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Colorado Avalanche (5-2-1, in the Central Division) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (1-6-3, in the Metropolitan Division)

Philadelphia; Monday, 7 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: The Colorado Avalanche visit the Philadelphia Flyers after Artturi Lehkonen's two-goal game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Avalanche's 5-2 win.

Philadelphia is 1-6-3 overall and 1-2-2 at home. The Flyers have a 0-4-2 record in games their opponents serve fewer penalty minutes.

Colorado has a 2-1-0 record on the road and a 5-2-1 record overall. The Avalanche have a 5-1-1 record in games they have fewer penalties than their opponent.

The teams meet Monday for the first time this season.

INJURIES: Flyers: Travis Konecny: out (lower body), Owen Tippett: day to day (upper-body), Nikita Grebenkin: out (upper-body), Cam York: day to day (upper body), Rasmus Ristolainen: out (upper-body).

Avalanche: Nicolas Roy: out (lower body), Logan O'Connor: out (lower-body), Georgii Merkulov: out (undisclosed), Zachary L'Heureux: out (upper body).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Notre Dame helmet ©IMAGO/ZUMA Press Wire

Notre Dame lost its best pass rusher barely minutes into the game. But apparently, that wasn’t enough. By the final whistle, another controversial officiating decision had given the Fighting Irish plenty more to be furious about. No. 2 Notre Dame entered Provo undefeated at 6-0, only to leave with a 28-24 loss to No. 8 BYU, a snapped 16-game winning streak, and an officiating controversy that wasn’t going away anytime soon.

“Notre Dame star DT Boubacar Traore has been ejected after being called for targeting on BYU’s Bear Bachmeier,” TSN reported via X.

Traore was disqualified less than three minutes into the game after officials upheld a targeting call for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Bachmeier. His early ejection was a significant blow to the Fighting Irish, as BYU turned the 15-yard penalty into a 75-yard touchdown drive. Bachmeier finished it with a five-yard run, while Notre Dame’s remaining pass rushers failed to record a sack.

But Traore’s ejection wasn’t the only officiating decision that left Notre Dame frustrated.

A game spiraled into chaos at Provo with ejections, denied plays, and questionable calls that left Notre Dame reeling. Stay subscribed for the full breakdown of what went wrong.

The final play was an embarrassment for the officiating crew. After driving Notre Dame to BYU’s 7-yard line with four seconds left and no timeouts, CJ Carr faced an all-out blitz. He floated a fade toward Jaden Greathouse, who appeared to be contacted by defender Evan Johnson before the ball fell incomplete. No pass interference flag. And despite the clock showing one second remaining when the ball hit the ground, officials declared the game over. BYU celebrated, while Notre Dame was denied another shot at the end zone. So much for getting the final call right.

Warren Sharp also reported on the one-second controversy via an X post: “There is CLEARLY 1 SECOND LEFT. Just watch it back in slo-mo; it’s not close. clock doesn’t even get to 0:00 as I replay it.”

“Forget the BYU pass interference for a second… how did they NOT review an obvious second left on the clock for Notre Dame????” Chase Snyder’s X post read.

The Big 12 acknowledged the officiating error after reviewing the controversial finish. The conference confirmed that one second remained on the clock and that the replay crew incorrectly ruled the game over.

“Following the Big 12’s review of the final play of Saturday’s Notre Dame-BYU game, it was determined that time remained on the clock when the ball hit the ground and the play was incorrectly cleared by the replay officiating crew. The Conference will conduct a complete review of its end-of-game officiating process in advance of next week’s games,” according to an X post by Chris Vannini.

“It was chaos, man,” Freeman said afterward, via Pete Sampson, adding that the fade was a reaction to BYU’s pressure from that side.

Notre Dame had also squandered scoring opportunities earlier. Trailing 21-10 just before halftime, Carr attempted to spike the ball at BYU’s 5-yard line but lost possession. After a review, officials ruled it a fumble, and BYU recovered, costing the Irish at least three potential points.

Notre Dame bounced back with 14 unanswered points to take a 24-21 lead with 9:31 remaining. Jayden Sanders later intercepted Bachmeier, but the Irish offense failed to capitalize. Bachmeier eventually found Walker Lyons for the go-ahead touchdown with 1:47 left. Carr finished 27 of 49 for 261 yards, while Greathouse had eight catches for 125.

For Bachmeier, however, the victory was about more than just beating the No. 2 team in the country.

“We’re tired of being disrespected, and I don’t know, maybe because we’re the color blue, ‘nothing will happen,'” Bachmeier said, according to an X post by FOX College Football. “But that was a bad joke, but we’re tired of being disrespected. I mean, we know who we are, and man, this was a great win for sure.”

“Kalani [Sitake, BYU’s head coach] won’t like this because I’m talking about myself, but out of high school, Notre Dame disrespected me and my family pretty badly, and I wasn’t going to lose to those guys. There was no way I was going to lose to those guys tonight.”

Bachmeier finished with four total touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving, and the game-winning passing touchdown). He also confirmed that he had “receipts” regarding the recruiting issues, making the victory personal.

Notre Dame’s first loss has complicated its College Football Playoff outlook, leaving the Fighting Irish with little room for another setback. The Irish have a bye next week, followed by a Navy matchup on October 31 and Miami on November 7, while BYU (6-0) is set to face UCF next.

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The post BYU vs Notre Dame: Player Ejected in 2 Minutes, Refs Deny Final Play, Controversial Pass Int. Call - Everything Went Downhill at Provo appeared first on EssentiallySports. Add EssentiallySports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

After a crazy day of college football, with three of the Coaches Poll top four and five of the top seven losing, who will be the new No. 1? Last week’s top-ranked Georgia team lost to Auburn, No. 2 Notre Dame lost to BYU, and No. 4 Indiana just missed.

Will it be Ohio State? Last week’s No. 5 team beat No. 4 IU in Bloomington, but that goes the other way if Nick Marsh gets his foot in bounds.

Will it be BYU? It was physical and tough in the thrilling 28-24 win over No. 2 Notre Dame. The unbeaten Cougars have a claim.

Will it be Miami? It took everything in the bag to get out alive in a 43-35 double-overtime thriller over Florida State. It was No. 3, and the top two lost.

2026 Coaches Poll Prediction: Week 8 Quick Hits

• The coaches tend to make fewer giant moves, but they’ll keep it clean and easy with Miami up top – at least that’s our guess. We’re also guessing that most coaches don’t know what to do with all the SEC teams.
• This week’s Coaches Poll Big Winners Will Be: BYU, UCLA, LSU
• This week’s Coaches Poll Big Losers Will Be: Texas, Missouri, Mississippi State
  Week 8 AP Top 25 Prediction

Oct 17, 2026; Provo, Utah, USA; Brigham Young Cougars quarterback Bear Bachmeier (47) celebrates with offensive line Bruce Mitchell (63) after scoring a touchdown against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the first half at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images25. Florida

Last Week Ranking: NR 
Record: 5-2 
Last Week: Florida 27, Texas 24

24. Northwestern

Last Week Ranking: NR 
Record: 5-1 
Last Week: Northwestern 24, Michigan State 21

23. Oregon

Last Week Ranking: 25 
Record: 4-2 
Last Week: Oregon 17, Nebraska 14

22. Boise State

Last Week Ranking: 24 
Record: 5-1 
Last Week: No Game This Week

21. Missouri

Last Week Ranking: 13 
Record: 5-2 
Last Week: Ole Miss 31, Missouri 3

20. Texas

Last Week Ranking: 6 
Record: 4-2 
Last Week: Florida 27, Texas 24

19. SMU

Last Week Ranking: 22 
Record: 5-1 
Last Week: SMU 23, Virginia 13

18. Wake Forest

Last Week Ranking: 23 
Record: 6-1 
Last Week: Wake Forest 41, Cal 7

17. LSU

Last Week Ranking: 21 
Record: 5-2 
Last Week: LSU 31, Mississippi State 0

16. Iowa

Last Week Ranking: 16 
Record: 5-1 
Last Week: No Game This Week

15. Houston

Last Week Ranking: 18 
Record: 6-1 
Last Week: Houston 35, Oklahoma State 32

14. Kentucky

Last Week Ranking: 17 
Record: 6-1 
Last Week: Oklahoma 21, Kentucky 13

13. USC

Last Week Ranking: 15 
Record: 5-1 
Last Week: No Game This Week

12. Alabama

Last Week Ranking: 7 
Record: 5-1 
Last Week: Tennessee 26, Alabama 10

11. Tennessee

Last Week Ranking: 14 
Record: 6-1 
Last Week: Tennessee 26, Alabama 10

10. Ole Miss

Last Week Ranking: 10 
Record: 5-1 
Last Week: Ole Miss 31, Missouri 3

9. UCLA

Last Week Ranking: 12 
Record: 6-0 
Last Week: UCLA 17, Wisconsin 7

8. Utah

Last Week Ranking: 11 
Record: 6-0 
Last Week: Utah 27, Colorado 24

7. Indiana

Last Week Ranking: 4 
Record: 6-1 
Last Week: Ohio State 19, Indiana 15

6. Notre Dame

Last Week Ranking: 2 
Record: 6-1 
Last Week: BYU 28, Notre Dame 24

5. Georgia

Last Week Ranking: 1 
Record: 6-1 
Last Week: Auburn 27, Georgia 24

4. Texas Tech

Last Week Ranking: 9 
Record: 6-0 
Last Week: Texas Tech 53, Arizona State 25

3. BYU

Last Week Ranking: 8 
Record: 5-0 
Last Week: BYU 28, Notre Dame 24

2. Ohio State

Last Week Ranking: 5 
Record: 6-1 
Last Week: Ohio State 19, Indiana 15

1. Miami

Last Week Ranking: 3 
Record: 6-0 
Last Week: Miami 43, Florida State 35 2OT

Where to watch Packers vs. Cowboys: Channel, live stream, time, schedule for NFL 'Sunday Night Football' originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys have produced many memorable moments in NFL history, and they will look to add another one this week.

The Packers are now on a two-game winning streak and look good after a slow start to the season, whit Jordan Love coming off his best game of the season. While Green Bay has battled injuries, the team had an offensive explosion in Week 5 with Love putting up 367 passing yards and two touchdowns.

For the Cowboys, Dallas had an extremely disappointing performance last week when they lost at home to the undefeated Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Cowboys' offense remains strong, but the team's defense has not improved much from last year, putting the pressure on them to pick it up.

Last year, the Cowboys and Packers tied when they played each other in Dallas early in the season. This matchup, meanwhile, should feature some explosiveness on offense.

Here is everything you need to know to watch Packers vs. Cowboys, including TV and streaming options for the game.

What channel is Packers vs. Cowboys on today?

• TV channel: NBC
• Live stream: DIRECTV, Fubo, Peacock

Packers vs. Cowboys will air regionally on NBC, with Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth on the call. Fans can also stream the game live with DIRECTV or Fubo, which offer free trials to new subscribers, along with Peacock. 

Catch every game – try DIRECTV FREE today! Stream live NFL, MLB, March Madness, soccer and more with must-have sports channels like TNT, TBS, truTV, ESPN, FS1, and NFL Network—all included with DIRECTV.

Start your FREE trial now and never miss a moment of the action. No contracts, no hassle, just wall-to-wall sports and entertainment.

What time is Packers vs. Cowboys today?

• Date: Sunday, October 18
• Time: 8:20 p.m. ET

Packers vs. Cowboys will kick off Sunday at 8:20 p.m. ET. The game will be played at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.

Packers vs. Cowboys radio coverage

• Radio station: SiriusXM app and channels 192, 193

Listen to live play-by-play coverage of Packers vs. Cowboys nationwide on the SiriusXM app, or in your vehicle on channels 192 (Packers broadcast) and 193 (Cowboys broadcast).

The SiriusXM Sports Pass allows fans to listen to live game broadcasts of the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, college football and basketball, the PGA Tour, NASCAR and more. Get your first month of the SiriusXM Sports Pass for free, then pay just $5 a month or $49 for a year. 

Packers schedule 2026

Here are Packers' upcoming games:

DateGameTime (ET)10/18vs. Cowboys8:20 p.m.10/25@ Lions4:25 p.m.10/29vs. Panthers8:15 p.m.11/8@ Patriots4:25 p.m.11/15vs. Vikings1:00 p.m.Cowboys schedule 2026

Here are Cowboys' upcoming games:

DateGameTime (ET)10/18@ Packers8:20 p.m.10/26@ Eagles8:15 p.m.11/1vs. Cardinals1:00 p.m.11/8@ Colts1:00 p.m.11/15vs. 49ers4:25 p.m.Related Links

• Latest NFL news and rumors
• 2026 NFL schedule, scores
• Updated NFL standings
• How to bet on the NFL

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

The New England Patriots have activated A.J. Brown from injured reserve ahead of the upcoming clash with the New York Jets, giving Drake Maye a potential boost as the quarterback looks to build on his recent performances.

Brown has missed the last four games after suffering a high ankle sprain in his Patriots debut against the Seattle Seahawks. Although his activation opens the door for a return, the wide receiver remains questionable for the Jets game.

New England have won three of their last four games without Brown and enter Week 6 with a 3-2 record. His return could give Maye another proven target as the Patriots look to keep their momentum going.

Drake Maye could reunite with A.J. Brown against the New York Jets

Brown was limited in practice during the week as he continues his recovery. NFL insiders Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport reported that he could feature against the Jets, but the final decision rests with head coach Mike Vrabel.

Speaking about Brown’s return to practice, Maye made it clear that he was looking forward to having the veteran receiver back on the field.

“You know what he can add,” Maye said. “He’s been a player in this league. It’s not like we haven’t seen him as a player in this league, and there aren’t many like him that roam around in this league.”

The quarterback also compared the impact of Brown’s return to the way basketball defences react to a star player, explaining how the receiver could create opportunities for his teammates.

“We’ve got a lot of guys that have made plays now, so it’s going to be tough on defenses,” Maye added. “But I know we’ve got a tough challenge this week, so looking forward to it.”

Brown, meanwhile, has stressed that his recovery will take time. He said Vrabel would have to assess his condition before deciding whether he was ready to return, with the coach needing to make “the better decision for the long haul”.

The 29-year-old has recorded three receptions for 26 yards this season, all coming in the opening game before his injury. His arrival from the Philadelphia Eagles was expected to give Maye an experienced target, but their partnership has barely had a chance to develop.

New England will now assess Brown’s fitness before their meeting with the Jets. His activation is an encouraging step, but the Patriots must decide whether he is ready to return or whether more recovery time would be the wiser option.

Read more:

• ‘Genuinely scary’ – NFL fans are angry and concerned after ‘indefinite’ Jalen Hurts injury update
• ‘This is ridiculous’ – Robert Griffin III rips apart ex-NFL star’s claim of Jalen Hurts faking his blood clot
• ‘Kept throwing up’ – Cowboys face fresh Joey Porter Jr. concern ahead of Packers clash

Stefan Wendl, Head of Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing, is incredibly proud of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport’s season. The German manufacturer ended the GT World Challenge Europe season with three titles and a victory in the final race. Max Verstappen’s participation was also a major highlight for Mercedes.

Now that the GT World Challenge Europe season is over, Mercedes can look back on it with satisfaction. The team is taking no fewer than three titles back to Affalterbach: the overall drivers’ championship in the Endurance Cup, the overall teams’ championship in the Endurance Cup, and the overall drivers’ titles in both the Sprint Cup and the Endurance Cup. To top it all off, the #17 GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG GT3 won the race in Portugal.

For Fabian Schiller, Ralf Aron and Maxi Götz, it was a victory they had waited a long time for. Wendl believes Verstappen Racing could have achieved more if they had not received a drive-through penalty. "It's always nice and actually not only for us as a brand, as a great owner, to have him that he chose us as his family to be here in the GT Sport with his team," Wendl told GPblog after the race in Portimão.

"That he was able to join his own team was even more fantastic after having him at Nürburgring. And I'm really happy and glad that he finished the race with us in the points, which was good. And actually without this small incident would have been way more possible. If you have seen him driving the last hour, it was a fantastic stint. And it was something to watch and to enjoy for everyone."

Mercedes-AMG Motorsport is incredibly proud of Max Verstappen’s participation - Photo: SRO/JEP

Mercedes-AMG Motorsport is incredibly proud of Max Verstappen’s participation - Photo: SRO/JEP

Praise for Barnicoat’s stand-in performance

Funnily enough, the youngest driver in the Verstappen Racing trio was also the one with the most experience of the Mercedes-AMG GT3 chassis and the championship this time around. Ben Barnicoat, who filled in alongside Verstappen for Dani Juncadella and Jules Gounon, was racing in the German manufacturer’s car for the second time: "Also Ben made a great job. I think I wasn't sure, but of course he comes into the championship, to the tires, to the car, everything new and he made a great job. He's a great driver and so I cannot complain about our drivers in general."

"It's a dream finale of a fantastic season we had, starting with victories in Daytona. Now ending up here, it was a victory, the first victory for GetSpeed as a performance team. Great, great achievement from them and they fought so long for it. At the same time we've seen such a nice race and a nice event with so many spectators here, a nice venue. I'm really enjoying it still."

Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed claimed victory in Portimão - Photo: SRO/JEP

Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed claimed victory in Portimão - Photo: SRO/JEP

A special victory for GetSpeed

For the drivers of the #17 GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG GT3, it was a special day in the GT World Challenge: Fabian Schiller’s first victory and Ralf Aron’s first victory. Maxi Götz also had something to celebrate: his first win in thirteen years: "It's a great comeback from Maxi. He, as an old hand, is leading the car with the young guns, with Fabi and Ralf. I cannot be more happy than them," Wendl said proudly.

"They deserved it. For Fabi (it's fantastic) after winning the 24 Nürburgring this year. And now ending the season also here on the high is a great motivation over the winter to even improve more and coming back strong early in January again."

(Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Martín Demichelis knew Bayern Munich would present a formidable challenge, but the RB Leipzig head coach was unable to find a tactical solution to trouble Vincent Kompany’s side.

“When you come to Munich, you know the level of quality you’ll face. But we still wanted to do something different working against the ball. We didn’t manage that. In the end, you just have to congratulate the opponent,” Demichelis said (as captured by FCBayern.com).

Demichelis’s comments highlight one of the biggest problems Leipzig encountered: their plans without the ball simply did not work. Against a Bayern side capable of stretching defenses, combining quickly through midfield, and attacking with numbers, any hesitation or positional mistake can become costly.

Leipzig wanted to approach the match differently, but Bayern’s quality prevented them from implementing their ideas effectively. That is a credit to Kompany’s players, who did more than exploit individual errors. They consistently made life difficult for their opponents and dictated the match on their own terms.

For Demichelis, the defeat will provide plenty of material for tactical analysis. His side must find ways to remain compact, win individual duels, and cope with Bayern’s relentless attacking pressure.

Bayern supporters, meanwhile, will welcome a performance that demonstrated how difficult this team can be to contain when its attacking structure and intensity are working together.

Demichelis can only congratulate Bayern this time. His next task is ensuring Leipzig learn from the experience.

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Cristiano Ronaldo has received support from former PSV striker Romário after facing criticism for leaving the Portuguese national team during the Nations League.

The Brazilian legend has defended the forward’s decision, suggesting that a reported breakdown in trust with coach Jorge Jesus explains his actions.

Ronaldo’s departure attracted widespread criticism, with the Portuguese superstar questioned for leaving the national team after remaining on the bench for the entire match against Norway. However, Romário has offered a different perspective, arguing that Ronaldo felt let down by agreements that had allegedly not been honoured.

Speaking to Portuguese media outlet O Jogo, the former PSV forward backed Ronaldo’s account of the events and questioned why the 40-year-old should have to endure a similar experience again.

Romário suggested that the forward felt his reputation had been damaged by the situation [IMAGO/TT]Romário Backs Ronaldo Over Reported Disagreement With Jorge Jesus

Romário said he had a positive relationship with Jorge Jesus during the Portuguese coach’s time at Flamengo, having met him on five or six occasions. Nevertheless, he believes Ronaldo’s account of their disagreement should be taken seriously.

“Cristiano seems to me to be a very objective person. I like Jorge Jesus; I had a relationship with him when he was coach of Flamengo. I met him five or six times and he was always a great guy... but according to Cristiano, he didn’t keep his promises. That says something about his character,” Romário said.

According to the account provided, Jesus allegedly failed to honour agreements made with Ronaldo. The forward subsequently decided to leave the national team, a move that drew condemnation from much of the football world.

Romário, however, believes the reported dispute went beyond Ronaldo’s frustration at being left out of the starting line-up. He suggested that the forward felt his reputation had been damaged by the situation.

Romário’s comments offer a strong defence of Ronaldo [IMAGO/TT]‘Why Would He Want To Experience That Again?’

The Brazilian made his support for Ronaldo clear, arguing that the forward had reason to walk away if the reported agreements had been broken.

“If that’s what Ronaldo says, then he’s right. Oh, but he abandoned the national team. Of course he’s been made a fool of once already. Why would he want to experience that again?” Romário said.

He also referred to alleged disagreements over what Ronaldo was expected to say during a press conference, claiming that the Portuguese forward felt Jesus had failed to follow through on what had been agreed.

“Some things that they had agreed he would say at the press conference, he didn’t say at all. According to Ronaldo, he was arrogant. He unmasked Ronaldo. He felt like a person whose reputation had been tarnished, who was completely irrelevant, and that’s why he left. If that’s the case, I would do the same,” Romário added, as quoted by PSV Inside.

While Romário sympathised with Ronaldo’s decision, he admitted that he would have handled the confrontation differently before leaving.

The former PSV striker said he would have confronted Jesus directly, explaining that he would have told the coach to “go to the moon!” before departing.

Romário’s comments offer a strong defence of Ronaldo amid the criticism surrounding his Nations League exit. Rather than viewing the decision solely as an act of abandonment, the Brazilian has framed it as a response to an alleged breakdown in trust between the forward and his coach.

Cal quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, who didn't enter the game until the third quarter, throws the ball against Wake Forest on Saturday in Berkeley. He was 15-for-18 passing for 110 yards and a touchdown. (Justine Willard/Associated Press)

The first season of the Tosh Lupoi Era was never going to be all rainbows and sunshine.

But a 41-7 loss to No. 21 Wake Forest - a blowout that began with the unexpected benching of Bears quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele in favor of Jackson Brousseau and ended with hollow, apathetic cheers from the listless Cal fans still left in Memorial Stadium - who could have imagined the Bears' football season could get this tumultuous, this dramatically? 

"Obviously, a disappointing performance there," Lupoi said. "We got out-coached, and we did not put our players in the best position for success. Thought going into it, our preparation was solid, and I loved our plan going in. So (Wake Forest) did a good job out executing us and out-coaching us, starting with me." 

Lupoi's assessment matched the eye test.

Whether it was Demon Deacons quarterback Gio Lopez dissecting the Cal secondary or the Bears' offense stalling out on its first six drives and going scoreless in the first half, Cal looked overmatched from the jump. 

However, for all of Cal's shortcomings between the white lines, nothing cast a bigger shadow than Lupoi's decision to bench Sagapolutele, with ESPN sideline reporter Laura Sisler reporting that it will be a competition at the quarterback position moving forward. 

"Tosh Lupoi had a decision to make, he's sticking with Jackson as the starter tonight, said this will be a quarterback competition moving forward," Sisler said on the broadcast during Cal's first drive. "Tosh told us he met privately with Jaron on Sunday, addressed the entire offense on Monday, telling them this was a dream come true as a head coach with two ballers at quarterback." 

Wake Forest 41, Cal 7

Wake Forest142070-41Cal0007-7First Quarter

WAKE_Barry 39 pass from Lopez (Calvert kick), 8:20.

WAKE_Foley 29 pass from Lopez (Calvert kick), 6:15.

Second Quarter

WAKE_Searcy 1 run (Calvert kick), 11:55.

WAKE_Clark 31 run (pass failed), 8:53.

WAKE_Barry 30 pass from Lopez (Calvert kick), :09.

Third Quarter

WAKE_Barry 2 pass from Lopez (Calvert kick), 2:57.

Fourth Quarter

CAL_Mini 28 pass from Sagapolutele (McGough kick), 8:29.

___

WAKECALFirst downs2420Total Net Yards509266Rushes-yards36-22021-75Passing289191Punt Returns1-01-7Kickoff Returns0-03-42Interceptions Ret.0-00-0Comp-Att-Int19-26-032-47-0Sacked-Yards Lost0-01-7Punts4-42.56-41.0Fumbles-Lost0-00-0Penalties-Yards11-1105-37Time of Possession27:5831:57

___

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING_Wake Forest, Searcy 5-61, Clark 8-53, Lopez 8-51, Lawrence 8-26, Pizzella 4-15, Henley 2-13, Daniels 1-1. Cal, Emory 12-56, Brousseau 5-14, League 3-7, Sams 1-(minus 2).

PASSING_Wake Forest, Lopez 16-23-0-267, Pizzella 3-3-0-22. Cal, Sagapolutele 15-18-0-110, Brousseau 17-29-0-81.

RECEIVING_Wake Forest, Shanks 5-79, Barry 4-102, Foley 3-45, Meeks 2-29, Dickmann 2-7, Lawrence 1-12, Bryson 1-9, K.Johnson 1-6. Cal, Hendricks 8-54, League 6-30, Mini 5-49, Purcell 4-32, Sams 4-15, Emory 3-1, King 1-6, Rogers 1-4.

MISSED FIELD GOALS_None.

Sagapolutele, who was cleared to play Saturday after missing the previous game and a half due to a concussion he suffered against UNLV, has struggled in his sophomore year, tallying just 877 yards and six touchdowns with five interceptions against FBS competition this season. 

"Jackson sparked us obviously and led us to a to a huge win last week and earned that right," Lupoi said, explaining his decision to start Brousseau after he led the Bears past Virginia Tech last weekend.

Still, Sagapolutele's struggles don't lessen the surprise of Lupoi turning to Brousseau, a decision that thrusts not only Cal's quarterback situation into uncertainty but also the program at large given their heavy NIL and brand investment in a player many believed to be the hope of the program. Combined with the fact that other programs have reached out to Sagapolutele's camp, confirmed by the Chronicle, in an effort to lure him away, it's hard not to see this benching as the possible first domino in the young quarterback leaving the Bears.

But in some ways,  Cal (3-4, 2-2 ACC) doesn't even have the luxury to worry only about a problem this seismic right now, given how pressed the Bears are in the short term. 

Sagapolutele did take over the offense with 2:57 left in the third quarter, replacing Brousseau with the Bears trailing 41-0. The sophomore completed 15 of his 18 attempts for 110 yards and a touchdown. As to whether either quarterback did enough to win the job going into the SMU game next weekend, Lupoi said he has a lot to assess before committing to a decision.

"I think both the guys did a good job at times," Lupoi said. "So, going to assess (and) do my very best at all positions to get the players we feel like are going to put us in position to win. I was not taking out Jackson as a negative reflection of his performance. More so, just to try to give our team a spark, go with Jaron, and give him an opportunity to execute the offense under Coach Pat (McCann)."

At the podium, Brousseau confirmed he was told on Monday he'd be starting, also noting that he doesn't know who will get the start next week, saying, "I don't think that's really important right now. I think we didn't play well enough as a whole entire team." 

The Bears weren't expected to beat Wake Forest (6-1, 4-1); the sports books had Cal as 9.5-point underdogs entering Saturday night. But they were expected to put up a better fight. Especially coming off what seemed like a building-block victory over Virginia Tech a week earlier, a last-seconds 25-20 win that at the very least seemed to assuage the concerns over the offensive playcalling and the Bears' struggles in crunch time. 

Instead, hard truths reared their ugly heads.

The concerns for the offense? Once again on the table after they tallied only 266 total yards in their second full game under pass game coordinator  McCann. The defense's inconsistency? Certainly up for debate after Wake Forest chunked the Bears for explosive play after explosive play, even with star defensive back Kingston Lopa back in the fold. Lupoi's coaching? Absolutely a talking point after a decision to go for it on a 4th-and-1 on their own 34. The Bears failed to get the first down, and Wake Forest scored on a 34-yard pass to wideout Jack Foley on the very next play.

"It's very disappointing," tight end Mason Mini said after the loss. "They came in here. It's a home game. We had the No. 21 team in the country. We didn't really have much to lose playing this team, but they got the best of it." 

Big-picture-wise, it's a loss that's made worse by the difference in the two programs' NIL budgets. This season, Cal football is reportedly spending around $30 million in NIL deals, more than double the reported figure for Wake Forest. And all Cal has to show for it is three wins in seven games, a far cry from the Deacons, who will likely rise in the next top 25 rankings. 

Last month, Lupoi preached patience when it came to the Bears turning their program around. "We want to be like bamboo," the first-year coach said, a metaphor for how they want to always be growing. At the time, an apt mindset for a young program still finding its way. But now, with turmoil in the soil, it's fair to wonder how far Cal's patience can be stretched the rest of the season. 

The Bears will look to right the ship at No. 24 SMU next Saturday.

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This article originally published at Wake Forest clobbers Cal, which opens game with QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele on bench.

Emiliano Martinez joined Chelsea this summer after six seasons at Aston Villa [Reuters]

Chelsea goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez says he will be fit "in a few weeks" after having an operation following the 2-0 Premier League win at Everton on Saturday.

The 34-year-old Argentina international reportedly broke his jaw after a head collision with Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite in the second half at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Martinez needed treatment for eight minutes before leaving the pitch on a stretcher. He was taken to hospital and manager Xabi Alonso later said he was concussed.

Martinez, wearing a hospital gown, wrote on social media on ‌Sunday: "Thanks to everyone for the messages. The operation ‌went well.

"The most important thing is that we won, and kept a clean sheet. In a few weeks we'll be back."

Mike Penders, who replaced Martinez to make his Premier League debut, looks set to play in Chelsea's next three matches at least.

They face Tottenham and Manchester United in the Premier League, with a Carabao Cup tie at Liverpool in between.

Penders, 21, signed from Belgium club Genk for £17m in 2024.

Alonso said: "Mike has personality. He's brave and we have full trust ‌with him. He did well when he came on.

"He played in the cup games and whenever he's ⁠needed. Like the other players, whenever they are needed they can perform.

"It's all about the squad - ‌that all the ​players feel important and can have ‌their moment whenever they are needed, ​and that's very positive."

• Chelsea's Martinez taken to hospital for 'precautionary tests'
• Injured Martinez taken to hospital as Chelsea beat Everton

De Jong could return savior as Barcelona face a major selection dilemma ahead of PSG clash

After a gruelling 5-2 win against Real Betis at La Cartuja, Barcelona are now gearing up for an important week, with the Catalans slated to face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League in midweek.

However, the club were hit with a major blow in the Betis encounter, with three of their defenders – Eric Garcia, Gerard Martin and Jules Kounde – picking up fresh knocks.

All three are now doubtful to feature against PSG in midweek, which, coupled with Andreas Christensen’s injury, leaves Hansi Flick extremely short-handed in central defence.

Frenkie de Jong to turn savior?

De Jong may have to operate as a centre-back. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

As reported by Diario SPORT, Flick could be forced to rely on makeshift options in his bid to solve the problem in central defence ahead of the PSG game.

After a long injury layoff, the Dutchman is finally back in contention for Barcelona, with Flick earlier confirming that the midfielder is being trialed in a centre-back role.

De Jong has played as a centre-back during his time at Ajax and even at Barcelona under Ronald Koeman before. Therefore, he can certainly become a makeshift solution.

If Martin, Kounde and Garcia all miss out, de Jong can be an option to start alongside Pau Cubarsi at the heart of the four-man backline.

However, the only concern for Barcelona right now is that De Jong hasn’t played any football since his injury and a direct return to starting eleven, that too in an unfamiliar role, could be risky.

What are Flick’s other options?

Will Hansi Flick put his faith in La Masia youngsters? (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

Flick can always rely on options from the Barcelona academy, and there are already multiple alternatives to choose from.

The likes of Alex Campos and Landry Farre as potential options for Flick in case he decides to put his faith on a La Masia talent.

These academy talents have come to the rescue of Barcelona multiple times in the past so it won’t be surprising to see Flick opting for this option at all.

However, the most likely scenario could see Martin being available for this PSG clash, despite his knock during the Real Betis game.

The situation of Garcia and Kounde looks more iffy, but it remains unlikely that Barcelona will have all three of these defenders unavailable for the PSG clash. In case they do, de Jong or a score of La Masia talents are available as alternatives for Flick.

Real Madrid forced to replace Bernabeu pitch despite perfect condition ahead of NFL game

Real Madrid are preparing to replace the Santiago Bernabeu pitch once again, despite finally resolving the grass-related problems that have troubled the stadium in recent years.

According to MARCA, the club are delighted with the current playing surface and believe they have found a successful solution to their long-standing maintenance difficulties.

However, the upcoming NFL game will force Madrid to install a new pitch.

NFL preparations will begin after Leipzig clash

The Santiago Bernabeu is scheduled to host an NFL game between the Atlanta Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals on 8 November.

Preparations will begin on 21 October, immediately after Real Madrid’s Champions League meeting with RB Leipzig.

The stadium will undergo several modifications to accommodate American football, including adjustments to the playing surface and the addition of yard markings and end zones.

Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu pitch has been in perfect condition. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

The physical demands of an NFL game make preserving the existing grass particularly difficult. Heavy contact, sudden changes of direction and repeated pressure on the surface are expected to cause significant damage.

Consequently, Madrid have already planned a complete replacement following the event. The subsequent international break provides a useful window to carry out the work.

That match is also expected to mark Vinicius Junior’s return following his four-match La Liga suspension.

Madrid have finally solved their grass problems

The timing is particularly frustrating because the Bernabeu’s playing surface is currently in excellent condition.

Madrid have spent considerable time addressing issues associated with maintaining natural grass in their renovated stadium.

Having finally achieved the desired results, the club must now begin another replacement process for reasons unrelated to football.

There has also been speculation that the grass and retractable pitch were contributing to Madrid’s injury problems.

However, no proof has emerged to establish a link between the playing surface and those injuries.

A necessary compromise for the new Bernabeu

This situation highlights the challenges of operating the Bernabeu as a multipurpose stadium.

Real Madrid are facing the challenges of making Bernabeu a multipurpose stadium. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Hosting major international events is central to Madrid’s strategy of generating revenue beyond traditional matchdays.

The NFL fixture represents another opportunity to strengthen the stadium’s commercial appeal and international profile.

However, the football team must remain the priority. A high-quality surface is essential once Mourinho’s side return after the international break.

Replacing grass that is already in perfect condition might appear wasteful, but protecting the quality of the pitch after an NFL event is a sensible precaution.

It remains to be seen whether Madrid can mitigate the risks involved in replacing the grass and how the surface looks against Celta.

It’s late. I’m old, I’m tired, and Nebraska football just gave up 11 points in the fourth quarter to lose 17-14 at Oregon. If you went to bed before this one ended, you made the right call.

Nebraska led 14-6 going into the fourth quarter. Oregon’s offense had 91 yards through three quarters. Then Dan Lanning pulled Brock Thomas, put Dylan Raiola in, and our former quarterback walked the Ducks down the field twice. The second drive went 20 plays and 82 yards and ended with a four-yard touchdown pass to Jamari Johnson and a two-point conversion with 28 seconds left.

That’s two straight weeks. We lost 20-17 to Indiana. We lost 17-14 to Oregon. Two of the best defenses in college football, and we scored 17 and 14.

My son moved out of the house, but if he’d been here tonight he would’ve looked at me and said two words: pure cinema. That’s what we are. The way we melt down, the way the little things beat us, the former quarterback coming back to beat us in the final minute. You couldn’t write it any better.

What Oregon showed everyone

Here’s how I think the game went. Oregon showed every defense left on our schedule what to do against Nebraska. Stop the run, put pressure on Anthony Colandrea, and wait.

The rushing numbers:

• Mekhi Nelson: 11 carries, 25 yards
• Isaiah Mozee: 4 carries, 28 yards
• Jamal Rule: 3 touches, and I’m not sure why it was only three
• Anthony Colandrea: 13 carries, 38 yards and a touchdown — our leading rusher, again
• Team average: about 2.4 yards per rush, with three sacks for 33 yards coming off the total

Colandrea finished 18-of-33 for 164 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Nebraska had 207 yards of total offense. You can’t win in the Big Ten when your quarterback is also your running game.

The little things

We didn’t play terribly. We gave Oregon points on dumb, small mistakes. Archie Wilson’s knee went down on a punt and handed Oregon the ball in our red zone. Colandrea’s interception did the same thing. Field goals matter a lot in a game that ends 17-14.

Those are the tiny things keeping Nebraska from getting over the hump against good teams. We keep saying “could have won” and “almost.” Could be a good team. We’re not there yet, and that’s pretty obvious.

On the field, where it’s won and lost

I know what the comments are going to say. Matt Rhule is a used car salesman and should be fired. Dana Holgorsen is a terrible coach. The timeout. Blah, blah, blah.

Here’s what I see on the field.

We don’t block well enough. We’re better at blocking than we’ve been in five or six years, and it’s still not good enough to beat good teams. We’re inconsistent. We don’t finish blocks. Some of our receivers don’t block at all. On some plays they look like they either don’t know who to block or don’t want to, and if that’s the case they shouldn’t be out there.

I don’t think there’s much wrong with Holgorsen’s offense. The play calls aren’t bad. They just aren’t blocked right. What we needed against Oregon was a real running game, and we didn’t have one.

Colandrea is holding the ball. Early in the year, against teams we overmatched, he was quick. Quick processing, quick decisions. The last two weeks he hasn’t been either. Receivers are coming out of their breaks and running open downfield, and he’s electing not to throw.

The difference between him and Dylan Raiola last year is speed. Dylan waited and got sacked because he was slow. Colandrea waits and waits and waits, and sometimes he runs out of the sack because he isn’t slow. That’s how he ends up as our leading rusher for a third straight week.

The defense was pretty amazing. We gave up 20 to Indiana and 17 to Oregon, and those teams have good players. I don’t know if the defense got worn down in the fourth quarter. They probably did, because our offense couldn’t do anything except score 14 points.

Why I’m not throwing the season away

Earlier in the week everybody on social media expected us to go to Eugene and beat the hell out of Oregon. I didn’t get that. It was a night game at Autzen, on their field, kicking off at 8 p.m. their time. I thought it would be tight. I hoped we’d finally get over the hump. We didn’t, and that’s disappointing.

Then there’s the rest of Saturday. No. 2 Notre Dame lost. Alabama lost. Texas lost. Ohio State beat Indiana and lost its starting quarterback, Julian Sayin, for several weeks. If you fired every coach who lost on Saturday, half the sport would be looking for a new staff on Sunday morning.

Every week in college football is a crapshoot now. A lot of people will call that parity. I have a different theory. It applies across the whole sport, and I’m not offering it as an excuse for Nebraska. We’re paying a bunch of young players, and they get paid whether they work hard or not. A team works hard one week, wins, and the next week the attitude is “I worked hard last week.” Then they go out and lose to somebody they shouldn’t.

I look at some of our offensive players and wonder about that. The defense seems coached right and plays consistently. The offense plays well some snaps and takes snaps off on others.

What’s left

I still think we’re going to have a fairly decent year. We can probably beat the teams on our schedule we overmatch: Maryland, Rutgers, Illinois.

Ohio State? Probably not, though who knows what happens now that they’ve lost their quarterback. Iowa? Probably not, because Iowa is disciplined and plays together all the time.

That’s the big key for Nebraska. Discipline. It shows up in penalties, in bad snaps, in a punter’s knee hitting the turf. We used to be the best 3-9 team ever, losing one-score games every weekend. Now we’re a better team that still finds ways to lose them.

It’s a tough loss and a really disappointing one. I did a YouTube watch-along to stay awake for it, and I swore a lot more there than I’m going to here.

Go Big Red.

The Oregon Ducks coaching staff settled on Brock Thomas as the starting quarterback for their Week 7 matchup with the Nebraska Cornhuskers, a must-win contest considering the Ducks' record sat at 3-2.

Anointing Thomas as the starter made sense, considering the original backup, Dylan Raiola, had the worst statistical game of any Power Four quarterback over the past two seasons against the UCLA Bruins. Thomas was inserted into the game in the fourth quarter and instantly ignited the offense, nearly sparking a come-from-behind win.

The reverse of that instance occurred against Nebraska. This time, Thomas was the one playing poor football, completing just 9-of-20 passes for 54 yards and an interception before Raiola took his place to begin the fourth quarter. Just like Thomas did a week ago, Raiola kickstarted the Oregon offense — this time resulting in a come-from-behind 17-14 victory instead of a close loss.

In just the final quarter of action, Raiola completed 11-of-18 passes for 59 yards while leading a pair of scoring drives, the first a field goal to make the score 14-9 in favor of the Cornhuskers and the second a game-winning touchdown to tight end Jamari Johnson from four yards out, capping off a 20-play, 82-yard drive that left Nebraska with just 28 seconds to work.

Dylan Raiola brings @oregonfootball back to beat his former team in the final minute!! pic.twitter.com/1yo0N39xCK

— Big Ten Conference (@bigten) October 18, 2026

While it was certainly difficult for Raiola to hear that he wasn't starting against the team that he began his career with, starting for the better part of two seasons after arriving as a five-star recruit, he was the star by the end of the night in leading a season-saving drive to put the Ducks over the Cornhuskers.

While there were multiple defenders to have standout nights, notably edge rusher Teitum Tuioti (five tackles, two sacks), defensive tackle Bear Alexander (seven tackles) and cornerback Ify Obidegwu (three tackles, interception), without Raiola's entrance into the game, the Ducks more than likely would've fallen to 3-3 on the year.

Coming off the bench against his former team to lead a game-winning drive is as storybook as it gets, earning Raiola the Ducks Wire Player of the Game honor.

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: Ducks Wire Player of the Game goes to Dylan Raiola vs. Nebraska

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Pat McAfee perfectly sums up college football’s Week 7 madness appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

College Football Week 7 offered fans everything that makes the sport so entertaining, from stunning upsets and thrilling finishes to several top-ranked teams falling short of expectations. The unpredictable Saturday action dramatically reshaped the national championship picture, prompting ESPN analyst Pat McAfee to weigh in on the weekend’s incredible chaos.

In a post on X, McAfee couldn’t hide his excitement over the unexpected results and the sheer unpredictability of Week 7. The ESPN personality celebrated the madness by declaring college football the greatest sport.

“College Football is the greatest,” McAfee said.

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College Football Week 7 once again proved that rankings cannot guarantee a predictable outcome, and it showed why fans remain glued to the action until the final whistle.

For the first time in the AP Poll Era, which dates back to 1936, five of the top eight ranked teams suffered losses on the same day. The teams caught up in the stunning turn of events included No. 1 Georgia, No. 2 Notre Dame, No. 5 Indiana, No. 6 Alabama and No. 7 Texas.

According to ESPN Analytics, the likelihood of Georgia, Notre Dame, Indiana, Alabama and Texas all losing on the same day stood at just 0.04% before the games began. That remarkably low probability showed just how extraordinary the results were and why Week 7 became one of the season’s most unpredictable weekends.

Meanwhile, BYU remained among the six undefeated FBS teams, joining Miami, Texas Tech, UCLA, James Madison and Utah.

The weekend offered a powerful reminder of why McAfee holds college football in such high regard. While established powerhouses endured unexpected setbacks, programs such as BYU and Tennessee capitalized on their opportunities to deliver upset wins and shake up the national landscape.

Meanwhile, after the upsetting Week 7,
Dave Portnoy revealed his latest AP Top 10 rankings, ranking BYU, UCLA, Texas Tech, Miami, Utah, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia.

Related: Steve Young admits ‘secret love’ for UCLA before Wisconsin clash

Related: Dave Portnoy reveals his new AP Top-10 after crazy college football’s Week 7

Chelsea recorded back-to-back Premier League victories for the second time this season as the Blues dug deep to beat Everton 2-0 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

A brace from Pedro Neto, with a goal in each half, ensured three points would be heading back to west London on Saturday afternoon.

The Blues didn’t come out of the match unscathed, as goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez took a nasty blow to the head after attempting to claim a cross, with Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite colliding with the Argentinian.

A forced change presented an opportunity for 20-year-old Mike Penders, who saw out the remaining 30 minutes to ensure Chelsea kept their first Premier League clean sheet since January.

It wasn’t just Martinez who suffered injury troubles. Summer signing Pep Chavarria missed the trip up north due to what Xabi Alonso described as a “little problem” picked up in training.

The 28-year-old was in line to start his second match in seven days after a positive display in the 5-1 victory over Bournemouth, but a last-minute setback saw him replaced by Dutch full-back Jorrel Hato.

Alonso opted to use Hato for the first time since he was withdrawn at half-time against Hull City on September 12. The 20-year-old repaid the faith by contributing to Chelsea’s first clean sheet in 22 league matches.

After the match, the Blues boss praised Hato, telling reporters: “He did really well today as well… This is all about the squad, so that all the players feel important, that they will have their moment whenever they are needed, and that's very positive as well.”

Hato has struggled for consistency since his £35.5 million move from Ajax in August 2025. With four different coaches in just over 12 months at Stamford Bridge, it is hardly surprising that his form has been mixed.

The pressure on the Dutch international has also increased in recent months, particularly following Marc Cucurella’s departure for Real Madrid over the summer. Cucurella’s recent Ballon d’Or nomination highlighted the quality Chelsea have lost in that position, increasing the pressure on Hato to establish himself as a reliable alternative.

With the busy period of the season approaching, both Chavarria and Hato will continue to be assets to the Blues. Healthy competition in that department will likely push both players to improve and reinforce their importance to the new boss.

New signing Marco Palestra also has the versatility to play on the left as well as the right. Competition on both sides is healthy and is also pushing Pedro Neto to new heights.

The 26-year-old is just two goals away from equalling his best-ever Premier League goal tally for Chelsea since joining from Wolves in 2024. Given that we aren’t even a quarter of the way through the season, he is likely to surpass his previous tally of five.

As Chelsea approach a demanding period of the season, Alonso will be hoping Chavarria’s injury is not serious. With Hato providing an alternative at left-back, Alonso can take confidence from his squad depth should further injuries occur.

(Photo by Alexandra BEIER / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images

RB Leipzig managing director for sport Marcel Schäfer did not try to sugarcoat the scale of his team’s defeat against Bayern Munich. From Leipzig’s perspective, the performance was not simply a case of losing to a better opponent. It was a reminder of just how much work remains before they can compete consistently at the highest level.

“We were inferior in every area today and had no chance. That’s not our aspiration. Obviously you can lose in Munich against Bayern, but we had such a bad day and Bayern had a good one. I think six goals even flattered us. That was a lesson for us. We saw what it means to play at the top or world-class level. There’s a lot of work ahead of us,” said Schäfer (as captured by FCBayern.com).

The admission that six goals flattered Leipzig is particularly damning. Bayern Munich were so dominant that the final score could have been even more embarrassing for the visitors, who struggled to cope with the intensity, quality, and attacking movement of Vincent Kompany’s side.

For Bayern supporters, this was the kind of performance that reinforces the belief that Kompany’s team can overwhelm elite opposition when everything clicks.

For Leipzig, Schäfer’s challenge is clear— turn this painful lesson into meaningful progress rather than allowing it to define their season.

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BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA - SEPTEMBER 14: Breiden Fehoko #91 of the LSU Tigers and Tyler Shelvin #72 celebrate during the first half of a game against the Northwestern State Demons at Tiger Stadium on September 14, 2019 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) GettyLUBBOCK, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 18: Referee Michael VanderVelde confirms that Houston's two-point attempt is no good after replay during the second half of the game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Houston Cougars at Galaxy Stadium on September 18, 2026 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) Getty

Former LSU football defensive lineman Breiden Fehoko made serious allegations about NFL and college football officiating following the controversial ending to Notre Dame’s 28-24 loss to BYU on Saturday, October 17.

The former NFL player took to social media to suggest that officials have intentionally influenced games at both levels of football. Fehoko also claimed he faced threats involving his NFL pension after previously speaking publicly about officiating.

His allegations come amid renewed debate over officiating following Notre Dame’s final offensive play against BYU, although Fehoko did not provide evidence establishing that either league has manipulated game outcomes.

“I won’t even be quiet about it no more,” Fehoko wrote on X. “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.”

Former LSU Player Makes Serious Claims About Football Officiating

Fehoko’s comments attracted attention because of his experience competing at the highest levels of college and professional football. The former LSU defensive lineman was part of the Tigers’ 2019 national championship team before beginning his NFL career with the Los Angeles Chargers. He also spent time with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

However, his playing experience does not independently substantiate his accusations. Fehoko did not identify specific officials, games or individuals allegedly involved in manipulating outcomes. He also did not provide documentation supporting his claim that someone threatened his pension.

GettyLUBBOCK, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 18: Referee Michael VanderVelde confirms that Houston’s two-point attempt is no good after replay during the second half of the game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Houston Cougars at Galaxy Stadium on September 18, 2026 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)

Those distinctions are important when discussing allegations that could damage the reputations of officials and football organizations. While controversial calls frequently generate criticism, a disputed officiating decision is not itself evidence that a game was intentionally manipulated.

Notre Dame-BYU Ending Sparks Officiating Debate

The timing of Fehoko’s comments followed a controversial conclusion to Notre Dame’s matchup against BYU. The Fighting Irish attempted a late pass toward wide receiver Jaden Greathouse, but the play ended without a pass interference penalty.

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman declined to criticize the officials afterward, describing the final sequence as chaotic. Freeman also explained that Notre Dame’s decision to target Greathouse was influenced by BYU’s defensive pressure.

The sequence prompted questions about whether officials should have thrown a flag, but that debate is separate from Fehoko’s broader allegations.

Fehoko’s statement raises serious questions, particularly regarding his claim about his pension. Nevertheless, those accusations remain unverified without additional evidence or independent corroboration. For now, the former LSU player’s comments represent his account of alleged misconduct, not proof that NFL or college football games have been rigged.

This article was originally published on HEAVY

The post Former LSU Football Player Alleges NFL, College Games Are Rigged After Notre Dame-BYU Controversy appeared first on HEAVY.

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Dylan Raiola came off the bench and threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Jamari Johnson with 28 seconds left to give Oregon a come-from-behind 17-14 victory over Nebraska on Saturday night.

Raiola, who played two seasons for Nebraska before coming to Oregon in the offseason, came into the game in the fourth quarter with the Huskers up 14-6. His first drive ended with Gage Hurych’s 37-yard field goal.

Raiola appeared to find Dakorien Moore with a 4-yard touchdown pass with 33 seconds left but it was overturned upon review. He then connected with Johnson in the back of the end zone and the 2-point conversion was good to give Oregon (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) the win.

“Everyone was dialed in,” Raiola said about the final drive. “We just kept preparing until the end and JJ had a cute little toe-drag touchdown to win the game.”

Anthony Colandrea finished 18 of 33 for 164 yards and a score, and ran for 33 yards and another touchdown for the Cornhuskers (5-2, 2-2 Big Ten). It was the second straight game that Nebraska squandered a lead in the fourth quarter, having lost to Indiana 20-17 last weekend.

“Obviously, we have a pretty devastated football team in there — a bunch of guys that showed up and competed. And, for the second week in a row, we just came up short,” Nebraska coach Matt Ruhle said. “I thought it was one of the finer defensive performances I’ve been around, with short fields and not much help, and in the end it just kind of wore out.”

Raiola was 11 of 18 for 59 yards in the fourth quarter. Third-string quarterback Brock Thomas started the game for the Ducks but was largely ineffective, going 9 of 20 for 54 yards and an interception.

Dante Moore, the Ducks’ starting quarterback, remained unavailable because of a concussion he sustained in Oregon’s 41-27 victory over USC on Sept. 26.

Oregon coach Dan Lanning said Thomas understood the decision to pull him in the final quarter.

“I just think that shows so much remarkable courage from a guy like that to be in that situation, and it’s got to be disappointing that moment to know, `Hey, I’m good with it. Let’s do whatever we got to do to win,'” Lanning said.

The game was scoreless until late in the second quarter when Colandrea found Kwazi Gilmer in the back corner of the end zone. The two teams punted 13 times and turned the ball over once each in first half.

Colandrea dove for the pylon at the end of a 6-yard scramble at the end of the third quarter to make it 14-6.

Oregon struggled for most of the game. Three second-half drives — one fueled by an accidental kneel down on a low snap to Nebraska punter Archie Wilson — resulted in a trio of field goals for the Ducks.

The Ducks’ offense had just 91 total yards before Thomas, a former walk-on, was replaced by Raiola.

“It wasn’t good enough in the first half. You know, there’s certainly nobody in the nation working harder to try to find ways to do that,” Lanning said. “I’ll never make excuses. We have talented enough players for us to be better than we’ve been.”

Up Next

Nebraska: Plays Oct. 31 at Washington.

Oregon: Visits Illinois next Saturday.

___

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It's official, Liverpool have secured their new Thiago

Liverpool have their new Thiago, it's official.

There was a time when we all just wanted to see him on the pitch. Thiago in his prime was the kind of player who turned football into art.

He played the game with so much ease and poise. He made things look easy on the pitch. He was a true master of the football.

It's just a shame his career at Liverpool was so hampered by injuries. Because when he was on the pitch and pulling the strings, there really wasn't anyone quite like him.

Thiago now sets the ultimate example of what a Liverpool midfielder should be. The bar is extremely high and it's very difficult to live up to it.

But there are a few who can.

Liverpool's major midfield concern

When Curtis Jones left the club for pastures new, there was an expectation that he was going to be replaced. Even Andoni Iraola will have expected more reinforcements.

The supporters definitely did.

And yet, they didn't get what they wanted. Jones, who had played a considerable amount of minutes and who is quite versatile in the sense he can play multiple midfield roles, was allowed to join Inter Milan without a replacement being lined-up.

Earlier on in the summer Liverpool also entertained the idea of selling Alexis Mac Allister but thankfully that plan never came to fruition. Mac Allister is now one of Liverpool's very few available midfielders who is actually in form.

Ryan Gravenberch is currently suspended and Dominik Szoboszlai also missed a couple of games after the international break.

It's official, Liverpool's new Thiago is Trey Nyoni

But Jones' departure has also led to the emergence of Nyoni, who has become a sensation since he established himself in the first-team.

Unlike Arne Slot, Iraola seems to have taken a real liking to Nyoni and it's easy to see why.

The English youngster plays the game in a very intelligent way. He oozes quality on the ball and he is capable of making inch-perfect passes.

In a lot of ways, he is very similar to Thiago. The way he plays makes him the first player of the same ilk as the Spaniard to have played for the Reds since Thiago left.

It's why, Nyoni is very much the Reds' new Thiago.

But don't just take our word for it. Nyoni made it official himself.