College football had the stage to itself over the weekend, away from the massive glare of the NFL, which kicks off Wednesday.

As such, college football Week 1 odds saw a boatload of betting action. Six-figure wagers on Miami certainly stood out, as did a $1 parlay that became a six-figure winner.

But it’s hard not to open with Western Michigan-Michigan and a few heartbreaking tickets on the big underdog.

More on all that and then some, as we recap the weekend that was in college football betting.

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.

Busted Broncos

Michigan was a 27.5-point home favorite vs. Western Michigan on Saturday. On the moneyline, Michigan was a massive -5000 to simply win the game, regardless of margin. On the flip side, Western Michigan was +2000 to pull the upset.

Barely five minutes into the game, the Wolverines went up 7-0, and it seemed as if the rout was on. But Michigan didn’t score again until the game’s final play, which it only received when officials added one second to the clock following an unanswered Hail Mary.

Then Bryce Underwood’s second prayer was answered on JJ Buchanan’s leaping 47-yard TD reception, giving Michigan a stunning 13-12 victory, rather than a shocking 12-7 upset loss.

At one point early in the game, two Caesars Sports customers jumped on the big underdog at still-large moneyline prices.

The first bet would’ve cashed for $8,000 profit, the second for $2,500. The bettors had to believe it was in the bag after the first Hail Mary — but it wasn’t.

In prediction markets, a Kalshi customer missed out on a far larger opportunity. The trader put $2,265 on Western Michigan at 2.4%, which translates to approximately +4015 odds.

If the Broncos held on, then the customer would’ve netted $90,936 profit (total payout $93,201). Ouch.

Of course, plenty of bettors did well to the Michigan Miracle, which saved countless moneyline parlays. Most notable, though, was an in-game wager late in the fourth quarter, when a Wolverines’ loss appeared imminent.

A Fanatics Sports customer put a hefty $10,000 on Michigan moneyline +2800. So that bettor collected $290,000 profit (total payout $300,000) on the wild victory.

Parlay Partay

It’s hard to beat the winners and losers on Michigan’s last-gasp touchdown. But this ticket might just do it.

A Hard Rock Bet customer wagered the couch-cushions sum of $1.06 on a 20-leg college football parlay Saturday.

Thirteen legs were on Overs, with the bettor expecting plenty of Week 1 scoring. Six legs were point-spread plays on big favorites, all 21.5 points or more. And Michigan State moneyline -425 vs. Toledo got the parlay to 20.

Somehow, this lottery ticket managed to cash, with all 20 legs getting there. At humongous odds of +12324096 — or in slightly easier-to-digest terms, about 123241/1 — the bettor’s 106 cents turned into $130,636.47.

UMass of Money

Heading into this season, UMass was on a 16-game losing streak, with its last win coming Oct. 26, 2024, against Wagner. In that contest, the Minutemen won 35-7.

Fast-forward to this season: In college football Week 1 odds, UMass was a hefty 29.5-point road underdog against a Rutgers team with low expectations.

Midway through the first quarter Thursday night, Rutgers was already up 7-0. But then lightning finally struck for the Minutemen.

UMass scored the next 30 points while rolling to a 37-21 upset. DraftKings Sportsbook noted the result tied for the biggest college football moneyline upset (+2200) in its eight-year history.

And at Fanatics Sports, a prescient customer got a nice payday after wagering $750 on UMass moneyline +2000.

The bettor bagged $15,000 profit (total payout $15,750).

In a sense, Rutgers made a huge bet on this game, as well. The Scarlet Knights, fully expecting to start the season 1-0, paid UMass $1.55 million to make the trip.

So UMass not only left New Jersey with a huge upset win but also a seven-figure payout.

Risk a Lot, Win a Little

Much like in the World Cup over the summer, Week 1 of college football saw a few huge trades on huge favorites in prediction markets.

Kalshi, in particular, saw some big-money deals that returned pennies on the dollar. Among them:

• $247,500 on Oklahoma 99% to beat UTEP. The Sooners rolled 51-0, and the trader profited just $2,500 (total payout $250,000).
• $132,121 on Ohio State 99% to beat Ball State. The Buckeyes coasted 56-3, and the trader netted all of $1,335 profit (total payout $133,456).
• $49,500 on Tennessee 99% to beat Furman. Same story, Vols rumble 56-9, giving the trader a miniscule $500 profit (total payout $50,000).

I Like Big Bets and I Cannot Lie

Among reported bets, Caesars Sports saw the largest major wager in college football Week 1 odds. And much like those prediction market plays, it was a bet-a-lot-to-win-a-little proposition.

The customer put a whopping $400,000 on Texas moneyline -10000 vs. overmatched Texas State. As expected, the Longhorns breezed to a 59-7 rout.

In return, the bettor profited all of $4,000, for a total payout of $404,000.

A more lucrative play also came in at Caesars: $40,000 Alabama -28 (-114) vs. East Carolina. The Crimson Tide rolled to a 48-10 victory, easily covering the big spread, and the bettor banked $35,087 profit (total payout $75,087).

Hard Rock Bet saw the second-largest wager in college football Week 1 odds. And it was from the same customer who already had a big investment in Miami.

The customer put $100,000 on Miami moneyline -2000 vs. Stanford, in a Friday night game. The customer then came back with an additional $200,000 on Miami -2000.

At those odds — again, much like those prediction market plays — there wasn’t much to be gained: $5,000 on the first wager, $10,000 on the second.

But both proved to be no-sweat bets, as Miami posted a 45-6 road victory. So the bettor cleared $15,000 profit (total payout $315,000).

If you think all the above was wild, just wait until this week, with Ohio State vs. Texas, along with NFL Week 1 joining the fray. 

Enjoy it, but remember to remain reasonable. Never bet more than you can afford to lose.

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Longtime coach Kyle Whittingham was unaware the stadium clock he watched Saturday night at Michigan might not reflect the official game time. 

Purdue coach Barry Odom also was caught off guard as he watched on television more than 250 miles away. The two Big Ten coaches acknowledged Monday they did not know there could be a discrepancy between what everyone was seeing on television and inside the stadium and the conference’s tracking system. 

But that’s how conference officials explained the dramatic finish in Whittingham’s debut for No. 16 Michigan. 

After time appeared to expire with Western Michigan leading 12-7, the refs added one more second and the Wolverines capitalized on their second chance with J.J. Buchanan hauling in Bryce Underwood’s desperation heave for a 47-yard touchdown and a stunning 13-12 victory.

“Well, I guess they have this Hawkeye system? I was unaware of that,” Whittingham said Monday. “But as I looked, I knew it was close. When the ball sailed back to the end zone, I glanced up at the clock, and it was just ticking to zero, and somebody touched it. I didn’t know who had touched it, but apparently, it was a defender that had already established an out-of-bounds position. I’m assuming they got it right. They looked at it, and the technology they have is very advanced, I guess.”

It was a learning experience for both longtime coaches, who are relatively new to the Big Ten.

The 66-year-old Whittingham joined Utah’s staff in 1994 and stayed through last season, coming out of a brief retirement to take the Michigan job. He won a school record 177 games, including 11 bowl games, as the Utes head coach from 2005-25.

The 49-year-old Odom returned to his alma mater, Missouri, as an assistant coach in 2003 and spent a total of 14 seasons on the Tigers staff, the last four as their head coach. 

His tenure at Missouri was split by a short stint at Memphis, from 2012-14, and following his firing as the Tigers head coach in 2019, he went to Arkansas for three seasons before returning to the head coaching ranks at UNLV in 2023 and moving to Purdue in 2025.

The Boilermakers (1-0) beat Indiana State 44-19 on Friday night to snap a 10-game losing streak.

“I didn’t until Saturday night,” Odom said at his weekly news conference when asked if he was aware a second clock, not visible inside the stadium, kept the official game time.

The Big Ten issued a statement two hours after the game, clarifying the process that was used and citing the rule that was enforced about when the clock stops if a player touches the ball out of bounds.

“It was determined (Western Michigan safety Micah Davis) started his jump from an established out-of-bounds position (left foot) and made contact with the ball with 1 second remaining on the clock,” the conference said. “A side-by-side view of the play and the game clock, using a direct shot of the game clock in the stadium, was used to determine the final ruling.”

Based on that explanation, Whittingham and Odom believe the refs got it right.

Mid-American Conference Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher and Western Michigan President Russ Kavalhuna also told ESPN on Sunday night they accepted the explanation though Kavalhuna believes more transparency is needed. The Broncos (0-1) play in the MAC.

“If you look at what they saw, then you reach the conclusion they reached,” Kavalhuna said. “However, if you look at what the broadcasters broadcast, you reach a different conclusion. I think it would be good to ask ourselves, can we sync those up so that the viewers could see what the officials would be looking at?”

The ACC even allows television viewers to hear the discussion between the game officials and the replay center before reaching a conclusion.

But it wasn’t just fans who were confused.

“I believe those charged with orchestrating, administering and officiating the game, they have to make decisions based on all the information they get, and then it’s their job to communicate that to us. I would assume that’s what happened in Ann Arbor,” Odom said. “Like the other night, we were exiting the field for halftime and the official stopped me and said, ‘Hey, we’ve got to make sure that that last play there…’ They wanted to make sure everything lined up the way it did. So it’s never over till it’s over. Until they blow the whistle or whatever that indicator is.”

Whittingham now believes the matter is closed as he moves on from the season-opening win and focuses on hosting No. 10 Oklahoma in one of this week’s featured games.

“I think everyone’s fairly satisfied with the explanation. I am, and I think Western Michigan came out with a statement that, ‘Hey, we’re not going to question this anymore,’” he said. “They gave us a fairly transparent answer, and we’ll move forward.”

Reporting by the Associated Press.

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Carolina’s Jonathon Brooks missed his third straight practice with “general soreness,” but Panthers coach Dave Canales remains hopeful the team’s young running back will be ready for Sunday’s season opener against the Chicago Bears.

Brooks spent time working on the side with trainers Monday while his teammates went through a short, non-padded practice.

“We have to just keep taking it one day at a time,” Canales said. “He ran out there today. We’ll see (where he is) and compare it to what he looked like before and we’ll go from there.”

Canales said last week he was “very optimistic” that Brooks would be able to play in Week 1.

Brooks has missed 31 of 34 regular-season games since joining the Panthers, but the team remains high on his potential and believes he will be the perfect complement to starter Chuba Hubbard if he can stay healthy.

The Panthers finished 19th in the league in rushing last season, averaging 116.3 points per game. They’ll face a Bears defense that allowed 134.5 yards per game last season, which ranked 22nd in the league.

“He’s a guy who just makes plays in space down the field in the pass game, the screen game, and he has that the home run speed,” Canales said.

Canales said Brooks’ speed can be deceiving.

“Once he sets an angle, all of a sudden you see people start turning and realize he’s moving a lot faster than you think he is because he’s such a smooth, long strider,” Canales said. “You don’t realize that. So, it’s a factor. It’s a pretty special dynamic in that regard.”

Brooks was not made available to reporters on Monday during the team’s open locker room session.

Panthers guard Damien Lewis said he likes Brooks’ ability to hit the hole fast, saying he makes things easy on the team’s offensive linemen since they don’t have to hold their blocks as long.

“He’s really explosive,” Lewis said. “When he gets that ball, he sees the space, he gone. So, you know, I call him one play action.”

Reporting by the Associated Press.

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NFL Week 1 is almost here, and Underdog Fantasy is giving new users another reason to get ready for the season. Sign up with promo code FOXSPORTS, play $5 and get $50 in entries to kick off the NFL season.

The Week 1 spotlight starts on Wednesday with a Super Bowl rematch between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks, setting the stage for an early-season showdown between two of the best teams in the NFL. 

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Games In Week 1

Wednesday, September 9

• New England Patriots at Seattle Seahawks – 8:20 PM ET

Friday, September 11 (International Game – Melbourne, Australia)

• San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams – 10:35 PM ET

Sunday, September 13

• Chicago Bears at Carolina Panthers – 1:00 PM ET
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Cincinnati Bengals – 1:00 PM ET
• Baltimore Ravens at Indianapolis Colts – 1:00 PM ET
• Buffalo Bills at Houston Texans – 1:00 PM ET
• New Orleans Saints at Detroit Lions – 1:00 PM ET
• New York Jets at Tennessee Titans – 1:00 PM ET
• Atlanta Falcons at Pittsburgh Steelers – 1:00 PM ET
• Cleveland Browns at Jacksonville Jaguars – 1:00 PM ET
• Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Chargers – 4:25 PM ET
• Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings – 4:25 PM ET
• Miami Dolphins at Las Vegas Raiders – 4:25 PM ET
• Washington Commanders at Philadelphia Eagles – 4:25 PM ET
• Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants – 8:20 PM ET

Monday, September 14

• Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs – 8:15 PM ET

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After being sidelined for three months, New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge was officially activated off the injured list on Monday.

The Yankees announced Monday night that Judge has been activated from the 60-day injured list. To clear room on the 40-man roster, the Yankees designated right-handed pitcher Chase Hampton for assignment.

Judge has been sidelined since May 31 with a stress fracture of his first right rib. He is finally back following months of rehabilitation and now set to rejoin the Yankees’ lineup on Tuesday when they take on the Colorado Rockies.

Even though the Yankees have managed to stay competitive without their captain, losing the former American League MVP clearly took a toll on the lineup. The Yankees sit with an 81-62 record and four games behind the first-place Tampa Bay Rays.

Judge’s return couldn’t come at a better time. The Yankees remain in striking distance of the division title while holding a firm grip on an American League Wild Card spot, and the middle of the order desperately needs his rare, game-changing power.

Through 59 games this season, Judge posted a .248 batting average with 17 home runs, 38 RBIs, and a .907 OPS. With Judge back in the batting order, the Yankees have as good a chance as anyone to make a deep October run.

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Shohei Ohtani was back in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ lineup as designated hitter on Monday night after a four-day break to deal with lingering left knee, right biceps and neck soreness.

He was in his usual leadoff spot for the series opener against the Cincinnati Reds.

“Hopefully, we don’t see that wincing we saw a handful of nights ago,” manager Dave Roberts said before the game, referring to Ohtani appearing physically compromised at the plate before his break.

“I don’t want to say it’s day-to-day, but I am very curious to see how he comes out of tonight to then make the decision for tomorrow and ensuing days,” Roberts said.

The NL West-leading Dodgers won all four games during Ohtani’s absence, including a sweep of the Washington Nationals.

Even with Ohtani’s return as a hitter, it appears increasingly unlikely that the two-way superstar will pitch again this season. He hasn’t pitched in a game since July 3 and he hasn’t thrown since a bullpen session at Detroit on Aug. 28.

“We’ve put a pin in throwing,” Roberts said, “and just having him focus on the hitting, the running, keeping his legs good and doing whatever it takes to help us win.”

Asked to define “put a pin in throwing,” Roberts said “it’s not dead but we have no timetable for when he’s going to pick up a baseball.”

Why not just say Ohtani won’t pitch again?

“I’m choosing not to say it’s dead,” Roberts said.

Ohtani’s thoughts remain private since he hasn’t spoken to the media since Aug. 17.

Roberts described Ohtani as “happy” to be back in the lineup while being “completely fine” about tabling any pitching plans for now.

By taking pitching off Ohtani’s plate, the Dodgers hope the four-time MVP will lock in on hitting and get back on track after not appearing to be himself at the plate.

Ohtani is hitting .279 with 30 homers and 80 RBIs this season. Since the All-Star break, however, he’s batting .250 with eight homers and 22 RBIs in 41 games.

“Yes, he loves pitching, loves being a two-way player,” Roberts said, “but right now it just doesn’t make any sense. It’s more of what’s best for the team, number one, and 1A, what’s best for him.”

Utility player Tommy Edman took Ohtani’s place as the leadoff hitter for four games. He went 7 for 17 with a .412 average, one home run, four RBIs and five runs scored. He was scheduled to start at second and bat third on Monday.

Asked why he doesn’t move Ohtani out of the leadoff spot, Roberts replied, “I think he’s our best hitter. I think the best player should have the most latitude. Is it forever? I don’t know. Is it until the end of the season? I don’t know yet.”

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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Florida State and No. 19 SMU kicked off at 9:15 p.m. ET at Doak Campbell Stadium following a nearly two-hour power outage that forced both programs to play under severely restricted conditions.

As teams prepared to take the field, ESPN reported that the game would proceed despite significant operational limitations. According to Yahoo Sports, the two programs kicked off without full stadium lights, working public address speakers, referee microphones, sideline iPads, coach-to-player helmet communications, or functioning scoreboards.

ESPN’s official broadcast displayed a graphic confirming the following:

• Official time will be kept on the field
• Not all lights are operational
• No replay review
• No helmet communications

Officials said that the Seminoles (1-0) and Mustangs (0-0) were to take the field at 9 p.m. for warmups with a 9:15 p.m. ET kickoff, almost two hours after the scheduled 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff.

A statement on the Jumbotron inside Doak Campbell Stadium at 8:30 p.m. read: “Technical staff are addressing a power disruption to the west side tower due to an electrical short in the main transformer. Electricians are working to restore the power service. The game remains suspended. Update to follow.”

ACC commissioner Jim Phillips chatted with athletic directors from both schools, SMU’s Damon Evans and Florida State’s Michael Alford, for a few minutes on the field before administrators moved inside to further discuss options.

The highly anticipated finale on Labor Day to the weekend’s first full slate of games was put on hold as a countdown clock inside the stadium stopped at 7:30 p.m. and the stadium lights went out.

Florida State and SMU had run out of their respective tunnels and onto their sidelines just moments before the game officially entered a delay. The Seminoles and Mustangs remained on their sidelines before eventually being sent back to their locker rooms.

A few specialists from both teams returned to the field to warm up. Florida State punter encouraged the fans to stand up and cheer, and the school’s band played in one end zone. Fans did the wave and knocked around beach balls.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Florida State head coach Mike Norvell entered the 2026 college football season on the hot seat following back-to-back losing years in Tallahassee. 

After leading Florida State to a 13-0 regular season and an ACC championship in 2023, Florida State finished 2-10 in 2024 and 5-7 in 2025. 

Norvell holds an overall record of 38-34 at Florida State, including a 22-26 record in ACC play through six seasons. As FSU aims to meet fans and boosters’ expectations, questions surrounding Norvell’s contract and potential buyout details have emerged.

What Is Mike Norvell’s 2026 Salary?

Florida State head coach Mike Norvell takes the field ahead of the Seminoles’ matchup against No. 19 SMU, which was delayed nearly two hours. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)

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Norvell signed an eight-year contract extension prior to the 2024 season valued at more than $84 million through 2031, averaging roughly $10 million annually. Following the 2024 season, Norvell agreed to a restructured arrangement that directed $4.5 million toward institutional revenue-sharing initiatives. His contract includes a scheduled $150,000 salary increase each season.

How Much Is Norvell’s Buyout After This Season?

If Florida State terminates Norvell without cause during or before the conclusion of the 2026 season, the university would owe him approximately $51 million, according to On3.com. If the decision occurs after the 2026 season, the buyout figure drops to roughly $45.6 million.

According to On3.com, Norvell is owed 85% of his remaining salary and supplemental compensation. The buyout would reportedly be paid in monthly installments of approximately $800,000 through 2031 if fired after this season. 

What Is Florida State’s Toughest Games And Remaining Schedule?

Florida State opened the 2026 season with a home win over New Mexico State before taking on SMU. 

The remaining schedule includes a non-conference road contest at Alabama on Sept. 19 and the regular-season finale against rival Florida on Nov. 27 in Tallahassee. 

Florida State’s 2026 Football Schedule:

• Aug. 29: vs. New Mexico State
• Sept. 7: vs. SMU
• Sept. 19: at Alabama
• Sept. 26: vs. Central Arkansas
• Oct. 3: vs. Virginia
• Oct. 9: at Louisville
• Oct. 17: at Miami
• Oct. 31: vs. Clemson
• Nov. 7: at Boston College
• Nov. 13: at Pitt
• Nov. 21: vs. NC State
• Nov. 27: vs. Florida

College Football Related Stories

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Week 1 of the regular season is finally here and teams across the NFL are putting the final touches on their roster while others are dealing with last-minute injury news before the season kicks off Wednesday with the Super Bowl rematch between the Patriots and Seahawks.

The Atlanta Falcons formally named Tua Tagovailoa as their Week 1 starting quarterback, while the Dallas Cowboys suffered a blow to their offensive line with All-Pro guard Tyler Smith set for thumb surgery. 

Down under, the Niners and Rams are preparing to play the first NFL game in Australia and one side is confirming the return of a pass rusher while the other is being more secretive about theirs.

Here is the latest news from around the league on Monday.

Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald remained noncommittal Monday about whether he will travel, let alone suit up for the team’s Week 1 opener against the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia. 

Speaking to reporters following practice, the recently unretired veteran offered vague answers when asked if he plans to make the trip and play on Thursday.

“Feeling really good. Feeling great,” Donald said when asked about traveling to Australia. “Come up with a game plan and see what’s going on.”

Donald, who ended his retirement Aug. 30 to rejoin the Rams, continues to work through a progressive conditioning ramp-up. 

While head coach Sean McVay previously indicated the entire roster is expected to make the flight, Donald’s actual game-day snap count and active availability remain a day-to-day evaluation as kickoff approaches.

Meanwhile, Myles Garrett looked like he was trying to add more power to his tackles, so the Rams’ pass rush will still be plenty for opposing offenses to handle.

San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Raheem Morris told reporters Monday that star defensive end Nick Bosa will play in Thursday’s season-opening matchup against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia. 

Bosa, who tore his right ACL in Week 3 of last season and dealt with knee tendinitis during training camp, returned to practice last week before making the flight with the team.

“He’s going [to play]. We are not hiding that,” Morris told reporters.

Bosa’s return provides a key boost to a San Francisco pass rush that finished last in the NFL in sacks last season. While the team may manage his snap volume as he continues building up his conditioning, his active status anchors the 49ers’ defense for the historic kickoff in Australia.

Browns’ Todd Monken Hints Taylen Green Could Be QB2

 

Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken told reporters Monday that sixth-round rookie quarterback Taylen Green could be active for Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, potentially serving as the primary game-day option behind starter Deshaun Watson. 

When asked if Green could earn the gameday active spot over Shedeur Sanders to run specialized athletic packages, Monken left the door open. 

“Could be,” Monken said. “There could be a package where we have him.” Monken added that while activating three quarterbacks on game day remains possible. Green, a sixth-round pick in April’s draft, made the Browns’ 53-man roster as QB3 after Dillon Gabriel was placed on injured reserve due to a back injury.

Monken named Watson the starting quarterback on Aug. 24 after a competition in training camp between him and Sanders.

While the Dallas Cowboys’ offense has undergone constant turnover in recent seasons, guard Tyler Smith has remained a steady anchor. 

Now, the Cowboys must survive without him after head coach Brian Schottenheimer announced Monday that Smith will be sidelined. He is expected to miss 4-to-6 weeks after undergoing thumb surgery. 

The surgery will force Smith to miss at least the first four games of the regular season while opening up a spot on the 53-man active roster.

“Tyler Smith is going to have surgery on his thumb tomorrow morning,” Schottenheimer said during his press conference. “It’s something that he’s just been dealing with.”

With Smith sidelined, offensive lineman T.J. Bass is slated to take over as the starting left guard. 

Bass joined the organization as an undrafted free agent and has made 10 career starts, including five last year. The Cowboys retained Bass this offseason after placing a second-round restricted free agent tender on him.

The Cowboys are set to open their season on Sunday night when they travel to New York to take on the Giants on Sunday Night Football.

The New York Giants officially released veteran wide receiver Darius Slayton on Monday, ending his seven-year tenure with the organization. 

Selected in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft, the 29-year-old was the longest-tenured player on New York’s roster before his release. Slayton had 296 catches for 4,435 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns in seven seasons in New York.

The decision clears roster space as the Giants finalize a receiving corps led by Malik Nabers, Odell Beckham Jr., Darnell Mooney, and rookie Malachi Fields ahead of their Week 1 opener against the Dallas Cowboys. 

Slayton posted a farewell message on X Monday thanking the organization, officially becoming an unrestricted free agent.

The Giants signed Slayton to a three-year, $36 million deal before last season. He was due $13 million this season.

The move creates just over $3 million in cap space for this year.

After a competitive quarterback battle, the Atlanta Falcons are naming Tua Tagovailoa as the starter for Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Head coach Kevin Stefanski made the announcement official on Monday morning.

Michael Penix Jr. is still recovering from season-ending knee surgery, though he is expected to return to the field later this year. Until he is fully cleared, Tagovailoa will take the reins as Atlanta’s starter.

With Penix’s return still unknown, Stefanski is expected to rock with Cooper Rush as the backup to start the season.

Tagovailoa is coming off an up-and-down final season in Miami. Over 14 starts with the Dolphins, he completed 67.7% of his passes for 2,660 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions, while adding 43 yards on the ground

Injury News & Notes

• Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales remains optimistic running back Jonathon Brooks will suit up for Sunday’s opener against the Chicago Bears despite missing his third consecutive practice due to general soreness.
• Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur expressed optimism Monday that first-round rookie running back Jeremiyah Love would play in Sunday’s opener against the Los Angeles Chargers as he completes his recovery from a preseason high ankle sprain.
• Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua is expected to play in Thursday’s Week 1 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers in Australia after being held out during August practice sessions while recovering from a psoas injury.
• Six-time Pro Bowl safety Harrison Smith agreed to terms on a new deal with the Minnesota Vikings, officially returning to the franchise for his 15th NFL season after contemplating retirement during the offseason.
• The New York Giants agreed to a two-year, $13 million extension with veteran backup quarterback Jameis Winston, keeping him under contract through 2028.

NFL Related Stories

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While Christian Gonzalez will watch Devon Witherspoon and the Seattle Seahawks celebrate their Super Bowl LX victory on Wednesday night, the New England Patriots cornerback will have something else over his counterpart in the NFL’s regular-season opener. 

Gonzalez and the Patriots have agreed to an extension that will make him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history, according to multiple reports. Gonzalez will receive a four-year, $135 million deal with $102 million in guaranteed money, ESPN reported late Monday night.

With a $33.75 million average annual salary, Gonzalez slightly bests the contract extension that Witherspoon signed in August that made the Seahawks star the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history. Witherspoon agreed to a four-year, $132 million extension ($33 million average annual value) with $101 million guaranteed.

Even though Gonzalez still has two seasons remaining on his rookie contract, his contract talks were at the forefront during Patriots training camp. Patriots owner Robert Kraft said in July that the team had made Gonzalez an offer that would make him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history, but Gonzalez’s trainer said that the language of the contract was “kind of trash.”

Gonzalez didn’t seem to refute his trainer’s comments when he spoke with reporters when he spoke with reporters last week.

“He can speak his mind. He’s got his thoughts, I’ve got mine,” Gonzalez said, “but I back everything he says. He backs everything I say. That’s kind of our relationship. We talk every day. He’s going to say what he’s going to say.”

Gonzalez added in comments to MassLive that he was “still frustrated” that he and the Patriots had yet to reach an agreement on an extension. 

Now, Gonzalez and the Patriots can shift their attention to the 2026 regular season, which begins Wednesday night in Seattle. As New England was largely dominated in Super Bowl LX, Gonzalez put up an impressive performance in that game. He allowed just one catch on five targets for 16 yards, per Pro Football Focus, as Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba struggled to make an impact. 

That performance capped off a Pro Bowl year for Gonzalez. He didn’t have an interception in the regular season, but he allowed just one touchdown and had the game-sealing interception in the Patriots’ AFC Championship Game win over the Denver Broncos. 

Gonzalez, 24, also earned a second-team All-Pro nod for his play in 2024. The Patriots took Gonzalez with the 16th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. 
 

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