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Spring football felt much quieter this time around, considering players and coaches weren’t busy pulling double duty by preparing for an impending transfer portal window while also trying to improve on the field. Think of it as a much-needed reprieve, if only momentarily, for a sport that has moved at warp speed the last handful of years. With the last smattering of power conference programs holding spring games over the weekend, the dust is finally beginning to settle. Early enrollees have settled in, transfers are acclimated to their new environments, the coaching carousel has stopped and depth charts are taking shape ahead of fall camp. That means it’s a good time for a team-by-team breakdown of where things stand in the Big Ten following spring practice. So here’s an offseason batch of Big Ten Power Rankings: The Rest For the second consecutive season — albeit with a different leader at the helm this time — the Boilermakers finished winless in Big Ten play, mired at the bottom of an increasingly top-heavy conference. Head coach Barry Odom, formerly of UNLV, hired Kevin Kane to be Purdue’s new defensive coordinator following one season as the outside linebackers coach at Minnesota. Kane will aim to improve a group that finished tied for 117th in scoring (31.8 points per game) and 120th overall (423.5 yards per game). The Boilermakers added 29 new players via the transfer portal in a group that ranked 39th nationally, according to 247Sports. But Odom’s 55th-ranked high school recruiting class, which does not include a single four- or five-star prospect, remains an obvious weakness. After three years away from football, former Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald takes over a Michigan State program desperate to regain its footing following two failed hires in Mel Tucker (2020-23) and Jonathan Smith (2024-25). Fitzgerald retained defensive coordinator Joe Rossi and tabbed promising youngster Nick Sheridan, the former co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Alabama, to lead the other side of the ball. The Spartans added 29 new players via the transfer portal, including 13 from power-conference programs, but none of them are viewed as four- or five-star prospects. Fitzgerald’s early team-building efforts were more successful at the high school level, with his first recruiting class housing five blue-chip prospects. The headliner is four-star offensive tackle Collin Campbell (No. 196 overall, No. 20 OT) from Arizona. Drastically different conference and college football backdrops have made it significantly tougher for head coach Greg Schiano to find his footing amid this second stint with the Scarlet Knights. Back-to-back winning seasons in 2023 and 2024 largely papered over the fact that Rutgers, which joined the Big Ten more than a decade ago, still hasn’t produced a winning record in league play. Schiano’s player-acquisition efforts ahead of the 2026 campaign are rather fascinating: His transfer portal class ranks last in the conference and 71st nationally, sandwiched between San Diego State and James Madison. But the Scarlet Knights’ incoming high school class cracked the top 40 overall and features more blue-chip recruits (four) than programs like Arizona State, TCU, Arkansas, Louisville, NC State and Kentucky. Two bowl victories in three seasons represents a great start for head coach David Braun, whose team began the 2026 campaign 5-2 overall before stumbling a bit down the stretch. Since then, Braun has revamped his staff by hiring six new coaches and promoting another from within to give the Wildcats a new feel entering the fall. The biggest swing was Braun’s high-profile addition of Chip Kelly as offensive coordinator. Though Kelly flamed out in less than one season with the Las Vegas Raiders, he’s still regarded as one of the sharper offensive minds in the sport and helped lead Ohio State to a national championship two years ago. Kelly is now tasked with mentoring transfer quarterback Aidan Chiles, formerly of Michigan State, to improve an offense that ranked 108th nationally in passing yards per game. Few coaches from the power conferences, if any, will enter the season with a hotter seat than Luke Fickell, whose three years with the Badgers have produced just 16 victories and a disastrous 10-17 record in conference play. Fickell needed a public vote of confidence from athletic director Chris McIntosh last fall amid widespread speculation about his job security, and now McIntosh has exited Wisconsin for a job in the Big Ten office. That leaves Fickell in a precarious position. Once again, the Badgers swung big in the transfer portal by adding 33 players this winter, though the class only ranks 49th nationally because it lacks a single blue-chip prospect. Wisconsin struggled even more with high school recruiting: Fickell’s class ranks No. 72 overall and No. 17 in the Big Ten. Mike Locksley is another Big Ten coach who survived the 2025 campaign by the skin of his teeth, finishing 1-8 in conference play for the second straight year and below .500 in the league for a seventh consecutive season. But high-level player acquisition, particularly from the high school ranks, has afforded Locksley another chance this fall. Maryland’s recruiting class is headlined by five-star edge rusher Zion Elee (No. 5 overall, No. 1 edge rusher) from powerhouse St. Frances Academy in nearby Baltimore. Elee represents the third five-star recruit to join the Terrapins since Locksley took over ahead of the 2019 season. A strong debut from former blue-chip quarterback Malik Washington offers another reason for optimism. Washington, who was the No. 10 quarterback in the 2025 class, ranked sixth nationally among freshmen with 2,963 passing yards last fall. Can Matt Rhule finally turn the tide at Nebraska? The Cornhuskers received widespread praise when they hired Rhule ahead of the 2023 season, snatching up a hot commodity after his stint with the Carolina Panthers went south. But the exponential growth that Rhule’s teams showed during his successful runs at Temple (2013-16) and Baylor (2017-19) still hasn’t resurfaced at Nebraska, where he is now 0-9 against ranked opponents. The Cornhuskers finished below .500 in Big Ten play during each of Rhule’s first three seasons, and now they enter the 2026 campaign with a high school recruiting class that ranks 106th nationally and dead last in the conference. Losing starting quarterback Dylan Raiola, a former five-star prospect, to the transfer portal represented another major blow. In an era when programs can be turned around with remarkable swiftness, Rhule needs to demonstrate legitimate progress this fall. Even though UCLA dropped five consecutive games to end the 2025 season with a thud, there is plenty of optimism surrounding the Bruins. UCLA landed one of the hottest names in coaching when it lured Bob Chesney, 48, away from James Madison, a program he led to the College Football Playoff last fall. Chesney posted an impressive 21-6 record with the Dukes after taking over for Curt Cignetti, who is now the head coach at Indiana. Those two winning seasons pushed Chesney’s streak to seven straight years above .500 overall and 15 out of 16 dating to his previous stints at Salve Regina, Assumption and Holy Cross. Now, Chesney is working in the power conferences for the first time, taking over a program that is not without some talent. Former five-star quarterback Nico Iamaleava, a transfer from Tennessee, is back for another season in Westwood. Chesney added 41 new players via the transfer portal — including 10 from James Madison — to secure the Big Ten’s largest incoming class. The two highest-profile additions are former Oklahoma linebacker Sammy Omosigho (No. 115 transfer, No. 3 LB) and former Florida wide receiver Aidan Mizell (No. 143 transfer, No. 38 WR). The Top 10 Minnesota entered its offseason on the upswing after defeating New Mexico in the Rate Bowl, handing head coach P.J. Fleck his seventh consecutive bowl victory. The win also gave Fleck a fifth season with eight or more wins in the last seven campaigns, evidence of an impressive coaching job at a school not known for its football prowess. Such momentum manifested in the form of a high school recruiting class that finished No. 28 nationally and No. 8 in the Big Ten. By signing six blue-chip prospects, five of whom landed among the top 400 players nationally, Fleck laid the groundwork for the Gophers to secure their first top-30 recruiting class since 2008. The highest-rated player in the bunch is edge rusher Aaden Aytch (No. 181 overall, No. 22 edge), an Indiana native who chose Minnesota over additional scholarship offers from Iowa, Michigan State, Purdue and Kentucky, among others. Now that Iowa has set a program record for most players selected in a single NFL Draft with seven, it’s worth reassessing just how good the Hawkeyes really were in 2025. Sure, head coach Kirk Ferentz’s team finished sixth in the Big Ten standings, sandwiched between Michigan and Washington, but its three conference losses came by just 12 combined points against three ranked opponents — one of which was eventual national champion Indiana. The Hawkeyes were a touchdown or two away from potentially reaching the College Football Playoff. To replenish his roster, Ferentz assembled one of Iowa’s strongest high school recruiting classes in recent memory, a group that is ranked No. 26 nationally and includes eight four-star prospects. The name to remember might be four-star quarterback Tradon Bessinger, a Utah native who is the No. 11 signal-caller in the class. He is the second-best quarterback prospect to sign with Iowa in the recruiting rankings era, according to 247Sports, trailing only Jake Christensen in 2005. One of the ways to gauge Illinois’ impressive trajectory under head coach Bret Bielema is through the recruiting rankings, where the Illini are surging into rarefied air. In 2020, the year before Bielema took over, Illinois’ high school recruiting class ranked 82nd nationally. Since then, Bielema has strung together the following finishes: 73rd in 2021; 46th in 2022; 37th in 2023; 49th in 2024; 46th in 2025 and 24th in 2026. This marks the program’s first foray into the top 30, where its only two spots behind Ole Miss and four spots behind Clemson, in 18 years. To get there, Bielema landed five of the top 18 players from Illinois and supplemented them with blue-chip players from Florida, New Jersey and Missouri. The biggest question moving forward is whether quarterback Katin Houser, a transfer from East Carolina by way of Michigan State, can operate the offense as efficiently as predecessor Luke Altmyer did the past three seasons. The stunning decision to fire head coach James Franklin last October gave way to a lengthy hiring process from athletic director Pat Kraft to identify the right successor. Ultimately, the Nittany Lions landed on a proven winner in Matt Campbell, 46, who oversaw eight winning seasons at Iowa State and another four at Toledo before that. In an effort to turn over his new roster quickly, Campbell invested heavily in the transfer portal. His final tally of 38 signees was seventh-most in the country, according to 247Sports, and featured a number of familiar faces. Twenty-four former Iowa State players followed Campbell to Penn State, including veteran quarterback Rocco Becht, the No. 34 overall transfer and No. 10 signal-caller in the portal. Such aggressiveness was necessary in part because the Nittany Lions’ high school recruiting class splintered once Franklin was fired, with many of those players ultimately following him to Virginia Tech. Campbell is seeking to offset those losses by betting big on experience. There’s no chance the Huskies would rank this highly had star quarterback Demond Williams Jr., a potential Heisman Trophy candidate for the 2026 campaign, gone through with his decision to transfer over the winter. Williams, who threw for more than 3,000 yards and ran for more than 600 as a first-year starter last fall, announced his intention to enter the transfer portal in January but then reversed course two days later — after reports surfaced that Washington was prepared to take legal action to enforce his signed NIL agreement. Ultimately, head coach Jedd Fisch welcomed Williams back into the fold, setting the stage for what could be a special season. Thanks to some exemplary player-acquisition efforts from Fisch and the Huskies’ staff, Williams will have more talent around him than ever before. Washington’s high school recruiting class finished 13th in the national rankings to set a new program record for the modern era. The Huskies signed 10 players rated among the top 300 overall prospects, headlined by five-star offensive tackle Kodi Greene (No. 25 overall, No. 3 OT) from powerhouse Mater Dei High School in California. Surely this will be the year when head coach Lincoln Riley finally puts things together and takes USC to the College Football Playoff for the first time in school history, right? Riley has one of the country’s best returning quarterbacks in former UNLV transfer Jayden Maiava, now entering his second full season as the Trojans’ starter. He has what should be one of the league’s stronger running back tandems in Waymond Jordan (576 yards, 5 TDs) and King Miller (972 yards, 8 TDs). He has a flashy new defensive coordinator in former TCU head coach Gary Patterson, who guided the Horned Frogs to 181 wins from 2000-21. He has the No. 1 high school recruiting class in the country that features 14 signees rated among the top 200 players nationally. He has the No. 26 transfer portal class. He has a brand new, state-of-the-art practice facility slated to open this summer. What more could a coach want in the modern era? The pressure is on Riley to get USC over the hump. Messy and unsavory divorces from former coaches Jim Harbaugh and Sherrone Moore have given way to what the Wolverines hope will be a more controlled culture under Kyle Whittingham, the highly successful head coach from Utah. Whittingham posted eight 10-win seasons with the Utes between 2008-25, morphing the program into a model of consistency and respectability across multiple conferences. Now, Whittingham is working at one of college football’s blue bloods for the first time in his career, as the head coach or otherwise, and observers of the sport have wondered for years how his methods would fare in such an environment. The primary order of business for Whittingham and offensive coordinator Jason Beck, who followed him from Utah, is to maximize the potential of former five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood following an inconsistent freshman campaign. If Underwood can raise his level of play — Michigan finished 107th nationally in passing offense last season — the Wolverines have enough talent to contend for the College Football Playoff. With head coach Dan Lanning at the helm, Oregon has ascended to the sport’s upper echelon after winning 48 games over the last four seasons and reaching the College Football Playoff in consecutive years. Still, back-to-back landslide losses to eventual national champions Ohio State (41-21 in 2024) and Indiana (56-22 in 2025) began to sour an otherwise intoxicating blend. The narrative that the Ducks crumble when it matters most is something Lanning and his players must contend with until they dispel that notion on the field. Even though Oregon lost both of its coordinators to head-coaching positions last winter — Will Stein to Kentucky; Tosh Lupoi to Cal — there is still plenty to like about the Ducks in 2026. They have a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate in quarterback Dante Moore and one of the most explosive wide receiver corps in the country following the healthy return of Evan Stewart. The Ducks also have a defensive line that is loaded with NFL-caliber talent. Anything less than another CFP appearance will feel like unrealized potential. Last year: 12-2 overall, 9-0 Big Ten Postseason: 24-14 loss to No. 10 Miami in the CFP quarterfinals More than a few eyebrows were raised when Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, fresh off winning the national championship, selected failed Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia as the replacement for defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. All Patricia did was organize one of the most statistically dominant defenses in recent memory as the Buckeyes finished atop the national rankings in scoring defense (9.3 points per game), total defense (219.1 yards per game) and opponent red zone scoring rate (66.7%). So perhaps it should have been rather unsurprising when Day, whose offensive coordinator and longtime wide receivers coach, Brian Hartline, left to become the head coach at USF, turned his attention to another NFL name. Enter Arthur Smith, the former offensive coordinator of the Pittsburgh Steelers (2024-25) and former head coach of the Atlanta Falcons (2021-23). It falls on Smith to unlock the full potential of an offense that stumbled in its biggest moments against Indiana and Miami last season. Time and again throughout Indiana’s fairytale run to the national title, head coach Curt Cignetti cited the continuity on his staff as one of the driving factors behind the program’s unparalleled turnaround the last two seasons. That is why, even after so many of the Hoosiers’ core players are now gone, including a school-record eight selections in the NFL Draft, so many people are still high on Indiana entering the 2026 campaign. Cignetti managed to keep both offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan and defensive coordinator Bryant Haines, which represented a massive coup, even if that meant giving both coaches considerable raises amid widespread outside interest. The system they built across years of working together is what propelled the Hoosiers to previously unimaginable heights. So while the faces on the field will be different in 2026, the unimpeachable culture and schematics remain the same. For now, that’s enough to keep Indiana atop the Big Ten pecking order.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Playing against the team that traded him for the first time since the transaction two weeks ago, Birmingham Stallions quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson got some get back. The UCLA product threw for 271 yards and a touchdown, as the Stallions held off the Orlando Storm 20-17 in the final game of the 2026 UFL Week 6 season on Sunday. Birmingham snapped a four-game losing streak and improved to 2-4 with the victory, as head coach A.J. McCarron avenged a shutout against his old coach, Anthony Becht, two weeks earlier. The Storm dropped to 4-2. “You should have kept me,” a jubilant Thompson-Robinson said to the Orlando sideline after the Stallions sealed the victory with a Snoop Conner 7-yard run that converted a first down with just over a minute remaining in the game. Conner led the Stallions with 61 rushing yards and a score. Thompson-Robinson lost a tight competition for the starting quarterback job with Jack Plummer in Orlando. Rather than watch one of the most talented quarterbacks in the UFL hold a clipboard as the backup, Becht traded him to the Stallions for quarterback Matt Corral and defensive end Amani Bledsoe. “I appreciate those guys for obviously giving me an opportunity,” Thompson-Robinson said after the game. “They didn’t have to. Jack [Plummer] is a phenomenal player, and he earned that right there. I’m just extremely grateful and happy that they were able to see that in me. And then A.J. [McCarron] coming in and taking a chance on me.” Elsewhere, the St. Louis Battlehawks upped their record to 4-2 with a 16-3 victory over the Louisville Kings (2-4), while the Columbus Aviators (2-4) held on for a 24-17 win over the Houston Gamblers (2-4). And the defending champion D.C. Defenders kept rolling, making quick work of the scuffling Dallas Renegades, 24-6. After starting the year on a three-game winning streak, Dallas (3-3) has lost three in a row. Here are my takeaways from Week 6 of the UFL: Orlando had just two turnovers entering Sunday’s game against the Stallions, but coughed up three times with lost fumbles on offense that Birmingham turned into 10 points. Two of those fumbles were in the red zone on quarterback-center exchanges between center Cole Schneider and Plummer. The turnovers could have been worse, as the Stallions dropped at least two potential interceptions. Other than the takeaways, Plummer had a good day, posting 324 yards and two scores. “The little mistakes just cost us all day long,” Becht said. “We died of a thousand knife cuts. Every time we got something cooking, we just shot ourselves in the foot.” Becht said the focus at practice this week will be getting back to playing clean football. “With two straight losses, our backs are against the wall, and that’s all great,” Becht said. “We’re in a good position to finish out the last four games, but we have to make a hard choice about what we want to be as a football team.” Since a season-opening loss on the road against the Battlehawks, D.C. has won five games in a row by an average margin of 20 points per game. Quarterback Jordan Ta’amu has been the catalyst for the Defenders. In D.C.’s latest victory over the Renegades, Ta’amu completed 20-of-28 passes for 227 yards and three touchdowns, with one interception. For the season, Ta’amu is tops in the UFL in passer rating (99.1), second in passing yards (1,100) and second in passing touchdowns (11). The Defenders have scored touchdowns on the opening drives of all six games this season. However, head coach Shannon Harris isn’t looking for big plays all the time – he’ll take a methodical drive by steadily moving the chains. “It’s not the home run derby,” Harris said. “We just want to hit some singles every once in a while, and then put the ball in [the end zone]. …  We’ve just got to understand that every play isn’t going to go for 80 every snap.” St. Louis had another strong performance defensively, posting six sacks and holding Louisville to just three points for the Battlehawks third win in their last four games. During that four-game stretch, St. Louis has held teams to 19.5 points per game. The Battlehawks are second in the UFL with eight turnovers forced through six games. St. Louis is tied for the league lead in sacks with 18. Defensive tackle Carlos Davis leads the Battlehawks with 4.5 sacks, while safety Jordan Mosley is tops in tackles with 32. “To me, it’s the best defense in the league,” Battlehawks head coach Ricky Proehl said. The Battlehawks play three of their last four games at home to finish the season. Speaking of the Aviators, head coach Ted Ginn Jr. got his second victory of the season at home, with Columbus hosting Jim Tressel Bobblehead night to honor the former Ohio State standout receiver’s head coach while he played for the Buckeyes. However, the former NFL receiver leaned on running the football to earn the victory. The Aviators finished with 179 rushing yards, led by Jon Lovett’s 63 rushing yards and a score. The Aviators had good balance on offense, as Jalan McClendon completed 20-of-26 passes for 187 yards and a score. McClendon’s favorite target was Tay Martin, who totaled six catches for 103 yards. Week 7 starts in St. Louis on Friday, with the Battlehawks hosting Columbus. That matchup is followed by two games on Saturday. The Defenders start things off by hosting the Kings, followed by the Renegades traveling to Birmingham to face the Stallions. The Gamblers close things on Sunday by taking on the Storm in Houston.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The United States is through to the 2026 FIFA World Cup round of 32 following its 2-0 win over Australia at Seattle Stadium on Friday, but the top spot in Group D is still up for grabs. The U.S. leads group D with six points after convincing multi-goal victories over Paraguay and Australia, the latter of which guaranteed its spot in the knockout stage of the tournament. Now all that’s left for the U.S. to do is win the group, which it can do on Friday, depending on the result of the Group D matchup between Türkiye and Paraguay. So how exactly does the U.S. win Group D? Here are the key Group D clinching scenarios: If the United States wins Group D, it would mark just the third time in history that the Americans have finished atop their group at a men’s FIFA World Cup. The U.S. previously accomplished the feat in 1930, finishing ahead of Paraguay and Belgium, and again in 2010 when it barely edged England for first place because of goals scored. After the win against Australia, the Stars and Stripes are now listed as the overwhelming favorites to win Group D at -750. Before the tournament began, the U.S. was +5500 to win the World Cup. Now, after its dream start, its odds have surged to +3300. So when will the USA lose? Or, especially after its group stage dominance so far, will it even lose at all? Let’s take a look at the updated odds for the United States’ stage of elimination at FanDuel Sportsbook as of June 19. Team USA — Stage of elimination odds Last 32: +160 (bet $10 to win $26 total)Last 16: +190 (bet $10 to win $29 total)Quarterfinals: +310 (bet $10 to win $41 total)Semifinals: +850 (bet $10 to win $95 total)Runner-up: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total)Outright winner: +3300 (bet $10 to win $340 total)Group stage: +50000 (bet $10 to win $5,010 total) This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. After USA’s opening win against Paraguay, the oddsboard projects the Americans to make it out of the group stage but fall in the first knockout-stage game. The second result on the oddsboard is the “Last 16,” meaning the USA would make it out of the group stage and win one knockout stage game, before falling in the second knockout stage game. How would that result stack up against previous results? Well, at the 2022 World Cup, Team USA made it to the Round of 16, which was viewed as a stellar accomplishment. In 2018, the USA did not qualify for the World Cup, and in 2014 and 2010, the Americans also made it to the Round of 16. Their best result this century occurred in 2002, when the Americans made it all the way to the quarterfinals before being eliminated. In 1998, Team USA lost in the group stage, in 1994, it fell in the Round of 16, and in 1990, it also fell in the group stage. But after the dominating opening wins against Paraguay and Australia, expectations have been raised and a deep tournament run seems very possible.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Here’s what’s happening this week Inside The Garage: Texas Motor Speedway (Fort Worth, Texas) — Kyle Larson spent the last two months of May not just worrying about his NASCAR Cup Series car but also about his side job as an Indianapolis 500 driver. This year, he has no worries about the Indy 500 as he is not competing in that race. And as is typical for Larson, he has so much going on that a few weeks until race day, he isn’t paying too much attention or having any fear of missing out. “I don’t have FOMO,” the two-time Cup champion Larson told me and other reporters this past weekend at Texas. “I think once the race day comes, I’ll have a little bit of FOMO as every race car driver probably gets that has competed in it before. “I had a great time doing it the couple years I did, and I’ll look forward to watching on TV and being a fan.” No Cup driver is attempting to do both the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day — aka The Double — in 2026. Connor Zilisch is the most likely driver who could get the opportunity to attempt the Indy 500. He wouldn’t have FOMO considering he hasn’t done it yet, and the one other full-time Cup driver other than Larson who has competed in the race doesn’t have it. AJ Allmendinger was seventh in the 2013 Indy 500 driving for Team Penske. He has indicated that he doesn’t have the stomach for those speeds in those cars. “There’s 100 percent chance I’m not doing it ever again,” Allmendinger told me. “That’s a different level to go commit to that. Like I always said, I will always cherish that year with Roger and the opportunity and how good we were, and everything that went with that race, the good memories and the bad. “I love watching it. I love waking up Sunday morning and then watching it at home and then heading to the track. But being there? I have no want to be there.” Michael McDowell admits he has a little bit of wishing he was there just because he has never been there and was on the INDYCAR trajectory until Michael Waltrip Racing brought him to stock cars. He competed in a couple of open-wheel races before making the move. “I worked my entire first half of my career trying to get there and get that route,” McDowell told me and other reporters. “I’ve never even been there to see it. “But I’m also thankful I got a Cup ride when I did, and I got in when I got in, and I’ve been able to keep one for a long time. Definitely every time I wake up on Sunday morning [of the 500], I think, man, it’d be so cool.” That’s the way new Cup winner Carson Hocevar thinks. He is hopeful one day he can do it. “I think I could actually do it — as in confidence of running wide open and managing air,” the 6-foot-4 Hocevar said during a news conference at Texas. “I don’t know if I’ll get to do it, literally. “But I just hope if I do get a shot that I can go fit the seat and they don’t tell me I’m too tall for the ride. I, for sure, hope that’s not the case. But I’m just enjoying Sundays right now [in Cup] for sure.” That’s the way it is for Larson. Except he’s just enjoying every day of the week he races, whether it’s on dirt or asphalt. “I haven’t had any feelings about [the 500] one way or the other,” Larson said. “Right now I’m not thinking about running the Indy 500. Down the road, maybe.” Kyle Busch New Crew Chief Two-time Cup Series champion Kyle Busch has a new crew chief in RCR veteran Andy Street taking over for Jim Pohlman, who had re-joined the organization this year after a stint at JR Motorsports where he won an O’Reilly Series title with Justin Allgaier. Sitting at 27th in the standings after 10 races, Busch said he liked Pohlman but RCR thought a change was best considering the results. Busch addressed the shop floor last week after the change was announced. “I thanked Jim for his leadership and for him being there and being a part of our team and what he did for the team,” Busch told me and other reporters Friday night. “And [I said] that I’m full in, I’m all committed. I’ve never probably worked as much in these last four years as I did in 15 at JGR, but that’s due to us needing to get better and us get the things heading in the right direction. “We’ve got to put the train back on the tracks.” From the outside looking in, it appears to be one last gasp to try to get Busch running well enough that both sides would want to keep the two-time Cup champion, who is in a contract year. “I wouldn’t agree with that,” Busch said. “I feel like we’re in this together anyways. I love Richard [Childress], and I feel like we’ve worked really well together. “Austin [Dillon] has been a phenomenal teammate that I’ve been able to work with. I feel he’s probably one of the best that I’ve had, and so it’s been a joyful time of working with him. It’s just the results aren’t there. And we’ve got to line that up and try to be better.” Run The Boot At Watkins Glen? Prior to the season, I asked most of the Cup drivers if the boot section of Watkins Glen (where the Cup Series heads next week) should be included in the course for NASCAR races. It would add a mile to the 2.45-mile course. NASCAR doesn’t use it because there are questions of whether there would be any passing, it would shorten the number of laps of the race and the track can use that area for camping. The drivers seemed evenly split on it. For it … AJ Allmendinger: “I get why we don’t run it. It probably would spread the field out too much, but I would love to run the boot.” Not for it … Bubba Wallace: “Don’t add some new element where I’ve got to go figure it out. I feel like I’m getting my feet ahead of me [on the current course]. Don’t even mention that.” In The News — Dystany Spurlock will make her truck debut this weekend Watkins Glen. She would be the first Black woman to compete in a NASCAR national series race. She is driving for Garage 66. [WHO IS DYSTANY SPURLOCK? Going Fast is Destiny for Black Woman Racer] –INDYCAR confirmed that it will not allow non-chartered cars on the grid except for the Indianapolis 500 starting in 2027. That means the field will be 25 cars for all races except for the Indianapolis 500 in 2027 and then 27 cars in 2028 when Honda and Chevrolet are each awarded one charter. Social Spotlight They Said It “Do the math. After 10 [races], Tyler Reddick had over a 100-point lead. Theoretically, if you repeat those races, he could start 16th and win the championship, right? So I think anything is possible.” — Chase Elliott crew chief Alan Gustafson on whether a driver needs to be in a certain position after the end of the regular season to win the title.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The NFL offseason — which is basically a whole season unto itself — is about to come to a screeching halt. Free agency has come and mostly gone. The draft is complete. And now, teams will likely wait until June 1 before making any more moves, because of the salary-cap and compensatory-pick considerations. (That’s when we’ll no doubt see the Philadelphia Eagles trade disgruntled receiver A.J. Brown.) But there is always something to discuss in the NFL offseason. Always. 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, IT’S… George Pickens’ contract situation says one thing about the Dallas Cowboys — and another about the NFL. When it comes to extending the All-Pro receiver, the Cowboys aren’t going to change the way they do business — not even after the Micah Parsons situation blew up last year. You know the story: Dallas and Parsons never agreed on a contract and negotiations went forgotten-milk sour. Parsons is now a Green Bay Packer. The Cowboys have players and picks to show for the trade. A new-look defense is under construction after last year’s version was putrid without All-Pro edge Parsons. And you’d think maybe the Cowboys might be more generous with their players, perhaps to earn more goodwill — or perhaps to avoid fallout with another mercurial star. You’d think wrong. At the NFL owners meetings in March, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones set the table for how negotiations would go with Pickens, calling the franchise tag “an integral part of our strategy over the next two or three years as we look to keep our best players.” And ahead of the draft, executive vice president and director of player personnel Stephen Jones doubled down. “We’ve made a decision that we’re gonna have George play under the franchise tag, which won’t be a first for us,” Jones said. “There won’t be negotiations on a long-term deal. That’s certainly not a first for this organization and won’t be a first in the league.” Pickens signed his franchise tag on April 30. On the Cowboys’ end, this is a shrewd decision for roster management. It’s what’s best for the organization, forcing the receiver — who could likely have made $40 million per year (and probably on a three- or four-year deal) on the open market — to play for a one-year, $27.3 million deal. And with Pickens, it’s important to note how he’s not like CeeDee Lamb or Ja’Marr Chase, veteran receivers who repeatedly proved themselves on and off the field before signing huge deals. No, Pickens is more of a wild-card, whose play had been spotty at times until he arrived in Dallas last season. And he only landed with the Cowboys because the Pittsburgh Steelers were fed up with him, shipping him off for a third-round pick. That isn’t to say that Dallas’ decision is fair. But it is analytical and calculated. The Cowboys aren’t changing. Not for Parsons. Not for Pickens. Now for the NFL, it’s yet another reminder of how little power the players have. At the owners meetings, Jerry Jones mentioned that Pickens entered the league under the collective bargaining agreement, which players negotiated. And so Pickens must follow the NFL and NFLPA’s agreed-upon contract rules, which include the franchise tag. In other words, Jones is saying: Don’t hold out, don’t hold in, don’t fight this franchise tag. But of course, Pickens doesn’t have much of an alternative. When he entered the draft in 2022, the NIL era was not fully launched in college football — not like the raging business it is now. Nowadays, star players can stay in college and make plenty of money. As we saw in this year’s draft, many do. But when it comes to going pro in football, the NFL has no competitor. And the league’s contract system is extremely team-friendly. It prevented Pickens from cashing in and securing the long-term financial deal that he could absolutely demand, if not for the franchise tag. Because of that, Pickens has no real recourse — except to demand a trade and/or to stage a holdout or hold-in. That doesn’t seem to be on the table. Instead, he’ll work to change the narrative that he’s difficult to work with. He’ll play on an improperly valued contract. And in 2027, if all goes well, he’ll cash in big. 2. MONDAY MORNING CONTROVERSY Where in the world is Shedeur Sanders? Deshaun Watson is in pole position to start at quarterback for the Cleveland Browns in 2026, per Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot. And … my goodness, why and how? Where is Shedeur Sanders? This is one of the more promising Browns teams we’ve seen in quite some time, which — I know, I know — might not be saying much. But I genuinely believe that Cleveland is agonizingly close to pulling itself out of the basement and away from the purgatory of rebuilding, year after year. But the Browns are not going to be competitive if they play Watson, one of the worst QBs in recent NFL history. I’m not even being hyperbolic. Consider this telling statistic from ESPN’s Benjamin Solak: Over the past 26 years, we’ve seen 907 seasons of quarterbacks with 200 passing attempts or more. In 2024, Watson’s season ranked 902nd in yards per dropback. And of course, the QB tore his Achilles twice since that season. That’s your guy, Cleveland? So I’ll ask again: Where is Sanders? I get it. In all likelihood, Cleveland will draft its guy in 2027 — and that will be the year the Browns can legitimately turn this around. Maybe it’s as simple as: The Browns want to lose a lot of games in 2026 — to rise to the top of the 2027 draft (aka tanking). But that would surprise me. The Browns can’t really afford to tank, not with GM Andrew Berry and head coach Todd Monken on hot seats. Yeah, that’s right, they could both get fired. Monken hasn’t coached a single down yet, but the Browns struggled to attract a top candidate in the 2026 hiring cycle, mainly because of the team’s salary cap issues and quarterback issues — which all tie back to Watson. If they have a strong, young team with a high draft pick in a QB-rich 2027 draft, the Browns could hire a big-name coach or hot coordinator prospect. (Monken joined Cleveland after getting fired from his OC gig with the Baltimore Ravens.) Think about how the Chicago Bears attracted Ben Johnson with a well-timed hire a year after selecting QB Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft. It’s starting to feel clear that Sanders is not a part of the Browns’ plan, that I’m inserting him into the conversation — because he is not inserting or asserting himself as QB1. Time is running out. Now would be a great time for Sanders to step up. To prove he’s “LEGENDARY.” 3. PEELING BACK THE CURTAIN Eric DeCosta did a brilliant job of defusing tension between NFL teams and the Consensus Draft Board. There has been an ongoing discussion in the NFL about the “Consensus Board,” an aggregation of media-based big boards ranking the top draft prospects. It’s an effort to use the immense draft data to set the averages. The discussion is often contentious after a team veers from the consensus ranking. But finally, the discussion took a more productive turn this week. And that was when Ravens GM Eric Decosta took the time to explain what he’s seeing when he works with his team’s board — and compares it to the consensus. “Over the last three years or so, more teams seem to be drafting the same as the Ravens,” DeCosta said on “The Lounge” podcast. “There seems to be an alignment in some ways of boards. And some of that might be based on modeling and analytics and more data being used, some of that data which is industry data and various things. I’m not sure if that’s good or not.” He said there are draft prospects he calls “outlier players” who he might rank, for example, as first- or second-round picks but who the consensus boards show as fourth- or fifth-round picks. “That was concerning except that, in most of those cases, those players were drafted closer to where we had them by other teams,” DeCosta said. “Meaning, they weren’t falling [toward their consensus value]. … We see those guys getting drafted closer to 35 than 105. So what that tells me — and again, I think we’re just scratching the surface on this — but it tells me that there are players that teams like that the consensus boards haven’t heard about, valued properly or latched onto.” He added: “There are these outlier prospects that the teams know about that the consensus boards haven’t caught up to.” DeCosta felt like the open access to data and analytics has helped the media’s consensus board align more closely with teams’ boards — particularly as the years go on. But they don’t match universally. The entire discussion started with the examination of the San Francisco 49ers’ draft class, which included a handful of “reaches,” when using the consensus board. In this year’s class, 49ers receiver De’Zhaun Stribling might be the best example of an “outlier player.” The 49ers took him at 33rd overall — despite him sitting at 85th on the consensus board — because San Francisco feared he’d get drafted soon after their slot. Reports indicate that the 49ers were right — multiple teams had Stribling circled for Round 2. And all it takes is one other team. If the 49ers wanted Stribling, they probably needed to take him at No. 33. And it’s now upon them to make sure he delivers upon that draft status. San Francisco GM John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan were not as open as DeCosta to talk about the process and the way the consensus board does (and does not) steer their line of thinking. They were more defensive and flippant, with Lynch saying, “We’ve got consensus in this building. That’s the consensus that I care about.” So I appreciate that DeCosta took the time to reach the draft community with a more generous spirit. 4. RANDOM RANKINGS Here are six sleeper rookies that I love for fantasy football. I’ll do three for dynasty and three for redraft. Ted Hurst, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Dynasty) The Bucs’ offense came down to earth last year, which is why they pivoted from OC Josh Grizzard to Zac Robinson, an apple that fell off the Sean McVay tree. You can bet that GM Jason Licht drafted Hurst with Robinson’s offense in mind, and the rookie wideout will join a unit that has some uncertainty at the receiver spots beyond Emeka Egbuka. Jalen McMillan has yet to take a full-time starting role and Chris Godwin is aging and oft-injured. Hurst is a developmental prospect out of Georgia State but has incredible physical abilities and was dominant at the FCS level. Maybe he breaks out in 2027. Mike Washington, RB, Las Vegas Raiders (Dynasty) New Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak ran a two-back backfield in Seattle. Now, Kubiak didn’t have Ashton Jeanty last year, and it’s likely the 2025 first-round pick gets a massive share of the touches. But there is a chance that Washington has a bigger role than expected, particularly given how ideally he fits Kubiak’s system. He will be a really good handcuff in Vegas. Chris Bell, WR, Miami Dolphins (Dynasty) Bell is the ultimate high-risk, high-upside play. He was an outstanding player at Louisville, where he would have likely earned his way into the top 50 picks in the NFL Draft. But he tore his ACL, which landed him in Round 4 and on a Dolphins team devoid of receivers. Can he earn a sizable role while overcoming the knee injury? Draft him if you want to be along for that journey. Ja’Kobi Lane, WR, Baltimore Ravens (Redraft): If you want a late-round flier with high upside, Lane could be among the best options. Baltimore has long needed an explosive, outside option with good hands. That’s Lane. He should supplant veteran receiver Rashod Bateman for playing time, and the question will simply be whether Lane can convert his snaps in a more efficient way than Bateman has. Justin Joly, TE, Denver Broncos (Redraft): The Broncos have been looking for a tight end who fits Sean Payton’s sensibilities. (He wants another Jimmy Graham, but of course, those guys don’t grow on trees.) It doesn’t seem like Evan Engram or Adam Trautman have quite gotten it done in Denver. So Joly is a compelling guy, particularly if we see him running with the first-team in training camp. Jonah Coleman, RB, Denver Broncos (Redraft) I’ll say it: I don’t think second-round pick RJ Harvey was very impressive last year as a rookie. Not in fantasy. Not in reality. He’s not so impressive that a guy like Coleman can’t vulture carries. And that’s even more true of J.K. Dobbins, who will likely be Coleman’s more direct competition. So if Coleman can steal Dobbins’ job and eat into Harvey’s touches, the rookie will be a really good fantasy option. But for now, that’s a big if. 5. HE SAID WHAT?! *Silence* Normally, this is the space where I explore a controversial statement — or an exciting quote. But I want to explore an unusual silence that surrounded QB Fernando Mendoza, the draft’s No. 1 overall pick. No one is talking about him. No one has really discussed him since the combine, when it became clear that he was the sure-thing at first overall. There’s nothing controversial about the squeaky-clean Mendoza. From my vantage point, it has been intentional. Mendoza has made appearances here and there. He has let his aw-shucks persona shine. He has embraced his cultural achievements as one of the NFL’s few Latino quarterbacks. And he has used his spotlight for good, raising funds for the National MS Society in honor of his mother. But he has not generated a compelling headline since winning the national championship. That’s authentic to Mendoza, for sure. But it has all been in the name of securing the No. 1 overall pick. That didn’t help draft ratings. That thrust undersized and inexperienced Alabama QB Ty Simpson into the pre-draft discussion as a sacrificial lamb in the embrace-debate TV world. But it was all to benefit Mendoza, who has made the leap to the NFL as quietly as any first-overall pick in recent memory. That includes understated personalities like Cam Ward and Bryce Young going to understated teams like the Titans and Panthers. Despite the lack of fanfare for Mendoza, you can count me as someone who believes in his prospects. Give him some time. He’ll grow on people, both on and off the field. He may very well be a superstar in 2027.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The best players in the world will be on display this summer at the 2026 World Cup. So, let’s rank them. Ahead of the world’s premier sporting event, our on-air experts — Alexi Lalas, Maurice Edu and Stu Holden — and production staff ranked the 100 best stars who will likely feature at this summer’s World Cup, hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. We’ll count down to No. 1 over the next five weeks, starting with Nos. 100-76. Just how good is USA captain Christian Pulisic? Where do living legends like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo stack up compared to the latest generation of stars, led by Kylian Mbappé? What about players making their World Cup debuts, like Erling Haaland or Lamine Yamal? Some big names kick things off for us. Is South Korea’s Son Heung-min too low? Is Mexico’s Raúl Jiménez way overrated? And where does Pulisic really rank? Let’s get into it! ___ Age: 28National team appearances: 52Club team: AC Milan (Italy) Estupiñán thrived in the Premier League for three seasons with Brighton before making a move to AC Milan last summer. He is one of the impressive talents that make Ecuador a potential sleeper this summer. Age: 26National team appearances: 56Club team: Liverpool (England) Isak scored 52 goals in his last two seasons at Newcastle before making a big-money move to Liverpool last summer. Injuries have limited him to just four goals and 21 games this season, but he is a constant threat to score whenever he’s on the pitch. Age: 29National team appearances: 77Club team: Bayern Munich (Germany) Kim won Serie A with Napoli in 2023 before making a big move to Bayern Munich. He hasn’t established himself as a first-choice player for the German giants, but he will be a pillar in the Korean defense this summer. Age: 23National team appearances: 18Club team: Paris Saint-Germain (France) Barcola is one of the hugely talented French attacking players who will be vying for a starting spot. At 22 years old, Barcola is one of the best young wingers in the world and plays at PSG, which won last season’s UEFA Champions League. Age: 28National team appearances: 26Club team: Manchester United (England) Martínez would start at center back for most teams in this tournament, but he’s likely going to start as the third option behind Cristian Romero and Nicolas Otamendi, who started during Argentina’s winning run in 2022. He can fill in at left back, as well, and will play a role somehow for the reigning champions. Age: 25National team appearances: 49Club team: Manchester City (England) Foden was the Premier League Player of the Season in 2023-24, but he has not built off that honor. At 25 years old, he is yet to find his footing and establish a spot in the England team. Age: 28National team appearances: 31Club team: Brighton (England) Mitoma is an exciting winger who broke out two years ago for Brighton. He scored the winning goal for Japan back on March 31 in a friendly against England and will be the key player in attack for his country this summer. Age: 28National team appearances: 33Club team: Inter Milan (Italy) Kylian Mbappé will likely lead France’s attack at the start of the tournament, but Thuram is a very good alternative. Son of former France star Lilian Thuram, Marcus has scored at least 12 Serie A goals in each of his first three seasons at Inter Milan. Age: 29National team appearances: 52Club team: Real Sociedad (Spain) A winger by trade for Real Sociedad, Oyarzabal has stepped up as a striker for the national team in the past. The best example was in the Euro 2024 final, when he scored the winning goal for Spain against England. Age: 24National team appearances: 24Club team: Paris Saint-Germain (France) Ramos famously replaced Cristiano Ronaldo in the Portugal lineup for a Round of 16 game against Switzerland at the 2022 World Cup and scored a hat trick. Ronaldo will likely start the tournament up front for Portugal, but Ramos is one of the best backup strikers you’ll see this summer. Age: 34National team appearances: 125Club team: Fulham (England) Jiménez is a fixture in the Fulham starting lineup and will be the main man for Mexico this summer. With 44 goals for El Tri, he’s two goals behind former striker Jared Borgetti for second most all time. Age: 20National team appearances: 28Club team: Juventus (Italy) Yıldız broke into the Juventus lineup three years ago and quickly became a focal point of the team’s attack. At 20 years old, he has already made 28 appearances for Türkiye. Age: 27National team appearances: 16Club team: Arsenal (England) Eze made a huge move to Arsenal last summer and immediately became a big part of Mikel Arteta’s squad. He normally plays an attacking role, but he could push for the spot in England’s midfield that is usually occupied by Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham. Age: 29National team appearances: 41Club team: Arsenal (England) Merino is unlikely to start for Spain, but he’ll still probably play a big role. He scored eight goals in 10 appearances last year for the reigning European champions. A midfielder by trade, Merino has also played as a striker for both club and country. Age: 34National team appearances: 84Club team: Manchester United (England) Casemiro is a four-time Champions League winner at Real Madrid, but he hasn’t maintained his high level of quality since moving to Manchester United in 2022. His former Real Madrid manager, Carlo Ancelotti, is now in charge of Brazil and brought the midfielder back to the national team last year. Age: 30National team appearances: 41Club team: Paris Saint-Germain (France) Ruiz was part of PSG’s dominant midfield trio last year that powered the team’s Champions League victory. Spain’s midfield is loaded with talent, so it won’t be as easy for him to find a spot in the starting lineup. Age: 25National team appearances: 27Club team: Manchester City (England) Guéhi was the captain for Crystal Palace last summer when the South London club won the FA Cup. He moved to Manchester City earlier this year and has immediately become a fixture in the reigning Premier League champion’s defense. Age: 25National team appearances: 15Club team: Liverpool (England) Frimpong is listed as a defender, but he’s as important to the Dutch attack as he is to its defense. He has impressive pace and is a constant threat down the right wing when he’s on the pitch. Age: 26National team appearances: 22Club team: Chelsea (England) James will be an important player for England this summer with versatility to play either right back or midfield. Staying healthy has been James’ problem at Chelsea, although he has played in more than two dozen games in the Premier League this season. Age: 33National team appearances: 143Club team: LAFC (United States) Son is in the middle of his first full season in Los Angeles after a decade in the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur. He’s South Korea’s all-time leader in national team appearances. Age: 27National team appearances: 46Club team: Barcelona (Spain) Koundé will likely start at right back for the French, who are among the favorites this summer. He has made at least 40 appearances in each of the last four seasons for Barcelona. Age: 27National team appearances: 84Club team: AC Milan (Italy) “Captain America” will have all eyes on him this summer. At 27 years old, Pulisic has already made 84 appearances for the U.S. national team. His 32 goals are 25 behind Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey. Pulisic has not scored for the U.S. since November 2024, so he’ll need to regain his form if the Americans want to make a run into the knockout round. Age: 21National team appearances: 28Club team: Real Madrid (Spain) Güler is finishing up his third season at Real Madrid and has emerged as a key player in the squad. He will be the main man for Türkiye for years to come, starting with this summer’s World Cup. Age: 27National team appearances: 32Club team: Arsenal (England) Gyökeres scored a memorable hat trick against Poland in the UEFA World Cup playoffs in March, including one in the 87th minute to seal a 3-2 win. He moved to Arsenal last summer and has 18 goals in all competitions. Age: 27National team appearances: 48Club team: Barcelona (Spain) Olmo emerged as a key player for Spain at Euro 2024. He scored three goals — finishing in a six-way tie for the Golden Boot — including one in the quarterfinal and semifinal against Germany and France, respectively. We will continue to unveil FOX Sports’ FIFA World Cup Rank Top 100 Players each week. Up next are Nos. 75-51 on May 11. 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 apps. A record 40 matches, more than one-third of the tournament, will air in prime time across FOX (21) and FS1 (19).​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Legendary former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been taken to hospital from Old Trafford after feeling unwell. The 84-year-old left the stadium an hour before United’s Premier League clash with Liverpool kicked off on Sunday afternoon, with his subsequent admission to hospital described as a “precaution”. Precautionary measures at Old Trafford Per The Daily Mail, Ferguson was moved to medical care more than an hour before the scheduled kick-off on Sunday. Despite the sudden nature of the incident, it is understood that the move is purely a precaution intended to ensure the Scotsman’s well-being. It is expected that Ferguson will soon be recuperating at home. Surgery needed in 2018 Ferguson remains a constant fixture at both home and away matches for the Red Devils, usually sitting in the directors’ box. In May 2018, he underwent emergency surgery following a life-threatening brain hemorrhage, and made a full recovery. There is nothing to suggest this weekend’s incident is related in any way. Club hierarchy changes The United icon has faced several personal challenges in recent years, including the loss of his wife, Lady Cathy, who passed away in 2023 at the age of 84. The couple had been married for 57 years, and her passing was felt deeply across the entire Manchester United community. Ferguson has also seen his formal relationship with the club change. Following the arrival of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS, his multi-million-pound ambassadorial contract was canceled as part of a wider cost-cutting initiative. Despite this, his loyalty to the team has never wavered. Ratcliffe on Ferguson’s status Explaining the decision to end the paid role a year ago, Sir Jim Ratcliffe provided insight into their private conversations. Ratcliffe said: “I sat down with Alex, just the two of us in the room. And I said, ‘Look, the club isn’t where you may think it is. It is spending more than it’s earning and we’re going to finish up in some difficulties. Honestly, we can’t really afford to continue to pay you £2m a year.'”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

This college football season is loaded with top‑tier talent, making the 2026 Heisman race one of the most competitive. Below is a list of the top six candidates projected to win the Heisman, as well as their odds, per FanDuel as of May 2nd. Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr is currently the favorite to win this year’s Heisman Trophy. After his first season as starting quarterback, Carr was a part of a talented Fighting Irish offense next to former running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, as well as former wide receiver Malachi Fields. Carr finished last season with 271 passing yards, 27 total touchdowns and six interceptions. Even with Notre Dame missing the College Football Playoff last season, Carr is an important returning piece for their 2026 team. Carr enters the season with +750 to win the Heisman. Texas quarterback Arch Manning was one of last season’s most anticipated signal-callers and a projected 2025 Heisman finalist. However, a slow start to the season quickly took him out of the race. The former five-star prospect is entering his redshirt junior season under coach Steve Sarkisian, with speculation that he’ll enter the 2027 NFL Draft. He also added 399 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. Manning sits at +800 to win the honor. Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss entered the year as a backup and took over for former quarterback Austin Simmons due to injury in Week 3, and instantly stole the show. Chambliss led the Rebels to their first-ever CFP appearance following former coach Lane Kiffin’s departure, where they fell in the semifinals to Miami (FL). Chambliss became a sensation in short order, and now returns to Oxford with the tools to help the Rebels reach another CFP. Chambliss finished the year with 3,937 passing yards, 26 passing touchdowns and just three interceptions. He also put up 527 yards on the ground and eight rushing touchdowns. Chambliss is listed at +1100 to take home the Heisman Trophy. Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin is the only returning Heisman finalist from last season’s group and is already drawing attention as a potential repeat contender. Sayin was one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the country last season, and led Ohio State back to the CFP in his first starting season. He also returns Biletnikoff finalist wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and adds five-star freshman Chris Henry Jr. to his air-raid offense, which could be one of the most dangerous units come this fall. Sayin finished the year with 3,610 passing yards, 32 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Sayin sits at +1200 to win the Heisman. Following the departure of former Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, head coach Curt Cignetti found his next prodigy from the portal in former TCU quarterback Josh Hoover. Hoover played four seasons with the Horned Frogs and will use his final season of eligibility playing for Cignetti in the Big Ten. Hoover capped off last season with 3,472 passing yards, 27 total touchdowns and 13 interceptions, and a 19-8 record as a starting quarterback. Hoover enters his final season with +1200 to become Indiana’s second Heisman winner following Mendoza. Oregon quarterback Dante Moore shocked the college football world when he announced he’d return to Oregon for one final season, especially after the Ducks had just signed former Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola. Moore was one of the most impressive quarterbacks in college football, where he led the Ducks back to the CFP, but fell to eventual champions Indiana in the semifinals. Moore closed out last season with 3,565 passing yards, 32 total touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Moore is currently +1200 to win the Heisman.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Fans of the U.S. men’s national team had a lot to cheer in Saturday’s game between two Dutch powerhouses. USA striker Ricardo Repi scored and defender Sergiño Dest made his return from a hamstring injury by coming on as a substitute in PSV Eindhoven’s 2-2 draw at Ajax in the Dutch league on Saturday. Dest entered the game near the hour-mark, when the score was 1-1, for his first appearance since injuring his left hamstring on March 7 against AZ Alkmaar. He missed two recent pre-World Cup friendlies for the U.S. — and had to watch from the sidelines as PSV clinched the Dutch league title with five games to spare — but his return should boost his chances of making the squad for the tournament in North America in June and July. Eindhoven took the lead through fellow substitute Myron Boadu in the 77th minute but Mika Godts equalized for Ajax in injury time. Dest has two goals in 37 international appearances and started all four U.S. matches at the 2022 World Cup. Pepi scored about 30 seconds in for Eindhoven, his 14th league goal this season and fourth in three matches. The 23-year-old has 17 goals in all competitions for PSV this season. The U.S. starts Group D against Paraguay on June 12 in Inglewood, California, and then play Australia a week later at Seattle. The Americans conclude the group stage on June 25 back at SoFi Stadium against Türkiye. Reporting by The Associated Press.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

“Whether you know it or not, we all have something in common.” For the New York Mets, Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies, that’s being off to cataclysmic starts. Boston (Alex Cora) and Philadelphia (Rob Thomson) have each fired their respective managers over the past week, and the Mets have lost 17 of their last 21 games, including a 12-game losing streak. Which team is more likely to turn a corner? FOX Sports MLB Analyst Dontrelle Willis opines that the team is the Phillies. “I think it’s the Phillies [that are more likely to flip the script] because this is a veteran-led team with a lot of experience,” Willis said. “You see Kyle Schwarber, right now, is starting to heat up, hitting .280 over his last seven ballgames. You can book it that he’s going to hit 35-40 home runs, especially in that ballpark. We know Bryce Harper’s going to hit .270, and you have guys like Brandon Marsh, who leads the team in batting average, hitting .304. “What is concerning to me is, especially without Zack Wheeler, they had a rotation ERA of 5.60. That is unacceptable even in that ballpark. All of a sudden, they get Wheeler back into that rotation. Now, they’re down to a 3.16 ERA, so you know they’re going to be able to have that swing and miss with [Cristopher] Sanchez & Co. “And Zach Wheeler, he has one more year on his contract, so they’re feeling like, with this core group, the window is starting to close. There’s going to be some urgency, but they have “Donny Baseball” [interim manager Don Mattingly] at the helm, and they’re 4-0 so far. Sometimes a new voice creates a shockwave, and they’re playing well right now.” Eric Karros concurs with that sentiment. “The Phillies have the best overall constructed roster,” Karros said when comparing the Phillies, Mets and Red Sox. “They didn’t get off to a good start, especially offensively. They had some struggles early on. Alec Bohm has always been a proven run-producer in that lineup. He has gotten off to a miserable start. He’s going to get better. Schwarber is coming into his own. Trea Turner’s going to produce more. We know what Harper does. The pitching’s coming back. They’ve had some injuries, as well. “Over the course of 162 games, this team is just built well enough to win.” Philadelphia, which reached the 2022 World Series after firing Joe Girardi and promoting bench coach Rob Thomson to interim manager in June of that season, won the NL East in 2024 and 2025 before starting this season 9-19. Following a stretch that saw the Phillies lose 11 of 12 games, they fired Thomson and are 4-0 since promoting Mattingly to interim manager. As for the other struggling clubs, the Red Sox are in last place in the AL East at 13-19. Their starting rotation — a unit that was prioritized in the offseason (e.g., signing left-hander Ranger Suarez to a five-year, $130 million deal and acquiring right-handers Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo) — is 25th in MLB in ERA (4.75) and 21st in WHIP (1.37) and opponent batting average (.258). Meanwhile, Boston’s offense is 29th in slugging percentage (.354), tied for 28th in home runs (22), 26th in runs (126) and tied for 24th in hits (250). The Red Sox lost to the New York Yankees in last year’s Wild Card round and previously hadn’t made the postseason since 2021. Regarding the Mets, who are second in MLB with a $383 million payroll, their offense is last in on-base percentage (.290) and slugging percentage (.342), 29th in runs (110), 27th in hits (242) and 26th in home runs (25). New York missed the playoffs last season.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports