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Hope springs eternal with every coaching change in the NFL, as fan bases wish the new hire can turn their team around in Year 1. And that could also be a sentiment held by players, who might believe that the right coaching staff can maximize their potential. Just under a third of the league made a change at head coach this offseason, with 10 teams hoping that their change could lead to a winning culture. But which players stand to benefit the most from the coaching changes made over the offseason? In descending order, I rank my top 10, selecting one from each of the teams that have a new coach. New Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike McCarthy has been talking up Will Howard since his first days on the job. The 2025 sixth-round pick doesn’t have a pathway to start, barring injury — Aaron Rodgers is QB1 — but McCarthy’s extensive experience developing quarterbacks could pay major dividends for Howard, as well as 2026 third-rounder Drew Allar. Buffalo Bills coach Joe Brady has been vocal in his support of Coleman, who’s had two inconsistent seasons to start his career, after getting promoted from offensive coordinator this offseason. While the former second-round pick faces pressure to show growth in 2026, the stakes won’t be as high following the Bills’ acquisition of D.J. Moore from the Chicago Bears. So high-level production from Coleman would be a luxury for Brady’s offense, and maybe that’s the best-case scenario for the former Florida State standout. In his six seasons coaching the Cleveland Browns, Kevin Stefanski featured tight ends prominently in his offense. Harold Fannin Jr., for example, was Cleveland’s leading receiver in 2025 as a third-round rookie. So, Kyle Pitts stands to benefit from the new coaching staff in 2026. He’s coming off his best season since his rookie year — 88 catches for 928 yards and five touchdowns in ‘25 — so his upward trajectory could continue with Stefanski. Under new coach Todd Monken, the Cleveland Browns have loaded up their receiving core, adding two top-40 picks in KC Concepcion (first round) and Denzel Boston (second round) to a group that already included Jerry Jeudy and Harold Fannin Jr. The attention that Cleveland’s passing game should command is expected to open up the box for Quinshon Judkins, who’ll also have a rebuilt offensive line in front of him in 2026. New Arizona Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur’s experience in the pass game and as a wide receiver coach could help Marvin Harrison Jr. finally unlock his potential. A former No. 4 overall pick, Harrison should have plenty of single coverage opportunities downfield thanks to the pass-catching talent around him (star tight end Trey McBride, fellow wide receiver Michael Wilson) and rookie running back Jeremiyah Love’s presence forcing safeties to drop into the box. The run game was a key part of John Harbaugh’s success with the Baltimore Ravens, and that’s already been a priority early in his tenure with the New York Giants. New York signed perennial Pro Bowl fullback Patrick Ricard in free agency and drafted Miami (Fla.) offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa with the 10th overall pick to play guard. That makes Cam Skattebo, whose rookie season was cut short after eight games, a big winner as he returns from Not long after he became the Las Vegas Raiders’ head coach, Klint Kubiak said he envisions a Christian McCaffrey-like role for Ashton Jeanty in the offense. So, the former No. 6 overall pick’s touches could increase from the big workload he had as a rookie (321 touches, sixth in the NFL). Kubiak’s wide zone run scheme should present more opportunities for Jeanty to display his playmaking ability in the open field. The Miami Dolphins cut ties with several core players shortly after head coach Jeff Hafley and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan were hired this offseason. One player they prioritized, though, was De’Von Achane. The standout running back received a four-year extension earlier in May. The versatile Achane will now be the engine of the Dolphins’ offense, giving new starting quarterback Malik Willis something to work with as the team arguably has the least talented wide receiver room in the NFL. Malaki Starks quickly received praise from new Baltimore Ravens head coach Jesse Minter. Minter said the 2025 first-round pick could be “a household type of name in the secondary” in a conversation with ESPN. It helps that Minter, who was the Los Angeles Chargers’ defensive coordinator the previous two seasons, has an extensive background in coaching defensive backs to guide the second-year pro. Starks played more snaps than any other Baltimore defender last season, positioning him to take a step forward from an encouraging rookie campaign. Tennessee Titans coach Robert Saleh has kept Cam Ward’s development top-of-mind in his first several months on the job. He got Ward much-needed wide receiver help in Ohio State’s Carnell Tate with the fourth overall pick, bypassing the top defenders on the board, and has paired the second-year quarterback with an experienced offensive coordinator in Brian Daboll, who helped develop Josh Allen into one of the league’s best quarterbacks in Buffalo.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

“Why not us?” That’s the question U.S. men’s team manager Mauricio Pochettino is asking about the USA’s chances of winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup. And with the 26 players selected for this summer’s tournament, we can go a step further and see who may be the starters in the June 12 opener against Paraguay. FOX Sports soccer analysts Alexi Lalas and Stu Holden, alongside reporters Doug McIntyre and Laken Litman, give their starting XI projections. Go With A Back-Five Setup In goal, Lalas has Matt Freese over 2022 starter Matt Turner, a choice he acknowledges might not be the most popular, but one he would make nonetheless.While some modern coaches prefer to label the shape a “back three,” Lalas explained on Tuesday’s episode of “Alexi Lalas’ State of the Union” following the roster reveal that USA should embrace the defensive stability of a true back five.”A lot of times people say, ‘Oh, we’re playing a back three.’ When in reality, they’re really playing a back five. They just don’t want to say it, because it sounds defeatist,” Lalas said. “But this is a back five.” In theory, this structure would allow Antonee “Jedi” Robinson and Sergiño Dest to move forward as wing-backs while anchoring the central defense with the trio of Tim Ream, Chris Richards, and Alex Freeman.In front of them, Lalas deploys the proven, gritty pairing of midfielders Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie.By locking down the center of the pitch, that would free Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun to spearhead the attack alongside Tim Weah, whom Lalas insists must stay in his traditional, right-wing position rather than being asked to track back and defend. The Gio Reyna ‘Wrinkle’ Holden agreed on the defensive personnel but threw a curveball into the midfield room.Rather than playing it safe with a standard double-pivot, Stu introduced a fascinating “wrinkle” by dropping Gio Reyna into a deeper, tempo-setting role.”Here’s my little wrinkle… I’ve got Gio Reyna, playing a little bit deeper,” Holden said. “He’s a guy that I want him passing the ball forward from that position. I don’t think Tyler Adams is. It’s probably more likely, if I’m being honest, that McKinnie would be further back and Reyna further forward.”Backed by the safety net of three center-backs, Holden suggests Adams could function as a lone pivot, pushing McKennie and Reyna higher when in possession.Holden says the fluid 3-3-3-1 setup gives the U.S. unique tactical flexibility to break down low blocks. Our FOX Sports soccer writers Doug McIntyre and Laken Litman also contributed their starting projections. Let’s look at their takes: Adams, McKennie Man The Middle There were a few surprises in Mauricio Pochettino’s final 26-man World Cup roster, including midfielders Tanner Tessman and Diego Luna not making the squad. Both are dealing with injuries, and it’s unknown whether that played into their omissions. Tessman figured to be a potential starter, but with him not in the team, perhaps Pochettino uses just one holding midfielder in Adams with McKennie having freedom to roam, as he’s done quite successfully for club Juventus and for the U.S. team. He can come back and defend as well, but it appears Pochettino will opt to play three center backs with Robinson or Dest serving as wing backs who get forward. Balogun is the starting striker and this opening match vs. Paraguay is a huge opportunity to prove why he’s the No. 1 with Ricardo Pepi and Haji Wright chomping at the bit to get in there. – Laken Litman Dest Is More? Sergiño In Attack Pochettino’s roster selection is thin in the middle but deep on the flanks — an indication that the former Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea manager will play with three central defenders and two wing backs, which squeezes out another player, probably in the heart of the field. This could put extra responsibility on defensive midfielder Tyler Adams, who won’t have another ball-winner next to him. Pochettino isn’t worried, though, noting that several players can be deployed centrally in addition to the deep-lying Adams, including reserves Sebastian Berhalter and Cristian Roldan. Weah pairs with Jedi as the fullbacks, which would allow Dest to play more in a winger position up top, the spot where Pochettino has used him previously. Dest has always had an inclination to push forward and could provide support in the attack that already features playmakers Pulisic and McKennie. – Doug McIntyre 2026 FIFA World Cup: How To Watch The 2026 FIFA World Cup will run from June 11–July 19, 2026. Spread across three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament matches will air live across FOX (70) and FS1 (34) with every match streaming live and on-demand within both the FOX One and the FOX Sports app. A record 40 matches, more than one-third of the tournament, will air in prime time across FOX (21) and FS1 (19). The opening match on June 11 between Mexico and South Africa (3 p.m. ET) will stream for free on Tubi, as well as the USA’s opening match against Paraguay on June 12 (9 p.m. ET).​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

About two months into the season, the Cy Young picture is starting to separate into a few clear tiers. Injuries to reigning back-to-back winner Tarik Skubal and Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet have dramatically reshaped the American League race. Meanwhile, the National League remains centered around familiar dominance, with some fresh challengers entering the conversation. There are seven starting pitchers across both leagues with sub-2.00 ERAs. The last time that happened at this point in the season was in May 2015, featuring these arms leading the pack: Shelby Miller (ATL) 1.48 ERA; Zack Greinke (LAD) 1.48 ERA; Max Scherzer (WSH) 1.51 ERA; Dallas Keuchel (HOU) 1.76 ERA; AJ; Burnett (PIT) 1.81 ERA; Sonny Gray (ATH) 1.82 ERA; Felix Hernandez (SEA) 1.91 ERA. Keuchel won the AL Cy Young award that year, while Jake Arrieta (CHC) wound up besting Greinke for the NL Cy Young award. Who will shake things up this time around? Here’s our way-too-early check-in on the AL Cy Young award contenders: AMERICAN LEAGUE Frontrunners Schlittler leads the major leagues in ERA (1.50), and leads the AL in WHIP (0.84) and innings pitched (72), and is ranked third in the AL in strikeout rate (29.5%). Tha Yankees’ righty has proven that his impressive postseason performance last October was no fluke. The only concern remaining is how he will respond to surpassing his career innings total, particularly depending on how aggressively the Yankees deploy the 25-year-old down the stretch. Cease has hit the injured list for the first time in his career as he deals with a mild left hamstring strain, which is a blow to his Cy Young chances depending on how much time he needs to recover. But he’s not out of the race if he’s only sidelined for the minimum 15 days, and if he picks up some momentum again. Cease leads the AL with a 35.7% strikeout rate through 11 starts. He recorded a 3.05 ERA and 92 strikeouts over 62 innings. The typically durable Cease has made at least 32 starts in each of the past five seasons. The Blue Jays need him to bounce back amid their injury-plagued season. New Faces Soriano established himself as a frontline starter after recording a ridiculous 0.24 ERA in his first six starts, but his underlying metrics indicate he was getting lucky, as well as pitching better than his expected numbers. That’s part of why his 5.34 ERA over his last six starts isn’t all that surprising. Even if Soriano can’t maintain his initial brilliant pace all year, he can still be a legitimate Cy Young contender by season’s end. The South Sider’s emerging ace went from recording a 4.10 ERA in 25 starts and 142.2 innings last year, to posting a 2.04 ERA and the highest win total (7) in the AL across 10 starts this year. Per FanGraphs WAR, only three other starters have been more valuable than Martin this year. The biggest question is whether he will be able to continue throwing hitters off balance for the remainder of the year. Messick is not only going for the AL Cy Young, but he’s also a clear-cut Rookie of the Year contender after putting together strong outings against dominant, World-Series caliber lineups and suppressing hard contact. The most encouraging aspect of Messick’s Cy Young candidacy is that his expected numbers show that his 2.24 ERA over 11 outings and 64 innings is not an accident. More and more, Messick looks like the real deal. The 25-year-old should benefit greatly from this year’s wide-open race. If Everything Breaks Right Cole almost certainly won’t pitch enough innings for standard volume qualifications after missing the first two months of the season recovering from Tommy John surgery. But if he dominates opposing hitters all year like he did in his season debut, his proven track record has a chance to outweigh typical counting stats. A strong, comeback-player-of-the-year type of finish should grant him enough votes to make things interesting. Even despite the fact that his fastball velo is no longer as elite as it used to be, and his mechanics have changed over the years, deGrom still has exceptional execution and command, with a 29.8% strikeout rate that’s not so far off from what it was when he won the 2019 NL Cy Young award. As always, deGrom’s only real adversary here is his health. He finally completed 30 starts last year, and if he can slightly improve his numbers while running back the same workload, the two-time Cy Young winner has a shot to earn more hardware. AL honorable mentions: Gavin Williams (Guardians); Nick Martinez (Rays); Joe Ryan (Twins); Tarik Skubal (Tigers); Max Fried (Yankees); Kevin Gausman (Blue Jays) NATIONAL LEAGUE Frontrunners From last year’s All-Star Game snub to this year’s NL Cy Young award frontrunner, Sanchez is making sure everyone takes notice of how brilliantly he’s been pitching lately. Fresh off finishing a scoreless month of May, joining Orel Hershiser (Sept. 1988) as the only two pitchers since 1913 to go an entire calendar month without allowing a run, Sanchez is on a mission to win his first career Cy Young award. The southpaw owns a major league-leading 1.47 ERA across 12 starts this season. The hardware is his to lose. Of course, Skenes represents a worthy challenger to Sanchez. We’ve certainly seen surprising inconsistency from the reigning NL Cy Young award this year — he’s coughed up nine earned runs in his last two outings combined — to bring his season ERA up to 3.00. But he still leads MLB in WHIP (0.82), walks per nine innings (1.35), and strikeout-to-walk ratio (7.22) by a healthy margin. His quest for a second consecutive award will be an uphill battle, and he’s earned our trust to believe he can recover to pull it off. New Faces Misiorowski has been turning heads with his elite velocity and eye-popping strikeout numbers, making him a clear favorite to win the NL Cy Young award. His otherworldly 1.83 ERA through 11 starts is accompanied by a major league-leading 1.89 FIP, indicating his dominance is not going away any time soon. Misiorowski’s 100 strikeouts and 40.3% strikeout rate lead MLB, because his fastball is one of the nastiest pitches in the sport. It’s all about the slider for Burns, who is using his devastating breaking ball as his primary swing-and-miss pitch, getting a whiff 52.3% of the time that he throws it. Navigating his first full major-league season, Burns owns a 1.96 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in 11 starts for the Reds this year. That wipeout slider paired with a four-seam fastball that reaches triple digits has made Burns the breakout candidate of the year. If Everything Breaks Right Ohtani has pitched exceptionally as a starter, boasting a 0.73 ERA in eight outings while racking up 54 strikeouts in that stretch. But pitching on at least six days’ rest is hurting his stated goal of adding a Cy Young award to his decorated Hall of Fame career. He’s on pace to pitch 150 innings, and that’s not going to be enough alongside NL contenders who are showing no signs of slowing down, like Sanchez, Skenes, and Misiorowski. The Dodgers will likely have to adjust his pitching schedule down the stretch to include more frequent trips to the mound, making his candidacy more viable. The future walk-in Hall of Famer is putting together another vintage-Sale season, having recorded a sparkling 1.89 ERA and 0.87 WHIP through 10 starts this year. Even though he’s facing a crowded field this season, Sale should be considered right up there as a frontrunner for the award. His biggest enemy will be his health. If he can avoid a long stint on the injured list and show no signs of age-related decline, Sale’s dominance is an exciting addition to this year’s NL Cy Young race. All he has to do is maintain this run for about 20 more starts, which is easier said than done for most 37-year-old veterans in the league. NL honorable mentions: Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Dodgers); Bryce Elder (Braves); Nolan McLean (Mets); Kyle Harrison (Brewers); Max Meyer (Marlins) Deesha Thosar covers Major League Baseball as a reporter and columnist for FOX Sports. She previously covered the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Daily News. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Long Island and now lives in Queens. Follow her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

For the first three weeks of the 2026 college football season, FOX’s Big Noon Saturday slate will showcase four top-25 teams and the sport’s last three national champions. Ohio State and Indiana open the year with opportunities to test their depth ahead of what could become a College Football Playoff elimination game on Oct. 17. Michigan, meanwhile, draws at least two CFP teams from a year ago in Oklahoma and Ohio State, while the Hoosiers must prove another quarterback transition will not slow the defending national champions. Here are the four Big Noon Saturday games that were announced on Wednesday and the top storylines to watch from each of them: This is not the 2025 version of the Mean Green. In fact, if you’re looking for that team, it made like the Baltimore Colts and picked up and moved in the middle of the night to Stillwater, Oklahoma, where it will henceforth be known as the Cowboys. Eric Morris, who coached North Texas to a 12-2 record last season, is gone, along with starting quarterback Drew Mestemaker and running back Caleb Hawkins. Neal Brown takes over in Denton with a roster that returns just four combined starts from last year’s team. Still, Brown does have a familiar name to work with in former Indiana and UCF quarterback Tayven Jackson, who returns to Bloomington seeing Indiana in a much different light than when he left — kind of like the rest of us after 2020. For the Hoosiers, it’s a chance to prove a third straight change at quarterback can be just as fruitful as the last two. Indiana coach Curt Cignetti and offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan worked wonders with transfers Kurtis Rourke and 2025 Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza. Now, the Hoosiers turn to former TCU star Josh Hoover, the school’s single-season passing-yardage record holder, to lead the defense of their national championship. No team has beaten the Hoosiers in Bloomington since Purdue did so in 2023 — the final game before Cignetti arrived. Indiana’s first-half schedule is manageable enough that the Hoosiers could very well beat North Texas like it stole something and welcome Ohio State to Bloomington on Oct. 7 at 6-0. As I wrote last month, the Big Ten’s grip on college football has never been stronger, while the SEC is still sorting out what it means to be the sport’s second-best conference. That’s part of what makes this matchup one of the most anticipated non-conference games of 2026: a Michigan win would only add fuel to the argument against the league where it supposedly “just means more.” Oklahoma has made more College Football Playoff appearances than Michigan, yet the Sooners still have not won a postseason game, even after earning the right to host one last December, when they lost to Alabama, an SEC opponent Oklahoma had beaten on the road the year before. Michigan, meanwhile, enters a new era under its third head coach in four years while attempting to reaffirm itself as the program that first broke through among the Big Ten’s three consecutive national champions. Still, Oklahoma has never lost to Michigan, winning both previous meetings, and the Sooners have historically fared well against the Big Ten. No program in the conference owns a winning record against Oklahoma, while Brent Venables already notched victories over Nebraska and Michigan last season. As the College Football Playoff selection committee continues placing greater emphasis on marquee non-conference games between Power 4 opponents, the winner of this game could gain an edge in the race for an at-large CFP berth. The Buckeyes have not lost to an unranked opponent since Purdue stunned Ohio State 49-20 on Oct. 20, 2018. They also have not lost to a team outside the Power 4 since Air Force beat Ohio State 23-11 in the 1990 Liberty Bowl. Kent State coach Mark Carney returns alongside quarterback Dru DeShields after a 5-7 campaign in 2025, but this hardly looks like the kind of roster capable of threatening an Ohio State team led by two Heisman Trophy front-runners in quarterback Julian Sayin and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia must replace six starters and three first-round NFL Draft picks from last year’s defense, and the matchup comes immediately after the Buckeyes’ highly anticipated tilt with Texas. How many young players Ryan Day trusts, whether Tavien St. Clair gets the start to rest Sayin, and how quickly Chris Henry Jr. can emerge are all questions worth monitoring in this game. I wrote earlier this month that The Game has featured a CFP participant in each of the last seven seasons, produced five of the last seven Big Ten champions and crowned two of the last three national champions. It has become appointment viewing not simply because of its history, but because of its annual impact on the national title race. I don’t expect that to change with Kyle Whittingham taking over at Michigan. With new offensive coordinators at both programs — Arthur Smith at Ohio State and Jason Beck at Michigan — there could be some schematic shifts on both sides. But there will be no drop off in talent on the field. Both rosters feature legitimate Heisman Trophy contenders, and it would be surprising if at least one future finalist does not emerge from this matchup. Is this the year Ohio State accomplishes something it has not done since 2014: win The Game, the Big Ten championship and the national title? That question will begin to take shape in earnest on Nov. 28.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

It’s been a while since we’ve heard from Baltimore Ravens star quarterback Lamar Jackson. On that note, what were Jackson’s initial thoughts when the franchise fired head coach of 18 years John Harbaugh — and Harbaugh then going on to become the next head coach of the New York Giants? “I got a lot of respect for Coach [Harbaugh]. I was shocked [by him being fired] in a way,” Jackson said about Harbaugh at the Ravens’ OTAs on Wednesday, according to The Baltimore Sun. “I feel like Mr. [owner] Steve [Bisciotti] did what was best for the team. I hope Coach has a great, great time in New York. “Hats off to Coach because we did so much for the city, for the team, for this organization. Hats off to him in New York, and we built a lot. We did a lot here.” Jackson also said that he “messaged” with Harbaugh when he got the Giants’ job. Since becoming the team’s starting quarterback during his 2018 rookie campaign, Jackson, who had been coached by Harbaugh his entire NFL career, boasts a 76-31 regular-season record, a 3-5 postseason record and the Ravens have won the NFC North four times. Over Harbaugh’s 18 years on the job (2008-25), Baltimore went 180-113 in the regular season and 13-11 in the postseason, highlighted by winning Super Bowl XLVII. Jackson was limited to 13 games last season (2025) due to hamstring and back injuries, respectively, totaling 2,549 passing yards, 21 passing touchdowns, seven interceptions and a 103.8 passer rating over that span, while completing 63.6% of his passes. He also rushed for 349 yards and two touchdowns. The 30-year-old Jackson is entering the fourth season of a five-year, $260 million deal, with the $52 million average annual value putting the two-time NFL MVP ninth among quarterbacks. Baltimore restructured Jackson’s contract in March, lowering his 2026 cap hit from $74.5 million to $34.54 million, increasing his 2027 cap hit from $74.5 million to $84.49 million and adding a void year in 2030. Is Jackson’s future in Baltimore? “Absolutely,” says the three-time All-Pro. “I love the Ravens,” Jackson expressed. “I love this organization. I love this city. This is the team that drafted me. They got a lot of love for me. I got a lot of love for the city and this team, as well. The reconstruction is done; [I’m] cool with that. But I love Baltimore. Everybody should know that by now.” Jackson’s new head coach is Jesse Minter, who coached under Harbaugh on the Ravens from 2017-20. Baltimore is coming off a 2025 season that saw it miss the playoffs and post a losing record for the first time since 2021.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

What is the premier conference in college football right now: the Big Ten or the SEC? After producing the last three College Football Playoff national champions — from three different schools — there is no denying the Big Ten has sat atop the college football world recently. But there is also a growing sentiment that the SEC is stronger in the middle and at the bottom, making it the deeper league overall. “There was a lot of pushback from the Big Ten on that this week,” FOX Sports’ Joel Klatt said on a recent episode of “The Joel Klatt Show,” discussing what he learned at the Big Ten spring meetings in Palos Verdes, California. “And really, the Big Ten is not wrong.” Klatt pointed out that the Big Ten is 4-0 against the SEC in the College Football Playoff over the past three years. The conference is also 5-2 against the SEC in non-CFP bowl games over the past two years. “There is an idea that the depth of the Big Ten is being undersold nationally, and a way to fight that would be a scheduling agreement with the SEC,” Klatt said. “They want to fight the narrative on the field.” Here’s a look at 10 future SEC-Big Ten college football matchups Klatt would love to see if the conferences ever agreed to a scheduling agreement: Klatt: Bielema-Beamer 2! Remember that Citrus Bowl at the end of the 2024 season, when there was some bad blood there, particularly with how the game ended? I want this again. There’s no doubt. This might not be the best possible matchup, but certainly the storylines would run deep. Klatt: Kirby [Smart] to face Dan Lanning in Autzen Stadium? Yes! I’m in on that. Lanning’s first game as the head coach of the Oregon Ducks was against Georgia, and that one was in Atlanta in 2022. Georgia beat them up, 49-3. I’d love to see Kirby go up and face his former assistant and defensive coordinator. Klatt: We heard a lot in the playoff a couple of years ago about Neyland North. Listen, Tennessee fans, to your credit, you guys showed up huge in that playoff game. There’s no doubt. There was more orange in the stands than I saw of any other color in my history calling college football games in Columbus at The Shoe. I want to see Ohio State go and return the favor. Klatt: Lane [Kiffin] back in LA? Yup, you bet! Lane has obviously been back to LA, but not in an official capacity since he was left on the tarmac as the head coach of the USC Trojans. Bring him back. I want that every day of the week. Every year. That would be phenomenal. Please give us this scheduling agreement because it would be great for fans and great for college football. Klatt: How about bringing back an old rival? Nebraska-Oklahoma used to be as good as any rivalry in college football, maybe second to only Michigan-Ohio State. Throughout the whole Big 8 days, and even in the Big 12, this was a marquee Thanksgiving weekend matchup. Bring back this one. Klatt: I’m just hitting all the classics, and USC-Texas is absolutely a classic that I want to see. Obviously, that Rose Bowl with [Matt] Leinart, [Reggie] Bush and Vince Young was maybe the greatest game we’ve seen in the history of college football. You get those colors on the field at the same time. It would just drip with nostalgia. We’d be thinking about that and Keith Jackson on the call. Klatt: Curt Cignetti going back to Alabama, where he got his start, in a big way, under [Nick] Saban as a recruiting coordinator. Plus, this would be a rematch of last year’s Rose Bowl. That would be a great one. Klatt: This one’s time sensitive. So, it wouldn’t happen, unless we could do it this year. But, how about Nico Iamaleava going back to Tennessee? How about Nico and [UCLA head coach] Bob Chesney going to face Josh Huepel and Tennessee back in Knoxville? I’m sure those fans would just welcome Nico back with open arms. Klatt: I would love to see the Urban [Meyer] Bowl. Urban won a championship with both of those schools. I think that one would be phenomenal. Kalen DeBoer had a lot of success at Washington, getting them right on the precipice of a championship, and then leaving for the bigger and greener pastures of the SEC and Alabama.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

There’s no better time to have a breakout campaign than in a contract year. In the NFL, it’s certainly not uncommon for a contract year to lead to big-time results on the field for a player, either. And with that comes a big reward. Just ask Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce. After recording a career-high 1,003 receiving yards in the final year of his rookie deal, Pierce cashed in and landed him a four-year, $114 million deal with Indianapolis this spring. The deal was the largest ever for a free-agent wide receiver in league history, and it made him the 11th-highest-paid receiver in the league at the time of the deal. Next year, who could emerge in a Pierce-like way and land a massive contract of their own in the process? In descending order, here are the 10 contract-year players in 2026 I believe have the best chance of breaking out: A 2023 second-round pick, Matthew Bergeron has been the Atlanta Falcons’ starting left guard since his rookie season. But the addition of longtime offensive line coach Bill Callahan to new coach Kevin Stefanski’s staff could take his game to new heights. Callahan has long been regarded as one of the NFL’s top offensive line coaches, credited with developing the likes of Zack Martin and Tyron Smith. Ji’Ayier Brown, who has five interceptions since entering the league in 2023, has started 13 games and recorded six pass breakups in back-to-back seasons. Reinforcements on the San Francisco 49ers’ defensive front in 2026 (linebacker Fred Warner and edge rusher Nick Bosa returning from injury; bringing linebacker Dre Greenlaw back; trading for defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa) will create more playmaking opportunities on the back end for Brown. Set to play on his fifth-year option in 2026, Kayvon Thibodeaux has been the subject of trade rumors this offseason. Whether he plays the upcoming season with the New York Giants or elsewhere, he’ll have plenty to prove in a season where long-term security could be on the line. The former No. 5 overall pick had a career-low 2.5 sacks in 2025. The rebuilding Miami Dolphins are built around star running back De’Von Achane and dual-threat quarterback Malik Willis on offense. There will be plenty of opportunities for Aaron Brewer to continue showing his athleticism in space, building off of an impressive 2025 season, when he was named a second-team All-Pro selection. A 2023 second-round pick, Brenton Strange’s numbers have improved every season of his career, including more than doubling his receiving yards per game last season (45.0) from 2024 (24.2). Another exponential leap could be in store in 2026, when he’ll be in his second season in coach Liam Coen’s offense and fourth year playing with quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Myles Murphy started to come on at the end of last season, recording three of his career-high 5.5 sacks in the final four weeks of the year. The additions of nose tackle Dexter Lawrence II, defensive tackle Jonathan Allen and edge rusher Boye Mafe should create favorable matchups for Murphy, a 2023 first-round pick, in 2026. Josh Downs had career lows in receptions (58) and receiving yards (556) last season, but he should become a much more significant part of the Colts’ offense with Michael Pittman Jr. getting traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers. A former third-round pick, Downs is the second-best wide receiver on Indianapolis’ roster behind Pierce, who’s expected to miss all of the team’s offseason workouts following ankle surgery. The Green Bay Packers’ passing attack is always balanced, but Christian Watson has a prime opportunity to break out. He tied a team-high 61.1 receiving yards per game last season, and Romeo Doubs departed in free agency for the New England Patriots. Star tight end Tucker Kraft could miss the start of the season thanks to a torn ACL, which could make Watson the focal point of Green Bay’s passing game. Riq Woolen has plenty to prove on his one-year deal with the Eagles, given he lost his starting job with the Seattle Seahawks last season and saw his play overall marked by inconsistency since his Pro Bowl rookie season. The 2022 fifth-round pick has elite ball skills — he led the NFL with six interceptions in his rookie year — and he’ll have plenty of playmaking opportunities with opposing offenses looking to avoid targeting Quinyon Mitchell and nickelback Cooper DeJean. If Kyler Murray beats out 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy for the starting quarterback job, the former Arizona Cardinals quarterback will be positioned to thrive. He’ll have the best supporting cast of his career, highlighted by superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson. Head coach Kevin O’Connell is also well-regarded as a quarterback guru, helping Sam Darnold earn a three-year, $100.5 million deal when he was in a similar situation a few years ago.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Kevin Harvick recalled a time in the 2010s when young NASCAR drivers with aspirations of the Truck Series and beyond had to make a decision. Compete for Chevrolet and Kevin Harvick Incorporated, or drive with Toyota and Kyle Busch Motorsports. There was no playing both sides. Drivers had to choose a direction. Fans in the grandstands picked a side and were distinctly divided. “You had to pick a path,” Harvick said on the latest episode of “Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour.” “You were either going KBM and Toyota or you were going KHI and Chevrolet… That is just not how it worked.” Harvick relished that competition. In fact, he helped Busch breed his team, and create the foundation for a decade-long rivalry. That contention brought out the best in both racers, and ultimately brought them closer together. After Busch, 41, suddenly passed away last Thursday, Harvick remembers him, and their relationship fondly, reminiscing with stories on “Happy Hour.” On the racetrack, Harvick and Busch were always foes. The levels of distaste, however, fluctuated. They were involved in what Harvick referred to as a “heavy war,” stemming from a wreck during a 2005 race in Dover, Delaware. But when Busch wanted to go down the route of starting his own racing team, Harvick put his differences to the side. Busch called Harvick, asking: “Can you tell me how you run your team?” Harvick “bridged the gap,” welcoming Busch into his race shop, sharing his budgets, giving him “everything he had.” In true antagonist fashion, Harvick said, Busch “stole” some of his employees, hiring them to his new team. And thus, Kyle Busch Motorsports was born, and a new rivalry burgeoned. Busch and Harvick pushed each other, making the other a better “driver, owner, and teammate,” Harvick said. “Probably the best thing that happened in my career,” Harvick said, “was I had a competitor that wouldn’t back down like Kyle did.” Ultimately, they raced one another 933 times in NASCAR’s top series. They learned to respect one another, and even let their guard down off the track. “We sat on those two sides and competed, but you know, off the racetrack, we had fun,” Harvick said. “We had a good time, and good conversations. It took a long time to get to the point of being cordial, but it definitely got to that point at the end.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Supporters will be living and dying with every touch this summer at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The tournament will feature intensity and passion in the stands that American sports fans won’t be used to seeing very often. Zlatan Ibrahimović and Tom Brady sat down ahead of the tournament this summer and covered a variety of topics, including how fans support their teams. Soccer fans around the world are extremely passionate and will be very vocal with their satisfaction — or dissatisfaction. Brady found a parallel in American sports, comparing how fans in Europe are born into supporting a club or country to supporting a college team. “I always describe European soccer as more college fanaticism because if you go to that college, you love that college forever. You’re born into that,” Brady said. “You chose that college, you’ll forever support that college. That’s, to me, what being born into one of the environments in Europe. You pick your team, and you’re with them forever. “In America, yeah, you’re with [a professional team] forever. But you also say, ‘Hey, I kind of like that team because I really like that player.’ And if you’re a LeBron James fan, wherever he went, you’re going to ultimately like that team.” The atmospheres at games in Europe are also very different. Obviously, soccer clubs are treated very differently than in Major League Soccer, but the attitude extends to other sports, as well. “I truly believe the American athlete would enjoy differently in Europe with those fans, especially your world,” said Ibrahimović, who played with LA Galaxy of the MLS for two seasons and spent the majority of his professional career in Europe. “… I mean, I know when I went in a duel with a player head-to-head, the fans wanted to come in and play one side vs. the other side.” Ibrahimović mentioned that he wonders how even a top basketball player like LeBron James would face an extremely different atmosphere in Europe. “I know basketball, you talk about LeBron with the Lakers fans and that I’ve been there, but I’ve been also in Belgrade and see a basketball game there,” Ibrahimović said. “Whoa, that’s a little bit scary compared [to the NBA]. That’s why I think that the American athlete, if he would go through there, I don’t know if he would become better. “It would be different.” In terms of how the Swedish national team was supported throughout his career, Ibrahimović had nothing but positive things to say. He appreciated how positive the Swedes were, regardless of results, although he didn’t necessarily agree with their attitudes. “Our fans in Sweden were amazing,” Ibrahimović said. “Win or lose, they were supporting you, which I find strange because when you lose, they shouldn’t support you.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

NEW YORK — The sun shone brightly on the rooftop of Pier 17 in Lower Manhattan on Tuesday afternoon as, one by one, members of the U.S. World Cup team were officially introduced. Many of the familiar faces that led the 2022 squad — Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams and Matt Turner — are returning for their second World Cup, but there were a number of players called up for their first World Cup, and just as notable were the players that head coach Mauricio Pochettino didn’t call up. Here are my five takeaways from the United States’ World Cup roster reveal in New York on Tuesday: 1. Surprises Across The Board The obvious omissions are midfielder Tanner Tessmann and attacker Diego Luna, who both started lots of games under Pochettino last year. Aidan Morris, who was in the lineup in three of the last two games for the U.S., was another notable player not selected. The midfielder had started in the Americans’ most recent outing, a 2-0 loss to Portugal in March. The obvious (and pleasant) surprise is Alex Zendejas, a left-footed attacker who can line up wide or centrally and who played his way onto the roster with consistently excellent performances for Mexican titan Club América over the last year-plus. Zendejas probably takes the place of Luna, who has been injured for MLS club Real Salt Lake. But Luna has still played more over the past few months than another surprise inclusion, attacking midfielder Gio Reyna, who managed just one goal in 19 appearances for his club Borussia Mönchengladbach — just four of them starts — in Germany’s Bundesliga during the just-completed 2025-26 season. 2. Pulisic Must Find His Attacking Form The striker group pretty much picked itself after Patrick Agyemang tore his Achilles tendon in April, with Ricardo Pepi and Haji Wright expected to deputize for presumed starter Folarin Balogun. Still, the key remains winger Christian Pulisic. The Americans need the USA’s undisputed headliner to spearhead their attack at the World Cup if they are to make a deep run. There is concern, though, as Pulisic arrived in New York on Monday after finishing his season with AC Milan on a career-worst 20-game goal drought. Maybe he’s due? 3. Midfielders Have Lots Of Responsibility — And Risk Pochettino went with just four central midfielders in Tyler Adams, Sebastian Berhalter, Weston McKennie and Cristian Roldan, leaving them worryingly thin in a key area of the pitch. Assuming McKennie occupies the more advanced role he mans with Juventus, the bulk of the defensive duties will fall to Adams, who has been beset by injuries since he captained the U.S. at the last World Cup in Qatar. There’s also the risk that a physical player like Adams could be susceptible to a yellow card suspension in the knockout stage (two accumulated yellows would force a one-game suspension), forcing either Berhalter or Roldan into a starting job. Tessmann or Morris would’ve provided cover in that case, but Pochettino chose to reinforce the wings and defense instead. 4. Are Three Center Backs The Best Defensive Option? Back in March, a source told me that Pochettino was only planning on picking four dedicated center backs for the 26-man squad. Perhaps owing to the uncertain status of Chris Richards’ ankle injury, he ended up taking five. He also stocked the roster with wingers/wing backs/fullbacks — suggesting that the co-hosts will attack up the sides, with the Argentine coach possibly reverting to the three-center-back system he used successfully at times last fall across numerous friendlies. If that’s the case, then look for Richards to pair with 38-year-old Tim Ream alongside someone like Alex Freeman or Mark McKenzie. 5. Historic MLS Union In Goal Whether it was Kasey Keller (1998), Brad Friedel (2002), Keller again (2006), Tim Howard (2010 and 2014), or Matt Turner (2022) — the USA’s top keeper at the always played his club ball overseas. Now, for the first time ever since Major League Soccer was founded in 1996, the starting keeper will be MLS-based. In fact, all three of this team’s goalkeepers will be MLS-based, another first in squad history. NYC FC’s Matt Freese is the expected No. 1 goalkeeper this summer, with Turner relegated to a bench role this time. It’s been a fast ride for the Harvard graduate, who’d never played an international match a year ago. The good news is Turner — who now plays for the New England Revolution — provides World Cup and Premier League experience as an understudy — something none of his backups had four years ago. Rounding out the keeper corps is the 22-year-old Chris Brady, a starter for the Chicago Fire since he was a teenager who is expected to move to Europe after the tournament.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports