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Auburn snaps Georgia’s 53-game streak against unranked opponents originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Auburn Tigers defeated the first-ranked  Georgia Bulldogs between the hedges on Saturday. Senior quarterback Byrum Brown led the Tigers.

Brown was effective through the air, finishing with 150 passing yards and a touchdown on 15 of 26 completions. But his biggest weapon was his legs.

The Bulldogs allowed only 2.84 yards per carry and 91.4 total rushing yards before Saturday. Brown single-handedly shattered those statistics. He rushed for 115 yards on 26 carries and added another touchdown while averaging 4.4 yards per carry.

Brown ran up and down the field on a strong Georgia run defense.

Georgia raced to an early 14-0 lead before Auburn finally punched back. Auburn’s defense was stellar too. They came away with three turnovers. Their biggest turnover came with 58 seconds left in the fourth quarter, when they recovered a fumble by Bulldogs quarterback Gunner Stockton. Stockton scrambled out of the pocket, then he lost the ball off the back of center Drew Boo, which set up Auburn’s game-winning 34-yard field goal.

Georgia was on a 53-game win streak against unranked opponents, which was the longest active streak in the FBS. Auburn looked outmatched in the first 10 minutes. Their defense and Byrum's Browns stone-cold offensive performance dominated the game.

The latest AP top 25 poll hasn't been released, but it will be interesting to see where the Bulldogs fall.

Auburn gets a huge road conference win.

The Tigers face another big test at home against No. 24 LSU on Saturday, October 24 (12 p.m. ET).

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For another week, Oregon Ducks fans can believe. The season is not yet over, and a path forward, through the regular season and into the College Football Playoff, remains possible.

Dan Lanning's team escaped with a comeback 17-14 win over the Nebraska Cornhuskers late on Saturday night, long after much of the college football world went to bed. Despite the victory, Oregon stayed put in the US LBM Coaches Poll at No. 25, right where they were a week ago.

After three quarters of abysmal football, Oregon made a change at the quarterback position, benching Brock Thomas and putting Dylan Raiola in against his former team, and the offense responded, going on a pair of scoring drives, capped off by a go-ahead touchdown to Jamari Johnson with 28 seconds left.

Now, the Ducks enter Week 8 with a 4-2 record and a chance to run the table, assuming that they can get the quarterback position figured out. Going forward, Oregon faces the Illinois Fighting Illini on the road this week, followed by matchups against the No. 23 Northwestern Wildcats and No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes, who will likely be playing without starting quarterback Julian Sayin.

Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.  

This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon Ducks stays put in US LBM Coaches Poll after comeback win

Tennessee football moved up three spots in the US LBM Coaches Poll after a 26-10 win over Alabama in Week 7 of the 2026 season.

The Vols are ranked No. 11 in the coaches poll. The AP Top 25 will be released later on Oct. 18.

Tennessee (6-1, 3-1 SEC) plays South Carolina (3-3, 1-3) on Oct. 24 (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN or SEC Network) at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina.

Get Tennessee tickets for the rest of the season!

College football rankings after Week 7US LBM Coaches Poll

1. Miami
2. Ohio State
3. BYU
4. Georgia
5. Texas Tech
6. Indiana
7. Ole Miss
8. Notre Dame
9. Utah
10. UCLA
11. Tennessee
12. Kentucky
13. Alabama
14. Iowa
15. USC
16. Houston
17. LSU
18. Texas
19. Wake Forest
20. SMU
21. Missouri
22. Boise State
23. Northwestern
24. Florida
25. Oregon

Schools dropped out: No. 19 Mississippi State; No. 20 Oklahoma State

Others receiving votes: Arizona 141; Oklahoma State 87; James Madison 80; Auburn 55; Mississippi State 32; Nebraska 19; Oregon State 17; New Mexico 16; UTSA 13; Michigan 10; North Dakota State 8; Wisconsin 7; Duke 7; North Carolina 5; Pittsburgh 4; Air Force 3; North Texas 1

AP Top 25 poll

The AP poll will be released later on Oct. 18.

Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing atknoxnews.com/subscribe.

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Where Tennessee ranks in college football polls after win over Alabama

Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.

Tennessee football moved up three spots in the US LBM Coaches Poll after a 26-10 win over Alabama in Week 7 of the 2026 season.

The Vols are ranked No. 11 in the coaches poll. The AP Top 25 will be released later on Oct. 18.

Tennessee (6-1, 3-1 SEC) plays South Carolina (3-3, 1-3) on Oct. 24 (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN or SEC Network) at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina.

Get Tennessee tickets for the rest of the season!

College football rankings after Week 7US LBM Coaches Poll

First-place votes in parenthesis

1. Miami (50)
2. Ohio State (13)
3. BYU (10)
4. Georgia
5. Texas Tech
6. Indiana
7. Ole Miss
8. Notre Dame
9. Utah
10. UCLA
11. Tennessee
12. Kentucky
13. Alabama
14. Iowa
15. USC
16. Houston
17. LSU
18. Texas
19. Wake Forest
20. SMU
21. Missouri
22. Boise State
23. Northwestern
24. Florida
25. Oregon

Schools dropped out: No. 19 Mississippi State; No. 20 Oklahoma State

Others receiving votes: Arizona 141; Oklahoma State 87; James Madison 80; Auburn 55; Mississippi State 32; Nebraska 19; Oregon State 17; New Mexico 16; UTSA 13; Michigan 10; North Dakota State 8; Wisconsin 7; Duke 7; North Carolina 5; Pittsburgh 4; Air Force 3; North Texas 1

AP Top 25 poll

The AP poll will be released later on Oct. 18.

Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing atknoxnews.com/subscribe.

Get the latest news and insight on SEC football by subscribing to the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Where Tennessee ranks in college football polls after win over Alabama

Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.

A pregame ceremony at the Alamodome on Saturday ended in tragedy.

A member of the Air Force died after attempting to rappel from the rafters before Saturday's game between Navy and UTSA. The event was part of UTSA's annual Salute to Armed Forces & Veterans game.

The service member, whose name has not yet been disclosed by the Air Force, was injured at the stadium and died at a local hospital.

"We are deeply saddened by the incident that occurred at the start of tonight's game," UTSA said in a statement. "Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the soldier who was affected, his family and his military colleagues."

The service member was assigned to the 6th Combat Training Squadron, Detachment 2. The incident is currently under investigation.

Saints quarterback Tyler Shough has been on the team's injury report in recent weeks because of his left hand and the issue will reportedly stretch into future weeks as well.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Shough has a pair of broken bones in his non-throwing hand. Shough suffered the injury in the team's Week 4 loss to the Falcons.

Shough has not missed practice time or game action, but has to tape his ring and pinky fingers together on his left hand while also wearing other protection on it. The injury is expected to take several weeks to heal and Shough had to switch to using his right hand for handoffs during last Sunday's loss to the Vikings.

The Saints play the Giants on Sunday and they are scheduled to face the Steelers in Paris in Week 7 before a bye week.

1 free agent Dodgers must avoid re-signing this offseason appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Los Angeles Dodgers face uncomfortable decisions after the Milwaukee Brewers swept them out of the NLCS. Rebuilding an entire roster would be an overreaction, but bringing back familiar names without reassessing their reliability would be another mistake. Blake Treinen is the pending free agent Los Angeles should avoid re-signing.

That recommendation is not a dismissal of Treinen’s contributions. It reflects the difference between appreciating a veteran’s history and projecting what he can provide next season. At 38, coming off another injury-interrupted campaign, he represents a gamble the Dodgers should decline.

Los Angeles needs a bullpen built around availability, not the possibility that another rehabilitation process will restore a familiar late-inning option. Treinen’s 2026 season supplies enough warning signs to justify moving on.

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Blake Treinen’s injury history makes another reunion too riskyMark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Treinen finished the regular season with a respectable 3.64 ERA, 31 strikeouts and one save across 36 appearances. However, those appearances covered only 29 2/3 innings, limiting how much responsibility the Dodgers could realistically place on him.

The sequence of injuries matters more than the surface ERA. Treinen returned from the 60-day injured list on September 2 after missing substantial time with elbow inflammation. Later that month, a right-shoulder injury suffered while warming up ended his season.

That progression makes another guaranteed commitment difficult to defend. The Dodgers would not simply be betting on recovery from one isolated problem. They would be betting that an aging pitcher can withstand a full season after separate elbow and shoulder interruptions.

The latest injury’s long-term consequences remain uncertain, and there is no basis to declare Treinen finished. But uncertainty itself matters when constructing a championship bullpen. Los Angeles cannot reserve important innings for someone whose availability may remain unresolved.

His performance also warrants a closer look. Treinen allowed a 1.42 WHIP in 2026, meaning he surrendered that many walks and hits per inning. His walk rate was 10%, while his strikeout rate was 23.8%. Those numbers do not describe an untouchable late-inning weapon.

The issue is cumulative risk: limited innings, repeated injuries and indicators less reassuring than his ERA.

The Dodgers should spend that roster spot on dependable innings

Moving on from Treinen would not solve every bullpen problem. It would, however, establish the right offseason principle: prioritize pitchers who can shoulder meaningful workloads rather than relying on recognizable names to rediscover their peak.

That distinction matters because several Dodgers relievers are approaching free agency, including Evan Phillips, Alex Vesia, Brusdar Graterol, Kris Bubic and Eric Lauer. Los Angeles must evaluate the entire group rather than treating each potential reunion as an isolated sentimental decision.

The preferred replacement profile should be straightforward: recent durability, reliable strike throwing and the ability to handle different leverage situations. A less celebrated arm who consistently takes the ball could offer more practical value than another rehabilitation-dependent signing.

There is also an opportunity cost beyond salary. A guaranteed major-league deal occupies roster space and can influence which younger pitchers receive extended opportunities. The Dodgers should preserve room to evaluate emerging options instead of building their relief plan around uncertain returns.

Treinen could still help another club if healthy. That possibility does not obligate Los Angeles to absorb the risk again. After October’s disappointment, the smarter decision is to thank a valued veteran and build a more dependable bullpen.

Related: Why Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani must give up pitching after injury-plagued 2026 season

Related: 3 radical changes Dodgers must make after getting swept by Brewers in NLCS

Pittsburgh Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth (calf) could play in Week 6's game versus the New Orleans Saints, according to multiple sources. He had been added to the injury report with a questionable designation due to a minor calf injury Saturday, Oct. 17, but there appears to be optimism that it won't keep him out of action.

SOURCE: Ian Rapoport - NFL Network

Why It Matters: If Freiermuth is cleared to play, he should see a handful of targets and can be deployed as a TE2 option in fantasy leagues. He is coming off a Week 5 performance against the Indianapolis Colts where he had five catches for 44 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pat Freiermuth could play in Week 6

New York Yankees closer David Bednar

The New York Yankees have to make a decision on David Bednar's future this offseason.

He is a free agent and was a very important part of the Yankees' bullpen this season. He should have plenty of interest in free agency, but the reliever market is always volatile. He had a 2.47 ERA and notched 35 saves. The two-time All-Star has a 2.39 ERA in the last two seasons, and the New York Post's Jon Heyman reports that the Yankees will hit him with a qualifying offer.

"The Yankees are expected to extend the $23.15M qualifying offer to free-agent closer David Bednar, who had a terrific year, sources say,” Heyman wrote on Thursday.

The Yankees will surely be involved in Bednar's free agency, looking to lock him up for at least a couple of years. However, the qualifying offer secures the Yankees a chance to keep Bednar on a one-year deal should his market not materialize the way he wants. At the very least, the Yankees will at least get draft compensation if he rejects the qualifying offer and leaves.

Bednar is a steady force as the Yankees' closer, and if they lose him, they will have to find a way to replace him. There's no real replacement ready on the team, so they may have to find one in free agency. The easiest path to ensuring the bullpen is elite again next year is to re-sign Bednar.

More MLB: Three Landing Spots For Jazz Chisholm Jr. In Free Agency

Week 7 of the college football season is in the books, and now we wait to see how the weekend’s games will impact the latest rankings after a historic flurry of upsets in the top 25. For the first time, five of the top seven teams in the AP Top 25 poll were upset.

There will be several shake-ups at the top of the new poll later this afternoon, but luckily, one AP Top 25 voter who always shares some early insight into how things could play out is respected media veteran Brett McMurphy, who is transparent enough to share his ballot each and every week.

MORE: College football stock up, stock down from Week 7: SEC elite suffer reality check

On Sunday, McMurphy released his rankings for Week 8, with the Miami Hurricanes taking over the No. 1 spot after surviving Florida State in double overtime. BYU, meanwhile, climbs to No. 2 after upsetting Notre Dame with the help of some controversial calls down the stretch.

Oct 9, 2026; Provo, Utah, USA; BYU Cougars cheer squad performs between the third and fourth quarter of a game against the Iowa State Cyclones at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Baker-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

Falling out of McMurphy’s rankings this week were the Oklahoma State Cowboys, Missouri Tigers, and Mississippi State Bulldogs, while the Northwestern Wildcats, Florida Gators, and New Mexico Lobos entered the top 25.

We will find out the official rankings when the AP Top 25 poll is released at approximately 2:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, October 11. Until then, you can view McMurphy’s full ballot here.

MORE: Updated ESPN FPI college football top 25 rankings after chaotic Week 7

AP Top 25 Poll – Brett McMurphy’s Top 10 After Week 7Oct 17, 2026; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes running back Mark Fletcher Jr. (4) celebrates with quarterback Darian Mensah (10) after a touchdown during the first quarter against the Florida State Seminoles at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

1. Miami Hurricanes (6-0)
2. BYU Cougars (6-0)
3. Georgia Bulldogs (6-1)
4. Ohio State Buckeyes (6-1)
5. Ole Miss Rebels (5-1)
6. Texas Tech Red Raiders (6-0)
7. UCLA Bruins (6-0)
8. Tennessee Volunteers (6-1)
9. Indiana Hoosiers (6-1)
10. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (6-1)

—Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter—

‘It's All Theatre,’ ‘Every Play Should Be Reviewable’ — Fans Demand Accountability After Ex-NFL DT Makes Bombshell Allegation on Officials 'Rigging' Games

There have been some claims that NFL games may be swayed by officiating decisions, as a single penalty or missed call can heavily change the course of a game. Fans have also repeatedly raised concerns about the consistency of refereeing, with controversial decisions and questions about accountability remaining hot topics of debate.

Meanwhile, former NFL defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko sparked the discussion once again after making a serious allegation about officials, prompting reactions from fans.

NFL Fans Set Record Straight After Breiden Fehoko’s Allegations

During last season’s game between the Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers, Fehoko criticized officials over a controversial offensive pass interference penalty against Detroit and a subsequent touchdown ruling.

Fehoko also spoke on the potential influence of gambling, claiming that he had tried to expose the truth about officiating and suggesting that betting companies held more sway than fans realized.

Last month, Fehoko again called for changes to the league’s officiating system following a controversial defensive pass-interference call during a late-game sequence between the Los Angeles Rams and Denver Broncos. He advocated for the NFL to introduce a penalty-challenge system similar to the one used in the NBA.

BE THE GM OF YOUR FAVORITE TEAM:PFN’s Free NFL Mock Draft Simulator

Fehoko has never been one to hold back when he disagrees with something in sports, and he continued that trend on Saturday with another explosive allegation.

“I won’t even be quiet about it no more. When I played in the NFL we all knew officials were rigging games certain ways. It happens at the college ranks. Last year when I put the NFL on blast about it they threatened to pull my pension. (Expletive) em. The world deserves to know,” Fehoko posted on X.

Fehoko’s tweet raised serious questions, but some fans were not surprised by his allegations.

“It’s all theater, my brother. None of it (NFL or college) is real,” one said.

“Are we even surprised at this point, though? Combined with the fact they shoving gambling ads on our TVs on a daily or weekly basis, it’s more than an open secret that sports are rigged,” a fan said.

PREDICT THE NFL SEASON:PFN’s Free NFL Playoff Predictor

“It’s so obvious. It’s difficult to watch sports the older I get,” a sports fan page named Cold Brew Takes wrote.

Fehoko’s latest comments came shortly after BYU’s controversial 28-24 win over Notre Dame, which ended with no defensive pass-interference flag on a pass intended for Jaden Greathouse. Questions were also raised about whether one second should have remained on the clock.

That came weeks after another major college-football officiating controversy involving Michigan and Western Michigan, in which the NCAA later acknowledged that instant-replay protocols were not properly followed.

Meanwhile, other fans used Fehoko’s comments to renew calls for greater officiating transparency and expanded replay reviews.

“I’ll say this…every play should be reviewable, but keep the same amount of reviews a team has. In addition, let teams throw challenge flags on penalties if they choose, and also under 2 minutes in the half. There’s too much online betting to ignore it,” a fan wrote.

A Philadelphia Eagles fan also jokingly called for investigative journalist Pablo Torre to look into the matter.

“It’s time to call in the big dog for a thorough investigation, PabloTorre,” one said.

However, a distinction remains between officiating mistakes and deliberate manipulation. So whether Fehoko’s latest comments prompt more scrutiny of the league’s officiating practices remains to be seen.

This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.

Did we just have the wildest Saturday in college football history?

Week 7 of the 2026 season was a juicy one, and it ended up being a day for the books. The day was highlighted by top-10 battles that featured the major Big Ten battle between Ohio State and Indiana and BYU playing one of its biggest home games ever with Notre Dame visiting.

REQUIRED READING: Ohio State, Miami, BYU headline college football winners and losers of wild Week 7

Even though we were guaranteed to see some top-10 teams lose, we saw a whole lot more than were expected, resulting in a historic Saturday we hadn't seen in the history of the sport.

So who was left standing?

It was a shame to miss out on the action-packed day, but if you weren't able to catch the full day of must-watch TV, don't worry, as USA TODAY Sports gives you all the results of the games featuring top 25 teams and other notable matchups.

College football scores yesterday for Week 7 games

• Auburn 27, No. 1 Georgia 24
• No. 8 BYU 28, No. 2 Notre Dame 24
• No. 3 Miami 43, Florida State 35 (2OT)
• No. 5 Ohio State 19, No. 4 Indiana 15
• Florida 27, No. 6 Texas 24
• No. 14 Tennessee 26, No. 7 Alabama 10
• No. 9 Texas Tech 53, Arizona State 25
• No. 10 Mississippi 31, No. 13 Missouri 3
• No. 11 Utah 27, Colorado 24
• No. 12 UCLA 17, Wisconsin 7
• No. 17 Kentucky 21, Oklahoma 13
• No. 18 Houston 35, No. 20 Oklahoma State 32
• No. 21 LSU 31, No. 19 Mississippi State 0
• No. 22 SMU 23, Virginia 13
• No. 23 Wake Forest 41, California 7
• No. 25 Oregon 17, Nebraska 14
• Northwestern 24, Michigan State 21
• Kansas State 35, Kansas 24
• Boston College 27, Pittsburgh 21
• Virginia Tech 34, Georgia Tech 24
• West Virginia 45, Cincinnati 42
• North Carolina 24, Duke 20
• Michigan 21, Penn State 18
• Arkansas 31, Vanderbilt 21
• TCU 17, Baylor 6
• Louisville 34, Syracuse 26
• Oregon 17, Nebraska 14
• Washington 38, Purdue 26 (Friday)
• James Madison 49, Georgia State 22

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: College football scores yesterday: Results, who won top 25, notable games

Köln plot January reinforcements with Leeds striker among targets

1. FC Köln are reportedly planning to sign at least two players in the January transfer window, with Leeds United striker Lukas Nmecha among their potential targets as they look to address several injury-related problems.

According to “Bild”, the Bundesliga side are prioritising reinforcements in attack and defence ahead of the second half of the season. The club have already ruled out signing a free agent as a short-term solution after assessing the available options. "We are scouting the market. That's our job," Cologne's managing director for sport, Thomas Kessler, said to “Sky” on Friday.

Cologne are particularly short of options up front following the long-term absences of Ragnar Ache, who is struggling with a muscle injury, and Thijs Dallinga, who has suffered an ACL tear.

Ianis Stoica, who plays for Portuguese side Estrela Amadora, has also been linked with a move to the Billy Goats. However, Bild reportedly considers the Romanian winger a less suitable option because he is not a natural centre-forward.

Instead, Lukas Nmecha is said to be a more interesting candidate. The 27-year-old currently plays for Leeds United and has previous Bundesliga experience from his time at Wolfsburg.

Cologne's problems extend beyond their attack, with the club also reportedly looking to strengthen their defence in January.

The Billy Goats have conceded 11 goals in their first six league matches. Centre-back Rav van den Berg remains sidelined with a muscle injury, while Timo Hübers is recovering from a serious knee injury. Summer signing Luka Lochoshvili, who arrived from 1. FC Nürnberg, has also reportedly struggled to adapt to the increased pace and quality of the Bundesliga.

Cologne spent €25.65 million on new signings during the summer transfer window, while generating around €18 million in player sales.

Although the club have demonstrated a willingness to invest in the squad, securing multiple reinforcements in January could prove challenging, particularly if they pursue Nmecha.

Simon Wood makes one change to XI for top-two clash

Kellamergh Park is the venue for Leeds United Women’s major test this afternoon, paying visit to second-placed AFC Fylde Women in the FA Women’s National League Division One North.

Ahead of kick-off, Simon Wood has named his starting XI for the clash between the league’s top two sides, making one change.

In goal for the Whites is Holly Mears, behind an ever-present back four of Alayna Millard, skipper Shauna Legge, Emily Cassidy and Darcie Greene.

In midfield, Alice Hughes and Monique Watson are joined by Ella Harris, replacing Brittany Sanderson in the XI who drops to the bench.

Manning the flanks are Drew Greene and Chloe Dixon, supporting league top goalscorer Amy Woodruff leading the line.

On the bench, Charlotte Oates is joined by Sanderson, Kath Smith, Izzy Dean, Ava Spencer-Smith and Abi Coley.

Action from Kellamergh Park gets underway at 2pm. Supporters can follow the action live on leedsunited.com HERE.

Starting XI: Mears (GK), Legge (C), Watson, Cassidy, Hughes, Drew Greene, Dixon, Woodruff, Harris, Millard, Darcie Greene.

Substitutes: Oates (GK), Sanderson, Smith, Dean, Spencer-Smith, Coley.

Chelsea confirm surgery on a second first team player this week

Emi Martinez faces a spell on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on his fractured jaw from yesterday’s game.

If you enjoy Talk Chelsea coverage and want to see more of it, add us as a preferred source on Google to make us a favourite and see more of our content.

A good win for Chelsea against Everton yesterday was marred by the horrible scenes in the second half when Blues goalkeeper Emi Martinez had a sickening mid-air collision with Toffees defender Jarrad Branthwaite.

Martinez was down on the pitch for more than ten minutes before being stretchered off, and at that point the injury could have been a skull fracture, a broken neck or something else potentially career ending.

After the game Xabi Alonso wasn’t able to give much of an update, but today we finally have a statement from Chelsea explaining the Argentine’s situation.

Martinez faces a spell on the sidelines after jaw surgery

Emi Martinez has a sickening clash with Jarrad Branthwaite. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

A statement on the club website said that Martinez “has undergone successful surgery on a fractured jaw.”

“Martinez was injured following a collision midway through the second half of our 2-0 victory over Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday.

“Martinez was taken to hospital for further assessment, which confirmed a fractured jaw that required surgery. Everyone at Chelsea wishes Emi a speedy recovery and will support him throughout.”

It’s not clear how long the recovery time will be – we’re sure the speculation will begin soon. But it’s surely going to be a month or so at least.

In other news…

Xabi Alonso has made it clear that he’s very confident in Mike Penders to step in and cover for Martinez while he’s out.

We also got an update on the status of Martinez from Alonso after the game after his horrible injury.

Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

The Kansas City Chiefs are doing their homework on wide receivers after the injuries to Tyquan Thornton (dislocated ankle) and Rashee Rice (hamstring).

The Cheetah, Tyreek Hill, felt inevitable a couple of week ago — but now? The team has a decision to make before the November 10 trade deadline. If Kansas City elects to trade for a wideout, the Hill reunion may not happen after all.

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The latest Kansas City Chiefs news

What I’m hearing: Hurts’ blood-clot questions, Shedeur’s future, Micah Parsons’ return, trade deadline rumors | The Athletic

As it stands now, I don’t get the sense the Chiefs are in a rush to sign Tyreek Hill. I haven’t had anyone rule it out after Tuesday’s civil-trial verdict; a Miami jury found Hill liable for two counts of battery against his estranged wife. And our Adam Kilgore laid out the nuances involved with potentially signing Hill in his excellent Thursday piece.

I would expect the Chiefs to lean on a young receiver such as Jalen Royals in the short term as the team continues to sniff around the wide-receiver trade market. If Kansas City deals for a speedy receiver before the Nov. 10 deadline, I would take that as a negative development for a Hill reunion.

NFL Week 6 preview: Picks, predictions, schedule, betting odds, fantasy tips | ESPN

Stat to know: The Chargers’ defense has eight takeaways this season, tied for the fifth most in the NFL. That’s the most takeaways by an 0-5 team since the 2015 Lions, who had nine. — ESPN Research

Bold prediction: Herbert will average under 3 air yards per attempt. The Chargers already have the lowest average depth of target in the league (4.2), but now they are going against a Chiefs defense that also gives up one of the lowest air yards per attempt to opponents (6.4). — Walder

Unbeaten Chiefs host winless Chargers in AFC West clash | CBS Sports

Mahomes is back to playing at a high level, though, helped by the success of free-agent acquisition Kenneth Walker III in the Chiefs’ backfield. They’re hitting deep passes as they were during Mahomes’ early days in the league, and the fact he’s been able to scramble, create and run the Kansas City offense without his knee causing any issues has put everyone in their building at ease.

His counterpart, Justin Herbert, has been a microcosm – or a big reason for – many of the Chargers’ problems. He’s tied with Patriots quarterback Drake Maye for the most interceptions in the league, and only the Browns’ Deshaun Watson has been sacked more entering Week 6.

Five Things to Watch on Sunday | Chargers vs. Chiefs | The Mothership

A trend that plagued the Chiefs in 2025 was their inability to close out games, as evidenced by Kansas City’s 1-9 mark in one-possessions contests. Well, at least so far this year, that tendency appears to have turned around.

Kansas City is already 2-0 in one-possession games this season, and at the core of the Chiefs’ 4-0 start overall has been its collective performance in the fourth quarter, where Kansas City owns the third-best scoring margin (+19) in the NFL. Specifically, the Chiefs have yet to commit a fourth-quarter turnover while yielding just one sack.

Three Matchups the Chiefs Can Exploit Against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 6 | Sports Illustrated

Kenneth Walker vs. the Chargers’ rush defense

At this point in the season, any matchup involving Kenneth Walker deserves attention. He led the NFL in rushing with 537 yards through four games, averaging 6.2 yards per carry, while seemingly forcing double-digit missed tackles every week. 

Los Angeles is allowing 4.36 yards per carry to opposing rushers this season, ranking 19th in the league. Walker has rushed for over 170 yards in two of his four outings this season, including 177 against the Raiders just two weeks ago, giving the Chiefs a major edge on Sunday.

Around the NFL

Eagles QB Jalen Hurts on IR due to blood clot, expected to be out indefinitely | ESPN

The move will sideline the star quarterback indefinitely, according to sources. The Eagles, who officially announced the move Saturday afternoon, were waiting to make a roster decision until after consulting with medical experts, according to sources.

Ever since Hurts started dealing with the superficial blood clot in his calf, the Eagles have been attempting to explore every option and gather as much information as possible. Hurts has met with doctors and had others review his blood clot and weigh in with their knowledge.

Bears QB Caleb Williams (hamstring) expected to start Sunday vs. Falcons | NFL Network

Chicago is planning to start Caleb Williams against the host Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, NFL Network Insiders Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport and ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Saturday.

Williams, a full practice participant through the week, was designated as questionable on Friday. He’s missed the prior three weeks with a hamstring injury. 

During his absence, the Bears won in Week 3 with Case Keenum under center versus the Philadelphia Eagles, won again the following week with Tyson Bagent starting against the New York Jets, and faltered in Week 5 against the Green Bay Packers with Bagent starting, struggling and getting benched late for Keenum.

As NFL prepares to stage Steelers-Saints in Paris, local unrest intensifies | Pro Football Talk

On Saturday, more than 1,200 arrests were made after an “escalation in violence” that occurred with roughly 550,000 citizens protesting.

The demonstrations, sparked by concerns regarding conditions in schools and the cost of living, have lingered for weeks.

Said the NFL on Wednesday: “We’re excited for the first-ever regular season game in Paris, and preparations continue as scheduled for NFL events and the game at Stade de France on October 25. As we do for every NFL game, including our international games, we work closely with local authorities and partners on all operational and security matters. We look forward to welcoming fans to Paris later this month.”

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride

Kingdom Keys: 3 Keys to a Chiefs victory over the Chargers in Week 6

The goal should be at least three sacks and consistent hits on Herbert. Steve Spagnuolo can attack Los Angeles’ inexperienced blockers with twists, simulated pressures and carefully timed blitzes. More importantly, Kansas City’s front four must win enough matchups to prevent Herbert from becoming comfortable.

Pressures matter. This week, however, the Chiefs need to turn them into drive-ending sacks.

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Emma Finucane finished a successful if bittersweet week at the Track Cycling World Championships with a bronze medal in the keirin, missing out on an elusive gold by just 14 thousandths of a second.

The 23-year-old also took silver in the team and individual sprint earlier in the week in Shanghai, making this the first time she has won a medal in all three events at a World Championships.

But she was unable to add to her two rainbow jerseys, won in the sprint in 2023 and 2024, as neutral athlete Alina Lysenko pipped her to gold on Sunday, with Germany’s two-time keirin world champion Lea Sophie Friedrich taking silver.

Finucane said: “I had a special feeling about today, I felt really strong and going into that final, I don’t know what else I could have done, to be honest. I raced with my instinct, I didn’t come off thinking ‘I wish I gave more’, I gave it everything I could out there. To get a bronze medal at the end of it is something to be really proud of. This is the first time I’ve medalled in all three events at a world championships.

“I really, really want that gold! And for a split second I was like ‘maybe I’ve got it’. The field today was really stacked, women’s sprint is just moving forward and to be part of it, medalling in every event, I can be really, really proud of that.

“The confidence I’ll gain from this competition is everything, I was putting myself in winning positions. All the momentum, all the confidence I’ve gained this week, I think I can be really proud of that. Roll on LA [2028]!”

The Welshwoman won silver in the team sprint alongside Sophie Capewell, her teammate from the gold medal-winning squad at the Paris Olympics in 2024, with Rhianna Parris-Smith replacing the now retired Katy Marchant in the trio.

Great Britain topped the medal table in Shanghai with 12 medals including six golds, with Anna Morris claiming a hat-trick of rainbow jerseys and GB continuing to dominate the women’s endurance events, winning the Madison, omnium and team pursuit, as well as winning gold and silver in the individual pursuit.

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The Lucas Oil Stadium roof and north end zone window will be open Sunday, Oct. 18, when the Indianapolis Colts host the Tennessee Titans.

Sunny skies and highs in the lows 60s are forecast for Indianapolis.

The Colts have played 31 times with the window and roof open, compiling an 18-13 record. The roof has been open 42 times in the 148 games played at Lucas Oil Stadium, 28.4% of the games.

The roof was closed for the season opener against the Baltimore Ravens, a 41-23 loss. The roof and window were open for the 19-17 victory over the Houston Texans in Week 3 this season.

There have been complaints over the years about the Colts not opening to roof enough but the game against the Texans had people talking about the sun and shadows on the field. Former Colts cornerback Darius Butler posted on X that it made "for a terrible TV product."

Fans sitting on the home side posted photos of poor field visibility. TV viewers said the ball was getting lost in the shadows and impossible to track. Some even questioned the architecture and design of the stadium, which opened with a retractable roof in 2008.

Indianapolis Colts chief operating officer Pete Ward noted the team can't win with the roof but said there's no design flaw with the stadium.

"If you go to Arrowhead Stadium, late afternoon, the shadows creep onto the field. Texas Stadium was famous for its shadows. It's almost like an American sports tradition," Ward says. "And it doesn't mean there's a design flaw, because almost every stadium is going to have a shadow, depending on the time of day."

Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Will the Lucas Oil Stadium roof be open for Colts vs Titans?

CLEVELAND — For better or worse, the Guardians and their 2026 MLB playoff run continue to push the limits on the phrase expect the unexpected.

First, did you expect the Guardians to be in the American League Championship Series?

The Guardians lost 7-3 to the Tampa Rays in Game 4 of the ALCS on Saturday, Oct. 17, at Progressive Field. The teams are tied 2-2 in the best-of-seven showdown, which is now guaranteed to return to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, for Game 6.

MLB pitching matchup: Guardians' Parker Messick and Rays' Drew Rasmussen to start Game 5 of ALCS

Did you expect defensive miscues to plague the Guardians while they had a chance to seize a commanding series lead in Game 4?

Second baseman Travis Bazzana failed to cleanly field a ground ball in the first inning, but Cleveland was not harmed by it. The Guardians weren’t as fortunate in the seventh inning when right fielder Chase DeLauter let the ball scoot past him as he tried to scoop Jonathan Aranda’s single off the grass. The error allowed an unearned run and simultaneously set the table for Chandler Simpson’s sacrifice fly during the next at-bat. The Rays built a 5-1 lead with a three-run seventh. Cleveland couldn’t catch up.

“[There were] a couple unfortunate plays for us tonight that we usually complete,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said.

Did you expect Guardians relief pitcher Shawn Armstrong to play again this season after he suffered a nasty left calf strain against the Rays on July 24 at Tropicana Field, let alone fill the role of an opener for Cleveland against his former Tampa Bay team in Game 4?

Armstrong, who didn't allow a hit or walk in the first inning before being relieved by Foster Griffin to begin the second, sure didn't see it coming.

"I think you guys [in the media] could probably read the room with the look on my face after that [calf strain] that I thought it was over," Armstrong said. "I mean, for sure, especially the unknowns in regards to what the injury truly was going to entail and what it was going to be."

Did you expect Tim Herrin to enter Game 4 in the sixth inning after fellow relief pitcher Daniel Espino had surrendered a go-ahead RBI double to Rays third baseman Junior Caminero and escape a runners-on-second-and-third-with-no-outs jam unscathed?

Unfortunately for Herrin, his Houdini act was overshadowed. Richie Palacios hit an infield single off him to begin the seventh inning, and then the floodgates opened as the Rays produced two hits against Guardians reliever Slade Cecconi and capitalized on DeLauter’s defensive gaffe.

Guardians news: Cleveland vs. Tampa Bay Rays ALCS Game 4 instant reactions

Even before first pitch, the circumstances surrounding Game 4 were weird.

For instance, did you expect MLB to drag its feet before deciding to postpone Game 4 on the night of Friday, Oct. 16, after Cleveland had been predictably pummeled by rain for most of the day? Game 4 was pushed back a day, and Game 5 is set for 5:08 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, in Cleveland. It will feature an All-Star starting pitching matchup between the Guardians’ Parker Messick and the Rays’ Drew Rasmussen.

“Now it's a three-game series. I'd put our guys up against any team in the world in a three-game series,” Vogt said.

Vogt’s glass-half-full look aside, did you expect the Guardians to make the playoffs? How about vie for the AL pennant?

Just before the 2026 season started, FanGraphs gave the Guardians a 15.2% chance to qualify for the postseason and an 8% chance to reach the ALCS. Roughly two months ago, on Aug. 17, the projections for the Guardians to earn berths in the playoffs and ALDS were at 25.5% and 15.9%, respectively.

The American League was weak this season, so the three-time reigning AL Central champion Guardians charging to the doorstep of the World Series never seemed to be impossible. But did you expect them to rally from a 2-0 deficit in the AL Division Series against the Chicago White Sox and win the best-of-five ALDS 3-2?

The Guardians became the 11th team in MLB history to prevail in a best-of-five postseason series after falling behind 2-0 and the fourth club to overcome a 2-0 hole in the ALDS after losing the first two games at home.

Did you expect the Guardians to be neck and neck with the Rays through four games of the ALCS? The Rays went 98-64 in the regular season, finishing with the best record in the AL and the third-best record in MLB. Then in the ALDS, the Rays swept the New York Yankees 3-0. The Guardians went 85-77, posting the fourth-best record in the AL and 11th-best record in MLB.

Yet, it took until Game 4 of the ALCS for the Rays to convincingly look like the better team.

However, history suggests the Guardians still have a better than 50% chance to win the ALCS. Teams who win Game 4 to tie a seven-game postseason series have gone on to win the series 33 of 69 times (47.8%), including 10 of 22 times in the league championship series (45.5%).

Take those numbers with a grain of salt, though. Baseball is random, and the Guardians are really random.

For better or worse, they will inevitably give everyone more reminders to expect the unexpected.

Nate Ulrich is the sports columnist of the Akron Beacon Journal and a sports features writer. Nate can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Guardians' playoff run and ALCS vs. Rays filled with surprises. Opinion