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We’re down to three unbeaten teams in the NFL, and those teams sit atop my rankings this week. The Las Vegas Raiders and Buffalo Bills suffered their first defeat of the season and fell, but the No. 2 team didn’t slide straight into the top spot that Buffalo occupied last week. Instead, another jumped three spots to No. 1 after an impressive victory. Here’s where things stand after NFL Week 4’s Sunday slate. Super Bowl odds: +7400 A disappointing home loss to the Chiefs shouldn’t dim the Raiders’ outlook after the first four weeks of the season. Head coach Klint Kubiak has his offense clicking behind a creative scheme that showcases the Raiders’ blue-chip players in quarterback Kirk Cousins, running back Ashton Jeanty and tight end Brock Bowers. Player Stat: Bowers reached 2,000 career receiving yards in his 31st career regular-season game, tying Hall of Famer Kellen Winslow for the second-fastest tight end to reach that mark in NFL history. The record is 30 games by fellow Hall of Famer Mike Ditka. Super Bowl odds: +18000 Credit head coach Todd Monken for helping Deshaun Watson rediscover some of his playmaking magic. The quarterback delivered a third straight game-winning drive, while showing steady improvement as a passer and playmaker in a new offensive scheme. Player Stat: Rookie receiver Denzel Boston shares the league lead with three receptions of 40 or more yards this season, tied with the Ravens’ Zay Flowers and the Chiefs’ Tyquan Thornton. Super Bowl odds: +850 Derrick Henry’s presence and playmaking potential allow the Ravens to bludgeon opponents with a downhill running game that tests the discipline and courage of opposing defenders. The super-sized running back continues to find pay dirt as the ultimate short-yardage/goal-line weapon for a team that’s quietly sitting at 3-1. Player Stat: On Sunday, Henry became the second player in NFL history to score a rushing touchdown against a former team with whom he recorded at least 9,000 career rushing yards. Adrian Peterson did it in Week 17 of the 2020 regular season for the Lions against the Vikings. Super Bowl odds: +2000 Head coach Ben Johnson is showing the football world that his offense rolls with or without a franchise quarterback under center. The Bears’ underrated running game keys the weekly offensive explosions, with D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai taking turns leading the way. Monangai took the honors on Sunday, with a 30-carry, 146-yard effort that gives the Bears a pair of top-10 rushers this season. Player Stat: Monangai’s 30 carries are the most in a single game in the NFL this season. Super Bowl odds: +750 Despite dropping a tough game to a divisional rival, the Bills are off to another strong start under Josh Allen. The former MVP became Buffalo’s all-time leader in scrimmage touchdowns (88), surpassing a pair of Hall of Famers — running back Thurman Thomas and wide receiver Andre Reed. With the rugged dual-threat QB continuing to flash take-over-the-game ability in head coach Joe Brady’s revamped offense, the Bills always have a puncher’s chance in an AFC heavyweight fight. Player Stat: Allen is now the only quarterback in NFL history to hold a franchise’s all-time record for career regular-season scrimmage touchdowns. Across the other 31 active franchises, the all-time leader is either a running back, wide receiver or tight end. Super Bowl odds: +950 The defending champs are thumping opponents with a hard-hitting defense and an efficient offense paced by wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s playmaking. The reigning Offensive Player of the Year joined Randy Moss (2007) and Jimmy Smith (2000) as the only players in NFL history with 30 catches, 450 receiving yards and six touchdowns through the first four games of the season. Player Stat: Smith-Njigba set the Seahawks franchise records for receptions and receiving yards through the team’s first four games of a season. Super Bowl odds: +1500 Trevor Lawrence & Co. are quietly putting together a run that is making the league take notice. The former No. 1 overall pick is carving opponents up with surgical precision without force-feeding the ball to a WR1. The ball could go anywhere and everywhere based on his reads and progression on any given play, which will always keep opponents guessing. Player Stat: With the Jaguars’ win over the Bengals, Lawrence has now beaten every AFC team in his career. Super Bowl odds: +2200 If you’re into winning pretty, the Vikings won’t appeal to you. This is a gritty, hard-nosed team that lets the defense take the lead. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ unit disrupts and destroys opponents with an exotic scheme and relentless pressure from a collection of high-IQ and high-motor defenders. Player Stat: Tight end T.J. Hockenson caught all 13 passes thrown to him for 119 receiving yards, ranking second in the NFL in Week 4 receptions (trailing only CeeDee Lamb’s 17 catches). On the season, Hockenson is tied for third in tight end receptions with 22. Super Bowl odds: +950 Kenneth Walker III has balanced out the Chiefs’ offense with his dynamic running skills. The marquee free agent leads the NFL in rushing, with his 537 yards ranking as the most by an NFL player through the first four games in over a decade. Player Stat: Walker has the most rushing yards through the first four games of a season in Chiefs history. Super Bowl odds: +850 The most consistent team in football continues to methodically beat down opponents, with its veterans leading the way. Tight end George Kittle (32 years old, four touchdowns), wide receiver Mike Evans (33, three), wide receiver Deebo Samuel (30, two) and fullback Kyle Juszczyk (35, one) are all thriving within their specific roles in head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense. Player Stat: The 49ers have the most TD catches ever by players who are at least 30 years old through four games, with 11. Wide receiver Demarcus Robinson (32) is the other player 30 or older who has a score for San Francisco this season.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Drake Maye upstaged Josh Allen. Tetairoa McMillan upstaged Amon-Ra St. Brown. And the Jacksonville Jaguars upstaged the Cincinnati Bengals. That’s just the beginning as we try to digest Week 4. It wasn’t the Sunday that we expected. But it was the best NFL Sunday yet in 2026, with 10 games finishing with a one-score differential. It was chaotic in the best way. Welcome to Sound Smart, where I take you beyond what’s obvious. Let’s go below the surface. Let’s spin it forward, dive deeper, think outside the box and read between the lines. If I do my job, you’ll be fluent in the NFL’s Week 4 action. Watching Kenneth Walker III explode for the Kansas City Chiefs feels a bit like watching LaDainian Tomlinson in 2006, when he rushed for 28 touchdowns (and caught three more). I know Walker’s touchdown total isn’t likely to flirt with what Tomlinson posted. But their levels of dominance feel comparable, with Walker running for 177 yards and two touchdowns — now up to six total on the season — in the team’s 30-27 win over the formerly undefeated Raiders. This must exceed what the Chiefs imagined for Walker, whom the team signed to a three-year, $43.05 million contract as a free agent after he won Super Bowl MVP with the Seahawks. This is the beginning of something new for Kansas City. Something super. Walker is one of a handful of newcomers who have opened up a new Super Bowl window for superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes. If not for this impressive offseason, it would be another rebuilding year for K.C. But the Chiefs are realistically thinking about a title again. Their rebuilding year was last year. They’ve jumped right back into dynasty mode. Rookies Mansoor Delane and R Mason Thomas have looked like real contributors and, at times, stars for the Chiefs in these early games. Edge rusher Thomas managed eight pressures against the Raiders, a game-high and a season-high for the rookie. Cornerback Delane actually had an outlier game, allowing 83 yards and a touchdown. But on the season, he has allowed just 10 catches on 18 targets for 107 yards and this week’s TD. He has also been a willing and capable run defender, earning his snaps on just about every down. So, yeah, he’s doing just fine. But Delane was selected sixth overall. He was supposed to be solid. Thomas went in Round 2. He was supposed to make some big plays. What about tackle Kahlil Benson? Ever heard of him? He’s an undrafted rookie who has started multiple games on Mahomes’ blindside. And if you haven’t heard of him, it’s because Benson has been awesome, allowing just two pressures in Week 4. You don’t hear about him because he’s doing such a good job. Between Walker and the rookie class — the Chiefs have studs to build around for the long haul. And that shouldn’t take anything away from the veteran additions. Defensive tackle (and fullback) Khyiris Tonga, safety Alohi Gilman and cornerback L’Jarius Sneed — all of whom joined K.C. in free agency — have allowed defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo to do what he does best: dial up elaborate blitzes. Those can be tricky for newcomers — even though Sneed originally played for the Chiefs before spending two years with the Titans — but you don’t see the personnel holding Spags back in the slightest. Nor do you see the Chiefs holding back Mahomes. He seemed to carry the weight of the world or — at the very least — his offense in recent years. Now, he’s playing with a breezy, carefree attitude. The ball pops out of his hand. He’s running with energy that makes you forget he just got back from an ACL injury. There’s magic in his game again. And you don’t hear any criticisms about Andy Reid’s play designs or calls. That’s gone, too. It’s not because the Chiefs ran it back. It’s because they welcomed change. The new guys have meshed perfectly. And so the Chiefs’ dynasty rolls on. If the Rams are playing, then you’re going to see a close-up shot of Sean McVay imploring his team to get in the game. It has happened basically every week. It has become a 2026 staple. And it certainly wasn’t one I expected. McVay pulled his offense aside in Australia against the 49ers and begged the players to get it together. Then again in Denver, in the second half, when the Rams let the win slip through their fingers. And then again in Philadelphia — right before the Rams finally won a tight game against a good team. It took two touchdowns in the final four minutes to edge the Eagles 24-20. McVay was asked what he said to the offense in Week 4 — when he pulled them aside. “I don’t remember exactly. It was more just what was on my heart. Just: ‘Guys, we’re capable. You’ve gotta believe. And you’ve gotta just string good plays together. Our defense is doing everything that they can to keep us in this game.’ And I believed in that group,” McVay told reporters after the game. I guess this is the first time he’s gotten through to his squad. The question is why this “Super Team” has gotten itself into so much trouble this year. Why has its coach had to implore the Rams players to believe in themselves? Now, the obvious answer is that they’re overhyped, overly confident and overly complacent. I’ll buy that. The other obvious explanation is injuries. Edge Myles Garrett (knee) has missed three games. Aaron Donald (back) missed this week. Receiver Puka Nacua (hip/groin) missed time before returning this week. Outside of quarterback Matthew Stafford and receiver Davante Adams, those are the superstars who were supposed to make this team super. McVay chose optimism for what was a deeply improbable win. “[The comeback] says that they’re mentally tough. I think that’ll really serve us well,” he said. “I’m really proud to just be a part of this group — and what they represent.” He added: “I’m proud that we came to life when we had to — and it’s because our defense gave us a chance to.” In theory, the Rams will get healthier — or, at the very least, they’ll see their stars progressively get healthier. And maybe McVay’s optimism is founded. Maybe he sees something developing that I’m missing. But I see Stafford struggling as much as he has since maybe 2022. I see the Rams lack consistency from quarter to quarter. They should be more dominant than this. They shouldn’t need their coach to pull them aside every game. They should play four quarters of good football. They should be a Super Team. Brock Purdy opened the season as the league’s most dominant quarterback, both in counting stats and in advanced stats — from touchdowns to interceptions to expected points added to completion percentage over expected. All that, however, came with an asterisk. *But the 49ers hadn’t played anyone good. Well, for all the haters, this performance checks off the unchecked box: Handle a good defense. The Niners beat the Denver Broncos 24-14 on Sunday. There was a minute there when it didn’t look pretty for Purdy. He started 10-of-20, with the cold streak extending into the beginning of the third quarter. But he followed it with a concluding run of 9-of-10. By game’s end, he was 19-of-30 for 218 yards and two touchdowns — stats boosted in large part due to a huge screen play from George Kittle, who took it to the house for a 56-yard touchdown. Maybe it wasn’t a huge game. But it was an extremely clean game from Purdy — spotless, in fact. He had zero turnovers and took zero sacks. In fact, he hasn’t been sacked yet this season. He was much better against the Broncos’ blitzes (10-of-12, 124 yards, 2 TDs) than when they sent four or fewer (9-of-18, 94 yards). The game didn’t call for him to be the hero. He read the situation. He managed the situation. And the 49ers stayed undefeated, taking down a Broncos team that has quality wins against the Rams and Jaguars. These sorts of gritty wins are a crucial part of the MVP hunt. Be a part of the win. Don’t get in the way of the team. Don’t turn a win into a loss. And, from my vantage point, it was exactly the type of game that Purdy needed to stay on pace with the big dogs in the MVP race. Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson should all be in the mix this year. Eventually, Purdy will need a marquee performance. But if it’s meant to be, that’ll come. Because he’s in the NFC West. He’ll see the Rams again, and he’ll see the Seahawks twice. There will be no shortage of adversity. This was his first big test. He passed — not with flying colors — but he did enough. And he knows as well as anyone that this is just his first test. He’ll get plenty more. It was a dizzying finish, with points upon points. Yards upon yards. In the Cowboys’ 34-30 win over the Texans, every play was competitive — all the way to C.J. Stroud’s final incompletion in the end zone on the game’s final play. But the Cowboys don’t have to make it this hard. CeeDee Lamb shouldn’t have had to log 17 catches for 189 yards and a touchdown with 40 seconds left. Running back Javonte Williams shouldn’t have had to score three touchdowns. And that’s because this defense isn’t good enough to sustain the Cowboys. Which is exasperating, because … how long have we been saying that? Of course, the Dallas defense did improve from last week — in a sense. It didn’t blow the game. Last week, in a string of game-management mistakes, the Cowboys let Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and receiver Zay Flowers complete an improbable play that put Baltimore in field-goal position. The Ravens took the lead as time expired. It was a 34-31 Baltimore win, but it felt more like the Cowboys lost it. So, yeah, the Cowboys didn’t let their late lead slip away again. But I’m not really sure that counts for much. Not in my book, at least. The Texans are 0-4, and while they’re a little better than their record shows, they’re not much better. Stroud is playing his way out of a contract extension. DeMeco Ryans is testing his job security. Things are spiraling in Houston. The Cowboys just need to learn how to put teams away. They’ll remain an unserious team until their defense … starts playing defense. What do you see when you watch that throw? I see a quarterback who’s confident beyond what’s reasonable. For Drake Maye, that’s a good thing. This isn’t your average 23-yard touchdown. Obviously, it’s an incredible throw — and an incredible catch. It was the go-ahead touchdown in the Patriots’ 29-26 win over the Bills in Buffalo. But also, that’s receiver Efton Chism III, who entered training camp as — maybe — the Patriots’ WR7. He had five career catches going into this game. The throw flipped the game, changing the Patriots’ probability of winning from 27.4% to 60.2%, per Next Gen Stats. The pass had a 29.7% chance of completion. Perhaps most importantly, the throw came from Maye, who I pegged as having confidence problems. I wasn’t the only one. Coach Mike Vrabel implied the same thing. “I can’t manufacture confidence. I can’t just say, ‘Hey, be confident,’” Vrabel told reporters last week. “You have to practice. You have to hit those plays in practice, and you have to feel good about it.” Over the first three weeks, Maye had one touchdown and six interceptions. He was taking too many unnecessary risks. His deep ball lacked the confidence that we saw in 2025. And every pass looked overly difficult — and overthought — particularly the final interception in New England’s blowout loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars last week. Maye had confidence issues. And sometimes, that’s more complicated than fixing footwork and/or a throwing motion. Sometimes, that’s easier. Much easier. Because, heck, maybe the Patriots and Maye just fixed those issues with a win on the road. They’re 2-2 and the sky is no longer falling in New England.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

DODGER STADIUM (Los Angeles) – With Chris Sale unavailable, and with the Braves needing two bullpen games to get through the first two games of the National League Division Series on the road against two Cy Young Award winners, they still found a way to return to Atlanta with the series tied at one game apiece. Dodgers deadline addition Tarik Skubal came “as advertised” in Game 1, but Blake Snell couldn’t pick up where Skubal left off. The Braves patiently waited out the lefty, who couldn’t find the zone in a short outing, and held the high-powered Dodgers offense to one run until two outs in the ninth inning, when Max Muncy cut his team’s deficit in half with a solo shot off reliever Didier Fuentes. Down to his last out, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts summoned rookie Josue De Paula for his first career playoff appearance. Braves manager countered with closer Raisel Iglesias, who induced a pop-up to end the 3-2 win. Here are my takeaways: On one side was Blake Snell, a two-time Cy Young Award winner. On the other was Ray Kerr, a two-time junior college attendee. Naturally, it was the latter who departed the game with a 1-0 lead. This is Ray Kerr’s October, and we’re all just living in it. “Ray Kerr is amazing, man,” Weiss said. “He did it again.” Kerr found out he was starting Sunday’s bullpen game the morning of the game. “I was like, ‘All right, let’s get it,” Kerr said. “Just another Sunday, right?” It certainly looked that way, the way he calmly handled the high-pressure stakes. Considering his journey, and the will and resilience it took for the 32-year-old to get to baseball’s grandest stage, maybe it shouldn’t come as a surprise. Kerr grew up in foster care, attended junior college, became academically ineligible, returned home to Reno, Nevada, worked at 7-Eleven and a movie theater and figured that might be what the rest of his life looked like. But then he made his way to another community college, pitched well, excelled during Alaska summer league, got noticed by the Mariners, signed a minor-league deal and worked his way up the professional ladder. He was coming off a two-year hiatus following Tommy John surgery when he returned to a big-league mound this year for the first time since 2024. After making nine regular-season appearances for the Braves, he got the ball to start the deciding Game 3 of the wild-card series and outdueled the Phillies’ Aaron Nola with 3.1 scoreless innings. For his encore, he was only expected to go an inning or two. Instead, he outpitched Snell over 2.2 scoreless innings, striking out four batters and setting the stage for the Braves’ upset. “That was a huge start, or open, or whatever you call it, in two huge games for us,” catcher Drake Baldwin told me. “It says a lot about him.” If the Dodgers’ postseason rotation was supposed to be impenetrable, indomitable, unconquerable, Sunday night demonstrated otherwise. Early last October, Snell looked like the pitcher the Dodgers paid for, combining to allow two runs with 28 strikeouts and five walks over 21 innings in his first three starts of the 2025 postseason. That was not the version of the left-handed pitcher who showed up Sunday in his first start of the 2026 postseason. Snell allowed five free passes in Game 2 of the NLDS alone, looking rusty after dealing with a late-season groin injury that limited him to just five innings of work over the final two weeks of the regular season. Lacking control, it took Snell 90 pitches to labor through his 3.2 innings. He needed four pitches or more against each of the last 10 batters he faced and was unable to get out of the fourth inning following his fifth and final walk of the day. “He just was fighting himself with his delivery all game,” Roberts said. “I think that just, overall, it wasn’t the groin. He just wasn’t sharp tonight.” He did, however, limit the Braves to just one run after Brock Stewart entered and retired Ronald Acuña Jr. to clean up his fourth-inning mess. Still, it was hardly the outing they expected out of Snell after he recorded a 1.13 ERA in his final eight starts of the regular season after returning from an elbow procedure. A troublesome right knee had sapped Freddie Freeman’s power in the season’s second half, playing a role in the star first baseman hitting just one home run after the All-Star break and one extra-base hit in all of September. But he tends to find a different gear when the calendar flips to October. On Sunday, he found it. The man who hit a walk-off grand slam (plus three more home runs) in the 2024 World Series and who ended an 18-inning World Series Game 3 marathon against the Blue Jays last year with another walk-off blast made his first major mark on the 2026 postseason Sunday with a game-tying solo shot off Grant Holmes in the fourth inning. The blast finally gave the Dodgers some momentum and a crowd of 50,729 fans, who had been quieted by Snell’s shaky performance, a reason to get rowdy. But Michael Harris II ensured that was short-lived. Dodgers reliever Kris Bubic, pitching for just the sixth time as a Dodger after returning from an elbow injury, was one pitch away from a perfect fifth inning. He breezed through the first two batters, then got Harris down 0-2 before the Braves center fielder poked a sweeper well outside the zone the other way. The ball carried, and carried, and carried, eventually up and over the outstretched arm of left fielder Teoscar Hernandez, whose circuitous route and failed attempt to make the play allowed the ball to ricochet off the wall and helped Harris stretch his double into a triple. “I knew I didn’t fully get it,” Harris told me. “I knew it was slicing away from them. As I got closer to first, I was kind of blocked by his body, so I didn’t know if he caught it or not. Then I had seen it bounce off the wall, and I just had to keep digging. Getting to third was consequential, as Bubic then fired a wild pitch to bring in the go-ahead run. It was one of three hits on the day for Harris, who also singled and doubled and is leaving his imprint on the 2026 postseason. Harris’ three-run home run off Nola in Game 3 of the wild-card series helped send the Braves to the NLDS. It’s about as star-studded of a pitching matchup imaginable for Game 3. The Braves played a dangerous game using Sale to face the final five batters in Game 3 of the wild-card series, two days after he started Game 1. That extra work between starts meant he was unavailable for Games 1 and 2 of the NLDS in Los Angeles, a risky proposition in a best-of-five series. “We needed to win that series, and that was our best chance to do it,” said Weiss. “So, I have zero regrets about pitching Chris Sale in that last game.” The decision did not come back to burn him in Los Angeles, as the Braves still managed to steal Game 2 despite missing their ace, setting them up nicely for Sale to pitch in Atlanta in Game 3 on four days of rest since his wild-card relief appearance and six days of rest since his last start. The Dodgers also have to feel good about their chances, too, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto beginning his World Series MVP postseason follow-up campaign.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

If you’re a fan of offensive battles, then you must have enjoyed Sunday night’s Detroit Lions-Carolina Panthers game. The Panthers improved to 2-2 thanks to a dominant performance from wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, defeating the Lions 32-26. Both offenses logged over 440 yards in a matchup that felt like no one could be stopped by the time the fourth quarter rolled around. However, Carolina was able to make a pair of fourth-down stands on Detroit’s final two possessions of the game, sealing the win. Here are my takeaways from the Panthers’ impressive win over the Lions. When Carolina put up 37 points in Week 1, it was overshadowed by their defense giving up 59 to the Bears in the same game. A 34-3 rout of the Falcons validated that in Week 2, and Sunday night’s 32-26 win over the Lions allows us to appreciate how well Bryce Young is playing in his third season with Dave Canales. Young’s connection with second-year receiver Tetairoa McMillan was the centerpiece against Detroit — the two connected 14 times for 192 yards and two touchdowns (on 16 targets, no less). Add in a solid 120 rushing yards for Chuba Hubbard, and the Panth ers were over 400 yards of offense in improving to 2-2 on the season and, for a day at least, sole possession of first place in the NFC South. Carolina has already picked up Young’s fifth-year option for 2027, so there was a commitment in place, but games like Sunday will put Young in the $50 million-a-year club, and arguably ahead of his draft-class contemporary, Houston’s C.J. Stroud. Consider his four-year passing numbers, going from 11 touchdown passes as a rookie to 15 in his first year with Canales to 23 last year and now on pace for 38 (!) in 2026. The team single-season record is 36, thrown by Steve Beuerlein in 1999, two years before Young was born. For all the excitement about the Lions getting back to playoff form this season, their defense has been a major liability, literally giving up more points than any defense in the league. The Lions went into Sunday night giving up 31.7 points per game. The Panthers topped that midway through the fourth, putting them on track to have one of the worst scoring defenses ever. At 31.8 points allowed per game, the Panthers are on pace to allow the third-most points per game in NFL history. And the Lions were ranked 31st in three key categories entering Sunday: total defense (416 yards per game), third-down defense (56 percent) and red-zone defense (90%). Detroit can point out that defensive backs Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch are still out with injuries, but its problems run deeper than that. Carolina’s resounding win is all the more impressive considering how many key players it was missing Sunday night. The Panthers put both starting corners — Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson — on injured reserve this week, meaning they won’t have either for at least four games, but Akayleb Evans stepped up in a big way in his first start in two years, with nine tackles. The Panthers were also without two solid receivers in Jalen Coker and Xavier Legette, but that didn’t stop Young from throwing for more than 300 yards. Backups Brycen Tremayne and John Metchie, who had combined for six catches in the first three weeks, had five for 69 on Sunday.  And Carolina had to play without guard Damian Lewis, with second-year pro Corey Bullock getting his first NFL start and playing without penalty. Carolina won’t get healthy anytime soon, but their schedule has a run of middling teams that aren’t nearly as difficult as they seemed going into the season — their next three are at the Eagles, home against the winless Buccaneers and at the Packers, with a tough game against Denver after that. The NFC South is very much wide-open, so Carolina’s chances of repeating look more promising if it can continue to win while playing at less than full strength.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

LINCOLN FINANCIAL FIELD (Philadelphia) — The Los Angeles Rams’ dream season was on the verge of becoming a full-fledged nightmare. For three-plus quarters on Sunday, they looked much like they had for most of the first three games: an overrated mess. But then they reminded everyone why the world was so high on them in the first place. When they’re clicking on all cylinders, they (still) are capable of being the best team in the league. That’s what separates these Rams from the NFL’s last supposed “Dream Team” — the overrated Eagles of 2011 that went 8-8. These Rams are capable of greatness, as they demonstrated by scoring two touchdowns in the final four minutes of a 24-20 road win against the overrated Eagles of 2026. The Rams’ comeback was quite a departure from the first 50-plus minutes, in which they appeared old, feeble and tired. It was as if the jet lag from their poorly planned trip to Australia in Week 1 never wore off. But great teams know when it matters most, and that’s when the Rams suddenly woke up. With the game on the line and their season perched on the brink, they played like the Super Bowl-bound juggernaut they were supposed to be. “That says that they’re mentally tough,” a giddy Sean McVay said of his team. “And I think that will serve us well. Tough times don’t last. Tough people do. They found a way. It was really cool to see.” The emergence of the real Rams couldn’t have come at a better time. In a division with the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks and the powerful San Francisco 49ers, there would’ve been no coming back from a 1-3 start. Only the 2001 Patriots have opened a season 1-3 and won the Super Bowl, and the Rams were two yards away from falling into that hole. Stops on third- and fourth-and-goal with less than eight minutes remaining gave Matthew Stafford and Co. an inch. They responded by taking a mile — driving 98 yards for a touchdown and then, after the defense forced a three-and-out, executing a second 10-play drive for the go-ahead score. The defense then sacked Jalen Hurts twice to force a turnover on downs and seal the 10-point comeback. That’s championship mettle. The three huge defensive stops were even more impressive when considering star pass-rushers Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald were sidelined. Stafford, who looked every bit of his 38 years as he struggled through a two-interception day, overthrowing and misfiring to most of his receivers, went 12 for 15 for 140 yards on the final two drives. The final eight flawless minutes served as a reminder of what the Rams are capable of, and of why the hype surrounding them always had a stronger base than their “Dream Team” predecessor in Philadelphia. The 2011 Eagles were built on a foundation of good (but not great) free-agent additions and a high-risk, high-reward QB in Michael Vick. These Rams are backed by the reigning MVP and were a play away from reaching last season’s Super Bowl, where they would have been heavy favorites against the Patriots. And that was before they traded for Garrett, lured Donald out of retirement and added stellar cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson. In other words, the Rams were on the cusp of greatness a year ago, and there’s still no reason to think they won’t be great again. Their wild comeback on Sunday proved they still have the talent to make a Super Bowl run. And maybe that was the wake-up call they needed to come out of their slumber and remind even themselves that they’re still good enough to achieve all of their dreams. “If you don’t have belief, then what are you doing?” Stafford said. “That’s what you put in all the work for. … Not every game is going to go exactly how you want it. Sometimes you’re going to have to find ways to win football games. “That’s what we did today.” The Eagles were about to shut the door on the Rams (and perhaps their 2026 title chances) when Nick Sirianni found a way to prop it open. Then the Eagles left the door open to the NFC East as well. After blowing a game they absolutely should have won, the Eagles are tied with the Dallas Cowboys and one game behind the New York Giants, in a division they’ve basically owned for the better part of the past three seasons. That’s not all on Sirianni, but his decisions are certainly fodder for his critics — particularly choosing to go for it twice on fourth-and-2 in the second half against the Rams. The first time was from the Eagles’ own 38, though the failed Tush Push didn’t ultimately hurt the Eagles. The second one was from the Rams’ 2-yard line when a field goal would’ve put Philly up by two touchdowns with less than eight minutes remaining. That was a killer. Sirianni inexplicably ignored that his team was already 0 for 10 on third downs Sunday and was missing receiver DeVonta Smith, running back Saquon Barkley, tight end Dallas Goedert and two offensive linemen. Simply put, he overplayed his analytical hand. “I’m very well aware of how important that decision was as the head coach,” Sirianni said. “That’s on me.” Indeed it was, even if there was some logic in leaving the Rams in “a true backed-up scenario” once his offense failed. He never imagined the Rams would drive 98 yards the other way, nor did he think his Eagles couldn’t pick up the two yards they needed for a 17-point lead. But sometimes a head coach has to know his team better than he knows the math. And Sirianni’s team has struggled offensively all season long. And that goes back to another Sirianni decision: turning his offense over to 34-year-old, first-time coordinator in Sean Mannion, who’s in just his third season as an NFL assistant. There’s still plenty of time for Mannion to piece this dysfunctional and battered Eagles offense together. But at the moment, he looks like Sirianni’s third swing and miss at the position in the past four years. And if you don’t think that puts Sirianni on the hot seat, you are underestimating the pressure of Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie. This is an organization that expects to be playing in the Super Bowl. There’s no excuse for giving away games like this, much less a division this weak. The San Francisco 49ers play in a division with the defending Super Bowl champions and the superteam many expect to win Super Bowl LXI. Yet four games into the season, they’re looking down in the standings at both the Seahawks and the Rams. In fact, the 4-0 49ers are looking down at everyone. They’re the best team in the league. They showed that pretty clearly Sunday with a convincing 24-14 victory against the Denver Broncos — who remain one of the best teams in the AFC. And the Niners did it by showing off their remarkable versatility. They got 218 yards and two touchdowns from QB Brock Purdy, 140 rushing yards from a combination of five ballcarriers and nine catches for 146 yards from TE George Kittle and WR Mike Evans. No team in the NFL has as many ways to win as San Francisco, which can beat you in the air and on the ground or with its stout defense. That shouldn’t come as a surprise given that Kyle Shanahan’s club went 12-5 last season despite being battered by injuries. While this year’s Niners are notably banged up on the defensive line and at receiver, they boast the league’s best point differential. Should they ever get healthy, which can never be assumed with the 49ers, they may prove impossible to beat. Jaguars head coach Liam Coen showed last year that he’s a brilliant offensive strategist, capable of turning his Trevor Lawrence-led team into a contender. It’s time the Jaguars get credit for their top-notch defense, too. That unit, led by defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile since 2025, got the best of the high-octane Cincinnati Bengals in a 22-17 Jacksonville win on Sunday. Yes, the Jags gave up a lot of yards to Joe Burrow — 428 passing yards in all. But he had to throw 54 times to hit that total and was picked off twice, including once at the Jacksonville 10-yard line in the fourth quarter. The Jags also stuffed the Bengals’ running game so much that they simply stopped trying, running just 15 times for 23 yards. It was the third time this season a Jaguars opponent failed to score 20 points. In fact, they’ve given up just 53 points total this season — the second-fewest in the league. That’s why the 44-year-old Campanile is soon going to appear on a lot of head coach hot lists. More importantly, it’s why the Jaguars need to be taken seriously as a Super Bowl contender. For three games, Drake Maye looked like the worst quarterback in football. We all should’ve known he wasn’t that bad. The 24-year-old was still far from his 2025, near-MVP self, but he was finally at least good Sunday as the Patriots knocked off the Bills in Buffalo. Maye completed 22 of 37 passes for 269 yards with three touchdowns and one interception, while running eight times for 54 yards. And that included going 4 for 7 for 68 yards on the game-winning drive, including a 23-yard touchdown. That flash of his talent is exactly what the Patriots needed, and why it’s still too early to concede the AFC East race to the Bills. Maye showed last year that he was capable of carrying a flawed Patriots team a long way — all the way to the Super Bowl, in fact. His ability didn’t just mysteriously vanish. He’s clearly capable of doing it again. It’ll be harder this season, against a much tougher schedule. And it’ll be hard for a few more weeks until top receiver A.J. Brown returns. But this could be the performance that finally gives Maye his confidence back and lets him settle into a groove he was clearly missing. If so, we can’t count the Patriots out just yet. In NFL Fallout, Ralph Vacchiano breaks down the impact of the biggest events every Sunday.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Sometimes, one player can swing the outcome of a game. When you score the go-ahead touchdown with just over a minute left to erase a double-digit deficit on the road, you’re pretty much guaranteed to win not only the game, but Tom Brady’s LFG Player of the Game, as was the case for Kyren Williams on Sunday. The Los Angeles Rams running back rushed 16 times for 80 yards and two touchdowns, adding 10 catches for 67 yards, as Los Angeles overcame a 10-point deficit to beat the Philadelphia Eagles 24-20. Williams scored from 4 yards out to cut the deficit to three, then capped the go-ahead drive with a 7-yard touchdown with just over a minute to go, the first time all game Philadelphia had trailed. Brady opened his conversation with Williams by asking about the go-ahead score, when Williams stretched across the goal line as a wave of Eagles defenders closed in around him. “I just knew I had to get across that goal line, and I knew that I had guys on my back,” Williams told Brady. “They tell you not to reach the ball out only on fourth down or extra points, but I had to get that ball in there. So when I had two hands on there, I know it’s secured, I know it’s protected, and I know I can reach it out. I had to get in the end zone, Tom. That’s all that mattered at that point.” Protecting the ball was no small task given the conditions in Philadelphia, where steady rain turned the field soggy for most of the afternoon. Williams touched the ball 26 times without putting it on the ground against one of the best defensive fronts in the league. “It was hard. You had to fight through the adversity of being able to hold that ball tight,” Williams said. “They got a great defensive lineman, Jalen Carter, that punches that ball out for a living, and I know that very well. So coming into this game, I had to secure that ball — high and tight, two hands covered. And I’m gonna go get those yards regardless.” The Eagles led 20-10 at halftime after Jalen Hurts threw a pair of touchdown passes to Darius Cooper before the Rams chipped away behind Williams, who scored both of his touchdowns in the final four minutes to complete the comeback. The win pulled the Rams to 2-2, while the Eagles — who entered the day missing DeVonta Smith, Dallas Goedert, Lane Johnson and Zack Baun before losing Barkley, too — fell to 2-2 as well. For Williams, it was a performance he said the Rams needed heading into a long week. “We needed this one — for motivation, for the boost of confidence,” Williams said. “We got a long week coming up, so we needed this. This was a big win for us, and we got to continue pushing and practicing hard.” Williams finished with 147 yards of total offense, his second-most productive game of the season, and delivered it against a team that had beaten the Rams trouble in two of their last three meetings. But all he could think about after the game was the flight back to LA. “We know we’ve got a long flight, but it’s not even going to feel long because we’re going to have so much fun,” Williams said.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The Brewers have a flair for the dramatic, and their stunning come-from-behind win on Sunday is one for the history books. Down to their final strike, trailing the Padres 3-2 in the ninth inning, Brewers left fielder Jackson Chourio walked it off against none other than Padres closer Mason Miller, who was completely spent after throwing 40 pitches in 1 2/3 innings. Chourio, who only had one hit all night entering the ninth, came through with a walk-off single for a 4-3 Brewers win. There was pandemonium at American Family Field after Milwaukee secured a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five National League Division Series. San Diego’s formula of Michael King starting and its exceptional bullpen finishing had worked all year, but it faltered when it mattered most. The Padres are reeling from a devastating start to the series. The Brewers, meanwhile, are just one win away from advancing to the NL Championship Series. Here are my takeaways: The moment that San Diego had been waiting for was also Milwaukee’s nightmare. But the Brewers knew this moment was coming, and they were so, so ready. The Padres used four relievers in Game 1, but none of them were Miller. Finally, Padres manager Craig Stammen unleashed his best weapon in the eighth inning of Game 2, asking his closer to secure the final six outs and deliver San Diego its first win of the NLDS. Even though Mason Miller is, well, Mason Miller, this was still a big ask. He had pitched two innings just twice this season, the most recent time on Sept. 4 against the Yankees. Miller went to his triple-digit heaters and mowed down the heart of Milwaukee’s order in the eighth, throwing 102 mph fastballs to record a clean 1-2-3 inning against Turang, Jake Bauers and William Contreras. But things got trickier in the ninth. The best closer in baseball right now, Miller permitted back-to-back walks to Christian Yelich and Sal Frelick with one out in the ninth. He was fast approaching 30 pitches, so the Padres shrewdly tried to calm Miller down with a mound visit. It worked, briefly. Miller got Andrew Vaughn to fly out to center for the second out, but then he lost his command and walked Gary Sanchez, who pinch-hit for No. 9 hitter David Hamilton. It was time for the dream matchup, as Jackson Chourio dug into the box with the bases loaded against Miller. What did Miller do? He saved his fastest, most lethal pitch for the final at-bat, painting the zone with a 104 mph fastball that Chourio just got a piece of. That was telling. Miller seemed like he didn’t expect Chourio to be ready for all that heat. Chourio patiently took the fifth pitch of the at-bat, a low slider, and waited for something faster. Finally, he connected on a 101 mph four-seamer and ripped it into center field, scoring Yelich and Frelick and walking off the game. The base hit left Chourio’s bat at 109.5 mph. After tying the game at 2-2 with a two-run home run in the third inning of Game 1, the always clutch Chourio, who thrives in pressure-packed situations, came through for the Brew Crew again. It was pure madness in Milwaukee as his teammates jumped on him in the infield and Miller slowly walked back to the dugout. The Brewers are headed to Petco Park with the edge they needed. Jackson Merrill’s leaping catch at the wall that robbed Christian Yelich of extra bases. Tatis Jr.’s hustling diving catch in right field that prevented Milwaukee from scoring a run. Manny Machado doing what he does best, waving off his pitcher, bare-handing a ground ball and firing it to first for the out. San Diego put on a show with its brilliant defense on Sunday, and even though the Brewers had their share of eye-popping plays — looking at you, Cooper Pratt, with the leaping catch at short and David Hamilton with the over-the-shoulder basket catch in shallow left — they still committed three errors on Sunday, which nearly cost them the game. Twice, Tatis put pressure on the Brewers defense with his speed. Tatis hit a pair of routine ground balls in the top of the fifth and seventh innings, and each time Milwaukee’s infielders got flustered and couldn’t rip off clean plays. In the fifth, the typically sure-handed second baseman Brice Turang committed a fielding error that moments later allowed the Padres to score a run. In the seventh, Brewers third baseman David Hamilton couldn’t corral Tatis’ ground ball, and Tatis eventually came around and scored on France’s RBI single to right field in that same inning. It was super uncharacteristic for the Brewers’ fielding errors to almost become their downfall in Game 2. They annually rank among the top 10 in the league in metrics like Defensive Runs Saved, Defensive WAR and Outs Above Average. This season, Milwaukee finished with the seventh-fewest errors (72) in MLB. But the regular season is a thing of history once October hits. The Padres were just cleaner and sharper with the leather in Game 2. And in a short series, something as simple as tighter fundamentals can typically make all the difference. But the Brewers didn’t let their mistakes snowball, at least, to help keep them in the game until the game-winning David vs. Goliath at-bat between Chourio and Miller in the ninth. Call it revenge, or just good old-fashioned coincidence. Denied a run-scoring hit in Saturday’s Game 1 due to that pesky roof over American Family Field, Padres first baseman Ty France instantly collected his RBI in the first inning of Sunday’s Game 2. San Diego capitalized on Milwaukee’s mistake when Padres third baseman Manny Machado drew a two-out walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch by Brewers rookie right-hander Logan Henderson. Right away, France lined a looping single into right-center field that scored Machado from second and put the Padres on the board with an early 1-0 lead. That had to feel good to France, who less than a day prior was at the center of one of the most bizarre plays ever seen at Milwaukee’s home ballpark. In the ninth inning on Saturday, with the Padres trailing the Brewers by one run, France hit a potential go-ahead home run that plunked off a cable on the roof of the stadium in deep left field. Brewers left fielder Jackson Chourio caught the ball, and it remains up for debate where the ball would have landed had a cable not been in its way. France didn’t waste time picking a side of that debate, saying after the Brewers’ 3-2 win, “I knew it was going out.” At least on Sunday, France hit it where there would be no arguments about it being fair or foul territory. He can’t get Game 1’s decisions back, but he still has time to control his and San Diego’s own destiny. Later, in the seventh inning, France collected another RBI on a single to right field that scored the hustling Fernando Tatis Jr. from second. 3 ½. What’s Next? It was critical for the Brewers to secure at least one win at home before they go on the road to Petco Park, where one of the best home-field advantages in baseball awaits. Imagine their delight at going on the road with a 2-0 series lead. Still, the Padres relied on the crowd’s raucous energy and loud support to quickly dispose of the Cubs in the Wild Card series, and they’ll be looking to do more of the same when the series goes back to San Diego on Tuesday. Brewers right-hander Dustin May (7-9, 4.70 ERA) will go toe-to-toe against Padres righty Nick Pivetta (3-2, 2.86 ERA) in a pivotal Game 3.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The Eagles’ 2-0 start feels like ages ago after a demoralizing 24-20 home loss to the Rams. Jalen Hurts struggled to elevate a short-handed offense with right tackle Lane Johnson, wide receiver DeVonta Smith and tight end Dallas Goedert inactive, and running back Saquon Barkley leaving the game early with a hamstring injury. The passing game produced just 68 net yards on 33 dropbacks. Rams mistakes and the Eagles defense gave Philly a double-digit lead that they couldn’t hold on to in the fourth quarter. Here are my takeaways: Stafford’s two picks on Sunday were his fifth and sixth of the season. In his 2025 MVP campaign, he didn’t throw his sixth interception until Week 17. If you’re looking for the main reason the Rams had to scratch and claw just to get back to .500, look no further than the quarterback position. On Sunday, Stafford’s mistakes gave Philadelphia the short fields its struggling offense needed to score and build a lead. This comes a week after Stafford threw a costly pick-6 late in the loss to Denver and followed it up with another interception on the final play of the game. He also threw a bad one in the opener against the 49ers, swinging the momentum of that game. Stafford’s mistakes have been costly. Stafford still has some impressive throws left in that golden right arm—and made a few during the fourth-quarter rally—but he’s often looked every bit his age this season. He seems to melt against any pressure that knocks him off his spot, and he’s sailed a number of throws due to happy feet. Both of his interceptions against the Eagles followed the same pattern. Stafford sailed a pass off wide receiver Konata Mumpfield’s head and into safety Andrew Mukuba’s hands to set up Philly’s first score. He was intercepted a second time when he threw a pass over receiver Puka Nacua’s head and into cornerback Cooper DeJean’s chest. Stafford picked up his first win against Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio since joining the Rams in 2021, but it was a struggle. Fangio’s defense puts a roof on the opposing passing game and limits explosives. A quarterback like Stafford can get impatient when the offense can’t produce chunk plays. Eventually, he throws the ball to the defense. That model has worked well for Fangio against Stafford, and Sunday was no different despite the result. The Eagles offense struggled all afternoon. The unit couldn’t put points on the board without the Rams gifting them with a short field. Philly’s four scoring drives totaled just 98 yards. The other nine drives produced just four first downs, and the Eagles finished the game 0-for-12 on third down. Yuck. Now, this dud was understandable with injuries piling up. Smith missed the game with a hamstring injury. Johnson was a late scratch for “personal reasons.” Barkley pulled up with a leg injury that knocked him out in the first quarter. Still, the offensive problems have officially become concerning now that we’re a month into the season. First-year offensive coordinator Sean Mannion can’t get the run game going, and Jalen Hurts looks uncomfortable in the new passing system. The Eagles labored to put up 20 points. Philadelphia’s first passing touchdown came on a miracle catch by wide receiver Darius Cooper on a poorly thrown ball from Hurts. The play design sprung Cooper wide open, but Hurts threw it well short, allowing safety Quinten Lake to run under it. Lake mistimed his jump, and Cooper ripped the ball from his hands for the score. The Rams were good in coverage, but Hurts had some opportunities to hit an open man and refused to make the throws. After an early third down, Tom Brady got on Hurts for not making an anticipatory throw to receiver Dontayvion Wicks open over the middle. This has been an issue for the Eagles quarterback throughout his career. It can be a real anchor on the passing game on days like this, when Philly doesn’t have a talent edge and his pass catchers aren’t winning their one-on-one matchups. With Smith missing a few weeks with a lingering hamstring injury and Barkley potentially missing time, Hurts will need to get the offense up and running on his own. Right now, he doesn’t look capable. Injuries are piling up for Philadelphia on both sides of the ball at the wrong time. Smith and Johnson’s absences were felt in the passing game. The Rams attacked Markell Brown in pass protection with a blitz-heavy game plan on passing downs. The rookie right tackle struggled to pick up those blitzes. And Smith is typically Hurts’ answer against pressure, but without his WR1, the Eagles quarterback had to rely on unproven young players, like Cooper, or veterans who are way past their prime, like Zach Ertz. Barkley going out early ended any chance of Philadelphia producing explosive plays on the ground. It’s not just on offense, either. The Eagles lost both of their All-Pro corners with Quinyon Mitchell exiting the game with a knee injury. Stafford immediately attacked his replacement, Jonathan Jones. Things got worse when Cooper DeJean also went down with a knee injury. With the Cowboys and Giants pulling out wins on Sunday, there’s not a three-way tie at the top of the NFC East. The Eagles will play both teams over the next month and could be without five of their best players in those matchups. If the Eagles drop those games, they could find themselves in a hole too deep to dig out of. 3 ½. What’s Next? Things won’t get any easier for the Eagles, who have a journey across the Atlantic Ocean ahead of them this week. They’ll take on the Jaguars in London as they try to get back over .500 once again. A home game against the Panthers in Week 5 is followed by three straight games against the NFC East, so Philadelphia has little time to get healthy and get its season back on the rails. The Rams will be tested by another contender next week when the AFC East-leading Bills travel to SoFi Stadium after a tough loss to the Patriots. Los Angeles has a small margin for error in a stacked NFC West. Buffalo’s defense looks vulnerable, and playing in a domed stadium should make things easier for Stafford, who struggled in the misty conditions in Philadelphia on Sunday. Puka Nacua had a strong showing in his return from injury, so this Rams passing game could take off soon.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The SEC insists on cannibalizing itself, or so it would seem with Missouri upsetting a Florida team that looked destined — and could still be — to reach the College Football Playoff for the first time in its history. But that doesn’t help us find out just who is a national title contender in the SEC because: Alabama beat Mississippi State, which beat Missouri, which beat Florida, which beat Ole Miss, which beat LSU. For now, only Texas and Georgia seem fit to play for championships. But that could soon change on Saturday when the Bulldogs finally get to play a ranked opponent we all think is good: Bama. Bring October 10 to us on winged feet. We need answers. Virginia Tech lost to Pittsburgh at home on Friday night, necessitating the Hokies’ relief from this week’s top 25 and bumping the Panthers in. Michigan dropped its second game in as many weeks — this time on the road to Minnesota, a program that hadn’t beaten the Wolverines in Minnesota in 49 years. Teams are starting to separate themselves as this year’s elite, some are showing signs of fraudulence and others are just joining my list. With that, here are my top-25 rankings after an exciting Week 5. Week 5 game: 35-33 win vs. Virginia TechWeek 6 game: vs. North Carolina “We got a hell of a football team,” Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said on ESPN’s broadcast following the victory. “Any of those voters, if they wake their ass up, they might figure it out.” Sure thing, Pat. Just remember when you get seven wins, the season isn’t over. The Panthers started 7-0 in 2024 and still managed to finish 7-6. Last year, they finished 7-5. Stat to know: Pitt’s win over Virginia Tech marks just the second time in the last 35 years (since 1991) that the Panthers started a season 5-0. Odds to make CFP: +700Odds to win national title: +30000 Week 5 game: 35-34 OT win vs. South CarolinaWeek 6 game: vs. LSU Behind quarterback Kenny Minchey, Kentucky overcame a 17-0 first-half deficit to win in overtime against South Carolina. The Wildcats’ only loss, to undefeated Alabama, looks better on Sunday than it did at the beginning of Saturday. Stat to know: With its win against the Gamecocks, Kentucky recorded its largest road comeback win in program history after trailing, 17-0, in the second quarter. Odds to make CFP: +2500Odds to win national title: +75000 Week 5 game: 25-21 win vs. WashingtonWeek 6 game: At Penn State USC needed a convincing win against an unranked opponent and middling conference team on Saturday. What it did instead was play a game that left the ball in the Huskies’ hands for a chance to win at the end. Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr. simply threw away. While the Trojans remain in the College Football Playoff conversation, that won’t last for long if they insist on playing this poorly with Ohio State, Indiana and UCLA still on their schedule. Stat to know: Quarterback Jayden Maiava ranks second in the FBS in passing yards with 1,499 and is in a four-way tie for No. 1 with 14 touchdowns so far this season. Odds to make CFP: +600Odds to win national title: +10000 Week 5 game: 27-17 win vs. UCFWeek 6 game: At Kansas State The Cougars scored all 27 points in the second half, erasing a 17-0 third-quarter deficit to rally for the win at home. Houston was good on third down, converting eight times on 16 attempts while holding UCF to just 73 rushing yards. Stat to know: Houston came back from a 17-0 deficit. Prior to Saturday, Houston had lost 15 straight games after trailing by 17 or more points — and entering today, FBS teams down at least 17 points in the second half were 3-130 this season. Odds to make CFP: +800Odds to win national title: +25000 Week 5 game: ByeWeek 6 game: vs. UCF Stat to know: Oklahoma State knocked off No. 6 Oregon, giving the Cowboys their first home non-conference win over an AP top-10 team since 2008. Odds to make CFP: +1200Odds to win national title: +35000 Week 5 game: 28-0 win vs. WyomingWeek 6 game: At UNLV The Bison look like the only team in the Group of Six capable of running the table, and North Dakota State is still the only FBS program in history to never lose a game to an FBS opponent. We’ll see how long that lasts, but it could be a minute. Stat to know: Through five games, quarterback Nathan Hayes has completed 64.7% of his passes for 995 yards, seven touchdowns and only two interceptions, along with 122 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. Odds to make CFP: +550Odds to win national title: +100000 Week 5 game: Bye Week 6 game: At Vanderbilt Stat to know: Ole Miss has faced three AP-ranked opponents in its opening four games for the first time in program history, picking up top-25 wins over then-No. 24 Louisville and then-No. 7 LSU. Odds to make CFP: +140Odds to win national title: +2800 Week 5 game: 31-14 loss vs. Ohio StateWeek 6 game: At Washington Iowa performed like it has for the entirety of Kirk Ferentz’s tenure. In a low-scoring game, the team looks like it could defeat almost anyone. But as points run up, the offensive ineptitude of the Hawkeyes becomes impossible to ignore and often leads to them losing games. As soon as Ohio State opened a two-score lead, this felt lost for Iowa. Stat to know: Iowa’s defense is allowing just 12.6 points per game — which is tied for second in the Big Ten, with Ohio State, trailing only Indiana at 9.8 points per game — and ranks 11th in the FBS. Odds to make CFP: +450Odds to win national title: +10000 Week 5 game: 24-14 win vs. AuburnWeek 6 game: At Arkansas Quarterback Faizon Brandon was benched for George MacIntyre after passing for zero yards and throwing an interception just before the end of the first half. And all MacIntyre really needed to do after that was exist in the seconds between taking the snap and handing running back DeSean Bishop the ball. Bishop carried the ball 34 times for 220 rushing yards with three touchdowns. Tennessee’s identity — a power-run team offensively — was on full display against Auburn. And the Vols’ only loss so far was to the No. 1 team in the country (Texas). Stat to know: Running back DeSean Bishop is the first Tennessee player to rush for at least 200 yards and three touchdowns in a single game since 2019. Odds to make CFP: +330Odds to win national title: +7600 Week 5 game: ByeWeek 6 game: At Oregon Stat to know: With 52 points against Purdue and 54 against Maryland, UCLA scored at least 50 points in consecutive regular-season games for the first time since 1993. Odds to make CFP: +500Odds to win national title: +25000 Week 5 game: ByeWeek 6 game: vs. Kansas Stat to know: Utah owns a +132 point differential (173-41), marking its largest scoring margin through the first four games of a season since 1994. Odds to make CFP: +190Odds to win national title: +8400 Week 5 game: 45-17 loss vs. MissouriWeek 6 game: vs. South Carolina The Gators looked like a Group of Six team collecting a guaranteed check in the face of a Missouri offense that was relentless and a Missouri defense that was punishing. Star running back Jadan Baugh was held to just 13 rushing yards on 12 carries after rushing for an average of 150 per game in each of his previous four. Missouri isn’t great, and yet, it greatly kicked Florida’s ass. Stat to know: Coming off a 52-28 win over Ole Miss in Week 4, Florida’s 28-point loss to Missouri marks a 52-point swing in scoring margin (+24 to -28) — its largest negative one-week turnaround in SEC play since 2011. Odds to make CFP: -105Odds to win national title: +3200 Week 5 game: 56-23 loss vs. AlabamaWeek 6 game: Bye Yes, the Bulldogs got beat like they stole something on a Saturday when they were expected to make the leap. But two turnovers on their first two possessions — including a pick-six — by star quarterback Kamario Taylor made the task of beating Alabama too difficult. The Bulldogs are helped by Missouri’s win against Florida, though, as the Tigers lost to Mississippi State last week before taking down the AP’s No. 5 Gators. That Mizzou loss last week to Mississippi State looks better this morning than it did last weekend. Stat to know: Kamario Taylor has thrown for at least three touchdowns in all five games this season, and he leads the FBS with 17 passing touchdowns. Odds to make CFP: +1100Odds to win national title: +20000 Week 5 game: ByeWeek 6 game: vs. UCLA Stat to know: Oregon has won five consecutive games against USC, dating back to November 2, 2019, and eight of the last nine meetings overall. Odds to make CFP: +105Odds to win national title: +2100 Week 5 game: 17-10 win vs. TCUWeek 6 game: vs. Iowa State BYU is right where it was most of last year: playing great football against not-so-great competition, in the not-so-highly-rated Big 12. It’s a horrible place for Cougars fans to be when they think their team is a CFP contender. But they will have to win a Big 12 Championship to be sure. And I need to see that to be sure too. But for now, let’s enjoy the Cougars doing everything they can to reach a postseason they’ve never been invited to play in. Stat to know: Quarterback Bear Bachmeier threw for just 62 passing yards against TCU, marking BYU’s fewest passing yards in a regular-season victory since at least 2000. Odds to make CFP: +200Odds to win national title: +7800 Week 5 game: 63-14 win vs. McNeeseWeek 6 game: At Kentucky LSU held a 42-0 halftime lead against its FCS opponent and will not play another team outside the SEC for the rest of the season. The Tigers put up 729 yards of offense — 365 rushing and 364 passing — along with their nine touchdowns. Stat to know: While Sam Leavitt has six rushing touchdowns through five games, he only has eight passing touchdowns compared to seven interceptions. Odds to make CFP: -115Odds to win national title: +1650 Week 5 game: 29-7 win vs. ColoradoWeek 6 game: Bye The Red Raiders offense wasn’t great, but it didn’t need to be because the Buffaloes offense was awful. Colorado turned the ball over four times, and starting quarterback Isaac Wilson threw an egregious pick-six in the Buffs’ end zone to add insult to injury. The Red Raiders were out-gained in total yards (375-315), passing yards (297-134) and awful on third down (3-for-12). But they remain undefeated. Stat to know: Including its win over Colorado tonight, Texas Tech is 11-1 (.917) overall against Big 12 opponents across the last two seasons. Odds to make CFP: +140Odds to win national title: +7400 Week 5 game: 45-17 win vs. FloridaWeek 6 game: vs. Texas A&M Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz might never enjoy beating a top-10 opponent quite like his Tigers did against the Gators on Saturday. It’s not just that Mizzou stomped out Florida by 28 points, but also that it is the first top-10 win he’s ever had in the regular season and against an SEC opponent and legacy SEC East foe. I realize Missouri lost to Mississippi State last week, and that the Bulldogs lost to the Tide on Saturday. But Missouri also turned Florida into a piñata, which has to, ahem, just mean more. Stat to know: Jamal Roberts rushed for 211 yards and three touchdowns against Florida. He became the first SEC running back to rush for 200 yards and three rushing scores against an AP top-10 team since Derrick Henry in 2015. Odds to make CFP: +700Odds to win national title: +12000 Week 5 game: 47-15 win vs. RutgersWeek 6 game: At Nebraska Curt Cignetti’s Hoosiers responded to a ho-hum performance against what might be a surging Northwestern with a dominating one against the Scarlet Knights, running up 593 yards of offense while holding Rutgers to just 254 yards. Stat to know: Josh Hoover has completed 71.0% of his passes for 1,101 passing yards and 16 total touchdowns with zero interceptions so far this season. Odds to make CFP: -320Odds to win national title: +1050 Week 5 game: 56-23 win vs. Mississippi StateWeek 6 game: vs. Georgia Kalen DeBoer is 10-2 against top-25 teams on the road after the Crimson Tide’s win Saturday and 5-1 against teams on the road as head coach at Alabama. None of that matters next week when Georgia travels to Tuscaloosa. With a win, Alabama doesn’t just look like a contender for the SEC title but also a serious national championship contender. Stat to know: Keelon Russell is the now the fifth Alabama quarterback since 2000 to be responsible for at least 14 touchdowns through the first five games. He joins Tua Tagovailoa (2018, 2019), Ty Simpson (2025), Jalen Milroe (2024) and Bryce Young (2021, 2022). Odds to make CFP: -270Odds to win national title: +1300 Week 5 game: 31-14 win vs. IowaWeek 6 game: vs. Maryland Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith became the school all-time record-holder in receiving touchdowns and catches in a signature performance where he caught 11 passes for 206 yards in a thumping of the first top-25 team Ohio State has faced since losing at Texas earlier this season. While the Buckeyes aren’t perfect and can’t quite finish games like I’d expect a national title team to in the fourth quarter, Smith is a second queen on the chessboard and masks, even erases, some deficiencies on this team. Stat to know: Jeremiah Smith completed the Ohio State triple crown in Week 5: He is now the Buckeyes’ all-time leader in receptions (207), receiving yards (3,381) and receiving touchdowns (36). Odds to make CFP: -450Odds to win national title: +440 Week 5 game: 41-13 win vs. ClemsonWeek 6 game: Bye Darian Mensah continued to play like one of the best quarterbacks in the sport with 227 passing yards and two total touchdowns against the first program the Hurricanes have played in their weight class in a month. And while they continue to look devastatingly good, no one is taking them seriously until they beat a team with a single-digit next to their name on the score bug. Stat to know: Darian Mensah has only four fewer total touchdowns (17) than incompletions (21) through five games this season. Odds to make CFP: -1200Odds to win national title: +700 Week 5 game: 37-26 win vs. North CarolinaWeek 6 game: vs. Stanford Notre Dame continues to look like a team capable of winning the program’s first national title this century. The Fighting Irish have won 14 straight games by double digits, and with a double-digit win over North Carolina, they became the first team to win 15 straight games by 10 or more points since Florida from 2008 to 2009. You’ll remember the 2008 Florida team won the national title that year. Stat to know: Through five games in 2026, quarterback CJ Carr has completed 71% of his passes for 1,197 yards, 13 passing touchdowns and only one interception. Carr’s 16 total touchdowns are the most by any Notre Dame starting quarterback through the first five games of a season since at least 2000. Odds to make CFP: -2000Odds to win national title: +620 Week 5 game: 38-14 win vs. VanderbiltWeek 6 game: At Alabama Kirby Smart’s Dawgs still feel like the best team in the country to me, and one of the reasons is just how fast this team starts and how much it holds its opponents back. The Bulldogs have outscored opponents, 63-0, in the first quarter of its first five games. On vibes, this is the best team in the sport. What’s awesome is the Dawgs get a chance to prove that on Saturday on the road against Alabama. Stat to know: Through his first five games this season, Gunner Stockton has completed 75.5% of his passes for 1,049 yards, 13 touchdowns and just one interception, while adding 122 rushing yards. Odds to make CFP: -750Odds to win national title: +540 Week 5 game: ByeWeek 6 game: At Oklahoma Stat to know: With wins over then-No. 1 Ohio State and then-No. 14 Tennessee in its four games of the 2026 season, Texas has defeated multiple AP top-15 opponents in its first four games of a season for the first time since 1984. Odds to make CFP: -700Odds to win national title: +640​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

MEMORIAL STADIUM (Clemson, S.C.) — The bodies crammed inside the Esso Club were packed tight, almost shoulder-to-shoulder as a line spilled from the bar, swerving toward the door and out into the courtyard. It was four hours before Dabo Swinney’s Tigers squad kicked off against the No. 4 Miami Hurricanes, and the beer was fully flowing inside “Clemson’s Original Sports Bar.” A quartet of Tigers orange-clad patrons created a pyramid of camouflage Busch light cans in the center of their high top, each marveling at their feat of pale ale-infused engineering. En route to Clemson’s favorite watering hole, a pair of Tigers faithful revealed themselves to a trio of Miami fans as Palm Beach residents. “When you get up 20, just back off a little bit,” one chided. “I guess you guys owe us for that 58-0 thing at your house,” the other conceded, a brief reminder of the Hurricanes’ pre-Mario Cristobal follies. Whatever gas last week’s win over Cal pumped into Swinney’s players, Clemson’s carburetor was flooded on Saturday as the Tigers were meticulously mauled, 41-13, by a Miami team that looks every bit as ferocious as its 2025 version, which came one score short of a national title. Exiting the field following the loss, Clemson’s squad was surrounded by a sea of Miami fans that made the trip north. They mobbed Cristobal. They flung iPhones skyward in hopes of capturing a selfie with bruising tailback Mark Fletcher Jr. They chanted, as the clock ticked down, “Fire Dabo! Fire Dabo!” Welcome to the life of a program stuck in neutral. “Winning heals everything,” ex-Clemson standout Eric Mac Lain told me pregame along the Tigers’ sidelines. “… But it’s just one of those things where it’s a double-edged sword because, for years, what did [Swinney] preach? Best is the standard — and obviously Clemson hasn’t been at their best.” SATURDAY WAS SUPPOSED Saturday was supposed to be a washout. Forecasts projected heavy rain that might send the Tigers toward their third weather delay of the season. The rain held off. The fans showed up. Death Valley rocked and swayed as the Tigers ripped past Howard’s Rock and onto the playing surface at Memorial Stadium ahead of kickoff. It came to a lull when Clemson actually had to run its offense. The Tigers burned a timeout before calling an offensive snap on the first play of the game. A bobbled third-down snap saw freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds get flattened by Hurricanes linebacker Chase Smith. A preview of coming attractions. Twice the Tigers committed penalties inside the Miami 10-yard line. Twice the Tigers turned the ball over to Miami’s zero. Twice — once to end the half and once to open the third quarter — the Tigers failed to score red-zone touchdowns. “We’ve gotta close that gap,” Swinney said in his post-game press conference. “… Those are game-changing opportunities that you have to cash in on to give yourself a chance to win games like that. And we did not. “… We’re a work in progress, but the season ain’t over. We’ve got a long way to go. It’s a [long] season. This one stinks. We played a really good team, and they were better than us today. We’ve got to see if we get better next time we play, and then at the end of the season, we’ll hopefully be a football team that nobody wants to play. We’ve got work to do.” Saturday was not so much a reckoning as it was a reminder. Clemson of old, this is not — a truth that makes the present and future in the South Carolina Upstate increasingly uncomfortable. Clemson is the poster child of schools aspiring for more. It’s only two years since the Tigers brass pressed lawsuits against their own league challenging the grant of rights and, effectively, creating a smoother ACC exit strategy with fewer stiff financial penalties. Those future aspirations — whether it be in the ACC or elsewhere — are perhaps less clear now as Congress continues to entertain the Protect College Sports Act and the strict anti-expansion clauses included in the bill’s verbiage. Winning football games, though, would help those desires. “That’s frustrating for all these people that were used to winning 12-plus games a year,” Mac Lain said. “They’re frustrated, and they have the right to, because they build us and they vaporize. Does it suck? Yeah, but at the end of the day, just win and you’ll be OK.” AND WHAT OF Miami in all this? Hate if you will, but Cristobal’s $40-plus million roster looks worth every dime. The Hurricanes have been the most aggressive school this side of Texas Tech in college football’s new world order. Boosters are, shall we say, woven into the fabric of South Florida’s preeminent college football program. That they might contribute directly to the Canes’ success has proven as lucrative as one might imagine. Sweet slingin’ quarterback Darian Mensah — whose contract dispute with Duke over the offseason created its own cavalcade of enemies across the ecosystem — has justified in spades the headaches, billable hours and animosity that will undoubtedly be directed his way the rest of the season. Mensah entered Saturday’s contest with more touchdowns (14) than incomplete passes (12). He was similarly efficient amid the rowdy rows of orange and white that littered the stands in Death Valley, connecting on a pedestrian — at least by his otherworldly standards — 67% of his 27 passes for 227 yards and one score. Lest you not forget all-world receiver Malachi Toney, or his running mate Cooper Barkate, or pass-catcher Daylyn Upshaw, or Fletcher, or … OK, you get the point. They’re flashy. They’re physical. The ‘Canes might just be the national title favorite. They looked it Saturday night. “Four years ago, we came here when we had just got to Miami with a roster that wasn’t what it was supposed to be. And we got our faces kicked in,” Cristobal quipped post-game of the 2022 shellacking the ‘Canes endured in Clemson. “It was good to come out today and play good football, and to give ourselves a chance to control our own destiny.” To be clear, there is no reckoning coming tomorrow for Swinney. Clemson is not a place that operates on the emotion of a single result against a national title contender. Tigers athletics director Graham Neff is analytical and tempered. Competitive? You bet. But he’s far from a shoot from the hip, ask for forgiveness later-type. Still, there’s an almost malaise and longing for days past around the grounds outside Death Valley. There was little angst about Swinney or the Tigers in pregame talk. Speak with enough people, and you’ll hear an appreciation for what has been accomplished under his watch, even if that history has begun to fade. “We love Dabo. He gave us two national championships,” 2016 Clemson grad Ryan Hall told me. “But he gets paid $12 million per year. We expect a little bit more. At Clemson, we’ll always show up. We just want to see our boys compete on the national level.” There will one day, perhaps soon, be a statue of Swinney in front of Memorial Stadium. No man has meant more to this program in its 130-year history, and a Week 5 loss to a talented Miami team won’t define his legacy. But Saturday was a reminder that the statue may represent accomplishments achieved long before Clemson’s most recent loss to the nation’s elite. That’s indictment enough.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports