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In Driver’s Eye with James Hinchcliffe, the six-time INDYCAR winner will bring you inside the mind of a racer while breaking down the nuts and bolts of the sport for fans. A round of applause, a tip of the hat, to Alex Palou and Chip Ganassi Racing on clinching the 2026 INDYCAR title last weekend in Milwaukee. They’ve now won four championships in a row and five of the last six. Truly staggering numbers in a hyper-competitive series. The big prize is out of reach for the other 24 drivers in the field, but we still have one race to go, the season finale. And it just so happens to be at one of the most famous race tracks in the world: Laguna Seca in Monterey, California. But the championship is over, you say. What’s the point, what’s the motivation, going into a race after the title has been won? Well, let me tell you. PALOU IS INDYCAR’S CHAMP, SO WHAT’S AT STAKE NOW? Palou might be the champ, but there’s still lots to race for this weekend. Let’s start immediately behind Palou, in the battle for second in the championship. Right now, Christian Lundgaard leads the three-way battle for “best of the rest” over Kyle Kirkwood and Pato O’Ward. David Malukas is technically still there — which is wildly impressive when you consider that he hasn’t won a race yet, and the other three have each won at least two — but I’d say he’s a long shot. Only four points separate Lundgaard, Kirkwood and O’Ward, meaning that P2 is up for grabs among that trio. O’Ward is coming off of back-to-back wins at Milwaukee to get himself in this conversation. Kirkwood is still flying high after that dominating performance in Washington, D.C. two weeks ago. Lundgaard has scored more points on road courses than anyone else this season. While there are no big checks and trophies for second in the championship, there are bragging rights to being the closest to Palou at the end of it all. Plus, heading into the off-season with some momentum is a huge boost for a team. And that leads us to what else is on the line at Laguna. The end of the season also means the end of an era, with Scott Dixon leaving Chip Ganassi Racing after more than 20 years that included 58 wins (of 59 total), six titles and an Indianapolis 500 victory. Dixon also has a record of 21 consecutive seasons with a win, and I know he would love nothing more than to keep the streak alive and end his tenure at CGR the same way he lived a lot of it — from Victory Lane. Will Power is extra motivated. He entered the 2026 INDYCAR season on a redemption tour after parting ways with Team Penske — where he won two series championships and an Indy 500 — at the end of 2025. He has had speed and podiums this season but has yet to get that first win with his new Andretti Global squad. And speaking of Penske, only Josef Newgarden has won a race for the Captain so far in 2026. Malukas has come record-breakingly close, and Scott Mclaughlin has been about right there too — but he also just passed the two-year mark since his last win. A W for either would go a long way to help feel like 2026 was a success. And you can’t forget Rookie of the Year. This is a title that is near and dear to me and doesn’t always get the credit it deserves. Jumping up into INDYCAR is a big step for young drivers. There is so much to learn, and you’re on the big stage, where mistakes are very public. It’s also the only title you only get one, single shot at winning. You can come back every year and try to win the series championship or the Indy 500, but you’re only a rookie once. Dennis Hauger leads Mick Schumacher and Caio Collet by a healthy margin, but all are still within range to end the weekend as the top INDYCAR rookie. It’s a huge thing for a driver to have on their mantle as you look to secure your future ride for next season. Which brings us to the final point: Some drivers are still trying to figure out where they are racing next season. Every race is essentially an audition, so every race, every lap, counts. THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE FAST: LAGUNA SECA Laguna Seca is a special place to race and a special place to win. It’s one of the most famous tracks in the world, and the 11-turn, 2.238-mile course is home to one of the most famous corners in racing: the Corkscrew. I’ll be honest, it’s not my favorite corner. This track has such a beautiful, graceful flow and rhythm, and, quite frankly, it is completely interrupted by the infamous Turn 7-8 combo! The Corkscrew is a blind entry, braking while the nose of your car is aimed at the sky. Then, as you start to arc in to the left, the track falls away — to eventually what ends up being about 10 stories by the time you reach Turn 11 — and you can’t see anything. Seriously though, nothing. There are three trees that sit off the track to the left of drivers. So the golden rule in Laguna Seca’s Corkscrew is to aim for the middle tree, and as the nose of the car falls to meet the race track, you should be roughly on the line you need! It’s a track with so much history, which is always something that makes it appealing to drivers. It’s also a place that celebrates its history, with many parts named after the greats. Andretti Hairpin, Rahal Straight. And, as of this weekend, the Zanardi Corkscrew, in honor of the late, great Italian INDYCAR champion, Alex Zanardi, who executed one of the most famous (and controversial) passes in modern racing at that very spot. 1 FOR THE ROAD Only one driver can win INDYCAR’s last race, but many can have good weekends and carry that feeling into the offseason. I mentioned earlier how momentum into the winter can be a big boost, and it’s true. Even if you’ve had a rough season, a strong final act sits with you and keeps motivation high over an offseason that can sometimes feel like it drags on forever. The driver, the team, the sponsors — everyone feels it when you leave the finale with the sweet taste of success. Conversely, a bad day can have that bitter taste fester until the season opener on the streets of St. Petersburg. You’re only as good as your last race, the saying goes. So despite the championship being settled, all 25 drivers will be looking to make sure they go into the offseason being remembered as a winner.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

In the star-studded NFL, which players will shine the brightest this season? With All-22 coaches’ tape and the stat sheet serving as my primary evaluation tools, here is my preseason All-Pro team based on track record and projections for the 2026 campaign. The reigning MVP could write a storybook ending to a Hall of Fame career by guiding a super team to another title in its home stadium. Although Stafford already accomplished this feat when the Rams won Super Bowl LVI, the future gold jacket recipient has a chance to run the table through the regular season and playoffs with a squad that is loaded with All-Pro playmakers around him. With Sean McVay carefully scripting “winners” that should produce easy scores for the veteran, Stafford could top off an unbeaten season with a collection of individual honors that reflect his work as a pinpoint passer and scoring machine. The playmaking dynamo is nearly impossible to defend out of the backfield. Robinson’s hybrid RB1/WR2 skill set will enable new coach Kevin Stefanski to get him 120-plus yards a game in multiple ways. Coming off a campaign in which he led the league with 2,298 scrimmage yards, the 5-foot-11, 215-pounder should cement his spot as the NFL’s undisputed RB1 with a spectacular season that could result in a 1,000 rushing and receiving yards apiece. As a former receiving triple crown winner, Chase is a problem for opponents who are unable to deal with his physicality, toughness and big-play potential as a “catch-and-run” specialist. The 6-foot, 205-pounder is a quasi-running back on the perimeter, breaking tackles in the open field after snagging passes on in-breaking routes. The veteran is just as dangerous downfield, wrestling “50-50 balls” away from defenders down the boundary. With Joe Burrow operating with a “Super Bowl or bust” mentality, the feisty pass-catcher should bounce back as an All-Pro in 2026. Despite a dip in production due to shoddy quarterback play, the seventh-year pro notched his sixth-straight 1,000-yard season and continued to remind defensive backs that he is nearly impossible to defend when he is on the same page as his QB1. With Kyler Murray now on board and with the arm talent to force opponents to defend the entire field, the perennial All-Pro wideout should reclaim his spot on the list of the league’s A-plus playmakers. The numbers do not lie when it comes to sheer dominance on the perimeter. Nacua has been an unstoppable force as the No. 1 option in the Rams’ passing game, showing strong hands and superb ball skills while consistently coming down with contested grabs. As Matthew Stafford’s go-to guy, the All-Pro is likely to post the third 100-catch season of his career before breaking the bank as the premier wide receiver on the open market. After watching Klint Kubiak transform Jaxon Smith-Njigba into a playmaking machine as the feature pass-catcher in his scheme, Bowers could revolutionize the tight end position with a creative play designer building an offensive plan around his mercurial talents. The 6-foot-4, 235-pound target terrorized opponents as an unstoppable force on the perimeter during his record-breaking rookie season, showing a skill set that makes him tough for safeties and linebackers to cover in space. Given Kubiak’s experience and success showcasing No. 1 options, Bowers could resume his assault on the NFL record book as the Raiders’ leading pass-catcher in an offense built to elevate playmakers. The versatile frontline blocker has earned All-Pro honors at right tackle and left tackle by unmercifully pummeling defenders into the ground with his heavy hands and violent punches. The 6-foot-5, 320-pounder is a rare find as an athletic edge blocker with an alpha dog personality that allows him to dominate using finesse or force at the point of attack. The three-time All-Pro has regained his status as a five-star player after a couple of subpar seasons by his lofty standards. Nelson is back to mashing defenders onto the turf with his nasty disposition, setting the tone for the rest of the line. With the Colts’ running game popping behind No. 56’s efforts, the veteran guard should re-emerge as a first-team All-Pro member this season. The talented technician makes life easy for Patrick Mahomes by getting the frontline into the proper checks and adjustments against challenging looks. Humphrey’s outstanding football IQ and superb communication skills, combined with flawless footwork and fundamentals, enable him to stymie explosive defenders at the line. Given the importance of keeping the Chiefs’ QB1 upright in the pocket, Humphrey’s impressive work as a “traffic cop” makes him an easy choice on this All-22 team. The small school standout has developed into one of the best in the business as a mauler at the point of attack. Meinerz bullies defenders with his strength and power, but has also developed into a high-level technician who can shadowbox with agile defenders. The combination of physical dominance and technical savvy has helped him stand out as one of the elite blockers in the game. After watching the third-year pro put on a clinic against a collection of elite defenders on both edges, the football world should prepare to see a new name atop this season’s list of star offensive linemen. Alt plays with textbook technique and an All-Pro’s temperament, controlling defenders at the point of attack on perimeter runs and drop-back passes. The 6-foot-8, 322-pounder masterfully utilizes his length. The single-season sack record holder is the centerpiece of a superteam in Los Angeles that could put the league in a choke hold in 2026. Garrett’s destructive potential as a freakishly athletic pass-rusher will make it hard for opponents to send extra blockers toward Aaron Donald to keep the three-time Defensive Player of the Year from taking over games fresh out of retirement. With Garrett seemingly on a mission to shatter the NFL’s career sack record while winning an elusive Super Bowl ring, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year could add even more hardware to the trophy case by season’s end. The fourth-year pro has quickly joined the conversation as arguably the best defensive tackle in football after dismantling interior blockers with his violent hands and superhero strength. Carter’s disruptive presence sets the table for the rest of the defense, while creating countless headaches for offensive coordinators trying to come up with plans to limit his impact at the point of attack. The twitchy defensive tackle overwhelms opponents with his quickness and explosion at the line. Murphy’s activity and aggression force interior defenders to pay close attention to his whereabouts, particularly on pivotal downs where the Seahawks are known to crank up the pressure. As an emerging standout coming off a season with seven sacks and 13 quarterback hits, the 6-foot-0, 306-pounder is ready to take his game up a notch as an All-Pro-caliber defender at the line. The relentless edge rusher is a one-man wrecking crew with a diverse collection of maneuvers that keeps offensive tackles guessing for four quarters. Anderson’s speed, quickness and burst, combined with his physicality and violence, overwhelm blockers left in isolation without a running back to help in protection. With the Texans’ defense expected to extend its dominance into 2026, the All-Pro pass-rusher should add more accolades to his résumé by season’s end. After missing most of the 2025 campaign with an injury, the ninth-year pro is ready to attack the league with a vengeance as a sideline-to-sideline playmaker again. Warner’s instincts and ball skills have generated eye-popping turnover production (10 interceptions, 17 forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries) as the featured playmaker in the Niners’ scheme. Although new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris will put his own spin on the system that has helped Warner play at a gold jacket level, the four-time All-Pro’s knack for producing big plays will keep him in the conversation as the top linebacker in the game. As one of three players with at least two sacks, two interceptions and 10 tackles for loss last season, the 2025 Defensive Rookie of the Year is a disruptive force who specializes in producing splash plays all over the field. Schwesinger’s impeccable instincts, awareness and anticipation, combined with his violent approach, could make him the new gold standard at the position by the end of 2026. The 2024 Defensive Player of the Year should bounce back from an injury-plagued season to reclaim his spot as the NFL’s CB1. Surtain’s airtight coverage and flawless technique make him a coach’s dream, and the top choice to man the island as the league’s premier cover corner. The sticky-fingered ball magnet has terrorized quarterbacks on the perimeter with 15 interceptions and 51 passes defensed over 54 career games. Stingley’s turnover obsession and takeaway prowess force opponents to think twice before targeting receivers in his area. Playing behind a ferocious front that regularly causes errant throws, the All-Pro corner has emerged as the Texans’ designated playmaker in their “see ball, get ball” scheme. The NFL’s highest-paid corner is worth every penny of his new four-year, $132 million contract as a dynamic defender with Swiss Army knife versatility on the perimeter. Witherspoon’s ability to blitz, run and cover from out wide or in the slot makes life miserable for quarterbacks and offensive playcallers. With the 6-foot-0, 185-pound DB capable of making plays in the backfield off corner blitzes and slot pressures just as well as he shuts down WR1s, Witherspoon is the ultimate weapon for Mike Macdonald to deploy from the second level. Offensive coordinators are facing sleepless nights with Jesse Minter poised to unleash the three-time All-Pro as a multidimensional playmaker near the box. Hamilton is perfectly suited for the role: a safety with linebacker size, speed and diagnostic skills, plus cornerback-like playmaking ability between the hashes. Inserting the ultra-versatile DB into a scheme that showcases his talents as a “hit, run, and cover” specialist near the line of scrimmage should help the Ravens’ defense get back to its dominating ways. The perennial Pro Bowler has emerged as the new prototype at his position: a super-sized defender who can play anywhere within the defensive triangle (strong safety, free safety, and nickel defender) based on matchups. James’ versatility and playmaking potential flourished under former defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, but the big plays should continue with the Chargers under new DC Chris O’Leary.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Indiana hasn’t lost a football game since December 2024. Next, consider this: The Hoosiers had the worst all-time record of any Power Four program in the country until the middle of the 2025 season. Even now, Indiana ranks 126th among programs that have played multiple FBS seasons, with 521 wins and 715 losses. To date, Akron — yes, Akron! — still has a better all-time winning percentage (.468) than Indiana (.424). But since the arrival of head coach Curt Cignetti, the facts on the ground in Bloomington have changed. And I refuse to ignore them. With the Hoosiers set to kick off their 2026 national title defense with a visit from North Texas on Saturday (noon ET, FOX), it’s important to revisit the reasoning why I ranked Indiana No. 1 in my Ultimate 138 College Football Rankings. 1. Curt Cignetti is still the head coach. 2. The best record in the sport over the last two seasons (27-2) belongs to Indiana. 3. The Hoosiers are the reigning national champions and the first team since 1894 to finish 16-0. Those are the reasons to believe in Indiana. The more important question is whether the Hoosiers still have the players to back it up. Transfer quarterback Josh Hoover is a big reason why the Hoosiers remain as formidable in 2026 as they were during last year’s title run. The nation’s leading returning passer has thrown for 9,629 yards in just 36 career games. With wideouts Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh catching passes, Indiana has the firepower to make another run at the top of the sport. This weekend, in front of what should be a packed house at Memorial Stadium, we’ll get a glimpse of just how good Hoover is, now playing with what Cignetti describes as his “two new best friends:” a good rushing attack and a great defense. If Indiana can run the ball and play defense this year like it did last year, Hoover isn’t likely to turn the ball over nearly as much as he did at TCU, if only because he won’t be asked to do nearly as much. There’s precedent for that in Bloomington. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana’s quarterback last season and the 2025 Heisman winner, averaged 35 pass attempts per game in his final season at Cal. That number dropped to 24 in his first season with the Hoosiers. Hoover averaged 34 attempts last year at TCU, and I expect Indiana’s offense to bring that number down, too. But that’s only if the Hoosiers can run the ball for more than 200 yards at better than five yards per carry in 2026. Against a rebuilding North Texas team, that shouldn’t be a problem. If it is, perhaps the Hoosiers really can revert to their pre-2024 ways. That would shock me. But so did Indiana becoming the best program in the sport in just two short years.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

We all have our own routines and superstitions when it comes to traveling, and that’s apparent when you look at the way the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams planned their upcoming trips to Melbourne, Australia. While Rams head coach Sean McVay’s team landed in Melbourne on Thursday morning, the day before the game set to start on Friday at 10:35 a.m. local time (8:35 p.m. ET on Thursday, Sept. 10). The Rams are only expected to spend one night in Melbourne, which is 17 hours ahead of Los Angeles, before flying home after the game. “They have a loose idea of what we’re doing, but I do still think it is appropriate in terms of the trajectory,” McVay told reporters late in training camp, when asked if he’s told players the schedule. “I want to be able to talk to them about it, but we’re leaving later than most people would probably expect.” That’s no surprise. McVay took a similar approach last year, when the Rams stayed in Baltimore for a week after his team’s victory over the Ravens in Week 6, flying to London from there for a Sunday game, a 35-7 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. In all, the Rams spent a little over 30 hours in London for what McVay referred to as a business trip. The 49ers are on the other end of the spectrum. San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan and his team traveled to Australia last Thursday and arrived last week on Friday — a week before the game — to get better acclimated to their new surroundings in Melbourne, holding practices there in the lead-up to the game. “It’s a big adjustment on the body,” Shanahan told reporters before the trip. “So, the recommendation for everybody has been to tell us when to go, and it’s made a lot of sense. And I know how our players feel also. I was a little bit on the fence. Science wasn’t, and what I was told. And our players weren’t at all. So that helped me get off the fence.” San Francisco edge rusher Keion White said he would try to sleep the entire 16-hour flight. “I don’t know if you can OD on melatonin, but I’m going to try,” White joked. So, which team will be best prepared to perform? I asked that question to Dr. Cheri Mah, a sleep expert based at Stanford University who specializes in the connections between sleep, performance, recovery and injury prevention. Mah helped establish a sleep curriculum with the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks for the past four years and worked with the Philadelphia Eagles during that team’s Super Bowl season in 2017. Most recently, Mah helped prepare new Memphis head coach Charles Huff for his team’s late kickoff in Las Vegas against UNLV, a 27-21 victory for the Tigers over the Rebels. Mah says sleep is one of the most important things for an athlete’s recovery. Athletes should view sleep as an investment, with a good night’s sleep as the start of the day. Mah said she always looks at trips and breaks them down into preflight strategies, in-flight strategies and post-flight strategies. “That’s what my biggest challenge is for the athletes and teams I work with,” Mah told me. “Making that small but powerful shift in how you invest in your sleep in what you do in the day, how your evening routine is structured and really setting up a sleep system for yourself, starting in the offseason.” Mah explained the advantages of both approaches for the two teams, considering factors such as the direction and location of travel, how long they will be there, and what they need to do to get ready for the following game. Mah has not consulted with either the Rams or 49ers for this trip. “For the Rams, the advantage of not changing the body clock — if that is what they’re trying to do by jetting in and jetting out — is their body clock when they’re playing in Australia would be at approximately 5 p.m. PT,” Mah said. “4 to 8 p.m. approximately in the afternoon/early evening is when performance is enhanced. Athletes perform physically the best during this period in the 24-hour day. So, that works to their advantage, given that game time will be right in that sweet spot. That works in the Rams’ favor from a body clock perspective. “And then, when they come back, they’re not trying to adjust to jet lag because if they jet in and jet out, they try to keep their clocks on Pacific Time, and they don’t have to spend many days trying to then try get back on Pacific Time, like the 49ers will, when they are returning and trying to get ready for the following week.” And the disadvantages for the Rams? “It’s a long flight,” Mah said. “Even though they are trying not to change body clocks and sleep, they will still experience travel fatigue. And that is a lot of travel fatigue in a very short amount of time — both going there and coming back. And then trying to be fresh enough and ready enough to play the following day. I just think that’s incredibly challenging physiologically, especially when you’re on that long flight. You’re cramped. There’s dehydration and there’s still going to be some time when the players need to sleep and take naps. “Trying to do that without any cushion between landing and playing definitely can be challenging for them.” The Rams are also traveling westward instead of eastward and across many more time zones (London is eight hours ahead of Los Angeles, while Melbourne is 17 hours ahead of Los Angeles) than London last year, which could impact their approach. Mah said the rule of thumb is that for every time zone you cross, it takes your body about a day to acclimate. Usually, on domestic flights, travelers deal with a maximum of three time zone changes, and so it will take three days to adjust if you do nothing ahead of the flight to shift your body clock, according to Mah. So, the 49ers have taken what some sleep experts would consider a more traditional approach to dealing with jet lag by traveling a week early. “There’s pros and cons to what the 49ers are doing as well, right?” Mah said. “They are trying to shift their body clock, but even in a week they’re probably not going to be completely shifted physiologically to Australia time. The benefit is they have a couple of days to train closer to game time at 10 a.m. … Aligning their practice time gives them an opportunity to synchronize it with kickoff time. “They have a couple of days to get rehydrated and better acclimated to the Australian Time Zone, get their eating habits and treatments better resynchronized, so they have a better cushion when it comes to game time.” Mah acknowledged that, culturally, things can be different for teams. In working with teams traveling to London, some teams chose to arrive just a few days before kickoff while others got there a week in advance. For some teams, being in a different country and dealing with changes like food provides a challenge for players. And players will have a say in how teams decide to proceed. “There’s no perfect solution,” Mah said. “There’s clearly advantages and disadvantages to what both teams are trying to do. But I do think being thoughtful about how they’ve chosen to do this and being mindful of sleep and the impact of travel is a huge win.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

DODGER STADIUM (Los Angeles, CA) — Before Wednesday’s game, manager Dave Roberts finally acknowledged the obvious. For much of the last couple of months, the Dodgers and Shohei Ohtani have insisted the knee and bicep issues preventing the two-way star from pitching weren’t impacting him as a hitter. But they can no longer pretend. Not after Ohtani’s 0-for-4, grimace-inducing night against St. Louis. Ohtani had been ramping back up as a pitcher in recent weeks and was expected to return to the mound for an inning last Sunday, but the soreness he felt in a bullpen session two days prior tabled that plan and paused his progression yet again. He hasn’t pitched in a game since July 3. Meanwhile, the more he labors to return as a two-way force, the more his body clearly aches and the more his offense suffers. On Aug. 14, he threw his first bullpen session in more than three weeks. Over 17 games since then, he’s hitting .194 with a .719 OPS. He is currently suffering through his longest stretch without a home run as a Dodger, a regrettable streak that reached 12 games on Wednesday night. That afternoon, before Ohtani’s first four-strikeout night of the year, I asked Roberts if he thinks pausing the two-way star’s pitching progression will help him as a hitter. “I do,” Roberts told me after a long pause to consider his answer. “I think that I certainly know the value of him pitching, but if you’re not 100%, there’s possibly some bleed-in to the performance offensively. That’s just me kind of theorizing. But yeah, it’s his decision, honestly. If he feels like he’s capable [of pitching], then we’ll run the play out until it doesn’t make any sense.” Wednesday night should be an indication that time has arrived. With Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tarik Skubal, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow all healthy, there’s no reason for the Dodgers to consider putting Ohtani back on a mound in 2026. Not while he looks like this. In his final at-bat Wednesday night, Ohtani looked to be in pain, wincing and shaking out his troublesome right arm. He took a few half-hearted hacks before being sent back to the dugout with his fourth strikeout in the 10th inning of the Dodgers’ sixth loss in their last eight games. The Dodgers are now 26-27 since the start of July. They rank 21st in OPS, 24th in slugging and 26th in home runs over that stretch. Clearly, they can’t afford a hobbled version of Ohtani at the plate. And Wednesday night, Roberts acknowledged what everyone else saw: The four-time MVP’s injuries are compromising him offensively. “Clearly, the swings aren’t who he is,” Roberts said. At this point, Ohtani’s left knee — which required an injection at the All-Star break — and right biceps have been bothering him for months, yet he still hasn’t gone on the injured list since joining the Dodgers before the 2024 season. Ohtani’s only official time away from the team was a two-game hiatus on the paternity list after the birth of his first child last season. He didn’t go on the paternity list at all after welcoming his second child, missing just one game. He does not like to sit out. At some point, though, the Dodgers have to take the decision out of his hands.  On Wednesday night, Roberts at least sounded more open to that possibility. “It won’t be an IL — unless it is,” Roberts told reporters after Ohtani’s four-strikeout day. “But it’s very unlikely.” At the least, a day or two off could be in the cards. Roberts plans to have a conversation with Ohtani and the training staff before Thursday’s game. “I know that he feels he needs to post and be in the lineup and if he’s upright he should play,” Roberts said. “I respect that. But if he’s feeling the way that he visibly looks, then [it’s] really not helping anyone.” The Dodgers continue to maintain that anything Ohtani can provide as a pitcher the rest of the way is added value. But if it comes at the expense of his abilities offensively, is it really? While there’s no hard deadline for the Dodgers to make a decision on whether they’ll shut Ohtani down as a pitcher for the season, Roberts did finally acknowledge Wednesday afternoon that it’s on the table. “We’re not quite there yet,” Roberts said. “But it’s certainly an option.” It should be the only one. At this point, given that Ohtani has now been hobbled for three months, there’s no guarantee he will look 100% like himself at the plate again this year, even if he gives up on pitching, takes a day or two off or goes on the IL for a minimal stint. But they have to do anything they can to get him closer to full strength offensively. Wednesday can’t become the norm. The Dodgers and their scuffling offense can’t afford it come October.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

When the U.S. men’s national team reconvenes on Sept. 21 to prepare for four exhibition games late this month and early next, it will probably look different from the 26-player squad that reached the round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Forward Christian Pulisic hasn’t played for AC Milan since suffering two microfractures in his right leg during the tournament co-hosts’ humiliating 4-1 knockout loss to Belgium. World Cup captain Tim Ream turns 39 next month and has likely played his last match for his country. On the first steps toward the centennial 2030 competition co-hosted mostly by Morocco, Portugal and Spain, it’s possible that freshly rehired coach Mauricio Pochettino will leave several other established Americans home when he drops his next roster on or around Sept. 17. If that’s the case, some of those regulars could be replaced by familiar names who missed the World Cup but are playing regularly and well in early 2026–27, or by youngsters who are either just beginning their international careers and/or vying for a spot on the U.S. under-23 squad that will compete at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. The USA opens its four-match slate of friendlies against Peru in Orlando on Sept. 26, the start of a rare stretch of unofficial games and, crucially, training sessions before the Concacaf Nations League returns in November and next March — and before the 2027 Gold Cup kicks off on FOX’s air next summer. Poch’s side also faces Chile (Sept. 29) before closing out the camp with games against regional rivals Mexico (Oct. 3) and Canada (Oct. 6). With the Steve Cherundolo-led U-23s idle until FIFA’s November window, Pochettino has the chance to take a first-hand look at the next generation. The Argentine’s best skill as a coach is identifying emerging talents like Alex Freeman, the now-22-year-old defender who went from uncapped prospect in mid-2025 to World Cup starter a year later. Freeman scored in the group stage win over Australia and logged the second-most minutes of any American in the tournament, behind only Weston McKennie. “It’s going to be important to provide the young kids that we really believe have the potential to arrive in 2030 in four years to start to work and start to know [what] we expect from them,” Pochettino told me and other reporters on the day his return was announced. “They need to feel if they perform, they can have the possibility to join us.” Here are some of the candidates: When Gozo scored six goals in 16 MLS appearances for Real Salt Lake this spring, Pochettino seriously considered taking the uncapped teenager to the World Cup. Palace saw enough to drop a $15 million transfer fee on the Utah native, who made his Premier League debut for the Eagles in last week’s loss to Manchester City. That makes Gozo an obvious candidate for the upcoming games — unless Poch opts to leave the youngster back in London for this camp so he can continue acclimating to his new surroundings. Sullivan has been sensational for Philly since MLS returned from its World Cup break, with four goal contributions in the Union’s last four games. The Man City prospect has also scored in two straight matches, including a beauty in last week’ 3-1 win over the New York Red Bulls. Were Sullivan to play in any of the Americans’ games this fall, he’d become the youngest player to represent the U.S. men since 16-year-old Freddy Adu in 2006. For a program in need of young center backs, the timing of Pierre’s recent emergence is perfect. Named the top defender in MLS’s developmental “Next Pro” league last season, the towering (he’s 6-foot-7) Pierre made his first team debut for Philadelphia last season, then spent the first half of 2026 on loan to Copenhagen-based Lyngby, which he helped get promoted to the Danish top flight this spring. Pierre has started seven of the Union’s nine games since returning in July and scored an astounding four goals, including last weekend against the Red Bulls. When the seven-time European champions shipped Musah to Italian rivals Atalanta on loan last season, it seemed his career with the Rossoneri was over — especially after starting just five Serie A games in 2025-26 and missing out on a World Cup trip. But Musah, who started all four games for the U.S. at Qatar 2022, returned to the San Siro and won over new manager Rúben Amorim, who has kept the American in the heart of his midfield for every minute of Milan’s first two matches this campaign. Unlike Musah, Morris came agonizingly close to making the World Cup roster following a strong 2025-26 campaign during which ‘Boro narrowly missed out on promotion to the Prem. He’s been even better to start the new season, scoring a spectacular goal in Wednesday’s 1-1 tie away to Burnley. With Ream gone and Miles Robinson turning 30 early next year, Pochettino needs new center backs. Poch gave Campbell his first cap in early 2025, when he was still playing for MLS club CF Montreal. Now 25, the Atlanta United academy product is captaining West Brom in his second season with the English Championship club. After four matches, the Baggies are tied for the final spot in the second tier’s Premier League promotion playoffs. The former Atlanta United left back will compete in the UEFA Champions League this season after he (and fellow American Samuel Adeniran, who is now injured) knocked Scottish behemoth Celtic out of the competition last month. He could be an option if either of Poch’s two World Cup left backs — Antonee “Jedi” Robinson and understudy Max Arfsten, who is still settling in with Middlesbrough — aren’t summoned. Once a left back himself, the Connecticut-born left-footer has been deployed as an attacker under Revs coach (and 2024 U.S. Olympic boss) Marko Mitrović. Miller, who turns 19 in November, has responded with four goals and four assists in 20 appearances, 14 of them starts. Though Campbell burst onto the scene two years ago by making Champions League and Bundesliga appearances for German titans Borussia Dortmund, the 5-foot-7 Texan had a disappointing 2025-26 on loan to Hoffenheim, playing in just five league games. He joined newly promoted Elversberg in July and got off to a fast start in last week’s season-opening upset of Malik Tillman’s Bayer Leverkusen, starting and scoring in the 3-2 win. Campbell has two more chances to impress before Pochettino names his squad: on Sunday at Borussia Mönchengladbach and home to Bayern Munich on Sept. 13. Although he has just one goal in 18 MLS regular season games for the Lions in 2026, Ellis is a skillful, intelligent and versatile player. He has also developed a quick partnership with onetime U.S. striker Daryl Dike and France/Atlético Madrid legend Antoine Griezmann, contributing seven assists. Pochettino started Busio in his first two games and U.S. coach but hasn’t recalled him since late 2024. But Busio is now back in Serie A for the third time with the Venice-based Winged Lions, and is both captaining the club this season. With a new cycle just beginning, has the classy Busio earned another look? The best keeper on the best team in MLS this season, Schwake’s 77.3 save percentage leads the league ahead of World Cup winner Hugo Lloris and U.S. veteran Matt Turner. Schwake conceded just 17 goals in Nashville’s 22 matches, keeping 10 clean sheets and logging every minute along the way. Before joining Nashville last year, the Illinois native played for lower league clubs in Spain and Scotland.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The question posed to quarterback Dylan Raiola, Oregon’s splashy offseason transfer from Nebraska, during the Ducks’ on-campus media day in early August was fairly simple: “When was the last time you entered a football season not the starter?” a reporter asked. “Uhhhmm,” Raiola replied, dragging out the sound and tilting his head to one side while pondering exactly how he should respond. “I don’t want to — yeah — I don’t think it’s ever happened. It’s something new, but I know change is good. And especially at a place like this, I’m more than willing to sacrifice for the greater good.” The reason Raiola has to sacrifice is because Oregon’s starting quarterback from the 2025 campaign, Dante Moore, shocked many across the college football landscape by turning down the chance to enter the NFL Draft — he was widely projected as a top-10 pick — to stay in school and chase a national championship. Moore announced his decision during a live television appearance on Jan. 14, after which head coach Dan Lanning stormed into the room and jumped on a desk in celebration. Raiola had committed to Oregon via the transfer portal two days earlier, uncertain in that moment what Moore’s final decision would be. Still, Raiola and his family were keenly aware that the scenario Oregon now faces — with Moore as the unquestioned starter entering Saturday’s opener against Boise State and Raiola poised to spend the season in a backup role — was well within the realm of possibility. Part of what made Raiola’s camp feel comfortable with that arrangement was seeing how much Moore benefited from a similar set of circumstances two years ago when he joined the Ducks after spending his freshman season at UCLA. Now, Moore is a bonafide Heisman Trophy candidate this fall and will almost certainly become a first-round pick in next spring’s NFL Draft. “I think everybody wants everything now,” Raiola said during that same interview. “You asked the question about when’s the last time I haven’t started. I processed that over the last six months that I’ve had [at Oregon], and I just think that when everything is thrown at you and you’re always in the microscope, you can kind of lose sight of the process and the journey and enjoying it. So to be able to sit back and watch and learn from a guy that does it at a high level [is awesome].” The similarities between their respective journeys run deep. Moore was a five-star prospect from Detroit who peaked as the No. 2 overall recruit in the 2023 cycle. He earned scholarship offers from seemingly every blue-blood program in the country — including one from former Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh when Moore was still in seventh grade — and originally committed to Oregon in the summer before his senior year of high school. Moore eventually decommitted from the Ducks on Dec. 19, 2022, and signed with UCLA two days later, stunning the college football world and giving then-Bruins head coach Chip Kelly a trajectory-changing quarterback. Raiola, meanwhile, spent more than a calendar year as the top overall prospect in the 2024 class before finishing at No. 21 overall and the No. 3 signal-caller behind current Ohio State starter Julian Sayin and current Baylor starter DJ Lagway. He spent chunks of his recruitment committed to Ohio State (seven months) and Georgia (seven months) before making a stunning flip to Nebraska, which is his father’s alma mater. In that moment, he became the second highest-rated high school prospect to ever sign with the Cornhuskers in the recruiting rankings era. “I challenged him,” Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule said during his signing day news conference in December 2023, “like ‘Hey, make sure you’re serious about this. I don’t want this to be something that isn’t right for you.’ And he said, ‘My life has greater purpose than just being the top recruit. I know what Nebraska means to my family, I know what it has meant to me and I’d like to come there.’ “I think in the end, to have a player of Dylan’s caliber — not of his recruiting, but of his caliber — his arm talent, his ability to see the field, but probably more than anything, his work ethic and how much he cares about the game, we obviously took that.” From the moment that both players set foot on college campuses, their respective paths toward seeing the field as true freshmen came into focus. Moore split time with fellow quarterback Ethan Garbers during UCLA’s season opener and then started five consecutive games for a team that ultimately finished 8-5 overall. Individually, though, Moore’s performance was relatively uneven: three games with multiple touchdown passes offset by three games with multiple interceptions; four games with at least 234 passing yards undercut by two games with a completion rate below 43%. He entered the transfer portal less than a week removed from the Bruins’ regular season finale. But at Oregon, where Moore spent the 2024 season learning behind first-team All-American and eventual third-round pick Dillon Gabriel, his reset doubled as a rebirth. A year to steady himself without much on-field pressure ignited Moore’s growth rate under then-offensive coordinator Will Stein, now the head coach at Kentucky. When Moore finally assumed the starting role last fall, he went on to throw for 3,565 yards with 30 touchdowns, 10 interceptions and the fourth-best completion percentage (71.8%) in the country. “It helped me out a lot being able to sit one year,” Moore told me at Big Ten Media Days in July. “You get to learn so much. All your practice reps, you get to just learn from a vet and ask all the questions you could ask. And then if the person in front of you makes mistakes, you just learn from it. It’s like you’re the little brother. It’s like the big brother goes up there and does something stupid, you learn from it and you’re like, ‘OK, I don’t do that.’ So it’s just that type of relationship that we have, and it’s huge — especially in this generation.” Raiola spent nearly two full seasons as Nebraska’s starter before suffering a broken ankle last November that effectively ended his Cornhusker career. His numbers across 22 appearances during the 2024 and 2025 campaigns — nearly 5,000 total yards with 31 touchdowns and a 69.1% completion rate — were significantly more prolific than what Moore had produced in his lone season with the Bruins. Raiola’s on-field production for two teams that reached bowl games — a legitimate achievement for a downtrodden program like Nebraska — signaled to coaches across the country that there was still plenty of talent to be molded from the rough clay. One of the primary challenges for new Oregon offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer will be coaching away Raiola’s ball-security issues in the wake of 17 interceptions and 12 fumbles over the previous two seasons combined. Thus far, Raiola believes he’s making good on his pledge to do everything he can to help the Ducks in a supporting role. He capitalized on extra walkthroughs and meetings during the summer to shore up what he described as a “shaky” spring season. He’s worked diligently to reshape his body by eating healthier and dropping weight in response to a winter full of injury rehab that limited his ability to train. He described his current physical condition as “probably the best I’ve ever felt,” while Moore said he’s noticed an uptick in Raiola’s running speed — something that delighted the protégé. But there is plenty of work still to be done. And if all goes well — if Moore stays healthy and has the Heisman Trophy-caliber season many around the country are expecting — then the majority of Raiola’s progress will happen behind closed doors while this year’s team chases a national championship. Just the way he and the Ducks planned it. “My job is to push the room, push the team and help support Dante achieve his goal,” Raiola said at Oregon’s media day. “Because I know in the long run, that’s my goal [too]. So if we can get him there, and [then] I can get myself there, it would be accomplished for sure.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Luke Fickell has a chance to flip his fortunes in Madison, Wisconsin, quicker than LSU can say, Joey Freshwater was a mistake on Saturday. Fickell — who otherwise might be looking at his fourth and final season as head coach at Wisconsin — is just one win away from having the Badgers faithful chant his name in exuberance. To do that, though, he has to beat his mentee and one of the best programs in the sport — Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman and his No. 4 Fighting Irish. Perhaps, though, Fickell has done the work necessary to expect to win at Lambeau Field. He’d have you know he’s reached the fifth stage of grief: acceptance. “I’m not naive. I don’t want to be naive. I think for a couple years, at least for a year and a half, I was pretty naive,” he told me and other reporters at Big Ten media days. Wisconsin fans might think that’s an understatement, that they’re not even playing for anything this year, but that’s because they participated in the other four stages of grief too: denial, anger, bargaining and depression. They probably agree, too. Fickell was naive. He knows he was naive to believe he could continue to coach as he had before accepting the job in Madison. He knows he was late to adapt to NIL, to the volatility of the transfer portal, to how difficult it was and will be to return Wisconsin to the top of the Big Ten again. Naive about what it takes to return Wisconsin to respectability? Perhaps. The Badgers haven’t won more than 10 games since 2019, and Fickell has overseen two losing seasons since the Big Ten extended to 18 teams. And now, the Badgers are 20.5-point underdogs against Notre Dame on Sunday in their season opener and haven’t themselves been ranked in the preseason AP or final AP poll since 2019. It’s easy to forget Fickell was one of the best coaches in the country before accepting the job at Wisconsin. He’d won 53 games in five seasons at Cincinnati and is the first head coach to lead a Group of Six team to the College Football Playoff and the only head coach in the four-team CFP era. It’s also easy to forget that Wisconsin has won 99 games in the age of the CFP and has never received an invitation to participate. Only six teams have won more games and never made the playoff, and only three of them are Power Four programs (BYU, Utah and Iowa). But, to put it kindly, Wisconsin is slipping. It’s been slipping since former Badgers coach Paul Chryst was fired in the middle of the 2022 season, and that’s, in part, due to Fickell. In July, he admitted he missed the essential meaning behind a phrase former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer used to remind coaches just how important the task of staying locked into their jobs is for their futures. “If you sleep on the game, you’ll wake up one day, and you’ll be passed by,” Fickell said. “You’ll forget what to do. I always thought that was scheme to me. Like right, you are continuing to evolve in the scheme of things. The truth of the matter is it’s not recognizing what’s going on within the landscape of things.” Fickell is an old-school ball coach. He thinks of Wisconsin football like a family business that’s been around since 1889. Not like a startup — a project led by a visionary entrepreneur with a commitment to developing a scalable business model that makes the company grow at 10 times the valuation every five years out of necessity to feed profits and the hunger of investors. On Saturday, Fickell will shake hands with and coach against Freeman, a man he helped teach to become not just head coach but also one who has never slept on the game. Freeman’s team is one of the best in the game, and that’s because, along with being a great coach, he understands the importance the transfer portal, eligibility rules and name, image and likeness play in the Fighting Irish’s pursuit of their first national championship since 1988. Given the success Freeman has had since becoming head coach in South Bend, Indiana — notably reaching the CFP national championship game in 2025 and posting a 43-12 record since taking over as head coach — it’s no surprise that Fickell has forced himself and his staff to answer difficult questions about what’s stopping the Badgers from competing on the same plane as the Notre Dame team they’ll face in Week 1. Fickell is the first to admit there are no shortcuts to success on that level. It’s a slower process than fans, his investors, would like. And Fickell knows the absence of results this season could lead to him being out as head coach at Wisconsin. His seat is hot. “There are easy ways to go about it,” Fickell said. “And I think there are people out there that do take some easy ways. You sure as hell aren’t going to do that here. Whether that means you’re on a hotter seat than you were before, I don’t know if it can get much [hotter].” It could also get cool. Fickell is a win away from rewriting his and the Badgers’ future. A win against this Notre Dame team could do just that.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Will LSU and Lane Kiffin shut out the noise and defeat Clemson? Will we see a Week 1 upset or a jaw-dropping performance that changes early perceptions of conference and national title projections? Boise State is one of the top Group of Six schools, but can it take down Oregon? Will UCLA or Cal prevail in an old-school “Pac-12 After Dark” rivalry? College football is officially back in full swing, and we’ve got some picks of the week, along with answers to those questions and more. We’re breaking down our straight-up picks for Week 1, from LSU-Clemson to Notre Dame-Wisconsin. Let’s get into it. When: Friday, 9 p.m. ET (ESPN)Where: Stanford Stadium, Stanford, CaliforniaLine: Miami -24.5 RJ Young: Miami Darian Mensah doesn’t just have Cooper Barkate to throw to any longer, but sophomore wide receiver Malachi Toney should have an even bigger role for the Hurricanes this season. Michael Cohen: Miami There’s plenty of buzz around Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, but how about Hurricanes’ dynamo Malachi Toney? He should come out flying against Stanford after catching more than 100 passes as a true freshman last season. Laken Litman: Miami Darian Mensah starts his Heisman Trophy campaign off with a rout of Stanford. Ben Portnoy: Miami Not overthinking this one. The ‘Canes start off their campaign with a West Coast rout and Darian Mensah becomes an early Heisman darling. When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC)Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, AtlantaLine: Auburn -7.5 Young: Auburn Tigers quarterback Byrum Brown threw for 3,000 yards and rushed for 1,000 yards as the starter at South Florida last season. I expect his game to translate to SEC football. Cohen: Auburn Not enough credit is given to Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown, a USF transfer who followed head coach Alex Golesh, one of the most productive signal-callers in the country. In addition to his considerable arm talent, Brown could be a 1,000-yard rusher for the second straight year. Litman: Baylor Coach Dave Aranda enters his seventh season at Baylor with a strong non-conference win behind Florida transfer quarterback DJ Lagway looking sharp. Portnoy: BaylorGive me Baylor and the beginning of the DJ Lagway reclamation project. I like Dave Aranda to cool his seat a touch with a big non-conference victory. When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS)Where: Autzen Stadium, Eugene, OregonLine: Oregon -24.5 Young: OregonA statement needs to be made. The Ducks are a top-5 team in my top 25 as well as the AP Top 25. This is their first chance to act like it. Cohen: OregonThe Ducks’ offense will always be a high-flying attraction, but that defensive line might be the best in college football. It could be a long day for Broncos’ quarterback Maddux Madsen. Litman: OregonWhile Boise State looks like a College Football Playoff contender, Dante Moore and the Ducks have more talent. Portnoy: Oregon Oregon is going to win this game, but I like Boise to stay competitive. It’s only two years ago that the Broncos took the Ducks down to the wire. It might not be that close, but it’ll be competitive. When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (ABC)Where: Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, LouisianaLine: LSU -10.5 Young: LSUThe Bayou Bengals have the better roster — possibly with former NFL players! — and Tiger Stadium at night is one of the most intimidating atmospheres in the sport. Cohen: LSU The off-field storylines surrounding Lane Kiffin will always scream louder than the action between the hashes. This weekend will be no exception given the eligibility fiasco with the Tigers. But once the ball is actually kicked, people will see just how talented LSU’s roster really is. Litman: LSULane Kiffin’s tenure at LSU begins with a bang by taking down the other Tigers at home. Portnoy: LSU LSU gets the win in the fight over who plays at the real “Death Valley,” and Clemson’s consternation over the Dabo Swinney era only grows. When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (NBC)Where: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MichiganLine: Michigan -27.5 Young: Michigan Bryce Underwood is the starting quarterback at Michigan, he is the most talented player on the field and he is why the Wolverines win this one. Cohen: Michigan All eyes will be on quarterback Bryce Underwood, but expect the Michigan rushing attack to carry the Wolverines. By season’s end, there might not be a better one-two running back punch than Jordan Marshall and five-star freshman Savion Hiter. Litman: Michigan Kyle Whittingham gets his first win on the Michigan sideline, and quarterback Bryce Underwood looks more like we thought he would when he came out of high school. Portnoy: Michigan Kyle Wittingham gets his first victory in Ann Arbor, but don’t be surprised if returning MAC Offensive Player of the Year Broc Lowry makes a few plays for the Broncos. When: Saturday, 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)Where: California Memorial Stadium, Berkeley, CaliforniaLine: UCLA -1.5 Young: UCLA Cal quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele is my sleeper pick for ACC Offensive Player of the Year. But UCLA is a more complete football roster, and new head coach Bob Chesney has shown he can do more with less. Cohen: Cal A sneaky contender for best game of Week 1 between two programs on the upswing. The Bears have won the offseason, hiring new head coach Tosh Lupoi, and will ride that momentum to a win. Litman: UCLA New coach Bob Chesney starts off with a win as quarterback Nico Iamaleava seems to finally be hitting his stride this season. Portnoy: CalI’m incredibly high on what’s happening in Berkeley, and I like the Golden Bears to be a dark-horse ACC contender. Tosh Lupoi gets braggin’ rights in Year 1 over Bob Chesney. When: Sunday, 4 p.m. ET (NBC)Where: Husky Stadium, Seattle, WashingtonLine: Washington -23.5 Young: Washington Demond Williams Jr. is the closest quarterback to Kyler Murray the sport has seen since the 2018 Heisman winner’s exit. Cohen: Washington Head coach Jedd Fisch continues to build one of the more impressive programs in the country. The Huskies are recruiting at an exceptional level from the high school ranks and have an excellent coaching staff with a proven track record of developing players into pros. Litman: Washington Despite a tumultuous offseason when Demond Williams Jr. entered the transfer portal, the quarterback returns to lead the Huskies to a season-opening win over their in-state rival. Portnoy: Washington  I’m bullish on Jedd Fisch and the Huskies. They get a nice Apple Cup victory to open the campaign and put a stormy offseason behind them. When: Sunday, 7:30 p.m. ET (NBC)Where: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WisconsinLine: Notre Dame: -20.5 Young: Notre DameThe talent deficit looks too large for Wisconsin to overcome. Cohen: Notre Dame This one could get ugly in a hurry. The Fighting Irish have one of the most talented rosters in college football and are still fueled by last year’s perceived CFP snub. Litman: Notre Dame We know coach Marcus Freeman hates to lose, and this will begin the Fighting Irish revenge tour after missing the CFP last season. Portnoy: Notre Dame Marcus Freeman’s season starts off with a bang as the Fighting Irish march toward a CFP-or-bust season. I also like quarterback CJ Carr to get his Heisman campaign started early. When: Monday, 7:30 p.m. ET (ABC)Where: Nissan Stadium, Nashville, TennesseeLine: Ole Miss -6.5 Young: Ole Miss Trinidad Chambliss’ Heisman campaign began on Sunday with his helmet featured on the Vegas sphere. This season, 4,000/1,000/40/10 is within his reach. He should lead the Rebels past Louisville. Cohen: Ole Miss Even if the Rebels struggle to regain last season’s form, quarterback Trinidad Chambliss’ veteran presence should be enough to push Ole Miss to an opening win. He’s a Heisman Trophy candidate for a reason. Litman: Louisville The Cardinals pull out an upset with new Ohio State transfer quarterback Lincoln Kienholz, giving Ole Miss and Pete Golding an early loss with Lane Kiffin and LSU looming in Week 3. Portnoy: Louisville I’m incredibly skeptical of Ole Miss returning to the form it showed under Lane Kiffin, while Jeff Brohm has been a model of consistency at his alma mater. I’m picking a big win for the ACC. When: Monday, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)Where: Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, FloridaLine: SMU -3.5 Young: SMU The Mustangs are who Florida State used to be in the ACC. Cohen: SMUThis could be the beginning of the end for Florida State head coach Mike Norvell. Shocking to think that SMU has surpassed Florida State in the college football hierarchy, but here we are. Litman: SMUThe Mustangs begin their journey to the CFP by toppling Florida State as Mike Norvell’s tenure continues to go sideways. Portnoy: SMU Kevin Jennings eases into his third year as starting quarterback in Dallas, and the red flags we saw in Week 0 prove too much for Mike Norvell’s squad.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The Yankees got most of their scoring in late. Ronald Acuña Jr. made history. Jacob Misiorowski looked off, but the Brewers’ lineup did not. Wednesday’s MLB action provided all that and much more. Here are all the best moments from last night in Major League Baseball: So much of the excitement in last night’s Yankees-Angels game came after hours. For one, the game was on the west coast, and then the scoring didn’t begin until the fourth, when New York went up 1-0. A homer by Angels’ first baseman Vaughn Grissom tied things up in the seventh, and the score stayed that way until extras. Cy Young candidate Cam Schlittler looked the part, going eight innings with nine strikeouts against two baserunners and a lone run allowed, but Los Angeles’ starter Reid Detmers was nearly as impressive, going seven frames with six hits, eight strikeouts, no walks and one run. The Yankees’ bullpen took care of business in the ninth. The Angels’ pen was also on point… until it wasn’t. Luke Murphy entered in the top of the 10th, and started his appearance by striking out rookie outfielder Spencer Jones. The right-hander then allowed a single to shortstop José Caballero and walked second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr before getting the second out. That’s when things really unraveled. Catcher Austin Wells, who had come on as a pinch-hitter earlier in the game, hit a two-run single off Murphy. Then left fielder Cody Bellinger picked up his third hit of the game, a liner to center, to make it 4-1. New York’s own center fielder, Trent Grisham, then singled to score Wells, and DH Ben Rice made it four singles in a row and a 6-1 game. Murphy was lifted, but the damage was done: New York scored five runs in a row with two outs, and while L.A. managed to get two back against new pitcher Michael Fulmer in the bottom of the inning, the Angels needed more than that to keep the game going. The Yankees climbed to 3.5 behind the Rays in the AL East — Tampa Bay fell to the Mets, 10-4 — and also picked up a game on the Red Sox in the wild-card race, since Boston lost to the Marines, 8-3. Pretty good night for the Yankees after it nearly going awry. Things did not work out as well for the Dodgers. While Los Angeles went up on the Cardinals 3-0 in the first on a Freddie Freeman homer… …and then made it 5-3 in the sixth when shortstop Mookie Betts also went yard… …even Yoshinobu Yamamoto couldn’t keep St. Louis down the whole game. Yamamoto went seven innings and pitched into the eighth, but gave up another two runs to leave with the score 5-4. Then first baseman Alec Burleson tied the game off reliever Tanner Scott in the same inning with a sac fly. The game stayed tied thanks to this fantastic play by second baseman José Fermín… …and then it was Fermín who came around to score in the 10th, on a single by shortstop Thomas Saggese. St. Louis got some insurance right after when Joshua Báez — who had entered as a pinch-hitter earlier and hit an RBI double to make it a 5-4 game — doubled in two more runs. The Dodgers scored once in the bottom of the 10th thanks to a passed ball and ground out, but Riley O’Brien shut them down otherwise and picked up his 35th save of the year. St. Louis is now .500 once more after winning the series against Los Angeles, and 3.5 back of a wild-card spot. With the Braves and Brewers both victorious on Wednesday, the Dodgers find themselves a game back — and effectively two since Atlanta has the tiebreaker — of the second Wild Card Series bye. The Brewers could have easily lost on Wednesday to the Cubs, given that ace Jacob Misiorowski did not look like one. He struck out five batters over four innings while also walking four, and was charged with five earned runs. The bullpen, though? Five scoreless frames, with just one walk and one hit marring them. That gave the offense time to do its thing. Left fielder Jackson Chourio would go 4-for-6 with two runs and an RBI — of those two knocks, one was a double and another a homer. Catcher William Contreras was a more modest 2-for-5, but his one RBI came at the right time, and gave the Brewers a lead they would not relinquish. Shout out to rookie shortstop Cooper Pratt, too, who went 2-for-4 with a walk, a run and an RBI against the Cubs on Wednesday, adding to what has already been a big series for him. The Cubs already had little chance of taking the NL Central from the Brewers with what limited time is left in 2026, but losing these last two games after the football-esque score on Monday has Chicago nine back now. Luckily for the Cubs, they have the third-best run differential in MLB, and have a cushy wild-card lead, too. Chicago lost, yeah, but check this catch by shortstop Nico Hoerner, anyway. Absolutely ridiculous. The Orioles are not in as comfortable a situation as the Cubs — Baltimore began the day 1.5 out of the AL wild-card race, and the Guardians lost, giving the O’s a chance to make up ground. That did not happen. The Rockies scored a run in the ninth to tie the game, 3-3, and then in the 11th Baltimore made it a 5-3 game. Bad news for the Orioles, but the Rockies were at home and came to bat once more. Grant Wolfram came on in relief, and allowed an RBI single to first baseman TJ Rumfield on the seventh pitch of the at-bat. Wolfram got two outs after this, but getting through the heart of the Rockies’ order wasn’t enough. Second baseman Adael Amador hit a ground-rule double to move Rumfield to third, and then catcher Brett Sullivan — brought on as a defensive replacement — got the walk-off knock. The Orioles are still 1.5 behind the Guardians, an opportunity wasted against a Rockies team trying to avoid having the worst record in MLB. Good news for Colorado on that front: this dub paired with the Angels’ loss has the Rockies with the second-to-worst record, one up on L.A. With San Diego’s series loss to the Reds, the Diamondbacks were in position to get back into the last wild-card spot despite losing their own series. Arizona is now half-a-game up thanks to defeating the Phillies and ending their six-game winning streak, and pulled it off with an eighth-inning homer from catcher James McCann. A 1-0 dub, and pulled off in a bullpen game: Taylor Clarke went just 1 ⅔ innings, and six other relievers followed him. None of them gave up a run to the Phils, so even though Andrew Painter went seven scoreless, that solo dinger was all it took for an L. Or a win, if you’re looking from the D-backs’ perspective. How many home runs would Ronald Acuña Jr. have if he hadn’t missed significant time with torn ACLs, plural? Hard to know! But what we do know is that the 28-year-old right fielder has 200 actual career long balls, after launching his 14th of the season on Wednesday against the Nationals. Acuña has 200 dingers and 225 career steals after 904 games, 25 games quicker than Alfonso Soriano managed, per MLB, making him the fastest-ever player to reach that mark. Dozens of players have had 200 steals and 200 homers, but the list gets a lot shorter fast: just 25 have even 250 or more of each, and all of eight have 300 a piece. Acuña is young enough to make progress on becoming the ninth. Or 10th, rather: Guardians’ third baseman José Ramírez is four dingers away from being ninth on that list. The Rangers aren’t in a position where they can lose very many games, not with four teams within 1.5 games of the last wild-card spot in the AL and the Twins just 3.5 behind. And not with the Astros seeming to get their footing a little better than Texas is in the AL West race. The Rangers lost to the lowly A’s on Wednesday, 9-2, and that occurred opposite an Astros’ W over the White Sox, to give Houston the series win. All the scoring came in the eighth, when left fielder Nelson Velázquez, who had come on earlier as a pinch-hitter, drove a two-run single to center to score infielders Isaac Paredes and Jose Altuve. Davis Martin, now blisterless, looked great for the White Sox in his return from the IL, going 5 ⅔ while scattering five hits. Hayden Wesneski did better than that, though, going seven scoreless with one hit and three total baserunners, and the difference ended up mattering: Sean Newcomb gave up those two runs in relief of Martin, and the Astros’ pen didn’t give up a thing to Chicago. Houston is now 71-69, two games up in the AL West, while the White Sox are further ahead than that in the Central but also lucky everyone else in the division besides the Tigers — who are nine out — lost.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports