookie Konata Mumpfield earned roster spots, likely because of their utility on special teams.

Fantasy player to watch

Tutu Atwell. The diminutive receiver struggled to get on the field during his first four seasons with the Rams, even though he regularly produced yards whenever he got a chance. He’s speedy with good hands, but his size limits his blocking effectiveness and therefore his usefulness to McVay. But the Rams surprisingly re-signed Atwell to a $10 million contract last spring, making it all but certain McVay will play Atwell extensively in his multiple-receiver sets. With defenses understandably focused on Adams and Nacua this season, Atwell could be a high-value selection in later rounds.

BetMGM Sportsbook

Win Super Bowl: 20-1

SEAHAWKS HOPEFUL NEW QB, WIDE RECEIVER AND OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR WILL LEAD TO MORE SUCCESS IN 2025

SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle Seahawks (10-7)

Expectations

The second season of the Mike Macdonald era will coincide with a new quarterback’s arrival in Sam Darnold, who is fresh off a career year with the Minnesota Vikings. But with two of the Seahawks’ top three receivers from last year — D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett — now catching passes for other teams, it may take some time for Seattle’s aerial attack to reach its stride under first-year offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. As a result, the Seahawks hope a rushing attack that finished with the fifth-fewest yards in the league last season can improve this year. Much of that is contingent on whether Kenneth Walker III can bounce back from an injury-shortened season, as well as whether a revamped offensive line with first-round pick Grey Zabel on the scene can do a better job of creating running lanes. As for the Seahawks’ defense, Seattle allowed the 14th-fewest yards per game in 2024, and that should only be aided by the arrivals of veteran defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence and cornerback Shaquill Griffin. Second-round pick Nick Emmanwori should buoy a secondary that yielded the eighth-fewest yards per attempt last season, thanks in large part to another banner year from two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Devon Witherspoon. The Seahawks should be a steady bunch, but their playoff hopes could very well be contingent on whether the San Francisco 49ers bounce back from a down season.

New faces

QB Sam Darnold, WR Cooper Kupp, QB Drew Lock, CB Shaquill Griffin, DE DeMarcus Lawrence, OL Josh Jones, WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, G Grey Zabel, DB Nick Emmanwori, TE Elijah Arroyo.

Key losses

WR D.K. Metcalf, QB Geno Smith, WR Tyler Lockett, TE Noah Fant, LB Dre’Mont Jones, S Rayshawn Jenkins, DT Roy Robertson-Harris, OL George Fant.

Strengths

Adding Lawrence to the mix should bolster one of the NFL’s most stingy defensive lines, one that combined for the eighth-most sacks (45) in the league last year. He joins a group that features Jarran Reed and 2024 first-round pick Byron Murphy II. Last year’s sack leader, Leonard Williams, is back, too, as are edge rushers Boye Mafe and Derick Hall. That trio combined for 25 sacks a season ago, a total that could increase now that Lawrence is on the scene. The Seahawks’ secondary remains stellar, too, with Witherspoon and Riq Woolen among the league’s best at cornerback.

Weaknesses

Zabel, who is expected to start the season at left guard, enters the picture with plenty of pedigree as the No. 18 overall pick in this year’s draft. But the rest of the interior offensive line is a bit of a concern for the Seahawks. Anthony Bradford has won the starting right guard job ahead of his third season, and second-year center Jalen Sundell appears to have beat out Olu Oluwatimi, who did not play in the preseason while dealing with a back issue. Bradford has started 21 games the last two years, but Sundell has none to his name. Considering the Seahawks’ offensive line yielded 54 sacks in 2024, it would go a long way if Bradford and Sundell could solidify that unit.

Camp development

Fourth-year wide receiver Dareke Young has all of two career NFL catches to his name, but he has stood out among a group including both veteran and unproven reserve wideouts. The 6-foot-2, 224-pounder has impressed with his ability to win 50-50 balls during practices, and may earn a spot on the Seahawks’ opening week roster because of it.

Fantasy player to watch

Wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is coming off his first career 1,000-yard season and could be in for another successful campaign catching passes from Darnold. Smith-Njigba was the Seahawks’ most-targeted player in 2024, and that is likely to be the case again in 2025 after the subtractions of D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, as well as the addition of veteran wideout Cooper Kupp.

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Win Super Bowl: 60-1.

EAGLES POISED FOR SUPER BOWL REPEAT TRY WITH JALEN HURTS AND SAQUON BARKLEY

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia Eagles (14-3)

Expectations

Win the Super Bowl.

With Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley and a relatively young, locked-in, loaded and healthy roster, the Eagles have positioned themselves as Super Bowl contenders for years to come. The reigning champions have tried to avoid mention of the term “repeat” as they believe it puts the focus on last year’s achievements. The Eagles believe in 44-year-old coach Nick Sirianni. Sirianni is 48-20 in the regular season with the Eagles. He also led the Eagles to the Super Bowl in the 2022 season where they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs. The Eagles rebounded from a 2-2 start to finish the 2024 season on a 16-1 run, counting three playoff wins. With championship confidence raging through the locker room, the Eagles should have enough.

New faces

WR John Metchie III, CB Jakorian Bennett and 2025 draft picks that include linebacker Jihaad Campbell and safety Drew Mukuba.

Key losses

Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, DE Milton Williams, LB Josh Sweat, OL Mekhi Becton, S C.J. Gardner-Johnson, CB Darius Slay, CB James Bradberry.

Strengths

Where to start? With the Super Bowl MVP in Hurts? The 2,000-yard rusher in Barkley? One of the best offensive lines in football? The Eagles are ready to roll and are in prime position to at least consider a repeat at another Super Bowl. Barkley set the NFL record for the most single-season rushing yards including the playoffs and raised the bar for running back contracts with $36 million guaranteed in an offseason extension. He ended perhaps the greatest debut season of any free agent in Philadelphia sports history on perhaps the greatest championship team the city has ever seen with 2,504 total yards rushing and 18 rushing touchdowns.

Weaknesses

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has kept dealing during training camp.

They acquired backup quarterback Sam Howell and offensive line depth in Fred Johnson and it’s hard to find a glaring hole on the roster.

Johnson spent the past two seasons with the Eagles — and even started six games last season — after one year with Tampa Bay and three in Cincinnati.

The Eagles could use a solid third receiver behind A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Brown was slowed during training camp with hamstring issues.

Camp development

Landon Dickerson spent more time playing bartender than he did taking snaps for most of training camp after he underwent meniscus surgery on his right knee.

The Eagles haven’t officially given a timetable for Dickerson’s injury and there was some cautious optimism the three-time Pro Bowl lineman can return for the Sept. 4 opener.

The Eagles didn’t even say if the meniscus was completely torn. Perhaps the 26-year-old left guard can return in time for opening night — or even a game or two later.

The Eagles started Brett Toth at left guard and used rookie Drew Kendall at left guard in the preseason finale. The final starter has yet to be named.

Fantasy player to watch

There is nothing wrong with taking Barkley early in a fantasy draft even if another 2,000-yard rushing season may be tough to duplicate.

It’s Hurts that can pile up the points in touchdown-heavy leagues.

Thanks to the still-legal, still-lethal tush push, Hurts rushed for 14 touchdowns last season and reached double-digit rushing scores in each of the last four seasons. He threw for 18 touchdowns last season. For leagues that deduct points on turnovers and other negative plays, Hurts only threw five interceptions.

There should be ample opportunity for big points games from Barkley and Hurts.

Barkley’s 345 carries were the most by any running back and Hurts’ 150 carries were the most by any quarterback in the NFL.

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Win Super Bowl: 7-1

JAYDEN DANIELS, COMMANDERS SEEK TO BUILD ON LAST SEASON’S STUNNING SUCCESS

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Washington Commanders (14-6)

Expectations

Jayden Daniels’ AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year performance helped push the Commanders to a surprising trip to the NFC Championship game, their deepest playoff run since winning the Super Bowl more than 30 years ago. His rapid ascent helps put Washington into the NFC contender mix. The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner set a rookie QB rushing record with 891 yards while completing 69% of his passes and throwing for 3,568 yards and 25 touchdowns. He and his top target, Terry McLaurin, did not get much practice time leading up to the season. McLaurin missed much of training camp while mired in a contract dispute before reaching a deal on an extension less than two weeks before the opener. The front office has made helping Daniels a priority, trading for left tackle Laremy Tunsil and wide receiver Deebo Samuel while drafting first-round tackle Josh Conerly Jr. The defense added veteran pieces, including lineman Javon Kinlaw, pass rusher Von Miller and second-round cornerback Trey Amos. A productive McLaurin and a rebound season from four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore would be critical. Another key: replicating last season’s 9-4 record in one-score games.

New faces

OT Laremy Tunsil, WR Deebo Samuel, DT Javon Kinlaw, OLB Von Miller, DE Deatrich Wise, S Will Harris, CB Jonathan Jones, OT Josh Conerly Jr., CB Trey Amos, WR Jaylin Lane, RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt, K Matt Gay

Key losses

DT Jonathan Allen, RB Brian Robinson Jr., WR Dyami Brown, S Jeremy Chinn, DE Dante Fowler, CB Benjamin St-Juste, OT Cornelius Lucas, WR Olamide Zaccheaus

Strengths

Daniels’ accuracy and explosiveness give Washington a true difference-maker at quarterback. The team is hoping no unit improved more than the cornerbacks, with Lattimore now healthy. Amos, second-year player Mike Sainristil and ex-Patriots player Jonathan Jones bring toughness and depth.

Weaknesses

Wide receiver is shaky beyond McLaurin, a second-team All-Pro with 13 touchdowns last season. Noah Brown’s knee injury limited him in camp after an injury-riddled 2024. Beyond Samuel, there isn’t any proven talent. Special teams stability is also a question. Washington signed Gay, who once landed a record kicker contract, but his inconsistency from long range led to his release by the Colts. Roster age is another concern, with more than a dozen players 30 or older.

Camp development

Croskey-Merritt, a seventh-round pick, flashed explosiveness throughout camp, prompting Washington to deal Robinson to the 49ers. The rookie joins Austin Ekeler, bruising third-year running back Chris Rodriguez and versatile Jeremy McNichols in what projects as a committee backfield until one player seizes a bigger role.

Fantasy player to watch

Croskey-Merritt — who prefers to go by “Bill” — is the sleeper. His burst and one-cut style drew consistent buzz in camp. Ekeler handles passing downs, and Rodriguez figures to be the pick for goal-line work, but Croskey-Merritt offers the most upside if he earns trust.

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Super Bowl odds +1800

STEELERS TAKE A CHANCE ON AARON RODGERS TO END PLAYOFF DROUGHT

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers (10-8)

Expectations

The quarterbacks seem to change in Pittsburgh at an alarming rate, but the expectations do not. The Steelers opted not to retain Russell Wilson or Justin Fields after ending 2024 on a five-game skid, taking a flyer on Aaron Rodgers with the belief the four-time MVP gives them their best chance to be competitive in 2025 while serving as a bridge to whatever franchise quarterback they take in the first round of the 2026 draft, which just so happens to be in Pittsburgh. The formula remains what it has been for most of the past decade: rely heavily on what could be an elite defense to produce chaos and turnovers in equal measure and hope the offense does enough to win a bunch of one-possession games. It’s a formula that has worked to a point, but the Steelers’ current playoff victory drought is now at eight years and counting, the franchise’s longest since Franco Harris hauled in the “Immaculate Reception” more than a half-century ago. Coach Mike Tomlin (now the longest-tenured coach in major North American sports as he heads into his 19th season) and Rodgers (at 41, the league’s oldest active player) are kindred spirits. Their mutual respect is evident. Whether that’s going to be enough to help the Steelers make inroads against Baltimore and Buffalo in the AFC is another matter entirely.

New faces

QB Aaron Rodgers, WR DK Metcalf, CB Jalen Ramsey, CB Darius Slay, RB Kenny Gainwell, TE Jonnu Smith, S Juan Thornhill, QB Mason Rudolph, DT Derrick Harmon, RB Kaleb Johnson, LB Jack Sawyer, QB Will Howard.

Key losses

QB Russell Wilson, QB Justin Fields, RB Najee Harris, WR George Pickens, S Minkah Fitzpatrick, LT Dan Moore Jr., LB Elandon Roberts, CB Donte Jackson.

Strengths

The secondary has the potential to be perhaps the best in the league even after the surprise trade that sent Fitzpatrick, a three-time All-Pro to Miami. The Steelers received Ramsey as part of the return, and Ramsey’s versatility and physicality give defensive coordinator Teryl Austin plenty of options to tinker with a group that includes Joey Porter Jr. and Slay, who is looking to prove he still has gas left in the tank at 34. The edge rush group remains elite, with Nick Herbig proving to be a capable complement to stars T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith.

Weaknesses

The wide receiver group remains in essentially the same position it’s been since the heights of the Antonio Brown era, which is now but a mere speck in the rearview mirror: with a true No. 1 but no real No. 2. Metcalf replaces Pickens as the clear top option, but after that there’s nothing but question marks. Can Roman Wilson develop quickly after missing his entire rookie season because of injury? Can quick but undersized Calvin Austin III stay healthy? The offensive line hasn’t exactly looked dominant during the preseason, and the Steelers desperately need 2023 first-round pick Broderick Jones to become an anchor at left tackle. If he can’t effectively protect Rodgers’ blindside, whatever game plan offensive coordinator Arthur Smith comes up with is likely doomed to fail.

Camp development

Wilson, whose development was stunted because of an injury as a rookie, has shown flashes of becoming a legitimate threat in the passing game. If he can find his way onto the field consistently, that could take some of the pressure off Metcalf and tight ends Smith and Pat Freiermuth. Rodgers made it a point to say the club has high expectations for Wilson, and that a couple of positive steps in the right direction during the preseason doesn’t mean that Wilson has necessarily arrived. The new-look offense looked sluggish for long stretches during camp, though the Steelers are optimistic that says more about their defense than it does Rodgers and company.

Fantasy player to watch

While Jaylen Warren will be the starting running back heading into the opener, expect Johnson, a third-round pick out of Iowa, to get plenty of opportunities to muscle his way to the top of the depth chart. Johnson considers himself a “high volume” back. If he can provide an explosive play or two early — something Harris rarely did during four productive but rarely spectacular seasons — then he could be RB1 by the end of September.

BetMGM Sportsbook

Win Super Bowl: 40-1.

FALCONS ARE BANKING ON QB PENIX AND RB ROBINSON TO HELP THEM END THEIR 7-YEAR PLAYOFF DROUGHT

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — Atlanta Falcons (8-9)

Expectations

There is a win-now atmosphere around a franchise that has not had a winning season or playoff appearance since 2017. When the Falcons were questioned for trading their 2026 first-round pick to the Los Angeles Rams to select James Pearce Jr. as their second edge rusher of the first round this year, coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot said they expect to win this year. They also plan for that 2026 pick traded away to be a late first-round pick. The Falcons invested heavily in boosting their long-suffering pass rush, adding Leonard Floyd in free agency before taking Georgia’s Jalon Walker and Pearce from Tennessee in the first round. The spotlight will be on second-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who started the last three games of his rookie season. Veteran Kirk Cousins returns as a backup when many believed he would be traded. Penix will need to provide accurate passes to Drake London and others to keep defenses from stacking the line to contain talented running back Bijan Robinson. The Falcons started 6-3 last season with Cousins as the starter before fading badly in the second half. Now it’s Penix’s turn to finish the job and end the playoff drought.

New faces

Floyd, Walker, Pearce, WR Jamal Agnew, RB Nathan Carter, S Xavier Watts, CB Billy Bowman Jr., OT Jack Nelson, OT Michael Jerrell, TE Feleipe Franks

Key losses

DT Grady Jarrett, LB Nate Landman, S Justin Simmons, LB Matthew Judon, LB Lorenzo Carter, DT Eddie Goldman, LB JD Bertrand, DT Kentavius Street, WR Chris Blair, S Richie Grant, CB Kevin King, RB Jase McClellan

Strengths

Robinson ranked third in the league with 1,456 rushing yards last season. He also ran for 14 touchdowns in his second season while adding 61 catches for 431 yards. Tyler Allgeier, a former 1,000-yard rusher, provides a solid power complement to Robinson’s sharp cutting style and gives Atlanta the option to run two-back sets, at times putting Robinson in motion while leaving Allgeier behind Penix. Robinson’s status as one of the NFL’s most productive and dangerous backs will help to take heat off Penix in his first full season as a starter.

Weaknesses

Atlanta finished next to last in the league in sacks in 2024. It was the third time in the past four years the Falcons ranked in the bottom two in the league. The poor pass rush puts pressure on a thin secondary. The Falcons doubled down on draft day to address the weakness and now must prove the two first-round picks and the veteran Floyd can put heat on opposing quarterbacks.

Camp development

The Falcons had a full offseason and training camp to tailor their offense around Penix, who provides obvious arm strength to the passing game. London, who had 100 catches for 1,271 yards last season, is ready to join the league’s top receivers. London should flourish, but Penix may have set the stage for another development with tight end Kyle Pitts on the first practice of camp. Penix walked to the podium in the media room and, without being asked a question, said: “You see we got KP the ball today. There’s going to be a lot of that.” This is a potentially pivotal season for Pitts, who hasn’t been able to match his 2021 rookie season, when he had 68 catches for 1,026 yards but could have a good chemistry with Penix.

Fantasy player to watch

Darnell Mooney’s shoulder injury on the first practice of camp cost him the chance for valuable reps as the deep threat for the strong-armed Penix. Mooney should be ready at or near the start of the season and should join London and Ray-Ray McCloud as the top three wide receivers. Missing the preseason may help make Mooney a fantasy draft bargain, but he came close to 1,000 yards last year and could break out with Penix behind center.

BetMGM Sportsbook

Win Super Bowl: 80-1.

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MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

MLB ROUNDUP: KYLE SCHWARBER BLASTS 4 HOMERS IN PHILLIES’ WIN

Kyle Schwarber became the 21st player in major league history to hit four home runs in a game, highlighting the Philadelphia Phillies’ 19-4 rout of the visiting Atlanta Braves on Thursday.

Schwarber belted a solo homer in the first inning, a two-run shot in the fourth, a three-run blast in the fifth and a mammoth three-run shot in the seventh. He had a chance for a fifth home run when he came to the plate in the eighth against infielder Vidal Brujan, but he flied out to left on a 57 mph pitch.

J.T. Realmuto, Max Kepler and Bryce Harper also went deep as the Phillies tied their franchise record with seven homers. Schwarber, who finished with a club-record nine RBIs, leads the National League with 49 home runs and 119 RBIs.

Michael Harris II knocked in two runs and Matt Olson homered for Atlanta. Cal Quantrill (4-12) allowed nine runs and nine hits — including four homers — in 3 1/3 innings. He had no walks and no strikeouts.

Giants 4, Cubs 3

Jung Hoo Lee capped a string of three straight one-out hits in the bottom of the ninth inning with a walk-off single, allowing San Francisco to complete a three-game sweep of visiting Chicago.

The game had been tied at 3-3 since the sixth before Casey Schmitt blooped a single to center field off Chicago’s third pitcher, Daniel Palencia (1-4), to ignite the game-winning uprising. Wilmer Flores followed with a liner to left-center, sending Schmitt to second. Schmitt easily slid home safely on Lee’s liner to right field.

Ryan Walker (5-4), who faced just one batter and retired him in the top of the ninth, was credited with the win in a game that featured four home runs, including two by the Giants’ Willy Adames.

Astros 4, Rockies 3

Christian Walker’s second home run of the game broke a tie in the eighth inning and gave host Houston a win over Colorado in the deciding game of a three-game series.

Jose Altuve also homered for the Astros while Ezequiel Tovar and Yanquiel Fernandez homered for the Rockies, who lost for the sixth time in seven games. Walker, leading off the bottom of the eighth, drove reliever Luis Peralta’s first pitch far over the wall in left center an estimated 404 feet. It was Walker’s 21st home run.

Bryan King (4-3) got the win in relief and Bryan Abreu worked the ninth for his fourth save. Peralta (1-2) took the loss. Houston starter Jason Alexander allowed three runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Red Sox 3, Orioles 2

Trevor Story and Rob Refsnyder homered, and Romy Gonzalez’s tiebreaking single in the eighth inning lifted Boston to a victory over Baltimore to complete a four-game series sweep.

Roman Anthony had two hits for the Red Sox, who went 7-1 on an eight-game road trip vs. American League East Division rivals. Refsnyder, who rejoined the roster from the IL earlier in the day, homered for the first time in more than a month and ended up with two hits.

Alex Jackson homered for the Orioles, who stranded nine runners on base and finished a 1-7 homestand. Jackson Holliday, Emmanuel Rivera and Jeremiah Jackson all had two hits.

Diamondbacks 6, Brewers 4

Tyler Locklear, Alek Thomas and Ildemaro Vargas each drove in a pair of runs to propel Arizona to a victory over Milwaukee.

All six RBIs came from the bottom-third of the lineup. Nabil Crismatt (2-0) threw 5 2/3 innings for Arizona, allowing four runs (two earned) on eight hits. In his major league debut, Taylor Rashi earned a three-inning save, allowing two hits.

Jose Quintana (10-5) lasted just 3 2/3 innings for Milwaukee, allowing six runs on five hits. Isaac Collins drove in two runs for the Brewers, who have gone 5-8 since winning 14 straight games.

Cardinals 4, Pirates 1

Jordan Walker hit a two-run home run to power St. Louis past visiting Pittsburgh to earn a split of their four-game series.

Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas allowed one run on four hits in five innings. Reliever Kyle Leahy (4-1) worked two scoreless innings to earn the victory.

Tommy Pham hit a homer for the Pirates, who suffered just their second loss in eight games. Pirates starter Braxton Ashcraft allowed one run on four hits in 5 2/3 innings. Losing pitcher Yohan Ramirez (1-2) allowed three runs while retiring only two batters.

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NBA NEWS

ESPN REPLACES DORIS BURKE WITH TIM LEGLER FOR NBA FINALS COVERAGE

ESPN has demoted basketball analyst Doris Burke from its NBA Finals broadcast team just months after she called her second NBA Finals.

In announcing its NBA broadcast plans for the upcoming season, ESPN said Thursday that Tim Legler would be joining its lead team of play-play-play announcer Mike Breen, analyst Richard Jefferson and reporter Lisa Salters. It also said that team would also be calling next June’s NBA Finals on ABC, along with the conference finals and other high-profile games during the playoffs and regular season.

The Athletic first reported Burke’s move out of her NBA Finals role.

ESPN did announce a multi-year contract extension for Burke, who will work with play-by-play voice Dave Pasch next season calling games throughout the regular season and playoffs. With this new deal, Burke’s tenure at ESPN will extend more than 35 years.

The network also announced a new multi-year deal for Jefferson. Salters’ contract was previously extended.

Burke joined ESPN in 1990 and has covered the NBA Finals in one capacity or another since 2009. She was a sideline reporter for ABC’s coverage from 2009-19 before serving as an analyst on ESPN Radio for the next four finals.

Burke became the first woman to serve as a game analyst on TV for a championship final in one of the four major professional U.S. sports leagues during the 2024 NBA Finals.

Burke has been a mentor to many female analysts and announcers. She was honored with the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’s Curt Gowdy Media Award in 2018, which is given annually for outstanding contributions to basketball through the media.

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GOLF NEWS

THREE TIED AT THE TOP IN FIRST ROUND OF FM CHAMPIONSHIPS

Allisen Corpuz, England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff and South Korea’s Sei Young Kim shot 7 under par rounds of 65 and are tied at the top of the leaderboard at the FM Championship in Norton, Mass.

Twenty-seven other players are within four shots of the lead as exactly half of the 144-player field played the TPC Boston layout under par.

Corpuz, a native of Honolulu, started on the back nine and birdied three consecutive holes (Nos. 15-17) to get to 4 under par. She recorded four birdies and one bogey on the front nine and closed with a birdie on the par-four ninth hole to post a 65.

Corpuz, 27, had two top tens in the first five weeks of 2025, but has missed the cut in six of her last 10 outings.

“Started out really solid,” said the five-year tour veteran. “Stuck it to three feet on 11, so made a birdie kind of early to start round. Yeah, just putter was rolling really well today. I had a lot of really good looks and got to convert a lot of them.”

Similar to Corpuz, Ewart Shadoff collected eight birdies and one bogey on her round. She finished with a flourish, posting birdies on her final four holes (Nos. 6-9).

“It’s nice. It’s been a while,” said the 37-year old native of Great Britain. “I haven’t played very well for the last 18 months since I got injured, so it’s been a very tough comeback from, you know, very hard times. I didn’t know if I would ever get to shoot a round like today again, but I’m finally kind of mentally feeling better about things and more in control of my game and like how I’m hitting the ball.”

Unlike Corpus and Ewart Shadoff, Kim has been playing solid golf of late, posting third-place finishes in two of her last six tournaments. The 32-year-old birdied seven holes and suffered no bogies in recording her 65.

“This is course not short and not long, so par-5, I wasn’t aggressive that much, but just short game kind of recently I — my short game is little stronger than before so I made a lot of birdie chance from there,” said Kim.

China’s Miranda Wang was all alone in fourth place with a 6 under round of 66.

Eight golfers posted scores of 67, including Americans Gurleen Kaur, Andrea Lee, Madison Young and current World No. 2 Nelly Korda.

Korda is sporting a new Taylor Made blade putter and struck a solid 29 putts en route to her 5 under score.

“Just something new. I had so much success with that head and I hit a couple before Toronto,” said Korda about the new putter. “Wasn’t really sure how I really liked the putter, but I just went with it. I just picked it out of the group of putters that I had and that I liked, and kind of went with it.

“Just needed to feel something different.”

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TOP INDIANA HEADLINES/PRESS RELEASES

COLTS FOOTBALL

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Former Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay continued to suffer setbacks from a longtime addiction to painkillers prior to his death in May, the Washington Post reported Thursday.

The Post cites five people who had direct knowledge of Irsay’s relapses but who requested anonymity because they said they feared retaliation from the team.

Irsay died May 21. The team said he died “peacefully in his sleep.”

The Post story says Irsay overdosed at least three times since February 2020, including twice during a 12-day span, the first in December 2023 at his home in suburban Indianapolis and the second in January 2024 in Miami.

Irsay was notably absent for most of the next four months, an unusually long time for someone who was regularly engaged in the Colts’ day-to-day functions. At the time, team officials said Irsay was away because he had a “severe respiratory illness.”

Irsay’s three daughters — Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt and Kalen Jackson — are the family’s third generation to run the team. The new co-owners declined interview requests from the Post but issued a statement to the Post and The Associated Press.

“We continue to grieve the loss of our dad, a man defined not only by his role as owner of the Colts but also by his resilience, his personal struggles and his deep love for family, friends, and community,” they said. “Throughout his life, our dad was open about his battles with addiction and mental health. He never claimed to be perfect. Instead he used his voice to reduce stigma and advocate for those similar challenges with honesty, vulnerability and compassion.”

The Post story said Irsay also allegedly was prescribed ketamine, which is most commonly used as a general anesthetic, in his final months and that police were called to the hotel room in Beverly Hills, California, where Irsay died.

Irsay began his football career as a ballboy for the Baltimore Colts in the early 1970s after his father, Robert, swapped franchises with the late Carroll Rosenbloom, who got the Los Angeles Rams in the deal.

The younger Irsay went on to become the youngest general manager in NFL history in 1984 at age 24 when the Colts moved from Baltimore to Indianapolis.

He took over as team owner following the death of his father in 1997 and played a prominent role on league committees both before and after the Colts won the Super Bowl following the 2006 season.

Jim Irsay is scheduled to join his father in the team’s Ring of Honor when the Miami Dolphins visit Indy for the Sept. 7 season opener.

COLTS SIGN WR TYLER SCOTT, S BEN NIKKEL TO PRACTICE SQUAD; RELEASE WR TYLER KAHMANN FROM PRACTICE SQUAD

Indianapolis – The Indianapolis Colts today signed safety Ben Nikkel and wide receiver Tyler Scott to the practice squad. The team also released wide receiver Tyler Kahmann from the practice squad.

Nikkel, 6-1, 210 pounds, participated in the Washington Commanders’ 2025 offseason program and training camp. As a rookie in 2024, he spent time on the Commanders practice squad. Nikkel was originally signed by Washington as an undrafted free agent on April 29, 2024. Collegiately, he played in 24 games (two starts) at Iowa State (2021-23) and compiled 43 tackles (24 solo), 1.0 tackle for loss and three passes defensed. Prior to Iowa State, Nikkel spent three seasons (2018-20) as a wide receiver at McPherson College and totaled 107 receptions for 1,570 yards (14.7 avg.) and 10 touchdowns.

Scott, 5-10, 182 pounds, participated in the Chicago Bears’ 2025 offseason program and training camp. He played in 28 games (four starts) in two seasons (2023-24) with the Bears and totaled 18 receptions for 173 yards (9.6 avg.). Scott also tallied seven carries for 41 yards (5.9 avg.) and 13 kickoff returns for 315 yards (24.2 avg.). He was originally selected by Chicago in the fourth round (133rd overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Cincinnati.

Kahmann, 6-2, 207 pounds, participated in Indianapolis’ 2025 offseason program and training camp. He was originally signed by the team as an undrafted free agent on May 9, 2025. Kahmann saw action in 47 career games at Emporia State (2019-24) and compiled 281 receptions for 3,661 yards (13.0 avg.) and 54 touchdowns.

COLTS SIGN DT TIM SMITH TO PRACTICE SQUAD

Indianapolis – The Indianapolis Colts today signed defensive tackle Tim Smith to the practice squad.

Smith, 6-4, 306 pounds, participated in the Colts’ 2025 offseason program and training camp. He was selected by the team in the sixth round (190th overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft. Collegiately, Smith appeared in 64 career games (32 starts) at Alabama (2020-24) and registered 124 tackles (49 solo), 14.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, two passes defensed and one forced fumble.

COLTS SIGN WR LAQUON TREADWELL TO PRACTICE SQUAD

Indianapolis – The Indianapolis Colts today signed wide receiver Laquon Treadwell to the practice squad.

Treadwell, 6-2, 215 pounds, participated in Indianapolis’ 2025 offseason program and training camp. He originally signed with the team as a free agent on July 24, 2024. Treadwell has played in 83 career games (24 starts) in his time with the Colts (2024), Baltimore Ravens (2023), Seattle Seahawks (2022), Arizona Cardinals (2022), New England Patriots (2022), Jacksonville Jaguars (2021), Atlanta Falcons (2020) and Minnesota Vikings (2016-19). He has totaled 111 receptions for 1,242 yards (11.2 avg.) and five touchdowns. Treadwell has also appeared in four postseason contests.

COLTS SEEKING TO END 4-YEAR PLAYOFF DROUGHT WITH NEW QB, MAJOR DEFENSIVE CHANGES

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indianapolis Colts (8-9)

Expectations

The Colts haven’t reached the playoffs since the 2020 season and even before team owner Jim Irsay died in May, he made one thing clear to general manager Chris Ballard, coach Shane Steichen and Colts fans: The drought needs to end. Ballard responded by signing free agent quarterback Daniel Jones to compete with Anthony Richardson, Indy’s first-round pick two years ago. Jones wound up being selected as the starter last week, making Richardson’s future with the franchise unclear. Jones should have a solid supporting cast around him if one-time NFL rushing champ Jonathan Taylor and go-to receiver Michael Pittman Jr. stay healthy. Receiver Alec Pierce also led the NFL in yards per catch last season, Josh Downs also is a strong receiving option and rookie tight end Tyler Warren provides much improved versatility. But along the offensive line, Indy is replacing two starters and during the preseason and a joint practice against Green Bay, it looked like anything but the strength it’s supposed to be. Defensively, the Colts could see major improvement with a new coordinator. Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner and linebacker Zaire Franklin, the defending league tackles champ, both return as does defensive end Samson Ebukam, their sacks leader from 2023 who suffered a season-ending torn Achilles tendon last summer. They’ll team up with Kwity Paye and last year’s top draft pick Laiatu Latu to provide the pass rush. Ballard also added cornerback Charvarius Ward and safety Cam Bynum in free agency and more recently four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Xavien Howard because of injuries. But there are still questions at linebacker and the injuries in the secondary could wind up hurting their progression. Have they done enough to make a run at the playoffs? Ballard and Steichen are counting on it.

New faces

QB Daniel Jones, TE Tyler Warren, CB Charvarius Ward, CB Xavien Howard, S Cam Bynum, RB Kahlil Herbert, K Spencer Shrader, DT JT Tuimoloau, DT Neville Gallimore, defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo.

Key losses

C Ryan Kelly, OL Will Fries, LB E.J. Speed, S Julian Blackmon, K Matt Gay, LB Grant Stuard, DE Dayo Odeyingbo, TE Kylen Granson, OL Mark Glowinski, QB Joe Flacco, QB Sam Ehlinger, DC Gus Bradley.

Strengths

Taylor is one of the league’s most potent rushers and last season, he stayed mostly healthy. The result was his third 1,000-yard season. Warren’s ability to run, block, catch or throw gives Indy the flexibility to try just about anything on offense. And three quarterbacks with running ability — Jones, Richardson and Riley Leonard — could help keep defenses off balance. But it’s the receivers who could make the biggest jump. Pittman was hurt most of last season. And if Downs continues to be a solid option, Pierce proves last season was no fluke and Adonai Mitchell plays as well as he did at training camp, it could be the deepest position group on the team.

Weaknesses

Until Jones — or Richardson — proves they can play winning football consistently, the quarterback questions will continue. The other big question is whether the defense will improve much off a poor 2024. It was so bad last season that defensive tackle DeForest Buckner called it the worst unit he’s played on since arriving in Indy in 2020. That prompted coaching staff changes and a major offseason overhaul. Now the Colts are about to find out if they’ve improved the pass coverage or pass rush — or both — enough to become a playoff contender, especially in the depleted secondary.

Camp development

The big story was the quarterback competition between Jones and Richardson. It was a critical call for Steichen. Indy had hoped Jones or Richardson would be a clear-cut choice. Instead, the competition was so close it took nearly the entire preseason to pick the starter. Jones will be Indy’s eighth opening day starter in the past nine seasons.

Fantasy player to watch

Tyler Warren. Taylor and Pittman may be safer picks, but the rookie tight end might be the most intriguing. At camp, he showed he could make plays regardless of who threw the ball. And at Penn State, he also was used a short-yardage rusher and even, occasionally, threw a pass. With Steichen’s creativity, Warren could be as fun to watch as he is capable of scoring fantasy points.

BetMGM Sportsbook

Win Super Bowl: 50-1.

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INDIANA FEVER

GAME PREVIEW: FEVER, SPARKS SET FOR CRUCIAL MATCHUP ON FRIDAY NIGHT IN L.A.

Indiana Fever at Los Angeles Sparks
Friday, August 29
Crypto.com Arena | 10:00 p.m. ET

Broadcast Information
TV: ION
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan

Probable Starters

Indiana Fever (20-18)

Guard – Odyssey Sims
Guard – Kelsey Mitchell
Forward – Lexie Hull
Forward – Natasha Howard
Center – Aliyah Boston

Los Angeles Sparks (17-19)

Guard – Julie Allemond
Guard – Kelsey Plum
Forward – Rickea Jackson
Forward – Azura Stevens
Center – Dearica Hamby

GAME PREVIEW:

After picking up a crucial win to boost their playoff hopes, the Fever (20-18) hit the road for a three-game West Coast road trip this week. The first stop is in Los Angeles on Friday night, where they will face a Sparks team battling Indiana for one of the final three playoff spots.

The Fever won 95-75 over Seattle on Tuesday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, a victory that vaulted them from eighth to sixth in the WNBA standings. Aliyah Boston, Odyssey Sims, and Kelsey Mitchell combined for 70 points in the win, with each member of that trio surpassing the 20-point mark.

The Fever’s victory, coupled with the Sparks’ loss to Phoenix that same night, moved Indiana’s magic number to clinch a playoff berth to five with six games to play. If the Fever win on Friday, the magic number will drop to three and all but lock up a playoff spot.

But if the Sparks were to win on Friday, they move within a game of the Fever in the standings and hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over Indiana. Los Angeles is 3-0 against Indiana this season and will be going for the season sweep on Friday night.

Friday’s game is a matchup of the third and fourth-leading scorers in the WNBA this season. Mitchell is averaging 20.7 points per game and set a new franchise record for points scored in a single season on Tuesday. Sparks All-Star guard Kelsey Plum is right behind Mitchell in the scoring race, averaging 20.4 points per game and also dishing out 5.9 assists per contest.

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NOTRE DAME VOLLEYBALL

IRISH TO HOST CATHOLIC CHALLENGE AND OPEN UP 2025 SEASON

SOUTH BEND, IND. – Notre Dame volleyball opens up the 2025 season and head coach Salima Rockwell’s fourth season in South Bend this weekend with the Catholic Challenge, hosted at Purcell Pavilion. The Catholic Challenge consists of competition between Notre Dame, Villanova and Santa Clara on the volleyball courts. Last season, the Irish swept Villanova and bested host Santa Clara in four sets on the road in California to kick off the 2024 campaign. Morgan Gaerte led the Irish with 13 kills in the win over Santa Clara while Notre Dame as a team totaled 37 kills in the sweep over Villanova. The Irish are 3-1 over the past two years in the Catholic Challenge.

The three-day Catholic Challenge begins with the Irish hosting Santa Clara in the season opener on Friday, August 29th at 6:30 PM ET before Santa Clara and Villanova face off on Saturday, August 30th at 3:00 PM ET in a neutral site match. Notre Dame and Villanova close the early season invite on Sunday, August 31st at 1:00 PM ET. Admission to all Notre Dame regular season matches is free.

HISTORY VS. SANTA CLARA

This is just the eighth time in program history that the Irish and Broncos have faced off. Santa Clara leads the series 5-2.
Notre Dame will look to go back-to-back against the Broncos after winning on the road last year in four sets, 22-25, 25-21, 25-19, 27-25
Morgan Gaerte led the way with 13 kills, while Anna Bjork tallied a career-best 8 blocks in the win last season.

HISTORY VS. VILLANOVA

This will be the 26th meeting between the Irish and the Wildcats with Notre Dame leading the overall series 21-4. The longest win streak for the Irish is 16 in a row against the Wildcats (Oct. 25, 1982 – Sept. 24, 2006).
Notre Dame swept Villanova for the second-straight season last year, winning 25-6, 25-19, 25-22 in Santa Clara. In 2023, the Irish won 25-17, 25-20, 25-17 on the road against the Wildcats.
Notre Dame took home the road sweep 25-15, 25-18, 25-13 in their last game together as BIG EAST opponents in 2012.

KEY RETURNERS

The Irish return 14 to the roster; 5 outside hitters, 3 defensive specialist/liberos, 3 middle blockers, 2 setters and 1 opposite.
Morgan Gaerte returns coming off a freshman campaign that included 185 kills (3.14 kills per set) in 16 matches.
Notre Dame returns all three middle blockers; Mallory Bohl, Anna Bjork and Grace Langer for their sophomore seasons. Bjork totaled 135 kills and 102 blocks (15 solo) as an intimidating presence in the middle. Langer played in all 29 matches last year and tallied 98 kills and 85 blocks while Bohl notched 65.5 points during the 2024 season.

FRESH FACES

The Irish welcome five freshmen to the team, bringing the Irish to a roster size of 20.
The freshman class consists of Maya Baker (S), Maya Evens (DS/L), Mae Kordas (OH/O), Chichi Nnaji (OH), Sophia Thornburg (OH).
Baker was a two-time Max Preps All-American, while also being a consistent member of the USAV National Team Development Program.
The Irish pair a duo of former high school teammates in the incoming freshman class. Maya Evens and Mae Kordas both played together at Cathedral Catholic High School in Carlsbad, California. The duo was part of two Open State Championships (2022, 2024).
Chichi Nnaji and Sophia Thornburg were high school teammates in Dallas, Texas at the Ursuline Academy of Dallas. Thornburg was named to the Prep Volleyball Top 100 National List for the Class of 2025 while Nnaji spent time working with the USAV National Team Development Program.
The Irish added one player from the portal, outside hitter Sydney Helmer from Texas. She was a member of the 2023 National Champion team as a freshman for the Longhorns.

PRESEASON ALL-ACC MORGAN GAERTE

Morgan Gaerte was named to the 2025 Preseason All-ACC Volleyball Team on July 31st. The sophomore outside hitter is one of only 18 conference players to receive the accolade.
As a freshman in 2024, Gaerte played in 16 matches, totaling 185 kills, 61 digs, 37 blocks and eight aces. She tallied nine games with double-digit kills, including a career-high 18 in a five-set match against Georgia Tech. Gaerte led the team with 3.14 kills per set a season ago.
Hailing from Angola, Indiana, a mere 78 miles east of South Bend, Gaerte came into Notre Dame in 2024 as the top player in the state by Prep Dig and a high school All-American. She was named the No. 5 player in the country by Volleyball Magazine.

2025 CATHOLIC CHALLENGE SCHEDULE:

NOTRE DAME vs. SANTA CLARA – FRIDAY, AUGUST 29TH AT 6:30 PM ET

Location: South Bend, Indiana | Purcell Pavilion

LIVE STATS | SOCIAL MEDIA UPDATES

SANTA CLARA vs. VILLANOVA – SATURDAY, AUGUST 30TH AT 3:00 PM ET

Location: South Bend, Indiana | Purcell Pavilion

LIVE STATS

NOTRE DAME vs. VILLANOVA – SUNDAY, AUGUST 31ST AT 1:00 PM ET

Location: South Bend, Indiana | Purcell Pavilion

LIVE STATS | SOCIAL MEDIA UPDATES

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NOTRE DAME MEN’S GOLF

GOLFWEEK TABS MODLESKI AS 2025-26 PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The summer of awards and recognition continues for the University of Notre Dame’s Jacob Modleski, a rising junior on the men’s golf team, as he was named a Preseason First Team All-American by Golfweek Thursday afternoon.

Modleski was recently appointed to Team USA for the 2025 Walker Cup and is set to compete in California next weekend.

The junior is coming off an impressive 2024-25 season in which he ranked 18th nationally and became the program’s first-ever ACC Individual Champion.

The Golfweek Preseason All-American teams feature 30 student-athletes across first, second, and third teams.

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BUTLER VOLLEYBALL

BUTLER VOLLEYBALL SET TO HOST THE BIG DAWG KICKOFF

The Butler Volleyball team will begin their season this Friday at Hinkle Fieldhouse where they will host the Big Dawg Kickoff. The event will see Butler play three matches in two days.

This Friday August 29th Butler will open their season against Evansville at 12pm ET. This will be the first match of the Big Dawg Kickoff and admission will be free. Then, at 7pm ET on the 29th the Dawgs will be back in action and will take on Purdue Fort Wayne. The event will conclude with Butler taking on Middle Tennessee State at 5pm ET, Saturday August 30th.

Previewing Butler

Third-year head coach Kyle Shondell will have nine returning student-athletes from last year’s team to help the Dawgs compete on the court during 2025. Rylie Tam is the only senior on this year’s team and the majority of the team is underclassmen. Even with the team being on the younger side heading into 2025, coach Shondell noted “This is the closest group we have had in 3 years. The team is really enjoying each other on and off the court,” Additionally, Shondell and coaching staff is “excited to see this young team mature throughout the season.”

Heading into the season, Shondell expects defense to be a strength for the 2025 Bulldogs. Lauren Evans, Jersey Loyer, and Aesha Vogt will be the Defensive Specialists for the 2025 Bulldogs. Evans and Loyer each played in over 90% of the Dawgs matches in 2024 and Evans finished the 2024 season with 270 digs and 2.81 per set, which both lead the Dawgs in 2024. Loyer was also a big contributor to the Dawgs defense in 2024, as she tallied 204 digs last season. Evans, Loyer, and Vogt are all sophomores returning to Butler for their second season. Elise Ward and Alaleh Tolliver are also back for the Dawgs. In 2024 Ward led the team in kills with 232 and Tolliver tallied 190 of her own last season.

Scouting Evansville

In 2024 Evansville finished with a record of 6-24 and 0-11 on the road. Over the offseason, the Purple Aces hired a new head coach, Zach Weinberg. Weinberg previously served as the associate head coach for Tennessee Tech, where in 2024 they went 24-8. As for the 2025 Purple Aces, they return 12 members of the 2024 teams. Junior Angelica Gonzalez Maltes is one of the returners for Evansville, a season ago she finished with 226 kills on the season, which was good for second for Evansville. The Purple Aces also return Ainoah Cruz who led the team in Digs last season with 343.

Scouting Purdue Fort Wayne

In 2024 the Mastodons finished with a record of 17-15 and were 4-9 away from their home arena. Head coach Steve Florio enters his 12th season in charge of the program. As for 2025, Florio has some key contributors to last year’s team coming back for this season, including Beckey Barrett who tallied 230 digs a season ago.

Scouting Middle Tennessee State

Last season the Lighting finished with a record of 13-18 and were 2-12 on the road. In the break between seasons Middle Tennessee lost two key student-athletes, one who had over 1,000 assists and another who tallied more than 450 kills. Also, Middle Tennessee State appointed Alexa Keckler as the 13th head coach in program history. Keckler and her staff enter the season with eight freshmen and three seniors on the roster.

Below is the schedule for the Big Dawg Kickoff.

Big Dawg Kickoff Butler Schedule

Aug. 29th– Butler vs Evansville 12pm ET (Free Admission)
Aug 29th– Butler vs Purdue Fort Wayne 7pm ET.

Aug. 30th- Butler vs Middle Tennessee State 5pm ET.

Big Dawg Kickoff Full Schedule

Aug. 29th
Butler vs Evansville 12pm ET (Free Admission)
Middle Tennessee State at Purdue Fort Wayne 3pm ET
Butler vs Purdue Fort Wayne 7pm ET

Aug. 30th
Evansville at Middle Tennessee State 10am ET
Purdue Fort Wayne at Evansville 2pm ET
Butler vs Middle Tennessee State 5pm ET

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IU INDY VOLLEYBALL

JAGS TAKE ON OPENING WEEKEND IN CHARLESTON

CHARLESTON, S.C. – The IU Indy volleyball team are set to open the 2025 regular season this weekend when they travel to Charleston, South Carolina for the Buc Dome Invitational hosted by Charleston Southern. The Jags will open the weekend against The Citadel on Friday, August 29 at 10:00 AM.

IU Indy was recently picked to finish fifth in the Horizon League standings in this week’s preseason poll after returning their leaders in kills, assists, digs and blocks.

The Jags return junior Elle Patterson, the team’s leader in kills with 389 (3.16 kills/set) and junior Grace Purichia, the assists leader with 1191 (9.76 assists/set) and digs leader with 330 (2.70 digs/set). The Jags also return senior Morgan Ostrowski who led the team in blocks a year ago with 82 (19 solo).

IU Indy will play three matches during this opening weekend of volleyball with games against The Citadel, Charleston Southern and Loyola Maryland. The Jags face The Citadel at 10:00 AM on Friday, followed by their matchup against Charleston Southern at 7:00 PM. They will wrap up the weekend with a 12:00 PM match against Loyola Maryland.

Live stats are available for all three matches while the Jags’ game against Charleston Southern will also be broadcast on ESPN+.

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BALL STATE FOOTBALL

FOOTBALL GAMEDAY: CARDINALS VISIT BOILERMAKERS FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2010

MUNCIE, Ind. — Ball State opens its 101st season of football while visiting West Lafayette on Saturday to battle Purdue at Ross-Ade Stadium. The Cardinals, 3-9 last season, usher in a new era with Mike Uremovich as head coach. Facing his alma mater in his Cardinals debut, Uremovich replaces Mike Neu as Ball State’s field general. Neu led the Cardinals for nine years from 2016-24.

— Ball State welcomes 53 newcomers to its roster since Uremovich commanded control of the Cardinals last December. Twenty-four high school signees and college transfers joined the program last spring, with 29 added to the Ball State roster in training camp this fall. Compared to welcoming 17 total transfers for the 2024 season, 33 college transfers adorn the Cardinals’ roster in 2025.

— Among Ball State’s 106-man roster, 25 student-athletes enter their final year of eligibility. Only 15 other programs nationally boast as many as 25 players in their final year of eligibility.

— Uremovich also serves as offensive coordinator, calling plays for an offense that returns just two primary starters from last season — offensive tackle Chris Hood and wide receiver Qian Magwood.

— Redshirt senior Kiael Kelly is QB1 entering the 2025 season, following two trips in and out of the transfer portal and a 2024 campaign wrought with uncertainty. After starting the final six games of the 2023 campaign in which Ball State finished 3-3, Kelly began 2024 as a DB before lining up as offensive utility man at QB, RB and WR. His 898 career rushing yards are third in Ball State history by a quarterback (Art Yaroch: 1,613, 1973-76).

— The defensive unit returns with four starters in a unit revamped last year by coordinator Jeff Knowles. Nose tackle Drew Hughes and linebacker Joey Stemler return in the defensive middle, flanked by corners Eric McClain and Will Yates who started the last half of 2024 as true freshmen. New faces, and better size and depth, leave the Cardinals optimistic in 2025.

WHAT A WIN MEANS:

— Ball State will beat Purdue for the first time in history, following eight defeats between 1985 and 2010.

— Mike Uremovich will log his first victory as Ball State’s head coach.

— Ball State will win its season opener for the first time since a 31-21 win over Western Illinois in 2021. A win would mark the Cardinals’ first win over a Big Ten opponent since three consecutive wins against Indiana, in 2008, 2011 and 2012.

INSIDE THE SERIES: PURDUE

— In a battle of programs with first-year head coaches, Ball State’s Mike Uremovich faces Purdue’s Barry Odom. Both programs welcome new staffs and re-stocked rosters as part of the 2025 season opener for both teams.

— In just the ninth meeting between the schools, Ball State faces the Boilermakers in its season opener for the first time in program history. Purdue opened its 1986 campaign with a Sept. 13 win over the Cardinals, 20-3.

— All eight meetings in the series thus far have taken place at Ross-Ade Stadium.

— A 10-point difference in 2006, 38-28, was the closest margin in series history.

COACH U & PURDUE | HOW THE COACHING CAREER BEGAN

— Cardinals coach Mike Uremovich is believed to be the first Purdue alum ever to lead another team against the Boilermakers.

— Uremovich did not play for Purdue, though the former high school wide receiver did attend a walk-on tryout at Purdue, conducted in the Mollenkopf Athletic Center. It was there he first became acquainted with McCutcheon High School coach Dan Coller, who later hired him to coach the Mavericks’ freshman team.

— Coller also filled in teaching a football class at Purdue which Uremovich attended. Uremovich asked him about a coaching job at McCutcheon and was asked to provide a resume. The college sophomore provided a professional resume two days later, and the rest is history.

— Ironically, Uremovich was on the Purdue campus again just two weeks ago, dropping off his eldest son, Michael, who is a freshman engineering student.

BY THE NUMBERS

1 — Ball State returns one rushing TD from its 2024 roster: Kiael Kelly’s 9-yard, opening-drive score at Vanderbilt came in a wildcat formation.

33 — Total transfers on the Cardinals’ roster. Among 30 four-year transfers and three JC transfers, five played at Purdue last year.

54 — Mike Uremovich’s full-time coaching staff at Ball State accounts for 54 career appearances in FBS bowl games.

71 — Coach U’s full-time coaching staff has been a part of 71 postseason appearances over all college divisions.

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BALL STATE VOLLEYBALL

VOLLEYBALL OPENS SEASON FRIDAY AT GOLDEN GOPHER INVITATIONAL

THIS WEEK IN BALL STATE VOLLEYBALL: The Ball State women’s volleyball team opens its 54th season of play Friday when it battles St. Thomas (4 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. CT) in the opening match of the Golden Gopher Invitational … Over the course of the three-day event, the Cardinals will also battle host and 11th-ranked Minnesota Saturday (6 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. CT) and Cal Poly Sunday (Noon ET / 11 a.m. CT).

FOLLOW THE ACTION: Fans unable to make their way to Maturi Pavilion this weekend have several ways to follow the action … All three Ball State matches will be broadcast live on B1G+ … In addition, live audio will be available on The Varsity Network and live stats will be available online courtesy of Minnesota …Updates from the matches will also be provided on the team’s X feed and Instagram story: @BallStateWVB.

MAC PRESEASON PROGNOSTICATION: Ball State women’s volleyball team received 102 points in the league’s annual coaches’ poll, trailing only defending regular season champion Bowling Green (119) … With coaches unable to vote for their own teams, BGSU earned 10 of the 12 votes to win the MAC regular season title, with the Cardinals claiming the other two … The Falcons were also selected as the favorite to win the MAC Volleyball Championship with 10 votes, while Buffalo and Central Michigan each garnered one vote.

PRESEASON HONORS: In addition to the team rankings, the MAC announced its annual Preseason All-MAC Team … Representing Ball State are sophomore outside Carson Tyler and sophomore libero Sophie Ledbetter … Tyler was named the 2024 MAC and AVCA Midwest Region Freshman of the Year after ranking first on the team and seventh in the league with a 3.34 kills-per-set average last season … Ledbetter earned a nod on the 2024 MAC All-Freshman team after leading the squad and ranking 10th in the MAC with a 3.68 digs-per-set average.

BALL STATE ALL-TIME: Ball State enters 2025 season with a 1034-658-2 (.611) all-time record in women’s volleyball … Ball State became the 44th program in NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball history to reach 1,000 wins with a sweep of Central Michigan on Sept. 22, 2023 … All-time, the Cardinals have captured 12 MAC West Division Championships, 10 MAC Regular Season Championships and eight MAC Volleyball Championship titles … Ball State has made 11 appearances in the NCAA Tournament, including three of the last six seasons … BSU has also earned two bids into the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC).

BALL STATE IN THE MAC: With a 13-5 league record in 2024, Ball State maintained its status as the winningest program in league play with a 459-225 (.671) all-time Mid-American Conference mark … Western Michigan is second on the list, two matches behind the Cardinals at 457-227 (.668).

ALL-TIME VS. THE TOURNAMENT FIELD: Ball State is a combined 2-3 all-time versus teams in the Minnesota Tournament field … Ball State won the only previous meeting versus St. Thomas, earning a 3-0 (25-22, 25-10, 25-13) sweep of the Tommies in its second match of the 2021 season played Aug. 27 at Green Bay … Ball State is 1-3 all-time versus Minnesota, with the then-No. 4 Gophers topping the Cardinals 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-12) in the latest meeting played Sept. 7, 2013, in Maturi Pavilion … Ball State will be facing Cal Poly for the first time in women’s volleyball Sunday.

SCOUTING BALL STATE:

• Ball State finished the 2024 season with a 22-10 overall record, including a 13-5 MAC mark … The Cardinals earned the third seed in the 2024 MAC Volleyball Championship, ultimately advancing to the championship match where it lost to fourth-seeded Western Michigan.

• The Cardinals return four starters and its libero from last season’s squad, which helped earn them the No. 2 spot in the 2025 MAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll.

• Ball State was one of the nation’s top offenses last season, ranking first in the MAC and 25th nationally with a .267 hitting percentage … Carson Tyler led the way, blasting 3.34 kills per set to rank seventh in the league, helping her earn First Team All-MAC honors and both MAC and AVCA Midwest Region Freshman of the Year accolades.

• The Cardinals were also strong on defensive, limiting opposing teams to a .192 hitting mark … Ball State held opponents to .149-or-lower attack percentages in 12 matches, going 12-0 in those contests.

SCOUTING ST. THOMAS:

• St. Thomas finished the 2024 season with an 18-10 overall record, including a 10-6 mark in the Summit League … The Tommies are entering its first season as a postseason tournament eligible program after a four-year transition period into NCAA Division I … Ironically, Ball State was the first program St. Thomas faced in its four-year transition period to DI at the 2021 GBD Invite hosted by Green Bay.

• The Tommies were picked to finish third in the 2025 Summit League Preseason Coaches’ Poll, its highest preseason ranking since joining the league in 2021.

• Both setter Morgan Kealy and middle hitter Megan Wetter were named to the Summit League’s Players to Watch list.

SCOUTING MINNESOTA:

• Minnesota enters the weekend ranked 11th in the 2025 AVCA Division I Preseason Coaches’ Poll … The Gophers opened the year Monday with a 3-1 (25-23, 21-25, 25-21, 25-21) setback to No. 9 Texas A&M at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

• Three Gophers finished the opening match with double-digit kills, led by Julia Hanson with 16 … Zeynep Palabiyik earned a match-high 15 digs, while Minnesota finished the match hitting .242 as a squad … Setter Stella Swenson led the team in both assists (39) and total blocks (5).

• Minnesota finished the 2024 season ranked 17th nationally with a 2.69 blocks-per-set average, while holding opponents to a .175 hitting percentage which was 38th nationally.

SCOUTING CAL POLY:

• Cal Poly finished the 2024 campaign with a 22-9 overall record and won the Big West regular season championships with a 14-4 league mark … The overall effort included a conference-best 10-3 record in road matches.

• The Mustangs were picked to finish second in the 2025 Big West Preseason Coaches’ Poll and garnered five first-place votes.

• Both setter Emme Bullis and middle hitter Chloe Leluge were named to the seven-player Big West Preseason Coaches Team.

• Cal Poly finished the 2024 season ranked 48th nationally with a .249 team hitting percentage, led by Leluge who ranked 69th nationally with a .356 rate of success.

BALL STATE QUICK HITS:

• For her play during her debut season, Carson Tyler became the first player in program history to earn AVCA Midwest Region Freshman of the Year accolades … Tyler, who also earned a spot on the Midwest All-Region Honorable Mention squad, led the Ball State offense and ranked seventh in the MAC with a 3.34 kills-per-set average … Her 374 total kills were the most among league freshman and ranked seventh among all league attackers.

• Carson Tyler smashed double-digit kills in 22 matches for the Cardinals last season, including six with 20-or-more … Her best effort was a career-high 25 kills to help lead Ball State to a 3-2 victory over Wright State (Sept. 20) … Tyler is one of just 12 players in program history to register 20-or-more kills in at least six career matches … She is also just the eighth different player in program history to have six-or-more such matches in a single season.

• A six-rotation player, Carson Tyler ranked third on the team with 220 digs for a 1.96 digs-per-set average last season … She recorded her first career kill/dig double-double with 12 kills and 10 digs at Central Michigan (Oct. 5) and finished the campaign with six … Tyler collected a career-best 15 digs versus Western Michigan (Nov. 16) and led Ball State’s primary passers with a .963 reception percentage over the course of the 2024 season … Overall, Tyler successfully passed 650 of the team-high 675 serves she faced last season.

• Sophie Ledbetter shined in her first season of collegiate action, leading the squad with a with a 3.68 digs-per-set average in 2024 … The effort included six matches with 20-or-more digs, paced by a career-high 27 in the win over James Madison (Sept. 6) … Ledbetter, who recorded double-digit digs in a team-high 23 matches last season, also boasted a .941 reception percentage, including perfect marks in 17 of BSU’s 32 matches.

• Last season, the Ball State offense shined over the last 16 matches when it added Lindsey Green to the mix by switching to a 6-2 … It started with a season-high .446 (48-7-92) attack percentage versus Akron (Oct. 11) which is the sixth-best team mark in program history … Overall, Ball State connected for a .293 attack percentage over the last 16 matches, compared to a .243 mark in the first 16 … The Cardinals hit .300-or-better eight times during the run … In fact, BSU also hit over .400 three times in the final 16 matches of 2024 … Ball State’s attackers averaged 1.11 kills and 1.21 assists per set more in the 6-2.

• Lindsey Green turned in several strong performances down the stretch run in 2024, including registering her first career double-double with 19 assists and 12 digs versus Buffalo (Oct. 12) … Her 19 assists versus the Bulls also marked the first time in her career Green led the Cardinals in a match in assists … Green would collect her second career double-double in the Friday sweep at Toledo (Nov. 8), dishing out 21 assists and collecting a career-high 13 digs … Green, who recorded a career-high 24 assists in the MAC Championship semifinal victory over Central Michigan (Nov. 23), averaged 4.92 assists and 1.72 digs per set during her time on court, while serving up 21 aces.

• Aniya Kennedy has been another big arm for the Cardinals over her career, smashing double-digit kills in 38 career matches … The 2023 MAC Freshman of the Year, Kennedy is eighth in program history with 20+ kills in 10 career matches, including a career-high 25 vs. Akron (Oct. 13, 2023) … She finished the 2023 season ranked 32nd nationally with a 4.12 kills-per-set average, while ranking second on the squad with a 2.74 mark last season.

• The Cardinals returning roster also features 2024 First Team All-MAC selection Madison Buckley, who ranked third on the squad in both kills (2.46) and blocks (0.80) per set last season … Overall, Buckley has connected for double-digit kills in 26 career matches, while securing at least one block in 66 of her 76 career matches played.

• One new face on the outside is graduate transfer Noelle VanOort who finished her four-year playing career at Indiana Tech (2021-24) as a two-time NAIA Third Team All-American … Her 1,724 career kills ranked second in program history, while her 1,648 career digs were sixth … She also set the program standard with 282 career service aces … Over 146 career matches for the Warriors, VanOort registered double-digit kills in 97, double-digit digs in 90 and tallied 68 kill/dig double-doubles … She had nine matches with 20+ kills and seven with 20+ digs, including a 20/20 effort Nov. 5, 2022, with 23 kills and 25 digs versus Siena Heights.

• Ball State was one of the nation’s top blocking teams last season, ranking 53rd nationally with a 2.45 blocks-per-set average … A key part of the Cardinals wall was middle Gwen Crull who ranked fifth in the MAC with a 1.10 blocks-per-set average … Crull earned at least one block in 22 outings last season, led by a career-high 10 total blocks at Central Michigan (Oct. 5).

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BALL STATE CROSS COUNTRY

CROSS COUNTRY OPENS SEASON FRIDAY AT SAM BELL INVITATIONAL

MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State cross country team opens the 2025 season at Indiana University’s Sam Bell Invitational on Friday morning, Aug. 29. The 4K women’s race on the Sam Bell Cross Country Course takes place at 9:15 a.m.

Sophomore Tori Jackson and junior Kendyl Thrasher lead a young Ball State unit into Friday morning’s early-season race on the campus of Indiana University. The Cardinals lineup also includes four freshmen making their college debut: Emily Decker, Rosie Gonzalez, Kaitlyn Kauppila and Sadey Seyferth.

Friday’s opening race allows the Cardinals to get back into the swing of racing, taking part in the first of five regular season meets. Following Friday’s action in Bloomington, the Cardinals train for the George Dales Invite in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on Friday, Sept. 19.

MEET INFO
Venue: Sam Bell Cross Country Course
Meet Info | Course Map | LiveStats
Watch: No livestream available.

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INDIANA STATE CROSS COUNTRY

TREES OPEN 2025 CROSS COUNTRY SEASON AT FIGHTING ILLINI INVITATIONAL

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State cross country opens its 2025 season Friday, as the Sycamores make a short trek across the state line for the Fighting Illini Invitational at the Orange and Blue Golf Course in Savoy, Illinois.

The women’s 4k will take place at noon, with the men’s 6k to follow at 12:30 p.m.

Who’s In The Field?

Joining the Sycamores and host institution Illinois in Friday’s season-opening meet are Bradley, Chicago State, Illinois State, Northern Illinois, Southern Illinois and UIC.

Three teams enter the season ranked in the top 10 in their respective regions, all of which come from the Missouri Valley Conference (Bradley Men – Midwest No. 7, Bradley women – Midwest No. 7, Indiana State women – Great Lakes No. 8). Indiana State’s No. 8 region ranking on the women’s side is the highest in program history under the USTFCCCA regional ranking system.

Back For More

Indiana State junior Emma Gresham posted arguably the best season for a Sycamore women’s cross country athlete in program history last year, capturing the MVC individual title and breaking nearly every program record on the course.

Gresham broke the 4k (14:14), 5k (16:58) and 6k (20:09) records during the 2024 season, while becoming the first Indiana State women’s cross country athlete to win the MVC individual title since 2003. She also earned All-Region honors with a top-25 finish at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional, becoming the first Sycamore since 2018 to place in the top 25 at the regional meet.

Gresham leads a talented group of returners, with five of Indiana State’s top seven from last season on the women’s side all back in Blue and White.

Continued Success

Indiana State looks to build off a strong 2024 season, as the Sycamores recorded their highest conference finish on the women’s side in nearly 30 years by placing second at the MVC. The Trees also carded a top-half finish on the men’s side by placing fifth.

The Sycamores feature a young team in 2025, with just one senior – Jocqael Thorpe – among the 28 athletes set to compete for the Blue and White during the upcoming cross country season. Despite the youth, Indiana State returns three of its top five on both the men’s (Emerson Fayman, Ryan Handy, Ryan York) and women’s (Emma Gresham, Brittney Burak, Peyton Smith) side from last year.

Strong Starts

Indiana State has started its season on the right foot in each of the last four campaigns, and the Sycamores look to continue that trend in 2025. The Sycamores have placed no lower than third on either side in a season-opening meet since Brad Butler started working with the cross country program, and have placed first in a season opener in each of the last three seasons.

Indiana State earned first-place finishes on the men’s side at the EIU Walt Crawford Open in both 2022 and 2023, while the Sycamore women placed first at the Sam Bell Invitational in 2024.

Up Next

Indiana State plays host to the John McNichols Invitational September 20 at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course.

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INDIANA STATE VOLLEYBALL

SYCAMORE VOLLEYBALL HEADS TO BELLARMINE FOR 2025 OPENER

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Indiana State volleyball team begins the 2025 season on August 29-30 in Louisville, Ky. in the first of four tournaments in the year.

The opening weekend will be played at Knights Hall, hosted by Bellarmine University. The other two schools the Sycamores will see are SIUE and Miami (OH). Indiana State opens with Bellarmine on Friday, August 29 at noon ET and will follow with SIUE at 5 p.m. ET. The lone match on Saturday will be played at 11 a.m. ET against Miami (OH).

Head coach Ashlee Pritchard’s squad features 19 on this season’s roster, composed of three seniors, six juniors, four sophomores, and six freshmen.

Emily Weber and Cadence Gilley are joined by senior transfer Kimora Whetstone, coming from Kansas City but is an Indianapolis native. Other transfers include junior Taylor Knuth (Lamar, Harper College) and redshirt freshman Sophia Mayo (FIU).

Weber, Gilley, juniors Ella Scott and Macy Lengacher, and sophomores Curry Kendall and Chloe Gilley all found themselves inside the top 21 in MVC rankings at the end of last season. Both Weber and Scott played in every set for the Sycamores one season ago (107); Scott started all 30 matches.

Weber: 7th in assists

Candence Gilley: 17th in service aces

Scott: 5th in digs, 21st in hitting percentage

Lengacher: 14th in digs

Kendall: 21st in kills

Chloe Gilley: 20th in digs

Schedule

Friday, August 29

Miami (OH) vs. SIUE – 9:30 a.m. ET

Bellarmine vs. Indiana State – noon ET

Indiana State vs. SIUE – 5 p.m. ET

Bellarmine vs. Miami (OH) – 7:30 p.m. ET

Saturday, August 30

Miami (OH) vs. Indiana State – 11 a.m. ET

Bellarmine vs. SIUE – 2 p.m. ET

About Bellarmine

The Knights are coming off a 7-19, 4-12 ASUN season.

They return their leaders in kills (Natalie Bland, 369) and assists (Kylie Van Hoy, 813) and their second-most leader in digs (Payton Parsons, 345).

About SIUE

SIUE finished 12-18, 7-11 OVC in 2024.

The Cougars lost their top two in kills but return middle blocker Ainsley Ranstead (3rd, 253). Senior Bree Schreimann was named to the 2025 OVC Preseason Watch List.

SIUE lost 84.5% of their assists from a season ago.

The Cougars in 2024 had five players all record between 217 and 286 digs (69.6%) – only one-of-five return, Olivia Hogan.

About Miami (OH)

Miami (OH) finished 8-21, 2-16 MAC one season ago.

The Redhawks return their top three-of-four leaders in kills (Chelsea Williams, Raegan Lantz, and Gentry Warrick). Top two-of-three leaders in assists return (Hayden Hicks, Sophie Crawford); the two accounted for 55.5% of the assist total from last season.

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PURDUE FT. WAYNE MEN’S SOCCER

MASTODONS WELCOME EIU ON FRIDAY FOR 2025 HOME OPENER

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Purdue Fort Wayne men’s soccer hosts Eastern Illinois on Friday (Aug. 29) at 2 p.m. in the 2025 regular season opener. It is International Student Celebration Day at the game.

Game Day Information
Who: Eastern Illinois (0-2-0) vs. Purdue Fort Wayne (0-0-2)
When: Friday, Aug. 29 | 2 PM ET
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Hefner Soccer Complex
Live Stats: Link
Tickets: Link
All-Time Series: EIU leads the all-time series 13-8-0. The two teams have never tied since first meeting in 2001. The Mastodons won 3-0 in Charleston, Illinois last season. The Panthers have won the last three meetings in Fort Wayne, with Purdue Fort Wayne’s last win over EIU in Fort Wayne coming Oct. 10, 2015.

About the Panthers: EIU dropped two games to open the season. They fell at Northwestern 2-0 and at UIC 4-0 after a trip to Chicago to start the 2025 season. Eastern Illinois has had four players record shots in a match early in the season with only two players credited with shots on goal this season. Transfer Ben Griffis is the team leader with four total shots including three shots on goal. Rafael Lara is tied for second on the team with three shots with two of those being on net. Casey Welage has three shots this season and Shion Hayashi was credited with other Panthers shot attempt.

OPOTW: Iann Topete had a debut weekend to remember for the Mastodons. He scored twice vs. DePaul to help the ‘Dons earn a 3-3 tie against the Blue Demons. His play helped him earn the Horizon League’s Offensive Player of the Week honor.

‘Dons & Ends:

– Redshirt freshman Karsten Ternes scored his first goal as a Mastodon, putting the ‘Dons up 1-0 vs. DePaul.

– Sep Habibi recorded 10 saves on the weekend. He had six saves vs. Loyola Chicago earn his first career shutout.

– Karsten Ternes and Andrew Hollenbach were the only field players to play all 180 minutes to start the season.

– Iann Topete and freshman Jonny Hernandez led the ‘Dons with two shots on goal on the weekend.

– 21 total Mastodons saw the field in the two games.

‘Dons Picked Fifth:

Purdue Fort Wayne was picked to finish fifth in the 10-team Horizon League, according to a vote by the league’s head coaches in the 2025 preseason poll. The ‘Dons earned 57 points with one first place vote. They were one of only five teams in the league to earn a first place vote. Green Bay was selected as the favorite with 87 points and four first place votes. The fifth place prediction is the highest finish the Mastodons have ever had in a Horizon League Preseason Poll. Should the ‘Dons finish fifth, it would mean a third consecutive league postseason berth.

New Faces

Freshmen Antonio Tiscareno, Jonny Hernandez, Julian Zambrano, Tegan Gumbs and Brandon Razo as well as transfers Iann Topete, Christian Agyekum, Jackson Liley, Max Titterington and Ben Hissrich join the Mastodons in 2025.

Back in 2025

2024 All-Horizon League Second Team selection Andrew Hollenbach and Third Team pick Shane Anderson are back in 2025. Hollenbach started 15 matches last season, playing 1,282 minutes, second on the team. Anderson scored seven goals for the ‘Dons last year in 15 contests. In the classroom, he was a College Sports Communicators Academic All-District pick in 2024.

Also Back This Year

The Mastodons’ roster features multiple key cogs back from last season’s squad. Abe Arellano returns for his senior campaign after scoring three times with two assists in 16 games last year. Marco Valencia also returns for his senior season. The Chicago native has been a mainstay for the Mastodons, playing in 45 games with 35 starts over his first three seasons in Fort Wayne. Another four-year Mastodon and Chicago native, Christian Leon has 46 games and 44 starts in his career. He owns two goals and four assists in his career.

About Last Year

The Mastodons qualified for the Horizon League postseason for the second consecutive season.

New Challenge

The Purdue Fort Wayne or Indiana Fort Wayne student who attends the most Mastodon home athletics events this year will win an iPad at the end of the 2025-26 school year! Make sure to check in and get your QR code scanned at the game to start tracking your attendance.

Coming Up

The Mastodons host Bradley on Sept. 7. It will be a doubleheader at the Hefner Soccer Complex. The Mastodon women host Eastern Illinois following the men’s match.

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PURDUE FT. WAYNE VOLLEYBALL

MASTODON VOLLEYBALL OPENS REGULAR SEASON AT BUTLER TOURNAMENT

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Purdue Fort Wayne women’s volleyball will open the 2025 regular season at Butler’s tournament this weekend. The Mastodons will play Middle Tennessee, Butler and Evansville on Friday and Saturday (Aug. 29-30).

Game Day Information
Who: Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders, Butler Bulldogs, Evansville Purple Aces
When: Aug. 29 – 3 PM & 7 PM | Aug. 30 – 2 PM
Where: Indianapolis, Ind. | Hinkle Fieldhouse
Live Stats: Match 1 | Match 2 | Match 3
Watch:Match 1 | Match 2 | Match 3
Match Notes: Link

Attendance Challenge

Know Your Foes

• Middle Tennessee was 13-18 last season, but a 3-15 mark away from home. The 2025 roster looks very different with 14 newcomers and just three returners. The Blue Raiders were picked 10th in the Conference USA Preseason Poll.

• Butler has nine players returning from last year’s team that went 7-23. The Bulldogs lost to Horizon League members IU Indy 3-1 and Wright State 3-0 last season. Butler has just one senior, Rylie Tam, who appeared in 13 matches last year.

• Evansville was 6-24 a year ago, but have a new head coach this season. The Purple Aces return 11 players from a year ago with seven newcomers. Three starters, including offensive juggernaut Angelica Gonzalez Maltes, are back this year.

Series Histories

• The Mastodons have a 2-1 edge over Middle Tennessee. The ‘Dons won matches in 2003 and 2004 and lost the most recent in 2019, a five-setter in Evansville.

• Purdue Fort Wayne leads the series 8-4 over Butler, but have not played since 2013, the Bulldogs’ first year in the Big East. The two teams are even at 3-3 in Indianapolis.

• The ‘Dons lead Evansville 3-2 in the all-time series, with two meetings coming in the last six years. Evansville won both those games after the ‘Dons swept the first three in 1983, 2002 and 2004.

Back for More

Horizon League Freshman of the Year Riley Rosneck is back for her sophomore season at Purdue Fort Wayne. Last season, she was second on the team with an average of 2.63 kills per set. In league play, she upped that mark to 2.94.

Not Nixing Jena

Senior Jena Medearis will play in her hometown’s backyard this season. The Nixa, Missouri native and the Mastodons will play two matches at Missouri State, just 11 miles from Nixa.

New Faces in the Fort

There are six newcomers to the Mastodon women’s volleyball squad this year: Avery Parris (OPP / Evansville, Ind. / Southern Illinois), Lili Smith (S / Flushing, Mich.), Trinity Rye (OH / San Diego, Calif.), Haiden Means (S / Madison, Ind.), Stephani Winzeler (L/DS / Toledo, Ohio) and Bella DiBuono (MB / Tallahassee, Fla.).

Coming Up

Purdue Fort Wayne will hit the road again for another tournament, this time at Eastern Michigan. The Mastodons will play Valparaiso, Eastern Michigan and Niagara on September 4-5.

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PURDUE FT. WAYNE MEN’S BASKETBALL

2025-26 MEN’S HOOPS SCHEDULE RELEASED

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The 2025-26 Purdue Fort Wayne men’s basketball schedule was released on Thursday (Aug. 28). Fans will have 16 opportunities to see the Mastodons in Fort Wayne this season.

The first chance to see the Mastodons in action is Monday, Oct. 27 against Ball State in an exhibition against the Cardinals. It will be the first visit by Ball State to Fort Wayne since the Mastodons defeated Ball State in the 2017 CIT.

The regular season starts on November 3 with a visit to Mountain West foe Grand Canyon. It will be the Mastodons’ second visit to GCU, with the ‘Dons winning 71-60 in 2019. Four days later the Mastodons travel to Ohio State (Nov. 7) before the regular season home opener on Nov. 9 against Dominican. On Nov. 12 the Mastodons play Western Michigan, heading to Kalamazoo, Mich. for the first time since winning in overtime on Dec. 22, 2015.

Another notable non-league road game is a trip to Utah on Nov. 18, the first game against Utah since 2015. Three days later the Mastodons are at Atlantic 10 foe Saint Louis. The last time the ‘Dons played at Saint Louis was 2005. The final game before Christmas is a short trip to South Bend to play at Notre Dame.

Non-league home games also feature Chicago State (Nov. 25), Holy Cross (Ind.) (Nov. 28) and Eastern Michigan (Dec. 10). The Mastodons have won the last two contests against Eastern Michigan, but this will be the Eagles’ first ever trip to the Summit City.

The Mastodons will play 10 home and 10 away Horizon League contests. Three contests come in December, including two at home, Dec. 6 vs. Northern Kentucky and Dec. 14 vs. Detroit-Mercy. The ‘Dons will celebrate New Year’s Day against Green Bay and close out the regular season Feb. 25 against Wright State. Long-time in-state foe IU Indianapolis makes their annual visit to the Summit City on Feb. 15.

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UINDY FOOTBALL: HOUNDS SLAY KNIGHTS IN MONUMENTAL OPENER

INDIANAPOLIS – The 20th-ranked UIndy football team opened its season with a convincing win at crosstown Marian University Thursday night. The Greyhounds came out on the right side of a 45-21 final score, winning the third-ever “Monumental Matchup” and the program’s first-ever Week 0 contest.

INS & OUTS

Facing Marian for the first time since 2016, the Greyhounds used a big second quarter to pull away, finding the end zone on all three of their second-quarter drives. The salvo included a 48-yard bomb to Alonzo Derrick and a pair of late touchdown passes to Markez Gillam.

The defense turned up the heat with its first takeaway of the year late in the half. Cornerback TJ Easley-Jones made a play on the ball, popping it up for Jaden Schlabach, who came down with his first career interception.

By the time the opening half expired, UIndy found itself up 28-0 while tripling the Knights’ total offensive output.

The Knights broke up the shutout late in the third, but the Hounds kept a comfortable margin with three second-half scoring drives. Sophomore running back Garrett Sherrell found the end zone twice after the half on his way to a team-high 128 all-purpose yards.

Meanwhile, QB Gavin Sukup had a stellar performance to open his senior campaign. The two-time reigning GLVC Offensive Player of the Year finished a surgical 22 for 29 passing, racking up a career-high 380 yards and three TDs.

Defensively, linebackers Alvin Contreras and Jalen Wilson combined for 11 tackles, with the former adding two for a loss, including a sack. Brandon Smith and Cornell Branch IV added a sack apiece.

INSIDE THE BOX

– The Greyhounds racked up 29 first downs on the night, boosted by a 9-for-13 (.692) success rate on third down.

– Sukup and redshirt-freshman QB Josh Keith spread the ball around to 10 different receivers, with Kaleb Carver (85) and Derrick (73) leading the way in receiving yards.

– Freshman kicker Andrew Herron scored his first collegiate points tonight. He finished with seven points in all, including a 27-yard field goal in the third quarter.

– Redshirt-freshman Kaleb Dotson led the Hounds with seven total tackles.

MORE NOTES

UIndy is now 1-2 all-time in the Monumental Matchup … The teams are scheduled to face off again next season, with the Hounds playing as hosts.

UP NEXT

UIndy returns to its normal Saturday schedule next week when it travels to Findlay, Ohio and the University of Findlay on Sept. 6. Kickoff is set for noon Eastern.

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MARIAN FOOTBALL: MARIAN FALLS IN MONUMENTAL MATCHUP 45-21

INDIANAPOLIS – The Marian football team fell in their season-opening home game, as the Monumental Matchup was handled by the University of Indianapolis, with the Greyhounds winning 45-21. Marian’s loss in their home opener is the first since 2021, as they begin the season 0-1.

UIndy methodically opened its season, marching down the field on Marian in eight plays to score on the opening drive. Big plays harmed Marian early, and in response, the Knights picked up a pair of first downs as Tristan Polk connected with Jameson Coverstone and Jake Reichard on consecutive first down passes, but the first series soon stalled with a pair of incompletions. The Greyhounds were pinned deep after Dean Mason dropped a punt at the two-yard line, but were unfazed as they were able to drive into scoring range with the assistance of a muffed punt. UIndy would end the series with a missed field goal, holding the score at 7-0 as the first quarter neared its end.

A Keagan La Belle rush took Marian into the second quarter, but the flip of the field did little to Knights’ advantage, as a three-and-out began the period. The Greyhound offense took over and all-but sealed the game as play continued in the quarter, with Gavin Sukup engineering three different touchdown drives in the quarter. Two of the three scores came following Marian punts, with the third coming after a failed two-minute drive by the Knights. Tristan Polk was intercepted with 47 seconds left in the quarter as a pass to Riley Palmeter was batted high in the sky before Jaden Schlabach came down with the pick.

The Hounds quickly found paydirt to take a 28-0 lead at the intermission, with Sukup connecting with Markez Gillam to complete a 54-yard drive.

Marian opened the third quarter with the ball, but like the first half, the second started with a rough start on offense, as a sack of Polk led to an early three-and-out. The Knights’ defense would tighten up on UIndy’s first possession of the quarter with tackles in the background by Jaxson Scruggs and Jacob Howell holding the Hounds to a field goal attempt.

Trailing 31-0 with 9:12 remaining, Marian’s offense was finally able to show signs of life, with Polk hitting Jameson Coverstone in stride on a 34-yard touchdown for the first score of the season. UIndy would answer with a touchdown of its own following the Knights’ first score, as an onside kick try by the home squad was snuffed out.

The Knights would get possession late in the third quarter, and found their way to the end zone early in the fourth quarter as a 38-yard hookup between Polk and Matthias Pilkington led to an eventual touchdown for Keagan La Belle.

Each team would take two more full possessions before the game’s conclusion, each scoring a touchdown on one of the two drives. UIndy would go on top 45-14 before Marian’s final scoring series, which would end in a Trey Gibson touchdown from one-yard out. Gibson’s first collegiate score capped the scoring in the game, as the Knights fell 45-21 in the season opener.

The Greyhounds dominated the box score, out-gaining the Knights 467-268, while holding a near eight-minute advantage in time of possession. Polk finished the game passing 14-26 and 221 yards, throwing one touchdown and one interception. Polk was sacked three times on the night, and ended the game with -5 yards rushing. La Belle ran for 46 yards and his score, while Coverstone led the receiving efforts with four catches for 58 yards and a score. Yassine Falke had a team-best nine total tackles, while Wyatt Woodall made eight total stops.

The Knights finished the night with four total sacks, as Jayden Scruggs, Isaiah Street, PJ Huff, and Darian Dixon recorded one each. Alijah Price proved to be a bright spot on the night, returning five kickoffs for 147 yards in his collegiate debut.

Marian plays under the lights again next weekend, as they travel to Lawrence Tech for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff in Southfield, Michigan. The game will be the first night game between the Knights and Blue Devils.

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SMALL COLLEGE WEB SITES

UINDY ATHLETICS: https://athletics.uindy.edu/

MARIAN ATHLETICS: https://muknights.com/

INDIANA WESLEYAN ATHLETICS: https://iwuwildcats.com/

EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/

WABASH ATHLETICS: https://sports.wabash.edu/

FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/

ROSE-HULMAN ATHLETICS: https://athletics.rose-hulman.edu/

ANDERSON ATHLETICS: https://athletics.anderson.edu/landing/index

TRINE ATHLETICS: https://trinethunder.com/landing/index

BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/

DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/

HANOVER ATHLETICS: https://athletics.hanover.edu/

MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/

HUNTINGTON ATHLETICS: https://www.huathletics.com/

OAKLAND CITY ATHLETICS: https://gomightyoaks.com/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 BASEBALL HISTORY

Aug. 29

1918 — The Chicago Cubs, behind the pitching of Lefty Tyler, clinched the National League pennant with a 1-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

1934 — The Philadelphia A’s ended Schoolboy Rowe’s 16-game winning streak with a 13-5 victory over the Detroit Tigers.

1948 — Jackie Robinson of the Brooklyn Dodgers hit for the cycle in a 12-7 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. Robinson drove in two runs, scored three runs and stole a base.

1965 — San Francisco’s Willie Mays broke Ralph Kiner’s National League record with his 17th home run of the month in an 8-3 triumph over the New York Mets. Kiner had 16 homers in September of 1949. Mays hit a tape measure shot off Jack Fisher.

1967 — Bert Campaneris of the Kansas City A’s hit three triples in a 9-8, 10-inning loss to the Cleveland Indians. Campaneris was the first to have three triples in a game since Ben Chapman in 1939.

1971 — Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves knocked in his 100th run of the season, giving him the National League record of 11 seasons with 100 or more RBIs.

1977 — Lou Brock of St. Louis stole base No. 893, breaking Ty Cobb’s modern record for career stolen bases. The Cardinals lost to the San Diego Padres 4-3.

1977— Cleveland’s Duane Kuiper hit a one-out solo home run in the first inning off Chicago’s Steve Stone at Municipal Stadium. It was Kuiper’s only homer in 3,379 career at-bats — the fewest homers in most at-bats for any player in MLB history.

1985 — Don Baylor of the New York Yankees set an American League record when he was hit by a pitch for the 190th time in his career. Baylor was struck by California Angels pitcher Kirk McCaskill in the first inning, breaking the old mark of 189 set by Minnie Minoso.

1991 — Carlton Fisk of the Chicago White Sox hit two homers to become the oldest player in the 20th century to accomplish the mark. He’ll top this by hitting two homers on October 3. Jack McDowell went the distance to beat Cleveland 7-2.

1993 — George Brett recorded his 200th stolen base in Kansas City’s 5-4, 12-inning victory over Boston to join Willie Mays and Hank Aaron as the only players with 3,000 hits, 300 homers and 200 steals.

2000 — Anaheim’s Darin Erstad went 3-for-5 to reach 200 hits faster than any player in 65 years as the Angels defeated Toronto 9-4. Ducky Medwick of the St. Louis Cardinals did it in 131 games in 1935.

2002 — Mark Bellhorn became the first player in NL history to hit a home run in the same inning from both sides of the plate, in the fourth of the Chicago Cubs’ 13-10 win over Milwaukee.

2004 — Albert Pujols hit his 40th home run and reached 100 RBIs for the fourth straight season to help St. Louis beat Pittsburgh 4-0. He’s the fourth player to start his major league career with four straight seasons with at least 100 RBIs, joining Hall of Famers Al Simmons, Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams.

2010 — Brian McCann hit a game-winning homer with help from video replay, giving the Atlanta Braves a stunning 7-6 victory over the Florida Marlins. It was the first time a game ended using a video review.

2018 — Milwaukee’s Christian Yelich went 6 for 6 and hit for the cycle and Jesus Aguilar homered in the 10th inning, powering the Brewers to a 13-12 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. The Brewers had a season-high 22 hits and rallied to take the lead four different times, and Jesus Aguilar hit the go-ahead homer in the 10th inning.

2021 — Taylor, Michigan wins the Little League World Series with a win over Hamilton, Ohio.

2022 — Aaron Judge of the Yankees hit home run #50 of the season, to stay just ahead of the pace set by Roger Maris when he hit 61 homers to set the team and American League record in 1961.

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Aug. 30

1905 — Ty Cobb made his major league debut, hitting a double off Jack Chesbro of the New York Highlanders in the Tigers’ 5-3 victory.

1910 — Tom Hughes of the New York Yankees pitched a no-hitter for 9 1-3 innings before giving up a single to Harry Niles of the Cleveland Indians. The Yankees lost 5-0, with Hughes giving up seven hits in 11 innings.

1912 — Earl Hamilton of the St. Louis Browns pitched a 5-1 no-hitter against the Tigers at Detroit.

1916 — Dutch Leonard of the Boston Red Sox pitched a no-hitter against the St. Louis Browns for a 4-0 victory.

1918 — The New York Giants beat the Brooklyn Dodgers 1-0 in a game that took 57 minutes to play.

1941 — Lon Warneke of the St. Louis Cardinals pitched a 2-0 no-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds. Only three balls were hit to the outfield.

1953 — In the opening game of a doubleheader, rookie Jim Pendleton hit three of the Braves major-league record eight homers in a 19-4 win over Pittsburgh. The Braves hit four more homers in the second game, an 11-5 win, to set a major-league record for a doubleheader.

1960 — Pete Runnels went 6-for-7 as the Boston Red Sox edged the Detroit Tigers in 15 innings of a doubleheader opener. Runnels added three hits in the second game.

1966 — Pete Rose homered from both sides of the plate to lead Cincinnati to a 6-4 win over St. Louis.

1987 — Minnesota’s Kirby Puckett went 6-for-6 with four RBIs and connected for two homers and two doubles to lead the Twins to a 10-6 victory over the Milwaukee.

1999 — Edgardo Alfonzo of the New York Mets went 6-for-6 with three homers, five RBIs and a major league record-tying six runs scored in a 17-1 win over Houston.

2006 — Curt Schilling became the 14th pitcher in major league history to reach 3,000 strikeouts when he fanned Oakland’s Nick Swisher in the first inning of the Red Sox’s 7-2 loss to Oakland.

2015 — Jake Arrieta pitched the sixth no-hitter in the majors this season and second against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 10 days, leading the Chicago Cubs to a 2-0 victory. Arrieta struck out a season-high 12 — one off his career high and walked one. Arrieta got the benefit of a close call for the official scorer in the third inning, when Kike Hernandez reached on a fielding error by second baseman Starlin Castro. Hernandez hit a one-hopper at Castro, who tried to play it on the short hop as the ball bounced off him. The play was ruled an error but probably could have gone either way.

2020 — Chicago Cubs: For the first time in MLB history, all three starting outfielders, Ian Happ, Kyle Schwarber and Justin Heyward hit home runs. All three hit two home runs in a 10-1 win over the Reds.

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Aug. 31

1909 — The A.J. Reach Company was granted a patent for its cork-centered baseball, which replaced the hard rubber-cored one. This change will be particularly apparent in the National League in 1910 and 1911.

1915 — Jim Lavender of the Chicago Cubs pitched a 2-0 no-hitter in the first game of a doubleheader against the New York Giants.

1935 — Vern Kennedy of the Chicago White Sox pitched a no-hitter to beat Cleveland 5-0. Kennedy also had a bases-loaded triple.

1937 — Rudy York of the Tigers hit his 17th and 18th home runs of the month to set a major league record as Detroit beat Washington 12-3.

1950 — Brooklyn’s Gil Hodges tied a major league record by hitting four homers against the Boston Braves in the Dodgers’ 19-3 rout. Hodges also added a single for 17 total bases and drove in nine runs. Brooklyn pitcher Carl Erskine singled in the second, third, fifth and sixth innings.

1959 — Sandy Koufax of Los Angeles struck out 18 Giants for a National League record as the Dodgers beat San Francisco 5-2.

1965 — Boston catcher Russ Nixon tied a major-league record with three run-scoring sacrifice flies in the second game at Washington. Boston won 8-5, after taking the opener, 4-0.

1974 — In a Northwest League game, Portland manager Frank Peters rotated his players so each man played a different position each inning. The strategy worked for an 8-7 win over Tri-Cities.

1990 — The Griffeys — 20-year-old Ken Jr. and his dad, Ken, 40 — made major league history, leading Seattle to a 5-2 victory over Kansas City. The Griffeys were the first father and son to play together in the big leagues.

1998 — Cubs OF Sammy Sosa ties Mark McGwire by hitting his 55th home run in Chicago’s 5 – 4 win over Cincinnati. Sosa has hit 30 of his homers at Wrigley Field, three short of Hack Wilson’s Cub record and tying him with Ernie Banks.

2001 — Pitcher Danny Almonte, who dominated the Little League World Series with his 70 mph fastballs, was ruled ineligible after government records experts determined he actually was 14, and that birth certificates showing he was two years younger were false. The finding nullified all the victories by his Bronx, N.Y., team, the Rolando Paulino Little League All-Stars, and wiped out all its records — including Almonte’s perfect game and an earlier no-hitter.

2004 — Omar Vizquel went 6-for-7 to tie the American League record for hits for a nine-inning game in Cleveland’s 22-0 victory over the New York Yankees. The 22-0 beating, was the largest loss in the history of the Yankees’ organization. Cleveland matched the largest shutout win in the major leagues since 1900, set by Pittsburgh against the Chicago Cubs on Sept. 16, 1975.

2005 — Florida’s Jeremy Hermida became the first player in more than a century and the second to hit a grand slam in his first major league at-bat, connecting in the seventh inning off the St. Louis Cardinals’ Al Reyes.

2005 — Albert Pujols hit an RBI triple in St. Louis’ 10-5 victory over the Florida Marlins, giving him 100 RBIs this season. Pujols became the first player in major league history to hit at least 30 home runs and drive in 100 runs in his first five seasons in the majors.

2010 — Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman reached 102 mph during one perfect inning, and Cincinnati beat Milwaukee 8-4. Chapman joined the Reds’ bullpen and matched the hype his first time out, throwing four pitches clocked at 100 mph or better.

2011 — Two milestone home runs — Chipper Jones’ 450th and Derek Lowe’s first — gave Atlanta the early lead and Lowe combined with three relievers on a three-hitter in a 3-1 victory over Washington. Craig Kimbrel pitched the ninth for his 41st save, setting a major league rookie record.

2019 — Minnesota Twins hit six home runs in a 10-7 loss to the Tigers to break an MLB record by hitting 268 home runs in a season.

2022 — Shohei Ohtani adds another item to his ever-growing list of achievements when he homers off Gerrit Cole of the Yankees in the 6th inning of the Angels’ 3 – 2 win. With that, he becomes the first player ever to hit 30 homers and record 10 wins in the same season – a feat not even Babe Ruth managed to achieve.

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Sept. 1

1906 — The Philadelphia Athletics beat the Boston Red Sox 4-1 in 24 innings. Jack Coombs of the Athletics and Joe Harris of the Red Sox pitched all 24 innings. Coombs fanned 18.

1930 — Wes Ferrell of Cleveland beat the St. Louis Browns 9-5 for his 13th straight victory.

1931 — Lou Gehrig hit his third grand slam in four days as the Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox 5-1.

1945 — The Philadelphia Phillies, behind Vince DiMaggio’s grand slam, beat the Braves 8-3 in Boston. It was the fourth grand slam of the year for DiMaggio to tie a major league mark.

1958 — Vinegar Bend Mizell of the St. Louis Cardinals set a National League record by walking nine batters and tossing a shutout. Mizell beat Cincinnati 1-0 in the first game of a doubleheader.

1963 — Curt Simmons of the St. Louis Cardinals allowed six hits, drove in two runs with a triple and stole home plate in a 7-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. Simmons’ steal of home is the last by a pitcher.

1967 — Cincinnati’s Bob Lee walked Dick Groat with the bases loaded in the 21st inning to give the San Francisco Giants a 1-0 victory at Crosley Field.

1975 — Tom Seaver struck out Manny Sanguillen in the seventh inning to become the first pitcher to strike out at least 200 batters in eight consecutive seasons. Seaver recorded 10 strikeouts in the Mets’ 3-0 triumph over Pittsburgh.

1986 — Oddibe McDowell and Darrell Porter of Texas hit back-to-back pinch hit homers in the ninth inning off Boston reliever Steve Crawford, but the Rangers fall to the Red Sox 6-4.

1998 — Mark McGwire broke Hack Wilson’s 68-year-old National League record for home runs in a season, hitting his 56th and 57th in the St. Louis Cardinals’ victory over the Florida Marlins.

1999 — Twenty-two of baseball 68 permanent umpires found themselves jobless, the fallout from their union’s failed attempt to force an early start to negotiations for a new labor contract. Under the deal mediated by U.S. District Judge J. Curtis Joyner, the union agreed the 22 “will provide no further services.”

2002 — Miguel Tejada hit a game-ending three-run homer to power Oakland to a 7-5 win, Oakland’s 18th straight victory, over Minnesota.

2007 — Clay Buchholz threw a no-hitter in his second major league start, just hours after being called up by the Boston Red Sox. Buchholz struck out nine, walked three and hit one batter to give the Red Sox a 10-0 victory over Baltimore.

2008 — Arizona’s Stephen Drew and Seattle’s Adrian Beltre became the first players to hit for the cycle on the same day since Bobby Veach of the Detroit Tigers and George Burns of the New York Giants did it on Sept. 17, 1920.

2014 — Cole Hamels and three Philadelphia Phillies relievers combined to pitch a no-hitter, beating the Atlanta Braves 7-0. Hamels pulled after six innings. Relievers Jake Diekman, Ken Giles and closer Jonathan Papelbon each pitched a hitless inning to finish off the fourth no-hitter in the majors this season.

2018 — South Korea wins its third straight baseball Gold in the Asian games as they beat Japan 3-0.

Sept. 2

1929 — Joe Cronin of the Washington Senators hit for the cycle in a 10-7 win against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.

1937 — For the second time this season, two batters opened a game with home runs. Boze Berger and Mike Kreevich of the Chicago White Sox connected off Boston’s Johnny Marcum, en route to a 4-2 win over the Red Sox.

1944 — Dixie Walker of the Brooklyn Dodgers hit for the cycle and drove in four runs in an 8-4 win over the New York Giants at Ebbets Field.

1952 — Mike Fornieles of the Washington Senators, in his major league debut, pitched a one-hitter for a 5-0 victory over the Philadelphia Athletics in the second game of a doubleheader.

1957 — The Milwaukee Braves swept the Chicago Cubs, 23-10 and 4-0. Bob Hazle of the Braves got four hits in the first game and teammate Frank Torre scored six runs to tie the major league record.

1963 — Cincinnati’s Pete Rose hit a leadoff homer of Jay Hook to give the Reds a 1-0 win over the New York Mets in the second game of a doubleheader at the Polo Grounds.

1965 — Ernie Banks hit his 400th home run as the Chicago Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-3 at Wrigley Field. The blow came off Curt Simmons in the third inning.

1971 — Cesar Cedeno’s 200-foot fly ball in the fifth inning fell for an inside-the-park grand slam home run as second baseman Jim Lefebvre and right fielder Bill Buckner of the Dodgers collided. The hit helped the Houston Astros beat Los Angeles 9-3.

1972 — Milt Pappas of the Chicago Cubs retired 26 consecutive San Diego Padres before walking pinch-hitter Larry Stahl on a 3-2 pitch. Pappas then retired Gary Jestadt to finish his 8-0 no-hitter.

1987 — Houston’s Kevin Bass went 4-for-4, including home runs from both sides of plate, and drove in three runs as the Astros posted a 10-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs.

1990 — Dave Stieb, who had lost three no-hit bids with one out to go in the previous two seasons, finally pitched one as the Toronto Blue Jays beat Cleveland 3-0. It was the record ninth no-hitter of the season.

1996 — Mike Greenwell set a major league record by driving in all nine Boston runs, the final one on a 10th-inning single to give the Red Sox a 9-8 victory over Seattle.

2001 — New York’s Mike Mussina came within one strike of pitching the first perfect game in the 89-year history of Fenway Park in a 1-0 win over Boston. Mussina’s bid was broken up by pinch-hitter Carl Everett’s clean single.

2002 — Miguel Tejada had his second straight game-ending hit as he singled home Terrence Long with the bases loaded in the ninth inning as Oakland tied the longest winning streak in AL history with a 7-6 victory over Kansas City. Oakland, which overcame a 5-0 deficit, equaled the 19 straight wins by the 1906 Chicago White Sox and the 1947 New York Yankees.

2003 — Eric Gagne set a major league record with his 55th consecutive save in Los Angeles’s 4-1 victory over Houston.

2009 — Alex Rodriguez picks up the 2,500th hit of his career as his Yankees defeat Baltimore, 10 – 2, to complete a sweep at Camden Yards. Eric Hinske‘s home run is the Bronx Bombers’ 20th at the park this season, the most by a visiting team since the ballpark opened in 1992. CC Sabathia earns his American League-leading 16th win.

2012 — Jurickson Profar made quite a debut at age 19, homering in his first major league at-bat and doubling his next time up in the Texas Rangers’ 8-3 win over Cleveland.

2015 — Clayton Kershaw strikes out 15 batters tying a career best and setting a new personal record of 251 for the season.

2022 — Yu Darvish reaches a rare milestone with a strikeout of Cody Bellinger in the 5th inning of the Padres’ 7 – 1 win over the Dodgers: this gives him 1,750 Ks in ten major league seasons, and this gives him 3,000 when the 1,250 he amassed in seven seasons in Japan are added. Among all pitchers who have struck out 1,000 or more batters on both sides of the Pacific Ocean, only Hideo Nomo has preceded Darvish in reaching the mark.

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Sept. 3

1917 — Philadelphia’s Grover Cleveland Alexander went the distance in both games of the Phillies’ 5-0 and 9-3 sweep of the Brooklyn Dodgers.

1947 — Bill McCahan pitched a no-hitter to give the Philadelphia Athletics a 3-0 win over the Washington Senators. One batter reached base for Washington, a two-base throwing error by first baseman Ferris Fain in the second inning.

1947 — The New York Yankees had 18 hits, all singles, in an 11-2 victory over Boston at Fenway Park. Tommy Henrich and Joe DiMaggio each had four hits.

1957 — Warren Spahn of the Milwaukee Braves pitched his 41st career shutout with an 8-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Spahn’s shutout set a major league record for left-handers.

1970 — Billy Williams of the Chicago Cubs asked to be kept out of the lineup, ending his National League record of 1,117 consecutive games played. His record was broken in 1983 by Steve Garvey.

1976 — Milwaukee’s Mike Hegan hit for the cycle and drove in six runs to lead the Brewers to an 11-2 rout of Mark Fidrych and the Detroit Tigers.

1986 — Billy Hatcher’s homer in the top of the 18th inning gave the Houston Astros an 8-7 victory over the Chicago Cubs. The teams played 14 innings the day before and used a major league record 53 players in the game.

1990 — Bobby Thigpen set a major league record with his 47th save in a 4-2 Chicago White Sox victory over Kansas City. Thigpen broke the record set by Dave Righetti of the New York Yankees in 1986.

2000 — Kenny Lofton’s 1st-inning run ties a 1939 major league record set by the Yankees ’Red Rolfe for scoring in 18 consecutive games. The speedy Indians outfielder, besides hitting the game-winning homer in the 13th, also steals five bases tying Cleveland’s single-game record set by Alex Cole.

2001 — Bud Smith became the 16th rookie in modern history to throw a no-hitter and the second to do it to San Diego this season in St. Louis’ 4-0 win. Smith was making his 11th career start.

2007 — Pedro Martinez completed his comeback from major shoulder surgery and quickly went into the record books, becoming the 15th pitcher to strike out 3,000 batters in his career. The New York Mets right-hander needed only two strikeouts to reach the mark in a 10-4 win over Cincinnati.

2008 — Baseball’s first use of instant replay backed an on-field call of a home run for Alex Rodriguez during the ninth inning of the New York Yankees game against the Tampa Bay Rays. It took 2 minutes, 15 seconds to uphold the homer that gave the Yankees an 8-3 lead.

2011 — Milwaukee’s George Kottaras hit for the cycle to lead the Brewers to an 8-2 win over the Houston Astros.

2013 — Pinch-hitter Travis Snider homered in the ninth inning to lift Pittsburgh to a 4-3 win over the Milwaukee Brewers that clinched the Pirates’ first non-losing record in 21 seasons.

2017 — Jose Ramirez tied a major league record with five extra-base hits, including a pair of home runs that deflected off Detroit outfielders, and the Cleveland Indians routed the Tigers 11-1 for their 11th straight victory. Ramirez had three doubles in becoming the 13th player with five extra-base hits in a game.

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Sept. 4

1916 — Longtime pitching rivals Christy Mathewson and Mordecai Brown closed their careers, by special arrangement, in the same game. Mathewson won the game 10-8.

1923 — Sam Jones of the New York Yankees pitched a 2-0 no-hitter against Philadelphia Athletics without striking out a batter. New York’s Babe Ruth had the only strikeout of the game.

1927 — Lloyd and Paul Waner became the first brothers to hit home runs in the same game, leading Pittsburgh to an 8-4 win over Cincinnati. Both homers came off Dolf Luque in the fifth inning, the only time in major league history brothers did it in one inning. Lloyd led off the inning with his second home run of the season, and a batter later Paul hit his ninth of the year. Both were bounce home runs, allowed until the 1931; now ground-rule doubles.

1928 — The Boston Braves started a grueling string in which they played nine straight doubleheaders, a major league record.

1941 — The New York Yankees clinched the pennant on the earliest date in baseball history with a 6-3 victory over Boston.

1966 — Los Angeles became the first team in major league history to draw more than 2 million at home and on the road when the Dodgers beat the Reds 8-6 before 18,670 fans in Cincinnati.

1974 — Don Wilson of the Houston Astros was replaced by a pinch hitter after pitching eight no-hit innings against Cincinnati. Mike Cosgrove pitched the ninth inning and gave up a leadoff single to Tony Perez for the only hit in the Reds’ 2-1 victory.

1985 — Gary Carter hit two solo homers to tie a major league record and singled in another run to lead the New York Mets to a 9-2 victory over San Diego. Carter’s feat followed a three-homer performance the night before as he became the 11th player in major league history to hit five home runs in two games.

1993 — Jim Abbott threw the New York Yankees’ first no-hitter in 10 years, leading them to a 4-0 victory over the Cleveland Indians.

1995 — Robin Ventura became the eighth player in major league history — and the first in 25 years — to hit two grand slams in one game as the Chicago White Sox beat Texas 14-3.

1998 — The New York Yankees reached 100 wins on the earliest date in major league history — five days before the 1906 Chicago Cubs and 1954 Cleveland Indians — with an 11-6 victory over the Chicago White Sox. The ’06 Cubs set the major league record for fewest games to reach 100 victories (132).

2002 — The Oakland Athletics set an AL record by winning their 20th straight game. They somehow blew an 11-run lead before pinch-hitter Scott Hatteberg homered in the bottom of the ninth inning to beat Kansas City 12-11. Oakland broke a three-way tie for the longest winning streak in AL history with the 1906 Chicago White Sox and the 1947 New York Yankees.

2017 — J.D. Martinez tied a major league record by hitting four home runs and the Arizona Diamondbacks routed the Los Angeles Dodgers 13-0 for their 11th straight victory. Martinez became the 18th player in major league history to hit four homers in a game, and the 16th in the modern era.

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TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY

Aug. 29

1885 — John L. Sullivan wins the first world heavyweight title under the Marquess of Queensbury rules when he beats Dominic McCaffrey in six rounds. The fight features 3-ounce gloves and 3-minute rounds.

1952 — Dr. Reginald Weir becomes the first black man to compete in the U.S. Tennis Championships, Weir appears two years after Althea Gibson breaks the color barrier in the tournament and loses in four sets to William Stucki.

1962 — A.C.’s Viking, driven by Sanders Russell, wins the Hambletonian Stakes in straight heats.

1968 — Open tennis begins at the U.S. Tennis Championships. Billie Jean King wins the first stadium match at the U.S. Open and amateurs Ray Moore and Jim Osborne have upset wins over professionals. Moore beats No. 10 Andres Gimeno and Osborne defeats Barry MacKay, each in four sets.

1974 — Nineteen-year-old high school basketball star Moses Malone, signs a contract with the Utah Stars of the ABA to become the first player to go directly from high school into major professional basketball.

1978 — The USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y. opens. Bjorn Borg beats Bob Hewitt in the first match 6-0, 6-2 in the best-of-three sets.

1987 — Nolan Ryan passes the 200-strikeout barrier for record 11th time.

1987 — Charlie Whittingham becomes the first trainer to surpass 500 stakes wins when he sent Ferdinand to victory in the Cabrillo Handicap at Del Mar Racetrack.

1993 — Laffit Pincay Jr. wins the 8,000th race of his career aboard El Toreo in the seventh race at Del Mar racetrack to become the second thoroughbred jockey to ride 8,000 winners.

1993 — Brandie Burton’s 20-foot birdie putt on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff edges Betsy King for the du Maurier Classic title, the LPGA tour’s final major of the season.

1998 — Toms River, N.J., wins its first Little League World Series with a 12-9 victory over Kashima, Japan. Chris Cardone hits home runs in consecutive at-bats — including the game-deciding two-run shot.

2005 — Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova becomes the first U.S. Open defending women’s champion to fall in the first round, losing 6-3, 6-2 to fellow Russian Ekaterina Bychkova on the first day of the U.S. Open.

2011 — Petra Kvitova becomes the first defending Wimbledon champion to lose in the first round at the U.S. Open, 7-6, 6-3 to Alexandra Dulgheru.

2012 — The USADA claims to have stripped Lance Armstrong of his seven Tour de France titles.

2013 — The NFL agrees to pay $765 million to settle lawsuits from thousands of former players who developed dementia or other concussion-related health problems they say were caused by the on-field violence. The settlement, unprecedented in sports, applies to all past NFL players and spouses of those who are deceased.

2015 — Usain Bolt anchors Jamaica to a fourth successive men’s 4×100-meter title and adds to his record-breaking personal haul of IAAF World Championships gold medals to 11.

2018 — Star quarterback Aaron Rodgers signs NFL record contract extension with the Green Bay Packers; 4 years worth $134m rising to a possible $180m with a record $103m in guarantees.

2018 — Wanheng Menayothin surpasses Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s 50-0 record, beating Pedro Taduran in a unanimous decision to improve to 51-0. The 32-year-old Menayothin (51-0, 18 KOs) won his 10th successful title defense of his WBC minimumweight belt that he won in November 2014.

2022 — St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols hits career home run 694 off of major league record 450th different pitcher in 13-4 win over Reds in Cincinnati.

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Aug. 30

1887 — Seven U.S. men’s national tennis championships and Richard Sears captures his seventh title. Sears beats Henry Slocum, 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 at the Newport Casino in Newport, R.I. Sears retires with an 18-match unbeaten streak over the 1881-1887 championships.

1905 — Ty Cobb makes his MLB debut with the Detroit Tigers doubling off Jack Chesbro in a Tigers 5-3 win over the NY Highlanders.

1926 — Guy McKinney, driven by Nat Ray, wins the first Hambletonian Stakes.

1927 — Helen Wills wins her fourth U.S. women’s tennis singles title, defeating 16-year-old Betty Nuthall of Britain, 6-1, 6-4.

1937 — Joe Louis wins a 15-round unanimous decision over Tommy Farr at Yankee Stadium in the first defense of his heavyweight title.

1961 — Harlan Dean, driven by Jimmy Arthur, wins the Hambletonian Stakes and sets a record for combined time in the two heats at 3:57 2-5.

1979 — Kathy Horvath, five days past her 14th birthday, loses a first round match to Diane Fromholtz, 7-6, 6-2, to become the youngest person to play a match at the U.S. Open. Later in the day, John McEnroe defeats Ilie Nastase, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, in a match that features Nastase being defaulted by chair umpire Frank Hammond. An 18-minute free-for-all ensues in which fans become uncontrollable and Nastase is reinstated by tournament referee Mike Blanchard. Blanchard replaces Hammond in the chair for the remainder of the match.

1981 — Bill Shoemaker becomes the first jockey to win a $1 million race when he rode John Henry to a nose victory over The Bart in the inaugural Arlington Million at Arlington Park.

1986 — Dawn Patrol and Falcon Bret record the fastest dead heat at Roosevelt Raceway at 1:58.1.

1987 — Ben Johnson of Canada sets the world record in the 100 meters bettering Calvin Smith’s 4-year-old mark of 9.93 by 0.10 seconds in the World Track and Field Championships in Rome. Johnson later lost the record because of steroid use.

1991 — Mike Powell smashes Bob Beamon’s world long jump record with a leap of 29 feet, 4½ inches, two inches beyond the record, in the World Track and Field Championships in Tokyo. The leap also ends Carl Lewis’ 10-year, 65-meet winning streak.

2001 — Ashley Martin becomes the first woman to play in a Division I football game, kicking three extra points without a miss to help I-AA Jacksonville State hand Cumberland its 18th straight loss, 71-10.

2005 — Andy Roddick has a shocking first-round exit from the U.S. Open against Gilles Muller, a player making his debut in the tournament. Roddick, the champion two years earlier and the No. 4 seed this year, falls 7-6 (4), 7-6 (8), 7-6 (1) on his 23rd birthday to the first man from Luxembourg to compete in the Open.

2006 — Curt Schilling becomes the 14th pitcher in major league history to reach 3,000 strikeouts when he fans Oakland’s Nick Swisher in the first inning of the Red Sox’s 7-2 loss to Oakland.

2006 — Greg Mattox wins his 330th career game.

2007 — Tyson Gay completes a sprint double at the world championships when he wins the 200 meters in 19.76 seconds. Gay’s time breaks the meet record of 19.79 set 12 years ago by American Michael Johnson in Goteborg, Sweden. Gay, who beat world record holder Asafa Powell in the 100, joins Maurice Greene (1999) and Justin Gatlin (2005) as the only male athletes to have won sprint doubles at the championships.

2012 — Andy Roddick announces he will retire following the U.S. Open.

2015 — Scott Dixon captures a fourth IndyCar championship by winning the season finale to snatch away the title from Juan Pablo Montoya. Montoya led the points from the season-opening race right until the final lap. But he finishes the race in sixth, which allows Dixon to tie him in the standings. Dixon is awarded the title based on wins (3-2).

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Aug. 31

1881 — The first U.S. men’s single tennis championships begin at the Newport Casino, in Newport, Rhode Island.

1895 — The first professional football game is played at Latrobe, Pa., between Latrobe and Jeannette, Pa. Latrobe pays $10 to quarterback John Brallier for expenses.

1934 — The Chicago Bears and the College All-Stars played to a 0-0 tie before 79,432 in the first game of this series.

1950 — Brooklyn’s Gil Hodges ties a major league record by hitting Boston Brave pitching for four homers in the Dodgers’ 19-3 rout. Hodges also added a single for 17 total bases.

1955 — Nashua, ridden by Eddie Arcaro, goes wire-to-wire to defeat Swaps, ridden by Bill Shoemaker in a match race at Washington Park. Nashua’s victory avenges his second-place finish, behind Swaps, in the 1955 Kentucky Derby.

1972 — American super swimmer Mark Spitz wraps up the Olympic butterfly double with a world record 54.27 in the 100m in Munich, having already won the 200m in world record time 2:00.70.

1977 — John McEnroe plays his first U.S. Open match and receives his first Open code of conduct penalty in a 6-1, 6-3 first-round win over fellow 18-year-old Eliot Teltscher.

1979 — Sixteen-year-old Tracy Austin defeats 14-year-old Andrea Jaeger, 6-2, 6-2, in the second round of the U.S. Open Earlier in the day, John Lloyd defeats Paul McNamee, 5-7, 6-7, 7-5, 7-6, 7-6, in the longest match by games at the Open since the introduction of the tie-break. The two play 63 of a maximum 65 games in three hours and 56 minutes.

1984 — Pinklon Thomas wins a 12-round decision over Tim Witherspoon in Las Vegas to win the WBC heavyweight title.

1985 — Angel Cordero Jr., 42, becomes the third rider in history behind Bill Shoemaker and Laffit Pincay Jr. to have his mounts earn $100 million, while riding at Belmont Park.

1990 — Baseball outfielders Ken Griffey and Ken Griffey Jr. become the 1st father and son to play on same team (Seattle Mariners), the pair hit back-to-back singles in the first inning and both scored.

1991 — Houston quarterback David Klingler sets an NCAA record with six touchdown passes in the second quarter as the Cougars pound Louisiana Tech 73-3.

1996 — Oklahoma State becomes the first Division I-A team to win a regular-season overtime game, avoiding an embarrassing loss to Division I-AA Southwest Missouri State, when David Thompson’s 13-yard touchdown run gives the Cowboys a 23-20 win.

1997 — Eddie George rushes for 216 yards, the second best opening-day NFL performance, in helping Tennessee past Oakland 24-21 in overtime.

1999 — The U.S. Open loses two-time defending champion Patrick Rafter because of injury. Rafter, bothered by a right shoulder injury, retires after Cedric Pioline breaks his serve in the opening game of the fifth set. It’s the first time a defending champion — man or woman — loses in the first round in the history of this Grand Slam tournament going back to 1881.

2001 — Pitcher Danny Almonte who dominated the Little League World Series with his 70 mph fastballs is ruled ineligible after government records experts determine he actually is 14, and that birth certificates showing he was two years younger are false. The finding nullifies all the victories by his Bronx, N.Y., team, the Rolando Paulino Little League All-Stars.

2007 — Jeremy Wariner leads an American sweep of the medals in the 400 meters at the track and field world championships. Wariner wins in a personal best 43.45 seconds, with LaShawn Merritt taking silver and Angelo Taylor getting bronze. It’s the first medal sweep for any country in the men’s 400 at the world championships.

2007 — Exactly 28 years to the day, No. 3 Novak Djokovic and Radek Stepanek tie the U.S. Open record for most games played (63 of a maximum 65) in a match. Djokovic outlasts Stepanek 6-7 (4), 7-6 (5), 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (2), in the four-hour, 44-minute match.

2018 — Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams becomes the NFL’s highest-paid defensive player. The All-Pro defensive tackle agrees to a six-year, $135 million deal, which surpasses Von Miller’s contract in Denver as the new benchmark for defenders.

_____

Sept. 1

1923 — The United States wins its fourth consecutive Davis Cup by beating Australia four matches to one.

1946 — Patty Berg wins the U.S. Women’s Open golf title by beating Betty Jameson in the final round.

1971 — John Newcombe becomes the first top-seeded man to lose in the first round of the U.S. Open when he loses to Jan Kodes, 2-6, 7-6, 7-6, 6-3.

1972 — American chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer beats Russian champion Boris Spassky 12.5-8.5 in Reykjavik, Iceland; most publicized world title match ever played; Fischer 1st American to win title.

1973 — George Foreman knocks out Jose Roman at 2:00 of the first round in Tokyo to retain the heavyweight title.

1977 — Renee Richards, the 43-year-old transsexual who fought for more than a year for the right to play in the women’s singles of a major tennis championship, is beaten in the first round by Virginia Wade, 6-1, 6-4. Tracy Austin, at the age of 14 years, eight months, 20 days, becomes the youngest player to play in the U.S. Open, defeating Heidi Eisterlehner, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1, in the first round. Austin’s mark is broken in 1979 by 14-year-old Kathy Horvath.

1984 — Willie Totten of Mississippi Valley State passes for a Division I-AA record 536 yards and nine touchdowns in a 86-0 rout of Kentucky State. Jerry Rice catches 17 passes for 294 yards and five touchdowns and breaks his own Division I-AA record for receiving yards.

1987 — Fifteen-year-old Michael Chang beats Paul McNamee, 6-3, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, to become the youngest man to win a match at the U.S. Open.

1989 — Chris Evert becomes the first 100-match winner in 108 years of U.S. tennis championships. Evert, playing her final U.S. Open, beat Patricia Tarabini 6-2, 6-4.

1993 — Goran Ivanisevic and Daniel Nestor play the longest tie-break in the history of the U.S. Open (38 points). Ivanisevic wins the first-round match 6-4, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (18).

1998 — Mark McGwire breaks Hack Wilson’s 68-year-old National League record for home runs in a season, hitting his 56th and 57th in the St. Louis Cardinals’ victory over the Florida Marlins.

2004 — Sexual assault charge against LA Lakers star Kobe Bryant is dropped by the Eagle County District Attorney’s offices in Colorado after the victim decides not to participate.

2007 — Appalachian State 34, No. 5 Michigan 32. Julian Rauch’s 24-yard field goal with 26 seconds left puts the Mountaineers ahead of the Wolverines and Corey Lynch blocks a field goal in the final seconds to seal one of college football’s biggest upsets.

2012 — Eureka (Ill.) College quarterback Sam Durley passes for 736 yards in a 62-55 victory over Knox to break the NCAA single-game passing record. Durley completes 34 of 52 passes and throws for five touchdowns, including two in the final two minutes as the Red Devils close the Division III game with 17 unanswered points.

2014 — Kei Nishikori outlasts Milos Raonic in a five-set marathon that ends a 2:26 a.m., tying the latest finish in U.S. Open history.

2015 — Indiana’s Tamika Catchings scores 13 points, and the Fever beat the Connecticut Sun 81-51 to reach the playoffs for a WNBA-record 11th straight season.

2019 — Justin Verlander, Houston Astros, strikes out 14 batters as he throws his third career no-hitter in a 2-0 win over the Toronto Blue Jays.

2021 — Christiano Renaldo breaks the world record for goals scores in men’s international football with his 110th and 111th goals for Portugal in a 2-1 World Cup qualifying win over the Republic of Ireland.

Sept. 2

1901 — Seven-year-old Ogden wins two races in a single day at Sheepshead Bay race track in Coney Island, New York. Ogden edges Cameron by a head in the second race on the card, a six furlong sprint on the main track. In the sixth race, a 1 1-16 mile distance on the turf, Ogden beats Monarka by a length.

1908 — Tommy Burns knocks out Bill Lang in the sixth round in Melbourne for his last successful defense of his heavyweight title.

1924 — Bill Tilden wins his fifth straight U.S. men’s singles title with a 6-1, 9-7, 6-2 victory over Bill Johnston.

1940 — Byron Nelson wins the PGA by beating Sam Snead 1-up at the Hershey Country Club in Pennsylvania.

1945 — Frank Parker wins the men’s singles title in the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association championships by beating Bill Talbert. Sarah Palfrey Cooke beats Pauline Betz for the women’s title.

1965 — Cubs slugger Ernie Banks hits his MLB 400th career HR (off Curt Simmons) in Chicago’s 5-3 win v St. Louis at Wrigley Field; Simmons also gave up Willie Mays’ 400th HR in 1963.

1970 — The tie-break debuts in Grand Slam tennis at the U.S. Open. A total of 26 tie-breaks (the nine-point sudden death tie-break) are played on the first day of the tournament. Bob McKinley and Ray Ruffels both win matches in fifth-set tie-breaks.

1971 — Sixteen-year-old Chris Evert wins the first of her record 101 U.S. Open matches, defeating Edda Buding, 6-1, 6-0, in 42 minutes. Jimmy Connors, playing on 19th birthday, comes back from a two-set deficit to beat Alex Olmedo for his first U.S. Open victory.

1984 — In his first NFL start, Atlanta’s Gerald Riggs rushes for 202 yards and scores two touchdowns as the Falcons beat New Orleans 36-28.

1991 — Jimmy Connors turns 39 years old and rallies from a 2-5 fifth-set deficit to defeat 24-year-old Aaron Krickstein, 3-6, 7-6, 1-6, 6-3, 7-6. The fourth-round Labor Day match lasts 4 hours and 41 minutes.

1995 — Frank Bruno wins a heavyweight championship in his fourth attempt registering a unanimous decision over Oliver McCall to take his WBC title in Wembley, England.

2001 — Michael Schumacher becomes the winningest driver in Formula One history, winning the Belgian Grand Prix for his 52nd career victory. Schumacher breaks the mark shared with Alain Prost and clinches his fourth world championship.

2004 — In a second-round match, Sargis Sargsian defeats Nicolas Massu, 6-7 (8), 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (6), 6-4, in five hours and nine minutes. It’s the second-longest match on record at the U.S. Open and falls 18 minutes shy of breaking the record for longest match, set in 1992 when Stefan Edberg defeated Michael Chang in 5:26 in the semifinals.

2007 — Clay Buchholz throws a no-hitter in his second career start against the Baltimore Orioles.

2008 — Adrian Beltre goes 5 for 6 and hits for the cycle in a 12-6 Seattle Mariners win over the Texas Rangers.

_____

Sept. 3

1908 — Canadian world heavyweight boxing champion Tommy Burns KOs Australian Bill Lang in 6 rounds in Melbourne in a warmup fight for his famous title bout with Jack Johnson.

1921 — The U.S. defeats Japan in five straight matches to win the Davis Cup.

1928 — Future Baseball Hall of Fame outfielder Ty Cobb records his 4,189th and final career hit, as a pinch hitter for Philadelphia A’s in 6-1 loss v Washington Senators.

1932 — Ellsworth Vines wins the men’s singles title in the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association championships with a three-set victory over France’s Henri Cochet.

1944 — Frank Parker wins the men’s singles title with a four-set victory over Bill Talbert in the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association championships. Pauline Betz captures her third straight women’s title with 6-3, 8-6 victory over Margaret Osborne.

1945 — Frank Parker defends his U.S. Open title, defeating Bill Talbert 14-12, 6-1, 6-2 in the final of the first postwar U.S. Open.

1956 — Jockey John Longden surpasses Sir Gordon Richards’ then-record number of wins by riding Arrogate to victory in the Del Mar Handicap at Del Mar Racetrack to attain his 4,871st victory.

1974 — Future Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame guard Oscar Robertson retires; leaves NBA with 26,710 points, 9,887 assists & 7,804 rebounds in 1,040 games.

1975 — Martina Navratilova, 18, defeats Margaret Court, who is 33 and competing in her 11th and final U.S. Open, 6-2, 6-4 in the quarterfinals.

1977 — Ken Rosewall, two months shy of his 43rd birthday, is beaten by 24-year-old Jose Higueras, 6-4, 6-4. The in a best-of-three-set third-round match marks Rosewall’s final U.S. Open singles match.

1989 — Chris Evert defeats 15-year-old Monica Seles, 6-0, 6-2, for her 101st and final U.S. Open singles win.

1994 — Miami beats Georgia Southern 56-0, breaking an NCAA record with its 58th consecutive home victory. The Hurricanes surpass Alabama’s record of 57 wins in a row at home set from 1962-82.

2001 — Jockey John Velazquez becomes the first jockey to ride six winners on a single card at Saratoga Racecourse. Velazquez guides Starine to a 5¼-length victory in the Diana Handicap, a 1 1-8 mile turf race, for his sixth win.

2006 — Los Angeles Sparks center Lisa Leslie wins the WNBA’s Most Valuable Player award, joining Sheryl Swoopes as the league’s only three-time winners.

2007 — Pedro Martinez completes his comeback from major shoulder surgery, becoming the 15th pitcher to strike out 3,000 batters in his career. The New York Mets’ right-hander fans Aaron Harang for the milestone as the Mets post a 10-4 win over Cincinnati.

2016 — Serena Williams’ dominating third-round victory at the U.S. Open is notable for a milestone: 307 Grand Slam wins. Williams’ 6-2, 6-1 win over 47th-ranked Johanna Larsson of Sweden improves her major-tournament mark to 307-42, putting her one win up on Martina Navratilova among women and tying Roger Federer among all players in the Open era.

2017 — UCLA’s Josh Rosen fakes the spike and throws a 10-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Lasley with 43 seconds remaining and UCLA overcomes a 34-point deficit to stun Texas A&M 45-44. Rosen is 35 of 59 for 491 yards and throws four fourth-quarter touchdowns. UCLA scores on five straight possessions after trailing 44-10 with 4:08 to play in the third quarter.

2022 — 23-time Grand Slam tennis champion Serena Williams plays her final match at the US Open, going down 7-5, 6-7, 6-1 to Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia in a third round match in New York.

_____

Sept. 4

1920 — Man o War wins the 1 5/8-mile Lawrence Realization Stakes at Belmont Park by 100 lengths, the largest winning margin in modern racing history. His time of 2:40 4/5 shatters the world record by 6 4/5 seconds for his fifth record performance of the year.

1932 — Olin Dutra defeats Frank Walsh in the final round 4 and 3 to win the PGA Championship.

1951 — Frank Sedgman becomes the first Australian to win the men’s singles title in the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association championships, beating Victor Seixas in three sets. Sixteen-year-old Maureen Connolly wins the first of three consecutive women’s titles, beating Shirley Fry in three sets.

1966 — The Houston Oilers holds the Denver Broncos to no first downs in a 45-7 rout.

1983 — Greg LeMond wins UCI World Road Race Championship in 7h 01′ 21″ in Altenrhein, Switzerland; first American cyclist to take the title.

1983 — Lynn Dickey of Green Bay completes 27 of 31 passes, including 18 straight, for 333 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Packers in a 41-38 overtime victory over Houston.

1992 — Jimmy Connors loses to Ivan Lendl 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-0 in his record 115th and final U.S. Open singles match.

1993 — New York Yankees pitcher Jim Abbott no-hits Cleveland Indians 4-0 at Yankee Stadium.

1994 — Fu Mingxia of China becomes the first woman to win consecutive highboard world diving titles, beating countrywoman Chi Bin in Rome.

1994 — Dan Marino of the Miami Dolphins becomes the second quarterback with 300 touchdown passes by throwing for five scores in a 39-35 victory over New England. Dan Marino passes for 473 yards and Patriot’s quarterback Drew Bledsoe passes for 421 yards and four touchdowns. It’s second time two opposing quarterbacks each pass for 400 yards and four touchdowns in the same game.

2002 — Argentina defeats the U.S. 87-80 in the world basketball championships at Indianapolis. It’s the first loss for a U.S. team in 59 games since the Americans began sending NBA players to international tournaments in 1992.

2005 — 20 year old Kyle Busch becomes youngest driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series race when he out duels Greg Biffle in the Sony HD 500 at California Speedway.

2006 — Tiger Woods matches the lowest final round of his career (8-under 63) in the Deutsche Bank C’ship at Norton, MA to win for the 5th straight time and 7th time this PGA Tour season.

2010 — DeMarco Murray’s career-best 218 yards rushing leads Oklahoma to a 31-24 victory for the Sooners’ 800th win.

2010 — Andy Dalton becomes TCU’s winningest quarterback, running for two touchdowns and throwing for another in the No. 6 Horned Frogs’ 30-21 victory over Oregon State. His 30th win moves him past Sammy Baugh, who had held the mark since the mid-1930s.

2017 — J.D. Martinez ties a major league record by hitting four home runs and the Arizona Diamondbacks rout the Los Angeles Dodgers 13-0 for their 11th straight victory.

2017 — Madison Keys eliminates Elina Svitolina in three sets to give the U.S. four women in the U.S. Open quarterfinals for the first time in 15 years. Keys joins Americans Venus Williams, CoCo Vandeweghe and Sloane Stephens.

______

TV SPORTS

(All times Eastern)

Schedule subject to change and/or blackouts

Friday, Aug. 29

AUTO RACING

6:25 a.m.

ESPN2 — Formula 1: Practice, Circuit Zandvoort, Zandvoort, Netherlands

9:55 a.m.

ESPN2 — Formula 1: Practice, Circuit Zandvoort, Zandvoort, Netherlands

5:25 a.m. (Saturday)

ESPN2 — Formula 1: Practice, Circuit Zandvoort, Zandvoort, Netherlands

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

6 p.m.

CBSSN — Tarleton St. Army

7 p.m.

ACCN — Kennesaw St. at Wake Forest

ESPNU __ Appalachian St. at Charlotte

FS1 — W. Michigan at Michigan St.

7:30 p.m.

PEACOCK — W. Illinois at Illinois

8 p.m.

ESPN — Georgia Tech at Colorado

FOX — Auburn at Baylor

9:30 p.m.

CBSSN — UNLV at Sam Houston St.

10:30 p.m.

FS1 — Cent. Michigan at San Jose St.

COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL (WOMEN’S)

8 p.m.

SECN — Belmont at Vanderbilt

GOLF

7:30 a.m.

GOLF — DP World Tour: The Omega European Masters, Second Round, Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club, Crans Montana, Valais, Switzerland

3 p.m.

GOLF — LPGA Tour: The FM Championship, Second Round, TPC Boston, Norton, Mass.

6:30 a.m. (Saturday)

GOLF — DP World Tour: The Omega European Masters, Third Round, Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club, Crans Montana, Valais, Switzerland

HORSE RACING

6 p.m.

FS1 — NYRA: Saratoga Live

MLB BASEBALL

6:45 p.m.

APPLE TV+ — Atlanta at Philadelphia

7 p.m.

MLBN — Regional Coverage: Seattle at Cleveland (7:10 p.m.) OR Pittsburgh at Boston (7:10 p.m.)

10 p.m.

MLBN — Regional Coverage: Arizona at L.A. Dodgers (10:10 p.m.) OR Texas at Athletics (10:05 p.m.)

10:15 p.m.

APPLE TV+ — Baltimore at San Diego

TENNIS

11:30 a.m.

ESPN — ATP/WTA: The U.S. Open, Third Round, Flushing, N.Y.

6 p.m.

ESPN2 — ATP/WTA: The U.S. Open, Third Round, Flushing, N.Y.

7 p.m.

ESPN2 — ATP/WTA: The U.S. Open, Third Round, Flushing, N.Y.

WNBA BASKETBALL

7:30 p.m.

ION — Dallas at Atlanta

10 p.m.

ION — Indiana at Los Angeles

_____

Saturday, Aug. 30

AUTO RACING

5:25 a.m.

ESPN2 — Formula 1: Practice, Circuit Zandvoort, Zandvoort, Netherlands

8:55 a.m.

ESPN2 — Formula 1: Qualifying, Circuit Zandvoort, Zandvoort, Netherlands

9 a.m.

FS1 — Indy NXT Series: Practice, Nashville Superspeedway, Lebanon, Tenn.

10:30 a.m.

FS2 — NTT IndyCar Series: Practice, Nashville Superspeedway, Lebanon, Tenn.

Noon

FS1 — NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series: The Sober or Slammer 200, Playoffs – Round of 10, Darlington Raceway, Darlington, S.C.

1 p.m.

FS2 — Indy NXT Series: Qualifying, Nashville Superspeedway, Lebanon, Tenn.

2 p.m.

FS2 — NTT IndyCar Series: Qualifying, Nashville Superspeedway, Lebanon, Tenn.

4:30 p.m.

FS2 — NTT IndyCar Series: High-Line & Final Practice, Nashville Superspeedway, Lebanon, Tenn.

7:30 p.m.

CW — NASCAR Xfinity Series: The Pacific Office Automation 147, Portland International Raceway, Portland, Ore.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Noon

ABC — Syracuse vs. Tennessee, Atlanta

ACCN — Duquesne at Pittsburgh

BTN — Regional Coverage: Ball St. at Purdue OR FAU at Maryland

CBSSN — VMI at Navy

ESPN — Mississippi St. at Southern Miss.

ESPNU — Northwestern at Tulane

FOX — Texas at Ohio St.

12:45 p.m.

SECN — Toledo at Kentucky

2:30 p.m.

FS1 — Old Dominion at Indiana

3 p.m.

ACCN — E. Kentucky at Louisville

3:30 p.m.

ABC — Alabama at Florida St.

CBS — Nevada at Penn St.

CBSSN — Bucknell at Air Force

ESPN — Marshall at Georgia

FOX — South Dakota at Iowa St.

4 p.m.

BTN — Montana St. at Oregon

ESPNU — Howard at Florida A&M

4:15 p.m.

SECN — Alabama A&M at Arkansas

6 p.m.

ACCN — Coastal Carolina at Virginia

FS1 — Albany (NY) at Iowa

7 p.m.

ESPN — UTSA at Texas A&M

7:30 p.m.

ABC — LSU at Clemson

BTN — Missouri St. at Southern Cal

CBSSN — UTEP at Utah St.

ESPNU — LSU at Clemson (SkyCast)

NBC — New Mexico at Michigan

PEACOCK — New Mexico at Michigan

7:45 p.m.

SECN — Georgia St. at Mississippi

9 p.m.

ACCN — East Texas A&M at SMU

9:30 p.m.

FS1 — Georgia Southern at Fresno St.

10 p.m.

CW — Idaho at Washington St.

10:30 p.m.

ESPN — California at Oregon St.

TNT — Hawaii at Arizona

11 p.m.

BTN — Colorado St. at Washington

FOX — Utah at UCLA

GOLF

6:30 a.m.

GOLF — DP World Tour: The Omega European Masters, Third Round, Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club, Crans Montana, Valais, Switzerland

3 p.m.

GOLF — LPGA Tour: The FM Championship, Third Round, TPC Boston, Norton, Mass.

6:30 a.m. (Sunday)

GOLF — DP World Tour: The Omega European Masters, Final Round, Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club, Crans Montana, Valais, Switzerland

HORSE RACING

4 p.m.

NBC — Breeders Cup Challenge Series

MLB BASEBALL

4 p.m.

MLBN — Regional Coverage: Miami at N.Y. Mets (4:10 p.m.) OR Pittsburgh at Boston (4:10 p.m.)

7 p.m.

FOX — Regional Coverage: Seattle at Cleveland, Baltimore at San Francisco OR Detroit at Kansas City

10 p.m.

MLBN — Regional Coverage: Arizona at L.A. Dodgers (9:10 p.m.) OR Texas at Athletics (10:05 p.m.)

SOCCER (MEN’S)

7:30 a.m.

USA — English Premier League: Fulham at Chelsea

10 a.m.

USA — English Premier League: Brentford FC at Sunderland

12:30 p.m.

NBC — English Premier League: Newcastle United at Leeds United

SOCCER (WOMEN’S)

7:30 p.m.

ION — NWSL: North Carolina at Kansas City

TENNIS

11 a.m.

ESPN2 — ATP/WTA: The U.S. Open, Third Round, Flushing, N.Y.

7 p.m.

ESPN2 — ATP/WTA: The U.S. Open, Third Round, Flushing, N.Y.

WNBA BASKETBALL

7 p.m.

NBATV — Minnesota at Connecticut

10 p.m.

NBATV — New York at Phoenix

_____

Sunday, Aug. 31

AUTO RACING

8:55 a.m.

ESPN — Formula 1: The Heineken Dutch Grand Prix, Circuit Zandvoort, Zandvoort, Netherlands

ESPNU — Formula 1: The Heineken Dutch Grand Prix, Circuit Zandvoort, Zandvoort, Netherlands (F1 Kids)

11:30 a.m.

FS1 — Indy NXT Series: The Music City Grand Prix, Nashville Superspeedway, Lebanon, Tenn.

12:30 p.m.

FS1 — NHRA: Qualifying, Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, Indianapolis

2 p.m.

FOX — NTT IndyCar Series: The Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix, Nashville Superspeedway, Lebanon, Tenn.

5 p.m.

FS1 — NHRA: Qualifying, Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, Indianapolis

6 p.m.

USA — NASCAR Cup Series: The Cook Out Southern 500, Playoffs – Round of 16, Darlington Raceway, Darlington, S.C.

BEACH VOLLEYBALL

2 p.m.

CBS — AVP League: League Championship, Chicago

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

3 p.m.

ESPN — Virginia Tech vs. South Carolina, Atlanta

7 p.m.

ESPNU — Winston-Salem at Tuskegee

7:30 p.m.

ABC — Notre Dame at Miami

COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL (WOMEN’S)

Noon

ABC — Kentucky vs. Nebraska, Nashville, Tenn.

2 p.m.

FS1 — TCU at Pittsburgh

3 p.m.

ESPN2 — Purdue at Tennessee

5 p.m.

FOX — Arizona St. at Penn St.

6 p.m.

SECN — Vanderbilt at Illinois

GOLF

6:30 a.m.

GOLF — DP World Tour: The Omega European Masters, Final Round, Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club, Crans Montana, Valais, Switzerland

3 p.m.

GOLF — LPGA Tour: The FM Championship, Final Round, TPC Boston, Norton, Mass.

HORSE RACING

1 p.m.

FOX — The Jockey Club Gold Cup: From Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

4 p.m.

FS1 — NYRA: Saratoga Live

MLB BASEBALL

1:30 p.m.

MLBN — Regional Coverage: Pittsburgh at Boston (1:35 p.m.) OR Milwaukee at Toronto (1:35 p.m.)

4:30 p.m.

MLBN — Regional Coverage: Arizona at L.A. Dodgers (4:10 p.m.) OR Baltimore at San Francisco (4:05 p.m.)

7 p.m.

ESPN — Atlanta at Philadelphia

RODEO

Noon

CBS — PBR: Camping World Team Series, Springfield, Mo. (Taped)

SOCCER (MEN’S)

9 a.m.

USA — English Premier League: West Ham United at Nottingham Forest

11:30 a.m.

USA — English Premier League: Arsenal at Liverpool

2 p.m.

USA — English Premier League: Crystal Palace at Aston Villa

SOCCER (WOMEN’S)

4 p.m.

CBS — NWSL: Chicago at Washington

SOFTBALL

5 p.m.

ESPNU — Athletes Unlimited: TBD, Rosemont, Ill.

TENNIS

11 a.m.

ESPN2 — ATP/WTA: The U.S. Open, Round of 16, Flushing, N.Y.

3 p.m.

ABC — ATP/WTA: The U.S. Open, Round of 16, Flushing, N.Y.

6 p.m.

ESPN2 — ATP/WTA: The U.S. Open, Round of 16, Flushing, N.Y.

7 p.m.

ESPN2 — ATP/WTA: The U.S. Open, Round of 16, Flushing, N.Y.

WNBA BASKETBALL

8:30 p.m.

NBATV — Indiana at Golden State

THE “SPORTSPAGE” FRIDAY AUGUST 29, 2025

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