As the NFL season hits full stride, teams are already grappling with the brutal, unavoidable side effects of the game. 

Physicality is an unavoidable part of the NFL and as the season gets underway, the injury report is already filling up. From training camp setbacks to mid-week practice tweaks, availability can change a team’s trajectory in an instant.

Here are the notable players who are dealing with injuries ahead of Week 1 of the NFL season. 

San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Raheem Morris confirmed Monday that star defensive end Nick Bosa will play in Thursday’s season opener against the Los Angeles Rams. 

Bosa, who suffered a season-ending ACL tear in Week 3 last year and managed knee tendinitis during training camp, returned to practice last week before traveling with the team to Australia.

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

While the Dallas Cowboys’ offense has seen constant turnover in recent seasons, guard Tyler Smith has been a steady anchor for a young offensive line. 

Now, the team will have to manage without him after head coach Brian Schottenheimer announced Monday that Smith will undergo thumb surgery and miss 4-to-6 weeks. He is expected to miss at least the first four games of the regular season as he heads to injured reserve.

“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 step in for Smith. 

Bass joined the team as an undrafted free agent and has made 10 career starts, including five last season. The Cowboys retained him this offseason by 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 Carolina Panthers are gearing up to host the Chicago Bears on Sunday, but the status of one of the offense’s key playmakers is still up in the air. Head coach Dave Canales spoke to reporters on Monday afternoon, providing a health update on running back Jonathon Brooks.

“Again, we have to just keep taking it one day at a time,” Canales said. “He ran out there today, and then we’ll evaluate what that looked like. We’ll see that 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.

If Brooks isn’t ready to go, the expectation is that Chuba Hubbard will receive a full workload in the Panthers’ offense. Brooks missed 31 games over his first two NFL seasons after being selected in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Texas.

Heading into Wednesday night’s season opener against the Seattle Seahawks, the New England Patriots could be without one of their biggest playmakers. According to ESPN, Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson is still not practicing as he deals with an ankle injury.

Henderson hasn’t practiced for the Patriots since Aug. 24, putting his availability for Wednesday’s opener in doubt. If he’s ruled out, veteran Rhamondre Stevenson might be in line for a heavier workload on Wednesday night. 

As of Monday afternoon, TreVeyon Henderson is still sidelined from Patriots practice with an ankle injury. With the season opener less than two days away, his Week 1 availability is firmly in doubt.

Missing Henderson would be a major blow to a revamped Patriots offense. He was a huge part of the offense last season, rushing for 911 yards on 5.1 yards per carry and nine touchdowns while adding 35 catches for 221 yards and another score. 

Sean McVay delivered good news on Puka Nacua on Sunday. The Los Angeles Rams head coach said he expects the All-Pro wide receiver to play in Thursday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers. 

“Yeah, absolutely,” McVay told reporters when asked about Nacua’s status to face the Niners in Australia. “That’s what I’ve heard. I haven’t heard anything different.”

Nacua has been managing psoas soreness and has been out since he suffered the injury during an August joint practice against the Dallas Cowboys. The Rams took a cautious approach with his workload throughout the remainder of training camp.

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Matthew Stafford had his best year as a pro last season, posting video-game numbers as he nearly led the Los Angeles Rams to a second Super Bowl appearance in his five seasons with the team. Even more impressive, Stafford did it with a balky back at 37 that forced him to miss a large portion of training camp. 

Now, even with the Rams as heavy Super Bowl favorites, it’s fair to wonder if Stafford can put together a repeat MVP performance in his 18th season. The Rams have already hedged against that happening by selecting their quarterback of the future, Ty Simpson, in the first round of April’s draft. And by trading for Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie, along with the return of All-Pro Aaron Donald from a two-year retirement, Los Angeles is a lot stronger on defense than it was a year ago.

“I can’t sit here and think about trying to do exactly what we did last year and do it again from a personal standpoint,” Stafford told reporters in training camp. “I’m just trying to play good football and be the best quarterback for this team I can be. If I do that, I think we’ll be where we want to be.” 

Vegas oddsmakers must have been listening to Stafford during training camp. At 14-1 odds, Stafford has the ninth-best odds to win the award for a second year in a row. 

MVP Watch predicted the last two winners of the MVP Award in Stafford and Josh Allen, and both went down to the wire. This year, we’ve expanded the column to include a weekly look at the top players vying for MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Coach of the Year and Rookies of the Year. 

So, in the first edition of Awards Ballot, let’s predict the top five finishers for each award. 

Offensive Player Of The Year

After forcing his way out of Philadelphia to reunite with his former head coach Mike Vrabel, there are no more excuses for Brown. He has one of the best young quarterbacks in the game throwing him the football in Drake Maye, and he should be by far the most targeted player in New England’s offense.

A big year statistically should be expected from the talented, big-bodied receiver. But a question remains whether the Patriots have improved up front enough on the offensive line to protect Maye so he can get the ball downfield to Brown. 

A.J. Brown has logged at least 1,000 years in six of the fist seven seasons of his career as he enters his first year with the Patriots. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images)

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It’s concerning that the 49ers are already limiting McCaffrey’s practice time due to “tightness”, and the season hasn’t even started. That speaks to the Stanford product’s lengthy injury history and how important he is for head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense. However, if McCaffrey can stay out of the training room, he’s one of the most versatile playmakers in the league. Add in playmakers like Brock Purdy, George Kittle and Mike Evans, and it’s hard for defenses to consistently contain McCaffrey. 

Last year’s Offensive Player of the Year had a season to remember in 2025, posting career numbers in leading a Seattle offense directed by departed offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who pushed all the right buttons for the Seahawks to win the Super Bowl. However, Kubiak’s in Las Vegas and Seattle has a new offensive coordinator in Brian Fleury, so we don’t know how the offense will look this year. Having Sam Darnold back provides some continuity, and Rashid Shaheed and Cooper Kupp offer other pass-catching options to help take some of the attention away from the Ohio State product. 

Nacua has attempted to eliminate the off-the-field distractions and heighten his focus on the field. It’s still yet to be determined if the league will levy any discipline for Nacua’s off-the-field transgressions. But Nacua should be properly motivated to put up numbers, with the Rams choosing to wait to open their wallet and give him a new contract that rivals the over $40 million annually received by Smith-Njigba.

If Nacua can replicate what he did on the field last season, he’ll almost certainly get such a deal. He put up jaw-dropping statistics across the board, finishing second in receiving yards (1,715) and tied for sixth in receiving touchdowns (10) last season. If he stays healthy, Nacua should put up similar numbers this season. 

One of the most complete backs in the league, the speedy Gibbs should benefit from the diverse running game scheme new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing brings with him from Arizona. Gibbs finished with 1,223 rushing yards last season, but could push for 2,000 yards in Petzing’s scheme. 

Since being selected No. 12 in the 2023 draft, Gibbs is third in the NFL in scrimmage yards at 5,029. On an offense filled with dynamic playmakers led by an elite distributor of the football in Jared Goff, Gibbs is the most important chess piece. 

Defensive Player Of The Year

The Ravens grabbed Hendrickson in free agency after rescinding the trade for Maxx Crosby. And new head coach Jesse Minter knows how to get the most out of talented edge rushers like Hendrickson from his time with the Chargers, where Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu thrived. Baltimore should be ahead in a lot of games as well, providing Hendrickson with a bounty of pass-rush opportunities.

The Illinois product recently signed a new deal, making him the highest-paid defensive back in the league. Witherspoon could have been the MVP of the Super Bowl with his performance in that big game and will use that as a springboard into the regular season in a rematch with the Patriots. There’s an argument to be made that Leonard Williams is Seattle’s most impactful player defensively, but Witherspoon can make splash plays all over the field. 

Devon Witherspoon became the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL this offseason. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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The Texans made Anderson the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league this offseason, paying him $50 million annually. Selected third overall by Houston in the 2023 draft. Anderson won the Rookie Defensive Player of the Year that season and is one of the leaders on one of the most talented defensive groups in the NFL. 

A Defensive Player of the Year finalist last season, Anderson has 30 career sacks in three seasons and finished second in the league in pressures last year (87). It might be time for Anderson to finally win his first Defensive Player of the Year. 

The top cover corner in the league, Surtain took home Defensive Player of the Year honors two years ago and is the best defensive player returning for one of the top defenses in the league. Surtain does a great job of taking away half the field. Surtain held quarterbacks to a 15.8% completion percentage on downfield throws last season, which was the lowest mark of any defender in the league, per Next Gen Stats. Surtain gave up just three receptions for 53 yards in those situations, with six pass breakups. 

The Rams have had Garrett in bubble wrap heading into the team’s season opener against the San Francisco 49ers, as he has barely practiced during training camp due to knee swelling. But make no mistake, when Garrett takes the field as the reigning Defensive Player of the Year and leader of a defense that includes the return of game wrecker Aaron Donald, expect his presence to be felt. That means there’s a good chance Garrett could repeat as defensive MVP.

Coach Of The Year

O’Connell’s QB whisperer vibes took a big hit with first-round selection J.J. McCarthy last year and falling down the depth chart. But after Sam Darnold excelled and moved on to win a Super Bowl in Seattle, O’Connell can redeem himself with Kyler Murray. And with an aggressive defense led by Brian Flores, Murray should have his best defensive group helping him on the other side of the football since he’s been in the pros. So, the ingredients are in place for O’Connell to be a strong Coach of the Year candidate. 

NFL observers are expecting a quick turnaround in the Big Apple, but things could take longer than expected as Harbaugh begins to mold the roster into his tough, hard-nosed image. But the most important thing is the Giants appear to have got the quarterback right in Jaxson Dart. He’ll need playmaking receiver Malik Nabers to stay healthy. If Nabers remains healthy, Harbaugh could easily find himself in Coach of the Year contention. 

With Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, the Cowboys should have no problems scoring points on offense. But the hope for Schottenheimer is that the addition of new defensive coordinator Christian Parker will help jump-start the worst defense in the league last year. Watching the Cowboys at training camp, Parker added a much-needed new energy to the defensive side of the football, and that should translate to more wins for a Dallas squad that was more competitive than expected under Schottenheimer in his first season as a head coach last season. 

Brian Schottenheimer went 7-9-1 in his first year as head coach. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

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Caleb Williams and Johnson are expected to take another step in development in their second year together. Johnson expects Williams to improve his accuracy as a passer, and we’ll see if Rome Odunze can develop into a No. 1 receiver. But how well things go for the Bears will depend on how much of an improvement the defense makes under defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. If that goes to plan, then Johnson should be a Coach of the Year candidate again. 

Ryan’s won double-digit games and made the playoffs in all three years as head coach of the Texans, yet Ryans’ name doesn’t regularly come up in these Coach of the Year conversations. He’s developed one of the most ferocious defenses in the league, and if quarterback C.J. Stroud can keep from throwing the ball to the other team, the Texans have a chance to make some noise in the playoffs if they get there again. 

Offensive Rookie of the Year

I believe Mendoza will play sooner rather than later with Kirk Cousins getting the starting nod to begin the season. It will be hard to keep Mendoza on the sidelines when the Raiders predictably struggle. And if given a chance to play on a regular basis, Mendoza might struggle early, but like Tyler Shough last season for the Saints, his talent will ultimately shine through. 

The Texas A&M product is a big play waiting to happen and should get more opportunities to produce on special teams. Concepcion is special with the ball in his hands, with his ability to make something happen after the catch and as a runner. It doesn’t matter if it’s Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders running the offense for Cleveland; look for Concepcion to lead all rookies in explosive plays. 

With Ricky Pearsall out for the season, Stribling gets an opportunity to seize a role as a significant contributor in Shanahan’s offense. I had a chance to watch Stribling up close during a joint practice with the Los Angeles Chargers, and his movement skills, sticky hands and running ability after the catch were impressive. He should quickly develop a good rapport with Purdy, turning into another reliable receiver for the 49ers.

There’s certainly a case to be made for Love being the choice as the top offensive rookie this season. He looked elusive in the only preseason action we saw of him. 

But that’s also my reason for concern, as Love suffered a high ankle sprain that hasn’t allowed him to practice since. Love’s availability is in question heading into the season opener against the Bolts. Along with that, Love is part of a crowded running back room that includes veterans Tyler Allgeir and James Conner, which could limit his opportunities.

Price is on the other end of the spectrum from Love, his former teammate at Notre Dame. Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency and Zach Charbonnet is still working his way back from season-ending knee surgery. So, Price will start the season as the workhorse back. 

And with new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury coming from San Diego, where they leaned heavily on Christian McCaffrey, expect Price to get a heavy, consistent workload as long as he stays healthy, with George Holani and Emanuel Wilson serving as change-of-pace backs. The scenario sets up nicely for Price to win this award. 

Defensive Rookie Of The Year

The Canadian-born pass rusher has flashed speed off the edge and shown a consistent ability to get after the quarterback. While his reps may be limited with Mack and Tuipulotu as the starters, Mesidor should still get enough pass rush snaps to make an impact.

I watched Downs at training camp practice and a joint practice with the Rams, and he’s an easy mover who appears to have quickly picked up new defensive coordinator Christian Parker’s Vic Fangio-based scheme. Versatility is Downs’ calling card, with an ability to play sticky coverage, tackle in space and serve as an effective blitzer. That means the expectation is the Ohio State product will fill up the stat sheet on game day.

Reviews have been mixed for Styles on how he has performed during training camp and in preseason games. Still, he’s got the physical tools, smarts and family lineage to grow into a productive, every-down linebacker for the Commanders. Specifically, with his explosive athleticism, head coach Dan Quinn expects Styles to develop into an effective pass rusher as his game evolves. 

One of the most polished pass rushers in this year’s draft, the expectation is that Bailey will immediately produce for a much-maligned New York defense that finished No. 31 in the league with 26 sacks and without an interception last season.

Just like Bailey, the expectation is for Bain to impact Tampa Bay’s defense early because he’s a polished pass rusher. I believe Bain has a chance to reach double-digit sacks playing for a team that should compete for an NFC South title with Baker Mayfield leading them. Ten or more sacks would cement Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. 

Most Valuable Player

With a new head coach in Jesse Minter and a new offensive coordinator in Declan Doyle, Jackson is out to prove that he’s fully healthy and last year was an aberration. But can Jackson, who turns 30 in January, return to the dynamic, dangerous runner of his younger years?

And if he can’t consistently put the fear in defenses with his legs, can Jackson be efficient and create enough explosive plays from the pocket to consistently move the chains? Along with Jackson, the Ravens need running back Derrick Henry to return to the fountain of youth. 

Offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel and Herbert are still in the honeymoon stage of their new relationship, heaping praise on each other as they build a new, dynamic offense under the watchful eyes of head coach Jim Harbaugh. And Harbaugh has been championing the big brains of both, saying the two are the smartest men he’s ever been around in football.

While we like the bromance at The Bolt, at some point during the season, when the Chargers inevitably face another rash of injuries along the offensive line, McDaniel knows things will get hard. And unlike previous seasons, the Chargers appear to have an adept offensive mind in place to deal with those tough times, still putting Herbert in a place to succeed that keeps him upright. 

Herbert could be in line to have his best season as a pro.  

Will Mike McDaniel (right) get the most out of Justin Herbert in his first year as the Chargers’ offensive coordinator? (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)

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I expect Stafford to have a good year, with his playmakers returning from last season. But I think it will be hard to replicate the production he had last year, particularly with one of the tougher schedules in the NFL that includes starting the season in Australia against the 49ers. Specifically, the Rams had good injury health with the offensive line last year, and it will be interesting to see if that continues this season.

Allen missed a prime opportunity to win a Super Bowl last season, with Joe Burrow, Patrick Mahomes and Jackson all out of the playoffs. His four-interception performance in a road loss to the Denver Broncos will go down as one of his more disappointing playoff performances of his NFL career.

But with offensive coordinator Joe Brady taking over as Buffalo’s head coach, Allen has a chance to redeem himself. The problem? Burrow, Mahomes and Jackson are all healthy. 

While he’s targeted a Week 1 return the entire time, it’s still astonishing that Mahomes appears to be moving well only nine months after suffering a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee that required surgery. However, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid still must rely on top free-agent addition Kenneth Walker III and the return of offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy to create enough balance on offense to protect Mahomes in his return to play.

Along with that, Mahomes needs Kansas City’s defense to get back to being an elite group. It will be interesting to see defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo find replacements in the secondary for departed, top-tier defensive backs Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson. And does aging defensive tackle Chris Jones still have something left in the tank? 

Still considered by most NFL observers as the best player in the league, Mahomes has not won the MVP Award since 2022 and is two behind Aaron Rodgers (four). I like him (and the Chiefs) to rebound from a poor performance last season to win his third MVP award. 

NFL Related Stories

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For over a century, Wrigley Field has been home to baseball, with generations of the greatest baseball players gracing one of the most stories venues in the sport.

That changed Sunday, when the Big Ten/SEC Volleyball Challenge turned the Friendly Confines into a volleyball court for the first time ever, as No. 3 Kentucky defeated No. 13 Penn State and Nebraska was set to face Missouri in a doubleheader.

It’s the latest — and most unusual — stop on what’s already been a barnstorming season for No. 1 Nebraska, which has now played matches in an NFL stadium (AT&T Stadium), an NHL arena (T-Mobile Arena), a WNBA venue (Wintrust Arena) and now an MLB ballpark, all before playing a single home match in Lincoln.

No. 3 Kentucky vs No. 13 Penn State Highlights Women’s Volleyball on FOX

Check out the matchup between the No. 3 Kentucky Wildcats and No. 13 Penn State Nittany Lions at Wrigley Field!

Wrigley’s volleyball debut wasn’t without its own bit of history repeating itself. 

The last time the ballpark hosted a its first night game under the lights in 1988, rain forced a delay and eventually washed the game out before it could become official. 

Sunday’s volleyball doubleheader ran into its own hiccup, though this time it was the brand-new court surface, not the weather, causing a delay. Play was halted twice during the Nebraska-Missouri nightcap due to a slippery playing surface, which led to a delay that somehow heightened the energy at the end of the night.

Here are the top moments and results from each match:

   No. 3 Kentucky Tops No. 13 Penn State

The Wildcats opened the historic evening at Wrigley Field with a back-and-forth first set that came down to the wire, eventually pulling away from Penn State 25-23. No team led by more than three points for most of the set, but Kentucky closed on a 4-of-5 run to seal it, hitting .265 to the Nittany Lions’ .190. Outside hitter Brooklyn DeLeye finished the set with the final two kills, both set up by Kassie O’Brien, who racked up 11 assists in the opening frame alone.

Kentucky carried that momentum into the second set, needing four set points before closing it out 25-21. DeLeye kept rolling, adding eight more kills to push her total to 12 through two sets.

Penn State refused to go quietly, though. The Nittany Lions climbed back from a 19-15 deficit with an 8-1 run in the third set, and a kill from Ryla Jones — her third of the set — gave PSU its first set win in Wrigley, 25-23, avoiding a repeat of last year’s sweep loss to the Wildcats.

Kentucky shut the door in the fourth, dominating 25-15 behind an 8-0 run that turned a tight game into a 14-6 lead the Wildcats never gave back. The finishing touch had a local flavor: Georgia Watson, a Huntley, Illinois native and self-described Cubs fan, notched two of Kentucky’s final three kills to close out the match in her home ballpark’s backyard.

Brooklyn DeLeye led the way for Kentucky with 21 kills on a .319 hitting percentage, while Morgan Gaerte added 15 kills and six blocks on a .344 clip. Setter Kassie O’Brien orchestrated the offense with 48 assists, and libero Molly Tuozzo anchored the back row with 19 digs and six assists.

The win moves Kentucky to 2-0 on the week after also beating UCLA on Wednesday, and to 2-1 against ranked opponents this season, having also swept then-No. 6 Wisconsin at the AVCA First Serve. 

Penn State, which hadn’t played a ranked team before Sunday, drops its first ranked matchup of 2026 and gets a quick shot at redemption against Depaul on Monday Sept. 7.

   No. 1 Nebraska-Missouri Suspended

The nightcap between top-ranked Nebraska (4-0) and Missouri (3-1) got underway on schedule at 9 p.m. ET, but the historic first-ever outdoor volleyball match at Wrigley Field never got past its opening set.

With Nebraska ahead 11-7, play was stopped for the first time as players began slipping on the outdoor surface, but that was just the start of what felt like a fever dream.

Rather than a weather delay, it was a player-safety call: coaches from both programs met courtside, and crews — players and staff included — began tearing up the court logos and wiping down the surface to cut down on slickness. 

Both teams did not let the delay stop them from soaking up their moment under the light, as the action at Wrigley Field shifted from volleyball to a dance-off, among other activities.

But the party had to stop eventually as the match was ultimately suspended. 

A public address announcement told fans that rescheduling the match at Wrigley Field would not be possible, and that a decision on how — or whether — the match continues from the point of suspension will be announced at a later date.

College Sports Related Stories

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One second made a world of difference for the public betting masses on Saturday. A simple tick of the clock turned college football Week 1 odds on their head.

Huge favorite Michigan got a second shot at a Hail Mary, turning what was seemingly a 12-7 upset loss into a stunning 13-12 victory over Western Michigan. 

It was equally stunning for bookmakers.

“That extra play and successful Hail Mary was a massive swing for the book,” BetMGM trading manager Adair Horne said. “We went from a big winner to a loser.”

That’s what moneyline parlays can do.

Oddsmakers from Las Vegas and across the country chimed in to 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.

Like Clockwork

Michigan was a 27.5-point home favorite vs. Western Michigan. The first drive went as expected, with the Wolverines rolling 75 yards to take a 7-0 lead.

But that would be the only Michigan score until the game’s final play, on which the Wolverines ostensibly got a do-over.

On second-and-10 from Western Michigan’s 47-yard line, the final seven seconds appeared to run off as Bryce Underwood’s Hail Mary fell incomplete outside the back of the end zone. But upon review, officials deemed a Broncos defender touched the ball while out of bounds with one second remaining, which ended the play … and put one second back on the clock. 

The second time was a charm, as Underwood connected with a leaping JJ Buchanan to give Michigan the improbable 13-12 victory.

That TD helped the masses cash their moneyline parlays that included Michigan. And there were a lot of ‘em.

“We took six times the amount of bets on Michigan moneyline compared with Western Michigan,” Horne said, noting most of those moneyline plays were on parlay tickets.

Added Joey Feazel, Caesars Sports head of football trading: “Michigan was a popular selection on the moneyline for parlays. Bettors were certainly pleased to see that one second added on the clock for the second Hail Mary attempt.”

Additionally, a Fanatics Sportsbook customer made a huge in-game bet in the waning seconds, when a Michigan loss appeared imminent. The bettor put $10,000 on Michigan +2800 moneyline.

When the prayer was answered, that customer banked a $280,000 win (total payout $290,000).

High-Flying Favorites

Horne said BetMGM had a mixed-bag result in college football Week 1 odds. Big favorites delivered in big ways for the betting public over the past few days.

“Customers found the most success with LSU-Clemson, Wisconsin-Notre Dame, Texas State-Texas and pretty much every other big favorite easily covering,” Horne said.

Lane Kiffin’s LSU debut was a cakewalk, with the Tigers pounding Clemson 51-10 as 10.5-point home favorites. At BetMGM, LSU was the most-bet team of any on the full Saturday schedule, taking the most tickets and money on the spread.

Arch Manning and the Longhorns were 29.5-point home favorites vs. Texas State and rolled 59-7.

On Sunday night, Notre Dame whacked Wisconsin 41-13 as a 21-point favorite at Lambeau Field. At halftime, the Irish led just 13-10.

“Notre Dame covering hurt, after Wisconsin put up a huge fight in the first half,” Horne said.

Falling-Flat Favorites

Horne also noted a few key games that fell in the sportsbooks’ favor.

“Bettors had the most difficulties with Washington State vs. Washington, Colorado vs. Georgia Tech, Oregon vs. Boise State and Baylor vs. Auburn,” Horne said.

Indeed, all four favorites — Washington -23.5, Georgia Tech -6.5, Oregon -24.5, Auburn -6.5 — failed to cover the spread. And the Yellow Jackets lost outright against coach Deion Sanders’ Buffaloes.

Georgia Tech led 13-7 late, but allowed a touchdown with 37 seconds left. Then Colorado blocked the Jackets’ game-winning field-goal attempt as time expired.

The public was all over Georgia Tech at BetMGM, more so than any other team on an 11-game Thursday night slate.

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If it feels like Michigan can’t do much of anything without inviting controversy, you’ve just been paying attention for the past two years. 

Add to that list the seemingly phantom single second of time Big Ten officials found on their clock but not the game clock — the one all of us can see — that allowed the Wolverines to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. All official parties accept the result. College football fans are a different story.

But now the Wolverines get Oklahoma — a program which has more talent, a better defense and a better quarterback coming to the Big House than the one Kyle Whittingham’s team showed up with in Week 1. And this is as, dare I say it, the rest of college football is blowing wind into the Sooners’ sails to avenge what most have come to view as a wrong. Michigan should’ve lost last Saturday night. The Sooners have a chance to turn the conditional part of the aforementioned sentence into a declarative one.

Before we move onto Week 2, here are my top-25 rankings from Week 1.

Record: 1-0

Previous ranking: 15

JJ Buchanan catches Bryce Underwood’s game-winning Hail Mary touchdown pass with no time left against Western Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

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Week 1 game: 13-12 win vs. Western Michigan

Michigan won a game it should’ve lost to a Broncos team that isn’t even in its weight class. Quarterback Bryce Underwood looked shook. He was responsible for two of the Wolverines’ three turnovers, and the Hail Mary touchdown he threw to win the game can mostly be attributed to luck. Luck won’t save the Wolverines on Saturday when they face Oklahoma.

Record: 1-0

Previous ranking: 25

North Dakota State head coach Tim Polasek on the Bison sideline. (Photo by Kevin Langley/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Week 1 game: 38-0 win vs. Fordham

I’m struggling to find a team on the Bison schedule that is capable of defeating them. After two games, the only program in FBS to never lose an FBS game — cheeky, I know — looks every bit like running the table.

Record: 1-0

Previous ranking: 24

Josh Heupel talks with Faizon Brandon after his touchdown against Furman in Week 1. (Photo by Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Week 1 game: 56-9 win vs. Furman

Quarterback Faizon Brandon finished with 13 of 17 completions, 294 total yards and five total touchdowns after becoming the first true freshman to start at quarterback for the Vols since 2004. Keep your eye on him.

Record: 1-0

Previous ranking: 23

Quarterback Byrd Ficklin breaks a tackle against Idaho in Week 1. (Photo by Aaron Baker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Week 1 game: 66-14 win vs. Idaho

In the season opener, Utah put up 633 yards, including 364 on the ground, while allowing just 225 total yards by Idaho. This could be a powerful offensive force this season.

Record: 1-0

Previous ranking: 22

Wide receiver Jalen Hale runs after a catch against Florida State in the final Week 1 game. (Photo by George Walker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Week 1 game: 27-24 win vs. Florida State

SMU proved you can do almost everything in your power to lose to Florida State, and FSU still simply won’t allow it. SMU committed four turnovers. FSU had zero turnovers. SMU had twice as many penalties (six) as FSU (three). And yet, the Mustangs are 1-0 and 1-0 in ACC competition.

Record: 1-0

Previous ranking: 21

Demond Williams Jr. soars for a touchdown against Washington State in a Week 1 Apple Cup matchup. (Photo by Blake Dahlin/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)

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Week 1 game: 24-10 win vs. Washington State

Look, quarterback Demond Williams Jr. did that Kyler Murray thing I’ve been telling you about for the better part of a year. But this game was 17-10 until there were about two minutes left to play because the Huskies are about as disciplined as a newborn puppy: 12 penalties for 130 yards will get you beat in Big Ten play.

Record: 1-0

Previous ranking: 20

Jadan Baugh celebrates with his teammates after scoring a touchdown against Florida Atlantic in Week 1. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Week 1 game: 66-21 win vs. Florida Atlantic 

Jon Sumrall’s Gators put up a gaudy 624 yards against the Owls, and running back Jadan Baugh showed why he’s one of the five best tailbacks in the country with 160 rushing yards and three touchdowns on just 14 rushes — 11.4 yards per rush.

Record: 1-0

Previous ranking: 19

Conner Weigman scores a touchdown in Week 1 against Oregon State. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

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Week 1 game: 33-20 win vs. Oregon State

Conner Weigman looked the part of a Big 12 championship-contending quarterback for Houston after completing 20 of 30 pass attempts for 305 pass yards with a touchdown and an interception.

Record: 1-0

Previous ranking: 18

Austin Simmons rolls out to throw against Arkansas Pine Bluff in Week 1. (Photo by Rick Ulreich/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Week 1 game: 54-14 win vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Tigers quarterback Austin Simmons was special in his debut. He completed 17 of 19 passes for 252 passing yards with four passing touchdowns.

Record: 1-0

Previous ranking: 17

Zion Tracy and John Klosterman celebrate in Week 1 after a play against Marshall Thundering. (Photo by Brien Aho/Getty Images)

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Week 1 game: 45-0 win vs. Marshall

Despite a new head coach and 60 new players — or because of, if you prefer — Matt Campbell’s Nittany Lions will enter Week 2 tied for the No. 1 scoring defense in the country.

Record: 1-0

Previous ranking: 16

Journee Tonga runs against Utah Tech in Week 1. (Photo by Bryan Byerly/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)

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Week 1 game: 63-7 win vs. Utah Tech

The strength of the Cougars team was on display in their opener when they rushed for 308 yards.

Record: 1-0

Previous ranking: 14

Coach Joey McGuire talks with Will Hammond after their Week 1 victory against Abilene Christian. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Getty Images)

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Week 1 game: 33-10 win vs. Abilene Christian

Texas Tech quarterback Will Hammond looked the part of man leading the defending Big 12 champions with a stellar performance: 26 of 33 completed passes for 298 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

Record: 1-0

Previous ranking: 13

Keelon Russell celebrates a Week 1 touchdown against East Carolina. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images)

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Week 1 game: 48-10 win vs. East Carolina

In his first-ever start, Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell put up 256 passing yards and 86 rushing yards with a rushing touchdown in what was an outstanding debut for a Tide team looking to win its first SEC championship since 2023.

Record: 1-0

Previous ranking: 12

Trinidad Chambliss celebrates a touchdown against Louisville in Week 1 at Nissan Stadium. (Photo by Carly Mackler/Getty Images)

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Week 1 game: 41-38 vs. Louisville

When quarterback Trinidad Chambliss finally found his form, Louisville didn’t just crumble. It disintegrated behind eight penalties — including four in six minutes of the fourth quarter — that contributed to Ole Miss cruising to its season-opening win. Leave it to Chambliss to put up a Heisman-level stat line too, with more than 300 passing yards, 50 rushing yards and four total touchdowns.

Record: 1-0

Previous ranking: 11

Running back Jonathan Hatton Jr. falls out of bounds short of the end zone against UTEP in Week 1.  Oklahoma won 51-0. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

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Week 1 game: 51-0 win vs. UTEP

The Sooners shut out the Miners with true freshman Noah Best starting at center and a ground game that might be worth bragging about come SEC play with 170 yards.

Record: 2-0

Previous ranking: 10

Jide Abasiri and Alex Vansumeren celebrate after a Week 1 play against Fresno State. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Week 1 game: 39-0 win vs. Fresno State

Does it matter that fewer folks have seen the Trojans play at the Coliseum through two games (104, 158) than people saw Penn State play against Marshall (108,489) on Saturday? Yes, but only for us who love college football more than anything else that might be going on in Los Angeles on a day ending in Y. Angelinos just don’t.

Record: 1-0

Previous ranking: 9

Carsyn Baker scores a rushing touchdown against Missouri State in Week 1. (Photo by Jack Gorman/Getty Images)

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Week 1 game: 50-0 win vs. Missouri State

Ampersand U enjoyed its first season-opening shutout since 1993 (LSU, 24-0).

Record: 1-0

Previous ranking: 8

Sam Leavitt celebrates with his teammates after a touchdown run against Clemson in Week 1. (Photo by Derick Hingle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Week 1 game: 51-10 win vs. Clemson

Amateurs only.

Record: 1-0

Previous ranking: 7

Malachi Toney catches the ball before running in his third touchdown against Stanford in Week 1.  (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

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Week 1 game: 45-6 win vs. Stanford

Hurricanes wide receiver Malachi Toney became the first player since LSU’s Malik Nabers to record at least 180 yards, 10 catches and two receiving touchdowns in one half in Miami’s win. He finished with 11 catches for 229 yards, three touchdowns and an early lead in the Heisman Trophy conversation.

Record: 1-0

Previous ranking: 6

CJ Carr drops back to pass against Wisconsin during Notre Dame’s Week 1 win at Lambeau Field. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)

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Week 1 game: 41-13 vs. Wisconsin

After a slow start, Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr found the weakness in Wisconsin’s defense — the middle of the field. And he and the Fighting Irish pelted it until the Badgers came unglued under the weight of trying to keep up with a Notre Dame program that was clearly punching down in weight class, even for Wisconsin.

Record: 1-0

Previous ranking: 5

Arch Manning ahead of Texas’ Week 1 game against Texas State. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

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Week 1 game: 59-7 win vs. Texas State

Texas is talented. Texas is capable. But is Texas mentally tough enough to defeat the AP’s No. 1 team in the country? Fortunately for us, the answer to that question is just a few days away.

Record: 1-0

Previous ranking: 4

Evan Stewart runs after a catch against Boise State in Week 1. (Photo by Ali Gradischer/Getty Images)

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Week 1 game: 34-27 win vs. Boise State

Oregon survived. So they get to stay here — for now. Is a Boise State team with one loss to this Oregon team a more deserving CFP invitee than an undefeated North Dakota State? Just tossing out something to think about. Now, aside from that, the Ducks owe the Broncos $1.4 million for this threat to their College Football Playoff hopes.

Record: 1-0

Previous ranking: 3

Jeremy Bell celebrates with Terrell Foster and Marcus Harrison during their Week 1 game against Tennessee State. (Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Week 1 game: 63-3 win vs. Tennessee State

No, this ain’t John Merritt’s Tennessee State, but I am impressed with any defense that can hold a college football team to 10 friggin’ rushing yards over the course of 60 minutes. That’s exactly what Kirby Smart’s Dawgs did in their opener.

Record: 1-0

Previous ranking: 2

Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith celebrate after connecting on a three-yard touchdown against Ball State in Week 1. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)

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Week 1 game: 56-3 win vs. Ball State

Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith wasted no time reminding folks why he’s the best player in the sport with eight catches for 151 yards and two touchdowns — in just one half of football.

Record: 1-0

Previous ranking: 1

Charlie Becker makes a wild touchdown catch against North Texas in Week 1. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

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Week 1 game: 52-16 win vs. North Texas

These Hoosiers gave up more points to a rebuilding North Texas — at home! — than they did against No. 1 Ohio State in the Big Ten title game last season. I don’t love that, and I’m certain neither does Curt Cignetti.

‘Fear Arch Manning’ USC a CFP sleeper, can Indiana repeat as National Champions, Notre Dame | FTF

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Source

I have so many questions. I’ve been thinking about the 2026 season since … well, Feb. 9 at about 12:30 a.m., the morning after Super Bowl LX.

What I didn’t realize was that the next official game we’d see would be a rematch of that title game. But on Wednesday, the first time an NFL season will open on a Wednesday, it’s the Patriots against the Seahawks in Seattle. I want to talk about that this week.

On Thursday, we get a potential preview of the NFC Championship Game, with the Rams playing the 49ers in … Australia (also a first, in many ways). I want to talk about that, too.

I think the Saints and Lions game on Sunday could be a slugfest, in part because I think they’ll both win their divisions. Let’s hit on the Lions while we’re at it, shall we?

The Week 1 schedule is packed. Make sure you order your wings and pizzas early. Make sure your fridge is stocked. Heck, book a babysitter if you need to. NFL season is here. This is Sound Smart, where I try to spin forward, dive deeper, think outside the box and read between the lines.

1.

There’s a reason we haven’t had a Super Bowl rematch to open a season since 2016. It’s an incredible product for the fans. But for the players and the teams? Not so much.

Here’s what former Panthers coach Ron Rivera said about a rematch with the Broncos to open the 2016 season after Carolina lost to Denver in Super Bowl 50. 

“We’re going to make you guys relive it for five more months. That’s how I felt,” Rivera said a decade ago. “So for the next five months I’ve got to put up with it, deal with it, answer the questions and relive it constantly, over and over and over. Honestly, it became a pain in the ass.”

New England will have to watch the Seahawks lift their banner. The Patriots will have front-row seats for the ceremony and pageantry. There’s no getting that salt out of the wound — not even if the Patriots win.

In the Super Bowl, Drake Maye and the Patriots couldn’t handle the Seatte blitz, which came from all angles. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)

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So I figured I’d check in with a member of the losing side.

“I ain’t gonna lie: That hurt,” Patriots receiver Demario Douglas told me early in training camp. “That game hurt, you know? … The next week, I went right back to working out. That gave me a good view of, man, how we need to finish.”

Did he speak at all with Drake Maye about the game?

“We watched the film. We were all very hard on ourselves. He was very hard on himself,” Douglas told me. “So I mean, not much to say [to each other]. Coach was already saying it. I don’t feel like you need another voice. … I need [Maye’s] confidence in me. So me coming at him, that doesn’t help anything. He watched the film just like we watched the film. We all had a part in it. It takes a full 11, not just one.”

The bad news for the Patriots in an otherwise magical season was, of course, that they lost the game. The good news is that they get another shot at the Seahawks. But there’s no trophy on the line this time.

Maye mentioned earlier this offseason that the Super Bowl loss was “humbling.” But following the 2026 NFL schedule release, he has struck a positive tone about the rematch.

“Starting off with the bang like that, [it’s] a chance to get an opponent that left a bad taste in our mouth. So, I think it’s something for us that’s going to really make us work,” he said in May. “We’ve got to bring it Week 1 on the road in a tough environment. They’re going to be hanging their banner, and that’s part of it. 

“I think it’s going to be interesting. It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be a tough task.”

2.

It was concerning to see the 49ers decide not to invest in their offensive line this offseason. Sure, they drafted Washington guard Carver Willis in Round 4 of the draft. But this is the 49ers’ custom — peppering rounds three and four with dart throws on the offensive line. 

The problem is that they still have issues at guard on both sides. That began to show in 2025, when they didn’t get strong play on the left side and right guard Dominick Puni saw his PFF grade fall from 80.5 as a rookie in 2024 to 69.2 in his second year.

And we recently got a clue that maybe the 49ers are concerned, too. They traded for Texans guard Jarrett Patterson to help with their depth. They’re clearly not panicked — Patterson came for a seventh-round pick. But it doesn’t imbue confidence either.

I’m not the only one who’s worried.

“We’re a week away from the season, and they’re trading for interior offensive linemen because it’s an obvious place of concern,” former NFL star Richard Sherman said on his podcast. “We knew that two years ago. And that’s the part where I don’t really get it.”

The line wouldn’t be such an acute problem if the 49ers weren’t in the NFC West — and if they didn’t have a matchup against Myles Garrett, Byron Young and maybe even Aaron Donald on Thursday. The Rams are an absolute nightmare for any not-sure-of-itself offensive line.

Donald will fly to Australia. His status is still up in the air. (Pun intended.) Either way, the 49ers will come away from this matchup feeling shaky. Donald will almost definitely be there for their second catchup in Week 14. And if the 49ers have Super Bowl plans, they’ll probably see the Rams for a third time in the playoffs.

I don’t see it getting any easier.

3.

It would’ve been easy to write about Caleb Williams here. The expectations. The talent. The everything. It was easy to write about Drake Maye for all the same reasons.

But what about Commanders QB Jayden Daniels?

Depending upon whom you ask, he’s either quietly poised for a bounce-back season — or on the verge of ruin, not unlike his predecessor Robert Griffin III. The Commanders are, of course, showering Daniels with praise, but I’m just not sure they’ve done enough to set him up to succeed.

Last year, it felt like they were trying to fight regression from their 2024 run to the NFC Championship Game by adding left tackle Laremy Tunsil and receiver Deebo Samuel. Neither had many ripple effects — at least not so far as we could see. All we could see was Daniels struggling on the field — and then, worse, struggling to stay on the field. He missed 10 games due to knee, hamstring and elbow injuries.

This year, the Commanders waited until the third round to add slot receiver Antonio Williams. Then a few weeks into training camp, Washington signed veteran receiver Stefon Diggs. The Diggs addition, in particular, felt too much like an afterthought. It was like they’d forgotten to buy a gift for a party host and picked up a dusty bottle of red at the corner store. And Diggs, like some red wines, isn’t for everyone. His presence in the locker room is sometimes … a lot.

A big key to Daniels’ success in 2026 will be new offensive coordinator David Blough, who replaced Kliff Kingsbury. Blough is widely respected (partially because he’s a former NFL QB), which has led to a precipitous rise — not unlike that of new Eagles OC Sean Mannion. (And coincidentally, Mannion and Blough will duel in Week 1 on FOX.) But Blough is a first-time playcaller and a first-year offensive coordinator. He’s also entering just his fourth year of coaching. For a QB as young and malleable as Daniels, it’s interesting to see him paired with an OC with such little experience.

Two-time All-Pro receiver Stefon Diggs signed with the Commanders in August, his fourth team in four years. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)

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I’m not saying things won’t work in D.C. In fact, I hope they do. Because it would be a shame to see Washington squander Daniels’ talent.

But while the Commanders seem to want to support behind their 25-year-old QB, they have a funny way of showing it. Changing OCs. Waiting to draft a rookie pass-catcher. Waiting to sign a veteran pass-catcher. Taking a risk on moving guard Brandon Coleman back to his college position, left tackle.

It’s fun to root for a guy like Daniels. But the Commanders might not make it easy in 2026.

4.

I recently waxed poetic about how special Jared Goff and Amon-Ra St. Brown are as a QB-WR tandem. That’s because they are special. And I thoroughly enjoy their game.

Well, sorry, here comes the I-love-you-but.

Coach Dan Campbell recently said that Goff is beyond comparison when it comes to facing pressure.

“His processing speed reminds me of [Drew] Brees,” Campbell told Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. “Nobody makes a more accurate throw under duress than Jared Goff.”

Unfortunately, the stats don’t lie. Goff is actually the league’s most sensitive quarterback to pressure over the past three seasons. His expected points per dropback ranges between .43 in a clean pocket (best in the league) to -.42 when pressured (28th), per Fantasy Points Data. That’s an .85-point swing.

Goff is absolutely an elite processor and playmaker. But recently, he’s mainly been dangerous when he’s not pressured. And that’s something to watch as the Lions have shuffled their offensive line this year. Perennial All-Pro Penei Sewell moved from right tackle to left. Center Frank Ragnow retired, and his replacement, free-agent acquisition Cade Mays, will miss time with a wrist injury. Tackle Blake Miller is a rookie, albeit a first-rounder.

That’ll be something for the Saints to ponder, as defensive coordinator Brandon Staley tries to unsettle Goff — no doubt with help from edges Chase Young and Cam Jordan.

5.

This post recently made the rounds on X. And I’m just loving it.

Look, Bill Belichick has clearly fallen on hard times. In 2024, he couldn’t get an NFL job when he clearly wanted one. He had to settle for the college ranks, where he wasn’t exactly dominant in 2025. In fact, he has seemingly been steeped in one controversy after another at the college level. To top off his mountain of crap, he missed the first ballot for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

But there’s still no question in my mind: He and Tom Brady should get an even split for New England’s dynasty. Anyone who claims Brady is due more credit is playing prisoner to the moment (and focusing too heavily on how their NFL careers ended — not on where their careers began, which was when Belichick did so much heavy lifting).

Former Eagles staffer Ryan Paganetti shared an example of why Belichick is so deserving of credit. Reportedly, the Patriots tinkered with the Gillette Stadium video board when opponents attempted field goals. The board would show the reverse view, creating four yellow lines to seemingly disorient the kicker. From 2001 to 2019, stats show that the Patriots converted 9.4% more of their own field goals than their opponents made.

The dude was an Evil Genius. Capital E. Capital G.

Nobody liked messing with his opponents more. Nobody was more conniving and manipulative of the rules. Nobody was more prepared.

Belichick was ruthless for 20 years. And I love discovering crazy gems like this one.

“If him and Ernie [Adams] came up with that, then I love them even more,” former Patriots safety Devin McCourty texted me.

NFL Related Stories

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The wait is over. It’s been seven months since Seattle and New England met in a surprising Super Bowl matchup. And now they’re squaring off again, on a Wednesday no less, to kick off the new NFL season. It’s one of a few games in Week 1 that promises to shake up the league hierarchy from the jump.

With the 2026 campaign finally upon us, let’s see where the Top 10 teams stand.

Perhaps this is the year the Cowboys finally end their Super Bowl drought with a dynamic offense poised to light up scoreboards like a pinball machine. Quarterback Dak Prescott has a scary set of pass catchers and playmakers around him that will give countless defensive coordinators around the league sleepless nights. 

The high-scoring offense masked the defense’s flaws a season ago, but a new defensive coordinator in Christian Parker and a revamped lineup should help the Cowboys compete at a championship level. 

Dak Prescott will need the Cowboys defense to hold up its end of the bargain this season. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

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The football world is seemingly waiting for the clock to strike midnight on last season’s Cinderella despite QB Trevor Lawrence’s emergence as an MVP candidate. While the skeptics question whether Liam Coen can keep the No.1 overall pick playing at an elite level, the Jaguars’ improving supporting cast could help an explosive offense spark a surprise Super Bowl run. 

The pressure is squarely on the shoulders of head coach Joe Brady and quarterback Josh Allen to lead a Super Bowl run, after the Bills moved on from Sean McDermott despite reaching the playoffs eight times in nine seasons. 

With a “Super Bowl or bust” mentality hovering over the team, the Bills are hoping new WR1 DJ Moore and defensive play-caller Jim Leonard can produce better results behind a more aggressive approach under new leadership. 

Quarterback Caleb Williams is poised for an MVP run during his second season under Ben Johnson’s direction. The former first-overall pick proved in 2025 that he is the ultimate closer with six fourth-quarter comebacks and six game-winning drives. 

The “Iceman” can bail the Bears out of bad situations with his late-game magic, but the defense must be more consistent and not rely solely on turnovers to tilt games in Chicago’s favor.

Head coach Demeco Ryan’s swarming defense can single-handedly keep the Texans in title contention, with edge rushers Will Anderson, Jr. and Danielle Hunter, linebacker Azzez Al-Shaair and cornerback Derek Stingley leading the way. 

If quarterback CJ Stroud can shake off a disappointing playoff run that led to concerns about his status as the team’s franchise quarterback, the Texans are a top-five contender lurking in the shadows.

Trading away wide receiver A.J. Brown might have cost the Eagles a WR1, but the improved chemistry between QB Jalen Hurts and his perimeter playmakers should lead to more consistency in the passing game. While the former Super Bowl MVP must adapt to another offensive system, the drama-free huddle should help him return to his efficient playmaking. 

With the ultra-talented defense capable of bottling up opponents until the offense hits its stride, the Eagles are a dark-horse contender to keep an eye on.

The Super Bowl LX runner-ups surprised opponents last season as a worst-to-first squad who responded well to a culture change ushered in by a Patriots’ legend. 

While head coach Mike Vrabel deserves credit for pulling a rabbit out of a hat in 2025, the team’s chances of being a title contender hinge on their ability to handle the burden of expectations with an upgraded roster featuring more star power on the perimeter. 

Drake Maye faces a tough test in Week 1, when the travel to face the reigning-champion Seahawks. (Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

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After falling short in the AFC Championship Game, the Broncos come back with a squad that is built to make a deep playoff run with quarterback Bo Nix and newly promoted offensive play-caller Davis Webb at the helm. Although Sean Payton has handed off the call sheet to his protégé, the one-time Super Bowl champion will make sure wide receiver Jaylen Waddle is featured prominently throughout the opening script. 

Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph has spent the off-season concocting more blitzes and simulated pressures that will keep quarterbacks running for their lives.

Mike Macdonald has the motivation and manpower to pull off a rare back-to-back in a league that has not seen a repeat champion since the 2023 and 2024 Kansas City Chiefs. The Seahawks could pull it off with QB Sam Darnold and WR Jaxson Smith-Njigba spearheading an offense that should benefit from the extra possessions generated by their turnover-obsessed defense, which is loaded with big-play specialists. 

Despite the defending champs needing to adjust to the target on their backs, the Seahawks have the pieces in place to hang another banner at season’s end.

General manager Les Snead and head coach Sean McVay have assembled a “Dream Team” with a roster littered with MVPs, All-Pros and Pro Bowlers, surrounded by a collection of late-round picks and undrafted studs who perfectly complement the Rams’ premier players. 

With McVay cleverly moving the Xs and Os around the gridiron like a chess master, the Rams’ combination of talent and tactics could produce an easy run to a title. 

Source

Christopher Bell had a simple plan on how to win races in a year when he has had seven runner-up finishes and no victories.

“The same way that we finished second seven times, that’s how we’re going to win in The Chase,” he told me Wednesday.

He did just that on Sunday night. 

He took our tires on a pit stop and outdueled the competition over the final 24 green-flag laps to capture the Southern 500, the first race of the 10-race Chase.

Here are my takeaways:

1. Bell’s Big First Win Of 2026

Christopher Bell’s first win of 2026 came at the perfect time.

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Kyle Larson was leading but on older tires. So Christopher Bell had to be patient and wait for Larson to start struggling before passing him with 12 laps to go.

Earning his 14th career victory, he led five other Chase drivers across the line as he was followed by Ty Gibbs, Tyler Reddick, Ryan Blaney, Larson and Chase Briscoe, 

“There is no other track that’s harder to drive, that rewards a talented driver more than Darlington and the Southern 500,” Bell said in his post-race news conference. “This is the epitome of NASCAR, and I’m just super grateful to be here.

“It’s better than a dream come true.”

2. Denny Hamlin Leads Despite Hiccup

Denny Hamlin got back on the lead lap after a hiccup and finished 18th.

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Regular-season champion Denny Hamlin broke a toe link in a tight battle with Michael McDowell, and repairs eventually put him a lap down. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver got his lap back late and finished 18th.

By finishing third in each of the stages, he still had a decent 35-point day. He saw his points lead of 25 over Ryan Blaney be cut to 12 over Bell, 16 over Blaney and 24 over Reddick.

It’s not great, but it could have been much worse.

3. Kyle Larson’s Gamble Doesn’t Pay

Kyle Larson’s decision to stay out on older tires didn’t pay dividends at Darlington.

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Larson’s gamble to stay out on older tires that had about 10 green-flag laps on them didn’t prove all that great, as he ended up finishing fifth. Only Larson and three other drivers opted not to pit.

“I thought more people would stay out,” he said, according to a Chevrolet news release. “I think another two or three people staying out would have helped.

“I think, ultimately, they would have got to me. I was just hoping I could get some laps where I could take care of my tires.”

4. William Byron Biggest Points Loser

William Byron’s misfortune at Darlington could have looming impact on his Chase fate.

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An apparent engine issue ended the night for William Byron, who now sits 16th among all Chase drivers. He’s last in the standings and 114 points behind Hamlin.

The Hendrick driver’s Chase might already be over before it really began. The trouble had started laps earlier when he thought something was broken in one of the wheels.

“I don’t know if I was blowing up in that process and got oil on my tire or what,” he said in a Chevrolet news release. “We had an eighth- or ninth-place run going, but it was just an unfortunate end to the evening.”

4 ½: What’s Next — WWTR Gateway

Gateway is up next in The Chase.

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The Cup Series makes its one visit to World Wide Technology Raceway, commonly known as Gateway. It’s a 1.25-mile oval on the Illinois side near St. Louis.

This will be one of the tracks where Toyota might not have a distinct advantage.

With the new version of The Chase, there are no eliminations, so drivers are keenly aware of the dynamic of a 10-race mini season to determine the champion.

“We’re off to a great start but no off weeks,” Bell said. “Right back to work next week at Gateway … I still believe that I will have to win more races in The Chase if I want to be the champion.”

WHAT YOU SHOULD READ NEXT

With four wins on the season, Denny Hamlin is favored to take home the title as NASCAR drives toward The Chase.

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Week 1 of the college football season showed me enough to feel at least half decent about my updated rankings. 

I have some questions about a few title favorites, and I’m sure the fans of those teams do, too.

Also, I feel better about Texas than I do Ohio State heading into their Week 2 showdown.

Rankings time.

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10.

To Make CFP: +134
Title Odds: +2500

I have my questions about the Tide this season, but against overmatched ECU, Bama had little trouble. It was 38-10 at halftime and Keelon Russell accounted for 342 yards (86 rushing). Two conference games and a visit from Florida State await and that’s when we’ll continue to learn if this season will be a special one in Tuscaloosa.

9.

To Make CFP: +160
Title Odds: +2800

We didn’t expect UTEP to do much and it didn’t. John Mateer was solid, and the defense just suffocated a totally outclassed opponent. After what we saw from Michigan’s offense on Saturday night, the OU defense has to be licking its chops. Last year, the Sooners limited the Wolverines to 13 points and Bryce Underwood was 9-for-24 passing for 142 yards. 

8.

To Make CFP: -310
Title Odds: +950

IU was never seriously threatened, but the final score was a little deceiving, as the Hoosiers scored 21 fourth-quarter points. North Texas did as good a job as it could, controlling the ball for 37 minutes, but Turbo Richard and Charlie Becker made the big plays to keep IU at a comfortable distance despite an inconsistent running game. 

7.

To Make CFP: -750
Title Odds: +610

We’re not expecting every team to come out and be at its best in its opener, but the Irish showed some cracks in the first half. Their TD came on a 13-yard drive after a muffed kickoff fumble recovery which should have been reversed by VAR and Wisconsin had some success on offense. Notre Dame cleaned a good bit of it up in the second half and pulled away, but I have some concerns about the offense following losing two great backs and its continued search for a game-breaker at WR. Good thing is the Irish have plenty of time to get there prior to the trip to BYU. 

6.

To Make CFP: -300
Title Odds: +950

The Ducks came out looking like a team that might have heard how good it was and thought it was supposed to hammer Boise State. Well, it didn’t quite work out that way. Oregon was sloppy and undisciplined, committing 10 penalties. There was a time when I honestly thought Boise was going to get the outright win, but Dante Moore provided a big play each time the Ducks needed an answer in the second half. Boise is certainly better than I and the oddsmakers gave it credit for, but Duck fans have to be slightly alarmed at that performance. 

5.

To Make CFP: -125
Title Odds: +1400

I’m not sure the final score was indicative of how big a keister-beating this game was. First downs were 38-8. Clemson was 1 for 13 on third down. Total yards were 644-145. The teams looked like they were playing different sports. Clemson might prove to be a very bad team, but what LSU did to a Power 4 opponent has to be respected this week, as many other teams hammered G6 teams. 

4.

To Make CFP: -290
Title Odds: +720

So much for Georgia never covering a big number. This was as ugly as it should have been. Georgia played 120 guys as well, so that was a nice touch for so many guys to get into a real game. That game on Sept. 26 vs Oklahoma is looking mighty juicy.

3.

To Make CFP: -500
Title Odds: +550

The Buckeyes did what they should have done as a 50-point favorite. Jeremiah Smith answered Malachi Toney’s insane effort Friday with a big game of his own, and UTSA transfer Devin McCuin looked as if he will have a huge role in the offense. Unlike last year, both Ohio State and Texas have a game under their belts before the showdown, and it is not one of the starting QBs’ first career starts. The eyes of the college football world will indeed be on Austin come Saturday night.  

2.

To Make CFP: -430
Title Odds: +900

Watching that game Friday night reminded me of watching the 2001 Canes open at Penn State. Miami got shafted by the BCS in 2000, returned the majority of the team in 2001, went to State College and put together a performance that basically said, “Last year we got screwed, and everyone will pay this year.” The effort at Stanford told me Miami wants to leave no doubt this time aroud. There might be a doubt though as to who will be the top Heisman candidate from Miami — QB Darian Mensah or WR Malachi Toney. 

1.

To Make CFP: -230
Title Odds: +650

The Longhorns did anything they wanted offensively against outgunned Texas State. Arch Manning looks like he’ll have quite the enjoyable experience with Ryan Wingo and Cam Coleman at wide receiver. I debated whether I should put Texas here, but said why not? If the Longhorns beat Ohio State in Week 2, they will go to No. 1 anyway. 

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One week of college football was enough for Joel Klatt to switch things around in his rankings. 

After his preseason No. 1 team, Oregon, was taken down to the wire against Boise State, Klatt has a new team at No. 1 in his top 10. And many teams made strong cases to be considered as the best program in the nation this weekend, with Ohio State, Texas, Georgia, LSU and Miami (Fla.) all making big statements in their season-opening wins. 

So, as we now have one week of college football in the books, here are the 10 teams that Klatt thinks are the best in the country. 

10.

Klatt’s thoughts: I thought USC, over their first two games, did a lot to enhance my view of what they can be this year. They were good upfront running the football. Quarterback Jayden Maiava is outstanding — I hope he’s healthy; he got nicked up a little bit late in that game against Fresno State. 

And then their defense ends up pitching a shutout. I don’t think Fresno State is anywhere close to a Boise State, but we were questioning, “What was USC’s defense going to be?” They were outstanding in the first three quarters of their opener and then didn’t play well in the fourth quarter and gave up some points after the game was already out of hand. Then you could tell that that was a serious point of emphasis for the team and for Gary Patterson, USC’s coordinator, specifically, in their second game against Fresno State. And they played hard throughout, and they got the shutout.

9.

Klatt’s thoughts: I don’t think UTEP is great, but Oklahoma was dominant. They beat UTEP 51-0. John Mateer threw three touchdowns. Isaiah Sategna was electric. He had a punt return for a touchdown, he was great on offense. 

Oklahoma faces Michigan next. I have one question for Oklahoma and one only: can they run the ball independently of John Mateer? I think that’s a question. I don’t think that’s going to be answered against UTEP. We’ll see against Michigan, because as much as Michigan struggled, I thought their defense was still pretty strong.

I liked what I saw from Oklahoma. I think that they’ve got future NFL players all over the place. I think that’s an elite team.

8.

Klatt’s thoughts: Josh Hoover comes to Indiana, and a lot of us were wondering how he would do replacing last season’s Heisman winner and national champion Fernando Mendoza. I think what got lost in the conversation leading up to this season is that Mendoza did not start out hot. In fact, one of his worst games was against Old Dominion in the opener a year ago. It took him a little bit of time.

It did not take Josh Hoover much time. He was excellent — he did a lot of things well, he threw the ball on time, he threw it accurately, he’s got guys down the field that can really go and get it, he created plays out of the pocket, he played on schedule, he took the throws that were there, he put them on the money, he created yards after the catch with ball placement. 

I was incredibly impressed with Josh Hoover, even if I wasn’t blown away by Indiana. Indiana did not play great on the defensive side of the ball. I did not think they ran it as effectively as they wanted to run it or as they thought they would be able to run it. Maybe some injuries played into that. What I did see was a passing game that was elevated from a year ago — that passing game is elite.

7.

Klatt’s thoughts: This felt very different from the Michigan near-upset, where I was watching Michigan and was like, “Oh no.” Caution lights, panic, all of it. Oregon, I don’t feel like that. Now, I had Oregon at No. 1. I’m not just going to keep them No. 1, and I’m not going to just explain this away. I don’t think it was a great performance — I think that they showed that they can get into a dogfight and win. I’m going to move Oregon all the way down, and they’re going to be my No. 7 team in the country.

Do they still have enough talent to win the national championship? Yes. Does one game define them? No. Did they want to play better? Absolutely. And we’re going to see if they can do that when they’re on the road against Oklahoma State.

The QB play was the difference in Week 1; Dante Moore was the difference for Oregon, elevating the Ducks and getting them into a position where they can come back and win that football game.

6.

Klatt’s thoughts: Now I know Georgia won big and you heard all these statistics, like they averaged 11 yards per play. OK, it was Tennessee State. So, we get it. It was 63-3. Quarterback Gunner Stockton was 15 of 16, over 200 yards and three touchdowns. Georgia ran for 10 yards per carry as a team. 

All of that is great. We still don’t know anything about Georgia as far as their skill position players. I still really love Georgia. I love head coach Kirby Smart. I think they’re going to be there all the way until the end. And I still think that the SEC goes through Georgia. 

But, I saw two other SEC teams that I felt like were more talented on Saturday. And maybe that was just Tennessee State, and we’ll see. We’ll come to find out as Georgia’s schedule starts to get a little bit more difficult.

5.

Klatt’s thoughts: A team that I was very high on, but I’m going to move down. Notre Dame won the game on Sunday night, but it was a close game against Wisconsin. And maybe Wisconsin is a lot better — and I think that they probably are, based on what we saw. Notre Dame beat Wisconsin 41-13, they outscored them 28-3 in the second half, so they kind of pulled away.

I didn’t love the run game — that was something that I just thought, and maybe this was a fool’s errand on my part, that Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price were fantastic, but man, you know they’ve got that offensive line back and they’re going to have more threats on the outside and they should be able to run it just the same. It was not the same. Price and Love were dynamic, and so that’s going to be an issue for them at some point. 

Now, who’s going to exploit that on their schedule? That remains to be seen. Is it BYU? Maybe. Is it Miami? Certainly. But Notre Dame’s schedule is just so light that I don’t know if we’re going to know a lot about Notre Dame until we get into the playoff.

4.

Klatt’s thoughts: Miami goes out to Stanford and wins, 45-6. They were dominant. Dominated the line of scrimmage. Darian Mensah looks like he could be a star. He threw for 400 yards, 27 of 30. 

And then there was the real star: Malachi Toney. Now you know why, when I did my preseason All-Americans, it was so easy for me to just say like, “Yup, Jeremiah Smith and Malachi Toney are your preseason All-American wide receivers.” Malachi Toney is unbelievable. Twelve catches, 234 yards and three touchdowns. 

I think Miami is better than last year. They went all the way to the national championship game — I don’t see this team losing some of those games that they shouldn’t during the course of the year. 

3.

Klatt’s thoughts: This is a program that I watched on Saturday night, and I thought to myself, “OK, yup, that’s real.” Lane Kiffin is real. He’s answered his critics. That is one of the happiest fan bases in college football when they wake up on Sunday and when they wake up on Monday. It worked. It worked! Now we’ll see how they can navigate that schedule, but this is a team, based on what I saw from everybody in college football, that is going to be my No. 3 team in the country — they move from No. 8 to No. 3.

LSU is absolutely a title contender from a talent perspective. And I thought that this would be the case. It was a bit of a wild card in the offseason just to see, all right, is it going to gel? Is it going to work? Yes. Yes, it’s going to work. Now, can they navigate the perils of a season, an SEC schedule, the adversity that comes with it? We’ll see, because I do still think that it’s a bit of a transactional roster. But it’s pretty clear to me that Lane is trying to build the combination of the Nick Saban discipline and toughness, and the flash and star power of the early-2000s Pete Carroll teams. 

2.

Klatt’s thoughts: Texas was outstanding against Texas State. Some of those questions about the run game and defense — I thought they answered them. I think Will Muschamp as defensive coordinator is going to work out really well for them. They’ve got talent everywhere. We might see three or four Longhorns picked in the first 10 or 15 picks of the NFL Draft. Quarterback Arch Manning looked really good, first-year wide receiver Cam Coleman looked really good, running backs Hollywood Smothers, Raleek Brown, wideout Ryan Wingo —  that is a really, really good football team. 

1.

Klatt’s thoughts: Ohio State is No. 1. They beat Ball State again. It’s like Georgia and even Texas — Ohio State didn’t get threatened whatsoever, but all of these teams did exactly what you should do. They went out there and just totally took care of business.

The run statistics look a little inflated compared to the way they actually ran it on a play-by-play basis. They had a couple of long touchdown runs in the third quarter that elevated some of that production. But what you see is that quarterback Julian Sayin is still the real deal. Jeremiah Smith is still the best player in college football — eight catches, 151 yards and two touchdowns. Ohio State broke a couple of long runs there, both Jacksons — Bo and Ja’Kobi. I thought that they looked good and they did exactly what you would expect. They didn’t mess around. I know that Ball State isn’t as good as Boise State. Ball State’s nowhere close to Clemson. But Ohio State just went out there and totally dominated, 56-3, and they went about their business, and they’re No. 1.

Now, was it close? Yes. This is not like an easy, absolutely far and away, “Ohio State is No. 1.” … All of these teams in the top eight, I still think very highly of. This is not an indictment of any of these teams: this is as solid a top 10 as I can remember putting together early in a season in my career.

Joel Klatt reveals his first top 10 of the 2026 season

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