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FOXBOROUGH — The New England Patriots look to make it three straight Sunday when they take on the New York Jets in an AFC East matchup at Gillette Stadium.

The Patriots got A.J. Brown for the game after their big offseason acquisition suffered a high-ankle sprain in Week 1. They also got back their star cornerback Christian Gonzalez, who has missed time with a shoulder injury after the team’s Week 3 loss to the Jaguars.

THIRD QUARTER UPDATES

SCORE UPDATE: Patriots 17, Jets 10

10:24 — Omar Cooper snags a 48-yard touchdown reception for the Jets’ first touchdown of the day.

The extra point is good.

INJURY UPDATES:

Alijah Vera-Tucker and Romeo Doubs have been ruled out.

11:54 — An incomplete pass intended for A.J. Brown will end the drive.

It hasn’t been a great game for Brown, who’s returning from a high ankle sprain and playing for the first time since Week 1.

12:03 — It’s 3rd-and-5, let’s see if the Patriots can convert.

13:45 — Drake Maye uses his legs to get the first down for the Patriots.

15:00 — The Patriots get the ball to begin the second half.

HALFTIME

Patriots 17, Jets 3

SECOND QUARTER UPDATES

SCORE UPDATE: Patriots 17, Jets 3

0:14 — Pop Douglas and Drake Maye make it happen!

Nine-yard touchdown pass gives the Patriots some breathing room ahead of halftime.

The extra point is good.

0:20 — It’s 3rd-and-goal after another incomplete pass.

This one was intended for Eli Raridon.

0:24 — A.J. Brown can’t reel in the touchdown.

An incomplete pass from Drake Maye and it’s 2nd-and-goal.

0:29 — Pop Douglas comes up with a big catch and gets out of bounds. It was an 11-yard completion.

The Jets are called for roughing the passer and the Patriots move a little closer to the end zone.

It’s 1st-and-goal.

0:35 — Hunter Henry again!

This time the quarterback connects with the tight end for another first down on a 10-yard completion.

New England takes its second time out.

0:43 — Hunter Henry keeps the Patriots moving with a 16-yard completion from Drake Maye.

New England is at the Jets’ 40-yard line.

1:03 — That Drake Maye-to-A.J. Brown connection comes up big.

INJURY UPDATE: Alijah Vera-Tucker is questionable to return with a hamstring injury.

1:23 — Marcus Jones calls for a fair catch.

The Patriots will try to add some separation before the first half ends.

1:27 — The Jets gain 6 yards and it’s 4th-and-4.

The Patriots call a timeout.

1:35 — It’s 3rd-and-10 for the Jets.

The Patriots are looking for a big stop here.

SCORE UPDATE: Patriots 10, Jets 3

1:49 — Andy Borregales hits the 32-yard field goal and puts the Patriots up by seven.

1:49 — Drake Maye misses A.J. Brown. It’s 4th-and-4 from the Jets 14.

They will settle for a field goal.

1:53 — It’s 2nd-and-2 after Drake Maye connects with A.J. Brown for eight yards.

2:33 — TRICK PLAY!

Drake Maye to Rhamondre Stevenson to DeMario Douglas gives the Patriots a first down.

2:59 — A 12-yard pickup by Rhamondre Stevenson gives the Patriots another first down.

5:11 — The Patriots convert with a two-yard gain by Rhamondre Stevenson.

The drive lives on.

6:43 — Another stop by the Patriots defense.

Patriots take over on their own 39-yard line.

INJURY UPDATE:

Morgan Moses is questionable to return with an ankle injury.

7:37 — The Patriots don’t allow the Jets to gain any yardage on 3rd-and-1.

The Jets will go for it.

9:02 — Another completion by Geno Smith. The Jets are moving down the field.

10:08 — Geno Smith completes a 19-yard pass and it’s 1st-and-10 on their 36.

11:45 — Drake Maye’s pass for DeMario Douglas is incomplete.

The Patriots will punt.

12:09 — It’s 3rd-and-6 for the Patriots as they look to pick up a first down.

INJURY UPDATE:

12:30 — Morgan Moses is slowly walking off the field with a bit of a limp. He’s going into the blue medical tent.

12:30 — Drake Maye misses A.J. Brown down the field.

It’s 2nd-and-10.

14:16 — The Patriots get the stop thanks to Robert Spillane.

Turnover on downs for the Jets and it’s New England’s ball.

14:40 — The Jets are going for it on 4th-and-2.

END OF FIRST: Patriots 7, Jets 3FIRST QUARTER UPDATES:

INJURY UPDATE:

Romeo Doubs is questionable to return with a shoulder injury.

INJURY UPDATE:

3:41 — Romeo Doubs has gone to the locker room for further evaluation. It’s unclear what the injury is at this time.

INJURY UPDATE:

SCORE UPDATE: Patriots 7, Jets 3

Drake Maye finds Romeo Doubs in the end zone as the two connect on a 42-yard touchdown pass.

The extra point is good.

It turns out, A.J. Brown does not have his first catch since returning. The call was overturned after a successful Jets challenge.

4:02 — A.J. Brown gets his first catch of the day, a nine-yard completion from Drake Maye.

The Jets are challenging the call on the field.

5:12 — Christian Barmore makes sure the drive doesn’t continue. It’s a 10-yard sack on third down and the Jets will turn the ball.

5:54 — Milton Williams comes up with a seven-yard sack on Geno Smith.

It’s 3rd-and-16.

6:48 — That’s a quick three-and-out for the Patriots after Drake Maye’s pass intended for A.J. Brown is tipped.

7:24 — Drake Maye picks up three yards and it’s 3rd-and-3 from their 34-yard line.

8:12 — Kyle Williams has a 17-yard return.

SCORE UPDATE: Patriots 0, Jets 3

8:21 — Kevin Byard comes up with a huge pass breakup.

The Jets will settle for a 42-yard field goal.

8:26 — It appears the Jets get a touchdown, but a flag is thrown.

The Jets are called for pass interference. A huge break for New England.

8:34 — Geno Smith throws an incomplete pass to Garrett Wilson in the end zone.

Now would be a great time for New England to get a big stop on third down.

9:44 — The Jets get another first down, this time on third down.

10:02 — The Patriots defense has struggled to start the game.

12:37 — The Jets are moving down the field on their opening drive.

It’s 1st-and-10 after a 15-yard completion as Geno Smith finds Garrett Wilson.

The Jets call tails and it comes up heads.

The Patriots defer.

PREGAME UPDATES

After suffering a knee injury in Week 5, Will Campbell was the starting left tackle in warmups.

Pregame Show

Sunday Reading

• The Patriots offensive line holds key to continued dominance of Jets | Karen Guregian
• A.J. Brown injury return: Patriots expected to activate receiver vs. Jets
• 5 Things to Watch: Will A.J. Brown play for Patriots vs. Jets?
• Patriots mailbag: Who will Mike Vrabel target at NFL trade deadline?
• Which Patriots receiver do we expect to have the biggest game against the Jets today?

5 Things to Watch

Read the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

JUPITER — In a wild week of upsets, Jupiter volleyball will be one of several programs preparing to embark on a regional run on the road.

Though Palm Beach County's top-ranked public school program fell to Vero Beach, the Warriors (16-8) can rely on a pair of new stars this year to kickstart their regional play on the right foot this week.

Following the graduation of several seniors last year, newcomers Ellie Lord and Charlee Sawicki have made a big difference for this edition of the Warriors program.

"Ellie came to us from Texas this summer," Blane Betz said. "She made an immediate impact with our team as far as being a very dominant middle."

Even in the district title loss, Lord not only made several good blocks, she showcased her offensive flair with some nice tip-kills at the net and impressed with her serve, earning Betz's praise for her consistency.

Sawicki was arguably Jupiter's singular best player in last week's championship. While Kaija Fullerton's impact was mitigated by Vero Beach's front line, Sawicki shined on the other side.

Betz knew the kind of production he was getting when Sawicki joined varsity.

"Charlie has been with me since sixth grade, and I knew coming into high school she'd probably be one of the best athletes I've coached. She's definitely proving that. She has that want and that drive that you want everybody to have."

"She's definitely the hitter of our future" Betz continued. "So we'll see how that goes in the next three years."

Of course, the 2026 season is still alive and well ― district title or not.

Jupiter, like 16 other Palm Beach County teams, found out its first round fate during the FHSAA's selection show on Sunday, Oct. 18, at 2 p.m.

More: Spanish River rides back-to-back upsets to volleyball district title

Here are all first-round regional matchups for local teams.

Class 1ARegion 4

No. 8 Westwood Christian (5-9) at No. 1 Boca Raton Christian (20-6)

No. 7 Greene School (13-10) at No. 2 Pine School (14-10)

No. 5 Lake Worth Christian (13-11) at No. 4 Cushman (20-6)

No. 6 Berean Christian (14-6) at No. 3 Sagemont Prep (14-10)

Class 2ARegion 2

No. 8 Southwest Florida (3-11) at No. 1 St. Andrew's (16-7)

No. 5 John Carroll Catholic (12-4) at No. 4 Benjamin (11-10)

Class 3ARegion 3

No. 8 Somerset Canyons (16-5) at No. 1 King's Academy (20-5)

No. 6 Cardinal Newman (14-13) at No. 3 Bishop Verot (23-4)

No. 5 Dreyfoos School of the Arts (16-8) at No. 4 Desoto County (22-6)

Class 5A Region 4

No. 6 Pembroke Pines Charter (7-11) at No. 3 Dwyer (15-11)

No. 5 West Boca Raton (12-13) at No. 4 Seminole Ridge (24-4)

Class 6ARegion 3

No. 7 Strawberry Crest (16-9) at No. 2 Jupiter (16-8)

Region 4

No. 8 Dr. Joaquín García (15-11) at No. 1 Doral Academy (19-6)

No. 7 Boca Raton (17-9) at No. 2 Miami Palmetto (19-5)

No. 3 Ferguson at (17-5) No. 6 Spanish River (16-11)

Alex Peterman is a high school sports reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at apeterman@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: See opening regional matchups for 17 Palm Beach County volleyball teams

JUPITER — In a wild week of upsets, Jupiter volleyball will be one of several programs preparing to embark on a regional run on the road.

Though Palm Beach County's top-ranked public school program fell to Vero Beach, the Warriors (16-8) can rely on a pair of new stars this year to kickstart their regional play on the right foot this week.

Following the graduation of several seniors last year, newcomers Ellie Lord and Charlee Sawicki have made a big difference for this edition of the Warriors program.

"Ellie came to us from Texas this summer," Blane Betz said. "She made an immediate impact with our team as far as being a very dominant middle."

Even in the district title loss, Lord not only made several good blocks, she showcased her offensive flair with some nice tip-kills at the net and impressed with her serve, earning Betz's praise for her consistency.

Sawicki was arguably Jupiter's singular best player in last week's championship. While Kaija Fullerton's impact was mitigated by Vero Beach's front line, Sawicki shined on the other side.

Betz knew the kind of production he was getting when Sawicki joined varsity.

"Charlie has been with me since sixth grade, and I knew coming into high school she'd probably be one of the best athletes I've coached. She's definitely proving that. She has that want and that drive that you want everybody to have."

"She's definitely the hitter of our future" Betz continued. "So we'll see how that goes in the next three years."

Of course, the 2026 season is still alive and well ― district title or not.

Jupiter, like 16 other Palm Beach County teams, found out its first round fate during the FHSAA's selection show on Sunday, Oct. 18, at 2 p.m.

More: Spanish River rides back-to-back upsets to volleyball district title

Here are all first-round regional matchups for local teams.

Class 1ARegion 4

No. 8 Westwood Christian (5-9) at No. 1 Boca Raton Christian (20-6)

No. 7 Greene School (13-10) at No. 2 Pine School (14-10)

No. 5 Lake Worth Christian (13-11) at No. 4 Cushman (20-6)

No. 6 Berean Christian (14-6) at No. 3 Sagemont Prep (14-10)

Class 2ARegion 2

No. 8 Southwest Florida (3-11) at No. 1 St. Andrew's (16-7)

No. 5 John Carroll Catholic (12-4) at No. 4 Benjamin (11-10)

Class 3ARegion 3

No. 8 Somerset Canyons (16-5) at No. 1 King's Academy (20-5)

No. 6 Cardinal Newman (14-13) at No. 3 Bishop Verot (23-4)

No. 5 Dreyfoos School of the Arts (16-8) at No. 4 Desoto County (22-6)

Class 5A Region 4

No. 6 Pembroke Pines Charter (7-11) at No. 3 Dwyer (15-11)

No. 5 West Boca Raton (12-13) at No. 4 Seminole Ridge (24-4)

Class 6ARegion 3

No. 7 Strawberry Crest (16-9) at No. 2 Jupiter (16-8)

Region 4

No. 8 Dr. Joaquín García (15-11) at No. 1 Doral Academy (19-6)

No. 7 Boca Raton (17-9) at No. 2 Miami Palmetto (19-5)

No. 3 Ferguson at (17-5) No. 6 Spanish River (16-11)

Alex Peterman is a high school sports reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at apeterman@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: See opening regional matchups for 17 Palm Beach County volleyball teams

New England Patriots wide receiver Romeo Doubs exited to the locker room after hauling in a 42-yard touchdown pass in Sunday's game against the New York Jets.

Patriots quarterback Drake Maye had all day to survey the field, as Doubs snuck behind the defense in the end zone. Maye delivered a perfectly thrown ball deep to get the Patriots on the board in the first quarter.

However, after the play was over, Doubs remained on the ground. He walked off the field slowly with the trainers and was later seen heading to the locker room.

More to come...

This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Patriots WR Romeo Doubs exits game with injury on 42-yard TD reception

Bo Nix has not been playing well this season. The Denver Broncos quarterback has 1,049 yards, six touchdowns, three interceptions and completed 60.3% of his passes through six games and is on pace for the worst statistical season of his career. In a 17-14 win over the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday he threw for a season-low 107 yards.

The good news is that the Broncos are 4-2 so despite the struggles of their third-year quarterback, they’re still in an advantageous position to make the playoffs this season. Also, the Broncos have an explanation for Nix’s poor play and Sean Payton isn’t worried.

According to Fox’s Jay Glazer, Nix has struggled with the team’s “changing verbiage” this season.

MORE: Sean Payton kisses Charissa Thompson in viral Thursday Night Football exchange

Broncos excuse for Bo Nix’s poor play

Per @JayGlazer, the #Broncos changed their offensive terminology when Davis Webb became OC in the offseason. When Sean Payton took play-calling duties back from Webb, he switched it back to his terminology. All the changing verbiage has played a role in Bo Nix’s struggles. Payton is confident Nix will be fine.

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 18, 2026

Joe Lombardi was the offensive coordinator for the Broncos during Nix’s first two seasons with Payton calling the plays. Lombardi was fired after Jarrett Stidham threw for 133 yards in place of Nix in the AFC Championship. He was replaced by Davis Webb who had been the pass game coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

When Webb took over play calling duties, they changed their terminology. Then when Payton took back over earlier this month, they changed terminology again. You can see how Nix might have gotten all mixed up and stopped being so awesome.

As of Sunday morning he was 17th in passing yards and 19th in passing touchdowns despite the fact that he’d played at least one more game than every other quarterback

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

Drake football fell to 2-5 overall and 2-2 in the Pioneer Football League after a 27-22 home loss to Marist on Oct. 17 at Drake Stadium.

The Bulldogs led 16-14 at halftime and outgained Marist 410-378 in total yards.

“Days like this are so hard,” Drake coach Matt Walker said. “I feel terrible for our kids, they played hard. (Today is) another time we feel like we should’ve won a football game, but I don’t want to take anything away from Marist. We keep holding ourselves back and I wish I could tell exactly what it was. Mistakes just took the wind out of us … we just have to make plays. We had good looks all day, moved the ball well, but just couldn’t break that rock.”

Drake quarterback Riley Warzynski was 29-of-51 for 269 yards and two touchdowns. He was intercepted once.

Warzynski led the Bulldogs with 64 rushing yards on 14 carries. Mitchel January had nine catches for 80 yards.

Drake will face PFL opponent Butler next week. The game is slated for a noon kickoff at Drake Stadium.

Drake sports information contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Drake football falls to Marist in Pioneer League contest

Right after scoring a touchdown to make it a three-point game for the Jacksonville Jaguars against the Houston Texans, Travis Hunter caught an interception in the red zone to prevent the Texans from taking a two-possession lead.

Here is a look at Hunter’s interception, courtesy of the NFL’s official social media:

TRAVIS HUNTER PICKS IT OFF IN THE END ZONE

HOUvsJAX on NFL Network
Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/3t5alPW3z1

— NFL (@NFL) October 18, 2026

Hunter now has a touchdown and an interception in the same game for the first time in his NFL career. This is precisely the kind of production Jacksonville was hoping for out of Hunter when they traded up to draft him No. 2 overall. 

He is also just the third player since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 to have a touchdown and an interception in the same game.

. @TravisHunterJr is the third player since at least the 1970 merger to have an interception and a receiving touchdown in a regular season game, joining HOF S Brian Dawkins (W4 of 2002) and Cardinals WR Roy Green (W3 of 1981). pic.twitter.com/c3cJTnRnsN

— JaguarsPR (@JaguarsPR) October 18, 2026

Hunter has continued to shoulder a full workload on defense in this game while also setting a season high in receptions on offense.

This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Jaguars Travis Hunter becomes 3rd players since 1970 to accomplish feat

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Auburn gets a huge road conference win.

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

MORE COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS:

• Deion Sanders buyout, contract details as Colorado Buffaloes coach
• ESPN analyst says 'pump the brakes' on Texas' Arch Manning being the best QB
• Shane Beamer buyout, contract details as South Carolina Gamecocks coach
• Dabo Swinney says Clemson is a 'bunch of nobodies' ahead of 2026 season
• Shedeur Sanders is all over social media after Colorado GPA surfaces

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Get Tennessee tickets for the rest of the season!

College football rankings after Week 7US LBM Coaches Poll

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

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

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

AP Top 25 poll

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Get Tennessee tickets for the rest of the season!

College football rankings after Week 7US LBM Coaches Poll

First-place votes in parenthesis

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

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

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

AP Top 25 poll

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Dodgers should spend that roster spot on dependable innings

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SOURCE: Ian Rapoport - NFL Network

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

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

New York Yankees closer David Bednar

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NFL Fans Set Record Straight After Breiden Fehoko’s Allegations

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.

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

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

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

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

So who was left standing?

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

College football scores yesterday for Week 7 games

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

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

Köln plot January reinforcements with Leeds striker among targets

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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