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The college football season is off and running with bloody noses, one second being put back on clocks and poorly timed firework shows. But that’s why we love this sport — because each week brings unexpected surprises. As for the results, there was a lot of chalk. The top teams rolled, though there were some nervy moments that Oregon and Michigan would probably prefer not to discuss any further. Transfer quarterbacks like Miami’s Darian Mensah and Indiana’s Josh Hoover didn’t skip a beat in keeping up the winning ways of their predecessors. And, we learned that LSU is probably a contender even without professional players, USC might break through this season and that quarterbacks Arch Manning and Julian Sayin look ready for a Texas-Ohio State battle next week. With that, here are my Week 1 superlatives. No surprise here, but it’s the fiasco that happened in Ann Arbor on Saturday night. It looked like Western Michigan pulled the upset of the weekend when Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood’s pass sailed out of the back of the end zone with what appeared to be no time left. Broncos players were celebrating a 12-7 victory and coach Lance Taylor had a smile on his face until officials ruled there was actually one second left. Underwood took advantage of his second chance, threw another Hail Mary, and JJ Buchanan came down with a 47-yard touchdown, allowing the No. 16 Wolverines to escape with a 13-12 win. There was plenty of controversy surrounding the review. Ultimately, the Big Ten defended the decision in a statement released hours after the game, which accompanied a recording of the replay as it was reviewed by officials and showed there was one second left when the ball hit WMU’s Micah Davis, who had jumped from out of bounds. Broncos players were in tears after the final whistle as Michigan fans rushed the field in celebration. Taylor said he thought the clock hit zero before his players touched it, while Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham said he was “pretty sure” there was one second left. “This game will go down in Michigan history,” Whittingham told reporters after the game. “I don’t know if it’s in a positive way, but it’ll go down in history for certain. We’re 1-0, but the reality is we’ve got a lot to fix, a lot of things to address. “There was not a lot of whooping and hollering in the locker room.” There were only two Big Ten teams to lose games in Week 1. Wisconsin fell to No. 4 Notre Dame at Lambeau Field, but Rutgers didn’t have the same excuse. The Scarlet Knights were embarrassed by UMass 37-21 in their season opener after being a 29.5-point favorite. Minutemen quarterback William Watson III completed 19 of 22 passes for 197 yards and three touchdowns, while Rutgers quarterback Dylan Lonergan struggled, completing just 55% of his passes with two touchdowns and three interceptions. After the loss, Rutgers went viral for proceeding with a pre-planned fireworks show that was supposed to celebrate their team winning. Now, coach Greg Schiano, who returned to Rutgers with the hope of reviving the program, has been unable to do that and is certainly on the hot seat after just Week 1. This one goes to Lane Kiffin. No. 11 LSU trounced Clemson 51-10 at home in his debut as the Tigers’ head coach. After a week of headlines and court hearings, Kiffin proved that while it would be great to add former NFL players to his team, he doesn’t really need them because his team is stacked with talent. Arizona State transfer quarterback Sam Leavitt completed 16 of 28 passes for 231 yards with a touchdown and an interception and added 113 rushing yards and two more touchdowns. Running back Dilin Jones also had 113 rushing yards and two scores, while defensive end Jordan Ross returned an interception for a touchdown and recorded a sack. LSU overcame a weather delay, drama and some early mistakes – Leavitt’s first quarter pick led to a Clemson field goal – to prove that while they have a head coach who isn’t going to shy away from the spotlight, the Tigers seem to be a legitimate contender this season regardless of anything else. Miami receiver Malachi Toney set a school-record with 234 yards receiving and No. 7 Miami rolled Stanford 45-6 on the road on Friday night. Toney connected with Duke transfer quarterback Darian Mensah for three touchdowns, including on the Hurricanes’ first two drives. His third came on a 47-yard bomb in the third quarter, which is the play that ultimately gave Toney the record. Mensah, meanwhile, was practically perfect, completing 27 of 30 passes for 401 yards and five touchdowns. It’s clear this duo is going to have a tremendous impact this season as the Hurricanes try to get back to the national championship game. And add Toney to the Heisman Trophy conversation. Entering the season, the award was mostly stacked with quarterback candidates as well as Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith. But Toney should be part of the conversation, too. Oregon got what coach Dan Lanning described as a “wake-up call” when his second-ranked team was nearly upset by Boise State at home in Week 1. The Ducks won 34-27, but didn’t look the part of a national championship contender as they got off to a slow start and struggled to get into a rhythm. Expectations are high in Eugene this season with quarterback Dante Moore leading an uber-talented roster that’s made consecutive CFP appearances. Moore completed 28 of 37 passes for 378 yards and three touchdowns in the win, but both he and Lanning were critical of their team post-game. They have things to fix as tougher opponents loom, including a late-September conference game against USC on the road before facing Ohio State, Michigan and Washington in November. This result against Boise will be talked about by the CFP committee later on in the season for sure, but if the Ducks can handle the rest of their opponents, then it won’t matter. On the flip side, if the Broncos become the Group of Six leader, then this result might end up looking pretty good for both teams. The spotlight will be on two SEC-Big Ten matchups. Week 2 features No. 1 Ohio State traveling to No. 5 Texas as well as No. 10 Oklahoma heading to No. 16 Michigan. It’s rivals playing rivals! Last year, the Buckeyes beat the Longhorns 14-7 in Columbus, and it was both Manning and Sayin’s first starts. Sayin went on to lead the country in completing 77% of his passes, while Manning was a bit more up and down before finding his stride later in the year. Both quarterbacks are in the Heisman discussion this year, and this matchup — the teams’ third meeting since January 2025 — will be an early indicator of who has a leg up in the CFP race. The Sooners and Wolverines also played last year, with Oklahoma winning 24-13 in Norman. Michigan will be desperate to show they’re not the team that nearly lost to Western Michigan in Week 1, while Oklahoma hopes to move itself up the standings of SEC powers with a strong non-conference victory.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Week 1 of the regular season is finally here and teams across the NFL are putting the final touches on their roster while others are dealing with last-minute injury news before the season kicks off Wednesday with the Super Bowl rematch between the Patriots and Seahawks. The Atlanta Falcons formally named Tua Tagovailoa as their Week 1 starting quarterback, while the Dallas Cowboys suffered a blow to their offensive line with All-Pro guard Tyler Smith set for thumb surgery. Down under, the Niners and Rams are preparing to play the first NFL game in Australia and one side is confirming the return of a pass rusher while the other is being more secretive about theirs. Here is the latest news from around the league on Monday. Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald remained noncommittal Monday about whether he will travel, let alone suit up for the team’s Week 1 opener against the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia. Speaking to reporters following practice, the recently unretired veteran offered vague answers when asked if he plans to make the trip and play on Thursday. “Feeling really good. Feeling great,” Donald said when asked about traveling to Australia. “Come up with a game plan and see what’s going on.” Donald, who ended his retirement Aug. 30 to rejoin the Rams, continues to work through a progressive conditioning ramp-up. While head coach Sean McVay previously indicated the entire roster is expected to make the flight, Donald’s actual game-day snap count and active availability remain a day-to-day evaluation as kickoff approaches. Meanwhile, Myles Garrett looked like he was trying to add more power to his tackles, so the Rams’ pass rush will still be plenty for opposing offenses to handle. San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Raheem Morris told reporters Monday that star defensive end Nick Bosa will play in Thursday’s season-opening matchup against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia. Bosa, who tore his right ACL in Week 3 of last season and dealt with knee tendinitis during training camp, returned to practice last week before making the flight with the team. “He’s going [to play]. We are not hiding that,” Morris told reporters. Bosa’s return provides a key boost to a San Francisco pass rush that finished last in the NFL in sacks last season. While the team may manage his snap volume as he continues building up his conditioning, his active status anchors the 49ers’ defense for the historic kickoff in Australia. Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken told reporters Monday that sixth-round rookie quarterback Taylen Green could be active for Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, potentially serving as the primary game-day option behind starter Deshaun Watson. When asked if Green could earn the gameday active spot over Shedeur Sanders to run specialized athletic packages, Monken left the door open. “Could be,” Monken said. “There could be a package where we have him.” Monken added that while activating three quarterbacks on game day remains possible. Green, a sixth-round pick in April’s draft, made the Browns’ 53-man roster as QB3 after Dillon Gabriel was placed on injured reserve due to a back injury. Monken named Watson the starting quarterback on Aug. 24 after a competition in training camp between him and Sanders. While the Dallas Cowboys’ offense has undergone constant turnover in recent seasons, guard Tyler Smith has remained a steady anchor. Now, the Cowboys must survive without him after head coach Brian Schottenheimer announced Monday that Smith will be sidelined. He is expected to miss 4-to-6 weeks after undergoing thumb surgery. The surgery will force Smith to miss at least the first four games of the regular season while opening up a spot on the 53-man active roster. “Tyler Smith is going to have surgery on his thumb tomorrow morning,” Schottenheimer said during his press conference. “It’s something that he’s just been dealing with.” With Smith sidelined, offensive lineman T.J. Bass is slated to take over as the starting left guard. Bass joined the organization as an undrafted free agent and has made 10 career starts, including five last year. The Cowboys retained Bass this offseason after placing a second-round restricted free agent tender on him. The Cowboys are set to open their season on Sunday night when they travel to New York to take on the Giants on Sunday Night Football. The New York Giants officially released veteran wide receiver Darius Slayton on Monday, ending his seven-year tenure with the organization. Selected in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft, the 29-year-old was the longest-tenured player on New York’s roster before his release. Slayton had 296 catches for 4,435 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns in seven seasons in New York. The decision clears roster space as the Giants finalize a receiving corps led by Malik Nabers, Odell Beckham Jr., Darnell Mooney, and rookie Malachi Fields ahead of their Week 1 opener against the Dallas Cowboys. Slayton posted a farewell message on X Monday thanking the organization, officially becoming an unrestricted free agent. The Giants signed Slayton to a three-year, $36 million deal before last season. He was due $13 million this season. The move creates just over $3 million in cap space for this year. After a competitive quarterback battle, the Atlanta Falcons are naming Tua Tagovailoa as the starter for Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Head coach Kevin Stefanski made the announcement official on Monday morning. Michael Penix Jr. is still recovering from season-ending knee surgery, though he is expected to return to the field later this year. Until he is fully cleared, Tagovailoa will take the reins as Atlanta’s starter. With Penix’s return still unknown, Stefanski is expected to rock with Cooper Rush as the backup to start the season. Tagovailoa is coming off an up-and-down final season in Miami. Over 14 starts with the Dolphins, he completed 67.7% of his passes for 2,660 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions, while adding 43 yards on the ground​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

LATROBE, Pa. — Everyone who knows Mike McCarthy understood where his heart always belonged, even if his eyes and feet were firmly wherever else he was. Nothing against Green Bay or Dallas, two places with rich and storied football histories and traditions. Pittsburgh is just different, especially for a Pittsburgh kid. “This is where I’m from. This is the cloth that I was cut from,” the new Steelers coach told me during a recent visit to camp at Saint Vincent College. “When you grow up in Western Pa., we’re all sick in the head because we’re all brainwashed as kids. It’s the greatest place on Earth.” So, yes, it sure is surreal for a kid born in the Greenfield section of Pittsburgh, right across the Monongahela River from Steelers headquarters, to be coming home to that place after all these years, to run the team he bled for as a kid. It’s a bucket list item the 62-year-old never imagined could happen. He spent 23 years in Green Bay and thought he’d be there forever. He spent five years in Dallas and figured that might be his last stop too. And for almost that entire time, the Steelers had just one head coach. Heck, they had only changed coaches five times since McCarthy was born. Then, last January, the news came that Mike Tomlin was stepping down after 19 years running the Steelers — a year to the day after McCarthy was let go in Dallas. “I didn’t expect it,” McCarthy told me. “I don’t think anybody did.” But it was real. And it all started to feel even more real when the Steelers called and invited him in for an interview on Jan. 21 — the 11th anniversary of the day his younger brother Joe died of a heart attack while playing racquetball at a local gym. McCarthy spent most of that day meeting with Steelers owner Art Rooney II, general manager Omar Khan and others in the organization. But then he got to go home to have pizza dinner with his parents, Joe Sr. and Ellen, his three sisters, and everyone else he could gather from the extended McCarthy clan. “It was heavy, because it was my brother’s anniversary of his passing,” McCarthy told me. “Just to have the opportunity to spend a couple extra hours at home with my family, on that day, it almost … the reality gave me the feeling that ‘Hey, there’s a chance this might happen.’” McCarthy has always been a “Yinzer” at heart. He was born and raised in what he called “inner city Pittsburgh,” just five miles to the West of where the Monongahela, Allegheny and Ohio Rivers meet, maybe a 15-minute ride to the site of old Three Rivers Stadium, where his beloved Steelers played for most of his life. He played three sports at the now-closed Bishop Boyle High School. He spent some time when he was home from college working at his father’s local bar. Baseball and basketball were more his thing when he was growing up. He didn’t start playing football until high school. But he knew what football meant to his city. There’s nothing bigger than the Steelers to anyone from there. “I think that’s part of the beauty of the fabric of our great city,” McCarthy told me. “It’s totally intertwined with the Pittsburgh Steelers organization. No disrespect to the 31 other teams, but I don’t think there’s a professional franchise in sports that’s more intertwined than we are with the city of Pittsburgh, the steel industry, the blue-collar background and how the city adjusted and grew. “Just the whole history of our surroundings is such a parallel to how we want to play the game, that we’re willing to do whatever it takes to be successful. That’s something that’s been in place for over 50 years — the black helmets and the black shirts and the way this team plays.” That part is heavy, too, especially for someone who grew up seeing how the city lives and dies with how the Steelers do every Sunday in the fall. He’s taking over for a coach who wore out his welcome despite not having a losing record in any one of his 19 seasons, and who reached the playoffs five times in the last six years. The last time the Steelers had a losing season was 23 years ago. The last Steelers coach who didn’t win a Super Bowl for the franchise was Chuck Noll’s predecessor, Bill Austin, who was fired a year before the AFL and NFL were fully and officially merged. It’s a place where nothing short of a championship will ever be enough. “I’m from the old school neighborhood, so trust me, I know how this thing goes,” McCarthy told me. “And I welcome that. We have an obligation to the generations before us to uphold the play style and the success that’s gone on before us. And that’s something I embrace.” All the other McCarthys embraced it too. When he was introduced as the new Steelers coach, just 11 days after Tomlin’s exit, it was like a big family reunion at Acrisure Stadium, with relatives filling up the first couple of rows. There were more tears and more emotions than McCarthy thought he could ever have at once. But it just felt right, like it was always meant to happen. He met his wife and they had four of their five children during his years in Green Bay. He loved most of his time in Dallas working for the Jones family, too. But he could feel there’s just something different about finally coming home. “As you go away to college around the country — and I’ve been fortunate to be in the NFL for over 30 years — everybody knows,” McCarthy told me. “We all know who we are in the NFL. If you’re from Western Pa., it’s a bond. It’s a pride component that you all root for each other, in a sense. I think that’s unique. And I think anybody that knows me from my time in other parts of the country, they know where I’m from and the pride that I have being from here.” Now it’s part pride, but a lot more responsibility. Being the hometown hero will only go so far. His homecoming may be a great story, but for most of his fellow Yinzers, only bringing home the Steelers’ seventh Super Bowl trophy will do. “Well, I wouldn’t say I imagined it yet, but I’m working toward that,” McCarthy told me. “That’s why I do this. And now, to be able to do this back home, trust me, it’s not lost on me how special this opportunity is. That’s what gets me up in the morning. I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t think I could win the Super Bowl here.” He already won one, back in 2010 in Green Bay. But he knows doing it here would just be different. Because there really is no place like home.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

One week of college football was enough for Joel Klatt to switch things around in his rankings. After his preseason No. 1 team, Oregon, was taken down to the wire against Boise State, Klatt has a new team at No. 1 in his top 10. And many teams made strong cases to be considered as the best program in the nation this weekend, with Ohio State, Texas, Georgia, LSU and Miami (Fla.) all making big statements in their season-opening wins. So, as we now have one week of college football in the books, here are the 10 teams that Klatt thinks are the best in the country. Klatt’s thoughts: I thought USC, over their first two games, did a lot to enhance my view of what they can be this year. They were good upfront running the football. Quarterback Jayden Maiava is outstanding — I hope he’s healthy; he got nicked up a little bit late in that game against Fresno State. And then their defense ends up pitching a shutout. I don’t think Fresno State is anywhere close to a Boise State, but we were questioning, “What was USC’s defense going to be?” They were outstanding in the first three quarters of their opener and then didn’t play well in the fourth quarter and gave up some points after the game was already out of hand. Then you could tell that that was a serious point of emphasis for the team and for Gary Patterson, USC’s coordinator, specifically, in their second game against Fresno State. And they played hard throughout, and they got the shutout. Klatt’s thoughts: I don’t think UTEP is great, but Oklahoma was dominant. They beat UTEP 51-0. John Mateer threw three touchdowns. Isaiah Sategna was electric. He had a punt return for a touchdown, he was great on offense. Oklahoma faces Michigan next. I have one question for Oklahoma and one only: can they run the ball independently of John Mateer? I think that’s a question. I don’t think that’s going to be answered against UTEP. We’ll see against Michigan, because as much as Michigan struggled, I thought their defense was still pretty strong. I liked what I saw from Oklahoma. I think that they’ve got future NFL players all over the place. I think that’s an elite team. Klatt’s thoughts: Josh Hoover comes to Indiana, and a lot of us were wondering how he would do replacing last season’s Heisman winner and national champion Fernando Mendoza. I think what got lost in the conversation leading up to this season is that Mendoza did not start out hot. In fact, one of his worst games was against Old Dominion in the opener a year ago. It took him a little bit of time. It did not take Josh Hoover much time. He was excellent — he did a lot of things well, he threw the ball on time, he threw it accurately, he’s got guys down the field that can really go and get it, he created plays out of the pocket, he played on schedule, he took the throws that were there, he put them on the money, he created yards after the catch with ball placement. I was incredibly impressed with Josh Hoover, even if I wasn’t blown away by Indiana. Indiana did not play great on the defensive side of the ball. I did not think they ran it as effectively as they wanted to run it or as they thought they would be able to run it. Maybe some injuries played into that. What I did see was a passing game that was elevated from a year ago — that passing game is elite. Klatt’s thoughts: This felt very different from the Michigan near-upset, where I was watching Michigan and was like, “Oh no.” Caution lights, panic, all of it. Oregon, I don’t feel like that. Now, I had Oregon at No. 1. I’m not just going to keep them No. 1, and I’m not going to just explain this away. I don’t think it was a great performance — I think that they showed that they can get into a dogfight and win. I’m going to move Oregon all the way down, and they’re going to be my No. 7 team in the country. Do they still have enough talent to win the national championship? Yes. Does one game define them? No. Did they want to play better? Absolutely. And we’re going to see if they can do that when they’re on the road against Oklahoma State. The QB play was the difference in Week 1; Dante Moore was the difference for Oregon, elevating the Ducks and getting them into a position where they can come back and win that football game. Klatt’s thoughts: Now I know Georgia won big and you heard all these statistics, like they averaged 11 yards per play. OK, it was Tennessee State. So, we get it. It was 63-3. Quarterback Gunner Stockton was 15 of 16, over 200 yards and three touchdowns. Georgia ran for 10 yards per carry as a team. All of that is great. We still don’t know anything about Georgia as far as their skill position players. I still really love Georgia. I love head coach Kirby Smart. I think they’re going to be there all the way until the end. And I still think that the SEC goes through Georgia. But, I saw two other SEC teams that I felt like were more talented on Saturday. And maybe that was just Tennessee State, and we’ll see. We’ll come to find out as Georgia’s schedule starts to get a little bit more difficult. Klatt’s thoughts: A team that I was very high on, but I’m going to move down. Notre Dame won the game on Sunday night, but it was a close game against Wisconsin. And maybe Wisconsin is a lot better — and I think that they probably are, based on what we saw. Notre Dame beat Wisconsin 41-13, they outscored them 28-3 in the second half, so they kind of pulled away. I didn’t love the run game — that was something that I just thought, and maybe this was a fool’s errand on my part, that Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price were fantastic, but man, you know they’ve got that offensive line back and they’re going to have more threats on the outside and they should be able to run it just the same. It was not the same. Price and Love were dynamic, and so that’s going to be an issue for them at some point. Now, who’s going to exploit that on their schedule? That remains to be seen. Is it BYU? Maybe. Is it Miami? Certainly. But Notre Dame’s schedule is just so light that I don’t know if we’re going to know a lot about Notre Dame until we get into the playoff. Klatt’s thoughts: Miami goes out to Stanford and wins, 45-6. They were dominant. Dominated the line of scrimmage. Darian Mensah looks like he could be a star. He threw for 400 yards, 27 of 30. And then there was the real star: Malachi Toney. Now you know why, when I did my preseason All-Americans, it was so easy for me to just say like, “Yup, Jeremiah Smith and Malachi Toney are your preseason All-American wide receivers.” Malachi Toney is unbelievable. Twelve catches, 234 yards and three touchdowns. I think Miami is better than last year. They went all the way to the national championship game — I don’t see this team losing some of those games that they shouldn’t during the course of the year. Klatt’s thoughts: This is a program that I watched on Saturday night, and I thought to myself, “OK, yup, that’s real.” Lane Kiffin is real. He’s answered his critics. That is one of the happiest fan bases in college football when they wake up on Sunday and when they wake up on Monday. It worked. It worked! Now we’ll see how they can navigate that schedule, but this is a team, based on what I saw from everybody in college football, that is going to be my No. 3 team in the country — they move from No. 8 to No. 3. LSU is absolutely a title contender from a talent perspective. And I thought that this would be the case. It was a bit of a wild card in the offseason just to see, all right, is it going to gel? Is it going to work? Yes. Yes, it’s going to work. Now, can they navigate the perils of a season, an SEC schedule, the adversity that comes with it? We’ll see, because I do still think that it’s a bit of a transactional roster. But it’s pretty clear to me that Lane is trying to build the combination of the Nick Saban discipline and toughness, and the flash and star power of the early-2000s Pete Carroll teams. Klatt’s thoughts: Texas was outstanding against Texas State. Some of those questions about the run game and defense — I thought they answered them. I think Will Muschamp as defensive coordinator is going to work out really well for them. They’ve got talent everywhere. We might see three or four Longhorns picked in the first 10 or 15 picks of the NFL Draft. Quarterback Arch Manning looked really good, first-year wide receiver Cam Coleman looked really good, running backs Hollywood Smothers, Raleek Brown, wideout Ryan Wingo —  that is a really, really good football team. Klatt’s thoughts: Ohio State is No. 1. They beat Ball State again. It’s like Georgia and even Texas — Ohio State didn’t get threatened whatsoever, but all of these teams did exactly what you should do. They went out there and just totally took care of business. The run statistics look a little inflated compared to the way they actually ran it on a play-by-play basis. They had a couple of long touchdown runs in the third quarter that elevated some of that production. But what you see is that quarterback Julian Sayin is still the real deal. Jeremiah Smith is still the best player in college football — eight catches, 151 yards and two touchdowns. Ohio State broke a couple of long runs there, both Jacksons — Bo and Ja’Kobi. I thought that they looked good and they did exactly what you would expect. They didn’t mess around. I know that Ball State isn’t as good as Boise State. Ball State’s nowhere close to Clemson. But Ohio State just went out there and totally dominated, 56-3, and they went about their business, and they’re No. 1. Now, was it close? Yes. This is not like an easy, absolutely far and away, “Ohio State is No. 1.” … All of these teams in the top eight, I still think very highly of. This is not an indictment of any of these teams: this is as solid a top 10 as I can remember putting together early in a season in my career.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Week 2 got dicey for some folks, didn’t it? In Week 1, after Oregon barely bested Boise State, I wrote, “Duck fans have to be slightly alarmed at that performance.” That alarm went off in Week 2, with the Ducks falling at unranked Oklahoma State. With that, they are out of my top 10. Rankings time. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Last Week: NRTo Make CFP: +164Title Odds: +2500 Look at the final vs. Arizona State and one might think this was a straightforward win for the Aggies. Um, not so much. It was a 24-20 game in the fourth and then A&M got two fourth-quarter interception returns for touchdowns in a 24-point fourth quarter. A&M was outgained by 114 yards (it only had 255), but benefited from four ASU turnovers and the fact it committed only one penalty. Those 35 carries for 92 yards had all the markings of a team that was replacing its entire OL.nA&M will get a shot at getting better against Kentucky this week before heading to Baton Rouge. LW: 10To Make CFP: +144Title Odds: +2800 Total domination in the second half at Kentucky. The defense made life miserable for Kenny Minchey and the Cats. Now, UK is probably the second-worst team in the SEC, so let’s not pencil the Tide in for a Playoff berth just yet — but that was a very positive step. Next up, revenge for an embarrassing loss at Florida State last season. LW: NRTo Make CFP: +150Title Odds: +2700 A sweat-free warm-up vs. Charlotte to prep for the main event this week against their former head coach. I think that win against Louisville in the opener is going to look pretty good by year’s end. LW: 5To Make CFP: -146Title Odds: +1100 Well, that was a little scary at halftime Saturday night. Maybe not in a sense that the Tigers were gonna lose, but Sam Leavitt wasn’t good in the first half. Water reached its proper level in the second half, but there might be a few more questions about the LSU offense as it heads to Oxford for the weekend’s biggest game/a circus atmosphere. LW: 8To Make CFP: -380Title Odds: +950 Poor Western Kentucky. Last week Georgia and now a trip to Indiana. We won’t learn much about the Hoosiers until their trip to Lincoln on Oct. 10, but early returns bring expectations of a third straight Playoff trip. LW: 7To Make CFP: -800Title Odds: +650 Rice was predictably no match for the Irish, who had a nice run of Big Ten and ACC bottom feeders to get their new weapons some run prior to the trip to BYU. LW: 3To Make CFP: -290Title Odds: +510 The Buckeyes probably should have won that game Saturday night, but they still have everything to play for, obviously. I’d expect OSU to enter that at Indiana/at USC/Oregon stretch at 5-1 and that’s when we’ll see if the Buckeyes can navigate just one loss. I’m not dropping OSU too far after losing a road game at one of the best teams in the country. I guess if we’re nit-picking, we’d like to see another wide receiver emerge outside of Jeremiah Smith, and the defense might need a few more disruptors, but that’s to be expected early on with a nearly completely new unit. LW: 4To Make CFP: -380Title Odds: +680 Two non-competitive games against completely overmatched opponents, but unlike previous years, Kirby Smart has shown no mercy in piling it on. And that’s fine, as those backups and walk-ons deserve to play and execute the playbook. A road trip to the worst team in the SEC (Arkansas) and then a home game against Oklahoma awaits. LW: 2To Make CFP: -600Title Odds: +800 Miami fans got to see a glimpse of the future Thursday night as the second half saw the entire bench get emptied. The first half saw scary execution by Darian Mensah — who has more touchdowns than incompletions on the year – and big plays from everyone on offense. The Canes at least have a road conference win in addition to the blowout of an FCS opponent, so we’ll slide them over Georgia for that reason. The Canes hit the road again this week for another conference game at Wake Forest, whose offense has been pretty good early on in the season. It would be a surprise if Miami didn’t take an undefeated mark into the Nov. 7 trip to Notre Dame. LW: 1 To Make CFP: -370Title Odds: +650 Massive comeback by the Longhorns on Saturday night in a game in which they could have taken an early lead, but suffered some fluky turnovers. I’m not sold Texas is better than OSU on a neutral field. If the two play 10 times, each will probably win five. But the Horns won the biggest game of the year so far and deserve all the flowers. Big picture, the win is massive, as Texas now has a huge non-conference win in its pocket as it gets ready for SEC play.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The wait is over. It’s been seven months since Seattle and New England met in a surprising Super Bowl matchup. And now they’re squaring off again, on a Wednesday no less, to kick off the new NFL season. It’s one of a few games in Week 1 that promises to shake up the league hierarchy from the jump. With the 2026 campaign finally upon us, let’s see where the Top 10 teams stand. Perhaps this is the year the Cowboys finally end their Super Bowl drought with a dynamic offense poised to light up scoreboards like a pinball machine. Quarterback Dak Prescott has a scary set of pass catchers and playmakers around him that will give countless defensive coordinators around the league sleepless nights. The high-scoring offense masked the defense’s flaws a season ago, but a new defensive coordinator in Christian Parker and a revamped lineup should help the Cowboys compete at a championship level. The football world is seemingly waiting for the clock to strike midnight on last season’s Cinderella despite QB Trevor Lawrence’s emergence as an MVP candidate. While the skeptics question whether Liam Coen can keep the No.1 overall pick playing at an elite level, the Jaguars’ improving supporting cast could help an explosive offense spark a surprise Super Bowl run. The pressure is squarely on the shoulders of head coach Joe Brady and quarterback Josh Allen to lead a Super Bowl run, after the Bills moved on from Sean McDermott despite reaching the playoffs eight times in nine seasons. With a “Super Bowl or bust” mentality hovering over the team, the Bills are hoping new WR1 DJ Moore and defensive play-caller Jim Leonard can produce better results behind a more aggressive approach under new leadership. Quarterback Caleb Williams is poised for an MVP run during his second season under Ben Johnson’s direction. The former first-overall pick proved in 2025 that he is the ultimate closer with six fourth-quarter comebacks and six game-winning drives. The “Iceman” can bail the Bears out of bad situations with his late-game magic, but the defense must be more consistent and not rely solely on turnovers to tilt games in Chicago’s favor. Head coach Demeco Ryan’s swarming defense can single-handedly keep the Texans in title contention, with edge rushers Will Anderson, Jr. and Danielle Hunter, linebacker Azzez Al-Shaair and cornerback Derek Stingley leading the way. If quarterback CJ Stroud can shake off a disappointing playoff run that led to concerns about his status as the team’s franchise quarterback, the Texans are a top-five contender lurking in the shadows. Trading away wide receiver A.J. Brown might have cost the Eagles a WR1, but the improved chemistry between QB Jalen Hurts and his perimeter playmakers should lead to more consistency in the passing game. While the former Super Bowl MVP must adapt to another offensive system, the drama-free huddle should help him return to his efficient playmaking. With the ultra-talented defense capable of bottling up opponents until the offense hits its stride, the Eagles are a dark-horse contender to keep an eye on. The Super Bowl LX runner-ups surprised opponents last season as a worst-to-first squad who responded well to a culture change ushered in by a Patriots’ legend. While head coach Mike Vrabel deserves credit for pulling a rabbit out of a hat in 2025, the team’s chances of being a title contender hinge on their ability to handle the burden of expectations with an upgraded roster featuring more star power on the perimeter. After falling short in the AFC Championship Game, the Broncos come back with a squad that is built to make a deep playoff run with quarterback Bo Nix and newly promoted offensive play-caller Davis Webb at the helm. Although Sean Payton has handed off the call sheet to his protégé, the one-time Super Bowl champion will make sure wide receiver Jaylen Waddle is featured prominently throughout the opening script. Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph has spent the off-season concocting more blitzes and simulated pressures that will keep quarterbacks running for their lives. Mike Macdonald has the motivation and manpower to pull off a rare back-to-back in a league that has not seen a repeat champion since the 2023 and 2024 Kansas City Chiefs. The Seahawks could pull it off with QB Sam Darnold and WR Jaxson Smith-Njigba spearheading an offense that should benefit from the extra possessions generated by their turnover-obsessed defense, which is loaded with big-play specialists. Despite the defending champs needing to adjust to the target on their backs, the Seahawks have the pieces in place to hang another banner at season’s end. General manager Les Snead and head coach Sean McVay have assembled a “Dream Team” with a roster littered with MVPs, All-Pros and Pro Bowlers, surrounded by a collection of late-round picks and undrafted studs who perfectly complement the Rams’ premier players. With McVay cleverly moving the Xs and Os around the gridiron like a chess master, the Rams’ combination of talent and tactics could produce an easy run to a title.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

I have so many questions. I’ve been thinking about the 2026 season since … well, Feb. 9 at about 12:30 a.m., the morning after Super Bowl LX. What I didn’t realize was that the next official game we’d see would be a rematch of that title game. But on Wednesday, the first time an NFL season will open on a Wednesday, it’s the Patriots against the Seahawks in Seattle. I want to talk about that this week. On Thursday, we get a potential preview of the NFC Championship Game, with the Rams playing the 49ers in … Australia (also a first, in many ways). I want to talk about that, too. I think the Saints and Lions game on Sunday could be a slugfest, in part because I think they’ll both win their divisions. Let’s hit on the Lions while we’re at it, shall we? The Week 1 schedule is packed. Make sure you order your wings and pizzas early. Make sure your fridge is stocked. Heck, book a babysitter if you need to. NFL season is here. This is Sound Smart, where I try to spin forward, dive deeper, think outside the box and read between the lines. There’s a reason we haven’t had a Super Bowl rematch to open a season since 2016. It’s an incredible product for the fans. But for the players and the teams? Not so much. Here’s what former Panthers coach Ron Rivera said about a rematch with the Broncos to open the 2016 season after Carolina lost to Denver in Super Bowl 50. “We’re going to make you guys relive it for five more months. That’s how I felt,” Rivera said a decade ago. “So for the next five months I’ve got to put up with it, deal with it, answer the questions and relive it constantly, over and over and over. Honestly, it became a pain in the ass.” New England will have to watch the Seahawks lift their banner. The Patriots will have front-row seats for the ceremony and pageantry. There’s no getting that salt out of the wound — not even if the Patriots win. So I figured I’d check in with a member of the losing side. “I ain’t gonna lie: That hurt,” Patriots receiver Demario Douglas told me early in training camp. “That game hurt, you know? … The next week, I went right back to working out. That gave me a good view of, man, how we need to finish.” Did he speak at all with Drake Maye about the game? “We watched the film. We were all very hard on ourselves. He was very hard on himself,” Douglas told me. “So I mean, not much to say [to each other]. Coach was already saying it. I don’t feel like you need another voice. … I need [Maye’s] confidence in me. So me coming at him, that doesn’t help anything. He watched the film just like we watched the film. We all had a part in it. It takes a full 11, not just one.” The bad news for the Patriots in an otherwise magical season was, of course, that they lost the game. The good news is that they get another shot at the Seahawks. But there’s no trophy on the line this time. Maye mentioned earlier this offseason that the Super Bowl loss was “humbling.” But following the 2026 NFL schedule release, he has struck a positive tone about the rematch. “Starting off with the bang like that, [it’s] a chance to get an opponent that left a bad taste in our mouth. So, I think it’s something for us that’s going to really make us work,” he said in May. “We’ve got to bring it Week 1 on the road in a tough environment. They’re going to be hanging their banner, and that’s part of it. “I think it’s going to be interesting. It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be a tough task.” It was concerning to see the 49ers decide not to invest in their offensive line this offseason. Sure, they drafted Washington guard Carver Willis in Round 4 of the draft. But this is the 49ers’ custom — peppering rounds three and four with dart throws on the offensive line. The problem is that they still have issues at guard on both sides. That began to show in 2025, when they didn’t get strong play on the left side and right guard Dominick Puni saw his PFF grade fall from 80.5 as a rookie in 2024 to 69.2 in his second year. And we recently got a clue that maybe the 49ers are concerned, too. They traded for Texans guard Jarrett Patterson to help with their depth. They’re clearly not panicked — Patterson came for a seventh-round pick. But it doesn’t imbue confidence either. I’m not the only one who’s worried. “We’re a week away from the season, and they’re trading for interior offensive linemen because it’s an obvious place of concern,” former NFL star Richard Sherman said on his podcast. “We knew that two years ago. And that’s the part where I don’t really get it.” The line wouldn’t be such an acute problem if the 49ers weren’t in the NFC West — and if they didn’t have a matchup against Myles Garrett, Byron Young and maybe even Aaron Donald on Thursday. The Rams are an absolute nightmare for any not-sure-of-itself offensive line. Donald will fly to Australia. His status is still up in the air. (Pun intended.) Either way, the 49ers will come away from this matchup feeling shaky. Donald will almost definitely be there for their second catchup in Week 14. And if the 49ers have Super Bowl plans, they’ll probably see the Rams for a third time in the playoffs. I don’t see it getting any easier. It would’ve been easy to write about Caleb Williams here. The expectations. The talent. The everything. It was easy to write about Drake Maye for all the same reasons. But what about Commanders QB Jayden Daniels? Depending upon whom you ask, he’s either quietly poised for a bounce-back season — or on the verge of ruin, not unlike his predecessor Robert Griffin III. The Commanders are, of course, showering Daniels with praise, but I’m just not sure they’ve done enough to set him up to succeed. Last year, it felt like they were trying to fight regression from their 2024 run to the NFC Championship Game by adding left tackle Laremy Tunsil and receiver Deebo Samuel. Neither had many ripple effects — at least not so far as we could see. All we could see was Daniels struggling on the field — and then, worse, struggling to stay on the field. He missed 10 games due to knee, hamstring and elbow injuries. This year, the Commanders waited until the third round to add slot receiver Antonio Williams. Then a few weeks into training camp, Washington signed veteran receiver Stefon Diggs. The Diggs addition, in particular, felt too much like an afterthought. It was like they’d forgotten to buy a gift for a party host and picked up a dusty bottle of red at the corner store. And Diggs, like some red wines, isn’t for everyone. His presence in the locker room is sometimes … a lot. A big key to Daniels’ success in 2026 will be new offensive coordinator David Blough, who replaced Kliff Kingsbury. Blough is widely respected (partially because he’s a former NFL QB), which has led to a precipitous rise — not unlike that of new Eagles OC Sean Mannion. (And coincidentally, Mannion and Blough will duel in Week 1 on FOX.) But Blough is a first-time playcaller and a first-year offensive coordinator. He’s also entering just his fourth year of coaching. For a QB as young and malleable as Daniels, it’s interesting to see him paired with an OC with such little experience. I’m not saying things won’t work in D.C. In fact, I hope they do. Because it would be a shame to see Washington squander Daniels’ talent. But while the Commanders seem to want to support behind their 25-year-old QB, they have a funny way of showing it. Changing OCs. Waiting to draft a rookie pass-catcher. Waiting to sign a veteran pass-catcher. Taking a risk on moving guard Brandon Coleman back to his college position, left tackle. It’s fun to root for a guy like Daniels. But the Commanders might not make it easy in 2026. I recently waxed poetic about how special Jared Goff and Amon-Ra St. Brown are as a QB-WR tandem. That’s because they are special. And I thoroughly enjoy their game. Well, sorry, here comes the I-love-you-but. Coach Dan Campbell recently said that Goff is beyond comparison when it comes to facing pressure. “His processing speed reminds me of [Drew] Brees,” Campbell told Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. “Nobody makes a more accurate throw under duress than Jared Goff.” Unfortunately, the stats don’t lie. Goff is actually the league’s most sensitive quarterback to pressure over the past three seasons. His expected points per dropback ranges between .43 in a clean pocket (best in the league) to -.42 when pressured (28th), per Fantasy Points Data. That’s an .85-point swing. Goff is absolutely an elite processor and playmaker. But recently, he’s mainly been dangerous when he’s not pressured. And that’s something to watch as the Lions have shuffled their offensive line this year. Perennial All-Pro Penei Sewell moved from right tackle to left. Center Frank Ragnow retired, and his replacement, free-agent acquisition Cade Mays, will miss time with a wrist injury. Tackle Blake Miller is a rookie, albeit a first-rounder. That’ll be something for the Saints to ponder, as defensive coordinator Brandon Staley tries to unsettle Goff — no doubt with help from edges Chase Young and Cam Jordan. This post recently made the rounds on X. And I’m just loving it. Look, Bill Belichick has clearly fallen on hard times. In 2024, he couldn’t get an NFL job when he clearly wanted one. He had to settle for the college ranks, where he wasn’t exactly dominant in 2025. In fact, he has seemingly been steeped in one controversy after another at the college level. To top off his mountain of crap, he missed the first ballot for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But there’s still no question in my mind: He and Tom Brady should get an even split for New England’s dynasty. Anyone who claims Brady is due more credit is playing prisoner to the moment (and focusing too heavily on how their NFL careers ended — not on where their careers began, which was when Belichick did so much heavy lifting). Former Eagles staffer Ryan Paganetti shared an example of why Belichick is so deserving of credit. Reportedly, the Patriots tinkered with the Gillette Stadium video board when opponents attempted field goals. The board would show the reverse view, creating four yellow lines to seemingly disorient the kicker. From 2001 to 2019, stats show that the Patriots converted 9.4% more of their own field goals than their opponents made. The dude was an Evil Genius. Capital E. Capital G. Nobody liked messing with his opponents more. Nobody was more conniving and manipulative of the rules. Nobody was more prepared. Belichick was ruthless for 20 years. And I love discovering crazy gems like this one. “If him and Ernie [Adams] came up with that, then I love them even more,” former Patriots safety Devin McCourty texted me.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

If it feels like Michigan can’t do much of anything without inviting controversy, you’ve just been paying attention for the past two years. Add to that list the seemingly phantom single second of time Big Ten officials found on their clock but not the game clock — the one all of us can see — that allowed the Wolverines to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. All official parties accept the result. College football fans are a different story. But now the Wolverines get Oklahoma — a program which has more talent, a better defense and a better quarterback coming to the Big House than the one Kyle Whittingham’s team showed up with in Week 1. And this is as, dare I say it, the rest of college football is blowing wind into the Sooners’ sails to avenge what most have come to view as a wrong. Michigan should’ve lost last Saturday night. The Sooners have a chance to turn the conditional part of the aforementioned sentence into a declarative one. Before we move onto Week 2, here are my top-25 rankings from Week 1. Week 1 game: 13-12 win vs. Western Michigan Michigan won a game it should’ve lost to a Broncos team that isn’t even in its weight class. Quarterback Bryce Underwood looked shook. He was responsible for two of the Wolverines’ three turnovers, and the Hail Mary touchdown he threw to win the game can mostly be attributed to luck. Luck won’t save the Wolverines on Saturday when they face Oklahoma. Week 1 game: 38-0 win vs. Fordham I’m struggling to find a team on the Bison schedule that is capable of defeating them. After two games, the only program in FBS to never lose an FBS game — cheeky, I know — looks every bit like running the table. Week 1 game: 56-9 win vs. Furman Quarterback Faizon Brandon finished with 13 of 17 completions, 294 total yards and five total touchdowns after becoming the first true freshman to start at quarterback for the Vols since 2004. Keep your eye on him. Week 1 game: 66-14 win vs. Idaho In the season opener, Utah put up 633 yards, including 364 on the ground, while allowing just 225 total yards by Idaho. This could be a powerful offensive force this season. Week 1 game: SMU vs. Florida State | Monday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN SMU and Florida State play Monday night, so I’ll update my Week 1 rankings accordingly after. Week 1 game: 24-10 win vs. Washington State Look, Demond Williams Jr. did that Kyler Murray thing I’ve been telling you about for the better part of a year. But this game was 17-10 until there were about two minutes left to play because the Huskies are about as disciplined as a newborn puppy: 12 penalties for 130 yards will get you beat in Big Ten play. Week 1 game: 66-21 win vs. Florida Atlantic Jon Sumrall’s Gators put up a gaudy 624 yards against the Owls, and running back Jadan Baugh showed why he’s one of the five best tailbacks in the country with 160 rushing yards and three touchdowns on just 14 rushes — 11.4 yards per rush. Week 1 game: 33-20 win vs. Oregon State Conner Weigman looked the part of a Big 12 championship-contending quarterback for Houston after completing 20 of 30 pass attempts for 305 pass yards with a touchdown and an interception. Week 1 game: 54-14 win vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff Tigers quarterback Austin Simmons was special in his debut. He completed 17 of 19 passes for 252 passing yards with four passing touchdowns. Week 1 game: 45-0 win vs. Marshall Despite a new head coach and 60 new players — or because of, if you prefer — Matt Campbell’s Nittany Lions will enter Week 2 tied for the No. 1 scoring defense in the country. Week 1 game: 63-7 win vs. Utah Tech The strength of the Cougars team was on display in their opener when they rushed for 308 yards. Week 1 game: 33-10 win vs. Abilene Christian Texas Tech quarterback Will Hammond looked the part of man leading the defending Big 12 champions with a stellar performance: 26 of 33 completed passes for 298 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Week 1 game: 48-10 win vs. East Carolina In his first-ever start, Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell put up 256 passing yards and 86 rushing yards with a rushing touchdown in what was an outstanding debut for a Tide team looking to win its first SEC championship since 2023. Week 1 game: 41-38 vs. Louisville When quarterback Trinidad Chambliss finally found his form, Louisville didn’t just crumble. It disintegrated behind eight penalties — including four in six minutes of the fourth quarter — that contributed to Ole Miss cruising to its season-opening win. Leave it to Chambliss to put up a Heisman-level stat line too, with more than 300 passing yards, 50 rushing yards and four total touchdowns. Week 1 game: 51-0 win vs. UTEP The Sooners shut out the Miners with true freshman Noah Best starting at center and a ground game that might be worth bragging about come SEC play with 170 yards. Week 1 game: 39-0 win vs. Fresno State Does it matter that fewer folks have seen the Trojans play at the Coliseum through two games (104, 158) than people saw Penn State play against Marshall (108,489) on Saturday? Yes, but only for us who love college football more than anything else that might be going on in Los Angeles on a day ending in Y. Angelinos just don’t. Week 1 game: 50-0 win vs. Missouri State Ampersand U enjoyed its first season-opening shutout since 1993 (LSU, 24-0). Week 1 game: 51-10 win vs. Clemson Amateurs only. Week 1 game: 45-6 win vs. Stanford Hurricanes wide receiver Malachi Toney became the first player since LSU’s Malik Nabers to record at least 180 yards, 10 catches and two receiving touchdowns in one half in Miami’s win. He finished with 11 catches for 229 yards, three touchdowns and an early lead in the Heisman Trophy conversation. Week 1 game: 41-13 vs. Wisconsin After a slow start, Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr found the weakness in Wisconsin’s defense — the middle of the field. And he and the Fighting Irish pelted it until the Badgers came unglued under the weight of trying to keep up with a Notre Dame program that was clearly punching down in weight class, even for Wisconsin. Week 1 game: 59-7 win vs. Texas State Texas is talented. Texas is capable. But is Texas mentally tough enough to defeat the AP’s No. 1 team in the country? Fortunately for us, the answer to that question is just a few days away. Week 1 game: 34-27 win vs. Boise State Oregon survived. So they get to stay here — for now. Is a Boise State team with one loss to this Oregon team a more deserving CFP invitee than an undefeated North Dakota State? Just tossing out something to think about. Now, aside from that, the Ducks owe the Broncos $1.4 million for this threat to their College Football Playoff hopes. Week 1 game: 63-3 win vs. Tennessee State No, this ain’t John Merritt’s Tennessee State, but I am impressed with any defense that can hold a college football team to 10 friggin’ rushing yards over the course of 60 minutes. That’s exactly what Kirby Smart’s Dawgs did in their opener. Week 1 game: 56-3 win vs. Ball State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith wasted no time reminding folks why he’s the best player in the sport with eight catches for 151 yards and two touchdowns — in just one half of football. Week 1 game: 52-16 win vs. North Texas These Hoosiers gave up more points to a rebuilding North Texas — at home! — than they did against No. 1 Ohio State in the Big Ten title game last season. I don’t love that, and I’m certain neither does Curt Cignetti.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Matthew Stafford had his best year as a pro last season, posting video-game numbers as he nearly led the Los Angeles Rams to a second Super Bowl appearance in his five seasons with the team. Even more impressive, Stafford did it with a balky back at 37 that forced him to miss a large portion of training camp. Now, even with the Rams as heavy Super Bowl favorites, it’s fair to wonder if Stafford can put together a repeat MVP performance in his 18th season. The Rams have already hedged against that happening by selecting their quarterback of the future, Ty Simpson, in the first round of April’s draft. And by trading for Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie, along with the return of All-Pro Aaron Donald from a two-year retirement, Los Angeles is a lot stronger on defense than it was a year ago. “I can’t sit here and think about trying to do exactly what we did last year and do it again from a personal standpoint,” Stafford told reporters in training camp. “I’m just trying to play good football and be the best quarterback for this team I can be. If I do that, I think we’ll be where we want to be.” Vegas oddsmakers must have been listening to Stafford during training camp. At 14-1 odds, Stafford has the ninth-best odds to win the award for a second year in a row. MVP Watch predicted the last two winners of the MVP Award in Stafford and Josh Allen, and both went down to the wire. This year, we’ve expanded the column to include a weekly look at the top players vying for MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Coach of the Year and Rookies of the Year. So, in the first edition of Awards Ballot, let’s predict the top five finishers for each award. Offensive Player Of The Year After forcing his way out of Philadelphia to reunite with his former head coach Mike Vrabel, there are no more excuses for Brown. He has one of the best young quarterbacks in the game throwing him the football in Drake Maye, and he should be by far the most targeted player in New England’s offense. A big year statistically should be expected from the talented, big-bodied receiver. But a question remains whether the Patriots have improved up front enough on the offensive line to protect Maye so he can get the ball downfield to Brown. It’s concerning that the 49ers are already limiting McCaffrey’s practice time due to “tightness”, and the season hasn’t even started. That speaks to the Stanford product’s lengthy injury history and how important he is for head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense. However, if McCaffrey can stay out of the training room, he’s one of the most versatile playmakers in the league. Add in playmakers like Brock Purdy, George Kittle and Mike Evans, and it’s hard for defenses to consistently contain McCaffrey. Last year’s Offensive Player of the Year had a season to remember in 2025, posting career numbers in leading a Seattle offense directed by departed offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who pushed all the right buttons for the Seahawks to win the Super Bowl. However, Kubiak’s in Las Vegas and Seattle has a new offensive coordinator in Brian Fleury, so we don’t know how the offense will look this year. Having Sam Darnold back provides some continuity, and Rashid Shaheed and Cooper Kupp offer other pass-catching options to help take some of the attention away from the Ohio State product. Nacua has attempted to eliminate the off-the-field distractions and heighten his focus on the field. It’s still yet to be determined if the league will levy any discipline for Nacua’s off-the-field transgressions. But Nacua should be properly motivated to put up numbers, with the Rams choosing to wait to open their wallet and give him a new contract that rivals the over $40 million annually received by Smith-Njigba. If Nacua can replicate what he did on the field last season, he’ll almost certainly get such a deal. He put up jaw-dropping statistics across the board, finishing second in receiving yards (1,715) and tied for sixth in receiving touchdowns (10) last season. If he stays healthy, Nacua should put up similar numbers this season. One of the most complete backs in the league, the speedy Gibbs should benefit from the diverse running game scheme new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing brings with him from Arizona. Gibbs finished with 1,223 rushing yards last season, but could push for 2,000 yards in Petzing’s scheme. Since being selected No. 12 in the 2023 draft, Gibbs is third in the NFL in scrimmage yards at 5,029. On an offense filled with dynamic playmakers led by an elite distributor of the football in Jared Goff, Gibbs is the most important chess piece. Defensive Player Of The Year The Ravens grabbed Hendrickson in free agency after rescinding the trade for Maxx Crosby. And new head coach Jesse Minter knows how to get the most out of talented edge rushers like Hendrickson from his time with the Chargers, where Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu thrived. Baltimore should be ahead in a lot of games as well, providing Hendrickson with a bounty of pass-rush opportunities. The Illinois product recently signed a new deal, making him the highest-paid defensive back in the league. Witherspoon could have been the MVP of the Super Bowl with his performance in that big game and will use that as a springboard into the regular season in a rematch with the Patriots. There’s an argument to be made that Leonard Williams is Seattle’s most impactful player defensively, but Witherspoon can make splash plays all over the field. The Texans made Anderson the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league this offseason, paying him $50 million annually. Selected third overall by Houston in the 2023 draft. Anderson won the Rookie Defensive Player of the Year that season and is one of the leaders on one of the most talented defensive groups in the NFL. A Defensive Player of the Year finalist last season, Anderson has 30 career sacks in three seasons and finished second in the league in pressures last year (87). It might be time for Anderson to finally win his first Defensive Player of the Year. The top cover corner in the league, Surtain took home Defensive Player of the Year honors two years ago and is the best defensive player returning for one of the top defenses in the league. Surtain does a great job of taking away half the field. Surtain held quarterbacks to a 15.8% completion percentage on downfield throws last season, which was the lowest mark of any defender in the league, per Next Gen Stats. Surtain gave up just three receptions for 53 yards in those situations, with six pass breakups. The Rams have had Garrett in bubble wrap heading into the team’s season opener against the San Francisco 49ers, as he has barely practiced during training camp due to knee swelling. But make no mistake, when Garrett takes the field as the reigning Defensive Player of the Year and leader of a defense that includes the return of game wrecker Aaron Donald, expect his presence to be felt. That means there’s a good chance Garrett could repeat as defensive MVP. Coach Of The Year O’Connell’s QB whisperer vibes took a big hit with first-round selection J.J. McCarthy last year and falling down the depth chart. But after Sam Darnold excelled and moved on to win a Super Bowl in Seattle, O’Connell can redeem himself with Kyler Murray. And with an aggressive defense led by Brian Flores, Murray should have his best defensive group helping him on the other side of the football since he’s been in the pros. So, the ingredients are in place for O’Connell to be a strong Coach of the Year candidate. NFL observers are expecting a quick turnaround in the Big Apple, but things could take longer than expected as Harbaugh begins to mold the roster into his tough, hard-nosed image. But the most important thing is the Giants appear to have got the quarterback right in Jaxson Dart. He’ll need playmaking receiver Malik Nabers to stay healthy. If Nabers remains healthy, Harbaugh could easily find himself in Coach of the Year contention. With Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, the Cowboys should have no problems scoring points on offense. But the hope for Schottenheimer is that the addition of new defensive coordinator Christian Parker will help jump-start the worst defense in the league last year. Watching the Cowboys at training camp, Parker added a much-needed new energy to the defensive side of the football, and that should translate to more wins for a Dallas squad that was more competitive than expected under Schottenheimer in his first season as a head coach last season. Caleb Williams and Johnson are expected to take another step in development in their second year together. Johnson expects Williams to improve his accuracy as a passer, and we’ll see if Rome Odunze can develop into a No. 1 receiver. But how well things go for the Bears will depend on how much of an improvement the defense makes under defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. If that goes to plan, then Johnson should be a Coach of the Year candidate again. Ryan’s won double-digit games and made the playoffs in all three years as head coach of the Texans, yet Ryans’ name doesn’t regularly come up in these Coach of the Year conversations. He’s developed one of the most ferocious defenses in the league, and if quarterback C.J. Stroud can keep from throwing the ball to the other team, the Texans have a chance to make some noise in the playoffs if they get there again. Offensive Rookie of the Year I believe Mendoza will play sooner rather than later with Kirk Cousins getting the starting nod to begin the season. It will be hard to keep Mendoza on the sidelines when the Raiders predictably struggle. And if given a chance to play on a regular basis, Mendoza might struggle early, but like Tyler Shough last season for the Saints, his talent will ultimately shine through. The Texas A&M product is a big play waiting to happen and should get more opportunities to produce on special teams. Concepcion is special with the ball in his hands, with his ability to make something happen after the catch and as a runner. It doesn’t matter if it’s Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders running the offense for Cleveland; look for Concepcion to lead all rookies in explosive plays. With Ricky Pearsall out for the season, Stribling gets an opportunity to seize a role as a significant contributor in Shanahan’s offense. I had a chance to watch Stribling up close during a joint practice with the Los Angeles Chargers, and his movement skills, sticky hands and running ability after the catch were impressive. He should quickly develop a good rapport with Purdy, turning into another reliable receiver for the 49ers. There’s certainly a case to be made for Love being the choice as the top offensive rookie this season. He looked elusive in the only preseason action we saw of him. But that’s also my reason for concern, as Love suffered a high ankle sprain that hasn’t allowed him to practice since. Love’s availability is in question heading into the season opener against the Bolts. Along with that, Love is part of a crowded running back room that includes veterans Tyler Allgeir and James Conner, which could limit his opportunities. Price is on the other end of the spectrum from Love, his former teammate at Notre Dame. Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency and Zach Charbonnet is still working his way back from season-ending knee surgery. So, Price will start the season as the workhorse back. And with new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury coming from San Diego, where they leaned heavily on Christian McCaffrey, expect Price to get a heavy, consistent workload as long as he stays healthy, with George Holani and Emanuel Wilson serving as change-of-pace backs. The scenario sets up nicely for Price to win this award. Defensive Rookie Of The Year The Canadian-born pass rusher has flashed speed off the edge and shown a consistent ability to get after the quarterback. While his reps may be limited with Mack and Tuipulotu as the starters, Mesidor should still get enough pass rush snaps to make an impact. I watched Downs at training camp practice and a joint practice with the Rams, and he’s an easy mover who appears to have quickly picked up new defensive coordinator Christian Parker’s Vic Fangio-based scheme. Versatility is Downs’ calling card, with an ability to play sticky coverage, tackle in space and serve as an effective blitzer. That means the expectation is the Ohio State product will fill up the stat sheet on game day. Reviews have been mixed for Styles on how he has performed during training camp and in preseason games. Still, he’s got the physical tools, smarts and family lineage to grow into a productive, every-down linebacker for the Commanders. Specifically, with his explosive athleticism, head coach Dan Quinn expects Styles to develop into an effective pass rusher as his game evolves. One of the most polished pass rushers in this year’s draft, the expectation is that Bailey will immediately produce for a much-maligned New York defense that finished No. 31 in the league with 26 sacks and without an interception last season. Just like Bailey, the expectation is for Bain to impact Tampa Bay’s defense early because he’s a polished pass rusher. I believe Bain has a chance to reach double-digit sacks playing for a team that should compete for an NFC South title with Baker Mayfield leading them. Ten or more sacks would cement Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. Most Valuable Player With a new head coach in Jesse Minter and a new offensive coordinator in Declan Doyle, Jackson is out to prove that he’s fully healthy and last year was an aberration. But can Jackson, who turns 30 in January, return to the dynamic, dangerous runner of his younger years? And if he can’t consistently put the fear in defenses with his legs, can Jackson be efficient and create enough explosive plays from the pocket to consistently move the chains? Along with Jackson, the Ravens need running back Derrick Henry to return to the fountain of youth. Offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel and Herbert are still in the honeymoon stage of their new relationship, heaping praise on each other as they build a new, dynamic offense under the watchful eyes of head coach Jim Harbaugh. And Harbaugh has been championing the big brains of both, saying the two are the smartest men he’s ever been around in football. While we like the bromance at The Bolt, at some point during the season, when the Chargers inevitably face another rash of injuries along the offensive line, McDaniel knows things will get hard. And unlike previous seasons, the Chargers appear to have an adept offensive mind in place to deal with those tough times, still putting Herbert in a place to succeed that keeps him upright. Herbert could be in line to have his best season as a pro. I expect Stafford to have a good year, with his playmakers returning from last season. But I think it will be hard to replicate the production he had last year, particularly with one of the tougher schedules in the NFL that includes starting the season in Australia against the 49ers. Specifically, the Rams had good injury health with the offensive line last year, and it will be interesting to see if that continues this season. Allen missed a prime opportunity to win a Super Bowl last season, with Joe Burrow, Patrick Mahomes and Jackson all out of the playoffs. His four-interception performance in a road loss to the Denver Broncos will go down as one of his more disappointing playoff performances of his NFL career. But with offensive coordinator Joe Brady taking over as Buffalo’s head coach, Allen has a chance to redeem himself. The problem? Burrow, Mahomes and Jackson are all healthy. While he’s targeted a Week 1 return the entire time, it’s still astonishing that Mahomes appears to be moving well only nine months after suffering a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee that required surgery. However, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid still must rely on top free-agent addition Kenneth Walker III and the return of offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy to create enough balance on offense to protect Mahomes in his return to play. Along with that, Mahomes needs Kansas City’s defense to get back to being an elite group. It will be interesting to see defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo find replacements in the secondary for departed, top-tier defensive backs Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson. And does aging defensive tackle Chris Jones still have something left in the tank? Still considered by most NFL observers as the best player in the league, Mahomes has not won the MVP Award since 2022 and is two behind Aaron Rodgers (four). I like him (and the Chiefs) to rebound from a poor performance last season to win his third MVP award.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

While hysteria crashed into disbelief across Michigan Stadium on Saturday night, as a last-ditch Hail Mary saved head coach Kyle Whittingham from an unthinkable upset in his debut, the television cameras quickly latched on quarterback Bryce Underwood — just as they’d done all evening. Hours earlier, during an ebullient pregame scene in Ann Arbor, the broadcast followed an emotional Underwood out of the tunnel and into a pregame huddle amid which he bellowed a fiery speech for his teammates. When Underwood raced toward an open spot on the field for a final prayer before kickoff, the cameras were ready and waiting to capture him pointing toward the heavens. The countdown to Michigan’s opener against Western Michigan was all Underwood, all the time. And that’s exactly how the evening ended, too. The 47-yard huck-and-prayer touchdown from Underwood to wide receiver JJ Buchanan on what proved to be the final play — a moment only made possible by a confusing and controversial review in which one mysterious second was re-added to the game clock — staved off an unthinkable upset that might have derailed Michigan’s season before it got started. Instead, the Wolverines were granted an improbable new lease on life as an air of defiance stretched across Underwood’s face and fans stormed the field. “A blessing,” Underwood said during the postgame news conference. “That’s the only way I could put it, honestly. Just another opportunity for us to believe in our guys and make a play.” Though Michigan escaped its opener with an unlikely 13-12 victory over the Broncos, plenty of questions still remain before the Wolverines’ high-profile showdown with No. 10 Oklahoma in Ann Arbor on Saturday (noon ET, FOX). Namely, how. As in, how could a team coached by Whittingham, whose discipline and leadership have been lauded for decades, put forth a performance pockmarked by so many self-inflicted wounds? How could Underwood, who spent the offseason training with well-respected private quarterbacks coach Jordan Palmer, show so many of the same inconsistencies in technique and decision-making that plagued his uneven freshman campaign? And finally, how could an offense led by vaunted offensive coordinator Jason Beck, whose Utah squad finished fourth in the country for yards per game in 2025, be outperformed by Western Michigan on the ground (132 yards to 106), on third down (eight conversions to three) and in the turnover battle (minus-3 for Michigan)? Nothing about the first 59 minutes and 59 seconds of Saturday’s game should have imbued the Wolverines with hope — let alone belief — as Underwood readied himself for the final pass. “Sick to my stomach is the way I would explain the feeling of that game,” Michigan edge rusher Dom Nichols said during the postgame news conference. “It should have never came down to that. Obviously, I’m glad we came out 1-0, but we’ve got some stuff to fix.” It’s a far cry from how the Wolverines were feeling about themselves and their long-term outlook just more than a month ago, right before the start of fall camp, when I spoke to several Michigan players by phone and face to face at Big Ten media days in Chicago. Especially on the offensive side of the ball. Back then, the wide receiving corps felt like the combination of Beck’s innovative system and some marked improvement from Underwood could elevate the offense toward college football’s upper echelon. Sophomore wideout Andrew Marsh, who has spoken openly about his goal of becoming the first Michigan pass-catcher to eclipse 1,000 yards since Jeremy Gallon in 2013, told me the new scheme is a “receiver-friendly offense and definitely an offense I’m looking forward to playing in this year.” He caught two passes for 15 yards against the Broncos and was essentially a non-factor. Buchanan, the star transfer who followed Whittingham and Beck from Utah to Michigan, told me that Underwood has “every trait you want in a QB1.” And then Underwood turned the ball over multiple times on Saturday night while completing just 11 of 21 passes for 123 yards before the Hail Mary, which — it must be said — was a spectacular throw that traveled roughly 60 yards in the air. But prior to that game-clinching moment from Underwood and Buchanan, who was arguably the Wolverines’ best player with six catches for 126 yards and the winning score, an expectant crowd of more than 110,000 at Michigan Stadium had grown disillusioned amid more than three full quarters of offensive malaise. However much hope they nurtured during an 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to open the game had long since evaporated when a field goal with 35 seconds remaining gave Western Michigan what felt like an insurmountable five-point lead. And who could blame them? An offensive line over which Whittingham had repeatedly gushed during the buildup to Saturday’s opener struggled to generate movement at the line of scrimmage. A running back tandem of Jordan Marshall and five-star freshman Savion Hiter, whom many around college football expected to offer an immediate impact, combined for just 59 yards on 16 carries. Buchanan and Marsh were the only wide receivers to catch passes for a position group that had been touted as the program’s deepest and most talented in years. “I feel like we just got to come out and dominate and be aggressive like we were in the first drive [on] every single play, you know?” Underwood said during the postgame news conference. “We can’t come down, energy can’t come down, can’t get comfortable. That’s really all.” Surely Underwood must know that Michigan’s offensive dysfunction runs far deeper than any inability to sustain motivation across four quarters, particularly when it comes to his own performance. Many of the issues Underwood experienced against the Broncos were eerily reminiscent of his shortcomings last year, which should be triggering alarm bells for Whittingham, Beck and quarterbacks coach Koy Detmer Jr. considering the caliber of opponent. Was it really just a dip in energy that prompted Underwood to make one poor decision after another, firing balls into traffic until he finished with a career-high five turnover-worthy plays on Pro Football Focus and the lowest overall grade of his run as Michigan’s starter? Was it really just a dip in energy that allowed Underwood’s ball security to lapse on a critical fourth-quarter carry that resulted in a lost fumble? Was it really just a dip in energy that caused Underwood’s mechanics to erode after an impressive opening possession in which analyst Todd Blackledge heaped praise on what he perceived to be significant improvements in footwork, rhythm and timing? And yet, while Underwood’s Hail Mary to Buchanan won’t erase the passing-game problems that preceded it, it was the kind of spectacular, pressure-packed play that could change the way an offense views itself. Underwood now has a defining moment to carry into next week, and if that final throw can inject some confidence into an offense that spent most of Saturday searching for itself, the Wolverines might have found something far more valuable than a way to escape. But whether that moment can actually become a turning point — and whether Michigan can fix the problems that made a miracle necessary in the first place — are among the questions the Wolverines must ponder between now and kickoff against Oklahoma next weekend. Because one Hail Mary, no matter how brilliant, can’t save Underwood from the CIA-level scrutiny he’s about to receive. “We have a ton of work to do,” Whittingham said during the postgame news conference when asked about his message to the team. “The degree of difficulty next week goes way up. And if we don’t play a lot better, it’s not going to be pretty.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports