Julian Sayin is expected to be out for the rest of the college football regular season, but that’s not a guarantee. Especially not after an update from Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, who explained that Sayin is progressing well and “healing” from the undisclosed injury, while speaking on “The Ryan Day Show” on 97.1 The Fan.

“…all things considered, the outcome with different options that we were kind of going into the situation thinking it could be, I think this has been a decent outcome for us and for him. And so, we’ll let him go through that,” Day detailed. “But this thing looks to be healing. It’s not going to be next week or next month. It’s going to take some time. But I think, certainly for the long term, we feel like we’re on a good track here.”

Luke Fahey threw for 260 yards and one touchdown while completing 55% of his passes against USC; Sayin had averaged 295 yards and a 71% completion rate in the six full games before his injury. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)

Given that timeline, the earliest Sayin would return is January. Which means that the Buckeyes would have to earn a College Football Playoff berth without their starting quarterback, and then survive the playoff long enough to get him back. The first round begins on Dec. 18, over a month from Day’s statement, but the quarterfinals are not until Dec. 30 and Jan. 1, with the semifinals beginning in mid-January. Realistically, if Sayin is healing and progressing from injury, there is a chance for him to return – No. 12 Ohio State just has to still be there for him to return to.

Sayin injured his throwing arm in an Ohio State win over Indiana in Week 7. It was a significant blow to the Buckeyes: Ohio State suffered its second loss of the season in Week 9 against USC, in part because Luke Fahey couldn’t reach star wideout Jeremiah Smith for game-changing catches on a day the defense uncharacteristically faltered. 

Now, the Buckeyes find themselves already in a playoff-esque situation, as the 6-2 team cannot afford another loss without falling out of College Football Playoff contention, given Ohio State already ranked 12th in the committee’s initial reveal.

The Buckeyes face Oregon on Saturday at home, then host Northwestern. Ohio State heads to Nebraska for Week 12, then hosts Michigan for “The Game” in the regular season’s final week, and it will have to come away victorious in all of them without Sayin on the field.

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Joel Klatt has a problem with the College Football Playoff committee’s first top 25 of the season, and it has little to do with any one team.

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The St. Louis Cardinals have promoted 34-year-old Rob Cerfolio to general manager.

The Cardinals announced the move Friday. Cerfolio has been St. Louis’ assistant GM overseeing player development and performance the past three seasons. He’ll report to president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom.

“Since joining the Cardinals two years ago, Cerf has spearheaded tremendous progress in our player development efforts from top to bottom, and in the advancement of our performance group and its integration within our entire organization,” Bloom said. “He is relentless in his desire to move us forward, and is invested in relationships with both new hires and longtime staff alike.”

Cerfolio’s promotion comes after executive Randy Flores left the team Monday. Flores spent 11 years in St. Louis, including the past eight as assistant GM overseeing amateur and pro acquisitions.

Cerfolio joined the Cardinals after spending 10 years working his way up the ranks with the Cleveland Guardians, including his final three seasons as the team’s director of player development.

From Indian Springs, Alabama, he’s staying in St. Louis after reportedly being a candidate to fill several front-office openings this offseason.

The Cardinals are coming off a 77-85 season in which they finished fourth in the National League Central and missed the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season.

Cerfolio is a Yale graduate and credited for playing a role in the Cardinals’ burgeoning youth movement, highlighted by standout seasons from outfielder Jordan Walker and second baseman JJ Wetherholt.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson remains in the concussion protocol and was ruled out Friday for the game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

It’s a tough blow for an offense that will get running back Breece Hall back in the lineup after he missed five games with a quadriceps injury.

Coach Aaron Glenn said Wilson would not practice for a third straight day after he was injured late in the Jets’ 38-33 loss to Las Vegas last Sunday.

Wilson has a team-leading 43 catches, tied for the most in the AFC and ninth in the NFL, for 527 yards and three touchdowns. His 63 targets are second in the AFC, though he was frustrated the last few weeks by his sporadic usage in games and in crucial moments. Against the Raiders, Wilson had six receptions for 83 yards on a team-high 12 targets.

Breece Hall hasn’t appeared in a game for the Jets since Week 3. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

In the closing moments last Sunday, Wilson took a helmet-to-helmet hit from Jeremy Chinn on a 15-yard catch in which Chinn was called for unnecessary roughness. Wilson stayed in and was Geno Smith’s intended target in the end zone on the next play when Chinn came up with a game-sealing interception.

“I mean, I think it speaks for itself,” Glenn said of losing Wilson. “Any time you lose a player of that magnitude, it’s always tough. But we do have other players and those guys will look forward to the challenge.”

Adonai Mitchell had a breakout performance last week against Las Vegas, catching seven passes for a career-high 142 yards and a touchdown in his second game back after missing four with a finger injury that required surgery. Rookie Omar Cooper Jr. was held without a target last week, but previously had consecutive 100-yard receiving games.

Isaiah Williams, Tim Patrick and rookie Malik McClain are also on the active roster. Sterling Shepard, Jamaal Pritchett and Joseph Manjack IV are on the practice squad.

Hall will further boost a backfield that has been solid the last few weeks in his absence. Braelon Allen has rushed for more than 100 yards three times, including a career-high 147 last week.

Hall had just 163 yards rushing on 51 carries in three games — which would be a career-low 3.2 yards per attempt — before being hurt at Detroit on Sept. 27. He also had 10 catches for 102 yards. With Allen’s emergence, there has been speculation over how the Jets will use the two running backs, but both Glenn and offensive coordinator Frank Reich have insisted since before the season that they envisioned mixing both in the offense as a 1-2 punch out of the backfield.

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“I know we’re trying to get in this, who’s going to be the starter and try to spin it into a negative situation,” Glenn said. “But nothing’s changed from how I see this. Both of those guys are playing, that’s just what it is.”

Rookie edge rusher David Bailey will be back after missing one game with a groin injury. The No. 2 overall pick in the draft in April leads the team with 5.5 sacks.

Tight end Mason Taylor, who injured his back late against Las Vegas, will be a full practice participant Friday and is cleared to play.

Cornerback Nahshon Wright (back) was sitting out practice Friday and is questionable. Edge rusher Joseph Ossai (ankle) and defensive lineman Harrison Phillips (ankle) are also questionable. Linebacker Trevin Wallace (groin) is out.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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The NFL told disgruntled receiver Brandon Aiyuk that he needs to repay the San Francisco 49ers about $13 million he previously received in bonuses as he tries to get reinstated to the team’s roster.

Aiyuk’s new agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said earlier this week that Aiyuk had officially submitted his paperwork to the NFL to get back and was planning to report to the 49ers on Friday.

A person with knowledge of the situation said the league sent Aiyuk and the NFLPA a letter Thursday saying that he owes the 49ers the money based on bonuses he was paid after signing a four-year, $120 million extension just before the start of the 2024 season. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the letter was not released.

The Ringer first reported that the Niners were seeking the money back from Aiyuk.

Brandon Aiyuk has not played in an NFL game since the 2024 season, and has been on the Restricted list. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

San Francisco general manager John Lynch told the team’s flagship radio station KNBR on Thursday that it was a “unique” situation that the team was trying to work through.

“My job is to look out for the best interests of the 49ers, and as such, in this particular situation, we’re working with the NFL management council to navigate through kind of a different situation,” Lynch said. “It’s fluid. I’m going to kind of leave it at that because I’ve been recommended to do so, and I think it’s the right thing to do. We’ll look for a pathway for both sides here that works.”

Aiyuk hasn’t played a game in more than two years since going down with a knee injury in October 2024 and has been on the reserve/left squad list after leaving the Niners late last season.

He fired agent Ryan Williams during his long-running dispute with the 49ers and was without representation until he recently hired Rosenhaus.

Aiyuk will remain under contract with the 49ers after he is reinstated by the NFL. Lynch previously has said he doesn’t expect Aiyuk to play for the Niners again, while coach Kyle Shanahan said on Wednesday when asked if Aiyuk could play for San Francisco again that “there are no absolutes in life.”

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Receiver Brandon Aiyuk has applied to be reinstated to the San Francisco 49ers from the reserve/left squad list and plans to report to the team later this week.

The 49ers previously voided $27 million guaranteed in Aiyuk’s contract for 2026 for failing to participate in meetings and other team activities last summer when he was rehabilitating his knee injury.

Aiyuk signed the big extension just before the start of the 2024 season following a lengthy contract hold-in that kept him out of training camp. He was coming off a 2023 season when he had 75 catches for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns and was a second-team All-Pro.

Aiyuk had only 25 catches for 374 yards in seven games in 2024 before getting injured. The 28-year-old has 294 catches for 4,305 yards and 25 TDs since being drafted in the first round in 2020.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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Jude Bellingham’s brother Jobe has been handed his first senior England call-up for the upcoming Nations League games against Croatia and Spain.

But Chelsea forward Cole Palmer has been left out after withdrawing from last month’s squad.

Jobe Bellingham has been rewarded for his impressive form for Borussia Dortmund this season and joins his older brother in the national squad, having played for England from under-16 level to U21.

The 21-year-old midfielder was picked ahead of Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo, who was part of England’s World Cup squad.

“I think Kobbie had a difficult spell now with his team and his club, and missed a lot, a lot of matches,” England coach Thomas Tuchel said Friday. “And in the meantime, it was Jobe who impressed in the same level of time, and that’s exactly what we want.

“The door is always open for younger ones to overtake or to make their mark.”

The Bellinghams could become the first brothers to play in the same England team since Gary and Phil Neville in the 1990s and 2000s.

Jobe has followed in his brother’s footsteps by beginning his career at Birmingham City and now plays for Dortmund, where Jude also made his mark.

“He found his way, he found his rhythm with Dortmund. He’s had an excellent start to his season, is a regular starter and influential,” Tuchel said.

While Jobe’s England career is just taking off, Palmer’s is in doubt after his latest omission.

He was left out of the World Cup squad in the summer and then recalled for last month’s internationals, but withdrew because he had been playing with discomfort.

Tuchel said at the time that Palmer missed “way too many camps with injuries” and on Friday said that was a reason for him being overlooked this time.

“It was a long camp. It was two and a half weeks, and the players and the boys who were in camp built something extraordinary and that’s why the credit goes to them,” the England coach said. “The trust is for them. If you are in camp, this is your chance to impress.”

Palmer has started all of Chelsea’s Premier League games this season, scoring five goals. But his omission from Tuchel’s squad means he will have to wait until next year before he has another opportunity to establish himself in the England team.

“So it’s not personal, and of course we will never assume that Cole is not in the mindset to come and desperate to play for his country,” Tuchel said. “But the competition is on, and the players who were in camp did an amazing job and kept their place.

“The door is always open, but nothing has changed, and we decided to do this camp without him.”

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford was also left out of the squad, while Manchester City forward Phil Foden continues to be overlooked after being dropped ahead of the World Cup.

Fulham’s Josh King was also given his first call-up.

England plays Croatia at Wembley on Nov. 12 and Spain in Madrid on Nov. 15.

England squad:

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Jason Steele (Brighton & Hove Albion), James Trafford (Leeds United).

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Real Madrid), Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), Marc Guehi (Manchester City), Lewis Hall (Newcastle United), Ezri Konsa (Arsenal), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Inter Milan), Ben White (Arsenal).

Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Manchester City), Jobe Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), James Garner (Everton), Josh King (Fulham), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Declan Rice (Arsenal).

Forwards: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds United), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest), Anthony Gordon (Barcelona), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Rio Ngumoha (Liverpool), Morgan Rogers (Chelsea).

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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Spain coach Luis de la Fuente paid tribute to the victims of a high-speed train crash and a second-division player who died after an on-field collision before announcing his Nations League squad on Friday.

De la Fuente made several changes for upcoming games against England and Czechia, with Spain already qualified for the quarterfinals.

“Spain is mourning. We have been stricken by a tragedy that should never have taken place,” he said in reference to the Oct. 28 rail incident that killed 69 people and injured 200 more. It was Spain’s second major train disaster this year.

De la Fuente also mentioned Tenerife forward Jesús de Miguel, who died this week after suffering cardiac arrest following a collision with an opposing goalkeeper.

“Today, our thoughts are with the victims, including our colleague Jesús de Miguel, who tragically passed away this week,” De la Fuente said a day after attending the funeral of De Miguel. “We want to stand with all of them, with those suffering an irreparable loss, and those left with an immense void after saying goodbye to their loved ones.”

Spain plays Czechia in Prague on Nov. 12 and three days later hosts England in Madrid.

De la Fuente called up Como defender Jacobo Ramón, Real Betis midfielder Marc Roca and Betis goalkeeper Álvaro Valles for the first time. He also included Atletico Madrid playmaker Pablo Barrios and Real Sociedad forward Ander Barrenetxea in a 27-man squad.

Barcelona midfielders Rodri and Dani Olmo were not in the squad after picking up injuries with their club.

Spain squad:

Goalkeepers: Unai Simón (Athletic Bilbao), David Raya (Arsenal), Joan Garcia (Barcelona), Álvaro Valles (Real Betis).

Defenders: Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Bilbao), Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona), Marc Pubill (Atletico Madrid), Alejandro Grimaldo (Atletico Madrid), Marc Cucurella (Real Madrid), Dean Huijsen (Real Madrid), Pedro Porro (Tottenham), Jacobo Ramón (Como).

Midfielders: Pedri González (Barcelona), Fermin Lopez (Barcelona), Martín Zubimendi (Arsenal), Mikel Merino (Arsenal), Fabian Ruiz (Paris Saint-Germain), Alex Baena (Atletico Madrid), Pablo Barrios (Atletico Madrid), Marc Roca (Real Betis).

Forwards: Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Ferran Torres (Paris Saint-Germain), Yeremy Pino (Crystal Palace), Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Roberto Fernandez (Espanyol), Ander Barrenetxea (Real Sociedad).

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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Mark McKenzie replaced injured defender George Campbell on Friday in the U.S. roster for CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals against Haiti.

McKenzie, a 27-year-old defender with French club Toulouse, was part of this year’s World Cup team.

Campbell, 25, injured his groin Tuesday while playing for English team West Bromwich Albion.

The No. 16 United States faces 84th-ranked Haiti on Nov. 14 in Miami and Nov. 17 in Cincinnati in a two-leg series for a berth in the Nations League semifinals, which will be played March 22-30 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

U.S. roster:

Goalkeepers: Matt Freese (New York City), Diego Kochen (Lyngby), Brian Schwake (Nashville)

Defenders: Reed Baker-Whiting (Nashville), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven), Alex Freeman (Villarreal), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), Neil Pierre (Philadelphia), Bryan Reynolds (Rennes), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Auston Trusty (Celtic)

Midfielders: Tyler Adams (Bournemouth), Mathis Albert (Borussia Dortmund), Sebastian Berhalter (Middlesbrough), Santiago Castañeda (Paderborn), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Adri Mehmeti (New York Red Bulls), Gio Reyna (Strasbourg), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen)

Forwards: Folarin Balogun (Monaco), Justin Ellis (Orlando), Julian Hall (New York Red Bulls), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Cavan Sullivan (Philadelphia)

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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For the first time in a long time, we won’t be seeing Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo patrolling the pitch for their respective countries. 

With both icons now retired from international duty, we close out the calendar year that saw Spain lift the 2026 World Cup with a final November window that will feature some top-bill matches, especially in Europe. 

Several heavyweight squads — Spain, England, and Portugal – dropped their rosters for the final matches of the UEFA Nations League group stage. That includes a contest between Spain and England on Nov. 15 in Madrid that will now carry some emotional weight.

Here are my takeaways from some of the more notable roster decisions:

1.

Spain Aims To Heal Country After Tragedies

Two recent tragedies in Spain – one off the pitch and one on it – reminded us that there are things in life much bigger than football. Against that backdrop, the defending World Cup champions will use the upcoming matches against Czechia and England to help their nation heal.

Last Wednesday, a train collision in Urda killed 69 people (and injured 200) on a Madrid-Sevilla high-speed line, making it one of the worst transportation tragedies in European history and the second one in Spain this year. Days later, Jesús de Miguel Alameda, the 30-year-old striker from CD Tenerife, the second-division club from the Canary Islands, died after a collision with Andorra’s goalkeeper Jesús Owono in the middle of a match.

As Spain’s squad was announced on Friday, manager Luis De La Fuente and the country’s federation honored the victims of both tragedies. 

“Football must unite us today more than ever. We share the grief of the families of the victims from Urda, and we mourn the irreparable loss of Jesús de Miguel,” he said before announcing his 27-man list. 

Luis De La Fuente attending the funeral of Jesús de Miguel (Getty Images)

Jesús de Miguel’s funeral was held on Thursday at his family’s village as the insurmountable pain was felt across the country, with Spanish and European clubs paying tributes to him throughout the week. 

De la Fuente, who has created a family-based environment on and off the pitch for Spain, was present at the funeral alongside Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez. 

“We wanted to be close to his parents, his wife and daughter. In moments of pain, football comes together more than ever,” said de la Fuente on the day of mourning.

It was a touching moment as Spain will undoubtedly use this international window to unite the country during a period of mourning, especially in the second match against England, held at Atlético de Madrid’s Metropolitano stadium.    

Spain

Nations League roster

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Goalkeepers (4)

Defenders (8)

Midfielders (8)

Forwards (7)

The squad list from Spain, now 42 matches unbeaten and winners of 11 straight, comes with a few new additions amid some injuries.

World Cup winners Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Pau Cubarsí and Fermín Lopez are back alongside goalkeeper Joan García to make it five Barcelona players in the squad. There could have been more but Rodri, Dani Olmo and Eric García are injured and there’s no space for Gavi once again as De La Fuente feels the 22-year-old is not quite up to speed.  

at Czechia	Nov. 12	Letná Stadion (Prague)
vs. England	Nov. 15	Estadio Metropolitano (Madrid)

Tottenham defender Pedro Porro, who missed the World Cup due to injury, is a notable returnee. There will be other fresh faces such as Como defender Jacobo Ramón, who has been instrumental for Cesc Fàbregas’ side (fourth in the Champions League table and Italy’s Serie A), as well as the Real Betis duo of Marc Roca and goalkeeper Álvaro Valles. Atlético Madrid’s extremely talented midfielder Pablo Barrios comes back to the squad, alongside Ander Barrenetxea from Real Sociedad.

2.

England Ready For The Bellingham Brothers

Harry Kane is back, fresh off winning the Ballon d’Or. But the intrigue in this squad lies elsewhere, most notably whether we see the latest set of brothers share the pitch for England.

It certainly wasn’t surprising that Three Lions manager Thomas Tuchel called up Jude Bellingham to his 26-man roster for the games against Croatia and Spain. Bellingham was a breakout star during the World Cup and the Real Madrid midfield dynamo has kept that form going. 

Jobe Bellingham gets his first call-up. (Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)

But the inclusion of 21-year-old Jobe Bellingham was a pleasant surprise. Jobe has been captain of the Under-21 England squad, and like his older brother did before his move to Madrid, is turning heads at Borussia Dortmund. 

“He found his way, he found his rhythm with Dortmund. He’s had an excellent start to his season, is a regular starter and influential,” said Tuchel, himself a former Dortmund manager.

England

Nations League roster

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Goalkeepers (3)

Defenders (8)

Midfielders (7)

Forwards (7)

In case you are wondering, the Bellinghams wouldn’t be the first brothers to share the pitch for England. Gary and Phil Neville both played for England (and Manchester United) during the 1990s and 2000s, while Bobby and Jack Charlton were part of the 1966 World Cup-winning side. More recently, Nathaniel and Trevoh Chalobah both represented England, but never alongside each other.

And while the Bellinghams’ England outlook appear to be hitting a second gear, you can’t say that for Cole Palmer.

The Chelsea playmaker seems to be at an impasse with Tuchel after not getting a call for the upcoming matches. He wasn’t included in the 2026 World Cup squad and withdrew from last month’s batch of matches due to injury.

vs. Croatia	Nov. 12	Wembley Stadium (London)
at Spain	Nov. 15	Estadio Metropolitano (Madrid)

That means the next chance for Palmer to impress Tuchel will be during the March 2027 window, but with just three appearances in the last two seasons, don’t hold your breath on a reunion. 

“The door is always open, but nothing has changed, and we decided to do this camp without him,” Tuchel said.

3.

Portugal Enters New Terrority In Post-Ronaldo Era

There is a message about what Cristiano Ronaldo’s retirement from international football should mean for Portugal, the defending Nations League champions. It reminds me of what Michael Jordan once said, “I want to be the bridge to the next generation.”

This is why I think Portugal’s window is key, because it’s finally an opportunity to showcase the team’s attacking fluidity without prioritizing the country’s most illustrious player. I understand there is an emotional connotation that comes with Ronaldo’s departure. It is obviously the right thing to do for the entire nation to pay homage to the man who did so much for them, including 146 goals, a Euros title in 2016 and so many other memories. 

The Cristiano Ronaldo era at Portugal has concluded. (Getty)

These need to be the moments of reflective change for Portugal, from idea to execution. This isn’t a criticism of what this team looked like with their greatest ever player, but rather this is a call to arms to declare what it can finally be without him.

In his 28-man roster, manager Jorge Jesus has called for new blood as the 78-year-old has seven new faces ahead of Nations League matches against Denmark and Wales – including five players from the squad who are entering this team from the Under-21 setup. 

Portugal

Nations League roster

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Goalkeepers (3)

Defenders (8)

Midfielders (9)

Forwards (8)

Gustavo Varela, the 21-year-old Monza striker who is currently leading Serie A’s top scoring list with nine goals from nine league appearances. In all competitions, Varela – who is attracting a lot of attention from major European sides – has 11 goals and his inclusion is another reason why Portugal is ready for a new chapter.

There is also the introduction of 19-year-old Rodrigo Mora, who has been a fantastic addition at Roma. He has been called up before but never featured, so now this is a great chance for the young attacker to make a name for himself. With PSG’s Nuno Mendes out with an injury, Nuno Tavares has been an absolute weapon for Serie A-leading Lazio.

vs. Denmark	Nov. 14	Estádio Municipal de Braga (Braga)
at Wales	Nov. 17	Cardiff City Stadium (Cardiff)

Then there is the case of familiar names such as Gonçalo Ramos, who joined AC Milan from PSG this past summer, breaking the club’s transfer record. Ramos has scored three goals and one assist for Milan but this window right now, this return to Portugal, is pivotal for him because he will no longer be the shadow of Ronaldo.

But this is a new dawn for Portugal, and it’s important for the likes of Rúben Dias, Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, João Félix, Rafael Leão and other members to take this national team to a new level. This is a team that can genuinely win the European Championships in 2028 and perhaps even a first-ever World Cup in 2030. 

But the need to evolve begins now.

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Homestead-Miami Speedway (Homestead, Fla.) — New NASCAR Chief Executive Officer Steve O’Donnell described NASCAR as a spot with momentum but one with work to do, as he talked about scheduling, the car and driver safety during his state-of-the-sport news conference Friday.

O’Donnell’s NASCAR career has spanned decades and he was named CEO in April. He cited a 5 percent rise in attendance and social media impressions being up 34 percent.

“I think as you look at what we can do and what that focus should be on where we’re going,” O’Donnell said. “I hear the fans, and it’s in making NASCAR easier to follow, and we’ve got to do a better job telling the stories about the people that are in this industry.”

Telling those stories depends on a variety of factors. 

Among the topics O’Donnell addressed:

Scheduling

NASCAR took the competition to Naval Base Coronado in June 2026. (Getty Images)

O’Donnell said the sport continues to look at new markets, including international markets, but had nothing to announce. He said the plan of having an annual race at a military base (NASCAR will return to Naval Base Coronado in 2027 but has said it will go to a different base in 2028) has widespread support and felt confident in the plan no matter the result of elections. 

On new domestic markets: “Then longer term is making sure that we’re hitting the markets that are important to grow our fan base. So in some cases, you can look at opening up those avenues through social media, YouTube, or content. In others, we may need to bring a race.”

On new international markets: “We don’t want to just go somewhere for the sake of going somewhere. If we take a race somewhere, we want to make sure that we’re not just in and out, maybe collecting a fee for the teams in NASCAR and what have we done? Have we brought any new sponsors? OEMs [manufacturers]? New fans? So it’s important for us to go into a marketplace, develop some fans, be in a local market, maybe bring some drivers in, be in the bars, whatever that may be, so they understand what NASCAR is when we go over.”

The Car 

NASCAR is currently happy with the Next Gen car. (Getty Images)

O’Donnell said their fan surveys show satisfaction in the racing product, even with the short-track package that has gotten the brunt of the criticism. 

He said NASCAR is happy with where they are at from an aerodynamic sense and will not test at Daytona in January. He also said the costs to start developing a new version of the Next Gen car would not be as beneficial as making tweaks to the current car. NASCAR is also looking at increasing horsepower at select tracks but no decisions have been made.

“Our metrics when we look at the fan [surveys] and every one says we are trending in a very positive direction,” O’Donnell said. “Does that mean everything is great and we’ve stopped doing anything? No. I think you’ve seen us make some significant changes. We’ll continue to do that.”

Driver Safety

The family of NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Fred Lorenzen recently revealed the results of a study of his brain and it came back that he suffered from CTE. When asked about what is NASCAR’s role in the study and treatment of former drivers, O’Donnell shifted to talking about current safety measures and said their doctors have studied the effects of concussions.

“It’s important to first acknowledge that we’re in a dangerous sport, and I think if you look at every sport, one of the top narratives would be around concussions and what is everyone doing,” O’Donnell said.

“This is not new to NASCAR in terms of is this the first time we’ve looked at it. We have a number of doctors that have studied this. We have partnerships with Wake Forest and other universities that have worked together. This has been a focus for us for a long, long time. I am incredibly confident in the doctors that we have.”

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The picks are in. Here are the drivers who will likely end the 2026 NASCAR season as champions.

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New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson on Friday revealed he has spent several days in the hospital undergoing tests to determine the cause of unexplained neurological symptoms that have affected his strength and coordination.

While the tests results have been what he called “reassuring” in coming back positive, the cause of the medical condition remains unknown, Henderson said in a lengthy post on his Instagram account.

“I will continue working closely with my specialists and physical therapists to focus on my recovery, as these symptoms have affected my strength, coordination and some of my physical functions,” Henderson wrote. “I am committed to doing everything necessary to return to full health. My health and long-term well-being remain my foremost priorities.”

The 24-year-old Henderson has not practiced since Oct. 29, when he was listed as having an illness, and was ruled out of playing in 24-19 win over Miami on Sunday. The second-year NFL player has been limited to 203 yards rushing and a touchdown, with 45 yards receiving, in six games this season.

That’s a considerable drop-off for a player who combined for 1,131 yards from scrimmage (911 rushing) and 10 TDs in his rookie season last year.

The Patriots (5-3) host Green Bay (5-3) on Sunday.

Henderson thanked his wife, medical team and the Patriots for their support.

He closed his message by writing: “We respectfully ask for continued prayers and privacy as we focus on my health and recovery. Love Trey.”

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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