Category: Sports Fox

The NFL’s regular-season schedule is official. And it’s a behemoth, with 18 weeks of games — not including the postseason, or the three weeks of preseason, or the Hall of Fame Game. This season will feature games on every day of the week except Tuesday. It’s football all day and all night and at basically any moment you might want it. So let’s get into the nitty-gritty of this week’s activity — with some thoughts on the schedule and other NFL happenings. This is “Sound Smart,” where I try to spin forward, dive deeper and think outside the box. If I do my job, you’ll have a better understanding of what really happened over the past week of the NFL offseason. 1. IF THERE’S ONE THING YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE SCHEDULE, IT’S THAT …. You will have ample excuses to avoid your family during the holidays. Let the record show that I’m a big fan of hanging with the family during the months when you can build a fire, enjoy a warm drink, dim the lights and do your best (but inevitably fail) to avoid discussing politics. That said, I know the holidays aren’t everyone’s favorite time of year. And the NFL seems to know that, too. Because the league has made this year’s holiday slate impossible to avoid. The NFL has replaced small talk with ball talk. I have been as vocal as anyone that the NFL is in danger of oversaturation. But the only way the league could have delivered on this type of schedule — one with a game at all times over the holiday weekends — is if those games were appointment TV. And for the most part, that’s what the NFL plans to deliver. There’s no clearer example than the decision to put the Kansas City Chiefs vs. the Buffalo Bills on Thanksgiving night. That’s the type of game that the NFL usually places into a random Week 12 slate to give it some life. The Chiefs and Bills deliver incredible drama, time after time. By scheduling it at a time when everyone would have been watching anyway, the league delivered what is often the best game of the year — and in a window that’s likely to maximize viewership. This is all to say that I’m excited to enjoy (and enjoy covering) these games during the holidays. I’d be remiss not to mention that — with the NFL tossing all its logs on the fire during these holiday games — I also can’t help but wonder whether the slower parts of the season will feel especially slow this year. The NFL decided that there’s only one way to find out. 2. MONDAY MORNING CONTROVERSY As exceptional as Patrick Mahomes is, his ACL injury could keep the Chiefs out of the playoffs. I get that folks in Kansas City are saying that the three-time Super Bowl MVP is accelerating through his timeline in his recovery from the torn ACL he suffered in mid-December. I get that Mahomes is special, physically. I get that the Chiefs signed running back Kenneth Walker III, the reigning Super Bowl MVP, to take some of the offensive burden off Mahomes. That’s why many folks see the Chiefs making the playoffs. This is all good, in theory. But historically, it’s been hard for quarterbacks to make an immediate comeback from an ACL injury. And the left side of the Chiefs’ offensive line remains a question, with youngsters Josh Simmons (tackle) and Kingsley Suamataia (guard) yet to make the developmental leap. If the line can’t make the expected leap, then that’ll negatively impact Walker and Mahomes — which is to say that, like last year, that left side of the line could tank the whole offense. For the past few years, Mahomes was the No. 1, 2 and 3 reasons to believe in the Chiefs. But there’s a real chance he can’t be the same explosive playmaker until 2027. And in that case, the offense, which was 12th-worst in scoring last season, might not take the step forward that everyone expects. That’s why I don’t anticipate that the Chiefs will make the 2026 playoffs. Not right now. That could change if they dominate their first four games. They host the Denver Broncos in Week 1, then they have three fairly easy games: home against the Indianapolis Colts and on the road against the Miami Dolphins and Las Vegas Raiders. If Mahomes can’t play in those first four weeks, then the Chiefs might be 2-2. Remember: They didn’t win a game without Mahomes last year — suffering losses to the Los Angeles Chargers, Tennessee Titans, Broncos and Raiders. The Chiefs will go into their Week 5 bye primed to make a push for the playoffs — and they’ll need to be ready, because their schedule is grueling after that early bye. I’ll admit that Mahomes has a knack for remarkable achievements, which is why I understand why people are hesitant to doubt the Chiefs’ playoff chances. But it’s not coming from a logical place. This isn’t a come-from-behind victory where Mahomes can manage the clock and eke out the four points he needs for victory. This is an injury where doctors have as much control as Mahomes does. The healing process takes time. And if he can’t make it all the way back at a speed that few have accomplished, then the Chiefs won’t have the bounce-back season that everyone seems to assume is coming. 3. WHAT EVERYONE ELSE IS AFRAID TO SAY The Saints could be an offensive juggernaut. Coach Kellen Moore and quarterback Tyler Shough kept getting better at the end of last season. After turning to the rookie Shough at midseason, the Saints didn’t exactly look like world-beaters, with a 5-4 record that included two wins against the playoff-bound Carolina Panthers — but two losses to the Atlanta Falcons. If you watched closely, however, New Orleans had a competence that I didn’t expect after its horrid first half of the season. It was clear the Saints were building something real in those final nine games. And it was also clear that Shough was winning over the building. Now, I’m not here to promise that Shough is going to be the team’s QB1 in 2027. He felt like a flier in the second round last year — almost a bridge quarterback, given his age, (lack of) upside and lengthy college experience. But I do think the Saints have set him up with every opportunity to succeed this year. And there is some increased urgency because, despite it being his second season, Shough will turn 27 in September. (He was in the same high school recruiting class as Trevor Lawrence!) Between that and Shough’s draft status as a second-rounder, the QB will have to turn things around quickly … or else. But the Saints have something impressive in place to avoid that “or else” outcome. Moore’s offense seems primed to put Shough into a point-guard role, where he can distribute to receivers Chris Olave and rookie Jordyn Tyson and tight ends Juwan Johnson and rookie Oscar Delp. The Saints signed free agent running back Travis Etienne to take over for aging veteran Alvin Kamara. New Orleans’ offensive line is solid and appears to be ascending, particularly at tackle where the Saints have two former first-rounders who went 14th or higher. There’s a lot to like, and normally, they’d be a plucky group of ruffians who enjoy an any-given-Sunday kind of season. But in the NFC South, the Saints can actually compete. The Falcons are talented but are undergoing a quarterback (Tua Tagovailoa?) and coaching change (Kevin Stefanski). The Tampa Bay Buccaneers seem to be retooling after missing the playoffs. And the Panthers are building something compelling, but they have one of the league’s hardest schedules in 2026. The Saints will be fun. And the Saints have an easy schedule. I’m on board with them making the playoffs. 4. PEELING BACK THE CURTAIN The Steelers are doing … what … to Drew Allar? After Pittsburgh’s rookie minicamp, there was serious discussion about how the Steelers are handling the former Penn State quarterback’s development. ESPN’s Brooke Pryor reported that new head coach Mike McCarthy was “uninstalling everything [Allar has] learned and they’re re-uploading” a new system, methodology and set of mechanics. It’s an overhaul. That drew flippant remarks on social media and sports talk radio. The sentiment? Allar is doomed. Maybe. But it won’t be because of the comprehensive way McCarthy is approaching the third-round pick’s development. To the contrary, the overhaul is on par with what Allar appeared to need before the draft. “We’re teaching him different than the way he’s played before. He hasn’t spent a lot of time under center,” McCarthy told reporters during rookie minicamp on May 9. “He’s a run-and-shoot guy in high school. He’s played from nine yards deep. So, there’s just a lot of newness to him.” McCarthy added about Allar “He made a very good first impression.” Allar was trending toward being a first-round pick when he ended the 2024 college season. But his 2025 season derailed his prospects, in part because the Penn State offense began to demand more of him. He couldn’t seem to handle that load. That doesn’t bode well for a guy who will have to do even more in the NFL. But it doesn’t make him hopeless. It’s, frankly, common for a player with Allar’s tools to slip into Day 2. Those types of quarterbacks only slip if they have fundamental issues with their footwork, throwing motion and decision-making. They only slip if they’re a major developmental undertaking. Look at Will Levis, Malik Willis, Drew Lock and Colin Kaepernick. Different players. Similar problems. Different careers. That’s why there’s really no reason for concern when listening to McCarthy’s take on Allar. “Everybody teaches footwork a little differently. Everybody has a system of offense and how you tie your quarterback, particularly in the pass game, to that. There’s a lot of work there [for Allar],” McCarthy said. “We’re able to adjust some fundamentals that we think will help him.” When the Steelers drafted Allar, I hoped they would do so with a vision for him playing in 2027 or 2028 — and not in 2026. Now that starting QB Aaron Rodgers has finally decided to return, that might be possible. This is exactly what Allar needs. McCarthy knows what he’s doing. The Steelers have a plan. And even though it’ll inevitably involve more Rodgers-created drama, I like the timeline of what they have. At age 42, Rodgers might be trending downward, but he can start for at least one more season. That’ll give the Steelers a solid year to see if Allar is making the necessary progress behind the scenes. And if Pittsburgh doesn’t think Allar is ready in 2027, the Steelers can either draft a quarterback in Round 1 or pursue their options in free agency. Would I have preferred they go after Malik Willis in free agency this year? Absolutely. Or Kyler Murray? Also, yes. But once those ships sailed — Willis signed with the Dolphins and Murray with the Minnesota Vikings — this plan made enough sense to pursue. And above all, the approach with Allar looks sound.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The NASCAR All-Star Race was won by one of the favorites. But how it would unfold few could predict, as Denny Hamlin triumphed to capture the $1 million prize. From a fiery crash for Ryan Preece on the opening lap to a handful of wrecks that knocked some of the potential contenders out of the race before the main segment, the first All-Star Race at Dover had its moments. “Overall, this is a typical All-Star Race when that stuff happens,” Hamlin said in his FOX interview after the race. “I just knew the game changer for us was long runs and obviously the ability to pass when we were behind someone.” Here are my takeaways: 1. Hamlin Proves Triumphant Hamlin won the All-Star Race for the second time in his career and first in 11 years. He was dominant, withstanding a challenge by Joe Gbibs Racing teammate Chase Briscoe during the final stage. He led 103 of the 350 laps, including the final 30. It won’t count in his career victory total (he has 61 points wins), but it is another testament to Hamlin’s ability. “If we’re going to a track that turns left, I expect to win every single week,” Hamlin said in his post-race news conference. “This is just very unique, especially in the era where all the cars are so similar, and I’m racing guys that have all my information. They see my setups, things like that, and I still can get it done in the end.” 2. Preece’s Scary, Short Day Preece blamed himself for the wreck on the first lap, where he and Kyle Larson had contact. The rear of Preece’s car erupted in flames, and Preece calmly got out of his car. “I’m fine,” Preece said in his FOX interview after exiting the medical center. “If it was my fault, I’m sorry. A tough way not to finish a race on Lap 1.” 3. Format Will Get Scrutiny With the All-Star Race going to Dover, the concern for track officials was that their fans were used to seeing the stars run for 400 laps. So only giving them half of that didn’t sit well. So a format was devised where the event would be 350 laps broken into segments of 75, 75 and 200 with the field reduced from 36 to 26 after the first two segments. Race winners from 2025 and 2026 and past champions were guaranteed to be in the final segment. But then Ross Chastain and Chase Elliott didn’t even make it to the final segment as they were knocked out early. “First thing is let’s give Dover their points race back, and then let’s figure out where we’re going to go, and then figure out the format,” Hamlin said. 4. Big Run For Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club driver Erik Jones finished third. And while this was an exhibition event, it was a solid day for a driver who had to race his way into the final segment. “We’ve been pretty bad at Dover the last handful of years, so I know it is a little bit of a unique deal, but a great run,” Jones said after the race, according to a Toyota release. Jones is 25th in the series standings. 4 ½. What’s Next The longest race on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule awaits as the traditional 600-mile race in Charlotte will cap the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. At least the All-Star Race got drivers ready for a long event but certainly a more straight-forward event. It is also one of the most important races because it has an additional stage. There will be four stages of 100 laps each on the 1.5-mile oval.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Speedway, Ind.) — Yes, again. Alex Palou, the defending Indianapolis 500 winner and four-time INDYCAR champion who seems to win all the big events these days in INDYCAR, captured the Indy 500 pole Sunday. No surprise there. Unless you’re Alex Palou. “Very surprised,” Palou said in his news conference after winning his second career Indy 500 pole. “We did not have the speed. Even on Fast Friday [practice two days ago], we tried and tried and tried to get more speed. It was OK.” It certainly was more than OK on Sunday when it counted most. Here are my takeaways: 1. Rosenqvist disappointment Felix Rosenqvist posted the fastest four-lap qualifying run of the day at 232.599 mph. But that came in the top-12 session that determined the six drivers who competed for the pole. Rosenqvist could only muster a four-lap average of 231.375 mph in the Fast Six round, while Palou posted a qualifying speed of 232.248 mph, followed by Alexander Rossi (231.990) and David Malukas (231.877). Rosenqvist had been fastest in early rounds in past years at Indy, and this one was just another disappointment for the Meyer Shank Racing driver. “I’ve been so close so many times so it’s kind of annoying that I am not able to do it,” Rosenqvist said told me after his run. “At least I did the run I could with what we had. There was not much more in it.” 2. Notable Qualifiers No one expected pole-winning runs from Mick Schumacher and Katherine Legge. But there were plenty of eyes on each of them in their qualifying runs. Schumacher, the former F1 driver and son of seven-time F1 champion Michael Schumacher, will start 28th in his first Indy 500 as a rookie at Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. “Overall, it’s been great,” Schumacher told me and other reporters after his laps. “It’s been step by step, and that’s what you want you really want out here. You want to build the confidence. … Unfortunately, we didn’t quite hit the [fast] window here.” Legge will start 27th as she attempts to do the Indy 500-Coke 600 double next Sunday. “The team has done a phenomenal job getting me a car that is fast and comfortable in normal conditions,” Legge told me and other reporters after getting out of her HMD Motorsports car that is being fielded as part of a partnership with A.J. Foyt Racing. “I feel we’ll have a really solid race car.” 3. Rossi Quietly Confident When Alexander Rossi talks about his victory in the 2016 Indianapolis 500, he indicates that he plans that it won’t be his only win in the race. The ECR Racing driver will start second next Sunday, and has had a quiet confidence about him all week, even though he had an engine expire earlier in the week in practice. [INDY 500 HISTORY: Counting Down The 10 Best Finishes Ever] “This year has been a little bit of failed to meet expectations in some areas and exceeded in others, but internally we’re performing at a much higher level and doing a better job than we were last year,” Rossi said in his post-qualifying news conference. 4. No crashes? INDYCAR drivers made it through four days of practice and a full qualifying day without anyone having to go to the infield medical center because of a crash. It is rare to go a full week without having at least one car significantly damaged. “This whole grid is pretty damn good, man,” Santino Ferrucci told me after he qualified fifth for the Indy 500. “You’re seeing a lot of wheeling out there.” Rossi said it certainly isn’t because the cars are less than a handful. “It’s not easier, I can promise you that,” Rossi said. “That was one of the harder qualifying days I’ve had around here.” 4 ½. What’s Next? INDYCAR teams get two hours to practice Monday and then get a final two-hour practice Friday (Carb Day) before the race Sunday. The Friday slate includes a concert and the Wienie 500. Many of the drivers who were happy with their cars in practice in race trim will be glad to back to where they have speed. Teams get extra boost for qualifying, and that seemed to upset many of the cars, including that of two-time Indy 500 winner Josef Newgarden, who will start 24th. “I could tell from the beginning of the week [qualifying would not be good],” Newgarden told me and other reporters after his laps. “You know very early at this place. Race trim will be a different conversation.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

CITI FIELD (New York) – The Mets entered the Subway Series red-hot, on the heels of sweeping the Detroit Tigers at home. Meanwhile, the Yankees slumped into the weekend having lost five of their last six games. It was a scenario that, just a few weeks ago, would have seemed preposterous. The tables had turned, and it created a buzz. During a warm and sun-splashed weekend that finally felt like summer was around the corner, fans with different New York alliances traveled to Flushing and packed out the stadium every day of the three-game series. The atmosphere was charged. The stakes felt high. The drama was waiting to unfold. In the end, it was the Mets, the team with one of the worst records in baseball, that stunned the Yankees, the club that’s built to go to the World Series again. The Mets took two out of the three games, winning the first meeting of the season between the longtime crosstown rivals. Here are my takeaways: 1. Worst Gut Punch In A Season Full Of ‘Em Out of all the comebackers that could’ve hurt the Mets, this one burned like no other. Mets right-hander Clay Holmes absorbed a 111 mph line drive off the bat of Yankees rookie slugger Spencer Jones in the fourth inning of Friday’s series opener. It bounced off Holmes’ right leg and broke his fibula. He is expected to pitch again this season, but not for a very long time. A best-case scenario includes Holmes returning to the mound sometime around August. After Friday’s game, a 4-0 loss to their crosstown rivals, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza looked devastated. Reliever-turned-starter Holmes entered his Subway Series outing representing the Mets’ most consistent and dominant arm in their rotation. He carried a 1.86 ERA into his ninth start of the year before what he termed “a freak accident” derailed his season. As long as Holmes was churning out ace-level performances every five days, the Mets liked their chances of climbing up the NL East standings. But, without him? This was the toughest gut punch in a season full of them. “It’s tough. Clay is a guy who shows up every day. He’s one of the hardest workers I’ve seen in my career,” Juan Soto said on Friday. “It’s really sad what happened to him. We’re going to support him in any kind of way that he needs us. But it just sucks.” The Mets are without Francisco Lindor (calf strain), Francisco Alvarez (torn meniscus), Jorge Polanco (Achilles), Luis Robert Jr. (lumbar spine disc herniation), and Ronny Maricio (thumb fracture) for the foreseeable future. None of those position players have a definitive timeline to return. And yet, Holmes’ injury hit the Mets clubhouse the hardest, Mendoza said. On the heels of yet another lifeless loss, it seemed like the final nail in the coffin for their playoff hopes. The best thing about hitting rock bottom? The Mets were left with a blank slate. Even though it’s brutal, the only place to go was up. The only thing left to do was start over. 2. Mets Bullpen Then Shines In An Inspiring Win After deep devastation came a reason for celebration. The Mets showed up to Citi Field on Saturday with a vengeance, refusing to let Holmes’ injury sabotage their season even if it thwarted his. The Mets lineup rallied against the Yankees pitching staff and jumped ahead for a two-run lead that the Bronx Bombers were threatening to erase in the seventh inning. The Yankees loaded the bases with nobody out, thanks in part to a dropped ball from Mets rookie right fielder Carson Benge, when Mendoza turned to his eccentric setup man in the bullpen. Entering an impossible situation, Luke Weaver somehow pulled off the unimaginable against his former team. The wiry right-hander punched out his first two batters, then induced a groundout to end the inning with no runs crossing the plate. Weaver got it all done in just 11 pitches, so the Mets asked him for more. He came back out for the eighth, this time against the top of the Yankees order, and again he faced the minimum. Weaver delivered six king-sized outs for the Mets in a difficult spot. So, of course, he smirked as he walked off the mound. In the dugout after, Soto told Weaver he’s a unicorn. “You feel like there’s a little bit of an injury bug that we’ve had, and it feels never ending sometimes, especially in the midst of what’s going on with us this year,” Weaver said on Saturday. “But it’s games like tonight where every day is an opportunity to hit the refresh button.” Closer Devin Williams, another former Yankee, picked up some of Weaver’s leftover magic when he took the mound in the ninth inning. Trailing by three runs, Yankees left fielder Cody Bellinger battled Williams but eventually whiffed on the sixth pitch of the at-bat. Williams followed up his toughest matchup by retiring his final two batters with ease, securing his sixth save of the season. After some inconsistency in their first few weeks as Mets, Weaver and Williams have bounced back so far this month. Williams has not allowed a run in his last 8.2 innings pitched (nine relief appearances). He’s given up just one hit and two walks in that stretch, while recording four saves. Weaver, too, has not allowed a run in his last 7.1 innings pitched (six relief appearances) with 11 strikeouts in that span. 3. Rodon’s Outing Was Bad News For Yankees’ Fried-less Rotation The Yankees avoided the worst when they learned on Friday that Max Fried’s elbow pain was due to a bone bruise. The left-hander won’t need surgery, and in a few weeks the team will re-evaluate whether Fried can resume throwing. In the meantime, the rest of the rotation has some very big shoes to fill. After Cam Schlitter, Fried was their best starter on the staff, helping the Yankees stay afloat until ace Gerrit Cole and southpaw Carlos Rodon returned from their respective injuries. Cole is one or two more rehab outings away from returning to the Yankees rotation for the first time since 2024. And now with Fried down for a while, there is more pressure on Rodon to perform like the 2025 version of himself, when he delivered an All-Star season and finished sixth in American League Cy Young award voting. But Rodon didn’t even make it through the fourth inning against the Mets on Saturday, which was his second start of the season since completing his rehab from left elbow surgery. He lacked command all night, eventually throwing a wild pitch that allowed the Mets to take the lead. Rodon’s erratic performance arrived at the worst time. The Yankees need him to settle in and find consistency as the No. 2 starter in the rotation now, particularly because Fried was a workhorse that saved manager Aaron Boone from having to overuse his bullpen. “I’m never going to make an excuse,” Rodon said on Saturday. “I think I should be dialed in right now. It’s frustrating.” Given what’s left of New York’s rotation — Will Warren, Ryan Weathers, Elmer Rodriguez, Schlittler, and Rodon — it’s fair to question whether this staff will be able to maintain its strong season. Yankees starters possess the second-best ERA in the AL, and it will be an uphill climb to try and keep it that way. 4. Extra-Innings Drama Returns To Subway Series After the Mets rallied for a victory on Saturday, the Subway Series finale on Sunday afternoon became an intense rubber match. The crosstown rivals were tied at 1-1 through five innings until the Bronx Bombers put up a four-run rally on Mets starter-turned-reliever Sean Manaea in the sixth inning. Boone had emptied his entire bench heading into the bottom of the ninth inning. Then he went to his closer, David Bednar, trusting him to deliver a Yankees win. They were one out away from him doing just that when Tyrone Taylor had other plans on his mind. Taylor, the Mets’ fourth outfielder, executed the swing of his life — slugging a game-tying three-run home run off Bednar to resurrect the Mets back from the dead. He tied the game at 6-6, sending it to extra innings, as Citi Field went berserk. Williams took care of the Yankees again in the top of the 10th inning, expertly stranding the ghost runner at third base before Benge walked it off for the Mets in the bottom of the frame. “Bummed out to happy,” Taylor said of his emotions at the plate on Sunday. “Hitting’s contagious.” Boone seemed to panic throughout the series finale, over-managing with pinch-hitters early and often until there was no one left to do damage when the Yankees needed it in the 10th. Taylor and the Mets, meanwhile, kept the faith. In the fifth, Taylor came off the bench as a pinch-hitter and ripped a liner that had an expected batting average of .680 to center field, where Spencer Jones made a terrific diving catch to take away an extra base hit. Again, Taylor ran into an unlucky out in the seventh inning on a lineout to left. In the dugout, his Mets teammates encouraged Taylor to keep swinging. When he finally did, he hit the ball so far that no Yankees fielder would get in his way. “I blacked out for him,” Benge said of Taylor’s at-bat on Sunday. “Hopefully we can get our at-bats going. Our arms are shoving. We’re trending in the right direction.” 4 ½. What’s Next? The Bronx Bombers’ ugly road trip has mercifully reached an end. The Yankees went 2-7 against the Brewers, Orioles and Mets — their first spell of true adversity in what has otherwise been a terrific start to the year. They go home to host the division-rival Blue Jays on Monday. The four-game series is their first meeting against Toronto since the Blue Jays eliminated the Yankees from the playoffs last October. The Mets will try to keep the good times rolling on a quick road trip that holds the best opportunity yet to change the course of their season. Beginning Monday, they face the Nationals and Marlins, also known as the two teams that are ahead of the Mets in the NL East standings. If they can stack up more wins on the road, the Mets have a chance to jump from last place to third in the division. The Yankees (28-19) and Mets (20-26) will meet again on Sept. 11 in the Bronx. Deesha Thosar covers Major League Baseball as a reporter and columnist for FOX Sports. She previously covered the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Daily News. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Long Island and now lives in Queens. Follow her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Who’s $1 million richer after Sunday’s NASCAR All-Star Race? Sunday’s All-Star race — a 400-lap exhibition event at Dover Motor Speedway’s one-mile track — didn’t disappoint, was filled with action and delivered a two-time All-Star Race winner. Let’s break down what happened at the Monster Mile after a chaotic start and long green-flag runs. The Winner Is… Denny Hamlin took the checkered flag at the Monster Mile track on Sunday, beating out Chase Briscoe by 0.887 seconds to win the exhibition race. Erik Jones, Austin Dillon and Connor Zilisch rounded out the top-5 finishers. How The Race Was Won Denny Hamlin had, by far, the most dominant car at Dover on Sunday, leading 103 laps after starting up front for both the first and final race segments. Pushing hard against Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Chase Briscoe, Hamlin passed Briscoe for the lead on Lap 322 and never relinquished it.Although it’s a NASCAR Cup Series exhibition event, this is Hamlin’s second victory of the 2026 season after he won the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway back in March. One Big Moment The NASCAR All-Star Race got off to a dangerous start on Sunday afternoon when a multi-car crash erupted on the second lap of the exhibition race. Approximately nine cars were collected in the frontstretch wreck, which caused Ryan Preece’s car to burst into flames. Preece is, thankfully, OK, but it was a scary scene. Top-10 Results 1. Denny Hamlin2. Chase Briscoe3. Erik Jones4. Austin Dillon5. Connor Zilisch6. Austin Cindric7. William Byron8. Michael McDowell9. Alex Bowman10. Brad Keselowski What’s Next? Next weekend is NASCAR’s next crown-jewel race with the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday. One of the biggest stories headed into NASCAR’s longest race is Katherine Legge, who will attempt the Memorial Day Double and try to compete in both the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. It’s a logistical challenge, and Tony Stewart remains the only driver to finish all 1,100 miles.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Alex Palou just keeps finding ways to make history, and this time he did it during qualifying. Sunday was all about the speed at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and with the fastest qualifying performance, Palou won the pole for the 2026 Indianapolis 500 and will lead the 33-car field to green next Sunday (12:30 p.m. ET on FOX). Palou is now the first defending Indy 500 champion to win the pole for the following year’s race since Hélio Castroneves did it in 2010. This is Palou’s second Indy 500 pole after also winning it in 2023. On the iconic 2.5-mile track, Palou put up a four-lap average speed of 232.248 miles per hour to win the pole, edging out Alexander Rossi and David Malukas, who will join him on the front row at the start of the Indy 500. But there was a ton of on-track action Sunday — especially after bad weather forced the Saturday session of qualifying for the Indy 500 to be postponed a day — to determine the Indy 500 starting order for The Greatest Spectacle in Racing. There were three qualifying sessions, the first of which determined the starting order for positions 13-33. Then there was the Fast 12 Shootout, followed by the Fast Six for the pole. Here’s a look at the results from Indy 500 qualifying and the race’s starting lineup with each driver’s four-lap average speed. 1. Alex Palou (232.248 mph) 2. Alexander Rossi (231.990 mph) 3. David Malukas (231.877 mph) 4. Felix Rosenqvist (231.375 mph) 5. Santino Ferrucci (230.846 mph) 6. Pato O’Ward (230.442 mph) 7. Kyffin Simpson (230.883 mph) 8. Conor Daly (230.712 mph) 9. Scott McLaughlin (230.577 mph) 10. Caio Collet (230.539 mph) 11. Scott Dixon (230.347 mph) 12. Rinus Veekay (229.585 mph) 13. Takuma Sato (230.995 mph) 14. Ed Carpenter (230.829 mph) 15. Hélio Castroneves (230.811 mph) 16. Christian Rasmussen (230.705 mph) 17. Marcus Armstrong (230.701 mph) 18. Marcus Ericsson (230.667 mph) 19. Christian Lundgaard (230.661 mph) 20. Will Power (230.279 mph) 21. Nolan Siegel (230.213 mph) 22. Louis Foster (230.212 mph) 23. Ryan Hunter-Reay (230.202 mph) 24. Josef Newgarden (230.165 mph) 25. Romain Grosjean (229.791 mph) 26. Kyle Kirkwood (229.607 mph) 27. Katherine Legge (229.456 mph) 28. Mick Schumacher (229.450 mph) 29. Jack Harvey (229.207 mph) 30. Graham Rahal (229.017 mph) 31. Dennis Hauger (228.982 mph) 32. Jacob Abel (228.169 mph) 33. Sting Ray Robb (226.572 mph)​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Aaron Rodgers’ decision for the 2026 season is in. The future Hall of Fame quarterback will sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers, ESPN reported Saturday. Rodgers’ deal will include $22 million in guaranteed money, and potentially allow him to earn up to $3 million more in incentives, according to NFL Network. Rodgers’ agreement with the Steelers will reunite him with his former head coach, Mike McCarthy, as he prepares for his 22nd season in the NFL. Rodgers, 42, had spent the offseason flirting with retirement, and was initially expected to make a decision around the NFL Draft in April, but the wait continued. Now, he reunites with McCarthy, who was his coach for 13 seasons with the Green Bay Packers, for the 2026 season. Rodgers initially signed with Pittsburgh in June of last year following his 13 seasons with the Packers. After Year 1, the veteran quarterback finished the 2025 season with an AFC North title, 3,322 passing yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Rodgers will lead a quarterback room with Mason Rudolph, Will Howard and rookie quarterback Drew Allar from Penn State. As the Steelers look to win the division for a second year in a row, some aren’t as bullish that they can do that, even with Rodgers returning. Following Thursday’s schedule release, our Ralph Vacchiano predicted that the Steelers would go 8-9 in 2026 under the presumption that Rodgers would be their quarterback. Vacchiano believes that the “Steelers’ season is riding on the old shoulders of Aaron Rodgers.” “Whoever their quarterback is will immediately have a tougher challenge if Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow can stay healthy, making the AFC North games much more of a minefield,” Vacchiano added. “The Steelers also have to go on the road to New England and Philadelphia, and even their trip to Jacksonville won’t be easy. Playing the NFC South and AFC South gives them plenty of soft spots in the schedule. But finishing first last season gave them their division’s toughest schedule. Given their fragile state, stuck between contending and rebuilding, that’s not much of a prize.” Vacchiano also had the Steelers drop to No. 25 in his most recent power rankings after Thursday’s schedule release. “Seven of their last nine games are against teams projected to win 9-11 games. Aaron Rodgers’ 42-year-old body should be aching pretty good by then,” Vacchiano wrote. Still, McCarthy had expressed a desire for Rodgers to return to Pittsburgh for a second season so he could reunite with the quarterback. “It would be a great story,” McCarthy said back in March. “I don’t know — and I would love to tell everybody about breaking news, but it’s really cool to see Aaron at [age] 42. To see a young man at 22 and all of what he’s been able to accomplish and where he’s at in his personal life and trying to make this decision. I think he’s in a really good place.” The Steelers now have their 2026 quarterback with Rodgers returning, and will look to defend their AFC North title and head back to the Playoffs in Year 1 of the McCarthy era.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

There is a strong and almost undoubted sentiment that France is not only a major contender for the FIFA 2026 World Cup title, but Les Bleus quite simply are the ones to beat. In the last two tournaments, France ended as champion (2018) and runner-up (2022) and as Didier Deschamps looks to end his remarkable managerial reign (one of only three managers to win the World Cup as player and manager) this summer, his recently announced 26-man squad is more than prepared to win the third title in its history. But he is not getting carried away. “I have ambition, and I want the players to have it too,” said Deschamps in a press conference after making the announcement. “But I don’t want us to lose our humility. I’m not going to hide and say we’re not among the teams with the potential to become world champions…but there are eight, maybe 10 teams that can say that. It’s not by shouting: ‘We’re the best, we’re the strongest.'” Here are my takeaways on France’s World Cup squad: 1. Don’t Be Surprised By Those Snubs Deschamp’s level-headedness has made him a successful head coach at the international level and despite my appreciation for his humility, no matter how he paints it, he knows his squad is terrifyingly deep. So much so that some very talented and well-known names failed to make the cut. Will it come back to haunt Deschamps or are the omissions a result of a truly, devastatingly dangerous squad that needed balance, experience and clinical ability in order to go all the way? Time will surely tell. France has such a talented player pool that the nation could have filled out two top-tier World Cup squads. Heads were definitely turned when Eduardo Camavinga and Randal Kolo Muani, two players from the 2022 squad, were left off this time. But there is nothing controversial about Deschamps’ decision to omit both of these players, regardless of their past with the national team. Camavinga was the only outfield player who didn’t start either of the team’s friendlies against Brazil and Croatia in March. His season with Real Madrid has been plagued with injuries and inconsistent performances, and you just can’t afford to have that kind of campaign and expect to make the French squad. Even more so can be said of Kolo Muani, who has only five goals to his name with Tottenham Hotspur (on loan from PSG) and only one in the Premier League, which was back in February. With the embarrassment of riches on the attacking line (even without the injured Liverpool youngster Hugo Ekitiké), Kolo Muani, if being honest with himself, probably saw this coming. They both did. 2. A Chance For Kylian Mbappé To Reset Despite the individual accomplishments with Real Madrid (leading La Liga’s goal standings once again), Kylian Mbappé has had a tumultuous second season with Los Blancos, who once again relinquished the league title to Barcelona and failed to deliver a Champions League trophy, a piece of silverware not yet won by the French captain. What’s worse, the fans are turning against him. On Thursday night, after returning from injury and coming on as a substitute in a 2-0 win against Real Oviedo, he was jeered by his own supporters. The reported friction with manager Álvaro Arbeloa (and Xabi Alonso before him) doesn’t help so this World Cup probably comes at a great time for Mbappé. It’s an opportunity to press the reset button and reclaim the status as the best attacker in the game. He will need to have a strong mindset to help France win a third World Cup title and his second. Who knows, maybe when he returns to Madrid (if?) he will have Jose Mourinho to welcome him as new coach! Whether that’s a positive or negative, I’ll leave that up to you, esteemed reader. But in terms of France, especially with so many youngsters, Deschamps will need his leader to be at the top of his game—mentally and physically. 3. N’Golo Kanté Gives Balance On A Glitzy Squad France has historically been renowned for two respected exports in the world: exquisite red wine from the Bordeaux region and N’Golo Kanté. Both get better with age. We can all marvel at the likes of Mbappé, Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé and many other attackers, but France’s success mainly depends on the defensive spine of the team – from the excellent resilient mind of Arsenal’s William Saliba to Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano, the backline will be key. But I want to acknowledge the always-reliable genius of N’Golo Kanté, who once again will be France’s most important player. Even at 35, he will be key due to his ability to read the game, offer stability and make tactical decisions during vital moments of action. Without him, France would be weaker. France is at its best when it is strong off the ball, protecting Mike Maignan’s goal and allowing the attacking line to flourish in the final third. Deschamps, a former defensive midfielder (and one of the best ever in this position) knows this too well. And I really wouldn’t worry about Kanté because just like the playwright David Mamet once wrote, “old age and treachery will always outdo youth and exuberance.” 4. Will Talent Compensate For Experience? One particular factor to remember is that there are a lot of World Cup first-timers in this squad. In total, there are 13 players who have never experienced the biggest sporting event on the global stage. The goalkeepers, for example, all three of them — Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Robin Risser (Lens) and Brice Samba (Rennes) — are new to the competition. From Chelsea’s Malo Gusto to Michael Olise (Bayern Munich) and Rayan Cherki (Manchester City), there’s obvious talent but no experience. France will most likely have the aforementioned Olise and PSG’s Désiré Doué in the starting lineup — barring any injuries — but the one I am focusing on is Maignan. He is clearly an experienced stopper with so much pedigree, but this is a big opportunity for him. We all know how important Hugo Lloris was to France throughout his career, so it’s key for the goalkeeper to live up to the moment. Maignan, who didn’t make the 2022 squad due to injury, will now take full advantage. 2026 FIFA World Cup: How To Watch The World Cup will run from June 11–July 19, 2026. Spread across three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament matches will air live across FOX (70) and FS1 (34) with every match streaming live and on-demand within both the FOX One and the FOX Sports app. A record 40 matches, more than one-third of the tournament, will air in prime time across FOX (21) and FS1 (19). The opening match on June 11 between Mexico and South Africa (3 p.m. ET) will stream for free on Tubi, as well as the USA’s opening match against Paraguay on June 12 (9 p.m. ET).​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Week 8 of the UFL season got off to a fast start Friday night, as the Orlando Storm took home their sixth straight victory, defeating the Dallas Renegades on the road. The action continued on Saturday when the Louisville Kings beat the DC Defenders in a close one, and then the Houston Gamblers upset the St. Louis Battlehawks in the last game of the day. The weekend closed with an old-school defensive grind-out game that saw Birmingham put away Columbus. Here are the results from Week 8: Birmingham Stallions 14, Columbus Aviators 3 Key players: Stallions QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson (12-for-20, 126 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception), WR Jordan Thomas (three catches, 28 yards and one touchdown), LB Tae Crowder (11 total tackles and one interception). Aviators QB Jalan McClendon (20-for-31, 150 yards and two interceptions). Game recap: The Birmingham Stallions defeated the Columbus Aviators, 14-3, in a low-scoring, defensive affair. The first quarter ended scoreless after both Thompson-Robinson and McClendon through interceptions, which disrupted ongoing drives. Aviators kicker Jonah Dalmas knocked in a 48-yard kick for the first score of the game, early in the second quarter, but Columbus wouldn’t score again. Midway through the third quarter, Thompson-Robinson and Thomas connected for a 29-yard score to give Birmingham the lead. Columbus tried to answer with a 55-yard field goal attempt, but Steven Gilmore blocked the kick and returned it for a touchdown. Crowder’s interception with 1:21 to play sealed the game. Up next: Birmingham and Columbus will face each other again on Saturday, May 23, at 3 p.m. ET in Columbus. Orlando Storm 31, Dallas Renegades 24 Key players: Storm QB Jack Plummer (24-for-36 for 238 yards, two rushing touchdowns), WR Chris Rowland (nine receptions for 91 yards); Renegades QB Austin Reed (12-for-23 for 134 yards, two touchdowns, one interception), RB Ellis Merriweather (12 carries for 75 yards) Game recap: The Orlando Storm defeated Dallas on the road 31-24 for their sixth straight victory and have officially clinched their playoff spot. Led by quarterback Jack Plummer, the storm accumulated 367 total offensive yards in the win. The first quarter started off scoreless for Orlando, missing both field goal opportunities. Dallas hit the scoreboard first with its first-quarter field goal, as well as a touchdown in the second when quarterback Austin Reed found WR Emmanuel Butler for a 3-yard touchdown. Plummer also found the end zone for a 1-yard rushing touchdown to even the score at 10-10 heading into the half. The second half was when both offenses took off. Plummer added another score on the ground to make it 17-10. Dallas answered back shortly after, when Reed found tight end Seth Green for another touchdown through the air to tie things up. But Storm RB Jashaun Corbin answered and rushed in a touchdown for Orlando to take a 24-17 lead heading into the fourth quarter. Both Orlando and Dallas exchanged a touchdown each until the final three minutes, when a pivotal interception by Dallas on fourth down sealed their loss, and took them out of playoff contention. The Storm sit perfectly in playoff position after their sixth straight victory. Up next: Orlando will host the DC Defenders for a Friday night match-up on FOX. Dallas will hit the road to face the Louisville Kings on Saturday afternoon on FOX. Louisville Kings 33, DC Defenders 30 Key players: Kings QB Chandler Rogers (11-of-20 for 143 yards, one passing touchdown); WR Isaiah Winstead (five receptions for 92 yards, one touchdown); Defenders RB Xazavian Valladay (13 carries for 107 yards, one touchdown); RB Abram Smith (eight carries for 56 yards, one touchdown) Game recap: This one was a back-and-forth bout. On the first play from scrimmage, DC quarterback Jordan Ta’amu connected with wide receiver Ty Scott for a 41-yard touchdown, but Tyler Hudson ran the ensuing kickoff back for a Louisville touchdown. The two teams would ultimately play to a 17-17 halftime tie, with the Kings getting three field goals from kicker Tanner Brown and the Defenders getting a field goal and a 21-yard rushing touchdown from Smith. Louisville opened the second half with a field goal, which DC answered with a seven-play scoring drive that was capped off by Valladay rushing for a 13-yard touchdown. Then, the Kings put together back-to-back touchdown drives: a goal-line rushing score from James Robinson and a 24-yard passing strike from Rogers to Winstead. DC got a touchdown in the closing seconds and had a chance to tie the game, but it failed a three-point conversion attempt and didn’t convert a fourth-and-12 alternative kickoff to retain possession; Louisville took a knee to end the game. Up next: Louisville will host the Dallas Renegades in a Sunday afternoon game on FOX. DC will travel to face the Orlando Storm in a Friday night showdown on FOX. Houston Gamblers 23, St. Louis Battlehawks 16 Key players: Gamblers QB Hunter Dekkers (15-for-22 for 155 yards, two touchdowns, one interception), WR Lawrence Keys III (three receptions for 60 yards, one touchdown); Battlehawks QB Luis Perez (26-for-47 for 308 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions), RB Steven McBride (eight carries for 116 yards) Game recap: The Houston Gamblers took home a massive road win, defeating the St. Louis Battlehawks 23-16. St. Louis now dropped to 5-3 on the season but still sits in good standing ahead of the playoffs. The Gamblers hit the ground running on offense, when quarterback Hunter Dekkers found WR Jontre Kirklin for a touchdown, and Kary Vincent Jr. added another with a pick-six in the first quarter. With another touchdown from WR Lawrence Keys III in the second quarter, the Gamblers went into halftime with a convincing 20-9 lead. The Battlehawks struggled through the entire first half, with their pick-six and zero touchdowns setting them back. However, their defense stepped in and made huge plays to hold the Gamblers to just a field goal for the rest of the game. Despite QB Luis Perez’s pair of interceptions, he found WR Tyler Neville for a touchdown to narrow the lead to 23-16, but it was not enough to top the Gamblers. Up next: The Battlehawks and the Gamblers will play a rematch in Week 9, with Houston hosting on Sunday, May 24 on ESPN2.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

In a darkened corner of the Miami Beach Convention Center, just a few yards removed from where he’d made a promotional appearance for AT&T, former Miami wide receiver Reggie Wayne — a program legend — gushed about the exploits of Hurricane freshman Malachi Toney, an electric wideout in his own right. “Him coming in, doing those things — not only doing it, but doing it at an elite level — man, it’s fantastic,” Wayne told me in January, two days before Toney led Miami onto the field in the national championship game against Indiana. “Whenever you get somebody like that as a freshman creating havoc like that, it does nothing but just put Miami on everybody’s minds all day and all night.” Even in a losing effort, Toney proved capable of haunting the Hoosiers to a degree most first-year players can only dream about. He caught 10 passes for 122 yards and a touchdown to put a lasting exclamation point on a campaign few college football fans will soon forget. Toney received first-team All-ACC honors and was named the conference’s Rookie of the Year after leading the entire country in receptions (109) and total touchdowns as a receiver (10), runner (1) and passer (2). Special is one of the only adequate words to describe the way Toney performed. As the 2026 season approaches, fans everywhere are wondering which newcomers might captivate college football the way Toney did, the way Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith did the year prior en route to winning the national championship. So with that, here are 10 potential impact freshmen capable of shaping the upcoming season: * Recruiting rankings and historical data courtesy of 247Sports. Height: 6-foot-4Weight: 235 poundsSchool: Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, CaliforniaRanking: No. 29 overall, No. 2 TE There were so many reasons for head coach Lincoln Riley to rejoice when Bowman gave his verbal commitment to USC on May 30, 2025, dousing even more lighter fluid on an already incandescent recruiting stretch for the Trojans. A five-star prospect and the No. 29 overall player in the country, Bowman became the poster child for Riley’s retooled approach that dedicated significantly more time and resources to in-state prospects than at any point in his tenure. Not only was Bowman a highly coveted local product who played high school football less than an hour from the LA Memorial Coliseum, but he was also representative of the mended relationship between Riley’s staff and powerhouse Mater Dei High School, a recruiting oasis for power-conference programs. Sitting second behind Notre Dame signee Ian Premer in this year’s tight end hierarchy, Bowman already has a Big Ten-ready frame that lends itself to positional versatility in Riley’s creative offense. He also enters a relatively wide-open passing attack that needs to replace four of its five leading targets from last season: WR Makai Lemon (79 catches; 1,156 yards; 11 TDs), WR Ja’Kobi Lane (49 catches; 745 yards; 4 TDs), TE Lake McRee (30 catches; 450 yards; 4 TDs) and TE Walker Lyons (20 catches, 223 yards, 2 TDs). There’s an opportunity for Bowman to earn immediate targets from veteran quarterback Jayden Maiava. Height: 6-foot-4Weight: 220 poundsSchool: St. Frances Academy in Baltimore, MarylandRanking: No. 5 overall, No. 1 edge Amid a dismal stretch of back-to-back seasons in which Maryland produced identical 4-8 overall records and unsightly 1-8 marks in conference play, an impressive run on the recruiting trail has kept head coach Mike Locksley afloat. Locksley, the former offensive coordinator at Alabama, strung together six consecutive top-40 classes from 2020-25 to inject a downtrodden program with much more high-end talent. He signed four players rated among the top 10 recruits in program history during that stretch — OLB Terrence Lewis, WR Rakim Jarrett, S Nick Cross and edge rusher Chop Robinson — while also identifying a quarterback in Taulia Tagovailoa who finished as the Big Ten’s all-time passing leader with 11,256 yards. Locksley outdid all of that last December when he secured the signature of Elee, a five-star edge rusher holding additional scholarship offers from Auburn, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Texas, USC and Notre Dame, among others. Elee instantly became the highest-rated prospect to ever sign with the Terrapins, narrowly edging former Maryland wide receiver Stefon Diggs in 2012. The expectation is that Elee should earn immediate playing time for a defense that has lost five players to the NFL Draft over the last two years and ranked 10th in the Big Ten for sacks last season. Height: 6-foot-6Weight: 321 poundsSchool: Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, CaliforniaRanking: No. 25 overall, No. 3 OT Beginning with the first recruiting class head coach Jedd Fisch put together after leaving Arizona for Washington ahead of the 2024 season, his desire to flood the trenches with bigger bodies was readily apparent. He wanted taller offensive linemen, lengthier defensive linemen and frames capable of adding significant mass on both sides of the ball. “Remember,” Fisch said at Big Ten Media Days that summer, “we’re going to always recruit guys that can play in the NFL. The NFL doesn’t like small.” Which is probably why, in the not-so-distant future, scouts and general managers alike will become quite fond of Greene, a stud offensive tackle who flipped his commitment from Oregon to Washington last spring. Greene’s frame wouldn’t look out of place in an NFL training camp, despite the fact that he’s only 18. There are sky-high expectations surrounding Greene, who is the sixth highest-rated recruit in program history — and the highest-rated offensive lineman to join the Huskies since Nathan Rhodes in 2002. He received rave reviews from teammates and coaches while working at left tackle during spring practice, the position vacated by veteran Carver Willis, a fourth-round pick in last month’s NFL Draft. Green is expected to be Washington’s opening day starter at left tackle to protect the blindside of star quarterback Demond Williams Jr., a potential Heisman Trophy contender. How close the Huskies come to reaching the College Football Playoff might hinge on Greene’s development. Height: 6-foot-4Weight: 295 poundsSchool: University Lab High School in Baton Rouge, LouisianaRanking: No. 3 overall, No. 1 ATH How important was it to preserve the commitment from this five-star defensive tackle to newly hired head coach Lane Kiffin, whose prolonged “will-he-or-won’t-he” saga regarding a possible departure from Ole Miss put the Tigers’ recruiting class in jeopardy last December? Important enough for Kiffin, who was cursed off the tarmac by frustrated Rebels’ fans, to arrange some face time with Brown hours after arriving in Baton Rouge. A picture of Kiffin and Brown, whose high school is located on the LSU campus, quickly made the rounds on social media. Brown had been verbally pledged to the Tigers since July 10, at which point Brian Kelly was still in charge, and whether he would re-open his commitment following the coaching change represented a key storyline ahead of the early signing period. Kiffin and his then-piecemeal coaching staff succeeded in convincing Brown to sign with LSU on Dec. 5, the final day of the early window, giving the Tigers a crown jewel in a recruiting class that finished 11th nationally. Though Brown checked in at No. 3 overall in the 247Sports Composite rankings, he was viewed as the top overall prospect by ESPN, giving the Tigers their first No. 1 recruit since running back Leonard Fournette in 2014. Brown, who will concentrate on playing defensive end for LSU, earned All-State and All-America honors as both an offensive and defensive linemen in high school. He also won state championships in shot put and discus as a member of the track and field team. Height: 6-foot-5Weight: 195 poundsSchool: Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, CaliforniaRanking: No. 14 overall, No. 2 WR Nearly three years have passed since Henry first committed to Ohio State, delighting the Buckeyes and then-wide receivers coach Brian Hartline with yet another wideout for the sport’s best pipeline at that position. With so much time between Henry’s initial commitment and last December’s early signing period, when he could finally put pen to paper, the recruiting efforts from Hartline and head coach Ryan Day were as much about retention and maintenance as they were initial attraction. Then, Hartline left to become the head coach at South Florida on the same day the signing window officially opened, tossing one last wrench into Henry’s recruitment. Conference rival Oregon decided to mount a late push. The Ducks did enough to give Henry pause, leading him to delay his final decision by two days and triggering consternation around Ohio State. Ultimately, though, Henry followed in the footsteps of so many blue-chip receivers in recent years and reaffirmed his commitment to the Buckeyes. He enrolled early to participate in offseason workouts and then delighted fans during the spring game by catching four passes for 96 yards and a touchdown. The departure of veteran wideout Carnell Tate, who became the program’s sixth receiver drafted in the first round since 2022, opened a clearer path toward early playing time for Henry. He and unquestioned No. 1 target Jeremiah Smith could form one of the most physically imposing receiver tandems in the country. Height: 6-foot-4Weight: 215 poundsSchool: Grimsley High School in Greensboro, North CarolinaRanking: No. 10 overall, No. 3 QB For the second time in the last four recruiting cycles, Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel landed a five-star quarterback with the requisite size and skill to contribute immediately. His first such signee was Nico Iamaleava, whose career quickly became synonymous with one of the sport’s first eye-popping NIL deals, an agreement reportedly worth $8 million. Iamaleava went on to spend two seasons with the Volunteers and led them to the College Football Playoff in 2024 before transferring to UCLA. He remains the highest-rated quarterback signee in program history. Right behind him, though, is Faizon, a budding star with scholarship offers from seemingly every blue blood in the country: Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State and Oregon, to name a few. The only quarterbacks ranked ahead of Faizon in the 2026 class were Keisean Henderson, who signed with Houston, and Jared Curtis, who signed with Vanderbilt. With Heupel declining to name a starter during spring practice, the competition between Faizon and redshirt freshman George MacIntyre is expected to continue into fall camp. MacIntyre only logged 11 snaps last season while serving as the No. 3 quarterback behind starter Joey Aguilar and backup Jake Merklinger, who transferred to UConn. Height: 5-foot-11Weight: 205 poundsSchool: Jackson High School in Jackson, AlabamaRanking: No. 15 overall, No. 2 RB Alabama produced three draft picks across the opening two rounds of this year’s NFL Draft in offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor (No. 12 overall), quarterback Ty Simpson (No. 13 overall) and wide receiver Germie Bernard (No. 47 overall), but in many ways, that collection of personnel only underscored the offensive imbalance that plagued the Crimson Tide last season. Despite running the ball 466 times — tied for 59th nationally and seventh-most in the SEC — head coach Kalen DeBoer’s team ranked 125th in rushing yards per game (104.1) and 126th in yards per carry (3.4). Running back Jam Miller, a seventh-round pick by the New England Patriots, was the only tailback to eclipse 284 yards. When Indiana limited the Crimson Tide to just 23 rushing yards in a lopsided CFP quarterfinal, the offense reached an unsightly nadir. DeBoer and his staff know they’ll need to run the ball more effectively in 2026 to avoid a third consecutive four-loss season, which hasn’t happened at Alabama since the early 1980s. Tailbacks Daniel Hill, Kevin Riley and AK Dear are all back for another year, but Crowell is the player generating plenty of early buzz. Even after reclassifying, Crowell is still the fourth-best running back recruit in program history behind Najee Harris (2017), Trent Richardson (2009) and Trey Sanders (2019). He’s expected to be an immediate contributor this fall. Height: 6-feetWeight: 210 poundsSchool: Louisa County High School in Mineral, VirginiaRanking: No. 12 overall, No. 1 RB Even though Sherrone Moore was fired after the early signing period had come and gone — he was dismissed on Dec. 10 when Michigan announced it found “credible evidence” of an inappropriate relationship with a staffer — there was still plenty of re-recruiting for the newly hired Kyle Whittingham to maneuver. Those efforts almost certainly revolved around Hiter and five-star edge rusher Carter Meadows (No. 9 overall, No. 4 edge), two ultra-high-end prospects the Wolverines pursued by mirroring the strategy that landed them former five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood during the previous cycle. Hiter drew rave reviews from teammates and coaches during spring practice, with Whittingham going so far as saying the true freshman will earn significant playing time from the outset of his career. The departure of starting tailback Justice Haynes via the transfer portal — he landed at Georgia Tech after carrying 121 times for 857 yards and 10 touchdowns before suffering a season-ending injury last fall — creates an immediate opening for Hiter in what is expected to be a run-heavy offense. Veteran Jordan Marshall, who carried 150 times for 932 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2025, including four consecutive 100-yard games from mid-October to mid-November, is expected to enter fall camp atop the depth chart to form one of the league’s best pairings at that position. Height: 6-foot-8Weight: 330 poundsSchool: Nixa High School in Nixa, MissouriRanking: No. 2 overall, No. 1 OT By the time Miami upset Ohio State in the quarterfinals of last year’s College Football Playoff, it became clear that the Hurricanes’ combination of immense size and strength along the offensive line made them legitimate national championship contenders. Right tackle Francis Mauigoa, who became a first-round pick by the New York Giants, was listed at 6-foot-6 and 315 pounds. Left tackle Markel Bell, who became a third-round pick by the Philadelphia Eagles, was listed at 6-foot-9 and 345 pounds. Together, they leaned on undersized edge rushers and defensive tackles alike until Miami had mauled its way to a title game appearance. Ordinarily, replacing such high-level offensive tackles would be a daunting task for most coaching staffs. But Miami head coach Mario Cristobal, an offensive line coach by trade, scored what was unquestionably the biggest recruiting win of his burgeoning tenure when he signed five-star tackle Jackson Cantwell, considered by many to be the best player in the country. Cantwell, who will likely start immediately at left tackle, is the highest-rated offensive line signee in program history and the second-best prospect to join Miami in the recruiting rankings era, trailing only linebacker D.J. Williams in 2000. He should play a pivotal role in protecting transfer quarterback Darian Mensah, formerly of Duke, for a program that expects to reach the playoff for a second straight season. Height: 6-foot-3Weight: 230 poundsSchool: Nashville Christian School in Nashville, TennesseeRanking: No. 4 overall, No. 2 QB Rumblings surrounding what many considered a potentially paradigm-altering flip began to swirl several days before the early signing period last December. Could SEC afterthought Vanderbilt, which had finished above .500 just once in the preceding 11 seasons and only four times this century, really convince five-star quarterback Jared Curtis to renege on a verbal commitment to national powerhouse Georgia? Those kinds of things don’t usually happen in college football, even when the player in question is being wooed by a hometown team. Which is why it was still relatively shocking when rumor became reality on Dec. 2 and Curtis, who’d been committed to Georgia for more than a year, spurned the Bulldogs in favor of Vanderbilt. He signed with the Commodores one day later. Fast-forward to the present and Curtis, the only five-star signee in program history, is squarely in contention to become a day-one starter this fall. Reports from spring practice suggest that he matched or exceeded the lofty expectations heaped onto him by fans and analysts alike, flashing an enticing combination of arm strength and athleticism that should get him on the field this fall. His primary challenger is senior Blaze Berlowitz, a former three-star prospect and New Mexico State transfer entering his third season with the Commodores. Berlowitz made six appearances in 2025 but has never started a game for Vanderbilt. It seems unlikely that he will hold off Curtis much longer.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports