A walk-off error. Back-to-back jacks. Bryce Harper can’t make outs. Tuesday’s MLB action provided all that and much more.

Here are all the best moments from last night in Major League Baseball:

Wild Pirates-Giants Tilt Ends With Walk-Off Error

The Pirates aren’t done with 2026 just yet. Pittsburgh isn’t having a red carpet rolled out for it by any means, but with 23 games to go the Bucs are five games back of the third wild-card spot in the National League — a tough assignment, like, “the Pirates’ playoff odds are less than 2%” tough, but the percent chance still exists, which is more than you can say about the Nationals, Reds, Mets and more.

Helping Pittsburgh out on Tuesday was a wild win against the Giants, that was coupled with losses by (1) the current holder of the NL’s final wild-card slot, the Padres and (2) the Diamondbacks, who are just half-a-game behind San Diego. The Marlins and Cardinals both won, so it wasn’t a perfect evening for the Pirates, but picking up a game on the teams furthest away is something.

And the Pirates pulled it off in a ridiculous way. Paul Skenes couldn’t get out of the fifth and allowed five runs on eight hits and three walks, bringing his ERA for the season to 3.97. Logan Webb was even worse: the Giants’ starter gave up nine runs in two innings of work, with all nine coming in the second, and while San Francisco’s bullpen was better than Pittsburgh’s, the latter team had a great head start, so a five-run eighth by the Giants merely tied the game at 12-12.

Then, disaster struck for the Giants, who had mostly kept the Pirates in check from the third onward. Carson Seymour came on in relief to face Pittsburgh in the ninth, and allowed the fourth hit of the day to second baseman Brandon Lowe to start. DH Nick Gonzalez would then single, and center fielder Oneil Cruz hit a grounder to force a ground out at second, but Lowe advanced to third and Cruz would move to second on defensive indifference shortly after. Catcher Rafael Flores Jr., who had entered as a defensive replacement earlier when Henry Davis was lifted for a pinch-hitter, hit a ball to third baseman Osleivis Basabe… and it never found the mitt at first.

It was a great scoop by Basabe, but he left the throw too short for it to get into Rafael Devers’ glove with ease — it just cleared the grass to the left of the infield dirt, and didn’t come to him clean enough to snag. The official scorer charged the error to Basabe, not Devers, and Lowe scored the walk-off run.

Rays Game Ends Better Than It Starts

The Mets took the first game of their series against the Rays on Monday, and on Tuesday it looked like it might be more of the same when shortstop Francisco Lindor started with a leadoff homer.

And off former Mets starter Freddy Peralta, to boot. That would be all the offense Peralta would allow, however: he ended up looking more like his Brewers’ iteration than his Mets’ one, giving up three hits and no walks against seven strikeouts over six innings. And the Tampa Bay offense made sure that didn’t go to waste, either. Third baseman Junior Caminero tied the game in the bottom of the first with a single to left…

…and Tampa Bay got another in the bottom of the third on another single by first baseman Ryan Vilade. In the sixth, left fielder Chandler Simpson showed off his wheels scoring from first base to make it 3-1 — that ended up being the game-winning hit.

The Rays would add another three runs, but New York scored just one off the Tampa Bay bullpen. The Rays have 83 wins — no one else in the AL has 80 yet, but the closest is just 4.5 behind them in the AL East.

Back-To-Back Jacks, Don’t Look Back

And that team, the Yankees, had their own success on Tuesday. Facing the Angels, New York opened the scoring with back-to-back homers by right fielder Spencer Jones and second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. in the first.

The Yankees would never trail in this one: the Angels put three on the board through six, but by that time the Yankees had already scored again, and would add another three for good measure to lead to a 7-3 dub. New York might be just far enough behind Tampa Bay to not catch them in the East — Baseball Prospectus has its AL East title odds at under 14%, there but not likely — but with the Red Sox losing and the Guardians trying to stay ahead of a bunch of sub-.500 teams, being up +8.5 in the wild-card race means New York is all but mathematically assured of a postseason spot barring true disaster.

Harper Goes 4-For-4

The aforementioned Diamondbacks’ loss came at the hands of the Phillies, who had the best record in MLB in August and kicked off their September with another W. Philadelphia won 7-1, with right fielder Bryce Harper the standout thanks to a 4-for-4 effort.

Harper drove in one and scored another, with each knock a single — Harper has reached base in 34-straight games, too, and picked up a walk for five total times on base last night.

Jesús Luzardo was the other standout for the Phillies, going 6 ⅔ innings mostly scattering six hits in a 7-1 win for Philadelphia — his ERA is now down to 3.02 after a rough start to the year that saw it at 4.56 after his first June appearance. It’s 1.86 in 15 starts and 96 ⅔ innings since, which has done a lot for the Phillies’ success in the same stretch.

Cardinals Rout Dodgers

The Cardinals also pulled off back-to-back jacks, in their case against the Dodgers. Third baseman Ramón Urías hit the first dinger, and shortstop Thomas Saggese followed it up with a 415 footer, both off starter Eric Lauer.

St. Louis built up a seven run lead before the Dodgers responded with a three-run Mookie Betts double, but the Cardinals quickly erased most of that progress with a two-run long ball by right fielder Jordan Walker.

That one went 409 feet and 109.3 mph off the bat — what a season Walker is having, as he’s batting .288/.345/.505 with 28 homers. While the Cardinals would score four more, Walker’s blast turned out to be the game-winner, as St. Louis would win, 13-8. The Cards are now 69-70 and four games out of the last wild-card spot — like with the Pirates, winning when the Padres and D-backs did not is huge.

Now That’s A First Pitch

Brewers Get One Back

The Brewers were demolished by the Cubs on Monday, 17-3, but got a measure of revenge on Tuesday with a 9-4 victory. The good thing about baseball is that most of the time there’s another game the next day, and the losses all count the same in the standings no matter how lopsided they are.

Here, Robert Gasser was pulled after 4 ⅓ innings and three runs, but five relievers came on after he did and combined for just one more run allowed. The Cubs had built up a 3-0 lead, but the Brewers chipped away, and in the sixth DH Christian Yelich made it a 5-3 ballgame for Milwaukee.

Yelich would come around to score in the eighth when a Joey Ortiz homer served as an exclamation point on the game: he had just one hit, but scored twice and drove in two. Chicago isn’t mathematically eliminated from overtaking the Brewers in the NL Central, but at eight games back with the season’s remaining duration now measured in weeks, it’s no wonder the Cubs’ have a less than 5% probability of pulling it off.

Guardians Down Jays

The Guardians were in danger of losing possession of the third wild-card spot in the AL on Tuesday, as Cleveland began the day half-a-game up on the Orioles, with the Rangers creeping behind Baltimore at 1.5 back. While Texas won, the O’s did not, and the Guardians were able to pick up a win against the Blue Jays, who were also just 1.5 back on Tuesday morning. The AL wild-card race is just like that right now.

Cleveland got a pair of homers from Angels, but not in the “the Guardians traded for Jo Adell” sense. In the “the Guardians have an infielder named Angel Genao and an outfielder named Angel Martinez” one. Genao pinch-hit for Travis Bazzana in the seventh and bopped his second homer of the season to put Cleveland up 4-1, then Martinez hit his own two-run shot in the next inning to make it 6-1.

The Guardians are 1.5 up on both Texas and Baltimore, and now 2.5 ahead of Toronto. The Twins — who won a 15-2 laugher against the Tigers on Tuesday — are 3.5 behind. It’s going to be some last few weeks to secure that final postseason spot in the American League.

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Let the chaos begin: College football’s offseason is fully over, Week 1 has arrived and here’s your cheat sheet for the sport’s biggest storylines.

If you’ve been a little checked out of college football, we get it — there’s been a lot going on. The World Cup took over this summer, and with college football somehow evolving into a nearly six-month commitment, everybody needs a break. 

But now it’s time to tune back in. For those who’ve been away from the college football universe, here are six quick storylines — in no particular order — to get you caught up before Week 1 kicks off this weekend with a full slate of games across five days. From Heisman Trophy favorites and College Football Playoff contenders to coaches at new programs, we’ve got you covered. 

Is This Finally The Year For Arch Manning And Texas?

Texas quarterback Arch Manning enters his second season as the Longhorns’ starter. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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What does success look like for Texas this year? It’s national championship or bust. 

Head coach Steve Sarkisian enters his sixth season in Austin, and over these last five years, his team has already done everything outside of winning a national title: The Longhorns won the Big 12 before leaving the conference, they’ve played for an SEC title and they’ve made two College Football Playoff semifinals. Last season was a dud by program standards after getting off to a shaky start before ending the year with wins over rival Texas A&M and Michigan and finishing 10-3. The Longhorns didn’t make the CFP, which is where this season’s retooled team comes into play.

Quarterback Arch Manning has a full year of starting experience under his belt. While Texas is a top preseason team and Manning is in the Heisman Trophy conversation, the hype and expectations surrounding him aren’t nearly as intense as they were a year ago. His growth, along with all the talent Sarkisian picked up in the transfer portal on both sides of the ball, is enough to get anyone believing in the Horns. 

Now, can they get it done?

Can Indiana Defend Its National Title?

Can Curt Cignetti lead the Hoosiers to back-to-back CFP national championships? (Photo by Simon Bruty/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

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Last season, the Hoosiers were the best story in the country. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza won the Heisman and led Indiana to a perfect season and its first-ever national championship before becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft.

Can Curt Cignetti’s program captivate the college football world again? It would not be smart to doubt this coach who turned the losingest program in college football history into a national champion. The Hoosiers have reloaded in the transfer portal, adding former TCU quarterback Josh Hoover and Michigan State receiver Nick Marsh, among others. And Indiana has several elite playmakers returning from last year’s team.

But repeating the magic — particularly an undefeated run — will be a much tougher task. Indiana faces Ohio State and Michigan on back-to-back weekends in October, followed by USC and Washington on consecutive Saturdays in November. If Cignetti can navigate that gauntlet, maybe Indiana really is a dynasty in the making.

What Will LSU Look Like Under Lane Kiffin?

Lane Kiffin is set to begin his first season as LSU’s head coach. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)

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This is obviously the blockbuster storyline of the season: Lane Kiffin’s debut at LSU after ditching Ole Miss before last year’s CFP. Since his arrival in Baton Rouge, every move has been watched. From the FBI reportedly sweeping the Rebels’ football facility for potential Kiffin bugs to the Tigers’ interest in pursuing former NFL players who want to return to college, Kiffin has owned recent headlines.

LSU will undoubtedly remain at the center of attention, especially if it wins. The Tigers have a challenging schedule, opening with Clemson at home in prime time before a trip to Oxford to play the Rebels on September 19. Get your popcorn ready for that one. LSU has five preseason top-25 teams on its schedule, including a rough November when it plays Alabama, Texas and Tennessee in three straight weekends.

The James Franklin Era Is Underway At Virginia Tech

James Franklin is set to take over at Virginia Tech.  (Photo by Ryan Hunt/Getty Images)

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Penn State famously fired James Franklin last October after 12 seasons, just one year removed from a CFP appearance. The 2025 campaign didn’t go as planned and quickly unraveled. After an epic double-overtime loss to Oregon at home in late September, the Nittany Lions lost six straight games. Franklin was fired after the third, following inexplicable losses to UCLA and Northwestern.

In November, Franklin was given a second chance when Virginia Tech named him its next head coach. After reloading in the transfer portal — which included luring former Penn State quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer to Blacksburg — Franklin is reinvigorated by a new challenge. 

The Hokies’ schedule, however, won’t make the transition easy. They play Clemson, SMU, Miami and Virginia, though they avoid Louisville. It might take time for Franklin to get Virginia Tech where he wants it, but he brings a proven track record as a recruiter, gets a clean slate and has a passionate fan base hungry to see the program matter on a national stage.

  Big Ten vs. SEC

Dante Moore returns for his second season as Oregon’s starting quarterback. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

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It’s the Big Ten’s world right now with the conference claiming the last three national championships. Michigan, Ohio State and Indiana are the most recent winners and there’s a good chance the league contends for a fourth. 

Oregon is certainly a favorite with Dante Moore at quarterback. If the Ducks make their third consecutive CFP appearance, can they avoid getting blown out like they have in the past? If not, Indiana is motivated to defend its title, Ohio State has a ton of firepower and USC is anxious to make its first CFP.

The SEC hasn’t won it all since Georgia did it twice in a row in 2021 and 2022. Early prognosticators predict the conference might produce the most playoff teams with some combination of Georgia, Texas, LSU, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Alabama making runs. 

Minor Tweaks To The College Football Playoff

Jeremiah Smith will look to lead Ohio State back to the College Football Playoff. (Photo by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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While there’s been plenty of chatter regarding another CFP expansion, the field remains at 12 this season. 

However, there are some small changes. The Big Ten, SEC, ACC and Big 12 champions will receive automatic bids. Notre Dame will be guaranteed a spot, as long as it finishes in the top 12 of the final CFP rankings. 

Then, the highest-ranked Group of 6 team — regardless of whether it’s a conference champion — will also receive an automatic bid. In previous years, the five highest-ranked conference champions received automatic bids. 

And as we’ve grown accustomed to, the first round will still be played on campuses. Then, the quarterfinals this year will be hosted by the Fiesta Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Rose Bowl and Peach Bowl and the semifinals will be in the Orange Bowl and Sugar Bowl. 

The CFP national championship game will be played on Jan. 25 in Las Vegas.

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

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It’s time for this week’s Sportsbook Whispers.

Alabama is a fascinating case study this year because it is ranked outside the preseason AP Top 10 for the first time since 2008. That was Nick Saban’s second season in Tuscaloosa and the Tide exceeded expectations, finishing 12-2 after a Sugar Bowl loss to undefeated Utah.

Time flies, eh?

Last year, Alabama finished 11-4, but the lasting image of its season was a 38-3 dismantling at the hands of eventual champion Indiana.

“Alabama could not run the ball last season,” newly retired bookmaker Ed Salmons told me from Las Vegas. “That was never an issue at the height of their powers under Nick Saban. I like Kalen DeBoer and there’s always going to be talent there, but they must get back to running the ball.”

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Most wise guys I know who make power ratings have Bama just outside the top 10 with room to grow. I frequently share notes with handicappers, like Motoi Pearson and Brad Powers, who rank the Tide 11th and 13th respectively.

One former bookmaker turned bettor is higher.

“I have Alabama eighth,” he admitted. “I have Ohio State one, Notre Dame and Oregon tied at two, Texas four, Georgia and Indiana tied at five. Miami seven.

“Alabama acquired a ton of talent in the transfer portal, and they added five transfers in the offensive line room. So DeBoer clearly addressed their weaknesses. And the quarterback is young, but he’s a five-star recruit.

“I admit I’m probably a little high, mostly because I believe in team pedigree and I like their coaching staff. That said, the market took 28.5 and 28 with East Carolina over the last few days, so that was interesting.”

What else?

“One big disagreement I have is Houston-Oregon State,” he continued. “I think the market is almost a touchdown light. I make Houston -27. Maybe I’m missing something.

“We bet Florida State +3 against SMU, too. There’s only one way to bet that game. It’s Florida State or pass. My preseason number was pick ‘em, and you can’t over adjust to one result. This number shouldn’t be 3.

“The books are going to write all SMU tickets, though, so I get it.”

Caesars Sportsbook head of football Joey Feazel expects an avalanche of tickets on Kevin Jennings and the Mustangs in Monday night’s standalone.

“[Florida State] left a lot to be desired against New Mexico State,” Feazel said. “They’ve struggled for a couple years now, and it looks like it’s going to be one-way action. The line is holding steady around 3, but we were at 1.5 and 2 before Week 0.

“It’ll be one of our biggest handled college games of the year because it’s the only game Monday night and the NFL isn’t back yet.”

If you’ve been around this racket as long as I have, you know every sportsbook has an uncomfortable liability on a player to win the Heisman. Obviously, customers tend to bet players near the top, but there’s always a code-red long shot that would clean a book’s clock if he won the award.

“For us, it’s Louisville quarterback Lincoln Kienholz,” Feazel reported. “We wrote a sizable bet on him at 80/1 for a big number. So that’s the easy answer. There are a lot more tickets on John Mateer and Arch Manning, but Kienholz would be the worst result for us at this point in time.”

Finally, we must give Bill Belichick his flowers. 

North Carolina was as high as 9.5-point dogs last week against TCU and pulled the outright upset at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium. 

Or maybe the market was just too high on the Horned Frogs, who ironically lost outright as a 20.5-point favorite three years ago to Colorado in Deion Sanders’ first game as head coach in Boulder.

Quarterback Josh Hoover ain’t walking through that door. He left TCU to be the new starter for Curt Cignetti as Indiana tries to win back-to-back titles.

“I downgraded TCU 2.5 points,” professional bettor Corbie Craig told me. Craig did have a bet on UNC plus the points. “It is worth noting TCU’s No. 1 wide receiver didn’t play Saturday, but I still moved my number nicely.”

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Alex Palou continues his epic run, rattling off championship after championship after championship after championship.

Four in a row. Five in the last six years.

So does that put him on the Mount Rushmore of INDYCAR drivers?

Well …

He sits third in all-time championships, his five only behind A.J. Foyt (seven) and Scott Dixon (six). Some would say that puts him on there.

Alex Palou is creating an incredible legacy but he’s still got work to do. 

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But his all-time win total of 25? That ties him for 17th. He needs 17 more to reach the top five.

And then there’s Indianapolis 500 victories. Palou has one. Four drivers have won it four times.

So my Mount Rushmore doesn’t include Palou — not just yet. I am thinking it will eventually. Maybe in 2028 or 2029 when he shows he can adapt and win in the new INDYCAR. If he accomplishes that, he will just further amaze everyone with his versatility.

My Mount Rushmore? It begins with Andretti and Foyt. Andretti, also a Formula 1 champion, has 52 victories and four titles and Foyt owns 67 victories and seven titles. Both also won a Daytona 500.

Dixon is on there, too, having won races throughout his 25-year career (this year could end a streak of 21 years with at least one win). Dixon’s 59 victories are second only to Foyt.

And then I have Al Unser with his combination of 39 victories (sixth all-time), which include four in the Indianapolis 500 and three titles. 

Palou will probably rattle off dozens of more victories. But at the moment, and only because he hasn’t raced as long, he currently has fewer wins than active drivers Dixon, Will Power (45) and Josef Newgarden (32).

Palou’s impressive résumé so far includes an Indy 500 win and five championships.

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Dixon has 23 seasons with at least one win. Foyt earned his wins in 18 separate seasons (Power has, too). Andretti won at least once over 16 seasons. And Unser in 14 (nine drivers have won in at least 14 different seasons).

Palou? He’s won in six separate seasons. Of course, he has only raced in INDYCAR over the last seven years. Has he been dominant the last four years? For sure and especially the last two with 14 victories. 

A Mount Rushmore, to me, signifies consistent success over decades. So I totally think Palou will be on my Mount Rushmore after he continues to climb up the win charts (and probably adding more championships as well as more Indianapolis 500 wins). 

I’ll even start doing the designs. But I’m not ready to sculpt just yet.

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The Las Vegas Raiders are choosing the veteran over the rookie.

Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak announced on Wednesday morning that Kirk Cousins will be the team’s starting quarterback to open the 2026 regular season, beating out No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza for the starting job.

“He played really good football,” Kubiak said about naming Cousins the starter. “I’m really happy with all three of our quarterbacks. Kirk’s had a really good offseason, very good camp and he’s earned it.”

Cousins, a four-time Pro Bowler, started the Raiders’ Week 1 and 3 preseason games, with Mendoza starting their Week 2 preseason tilt and playing in each of their three games.

Cousins combined to throw 101 passing yards, one passing touchdown and zero interceptions over two games, while completing 76.4% of his passes (13 of 17). Over the three games Mendoza appeared in, the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner totaled 240 passing yards, one passing touchdown and two interceptions, while completing 55.5% of his passes (25 of 45).

The 38-year-old Cousins signed a two-year, $12.6 million deal with the Raiders in April after spending the last two seasons with the Atlanta Falcons (2024-25). After being benched for the final three games of 2024, Cousins became Atlanta’s starting quarterback again when starter Michael Penix Jr. suffered a torn ACL in November of last season.

Across the eight starts and 10 appearances altogether that Cousins made in 2025, he totaled 1,721 passing yards, 10 passing touchdowns, five interceptions and an 84.8 passer rating, while completing 61.7% of his passes. 

The Raiders open the regular season at home against the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 13.

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With the NFL season about a week away from kickoff, Minnesota Vikings general manager Nolan Teasley isn’t slowing down constructing the roster. 

On Tuesday night, the Vikings signed veteran edge rusher Kyle Van Noy, first reported by The Ringer. The 35-year-old veteran reunites with defensive coordinator Brian Flores, with whom he won two Super Bowls on the New England Patriots.

Van Noy has bounced around the league over his career. After being drafted in the second round by the Detroit Lions in 2014, he went on to play for the Patriots, the Miami Dolphins under Flores, the Los Angeles Chargers, and most recently, the Baltimore Ravens.

ESPN reported early Tuesday morning that Van Noy was visiting Minnesota, and with the visit now wrapped up, the signing is officially done.

His 2024 season with the Ravens was highly productive, highlighted by a career-high 12.5 sacks. Van Noy has built a career on leadership and mentorship inside winning organizations, which are qualities head coach Kevin O’Connell could be looking to add in Minnesota.

After trading away Pro Bowl edge rusher Jonathan Greenard during the draft, the Vikings were left needing depth and experience upfront. Pairing Van Noy with first-year starter Dallas Turner and Andrew Van Ginkel instantly stabilizes their pass-rush rotation.

The Vikings also added raw Cincinnati hybrid linebacker Jake Golday in the second round of this year’s draft. Adding Van Noy to the fold gives O’Connell and Flores a well-balanced group featuring proven veteran leadership and high-upside depth to start the season.

Flores’ defense was top-tier last season, ranking third in total yards allowed (282.6) and seventh in points against (19.6). Adding Van Noy as a rotational pass rusher could give the Vikings the extra edge they need for a fast start when they host the Green Bay Packers in Week 1.

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Maybe Dallas Cowboys fans should enjoy having CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens in the same offense while they still can.

“I don’t know of any teams that really can pay two top receivers top of the market [money], so that’s going to be a really difficult situation as we move forward,” Cowboys COO Stephen Jones said about Pickens’ future in Dallas in an interview on the DLLS Cowboys podcast on Tuesday.

“We’ve managed to figure out how we can do it for this year. If everything works out the way we think it is, [in] which CeeDee and George both have huge years again, then it’ll be a bigger challenge next year.”

Coming off a breakout 2025 campaign that saw Pickens total 93 receptions for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns — all three totals led the Cowboys and were career highs — and earn his first career Pro Bowl, Dallas placed the $27.3 million franchise tag on the now-fifth-year receiver in February, whom they acquired from the Pittsburgh Steelers the offseason prior.

Meanwhile, the Cowboys signed Lamb, a 2023 All-Pro and a Pro Bowler in each of the last four years, to a four-year, $136 million deal in Aug. 2024. Last season (2025), Lamb totaled 75 receptions for 1,077 yards and three touchdowns across 14 games (he missed three games due to an ankle injury). From 2021-25, Lamb averaged 99.4 receptions for 1,296.2 yards and 7.2 touchdowns per year.

Regarding the wide receiver market, Jaxon Smith-Njigba became the highest-paid receiver in NFL history this offseason, inking a four-year, $168.6 million extension ($42.2 million average annual value) with the Seattle Seahawks.

On the paying multiple wide receivers top-line money front, the Cincinnati Bengals are paying roughly $69.1 million in salary to Ja’Marr Chase ($40.3 million AAV) and Tee Higgins ($28.8 million AAV), while the Detroit Lions are paying roughly $56.7 million in salary to Amon-Ra St. Brown ($30 million AAV) and Jameson Williams ($26.7 million AAV).

Dallas is paying a combined $61.3 million to Lamb and Pickens this season. For perspective, the Bengals haven’t made the playoffs since 2022, while the Cowboys haven’t reached the playoffs since 2023.

“George is really wanting to put back-to-back years on top of one another, so it’ll help his market,” Jones said. “And certainly, I know at some point, as does every player in this league, he’ll want to be rewarded with a long-term contract. So that certainly puts pressure on us to have a unique situation there at wide receiver.”

Dallas opens its 2026 regular season on the road against the New York Giants on Sept. 13.

NFL Related Stories

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With you know who coming out of retirement for the Rams, it’s already a wrap for the Super Bowl … or is it? The Bears? Must-see TV. The GOAT of this generation? He’s coming back with a vengeance. Oh, and Joe Burrow is talking big. 

There will inevitably be significant storylines this NFL season that we can’t predict. But we do have an idea of the narratives that will have the biggest impact on how we view this year.

Here are the top 13:

1.

Aaron Donald’s return after two years in retirement is the cherry on the top for the Rams, who’ve built one of the most talented rosters in NFL history. They’ve revamped their defense in a significant way by adding Donald, Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett (trade), former All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie (trade) and cornerback Jaylen Watson (free agency).

And that’s on top of their top-ranked offense from a year ago that returns all 11 starters, including league MVP Matthew Stafford. 

The Rams are the heavy favorite to win Super Bowl LXI. Anything less than a Lombardi Trophy would mark a major disappointment. But it’s certainly no lock: Over the past 30 years, the preseason Super Bowl favorite has entered the season with +500 or shorter odds 20 times. They’ve gone 0-for-20.

2.

Mahomes is coming off the first major injury of his career — and his first time missing the postseason. He suffered a torn ACL in a Week 15 loss to the Chargers that eliminated the Chiefs from playoff contention. 

This generation’s most accomplished player, Mahomes intends to return to the postseason. With offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy back, the return of a healthy Rashee Rice as WR1 and the addition of Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III in the backfield, Kansas City could have its most dynamic offense in years around the three-time Super Bowl MVP. 

(Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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3.

Released by the Cardinals in the spring after seven seasons, Murray signed a one-year deal at the veteran’s minimum with the Vikings and beat out 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy to become QB1. If the former No. 1 overall pick regains Pro Bowl form, Minnesota becomes a dark-horse contender to win the NFC North and one of the better teams in the conference.  

Kyler Murray talks with Minnesota quarterbacks coach Josh McCown before a Vikings preseason game in August. (Kara Durrette/Getty Images)

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4.

The Bears returned to national prominence in 2025 in Ben Johnson’s first season as head coach — 11 regular-season victories, an NFC North title and the franchise’s first playoff win since 2010. Second-year Bears quarterback Caleb Williams led Chicago to seven comeback victories after trailing in the final two minutes of regulation, the most since the 1970 NFL/AFL merger.  

But will the Bears keep ascending in 2026? Or will they come down to earth? Reliance on late-game heroics isn’t a formula for sustained success. The Bears rebuilt their secondary this offseason but are already facing major injury concerns. Their marquee free-agent acquisition, safety Coby Bryant, will miss four to six months after undergoing knee surgery.  

5.

The A.J. Brown shadow is gone, with the star receiver traded to the Patriots in the offseason. But the Eagles will have to replace his production and adjust to significant coaching changes, including yet another new offensive coordinator and the loss of legendary offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland, who stepped down. 

First-time OC Sean Mannion will have to improve an offense that regressed last season from the unit that helped the franchise win Super Bowl LIX. Last season, the Eagles dropped from seventh to 19th in scoring and from eighth to 24th in total offense.

6.   Josh Allen And Lamar Jackson’s Continued Super Bowl Pursuits

Even with Mahomes and the Chiefs out of the playoffs last season, neither Allen nor Jackson could take advantage. Allen’s Bills suffered an overtime loss to the Broncos in the AFC divisional round, while Jackson’s Ravens failed to even make the playoffs. 

So the pressure continues to ramp up on the MVP quarterbacks, both entering their ninth season, to make a Super Bowl. The stakes are particularly high in Baltimore, considering that Jackson has no guaranteed money left in his contract after next season. 

7.

Injuries have become an annual concern for the Niners, a perennial contender under coach Kyle Shanahan. San Francisco is hopeful that it will have tight end George Kittle (Achilles) and edge rusher Nick Bosa (ACL) for Week 1 in Australia, but their statuses remain uncertain. The team had 23 players sidelined in its final training camp practice. 

Despite having one of the league’s oldest rosters, the 49ers should have one of the best teams in the NFL. But injuries can derail their hopes of a deep postseason run.  

8.

With quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, the Cowboys had one of the NFL’s elite offenses last season. But they were held back by a porous defense — ranked last in points allowed and third-worst in yards allowed — leading Dallas to miss the playoffs for a second straight year. 

The Cowboys, though, poured significant resources into that side of the ball this offseason. Five of their seven draft picks were defensive players, including first-rounders Caleb Downs, an All-American safety out of Ohio State, and Malachi Lawrence, a star defensive end from UCF. Dallas also added a slew of veterans — safety Jalen Thompson, cornerback Cobie Durant and edge rushers Rashan Gary and Von Miller among them. 

On paper, the Cowboys have one of the more complete teams in the NFC. 

Caleb Downs (left) and Malachi Lawrence pose with their first-round jerseys after the draft in April. (Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News via Getty Images)

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9.

Owning one of the NFL’s most lethal offenses, the Bengals are viewed as a major AFC contender for the first time in years after the upgrades they’ve made on defense. Cincinnati traded the 10th pick in the draft to the Giants for star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II, and also added edge rusher Boye Mafe, defensive tackle Jonathan Allen and safety Bryan Cook in free agency. 

Quarterback Joe Burrow says this year’s Bengals team reminds him of his legendary 2019 LSU team, which went 15-0 and won the CFP national championship. The three-time Pro Bowler is “trying to manifest” a return to the Super Bowl. 

If Cincinnati returns to prominence in 2026, the AFC landscape becomes significantly more competitive at the top.

10.

A future first-ballot Hall of Famer, Rodgers will spend his 22nd and final NFL season with new Steelers coach Mike McCarthy, who was his coach in Green Bay for 13 years. Rodgers will have a deeper cast of wide receivers around him than he had a year ago — the Steelers traded for Michael Pittman Jr. and drafted Germie Bernard in the second round — as Pittsburgh begins the post-Mike Tomlin era and aims for its first playoff victory since 2016. 

11.

Since putting together one of the best rookie quarterback seasons in NFL history in 2023, Stroud has regressed in consecutive years. His uninspiring playoff run last season, including a four-interception performance in the Texans’ division-round loss to the Patriots, has thrust his future in Houston into question. 

The franchise picked up the fifth-year option in his rookie contract, which will pay him $25.9 million fully guaranteed in 2027, but a long-term deal doesn’t appear to be imminent. Texans general manager Nick Caserio said Tuesday that if a deal isn’t reached before Week 1, all contract talks will pause until next offseason. 

An improved Stroud would make the Texans one of the top Super Bowl contenders, as they already have one of the NFL’s most feared defenses. 

In 2023, C.J. Stroud looked like the NFL’s next superstar quarterback. Now his future in Houston is uncertain. (Tim Warner/Getty Images)

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12.

New Browns coach Todd Monken named veteran Deshaun Watson the starting quarterback for Week 1 over second-year pro Shedeur Sanders following a months-long competition. But the 30-year-old Watson, who’s appeared in just 19 games for Cleveland since signing a five-year, fully-guaranteed $230 million deal with the franchise in 2022 due to suspension and injuries, has long been a shell of himself. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Browns turn to Sanders at some point this season. 

Cleveland currently holds two first-round picks in the 2027 draft (one was acquired in the Myles Garrett trade), so the team is positioned to land a quarterback of the future next spring. 

13.

Mayfield will play out the final year of his contract, as the former No. 1 overall pick and the Bucs failed to reach agreement on a multi-year extension before his self-imposed training camp deadline. 

Apart from being a rare situation — established starting-level quarterbacks and their teams typically stay multiple years ahead of contract expiration — it also represents a big gamble for both sides. Mayfield risks injury or a downward trajectory before he can get a big-money deal next offseason, while Tampa risks Mayfield playing himself out of its price range and hitting free agency. 

The Bucs could franchise-tag him next spring to prevent that from happening, but that would limit their salary cap flexibility for 2027. 

Throughout his college and NFL career, Baker Mayfield has bet on himself multiple times and come out on top. Will that be the case again in 2026? (Mike Carlson/Getty Images)

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NFL Related Stories

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In Follow The Money, Ben Portnoy will bring you into a weekly deep dive into the business of college sports.

Before we jump in, I thought it would be helpful to briefly explain what we’re doing here.

College sports have never experienced a more topsy-turvy era. Longtime traditions and the increased need for commercialization are clashing at every turn. Quarterbacks are signing multi-million dollar deals. Television contracts are popular fodder for fan bases. Even jersey patch deals are becoming mainstream.

Each week we’ll capture some of the angst and inherent fluidity of the ecosystem as we look at the off-the-field storylines that are shaping what you’re seeing on Saturdays.

With that, let’s get into it.

The Main Event: SEC, LSU And Potential Independence

Lane Kiffin is already at the center of college football’s latest controversy in his first season at LSU. (Photo by Ella Hall/LSU Athletics/University Images via Getty Images)

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There is no place quite like Baton Rouge.

This is a city where football is king, where politics and the Tigers intertwine like PB&J and where power struggles and backroom dealings are the currency of the day.

So what better place to begin the 2026 football season than a Louisiana courtroom?

For those who haven’t spent the last two weeks locked into PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) tracking court cases, let’s rehash what’s happening down on the bayou:

• June 23 — The NCAA institutes its new age-based eligibility model that will give athletes five years of eligibility and streamline the processes around waivers and other carve-outs. It begins with the high school class of 2023.
• Aug. 19 — Lawyers representing 32 athletes file a claim in Louisiana that the new NCAA rules shouldn’t apply to them as class of 2022 athletes and thus allow them a fifth year of eligibility
• Aug. 20 — A Louisiana judge grants a TRO allowing Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris — who played in training camp with the Browns and Saints, respectively — among others, to enter the transfer portal and join their former head coach, Lane Kiffin, at LSU
• Aug. 24 — A separate Louisiana judge grants former Utah Jazz player RJ Luis an injunction, paving the way for him to return to school and join the LSU basketball team.
• Aug. 30 — The SEC issues a statement that it will comply with the court order, though sources suggest it is weighing significant penalties, including as severe as booting the Tigers from the league should they play former pro players.

Yeah, it’s a lot.

That said, the LSU situation got me thinking: What if the SEC really did kick the Tigers from the league? And, if it did, what kind of brand value or sponsorship dollars might LSU command on the open market as an independent?

“A conference like the SEC is just bigger than a single school,” Rob Temple, CEO of Pivotal Sports & Entertainment, told me. “A team moving out of it may have a change or an impact on its sponsors tied to the school or whatever, but the big money around advertising and distribution of content, all that kind of flows to another place.

“But the idea of private equity coming into college sports — just like Americans have gone and become owners in the EPL — if that dynamic ever came into college sports, and you got into valuations of franchises, that’s different. That’s a huge hypothetical.”

Tamarcus Cooley intercepts the ball during 2026 spring practice in Baton Rouge. (Photo by Ella Hall/University Images via Getty Images}

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Independence isn’t anything new in college sports. Notre Dame is the poster child, but others have played this game — BYU in the 2010s and Miami in the 1980s immediately come to mind. Pulling it off these days, however, is increasingly complicated.

For one, scheduling is its own challenge. Independent UConn and its administrators have long addressed the issues this poses in trying to piece together a coherent ledger.

There’s also a matter of whether LSU would subsequently control its own media rights or whether it’d remain tied to the SEC’s ongoing deal with ESPN. The rights would likely revert to the school, but that’s no guarantee — see Clemson and Florida State’s lawsuits against the ACC in recent years for further proof.

Media rights control aside, the most obvious parallel in all of this is Notre Dame, which brings home an annual payout that neighbors the SEC and Big Ten’s media rights distributions in the $75 million range through its NBC deal and arrangement with the ACC. 

Could LSU fetch that on the open market? That’s less clear.

“It’s no knock on LSU; it’s just Notre Dame has been Notre Dame, and they’ve operated independently for so long that to assume LSU would immediately have that same level of independent value is probably unlikely,” one media rights consultant told me. “Do they have a good shot of it? Sure, perhaps in the Southwest, but I think the point is, I don’t know if they have that same level of national recognition and standing to be considered independent.”

Lane Kiffin and LSU are set to welcome 44 incoming transfers this season, including former five-star and Colorado standout Jordan Seaton. (Photo by Gus Stark/LSU/University Images via Getty Images)

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There’s also the matter of the school’s broader business value.

The Athletic conducted a study in July that suggested LSU would be the 11th-most valuable program in the country at around $1.3 billion.

That shouldn’t come as a huge surprise. 

LSU athletics has reported north of $120 million in revenue every year since 2015 and almost $200 million or more since 2022, per the Knight-Newhouse College Athletics Database. It also reported at least $60 million in donor contributions annually since 2022, while corporate sponsorship and licensing dollars have jumped from $3.3 million in 2022 to $5 million in 2025.

Pro sports exist in Louisiana, but it’s fall Saturdays at Tiger Stadium that capture the consciousness of the state in a way the Saints and Pelicans can’t quite muster — and why a pending game of chicken between LSU and the SEC has everyone paying attention.

“The SEC and Commissioner Sankey are prepared to contest the allegations in the plaintiffs’ petition at Thursday morning’s hearing,” the league wrote in a statement released on Sunday night, “and defend the SEC’s rights as a voluntary association to fulfill its mission to its member institutions.” 

Best Quote I Saw This Week

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has taken an active interest in the success of LSU football over the years. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

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“This whole thing is ridiculous. Don’t hate the player, hate the game.” — Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry in a statement to Front Office Sports on the ongoing eligibility fight in the state.

Best Deal I Saw This Week

Duke partnered with Edward Jones, allowing the financial services firm to place branding on the floor at Cameron Indoor Stadium. (Photo courtesy of Duke Athletics)

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Duke announced a five-year agreement with Edward Jones, which, at face-value, isn’t going to force eyebrows to raise.

That the Blue Devils brass is allowing the company to place its branding on the floor at Cameron Indoor Stadium, however, is noteworthy.

“It’s balancing our needs with the history and tradition, evolving with the current landscape and figuring out what is right to do here,” Duke athletics director Nina King told me by phone. “I’m just really excited by how this looks. It’s not like, ‘Oh my goodness, we turned into NASCAR.’”

Michigan added signage within the Big House for the first time in recent weeks. Now, Duke is following suit. Such is life in college sports these days.

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The first race of the NASCAR Cup postseason will get the green flag this Sunday, Sept. 6 at Darlington. 

Drivers will take the track for the Cook Out Southern 500 as The Chase makes its comeback.

It’s fitting that Tyler Reddick and Denny Hamlin are tied atop the early board. Reddick secured his fourth win of the 2026 season at this very track; Hamlin enters the weekend as the favorite to win the title and also as the regular-season champion.

Let’s take a look at the oddsboard as of Sept. 2 at FanDuel Sportsbook.

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.

Cook Out Southern 500

Tyler Reddick: +500 (bet $10 to win $60 total)
Denny Hamlin: +500 (bet $10 to win $50 total)
Chase Briscoe: +600 (bet $10 to win $70 total)
Kyle Larson: +850 (bet $10 to win $95 total)
Christopher Bell: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)
Ryan Blaney: +1100 (bet $10 to win $120 total)
William Byron: +1200 (bet $10 to win $130 total)
Ty Gibbs: +1300 (bet $10 to win $140 total)
Joey Logano: +1800 (bet $10 to win $190 total)
Chase Elliott: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total)
Bubba Wallace: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total)
Brad Keselowski: +2500 (bet $10 to win $250 total)
Chris Buescher: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total)
Erik Jones: +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total)
Corey Heim: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total)
Carson Hocevar: +3500 (bet $10 to win $350 total)
Austin Cindric: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total)
Ryan Preece: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total)
Ross Chastain: +6000 (bet $10 to win $610 total)

Alex Bowman: +7500 (bet $10 to win $760 total)
Daniel Suárez: +8000 (bet $10 to win $810 total)
Josh Berry: +8000 (bet $10 to win $810 total)
Austin Dillon: +15000 (bet $10 to win $1,510 total)
Shane van Gisbergen: +15000 (bet $10 to win $1,510 total)
John Hunter Nemechek: +20000 (bet $10 to win $2,010 total)
Zane Smith: +20000 (bet $10 to win $2,010 total)
Austin Hill: +25000 (bet $10 to win $2,510 total)
Connor Zilisch: +25000 (bet $10 to win $2,510 total)
Michael McDowell: +25000 (bet $10 to win $2,510 total)
Riley Herbst: +25000 (bet $10 to win $2,510 total)
Todd Gilliland: +25000 (bet $10 to win $2,510 total)
AJ Allmendinger: +30000 (bet $10 to win $3,010 total)
Noah Gragson: +35000 (bet $10 to win $3,510 total)
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.: +50000 (bet $10 to win $5,010 total)
Ty Dillon: +50000 (bet $10 to win $5,010 total)
Chad Finchum: +50000 (bet $10 to win $5,010 total)
Cole Custer: +50000 (bet $10 to win $5,010 total)
Cody Ware: +50000 (bet $10 to win $5,010 total)

Here’s What To Know About The Oddsboard:

The Favorite

Can Tyler Reddick find his spark again as The Chase begins?

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Reddick and his team started the 2026 season off with a magical run. He won the first three races and added two more to the tally before losing momentum. At one point, Reddick boasted a 100-point lead in the overall standings. Looking ahead to this weekend, the driver of 23XI’s No. 45 Toyota should feel relatively confident, considering he won at this track when Cup raced here in March for the Goodyear 400.

One To Watch

Denny Hamlin’s 2026 has been exceptional so far.

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Denny Hamlin — who’s at the top of the early oddsboard along with Reddick — is one to watch in this race and throughout the entire postseason. In fact, FOX Sports motorsports insider Bob Pockrass put Hamlin at the very top of his Chase contenders rankings, and he also notes that Denny has won at all 10 tracks on The Chase schedule. That, of course, includes Darlington. When the series raced at this track earlier this year in March, Hamlin got an 11th-place finish after starting ninth. Hamlin goes into Darlington as the points leader in The Chase.

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