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INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 12: Terrel Bernard #8 of the Buffalo Bills tackles Blake Corum #24 of the Los Angeles Rams during the second quarter of the game at SoFi Stadium on October 12, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) | Getty Images

In the first season of the Joe Brady era, Josh Allen, James Cook and the Buffalo Bills once again feature one of the most prolific offenses in the NFL.

But on the other side of the ball, there have been plenty of issues with Jim Leonhard’s defense, and it seems week after week, the Bills are forced to score as many points as possible and hope the defense can hang on for the win.

The formula has worked…so far. The Bills are 5-1 through the first six weeks, are in sole possession of first place in the AFC East and currently are alone as the N0. 2 seed in the AFC heading into their bye.

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But sooner or later, Buffalo’s defense is going to need to need to show marked improvements in several phases of the game, most pressing being Buffalo’s issues getting off the field on third-and-long scenarios.

With the Bills currently on their bye, today’s edition of Buffalo Rumblinks leads off by examining how Leonhard, Brady and co. are still searching for answers on a defense that ranks 28th in points allowed (28.5 ppg.), and is 31st in yards allowed (398.2), 30th in passing yards allowed (264.6), and 28th in rushing yards allowed (133.6).

Check out the news items below and then let us know your thoughts on what needs to be done to fix the defensive issues plaguing the Bills.

DC Jim Leonhard still searching for answers

Bills fans knew the 2026 team was going to be different on defense. That was expected as soon as former head coach Sean McDermott was fired and former Bills safety Jim Leonhard was brought in to oversee a complete overhaul of Buffalo’s defensive scheme. The team switched from a 4-3 scheme to a multiple 3-4 base defense under Leonhard, with mixed results.

So far, citing terrific research compiled by Buffalo Rumblings writer Bruce Nolan, the only tangible improvement on defense has been against the run, as Buffalo is 25th in Expected Points Added (EPA) per rush, a metric that measures the net point value a running play adds to an offense. That’s up from last year, when the Bills were 31st in EPA per rush.

Besides that slight improvement, everything else about Buffalo’s defense has significantly declined from last year to this year. With the Bills once again possessing legitimate Super Bowl aspirations, and with Josh Allen once again orchestrating a dynamic offense that leads the league in scoring average, Bills fans are hoping the team will emerge from the bye week with a better understanding of what adjustments Leonhard is going to make to fix the many issues on defense.

We examine what has gone right on defense—from the stellar play of Deone Walker, Greg Rousseau and the rest of the defensive front—and what has gone wrong—from poor play from the middle linebackers and safeties to an inability to get off the field on third down and contain the passing game; explore how the defense remains the crucial weakness that could derail those Super Bowl dreams; and hear from Leonhard on what changes could be coming as the team uses the bye week to scheme ways to address its deficiencies.

• Three questions after the Buffalo Bills outlast the Las Vegas Raiders – Buffalo News (subscription required)
• Why the Buffalo Bills’ defense is the flaw that could sink a Super Bowl run – The Athletic (subscription required)
• Jim Leonhard Says ‘Some Changes’ Being Made to Bills’ Defense – Sports Illustrated Buffalo Bills
• Bills notebook: Leonhard on ‘the biggest thing’ for defense over bye week – Buffalo News (subscription required)
• Will Bills’ rookies make or break the defense? Here’s what the film says – The Athletic (subscription required)
• Four Critical Changes That Bills Must Make During Bye Week – Sports Illustrated Buffalo Bills

Even more Bills news

Discussing the recent reunion with former All-Pro cornerback Tre’Davious White. Plus, find out the key numbers that powered Buffalo past the Las Vegas Raiders; learn how defensive tackle Deone Walker was once again a disruptive force in the middle of the Bills defense; and safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson gets suspended for a game after spitting at Raiders tight end Brock Bowers.

• Source: Buffalo Bills to bring back Tre’Davious White via practice squad – Buffalo News (subscription required)
• Former All-Pro signs with Buffalo Bills for third stint with team – Democrat & Chronicle
• Buffalo Bills fans get Tre’Davious White reunion news on Victory Monday – newyorkupstate.com
• Tre’Davious White signed to Bills’ practice squad – WGR 550
• Bills sign CB Tre’Davious White to practice squad, release CB A.J. Woods – BuffaloBills.com
• Bills sign veteran CB Tre’Davious White to practice squad – WGRZ
• Tre’Davious White Returns to Orchard Park, But This Old Bills’ All-Pro Won’t Be Back – Sports Illustrated Buffalo Bills
• The advanced stats behind the Bills’ Week 6 win in Las Vegas – BuffaloBills.com
• Buffalo Bills’ Deone Walker dominated $81 million Raiders center Tyler Linderbaum – newyorkupstate.com
• C.J. Gardner-Johnson suspended 1 game for spitting at Brock Bowers – The Athletic (subscription required)
• NFL suspends Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson without pay for one game – WGRZ
• Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson suspended one game by NFL for spitting – Buffalo News (subscription required)
• C.J. Gardner-Johnson suspended one game for spitting incident – WGR 550
• Bills’ Gardner-Johnson suspended one game for spitting at Raiders players – ESPN.com Buffalo Bills blog

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Aaron Boone will be returning as manager of the New York Yankees for the 2027 season, the final year of his contract, the team confirmed on Wednesday.

Owner Hal Steinbrenner and general manager Brian Cashman met with reporters via a video conference to discuss the 2026 season and Boone's future, which faced much speculation after the Yankees' latest postseason exit.

The roster put together by Cashman, who confirmed he has agreed to a contract extension, and the managing job by Boone were backed by Steinbrenner. The Yankees owner praised the team's pitching, but expressed multiple times that the offense was the biggest reason why the team fell short of championship expectations.

"Every year I'm going to look at the situation," Steinbrenner said of contemplating Boone's future. "I don't think you can pin the season and the unacceptable end to it on Aaron. I don't think you can pin it on [Cashman], based on the roster he put together. The offense, not the pitching, but the offense, had a big part of why, in my opinion, why we didn't get where we strive to get every year and we're certainly striving to get this year.

"That was during the whole year. In the postseason, if you look at their performance against the two starting Boston pitchers and their performance against probably all the Rays pitchers, it was just not good. I don't know how else to put it. If you don't score runs, you're not going to win. We all know that."

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Steinbrenner added that he had a week-long conversation about Boone's status, but in the end did not believe the manager was part of the problem either.

"I don't believe he was," Steinbrenner said. "I think he had a good year managing-wise. I would, of course, consider moving on from Aaron Boone if I thought he was a huge part of the problem and I can certainly, without mentioning names, point out to other managers of other clubs that have been part of the problem and that's why a change was made.

"This year, I just don't believe that's the case."

Boone's contract set to expire after 2027 season

Boone signed a two-year extension through the 2027 MLB season in February 2025, months after the Yankees lost the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers. After two straight eliminations in the ALDS, some expected Boone's time would be up in New York after nine seasons. Instead, he will manage the team through at least the end of his current deal.

The 2026 season saw the Yankees finish second in the AL East for the second straight season and win 90 games for the seventh time in a full season under Boone. It's in the postseason that the Yankees have fallen short more often than not under the 53-year-old.

Manager Aaron Boone of the New York Yankees speaks to the media prior to Game One of the American League Division Series between the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays.Mike Carlson via Getty Images

The Yankees hold a 27-30 playoff record under Boone, which includes three trips to the ALCS and one World Series appearance. His teams are 18-5 as the higher seed in a series and 9-25 as the lower seed. The Yankees were the No. 4 seed in 2026 and beat the No. 5 seed Boston Red Sox in the wild-card round before being swept by the top-seeded Tampa Rays in the ALDS.

Without Aaron Judge and with Giancarlo Stanton available only as a pinch-hitter, the Yankees batted .130 in the ALDS, and three of their five RBI came from Ben Rice. Their pitching was what kept them in games, as evidenced by a 1.88 team ERA, 0.81 team WHIP and a .173 opponent batting average.

"I thought Boone managed a good season, especially with the pitching staff," said Steinbrenner. "He got us to the playoffs, and the bottom-line is the players didn't live up to their end of the bargain in the playoffs."

In the playoffs, other teams have often been able to pick up on the weaknesses of Boone's Yankees teams. The Dodgers told their players their 2024 World Series opponents were "talent over fundamentals" and were bound to self-destruct. Toronto Blue Jays announcer Buck Martinez labeled the AL East rivals as "not a good team" last season, saying they were mistake-prone in the field and on the bases.

Those criticisms were only hardened after seeing Austin Wells' baserunning mistake in Game 1 of the ALDS against the Rays and the Yankees' defensive breakdown in Game 2.

Cashman has been in charge for 29 seasons. Boone is just the third manager to work under him. The Yankees last won the World Series in 2009 and are in the midst of a 17-year championship drought. The boos heard after Trent Grisham's series-ending strikeout against the Rays showed how frustrated the fan base is with the team's current state.

But regardless of their feelings, Cashman apparently isn't ready to hire a new manager just yet. It's unclear what major changes he will make this winter, if any, in hopes of returning the franchise to contender status, which remains the goal of ownership.

"That is our mission, that is our goal," Steinbrenner said.

Fred Lorenzen spent his NASCAR career making history. More than half a century after his greatest victories, the Hall of Famer’s name is now attached to another milestone, one his family hopes will help other drivers avoid the suffering they witnessed firsthand.

Researchers at Boston University’s CTE Center have diagnosed Lorenzen with stage 3 chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) following an examination of his brain after his death, the Concussion & CTE Foundation announced Tuesday, Oct. 20.

Lorenzen, who died Dec. 18, 2024, at age 89, is the first NASCAR driver known to have received a confirmed CTE diagnosis. The degenerative brain disease is associated with repeated head impacts and can currently be definitively diagnosed only after death.

For Lorenzen’s children, Chris Lorenzen and Amanda Lorenzen Gardstrom, the findings follow two decades of watching their father live with dementia.

Now, they’re committing $1 million to help other racing families find answers and support.

Fred Lorenzen’s Family Speaks Out About His Years With Dementia

Long before Lorenzen’s health deteriorated, he was one of NASCAR’s biggest stars.

Nicknamed “Fast Freddie” and “The Golden Boy,” Lorenzen won 26 Cup Series races, including the 1965 Daytona 500. He was the first driver to earn $100,000 in a single NASCAR season and was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2015.

But away from the accomplishments that made him famous, Lorenzen and his family were facing an increasingly difficult reality.

His daughter said he had struggled for years before receiving a dementia diagnosis in his 60s.

“My dad struggled for many years, long before he was diagnosed with dementia in his 60s,” Gardstrom said in the foundation’s announcement.

“Watching him go through that, and experiencing the impact it had on me and our family was incredibly difficult and beyond heartbreaking.”

In 2016, Lorenzen pledged to donate his brain for research. Nearly a decade later, that decision has provided researchers with important findings about a disease that remains difficult to study in living patients.

The diagnosis is significant, although it does not establish how widespread CTE is among NASCAR drivers or determine which specific events during Lorenzen’s racing career contributed to the disease.

Lorenzen Family Donates $1 Million to Help Other NASCAR Drivers

Rather than keeping the findings private, Lorenzen’s children have chosen to use them to help other families navigating similar circumstances.

Their $1 million donation to the Concussion & CTE Foundation will support further research and establish the Fred Lorenzen Memorial HelpLine, a resource connecting current and former racing drivers and their families with care and information about persistent concussion symptoms and suspected CTE.

The family also hopes to support efforts to make CTE diagnosable during a person’s lifetime.

In announcing the initiative, Chris Lorenzen expressed disappointment that NASCAR had not joined the effort following discussions earlier this year.

“We had hoped NASCAR would join us in this effort, and while we’re disappointed that hasn’t happened, we remain hopeful there will be opportunities to work together to support the drivers who helped build the sport,” he said.

The foundation said the family opened discussions with NASCAR leadership in January. The announcement did not specify the terms of the proposed collaboration or why NASCAR declined to participate.

For the Lorenzens, however, the effort is moving forward.

Their father’s name will remain associated with his Daytona 500 victory, his remarkable winning record and his place among NASCAR’s pioneers. His children now hope it can also help families facing questions about the long-term effects of brain injuries.

The Fred Lorenzen Memorial HelpLine is available through the Concussion & CTE Foundation at ConcussionAndCTE.org/Lorenzen.

The Panthers have added a running back to their 53-man roster.

Carolina announced the club has signed Anthony Tyus off of its practice squad.

Tyus, 23, has been with Carolina since last season, mainly on the team’s practice squad.

He’s appeared in three games so far this season, averaging 25.4 yards on five kick returns.

Additionally, the Panthers have opened the 21-day practice window for linebacker Bam Martin-Scott, who is currently on injured reserve.

The Philadelphia 76ers were at the center of the offseason conversation after two significant moves shook up the NBA landscape. The trade to acquire Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics and the signing of future Hall of Famer LeBron James created a roster that looked incredible on paper. However, could four players who typically played with the ball in their hands coexist on one roster? The 76ers answered that question, at least partially, with an opening-night win over the reigning-champion New York Knicks.

Philly's new core of Brown, James, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe didn't just show it was possible; each player showed they've bought into a fully selfless style of play—and the results showed. The Sixers' 106-100 road win over the Knicks on ring night for New York came with a balanced attack: all five starters attempted 10-plus field goals, scored nine or more points, and everyone else filled the box score.

The style of play was especially unique for Brown and Embiid, and after the game, the latter made a declaration that proved he's more bought in than ever. Embiid spoke specifically about defense, stating he's going to return to his All-Defense form in a way that can "change everything" for the Sixers," as ESPN's Kris Rhim revealed.

"I think just we have the talent," Embiid said. "...I think a lot of it falls on me. I put it on me. If I want to be All-Defense like I used to be, that changes everything for our team. So if I can play that way every single night, which I will, changes everything."

The comments were telling by Embiid, and he backed them up with his play on the floor during the opening-night victory.

How Joel Embiid backed up his 'All-Defense' comments in 76ers' win over Knicks

Embiid is used to being the centerpiece of the 76ers' offensive game plan, or at the very least, being either option 1A or 1B alongside Maxey. But his focus on playing at an "All-Defense" level showed on Tuesday night. Among the five starters, Embiid scored the second-fewest points (13), ahead of only the team's Swiss Army knife in Edgecombe.

However, his defense was notable. Embiid finished the game with 13 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, but most importantly, he added three blocks and two steals. His +13 net rating was the second-highest on the Sixers, behind only Brown's +17.

If Embiid can keep elevating his play on the defensive end, it will make life easier for his teammates across the board and help deliver results like the road win that surprised many on Tuesday night. It's a big statement from the longtime Sixers star, but it's not one that's out of the realm of possibility.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Joel Embiid makes vow to 76ers that 'changes everything' after opener

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What Chet Holmgren said about limiting Victor Wembanyama to 1-of-13 shooting in revenge game appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Thunder pulled off an impressive 116-104 victory over the San Antonio Spurs to open up the season. The two Western Conference powers that met in last year’s Western Conference Finals came into this game with a lot of hype, specifically around the growing rivalry between Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren, but Holmgren got the final laugh on opening night.

Holmgren finished the game with 14 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 4 blocks, while Victor Wembanyama had 12 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 6 blocks, but only shot 1 of 13 from the field and had 4 turnovers. Following the game, Holmgren spoke about the team’s defense limiting Wembanyama.

“I think we did a great job of keying in on what the coaches gave us and going out there and not only making it tough on him, but tough on everybody else as a team,” Holmgren said in post-game comments obtained by Clemente Almanza.

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Almanza also obtained a clip of Holmgren talking about how it felt to face the San Antonio Spurs.

“I feel like there’s a balance between letting the game tell you what to do and telling the game what to do.”

The win comes after Holmgren downplayed the rivalry talk between him and Wembanyama.

“You can’t get so wrapped up in just that, that you forget the process and the steps that it takes to work towards the goal we’re trying to work towards,” Holmgren told Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix about facing Wembanyama. “They’re a very talented young team. There’s no denying that. And I’d say, I mean, we’re a very talented young team too, and that leads to some very fiery, competitive basketball games.”

Related: Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama calls out issues that got Thunder ‘having fun’

Related: Thunder star SGA gets 100% real on simple approach that helped OKC rip Spurs apart

Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

Seahawks rumors: ESPN insider just asking questions about Sam Darnold as bust version makes unwanted appearances appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

After a hard-fought overtime loss to the Denver Broncos on Thursday night, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold faced the media and offered no excuses for his performance. The game concluded with a 17-14 defeat, and Darnold admitted that it was difficult to put a positive spin on his struggles, which included two costly turnovers.

This disappointing outing dropped the defending champions to a 3-3 record and sparked widespread discussion about Darnold’s consistency. Furthermore, there is intense scrutiny surrounding his long-term future with the team. An ESPN report revealed that Darnold has one year left on his contract after this season, valued at $35.5 million, but without any guaranteed money.

Insiders Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler highlighted the increasing pressure on Darnold, noting that while backup Drew Lock has shown promise, Darnold needs to quickly reduce his turnover rate, as he has thrown seven interceptions so far. This is especially urgent as the front office must make important roster decisions by March 2027 if the team’s offensive struggles continue.

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Despite the growing concerns about his contract status and recent errors, head coach Mike Macdonald swiftly dismissed any speculation about benching Darnold. Speaking on Seattle Sports, Macdonald expressed his full confidence in Darnold’s ability to bounce back, emphasizing that improvements in the offensive line and a stronger run game are essential for the team to find success.

Related: Patriots’ Mike Vrabel drops head turning Caleb Lomu take for TNF clash vs. Bears amid O-line woes

Related: The ‘troll-y’ reason Mina Kimes felt better about Patriots’ AJ Brown despite drops

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 16: Head Coach Thom Thibodeau of the New York Knicks watches his team play against the Chicago Bulls on December 16, 2022 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. New York defeated Chicago 114-91. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) | Getty Images

As Kenny Atkinson and the Cleveland Cavaliers gear up for arguably their most consequential season of this era, they are soliciting any and all advice. Former NBA head coach Thom Thibodeau attended the Cavs’ practice on Tuesday, according to Atkinson, to gather his feedback. There has not been any indication that the Cavs have hired Thibodeau in any capacity.

“We’re a continuous learning organization, seeing who can we learn from,” Atkinson said after practice. “I’ll ask for his feedback, what he thought of practice.”

Kenny on Thibs visit:

"We're a continuous learning organization, who can we learn from. … I'll ask his feedback what he thought of practice. … I pretty much feel comfortable with anybody in our coaching circle just to invite or go visit them. … It's great to get feedback." https://t.co/gphOb1GWeypic.twitter.com/N6tiD7yjJS

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Thibodeau, 68, did not coach in the NBA last year after being fired by the New York Knicks. Prior to that, he spent five seasons with the Chicago Bulls (2010-2015) and another three years with the Minnesota Timberwolves (2016-2019).

Atkinson said he “pretty much feels comfortable” with anybody in the coaching circle visiting or going to visit them. While the exact reason for Thibodeau’s visit was not explained, it is not uncommon for teams to ask for information from former coaches — or even bring them on board. The Cavs also hired former Memphis Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings head coach Dave Joerger as a consultant in 2023-24, before being whisked away to join Doc Rivers in Milwaukee.

In his time as both an assistant and head coach, Thibodeau gained a reputation for building elite defenses. In his first four seasons with Chicago, the Bulls posted a top-six defensive rating. The Knicks teams he coached also consistently finished in the upper tiers of most defensive metrics, despite not having a traditional anchor center. The Cavs, after losing their edge on that end last season, are looking to get back to being a top defense.

Like those Bulls teams that had Joakim Noah at center, the Cavs have a traditional big in Jarrett Allen. And, again, like the Chicago teams of that era, the Cavs do not have a strong defensive backcourt. Atkinson, mostly known for his offensive scheming, very well could be looking to Thibodeau for tips on upgrading the defensive game plan. Thibodeau ran a heavy help defense with aggressive pick-and-roll coverage, a real “hair-on-fire” mentality that relies on disciplined rotations and strong closeouts. The Cavs, many times last season, were one or two steps late on rotations and looked slack in getting back on defense after a miss. With an upgraded Eastern Conference, the Cavs must be better on defense if they not only want to advance to the NBA Finals, but just get back to the Conference Championship as well.

Pascal Struijk was shown a red card by referee Thomas Bramall after 57 minutes of Brighton's victory at Sunderland [Getty Images]

The Premier League's Key Match Incidents Panel has supported Pascal Struijk's red card against Sunderland - despite the Brighton defender having his suspension overturned on appeal.

Struijk was sent off after 57 minutes at the Stadium of Light when he was adjudged to have fouled Sunderland forward Wilson Isidor as he tried to run on to a through-ball.

Referee Thomas Bramall did not give a foul initially, but he was sent to the pitchside monitor by the video assistant referee (VAR), Neil Davies, who deemed the Dutch defender had denied Isidor an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.

Brighton successfully challenged the red card at a Football Association disciplinary commission, meaning he was available for Sunday's 5-0 win over Crystal Palace - though he missed the game through injury anyway.

The three members of the FA commission unanimously determined that Isidor "had not taken control of the ball and the pass was clearly going to run through to the goalkeeper".

Yet the KMI Panel, upon which five people sit, came to the opposite conclusion, with both votes split 3:2.

It decided Bramall was incorrect not to give a foul and a red card, and the VAR was right to intervene.

Only two panellists felt the intervention was "incorrect due to the subjectivity of whether Isidor would gain possession" before goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen.

The KMI Panel features three former players or coaches, plus one representative each from the Premier League and Pro Ref.

James Anderson is England's all-time leading Test wicket-taker with 704 [Getty Images]

James Anderson's legendary career could be over after Lancashire opted against offering England's all-time leading wicket-taker a new contract.

Anderson, 44, chose to continue playing with Lancashire after England forced him into international retirement in 2024.

He captained Lancashire in the County Championship last season but the Red Rose endured a poor season, finishing next to bottom of Division Two.

Now, as first reported by the Times, Anderson will not be given the opportunity to play at Old Trafford in 2027 - the summer when he will turn 45.

It is not known whether Anderson will retire or look to extend his 26-year professional career with another county.

More to follow.

• What's gone wrong at Lancashire?

Major League Baseball’s free agent qualifying offer figure has been set for the 2026–27 offseason, but the structure is just the start of what is set to be a highly uncertain player market this fall and winter. 

The league set the latest qualifying offer at $23.15 million, with that number derived from an average of the 125 major league contracts. The figure is up by 5.1% from last year and up by 74% since the system began after the 2012 season.

Qualifying offers provide protection to clubs for the potential loss of free agents, and tendering them provides draft pick compensation should a player sign with another club. Historically, players have held little regard for qualifying offers, and just 18 of 157 overall have been accepted. Amid recent salary escalation, though, that trend has begun to reverse, with a record four players accepting qualifying offers last year.

The upcoming offseason presents a rather different scenario because of ongoing labor strife between MLB and the MLB Players Association, and its direct impact on part of the sport that the qualifying offers touch. Team owners have proposed a series of dramatic measures including a hard salary cap, significant restrictions to free agency, and an overhaul of the MLB draft. The union vehemently opposes those offers, particularly the salary cap, and is looking to retain the core of the sport’s market-based economic system. 

A management lockout is expected when the current collective bargaining agreement expires in December. Qualifying offer decisions, however, will be made before that, with offers due by the fifth day after the World Series ends, and player decisions a week after that. 

As a result, both clubs and pending free agents will be looking at upcoming qualifying offers without knowing for certain what MLB’s overall economic structure or the nature of the draft next year look like. 

Top players that could receive qualifying offers include Mariners outfielder Randy Arozarena, Yankees closer David Bednar, and Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki. 

Historic Parallels 

The 2021-22 MLB offseason provides some window as to what may happen over the next several months. 

Five years ago, the league and union went through a similar scenario where labor disagreements led to a 99-day management lockout, ultimately resolved in March 2022, preserving a full season that year. 

The preceding offseason included a conventional qualifying offer process, and only Giants first baseman Brandon Belt accepted what was an $18.4 million offer at the time.

Several other key offseason events were either canceled or postponed due to the lockout, including the major league phase of the Rule 5 draft and salary arbitration proceedings. 

The same thing would happen this time around. MLB recently detailed in a memo to club owners that essentially all player-related activity would stop as soon as a lockout begins, including a halt on player trades, signings, and contract negotiations. Additionally, all player images and videos would be removed from official league outlets such as the MLB website, and any contact between team staffers and players, even socially, would be severely restricted. Those practices duplicate what happened during the prior lockout. 

The similarity to a half decade ago, however, begins to fade when considering the scope of management’s current labor proposals—which could radically restructure the state of the game—and the state of the bargaining divide. Both sides have held out some hope of a deal ultimately being struck, but doing so would require sizable movement from the current negotiating positions.

One potential element of labor agreement lies around the qualifying offer in future years. The union wants to eliminate the system altogether, arguing that it acts as a drag on free agency options as signing teams must currently pay draft-pick compensation. Owners have said they will agree to that, but only in the context of a salary cap and other severe restrictions to free agency that players oppose.

The post MLB Qualifying Offer Figure Rises Amid Labor Strife appeared first on Front Office Sports.

Bears quarterback Caleb Williams had a great game in Week 1, then got hurt at the end of a disappointing game in Week 2. After returning and playing another great game in Week 6, Bears coach Ben Johnson wants to see Williams do it again in Week 7.

Asked if Williams' performance in Sunday's win over the Falcons showed that he benefited from his time on the sideline while injured, Johnson disputed that. But he did say he wants to see Williams show he can play well every single week.

"I don't know about that. We saw a lot of that across the course of camp as well," Johnson said of Williams' stellar play in Week 6. "He put together a good performance, and the key with him and the rest of the guys is to stack good performances, back to back to back. Thats' what the good ones do."

Williams has shown a lot of improvement, going from 32nd in the NFL in completion percentage last year to first this year. Now Johnson looks forward to seeing if Williams can show that consistency in back-to-back weeks.

Brewers 'timeless ticket' controversy, explained: Why 11-year-old promo is causing World Series backlash originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Milwaukee Brewers' return to the World Series for the first time in 44 years is an incredible moment for a fanbase that has been waiting for this for their entire lives. 

The demand for tickets to the Brewers' home games in the World Series is high, but some fans tried to get a head start through Milwaukee's Timeless Ticket promotion. Over a decade ago, 1,000 fans bought into the promotion that gave them a ticket to any future game, with many hoping to use that on a World Series game.

However, the Brewers' promotion came with controversy once those fans tried to redeem their tickets for this year's World Series game. The team tried to honor their promotion, but their fans weren't happy with the seats that the team was offering for the Timeless Ticket holders.

Here's a breakdown of the Brewers' Timeless Ticket controversy.

MORE: Pat Murphy calls out critics after NLCS win

What is a Brewers' Timeless Ticket?

The Timeless Ticket is a marketing campaign the Brewers introduced in 2015 that allowed fans to redeem up to three tickets for any home game in the future, including playoff and World Series games. Only 1,000 tickets were sold, but Milwaukee intended for them to be used at any time.

This morning we announced new benefits to the #Brewers Timeless Ticket: https://t.co/4z1DubXVIS https://t.co/xGVciwcBor

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) January 13, 2015

"Whether it's this season, the year 2050, or the 7th game of the World Series, all are valid games to redeem a Timeless Ticket," the Brewers say on their website.

The Brewers stayed committed to the Timeless Ticket, offering chances for fans to redeem the tickets during any playoff game since the 2015 season. However, many fans bought the Timeless Tickets specifically with the World Series in mind.

MORE: Full World Series schedule for Brewers vs. Rays

How much did Timeless Tickets cost?

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Timeless Tickets cost $1,000 each, which is well more than a typical regular season game. Therefore, it's fair to assume that fans bought the tickets hoping to one day redeem them for the team's first World Series appearance since 1982, which would surely feature more expensive tickets.

MORE: How much are World Series tickets?

Brewers Timeless Ticket World Series controversy

The Brewers fully intended to stand by their Timeless Ticket promotion in their first World Series since 1982, but the seats they offered to those fans were not satisfactory. The terms of the Timeless Ticket explained that they were redeemable for "the best available seat location(s)," but many fans found that they were offered only tickets in the 400-level seating, while general public tickets were available in better sections.

"It's just unfortunate to be treated like this after, you know, being so loyal to them all these years," Danny Fochesato, a Brewers fan who bought the Timeless Ticket, told Sportico. "I gave them $1,000 11 years ago. That should put me ahead of them banking on people who don't even exist yet."

As a result of the controversy, the Brewers apologized for not providing their Timeless Ticket fans with satisfactory seats.

"We subsequently erred in our internal communications on the logistics of fulfilling the requests," President of Business Operations Rick Schlesinger said in a statement. "While we were able to accommodate all with seats, we received feedback from some that they were unhappy with their seat locations."

New: The Brewers say they “erred” on the logistics of fulfilling Timeless Ticket requests for World Series games, limiting fans to the 400 level and standing room tickets. Those fans will now be able to keep those tickets AND retain their Timeless Ticket for a future game: https://t.co/FvRSNyRVYA

— A.J. Bayatpour (@AJBayatpour) October 20, 2026

Therefore, Milwaukee is allowing those fans to keep their World Series tickets this year and the Timeless Ticket option in the future, which gives these 1,000 fans another chance to redeem the ticket beyond this year.

"Clearly, even with extraordinary limitations on available seats, we did not live up to the spirit of the program and we have been working through a resolution," Schlesinger said. "We regret our mistake and look forward to welcoming them to America Family Field for their World Series experience."

MORE MLB NEWS:

• Predictions for the 2026 World Series
• Where Rays, Brewers rank among longest World Series droughts
• Why the Dodgers' dynasty may be over

Juventus centre-half reportedly dreams of Bayer Leverkusen switch

According to the Gazzetta dello Sport, Juventus Turin star Bremer is reportedly interested in making the move to Bayer Leverkusen. 

As it so happens, the Rhineland outfit are believed to be keen to sign him and are prepared to pay him a top salary.

However, currently Leverkusen's central defense is well-stocked with the likes of Jarell Quansah, Edmond Tapsoba Facundo Medina and Loïc Badé.

Therefore, further developing the Bremer situation would only make sense if one of the four central defenders were to leave the club.

One indication that Bremer is aiming for a swift departure from Turin is his recent change of agent which often precedes a club transfer.

A transfer could also be worthwhile for Juventus, helping to remove a top earner from its wage bill and gain a financial windfall.

Ultimately, Leverkusen isn't the only Bundesliga club that has Bremer on its shopping list, given Bayern Munich showed interest last summer. 

However, at the time Juventus were demanding more than €40 million, which Leverkusen couldn't compete in that price range anyway. 

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — An autopsy has found South African rugby player Hyron Andrews died from natural causes, a statement issued by his team the Lions on behalf of his family said Wednesday.

The statement, citing French authorities who conducted the autopsy, said Andrews' death last week at the age of 31 ahead of a game in France was found to be caused by “a tear in the aorta (due to natural causes)”. The aorta is the main artery leading away from the heart.

“The Andrews family asks for respect, privacy and patience during this difficult time as the repatriation process begins,” the statement added. “A timeline for the return of Hyron’s body to South Africa has not yet been determined.”

Andrews played as a lock for the Johannesburg-based Lions and was found dead at the team's hotel in France last week ahead of a Champions Cup against La Rochelle, a French prosecutor told The Associated Press at the time.

Andrews' jersey was placed on the field as tribute was paid to him ahead of the game, with several Lions players in tears.

___

See AP’s full sports coverage here

Counting the end of last season, Lucas Raymond hadn’t scored a goal in 15 games before Tuesday night’s game against the Seattle Kraken. Raymond had scored the game-winning goal in the shootout against the San Jose Sharks on Oct. 17, but shootout goals do not make it to the stat sheet, so that essentially didn’t count. You know what does count? A power-play goal in the third period by Raymond, set up by Alex DeBrincat and Dylan Larkin.

Oct 17, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Red Wings left wing Lucas Raymond (23) looks on during a faceoff in the second period against the San Jose Sharks at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bradshaw Sevald-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

Lucas Raymond is one of our best forwards and has been for a few seasons now. He has posted over 70 points in each of the last three seasons, with at least 25 goals in each. When one of our top forwards goes on a goal drought, the fans notice, and this drought came at a time when most Red Wings news was bad news. Even though we lost this game, Ray getting his goal is a huge relief, and we still picked up a point.

The Cat Strikes Again, and Lucas Raymond Set It Up

Alex DeBrincat added another milestone to his career as he netted his 300th career goal. His 300th was the game-tying power-play goal that sent us to overtime with just 17 seconds remaining in the game, assisted by Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond. Todd McLellan pointed straight at the pass afterward: “A lot of guys would have just shot that. But (Raymond) saw ‘Cat’ off to the side, and ‘Cat’ doesn’t miss many of those.” The Cat has 11 points in nine games played, leading the Red Wings in goals and points.

THE CAT'S 300TH WITH :17 TO PLAY pic.twitter.com/knKPN0AmiP

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) October 21, 2026Resiliency on Show in the Third Period

Resiliency has been something we have heard Todd McLellan talk about often. He wants a team that can hold on to the handlebars when the going gets tough and get back in the game. The third period against Seattle showcased this mentality that Todd wants and brought it into reality. Detroit started the third period down 3-0, but quickly gained back control and made it a hockey game. Viktor Arvidsson started the scoring with his fourth goal of the season and continues to be an asset to Detroit. Then Raymond, as we already talked about, ended his drought on the power play; then the Cat brought it to overtime with a power-play goal and his 300th. We lost the game in the shootout 4-3 but kept our points streak alive at five straight games.

NEW: The Red Wings kept their point streak alive with a big, late push — another example of their early-season resilience. But while that’s obviously positive, the reason we know so much about their resilience this early in the season is hard to escape. https://t.co/paMR7YYHVu

— Max Bultman (@m_bultman) October 21, 2026On Deck in Vancouver

The Red Wings continue their road trip Thursday night, Oct. 22, against the Vancouver Canucks, who come in at 2-8-1 and on an eight-game losing streak. Puck drop is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET. The Red Wings will need to be wary of Vancouver because a team in that spot tends to play desperate hockey, and desperate hockey can lead to some offense if not shut down properly. Detroit can’t go into this game cocky just because Vancouver isn’t playing well.

After a long wait, the 2026-27 NBA season tipped off Tuesday night, with a triple-header. These contests included two of Duke's most beloved alumni, Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum and Oklahoma City Thunder sharpshooter Jared McCain. Against the Detroit Pistons, Tatum didn't fare too well in his season opener, as the former Blue Devil was held to 13 points on 6-for-23 shooting, including 0-for-7 from downtown. However, the former NBA champion added four rebounds and 11 assists to make it a double-double.

As for McCain, he picked up right where he left off in last year's playoffs. McCain, who continues to prove himself as one of the best bench scorers in the entire NBA, added 20 points off the bench on 7-for-9 shooting including 6-for-8 from 3-point range to go along with two rebounds, two assists and one steal.

Recent second overall pick Maliq Brown was able to make his NBA debut with the San Antonio Spurs. That said, the former ACC Defensive Player of the Year Award winner didn't record a single stat, playing for just one minute.

Now with the NBA back in full swing, many more Duke notables will take the court Wednesday, including Cameron Boozer, Cooper Flagg, Zion Williamson, Paolo Banchero and Jalen Johnson. Charlotte Hornets forward Kon Knueppel will not play, as he remains sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Contact/Follow us @DukeWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Duke news, notes and opinions.Follow Mack on X: @MackBaltes

This article originally appeared on Duke Wire: Jared McCain leads Duke alumni on NBA opening night

Could the Buffalo Bills actually address the receiver position before the NFL trade deadline?

Right now it very much feels more likely that if a trade occurs, it’ll be for a defensive player, but you never know.

Today, let’s highlight Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr., a young, naturally very gifted wideout who’s fallen on hard times and out of favor in Jacksonville’s passing game after a tremendous start to his professional career.

This article is the second in the trade-candidate series I plan to sprinkle onto the site until the actual trade deadline until November 10, which is 20 days from now, and lands after Week 9.

Past installments in this series:

Derwin James

Age: 24

At this stage, any and almost all of the BTJ intrigue directly stems from his rookie season in 2024, when he caught 87 passes for 1,282 yards with 10 touchdowns. That year, he had a gaudy 2.45 yards-per-route-run figure and a drop rate of just 6.5%.

Last season, Thomas had a YPRR of 1.45, and his drop rate jumped to 13.5% on 90 targets. Through six games in 2026, his YPRR is a pedestrian 0.95, and his drop rate is 25.0%.

2026 snap splits

Wide: 71.6%
Slot: 28.4%

Regarding his snaps, BTJ has appeared on 43.1% of the Jaguars offensive snaps this season. He’s fourth on the team in targets. A season ago, he was on the field for 63.4% of the offensive snaps. As a rookie, Thomas’ snap rate was 79.4%.

How he’d fit with Bills

At just under 6’3” and 209 pounds with 4.33 speed, Thomas boasts prototypical size and speed to serve as a vertical-threat X on the outside in the Bills offense.

That spot is currently held by DJ Moore.

However, even if he’s built to be the downfield burner X he demonstrated he could be in 2024, resorting to the off-the-line Z wideout — the other outside receiver — would be most sensible for Thomas if the Bills were to trade for him. Yes, Keon Coleman has appeared at Z in some instances this season and has had reasonable success there.

But the Z is the role Josh Palmer has most predominantly played. It’s the wideout whose main responsibility is to take the lid of the defense to free underneath space and occasionally make a big play down the field.

Thomas can absolutely do that.

This move would likely (see: almost assuredly?) be subbing Thomas into Palmer’s spot on the field and the roster.

Financial obligation for Bills to trade for him

2026 salary: $1.07M

If the Bills trade for Thomas after Week 9, they’d be on the hook for $537k in prorated base salary. His 2027 salary is $2.79M. As a former first-round pick, he’d be eligible for the fifth-year option after that, in 2028.

The time remaining on his rookie deal remains the pillar of BTJ’s trade value. He’s incredibly cheap on the books now and in coming years.

Projected cost to acquire

Using Syndicate32.com’s trade machine, given Thomas’ clear downward spiral in productivity, the projected cost to trade for the receiver is a late Round 2 pick in 2027.

That feels ever-so-slightly high simply because Thomas is now well into his second season as a woefully ineffective receiver and he’s clearly not a big part of Jacksonville’s offensive plans. While that rookie year is a distant memory in the NFL world, it still exists, and his age and contract situation may very well support the Jaguars asking for an early Day 2 selection for the receiver.

Should the Bills trade for Brian Thomas Jr.?

For as much of a fan as I was of Thomas as a draft prospect, I don’t think at this date and time I could strongly advocate the Bills sending a second-round pick for him. If Coleman’s mini-emergence wasn’t ongoing, that would be a different story.

I absolutely believe he’s in dire need of a change of scenery, especially considering the GM and coach who drafted him in Jacksonville are long gone.

Then there’s the LSU connection. I can’t ignore that here.

While Joe Brady of course didn’t coach BTJ in Baton Rouge, it wouldn’t be crazy to assume the Bills head coach still has some LSU-based connections who could provide intel on what makes Thomas tick and how to get the best out of him in a new locale.

For as much as I’m always on the WR Train, I have accepted that the Bills need to trade for defensive help before anyone on offense.

BUT, Thomas is a youthful, cost-controlled tantalizing talent playing what I believe is the the game’s second-most important position, a spot that directly impacts Josh Allen.

If Thomas can be acquired for a third-round pick, along with a late-round throw-in, I think the Bills should seriously consider making that move.

What are your thoughts on BTJ?

Source: Juan Alejandro Bernal R/Depositphotos monticello/Depositphotos ESPN Football Power Index reshuffles top 25

ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) rankings changed significantly after Week 7 of the 2026 college football season, which concluded on October 17. Ohio State moved to No. 1, while several leading programs lost important games and faced revised evaluations.

The updated FPI placed Notre Dame at No. 2, Georgia at No. 3 and Miami at No. 4. The rankings reflected a weekend featuring losses by Georgia, Notre Dame, Indiana, Alabama and Texas, five programs that entered Saturday among the nation’s top seven teams.

actionsports/Depositphotos Ohio State takes the top FPI position

Ohio State climbed 2 places to No. 1 in ESPN’s updated Football Power Index after defeating Indiana 19-15 on October 17. The Buckeyes secured the victory against a previously unbeaten opponent in Bloomington, Indiana.

The result ended Indiana’s 22-game winning streak. Ohio State’s narrow victory also demonstrated why the FPI and traditional polls can produce different evaluations, since ESPN’s system estimates future team strength rather than simply rewarding current win-loss records.

Soule' Photography/Shutterstock.com Notre Dame remains No. 2 despite losing

Notre Dame held the No. 2 position in ESPN’s updated FPI after losing 28-24 to BYU on October 17. The Fighting Irish entered the weekend unbeaten before falling in a closely contested game in Provo, Utah.

BYU entered the matchup ranked No. 8 in the AP Top 25, making the result a significant victory over a highly rated opponent. Notre Dame’s position at No. 2 in the FPI showed that one defeat did not immediately erase the system’s assessment of the team’s overall strength.

actionsports/Depositphotos Georgia falls after losing to Auburn

Georgia dropped to No. 3 in ESPN’s updated FPI following a 27-24 defeat against Auburn on October 17. The Bulldogs entered Week 7 as the nation’s No. 1 team in the AP poll, but their loss gave the rankings a different look.

Quarterback Gunner Stockton completed 22 of 34 passes for 272 yards and 2 touchdowns against Auburn. However, Stockton also threw 2 interceptions and lost a fumble, mistakes that proved costly in the three-point defeat.

thenews2.com/Depositphotos Miami holds No. 4 after Florida State win

Miami remained among ESPN’s highest-rated teams after defeating Florida State 43-35 in double overtime on October 17. The Hurricanes entered the game ranked No. 3 in the AP poll and continued their unbeaten start with an important conference victory.

Miami’s position at No. 4 in the updated FPI differed from its No. 1 ranking in the AP Top 25. That contrast highlights an important distinction for college football fans because predictive computer rankings and voter-based polls use different approaches to assess teams.

Fun fact: For the first time in AP Top 25 history, no team retained its previous ranking after Week 7 of the 2026 college football season.

Ringo Chiu/Shutterstock.com Indiana drops after losing to Ohio State

Indiana fell to No. 5 in ESPN’s updated FPI after Ohio State handed the Hoosiers a 19-15 defeat. Indiana entered the weekend ranked No. 5 in the AP poll and had won 22 consecutive games before the loss.

Wide receiver Charlie Becker recorded 9 receptions for 165 yards against Ohio State. Despite his production, Indiana could not secure the victory, and the result ended one of the country’s longest active winning streaks at the time.

Jamie Lamor Thompson/Shutterstock.com Alabama stays No. 6 after another defeat

Alabama occupied No. 6 in ESPN’s updated FPI after losing 26-10 to Tennessee on October 17. The Crimson Tide entered the game ranked No. 6 in the AP poll, but the defeat marked their second consecutive loss following an earlier setback against Georgia.

Tennessee’s victory ended a seven-game losing streak against ranked opponents. The Volunteers controlled the matchup well enough to limit Alabama’s scoring, handing the Crimson Tide another setback as the Southeastern Conference race continued to develop.

EyepixGroup/Depositphotos Texas remains No. 7 after Florida upset

Texas stayed at No. 7 in ESPN’s updated FPI despite losing 27-24 to Florida in Austin on October 17. The Longhorns entered the game ranked No. 7 in the AP poll and suffered another setback after losing to Oklahoma during Week 6.

Florida entered the matchup unranked after suffering consecutive heavy defeats, making the victory an important turnaround for the Gators. Texas surrendered a 14-point home lead, its largest such blown lead against an unranked opponent since 1965.

mfmegevand/Depositphotos LSU climbs into the FPI top 10

LSU ranked No. 8 in ESPN’s updated Football Power Index following a dominant 31-0 victory over Mississippi State on October 17. The Tigers entered the game ranked No. 22 in the AP poll and delivered a shutout that strengthened their position after a turbulent weekend.

Mississippi State entered the matchup ranked No. 16, creating an opportunity for LSU to record a valuable win against a ranked conference opponent. The result also showed how Week 7 offered teams outside the highest positions a chance to improve their standing through decisive performances.

Juan Alejandro Bernal R/Depositphotos Texas Tech holds No. 9 in ESPN’s FPI

Texas Tech occupied No. 9 in ESPN’s updated FPI after Week 7. The Red Raiders were among the six unbeaten Football Bowl Subdivision teams identified during the October 18 recap, keeping the program firmly in the national conversation.

Texas Tech’s unbeaten record contrasted with the setbacks suffered by several established contenders during the same weekend. The distinction matters because the FPI measures projected team strength, while an unbeaten record describes results already achieved on the field.

Ringo Chiu/Shutterstock.com Oregon rounds out ESPN’s top 10

Oregon ranked No. 10 in ESPN’s updated FPI after Week 7. The Ducks remained inside the top 10 even as several other prominent programs experienced losses during the weekend’s college football schedule.

Ole Miss ranked No. 11 in the published FPI rankings, just outside Oregon’s position. Ole Miss defeated Missouri 31-3 on October 17, giving the Rebels a convincing conference win as the national rankings adjusted to the weekend’s results.

bennyx83/Depositphotos Tennessee rises after beating Alabama

Tennessee ranked No. 12 in ESPN’s updated FPI after defeating Alabama 26-10. The Volunteers entered the game ranked No. 14 in the AP poll and secured one of the weekend’s most significant victories by beating a conference rival that had started the season with high expectations.

The victory was especially meaningful because Tennessee had lost its previous seven games against ranked opponents. The Volunteers held Alabama to 10 points, delivering a notable result as the Southeastern Conference standings and national rankings continued to shift.

Week 7 brought plenty of surprises on the field, but the action wasn’t limited to the players. Check out College football game draws attention after band member fights fan

Mark Fann/Shutterstock.com Houston enters ESPN’s top 20

Houston appeared at No. 18 in ESPN’s updated FPI after defeating Oklahoma State 35-32 on October 17. The Cougars secured a three-point victory in a competitive game, adding another important result to a weekend that produced substantial movement throughout the national rankings.

The FPI also ranked Florida No. 19 after the Gators defeated Texas 27-24, while Texas A&M ranked No. 20. These positions reflected the contrasting results of the weekend, although the FPI remained a predictive measure of team strength rather than a direct record of wins and losses.

ESPN’s college football rankings have sparked plenty of discussion, but another decision has fans talking. Find out why ESPN faces fan backlash over a controversial College GameDay decision.

Which team surprised you most in the Week 7 rankings? Like this post and share your thoughts in the comments!

This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.

Read More From This Brand:

• College GameDay fans criticize Pat McAfee’s antics
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College football midseason report: Best coach, worst moment and what to watch in the second half originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

College football is the best.

For all the talk about the future of the sport, from NIL to the transfer portal to the specter of the 24-team College Football Playoff, there are a lot of gripes off the field. The first half of the season was wild, including Week 7 when five of the top-10 teams lost. 

Who is the best team in the country? That answer remains unclear – even if No. 1 Miami is the third different team on the top of the AP Top 25 in as many weeks. Who is the best player? We're pretty sure we know the answer there – but a key injury could shape how we feel in the second half of the season. Who are the best coaches? Biggest disappointments? What can we look forward to in the second half of the season, which promises to turn us upside down for six more weeks before conference championship weekend? 

Here are our midseason grades for the 2026 college football season.

MORE: SN's Midseason All-America team

College football midseason report Best player: Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State 

Smith has 52 catches for 984 yards and 12 TDs for No. 3 Ohio State and he's lived up to the label as the best player in college football. In three games against ranked teams, Smith has 23 catches for 438 yards, an average of 19.0 yards per catch, and four TDs. It's a taken-for-granted highlight package each week because Smith makes it look so easy.

HOW JEREMIAH SMITH?! https://t.co/eF3qGIFC2a

— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) October 10, 2026

It will be more difficult without quarterback Julian Sayin, but Smith will make the plays necessary to push the Buckeyes to the CFP with backup quarterback Luke Fahey. 

Honorable mention: Darian Mensah, Miami; Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss  

Best team: Miami  

The Hurricanes lead the FBS with an offense that averages 48.5 points per game under coach Mario Cristobal, and Darian Mensah leads the FBS with a 204.2 passer rating. Malachi Toney, who has 50 catches for 758 yards and eight TDs, continues to dominate, and the defense ranks seventh in the FBS at 14.0 points per game. The only other team in the FBS that has a top-10 scoring offense and scoring defense is Notre Dame. 

Honorable mention: BYU

MORE: College Football Playoff forecast entering Week 8

Best Group of 6 team: Boise State   

No. 21 Boise State could easily make the College Football Playoff in their first season in the Pac-12. Maddux Madsen and Dylan Riley have been a dynamic combination in the backfield, and the 34-27 loss in the season opener to Oregon does not hurt. Of course, James Madison is 7-0 under first-year coach Billy Napier in the Sun Belt and there are contenders in the Mountain West Conference, where the Broncos left before this season. 

Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Best coach: Bob Chesney, UCLA 

Chesney, 49, lifted UCLA to No. 9 in the AP Poll with a 6-0 start that included a 17-15 win as a double-digit underdog at Oregon on Oct. 10. The Bruins average 231 rushing yards per game behind do-everything running back Wayne Knight, and the defense is not getting enough attention. Linebacker Sam Omosigho leads the Big Ten with 32 solo tackles, and safety Tai'Shawn James has four interceptions. Chesney had the second-best pregame speech behind Kirby Smart of the first half of the season. 

Honorable mention: Will Stein, Kentucky 

Best game: No. 7 Ole Miss 32, No. 8 LSU 24 (Sept. 19) 

"Saturday Night Football" produced some fantastic games – but none had more drama than LSU coach Lane Kiffin's return to Oxford, Miss., on Sept. 19. For all the hype, the game delivered around Trinidad Chambliss, who had 363 passing yards and led the game-winning 14-yard TD run with 6:14 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Rebels had a goal-line stand, and Abby Miller – a 20 year old junior at Ole Miss – snapped the most iconic picture of the season.  

Honorable mention: No. 4 Texas 24, No. 1 Ohio State 23 (Sept. 12), No. 2 Georgia 20, No. 6 Alabama 17 (Oct. 11), No. 8 BYU 28, No. 2 Notre Dame 24 (Oct. 18), No. 4 Ohio State 19, No. 5 Indiana 15 (Oct. 18)

Best conference: Big 12 

This is going to be a take. The SEC remains the best top-to-bottom conference, and the non-conference matchups against Power 4 teams backs that up: 

Non-conference records against Power 4 teams SEC 10-2 Big 12 6-7 ACC 6-11 Big Ten 4-10 Mountain West 1-8 American 1-11 MAC 1-17 CUSA 0-9 Pac-12 0-12 Sun Belt 0-15

— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) October 18, 2026

But the Big 12 had the best first half of the season from a perception standpoint. No. 2 BYU (6-0), No. 8 Texas Tech (6-0) and No. 10 Utah (6-0) give the conference three unbeaten teams, the most of any Power 4 conference. No. 14 Houston (6-1) and No. 25 Arizona (5-1) add depth. The Big 12 has as many teams with one less as the SEC – and is one behind the Big Ten. The Red Raiders do not play BYU or Utah. All this means the conference is in position to land multiple College Football Playoff teams, and that might come at the expense of a SEC contender. 

Power 4 teams (one loss or less) 

CONFERENCENUMBERTEAMSBig Ten6UCLA (6-0), Ohio State (6-1), Indiana (6-1), USC (6-1), Iowa (5-1), Northwestern (5-1)Big 125BYU (6-0), Texas Tech (6-0), Utah (6-0), Houston (6-1), Arizona (5-1)SEC4Georgia (6-1), Kentucky (6-1), Tennessee (6-1), Ole Miss (5-1)ACC3Miami (6-0), Wake Forest (6-1), SMU (5-1)Best bounce-back player: Gio Lopez, QB, Wake Forest 

Lopez struggled at North Carolina last season, but he is on a heater with No. 17 Wake Forest and coach Jake Dickert this season. Lopez is seventh in the FBS in total offense with 314.3 total yards per game, and he's done that with 23 total TDs and one interception. According to PFF.com, Lopez is 30 of 39 (76.9%) for 493 yards, six TDs and no interception in the intermediate (10-19 yards). Mensah is the only QB doing it better in that range.  It's too bad the Demon Deacons (6-1) do not have Tar Heels on the schedule. 

Honorable mention: Josh Hoover, QB, Indiana

Best bounce-back coach: Bill Belichick, North Carolina 

Hey, we tried to fire Belichick before the Aer Lingus College Football Classic against TCU. The Tar Heels are 4-2, and their losses to Clemson and No. 4 Notre Dame were by an average of 9.5 points. The Tar Heels have just 202 penalty yards, which ranks second for the fewest in the FBS. 

North Carolina is 3-1 in one-score games, Xavier Lewis has been dominant on defense with seven sacks, and the offense is functional around Billy Edwards Jr. The schedule presents an opportunity for at least eight wins – and the Halloween matchup against Miami has meaning. 

Honorable mention: Josh Heupel, Tennessee 

Best call: Will Stein goes for two (twice) 

First-year coach Will Stein opted to go for two in overtime in back-to-back weeks, and those calls have shape-shifted No. 12 Kentucky into the best first-half story in the SEC. A two-point pass from Kenny Minchey to Willie Rodriguez clinched a 35-34 victory against South Carolina on Oct. 3. Minchey's QB draw the following week gave the Wildcats a stunning 35-34 victory against No. 10 LSU at Kroger Field. Both calls were wide open, and the Wildcats are 6-1 as a result. 

Honorable mention:Iowa's last-second TD against Michigan 

Best viral video: 'Outstanding' 

The AI mash-up of the losing top-10 coaches from Week 7 playing "Outstanding" by The Gap Band is just that. How would you rank these coaches' performance? We'll go Marcus Freeman, Kalen DeBoer, Curt Cignetti, Kirby Smart and Steve Sarkisian.

When AI is used properly lmfaooooooo https://t.co/bNfED3OTq4

— Get 'Em Eazy! (@ChampIAN_33) October 19, 2026Most disappointing team: Texas A&M 

Texas A&M was 11-2 and lost 10-3 in a home College Football Playoff game against Miami last season. The Aggies are 4-3, including a 1-3 record in SEC play, heading into the second half of the season. Coach Mike Elko lashed out at "Billy's cesspool" after a 27-6 loss against Missouri on Oct. 10. 

Texas A&M opened the season at No. 8 in the AP Preseason Poll – so the disappointment is obvious. Marcel Reed – who has 1,227 yards, seven TDs and six interceptions – owns a 55.7% completion percentage. The Aggies did lose 10 players to the 2026 NFL Draft, so that's part of it. But it shouldn't be this bad, and the second-half of the schedule is not easy.

Dishonorable mention: Oregon, Texas, Penn State 

Most disappointing call: Foul behavior 

What is the worst penalty of the first half of the season?

A. Michigan cornerback Zeke Berry, who shoved Tony Diaz after a third-and-10 incompletion, which set up Iowa's miracle finish in a 20-19 loss on Sept. 26. 

B. USC linebacker Desman Stephens II, whose dirty hit that knocked out Oregon quarterback Dante Moore defined a 41-27 loss. 

C. Alabama cornerback Dijon Lee Jr., who received a personal foul after taking a swing at Georgia freshman receiver Craig Dandridge late in the fourth quarter of the Crimson Tide's 20-17 loss to Georgia on Oct. 10.

D. Georgia edge rusher Gabe Harris Jr., who had a roughing-the-passer penalty on Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown, which helped set up the game-winning field goal on the final drive in a 27-24 upset on Oct. 17. 

E. Texas All-American defensive end Colin Simmons getting flagged for 'unsportsmanlike conduct for simulating using the restroom' against Tennessee.

F. All of the above.

Imagn Images

Most disappointing moment: One second 

It happened twice in prime-time games. Michigan beat Western Michigan 13-12 on Sept. 5 when officials put one second back on the clock after everybody saw zero. Bryce Underwood threw a 47-yard Hail Mary to JJ Buchanan and hell followed afterward. The MAC appealed the decision. 

So, of course it happened again during BYU's 28-24 victory against Notre Dame on Oct. 17. It appeared one second should have been left on the clock, not to mention that there appeared to be a missed pass interference call on the final play from scrimmage. The reaction was less powerful because Notre Dame did not benefit from the screw-ups – but the point stands. 

Put LED lights on the goalpost or tenths or hundredths of a second on the scoreboard. It's 2026. We should be able to tell when the clock hits zero.

Second-half player to watch: Big Ten backup QBs  

Backup QBs will write the story in the Big Ten in the second half of the season, starting with Fahey and perhaps Tavien St. Clair at Ohio State. They were in a competition to be the backup behind Sayin in fall camp. It's a tough first assignment at No. 16 USC on Oct. 31 for the Buckeyes' quarterbacks. 

That is not all. UCLA is unbeaten with Ty Dieffenbach, who will lead the Bruins with Nico Iamaleava out for the season. Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski have made starts for No. 15 Iowa. How much longer will Dylan Raiola and Brock Thomas hold down the position for the Ducks until Dante Moore returns? Will Michigan get a spark from Tommy Carr – who replaced five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood last week?

The Big Ten quarterback shuffle is intriguing, to say the least. 

Second-half team to watch: Texas Tech 

Remember when the Red Raiders were the villains of the offseason during the Brendan Sorsby drama? Texas Tech is quietly undefeated with quarterback Will Hammond, the defense remains formidable around defensive tackle A.J. Holmes Jr. and linebacker Ben Roberts and Texas Tech will not play BYU or Utah in the regular season. That means the Red Raiders have a decent chance at being 12-0 with another berth in the Big 12 championship game. The Halloween matchup with Arizona should be fun. 

Second-half Group of 6 team to watch: New Mexico 

It starts Saturday with the matchup against North Dakota State. The winner of that game could challenge for a playoff spot. Lobos coach Jason Eck will be on the radar for Power 4 programs in the next coaching carousel. New Mexico leads the FBS with a plus-17 turnover margin, but the belt is only allowed to come out when the Lobos are winning. 

WOW: New Mexico HC Jason Eck was furious with his players for celebrating a turnover while losing to Hawaii. Eck walked over and took the turnover belt away from his players, clearly upset that they were celebrating despite trailing in the fourth quarter. https://t.co/9SoMBs4jJC

— MLFootball (@MLFootball) October 18, 2026Second-half coach to watch: Steve Sarkisian, Texas  

No. 19 Texas is one of five programs with at least 25 players that have been selected in the NFL Draft from 2024-26. The Longhorns are tied with Ohio State and Georgia for first with 29 players in that stretch – and another huge class is coming in 2027. 

Most NFL Draft picks (2024-26) 

SCHOOLDRAFT PICKS Georgia29Ohio State29Texas29Alabama27Oregon25

Imagine if Texas loses three or four games and misses the playoff for the second straight season. Arch Manning will take criticism, but he has outs via the transfer portal or the NFL Draft. Sarkisian does not have the same latitude. Texas is recruiting and developing players at an elite level, and the Longhorns did make the CFP semifinals in 2023 and 2024. Still, this group was supposed to do more. Saturday's matchup against Ole Miss is a defining moment.

Second-half best game: Miami at Notre Dame 

No. 4 Notre Dame suffered its first loss to BYU, so it took a little shine off this matchup. It is a rematch of last year's 27-24 opening weekend classic that had head-to-head playoff implications later. Will that be the case again? The Irish have won the last three meetings in South Bend – a streak that began with the "Catholics vs. Convicts" matchup in 1988. Notre Dame would be in a precarious playoff position again with a home loss to the Hurricanes.

Second-half debate: How many SEC playoff teams? 

When projecting out the remainder of the SEC schedule, we have eight teams with postseason hopes. Sorting all this out is going to be the highest point of contention heading into the final stages of the College Football Playoff race. Here is our guess what the final records look like at the end of the regular season: 

Projected final SEC standings 

SCHOOLRECORDGeorgia11-1, 8-1LSU10-2, 7-2Tennessee10-2, 7-2Ole Miss9-3, 6-3Florida 9-3, 6-3Texas9-3, 6-3Alabama9-3, 6-3Kentucky9-3, 6-3

Will that play out that way? Probably not. If the SEC wants to get four teams in the playoff, then chances are one or two of those teams will have three losses. Get ready for a November of this conference trumpeting the high degree of difficulty of the nine-game SEC schedule.