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1. UK to deploy fighter jets to defend Saudi cities from Houthi attacks  CNBC
2. UK to deploy fighter jets to defend Saudi Arabia against Houthi attacks  CNN
3. The UK Expands Military Support for Saudi Arabia Against Houthis to Include ‘Defensive’ Air Patrols  Military.com
4. Britain says it will carry out defensive air missions over Saudi Arabia  Reuters
5. UK to Fly Missions to Defend Saudi Arabia From Houthi Attacks  Bloomberg.com

A year ago, a World Series berth seemed so far away for the Rays. But instead of seeing a trying road ahead, Tampa Bay saw opportunity — in the 2025 Blue Jays. Shi Davidi explains how last year's AL champs were a source of inspiration for the 2026 Rays.

1. Trump continues midterm campaign blitz in North Carolina – US politics live  The Guardian
2. Midterm election updates: Trump to campaign for Michael Whatley in North Carolina  CNN
3. Trump’s NC trip is meant to help GOP candidates. Top Democrat has a message for him: ‘Keep doing it’  WRAL
4. 2026 Midterm Elections: Trump Campaigns in North Carolina  Fox News
5. Live updates: Trump to hold a midterm rally in North Carolina  NBC News

1. Marseille braces for more unrest after protests give way to 'apocalyptic' disorder  BBC
2. What’s Behind the Protests in France and What Happens Next  WSJ
3. Opinion | The French Fantasy Is Coming to an End  The New York Times
4. Inside France’s Night of Terror  The Free Press
5. Curfews bring calm to Paris as France cracks down on weekend rioters  AP News

Start-Up Claims to Treat a Patient With A.I.-Created Viruses  The New York Times

Cooper Flagg famously picked peas as a child to learn about hard work.

Others of us worked retail.

The Dallas Mavericks forward and former Duke standout steps into the shoes of a Foot Locker employee as the star of the company's "Hoops Lives Here" campaign. The ad debuts on Tuesday, Oct. 20 ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season tipoff. It shows Flagg wearing New Balance gear and hanging out playing video games in the backroom of a Foot Locker store. He assists an employee in reaching tall shelves, among other comedic moments.

“For me, basketball is everywhere in my life. Whether I’m playing, training, watching games or just spending time with people who love the sport, I’m always connected to it in some way," Flagg said in a statement of how the campaign concept resonates with him, noting, "It celebrates all the different ways basketball is part of our everyday lives and brings together those who share a passion for the game.”

The Mavericks open their season on Wednesday, Oct. 21 in a road matchup against Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets. Flagg will be playing in his second season after being drafted No. 1 overall in 2025. He averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists en route to earning last season's Rookie of the Year award.

Flagg's ad follows the debut of Foot Locker's "Hoops Lives Here" campaign in May. In the original spot, Payton Pritchard lounges while eating Chinese takeout, Paolo Banchero makes a smoothie, Chet Holmgren gets ready in a mirror and Jewell Loyd prepares to go to sleep all inside a Foot Locker store.

This fall, Foot Locker became the official athletic footwear retailer of the New York Knicks and will help celebrate last year's championship, the team's first title in 53 years. Besides activations and promotions throughout the season, the company will host a one-day Rings ‘N’ Things pop-up with exclusive merchandise to commemorate the NBA Finals victory.

The new "Hoops Lives Here" ad also shows the growth of the popularity of New Balance. Besides Flagg, the athletic company has Shohei Ohtani, Jamal Murray, Coco Gauff and Bukayo Saka on its roster of athletes.

Shannon Sharpe commented on the growth of the company at ComplexCon earlier this month during a Sneaker of the Year panel.

"It took me a while to get used to New Balance because New Balance used to be, you cut grass in New Balance," he said as the crowd erupted in laughter.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Watch: Cooper Flagg comically helps stock Foot Locker shelves in new ad

SAN ANTONIO — Colt Knost had been waiting for his chance to turn the tables on Jim Nantz. The former U.S. Amateur champion and now CBS golf analyst got it at Quail Hollow, where Nantz introduced him at a dinner as the newest member of the Texas Golf Hall of Fame.

Knost stopped him.

“Jim, I’m just gonna stop you right there real quick because I've got to ask you a few questions for once,” Knost recalled. “I said, ‘Jim, you went to Houston, right?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ ‘That’s in Texas, right?’”

Then came the punchline.

“I didn’t see your name on the list of Hall of Famers there,” Knost told him. “Jim, you just keep doing what you’re doing. Now that I’m going to be in the Hall, I’ll write you a letter of recommendation. Maybe we can get you in there.”

A few weeks before Knost’s induction, Nantz returned the favor, but in his own dry style.

“He texted me two weeks ago, and it was just out of the blue, separate from our team CBS text,” Knost said. “He said, ‘Hey man, I know your induction’s coming up. I just want to congratulate you. I’m so proud of you. That’s a huge honor.’”

Knost knew to wait for a second before responding.

"I was, like, that's kind of weird, like something's coming," Knost said. "And all of a sudden I see dot dot dot ... this just slid across my desk, and it was the announcement that he's a finalist for the World Golf Hall of Fame."

The exchange was especially fitting for Knost, whose quick-witted, unfiltered style has taken him from a small Texas town to amateur golf’s biggest stages, the PGA Tour and eventually the broadcast booth for some of the game’s biggest championships.

While Nantz's career awards will continue to mount, on Monday night at San Antonio Country Club, the moment belonged to Knost and the rest of the Texas Golf Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026.

Knost was inducted in the amateur category as part of a power-packed class that included two-time major champion Stacy Lewis in the professional player category; longtime PGA professional Dale Morgan in the golf professional/teacher category; Mark Harrison for professional service; and renowned putting and short-game instructor Dave Pelz, who was honored posthumously for lifetime achievement. Houston’s River Oaks Country Club was inducted as the historic course.

For Knost, joining a Hall filled with names he grew up admiring proved almost overwhelming.

“It’s just so cool to look around this room and see so many people that I’ve followed growing up playing golf and looked up to my whole life, to join them in the Hall of Fame,” Knost said. “I mean, Mr. Nelson, Mr. Hogan, Mr. Trevino. … It’s really special.”

It was a destination Knost admitted he never envisioned while growing up in rural Texas.

“I don’t think I was ever supposed to be here,” he said. “Growing up in Pilot Point, Texas, we don’t have a golf course. I picked up golf very late. I realized at a young age I was in love with the game, and it’s all I wanted to do.”

Knost went on to become one of the country’s top amateurs, and although his life and career eventually took him elsewhere, his connection to Texas remained.

“Even though I was born in Ohio, I live in Arizona, I always tell everybody I’m from Texas,” Knost said. “I’m proud to be from Texas.”

He also pointed to Royal Oaks Country Club and the people there as an important part of his journey, saying the club gave him a membership when he turned professional.

“None of this happens without them,” Knost said. “That’s why I love to say Royal Oaks is home.”

Knost’s playing career eventually gave way to an unexpected second act in golf media. He became a popular voice in the game and joined CBS, putting him alongside Nantz while covering events including the Masters and PGA Championship.

“I never thought I would be in the media world,” Knost said. “You think you’re playing professional golf for a living, you’re going to ride off into the sunset and everything’s going to be great. You’re going to have this Hall of Fame career, and it doesn’t work out that way for everybody.

“Luckily, I stumbled into this media world. It’s been such a blast. I never thought I would be at CBS covering the Masters, the PGA Championship, all these great tournaments, now sitting across from Jim Nantz.”

Knost also believes there is something distinctive about the golfers Texas produces.

“Texas golfers are just different,” he said. “They’re tough. They’re gritty.”

He pointed to Scottie Scheffler as the modern example.

“You look at the best player in the world right now, Scottie Scheffler. He’s the nicest guy on the planet, but when he’s on the golf course, he wants to step on your throat,” Knost said. “I love that. When I think of Texas, I think tough.”

Knost said toughness became part of his own identity as a player.

“I pride myself on being very tough on the golf course when I played because I didn’t have the talent or the skill set that a lot of guys did,” he said.

That journey made Sunday’s honor even more meaningful.

“I’ve never thought I would have a hard time talking,” Knost said. “But when you surround yourself with these great people in this room, it’s tough to get the words out sometimes.

“This is a dream of a lifetime.”

The Texas Golf Hall of Fame called the 2026 group a class spanning generations and different corners of the game.

“This class represents the very best of Texas golf across generations,” chairman Mike Booker said. “From global champions to transformative leaders and historic venues, each honoree has left a lasting imprint on the game. We are proud to celebrate their achievements and the legacy they continue to build.”

Executive director Alli Jarrett said the group represents more than accomplishment on the course.

“The Class of 2026 reflects excellence not only in playing performance, but in leadership, innovation, and service,” Jarrett said. “These inductees have elevated the game in meaningful and lasting ways, and we look forward to honoring their stories and contributions.”

Each member of the Class of 2026 will be commemorated with a granite marker on the Texas Golf Walk of Fame at Brackenridge Park Golf Course in San Antonio, as well as at the Hall’s anchor sites at The Ronny Golf Park at PGA Frisco and Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston. Digital museum exhibits for the class are being supported by a grant from the Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation.

Tim Schmitt is the managing editor of Golfweek and the golf coordinator for the USA Today Network.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Colt Knost tells hilarious Jim Nantz story at Texas Golf Hall of Fame induction

Most Dana White's Contender Series winners are present at the Meta APEX to receive feedback from UFC CEO Dana White when it's time to hand out contract offers, but not Greg Foster. He was in a hospital bed.

After going toe-to-toe with Jason Asher for three rounds, Foster (9-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) took a unanimous decision on the scorecards, and then a trip to a nearby medical facility. The fight with Asher (5-1) was intense, with back-and-forth action throughout. In a "UFC job interview" fight, both competitors left it all in the cage, hoping to earn a spot in the promotion.

Foster didn't even get a chance to speak to Laura Sanko for a post-fight interview, which he said he was pushing hard for, but officials wanted him checked out immediately. Foster received the news that he won a UFC contract while watching the DWCS stream on his phone, lying in a hospital bed – and he couldn't wait to get out of there to celebrate in Las Vegas.

"I was hustling," Foster told MMA Junkie. "I was telling them, 'I'm good, I'm good.' So, soon as the CT scans came back and all that sh*t, and there was nothing major going on – they wanted me to stay to wait for the X-rays on the foot, and I'm like, 'Hey, f*ck it. Call me. We're good. Let's get out and party.'"

Foster was released from the hospital and began a real celebration in "Sin City".

White typically doesn't look to add 34-year-old fighters to the UFC roster through DWCS. However, White said he's "never been more excited" to see someone of Foster's age compete in the promotion. Using an analogy of two used cars, Foster compares himself to one that was well-maintained over the years, while others his age may have been treated poorly.

"I truly feel better than I did when I was 21, 22 years old," Foster said. "I used to eat like sh*t, drink like sh*t. I got hurt more and more inflammation in my body. You know, I don't party. I don't do drugs, man. I live a really healthy lifestyle. I've been in the gym my whole entire life, and I've just taken care of myself, and I don't have a lot of miles on the car.

"I've never had any surgeries. I don't get hurt. I'm durable. I got a chin on me and whatnot. I just feel that age is getting a little blown up too much. And you know, with the way sports recovery and the science is and whatnot, it's like, hey, there's more knowledge on how to service cars now. So, these cars are probably going to last longer, right? Same with us."

Foster suggests that people should not consider his number of trips around the sun and should instead judge the performances he gives inside the cage. He certainly understands why age is a factor, getting hung up on the number at face value instead of digging a little deeper to analyze what that person has been through in their career is more important.

In a perfect world, Foster will have his opportunity to debut in the UFC in February or March, which he believes will be a good timeline to recover from his DWCS battle while also attending to personal matters, such as assisting his mother, who is in recovery from a severe car accident that nearly took her life. But once he gets going, Foster wants to be active with three or four fights a year.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC newcomer Greg Foster reacts to Dana White's praise, age concerns

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid recently spoke with reporters about the defense's efficiency against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 6.

"I thought, defensively, we did a really nice job of executing the plan that (Steve) Spags (Spagnuolo) put together with the coaches there. I thought our defensive line—Joe (Cullen) had those guys rolling, and they were able to get to the quarterback," said Reid. "I felt like the secondary was tightened up there. Dave Merritt does a good job back there, but it was tightened up, and those guys gave the D-line an extra step there to work with, and they were able to do a nice job for us up front."

Veteran defensive back L'Jarius Sneed had five tackles (four solo), one pass defensed and one forced fumble in last Sunday's game. Sneed's fourth-quarter forced fumble was his sixth of the season and the second-most of any Chiefs defensive back since 2020. Drue Tranquill recovered the fumble. It was the fifth fumble recovery of Tranquill's career, and the fourth since joining the Chiefs in 2022.

The Chiefs had 4 sacks against the Chargers. Ashton Gillotte had two quarterback hits and 1.0 sack; Chamarri Conner had four solo tackles and 1 sack; and Chris Jones and rookie Peter Woods each recorded 0.5 sack on the final drive.

This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: Chiefs' defense contributes big plays in Week 6 win over the Chargers

Let the 2026 season serve as a good lesson to any NFL team anointed as a heavy preseason Super Bowl favorite in the future. 

No matter how you dress up your state-of-the-art, er, “ship,” no matter the stunning technological advancements you adorn it with, all it takes is your captain carelessly missing an iceberg in pitch-black darkness to get the whole thing sinking to the bottom of the ocean before your story is turned into a pop-culture romance phenomenon decades later. 

Sean McVay’s overhyped, crumbling Los Angeles Rams, now besieged by even more devastating injuries, will assuredly not receive such treatment from some of the finest film performers of their generation before they really blew up, but you get the gist here. The Rams are a sinking ship in the middle of a dark ocean after losing to the lowly Arizona Cardinals at home, and there are only so many lifeboats to go around. That’s because the all-in Rams never planned on sinking in the first place. Oh well. 

As we near Halloween, there’s a lot to discuss about the flailing Rams and some interesting developments across the NFL. Let’s see where everyone in the league stands in For The Win’s NFL Power Rankings for Week 7. 

32. Miami Dolphins

Last week: 31

The Tennessee Titans and Arizona Cardinals both got upset wins. The Dolphins were left to watch, like Squidward staring wistfully at a frolicking SpongeBob and Patrick Star, thanks to their bye week. Well, maybe Caleb Douglas's return can help Malik Willis finally win a game with Miami in Week 7. — Christian D'Andrea

31. Los Angeles Chargers

Last week: 30

By most relevant metrics, Justin Herbert has been one of the NFL's worst quarterbacks this season. Maybe he was a tad overrated to begin with, but he certainly was never, ever this bad. His downfall lies mainly at the feet of Mike McDaniel, which, in turn, also reflects poorly on Jim Harbaugh, who chose to bring in the offensive coordinator in the first place. In other words, the winless Chargers have entered "the finger-pointing" phase of their nightmare season. It won't end well for anyone. — Robert Zeglinski

30. Tennessee Titans

Last week: 32

The Titans converted three third downs Sunday. The Indianapolis Colts more than doubled their total yardage. Nothing is fixed, but the defense is useful while the quarterback stinks, in case you had any doubt about whether or not Robert Saleh was in charge of things in Nashville. — CD

29. Washington Commanders

Last week: 27

The Commanders acted like they learned a lesson from last week's embarrassing tie against the New York Giants. Then they went out and played mistake-riddled football that erased any hope of an upset win in Santa Clara. Head coach Dan Quinn might be fired in the space between the final whistle and the time these rankings publish in the morning. Honestly, it might be the best thing Washington does this season. — CD

28. Philadelphia Eagles

Last week: 24

Mishandling Jalen Hurts' blood clot diagnosis feels like a fireable offense. But it could also be another excuse for Nick Sirianni in a season where first-year offensive coordinator Sean Mannion can have the blame for this team's shortcomings deflected onto him. It's not only the offense, however. The Eagles' defense ranks 26th in the NFL in expected points added (EPA) allowed through six games. — CD

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Last week: 28

Is Jalon Daniels someone the Buccaneers can build around, or an interesting but short-lived stopgap while Baker Mayfield is sidelined? For now, it's definitely the latter. The rookie UDFA is running a simplified playbook and still only barely keeping the Buccaneers above water. His play so far isn't promising enough to justify benching the newly extended and extremely expensive Mayfield. At least, not yet. — RZ

26. New York Jets

Last week: 26

The Jets are competent and even slightly entertaining, which is a significant step up from 2025. But they still aren't good and will need young prospects to step up in order to get there. Omar Cooper Jr. put his best foot forward in Week 6 with the first 100-yard game of his career, and David Bailey appears to be some sort of fairy-tale monster. But Kenyon Sadiq and DeAngelo Ponds still have a ways to go. If all four of those guys emerge as plus starters, Glenn might get a shot at a third year in northern New Jersey. — CD

25. New York Giants

Last week: 22

Goodness gracious, the Giants really might do it. They really might turn away from Jameis Winston and make Jonathan James McCarthy (!) their starting quarterback moving forward. Just when you thought this middling team at the top of a frayed NFC East couldn't serve up a hilarious, unexpected plot twist, the Football Gods obliged and served up a real treat. — RZ

24. Arizona Cardinals

Last week: 29

The Cardinals are undefeated in the city of Los Angeles. Unfortunately, they play in Arizona, where they haven't won a game in more than a calendar year. Still, in a week ruled by disappointment, let's give this team the mildest of flowers and appreciate their ability to sow havoc in Inglewood. — CD

23. Indianapolis Colts

Last week: 21

Carlie Irsay-Gordon did the right thing by finally canning Chris Ballard, one of the NFL's worst front office execs over the last half-decade. She also did something more important for the franchise in the process. The Colts, without a desperate GM trying to save his job, are officially open for business ahead of this year's NFL trade deadline. Indy needs a new foundation across the board, and an earnest fire sale of win-now veterans should help build it. — RZ

22. Dallas Cowboys

Last week: 20

Dak Prescott got the tar beaten out of him by the Packers' pass rush, some of which even came via legal hits. The blocking ahead of him is a concern, especially when he has a defense prone to setting up shootouts. The Cowboys gave up a 37.5 percent pressure rate as blitzes found home in time to throttle the Dallas deep ball rate and ensure a Green Bay win (and an increasingly poor draft position for the first-round pick still owed from the Micah Parsons trade). — CD

21. New Orleans Saints

Last week: 25

Even after a win over the Giants, it's clear the Saints are going nowhere this season. So, if they truly believe Tyler Shough is their quarterback of the future, they should probably let him rest his broken non-throwing hand rather than keep exposing him to vicious pass-rushers who are only capable of exacerbating his injury and risking whatever promise he might have. Oh, well, I suppose no one has ever accused the modern Saints of being proactive or forward-thinking. — RZ

20. Atlanta Falcons

Last week: 17

Michael Penix Jr.'s mobility is a problem, which is why he can thrive with big throws from a clean pocket and is rushed into inaccurate targets and brutal mistakes once that integrity has been compromised. The Chicago Bears invested heavily in stopping Drake London and Bijan Robinson while daring the rest of Atlanta's skill players to make them pay. They failed, and now the Falcons are staring down another "too good to tank toward a franchise quarterback, not good enough for the playoffs" season despite encouraging gains from a depleted defense. — CD

19. Houston Texans

Last week: 23

C.J. Stroud has quietly pieced together a pretty solid season for the Texans so far. That's the good news in Houston after the fourth-year signal-caller led his team to a huge AFC South win in London. The bad news is that DeMeco Ryans' defense keeps getting gashed against any team with a halfway decent quarterback. The Texans' season is officially alive after two straight wins, but the good times won't keep rolling if a group expressly built around its defense can't get stops in big games. — RZ

18. Los Angeles Rams

Last week: 8

Sean McVay called out the Rams for beating themselves, which is accurate but also includes his too-clever-by-half playcalling. Kyren Williams is visibly annoyed with his role, which is what happens when you forsake a run game averaging nearly 4.9 yards per carry, give one of the league's best platoons only 19 carries and, most egregiously, hand off on 4th-and-1 to a fourth-year tight end who has never had an NFL handoff before. Ah well, I look forward to him baffling Al Michaels on Amazon next winter. — CD

17. Pittsburgh Steelers

Last week: 18

It feels impossible to figure out what the Steelers are. On the one hand, they're 4-2, which, hey, a winning record! On the other hand, Aaron Rodgers is an immobile statue who has somehow lost all his pocket awareness, and a once-great defense now flexes its muscles like someone who just finished a single workout at the gym. For now, the Steelers seem like a product of a cupcake schedule. Two of Pittsburgh's next three games come against competitive AFC North rivals. That's when we'll find out their true identity. — RZ

16. Cleveland Browns

Last week: 19

Cleveland won in spite of Deshaun Watson, who has retreated back into the low-impact shell he built to insulate him from more than 20 counts of sexual misconduct and what an NFL investigation deemed "predatory behavior" dating back to his time with the Texans. The Browns have one of the league's worst run games, but young playmakers and a quickly congealing defense give them legitimate playoff hopes, especially when you consider how weird and sloppy the AFC North is this season. — CD

15. Las Vegas Raiders

Last week: 13

Are the Raiders … good?! I know a 3-3 record isn't anything to write home about, but that's also not where anyone expected these Raiders to be in late October, who have now hung very well with both Kansas City and Buffalo. Kirk Cousins has turned back the clock, Maxx Crosby is leading a playmaking defense, and Klint Kubiak's staff might already have one of the NFL's best-coached teams. A crushing collapse is probably just around the corner, but I'm starting to think we won't see Fernando Mendoza get any meaningful playing time during his rookie year. Why? Because the playoffs, or at least a playoff push, could be a distinct possibility for Las Vegas. — RZ

14. Cincinnati Bengals

Last week: 12

A week off should help Joe Burrow's top targets get healthy and, ideally, give Zac Taylor a chance to figure out what's wrong with Chase Brown. But Cincinnati's playoff hopes hinge on a defense that's been uplifted by new veteran arrivals. The Bengals' pass rush will have to keep crunching pockets with efficiency for this team to be anything more than a feisty out en route to the Super Bowl. — CD

13. Detroit Lions

Last week: 14

A bye week came at the perfect time for the Lions and their fledgling defense. They now have to figure out whether they have enough horses on that side of the ball ahead of a daunting schedule featuring dates with Green Bay, Minnesota, and New England in three of their next four games. Since they probably don't, Dan Campbell might be forced to make a tough midseason change at defensive coordinator. — RZ

12. Seattle Seahawks

Last week: 3

Is Sam Darnold finally Sam Darnold again? Or is he suffering the effects of a shallow offense that has little to offer behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba? Zach Charbonnet will be tasked with redeeming the run game once healthy, and the space (and RPO/play action calls) that creates could be exactly what the veteran needs to prove he's more than just a nice story and footnote in the Seahawks' history book. — RZ

11. Carolina Panthers

Last week: 16

For once, the Panthers are both good and lucky. Bryce Young's breakout in Dave Canales's offense is extremely real, and also there doesn't seem to be any legit competition for the NFC South crown from the division's other three stooges. When noting the rough state of the NFC East, a top-three playoff seed is officially in play for Carolina. What a time to be alive in Charlotte. — RZ

10. Denver Broncos

Last week: 11

Bo Nix will be tried for his crimes in Quarterback Court. The defense behind him is snapping back into form, but concerning lapses in the run game could create plenty of late-game situations where Nix is forced to throw his team back into the lead as the clock winds down. The 2026 season has repeatedly shown that's not his forte, at least through the first month-plus. — CD

9. Green Bay Packers

Last week: 15

After a disaster three-game start that saw greater Wisconsin calling for Matt LaFleur to join the unemployment line, the Packers have officially won three straight games. Jordan Love has been brilliant, but it's a Micah Parsons-less defense that has surprisingly excelled of late. The Packers are creating pressure, are showing a capacity for sticky coverage, and have allowed a total of 34 points over their last three games. It turns out that Parsons' looming return may actually complement, instead of save, Green Bay's ascending defense. — RZ

8. Chicago Bears

Last week: 10

Caleb Williams made his return on Sunday in Atlanta, and he picked up right where he left off. A solid Falcons defense backed off to protect against big plays and gave Williams everything underneath. He took these options and ran with them to the tune of an 83 percent completion percentage with nearly 8.5 yards per attempt. He was calm, composed, and completely in control the whole afternoon. Huh, who would have thought that the Bears would look like a serious team with their star quarterback back in the lineup? — RZ

7. Baltimore Ravens

Last week: 6

It's difficult to penalize the Ravens too harshly for losing to the Browns; they've already beaten two other teams that would be in the playoff field if it ended today (Steelers, Panthers) and toppled the Packers and Steelers the season prior. But Derrick Henry has -19 rushing yards over expected (RYOE) over his last three weeks and may, finally, be slowing down as his 33rd birthday approaches. What will the Baltimore offense look like if Henry is merely above average (or worse) rather than an un-caped superhero? — CD

6. New England Patriots

Last week: 9

Drake Maye presents a no-win conundrum for opposing defenses. Blitz him, and he'll almost always make the right play downfield. Let him sit in the pocket without sending extra pressure, as the Jets did on Sunday, and he'll carve you up like a surgeon all game long. It's perhaps way too early to say this sort of thing, but another MVP-caliber campaign could be in store for the red-hot, third-year quarterback. — RZ

5. Jacksonville Jaguars

Last week: 9

Was Sunday's loss in London a harbinger of things to come? It depends on how you look at losing to a divisional opponent like the Texans, who know the Jaguars better than anyone. Nonetheless, it's not encouraging that a signal-caller like C.J. Stroud was more or less able to have his way against the Jacksonville defense, the clear Achilles heel of the team. If the contender Jaguars can't slow down Stroud, they certainly won't have any easier time against the likes of Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes, among others, in the playoffs. — RZ

4. Minnesota Vikings

Last week: 7

The bye preserved Minnesota's undefeated record and gave Jordan Mason and Justin Jefferson an extra week to return to full health. But the bigger development may be Kyler Murray's gradual rise back to average quarterbacking, which is all the Vikings need given their stacked receiving corps and a defense that plays every down like their opponent just insulted their personal honor. That may have a short shelf life in the postseason, but it could push this team back to a division title. — CD

3. Buffalo Bills

Last week: 5

The Bills can't stop anyone. That's fine in the regular season because they have a Terminator at quarterback (Josh Allen) who will always take them to 11-13 wins anyway. But the Bills are past celebrating regular-season accomplishments and wins over non-contenders like the Raiders. If Buffalo is to finally get over the Super Bowl hump, it probably needs to make a major defensive splash or two at the trade deadline. In fact, that should be the baseline expectation for the NFL's biggest win-now team. — RZ

2. Kansas City Chiefs

Last week: 2

Congratulations to the Chiefs for keeping the Chargers in their hole. That didn't tell us much about them other than the fact that Kenneth Walker III still absolutely rules, but it was a tidy three hours of football nonetheless. — CD

1. San Francisco 49ers

Last week: 1

The Niners keep winning their war against attrition, but losing Mike Evans meant the team's top available wideouts to wrap up Week 6 were Jordan Watkins and Brandin Cooks. The former had five career targets after being a fourth round draft pick in 2025 and the latter is 33 years old.

A rapid collapse followed, and San Francisco probably wouldn't be undefeated if not for a mistake-prone Washington team. John Lynch might have been dialing up the Jaguars to see what a Brian Thomas Jr. trade would cost at halftime. — CD

This article originally appeared on For The Win: NFL Power Rankings Week 7: Rams are a sinking ship in the middle of a dark ocean night

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 17: DeSean Bishop #18 of the Tennessee Volunteers carries the ball during a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Alabama Crimson Tide at Neyland Stadium on October 17, 2026 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Roger Wimmer/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images) | ISI Photos via Getty Images

Let’s start from the top, and get through the media appearances from the two coordinators and head coach.

First up is Ryan Grubb, who is pretty much public enemy #1 in the state of Alabama right now.

On the identity of the offense: 

“Our identity is to be able to get our playmakers the ball in space. I think we’re a good gap run team. We’ve shown that. We showed it on Saturday. We had some good gap scheme, inside zone and duo. That’s where it starts up front, getting the double teams, getting four hands on their biggest players, and then exploiting the secondary area where we think their weakest players are.”

I’m glad one of the reporters asked this, and it’s interesting to me what Grubb said.

“be able to get our playmakers the ball in space”

And yet, that’s not really what we’ve seen for the last two seasons from the passing game. Instead, Grubb has tended more towards a mid-range to deeper passing attack that doesn’t often lend to getting the receivers much room to get yards after catch.

I have seen this year’s offense put their identity on the gap, inside zone, and duo runs (even if he went away from it last week), so that tracks. But leading off with the comment about getting playmakers in space just doesn’t really feel what they’ve actually been doing.

One reporter asked him about the opening script, and Grubb did mention that the first play of the game was an RPO that got tipped.

Personally, I’m getting more and more out-of-favor with RPOs as a whole as defenses are getting better at figuring out the binary options and forcing offenses into decisions, rather than the other way around. But that’s a conversation for a different day.

On the decision to play off ball or play press in perimeter defense: “Well, you know, I mean, that’s one of the things that we have to constantly do, right, is you mix coverages in. We probably played more Cover 2 to the field this week than what we had just because you know they were throwing some of those perimeter screens out there, and so we we rolled up to that side and took some of them away at times. But there were other times, right, when number two is on, number one is off. You can’t be in press man in that situation because you’re going to get rubbed and picked. And then they were doing a lot of crack concepts into the boundary that we didn’t feel like we wanted to be in man against some of those structures as well. But you know, you just got to continue to mix those things throughout, and then you got to execute when the ball is thrown on the perimeter. Our guys have done a really nice job of that. We’ve done a nice job improving our screens, but we had four times that we did not execute well in those situations, and gave up two explosives, one being that fourth quarter drive on a on a first-and-19. It just cannot happen.”

This was an interesting answer from Wommack about the screen passes. He’s right, the Tide secondary has been really good against WR screens this year, so seeing them get outflanked on them multiple times last week was weird. And it sounds like it was something formationally with the way UT lined up the receivers. Overall, I think that the Alabama defense wasn’t bad necessarily. In fact, they kept this game from being something like a 41-3 blowout with their 1st half heroics. But ultimately, I felt like Wommack didn’t adjust to the situation or what Tennessee was doing and was sticking to a gameplan that would have been effective if the Tide had a lead, not trying to play from behind.

So, a mixed bag on my opinion on the defense, I guess.

On injury updates for Ryan Coleman-Williams, Racin Delgatty, Zabien Brown, Terrance Green and EJ Crowell: “A lot of these guys are kind of in the same boat. I’ll just go through. Zabien, lower leg injury, trying to evaluate throughout the week what he looks like. Racin is really in the same boat. So just kind of go to him. He’s progressing pretty well, though. And so, we’ll see. Gonna be week to week. Ryan is also, I mean, all these guys are kind of in the same area, the same window. I would not expect them to be practicing all week alone, but we’ll kind of see as the week gets to the end, what that looks like. EJ, lower leg injury, just kind of continue to evaluate. We’ll kind of see where he’s at in the next couple days. I wouldn’t expect him to practice early in the week for sure. And then Terrance is progressing. They’re all kind of kind of in the same spot. So, Terrance is week to week right now.”

Overall, I didn’t think DeBoer said much of anything out of left field. Chase Goodbread did press DeBoer on the play that’s making rounds with the Tennessee defender pointing out Marshall Pritchett right before the Tide ran a TE screen, and DeBoer mostly deflected that one.

I will say that I thought that, between the three coordinators, I thought the beat reporters did a much better job with asking questions to force answers, rather than their usual softball “how do you feel about X’s performance” that they seem to do every week.

As far as injury updates, I feel like DeBoer has been extra ambiguous this season, even compared to the last few years. So who knows if any of these guys are playing or what the injuries are.

Moving on to the upcoming week, this game against Texas A&M was supposed to be part of a brutal 4-game stretch for Alabama. Well, the first two proved to be just as brutal as we all expected, with Alabama not even looking like they belonged on the field against Tennessee. The good news is that the Aggies have barely looked like they belonged on the field this whole season, and if that trend continues, a game against a struggling Marcel Reed could be just what the doctor ordered for the Tide.

The Aggies have yet to score a touchdown on the road thus far in the 2026 season, and Reed has been a big issue in that stat, as the image shown above has become a little too frequent of an image for the 12th Man throughout 2026, as Reed has been sacked 12 times, including five times against the LSU Tigers.

However, head coach Mike Elko has remained steadfast in keeping Reed as the starter, saying that it simply would make no improvement to the team to take him out, even at where they currently are at this point in the 2026 season.

And this weekend, Reed is going to face a Crimson Tide defense that will test the part of his game that has been the shakiest this season, and that is staying out of trouble when the pocket collapses.

In addition to the dozen times that he’s been brought down, Reed has also completed just over half of his passes and before the game against The Citadel, his touchdowns and interceptions were the same number.

Not to mention, his passer rating is ranked near the bottom of all qualifying FBS quarterbacks, a stark contrast to where Reed and the Aggies were last year at this point in the season.

On the other hand, if the Tide struggles, or worse, loses, this weekend, there will be riots in the streets in Tuscaloosa.

While the Aggie offense has looked all season like Alabama did last weekend, their defense has been getting better each week, so don’t count them out (it’s not like Tennessee entered last week with an offense that was particularly functional, either).

What To Watch For:

• Defensive improvement. Don’t look now, but Texas A&M’s pass defense is ranked No. 10 nationally. There’s some context to that, to be sure (giving up a lot on the ground and also some really subpar opponents), but the defense has looked like it’s been rounding into form after some pretty obvious early-season struggles. They’ll need to continue that upward trajectory and then some if they hope to pull out a victory this Saturday.
• Any offense at all. Against LSU and Missouri, the A&M offense looked simply abysmal, failing to even score a touchdown. It may seem silly to expect significant improvement at this point (it is), but it’s what it will take for A&M to have a shot in this game.
• Health? Texas A&M rested a number of players last week, with starters like WR Mario Craver, OG Trovon Baugh, DE Anto Saka and DT DJ Hicks not even suiting up. Will that rest prove fruitful against a Crimson Tide team coming off of games against Georgia and Tennessee? It’s a stretch, but hey, it could happen (flaps arms in a forced Angels in the Outfield reference).

Finally, here’s the weekly SEC shorts, if you can stomach getting to see Tennessee and Auburn gloat.

FC Barcelona v Real Madrid: Spanish Super Cup - Getty Images SportBroadcasters prepare massive television setup

According to Mundo Deportivo, league chiefs will station up to 40 cameras across the stadium on Sunday while assigning dedicated units to follow the two leading Ballon d'Or contenders. That deployment marks a major increase from the 26 cameras used during Los Blancos' home fixture against Sevilla at the Santiago Bernabeu last Sunday. The world feed will serve two domestic Spanish broadcasters alongside international rights holders globally.

Top-tier classification upgrades pitchside coverage

Under Spanish top-flight broadcasting protocols, standard home or away fixtures involving either the Blaugrana or their arch-rivals are designated as Type A matches, which typically require a minimum of 22 cameras positioned around the pitch. However, marquee fixtures such as the Madrid derby and El Clasico are elevated to the elite A+ category, warranting between 35 and 40 units covering every conceivable angle. That comprehensive camera plan is also shared directly with the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) and VAR officials to guarantee complete pitchside visibility.

Dedicated lenses follow attacking superstars

Alongside standard broadcast equipment, the 4K production will incorporate super slow-motion units and specialist cinematic lenses designed to capture intricate on-pitch details rarely seen during regular coverage. A central feature of the broadcast will see isolated tracking cameras follow every movement made by Yamal and Mbappe throughout the 90 minutes. That individual spotlight carries added intrigue this weekend, with the official Ballon d'Or ceremony scheduled to crown the world's best player less than 24 hours after the final whistle.

Title race fuels Sunday showdownTitle race fuels Sunday showdown

Sunday evening's encounter pits Hansi Flick's table-topping hosts against their fiercest rivals after a historic opening run of nine straight victories yielded a maximum 27 points. Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho's third-placed visitors arrive in Catalonia sitting six points adrift on 21 points following their recent 4-1 triumph over Sevilla. Both heavyweights will now look to make a decisive statement in the early top-flight title race under the global spotlight.

After the NFL reinstated Denver Broncos outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper last week, the team has until next Monday to activate him to the 53-man roster (they will likely make a decision by Saturday).

After he was arrested twice in June following alleged incidents involving his former girlfriend, Cooper completed a 40-day "in-patient counseling, therapy, mental health and overall wellness program," according to 9News.

Following his reinstatement last week, Cooper wrote on social media that he has "spent a lot of time working to better myself," and that work "will continue." During his conference call with reporters on Tuesday, Broncos coach Sean Payton was asked about the steps Cooper has taken.

“He initiated the steps right away himself," Payton said. "I won’t go into detail all the things that he felt were important. I think the league was on the same page, the club. A lot of it becomes a league issue at that point. To his credit, he didn’t back away at all from what he felt like was necessary.”

Cooper is facing multiple charges, including a felony assault charge, and his trial is scheduled for March. After he sat out the first six games of the season on the commissioner’s exempt list, Cooper will now be allowed to play this season with his trial pending. The NFL is also investigating the allegations against Cooper.

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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Sean Payton comments on Jonathon Cooper's self-work while sidelined

Barcelona heads to Paris on Tuesday, Oct. 20, to play against the current European champion, Paris Saint-Germain. The La Liga side's defense is currently quite thin due to injury, giving Hansi Flick some big decisions to make.

The Blaugrana have won all nine of their La Liga games so far and is at the top of the league. A 5-2 victory at Real Betis on Saturday, Oct. 17 made it 11 wins in all competitions to start the season.

However, that win came with a price. Flick lost Jules Koundé and Eric García to injuries during the match in Seville. Andreas Christensen is also still out with a thigh injury.

Here is how Barcelona could line up against PSG:

Barcelona predicted lineup vs. PSG

• Goalkeeper: García
• Defense: Cancelo, Cubarsí, Martín, Espart
• Midfield: Rodri, Pedri
• Attacking midfield: Yamal, Fermín, Gordon
• Forward: Raphinha

Pau Cubarsí and Gerard Martín are the only natural center backs left in the traveling squad. This seems the most logical XI possible unless Flick tries to get creative with Rodri or Frenkie De Jong along the back line.

Barcelona team news vs. PSG

• Out: Koundé, E. García, Christensen, Bardghji
• Questionable: N/A
• Suspended: N/A

Will Jules Koundé play vs. PSG?

Koundé won't be available in Paris after spraining his left ankle in Saturday's win at Betis. He started in Seville and only felt discomfort after the final whistle.

His absence leaves Flick without either of the two players he has used at right back this season. The club says his recovery will determine whether he's ready for the Clásico against Real Madrid on Sunday, Oct. 25.

PSG vs. Barcelona time, TV

• Date: Tuesday, Oct. 20
• Time: 3 p.m. ET
• Location: Parc des Princes (Paris, France)
• TV/stream: Paramount+ (Watch on Paramount+), ViX (Watch on Prime Video), UniMas, TUDN

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Barcelona predicted lineup vs. PSG: Projected XI, team news

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Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin (10) returns to the field in a sling during the NCAA football game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium Stadium in Bloomington, Ind. on Oct. 17, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co

Throughout the year, we will be asking and answering questions about various Ohio State teams, the players, and anything else on our collective minds of varying degrees of importance.

The Buckeyes got their biggest win of the regular season this past Saturday by knocking off the then-No. 5 Indiana Hoosiers on the road, 19-15. However, it came at a price as quarterback Julian Sayin was sacked and injured his throwing arm. While the severity of the injury is not yet known publicly, head coach Ryan Day has said that the Heisman finalist will be out for “several” weeks.

Fortunately, the Buckeyes are off this weekend as they will be able to rest, recover, and regroup heading into a Halloween night affair at USC.

So, in this week’s fan survey, we want to know how you are feeling about the remainder of the season given everything that transpired in Bloomington on Saturday.

Take a look at the options below, then vote in the survey at the bottom of the article. On Saturday morning, before this week’s games kick off, we will share the results, so make sure to check back in with us in a few days. And if you want to explain your rationale or add another option, head down to the comments and break it down.

Question: What is your vibe for the rest of the season heading into the bye week?

This season has been a weird one, not just for the Buckeyes, but for all of college football. The Buckeyes won a gritty, fairly ugly game against IU on Saturday, and basically everyone else lost. Of course, despite the victory, Ohio State did take a hit as it lost its starting quarterback for a still indeterminate amount of time.

Even though OSU is ranked No. 3 in the country, there is still a lot up in the air about what the future holds. So, it would make sense if fans are a little uncertain about how to feel about the team and the rest of the season. Does one of the listed options communicate how you feel about the season? Or do you want to write in something different? Either way, let us know how you are feeling with five games left in the regular season.

Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys:

SANTA CLARA, CA - OCTOBER 19: Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers scrambles against the Washington Commanders during the first half of an NFL football game at Levi's Stadium on October 19, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It wasn’t the prettiest game and, at times, was quite a scary one, but the San Francisco 49ers found a way to edge past the Washington Commanders on Monday night to improve to 6-0 on the season.

Heading into the game with injury questions once again, the 49ers lost Mike Evans just before halftime. But their 17-point lead was too much to overcome, despite a furious comeback by Jayden Daniels and Co., allowing the 49ers to improve to 6-0 with the Atlanta Falcons up next before the bye week.

Here are three quick takeaways from the 49ers win over the Commanders on Monday night.

Fast start pays off

One of my keys to the game for the 49ers was getting off to a fast start. Obviously, that’s important in any game, but it felt extra vital in this one.

We’ve seen the 49ers operate well in the clutch over the past two weeks against the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks, thanks to quality play from Brock Purdy, but I pointed to Evans’s injury status as a big reason why an early lead would be key.

Getting off to a fast start could ease some of the pressure off a clearly-banged up Evans, while also allowing the 49ers to remain balanced and the Commanders to get even more one-dimensional. That all turned out to be true, as the 49ers offense couldn’t get going without Evans in the second half.

One gripe from Kyle Shanahan in this game was also the 49ers’ lack of balance in the second half from a play-calling perspective over the final quarter. The 49ers went pass-pass-pass on two consecutive drives to start the fourth quarter, with both resulting in three-and-outs. The 1st started with a Brock Purdy sack, derailing the drive, while Purdy was sacked on second down on the second drive.

Washington also excelled in the pass game, with Jayden Daniels going for 300 passing yards, despite their run game producing just 53 yards on 3.1 yards per carry. That’s all to say: it was extremely important the 49ers got off to a lead, as the hole proved too far for the Commanders to dig out of in the second half.

Third and fourth down execution

The 49ers didn’t win the time of possession battle, mainly because the Commanders had the ball for nearly 80 percent of the fourth quarter. But they did win the late-down battle, which was also a key of mine heading into the game.

Coming in, the 49ers were the second-most efficient offense in the NFL, which meant they weren’t getting to third downs often, ranking 32nd in the NFL in third downs per game. But when they did get there, they still converted at a high rate, ranking first in the NFL coming into the game.

Meanwhile, while the Commanders were a solid defense on early downs, they’ve really struggled on third downs, ranking 28th in the NFL in EPA allowed per play on third downs and 24th in the NFL in conversion rate.

Through three quarters on Monday, the 49ers were 7 of 11 on third downs and 2 of 2 on fourth downs. So, in essence, they converted 9 of their 11 late-down opportunities, and that resulted in four scoring drives on six opportunities through three quarters, with the other two being Christian McCaffrey’s fumble and a punt.

With the pass game options looking as they did, and the Commanders’ defense coming in as a solid run defense, it felt like this one could be a game with longer drives, and that proved to be the case for the 49ers. They had drives of 9, 8, 7, 14, and 11 plays through the first three quarters, but executed well on later downs to keep them going.

Now, of course, the 49ers ended the game with three three-and-outs. But they also did a really good job defensively on later downs. The Commanders were just 3 of 12 on third downs and 1 of 3 on fourth downs, and it made a huge difference.

To start the game, the 49ers forced a field goal on a successful Washington drive, got a sack on third down for a three-and-out, and forced a turnover on downs as the Commanders got to 4th & 2 on the 49ers 13-yard line. That’s three key late-down stops resulting in only three points.

San Francisco also got a sack near midfield on third down on Washington’s opening drive of the second half. Then, after allowing two touchdown drives, the 49ers had multiple late-down stops. On Washington’s second-to-last drive, the 49ers forced an incompletion on third down and got a fourth-down sack, which was wiped out by an illegal contact. On the next set of downs, though, they got another third-down stop before Malik Mustapha’s big pass breakup forced a turnover on downs.

Of course, on the final drive, the 49ers got a sack on Daniels on third down to end the game on the final play.

Overall, the 49ers offense executed quite well on third and fourth downs through three quarters, setting themselves up in a good position, while the defense consistently came together with clutch plays on late downs to stop a very quality Commanders passing offense.

Some step up, while others struggle to

As in any close game, the 49ers don’t win this one without consistent play from some and clutch play from others.

We have to continue to praise Brock Purdy for his performances. The 49ers quarterback kept the ball out of harm’s way and completed 21 of 29 passes for 264 yards and a touchdown. He continued to hit explosives to his pass-catcher group, despite the injuries, and had a couple of savvy third-down scrambles to extend drives.

He’s seeing the field at a high level and isn’t making mistakes, while conducting a very efficient offense. Purdy averaged 9.1 yards per play, and it could’ve been more if some other plays were made in the second half.

Mustapha deserves praise, not only for his huge fourth-quarter play, but for his overall start to the season. As I’ve said the last few weeks, he’s been vital for Raheem Morris’s defense as a glue piece in the secondary.

On the defensive line, Romello Height continues to stack some really good games. He’s been a shoutout the last two weeks, and he played very well on Monday night, recording six pressures with his 0.5 sacks. Keion White, Mykel Williams, Gracen Halton, and Osa Odighizuwa all made key plays as well, as the 49ers pass rush got 21 pressures as a whole.

I have to also point out the quality play of Jaden Dugger, who has really broken out the last two weeks in Dre Greenlaw’s absence. Dugger had a team-high 11 tackles, and his versatility, which was a big talking point in the offseason, is showing out. He had multiple pressures again on Monday.

Then, even completely battered with injuries, Mike Evans had some big early plays that set up the 49ers scoring drives. That was key because the 49ers receivers were not targeted at all in the second half, with that group struggling to make plays. George Kittle had a strong first half as well, with five catches for 69 yards and a touchdown, but couldn’t come down with a key play on a third down in the second half that led to a quick punt.

The 49ers offensive line also had another very solid game, creating some key holes in the run game against a defense that ranked top 10 against the run coming into the week. Brock Purdy was also pressured on just 7 of his 34 dropbacks, despite being blitzed nearly 45 percent of the time.

One note to make: the 49ers benched Upton Stout again for a portion of the game, this time late in the fourth quarter. Raheem Morris initially had Ashtyn Davis in as a big nickel, then subbed him out as well after giving up a big play and committing a penalty. The 49ers then went with Deommodore Lenoir in the slot and Jack Jones outside to end the game.

Stout played just 28 of the 67 defensive snaps. He was credited with giving up three catches on four targets for 22 yards and a touchdown, per PFF.

I also do want to touch on Kyle Shanahan’s playcalling to end the game here as well. I mentioned earlier how Shanahan went pass-pass-pass on two consecutive fourth quarter three-and-outs, which backfired on the 49ers.

While he clearly wanted to remain aggressive, it was an interesting strategy given how San Francisco’s pass catchers looked and how the run game had been working to a degree. That kept a gassed defense on the field for over 11 minutes in the fourth quarter.

As we talk about some ups and downs, I do want to also touch on the Commanders side of things, as it was another week of questionable game management from Dan Quinn and Jayden Daniels. Daniels threw the ball away on an early turnover on downs at the 49ers 13-yard line, taking points off the board there.

Then, on the final two drives for the Commanders, Quinn elected to go for it twice: on 4th & 8 at the 49ers 29-yard line with 3:01 left down 23-17, and on 4th & 3 at the 17-yard line coming out of the two-minute warning.

It was an interesting decision, given how the Commanders defense had just forced two straight three-and-outs. Washington also had all three of its timeouts, plus the two-minute warning, and ended up burning the first of the three ahead of the 4th & 8, which was bailed out by a penalty.

Had Washington kicked, they would’ve been in a much better situation late, needing only a field goal to tie on their final drive rather than a touchdown.

Daniels, for as good as he played in bringing the Commanders back, also took some very poor sacks in addition to the throwaway. Those were some costly plays by the Commanders in their loss.

Coming off their biggest win of the season, the Washington Huskies will enjoy a restful weekend on the shores of the Puget Sound. Following a 38-26 win over Purdue, Washington will enter its bye week before preparing for the final five games of the regular season.

Although the Huskies boast just a 4-3 record, far below preseason expectations, the week off presents an opportunity to get healthy and carry the momentum through the end of the season.

Not only has Washington suffered mightily from injuries this season, but a case of the flu also managed to make its way through the locker room last week. Outside of those ruled out for the season with injury, UW had five players miss last Friday's game, including quarterback Demond Williams Jr., Jedd Fisch spoke on his battered squad during Friday's postgame press conference.

"I didn't know if Trey (Cooley) was going to be available for this game, and we had the flu hit our program pretty hard. We had 15 guys miss practice on Tuesday, and we had 18 guys miss on Wednesday; he was one of those guys. So Trey didn't practice all week with us until, I think, the walkthrough. So, we had to find different ways to get (Dezmen Roebuck) in the backfield because outside we had Ryken (Moon) and Brian (Bonner Jr.) Those were our two backs going into this game. Ansu (Sanoe) couldn't travel with us because he had the flu as well."

The final injury report for Washington as they prepare to take on Purdue pic.twitter.com/xBfRURVDC3

— Roman Tomashoff (@rtomashoff34) October 16, 2026

It doesn't take an expert to tell you that when flu-like symptoms occur, the best thing to do is travel across the country and play football in cold weather. Fortunately for Fisch's team, they won't have to worry about that, as they won't step onto the field until Halloween night against Nebraska.

Not only will the bye give the locker room a chance to overcome sickness and injuries, but also provide an opportunity to re-evaluate the upcoming schedule. Due to the chaos that has ensued across the nation in the last few weeks, Washington's upcoming schedule looks a bit more manageable. After heading to Lincoln, the Huskies will face Penn State, Michigan State, No. 6 Indiana, and Oregon. With the Nittany Lions and Ducks falling out of the top-25 in recent weeks, those matchups suddenly don't look quite as daunting.

Take into consideration that Fisch's offense is coming off its best offensive performance in conference play, and Washington looks to have a real chance to be competitive in all of their remaining games. But if there's one thing to take away from the first seven weeks of the season, it's that expectations can change in the blink of an eye.

Either way, Washington gets some much-needed rest before looking to catch fire to cap off the 2026 campaign.

This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Washington Football Gets Rest Before Gearing Up For Final Five Games

Credit: Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show has a new in-venue announcer.

Per The Hollywood Reporter, Fox Sports’ lead soccer play-by-play announcer John Strong will succeed Michael J. LaFave, who spent 25 years as the “Voice of Westminster,” when the WKCDS returns to New York City in February 2027 for its 151st installment.

Strong, who has been the play-by-play for the Masters Agility Championship and hosted the Best of Breed competition for the past seven years for Fox, will make the call on Netflix, after the streamer announced last month that for the first time it would stream the event’s evening group judging and Best in Show competition, which it touted as “the Super Bowl, Met Gala, Olympics, and Broadway opening night of the dog world, all rolled into one.”

“As the legacy of Westminster continues, we are overjoyed to welcome John back to the show in this exciting new role,” Dr. Donald Sturz, president of The Westminster Kennel Club, said. “John has called some of the world’s most historic sporting moments, including some of Westminster’s very own. We know he will bring his signature flair, expert commentary, and genuine love of dogs to every moment leading up to Best in Show.”

Strong, who has called the FIFA World Cup and Major League Soccer, said that he is “humbled and honored” to assume the role.

“I look forward to honoring the legacy of Westminster and celebrating the future of this beloved sporting event while lending my passion for dogs and live sports experience to the world’s top canine competitors,” he added.

The daytime breed competitions at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center will stream live on The Westminster Kennel Club’s website and YouTube channel on January 30, and the 14th annual Masters Agility Championship will be taped and streamed on Netflix at a later date. The WKCDS will live stream on Netflix from Madison Square Garden on February 1-2.

Netflix’s acquisition of the Westminster Dog Show reunites it with Monday Night Raw, which the streamer also has the rights to, opening the door for the dog show to pre-empt the wrestling program, a great cable television tradition. Netflix will cross-promote the events, and only time will tell whether Bert Kreischer shows up to parade some dogs around.

The post John Strong announced as new voice of Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show appeared first on Awful Announcing.

Ryan Rollins is expected to shoulder more responsibility for the Milwaukee Bucks after the Giannis Antetokounmpo era in Cream City came to an end. After a breakout campaign, Rollins will also share backcourt duties with newly acquired Bucks guard Tyler Herro.

“I think the biggest thing with us is pushing the pace and creating early offense… me and him have good communication… the more we play we’ll understand each other more,” Rollins commented during his media availability when talking about his new backcourt partner in Herro.

The Bucks new backcourt with Tyler Herro and Ryan RollinsFeb 24, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) looks for a shot against Bucks guard Ryan Rollins (13) in the fourth quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

The Bucks acquired Tyler Herro from the Miami Heat in a deal that sent two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and veteran forward Bobby Portis to Miami. Losing Antetokounmpo leaves a major gap on both ends of the floor, but Rollins and Herro could help ease the loss through their combined scoring and playmaking abilities.

Milwaukee is adding a proven scorer and capable facilitator in Herro, who has earned Sixth Man of the Year honors during his career. The 26 year old has played 394 NBA games, averaging 19.5 points and 4.1 assists per contest. He has also converted 45.0 percent of his field goal attempts and 38.2 percent of his three pointers since entering the league after his time with Kentucky.

Oct 30, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Bucks guard Ryan Rollins (13) reacts in the 4th quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

After a productive 2025-2026 campaign, Rollins aims to carry that momentum into the next season. He finished the year averaging 17.3 points, 5.6 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game.

Milwaukee opens the new season Wednesday, facing the Washington Wizards away from home.

More Bucks news from Wisconsin Sports HeroicsOct 11, 2026; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Bucks forward Pete Nance (35) runs up court against the Charlotte Hornets during the fourth quarter at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kinser-Imagn Images

• Myles Turner embraces new role as the Bucks navigate rebuild
• Taylor Jenkins reveals what makes Brayden Burries special after Bucks preseason victory
• Tyler Herro attempts hilarious Anthony Edwards prank during Bucks debut