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The Utah Jazz face a mountain-sized problem. Center Jusuf Nurkicsustained a toe injury in the preseason, sidelining him for four weeks. Since the Injury happened on Oct. 7, that means the Jazz will have to hold out until November for the center’s return.

His extended absence adds to the significant questions that the Utah frontcourt was already facing.

Utah Jazz Already Thin at Center 

Coming into the 2026-27 season, the center position was already a concern amongst fans and media alike. The Jazz decided to move on from long-time big man Walker Kessler due to contract disputes. To prepare for the move, Utah’s front office re-signed Nurkic to a two-year, $22 million deal. This made Nurkic the starting center. 

Kessler’s departure dealt a big blow to the Jazz. Kessler’s defensive impact is undeniable. From 2022 to the 2024-25 season, Kessler ranked in the top five players in blocks per game. Already ranking 26th in defense last year, the Jazz could’ve used Kessler’s expertise to at least anchor the paint.

Missing the Beast

While Nurkic doesn’t possess the same defensive punch as Kessler, he makes his impact felt elsewhere. In 41 games, Nurkic averaged 10.4 rebounds per game. An important stat when most of your team struggles with pulling down boards. He also ranked 12th in the league in screen assists. Fans saw this a lot between him and Ace Bailey.

Nurk would set the screen, and Bailey would finish it off with his signature midrange jump shot. Don’t forget that Nurkic also recorded three triple-doubles last season. In each game he recorded a triple-double, Nurkic used all of the skills just mentioned to become a complete player. Never in his career has Nurkic been used as pseudo-Nikola Jokic to run an offense.

Now that he’s hurt, the Jazz are not only without a defensive presence in the middle but also a floor general.

Holding Out for Reinforcements

Whether they like it or not, Utah needs to survive the first few games of the season without Nurkic. The Jazz need to shore up rebounding. In three out of their four preseason games, the Jazz have lost either the defensive or offensive rebounding battle. To make matters even worse, their best rebounders came off the bench.

Fans and Utah media know star Jaren Jackson Jr. and center Jaxson Hayes struggle to grab a board. In one game against the San Antonio Spurs, the two combined for five rebounds. If Mo Bamba and Kyle Filipowski are out-rebounding your starters in limited minutes, that’s not a good sign.

Perhaps giving Filipowski or Bamba more minutes could alleviate this problem. However, Filipowski just returned from injury, and Bamba struggles in starting minutes. So, it’ll take the whole Utah Jazz roster to fix this problem.

They’ll also miss Nurkic’s ability to screen, but Will Hardy seems to have that figured out so far. Though Hayes struggles to rebound, the center can catch lobs. Jazz guards Keyonte George and Isaiah Collier have used Hayes for small pick-and-roll attempts, usually ending with him catching a lob.

Key Players to Step Up 

As mentioned before, the whole team needs to come together to make up for Nurkic’s absence. But there are certain key players that have the ability to step in and make a major impact. Lauri Markkanen showed an ability to step up in rebounding and defensive measures when needed. Last season, Markkanen averaged around 6.9 rebounds a game. 

When your best rebounder now sits on the sideline, a seven-footer like Markkanen, who lends that type of contribution, is invaluable. Another player that can step up: Bailey.

Over his four preseason games played, Bailey accrued 21 rebounds, six assists, two blocks, seven steals, and 38 points. The forward continues to impress in year two, filling out the stat sheets. With his size and length, Bailey will be a key component for both the Jazz offensively and defensively.

Jackson Jr. also needs to step up in Nurkic’s absence. Though the forward struggles with rebounding, he makes up for it with scoring and defense. 

In the preseason, Jackson Jr. accumulated 48 points, three blocks, and three steals. Though his rebound numbers were low, the Jazz looked dominant with his offensive contribution. If this team can’t limit possessions by rebounding, they might as well win the offensive battle.

JAREN JACKSON JR. POSTER. pic.twitter.com/kDHSZjsIuz

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) October 13, 2026

Can the Jazz Survive Without Nurkic?

The tests come early in the schedule for Utah. They play the Los Angeles Lakers once and the San Antonio Spurs twice. Both teams have dominant rebounding centers. So, can Utah survive without Nurkic? Yes, but it’ll take a collective effort from a few key players to fill the metaphorical holes in the Jazz’s ship. 

The road back to the playoffs got a bit tougher, but head coach Will Hardy has seen worse Jazz teams before this one get close to the Play-In tournament.

The post Can the Utah Jazz Survive Without Jusuf Nurkic? appeared first on The Lead.

ATHENS, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 17: Nate Frazier #3 of the Georgia Bulldogs is tackled by Andre Jordan Jr. #22 of the Auburn Tigers during the fourth quarter at Sanford Stadium on October 17, 2026 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images

To quote the late, great Lewis Grizzard, frankly, I don’t want to talk about it.

But I will. The guy who told MaconDawg that betting the rent money on Georgia to cover against Auburn will be back on WFOY in St. Augustine (102.1 FM/1240 AM) this afternoon around 6:45 pm Eastern to talk Georgia Bulldog football on SportsNow with host John Frary. Once again not precisely sure exactly what they’ll discuss from such a boring weekend of SEC football. We’ll figure something out.

If I had to guess it will probably be whether the Bulldog defense is actually good enough to win an SEC or National championship, whether the offense can get out of its own way to do the same, penalties, penalties, and more penalties, and maybe even a way too early look ahead to the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.

If you’re on the First Coast, or one of those Georgia people who will very soon have those condos up on St. Simons and Jekyll, be sure to listen in. But as usual even if you’re stuck somewhere far from the Golden Isles, you can still join us through the link above.

Fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers have a big reason to celebrate! The team pulled off a huge fourth-quarter comeback and thrilling overtime victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which led to several players on offense receiving top grades from Pro Football Focus.

In the Week 6 win over the Bucs, the Steelers' offense generated 300 total yards of offense, including 211 passing yards and 89 rushing yards. Additionally, the Aaron Rodgers-led unit was able to put up 26 points on a Buccaneers defense that was allowing just 22.4 points per game.

Here's a look at the Steelers' top 10 offensive PFF grades from their Week 6 win over Tampa Bay, including Zach Frazier's outstanding performance on the O-line.

Top 10 PFF grades on offense

1. C Zach Frazier — 76.0
2. RB Rico Dowdle — 72.8
3. G Brock Hoffman — 71.2
4. RB Jaylen Warren — 70.0
5. WR Germie Bernard — 67.7
6. WR DK Metcalf — 64.0
7. T Troy Fautanu — 61.7
8. QB Aaron Rodgers — 60.9
9. FB Riley Nowakowski — 60.0
10. T Max Iheanachor — 59.7

For up-to-date Steelers coverage, including any roster news and injury updates, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.

This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers' top 10 offensive players in Week 6, PFF grades: Zach Frazier shines

Ex-Celtics Big Man Traded Alongside Rajon Rondo Waived After 12-Year Run originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Dwight Powell's run with the Dallas Mavericks has come to an end.

Ahead of the 2026-27 season, the Mavericks have waived Powell, making the 35-year-old big man an unrestricted free agent.

“Dwight was the consummate professional throughout his 12 seasons with the Mavericks and embodies everything you want in someone representing your organization," said Mavericks president Masai Ujiri. "He’s a tireless worker, an incredible teammate and someone whose impact extends well beyond the basketball court and into the Dallas community.

"We are grateful for everything Dwight has contributed to this franchise. He will always be part of the Mavericks family, and Dallas will always be a home for him. We wish him nothing but the best in this next chapter.”

MORE:Celtics Waive 4 Players Before NBA Roster Deadline

The Charlotte Bobcats selected Powell with the No. 45 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. Charlotte then traded his draft rights to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who dealt him to the Boston Celtics before his rookie season.

Powell appeared in five games with the Celtics in 2014-15, totaling nine points in nine minutes.

The Celtics traded Powell along with Rajon Rondo to the Mavericks in December 2014. Boston received Brandan Wright, Jae Crowder, Jameer Nelson and draft picks in return.

Powell spent 12 seasons with the Mavericks. He ranks fifth in games played, trailing Dirk Nowitzki, Brad Davis, Derek Harper and Rolando Blackman.

Powell holds career averages of 6.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 0.4 blocks per game while shooting 60.6 percent from the field.

More Celtics

• Latest Celtics news
• TD Garden fan guide: What to know before you go
• Complete history of Celtics championships

The 2026 Michigan high school football playoffs are a week away.

We are in Week 9 of the regular season. This is the final chance for teams to improve their playoff seeding or push inside the top 32 in their division (or top 16 in 8-man football) for a chance to compete for a state title.

The MHSAA playoff selection show airs at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 25 on the NFHS Network. The playoffs begin with district semifinals on Friday, Oct. 30 and Saturday, Oct. 31. The state championship games will be played at Ford Field on Nov. 27 and 28. The 8-man finals are on Nov. 21 at the Superior Dome in Marquette.

Below are the current MHSAA playoff point standings for the top 32 teams in each division through eight weeks:

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Division 1

Playoff point ranking, team, record, playoff points.

1. Howell (8-0), 81.375 playoff points.
2. Novi Detroit Catholic Central (8-0), 80.607.
3. Clarkston (7-1), 80.375.
4. East Kentwood (8-0), 79.125.
5. Oxford (7-1), 78.875.
6. Romeo (8-0), 77.625.
7. Saline (8-0), 77.125.
8. Northville (7-1), 77.000.
9. Grand Blanc (8-0), 74.125.
10. Dearborn Fordson (7-1), 72.750.
11. Detroit Cass Tech (8-0), 72.292.
12. Grand Ledge (8-0), 70.250.
13. Portage Central (7-1), 67.625.
14. Rochester Adams (5-3), 66.875.
15. Rochester Hills Stoney Creek (6-2), 66.875.
16. Hudsonville (6-2), 65.375.
17. Belleville (6-2), 65.250.
18. Hartland (6-2), 64.750.
19. Brownstown Woodhaven (6-2), 62.375.
20. Macomb Dakota (5-3), 62.250.
21. Rochester (5-3), 61.625.
22. Davison (6-2), 61.375.
23. Brighton (5-3), 58.500.
24. Rockford (4-4), 57.125.
25. Utica (6-2), 56.750.
26. Macomb L'anse Creuse North (6-2), 55.875.
27. Lake Orion (4-4), 52.375.
28. Plymouth (4-4), 51.750.
29. Dearborn (4-4), 49.875.
30. Grand Haven (4-4), 49.250.
31. Monroe (4-4)
32. Grandville (3-5), 48.125.

First three out:

• New Baltimore Anchor Bay (4-4), 46.750.
• Bloomfield Hills (4-4), 46.000.
• Okemos (5-3), 45.750.

Division 2

1. Gibraltar Carlson (8-0), 72.375 playoff points.
2. Muskegon Mona Shores (7-1), 69.482.
3. South Lyon (6-2), 68.250.
4. Caledonia (6-2), 67.732.
5. Milford (7-1), 67.375.
6. Byron Center (6-2), 67.333.
7. Grosse Pointe South (7-1), 67.125.
8. South Lyon East (6-2), 66.250.
9. Temperance Bedford (7-1), 66.083.
10. Walled Lake Western (7-1), 66.000.
11. Allen Park (7-1), 64.018.
12. Livonia Franklin (6-2), 61.875.
13. Midland Dow (6-2), 61.250.
14. Orchard Lake St. Mary's (5-3), 61.750.
15. Portage Northern (5-3), 58.778.
16. Birmingham Brother Rice (6-2), 59.500.
17. Saginaw Heritage (5-3), 58.500.
18. St. Clair Shores Lakeview (6-2), 57.875.
19. Traverse City West (5-3), 57.875.
20. Ferndale (6-2), 56.500.
21. North Farmington (5-3), 55.250.
22. Birmingham Groves (5-3), 54.750.
23. Livonia Churchill (4-4), 49.750.
24. Birmingham Seaholm (4-4), 48.625.
25. Dearborn Heights Crestwood (4-4), 48.250.
26. Traverse City Central (4-4), 48.000.
27. Roseville (3-5), 46.000.
28. Midland (4-4), 45.875.
29. Lincoln Park (3-5), 45.125.
30. Flushing (4-4), 44.125.
31. East Lansing (3-5), 43.750.
32. Muskegon (4-4), 43.750.

First three out

• Harrison Township L'Anse Creuse (3-5), 41.000.
• Detroit Mumford (4-4), 39.875.
• Royal Oak (4-4), 39.375.

Division 3

1. Port Huron (8-0), 74.750 playoff points.
2. Harper Woods (7-1), 73.500.
3. Chelsea (8-0), 67.500.
4. Mount Pleasant (7-1), 67.250.
5. Coopersville (8-0), 67.000.
6. Detroit King (6-2), 66.833.
7. St. Joseph (7-1), 66.250.
8. Zeeland West (7-1), 64.786.
9. Mason (7-1), 62.125.
10. Fenton (6-2), 60.750.
11. DeWitt (6-2), 60.125.
12. East Grand Rapids (6-2), 57.125.
13. Linden (6-2), 55.000.
14. Cadillac (6-2), 54.625.
15. Dexter (4-4), 54.625.
16. Warren De La Salle (5-3), 54.458.
17. Redford Thurston (7-1), 54.107.
18. Marquette (6-2), 53.875.
19. Holly (6-2), 53.625.
20. Lowell (5-3), 53.375.
21. Middleville Thornapple Kellogg (6-2), 53.375.
22. Battle Creek Harper Creek (6-2), 53.250.
23. Grosse Pointe North (6-2), 52.875.
24. Trenton (4-4), 52.125.
25. Warren Fitzgerald (6-2), 50.875.
26. New Boston Huron (6-2), 46.875.
27. Petoskey (5-3), 46.875.
28. Coldwater (5-3), 45.625.
29. Niles (4-4), 44.375.
30. Waterford Mott (4-4), 43.250.
31. Battle Creek Central (4-4), 43.125.
32. Zeeland East (4-4), 42.125.

First three out

• Riverview (5-3), 41.250.
• Bay City Western (3-5), 40.750.
• Lansing Waverly (3-5), 40.250.

Division 4

1. Goodrich (8-0), 64.000 playoff points.
2. Edwardsburg (8-0), 63.042.
3. Grand Rapids South Christian (7-1), 62.500.
4. Dearborn Divine Child (7-1), 61.625.
5. Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills (7-1), 61.500.
6. Marshall (7-1), 61.000.
7. Stevensville Lakeshore (7-1), 60.875.
8. Portland (8-0), 60.125.
9. Vicksburg (7-1), 59.250.
10. Paw Paw (7-1), 58.750.
11. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Eastern (7-1), 56.875.
12. Hastings (6-2), 56.250.
13. Adrian (7-1), 55.375.
14. Marysville (5-3), 53.250.
15. Madison Heights Lamphere (5-3), 52.875.
16. Hudsonville Unity Christian (5-3), 51.458.
17. Ludington (7-1), 50.875.
18. St. Johns (6-2), 50.125.
19. Macomb Lutheran North (7-1), 49.375.
20. Detroit East English (6-2), 47.500.
21. Ortonville Brandon (5-3), 46.625.
22. Fruitport (6-2), 46.375.
23. Detroit Southeastern (6-2), 45.875.
24. Detroit Cody (7-1), 45.750.
25. Detroit Country Day (5-3), 45.500.
26. Tecumseh (5-3), 45.250.
27. Williamston (5-3), 44.875.
28. Big Rapids (5-3), 43.750.
29. St. Clair (6-2), 42.500.
30. Lansing Sexton (5-3), 42.250.
31. Haslett (3-5), 42.000.
32. Fremont (6-2), 39.500.

First three out

• Sparta (4-4), 39.375.
• Romulus (4-3), 39.089 (Week 7 makeup game scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 20.)
• Spring Lake (4-4), 38.500.

Division 5

1. Grand Rapids Catholic Central (7-1), 67.875 playoff points.
2. Monroe Jefferson (8-0), 56.875.
3. Grand Rapids West Catholic (6-2), 56.500.
4. Frankenmuth (7-1), 53.500.
5. Lakewood (7-1), 52.375.
6. Berrien Springs (8-0), 52.250.
7. Hopkins (7-1), 52.125.
8. Kingsford (8-0), 51.500.
9. Saginaw Swan Valley (7-1), 50.875.
10. Kalamazoo United (8-0), 49.196.
11. Imlay City (6-2), 47.375.
12. Muskegon Orchard View (6-2), 47.250.
13. Redford Union (5-3), 46.732.
14. Flint Powers Catholic (6-2), 46.268.
15. Armada (5-3), 45.750.
16. Wyoming Godwin Heights (6-2), 45.000.
17. Shepherd (6-2), 44.625.
18. Romulus Summit Academy (5-3), 43.500.
19. Ogemaw Heights (6-2), 42.750.
20. Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard (5-3), 41.875.
21. Negaunee (5-3), 41.000.
22. Ida (6-2), 40.750.
23. Detroit Voyageur (5-3), 39.179.
24. Reed City (5-3), 37.750.
25. Detroit Denby (5-3), 37.018.
26. Remus Chippewa Hills (6-2), 36.875.
27. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (4-4), 36.125.
28. Corunna (3-5), 35.625.
29. Howard City Tri County (4-4), 35.625.
30. Comstock Park (3-5), 35.250.
31. Whitmore Lake (5-3), 33.643.
32. Flat Rock (3-5), 31.125.

First three out

• Detroit Henry Ford (5-3), 31.000.
• Hazel Park (3-5), 30.875.
• Clare (4-4), 30.125.

Division 6

More: Andre Neal Jr. lifts Detroit Edison to 2nd straight Charter title

1. Jackson Lumen Christi (7-1), 59.083 playoff points.
2. Almont (8-0), 58.875.
3. Marine City (8-0), 52.750.
4. Detroit Edison (7-1), 50.375.
5. Ecorse (7-1), 50.000.
6. Sanford Meridian (8-0), 48.036.
7. Belding (6-2), 47.500.
8. Detroit Central (7-1), 46.875.
9. Kingsley (8-0), 46.750.
10. Clinton (7-1), 45.125.
11. Olivet (5-3), 45.125.
12. Montrose (7-1), 45.000.
13. Clawson (6-2), 44.250.
14. Algonac (6-2), 42.250.
15. Gladwin (5-3), 41.750.
16. Traverse City St. Francis (6-2), 40.500.
17. Napoleon (7-1), 40.375.
18. Buchanan (6-2), 40.361.
19. Calumet (5-3), 37.250.
20. Adrian Madison (6-2), 36.250.
21. Midland Bullock Creek (5-3), 36.161.
22. Detroit Communication Media Arts (5-3), 35.625.
23. Durand (5-3), 35.500.
24. Warren Michigan Collegiate (4-4), 34.625.
25. Harbor Springs (7-1), 34.125.
26. Dearborn Heights Robichaud (4-4), 33.518.
27. Flint Elite (5-3), 33.125.
28. Kent City (6-2), 32.875.
29. Elk Rapids (5-3), 31.250.
30. Brooklyn Columbia Central (5-3), 30.875.
31. Lutheran Westland (6-2), 30.768.
32. New Haven (5-3), 30.750.

First three out

• Ovid-Elsie (4-4), 30.375.
• Chesaning (4-4), 29.500.
• Mason County Central (4-4), 29.250.

Division 7

1. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central (7-1), 53.125 playoff points.
2. Menominee (7-1), 51.917.
3. Constantine (7-1), 45.625.
4. Millington (8-0), 43.250.
5. Schoolcraft (6-2), 42.946.
6. Pewamo-Westphalia (7-0), 42.071.
7. Charlevoix (6-2), 41.375.
8. Hanover-Horton (7-1), 41.250.
9. North Muskegon (7-1), 41.071.
10. Ithaca (8-0), 40.875.
11. Ravenna (6-2), 40.000.
12. Burton Bendle (8-0), 38.768.
13. McBain (6-2), 37.000.
14. Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker (6-2), 35.625.
15. Detroit Community (7-1), 35.250.
16. Bronson (6-2), 34.375.
17. Saginaw Valley Lutheran (6-2), 33.750.
18. Union City (7-1), 33.750.
19. Lawton (5-3), 33.500.
20. Cassopolis (7-1), 33.250.
21. Galesburg-Augusta (7-1), 32.875.
22. Ottawa Lake Whiteford (6-2), 32.655.
23. Cass City (6-2), 32.000.
24. Manton (6-2), 31.250.
25. Harrison (6-2), 30.804.
26. Saranac (6-2), 30.679.
27. Leslie (4-4), 29.500.
28. Manistee (3-5), 29.125.
29. Oscoda (5-3), 29.875.
30. Jonesville (4-4), 27.625.
31. Clinton Township Clintondale (2-6), 27.125.
32. Lakeview (4-4), 26.000.

First three out

• Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett (4-4), 24.750.
• Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest (3-5), 24.750.
• Coloma (3-5), 25.250.

Division 8

1. Madison Heights Madison (7-1), 45.750 playoff points.
2. Hudson (7-1), 45.375.
3. New Lothrop (7-1), 44.375.
4. Beal City (8-0), 41.750.
5. Decatur (8-0), 40.250.
6. Royal Oak Shrine Catholic (8-0), 40.250.
7. Bark River-Harris (7-1), 37.946.
8. Clarkston Everest Collegiate (7-1), 37.625.
9. Springport (7-1), 36.125.
10. Maple City Glen Lake (6-2), 34.750.
11. East Jordan (7-1), 34.250.
12. Fowler (6-2), 34.179.
13. Manchester (6-2), 32.500.
14. Iron Mountain (6-2), 31.500.
15. Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (5-3), 30.964.
16. Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary (5-3), 30.518.
17. Ubly (5-3), 29.750.
18. Unionville-Sebewaing (5-3), 29.500.
19. Frankfort (5-3), 29.375.
20. Southfield Bradford Academy (5-3), 29.000.
21. Saguatuck (5-3), 28.625.
22. Burton Atherton (5-3), 28.250.
23. Sagniaw Nouvel Catholic Central (4-4), 28.125.
24. Allen Park Cabrini (5-3), 27.750.
25. Sand Creek (5-3), 25.913.
26. L'Anse (4-4), 24.250.
27. Genesee (4-4), 24.125.
28. Marine City Cardinal Mooney (5-3), 24.125.
29. Vestaburg (5-3), 24.125.
30. Vassar (4-4), 23.625.
31. Vermontville Maple Valley (4-4), 22.875.
32. Johannesburg-Lewiston (3-5), 22.250.

First three out

• Reading (4-4), 21.750.
• Farwell (4-4), 21.714.
• Beaverton (3-4), 21.482.

8-player Division 1

1. Dryden (8-0), 36.732 playoff points.
2. Pickford (6-2), 34.286.
3. Dansville (7-1), 33.875.
4. Deckerville (7-1), 33.232.
5. Colon (7-1), 32.857.
6. Blanchard Montabella (7-1), 32.750.
7. Merrill (7-1), 32.750.
8. Climax-Scotts (6-2), 32.732.
9. Rudyard (6-2), 32.411.
10. Bridgman (7-1), 32.054.
11. Ishpeming (6-2), 30.375.
12. Crystal Falls Forest Park (6-2), 29.625.
13. Kingston (5-3), 29.607.
14. Indian River Inland Lakes (29.125).
15. Marlette (6-2), 28.875.
16. Fulton (6-2), 28.625.
17. Mio (5-3), 28.625.

First three out

• Concord (5-3), 28.482.
• Central Lake (6-2), 28.339.
• Rogers City (6-2), 26.821.

8-player Division 2

1. Mendon (8-0), 38.607 playoff points.
2. Lake Linden-Hubbell (8-0), 37.375.
3. Bay City All Saints (8-0), 36.275.
4. Portland St. Patrick (8-0), 35.125.
5. Gaylord St. Mary (8-0), 33.786.
6. Marion (8-0), 33.625.
7. St. Ignace (7-1), 32.750.
8. Kinde North Huron (7-1), 31.732.
9. Grand Rapids Sacred Heart (7-1), 31.250.
10. Litchfield (7-1), 30.440.
11. Marcellus (6-2), 29.679.
12. Britton Deerfield (6-2), 29.625.
13. Powers North Central (6-2), 29.625.
14. Onekama (6-2), 28.500.
15. Peck (5-3), 26.625.
16. Pittsford (5-3), 26.125.

First three out

• Adrian Lenawee Christian (4-4), 26.042.
• Felch North Dickinson (4-4), 25.411.
• Waldron (5-3), 24.833.

Nominate a high school athlete for the Detroit Free Press boys and girls athlete of the week.

Jared Ramsey covers high school sports for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jramsey@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan high school football playoff points standings in every division: Week 9

The Green Bay Packers were able to overcome another performance featuring drops and penalties, using a fast start and a dominant effort defensively to take down the visiting Dallas Cowboys by a 23-13 final score on Sunday night at Lambeau Field.

Five stats that tell the story of the Packers' primetime win over the Cowboys:

1. Packers keep Lamb and Pickens under wraps

Dak Prescott dropped back to pass 54 times, and he targeted his dynamic receiver duo -- CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens -- 29 times. While Lamb and Pickens finished with 15 catches and 143 receiving yards, the Packers defense won the battle. Prescott averaged only 4.9 yards per attempt, threw both of his interceptions and had a 37.0 passer rating when targeting Lamb and Pickens on Sunday night.

2. Three first half drives were enough

The Packers had four first half possessions, and three ended in scores after long, sustained drives. In creating a 17-0 lead across the three drives, the Packers offense ran 38 plays, drove 240 yards and held the ball for over 16 minutes of game time. Green Bay converted nine third downs during the first half, and Jordan Love completed 14 passes for 190 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for a 1-yard touchdown. The Packers offense sputtered in the second half, but the three drives early were more than enough considering how well the defense played throughout.

3. Big stops

The Cowboys had six drives advancing to at least midfield but managed only two scores and 13 points. The Packers intercepted Dak Prescott twice inside their own 30-yard line and twice stopped the Cowboys on fourth down, including a 4th-and-11 stop from the 14-yard line. Evan Williams' first half interception of Prescott came after Jordan Love was intercepted, preventing what could have been a big momentum change, and Brandon Cisse was the beneficiary of CeeDee Lamb slipping down on the first play after the two-minute warning with the Packers leading 10-0. Dallas had chances but the Packers defense was up to the task when playing on their side of the field.

4. Big drops

The Packers dropped 92 yards of would-be touchdown passes from Jordan Love, creating missed opportunities that allowed the Cowboys to hang around. Matthew Golden dropped what should have been 43-yard and 23-yard touchdown passes, while Christian Watson dropped what should have been a 26-yard touchdown pass. After two of the drops, the Packers had to settle for field goals. The Packers could have easily finished with 31 or more points and created another blowout win had they held onto the football better in the passing game.

5. So many penalties

The contest featured 22 accepted penalties -- 11 for each team -- and over 200 yards worth of penalties. The Packers were the beneficiary of a 37-yard defensive pass interference penalty that helped set up a touchdown in the first half. But the offense's first drive of the second half short-circuited immediately after a holding penalty on 1st-and-10, and the Packers defense committed five different penalties on two fourth quarter drives, including two negating stops, although both penalties were questionable. Sunday night was a sloppy game on both sides. But the Cowboys were mostly unable to take advantage when the Packers didn't play clean.

This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers beat Cowboys: 5 stats that tell the story of 23-13 win

Oct 8, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Sacramento Kings center Maxime Raynaud (42) boxes out Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James (9) in the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

A flurry of roster cuts was made across teh NBA before 5 p.m. Eastern on Saturday.

The Los Angeles Lakers were among the teams trimming their roster; however, one notable name remained rostered. Although it was widely expected that Los Angeles would part ways with forward Dalton Knecht, the young player remains a member of the franchise as of Monday afternoon, despite struggling last season.

While he still remains positioned to leave the organization, whether it be via being waived or traded, it’s not a complete shock, given the franchise’s pressing need for another center that could be found via the trade market in a deal involving the forward.

Another prime candidate to exit the organization is his draftmate Bronny James, who joined Los Angeles as the 55th pick in the draft. The franchise will have to part ways with either James or Knecht by Monday’s official NBA opening-night roster deadline.

One analyst believes the Lake Show is best off trading James.

“If I were the Lakers, I’d be trying to trade Bronny right now to some owner who wants to sell some jerseys,” CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn posted on X. “I’d rather keep Knecht on the books as possible trade salary than cut him and deal with dead money. The Lakers don’t really need the James brand like other teams do.”

James feels that James hasn’t shown enough offensively to justify a roster spot.

“(He) Just hasn’t reached the point of offensive viability through two years, and the defensive threshold is just so freaking high at that size that if he’s never gonna make shots, he basically has to be a Jamal Shead-level pest to even justify a roster spot and he isn’t,” he wrote.

If James is ultimately cut ahead of Monday’s deadline, there’s always the outside possibility he finds his way back onto a team with his father somehow on the East Coast as a Philadelphia 76er.

The post 5 PM EST roster deadline: Bronny James in danger of being cut by Lakers on Monday appeared first on The Comeback: Today’s Top Sports Stories & Reactions.

UEFA Champions League: Live Updates on the Trip to Baku

Here’s what’s on the agenda today:

• Trip to Baku
• Final training session at the Olympic Stadium
• Press conference at the Olympic Stadium with Niko Kovac and Daniel Svensson

+++ Press conference with Niko Kovac and Daniel Svensson +++

Niko Kovac sets the tone: “We have to be sharp, and I hope that as the game progresses, we can showcase the qualities we undoubtedly possess. We’re the clear favorites here, and we want to—and must—win this game.” The coach discusses the current situation, the roster, and the opponent

+++ Final Training Session at the Olympic Stadium +++

A slight change of plans: Instead of starting with the press conference, the on-site program begins with the final training session. At the Olympic Stadium in Baku (capacity: approximately 69,000), the Borussians are training on the field. The scoreboards display “Welcome” and a large BVB logo. After 15 minutes, the public portion ends, and training continues behind closed doors. We’re now heading down to the press conference area…

+++ Hello from Azerbaijan +++

After a five-hour flight, the Borussians have arrived at the Caspian Sea. Some players watched movies on the flight, while others listened to music or played games. Now it’s off to the stadium!

Before departing for the third UEFA Champions League match of the current season, Sporting Director Lars Ricken answers journalists’ questions during a press conference and comments on Konstantinos Karetsas, the upcoming trip, and the team’s position in the standings

+++ Arrival at the Airport +++

The team has arrived at the airport and is ready for the trip to Azerbaijan. Konstantinos Karetsas is not traveling after sustaining an injury in the match against Union Berlin. BVB Managing Director Lars Ricken said on Monday: “Kos has a ligament injury in his foot. He won’t be flying to Baku and won’t be able to play against Frankfurt on Saturday either. That’s obviously frustrating, but we initially expected the worst after seeing the reactions of his teammates.

The flight to the Caspian Sea is expected to take about five hours. It’s 10 degrees Celsius in Dortmund. Temperatures of 23 degrees are expected in Baku. We’re taking off!

+++ Unusual Career Path +++

The team’s coach is Valdas Dambrauskas from Lithuania. The current head coach appeared on the Lithuanian version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” in 2002 at the age of 25 and used his winnings to finance his coaching education in England. He won 4,000 litas, which at the time was roughly half a year’s salary in his home country.

+++ Here’s the Opponent +++

After a 1–2 loss in the first leg of the playoffs against Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Sabah FC came back from being down twice to win 5–2 in extra time and qualify for the current group stage of the UEFA Champions League. They lost their first match 0–4 at Manchester United. On the second matchday, the team defeated Slavia Prague 2–0 at home. The team is currently ranked 22nd in the standings. Over the weekend, they secured a 4–0 away victory in the national league, where Sabah currently sits in first place.

The club was founded in 2017 and has been playing in Azerbaijan’s top league since 2018. In 2026, the team won the national championship for the first time. After just nine years of existence, the club broke the record as the youngest club ever to qualify for the Champions League group stage (FK Krasnodar previously held this record with twelve years).

+++ The Three Bs +++

Bodø, Berlin, Baku—these are the venues for BVB’s matches over the course of seven days. Now Borussia Dortmund is making its final stop.

The final leg of three consecutive away games takes BVB to Azerbaijan. Today’s destination: Baku! Not your typical destination in European club soccer. But this season, the UEFA Champions League makes it possible. The opponent is Sabah FC from Masazır, though the match will be played at the capital’s Olympic Stadium. Upon arrival in the capital, a press conference with head coach Niko Kovac and defender Daniel Svensson is scheduled (live on BVB-TV starting at 5:15 p.m. CEST), followed by the final training session.

The U19 team is also heading to Azerbaijan, where they’ll face a challenge in the UEFA Youth League on Tuesday.

Kovac sets the tone: “We’re the clear favorites here”The scenario

Three away games in seven days: At the start of this busy week, the team lost 0-1 to Bodø/Glimt in Norway on Matchday 2 of the UEFA Champions League. The team returned from their Bundesliga match at Union Berlin with a 0-0 draw. Now they’re looking to pick up points against Sabah FC in the Champions League and get back on track. “We have our plays in the final third to create danger. We haven’t been able to execute them in the last two games, which is why we haven’t scored,” explains BVB coach Niko Kovac. “If we want to win, we have to score goals. We need to execute those plays. We have to play much faster, with more precision, and take more shots. Tomorrow we have to shoot on goal more often to maybe force a goal.”

With one win (3–2 in their home opener against Villarreal) and one loss (to Bodø), the team has a balanced record after two matchdays and sits in 18th place in the league standings.

Squad

It’s not yet clear who will play on Tuesday. “We’ll have to see how the lads are doing. Today is the second day after the game, and we had a five-hour flight,” said Kovac. “Today we’ll check in with them a bit and see how one or the other player is feeling. After all, it’s also about bringing in fresh legs.” Konstantinos Karetsas suffered a ligament injury in the match against Union and is out, as are the long-term injured players Emre Can and Giannis Konstantelias (both with torn cruciate ligaments). All other players were on the flight and are ready to play

Opponent

“We’re taking the opponent seriously, especially since they won 2-0 here against Prague in their last game,” said Kovac. “We have to be sharp, and I hope that as the game goes on, we can show the qualities we undoubtedly possess. We’re the clear favorites here, and we want to—and must—win this game.”

Sabah lost their first match of the current league phase 0–4 at Manchester United. On the second matchday, the team defeated Slavia Prague 2–0 at home and currently sits in 22nd place in the standings. Over the weekend, they secured a 4–0 away victory in the national league, where Sabah leads the standings.

The club from Masazır, which is playing the match in Baku, was founded in 2017 and has been competing in Azerbaijan’s top league since 2018. In 2026, the team won the national championship for the first time. With only nine years of existence, the club broke the record as the youngest club ever to qualify for the Champions League group stage (FK Krasnodar previously held this record at 12 years).

Third Away Match

This marks the third time BVB has played a match in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan in the Near East. So far, BVB’s away games on the western shore of the Caspian Sea—about 3,450 kilometers as the crow flies from Westphalia—have been successful. In the UEFA Europa League playoffs on August 26, 2010, they secured a 1-0 victory over Qarabagh Agdam. The match was played at the Tofiq Bəhramov Stadium. Five years later, on October 22, 2015, Borussia defeated Qäbälä FK 3–1 in the UEFA Europa League. The match was played here at the Bakcell Arena. Now BVB is set to play its third match in Baku, this time at the Olympic Stadium.Christina Reinke

Lars Ricken: “Our goal is to come back with a win”

Lars Ricken on Konstantinos Karetsas:“Kos has a ligament injury in his foot. He won’t be flying to Baku and won’t be able to play against Frankfurt on Saturday either. That’s frustrating, of course, but we initially expected the worst after seeing the reactions of his players.”

… the trip to Azerbaijan:“It’s been an intense week. Just a few days ago, we were still north of the Arctic Circle. After we got back, we headed to Berlin just a few hours later. Now the travel time to Baku is five hours. It’s worth mentioning, but no one’s going to complain about it. That’s just part of the deal when you play for Borussia Dortmund. Sabah is certainly a very strong defensive team with a lot of confidence. They’re in first place in the league, and they’ve just won in the Champions League. Nevertheless, our goal should be to return with a victory.”

… the standings after one win and one loss:“Of course, we can read the standings and know which opponents are still ahead of us. Naturally, there’s a certain amount of pressure, but I think we should view this more as motivation and a privilege, because it also reflects our ambition—that we have high goals.”

… three consecutive games without a win:“We can see that we’re going through a somewhat difficult phase right now. Going three games in a row without a win isn’t normal for Borussia Dortmund. But we have to remind ourselves that we established an excellent position for ourselves early in the season—in the Bundesliga, the DFB Cup, and the Champions League. That’s still the case. Now it’s about showing our willingness to fight and, in the truest sense of the word, to defend that position. But of course, we also want to take the initiative more often on offense again—to be aggressive and determined, create scoring chances, score goals, and regain that hunger to win the games at all costs. When you have a challenge like this in the Champions League, you can fly to Baku with enthusiasm and anticipation. That should be our mindset now.”

… the sluggish offense: “It’s difficult. In principle, you can’t fault the team when it comes to attitude. They’ve really given it their all in every game. In all three games, we actually had individually stronger players in every position. But we shouldn’t rely on that during the games; instead, we need to work together as a united team from the very start to ensure that we win the games through our offense. The foundation, of course, lies in defense, but we’ve been proving that for quite some time now.”Recorded by Christina Reinke

Voting is now open for The Jackson Sun's area high school boys athlete of the week from Oct. 12-17. The poll closes Oct. 22 at 4 p.m.

Nominees are:

JC Gray, Adamsville: Gray was 7-of-7 passing for 123 yards and two touchdowns and had 167 yards and four touchdowns on 12 carries in Adamsville's 56-12 win over Loretto. He added an interception on defense.

Jaden Butler, Haywood: Butler rushed eight times for 203 yards and three touchdowns and converted two two-point attempts in Haywood's 43-0 win over Memphis Business Academy.

Jaden Champion, Humboldt: Champion was 17-of-23 for 317 yards and four touchdowns through the air while adding a touchdown with his legs in Humboldt's 47-7 win over Lake County.

Kelsey Rose Jr., Jackson Christian: Rose had six tackles, two for a loss and a sack, four catches for 40 yards and blocked two punts in Jackson Christian's 49-20 win over Harding.

Carson Kelley, Milan: Kelley had 112 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries in Milan's 49-0 win over Halls.

Stream Tennessee HS football live on NFHS Network

Chace Jenkins, Obion County: Jenkins finished with 12 catches for 264 yards and two touchdowns, including a 87-yard touchdown catch, in Obion County's 29-28 loss to South Fulton.

Jake Payne, USJ: Payne made four catches for 88 yards and a touchdown in USJ's 37-0 win over Dyer County.

Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP via Getty Images | AFP via Getty Images

Hansi Flick is facing quite the selection headache ahead of Barcelona’s Champions League clash with PSG on Tuesday as Jules Kounde and Eric Garcia have been ruled along with Andreas Christensen, leaving the coach with very few defenders available.

Gerard Martín is also a doubt and the coach did not want to confirm whether the full-back could start on Tuesday or not, but he did speak about the other options at center-back currently available in the squad.

“We have options. Rodri and Frenkie can play [center-back]. Àlex Campos is with us; he’s trained with us for the first time. I’m positive. It’s not the best time for us, but we have to accept it. Jules will be back soon; maybe he’ll be an option for the weekend. We have to wait and see.”

It sounds like Martín will be good to go as Pau Cubarsí’s partner, but Flick is more than ready to try something else if Maldini isn’t quite fit enough.

Flick’s ability to remain calm when facing these kinds of problems is one of his best qualities as coach, and he will have full trust in whatever back four combination he ends up choosing on Tuesday.

Chauncey “Chuck” Kennon, the 18-year-old who was the top recruit in Florida State’s 2026 football class, is accused of driving a Dodge Durango past 150 mph through Hillsborough County, Florida, around 2 a.m. on Oct. 10 while a woman in the SUV asked him more than 10 times to let her out. That is the account in a Florida Highway Patrol arrest affidavit, as reported by FOX 13 Tampa Bay. Kennon is charged with aggravated fleeing to elude, false imprisonment and resisting an officer without violence. He is presumed innocent, and none of the reports I found includes a statement from him or an attorney.

What the affidavit says happened on State Road 60

An officer clocked a black Dodge SUV at 70 mph in a 50 mph zone near State Road 60 and South Maydell Drive in Tampa, according to the affidavit. As a deputy and an FHP trooper moved to catch up, the SUV went to 90 mph. The trooper turned on lights and siren, and the driver kept going.

At State Road 60 and U.S. 301 the SUV ran a red light while other vehicles were crossing, swerved, and hit a raised curb, the affidavit says. Eastbound on State Road 60 it passed 150 mph in multiple 50 mph zones. On southbound Interstate 75 a trooper’s cruiser reached 140 mph and the SUV still pulled away. At 150 mph a vehicle covers 220 feet every second, so a 300-foot football field goes by in about 1.4 seconds.

A black Dodge Durango Citadel in a file photo taken in Orlando, not the SUV from this case. Photo: Bull-Doser / Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

Another trooper spotted the SUV near U.S. 41 and Big Bend Road in Apollo Beach with a flat right front tire, consistent with the curb strike. It stopped on the westbound shoulder of Big Bend Road near Wyandotte Road, disabled. Dashcam video aired by WFLA shows the driver getting out and running. He ran east, then north toward an industrial plant, and troopers and deputies set a perimeter with aviation and K-9 units helping. Nobody was arrested at the scene. Investigators identified Kennon from an unlocked phone left in the SUV that held photos of him in a gold chain, which they said matched the chain in the dashcam video and his driver’s license photo. WCTV, citing court records, reported that he turned himself in on Monday, Oct. 12.

At about 3:35 a.m. a trooper found a woman with cuts on her arm and clothing covered in dirt, blood and grass, the affidavit says. She first gave investigators a different account of how she got there. After being advised of her rights, she said she had been with Kennon in Ybor City before he began driving recklessly, that she asked him more than 10 times to stop and let her out, and that he refused. She said she held onto her seat belt. Troopers cited her account, the dashcam video and their identification of Kennon as support for the charges.

How a passenger’s account becomes a second felony

Florida defines false imprisonment in Section 787.02 as restraining or confining another person “against her or his will” and without lawful authority. The statute does not require a locked door, a weapon or a hand on the person. It is a third-degree felony, which carries up to five years under Section 775.082. Troopers cited the woman’s statement that she asked to leave a moving car and was refused as support for the count.

The two main counts rest on different kinds of proof. The red light, the curb strike and the foot chase are on dashcam video, and the speeds come from the affidavit. The false imprisonment count depends on one person’s account, and the affidavit itself says that account changed once. Whether prosecutors file the count as arrested is not known yet.

WCTV reported that a judge set bond at $5,000 on the false imprisonment count, $2,500 on the fleeing count and $500 on the resisting count, and ordered Kennon to have no contact with the woman and to stay in Hillsborough County. The bond on the fleeing count is half the bond on the count that depends on her testimony.

What aggravated fleeing carries without a crash or an injury

Section 316.1935 sets fleeing a marked patrol vehicle with lights and siren on at a third-degree felony. Add driving at high speed or with wanton disregard for the safety of people or property, and it becomes a second-degree felony, with a ceiling of 15 years under Section 775.082. No injury or collision is required. A collision that causes serious bodily injury or death moves it to a first-degree felony with a three-year mandatory minimum, and the reports I read describe no such charge here.

A conviction under the first four subsections of that statute also requires the court to revoke the driver license for at least one year and no more than five. Resisting an officer without violence, under Section 843.02, is a first-degree misdemeanor with a one-year ceiling. Those are statutory maximums, not predictions, and a judge sets the sentence.

Florida State’s statement, and a second chase the same Saturday

FOX 13 reported that a university spokesperson said Kennon was dismissed from the football program for “conduct detrimental to the team.” The school did not confirm a link to the arrest. He played one snap this season, against Virginia on Oct. 3.

Later that same Saturday, FHP says a Corvette left I-275 at the State Road 56 exit near Wesley Chapel at about 130 mph with a trooper behind it. That driver was also charged with aggravated fleeing to elude, which makes two Tampa Bay high-speed pursuit arrests within about a day of each other.

What happens next in Hillsborough County

The reports I found list no court dates. An arrest affidavit is the police agency’s account, and the State Attorney’s Office decides which charges to file, so the final counts can differ from the ones on the jail record. As of WCTV’s Oct. 14 report, Kennon was in custody in Hillsborough County, and the coverage does not say whether he has posted bond.

If a driver runs from troopers at 150 mph with a passenger asking to get out, should prosecutors add a false imprisonment charge on top of the fleeing charge, or is the fleeing charge already the whole offense?

⚡ Read the full article on Backfire News

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Winning the first game of the season is a great way to start, but it doesn't necessarily dictate the way your year will go. In 2025, the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots both lost in Week 1—and still wound up playing each other in the Super Bowl.

The Carolina Panthers got blown out in their 2026 opener, losing a wild shootout against the Chicago Bears that got away from them in the second half. Along the way, they allowed 59 points to go with 291 yards and six touchdowns on the ground. That put them back at the very bottom of the NFL in run defense, bringing up memories of their historically-bad 2024 season.

However, since that Week 1 collapse, Carolina's defense has actually been pretty good.

The details are impressive since Week 2—including ranking second in scoring defense, fifth in yards per play and 10th versus the run . . .

Ejiro Evero's defense since Week 1:

Points allowed: 16.0 (2nd)
Rush TDs allowed: 0.5 (4th)
Yards per play: 4.71 (5th)
Yards allowed: 304.8 (8th)
Third down: 34.5% (8th)
Rush yards allowed: 92.5 (10th)

In hindsight, Chicago was the outlier. And he's coached the last two games… pic.twitter.com/TF6RDn1jpo

— Cory Puckett (@PuckettTakes) October 19, 2026

Sunday's 25-14 win saw the Panthers hold to the Philadelphia Eagles offense, albeit a battered one, to just 222 total yards. They also limited them to 3.6 yards per play and a 40-percent success rate on third-down attempts.

These are some very promising numbers, especially considering that starting cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson have been sidelined for the past two outings. So props to much-maligned defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.

Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.

This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers defense rebounding in a dramatic way after nightmarish season opener

Florida basketball is locked and loaded for a run at the NCAA Tournament and a second national title in three years. The Gators return four starters and 81.8% of their scoring from last year's squad while re-adding a key contributor in Denzel Aberdeen.

While expectations are sky-high entering the 2026-27 campaign, Todd Golden's gang fell flat in the first of two preseason matchups on Sunday, falling in overtime to Baylor, 82-76, in Jacksonville. While there were plenty of positive takeaways from the defeat, there are still a few loose ends that need to be addressed before kicking off the regular-season schedule.

Despite the disappointing exhibition results, Florida finds itself atop the preseason USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll with 732 points and 20 first-place votes. That puts the Gators seven points and 12 first-place votes ahead of second-place Duke, and 49 points and 18 first-place votes ahead of third-place Illinois.

The preseason poll includes seven SEC schools among the top 25, headlined by top-ranked Florida, followed by Texas (No. 7), Tennessee (No. 9), Arkansas (No. 13), Alabama (No. 18), Vanderbilt (No. 21) and Kentucky (No. 23). Missouri (60), Texas A&M (19) and Auburn (1) also appeared on the initial ballot.

Florida will play its second exhibition game of the preseason against the Stetson Hatters on Oct. 27 inside the O'Connell Center. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast on the SEC Network+.

USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll preseason top-25 rankingsRKTEAMRECPTS1stPVCHH/L1Florida0-073220NR-1/12Duke0-07258NR-2/23Illinois0-06832NR-3/34Arizona0-06340NR-4/45UConn0-06120NR-5/56Michigan St0-05700NR-6/67Texas0-05270NR-7/78Houston0-04860NR-8/89Tennessee0-04360NR-9/910Virginia0-04090NR-10/1011Louisville0-03690NR-11/1112Gonzaga0-03610NR-12/1213Arkansas0-03450NR-13/1314St. John's0-03160NR-14/1414Iowa State0-03160NR-14/1416Texas Tech0-03140NR-16/1617Miami (FL)0-02920NR-17/1718Kansas0-02860NR-18/1818Alabama0-02860NR-18/1820Michigan0-02190NR-20/2021Vanderbilt0-01640NR-21/2122USC0-01030NR-22/2223Kentucky0-01000NR-23/2324Purdue0-0830NR-24/2425BYU0-0760NR-25/25Others Receiving Votes

Nebraska 66; UCLA 64; Missouri 60; Ohio State 31; North Carolina 24; Texas A&M 19; Villanova 14; Indiana 9; Wisconsin 5; Saint Louis 4; Cincinnati 4; West Virginia 2; Creighton 2; Maryland 1; Auburn 1

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida sits atop preseason Coaches Poll heading into 2026-27 season

Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The streets of Paris are full of demonstrations, some of which have turned into riots, as nationwide protests over the cost of living and poor conditions in schools have swept across France. But that won’t stop the NFL from proceeding with its scheduled International Series game between the New Orleans Saints and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Stade de France on Sunday.

The league released a statement on Sunday indicating “preparations continue as scheduled for NFL events and the game at Stade de France next Sunday,” despite the civil unrest in France. “We continue to work closely with local authorities and partners on all operational and security matters. We are also providing the two clubs with regular updates. There’s been no disruption or impact at league sites,” the league’s statement continued.

The Saints are scheduled to arrive in Paris on Monday, while the Steelers will travel later in the week.

The game, which is scheduled to air on NFL Network at 9:30 a.m. ET, will test how the NFL handles similar situations in the future. While the demonstrations have mostly subsided for now, such social movements can be unpredictable and create tenuous public-safety conditions.

The NFL has made no secret of its desire to expand internationally, perhaps selling a full-season package of international games to a broadcaster once an 18-game regular season becomes a reality.

But whether it be the field conditions in Brazil or civil unrest in France, the decision to expand beyond American borders raises a host of concerns the league hasn’t necessarily dealt with before. The NFL has plenty of experience handling extenuating circumstances that could affect games domestically, but comparatively little experience dealing with foreign authorities, who might act differently.

Given that this Sunday’s game is the first in NFL history to be scheduled in France, the league will have its hands full making sure the game goes off without a hitch.

The post NFL is full steam ahead on Paris game amid civil unrest appeared first on Awful Announcing.

Leeds United 1-1 Manchester United: Calvert-Lewin cancels out Mbeumo opener as rivals share points at Elland Road

Leeds United came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Elland Road, denying Michael Carrick’s side a much-needed Premier League victory in a fiercely contested meeting between the two rivals.

Manchester United forward Bryan Mbeumo opened the scoring in the 35th minute, but Leeds striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin equalised shortly after half-time. Neither side could find a winner, with Daniel Farke’s Leeds extending their unbeaten home run to eight Premier League matches while United’s difficult start continued.

As it happened

The opening exchanges were physical, with Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes and Leeds wing-back Gabriel Gudmundsson both receiving yellow cards inside the first 20 minutes. Leeds created the first clear opportunity when Nico Elvedi met Anton Stach’s free-kick with a downward header, forcing goalkeeper Senne Lammens into a sharp save.

United responded immediately, with Youri Tielemans delivering a cross from the right that found Mbeumo unmarked in the area. The Cameroon international failed to direct his header on target, allowing Leeds to escape.

Mbeumo made amends in the 35th minute. Manchester United midfielder Tielemans combined with Amad Diallo on the right before delivering a low cross into the area, where Mbeumo swept a first-time finish beyond James Trafford to give the visitors the lead.

Leeds emerged with greater attacking intent after the interval and equalised in the 51st minute. Stach delivered a corner that defender Tarik Muharemović headed past Noussair Mazraoui, allowing Calvert-Lewin to control the ball before firing past Lammens from close range.

The hosts continued to threaten through Jayden Bogle, whose deliveries from the right caused problems for United’s defence. Leeds captain Ethan Ampadu appealed for a penalty after being brought down by Harry Maguire during a corner, but VAR allowed play to continue.

United had opportunities to regain their advantage, with Fernandes dragging an effort narrowly wide after combining with Amad and Leny Yoro. At the other end, Stach fired over following a poor defensive clearance as both teams searched for a second goal.

Neither side could produce a decisive moment in the closing stages. Lammens failed to deal convincingly with a late Bogle cross, but Stach’s subsequent effort was blocked. Ampadu and United midfielder Andrey Santos were then booked following a confrontation in stoppage time as the rivals settled for a point apiece.

Liverpool have an option to buy Ronald Araujo for £47.2m at the end of the season [Getty Images]

Seeing Ronald Araujo with the South American drink known as Mate is becoming a regularity around Liverpool.

Those close to the 27-year-old say that true to his Uruguayan heritage, he takes the caffeinated beverage - made by steeping dry leaves in warm water - wherever he goes.

The sight of defender Araujo in Liverpool's starting line-up is also becoming the norm this season.

For all the focus on Liverpool's big-money signings, it is the one they got on loan that is increasingly looking like one of their most important deals.

Since arriving on a season-long loan from Barcelona, Araujo has started eight of Liverpool's 10 games under Andoni Iraola, with six of those appearances coming at right-back and four at centre-back.

Last week, he scored his first Liverpool goal with a header against LASK and there was a backheel assist for Dominik Szoboszlai against Atletico Madrid.

With Conor Bradley out since January with a knee injury and Jeremie Frimpong now sidelined until the November international break with a muscle injury, Araujo, who is taking English lessons, is seizing the chance to showcase the versatility and experience that attracted Liverpool to him.

"I came from a big side, as is Liverpool. I think people here, it's almost like they are more intense when you go down the street, when you go out to the centre of Liverpool, or when you go out to eat something. But that's lovely. You see how they experience football themselves," Araujo said on Monday.

"I am really happy here. My family is very happy and that's also very important. I'm just really hungry to go on this season and give the best I can of myself and continue to learn and grow as a player. I'm having that game time and that's what I want and then we'll see what happens and what I want for the future."

At Barcelona last season, Araujo was granted a leave of absence to prioritise his mental health and the move to England in the summer felt like one that suited all parties - even if he was initially seen as a stopgap solution for Liverpool

Araujo, who has 29 caps for Uruguay, took a wage cut and Liverpool have an option to buy him in the summer for £47m.

It is a hefty sum and remains an unlikely outcome, but the understanding for now is that Araujo is just happy to show his qualities to everyone once again.

"It's very early to talk about these things," he said, when asked about his future.

"I'm just trying to enjoy every day and continue to develop and to play and to give what's required of me to have that confidence. I'm really happy to be here but it's a bit early to be talking about those things."

Araujo's celebration means giving glory to God rather than taking credit for himself [Getty Images]Leaving Liverpool with a decision to make

With Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez's contracts expiring this summer, Liverpool sporting director Julian Ward will have some important decisions to make.

When everyone is fit, Liverpool are well-stocked in the centre-back department and the way Jeremy Jacquet, 21, has settled in since moving from Rennes in the summer is proof that if you are good enough, you are old enough.

Alongside Van Dijk, 35, Gomez, 29, and Jacquet, 19-year-old Giovanni Leoni will offer another option once fit. Leoni is hoping to return next month from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury he sustained on his debut in September 2025.

Liverpool also have an option to buy back Jarell Quansah from Bayer Leverkusen this summer so are not short of options.

The likes of 18-year-old Ifeanyi Ndukwe, currently on loan at Levante in La Liga, and Mor Talla Ndiaye, 18, are names for the future too.

Liverpool did not initially plan to bring in Araujo this summer, but given their injury crisis were forced to act and his abilities have largely benefited Iraola this season.

"Ronald [Araujo] was one of those situations that before the market was not there and the situation appeared," said Iraola.

"Then we talked to the player - the first conversation I had with him was quite encouraging. You see a hungry and experienced player who has played in a top club and is willing to show the level."

"I told him that sometimes we will need you playing as a right-back and he was ready for everything to help the team - the more he plays, the more he speaks the language and the more he learns from his team-mates, the more we will benefit from his experience. Everything has been quite positive with him."

For Araujo, the focus is clear.

"Coming to a club like Liverpool is not easy. There are demands and responsibilities. I'd already experienced that in Barcelona and ultimately that's a huge club where there are huge demands where every game you need to give your very best. You play well in one game, but you have to come back and do that again," he said.

Do that, and both Iraola and Ward may be left with a decision to make.

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How many times do you have to lose before you make history?

Daniel Suárez has lost far more races than he has won, but it was precisely those defeats that helped him reach the top of NASCAR.

This is the story of how a kid who didn’t speak English, who lived with friends because he didn’t have a Social Security number to rent an apartment, and who drove a “vochito” from Monterrey across the border into the United States, made his way in the most closed-off sport in the American South, and why he says being Mexican is his “biggest ace.”

Daniel Suárez was 11 years old the first time he got into a go-kart. He remembers feeling, with the absolute certainty of a child, that God had given him a special talent for driving race cars. He was faster than everyone else. And for years, that was enough.

But talent, he says today, only takes you so far.

When he reached the upper levels of NASCAR, he realized something that changed everything: at the highest level, there are only 36 drivers. Thirty-six. And every single one of them once felt the way he did at 11: chosen, gifted with a special talent. The difference, then, wasn’t talent. It was everything else.

“I had to take many, many losses to be able to get here. There’s no way you can succeed at something without going through a lot of setbacks. The important thing is to always keep getting back up.”

Suárez finished a strong seventh in the Freeway Insurance 500, the NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway, on Sunday, Oct. 18.

Getting here, the barriers for Suárez were literal. There was a time when he was living in the United States without speaking English, without money, without a Social Security number. “And without a Social Security number, no one will rent you an apartment,” he said. So he lived with friends, moving from house to house, while trying to learn a language that closed doors before he had a chance to open them.

“Like many immigrants, I had nothing. I didn’t speak English. I didn’t have money,” he said.

And in the middle of all that, there was a race. A small race, in a small place, in 2013. It doesn’t appear among his most important records. It doesn’t carry the prestige of a championship. But for Daniel Suárez, that race meant everything.

“It was a turning point after all the work I had put in trying to learn English, being there, working and winning for the first time in the United States. It was the beginning of the whole wave of everything that came afterward,” he said in an interview with The Arizona Republic.

The day he stopped being ‘the different one’

What followed was historic: more victories, championships, and confirmation that a Mexican driver could win on the most hostile turf. He became the first driver born outside the United States to win a Cup Series race. The first to win a championship. The first to win a race outside the United States.

But there’s something striking about the way Suárez tells the story of that journey. For a long time, he believed that being different, being Mexican, speaking Spanish, coming from another country, was his biggest disadvantage. Until one day, after reaching the upper levels of the sport, he understood it all.

“I started to realize that being different, being Mexican, is the biggest advantage I have. It’s the biggest ace I have,” he said.

He explains it with a scene that sounds almost like something out of a comedy: “We just finished Hispanic Heritage Month, and in NASCAR, I’m the only Mexican. The only one who can speak Spanish. Imagine how many opportunities that creates. Everyone wants a little piece of me,” he says with a smile.

The rock he had been chipping away at for years finally cracked open. And behind it was a world of opportunities that only he, from his unique position, could seize.

Sometimes he doubts himself. He wonders whether he’s doing the right thing, whether he’s good enough. “Even how good I am,” he admits. But doubt doesn’t paralyze him; it pushes him.

“I know that no one has handed me what I have today. I’ve had to work for everything I have. No one has given me anything, and what I have, I deserve. I’ve earned it.”

Discipline beats talent

If you ask Suárez what matters most when it comes to reaching a goal, talent, discipline, preparation, confidence or where you come from, he doesn’t hesitate. Talent is only the starting point.

“All 36 of us have talent. The difference is how disciplined you are, how hard you’re willing to work, and how good a teammate you are.”

Because in NASCAR, he says, no one wins alone.

“I can do my job 100%, but without my engineers, without my mechanics, without the tire changers, it doesn’t work. It’s very important to be a good teammate and to understand that there will be good days and bad days. On the bad days, you have to learn,” he says.

And then there’s that hunger that never goes away.

“It’s very easy to say, ‘I’ve made it here, I’m making good money.’ But you have to have that fire inside you, that hunger to always want more,” he says.

The hour before the roar

Daniel Suárez has a ritual before every race, one that reveals more about him than any victory. A few hours before getting into the car, he steps away from the fans and sponsors and shuts himself away for a few minutes.

He closes his eyes.

First, he visualizes the sacrifices: his family, the difficult moments, everything he had to leave behind to get there. Then he visualizes the victories, the big moments. And after that, the immediate future: the pit stops, the strategy, the lines he plans to run. When he opens his eyes, he walks toward his next challenge and goes after the win.

“And I remind myself how fortunate I am to do what I do. Because when I was a kid, I wanted to be a professional driver, but not for the money or the fame. Simply because I loved racing. And when you reach the professional level, you have so many responsibilities that you get tired, and many times you forget the most important thing: the love of competing.”

“Imagine how beautiful that is. It’s very easy to forget. So I try to remind myself that the dream I have today is the same dream I had 20 years ago, when I was 10 or 11. You have to enjoy it a little more,” he says.

The future, being better, being a dad

Today, Daniel Suárez is married to Julia Piquet, daughter of three-time Formula 1 world champion Nelson Piquet, and last September, he became a father. More than a biographical detail, that milestone has become a point around which everything else falls into place. Fatherhood, accumulated experience and years of chipping away at the same stone have turned him into a different version of himself: smarter, more complete as a driver.

“I think next year I’ll be a better driver than I was this year,” he says.

It’s not something he says lightly. 2026, he says, has been a great year, but there is also a conviction he won’t compromise on: “I’m someone who always wants more. Now I want more, and I keep working,” he says.

When asked which driver he would like to team up with, he doesn’t dodge the question. “Max Verstappen is a great driver. I’d like him to be my next teammate.” He says it plainly, with the ease of someone who knows the next step is always a little higher, on the next mountain.

But when he is asked about his biggest dream, the answer shifts. He is no longer talking about trophies, teams or championships. He talks about something much more personal.

“To keep giving the best version of myself. To be a good dad. That’s the most important thing to me. That’s my dream now.”

That’s the turn. The driver who climbed into a go-kart at 11 believing God had given him a special talent, the one who crossed a border without speaking English, now puts something that cannot be won on a racetrack first: being a good father.

But there is something else he wants to leave behind. Suárez doesn’t want to be just the first. He wants to be the one who opened the door for those who come next: a more diverse sport, a path laid out for future generations. That is the day he will feel his mission is complete.

“The day I can not only look at all the trophies, but also see the change in NASCAR’s culture and make diversity greater, I will feel it,” he says.

It is not an abstract goal. Today, he remains the only Mexican in NASCAR’s highest series, and that, he says, is precisely what needs to change.

“NASCAR has to continue its multicultural efforts to keep bringing in more talent: not just drivers, but mechanics, engineers. I’ve had many conversations with NASCAR about it, and there are definitely things we have to keep pushing.”

And he keeps chipping away at the stone, because he knows that behind each one lies a world of opportunities waiting.

“To those coming up behind me, I say: keep pushing for whatever it is you want to do. Just because no one has done it before doesn’t mean it isn’t possible. It means it might be harder. But once you get there, there will be a world of opportunities. Because being different, being Mexican, being Latino, speaking Spanish, speaking multiple languages, has to be the biggest ace you have.”

And in his case, that ace turned out to be the best one of all.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Daniel Suárez made NASCAR history, but his biggest dream is no longer about racing

Purdue Boilermakers forward Trey Kaufman-Renn (4) leaves the court as the seconds count down in a NCAA Tournament game against the Arizona Wildcats on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. Purdue fell to Arizona 79-64.

Christine Tannous/IndyStar/USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Kansas has added All-Big Ten forward Trey Kaufman-Renn, who played four seasons at Purdue before getting picked by Minnesota in the second round of the NBA draft, filling its biggest perceived hole on the eve of the college basketball season.

Jayhawks coach Bill Self announced his transfer hours before the release of the men’s preseason AP Top 25 poll. The 24-year-old Kaufman-Renn has enrolled in classes at Kansas and began practicing with the team.

“He reached the national championship game, the Elite Eight and the Sweet 16 at Purdue, and has been extremely well-drilled and well-coached,” Self said in a statement. “Even though it’s late in the process, because of his basketball IQ, we think his transition will be quicker than most put in the same circumstance.”

The 59th overall pick in the June draft, Kaufman-Renn intends to play another season of college basketball after the NCAA’s sudden and chaos-inducing rule change designed to allow student-athletes to play five seasons over a five-year span.

The rule was not intended to include players who had finished their careers this past season. But the gray area it created has led to a wave of lawsuits across the country, as athletes in all sports seek another year of eligibility. Kaufman-Renn was granted a preliminary injunction, making the 6-foot-9 power forward eligible to play for Kansas for the time being.

Kauffman-Renn graduated from high school in 2021 but didn’t suit up his first season at Purdue because of a knee injury. He played the following four seasons, appearing in 147 games, and helped Purdue reach the national championship game two years ago.

Jayhawks guard Melvin Council Jr. and Tre White also have won preliminary injunctions to play another season for them.

Kaufman-Renn joins a lineup headlined by Council and White alongside Tyran Stokes, the consensus No. 1 recruit in the nation, and fellow five-star freshman Taylen Kinney. His addition also fills a need in the post, where Flory Bidunga’s transfer to Louisville and Bryson Tiller’s departure for rival Missouri had left a glaring hole in the roster.

Kaufman-Renn averaged 20.1 points and 6.5 rebounds as a junior and 14.2 points and 8.3 rebounds this past season at Purdue. He also appeared in five games for the Timberwolves during the NBA’s summer league, averaging 6.6 points and 3.8 rebounds.