A Texas native, Drew Brees wanted to play football in his home state. But like the rest of his football journey, Brees took a fortuitous detour to Indiana, where he went to star in college at Purdue. 

After lighting it up for the Boilermakers, Brees eventually ascended to a Hall of Fame career in the NFL. So, it’s no surprise that Brees will have plenty of people to thank in his induction speech, set to take place in Canton on Saturday. Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton, his head coach at New Orleans, will introduce Brees at the ceremony.

Joining Brees on stage as part of this year’s Hall of Fame class include Roger Craig, Larry Fitzgerald, Adam Vinatieri and Luke Kuechly.

“The way I really look at it is, this is my opportunity to convey my appreciation, gratitude to so many of the people and places that were a part of this journey,” Brees told reporters this week. “That’s what I’m most looking forward to, is all the people I’m going to have a chance to see and appreciate and let them know just how valued they are.” 

Standing at exactly 6 feet tall and weighing 209 pounds, Brees did not have the ideal stature of a quarterback. But through grit, a relentless work ethic and cerebral approach to the game, Brees developed into a 13-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion.

Brees pointed to creating a culture of connectivity that led to sustainable winning during his time in the league, which included stints with the San Diego Chargers and New Orleans Saints.

“So much of my thought process each and every season was how do you recreate so much connectivity and chemistry with the guys that are on your side of the ball,” Brees said. “And then the team dynamics. How are we feeding off each other and how are we complementing each other? To me, that’s where a lot of the magic lies on a team is just how you build that chemistry. And how you build those relationships.” 

Now, let’s look at the 10 best moments from Brees’ Hall of Fame career. 

10. Winning Comeback Player Of The Year In 2004

Brees’ tenure with the San Diego Chargers was a bit more successful than some might have remembered. After the Chargers took him with the first pick in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft, Brees earned the starting job a year later in 2002. He went 8-8 that year before going 2-9 as a starter in 2003. 

With Brees and the Chargers struggling in 2003, San Diego selected Philip Rivers in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft. But Brees not only fended off Rivers for the starting job in each of the next two seasons, he also led the Chargers to the playoffs for the first time in seven years in 2004. He won the Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year award for his play that season before going 9-7 as a starter in 2005. 

Brees finished his time in San Diego with a 30-28 record as a starter. He completed 62.2% of his passes for 12,348 yards, with 80 touchdown passes and 53 interceptions. 

9. Gold Jacket Connection: Brees Catches TD From LT

An underrated athlete and accomplished basketball player in high school, Brees got to show off his skills when he caught a 21-yard touchdown pass for a score from fellow Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson during a Week 4 contest against the Raiders in 2003. It was one of seven touchdown passes the multi-talented Tomlinson threw in his NFL career, and it was one of the eight receptions Brees made in his career. 

8. Eclipsing Johnny Unitas’ Record For Consecutive Games With A TD Pass 

Breaking a record by Unitas that lasted in the record books for 52 years, Brees completed a touchdown pass in 54 consecutive games between the 2009 and 2012 seasons. Brees threw the touchdown that broke Unitas’ record of 47 games against his former team, the Chargers, in Week 5 of the 2012 season with a 40-yard touchdown to Devery Henderson in the Superdome, giving him 48 at that time. His record of 54 consecutive games with a touchdown pass still stands.  

7. Becoming The First QB To Throw For 5,000 Yards In Over 20 Years

Dan Marino was the first quarterback to throw for over 5,000 yards, totaling 5,084 passing yards in 1984. But Brees became the second quarterback to accomplish that feat when he threw for 5.069 yards in 2008. And he produced one of the most prolific seasons three years later, completing 71.2% of his passes for a career-high 5,476 yards, with 46 touchdown passes and a 110.6 passer rating in 2011. Brees holds the NFL record by eclipsing 5,000 passing yards in five different seasons. 

6. Setting The NFL’s Single-Season Record For Completion Percentage 

Accuracy is an important statistic NFL scouts and talent evaluators consider when assessing if a quarterback can make the transition to the pros. And while smaller in stature, Brees was the gold standard for moving inside the pocket and finding throwing lanes between linemen to push the ball down the field. 

Brees holds the NFL record for completion percentage in a single season, completing 74.4% of his passes in 2018. Brees actually holds three of the top five season marks for completion percentage in a season. His 67.7% career completion percentage is the third-best mark in NFL history. 

5. Leading Saints To Victory In First New Orleans Game After Hurricane Katrina

Brees’ first home game with the Saints was one their fans will remember for ages. After Hurricane Katrina displaced the Saints for the 2005 season, they returned to the Superdome for the first time in Week 3 of the 2006 season. They decisively defeated the Atlanta Falcons, 23-3, with Steve Gleason’s punt block that led to a touchdown return serving as the memorable moment from that game.

Brees didn’t put up terrific numbers, but he gave New Orleans a steady hand that night. He threw for 191 yards, leading his team to four scoring drives. 

4. Surpassing Peyton Manning For Most TD Passes Ever

For about a year, no quarterback had more regular-season touchdown passes than Brees. In Week 15 of the 2019 season, Brees threw his 540th career touchdown pass on a throw to tight end Josh Hill. The touchdown pass broke Peyton Manning’s record for the most regular-season touchdown passes in NFL history, and it came against one of Manning’s former teams, the Indianapolis Colts. Brees’ pass to Hill was also his 20th-straight completion in that game.

Tom Brady wound up breaking Brees’ record in 2020. 

3. Breaking The NFL’s All-Time Passing Yards Record 

A year before Brees set the touchdown passes record, he broke the NFL’s all-time passing yards record. He also surpassed Manning for that record when he threw a 62-yard touchdown pass to Tre’Quan Smith in Week 5 of the 2018 season. 

Brees would finish his NFL career with 80,358 passing yards, becoming the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for 80,000 yards. When he retired in 2020, Brees was the NFL’s all-time leader in passing yardage, completions (7,142) and passing attempts (10,551). Brady wound up breaking those marks in the following seasons. 

2. Helping Saints Reach NFC Title Game In Year 1

Brees’ tenure with the Chargers ended with him suffering a devastating shoulder injury, leading the team to part ways with him as a free agent in the 2006 offseason. But that opened the door for a move that helped change the course of NFL history. After the Miami Dolphins were urged by team doctors not to sign Brees due to his recent shoulder surgery, the Saints picked up the quarterback in March 2006. 

The Saints were rewarded for taking on a significant risk. He led the team to a 10-6 record in his first year and was named first-team All-Pro. Brees threw for 243 yards and a touchdown in the Saints’ 27-24 divisional round win, helping the team secure their NFC Championship Game appearance. They lost to the Chicago Bears in that game. 

1. Delivering First Super Bowl To New Orleans and Winning MVP

The defining moment of Brees’ career came in the 2009 season. Four years into his New Orleans tenure, Brees helped the Saints get over the hump when they defeated the Colts in Super Bowl XLIV. His 32 completions were tied for the most in a Super Bowl at the time, and Brees won Super Bowl MVP as he threw for 288 yards and two touchdowns in that game. 

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When the Green Bay Packers hired Matt LaFleur to replace Mike McCarthy — who was fired during the 2018 regular season — in 2019, it was to squeeze out another Super Bowl run with Aaron Rodgers.

Well, to date, Green Bay hasn’t advanced past the NFC Championship Game under LaFleur with both Rodgers (2019-22) and Jordan Love (2023-present) under center and has been eliminated in the NFC wild-card round in back-to-back years (2024-25).

And while LaFleur signed a new contract in January, could he actually be coaching for his job this season?

“Matt LaFleur has been in the league a while, and he’s probably on the coolest hot seat any coach has ever been on,” Colin Cowherd said on Friday’s edition of “The Herd.” “It’s not your usual hot seat, but two things are working against the Green Bay coach. No. 1, his division has Ben Johnson [Chicago Cubs] and Kevin O’Connell [Minnesota Vikings], brilliant offensive head coaches, top of the league, and then, the ultimate alpha-dog coach, Dan Campbell [Detroit Lions]. Over the last two years, the NFC North has won seven more games than the next division. It is probably or arguably the best coach division in football …

“Here’s the other thing: Matt LaFleur has now developed a reputation, and the Packers’ front office knows it, and they’re watching the last couple of playoff losses, where they get that big lead, very smart, sophisticated game plan, and then they’re not tough enough to finish the game off.”

The Packers, who began last season 9-3-1, lost their last four regular-season games before blowing a 21-3 halftime lead to the archival Chicago Bears in the wild-card round, marking five combined losses to end the year.

Under LaFleur (2019-25), the Packers are a combined 76-40-1 in the regular season, 3-6 in the postseason and have won three division titles (2019-21). His 76 regular-season wins and 65.4% winning percentage each rank fourth in team history.

Regarding this season, Green Bay has a new defensive coordinator in former Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon, who replaces Jeff Hafley, who left to become the head coach of the Miami Dolphins. Gannon’s defense will begin the 2026 campaign without superstar defensive end Micah Parsons, who tore his ACL in Week 15 of last season.

Packers Related Stories

As for their competition, one could argue the Packers’ division, the NFC North, is the best in the sport. The Bears are coming off their first division title since 2018 and are entering their second season with Johnson as head coach; the Lions missed the playoffs last season, but they won 15 games in 2024 and have posted a winning record in four consecutive seasons (2022-25); the Vikings, who won 14 games in 2024, still went 9-8 last season in a campaign that saw them start three different quarterbacks (J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer).

“Smart gets you a lead in pro football. Toughness gets you the win,” Cowherd said about LaFleur’s Packers. “At the end of games, eight, 12-play drives; no passes; head down; you’re bloodied; you pick up a third-and-1 three separate times, and I think that’s the question about Matt LaFleur and Green Bay. And I don’t think it’s a cheap shot. I think we got some data that it’s probably true.” 

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At the start of his eighth season as Ohio State football head coach, Ryan Day is looking for his eighth consecutive top 10 finish, including No. 5 last season when the Buckeyes fell short of defending their 2024 national championship.

With those high expectations in mind, he had a relatively long list of concerns after coming off the practice field Thursday for the first time this preseason.

“Well, I think we all wanna see how the offensive line shakes out here, that’s for sure,” Day said. “I think the tight end room is an interesting room. I think that we do have some depth there, but who’s actually gonna take the majority of those reps?”

He also listed backup quarterback and receiver slots three, four, five and six before wondering about the running back position, where 1,000-yard rusher Bo Jackson is back, and the defensive secondary as a whole.

While Day being mostly concerned about backups might illustrate the types of “problems” most coaches would gladly take, the offensive line was a sore point throughout the offseason after getting shoved around in season-ending losses to Indiana in the Big Ten Championship Game and Miami (Fla.) in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.

Four starters return, but more than one position might have a new starter when the Buckeyes open the season at home against Ball State on Sept. 5.

Austin Siereveld, who started at left tackle last season, was at right guard Thursday to allow the team to take a look at Ian Moore at left tackle.

They could end up joining center Carson Hinzman, left guard Luke Montgomery and right tackle Phillip Daniels in the starting lineup, but others are also likely to get a look this month, including Joshua Padilla at guard.

At tight end, the Buckeyes lost Will Kacmarek and Max Klare to the NFL, but return Bennett Christian and Nate Roberts. Newcomers include transfer Mason Williams (Ohio University) and Hunter Welcing (Northwestern), so the cupboard is not exactly bare.

No one is likely to cry for Day when it comes to receiver either, as All-American Jeremiah Smith is back for his junior season along with senior Brandon Inniss, a respected leader who can play inside or out.

The choices to fill in the depth chart there include five-star freshman Chris Henry Jr. and transfers Devin McCuin (Texas-San Antonio) and Kyle Parker (LSU).

Despite Jackson’s return at running back, the pecking order might not be determined thanks to a strong offseason for classmate Isaiah West’s work in the weight room over the winter and summer.

“He had a tremendous offseason, one of the best in the whole building,” Day said of West, who took reps with the first team offense Thursday. “When he was in there last year, he showed some real good things, so we want him to take the next step, just as we do Bo.”

Another option at running back, freshman Legend Bey, was not on the practice field Thursday, and Day attributed that to a violation of team rules.

“He’s learning, but he’ll be back on the field soon,” Day said.

The Buckeyes open the season on Sept. 5 against Ball State before a potential top 10 matchup at Texas the following week.

Reporting by the Associated Press.

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Joaquin Niemann has a five-shot lead after two rounds at LIV Golf New York. He appears in total command of all facets of his game and is the only player in the field yet to make a bogey. It’s very reminiscent of 2025 when he won a record five LIV Golf tournaments.

But the Torque GC captain, seeking his second win in his last four league starts, isn’t interested in comparing his current form to last year. He doesn’t want to get stuck trying to simply duplicate the past.

“I feel like I’m never going to be the same as I was in 2025,” he said. “I feel like you’re always changing. You’re always evolving and you’re always a different person. 2025, I played amazing golf. I had five wins on LIV. Probably not the best results in major. But I feel I’m a better player now. I feel like I have matured a lot more and whenever time goes on, there’s always something to learn.”

The 27-year-old Niemann, the league’s youngest captain, followed his opening 7-under 64 with a bogey-free 65 on Friday, leaving him at 13 under entering the weekend at Trump National Bedminster. Fueled by Niemann, Torque also has a five-shot lead on the team leaderboard.

Niemann’s closest pursuer is the oldest captain in the field, 53-year-old Lee Westwood of England. The Majesticks co-captain is at 8 under after matching Niemann’s 65. Another stroke back is 47-year-old Fireballs GC Captain Sergio Garcia of Spain, who also shot 65.

Both of those European legends realize that catching Niemann will be a difficult task – especially if the Chilean star keeps starting his rounds so strongly. In each of the first two days at Bedminster, he’s shot 5-under 30 on the front nine.

“Joaco is obviously a world-class player. For me, he’s top 20 in the world,” Westwood said. “When he’s on his game, he can run away with a tournament. But everybody is human, and everybody makes mistakes, and everybody feels pressure. So, we’ll just see what happens, really. I’ll just try and control what I can control.”

Added Garcia: “If Joaco keeps shooting 5- or 6-under every day, it’s going to be very difficult to catch him; it’s as simple as that. When Joaco gets going the right way … it feels like he can birdie pretty much every hole.”

Garcia faces the same 36-hole deficit as he did in the 2024 season opener at Mayakoba when he was six shots behind after Niemann opened with a 59 at the 54-hole tournament. Garcia managed to force a playoff that Niemann eventually won in the fading light in Mexico.

“It would be nice hopefully on Sunday to have a playoff with him again,” Garcia said.

That win was the first of Niemann’s LIV Golf record eight individual titles. Two of those victories came when Niemann led after the first round in 54-hole tournaments. When Niemann won his first 72-hole LIV Golf title in May in Korea, he was three strokes off the lead with 36 to play before reeling in Talor Gooch and beating the OKGC captain in a playoff.

“Obviously I’ve been in this situation before, but like I say, I feel like every situation is different to the other ones,” Niemann said. “There’s just experience that you can learn from. I’m just excited to go out there for the weekend and see what I can learn. I feel like there’s so much golf to play. There are so many shots to hit. I’m just excited to have the opportunity to go and see my shots, try to deliver the best I can, and go from there.”

TOP OF THE LEADERBOARDS

Individual Top 10

1 (-13) – Joaquin Niemann, Torque (64-65)

2 (-8) – Lee Westwood, Majesticks (69-65)

3 (-7) – Sergio Garcia, Fireballs (70-65)

T4 (-6) – Tom McKibbin, Legion XIII (70-66); Harold Varner, OKGC (69-67)

T6 (-5) – Richard Bland, Cleeks (73-64); Paul Casey, Crushers (70-67); Scott Vincent, HyFlyers (69-68); Lucas Herbert, Ripper (66-71)

T10 (-4) – Thomas Pieters, 4Aces (68-70); Ian Poulter, Majesticks (66- 72)

Team Top 3

1 (-9) – Torque GC (Niemann 64-65, Ancer 71-72, Ortiz 71-71, Munoz 74-71; Rd. 2 score: -5)

2 (-4) – HyFlyers GC (Steele 68-74, Vincent 69-68, La Sasso 72-69, Tringale 74-70 ; Rd. 2 score: -3)

3 (-2) – Ripper GC (Herbert 66-71, Leishman 71-69, Smyth 71-71, Smith 75-72 ; Rd. 2 score: -1)

Click here for full leaderboard

ROUND 2 NOTES

WESTWOOD AND BEDMINSTER: When LIV Golf first visited Trump National Bedminster during the inaugural season of 2022, Lee Westwood shot 4 under to tie for sixth. The following year did not go as well, as Westwood finished last in the 48-player field at 20 over.

Asked on Friday how he felt upon seeing Bedminster back in the course rotation for this year, Westwood replied: “I really had mixed emotions about it, I suppose. But I don’t really look at it like that. I take the course on its merits, and this is an excellent golf course. This should suit the best players, the people that hit the most fairways and the most greens and make the fewest mistakes and roll in a few putts. I think it’s a very fair, difficult golf course.”

The Majesticks co-captain is finding Bedminster to his liking this week as he chases his 45th professional title. He leads the field in Strokes Gained Putting, citing the benefits of having his own putting studio at home. But even if Westwood does win for the first time on any tour since 2020, he doesn’t think it will change the perception of his career.

“It’s something I’d like to do, obviously,” he said. “But it won’t define my career on LIV, really, regardless of what happens in the future. I’m kind of at the age now where I just tee it up and try and have a fun, enjoyable week, and if I play well, I play well, right? That’s the way everybody should play the game. You prepare hard and try and prepare thoroughly for each tournament and then you just kind of roll the dice. If they turn up the way you want them to, you have a chance.”

INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACE: Two-time defending LIV Golf Individual Champion Jon Rahm is 36 holes away from clinching his third consecutive season-long title.

The Legion XIII captain is tied for 27th at 1 over after shooting an even-par 71 on Friday. That leaves him 14 strokes behind tournament leader Joaquin Niemann but seven strokes ahead of the only player who can catch him in the points race, Bryson DeChambeau.

The Crushers GC captain is in 50th place at 8 over. That leaves him with a projected points total of 722.50, while Rahm is projected to finish at 947.54 points. DeChambeau must climb inside the 200-point barrier after this weekend at Bedminster to remain mathematically alive to catch Rahm in the regular-season finale at Indianapolis.

Jon Rahm during Round 1 of LIV Golf New York at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster. (Photo by Charles Laberge/LIV Golf)

LOW ROUND FOR BLAND: Richard Bland, the oldest player in the field at age 53, produced the lowest round on Friday, a bogey-free 7-under 64 that included birdies on five par 4s. It matches the Cleeks GC veteran’s lowest round, relative to par, this season.

“Drove the ball pretty well, hit some good irons,” said Bland, who’ll enter the weekend tied for sixth. “The chances I gave myself, I pretty much took, and also up-and-downed it a couple times when I needed to the last couple of holes.”

Bland is not the only 50-something who’s thriving this week, despite the heat and the mammoth 7,600-yard course. Westwood – just two months younger than Bland – is in solo second. His fellow Majesticks co-captain Ian Poulter, age 50, is tied for 10th after following his opening 66 with a 1-over 72.

“Obviously for our shorter hitters, hitting the fairways is crucial because if you get it in the rough, par is going to be a very good score,” Bland said. “So, I have to hit a lot of fairways. If you ‘re going to compete at this level, you need to have all your game with you too.”

HYFLYERS ON PACE FOR BEST RESULT: HyFlyers GC are in solo second on the team leaderboard at 4 under, five shots behind Torque GC. If they can maintain that position or catch Torque for the title, it would be the HyFlyers’ best-ever team result. The team has three third-place podium finishes in its history.

On Friday, Scott Vincent (68), Michael La Sasso (69) and Cameron Tringale (70) combined to shoot 6 under to offset Brendan Steele’s 74. Steele had set the pace in the opening round with a 68.

HERBERT’S CRIPPLING DOUBLE: Red-hot Lucas Herbert of Ripper GC was hanging close to leader Joaquin Niemann for the first part of his round, producing birdies in three of his first five holes. But then he suffered his first bogey in 49 holes after his par putt lipped out at the 7th hole.

Four holes later, he suffered a double bogey at the par-4 11th despite his approach shot hitting the green just 3 feet from the pin. The ball spun back and rolled off the green into the first cut of rough. He then twice failed to land his chip shot on the green at the par-4 11th. His third with a 6-iron and fourth shot with a wedge both rolled back down the slope near where he played the shots. He finally landed on the green with his third attempt before making the putt for six.

Herbert, winner of two of the last four LIV Golf tournaments, suffered another bogey at the 14th to shoot even-par 71, leaving him at 5 under entering the weekend and a tie for sixth.

This piece is courtesy of Mike McAllister in partnership with LIV Golf.

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There are 15 games on today’s MLB schedule. Fans can watch all FS1 and FOX games streaming live and on demand on FOX One.

MLB Schedule for August 8 on FOX Networks

Athletics at Red Sox

• Time: 4:10 p.m. ET
• TV: FS1
• Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One
• Venue: Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts

Boston enters the weekend in the playoff hunt, while the Athletics are trying to turn around a difficult season. Red Sox probable starter Jake Bennett (7-4, 2.90 ERA) faces Athletics probable starter Gage Jump (4-7, 4.59 ERA).

Guardians at White Sox

• Time: 7:15 p.m. ET
• TV: FOX
• Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One
• Venue: Rate Field, Chicago, Illinois

The Guardians and White Sox meet in an AL Central matchup with both teams seeking separation in a tight division race. Cleveland probable starter Gavin Williams (11-6, 3.56 ERA) faces Chicago probable starter Anthony Kay (8-5, 4.01 ERA).

MLB Related Stories

Orioles at Rangers

• Time: 7:15 p.m. ET
• TV: FOX
• Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One
• Venue: Globe Life Field, Arlington, Texas

Baltimore and Texas are both working to gain ground in a crowded American League playoff picture. Rangers probable starter Jacob deGrom (7-7, 3.96 ERA) squares off with Orioles probable starter Kyle Bradish (7-10, 3.79 ERA).

Tigers at Giants

• Time: 7:15 p.m. ET
• TV: FOX
• Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One
• Venue: Oracle Park, San Francisco, California

Detroit visits San Francisco in an interleague matchup between teams trying to build a late-summer run. Tigers probable starter Jackson Jobe is scheduled to make his 2026 major league debut after missing roughly 14 months following Tommy John surgery in June 2025. Jobe went 4-1 with a 4.22 ERA in 10 starts as a rookie in 2025 and posted a 1.76 ERA with 17 strikeouts over 15 1/3 innings during his 2026 rehab assignment. Giants probable starter Landen Roupp enters at 7-10 with a 4.34 ERA.

Other August 8 MLB Games

• 3:05 p.m. ET: Braves at Yankees (Braves Vision, YES TV – New York)
• 4:10 p.m. ET: Angels at Marlins (ABTV, Marlins.TV)
• 6:05 p.m. ET: Blue Jays at Phillies (Rogers SportsNet, NBC Sports – Philadelphia)
• 6:40 p.m. ET: Mets at Pirates (Sportsnet Pittsburgh, SportsNet New York)
• 6:45 p.m. ET: Reds at Nationals (Washington Nationals TV Network, Cincinnati Reds TV Network)
• 7:10 p.m. ET: Twins at Brewers (Milwaukee Brewers TV Network, Twins.TV)
• 7:10 p.m. ET: Cubs at Royals (Kansas City Royals TV Network, Marquee Sports)
• 7:15 p.m. ET: Astros at Padres (San Diego Padres, Space City Home Network)
• 7:15 p.m. ET: Rockies at Cardinals (St. Louis Cardinals TV Network, Colorado Rockies)
• 8:10 p.m. ET: Dodgers at Diamondbacks (Spectrum SportsNet LA, Arizona Diamondbacks)
• 9:50 p.m. ET: Rays at Mariners (Seattle Mariners TV Network, Tampa Bay Rays TV Network)

How to Watch MLB Games

FOX and FS1 carry today’s national MLB games, all of which are streaming live and on demand on FOX One.

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In the years before Oregon joined the Big Ten, the football program was regularly a force in the Pac-12 and often a national championship contender.

But when the Ducks took flight for the conference in 2024, bettors didn’t follow along. 

That seems to be changing in the 2026 Big Ten futures odds market.

“One thing that seems different from previous years is that usually there are no Oregon believers. But right now, Oregon is leading in money bet for this season,” Caesars Sports head of football trading Joey Feazel said. “That’s the big takeaway at the moment. There’s more Oregon love.”

Feazel helps break down where things stand in Big Ten football championship odds, with the start of the season just a month away.

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.

LIFE’S GREAT AT OHIO STATE

Yes, Indiana is the defending Big Ten and national champion. It’s a great résumé to bring into the 2025-26 season.

But the consensus among oddsmakers is that Ohio State is again the best team. 

The Buckeyes are +575 favorites to win the College Football Playoff, so of course, Caesars has the Buckeyes favored in Big Ten football futures.

Still, it’s close, with Ohio State at +175, Indiana at +240 and Oregon +260.

“Ohio State is leading in tickets, and Oregon is right behind,” Feazel said of action on Big Ten odds. “I think Ohio State in the past five years has just been dominant. From that aspect and coaching and talent aspects, they’re clearly the team to beat.”

That said, a big early test looms. In Week 2, on Sept. 12, the Buckeyes travel to Austin for a huge prime-time showdown vs. Texas.

“That’ll be one of the biggest-bet games of the year,” Feazel said.

Granted, that matchup doesn’t impact Big Ten standings, but it could very well impact Big Ten futures odds, depending on how Ohio State shows out.

GIVING CHASE

Coach Curt Cignetti and Indiana hope to prove last season’s Big Ten and national championship runs were no fluke. Feazel has certainly become a believer after Cignetti’s first two years with the Hoosiers.

“I started out being a Cignetti doubter, but he has clearly proven everybody wrong,” Feazel said. “Until we see otherwise, we expect them to be the second-best team in the conference.”

Hence, Indiana being the +240 second choice in Big Ten futures odds. But bettors aren’t fully on board yet, with the Hoosiers trailing not only Ohio State and Oregon in tickets but also Michigan and USC.

Right behind Indiana in Big Ten futures odds is Oregon. Then there’s some separation, with USC and Michigan listed as the +1200 co-fourth choice.

Feazel doesn’t believe anyone beyond those first five will make waves this season.

“The thing with the Big Ten is it’s just so top-heavy,” Feazel said. “It’s hard to see any other team pushing through. I think you’re gonna see one of those top-five schools win it.”

VALUE PLAY

If that’s indeed the case, then perhaps there’s some value in wagering on the Trojans or the Wolverines. 

Unlike Oregon, USC has been popular each of its first two years in the Big Ten and continues to attract action ahead of the 2026 season.

“Year after year, they’re betting on USC. That might be a regional situation, because we’re taking a lot of USC action in Nevada,” Feazel said. “Michigan has big changes, with a new coach (Kyle Whittingham). But it’s still Michigan at the end, so we don’t want to count them out.

“I think both those teams have the potential to break out this season.”

NOT-SO-HAPPY VALLEY?

Penn State also has big changes, after imploding during the 2025 season. The Nittany Lions were 3-0 heading into a huge home game vs. Oregon, then lost that matchup 30-24 in double overtime.

That triggered a six-game losing streak, during which coach James Franklin was fired. In December, Matt Campbell left his post at Iowa State to become Penn State’s coach.

The Nittany Lions are the +1800 sixth choice in odds to win the Big Ten. And so far, bettors aren’t buying in.

“There’s not much support behind the Nittany Lions,” Feazel said. “It’s gonna be an uphill battle, but I wouldn’t count out that program. I’m just not sold that it’s gonna be this year.”

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There is always baseball happening — almost too much baseball for one person to follow themselves.

Don’t worry, we’re here to help you by figuring out what you missed but shouldn’t have. Here are all the best moments from last night in Major League Baseball:

Boston Is On An Unreal Run

There’s being on a run. Then, there’s what the Boston Red Sox are doing.

By demolishing the Athletics at Fenway Park on Friday night, 13-1, the Red Sox (64-51) have now won 27 of their last 30 games and are just a half-game back of the New York Yankees for the first American League wild-card seed.

As for the offensive onslaught, Boston plated five runs in the bottom of the second inning, four runs in the fourth and had back-to-back two-run innings in the sixth and seventh. Every starting position player recorded a hit for the Red Sox, who collectively had six doubles, 15 hits and got a two-run home run from left fielder Jarren Duran in the second. On that note, seven Boston starters drove in a run, with right fielder Wilyer Abreu driving in a game-high three runs.

Meanwhile, left-hander Payton Tolle was dominant over six innings for the Red Sox, surrendering just one run and two baserunners (two hits) and racking up 14 strikeouts. Raymond Burgos pitched three scoreless innings of relief for Boston.

On the season, Tolle, who’s in the midst of his first full MLB season, boasts a 3.20 ERA, a 1.10 WHIP and a 128 ERA+, while having totaled 124 strikeouts over 107.0 innings pitched (19 starts).

What’s Going On Here?

The Red Sox can’t stop winning. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Dodgers haven’t won a game since acquiring two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal and have lost seven consecutive games dating back to July 31 — and the latest loss was arguably the most painful of all for Los Angeles.

The Dodgers took a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the ninth against the Arizona Diamondbacks and sent their star closer, Edwin Díaz, to the mound, which is when disaster struck. Max Kepler walked to lead off the inning for Arizona, with Tim Tawa later going down on strikes. Then, Ryan Waldschmidt happened, as the center fielder lined a walk-off home run to center field for a 4-3 D-backs win.

The 2026 season has been rough sledding for Díaz, who missed roughly three months due to elbow surgery and has an 11.00 ERA and a 2.44 WHIP. Arizona got its other two runs in the dramatic win on a Nolan Arenado solo home run in the bottom of the second and an RBI triple from shortstop Geraldo Perdomo in the fifth. The Dodgers got their three runs on a sixth-inning force-out, a seventh-inning RBI single from second baseman Tommy Edman and an eighth-inning solo homer from center fielder Andy Pages.

While Los Angeles (69-47) still holds a 7.5-game lead on Arizona (62-55) for first place in the National League West, it has slipped to the No. 3 seed in the NL playoffs.

The Dodgers’ seven losses have come in the form of being swept at home by the surging Red Sox, being swept on the road by the Chicago Cubs and the Friday night loss to the D-backs, who swept the Dodgers in Los Angeles in the final series before the MLB All-Star break. 

Corbin Carroll Robbery

The play of the night in the sport goes to Diamondbacks right fielder Corbin Carroll.

With Edman at the plate in the top of the third, Carroll was playing in shallow right field. Edman proceeded to hit a long fly ball to right field, forcing Carroll to have to make up extensive ground to chase the ball down at the wall, but he did just that, getting to the spot before the would-be homer, jumping up and robbing Edman of a solo home run. The three-time All-Star boasts eight defensive runs saved in right field this season.

Mets Are Streaking

Sticking with being on a run, the New York Mets, who traded a quarter of their big-league roster at the MLB trade deadline, have caught fire on their road trip through Big Ten country.

Beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-4, the Mets have now won four consecutive games. The scoring started in the opening frame for New York with an RBI single from left fielder Carson Benge, who singled home another run in the third. As for the rest of the third inning, second baseman Marcus Semien gave the Mets separation with a three-run home run to left field.

The Mets’ sixth run came on an RBI single from shortstop Francisco Lindor in the fourth, and they got five scoreless innings from starter Zac Thornton, who sports a 2.52 ERA, a 1.07 WHIP and a 165 ERA+ over his first seven MLB starts.

Benge, who’s in his first season at the MLB level, is 5 for his last 8 and has recorded a hit in four straight games. Elsewhere, fellow rookie outfielder A.J. Ewing tallied a game-high three hits against the Pirates. The Mets previously swept the Cleveland Guardians.

Smacking Around 1st Place

Speaking of the Guardians, they had their way with the AL Central-leading Chicago White Sox in their home park.

Outfielder Ángel Martínez commenced the scoring for Cleveland with a two-run single in the top of the first, with the Guardians later having a five-run fifth inning. In said inning, Martínez unloaded on a grand slam to right field, giving him six RBIs on the night, and catcher Austin Hedges brought home a run on an RBI single. The Guardians got an eighth run on a sixth-inning solo homer from outfielder Steven Kwan.

On the hill, the Guardians got another stellar outing from Parker Messick, who was an AL All-Star. Over seven innings, the left-hander, who’s in his first full season in an MLB rotation, gave up just two runs and five baserunners (four hits and one walk) while logging eight strikeouts in an 8-2 Cleveland win; Franco Aleman pitched two scoreless innings in relief of Messick, who sports a 2.57 ERA and 4.3 wins above replacement over 23 starts.

The Guardians (58-59), who previously lost five of their last six games, are a half-game behind the Texas Rangers for the third AL wild-card seed and two games behind the White Sox for first place in the AL Central.

Late-Night Thriller

The New York Yankees looked toast, but they play nine innings — or, in this case, 10 innings — for a reason.

The Atlanta Braves took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning after solo home runs from third baseman Austin Riley in the top of the eighth and first baseman Matt Olson in the top of the ninth, and they had Raisel Iglesias on the mound to try and get the save. But the 2026 NL All-Star couldn’t shut the door for the Braves.

New York was down to its last out, but catcher Austin Wells kept the Yankees alive with an RBI double. Two batters later, designated hitter Ben Rice tied the game with an RBI single, which ultimately forced extra innings. Then, after the Braves failed to score a run in the top of the 10th, the Yankees walked it off in the bottom half of the inning on a sacrifice fly to right field by third baseman Ryan McMahon, sealing off a come-from-behind, 3-2 New York victory.

Prior to the late-inning fireworks — in a game that started two hours late due to a weather delay — this matchup between Yankees left-hander Max Fried, who was pitching against his former team, and Braves right-hander Tyler Mahle, who was acquired from the San Francisco Giants at the trade deadline, was a pitchers’ duel; Fried pitched 6 ⅓ shutout innings, with Mahle throwing six scoreless innings.

Dazzling Debut

The Cubs made two moves to address their starting rotation at the trade deadline — and one in June, acquiring southpaw David Peterson — adding Braxton Garrett and Kevin Gausman. On Friday, Gausman made his Cubs debut and was spectacular.

The veteran right-hander gave Chicago seven innings of work, surrendering just two runs and five baserunners (four hits and one walk) in a 6-4 road win against the Kansas City Royals. This marked just the second time this season Gausman, a two-time All-Star, pitched through the seventh inning. 

As for the run support, the Cubs got a pair of two-run singles from outfielders Pete Crow-Armstrong and Seiya Suzuki in the top of the second, a seventh-inning RBI single from third baseman Alex Bregman and an eighth-inning solo home run from infielder Pedro Ramirez.

Chicago, which has a six-game lead on Arizona for the first NL wild-card seed (68-49), has won five consecutive games.

Drew Rasmussen Gem

Sticking with stellar pitching performances, Drew Rasmussen was electric in Seattle.

The Tampa Bay Rays star right-hander pitched seven scoreless innings, giving up just four baserunners (two hits and two walks) and logging eight strikeouts. Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodríguez made the Rays sweat the outcome with a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth, but Rasmussen’s seven scoreless innings were enough for Tampa Bay to get a narrow, 2-1 victory.

As for the bats, the Rays, who have the best record in the AL at 69-46, got solo home runs from center fielder Jonny DeLuca in the top of the second and first baseman Jonathan Aranda, which was his 15th long ball of the year, in the top of the third.

Back to Rasmussen, the right-hander is on a heater. He hasn’t surrendered a run in each of his last three starts (a combined 20.0 innings pitched), giving up a combined 11 baserunners and posting 27 strikeouts over that span. On the season, Rasmussen, an All-Star in each of the last two years, has a 2.75 ERA, an AL-best 0.91 WHIP and a 153 ERA+, while totaling 130 strikeouts and three wins above replacement over 124 ⅓ innings pitched (22 starts). 

Twins Get An Impressive W

The Minnesota Twins are in the thick of the playoff mix, and they put together a standout road win over the Milwaukee Brewers, who have the best record in MLB (72-44).

Minnesota struck for eight runs, which came in four consecutive two-run innings from the third-to-sixth innings and after going down 4-0. The star of the night was Josh Bell — who leads the Twins with 104 hits and 68 RBIs this season — as the veteran first baseman/designated hitter had a game-high four hits and a two-run home run.

Sticking with the long ball, shortstop Kaelen Culpepper (the Twins’ No. 2 ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline) hit a solo home run for his first MLB hit in what was his first MLB game.

Eight of nine Minnesota starters recorded a hit, and they got through nine innings by using six pitchers and five relievers in the final four innings to secure an 8-6 victory.

The Twins (58-59), who are a half-game out of the third AL wild-card seed and two games out of first place in the AL Central, are eighth in MLB with 547 runs scored.

One Swing Fom Joc

That was all it took — literally.

With the Texas Rangers trailing the Baltimore Orioles 1-0 in the bottom of the sixth, designated hitter Joc Pederson uncorked a go-ahead, two-run home run behind the right field foul pole, and that was all Texas would need, as it went on to win 2-1.

Heck, the Rangers only had three hits and Orioles starter Shane Baz pitched eight innings. With that said, Texas got 3 ⅔ scoreless innings from its bullpen after starter Nathan Eovaldi went 5 ⅓ innings. 

As for the difference-maker, Pederson leads the Rangers in home runs (21), slugging percentage (.507) and OPS (.846) this year.

Despite being just 58-58, Texas, which has won three in a row, is in possession of the third AL wild-card seed and is 1.5 games back of the Houston Astros (60-57) for first place in the AL West.

Cam Smith Power Display

On the Texas baseball front, the Astros leaned on Cam Smith for a West Coast victory.

The Houston right fielder had three hits in a 6-3 win over the San Diego Padres, highlighted by a pair of solo home runs in the top of the second and sixth; Smith has totaled 15 home runs and 42 RBIs and posted six defensive runs saved in right field on the year.

As for the rest of Houston’s run production, first baseman Christian Walker had a two-run single in the third, designated hitter Yordan Álvarez had an RBI single in the fourth and shortstop Jeremy Peña brought home a run in the eighth on an RBI ground out. While he didn’t drive in a run, third baseman Isaac Paredes, like Smith, had a three-hit night, while the Astros used six pitchers to get the win.

The Astros have won 13 of their last 16 games.

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This may be it.

“As you get older, things change in your life. Your children get older. Your parents get older. Just to put this thing into perspective, it’s looking like this is probably potentially going to be my last year,” Philadelphia Eagles star right tackle Lane Johnson said about his NFL future at a press conference on Saturday morning. “Just because I am getting to that point of those priorities away from football are starting to merge. Not that I don’t enjoy this [football]. I love everything about this game and preparing for it, but that’s kind of where I’m at in my career.

“I’m just looking forward to this year, playing the best I can, staying healthy, and that’s about it.”

The 36-year-old Johnson is entering his 14th NFL season in a career spent entirely with the Eagles (2013-present). A two-time All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowler, Johnson has been Philadelphia’s primary right tackle, serving as a bookend for their 2017 and 2024 Super Bowl triumphs.

Johnson’s 2025 campaign ended after 10 games due to a foot injury. Over the games he did appear in, Johnson ranked ninth among offensive tackles in pass blocking grade (80.4), 18th in overall grade (77.4) and 33rd in run blocking grade (69.8), according to Pro Football Focus. He allowed no sacks or hits.

Philadelphia’s offensive line, from left to right, projects to be the same as last year: Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, Tyler Steen and Johnson.

Johnson, who’s under contract through 2027, was selected by the Eagles with the No. 4 pick in the 2013 NFL Draft out of Oklahoma. He enters this season ninth in franchise history with 168 games played. Should Johnson play each of Philadelphia’s 17 regular-season games this year, he’d move into fifth place.

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Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins and defensive end Maxx Crosby were suspended from team drills at practice Saturday following their fight the day before, giving rookie QB Fernando Mendoza his first opportunity in training camp to run the starting offense.

“We have very clear expectations about how we want to practice, how you go about our business,” head coach Klint Kubiak said in a statement. “We violated that yesterday, so we held those guys out. That’s all I’m going to say about it. We addressed it with the team and we’re moving on.”

Cousins and Crosby had to be separated by teammates after the fight. The 37-year-old quarterback appeared upset that Crosby tipped his pass, forcing an incompletion, and then charged the 6-foot-5, 256-pound defensive end, who is three inches taller and 42 pounds heavier.

While Las Vegas selected Mendoza, the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner, with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, it also signed the soon-to-be-38-year-old Cousins, a four-time Pro Bowler, to a two-year, $12.6 million deal in April. 

Meanwhile, Crosby, a five-time Pro Bowler, was set to join the Baltimore Ravens in March prior to the Ravens backing out of a trade after developing long-term concerns over the defensive end’s medicals.

The Raiders are coming off a 3-14 season and entering their first with Kubiak as head coach.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Only two MLB division winners from last season are expected to repeat this season, meaning parity is alive and well in baseball.

Let’s check out the division winner odds at DraftKings Sportsbook as of Aug. 8, as well as what to know about each division.

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.

NL WEST 

Dodgers: -20000 (bet $10 to win $10.05 total)
Diamondbacks: +6000 (bet $10 to win $610 total)
Padres: +6500 (bet $10 to win $660 total)
Giants: +25000 (bet $10 to win $2,510 total)
Rockies: +30000 (bet $10 to win $3,010 total)

WHAT TO KNOW: It’s the Dodgers’ to lose again — but losing has become a recent habit for the defending champions, with L.A. in the midst of a seven-game losing streak. Still, the Dodgers maintain a big lead in the division and they did acquire two-time reigning Cy Young award winner Tarik Skubal at the trade deadline. He lost his first start in blue. 

NL EAST

Braves: -2000 (bet $10 to win $10.50 total)
Phillies: +750 (bet $10 to win $85 total)
Marlins: +12000 (bet $10 to win $1,210 total)
Nationals: +20000 (bet $10 to win $2,010 total)
Mets: +25000 (bet $10 to win $2,510 total)

WHAT TO KNOW: The Mets last won the division in 2015, and they opened the season as the +140 favorite. However, they are currently last in the division, mostly due to a 12-game losing streak back in April and a 2-12 stretch in June and July. Atlanta, meanwhile, has the second-best record in baseball and is one of four teams with a run-differential greater than 100.

NL CENTRAL

Brewers: -340 (bet $10 to win $12.94 total)
Cubs: +230 (bet $10 to win $33 total)
Pirates: +25000 (bet $10 to win $2,510 total)
Cardinals: +25000 (bet $10 to win $2,510 total)
Reds: +25000 (bet $10 to win $2,510 total)

WHAT TO KNOW: Milwaukee has won four of the last five, and the Cubs last won it in 2020. The Brewers defeated the Cubs in the NLDS last season before losing to the Dodgers in the NLCS. It stands as Milwaukee’s only postseason series win during that span of four division titles in five years. The Cubs opened the season as the +115 favorite to win the NL Central, but Milwaukee currently has the best record in baseball.

AL WEST

Astros: -105 (bet $10 to win $19.52 total)
Rangers: +200 (bet $10 to win $30 total)
Mariners: +320 (bet $10 to win $42 total)
Athletics: +25000 (bet $10 to win $2,510 total)
Angels: +25000 (bet $10 to win $2,510 total)

WHAT TO KNOW: The Mariners will look to make it two straight, having captured their first division title since 2001 in 2025. The winner of the AL West has won at least one playoff series every year dating back to 2017, except in 2024. Houston has won seven of the last nine AL West titles. Seattle opened the season as the +100 favorite, but the Astros are 13-3 in their last 16.

AL EAST

Rays: -150 (bet $10 to win $16.67 total)
Yankees: +285 (bet $10 to win $38.50 total)
Red Sox: +350 (bet $10 to win $45 total)
Orioles: +20000 (bet $10 to win $2,010 total)
Blue Jays: +30000 (bet $10 to win $3,010 total)

WHAT TO KNOW: The Rays have been the surprise of this division, and of baseball in general. They opened as the +2500 last choice to win the AL East, but now, they have the third-best record in MLB. Tampa Bay is 11-5 against the Yankees and Red Sox combined. Meanwhile, Boston has won nine in a row and 11 of 12.

AL CENTRAL

White Sox: +115 (bet $10 to win $21.50 total)
Guardians: +230 (bet $10 to win $33 total)
Twins: +450 (bet $10 to win $55 total)
Tigers: +600 (bet $10 to win $70 total)
Royals: +30000 (bet $10 to win $3,010 total)

WHAT TO KNOW: The Guardians have won three of the last four and six of the last 10 division titles — but they are not the talk of the town. The White Sox, who finished with the second-worst record in baseball last season and the worst record in 2024, are miraculously leading the division. The AL Central has been no good this year, as the only division with just one team above .500 as of Augt. 8.

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