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In each of their last two marches to a World Series championship, the Dodgers’ deadline needs were much more pressing and obvious than they are right now. In 2024, the Dodgers made their desire for an impact arm abundantly clear and traded for the best starter available in Detroit’s Jack Flaherty. They still ended up with a dearth of reliable starting options late in the season and leaned heavily on their bullpen — they got 22 more innings from their relievers than their starters in the postseason — on their path through October. Last year, they had the opposite problem. An injured and overworked Dodgers bullpen had thrown the most innings in baseball and ranked in the bottom 10 in ERA at the time of the deadline. That was the team’s most glaring need. But acquiring players in the middle of the season usually requires an overpay in the form of prospect capital. The Dodgers have spent exorbitantly offseason after offseason in an attempt to build a big-league roster that doesn’t need deadline reinforcements. “I do not want to buy in July,” Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman repeated before the 2025 season.  “I feel like the more times I say it out loud, the better chance it has to actually be a thing.” So the Dodgers ended up making just one move for a high-leverage relief arm at the 2025 deadline, trading for Brock Stewart from the Twins, while also adding outfield depth by acquiring Alex Call from the Nationals. The team’s deadline restraint threatened their chances to repeat. Stewart made just four appearances before joining the club’s long list of injured relief arms. The Dodgers’ bullpen issues forced them to use starting pitchers in relief throughout October and into November — the six Dodgers pitchers who appeared in Game 7 of the World Series were all starters at some point during the regular season — though they ultimately had just enough pitching to become the first back-to-back champions since the 1998-00 Yankees. This year, despite the Dodgers’ thirst for a third straight championship, Friedman might finally get his wish. WITH THE TRADE deadline less than two weeks away, they have no clear needs and the largest division lead in the sport. The Dodgers could do nothing and would still be the favorites to three-peat. Their offense ranks first in OPS, even with Kyle Tucker, Mookie Betts and Teoscar Hernández underperforming at the plate. Their pitching staff ranks in the top 10 in both rotation ERA and bullpen ERA and is expecting Edwin Díaz, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow back from injury in the second half. Of course, every contending team could use more bullpen arms. So, an approach like last year’s — some light buying on the margins, potentially even some selling to bolster an already robust farm system — seems likelier than the team completely standing pat. Remember, amid their quiet deadline last July, the Dodgers also traded big-league starter Dustin May to Boston for outfield prospects James Tibbs III and Zach Ehrhard. That prudent move is an example of how a Dodgers team that routinely picks at the end of drafts with little bonus pool money has still maintained one of the most robust farm systems in the sport. Tibbs (who also plays first base) and Ehrhard are now among the club’s top hitters at Triple-A Oklahoma City, and yet those two aren’t even among the top outfield prospects on the farm. Dodgers minor league outfielders Josue De Paula, Mike Sirota, Zyhir Hope and Eduardo Quintero all rank among the top 30 prospects in all of baseball, according to MLB.com, while Charles Davalan, who was selected 41st overall by the Dodgers last year, has an OPS over .900 over his first two minor-league seasons. With Tibbs and Ehrhard at Triple-A and De Paula, Sirota and Hope at Double-A, it won’t be long until a horde of Dodgers outfield prospects are knocking on the big-league door. But there won’t be room for all of them on a Dodgers team that has Tucker and Hernández signed through at least next season (Tucker’s four-year deal includes opt-outs after 2027 and 2028) and an All-Star in Andy Pages under team control through 2030. And right now, the Dodgers are set at virtually every position in the field. They have All-Stars in Pages (center field), Freddie Freeman (first base) and Max Muncy (third base). They just re-signed Hernández to a three-year deal before last season and gave Tucker his massive deal in the offseason. Despite Betts’ struggles at the plate, he remains an exceptional defender at shortstop and has been a much better hitter over the past couple months. Tommy Edman, who has spent most of his time at second base lately, has excelled at the plate after returning from ankle surgery. Catcher is a question mark with Will Smith’s neck issue taking longer than anyone expected to get right. So, if the Dodgers want some insurance behind Dalton Rushing, they could use some of their outfield prospects to add more catching. Or, they could also use those prospects for pitching depth at the big-league level or to supplement the farm at other positions of need. …Or, they could just throw caution to the wind and win the deadline again, as they have in the past. THIS IS STILL a front office that made deadline trades for Yu Darvish in 2017, Manny Machado in 2018 and Max Scherzer and Trea Turner in 2022. And despite Friedman’s long-stated goal not to buy in July, they have the prospects to get any deal done and had a three-peat on their mind from the moment the confetti landed on the grass at Dodger Stadium during their last championship parade. “We’re gonna be extremely driven and do everything we can to put ourselves in the best position to do it again,” Friedman said last November. There aren’t many players potentially on the block who could meaningfully shift a team’s championship odds. Tarik Skubal, of course, represents an exception, should the Tigers make him available. Maybe the uncertainty around the health of Snell’s elbow, Glasnow’s back and Shohei Ohtani’s knee will convince the Dodgers to push all in for the Tigers ace. Perhaps the Dodgers try to get him simply so the back-to-back Cy Young Award winner won’t stand in their way come October. The Dodgers don’t need anything else to win a third straight title. But if their desire for a three-peat is insatiable, they have the resources to keep pushing as far as they desire. Rowan Kavner is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. He previously covered the L.A. Dodgers, LA Clippers and Dallas Cowboys. An LSU grad, Rowan was born in California, grew up in Texas, then moved back to the West Coast in 2014. Follow him on X at @RowanKavner.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The transfer window usually dominates discussion during the summer, but that’s rarely the case in tournament years as the market is forced to take a back seat. Business never sleeps, however, and several deals have gone under the radar during the 2026 World Cup. After five-and-a-half weeks and some 104 matches, the big event is finally over, which means attention can now turn to the comings and goings at club level. In the Premier League, an extraordinary sum of money is being spent once again. We’ve seen Tottenham splurge on the likes of Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes, Elliot Anderson has swapped Nottingham Forest for Manchester City for a huge fee and Chelsea have made Morgan Rogers the most expensive British player of all time after But it’s not just the big hitters who have been splashing the cash this summer, with a number of relatively lower-profile moves going through while all eyes were on the tournament across the pond. Here, then, are 10 Premier League transfers you might have missed during the World Cup… Emersonn (Toulouse to Ipswich Town, £26.5m) Ipswich quietly broke their transfer record during the World Cup following their return to the Premier League after one season away, going big to sign young Brazilian striker Emersonn (yes, with two Ns) from Ligue 1 side Toulouse in a deal worth £26.5m ($35.5m). It certainly seems that there is some risk attached to the transfer, given the 22-year-old obviously isn’t proven in the English top-flight and his return of six goals and two assists in the league last season isn’t particularly promising. When you factor in the potential financial implications of relegation at the end of 2026-27, there is a lot of pressure for this move to work out. Joao Gomes (Wolves to Aston Villa, £38m) Not strictly a transfer that happened during the World Cup, with the switch announced the day after the final, but Aston Villa certainly put this deal in place while the tournament was still ongoing. The Midlands club moved quickly to sign a replacement forYouri Tielemanss, who only joinedManchester Unitedd a week ago, The £38m ($51m) fee looks a little steep, but Gomes is a Brazil international and Premier League-proven from his time at Molineux. A neat and tidy midfielder who loves to bite into tackles, he isn’t a like-for-like replacement for the more attack-minded Tielemans, but Unai Emery will hope that, at 25, the new man can develop his game further at Villa Park in a more free-flowing team. He follows Illan Meslier (Leeds United to Arsenal, free) Arsenal have a new back-up goalkeeper in their ranks after Whether he is second or third-choice behindDavid Rayaa remains to be seen, amid uncertainty surroundingKepa Arrizabalaga’ss future in north London. It has been reported that Arsenal will not stand in the 31-year-old ex-Chelsea ‘keeper’s way if an approach is made. Oscar Mingueza (Celta Vigo to Crystal Palace, free) While the rest of the footballing world was focused on events in North America, Crystal Palace might have pulled off one of the most shrewd moves of the transfer window by bringing in Oscar Mingueza, who was Honed in Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, Mingueza has been a standout performer in La Liga over the past 18 months, and was even linked with the likes of Arsenal and Juventus before landing in south London. Although he missed out on a place in Spain’s World Cup-winning squad, the 27-year-old is a full international who brings versatility and experience. This looks like a very smart piece of business. Marco Palestra to Chelsea (Atalanta to Chelsea, £47m) The first signing of the Xabi Alonso era at Chelsea is A marauding, versatile full-back who was named Serie A Defender of the Year off the back off an impressive season on loan at Cagliari, the 21-year-old arrived at Stamford Bridge for a cool £47m ($62m). Alonso is reported to have signed off on the transfer, with the young defender seemingly perfectly suited to the Spanish tactician’s preferred back-three or back-four systems, given he can operate on either flank as a wing-back or full-back. Alvaro Rodriguez (Elche to Bournemouth, £26m) Bournemouth have forged a reputation for unearthing young gems in the transfer market, and they will hope they have pulled off another shrewd move by bringing in Elche striker AlvarRodriguezez. The 22-year-old Uruguayan, who came through Real Madrid’s academy, impressed last season despite Elche flirting with relegation. Rodriguez provided 12 goal contributions in La Liga, and Bournemouth have taken a leap of faith by investing a significant £26m ($34m) fee in his services. The hope will be that he can translate that form to the Premier League as he continues to develop, and he may well be a replacement for 20-year-old sensation Eli Junior Kroupi, who is attracting attention from the so-called ‘big six’. Bazoumana Toure (Hoffenheim to Newcastle, £43m) In terms of statement, big-name signings, Newcastle’s transfer window once again hasn’t exactly gone to plan. The Magpies have been pipped to a number of key targets for the second successive summer after their nightmare in 2025, includinVictor Munozoz, who joineLiverpoolol, and the aforementioned Manzambi, who has signed for Aston Villa. The Tynesiders have, however, gone about adding a number of highly-rated youngsters to their squad, with the most significant outlay going on Toure was swiftly followed into St James’ Park by 18-year-old Ajax midfieldeSean Steurur, who cost £23m ($31m) himself. Callum Wilson (West Ham to Brentford, free) West Ham might have been relegated, but veteran striker Callum Wilson won’t be going down with them after jumping ship at the end of his one-year contract and swapping east London for west by joining Brentford on another short-term deal. He follows the arrival oJaidon Anthonyny in what looks like a bargain £20m ($27m) move from relegated Burnley. Wilson is likely to play second fiddle tIgor Thiagogo at the Gtech Stadium after the Brazilian’s prolific 2025-26 campaign, which earned him a World Cup call-up for Brazil, and the England international has set his sights on reaching 100 Premier League goals. He currently sits on 95. Harry Wilson (Fulham to Leeds United, free transfer) Could this prove to be one of the Premier League signings of the summer?! Top-flight clubs were queuing up to sign Harry Wilson following the expiry of his contract with Fulham and a sublime individual season that yielded 11 goals and a further eight assists in all competitions, with the former Liverpool man belatedly discovering the form of his life at the age of 29. Quite unexpectedly, it was Leeds who won the fierce battle for Wilson’s signature as a free agent. Announcing the Welshman’s arrival, the Yorkshire club said the attacker had chosen them over “several offers from elsewhere”, a list that may well include Aston Villa, who were strongly linked earlier this summer and have qualified for the Champions League once again. The Whites then stole a march on their rivals again to land Bosnian centre-back Tarik Muharemovic from Sassuolo after his impressive World Cup displays. Zadok Yohanna (AIK to Brighton, £26m) You’d be forgiven for not having heard of Zadok Yohanna (neither had we, to be honest!), but he might just be the latest in a series of brilliant pieces of business by the masterminds behind Brighton’s endlessly profitable model. The Nigerian winger didn’t come as cheap as some of the club’s biggest success stories, but that is probably because he has a very high ceiling. Yohanna was signed from Stockholm-based AIK earlier this summer for a cool £26m ($34m), but don’t be surprised if he’s sold for a significant profit in the next few years. The 19-year-old had already clocked up nine goal involvements in just 12 appearances in Sweden’s 2026 season (which runs from April to November) before linking up with the Seagulls, who had otherwise been focused on reinforcing their backline with LeedsPascal Struijkjk and Tottenham prospecLuka Vuskovicic.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

This is an especially fun time to talk quarterbacks. We have yet to see teams take a single snap in training camp — let alone in a padded practice. And this year, there’s no real consensus on which QBs are among the elite. There’s even less consensus around the quarterbacks ranked from No. 9 to No. 19. The beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But that’s what makes the ranking — and ensuing conversation — so compelling. Patrick Mahomes no longer lays claim as king of the NFL … or does he? Josh Allen is obviously the best QB on the planet right now … or is he? And Drake Maye has established himself as the best QB from the vaunted 2024 NFL Draft class … or, wait, did Caleb Williams? … Or then again, is that still Jayden Daniels? Now that I think about it, don’t count out Bo Nix! There’s a lot to consider. For now, this ranking is an early look forward to Week 1. Who will be ready? Which QBs have been set up to succeed? And which QBs have a track record of success despite their surroundings? With those questions held at the fore, let’s rank the NFL QB1s as of today. Previous: QB Stock Market: One Burning Question for Every 2026 Starter If the quarterback competition between Shedeur Sanders and Watson is close — as it appears to be — will the Browns go with the beleaguered young guy who could be their future? Or will they favor the embattled veteran in a last-ditch effort to get some return on their investment (from the hundreds of millions of dollars and the traded draft picks)? I’m genuinely not sure. The sensible decision is to go with Sanders. The Browns could see what the second-year QB can do with first-team reps. They might as well see how Sanders fares alongside their first three draft picks from this past spring: offensive tackle Spencer Fano and wideouts KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston, each of whom went in the top 40. But the longer this QB competition carries on, the more I begin to wonder if the organization is deadset on recouping some value from Watson amid what is universally considered the worst NFL trade of all time. And so maybe they’ll let him spin it. To further complicate matters, a deep 2027 QB class looms over this decision. For all the stress and scrutiny that’ll go into Watson versus Shedeur, the most likely outcome is that the Browns will select a QB in the top five picks of next year’s draft. And in that sense, it’s fair to wonder if any of the Browns’ current QBs will get a serious shake. There’s still so much to like about Mayfield, who is accurate, smart and a die-hard, dedicated winner. Maybe he’s a system quarterback, but he has staying power (and versatility to operate in multiple systems) because of his situational awareness and risk management. I think back, for example, to his performance in Week 5 oflast year when the Bucs didn’t need Mike Evans — who is now with San Francisco — to beat the Seattle Seahawks, 38-35. Then look at the next week, when Mayfield and the Bucs lit up the 49ers without Evans or Chris Godwin. There’s still reason for optimism surrounding the Bucs. But optimism can’t stray into delusion. Mayfield is playing on an expiring deal in an offense that’s on its fourth offensive coordinator in the QB’s four years with the Bucs. They don’t have an obvious replacement for Evans, and so without their downfield threat, their passing game could grow condensed, with an emphasis on the quick game. Can Mayfield win sustainably with that identity? If he doesn’t, will the Bucs begin to think about the 2027 NFL Draft class. It’s a pressurized situation in Tampa. The Bears appear to plan as carefully as any team in the NFL. That’s why coach Ben Johnson came at such a premium price. And his skills include quarterback development and optimization. So it’s hard not to trust Johnson’s plan for Caleb Williams, which the coach relayed to me at owners’ meetings. It starts with lifting the completion percentage and addressing accuracy and decision-making for Williams (and drops from his receivers). And while it won’t end there, that should make a sizable difference in staving off regression from a Bears team that seemingly did nothing but win close games — often despite playing from behind. Williams will have to steady his game, preserving the magic that has made him special in the fourth quarters of games — while excising the inexplicable misses and perhaps even limiting the moments when he tries to do too much. But with Williams’ talent and Johnson’s coaching, it’s hard to imagine the third-year QB going anywhere but up. That ranking in the NFL 100? Woof! Jackson landed at 69th in NFL Network’s anonymous, players-only ranking. The Ravens QB and two-time NFL MVP was only three spots ahead of receiver (and teammate) Zay Flowers — and ranked lower than linebacker Jordyn Brooks (67th) and receiver Chris Olave (64). Make that make sense. I dare you. We did learn just how important Lamar’s health is to his game. His athleticism is one of many things that make him great, and with the injuries piling up — and his insistence on playing through them — he didn’t look like himself for much of last season. Maybe people are afraid that Jackson will turn into the next Cam Newton: elite one day and washed up the next. But I’m here to say that this isn’t the new normal for Lamar. He’s still just 29 years old. He really doesn’t take big hits, opting to slide away from contact. He doesn’t have an injury history beyond the hamstring and back from 2025. If he can get that hamstring right, he’ll make a comeback this year and jump back into the players’ top-10 list. Kenneth Walker III, whom Kansas City signed in free agency this offseason, is a great running back. He is not the Chiefs’ offensive cure-all. This offense is likely to struggle again in 2026, and certainly at the outset. I understand that Mahomes is a generational talent. I respect the heck out of that talent, perhaps substantially more than most. But that talent has very little to do with his physiological recovery from an ACL injury. It’s an injury that sets back even the most dedicated and diligent athletes. Take Tom Brady, for example. He set a record in 2007 with 50 passing touchdowns. He tore his ACL in the first game of 2008. And then in 2009, he threw for 28 touchdowns and 13 interceptions — one pick away from his career high (14). It took him time to return to form. This is all to say that we should temper expectations around Mahomes’ return. He won’t be himself. His offense — which was as bad as ever last year — won’t suddenly return to its glory simply because of a top-tier running back. This is still a very messy situation in KC. And while I think Mahomes will be a good and steady force in 2026, I don’t think he’ll wow in Week 1. And I don’t know that he’ll regain his magic until late in the season. If there’s one game that complicates Burrow’s 2025 season, it’s Cincinnati’s matchup against Baltimore in Week 15. He put up a stinker — with two interceptions (and one pick-six) and no touchdowns — in a shutout loss to Lamar Jackson’s desperate squad. It was one of the few games that mattered for Burrow in a campaign cut in half by injury, and he struggled tremendously. Burrow was trying to do too much to help the Bengals make the playoffs when they were unable to help themselves. Cincy fell to 4-10 and was officially eliminated. And for the rest of the season, Burrow tore apart crappy defenses without any stakes or pressure. That said, aside from that Ravens game, it’s hard to hold last season against him. He was injured, as usual. And his defense was garbage, as usual. Coach Zac Taylor is still fighting against the club’s perennial tradition of starting the season slow. Elite quarterbacks should be able to overcome some of these issues — but certainly not all. And Burrow’s numbers were really impressive, given he played in only eight games. So looking forward, there’s one question surrounding Burrow: Given that history has a way of repeating itself, is it foolhardy to expect something different in 2026? It’s not. I promise. The Bengals invested in their defense this offseason, which should alleviate some of the scoring pressure that Burrow has felt in recent years. It could bring balance to the offense. And it could finally bring Cincinnati not just into the playoff bubble but atop its division. If Burrow is the guy he’s been in the past, the Bengals could (and should) win three of their first five games. And it’ll be thanks to Burrow’s established rapport and explosiveness with his two star receivers, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Expanding the College Football Playoff has led to parity in the sport. After the CFP expanded to a 12-team field in 2024, 20 different programs have made the postseason tournament. Eight teams, including Ole Miss, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and Miami (Fla.) made their first CFP appearance in the 12-team format in 2025. With these additional spots, more fans believe their school has a chance to compete for the most important trophy in the sport. So, who will be the next crop of programs to break into the 12-team playoff for the first time in 2026? FOX Sports’ Joel Klatt previewed the 10 teams that are most likely to make their first 12-team College Football Playoff appearance on the latest episode of “The Joel Klatt Show.” Klatt: “Iowa’s had eight-plus wins in the last full 10 seasons. Kirk Ferentz is as consistent as anyone in the sport. … For them, though, it’s about replacing the right players. The offensive linemen from the Joe Moore Award-winning offensive line that was obviously a very good group. Can you replace those players up front? They’ve hit the [transfer] portal for experienced players from the G-5 from the FCS, and I think a lot of those guys will be smart, experienced guys that’ll pay off. … They’ll need one win out of these three — Michigan, Ohio State, Washington.” Klatt: “I like what Jedd Fisch builds. He builds good, quality programs. They got their quarterback Demond Williams back. He’s got four returning starters on the offensive line. I think the big key for Demond Williams is going to be playing better in big games. “Oct. 3, they go to USC … They welcome Iowa in. They welcome Penn State into Iowa Stadium. They have Indiana at home. And then at Oregon in their rivalry game to end the season… They are 25-2 at Husky Stadium [over the last four seasons]. This is one of the great teams in all of Husky Stadium.” Klatt: “Houston is coming off a 10-win season and finishing in the top-25 under Willie Fritz, and Willie Fritz is a really good football coach. They bring back their quarterback, Connor Weigman. He’s got an all-Big 12 wide receiver, Amari Thomas, on the outside. They added Makai Hughes. Remember, Makai Hughes was with Fritz back in the Tulane days, and that worked for them. Makai Hughes went to Oregon. We thought he was going to be a huge contributor for Dan Lanning a year ago, but that didn’t really pan out. So now he’s back with Fritz this time at Houston. “I like what I see. They’ve got a road game at Texas Tech; I don’t love that. They’ve got this critical three-game stretch with Kansas State, Oklahoma State and Utah is going to be a tough one.” Klatt: “I like Arizona here. Brent Brennan is now in Year 3 in Tucson, and he brings back his first-team All-Big 12 quarterback Noah Fifita. He’s going into Year 4 as a starter. … They retain their defensive coordinator, so they’re going to have some continuity there; that’s Danny Gonzalez, who brings a really unique structure, which is hard for teams to prepare for. “They brought some defensive help to fill the portal. They lost a lot of really good players, and particularly out of the secondary, some of those guys to the draft. … Now it’s about the schedule; it’s backloaded. They have an early game at BYU, which is not going to be easy, because BYU is a tough place to play.” Klatt: “It’s just about getting to the conference championship game, and which are the most likely candidates to do that? I think Utah is one of those. Morgan Scalley isn’t going to flip everything upside down in Salt Lake. This guy is a Utah lifer … they’re still going to be aggressive on defense, they’re still going to be good on the offensive line. He’s gotten to learn from Kyle Whittingham. They’re not going anywhere. They got their quarterback back in Devon Dampier. “The schedule sets up nicely for Utah. … They’ve got Idaho, Arkansas, Utah State, at Iowa State, off week, Kansas and at Colorado. I really like their chances at a conference championship game.” Klatt: “Out of the ACC, you have Miami and who? Who else at this point is going to be strong in the ACC? Might be Louisville. … [Last season], they beat Miami on the road. Three of their four losses were by three or less, including two in overtime. “They bring in Lincoln Kienholz from Ohio State — that’s a wait-and-see for me. He’s an older player, but not experienced. … He can rely on his star running back Isaac Brown. … They’ve got 33 transfers coming in. They hit the portal for wide receivers, including Vandy’s leading receiver from last year, Trey Richardson. They brought in a tight end out of the portal, Brody Foley from Tulsa; he got over 500 yards and seven touchdowns last year. They’ve got a really good returning defensive end, Clev Lubin; he’s their best player on defense. “It’s about getting to the ACC Championship, where you’ve got a shot in one game to potentially win a championship and go to the playoff. … Look at their ACC schedule. They don’t have to play Miami. They don’t have to play Clemson. They don’t have to play Virginia, and they don’t have to play Virginia Tech. So for me, they won the ACC schedule lottery.” Klatt: “Let’s say that big question is answered positively, and that Michigan’s got an offense that’s humming against, and they’re Michigan, again. Well guess what? Here’s the tough part: Their schedule is brutal this year. … They’ve got to play Oklahoma. They’ve got to play Iowa. They’ve got to host Penn State. They’ve got to host Indiana. They’ve got to play Oregon. They’ve got to go to Ohio State. It’s a ridiculously difficult schedule, there’s no doubt. “I do think it’s one of those schedules that, because they’re willing to play and hang on to one of these tough, marquee non-conference games, there is a chance that Michigan would get consideration, if not love, at the end of the season, even as a 9-3. … With that schedule, if you’re facing Ohio State with the right to go to [the CFP], that would be a huge win.” Klatt: “I’m bullish on USC. They have not made a playoff. And I think this is a team that could absolutely make a playoff run this year. I think Lincoln [Riley] finally has the team that can play requisite football at the line of scrimmage. … They showed me signs. I thought the game against Michigan, the game against Iowa — those were tough, hard-nosed wins. “They were quietly one of the best teams in the country at home. They were 7-0. And now this year, they get Oregon, Washington and Ohio State at home. Klatt: “BYU was oh so close a year ago. They were in that Big 12 Championship Game, and they came up short. Now they came up short because of their offense. They couldn’t do anything against that [Texas] Tech defense. … Both losses last year for Kelani Sitake and BYU were to Texas Tech. Texas Tech was very good and BYU was 12-2. “BYU should be in the Big 12 Championship Game. They’re too consistent a program. They got their quarterback back. I love this program. … I love Bear Bachmeier’s one heck of a player. He and LJ Martin are going to need to lead this offense. They get three starters back in the secondary. Should be one of the best defenses in the Big 12.” Klatt: “If they don’t make the playoff, I’m going to be very surprised. … Obviously, they were in the four-team playoff. That’s the only CFP that LSU has been to — the Joe Burrow year. That’s shocking. That’s why Lane Kiffin is there. “Kiffin’s got 10-plus wins in four of his last seasons at Ole Miss. This guy can coach. … This is absolutely the no-brainer of no-brainers. This team screams playoff this year. … I think [Sam] Leavitt is a really good player. I think it’s going to be a team that is very good. I think they can be better on defense. They’re certainly gonna be better on offense. And I’m going to be surprised if LSU is not a 10-win team.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

When we look back at the 2026 World Cup decades from now, what will we remember most? There will be plenty. Spain’s triumph over defending champion Argentina. Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland’s race for the Golden Boot. Scotland’s Tartan Army drinking Boston dry. Norway’s supporters introducing the world to the Viking Row. We’ll remember that this was the biggest World Cup ever — the first with 48 teams — and how, for 39 glorious days, the tournament captivated billions around the globe. We’ll remember that, even though the U.S. men’s national team fell short of the deeper run many envisioned, it reignited interest in soccer in America. The full impact of this group won’t be known for years, but in time we’ll see how it inspired the next generation of players and fans. There are countless storylines that will define this summer, and we could talk about them forever. But one that resonated most was the way smaller nations seized the moment and put on some of the most special performances. There was skepticism when FIFA expanded the field from 32 to 48 teams. Critics wondered if those teams would dilute the quality of play and whether fans would tune in for those games. Turns out, this gave the World Cup some fresh energy. New countries introduced us to their cultures, their stars and memorable moments. Sure, the biggest blowout of the tournament was when Germany crushed debutant Curaçao 7-1 in their group stage opener. But this experience was monumental for Curaçao, the tiniest nation at this World Cup. The island’s population is around 158,000 and has a total land mass of 171 square miles, which is seven times smaller than Rhode Island. They’re a soccer-loving country and thousands of fans were at this match against the four-time World Cup champs. Germany took a 1-0 lead six minutes in, but in the 21st, Curaçao midfielder Livano Comenencia made history by scoring his nation’s first-ever World Cup goal. And for the next 17 minutes, the game was tied. “We fought so hard to be here,” Comenencia said after the match. “It’s just beautiful my dream actually came true.” Then there was the game goalkeeper Eloy Room made 15 spectacular saves to lead Curaçao to a 1-1 draw against Ecuador and secure their first-ever point in the tournament. Room’s performance was legendary and goes down as the second-most saves in a single World Cup game behind Tim Howard’s 16 against Belgium in 2014. Telling the story of Curacao’s journey to the World Cup was one of my all-time favorite pieces as part of our coverage. It was fascinating to learn that the entire team except for one player was born in the Netherlands, and how each of them made a conscious decision to build something in their homeland. The work paid off, and they’ve inspired future generations to keep it going. There was also Cape Verde’s remarkable and improbable run in its first World Cup. While on the way to a USA training in Seattle, my Uber driver told me he was from Cameroon and had never even heard of Cape Verde. By now, of course, everyone has. Cape Verde tied all three of their group stage matches, including holding eventual champion Spain to a scoreless draw. Goalkeeper Vozinha became an instant folk hero, making seven heroic saves in that game. The Blue Sharks were the only team that La Roja did not beat. Later on during the round of 32 match against Argentina — because yes, Cape Verde made it to the knockout stage in their first-ever World Cup — Vozinha was magnificent again. He repeatedly denied some of the world’s greatest players, including Messi. And when Sidney Lopes Cabral scored a stunning equalizer in extra time, the cameras cut to a section of their supporters who were all losing their minds. For a few minutes, it felt like things were heading towards a penalty shootout until an own goal gave Argentina the 3-2 victory. The entire team was a joy to watch and Vozinha in particular — who, by the way, is 40 years old and saw a surge of some 20 million followers on social media — reportedly swapped jerseys with Messi afterward. Curaçao and Cape Verde made the most headlines, but other nations left their mark, too. DR Congo tied Portugal in its opener and made England nervous in the round of 32. Egypt advanced to the round of 16 by upsetting Australia on penalties before pushing Argentina to the brink in a 3-2 loss. Paraguay beat Germany in a penalty shootout in what was considered one of the biggest upsets in the knockout stage, before narrowly losing 1-0 to France in the round of 16. And so while we’ll think of Spain winning its second-ever World Cup title and maybe seeing Messi on this stage for the last time, we’ll also remember the countries who made significant strides and delivered unforgettable performances.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

NEW YORK — Allow me to imagine a scenario for a moment. Indulge me with this fantasy. Months from now. Perhaps years. When the World Cup is long gone. I will be having coffee at my favorite spot in downtown Manhattan, a Puerto Rican establishment right by the historic Stone Street, paved in the late 1700s and one of the oldest streets of the city. I’ll sit down with Erling Haaland, Vozhinha, Jude Bellingham and Rodri and drink Mazapán lattes (look it up). Bad Bunny’s “Nuevayol” plays in the background, and so we listen. Sit. And then reminisce about the summer of 2026 and the World Cup that was. “Fellas,” I’ll say. “Let me ask all of you something.” And they will look up, put down the morning’s brew and listen to the following. Do you remember Gio Reyna’s trivela against Paraguay? How it beautifully swerved from the outside of his foot, thus electrifying the entirety of America? Did Folarin Balogun’s story make you feel proud, not just as a fan of the game, but of what the game represents? Is John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” the anthem or should it be Alive, from my hero Eddie Vedder and my all-time favorite band, Pearl Jam? Was Raúl Jiménez’s first World Cup goal months after the death of his father a piece of poetry that made you sink to the ground with emotion? Did Julián Quiñones’s story — a Colombian-born player turned into one of Mexico’s brightest stars – become a blueprint for the fact that identity is more than just a birth certificate? Or Canada’s Stephen Eustáquio, also dealing with the heartache of losing both parents (something I sadly know too well), did his winner against South Africa in the Round of 32 shake you to your very core? Or how about Morocco’s Ayyoub Bouaddi, at 18 years old, how is it possible that he created that level of midfield magic against the Brazilians? Or anyone? Did you feel slightly Congolese when Yoanne Wissa scored the nation’s first ever World Cup goal in that draw against Portugal? Did you hear the Azteca from wherever you were in the continent? Did you feel the intensity of its people as the anthem and “Cielito Lindo” played through millions of Mexican voices? How good is 17-year-old Gilberto Mora? No, really. Aren’t you inspired by his journey and what may come? Could he maybe join you in Madrid one day, Jude? Also, Jude? How did it feel to sing Wonderwall in the altitudes of Mexico City or listen to your country serenade you with a song so iconic such as “Hey Jude,” that it now has two meanings because of your name, do you realize how much you’re loved? Did England’s incredible victory against El Tri become the ultimate display of sacrifice, will and guts? Speaking of love, is there a better word than can describe the Tartan Army’s relationship with their Scottish team? Or Boston? Or Miami? Or anywhere in America? Why can’t I go to sleep without thinking about Amad Diallo’s historic goal for his Ivory Coast or Julián Álvarez’s majestic winner against Switzerland? Why do I not care if Norway’s Andreas Schjelderup meant it or not? Or if I can’t stop analyzing the illustrious creativity of the genius Michael Olise? Is there a better highlight to show young players than Cucho Hernandez’s relentless fight to win the ball from Uzbekistan’s Jakhongir Urozov near the corner flag, recovering it and then placing a pinpoint assist for Jaminton Campaz? Is there a better show of strength and will than the Netherlands’ Brian Brobbey? Can we keep playing on loop the persistence and dynamic ability of the Swiss Johan Manzambi? Do I need to reflect more on Lionel Messi’s emotions after the final, or can I just remember everything else before? Can I save his magic, including Argentina’s first goal of the World Cup, which was against Algeria? And by the end, it became a historic hat-trick? Is Golden Boot winner and all-time leader Kylian Mbappé real or is this a simulation? Which goal can I select that will make me think he perhaps isn’t mortal? His stoppage-time winner against Senegal, which made him France’s all-time scorer? Or the history breaker against England in the third-place playoff? Speaking of that match, Jude – my goodness? Have you recovered? Was your goal so good it took a piece of you? Back to you Erling. Do you realize that your goals, especially the one against Brazil, ignited a nation towards a global Viking row? Is your social media presence tired of generating more and more fans? Do you realize the commotion and excitement that you created for millions of people and turned them into Haaland disciples? Does your partner, Isabel, approve of your “Whiskey Raccoon” holding an empty liquor bottle that you brought back home and will she let you keep it in the house or will she make you put it in the basement? Also, did you know Erling — that in my Peru, nearly 500 Peruvian babies who were born this summer now have your name? Now that’s DEDICATION. That’s impact. When you stop sipping on your latte, Erling, as a striker, can you explain to me how Haiti’s Wilson Isidor was able to produce that kind of power with his goal against Morocco? Or the piece of art that was Cape Verde’s Sidny Lopes Cabral against Argentina? Does anyone realize that the latter essentially broke the internet? It made us all believe in something bigger than ourselves, right? How about those incredible comebacks? From Belgium’s over Senegal or Gabriel Martinelli’s winner against Japan? Did you feel alive with Ecuador’s historic win over Germany? Or Paraguay’s? How about Curaçao’s Eloy Room? Did his 15 saves against the aforementioned Ecuador suddenly create a window for him and his beautiful island to be globally recognized? Wasn’t it just a thing of beauty to see so much resilience? Speaking of resilience. Hey Vozinha? Do you want another coffee? By the way, how is your life now? No, really? Do you understand that your heroics, your insane performances and those of your teammates at this World Cup impacted so many of us? Are you wishing you went back to normalcy? Perhaps, part of you does? Or are you taking it all in? Is it okay for me to tell you that what you did, for me and millions of us, absolutely became a reminder of why we love this game of ours in the first place? Are you okay with the fact that your life will never be the same again? Is it fine for me to tell you that we are so grateful for what you and the Blue Sharks did? Is there a perfect way to express the fact that your national team became the muse, the proverbial star of this World Cup? Do you also remind Rodri, the World Cup champion sitting next you, that he may have won this whole thing but La Roja never went past you? Do you cheekily remind him of that? Speaking of Spain, Rodri, what makes this team so special? Why should the rest of the footballing world admire not just the way you play football but the way you treat others and the game—do you think about your impact? How does it feel to know that you are the ultimate general of an army that wonders us all with possession and intoxicates you with the relentless pursuit of getting it back? Do you contemplate another way, or is this the only way to live? Is this the way we should all see the game? What was Pau Cubarsí born with that makes him such a giant, despite only being 19? Speaking of that generation, is Lamine Yamal okay with the fact that his three-year-old brother Keyne is the actual hero? Can we remember the words you said of Ferran Torres, how he was so unappreciated by so many Spanish fans but in the end, his winner ended up deeply embedded in history? Can we put that in our photo album? Lastly, fellas. Is there a perfect, singular way to describe what we witnessed this summer? Or is it really just a mosaic of reflections? An island of treasures? Or should we just use a Pearl Jam lyric here and simply say, “Hail, Hail the lucky ones, I refer to those in love yeah…” Because quite simply, World Cup moments. I want you to know: we all fell in love with you. Don’t worry, boys. I’ll get the check.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

NEW YORK NEW JERSEY STADIUM — I’ve often joked that ranking World Cups is like choosing between your children: They’re all different and unique. You don’t love one above another. It just doesn’t work that way. The 2026 FIFA World Cup was the sixth, men’s or women’s, that I’ve had the privilege of covering. The first five took me to Brazil, Canada, France, Qatar, Australia and New Zealand. Each was incredibly special. Years earlier, as a young professional, I hoped to cover one, one day, if I worked my ass off and maybe got a bit lucky. Until this summer, I couldn’t have picked a favorite if my life depended on it. But a home World Cup like this summer’s? That was a new experience for me, just like it was for most of my colleagues. The feeling is hard to describe. We all went into it knowing full well that it’s probably a once-in-a-career thing. Now the biggest, most spectacular World Cup of all time is over. And as I sit here typing in a mostly empty 80,000-seat arena after Spain beat Argentina in Sunday’s final, watching La Roja’s players on the field below me celebrate their well-deserved triumph with their families, I’m filled with gratitude — and maybe a little sadness, too. Part of that is exhaustion, having been on the road and away from my family for almost two full months. That will subside. The memories won’t: The way the United States men’s national team ran out to an early lead against Paraguay in the first World Cup match on U.S. soil in 32 years, then ran away with the match en route to a historic 4-1 victory that captured the imagination of the American public. How the upper deck at Seattle Stadium began vibrating when VAR awarded Alex Freeman’s goal in the USA’s 2-0 win over Australia, the first time the U.S. had ever won two straight World Cup games. I was in Los Angeles to witness Canada, led by American coach Jesse Marsch, win a World Cup knockout game for the first time in that country’s history. A couple of days later, in the San Francisco Bay Area, Mauricio Pochettino’s 10-man U.S. squad not only survived a red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina but actually padded its lead on the way to a 2-0 win — just the second knockout victory in this country’s history, even if it came in the new round of 32. Unfortunately, that was as good as it got for the World Cup co-hosts. By the time you read this, it will have been more than two weeks since Pochettino’s team squandered an incredibly rare opportunity with 50 million in the U.S. watching live, getting embarrassed, 4-1, by Belgium, even after striker Folarin Balogun was controversially allowed to play by FIFA despite the red card he received against the Bosnians. It’s still difficult to understand how the home team, playing in front of another incredible crowd up in Seattle, was so unprepared for that game and so unable to find a way back when things started to go so horribly wrong, despite having the most decorated and handsomely paid coach it’s ever had. It was the largest margin of defeat the U.S. has suffered in a World Cup knockout match since 1934 and will probably remain so for decades. Yet despite the ugly loss, the Americans surely won millions of new fans this summer. For other countries, the World Cup continued. I was fortunate enough to see England and Norway’s hard-fought quarterfinal in Miami, and while the battle between the sport’s two most lethal pure center forwards — Harry Kane and Erling Haaland — didn’t materialize, it was a treat to watch Jude Bellingham steal the show with both of the Three Lions’ goals in a 2-1, extra-time win. That night, writing in a hotel lobby between bites of a Cuban sandwich, I was struck by England’s fans cheering for Switzerland as passionately as they had for their own team hours earlier. They wanted no part of Lionel Messi and Argentina, one confirmed. That fear soon proved justified. For me, the highlight of this World Cup came in England’s next match. Say what you will about Thomas Tuchel’s tactics after his Three Lions took a 1-0 lead over the defending champions, but watching La Albiceleste claw back two goals in the last five minutes, plus stoppage time, with the incomparable Messi setting up both, is not something I’ll ever forget. And not just because an Argentine journalist sitting to my right in the press box — where merely applauding politely is usually forbidden — removed his shirt and began swinging it around his head in celebration. On the streets of Atlanta afterward, one comically inebriated English fan challenged every Argentine he saw to a fistfight. Fortunately for him, all were too drunk on victory to oblige. Which takes us to Sunday’s grand finale. If every World Cup tournament is special, the final is on another level still. While Sunday’s didn’t match the drama of the 2022 decider I saw in Lusail, Qatar on Dec. 18, 2022 (no, I didn’t have to look up the date), there’s always this cosmic energy surrounding the title bout. You know more than a billion people across the globe are tuned in, that history is being written in real time before your very eyes. I can vividly recall where I watched every final since I caught the soccer bug as a kid. Getting to work the last two men’s versions in person is an immense privilege, an aspirational milestone everyone in this business works toward for years or sometimes decades before finally getting there — if they ever do. For someone raised in New York City, Sunday was the ultimate full-circle moment. In my early 20s, I covered MLS games across the parking lot at the old Giants Stadium. A decade before that, on a similarly sunny, sticky summer afternoon in 1994, I saw my first World Cup game in the same building, with my father. Soccer in mainstream America was a curiosity then. As these 39 days have proven, this is a soccer country now. Although I hope to cover more World Cups in the future, this one will be impossible to top. That’s the magic of the World Cup. It’s the memories that make them great.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Alex Palou continues to win, and he remains No. 1 in these power rankings. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver now has five wins this season, with the fifth coming Monday at Nashville Superspeedway. The driver who made a big jump this week? It’s the driver who physically and quite literally can’t even jump right now because of a badly bruised knee. That’s David Malukas. He went from the 12th row to third at Nashville. Here are my rankings going into a two-week break in the INDYCAR schedule: Dropped out: Will Power (Last Week: 8) On the verge: Will Power, Nolan Siegel, Kyffin Simpson. VeeKay looked like he was on the verge of earning his fourth top 10 in the last six races before the cautions and pit sequence cost him track position. He ended up 12th at Nashville, which was still a solid day. Ericsson finished sixth for this third top 10 in the last five races. To see him at one point challenge for the lead had to be a thrill for his fans. Rosenqvist had a surprisingly average qualifying result, as he started 17th on the grid. To go from there to finishing fifth was enough to make him feel good about his day. McLaughlin finished fourth at Nashville for his fourth top five of the season and his third in the last six races. He’d like to challenge for the lead more, but at least he can see the leaders. O’Ward was extremely frustrated after qualifying as he started 12th at Nashville. He was able to scrap for a seventh-place finish. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the momentum he was hoping for coming off the Mid-Ohio win. Kirkwood won the pole at Nashville and appeared to be a favorite for the race before losing his track position on the yellows and pit sequence. A 10th was a disappointing result considering his high hopes coming in. Lundgaard had an awful weekend with a grid penalty for being on his fifth engine, and he started 24th. He finished 16th and maybe no one is looking more forward to Portland in a few weeks than Lundgaard. Newgarden finished a frustrating second as he felt it was track position race at the end. He started second and finished second. To echo his words, “it is what it is.” Malukas was perilously close to not even racing this weekend after a hard crash Saturday in practice. He went from the back of the field all the way to third. It was a great race on a tough weekend. Palou is now a five-time winner this season. And he very well could be a five-time series champion in less than two months.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Just when it seemed like Joey Logano would never return to these power rankings, he goes out and wins the Cup race at North Wilkesboro. Which means he’s back. Here are my power rankings as the NASCAR Cup Series heads to Indianapolis Motor Speedway: Dropped out: William Byron (Last Week: 10), Carson Hocevar (Last Week: 9) On the verge: Alex Bowman, William Byron, Chase Elliott, Carson Hocevar, Erik Jones, Ryan Preece Is Kyle Larson still on this list because he’s Kyle Larson? Maybe, especially considering he has finishes of 34th, 34th and 15th the last three weeks. But he had four consecutive top fives before that stretch. A sixth at Atlanta and a fifth at North Wilkesboro shows that SVG isn’t just a road-course ace. And that should worry the competition. Logano earned his first top five since the season-opener at Daytona with his win at North Wilkesboro. But he was 12th at Chicagoland and ninth at Atlanta. So things are looking up. I know, I know, I do this every week. But here’s a look at Wallace’s recent results: third, 21st, second, 22nd, sixth, 29th and sixth. There are enough solid finishes to keep him in these rankings. Where did that hot season for Reddick go? Maybe it’s just the bad luck time of year for him. He has three finishes of 30th or worse in the last four races. But he still leads the series with five wins this year. Bell had an uncharacteristically poor day with a 19th at North Wilkesboro. That was following a pair of second-place finishes, so he doesn’t fall too far on this list. Blaney followed up the win at Atlanta with the pole at North Wilkesboro. He had to start in the back, though, and wound up 11th. Briscoe has three top-three finishes in the last four races. The thing for Briscoe is he has had too many bad races this year with five finishes of 30th or worse. Gibbs has finished third or fourth in three of the last four races. He just consistently finds his way to the front. A speeding penalty at North Wilkesboro ruined his potential to win. Hamlin had the field covered except for Logano at North Wilkesboro. He increased his regular-season points lead to 68 over Reddick, and that could pay benefits come The Chase.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Yes, we did an NFL Half-Decade Team last year, but if you’re a strict follower of the Gregorian calendar, we’re technically only halfway through the decade now. If you’re not a strict follower, consider this an update. In any case, the NFL in the 2020s has already featured quarterback brilliance, record-shattering receiver play and iconic postseason thrillers. Over the past six seasons, legends such as Tom Brady have retired, current stars like Josh Allen are leaving their mark and new stars such as Bijan Robinson are emerging. But who’s been the best of the best since the start of the decade? Here’s my 2020s NFL Half-Decade Team: OFFENSE Quarterback Yes, Mahomes’ numbers have regressed the past few seasons, but that’s due in large part to a worsening supporting cast at wide receiver. Though other quarterbacks have posted more impressive numbers recently, when you combine individual and team success, Mahomes remains the gold standard at the quarterback position post-Tom Brady. Since 2020, Mahomes has led the Chiefs to four Super Bowl appearances (three of which came in a row, from 2022-24), including back-to-back victories. Only one other quarterback, Jalen Hurts, has more than one Super Bowl appearance in that span. Mahomes’ best season of the decade so far came in 2022, when he led the league in passing yards, passing touchdowns and passing TD rate and won his second career MVP award. Running Back Henry has been the NFL’s most consistently dominant running back over the last six seasons, rushing for at least 1,100 yards five times. And the one season he didn’t (2021), he missed nine games due to injury — and still rushed for more than 900 yards. A five-time Pro Bowler, Henry in 2020 became the eighth player in league history to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season. He came close again in 2024, rushing for 1,921 yards in his first season with the Ravens after eight years with the Tennessee Titans. The 32-year-old has reached double-digit rushing TDs in eight consecutive years. Wide Receivers Since 2020, no wide receiver has more combined first- and second-team AP All-Pro nods than Jefferson (4), whose numbers have been impacted recently by the Vikings’ instability at quarterback. But Jefferson has still produced six straight 1,000-yard seasons to start his career. His LSU teammate, the Bengals’ Chase, is one of the NFL’s most dominant players. Chase leads the NFL with 360 targets over the past two seasons, a span in which he’s caught 252 passes for 3,120 yards and 25 touchdowns. The former fifth overall pick won the league’s receiving triple crown in 2024. Adams is one of two receivers with three first-team All-Pro nods since 2020 (the other is Tyreek Hill), and the 33-year-old has become a highly effective WR2 in recent years. Last season with the Rams, he led the NFL with 14 receiving touchdowns. Tight End The 36-year-old Kelce, entering what could be his final NFL season, leads all tight ends with two first-team All-Pro nods over the past six seasons. He’s been a diminished version of himself in recent years, but he still hasn’t had fewer than 800 receiving yards in any season since his rookie year in 2013, when he appeared in just one game. An 11-time Pro Bowler, Kelce began the 2020s with a career-high 1,416 receiving yards and followed that with two more seasons of 1,100-plus receiving yards. Left Tackles Williams has been the gold standard for left tackles in the 2020s to this point, earning three first-team All-Pro nods (2021-23) and a second-team selection last season. Thuney, who has starred for three teams over the past six years (Patriots, Chiefs, Bears), leads all left guards with three first-team All-Pro selections in the past half decade, all coming since 2023. Center The Chiefs’ Creed Humphrey has a strong case here, but Kelce leads all centers with three first-team All-Pro selections since 2020, despite the fact that he’s been retired for two years. Kelce was named to five straight Pro Bowls to close out his career. Right Guard Martin retired after the 2024 season, but he still paces right guards with three first-team All-Pro selections in the decade to this point. Right Tackle The Eagles’ Lane Johnson is in the conversation, but Sewell has been the league’s most dominant right tackle since being drafted No. 7 overall in 2021. He has been named a first-team All-Pro three straight seasons and a Pro Bowler in four consecutive years. DEFENSE Edge Rushers Since 2020, no edge rushers have more first-team All-Pro selections than Garrett and Watt, who have five and three nods, respectively. Traded from the Browns to the Rams in a blockbuster deal this offseason, the 30-year-old Garrett registered 23.0 sacks last season, setting a single-season NFL record. The 31-year-old Watt has led the NFL in sacks three times over the past six seasons, including a career-high 22.5 in 2021. Interior Defensive Linemen Arguably the best defensive tackle in modern NFL history, Donald has been retired the past two seasons (though he has hinted at a 2026 return). He was still in peak form for his four seasons in the 2020s, winning his third Defensive Player of the Year award and being named a first-team All-Pro three times. Jones’ pass-rush production has dipped the last couple of seasons, but he has the best résumé in the past half decade among players at his position not named Donald. The Chiefs star made first- or second-team All-Pro every season from 2020-24, and he has 54.5 sacks over the past six years. Inside Linebackers Warner and Smith lead all inside linebackers with four and three first-team All-Pro selections since the start of 2020, respectively. Before missing 11 games last season due to injury, Warner made four All-Pro teams in the previous five seasons, recording at least 125 tackles each year and totaling 38 pass breakups. Smith has been a first- or second-team All-Pro five times since 2020, and he has recorded at least 130 tackles in six straight years. Cornerbacks Surtain, a two-time first-team All-Pro, is the only cornerback to claim a Defensive Player of the Year award since 2020. In his award-winning season of 2024, the four-time Pro Bowler amassed a league-high 132 yards returned off interceptions. The Texans’ Derek Stingley wins the recency debate here and the Colts’ Sauce Gardner was exceptional at the start of his career (2022-23), but Ramsey gets the second outside cornerback spot. He hit his prime at the start of the 2020s — he earned back-to-back first-team All-Pro selections in 2020 and ‘21 – and has remained an effective player in his early 30s playing more at safety. Nickelback An electrifying slot-safety hybrid, James has received an All-Pro nod as slot cornerback twice in the three years the position has been on the AP ballot, leading all players. Safeties Since 2020, Hamilton is the only safety with two first-team All-Pro nods. Baltimore’s 2022 first-round pick, one of the NFL’s most versatile defenders, has recorded at least nine pass breakups in three consecutive seasons. Baker has arguably been the league’s most consistently excellent safety over the last half decade, despite playing for bad Cardinals teams for most of his career. The 2017 second-round pick has been named to seven straight Pro Bowls. SPECIAL TEAMS Special Teamer Gray played just five games last season between two teams, the Broncos and Buccaneers, but he made three All-Pro teams between 2019-24 with the Saints (first team in 2021) as a core special teamer. That’s not bad for an undrafted free agent out of Mississippi State in 2018. Punter Cole is the only punter with two first-team All-Pro selections in the 2020s. His 48.5 yards per punt career average is the highest in NFL history. Placekicker The Cowboys’ Brandon Aubrey has an argument here in a small sample size (2023-25), but Tucker gets the edge. The former Ravens kicker was named to three All-Pro teams and four Pro Bowls between 2020-23. Punt Returner Jones has been named to two All-Pro teams since 2022. His 14.3 yards per punt return career average is the highest in league history. Kick Returner Nixon was a Pro Bowl cornerback last season, but he was a dominant kick returner earlier in the decade. He earned back-to-back first-team All-Pro nods in 2020 and 2021 after leading the NFL in both kick returns and kick return yardage. Long Snapper The 38-year-old DePaola has made four consecutive All-Pro teams (two first team, two second team). He’s the only long snapper with that many All-Pro nods since the start of 2020s.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports